The amusement park this evening is bathed in the festive and eerie atmosphere of Halloween.
Orange lights flicker across the foggy space, casting ghostly shadows over jack-o'-lanterns, skeletons, and suspended phantoms. Lively music echoes from every direction, mixing with delighted screams from thrill rides and the giggles of children dressed as witches, vampires, or zombies.
Mallow stands patiently in front of a food truck selling popcorn, candy corn, and grilled skewers. He stands out easily—his pastel pink hair is slicked to one side, covering half his eye, a far cry from its usual messy volume. A thin black mesh shirt peeks out from under a worn leather jacket patched in places, paired with faded black ripped skinny jeans that cling to his long legs and tall frame. He wears heavy combat boots and accessorizes with silver rings and a chain slung at his hip.
It is a deliberately chaotic mix—Punk, Grunge, and Rock, as he calls it.
19:29.
19:30.
"Damn it, she stood me up." Mallow sighs, clearly irritated. He clutches his phone and turns to leave. But just then, he bumps into something—someone. Soft, warm. Likely the back of a stranger.
He turns—and sees her.
Raven.
Gone is the heavy eyeliner and razor-sharp gaze. Tonight, she wears only a fine sweep of liner, a hint of nude lipstick, her pale skin unadorned. The piercings are gone, but her signature silver raven necklace remains. There's a quiet, striking elegance to her now, like she has stepped out of an ink painting. She wears a white silk dress that flutters slightly in the wind, paired with gentle cream-colored ankle boots.
Both freeze for a beat, surprised—and slightly estranged. It feels like seeing a newer version of someone they once knew.
"Stop staring like that," Raven says first. Her voice is light but still carries that cool defiance. She reaches out and pinches Mallow's cheek, perhaps to confirm he's real.
"You—"
"Come on. I want to find the drop tower."
Before he can react, she grabs his hand and pulls. His boots drag for a moment before he falls in step. As he follows, he stares at her back—no longer sharp and gothic, but delicate and untouchable, like a drifting spirit.
He tugs her hand, brow furrowed. "What... is this outfit even about?"
She turns to him, her gaze not angry, not soft—just distant.
"Isn't yours the same?"
He falters.
The orange lights dance on his translucent shirt and silver chain. Right—he has gone out of his way to become someone else tonight. Someone who could maybe fit into her world.
He lets out a dry, awkward laugh.
"Haha... it's Halloween. We're just... cosplaying, right?"
Raven looks away and adds quietly, "This is just another one of our fake dates, isn't it?"
Her words ring in his head like a silent slap. So she is playing along, fully committing to her crazy idea of helping him forget someone. She did say, "We'll post these pictures to make your ex jealous," but he assumed tonight was just a casual hangout.
"Hey, Raven—wanna grab some food—"
"I want the drop tower."
She doesn't wait. They move from the free-fall tower that yanks them into the sky only to drop like stones, to the rollercoaster that twists above their heads. Screams and laughter blend into the rush of adrenaline. Raven even keeps snapping photos, recording their night.
Next is the dart booth. Raven hits a few bullseyes but walks away, indifferent to the dangling teddy bears. She doesn't need a prize—just the photo to irritate his ex. Mallow, though, lingers, oddly attached to the idea of winning that bear.
Eventually, they stumble on a photo booth hidden deep in a quiet corner. But Mallow is worn out. He collapses onto a nearby bench, panting.
The park's haunting tunes float through the air. He checks his watch—barely an hour has passed, and they have done almost everything.
Raven returns with two ghost-themed boonilla milkshakes, hands him one, and sits beside him.
"Do you ever get tired?"
"But you still want to play, don't you?" she sips casually through her straw.
Mallow chuckles bitterly. "We're not on a timer... can you slow down a bit?"
Raven tilts her head, her voice soft:
"I thought we weren't here to play."
"What do you mean?"
"I have enough photos now. So—"
She never finishes.
Because Mallow suddenly takes her hand. Not to stop her this time, but to make her look directly at him.
Raven freezes.
"Are you... free tonight?"
She blinks, barely whispering:
"Y-yeah."
Mallow smiles—genuinely, maybe for the first time that night.
"Tonight is fun. I want to stay a bit longer—with you."
….
Mallow's enthusiasm seems to reignite something in Raven. This time, he's the one dragging her along, eager to explore every corner of the Halloween amusement park.
People dressed as Dracula, zombies, and Frankenstein beckon them into the haunted house. Inside, it's pitch dark, cold, and eerily silent. Surprisingly, it's Mallow who flinches at bloody hands and long-haired ghosts popping out from the shadows. Raven, brave and composed, snaps a few photos of the "fragile flower" clinging to her in fear.
They move on to the arcade. Under the flickering neon lights, they shoot zombies, race cars, and try their hand at the claw machine. Unlike earlier, Raven goes all in, determined to win every game and beat Mallow. Normally, he wouldn't let her dominate so easily, but sensing her mood, he goes easy on her. Still, he regains some pride at the dart-throwing booth, winning a plush toy shaped like Raven from Teen Titans. Blushing slightly, he hands it to her.
"Take it. She looks just like you," he says with a wide grin.
"Not even close," Raven replies, but clips the toy to her bag anyway.
At last, they step into a photo booth. What follows feels oddly natural:
— First shot: Raven slings an arm over Mallow's shoulder, leaning gently into him.
— Second: She kisses his cheek unexpectedly, making him freeze.
— Third: As she pulls back, he turns and kisses her on the lips.
"This one... is to piss her off," Mallow says with a mischievous smile.
Raven laughs as they step out of the booth, her eyes shimmering with uncontainable light. In that moment, everything feels strangely real—like they are no longer acting.
Night has fallen completely. They sit inside a cabin of the giant Ferris wheel, rising into the indigo sky. Fireworks burst above like magical flowers, twisting into fiery serpents before exploding into vibrant orange, violet, and green. Some take the shape of grinning skulls or bats soaring across the moon.
Raven gazes out the glass window, her white silk dress fluttering in the glow of the fireworks. Mallow steals glances at her, quickly turning away each time, afraid his thoughts might wander too far.
"Want to take a picture of this view?" Raven asks softly.
"Up to you," Mallow murmurs.
"I'm tired now."
"First time I hear you admit that. Then rest—I won't bother you."
A brief silence settles between them. The orange light washes over Raven's face like a film tint.
Mallow turns toward the window, his voice lower.
"Hey... sorry I didn't say this sooner. But you don't need to do all this. I mean... the plan to make my ex jealous. I don't really care about her anymore."
Raven immediately turns, her gaze sharp.
"Then why agree to all of this? The dates, the photos?"
"At first... I didn't think too much. I just wanted to hang out. Honestly... I haven't had time to dwell on the past. Our band's been busy. And it's been years."
She lets out a cold laugh, her smile lacking warmth.
"So I was the joke. I thought she still meant something to you."
"I didn't mean to make a fool of you," Mallow stammers.
"Back then, she did help me through a rough time. But things are different now. We haven't spoken in forever. Why should I care?"
Raven doesn't reply. Her silence is louder than words.
Mallow squirms, then abruptly drops to the floor and starts doing planks in the cramped cabin.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"This is the weight of my guilt. Is this enough?"
Raven rolls her eyes. "Ugh, it's cramped! Stop it!"
He stands up and begins squatting.
"Each squat is me apologizing. Down—I'm sorry. Up—I must make her smile again!"
Then, he shadowboxes the air. "You're mad, right? Furious?!"
"E-enough!!" Raven shouts, fists clenched.
Just as she's about to hit him, Mallow collapses dramatically onto the bench, feigning unconsciousness.
Raven stares, stunned—then bursts into laughter. The kind that escapes before she can stop it. She looks away, hiding her smile, but it's unmistakably there.
"You laughed," Mallow teases, sitting up slowly, eyes gleaming. "So you're not mad anymore?"
"Shut up," she replies, though her voice lacks its usual chill.
A few quiet minutes pass. Fireworks crack overhead, mingling with eerie Halloween music echoing through the park.
Then Raven speaks, her voice gentler:
"If you've really forgotten your ex... then what was that kiss at the last live show?"
Mallow flinches. He glances at her, a faint blush rising.
"Oh... that? Well, you were so into the performance, the lights were perfect... plus, Hiroki surprised us by returning on stage... I got caught in the moment."
"Not to... get back at her?"
"Like I said... she doesn't even care. Probably didn't watch the show." He pauses. "The kiss in the studio was rehearsal. But on stage... something felt different."
Raven looks down. Her heart thuds, as if a secret is being laid bare. She clenches the fabric of her dress, a strange emotion rising.
"What was your ex like?" she asks, not looking at him.
Mallow raises a brow. "You're curious?"
"Just answer, you dummy."
He sighs.
"She simply made me happy. Honestly, I don't care about perfection. Looks don't matter—even if she were an alien, if I can breathe easy and feel at peace around her, that's enough."
....
When the Ferris wheel touches down, they step out. The wind rustles the trees strung with pumpkin lights, brushing cool against their skin. The festival buzzes on, but a quiet space settles between them.
Raven shivers. Her thin white dress—meant as a costume—is no match for the night chill. Mallow notices. Without a word, he takes off his worn leather jacket and drapes it over her shoulders.
"Here."
She looks up, surprised. "You..."
"I did enough 'exercise' up there," he chuckles, recalling his antics.
Raven lowers her head, lips twitching with suppressed laughter, her cheeks pink.
"Besides... I don't even like this jacket that much," he adds, turning away casually.
His grunge-meets-punk style has always defined him. Yet tonight, he dresses down—as if to match someone else's world.
"Then why wear it?" Raven asks, fingers tightening on the jacket's hem.
Mallow glances at her, smiling. "I was going to ask you the same thing. At first, I didn't even recognize you."
She laughs softly, eyes ahead. "I guess... we had the same idea all along."
"Guess so," he murmurs. A quiet line, lingering in the air.
Then he stops, standing in the middle of the lantern-lit path.
"Wait... so you think I like gentle girls like that?"
Raven marches on, saying nothing. But her ears and cheeks glow red.
"And you," she shoots back, still facing forward, "think I go for gloomy, gothic guys with tangled hair and skull chokers, huh?"
"I just think... you're beautiful. Always have been," he says, voice suddenly tender.
She stops. Slowly turns. Their eyes meet.
"Really?"
He nods, stepping closer.
"I... like you."
Raven stands still, her breath quivering. Her eyes search his, as if to confirm this isn't a joke.
"...I—I like you too."
Under fading fireworks and glowing lanterns, they stand close.
Mallow gently places his hand on her shoulder, taking in every detail of her barely-made-up face—the sparkle in her eyes, the flush on her cheeks, the trembling lips.
"You like me?" he whispers, still in disbelief.
Raven smiles, softly.
"Mm-hmm."