Happy New Year! Requested by TopHatWolfie

Your POV:

You walk down the halls, hiding your face in your notebook. All of your sketches were in this book, well, all the good ones. You were going to show them to show them to Kaoru today, finally working up the nerve to. You feel a light blush dust your cheeks as you think of what Kaoru might say.

"Well if it isn't the freak. Where do you think you are going?" You sigh and roll your eyes.

"Hello Katrina," you say with a quiet voice. Katrina glares.

"We are not on first name basis, freak." She then smacks you, causing your head to whip back.

"I am sorry Smae-san," you whisper. She smirks.

"That's more like it. What is that?" She asks, referring to your notebook. 

"Nothing," you say, clutching it to your chest. She sneers.

"Give it to me."

"No!" you say, your voice coming out more forcefully. She smiles.

"I was hoping you would say that," she says, pulling her hand back and backhanding you. You fall and hit the ground. She is about to snatch the notebook from your hand when you hear heavy footsteps approaching.

"Leave her alone!" You hear Mori say.

"I'm sorry, Mori-senpai, I will leave now." She bows and scurries away. Mori offers you a hand and pulls you to your feet.

"Thank you Mori-kun." He nods then pauses.

"You have to tell him, (Y/n)." He says quietly. You nod.

"Tell Kaoru to meet me in the art room." You turn and walk to your destination.

Once you reach the art room, you put on a smock and begin to paint what you have been working on. It was a painting of Kaoru, and you are just adding the beautiful finishing touches when you hear Karu call out your name. 

"(Y/n)?" 

"I am over here!" You yell out to him.  He spots you sitting on a stool, admiring your work.

"What are you working on there, cutie?" He asks, causing a blush to spread across your cheeks. Taking a deep breath, you ready yourself for what he us about to see.

"I have something to confess, but first..." you pause and hold up the canvas. You look at the ground, not wanting to see his reaction. You hear his breath catch in his throat. "I know it isn't that good, but..."

"It is amazing!" He exclaims. I look up at him, eyes sparkling.

"Really?" He nods enthusiastically. You smile and place the canvas down on the easel, take off your smock, and give him a tight hug. "Thank you!"

"Before you say another word, I was told by Mori that Katrina has taken it too far. It was my sign to take action." He takes your hands in his warm ones. "I will take the paintbrush of my love and paint you a better life."

Tears spring into your eyes as you look up at him. He places a kiss to your forehead. "Thank you Kaoru. I will use your love as my paintbrush. I will paint away the pain.