Chapter Text
ACORN'S POV
Dear Diary,
You know how they say "laughter is the best medicine"?
Yeah, whoever said that clearly never had senior-year squad stress brewing, mixed with leftover Valentine's chocolate and zero self-restraint.
Because that is exactly how Monday started.
The Setup
It began innocently enough. I wandered into the common room during lunch, notebook in hand, mentally cataloging emotional damage from last week.
Mizi was pacing near the counter, muttering about "strategic chocolate distribution."
Sua was somewhere behind her, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Luka was perched on the couch, arms crossed, eyes narrowed like a storm cloud. Hyuna leaned against the wall, observing. Till sketched quietly at the table, Ivan hovered like an anxious dad, and Hyunwoo, well, he was standing in the corner, looking at us all like this was a crime scene.
I took a deep breath. All seemed calm.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
The First Spark
Mizi held up a bar of chocolate like it was a sword. "This. Is. WAR."
Sua's eyes widened. "Mizi, don't even—"
Too late.
Mizi tore the chocolate into pieces and flung one at Sua. It hit her shoulder, left a smudge, and — suddenly, chaos.
Luka laughed, grabbed a piece, and without warning, catapulted it at Mizi.
Till ducked instinctively and retaliated with an elegant flick of chocolate toward Ivan.
Hyuna sighed, muttering, "Oh no, this is happening." But somehow, still managed to lob a piece that hit Luka squarely on the forehead.
And that, Diary, was when the chocolate war officially began.
The Chocolate Avalanche
Within five seconds, I was standing in the center like an idiot referee who somehow got drafted into the fight.
Chocolate flew everywhere. Some hitting walls, some hitting the floor, some disappearing mysteriously in hair and clothes.
And, of course, in perfect Acorn fashion, the universe decided I would be the prime target.
A rogue piece of chocolate. Let's call it "The Missile of Doom" — smacked me directly in the forehead. Another ricocheted off my shoulder and smushed down my back.
By the time I realized what was happening, I was coated in a sticky, brown, shiny layer.
My notebook? Chocolate-stained. My hair? Chocolate-streaked. My dignity? Vaporized.
The Squad's Reaction
Mizi froze for a split second, then pointed. "Acorn!"
Sua blinked. "Oh no..."
Luka could not stop laughing. Hyuna attempted a dignified intervention, but even she had a streak of chocolate across her sleeve. Till, wide-eyed, said, "I — I didn't mean to..."
Ivan hovered near me, trying to hand me a napkin, but somehow missed my arm entirely and managed to fling a chocolate smudge onto his own cheek.
Hyunwoo didn't move. Just stared, expression unreadable.
And that, Diary, is when it hit me: I was the epicenter of this chocolate apocalypse.
The Turning Point
Somewhere between the third and fourth barrage, everyone paused.
They paused — and laughed.
Not a polite chuckle. Not a giggle. Full-on, rolling, tears-in-eyes laughter.
Mizi doubled over, nearly falling onto the counter. "Acorn! You're chocolate-covered!"
Sua actually smiled. It was small, careful, but genuine. "You look ridiculous."
Luka slapped the couch with his hand, almost tipping himself over, still laughing. "I can't — look at you without dying."
Even Hyuna cracked a grin. "You're... very thorough in your suffering, Acorn."
Till muttered, "I think — I think I will sketch this." And indeed, his pencil flew across the page, immortalizing me as "Chocolate Acorn: The Fallen Background Character."
Ivan finally said, between laughs, "We're monsters."
"Not monsters." Hyunwoo interjected, a small smile on his lips, looking st me as if he is amused. "Chaos enthusiasts."
The Aftermath
When the laughter finally subsided —well, kind of — everyone looked around.
The room was a mess.
Chocolate smeared on walls, counters, and the floor. The squad? Sticky, laughing, slightly remorseful, but united in their absurdity.
And me? Standing there, chocolate dripping down my arms and notebook ruined.
I realized something: Despite the cracks, despite the fights, despite the looming threat of graduation tearing us apart, we were still... us.
A ridiculous, chaotic, sticky, dysfunctional us.
Mizi patted my chocolate-covered shoulder. "You survived. Somehow. And you look hilarious."
Sua leaned in. "Next time, maybe you should dodge?"
Luka shrugged. "Nah. You are perfect like this."
Till sketched furiously. Ivan tried to clean a smudge off his shirt. Hyuna just shook her head, still smiling. Hyunwoo gave a small nod, approving in the mafia-dog way.
Note to self:
There is a pattern forming here. Quarrels? Temporary. Fights? Escalate to absurdity. Chocolate wars? Somehow therapeutic.
And somehow, in the sticky mess of it all, the squad doesn't break. Not completely.
There are cracks, yes — but the cracks make room for laughter, and sometimes that's enough to keep the circus tent standing, even if the ropes are fraying.
Also, maybe invest in chocolate-proof armor for next time.
Bonus Narration
By the end of the day, we were all cleaning up. Mostly. Some chocolate remained in corners, on walls, on my notebook.
It was sticky, messy, and completely ridiculous.
But Diary? I laughed too. Despite the stress, the tension, the looming graduation, I laughed.
Because that's what the squad does:
We fight, we argue, we make messes—and somehow, somehow, we are still together.
And maybe that's the point.