1.

The late afternoon sun cast a warm, golden hue over the school courtyard, setting the perfect stage for what was unfolding. The air was thick with the sweet, almost sickeningly saccharine tension typical of high school crushes. A young girl, her eyes sparkling with naive wonder, beamed at the boy walking beside her.

"We're really amazing, aren't we?" she cooed, a soft, lovestruck smile gracing her lips. "We have a lot of things in common."

The boy, equally smitten and rubbing the back of his neck nervously, offered a gentle, confirming smile. "That's true..." he agreed softly. "And I don't think it's a coincidence... Yep..."

As they walked, their hands tentatively brushed against each other before finally, shyly, intertwining. It must be fate! The unspoken, euphoric thought practically radiated from their tightly linked fingers.

High above this touching scene, completely unseen by the mortal world, a winged figure perched lazily on a cloud, watching the spectacle below with an unamused sigh. "Humans..." she muttered, her chin resting heavily in her palm.

The winged girl, possessing long, flowing hair and a quiver full of arrows, let her feathery wings twitch with mild annoyance. "Really are pretty dumb," she stated flatly, observing the swooning teenagers.

With a soft flap of her wings, she hovered closer to the ground, remaining entirely invisible to the couple. "They have such happy faces..." she noted, her tone dripping with sarcastic exasperation. She pointed a small finger down at them. "It's 'cause I struck my arrow at you, okay?"

Let’s get proper introductions out of the way. She puffed out her chest slightly, her large, ethereal eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and irritation.

My name is Yujin, she thought to herself. I'm a cupid. And frankly, humanity owed her a massive thank you for all her hard work behind the scenes. "BE MORE GRATEFUL!" she yelled into the void, though, of course, no one heard her.

Drifting back to a comfortable, lounging position on her little cloud, Yujin let out a long, weary sigh.

To be frank... she mused, lazily resting her head on her hands as she floated in the sky, I don't really care at all about human love. It was all so repetitive, so utterly predictable.

 She stared off into the distance, her expression turning slightly contemplative as she watched the humans go about their mundane lives.

Then, why am I here in the human world? she asked herself, a question she had pondered countless times. I've been thinking... for a long time...

It always came back to the job description, a duty passed down to her. My mission is to make humans fall in love, she recalled. It was a mechanical process to her now. She would scour the schoolyards and city streets, waiting to find a target. She would watch patiently for that spark when people exchange glances...

When the moment was exactly right, and the atmosphere was ripe for romance, she would draw her bow, pulling the string back with practiced precision. If you'd like... she would whisper to the oblivious humans, a silent offer to the universe. That's where I come in!

Without hesitation, she would release the bowstring. And I strike an arrow into their heart! The invisible, heart-tipped projectile would fly through the air with a satisfying THUNK, embedding itself seamlessly into the target's chest, leaving a trail of little floating hearts in its wake. The results were always instantaneous. Below her, a boy would suddenly find the courage he never knew he had, bowing his head and shouting, "PLEASE GO OUT WITH ME!" deeply under the arrow's magical influence.

Snapping back to the present moment, Yujin watched the fruits of her latest labor unfold exactly as planned. The girl from earlier gasped, her face flushing a deep, happy crimson.

"I'd be honoured!" the girl replied enthusiastically, squeezing his hand. The boy's face lit up with pure shock and joy. "REALLY!?" he gasped, overjoyed.

Hovering directly over the newly minted couple, Yujin gave herself a highly satisfied nod. "GOOD JOB ME!" she cheered, admiring her handiwork as little imaginary hearts seemed to float around the couple's heads.

However, her triumphant mood was short-lived as cold reality set back in. By the way, she noted internally, her expression flattening into a deadpan stare, I was forced into this by my mom.

Leaving the lovebirds to their sickeningly sweet moment, Yujin took to the sky once more, gliding effortlessly over the suburban walls and rooftops.

I've said it before, but there's been a decline in romance recently... she grumbled to herself, her tiny wings carrying her further down the street. It made her job infinitely harder than it used to be. I need one more to fill in my quota.

Landing softly on a nearby stone wall, Yujin peered over a wire fence, her eyes scanning the quiet street for potential targets.

Hmm, wonder if there's any suitable couples around here... she pondered, adjusting the heavy quiver of arrows on her back. Just as she was surveying the area, a sudden, bright voice shattered the quiet afternoon air, calling out from the human world below.

"Y/N~!"

buzzed with a sweet, nervous energy as the girl approached him, her face alight with a bright, hopeful smile. "Morning!" she chimed, her voice holding a delicate desire to be noticed.

The boy, handsome and incredibly gentle, turned to her with a soft, melodic chuckle. "Haha... That's right..." he replied, his tone warm and inviting.

"Glad to meet you again!!" she beamed back, her heart doing a frantic dance against her ribs. In her mind, a thrilling and tender realization took root. Recently, we've been seeing each other every day, she thought, her eyes tracing the delicate lines of his face and the dark hair falling perfectly across his brow. Her inner voice practically soared, completely overwhelmed by his sheer presence. He's so pretty!!!

Floating invisibly nearby, the tiny cupid, Yujin, observed the boy with a rare glint of genuine appreciation. Her large, ethereal eyes widened as she took in his flawless, refined features. Wow, boys this pretty exist in this world, huh? she mused silently, tilting her head. She leaned closer, analyzing his gentle demeanor. He ain't a sight for sore eyes! she admitted to herself, truly impressed by the human boy's striking looks.

A cherished memory drifted through the girl's mind, a beautiful snapshot of a conversation that had cemented her blooming crush. The scene painted itself vividly in her thoughts, recalling a quiet moment by the school lockers where she had nervously approached him. "I saw the movie you recommended, Y/n!" she had told him, clutching her books tight to her chest with pure anticipation.

His face had lit up with immediate recognition and joy. "Fin? Yeah, it was super interesting!" he had agreed enthusiastically. For a fleeting second, she felt a profound connection, a beautifully shared world blooming gently between them.

However, the bright memory cast a sudden, cold shadow of reality over her present hopes. Watching him laugh so effortlessly in that recollection, a harsh truth had settled deeply into her chest. Well, but he isn't in my league! She had realized the gap between his radiant perfection and her ordinary self felt impossibly vast.

Yujin snapped her attention back to the present, a mischievous smirk pulling at her lips. Such a fitting way to end the day, the celestial cupid decided, seeing the perfect, undeniable opportunity to strike.

Below her, the girl mustered every ounce of courage she possessed, her voice trembling slightly. "Well then... There's an event..." she stammered, looking down at her shoes as a rosy flush dusted her cheeks. "But it's only for couples..."

Yujin wasted no time. "Just leave the rest up to me!" she declared with supreme confidence, drawing back her glowing bowstring with a sharp, magical pull.

The girl finally raised her eyes, meeting his gaze with absolute vulnerability. "If you'd like," she began, the words hanging delicately in the quiet air. "Please can you go with me?!" she blurted out, her true feelings pouring forth in a beautiful rush of pure sincerity.

At that exact moment, the cupid's arrow sliced cleanly through the air and struck the boy directly in the chest, erupting in a magnificent shower of magical hearts.

"Perfect!" Yujin cheered, watching the romantic aura bloom wildly around the boy. And that's my quota for the day! she thought, a triumphant smile gracing her lips. She twirled gracefully in the air, deeply satisfied with her divine handiwork. I'm a prodigy after all! With her task complete, she mentally prepared for her departure. Well! I need to go home quickly to report to mother...

Then, a voice completely devoid of warmth shattered the magical atmosphere.

"Sorry," the boy said softly.

Yujin froze, her confident smile vanishing instantly. "Huh!?" she gasped aloud, entirely bewildered by the impossible rejection unfolding before her eyes.

"You deserve someone better..." Y/n added, his voice carrying a quiet, heavy sorrow. "Actually, a lot of stuff happened back at home, and..." he continued, his tone apologetic but heartbreakingly firm. "I don't really have the luxury of treasuring someone..."

Yujin flew down in an instant, practically hovering right beside his face, her mind racing with sheer panic. W- What? Wake up, idiot! she screamed internally. The sheer impossibility of the situation gnawed at her very being.

"I want you to be happier, Hayoon-ah" he finished softly, staring past the devastated girl.

Did the arrow not pierce him!? Yujin wondered frantically, inspecting his chest where the magical projectile had flawlessly hit its mark.

Tears welled up in the girl's eyes, her grand confession crumbling to dust in the afternoon light. "Y/n..." she whispered, her voice cracking under the unbearable weight of her sudden heartbreak.

Yujin floated silently beside the boy, her eyes fixed on his broad back as he prepared to leave. The magic had hit its target perfectly. The arrow pierced him, I'm sure of it... she reasoned, a deep, unsettling confusion taking root in her celestial heart.

Turning away to hide her flowing tears, the girl forced out a final, shaky farewell. "Well then... I'll be going." She walked down the solitary path, leaving a heavy, mournful "Why..." echoing softly in her wake.

The tiny cupid watched Y/n's shadowed profile, searching desperately for any sign of a lie or a broken spell. But... Yujin pondered, gazing at the boy who had defied the divine, Did it not reach his heart...?

The boy suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned his head just slightly, casting a glance over his shoulder that sent an unexpected chill through the warm afternoon air. The soft, endlessly gentle aura he had carried only moments before vanished entirely, replaced by a dark, intense gaze that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of the world. Floating above the pavement, Yujin froze in midair. A tiny, nervous bead of sweat formed on her porcelain cheek.