After their first meeting, Minoru stays in contact with Minami, even after his condition is cured. After an unfortunate video call where he looked like he had kitty ears (and finding the translation) Minami stuck him with the nickname Minou. Minoru retaliated with Cerise, because she blushed cherry when she laughed.
It couldn't have happened at a worse place.
The Nine Schools competition.
Minami, dressed to impress in a beautiful furisode that had been gifted to her by Miyuki for the competition (which the Yotsuba heir had insisted on viewing) was standing still while Miyuki and Tatsuya made nice with the other major families. She was unaware of the gazes she attracted, dressed in a deep sapphire kimono patterned with golden swirls of four leaves. Her obi was a rich golden brown, her kanzashi styled as if someone had pressed four golden leaves together.
Despite being bored, Minami was still a good, obedient servant. Still decorous. So when Minoru Kudou and his family approached the Shiba youngsters (and lone Sakurai) and after making his greetings, Second High third year Minoru Kudou grabbed Minami in a tight hug, she was surprised and horrified when she squeaked
"Minou! Put me down!" Laughing, Minoru whirled around as he raised her up, grinning as he retorted cheerfully
"But you look so beautiful Cerise!" Minoru smirked, hitching Minami even higher on his shoulder and turning in the other direction, obviously delighting in the stream of rapidfire stream of invectives in a mishmash of French, English and Japanese. Finally, she entreated in what sounded like tears
"You're making a scene, Minoru. Please! Put me down." Horrified he might have made her cry, Minoru set her down, only for Minami to zip back over to Tatsuya, staring at Minoru with a triumphant, dry face.
"You cheat! Cerise, mon amour, how could you break my heart like that?" Everyone watched as Minami bristled (men comparing her to their wives with a shudder). Before she could do more than heave a breath, Tatsuya interjected quietly
"Perhaps you could explain those nicknames, and why they exist." Despite the stiff delivery, Tatsuya's gentle scold diffused Minami's ire. Minoru approached her carefully, taking her face in his hands before replying absently as he searched her eyes
"After I met her, I tracked down Minami-chan, we got to talking. She was studying French at the time she gave me the nickname, about six months later. I called her after a bad day, and she laughed because my hair was standing up like cat ears. Minou means kitty, and I asked her what Cherry meant, not as a play on her surname, but on the color she blushed as she laughed." Minami tentatively reached up to cup Minoru's cheek, exhaling before she replied
"I thought he'd stop calling once I explained, and then he asked about the cherry…"
More than a few onlookers were envious. It was obvious that Minami had fallen deeply for the Kudou heir, and that same young man clearly adored the Yotsuba girl.
Only Tatsuya noted the proud but fond smile Miyuki was sporting, which he then connected to the gift.
Ah, yes, the gift Miyuki gave their servant for an event she knew Minoru would be at.
Sneaky Miyuki.
The thought didn't stop the brief squeeze of Miyuki's waist and the breathed in her ear
"Well done."