When Erina calls her best friend in hopes of borrowing the new volume of Please Love The Useless Me!, it sounds like she's interrupted something.
When she asks Hisako what she's in the middle of, she hears, "Afternoon tea...with, um, Hayama-kun."
The blonde quirks a brow, but tries not to question it too much. Hisako and Hayama had become more amicable since their installations into the Elite Ten, but the little giggle before she hangs up has her wondering. She has her driver ready the car and makes for Hisako's place immediately.
On a good day, this route takes her forty-five minutes. Today, it takes her thirty. As the car pulls up, she finds Hayama on his way out and gives him a respectful nod. She bids a "Farewell" to his "See you," before continuing on. Her nose isn't nearly as keen as his is, but she does catch a whiff of roses before the gate clicks closed.
Perhaps he'd been helping Hisako with her gardening, Erina thinks as the maids welcome her in. Stopping to remove her shoes, she sees Hisako coming down the stairs. She's clutching several glass jars to her chest which Erina remembers from a kitchen shelf. "Erina-sama," she blinks. "You're early."
"Yes," is all she says back. There's a pretty blush to Hisako's skin and her hair is pulled up, leaving some stray tendrils clinging to her neck.
"Give me a moment to put these away," Hisako tells her, heading for the kitchen. In her wake, she catches another whiff of roses and her eyes suddenly narrow.
"I'll be upstairs," she declares before taking the steps two at a time. When she reaches the top, she heads straight for the bathroom. The smell hits her before she even reaches the tile, and a glance at the tub would surely confirm it.
But Erina doesn't have to. Instead, she makes a beeline for Hisako's bedroom and throws herself into the comforter in flustered knowing, then promptly throws herself off in flustered speculation.
She hits the carpet with a loud enough thump to cause Hisako to rush to her aid, spouting off about being more careful. Erina scarcely hears her though, feeling like she hasn't played a good enough best friend for Hisako's romantic plot line if she's been this unaware.
Or maybe, she thinks as fiery hair and a confident grin come to mind, she's the one in the middle of a rom-com that has yet to come to fruition.
.
.
.
.
.
Finally decided to cross-post this drabble from my tumblr because Akisako needs more love. Hope this short ditty was enjoyable!