AN: Prompt from isshikuni on Tumblr. A little something that's more playful. Thank you!

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C is for Change:

New Look, New Me

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Turning the corner down the hall, Nene entered the luxurious lounge space reserved for Elite Ten members; exactly where she thought she would find them. Checking the order of her paperwork one final time, she walked into the boys' meeting, silently distracted by the stack of forms in her hand and slightly impatient with all the work she still had to finish.

The organization of the details pertaining to the influx of Shokugeki matches had fallen of course, on the third years. Hence, the meeting between the three male students in the lounge; arguing over paperwork, forms, and stupid logistics. She was invited to join them, but she instantly turned them down. After all, she would be suffocated in a room full of so much stupidity.

All three were seated around the glass coffee table. Isshiki and Eizan were slouching on the couch; typing away on their laptops as their tea in the porcelain cups slowly grew colder. Across from them, Kuga sat in the leather armchair, twirling his phone on his fingers while he ranted about how much work the headmaster was giving them.

She entered quietly, not bothering to announce her presence or state her interruption. Deciding she didn't have time to waste, she got straight to the point. "Are you guys done with your forms?" She said, stopping in front of the group. Nene continued to focus her attention on counting the forms while she proceeded to talk. "I need to know the list of participants. Can you separate them by class, gender and-" She cut herself off, noticing the lack of Kuga's annoying voice and keyboard clicks, as well as the uncomfortable stare from all three of them on her. Nene halted her counting, finally looking up to be met with three dumbfounded faces. "What?" She asked confused.

"What… Happened?" Kuga said, breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?" Nene scowled, narrowing her eyes.

Kuga raised his arm and pointed towards Nene accusingly, "Your hair. Your glasses."

Nene's hand flew up to the pink frames of her glasses, adjusting them slightly. She let out a huff realizing what they were just now noticing. "Yeah thanks, Midget, for pointing out the obvious. I got new glasses and let my hair down. Now can I have your paperwork so I can finish mine?" insulted Nene, rolling her eyes.

"WHAT WAS THAT, PIGTAILS?!" Kuga shouted, jolting up furious at the comment.

"Nice nickname. But at least I can change my hair, you'll forever be vertically challenged." Nene quipped.

"HA?!"

Meanwhile, Isshiki transferred the computer from his lap to the table, stretching slightly and leaning forward in interest. "I've never seen you with long hair like that." He smiled, tilting his head a bit. "I think it suits you Kinokuni-kun. Don't you think so Eizan-kun?" Isshiki turned towards Eizan.

The businessman, who was over his second of surprise from her sudden appearance sighed, turning his attention back to the laptop. "Do you really care for my opinion?" Eizan asked monotoned.

"No." She replied frankly.

"That settles it because I really don't care." He replied just as blunt, resuming his earlier tasks.

"Well, I think you're trying too hard, Pigtails. You'll never get a guy with that kind of cold personality." Kuga taunted, smug with his insult.

"Kuga, just die."

"THERE IT IS!"

"What made you change your look?" Isshiki carried the conversation on, as if totally unaffected by the banter from Kuga. She slackened her hand with the forms to her side, shifting her weight to her left leg to rest her other hand on her hip. She sighed, debating whether she should answer the question.

"I got a new prescription and they stopped carrying my normal frames. The new ones don't match the braids." She reasoned. That had all be true, yes. Her optometrist had told her she needed new glasses. The store did stop offering her favorite pair. And yes, the new frames didn't suit her pigtails. But she would be lying if those were her only reasons for the change.

If she had to be honest, Nene needed a new look, a new sense of self. Ever since the Regiment de Cuisine a couple of months ago, she had felt lost; unsatisfied with her methods and work. She picked herself up enough to win a seat back on the council, but she wanted a change. She wanted to change. And with everything going on within her internally, she thought she might as well switch up her appearance too.

"Thank god, those old frames were terrible." Eizan interjected, joining the conversation again.

"Like you're one to talk! Those square frames don't exactly make you look any less barbaric." Nene sneered.

"Say that again. I dare you." Eizan threatened, lifting his chin causing a glare to hit off his glasses.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" The Chinese cuisine chef chanted, much to Isshiki's dismay.

"God, why am I even explaining myself to you idiots."

"Why don't we all just calm down?" Isshiki laughed playfully. "Well, I think you look cute, Kinokuni-kun." He said, propping his elbow on the arm of the sofa, resting his head against it. He looked at her with those soft blue eyes that annoyed her so much in the past; reading through her simple answers so easily. She knew he was aware of exactly why she changed, and it drove her insane knowing he withheld his mouth from mentioning for her sake.

"Cu- Cute!?" Nene stammered, both extremely uncomfortable from his attentiveness to her, but also incredibly overwhelmed by his simple remark.

"Mm," Isshiki confirmed, nodding his head playfully with his signature grin. "It brings out your pretty hair and eyes. You should wear it like that more often."

"Okay, can you two stop flirting. It's gross." Kuga cringed, pretending to gag.

"SHUT UP!" Nene scolded, taking a few steps back.

"It's called complimenting, Kuga-kun. You two might want to learn how to do it.

"SHUT UP, ISSHIKI!" The Eizan and Kuga turned towards the brunette, choosing to pick a fight with him now. The simple meeting had now turned into a giant insult fest.

"Whatever!" Nene interrupted their argument, gaining their attention again. "Are you done with the paperwork or not!"

"Ah, we're working on it right now." Isshiki replied, picking up his laptop again and settling back into the cushions.

She squeezed her eyes together, massaging her temple. "Just get it done before the meeting. I can't do my part unless you idiots finish! Here!" She shoved the stack of forms to Isshiki, to which he hesitantly grabbed. "These are the facility logistics."

With that she spun on her heels, both annoyed and extremely flustered. Before she completely walked out of the room Isshiki called to her. "Kinokuni-kun!" At the mention of her name, she looked over her shoulder. "Thanks." He smiled.

Sharply turning her head, she continued on her way out, pacing past the open door and into the empty hallways. Once she was safely out of view, she halted her strides in the middle of the path. Raising her hand to her rapidly beating heart, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. Her other hand softly ran her fingers through her hair, tucking the loose strand behind her ears.

Cute? She furrowed her brows together. He said I look cute?

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AN: Really excited for letter D! It's like one of my favorite headcanons! I can't wait to write it so, look forward to it :)