... When you propose, do it at that old cherry blossom tree she loves so much.
— Sumire Makoshima to Tooru Oikawa
"I summon... enraged battle ox!" With great flair, Midori pointed her finger at Anzu, who had bent down to pick up a box of tinsel.
Anzu scowled at her. "Yeah, that's not funny. Stupid otaku. Yu-Gi-Oh? More like Yu-Gi-No..."
Under the supervision of the Student Council and a few staff members (three, actually), the four classes that had volunteered to help decorate the auditorium for the upcoming annual Christmas party were working hard to do exactly that.
At first glance, it was just another mundane activity like clean up duty, but the students were really having fun completing the task, more often than not messing around. But that was okay—if they fooled around too much, nothing would get done and they didn't want that. So they could be trusted to be responsible. Today, they were starting with the wall and window decorations.
"Wait a second," Midori said, narrowing her eyes as she went into what she liked to call 'Detective Mode'. "How would you know that it came from Yu-Gi-Oh?"
"I-I," Anzu stammered before setting her face in yet another scowl. "Shut up." Truth be told, she only knew about it when she had gone over to Akane's house on the weekend and watched Akane's little brother watch the show on television.
"How's everything going?" Naoko asked as she went up to Haruka, who was holding a clipboard in her arms. Naoko's hair was tied up in a messy bun piled at the top of her head.
"We're nearly done with the window decorations," Haruka informed her, pleased with the progress they were making. "And we're about halfway done with wall decorations. At this rate, we'll be done with today's workload before sunset. We just need to put the snowmen, the ribbons, and the candy canes up. Actually, could you fetch the box with the snowmen from the storeroom please? I don't think anyone's gotten it out yet."
Naoko nodded. "Got it." Everything for the Christmas party was kept in one of the storage rooms connected to the auditorium, so it was really no trouble.
"Nee-chan," Sumire called to her. "Could you help with this please?" She held up a ribbon. "It belongs on the top of the window pane and I just can't reach it..."
Naoko started to move toward where her sister was struggling but Oikawa beat her to it.
"No need, Mako-chan," he said as he swept by her, taking the ribbon decoration from Sumire and easily placing it where it belonged. "Anything else?" As Sumire began to list off the things she had been assigned with, Oikawa flashed a smile at Naoko, who gave a small nod before continuing on her journey to the storeroom.
"You're so stupidly tall," Sumire complained, pointing a finger at Oikawa. Had they not been close, it would have been considered very rude. "Seriously. It should be illegal to be that tall."
"Oh, you hurt me so," Oikawa said, putting a hand over his heart. "Jealousy is unbecoming, you know, Sumire-chan." He ruffled her hair in a brotherly manner and she stuck her tongue out at him, displaying her immature side—a sight not often seen by people outside her interaction circle.
"Pfft, you and Tobio are the same."
"Oi," Oikawa huffed, "we are not! For one, Tobio-chan is an irritating, bratty king who, unlike Mako-chan, doesn't make being emotionally stunted cute."
Sumire snorted. "Funny how a conversation about Tobio somehow links back to my sister." She gave him a suspicious glare. "You got a thing for her, or something?" The youngest Makoshima looked over to the other side of the hall, where Naoko and a few classmates were putting up the cardboard and plastic snowmen decoratives. "Something tells me that you do..."
"Alright, you got me." Oikawa rolled his eyes. "At least you're not as dense as your brother and sister."
Sumire raised an eyebrow. "That was easier than I expected. Have you told her how you feel yet?"
"Heck no." Oikawa put up some more ribbons in the higher places. "Honestly, Sumire-chan, confessing has never been this hard for me before. If I like a girl, I'll tell her. It's simple."
"But...? What's so different about my sister?"
"I think I love her," Oikawa stated simply, turning to face Sumire rather than the snowy window. "And I don't want to screw up." Honestly, it was a complete and utter miracle that he hadn't already.
"Whoa... that's a pretty big claim." Even she and Kageyama hadn't gotten to the 'love' stage yet—it was still just casual but still kind of serious dating, which was normal enough. But to love... "Do you want to marry her?"
"Yes," he breathed out, "I do." He chuckled. "But it's a little early for marriage, don't you think?"
Sumire shot him a withering glance. "I would hope so."
"Since when are you the overprotective type?"
"I'm not," Sumire corrected, "but she's still family. She's still my sister. And I care about her. Naoko-nee... she means the world to me. And she's not the only one." Her eyes clouded over. "Especially now that obaa-chan isn't here anymore... she's one of the only family I have left."
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
"Fine, I lied. I know. Dick move." Oikawa sighed. "Sumire-chan, I'll take care of her. I'm serious when I say that I love her—I know I haven't exactly got the best track record with women—"
"From what Iwaizumi has told me, you're a conceited womanizer."
Oikawa pouted. "Well, first of all, Iwa-chan shouldn't be going off telling people that kind of stuff!"
"He was probably just warning me."
"No offence, Sumire-chan, but I don't like you that way. Plus, you're too young."
Sumire crossed her arms and scowled. "You know perfectly well that's not what I meant! And answer the question. I want you to be serious."
"Fine." Oikawa straightened. "Sumire-chan, I swear on my life—hell, Iwa-chan's life—that I love your sister. I'll treat her well, I'll look after her, and, one day, I'm going to marry her."
Sumire stared at him, her eyes calculating. "... When you propose, do it at that old cherry blossom tree she loves so much."
"Eh?" Oikawa's eyes lit up with a pleasant surprise. "Does that mean I have your approval, oh great one?" he inquired teasingly.
"What do you think, dumbass?"
"Ouch, now that's just mean and uncalled for. You've been spending too much time with Iwa-chan, clearly." Oikawa smiled genuinely and ruffled her hair again, causing her to mutter and try to fix up her already messed up hair.
"Hajime is amazing," Sumire stated solemnly in a tone that left no room for any argument. "Real talk though, you'd better have the balls to confess to her."
"How much time are you giving me?"
"Christmas Day, no later."
Oikawa gaped at her. "That soon?!"
She shrugged. "You gotta risk it to get the biscuit."
"I don't even like biscuits!"
Sumire smirked. "You like this biscuit enough to marry her. Or were all those words false?"
"Ugh, you are evil," Oikawa grumbled.
"I am aware." She grinned at him. "So are you going to do it?"
He sighed. "Fine. I will."
"Good." Sumire punched his arm. "I'll see you around, Tooru-nii."
"Where are you going?"
"To train with my boyfriend! I agreed to spend an hour here and another hour with him."
Ah, geez. A vein popped in his cheek as he watched her leave. She and Tobio-chan are made for each other. Annoying and bratty till the end. He looked over to Naoko, who was nearly done with the decorating of the snowmen. Confess, huh? It's a lot easier on paper, heh.
"EVERYONE!" Midori shouted at the top of her lungs. "ANZU SECRETLY LIKES ANIME!"
"SHUT UP, I DO NOT!"
Past the commotion, Oikawa could see Naoko's amused expression as she regarded the laughing students, the shouting Midori, and the embarrassed Anzu. Akane hardly helped when she voiced her agreement.
Naoko laughed to herself, the action soundless to Oikawa because of the distance between them. It made his chest tighten anyway.
Yeah.
He was screwed, wasn't he?
But it'd be worth it in the end, if it meant loving and marrying that girl until the end of time.
Crack!
Naoko swung the bat and sent the ball flying away with a splitting sound.
"Nice!"
"Look at it go!"
"Run, Naoko, run!"
Class 2-5 were currently in the middle of a physical education class session, today's sport being baseball. Naoko dashed to first base. Then second base.
Someone threw the ball to the person manning third base but Naoko was faster. She got there a split second before the ball was received.
Her classmates on the bench cheered, the loudest one being Fujikawa Haruka, which was quite a surprise. The girl had really stepped out of her shell, hadn't she?
"Oh, look, it's the upperclassmen," one student said to her friend, nudging her side with her elbow.
Oikawa and Iwaizumi, who happened to also be doing physical education in the same period despite being in different classes, were walking past the baseball field, behind the fencing. They both had their water bottles in their hands, having gone for a water run.
Oikawa had stopped Iwaizumi to observe Naoko play for a little while.
"Fast," Iwaizumi commented as she made it back to home base with plenty of time to spare before the ball got back. "Naoko-chan is pretty good at sport."
Oikawa nodded absently, shamelessly more focused on how her shorts hiked up her smooth thighs as she jogged back to the bench.
"... You're being a perv, aren't you?" Iwaizumi narrowed his eyes accusingly.
"Iwa-chan!" Oikawa exclaimed. "Am not!"
"It's written all over your face. Don't even try to deny it. I'm going on ahead or my teacher's going to get mad."
"Mmkay."
Oikawa continued to watch, watching as Naoko became surrounded by the classmates on her team, looking a bit bewildered by all the attention she was receiving.
Funny, he thought, I thought that she would be more used to the spotlight by now.
"Oikawa, there you are!" Anzu jogged up to him in her sports uniform. "Sensei sent me to get you. What's taking you so long?"
"Hmm?" Oikawa chucked her a quick glance. "Oh, Anzu-chan. Tell sensei that I'll be back soon. There's a line at the fountain."
"Riiight..." Anzu followed Oikawa's gaze. "Are you going to confess soon?"
Oikawa scowled at her. "Oh, no. I've already gone through this painful discussion with someone else. We're not friends, Anzu-chan, I don't have to explain myself to you."
"So what? As much as I hate to admit it, Naoko and I are... friendlier, nowadays. I might... might care a tiny little bit about her."
"... Her sister gave me until Christmas Day to confess," Oikawa revealed, sounding reluctant.
Anzu nodded. "I see. You know, you could still do it after the deadline."
"Maybe, but then I'd feel like I let her down. Sumire-chan... she's put a lot of trust into me, especially with Mako-chan."
"Hah... you care so much... why?"
"Because," Oikawa bit out, "she means a lot to me. You wouldn't understand, Anzu-chan."
"Try me."
"Like hell. You've never been in love before, have you? You're too shallow for that."
"... Actually, you're wrong. Even I'm capable of love, believe it or not." Anzu snorted as a certain silver-haired girl came to mind. "I'm just not gonna beat around the bush. Blah, blah, blah, treat her well and all that. Because, well, she's kinda my friend... a little bit."
Oikawa gave her a wry smirk. "You can't admit it to yourself, can you? But thank you for being straight forward with me." Maybe she's not as bad as I thought...
"Oi. She and I are frenemies at best, got it?"
"Whatever you say."
Suddenly, Toshio rounded the corner, looking like he had been running a lot. "Seriously, you two, sensei's pissed! Get back to class!"
Anzu and Oikawa exchanged a glance. Whoops.
After school, the students on the decorating committee all filed down to the auditorium, where they proceeded to shower the stage with all sorts of oranaments, like some cardboard cutouts of snowmen, elves and penguins.
A large artificial Christmas tree was brought out of the storeroom by some miracle. Naoko sweatdropped at the thought of something so large squeezing through such a small doorway.
"Amazing," she heard Sumire breathe beside her. Her little sister had chosen to show up again, not wanting to miss the tree decorating.
"Alright, everyone, this is the final thing we need to do!" Toshio announced, raising his voice above the chatter. "And that's decorate this tree!"
Ladders were brought into the auditorium, and students carefully and diligently worked to clothe the three in gigantic boas of tinsel, about fifteen wreaths, and many, many baubles. There was also electric lighting put on it as well, so that it would shine brightly in the dark (because who needs the lights on at a party?); those lights had a plug which would connect with the large star that would be placed on the top of the tree.
Akane was admiring a bauble she held in her hands when Anzu snatched it from her.
"Uh, hello? We're supposed to be decorating, not doing... whatever you were doing!"
"Oh, I was simply admiring how shiny it is," Akane replied pleasantly. "Don't you think so, Anzu-kins?"
"Yeah, yeah! Just don't get too distracted."
At long last, the Christmas tree was almost complete—all that was left now was the star on top. But who would have the honor of putting it there?
"I think Mako-chan should!" Oikawa voiced earnestly, earning some glances. "She's... she's had a rough year. She deserves to do this at least."
Sumire shot him a glance that was a mix between thankful and knowing.
"I agree!" Midori added. "Naoko's been a great friend to me."
Anzu shrugged. "I don't really care. It's just a star."
"Naoko's been really great all year," one of the girls in her class piped up. "She seemed cold at first, but she's really warming up to us now. Did you see the way she played ball yesterday?"
Naoko's classmates all nodded and voiced their agreement. Oikawa raised an eyebrow. Well, she was certainly more popular amongst her classmates than he had expected.
"I..." Naoko faltered. "If no one else wants to, I'll do it. But—"
"Nuh uh!" Midori cut her off, shaking her head. "You're doing it!" She grabbed the star from Toshio and practically shoved it into Naoko's arms. "Here! Go for it, Naachan."
Naoko looked at the star in her arms, heavier than expected but still light enough to carry easily enough, and smiled gently. "Okay."
With the star in her arms, she climbed the ladder, which was supported by some of the boys, including Oikawa. He craned and angled his neck in an awkward position, trying to see Naoko as she ascended the ladder. He only succeeded when she reached the top.
Everybody held their breath as Naoko placed the star on top, moving it around to settle it, a look of deep concentration on her face.
Finally, she stopped moving it, slowly removing her hands from it, ready to catch it if it fell. It stayed in position and Naoko could breathe easy.
As she climbed down the stairs, the other students burst into applause, combined with some "ooh"s and "ahh"s at the magnificent sight of the Christmas tree, now complete with that star on top.
"Hey, someone turn on the lighting!" one student cried out.
"Oh, yeah! Haruka, will you do the honours?" Toshio said to the Student President.
"S-sure!" Beaming, Haruka hurried to an electrical box, where everything was controlled. She flipped a switch and everybody fell into a hushed silence, waiting for the tree to light up the entire room.
Nothing happened.
"Huh?"
"What's going on?"
"Is it not working or something?"
Poor Haruka looked just as confused, but, luckily, Akane stepped in to save the day.
"I think," Akane said with an almost feline grin as she walked over to where the cord ended. "It's because this isn't put in properly." Squatting down, she pressed the adapting end into the power source, and the tree lit up immediately.
Everyone gasped as colors of green, red, navy blue, and all sorts of other hues lit up the room. The stars that they had painstakingly hung on the ceiling were glowing in the light, and the disco ball above the stage was shining even brighter.
It was beautiful.
Subconsciously, Oikawa pulled Naoko toward him in a back-to-front hug, wrapping his arms around her waist as they watched the marvellous display together.
Sumire flashed a smirk when she saw how cozy they were getting. At this rate, she had no doubt that Oikawa was going to confess soon—before her deadline. She checked her watch. She would be late and Kageyama would be wondering where she was.
So she took out her phone and took a snapshot of Oikawa holding Naoko, the wonderful tree in the background. Then she forwarded the image to Kageyama before turning off her phone, grinning.
Oikawa Tooru would make for an interesting brother-in-law.
A/N: Because I needed to.
I'll leave Anzu's sexuality up to the readers. Whether you think of her as homo, bi, pan, demi, or otherwise, I don't really care.
