Chapter 5

"This has the potential of being a traditional event," Lelouch sighs as he scans the proposal in his hand once again. A huff escapes from his lips while the gears in his brain begins to process ways to make it possible.

"What's the sigh for, then?"

All of a sudden, a head of emerald tresses blocks his view and the scent of oranges and peaches invades his nose.

"Hmm… Hmm," C.C. hums as she reads the document before her. Her head bumps against Lelouch's nose when she nods causing the boy to hiss.

Leaning away, Lelouch rubs his tender nose and says, "Your shampoo has a strong scent."

"Hmm?" At this, C.C. turns towards him and the sudden nearness of her face against his surprise him almost causing him to fall from his seat. "You don't like it?"

Lelouch scrunches his nose. "Should I?"

"I like it," C.C. answers instead. "It smells like citrus candies." The girl begins playing with her hair and the act only makes the scent waft around their surroundings more. If she's doing it on purpose, he doesn't know but a small smirk rests on her lips and Lelouch has a nagging feeling that she is indeed teasing him.

"It's not that I don't like it. I'm just used to gentler stuff. My sister's hair smells like lavender."

"You go around sniffing your sister's hair? Gross."

"Wha – No, I didn't mean it like that!"

But he sees that the damage has been done and he had left a rather strange impression to C.C. Well, not that it matters that much.

"Anyway," without any warning, the girl plucks the papers from his grip and Lelouch had a mini heart attack for a moment for if he had been holding them too tight, there would be two halves of the documents by now. C.C. finally straightens and Lelouch finally regains a proper sitting position. "What's the problem here?"

"The Music Club wants to hold a Music Festival with the battle of the bands as the main event."

"But you're gloomy."

Shaking his head, the boy looks up and stares defeatedly at the Music Club's proposal. "I wouldn't say that the festival is impossible to execute but it's approval won't be the same as walking in the park. Unlike the school festival and the sports festival which are both established annual events, and which both have permanent allocated funds, the school has never done a festival solely for music. Yearly, any related music activity is held during the school fest. The teachers may use that as an argument."

"If that's the case, why does the Music Club suddenly want it separated now?" inquires C.C. while leafing through the pages. Her brows furrow at something she read but instantly smoothen the next moment. "This seems to be out-of-nowhere."

Lelouch shrugs. "Not really. This was already raised during the past administration, now that I think about it. But it was just a passing comment from the previous club president during a meeting and it wasn't brought up again."

"Is it only the funds that you have a problem with?"

Turning his head, Lelouch glances at the calendar hanging on the wall. "Well, there's also the date as to when it will be held. Next month would be exam month. The month after would be too close to the Sports Fest."

"What about after the Sports Fest? That would also give them enough time to prepare."

Lelouch stares at the dates and begins a silent calculation of days and schedule in his mind. A two-month preparation doesn't sound bad but he worries that the faculty may suggest for them to just wait until the school festival arrives.

"Do you want this to happen?"

C.C.'s curious voice catches his attention and he glances back at the girl, he finds her jotting down notes on a piece of paper. He watches as her left wrist moves quickly as if it has a mind of its own. Does he want this to happen? The logical side of him actually agrees to the possible arguments the faculty may raise. They have to save whatever fund that they have and will have for the grand school festival. It is the most awaited event of the year for everybody – one of the defining moments of their high school life. And he, as the Student Council President… of Internal Affairs, he only wants to throw a memorable and unique experience that everyone will carry ten or twenty, make it thirty years from now.

But he also wants to give the Music Club a chance to shine. It is an undeniable fact that the Ashford Academy doesn't highly prioritized the music field. It mainly focuses on academic development and prides itself on the academic achievements of its students.

If he let the Music Club share its activities with others during the school fest, it would only be the same as the previous years. They wouldn't have the chance for the spotlight and their melody would be lost in the noise.

"I want to give them a chance to have their melody get heard," he simply answers.

C.C. raises a brow and says, "Being poetic aren't we? Well then, I'll see what I can do. I'll just inform you later how things work out."

After handing the papers back to him, C.C. gathers her things and proceeds towards the door.

"Where are you going?" asks Lelouch.

C.C. cocks her head to the side as if the answer should have been obvious. "Home?"

"But you haven't told me your plan."

"I said that I'll tell you later, right? It's already five."

"So? Can't you stay for a little longer so we can settle this?"

C.C. looks at him blankly and Lelouch discovers that he doesn't like to be at the receiving end of that stare. "I'll text you, or would you rather that I call you? I'll inform you later, Lelouch. Is this an urgent matter? Not as of the moment. So, goodbye. See you tomorrow."

Just as she opens the door, the two members of the student council appear on the opposite side, startled by the unexpected presence of their president.

"H-Hi! Sorry we're late. Miss Villeta asked us to go to the faculty office after class," Shirley, the secretary, stammers.

C.C. only gives them a quick smile before completely excusing herself, leaving the pair confused. Shirley's uncertain eyes find Lelouch and the latter shrugs in return, gesturing for them to come in.

A puzzle, he concludes.

For when he thought that they are finally sharing good communication and he's about to figure C.C. out, another unfit piece appears confusing the image he had started to establish in his mind. Or it can also be said that another piece comes loosely and disappears before he gets a full image of her.

A puzzle, Lelouch concludes. But one that he doesn't know how would look like in the end.

The next day, Lelouch had just taken his seat in their table when C.C. approaches him.

"Do you have a minute?"

Lelouch looks down at his snack then back to the girl who, at this time of break, stands empty-handed in the middle of the busy cafeteria.

"Why?" he inquires, at the same time, his stomach growls. He should have really eaten his breakfast earlier. If only his alarm clock didn't break in the middle of the night, he could have enjoyed a slice of freshly baked bread from his favorite bakery.

Unfortunately, C.C. must have the hearing ability of a bat for she unbelievably heard his stomach in the midst of the noisy chaos of the cafeteria. "Well, it can wait. I'll just – "

"Why don't you join us, C.C.?" This coming from Kallen who's already making a space for her, effectively squeezing Suzaku against Rivalz. "I know the food here couldn't compete with the ones in your resto but mom makes really delicious rice balls and this serving is good enough for ten people."

"I have an extra sandwich, you can have it," Suzaku offers good-naturedly.

"Here." A soda can slides on the table and dangerously stops right at the edge, infront of C.C. "That's yours now," Rivalz says.

"But – "

"If I were you, I won't open it now." A tug on her wrist captures the girl's attention and upon following the movement, she finds Lelouch glaring at the can before them. "You can sit here… Kallen, are you imitating canned sardines? Stop pushing against Suzaku, Rivalz is barely breathing."

Lelouch sees the conflict in C.C.'s eyes. Maybe, his friends came off too aggressive? There's also the possibility that she hasn't eaten anything like these before. Some wealthy families live like that, he supposed – as if they have their own little world, eating their own produced, or at times, invented food and wearing customized clothes only them possessed.

"I don't have utensils," C.C. mumbles beside him. On cue, Lelouch magically pulls out a small Tupperware and a pair of utensils from his bag and places them infront of the girl. If C.C. looked confused earlier, well, she is definitely dazed now with how fast things are going.

"You're carrying these with you everyday?" A chuckle teases to escape from Lelouch's lips upon hearing her befuddled voice. He would have let it out if not for the genuine concern her tone carries. He shakes his head.

"These are supposed to be for Nunnally but mom already prepared a set for her so now I'm left with these."

Then two rice balls are placed in the Tupperware courtesy of Kallen followed by Suzaku's sandwich. As a contribution, Lelouch puts three sushi rolls, ones he personally made the night before.

With bated breath, the group watches C.C. take her first bite of everything. It's as if they are watching a judge of a cooking show tasting the contestants' dishes and her verdict would either make or break their careers.

Like a hawk, Lelouch's eyes zero in to her lips, seriously anticipating any lift or frown that it may convey. Why he is suddenly nervous, he doesn't know. It's not as if C.C.'s a professional chef whose opinion will turn his world upside-down. But still, strangely, he wants to get her impressed by these foods. Especially, his sushi. He made that from scratch.

Then there it is.

The tilt of the corner of her lips, so subtle, almost shy that if he isn't watching, he wouldn't have captured it. Then the slight widening of her eyes, her head curiously tilting to the right as if she's trying to determine what flavor she's tasting.

It's Rivalz who breaks the tension first. "So?"

C.C. blinks at them. Then, blinks some more. Just looking at her eyelashes reminds Lelouch of flapping butterfly wings. It makes him dizzy.

The girl takes a glance of the meal then back to her audience. "Were you waiting for my reaction?" she innocently asks.

"Huh? What? Of course not!" Waving her hands infront of her, Kallen elbows Suzaku who then elbows Rivalz. "Why don't we just eat?"

Somehow, not hearing her verdict disappoints Lelouch but perhaps, that small smile would do for now. He finally heeds the scream of his empty stomach and takes his first bite of sushi.

Ah, he's really good at making these.

"Will you come again?"

"The Music Festival is already approved by the school officers." C.C. lets out a proud smile as she relays the good news for the second time. They still have a few more minutes to spare before classes resume but the fresh cool air engulfing the roof top makes her want to stay for a little longer.

"How?"

The frown on Lelouch's face confuses C.C. Shouldn't he be delighted by this progress? And how quick this progress come to be? Overnight, she had pulled some strings here and there, contacted connections just so the problem with the funding will be nothing but a past discussion.

"I got us a couple of sponsorships for the contest. No need to worry about the equipment and the prizes. Then, I talked to the principal earlier before class and laid out our plan including the possible dates. We got the month before the Sports Fest. I think it's good. The sooner the better, right?" C.C. sways on her feet as she cannot contain the feeling of accomplishment within her small body, a smile threatening to form on her lips.

"Our plan…" Lelouch deadpans.

"Uh-huh."

"Do the other council members know about this?"

"Not yet. I supposed that I'll tell you first since you're the Internal Affairs President and all," she says dismissively with a wave of her hand.

"Yeah, you told me after everything was done and finalized without consulting the whole student council and even the Music Club. We haven't even had a proper meeting about this."

Realizing that their feelings are not even slightly connected, C.C.'s giddy feelings begin to dissipate as Lelouch's foul mood infects their atmosphere.

"Why aren't you happy about this? This is what you wanted, right? You said so yesterday."

"What I wanted…"

She doesn't like the tone of his voice. It painfully reminds her of her father's when he's about to express his disappointment on her. Her hands ball into fists and she bites her lips so as to prevent them from trembling.

"This is not about what I wanted but what the student council and the Music Club unitedly decided on but you kept us in the dark. Maybe, if you could have stayed in school for a little longer yesterday, we would have arrived at a decision together. But you left us and now, you just dropped this bomb as if it's such a small thing that we can do overnight." Crossing his arms, Lelouch shakes his head in exasperation. He doesn't sound angry. No, he hadn't even raised his voice since their conversation started, but he keeps that low, condescending tone which is actually worse in C.C.'s opinion.

"You…" C.C. squints at him. The sun feels suddenly so high that it hurts her eyes. The cool wind from before is now slicing her skin like icicles in a snow storm. Gone is her fascination for the rooftop. Her feet itch to leave and fly to the place farthest from here. She'll take the hotness of the desert and dehydration over the time she spends longer with him. "Your sushi sucks."

"What?" Taken aback by her words, Lelouch's hands fall on his sides and he takes a step back.

"Your sushi tastes bad," she continues through gritted teeth. "No, it's not even that. It's so bland that it tastes like clay."

"That's not true. Take that back!" Why he's more worked up over this issue, C.C. doesn't understand, but the fact that she is able to finally pushed his buttons brings her a sense of empowerment.

A harsh glint appears on her eyes as she stares at him mockingly. "It's the worst sushi I've ever eaten." And with that, she turns her back on him and begins walking towards the door.

"Hey, we're not done yet, C.C.!"

But she ignores him. She's angry at him. Angry that he doesn't appreciate her efforts. Angry that he doesn't even show an ounce of gratitude for what she had done. All he did was scold her and point out what she did wrong.

And when she thought that school is her escape from the suffocation she feels at home, she suddenly cannot breathe.

"We'll have a meeting later! We have to tell the council and the club about this! Don't be late!"

Damn, him. Damn, Lelouch Lamperouge to Hell. Damn him for making her say those things when in fact, that sushi was one of the tastiest she ever had. Now, she cannot even ask for seconds or even just the recipe so that her chef could easily imitate it.

Damn him for popping the bubble of contentment she felt in the cafeteria earlier.