For the Climate Control Challenge on the Ministry of Magic Discord.
The high winds are a frustration to all the girls. Across the school fields, half the girls desperately pull down their skirts while the boys whistle and the other half are blinded as their hair whips into their face. Sawako is no exception, her usually heavy and straight locks flying in the wind. She doesn't complain, but Ayane is quick to notice her discomfort. She beckons the group to stop, and pulls Sawako down onto the grass and sits behind her. Chizu and the boys kneel nearby.
Ayane scoops Sawako's hair back, taking time to gush over how smooth it feels. As she speaks, she looks over Sawako's shoulder and gives Kazehaya an all-knowing smirk. And she pulls Sawako's long hair into a high bun, exposing the pale of her neck, Kazehaya's cheeks flush.
"Kazehaya."
"Sorry. What?" He blinks, his head snapping to meet Ayane's gaze. "I missed that."
"Can you please pass me a hair tie?" Her tone is sweet and pleasant, but her eyes are laughing. Only Kazehaya can see that she's mocking him. "There's one in my bag."
"Yano," Chizu chimes, "there's one on your wrist! Why are you asking Kazehaya for another one?"
For a moment, Ayane's eyes flash. But she quickly recovers, tipping her head back and laughing loudly. "You're right, Chizu. Silly me. Sorry, Kazehaya."
Kazehaya manages to mumble some kind of acknowledgement, his eyes have gone back to Sawako who is now cheerfully thanking her friend for her efforts. Perhaps he should have gotten used to her smiling by now, but it still manages to catch him off guard. Once again, he can feel his face become hot.
"What do you think, Kazehaya? Doesn't Sawako look cute with her hair up like this?"
He gulps and, looking pointedly away, gives a short nod. Ayane and Chizu immediately begin to laugh and, in his embarrassment, Kazehaya never thinks to look back to Sawako. And so, he misses it when her eyes widen and she blushes—the rosiness of her cheeks matching his.