A/N: Took me a long-ass time to fulfill this request, but are we surprised. xD And since this particular story was becoming too long, I had to cut it in half. Ergo, two-parter! High school AU! I'll upload the next part as soon as it's refined.

Request:
Can I make a request tho because it is very rare to read a fanfic in which it is a highschool setting CC & Lelouch living normally and of course the gang too. 👉👈 Thank you.


Part 1: Crush

"We're down to the last dregs of our school budget."

Everyone at the table turned to the Vice President. Accounting papers clutched between his hands, pen poking the corner of his mouth, as he mourned over the abysmal numbers. The worst part was that he had none to blame but their shoddy job of allocating budgets to other clubs during the start of the school year. And now, there was barely any left to fund the obligatory Christmas festival just three months away.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Suzaku spoke up, doing his best to be optimistic about the whole situation as he bit into a mildly satisfying cafeteria burrito. Didn't that mean they successfully divided up the budget to cater to everyone?

Lelouch shook his head 'no' and set the paper aside to pick at the barely touched lunch in front of him. "Not if the entire campus wants that promised Christmas festival."

The last two words caught everyone's attention, and even the usually distracted Rivalz paid attention long enough to hear Lelouch's concise but brief explanation about the repercussions of a depleted money supply. For this, there really was no one to blame. Not when every one of them were busy in their own right ─ choosing to half-ass the most tedious job of them all instead.

"We could always─"

"There is no need to fear nor worry." Milly declared, rising from her seat in a dramatic fashion, waving a rolled up piece of paper in the air. "We have the perfect solution!"

"We do?" Kallen cocked an eyebrow with arms folded across her chest.

"Let's hear it, Madame President!" Rivalz announced, excited to hear what other brilliant scheme Milly concocted in her head.

Milly hummed and gauged each of her friends' faces, grinning at all the delightful chaos that would come out of this fun but scandalous venture. Well, it wasn't going to be that scandalous ─ just an exaggeration of hers to make it more interesting. She already knew, without mentioning it first, that Lelouch would abhor this. Some would probably be indignant, but it would all fall into place. She'd had this event in the backburner for gods knew how long.

So this problem presented by her ever-vigilant Vice President was the perfect stage to set this event in-motion.

Besides, what was the harm in─

"A chaining booth!" Milly cackled gleefully, blue eyes glittering with mirth at every implication coming to light.

"A what now?"

"Chains?"

"What is it about?"

"What's that?"

"Prez?!"

The members of the Council spoke over each other all at once. Milly took in all of their expressions. Kallen's confused squawk, Nina's not-so-innocent blush, Suzaku's genuine curiosity, Rivalz's eagerness, Shirley's indignance, and her favorite, Lelouch's exasperated groan. Her childhood friend began to rub at his temples, preparing himself for the onslaught of a migraine and the thought of navigating through Milly's shenanigans this time around.

"Listen well, and listen close, darlings."

=OoOoO=

THE CHAIN OF LOVE

(Brought to you by Ashford's Student Council)

Too shy to ask your crush out on a date? Afraid of getting rejected? Ever wanted to play matchmaker? Now's your chance to make your dreams come true! Happening this Wed-Fri, September 17-19: THE CHAIN OF LOVE.

Subtly parade your blossoming romance, go out on a date, and if you're lucky, you might even get hitched! Plan your own date with that special someone, or set up two people who you know should be together. Curious now?

READ (AND DON'T SKIP) THE MECHANICS OR YOUR REQUEST IS DENIED:

Step 1: Visit THE CHAIN OF LOVE booths set up around campus.
Step 2: Pay the fee for the package you want.
Step 3: Fill out a short form that includes: 2 names of the people who shall be "chained" & their corresponding class. (ex. Lelouch vi Britannia; Class 3-D & Suzaku Kururugi; Class 3-D)
Step 4: Relax & wait patiently as our trusty CHAIN OF LOVE PATROL acquires the targets. :D And when we have them...
Step 5: Sit back & enjoy the pictures & short videos on Ashford Academy social media pages.

SUBMISSION OF NAMES CLOSE AT 10AM FROM SEPT 17-19.

PACKAGES:

$3.00 - Chain Package: The couple shall be "chained together," and will stroll around campus

$10 - Blind Date Package: The couple shall have a 30-minute date. Ambient music, atmosphere, & food included.
* Extra charge: $3 for every extra 30 minutes added.

$20 - Wedding Package: The couple shall be married. (It's a faux wedding, but it will be CUTE, we promise!) Inclusions: a short ceremony, an exchange of trinkets, wedding attire, slow dancing, a breakfast/lunch/dinner for 2, & some time for a honeymoon if they want.

PLS NOTE: Wedding package comes with an EXCLUSIVE LIVE FEED to be broadcasted across school campus.

LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER!

Come & Join!

Kallen had lost count on how many times she'd read through the "official" chaining booth mechanics and official announcement. Ever since Milly made her intentions clear that time at lunch, it had been impossible to avoid the preparations. Meticulous preparations, might she add ─ more than usual too. The photocopying machine and the printers whirred in the background, spitting out paper after paper when Milly announced that they needed twice the number of fliers for the school's population.

Announcement had begun yesterday, and the academy was buzzing about it this morning. It was rather hard to ignore the hype from the moment she entered through the front doors. A few teachers even mentioned it.

No one thought it was ridiculous or extravagant. On the contrary, students and the younger members of the teaching faculty thought it was cute.

Brows furrowing, Kallen scanned her copy one more time ─ ignoring Suzaku as he read over her shoulder and held on to Arthur at the same time.

The goal was to raise $12,000 for the upcoming Christmas Festival… But still.

"Are you sure this is enough to raise that amount of money?"

Milly's grin was devious. "You underestimate how many women would pay just to 'chain' Lelouch, never mind being hooked for a wedding package with him."

Hearing his name from across the Student Council Room, Lelouch narrowed his eyes at his friends. Conspirators; the lot of them. They knew he didn't appreciate being at the butt of jokes. But was that going to stop Milly or Kallen or Rivalz or anyone from putting him there? No… Quite frankly, Lelouch was used to their antics by now. Three years in this playground of a school did little to improve his immunity to getting roped into silly situations. It only made it worse, to be honest.

The saddest part was that he couldn't find help from his closest friends either. Suzaku was a traitor. He always favored Milly's orders.

Lelouch still hadn't forgiven him for forcing him into a chair that one time, so Shirley could paint his face with make-up and turn him into a cat.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Shirley piped up, alarmed at the thought of her poor Lulu dragged around campus, 'chained' to one woman after another.

Keeping his eye on the flyer production, Rivalz laughed nervously. "You're everyone's favorite guy, buddy. Do you expect anything less?"

Of all the─ Lelouch choked and tried to regain his bearings, thankfully succeeding as he protested with, "Suzaku has admirers too!"

"He's already dating Euphy." Nina commented quietly.

What?

The room stilled as everyone paused and looked at her quizzically. Embarrassed by the sudden attention, she flushed and ducked her head back into her scientific research ─ printer still working in the background and thankfully filling the would-be silence. They barely noticed Suzaku sighing in relief. The brunet was still glad for the distraction as he tried to make himself look busy to avoid questions, although Lelouch's intense stare carving holes at the back of his head didn't escape his notice. Suzaku vowed to explain later… If Lelouch didn't demand it first, that is.

Milly waved at the air flippantly, dispelling the tension. "In any case, never worry, Kallen. We can raise $12,000 in no time, you'll see."

Lelouch could only wish thathe had Milly's confidence in this event…

=OoOoO=

"So what's the deal with this 'Chain of Love' event?"

Kallen nearly didn't hear her best friend and her question, the words slightly drowned out by the chattering of the other girls in the locker room and the slam of metal doors left and right. The chaos of a school day ending in PE class. Scratching the itch at her nape, Kallen turned to see C.C.'s expectant face, intimidating in spite of the other girl being busy with tying her hair into a braid.

"Well?"

"It's Milly's idea for fundraising." The redhead shrugged, shouldering her backpack as she led the way to the exit, C.C. not far behind. "Lelouch noticed a problem with the budgeting and running short, so we had to think of money-making."

Classes may have concluded for the day, but extracurricular activities were still in full-swing. The school's football team was busy doing drills out in the field, with the Art Club not far away, doing their weekly 'Free-form Art' event.

C.C. watched them all as she continued to walk alongside Kallen. "How does it work? There won't be any classes? We're all supposed to just run around campus acting like it's a normal day or try to hide from our pursuers? What if one person gets multiple chain requests and─"

"Lelouch is in-charge of the details."

C.C. cocked an eyebrow. "Is he?" Well, this was interesting… "He agreed willingly?"

Kallen blinked, remembering a specific moment earlier in the day when Lelouch was muttering and complaining to himself during the end of History class ─ the desk flooded with papers and penciled lines and diagrams that she soon realized were for Milly's upcoming event.

"I don't think so." The redhead shared a knowing smile with C.C… A stray frisbee arced over their heads, promptly ignored as one student shouted a passive apology. "Anyway. Catching people won't be a problem. Milly and Suzaku organized committees in-charge of roping couples together."

"And you, Kallen?" C.C. started in a tone that Kallen wasn't too excited about. She knew this tone. "I'm sure there's a certain someone you're hoping to get chained with?"

Indignance flared to life as a stark blush began to color her cheeks at the person who came to mind when C.C. dropped her question. Blond hair, fair-skinned. Impeccably tall with happy blue eyes. Pushing the telltale image to the back of her mind, Kallen had to take a deep breath. She wasn't looking forward to getting 'chained' with anyone! Was she referring to Gino? The varsity basketball guy? Why would C.C. ever imply that─

Catching herself, she glowered at this girl who was supposed to be her friend. Who gave C.C. the right to be this adept at triggering embarrassing reactions from people? The girl always knew which buttons to push. She wasn't even trying to hide it too. She had that self-satisfied smirk on her lips while her eyes twinkled with mirth at Kallen's expense.

"Hmph… I would be careful if I were you, C.C." Kallen hitched her bag higher, meeting C.C.'s challenging stare by lifting her chin just a little higher. "I'm not the only one with a cru─"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

At this, Kallen had scoffed. Please… Who did C.C. think she was fooling? Certainly not the girl she was friends with since middle school. C.C. liked to think she was above falling for the status quo as well as liking what the majority favored. But that certainly wasn't the case when it came to one particular boy everyone in Ashford practically worshipped. For what reason, Kallen didn't even know. C.C.'s only difference was that she wasn't obvious ─ not at all like Shirley or Milly who were willing to take their chances with the oblivious Vice President.

Kallen couldn't help smirking to herself… Thanks to Suzaku and his distracted rambling, she recently discovered that Lelouch's ridiculous blindness to feminine attention was by choice. And it wasn't because of arrogance or an awareness of his own looks. Oh no…

Apparently, Lelouch fancied a certain someone too. Someone with green hair and golden eyes. A particular someone he'd christened with the nickname of 'Witch.'

Denial is not just a river in Egypt… C.C. should remember that. And frankly, Lelouch really should too.

Because her relationship with Gino was none of their business, damn it! They need to worry about their own.

=OoOoO=

The clock was loud… Even Arthur's yowling and Suzaku's pained cries couldn't mask the intrusive sound of the clock just counting down. Counting down to what? Lelouch wasn't really very sure. The deadline of Milly's task, maybe? Gods, why couldn't life be easier?

Just a little ways behind Lelouch, Suzaku lamented the fresh scratches on the back of his hand. All this and he was supposed to bring Arthur with him tonight? Sighing, Suzaku chose to ignore this impromptu fight with Arthur and looked to his best friend instead. Lelouch was still busy doing council work for the Council's Chain of Love event. Or was he?

"Suzaku, what do you get a girl to let her know you like her?"

Well, that was a string of words he'd never thought would ever come out of Lelouch…

Still, in spite of his surprise, Suzaku knew a smirk was worming its way across his face. He should have expected that question. Suzaku knew Lelouch. He knew the other boy liked keeping his personal affairs to himself, most notably the question of who he was attracted to and who he wanted to try courting. Lelouch had been admitting this subtle crush on C.C. off-and-on for a while now. As much as Suzaku wanted to give him the extra push, he refrained. The fact that Lelouch even admitted to this was astounding enough.

"Suzaku?"

Oh right… Lelouch asked a question. "Euphy appreciates flowers, but I don't think that works on C.C."

Lelouch scoffed, assaulted with the memory of the Witch after she persuaded him to have brunch at Pizza Hut with her. "All she wants is pizza."

Suzaku shrugged ─ as if the solution to his ordeal was as simple as that. "Give her pizza then."

"No… I want it to be out of the ordinary."

To express his feelings wordlessly? Well, that was different.

Briefly stunned, Suzaku blinked. "You really don't need to think about it too hard. Just do what you feel is natural. You two are already friends, so it's not that big of a deal."

"How do I let her know I like her without actually telling her?" Deep in thought, Lelouch assumed a thinking pose that Suzaku secretly found amusing.

Taking mercy on him, Suzaku let a short laugh escape before offering. "Compliments, for one. That's not too hard for you, is it?" Lelouch glowered, Suzaku cocked an eyebrow. "Make her laugh. You two have strange senses of humor. Oh! And don't be afraid to go tactile..."

The hands that had been busy fiddling with the pen halted. Suzaku didn't miss the way Lelouch looked at him as if to say, 'Really?'

"I'm serious. It doesn't have to be inappropriate or anything. Like… Pat her head, hold her hand, arm around the shoulder, that kind of thing."

For fuck's sake...

"Gah! I really need to focus on the task at hand."

This, Suzaku couldn't resist laughing at. "Give yourself a break, Lelouch. The organizing and planning can wait 'til tomorrow."

=OoOoO=

Hey you…
Didn't see you today.

Missed me today, did u? ;)

Ha! No.
I'm worried about the people you interact with.

Charming, Lelouch.

Are you busy?

Not really…

Come with me. I need you.

?

Shopping.
Coming in 10.

=OoOoO=

"The catchers wouldn't mind these hats, would they?" Kallen inspected the cap Suzaku handed over, turning it around in her hands to inspect the quality of their find. Lest Milly have both of their hides.

"Erm… It looks fine." Suzaku scratched the back of his head as he flashed her a sheepish smile. Inspecting clothing materials really wasn't his area of expertise. Apparently, Kallen thought the same because she snorted and rolled her eyes at him. "You really should have brought Lelouch."

Kallen chucked the item into the department store's bright red basket, hauling more from the shelves. They'd tack identification stickers on these and they'd be good to go. "I would have, but he's not answering his phone."

Suzaku picked up their basket and could do nothing but offer a wry smile. Kallen spoke the truth. Even he hadn't been able to reach Lelouch after school. It was like his best friend disappeared immediately after class to the gods knew where. After Milly saw that they were free, she politely asked them to do this simple favor and collect whatever the council needed for their Chain of Love event happening tomorrow. But it couldn't be helped…

The brunet shrugged as he and Kallen entered the party supplies aisle. "Maybe he's running errands of his own."

Kallen laughed beside him, prompting Suzaku to look up. "Or not..."

Curious, he followed Kallen's line of sight towards the aisle opposite theirs. The row with the hair accessories? But it wasn't the items Suzaku was instantly riveted to. Oh no… It was none other than their prodigal Student Council Vice President. A small cart filled with items idled by as Lelouch let C.C. laugh and use him as a personal mannequin for the animal-ear headbands ─ swapping out cat ears for bunny ones, slapping bee antennae right behind that one not a full five seconds later. The tittering soon spiraled out of control when Lelouch gave C.C. a taste of her own medicine, poking her sides and her cheeks to elicit giggles ─ barely suppressed ones.

Stopping after the umpteenth poke, Lelouch chuckled and transferred the headband from his own head onto C.C.'s. He put his hands on her shoulders and guided her back to the cart, walking through the opposite end of the aisle and turning the corner to disappear from a shell-shocked Kallen's and Suzaku's view.

The fact that Lelouch wouldn't answer his phone, and made excuses to their other friends to favor spending time with C.C. said a lot, didn't it? Frankly, Suzaku didn't ever think his friend had it in him. Not that it was a bad thing. Lelouch was pretty confident in a lot of things, and the easy friendship between him and C.C. helped for sure. But it just so happens that romantic relationships weren't on his list of strong suits; hence Lelouch asking for advice yesterday. But this… It didn't look like he needed Suzaku's boatload of help after all.

Well, well, well…

Turning to Kallen with the intent to say something, Suzaku stopped himself at the mischievous glint in her eyes. She was peeking through the tiny space between the shelves, keeping the straying couple in her sights.

"Oh, I am so setting them up tomorrow. You in?"

For once in his life, Suzaku wasn't inclined to argue.


Part 2 is coming! xD