Disclaimer: I do not own Hinako Note or Yakitate! Japan.

I'm shocked there aren't more Hinako Note fanfics in this fandom, and so I want to fix this by writing this crossover! I hope all of you enjoy reading it.

Warning: Some Yakitate! Japan and Hinako Note spoilers, as well as discussions of social anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Birds Of A Feather

Summary: He's known for the birds that appear from his mask. She's known for being a human scarecrow. When Meister Kirisaki and Hinako Sakuragi meet for the first time, a strange friendship is born.

"Coo? Where are you?"

Of course his pet peacock had to go off somewhere else again. Meister adored Coo, but sometimes it could be a bit too rebellious for his own good. It must've wandered off somewhere in the streets of Tokyo while he wasn't looking, and he was one of the few people that Coo would ever obey.

As he walked around, thankful that there were no paparazzi nearby, he noticed that there were other birds heading in one main direction. Could Coo have followed them? He trailed the birds, before turning the corner.

That was when he noticed Coo, and multiple other animals, ranging from birds to squirrels, all gathered around a young woman with her arms up at her sides like a scarecrow. She looked about the same age as Tsukino Azusagawa, in his opinion, or slightly younger. Her hair was in two thick but neat braids by the side of her face. Her eyes, wide with fright, stared at the few passersby that were in shock at her and all the animals around her.

Well. At least he knew he wasn't the only person who could communicate with animals in some form. The poor girl seemed like she was in distress and considering that it was thanks to her that he finally found Coo, he might as well help her out.

"Excuse me?" He called out, approaching her. "Are you alright?"

"I-I-I…" The girl cleared her throat, staring up at him. "I-I'm fine…just…I'm sorry, just a moment please…"

He waited. About five minutes later, the passersby had left and the young girl lowered her arms with a relieved sigh, shaking her head and arms lightly. Some of the wild animals left, but Coo thankfully stayed by her side before eventually scampering over to Meister.

"Thank you for being so patient." She spoke, before offering a quick bow. "I'm sorry about that just now, i-it's...it happens…"

"It's okay." He offered her a soft smile. "If anything, I should be thanking you. If it wasn't for you being a scarecrow, I wouldn't have found Coo so soon."

"Coo?" She tilted her head to the side, and Meister heard Coo squawk a bit. "Ah! That bird is yours? I thought it just escaped from a zoo…"

"It's mine." He confirmed, chuckling softly. "I just happen to get along with birds very well."

"How did you meet it?"

"I'm not sure." He tried to think, tilting his head to the side as he thought back as hard as possible. "It just…showed up, one day, and I ended up taking care of it. After I decided to officially care for it, I had to get a license and everything so I could legally keep it, but otherwise it was fairly simple at the end. Just take good care of the bird, feed it, and make sure it doesn't cause property damage."

The last part was surprisingly harder than he thought it would be.

"Thankfully, Coo is usually docile." He looked towards the peacock, waving it over. "Want to say hello, Coo?"

The peacock cawed as it came over to Hinako, and Meister watched as Hinako smiled, before offering a hand to pet it. Coo lowered its head to make it easier for her, and she pet it a few times.

"It's really nice."

"He's not always the friendliest, but I think he likes you." Meister admitted, watching how Coo's feathers bristled with pride. "I think you being a scarecrow put it in a good mood." He paused, thinking. Why had she been a scarecrow, anyway? "Is being a human scarecrow your job?"

Hinako paused, looking up at Meister, before sheepishly nodding. "Y-yeah…a little bit. Back at home, I worked as a human scarecrow, but…I-I wanted to work on my social skills, so I moved to the city to join the theater club."

Ah. That suddenly made more sense. It was a little strange, the concept of working as a human scarecrow, but Meister could see how that worked. Hinako had stood perfectly still at the time with her arms up just like a real scarecrow, after all. And animals clearly liked her, so it worked out.

"Well, I'm glad that you're facing your fears." He offered her a soft grin. "I think it's a wonderful thing, joining the theater club to do so."

She tilted her head, staring at his fanciful frilled attire. "Were you part of a theater club?"

"Me? Oh, no." He shook his head quickly. A soft chuckle left him as Coo returned to his side. "It's just that I work in this uniform as part of being General Manager of Pantasia."

"Pantasia..? Oh!" Hinako's eyes widened. "You're part of the bakery! I've been to their stores a couple times."

"Thank you for your patronage." He offered her a polite bow, only to hear her chuckle.

"I'm just glad to meet the General Manager! It's so nice." She smiled, and then she paused, opening up her bag. "Actually, um…I was supposed to deliver these flyers…"

"Flyers?" He watched as she offered a flyer to him and looked at it, noticing how colorful it was. "For a café?"

"Yes! The theater troupe I formed with my friends is performing a play at the Hitotose café this weekend." Hinako nodded quickly. She sucked in a breath, as if bracing herself, before bowing. "I hope that you will be able to make it! Please!"

It was clear that Hinako was devoted to her work at the café, and to this troupe of hers. She seemed pleasant, and in a way, she reminded Meister of himself a while back – trying to make an impression on the world, trying to improve on himself. How could he say no?

"I'll try to make it." He finally managed, and she looked up with him with wide eyes.

"Really!?"

"Yes. I think it would be a wonderful opportunity." He offered her a smile. "I might be able to pass on word to a couple coworkers of mine, too."

She stiffened at the mention of hearing more people coming, but she quickly nodded, straightening herself. "Y-yes! That would be great! Thank you very much!"

The weekend came. Hinako checked the available audience and saw a familiar masked man at the back of the audience, smiling as a bird sat in the chair beside him. Despite the other customers in the café staring at him briefly,

"Hinako?" She turned to see Kuina peering at her, pushing a few strands of blue hair out of her face. "Are you okay?"

"I-I am." Hinako smiled, looking towards her. "It's just that someone I met. He managed to make it, to see the play."

"Is that so?" Kuina flashed a grin Hinako knew too well. "Then let's give him and everyone else a performance they won't forget!"