Mystic Messenger High School AU

Chapter 3: A Cup of Coffee.

I squinted at Satoshi in suspicion as he pouted in dismay at his tray of burnt omelette rice, a contrast to the perfectly pristine cup of coffee as always. Satoshi was an excellent cook so it was rare that he would burn a meal unless he was distracted.

"Is something on your mind, Satoshi-nii?" I couldn't help but inquire.

"Ah? Hahaha…" He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head, and I felt a strange sense of deja vu. Though I couldn't pin-point where I had seen it before, "I'm fine Sora-chan. I guess I'm just tired this morning, that's all. You should hurry on to school, now."

I blinked and my brows furrowed, I began to feel more worried for my brother now, "Satoshi-nii...It's Sunday today." I smiled at him wryly as he coughed in surprise and a little embarrassment. "Oh...I forgot, haha. Looks like I'm more tired than I thought. Anyway," He made a show of checking the time, "Would you look at that! It seems I'll be late to work! Early shift today." He set up to leave, ruffling my hair and with a wave he slammed the door. Leaving me bewildered behind him.

~8~

Michiko, Tsukiku and I met at a small milkshake parlor in town later that morning. Michiko was pouting over her shake and swirling the straw in the mushy mix, which was not like her, usually she would be digging in with gusto along with her pile of strawberry mint ice-cream. Was everyone acting odd lately?

"What's up with you Michiko?" I muttered, incredulous, "Usually you start drinking straight away, what's bothering you?" In response, Michiko slammed her fist into the table, making us jump and leveling Tsukiku's milkshake, said girl giving Michiko a menacing glare which she ignored.

"Zen has been avoiding us!" Michiko grumpled. Tsukiku and I weren't that surprised it bothered her so much, Zen and Michiko were close friends and spend a lot of time together with their common interests and mannerisms (though Michiko was more humble than the white-haired boy). Whenever Zen was being cornered by his fangirls Michiko would swoop in and save him. And now he was ignoring us, so it must bother her that she misses her friend, although…

"And before you ask," Michiko continued, "No I don't like him. I know I may jump and romance and relationships but Zen is a close friend. He's like a brother to me and now that he's ignoring me," She denies romantic interest with ease but seems in tears with her next thought, "Did I do something to insult him? Is he ignoring me because he hates me now?" More than anything Michiko valued friendship, especially with those closest to her, both Tsukiku and I didn't want to see her upset.

"We'll go and talk to him." Tsukiku nodded to herself and got up. Michiko blinking, her mouth agape in her tears while I was similarly confused. We sat there for a moment while Tsukiku disappeared from sight, on a mission. Soon we snapped to attention and scrambled after her, yelling to get her to stop.

"Hey where are you going?! / We don't even know where he is!"

~8~

We crouched in front of a stylish cafe, hidden in the bushes. We all peeked to look at Tsukiku's phone, on Zen's Twidder page.

"I guess you're right, Zen is pretty predictable, huh?" Michiko muttered, one arm crossed, the other held in a thoughtful position in front of her lips. "No wonder his fangirls are always able to find him…" I agreed peering in to examine the status update.

There clear as day, was Zen's current location.

'Getting a refreshing coffee Lumi Cafe after a hard workout! (๑/ゝڡ◕๑)/' With a stunning selfie outside the cafe, as usual. It was also interesting to see his friends replies, Jaehee and Yoosung lamenting and wanting a cup of their own (Jaehee just wanting to be there with him, probably), Jumin correcting him and his ensuing twitter war with Zen. But most of all Saeyoung's simple '( ƅ°ਉ°)ƅ'. Which made Sora almost fall over and laugh her head off.

Strangely enough, that was the cafe her brother happened to be a manager at so Sora knew where it was straight away. They planned to go in and simply confront him, Operation Peace=Zen or some weird code name Michiko had come up with.

With that they snuck in, wearing goofy hats and shades, ready to execute their plan when they were halted by a sight that threw them.

Zen was at the counter, Satoshi taking the register and it seems more than his order. They both were chatting animatedly and blushing even though Zen had long since gotten his coffee. There was even a line of grumbling customers behind him but neither Zen or Satoshi seemed to care.

Leaving swiftly the girls sat at their table in the milkshake parlor, their drinks pushed away and Michiko's ice-cream long since melted as they confirmed their suspicions. Zen had refused chocolates on Valentine's Day, he was flustered when they interrogated him and avoided them ever since. Satoshi was becoming forgetful, burning breakfast practically every morning since Valentine's and becoming late for work even though he is usually very diligent and on time.

If they aren't already dating, Satoshi and Zen had prominent crushes on one another.

~8~

"Tsukiku-ssi!" Yoosung ran over past the stands of the school field. Tsukiku and her soccer team had just finished their daily training and were packing up at the end of the next day. She and Yoosung got along rather well, since Michiko was both a member of the Student Council and the Theatre Club (got knows how she had the time for both) and Tsukiku had no problem helping her out (which was often) that meant Tsukiku and Yoosung had spend a significant amount of time together. She liked him, he was sweet and polite, much like Jaehee, the other member of the Council. But...she found Yoosung a bit cute too, the way he would become flustered sometimes and stumble over his words when teased, she enjoyed it.

Though she was a bit confused to see him now, they did get along well but it was rare he would approach her outside of club activities. She blinked in mild surprise as he ran over to her, lowering her sports bottle from her lips and setting it down. She stood up from the bench she was sitting on to jog over to him and see what he needed, worried from how frantic he was.

"What's wrong, Yoosung-ssi?" Tsukiku frowned, the Korean honorific felt natural to her now. Although she was Japanese, she felt it was only right that she refer to him how classmates in his school would back in Korea. He smiled when she first called him that but said she could use '-san' if she wished, like everyone else did but she simply brushed it off. Being away from home with very little of your culture around you was of course difficult, not to mention having to learn a completely different form of Kanji. And though it seemed Yoosung and his friends had done this effortlessly, it only gave her more resolve to show them the respect she had that they would do such a thing and give them the small form of familiarity to them she could in the process.

"The festival preparations…" He panted, trying to catch his breath, "They've all been destroyed!"

~8~

A/N: Yay another chapter! I have more planned indeed. So far there hasn't been much plot I guess, just kind of snippets with quick conclusions or maybe you guys prefer that? I would really love to hear your thoughts, it would really keep me motivated to do more chapters and get more out! I won't stop but I really hope you guys enjoy what I'm writing as I do.

And what? Zen likes Sora's brother?! What's THAT about? lol And it seems like Tsukiku and Yoosung are getting along too! I wonder why Yoosung would come running to Tsukiku first about their club project instead of going to the other members? Tsukiku only helps out every other day, right? I wonder… huehuehuehue~