before you start reading: tHERE ARE SO MANY BAD INNUENDOS IN THIS, I'M SO SORRY THEY'RE ALL VERY HORRIBLE PUNS PLEASE DON'T YELL AT ME... (let's see if you can spot them all ;)
[ chapter three ]
"Aunt Aoki! I'm serious!" Miku cries, flapping her hands in frustration. Why wouldn't she understand?
"Of course you are," her aunt replies offhandedly, her eyes trained on her hands as they dry a plate. Miku lets out a ragged sigh and watches her aunt pick up a cup from the huge stack of dirty dishes. She had offered her help earlier but was refused, so she decided to complain to her aunt about a certain boy and hopefully make her hate him. (What? She needs allies) So far it isn't working at all...
"What? So you're okay with a random stranger trying to use crappy pick up lines on me?" She asks challengingly, huffily putting her hands on her hips.
Her aunt shrugs, lifting her gaze from the sink to raise an eyebrow at Miku. "Come on, it's Len. Do you see him doing anything else?"
"No..." She mumbles.
"Exactly."
"But-"
"Look, Miku," the older woman sets down the cup and crosses her arms, "if you despise him that much, why do you keep going back to the café?"
Miku blinks, and grows red. She tries to gather enough words for a snarky reply, but when nothing comes to her, she glares feebly at her aunt, who doesn't seem to be affected.
"You don't hate him, I know that much." Her aunt continues, her words carrying a tone of finality. With a triumphant grin, she returns to washing a bowl as though nothing happened. Miku tucks her hair behind her ear and presses her hands to her heated cheeks. She goes to the café for the special promotion. She doesn't like him.
She really, really doesn't.
.
.
You don't hate him.
Miku kicks a pebble angrily when her aunt's words ring through her head. It spins around her feet before rolling to a stop by her shoes. Pent-up annoyance piles in her throat and she kicks it with more vigour, her shoes tapping against the ground as she makes her way to the café.
Why do you keep going back to the café? Her aunt asks her in her head, repeating the question like a broken record. She imagines her aunt's smug smirk and the urge to kick something rises in her again. Specifically, the urge to kick her aunt. Or Len. Miku stops dead in her tracks and takes in a deep breath. There it is again. Len. She keeps thinking of him ever since she came back, and it throws her off. This has never happened before with any other boy. What's so special about Len anyway? He's just a flirt who doesn't know what shame is.
With her questions left unanswered, she reaches the familiar shop. It's become somewhat of a second home to her lately, but she's sure that once the school break ends and she goes back it'll change. She'll forget about Len and Cul, and she'll move on with her life. It's normal. Maybe she's just happy that she made new friends (or friend; Len doesn't qualify as a friend to her, just a shameless flirt).
It's normal, she assures herself, and nods firmly. This'll stop soon.
"What are you doing, zoning out and nodding to yourself?" The voice of a red-haired waitress asks her. She turns to see Cul looking at her quizzically. "You look strange."
"I was thinking," she replies vaguely. "What are you doing?" She nudges her chin upwards at Cul, who's climbing up a stool with a mistletoe in her hands.
Cul raises the decoration for Miku to take a better look. "Hanging this up." She says, placing it over the entrance with a bright smile. "Now people can make out at our door with permission. For less than two minutes, of course. Nice, isn't it? But we'll also have to put up curtains so that no one can watch them and they can make out in peace..." She murmurs thoughtfully, rubbing her chin.
"That'll take a lot of work," says Miku doubtfully.
Cul laughs heartily, nearly falling off the stool. Miku jolts and dashes forward to help her, and is stopped by her laughing friend. "Did you think that I was serious?" She chuckles, jumping down beside Miku. A devious smirk comes onto her face. "Or do you want to make out with Len that badly?"
Miku considers the thought for a second. She cringes immediately after and shudders in fear. The idea is horrifying. Cul pats her shoulder condescendingly. "I know it scares you, honey, but don't worry. You'll get used to it after a few times-"
"Who wanted to make out with me?" The jingle of the bell signals Len's arrival. He pops his head out from behind the heavy wooden door and glances back and forth between them. His gaze settles on Miku. "Was it you?"
"No way," Miku spits with a venomous scowl and sticks out her tongue at Len childishly. He mirrors the gesture playfully, earning a kick in the shins from the girl.
"Remind me how old you two are again," Cul says with a roll of her eyes. "You're acting like five year olds."
"I'm definitely more handsome than a five year old."
"Len is the five year old!"
"Jinx, Miku!" Len shouts, and reaches forward to pull her into a hug. Miku dodges in the nick of time and runs to hide behind Cul, who shakes her head and pushes Miku away from her.
"Bring your flirting indoors, it's cold out here," she sings, prancing into the shop. Len wiggles his fingers by the doorstep with a smile on his face that promises very bad things. Fortunately, Miku successfully squirms past Len after maneouvering awkwardly around him (it's cold and she's frozen to the bone, she is not to blame) and walks way to leave him pouting sadly behind her.
"Stop pouting, princess," Cul calls out. Miku snickers as she takes a seat, with Len following shortly after. A colourful stack of origami paper sits neatly on the table between them. Miku looks up at Cul questioningly. Cul winks.
Very unhelpful.
"Today you'll be doing origami!" She cheers, clapping her hands. "This year this little café has let our customers in on the decorating as well!" Cul proudly spreads her arms, showing off the tables of diners who are making crafts and decorations. At a corner, a huge christmas tree looms above them all, with a small crowd surrounding it.
"Wow," Miku breathes, feeling a small smile come onto her face at the sight. Cul hums, evidently pleased with her reaction.
"Wow indeed," she agrees. "Don't worry, you'll get to have fun too!" She says, and winks again. It's just like Cul to use innuendos all the time, Miku thinks rather fondly. Len laughs.
"Don't you worry, we will," he whispers suggestively. Cul wiggles her eyebrows in return. "Wouldn't we, Miku?"
"I'd rather not," she says sweetly. Cul alternates between wolf whistling and bursting out in laughter, resulting in a very strange noise. Len clutches at his heart.
"What a harsh rejection! I like it!" He shouts dramatically. Cul snorts.
"I know that you two like to flirt a lot, but you should start with your origami," Cul suggests.
"We can always flirt while we're at it," Len assures the waitress.
Miku clasps her hands in prayer. "Listen to me Lord, and answer me for I am helpless and weak..." She whispers.
Len grins and spreads his arms widely. "Aw, Miku, you know I'll always be here for you!"
Miku shakes her head and waves him away. "No, thanks. I didn't ask for you."
"Len and Lord, same thing," he shrugs his shoulders dismissively. "They both start with the letter L."
"'Loser' starts with an L too."
Len winks flirtatiously at her. "So does 'long'," he says suggestively.
"Dear God, Len, do you ever stop?" Miku questions, wondering if he ever takes a break. He probably practises his pick up lines in the shower and flirts with his reflection. Maybe he tries to seduce everyone he comes across. She's pretty sure that the word 'stop flirting' does not exist in Len's dictionary. Which is horrifying.
"Why should I?" His charming smile could challenge a prince's. "Your beauty keeps me going, honey," he takes a strand of her hair and starts to twirl it between his fingers. Miku flails her arms in alarm and slaps Len in the face. She does not feel sorry.
"sWEET JESUS - GET OFF ME, LEN!"
.
Miku takes a red paper off the pile and starts to fold it into a half. All of a sudden, she drops it to the table and gapes at Len. "Ah!" She shouts, and covers her mouth immediately after.
Len looks up in surprise. "What?"
"I don't know any origami." Miku whispers from behind her hand. Len frowns, and a split second later, he gasps as well.
"What a coincidence, I don't either."
She glances back down at her paper, a look of dread filling her face. "So what do we do now?"
"Cul?"
They look around to find the girl, but as they watch her bustle around busily they turn back to each other and shake their heads. They lapse into silence, not taking their eyes off each other. And then-
"GOOGLE."
Len pulls his phone out from his pocket, waiting for Miku to do the same. She fishes around in her pockets, patting down her pants urgently. Her movements slow down and she looks up, a cringe wrinkling her features. "I left it in the house," she murmurs under her breath.
Len wants to laugh at her.
Miku smacks her hand against her forehead and starts muttering colourful profanities under her breath. The look of utter perplexity and her curses combined sends Len into bouts of laughter. Miku's head snaps up, her eyes narrowing into angry slits. Miku is somehow always associated with bad luck; getting off the wrong station, her phone's battery dying when she needs it the most, and now, forgetting her phone. The thought of it makes Len pity her a little. But it's mostly very amusing.
"We'll share, then," he chortles, scooting over to make place for her. When she remains seated opposite him, Len places his hands on the table and leans forward.
"Miku."
"Yes."
"You'll have to sit beside me."
Miku is silent as she seems to consider this. Then, in a firm voice, she declares, "No."
"I only have one phone. This wouldn't work out, babe," Len tells her. "It will be easier for us to make out if you sit beside me," he adds.
"Please just shut your mouth for once," Miku groans, massaging the furrowed spot between her eyebrows with her fingers.
"Come on, sitting beside me for once wouldn't hurt, right?" he continues relentlessly, patting the empty seat beside him temptingly. Miku shoots it a glare, as if to say, this is all your fault. Len pities the seat. How hurt it must feel.
"Yeah, haha, how convincing, especially with that grin on your face." Miku deadpans, throwing the paper at him. It hits his shoulder and falls to his lap.
"I grin all the time…."
"Only the Cheshire Cat is allowed to do that, on you it's just plain creepy."
Miku is sure that she's managed to shoot Len down with that, but he is not a force to be reckoned with. Unfazed, he ploughs on, "but I must say, what an inconvenient day to forget your phone," he comments unsympathetically. Miku wants to slap him. Hard.
"Argh! Fine! I'll sit next to you! Jesus, is it really that important to you?" Growing fed up, she throws her hands in the air.
Len nods in delight. "Yes, because it's easier for me to hold your hand like this."
"Touch me without my permission and I'll punch you again," she warns, shying away from his wandering hands.
"Without permission?" Len repeats incredulously. His face lights up, and in turn, Miku's darkens. "That means I can touch you!"
"I never said that," Miku enunciates slowly.
"Yes, you did," Len denies.
"Len, do you understand English?"
Ignoring her previous statement, he presses on, "there's a chance that I can touch you," In an undertone, she hears him say "If only you'd let me."
"A small chance," corrects Miku. "Like your dick."
"Miku..." Len's expression crumples into a sad frown. She's very sure that his ego has taken a huge blow. Serves him right.
"Len..." She imitates him playfully. Len sighs heavily, and she cackles.
An eye for an eye, after all.
.
"Here you go." Len says, and a red object is shoved into her face. Miku turns her head away, pushing it back into Len's hands.
"What's this?"
"A tulip." He showcases it proudly, making a series of grand gestures around the origami. "A red tulip means true love. And it's for you!"
"Are you trying to seduce me again? Because I wouldn't fall for it."
"Ah," Len takes her palm and spreads it open, placing the red origami on her hand, "but you'll fall for me." He assures, closing her hands around it.
She turns the paper flower around in her hands, scrutinising it. It's carefully made, the petals pulled aside to reveal a tiny pink bud in the middle. "That's rubbish. You probably tell that to every girl you meet." She smirks, but tucks it away safely by her side anyway.
"How mean! You know that you're special to me!" He exclaims, grabbing her hands urgently. Miku pulls hers out from his grip.
Miku tosses her own completed origami to the table. "Tulips aren't festive anyway," she seethes.
Her anger from earlier in the morning returns to her and cramps up in her heart. Why is she so angry? Is she mensturating? She read somewhere that high blood pressure can make you emotion-blind, is that the problem?
"They're red, it'll work out somehow," Len obliviously carries on with his origami folding. She bites on her lip and furrows her brow. For a flirt like Len, he's surprisingly unaware of his surroundings. Miku doesn't know if she should admire his ability to focus (unlike her five minute attention span) or clap her hands in front of his face to make him notice.
She leans back down in her seat and sighs forlornly. What in the world is going on with her?
.
"Guys," Cul hurriedly dashes to their table, nearly falling over in her haste. Her breath comes out in irregular pants as she hollers at them, "GUYS, I NEED YOUR HELP."
"No, Cul," they chorus. Cul falls to her knees and scoots over to their side, placing her chin on the table.
"It's just one little job!" Cul whines. She claps her hands together desperately, eyes widening in fear. "Please! You two are my only hope!"
"Oh my, Cul, if you put it like that," simpers Len in a high-pitched tone, "I'LL START TO BLUSH!" He covers his face with his hands shyly.
Miku facepalms.
"It's an honour, too," Cul continues to persuade them, yanking on Len and Miku's arms to pull them up from their seats. She begins to lead them over to the huge Christmas tree, waving her hands around passionately all the while. "You two get to put up the star! How exciting, am I right?"
"Hooray," cheers Miku blandly. "Isn't there anyone else who can do this? Say, yourself?"
"Because the rest of us are either too fat or too short," Cul replies in one breath. Her coworkers begin to protest and yell at her at her words. A tiny waitress kicks her in the shins angrily. Cul yelps in pain and doubles over, giving the other waiters and waitresses the opportunity to continuously hit her.
"You clearly lie in the 'fat' category," says Len.
"No one asked for your opinion, Len," Cul shouts over her coworker's protests, her hands shielding her head from the others' advances. "Ow! Not my back, please! You'll break my spine; I am old! Is this the way to treat an old person?!"
"We're helping you here!" Len replies, his signature grin resurfacing. Miku shakes her head. Hand it to Len to enjoy someone else's pain. What a sadist.
Cul slips past her fellow workers and clings to Miku's side. She gives her a thumbs up and holds up a star. "Perfect," She says, and hands it to Miku. "Here you go."
Miku attempts to force it back into Cul's hands. "But I'm not -"
"Perfect," The waitress repeats, her voice almost a hiss. She smiles menacingly. Miku holds back a gulp. "You're just perfect."
Miku grips the glittering star and squints at Cul suspiciously. "You're acting strange." She comments.
"And you're perfect for the job." Cul turns around and jabs her thumb at the stepladder. "Follow your dreams, and help us put up the star, young child."
Miku gasps indignantly. "Chi-"
"Plus, you're both tall. A simple piggyback will solve the problem!" Cul interjects. "Absolutely perfect." Miku can hear her mutter something like "It's about time for my ship to sail anyway." under her breath.
"Your ship?"
"Come on, let's just finish this quickly," Len says, having already stepped up the ladder. He didn't seem like he minded this at all. Miku didn't really expected him to, though, with his personality. Sure enough, Len is smiling amusedly at her. Annoyance twinges in her chest.
Miku walks over to him and glares up at the tall tree. Did Len and Cul deliberately plan this? Is this all a lead up to a huge prank? Will Len drop her? She doesn't like this. At all.
Len taps her on the shoulder and speaks up, cutting through her fretting. "Looks like you'll have to sit on my shoulders for this," he says as he crouches down, looking happier than ever. Miku feels a vein pop in her temple. The nerve of this guy...
She grips his shoulders tightly and unwillingly steps on his hands, pulling herself up. Everyone in the café "ooh"s and wear matching smiles as Len slowly stands up with her sitting on his shoulders. Miku's hands automatically reach forward and grab at his hair as they climb higher. Len looks up and smirks.
"Scared?" He hoists her up, getting a comfortable grip on her. The sensation of his cold hands fills her thighs and she breathes in sharply, trying to shake off the jittery feeling in her chest.
"Shut up." She snaps, puffing out her cheeks childishly. Len can't see her anyway...
"You can always hold on to me," he offers gladly, pulling Miku securely against him. She clicks her tongue in disagreement flicking her hand against the back of his head. Len snickers as a reply.
"No thanks."
"You're pulling on my hair, though," he points out gleefully. "Ahh, this is a nice feeling, I can certainly get used to this. Have I ever told you that I love having your soft thighs pressed against my cheeks-"
Miku cuts him off by attempting to kick his crotch but his hand shoots out in time and grabs her feet. They wobble unsteadily for a moment, and she hears Cul yelling at them to "either get on with it or kiss already" which Miku ignores. She tugs on Len's ponytail, causing him to yelp in pain. "You're disgusting."
"And you love it," Len sings, stopping at the last step.
Miku ignores him and leans forward. Her stomach presses against Len's head as she slowly places the star on the top of the tree. Leaning back, she inspects it, squinting her eyes against the bright lights. Instantly, it looks more completed, somehow. "Done," she whispers in satisfaction, and a small smile slips onto her lips.
Their fellow customers clap for them while Len lowers her to the onto the ground. At least I have accomplished something in the holidays, Miku muses to herself as she turns around to face Len once her feet hits the ground.
He holds out his hands and Miku happily claps them with hers. "We did it!" she cheers, grinning widely. Len laughs, and nods. His face brightens and he looks a little younger, almost like a child. Miku hurriedly tears her eyes away from him, spotting a certain red-haired girl. Cul walks over to them and crosses her arms, inspecting the tree.
"It's just a star," she mumbles cheekily. Miku rolls her eyes fondly and smiles, raising her head to look up at the tree. She has to squint her eyes against the bright lights. The handmade ornaments hang from its branches while the fairy lights blink and wink at her. On top of it all sits the huge star, casting its golden light over them. Miku can't help but feel proud of herself. She pats herself on the shoulder.
"This is the first time i've actually seen you smile," Len pipes up happily. She glances at him from the corner of her eyes and their eyes meet in that split second. Miku hastens to avert her gaze and casts it up at the tree to survey her handiwork once more. She feels a wave of triumph wash over her.
"And in a few weeks we'll take it down," Cul declares, breaking the silence. The customers and waiters lunge for her, yelling at her for ruining the mood. Len watches them berate his friend for a few seconds, before grinning widely and joining in.
Miku laughs. She's certain that she's never felt this happy before.
.
"The tree looked really nice just now," Miku chirps, swinging her arms back and forth.
"Even if I put you under a dozen Christmas trees, you'll look nicer than all of them," Len says, batting his eyelashes flirtatiously.
Miku scoffs and chuckles. "I can't believe you!" she sighs, turning around to leave. "I'm going now."
"Wait!" Len calls out. She whips around, her eyebrows raising in confusion. He bites on his lips, his gaze faltering to the ground. Miku backs away a little bit as he takes tentative steps towards her.
What in the heck is he planning to do?
"Before you go, let me just-" he leans down, and before Miku could raise her fists to deliver a punch at him, he kisses her. While his lips linger there for a few heart-stopping seconds, he holds her trembling hands in his large ones. I am going to faint, she thinks dizzily to herself.
Len pulls away afterwards, his warm breath coming out in little puffs of steam. He lets go of her to take a few steps away from her, leaving the cold to rub on her hands and face.
She touches her cheek, almost feeling his lips pressing against the skin again. They stand like that for a while, Len sporting an awkward smile that doesn't suit him at all and Miku looking up at him with a dazed expression.
Wait.
Hold up.
"What just happened?" She blurts out, still trying to shake off her shock. She stares down at her hand (Len's hand easily enveloping hers), then presses her cold fingers against her burning cheek (the sensation of Len's lips on her cheeks) and lastly, back up at the boy.
"I kissed you," he informs her, almost bashfully, before hurriedly adding, "on the cheek! I kissed you on the cheek."
"Oh," she murmurs. "okay."
Len nods, and looks away - wait, is he blushing?
Miku is about to laugh, but she finally realises. Len. this infuriating boy she's been hating for the past few days. He just kissed her. (Well, on the cheek, but details do not really matter to Miku) She flames a bright red, and lunges for Len, the both of them nearly falling over. He grabs her shoulders to steady himself, and the warmth of his hands seep through her clothes, which makes the blush on her cheeks brighten.
"You - stupid!" she pants, punching his chest weakly. Len blinks and looks down at her, his cobalt eyes glistening in the dark. "If you wanted to kiss me, you could have at least aimed for my lips!"
"Miku, I-" Len begins, but stops abruptly in mid-sentence. "Wait, what?"
The two lapse into silence as they digest her words. Miku is the first one to react; she yelps and jumps away from Len, who still remains bewildered. "E-eh?" He stutters.
"I - I'm just going to go back," she croaks horsely, ducking her head and allowing her hair to shield her red face. Not even waiting for Len's reply, she dashes away, leaving the blond standing by the café entrance, cheeks crimson and eyes bright.
Len stuffs his hands into his pockets, looking down at his feet.
God dammit.
The mistletoe sways with the wind on the café door, as though laughing at him.
.
.
"I noticed that Miku's very fond of running away from you," Cul remarks with a cross of her arms. Len groans and sinks to the ground in despair. "Maybe you use too many bad pick up lines on her." She taps her chin with a smile, pretending to think. "You've got to tone it down a little if you want to get the girl, len."
"I shouldn't have done that," he hisses, smacking his forehead. "Now she'll hate me and never come back!"
Cul kicks len, angrily telling him to "don't jinx it!" before taking a seat on the floor beside him. "But wow, Len. i knew you're stupid, but not to this extent. That was very…" She racks her head for an suitable word, but when none deems appropriate enough, she breathes, "wow."
Len covers his face with his hands and whimpers. "I know, I know! It's the worst thing I've ever done in my whole life! You don't need to remind me!"
"It's just a peck on the cheek, no big deal," The girl says in an attempt to console him. Len's head snaps up and he glares at her, causing her to flinch backwards. She smiles nervously, holding out her hands in fear. You shouldn't mess with Len when he's angry. Cul had to learn it the hard way. (She was actually warned by the others, but did Cul listen? Clearly she did not)
"Come on, you've dated plenty of girls before, I'm sure you can handle this!" she tries again unsurely, flashing him a wobbly grin.
"But Miku…" Len looks down at his hands before continuing, "Miku's special." he mumbles in a small voice, talking more to himself than to Cul. He shifts his body away from her in an attempt to hide his reddening ears and neck.
Cul grins - she can't help it. Oh man, she thinks to herself, this boy's got it deep.
It's time for her flawless matchmaking skills to make an appearance.
.
[ sos ]
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[ author's note ] MERRY CRISIS (elmo laughter in flames) after a lot of tears and sweat i have managed to complete this... i am thankful for this version even if it's Really Bad™ because the original one is Even Worse™
[ dedications ] to himi, because you contributed a lot to this chapter, thanks so much ;w; without you i think i would be sitting on the floor tracing circles and crying nonstop, so (dogeza) thhhNAKS also eyecandy saved my life i pray to it everyday, thank you for using your amazing writing and godly powers to create this beauty i love you fellow sinner
ok himi you are good senpai and mum (also sairhorsn) but you need to get out asap what are you doing here why are you reading this wtf no pls mY SINS HAVE BEEN REVEALED (falls to knees)