A/N : Hmmm... this chapter was hard to write since I've been very busy this week. College has started and this semester I'll start with my laboratory assistant duty which is quite busy... huuuffttt! Hope you'll enjoy this chapter as things started to get serious, but don't worry, I'll keep it light and fun~!
Thanks for the 100 reviews~! I wonder who'll be the 101st?
Excuse my grammar.
And this chapter's title (Romeo and Cinderella) was taken from Hatsune Miku's song, though the content had nothing to do with that song...
Please review~
Oretachi no Taiga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai!
(Our Taiga Can't Be This Cute!)
Chapter 9
Our Taiga and School Culture Festival Part III
Romeo and Cinderella
Kagami was tugging at the tiger ear he had to use as part of his costume. Even though he had refused for any costume to wear (since it was too much bother to use when he had to prepare the food), it seemed like Kuroko had put a pair of tiger headband on his head. Kagami frowned at this.
"And what am I supposed to be?" asked Kagami. Kuroko looked pretty calm with his Okita Souji costume from Shinsengumi, complete with the hair extension and fake sword on his hips. Kagami was wondering if it would be hard to move in that kind of attribute, but Kuroko didn't seem to mind it.
"Tigger. Now, would you kindly put on the costume? You can't be Tigger with only the ears…" Kuroko had held up the full body costume Kagami was supposed to wear.
"And how the hell do you think I supposed to wear that in this tiny kitchen?"
"Ah… You're right," Kuroko mumbled. The costume in Kuroko's hands was a fluffy full body costume of tiger (Kuroko insisted it was Tigger though). It was a lot better than the other costume Kuroko had showed him (maid costume or that damn too sexy and tight red cheongsam, and even the bunny girl one). Despite the fluffy fabric, the shape of it was more long sleeved overall with hoodie and a tail attached on the back. But still, it would be uncomfortable to wear while he was preparing the food in the kitchen.
But, looking at Kuroko's crestfallen look, Kagami couldn't help but felt a bit guilty. The red haired man finally sighed and rubbed Kuroko's head affectionately.
"Alright, alright… I'll wear it later, okay?" said Kagami. "Now, you should go to the front. We will open soon."
"Ah, you're right, Kagami-kun. I'll keep this here, okay? You've promised me to wear it in the festival for today."
"E-eh? A whole day?" Kagami asked.
"What's wrong with that?" asked Kuroko back.
"Nothing, nothing. I'll wear them."
"Thanks, Kagami-kun."
"Patrol?!" Aomine almost let out a very manly screamed as Akashi and Midorima came to him before they opened for the festival. "You mean I have to patrol during the festival?!"
"Did I stutter?" asked Akashi.
Oops. Did Aomine just question Akashi's order? Besides Kagami, no one ever survived that! No one dared to question the red head president of student councils and host club. So, Aomine just gulped and agreed to patrol around the school with some volunteers Akashi had asked (ordered) to help. Whilst Akashi had his own job to supervise everything with Midorima, Murasakibara had joined the patrol squad.
"So, it will be until lunch, and then I'm free right?" asked Aomine.
"Who says you're going to be free? These volunteers need to be supervised," said Akashi. "And you, as the patrol squad leader would be responsible for that."
"What? No lunch break?" Aomine's eyes widened.
"Are you questioning me, Daiki?" asked Akashi.
When Akashi played that card, everyone was going to lose, so Aomine decided to just follow his orders. Well, he could always skip and ran off to Kagami's class café later. He just needed those volunteers to report to him, right? That was why walkie-talkie could always come in handy at the time like this.
Kagami was busy once the café opened. He almost had to move nonstop in the kitchen, since the guests kept coming and going. But once he got the hang of it everything became easier. The girls told Kagami to take a break for awhile, since he had worked for quite sometimes, almost doing everything by himself. Kagami really appreciate it as he came out of the makeshift kitchen they had made and went out to the inner courtyard (Akashi had reserved one place for his class).
The red head was glad that their cosplay café became pretty popular, and he couldn't help but smiled when he saw the satisfied look on the customers' faces. He decided to sat outside the cosplay café, watching his classmates who dressed as Gundam Strike Freedom and some characters from Sailor Moon or something (Kagami wasn't really sure since he didn't know much about anime) attract the visitors.
He then realized some university students were giggling and whispered excitedly to each other while looking at him. At first, Kagami was confused, but he quickly realized he still wearing his "Tigger's Ears" and his pink frilly apron (the usual) while sitting in public. Kagami's face turned deep shades of red and raised his hands to take off the ears when…
"What are you doing, Kagami-kun?"
"GYAAAAA!" Kagami yelped as he looked at the sudden appearance of the pale blue haired boy in Shinsengumi costume. "K-Kuroko! Stop doing that!"
"Were you going to take off the ears?" asked Kuroko. "You promised me you won't."
"A-ah… It's just… I-I need to… scratch my head! See?" Kagami scratched his head which was actually not itchy.
"Just remember your promise, Kagami-kun."
With that, Kuroko left. Kagami was still embarrassed with his appearance. The girls kept giggling saying something like "cute" and "adorable" and such… Wel, maybe he could get rid of this frilly pink apron he wore. He didn't mind much about the tiger ears, but the apron seemed to attract unnecessary attention.
"Ah, Kagami-kun, could you please keep the apron on?" the Gundam, Kagami realized it was the class president, said to Kagami.
"E-eh? Why?" asked Kagami.
"Well, you seemed to attract more attention dressing like that. Please keep the customers coming, okay? We will win this year's title of the best stand!"
"But…!"
"No 'buts'. Or maybe you could help greeting the customers?"
Kagami sighed. He kept on his apron and tiger ears, despite feeling embarrassed and tried to ignore all the stares and giggling he got. Maybe he should just go back to the kitchen already…
"What are you supposed to be, Bakagami?" Aomine asked casually as he popped out of nowhere and slung his arm around Kagami's shoulder.
"A-Aomine!" Kagami's face reddened. Kagami's eyes trailed towards the black arm ban on Aomine's left arm. "You're on duty?" he asked since only the festival committee who wore those kinds of arm band. Well, it wasn't that surprising since Aomine was part of student councils. Even Kuroko wore one though he was helping in their class's stand.
"Akashi put me on patrol," said Aomine. "Well, you haven't answered my question. What are you supposed to be?"
"Nothing. I'm in charge in kitchen. Kuroko forced me to wear the ears. And class president told me to not take off the apron since he said it would attract more customers," said Kagami casually. "Are you on break? You can enter and I'll make you some Waldorf chicken salad sandwich…"
"Sure."
Aomine entered the cosplay café, quickly gained the attention of the female students. They led him into a small table on one side of the room, and asked for his order. Aomine took Kagami's offer on the Waldorf chicken salad and some coke. He looked around the café, and saw that Kagami's class really outdone themselves this time. The place was well decorated, not too extravagant, and yet, giving the comfortable feeling. The waiters and waitress dressed up as anime, cartoon or movie characters. Some (like Kuroko) dressed as historical characters.
"Aren't you supposed to be on patrol duty, Aomine-kun?"
The question startled the dark-blue haired boy, made him jumped of his seat and bumped his knees on the table, attracting some attention. Aomine turned as he saw Kuroko's passive eyes looking back at him.
"Kuroko! Grow some presence, will you?!" Aomine said in annoyed tone. "I'm taking a break."
"Does Akashi-kun know about this?" asked Kuroko.
"None of your business Kuroko. Besides, Kagami asked me to get something for my break," Aomine said as he let out a smug smile.
"Hm? Oh, sure…" Kuroko said as he turned around and attended to another tables, taking orders.
Aomine waited, feeling some people were looking at him. He smirked at the attention he got. Well, it wasn't that surprising. Everybody in this school knew him; he was in student council and part of host club. It wasn't that surprising that people kept looking at him.
It didn't take long before Kuroko showed up with Aomine's orders. Aomine smiled as he looked at the sandwich and tea on the tray in Kuroko's hands. Ah, finally he could take a break before his 'date' with Kagami. Now he could enjoy a cold coke and Kagami's hand made sandwich before—
"THE HELL—?!"
All eyes were now drawn to Aomine; who still sat on his chair, and yet drenched with coke and pieces of the Waldorf chicken salad on his uniform. Kuroko only looked at him with his passive expression. Aomine threw a glare at Kuroko.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Aomine-kun. It seemed like my hands slipped," said Kuroko as he gathered the plastic cup and paper plate from the floor and put it back to the tray. "Here, let me help you cleaned that." He took a napkin and dried Aomine's clothes.
"What the hell, Tetsu?!" Aomine grumbled.
"I'm sorry, Aomine-kun. Now you can't go on a date looking like this, right?" Kuroko said casually as he wiped the remains of chicken and coke. Aomine looked at Kuroko's suspiciously.
"How'd you know I'll be going on a date?" Aomine asked.
"Hm? Kagami-kun told me."
There was a small silence while Aomine tried to put Kuroko's words and action into piece. Oh, man… Now Aomine knew this would tend to happen now! That's why Akashi suddenly put him on patrol duty and forbid him to take a break! These guys planned on ruined his date! And now, Kuroko 'accidentally' threw a sandwich and coke and ruined his uniform.
"Oi, oi, Tetsu, don't tell me you guys wanna ruin everything?" Aomine asked.
"Ruin what, Aomine-kun?" Kuroko asked innocently.
"Don't play dumb, Tetsu. Ruin my date, of course!"
"Ah, that. What if we are?" asked Kuroko. "What're you going to do, Aomine-kun?"
"Clean myself up."
With that, Aomine stood up and left. Kuroko smirked as he cleaned the mess and told everyone that there was nothing wrong. When he returned to the kitchen, Kagami looked at him with questioning gaze, but Kuroko explained he 'accidentally' tripped and ruined the lunch. Kagami looked disappointed, but quickly cheered up when Kuroko told him Aomine left to clean himself up. From the corner of his eyes, Kuroko could see a small excited smile on Kagami's face. Kuroko wondered just how naïve Kagami was for not noticing this as a date.
Kagami kept his promise to Kuroko. After he'd done with his duty in the kitchen, he wore the tiger costume Kuroko had prepared. Surprisingly, despite of the look, the costume was actually comfortable. Kagami zipped it close and looked at himself in the mirror. It was too big for him, but just for a little bit, as the sleeves reach past his hands and only let the tip of his fingers showed. The hood part of the costume looked like tiger, but Kagami refused to wore it since it'll be too hot when he walked around. Kuroko insisted he had to keep the tiger ears on.
So, here he was, waiting for Aomine near the main entrance in tiger costume, attracting much unwanted attention from the visitors. The girls were giggling, while some boys threw him an amusing look, or simply laughed at him. He knew something like this might happen, but Kagami was the type of guy who kept his promise. So he waited as patiently as he could.
"What's with that outfit, Bakagami?" Aomine asked with raised eyebrows as he looked at the tiger costume. "We're not in host club, you know…"
"W-Well, I promised Kuroko, you know!" said Kagami. "And I won't betray him…"
"Man, you're really a troublesome guy, huh? Are you planning on walking around the festival looking like that?" Aomine asked.
"I-is it that bad?" Kagami asked with flushed face as he tried to avoid Aomine's gaze and made the tanned boy's heart skipped a beat.
"Like hell I care!" Aomine said. "We're wasting time here. Let's get this over, okay?"
"Thank you, Aomine!" Kagami said with a bright smile.
"So, where'd you want to go first?"
"Oh, Kurokocchi! Nice idea-ssu! Making Kagamicchi wore that outfit, it's easier to spot him in the crowds-ssu~!" Kise said as he tipped the fedora hat he wore for the sake of spying on Kagami and Aomine. Kuroko, Kise, Midorima, Murasakibara, and Akashi were now following the two's so-called 'date', hiding behind things (well, only Kuroko and Kise though. Akashi, Murasakibara, and Midorima stood calmly amongst the crowds).
"Hmm… It seemed like Aomine-kun made it in time…" said Kuroko. "Akashi-kun, can't you do something?"
"Well, he does his duty on patrol, just with Taiga accompanying him," said Akashi. His cell phone buzzed and Akashi looked at the incoming text. "I'll leave things to you guys here. I got something to do. Midorima, you stayed with them and make sure they won't do anything stupid."
With that, Akashi left. Midorima sighed at how annoying the task would be while Murasakibara only munched on his snacks.
"There's nothing special about their date…" Midorima said. "It's really like walking around the festival with friend, nanodayo."
"Midorimacchi! Didn't you see the predatory glint in Aominecchi's eyes-ssu?" asked Kise. "I'm sure he's planning on something bad-ssu~!"
"He hold Kagami-kun's hand," Kuroko said.
"What?!" Midorima lose his cool for awhile as he turned around. Indeed, Aomine now holding Kagami's hand and pulled him to the crowds.
"Ho~? Midorimacchi felt concerned right now-ssu~?" Kise asked teasingly. "Kurokocchi, we have to follow them-ssu!"
But, when Kise turned to the quiet pale-blue haired boy, he had disappeared, leaving Kise with Midorima and Murasakibara.
"What's with the rush, Aomine?!" Kagami asked as Aomine pulled him into the crowds.
"I told you I felt like we're being followed!" the navy haired teen said. "We have to move faster."
Kagami pouted. His gaze fell upon the takoyaki stand. His mouth was watering at the smell of takoyaki and he tugged at Aomine's sleeve.
"I want takoyaki," said Kagami. In seconds, he already had stood in front of the stand and ordered two portions of takoyaki while chatted with Imayoshi, the third year from basketball club who opened the stand with his class. Aomine waited in silence after their orders ready. After paid for it, they continued to walk around. Mostly it was Kagami who talked while Aomine only listened.
They went to another food stand, including the Cooking Club's. Kagami had tried crepes, cheeseburgers, dango, apple candy, and much more food. They even stopped at the game stands, playing ring toss and so one. Over all, it was fun. They stopped at yet another food stand and Kagami bought a very large cotton candy. His eyes widened at the sight of it. The HT on Aomine's hip buzzed, and the tanned teen groaned. Must the volunteers reported now?
"What now?" Aomine asked to the HT.
"Ah, Aomine-san. Akashi-san was looking for you about some problem, over?"
"Deal with it yourself! Or ask someone else…!" Aomine said to the HT. Damn! Must they ruin this day? Damn Akashi and his order to lead the patrol for today!
"But… Akashi-san told us to gather all the student councils members. Kuroko-san and the others are all here. We only waited for you now…"
"Damn it! Okay, I'll come, but only for five minutes. I don't care what Akashi might say."
Aomine turned to Kagami who was still enjoying his cotton candy, oblivious to his surroundings. Aomine sighed.
"Oi, Kagami, it seemed like Akashi has summoned me and all the council's members for something. You still want to walk around?" Aomine asked. Kagami turned to him with puzzled look.
"Is there something wrong?" the red head asked with slight concern in his voice.
"Nah, just small problem. Probably just for five minutes or so."
"Then I'll wait," said Kagami. "I'm a bit tired after walking around the festival. Maybe I'll take a break for awhile and wait for you."
"Are you sure? You can continue though…"
"I'm fine. Look, I'll wait under that umbrella over there," Kagami pointed at the large umbrella table that the committee had set to make it easier if the visitors wanted to sit for awhile after tired of walking around.
"Okay. It'll probably just a small matter, so I'll come back as soon as possible, okay?" Aomine asked.
"Sure, sure. Go ahead, I'll wait," Kagami said with a bright small as Aomine turned and dashed for the student councils' office.
"Are you done ruining my day?" Aomine asked as he entered the councils' room. He threw a death glare at Kuroko and the rest of the guys. Akashi sat calmly on his seat with a small smile on his face. That sly pixie! He must've been plotted this against him.
"Stop accusing people like that, Aomine-kun," said Kuroko calmly. "I haven't got a chance to ruin your 'date' with Kagami-kun when Akashi-kun called us. And you dared to touch Kagami-kun's hand like that…"
"You're following us!"
"I have to make sure that Kagami-kun is okay, being alone with a pervert like you. Who knows what you might do to him and tainted his innocence."
"You have no right—!"
"Oh, we have every right. But right now, Akashi-kun called us for a whole different matter for tonight's event."
Aomine sighed as he looked at the red head in front of him. His mind wondered to Kagami who was still waiting for him. This might take a bit longer than he expected. Aomine reached for his pocket to retrieve his phone, but he found his pocket was empty. Did he leave his phone somewhere? He remembered he had rushed back to the dorm to change his clothes after Kuroko spilled the cola and sandwich over him. Aomine groaned. He sat on his designated seat and hoped to get this over quick.
Akashi started the meeting, talking about the preparation they had to make before the event started. Kise told them tonight's costume had arrived and Akashi told Aomine to help Kise took the costumes for tonight's ball from the front room since Kise's driver was there to drop the clothes. Aomine followed Kise in silence though his mind kept thinking about Kagami who was still waiting.
"Ah, Aominecchi, did you ditch Kagamicchi just to come here-ssu?" asked Kise. "That's not good, Aominecchi. He might hate you now-ssu!" Kise's tone didn't show any regret though. "I was wondering why Kagamicchi asked you to accompany him for today. Aren't you only wanted to tease him, Aominecchi?"
"What do you mean, Kise?" Aomine asked sharply.
"Well, Aominecchi never showed any care about Kagamicchi, right? All you had done was teasing him, forcing him, making him cry… You only see Kagamicchi as an amusing toy, aren't you?" Kise's tone had lost its usual lightness, replaced by a serious tone. "You might punch those douche bags that hurt Kagamicchi, but you just hate it when someone played with your toy, right?"
"I'm not—"
"Aominecchi never loved Kagamicchi, right?" asked Kise. "You didn't even come to the infirmary when he lied there, beaten up and hurt. Once you bored of him, you'll leave him. Aren't that what you used to do in middle school, huh, Aominecchi?"
"Shut up, Kise!"
"Kurokocchi is right when he said he will protect Kagamicchi. Not just because you're a pervert, but because you're you," said Kise. "You can't deny it, Aominecchi. I was there, everyone was there. We don't want to see Kagamicchi is hurting because of you. So, please keep your action in check, Aominecchi."
Kise didn't say anything anymore. Aomine could only clench his fists as he looked at the blond who was already walking further. He looked down at his hands. Was it true? He could only hurt Kagami… Just like last time… Aomine really wanted to visit Kagami that time. But his guilt prevented him to be around the red head. It was his fault anyway. He had failed at that time… But it was also his fault Haizaki held grudges against the student councils…
And now Kagami had to suffer the consequence.
Aomine knew Kise was right. He wasn't one with bright past especially during his middle school. Aomine always wanted to punch something if he remembered that incident. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and caught up to Kise.
It took him longer than he expected. Kise's driver was late to deliver the clothes, so they had to wait for almost thirty minutes in the front lobby of the school. After their talk, neither boy tried to initiate a conversation. Kise being uncharacteristically quiet, while Aomine still deep in thought. Kise just let him be and busy texting Akashi and told him about the lateness.
"Oi, Kise, have you… Have you told him about your feeling for him?" asked Aomine. He didn't need to define the 'him' in his question since already understood who he had meant.
"We have, when you're not there-ssu," said Kise. "Everyone told him how much we care for him and that he's our precious person…"
"And he said?"
"That he thought the same. We're his precious people and his best friends," Kise said, emphasizing at the last word.
Aomine let out a small chuckle. That was so Kagami, saying something like that. That guy was too oblivious to his surroundings to the point it could be quite scary. His naivety could match a child, and his stupidity… But he was the type of guy who wore his feeling on his sleeve for everyone to see. Maybe that was why people liked him and attracted to him.
Aomine was still confused about his own feeling. Maybe Kise was right? He knew he loved teasing that red head since his reaction was always amusing to watch. Aomine only did it for fun and he knew it. He liked it when Kagami blushing, crying, smiling, laughing, everything. He kept teasing him, trying to find out how many expressions he could draw from the boy's face. Was it some kind of game? Yes. Aomine didn't deny it.
And yet, he kept feeling something. Something different every time he was around that red head. Something stirred in him.
"Do you… love him, Kise?" Aomine asked.
"Hm? Why do you ask?" Kise asked back. "Of course I love him-ssu."
"As a friend?" Or more?
Kise only smiled secretively at Aomine's question.
"Everyone loves him. Even Akashicchi and Midorimacchi. But you're not, are you?"
"Stop judging me. You know nothing," said Aomine.
"Well, that's not true. I—no, we know everything, Aominecchi," said Kise. "That's why we cannot let you get closer to Kagamicchi-ssu."
"You bastard. This isn't a game, Kise. I have my rights to love him, and you can't stop me. No matter what I do," Aomine said. "Stop with your underhanded play, ganging up on me."
"Oh, everything's fair in love and war, Aominecchi."
They conversation was interrupted when the lobby's door opened and Kise's drivers had arrived with wet clothes. He panted and apologized for the lateness since it was raining outside. Aomine's ears perked up at the word 'rain'. The lobby was sound proof, so he couldn't hear the sound of rain. Aomine ran for the window and opened the blinds to see there was a heavy downpour outside. He cursed and looked at his watch.
It was more than an hour since he left Kagami! He promised it would be only five minutes… And it was raining outside…
Well, surely Kagami would find a place to take shelter from this heavy rain, right? He wasn't that stupid.
Aomine helped Kise and the driver to deliver the clothes to the student councils' room. Akashi nodded a thank you and checked on the clothes. After he satisfied, he dismissed them. Aomine felt uneasy when he left. Was Kagami still waiting for him? The rain was heavy; people had left the front yard stands and went inside the school. The inner court yard stands were still opened and now full with visitors. Aomine looked among the visitors, trying to find that obnoxious tiger costume, but he didn't see him.
Aomine cursed. Was he still outside? Kagami indeed said he would wait under that stupid umbrella, but this was ridiculous. Was he still waiting outside?
Without thinking, Aomine had run for the front yard, looking for the bright orange costume. The stands were now empty since everybody had moved inside due to the heavy rain. Aomine looked around and saw the umbrella where he last saw Kagami…
And the idiot was still there, under the umbrella, looking a bit worried. Aomine cursed under his breath. Was this red head that stupid? He was supposed to go inside with everyone, not waiting here alone. Kagami was still holding the tail part of his costume to keep it dry.
"YOU IDIOT! THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, HUH?! WHY DON'T YOU GO INSIDE LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING?!" Aomine yelled as he ran through the heavy curtain of rain. He was soaked wet to his toes now when he joined Kagami under the big umbrella.
"You're soaked wet!" said Kagami.
"You don't say! Why are you still here? Are you that stupid?!"
"You said you'll only go for five minutes or so. So I wait. Turned out you're gone longer, but since I already promised you I'll wait, than I did. When it started to rain, I tried to call you and texted you, but you didn't answer, so I guess I'll just wait here—"
"You're stupid, Baka!"
"Don't call me baka, Aho!"
"I forgot my phone. I left it in my room," said Aomine. "You could just leave."
"Well, I asked you to walk around the festival with me, how I could ditch you just like that?" said Kagami. "When I said 'I'll wait' than I will! I'm not one to break my promise."
Aomine sighed. Kagami and his straightforward way of thinking sometimes still surprised him.
"We should go back to the building now," said Aomine.
"Yosh! Let's use this!" Kagami said as he motioned to the umbrella. "While you're gone, I got nothing better to do, so I learnt how this umbrella works. You see, the table can be folded, and we can use it to cover us from the rain."
Aomine only looked at Kagami as the boy started to fold the table.
"See? But this thing is too heavy for me to carry alone…"
Aomine sighed as he helped Kagami. Indeed the umbrella was too heavy to be carried alone. The heavy wind made it harder to be carried, but after some battle with nature, they managed to get inside the building. Kagami sighed happily as he set aside the umbrella and followed Aomine.
"So, why did they call upon you?" asked Kagami.
"Ah, it's about tonight's event. Akashi wanted some meeting for the preparations and such. And by the way, the outfit for tonight had arrived. You better checked it," said Aomine.
"Whaaat? Another costume? I've had enough with this!" said Kagami as he tugged at his tiger suit.
"Well, it's okay if you want to wear that for tonight's ball. Beside the girls will cooed happily at how cute you'd look," Aomine let out a teasing smile as he pulled at the tail part of the outfit.
"I-I'm not cute!" Kagami said with blushing face.
"Sure you're not~!"
Their bickering continued until they arrived at the student councils' room. Kuroko, Kise and Murasakibara quickly attached themselves to Kagami like glue. Kise cooed at how cute Kagami looked like while Kuroko asked where he had been and why his costume was slightly damp. He threw a suspicious look at Aomine's soaked uniform but he let Kagami answered his question. Kagami told them what happened in all honesty.
"You're cruel, Mine-chin… Leaving Kaga-chin alone like that in the rain~" said Murasakibara. "Kaga-chin is okay, right~? You should change clothes before you're sick~"
"Kagamicchi~! Try the new outfit-ssu~!" Kise said excitedly.
"Ah, let me help you with that, Kagami-kun…"
The three was fusing around the clothes, pulling and tugging at Kagami, making the red head confused. Midorima quickly joined them, as usual, being the mediator and started to make everything in order. Aomine didn't join. He only watched from his place. He didn't realize Akashi had approached him and put a towel on his head.
"Clean yourself up, Daiki. We have a lot of things to do."
Kagami's face was reddened as he looked at his outfit. What was wrong with these people and their bad habit of dressing people up? Now he was in some kind of dark red military ceremonial uniform, completed with the hat and black leather boots. The other was also dressed in the same way, including Akashi, with the colors matching their hairs and eyes. Kagami started to wonder if Kise's mother (who designed these clothes) had some uniform fetish or something. He couldn't move freely with these outfits, but Akashi's glare told him if he dared to take off the outfit, he'd be sent to painful life.
And Kagami didn't want that.
"Kagamicchi looks good~!" Kise yelled brightly.
"T-thanks," Kagami mumbled. He was very nervous right now. They would go to the ball, attended the Miss Teikou event and danced. Kagami wasn't sure if could remember all the steps Momoi had crammed into his skull a few days ago. He still stepped on the girl's toe at the last practice, but Momoi said he was a lot better than before.
Kagami was really nervous now as he followed Akashi to the ballroom and opened the event.
"Are you okay, Kagami-kun?" asked Kuroko. "You looked like you wanted to throw up."
"I… I'm fine…" Kagami said. He kept fidgeting as he tried to calm himself down.
"You're nervous." It wasn't a question, and Kagami knew Kuroko could read him so well.
"What if I am?" he asked.
"It's okay, Kagami-kun. Everything will be alright."
And how much Kagami wanted to trust Kuroko's words. And yet, when they walked to the ballroom under the bright spotlight, Kagami could feel his face blushing. He could see that everyone was dressed in beautiful dresses and suits. His heart beating faster as he looked at those expectant looks on the girls' eyes.
He was wondering who would be the winner of Miss Teikou this year and who will she chose for the date… Kagami gulped and tried to hide his blush as Akashi kept talking on the microphone. After the short opening speech, Momoi jumped to the stage, looking as beautiful as always in her flowing peach colored satin dress. She was the MC for Miss Teikou event and the boys seemed enthusiast when she took over the stage.
"So… are you ready to find who's the finest of Teikou Academy~?" she asked cheerfully.
"Yeah!" the crowds cheered.
"The winner will be chosen from the vote that'd been held yesterday by the 'Miss Teikou Committee'~!" Momoi said cheerfully. "The winner will have a chance to dance with one of the host club members and a one day date with any members they wanted~!"
At the back of the ballroom, the host club members waited.
"Aren't there supposed to be a talent show for this kind of thing?" Kagami whispered to Kuroko.
"Hm? Well, in Teikou the election supposed to be done before the event since we still have a ball after this. The winner will show her talent after she'd been elected to shorten the duration," Kuroko said.
"But I haven't put my vote…" said Kagami.
"The host-club members shouldn't put their vote, Kagami-kun. And so is the 'Miss Teikou Committee," Kuroko explained calmly. "Do you fell asleep when Akashi-kun explained this?"
"N-no…" Kagami said, though he couldn't remember when Akashi mentioned this before.
"Nah, don't think too much about it, Bakagami," Aomine said as he ruffled Kagami's hair. "I doubt any girls would want to dance with you since you got two left foot. You'll step on their feet all night long."
"Shut up, Aomine! I can dance just fine… I think," he added weakly. "At least Momoi had taught me well. I only stepped on her feet three times in our last practice!"
Aomine let out a mocking chuckle at Kagami's remark. He ruffled Kagami's hair once again before he left him alone. Momoi was still talking about the winner's characteristics, but Kagami didn't hear her. He looked around trying to find something to drink since he was so thirsty and this outfit was quite annoying. Kuroko's tiger costume was a lot better…
"And the winner is…~!" Momoi said, giving a dramatic pause for the effect.
Kagami found some strawberry punch and decided to drink it since he was so thirsty…
"…KAGAMI TAIGA-KUN~!"
Kagami stopped as suddenly the spotlight was landed upon him and he only stared at the crowds who were now turned to him with a deer in a headlight looks. The girls cheered crazily, even the boys also cheered (something about "thanks for not taking the girls away from us" for whatever that meant).
"W-wha—?" he didn't understand the situation.
"It seemed like you're the winner of this year's Miss Teikou, Kagami-kun," said Kuroko with a small smile. "Congratulation."
"What? E-eh… wait… what…?" before Kagami could process everything, the girls had pushed him to the stage where Momoi waited with a bright smile on her face. Wasn't the Miss Teikou supposed to be a girl?
"It was quite a surprise, right? For the first time since Teiko had been founded, we have a male Miss Teikou~!" the crowds cheered with crazy. "It was really a surprise since your name wasn't even on the nominees' list, and yet, almost every girl and some boys in this school put your name on their voting papers~" said Momoi. "Maybe we should hear some explanation, right~?"
Momoi randomly pointed some volunteers. It was a girl that Kagami remembered as the regular customer in host club.
"I-I think it's better to see Kagami-kun dancing and going on a date with any members of host club rather than other girls…" the girl said timidly, but her words were quickly cheered by the rest of the girls with positive feedback. Kagami shuddered at the excitement the girls showed.
The boy volunteer answered Momoi's question passionately.
"Because we want to reduce the competition!" his answer met with booming cheer from the boy population. Kagami still thinking there was something wrong with the brain of the students in this Academy. But before he voiced his protest, Momoi had continued to talk.
"Now, you know what to do next, right, Kagamin~?" asked Momoi.
"Eh? What?" Kagami was still confused.
"The talent show, of course!"
"E-Eeeeh?"
Momoi winked at him. When Kagami turned around, he had seen a grand piano, sleek black and beautiful. Did Momoi just…? Kagami cursed under his breath. Of course she knew. She was a walking data bank. As the member of 'Miss Teikou Committee' of course she'd know he'd win and prepared this. Kagami was blushing since it had been a long time since the last time he touched a piano.
He walked up to the piano and sat before it. Carefully placing his fingers on the keyboard. He didn't know what song to play, so he just played the first song came up to his mind. Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers", the last song he played for his mother. Kagami took a deep breath before he started to play, letting each notes pouring out of his fingers, filling up the ballroom. The crowds couldn't help themselves; the boys were offering their hands to the girls, asking for a dance which they gladly accepted.
"I thought he supposed to dance with one of you," said Momoi as she came to join the host club members who still stood at the back of the room. She smiled as she looked at Kagami who was still too absorbed on his music.
Akashi only smiled as he took one of the strawberry- punch on the table.
"Well, this is fine," said Akashi said as he took a sip of his drink. "This is student council and host-club event. It should be fun, don't you think?"
"Maybe you're right," said Momoi as she looked at students who had filled the dance floor. "Tetsu-kun, please dance with me~!"
Before Kuroko could answer, Momoi had dragged him to the dance floor. Kise laughed at Kuroko's expression but soon, a girl had come and asked if she could dance with him. In a few minutes, everyone had filled the dance floor. As soon as the first song ended, Kagami played another Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Mozart, and Beethoven…
The night ended with Kagami's piano as the ballroom filled with laughter, chatter, and everything. He even played with the accompaniment of string ensemble Akashi had called for the dance. He smiled at them and they returned it before they quickly dived into the music.
That night, everyone dancing with everybody.
And for that night, they closed the school festival with so much joy. Even Akashi smiled though the rain was slightly messed things up, but they still enjoying it. Kagami played the piano while Akashi, Kise, Aomine, Midorima, Murasakibara, and Kuroko danced with every single girl, doing their usual host club routine.
Tonight, everything was fine.
Maybe Kuroko was right after all. Everything's going to be all right.
A/N : AAAARRRGGGHHH~! What the hell am I writing...?! This is so messed up... I'm sorry, everyone... *run to the corner and hide from the world*
Please, review~?