Kōki was positive that blood would be on his hands—Kuroko's blood—at precisely 10:38 that Tuesday morning.
He had to be behind this little development, after all. Only Kuroko, Fukuda and Kawahara knew and Kuroko was the only one who could talk to Akashi without choking up with fear. So as soon as Akashi walked in, Kōki clapped his hands to his mouth and ducked behind the counter.
"You've got this one, Furihata," Kida said lazily.
"No, I'm begging you. Take him for me."
Kida frowned at the cowering mass of lace on the floor. "I'm manning the cash register and you can't even do that, so go take his order."
"I can't!" Kōki hissed, hoping that Kida would show a previously unknown side to himself and be unexpectedly generous.
"Why? Do you know him?"
Kōki whined and plucked at the black fabric. "He's my boyfriend," he muttered, glowering at his ensemble.
Kida glanced at Akashi again before grinning down at Kōki. "Go take his order or you're fired."
Kōki whimpered again, unsteadily getting to his feet and teetering on the high heels before finding his balance again. He could only meet Akashi's eyes for a second before looking away again.
"Are… are you ready to order?"
When Akashi didn't respond immediately Kōki frowned at him. "I'm perfectly content staying here and just watching you," he said, catching hold of one of the silk ribbons and letting it slip through his fingers.
Kōki blushed and slapped his hand away. "If you're not going to order anything I'll have to ask you to leave."
Akashi sighed. "Fine. Coffee, please."
Kōki hurried away.
It wasn't as if he wanted this job, but not many people were happy hiring someone who was leaving for university in less than a year. As a result, he was stuck in a perverted café whose dress code wasFrench maid's uniforms. Complete with a corset. At least it had amused Fukuda and Kawahara, enough that nowadays all it took was for him to show up and Fukuda would be lightheaded with laughter as Kawahara tried futilely to hold it back. Goodness forbid anyone say something in French (Fukuda being half-French certainly didn't help), as they would both be indisposed for at least twenty minutes. Even Kuroko would crack a rare grin.
The coffee was made, and Kōki hadn't thought up of an excuse to stay hidden behind the counter so he approached Akashi again, who was watching him with a distant look in his eye. He placed the coffee on the table, slapping Akashi's hand away again as he played with the hem of the skirt.
"Who told you? Kuroko?"
"No…" Akashi said, taking hold of his hand. "Fukuda told me." Kōki tried to pull away when he kissed his palm. "I suppose I understand why you didn't tell me, but I do find it rather cruel. You look beautiful like this."
"Akashi-san, I'm working," Kōki insisted, about 80% sure that he was lying (he'd seen himself in the mirror; he looked ridiculous) but it was quite difficult to protest when Akashi got up from his seat to kiss him. He forgot enough of his surroundings that it didn't even bother him when Akashi brushed his hand up his thigh.
"When's your break?" he asked, his voice slightly breathless.
"My…? Oh, in an hour." Akashi let go of him.
"Don't get changed," he ordered with a grin.
Kōki looked at him with slight incredulity as he sat down again. "Pervert," he muttered. Akashi only looked at him with a small sigh.
Fukuda received what could only be described as screeching on the other end of the telephone when he picked it up that evening. Although he didn't entirely recognise the words, the voice was distinctive enough that he laughed and said, "Bonjour, ma p'tite," which had settled into being his usual greeting when Furihata called.
"You… I thought you were too scared to talk to Akashi!"
"Well, he texted me. Wanted to know why you weren't answering."
"I told you not to tell him! Do you have any idea what kind of a pervert he is?"
"Uh… no?"
"He has no issues with molesting me in the restaurant—"
"Woah, I don't need to know that."
"Shut up. I could actually lose my job if he keeps on coming over; it makes me nervous when he keeps on staring at me like that."
"Furi."
"Doesn't help that he offered me a job andthen said that the dress code would be the same, more or less, and he emphasised the 'less', and I don't even want to think about what he'd make me do."
"Dude."
There was a sigh. "He's such a pervert," Furihata muttered. "I'm gonna go now. But I'm killing you tomorrow."
Fukuda snorted. "Au revoir, ma p'tite," he said before hanging up.