There aren't a lot of Romantic Killer fanfiction stories but I hope to change that ~ I'm just getting into writing again so I hope you enjoy
Anzu's POV
"And then we add the hydrochloric acid to activate it!" Saki says, adding the chemical to our mixture over the bunsen burner. I've never been good at science, so I'm on note-taking duty while Saki does all the heavy lifting. She's so smart! Biology class is my least favorite, but it's not so bad with Saki's help.
I lean back in my chair and look out the window at the sky. I'm so happy with my life the way it is now - I have so many friends in my life now since I became an experiment for this love project. I still have a long battle ahead of me to fend off Riri's shenanigans, but I have my friends by my side! I can get through anything with them - and despite their antics, I consider Riri to be one of them. I don't need a boyfriend or anything like that - I'm happy right now! I hope everything stays the same.
My train of thought is interrupted by an involuntary cough. "Oh, no Anzu! That one sounded bad... are you sure you don't want to go to the nurse?" Saki asks, pushing her lab goggles onto her head. I've had a nasty cough all week - and it's Thursday for crying out loud! "Yeah, I'm totally fine! A little cough never killed anyone - I'll make some tea once I get home to soothe it, I promise," I reassure her. She doesn't look convinced, but she drops the subject and gets back to our lab project.
Not too long later the bell rings and I make my way towards Kazuki's classroom, bumping into him before I arrive. "Hoshino - did you not see me?" I laugh it off sheepishly. "Whoops! I was in my head a bit - Sorry!" Kazuki sighs at me, in his usual 'you'll be the death of me' kind of way. We start making our way home, and another cough escapes me against my will. By the time my eyes open again, there's a tissue in front of me. I accept, apologetically saying, "Sorry - have I really been coughing that much?" Kazuki just looks at me for a moment before nodding. "There's a clinic nearby, let's make a quick stop," he says. I shake my head. "That's so silly! It's just a little cough - I don't need a doctor."
"But it's been days now Hoshino, and-"
"Anzu!"
I whip my head around to see Riri in her girl form bounding toward us. "What do you want?" I deadpan, preparing myself for whatever chaos is coming. "I have an invitation for youuuuu ~ it's from Hijiri!" she sing songs, waving around a fancy-looking envelope. "Invitation? An invitation to what?" Kazuki asks before I can. "Wait, how do you have it? DID YOU STEAL IT?!" I exclaim, ready to wipe that smile off her goofy face. "Nope! I was going to trip you earlier, causing you to fall into Kazuki, but Hijiri stopped me and asked me to give this to you. And he was blushing!" Riri chimed. I feel my face get hot, betraying me. I snatch the envelope from Riri and open up the intricate seal.
On decorative paper, the invitation reads:
Moonlight Masquerade
September 18th
2-187 Sakura Event Hall
7 pm - 1 am
In celebration of the fall moon, Huron Corp welcomes you to attend our Moonlight Masquerade for an evening of elegance and poise. The dress code is black tie. Masks are required.
I recognize Huron Corp - that's Hijiri's father's company. So he's inviting me to attend this masquerade... that his father will be at? I feel the existing heat in my cheeks rise exponentially.
"Looks fancy," Kazuki says, breaking me from my thoughts. I hadn't realized how close he was to me and I jumped immediately. "Why would he want me to go to something like this? I'm not some pampered rich girl! Besides, I don't have anything to wear," I explain. It's fine I will just need to let Hijiri know that I can't go. "Leave that to me!" Riri yells, grabbing my arm. "C'mon Kazuki! We're taking Anzu shopping!"
I expect Kazuki to protest, but he simply follows along while I'm dragged along by my kidnapper. "Kazuki aren't you gonna help me?!" I plead dramatically. Without turning he replies, "Nah. This sounds like free entertainment." Lot of help he is.
We finally arrive at the dreaded dress shop and before I can even attempt an escape, I'm pushed into a dressing room with what feels like a million dresses. "There's no way I'm putting any of these on!" I shout. "Awww c'mon, they'll all look so pretty on you!" Riri says, attempting to convince me but failing miserably. "Just put one on Hoshino." I gasp slightly, shocked that Kazuki is at all invested in this. I tighten my fists, my resolve stronger now to fight back. "Fine."
I grab the ugliest dress in the group, a big pink one with poofy shoulders, and an even poofier skirt. It's a workout to get it on, but I manage. Surely once they see this, they'll give up on this entirely. I open the curtain and step out, only to Riri's joy and Kazuki's enjoyment. He doesn't even bother stifling his laughter. "You look like a big pink parachute!" He gets out between fits of laughter. "MORE LIKE A KNAPSACK!" I fire back. "Now, now. Let's try a different one! Come on, I'll help you pick one!" Riri says, grabbing my poofy shoulders back into the changing room, following behind me.
We tangle for a while and Riri forces a few more dresses on me before pulling one out I hadn't noticed prior. It's actually quite beautiful - a deep green gown, a sweetheart neckline with a deep cut covered by a cream mesh underneath, leading down its not poofy like the others, but the velvet rather loosely drapes with a slit up the side. At close inspection, I can see an ivy vine pattern lightly printed into the fabric. It takes my breath away for a moment. "Fine, I'll put it on, but this is the last one, you hear?" I say to Riri, pushing her out the other side of the curtain. Just before the curtain closes, I see a smile on her face, not her usual mischievous one, but a softer one. I take a deep breath and then slide myself into the dress, and it fits like a glove. I look at myself in the mirror with a bit of shock. I actually look pretty nice ... I don't think I've ever worn something like this before. It feels foreign but... good. I almost feel like the dress is making me more beautiful, just by being in it. I wonder what Hijiri will think...
Kazuki's POV
What started out as a way to tease Hoshino has turned into a longer errand than I expected. I need to start on dinner and get homework done. I don't want to say anything, because she'll use it as an excuse to give up on finding a dress and going to this party. Then again… it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if she didn't go. I know Hijiri is only a friend, but I get the feeling that he wants more than that from her. This party could be his way of making that happen.
"Hey Kazuki ~ are you excited?" Riri asks, breaking my train of thought. "No? Why would I be?" I reply. She has a big grin on her face and pulls out her wand. "I worked a bit of magic on this one - it's perfect for Anzu!" She says with a wink. Despite the fact that I've known about Riri's magic for a while now, I still can't quite get used to it. Before I can attempt to figure out what she's talking about, I hear the curtains pull back and Anzu steps out.
She's standing in front of us in a dark green dress that fits her perfectly. It's beautiful, fun, simple, and natural, just like her.
"Anzu! You look incredible!" Riri shouts, jumping up and down. Only now do I manage to break my stare and I pull my hat down to cover the blush rapidly appearing on my cheeks. I hear the two of them fussing, but I'm still not 100% present. She looks so gorgeous that I've forgotten how to function.
"…right Kazuki?" Riri asks, once more pulling me out of my head. "What?" Riri giggles at me and repeats, "I said she looks like a princess, doesn't she?"
I look back at Hoshino again, this time her cheeks are as rosy as mine feel, and her crimson eyes are gazing at me intently. I muster just enough courage to compliment her. "No. More like a Queen."
This elicits a rather large excitable reaction from Riri, but I tune it out as I see Hoshino's face redden even more, almost as much as her deep red hair. There's an awkward tension in the air before Riri breaks it and Hoshino goes back into the changing room to put on her clothes. The whole time she's in there, the image of her standing in front of me morphs into her wearing it at a party, and then suddenly Hijiri at this party with her creeps in, turning my sense of wonder to anger. No! Hijiri is her friend and he invited her to this - let her be happy. Stop putting your feelings before hers.
I hear the curtains pull back one last time, so I stand up and walk to the checkout with Hoshino and Riri. As soon as they've finished I grab the garment bag to carry it for her. "Let's get going then," I say, walking out the door ahead. If I'm holding the bag, I'm not seeing it. If I'm not seeing it, I'm not thinking about what's in it. If I'm not thinking about what's in it, I'm not imagining Hoshino in it. Imagining her dancing in it with that charming smile -
With some other guy.
Home can't get here fast enough.
that's chapter 1! Hope you like it so far ~
