Summary: Ren has problems finding a gift for Sumire's birthday, but luckily for her Chisato, and especially Keke, will help her to find one even if it means tricking her.
Sumire/Ren
Isopods
The bell rings indicating the end of the class and with it, the end of another long and tired day at school. Sighs of relief mix with timid happy ones, before the chattering of the students fills the until then quiet classrooms and hallways on their way to their clubs, homes or some others external activities and hobbies they might have.
Sadly for a certain raven haired girl, the long day still carries on as she puts her belongings inside her school bag ready to start her work at the student council room, stacks of paperwork waiting for her in there.
- Another day of work at the student council, Ren-chan?
A white haired girl asks her as if she has read her mind causing Ren to give her a timid nod. Chisato can only make a face feeling sorry for her friend.
- You seem to have a lot of work lately – Chisato sighs feeling sorry for Ren and the huge amount of paperwork she has as the student council president – Let us know if we can help you in any way.
She offers her then as they get out of the music building to head towards the main building of the school on their way to the entrance of the same one and also to the student council room respectively, before having to part ways.
- Oh, that reminds me, do you think you'll have some free time for Sumire-chan's birthday?
Chisato asks with an enthusiastic smile playing on her lips, making Ren furrow her brow in return.
- Sumire-san's birthday? – she asks confused, earning a giggle from the other girl.
- Yes, you know her birthday is the 28th, right?
Chisato says still with a smile on her lips, seeing Ren blinking several times, before pausing on their walk.
- I… I actually didn't.
Ren answers quietly, feeling bad for not knowing nor been aware of one of her groupmates' and friends' birthday even if they were still starting as a group.
- Don't worry! We still have time until then! – Chisato exclaims trying to reassure the other girl so she doesn't dwell on it – If you want, we can go and search for her gift together.
She offers the student council president kindly, seeing Ren considering it, before she shakes her head.
- If you don't mind, I'd like to think about it by myself first, Chisato-san.
Ren answers coyly, and Chisato can only smile, nodding while understanding perfectly why the other girl wants to think about it by herself first.
- Tell me if you need any help!
She encourages Ren, eliciting a quiet giggle from her friend, before they part ways and Ren goes to the student council room to advance reading and filling more of the paperwork waiting for her, to then finally go back home.
But even though the raven haired girl returns home, work doesn't end for her, although at least now it's in a slightly different way.
A heavy sigh escapes her lips as she leans back against the comfort Chibi's furry body offers her while she searches on internet with a frown adorning her features.
- Is everything okay, Ren-sama?
Saya asks worried about her mistress as she places a cup of tea in front of the younger girl, startling her slightly, before a timid smile replaces her frown.
- Ah, it's nothing Saya-san. I was just… thinking on a gift for a friend's birthday.
Ren answers as she takes a sip of the hot tea, sighing in delight while eliciting a giggle from the maid.
- Is it going well?
Saya asks as she sits beside her on the couch, petting Chibi, before mirroring Ren taking a sip of her own tea.
- I… I'm not sure. I don't know what to gift her with – Ren expresses her doubts as a frown returns to her features.
- What does she like? – Saya asks in an attempt to help the younger girl, only to notice Ren's frown deepening.
- I don't know?
Ren mumbles noticing how even though she and Sumire are friends, she still doesn't know anything about the blonde nor about what she likes.
Saya can't help but look at the younger girl softly, before patting her shoulder in a comforting way.
- Don't worry. I'm sure we'll end up finding something for her.
She says reassuringly, seeing Ren cheering up as they search on internet for ideas for Sumire's birthday. But even with Saya's and Chibi's help, Ren is still clueless about what to gift Sumire with.
A dejected sigh escapes the raven haired girl's lips as she walks towards the school's entrance the following day, waving good morning to the few girls that dare to greet her, before a white haired girl greets her.
- Morning, Ren-chan! – Chisato says chirpily, before squeaking – Woah, you look terrible.
Ren can only giggle at her friend's honesty, before giving Chisato a tired smile.
- Good morning, Chisato-san. I'm afraid I didn't sleep well tonight.
- Oh, did you have that much work to fill out for the student council? – Chisato asks worried about the workload of the student council president, seeing Ren shaking her head.
- No, no. I… I was thinking about Sumire-san's gift, but I'm afraid I couldn't come up with any idea for it.
Ren explains sorrowfully, hearing Chisato giggling in return.
- Silly, didn't I tell you that I'd help you with it? There is no need to worry.
Chisato offers her friend, seeing Ren smiling softly and hopeful at her, before a short grey haired girl chimes in.
- Are you two talking about blondie's birthday gift? – Keke asks rather enthusiastic, making Chisato giggle while Ren simply smiles.
- Good morning, Keke-san. And yes, I was telling Chisato-san that I'm afraid I don't have any idea of what I can get for her.
Ren tells her honestly, hearing Keke giggle, before a mischievous grin spreads across her lips.
- Well, Sumire likes isopods. Like, a lot.
She says mischievously making Chisato gasp.
- Keke-chan! That's not-
- Really!?
Chisato exclaims rebutting Keke, before Ren interrupts her, making her turn to look at her wide-eyed.
- Yes, really. Look, she even got dressed as an isopod when she was a kid.
Keke tells the raven haired girl as she shows her the infamous picture of little Sumire dressed as an isopod.
As Chisato is going to tell the raven haired girl that what Keke is telling her isn't true but quite the opposite, she can't help but notice Ren's hazel eyes shining beamingly.
- That's perfect then! Thank you, Keke-san, I think I finally have an idea of what to gift her with.
Ren says rather excited after seeing Sumire's cute picture dressed like a little isopod.
- Wait, Ren-chan, Sumire-chan doesn't-
- Ren-senpai! Can we please discuss something about our club before classes start?
Another girl calls out cutting off what Chisato was about to tell Ren, before the student council president apologizes for having to leave so sudden.
- I'm sorry girls, I should go now. But thank you for both of your help with Sumire-san's gift.
She thanks them sincerely, before leaving with the unknown girl to discuss some club's matters. Keke and Chisato can only wave her goodbye, before the white haired girl turns to the Chinese girl.
- You know Sumire-chan hates isopods!
She exclaims, hearing Keke giggling maliciously.
- I know, but imagine the funny face she will make once Ren gifts her with something like that.
- You're a bad friend.
Chisato sighs out heavily as Keke sticks out her tongue at her, before they go to their respective classrooms.
Sadly, and even though Chisato wants to be a good friend and tell Ren that Sumire doesn't like isopods, she doesn't have the heart to do it as she notices how excited the raven haired girl is upon having found the perfect isopod gift for their blonde friend.
And sadly too, or maybe not so sadly, they can't see Sumire's face once her birthday comes, because Ren is so busy attending a student council meeting that she can't make it to the small party Liella has organized for their blonde member and therefore, she can't give her the gift she got for her.
But Chisato just calls that karma.
- Looks like it backfired you!
She teases the short grey haired girl as they walk back home together after the small party, seeing her pouting while crossing her arms over her chest, no rebuttal in the Chinese girl's tongue whatsoever, which causes the white haired girl to giggle.
A couple of hours later, the student council president finds herself climbing the steps that lead to a shrine in a rush before the sun sets.
- Oh, hi! – Ren greets a small blonde girl wearing a shrine-maiden outfit while sweeping the courtyard – Is your sister around?
She asks the small girl seeing her nodding while smiling at her.
- Onee-chan! Somebody is here for you!
The young blonde calls out for her sister, bowing in respect to the raven haired girl before she leaves, pushing the broom she was using until seconds ago onto her sister's chest. Sumire can only grunt at her sister taking it, before she frowns.
- Ren? What are you doing here? – she asks surprised to find the other girl there at such hours.
- I wanted to apologize for not have been able to make it to the party Liella prepared for your birthday.
Ren apologizes, making Sumire chuckle while she plays with one of her curls.
- It's okay, Ren. We knew you were busy in a student council meeting.
Sumire says reassuringly, seeing the other girl smiling at her softly, before shifting restlessly while hiding something behind her back.
- Would it be okay if I give you your birthday gift now? – Ren asks coyly, making Sumire giggle, before she nods, seeing the raven haired girl pulling a wrapped thing from behind her back – Happy birthday, Sumire-san.
Ren wishes her with a fond smile playing on her lips that almost makes Sumire blush, before she accepts the wrapped gift and opens it, only to look at it flabbergasted.
- I… I hope you like it. Keke-san told me you like them.
A laugh can be heard from afar making Sumire turn to glare at her sister who quickly hides inside their home, before she goes back to look at the isopod plushie in her hands, anger bubbling inside her at Keke to then look at Ren.
But as soon as she sees the fond glint in her hazel eyes and the soft almost coy smile playing on her lips, she finds it, along with her naivety, adorable, making her anger slowly dissipate.
- I… thank you, Ren. I do like it.
She says softly, seeing Ren's smile widening beamingly.
- Would you… would you like us to celebrate together your birthday tomorrow as we couldn't do it today? – Ren asks embarrassedly, making Sumire blush, before she nods.
- Y-yeah, I'd like that.
- Great, then we can do whatever you want tomorrow after classes.
Ren offers with a fond smile on her lips, making Sumire smile too, saying goodbye to the raven haired girl before the night falls over her on her way back home.
- Be careful!
She exclaims with a timid smile playing on her lips and a blush tinting her cheeks that she hides burying her face on the isopod plushie in her arms, hugging it tightly against her chest as she watches Ren going downstairs.
She will sure make Keke pay for tricking Ren into it knowing how much she hates isopods. But she still has to admit she loved the raven haired girl's gift and invitation for the following day.