Knock knock knock.
Ding-dong.
Ka-tonk!
A very merry Rindou opened the window.
Just as Azami began, "What are you-", she jumped. Out. The window.
Thunk.
Tsukasa leapt to his feet, and everyone in the room gasped.
Azami raced over to the window and glanced down in astonishment at Rindou's body, lying limply in the bushes below. Sure, he was thinking about jumping out the window if the doorbell rang again, but Rindou? That was unexpected.
Not about to lose one of his best chefs, Azami bolted to the door. As he opened it, much to his surprise (although it shouldn't have been), he was met by a small choir of cheerful carolers.
"Hello, Uncle Azami! Glad to see you answered the door today!"
This time, Azami was not just annoyed, but frightened by their presence.
"Alice, move! I'm serious. Rindou just jumped out of the window!"
Alice grinned and nodded exuberantly. "I know! Isn't she great? Highly dedicated."
Just as Azami was about to question Alice, the mystery of the hour herself came jogging up to the doorstep.
Rindou, although covered in leaves and twigs and slightly scratched up, was still standing there, wearing her signature smile.
"Sorry I'm late, guys," she remarked casually to the quartet of carolers.
Alice happily responded, "No problemo, Senpai! I'm glad you could make it!"
The Elite Ten, who had heard Rindou's voice from the meeting room, were now gathered in the entranceway. Now with an audience, Rindou plucked a few branches out of her hair and opened her mouth.
"On the fifth day of Christmas, Tsukasa gave to me…" She gave Tsukasa a flirtatious wink, and all the Elite Ten members (plus Azami) leaned inwards, waiting anxiously to hear what this gift could be. Rindou raised up her right hand to reveal a blinding glimmer on each of her fingers. "FIVE GOLDEN RINGS!" she bragged, and Kinokuni's mouth fell open.
"Oh my gosh... YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!? Congratulations, you two!" The men of the Elite Ten tackled the first seat in a messy sort of bear hug.
Tsukasa tried to protest, "No, it's not what you think! Rindou just stole my credit card! I didn't propose!" as Rindou began to show off her rings to Alice and Megumi.
Things died down slightly, as Tadokoro continued:
"Four calling birds,"
"Three French hens!"
"Two turtle doves…" Alice sang, clearly annoyed that her birds had now dug several holes in her sweater sleeve,
"And a partridge in a pear tree!" Kurokiba closed.
Now coming to his senses, Azami slowly concluded, "You… joined… them, Rindou?"
Alice jumped in to answer, "Yep! Rindou-senpai is part of our choir now! Thank you for your time!"
And with that, she waved goodbye to the second seat and walked off with the rest of her crew.
Rindou turned to Azami and grinned. "Well, that was fun, wasn't it?"
Azami responded by slamming the door in her face, locking it, and promptly pacing back towards the meeting room.
Tsukasa gaped, "You're not actually gonna lock her out, right, Headmaster?"
With a slight frown, he replied, "If you mean forever, of course not. She can attend tomorrow's meeting. But I am temporarily punishing her." Then, with a grin, he added, "Don't worry, Tsukasa. You'll see your fiancée soon enough."
With a blush, Tsukasa muttered a protest, then returned to the meeting room.
To be continued...
