You're worth all the money in the world
She can hear it in the distance, the muffled voices full of excitement filling every corner of the crowded medium sized hall.
A shaky sigh escapes her lips as the ash-blonde woman fidgets her hands in a futile attempt to calm the nerves bubbling inside her, almost laughing at the irony of what she's about to do causing her to be even more nervous than when she has to go on stage and perform in front of hundreds of spectators.
- Why I'm even doing this?
She whispers to herself, closing her eyes to take a deep breath and calm herself, before a mischievous giggle makes them snap open again.
- Because it's for a good cause, Saijo-han.
A mischievous dark blue haired woman says as she steps out of the shadows to walk beside her, her sly grin hidden by a fan that makes her look exactly as cunning as her senpai.
- Then I don't see why aren't you offering Rui to the audience too, or Futaba for the matter, Tamao.
The other woman can only laugh, before another sly giggle joins her making Claudine roll her eyes.
- My, my, Kuro-han, are you so scared to get auctioned alone that you want to drag our girlfriends with you?
Claudine hears Kaoruko saying playfully, before she glares at her, standing a bit taller on her ground.
- I'm just saying that if you wanted to raise more money for charity with this auction, you could have asked Futaba and Rui too.
- She has a point.
Tamao can't help but add agreeing with Claudine, and Kaoruko can't help but be the one rolling her eyes now.
- We all know that even though Rui would have loved to help, she's too shy to have a date with a stranger.
- And Futaba?
Claudine presses knowing full well why the Hanayagi heiress didn't let Futaba participate in this "mess" even though she wanted.
- Because she's my fiancé, why of course~ and there's no way I'm letting any stranger go after what's mine – Kaoruko says with a wink, before resuming talking – You, on the other hand, my dear Kuro-han, are single. And who wouldn't want to pay such high amounts of money for a date with one of the most famous and acclaimed stars of the international scene?
Claudine can only roll her eyes once again seeing Kaoruko winking at her while Tamao just giggles at their playful banter.
The ash-blonde can't deny that as much as she'd have loved some company in the auction for charity, neither Rui nor Futaba would do as well as she can do no matter how much she disagrees.
Letting out a sigh, she allows Tamao to fix her appearance while Kaoruko squeezes her arm in a gesture of gratitude and steps from behind the curtains onto the stage.
- Now ladies and gentlemen, I hope you're all having a wonderful dinner and are ready for this auction to begin.
Claudine hears the muffed voices breaking into excited and encouraging cheers, before Kaoruko continues.
- Let's remember the money raised in this auction will go for charity, so the higher the biddings are, the better.
There's a slight round of laughs being heard at the background, before Kaoruko calls out her name.
- Now let's give a warm applause to our star for the night and the woman who you will be bidding to have a date with by the end of this dinner... Saijo Claudine!
Kaoruko announces, and Claudine can't help but take another deep breath, before she goes on the stage.
- Don't worry, Saijo-han. I'm sure it'll go well.
Tamao says and the soft smile on her lips and her reassuring tone are enough to help Claudine to calm, stepping out to walk towards Kaoruko at the center of the stage with the spotlights almost blinding her as much as the roaring applauses of her eager audience deafens her.
- Shall we begin the bidding at… JP¥ 25,000?
Kaoruko inquires playfully, and Claudine can already see a great amount of hands raising at the same time at the offered sum, before a dance of numbers begins.
- 30,000!
She hears somebody yelling in the background, before another voice quickly counter offers increasing the sum.
- 45,000!
- 60,000!
People yell lively, and Claudine can only gulp at how quickly things seem to be escalating.
- 80,000.
A rather timid voice says close to the stage she's on, and Claudine has to squint her eyes against the light of the spotlights illuminating her to find that the owner of such a melodic voice is no other than Mahiru.
The ash-blonde can't help but look at her agape, seeing Mahiru smiling and waving at her shyly while blushing, before another voice cuts through the hall.
- 100,000!
Somebody yells at the background earning a wide smirk from Kaoruko.
- Wow, we're already exceeding the sum of JP¥ 100,000 – she says, winking at Claudine – Does anybody bids more?
- 250,000!
A loud exclamation is heard in the hall, before Claudine squints her eyes to see a woman with curly pink hair. As her magenta eyes meet a pair of aquamarine ones, a gasp escapes her lips.
Wait, Yachiyo!?
She thinks surprised, seeing Yachiyo smirking and winking at her, before another and deeper voice cuts through the air.
- 500,000!
- I raise my bid to 750,000.
Yachiyo quickly counter offers, and Claudine feels about to pass out at the high sums of money being shout out from one side to another as if it's nothing.
A tense silence fills the hall, before the sound of a gavel banging the wood lectern in front of her breaks it.
- The lovely pink haired woman bids JP¥ 750,000. Does anybody want to improve her bid? No?
Kaoruko replies without giving the audience a chance to reply, and somehow Claudine feels at peace at one of her best friends being the one winning the auction.
- Then JP¥ 750,000 going once… JP¥ 750,000 going twice, and-
- One million!
A deep voice shouts at the last second, and Claudine really feels about fainting now.
One million!? Who the hell would want to spend so much money in an absurd date!?
Claudine thinks to herself, her eyes scanning the audience in a futile attempt to see who bid so much money for a date with her, before they land on Yachiyo, almost pleading her to counter offer, just to panic upon seeing the pink haired girl shaking her head sorrowfully unable to offer more money for her.
- One million going once. One million going twice, and one million going thrice! Sold to the lovely person at the background for one million! – Kaoruko announces happily, the hall bursting into applauses forcing Claudine to applaud awkwardly too – Thank you for have participated in this auction for charity projects, and congratulations to the booming person. You might want to step closer to meet your wonderful date.
Kaoruko says slyly, winking at Claudine as they walk towards the curtains to get off the stage.
- Oh, don't worry, Saijo-han. It's just a date – Tamao comments in between giggles, and Kaoruko can't help but chime in.
- Who knows, you might enjoy your date and even want to do this more often to help if our dearest Kuro-han is able to raise a million.
The Hanayagi heiress says playfully, and Claudine is about to retort at her, when the same deep voice that "bought" her interrupts them.
- I hope not. I wouldn't want to lose Saijo-san to Tsuruhime-san.
Claudine's head quickly snaps to the side to see a certain infuriating brunette walking towards her with an infuriating grin adorning her lips.
- Tendo Maya? What are you… – Claudine begins to ask confused as to why Maya is there, causing the other woman to giggle.
- I'm afraid I'm here to demand my date with you.
Maya answers as she takes Claudine's hand in hers to leave a kiss on it that snaps her out of her reverie.
- You, infuriating woman! Why did you have to spend a million for a date with me!?
Claudine exclaims taking her hand away from Maya as an adorable stubborn blush tints her cheeks.
- Because it was for a good cause – Maya states cheekily, before adding – Besides, I couldn't let Tsuruhime-san win. Didn't I already tell you that I'm a greedy woman?
Claudine can only blush even harder at her cheekiness, hearing both Kaoruko and Tamao giggling, before they run away after being the target of the ash-blonde's deadly glare.
- Shall we begin our date, ma Claudine?
Maya asks as she offers her arm to the ash-blonde who can only grumble embarrassed yet link her own arm with her infuriating date's one reluctantly.
- You didn't need to spend so much money if you wanted a date with me, idiot.
Claudine mumbles shyly, seeing Maya smiling at her softly as a quiet giggle escapes her lips.
- Are you telling me that you would have gone with me on a date if I had asked?
- No! Yes… Maybe?
Claudine says even more embarrassed than before not wanting to give such a satisfactory answer to the brunette which only causes her to laugh.
- That's good to know then. Although ma Claudine – Maya says, seeing Claudine looking into her eyes curiously as she turns to look at her and strokes her cheek – For all it matters, you're worth all the money in the world.
- S-shut up, infuriating woman!
Claudine exclaims completely red, hitting Maya's chest lightly while earning the laugh of the other woman.
A couple of blue haired women can only watch this with amused smiles on their faces, while a pink haired woman approaches them.
- Tsuruhime-han, thank you for playing your part in this.
Kaoruko thanks her, and Yachiyo can only smile.
- Anything for a good cause and to help those two to finally get together. Although I have to admit if I wouldn't be with Mei Fan, I'd have totally go for Kuro-chan.
She admits, and the three of them can't help but laugh at it.