Chapter Text
A surprising knock at the Karate Club room was enough to stir him from his fixated thoughts, causing him to look up and pause his needle. People usually didn't knock... They just sorta came in and threw their problems at him. Of course, Kuro would accept them in a heartbeat, giving them a small smile and calm words.
However, this was different. This time, it was… Hibiki. Arriving minus the theatrics of usual. Instead, the magician held a purple dress in his arms, one that Kuro recognized from his own brief time on stage. One glance at Hibiki face, however, had Kuro raising an eyebrow. He seemed… almost a little nervous? Which matched exactly how Kuro felt, with his heart now racing in his chest. However… He knew how to keep his cool, for the most part at least.
“Hibiki.” He nodded, looking down at the purple dress in Hibiki’s hands. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh! Kiryu-kun!” Hibiki flashed a brilliant smile at Kuro, coming closer and awkwardly standing above him. “There was an accident on stage with the dress, you see, and there was no one else that came to mind to help me then you yourself! A master of the needle and fabric, the one that was taught alongside the very sovereign of Yumenosaki himself….~”
Ah, Itsuki. He was the true master of the trade, at least in Kuro’s opinion. He was also a very good friend of Hibiki’s, so why in the world was he here, telling him that he could only think of him and that he needed help? “Ah, well, it’s nice of you to say stuff like that.” Kuro rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at the project he had been working on before Wataru arrived. “But, uh, what can I do that Itsuki can’t?”
“Oh, no no no, don’t get me wrong, I’m not here because you’re better than the other option!” Wataru turned a little red, smiling apologetically. “Dearest Shu-kun is rather busy with a project at the moment, and I wanted to see if you would be available to repair the dress…”
Ah. That explained that. Kuro let out a sigh of relief (or was it disappointment?) before reaching his hand out. “Well, give me the dress. I can’t guarantee I can get to it today, since I may need to go out and buy some more thread…”
“Oya?” Wataru tilted his head to the side, and Kuro recognized the fires of mischief burning in those lavender orbs. “If I were able to get you the very same, most exact thread, would you maybe be able to fix it soon…~?”
“Mmm….” Kuro suppose he could, if his classmate was going to be a thorn in his side until he did it. Kuro wished he could say he found that odd, but this hadn’t been the first time that something like this had happened. Lots of people had rushed to him, shoving their supplies in his face and panicking the same day as a big performance. He could recall an incident with Leo in particular… The spaztic orange head had almost poked his eye out with a needle. He gave a silent nod after a bit, neatly folding the project he had been working on and sticking the needle in a pincushion.
That seemed to make Wataru rather happy. He handed over the dress, and then the third year started to search his pockets. Surely, Wataru couldn’t expect Kuro to truly believe that he had this specific color of thread right on him, right? Kuro unfolded the dress and laid it out so he could see it properly, large fingers gently feeling over the fabric. If there were any tears in it, surely he would see it before feeling it.
~~
Ah! He had made it this far! The dress was now in the dragon’s hands, and a large smile spread over his face as he started to check his inside pockets. He needed purple... Deep Lilac to be precise. As he started to shuffle around, random spindles of thread fell from his jacket. Blush Pink, Plum, Iris, Electric Red, Crous, Royal Purple, Pink Petal, Dusty Lilac, Scarlet Rose...... No, no, no! These weren’t anywhere near the color he wanted. After a bit of flustered searching, he looked up to see Kuro watching him expectantly.
“Ah!” Wataru gasped, blinking once. He bent down, leaning almost over Wataru and staring down at the dress. Hmm… “I think I remember where I put it!” That same, flat expression was on Kiryu’s face… Uh oh. Wataru cleared his throat before reaching behind the other's ear. Surely enough, his fingers found purchase on a spindle. Bingo! He pulled his hand away, and... Deep Lilac thread. Kuro’s eyes widened in awe, clearly unable to stay stoic about this rather amazing feat of Hibiki’s.
“Um…”
“Deep Lilac!” Wataru proclaimed, maybe a little louder then he needed to as his cheeks flushed bright pink. “This… This is the thread you need, right?” Of course it was, he had done a lot of research about this, as to be prepared for this moment… He hadn’t planned to lose the thread like that, but it worked, right? Besides, Kiryu’s eyes staring right at him were so alluring…
The redhead brought his hand up gently to the thread, taking it reluctantly from the actor and nodding slowly. “I… I haven’t checked, but if you suggested it, then it’s probably the right color.” If it wasn’t, well… Hell, wouldn’t Wataru just feel like the biggest fool.. He quietly compared the fabric and the thread, and for a few moments Wataru swore the world froze. Why did he really care so much about what Kuro thought about him? If it was the wrong thread, it was just the wrong thread. It wasn’t like the world was going to end or anything like that…
“I think this will work.” Kuro spoke quietly, and Wataru could have sworn his heart fluttered in his chest. Good! He was once again the flawless and Amazing Wataru Hibiki! Having proven his skill once more, the actor bowed.
“I’m very glad to hear that!” Indeed he was, but maybe relieved was a better term for how he felt. Kuro reached for his pincushion, and Wataru now stood rather awkwardly. What was he to do now? Was he to go through with what he wanted to do, or…?
No, he couldn’t. It wasn’t possible, he felt like he was dying and he was only just standing next to Kuro. Maybe his head was going to explode into a million pieces of confetti, or maybe his doves were going to fly in and give Kiryu a few scratches, ruining Wataru’s illusions of any possible ‘moment’ they could have between one another.
The soft cooing of his dove before he landed on his shoulder was enough to spook him at least. He turned his head just slightly, relaxing as Aristotle snuggled up against his cheek. That made him look around, wondering where his dove’s mate was. A glance at the window showed that the sun was getting rather close to the horizon…
“Ah! Well, with that, my dear, it is time for me to head on home!” His face flushed bright red as he realized what he said, however he decided to just carry on as if he hadn’t misspoken. “I will be around… Well, do you think it will be done by tomorrow?”
“I think so, yes.” Kuro nodded slowly, not looking up at Wataru. Had he noticed? Did Kuro think he was weird? “Come by tomorrow morning, if at all possible… Or if you come to class, you can take it from me then.”
“Perfect! Amazing!” Wataru laughed nervously, nodding. Why was he acting so weird? What the hell? Wataru Hibiki wanted to smack himself, this really wasn’t at all like him. After a deep bow, he headed to the door. “Thank you very much, Kiryu-kun.” With that, he was out in a flash.