Chapter Text
Misaki breathed out a sigh of relief upon entering the building, She was covered in sweat from running god knows how far. Panting like a dog but they made it. Kokoro the current proprietary holder of the title; 'ball of pure energy' only looked marginally fatigued at best but otherwise seemed unaffected.
The small cafe was candlelit, as per request, Kanon had asked the owner a favor as one of his most regular customers and he was glad to accept. There was even a small stage for maybe some acoustic playing or something of that caliber, not nearly big enough for say a performance by them.
But that small stage was all that would have been needed if everything went to the original plan, a small wooden rhythm box, a guitar and base for some music at her planned time, Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be happening, But she would be damned if the proposal wasn’t how she set it, those suits would not get the better of her.
“This place is really nice! We should do a performance here!” Kokoro suggested excitedly, she could sense some answers coming and was almost bouncing off the walls.
“Kokoro.” Misaki had regained her breath and now was reeling in her composure, her suit was ruffled, her hair a mess, but what would a day with Kokoro be like without some mayhem.
“Yes?” Kokoro said spinning gleefully and stopping mid spin upon seeing the seriousness in Misaki’s eyes.
“Before I answer your many questions I’m sure, come sit down” Misaki nodded towards their premade table complete with roses and some more champagne.
“Mmkay!” Kokoro sung before doing a cartwheel towards the table and Misaki nearly had a heart attack because those were not battery operated candles.
The two were seated and Misaki suddenly felt quite awkward, how does she begin the conversation, does she just come out with it, does she try and slide it in to topic? She filled their glasses with the champagne while she desperately wished she had a primer speech planned.
“So, What’s all of this about?” Kokoro asked softly a smile finding her face soon after. “I mean, I think I get it, but I’m also confused.” She added, Kokoro knew her too well, it was possible her plans to propose were found out way earlier into the night but that wasn’t the matter here.
“Uhh, Where do I start.” Misaki said as her phone buzzed, she ignored it, If Kaoru had stalled them this long then they wouldn’t get here in time, she made a mental note to thank everyone for sticking their necks out for her after this was over.
“Well the thing is...” Her phone buzzed again, Okay that wasn’t a good sign, she ignored it again. Hopefully it was just Kaoru fixing a typo.
“Theres someth-” It buzzed again and she sighed.
“One moment.” She turned off her phone, she couldn’t afford to read them, whatever news it was she didn’t want to hear it.
“Actually, I think you should check it.” Kokoro insisted and Misaki looked at her, confused.
“I think it's about time everyone's figured it out.” Kokoro’s look was gentle she giggled a bit and Misaki furrowed her brows, just how much did Kokoro know.
“I only just figured it out myself, when we got here I think.” Kokoro reassured.
“F-figured what out” Misaki asked nervously.
“A mix-up of sorts.” She responded.
-0-
“Stop us? All of us?” Agent Three asked, genuinely curious as to how the masked woman would attempt to pull off such an act.
“Well, yes, you see I’m going to ask you a few questions, I'll receive some answers, and then you’re going to call off the pursuit.” Kaoru stated matter-of-factly.
“Okay then, I’m listening.” Agent Three stated as her two companions looked at her in disbelief, she wasn’t accepting Kaoru’s request to call off the pursuit, she was merely going to answer whatever questions were thrown her way, it seems that the guitarist across from her was genuinely sure she would call off the pursuit after she heard the questions, in fact, she was looking for a few answers herself.
“First off, what is your quarrel with Misaki? Why must you interfere?” Kaoru asked and agent Three was taken aback. There was a second of silence as she waited for further explanation, but there was none.
“We… Lady Okusawa is the interfering party here, we are merely reacting to the circumstances.” She answered. This seemed to confuse the Phantom Theif as well.
“Fascinating, we appear to believe we are both the defending duelist in this game of cat and mouse, pray tell, what are we supposedly interfering with?” Kaoru asked.
“Lady Tsurumaki's proposal, of course.” Agent Six answered, one of the agents behind her.
The purple haired woman laughed, heartily. The once borderline threatening disposition had all but dissipated and was left with simple mirth.
“I see, what a-" She laughed some more "What a tangled mess of yarn my kittens have wrangled with, How fleeting.” She expressed as she re-adjusted her costume, Still coming down from her high.
“I believe it must be my turn to explain. But please, do halt your hunting party, for I can tell you exactly where they are.” Kaoru hinted and agent Three was intrigued.
-0-
‘20:22 - Misaki, Please read.’
‘20:22 - The suits have been convinced to abandon the pursuit, we can return to plan A, Hagumi will pick up Kanon and I will meet you there on foot. If of course you haven’t gotten impatient.’
‘20:23 - HEY Mii kun1 I’m pickin up kaochan now dont do the gud stuff without us!!!!!11!1’
She read her texts n near awe, It seems Kaoru’s plan had been critically successful, if it was such a good idea why didn’t she lead with it! Misaki huffed, Kaoru could be so indirect about things at times.
“What did they say?” Kokoro asked with a knowing smile, Misaki still hadn’t proposed but she knew that Kokoro must have an idea, and seemingly have an idea as to why everything was going so swimmingly all of a sudden.
She didn’t figure it out and call her suits off subtly did she? No there was no way she could have done that, at least not subtly.
“We’re going to have to wait a bit, it seems we got here a tad early.” Misaki said before chuckling slightly the irony not lost on her.
“There's one thing I still don't get though” Kokoro pointed out. At Misaki’s hum she went on.
“It’s not like you to do something this… Smile yay! It surprised me that you would go to all this effort get us here when you could have just taken a normal way here.” Kokoro said she leaned on the table getting closer to a slightly more flustered Misaki.
“I uh, h-had my reasons.” Misaki couldn’t remember them right now with Kokoro just looking at her intently like that though. “It was um, I had to, show what I could do, I guess. I didn’t want to have my plans be taken over... I guess.” It sounded so lame actually coming out of her mouth, maybe because that wasn’t all of it.
“And?” Kokoro knew it too.
“Because deep down… I wanted to try it… At first it was about getting away from the suits… But it was way too much fun.” Misaki admitted, it truly was her anger that was the catalyst to the plan, the reason she did it. But the more she took it seriously, planning the heist and the adrenaline that came with it. The more she realized it was just fun, and it should have felt shameful, but all she felt was relief, of course she felt vulnerable, but letting go was one of the best decisions she made this evening given how far it got her.
“You’re adorable.” Kokoro pecked her and then slid back over to her side of the table, a subdued smile shining across the candlelight. Misaki shook herself to try and piece back together some semblance of self-control.
She supposes she was only fooling herself really. After all what straight laced prude wears a flamboyant pink bear suit and calls friends what the world would sooner call a bunch of loons.
“Right, I, Um, Listen…” Misaki wanted to propose, but now there was something missing. Her friends.
Her phone buzzed and she checked it instantaneously
‘20:25 - We’re outside, Don’t want to interrupt but if you haven’t started yet, we’re ready.’ It read
“I’ll be one second.” She said leaving the table as Kokoro just gave her a understanding and bemused smile.
She opened the door to Kaoru, Kanon and Hagumi’s expectant faces.
“You’re just on time.” She said with a smile, letting them in.
As she let them in she saw one of the suits standing there and froze, Before she said anything however Agent Three spoke.
“We owe you an apology Misaki, We did not know of your true intentions, forgive us.” The lady bowed and Misaki’s eyes widened. They… didn’t know? She looked at Kaoru.
“I had my suspicions” Kaoru stated. Misaki pouted.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She hissed.
“You looked like you were having fun” Kaoru reasoned and Misaki pouted, caught in the act.
“I have one more request.” The suit asked. Misaki directed her attention back to the lady in front of her.
“Yes?”
“May I come in? Just to observe, of course I understand i-” She was cut off by Misaki opening the door for her to get through.
“I kind of owe you guys an apology too. I’m still confused as to what the hell you mean but I was the one that jumped to conclusions. You were just looking out for her.” Misaki admitted. If the suit wanted to watch that was fine, embarrassing as all hell, but fine.
“We’re all set.” Kanon whispered as she walked back in, Her three friends had picked up their respective instruments as the suit found a dark corner to watch from, Kokoro was watching her expectantly, Now it was all up to her.
She nodded as they started to play, It was instrumentals of some of their songs. Slowed down and more acoustic. Just a rhythmn box, acoustic guitar and a bass. Misaki plucked her courage, remembered her planned lines, looked into Kokoro’s eyes and immediately forgot everything she was about to say.
“I uh.. Um…” She froze, Kokoro’s eyes were soft, ready, serene, Misaki forgot herself, Kokoro did things to her she couldn’t describe, she was aware she was gawking, she had to say something, she had to get this right. Her planned words were gone so she had no idea what to say. She took Kokoros hand, steadied herself and just went for it, Saying whatever came to her mind.
“Kokoro, Looking at you here now I’m amazed you’ve stuck with me this far, You’re just pure happiness to me and honestly, if it’s not too much to ask… Would you be alright with sticking with me forever? And by that I mean will you marry me? She nearly stuttered and cursed her lameness as she fumbled to get the ring out of her pocket. Presenting it hoping it wasn’t a totally wrecked scene.
There was only the sound of the music for a few seconds as Misaki refused to look anywhere but Kokoros eyes despite how right now they terrified her. Nervousness overwhelming her she was tempted to look away but she couldn’t, not now.
Kokoros eyes welled up with tears and she let out a half laugh, half sob. She grabbed Misaki’s hands which were currently clasped around the box.
“Misaki, I thought i’d be ready, I did, but tonight you really blew me away… yes! Of course its a yes!” Kokoro leapt into her arms, which only resulted in them crashing to the floor, Misaki laughed as she tried to peel the tearful but laughing Kokoro from her, But Kokoro’s grip was strong and eventually Misaki gave in to the hug, ring box wedged between them and all.
The next few minutes were hard to remember. Kokoro’s shy excitement, as if for once in her life self conscious about how excited by something she was allowed to be as Misaki put the ring on her, she quickly held it to the chest like it was the most precious thing in the world to her.
Their friends cheered and Misaki kissed her, Kokoro smiled as she reciprocated.
“Happy anniversary.” Misaki whispered and she felt Kokoro shiver. “To many more years of us.” She continued drawing back as Kokoro gleamed.
“You really know how to make me weak.” Kokoro blushed.
“I could say the same.” Misaki dittoed.
"I think it’s your turn.” Hagumi said handing Kokoro something as Misaki looked on confused.
“What?” Misaki asked.
“One of the suit people gave it to me before I drove here, said it was for you Kokoron.” Hagumi explained. Kokoro’s eyes flashed with recognition and she turned to Misaki.
“Oh yeah… By the way Misaki, I had my own special plans for tonight... Not that they happened.“ She said opening the box, Misaki’s face went from surprise to shock to a sudden realization, and at Kaorus knowing laugh she knew.
It seems she was the one conducting the crazy train this time. She laughed too as she took the ring and placed it on her hand. There was another round of cheers as Hagumi, Kanon and Kaoru celebrated them taking photos, joking around and recounting events of the night, But for Misaki and Kokoro it was like they were in their own little bubble.
"Not such a humble proposal after all hey." Misaki laughed to herself.
"I thought it was cute." Kokoro said, consoling her with a small rub on the back.
"Of course, you probably had thirty stallions waiting on standby and a light show to boot right?" Misaki predicted trying not to look at the suit in her peripheral as she muttered something along the lines of "Agent three to thirty one cancel the flash mob."
"Maybe." Kokoro played dumb. "I'm happy with how it turned out though." She leaned into Misaki.
"... So am I." Misaki agreed, Kissing her newly engaged fiancée.