Chapter Text
Nene was like walking on air when she entered the school gates. She was up earlier than she expected, but it's only because she could barely even get a wink of sleep last night due to both exhaustion and excitement.
Those two weeks of hardships mixed with her own blood, sweat and tears were all worth it when she was finally handed a broucher, that elaborately lists all the activities being celebrated at the school festival.
Her skilled eyes quickly scanned for the location of the maid cafe and wedding booth, after a second of skimming through the piece of glossy paper, she found herself approaching the school garden.
It seems like Kou's class took the extra mile, and asked the student council to borrow the school garden just for this event. And from afar, Nene could easily understand why.
The whole place was re decorated, the trees surrounding the garden was twinkling because of the fairy lights hanging on its branches.
There was a flush red carpet laid delicately on the ground that leads to a beautiful arc covered with white lilies and roses at the center garden.
"Just like a dream"
Nene gasped in awe, completely absorbed in the scenery infront of her. She could definitely see herself standing under that white arc with a bouquet of flowers in her hands.
"Senpai, I'm glad you could make it"
"Wha-?" Nene did a double take at the blonde boy in front of her.
"Kou??!!" She gawked at him in disbelief.
The blonde uncomfortably pulled at the collar of his white tuxedo, flustered.
"You look wonderful!"
"Really? They needed extra man power so I volunteered, I hope I don't look too ridiculous" his frustrated hand combs through his slick back hair.
"It suits you!"
"Do you want to give it a try?" He asked when he noticed her stealing greedy glances at the garden.
Nene blushes, it would be embarrassing if she tells him that she want his brother, Teru, to accompany her, she'll have to secretly find him first.
But it seems like she doesn't have to hunt him down, because Teru is already approaching them with a blindingly bright smile.
"Good morning Yashiro-san" he greeted.
"Go-good morning" Nene, who was so engrossed in her fantasy, fails to notice the white robes and golden stole that Teru was wearing along with the silver cross freely hanging on his neck.
"Big brother what are you doing here?! You should be at the altar, you're the priest! I know you only volunteered for me but can you be more attentive?!"
Priest..
Priest!?
Nene could feel her heart shatter into a million pieces as Kou's words echo like a broken record in her mind.
"Did you ask her to visit the booth Kou? That's rude, allow her to find a groom first" Nene could suddenly feel salt being rubbed against the already broken pieces of her heart.
"You were supposed to be my groom!"
"Anyways, have you seen a laced veil anywhere Yashiro-san?"He added.
Yashiro shook her head, she couldn't meet his blue eyes. Oh, what tragedy! Her groom will be the one who will wed her to someone else!
"Let's go search for it Kou, See you later Yashiro-san" Teru waved her goodbye, dragging Kou together with him to the garden.
Nene wanted to cry, but she can't let a small mishap ruin her most awaited day! Surely, handsome boys dressed in elegant attire while serving her tea would lift her mood!
With her new found determination she set her path to the school gym where the quaint bistro is located.
However her journey was cut short when a red blur crashed into her in the hallway. It was Akane, who was wearing a red cloak, his hands tightly gripping a red toilet paper. Now that she thinks about it, wasn't Akane a member of the design team? Why is he wearing an Aka Manto costume?
"Yas-yashiro-san! Finally, I fo-found you" He clutched his chest in exhaustion, his face dripping with sweat
"Breathe Akane-kun, breathe" Nene patted the boy's back gently
"It's not me who needs your help! Its Aoi!"
"What happened?" Nene panicked at the mention of her friend.
Akane ignored her question and hastily pulled her with him until they reached the horror attraction. Nene couldn't understand what was wrong, there is a long line of students waiting outside the entrance. Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?
They entered the class room and the boy continues to lead her deeper into the maze until they stumble upon an apprehensive Aoi, her fingers frantically tapping on her cell phone.
"Aoi-chan, what's wrong?" Nene immediately rushed to her friend, it was unusual to see Aoi like this so to say that Nene is worried is an understatement.
"Thank goodness you're here!"
"Please tell me what happened!"
"Two of our classmates who were supposed to play a part in the haunted Manor won't pick up my calls" Aoi kept glancing at her phone, her fingers shaking as she hold the small device.
"I already convinced Akane-kun to take up one of the vacant post, but we can't open the booth if we're missing one people" her voice was shaking as if she was trying to hold back tears.
"This is my all fault...."
Nene peeks outside and saw more students lining up at the entrance, they can't make them wait any longer. She stared at the brochure in her hands and spared a pitiful glance at Aoi.
"Where's the costume?"
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"Hey! Look at that!! A radish legged ghost!!"
Nene could barely see in the dark maze but she could vividly imagine the students laughing and pointing at her ankles. She's supposed to be a scary ghost! Why are they laughing at her like that?!
She's been here for hours now, Nene couldn't tell exactly how long because there's no clock to help her indicate the time. The festival will soon come to an end and instead of enjoying outside, she's stuck here in the stupid haunted house.
Nene can't really blame Aoi, it's not her fault. Maybe it's better this way since she doesn't really have anyone to accompany her to the booths.
She thought of poor Hanako, who she has left alone for a whole week in his bathroom, he'll probably laugh at her if he sees her predicament right now.
"Serves you right!!" He would cackle.
Yashiro solemnly spent her remaining time in the booth half-heartedly scaring students with an uninterested "boo!"
"Nene-chan, that's all for today, you did a great job" Aoi announces as she approach her.
"Finally, I'm so tired" Nene stretched from her cramped spot in the corner.
"I'm sorry you weren't able to enjoy the festivities"
"It's alright Aoi-chan! It's not like I'm missing out on anything honestly"
"You could go change your clothes now, I'll see you later"
She was making her way out the maze when a figure donning a mediocre ghost costume blocked her way. Nene recognizes the costume made of long white fabric with large black eyes drawn with acrylic paint, it was a scrapped decoration by the design team. She tried talking to the unknown person but he didn't reply, instead he pulled her.
"What are you doing?!" She gasped, it was difficult to keep up with the stranger's fast pace because of the long kimono that constricts her movements.
"This day couldn't get any worse! Now I'm getting kidnapped!!"
They were zipping through the school hallways when Nene notices the cold feeling exuding from her abductor's hand.
They are either a ghost or a shy and nervous ikemen trying to steal her away, hence the cold hand. But the latter rarely happens so she's probably in real danger now.
Before Nene could scream for Hanako, she found herself being roughly shoved inside an empty classroom.
"Who-who are you??" The intimidating figure eerily walks closer to her every time she takes a step back.
The curtains were slowly lifted, revealing Hanako with his impish smile and mischievous caramel eyes.
Nene immediately went for his head.
"What was that for!? You're the one who left me for a week and now you're hitting me!" Hanako hissed, slowly massaging the tender spot on his head.
"Why did you do that! How did you even find me?!"
"I heard this rumor of a radish legged Yuki-onna in the haunted house" he innocently beams.
"Do you want to be hit again?"
"Calm down! I'm just trying to grant your wish! You silly daikon!"
What wish? Didn't he already allowed her to skip cleaning duty? Nene tried to recall their conversation from a week ago and she was sure she didn't asked him for anything else.
"You didn't get a boyfriend didn't yah?"
Nene once again saw the image of Teru in a priest costume, why must he remind her of such a painful memory?! Is Hanako here just to annoy her?
"But a husband would do right?"
The school mystery pulled a veil out of thin air and presented it to her with a satisfied grin.
"Wh-where did you get that?"
"I was treasure hunting!"
Nene snatched the white veil in his hands and inspected it, yep, it was the one that was missing in the wedding booth. She doesn't want to imagine how Hanako got his slimy hands on the said object, it will only make her head hurt.
"I'm not marrying you! I'm not into short guys sorry"
"We're already married weren't you listening to me last time? We're just doing the ceremony since you're so keen on doing so" Hanako's voice was dripping with excitement but his hand that was planted on Nene's shoulders are trembling.
"I can't get married wearing this!!" Yashiro pointed at the atrocious costume that she was wearing.
"The fake blood compliments your ruby eyes, but you're kinda right" the apparition nodded with his eyes closed, seemingly in deep thought.
"How about this?" Hanako unceremoniously flopped the veil on Nene's head, he even pinned a rose to the veil as if it would make the disastrous get-up better.
"Tada!" He hums.
Nene wanted to punch him, but she can't help but smile when she realized how Hanako is trying his best to make her feel better. He's obviously failing but she'll endure it.
"What if someone sees you though?"
Hanako once again hid under the white covers of his costume and lifted his arms.
"Just like this!" She strained to hear his muffled voice under the layer of the thick fabric.
"The festival's almost over, let's hurry"
Nene nods her head in defeat and allowed Hanako to lead the way to the venue, luckily for them the flock of students that were once crowding the path were now gone, so they didn't have to worry about anyone seeing them.
"Are you closing now Kou?" Nene scans and approached the garden that was devoid of students except for Kou who was dutifully cleaning up the place.
"Have you found a partner yet? I could still operate the place if you want, most of the decorations are still up"
"Alone? Wouldn't that be a hassle?"
"My brother is still here and the ceremony is not that elaborate, it's alright" Kou assures her.
"Anyway who's this senpai?" Kou changed the subject and curiously pointed at the stranger beside her.
"Nevermind him, do I have to fill up a paper?" The exorcist happily handed her an inquiry that asks for the name of the"bride" and "groom"
She tapped the pen on her chin, is she really doing this? Marrying a ghost? It's only pretend,she reminds herself. She doesn't have anything to be worried about.
She thought for a moment before smiling and writing their names on the form.
"Do you want to change clothes? We have a selection of dresses in the fitting room" Kou suggested when he noticed her tattered garb.
"She already have a veil"
Kou's calm expression changed when he recognized the voice under the fabric.
"What the!? Hanako?? Are you blackmailing senpai to get her to do lewd stuff with you??!"
"Whoah slow down kid! That lewd stuff will happen after the wedding"
Hanako playfully raises his hands in defeat. Nene swears she could see him smirking broadly under the white sheet.
The white haired girl assures Kou that she is not being forced against her will, it took some time, but Kou finally calmed down.
Begrudgingly, the young exorcist lead her to the tail end of the carpet before dragging Hanako away to the arc. Now that she is up close, Nene could now clearly see and admire the detailed decorations that she missed out when she was looking at the place from afar.
Two makeshift poles encircled by pink hydrangeas stood proudly besides her, both were connected to the arc by a string of white paper cranes cascading down like crystal rain drops.
For a while Nene forgot how to breathe, her heartbeat stood still for a moment while her eyes try to drink up the beauty of the garden.
"The music will be your signal, once it starts you'll walk through the carpet " Kou instructed when he returned to Nene's side.
"There's no rush, take your time senpai"
The girl nodded nervously, her hands that were clutching the bouquet were trembling. Kou bid her goodluck before vanishing, leaving her alone.
Not long after, she could hear the soft keys of a piano playing. This is her signal, Nene takes a big gulp of air, and unsteadily, she walks across the carpet, her feet making soft dents on the tapestry.
Never in her wildest dreams did Nene imagine herself getting married in a bloody white kimono with a stolen veil clumsily propped on her head.
There were no flying doves and beautiful ball gowns, only her and Hanako dressed like they came out of a low budget horror film.
"You look wonderful Yashiro-san" Teru smiles at Nene when she reached the elevated platform of the arc.
"That's my line! The priest shouldn't flirt with the groom's bride" Hanako sneers beside her.
Teru ignored him and glanced at the paper in his hands, the 'wedding' ceremony commenced. After a few short passages from the older Minamoto and awkward 'I do's' from both the bride and the groom, Kou handed them a pair of ring.
"You're hands are cold"
Hanako noted as he slowly slips the simple silver ring on Nene's ring finger. She panicked, looking around the garden in case other students were watching them, it would be weird if they saw her getting married to a floating white cloth.
Yashiro shakily reached for his hand and did the same, she's so nervous it took her a few times before she successfully inserted the ring.
"You may now kiss the bride"
"Is that really needed?" Nene gave him a withering look.
Teru nodded, but Nene can see a malicious glint being reflected in his eyes. He's clearly enjoying this, what a sadist.
Nene was rooted in place as she watches Hanako emerge from the linen covering him and unsurely reach for the veil covering her face.
"Is this... alright?" Hanako asked, patiently waiting for her permission.
Her heart and mind were both running a marathon, this is supposed to be pretend!! Like how she would get her dolls to marry when she was a young child.
"Why does this feel so real!?"
She's just taking it too seriously, Nene tries to calms herself down, Hanako is just doing his job, he will probably laugh at her for this the next day.
Hesitantly, she nodded and closed her eyes, it would be ridiculous to avoid the inevitable, so she prepared herself for his cold lips to meet hers.
Instead, she felt them softly brush on her forehead, confused, her eyes flutters open and searched his for answers.
"Not now, whenever you're ready"
"I'll wait"
Hanako is a self proclaimed flirt but he wouldn't do anything that makes Nene uncomfortable, a kiss on her forehead would suffice, for now.
Besides, he doesn't like the idea of Teru watching them, it gives him the creeps.
Yashiro's eyes are getting hazy, her feelings that materialized into tears gently glides on her flushed cheeks.
The seventh wonder tilts his head and reached out to her worriedly, she shook her head smiling.
"Are you really disappointed that I didn't ki-"
Yashiro smacked him with the bouquet, she's a fool for thinking that Hanako could be romantic. What a way to kill the mood.
"Be a bit more gentle I don't want to leave with bruises on our first wedding night"
"How romantic" Teru mused
"Shut up and go get yourself a love life"
"Hanako I swear to God, if you get exorcised in my wedding day-"