Chapter Text
“Hey, hey! Do you remember it? Did you know? Did you know?”
Pony’s staged whisper gained attention of the people gathered around Kendou’s desk. They all promptly dropped their pens and notebooks in favor of listening to her seemingly interesting gossip.
“What is it?” Awase mock whispered, indulging his classmate in her antic.
Pony giggled at that. But before she could answer, another voice piped up behind them.
“Ooohh… It’s about Monoma, isn’t it?” asked Tokage loudly, startling those around her.
“Aaargh you ruined it!” Tsuburaba groaned.
“Eh? What? Ruined what?” Tokage looked around obliviously.
Everyone but her laughed. Kendou ruffled her hair mockingly.
“Don’t worry about it,” Kendou assured her friend, who only shrugged in response. “Oh, well. Whatever,” said Tokage.
“Anyway, yes, it’s about Monoma-kun—”
“See! I’m right!” Tokage cut Pony.
“What about Monoma?” asked Kaibara.
“It’s his birthday, dummy!” Awase playfully hit him in fake disbelieve. “It’s in the next week. How could you forget it? Are you getting memory problems at such young age? We just talked about it a few days ago!”
“Oh, shut up! I don’t want to be called ‘dummy’ by someone who can’t even do simple pythagorean equations.” Kaibara glared.
“Well, well,” Kendou interupted, “anyway, do you think we can do something special for Monoma?”
“Let’s do a party! I love parties!” Komori’s cheery voice piped up.
“Just a party? It’s too laaame!” Tsuburaba complained.
“How about throw in a surprise? Do Japanese people like surprise party?” Pony suggested.
Awase laughed. “I think everyone loves surprise party, Pony.”
“Better yet! How about we prank him a bit?” Tsuburaba wriggled his eyebrows, grinning widely.
“What kind of prank we’re talking about?” Kendou asked suspiciously.
“Oh, you know. The classic prank where everyone suddenly seems doesn’t care about you and at the end of the day- Whoom! Surprise!”
“Sounds fun!” Tokage grinned. Komori made an agreeing sound.
“It seems a bit harsh, though,” Pony hesitated.
“Ah, don’t worry. It’ll only for a short time.” Tsuburaba waved his hand dismissively. “Besides, we’ll make up for it in the end of the day. Everyone likes that kind of surprise.”
“I don’t think it would work on Monoma, though,” Kaibara said quitely.
“Huh?”
“I mean, you know how observant he is. He’ll know right away. Moreover since it’s his birthday, he’d sure be extra suspicious of anyone acting weirdly.”
“Hm, I think Kaibara’s right,” Awase agreed.
“Well, the solution’s simple. We just have to prolong it, then. Even Monoma surely won’t get suspicious that way, right?”
Everyone stared at Tsuburaba confusedly.
“What do you mean by prolonging it?” Kendou asked.
“Literary extends the duration, duh. A.k.a we start from a few days before. Better yet today. A week is enough time for him not to get suspicious, right?”
“Since when you’re that brilliant?” Tokage asked in an amazed tone.
“Duh.” Tsuburaba made an exaggerated pompous gesture.
“Okay, just……don’t get too harsh on him, ‘kay?” There’s excitement in Kendou voice even through her stern expression.
Suddenly, Pony gasped. “Hey, hey. Monoma’s coming!” She’s back to whispering again, gesturing with her eyes at the direction where Monoma and Yui walked towards the door carrying some pile of books from teacher’s room that Vlad had asked them to.
Everyone hurriedly went back to their own desks.