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"What. The. Fuck."
Haru whispers the moment he caught a glimpse of the familiar slicked-back hair of the man he hated (and sort of adore, but whatever) the most.
"Oh my god. Is that THEE Kambe Daisuke?" Shinnosuke gossips beside him, as if Haru doesn't have a pair of eyes which is seeing the same unfortunate reality. "Damn, why is he even here?"
He fists his hair in frustration. The delicate, embroidered hairband wrinkled around his fingers. "That's the point! Why is he over our department. He isn't even supposed to be here!"
To provide a context, Daisuke is the star of the Business Management Department of Yushu University. Perfect grades, objectively handsome (emphasis on "objectively") and of course, rich (like, rich rich, the type who would buy a tropical island on a whim). Haru would always know when he's nearby, since people's heads would comically turn to follow his walking figure everytime he enters the school with his expensive looking car like some sort of ceremony. It's like in every kdrama series he had watched with the popular campus boy groups who walk along the hallways in uniform steps as the crowd squeals at their perfection. Only, Daisuke doesn't need a boy group. He's basically the embodiment of all the F4 combined and more. That's how iconic he is in the campus.
The most perfect human being, a blessing to humanity, everything he touches is worth more than your life, etc.
When people see something they wish were true embodied flawlessly infront of their eyes, they would naturally gravitate towards it. Hence, Daisuke is almost always armed by his entourage of admirers at his beck and call. He's a scion from a prestigious business-oriented family and already a president of his own company. Everything is handed to him in a golden, diamond-ornamented platter and it's just ridiculous. Haru is speechless with the unfairness of it all.
Ahh, good thing he's not in any way acquainted with that guy. Imagine standing in a corner waiting while the whole world greets him every single day. Pfffft. He's so happy he's no more than an ant chilling through the outskirts of Kambe Daisuke's glamorous sun-god lifestyle.
Well. That is until Haru met him when he almost injured himself trying to stop Daisuke's car (Aventador S, he searched with trembling fingers) as he demanded him to drive and chase a burglar on a motorcycle.
The stolen purse was from an old lady which he often help cross the street whenever he is near by the intersection. After they caught the thief, Daisuke won't let him off the hook immediately. One thing leads to another and now he's got this complicated archnemesis kind of thing with him where Daisuke pays him a visit from time to time to annoy the living hell out of him.
Haru's a senior from the Political Science Department. And just like any student from Yushu University, he works his ass off to keep his slot and his scholarship. He balances at least 2 part-time jobs while maintaining his grades. Haru's not the type to brag but, well, he's proud to be a Dean's lister despite the hurdles he is currently facing.
Today, however, the dark-haired hurdle in his expensive designer tuxedo is much more challenging than he ever encountered.
"Kamei, get him out of here." He hisses, mind going overdrive with anxiety. Why did that bastard always find him? When he is wearing this?
Today is the second day of University Week and every corner of the campus is just as chaotic as anyone would thought it to be. Students are buzzing back and forth to prepare for the even they are assigned to partake in. The warm, scrumptious aroma from various food stalls sifts through the crowd.
Every department has their own themed gimmick to raise funds and provide some sort of entertainment. The Science Department, among others, has a mini-bar in their booth, their food and drinks looking like they came from an experiment. Haru would love to try that smoky green-looking beverage on a beaker after his shift, it just looks so cool. The Business Department, through the generous tip of a certain donor (wonder who it is), is able to afford a ferris wheel and various rides which you can enjoy from the carnival. The Law Department decided to break typical clothing norms through a crossdressing cafe, though he's pretty sure the girls just want to fawn over guys wearing fluffy skirts.
The students, of course, are having the time of their lives. Except Katou Haru. He absolutely hates living right now.
"Whyyyyy?" Shinnosuke, his roommate and blockmate, whines while clinging at him. "What's wrong with another rich kid tipping in extraordinate amounts of cash from time to time?"
Haru scratches his bloomer mindlessly, only to stop as he meets Kambe's eyes which eventually gaze down to where his skirt is hiked up. Fuck. Any more of this and Haru will eventually shrivel from the humiliation.
As expected, their mildly populated booth-made-cafe becomes crowded as more and more people came inside to chance a talk with the freshman. Daisuke, ignores them and calmly finds himself a table directly infront the counter where Haru and Shinnosuke are currently squabbling at.
"C'mon, it's not that hard. Just talk to him a little. I've seen you with him a couple times already. I'm pretty sure you're already a bit close."
"We were fighting, Kamei. You should have gotten the idea when you heard the punching and shouting."
Shinnosuke shrugs, "Mehh, if you really hated being a maid, you should have said something during the meeting."
"I was asleep! The least you could do is to wake me-- H-hey! Just what are you doing--"
Like the supportive friend he is, Shinnosuke manhandles Haru until he is infront of the bane of his existence. Daisuke's eyes trace his body from the heeled black shoes Mahoro-chan lend him, to possibly the frilliest victorican maid outfit to ever exist, to the black collar sitting daintily on his neck and to the laced headband. He tries to stare back at him, but he's afraid he might end up punching that asshole for real.
"A maid? You're so ready to serve me, huh, Haru-senpai," Daisuke needles like the brat he is.
He feels his left eye twitch. He tries to prevent the rising heat to his cheeks by sheer willpower.
"In your dreams, asshole. Don't you have anything to do? How did you even get here? For a council representive, you sure have a lot of time to kill." He snarks, trying to retain the soul that is about to leave his body.
"I have my ways." Daisuke answers serenely. He looks like this is where he should be, not even hiding the fact that he's trying to glimpse through his skirt. His laced, frilly skirt.
Haru heaves a long, suffering sigh.
"You're definitely enjoying this, are you." Haru mutters under his breath.
Daisuke stares him down unblinkingly. Then he tilts his head like a curious cat, expression unreadable.
"Are you wearing makeup?"
Haru touches his cheek subconsciously, "Yeah? Mahoro-chan is the one who dolled us up."
Daisuke raises an eyebrow.
"What, you've got a problem with men wearing makeup? Hoshino-kun said it suits me."
For a moment, Daisuke stills and his expression darkens before he schooled it back into his typical cool demeanor. "Hoshino sees you wearing that?"
And that's another landmine Haru wasn't supposed to step on. He didn't really know why Daisuke had such a bad blood with his co-freshman.
If he hates Haru, he hates Hoshino twice as more. Which doesn't make sense. Hoshino is a good kid. And as a senpai, it's his responsibility to run into his kouhai's defense whenever someone was planning to badmouth him (even if he is THEE Kambe Daisuke).
"Duhh, he's my underclassman, of course he knows! He's a server too so we share the same changing quarters."
"He saw you naked?" Daisuke traces the edges of his high-socks. Haru barely prevents himself from shivering as the other's nail brushes against his thigh. He slaps the wandering hands away, face burning.
"Holy shii--seriously, stop that! What's wrong with two guys being naked together? It's not like we're doing anything other than that. Unless you're some pervert and you're willing to take great risk just to see a guy's body--"
"--well, if it's yours--"
"--anyways," Haru coughs, "--if you're going to stay, at least order something." He gestures towards the menu on the table.
"How much then?"
"How much what? You didn't even spare a glance at the menu."
"How much for you."
Haru sputters. Someone snickers, he's pretty sure it's Shinnosuke, "I-- wha, what the heck? We are a cafe, not-- not a freaking host club--"
"Actually, you can select a waitress you'd like to accompany you, Daisuke-san." Mahoro, Haru had no idea she was behind him the whole time, quips immediately. By the glint on Daisuke's eyes, he can already tell his decision.
"I don't think we ever had such a service, Mahoro-cha--acckkk!" He shrieks as manicured nails pinched the flesh on his ribs.
He looks behind his back. The smile Mahoro gives him promises eternal pain. "Well, we have now." Haru could only tear up as Mahoro, the president of their department, singlehandedly decides his fate and throws him right at the mouth of the shark.
Daisuke, whose poker face is betrayed by the uncharacteristic sparkling in his usually deadpan eyes (he's not cute, not freaking cute), replied immediately, "How much for Haru-kun then, Miss...."
"Mahoro."
"Miss Mahoro-san. I'd like to have Haru-kun for the rest of his shift. No, for the rest of the week. If it pleases you. The price doesn't matter."
Haru shakes his head, "I don't think that's possible, I really have a lot of things to do here rather than --"
"Things that Teppei-kun and I will be covering for you!" Shinnosuke finishes. He better be ready for his funeral because Haru will definitely murder him once he's back, "You should go, Haru-chan and enjoy yourself a little!"
It didn't take long before he is ushered outside, along with the freshman who looks like a contented cat who got the cream.
"Shall we hold hands?" Daisuke asks, though Haru knew he had no choice in the matter as Daisuke has already intertwined his fingers with his anyway. His heart hammers violently against his chest. Feelings he's not yet ready to talk about threatened to burst inside of him.
This is going to be a long day.
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