Chapter Text
Teruhashi didn’t particularly like Saiko Metori. He came to PK academy, entitled and thinking he could throw money at any problem coming his way. One such problem had been Teruhashi herself, who refused to date him no matter how many times he tried to threaten or bribe her. Saiko had long since given up on her, after being attacked by her fanclub, and somehow going through a change in character after being befriended by Nendou, but he still made her feel uneasy. The way that rich boys felt entitled to Teruhashi made her angry, who were they to think they deserved someone like her? Just because they had never heard the word no before didn’t mean Teruhashi was afraid of spitting it into their faces (or rather kindly shaking her head and apologizing, she had appearances to keep up after all.)
All this being said, she still found herself walking beside her best friend, Yumehara Chiyo, on the way to a party at his house. Ordinarily she might have refused, pulling out a completely valid excuse that would not tarnish her perfect image in the slightest, and just skip out on an awkward get together. Two factors motivated her to go, however. One, it was Saiko’s birthday celebration, and she knew despite his outward facade he cares an awful lot about what people thought of him, and would probably get really upset if nobody showed. She knew if she came, everyone he had invited would probably come even though some of them still felt the same way about Saiko that she did. Two, Saiki Kusuo would be there. Before Teruhashi could get too distracted in thoughts about her crush, they arrived at the gate.
“Kokomi I’m kinda nervous, do you know how many people are gonna be there?” Teruhashi gave her friend a winning smile to ease her nerves and replied:
“Well he invited a lot of people, I actually think he might have invited the whole school, but even if there are a lot of people the house is so big I’m sure we can find a quiet corner with just our friends!”
“Maybe, but we might have to disguise you if we want any peace since guys are always following you around.” Yumehara giggled at this and they started to make their way down the long driveway. Teruhashi sighed internally, but outwardly joined in on Yumehara’s laughter. She turned around to see if anyone was near them, and saw Saiki, Kaidou, Kuboyasu, and Nendou making their way down too.
“Oh hey Teruhashi! Hiya Yumehara!” Kuboyasu called out. Kadiou and Nendou blushed and waved at them, and Saiki kept his usual flat expression.
“Hello boys!” The girls called out in unison.
“Do any of you know how many people will be there?” Yumehara asked, looking more at Kaidou than anyone else.
“A lot.” Came Saiki’s flat answer.
“Yeah, I think Hairo’s already there, he offered to help Saiko set stuff up, that guy loves party planning.” Kaidou offered. As if on cue, the warm-blooded redhead opened the door enthusiastically and ran over to his friends.
“Well hey guys! So glad to see you, there’s already a ton of people here from all different grades! I’m actually kinda surprised so many came, considering Saiko’s reputation but I guess nobody wants to miss out on seeing the inside of a house this gigantic. Come on in! We spent a ton of time setting up, there’s a DJ and a dessert bar and everything!” Teruhashi instinctively looked over at Saiki at the mention of desert, knowing he was a bit of a sugar fanatic. She had been right, his face lit up for a moment but he seemed to catch her looking and resumed an annoyed expression.
“That’s honestly the only reason I’m here, just to look at the house.” A voice came from behind, belonging to the purple-haired spirit medium who Teruhashi didn’t like much either. He had never done anything to her specifically but it was well known throughout the girls at school that he was a pervert and to be avoided if possible. Teruhashi intended to continue this avoidance unless it benefited her in some way.
“Yeah well, might as well have some fun, and at least wish him a happy birthday ok? Now come on! Go inside!” At Hairo’s instructions, the group made their way in.
Not long after they entered, Teruhashi sat down on a big fancy couch and watched as Yumehara tried to dance her way up to Kaidou. She wasn’t a bad dancer, but it looked awkward since Kaidou was standing in the corner with Saiki, both of them eating cake. Teruhashi sort of wanted to join Yumehara but she knew that her dancing would cause a scene and take the attention off her best friend. Plus, Saiki probably would be too into his cake to even bother noticing her. Ugh, he was so ungrateful. The most perfect girl in the world had a crush on him, and even though there was no way he could know that, Teruhashi still felt betrayed by the fact he hadn’t done anything about it.
“Hey Ko- I mean um! Teruhashi-senpai!” A familiar voice sat down behind Teruhashi, and she greeted her underclassman with a smile that lit up the room and made several boys in the general area swear to save themselves for marriage in her honor.
“Hi Imu-chan! How are you? Are you having a good time?” Imu blushed furiously but Teruhashi didn’t really notice. From her perspective, Imu Rifuta had naturally very pink cheeks, she had no idea that the younger girl’s heart had been practically beating out of her chest ever since she arrived trying to get up the courage to talk to her.
“Y-yeah! I am! Thank you for asking Teruhashi-senpai!” She bowed quickly and Teruhashi gave her a light and airy laugh that probably could have inspired a doctor to cure cancer if there was one there to hear it.
“You know Imu-chan, you don’t have to be so formal with me! You can call me Kokomi if you like, I think I told you that already, don’t be so nervous!” Teruhashi was very fond of her blonde, pigtailed kouhai. At first, it had seemed like a rivalry might be bubbling between them but things had suddenly cooled down, and Imu seemed very adoring of her. Teruhashi hoped that it wasn’t just Imu loving her brother, or just that she just wanted tips on how to be pretty. Teruhashi had strong feelings towards Imu, she wasn’t entirely sure what they were but she went with the easiest explanation, that she just really wanted to be liked by her as a friend and role model.
“O-oh! Ok Kokomi! You can call me Rifuta then, if you want to of course!” It was Teruhashi’s turn to blush, even if she wasn’t exactly sure why.
Several hours and a lot of dodging mildly to extremely inebriated highschool boys later, Teruhashi found herself in Saiko’s bedroom with a few remaining members of the party. Nobody in her inner circle barring the birthday boy himself had gone for the alcohol, and even he wasn’t more than a little tipsy. He looked like he was regretting his decision, leaned over onto Kuboyasu and appearing much paler than usual. About a half hour earlier, he had confessed to not feeling so well and wanting to be out of the chaos, so he, Kuboyasu, Hairo, Saiki, Kaidou, Nendou, Yumehara, Mera, Toritsuka, Mikoto, and Teruhashi had been invited to get out of the party and sit on the floor of his large and softly carpeted bedroom. Teruhashi had brought Rifuta along so she wouldn’t be left alone, and nobody really seemed to mind her presence. Most of the group, like Saiko and Teruhashi, were decompressing from what was their first and probably only crazy highschool party. Mikoto, the self proclaimed psychic who Teruhashi didn’t dislike but thought was a little too close with Saiki, broke the slightly awkward but mostly just tired silence.
“Teruhashi! Who’s this blonde cutie you brought?” Something about the way Mikoto said cutie made Teruhashi angry in a way she couldn’t quite put her finger on, but she shook it off and introduced Imu to the group.
“Oh this is Imu Rifuta! She’s a first year, she’s very sweet. I'm sure you’ll like her, I just didn’t want to leave her alone out there.”
“Yeah hi! I’m sorry for any inconvenience!” Imu was currently having a severe heart attack at being called a cutie by a pretty upperclassman and being called sweet by Teru- Kokomi-senpai.
“Girl no it’s ok just wanted to know your name. I’m Mikoto Aiura, do you know anyone else? Besides the birthday boy, obviously.” Mikoto laughed, it was a very different sound to Teruhashi’s, sharp and intense, almost birdlike sometimes but still pretty in it’s own way. Mikoto was different from Teruhashi in almost every way possible, which was why it made Teruhashi so… jealous? No, perfect girls don’t get jealous. But it made her feel some sort of way knowing that Saiki was sitting next to Mikoto and not her.
“Stop calling me that uuuugggghhhh.” Saiko tried to stand his ground but ended up groaning and clutching his stomach.
“Dude you are such a lightweight. Also I dunno if we’ve met, Imu was it?” Imu nodded, batting her eyelashes at Kuboyasu, who introduced himself while patting Saiko on the back.
“I’m not a lightweight, I just haven’t ever drank before…” He trailed off again, still looking queasy. “I didn’t even drink that much geez.” He mumbled as Hairo slipped a comforting arm around him
“This is why we don’t drink under the proper age. I won’t tell anyone though, since it’s your birthday. Hairo Kineshi, by the way! I’m the rep for my class so maybe you’ve heard of me?” He flashed a shiny grin with teeth who’s whiteness rivaled Teruhashi’s. She made a mental note to buy extra whitening toothpaste next time she was at the store.
“Yeah! I have!” After Imu’s response, Saiko groaned again. Teruhashi suddenly noticed that Kaidou didn’t look so good either.
“Kaidou-kun? Are you feeling ok?” She asked sweetly, batting her prize-winning lashes for good measure.
“F-fine, I just, um. Puking and stuff freaks me out a lot so I’m just a little worried about Saiko, heh!” He looked ashamedly at the floor, and Teruhashi was about to assure him that it was perfectly normal and ok to be uncomfortable with that kind of thing when Hairo and Kuboyasu picked up Saiko and helped him walk off to the bathroom.
“Should’ve said something earlier, Shun. C'mon you little lightweight let’s get ya out of here eh?” Kuboyasu called out as they took Saiko away. Kaidou looked visibly relieved, and when the boys returned a few minutes later after giving Saiko some medicine and washing his face, everyone looked a lot more comfortable.
“Hey! I have an idea!” Yumehara chirped. She looked over at Teruhashi and winked. Teruhashi’s stomach dropped. She had completely forgotten about Yumehara’s “party plan!” they devised when Saiko invited everyone.