Chapter Text
February 4, 2022, 3:27pm
10 days before prom
Tsukasa sat in his classroom bored, he got restless, listening to his teacher go on and on about calculus and math things, he can't even begin explaining his thoughts on calculus! He hated it so much, he hated it more than bugs— actually, maybe he doesn't hate it more than bugs, but to him, they're on the same level.
Writing down random things in his notebook, he looked at the clock, seeing it was three minutes before 3:30pm, Tsukasa readied himself mentally. Hearing the bell ring, telling him that school was over, he immediately brought his phone out and opened his Messenger to text Rui.
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- Director Rui -
> Star Tsukasa
rui, are you free later today? i need help with something today
> Director Rui
I'm sorry Tsukasa-kun, I won't be able to help you.
> Star Tsukasa
why????
> Director Rui
Mizuki had asked me to come with them to the shopping mall and help them find a gown for the prom.
> Star Tsukasa
what prom? were they even at school today
> Director Rui
Haha, no they weren't, they just saw the school's new FacePage post, it seems it was posted during our class.
> Director Rui
Besides, me and Mizuki are part of the prom committee so we already knew the theme beforehand, I guess they wanted to buy their outfit now.
> Director Rui
If you want Tsukasa-kun, you could always tag along!
> Star Tsukasa
oh okay then rui ill see you tomorrow at pwl
> Star Tsukasa
you know that a STAR like MYSELF can handle things on my own!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH
> Director Rui
Well, Tsukasa-kun, I'll see you tomorrow as well. I have to go already, Mizuki is calling me.
> Star Tsukasa
GOOD BYE RUI!!!!
- Director Rui went offline -
> Star Tsukasa
cant i come with you
- Star Tsukasa went offline -
+——————————±
Tsukasa sighed as he closed his messaging app, he didn't even need help with anything, he just wanted to hang out. Deciding to check out the new FacePage posts, he opened the app and started to scroll as he walked to his house.
+——————————±
Kamiyama High School is with Miyamasuzuka Girls' Academy
4 Feb (33 minutes ago) • Shibuya, Tokyo
Are you ready for this year's annual prom night happening here at Kamiyama High School? We are all excited and ready for prom on February 14 or Valentine's Day. 💌
This school year we will be hosting this prom with @Miyamasuzaka Girls' Academy, students from Miyamasuzuka will be coming to our school this year! Make sure you have your dresses, gowns, and suits ready for one of the most exciting nights at Kamiyama!
🎭This year's prom outfit theme is royal masquerade, chosen by vote through a poll on our FacePage, our dress code is the same as before and you will be kicked out if you wear anything deemed inappropriate by our prom and discipline committee.
Our prom committee would appreciate it if you come prepared, they all did work hard to make it amazing this school year and did the best they can to make it enjoyable for all.
We thank the following for making this year's prom go right for us all:
An Shiraishi
XXXX XXXXX
Mizuki Akiyama
XXX XXXX XXXXXX
Rui Kamishiro
Airi Momoi
XXXXXXX XXXXX
Emu Otori
Haruka Kiritani
Honami Mochizuki
(Attendance is mandatory and you will be charged ¥100 to go inside after a quick inspection done by our prom committee.)
[ 📌 Attached photo of a poster with the prom venue, date, and dress code ]
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Miyamasuzuka Girls' Academy is with Kamiyama High School
4 Feb (34 minutes ago) • Shibuya, Tokyo
Attention all students of Miyamasuzuka! This year we will be hosting prom with @Kamiyama High School, on the 14th of February, where our venue will be at Kamiyama's school gym. You shall be charged ¥100 upon entry to the venue as that money will be given to the committee as funds for next year's prom.
Our prom theme this year will be royal masquerade, chosen via a poll done by Kamiyama High School on their FacePage last week. The prom committee worked hard over the past few days to put this together for us all to enjoy, they will be putting the finishing touches by the 12th. 🎉
The following names are members of the prom committee that you should all thank for this year's prom:
An Shiraishi
XXXX XXXXX
Mizuki Akiyama
XXX XXXX XXXXXX
Rui Kamishiro
Airi Momoi
XXXXXXX XXXXX
Emu Otori
Haruka Kiritani
Honami Mochizuki
We hope to see you at Kamiyama High School on the 14th for this special day, attendance is mandatory and you will be kicked out if your outfit had been deemed inappropriate.
[ 📌 Attached photo of Miyamasuzuka's version of a poster with the prom venue, date, and dress code ]
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After he read all the posts he had already reached his house, unlocking and opening the front door, he stepped in. "I'M HOME!" Tsukasa announced loudly, taking his shoes off and closing the door behind him, Saki, who was coming down from the stairs, greeted him with a genuine smile. Tsukasa was always happy to see his sister smile so wide.
"Big brother! Welcome home, I have something I really want to show you!" She said, almost jumping up and down with excitement, Tsukasa was dragged by Saki into her room where he saw a yellow and pink gown and mask placed on her bed. "Do you like them?" Saki asked gleefully, looking back at her big brother with a big smile. "They look so cool! Where did you get them Saki?" Tsukasa questioned his little sister as she walked to the bed and picked the mask up.
"Honami had given them to me, she's apart of the prom committee and knew the theme ahead of time, she had bought all of Leo/Need fancy dresses, shoes, and masks, saying that she wanted us to be prepared ahead of time" Saki ranted on and on about Honami and the others' outfits. Tsukasa smiled looking at the dress. I should get one, everyone else is already buying theirs' or already has an outfit ready. He thought.
Turning to his little sister, he spoke up, "Saki, do you know where Honami bought your dresses?" His face showing it was a genuine question. "She bought them at Flores Royals, in the Shopping Mall around here!" Saki replied, "Why, brother? Do you want to wear a sparkly gown at the prom?" She joked, making Tsukasa laugh.
"Well, it's for some friends of mine, they are probably going to forget to buy their dresses and remember right before the prom happens." He laughed. "Well I hope they don't forget, if you have to buy for them you might go broke, you have so many friends who are girls don't you!" Saki said.
"I don't have that many friends who are girls, Saki," Tsukasa replied, "besides, I might be able to find some suits there for me and—" "Wait! Aren't your 'girl' friends fancy and high class?" Saki interrupted with air quotes over 'girl'. "WHAT?! SAKI, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?!" He shouted, surprised. "I have a friend from Kamiyama, her name is An Shiraishi, her friend— called Haruka— comes to Miyamasuzuka and we met up one day with her friends and An-chan was there!"
Of course it was An. . . Tsukasa sighed, looking back at Saki, "Well they aren't! That's some false information!" Saki pouted, "But she showed me photos of you holding purses outside the girl's washroom and another with you sitting with Nene-chan and a bunch of girls having a tea—" she explained.
"OKAY! FINE, YES THEY ARE! But they would definitely forget to buy dresses with their kind of mindsets." Tsukasa cried out, embarrassed, Saki laughed at her brother's reaction to what she said. "Well then, big brother, you should get out and put your stuff down, it must hurt carrying all of those things!" She said pushing him outside her room, shutting the door once he was outside.
He sighed, walking up to his bedroom and putting his stuff down, he opened his phone and saw a new FacePage notification.
+——————————±
Rui Kamishiro is with Mizuki Akiyama
4 Feb (21 minutes ago) • Shibuya Shopping Mall, Tokyo
Mizuki wanted to get their prom outfits already and dragged me along, someone help me, I am not okay.
[ 📌 Attachment One is Mizuki using Rui's phone to take a mirror selfie of them in the dressing room while they wear a fabulous pink, red, and rose gold gown. ]
[ 📌 Attachment Two is of Rui in a fancy black, white, and purple suit while Rui looks mildly annoyed but is still smiling at the camera ]
Post liked by Emu Otori, Saki Tenma, Ena Shinonone, Nene Kusanagi, Tsukasa Tenma, and 9 others
+——————————±
"Oh.." Tsukasa voiced his worries as he closed FacePage, "Why do I feel jealous— and also sad. . ?" He was confused, all of these emotions— anger, jealousy, and sadness— came from this one post Rui had made, why is he feeling these things now? He kept staring at the second photo where Rui was wearing the suit, It looks really good on him, oh, there's the store name— "Flores Royals", that's where Honami bought Saki's dress.
He swiped back to the image of Mizuki, Huh, why do they have his phone and why did he give it to them? He questioned in his head. This seems wrong, I shouldn't be feeling all of these emotions, I'm probably misunderstanding. And I can't feel these things, it's wrong to. . . Tsukasa was in denial, but after that, he decided to call Rui. But before calling Rui, he checked the time, noticing it was already. . . 4:09PM?! Time flies by fast. . Tsukasa sighed, switching apps.
+——————————±
-[ Call Kamishiro Rui? ]-
He hesitated for a moment, hovering over the accept button, but he still clicked it. Listening to the beeping of the phone as he waited for Rui to pick up, he pushed the phone to his ear.
—"Hello? Tsukasa-kun, what is it you need?"
"Hi, Rui."
—"Tsukasa-kun. . . Are you okay? You don't usually call and only just say two words once I pick up the phone."
"Rui, I didn't mean it like that!! There is NOTHING wrong, I'm fine! I just wanted to call to ask how are you and Mizuki doing." He accidentally raised his voice when he said the word 'nothing', it probably made Rui more worried than he already was.
There was no response.
"Rui, are you there. . ?"
—"A—ah sorry, Tsukasa-kun, I was asking Mizuki if they were done changing."
"Oh, it's okay Rui."
—"We're doing well Tsukasa-kun, Mizuki is just having a hard time choosing a dress, you know this is their 3rd dress change today."
"But I thought the dress in the photo was what they were going to wear," His face changed up slightly when he remembered the post, "that dress looked amazing on them! Hear me out, because a star is always right! HAHAHAHA!!"
An all too familiar laugh was faintly heard from the other side.
—"Haha! There's my star! How about I tell Mizuki that a star like you complimented how they looked in the other dress."
—"I'm sure they'd finally choose that dress after hearing that!"
Tsukasa reddened at Rui's reply and laugh, and he didn't know why. Mentally slapping himself in the face so he could stop himself from blushing even more.
"W—well, uh. . . you should know a star like me can't go wrong with their decisions and ideas!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Rui chuckled on the other line.
—"Oh, Tsukasa-kun! You can't be anymore right that that. It's true that you're amazing with knowing the right opinions. Just like my star should. . ."
He trailed off, going on and on about Tsukasa and being a star, occasionally mentioning Mizuki and their dresses.
Tsukasa was about to speak but paused when he heard Rui call him 'my star' again. Mentally slapping himself again didn't work, his face reddened to the tips of his ears and he hid his face in his sleeve. What if Saki walks in and see me like this, she'd be disappointed in her older brother. . . He thought, sighing.
—"Tsukasa-kun~ Tsukasa-kun, are you there? You've gotten quiet."
He scrambled to sit up and reply when he heard Rui calling to him.
"AH! Sorry Rui. . . I was, uhm, busy. YES VERY BUSY EARLIER!"
—"Hmm, if you busy, I really shouldn't bother you any—"
"NO!—" BANG!
Tsukasa and Rui both paused, he panicked, he didn't mean to shout at Rui, I mean, he even stood up while saying it, making the chair fall backwards, he knew Rui heard the chair from the gasp he heard from the other side.
"I mean. . . No, I'm not busy."
—"Ah, well, if you weren't busy then why did you say you were? Hm, Tsukasa-kun?"
Rui teased him, trying to change the subject, and as always, he even caught him in his lie.
"Well, I just wanted to let you talk and I. . ." He paused, trying to think of an excuse.
—"You?"
"I spaced out a bit. . . I'm sorry, Rui."
Rui laughed again.
—"Awh, is my star embarrassed? It's alright Tsukasa-kun, I forgive you!"
Tsukasa couldn't help but blush more, Rui sounded so happy and he wanted to keep him like that. Tsukasa doesn't know why all of this happened today, but deep down, he does wish he had realized all of this sooner.
A faint voice was heard. "Hey Rui, what about this dress?"
Rui's voice can still be heard but it was farther from the microphone from how quiet it sounded. "It looks nice, Mizuki. . . But actually, Tsukasa-kun said you looked better wearing the one in the photo I posted on my FacePage."
Tsukasa smiled upon hearing Rui tell Mizuki his suggestion, and he was serious about them looking better in that specific dress.
"Well, if your Tsukasa-kun said so, I'll put it on just for him!" Mizuki teased, laughing, their voice getting quieter, signalling that they went back inside the changing room.
Rui's soft laugh can be heard from the other side.
Tsukasa's heart melted upon hearing his laugh, but he suddenly processed what Mizuki had said earlier, he flushed red realizing they had said "your Tsukasa-kun" to Rui.
—"Tsukasa-kun~"
"Yes, Rui?"
—"I got Mizuki to put it on for you!"
Rui's voice was so pretty, it was music to Tsukasa's ears, the latter was also happy he almost always hears it every single day, but he had to stay in character, so the other wouldn't worry about him.
"HAHAHA! OF COURSE THEY WOULD! THEY COULDN'T TURN DOWN THE SUGGESTION DONE BY A STAR LIKE ME!"
Rui laughed once again.
It gave Tsukasa peace of mind knowing that Rui would always laugh and enjoy his jokes and antics.
—"Tsukasa-kun— I hope you're comfortable with this— can we video call?"
Tsukasa wasn't expecting that question, he wasn't prepared, he was already red and embarrassed over an audio call, but what about on a video call? Rui would see how red Tsukasa gets every time he laughs and talks.
"Why would a star like me not be okay with it? So definitely, of course, Rui!"
—"Haha, I'll click the video call button, so take the phone off your ear. I'm not open to seeing your earwax."
"EW!"
Another laugh.
Tsukasa moved the phone away from his ear and mentally and physically prepared himself as he waited for Rui to request to video call.
+——————————±
-[ Kamishiro Rui is requesting to video call ]-
Once Tsukasa clicked yes, he was greeted by Rui's smiling face and Tsukasa smiled back at him, softly.
—"Ah! Hello Tsukasa-kun, I actually wanted to switch to video so I can see you again, hehe."
Unlike in an audio call, Tsukasa can see Rui's face as he laughs and smiles, Rui also seeing the same for Tsukasa.
"That is understandable! I am a person to be missed and can't be away from, of course!"
"AS THAT IS THE LIFE OF A STAR! HAHAHA!"
Tsukasa struck a pose while sitting, making Rui laugh again, Tsukasa had laughed along side Rui aswell.
—"Well, my star, if you aren't busy, could you come here?"
Tsukasa paused to listen to Rui.
—"It's getting awfully boring waiting for Mizuki to finish changing, just for them to change again."
Rui had audibly sighed and Tsukasa couldn't say no to him.
"Of course I'll come Rui! I already know where you are!"
—"Stalking me now, Tsukasa-kun? What an indecent act done to be done by a star."
Rui was overdramatic and he looked fake hurt.
"I would never! Saki and her friends got their dresses from there, so of course I'd know!" He paused, thinking of what it'd be like if Rui literally watched him gather his stuff and go to the mall. "I know we just changed to video but can we go back to audio? So I can just listen to you and won't have to look at the screen."
—"Tsukasa-kun, we both know you can still listen while in video, are you embarrassed or uncomfortable? If you are I—"
"WHAT NO?! I'M NOT EMBARRASSED AT ALL! A STAR NEVER GETS EMBARRASSED!!"
—"Hehe, I'm just kidding Tsukasa-kun, but if you are uncomfortable and that's what you want, I can switch it back."
"Thank you, Rui, I'll get ready then I'll go to the bus stop to ride there." Tsukasa sighed, as he pushed his chair back so he can stand.
—"I estimate you'll make it here by 5:10pm, since the shopping mall is atleast a 12 minute drive from your house."
"HUH, IS IT ALREADY 5PM?!" He was surprised, he didn't know it had gotten that late already.
—"Tsukasa-kun, have you not been keeping track of time? It's been 42 minutes since you first called me, making it. . ."
—"4:51pm."
"IT'S THAT LATE?! I NEED TO GET READY, AND I HAVE TO QUICKLY!!"
—"There's no rush Tsukasa-kun. . ."
"THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID WHEN HARUKA AND MINORI FROM MMJ WERE SAID TO BE AT THE SHOPPING MALL AND YOU RAN ATLEAST THREE MILES FROM HERE TO THE MALL IN SEVEN MINUTES!"
—". . ."
—"No need to expose me like that Tsukasa-kun, you never know whether Mizuki would hear."
"HAHAHA! WELL— ahem— I'm on my way to the mall right now!"
+——————————+
Tsukasa connected his ear buds to his phone as he told his parents and Saki he would be hanging out with Rui and Mizuki, fixing himself as he walked out the door. He headed straight for the bus station so he could get to the mall quickly and before 5:10pm.
After atleast six minutes of listening to Rui go on and on about many things, such as prom, Emu and Nene, robots, and Mizuki taking a long time to change, he arrived at the bus stop, luckily the bus had just arrived and is going straight to the Shopping Mall with no stops.
Sepping onto the bus, Tsukasa went and sat near the exit, he sat in the window seat— not the aisle seat— because he didn't want to brush his body against random people trying to get to the back of the bus over the course of the journey to the mall. Looking down at his phone, he heard Rui excuse himself to the bathroom a minute ago, and right as Rui came back, the bus started moving to its destination.