Work Text:
With the ringing of a wind chime and the creaking of the door signifying her arrival, Rui took her time to scan the scenery of the Hazawa Coffee. Wooden scenery that is easy on the eyes, and a tantalizing sugary smell filling the general area. With a familiar head of light blue hair standing out against the oranges and browns, it didn't take long for Rui to find the person she was slated to meet with.
Rui: (courteously) Greetings, Hikawa-senpai.
With a soft thump, the bookmarked novel was delicately shut in Sayo's hands, as she invited Rui to sit down across from her. Ever since the bluenette was given the job of tutoring a certain irksome bandmate of Rui's, the two girls have made a plan to sit down together and discuss said bandmate's progress. Preferably over some coffee and Hazawa-made sweets.
Rui: (matter-of-factly) I assume that Kirigaya-san hasn't given you too much trouble. As one of her bandmates, I am no stranger to her more "capricious" behaviors.
Sayo: (with a small smile) Surprisingly enough, while synchronizing better with the more..."eccentric" guitar players on our roster, I found that Kirigaya-san has made noticeable progress, regarding her playing of more complex pieces. It was quite the arduous task, but I hardly see any need to worry, Yashio-san.
Rui: (bowing slightly) I humbly thank you for your tutelage, Hikawa-san.
Sayo: (bowing back) No need to thank me further.
After exchanging pleasantries and further commentary on Touko's more "Touko" moments, the two girls decided to skim the menu. Knowing that Rui is a more recent customer, Sayo decided to guide the violinist around the cafe's various delicacies.
Sayo: (curiously) Do you have any particular desserts in mind, Yashio-san?
Rui: (matter-of-factly) I don't really have any particular preferences, so long as the flavors aren't too strong.
Upon hearing that, Sayo's eyes sparkled and her face was quick to break out into a proud grin, as she pointed out several desserts on the menu with great gusto. Needless to say, the violinist was taken aback by the guitarist's sudden fervor in recommending the cafe's various sweets.
Sayo: (smiling slowly growing, getting more and more passionate) If that's the case, might I recommend the salted caramel cookie? Hazawa-san takes extra care to not let the sweetness of the caramel get too sickly. You might also appreciate a slice of the Cookies 'n' Cream ice cream cake. The vanilla ice cream at the center of the dessert should be easy on your tongue, but the chocolate cookie crumbs would also add some extra flavor and texture, without being too overbearing on your taste buds. Hazawa-san somehow manages to not over-sprinkle the crumbs on top, and makes absolutely sure that the dessert wouldn't leave too much of a mess. If you are still concerned about the mess, for whatever reason, might I recommend-
Rui: (with discomfort evident in her tone) Please try to calm yourself, Hikawa-senpai. You seem to be a bit too enraptured by Hazawa-senpai's cooking.
Upon hearing Rui's discomfort, Sayo quickly snapped out of her Hazawa-induced frenzy, before clearing her throat and trying to hide her blush beneath her hands. Internally, Sayo was glad that she, in an indirect way, confessed her pent-up affections to a trusted compatriot. The last thing she wants is for hints of her romantic affections to fall into the hands of Moca, Lisa, or even worse, Hina.
Sayo: (apologetic) My apologies for getting carried away, Yashio-san.
Rui: (oddly curious) I can tell by this conversation alone that you seem to be oddly invested in Hazawa-senpai's abilities. It is as if you have a rather deep history with each other, in spite of your differing bands. May I inquire as to how your oddly-intimate relationship came to be?
Although taken aback by Rui's sudden curiosity regarding her relationship with Tsugumi, Sayo decided to explain to Rui about how one little cooking class hosted by Tsugumi allowed Sayo's feelings to blossom forth, as well as extra tidbits regarding her current relationship with the brunette, like their routine book exchanges and their whole Valentine's Day escapade. Throughout the whole lecture, Sayo's blush was beginning to spread across more of her face.
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And, much to Sayo's oblivion, Tsugumi was listening in on her whole recollection, with her own blush spreading across her face.
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In the midst of describing the Valentine's Day walk, however, Sayo's ears picked up on the hurried footsteps of the cafe's newest waitress. Upon hearing Tsukushi's scurrying, Sayo and Rui were quick to pick their menus back up and quickly scan them again.
Tsukushi: (excited) Ah! Rui-san and Sayo-senpai! Welcome to Hazawa Coffee! May I take your order?
While her eyes were supposed to remain on the menu, Rui's eyes couldn't help but wander away from the menu. For a brand-new priority ended up taking priority in Rui's mind: soaking in all of the features of the adorable waitress in front of her.
With her big brown eyes and her plump hamster-like cheeks dotted with freckles, Tsukushi's cherubic features seemed to be especially eye-catching today. And, to serve as a cherry on top of the shortcake, the drummer's work uniform only seeks to make her adorable features all the more radiant. Attempting to shake off her flustered expression, Rui rapidly browsed the menu before settling on something. However, Rui’s hormone-addled mind could barely get words out, as both her eyes and brain were quick to wander back to Tsukushi in her waitress uniform.
Luckily, the blue-haired guitarist was helpful enough to bail her out.
Sayo: (professionally) We would take two decaf lattes and a large plate of cookies to share.
Tsukushi: (happily) Excellent choice, Sayo-senpai!
While she was writing, what Rui presumed to be the order in her aphrodisiac-fueled mind, Tsukushi stuck her tongue out, which only caused Rui's heart to pound harder against her ribcage.
The second the pigtailed girl left to relay the order to Tsugumi, the taller girl promptly snapped out of her barely-concealed stupor, as her face returned to its normal pale shade. Turning around to face Sayo, Rui was quick to notice that the bluenette had her phone out.
Rui: (courteously) Please continue with your recollection, Hikawa-senpai.
Upon hearing Rui's voice, Sayo promptly shoved her phone in her pocket.
What Rui didn't know was that Sayo was staring at a certain picture taken and sent to the guitarist's group chat by one Touko Kirigaya, of a flustered Rui at the petting zoo. According to Morfonica's guitarist herself, she referred to this picture as proof of "Operation: Tsuku-Rui" being a success. Needless to say, Sayo sympathizes in both of Rui's plights: having a particular weakness for soft and fluffy animals, and being "down bad", as the other guitarists would put it, for a hard-working and adorable brunette.
Against her better judgement, Sayo formulated a game plan in her mind.
Although to a much more latent degree, compared to the other far-more-rowdy guitarists, Sayo is no stranger to being a wingwoman for others. Her work was mostly limited to her own bandmates, but the results speak for themselves. Lisa and Yukina finally got together, after spending all of their childhood years dancing around each other, and Ako and Rinko are currently planning an IRL version of NFO's wedding event, starring each other. The guitarist feels as though Rui would benefit from more of an indirect wingwoman-ing than from whatever harebrained and nonsensical scheme could come from the minds of the other guitarists.
Sayo: (taken off guard, before regaining her composure) Oh. A-As I was saying, in spite of the cafe's closure, we managed to faithfully recreate the roll cake from the novel. I must say, our work ethics greatly complement each other, and Toyama-san, Aoba-san, and Okusawa-san seem to think the same way.
Rui: (pensively) So, it has come to my understanding that, in order to satisfy a craving for a food item found in a work of fiction, you exerted yourselves to faithfully recreate the roll cake found in that fictional work.
Sayo: (looking away slightly, blushing) Apologies if that motivation sounds like a mere flight-of-fancy.
Rui: (matter-of-factly) Believe me, my own band members have overexerted themselves, for far less.
Taking Sayo’s focused gaze as an intrigued expression of sorts, Rui offered an explanation.
Rui: (explaining) Some time prior, in spite of it not benefiting her, Futaba-san corralled the rest of Morfonica to complete some crucial student council work for me. This was all so I could get the chance to perform with an upperclassman of mine. A chance that I ended up not even taking.
Rui: (conflicted expression) To this very day, I am still confused as to why Futaba-san would sacrifice her free-time, in order to offer me such a chance, even if it doesn’t benefit her.
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On the other side of the counter, Tsukushi, against her better nature, eavesdropped on Rui’s venting session. Her heart couldn’t help but sink from hearing Rui’s words.
Is simply offering a helping hand without ulterior motives that much of a foreign concept to the violinist, to the point that even SHE couldn’t comprehend it? What sort of environment could possibly foster such a mindset?
As much as Tsukushi wanted to call out to Rui, she chose to restrain herself, partially because she wouldn’t want to risk making a scene in the middle of the cafe, and partially because words simply won’t leave her tongue.
A tapping sensation on her shoulders snapped the short girl out of her thoughts. Turning around, Tsukushi yelped in shock at seeing Tsugumi’s face staring back at her. And after looking down, Tsukushi could see the tray holding Sayo and Rui’s order.
Tsukushi: (surprised) Ah! O-Oh! Tsugumi-senpai! I shall take that order!
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Swallowing her nervousness, Tsukushi took the larger-and-most-likely-heavier-looking tray into her shaky hands, and tried her best to look casual in front of the two professional-looking girls (and extremely attractive, in Rui’s case), as she steadily made her way to their table.
Tsukushi: (with terribly-masked nervousness) H-Here’s your order!
Sayo/Rui: (in unison) Thank you, Futaba-san.
Taking one of the cookies and plopping it into her mouth, Sayo smiled with the glee that usually comes from indulging herself in Hazawa Coffee’s many delectable goods. Following her senpai’s lead, Rui took one of the cookies and hesitantly munched on it, to her surprising delight, for the cookies managed to satisfy her in both taste and texture.
Rui: (slightly nodding) This shall suffice.
Sayo: (delighted) Hazawa-san’s cooking is still as delightful as ever, I see. Send my compliments to her.
The short girl’s sheer joy at the icy girls’ approval (but especially from Rui) caused her walk back to the counter to be interspersed with a little skip and the humming of a happy little tune. Tsukushi’s cheerful grin and childish skip-walking caused Rui’s face to quickly redden to an even brighter extent, as her heartbeat picked up its pace. Turning her head away from the object of her affections barely seemed to slow down her heartbeat, for it is getting increasingly difficult for the violinist to get the pint-sized drummer out of her mind.
Everything both objectively and subjectively eye-catching about Tsukushi seemed to be especially highlighted today. From her short height, to her adorable facial features, to her earnest attempts at leading the group, to her stellar work ethic, the list keeps growing longer and longer in Rui’s mind.
Seeing Rui quickly becoming more and more of a sapphic disaster, Sayo took this opportunity to give the violinist the subtle romantic support that she needs. Calling Rui’s name a couple of times seemed to tether the dark-haired girl back down to earth, for her face returned to its usual pale hue and her eyes regained focus.
Sayo: (professionally) As someone who feels as though we share a… “solidarity” of sorts, allow me to offer you some advice that has assisted me in some…rougher times.
Sayo: (smiling) If one were to offer you help, it would be in your best interest to accept that help. This assistance could potentially help you in finding your own note.
Rui, far from oblivious, knew exactly what the blue-haired girl meant by that adage: an abridged retelling of her whole history with Tsugumi Hazawa.
Yet, the violinist couldn’t help but ponder about that strategy. She could hardly explain why, but something about Sayo’s adage seems to resonate within Rui’s mind.
Something about finding something that had long been lost and snuffed out.
Rui: (nodding) I shall keep that advice in mind, Hikawa-senpai.
Needless to say, Sayo was surprised that her improvised adage managed to win over the iron-willed Rui. But ultimately, there was a bigger priority on her plate, literally. A good majority of Tsugumi’s cookies were still uneaten, and she (along with her underclassman) still had to finish them, lest the test of time renders them stale and undesirable. Once Sayo got back to her cookies, Rui was shockingly quick to follow.
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On the other end of the counter, Tsukushi was excitedly recounting her successful waitering to her senpai and co-worker. Her hands gestured around cheerfully, as her eyes sparkled with glee.
Tsukushi: (happily) …And get THIS! Rui-san praised me! I could just see it in her eyes! And Sayo-senpai too! Praise from professionals like Sayo Hikawa and Rui Yashio! How lucky could I possibly get?!
Upon lowering herself from Cloud Nine, the drummer noticed that the keyboardist was staring off into space.
Tsukushi: (taken aback) Are you even listening to me, senpai?!
However, it was very clear that Tsugumi wasn’t getting off of her own Cloud Nine.
Tsugumi: (internally) Oh, Sayo-san…and to think this all started from a silly cooking class…and here you are…educating the next generation…
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