Work Text:
The mouthwatering aroma of tonkotsu ramen wafted through the air as Kaede stirred the broth, a thoughtful expression on her face. At least, she hoped it came across as more thoughtful than exhausted. She could feel Kirumi watching from where she stood nearby, and one of the other girls could come in at any moment. As the club president, she had to keep up morale, seem strong.
The lights flickered overhead briefly and she flinched, chopsticks dropping the noodles she’d just lifted back into the bowl. The terror of what it would mean if the power went out was all-encompassing, an iron grip on her body. It was only when the bright, fluorescent glow persisted for several moments unchanged that she allowed herself to relax, shoulders slumping.
“Kaede, are you alright?” Kirumi asked, approaching to rest a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Do you need anything? Perhaps a massage, or I could fix you a drink? Anything you’d like.” Her voice was as steady and unbothered as ever, the perfect maid. If the flickering lights worried her too, it didn’t show. Kaede shook her head, staring down into her ramen.
“Don’t worry, Kirumi, I don’t need anything. Cooking this delicious lunch was plenty. Why don’t you sit down and eat too? It would help me to know you’re taking care of yourself.”
Kirumi frowned, and Kaede stifled the laugh that threatened to erupt, taking a bite of ramen. She’d learned how best to deal with her by now, and was all too happy to use that information whenever she needed to.
“It’s a request, okay? Have some lunch and keep me company. I know you’re going to want to dote on Tenko and Maki when they get back from patrol.”
With a sigh, Kirumi looked around the cafe turned dining room, undoubtedly trying to figure out if there was something that needed to be cleaned or put away. Kaede reached out, gently pulling her closer by the arm. When she gazed up at her, she tried to make her eyes as wide and pleading as possible, looking straight into Kirumi’s own pale green eyes, partially obscured by her hair.
“I suppose I should be tactical about expending my energy,” she conceded, breaking eye contact and sinking down into the chair next to her. “If this makes you happy, then by all means, I’ll do what I can to please you.”
“Good! You won’t be helpful to anyone if you burn yourself out, y’know!” Even to her own ear, it came out a little too cheerfully, voice nearly cracking at the end. Hopefully any slight flush to her cheeks could be excused as being due to eating a hot meal instead of being flustered about the unintentional innuendo.
“Yes, I understand. But are you sure there isn’t anything else I can do while we rest. Something that wouldn’t be strenuous?”
Her immediate impulse was to refuse, to insist that Kirumi was doing more than enough already and she had everything under control. But when she opened her mouth, nothing came out but a quiet, choked noise, accompanied by an uncomfortable tightness in her throat. She stared down at the table, picking at a chip in the particleboard surface with her nails.
“I’m worried,” she admitted. “We have a comfortable life right now, all things considered. But what about when the supplies run out, or when the generators die? What if we have to leave the school? Is it going to be possible to keep everyone safe? I want to be a good leader and keep everyone’s morale high, but I worry about things like that. And I like hearing your thoughts, so...what do you think?”
Kirumi took a long, deep breath, relinquishing her usual flawless posture to slump back in her chair.
“That is a great deal of pressure. I can’t claim to have immediate answers to those questions, although the same issues have plagued me at times, but what I do know is that I can’t imagine a better president for the school living club. You help everyone feel at ease despite the devastation outside. Even when we can see zombies out the window, you make us smile and laugh. That isn’t a talent to take lightly.”
“Do you really mean that?” Kaede asked, mustering a small smile. “Or are you just trying to butter me up?”
“I mean it,” Kirumi said earnestly, a thin, gloved hand overlapping hers on the tabletop. Before she could process it, there were soft lips pressed to her forehead, breath ghosting against her skin. “We can’t predict everything, but whatever may come, I’ll be serving by your side. I can promise you that.”