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“Kyoutaro-senpai, is that actually your costume?” Ichiro asked. His tone twisted in a way that made it seem like he was scolding Kyoutaro.
“Yeah, what’s the matter with it?” Kyoutaro shifted, glancing down at his outfit. It was Halloween, sure, and most students usually wore a costume on that day, but Kyoutaro couldn’t be bothered doing something that elaborate. His pajamas—panda kigurumi he—worked well enough for a costume if you asked him.
“It’s just kinda plain,” Ichiro said. “And not really Halloween-like…”
“Eh, who cares,” Kyoutaro said, “a costume is a costume. And it’ll make it comfortable to nap in.”
Ryouma chuckled. “It’s fine, isn’t it? He did dress up after all.”
“I knew I could count on you to be on my side, Ryo-chin.” Kyoutaro sat back down in his chair in the clubroom.
“But wasn’t it a pain to wear those all day long? They’re pajamas, aren’t they?”
“Taking a leak was a pain, that’s all,” Kyoutaro said plainly.
Ichiro’s face pinkened. He was a werewolf, a very elaborate one, so that embarrassed expression didn’t suit him. Kyoutaro cracked a smile.
“O-okay then!” Ichiro said. “I’m gonna go find Taishi, I think he’s on class cleaning duty today…” and then he rushed out of the room.
“I’ll see you for the party later?” Ryouma, dressed as a yokai, asked. “I have a short errand to do beforehand.”
“Sure,” Kyoutaro said, waving a hand. Ryouma left, leaving him alone. Even Nanao was off doing something today, too. If he remembered correctly, it was collecting some food for the party? Ah, well. He didn’t have any objection to the defense club and student council having a Halloween party together, not really, he would just have to catch up on his sleeping first.
He closed his eyes and his consciousness faded.
But he snapped back to attention when a thunk and a yelp pierced the silence, very close that it sounded like it was coming from the wall.
The wall… the student council room?
Kyoutaro blinked, lifting his head.
Without thinking about it, he got up and slid open the door that was shared between their two rooms and popped his head in.
“Ata?”
“Leave!” Ata ordered, “there’s nothing wrong-”
But Kyoutaro stepped in and saw the exact situation that nothing really was.
There were various things on the floor by Ata’s desk, and Ata was standing by a dresser in a weird posture, arms crossed, obvious discomfort plastered over his face.
Kyoutaro stared, his gaze going from the mess on the floor to Ata and back again. “This doesn’t look like nothing.”
“It is nothing!” Ata exclaimed loudly, his face growing red.
Huh. What had happened to him?
Kyoutaro headed over to where Ata was to inspect.
Ata was wearing a vampire costume, also really elaborate. He had on a black suit, red tie, and a flowing cape. He’d also put in the fake teeth. It looked perfect on him. Ata had always been extremely attractive, so Kyoutaro couldn’t help but pause and stare a bit longer.
“W-what?”
“It suits you,” is all Kyoutaro said.
Ata stared at Kyoutaro, his face going redder. “Is that… a compliment?”
“Of course.” Kyoutaro leaned down to pick up some things from the floor—a couple of textbooks, scattered stationary, and put them back where they belonged.
“You… you look ridiculous, though,” Ata managed to mutter. Though his face was still red, and Kyoutaro knew he got embarrassed easily, so he didn’t take it to heart.
“Thanks.”
“It wasn’t-”
Kyoutaro stepped closer to Ata, peering at his face up close. There really was something off about the situation, something that Ata was hiding…
“You’re too close, Shuzenji,” Ata choked out.
Kyoutaro was suddenly hit with the explicit urge to kiss Ata.
It wasn’t the first time that kind of thought fluttered through him, but it was just as strong, all the same.
He let the moment go, though, because he had something to figure out.
It came to him as he noticed that Ata was standing very still. He would usually have backed up or perhaps tried to get further away, especially if he was embarrassed.
So Kyoutaro stepped beside Ata, looking between him and the dresser.
“Ah,” Kyoutaro said. “So that’s what happened.”
“Shut up, don’t mock-”
“Why would I do that?” Kyoutaro asked.
He stepped closer, opening one of the drawers of the dresser, untangling the cape from where it had gotten stuck, and freeing Ata.
Ata stepped aside and cleared his throat. “Thanks.”
“Why did you hide it? Would you rather just be stuck there for hours until the Halloween party?”
“Of course not,” Ata said. “That moment was just humiliating. I’d tripped into the desk, and got stuck like that-”
Kyoutaro smiled. “Well, it’s not embarrassing, if you ask me. It’s not like you’re used to wearing that costume.”
Ata’s eyes twitched. “You don’t get embarrassed ever, though, do you? So you wouldn’t understand.”
Shrugging, Kyoutaro put a hand on Ata’s shoulder. “Regardless, you should ask for help if you’re in need. I’ll come help you every time.”
A deeper flush travelled up Ata’s neck. “Ugh, you’re so embarrassing! What am I going to do with you?”
Kyoutaro could think of many things, but he didn’t say them aloud.
Instead, he reached over and gave Ata a hug. Just because he wanted to.
Ata froze. But then, grumbling, he hugged Kyoutaro back.
A hug that was completely different from their last one, back when Ata had almost succumbed to his negative feelings.
But now, the hug was nice. Kyoutaro could stay like this for ages, if Ata would agree.
“I take it back,” Ata mumbled, his face snuggling into Kyoutaro’s shoulder. “Your costume isn’t ridiculous at all.”
“Thanks,” Kyoutaro said.
Yup, worth it.