Chapter Text
Daeyoung was just minding his own business like always when he was in charge of being the one tending in the library as he was part of the library committee in his high school in Tokyo. Contrary to the quiet and empty library, it was so chaotic outside since there was school festival that was open to public. Daeyoung sighed, as much as he liked the atmosphere of a school festival, the world outside this library was too noisy for him. He was so glad that he had to stayed back at the library today.
Until he heard a sobbing from somewhere. Daeyoung, despite his tall and big body, was such a scaredy little golden retriever. He hated bugs, was afraid of horror movies, too, he got scared easily by the slightest sound out of nowhere, also, he even got teased a lot by his friends because of it.
Ugh, then who on earth was sobbing quietly in this quiet library? He was so sure there was no other person inside the library aside from him. However, Daeyoung was a bit of a nosy person, too, so he got curious a lot. Then, he approached the sound. His heart kept beating so fast and he also prepared himself to run away in case the one he found was not a person nor animal. Eh, did animal ever make that kind of sound? Sobbing? Just how sad was it? Or would a ghost suddenly appear out of the blue in this bright morning? Still, despite his never ending negative thoughts, he cautiously got a lot closer.
There, he met someone holding his knees and buried his face deeply in such a weird outfit. He cried so much, but only let so little sound. So, Daeyoung carefully walk towards him that was hiding behind the books racks. He knocked on the book racks softly so that person knew his presence before he began to ask.
That boy looked up and met Daeyoung's worried face. He wiped his own tears with the back of his hands repeatedly. Daeyoung thought he must have felt ashamed after being discovered like this so Daeyoung extended his hand to hand him his handkerchief. It was one of the handkerchief with his name on it that his mom had sewed back then. That boy looked up and cautiously took the handkerchief, then he bowed his head.
After paying attention to that boy, Daeyoung wondered where he had seen his face and that boy was wearing something like a maid outfit, too, upon closer look instead of a butler. Was it a prank by his friends that he got to wear this cutesy outfit?
“I'm sorry.” The soft voice broke the silence between them. Daeyoung shook his head.
“There is no need to be sorry.” He answered, Daeyoung tried to sound as naturally as he could speaking Japanese. It had been one year since his family moved to Tokyo because his father got the position as the manager in marketing department in Tokyo branch of X company.
Daeyoung who had only learnt Japanese through the animations that he watched wonder if it sounded natural enough since that boy's gaze never left Daeyoung's face.
“You are not a Japanese?” That boy asked.
Ah, he got discovered. Daeyoung shyly shook his head, “No, I'm a Korean. I just transferred here one year ago.”
“I haven't seen you before, what grade are you in?” That boy gestured Daeyoung to take a seat with him. Daeyoung took a seat on top of the warm floor, he still maintained the distance, though.
“I'm on my second year, class 3. How about you?”
“Me? I'm on my third year, class 2.”
Daeyoung gasped hearing his answer, he really thought that boy was younger than him. He bowed his head after apologising. He just spoke casually to his senior! That boy just shook his head. He didn't really mind it.
“Why is senpai here alone?” Daeyoung finally asked. That senpai looked so embarrassed seeing the clothes he was wearing so he unknowingly avoided Daeyoung's eyes.
“Uh.... My class participated in a cross dressing fashion show, but the one who was supposed to wear this outfit suddenly called our homeroom teacher that he got sick and was bedridden at home.” After his long sentence, he stopped a bit pondering if he should really tell it in details to a junior he just met. Well, but Daeyoung did ask for it.
“Anyway, the class was so in uproar looking for his replacement. I didn't know and just casually walked in to the class and that was how I got here. This was so embarrassing. So I left the classroom in hurry and.. Cried here.” He blushed at his own confession. Daeyoung chuckled a bit, it reminded him that there was a cross dressing fashion show. The participants usually were in pair then he suddenly remembered how Sakuya, one of the boy in his class, confidently posed after wearing the fairy costume. He was so against it before, though, so Daeyoung chuckled remembering it.
That senpai who was paying attention to Daeyoung from the corner of his eyes thought Daeyoung was making fun of him so he held his knees close to his body and leaned his chin above it then he started sulking.
“It looked good on you, though, senpai.” That boy turned his head angrily to Daeyoung whom he thought was still making fun of him, but he only saw Daeyoung smiled sincerely at him. So he relaxed his expression a bit and he could tell his cheeks were getting warmer.
“What's your-” Before that senpai could finish his question, the two of them heard some commotion outside.
“Yushi!”
“Tokuno-kun!”
“Seriously, where is he?!”
“Are they perhaps looking for you?” Daeyoung got worried since that senpai—Tokuno Yushi—looked so troubled hearing his name being called. Daeyoung was in agony whether to step up or not. However seeing Yushi cowering himself like that, Daeyoung bravely stood up and went to the library register. Yushi curiously looked for what Daeyoung would do. Then, he saw Daeyoung who tried to look as natural as possible arranging the books that were left on top of the counter.
“Daeyoung? Have you seen Tokuno Yushi?” One of Daeyoung's senior in music club came approaching him.
“Tokuno Yushi?” Daeyoung thought it must be that senpai's name.
“Ah, yeah. Uh, how do I describe him? He went out wearing the maid costume.” That senpai started explaining.
“It was these boys' fault, actually we were considering to just not participate in the cross dressing fashion show.” One of the girl said. Daeyoung nodded his head understandingly. He thought it would be the best for Yushi, still it was too bad. He actually really looked good in that costume that Daeyoung was sure he would get the first place if he was confident enough.
Yushi kept listening in to the conversation.
“Hmm... It's too bad. He looks pretty.” Daeyoung mumbled in Korean. Yushi heard the voice and since he knew a little bit of Korean language, he immediately understood and blushed.
“Eh?!”
Daeyoung quickly shook his head and both of his hands, “Ah no, I haven't....”
“I'm here.” All of them then saw the direction where the voice was coming. Yushi stood there awkwardly pulling down the skirt he was wearing. Since originally, the costume was for a boy much shorter than he was, the skirt was hanging up above his knees.
“I want to participate, but this skirt...” Yushi looked down to his skirt, so he didn't see how his classmates' faces beaming.
“I will adjust it!” The girl said, while the boys come approaching Yushi in such a comforting and friendly way while apologising.
Daeyoung thought finally they reconciled. So, he smiled. Yushi saw that warm smile again and thought it would be nice to see that smile among the audience so he walked with such an awkward posture towards Daeyoung. Daeyoung stood up straight and made a confused face.
“Will you come?”
“Yes?”
“Will you come to watch the fashion show?”
Daeyoung made an 'Ah' face but then he shook his head while smiling. “I'm in charge of the library today, so I'm not too sure.”
Daeyoung could see clearly that Yushi was getting sullen and he could see the invisible cat ears being lowered so he chuckled.
“However, if there is another person who would like to exchange the shift with me. Then, I will be sure to watch senpai.”
Yushi looked up excitedly that he smiled so brightly as if he never cried before. Yushi nodded his head and was being dragged away by his friends saying that the fashion show would start soon. Daeyoung giggled a bit looking at how funny it was to him.
Then, Yushi left with his classmates and Daeyoung was left alone in the library.
Daeyoung pondered if he should leave the library unattended since there was not that many people who came to visit in the morning. But, a responsibility was still a responsibility so he sighed. It was too bad that he couldn't watch the cross dressing fashion show. He really wanted to watch how confident Sakuya would be in his fairy costume... And maybe that senpai.
Daeyoung busied himself reading one of the literature book to pass the time. He glanced at the wall clock for numerous times in just 15 minutes. He regretted that he didn't ask that senpai about his number in which would indicate the order of his performance. Daeyoung scratched the back of his neck. Now the kanji words in front of his eyes were all dancing and forming that senpai's smiling face. The whiskers formed on Yushi senpai's cheeks were so addictive for Daeyoung, reminding him of how he tasted zero cola for the first time, though some people might have different idea about it, Daeyoung craved for some more.
Daeyoung sighed. It looked like he was really weak to beautiful faces. He thought it only applied to women until he met that senpai. Still, Daeyoung was relieved that Yushi decided to participate in the cross dressing fashion show. He didn't know where Yushi's confidence came from after crying so much like that, actually Daeyoung was really about to say that it was too bad if Yushi didn't want to participate in it since he did look good in that costume. Though it was for a girl and he had a really pretty face, his manly features still stood out so much.
Ugh, just thinking about it made Daeyoung lost his concentration again. Now he has repeated reading the same sentences over and over again.
Focus! Focus! Kim Daeyoung!
“Yo, Daeyoung!” Shou, one of Daeyoung's classmate greeted him cheerfully. He was also in the same library committee just like Daeyoung.
Hearing the familiar voice, Daeyoung looked up. “Shou! I thought you were going around the food stalls with your girlfriend.”
Shou scratched the back of his head embarrassedly, his eyes were going here and there to avoid Daeyoung's gentle eyes on him. Well, the reason Daeyoung was in charge of the staying behind at the library was also because of him, Daeyoung knew Shou wanted to take his girlfriend from the neighbouring all girls school around and today was the only day the school festival opened for public, too, so Daeyoung wanted to support him since Shou had helped him around so much being his classmate and his committee mate. However seeing his reactionblike this, Daeyoung thought things might not be going the exact same ways as they wanted.
“Ah, Rin-chan couldn't come today. Actually, I got into a fight with her just the other day and I couldn't really invite her.... You could say I missed the chance to ask her.” Shou confessed.
“That's too bad. Still... You should have invited her, Shou.”
“Yeah, I know. But it is still hard to let go of my own ego too... Well, anyway, since I don't feel like going around today let me be the one staying behind at the library. Daeyoung, you go there enjoy yourself.” Shou run to the library counter and pat Daeyoung's back urging him to leave the library immediately.
“What about you, then?” Daeyoung asked worriedly. Shou smiled painfully.
“I will just rot in loneliness here. I still need to arrange my mind, after all it was still my fault that we had a fight yesterday.”
Daeyoung as a personification of an F person in his MTBI looked like he was about to shed a tear. Daeyoung opened the drawer just below the table and handed Shou a pack of origami.
“Are you telling me to make a dozen of crane origamis?” Shou was amused. Daeyoung nodded his head silently.
“How romantic... I should try this, I guess. Thank you, Daeyoung!” Shou was urging Daeyoung to leave the library while pushing Daeyoung's back.
Daeyoung who got pushed ended up being pushed to the wall in the corridor. He looked at the now closed door. Shou really was way too strong.
Daeyoung rubbed his shoulder that hit the wall while walking down the corridor. He could clearly hear the cheers from the students outside. As the cheers got louder, Daeyoung's pace got faster too. His heart beat faster and faster each steps he took. The corner of his lips kept going up little by little as he was excited to watch the fashion show. Yushi's face that looked like a kitten being drenched came to his mind, Daeyoung chuckled alone and run as fast as he could to the auditorium where the fashion show was held.
By the time Daeyoung reached the auditorium, the show was already in full swing.
He barely caught his breath when the announcer called out the next participant.
“Entry number 12 from grade 3 class 2—Tokuno Yushi and Sato Haruka!”
The curtains parted, and there he was—Yushi, and his partner, standing under the stage lights, his maid outfit perfectly adjusted and well-suited with the one Haruka wore. Yushi's posture looked stiff with nervousness compared to the confident Haruka in her butler costume.
But as Yushi's eyes scanned the crowd, they landed on Daeyoung, who had just slipped into the back row.
For a split second, Yushi caught Daeyoung mouthing silently 'smile' while his hands busy pointing his own coner of lips and making it going upward.
Yushi’s lips parted in surprise. Then, something shifted in his expression.
Yushi smiled.
Not the awkward, hesitant smile from before, but a real, radiant one—like he had just found the courage he needed.
And as the music started and Yushi stepped forward, Daeyoung found himself smiling too.
Maybe staying behind at the library wouldn't have been so bad, but right now, he was glad he came.
And for the first time today the somewhat sad and lonely star sparkle above a tall tree.
To be continued