Work Text:
The reputable tailor, Akiyama Mizuki, was currently making her way through the royal city of the kingdom of Tomosusora, as she had been commissioned by the princess Kanade Yoisaki herself to aid in the designing and making of the new uniforms for the military, as they were deemed “outdated.”
On Mizuki’s way through the courtyard out front of the main building of the castle, she spotted a knight out front of the gates that didn’t particularly look like the others. The standard knight in the Tomosusora kingdom wore white and blue uniforms; meanwhile, this knight had a dark gray and red more regal uniform. Mizuki naturally assumed that they must be akin to a knight of the highest ranking or such. So she sauntered over to the gates.
“Hello there, I am here for my meeting with her highness!” Mizuki said with a little curtsy. The knight just simply stared at her before responding with a semi-calculated response. “Akiyama Mizuki I presume? Follow me, we’ve been awaiting your arrival.”
The knight then opened the doors and led Mizuki down many hallways before entering the grand throne room. It was synch a beautiful room, tall white marble pillars, elegant stained glass windows, the smell of carnations. However, Mizuki had not been invited here to marvel the architectural wonder of the castle, she was here to meet with the princess. Speaking of said princess, she was currently seated upon her throne.
Kanade had recently taken the throne after her father had gotten suddenly ill. This was Mizuki’s first time seeing the princess in person, and my, was she even cuter than in the photos. Mizuki SO had to convince Kanade to let her design a dress for her as well.
A few seconds after Mizuki had entered the throne room with the knight who escorted her there, another person also entered the room. It was none other than the royal artist herself, Shinonome Ena. Whom immediately groaned as soon at her eyes landed on Mizuki. The two were fairly close, having been born in the same small village on the outskirts of the royal capital. The two were escorted further into the room by the knight.
Once they were a mere 8 feet away from Kanade, she cleared her voice and began to speak to the two of them. “Ena, Ms.Akiyama, I hav-” before being cut off by Ena, “Why of ALL people in Tomosusora, do I have to work with Mizuki?!”
Causing Mizuki to giggle a bit at Ena’s complaint, the fact that they were literally right in from the kingdom’s princess slipped her mind.
“Aww~ It’s so sweet to see you again too, Enanan!”
“Why, you little. It’s E-N-A, not ENANAN!!” The two bantered playfully before the knight who had escorted Mizuki to the throne room, who was now standing next to Kanade, holding her hand even, spoke up over the two.
“Do not speak over her highness.”
This caused both Ena and Mizuki to freeze up. Mizuki was first to speak back up, “My apologies.” Then Ena, “I do apologize as well. However, why of all people did you decide on Mizuki?”
Kanade softly smiled before speaking back up. “Well, Mizuki is a very talented designer and I figured you two would be able to work together. I also like to believe that you’ll work well with my dear Mafuyu here to create something nice.” She looked over to the knight who’s hand she was holding, smiling a bit more. The androgynous knight, who Mizuki now knew as “Mafuyu” still looked as neutral as always. Ena however, just simply rolled her eyes.
“Ugh I thought it was bad enough working with Mizuki, but now I have to work with him too??” Mafuyu just simply glanced at Ena before speaking in a very monotonous voice, thought slightly displeased. “Do not roll your eyes at her highness.”
This only agitated Ena further. ‘I- You. Firstly, don’t tell me what to do. Secondly, I rolled my eyes at you, not Kanade.”
After a bit of banter, mainly from Mizuki to Ena, with the occasional remark from Mafuyu, had finally settled in Ena’s studio down a nearby hallway. Kanade had however opted to stay in the throne room for now, trusting them to not make a ruckus and actually get work done.
“Ugh- For the last time Mizuki, you aren’t putting a skirt train on the uniforms. These are for war not a fashion show!” Ena frustratedly said. “Mafuyu, back me up on this.” Mafuyu sat there thinking for a moment before speaking up. “Well, it should be fine if it’s short and detachable.” “See~ Even Mafufu agrees with me!” Mafuyu looked very confused about his new nickname, but decided to let it slide, lest she decide to give him a newer, more far-fetched one.
Within the next two hours, they had a solid idea of what they wanted and Ena got to work making a cleaned-up and more detailed version of the sketch Mizuki made. Meanwhile, Mizuki was goofing off with Ena’s art supplies, and Mafuyu was sitting there conversing with Kanade, who had migrated over around 30 minutes ago as she claimed she was bored.
By the next hour, Ena had finished her sketch, and Mizuki was ready to take said sketch back to her shop and sew a test version of the uniform.
“Phew, we are finally done! Took what, like five hours?” Mizuki exclaimed as she stretched. “Yeah, yeah, we finally finished. Though I’ll admit, as insufferable as you are, it was rather fun working with you.” Ena sighed.
“Aww, I’m so flattered Enanan! But what about lil’ ol’ Mafuyu? He helped, too, didn’t he?” She gestured to Mafuyu.
Ena just shook her head, “Yeah, he did help. But he spent most of his time being all sappy with Kanade.” This caused Mizuki to giggle a bit. “Yeah, they really are like a married couple.”
Mizuki’s comment made Kanade look away, slightly flustered, while Mafuyu just looked at her dead in the eyes.
“Y’know, you twos reactions are making it out like you two are like secretly married or something.” Ena giggled a little before it dawned on her. “Wait a minute.”