Chapter Text
Cultural festivals are fun.
Only when he’s not being ordered around.
“Tsubasa, you gotta lay the menus back out!”
“Damn it..!”
Despite his reluctance, Tsubasa does it anyway. Laying out laminated pieces of A4 paper on the rearranged desks. His class’ theme this year was ‘butler cafe’ and they were definitely the most decked out. Fancy decorative pieces were placed all over the classrooms, even their curtains were swapped out for elegant ones. To say the least, the usually dull and boring classroom was looking a lot more luxurious.
Though, there was one thing that Tsubasa was grateful for, that being the fact that he didn’t have to put on a maid dress at least. There had been a debate between Tsubasa’s class and the one next door between butlers and maids, and much to Tsubasa’s relief — they’d gotten butlers instead.
Everything was hectic, there just seemed to be an endless amount of students that poured into their ‘cafe’. Tsubasa’s hardly able to catch a breath without someone yelling at him to serve another table their instant omurice, clean up an empty table or get a new set of cutlery. It was all starting to become a blur to him, until a voice called out from the doorway. “Ooi, Bassa!~” An overly excited ravenette waved him over and Tsubasa had never been more glad to see Neiro in his life. Even though the classroom was still busy with more customers lined up, Tsubasa takes the chance to slip out anyways — joining Neiro and Hachimitsu who were standing behind the door outside.
Neiro was dressed like a dinosaur, to which Tsubasa could probably gauge was his own idea. He did hear that Neiro’s class was doing some kind of treasure hunt. Hachimitsu was dressed in a bold punk style, probably some kind of yankee gimmick. The three of them had absolutely nothing in common with each other in terms of their themes, but Tsubasa was still glad to be able to hang out with them for a while.
“Let's go to Tetechi’s class! I heard they're serving super cute sweets!” Neiro beamed, immediately turning around to lead the way. Teiku's class was right next to the blonde's, but because of how busy he'd been since the day started, he didn't have a chance to even peek over to see what they were doing there. Similarly, there was a line of people outside Teiku's class too, the butler and make cafes definitely being one of the more popular locations around the festival. The three of them completely ignored the line though, going straight to the door and peeking in.
Inside, it was decorated in pastel pink and whites — ruffles and ribbons scattered everywhere. The atmosphere was tooth-rottingly soft and sweet, and the maids seemed just as busy as the butlers back in Tsubasa's own classroom. Red eyes scanned the room, though he didn't seem to spot Teiku anywhere. Was he out restocking the sweets or something?
Neiro squeezed past Tsubasa and Hachimitsu, calling out to Teiku. Tsubasa was confused at first, but his confusion quickly turned into surprise when he saw one of the maids turn around — only to see that it was Teiku all along. The boy was dressed in a black button-up with a frilly pink and white apron over it, paired perfectly with a skirt that just about reached his knees. The ravenette's hair was tied with a pink ribbon too, accented with a lace bonnet secured on his head. Tsubasa would’ve never imagined Teiku in a maid dress, but it was all he could think about at the moment.
What the hell’s this fluttering feeling in his heart?
It was safe to say that Tsubasa was stunned for a couple seconds, all the sounds and sights of other people being drowned out as Teiku approached them. He was still holding a tray of cookies, probably made by his classmates in the Home Economics room. “Hey, aren't you guys supposed to be in your own classes?” Teiku teased, casually inviting the three of them in to have a seat at a vacant table despite them not having lined up, much to the other student’s disapproval.
“Aw, c'mon! We wanted to see you, Teiku!”
“Don't lie, you just wanna try the cookies!”
Tsubasa had to force a chuckle out when Neiro was completely exposed by Teiku, they definitely know each other way too well. The blonde’s brain was still tied up, gaze raking up and down Teiku as he took in the complete outfit. Hell, he even has stockings with little ribbons on it. God, he really was no better than a pervert. “Tsubasa? Are you okay?” Tsubasa snapped out of his daze when he heard his name being called, watching as Teiku leaned down a little in front of him, a sweet concerned look on his face. Oh god, oh dear god please help me right now.
“Uh, yeah! Yeah, I'm okay.” He stumbles over his words, obviously flustered but Teiku doesn't say anything about it. He smiled, then held out the tray that he'd been holding on to since they got here. “Here, have a cookie each!” Tsubasa immediately reached out for one, grabbing the one that was shaped like a bunny. Neiro and Hachimitsu both took one too, thanking the ravenette who said that he'd be back with drinks for them later.
When Teiku left their table to tend to the other students, Neiro immediately snickered, catching Tsubasa’s attention. He realizes that both Neiro and Hachimitsu were staring at him — they haven’t said anything yet, but Tsubasa feels oddly accused. “Man, you’re way too obvious, Bassa.” The ravenette’s voice was lowered to a whisper, looking around to make sure that Teiku wasn’t coming back to their table yet. What does that even begin to mean? “What?- Obvious about what?” Neiro doesn’t reply, that shit-eating smirk splayed all over his face. Hachimitsu doesn’t respond either, only nodding in agreement while chewing on the cookie. The hell?
Tsubasa decides to not think too much of it, the confusion already turning his brain inside out. He’s here to have fun, not overthink over one of Neiro’s stupid gags. The blonde props his elbow up on to the desk, watching as Teiku flutters around the room with an intense amount of grace. ‘He’s playing into this whole maid thing really well..’ his mind supplies, gaze seemingly stuck on Teiku.
A group of girls sitting across the room from them call Teiku over, requesting for a picture with him — and Tsubasa’s chest tightens. Wait, what the hell? It’s fine, it’s totally fine. A bunch of girls wanted to take pictures with him while he was working too. There’s nothing wrong with people wanting to take pictures with Teiku. Nails dig into the skin of his palm, hand clenched tight as Tsubasa finally adverts his gaze. This is stupid. He’s being irrational.
Teiku returns to their table shortly after, empty-handed this time. “My classmate said they can sub in for me for a little! I have some free time.” Despite having tended to so many tables, Teiku doesn’t seem tired at all. As expected of his hard-working partner. “Ooh! Should we go see Haruki and Jil-kun too? I heard their class doing a horror thing” Neiro stands up abruptly, pushing the chair back with a screech. Teiku nods, lighting up with excitement at the idea. “Yeah, I’ve been wanting to see what that’s about too!”
The four of them end up exiting the classroom together, making their way over to the third-year’s floor. Neiro had taken the lead again with Hachimitsu trailing behind him, Tsubasa and Teiku just a step behind the grey-haired.
“Uh-.. You look really pretty, Tetechi.” Tsubasa starts, almost a little awkwardly. Oddly enough, he could hardly look Teiku in the eye right now. “Thanks, Bassa!~ I was hoping I’d be able to show you.” Hoping he’d be able to show him? Teiku wanted to show off the maid dress, to him? Heat rushed to his cheeks, fighting the urge to turn his head away.
“Then, how about we take lots of pictures together later?”
“Okaay~”