"Crowded as usual. Amane, I guess you'll end up late."
Cars of every shape and brand were coming and going.
The principal street was perfectly decorated all the way to the Bana high school.
Not only the exclusive limousines and fancy vehicles could be spotted at the festival, but also huge crowds of people. As they were filling all the sideways to the school.
Following the screams of the fan girls, boys, women, and men. You would get lead to the enormous red carpet, which was guiding the honoured students to the inside.
The closer you come to its colossal open doors, the better you hear the fascinating melodies of the music club team. It gives you the greatest of an Eden-like vibe:
Angels cheering left and right, and fan girls screaming their loudest while struggling to squeeze between the security gate beside the guardmen.
That was what Usui was preparing for as he flipped his face here and there, considering it in the mirror for a last check.
"Just get out, prince Usuweh~ Kaji-samah!" Said Amane with a sarcastic tone stretching out his name.
"Eyo! Cut the shirt! Ya know best I needa..." Motioned to his face by holding both his hands down his chin in shape of an open book. "...Look my best, dwarling~!" Responded doing the Prince Charming voice.
"Yeah, whatever." She turned to the backseat and brought up a luxurious leather handbag. "Look. I believe this one will do." Said Amane, eyes flicking between the bag and Usui's suit. "You can put both lunch boxes here."
"Am not really hopeful about this plan of yours." Whined Usui, putting the boxs in the bag.
"I believe you know the right choice." Nodded Amane.
"Geez, k! Am leaving."
"Have a nice day."
Barely, did he open the door...
"☆KYAA!! USUI-SAMA☆"
"☆Oh my god! USUI-KUN♡! I think I'll pass out!!☆"
...
The deafening screams heavily shook the whole inside of the car. Even Amane stood stoned in fright.
Usui slammed the door behind him, throwing grins and salutes to the fans and cameras.
It wasn't long until he graciously entered to reach Ahmed in the yard.
"I see you didn't enter with Tachibana this year?" Asked Ahmed.
"Yeah, I called here last night, but she told me that we can't synchronise our arrivals as she didn't know when she'll come."
"Really convincing." Side eyeing Usui.
"What? That was enough of a reason!" Raised his shoulders to show that he couldn't help it in any way.
Suddenly, louder screams got Usui and Ahmed's attention hooked to the doors.
It was Fumiya getting a godly welcome.
That wasn't surprising as he is a globally loved idol.
But the surprising fact was the sight of him walking alongside Tachinaba. While everyone was yelling how well they made a couple.
With startled eyes, Usui was following every small move of their. How Tachibana was holding fumiya's arm with both hands, how he leaned his head to her ear whispering something to her, and how she shrugged with a naked shy smile all over her face.
Ahmed hung his fingers to his mouth in astonishment. Then, quickly reached his friend's shoulder.
"Brother?"
Usui couldn't get a word straight. Just as speechless. He had enough of a hard time catching his suffocatingly racing breathing. However, anguish wrapped around his neck like a poisonous snake.
Ahmed flicked forward, facing him. He grabbed his both shoulders and called Usui's gaze into his.
"Brother, I need you to calm down!"
Usui scanned Ahmed's face. Eyes swinging like a clock's pendulum.
"Am... am calm." He took a long breath, then let it out chasing whole of the suffocation, which was clenching around his heart.
"There must be a misunderstanding!" Ahmed shook his head and cleared his throat. "Brother! Don't jump to conclusions! No needa go berserk over it!"
"No, am... am fine." Fingers on his eyelid, he massaged his eyes in small circles. "Really. I'll just ask her later."
Ahmed contemplated him, confused. Then swept a smile to his face.
"Right! You're amazing, bud! Am proud of you."
"Huh. Proud my ass." Giggled.
Fumiya and Tachibana joined them after a short while. And as they came closer, Usui got a better look at her new dress.
It was in a light Sakura-pink. Faintly up-to-knees dress, and she fit well in it.
It has barely three layers. Dedicatedly wrapped in a transparent silk veil, on which was hanging a handful of esthetic Sakura petals.
The veil was barely hanging on the edge of her shoulders, waiting for the right time to fall. And that was when her gaze met Usui's.
"Darling~♡! You look fantastic!" Jumped in his embrace.
Usui forced a smile. He didn't figure out if he really forced it or is it that it was pleasing seeing Tachibana.
"You too, honey."
He took her hands in his and pulled her closer.
Arms wrapped down around her waist. He looked down at her and whispered. "You look stunning."
Ahmed made a sound as he cleared his throat. "Take a room." And then gave him a clearer side eye.
Usui laughed briefly, then looked back at Tachibana.
However, she looked more annoyed than pleased with him hugging her long.
Thus, He released her, and she backed off.
"Honey. Can we have a moment."
Tachibana sighed, eyes to the floor. "I'm coming."
Then, both went not too far away, an estimated 7 metres towards the 3rd closest bench to where Ahmed and Fumiya were standing.
The two guys could see as Tachibana was talking with hands, if not screaming. She was jumping left and right while her face adopted her angriest look.
On the other hand, Usui looked more like the one calming her down. As if he made an unforgivable mistake.
Ahmed turned back to Fumiya, who sneaked a short laughter behind his smirk, seeing how the couple's argument was going.
"Fumiya, how come you entered with Tachibana?"
"Ahmed, please! Don't make a big deal out of it. We simply happened to arrive at school one following the other. So we decided to go in together. And it's not like we planned that or anything. I looked behind and found out she's a friend and just escorted her. As simple as ever!"
"Well, if you say it like that. I know very well that Usui won't make a big fuss out of it. So, why is Tachibana coming and going like someone who's got a really big deal going on for her."
Fumiya crossed his arms to his chest and smirked again. "I don't know."
***
It's nearly 11 pm, just a trivial sum of 10 minutes before the lunch would be served.
Usui pulled Ahmed out of the huge ball room.
"What the hell, bro?!"
"I... huff... Amane told me to give you your lunch..."
"Umm?... Japanese, please?"
"I mean... listen. Amane told me that we should not eat the food served at the ball. Because it may be poisonous. So_"
"Why? Are we in some weird drama?"
"Ahmed! Focus! So..."
"K! So?"
"So, she prepared you lunch as well as Aoi did for me_"
"She did?" Interrupted Ahmed, pressing his lips upon each other to not smile wide. While his cheeks and ears grew red in joy.
Usui glared at him, annoyed indeed. "Won't you let me finish?!" Yelled. "So we have to deal with it! How will we take it out to our plates?"
"Ah! You're right!"
"Exactly!"
Ahmed digged his thumb in his chin, thinking of a way. Then, he responded.
"Listen, why don't we just... not eat anything! When we go home... we can go to either one of our houses, and have dinner then."
Usui considered his idea for a faint moment. Then, he clapped his hands while nodding.
"I think that is it then. Okay! Let's go back."
***
Usui was facing Tachibana, who's got Fumiya by her left. Leaving Ahmed to her right, just next to his best friend. All of them were sitting in the same round table. Looking at each other, then back to their food.
"Darling. Why aren't you eating?" Asked Tachibana.
"Just a stomachache. Yes."
"How unfortunate." She took her fork, willing to take a cut of her steak.
Usui stared as she was taking the bite up to her mouth.
He held her arm and yelled suddenly.
"Maybe!... you shouldn't eat too."
Tachibana pushed her head back and raised an eyebrow, giving Usui the questioning look.
"Why?"
"Puft..." He stumbled, looking for words. "Because... why not?"
"Usui, you're acting weird."
"I mean... because I was thinking about going out together and eating after this. Maybe at home?"
"You're still afraid of eyes?" Questioned Tachibana rolling her eyes in annoyment.
"Yeah, well... kinda. But still, eating at home is fun. Besides, you know the situation."
The steak made its way to her mouth.
"No thanks. I have plans anyways. "
"Aren't you becoming a little busier than usual?"
She kept eating nonchalantly. And he knew to some point that she wasn't planning to answer.
Abruptly, a waiter came running and stood the nearest to Usui.
He was scarily pop-eyed and looked extremely worried. His glare was piercing through Usui's eyes, which made him feel strangely sick.
"Sir, is the food not to your liking?"
Usui swallowed his saliva and worked hard not to look disturbed.
"No! I_ it's fine. I just don't have the appetite for anything. Maybe later_"
"Do you want something else, sir?"
The waiter sounded like he wasn't listening to any of what Usui said, like a programmed machine. Except for the fact that his eyes were shaking inside his eye hole and he was sweating cold.
"No! Am fine! You... you can go."
The waiter turned to Fumiya unnoticeable. Then, he turned back and asked.
"And you, sir? Do you like the food?"
Fumiya laid back to his seat and crossed his legs and arms.
"I love it." He smiled.
The waiter bowed his head and departed. Usui, then, relaxed his body and waved his hand to cool down his face.
"Ouff! That was creepy!"
〈 Ladies and gentlemen!! We decided, due to the delay of some of our performances, to give you an early announcement of the king and the queen of this year's "journée costumée"!!
I wish you all had fun !!〉
"Ahum! Usui, honey. Do you mind if we went out for a moment?" Jumped Tachibana.
Usui threw a last glance at her plate. It was partially empty.
"Darling, let's just see who's the king and queen first_"
"No!! I can't~! It really hurts, my shoes! I feel like I'm dying~!"
Usui stood up...
〈 You must be madly excited, right?!!〉
"Let me see it."
Usui was about to kneel beside her to check her foot, when she stood up quickly and pulled him to the outside...
〈Here comes the awaited moment!! 〉
"Tachibana, please wait a minute!"
"Brother!!" Yelled Ahmed from afar. A concerned look was haunting his face.
Usui gave him the I-give-up look and finally went out with her...
〈I wonder who is i~t~?!〉
"Where is it? Where does it hurt?"
He kneeled finally and took off her heels.
"I don't know~. My... my ankle's killing me~!"
Usui put his hand underneath her foot and started pushing it against his palm. Then started moving it with her ankle, gently from side to side...
〈 The king of the year is~〉
"Do you feel better now?" Still pressing his palms under her foot.
"I think~, Maybe~?" Answered Tachibana. And Usui noticed how she was stretching every word she says...
〈Sir~ USUI KAJI~!!〉
"Let me fix it more..."
〈Is sir Usui here?〉
"HE IS!" Stood Ahmed.
"He just went out for_"
〈 Is it~! Too bad then~! Maybe next year~!〉
The announcer rolled his eyes, pointing at the assistant with his eyebrows to bring him the other sheet...
Usui put her feet back down to the floor.
"Try standing on it now...
The announcer glared back at Ahmed with an irritating smile on his face.
〈You know~ being king means being king in every way~!〉
Usui put her heels back on for her.
"Let's go now."
Tachibana pulled him back aggressively.
"W_wait, honey. Please, let me lean on you~"
...
〈 The king of the year then would be ~〉
"Wait, honey! Why the hurry~ Let me take a breath, darling~!"
〈Sir MURAKAMI FUMIYA!!!〉
...
A big smirk halved her face.
"Let's go in now... darling~!"