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✔Dear readers! I want to inform you all that I will be using present tenses instead of past tenses to refer to the present time so that I won't get the events mixed up! thank you for reading『 IMTICT』! And have fun! (´,,•ω•,,)_🍵~ｵﾂｶﾚｻﾏｰ
〈Sir Fumiya. We would be honoured to have you on stage!〉
These are the few words Usui heard the second he set a step inside the room.
Everyone is applauding, and so he did. Going with the flow.
The world is in slow motion. And he feels like his heart can't possibly be beating. It is throbbing. It is stoned.
<
The fact that Tachibana was pulling and pushing him enthusiastically, waving at Fumiya to show how happy she was. The fact that Ahmed came with heavy feet bearing his scolding expression on his face:
He can't feel any of it.
<
Ahmed pulled him from beside Tachibana, looking straight forward while dragging him behind.
He sits him down to his seat, then pulls his the nearest to him and sits down his turn.
"You missed it all!"
Fumiya was already on stage. Usui turns to see how it was going for him up there. Tachibana takes his hands, and he can't guess if she was ever this happy.
"It is okay, Darling! You're still the best for me!"
He shrugs in disgust.
<
However, he quickly shakes his head, chasing away the negative thoughts.
He raises his hand to take hers when he finally calmed down.
Unfortunately, he felt her hand sliding suddenly away from under his palm.
His sight went straight to her face, which grew red in joy.
Maybe his hearing was out of consciousness. But when he got a hold of what's happening, he knew finally that Tachibana wins the queen of the year.
She jumps blind and passes beside Usui. Making him doubt if he was really visible just fine this whole time.
It feels like she teleported to the stage for how fast she was, as if her ankle wasn't hurting just now. And straight to Fumiya's embrace.
Both are hugging each other and exchanging the smiles. Then, they turn to the guests waving proudly and bowing. But not a single time did they mind or even pretend to mind, Usui and Ahmed, sitting in the shadows of the deafening applauds.
Without a single thought, Ahmed stands and pulls Usui up as well, then out the room.
Noticing late the veil of anguish being lifted, from his sight, by the sunlight as the two of them are going outside. Usui tries to resist, pushing Ahmed's hand and trying to loosen his grip. But for how bad his body weakened to the shock, he couldn't even shake a single finger of Ahmed.
"Ahmed... let go."
Ahmed doesn't respond. Just going straight like a blind.
"I told you to stop!"
Ahmed quickly turns back and locks eyes with him.
"One word. We're going home."
"No way! We still_!"
"No!"
Ahmed sighs, then pulls Usui to a corner in the hallway, far from the ball, behind the classrooms.
he holds his cheeks and presses them in both Palms, after hearing a satisfactory clap, of which he is sure it returned Usui his senses.
Usui flips Ahmed's face in confusion.
"Look at me." Ahmed comes closer until he feels the warmth of Ahmed's forehead hitting his.
"We'll go to your house. It's more fun. We can play and do shit. Don't mind th_"
Ahmed's eyes widen, following the tears falling warm from Usui's eyes.
Usui then hurries his hands up to wipe his tears, as he noticed late he was crying.
"I, I don't know... But what's wrong with me?"
Ahmed tangles his arms fast to Usui's back and hugs him.
"What are you fucking doing?! let me go you freak!!"
"It's okay to cry."
"Nah, not that! What will people think when they see us?"
"Ei~! Drop the shit! We're friends, seriously."
He releases Usui and hangs his hands to both sides of his waist in disappointment.
"It's all about the intentions. And we're innocent from what you're claiming."
"I know, I know. Forget it! No needa make a big deal!"
Usui wipes his forehead while one hand slips down to support his back.
"Ahmed, let's go back to the ball room."
"Nope. I don't want to. It's getting boring."
"Bud, we can't do this. People will think I got mad that Fumiya was the chosen one and so I chicked out."
"Because he's not, idiot!!" yells Ahmed. "You were the chosen one. But you being absent made them choose Fumiya as the second option."
"what?" Usui's eyelids raises as his eyes widen stunned. "How come?"
"They called your name several times, but you were out doing God knows what with Tachibana!"
Now, Usui feels his heart stuck up in his throat. rather, a strong desire to throw up as an upsetting ache clenched around his stomach.
The last thing he would do is suspect that Tachibana slowed him down to take away his position as the king.
But he can't help but doubt her intentions when she kept him out the room for no urgent reason. He smirks then rubs his eyes, the head shaking.
<
"Did you finally lose your mind?"
"Nah! Ahmed wouldn't it be best if we waited there to congratulate them?"
Ahmed adopts a disappointed, disgusted expression.
"You seriously lost your mind! Usui didn't you see how they were hugging and flirting?! Am not saying your girlfriend is a piece of shit. She is._"
"Hey!"
"Okay, maybe she's not. I don't care. But what she DID was SHITTY indeed. Hugging another guy casually_"
"It was for the stage appearance... Maybe?" replies Usui looking for excuses.
"You're pathetic."
"Okay, that's rude."
"No, really. Usui, maybe you're still stuck to your first love. It makes you defend her for everything she does wrong to you. And maybe you're blinded by despair because you're afraid to lose her. Cuz am sure she did you so much wrong."
"It's just_"
"Hup, hup! Don't tell me it's cuz I hate her, and that's why am saying ballshit. We agree in this. I DO hate her. Yes. But am your best friend, and because you can't see how bad she is for you. I, as your best friend, need to warn you about it."
Usui bends his head. "Ahmed, am tired... let's stop talking about this and go home."
Ahmed throws his arms swinging, as he gave up arguing. "Alright. Yes, let's go."
*****
It's nearly 12:30 pm.
Ahmed is standing behind Usui, avoiding seeing him as he was typing the house code.
"Bro, no needa look away. Here it is 3105."
"Fine~ I'll remember that. though, it sounds familiar."
"Maybe you've been with Amane as she opened it before."
"Yeah, maybe."
The moment he entered inside the house, a sudden idea ringed to Usui.
Thus, he turns back shaking Ahmed between his hands.
"Bud, I've got a good idea!!"
"Cool! What you got?"
"Since you're here, teach me how to cook! And help me cook dinner for today."
"Wow! Am I hearing this right?"
"What? I want to learn how to make my own food. And if I cook dinner right, the old lady will surely be proud of me!" He scratches his nose in enthusiasm. "She'll be like oh my God! You're so cool Usui. And since she'll come home tired of work, that will make her even happier_"
"You're really starting to think a lot of your "old lady"!"
Usui's glare flicks to Ahmed's face, to see him widely smiling.
"What are you smiling for? So cringe!"
"Drop the act! You didn't see how you were smiling just now!"
"Nah! No shit! She's so boring... and old... I don't know."
"*Sigh* fine~, fine~. Let's start preparing the dinner, idiot."
"Don't call me idiot, dummy!"
"A! I'll be the one teaching you. So show some respect to your master!"
"Respect your master!" Mimics Usui in annoyment. "Just quick. We don't know when the old lady will come back!"
"Why is that a prob?"
Hearing that, Usui grins joyfully, then tilts his head trying to catch his words.
"Cuz... I want to surprise her!... I want to see her surprised face. She looks so dumb!"
Seeing how Usui's mood got better, Ahmed Nods in relief and yells.
"Okay! Let's get to work!"
***
The two guys spend a whole 2 hours, dealing with Usui's clumsiness. As he never in his life tried to cook.
You can hear at a certain point how Ahmed's throat became sore from all the talking and yelling. while Usui was scattering then cleaning the powder, as daikon, wasabi and red pepper, spread all over the counter and on the floor as well. His cheeks flashing with a mix of embarrassment and determination. And so was Ahmed trying hard not to wipe away that expression over his face.
Eventually, time passes quickly when people are focused on things they very much want to perfect.
And effectively the table is set as perfect. Meals in shape, reflecting clear Usui's pure devotion and efforts in making them.
Finally, he takes off the cooking aprons and puts it in place. Then, puts a lid on every plate as a last touch.
Ahmed's body gives up to the couch, Dead Tired.
"Oh my God! Am all worn out! Now I know when you said you knew nothing about cooking, you really meant it!"
Usui threw his body laying next to Ahmed in his turn.
"Hahaha! Still, I learned a lot. I won't do shit like what I did again, so don't worry."
"There is an "again"?" Whines Ahmed covering his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Hey! I wasn't that bad, stop the shit."
"Yeah, right. Well at least am sure you're better now."
"Ye, I learn quickly."
Ahmed turns to Usui. Lies his head on his arm and raises his legs up the couch.
"Yeah. And good thing you feel better now. Bro I was worried you'd stay mad the whole day. You sure changed."
"I didn't, dump ass. I just learned how to be patient with unpleasant things."
"Ye, sure." Chucks Ahmed.
*Beep,Beep* Ahmed received a message.
"It's from sister. She's telling me to come early." he looks back at Usui. "Maybe she didn't call because she thought am still at school."
Usui shakes his head in brief disappointment, then presses his lips while closing his eyes.
"Well, you better go then. We'll play games next time you come."
"Yeah, today was fun, though." Ahmed stands up and lets a breath out. "Okay then. See you, bud. You take a rest. I'll go out by myself."
Usui relaxed his body whole on the sofa, hands crossed under his head. "ye, good night, bro."
He hears the door opening. "Good night, bud."
Finally, it is closed
***
It has been 20 minutes since Ahmed left.
Usui is feeling his eyes giving up to the sleep, as everything becomes blurry and his eyelids become heavier.
Suddenly, the sound of the buttons of the digital keyboard of his house's lock tickled his ears.
Thus, he jumps in an unmatched enthusiasm. And adjusts his clothes to not look like he was about sleep.
Aoi pushs the door slowly, then lets go of the knob.
"Old lady! You came."
She stands there motionless, and as his eyes flicked all over her, he noticed how hard she was taking her breath.
He slides a sarcastic smirk on his face while informing:
"Old lady, the elevator is working ag_"
"Aoi-san, please wait!"
The Familiar voice takes Usui in high level of concern. It was his brother's worried voice. his VERY MUCH worried voice.
Abruptly, Aoi fell on the ground, Stoned cadaver.
Usui's eyes open wide while his paralyzed body refused to move completely. his sight was following his brother as he was lifting Aoi to his chest then up on his arms.
"Old... lady?"
"When he wakes up from the shock, he finally paid attention to his brother telling him to bring water and come up to the bedroom.