A Thousand Cranes for a Wish (USHIJIMA X OC)

Battle of Artistry

Umeko thanked Ushijima before she answered Shirabu. "It was.... good?" She quickly put a Crab Cream Croquette in her mouth and made a blissed-out expression.

"Why did you phrase it like a question?" Ushijima raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "Did something happen?"

Umeko looked away guiltily and put another croquette in her mouth to avoid answering.

"U-me-ko" Tendou moved closer and bent down so his face was eye level with hers. "You can't just not answer because your mouth is full. Otherwise I'd have to take your food away from you."

Umeko swallowed and her eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare..."

"Oh, but I would" He grinned playfully. Tendou stood back up triumphant. "So, anything you'd like to say?"

Umeko pouted. "Well, I had to change my ideas a few times because I ended up using my watercolor pens instead of my acrylics." She wasn't going to tell her friends anything about Mitsuki, what happened was now in the past and it was handled. Well, as far as Umeko was willing to handle it.

"Didn't you hate watercolor pens?" Shirabu inquired, rather perplexed by why she used something she didn't practice nor like.

"Um, well I thought the picture would be better with them, you know?" Umeko lied through her teeth with a smile, as much as it made her feel bad, she didn't want to involve her friends in any drama as well as make excuses for her own results.

Tendou nodded then hummed along. "I see, I see. So. What was the topic of the competition?" He chirped.

Umeko wasn't really sure if Tendou had guessed something was up or if he just changed the topic out of curiosity but regardless, she was glad to talk about something that didn't have to do with her missing paint brushes.

"Unexpected strength against all odds. It was pretty difficult at first to choose what to do and for a while I almost gave up." She smiled then held up her right hand to show off the bracelet on her wrist. "But the good luck charm helped me through it." She blushed slightly embarrassed about what she just said. Umeko knew that what she said sounded beyond cheesy but there was no other way to say it. "So, um. Thanks for being there."

- ----ONE HOUR LATER-----

Umeko looked at the clock on the wall. "Ah, the exhibition hall must be ready by now." She turned to face her friends. "Do you want to come see all the art pieces?"

"Of course!" Tendou abruptly stood up from his seat with renewed excitement. Honestly, Tendou didn't typically enjoy strolling through art exhibitions and museums much at all. The atmosphere was always too quiet and proper for his liking, however, he would make an exception this time.

The other two boys nodded in agreement and also stood up. "Lead the way, Ume." Ushijima offered a hand to help Umeko up and she took it gratefully. Just as Umeko was about to pull her hand away he held onto it firmly to stop her from letting go. "You...don't want to?" His voice came out more uncertain than he expected it would, but he didn't want to pressure her by being too commandeering.

Umeko felt the heat rise to her cheeks and the blush creep up to the tips of her ears. "U-uh w-well." She kept her hand in place and looked away from making eye contact with Ushijima.

Seeming to take her hesitation as rejection, Ushijima released her hand without fuss.

Umeko hastily stopped him before he could let go entirely. "I...I mean I don't hate it..." Her voice was small as she managed to pluck up the courage to look back up at Ushijima. "If it's still ok with you?"

Ushijima had to hold back the urge to pull her in with how cute Umeko was being. There was a huge sense of gratification just knowing that he was able to make her blush as much as she was. "Yes." He held her hand firmly and walked beside her as she led the way.