WILDFLOWER [Ryunosuke Tanaka x OC]

Chapter 32 - The Debut

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 "Oh good, you're here. Come in... and Happy Halloween, I guess."

Dressed as Edward Elric, Kenma's bored tone completely opposed the manic energy pouring from Kuroo's house; flashing lights brightened every window, thudding bass shook the ground, and people dressed in elaborate Halloween costumes ran through the yard, casting neon streaks as the glowsticks dangling from their necks danced through the air.

"Kiki and Tombo. Good choice. I like your haircut, Kano," Kenma said without looking up from his Nintendo Switch, one white-gloved hand holding the door open. He kept blowing the face-framing strands from his wig out of his eyes. "It suits you."

Her hand flitted to her angled bob cut, evened out by Saeko only a few hours earlier. Kano opened her mouth to thank him for the uncharacteristic compliment, but Kenma was already gone, disappearing up the stairs the second the door was closed, his red coat trailing around his ankles.

Glancing at Ryu with a shrug, Kano laughed, "Kuroo must have sent him to let us in." She adjusted her giant bow in her hair to stop it from slipping.

"Must've," Ryu nodded, his cheeks already warm. He tucked a wayward hair behind Kano's ear and said, "But he's right. Your haircut suits you." He pecked Kano's cheek—bumping her nose with his fake glasses—and earned bright cheeks and awkward sputters in response, which Ryu would never get tired of. "Shall we, milady?" He held out his elbow for her, which Kano promptly took in her casted arm, shooting him an embarrassed but happy smirk.

The two of them wandered to the kitchen first, finding Reika and Yachi in there, talking beside the jungle juice in matching Team Rocket costumes; Reika was James because of her perfectly-dyed hair, and Yachi found a wig, which continued to knock things off of tables and counters when she turned her head too fast. They raised their cups in greeting, and Kano waved back, fixing two cups of cream soda while Ryu darted off to bother Nishinoya, who he'd seen disappear down the hall in his salt shaker costume, Asahi trailing behind in a matching pepper shaker outfit, obviously concerned.

"Kano, your haircut looks so good!" Yachi said, beaming as she took it all in.

Grinning at Yachi, Kano hopped up on the counter beside Reika. "Thanks, I'm still getting used to it, to be honest. My head feels so light now, I worry it'll float away." She set her little basket down beside her, which acted as her makeshift purse for the evening; Kano even stowed a black cat plushie inside to represent Jiji. "Oh, speaking of which, I have that fineliner that I was telling you about, Yachi," she said, digging around in her basket.

"The one that's waterproof when it dries?" Yachi asked, brightening.

Kano found it floating around in the bottom of the basket and passed it to Yachi. "Yup. It's my favorite, and I don't know if you use alcohol markers at all, but it's smear-proof with those too once it's totally dry."

"I can't wait to try it! Thanks, Kano," Yachi beamed.

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi came into the kitchen, wearing Mario and Luigi costumes with oversized mustaches. Yams was more than happy to be Luigi, but Tsukishima decidedly did not agree with his role as Mario, based on his displeased expression. "Hey!" Yams said brightly as Tsukki went to grab them drinks, "I heard that some of the third years heard back from their colleges this week! Any news?"

Kano bit her lip. She'd been waiting to tell Ryu the news first.

Luckily, Yachi piped up and saved her from spilling the beans. "I-I heard that Ennoshita got into the university he wanted," she said, her cheeks flushed, probably just from speaking to Yamaguchi. "Keio. In Tokyo."