Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
mai. These JV kids really don't have a clue about cleaning, do they? I practically had to hold their hands through the whole process.
You'd think they'd be more grateful since they're getting paid, but then again, they did volunteer, so I guess I shouldn't whine too much.
After the guys finished, I handed them their cash and said, "Great job." They responded with a chorus of "Thank you" before heading out, lugging the cleaning supplies we'd borrowed from the school janitor.
As soon as the door closed behind them, I let out a long sigh and took a moment to really look around the apartment. It struck me how small it was.
Mina and Aya kicked me out of the makeover zone, insisting I just sit tight and wait. So, like a good soldier, I obeyed and parked myself out of their way.
Suna lives here all alone, away from his family in Aichi, just for high school in Hyogo. That must be tough.
As I was musing about his situation, I noticed a picture frame on one of the tables. It was a snapshot of Suna with his family, a family of four just like mine.
He looked much younger in the photo, maybe still in elementary school, and he was hugging his sister. The picture was so sweet it made me smile. Even Suna the tough guy has a soft side.
As I put down the frame, a soft throat-clearing sound interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see Aya and Mina standing just outside Suna's room, grinning like Cheshire cats.
"Sis, may I present to you the new—not necessarily improved, but definitely different—Suna Rintarou!" Aya announced with a dramatic flourish, clearly enjoying the moment.
My heart started pounding in my chest. Why was I so nervous? Was I actually excited to see him? Oh no, this is embarrassing.
The door remained closed, and the two girls exchanged bewildered glances. "Come out here already!" Mina called, her annoyance growing as Suna continued to stay hidden.
I could hear some shuffling behind the door, like he was hesitating or maybe even having second thoughts.
My curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of transformation he had undergone. Did they dye his hair? Oh gosh, I hope not. His brown hair was gorgeous. The suspense was killing me.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open. Suna stepped out slowly, looking slightly uncomfortable but undeniably different.
His usually neatly styled hair was messy (in a good way, with style), and he was wearing the suit i got for him. It actually fit him well and showcased his lean build.
For a moment, I was speechless. "Wow," I finally managed to say. "You look... different."
Suna shifted awkwardly, clearly not used to the attention. "Thanks, I guess?" he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck.
Aya and Mina beamed with pride at their handiwork. "Doesn't he look great?" Mina said, nudging him forward a bit.
"Yeah, you did a really good job." I admitted, still a bit stunned. "I almost didn't recognize you."
Suna's face turned slightly red, and he shrugged. "It's just for fun, right? Nothing permanent."
"Of course." Aya said with a wink. "But it's nice to shake things up every once in a while."
"Oh, and we had to fix his posture too. He was quite stubborn, but we managed." Mina said with a smug grin. Suna sighed but didn't argue, which was a clear sign of their victory.
"This suit is actually pretty comfortable. Thank you." Suna said, looking directly at me with a smile that made my heart skip a beat.
How did he suddenly look so handsome? I felt like my chest might burst with excitement.
It was like the song "Kiss Me" started playing in my head as we locked eyes, the moment so perfect it felt surreal.
Realizing I was staring like a love-struck fool, I quickly snapped back to reality. "R-ready to, uh, go?" I asked, clearing my throat and hoping no one noticed how flustered I was.
"Who's gonna look after them?" Suna asked, clearly worried about leaving Aya and Mina unsupervised.
"Oh, don't worry, we've got two bodyguards outside." I said with a wink. He looked puzzled for a moment but then just nodded. "Alright."
As we headed out of the apartment, Aya's voice rang out, "Have fun, you two!"
Mina joined in with a giggle, and they both started making exaggerated kissing sounds to tease us. My face flushed with embarrassment.
Suna turned back, pointing at them sternly. "Stop that." he said, but his tone was more amused than angry.
The girls just laughed even harder, clearly enjoying their little prank. I couldn't help but smile at their antics. These kids, really.
As we made our way down the building to get to the car, I glanced over at Suna. "You look really good." I complimented, unable to hide my admiration.
He chuckled softly but didn't respond, which made me panic a bit. Oh shit, did I say something wrong? "I mean—you always looked good." I quickly added, my face heating up with embarrassment.
He turned to me with that rare, adorable smile that I hadn't known existed before I got to know him. "Thank you, Aikawa." he said gently.
My heart did a little flip at the sound of my name. I smiled back, feeling a bit giddy. Just then, he broke the moment by asking, "So, who's driving us to this party?"
"The family driver. The guy who drives Aya to school." I replied, trying to sound casual about it. "Expected from the wealthy lady." he teased, making me laugh.
"Hey, it has its perks." I shot back, playfully nudging him. When we reached the car, our driver opened the door for us.
Suna hesitated for a moment, then gestured for me to get in first. "After you." he said with a slight bow, making me giggle.
