Dulcet | S. Hoshina

| Twenty Three

You'll pay for this later

"Alright, everyone shut up."
Kikoru told everyone. She's standing in front while the others sit on the tatami floors with a low  table lined in two columns. They turned to Kikoru as they paused from eating.

She turned her eyes towards the vice captain, gesturing him to join her up front. All of your eyes watched his movements until he reached Kikoru.

"Alrighty, I think it's time. Guess I'll announce it now." He started as everyone remained silent, slowly, his eyes slightly opened. " Kafka,your discovery during the mission which helped significantly reduce the damage, has been highly praised. You've been promoted to an official troop member. The offer came today although the official announcement will be made later." He casually raised his pointer fingers upward playfully.

"Today, I formally welcome you to the third division unit of the defense force."

Everyone cheered for kafka and started chanting his name. You seemed to enjoy watching them as
you remained seated but the vice captain eyes landed on you, thinking as if you're out of place.

He walks up to you and lifts you up.
"Why wearing a face that looks like someone died? This is a rare occasion so try to be comfortable and not stare angrily at everyone." He says which made you nudge at him in irritation which made him lose his grip on your arm.

"I wasn't, okay?" You retorted as you sit back on the floor and take a sip on your bear.  " I just, couldn't see myself having fun because it doesn't sound like me." You explained while the dark violet haired vice captain occupied the empty space beside you.

You enjoyed watching them. Some of them got drunk and started arguing about something while others started an arm wrestling competition.

A smile appeared on your lips as you took a sip on your beer.

The vice captain saw that. Because all along, he's been watching you.

"Hey, Vice Captain," Kafka struggled to maintain his balance while sitting, eventually resting his upper body on the low table in front of him.

"You and the Lieutenant look good together," he remarked, reaching for his glass of beer. You furrowed your eyebrows, puzzled by his comment.

As Kafka lifted himself up with the support of his arm to drink from his nearly empty glass, he added, "Vice Captain, you should've told her tha—" but was cut off by the vice captain, who playfully punched the top of his head.

"I shouldn't have told him about that," the vice captain muttered to himself, then stood up before you could ask what Kafka was about to say.

"Alright, Y/n will sing us a song," he announced, prompting you to move from your seat. "Wha—?"

"Here you go," he said, handing you a guitar that Haruichi had given him.

Everyone's eyes were on you, leaving you no choice but to accept the guitar.

"You'll pay for this later," you whispered to him.