Monochromatic: Haikyuu Fanfic

Chapter 52: Then and Now

"So..." Fukui glances down on her maid outfit. "This is Plan B."

"We're lucky that Himura's maid outfit actually fits you," This girl said, a makeup compact in one hand, and a cosmetic brush in the other. "Now hold still."

Fukui, despite at the age of seventeen, doesn't wear makeup. It's not to distance herself from 'the rest of the girls', but because she's so, so lazy. She has so much respect for people who take the time to put on makeup in the morning - while she can't even get herself out of bed.

The girl flashes Fukui the mirror, and she has to admit, she's quite impressed. She... looks so pretty. In fact, she didn't even recognize it's her. The powder is able to successfully cover over her sun-kissed freckles, her lashes curled and adorning her deep brown eyes. Its shape - the eye shape highlighted with eyeliner. A faint pink blush applied high on her cheekbones made her skin glow.

She looks gorgeous.

"I...uh...thanks." Fukui couldn't suppress the awe, not when the face before looked quite simple - plain - but now it's turned into this.

"Nice, huh?" The girl shoves Fukui out the door. "Now go out there and fulfill some orders!"

Fukui does, and she calls over the president's attention to notify him that she's ready to work again. Once the president's eyes landed on Fukui, he had to clear his throat several times before making out a coherent sentence.

"You look decent," he remarks, "are you patched up?"

Fukui flashes him her hand, fingers wrapped with tape and bandaids. Some hug all the way up to her knuckles. She smiles. "Yep! I'm ready to serve!"

Well, as pretty as she looks now, Fukui is still Fukui.

-*-

Before long, the sun sets, and the customers lessens gradually - to Fukui's relief.

Then the once frenzied maid cafe is now deserted, and Fukui has to admit: this tops the busiest day at the flower boutique by miles.

But of course, before she can slump over and rest, she still has to help clean up the cafe afterwards. And while some are doing this as quickly as possible, Fukui takes her time to make sure everything is in order.

You see, it's the school's tradition to hold a bonfire to close the day with - along with some dancing, food, and fireworks. Many can easily say that it's the best part of the yearly Sports Festival.

The only thing left to do is to put away the brooms back into the maintenance closet.

"You guys can go," Fukui says, "I can handle this."

"But Fukui-san," Another lady butler protests, "you worked the hardest out of everyone."

"Especially with that huge wave of guys at the end..." The president recalls darkly. Funny, how at the beginning, all  customers were predominantly ladies. When Fukui puts on the maid costume, it immediately shifts to the guys. Some were more difficult (and perverted), but Fukui endures. In the end, she'd much preferred being a butler.

"You're probably strained from today," The president gazes at her sternly, "If anyone's leaving, it should be you."

"Don't worry about me," Fukui reassures, a catchphrase she has used so often that it's a mantra, "I'll see you guys downstairs in a little bit."

The president facepalms - well - Fukui sure is stubborn at heart. With reluctance, he leaves the classroom with the rest of the co-workers. He frowns deeply at first, however, sparing a brief 'thank you' before leaving.