Blue Spring Tragedy | Kou Mabuchi x Reader

24: Au Lait

( F / n )

The small bell chimed as we entered, the scent of coffee hitting our noses.

Warmth spread through my frozen skin, thawing my numb fingertips and making my nose freak.

After school, Touma took me to a café with his two best friends: Tachibana Kisyun and Uchimiya Haruhiko to talk about where we were going to meet for the festival.

We settled down into a small café that didn't have many people in it. The small bell chimed as we entered, signalling our arrival. With pale cream walls and polished wooden floors, the quaint little place had a comforting atmosphere. The café had a spread of rectangular and circular tables so that people could sit wherever they wished. We sat on a single circular table: that way, we could sit near each other and talk without raising our voices.

"I'm going to the bathroom," Touma stated as he plopped his bag on the seat beside me. "I'll be right back."

He left me alone with Tachibana and Uchimiya, both of whom sat in front of me. We agreed to wait for Touma's return before ordering anything.

"Now that he's gone," Tachibana turned to me. "We have our darling (f/n)-chan to ourselves!"

...Darling? First-name basis?

"So, are you going to wear anything special to the festival, (f/n)-chan? A yukata, perhaps?" Tachibana rested his head on both his palms, sending me a sickly sweet smile.

"N-no? I haven't thought about it yet."

"Tell me what you're going to wear and in exchange, I'll tell you Touma's preferences."

"He has preferences?" 

"Yup! Just like any other dude!"

Uchimiya whacked the boy on the head. "He's lying: Touma doesn't really have a preference. Wear whatever you want and you'll be fine."

"Oh yes he does! He only has one, remember?"

"And what would that be?"

Tachibana giggled and stuck his tongue out. "As much as I want to tell you, (f/n)-chan, I don't really wanna die today. Uchimiya would kill me... Oh, but will you wear a yukata?"

"I'm not so sure..." I shrugged, "I don't know if we even have a yukata. I think my mum has one but I don't know if it'll fit me."

"Hmm..." Tachibana rubbed his chin. "If you're going to wear a yukata or a hair accessory, I would advise you to go with yellow."

"...Because it's Kikuchi's favourite colour?"

"Bingo!"  Tachibana did some finger-guns.

"Well, I guess it is a good idea," I muttered. "Though I wouldn't know whether yellow would look so great. Maybe a golden pin or something... That's if I even wear a yukata at all. Wait, why should I wear a yukata anyway? You guys won't be dressed up like me!"

"Yeah, but it's more comfortable wearing normal clothes, y'know?" Tachibana answered.

"Of course. That's why I want to wear normal clothes."

"Well, it's your first outing with Touma, right? You should dress up a bit."

"And why would I do that?" I quirked a brow.

Tachibana and Uchimiya whirled to each other in confusion. Uchimiya stared at me, eyebrows furrowed. "Wait, (l/n)-chan, you do like Touma, don't you?"

"Well, yeah, of course—"

"No. Not in that way. We mean as more than a friend." Uchimiya pressed.