8 Chapter 7

One day before the festival and the students we're busying themselves for their own booths. Some were setting up stalls near the school gate, some were decorating in the theater room, the stage in the gym and some were rehearsing scenes for their drama.

Others were rehearsing a song, especially in the Sound club. Other students will perform a piano recital for tomorrow. There were also violin soloist performing on stage. Kisaki's team were a band, and they were rehearsing the song he just wrote. Good thing that his bandmates were smart and clever, they could easily adapt and learn from the notes that Kisaki wrote. Because of that, the complications were imperceptibly small.

"Tachibana dude, why're you so energetic while rehearsing? Got a new chic?" Shimizu said, the other two perked their ears and stole a glance at Kisaki.

"Tch, I'm just in a mood. And why do I need to find a chic anyway? Being single means I'm happy to be just myself." Kisaki said and snorted. The three just raised their one brow and snickered.

"One time I caught him giggling at his phone, he just repeated his answer just now. And you know what? I didn't even asked anything. He just answered it himself." Kobayashi said teasingly. The twins both uttered an "Oh" and looked at Kisaki cheekily. Kisaki reddened his face with embarrassment and tried his best to cover himsef.

"I'm just answering your questions inside your head, dumbass!" Kisaki glared and stuttered. The trio teased him more and laughed secretly.

"We get it, you're single. SINGLE-minded perhaps?" Kaito smirked and Shimizu covered his mouth with his palm, trying himself not to laugh.

"Y-you... Pay for the door you two cheaters!"

"We're sorry Your highness! We didn't mean to destroy your humble abode!" Shimizu dramatically cried, wiping his imaginary tears and sobbed in fake.

"Yeah! We were just appeasing you Your Highness! We know you have a good temper!" Kaito kneeled down and kowtowed while Kobayashi rolled his eyes and went to the sofa. Every time he moved felt like he was being tortured. If he could become a statue, he would gladly do so. He sighed and was about to close his eyes when Kisaki yelled.

"I'll poke your eyes if you sleep again Kobayashi-kun!"

And so with that, Kobayashi didn't get his peaceful beauty sleep.

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"Kaede, bring me the table cloth!"

"Hinata for God's sake put the tea set down!"

"Ishikawa! Help Haruki set the table!"

Tanaka! Help me set of the counter and display!" The Literature club were achingly busy setting off the room which they turned into a book café. Takamura was shouting with all her might as she managed her members to do their jobs separately and abruptly.

Luca was arranging the sweets and pastries in the glass cabinet. He then placed the coffee machine in the bar which they made not long ago. After that, he made Latte arts that he learned when he was bored. One had a bunny shape, a fleur de liz, and a flower. Kenji, who saw Luca's masterpiece was deeply amazed of his Latte art.

"You're good." Kenji uttered unconsciously that made Luca chuckled negligibly. He made four cups of coffee with Latte art and handed it all to the four.

They awed the design and especially the coffee itself.

"Mm! Delicious! I didn't know it was this good!" Hinata said and Luca blushed from his praise.

"Yeah, you'll be a great barista in the future. If that time comes, get me a discount in your own café." Haruki joke which made Li Jie chuckled a little. Kaede said that he liked it so much that he would be a great barista in the future just like what Hinata said. Takamura smiled and gace Luca a head pat, cooing on how cute Luca was.

"W-well, if that's the case, I w-will make a-a coffee then." Luca said as soon as he got up, making Kenji bewildered.

"For whom will it be?" Takamura asked. Luca looked at her timidly and his face went red with smoke oozing on it.

"W-well, for my friend." Luca stuttered and straddled away, leaving the confused four in the staffroom.

"For sure, it's not for a friend. Our baby has finally grown up." Takamura said and cupped her face, squealing on how cut Luca was.

On the other hand, Kenji felt being stabbed in the chest. Although outside he remained stoic and unaffected, but deep inside was a torment for him. It felt like thorns of roses circled his heart, bleeding 'til it teared apart. But he was calm.

It was a mask.

Luca ran all the way from the staffroom to the kitchen, his face looked like being cooned with tomato sauce from the redness. It was just a coffee for Kisaki yet why did it seemed like it was from his lover? Luca traumatically gasped, he clasped his fair hands and felt his own heartbeat.

Fast.

Too fast.

He was like being chased by a dog, the heartbeat felt like running itself.

Why was he being like this? Kisaki was his friend, is this the feeling of having a best friend?

He doesn't have one, so Luca was oblivious of what having a best friend felt like.

"Yes, he was a best friend. That's why I'm like this." Luca reassured himself and said to himself that it was normal. Then, he went back to his normal self.

He smiled and started making coffee. At the same time he made Latte art.

It was a chibi version of Kisaki.

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As soon as he made coffee, Luca covered it with a lid. He was going to send this to Kisaki so he was a bit nervous to go to his club.

"Kenji, can you tell me where's the Sound club located? You know, where the band usually take their rehearsals? " Luca asked. Kenji still remorseful when Takamura said that Luca had someone else. But he couldn't do anything since he was only a friend to him.

To Kenji, losing his friendship to him means losing him as well.

How could he bear for that to happen?

"Follow me then." Kenji showed his rare smile and told Luca to follow him. Luca was baffled as he never saw Kenji smiled before. In return, he smiled at him as well.

Kenji's ears went red, he avoided Luca's gaze and turned around. He didn't want Luca to see right through him so he casually turned around and started walking.

As they walked, the two were silent. Both of them didn't like to talk much so it was expected that it'll turn out like this.

Luca was frustrated but he couldn't tell Kenji that. He just didn't know where to begin since he was the type to listen than to speak.

'Well, let's just don't talk.' Luca thought.

They walked through the corridor, passing the noisy and loud students on the way until thry reached their destination.

"It's here." Kenji said as he latex their steps facing the newly built door. Luca tensed as he stared at the door. They could hear the loud drums and the strings of the electric guitar accompanied by a piano.

'Should I knock? But what if I'll interrupt them?' Luca pondered as he stared down on his hand holding the cup covered with a lid. Kenji gazed the tensed Luca and said, "If you have something to say to him, go on. He'll listen to you. And perhaps, he would be happy if he know you visits him."

Kenji gazed at the door and walked away. Luca looked at Kenji's back as he walked away. Luca smiled and urged himself to have courage.

The music stopped, which means that they're having a break.

Luca knocked at the door and waited for it to open.

As soon as it got open, his heart fluttered upon seeing Kisaki's face.

"Luca, you're here!" He smiled. Luca smiled shyly.

Surely, Kisaki's smile was the prettiest.

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