The Great Costume Disaster

...🩵...

The morning sun filtered through the classroom windows, catching in golden threads across the desks as excited chatter buzzed through 2-B. Today was the highly anticipated costume fitting for the upcoming Spring Festival, and thanks to a combination of fate and their overly invested classmates, Tsubasa Amakusa and Misora Kisaragi had been cast as the "main couple" of Class 2-B’s Love Café.

Despite their loud protests during the vote the week before, the class had made their decision clear. The ballot box had overflowed with votes scribbled with smiley faces and hearts next to the words "Tsubasa Amakusa and Misora Kisaragi."

Now, a makeshift changing area had been set up behind curtains at the back of the room. Racks of frilly aprons, crisp button-ups, and elaborate bows hung like a parade of secondhand fashion. Ayane Fujimoto, the class rep and self-declared head of the Love Café Committee, stood with a clipboard and the gleam of a determined shipper in her eyes.

"Alright, Misora-chan, Amakusa-kun! You two are up next!" she sang.

Misora, arms crossed and expression resigned, shot Tsubasa a side glance. "Just don’t trip on anything."

Tsubasa grinned sheepishly. "No promises."

He disappeared behind the curtain first with the boy's version of the costume: a white dress shirt, a vest the color of dark chocolate, and a crimson bowtie. A waiter’s apron was slung over one arm.

Meanwhile, Misora changed quickly in the girl’s section—a soft blush tinting her cheeks at the frilly, pale-pink maid-style uniform. She tugged at the hem and stared at herself in the mirror. The dress was cute. Embarrassingly cute.

"Why do I feel like Ayane planned this to humiliate me?" she muttered.

Minutes later, the two stepped out, and the classroom erupted in a mix of squeals and camera clicks.

"Awwww, you guys look perfect!"

"You really do look like a couple from a shoujo anime!"

"TSUBASORA REAL!"

Misora resisted the urge to sigh as she forced a composed smile. Tsubasa, on the other hand, scratched the back of his head, cheeks slightly pink. "Do I look okay?"

"Your vest is crooked," Misora said, stepping closer before she could talk herself out of it. "Hold still."

Tsubasa blinked as Misora reached up to straighten his bowtie. The world seemed to pause.

Her fingers brushed lightly against his collar, and for a moment, he smelled the faint, floral scent of her shampoo—a calming, familiar fragrance that made him think of early mornings and steaming cups of tea.

He didn’t move. Just watched her. And she... tried her hardest to not notice how warm his skin was underneath her fingertips.

"There," she said, voice quieter than usual. "Now stop slouching."

Before Tsubasa could respond, a burst of snickers erupted from behind them.

"Got it!"

Nao Ranjishi stood triumphantly, holding his phone up like he’d just won the lottery. Beside him, Hinako Amakusa, Tsubasa’s younger sister, covered her mouth with both hands, clearly trying not to cackle.

"Zoomed, filtered, and memed," Nao announced. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: 'When your best friend adjusts your tie but also your heartbeat.'"

Misora’s eyes widened. "DELETE THAT."

"Too late! Already in the TsubaSora group chat," Hinako said, tapping away on her phone.

Tsubasa blinked, confused. "Wait, there's a group chat?"

Nao and Hinako answered in unison. "Oh, there’s three."

Ayane peeked over their shoulders and giggled. "You two are trending in our class feed again. Hashtag ‘DomesticEnergy.’"

Misora groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Why is everyone like this?!"

"Because it’s entertaining," Satsuki Amakusa called from the hallway, peeking in with a knowing smile. "And obvious."

Misora peeked through her fingers to glare at Tsubasa’s older sister. "You too?"

Satsuki smirked. "You’re both hopeless. And adorable."

Tsubasa, meanwhile, was still focused on his vest. "Hey, Misora... did you really think I looked weird before you fixed it?"

She paused, then let out a long breath. "No. You looked fine. Just... messy. As always."

Tsubasa laughed, easy and warm. "Then thanks for fixing me."

It wasn’t a big deal. Just a silly thank you.

But Misora’s heart did a little skip, and she hated that it did.

Ayane clapped her hands. "Alright, lovebirds! Back to your spots! We still have two more couples to fit."

"We are not lovebirds!" Misora barked.

Tsubasa just blinked again. "Why would birds be in love?"

Nao snorted. "Oh my god. He really doesn’t get it."

As the class moved on to the next pair, Misora ducked behind the curtain again, trying to cool the flush on her face. Tsubasa stayed by the mirror, examining his reflection.

He tugged at the bowtie Misora had fixed. It felt warmer now. Like it meant something.

"Weird," he murmured. "Why does this feel kinda... nice?"

Outside the curtain, Ayane whispered to Hinako, "How long do you think it'll take before one of them breaks?"

Hinako smirked. "Honestly? With that level of obliviousness? Maybe never."

But even she noticed the small smile playing on Misora's lips when she stepped out again—a smile she tried to hide behind her usual calm composure.

Later that day, after school had ended, Tsubasa helped clean up the costume mess left in the classroom. Misora stayed behind, silently folding the apron she had worn earlier.

"Hey," he said suddenly. "You looked cute."

She froze.

"In the costume, I mean," he added quickly. "Not that you don’t normally—I just meant—"

Misora gave him a tired look. "Just stop."

"Right. Stopping."

She tossed him a folded apron. "You too. You didn’t look... bad."

Tsubasa blinked. "Wait, was that a compliment?"

"Don’t get used to it."

Outside, the sky over Kamakura was painted in soft hues of orange and rose, the wind carrying the scent of the sea through the school windows. As they walked home together, the streets glowing in the early twilight, the silence between them wasn’t awkward.

Just quiet. Comfortable.

Until Tsubasa asked, "Hey, what does it mean if your heart beats faster when someone’s close?"

Misora choked on her tea.

"I-I don’t know. Maybe you need more sleep."

He nodded. "Makes sense."

She looked away, hiding her reddening ears.

Maybe it was the costume. Maybe it was the moment. Or maybe, just maybe, their hearts were starting to realize something they hadn't yet.

And in a town that loved to ship them, even a crooked bowtie could be a spark.

...🩵...

...AerixielDaiminse...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***