Capítulo 72: SS: Hiyori Shiina - Halloween
A/N: Took a bit longer than expected, but here is the SS Chapter for Halloween.
It's not as long as I'd prefer usually, but I think it's okay.
Also another thing, I decided to write a Chapter for the other fanfic, the SAO Fanfic. Not sure why, but I felt like it, kinda.
Anyway, I hope you like this chapter.
--
[30th October, Friday]
[Hiyori Pov]
"Tomorrow is Halloween..."
"What should I wear...?"
As my head a bit empty because of what I should potentially wear, I headed directly once the school ended towards the Keyaki Mall.
Today, I had no club activities for the tea ceremony club so it was completely fine with my schedule.
Walking in the Keyaki Mall heading to well known shops where Halloween Costumes might be offered I noticed a familiar figure; that of Mei-san, from Kaoru's Class.
"Shiina-san, what are you doing here?" she asks me, approaching me with a curious look.
"I'm truthfully in search of a Halloween Costume for tomorrow, Mei-san."
"For the halloween party, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. Kaoru and I decided that we'll go there, tomorrow."
"I'm also going so we'll see each other there, too, Shiina-san."
I made a small nod.
Tomorrow at 18 o'clock, The Student Council President and the Second Year have invited everyone in the school at the Sports Hall for a Halloween Party.
It was already discussed with the teacher's prior in advance who have allowed it, so there was nothing forbidden about this party in the Sports Hall.
"Shall we search for halloween costume's together? I'm also here, because of that, truthfully," Mei-san says, shyly, her face red, covering her face with her hands.
Could it be...
"Mei-san, are you perhaps in love with someone?" I asked bluntly.
Seeing a couple of similarities between her and the way I was, back then, before Kaoru and I were together, I felt like this was the case with her.
Then I remembered something.
This wasn't a question you'd normally ask, right?
I assumed you'd under friends, but based on Mei-san's expression, I made her quite uncomfortable with speaking about this.
Realizing what I had done, I quickly began to feel guilty and apologized.
"I apologize, Mei-san. It's rude to ask something like that, right? I'm sorry if that made you feel uncomfortable."
Immediately I made an apologetic bow towards Mei-san expressing my need to apologize myself for being rude.
"It's fine, Shiina-san. So please raise your head. It wasn't rude at all. It must have been pretty visible, right? That I'm in love with someone..." Mei-san mutters quietly.
"I don't think so at all... It's just that I'm like this, too. I'm also in love, and I know how you behave. That's the reason I was able to figure it out, Mei-san."
Mei-san looked at me, nodding shyly. "How do you feel... when you're around Kurushima-kun, spending time with just the two of you, eating together or doing various kinds of activities together, Shiina-san?"
Surprised by her question about Kaoru's and my relationship I answered her question towards the best possible extent.
Although I couldn't grapple the precise words very well, because it was hard to put it in words, I tried my best to explain it to her.
"Around Kaoru, I feel like the happiest girl on earth. My heart races when I'm just simply around him, but I also feel incredibly calm and happy. Every moment we spend together, whether we're eating or just talking, feels special."
"It's hard to describe, but it's a feeling that makes everything seem right, Mei-san."
Mei-san listened intently. "I see... I think I understand what you mean. It's like a warm feeling inside, right? When you're simply around the person you like."
"Totally right, Mei-san. That's how I feel when I'm around Kaoru all the time. I'm so glad to be together with him."
Suddenly, Mei-san's focus wandered on the ground, with visible sadness in her eyes.
I wondered why, so I was thinking of asking, but before anything, I heard her muttering something.
"Do you think... I should confess, Shiina-san...?"
"I'm not sure... but I think you'll feel better once you have done so. I regretted it back then, personally, to have taken so long, despite being aware of my feelings..."
"But what if... the person you like... has already a girlfriend? What should I do, then? Confess to him, regardless...? Would that be egoistical of me?"
"I cannot say..."
I never was in a situation like that... but I imagined myself in such one often, before we two were together.
Kaoru is really popular among the girls and not just a bit but very much.
Whenever I heard that a girl was confessing to him my heart clenched in pain... and I didn't know what would happen afterwards.
What if... he accepted it...?
What would I have done, then...?
I couldn't say for sure, but I didn't even want to think about this in the slightest bit.
Kaoru and I were together and nothing would ever change that.
Still I think, I should be a good friend towards Mei-san and give her somewhat of an helpful advice.
She has asked me about something she feels insecure about, and I, as her friend, should help her to my best possible extent.
Leaving where I left on, I continued to speak. "However... I think you should follow your heart, Mei-san. I'm sorry... but that's the only advice I can think of..."
"That might be right, Shiina-san. It feels just so painful... I love Hirata-kun so much... but he's together with Karuizawa-san already..."
"I want to feel hope... but it's really... hard..."
I nodded quietly.
Instinctively, I remembered myself towards our conversation on the July 1st, back then, when Kaoru stayed in his room because of what happened 8 years ago... with his family.
I never really paid much attention it... for which I feel like being a bad friend... but I was more focused... on Kaoru and the exploration of my own feelings about him back then...
She must have been insecure like this the whole time... and I... as her friend did not do anything because I didn't have it in my head.
"I'm sorry... Mei-san. I wasn't really aware of your situation despite having gotten somehow hints from you about it back then."
"Hints...? Ah, do you mean our conversation when Kurushima-kun was sick? Don't worry too much about it, Shiina-san. You couldn't possibly know."
I reluctantly nodded, unsure what to answer.
"How about we both search for some Halloween Costumes, Shiina-san?"
"Of course."
The rest of the day Mei-san and I got ourselves two Halloween Costumes, searching bit after bit in the stores together.
--
[31st October, Saturday]
"I hope this is really fine and Kaoru likes it."
Still unsure whether this costume was really fine, I looked at myself in the mirror.
[Image:]
I think it looks okay...
Although I'm not entirely sure, either.
I just hope Kaoru likes it, essentially.
In a bit of an ordeal I looked at the clock which told me it's in five minutes 17:30 o'clock. The halloween party would start at 18 o'clock, so it's better to head out now down at the dormitories to my meet up with Kaoru.
Hopefully, I'm sooner than Kaoru there, so I can surprise him, since he's usually always earlier than me there.
Leaving my room in a slight hurry knowing that every second matters, I closed the door and then walked towards the elevator, pressing the button for it to come.
It took a slight while, but when the elevator arrived, I immediately pressed for it to go downstairs.
Although I wanted to be earlier than him there I noticed myself spacing out in my room often, admits the thoughts whether this was really a good costume in the end and if he'd like it.
"It were in the end probably unnecessarily thoughts... right?"
Knowing that this was likely the case I couldn't help but sigh in slight relief.
I was overthinking like always again...
Biep
The sound of the elevator arriving interrupted me out of my thoughts, the doors opening, with myself feeling a bit shy, as I saw one girl in front of me, staring at me.
"You must be Shiina-san from Class C, no Class A... correct?" It was a very familiar voice which everyone in the first year was pretty familiar with; Sakayanagi Arisu, the original leader of Class A.
Now however, after tomorrow my Class would be in Class A, after bringing down Kaoru's Class from that position down in the Sports Festival.
They were overtaken by his class in the Zodiac Exam... more specifically, by Kaoru, since he technically figured the pattern of the VIP's out.
Ever since then they were in Class B, and after the Sports Festival, they got demoted Class C.
Katsuragi-san's position as one of the two leader's in his class suffered immensely because of these two Exams and has been put responsible for these failures.
In the Sports Festival Sakayanagi-san took charge... but she ended up targeting Kaoru, which was pretty evidently...
He was aware of that, too, but there was no way to prove that... since our class did use the same tactic, just with Horikita-san instead of Kaoru.
I was... very unsure... how to converse with her, truthfully.
"Good Evening, Sakayanagi-san," I said, slightly bowing my head down.
She did the same, by bowing her head down too, slightly.
"Can I do something for you, perchance...?" I asked bluntly, as she continued to stare at me.
"Not at all. I apologize if that made you uncomfortable."
I nodded my head simply, not knowing what to say precisely.
"Then I'll be going," I said, walking out of the elevator out.
"Please do. Kurushima-kun seems to be pretty nervously waiting for you outside, already. You shouldn't let him wait too long, should you?"
Hearing these words I stood frozen, now slightly embarrassed, what he would be thinking if he saw me in this costume.
"I never was under the impression he'd be one to fall in love. Fufu... How surprising."
Hearing these words from Sakayanagi-san I turned myself around, only to see the elevator doors closing themselves.
Did she know Kaoru... perhaps...?
I couldn't tell... but most likely, she was informed like Koenji-kun about his past...
Kaoru comes from a wealthy family so it wasn't unlikely for her, or some other people in this school to know about his past at all...
But from what she had just said now it's easy to infer she has heard of him.
How would he feel if he knew that some people in this school knew about his past...?
I know it's something he wouldn't like...
Feeling sad suddenly, I shook my head several times to the side, knowing that it was not something I should confront him with.
He probably even knows that there are people aware of it, alongside people who are from wealthy families like Sakayanagi-san, but does not tend to think about it, so it's likely he already conversed with them, perchance.
Shaking my head again I looked at the clock down at the dormitories noticing that it was already 17.30 o'clock, so I immediately walked out.
There I noticed... Kaoru...
He was dressed up as a vampire...
I couldn't help but feel at how well he looked. His white hair, his red eyes, his pale skin—it all came together perfectly, making him look like he had just stepped out of a gothic novel.
Even though it was Kaoru's natural hair and eye color, the vampire attire enhanced his ethereal appearance. The black cape draped over his shoulders, his high collared black shirt, his fangs, fangs, though fake, seemed to fit him perfectly.
Everything about his costume was simply perfect.
I just hoped he liked mine, too.
Walking slowly towards him, Kaoru seemed to have noticed my presence way before I could even greet him, with both me and him making immediately eye contact from afar.
I hurriedly walked over to him, seeing him staring at me.
"I'm sorry for being late, Kaoru," I said, feeling the redness of my cheeks, as I glanced a moment to him, to catch his expression.
Seeing that he was I think, reacting like me, I felt a bit of relief in my heart.
"No worries... You look really beautiful in the costume... by the way..." he muttered, a bit embarrassed by his tone, evidently.
"Thank you... You too, Kaoru..."
Both of us stared at each other in slight silence for a brief moment until I noticed Kaoru offering me his hand.
"Shall we...?"
"Totally."
I took him by his right hand and the two of us proceeded to walk over the sports hall, together, hands in hands.
--
When we arrived right in front of the Sports Hall I looked over Kaoru and couldn't help but wonder how long he took for his make-up for his vampire costume.
"How long did you take... Kaoru? For your costume...?"
"How long, huh...? Twenty minutes... I think..." he said, moving his head to the side. "It's the first time I was applying something like Make-Up on me... It's just a bit of black under my eyes... but I was genuinely wondering how I should do it..."
"It was quite strange, honestly, since I never made something like that ever before. In the past my Mother or one time my sister used to do that..."
"But well... It's exactly ten years now since I last celebrated halloween. Still feels a bit surreal, seeing myself in this unusual attire dressed up again."
I released my hand off him and instead, grabbed with both of my arms his right arm. "I'll make sure that you'll experience many of these experiences and enjoy them again, Kaoru. Can I?"
"Of course," he replied with a slight smirk on his face.
The moment I heard his answer my lips slightly corned, a smile forming on my face, looking at Kaoru brightly.
"Shall we head in now, Kaoru?"
"Yes, let's head in."
Kaoru and I walked right in front of the door, with him grabbing the doorknob on his remaining hand, opening it.
The moment my eyes set foot in the Sports Hall I couldn't help but look in awe, seeing what preparations the second year has done so far.
It looked really like an halloween party, I'd say.
I never was at one, but it surely was how I imagined one.
"It looks really like an party..." I muttered under my breath, as Kaoru and I took a couple of steps, walking together in.
"It surely does."
"Yahoo, Kurushima-kun, Shiina-san."
From the side, I heard a voice which was greeting us.
I looked to the side, seeing Ichinose-san from the side, accompanied by an upperclassmen I think, walking towards our direction.
[Image:]
"Kurushima-kun, long time no see!"
"Asahina-senpai, Ichinose-san, hello you two."
I looked over at Kaoru, slightly curious, but did the same thing as him, doing a slight bow, greeting myself, too.
"How long has it been since we two conversed Kurushima-kun?" The girl next to Ichinose-san asked.
"It's not that long since the two of us conversed, Asahina-senpai. Last Wednesday, right...? It was the day you and Nagumo-senpai showed up with a cake on the student council."
"Ah, right. It was one day after your birthday now that I remember. Sorry again, Kurushima-kun."
"No worries, Asahina-senpai. I'm a bit surprised though. You two seem to know each other."
"Honami and I? Well, we two are good friends. Right?"
"We definitely are," Ichinose-san said. "Asahina-senpai and I often play tennis together. Although I happen to lose so far, on every occasion."
"It's because of my amulet, Honami. It brings me great luck."
"Now that I remember, you said your amulet is a harbinger of destiny, Asahina-senpai."
"I certainly did. It might sound strange, but this amulet... it watches over me. It's a very important belonging for me. Do you happen to have something like that too, Honami, Kurushima-kun, and uhm... how might your name be?"
"Shiina Hiyori from Class 1-C, no... Class 1-A, from tomorrow," I introduced myself formally.
"Ah, you're in sole class that has won the Sports Festival? Congratulations. Your Year certainly is very different than our's, back then. It's very different, honestly."
"Well... our teacher's told us that often enough I think. Or at least my homeroom teacher did so. I'm not sure how it's with both of your homeroom teacher's, Hiyori, Ichinose-san."
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, does too. She keeps saying it. She even mentions that some teacher's from the second and third year are interested in our year."
"It's the same with Sakagami-sensei. He has mentioned it also, quite often. I can't remember how often, though."
"I mean who wouldn't be interested in your year. Never before were the original Class D and C able to advance to Class A, but now, they did it, within just two and three special exams. It surely brings quite the attention with it."
"Well... our year might be a bit more special."
"A bit...? I think you're downplaying it a bit Kurushima-kun. But well... Anyhow, let's not talk about class battles in this special occasion. How about you two try our homemade punch. I was one of the people in our year who was responsible on making it."
"Sure, Asahina-senpai!" Kaoru said, wherein I nodded my head, simply.
"There are also some other things on the table. Some homemade ghost muffins and various of other things if you look at the table. Honami and I have to go now, unfortunately. She's helping me with some stuff."
"Okay. Until later then, Ichinose-san, Asahina-senpai."
"Yep! See ya till later, you two."
"Goodbye, Shiina-san, Kurushima-kun. Enjoy your evening."
"Thank you, Ichinose-san. Until later."
As both Ichinose-san and Asahina-senpai from the second year walked away, Kaoru and I stood there for a brief moment in silence.
"That was rather unexpected."
"It certainly was. But by the way... you really seem to know many girls, Kaoru."
"Well... I cannot deny that. I'm quite the popular person."
"Unfortunately, you are..."
"Unfortunately...?" Kaoru questioned me.
"Ah... well..." Not being able to continue my sentence due to second hand embarrassment, I had to stop abruptly.
"Are you perhaps jealous, Hiyori...?"
"Would that be bad...?" I asked, with slight red cheeks, looking at him, expectantly.
"Not at all. I'm feeling really happy, rather. My cute girlfriend being jealous is quite endearing," Kaoru said, his red eyes looking at me mischievously.
I felt my cheeks heat up even more, but I couldn't help but smile. "Thank you..."
"No problem. Shall we try the homemade punch Asahina-senpai suggested us by the way?"
"Totally. I've been curious as to how it'd taste."
We made our way immediately to the refreshment table, which was adorned with all sorts of Halloween-themed treats.
The ghost muffins were particularly eye-catching, their white icing and little chocolate chip eyes giving them a whimsical touch. The punch bowl, surrounded by fake cobwebs and plastic spiders, looked inviting as well.
But the table held much more than just ghost muffins.
There were pumpkin spice cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting and tiny pumpkin candies. Candy apples glistened in their shiny red shells, some with caramel and chocolate drizzles.
Eyeball cake pops stared back at us, crafted from white chocolate and food coloring. Spider cookies had peanut butter cups in the center with chocolate legs and candy eyes.
Everything was really beautiful here.
I couldn't help but look at astonishment of what the second year has crafted.
Without hesitation I seem to have taken one of the ghost muffins from the table, taking a bite. "~Am~"
I chewed for a couple of seconds until I could speak freely now again. "It really tastes delicious. You should try it too, Kaoru."
"Sure."
I looked at him, seeing how he took one of the ghost muffins for himself, too, taking a bite. After a couple of seconds passed, I looked at Kaoru, knowing that he'd like it.
"Delicious, right, Kaoru?"
"Yes, it tastes really good. I didn't expect it to be that delicious."
"Me neither. They really did a great job with it."
"I can agree with that. How about we take a taste of the homemade punch."
I nodded at his direction to which Kaoru took two cups pouring down for both of us a cup of punch.
"Here," he said, giving me one of the cups.
"Thank you, Kaoru."
"No problem. Cheers!" he said, raising the cup in the air for a toast.
I reciprocated it, holding my cup against his. "Cheers, Kaoru!"
Both he and I immediately sipped from the cup, drinking it.
Kaoru and I continued to enjoy ourselves, eating several other kinds of delicious treats that the second year has prepared for the halloween party.
"Kurushima."
I heard someone calling Kaoru's name from afar, turning myself like him around.
"Hello Nagumo-senpai. What can I do for you?"
"Nothing. I've been in fact quite curious how you like this party so far?"
"It's quite good. I'm enjoying myself very well. We both are."
"That's good to hear. I'm curious about the next year, quite much. You'll continue this small little halloween tradition, surely. Once you become the Student Council President, next year."
"Of course, Senpai. I'm going to honor the new tradition you implanted, very well."
"Oh...? I really hope so. Manabu-senpai and his precedessor's before never have done something like this. It's time that we make some change in this boring school, right? Especially, once I'm officially in office, the school will change, fundamentally to the core."
"Anyway, I've no intention of bothering you two. I happen to look for Horikita-senpai. He was invited here too, but it seems like he has not appeared."
"Well... what did I expect? I didn't actually think he'd appear here, either. Horikita-senpai, a model student, wouldn't appear here. "
The student council president then walked with a smirk on his face away, his hands in his pockets.
"That was rather..." Unable to finish the sentence I looked at Kaoru.
The atmosphere between these two was tense, even though it appeared like a normal conversation on its first glance.
"Yeah... It was quite tense..." Kaoru admitted. "But well... let's enjoy the halloween party further."
Kaoru and I ignored what just happened and continued to enjoy ourselves in the halloween party, eating, dancing, and simply spending time with each together in this special day.
It was a really beautiful day.
--
A/N: And this concludes the chapter.
I know it's a bit short, but I'll get the next chapter faster out. The SS Chapter's were on the more difficult terms to write, but well... Romance is sometimes hard to write.
Also strangely, with this chapter now released, this fanfic has hit another Milestone; 300k Words.
Coupled with that, this fanfic also has hit 2k Collections.
Honestly, thank you very much for that and I hope you liked this fanfic so far.
The next chapters are going to be very different.
Sorry that it took quite long, but well... I'll see how fast I can release the next chapter.
Well anyway, that'll be all.
Hope you all have a great day.
Goodbye.
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