~ Seiji Fujiwara POV ~
It's been a few months since I first transferred and I'll admit, the school wasn't as bad as I initially thought. The students weren't all stuck up heirs and rich kids, of course I don't know every student here, but the ones I did meet were pretty chill.
Right now we were currently waiting for the votes on what our class would do for this year's school festival.
"What do you think we're doing?" I heard Masachika ask me.
I shrugged "I don't know I personally voted for maid cafe though. Gives me a chance to show off my tea making skills I cultivated over the years."
"…But we didn't have a maid cafe…it was just a cafe." Hikaru chimed in.
I sat there frozen at hearing what I just heard "Say that again…"
Masachika nodded confirming my horrors "Yeah, there was never a maid cafe option, just a regular old cafe, don't tell me…" he paused before he burst out laughing.
"Ignore Masachika, he's being an idiot. At least you didn't write your name so Takeshi won't know it was you…" he trailed off seeing that I had looked off to the side when he mentioned not writing my name.
"You wrote your name?"
"…I wrote my name."
Masachika's laugh came full circle, if anything he laughed even harder when he heard I had written my name, and Hikaru? He was probably worse; he was visibly trying not to laugh.
"Are you trying not to laugh? That's disrespectful as shit. And Masachika, it can't possibly be that funny for you to be laughing like that." I glared at the two people who were supposed to be my friends.
Masachika's laughter finally died down, he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye "Sorry, it's just that you really don't pay attention in class do you? You might be worse than me in that regard."
"Why would I? Everything here is so easy." I say, and for a split second I could've sworn I saw my neighbor, the girl with the silver hair, Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou glare at me before turning away.
'The hell is her problem?' I haven't spoken to her ever since that day and the feeling of her not liking me back then seemed to be right, not that I cared.
It was then that I saw Takeshi, the one responsible for counting the votes, look at me in a way that resembled Hikaru's.
My eyebrow twitched 'I might have to kill Takeshi.'
~ Narrator POV ~
"Alright, everyone listen up!" Takeshi called out getting everyone's attention, "The votes have been counted, and the results are in…OUR CLASS WILL BE DOING A HAUNTED HOUSE!! ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS LET'S DO THIS!!"
The whole class erupted into cheers, with some guys excitedly talking about finally finding girlfriends.
"Kujou!" Someone called out to Alisa. She looked up to see three girls approaching her "It looks like we'll all be in charge of costumes! I'm excited to work together with you!"
Alisa stood up a little too quickly making the seat clatter behind her "Y-Yeah, me too…"
"It might be kinda tough, but I know we can do it if we all work together!" The leading girl said while the two behind her chatted about going to shop for fabrics.
It was then that Alisa got a brief flashback from her childhood, where she had been let down during a group project, immediately dashing her hopes.
"… Yeah." She said unenthusiasticly.
~
It was now after school and Seiji was getting off of the train, ready to head home after a long hardworking (not really) day of school.
"Seiji!" He heard his name be yelled before he felt someone jump onto his back. In his peripheral vision he saw a flash of long pink hair and he smiled, already knowing who it was that jumped onto his back.
"Hey Haruna! You seem enthusiastic after school, wassup? And you Renako, seem exhausted." Seiji said, addressing Haruna who was still on his back before looking at the mentally exhausted Renako.
"We had the vote for our class event for the school festival." Haruna said with Renako nodding confirming her sister's words.
"Whoa, really? What a coincidence our class did too. We decided on a haunted house, what about you two?" He said as they began walking home, he didn't mention his embarrassing moment of writing down maid cafe when that wasn't an option.
"Really? Our class decided on an art exhibit." Haruna said, laying her chin on Seiji's shoulder.
"Nice, though you don't strike me as the artsy type, Haurna." Seiji teased, causing Haruna to pout and Renako to giggle at the thought of her sister all covered up in paint only to present a stick figure painting.
"What about you Renako? What did your class decide on?" He asked, and it still felt a little weird saying your and not our.
Renako blushed and now it was Haruna's turn to giggle "Her class decided to do a maid cafe." She said, causing Renako's blush to deepen.
"Harunaaaaa!!" Renako whined and since Haruna knew her sister well enough to know what she would do next, she tightened her hold on Seiji.
"Run my steed, the evil maid witch, known as Renako is on to us!" And Seiji playing along with her did run with Renako hot on their tails, though not as fast as he used to for two simple facts.
One, while Haruna wasn't heavy at all, she still did add more weight making him slower, and Two, he didn't want to get too far from Renako.
~
It's been a few weeks since Seiji's class decided on doing a Haunted house and everything was going great except the costumes, they've hardly made any progress.
Alisa was sitting at her desk working on a costume while the other girls, the ones who were supposed to be working with her were sitting around a desk talking instead of working on their costume.
'What happened to working hard together!? At this rate we won't be even close to finishing!' Alisa thought a little panicked that they weren't close to done on the costumes.
'Are we even going to be able to finish in time? But… If I'm going to finish this I at least want to make something nice…' she thought clutching the fabric in her hands.
It was then that the girls that were supposed to be helping Alisa were talking quietly, or so they think.
"Hey… can you stay a bit longer?" One girl asked.
"Sorry, I have cram school." Another said.
"And I've got extra-curriculars…" the last one said. They were obviously lying or maybe they weren't, no one really knew.
"We don't have to do that good of a job, right? They're just costumes for the school festival; there's no point in taking this so seriously." One of them said, and that hit close to home for Alisa once again reminding her of her childhood experience.
The three girls decided to leave first giving a half hearted apology to Alisa "Sorry, we have to go. Don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
"Okay…" Alisa responded, not really listening to what else they had to say. 'Ahh, it's happening all over again.'
"Ow!" Alisa pricked herself with the needle, but she couldn't feel the pain from the needle poking her 'All I wanted was to just put my heart into everything I do. I just don't want to give up. All I want is to become the ideal version of myself.'
"Если это позволит мне этого добиться, я не против, если мне придется побыть одному. (If it means I can achieve that, I don't mind if I have to be alone.)" Even though she said that, there were tears spilling down her cheeks while she clutched the fabrics tightly.
Just then the classroom door opened revealing Seiji as he looked at Alisa "I thought you'd still be here."
Alisa's eyes widened as she gazed at Seiji, "It's you…" she hurriedly wiped her tears so that he couldn't see them. "I'm surprised you're still here too." She said trying to regain her usual coolness.
"Yeah well, I was doing something. Anyway I came because I forgot my bag, I'm about to head out." Seiji said grabbing his school bag, he paused and really looked at Alisa.
"You should head home too, you look like you'll fall asleep any minute Besides, you can keep working on it tomorrow with everyone else."
Alisa's hand twitched at that, 'What an irresponsible thing to say.' She thought. "I'm going to stay a little longer. So don't worry about me." She said quietly.
Seiji just sighed, he really didn't get this girl, "Look you can stop, alright? I know you're talented, but that's way too much work to finish all by yourself." He said scratching the back of his head.
Alisa's head snapped towards him as she glared at him 'He's the last person I want to hear that from!'
"Who do you think…!?" Before she could finish her sentence Seiji spoke again.
"Im just saying, what's the point of working so hard all by yourself?"
It was then that the feelings Alisa had been holding back all those years finally overflowed. ""What's the point?"" She repeated quietly.
"Huh?"
She stood up slowly making the chair quietly clatter behind her "If I'm going to do something, I don't want to make even the slightest compromise. I don't want to finish something just to finish it…"
"But believe me, I know! I know it's just my own selfish desire! That's why I'm going to work hard enough to pick up the slack for everyone else! What's the problem with that!? Am I doing something wrong!?" She let it out, everything she didn't say, everything she couldn't say back then, she finally let it out, tears spilling.
Seiji just looked at her, something like pity flashing in his eyes too fast for Alisa in her highly emotional state didn't catch. "I'm saying you're working hard in the wrong way, Kujou." He finally said.
"Huh?" Alisa said, not really understanding what he meant.
Seiji continued "School festivals aren't something you work on all by yourself. They're something you put together as a team, right?"
Alisa looked at Seiji as if he was speaking some foreign language. ""As a team?" That's just a fantasy! It doesn't work that way! That's the whole reason I have to do this alone! Wake Up! Actually making something as a team, don't make me laugh!"
Seiji listened and when she was done he simply smiled, it was a helpless smile, "Man when I did this, I didn't think you would be this stubborn."
"What?"
Seiji didn't say anything and just pulled out a sheet of paper, he presented it like some sort of infomercial "Feast your eyes on this! Ah, so soft!" He said dramatically.
"What's that? Is it supposed to mean something?" Alisa asked skeptically and crossed her arms.
"This, my dear classmate, is a permit to use the school's boarding house for an overnight stay!!"
Alisa blinked, shocked "Wha…? Huh? Huh!? When did you get this!? Where did you get this!?" She asked.
Seiji rubbed his index finger under his nose feeling a little smug "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes." Alisa answered flatly, causing Seiji to sweatdrop and scratch the back of his head sheepishly.
"I got this a few days ago when I saw you guys weren't making that much progress with the costumes, as for where…I know some people on the student council." Seiji answered.
"You know someone on the student council?" Alisa asked, still a little stunned.
"Yes, but that's beside the point. The point is that short-term intensive sessions are perfect for people busy with their studies and extracurricular activities! So if we all stay overnight working on our haunted house.
I think we'll be able to finish in time for the festival. It'll be a special occasion too, which I guarantee will motivate everyone." Seiji said, waving the paper around in front of Alisa's face.
"Oh and before I forget to tell you, the craft's club said they'd help us with the costumes."
Alisa perked up at that "Wait, what? Why would they do that?"
Seiji waved his hand dismissively "I worked out a deal with them, nothing too troublesome."
"A deal?" Alisa sweatdropped.
"Yup! So from now on, instead of giving up on people who aren't motivated, if you just think of a way to motivate them and start relying on the people around you…I think that's how you can create something amazing." Seiji said sincerely.
"…Yeah, you're pretty amazing aren't you?" She said quietly, causing Seiji to look at her confused, not really hearing her.
Just then Alisa's heart skipped a beat, just once but it was enough. That image of a lazy genius with no motivation that she had painted Seiji out to be, dissipated, she now saw Seiji Fujiwara in a new light and yet…
It hurts that she couldn't bring herself to tell him a simple "Thank you."
'I didn't even try to think of other ways to go about this, he was right. I was working hard the wrong way, I was trying to brute force it, while he had a plan… I'm so pathetic.' She thought.
It was as if she reverted back to her child self, the one who decided that she didn't need anyone, the one who decided that all she had to do was rely on herself.
'All I did was flail around as I desperately tried to do this all on my own. I'm such an idiot.' Her self pity was interrupted by Seiji.
"But still though, I've seen just how hard you've been working."
Alisa turned around, not even bothering to hide the tears that were streaming down her face now.
He scratched the back of his head nervously before continuing, "I just wanted to tell you that I think it's all gonna work out, so please don't feel like you have to do this all by yourself. Also I'm sorry I phrased my previous statement badly."
"Anyway the whole point I told you all of this is…you can go home now, okay?"
There it was again, Alisa felt her heart skip a beat so she nodded and quietly let out a small okay before quickly turning to gather her things, not wanting Seiji to see her blushing face.
Seiji smiled at her before turning to leave himself "Take care, yeah?" With that he left.
After he left Alisa stomped the ground, not angrily, but because of this feeling in her chest, her heart was beating wildly, someone who she had originally thought as lazy and disliked was making her heart flutter like crazy.
"Что с ним вообще не так? Хотя он постоянно бездельничает! Он умный, но предпочитает лениться… просто ужасный! (What's his deal anyway? Even though he's always slacking off! He's smart but chooses to be lazy… He's just the worst!)" She paused leaning against the window.
"Но всё же... Спасибо… (But still… Thank you…)" She finally said, but Seiji was far gone now and could not hear it.
~ Seiji Fujiwara POV ~
After leaving the room, I once again bumped into someone. She had blonde hair, and hazel eyes styled into a side ponytail.
'If I remember right, she's a part of the student council with Yuki and Masachika…what's she doing here?' I thought before bowing slightly to apologize for bumping into her.
"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." I said sincerely before walking past her slightly. However, her next words stopped me…
"I see, so you don't remember me." She muttered, it was most likely to herself but since I was walking past her I overheard.
"Hm? Am I supposed to remember you? Ah! I'm sorry if that came out rude, it's just you know…" I said, and now that I think about it there was this sense of familiarity with her but for the life of me I couldn't remember.
"Ah, you heard that? Don't worry about it." She said lightly, waving her hand dismissively, making me raise an eyebrow. "Though that was a nice gesture, what you did there for that girl…"
My eyes widened, 'was she listening in on our conversation? Is that why she's here instead of the student council room?' I thought, but she seemed to have read my mind.
"I wasn't intentionally listening in, if that's what you were thinking. I just have some business with one of the clubs in this hall, that's all."
"I see…" I was still skeptical but whatever, the conversation she had listened in wasn't that serious so no harm done. "As for the 'Gesture' you speak of…I didn't necessarily do it for her, I just saw that they were behind compared to the others so I thought 'Why not help them.'"
The girl, whose name I still didn't know, hummed with a knowing smile on her lips. "Is that so… anyway, I'll be moving along now. Have a nice rest of your day." And she just walked off, leaving me with more questions about her identity.
"Weird, why did she seem to know me?"
~
"AL RIGHT GUYS!! LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!" Takeshi exclaimed excitedly.
"YEAAAHHHH!!"
"First, we're gonna look over the schedule! Then we'll split into teams! And once everyone has finished their assigned tasks… WERE GONNA PLAY CHICKEN AND HAVE A PILLOW FIGHT!!"
The three of us, Masachika, Hikaru, and I sweatdropped at Takeshi.
"He does know this isn't a school trip…right?" Masachika rhetorically asked. Hikaru, though answered anyway…
"I don't think he does Masachika…" He responded.
"It was a rhetorical question, it wasn't made for you to answer."
I just chuckled at them then looked at Takeshi once more. "You know, for someone that always complains about never being able to get a girlfriend, he sure does have a ton of charisma."
Hikaru chuckled, "I guess that's just how Takeshi is, right Masachika." He said, causing Masachika to chuckle along with him.
"I guess so…" I said, and it was just then that I felt a pair of eyes on me, looking around I saw Alisa looking at me intently before looking away, when I caught her.
~ Narrator POV ~
"Fujiwaraaa. We made dinner." A couple of girls called out to Seiji.
"Oh wow, it smells good. Just sit it over there for now." He pointed at an empty table. "I really appreciate this by the way, just to make that clear." He called out before they could get too far.
"Don't mention it. You're handling all the heavy, physical labor after all." They responded before placing the food on the table.
"Oh man, homemade food that the girls made? Sweet!"
"You gotta at least finish your work first, though, okay?" Masachika said sweatdropping at the male student.
"Yahoo! The craft club is back! We managed to finish the costumes!" They came back with a box of costumes and Alisa behind them already wearing a bloody ghost yukata. She looked beautiful.
"Uwoooh! Amazing!"
"Looking good Kujou!"
The crowd were filled with praise for the craft club, the costume, and Alisa herself.
"No, but actually… whoever worked on this before me was so meticulous, the pattern and the cutting were perfect and that made it super easy to finish. Does anyone know who did it?" The president of the craft club asked.
The crowd discussed amongst themselves trying to piece together who was it that made the costume, it wasn't until the three girls who were originally working with Alisa spoke up.
"It was Kujou! She was working really hard on these costumes the whole time!" Then they looked at Alisa, "We sorry, we couldn't be there to help you at that time. Thank you for not giving up on us!" They bowed.
Alisa stood there frozen, she hadn't expected to be called out so suddenly and apologized to in front of everyone "Huh…? It's no problem"
"Now that you mention it, she's stayed late every single day lately. Always the last one to leave." Someone else stated.
"Wait seriously?! You're amazing!"
"Hold on, are you the one who cleaned up all the paint in the hallway for us? Crap! I'm so sorry about that!"
The crowd began to bombard her with thanks and praises, and Alisa, who had never been put in this position, had no idea what to do. So she looked around frantically before her desperate eyes landed on Seiji.
Seiji only smiled softly and nodded at her his expression seemed to say "See? I wasn't the only one who noticed your hard work."
"Ladies and degenerates! You hear that!? It's time for us to get on Kujous level! Let's work together and make this the best school festival ever!" Takeshi exclaimed again.
"YEEEEAH!" The class exclaimed, now fully motivated.
Alisa, didn't pay attention to any of the noise of her classmates around, her eyes were solely focused on Seiji who was now laughing at something Hikaru said.
"So, Seiji, about that deal we made… my uncle kinda wants a photo of you in the outfit, so if possible can we…" she trailed off leaving Seiji to easily guess what she wanted.
"Oh, sure. Want to take the picture right now?" Seiji asked, making the craft club president shake her head in denial.
"Not now, the costume isn't finished quite yet, but maybe in a few days." She said and Seiji nodded.
"Sure."
And before long, the day of the festival arrived.
"EEEEEEK!! NO, NO, NO, NO!! MAKE IT STOP!"
"YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS MADE THIS!?"
A couple, high school first years, were frightened by the haunted house Seiji's class made… It was really embarrassing for a high school boy getting scared in front of his girlfriend, they're definitely gonna break up after this.
Alisa and two of the girls that were originally working on the costumes giggled quietly at the scene.
"All right! Kujou, high five!" Alisa softly placed her hands on the girls, not really used to such gestures.
It was then that Masachika poked his head into the curtain "Girl's time for a lunch break!" He called out.
On the bench sat seven people, Alisa and the group she had been teamed with, and Masachika, Takeshi, and Hikaru, Seiji was elsewhere fulfilling the deal he made with the craft club president.
"Hmm? Now that I think about it…where's Seiji? He disappeared in the middle of the festival?" Takeshi asked, causing Alisa who was talking to the girls to quiet down, she too had been wondering he had disappeared off to.
"He said he had to fulfil his part of the deal with the craft club president." Masachika replied after swallowing his food.
Hikaru looked thoughtful. "What was the deal? Did he ever tell you?"
Masachika shook his head "Nope, all he said was that he'd be back before the Night Festival started."
Alisa hearing this was disappointed but she didn't show it outwardly.
~
[The Night Festival is now starting. Those who wish to participate, please gather in the court-yard.]
Alisa walked around looking around as if she were trying to find someone. "Ah! Kuze." She said walking over to him.
Masachika looked up from where he sat at the entrance of the boarding house. "Oh, hey, what's up? I see you changed your clothes too." He smiled slightly.
Alisa stopped in front of him "I just wanted to ask if you have seen Fujiwara anywhere?" She asked looking around again hoping to spot a patch of red hair among the sea of students.
Masachika shook his head, "I texted him, but he hasn't responded. It seems like he's still with the club president."
Upon hearing that Alisa's heart thumped, but this time painfully, instead of the weightless flutter from before. "…I see… may I sit here, and wait for him."
Masachika shrugged and scooted over a bit. "Sure, be my guest." And she did.
An awkward silence settled between the two, they both just now realizing before today they had never held a proper conversation with one another.
"You know…" Masachika began, "I was really surprised when Seiji came to me asking if we could use the school's overnight boarding house." He said, causing Alisa's eyes to widen.
Alisa's head snapped towards him "Wait, you!? You're the one he came to for the permission slip? You're on the student council?" She asked incredulously.
Masachika sweatdropped at the reaction "Don't sound so surprised now… and yes, I'm on the student council, actually I'm the Vice President thank you very much."
Alisa then realised what she said could've been taken as rude so she hurriedly bowed her head and apologized "I'm sorry, if it came out wrong. I was just surprised is all."
Masachika shrugged it off "Nah, it's fine. Seiji was somewhat surprised when he heard it too…he laughed at me." He admitted begrudgingly.
Alisa giggled at that, she could imagine Seiji laughing in Masachika's face when he told him that.
"Anyway like I said, I was somewhat surprised when he requested it." Masachika said, catching Alisa's attention.
"Why was that?" She asked wanting to if possible get more information about Seiji as much as she could.
"Well, you see…As you can probably expect, Seiji generally dislikes anything too… tedious." He paused and Alisa already knew that due to Seiji's behavior in class.
Then Masachika chuckled, it was one of nostalgia. "Then again, Seiji's been proven time and time again that he's quite the contrairian."
"Contrairian?"
Masachika nodded, "He says one thing is too tedious but then puts effort into another even more tedious task… He's always been like that." He said wistfully, remembering his childhood with Seiji.
Alisa didn't say anything and just listened.
"Back when we were younger and we'd go over to his house, he'd always say "Don't do anything stupid or my mom will scold me, do you know how long she'd scold me for?" And anytime we did make a mess or do something stupid, he'd always take the fall." He said chuckling and Alisa smiled she could vaguely picture a younger Seiji being scolded.
"I guess that's what I admire about him the most… he says he dislike tedious tasks but when he sees someone in trouble or struggling he would always go out of his way to help them, not before he'd scold you on what you're doing wrong though…he's like an older brother in that regard."
Alisa nodded, she'd experienced it first hand.
"Hey…the two of you talking about me behind my back? That's rude, you know?" A familiar voice from behind the two shocked them for a moment.
They both turned around and both widened their eyes. Standing behind them was Seiji, but he was dressed a bit differently.
Seiji was now wearing a regal royal outfit that looked straight out of a medieval era, his hair which was usually a tad bit messy, was now slicked back with a single strand falling over his right eye. He also had a one handed straight sword on his hip, it was mostly ornamental.
He truly looked like a prince that had just stepped out of a fairytale. The two just stared in wonderment at Seiji's new get up.
"Uhh, Seiji? What's with the royal outfit?" Masachika asked.
Seiji attempted to blow the strand of his hair in front of his eye only for it to fall right back down, so he gave up.
"This was the deal I made with the crafts club president. She made an outfit for her uncle who was writing a play, and he wanted her to make some outfits for said play. Then we made a deal, her club helps our class with the costumes, I basically be a mannequin and model for her while she takes pictures." He explained with a shrug.
Masachika only nodded "Well I gotta say it looks good on you." He said and Alisa unconsciously nodded which made Seiji look at her. She blushed brightly before quickly standing up not wanting Seiji to see her blushing at him.
"U-Uh, I have to go, uh- do something…I'll see you later!" She said quickly before speedwalking away.
The two boys raised an eyebrow at her quick retreat. "What's up with her?" Masachika asked.
"No clue, she's been acting weird ever since I helped her with the costume thing…" Seiji replied, finally putting his hair back to how it usually was, the single strand was annoying.
"So you agree that you helped her?"
"Inadvertently, yes."
Seiji then sat down in the spot Alisa recently sat "So, what's up? They way texted made it seem like you had something important to speak about." He said looking at the couples dancing around the fire before turning to Masachika.
"Yeah, I was thinking…of quitting the student council…" Masachika stated.
Seiji was quiet for a few seconds. "I'm gonna be so honest with you Masachika…I have no idea what to do with that information." He said and Masachika sweatdropped. Though he was a little disappointed, he hoped as always Seiji had some sort of advice.
"But I will say…If you're not having fun or you don't like being on the student council, you should do whatever feels best…Though I do feel it's a bit too late for that, after all we've only got a few more months until we graduate." Seiji told him. That's when he saw Alisa being surrounded by guys asking her to dance.
"Ahhh… Looks like I have to be the knight prince and save the princess from the bandits over there." Seiji pointed at Alisa being surrounded. He slicked his hair back once more enhancing his already princely look.
Masachika patted his friend on the back, urging him to go "Go ahead, You've given me at least something to think about…"
Seiji got up and dusted his pants. "I was gonna go anyway." He walked away after that.
Masachika waited until Seiji was far enough away before muttering "dickhead."
Seiji barked out a laugh "I heard that!" He said while Masachika only lifted the middle finger at him.
His laugh caught the attention of other students, some looking in bewilderment and some looking in fascination, when he made it closer to Alisa she heard her telling the guys off.
"Look all of you need to-" she started but Seiji had arrived and cut her off. He grabbed her hand and dragged her off somewhere away from the boy's.
"Sorry boys, but she already promised me a dance." He said before they left, leaving the boys standing there shocked.
As they were walking away from the crowd in silence, Seiji finally spoke "Sorry, for dragging you off like that, you just looked like you were in trouble. And since I'm a prince and all…" He trailed off gesturing to his outfit.
Alisa shook her head, "No it's fine… Though I wonder where we're going?" She asked, seeing as they were leaving the court-yard.
Seiji chuckled embarrassedly. "Well the original plan was to dance with you, but then I remembered I have no idea how to dance. Now I have no idea where we're going." He said while looking away not wanting Alisa to see his embarrassed blushing face.
Alisa looked shocked for a quick second before laughing.
"Oi, it's not funny!" Seiji exclaimed, his embarrassed blush getting brighter.
Alisa shook her head "N-No, no. It's just that I'd have never thought that the lazy genius, Seiji Fujiwara, wouldn't know how to dance." She said playfully.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, if I tried I think I could learn any dance pretty easily if I tried."
"Oh yeah?" Alisa challenged with a smirk.
"Yeah." Seiji returned the smirk.
"Then." She held out her hand, they were pretty far from the courtyard where no students or teachers were nearby yet, they could still hear the slow music from the night festival.
Seiji raised an eyebrow but took the hand anyway "Isn't this supposed to be the opposite way? Prince saves the princess from the bandits, then the prince asks the princess for a dance?" Seiji asked teasingly.
Alisa narrowed her eyes and started the dance, and she wasn't holding back either as Seiji immediately stumbled. "Hey-" He was interrupted by Alisa.
"Don't call me "princess" it bothers me. It makes me sound like some damsel from a fairytale, and that's not who I am." There was another turn and this time Seiji kept up, he was learning at an incredible rate.
"It is true that in terms of talent, looks, and even the environment I grew up in, I'm more privileged than the average person. I'm aware of that. But, I've never once grown complacent because of it."
Seiji hummed but didn't interrupt and let her keep talking.
"I'm not some princess who's never worked a day in her life and when people call me that, it's like they're dismissing all of my efforts and I don't like it." She finished.
"Well if it makes you feel any better, when I called you a princess earlier it was just a joke, I don't really see you as a princess anyway." He said half serious-half jokingly.
Alisa glared at him, thought there was no real heat behind it, then she smiled "You better, though I don't like the way you said it." She said and Seiji chuckled.
The two settled into a comfortable silence before Alisa broke it "…Um! Thank you, Fujiwara. This is the most fun I've ever had at a school festival. I was wrong. I wouldn't have been able to have this much fun without you…and I'm sorry for taking my frustrations out on you the other day."
Seiji smiled, "It's fine, not like I did anything special. After all, you're the one who put in the hard work. Also, please stop with all the Fujiwara crap, call me Seiji. " He said, and he meant it.
Alisa just looked at his face as if trying to memorize every detail in her head 'It's true, that he didn't outright take the lead. But there's no denying that everything went well because of him. He set the stage, asked for help when it was needed, brought out the best in everyone, supported us…and…'
"Он спас меня. (He saved me.)" she muttered in her mother tongue.
Seiji looked at her, he could've sworn she just muttered something in Russian, it was too hard to pick up on even as he was directly in front of her due to their close proximity.
"Did you…just say something?" He asked and Alisa blushed at the thought of being heard by Seiji, so she quickly changed the subject.
"M-More importantly!! I want to do something to thank you, so is there anything you want!? And you can't say "Nothing"! I forbid it!" She exclaimed, trying to cover up her embarrassment.
Seiji thought for a moment, partly because he didn't really want anything in return, and partly because he could feel Alisa's boobs on his chest. "Uh…What do I want?… Hmm, how about this! Do you have a nickname?" He asked
Alisa blinked, "A nickname? Is that really all you want?"
Seiji nodded, "I mean think about it. Out of everyone in the school, I'm the only guy that gets to call you by your nickname, it'd be quite funny seeing the looks on all of the other guy's faces." He said with a chuckle.
Alisa just danced silently before speaking so softly that Seiji almost missed it, "Alya. That's the name my family calls me."
"Alya…" He tested before smiling brightly "I like it!"
*Thump*
*Thump*
Alya's heart fluttered non-stop when she saw his smile, 'That smile…it's so bright.' She couldn't take her eyes away from that smile. Just then the music stopped and Alisa didn't even notice.
Seiji did though, and stopped dancing. He looked at Alya with that cheeky smile "How's that for dancing?"
Alya, finally snapped out of staring confused, when had the music stopped? "Huh? Oh! It was decent I guess." She said while looking away.
She hadn't been fully paying attention when she was dancing, too focused on their conversation, she was dancing self-consciously so she couldn't really tell just how much he had improved since he first stopped tripping over himself.
"Ah! I gotta return this costume to the Craft club before it's too late!" He said and was about to run when Alya's shout stopped him.
"Fujiwara!-"
"Ah, ah, ah, Seiji, remember." That was all he said before running off.
Alya stood there silently staring at his retreating back "Seiji…" she said quietly. Then she turned and walked back to the courtyard and a smile glued to her lips.
~ Timeskip: 1 year ~
Walking in the courtyard of the school was a beautiful girl with silver hair and bright blue eyes, students who were previously talking quieted down and they stared as she passed by.
"Hey look, it's her."
"Yeah, she looks even more beautiful today."
"Man, what I'd do to have a single moment with her."
Students whispered praise at just her mere presence, the student they were talking about was none other than, Alisa Mikahilovna Kujou, also known as "The Solitary Princess" by the students at Seirei Private Academy High.