Bai Ying sat at his desk, flipping through his notebook with mild disinterest. The classroom was buzzing with conversation about the upcoming school festival, but his mind kept drifting elsewhere. Specifically, to Saiki.
The cooking trial at his house had been... unexpected. Not just because of how naturally he had taken to baking—Makoto Teruhashi's muscle memory had carried him through—but because of the way Saiki had looked at him when he'd handed him the coffee jelly.
Saiki had been staring at him more often lately, and Bai Ying wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.
[System Notice: Target's Affection Level has increased by 0.4.]
Oh? Bai Ying raised an eyebrow at the message, a slow smirk forming on his lips.
That was the highest jump yet.
Before he could dwell on it, a shadow loomed over his desk. "Makoto."
Bai Ying glanced up to see Saiki standing there, his expression unreadable as usual.
"We need to finish the project," Saiki said, monotone as ever.
Bai Ying tilted his head, amused. "Didn't know you were so eager to spend more time with me."
Saiki adjusted his glasses. "I just don't want to deal with it last minute."
Bai Ying chuckled, resting his chin on his palm. "Alright, alright. Your place or mine?"
Saiki hesitated for the briefest moment before replying, "Yours."
Interesting. Bai Ying's smirk widened. "What, miss my cooking already?"
Saiki didn't dignify that with a response.
Before Bai Ying could tease him further, Hairo, the class rep, clapped his hands together with fiery enthusiasm, calling for attention. "Alright, everyone! Let's go over the final festival preparations!"
The conversation about their project would have to wait. Bai Ying leaned back, watching as the chaos unfolded once again.
The discussion about the maid café's logistics had only grown more intense as the class began ironing out the details. Bai Ying leaned against his desk, watching the chaos unfold with mild amusement.
"So, we'll need costumes," Chiyo said, clasping her hands together. "The maids' uniforms have to be cute but elegant! Something with lace, frills, and ribbons—oh, and cat ears! Definitely cat ears!"
Kaidou blanched. "C-Cat ears? Is this humiliation not enough?!"
"We're not wearing cat ears," one of the boys groaned.
"But it'll add charm!"
The argument was already spiraling, but Chiyo was undeterred. "And the butler outfits should be sleek and stylish! Black suits, white gloves, and bowties for a classy aesthetic."
Hairo nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds fantastic! We should embody the perfect blend of sophistication and hospitality!"
Someone muttered, "This is just an excuse to make us look ridiculous…"
Amid the chaos, Chiyo suddenly brightened. "Oh! I can make the costumes!"
Bai Ying raised an eyebrow. "You can sew?"
Chiyo beamed. "Yup! I made my own cosplay outfits before! This will be a great project!"
The class murmured in appreciation, relieved that they wouldn't have to figure out where to get custom uniforms on such short notice.
"Alright, alright," the teacher cut in, attempting to regain control. "Since Chiyo is handling the costumes, we also need people to help with the decorations."
That started another round of discussion—what kind of café aesthetic they wanted, how to arrange tables, and whether or not they should use fake chandeliers to create a fancier atmosphere.
Bai Ying turned to Saiki, who had been unnervingly silent through it all. "You still with us, Saiki? Or have you astral projected away from this conversation?"
Saiki didn't look at him, but Bai Ying could tell he was seconds away from sighing.
"I'm still here," Saiki muttered.
Bai Ying smirked. "And? Thoughts?"
"I think this is going to be a logistical nightmare," Saiki replied flatly.
Bai Ying chuckled. "Oh, come on. It won't be that bad."
Saiki's eyes slid toward him, expression unreadable. "You don't actually believe that."
Bai Ying just grinned. He wasn't about to admit that Saiki was completely right.
"We should set up a small stage," one of the students suggested. "For entertainment! Maybe some of the maids could do performances."
"Absolutely not," Kaidou interjected, looking horrified. "I refuse to dance for the amusement of the masses."
Chiyo clapped her hands excitedly. "But a little performance could be fun! Maybe something simple, like introducing ourselves in character."
Bai Ying leaned toward Saiki, voice low. "Imagine you, dressed as a maid, doing an introduction routine."
Saiki gave him a look that could curdle milk.
Bai Ying grinned. "No thoughts?"
"Yes. Stop talking," Saiki muttered.
Despite the psychic's apparent suffering, the class continued brainstorming. Chiyo was determined to give the maids and butlers personalized outfits, taking individual styles into account.
"I think Kaidou's maid outfit should have a gothic aesthetic—maybe something with dark lace and chains to match his chuunibyou personality."
Kaidou turned red. "I— That's not—"
"Aren would look cool in a more refined maid uniform, something with a long skirt for elegance."
Aren blinked. "Wait, you're considering skirts for us?"
"Of course!" Chiyo beamed. "What's a maid café without cute skirts?"
A few of the boys groaned, realizing they were in for more than they bargained for.
Bai Ying, meanwhile, was thoroughly entertained.
"And for the butlers," Chiyo continued, "we'll go for a mix of classic and modern! Saiki-kun, I think you'd look best in a fitted tailcoat."
Saiki, who had been trying to ignore the conversation, visibly tensed. Bai Ying immediately latched onto it.
"You would look good in a tailcoat," he mused. "Very dashing."
Saiki shot him a sharp glare, but Bai Ying just smiled innocently.
"Makoto-kun," Chiyo turned to him, "do you want to be a maid or a butler?"
Bai Ying hummed, tapping his chin in thought. "Oh, the choices."
Saiki gave him a dry look. "Don't pretend like you're actually debating."
Bai Ying smirked. "You're right. I'd definitely make a stunning maid."
Several students, including Chiyo, nodded in agreement.
Saiki, for some reason, looked like he wanted to strangle him.
"The atmosphere is important," Hairo said, flipping to a fresh page in his notebook. "It should feel like a real maid café."
"We could go for a classic Victorian style," one girl suggested. "Elegant chandeliers, lace tablecloths, soft lighting…"
"Ooh, how about a more modern and playful vibe?" another student offered. "Pastel colors, cute decorations, maybe some heart-shaped chairs?"
Bai Ying leaned back, listening with mild amusement as the students debated. He turned to Saiki, who was once again trying to detach himself from reality.
"Thoughts?" Bai Ying asked, feigning curiosity.
Saiki's expression didn't change. "Irrelevant."
Bai Ying grinned. "Come on. Do you prefer chandeliers or pastel hearts?"
Saiki stared at him like he was contemplating vaporizing him on the spot.
"I think we should have a flower wall for photos!" Chiyo suggested, excitement shining in her eyes. "People love taking pictures at themed cafés."
"That's actually a solid idea," Hairo agreed, scribbling it down.
Chiyo beamed. "And I can sew custom decorations too! Maybe some embroidered napkins, decorative bows…"
The more she spoke, the more involved she became, and soon, she was organizing students into decoration committees. Bai Ying had to admit, she was impressive when she got going.
Hairo clapped his hands. "Alright! So we'll have a classic-meets-modern café theme, with elegant table settings, soft lighting, and a floral backdrop for photos. The butlers and maids will match the aesthetic, and we'll serve a variety of sweets."
"And coffee jelly," Bai Ying added with a smirk.
Saiki sighed.
Just when it seemed like things were wrapping up, one of the boys frowned and pointed at Saiki. "Wait, hold on. Why does he get to wear a butler uniform when the rest of us have to be in maid outfits?"
The question sent a ripple through the room. Several of the other boys immediately turned to look at Saiki, their expressions ranging from annoyed to incredulous.
"Yeah, seriously, why does he get a free pass?"
"If we're wearing frills, he should too!"
"I don't want to be the only one suffering!" Kaidou wailed.
Saiki, who had been quietly enduring the entire discussion, finally blinked. Then, without missing a beat, he wrote something in his notebook and held it up:
Because I refuse.
Silence.
Bai Ying let out a low chuckle. "Wow. No negotiation?"
Saiki flipped to a new page.
No.
Chiyo clasped her hands together, looking at Saiki with sparkling eyes. "It's because he'd look too good in a maid outfit, right?"
Saiki's pen stilled.
The class erupted in laughter, a few students nodding in agreement.
"I mean, she's not wrong," one of the girls admitted.
"Imagine the crowds if we had him in a maid dress," another student mused.
Saiki's aura darkened. Bai Ying was almost sure he could hear the psychic's patience snapping like a twig.
Chiyo, however, was relentless. "Come on, Saiki-kun, you'd look amazing! Just imagine it: a cute black and white dress with a frilly apron, lace cuffs, and—"
"No," Saiki said, out loud this time.
But it was too late. Hairo, emboldened by the class's enthusiasm, grinned. "Saiki, if we all have to do it, it's only fair that you do too!"
The class erupted in agreement. Even the usually reluctant guys were now nodding along, seemingly satisfied that Saiki would share in their misery.
"Yeah! No exceptions!"
"Think of it as teamwork!"
"It's settled, then!" Chiyo chirped. "Saiki-kun gets a maid uniform too!"
Saiki's blank stare burned into Bai Ying's soul. Bai Ying, for his part, was barely holding in his laughter.
"Oh, this is so good," Bai Ying murmured under his breath. "I think I'll live an extra ten years from this alone."
Saiki's eye twitched.
The conversation finally moved on, though Saiki's fate was now sealed. The final details of the festival were discussed, and by the time the bell rang, the plans were mostly set.
As students packed up their things, Bai Ying turned to Saiki, still grinning. "So. About our project."
Saiki looked at him, clearly tired. "What about it?"
"We should probably meet up again to finish it," Bai Ying said. "Unless you'd rather do the whole thing yourself?"
Saiki frowned. He would rather do it himself, but considering how persistent Bai Ying was, that wasn't an option.
Bai Ying smiled knowingly. "That's what I thought. Your place or mine?"
Saiki's jaw tensed slightly. "Yours," he muttered.
Bai Ying raised an eyebrow, amused. "What, don't want me in your space again?"
Saiki ignored him, grabbing his bag and walking toward the door.
Bai Ying followed with an easy stride, already looking forward to whatever chaos would unfold next.
By the time Bai Ying and Saiki left the classroom, the excitement from the festival planning still lingered in the air. Chiyo had immediately rushed off to discuss fabric choices with some of the girls, while Hairo was already making a list of tasks for their next meeting.
As for Saiki, his soul had visibly left his body.
Bai Ying walked beside him, hands in his pockets, eyes gleaming with amusement. "So, you're really going to go through with the maid uniform?"
Saiki didn't bother responding.
"Oh, come on. At least admit that you'll look great in it," Bai Ying teased. "You'll have a fan club before the festival even starts."
Saiki's expression remained unreadable, though Bai Ying swore he saw the tiniest twitch in his brow.
When they arrived at Bai Ying's house, he pushed open the door and gestured inside with a smirk. "Welcome to my humble abode. Again."
Saiki stepped in, his gaze sweeping the familiar space. Bai Ying had cleaned up since the last time Saiki visited, though it still had that faint aura of organized chaos.
"Make yourself at home," Bai Ying said, dropping his bag onto the couch. "We have a project to finish, but honestly, I'm still thinking about the festival. I'm amazed no one tried to make me a butler."
Saiki gave him a flat look. Because everyone wants you in a maid dress too.
Bai Ying chuckled. "You think so? Maybe I should ask Chiyo to make mine extra frilly, just to commit to the role."
Saiki briefly considered throwing him out a window.
Bai Ying shrugged off his blazer and stretched before heading toward the kitchen. "Anyway, I'm making coffee. Want some?"
Saiki hesitated. He knew Bai Ying could cook—he'd seen it firsthand—but he wasn't sure if he wanted to risk whatever chaos Bai Ying was about to unleash.
"…Fine," Saiki muttered, taking a seat at the table.
Bai Ying grinned before rummaging through the cabinets. He worked efficiently, measuring out the ingredients with practiced ease. The scent of freshly ground beans filled the kitchen, blending with the quiet hum of the appliances.
Saiki watched him, a strange feeling settling in his chest. It was something about the way Bai Ying moved—comfortable, relaxed, completely at ease in his own space.
It reminded him of how natural he had seemed back at Saiki's house, slipping into his routine like he belonged there.
That was dangerous.
"…What?" Bai Ying asked, breaking Saiki's thoughts.
Saiki blinked. "Nothing."
Bai Ying tilted his head, unconvinced, but didn't push. Instead, he smirked. "You're staring an awful lot. You sure you're not falling for me already?"
Saiki immediately looked away. No.
Bai Ying laughed, setting down a cup of coffee in front of him. "Right, right. You'd rather drop dead than admit something like that."
Saiki took a sip of the coffee, if only to avoid responding. It was annoyingly good.
Bai Ying leaned against the counter, watching him with an unreadable expression. "You know, I don't think I ever asked—do you actually like all this festival stuff?"
Saiki considered lying. Not really.
Bai Ying hummed. "Yeah, I figured. You don't seem like the type to enjoy crowds or attention."
That was an understatement.
Bai Ying took a sip of his own coffee, then grinned. "Then why aren't you fighting harder to escape it?"
Saiki stiffened slightly.
Because of you.
The thought was immediate, startling even himself. He shoved it down before it could fully form.
Bai Ying watched him for a moment longer, then smirked. "You know, the more I think about it, the more I think you're actually enjoying this."
Saiki set his cup down with a little too much force. No.
Bai Ying laughed again, and for some reason, the sound made Saiki's ears feel warm.
Maybe this festival wasn't the problem.
Maybe Bai Ying was.
And that was even worse.