Chapter Text
"Relax,"
"You're such an ass," Ei rolls her eyes.
"Oh, please. Stop being such a downer." Miko seethes tapping her nose.
They’re sitting at a gigantic table, eye to eye, and Ei can’t help but clench her jaw. Irritating is the first and only word that seems to come to mind when being faced with Yae Miko.
"So, are we doing this or not?" Miko raises an eyebrow. Ei takes a breath in, putting the pen down. She shifts around in her seat rather uncomfortably. Miko has an amused smile on her lips.
"Okay, fine." She bites her lip. "This can work out… Probably," Ei avoids eye contact. Miko notes this duly.
”Have more confidence, Ei. Shy doesn't look good on you." Miko whispers and Ei feels her skin crawl.
"Shut it," She sighs. "How do we even do this?" Ei mutters.
It was nearing one in the afternoon. Ei, the current president of the student council and Miko, the current vice president of the student council were planning out a fake relationship.
Why?
Simply because Ei had to leave things behind with her ex, Kujou Sara.
"You're honestly such a coward, it's quite sad to see at times." Miko sighs.
Ei didn't exactly mean to be so cheap or prude. In fact, she didn't exactly mean to create this whole fiasco. However, Miko being Miko of course found humour admist Ei's anguish.
"Well, how can we make this… Spectacular?" Miko laughs and Ei has a look of disgust.
"Why does it have to be you?" She groans.
"Ah, must we forget you asked me?" Miko raises an eyebrow. "I know!" Ei glares. "And I don't know why I did," She clenches her teeth.
"Let me see! Every good cliche fake dating book starts with a huge announcement and a contract. Something that says blah-blah-blah don't fall in love with me. Then the main character—“
"You're getting far too ahead of yourself." Ei gives her a look and Miko clears her throat.
"Right, in any case. The student body has to know we're dating. It's not like you can just walk up to Sara and scream it in her face." Miko shrugs, her eyes linger a little too long. It runs shivers up Ei’s spine. She holds a breath in.
"Let me think.” She crosses her legs.
Ei notices the way her skirt brushes against her thighs.
"Would it kill you to sit on a chair?" Ei sighs. "It's distracting," She says. Miko raises an eyebrow, her eyes trail towards her short skirt teasing and she smiles.
"But the table is just so comfy," She says tapping under her chin with a finger. Ei’s jaw clicks into place—Yae Miko knew how to belittle, that was for sure.
Ei slaps it away, "So aggressive." Miko smiles.
“Archons, I can not stand you." Ei sighs once more. "I can already feel the headache." She shakes her head.
"My, my, how flattering." Miko seems like she's enjoying the whole charade.
"We're getting off topic. Like usual.” Ei seems genuinely stressed for once. And honestly? Miko is indeed getting a rise from it.
Something about her beloved president just so flustered is a sight worth seeing.
"Why does that Kujou girl stress you out so much? It's honestly such a treat to see," Miko admits with a smile so bright even Ei can’t seem to dismiss her with a scowl.
She settles for a clear of her throat instead.
"None of your business."
Miko tugs Ei's tie teasingly. "It is if you're going to make me do this." She clicks her tongue. "I'm not making you!" Ei says frustratedly.
"Oh?" Miko tests her and Ei goes red. "I'm…” She sighs. “I’m sorry.” She snaps immediately, being indebted to Miko is a game Ei isn’t willing to play.
"I love women who know their boundaries." Miko drags her finger across her lips.
Ei pinches the bridge of her nose.
"So pretty, such a shame. If only you were more… Efficient." Miko smiles. Ei furrows her eyebrows, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She clenches her teeth.
"Ah, sorry." She giggles and Ei's lips twist into a frown.
"You're always so angry, Ei." Miko taps her fingers onto the table.
"Only with you,"
"How flattering indeed."
There's a knock on the door. "Pres?" A familiar voice says. "There's a group of club members that want to ask you about something here," Miko has a big smile on her face.
"You know, I just thought of the best way to get this started." Miko says, tugging Ei forward with her tie. "Could you stop doing that?"
They look at each other for a moment as Miko finally releases her tie. (Ei is certain it’s longer than a second—or at least it feels like it was.)
"Pres?" Ei looks at the door.
"Kiss me," Miko leans in.
”What?”
Ei's eyebrows furrow. "We don't have all day," Miko gives her one of those stares.
The same ones she’d give to her when she knew that an idea had to be passed or failed. The same look Miko would give to her when she knew her opinion mattered.
The same look that has never failed Ei in the most difficult situations their council has ran into.
Ei clenches her jaw, "Well?" Ei's hand awkwardly reaches for Miko's cheek.
Before she can, Miko decidely kisses her instead. Ei's eyes widen, she shuts them immediately. Miko's lips are far too warm.
Shit.
Ei feels her heartbeat quicken and her ears redden. Miko's hand drags down her chest, shit.
Ei's hand instinctively grabs onto Miko's thigh. She gasps and Ei only smiles against her lips.
"Oh my,"
Ei's eyes widen. She pulls back. It's Ayaka at the door, with a group of familiar students just frozen.
Ei presses her hand onto her lips, clearing her throat. "Okay—" She takes a breath in.
"Apologies," She says embarassedly. Miko only smiles. "Is there something you needed to urgently discuss?" She hops off the table.
Ei bites her lip, Ayaka takes a sharp breath in.
"We can address it later… I'll deal with the logistics," She mutters. "I'll just come back for your approval later," Ayaka says, nodding before shooing the club members away and closing the door.
Ei turns to glare at the Miko who's already finding herself back onto the table.
"Are you serious?"
Miko smiles, annoyingly if Ei may add. "You didn't do a very good job of denying me," Miko shrugs.
"I thought you liked the clichés? You know no book in this world starts with fake dating and kissing in the first like twenty seconds!" Ei exasperates.
"Oh, please! That is an exaggeration, that was like the first hour. Ah, and never say no book in this world." Miko says.
Ei bites her lip, "Look what you did." Miko says pointing to her exposed thigh, it's red.
Ei's cheeks light up on fire, "And you still had the audacity to question me? Raiden Ei, tsk tsk." Miko teases, Ei tries to catch herself but it's to no use.
"I tried to… I—I…Okay! I got carried away," She sighs. "Mm, I suppose I can't blame you for thinking I'm attractive." The pink haired girl simply smiles
"I don't—" Ei takes a sharp breath in.
"Hm? What was that?" Miko's smile on grows wider.
The frustration on Ei's face makes it all the more worthwhile. "Yes, Miko. I find you incredibly attractive, happy?" Ei firmly says.
Miko finally, jumps off the table on her own accord. "Was that so hard?" She leans closer towards Ei. "Insufferable," She says again.
Miko laughs, "Ah, this truly is delightful." She clicks her tongue. "I could get used to this, Ei." She smiles.
Ei glares, "I want it to end already." She mutters.
"Follow me," Miko taps. Ei takes a breath in, "Where to now?" Ei groans.
"We have about fifteen minutes left for lunch, let's take a stroll." Miko smiles and Ei clearly isn't fond of the idea.
"Am I your dog?" Ei rolls her eyes in annoyance.
"Would you like to be?"
There's a silence that sinks in as Ei embarrassedly refuses to respond to the remark. "Holy my hand," Ei sighs. She holds Miko's hand as they walk through the hallways.
Miko always wearing the annoying smile on her face. Miko finds it odd how Ei complains about every small thing she says and yet she follows them.
Ei's eyes roam around. Her gaze falls onto the botnary club and she clears her throat, trying to break the ice.
"What's your favourite flower?" Ei mutters.
Miko raises an eyebrow, "And what would you ask that for?" Ei goes red and clears her throat.
"Flowers are a good gesture for…Whenever," She tries not to get embarrassed but it's to no avail.
Miko gives her a softened gaze. "Oh? Then let's try… Sakura Blossoms?" Miko laughs. She expects Ei to bitch out about how it was summer.
How would she even get Sakura Blossoms? Ei, however, only squeezes her hand. "Alright, sakura blossoms it is." She nods.
Miko considers the fact that maybe Ei was stupid and she didn't know that they weren't in season. She can only fathom as much, "Ei." She says and Ei gives her a look. "Miko," She says back.
"Nothing," Miko shrugs and Ei groans, her usual angry self back again. "Would it kill you to be less annoying?"
"Yes, yes it would." Miko laughs hearitly. Ei's lips part as she swallows the lump in her throat. She liked the way Miko laughed.
Ei is far too enthralled with Miko to notice the way people talk, Miko however is different. She notices the glances and the whispers. She pays no mind though, it was what she signed up for afterall.
"Ei, you should get my number." She nudges.
"Oh?" Ei grabs her phone and listens obediently.
Miko finds it quite cute, "Here." She types in her number, she smiles to herself.
Ei looks at the contact, "My Miko?" Ei questions and Miko laughs softly. "Yes, your Miko." She tilts her head to give Ei a kiss on the cheek.
Ei almost jumps back in surprise. "Could you give me a warning!" She goes red and Miko only smiles brighter. "You were too cute not to do anything,"
Ei feels her heart thrum against her chest. "Archons, you really are annoying!" She seethes.
Miko raises an eyebrow with a smile, "Say that louder maybe the entire student body will hear." She says and Ei's lips pout.
"You are so…” She sighs.
"Mhm," Miko hums back.
"Ah, we have a council meeting later." Miko reminds.
"I am aware," Ei rolls her eyes. "Don't be late." She sighs for the hundredth time.
"Oh, please. I was late one time." Miko scoffs and Ei clenches her jaw. The tables turned quickly, it was always such a push and pull. Ei could never guess when Miko would tease or annoy her.
"That one time set back alot of our schedules," Ei points out. Miko pinches her, "Hey!" She says, tapping her arm.
Miko glares, "And you call me annoying," She shakes her head.
It's Ei's turn to smile, "Well, at least you understand what I'm saying. You are in fact annoying."
Miko doesn't understand why she smiles. "Whatever, lunch is almost over. I'm going to class." She waves her off. "Why? Love to tease, hate to be teased?"
"By you? Yes, they're never funny." Miko shakes her head.
Ei smiles to herself, she understands the charm to it. Miko was quite cute afterall.
"Yes, let's decide that with Ei. In fact, I'll be the one to finalize that confirmation we don't have enough time. I'm good for it's submission, how much longer can we wait?" Miko sighs, in clear stress.
"Within the day," Ayaka replies, moving towards the stack of papers.
"Alright, I'll finalize that before five." Miko notes on the board.
"Moving on, have we finished general preparation drafts for this week's assembly? Ah and we need to schedule a meeting for the event coming up in the following month. Ayaka, please note that exam season is coming up for the juniors while you collect schedules." Miko continues to ramble.
"Assembly drafts have not been finalized just yet. We need to finish section four and five." Thoma notes and Miko sighs.
"Alright, Thoma please coordinate with the ambassador team to get this done." She's met with agreement.
"I'm sorry for the disorderly meeting. Ei was supposed to orchestrate it and we haven't been able to talk about the meeting plan or outline. She has it kept in her email." Miko says, as if she's ever even gotten to see a meeting outline that Ei has written.
She finds the whole thing ridiculous. She charades on about how late she was that one time and then she doesn't even bother to show up?
Miko was an amusing woman but she was never one to be kept waiting.
"For now, that's all we have to finalize. I can't give you a runthrough that's further than three months from now. I don't have the event packet with me right now, unfortunately. Let's meet again as soon as possible. Apologies everyone." Miko bites back a sigh.
"No worries," She gets a string of comforts as she dismisses the meeting.
It's one of the shortest ones they've had, running for only 45 minutes.
Miko stresses to herself, slumping onto her chair. Where the hell was Ei?
She pinches the bridge of her nose in annoyance. What an eventful day. Ei asks her to be her fake girlfriend and ditches her first meeting. Too many first for Miko to handle.
She sighs, twirling in her chair. She considers leaving, would Ei even show up? She knows Miko always stays after meetings.
She bites her lip, was there any point in staying? She herself knows she'd just get angry regardless of the reason.
That's what Ei did to her. She was stuck up and annoying, far too pretentious. Ei thought she was right, always.
She thought things should always go one way, her way. Miko disliked that, even if she couldn't fullt express it at times.
Ei was emotional and brash, she couldn't look at the bigger picture. Miko feels her jaw tighten.
It was getting dark, she should leave. There was no reason for her to sit around for twenty minutes. There shouldn't have been a reason for her. And yet Miko can't find it in her to stand.
So, when Ei finally shows up and the door opens. Miko doesn't say anything. Ei turns on the lights, she's panting.
"I'm sorry," She says. Miko doesn't say a single thing.
"I'm so sorry," Ei she takes a breath in.
Miko stands, "Notes are on the board, you can ask Ayaka for the minutes. We need your confirmation for the last draft, the assembly draft is almost done, and we need to start talking about the event coming up—“
"Miko," Ei sighs.
Miko gives her a look. "I'm not mad," Lie. "I just wish you could've given me a heads up." She says.
Ei tried to give her these sweet words. Only for her to remind her once again why Miko hated her so much. Ei never delivered. Not a single time, she always missed. She was so delusioned in her own emotions.
"Why were you late—No, why didn't you show up without even bothering to text me? I gave you my number." Miko stands up.
Ei's breath is caught in her throat. For once, just for once, Ei doesn't want to be hated. She talked to Miko properly for an hour and that was enough to tell Ei that she didn't want Miko to hate her.
Ei takes a breath in, "I'll explain, I'll explain. Just sit down. Please." Ei sounds far too desperate for Miko to deny her. So, Miko sits because despite being angry.
Despite her heart screaming for hatred, Miko enjoyed her moments with Ei.
Don't be an irrational excuse. Don't be an irrational excuse. Don't be an irrational excuse. Don't.
"Sara. She talked to me." Ei's eyes soften. Miko takes another breath in. "She said she wanted to get back together," Ei explains slowly.
"And…I—I’m sorry—I don't know. I got overwhelmed," Ei mutters. "I denied her eventually, I think it was because of the rumours—“
"You hesitated?" Miko asks.
Ei bites her lip. "Is that what kept you waiting? One conversation you hesitated on?" She continues to press. Her eyebrows crease.
Ei closes her eyes. She can't lie to Miko. "I… Did," She admits.
Miko stands, "I don't know if I'm a joke to you." Miko says slowly.
"You hate me, okay that's fine. But, for archons sake, don't be shameless enough to ask me to play this role then throw it away. I didn't deny you, not for fun, Ei. I didn't deny you because I saw you needed it." Miko feels anger fill up her bones.
"And for you to hesitate right then makes me think maybe you don't take me all so seriously afterall." She releases a breath. Miko finds the entire thing a waste of her energy.
"Skipping a council meeting without prior notice, you left me with no resources. You never do, because you're so sure you will never miss a meeting and look where we are." Miko feels her neck heat up.
"I should've honestly known. This all started just a few hours ago and it's ending so quick like this. What a headache indeed," Miko says.
"Wait," Ei bites her lip. Miko's eyes speak volumes.
"I hate you so much because you never seem to understand the line between rationality and priority. Skipping a meeting is fine but to go speak to Sara? Let alone be shaken up by her when you've announced to the world we're together. What does that make me?"
"Miko," Ei burries her hands in her face. "You're right," She faces her once more. Miko's eyes widen, Ei is crying.
"You're absolutely right. I am a coward, I am being a headache, and irrational. I should have held my ground. You deserved my respect and I gave you none." Ei takes a breath in. "I'm sorry," Ei's voice is weak.
"But… Please, don't hate me." Miko's lips part.
Miko bites her tongue.
“You’re becoming much less than what I expected from you, Raiden Ei.”