The Takoyaki Encounter

A/N: Yo, Gleam-eyes here! This is an AU fic dedicated to the Yamato x Hibiki fanbase! Characters, especially Hibiki, are OOC here. Hope its a good read for y'all! Ja ne! ;-)

"Word" = talking

*Word* = thinking

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" Hibiki Kuze exclaimed while looking down at the ridiculous outfit he was made to wear for their class's offering in this year's school festival. This year, Class 3-A at Tsuutenkaku High is featuring a Maid-and-Butler cafe. Unfortunately, a girl from their class that was supposed to work as one of the maids fell sick just yesterday and can't come to school today. There were only a few girls in class and the rest were guys, and so the class decided the one who would fill up the absence was the most girly-looking guy. Unfortunately, that guy was Hibiki. And after a lot of coaxing and pleading, with Alcor even popping up unannounced at Hibiki's house, Hibiki promised to fill in for her.

"Oh, don't be so flustered, Shining One. I daresay it suits you very well." Alcor, organizer for the event said with his trademark little smirk.

"... I must say I agree with you, Alcor. " Yamato Hotsuin grudgingly commented, truly impressed with Alcor's design. Yamato was wearing a butler costume with a violet vest, a violet collar-tie, black slacks and a black coat with coattails. (Tico B's outfit)

"Why, you are quite welcome, Yamato Hotsuin." Alcor smiled mysteriously.

"Don't call me Shining One! And you're agreeing with him, Yamato?!" Hibiki wailed while tugging at the collar of the maid outfit he was wearing. Alcor got it on him so fast, he barely had time to protest after seeing it.

His outfit consisted of a white strapless one piece that was meant for someone with actual breasts, held up by some kind of modified black tuxedo that had only straps running over his shoulders, buttoned down over his abdomen with coattails hanging at the back. The aforementioned collar fastened snugly around his neck with a violet piece of cloth cut like a simple crown hanging upside down on it. Alcor even managed to put black stockings and gloves on him, and find a pair of knee-high white boots that fit him! (Think Tico-Tico's outfit, yeah that's right.)

"Hmm, not bad at all..." Yamato murmured, admiring Hibiki's flustered form.

Hibiki caught the highly appreciative glint in Yamato's eyes and shuddered. He turned away, blushing even redder than he thought possible.

"Are we forgetting something...?" Alcor muttered thoughtfully, hand going over his mouth like he usually does. "Oh yes, this."

Alcor smoothly placed a black bunny-ear headband on Hibiki's head then seemingly floated to Hibiki's back and put a white clip-on fluffy bunny tail at the back of Hibiki's outfit.

"What the-" Hibiki turned around, trying to see the additions Alcor put on his person. Whirling around, he caught sight of himself on a nearby full-length mirror. "Oh hell no..."

Yamato raised his hand to his mouth in a contemplative gesture, but in truth he was hiding his smile and a soft chuckle that left his lips. Hibiki looked so cute! *I suppose only he could look so good in bunny ears, as he always keeps on wearing his bunny-ear jacket.* Yamato snickered at the thought.

"Hey yo! I came to see what was causing the hold-up! Whoa...!" Daichi, clueless as usual, burst through the curtains of the changing room. Only to stop with an open-mouthed stare at his best friend.

"Daichi! Stop staring!" Hibiki's blush seemed to become permanent.

"Yes, Nishijima, aren't you supposed to take care of our food supplies?" Yamato shot a glare at Daichi.

"Yes, Sir!" Daichi yelped. Yamato always seems to have this effect on him. "Just went to see if everything was ready. We're about to start!" He scuttled out of the room.

"Well, its now or never, Shining One. Your time to shine!" Alcor's smirk was evident.

"NOOOOOOO!" Hibiki wailed.

"I'll go before you two. So use the moment to steel yourself, Shining One." Alcor said breezily. But as he passed Yamato, he gave him a look that said *assure him*. Not that he's worried that Hibiki won't go through with it, he knows Shining One never breaks his promises. But it was always other people that gave him strength, especially Yamato.

After Alcor left Hibiki was overcome with nerves. "...I don't think I can do it, Yamato." He mumbled.

Yamato crossed his arms. "Irrelevant. You have to do it because the whole class is counting on you." He said coldly.

Hibiki flinched at Yamato's tone and Yamato's eyes softened.

"Just think of it as if you're doing it for the benefit of everyone in the class. You always save the day when your friends are in trouble, don't you, Hibiki?" Yamato said reassuringly.

"Yeah... but this is as far away from boxing bullies, playing dodgeball, cooking chawanmushi or making takoyaki as it can get!" Hibiki exclaimed, but he was cheering up.

"True, true." Yamato acceded, with a mind to get some takoyaki later.

"Well, lets get this over with!" Hibiki finally got his nerve back.

Yamato smirked. *I knew you could do it.* And he held out his hand to Hibiki. "Let's go then."

Hibiki started and stared at Yamato's hand. *Well, this is unexpected.* But he took his hand after a heartbeat. Yamato led him outside where the class was gathered.

The class was going through various last-minute preparations for the maid cafe when Yamato and Hibiki came out, but everyone stopped what they were doing the moment the two stepped out.

For a moment no one said a word. Hibiki scanned the room and saw Daichi staring with an open mouth even if he already saw him in his outfit earlier. Then he realized he was still holding Yamato's hand. He let go of it and at that moment...

"SQUEEEEEEEEAAAAALLLLLL!" Somebody squealed a fangirl scream and Hibiki was suddenly surrounded by a deluge of people.

"H-Hibiki, you look nice in that." Io Nitta shyly commented.

"Oh my gosh, Hibiki, you look so good in that outfit! Alcor, how did you get him into that so fast?!" Hinako shouted over to Alcor over the din.

"It's a secret." Alcor's quiet voice carried over.

"Hibiki, would you like some chawanmushi?" No need to tell who said that one.

"Meowww!" Jungo the cat meowed.

"Ooh, Yamato liked that didn't he?" Otome quipped, winking suggestively at Hibiki and making Hibiki's blush return.

"Ahaha, you look so adorable right now, Hibiki! Ah, but wait, Daichi's the adorable one, you're... sexy." Joe commented airily.

"SAY WHAT?!" Daichi exclaimed.

"What the heck are you talking about, Joe?!" Airi shrieked while trying to whomp him.

"All right! That is enough!" Yamato commanded and everything, even Jungo the cat became quiet. "Everyone, man your stations and let's get this operation started!"

"Aye, aye sir!" Everybody saluted and they scrambled for what they were supposed to do.

Yamato glanced at Hibiki, who had not left his side and had lapsed into red-faced silence. He then reached out and squeezed Hibiki's hand briefly. "It will be okay. Just stand where you're supposed to and be... sexy." Yamato smirked while Hibiki blushed even redder. He then walked over to where he was stationed in their floor plan.

Hibiki watched Yamato walk away. He breathed a sigh and walked to where he was supposed to be. This made him near Keita, who was scowling as usual.

"So you got dragged into this too, eh, Keita?" Hibiki asked him.

"Pfeh, as if I'd willingly agree to something like this." Keita grudgingly answered. "But there's something creepy with Alcor when he gets up in your face like that and he said something like some girls finding my attitude cute. Like I know what that means!" Scowling, Keita ended his tirade.

Hibiki smiled. Finally, somebody who wasn't fawning over him in this stupid outfit! Then he noticed Makoto, Fumi and Otome standing at the corner. Makoto had her face covered up but he could see it was from embarassment and the other two seem to be comforting her. Belatedly, Hibiki realized that the one who let out the fangirl squeal earlier was probably Makoto. He chuckled at the fact that someone as calm and collected as Makoto was capable of making such a noise.

"Ya havin' a laugh on Makoto making that fangirl scream? Yeah, that was surprising too." Keita snickered. "This thing... think of it as payback for the bullies the other day." Keita blushed a bit and Hibiki's eyes widened at the sight. *He IS cute. And I'm not even a girl!*

"...By the way, nice outfit." Keita smirked.

It was Hibiki's turn to color up. *Was it too much to ask for someone not to mention the outfit?* Hibiki thought exasperatedly.

Just then their first customers arrived. A pair of girls that went straight to Yamato's table. They giggled as he approached them to take their order.

"How may I serve you today, ladies?" Yamato exuded impeccably and the girls giggled some more.

*Geez, I know Yamato is popular but these two better get a move on and give him their order already!* Hibiki thought scathingly but his thoughts were cut short as the next batch went to his table. The boy and the girl, a couple by the looks of it, ordered a couple of mixed drinks (non-alcoholic, of course) and Hibiki took their order up to the drinks bar.

"Hello, Hibiki, how are you holding up?" Ronaldo Kuriki, who is currently manning the drinks booth, inquired.

"Oh, so far, so good. Here, a couple of drinks for my table." Hibiki answered.

"Good thing you managed to take up slack after that crisis we had yesterday." Ronaldo said as he mixed juices.

"Yeah, well, tell me about it." Hibiki eye-rolled and Ronaldo chuckled.

"Here we are..." Ronaldo passed out the drinks "And hey, Hibiki, nice out-"

"Ronaldo, if someone says another word about what I'm wearing, I am going to scream." Hibiki said firmly. He heads out to his table, Ronaldo guffawing behind him. He notices Yamato glaring at Ronaldo. Yamato's heading toward him with his own order of drinks. *Oh boy... this is going to be awkward.* Hibiki sweatdropped.

The rest of the day continued as normally as it was with Fumi coming up and saying something to Hibiki that he had a feeling that was related to his outfit but it was so technical that he didn't think it counts.

"Hibiki!" Hibiki turned and saw Daichi jogging over to him on the momentary break when they both had no customers. "How are you?"

"I'm fine for most part. You?" Hibiki smiled.

"Yeah, I'm good. You seem to be doing fine even in your... condition." Daichi hastily improvised and Hibiki was grateful that he didn't mention the 'O' word. Just then another batch of giggling fangirls went over at Yamato's table and Hibiki can't help the surge of annoyance that permeated through him.

"So... Yamato, eh?" Daichi carefully voiced out.

"...Is it that obvious?" Hibiki sighed. He and Yamato have been going out for a month but it was only recently that Yamato started openly showing signs that they were together. Not that it wasn't noticeable before, with Yamato glaring at anyone that could be a prospective suitor who went up to talk to Hibiki.

"Yeah, pretty much, but he's still scary as hell." Daichi shuddered and Hibiki laughed. "You did tell me way back when it all started. What I did worry about was Io, she seemed pretty taken with you, and Makoto too, until she made that squeal worthy of a fangirl."

"Haha, that's true."

"And, I think you don't need to worry about Io, I think she's accepted that you and Yamato are an item. She didn't even look upset when you two got out of the dressing room holding hands."

"Thanks, man."

"No prob. Hey, I gotta go. Some guys got to my table." Daichi waved at Hibiki.

Hibiki leaned on his table and sighed. His mind drifted to the memories of a few months earlier... when he first met Yamato Hotsuin.