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Was it love that set his fiery hair above flame?
Ironic.
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—
Within the corners of the almost non-spaced wooden walls, there lie suspicious incoherent sounds of whispers that seemed to be murmuring in panic and annoyance. Their bodies, squirming in silence as they go uttering voiceless speech and skidding from the tight space they have gone to behind the shogi door.
All for their wish of hidden forms and obscured presence from their — planned surprise — that clearly isn't looking — too well.
Of course, what could go wrong when all-powerful, prominent pillars had gathered in one place? Nothing, as one would typically believe.
Quite a guess.
"Would you stop pushing me? Tomioka-san!" One should see the veins protruding from the woman's forehead despite the seeming smile she has on her lips as she spouts softly yet venomously.
"I did not, Kochou." A quiet, aloof response of the man scooting backwards — further and farther in fear with a blank face.
"He did."
"Shh! He'll wake up you idiots!" And that's you.
"Oi Shinazugawa, stop touching my flamboyant butt!"
"HUh? Tch— Why the fuck am I even here?!"
"Quiet down! Ugh— come on nemi shut it!"
"Damn you (L/n)—"
"Kiyah! He is moving you guys!"
"Kanjori, y-you can take my space." A serpent hissed quietly beside its master, who seemed to be fitting well in the closed-space darkness.
"Who are you... Guys... Again?" Ah yes, a child unbeknownst to himself, why was he dragged into this mess yet doesn't share a hint of denial.
"Oi Tomioka! Why don't you just fricking leave—"
"Flamboyant idea!"
"Enough," And finally, a rational human — at the very least.
"—Namu Amida Butsu."
As soon as the boisterous commotion dies down in the depths of their mind, it was for an instant that a loud, enthusiastic yawn erupted from the room they were peering through the slit open of the wooden obstacle. Ah, he has awakened.
Rengoku Kyojuro beamed in his usual atmosphere as soon as he sat up from his slumber form. It was as though the second he wakes up, all forces and vehemence are swarming inside his veins inducing, his ambitious air. All the while, Rengoku looked so young and chastised as he set on his charming smile. A man with all aspects of heat to attract even the coldest of heart. He sat in his ruffled space of futon and mattress with a dimly looking face.
And going back to the chaos concealed behind the thin sliding walls, we see nine agitated humans barely even living up to their title. As disappointing as it may seem, it was hilarious for one to perceive.
"Do you have the confetti's ready?" A soft, rush whisper came out of your lips as you glanced to your side with much caution of dainty little actions.
If else, he would have known by now what a ludicrous plan his companions had prepared somewhere behind his home. And if said hilarious — no one is joking.
"Yep! Got em' flamboyantly!" A cheeky grin curved the sound pillar's face with self-known sparkles lingering around him as he whispered his answer. Though he didn't sound assuring. Doesn't matter, it's dark inside anyway.
"Lovely! Okay now— Hey! Stop it." It wouldn't be that hard to handle all these adults in one place, right? Unless you put in the water, wind, and serpent pillars together, then one should know the startling impact.
The love pillar sweated at the side as she watched her comrades raids the closet space in anxiety. "C-Careful! The cake," she whispered ever so lightly.
Oh right, the cake — where is it?
"It's here no worries—.... oh shit." The young Kochou murmured to her own with a glint of suspicion and agitation in her eyes as she looked down at her empty hands. Before chuckling nervously in the shadows (wondering too at her foul word).
"A-and what in the hell do you mean by that, Kochou?" You shakily asked in the gloaming dark, looking angle by angle, yet all one could see was nothing but pitch black and lingering noises.
The fragile frame of the insect hashira dived into her mind, looking for an excuse to cover her mistake. "Tomioka-san snatched it! He must have wanted to eat it!" And she proclaimed that as though it was the perfect alibi. Perfect, after all, who would believe his side?
And within the dark, there sat a gloomy-looking Giyuu slowly pulling his head up the moment he heard his name. "Me?"
"I knew it, that man shouldn't have gone with us." Iguro's fatal scowl was evident, deeming it was dark. It's paired with the toxic hiss of Kabuwumaru, who seemed to be siding with his owner. And if there could be light inside this rigid place, you should see how he tempted himself from drawing his blade.
"B-But that's too mean, Iguro-san!" It was a god's blessing to have this woman beside the serpent has hit a — if-else, Tomioka would have been suffering in this brimful room. Mitsuri closed her viridescent eyes in concern with scrupled sweats emanating from her.
"No, I definitely agree with him! What is that freak doing here anyway!?" Shinazugawa struggled in whispering, yet he managed to stanced himself into plunging at the pitiful man. Not until you stepped in and held the wind pillar back from his sit.
A stressful sigh escaped your lips as you dragged your fingers down your face in dismay. (Y/n) couldn't. You couldn't. This was a total failure.
"You're not stopping the hell out me!" The man strived to squirm in his place with how he infuriatingly grumbled at your face — even spouting his salacious liquids to your cheeks. Disgusting.
And just as you couldn't help but wipe the nagging, clammy liquids off your cheeks and gave him your deadliest glare. Only then you realized that he had found his way out of your clutch and you ponder deep how can you be so dumb to let him go.
It was a 'rip' moment for you all the second he got close to Tomioka with his ridiculous grin.
"Nice! Flamboyant move Shinazugawa!" And in addition to the ruckus is this self-proclaimed flamboyant man that doesn't even think of helping.
You glared at the silver-haired hashira in annoyance and swiftly moved towards the reckless Shinazugawa. Your hands immediately found their way to his feet, grasping onto his ankle and forced him down the tatami floor.
A thud.
"Lovely morning!"
It was as though all their bodies altered into stones with how each of the hidden pillars gulped as they didn't move a single inch.
Rengoku pulled his muscled arms upwards to his head, sideways and down, stretching every muscle and tendons to keep his body intact its energy. "Lovely morning!" He repeated with and ending 'umu' at his sentence.
The noise induced by the nine pillars behind the shogi door elapsed at the commotion of Rengoku's lively disposition early in the morning. And it made them all breathed a relieved sigh.
The young flame-headed man slowly pulled the draped blanket off his body and proceeded to find his route towards the bedside cupboard and took a hairbrush out with a satisfied smile. And he commenced into moulding his fire-like hair in its fashionable style.
They all watched him in awe, peering through the tiny gash opening of his closet door. All of them looked as though they were children, alternatively peeking at the back of the think obstacle.
"Now that's some flamboyant mood — !!"
"Shh! Stop talking!"
"Let go of me I'm not done crashing that Tomioka!"
"Can't you all just be normal?"
"You... Aren't normal either... (L/n)-san."
"Tokitou-kun, that's not a way to talk to a lady."
"He's damn right though."
"Tomioka-san... One more push and I'm done."
"But I did not—"
"U-um guys..."
"Don't touch my butt you pervert!"
"Why the hell would I be interested in your flat butt!?"
"How dare you!"
"U-uh please listen to me— Eek!"
"... Namu Amida Butsu."
And just when you couldn't handle all the ruckus and heat as all your bodies collided in an unlikable manner — you breathed hard. "Okay. what is it Kanjori?"
Everyone began glancing to nowhere in the dark but imaginatively looked at the Love pillar, who seemed to be in much mess. All of them waited for a moment with a curious facade of what was she about to say. Before widening their eyes at the footsteps drawing in closer to their hiding place.
"O-oh that! Hehe, he's c-coming this way."
Oh no. What was the plan again?
Your lips gradually formed an 'o' shape before smiling sheepishly, as you turned down your gaze at the object on your hands. "And I think I found the cake — looking v-very delicious!"
The footsteps grew louder and closer with a matching lively laugh from the birthday boy. Had they forgotten it was a closet they were all hiding in? Was it dumb enough for all these infamous pillars not realizing this would be the first place a morning man would go to?
And the answer is yes. After all, the one who planned all these was you.
There was a dainty stream of light passing through the sliding wall, and there you put up a finger to count. You mouthed in the dark - numbers counting as though it was going perfectly.
"One..." you whispered ever so quietly, glancing at your sides only to see your comrades struggling to pull themselves up.
And then your face scrunched in horror, whispering as your quiver.
"T-two,"
And then, for an instant, all of them was right behind your back, swift and fast as they can be, preparing for the surprise attach they all differently had in mind.
The second your lips parted in the attempt of stating the final count, your body instantly flew down (face first) the tatami floor with all heavy frames weighing your fragile body.
It was a failed success.
"Umu! Why good morning to all of you!" The vibrant young man looked surprised at what seemed like a mountain of ridiculous bodies that came out of his closet. Yet, he acted his way through.
Despite the wavering commotion and painful stomp down your body had taken, your hands, however, (fortunately) managed to hold onto the sweet treat, and it would be the first thing he would see but ignore the way your head looks buried.
A moment of silence pass by with all the fuss that ensued just a second ago. What else would you all be saying?
"Surprise! Happy flamboyant birthday — wait why is it not coming out?" Tengen broke the staggering silence with his outrageous attempt of (delayed) surprise yet, he too seemed ridiculous enough to make Rengoku laugh in amusement the moment all the confetti came rushing out to the sound pillar's face.
So much for flamboyance.
You mentally facepalmed, looking up harder than you can manage, imagining how the said pillar must be embarrassing himself as he fumbled over the confetti pumper. And slowly, you looked up to see the man with his crooked eyebrows gazing down at you.
You gave him a cheeky grin before trying to pull yourself up from all the weight you bear. There was this lingering disappointment in your eyes yet, you tried to look your best for the man who should be celebrating his birthday morning in peace.
"G-good morning!" You blurted out.
"M-Morning!" and so all the others did.
Rengoku watched all his fellow pillars in unbearable stillness, gaping down at your silly offering of the deliciously looking treat. Before he once more eyed you guys in anticipation that you shivered in fear of his reaction.
And then it hit you. Why is it good morning?
"Happy birthday Rengoku-san! Please forgive us!" You immediately bowed to him in cheeky nervousness with a teary eye, closing them in shame.
Every one of you didn't utter a word after what you said, but the moment you saw his face — your eyes widened.
He was laughing, hilariously watching the way his colleagues induced so much effort in pulling all these failures, yet admirable stunts, just to lighten up his morning was more than enough to bring out his laughter.
It was more than enough for him. A little too much to be exact. Too much to laugh at.
However, it wasn't his brimful laugh that caught you guys off guard. It was his fiery eyes slowly brimming with tears despite the laughter he was making. Wholesome. And heart-warming. Rengoku is neither the oldest nor the youngest, but he was adorable to perceive at the moment. Even the two aloof bullies managed to shut their foul-making lips.
And at that moment, you stepped towards the man patted his shoulders lightly with a soft smile. "There's no candle but blow and make a wish!"
And so he did. Rengoku looked at each and every one of you — from the younger one and to the tallest man in the room, he looked satisfied and contented with how warm his eyes seemed.
"Thank you! Thank you!" That was all he said, blushing in happiness and with overwhelming sentiments.
Well, would one consider this a success or a failure? It wouldn't be the latter. After all, it wasn't the plan of surprising him that can they call as a success. It was deeper to comprehend but far easy to succeed.
All it took for them to grab the win was Rengoku's overly genuine smile and laughter. And that was more than enough.
End
this is kinda later but happy birthday
rengoku kyojuro!
— mrs. shinazugawa