you haven't seen him.
he's got the fire
and he walks with it
— LANA DEL REY
CHAPTER 37 COOKIES
y/n, one of the hosts of the host club, was in the middle of the christmas party. she had prepared her station for the christmas party, making sure to have a variety of decorating supplies available for her customers.
she also arranged the table with different colored icings, sprinkles, and small candies to adorn the cookies.
her station was set up with a table and an array of decorating supplies. her customers were seated around the table, each with a cookie to decorate. y/n had a big smile on her face as she showed her customers how to use the icing bags and sprinkles.
one of her customers was a shy young woman who was having trouble decorating her cookie. y/n leaned over and showed her how to make a snowflake with the icing. the woman's face lit up with delight.
you noticed the young woman sitting alone at her station, staring at her half-decorated cookie with a look of disappointment on her face.
you approached her with a smile, trying to make her feel at ease. "hi there, how's it going?" you asked.
with surprise, the young lady lifted her gaze, taken aback by the friendly gesture. "hello," she responded, with a hint of timidity.
"unfortunately, i lack the necessary skills to excel in this task." she commented while indicating towards her cookie.
"don't worry, everyone starts somewhere." you reassured her. "here, let me show you a trick." leaning over, and began to pipe out a delicate snowflake pattern on the young woman's cookie.
the young lady observed with astonishment as y/n skillfully garnished her cookie, her gaze widening with awe. she expressed her amazement with a "that's amazing!" and her face lit up with joy.
y/n smiled at her, pleased with the young woman's reaction. "you're doing great! just take your time and have fun with it." she said, encouragingly.
the young lady acknowledged y/n's gracious words, feeling more self-assured as a result. with renewed vigor, she started adorning her cookie, meticulously projecting her unique snowflake design using a piping bag.
while they were still embellishing their cookies, y/n conversed with her customers. her pleasant demeanor and affable personality won over the admiration of the customers.
they chuckled and engaged in banter while relishing the jovial ambiance of the celebration.
while in a lull between serving customers, y/n seized the opportunity to observe their surroundings within the club.
the rest of the host club members were occupied tending to their areas, each with their own set of patrons. the atmosphere was intimate and snug due to the dim lighting and loud music.
she noticed that venti and heizou were at their gingerbread house-making station, surrounded by customers who were laughing and having a great time.
venti, with his playful smile and quick wit, was teasing one of the customers playfully while heizou patiently helped another customer build a roof for their gingerbread house. they were a great team, each playing off the other's strengths and personalities.
you grinned as you saw how much fun they were having with the customers, realizing that venti's event had been a triumph, particularly with the large number of people arriving.
as you were engrossed in observing the crowd, you unintentionally overlooked ganyu who was standing next to you.
the customer caught your attention as you raised your gaze and flashed her a smile, taken aback by her presence. you politely inquired, "greetings, ganyu! how may i be of service?" and eagerly offered your skills as a gracious hostess.
with a shy smile, ganyu presented a half-decorated cookie. "actually, i was hoping you could help me finish decorating my cookie." she asked softly.
you responded with an acknowledging gesture and expressed a pleased countenance. "certainly, i would be delighted to assist you! what specific cookie design are you interested in?"
y/n carefully examined ganyu's half-decorated cookie and took note of the design. she then reached for the icing bag and demonstrated how to create intricate designs on the cookie.
ganyu watched in amazement as y/n deftly maneuvered the icing bag and turned her half-decorated cookie into a stunning masterpiece.
while they were busy with their work, y/n couldn't help but observe ganyu's anxious demeanor. in an attempt to make her feel comfortable, she initiated a conversation and inquired about her encounter at the event up to that point.
as the party continued, y/n noticed that ganyu appeared to be somewhat frustrated, and so she approached her and asked, "so, ganyu, how are you enjoying the party so far?" she hoped that the question would distract ganyu from her vexation.
ganyu's face brightened up as she turned to the girl and responded, "i'm having a great time. the festive atmosphere and all the fun activities are really lifting my spirits."
the h/c-headed girl nodded with agreement, acknowledging that the party was one of the most exciting events held at the club. she added with a chuckle, "and the cookies are always a big hit with our customers, they can't seem to get enough of them!"
overall, the conversation was successful in diverting ganyu's attention from her frustration and allowed her to enjoy the festivities. the h/c-headed girl's observation and willingness to engage with ganyu helped create a positive and enjoyable experience for both of them.
as ganyu focused intently on decorating her cookie, the girl who had been assisting her watched with admiration. "there you go, ganyu! your cookie looks beautiful." she remarked, complimenting ganyu's handiwork.
ganyu's expression lit up with gratitude as she turned to face the girl. "thank you so much, y/n. i really appreciate your help." she responded warmly, expressing her appreciation.
y/n smiled back, feeling pleased that she could be of assistance. "it was my pleasure," she replied.
"and if you ever need any help with cookie decorating again, you know where to find me." she added a playful wink, hoping to convey her willingness to help again in the future.
prior to ganyu being able to provide a reply. out of nowhere, you sensed a slight tap on your shoulder, prompting you to face the direction where your eyes landed on kazuha who was holding a charming little package in his hand. your spirits lifted at the sight of him.
kazuha presented the box to y/n, causing her to widen their eyes in astonishment. with curiosity, she took the gift box from kazuha and inquired, "what is this?"
with a warm and friendly twinkle in his eyes, he beamed at her. "it's a present. as a part of the secret santa, i happen to have picked your name. i believe this could be of interest to you." he answered.
you felt a wave of gratitude wash over you as you realized how thoughtful kazuha was. you have been friends for a while now, and he knew you well enough to pick out a gift that you would truly appreciate.
"thank you, kazuha. you didn't have to do this, but it means a lot to me." you replied, voice full of sincerity.
the gesture has evoked an emotional response within you, causing a pleasant sensation to spread throughout your chest.
upon receiving the box, you proceeded to open its contents - a delicate bracelet adorned with charms. as you traced the intricate design with your fingers, you exhaled admiringly, "this is truly stunning."
the male smiled at the sight of your reaction. "it brings me joy that you appreciate it. my sincere wish is that it bestows upon you fortune and joy."
returning his smile, you sensed a bond starting to develop between you both. "i am truly grateful, kazuha. this gift holds a special place in my heart."
with that, you delicately placed the bracelet on your wrist, relishing in the sensation of its weight against your skin.
as you conversed with kazuha, the chemistry between the two of you was so palpable that the other customers lounging on the sofas couldn't help but observe.
they shared meaningful looks, acknowledging the presence of an underlying connection beyond a merely casual encounter.
following a brief silence, the male coughed lightly and began to speak. "i hope it's not impolite to ask, but would you be interested in joining me for coffee at a nearby cafe sometime?"
a sudden request caused your cheeks to redden, yet you couldn't resist the fascination it stirred within you. "that sounds wonderful, kazuha. i'd be delighted to join you for coffee."
as you accepted kazuha's invitation with a smile, the other customers sitting in the station couldn't help but sense the chemistry between you two.
they exchanged subtle nods and soft chuckles, recognizing the potential for something special to blossom between you both.
↷ ⁞ END OF CHAPTER 37!
⟶ chapter written; april 23 2023