WEDNESDAY • NOVEMBER 31ST

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5:26 PM

Senpai was sitting in Monika's car. Sayori was sitting in the passenger seat while he sat in the back with a the window rolled down so he didn't get as dizzy.

It was already dark out as they drove down unknown streets. The sky was quiet and starless with only airplanes flying overhead being the only flashing white speckle in the sky.
Tamaki's was still processing everything that had happened earlier today while in school. His head fuzzy as he remembered what happened.

The day had started by him being chased by girls, he was saved by Whitty, then he invited Whitty to go to the fair with him tonight, and now?

Well...

He was on his way to pick the bomb-headed male up for their little... Hangout.

The strawberry blonde was still staring at the texts they and Whitty had shared at exactly 3:14 pm. Rereading the messages over and over again, silently wondering if this was even a good idea.

When school had ended, the day feeling so drawn out and long as he attempted to hide from all his admirers, but also because he kept looking at his phone. Waiting for a reply.
It kept eating away at him, he felt embarrassed for feeling like that. All nervous.
Then, as soon as he went to unlock his dorm room door, Whitty had finally texted him. And the response was something so simple, so small.. a one word reply.

"Yes."

But that singular word made Senpai freak out internally. This was really happening.

The light of a street light broke him out of his trance, he looked over at his left to see that the car had slowed and was parked across the street from a split-level house. They were in a Cul-de-sac.

The house the stopped across the street of was red-white-and-creamish colored, with most of the house looking to be made out of the bricks. Though if it was just a pattern or actual bricks, Senpai had yet to tell.
There was a small driveway that sloped up slightly and led to a garage that had a dark red door. The roof was out a bit, creating a small porch that was held up with thick, rectangular posts.

In the porch area there was a small bench and above the bench, in the walls, were three windows that glowed a soft yellow because of the light from inside the house.
A few feet away from the bench was the front door. It was huge, white and had what seemed to be a pattern on the lower half but Senpai couldn't tell as it was dark and there was also a thick, round bush blocking his veiw.
There was a small walk way that seemingly broke away from the driveway and led up to the front door so you didn't have to walk on the grass.

It was a simple, cute house.
But also something Senpai wasn't expecting, for some odd reason he always thought Whitty lived in a dorm room with his little brother despite it being against college policy to have pets or small children in the dorm rooms. Though, the pet rule was constantly broken and there was only one exception and that was service animals.

Tamaki sat in the backseat of the car, the window rolled down, gripping the door handle on the inside tightly as he just... Stared.
His seat-belt already unbuckled but he was suddenly feeling every more nervous than ever before. His palms sweaty.
The car was still rumbling as the keys were still in the ignition, and to make him feel even more nervous, the strawberry blonde was certain that Monika and Sayori's eyes were on him.

Watching him...

There was a awkward silence in the car as Senpai stared, feeling conflicted. 'We've come this far. And I'm already here! Just right across the street from Whitty's... House...'

"I don't think I can do this." He breathed, his voice almost cracking as his eyes were almost glued onto the split-level house. Watching the yellow glowing windows for any type of silhouetted movement.
"Of course you can!" Sayori chirped, smiling brightly at him. "You even said yourself, it's not a date! It's just a friendly hangout."
"Yeah, and it'd be a waste of gas if I drove out here for no reason just for you to back out now, Tamaki." Monika mumbled from the front seat, her hand still on the wheel.

Without even turning, Senpai could imagine Sayori hitting her girlfriends shoulder with an almost pouty glare and and quick scolding.
"Moni! Don't say that!"
"Sorry- but it's true! These damn gas prices keep rising! Spent thirty bucks to fill this damn thing only half."

While the couple had a quick bickering moment, the blonde prepared to get out of the car and get Whitty for this... Hangout session. Not a date.
'It'll never be a date! ...it won't.'

After a few agonizingly long seconds, Tamaki finally built up enough courage to pick Whitty up. It would be a wonderful bonding experience without Carol, Hex, or Sunday being around and teasing them. It'd be just the two of them!

...

Oh god.

...he was losing hope by the very second.

Opening the car door, Senpai took a breath. He was getting all worked up over nothing! Ayana was just a voice in his ear, and he could end this when he wanted! He was just deciding to go through with this because he was already in to deep. Why end this silly little game now?

Closing the car door gently, Senpai brushed off his black ripped-jeans. A chain being attached at the hip, it ratted as the strawberry blonde made his way across the road, down the pathway to the door, up the steps and- now he was officially at the door.

All the nervousness seemed to set in again, as he raised his hand to knock on the door, but before he could even do that, both doors swung open to reveal—

"Hex?"

Hex waved happily. "Hello there, friend Tamaki! Are you here to pick up my dear friend, Whitmore for the fair tonight?"

"...That I am, yes."

Hex's screen lit up, showing a bright teal smile. He stepped back a little to let Senpai inside the house. The door frame and the the door were massive in comparison to himself.
"Wonderful! Y'know, Whitmore was wondering if you were actually going to show. He was pacing back and forth in the living room waiting for you to come pick him up-"

"Hex! Get away from the door please!" Whitty's slightly panicked voice sounded from inside the house.

Hex was pulled from the door way and was quickly replaced with Whitty, who looked nervous but also... relieved? Tamaki was quick to notice Whitty's choice of clothes for the trip to the fair; wearing a comfortable looking outfit.
Whitty wore a very dark blue hoodie, with long yellow-and-black striped strings. Some nice black, ripped jeans, and fingerless gloves. His shoes were the same ones he always worse, his orange and white sneakers.

Whitty's hoodie was interesting to the strawberry blonde, however. If he ever wore that, it would easily be way to huge for him, but for Whitty, it fit perfectly. Almost a little too perfectly.

An immediate blush dusted on Tamaki's cheeks. The strawberry blonde looked away from Whitty, opting to look over his shoulder at the huge doorframe.

"So do- are you ready to go? We have to be there by six and it's quite the ride." He managed out. Silently berating himself for that slight stutter in the beginning.

Whitty nodded, "Yeah. Um. We have to be back before eleven though.. Hex has to go home and I need to put Junior to bed and everything."

"Oh! Yes, of course! I'm not planning on staying out that late anyway."

•••

The air smelt of deep fried food, buttered popcorn, and sweet candy. A total clashing of scents, but it worked perfectly. It was typical fair ground smells.

The drive to the carnival was.. quiet. At least in the back of the car it was.
Monika and Sayori had blasted music and sang together loudly. Whitty had been staring out of the window, and the blonde boy had been staring at Whitty.

They had all handed in their tickets already, getting a bracelet so they could play all the games and ride all the rides. And now they were standing at the front, holding a small green-and-gray printed map of the fair that was being handed out; discussing where they'd meet up to go home.
Monika was holding Sayori's hand, pointing with a black painted nail at the Ferris Wheel which was far from the entrancd, but everyone knew were it was.

"We can meet up there at.. elevenish? Is that alright with you guys? The fair closes at midnight and I'm not trying to be driving and dropping people off at 12." The brunette girl looked up at Tamaki and Whitty.

"That works for me." The blonde nodded, casting a look at Whitty who had his hands stuffed in his pockets when he didn't say anything for a second.
"Uhh.. um, yeah." Whitty nodded, avoiding everyone's gaze.

"Great! Have fun you guys~" Monika winked before walking off with Sayori. The two of them giggling.

Tamaki stared after the two girls, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose.
The two men stood their awkwardly for a moment before Whitty cleared his throat, speaking and taking him by surprise.

"So. What do we do now?"

"Umm.. I don't know. We could go ride something?"
"If I'm allowed on," Whitty sighed, walking ahead. "A lot of people say I'm way to tall to go on the rides."

"You?" Tamaki blinked, thinking of some of the people he knew. "But there are people in this town who are way taller than you."

"I know." Whitty went quiet for a second before speaking, "I'm friends with the guy named Ruv. And he's a good half foot taller than me.."
The freckled boy tilted his head, walking beside him. "Huh, really?"
"Yeah! But we look to be the same height because he uh.. he hunches a lot. So if he just stood up straight–" Whitty took his hand to bring it above his head, "Then he'd be like yay big. It's kinda scary."

"It sounds scary," he chuckled, "Is he the only one you know who's that tall?"

"No. I know another one, I forget her name though. It was like uhh Taki or somethin? I don't remember all that well. But he's ..eleven feet?"

"Eleven feet? Jesus Christ-" Tamaki's blue eyes widened as the two of them continued walking around the fair, trying to find something they could both enjoy.

"I already have to crane my neck to look up at you, I don't want to imagine what it'd be like looking up at him." A small laugh escaped, and Whitty smiled.

The conversation, though the topic was rather random, felt so.. normal.
The back and forth didn't feel awkward or forced, The words naturally came out and Tamaki felt relaxed.

It was like talking to a friend.

•••

1886 Words.

Ignore how long this took to get out and how much my writing style is about to change in the next chapter. 😋

THE NEXT CHAPTER SHOULD BE THE FINAL!!!!

I promised you guys I would finish this fic, and I'm keeping my word! No matter how long it takes me, I'll give my fellow Ballistic Roses shippers a nice book to read! (Even if some of the chapters and pacing don't make any fuckin sense 😭)

I hope you guys do like this book. Even if it's taking almost a year or two to be finished..💀

Also I hope you guys don't mind that I literally just threw a name at Senpai and named him 'Tamaki.'

Anyways!
Until then my peeps 🐣, creeps 🐜, and sickly sweets 🍬 and hopefully we'll meet again in the next chapter!!

:]