Almost 180 Degrees

by crystalline'maia

Kaichou wa Maid-sama © Hiro Fujiwara


3. one hundred and seventy-nine degrees

"You're welcome," Igarashi Tora said stiffly.

Usui Takumi forced to tug the ends of his lips up, just to make an impression that he was slightly grateful.

"And don't expect me to go through all that trouble again," Tora said, putting his wine glass down the glossy mahogany table. "Honestly, two whole months of wandering around England to track you, three months of trying to get you two meet personally at last, and six months of grueling court clashes just to get you off the clutches of your grandfather. It was horrible. Not to mention you needed a whole month just to make it up with each other."

Takumi tightened his lips into a thin line, staring sternly at the suit-clad man ranting in front of him. True, he appreciated the whole issue of the infamous womanizer helping him reunite with Misaki, but a part of him inclined to believe that he must want something from all of this, and knowing Tora, that something must be far away from anything good.

Takumi took a quick glance at Misaki, who sat beside him, enthusiastically swallowing everything on her dinner plate. He frowned; she looked like she had no idea that tension was forming between the two blond men on the same table as her.

Misaki and he invited Tora for dinner to discuss the whole matter of his help. It had just been barely a month since Takumi got back to Japan, and now here he was, scowling at a teenage-hood enemy before an exquisite candle-lit table, chatting about the events of the recent tiresome months.

"You don't even look like you're grateful for all of my help at all," Tora stated, annoyance flickering on his face.

"We're really grateful, Tora," Misaki said, gulping down a nice glass of champagne.

Takumi's brows furrowed more. He still wasn't used to Misaki calling the womanizer with his first name. Besides, when did this entire affectionate first-name calling started? Surely something must have happened between them, romantically speaking. And though he didn't want to get a brainwave of that disgusting thought again, something really must have happened between them, sexually speaking.

He pushed the thought away with a gulp of water, then looked back at Tora.

"All right," Takumi started firmly, garnering their attention. "Is there anything you want in exchange of all the help you've given us?"

Tora let out an amused face, almost suppressing a grin. "You have no idea, do you?"

"Idea on what?" he asked.

"I already told Misaki that I don't want anything from this, but if you don't like having to owe people, fine, send me a little present," Tora explained. "And mind you, I won't appreciate time bombs."

"Really?" Takumi pressed on. "No catch? Tricks? Anything that you usually do at all?"

Tora released a frustrated sigh, putting his palm over his face. "Am I that untrustworthy to people? For the last time, Usui, I don't want anything, and if you question about this some more, I'm going to take back my words of selfless help. All of this pestering is getting on my nerves."

"All right," Takumi said dismissively. "I won't ask any further."

"Truce?" Tora suddenly asked.

Takumi's brows rose in question, wondering if his hearing was all right. "Pardon?" he asked.

"I asked if you wanted a truce. You probably didn't believe what you just heard, did you?"

Takumi turned his head to his right, quietly examining Misaki's face for her say on this, only to find out that she was busy scooping up a third glass of sundae.

"Misaki," he said, and she promptly looked at him.

"What?"

"What do you think?"

"About what?"

'So she was busy eating', Takumi thought exasperatedly. "About our truce."

"Oh," she uttered, her mouth forming an 'o.' "I think you two should really agree on one. I mean, look at you, you still hate each other, and it has been more than seven years since high school. I think it's best if you let go of the teenage grudge, and who knows, maybe your companies can mutually benefit from each other."

Takumi then looked back at Tora, who was silently expecting his answer with a raised keen brow.

"All right, truce."

The two blond businessmen clasped hands, and then went on to continue their dinner in peace. Takumi started finishing his meal quietly, occasionally glancing at Misaki.

"What's wrong?" she asked, once she noticed his glances. "Is there anything on my face?"

"That's your... fourth plate of waffles, right?"

Misaki's face quickly flustered, but it appeared unnoticeable with the restaurant's dim lighting. "Y-yeah," she stammered, immediately ceasing to take another waffle from the white porcelain plate.

Takumi started to absorb and realize it all. The sudden mood swings, the cravings, the unusual nauseas she had in the mornings, it all made sense to him. Slowly, a teasing smirk appeared on his lips. "Is there anything you want to tell me, Misa-chan?"

"Well, um, I just got my results earlier this morning, and I, uh... I'm about two months pregnant."

A nice, warm feeling flooded over Takumi. He felt hopelessly excited and panicky at the same time. His smirk brightened into a huge, happy smile as he put his arms around Misaki.

At the other side of the table, Tora watched the scene with a shadow of a sincere smile on his lips. He couldn't help but feel happy for the both them, but it simultaneously made his heart sting a little. There wasn't going to be a chance for him from this point onwards, and all he can do now is to either look for another, or end up single for the rest of his life. But he also had a third choice, if he was willingly going to do it – become a heartless asshole once again and break women's hearts for his satisfaction.

If only she loved him back, she could've been the reason for his life to turn a hundred and eighty degrees.

And she almost changed him for the better.

True love in reality isn't always a fairy tale. Sometimes you have to deal with the devil to get your happy ending.

end