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benny for president!

Chapter 14: impulse

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(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

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Kokomi Sangonomiya. Mondstadt High's reliable princess. 

She was the school's youngest ever swimming team captain when she took on the role in grade 9 and has had it ever since. She's also the sports prefect and so helps organise tryouts and matches, so members of all the sports teams see her as some sort of chairperson for them. She's the one who listens to everyone's issues and goes to the P.E. department demanding for things to do with equipment, practice hours, all sorts, and she almost always gets what she asks for. It's no secret that Kokomi Sangonomiya is amazing with words. 

It's a running joke for people (probably Gorou) to say, "Never fear, Her Excellency Sangonomiya is here!" and bow when she walks into a room, and Kokomi always laughs (though Bennett thinks she's secretly trying not to cringe), but maybe it's not even fully a joke anymore. People really do think the highest of her, and they're completely justified because even Bennett knows that she just has this air about her. This refined, gentle, responsible aura that would make anyone feel safe. 

Razor actually has a similar aura now that Bennett's got to know them, though theirs is a lot more unrestrained. Bennett thinks they must be the coolest duo ever. The two most popular people in school? What a dream. 

Bennett's stayed late after school today to finish a D.T. project, and he's almost done when he realises he needs to search up something but he's left his phone in his locker (he got too paranoid about damaging it with all the death traps in the workshop so he kept it in there). He sighs yet still heads over to the lockers to get it, but freezes when he sees someone else already there. A very familiar someone. 

But there's also something unfamiliar about them too. So amazingly unfamiliar that Bennett stands there for a few minutes, just staring. 

"R-Razor!" Bennett eventually calls out way too quickly, and his voice is so high that he might as well be a mouse. He curses himself in his head but Razor still hears him, turning their own head to face Bennett with wide eyes. 

"Benny?" 

"Yeah! Yeah, that's me," Bennett says pathetically, watching with a rapid heartbeat as Razor runs over to him in an instant. Why do they have to do that? Why do they have to bound over like an excited puppy as if it doesn't send Bennett into an adoring spiral?

"Why're you here?" Razor asks, confused, but then their face suddenly scrunches up with a look of extreme burden. "Did you...wait for me?" 

"Wha...oh- oh, no! Don't worry, I know you had swimming practice today," Bennett quickly clarifies, and Razor droops in relief. "I was just finishing up my D.T. project- ah, well, I'm not done yet but I'm almost done! Uh, and you...you...um..." 

All coherent thoughts leave Bennett's mind when Razor blinks at him, and he says dumbly, "Your hair." 

Razor nods like it's something obvious, and it is because it's obviously very clear that Razor's hair is in a braid, but it's a completely different thing to Bennett who has, firstly, never seen Razor with a braid before and, secondly, he has never seen Razor with a braid before. 

"Easier for swimming." 

Bennett nods like he knows what Razor's talking about. "Totally." 

Razor eyes Bennett suspiciously which must mean he's doing a terrible job at trying to play it cool, but he can't help it. Bennett already goes slightly crazy over Razor in a simple ponytail, and here Razor is, damp hair brushed out of their face and in a loose braid that drapes over their shoulder. Strands of their wild mane are threatening to escape the plait already, and Bennett thinks Razor looks so- "Nice!" 

Razor furrows their eyebrows, questioning, and Bennett continues breathlessly, "You look- nice. But, like, really nice." 

Razor clearly didn't expect that, their eyebrows shooting up as their cheeks colour the tiniest bit, and the reminder of how adorable Razor is calms Bennett's heartbeat down a bit. "Thank you." 

Bennett nods quickly, eager to get away from this topic for his own sanity. "Don't mention it! Um, so, how was it? Swimming?" 

Razor opens their mouth to speak, but both of them jump a little when someone rounds the corner and a bright voice calls out, "Alright, Razor, I'm ready, let's-" 

"Kokomi?" Bennett blurts out in surprise without thinking, then covers his mouth right after. Kokomi blinks at him in a very equal amount of surprise, but then she looks at Razor, then back at Bennett, and suddenly a sort of gleam appears in her eye. 

"Sorry to interrupt," Kokomi says, voice gentle again like what Bennett's used to hearing and not as vibrant as when she was calling out for Razor. Maybe that's just the way she talks to friends? Bennett desperately tries not to read any more into it.

She smiles as she goes up to them and pats Razor's back. Razor gives her a shy look that just makes Kokomi smile bigger before she averts her gaze to Bennett. "Hello, Bennett." 

"Hi," Bennett replies with a weak smile, hating how defeated he suddenly feels. What is he even feeling defeated about? The presidency? The fact that Kokomi's such a better friend of Razor's than he is? To the point where they can apparently telepathically communicate? 

Bennett tries to send Razor the mental message of 'I like barbecue so we should totally get barbecue sometime but like together because I'm very in love with you' when they next make eye contact because it happens to be the first thing he thinks of, and Razor just tilts their head at him confusedly. 

Maybe Bennett is kind of glad that they can't telepathically communicate. 

"Bennett?" 

Bennett snaps out of his thoughts, looking at Kokomi who is peering at him worriedly. "A-Ah, sorry, zoned out for a sec! Did you say something?" 

Kokomi smiles at him reassuringly and Bennett wishes she didn't have to be so nice. "I was just saying that Razor and I should probably get going, but it was nice to see you, Bennett." 

Oh man. They're going home together. And, that's perfectly fine! It's not like Bennett's overthinking things, it's not like he feels a very slight crushing weight inside his chest or anything. Not at all. 

Though that weight starts to disappear when Razor sweeps to his side, slipping their hand into Bennett's. "Sorry, Mimi. Can I go with Benny?"  

Razor calls Kokomi Mimi? That's so cute that Bennett almost needs to clutch his heart - but then he processes the rest of Razor's words and his jaw almost drops.

"Huh?" Bennett squeaks, trying to ignore the happiness welling up inside him. "No, you don't need to do that!" 

Razor fixes him with a firm stare that says 'but I want to', and Bennett goes weak. He doesn't manage to say anything in reply before Kokomi says good-heartedly, "I'm fine with that! I'll see you two tomorrow. Good work in swimming today, Razor." 

Razor waves when Kokomi starts to leave, and also lifts Bennett's hand to wave when they realise that Bennett's not waving (which is just because he's suddenly feeling exhausted). And when Kokomi turns around the corner, it's only them left, and Bennett feels nerves creeping up his throat again. It doesn't feel legal for him to be left alone with a very pretty, very braided Razor. 

But then Razor tugs him along the corridor by the hand, saying, "Don't trip," and Bennett definitely doesn't trip, but he does smash his face into the wall when they're turning the corner that Kokomi just did. "Wha- Benny!" 

"Ahh, sorry!" Bennett winces, and all the nerves go away just like that as Bennett bursts into laughter over his own stupidity and Razor fusses over him like a sweet mother hen. 

"So...Kokomi, huh?" Bennett says intelligently when they've got outside after Bennett finishes up his project (Razor was very sweet while egging him on), and Razor nods. 

"Mm. Mimi's cool." 

"Oh, yeah, for sure." 

"She's been...tired, lately," Razor says, sounding sad. "I tell her to relax but, she won't listen." 

Bennett frowns. "Oh, man. I've heard she's a super hard worker. But more prefects from the year younger than us will be announced around the same time as the student body president, right? Hopefully she can relax once she doesn't have to be the only sports prefect anymore." 

"But if she gets president?" 

"Then I guess it can't be helped...but maybe she'll know how to balance her time, since she's the one applying for it." 

Razor elbows Bennett out of nowhere, making Bennett look at them in surprise. "You should've said something like 'but she won't, 'cause I will.'" 

"Oh," Bennett says, blinking because that hadn't even come to his mind. "But come on, it's still super possible that she'll get it! She's always been the shoo-in." 

Razor looks so adorably cross as they furrow their eyebrows at Bennett who just ends up feeling endeared. "Okay, okay. If we forget about the possibility of me being president for a second - maybe Kokomi needs to really think about whether she'll be okay with being president and juggling all her other responsibilities at the same time. She doesn't strike me as the type of person who thinks about herself a lot." 

"You're right," Razor says with a nod, staring at Bennett as if he's spouting the secrets of the universe which is odd in itself but Bennett decides not to question it. Maybe he kind of likes it.

"If you're worried about her then I think you should tell her? Hearing it from a friend might make her become more aware of it." 

"I try, but, don't know how to-" Razor makes a grand gesture with their hands, which they do kind of often and Bennett always takes it as Razor not knowing how to put their thoughts into words. So he pats the guy's back, reassuring them, "It's alright. If you want, I can help." 

Razor pauses, then their eyes grow wide as they look at Bennett again. "Really?" 

Bennett smiles, nodding. "Sure! I can tell you what you need to-" 

"Tomorrow!" Razor suddenly yells, grabbing Bennett's hands. "At break. Free?" 

"I, uh- me?" Bennett squeaks, a surprised flush spreading across his face. "I mean, yes! Yeah, I'm free-"

"Thank you," Razor says, their voice so laden with relief, eyes absolutely glimmering and Bennett gets so caught up in them that he doesn't even notice Razor letting go of him, or that they've reached the place of their walk home where they need to part ways. He only just about gathers his wits by the time Razor's already a considerable distance away, waving animatedly before they run off with the energy of a cheetah. 

What just happened? 

 

 

 

"Razor was weirdly skittish yesterday," is the first thing Bennett says when he comes into school the next day and makes a beeline for his friends at the front of the classroom. It's rare for the both of them to be here so early, but Bennett's too worked up to question it. 

"Hello to you too," Xingqiu snorts derisively, and Bennett decides to ignore him.

"Oh no, are they okay?" Chongyun asks which is a much better response, sneaking a worried peek at Razor who's at the back of the room, playing with their pens like normal. But Bennett still frowns at them and whispers back, "I'm not sure. It's like they really really wanted to get away from me. Oh gods, is it finally happening? Do they hate me now?"  

"Bennett," Xingqiu warns, giving him a scathing look, and Bennett sighs. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry...I mean, okay, to be fair, I don't actually think they hate me. Or, at least, I think that I don't think that." 

"Well, that's a step in the right direction," Xingqiu says, looking satisfied. "But what exactly happened that's making you spiral like this?" 

"Well...Razor just kinda ran away when I told them I'd help them with Kokomi." 

"Wait," Chongyun starts confusedly, and Xingqiu finishes with an incredulous, "What?!" 

Bennett realises all too late that he really should've given more context first. "O-Oh, um, well, I just said that I'd-" 

"By helping with Kokomi, please don't tell me that you mean that you're 1. going to help Razor ask her out or 2. going to help Razor help her with her campaign, because those are both things that you in very much particular do not want to do!" Xingqiu yells, grabbing Bennett's shoulders, and Bennett yells back as best as he can while Xingqiu's shaking him like a maraca, "I wasn't even thinking that those were the things I agreed to but now I am and now I'm terrified, thanks a LOT, Xingqiu!" 

"You're welcome," Xingqiu says, suddenly calm again as he lets go of Bennett and smooths down his own shirt. What a menace. "Alright. Well. This is quite the dilemma, but I'm sure we can fix it. Why don't we just go up to Razor now and ask what the situation is?" 

Bennett frowns uneasily. "But what if they really do hate me?" 

At that very moment, Razor looks up, and Bennett's lock eyes with them. Bennett freezes up but finds no casual way to avert his gaze - but he's glad he doesn't, because Razor is the sweetest thing in the entire world who holds up a drawing of a smiling bunny and mouths an excited, 'It's you'.  

"Okay," Bennett murmurs, dizzy. "Maybe- maybe they don't hate me." 

"Astute observation, lover boy," Xingqiu says with all the sarcasm in the world, but Bennett still feels like he's on cloud nine.  

Turns out they've ended up talking for so long that it's time for registration by the time Bennett heads over to his seat, and he can't say anything to Razor without being too suspicious. Mr Albedo doesn't really mind if they chat once roll call's over, but this time it seems like the teacher has a topic of conversation for once. 

"Everyone," Mr Albedo starts, looking pensive as he leans back in his chair. "I've been informed that we're meant to be discussing enlightening things during the registration times where we don't have assembly. Does anyone have any enlightening things to suggest?" 

Someone puts up their hand, only to get overwhelmed by the pressure of speaking out loud and they end up saying a panicked, "Lightning." But Mr Albedo still nods engagingly and writes it on the board. 

"My old form teacher used to put a sudoku on the board and we'd have to solve it," someone else says, and the chorus of groans in the class makes Mr Albedo chuckle. 

"A lovely idea, I know I would enjoy that, but I'm worried some of our peers might not. Anything else?" 

"Tell us about your husband!" some brave soul calls out followed by cheers from others in the class, and Mr Albedo raises an amused eyebrow. 

"I'm afraid if I started, I wouldn't be able to stop," Albedo says fondly, and Bennett would gag from the way his classmates melt at that if he wasn't one of the people melting. "I can tell you, however, that the wedding preparations have been rather hectic." 

"Wait, aren't you already married?" someone questions, and Mr Albedo nods. 

"Yes, but that was just in an office. We are doing a big wedding now because my husband has an extremely wide scope of acquaintances." 

"Can we come?" 

"From what I've seen of the guest list, I'd be surprised if the entire town wasn't already coming," Mr Albedo laughs kindly, and Bennett thinks that was an amazing way to avoid answering the question. "Nevertheless, I hope my husband enjoys himself. I'll probably be hiding by the cake the entire time, though they chose it so he might not have made it as big as I'd like it to be." 

"Razor, since you're friends with Klee," Bennett whispers to Razor behind his hand while their classmates ask more questions about the wedding, "are you going?" 

Razor gives Bennett the most perplexed look even as they nod, and Bennett has to slap a hand over his mouth to stop himself from gasping. "Seriously? Can I be your plus one? Actually wait, that might be a bit weird, so like only if you want to-" 

"Benny," Razor says slowly, resting their hand over Bennett's. "You're coming to the wedding." 

Bennett's eyes widen, heartbeat picking up speed. What a roundabout way of saying yes, which is rare for someone of few words like Razor. Maybe they're saying that it's obvious that Bennett would be their plus one, which is just stupid wishful thinking because why would that be obvious? Or... maybe they've said something about it before and Bennett was probably too busy doing something dumb like staring into Razor's eyes? Oh gods, why is Bennett actually the worst person ever?

"Cool," Bennett says hoarsely, not trusting himself to say anything else, and Razor looks at him curiously for a moment longer before moving their hand. 

"Still free at break, right?" 

It takes a minute, but Bennett eventually comes back to earth and processes what Razor's saying. "Oh- yes, yep! Absolutely! For the Kokomi thing." 

Razor nods, so bright-eyed that it makes Bennett forget almost everything they just talked about. Then they're both back to looking at Mr Albedo who now seems to be battling allegations about his husband being a famous trapeze artist, and Bennett has no idea how he missed that much of the conversation. 

 

 

 

By the time break arrives, Bennett's at his locker getting his books for the classes he has afterwards, and he's just about to close it when he feels a small tug on his sleeve that surprises him so much that he almost drops all his books. 

"Oh- Klee!" Bennett says, trying to act nonchalant as the girl beams up at him with her cute pigtails. Bennett was the one who had done those pigtails for her this morning and he's very proud of them. "Hey! What's up?" 

"The sky," Klee giggles and Bennett has to try really hard not to roll his eyes at an eleven year old. Her and Razor really are best friends. "Razor told me to tell you to meet them!" 

Ah, yes. The infamous meeting at break. "Yeah? Do you know where?" 

Klee nods enthusiastically, and points somewhere to the left. "In the student council meeting room." 

"Oh. Oh, wow. So it's like, a - a proper meeting, and stuff," Bennett stammers, already feeling like he's about to break into a sweat. And he's probably overthinking things (again), but he's getting this feeling that this meeting is going to be a lot more serious than it should be. He's just meant to be helping Razor figure out how to talk to his number one opponent, that's all! 

Klee must notice how anxious he looks, because she pats his arm before taking his hand and pulling him down the corridor. "Don't be nervous! They're both really nice." 

"Yeah, I know Razor's nice," Bennett says absently, still thinking about whether he might have made a massive mistake about agreeing to any of this; but then he registers that Klee said 'both'. He blinks, opening his mouth to question that but before he can, they've made it to the student council meeting room. And, well, there they are. 

Where 'they' in this context means Razor, and Mondstadt's reliable princess herself.

There Kokomi is, in all her glory as she sits at the head of the table inside and smiles radiantly at Bennett like world peace has been achieved. Bennett can almost see a shimmering halo of pink around her. 

So, obviously, Bennett's first impulse is to leg it. 

"Wha- where are you going?" Klee asks in surprise as Bennett only gets about one metre away before Klee's little hand which is still attached to his tugs him back. Fuck...now Bennett's going to have to explain to everyone why he tried to run away. Why does anyone ever give into impulses when they're almost always a bad idea?

"Sorry," Bennett says so quietly that he doubts anyone even heard him as he makes his way inside, and he's grateful when Klee pats his arm one more time before leaving. He doesn't really want to look at either Razor nor Kokomi, but he does anyway because he doesn't want to make things worse. He bites his tongue at Razor's worried look, and Kokomi's smile has wavered, too, her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she stands up. 

"No need to apologise, Bennett. I did think that this might be strange," Kokomi says, sending a pointed look to Razor when she says that last word but Razor looks none the wiser. "We don't need to do this. I'm starting to doubt Razor even told you I would be here." 

"Was implied," Razor insists, though they droop when Bennett immediately says, "It really wasn't." 

Kokomi sighs, a knowing smile on her face as she shakes her head, and that's when Bennett notices that she looks ready to leave. And for some reason, Bennett feels guilty. He had said that he'd help Kokomi - it doesn't matter so much if he does it directly instead of through Razor, right? 

"I want you to know," Bennett starts, a little loudly to the point that he even makes himself flinch a little bit, and Razor and Kokomi both look at him with wide eyes. Bennett quickly clears his throat and continues, "that you should, um...take care of yourself. Razor says they're worried about you, and they're a really good judge of those kinds of things, so- you know you're allowed to take breaks, right? To enjoy yourself? I think I can speak for everyone when I say that you're amazing and you're probably a massive reason why our school's sports system runs and perseveres so well - but if it ever gets too much, and I'm not saying that it is because I totally think you can handle yourself and it's not like I know anything! But if so, you... you're allowed to admit it to yourself, you know?"

Bennett decides to stop there. He's probably already running his mouth too much, and it's difficult to know what to say here because he's not Kokomi's friend in any way, but he does care. Everyone deserves to have that self-awareness, to know when they're working too hard, when they need to take off before it gets too much. 

But he's brought out of his thoughts when Kokomi suddenly lets out a sigh much louder than before and sinks back down in her seat. Her smile's completely gone now, and Bennett starts feeling that tick of anxiety again. 

Then Kokomi says softly, "I don't want to be student body president." 

A sort of chill fills the room. Bennett can't believe what he just heard. Actually, he doubts that he even heard what he just heard. It was probably something else. Maybe Kokomi actually said, 'You don't want to be student body president.' Like she's employing some sort of psychological tactic!

But from the way Razor looks at Kokomi with a sort of gentle, proud kind of worry, like they're happy that she said that out loud but still concerned all the same, shows that Bennett definitely heard right. So he swallows down all his nervousness and takes the seat nearest to Kokomi's, asking a simple, "Really?" 

Kokomi nods, head in her hands. "You're right. I'm so tired. I've only told Razor that. No-one else knows. I try to act like I'm okay because so many people are counting on me but it's so hard, this month alone I've had to juggle preparing the swimming team for the qualifiers for the championships, and I've been helping out all the other sports teams too because I'm an idiot who helped so much last year on my own accord that they just expect me to be there now, and then there's university applications, and looking after my siblings, and just school in general and I-"

"Mimi," Razor says sadly, rubbing Kokomi's back, and Kokomi sniffles but falls quiet. Now Bennett just feels like the most horrible person in the world. Here he's been, wishing for the past month that he could hate this girl all because she's running against him (and maybe also something to do with Razor seeming to like her a lot but Bennett's been trying not to think about that), yet she's been going through so much.  

"Gods, that was embarrassing," Kokomi laughs, raising her head and wiping her eyes as a shaky smile manages to make its way onto her face again. Bennett frowns, though, because he's an expert at knowing the different between fake and real smiles. "I'm so sorry, Bennett, I don't know what came over-"

"Hey, no need to apologise" Bennett says gently, mirroring Kokomi's words from the start of this 'meeting'. "I'm the one who's sorry, that you've had to shoulder all this. You're really strong, it's crazy. But this is our last year of school, right? It's the year where all we're meant to focus on are our exams and where we're going to go next, whether that's university or anywhere. It's also the year that's meant to commemorate our school years in the best way, and I know I'd find it hard to do that if I was constantly worried about so many things all the time." 

"But I don't know what to do," Kokomi tells him, eyes glassy and scared. It hurts Bennett. "It feels like everyone's counting on me, to do well with swimming, and as sports prefect, and then end up getting into the best universities after having a perfect senior year. And I know it's my own fault because I'm the one who created this whole reputation-"

"Kokomi, don't say that it's a fault that you've been so amazing to the point that everyone else also thinks you're amazing. That's not a bad thing. It's the pressure that sucks, and I get that, but after so many years of thinking about everyone else, I bet you know that you deserve to think about yourself now. Pass the reigns on to other people. A new sports prefect will be announced soon, and, well... if you know that you're struggling now, then why take on something as demanding as president just when you'll be given more freedom? I'm guessing that's why you don't want to be president."

"Wow," Kokomi says in awe. "Razor was right, you are good with words." 

Bennett flushes at the non-sequitur as Razor puffs up in pride, and he quickly stammers out, "O-Oh, thank you, um... just, I want you to be sure you're doing the right thing. And I'd bet you'd be an amazing president anyway, but you shouldn't do it if it'll burn you out. Priorities and all that."

"That's the thing. Deep down somewhere in my heart, I do kind of think it would be nice to be president," Kokomi sighs. "Or, I mean - I don't think I'd like everything about it. You know, I get so nervous when I have to give speeches or just talk to a lot of people. Gorou let me borrow some gloves once because my hands wouldn't stop shaking  before a swim meet." 

Wow. That surprises Bennett a lot, because he's always thought that Kokomi was an effortless speaker, the type of person who was born for those sort of things, who lived for them. But Kokomi looks so exhausted now, and it's such a different side of her. "Talking to people makes me so tired too. It sucks because I really like people, but every conversation feels more and more loaded, and the day won't even be half done and I'll already want to go to sleep." 

"Barbara would probably let you sleep in the nurse's office. She's super nice," Bennett suggests, trying to help, and Kokomi laughs a little.

"Maybe. But it's not all bad. I do really love helping people, and I love discussing team strategies. All my nerves go away when I do that." 

"Mimi's strategised for so many winning matches," Razor says, looking very smug, and Kokomi elbows them shyly. Bennett's torn between being happy about how happy they look and being...a more ugly feeling.  

"My dream job is being a sports strategist," Kokomi says, smile soft and wistful as she looks down at her hands. Then it drops into a frown. "But that's years away, and right now it just...feels like I need to be president. But I know that I'll hate the workload more than I'll enjoy any part of it, but I'm still so scared of letting people down and I wish I could just...I don't know, I wish I could be like Razor! They always turn down taking captain or vice captain roles so they can be free!"

Razor looks confused. "I don't take captain 'cause of the talking." 

"Can you imagine Razor doing a captain pep talk?" Bennett asks Kokomi, who giggles, "It would just be us grunting a few times." 

Now Razor looks offended, looking between Bennett and Kokomi laughing in betrayal. But by the time they've composed themselves, Bennett's come up with what might just be one of his best or worst ideas ever. It all depends on how Kokomi reacts to it.

"Kokomi," Bennett says, staring Kokomi right in the eye, and Kokomi stares back, imitating his sudden level of determination. 

"Bennett." 

"Will you be..." Bennett pauses for dramatic effect, and Razor and Kokomi both lean closer over the table, "...my vice president?" 

Kokomi's eyes grow as wide as moons, and Razor's jaw drops. As it stands, Bennett's not quite sure if either of those reactions are positive. 

But Bennett's so sure about this, and he speaks his case by ranting, "It's like the perfect scenario! You can still represent the students but you won't have much of a workload 'cause I'll make sure of it but if anything ever gets too much then you can always tell me because I know exactly how you feel now. And you're, like, super cool and smart and stuff so of course I'd want you as my vice!" 

"But can... can we do that?" Kokomi asks, voice slightly shaky as if she's trying to hold back from celebrating just yet, and Bennett wildly nods.

"Mr Albedo did, with Kaeya Alberich when they went to this school!" 

"Seriously?" 

"Seriously! I don't know if it's too late or not, but I'll talk to the teachers in charge. I'm sure we can do this." 

"Oh my gods," Kokomi breathes, so many emotions in her voice that Bennett can't differentiate between them. "Bennett, you're absolutely incredible. You just shine with energetic eloquence. It's so clear why Razor likes you so much." 

"I've been...kinda getting that a lot," Bennett mutters, and he really has. A lot of Razor's sports friends who've been bombarding him (against Xingqiu's wishes) have told him almost those exact words often. It's a little confusing, but he guesses they need an explanation for why Razor decided to be his campaign manager.

The bell rings, and Kokomi sits up, a rejuvenated sight for sore eyes as she beams. "Well, this was perfect. Thank you so much, Bennett, really. I feel like I'm going to think about what you've told me a lot." 

"Oh- pfft, sure, no problem," Bennett says very articulately to cover up his bashfulness, waving. Then the instant Kokomi leaves the room, Bennett sighs and slumps over the table. "Holy shit, Razor, why am I exhausted?" 

"'Cause you were amazing," Razor says happily, poking Bennett's knee with their foot under the  table. "Knew it. Knew you'd have the words for her." 

"Things turned out good this time, but you can't have that much blind faith in me," Bennett argues, looking up to frown at Razor who is being very cute while spinning around in their chair cheerfully but this isn't the time. "What if I ended up saying the wrong thing?" 

"You never do." 

"What if Kokomi thought I was trying to remove her as competition?" 

"You're not like that."

"What if she hated me? I bet you wouldn't have known if she hated me or not. She very well could have hated me, because I stole her friend to be my campaign manager while I was running against her so I wouldn't have even been surprised if she did hate me, especially when you guys seem to maybe even have a thing going!"

Wait.

Bennett hadn't meant to say that last part.

Razor stops spinning then, face slightly flushed and some of their hair sticking up at weird angles. Bennett still thinks they look awesome. 

"Benny," Razor says, voice soft as they scoot over with their chair until they're on the other side of the table, right next to Bennett. Bennett pouts at them, and Razor looks mildly amused as they pat Bennett's hair. "You...think I like Kokomi? Like-like?"

"N-No," Bennett begins pathetically, but it just spirals from there. "I mean, no, but I also don't know, and I'm probably just overthinking it but you guys- people have always been saying you'd be cute together, like, since the start of time! And you would be! And you're good friends, and you like each other a lot, and you get worried about her, and I...ugh, I don't even know what I'm saying..."

"So talky. So thinky," Razor says, eyes twinkling with mirth as their fingers keep combing through Bennett's hair. It feels ridiculously nice and Bennett tries not to melt. "She's just my friend." 

Ah. Ah. Now Bennett feels like even more of an idiot, while also trying to ignore the surge of relief inside him. "I'm so sorry, I-"

"And Kokomi can't hate you. You know why?" 

"...why?"

"I'd convince her. 'M good at that."

"Oh yeah? Guy who doesn't like talking is good at convincing people?" Bennett teases, and Razor nods, undeterred. 

Well, Razor's right. They've convinced over half the student body to be very platonically in love with them. And they've convinced one measly person from that student body to be very romantically in love with them.  

Bennett doesn't want to let Razor go after all this is over. 

"Razor," Bennett asks, voice hushed. Razor looks at him, questioning. "We've got Kokomi now. We're going to win, aren't we?" 

Razor nods, eyes soft. "Would've won anyway." 

Bennett smiles, and he reaches out for Razor's hand. Razor gives it to him without any hesitation whatsoever, and that's when Bennett knows he's not going to be able to hold himself back this time. Maybe impulse can be a good idea sometimes. In Bennett's case it's usually not, but even if his bad luck rears its ugly head once more and puts him all the way back to square one, it won't feel as bad as it used to. 

If he's been able to gather up the confidence to run for president for this long, with Razor right by his side helping him, then maybe, just maybe, he can really do anything. 

"I've gotta go to class," Bennett says quietly, and it's absolutely thrilling and terrifying watching the way Razor's eyes grow astronomically wide, ears burning bright pink as Bennett presses a kiss that's barely there to the back of Razor's hand, "but I'll see you later?" 

Razor lets out a squeaky sort-of growl that's probably meant to be a hum of agreement, and Bennett squeezes their hand before letting go and getting up to leave, closing the door behind him. But he doesn't go to class. 

Instead he goes to the common room, settling himself in an empty corner before he tucks himself into a ball on the floor, hiding his manic grin in his knees. He's so stupid. This is probably the dumbest thing he's ever done, and he doesn't even care. So this is what freedom is. This is what not being shackled by your own insecurity feels like. Bennett could get high on this. 

"Bennett? You okay?" someone from the basketball team asks him worriedly once he's straightened up, and they look a bit dazzled when Bennett beams at him, giving his signature poster thumbs up. 

"I think I really am." 

 

 

Notes:

what the FUCK guys i am actually so sorry abt how long this chapter is i got carried away... i told myself i'll never exceed 3k for chapters in this story to set me some calm goals then here we are w a stupid 6k chapter that i didnt know how to split into two

u can clearly tell that im having a lot of fun w the wedding misunderstanding iksjdaJKF AND HELLLOO I WANTED TO POST THIS IN TIME FOR KOKOMI'S BDAY BUT I DIDNT GET TO IT WAS SO SAD

so yeah lol the whole reason i wrote this story was because i saw in kokomi's story that her dream wasn't to be like the Leader leader and i was like. woah . Woah . in my mind kokomi is actually the second main character of this fic's universe. she has a whole thing going on. her and yoimiya and gorou are the ACTUAL trio so in ur face xingqiu

anyway ANYWAY i am in mock exam season rn its not v fun but i rlly wanted to post this bc kokomi i hope u guys r doing good mwah take care of urselves