TAKE IV.

It was a breezy morning as I walked down the road to Spero. Today is a non-school day; Saturday, so I might as well start to help Shiori earlier. Last night it rained and it dragged until today. Reo came to the bakery yesterday after school and talked a lot with Shiori. So nostalgic. We used to play together a lot. How I got so close to Reo?

    Well, when we were 12 years old, Reo came to Sydney because of his father’s business. He was my neighbor and we had a lot of fun time together along with Shiori. He stayed for a year then went back to Japan. Sure I missed him, that’s why I could recognize him the minute we met.

    He knew I could bake well. He knew I don’t like it when people call me girly and weak. He knew I went as a guy for work. And he didn’t care at all. He’s truly a best friend you’d want to have.

    Today, it’s just like any other Saturday, except that I received two familiar customers in the bakery today. At exactly 8am, Shiori had gone out for further reservations with some other company. Minutes later, Shiro and Akashi entered and sat quite close with the counter. I took their orders and sat at the counter, listening to what they have to say.

    “So that’s the guy, Shiro?” I heard Akashi said.

    “Shh! He’ll hear us! And uh, yes he is....” though Shiro’s whispering, I could still hear them; loud and clear. She sometimes glanced at me and I can see Akashi holding back his laugh.

    “Anyway, about the commotion I heard that day! Akashi-kun! Are you really gonna compete with the soccer club!?” Shiro almost yelled.

    “Relax, Shiro. You know me, no?” Akashi answered.

    Shiro pouted. “Sheesh! I know you never lose and so on but didn’t you see how Kazu-chan played!? She’s more than amazing! If the Kiseki no Sedai exists in the soccer world, she’ll be one of them!”

He never lose?

    “Kazu-chan? You’re friends with her already?”

    “Well, d-uh!”

    “Glad for you, then.”

    “Let’s talk about the main point here.”

    Akashi nodded. “Yeah, about the school festival in another two months.”

Wow, school festival....

    Suddenly, the bell chimed. I looked up and saw three girls entering the bakery with the bitch-est face they can make. I know who they are and what they want. Because as soon as they got in, the tallest girl went to Shiro and pulled her up. I wanted to help but decided to stay silent for a while.

    “How dare you flirt with my Akashi!” she yelled.

    “Flirt?” Shiro frowned. Akashi seemed calm. He glanced at me and our gaze met for a moment before I turned away.

    “Akashi-kun! How can you do this!” the girl turned to Akashi with a slap-me-face.

    “Inoue, she’s not flirting and she’s here because we’re talking about the school event coming in the next two months.” He said.

    “But still she’s flirting!” the girl called Inoue said and turned to Shiro. “Stop staring at Akashi with your so not beautiful face!” she added.

    Shiro stood. “Excuse you! I’m prettier than you and you should know I am NOT flirting with him!”

    I held back my laugh. ‘Go get ‘em Shiro!’ I cheered for her in my heart.

    “They’re always like that. Sorry for the commotion.” Suddenly Akashi appeared in front of me.

    I yelped then quickly shut my mouth. “Damn, you scared me, man.” I sighed. He chuckled. I remembered something.

    “Hey, wanna taste the new cake?” I asked, delighted to let someone taste my baking, forgetting the fact that this man in front of me is the very man that hate me to the core because I ran in the hallway, spilled a plate of cake on him and told him to ‘shut up’.

    Before he could answer, I ran to the kitchen at the back and rushed in front with a slice of cake on the plate in my hand. He was looking at me with an unintelligible expression spread on his face. I handed the plate and the spoon at him.

    “Taste it!” I grinned.

    He took a bite then looked at me. “How was that!?” I asked eagerly.

    “Better.”

    I shrieked happily and turned 360 degrees around, celebrating my own success.

    “You sound like a girl. You are a girl aren’t you?”

    I halted then slowly turned my head to him. “I-I’m not a girl!”

    He smirked. “Right.”

    “No!!” Shiro suddenly yelled then we heard the sound of plates crashing onto the floor. We turned our heads, just to see the bitches whom one of them is called Inoue, were throwing plates at Shiro. It didn’t hit her but one of them almost did.

    Akashi was fast enough. He ran to the scene and embraced Shiro, and turned his body around so Shiro is completely protected. The plates hit the side of his face and a horizontal wound appeared, blood trickling down from his cheek.

    Inoue gasped. “Akashi-kun!” she screamed.

    I frowned and went into the scene too. Before she could approach or even make a move, I grabbed her elbow and dragged her backwards. “Get. Out. Of. This. Place.” I said in the most menacing tone ever.

    “I—“ she wanted to protest.

    “GET OUT!” I yelled and shoved her forward, outta the door. I sighed when after her friends got away with her. “WHO THE HECK WILL FACE SHIORI WHEN SHE GET BACK LATER!?” I screamed particularly to no one, remembering those broken plates on the floor.

    “Uh....”

    I turned my head and saw Shiro. “Shiro, you okay?” I asked, concerned about her.

    She nodded. “Akashi-kun, though....” she pointed at him.

    “I’m fine.” Akashi said.

    I sighed again. “Shiro, go home.” I said. She wanted to protest but I cut her off. “I’ll take care of everything don’t worry.” I added.

    She nodded once and got out. I turned to Akashi who’s taking the steps to exit the bakery. I grabbed his hand. “Stay.” I said.

    He looked at me with a death glare. “There’s a girl in the bakery, the one who spilled the cake on you,” I blurted out. He narrowed his eyes. “I-I lied, okay! Sorry! I’ll tell you about her if you stay!” I said.

The heck....

    He didn’t say a word as I led him on one of the chairs. Thankfully there weren’t any other customers there. I flipped the sign ‘Open’ to ‘Closed’ and went to the back of the room, fetching a first-aid kit. I knelt down in front of him, so that I am on the same level as him. “You’re such a....” I trailed off, remembering the times when I was attacked because I spoke so carelessly. “..Uh, smart..?” I said.

    “Why?”

    “Because you could just push Inoue away than risking yourself, taking the blow! Now look at your so-called-pretty face!” I said and placed the antiseptic on his wound. He winced a bit. “Sorry,” I muttered.

    “So, what’s about the girl?” Akashi asked.

    I completely forgot about that. Come on, I have to make up something transparent so that he won’t know that I am the one who ruined the party. “She’s originally from Osaka, uh and Shiori took her in to serve at the party. Well, if you’re interested in her, she’s actually a stubborn girl and ugly, too, so she’s not recommended.” I explained.

    He snickered. “Why are you bad-mouthing her?”

    I rolled my eyes. “Cause it’s the fact.”

    He winced again when I plastered his cheek quite roughly. “Uh, sorry. I’m not good in this.” I murmured. When I finished, he grabbed my wrist that was treating him from just now. I fell silent and watched him. Next, he moved his other hand to my spectacles and slowly, pulling it.

    Realization hit me as I was drowned in his eyes. I quickly snapped his hand away and pushed back my glasses to the bridge of my nose. “What are you trying to do?” I mumbled. He chuckled then got up and exited the bakery, silently, leaving me clueless on the floor.

-w-

He knew. The girl who fell on him during the Akashi party, the girl who ran in the hallway who’s so good in soccer, and also the guy who’s in the bakery; it’s all her, Akihiko Kazuto. No doubt, the scent, the sensation, the way of talking, the way she smiles, her eyes, it’s the same eyes he saw at the party and at school.

No use hiding it from him. When Akashi is determined to know, he will know. But then, he decided to keep it as a secret until the right time comes. Let the pawn play around his little finger for a while now. He’ll see what happens.

Kazuto just caught his attention. And when she did, he’ll give her; full attention.