TAKE XVIII.

The school was dark but Akashi’s room is the only one, which the lights are still on. He sighed and placed the stack of paper work he just finished on one side of the desk and stood, ready to go back home. Even so, he stopped by the locker room and entered.

    There are 4 girls standing in front of a certain someone’s locker, discussing quietly. Akashi cleared his throat loudly in purpose so that the girls would divert their attention to him. And they did.

    The girls gasped. “Akashi-kun! Wh-what are you doing here!?” the middle one questioned.

    He recognized her. He saw her at the rooftop with the other 3; they were the one who attempted to throw the bucket of water at Kazuto but missed it as they accidentally hit him (because he saved her). “I just finished my work. What are you all doing here?” this time, he queried.

    The left fidgeted, obviously nervous. “W-we are discussing—“

    The middle one cut in, “Discussing about our next project. So you need not to worry, Akashi-kun.” She smiled.

    Akashi smirked. “Your next project? You mean, your next plan to hurt Akihiko Kazuto? Why would I worry, the next thing you wake up tomorrow will be bankruptcy of your so-called rich family business. You’ve hurt her enough, don’t make me mad.”

    They flinched and the middle one gritted her teeth angrily. “First, there’s a picture posted on the notice board, then, you took a picture with her and the basketball team, and now you’re defending her!? She’s just a slut what do you see in her?! So the rumors are true that you’re dating her, no?”

    “Dating her? Are you all blind?”

    “But it’s so obvious!”

    “Look here, young woman,” Akashi said sternly. “I stand up for those who’s broken down by creatures like you. Even if you were the one who’s bullied, I’d stand up for you. I’m not a demon to just let this matter past, not to mention I am the president. So, the conclusion is you have to stop all of this or the answer is death.” He warned then walked away, leaving all those girls stunned.

~~<3~~

    The morning breeze is soothing and it makes me feel like flying right now. I hummed my favorite song, swinging my cap from left to right, heading towards the bakery.

    “So happy in the morning, huh?”

    I stopped humming and turned my head, halting my tracks. “Are you like a stalker or something? Why do you always pop out of nowhere?” I questioned and continued my walk.

    Akashi walked alongside me. “I was just taking my morning walk. It’s merely a pure coincidence that we met.” He replied.

    “Yeah, whatever.”

    Right then, I saw the usual clique in front of my bakery. I sighed inwardly. They were about to approach me but suddenly they looked scared then scattered off to who knows where. I frowned. Then an idea struck me. Are they scared of Akashi??

    I turned my head to him. “What did you do to them?” I questioned, narrowing my eyes.

    “Nothing.”

    “Lies.”

    “No, I did nothing to them.”

    I went in front of him and we glared at each other.

    “Fine. You wanna know?” he said.

    I nodded.

    “Win a game of basketball against me.” He challenged.

-Q.Q-

    I mentally cursed at myself for agreeing. Right now, I’m facing him, with another one point to win against him but there’s no opening for me to get through. He smirked then in one swift movement, he stole the ball, turned around and shot it straight into the basket.

    I whined loudly.

    “I win, your treat.” He said.

    I pouted and rolled my eyes. “Fine but you have to follow me.”

    “Where?”

    I grabbed his wrist and started to run. He matched my pace easily. “To the supermarket!” I responded happily.

    He frowned. “For what?”

    “You said it’s my treat so I’m gonna make a chocolate cake. And that means I have to buy the ingredients, which means you have to follow as well.” I replied.

    He went silent after that.

-*w*-

    “Shiori’s gonna be mad at me for being late,” I grumbled and turned on the lights. “Even so, today is Saturday so usually there won’t be any customers until late evening so I guess it’s okay,” I continued babbling to myself and placed the stuffs I brought onto the counter.

    “You really like talking to yourself, huh?” Akashi questioned.

    I started to take out all those trays and checked for the ingredients. “Shut it, I like doing that. Do you know how to bake?” I asked him.

    “I have maids, Kazuto.”

    I snorted. “But you know how to cook, no?”

    “Mum taught me how. She doesn’t really bake that much. If she does, she’ll keep it a secret because she often baked my birthday cake rather than buying it. And besides, I can do everything. Even if you ask me to bake, I could do it right now.” He said.

    I arched an eyebrow on his last statement. “Oh, that’s so sweet,” I smiled, regarding how her mother baked his birthday cake for him. “Dad loved baking. I wonder if he’d be proud of my new recipe….”

    “Oi, the flour is spilling.”

    I snapped out of my fantasy and yelped when I saw the flour I was pouring in the pot spilled out of it. There’s hardly any flour left in the plastic and I cursed at myself while tidying the mess.

    “You damn flour! Look at what you’ve done to my clothes ugh!” I grumbled and stared at my attire. The lower part from my stomach to my leg; all white.

    “It’s not the flour’s fault. It’s your fault for not focusing.” Akashi said and handed me a wet hand towel. I wiped my clothes but instead of getting better, it became worse. I sighed and threw the towel away, immediately continuing what I was doing.

    Akashi mixed the cocoa, baking soda, salt and sugar and stirred them together. While I mixed the vinegar, oil, vanilla, water and egg. After both of it are even, I poured the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients. 

    “Can you stir it for me, I need to make the Oreo coating.” I said and rushed to the sink. Akashi did it silently. I stole a glance.

    His curious eyes blinked repeatedly as he stirred it slowly, his hair is messy yet it looked so perfect on him, his perfect figure, dark blue t-shirt and black pants, a black apron…. God, isn’t he adorable?

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What??

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What the heck did I just….

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Unconsciously, I blushed.

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“Kazuto, you should try this chocolate. Perfect.”

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“Huh?” I snapped out of my world and looked at him. He was looking at me over his shoulder. I went to him and averted my gaze to the thick chocolate in the container. He swiped his forefinger on the chocolate and showed it to me.

    “Try this.”

    And with that, I leaned forward and licked his finger.

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“OH MY GOD I’M SORRY I DIDN’T MEAN ANYTHING DIRTY OH MY GOD AKASHI PLEASE DON’T KILL ME I NEED TO FINISH THIS CAKE PLEASE FORGIVE THIS FOOLISH MORTAL PLEASE DON’T KILL ME OH MY GOD I’M SO SORRY!!!!” I screamed and backed away a few steps until….

    My legs tripped on a small stool, my hands tried to find support but all I managed to do was dropping everything on the table, before shutting my eyes, hoping my head would not hit the floor too hard.

    “Oi!”

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I landed.

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Oh, it doesn’t hurt….

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I opened my eyes and it widened the moment I saw Akashi’s face, our nose touching. His left hand supported the back of my head while his right hand was around my shoulders. I blinked.

    He smirked and I almost died.

    “Doesn’t this remind you of a certain event?” he spoke, his voice sending shivers all over my body.

    “A-Akashi—“

    The bell chimed and we turned our heads. In came Shiori followed by Reo. An awkward silence struck us.

    “Wha….” She trailed off then quickly pushed Reo out of the door, shouting to us; “TAKE YOUR TIME!!!! SORRY FOR INTRUDING!”

    I pushed Akashi off me and quickly got up. “WE DID NOTHING, SHIORI!!!! COME BACK HERE!” I yelled.

    She went in once again, laughing.

    My face went red in embarrassment.

    “Okay okay, what are you guys doing anyway?” Shiori asked and peered over the chocolate in the container. “Hm, chocolate cake?” she smiled.

    “Yeah, now you continue it. I’m going home.” I scowled and walked out of the bakery, trying to shake the uninvited images stuck in my head.

Huh…. What is happening….