Preview:

"Something happen you guys?"

"Hmm? Nah," Atsuya spoke up.

"Why ask?" This time, Haizaki-kun.

"Just thought that the two of you... I don't know. You've always been quiet since earlier but now it's just kinda... I don't know, weird?" There was just some kinda gut feeling you had upon looking at them.

"Must be your imagination. Nothing happened," Haizaki-kun dismissed.

"Yea. Let's just go home. It's gonna get colder once it gets dark," Atsuya started walking ahead the two of you.

"Oh... right. Let's go." You two walked after him.

And thus, your chaotic grocery shopping journey came to a close. 

______________________________________________

"You want me to what?" You did a double-take at the girl standing before you.

Nae-chan slapped her hands together in front of her and bowed. "Pleaaase! We need more help..!" She plead.

"B-but... I got just back," you whined, and for good reason. You just came back from your hectic shopping trip a few minutes ago, and before that the disaster in the kitchen, the decorating, and then--

"You won't have to do much, I promise!" She took your hand and held it in between hers while giving you her best puppy-eyes. "Just some cutting, and maybe... drawi-- No, tracing..! Yea, you only need to traaace the shaaapes. Only those two! So pretty please..!"

After a good 10 seconds of continuous staring by Nae-chan, you let out a sigh and reluctantly agreed, much to the joy of your friend. You let her drag your tired self to the living room where the decoration making team were. Much to your surprise, it wasn't as messy as you thought it'd be. With all the cutting, gluing and all sorts, more specifically Nae-chan, the room was very clean actually..

"Shiratoya-san, where were yo- oh, welcome back," the goggled lad greeted you. You got your answer as to why the living room was so clean; Kidou-kun. "I heard you had to help with the groceries from Shiratoya-san."

"That being said," you looked to the other side of the room where The Flame Striker himself was cutting up what seems to be a paper chain decoration. "why did she drag you here?" He pointed at where your arm which was still being held captive in Nae-chan's arms.

"She roped me in to help you three," you explained with drawn out sigh. You wriggled your arm free and took an empty spot beside Gouenji-kun. "So which do I need to help with? Cutting or tracing? And no, I'm not going to be helping anything else 'cause that's what she promised me."

Both males let out a huff of amusement at your last comment. "Here, you can help me cut these up," Gouenji-kun said and handed you a pair of scissors and folded papers which have already have shapes traced on top of them.

You picked one up and examined where to begin cutting. "Just follow the lines, easy," you commented to yourself. You careful cut up the opened side of the folded piece of paper but before moving on to the folded half, a tanned hand grabbed yours.

"Careful when cutting the folded part. You don't wanna cut these parts," he pointed at the parts where the paper chain are suppose to connect. "If you cut them, they'll end up separated."

"Right, gotcha." With his advice in mind, you continued cutting up the rest of your stack. You have to say that you were rather proud of yourself, and it must've shown on your face as snickering came beside you.

"What?" You raised a brow.

"You sure seem happy for just cutting up paper."

"Hey, I don't exactly make paper chains on a daily basis and even then these turned out pretty great if I do say so myself. Cut me some slack," you huffed defensively which made him snicker even more. While turned towards him to comment further but you were distracted by his pile of finished work. "Well aren't you good at this?"

"Yuuka," he said once he realizes you were staring at his big pile of finished paper chains. You raised your brow, hoping for more detail. "She likes having friends over."

"Gotta say, I didn't imagine you'd be making cute little decorations like this. Or be very good at it," you commented, half teasing and half surprised, in a good way. Admiring the current chain he was cutting, you were impressed. It's well made. Very well actually..

He rolled his eyes playfully in return. "Well, don't judge a book by it's cover, right?" 

"True enough." You raised your hands in fake surrender. "Speaking of which, I don't think I ever got to meet Yuuka," you said as you two continue to snip away at those papers.

"Really? I could've swore you had seen her before."

"Yea, seen. But not met. I know what she looks like and act a bit and stuff from the pictures you showed and told me, but ya, you know?"

"Right..." A brief silence between you two before he spoke up again. "You should come visit sometime."

"Hmm?" You hummed in question. Somehow telepathically telling him to explain in more detail.

"You'd get to meet Yuuka, I think she'd be happy to know that I at least have other friends who aren't guys, too." You laughed at that. "You could stay for dinner too if you'd like."

"Nice as that sounds, I wouldn't want to intrude that much," you tried declining the dinner part tactfully.

"Nah, you wouldn't be. Recently, Yuuka likes to help cook, too. She'd probably try and convince you to stay."

"How're you so sure? Did she did that with the other guys?" You asked as a joke.

"Why yes, she did, as a matter of fact." You couldn't help letting out a snort at that, you didn't imagine you'd actually hit the nail on the head. Your pig snort caused him to try and suppress his own laugh, clearly failing as his shoulders visibly shook. "Thanks for the heads-up, I'll make sure to come on an empty stomach."

"There's another benefit for staying, too." 

"Oh? Pray tell." Unable to keep the stupid grin on your face from laughing.

"You'd get to meet my dad."

"..."

"..."

"... Say what?" You whipped your head towards him and gave a deadpanned look. Did he just say what you thought he said? It didn't help when he looked back at you with a smirk.

"Exactly what I said."

"W-wha- you, y- you... mmphfff," Your face grew a few degrees warmer as you quickly ducked your head down into your hand and groaned, rubbing your temple and trying to process what he just did. You let out fits of laughter in both embarrassment and amusement. "You sly, sly, little...-"

You reaction cased him to laugh out as well, "Counter for the 'cute little decorations' comment."

"That's different..! Cuz it was a fact, the truth! It actually happened!" You gave him a light smack on his shoulder while trying to et your breathing steady.

"Well then, I see nothing wrong. Because it could happen and become the truth," he pointed out.

"Dang it, Gouenji!" You started to laugh out loud. Your laughter was clearly infectious as he started to laugh out loud too, albeit quieter than you.

"Not trying to interrupt... whatever you have going on at the moment, but it would be greatly appreciated if you'd continue doing your work," another voice cut.

"Oh, right! Uh, sorry, Kidou-kun..! J-just... Give me a sec-" You said between fits of laughter. You didn't even realized that both Gouenji-kun and your hands have stopped cutting. You took deep breathes to try and level your breathing. "I just have a few left then I'll come a help you."

"That would be much appreciated," he gave a light nod. And continued his work. Huh, he seemed a bit more down than earlier. Wonder what happened...

"I should get these finished up. Don't you even dare try distracting me, again," you gave a half-hearted accusing look towards Gouenji-kun who smiled in return.

"I've been accused of something I didn't do." You two continued your work in peaceful silence.

"Whoo, one more to go..."

"Hey, about what I said earlier..." Gouenji-kun starts.

"Oh no, please don't start, again..." He chuckled at that.

"Nothing like that. Just about what I said earlier about visiting," he let a small silence pass first. Seeing your silence as a permission to continue- "you should."

Thinking that we was trying to do something again, you gave a light laugh, "Oh, really no-" but was cut off when you noticed he that look on his face. Oh, he was serious about it...

"Yea, I am." He looked at you. Did you just say that out loud? "I really do think they'd be happy to meet you."

"Oh, then uh, I guess if you wouldn't mind..." you trailed off.

"Never." He smiled at you. "Done with that one?"

"Wha- oh, uhm, one sec." You snipped the last edge and then opened it up, showing it to him. "Now I'm done."

"Great job." He took it from your hands and admired it for a bit before put it along with the others in the finished pile. "Especially for someone who doesn't do this on a daily basis."

"Hey, that last part wasn't necessary." You both chortled. "Well, I'm off to help Kidou-kun."

"Oh, one last thing." He gestured you to come closer so he can whisper something.

You moved closer and whispered so that only the two of you could hear, "What is it?"

"You should call me without '-kun' more often." As soon as he finished he moved back and turned you towards Kidou-kun. "That's it. You're free to go now."

"Wha- wait, what do you-"

"Kidou needs some help, better not keep him waiting, hm?" He smiled and gestured you to go on your merry way, which you did. You plopped beside Kidou-kun and started helping him tracing out shapes on some colored paper.

You two worked silently and efficiently, that said, you couldn't help but think back to what Gouenji-kun said earlier. 

Call him without '-kun' more often? When did you even-

It was then that it struck you.

"That's different..! Cuz it was a fact, the truth! It actually happened!" 

"Well then, I see nothing wrong. Because it could happen and become the truth."

"Dang it, Gouenji!"

Dang... you did call him that, didn't you. You lightly flush at your realization and let out a quiet whine into the back of your palm.

"Are you feeling unwell?" You whipped your head up and quickly and shook your head.

"No, I'm not. Something wrong?" You questioned back.

"That would be my line, really," he stated. "You stopped working and hung your head low. You also brought your hand up to your mouth like you were covering it and holding something back. I think it's quite logical to assume you were feeling under the weather from such observation."

"Ah, no no." You waved your hand. "Just thinking about something. Sorry for making you worry."

"Oh, I see. It's quiet alright, no apologies needed." He held his hand up as a silent sign for you to not feel sorry. "Though that said, it seems whatever you were thinking is distracting you quite a lot."

"Really? I didn't think so." You rubbed the back of your neck nervously.

"It was. I noticed that you were also rather absent minded while working." You suppose you can't expect anything else from genius playmaker, he really is observant. "If it will help relieve you, I wouldn't mind listening."

"Wha- oh no, no. You don't have to. Really. It's nothing important."

"Are you sure?" He pressed.

"Yes. Positively. 100 percent. It's just about something silly that happened earlier. See? Nothing Important," you tried to get him to drop the topic.

"Happened earlier... Would you mind to enlighten me?"

"Oh, uhm..." You don't want to tell him about what you were actually thinking but if you decline him you'd feel kinda guilty, not to mention the situation is pretty awkward as is, so... "No, of course not. It's just what happened earlier when shopping."

"Oh?" He raised his brows in surprise. Like he wasn't expecting you to agree, or even what you brought up. "What happened?"

"It's just when we were getting the vegetables I had a hard time differentiating them without looking through the tags. And then Haizaki-kun just came along and grabbed what we needed without looking at them. I'm truly impressed..."

Kidou-kun cocked a brow. "Oh did he?"

"Yep. Which is why I was trying to think back on how he did it, the only difference some of them had were like... the width of the stems and size of the leaves, you know? I have absolutely no clue how he does it..." You finished, hoping that he'd believe your white lie.

"Well, you'd certainly get used to them after a while. Especially if you're in the kitchen a lot," Kidou-kun smiled.

Mission success.

You fist pumped in your head. "Yea, well... that's the thing. I'm not... I could barely cook an omelet, I'd be fooling myself if I say I'm just not used to cooking vegetables." You said self decapitating-ly.

"If you'd like, I'd be more than happy to teach you."

"Eh?" You stopped laughing and stared at him for a few solid seconds. "You would?"

"I imagined that you wouldn't expect it, but I am rather knowledgeable about several international cuisines and even how to prepare them. I wouldn't mind teaching you about them," he gave a rather proud and confident, yet polite smile.

"Kidou-kun..." You trailed off which caught his attention.

"Yes?" He tensed up very slightly, you-wouldn't-notice-it-unless-you-were-expecting-it slightly.

"... You are so powerful..."

"... Pardon?"

"I mean, look," you held up your fingers. "You're already super smart, and not just academically really, athletic, can play musical instruments, have an artistic sense," you gestured to his current work before continuing, "then there's the charisma, sense of humor, and not to mention good looks. Now you're telling me you can cook, too?"

"Is that what you really think of me?" He pointed at himself credulously.

"Um, yes! And I'm sure a lot of people would agree! Kidou-kun, am I going to ask the Gods to make sure that next time when they're making people to not mix those all qualities together?? They made you too powerful..!" You repeatedly slapped the floor lightly to help showcase your... protest?

"Wait-"

"Actually, now that I think about it, all those qualities together will surely make you pretty popular, too. Wow, add that to the list, huh," you thought out loud.

"...Uhm,"

"Oh, sorry, Kidou-kun. I cut you off earlier. What were you going to... say? ...Kidou-kun?" He had his face casted a bit downwards and off to the side. In addition, there was a hand blocking, too. "Are you okay?"

"Uh... yes, quite so."

"Are you sure?" Seeing that he was facing the other way, he didn't notice you move closer and grabbing his wrist. You clearly noticed him flinch as you were holding his wrist and trying to move it so you can see what's wrong. "You sure you're okay?"

"U-uhm, yes.. If you'd kindly-" You cut him by trying to move his hand away, He resisted but after you stubbornly continue to prod at him, he relented. And why, you were rather surprised to see what you found.

Though it was very light and was covered up by his goggles a bit, his pale skin made his blush rather visible. You have to say, this was the first time you've seen him lose his composure. And as such, you were in awe.

"Not to be rude, but... Would you kindly, move back a little?" He stammered. Another rare sight! Wait, move back? You were trying to hard to get a good look at him that you didn't notice how close you are, not to mention the staring.

"Oh, right! Sorry about that!" You quickly let go of his wrist and moved back to your seat, giving him some breathing space. "Uhm.. If you don't mind me asking, are you sure you're really okay? It's just that, well... you losing your composure isn't exactly something you'd see everyday..."

"Uh, yes... I'm really quite alright. It's just..." He trailed off and ducked his head a little again.

"Just...?" You prod.

"I wasn't expecting you to say all that... It took me by surprise really..." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

Oh Gods above, You know you said all those things earlier, but you clearly forgotten to put downright adorable! What is this??? It was just a rhetorical question when you said you're going to ask the Gods, but now you're starting to think you really have to...

"What is this moe gap... Honestly, you really are too powerful," you squint you eyes as if he was shining even brighter than The Sun itself.

"Um, thank you...?"

"Man, the amount of fangirls you probably have. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if someone told me that there's a secret fan club in Teikoku and Seishou," you commented as you thought of how they'd react if they saw their beloved Kidou-kun act so adorably like this. An underground "Exclusive!! Kidou Yuuto being cute!" picture trade maybe? 

"That's not..."

"Hmm?" You looked back at Kidou-kun who seems like he got his composure back.

"That's not what I really want however..."

"Really? I thought it'd be pretty cool. Girls would literally drop on their hands and knees to even just go on one date with you in my opinion." You rethink your thoughts. Well, maybe being surrounded by girls all the time and follow you everywhere wouldn't be so cool after all... Oh! Is that why he was upset? Oh no-

"Even... Even if there are that many, the one I really liked wouldn't."

While you were quiet on the outside, in the inside you were quite literally screaming. The Kidou Yuuto, the mad lad overpowered guy he is, just admitted to you that he have been eyeing someone! Ooooh, now THIS is some good tea!!

"Really? They must be quite the someone to catch your attention," you commented. They really would, wouldn't they? Just like you said earlier, this is THE KIdou Yuuto, someone of equal greatness must it. Like... A golden duo! 

While you were busy imagining what kind of person Kidou-kun must've liked, you missed the way he looked at you in surprise. He continued to stare while diving into his own thoughts. He finally let out a brief and polite laugh before commenting with a peaceful smile, "Yes. They truly are quite the someone."

"Oh, is it someone I know?"

"Someone You know very well I'm sure." His smile grew.

"Really?! Oh man, someone I know very well... someone I know..." Nae-chan? 

...

...

...

Naaah.

Kidou-kun was really glad he was wearing his goggles, it's thanks to them that he could look at his special someone so fondly without them even noticing. Honestly, this one is really different from the rest...

"Yea... I can't think of anyone," you said as you finally short circuit your brain from going over the options. "Can you tell me? Please? I can be your wingwoman! There's in it for the both of us!" Your eyes were filled with determination to know who Kidou-kun's special person.

"Well..." Kidou-kun looked to the side for a bit, like he was going over his choices.

"Pleeaaaase? I promise I won't tell anyone..?" The anticipation was literally almost killing you.

"You'd really like to know that badly?" You questioned.

"Very," you said with no hesistation. Come ooooon.......

"Very well, I won't mind since it's you." 

Yes... Victory-

"It's-"

"HEYYA, THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!" Nae-chan suddenly lunged at you from behind. "You must be exhausted! You can go on and rest now!!"

"W-wha- wait, Nae-chan! I was-" You tried to stop her from pulling to up and directing and nudging you towards the exit.

"No worried, no worries! We can take it from here!!"

"But-" You reached your arm out to grab the door frame.

"Nuh-uh! No buts! You said you were tired earlier, right? Now you can go and rest!!" Nae-chan kept trying to drag you out the room.

"Aw man! Kidou-kun!" He perked his head up to meet you. "You better tell me later or else!"

He chuckled before nodding. "Yes, I will."

"Alright, that's all." You let go of the door frames and let yourself be dragged out the room. "Good luck on the rest you guys!" You wished the boys luck from the hallway.

___________________________________

Tori: Ollo me ducklings. ZA AUTHOR IS BACC AND READY TO... not attacc...

Haizaki: If anything I think they would.

Tori: Exactly the point my dear Ryou. This twat haven't updated in 2 months, and for a New Years Special of all things. Smh

Haizaki: I should be the one shaking my head.

Tori: Then we shall together.

Haizaki: You are absolutely ridiculous.

Tori: You love me and my ridiculousness, now hush.

Haizaki: Unfortunately.

Tori: Ducklings, I'm truly sorry for this really late update. School work have been really piling up-

Hiazaki: Because your procrastinate them, too-

Tori: *headhead flick8*

Haizaki: oW-

Tori: So I kindly ask for your understanding and thanks for your patience. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will try to at least finish this mini series before April (cause again... NY specials at April, hah-) but sadly I can't make any promises.

Haizaki: Can you ever?

Tori: No, which is exactly why I never promise these things.

Haizaki: Fair enough.

Tori: Thank you again ducklings for reading and I wish you a pleasant day! See you next time!

22.03.2021
Word count: 3468