(Akiri POV)

I was in my room watching TV when someone knocked the door

*knock* *knock* *knock*

I then walked toward the door and opened it. To my surprise, it was Stella carrying a paper bag.

Akiri: Oh, hey cuz. What brings you here?

Stella: I need your help. Can I come in?

Akiri: Sure

I then moved over for her to come in and closed the door.

Akiri: So, what do you need?

Stella then blushes.

Stella: Ikki asked me to come along with him to the pool. He also invited you

Akiri: All right. I'll tag along

Stella: A-and I want you to help me choose...

Akiri: Choose what?

Stella blushes even more and looked down.

Stella: A b-bikini

Akiri: Huh? Why? Can't you just pick one yourself?

Stella: I need a guy's opinion on this and you're the only one I feel most comfortable with

Akiri: *sighs* Okay then. What are our options?

She then pulls out three sets of bikinis from the paper bag. One was a plain white two piece, another was a red one piece and the last one was a black and blue two piece with white polka dots.

Akiri: Hmm. I don't think a one piece would suit you so we can put that aside. Now it's either the plain white one and the black with polka dots... I think the black one would suit you better.

Stella: You really think so?

Akiri: Yeah. I mean, I'm not some kind of expert or anything but I think you would look good in it. And I'm sure Ikki would love it, he would be staring at you all day

Stella: The black one it is then. Thanks cuz!

Akiri: You're welcome

Stella then put the bikinis back in the paper bag and left.

(Timeskip)

(Third person POV)

Currently, everyone have arrived at the pool.

Stella: Wow, so this is a Japanese pool

Shizuku looked at Stella smirking

Shizuku: A Princess from some unknown country really doesn't know about the world, does she? I can't believe it's her first time going to a pool

Stella then looked at Shizuku smirking

Stella: Right. In my castle, we called this size of a pool a bath

Akiri: Well, she's not kidding. The bath in that castle is literally as big as an Olympic-size swimming pool

Nagi: Stop it. Everyone is here

Akiri then noticed a familiar looking black haired girl looking at Ikki.

Akiri: (thoughts) Her again. I noticed that she had been following Ikki since yesterday. Is she one of them?

(Timeskip)

Akiri is sitting on the bus heading back to the academy. He looked at the back seat and smiled at the sight of Ikki and Stella holding hands.

Akiri: (thoughts) Looks like she did it

Akiri then looked forwards and closes his eyes.

Akiri: (thoughts) I'm proud of you, cuz

(Timeskip)

Currently, Akiri is heading to the waiting room for his second selection match. As he was walking, he saw Ikki training his group of students. He then notices the black haired girl watching Ikki from afar and Akiri decided to confront her her. He uses his noble art "Jigen Ryoko" to get close without her noticing. He then reappears behind her.

Akiri: Who are you and what do you want?

The black haired girl then jumped in surprise and turned around to see Akiri holding his device

???: *nervous* U-uh... W-what do you mean?!

Akiri: You've been following him for a while now, you think no one would notice? Now talk!

???: *nervous*  I-I'm Ayase Ayatsuji, a third year student. I-I just want him to teach me swordsmanship! Nothing else!

Deciding that she wasn't lying, Akiri then deactivates his device.

Akiri: *sighs* Yare yare. You could have just talked to him

Ayase: B-but I don't know how to speak to him. I've been thinking about how to talk to him in the past week

Akiri: I guess I'll help you out. I'll tell him that you want to speak to him

Ayase: R-really? Thank you

She then smiled sweetly at him and Akiri started getting flustered and blushing

Akiri: N-no problem. Oh, almost forgot

He raised his hand for a handshake

Akiri: My name is Akiri Shiranobu, nice to meet you

She then shakes his hand

Ayase: Nice to meet you too

Akiri: W-well, I gotta go. My selection match is starting soon

Ayase: Okay

Akiri then quickly heads to the waiting room and what he didn't notice, that Ayase was looking at him blushing.

Akiri: (thoughts) did I stutter? Why the hell am I stuttering?

(Timeskip)

Akiri is walking to the dorms after his match which he easily won. When he was walking he saw Ikki and Stella walking while holding hands. He then approaches them.

Akiri: Hey Ikki, cuz

Ikki: *shocked* A-Akiri?!

He then quickly let's go of Stella's hand as soon as he saw Akiri

Akiri: Don't worry, I already knew you both are dating

Ikki: You did? Did Stella tell you?

Akiri: Nope, I figured it out

Ikki: O-oh, so you're okay with me dating-

Akiri: I don't mind. But...

Akiri then looks at Ikki with a serious face.

Akiri: If you ever do anything to hurt her, physically or emotionally. I'll personally see to it that you will be sent to the cold, dark, nothingness of the void for all eternity. Got it?

Ikki: *nervous* G-got it

Akiri: Good. Then you both have my full support

Stella: Thanks cuz!

Ikki: Thank you

Akiri: No problem. Now lets head back shall we?

They all then started to walk and Stella got closer to Akiri.

Stella: *whispering* I thought you said you can't send living things to the void

Akiri: *whispering* I did and he doesn't need to know that

Stella then giggles

Stella: *whispering* You're such an ass

Akiri: *whispering* He he. I know

Ikki then looked back at Akiri.

Ikki: So, you just had your selection match recently?

Akiri: Yup. You guys have your matches tomorrow right?

Stella: Yeah, we both have a match against a member of the student council

Akiri: The student council? They're gonna be tough. I wish you both good luck

Ikki: Thanks

A while later, they have arrived in front of Ikki and Stella's dorm room.

Akiri: Why don't you go in first Stella, I need to talk to Ikki

Stella: You better not scare him again

Akiri: I won't

Stella then goes in the room and closes the door

Ikki: What do you want to talk about

Akiri: I've been meaning to ask you about your little stalker, surely you've noticed her

Ikki: *sighs* Yeah, she's been following me for about a week now

Akiri: I have confronted her, she doesn't seem to mean any harm. She just wants you to teach her but was too shy to even approach you

Ikki: Really? I guess I'll talk to her tomorrow

Akiri: Well, that's all I wanted to talk about. See you later Ikki

Ikki: You too, Akiri

Akiri then went to his dorm room.

(Next day)

(Akiri POV)

I was walking around the school doing my daily routine of looking around for any suspicious activities. As I was walking, I saw Ikki fighting Ayase using wooden swords. I then noticed Stella, Shizuku and Nagi watching from nearby. I then approached them.

Akiri: Hello there

Stella: Hi cuz

Shizuku: Hello Akiri

Nagi: Hey

I looked towards Ikki and Ayase. When I looked at Ayase I felt that my heart skip a beat.

Akiri: (thoughts) Why am I feeling like this?

I then shook my head.

Akiri: Looks like she finally talked to him

Stella: You know her cuz?

Akiri: I just talked to her a few days ago. 

I then noticed that they have stopped fighting and Ikki is talking to Ayase

Ikki: I have an idea about how to correct your current moves. But... If you feel proud about using exactly the same sword techniques as Kaito, then you shouldn't force yourself to change that. Because once you correct your moves, you can never get back the way you were

Ayase: I want you to teach me. I really need to get stronger

Ikki: Okay. You can trust me

Ikki: Can you hold your sword up

Ayase: Y-yes

Ikki then proceeds to kneel down and grabbed Ayase's legs making her blush like crazy. I then felt something

Akiri: (thoughts) Am I... Jealous? Why am I jealous?

I quickly shook the thought out of my head. Ikki then finished correcting Ayase's stance. He picked up his wooden sword and strikes her but she quickly parried it and had her sword to his neck. She then looked surprised.

Stella: Yeah, that's so much better

Nagi: I see. When she defends herself, now she receives the attack with her entire lower body, instead of her arms

Akiri: He really is a good teacher

Ayase then looked at Ikki happily.

Ayase: Wow! You're great, Kurogane! This was troubling me for a long time, and you just fixed it so easily! You're a professor of swordplay!

Ikki: That's great. I'm not so sure if I'm thrilled about the title, though

Akiri: (thoughts) I wish I could teach her... No wait! What am I saying

I then noticed Ikki and Ayase approaching us. Ayase notices me and blushes

Ayase: O-oh, hi Shiranobu didn't notice you were here

She then smiled at me 

Akiri: H-hey, Ayatsuji. I just got here

Ikki: It's getting late, why don't we head back together?

Akiri: S-sure...

We all then started to walk to the dorms and I looked towards Ayase.

Akiri: (thoughts) Do I... Like her?

(A/N: I've recently started a Darling In The Franxx book so I would appreciate it if you guys could go and give it a read. Who knows, maybe you'll enjoy it. And don't worry, that doesn't mean that this book would get less updates. Thanks for reading)