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"Why did you break it!?"
"I didn't, you did!"
"Whoa, calm down, you two. Why don't we go for round two?"
"But we don't have enough Pocky to play round two, Suo-san."
CREAK!
All the students in Class 1-1 turned their heads toward the main door of their classroom, spotting their grade captain walking in with his hands in his pockets.
"What on earth is going on? I could hear you guys from outside," Sakura asked, frowning at his classmates.
"Sakura-san! Come join us in the Pocky game!" Nirei said excitedly, with everyone else joining in to persuade the grade captain.
"Come on, Sakura!"
"Play with us, Sakura-chan!"
"Yay, our captain is joining us!"
Sakura tilted his head to the side in confusion. "What is the Pocky game?" He turned to Nirei for an explanation.
"Ah…you don't know?" Nirei smiled awkwardly. "It's a game for two people, and this chocolate stick—" He showed Sakura a Pocky stick. "—is placed between them. They each bite an end, and whoever lets go or surrenders first loses."
"..What?" Sakura's eyes widened as he looked at his classmates. "..And what if neither of them lets go?"
"Then they will..." Kiryu made a kissing gesture with his hands. The other classmates started making kissing noises to back him up.
"W-what!?" Sakura flushed.
"Perhaps you can find your virtue in this game." Tsugeura said, flexing his bicep.
"Are you going to play, Sakura-san?" Nirei asked.
"Is Sakura-kun nervous?" Suo teased, noticing how red their grade captain had become.
"Huh!? I—I would never!" Sakura snapped.
"That's the spirit, Captain!"
"That's our captain!!"
"Alright, alright... bring it on," Sakura said, trying to sound confident despite his flushed face.
"Eh... who's going to be Sakura's partner?" Anzai asked, looking around at his classmates. The class grew loud again as they asked each other who still needed a partner to pair up with Sakura. Even Sugishita had been roped into the game.
Yes, they had forced him to join.
The chatter stopped when they heard a loud clap from Kiryu.
"It's Suo-chan." he announced.
Everyone turned to Suo, who was standing quietly with a smile on his face.
"Ohhh yeah!"
"Let's go, Suo!!"
"This is getting interesting."
"Eh, me? But I'm just the referee." Suo said, pointing to himself with a smile.
"I can be the referee while you're playing!" Nirei offered.
"Oh, well, if Sakura-kun doesn't mind me as his partner..." The eye patched guy turned to Sakura with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"I—Whatever." Sakura stammered under Suo's gaze and with all his classmates now staring at him. "...Just start the game already..." he mumbled, looking away.
As the Pocky game was set to begin, the class fell silent, anticipation thick in the air. Sakura tried to keep his cool as he sat down across from Suo. The slender chocolate stick was placed between them, each holding an end between their teeth.
"Ready, Sakura-kun?" Suo asked with a gentle smile, his eye glinting with mischief.
"Hmph, of course I am." Sakura huffed, trying to sound tough. But his voice wavered slightly, betraying his nerves.
As they both slowly started to bite down on the Pocky, the distance between their lips began to shrink. The class watched intently, some holding their breath in excitement. Sakura’s heart raced as he struggled to maintain his composure, the heat in his cheeks intensifying with each passing second.
"You know, Sakura-kun," Suo murmured as he bit down a bit more, their faces now mere inches apart. "You look rather cute when you're this close."
Sakura’s eyes widened, and a deep crimson spread across his cheeks. "W-What are you saying, idiot!?" he sputtered, nearly losing his grip on the Pocky.
Suo chuckled softly, his voice calm and teasing. "Just an observation."
Sakura gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in his chest. "S-Shut up and focus on the game!" he snapped, determined not to be outdone.
But Suo, ever the composed gentleman, was unfazed. As they drew closer, the tension between them built, the atmosphere charged with an almost electric energy. The class was on the edge of their seats, eager to see what would happen next.
Just as their lips were about to touch, Suo suddenly paused, his mischievous smile widening. With a swift motion, he snapped his end of the Pocky stick, the remaining piece falling from his mouth.
"I guess you win, Sakura-kun." Suo said smoothly, his eye gleaming with amusement.
Sakura blinked, momentarily stunned. He wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed.
"H-Huh?" he stammered, his mind racing to catch up. "Y-You let go on purpose!"
Suo stood up, brushing off his clothes as if nothing had happened.
"Perhaps," He replied, the playful tone in his voice only deepening the confusion in Sakura's mind. "But a win is a win, isn't it?"
Before Sakura could protest further, Suo leaned in close, whispering so only he could hear. "Maybe next time, you won’t be so lucky."
Sakura's heart skipped a beat, and he felt another wave of heat flood his face. But before he could respond, Suo had already turned away, casually addressing the rest of the class as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
The class erupted into cheers and applause, oblivious to the turmoil brewing within their grade captain. Sakura could only sit there, trying to process what had just happened, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and unexpected feelings.
The class was still buzzing with excitement when Sakura, unable to shake off the lingering embarrassment and curiosity from his encounter with Suo, suddenly stood up.
"Let's go for round two," he declared, his voice firmer than he felt. He shot a determined look at Suo, who simply raised an eyebrow, amused by Sakura's newfound boldness.
Nirei was quick to interject. "Uh, Sakura-san, that was actually the last Pocky we had."
Sakura froze, his bravado faltering.
"W-What? But we can’t just stop now!" His face flushed again, this time with frustration.
Suo chuckled softly. "Seems like you'll have to wait until next time, Sakura-kun." He teased, his voice laced with that same playful tone that had Sakura’s thoughts spinning earlier.
The rest of the class began to walk away, some students laughing and chatting about the game while others went back to their seats. Nirei closed his tiny notebook with a satisfied nod, as if he had just documented another piece of important data.
As the school day ended and Sakura made his way home from Furin. His thoughts were still consumed by what had happened with one of his vice captain.
The lingering warmth of their almost kiss, the way Suo had deliberately pulled away, and that final whisper…what did it all mean?
Lost in thought, Sakura barely noticed when he passed a small market. But something made him stop and glance at the display outside. His eyes landed on a box of Pocky, the same kind they had used in the game. He stared at it for a moment, his heart thumping in his chest.
Sakura hesitated, torn between his pride and the strange and persistent urge that had been building inside him since that afternoon. Before he knew it, he was walking into the store, his mind made up.
As he paid for the Pocky, the cashier handed him the bag with a polite smile. Sakura gave a curt nod in return but his thoughts were elsewhere. He knew he could always brush this off as buying a snack if anyone asked, but deep down, he knew there was more to it.
"Next time... I'll be ready." Sakura muttered under his breath as he left the store, gripping the bag tightly. The thought of facing Suo again, this time on his own terms, sent a thrill of anticipation through him.
As he continued his walk home, Sakura couldn't help but wonder what Suo would say when he saw what Sakura had bought just now.
The next day, Sakura walked into the classroom with his heart beating faster than usual.
He had barely slept the night before, his mind running wild with thoughts of how he might approach Suo and suggest another round of the Pocky game. But as he stepped through the door, the sight that greeted him made his nervous energy falter.
The classroom was its usual bustling self, with everyone caught up in their routines. Kiryu glued to his phone, occasionally muttering something in response to the chat he was having. Tsugeura was being loud as usual, cornering Anzai in a conversation about some random virtue he was curious about today. Sugishita sat near the window with his face down on the table, let out a low growl of annoyance at Tsugeura’s loudness.
Sakura scanned the room, but there was no sign of the Pocky game from the day before. It seemed like everyone had moved on and the excitement has dissipated overnight. Even Suo was quietly seated at his desk, reading a book while Nirei was scribbling away in his tiny notebook, oblivious to the world around him.
Sakura swallowed hard as the bag of Pocky tucked away in his pocket feeling heavier than ever. He had come in so sure of himself, ready to face Suo but now… How was he supposed to bring it up when everyone else seemed to have forgotten about it?
He made his way to his seat, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way to casually start the game again. But every scenario he came up with sounded ridiculous or embarrassing. He glanced at Suo, who hadn’t looked up from his book.
Would Suo even be interested? Or had he just been playing along yesterday for fun?
"Sakura-san! Good morning!” Nirei’s voice suddenly cut through his thoughts. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind. Something bothering you?”
Sakura nearly jumped out of his skin, his face turning red. “N-No! Nothing’s bothering me!” he snapped a bit too quickly.
Nirei seems like he wanted to say something more but he only mumbled “If you say so…”
Sakura slumped into his seat, frustrated with himself. How was he supposed to get Suo’s attention? Just as he was about to give up and wait for a better moment, he noticed Suo glance in his direction. Their eyes met for a brief second before Suo’s lips curled into a small smile.
“Good morning, Sakura-kun.”
Sakura’s heart skipped a beat, and suddenly, all his nerves felt even more overwhelming. Suo knew. He had to know. But if he did, why wasn’t he saying anything? Was he waiting for Sakura to make the first move?
Determined not to let this opportunity slip away, Sakura took a deep breath and slowly reached into his pocket. His fingers brushed against the box of Pocky, and he felt a surge of resolve. Maybe everyone else had moved on, but he hadn’t.
Now, he just needed to figure out how to get Suo to play again without making a fool of himself in front of everyone else.
Sakura spent the entire morning trying to catch Suo's attention, but Suo seemed to be busier than usual, moving from one place to another in the school. With the box of Pocky weighing heavily in his pocket, Sakura made up his mind to approach Suo when the moment was right.
When lunch break came, Suo left the classroom alone and Sakura, after a moment of hesitation, quietly slipped out after him. He followed Suo through the bustling hallways, keeping his distance but never losing sight of him. Every time Suo would turn a corner or stop to chat with someone, Sakura would quickly duck out of sight, his heart pounding with the thrill of the chase.
“Argh! Why is this making me so nervous!? It just Suo!”
Maybe because it was Suo that makes him acting like this.
As they made their way through the school, Sakura couldn’t help but wonder where Suo was going. He usually spent lunch with Nirei and the others, but today he seemed to have other plans.
After what felt like an eternity, Suo finally turned down a deserted hallway, heading toward a more secluded part of the school. Sakura hesitated, but curiosity and the desire to settle things drove him forward.
He rounded the corner cautiously, only to realize that Suo had vanished. Confused, Sakura stopped in his tracks, looking around the empty corridor.
"Where did he—" he began to mutter to himself, when suddenly a strong hand grabbed him from behind.
Before he could react, he was yanked hard and pressed against the cold wall, his breath catching in his throat. His eyes widened in shock as he found himself face to face with Suo, who had one arm braced against the wall next to Sakura's head, effectively trapping him.
"Looking for me, Sakura-kun?" Suo’s voice was low and smooth, his crimson eye gleaming with a mix of amusement and something more intense.
Sakura’s heart raced wildly in his chest, his face burning as Suo’s gaze bore into him. Embarrassed that he just get caught.
"I-I—" he stammered, the words he had been rehearsing in his head all morning suddenly slipping away under Suo’s piercing stare. Suo leaned in closer, his lips curling into a faint, teasing smile.
"You've been following me around all day, haven't you? Like a cute cat." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it that made Sakura shiver. "What's on your mind, Captain?"
Sakura’s thoughts were a chaotic mess, but the feel of the box of Pocky in his pocket was a stark reminder of his mission. He swallowed hard, trying to steady his voice.
"I... I wanted to challenge you to a rematch." he finally managed to say, though it came out more like a whisper.
Suo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"A rematch, hmm?" He leaned back slightly, giving Sakura a bit more space. "And why’s that? Did yesterday leave you feeling unsatisfied?"
"I just... I just thought it wasn’t a fair game since you let go on purpose." Sakura argued, crossing his arms.
Suo chuckled softly, his eye never leaving Sakura’s. "Is that so? Well, I wouldn’t want to leave our grade captain feeling cheated."
"So... you’ll play with me again?" Sakura asked, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
Suo's smile softened.
"If that’s what you want, Sakura-kun," he said quietly, his voice carrying a subtle challenge. "But this time, don’t expect me to go easy on you."
Sakura’s heart pounded in his chest, but he nodded, determined to see this through.
"I’m ready," He declared, more to convince himself than anything else.
Suo stepped back releasing Sakura completely from the wall. As they stood there, Sakura couldn’t help but wonder if he was really prepared for what he had just asked for…or if he was in way over his head.
The narrow corridor around them feeling even more confined with the weight of what was about to happen. Suo reached into Sakura's pocket, retrieving the box of Pocky with a teasing smirk.
“How did you—“
“You’ve been putting your hand inside your pocket since this morning. If I didn’t know you any better, I would think that you’re carrying a dangerous weapon.”
Suo held it up between them, the mischievous glint in his eye making Sakura's stomach twist with a mix of excitement and nerves.
"Ready for round two?" Suo asked, his voice smooth as silk.
Sakura swallowed hard, nodding. "Yeah... let's do this."
Suo carefully pulled out a Pocky stick and held one end between his teeth before offering the other end to Sakura. Without breaking eye contact, Sakura leaned in, his heart pounding in his chest as he bit down on the other end of the Pocky.
This kind of made Sakura's head spin. Yesterday in class, they were sitting across each other but now they were standing this close with Sakura pressing against the wall.
They both started biting down on the stick, the space between their lips closing with each small movement. The air was thick with tension, each second dragging out as they inched closer together. Sakura's face was burning, his thoughts a jumbled mess, but he was determined not to back down.
When their noses nearly touched, Suo's breath brushed against Sakura's lips, sending shivers down his spine. Suo's gaze, usually calm and collected had an intensity to it that Sakura had never seen before. Then, just as they were about to touch, Suo paused.
"You're driving me crazy, Sakura-kun," Suo muttered, his tone strained as if he were holding himself back. "Why would you even-"
"I can't hear you.." Sakura frowned before he tiptoeing to get closer to Suo, but before he could fully process Suo's words, the tension between them snapped.
Suo’s restraint shattered as he suddenly closed the gap, smashing their lips together in a heated, desperate kiss.
"Push me now.. Sakura-kun.. before I.." Suo whispered against Sakura's lips, though his actions said otherwise as he deepened the kiss, his hands gripping Sakura’s shoulders, pulling him closer.
But Sakura didn’t push him away. Instead, he found himself responding, his own hands reaching out to grab onto Suo's shirt, holding him as tightly as Suo was holding him. The box of Pocky clattered to the floor, forgotten as the kiss consumed them both.
What started as a desperate, almost frantic kiss gradually slowed, turning into something deeper and more intense. Sakura's mind was spinning, overwhelmed by the emotions flooding through him. All his usual bravado and tough exterior melted away, leaving him vulnerable in a way he had never been before. And yet, despite the unfamiliarity of it all, it felt... right.
Suo’s hands moved from Sakura’s shoulders to his waist, pulling him even closer as their lips moved in sync. There was a tenderness in Suo's touch that contrasted sharply with the urgency of the kiss, a carefulness that made Sakura's heart ache with something he couldn’t quite name.
Minutes passed, though it felt like an eternity, before they finally broke apart, both of them breathing heavily, their foreheads resting against each other. Sakura’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes half-lidded as he tried to catch his breath. Suo, still holding onto him, looked down at Sakura with a soft, almost dazed expression.
"Sakura-kun..." Suo murmured, his voice barely audible. ".. I'm sorry"
Sakura blinked up at him, still reeling from what had just happened. "D-Don't say that.. it's not—...Suo, if I hate it I'll push you or even punch you but I-... I..." the words caught in his throat. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to say. Everything was new to him but it felt nice.
But Suo just smiled, a gentle, genuine smile that made Sakura’s chest tighten. "It's okay, Sakura-kun, I understand. Does that mean you don't hate me?" Suo whispered, brushing a stray lock of hair from Sakura's face.
Sakura nodded, unable to find his voice, but grateful that Suo seemed to know exactly what he needed. They stayed like that for a moment longer, just holding each other in the quiet corridor, the world outside forgotten as they basked in the warmth of each other’s presence.
“Then…will you go out with me?”