Chapter Text
The school bell rings.
The winter sun begins to set.
The cold wintertime atmosphere begins to settle in.
The snow flakes slowly rain down the sky as if falling from the heavens.
Aoi and Akane walk to the gates and begin their walk home.
Since they had been partnered up on a pair project, they decided to just walk home together.
This was one of the few days where Akane didn't stay back from school.
Moreover, He couldn't possibly deny an offer to walk home together from his beloved aoi.
As they strolled, The clouds begin to part and a ray of light hits Aoi's face.
Her beautiful violet colored eyes were dazzling, radiant, under the heat of the blazing sun.
Her hair glistening as if it was made out of silk.
He was always aware of how beautiful she was, and especially let her know that every day.
Yet, on this particular day—has she ever been more beautiful.
It was just like when they were younger.
They used to walk home together back when they were kids.
Not so much ever since middle school.
With Akane joining the council, he started staying back after school.
Though, the student council wasn't the only reason.
ever since he became a wonder, he became more busy.
It wasn't really that noticeable though.
Aside from Teru, Nobody was really aware he did.
Nobody except Aoi.
She pretended not to but she would sometimes wonder why he kept staying back.
I mean, what could've possibly kept him that busy?
Whatever, not like she cared.
A phrase she would always say to herself, denying and pushing away all the feelings she had for him.
As they kept on walking,
Akane couldn't glance away.
Not that he was planning to anyways.
If he were to describe it, Her laugh was like the sound of angels singing—her voice was as warm as spring time,
and her smile, the pearly gates of heaven.
"I love you so much Ao-chan! You're like a Goddess! Marry me please!!"
Akane said, bowing down to her—hoping he could win her over this time.
Yet, no matter what, Aoi replied with the same thing every time.
"No way—Akane-kun!"
She smiled cheerfully, crossing her hands to form an X.
Her soft voice really did seem like one of a goddess.
Yet, Akane wasn't the tiniest bit upset.
He got back on his feet stared deep into her eyes with utmost love.
Then, he smiled at her.
Even with the countless amounts of times he had gotten rejected, there was no way he was gonna give up.
Not now, not ever.
"I love you so much, no matter what, ao-chan."
"you mean the world to me."
He looks at her, as if he sees right through her.
Impossible.
No way anyone could see through her act.
Yet, the look in his eyes, it seemed so sincere.
This too was different from the usual praise he would say.
But really, could she bring herself to trust him?
Right when her dad was lying to her mom, he said something along those lines.
She vaguely remembered the sweet nonsense he would say to her mom.
"I love you, honey. I can't wait to see you after work."
"I miss you so much."
"i wish we could spend forever together."
And all that time, He Kept a straight face while secretly going home to another family.
Was she willing to take that risk?
Willing to give him her heart knowing there was a chance for her to receive back it in pieces?
No.
Well at least, not in the moment.
Yet, there was this longing feeling, as if she wanted him to keep pursuing her.
As if she didn't want him to stop chasing her.
So before she could notice it, the sentence slipped from her lips.
"6 points."
Aoi mumbled.
She looked down at the ground before smiling back up at Akane—Her hands tucked behind her as she titled her head.
Akane was instantly taken aback.
It felt as if he had been star-struck.
He couldn't believe what he was hearing!
This was the highest points she had ever given him—he was beyond ecstatic.
He was beaming.
His eyes were glimmering.
He looked no different from a Lovesick puppy.
He was practically vomiting rainbows.
As he was doing his own thing, Aoi started walking again.
"come on now, Akane-kun! we still need to finish our project. "
She said, cheerfully. Bending down meeting his level.
As soon she finished saying that, he immediately rose to his feet.
He stood up so fast he almost fell backwards.
With that, they both resumed their walk home.
Minutes into resuming their walk, they noticed the sky was more dull and gray.
The clouds were covering up most of the horizon.
It overcast a heavy, gloomy shadow upon their city.
They immediately noticed the drop in temperature. It got colder than usual. Freezing, even.
Just then, small drops of water began to fall from the sky.
One landed on Aoi's hair, another on landing on Akane's sleeve.
Before they knew it, it began raining.
Light at first, then hard, heavy, drenching rain.
Before Aoi could react, Akane immediately took out his umbrella and opened it.
Akane shared the umbrella with Aoi since she forgot hers.
Then, both of them booked it to the nearest open store.
They didn't really see where they were headed.
any place with a roof would do.
All they needed was shelter to shield them from the rain.
And Akane would forever blame himself if he was the reason Aoi got sick.
Once they finally made it in an open store,
They let out a long sigh they didn't know they were holding.
Honestly, they had no idea where they were going.
All they knew is that they had to get somewhere and fast.
So when they looked up, they were a bit surprised to see where they had ended up.
"oh Akane-kun, it's a bakery!"
Aoi said, her enthusiastic cheery energy radiating all throughout the store.
A part of her was questioning when it had opened because she had never went.
She would've gone weekly if she knew it was this close to the school.
She loved sweets and pastries, especially if it was raspberry flavored.
She missed eating raspberry pie a lot.
"since when was there a shop like this in the area?"
Akane wondered to himself.
But He brushed it off, figuring it might've just opened recently.
The both of them looked around.
It was a cutely decorated ice cream bakery shop.
Odd.
They didn't recall any shop like that nearby this area. They only remembered the one near the train station.
Nonetheless, after all that running, they felt hungry so they decided to indulge in what this place has to offer.