Thursday nights were lazy nights. It was the only day of the week when her mother and sister had afternoon shifts, leaving her father responsible for dinner — meaning they ordered grease-splayed delicious circles of happiness and cheese. The Shinozaki tradition. Pizza wasn't her favourite meal, but it was high up there. This was one day that she allowed herself to splurge on carbs, her cheat day.

Digested in the dense pages of her favourite book, Ayumi sat on the taupe carpet in her living room. All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. Stomach grumbling, she raced to the front door.

"Yoshiki?" She blurted, holding the door open with incredulity. The sight was almost hard to believe. Trademark snapback, red and white uniform, stacks of pizza boxes in hand. He was your average delivery boy. Never in her life would she have thought him, well-known troublemaker at school, the boy often found sleeping at the back of her classroom, to be standing at her doorstep.

Staring back with equal surprise, he stood with his jaw slackened. "A-Ayumi? You live here?"

It really was him. Laughter erupted from her mouth, unable to contain it any longer. Her aspect of him was this misbehaving, foul-mouthed punk that took shit from nobody; she found it ironic that in actuality, he was a teenager alike everyone else, engaging in belittling part-time jobs such as delivering fast food to lazy individuals. How he stood before her, clutching onto steaming hot cases of her dinner, made him look… exposed, even vulnerable.

"H-Hey! Don't laugh," he scrunched up his face, discomposed.

Heaving the air out of her lungs, she rested her hands on her knees before standing straight and wiping away a non-existent tear. "Sorry, sorry. I can't help it. I never expected to see you like… this."

He narrowed his eyes, jutting his lip. "You do realise that your meal is in my hands. I wouldn't be teasing someone like that."

"I haven't even paid yet!" Her eyes widened, had she finally caught her breath. "Wouldn't you lose your job or something?"

A gravely groan left his lips as he ran a hand down his face. "I don't really care at this point. And you better not tell anyone at school."

"Oh?" She smirked, a mischievous sparkle appearing in her eyes. "And if I did?"

"You wouldn't," he muttered through his teeth, wide eyed, obviously stirred.

Leaning on her doorframe, arms folded, she taunted, "But how would I benefit from that?"

He released a heavy sigh. There was no way to get out of this. "Fine. What do you want?"

Tapping a finger on her lip, she pondered on a suitable deal, or more so punishment. It was strangely thrilling to have power over him. Being the one in control. His reactions were definitely out of character, and honestly cute. "I want you to do me a favour for the cultural festival. Don't worry, it's a small favour."

"That's all?" He scoffed, cracking his mouth open to smirk.

Pfft, he was wrong to underestimate her. She faked a sweet smile. "Yup! Oh, and here's the money for the pizza."

After exchanging precious goods, he left with his palm pressed against his face. Watching him drive away, she couldn't hide her grin. This was going to be fun. There was no way she would tell anybody his secret, but it was amusing to play around with his emotions. It interested her, to say the least.


A few weeks later…

"You look adorable!" Squealed Mayu.

Seiko caressed her chin, squinting her eyes at him. "It's a nice fit."

Satoshi smacked a hand on the shoulder of his best friend, who boldly volunteered to dress up in a maid costume to gain more attention for their restaurant in the cultural festival. He took one for the team. Truthfully speaking, he looked ridiculous in his alarmingly short skirt and hand-sewn apron, with frills adorning his outfit at every angle. It did not suit his personality at all. Who knows what triggered him to do it. "You're a brave man, Yoshiki!"

Said person twitched his eye, grasping the hem of his skirt in attempt to hold it down. Stupid thing. He glared at the blue-haired class representative in the corner, who was eyeing him with a shrewd look on her face. What a bitch. She better keep her side of the promise, otherwise he would have embarrassed himself for nothing. Frustrated, he grumbled, "Damnit AYYYUUUUUMMMMMIIIIII!"