Author's Note: Hello everyone! Thanks for the warm welcome! I enjoyed reading the prompt suggestions - some of them I'm already planning about. Thanks!

I actually just titled this one-shot because I really couldn't think of a befitting one. I'm very lame with such. Again, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!

buds
saccharine

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It was Sunday, and a rare occasion, for LeBlanc was closed for the day.

Akira recently learned latte art, and it wasn't because of Sojiro. The old man didn't like useless fancies and believed coffee should be served in such a way it should be drunk, not to be ogled at.

But Akira wasn't Sojiro, and he liked fancy, stylish things – like his Joker trench coat and mask. Besides, Sojiro was out with Futaba today as they canvass a school for her to enter. Preferably, Shujin or the academy Yusuke goes to.

Akira was just about to finish Ryuji's skull-drawn espresso.

"It's not as cool as Yusuke's doodles, but it's good enough," said Ryuji as he watched Akira do the finishing touches.

"Why did you even order this, you hate coffee," spat Ann out of annoyance, who had already gone halfway with her double.

"He's wasting the Boss's coffee beans. I think Ryuji doesn't care at all for saving resources, Lady Ann." purred Morgana as he jumped from the counter to give Ryuji the butt. "Remember the last time he wasted the allowance we gave him?"

"Oh shut up, I have the right to order whatever I want. And Ann bought lip gloss with her allowance!" retorted Ryuji to the tag-teaming Ann and Morgana.

"Yeah, but mine only cost less than a thousand yen, and it was a drugstore brand! I even bought a new whip!" the quarter-American defended.

Morgana walked at the counter towards Ann, his flat snout and whiskers held high up. "Lady Ann learned from her past mistakes. You, on the other hand…"

"Hey man, help me out here!" Ryuji turned to Akira. He was noticing how it was becoming a regular thing for everyone to pick on him as if he was the only existing person in the room. Even Makoto was starting to push her own needles.

"Calm down," said Akira as he smirked at Ryuji, who was now taking a photo of his drink. "He's paying his own drink today."

"Hey!"

"You better!" reinforced Ann, before turning to Akira. "What about mine, Akira?"

Akira huffed with a smug grin. "On the house." He'd never allow a girl to pay.

Ann smiled in satisfaction. "You do know how to make a girl happy. Unlike some people.."

Akira watched Ann and Morgana take on Ryuji again. He noticed how often Ann picked on Ryuji. Before, he couldn't help but wonder if there was something going on between them - a reason for him to take the backseat. Their constant quarreling was often amusing. As an observer, Akira definitely felt like a third wheel; nonetheless, continued to like her with a distance.

But it's an entirely different story now. The days when he yearned to tug her pigtails (but never did so) in class were over.

For the past few weeks, after they saved Futaba from her mind, he had caught both of them on multiple occasions, arguing about a boy. He wondered whether this boy was a common friend of theirs, and Ann happens to fancy said friend.

It turned out, his hunches were right.

There came the inevitable namedrop (because Ryuji is a really bad wingman, Akira concluded) – "I don't know, Ann. Akira doesn't seem to be the type to go for foreign-looking ladies,", among other discouraging words. Nonetheless, Ryuji still supported Ann. Moreover, the two began using euphemisms whenever the three of them hang out, usually Ryuji placing himself between him and Ann.

Of course, he made this conclusion only after several instances. He couldn't believe it at first, second, third, or even fourth. Easily conceding to his feelings was never how he dealt with his personal life. There were many reasons for him to doubt it – but who wouldn't like their feelings getting reciprocated, right?

He continued to watch them.

"You know Ann, sometimes I can't help but think this habit of throwing me under the bus is just to make yourself look cool," Ryuji retorted as he glanced at Akira. "in front of everyone."

The spiky blond teen huffed out of frustration and looked at Akira, then to Ann, who was wearing an angry expression as she blushed in red like there was no tomorrow. His gaze cycled to Akira again, to Ann, then to his untouched coffee.

"..that's stupid," answered Ann. She was giving him the look, which Ryuji immediately understood. It was time for his wingman duties.

Akira, saw this shared gaze between them. He bit his lower lip, trying to hold in his laughter. It was almost cute how both his friends were trying to cover up their plans. He felt a little guilty too, for Ann to go through such complicated lengths when they simply could just be together. He knew he wouldn't get to convince her though, especially if it doesn't happen her way.

He decided he will go along with this charade and make his own moves. He smirked. Let's make it more exciting, shall we?

"…Never mind." Said Ryuji, rolling his eyes. He stood from his seat and dug his hands in his pockets. "I'm gonna look around the neighborhood for some old games."

"Pay your coffee," reminded Akira. Ryuji grunted and left him some good 800 yen. "Thanks."

"You just have to be the real ladies' man, don't you," grunted Ryuji, still bitter that Ann gets her drink for free.

"Sorry. I'll tab yours next time." apologized Akira.

"Morgana, follow Ryuji." Ann commanded out of nowhere. The raven-haired boy took this as Morgana entirely oblivious to the scheming. He felt a bit guilty, but thought he'd worry about it later.

"The heck?!" Ryuji exclaimed as he stood on his feet.

"Huh?!" The cat jumped from the chair to the counter. His fur was standing up. "Why me?! Why must I follow this idiot around?!"

"Ahh.. Make sure Ryuji doesn't do anything stupid! You know how he does.. stuff.." The nervousness in her voice was so obvious it made Ryuji face-palm. Ann's eyes shot up quickly to the other blond, begging. He rolled his eyes, irritated. He had no choice though, since he did promise this. He wondered if his friend was already noticing, too. I will never agree to something like this again.

"..I'll buy you sushi," grunted Ryuji to Morgana. The cat's attitude did an 180, even leading the way, prancing to the exit.

"You owe me this one, Takamaki!" exclaimed the blond before exiting LeBlanc.

"Stupid Ryuji.." Akira heard Ann mutter. He looked at her still gazing at the door, with that signature flushed look on her face. Her plan was spiraling downwards. Ryuji was turning out to be a terrible wingman. ..never again.

"Owe..?" he repeated as he crossed his arms. What could Ann possibly owe Ryuji? He wondered what could that deal be about, and what Ann may have staked for the shenanigans.

"Did you two get into trouble?" he snickered.

"No, it's nothing," she answered, immediately voiding his implication as she emptied her mug. It was her way to recollect her confidence. Come on Ann, this is the perfect time to use Carmen and Panther in you with real life problems! To her dismay, she could not summon Panther to save herself.

"Ann,"

She looked back at him, with a disarming gleam in her eyes – the one she uses. He had almost forgotten what he was about to say. "Yes, Akira?"

"…would you like some cake?"

Her cyan eyes widened. "You guys do pastries now?"

"No. We just happened to have some leftover," answered Akira matter-of-factly. "you like sweets."

She grinned. "So you remember. Sure! Bring it on! I'll take on any sugarcoated yum! This one's free, right?"

"Of course," he smirked in satisfaction. He turned to the cupboard to get her a plate and a fork. Placed it before Ann, then opened the fridge to look for the cake.

Meanwhile, from the counter, Ann was enjoying the view of Akira's knotted apron around his waist as he crouched next to the fridge. "Has anybody ever told you how good you looked with an apron?"

He chuckled. "Are you hitting on me?"

"Perhaps.." she bit her fork playfully. He glanced at her and smirked. "just kidding, Akira."

He took out a medium-sized box and placed it in front of Ann as he gazed down at her. A lopsided grin was on the corner of his mouth.

Her brows met. "Umm.. shouldn't you cut me a slice?"

"Nah," there came the knowing Cheshire cat smile. "you should serve yourself. It's all yours."

She scowled. "Don't mess with me; you know I can't eat all of it,"

"You finished a whole platter back at the buffet," reminded Akira.

Begrudgingly she stabbed the half-moon-sized cake and took a huge biting. "You're mean," she muffled between chewing.

"I'm kidding," he replied. "Just help yourself, is what I meant."

He watched her eat the dessert, admiring the expression on her face whenever she took a fresh bite. They remained like that for a while, sharing a comfortable silence as Ann ate her chocolate cake, with Akira watching her. Moreover, it seemed as if Ann wasn't noticing some crumbs and icing on the edges of her mouth. He had pointed it out to her, but she told him she'd just leave it there until she finishes eating.

He began to think of ways he can make his moves without undermining her.

"You should probably take this away from me," said Ann, noticing that the cake was already a half smaller than it used to be. She pushed the box away from her, blushing.

Akira took the box and placed the leftover in a smaller container.

"I just pigged out, didn't I," she laughed nervously, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

He glanced at her, the left corner of his mouth twitching upwards. "You remind me of a babe."

"What babe?" she followed, grinning as she successfully caught on one of Akira's 'references'. And for Ann, it was obvious he was flirting with her.

He wasn't going to make it easy for her though. His smirk deepened. "Babe.. the pig."

Her wide grin dropped to a scowl. "Hmp. No magic for you."

Akira chuckled, turned around to see a speck of icing on Ann's chin. He leaned in closer to her face, the same smile never leaving his face. Ann tried to neutralize him by frowning, but her pink cheeks were giving her away.

"Missed a spot," Akira swiftly brushed his finger across her chin, revealing some white icing on his finger. He casually licked the icing on his finger before turning around to the sink.

"E-Ehh..!" the pink on her cheeks turned red, her brows meeting furiously, her mouth gaping in surprise. Her fingers found its way to her chin, the area where he touched it. The rate of her heartbeat was enough to give her a seizure.

I will never get even with him! thought Ann furiously.

She watched him wash the mugs and dishes, daydreaming at the sight of his back. He wasn't buffed or incredibly masculine, but there was just something attractive about Akira's effeminate nature. She found it very comfortable.

She took a deep breath."Hey Akira," she began.

"Hmm?" he was getting an inkling where this may go.

Subconsciously her fingers made it to twirling her hair as she felt the heat on her cheeks. "Do you, umm.." her words were failing her once again as she trailed off. "well, what I was going to say is, if you.. ugh, why is it suddenly so hot in the autumn?" Ann began to fan her face with her hands.

He glanced at her as he wiped his hands with a towel. He leaned on the counter, just right across her, with his hand supporting his chin, grinning.

It was time to play his part. "Do you want to go out with me?"

Ann immediately erupted in red.

"That was so not what I was going to say!" she defended as she held herself. Her mind raced, wondering where she could have gone wrong for him to completely read her intentions. This is all Ryuji's fault! she began in a mental panic.

Akira remained calm. For some reason, her cheeks reminded him of peaches.

"I know," he replied nonchalantly. His grin never left. "I asked you out for a date."

Her mouth formed an 'o' upon the realization; cheeks subdued in pink again. It was quiet for a while until Akira cleared his throat. "What were you going to tell me earlier then?"

She sighed in defeat as she began to hide her face with her hair.

"I was going to ask you out.." muttered Ann. She frowned and looked away from him. "but now I can't."

"I've beaten you to it." laughed Akira.

She stuck her tongue out to him. "Heh."

Akira bobbed his head to the side and reached out for her hand to unmask half of her face. "So.. I'll take this as a 'yes'?"

Ann still felt embarrassed, but could no longer hide her smile. Her mind eased with the thought of him liking her too.

"Of course," she beamed. "let's go out. When do you want to?"

Finally.

He kissed her fingertips and smirked. "Anytime you want."

Honestly, I didn't think much of this story through, and I only really just wanted to write a scene where Ann eats cake, with Akira wearing an apron, making coffee and such. Hahaha. Thanks for reading, and 'til next time!