Chapter Two: It Wasn't a Joke at First

As usual, Tsugumi woke up and saw Meme sleeping next to her. The forgetful girl sleepwalked, and almost always ended up in Tsugumi's bed before dawn.

Being careful not to wake her friend, Tsugumi got out of bed and put the sheets back over top of Meme. Stretching, she picked her school uniform off of the floor beside her bed and proceeded to change.

After pulling the shirt over her head and smoothing her skirt, Tsugumi sat back on her bed, trying not to wake Meme in the process, and put on her knee-high boots.

Anya sat up in her bed. "Good morning, Tsugumi-san," she said while yawning.

"Good morning, Anya-san," the black haired girl said cheerfully. "Are you ready for class today?"

"I suppose," Anya replied, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Why do you sound so excited?"

"No reason..." Tsugumi looked away, hoping Anya wouldn't notice her red cheeks.

"Ah, I get it," Anya said playfully, shaking a finger at her friend. "You're excited to see Akane-kun, aren't you?"

"M-Maybe..." Tsugumi stuttered, smiling to herself. Yes.

"Tsugumi-chan," Meme mumbled, throwing the blankets off of her. "You're up early, right? Or is it the afternoon?"

"It's morning, Meme-san," the blonde girl said. "Tsugumi-san is just excited to see Akane-kun~!"

"Oooh!" Meme clasped her hands together. "Maybe he will give you the details of your date!"

"Yeah..." Tsugumi sighed happily. "Maybe..." Or maybe he was joking again...

.

.

.

After eating breakfast in the DWMA cafeteria, the girls walked toward the NOT classroom, which was next to an EAT class called 'Class Crescent Moon'. Tsugumi stood outside of the door, Meme and Anya urging her inside.

"I-I can't!" the Japanese girl whined. "W-What if I mess up?! What if I embarrass myself?!"

"You'll be fine, Tsugumi-chan," Meme said kindly, opening the door slightly.

"Stop struggling or you're really going to embarrass yourself!" Anya said, pushing Tsugumi through the door. Tsugumi quickly regained herself and walked inside the room nonchalantly, even though her heart was going a million miles per hour.

The classroom had a large, almost stage-like area at the front, and it had rows of seats and desks in the back. Sure enough, Akane was sitting at one of the desks, his weapon partner Clay Sizemore casually leaning on it.

Akane was wearing a white button-down shirt and a black blazer, a tie around his neck. His black hair was combed to go over his left eye, and metal-framed glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. Clay, who had short brown hair, was wearing the same outfit, except without the jacket.

Tsugumi squeaked before hiding behind Meme and Anya in a desperate attempt not to be seen.

"Come on, Tsugumi-chan," Meme said gently, breaking the wall she and Anya created.

"Oh, hey, Harudori!" Akane called, grinning from across the room. Anya and Meme pushed her toward him.

Tsugumi gave them a glare before blushing and walking over to Akane.

"I'll leave you two alone..." Clay smirked before walking away.

"So," Akane said, smiling at Tsugumi. "What's up?"

"N-Nothing much..." she said awkwardly, giving a small smile.

"Hey, about yesterday..." Akane began, shifting his position to sit more comfortably. "You seemed pretty shaken up. Did I do something wrong?"

"N-No, of course not!" Tsugumi said, shaking her head and hands. "It's just...well..." She looked around to see if anyone could overhear their conversation.

Noticing Tsugumi's discomfort, Akane glanced down at his watch and smiled. "We have a few minutes before class starts..." he said, taking Tsugumi's hand. He led her out of the classroom and into the hall, closing the door on his way out. "You were saying?"

"It's just...I'm not really...I'm kind of..." She sighed. "I don't understand why... I'm just plain, flat-chested, and nothing special..." She stared down at the ground, blushing.

"Heh..."

Tsugumi looked up.

"You're really cute when you're flustered," Akane chuckled.

"I-I'm not cute..."

"So you're wondering why I asked you on a date, right?" Akane asked, leaning against the wall.

Tsugumi nodded.

"Remember that one time we went to Deathbucks and talked about why meisters go to the DWMA?"

"Yes..."

"I said I would protect you, right?"

"Yes...and then you joked around and asked if I'd become yours..."

.

.

.

Tsugumi and Akane sat outside of Deathbucks, a local coffee shop. After asking why meisters come to the DWMA, she listened to him explain.

"Well, to put it another way," he continued. "There may be lots of people coming here just because they want to have authority over others. 'A sound soul dwells within a sound mind and a sound body.' Perhaps the majority of people come here just to become heroes who protect the world."

"So, do you want to become a hero as well, Akane-kun?" Tsugumi asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Hm...You could say that in my case, it's related to family," he replied, and told her the story of why he came.

"So that's why you came to the DWMA," Tsugumi said once he was finished. "So, are you planning on moving to the EAT class later on, Akane-kun?"

"I guess so. I came to the DWMA to use my power for others," he said, holding his glasses in his hands.

"I look up to you..." Tsugumi said, fidgeting nervously. "And your ability to act based on your own beliefs. I only came here because I just happened to be a weapon. So I was wondering what kind of goal I could work towards while going through school life here...ah, I mean, I'm sorry!" she squeaked, shaking her hands. "I didn't call you here to discuss about my problems! Sorry..." She looked down at the table and sipped her drink.

Akane grinned. "You really are cute, aren't you, Harudori?"

"I...I am not cute..." Tsugumi blushed.

Sitting back in his chair, Akane continued to smile. "So...will you aim to become an 'EAT', Harudori?"

"Huuuuuh?!" Tsugumi gasped. "Th...That's impossible! If I try to become an 'EAT', I'll probably end up losing my life... Someone like me, who has no experience of being hurt, and who ends up being frightened of running into a traitor has no chance of becoming an 'EAT'."

"I will protect you."

Tsugumi looked up abruptly. "...!"

"Whether I become part of the EAT class, whether it be a traitor or anything else, I will protect you from it, Harudori."

"Uh...uh..." Tsugumi stuttered. "I mean...but..."

"To do that, I need you to be close to me, Harudori." Akane held out his hand to her.

"Kya! C...Close?" Tsugumi said, her face turning pink.

"Will you become mine?" he asked while holding her hand in his.

"Huuuuuuuuuuuuh?!" she squealed. "Wh...ah-wh..wh.."

"I'm joking," Akane said, smirking nonchalantly.

"Huh?!"

"It's only been two weeks since you came to the DWMA, right, Harudori?" he asked, standing. "There's no need to panic even if you don't know what to do here...your goal."

Tsugumi looked surprised.

"If you're still troubled with it after a year..." He slid his glasses back on his face. "I'll find one for you."

.

.

.

"It actually wasn't a joke at first," Akane laughed. "I just got scared of what you'd say and added that at the end." He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I kinda regretted it, so I asked you out yesterday."

Tsugumi nodded, still blushing furiously.

"I like you, Tsugumi."

She gasped sharply.

"You're not plain at all," he went on. "You're interesting and unique, and I couldn't care less about your 'flat chest'. And you're really special. You're adorable, nice, and funny." He smiled genuinely. "And that is why I asked you to go on a date with me."

"A-Akane-kun..."

"You can drop the 'kun' from my name," he said. "Just Akane will do."

"A-Akane..." Tsugumi said breathlessly.

"Are you free this Friday night?" he asked, laughing inwardly at Tsugumi's shyness.

"Yeah, I think so..."

"Then I'll come by your dorm at around seven, okay? For our date." He smiled.

"O-Okay..."

Akane turned to walk back into the classroom.

"Wait, Akane..." Tsugumi peeped.

"Yeah?"

"Does this make us...you know...uh..."

"Boyfriend and girlfriend?" Akane finished, as if he was reading her mind. He bent down slightly and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Only if you want to. Now come on, Sid-sensei will kill us if we're late."

Her face bright red, Tsugumi nodded and followed him into the room as the bell for the start of class went off.