I blinked as I met the bright purple eyes before me, "Ah." was all I could voice.

Before the owner of those amethyst eyes could say anything, a hand had smacked the back of my head forward.

I grunted and whirled around to see the owner glaring at me, "I told you to greet customers properly brat!" she huffed before walking away.

I looked towards the purple eyes and sighed, "Good afternoon Marui-senpai, is this where you buy pastries for your matches?"

Marui looked me over. I was wearing a white button up shirt, dark black pants, and a dark green apron with a small cupcake logo in the corner. He gaped, "You're eleven years old, Why do you need a job Mamoru?!" he asked baffled, ignoring my question.

I sighed and leaned on the counter, looking around the bakery, "That's not it senpai," I denied quickly, "My father is friends with the owner and she's been having some back problems lately. I'm just helping out because of her request."

Marui blinked and nodded in understanding, "Huh… seems like you're a kid with morals at least."

My eye began to twitch as I looked at the red haired teen, just what image of me did he have before?

I started to pack up the treats that he had placed on his tray, "...thank you then, Marui-senpai."

He grinned cheekily at my unenthusiastic response, "No problem kiddo." he said with a teasing voice.

I finished ringing him up and gave him his change. He gave me a small wave, "Well I'll see you at practice then, Mamoru."

I watched him begin to leave before a thought suddenly entered my mind, "Marui-senpai!" I called, making the older teen turn to look at me with a raised eyebrow, "Could… could you do me a quick favor?" I asked with hesitation.

He pondered my question and tilted his head, "Depends, what's the favor?"


I watched with wide eyes as the thin red head shuffled cake, pie, and sweets so quickly down his throat, making comments on each one.

Marui grinned at me, "If I had known this was what you wanted from me, I would have said yes immediately!"

Marui was testing out the prototypes of new pastries that were soon to be released to the bakery. This was supposed to be a job set out for me, but I didn't like sweets as much as the next guy.

Marui was also surprisingly descriptive and eloquent. For each sweet he would explain it's good points and bad points and suggest ways of making it taste better.

If I was doing this I would just push half the pastries to the bakery and the other half to be experimented with again.

Marui stood near the entrance of the bakery, his bag of goodies and a few extra in his hand, "See you tomorrow, Mamoru!" he exclaimed with a cheerful smile, ruffling my ash brown hair. I looked up to protest but the self proclaimed genius was already out the door. I let out a weary sigh and went towards the counter again, resisting the urge to smile.


I shifted slightly and opened my closed eyes just enough to glance towards my left and see my stern vice captain sitting in seiza across from me. I quickly closed my eyes again and let out a breath I was holding.

I lifted the teapot and poured it carefully into an awaiting cup in one swift motion. I lifted the cup up and placed it in front of the older teen across from me. I stood up, bowed deeply, and stepped away quietly.

"Kirigaya," his deep voice called out to me before I could leave.

I stilled at the door, now kneeling by it, "Yes, Fuku-buchou?" I asked with my head down out of respect.

There was some movement from inside the room before Sanada spoke again, "Join me."

I lifted my head quickly in surprise, but only saw that the stern teen had placed another teacup across from him and had poured an appropriate amount of tea.

I bowed again and stood up, closing the door behind me, and kneeling across from my vice captain.

For explanation, my dad's side of the family had been incredibly traditional until my grandmother had rebelled against those ideals. However, as holders of the Kirigaya name we do participate in traditional Japanese events. This is why my cousins have a venue for tea ceremonies just a bit outside of Kanegawa, one that I have been taught to be a practitioner at.

This venue also just happened to be the closest one to our school, and with fuku-buchou being a part of the traditional Sanada clan, it was almost impossible for me to not meet him here.

The venue was a traditional Japanese setting, with rice paper doors, tatami walls and floors, and even a peaceful garden outside. The sounds of nature surrounded us as we drank the tea that I had made.

"How long have you been doing this, Kirigaya?" Sanada asked roughly and suddenly.

I looked towards the teen across from me. He looked less stern without his hat and allowed me to see his face in full detail as he was only a few feet away from me. He wore a dark green traditional kimono while I wore a dark blue one. I placed my tea cup down gently, "I began to learn as a child, but I mastered the art only a few years ago." I explained to the dark haired teen, "I hope it is to your liking, fuku-buchou."

The sound of nature engulfed us once again as we silently sipped our tea, time slowly flying by around us.


Marui and Sanada! I wonder who's next?