04- Shopping Bags and Whipping Wind
The bell inside the cake shop bumped each other and created a chime to alert whoever was inside. A cerise haired female skidded inside, her hands tight on the straps of her bag.
"Ah, Customer-san," the shop owner greeted her as soon as she was spotted by him. He strode over to her while wiping his hand with a clean towel. "What would you like to order?"
"U-Um," she chuckled lightly, scratching her cheek with her index finger to show her anxiety. "I'd like to look for it first."
"Okay, feel free."
The shop owner walked back to his task of preparing some of the pastries.
She slowly strode to the tables to get a menu and flipped through the pages for her order.
"Hmmm..." her gaze shifted from cakes to pastries, all looked incredibly interesting in her eyes.
"Banofee please!" she uttered as soon as she reached the counter. She had debated between the toffee chiffon and her order at least twenty times before choosing it.
"How many slices?" the shop owner asked while pulling out the banofee from the display case.
Akane placed a finger on her chin thoughtfully. "Um... three, I guess."
"Coming right up~"
While the shop owner was preparing her banofee, she started digging on her bag for her wallet.
"I guess you're going to give it to a girl, hmm?"
Akane raised her head and smiled, "Yeah. She likes sweet things."
"Banofee's great but it wouldn't hurt if you add a slice of chiffon too," the shop owner suggested, glancing at the chocolate chiffon she was eyeing earlier.
Akane chuckled lightly. "No, no, banofee's fine. Besides, the chocolate chiffon might come off as too sweet for her." She pulled out some bills and placed it at the counter.
The shop owner smiled back and gave the box of cake to her. "Here, make someone smile today."
Akane grinned, raising a peace sign in addition. "I'll try."
The cake shop's door closed gently behind her when she exited. The sun greeted her with its light touch, the warmth gentle on her skin. She retained her smile.
[~]
The wind was never her friend. It whipped at her and cruelly sent her hair to her face. She nearly lost her balance multiple times because of the wind also, like it purposely placed a trap on her way. She had been running for she who knows how long to reach the mall. Her lungs were already sucking in oxygen for the sake of balanced breathing.
In her head, she blamed herself for getting too excited to head out and forgetting her bike altogether. With unbearable speed, she dashed to the entrance of the mall. Upon reaching the entrance, her knees buckled up and gave in, leaving her like an idiot pleading for the passerby's mercy. She breathed continuously, desperately clutching on the oxygen her lungs could currently access, and ignoring all the intrigued stares directed at her by the people passing her by.
"Do you really have to look like an idiot in every place you head to?" a stern question from a person she would always recognize spoke.
She quickly rose to full height and dusted off her jeans. "Not exactly but thanks for staring and not helping out. That helped out a lot."
"Sarcasm wouldn't get you anywhere."
"Ha-Ha-Ha," she teased purposely mocking him yet for some reason he remained calm.
"Mako's waiting inside."
He turned before she could even reply, his footfalls heavy on every step. She checked the box of cake and upon making sure it was okay she headed in.
She made sure she was standing at least a meter away from him, a common rule she agreed with him. Even in class, she made sure she placed herself a meter away. Since, the misfortune he often talked about when they get too close always take effect on him and he ends up taking revenge for it. She also ends up unlucky at times like the time she had to fish out her wallet from a toilet bowl.
She remembered how foul she smelled that day and it made her cringe involuntarily.
"Akane-senpai~!" Mako greeted, her right hand waved enthusiastically like she was lacking attention from who she was calling. Akane had already spotted her first hand as soon as she entered.
"Stop Mako-chan... it's embarrassing." Akane walked to the girl's direction quickly to prevent further attention from other people.
"I miss you, Akane-senpai~!" when Akane moved closer to Mako, arms wrapped her in a killer bear hug. Her face was buried in Mako's chest who grew taller than last time. She flailed her arms in an attempt to ask for release; with her nose buried, she cannot accumulate enough oxygen to breathe.
"Mako, you're already killing her," Midorima said loudly for the enthusiastic Mako to hear. Having his sister as the cerise head's killer didn't sound plausible to him. Besides, he didn't want her dead even if she always irritate him.
"Ah, Sorry," Mako released Akane from the death hug and flashed a trademark cheerful grin.
"You're welcome," Akane grunted in response, her chest heaving as she sucked a deep breath.
"You're still sarcastic, huh, senpai."
Akane stared at Midorima's younger sister. Aside from becoming taller, the girl also looked more beautiful than last time. Her light green irises became more expressive with the amusement dancing on her irises. Her hair was a nice well-kept ocean of green adorned by simple black pins on its side. She was wearing a white tube on top of a black vest and a black skirt with simple rubber shoes on her feet.
How lady-like... Akane thought, she neither had never paid attention too much on how she looked like nor dressed up. Let alone acting as a proper lady.
"Himeyama?" Midorima spoke, snapping Akane from her thoughts.
The cerise head blinked and chuckled lightly to cover up for her embarrassment.
"Uh... pardon me, here... I bought it earlier." She passed the cake bag to Mako who accepted it graciously.
"Gee, Akane-senpai. You're so sweet." Mako checked what's inside and grinned. "Banofee~yay~!"
"I'm surprised that you can pull out something decent out of the blue, Himeyama." Midorima pointed out, his hand raised his glasses to the bridge of his nose.
"What now? Are you asking for a fight?" Akane replied, insulted by his remark. She raised her eyes and met his defiantly. "I'm doing you a big favor right now."
"Hmph."
"Is that how you should treat me?"
"Look who's talking, you don't know how to treat people nicely either."
"'Look who's talking,' blah blah blah. If I grow taller than you, I will definitely shut that thin line you call mouth!"
"And how do you propose to do that?"
"Whoa!Akane-senpai, this banofee's really gr—"
"You green haired bastard!"
"I'm not a bastard idiot. Choose your words carefully before you carelessly spout it!"
"You're the—wahhh!"
The cerise head was unceremoniously pushed to him all of a sudden, her mouth hang open in surprise.
His features stressed off annoyance when he caught her by the arm in impulse. Their one-meter distance broken into thin air.
"Ah, my bad," Mako said innocently as she threw the cake box on a nearby bin. "Senpai, you okay?"
Midorima and Akane stared at one another blankly. Both stiffened at the possible effect of their broken distance and they were both not ready for what was about to befall them.
"F-Fine... I'm fine."
Mako glanced at her older brother, same innocent look on her face. "How 'bout you, Onii-chan?"
"There's nothing to be worried about, Mako."
"Okay then, let's get going," Mako said with a light shrug, walking ahead the color duo as if she didn't do anything wrong earlier.
The impact finally left Midorima and Akane, both moved back from one another and invoke the meter distance with the female running to the little sister and the male following behind.
[~]
"That hurt!" Midorima snapped after fifteen times of staying calm. "Are you playing the role of the ram now? Just because you're an Aries, doesn't mean that—"
"Ahh! Shut up, would you?" Akane grumbled, stomping away from him just to evoke the proper distance once again.
They were already wind up to bad luck despite redoing the distance. Earlier, they both entered the male's room with Akane seeing what she shouldn't. They had to ran away to prevent being caught. Afterwards, Midorima wind up entering with her in the female's washroom. The people on both sides nearly reported them to the police if not for Mako helping with their explanation.
They weren't able to get away with just that, they even slid inside the elevator when they were about to exit from it. They unintentionally pushed all the people in front down earning grunts, displeased stares, and angry complaints. And adding to the incidents are their current 'crashing' problem which happened at least fifteen times.
"I told you not to get close," Midorima complained in disappointment. The string of bad luck hammered his brain, giving him pain.
"Why, thanks for blaming me," Akane replied, crossing both her arms on her chest like a kid about to throw a tantrum.
Mako rolled her eyed at the scene, despite her efforts to save the duo, they simply argued again after. She massaged her temples while thinking of a way to resolve the situation. This day was supposed to get the duo together not wreck them apart. However... it seemed like her plan wouldn't work at the least of her surprise.
"Uh... Mako- chan..."
Both siblings' eyes turned to the cerise head. Akane covered her mouth but the trail of blood on her hand was visible. "I think it's bleeding... do you have a tis—"
"THAT WON'T WORK!" the Midorima siblings exclaimed at the same time. As children of a renowned doctor, the two are used to how they should respond to a current situation which desperately needed attention.
Midorima ran to a nearby vending machine to get something cold. While Mako led Akane to the washroom and instructed her to keep her head low and let the blood drop to the white sink.
"Don't worry, Akane-senpai. You'd be fine."
Akane nodded, keeping her hand pressed on the bridge of her nose. Her gaze fell at the blood falling from her nose to the untouched clean sink.
She didn't know anyone who would worry about her this much aside from her parents and her best friend. No one had paid too much attention to a nosebleed before because it wasn't that hard to deal with if it's only light.
Akane felt something fuzzy caress her heart, making her feel warmth blanketing her body.
[~]
When they head out, Midorima quickly passed the cold can to her. "You press this at your nape."
Akane looked at him quizzically before sighing in defeat. "You broke the rule again."
"I'm not doing this because I wanted to but you're hurt. Besides, I'm sturdier than you."
"Yeah, right."
Before she can retort a sarcastic 'Thank you', he walked over to her and pressed the can on her nape. She jolted at the contact of the cold can on her skin, surprising her.
"Hey!"
"You're feeling too much heat. Chill up a little."
Akane held the can and pressed it slightly on her nape. She wore a sheepish expression, looking away with the red tint on her cheeks. "T-Thank you."
"Hmm? I didn't hear you." Midorima replied, his gaze also away from her. He looked like he was talking to another passerby when it was supposed to be her.
"T-Thank y-you." Akane stuttered despite her desire to thank him properly.
Midorima asked for repetition for the second time.
"Thank you, freak!" she exclaimed, finally turning to him but with a glare on her eyes. "I'm not going to thank you again! Never ever till I die!"
With those words, she walked out on the Midorima siblings without as much as a turn. Midorima's eyes widened a little, surprise colored his irises.
"Onii-chan, what are you doing? Follow her immediately! Who knows what would happen if you leave her alone?"
He snapped out of his trance upon hearing his sister's banter. "Why should I? She's big enough to—" he swallowed what he was about to say because of the irritation on his sister's features. It was a terribly bad sign. He released a tired sigh, "I'll be right back."
[~]
Splash... Akane closed her eyes to avoid it from gaining mud because of the sudden splash created by a passing mud.
"Argh! Lady Luck stop cursing me!" she complained, not caring if her voice was too loud for anyone to hear.
Someone cleared his throat from behind. She turned with a frown crossing her features. "Why did you follow..." her gaze fell on his outstretched which held his jacket."What's that for?"
"You're drenched. You could use that to cover yourself for awhile."
"Huh?"
"Just use it."
Seeing the seriousness on his face, she found herself shrugging as she accepted the jacket and wore it over her wet top. When she finished, he was talking to Mako on the phone. She watched his lean back, wondering how he could look so strong, calm, and composed.
She also wondered why he would help her thrice in a row. The typical Midorima wouldn't help her too much.
"Himeyama...?"
She blinked away from her trance, forcing a smile to face him with.
"Yeah?"
"Mako would meet us at the park. She will bring some change of clothes for you."
"Where would—ah! You don't mean it!"
Midorima looked at her quizzically as if she suddenly grew out two heads at once.
"Where else would we get some other than the mall?"
"B-But it would cost you!"
He turned with a sigh, "Can we do anything about that? You'd catch a cold if you don't change fast. Buying some clothes for you rather than sending you home would be more convenient."
He started walking away before she could even reply to his statement. She exhaled and shook her head.
How unpredictable...
She ran after him yet made sure she evoked the meter distance to prevent anything from happening.
"Oi, Midorima, wait up!"
[~]
After all the fiasco of her drenched state, she was already in an outfit chosen by Midorima's sister. It was a sleeveless orange dress with frills adorning her skirt, giving her a fresh outlook from the simple shirt and jeans combination from earlier.
"Ah! You're so cute, Akane-senpai!" Mako squealed excitedly as soon as she went out from the comfort room.
"N-Not really. It's just the dress, it's not me."
"It's cute! Also it matches your twin tails~!"
Akane exhaled and forced a smile. Her reflection smiled back from the mirror.
"That so?"
Mako patted her shoulder. "Yep! Come now, let's show you to Onii-chan!"
Mako dragged her out before she can even complain to her, the wind crisp as it hit her skins. She felt chilled due to the lack of warmth which she can get from Midorima's jacket earlier. Mako suggested her to take it off because it wouldn't suit her dress.
"Onii-chan~! Look, look! Akane-senpai's cute, isn't she?" Mako announced upon reaching Midorima who was seated on a bench, waiting patiently for them.
The greenhead glanced at her, light green irises sharply inspecting how she looked like. Her heart started to beat while she waited for him to speak. Her ears now mute to her surroundings. Her eyes only focused on him.
"You look fine." Midorima said after what seemed awhile. With those words, she breathed out a sigh finally free from the binding spell of his would be answer.
"Huh?! Whaddya mean by fine?! How lame do you think that was?!" Mako complained with displeasure deep on her tone.
"But—"
Mako glared at Midorima cutting off his supposed sentence. The greenhead swallowed hard, a lone sweat travelled down from his temples.
"And Akane-senpai!"
"Y-Yes?"
Mako also glared at her intensely, she could already feel the hairs on her back rise from the tension the green haired girl was giving her.
"You're not supposed to be contented with just fine! You should ask for a proper compliment!"
"Uh... I'm actually okay—"
"I told you don't be fine with just fine!" Mako huffed, catching her breath from too much shouting. "Really this two, please get a clue, okay?"
This time, Mako herself walked out on them leaving both Akane and Midorima staring at one another questionably.
"What was that about?" Akane asked, settling down at the opposite end of the bench.
"Don't ask me." Midorima raised his glasses to the bridge of his nose. "My sister has mood swings lately."
"Okay..." Akane stared at the trees dancing with the wind. "You sure you're not going to chase after her?"
"She will come back soon. It's how she is." Midorima replied with a light shrug.
Silence drifted between the two of them. This time, the wind that passed them by was less fierce than before. It was gentler in fact, providing relaxation for everyone on the park.
"Himeyama..." Midorima called out, making her turn. She stared at him with question-filled eyes, her lips parted. "Why were you crying in front of the cake shop yesterday?"
"Huh... uh..." she averted her gaze, not sure if she should tell him.
"It's fine." He said right after, "You don't have to-"
"Shush! Who ask for something and decline it after quickly? I can't believe you." She spun to her heels to face him. Her eyes filled with determination.
"No, it's fine. It wasn't supposed to be my business in the first place."
"Nah, it's not too personal."
She averted her gaze and looked at the sky, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand.
"It's just... piled up I guess... with all things getting too depressing that day then being hungry and then having someone bumped into you all of a sudden made it burst." She exclaimed, ending it with a scoff right after. "But it's fine now."
"I apologize for bumping you."
"Hmm?"
He averted her gaze away from her. "It's nothing. I guess that in itself is fine. You can cry when you want to. There's no use holding back."
Her lips curved a smile. "Weirdo."
"Seriously?" he turned to her, evidently displeased. "After everything, you're still not grateful."
"Why thank you, weirdo." She meant it this time, no sarcasm attached.
A/N: Well, here goes, I'm back...