Chapter 16 – Blossoming

Akemi and Soya wandered the department store, picking things out for one another and stopping when something caught their eye. She found some new shoes and a few jackets and tops for Kazama, everything fitting him nicely. Meanwhile he wasn't sure what she'd want to wear, since he knew she was very picky about her wardrobe. Not to mention for the most part she covered up entirely in some sort of fabric. He was browsing the dresses with her when he found something that caught his attention. It was blue and soft, fitted in all the right places. But it was an open back, so he wasn't sure she'd wear it. "Uwaa, it's pretty." He turned to look over his shoulder, seeing her smiling. "Shall I try it?" she asked him, earning a slow nod from the blackette.

"The back is open though…"

"It's okay." She smiled. "Anything for you, Soya." She took the dress with her other items, heading to try them on. He waited for her outside the room, people passing by and wondering who he was waiting for. She emerged from the room after every outfit, showing him and asking his opinion. Of course, he thought everything looked good on her. Skirts, pants, jackets, tops, everything looked right on her. "Best for last, ne?" she smiled, heading back in to change into the dress. He sighed, stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets. When she came back out, his jaw almost dropped. "Hehe… does it look alright?"

"It was made for you." He stated softly, making her smile.

"Guess that means yes, huh?" she chuckled. "Thank you for picking it~" she added. "Next time we go for a nice dinner I'll wear it for you~"

"… Okay." He nodded, waiting for her to change to her regular clothes before they went to purchase their items. The clerk commented on how cute it was to see them shopping together, seeing as most boyfriends waited on the side or stayed far away from the girls clothes. Akemi just smiled, thanking the clerk before they left the clothing store.

"It's still early." She said, looking at the time. "What else, what else…?" she pondered. As they wandered around trying to decide what to do, they heard someone call to them.

"Soya! Akemi!" They turned to see Tamakoma's Branch Leader.

"Rindo-san?" Akemi looked confused. What was he doing here? He was normally hauled up somewhere. Perhaps he was taking a lunch break?

"Having a date?" Rindo asked, grinning, making both Soya and Akemi's cheeks color. "Aww, how cute~ Good job, Soya." he pat Soya's back. "Akemi, good for you." he nodded, making Akemi's cheeks burn more. "Don't forget that tomorrow night is your turn for dinner at Tamakoma." Rindo added, Akemi nodding her head.

"Of course not, sir." She replied. "I always remember." She added, Rindo nodding.

"You should bring Soya along. Though it might scare the others to see him suddenly." He teased, Akemi's face coloring all over again. "I'm sure everyone would like to see for themselves that you two are together."

"S-sir, please." She mumbled, Soya holding her hand still to help her calm down.

"Yes yes, I'm sorry Akemi." He smiled, patting her head. "Soya, remember to take care of Akemi, got it?" he was obviously implying something more than just being a good boyfriend. The look on his face just screamed "propose to her already".

"I got it." he replied simply.

"Good, good. Once you two are comfortable enough, you should consider moving in with one another." he added. "See you tomorrow, Akemi~ We're looking forward to the meal~" he waved and walked off, Soya's eyes wide with shock from Rindo's suggestion. Akemi squeezed his hand.

"Rindo-san is too blunt about those things, ne?" she sighed, turning to look at him.

"... Yeah." he nodded. "Come on, let's go." he added. They wandered for a bit longer, sitting down to take a break. Soya wished that Rindo hadn't been so straight forward, but he was. Moving in together was something he'd wanted to suggest. Though he knew the other leaders of Border knew about their relationship, Rindo was the only one to directly say anything. Also the only one who was pushy about it. He paused, noticing people following them. Two… no, three. He sighed, turning to Akemi. "Jin and Tachikawa have dragged another person into the spy ring."

"Eeeh…" she pouted. "Another? Must be Kako." She stated. "It's like they think we're not going to notice."

"Should we leave?"

"Nn, it should be fine." She stated.

"Rindo-san sure is pushy." Kako's smile was wide, a glint in her eye as she watched the interaction take place. "Telling them to move in together like that so casually."

"The only thing pushier is when Mikan tells them to get married." Tachikawa added. "And that girl literally pushes them." He laughed. "I wonder if he ever will propose to her?" he pondered. "Or maybe Akemi will do the proposing?"

"No, probably Kazama-san." Jin smiled.

"Your side effect?" Tachikawa asked. Jin just grinned at them. "Well, let's go before we're caught." He added. "I'd hate to see what happens to us if she finds us."

"Too late." Akemi said, causing the three to turn to her. Kazama stood with her. "You three should be less obvious when following people." She added.

"Aww, but you two are so cute~" Kako smiled.

"Haha, we're caught." Jin smiled, offering them a bag of rice crackers as compensation. Akemi took the bag. "Sorry, Kazama-san. Akemi."

"Yeah, sorry."

"It's done already, just next time don't be nosy." Akemi stated. They were surprised she wasn't more upset or embarrassed. The groups split off, Akemi sighing once they were out of earshot. "It's like high school all over again." She mumbled, Kazama smiling a little. It was very similar, only instead of Shuji Miwa's older sister, it was Kako adding to the mix.

"Is that bad?" he asked, Akemi shaking her head. She smiled at him.

"Just… a little taxing." She stated softly.

"Then we'll sit and relax for a bit before we keep going. I'll buy you a drink." He replied, leading her to sit back down. She smiled at him.

"Aww, but I can pay." She held his hands as he made her sit in the chair.

"No. Stay here." He stated. She pouted at him as he went to get them drinks, turning to check on her once or twice and seeing her sitting there with a smile on her face as though to say, "See? I'm being good." He just smiled a little, getting their drinks before heading back to sit with her.

Meanwhile, Ayumi and Shuji were taking a break from their study session. Ayumi kept taking glances at Shuji, which he eventually noticed. "Yes?"

"N-no, sorry…" she blushed, turning away. Shuji sighed though, knowing it wasn't nothing.

"You know… we've been friends long enough where if you're unnerved by me you can say it…" he stated. She shook her head, turning back to him. "Then why do you always look so nervous?"

"B-because…" she looked straight down at the floor. "Because… Shuji-kun is always… always nice to me and always helping me… I… I'm always behind but you never leave me there…" she was gripping the hem of her skirt and shaking. "I've never been able to do anything good for Shuji-kun…"

"That's not true." He replied, making her look up, tears in her eyes. "O-oi, don't cry." He said, grabbing a tissue to wipe her tears. "You're always there… always encouraging everyone around you and protecting them… I can't count how many times you did something for me…" He added, remembering all those times when they were kids that she protected him or told him he could do whatever it was he was trying to do. Remembering that when his sister was killed, she did everything she could to comfort him even though he didn't ever say thank you. He pet her head, letting her cry. He'd been meaning to do this for a long time, but it never felt right. "Thank you, Ayumi… for all you've ever done for me…" he muttered, her hands shaking as he put his hand over hers. She reached out to him, the A-Rank letting her cling to him. She was shaking, so all he could think to do was hold her and let her calm down. Trailing after Akemi weighed him down because she was his sister's friend. Emotionally it was something he could live without. But Ayumi was different. Ayumi was his friend… more than that, she was someone he never wanted to lose. He stayed there for a while, Ayumi not moving much either. They enjoyed each other's presence and relaxed in silence, neither wanting the moment to stop. He heard someone behind them clear their throat, causing them both to jump.

"I hate to interrupt, but dinner's here." Akemi smiled. "You're welcome to stay for dinner, Shuji." She added, Kazama carrying the other bags from their venture. "Come get it when you guys are ready." She added, Ayumi flubbering for words to respond with.

"We'll be right there." Shuji replied, petting Ayumi's head. "… Calm down, you're crying too much." He added, Ayumi nodding and trying to breathe normally. Shuji just pet her head, the girl soon calming down. "There."

"S-sorry…"

"Don't apologize." He stated. "Just say thank you." He added, cheeks pink. "And… promise me you won't worry about that stuff anymore." Ayumi's face went as red as he'd ever seen it. But the shock soon turned to a smile. A real, warm, Ayumi sort of smile.

"Alright, Shuji-kun."

"… Drop the honorific." He stated. "Just… Shuji is fine…"

"E-eeh?!"

"D-don't make a big deal out of it." He grumbled, ruffling her hair. "It's embarrassing. You used to call me Shuji in grade school. Why'd you stop?" he asked.

"… E-everyone was saying it was too informal… and in middle school, they said that it made it sound like we were dating…" she said. "I… I didn't want you to be uncomfortable… so I stopped." She replied, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Well… then be my girlfriend so it's not questionable." He stated, Ayumi's eyes widening as he said it.

"B-be… Shuji's…?" she hid her face behind her hands, Shuji letting her hide against his shoulder. "Y-you're really okay with me? I-I'm always messing up and I'm clumsy and reckless…"

"Dummy…" he mumbled, ruffling her hair. "That stuff doesn't matter." He added. "All that matters is that you're one of the people I never want to let go of."

In the kitchen, Akemi and Kazama listened to them as they talked. "They're so cute." She said softly, smiling to herself as Soya began making the tea. Soya smiled too.

"Now who's being nosy?" he teased, bumping her hip as he grabbed the cups from the cabinet next to her. She smiled in return, chuckling.

"She's my sister, it's different." She stated. "But I'm still glad." She added, opening the take out and spreading it out so it could all be visible. "Ayu needs more reasons to smile." She added. She and Kazama finished prepping before grabbing their food, leaving the rest for Ayumi and Shuji before heading to Akemi's room to eat, enjoying each other's company. "Besides… the fact that he's let me go also means he's able to move ahead… Miwa would have been so proud." She added. Kazama sat with her on the floor, the pair finishing their meal relatively quickly. "Hopefully… I can reach that stage soon, too… moving ahead without hesitation… So I don't keep you waiting too much longer…" she took his hand, smiling. Kazama stared at her for a while before nodding, smiling back.

"You don't have to worry about that." He replied, knowing that she was making big strides towards that point already. He didn't want to rush her at all, but he did want to someday be able to show her that kind of love. He stopped himself there, though, not wanting to get any ideas. It would happen when she was ready. That was all there was to it. "You'll get there when you're ready… and I'll be waiting." He added. "I'm not going anywhere."

((Nothing too serious~ Just some cute things and YES FINALLY AYUMI AND SHUJI.

Ahaha, sorry I've been extra excited to post that part... Next time, the Final Round of the B-Rank Wars! See how Aihara-2 does in their match!

-Winter Cheshire))