My Type is You

If Aoi knew one thing, it was that girls like Tsubasa didn't go for guys like him. Granted he was extrapolating from one point of data and a lot of assumption, but he also knew that a lot of girls normally liked their boyfriends to be taller than they were. Stronger maybe, and definitely less feminine than they were, and since Tsubasa seemed like a much more relaxed version of Misaki, he could only assume that she would end up with someone similar to Usui. He already knew she had a thing for cute blondes.

Though Aoi had gotten used to the tall, blonde man, and no longer disliked him for stealing Misaki's heart, he couldn't deny that as he and Tsubasa entered the café that afternoon, his heart dropped when he spotted Usui in his usual seat staring very obviously at Misaki. The girl was doing her best to ignore him, but his gaze was so obvious and so incredibly loaded that even Aoi could feel her discomfort.

Tsubasa, who had been rambling about wanting to try some new dessert from the menu, trailed off. "Hey, are you okay? You got tense all of a sudden."

"It's nothing. Let's find some seats," he replied quickly, looking away from Usui but Tsubasa had already caught sight of the man. Aoi grimaced as her eyes narrowed, and he wondered how long it would take before she started sighing dreamily about him like every other woman seemed to.

However, Tsubasa's mouth set in a grim line. "Do you know that guy? Is he bothering that waitress?"

"Uh…" Aoi's eyes were wide. That wasn't what he'd been expecting. "Uh, no…at least I don't think so? He likes her I guess, so he comes in here really often to stare at her. Why do you care anyway?"

"Because she looks incredibly uncomfortable and, romantically interested or not, her work environment isn't the place to do this." Something in her eyes flickered, and Aoi was reminded of the day she'd saved Aoi-chan from those thugs. "I'm gonna go talk to her."

"What?!" But she'd already ambled over in Misaki's direction, and Aoi was left flailing at the door. He shot Usui a glance, and winced when he saw the man stiffen at Tsubasa's approach. He should have warned her that Usui was incredibly territorial, and since Tsubasa still looked very much like a guy, he wouldn't take kindly to that.

His eyes jumped back to Misaki and Tsubasa. They were both talking, and Misaki was laughing at something Tsubasa had said. There was a blush staining her cheeks. The boy sat down quietly, frowning slightly. So maybe Tsubasa wasn't into Usui, but maybe she was into Misaki? She had admitted to swinging both ways. Wouldn't it just be his luck, he glared down at the table surface.

"Aoi?" He jerked, surprised by Honoka's appearance, though she'd actually been standing by the table for a while. Vaguely embarrassed, he quickly mumbled out his order and the dessert dish Tsubasa had been so excited to try. Amused, the waitress wrote it all down, and then arched an eyebrow at him. "What's with you? I thought you and Tsubasa-kun were eating together."

"We are," he muttered, scowling at the waitress, but Honoka was not easily fazed. Her eyes darted from Aoi's irritated expression, to Tsubasa and Misaki's animated conversation, and back to Aoi.

Then her lips split into a wide grin. "Oh my, Aoi-kun," she cooed evilly. "Are you jealous?"

Aoi stiffened and whirled around to face at her, spluttering all the way. "Wh-me? Jealous? What do you think you're insinuating you-!" But Honoka had already pranced off, giggling madly all the way and calling back that she'd bring them their orders.

"Aoi?" He flinched again, once again surprised by Tsubasa's reappearance at the table. He hadn't seen her come back until she was standing over him. He felt his cheeks heat up as she brought her face close to his own. "Is everything okay?"

He squeaked and leaned back, almost toppling entirely out of the chair. "D-Don't get so close idiot!"

She laughed. "I guess nothing's wrong if you can insult me," Tsubasa smiled and dropped into the seat opposite his own. "You didn't tell me they were classmates."

"I didn't think you were going to march over and talk to her," he replied, a touch bitterly. "You shouldn't have done that anyway. Usui's pretty possessive over her, and I think he's the strongest person I know. He's even stronger than Misaki, and trust me she's really strong."

"Huh," Tsubasa hummed thoughtfully, and then didn't say anything after that. Their table was silent for a while, not uncomfortably so, but Honoka's words had brought Aoi's bourgeoning crush roaring to the front of his mind. He was suddenly so aware of how tall Tsubasa was, how long her legs were, and how those same legs were so close to his own. He wondered what it would be like to kiss her; he'd have to get up on his tip-toes to do so, or she'd have to lean down. Maybe she'd just pick him up; she was obviously strong enough to do that.

The sound of things being set down jolted him from his thoughts, and he blinked uncomprehendingly at the egg-and-rice dish that had been set in front of him. Tsubasa was staring in awe at the pastel-coloured, blueberry-dotted confection in front of her with unabashed delight. She shoved a spoonful of the cake in her mouth and moaned quietly. "Oh this is so good!"

Aoi's face flamed, and he kicked her leg threateningly. "Stop that! You sound so weird! Don't do that in public!"

"Awww, but it tastes really good! Here, have some!" She held up a spoonful of cake, deliberately choosing a piece that was laden with berries. "Look, it even matches your eyes!"

"You think every blue thing matches my eyes," he retorted snappishly, although the sentiment made him blush as always. He blushed a lot around her. Aoi eyed the spoon, wanting to take a bite. It really did look delicious, but wouldn't this be the equivalent of an indirect kiss? Tsubasa didn't seem to care one way or another, and honestly her cheery and relaxed attitude was throwing him. He didn't like not knowing where he stood.

"Correction: I think every pretty blue thing matches your eyes," she grinned cheekily. "Now open wide~!"

The spoon disappeared into his mouth, and that's when he suddenly became aware of how quiet the café had gotten. Literally every woman was staring at them, sparkles in the air and hearts in their eyes, and in the background he could see Misaki trying to calm his aunt down. He groaned and covered his face with his hands. "I think we may have to stop coming here for a while."

"Hmm? Why?"

"Because I think the customers here are going to start expecting this level of fanservice every week."

Tsubasa glanced around, noticing all the eyes that were surreptitiously peeking at them from behind menus and over dishes, and then she shrugged and smiled at Aoi. It was a different smile than he was used to, all lowered eyelids, sharp teeth and heat. It was playful yet intimate, and it made his heart stutter and beat harder against his chest.

"I don't mind, Aoi-kun," she said. "I like hanging out with you. You're one of my favourite people."

And Aoi, having never really been someone's favourite before, wasn't sure what to say, so he quickly snapped something about a stray smear of cream on her face, and went back to his meal, face completely red and something warm and pleased unfurling in his chest.