A/N: New episode today, I'm ready to die aldfsl

Eiji had just finished waving to Ash, despite how flustered he was. The whole ordeal just left Eiji completely astonished.

At least Eiji had something to look forward to, since he didn't have class the next day. The whole morning, he spent his time trying to look decent for his date. Staring in the mirror, he frowned messing with his hair.

A sigh, he shook his head disapprovingly at himself. To think the barista he had been crushing on would end up asking him out to coffee. Eiji was unsure if this could really count as a date, when he asked, Ash only responded with sarcasm and didn't get to finish his sentence.

It could just be a friendly meeting for coffee. Or maybe not. So Eiji couldn't help but think that maybe he shouldn't overdo it on his look.

''Maybe just… something casual…'' he mumbled to himself, and decided on a long sleeve wool shirt, with jeans. ''Not too much…'' Eiji continued gazing at himself in the mirror, a hand reaching up to touch the flaming cheeks. He was in such a disarray of emotions.

Later that afternoon, he went to the Cafe Ash worked at. He hadn't seen the blonde anywhere in sight, so he just sat at a table to wait until the blonde met up with him. Eiji assumed he was busy or something of the sort.

''Well, well, another pretty boy working here?'' A sleazy looking older man slipped into the seat across from Eiji, grinning at him.

''I'm… I don't work here… sorry…'' The guy made Eiji visibly uncomfortable, trying not to pay him any mind, until he felt the grotesque warmth of the stranger's hand on his.

''I could put in a good word you know-'' As the man talked, a shiver went up Eiji's spine. Then a fork was slammed forcibly and dangerously close to the guy's hand. The impact made Eiji jump and bring his hand back. He was just relieved it was Ash that did that.

He had a horrifying look in his eye though. Glaring murderous emerald hues through glass lenses at the bastard across from him. ''Marvin, I suggest you fuck off from here permanently or this fork will be end up in a place you won't find very pleasurable.'' Ash muttered maliciously with a smirk, low enough that only Eiji and him were able to hear.

Marvin, clicked his tongue snappily and did just that. Both Eiji and Ash simultaneously sighed with relief. Ash replaced Marvin's spot across from Eiji. ''Sorry about that. We've had an issue with that guy for a while, he can't seem to take a hint.'' a cheek was cupped in his palm, staring over at Eiji.

''It's fine…'' Eiji just gave an anxious little laugh, ''Do you have to deal with that kind of stuff often?''

Ash averted his eyes, frowning. ''Yeah, that disgusting pig comes here sometimes to harass sometimes. I usually handle it though.''

''Does he.. Harass you too?'' Eiji hadn't even noticed he subconsciously moved his hand on top of Ash's when asking that, which caused Ash to look back at him surprised. Worry, warmth, compassion could easily describe the look on the japanese boy's face when looking at the barista.

There was a silence between them for a few moments as their gazes met. But that alone gave Eiji his answer, and decided not to speak more on it.

A flash was had finally interrupted their silence, causing both Ash and Eiji's head to jerk right to see a familiar head of purple hair styled into a mohawk, along with shades covering their eyes holding a camera over his apron. Eiji's seen him working with Ash.

''What do you think you're doing?'' Ash's turquoise hues flickered into a glare, ''Shorter.''

''Just thought you would like something to remember your first date.'' Shorter grinned,

''Date?'' Eiji repeated shocked,

''...It's not a date?'' Shorter quirked a skeptical brow, gesturing to their hands before taking a picture.

Both Eiji and Ash pulled their hand away simultaneously, ''N-No! It's not,'' Eiji quickly said in a flustered frenzy, ''Ash just asked me to get coffee with him, it's not-''

''It is a date.'' Ash deadpanned, without a problem.

''What…'' Eiji looked over at Ash, as if he unsure if he misheard or not.

Sitting back in his seat, Ash put on a smug smirk. ''I thought the little gift I left in your espresso yesterday might give you a hint, but I guess naivete makes you that much cuter.''

Was Eiji rendered completely silent by those words, and the uncontrollable pulses in his chest? Most definitely. At least Ash's forwardness made this that much easier.

Another flash went off, until Ash had enough and swiped the camera right out of Shorter's hands.

''Hey!'' Shorter whined, ''I was just getting some nice pictures in, that's seriously one hell of a camera.''

''Get back to work, or else Max will get pissed off.'' the blonde quipped, to which Shorter rolled his eyes to.

''Yeah, yeah do you guys want anything or you two gonna just sit and stare at each other?''

''Iced Caffè Mocha.'' Ash looked over across from him, ''Eiji?''

''I'll have… the same.'' His eyes looked over nervously to the window, given that he felt Ash's gaze on him.

Eiji looked down at his hand, clenching and unclenching. It was strange, but he still felt tingle from when he touched Ash's hand. The way he was feeling was weird, given that he's never really crushed on anyone.

But here he was with the barista that he saw nearly everyday since he started college, on a date. A date.

''...A date…'' he hadn't realized he muttered to himself in disbelief. ''And he thinks I'm cute…''

''Eiji?''

''I can't make a fool of myself… but he'll probably think I'm weird…''

''Eiji.''

''His hands were pretty soft.'' a fondness enveloped his voice,

''Eiji!'' And that's when Eiji finally realized he was in a lovestruck gaze, completely oblivious to his surroundings. Embarrassed really, he regretfully looked over at Ash. Originally he would assume the blonde would be upset, but Ash just stood there smiling.

''Sorry, as you can see I don't… go on dates much.'' Eiji said apologetically, turning back towards the blonde. Then Shorter had finally came with their orders, placing a cup in front of each of them,

''I don't either, I guess you can say I have… a type.'' At Ash's confession, Shorter held back a snort but said nothing as walked away from their table. The blonde balled up a napkin and threw it right at him in annoyed retaliation.

''...Type?'' Eiji seemed nervous when hearing that, sipping some of his mocha. ''What's your type?''

''Charming, studying photography.'' He slipped Eiji's camera over to him, not breaking eye contact with him even for a second.

Eiji looked down at the camera, then back up at Ash still fairly confused as he hugged the object to his chest. A pout, ''You're horrible Ash.''

''Huh?!'' The abrupt insult came completely out of nowhere, leaving the blonde dumbstruck. ''Why-''

''Asking me out on a date, only to confess to me that you're interested in other better looking people studying the same major as me.'' he put his head down on the table, saddened puppy eyes looking up at the blonde. ''I'm hurt.''

Ash stood up from his seat, hands on the table. ''That's not what I meant! I was talking about you!''

A flash went off, along with Eiji soon breaking into a small fit of laughter, ''I was only joking. Joking!'' meanwhile the joke left the blonde looking almost insulted, but relieved nonetheless that he sat back down.

''That.. Wasn't very funny.'' Ash remarked, sipping on his own mocha.

''The look on your face though, I love it.'' Eiji grinned, showing the picture he took on the camera.

A sigh came as Ash saw the panicked expression he had in the picture, but then he remembered something that he knew would get Eiji back. ''Speaking of pictures- I saw some interesting things in your camera.''

Eiji choked on the mocha he was drinking, remembering every single picture he secretly took of Ash. Sometimes when he came to get coffee in the morning, he'd sneak a little shot but many times he's been nearly caught. He probably could have kept that a secret, had he not been dumb enough to do the same thing in the library.

At least something good came out of that though.

''I just think you're really beautiful and photogenic.'' Eiji admitted with firm honestly, mostly to drain out his embarrassment. ''If anything, I feel I get the best photographs when they're of you.''

Ash blinked, a soft tinge of red ensuing on his cheeks. Fingers tapped on the table, flickering to look at anywhere else except at Eiji. Ash finally feeling flustered? Definitely.

''You photography students are weird.'' was the only comeback he could come up with, and even he knew it was lame.

That comment didn't get Eiji down, in fact after what he admitted his eyes had a sparkle in them. ''Ash! How about it?''

The finger tapping stopped, ''How about.. What?''

Eiji drank from his mocha again, licking away the whipped cream from his mouth and exhaling. ''You could be my muse!''

A blonde brow quirked, unsure interest filling Ash's vision. ''You want to use me for inspiration…?''

''Yeah! You could help make my assignment easier!'' Eiji enthused, only getting more and more excited as he continued to talk about the idea. ''I have to take a picture of about 1.000 things I consider beautiful, either one thing in several different poses or 1,000 different things.'' He held out his camera, and went through the pictures he already took

''Look, look, I know it's… kinda weird I took these without asking but it wasn't to be creepy or anything, you just…'' he sighed rather gently, smiling at each different angle he captured of Ash.

''The way you greet customers every morning, the genuine smile you give them, the perfect way your blonde hair aligns with your face, and the way your green eyes contrast with your facial features…'' it just seemed perfect to him, to have Ash as his muse.

''Eiji.'' Hearing Ash speak, he only just noticed he ended up rambling on.

''E-Eh sorry again…'' Eiji gave a coy chuckle as he strayed away his attention from the camera, ''I just think… you're really great.''

''You seemed so passionate about it, which kinda makes it hard to say no.'' Ash said, finishing up his mocha. Not as if he was going to turn the offer down in the first place, since he found Eiji to be very endearing.

''Really?!'' Eiji excitedly stood up and slammed his hands on the table, ''So you'll do it?!''

''On one condition.'' A suggestive smirk pulled at the barista's lips.

''Of course,'' His excitement dimmed down, but he still kept a grin. ''What is it?''

''One kiss per picture.'' An offer that had Eiji slowly sit back down in his seat.

''...I think I may have misheard you, one what?''

''For every picture you take of me, starting from today. I get paid with a kiss.'' Ash looked rather proud of himself, seeing Eiji visibly wondering if he was going to spontaneously combust over such an agreement.

Eiji's chest heaved down, right before he stood up from his seat and went over to where Ash sat ''Move over.'' Determined, Eiji sat beside Ash once he moved.

Ash hadn't expected him to act so boldly, given the shy, reserved type that Eiji sorta came across as. Even more so when his face was cupped gently by both of Eiji's hands. ''I took a picture of you earlier, so that means one kiss.'' and without another word, soft lips pressed against Ash's.

Pulling away, Eiji quickly scurried back over to his seat across from Ash. ''Was that okay?'' Eiji stared down as his boldness vanished after that instance.

With widened eyes, Ash had to take a moment to let his fingers brush against his own lips which had only occupied Eiji's moments ago. ''You know what..'' he looked over at Eiji, ''I think having Shorter take a picture of us earlier counts in this arrangement.''

''What?'' Eiji thought he meant only pictures taken by him.

At this point Ash didn't even care anymore. ''I'm trying to say I want you to kiss me again!''

''Oh. You could just said that then!'' A soft glare was directed at Ash, annoyed with his constant subtle talk.

''It's less fun that way.'' Ash said, spinning the straw around in his empty cup.

''Okay, fine. Should I repay you for every picture I've taken of you ever then?'' Eiji went back beside Ash.

''Depends. How many pictures did you take of me exactly?''