❝One day, I'll realize that I've fallen in love.❞
【Falling In Love Now, Honeyworks】
「Chapter 4」
【春】-「1年生」
The next day, afterschool, Nishikawa decided to observe his muses (Ayano and Tsukishima). Though the idea was quite "stupid and unethical" as quoted by Eruna, Nishikawa was absolutely certain that he will go down with this ship no matter what. The young 3rd year was in deep thought as he walked around the hallway, but his thoughts were broken when he heard a voice called out to someone.
"Tsukki!" He peered over the edge of the wall to see a freckled faced 1st year make his way over to the smirked as a mischievous idea formed in his mind.
Tsukishima was walking down the halls, he took a glance outside the window where he saw class 2-1 out during their gym class. His eyes were fixated on Ayano, dressed in a jersey jacket and sweatpants, her hair was pulled back into a short ponytail. Cute...He thought. He blinked for a minute...did he just called her cute? Tsukishima shrugged the thought off, but kept his eyes on her. He watched her make her way back to the class, only to end up trip over her feet. Such a klutz...so cute though...He then snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Yamaguchi call his name out.
"Tsukki!" He glanced his eyes to the freckled faced boy as he made his way towards him, " There you are, Tsukki!"
"Yamaguchi...why were you running?"
"Eh? I was looking for you!" Yamaguchi said.
"Why? I told you I was going to be here," Tsukishima said.
"Eh?! Since when?!" Yamaguchi cried, Tsukishima didn't answered, which made the freckled faced boy sigh, "Oh, were you watching Amamiya-san?" He asked, noticing her class were right outside.
"Don't make up stories, Yamaguchi..." Tsukishima denied, but Yamaguchi knew that he was lying. Ah, you were weren't you...
"There's nothing to be ashamed of Tsukki, I would feel the same if I had a crush too," Yamaguchi admitted, but then a thought came to mind, "Ah, wait, isn't this the first time you've had a crush on someone?" He asked out loud. Nearby Nishikawa grinned as he listened in on the conversation.
"Shut up, Yamaguchi, beisdes we don't know her..."
"2nd year. Class 1," A voice stared, causing the two 1st years to jump, "162 cm. 43kg." They both looked to see Nishikawa leaning against the window next to Tsukishima.
"Gwah!" Yamaguchi yelped, "W-w-where?!" He stuttered.
"Hey, Tsukicchi, don't you think she's cute?" Nishikawa asked, avoiding the freckled faced one's question. T-Tsukicchi?! The two thought, repeating the embarrassing and slightly gross nickname in their heads, "Hey..." He started as he went closer to Tsukishima, "...you like her, don't you, Tsukicchi?" It was then that the two 1st years proceed to panic, well Yamaguchi mostly.
"What? Of course not..." Tsukishima said, keeping a calm outward expression, though he was actually panicking on the inside as well. Lair! Both Yamaguchi and Nishikawa thought.
"Eh? Really?" Nishikawa nodded, He's such a tsundere~! The 3rd year thought, "Well then, I guess I'll make her my precious kouhai then~!" He said as he clasped his hands together. They started at the 3rd year for a moment as things started to go down hill, W-WHAAATTT?!
"W-what do you mean?"
"I meant...its a confession rival declaration~!"
"Uwah! What a turn out!" Ayano gasped as she closed the book in her hands. She had just finished reading this new shojo manga she brought from the store the other day.
"Oh, isn't that new manga, Ai no Monogatari*, Amamiya-san?" A girl asked, startling her.
"Eh? Yeah! I just started reading it," Ayano said.
"Really? I've always liked the author Narumi Kasumi," The other girl said, "And the main character Tsukiyo** is a real tsundere, but she really just doesn't know how to express her feelings towards Ameryuu***."
"Ah, why can't all guys be like him? He's sweet and kind, unlike guys like Nishikawa and Tsukishima!" Another girl blanted.
"Ah...Kashi-senpai and Tsukishima-kun are nice, they just tend to be over the top with things..." Ayano said.
"I guess at first glance they are, but when you really get to know them, they're really not that great of guys to be with, relationship wise!" One said.
"Hm..." Ayano hummed.
"Oi! Amacchi!" Nishikawa said, entering the classroom.
"Ah, speak of the devil..." The girls muttered as he made his way towards Ayano.
"Ah, Kashi-senpai, what is it?" She asked, he was about to reply when he saw the manga.
"Eh? What's that?" He asked, a look of surprise on his face.
"Hm? Oh this? It's a new shojo manga that just recently came out, it's called Ai no Monogatari by Narumi Kasumi-san," She said.
"Really? That's cool," He said, though what he truly wanted to say what this: Uwah! Amacchi! You're reading my book! You're reading my book~~~! ෆු(*˃ர்˂*)ෆු But the boy had to go under an alias in order to continued with his normal life.
"What was it you were about to say?" Ayano asked.
"Eh? Oh, that..." He said, "I wanted to talk with you alone."
It was now afterschool, Tsukishima was making his way home with Yamaguchi when he overheard a few girls nearby, "Hey did you hear? I saw Nishikawa-senpai and Amamiya-san in the alone together in the classroom."
"Eh? Poor girl, she's probably being play, Nishikawa-senpai is known for being a playboy..." The other said, "I bet she's gonna get dumped soon after..." Tsukishima stared after them as he recalled the conversation he had with the 3rd year earlier before. "Well then, I guess I'll make her my precious kouhai then~!" Tsukishima had a scowl grimacing his face. He then turned around and started to walk away.
"Eh? Tsukki?! Where are you going?!" Yamaguchi asked as he saw the blonde walk about, but the blonde didn't answer, "...What's with him...?"
Tsukishima made his way through the halls, but paused in front of a classroom where he heard voices, "Kashi-senpai, please stop..." One said. Tsukishima immediately recognized this voice belonged to Ayano.
"Eh, don't worry, it's fine we're both alone anyways, no one will know," Another said. Tsukishima felt his blood start to boil and instantly flung the doors open.
"Oi! What are you-" Tsukishima paused mid-sentence as he saw Ayano and Nishikawa standing near a table with eggs, flour, milk, and a large bowl in front of them.
"Ah! I messed up the measurements!" Nishikawa pouted, Ayano gave her senpai a small smile and patted his back.
"It's fine, Kashi-senpai..." She said.
"Ah..." Tsukishima held a dumbfounded expression as he stared at the two mixing cake batter, Nishikawa looked up and noticed the blonde.
"Oh! Tsukicchi!" He said, while Ayano looked up at the blonde, noticing his presence.
"Eh, Tsukishima-kun?"
"I was just helping Amacchi with her homework, you know the Golden Week festival is coming up soon, ya know~!" Nishikawa said, grinning at him, "So you can go, if you want, 'kay~?"
"Thank you, but you really didn't have to Kashi-senpai..." Ayano said.
"Don't worry, if you don't finish it here, we can always finish at home, Amacchi~!" Nishikawa said, before glancing back at Tsukishima, I hope that worked! He thought, hoping his plan for this ship to sail would start to set in motion. Hearing those words, Tsukishima's eyes darken.
"I'll..." The blonde started, "I'll help too..." He said.
"Eh? Do you know how to bake cakes, Tsukishima-kun?" Ayano asked.
"Only strawberry short cakes..." He said.
"Eh? Really?" Ayano beamed, "That's so cute!" She smiled, Tsukishima blushed slightly and looked away, but Nishikawa noted that the tip of the blonde's ears were turning red and stiffed a giggle. Oh god, he's such a tsuntsun~! They're both so cute for each other~! Nishikawa thought with a smile.
"I've never really knew that you would how to bake, Tsukicchi!" Nishikawa said, making the blonde contorted his face in disgust at the sound of the nickname.
"Hm, but it's nice..." Ayano muttered, "It's nice to know that there are some guys who like to do that sort of thing." Tsukishima felt his blush intensify and used one hand to cover his cheeks from letting the two see it, but unfortunately for him, Nishikawa had already seen it and started to coo at the sight mentally.
"I never said that I was good at it though, so don't expect it to think that it'll come out perfect..." He said abrasively.
"It's fine, I'll help you if anything goes wrong, like the good senpai I am!" She said. Tsukishima shrugged her off on the outside, but internally he was happy. For the next hour, the three spent their time making the cakes, by the time it was done, it was starting to get late.
"Wow, I didn't even noticed that it was getting dark out..." Nishikawa muttered as they had finished cleaning up.
"Ah, I should head home now!" Ayano said, hurrying as she grabbed her bag.
"A-ah! W-wait a minute!" Nishikawa said, stopping her, "It's too dark outside to let you walk home alone, Amacchi!" He said, "At least, let me walk you home at least...if something happens to you I would never let that down...also Erucchi and Kazucchi would murder me..."
"But, Kashi-senpai, you live in the opposite direction as me, I live this way..." She said, pointing the the direction of her house.
"B-but Amacchi..."
"I'll take her home then..." Tsukishima said.
"Eh? Tsukishima-kun?"
"It's in the same direction where I live, so it's not a problem..." He sighed. Nishikawa was smiling internally, This wasn't part of the plan, but I love where this is going~! He thought.
"Oh, alright then," Ayano agreed and started to walk out with Tsukishima in front, "I'll see you tomorrow Kashi-senpai!"
The walk to Ayano's house was silent, Tsukishima felt nervous, what if one of her family members see him? What if it was her father?! And her father started to get the wrong idea?! So many thoughts ran through his head while Ayano was on her phone, possibly texting her family that she was late.
"Ne, Tsukishima-kun," She started, startling him, "Thank you for walking me home," She said.
"...It's nothing..." He said.
"Still, thank you," She smiled, they continued walking until they saw Kazuya leaning against a light pole as he had his phone out. Ayano paused as she saw the other blonde, "Oh, Kazuya-kun!" She said, said blonde looked up to see her and Tsukishima.
"Yo, what took you so long?" Kazuya asked.
"Oh, sorry, I guess I got carried away with the time," She laughed, nervously scratching her cheek.
"It's fine, I explained to your mom and dad that you were at school doing homework," He said.
"Thank you, Kazuya-kun!" She beamed at him.
"Don't worry about it," He said. Ayano nodded and looked back at Tsukishima, "Thank you again, Tsukishima-kun."
"I said it's nothing," He sighed, she then motioned him to bend down. He was reluctant at first, but seeing how she kept on motioning to, he sighed and bent down to her height, "What?" He asked. She smiled and gave him a small peck on the cheeks.
"Thanks again, Tsukishima-kun!" She said, before she and Kazuya started to walk back home.
Tsukishima arrived home, inside he quickly made his way to his room and threw his bag on the floor before laying on the bed. He stared up at the ceiling, his mind slowly drifting to the kiss on the cheek, he knew that she only did out of politeness. He did walk her home, it was natural for a girl to do something like that, but still...A few seconds later, his face grew as bright as tomato. He then used his arms to cover his eyes, his mind kept replaying the kiss. His heart started to beat faster and faster as he continued to dwell on the thought of her. Get out! Get out! Get out! He thought over and over. He found everything about her to be soothing. From her laughter, to her smile, and to her clumsiness. Everything that he found annoying in other, he found it to be endearing when it came to her. He couldn't get her out of her head. And as much as he hated to admit it, there was only one conclusion to his problem.
"...Shit..." He muttered.
Tsukishima Kei has fallen in love.
*- Made up manga name I made up for the story haha!
**- Heroine of made up manga (I'm a dork slay me...)
*** - Hero of made up manga (Please ignore me, I'm weird)
So I know Golden Week isn't for a while, but for the sake of the story, let's pretend that its coming up soon in the story's timeline. But yeah, I hope you enjoy this chapter, anyone that is a beta wants to help with this (I know there's a bunch of mistakes like spelling, grammar, and run on sentences...) just PM me, and thank you to all for the follows and faves, and to jollibean for the reviews о(ж＞▽＜)ｙ