Welcome back everyone! xD I've been really addicted making cliffhanger on the end of story *u* so forgive me if it makes you curious LOL! Blame my school because of the SUPER DUPER LATE UPDATE! So many assignments, you'll feel them when you're third year like me. They made us worked like slaves. Kill me my readers, this chapter is only a filler :'). Do check my one-shot of Aomine x Momoi titled "I Do"


~*Infinity*~

Chapter 7 : Tofu Soup

I wonder where would he take me ? It's already night and I bet Sebastian was worried sick at home. But somehow, I don't have the courage to suddenly pull out my hands from him and excused myself. I thought maybe it was a bit strange for Akashi-kun to do this kind of thing since the look on other's faces were extremely shocked. Don't tell me he will...? Never mind. Akashi-kun is not that kind of person.

When I was deep in thought, Akashi-kun's voice brought me back.

"Do you want to make a stop somewhere?" he asked.

Actually I wanted to reject his offer when suddenly my stomach growls.

...Damn, why now stomach? You ruined my character already !

"Puh ..." Akashi-kun made a fist in front of his mouth while restraining something.

Eh?

"Ahahahahahhaa ! Oh my, this is exactly why I said we need to stop somewhere,"

Right now, I cursed myself for not having lunch even though Mura-senpai had told me to. Still, I guess it's alright since I could see Akashi-kun's laughing manner.

"I'm sorry, but,-"

"It's a habit of yours right? If you are nervous, you don't eat anything, will ramen do favor to you?"

He still held my hand and guided me to a nearby ramen shop. How could Akashi-kun knew that side of mine? I never showed it to anyone ever since I was in Teikou. When I was imagining the scenario, a strong miso aroma fillled my breath.

The ramen shop Akashi-kun had visited with me was not like what I had expected. It was your usual ramen shop with the square top banners as its "door" with a "WELCOME" carpet written in Japanese. It was medium-sized with some chairs and tables. We took seats in front of the ramen chef to order our food. Interesting enough, the shop's nuance is fit for me. Not too noisy, not too I was looking at the menu, a man in his thirties came from the staff's room.

"Long time no see, Sei-san," he said with a serene smile.

"Long time no see, Dou-san," Akashi-kun replied back with a slight nod.

Akashi-kun and the ramen chef must know each other for a while if they were like that. Maybe his loyal customer? Akashi-kun said to order what I want, but still, I felt a little embarassed eating in front of him, ramen to that extent.

My choice was handed down to shio ramen because that's what Kaa-san would always pick when we went eating ramen. The chef ramen went straight making the noodle, cutting the ingredients, slicing the pork, and brewing the soup. Miso's aroma suddenly changed into a clear chicken and fish soup.

Dou-san specially handed the bowl of ramen to me himself, saying "do enjoy" while smiling to me.

Akashi-kun, on the other hand, was enjoying his tofu soup. I was actually surprised to find him only eat that. From the rumor, Akashi-kun is described as a wealthy, some sort of artistocrat family so perhaps he only eat high-class meals. But to see, Akashi-kun ate tofu soup.

"You don't order anything else, Akashi-kun?"

"This will suffice. And we are here to begin with because the sound of your stomach needs to be refilled,"

I was at a loss of word and choked on my shio soup.

"Sorry," I said, feeling embarassed.

After I finished my meal, Akashi-kun bowed to Dou-san and waved him goodbye. Dou-san also only smiled and told us to come back again sometime. Strange enough, when I paid for my meals, Dou-san rejected it, saying since I'm Akashi-kun's friend, it's a sign of courtesy for the first time. Although I was quite perplexed by what it meant, Akashi-kun quickly disregard the topic and took me home.

We walked through the street and lights of night, many people were busy coming back from work. I never came home this late so usually it was never this crowded. Kinda hard to mark off my way to go home. I am 100% sure if I were to go home alone, I would be lost.

...Hold on, is that the reason why Akashi-kun accompanied me ?

"Yanagi, could you give me your hand? This place is so crowded, it won't do if you were to get lost," he said, extended his right hand to me.

I took his right hand, it felt so warm. Was boy's hand always be this big? I wondered. We walked in silence, crossing people, who staring at us. Maybe we did look like "that" since Akashi-kun held my hand.

In front of my house, I rang the bell. Exactly when Akashi-kun would take his leave, Sebastian approached us with a very concerned look.

"Milady, where have you been all this time? Your cell phone wouldn't be reached no matter how many times I've called, I have to call your card operator to find your cell phone is dead. I've been trying to contact you through your school, but they said you were already going back, I was so worried, if you weren't coming back home for the next five minutes, I would have sent our securities to find you, in land and air," he said, shaking my shoulders.

I tried to calm him down, Sebastian is already like my own guardian, I knew it was wrong to make him anxious like this.

"Forgive me, Sebastian. But I could safely get home at night, next time I promise I will take good care of myself and bring an extra charger for my cellphone,"

"Milady should really do it, if not I don't know what to do with my life," he said, giving a puppy look on me which always done if I did something bad. Damn.

"Excuse me,"

Akashi-kun's voice stole Sebastian's gaze towards him. Then there was silence.

...

...

...

Ain't this awkward? Shouldn't this be the first time they met? Then why I felt I had reunited old nemesis. I didn't know how to place it. I felt they had known each other somewhere...

"Are you by any chance Milady's friend? Thank you for having guided her home safely, there's no way we could express our gratitude to you," Sebastian said while bowing his head and body posture deeply. An attitude that one will give to someone they truly respect and fear.

"It is my pleasure to deliver Yanagi safely where she belongs, now if you would excuse me, I need to go back as well,"

" Wouldn't you stay here for a while to rest? I would prepare some tea and snacks for taking our lady home," Sebastian said, smiling as always.

Akashi-kun declined Sebastian's offer politely before he turned back and walked away from , Kaa-san appeared and hugged me. She saw Akashi-kun's figure before he completely faded out.

"Is that young man ,the one who has escorted you back home?" Kaa-san asked me.

"Yes, Kaa-san, his name is,-"

"Milady, I have prepared your hot bath and dinner inside, it will not be good for your health to remain outside at this hour," Sebastian said, bowing his body in front of me.


"Sebastian?"

"Yes, Aijin-sama?"

"Who would have ever thought their meeting was this fast. I haven't prepared myself," Azusa Yanagi said.

"It's alright,Aijin-sama. You could trust on him, after all he is,-"

"Yes, Sebastian. I know,"

I know.


The next day, I had cooking class. My worst subject ever. And my sensei didn't make my subject any easier.

"Okay class, now you have to make dishes with the theme of "What would you cook for the one you love?", you have one and a half hour to make it and of course don't forget the beverages, START!" sensei rang the bell as a sign that our lesson had began.

What would I make? I had no idea. Hmm, for whom? A red-haired boy with beautiful gold and red eyes with handsome face structures. Oh, and his smiling face?

"Yuka-chan, why are your face getting red all of a sudden?"

"Eh, Sumi-chan? Nothing wrong," I said, smiling awkwardly to her.

Stop it, my stupid fantasy! Anyway, I'd decided to make dishes for Kaa-san, that way I could concentrate more and hopefully not spilling anything on the floor. Since it's for Kaa-san, traditional dishes is the only way to go. Shiitake hotpot seems alright and it's not that hard.

When I busily picked my ingredients, I spotted fresh blocks of tofu in the water container. Again, I thought Akashi-kun immediately because that was his food yesterday. Unconciously, I picked a block of tofu and placed it on my cooking table.

The shiitake hotpot was taught by Miteki-san, in case I was stranded in the mountain and don't know what to eat. I boiled the water first and put the shiitake mushroom in the pot. While waiting for it to be cooked, I chopped the vegetables and enokitake mushroom. The spices which I knew and won't be labeled as "poisonus" were put into the pot along with the rest of the ingredients. I saw the tofu and cut it into small pieces. Then, a wonderful strong aroma hit my nose.

"Sumi-chan, what are you cooking? It smells so good," I said, looking beside me.

"Emm, beef teriyaki. I wonder if they will fit into the burgers,"

"Burger? Teriyaki burger?" I asked.

"Yeah, it is. And I made some vanilla milkshakes for my brother as well, would you like to try some?"

"Sure, I bet they're good since it is you," I said to Sumi-chan who now is frying the beef like a professional chef.

It's so good if I could cook like her. I didn't have any confidence in my cooking skill. Especially to strengthen taste like Sumi-chan's cooking. So I ended up making normal dishes that only requires you to wait until they are done.

While the hotpot was being boiled as one. I glanced at the small pieces of tofu. Then, I took a fried pan and frizzled them a little before putting them in a small pot and adding some soy sauce and salt. The tofu soup really reminded me a lot of Akashi-kun.

Afterclass, Sumi-chan's teriyaki burger got the most ranked amongst us, I expected nothing less though. How come she cooked it really juicy and tasty? I haven't checked mine, but sensei told me it's not bad. We took our cooking home.

The tofu soup? I kept it for myself, since I bet Sumi-chan would ask me why I seperated the tofu differently from the rest of the soup.

Afterschool, Sumi-chan invited me to her club. When we got there, Aomine-kun and Kise-kun currently were having one on one.

"Aomineee-kun!" shouted Sumi-chan, extending her hand, showing a cloth-wrapped lunch box.

"Huh? What is it, Sumi" shouted Aomine-kun, still blocking Kise-kun's way.

"Oi, Aominecchi, if Kuro-chan talked to you, at least look at her,"

"Don't even try, Kise, you won't get anywhere," he smirked, stealing the ball from the blonde player and performed a beautiful dunk.

"Ahh, sound of the net, I like it, Aomine-kun," Tetsumi said, approaching both players.

"Stop calling me Aomine-kun, Sumi, it's really gross!" he said, patting the teal-haired girl's head and messed up her hair.

"Hey, if you do that again, you won't get anything out of this!" Tetsumi held the lunch box in fron of Aomine's face.

"You cooked again? Uwooo! This smell...," he sniffed the lunchbox.

"If you think you can eat before practice, I will tripled your training, Daiki,"

Akashi-kun appeared, holding a basketball in his hands. He took Tetsumi's lunchbox and gestured her to sit beside Momoi-senpai which she gladly did. Akashi-kun gave Aomine-kun another stare before Aomine-kun went back to the court.

"Yanagi? Where's yours?" he asked, opening widely his palm to me.

"Where's what, Akashi-kun?"

"Your lunchbox, you also cooked, and sensei told you, you could take it home, right?"

It was not a question. Despite he asked me for the confirmation, he made it sounded like a statement. I gave up. I timidly took my own lunchbox and gave it to him.

"Wasn't there another?" he asked suddenly, feeling bizzare just because holding one.

"Akashi-kun, about this training menu, ah, sorry, did I bother anything?" Momoi-senpai asked him.

"No. Let me take a look,"

With that, I quickly took a seat beside Tetsumi who was making lines and curves on the board.


After the practice was over, everyone panted and grasped for their breath. Even though Akashi-kun said he will tripled Aomine-kun's menu, he really did. And now, he was nearly dead. Kuroko-senpai also fainted near Aomine-kun. Sumi-chan did say his brother doesn't have that much stamina despite being one of the GOM.

Talking about Sumi-chan, why did she join basketball club and not cooking club?

"Oh? Because I love basketball the most, Yuka-chan. And I want to support my brother in his last year,"

Still, I felt it was kind of vague. There's a lot of things bothering me which I didn't know anything at all. But they made it so natural for me not to know.

Suddenly Aomine-kun risen up from his slumber and pleaded to Sumi-chan.

"Oi, Sumi, can you open up yours? Pleaseeee?"

"Daiki, have you not learn your lesson yet?"

Akashi-kun gave Tetsumi's lunchbox to Murasakibara who opened it up and smelled the aroma.

"As expected of Kumi-chin, your cooks never changed," he said while drolling a little.

Kumi? Tetsumi Kuroko? What a strange way to address her, but since it's Mura-senpai after all, it was normal. Everyone gathered around Mura-senpai and began to eat Tetsumi's beef teriyaki.

"Wuoh, you're really good at this, Sumicchi, as expected of Kurokocchi's sister!" Kise-kun said in delight.

"Did you cook this for me, Sumi?" said Aomine-kun, stuffing his mouth.

"No, Aho. And start chewing your food, it's gross seeing it like that,"

Even Midorima-senpai ate peacefully.

"Is that vanilla milkshake, Tetsumi?" asked Kuroko-senpai.

"Uh-huh , I made this specially for you, big bro!"

"Aww, I also had cooking class today. But after my sensei tasted my cooking, she sabotaged it for her own. I couldn't give them to Tetsu-kun," said Momoi-senpai, pouting.

The rest of GOM's faces were like "Thank-goodness-sensei-for-doing-that-or-else-some one-gonna-die".

It made me even discouraged. Seeing them like that.

Exactly then, Akashi-kun opened mine and stared inside.

"Shiitake hotpot?" he said, unwarapping the alumunium foil.

"Umm yes," I said.

Then, Mura-senpai came up and saw my cooking.

"Nagi-chin also made some? I wanna try~," he said in his childish tone.

He took a sip and his response was peculiar enough.

He stared blankly and was very quiet.

...

What happened?

"Eh? Nagicchi also cooks? Let me try," said Kise-kun.

He took a sip and his response was the same as Mura-senpai.

The rest of GOM also tried and there was silence. Even Tetsumi,Momoi-senpai, and Akashi-kun were quiet.

...

"I... I didn't put poison in there," I said, breaking the silence.

"We know, Nagicchi," said Kise-kun suddenly.

"Then why are all of you quiet all of a sudden?"

...

"Yuka-chan," Tetsumi turned her body so she was face on face with me.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I don't want to offend you, but.."

"But?"

"... You know, this thing is still more edible than Satsuki's" said Aomine-kun, still surprised after eating my cook.

"Aomine-kun," said Momoi-senpai, slapping his back.

"Nagi-san," even Kuroko-senpai now talking seriously with me.

What's with all of this?

"Nee, Nagi-chin~,"

"What is it Mura-senpai?"

"How could you cook shiitake hotspot when there's so many ingredients, but it really feels tasteless,"

...

Evidently, so that's why they're all been so quiet.

"Umm, Nagicchi, I,-"

"Ryouta, be quiet," Akashi-kun said, I mean, ordered him to.

Now the king himself had spoken up, every single person in the gym once again filled with dead silence.

When I want to look up, Akashi-kun's hands already above my head.

"Next time,"

"Huh?"

"Cook again, next time, you'll improve," he said, patting my head.

I couldn't believe he comforted me. And I guess, everyone else also doesn't believe it. Akashi-kun has this side of him. I felt happy to be told like that. From here, my face all flushed in bright red while Momoi-senpai and Sumi-chan giggling to each other.

"All right, minna-san, thank you for today, let's go home!" Momoi-senpai clapped her hands.

When all people had gone,there were only both of us. I felt so nervous and also going to go back, when Akashi-kun stopped me.

"Give me your second one," he said.

"What second, Akashi-kun?"

"You put another in seperate container,right? I want to eat it,"

I was so dumbfounded by his words. How could he see through everything?

"But this one could be more,-"

"Just give it to me, I'm the one who eat it so I'm the one who decide," Akashi-kun cut me.

I grabbed my second container and gave it to Akashi-kun. He opened the lid and ...

"Tofu soup?"

"Umm, yeah, since I saw blocks of tofus,"

Suddenly he smirked. I felt more and more embarassed. He is so handsome when he is like that.

He took a sip.

Second sip.

Third sip.

Until there was no more left.

"Umm, Akashi-kun, you don't have to force yourself," I said.

"Does it look like I force myself?" he asked. His eyes looked back at mine.

"You know, Yanagi. I'm happy," he said.

"Why?"

"Because yesterday I ate tofu soup and someone here remembered it clearly," he said, now playfully grinning at me.

I was at total loss of words. That really caught me off guard. I felt so many butterflies flying on my stomach now. What is this feeling?

"It's my favorite,the tofu soup, it's good," he said, standing up.

"Let's go home? I'll bring you home," he said, taking my hand again.

We walked throught the night of sky and letting the stars above watching us.

To Be Continued


A/N : Well folks ! Next chapter will be about kyuudo and the captain, Shinsou Narumi, since he hasn't gotten any familirization yet :D Could you forgive this little author because of the one month late update ;;)? *got chopped*