I was always a loner. There was Aki but he'd always been popular. He was good-looking and his coldness came off as mysterious whereas I came off as an asshole. Minako was the first girl to ask me to go out with her or show any real interest in me as a person. It felt different, it felt good.

Before she came around, I was like a lost dog. I didn't have a home, had one friend and hung around people I hated. I was slowly killing myself through guilt and the end felt like it couldn't come fast enough. When this whole thing started, she gave me something I haven't felt before and haven't felt since.

It was the feeling of being wanted.

September 12

She kept inviting me out for dinner. It made me happy that she had chosen me over Aki, and even the dog. If it were my choice, I would've picked the dog.

Tonight was a mess. I was going to take her to Paulownia mall. Maybe take her for a walk or something, but what happened was better. I saw her smile. A real one this time. She smiled like she didn't have a care in the world.

And it was all because of Fuuka.

The girl was trying to make beef stroganoff. She didn't use any oil, she poured in half a bottle of red wine, and she found the fattiest beef cutlet in the world. It was a disaster before it even started. I didn't even know where to begin.

"Arisato..." She turned to look at me with her coy and expectant smile. "You okay if we have this for dinner?"

She was practically jumping. "Actually, I'm really happy!"

That made me laugh. If cooking was all I needed to make her happy, I could cook everyday for her. Only her and the dog though. The rest of them didn't get a cut. "Don't get your hopes up."

I spent the rest of the night yelling at Fuuka and working on the beef stroganoff. The girl was a mess. The ingredients were almost okay though. The beef was still too fatty.

Three plates: One for me, Fuuka, and Minako. I couldn't look at her when I put the plates down. She was too happy.

"...Just shut it and eat up before it gets cold."

"Thank you for the food!" She didn't waste any time before digging in. One bite and her face practically melted. She was squealing into the table. "I feel so lucky..."

"Y-You're just exaggerating..." She wasn't. She was the first one done and demanded more. I gave her half of mine.

After dinner, Fuuka opted for the dishes, leaving the two of us alone, but only after making me promise to teach her how to make something else. The girls in this dorm all loved to push me around, but Minako more than the rest.

"Make enough for everybody." It didn't sound like a command, but she said it like one. Typical, and with that damnable smile on her face.

"You mean treat them all to a dinner?" I didn't really want to. "That's pushing it."

But they needed it. The lot of them ate like pigs. "But you got a point. Well, we'll talk about this some other time. I'm gonna go check on Fuuka." I could hear glass and china breaking as I finished my sentence.

"...Too late." She giggled as we helped Fuuka clean up.

"I'm sorry Aragaki senpai. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble." Fuuka hadn't stopped apologizing at all that night. Minako had left early to sleep, leaving me alone with Fuuka to wash the dishes.

"Yeah well, then stay out of the kitchen when I'm not around. And be more careful with the dishes! Mitsuru spends a fortune on them." I grumbled.

"I didn't just mean the dishes. I...meant, that you..and Minako-chan. I-I'm sorry I ruined your night together." Fuuka was red. She hid her face behind a plate.

I fumbled with the plate myself, nearly dropping it. Fuuka screamed as I caught it with my foot. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Don't say that ever again."

"I won't tell anyone." She put the plate down, on the drying rack, laughing quietly. "But I think you need to work harder. She has a lot of friends at school, and a lot of them are boys."

"Wash the rest of the dishes yourself." I pulled my beanie lower and walked away. She was being a pain.

"She likes that cafe at Paulownia mall!" Fuuka's laughter followed me up the stairs.

September 14

I took her to the cafe. She looked flabbergasted when we talked in. Had Fuuka lied to me? She had.

"Uh...What do you want?"

"Tea." She recovered quickly, her tiny smile masking her confusion.

"Tea has always been such a girly drink." I ordered one for her. I didn't think she'd like tea. She actually wasn't very girly at all. She didn't have many clothes, and she didn't seem to care that her skirt showed her underwear when she was jumping around while fighting. Nope, she was a definite tomboy.

The thought made me laugh which then made me cough violently. Several of the people nearest us turned to look at me before turning away quickly. One of two moved from their seats.

"Are you all right?" She wrapped her hands around my free one, concern-written all over her face. I'd been coughing pretty hard into my hand.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I almost laughed at the irony. "It's not contagious, so don't worry. It happens once in a while, and that's why I try not to come to these kinds of places that often."

"Is the cafe making you cough?"

"Hell no." What a funny question. Who thinks of something like that? Who the hell coughs just because they're sitting in a cafe? I actually did smile. "I feel bad for the workers here if there's someone like me sitting here coughing all the time. I had something I needed to buy today. Ground coffee. Make sure I don't forget to buy some on the way out."

"What are you going to use it for?" Her smile had returned, but she didn't let go of my hand.

"For cooking." I looked away. It was a little embarrassing. "You're the one who brought it up. You said that stuff about treating the guys from the dorm..."

"I'll help out too." I could hear the smile in her voice. I could feel her calloused thumbs rubbing the top of my hand. I didn't pull away.

"No, it's alright."

"Why don't you want me to help?" She'd let go of my hand, scooting a little further away. I'd have laughed if it weren't for the fact that I'd already started missing her touch. "...Don't get all offended. It's not that I don't trust your cooking skills. It's just...how do I put it...You won't be able to enjoy it if you help out. We'll do it once I decide on what I'm gonna service."

"It doesn't matter what you service. I'm sure it'll taste wonderful." She responded, her smile returning.

I responded with one of my own. "Remember, even if it tastes awful, you better be responsible and tell everyone it's great."

She giggled a bit more. "Even if it tastes like Fuuka's cooking, I promise I'll eat it all."

I did laugh. "That might actually kill you."

She seemed like she was holding back a giggle. "I'll die happy knowing you spent all that time cooking for me."

It was too embarrassing. I couldn't stand being in this cute little place surrounded by couples anymore. "...Should we get going? They'll worry if you're out too late."

"Sure, just give me a minute." She walked to the counter, and returned a few minutes later with a medium-sized bag. "The ground coffee senpai."

I thanked her quickly. I'd completely forgotten. "You're a little dense, senpai." She giggled again, as she ran ahead of me.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?"

"Home." A soft giggle, "And next time, you don't need to take me to the cafe if it makes you uncomfortable. I like Hagakure and Wakatsu just as much when I'm with you." She winked. Her ruby eyes glowed with triumphant glee.