Welcome back to chapter 8!

Here we look into Pudding's POV, for the past chapters the readers have been reading Taruto's POV, I've hidden Pudding's POV for a reason until now!

I hope you enjoy!

She missed him, a lot.

Pudding loves a lot of people, but she's never met someone like him before, he had some amazing quirks that attracted her to him.

His stubbornness was really funny. Pudding loved teasing him and flustering him. He knew he cared deep down, even though he was throwing a lot of mean words at her. Besides that She believed in him. She really wanted to be friends with him besides their so called enemy relationship

After when he left to his home planet is when she noticed that she really likes him, not as friends.

Pudding wanted to be with him.

The realisation happened when She recklessly kissed him, Pudding didn't know what she was thinking, why did she do that? She DIDNT need to do that, her only intentions were wanting to give him her last bits of candy Before he left, since she didn't know when she'd see him again after all. But only giving him the candy wasn't enough.

Seeing how Ichigo rants about love all the time, and saying stuff like how kissing Aoyama is what brought them closer to each other.

Pudding wanted to be that kind of close with him.

"Pudding likes her Taru Taru!" Was her conclusion

A realisation that flustered the monkey mew, a lot. She's never had a crush before and certainly not on her enemy, or former enemy now.

She couldn't help but miss him, Zakuro would find her moping about the fact Taruto wasn't here to play with her, or spend time with her. Now that they're not enemies anymore, the urge to spend her time with him was big, really big.

She couldn't wait for the day that he came back.

Then there was that fateful day where he caught her falling from the chimera train.

His quirks didn't change, he was still rocking that pigtail hairstyle, he was still her Taru Taru! With a tad deeper voice.

Pudding was so excited, however it didn't go as how she expected it would go.

Tart didn't mention their last kiss from 2 years ago, she expected to talk about it with him when she made a move to hold his hand.

The surprise to her that he didn't pull back, she was fighting back a blush. However she never got to talk with him about it because of the sudden realisation that Taruto needed human clothes.

Pudding's second attempt was inviting him to stay at her house from the time being, so that they could spend more time together.

Then Heicha suddenly asked him if he was her boyfriend at the dinner table, Pudding's heart was racing, what's he going to say? She looked at Tart, who was sitting next to her, waiting to see his reply. He was blushing, but he had an angry expression on his face.

Oh.

"Taru Taru isn't Pudding's boyfriend Noda" Pudding says as she answers for him "he's Puddings best friend"

She looked at Tart, his face returned to neutral, as he nodded, agreeing with her.

Pudding felt something she's never felt before, her stomach hurt, however it wasn't nausea or anything like that.

"Pudding likes Taru Taru, but that doesn't mean Taru Taru likes Pudding" she thought.

However the monkey mew wasn't giving up. She knows Taruto is a stubborn one, and he's been flustered at her countless of times in the past before, right? She stayed optimistic

Putting on pokerfaces, is what Pudding taught herself from when she was only 8 years old. Her mother died, her dad left, her siblings needed her care.

Pudding had to be there for her siblings, they can't catch her crying or moping or anything of that sorts. She needed to be their happiness. So that even if mom wasn't there, even if dad wasn't there, that they could have a happy childhood. So that when they look back when they are older, that the happy memories would draw out the sad ones.

So she did was she could do best, being the hyper active monkey she was.

And thankfully her siblings never noticed her put up poker-face.

Being so good at acting, it was easy for Pudding to cover her flustered face. She couldn't help but Blush from time to time, but she makes sure to do that when he wasn't looking.

She made countless of hints. She somehow didn't want to confront him directly like how she usually would. For the first time in her life, she was afraid. Afraid of rejection. She didn't want to ruin Taruto's visit back to earth if he didn't feel the same.

But the younger alien wasn't making this any easier.

Or he wasn't seeing any of it being super dense, or he really just didn't like her back like that. And Pudding couldn't tell which one it was.

She overheard Taruto talking to Honcha and Heicha.

Heicha called him her husband, she couldn't see his face from where she was standing but he was angry, she assumed cause of the tone of his voice. So she decided to step in.

Taruto also mentioned having had no crush before to Honcha.

Pudding's heart broke a bit, it was getting harder to stay optimistic about the situation. She was afraid that at some point she'd have to give up on this fantasy she wanted. To be with Taruto like how Ichigo and Aoyama were together.

She wanted that closeness. And when she pictured someone to share that closeness with, it was with him. And no one else. It didn't matter to her how many Valentine gifts she got. None of them were him.

However Pudding herself didn't notice that creating hints while still holding up her poker-face won't work.

If she wants to make progression she'll need to drop that mask she wears.

Zakuro noticed Pudding's mask a while ago, and Pudding's gotten so used to it that she doesn't notice it anymore, so the smartest way to break it is for Taruto to do it for her. Which is why she approached Taruto instead of the monkey mew.

"Taru Taru doesn't like Pudding like that, Pudding can't be selfish about this" she thought. It was time to let her fantasy go.

It was the end of the day, closing time.

The two of them walked out of the restaurant.

"That was a pretty chill day na no da" Pudding chirps

Taruto nodded at her "right? I'd like to have that everyday if I have to be Honest, there's less to do"

The monkey mew giggled at his comment

"Taru Taru you can teleport us back now, we'll be home faster like you said this morning" She says

The young alien flinched and scratched his cheek

"Y-You know what? I'd like to walk" he blushed

Pudding blinked "huh?? But it was Taru Taru's idea Noda"

"I-I know that!" he says flustered "I sat in the break room for a big while, I want to walk..." he says avoiding eye contact with her.

"Okay Noda! Pudding doesn't mi-"

Pudding's eyes widened, she looked at her companion, he was avoiding eye contact with her but he reached out his hand towards her

Pudding blushed

"H-Huh?? Does this mean Taru Taru wants to hold hands??! W-Where did this come from Noda?!?"

Pudding shook her head and removed her blush, she smiled, happily and cheerfully.

"Don't get your hopes up"

She grabbed Taruto's hand.

The younger alien blushed and they began walking, talking about all kinds of stuff.

Pudding always loved talking with him, it calms her for some reason. He always has such interesting reactions to all different kinds of topics. The way he gets flustered about the little things is a thing that has not changed since their grande battle 2 years ago.

He's cute, way too cute.

But Pudding doesn't want to be selfish. He probably already found someone else on their home planet, it's a possibility.

She doesn't understand one little thing though

"Taru Taru? Why did you wanna hold Pudding'a hand?" She asks, with a tone of curiosity. But with a hint of hopefulness.

She didn't want to let go of her fantasy with him just yet.

Taruto blushed uncontrollably and stuttered "c-cause I- well.. my hands were cold..." he blurted out

The monkey mew raised her eyebrow "but it's a sunny day"

"J-Just cause you're not cold doesn't mean I can't be cold monkey girl!" He says "it's still winter season" he blushed

"Oh alright" she responds, not the answer she was looking for.

Taruto on the other hand slapped himself silly, that's not how he wanted to answer her question, however it was still hard being up front with her.

They both arrived at home, Pudding started cooking, however she was finding it hard to stay her happy go to self.

For the first time in years she felt tired of being optimistic. And that hit like a truck.

She still enjoyed the rest of her evening with Her family and Taruto, but that lingering hurt still haunted her heart.

"Make sure to set your alarm for tomorrow guys!" Pudding demanded

"Yes onee-Chan!" The boys said in sync

Pudding smiled and kissed her siblings on the forehead "goodnight na no da!" She chirped, closing the door behind her.

And the moment she closed that door, her smile faded.

She shook her head and puts on a forced smile "Taru Taru is doing dishes right now Noda, Pudding can help hi-"

She walked past the hallway calendar. Her eyes widened.

"In a few days... it's mama's anniversary..." she blinked

She was so caught up in the aliens returning to visit them that she forgot her mom's death anniversary was in a few days.

Pudding trembled, she felt guilty for forgetting something so important. She was so caught up in her own feelings. And the worst part is the nightmares she will encounter in her dream world.

Every year when it's near, the blond haired girl experiences more and more nightmares the closer the day of her death approaches. It's been like that since the day she died.

Taruto walked up the stairs and found The monkey mew staring harshly towards the hallway calendar.

He raised his eyebrow and tapped her shoulder "Pudding?"

The monkey girl flinched "Oh Sorry Taru Taru, Pudding didn't see you there Noda!" she instantly smiled

"She stood in front of the calendar, making sure he couldn't read what she read "does Taru Taru want some warm chocolate milk? It's warm!" She smiles

"Uhm, yeah sure" he half smiled

She grabbed his wrist and dragged him downstairs.

The rest of the evening was cozy, just the two of them talking and sitting in front of the tv.

Pudding was watching along, apparently Taruto and Kisshu liked this show and used to watch it together in their spare time when they were still fighting the mews , she found it funny that the aliens were and still are so invested in this human show.

However her mind unconsciously drifted back to her mother, it's been years but it still stings.

The thoughts were so negative, her mom and the things she's dealing with right now were circling through her mind, it was making her dizzy.

Until she felt a hand land softly on her head which all the negativity vanished in an instant.

She looked at her side, a worried Taruto looked back at her "are you sure you're alright monkey girl? You looked a little bit ill"

Pudding blinked

"Shit Pudding didn't even realise it" she panicked

The blond haired girl nodded "ofcourse Taru Taru, Pudding's fine"

Even with her response Taruto was still caressing her hair, and patting it

"Tell me when somethings wrong okay" he says softly.

Pudding nodded, that was very sweet of him to say, she loved this caring side of him, however that side of him makes it hard to cover her blush. Especially since the alien boy is now caressing her hair lovingly.

Pudding blushed uncontrollably, she couldn't hold it in anymore. She felt Taruto take back his hand.

She slowly looked towards him to find a Surprised expression on his face.

Pudding blinked "w-what's wrong Taru Taru?"

He blushed "n-nothing! Nothing at all" he says redirecting his face back to the tv.

Aahhh I'm sorry for all that Pudding "angst" our girl deserves better..

Also I don't think it's ever been confirmed when Pudding's mom died sooo I'm shooting for February (which is when this story is taking place)

But don't worry from now on it'll get even more fluffier!! stay tuned for that ;)

Thanks for reading! See you in the next chapter!