It's a quiet Sunday and he has the dorm all to himself, a rarity. All the juniors have left the premises in a hurry to enjoy the good weather and Mitsuru was called to assist company business for the day. Akihiko trains for a while indoors with the AC blasting his room, then showers and head to the lobby for a bout of studying, slurping a shake absently to replenish all the calories he burned.

The front door opens quietly and shuts just as carefully, he turns his head and spots Minato and Fuuka carrying some books, talking in shushed tones. They nod his way and head upstairs calmly, a sharp contrast to the usual careening echoing in the staircase when the others are around, and Akihiko turns back to his math homework.

He goes through three-quarter of his assignment before the blue-haired boy makes his way back nearby, saying nothing. He just rummages quietly in the fridge and sits two chairs down the table from him, sipping a can of soda like a discreet ghost.

Silence blankets the lobby, a pencil scratches calculations, clothing shuffles on the table's wood, then back to a void yet again. This sort of invisible company lets him finish his page in record time. He jots down a quick note, then closes his books.

A wisp of blue hair moves slightly, a sea gray eye turned somewhat his way.

"Too hot outside?"

The boxer figures Minato wants him to start a conversation, he's been waiting patiently for him to wrap up his homework with no comment after all. He's long figured out that the boy throws subtle openings to his peers but will only really engage events himself when he is coerced.

"Hm hmm."

So Minato was going to play coy, again. Alright, he had time to humor him, he knew how his little game of hot and cold unfolded by now.

"I doubt it's kendo, so it has to be something else."

The lightest of smirk confirmed he was getting warmer.

"Tartarus?"

He rolls his eyes then huffs a strand of hair off his cheek. Way frosty.

"They're all gone. There's a reason I'm doing this now."

Oh.

Oh. Twins. Right.

Akihiko sighs, for all he knows they share everything, which probably means his junior has all the details on his most recent blunder, direct fed from the source. He grunts, this is beyond embarrassing. Hopefully it's where the SEES community sharing ends, or he will never live it down.

"I'm just here to throw you a bone."

The slightly offensive smirk is back but Minato gets up and palms him a paper.

"For the record, Yukari vetted this. You can't go wrong with that."

He coolly walks back upstairs, hands shoved in his pockets, leaving him to curiously turn his glove around. It's a business card.

Monday classes ooze along, seems like the day will never end. The static droning is back in full force and Akihiko drums his fingers on his knee to try and mute it. Once the bell rings, he packs his bag in a hurry and gets up to leave.

"Oh-oh! Who wants to bet he's speeding up to catch up with the hottie in 2-F?"

The back of the class is awash in whispers. His initial reaction would be to turn around and confront it right there, but he holds it in; there's no point in making a scene. Rolling his eyes, he leaves and indeed makes long strides down the back staircase to catch up with her before she's gone through the gate.

"Hey uh… Got any plans?"

"I heard this place is popular."

The girl next to him is eying the displays of sugary confections in the window with awe and childish glee, almost buzzing with anticipation. He chuckles to himself at her unabashed joy, he owes Minato a brand-new sword from Kurosawa.

They step into the shop and he double-takes when the tables' occupants are all girls.

"A-are guys allowed to go in here?"

Minako eyes him curiously.

"Haven't you ever been in here?"

He rubs his tingling neck; he can't admit to her twin's involvement in locating this place to apologize and his ignorance about these kinds of shops.

"I-it's not the kind of place that most guys would go…"

"I guess not, I know Minato is not a big fan of cake."

The deflection seems complete, he walks to the counter displays with her.

"Pick anything you feel like, my treat!"

She beams at him, settling on a slice of raspberry-topped white chocolate madness. Sitting down and carefully placing the plate between them, she attacks the confection with a respectable fork. She chews slowly to savor every bite and hums in contentment like it tastes of heaven. Two bites in and he can barely continue, so he focuses on the berries to offset sugar with tartness instead. It's also madly entertaining to watch her go through the whole thing with so much expression.

"Is it good?"

Minako nods enthusiastically, mouth full.

"Hmm hmm!"

"I'm… sorry… about the other day. It was very out of line."

He looks down, playing with some fondant with the tip of his fork.

She knocks on his implement with her own to catch his attention, hers is already loaded with whipped cream and she wolfs it down with a smile once he glances back at her.

"This would excuse anything. Consider yourself forgiven senpai!"