Sugar Sweet ::x:: Oneshot ::x::
Ding~
That's the sound you hear when my family's shop has another customer, it's also the sound you hear when a customer leaves. The sound of the bell is what I've grown up hearing all my life.
Everyday, after school, I would come to my family's shop to help my parents with their work. It was, after all, our family shop. My job was to clean up after and help serve customers, but there were days when my mother or father would take me to the back and teach me how to make a few of my own pastries. It was already decided that I was to become a pastry chef. It's not like my parents forced me to become one-- no, I wanted to become one ever since I tried my first fruit tart, my first birthday cake.
I want to make pastries like my parents do. The type of pastries that create the feeling of falling in love, that type of sweetness that overwhelms your senses-- that is the kind of pastry I want to create.
Ding~
"Irrashaimase~" I chirped from the corner of the room, placing down cups of water for the other customers. "For here or to go?" I asked, shuffling up to the boy who had just walked into our store. It was the boy I had been seeing an awful lot lately. "Marui-san~ the usual?" I asked, guiding him to the table and giving him a menu.
Marui Bunta is a boy who attends Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku, the same school I attend. "I'll try something new today~" He smiled at me and popped his green apple bubble gum. Lately, Marui's been coming to the shop everyday, around this hour. Maybe he's really addicted to sweet things. "Ne, Tamao-chan?" The boy spoke, peeking at me from behind the menu. "What do you suggest?"
"I thought you were going to try the whole menu," I laughed before leaning behind him to look at the menu. "Let's see," I trailed off, unaware of how close our faces was, especially when he was staring right at me. "How about the strawberry lemon shortcake? We just added it to the menu the other day. I think you'd like it," I smiled, turning to face him.
Silence.
I stared into his amethyst-colored eyes and nearly drowned in those pools of purple. I was unaware of how close were actually were, but in the back of my mind I knew we were closing the gap.
"Hurry up with the orders, Eriko~" My mother called from the kitchen, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I looked at the kitchen and then back a Marui, my eyes focusing on every last detail of his face. "Aa, okay, mom." I shouted back, increasing the mere inches that separated us. "So, Marui-san, what would you like?"
The boy looked at me smugly. "You."
I blinked. "Eh, okay..." I went up to the counter. "Mom, Marui-san said he wanted to order me." I stated, tapping the notepad with my pen. "So, what should I do?" I questioned, ignoring Marui freak about how he was kidding.
My mom came out of the kitchen with a dorky expression on her face. "Go out with him, of course~"
"But I was going to learn how to make more pastries today," I pouted. "I was looking forward to today!"
My mom giggled and ruffled my hair. "Okay, okay, we'll teach you for two days this week as a reward." She suggested, looking at Marui's overjoyed expression. I looked at the boy too and sighed. "Okay, I guess..."
[x]x[x]x[x]
"Ne, Tamao-chan, are you busy today?" Marui asked, leaning against the doorframe of the classroom. I looked over at him and shrugged.
"It's the usual. I have to help my parents after school, why?" I asked, changing my shoes.
"Uhm, I wanted to go on a date." He said, blowing a bubble and popping it.
I looked at him and put the shoes back in my locker. "I guess it doesn't really matter, but... lately, we've been going out a lot. Do you really like me?" I asked nonchalantly as I began to tie my shoulder-length, strawberry-pink hair in a ponytail. Marui reached for my ribbon and pulled it out of my hair. "Hey, what was--"
He looked away from me, a barely noticeable blush sweeping across his cheeks. "I like it down," he uttered. I blinked and stared at him. "S-so, are you free?" he asked, stuttering slightly before gaining a little more confidence in his voice.
"Maa, I guess." I said, heaving my bag over my shoulders. "But you never said the reason as to why we're constantly going out together," I said, following him.
I sighed, watching Marui. He was one of those boys who never ceased to amaze you. He wasn't the definition of tensai like Fuji was, but he certainly was more tensai material than people like Atobe Keigo. He was mysterious and cute, especially when he was eating sweets, and understood people when they were talking to him. I've always watched him because he saved me that one day, two years ago.
"Why do you have pink hair? Are you trying to be cute?" the girls from my tennis club questioned, pulling at my hair. "Are you trying to get the attention of the boys here? If so, think again!" They screamed, throwing me onto the ground.
They tugged and tugged. "Girls like you are stupid!" Two of the girls got rocks to throw at me and the others plotted to beat me up.
"Excuse me, what are you girls doing?" a carefree voice asked.
"Marui-sama~" they squealed, pulling me behind their backs so he wouldn't see their cruelty. "What brings you here?" they asked innocently-- the captain, of course, flirting with him.
"I was passing by. What are you doing to my classmate?" He asked, chewing on his strawberry-flavored gum. "I told you, Tamao-chan, even though you're good at tennis, girls are vicious."
The tennis club glared at me. "Vicious?" My captain laughed whole-heartedly. "We're not vicious."
"Then why are you beating up my friend?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. "She has cuts and bruises and that girl," he pointed to the one closest to me, "is pulling her hair. Do you want me to report you?" He asked, glaring at them long and hard.
The tennis club looked at one another before biting their bottom lips and running away.
"Why'd you help me, Marui-san?" I choked. "I'm nothing but a freak!"
"Hey hey, I have pink hair too! We're in the same boat. Plus, your mom told me to take care of you, Tamao," he said, ruffling my hair. "Don't worry, if those girls come back, I'll definitely show them a thing or two."
"Where are we going?" I questioned, trying to keep in step with him. But Marui didn't say anything. He just smiled and placed his pointer finger to his lips, as if to say it were a secret. I sighed, Marui was definitely mysterious.
"If I remember correctly, it's right here." He said, pointing to a gift shop. He entered it and held the door open for me. I smiled and thanked him. "Do you... recognize this place?" he asked, fingering the light pink wallpaper and the cute muffin accessories.
"We came here before." I said, looking around. "It does bring a lot of memories," I smiled softly, running to the stuffed animal they had in the back of the shop. I always wanted this.
"You would come here everyday and kiss it," Marui pointed out, a soft smirk etched on his face.
"Hey, don't bring up the past! That's embarrassing," I grumbled, hugging the stuffed animal. "It's really big and pretty expensive; no wonder nobody has bought it yet." I giggled and hugged the stuffed animal, kissing it on its nose. "Maybe one day?"
"Hey, are you getting attached?" Marui joked.
"No!" I said quickly, shaking my head. "Never!"
He laughed. "A tensai knows all~" He teased, poking my nose.
"Too bad you aren't one~" I teased back, sticking out my tongue and running out of the shop.
"Hey!"
[x]x[x]x[x]
I sighed happily. Lately, Marui and I have been spending more time together. The other day, he told me he's been seeing me smile more. I wonder if that's true.
"I can't believe Marui got that far with her!" The boys in the class whispered. I ducked down, to the side of the door. "What I can't believe is that Tamao let him get so close, how stupid can she get?" I felt my stomach bubble. "Too bad she doesn't know that the boy with the lowest test scores has to ask her out on a date."
"That's what Marui gets for failing his tests~" The other boy laughed. "A date with the antisocial girl, aha. Sucks to be him!" They laughed louder and ran a round of high-fives. I swallowed hard and curled up in a ball.
These past three months, no... past four months, were they all fake? The dates, the smiles, the constant visits... it was all for a stupid dare! The boy with the lowest test scores has to ask her out on a date. What the hell? I felt like crying. To think that... to think that I started to fall in love with a boy who only went out with me because of this stupid... stupid...
....stupid...
Why am I so stupid? I shouldn't have let him get so close. But those smiles, the way he said my name, all those times before he visited my shop... I couldn't believe it was fake! Was there a misunderstanding of some sort? I got up and closed my eyes, taking a few deep breaths before entering the classroom.
"Uwah, Tamao! Did you hear what we just said?" They asked, fear evident in their eyes.
I glared. "Why the hell would I care what a bunch or stupid boys say. Next time you talk to me, you better have a 100% on a test. I can't waste my time with idiots who don't know how to do well on tests," I answered, packing my bags. "Also, try drinking milk. You might grow taller." I rolled my eyes and glared at the boys, all of which were shorter than me.
They gulped.
I left the classroom and headed for the lockers.
"Tamao-chan~ let's go out today." Marui chirped, greeting me after school like he had been for the past four months.
"I refuse." I said quickly, slamming my locker door shut and brushing past the pink-haired boy. He looked confused and slightly hurt.
"W-wait, Tamao-chan!"
I ignored him.
"I said 'wait'!" He shouted, grabbing me by my shoulders and turning me around.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I shouted, tears perking from the corner of my eyes. "I... I don't want to see you anymore." I muttered, using the sleeve of my winter uniform to brush the tears away. "You're the absolute worst!" I screamed, pulling away from him and running away.
Marui let his arms go limp as the memory of me with tears in my eyes replayed in his head. "What have I done?" He asked, covering his eyes.
[x]x[x]x[x]
Ding~
"It's been awhile since we've seen you, Eriko~" My mother snickered. "Why are you home so-- honey, are you crying?" She asked, rushing over to my side. "What did that boy do to you? Dammit, I asked that boy to take care of you!" She growled.
I shook my head. "I don’t want to talk about him," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. "Can we just... bake?"
My mother nodded and strokes my hair. "Okay."
I sighed and trudged to the kitchen, taking out the dough. I started with a simple tart and decorated it with raspberries and peaches. "Try it," I said, handing it to my mom. She agreed and tried it.
The look on her face fell and she hugged me. "You're in that much pain?" She asked, squeezing me. "I'm sorry I can't do anything for you." She sobbed.
I shook my head. "I put my emotions into baking, I'm sorry..."
She shook her head. "No, that's exactly what you're supposed to do." She told me, ruffling my hair. "I know for sure, you'll be a good-- no, great-- pastry chef."
I nodded. Nothing was the same unless Marui was there.
[x]x[x]x[x]
I arrived in the class the next morning, drained. I glared at every boy in my way and made my way to my seat. "Move; you're blocking my way." I growled, wondering why a giant stuffed animal was in my face.
"No, not until you hear me out." The boy said, handing me the stuffed animal I've always wanted-- the one from the gift shop.
I recognized the voice immediately and looked up at Marui. "What... what are you doing here?" I asked, squeezing the stuffed animal in my arms.
He pulled out his test papers and showed me them.
"Blank...?" I blinked. "Why'd you leave it blank?" I asked.
"I... I wanted to ask you out." He said, shoving all the papers into my hands. "I didn’t have the confidence before and when I heard of the dare they were making," he sighed and looked away, "I couldn't imagine you dating another boy."
"Am I that unbearable?" I asked, irked.
"No, It's because I like you!" He shouted, causing the whole class to turn their attention on the two of us. "I like you! These past four months were real! I wasn't lying when I said I wanted you!"
"Oh... I thought that was a joke..." I said nonchalantly, sitting down in my seat. "Where should I put this...?"
Marui kicked my chair.
I jolted from my seat. "WHAT THE HELL--"
The next thing I knew was that I was kissing Marui Bunta. No, Marui was kissing me. His lips tasted sweet like the green apple gum he's always chewing and his lips were softer than anything I'd imagine before.
"What are you doing?" I asked, pushing him away.
"Let me say this again. We grew up together, so I know how dense you are. I'm in love with you, Tamao Eriko. I want to be your boyfriend."
I blinked and everything began to register. "So, wait," I blinked again. "You purposely failed?"
He nodded. "I was afraid of rejection. So if you had happened to reject me, I could have blamed it on this."
I continued to stare at him. "You're stupid," I laughed.
My classmates stared. The girls started clapping and the boys were in absolute shock.
"I liked you two years ago," I said, kissing him softly.
Marui blinked and stared at me. "What?! I could have asked you out two years ago?"
I nodded.
He twitched before saying. "Well, we have a lot to catch up on."
"Cool it, tensai. First show me how well you can do on those tests."
He blinked. "I have to take it?"
"Yes," I smirked.
"Here."
"You already...?"
"I am a tensai, y'know."