In Love with your Sweet Side (Kei Tsukishima)

Walking in the Dark

After practice ended, Emiko admitted to Kiyoko that she wouldn't mind helping out with the team more. Kiyoko gave her a delighted smile and big hug in return. Emiko blushed at the sudden affection but smiled nevertheless. (Could you blame her? Its the one and only Kiyoko Shimizu!)

Kiyoko then offered to walk Emiko home but she politely declined, "I live in the other direction. It would be too much of a hassle for you!" She pleaded when Kiyoko tried to ignore her declines. The 3rd year finally (hesitantly) agreed after Yamaguchi realized they were heading towards the same direction and he would make sure she makes it home safely. With that, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi and Emiko began their way home under the night sky.

In the dark... night sky... Emiko gulped.

"Uh Emiko, are you alright?" Yamaguchi suddenly asked Emiko who jumped at the question. Tsukishima chuckled a bit at her reaction which caused Yamaguchi to nudge him a little.

"What? Me? Of course I am, why wouldn't I... be... Do you see that?" Emiko whispered in fear as she pointed into the general direction they were walking in. Tsukishima and Yamaguchi both tended up a bit and took their attention off the slightly pale girl walking in front of them. Tsukishima and Yamaguchi both looked in the direction but they couldn't make anything out of the ordinary, "Uhh no?" "No." They both responded.

"You're telling me you don't see that!" Emiko quickly walked beside Tsukishima so she could hold his face towards what she was looking at. Disregarding Emiko's warm and shaking hands, Tsukishima squinted as he tried to make out anything and that's when he found what she was talking about, "Do you mean the benches shadow?" Tsukishima asked as he held in his teasing laughter. Yamaguchi sighed in relief as his shoulders fell. For a second he was worried and he could tell Tsukishima was too.

"Oh come on, that is way to abnormal looking to be a shadow!" Emiko let go of the tall boys face as she herself began squinting at the object.  "Oh... I guess it is just a shadow... well crisis adverted!" She hummed and took her place back in the front of the group.

"There was never a crisis to begin with..." Tsukishima added. Yamaguchi smiled but then made an "o" face as he remembered something, "I'm sorry but I just remembered I had to go somewhere else before going home!"

Before the two had a chance to response Yamaguchi bid them a good night and ran towards the other direction.

Emiko and Tsukishima both glanced at each other, not knowing what to say. Tsukishima rolled his eyes and put on his headphones to avoid talking to her. Emiko pouted and began walking towards her home/cafe. 

The silent night enveloped them and every small breeze had Emiko shivering. She had forgotten her jacket in the club.

"Just wonderful, Emiko you truly are fantastic," she said to herself sarcastically. Tsukishima raised an eyebrow, "Should I take you to a psych ward? Why are you talking to yourself?"

"Haha very f-funny," Emiko said with a trembling voice. She wrapped her arms around her a picked up her pace. "Why are you walking so fast?" Tsukishima scowled as he began to pick up his pace. "The quicker I walk, the quicker I get to get away from the cold and dark... and you," she said with a snarky grin which made Tsukishima halt.

"If you really want to get away from me that fast I'll just go on my merry way then. It works better for me anyways," Tsukishima turned around and began walking towards his own house which was quite a walk away.

He only got a few inches in before he was pulled back by a strong tug on the back of his jacket. He turned around, ready to tell Emiko off, but he shut his mouth when he noticed the hand that she was using to hold him in place was trembling.

Emiko looked up at him with such complex expression that Tsukishima couldn't help but stand still. He tried to un mask her eyes, within them was pride with a hint of fear.

In a shaky voice she said, "D-don't leave! Kiyoko said you h-have to walk me home!" She accidentally spoke a little louder than she meant to. Tsukishima looked towards the direction of Emiko's cafe and looked back at Emiko, "You can make the rest of the way yourself. Now let go."

Emiko shook her head in persistence, "I'll tell Kiyoko!" Emiko cringed as her pride disappeared as she threatened Tsukishima with childless threats. Tsukishima eyes widened in shock. For Emiko to let her tall wall of pride crumble down to six year old threats...

Tsukishima sighed and began walking again. This time in the direction of their original course. It took a while for Emiko to process that Tsukishima gave in to her demand but after two seconds she shook her head and stood up straight in attempt to put herself together.

Emiko and Tsukishima walked together in silence. Awkward silence. The shorter girl began swinging her arms to distract herself from the tall boy who glanced at her every few seconds.

The two finally arrived on the cafe's street which made them both pick up their pace so the always night would end. The cafe's familiar warm glow from the soft lights inside came into view. Soon after the escaping aroma of pastries enveloped them. Tsukishima couldn't help but be drawn to the warm welcome of the cafe.

"Finally! Home sweet home!" Emiko yelled in relief when she reached the door to her cafe. Her arrival was announced by the warm bell sound that echoed through the quiet and seemingly empty cafe. Tsukishima sighed in relief as well when she opened the doors and allowed a puff of warm and sweet air to brush past them.

But before he knew it, the door was slammed in his face, Emiko turned to face him with the glass door in between them, smiled and waved goodbye.

"Yet again, not even a Thank y-" He was interrupted by the bell again, "Wait, Tsukishima." Emiko said as she walked back out with something in her hands.

Tsukishima raised his eyebrow, "Hm?" Emiko looked up, allowing the light from the night sky reflect across her big darkened eyes. She pushed the pastry bag she was holding into his chest. Forcing him to grab a hold of the warm bag. He stood there dumbfounded as Emiko began speaking, "If you wait a bit longer my older sister could give you a ride home. She went out to grab a few things from my... from a place," she said with a forced smile.

Without thought Tsukishima declined the offer, telling himself that it would be too weird. Emiko accidentally let out a sigh of relief she was holding in, knowing her older sister she most definitely would have found a way to make things awkward.

The two stood there awkwardly for a moment before Emiko reached towards the door and quickly ran into her cafe without saying goodbye.

"Alright then..." the tall blonde said as he began making his way to his own home with the warm and inviting bag of pastries in his hand. His stomach let out a small rumble and his mind agreed. A small bite wouldn't hurt. He pulled out a warm and soft cream bread, the smell was enticing. He took a fair sized bite of the bread and almost melted. He pinched his eyebrows, confused as how something could taste this fluffy, this sweet, this warm, this delicious. He finished the bread while walking and he was satisfied. He accidentally let out a small smile, "Just like her strawberry shortcake..."

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[A/n: I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long I got a little... occupied *me doing nothing but watching anime for days on end* I'm going to try to get better at updating but thank you for coming back! 🍰🍰🍰]