The Bet 》A Shinichiro Sano Story

Innocence

Shinichiro quickened his pace as he and Wakasa got closer to the bakery. After coming clean to Wakasa about everything Akira has done to Saiko, Shinichiro couldn't wait any longer and practically ran. Sure, Akira hasn't done anything to show interest in Saiko, but that never stopped Shinichrio from worrying about her. He didn't want anything from his timeline to repeat.

I'm sorry.

He never wanted to relive that part of his life ever again. And that's what terrified Shinichiro because he didn't want to think everything was going fine and wake up one day to find her gone.

"Would you slow down? You look like you're about to shit yourself," Wakasa said.

"I just want to make sure she's ok," Shinichiro responded as they entered the bakery.

It seemed like a slow day because there was no one inside, besides Benkei, Takeomi, and Taiga. Taiga was talking to Takeomi as she french braided his hair. Benkei was stuffing his face with a hot fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream on top, the pastry of the day. Shinichiro's kept looking around for Saiko and slowly started to panic when he didn't see her. 

"Here you go, Benkei," he heard Saiko's voice. Shinichiro let out a breath of relief when Saiko popped up from behind the counter with another brownie plate. "I thought we had whip cream, seems we ran out of it." Saiko's eyes landed on Shinichiro and she gave him a big smile as he nearly ran toward her. "Hey, Shin. I didn't think you were coming. Benkei said he was getting you breakfast."

"More like he ate his breakfast," Taiga said as she tied Takeomi's hair. Saiko went around the counter to hug Shinichiro but Shinichiro surprised her when he grabbed her face and smashed their lips together. "Hey, if you guys are going to fuck each other, then go do it in the back...like the rest of us."

Taiga's comment made Saiko chuckle into the kiss before she pulled away. "What?" she giggled as she wrapped her arms around Shinichiro's waist. "Like you and Akira have sex in the back room."

"No, we don't, but Isagi and his girlfriend do. Why do you think that couch gets changed every month?"

Saiko scrunched her nose in disgust. "Ew, Taiga. Not in front of customers."

"What customers? It's just the guys." She motioned to Saiko's swollen throat. "Not my fault you decided to suck one of them."

Saiko blushed. "You told her?" Shinichiro asked.

"She didn't have to," Taiga answered for her. "Imagine my surprise when I see her walking in like that."

Wakasa sighed before he took a seat next to Takeomi. "You would know, Lady Bitch," he commented.

Taiga glared at Waka. "I told you to stop calling me that!"

Takeomi's eyes widened. "Wait, Taiga, he didn't mean it like that!" he rushed out. "It's more like a compliment toward you. That's how Waka is."

"It is?" Wakasa repeated with his brow raised. "Her last name is Jelavich. It rhymes with bitch. She acts like one, so it fits." He saw the brownie Benkei was eating. "Can I get one?"

"Sure," Saiko said as she pulled away from Shinichiro. "Would you like one, Shin?"

"Yeah, sure," Shinichiro said before sitting down next to Benkei. "Slow day?"

"Yeah. But I don't mind. It gives us time to clean up, you know?" After handing Waka and Shinichiro their brownies, Saiko went to the back and grabbed her small mirror before handing it to Takeomi. "What do you think, Takeomi?"

"Wow, my hair never looked this good!" he beamed. He smiled at Taiga. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. As weird as it was, you did ask if I was ok," she said. "It's the least I can do."