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E P I S O D E
27

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     Ako was sleeping on her bed, letting out a loud purr as her tail keeps swaying softly, her ears twitching. Koharu who happens to be infront of her cannot help but to take a picture quietly.

She blushed, "So cute...!!!" She fangirled in her mind and made the picture her wallpaper.

Without a second thought, Ako suddenly got up from her bed and grabbed her phone. "He finally texted me! Took you long enough!" Ako was frustrated that Shinso had been ignoring her messages these past three days, and she was excited to meet him again - but what welcomed her made her slump on glum.

Hitoshi<3: Sorry for not replying these past few days, we won't be able to meet tbh - i'm so busy with training. I'll text you if i ever have free time.

  Koharu who witnessed the scene, sweatdropped. "Ako-chan, how about you go outside for some fresh air? And maybe train your reflexes?" She suggested.

  Ako sat up from her bed, pouting before walking up to her closet. "I'll go out for a while." Slipping yellow summer dress and tying her vermillion into a ponytail, Ako left.

  Koharu sighed and began writing on her notebook, containing the information that she gathered.

....

   "She told me I could go out, but what could I possibly do alone, desu no?" Ako pondered where she is going for awhile, but for now, her feet are walking aimlessly. Her aimless walk gradually led her to a lush of forest, and beside the forest is the ocean.

  Her eyes sparkled at the view. Without thinking, she transformed into her cat form. A yellow bell dangling in the middle of her neck, and a blue ribbon attack to the side of her ears - like some kind of hairclip. Her cyan eyes were slit and she felt whiskers, it's been a long time since she taken this form. It's been like a whole four years since she did this.

It's more comfortable in her cat form because her body can stretch in different angles. Sure, her human body flexible, but not as flexible as a cat.

Her cat form is pure white that has yellow marks, the yellow marks are on her two ears, her tail, and her four legs. She walked near the beach and laid on the staircase to stare the blue water crashing in waves, creating a serene music into her ears.

While watching the ocean however, she felt a familiar aura from afar. She looked up and looked behind her to see Todoroki jogging towards the ocean. His face is that's usually calm is now tense, and he is radiating a cold aura that makes people stay away from him.

  Ako tilted her head as their eyes met.

  'What's wrong with him? He looked annoyed and stressed..' Ako thought, not noticing that Todoroki already sat beside her.

Todoroki who sat beside Ako, grabbed her and placed him on his lap before softly patting her head. Ako who was surprised by the sudden contact betweem him and her, hissed - but eventually relaxed by how Todoroki was stroking her head and her chin. She let out a cute purr, leaning in to his touch even more.

  "You kind of reminded me of someone I know." Todoroki said. It didn't go unnoticed by Ako, she perked up her ears and stares intently at Todoroku - waiting for him to speak up.

  "Meow?"

Todoroki lightly chuckled when he heard the cat's mew. "You even sound like her."

  'Who the heck is her? Just spill the beans, desu no!' Ako glared at him, losing her patience.

  "She has cyan eyes like yours too. She has little to none patience and is very prideful. She's very feisty and close-off when she's still very much a stranger. But her usual annoyed face can sometimes show signs of blushing, she always denies what kindness she is showing sometimes - also very smart and dependable." As Ako listen to him, she can feel his eyes telling some stories - and the emotions he is radiating that Ako is too familiar with.

'Is he in love with her?' Ako thought, her left ear twitching.

 
  "She doesn't hold back and is always aiming to be the best. Her smiles are the cutest and brightest, even her laugh is contagious - it'll just make you smile too. She's brave and very straightforward. Strong." His eyes suddenly darken.

"I'm not strong as her. Everything about her is so lovable, fascinating - she makes people cheer for her, and be strong like her." He touched his scar and looked at the cat.

Her big cyan eyes staring curiously at him, like what Ako does every time she's looking at him. He remembered the first serene moment he had with her for the first time, that day when they watched fireflies together. 

   "The past me were really closed off, pretty similar to you actually."

  "How can she be so strong? I wish i could be like her." Ako who can't understand a thing about Todoroki's story but could feel his sorry ass self, could not help but to slap his face and jumped away from him.

  Ako sighed and ran off somewhere, not missing the surprised expression of Todoroki. "Did that cat...just sighed and slapped me?" He dejectedly stared at his hands.

  Ako transformed back to her humaj form when she got away from Todoroki, she shook her head. "Jeez, how lonely is that guy to be talking to a cat?! And he's saying he doesn't need friends?! Who doesn't need friends?! That guy seriously need some push, desu wa!" She huffed and walked out from her hiding place, and walked back to where Todoroki is.

  Seeing him dejected on his place, Ako could not help but to snicker. "Hey! Are you sad that I just punched you away, desu no?" She placed both of her hands on her waist, grinning ear to ear.

Todoroki stared wide eyed at Ako, "Saotome? What are you doing here?" And what does she mean when she punched him? When did that happened?

  "What do you mean, desu no? I was the cat you were petting earlier." At what she said, Todoroki felt like the cold water hugged his whole body, he froze in place. He couldn't believe he was just telling her indirectly what he feels for her, and what he thinks of her.

He feels like crawling under the dirt and just hide his self from Ako's gaze. He was about to stand up, but it was too late when Ako pulled him backwards and sat beside her on the same staircase.

  "F-Forget what I said earlier." He could not look at her, at all. If he even manage to glance at her face, he is sure he'll just embarass his self.

"How could I forget them, desu no? You seriously need some friends, and I'll gladly take that role, desu wa! So, whatever it is that bugs you, I'll listen to you."

Todoroki sighed, how did it ended up like this? He picked up and petted the cat because he thought it looked like Ako - it turns out it really is her. He totally forgot Ako is a cat.

"I don't need friends." He calmed his heart down, trying to act normal.

"That same line again? Okay, I won't force - if you don't need friends then just consider me as your acquaintance that you can trust, desu wa! Well?" Todoroki ended up staring at her as she finds another way to call her a friend of him. It's silly, but it's cute.

  'Acquaintance, huh.' He secretly smiled.

  "Saotome."

"Hmm?" Ako looked at Todoroki in anticipation.

"How did you....get so strong?" Ako tilted her head in confusion.

"What do you mean, desu no?"

"How did you manage to open up, and have a strong mentality? What did you do to be strong?" This time, Todoroki stared at Ako intensely. Ako, who was not expecting Todoroki's question - manage to smile warily. If he wanted to know how she got so strong - then she would have to tell him her past.

Because, in the first place - she was never strong enough.

  "First, you start walking into that risk." Ako's soft and gentle smile welcomed Todoroki's vision, her cyan eyes reflected his face clearly - and the wind blew softly, the sun kissing her white skin.

  "I was never strong, to begin with. I did tell you before, right? I was very closed off. You know why? Because I was scared of trusting people which I still do, and I was terrified of the thought that someday, I will lose them because I was weak. So I always aimed to be the best, not for myself but for the others."

  Todoroki seems to close the sounds of the surroundings, and the only thimg he could hear were Ako's voice - her eyes lost in his orbs.

"Let me tell you my story, Todoroki. As an acquaintance that you can trust."

.....

   "Ako-chan, you are the best out of everyone. Make sure that stays that way, for your grandma, okay?" Little Ako gracefully bowed her head infront of her grandma, still feeling conflicted and stressed on how much expectations her grandma has been putting on her lately.

"Yes. I understand."

  Ever since she was a child, Ako was raised in the manor of her grandmother since her parents are in the war those time. Ako's grandmother, which is Suzuhime Aino is a very strict, perfectionist noble.

Knowing that Ako has the ability to scan and gather information, Aino was delighted that she can finally be the best. She was always at the second of the noble class, and she could not beat the first placer. The current queen, Utahime Nanami. And so, she started teaching Ako - to be the best, to always be the best. To the point it was engraved in her head.

  "Saotome-sama, would you like to have lunch with us?" One of the princess invited the top princess, Saotome Ako.

Ako looked at the girl and smiled, "I apologize, I'm busy."

Although, she badly wants some friends - her grandmother has been telling her that the best person doesn't need trust, because she could only trust herself - and so work it out. Ako doesn't understand the meaning of it, but she complies anyways.

  "Too bad. Next time then, Saotome-sama." The princess bowed and walked away.

  Ako had been acing the exam and had become the best of the best princesses, it made Ako stand proudly and be obnoxious about it. But, for some reason - she feels empty.

She believed that the emptiness she felt is because she isn't contented with the achievements that she accomplished, and so she strived to graduate and go to the best academy of their country. And it was the day of her misery.

  She did not know there was someone better than her out there.

"Meet Princess Nijino Yume, she's the second daughter of the Legendary Star Warrior, who is currently the duke of our country."

"Nice to meet you everyone!" She smiled brightly infront of everyone, there's not a hint of gracefulness and intelligence in her - but she's lovable, and far more superior than Ako. It made Ako live in jealousy and in constant fear.

She's scared of losing, she's scared of disappointing her grandmother, she's scared of losing everything. She doesn't want to lose!

It was the last straw when the prince she loved so dearly, clearly showed signs of affection towards Yume.

"I'm not gonna lose to you! You better remember, I'll always be at the top! And you're nothing but a bug to me, desu wa!" She declared war to Yume infront of Yume's friends, infront of the students, in the middle of the garden.

Students started whispering, talking about Ako in disdain - how shameless she is, and how embarrassing it would be if she ended up losing to the current top rank princess.

And that's where Ako's trust issues started getting worse, and her attitude got worse to that point on.

From a soft spoken Ako, to a very loud mouthed obnoxious prideful princess.

"You, whatever you are talking about - you don't dare tarnish my name with that mouth of yours!"

"I don't care about what you think, desu wa. Being the best is everything after all."

"I know everything, so you should listen to me!"

"Why can't you all understand? I obviously had the upper hand, why would you all look at me like we've already lost?"

  Something cracked within Ako. It was her heart. The expression of her classmates and her peers looking at her in disdain and disappointment brought a big wound in her heart. She felt weak and alone - she had really lost everything, because she wasn't the best anymore.

From being the top one, she fell to the top four.

  One day, she was having lunch alone in the garden - when suddenly three figures stood infront of her table.

  "Saotome-sama, do you mind if we have lunch with you?" It was Yume and her three friends. Ako's calm expression turned into a scowl. She abruptly stood up. "I don't need friends." Her voice is full of venom, hatred lacing in every inch of her voice. Without looking back or saying anything, she walked away.

   "She's surprisingly cute even when she's mad." Koharu giggled beside Yume who watched Ako walk away, her tail swaying violently behind her.

  "I just wish she can be a friend though, she seems really nice." Yume smiled.

"What do you even see in her, Yume?" Another friend, which is Laura asked Yume - curious about Yume's thoughts.

"She's very kind, Saotome-san is."

   It was the start of persistence that day, everywhere Ako go - the three princesses would follow after her. It made Ako annoyed and irritated, but somehow it made her happy - because no matter how much she tell them away, they would always follow her.

It became a routine, and it made a place in Ako's heart. Somewhere where the void in her heart is located.

  She still considered Yume as her rival, but seeing how Yume kept cheering for her even though they're both enemies - it softened Ako. Rivals can push each other, to reach the top together. It was a good relationship between them.

It was good. But Ako still haven't trust them, not yet. It was the biggest mistake of her life.

   The tragedy happened before the Crown Selection Nomination. Ako was grouped with Yume, Koharu and Laura in the massive elimination party. The mission was to find the four keys from different parts of the islands, and was expected to have teamwork and trust in this round.

  In which Ako struggled to overcome. She was nervous and afraid that they will lose, and that something could happen to her friends because there's various of A graded monsters in different islands. In the end, Ako made Yume and the two wait at the cave and she went to retrieve the four keys from four different islands.

She came back badly injured, and gave them the key before passing out. She woke up the nexr few days and was met by Yume's angry and concerned eyes.

  "You actually went alone to retrieve the keys?! Without even relying on us?! Do you still think of your rank, and I'll end up stealing the spotlight from you? Do you still think inferior of yourself so you went and risked your life?! Why can't you put your trust in us?! We're your friends!" Yume hollered infront of Ako, the tears in her eyes flowed like river. It was so clear and genuine worry.

"I-I'm..." Ako was cut off when Laura spoke.

"We honestly don't care about ranks, Ako. We only want to have fun in this school, and we want you to share the same moment with us. If we have known you'll be this self-centered, then maybe we shouldn't have approached you then."

  Ako's heart started shattering when she heard what they said. "W-Wai—"

"We were eliminated from the round, Ako-chan. But we don't care about that. We were even more scared when you suddenly collapsed infront of us, covered in deep cuts and a dislocated arms. You don't know how worried we were, we were only thinking about you. And I hope you could do the same for us, we're your friends after all." Koharu sobbed, and grasped Ako's cold hands.

When Ako felt the warmth of their genuine emotions, the feelings that she kept in a bottle - bursted. One by one, droplets of her tears escaped her cyan eyes.

"I'm sorry.." The three looked at her in shock, this was the first time she had cried. It was the first time she showed such an emotions, what she considered as weakness - infront of her friends.

"I'm sorry.." She repeated, and her sobs became loud. When the three realized she was crying, they all went and hugged her so tight.

"Ako-chan!" Koharu hugged Ako behind, Laura on her left side and Yume on her lap.

"I'm sorry I didn't trust you all, I was still having trouble on putting my trust  into someone - even someone important to me. I was scared you three would get hurt. I don't want to lose. It's my fault for not believing in you all.."

"Ako-chan, we understand."

"I'm sorry. Please give me another chance."

"You'll always have a chance, Ako-chan. As long as you can."

.....

  "It was really hard to take the first step, because I would be stepping out from my comfort zone. It would mean I'll no longer hide, right? So, three days from that I return to grandma and told her about my frustrations - and my sufferings. Let me tell you, it didn't end up well, desu wa!"

   After the long story telling from Ako, the sun was already setting and it was starting to get dark.

"What happened?"

"Grandmother was disappointed, nonetheless. But, I believed that there's always someone who would accept me and love me whoever I am right? Best or not."

  "Your grandma is stupid that she doesn't see that part in you." Todoroki commented which he regretted immediately, he insulted Ako's grandma!

Ako merely chuckled from Todoroki's insult. "Laura also said that, desu no."

"I see."

   Ako glanced at Todoroki's face, he was finally calm and had a small smile on his face.

"Don't be afraid to take the first step, Todoroki. It always starts scary, but you'll get strong from that point on." Ako smiled, holding up her fist in a fighting position.

  "Saotome,"

"Yes?"

  "I like you."

   Ako froze on her spot when she heard Todoroki's words come out of his mouth - it only made her more stunned when he stared at her in great affection and admiration, with his face tinted in pink and orange from the sunset's glow.

"E-Eh?!" She could not utter a word at all. This is the first time someone had confessed to her, face to face.

  Her reaction brought a smile to his face, "You don't have to answer me, Saotome. I only want you to know how I feel about you."

  "Oh. Okay. But, is that really okay with you?" Ako knew that when someone confesses, they're either waiting for a response, or just wants them to be aware of the other person's feelings - but it would always end up with an answer either way.

  "Yeah. I just have to make sure you'll fall for me too, right?" At what he said, Ako bursted in red. The familiar tingles visiting her stomach.

"W-W-Wha— You crazy!" She stood up and tried to hide her blushing face, she pointed her finger at him while glaring - attempting to mask her emotions away. "J-Just so you know, I don't easily fall in love so you'll have to get better than that!"

"I'll keep that in mind. I'll be better for you." His blunt words only made it worse for Ako.

"Hmph! I-I-I'm going home since it's already dark, desu wa! Be careful on your way home!" She bashfully scoff and ran away from him, desperately trying to calm her racing heart.

All the while missing the peaceful smile on Todoroki's face.

.....

To be continued...

Unedited.

     This one is so long, but i manage to write it in a day. My mind is in a frenzy because I had so many embarrassing memories attacking me these past few days. So i just had to write this. Btw, i hope this wasn't a cringe.

word count: 3435 words.