"Remind me, why did you pick me and not Hajime or Nagito?" Ibuki asks while she took his seat at the booth across from Kazuichi. She breathed in the fragrance of the milkshake shop, smelling the heavenly fragrances of Strawberry, Vanilla, and all of the savory flavors.

Kazuichi sighed. "Well, I just didn't think that they would be interested... and they're always busy with their girlfriends, Hajime with Chiaki and Nagito with Mikan...I mean, I don't want to waste two free milkshake coupons on someone who won't actually use them."

"Oh... I see."

"Anyways, what do you want?"

"Hmmm..." Izuku gazes around the shop, looking at the delicious pictures of the milkshakes. "I'll have.... chocolate. I'm feeling a bit sweet today." She said, giving a little giggle at the end.

"Yeah, heh. I guess I'll have Chocolate as well..." "Hello, I'm Sonia! Welcome to the Shake'n Blend! What can I get you two?" A petite, elegant, blonde-haired girl asked.

"We'll just have some chocolate," Kaxuichi answered, delivering a friendly smile.

"Your drink will be here in a few minutes!" Sonia said, giving Kazuichi a slight wink before she turned and left.

*Ibuki's POV*

I sighed. It was hard having a crush on Kazuichi when every single girl and boy who set eyes on him flirted with him. It made me lose courage, but yet it only made me want him more.

But who am I tricking...?

All these girls and boys are more charming than me... and why would Kazuichi want to date someone who hated him since he was little at school?

When I was younger, our families were in a buisness family dispute, causing us to hate each other. All I wanted was for him to disappear. Now... I want him beneath my skin.

Is that weird?

 My feelings had started to evolve when I was around 10 years old.

It was several weeks after our families started working together. After I started to hang out with him and his friends Hajime Hinata and Nagito Komeada, I guess I began to...love him. But I suppose I always have. Whenever I was about to confront him when I was 5, my heart would flutter like a butterfly.

 I just didn't know what the feeling was...

I began to suspect why Kazuichi never strived to have a girlfriend or boyfriend.

It appeared as every girl and guy favored him. Which was unconditionally accurate...

 I sighed again, knowing I was just another fangirl... But... it couldn't hurt investigating...right...?

"Kazuichi... why haven't you got a girlfriend or boyfriend yet...?"

Kazuichi's bright pink eyes lit up in surprise, looking up at me with his adorable dumbfounded look on him. 

"That was sudden... what brought that up all of a sudden...?"

I shrugged a little, looking away. "Just curious... so many girls and boys want you... can't keep them waiting, right?" I joked, despising what I had just said. 

Keep them waiting... please... it would hurt me so much to see you with someone else...

Kazuichi moved around in his chair and played with the buttons of his yellow and black jean jacket. "I already have my eyes on someone... I'm just frightened that they won't like me back..."

His words were like frost to my heart. He already fancied someone...

I sniffed a bit. Why... why did I have to fall for someone like him...? What was I presuming anyway...? 

For him to condone me for causing him all that ache in his life? WHY!? Was it because... he despised me...?

"Here you go! Enjoy your date!" A familiar voice said. Sonia. She placed one chocolate milkshake down and placed two straws in them.

Wait a second...

Did I hear that right?

Did she say date...?

"Umm... where's the other drink...?" asked Kazuichi.

"Oh, I assumed you were sharing. Since you were a couple and all..."

I could see Kazuichi's cheeks become deep red. Obviously from mortification. I know I shouldn't do this... but even distinguishing it as a lie would make me feel better.

"Uh... n-no... we're not-"

"Oh yes, thank you!" I said with a smile.

Sonia nodded and walked away, this time leaving Kazuichi alone.

" Ibuki..." Kazuichi asked, hanging his head down. I could just barely see his face, it was completely red. Wh-why did you... say that..."

"I... just didn't want any trouble... she's busy enough... heh..." 

Worst. Excuse. Ever. Ibuki.

"Oh..."

" Besides... it's not a bad thing... friends share stuff..." 

Including drinks? 

Great job Ibuki...

I took a sip of the drink, letting its delicious chocolate flavor flow into my mouth.

Kazuichi stares at me as if deciding whether or not to do it.

His gaze softened, finally making a decision, and took a sip of the drink.

I could feel a smile crawl on my lips. It was like an actual date... even though it was fake... it feels real...

I lifted my head, away from the drink, and so did Kazuichi.

"Kind of absurd right, how a little place like this has elaborate stuff like waiters and menus right?" Kazuichi commented, giggling shortly after.

As soon as he recognizes I wasn't laughing and I was not paying attention to him, he made a concerned look.

"Soda..." I murmured.

"Yeah...?"

"Do you hate me...?" I kept back some tears. Something I have always done since I was smaller.

 Everyone knew me for being a crybaby... 

"What?! No, of course not! Why would you think that?!"

"Why would I not think that? After all those times when we were younger... why wouldn't you...?"

"We were just children! It's in the past now!!"

"If you didn't hate me then how come you've never acknowledged my love for you?!"

The last words I said were never meant to come out. My cheeks flare furiously. I wish I never said that... I am sorry heart but darn you.

There was a long awkward silence between us. The whole shop seemed quiet, all the attention on us.

 So quiet that you could hear everyone's breathing.

"I thought you didn't like me..." Kazuichi finally said.I looked up at him, my rose pink eyes welled up.

"Never. I've always liked you... since we were 5..."

"But... girls like Mahiru are constantly with you and you just... smile and laugh...!"

"Because girls and boys are regularly all over you! It always pierces my heart!"

"I thought you liked them! I was always so jealous... then girls started to talk to me and I thought I could make you jealous and like me!" He gazed down, his scarlet pink eyes starting to water up as well.

"But you did nothing..."

I could not believe it.

After all these years.

Wondering and hoping, weeping and crying.

Neither of us confessing because we were both frightened of being rejected...

"It as you... you were the one I had my eyes on..." He murmured, his words causing me to feel all warm and tingly.

"I'm so sorry..."

"You have nothing to apologize for... I should have just asked instead of waiting for you... I wasn't even considering how it could hurt you..."

I didn't realize it, but we were getting closer and closer by the second. Staring into each other's eyes the whole time. I could do that forever.

"I love you..." He murmured into my ear.

"I love you too..."

He ended my sentence by connecting our lips with a delicate, tender, loving kiss. 

His lips fit mine perfectly, just making the moment even better.

Sadly, we had to breathe again so we broke the kiss.

"I was... saving my first kiss for you..." Kazuichi said, looking me in the eye, his cheeks dark red.

Mine were probably worse.

I giggles. "So was I... and it was perfect."

We kissed again and I think we were so lost in the moment that we didn't hear Chiaki and Mikan cheering us on and Hajime and Nagito trying to quiet them down to not ruin the moment. But I really didn't care what they did.

As long as I had Kazuichi Soda with me.

Everything was perfect.