"You know when you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." - Dr. Seuss

XXX.

"I just realized..." I paused as I let the red muffler trail to the floor, my eyes following it. "I knitted the muffler for too long." I mumbled to myself.

I remember redoing the muffler a few days ago because I just don't like how it was made. And after my confession to Akashi-kun's mother, I felt the weights got off of my shoulder and I suddenly felt better. From then on, the muffler got better because I seem to get more inspired and motivated.

I put my heart and soul into making it.

I just hope that...

I sighed and folded the red muffler and put it inside the paper bag.

Will he--

I flinched at the sudden knocks on the door. The knocks were kind of desperate and it demands to be opened immediately. I rushed to open the door and it revealed Kisa who was in a state of panic.

"What's wrong--"

"We ran out of unsalted butter, confectioner's sugar, red food coloring and most importantly," she trailed off and grabbed my shoulders. "STRAWBERRIES!" She exclaimed and I let out a wry smile that made her frown in confusion. Then her eyes lit up. "Wait, could it be..." She trailed off and inched her face to me, suspicion now evident in her expression. "You ate all of the strawberries?" She eyed me as if I was a felon being interrogated.

I looked away as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, my smile stretching. "My bad, I couldn't help it." I chuckled and that made her eyes wide up even more if it was still possible.

"EH?" she exclaimed then shook me violently. "How could you eat a dozen of strawberries?" She asked as if eating those amount of strawberries were not a human thing to do.

"Eh... doesn't anyone?" I asked as I was starting to feel dizzy.

Kisa stopped then rubbed her temple with a smile as if she was amused by what I've done. "Well, I guess I have to run to the groceries for the ingredients, then." She muttered and before she could walk away, I stopped her.

"Let me do it, instead." I insisted with a pleading look but then Kisa just responded with a shake of her head.

"You don't--"

"Thanks! I'm gonna go grab my coat and scarf!" I cut her off as I left the door open for her an went to the closet to grab a coat and muffler.

I heard her sigh as she sat on the bed. "Well, I guess I can't stop you from doing what you want but can I at least accompany you?"

Just as I finished putting on the coat and muffler, I tied my long red hair in a high ponytail and turned to Kisa and smiled. "There's no need for that, Kisa." I tried to convince her but sighed as I didn't saw the satisfaction written in her expression. I walked towards her and set beside her. "You can just prepare the ingredients while I'm gone. I promise I'll be back before you even know it." I hugged her arm and gave her a wink to which she only sighed.

"You know that I can't resist you, right?"

I nodded and giggled. "Yes, and I'm going to use it to my advantage."

She pouted. "You're like young master at some point."

I paused at the reference and stared at the violethead I was hugging. I released my hold on her and tried to compose myself. "How so?" I drawled and she took notice of my change of mood.

She smirked. "You're both--"

"Never mind, Kisa." I looked away and sighed to which she only giggled in response.

"You're blushing, Yurika-sama!" She pointed her finger to my face and I quickly covered my face in embarrassment.

"I am not!" I exclaimed then grabbed my bag and stormed out of the room, leaving a fangirling Kisa.

She got me right there.

Were we really similar at some point?

I shook my head as if that will help me get the thought off of my head then started to sprint my way to the store. A smile crept to my lips as the warmth and smell of the store welcomed me. I grabbed a basket and started skipping around, humming on a familiar tune and it earned strange looks from the other bystanders. I didn't mind them, I was actually having fun grabbing stuff and doing the groceries.

This is actually my first time.

I grabbed everything needed but of course, the strawberries were first in my list.

I don't want to remember what happened after that. A group of guys tried to flirt with me but I pushed them aside, I was feeling uncomfortable.

If Akashi-kun was there-- Wait, what would happen if Akashi-kun was with me?

"Ne, Seijuro,"

"What?"

"What will you do if some guys tried to flirt with me?"

"Simple. I'll gouge their eyes out using my favorite pair of scissors."

After buying everything I need, I walked on the way home but I passed by a park first. I looked at the park intently then realized how familiar it looked. I walked towards a certain swing and removed the snow gathered there. Then an image flashed in my head.

It was a rainy day...

"Akashi..."

I loved saying his name.

"Akashi... Seijuro..."

But at the same time I hate it.

"What are you doing? You'll get sick if you stay longer in here."

Why was I crying that time?

"I love you." I heard my own voice say.

"No, don't you dare give up on me, that's an order."

My lips slowly curled up into a small smile at the memory. I sat on the swing and pulled out the cup of hot chocolate I bought then enveloped my fingers on it, feeling in its warmth. I sighed and saw my breath as a white smoke.

"Akashi Seijuro..." I mumbled then took a sip of my drink.

He cupped my cheeks and stared into my eyes, flashing me a gentle smile. "I love you... and I mean it this time."

I checked my wristwatch and sighed. It was almost time for Akashi-kun's dismissal time. I have to go home immediately and bake the cake.

•••

I let out a sigh of relief just as I finished putting the strawberries on top of the cake. I smiled and wiped the whipped cream off of my forehead with the back of my hand. I looked at my masterpiece and pondered of what would Akashi-kun's reaction will be.

"Do you think he'll like it?"

"I don't think so."

My smile fell into a frown at Kisa's remark. I tried the cake at least three times, Kisa and Tadashi always helped me in eating the rest of the cake before Akashi-kun could notice it. Now in my fourth try, I insisted that I don't need any assistance because I wanted to bake this alone for him.

"You better like it or else," I mumbled to myself with a pout and folded my arms across my chest.

"Or else what?"

I flinched at the sudden voice from behind me. I don't know how to describe the status of my heart. If it should beat a hundred times per second or it should just stop beating and I would have died.

Please don't tell me that I heard his voice. I'm not ready yet!

I slowly turned around to meet the intruder who almost gave me a heart attack and in an instant, my body was like splashed by a bucket of ice cold water.

"A-Akashi-kun, you're going to give me a heart attack!" I exclaimed after a few moments and I immediately clutched onto my chest, trying to tame my wild heart.

He gave me his trademark closed-lipped smirk. "You're still not used to it?" He asked with that seductive voice of his.

I sighed and shook my head in frustration. "Someday, you're gonna get someone killed." I stated and he chuckled.

"Maybe I'd do it," He stared intently into my eyes. "Would you like to be my first victim?"

I arched an eyebrow in question and tried to hide the uneasiness that was starting to build up inside me by smirking back at him. "No, thank you. But there are many other girls who are more than willing, maybe you can ask--"

I stopped my sentence midway when I saw how his tongue slowly rolled out of his mouth and licked his rosy lips. I swallowed hard as his intense stare was starting to pierce my soul. "Are you included in those girls?" He asked and gave me a wink.

My smirk vanished and blood started to climb up to my cheeks. "W-What are you doing?" I stuttered and felt my hands started to get shaky and sweaty.

He smirked and his gaze shifted through me... on the cake.

"Red velvet cake with chocolate frosting?" He asked and took a few steps towards and I wiped my sweaty hands on my apron. "That's extraordinary."

"Suits you," I mumbled to myself and wandered my eyes across the kitchen.

"Where's my gift?" He asked suddenly and I gulped.

"Why would I give you a gift? Is it your birthday?" I asked with an oblivious expression and smiled innocently.

He turned to face me and smiled. "I challenge you in a game of shogi." He said instead and my lips curled down into a frown in confusion.

"What? Why?"

"If I win, you'll give me my gift." He said with that trademark smirk of his that made me raise an eyebrow in question.

"And if I win?" I folded my arms across my chest and waited for his answer.

"Name your prize then."

I smirked. "Deal."

My grandfather was a professional shogi player and I won against him once.

Maybe I can win.

But what if I win? What would my prize be?

What do I want?

We made our way towards a certain room, must be a playroom of some sort. But there is a shogi board on a glass table. I always played shogi on the floor because of my grandfather so that was my comfort zone. I requested if we could play on the floor and without a word, he set the board on the carpeted floor and we sat Indian style.

I don't know if I should compare him to grandpa, considering that he was a professional shogi player but I can't help but think that Akashi-kun was far more better than him. Probably the best.

In the middle of the game, someone knocked on the door and that made us break our focus on the game and shift our gaze towards the source of the sound.

"Seijuro-sama, here are the desserts you've ordered." Kisa's voice was so poised and sophisticated that I almost didn't recognize her.

"Come in." Akashi-kun said the cue then Kisa opened the door and when her eyes landed on me, she flashed me a polite smile that when anyone looks at it, it's quite normal but I can see the meaning behind it. She's obviously teasing me.

She frowned slightly at the sight of our position but then pushed it aside as she placed two plates of the dark red velvet cake I baked and I gave her a questioning look.

Kisa just let out an inaudible giggle then mouthed, "He won't like it." with a wink. My eyes widened in shock but then glared at her so darkly just to show my annoyance towards her. If only looks could kill, I would have even arranged her funeral and burial.

Wait, that's too brutal.

Akashi-kun was too preoccupied on the game to even notice the scene in front of him. I sighed and shook my head at the female standing beside us. I mouthed to her, "Go away." But she only smirked in response.

She bowed her head back to us. "Is there anything else you'd like, young master?" Her mood changed to being sophisticated and I mentally rolled my eyes.

"No, thank you." Akashi-kun muttered without sparing a glance at the violethead.

"How about you, young miss?" She turned her head to me with a smile.

"Not that I know of, Kisana." I replied with a smile of my own. "You can leave, now."

Her polite smile changed into a smirk. "Eager, aren't we?" She mouthed the words then winked at me.

Without a word or sound, Kisa turned on her heels and left the room, leaving the room dead silent once again.

I sighed and took a bite of the red velvet yumminess. And every once in a while, I would check for Akashi-kun to take a piece for himself but his food remained untouched throughout the game.

After 2 hours of competing with him, I savored the bitter taste of defeat.

And I remembered just now, he was my playmate back then.

"You cheated!" I accused then pointed my finger to him.

"It's only a matter of strategy, Yurika." He smirked at me in triumph. "Now, where's my prize?"

I groaned and stood up. "Wait here." I said then dashed out to the guest room for the thing he desired.

I held the cheap fabric to my chest as I was feeling reluctant in giving this muffler to him but then this is what I was going to give to him eventually.

I took a deep breath and gave him a smile. "Happy birthday, Akashi-kun." I said then slowly extended my arms to give him the red muffler.

He smirked at me but he remained still on his position. I frowned in annoyance.

"You can take it now, you know?" I pouted. "My arms are getting tired." I complained.

Then, my eyes squinted in realization. Does he want me to wrap it around his neck myself?

I felt my cheeks turn a shade of pink and I swallowed before bending down to be at the same level as him because he was still sitting on the floor.

I slowly wrapped the muffler around his neck and his smirk changed into a gentle smile.

"I like chocolate frosting." He suddenly informed me that made me stop my focus on wrapping the fabric around his neck and I shifted my gaze towards his face.

"You didn't even took a single bite." I stated then continued to wrap the long muffler around him.

"It's because I'm sure," He trailed off and in an instant, he poked my face and I gasped in shock as chocolate frosting stained my cheek all the way to my lips.

Before I could have the time to ask what was that for, my heart got caught up in my throat as his face inched closer to whisper the words so sensually that it made my mind go blank. "I'd love it more on you."

And with that said, he cupped my neck, just behind my ears and I felt his hot, wet tongue trailing on my cheek, licking the frosting off that made me lose my mind. I was too shock to even move and react and without even knowing, my taste buds already savored the sweet chocolate as he claimed my lips in a chocolate frosting kiss.

Someday, you're gonna get someone killed.

And I'm afraid that...

I'll be your first victim.

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Get me with those red eyes, baby, as the lights go down. Give me something that'll haunt me when you're not around~

Late update, sorry guys. :3 just busy with my life in school. //sigh

I have this problem with replying to comments for an unknown reason. But just know that I read every single one of your comments and they never fail to curl my lips up :D so please don't think that I ignore you because I deeply appreciate them :) but once this problem is fixed, I'll reply to you. :)

Dedication serves as a thank you for supporting my story (and I think it's still not enough though) but if you don't get any dedications, maybe you can in my next fanfiction (hopefully some ideas might park in my mind. lol)

And oh, I'm sorry for any typographical or grammar errors. I didn't proofread this so... :3

So yeah, sorry for making this note long. :) and thank you as well for reading. :D

Feel free to vote, comment or anything! Let me know your thoughts in this story! :D

I love you guys so much :'>