Like I said in the previous extra, I really wanted to include this in the canon part of the book but it didn't feel like it belonged & was slowing down the pace. But I really love this chapter so here I am posting it now. This takes place between chapter 47 and 48 and explains a bit more about Suzuki-sensei since she kinda stopped being mentioned (for good reason too, lol). Plus it centres around Miyuki, Hiro and Kouichi. Such an unusual combination but fun to read nonetheless.

Anyway, do enjoy!! <3

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CHAPTER 47.5

"What do you think of this?"

I reeled my attention away from the array of teddy bears on the shelf ahead of me and towards the owner of the voice.

"Are you trying to buy a gift for your sister or kill her?" Hiro bluntly demanded before I could have the opportunity to speak.

I nodded, eyeing the Lego dollhouse. "Everyone knows babies can't be around these kinds of things because they'll try to eat it and choke."

Kouichi's eyes widened from behind his glasses. He peered downwards, studying the box. "I see... You're very well-versed in these matters, Hiro-san, Hoshino-san."

I sighed, brushing back my bangs. It was still difficult to get used to its short length. "Well, I did grow up taking care of my younger siblings," I excused.

Kouichi glanced Hiro's way, as did I.

"I don't need to have experience with babies to know Legos are bad news," he defended.

The looks we were giving him still worked to make him uncomfortable.

"Wow. So even the top student in our grade has a soft spot for infants," Kouichi drawled.

Although he hadn't meant for it to come off as sarcastic, I snorted anyway, "It doesn't suit him."

"Hey!"

Kouichi cracked an apologetic smile alongside me. A frown took the form of Hiro's lips as a result. Unlike always, he wore a beanie instead of his usual baseball cap. Understandably, as it was fairly early into the new year and the temperature was still relatively low. Even in my coat and turtleneck, I was doing my best to fight the cold. Kouichi was dressed equally warm as well, his keepsake camera hung around his neck. He'd never left without it.

"Not to be rude or anything," I said, shifting my focus from scanning the shopping centre we were in towards Kouichi, "I can understand why you invited me, but why did you decide to drag Hiro here of all people?"

"That was definitely rude," Hiro remarked.

Smiling, I pressed my hands together to prove I didn't mean any harm.

"I already told you," Kouichi replied. "My sister's first birthday is coming up and since my parents are busy working, they told me to go shopping for a present for her instead."

"I know that much." I waved it off. "I'm asking why you didn't take anyone else. Wouldn't Saki have been a better choice?"

"Saki?" Hiro reiterated in disbelief.

Kouichi bobbed his head. "Yamamoto-san... has no experience with babies. Yuji-san made sure to warn me before I could ask her."

I placed a finger to my chin. Picturing Saki doing any means of babysitting was extremely difficult. I guess I should have expected that, like her cooking, it wouldn't end well.

"Speaking of Yuji-san, he told me his parents were taking him to a ski and snowboard resort for the rest of the break and thus couldn't help out." Kouichi counted down his fingers. "Kazuya-san is busy studying for his university entrance exams so I didn't want to bother him. Hinata-san is visiting his grandparents. Oh, and Hibiki-san is busy babysitting his siblings."

He basically went and contacted everyone then?

"So, in other words," Hiro surmised, "Hoshino and I are your last hope?"

"Yes! So please do help me. You have to! I'm hopeless—"

"All right," I cut him off with a sigh. "We get it so stop sprouting flowers out of your head. You're drawing attention to us."

With a sigh, I slipped my hands into my pockets. Even if Kouichi was desperate, if I'd known Hiro was going to be here I would've at least mentally prepared myself. Or find a way out of it like the coward I was. Then again, that seemed like all I did lately. But I couldn't keep dodging the obvious, could I? And I doubt Hiro would appreciate me suddenly being distant, especially with Kouichi here.

I sent a discreet glance over my shoulder at him as he nonchalantly chatted with Kouichi.

"Hoshino, I love you."

Heat swelled up in my cheeks at once. I couldn't figure it out. What was so appealing about someone as awkward as me? Couldn't he just bury it into anime like I have since the day I first got into it? Then again, he was somehow... very serious about this.

Darn it, my mind was already spinning. Act normal... Act normal...

"Anyway, Kouichi," I quickly coughed, doing my best to stifle my blush, "I had no clue you even had a younger sister."

"I wasn't expecting her to be born either," he confessed. "I mean, I did kind of notice my mom getting rounder and small clothing and baby essentials filling my household but never stopped to question it. And then one day when I came home from school, they were suddenly home with her. I was so shocked!"

"Are you that dense?" Hiro mumbled.

My expression was just as blank. This entire process would've taken place over the course of nine months, too. Kouichi was in a league of his own all right.

"Oh, do you guys want to see how she looks?" Kouichi declared, already digging into his coat's pocket.

Perking, I immediately darted to his side. "Of course I do! Show me!"

Laughing, Kouichi fiddled with his cell and hurried to bring up his album. When he had it up, he extended it for me and Hiro to see. "Isn't she the cutest?"

Chubby cheeks and limbs. A flowery pink headband over tufts of brown hair. Big, round eyes. My heart melted the more he swiped to more images. The angles of each photo were done extremely well—unsurprisingly considering Kouichi's talent at photography.

"Aww, she even has your eyes," I gushed.

"She's already talking and walking, too. She's really smart."

I brought my hand to my cheeks, unable to stop my smile. She was so adorable. "How come I haven't heard about her until now? I feel cheated."

"I didn't think you had a soft spot for babies," he replied.

"After cats and dogs they are the reason I still cling to reality."

He laughed then craned his neck left. "Hiro-san, what do you think?"

Hiro squinted at the photo then slowly shifted his gaze to Kouichi. "I can see she's related to you at least."

A smirk upturned Kouichi's lips. "So you admit I'm just as adorable?"

"...Dude. No."

"I wanna meet her," I spoke up, snatching Kouichi's focus. "Please let me meet her. I promise I only want to pinch her chubby cheeks."

Fortunately, Kouichi didn't find my fawning inappropriate. "Maybe one day I can introduce you. But just to warn you ahead of time, she's even cuter in person."

My lips spread back into a grin. I twisted back around and began filing the toy aisle up and down. "What are we waiting around here for, then? Let's hurry up and find her a present. We need to put a smile on that baby's face no matter what."

I darted down the aisle before the two of them could follow, scanning the rows of childish toys. Kouichi and Hiro followed soon enough with little to no rebuttal. I was so preoccupied with finding the cutest stuffed animal known to man that I barely heard the call of my name.

"Miyuki Hoshino."

"Old hag."

I stopped in place. My mouth had moved instinctively.

Upon realization of this nostalgic exchange I had down to memory, I spun around with my arms outstretched.

"Suzuki-sensei, you're alive!"

Standing at the threshold of the aisle stood the very woman, cradling a pink cloth in her arms. Her features morphed in displeasure as she released a huge sigh, "Why am I not surprised you haven't changed?"

"Good afternoon, Suzuki-sensei."

Both boys double crossed me by breaking into respective bows. I made a face, opposite to Suzuki-sensei who broke out into a bright smile.

"Oh, so you're with people with actual manners today," she said then bobbed her head in return. "Good afternoon, Hiro, Kouichi. How's school been while I was gone?"

I fixed my attention to what she was gripping in her arms. It was a blanket all right, but it wasn't empty. When Kouichi and Hiro broke from their bows, equal surprise coated their features.

It seemed I wasn't the only one who'd come to terms with what was in her arms.

"Old hag," I said, extending my finger the same time Kouichi rose his. "Is that the source of your asexual reproduction or your long lost twin?"

"This is my child!" she snapped, drawing the baby closer to her chest. "I'll have you know I'm rightfully married, brat!"

Child... Married...

"She really did have a baby!" I shouted.

"Hiro-san was right after all!" Kouichi agreed.

Hiro stared at us dubiously. "You guys seriously doubted me?"

"Actually," I corrected, "what I doubted was the prospect that Suzuki-sensei had a husband willing to impregnate her at the ripe age of twenty-six—"

"Don't make me smack you, brat," Suzuki-sensei barked, features scrunched up as nastily as ever.

I placed a hand to my chest. "Wow have I missed your menace, teach."

With a sigh, Suzuki-sensei shook her head. "Look, my husband's actually here today. Why don't I introduce you ?" She took a moment to peer over her shoulder. "Shun!"

"Yes, Eriko?"

At that moment, the gentleman who came strolling into the aisle, pushing an empty baby carriage in front of him made me gape.

"Suzuki-sensei's... husband..." Hiro drawled.

"A giant?" I guessed. "No, a titan..."

"Please don't step on us," Kouichi pleaded.

You'd think we were exaggerating but this man was tall. And I meant taller than the colossal titan. Okay, maybe not as tall as that specific titan, but enough for me to crane my neck back so far I could only really appraise his dark complexion and light coloured hair.

Our gaping must have been completely normal to him, though, because 'Shun' merely broke out into a loud laugh. "I like these kids. Are they your students?"

"The girl—Miyuki—used to be last year," Suzuki-sensei replied, smiling just as brightly regardless of him towering over her. "But I was their club supervisor before I went on leave. The Humanity Club I told you about?"

Shun nodded in a heartbeat. "Oh, yes. The one that princely boy practically begged you to start."

Although I could poke fun at Suzuki-sensei earlier, seeing the man who'd married her somehow made it difficult. They were radiating whole, happy family vibes. I'd never seen Suzuki-sensei so cheerful in my life.

"When are you coming back, teach?" I finally spoke. "No offence to Aya-sensei, but she's terrible at governing a club."

"She hates teenagers with a fiery passion, so she rarely stops by," Hiro agreed.

"Plus she runs that creepy dark magic circle club," I noted. "My theory is that she's out to curse any and every teenager out of jealousy for the youthfulness she can no longer attain."

"Mine," Hiro said, "is that she's a demon currently taking on the disguise of a teacher. And her true goal is to eventually consume the souls of all the students at Seisein Academy."

I gasped, "Plot twist of the century."

"Exactly."

I couldn't wrestle the unintentional grin that enveloped my face. "I can't believe you upstaged my theory with a better one. My many years of burying myself in fictional stories have been pointless."

"Kind of dramatic."

I laughed. "Guess that'll be our official theory for that gloomy substitute."

"Does Aya-sensei really seem that gloomy?" Kouichi mused via innocent blinks. "I thought her extremely dark tendencies only made her beautiful."

All of our eyes, including Suzuki-sensei's and her husband Shun's, snapped in his direction. Visible incredulity claimed our features.

"Dude," Hiro snapped again.

Kouichi's lips met in a sheepish line. "Hibiki-san agreed with me..."

"That's 'cause Hibiki's a weirdo," I stated firmly. "Just trust Hiro's blessed mind. It's the soul-sucking demon theory."

My voice echoed in my ears after my proclamation and a sudden wave of embarrassment washed over me. I knew I told myself to act naturally, but was I running my mouth too much? Judging by a quick look Hiro's way and at his wide smile, that concern brushed itself away. He didn't seem bothered. He was actually happy, if anything, and a happy Hiro was a rare Hiro.

I found myself mimicking the very expression soon enough.

"Did you not tell them, Eriko?"

Shun's sudden inquisition drew my focus at once.

"Tell us what?" I asked.

Readjusting her daughter in her arms, Suzuki-sensei's mouth morphed into a meek smile. "I was so sure you guys heard," she said, taking the time to meet each our eyes. "Sure I went on maternity leave, but I got transferred for work. I got an offer from the principal of Katayama High School and took it. It's a lot closer to my home and just hit all the right boxes, so..."

"You're... going to teach at Katayama High?" I demanded, mouth falling. "Th-The one across the city?"

"Yup, come the new school year," she replied, still grinning. "Which means I won't be around to straighten you up anymore. Your third year is extremely important so you should really fix all your bad habits like staying up late or constantly neglecting studying. Hiro, Kouichi, you two need to keep a firm eye on her. She really fails when she doesn't have someone responsible on her back about stuff."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "I can handle myself."

"I'm sure you can," Suzuki-sensei responded. "But you're the worst at taking care of your well-being. Don't worry me more than you already have and get your act together. I want to come to your graduation and see you walk the stage and cry like a proud adult that all my efforts were worth it."

"I'll walk the stage even if you're not there."

"I know you will." She blinked and leaned forward in subtle blinks. "Are you... all right?"

"Not really," I confessed, darting out my palms. "Let me hold your baby."

Once in arm, I held her daughter to my shoulder. She was smaller than a bag of sugar, tiny toes poking from the blue blanket. Her head, a crazy mass of brown curls, wobbled beneath my supporting hand.

"Oh, so you've had experience with carrying babies," Suzuki-sensei said, taking a step back. She grinned. "Guess I didn't have to worry."

"She's so adorable," I cooed. "There's no way she has your genes."

"Excuse you?" Suzuki-sensei demanded.

Hiro was equally awed beside me. I met his eyes.

"Do you want to carry her, Hiro?"

"Huh, but—"

"You kept insisting you had experience with infants didn't you?" I teased, gently slipping her into his fingers. "Come on."

"Hoshino, I seriously don't know how..."

"I'll hold her with you if you're so scared. There, keep a firm hold on the back of her head. Just like that. See, you're fine." I smiled as she clasped my pinky within her small fingers. "Aww. She's seriously so cute. Don't you think so, Hiro?"

"...Yeah."

It took me a moment to notice he was staring at me, not the baby. He hadn't meant for them to be; I could tell by the look of mild shock on his face when my gaze flickered to him, promptly accompanied by his cheeks flushing pink. Honestly, blushing would have been no problem, but in response, all I could do was redden and radiate heat like a hot pan.

Crap. Crap. How could I keep forgetting something so crucial?

"Hoshino, I love you."

Gah!

"Aw, you two are adorable," Suzuki-sensei interjected with a laugh. "You could definitely mistake them as a newlywed couple, right, Shun?"

"Should you really be saying that when they have our daughter in their arms?"

She chuckled then swooped in to pick her up from Hiro's arms, deeming enough was enough. "Didn't you guys have something important you were doing here?"

Kouichi slid to her side, phone outstretched. "Actually, Suzuki-sensei, this is my younger sister."

"Wow, she's precious!"

"Thank you. I like to believe she resembles me the most in my family."

I couldn't bring myself to look at Hiro. My skin crawled, fingers furling to balls at my side.

It'd become certain, more than I could keep avoiding.

But gosh was this so awkward.

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"Thank you guys so much for today," Kouichi said, dropping into a sudden bow.

We were outside of the mall after a good while of browsing and shopping. It'd gotten fairly dark out, with the lampposts and store lights serving as proper illumination.

"There's no use thanking us," I replied. "Suzuki-sensei ended up helping you choose in the end."

"That's true, but I am still grateful you kept me company," Kouichi said. "I'm sure Akina will love her present."

"I hope so."

Blinking, Kouichi gaudily adjusted his glasses on his nose. "Hiro-san, are you all right? You've been quiet."

He jumped at the mention of his name. Fiddling with his hairs at his nape, he glanced elsewhere. "O-oh, yeah. I'm fine."

"You looked deep in thought," Kouichi murmured, then brightened. "Even though the two of you didn't seem the type, you really did complement each other with Suzuki-sensei's daughter."

"I was just helping him carry her," I excused, doing my best to stifle the warmth that flooded my cheeks. "Nothing special."

Kouichi gandered between us, and as if hit with realization, smiled knowingly. He gestured behind him. "I'll be going this way."

He stopped before he could go.

"By the way, Hoshino-san." He grinned. "I really like your new hairstyle. It suits you."

He sauntered off before I could respond. Eyebrows high, I fiddled with my bangs.

"Really...? I think it may be too short," I mumbled. I knew I asked Saki to cut it this way, but not having my long hair still rubbed me the wrong way. Letting my hand fall to my side, I craned my neck left. "What do you think, Hiro?"

"Huh?"

He was still lost in his thoughts.

"Do you think shorter hair suits me?" I reiterated.

"Why should my opinion matter?"

"So it doesn't?"

"I didn't say that."

Blanking my face, I hummed. What did I expect? Hiro obviously wouldn't just dish out a compliment, let alone to me.

"It..."

His cheeks enveloped in colour. Eventually, he forced himself to look at me.

"It... does suit you," he said, struggling to get it out. "A lot."

My heart skipped its beat. Somehow hearing him say that made me a lot more awkward than when Kouichi said it. Because it was extremely rare to hear a compliment from him? Or because I knew the emotions behind it?

Regardless, a heavy blush claimed my cheeks, and a quickened heart rate I was beginning to familiarize now picked up in my ears. Neither of which didn't stop me from twiddling my bangs yet again. "Um, thank... you."

I took a step forward.

"I should get going."

"Should I walk you home?"

"It's fine. Isn't Asao-san coming to pick you up?"

"He should be, but—"

"Then I'll just go. See you—"

"Young master, there you are!" It was in that exact moment, a car pulled up along the sidewalk, and after parking, out emerged the mentioned butler. He bowed straightaway. "And if it isn't Hoshino-san. Long time no see."

Ignoring the eyes of passersby was difficult as I bashfully bowed in return. "It's nice to see you again."

Once upright, Asao asked, "I take someone is coming to take you home?"

"Well, I was planning on walking..."

"This late?" He vehemently shook his head. "There's no way I can allow something like that! I'll give you a ride home."

"It's fine!" I hastily refused. "I don't want to be a bother."

"You absolutely will not be! Besides, I wouldn't want the young master to worry if I allowed you to go home unattended. Much less in this cold."

"But..."

"Just come," Hiro said.

Darn it. How did I keep finding myself in these situations? It was like the Goddess of Awkwardness constantly wanted me to suffer.

In the backseat of Asao's car, nearby Hiro, the silence was prickling.

I cleared my throat. "Um, are you fine without a GPS?"

"Yes, I still vaguely remember the way from that time I took the young master to your house for that study session."

That was quite a while ago. And... 'young master'?

It gave off complete Sebastian and Ciel vibes.

I tapped my forefinger against my thigh, busying myself by gazing out the window. Hiro peered out the opposite one.

I gnawed on my bottom lip.

Something to break the silence. Something...

Doing what I knew best, I finally spoke: "Have you watched any animes recently?"

"Just One Piece," he replied, then blinked. "Wait."

I tilted my head his way.

"I did start something," he went on. "My Hero Academia."

"Ah! Isn't it so good?" I cried, eagerly poking my face toward his. "Are you just watching the anime? Do you want me to lend you the mangas?"

"Really? You have it?"

"Don't underestimate me," I tsk-tsked. "I have an unhealthy amount of series just waiting for you to read."

"Me?" he asked.

"Who else would I be talking about? You already know you've long surpassed those uncultured swines in our club the moment you embraced 'the animu.'"

Hiro made a face. "Don't say 'animu' again."

"That was cringey even for me, huh." I paused. "Makes me want to say it one more time just to spite you."

"Do it and you're leaving this car."

"While it's still moving?"

"Try me."

"Take it as a compliment," I laughed. "You've still got a long way to go, but... it's fine. I'm just glad you're around to enjoy it with me."

He hummed.

Quiet once again enveloped us. I lightly scratched my arm.

"Hey... Why me?"

"Huh?"

I didn't elaborate, whether it be due to nerves or mortification.

"Is... this really the time or place to ask?"

Asao put up the radio, possibly to drown out our voices. I flushed, hard.

"I know, but... I have a pretty spontaneous personality. I'm not exactly girly. Have an unhealthy addiction to the 2D realm and many fictional characters and never shut up about it either. Plus I only ever had two friends growing up until I joined the HC, proving I'm socially inept. I can't figure out what you find appealing about me."

"Do you want a cliched answer or the truth?"

"The first option sounds extremely tempting to my fangirl heart."

"Then, everything."

Chills ran up my spine. I gulped, hard.

"Wh-what's... the truth?"

He met my eyes, slowly and sincerely. "Still everything."

Heat consumed my face like a wildfire.

"You may have a spontaneous personality, but, you always take charge in situations the rest of us can't, and I can't help but think you're amazing every time. You definitely aren't as girly as Saki but you're still pretty—enough to make my heart race. And even though I didn't understand it at first, anime and manga are really enjoyable. And I think it's... cute how excited you get about it... and I also kind of like being able to enjoy them with you... and uh..."

He was drenched in a blush—scalding a deep red that long reached the tips of his ears. His words grew more tongue-tied as he continued, until he no longer could surface more and bring the both of us any more embarrassment.

He sighed and sunk into his seat, as if praying to shrivel up into a ball and disappear.

"I-I didn't mean to," I stammered, "uh..."

His forehead fell on my shoulder. My lungs caved from surprise. A fire nestled in my chest.

"...H-Hiro?"

"I don't think my embarrassment will allow me to face you right now. Tell me when we get to your house."

Unable to ramble on like earlier, we remained that way in the dark car, silent as Asao drove through the night to my house. All the while, face burning, my heart pounded in my chest a lot more irregularly than I would've liked.

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I hope you guys enjoyed this fluffy chapter. Honestly, I haven't reread this story in years so I'm praying that this chapter would ideally fit between chapter 47 & 48,,, but even if it doesn't, it still was a nice enough chapter to not let rot in my drafts haha.

Anyway, I'd appreciate it tons if you guys checked out my book Welcome to Heaven! I'm sure if you liked THC you'd like it too. Clubs, desserts, quirky characters, rivalry, more desserts, a reverse harem... it's quite the fun ride ^^ It's on my profile and I'm almost done it too :)

I'll try to see if I can find more extras to post. Until then, this really is it! <3 Thanks for reading!

—Misty