Just like that, Chiaki went ahead to grab the ingredients. Without talking much and explaining his actions, he went to work. I fluttered as he moved around, placing watermelon bits as well as lime juice, water and syrup into a blender. Before I could really make sense of everything, it was done. There in two tiny glasses for us was a beautifully made watermelon sorbet, the tangy refreshing scent of lime filling my nostrils.

"Like that," Chiaki said as we both stared at the completed dessert.

I blinked, scrutinizing it further. "Like what?"

Chiaki looked down at me. "You don't understand?"

"Not at all."

He paused, thinking for a long while. Then he caught my attention as he pointed to the blender. "You just... freeze the watermelon."

I nodded. "Yeah."

"And put in some lime juice, water, and syrup."

I nodded on. "Okay."

He twirled his finger. "And blend it."

"All right."

"And wait until it becomes smooth. Then... you scoop it into a cup and eat it."

After the brief post explanation, Chiaki picked up the glasses and handed me one. After scrounging for a piece of cutlery, he gave me that too. Simultaneously, we stuck our spoons into the dessert and brought it to our mouths.

Bliss contorted our features at once.

"It's yummy," I muffled.

Chiaki was on cloud nine as well. "It'd be even better on a hot summer day."

We both let out a sigh of delight then went in for another bite. It was after I swallowed the third did realization hit me. I jerked to my senses.

"Wait!" I said, setting my spoon back into the glass. "It may be good but this isn't what I want!"

He slowly cocked his head. "It isn't?"

My eyes drew to the dessert. When my mouth watered, I scooped up another mouthful. After savouring the taste, I gulped it down and hurriedly shook my head.

"It is," I told him. "It's exactly what I want. But this isn't good enough for the Film Club!"

Chiaki hung the little spoon in his mouth as he sent me the most innocent puppy-eyes. "It isn't?"

"I asked you to help teach me how to make it," I reminded him. "If you make it for me it defeats the purpose. I always watch videos online but that doesn't help me. That's why I need your assistance, Chiaki. Please teach me how to make this from scratch and let me do it this time!"

Lips downturned, he despondently glanced at his cup. "But... I really want to finish this."

My focus drifted to my own. "Me too..." I shovelled another spoonful in my mouth, pausing to heave a euphoric breath. I succumbed. "Okay, you can teach me after we finish eating this."

Chiaki didn't argue. Instead, he brightened and went to eat. The two of us were back to childishly stuffing our faces, pausing to comment on the tastes and remind ourselves just how delicious it was. Thereafter, we went and poured ourselves seconds.

When a cough rang out and filled the room, the two of us froze.

"Of all the people you could've asked to teach you, you had to go and pick Chiaki."

I swivelled toward the doorway. What was waiting to greet me was enough to make my lungs stop working altogether. A loud gasp left my mouth and I jumped to shield the blender.

"Ah! T-T-Tamura, wh-what are you doing here?" I shoved the last couple bites of the dessert into my mouth. "I-I'm not eating any frozen desserts or a-anything."

Koyuki removed himself from the entryway and sauntered into the room, letting out a sigh. "You're not fooling anybody, Teruhashi."

"I-I-It's just your imagination."

"You're literally stuffing your face with watermelon sorbet right in front of me!"

Regardless, I continued to fill my cheeks, stammering, "Wh-what watermelon sorbet? Are you sure you're not j-just dreaming?"

Even though this was the first conversation with Koyuki in a while, he was already fuming. "You..."

"Why am I not surprised?"

The other entity that entered made me gape and nearly drop my cup. "Miko? I thought I ditched you!"

My best friend entered, holding her bag to her shoulder. "You're a terrible liar, Kotori," she assured me. "You never have to pick up Sota from kindergarten so why would I believe you would now?"

I clicked my tongue, setting aside my now empty glass on the counter. "Darn it."

Koyuki groaned, bringing his palm to his forehead. Miko sighed all the same.

"Oh, Ko. You're... here."

Koyuki shifted his unimpressed stare at Chiaki who was still savouring his second cup of watermelon sorbet.

"What made you decide to help her out?"

He hummed. "She treated me to... anmitsu yesterday."

"One measly anmitsu was enough to make you get involved in her shenanigans?" Koyuki shook his head. "Why were you getting anmitsu anyway? Don't you usually make yourself your own frozen desserts?"

"Haya... said that stand had good ones," Chiaki spoke through bites. "So... I wanted to try it."

"Hayate? What's he doing testing frozen desserts?" Koyuki mumbled to himself.

"Tamura, why are you here?" I spoke up, making a face. "If it was to steal our sorbet you're not getting any."

"Didn't... we make it for Ko?" Chiaki pointed out.

A blush crept onto my cheeks. "You're not getting any yet."

"So this was your plan," Miko said. "I thought you gave up?"

"She told me that as well," Koyuki agreed.

Both of their looks were equally as scary and draining. I sweatdropped, losing all existing colour in my complexion.

"I-I might've... changed my mind... a bit?"

They simultaneously shook their heads. I gaped.

"Hey! Stop ganging up on me!" I latched onto Miko's arm, pushing out my lower lip. "Miko, I didn't lie! Yesterday I really did plan on giving up, but..."

"More than that, you wanted to make it up to Tamura," she finished for me. "I know, I know. Save me the dramatics."

"I'm a good person I swear."

"Don't worry. I already explained the situation to Tamura."

I reeled away from her, furrowing my eyebrows. "You... did?"

"I asked her what you were doing after you left the classroom at lunch," Koyuki enlightened me.

"And you betrayed me by telling him?"

Miko forced a smile. "Actually, Tamura already had an idea of what was going on. You were being really loud this morning so I wasn't surprised."

This morning's conversation wafted through my mind and I frowned. I did get called out by Mr. Hanamura, too. Dammit. I couldn't stay discreet for the life in me.

Craning my attention toward Koyuki, my body grew rigid. I ducked behind Miko. At first, I couldn't summon the courage to look at him, but I eventually poked out my head, fingers trembling as I gripped the fabric of Miko's uniform.

"I-I come in peace."

I'd said the only thing I could think of. Which was exactly why it'd taken me off guard when a fit of laughter filled the air. My eyes bulged when I realized the cause was Koyuki. Hands at his abdomen, handsome face brighter than ever, he chuckled—all amusement he'd ever held back from the beginning, pooling out like nobody's business.

He was laughing so hard; a cute one you'd never imagine could belong to him.

The world must have been ending.

"Am I dead?" I had to ask Miko.

"What gives you that conclusion?" she responded.

"Tamura—that moody teenager who's been glaring at me since the day we met—is laughing so hard."

The guy only snickered louder. A tad frightened, I ducked behind Miko. What the heck was going on? Was that an evil cackle? Did I screw up that badly?

"Teruhashi." Rubbing at his eyelid, Koyuki's teeth shone as he properly met my eyes. "I owe you an apology."

My mouth fell. "Me?"

He nodded, setting his hands to his hips. I poked out from behind Miko to listen.

"I admit, I thought wrong about you," he said. "Not that you can blame me. You tackled me, destroyed all ideas of personal space and pestered me like no tomorrow. But what happened on Sunday wasn't your fault. I should've vouched and stood up for you instead of Chiaki, and I feel really bad that I didn't. I couldn't even apologize when you came up to talk to me yesterday. Please forgive me for what happened."

"Seriously, am I dreaming?" I asked.

"Listen to what he says," Miko scolded me. "Tamura has always been so nice but you're the one that brings out the worst in him."

"Tell me about it," Koyuki remarked. "I haven't gotten that fed up in a long time."

"So it's my fault you're a demon?"

His left eyebrow twitched. "Don't call me a demon."

I nodded vigorously.

"Look," he said. "Even if your baking isn't top par, you're a nice person. Your energy may be spontaneous, but I realize you always do things with others in mind. Those cupcakes weren't any different."

My jaw fell slack. Seriously, what was he going on about?

"I was really thinking of ways to make it up to you," he continued, amusement poking into his cheeks. "And especially after hearing from Sakurauchi that you're working to fix things in the Film Club for me despite the way I treated you, it made me feel even more inclined to agree. I now realize there's only one way to make things even between us and have me stop feeling so indebted to you."

"So what you're saying is..." I surged forward, arms spread out. "Koyuki Tamura will be joining the Baking Society!"

Koyuki's palm hit my forehead, halting me in place.

"Hold on," he said.

"Holding," I replied.

He snorted. "Before we start talking about me joining, I have one question for you."

"Which is?"

He removed his hand and met my eyes. "Do you still think the Film Club has a shot? The due date for the contest is in a little over a week."

I tilted my head to the side then grinned like an idiot. "Watermelon sorbet is extremely delicious."

Miko giggled. Koyuki merely shook his head, a semblance of a smile forming his lips.

"I'm not surprised that's your answer." He twisted around. "Chiaki, mind if I help her out, too?"

"Sure..." he replied, shielding an upcoming yawn.

"Then roll up your sleeves," Koyuki told me. "If I'm going to be teaching you alongside Chiaki, I'm going to do it right."

Stars nestled inside my eyes. I was jumping him into a tight hug before I could stop myself.

"Tamura— Koyuki!"

Koyuki wriggled but despite his discomfort, didn't try to rip free. Not that I expected him to, considering just how hard I'd squeezed him.

"First-name basis already?" Sweatdropping, he heaved out a breath. "We seriously need to fix this touchy-feely habit you have going on here."

A small giggle left my mouth as I gave him one final squeeze before pulling apart. I beamed widely, crossing my arms behind my back.

"Sorry," I laughed.

Koyuki folded up the sleeves of his dress shirt as a tittering Miko watched nearby. Chiaki yawned from his position in his bear-spangled apron.

Yesterday, everything around me was so bleak while now it almost felt as if the world itself was glowing. Then again, I guess that was life for you. After the intense lows consisting of reality hitting you with everything it got, the highs were always sure to come.