Thunderous applause resounded after the words 'THE END' displayed itself on the back-drop of a large screen. Most belonged to me, and as soon as Koyuki hit the lights when the credits began to roll, I lurched from my seat and bounded up to him.

"That was amazing!" I exclaimed. "Beautiful. Spectacular, even. Was that really me or someone who's just as talented? And did we really film the final scene and edit the entire thing in five days? The transitions, the camera angles; it was like I was watching a professionally made movie. We can make the world a better place with those shots. We can save mankind with that message. Also, can you please tell me if you're really Koyuki Tamura or are just an alien disguised as a film director disguised as him needing an inspiring video to save the universe from galactic enemies—"

"Are you out of breath yet?" Koyuki snorted, raising an amused eyebrow.

I gasped for air for at least seven seconds to inflate my exhausted lungs, but as soon as my diaphragm was working again, I was unable to stop myself from beaming from ear to ear.

"So is that a yes to being an alien?"

"I'm so glad to hear you liked it."

He removed himself from the wall, entering the back room to shut off the film.

"I'm sure he gets the point, Kotori," Miko called out as she started up the stairs from her seat in this theatre room.

"Miko, your composition was out of this world! Are you secretly one of the goddesses of music and have never told me?"

"Why yes, how'd you know?"

"Never has my pathetic existence been graced by such beauty. You are literally the best gift this world has ever seen."

Rolling her eyes, Miko barely stifled a guffaw. "Dork. This is why I love you."

Grinning, I poked my head inside the small room Koyuki was in. "Did you already show this to everybody else?"

I really was rambling like there was no tomorrow. And maybe I was exaggerating a bit too much. But the film was just too good for something that was finished a few days ago. I still couldn't believe I was apart of it.

"We gathered them in here this morning," Koyuki explained as he stepped outside. "Sumio and I sent it in a minute to the deadline last night. It was so stressful, but here the final product is. Officially done and over with."

I whistled, placing my hands to the sides of my mouth. "And what a masterpiece it was! Koyuki Tamura, a genius at both filming and baking! Tell the world the secret to your success!"

Koyuki chuckled, the corners of his eyelids crinkling as he did. "You're way too energized today and it's weirding me out."

"I agree," Miko said. "Even this morning when Gouda turned you down for your cookies you weren't angry. Why?"

Their inquiry only allowed my exhilaration to reach new heights.

"Because now that everything is finished and I'm back to my regular sleep schedule," I drawled, hopping up to Koyuki and throwing my arms toward him, "I have secured my very first club member! The Baking Society is finally underway!"

Koyuki mussed his hair, releasing a heavy breath. "Yeah, yeah. I know what I promised. I'll help you out with whatever you want until we graduate."

His submission consumed me with newfound excitement. It was finally happening! Koyuki was mine to use!

Amidst my cheers, Koyuki's gaze flickered over to the seats, primarily at the brown-haired boy currently snoozing away.

"I can't believe Chiaki fell asleep at the beginning of the film," Miko said.

"Tell me about it," I agreed, resting my hands on my hips. "I was so breathtaking I could watch myself act forever."

She shook her head.

Koyuki took the time to make his way toward him. He leaned over and jostled his shoulder. "Chiaki, wake up. It's time to go home."

After rocking his shoulder for a while longer, the boy finally stirred from his sleep. His eyelids slowly parted, eyelashes faintly batting against his cheeks when he blinked. He carefully helped himself up, sluggishly going to rub his eyes. His grogginess as his eyelids kept unintentionally shutting and opening was on par to a child's, and his pout was enough to make anyone's heart melt.

"Come on."

Koyuki nudged him one last time before making his way back to Miko and I. Chiaki eventually picked himself up. While squinting at the light, he toddled his way toward us as well.

"Is the... film already over?"

Koyuki set his hand to his side. "A long time ago. You're seriously so out of it all the time."

This wasn't the first time I'd seen Koyuki reprimanding him. It was almost he was a guardian figure to Chiaki, always looking out for the guy.

My mouth curving upwards, I crossed my arms behind my back.

"Guys," I said, skipping closer to them. "As members of the Baking Society, we need to figure out what our next move should be. Any suggestions?"

Koyuki craned his neck down to me, a dubious frown framing his lips. Chiaki's reaction was more lethargic as if proving his wear.

"Aren't you jumping to conclusions?" Koyuki brought up, piquing my confusion. "Chiaki didn't say anything about joining your club."

I froze, eyebrows elevating on my forehead. Shoot.

I hopped over to the guy. "Chiaki, do you mind joining the Baking Society with Koyuki and me?"

Koyuki's mouth fell in disbelief. "Do you think it'd be that easy? It's a club that doesn't exist yet so why would he ever waste his time—"

"Sure."

Dramatic sparkles filled my eyes.

"Chiaki!" Koyuki shouted.

But the guy was still pouting as he dropped his hands to his sides.

"If... Ko is in it, I'll join."

I threw my hands into the air. "Yay! We're up to three members!"

Koyuki face-palmed.

Miko laughed. "You two sure are so close. Have you known each other your whole lives?"

"Since middle school," Koyuki replied to her. "We were in the Cooking Club together."

Suddenly eager, Chiaki stepped in. "Ko made me a pudding popsicle one day. It was so good."

Koyuki waved him off. "Ever since the day I told him he could make his own frozen desserts, that's all he's ever cared to make. I mean, he is good at it so I can't exactly complain, but—"

"—he's been stuck to you ever since," Miko finished for him. "You two even joined the Film Club together."

Koyuki nodded and spared him a look. "Outside of cold desserts, Chiaki's way too air-headed to do his own thing."

"That's because Ko needs me."

"Isn't it the other way around?"

Miko and I glanced at one another, mouthing 'they're so cute' in unison. Upon seeing that, Koyuki knitted his eyebrows in confusion, but I hurried to raise a hand.

"Koyuki, if you two were in the Cooking Club together, why did you quit? You've been attending Soetsu since middle school so you could've continued it in high school couldn't you? Does it have to do with why you said you stopped baking?"

The rumour Miko told me ran through my mind—the one about him quitting during his first year of high school. It'd make sense if he took up the Film Club as soon as his first year began, but he didn't. He chose the Cooking Club and then quit. Considering his talent at baking and him once mentioning wanting to become a pastry chef, there had to be a reason.

There was absolute stillness as soon as I'd asked the question. Koyuki lost all remaining nonchalance in his features, and even Chiaki from beside him had been jolted awake as well. It became obvious rather swiftly that I'd asked a forbidden thing; inched outside the border he'd intentionally drawn between us the first day we met.

The quiet pressed onward with every expelled breath until I finally caved.

"Koyu—"

"What's going on here?"

The voice was like a newfound surge of fresh air. The charged tension lingering around us disappeared as all eyes shifted to the doorway. Upon sight of the tall man with a pair of glasses rested on his nose and a stack of documents in hand, I brightened immensely.

"Mr. Hanamura!" I called out, waving. "Look, I've got more members for my club!"

My homeroom teacher peered past his lengthy brown bags to take in Koyuki and Chiaki.

"That's unexpected," he eventually said. "Did she bribe you guys?"

"How'd you know?" Koyuki responded.

I scowled, gently whacking his arm. He was back to his senses all right. Was that whole silence bit just a farce?

"It was a deal, thank you very much," I said sourly. "Why would you assume that'd be the only way people would join?"

"You did bring up the idea, but it was a little too unbelievable," Mr. Hanamura defended, a good-natured smile in place. "Well, congratulations. You're getting closer to your goal."

"I'd be even closer if you agreed to finally become our club supervisor."

He repositioned the mountain of papers on his arms. "I'm sure I already told you I'm too busy coaching the basketball team."

"Is there any way you'd reconsider?"

I put on my best pout. He hummed and scanned each of us over. "A baking club is what you said, correct?"

"Yup!"

"Then, a birthday cake."

I blinked rapidly. "Huh?"

"My daughter's seventh birthday is coming up. February 26th," he explained. "If you can bake a cake big and grand enough to make her and her friends happy, I'll consider being your supervisor once you have five members."

Excitement seized me by the shoulders. I clasped my hands together. "Really? We'll do it! Please let us bake your daughter a cake!"

"Hold on. Why is our future club president already making decisions for us?" Koyuki demanded.

Chiaki wasn't listening. "Birthday cake sounds delicious..."

Mr. Hanamura chortled. "Just so you know, do not include any means of nuts. One of her friends may have an allergy. Also, she loves princesses. Good luck!"

He bid us a wave then made his way out of the room and down the hall. Upon his departure, I was leaping up and down, elatedly beaming from ear to ear.

"Our first request!"

"Your first unofficial request," Miko corrected.

"Who cares! Our club is in reach!"

I danced and twirled around like a ballerina on show night. Though I could accept a smiling Miko's quiet, I couldn't fathom why the others weren't saying anything. I swerved toward them.

"Hey, why are you both so silent? Let's do our best!" I fist-pumped. "Hip-hip hurray it up! Come on, hip-hip..."

"Hurray," Koyuki complied, utterly deadpanned.

"Not enough vigour," I scolded, doing another for emphasis. "Now, hip-hip..."

Chiaki this time threw his arm into the air, letting out a lethargic yawn. "Hur...ray...!"

I set my hands to my hips, expression contorting from displeasure. "We're going to have to work on this."

Koyuki placed a finger underneath his chin. "If we're going to be working on a princess-themed birthday cake, that requires a lot of decorations."

I jutted my chin. "You have nothing to fear. Even if not baking, you can have some faith in my artistic skills."

"Don't you think this is the perfect job for Hayate?"

Koyuki's focus was entirely fixed on Chiaki. My composure slipped.

"Ignoring me?" I made a face. "At least look like you believed my lie. It hurts."

"Haya... does like decorating," Chiaki agreed. None of them were paying me any mind anymore—a huge hit to my ego. "He came up and made the designs for the film's costumes."

"You took the credit but he did most of the work, I know," Koyuki said. "Not only is Hayate creative, but he's really good with his hands."

My ears perked and I was hurtling toward Koyuki before I realized it. "Good with his hands? Why? Who is this 'Hayate' you're talking about? Can he bake?"

Koyuki fumbled backward, but I'd already breached his vicinity beyond repair. Eyes widening to the point of saucers, Koyuki straightaway knew he'd lost the moment he saw just how much the idea piqued me with delight.

"Why is your curiosity already acting up?" he demanded.

"So? So?" On my tippy-toes, the distance between our bodies little, I moved even closer to his face. "Who is he?"

Koyuki craned his neck in another direction, shutting his eyes and keeping me as far away as he could. "Sakurauchi, save me!"

"When she gets like this that's impossible, sorry," she giggled.

"Teruhashi, give me space!"

But I wasn't listening. "I did think it was strange someone like Chiaki made costumes that good. But if it was someone you of all people compliment, he must be insanely talented! Say, was he apart of the Cooking Club at one point, too? Do you think he'll join my club?"

Our minimal distance eventually got the guy to reel away, extending his palms. I stopped in place, blinking slowly. Koyuki's countenance was filled with discomfort.

"Even if I do tell you who he is," he said slowly, "you can't just pester him like you did for me."

"Why not? It got you to join."

He knew I'd proven a point. "Hayate doesn't like getting involved with others. So even if you tried to attract his attention, he'll ignore you."

So he was shy? "What does he look like?"

"Are you even listening to what I'm saying? He won't join your club even if it was the last one on earth."

I skipped over to my other option, folding my arms behind my back. "Chiaki, what does he look like?"

"You..."

It was after I reached his side and he placed a finger to his mouth to contemplate the question, I became exposed to the entrance of the theatre room. Somehow, when I spotted someone's head poking through, similar to these past couple of days, I could only discreetly stare right back as Chiaki started talking.

"He has white hair... like vanilla ice cream..."

I nodded, eyes glued to the white strands at the door.

"Blue eyes like blueberry popsicles... Glasses..."

I hummed. I couldn't quite discern their eye colour, but glasses were a sure check.

"He's really shy... and rarely talks," Chiaki went on. "Oh... and he has a habit of crouching at doors... and poking out his head to observe others. He's like one of those arcade games where you don't know when and where he'll pop up."

It was as if the guy was reading my mind, but with it, I didn't hesitate. I dashed toward the entrance of the theatre room, dropping into a crouch before the boy sticking his head inside could dodge.

"Hello, Hayate," I said, grinning from ear to ear. "Would you like to join my club?"

Shocked gasps erupted in the room.

"Hayate?" I'd heard Koyuki shout.

"Haya," Chiaki went on, proving my hunch was right.

"That's Hayate?" Miko mumbled.

I focused on the small boy's irises. Definitely blue—a bright shade. My smile curved up even higher. It was him.

Nonetheless, he gawked at me. Not uttering a single word, redness slipped onto his cheeks, enveloping his face like a wildfire. He peeled his fingers from the doorframe, backing away as slowly as possible.

By the time I'd realized his intentions, his head was already gone.

"Wait!"

I lurched to my feet and rounded outside, but the boy's back was the only thing I could see as he dashed like his life depended on it down the empty hall.

My lips parted in shock.

"He probably got curious of what you were up to, Chiaki," Koyuki reasoned.

"Oh... maybe," Chiaki agreed.

"Teruhashi," Koyuki then called out. "This is exactly what we were telling you. There's no getting through to Hayate with his personality so you might as well—"

"He's joining my club."

A beat of silence passed through the room.

"Huh?" Koyuki finally asked.

"He's joining my club," I reiterated. I couldn't stop the sparkles from filling my eyes as I dashed for my bag. After slinging it across my shoulder, I was already making a break for the hall. "Hayate, wait for me! I have something important to ask you!"

"But you haven't even seen him bake yet—"

Koyuki's words were already a muffle in my ears. The wind hit my skin, blocking out the tiniest sounds to indicate my furious speed. I was dashing with all my might, scanning my surroundings like mad for this bashful boy.

A broad smirk upturned my mouth.

Four official members to the club here I come.

***

Vote & Comment!