"Miko! I'm such an idiot!"

I tackled my best friend into a hug the moment I saw her trotting towards the school gates. Miko stumbled for a moment, lips twisting wryly as she came to a halt.

"And?" she said.

Tears stung the corners of my eyes. "At least deny it."

With a sigh, she brushed my arms off her, readjusting her bag strap on her shoulder. "You're the one who tackled me first thing of a new school year to say something like that. I think my answer was nice enough as is."

I made a face. Her amusement didn't falter in the slightest.

"It's not the end of the world. You still have a month."

"I know, but..."

"The Baking Society is way better than the Cooking Club. You'll upstage them; make them regret looking down on you. Wasn't that your goal from the beginning?"

Miko plastered on her typical smile. It was so blinding and sweet that it melted my heart into a puddle. My lower lip quivering, I jumped her into another embrace.

"Miko," I cried, squeezing her tight. "Thank you for always believing in me."

She tittered, rubbing circles into my back to calm me down. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?"

"I know. I love you so much. Please take me as your wife."

Even without seeing her face, I knew she'd lost all emotions.

"Kotori, don't joke about that. People are staring."

"Are they like that?"

"They're so bold."

I reeled away, batting my eyelashes. My dramatic wails had ceased but the looks and whispers from onlookers continued to eat at me. Meeting her warm brown eyes, I took her hand in mine. "Let them stare. We're not hiding anything."

Her eyebrow twitched. I was smacked at the top of my head without hesitation.

"Ouch!" I cried.

I lurched back in a heartbeat, clenching the spot. Regardless, Miko's taped her mouth upwards. This time, her grin was anything but kind. It was forged, and seeped unbelievable malice.

"Now that you're properly awake, could I ask you to repeat what you said? I couldn't really hear you."

A bead of sweat trickled down my temple.

I'd gotten her angry.

"J-just that I can't go feeling blue when I'm the one who made things come to this. We'll turn my words into a reality no matter what."

Miko's hostility lessened. "That's the spirit."

I returned a sincere grin. "But before I accomplish that, first things first. I've gotta—"

"—find a fifth member, right?"

I shook my head. "Tell the others."

"You didn't—"

"I know." Scratching the back of my head, I sheepishly laughed. "I managed to keep it a secret from Chiaki and Hayate that day, but... Koyuki's so going to kill me."

"Kotori..." Hand to her hip, Miko's lips wilted in disappointment. "You worry me way too much."

"I'm well aware, bestie."

Arms crossed behind my back, I emitted another airy chuckle before scanning the perimeter. It was across the street, passing through the front gates, that I saw him. Brightening like a light, I gasped.

I took off in an instant.

"Koyuki!"

Jolting at the call, he came to a standstill, tilting his head. Right before he could properly spin around, I barrelled into a hug him from behind.

"Found you!" Giggling, I lifted my face from his salmon coloured vest. "Good morning, Vice Prez!"

"T-Teruhashi!"

"'Tis me," I beamed.

It was then that it dawned on me just how red his complexion had gotten. I'd never seen such a reaction. Usually I had to tease him to bring on such a bright apple coloured blush, but today all it'd taken was physical contact.

Or maybe it was the countless bystanders gasping at us, whispering something about PDA.

Nevertheless, I retrieved my arms and inched a step back. "Sorry. You've been avoiding me lately so it felt like if I didn't grab you, you'd run off."

Koyuki veered his attention elsewhere while he rose his collar to fan himself. "Who said I'm avoiding you?"

Setting my palms to my sides, I narrowed my eyes. "You're the one who didn't come to that event with me, Chiaki, and Hayate."

"I was busy."

"How busy do you have to be to turn down free desserts? It's suspicious."

He sweltered even more. I rounded to get a better look at him but he completely dodged me by turning around.

If he wasn't avoiding me, then...

"Is it Chiaki? Did you get into a fight with him?"

He moved away. "Of course not."

"Hayate then?" I burst onto my tippy-toes. "But he's such a cinnamon roll—"

"I didn't fight with anybody!" His sudden outburst stunned me. Moreover, when he clasped my shoulders and shoved me, still hopelessly red. "Stop getting so close to me already. I can't handle it."

Wide-eyed, I steadied myself before I could fall. "Sorry...?"

Covering his blush, he turned and walked off.

Confusion wheedled through me.

Miko tapped my arm, bringing me to my senses. "Is something wrong with Tamura?"

I adjusted my bag before falling into step with her. Although my mouth met in a purse, I never stopped staring at his broad figure ahead.

"I don't know," I confessed. "I was simply asking him why he was avoiding me but he got so flustered. And he was super red." Gasping, I twisted her way in eureka. "Do you think he's sick? Is that why he "couldn't handle" me being too close?"

Miko's gaze flickered to and fro Koyuki and me before a broad smile poked into her cheeks. "'Sick', huh? The poor guy must have it bad then. You're merciless, Kotori."

My eyebrows surged together. I waited for a correction, but none came.

"Are you implying he's sick... because of me?" I gasped. But I wasn't ill lately. Don't tell me I was carrying something and passed it on to him? But the last time I saw him was... My jaw fell. "Is it from the trip?"

She merely giggled. I wanted to prod her to elaborate but she cut me off my looping her arm through mine. "I wonder what class we're in."

I made a face of disapproval then sighed. Quickening my pace, I dragged her up to Koyuki. We fell into step, but he didn't openly reject me like before. Thank goodness. Maybe it wasn't too serious after all.

"I hope it's 3–B," I told her. "It's close to the cafeteria. Plus Ms. Juichi teaches homeroom."

Miko hummed. "That's true. Then let's hurry and find seats towards the back of the room before it gets full."

Koyuki cast us a dubious side-eye. "You guys are totally talking as if you'll be in the same class."

"Why wouldn't we?" Miko demanded before I could. "Kotori won't be able to live without me."

I nodded vehemently. "And Miko without me. There's no way the school system is strong enough to sever the bonds between me and my goddess!"

Digging his hands into his pockets, he primmed his mouth. "So all you need is Sakurauchi in your class? Anybody else is fair game?"

"Don't say something so sad!" I cried, slipping my arm through his alongside Miko's. "I need you by my side too, Koyuki! You and Miko. If I don't have you both I won't be able to live!"

In the blink of an eye, Koyuki had flushed like a tomato. Lips pressed firmly, he struggled to keep his composure together. He blushed in silence, amber eyes bulged, unable to even respond.

"Koyuki?" I questioned.

Miko tittered. "Kotori, have at least some tact for Tamura's heart."

"His... heart?"

"It was definitely a critical hit."

"S-Sakurauchi!" Koyuki warned.

But Miko only laughed harder. I glanced between them. Koyuki, a hand to his chest, merely frowned and looked away.

He really was acting strange. Was he remembering his brother again? Maybe I should check in with him when we were alone, just in case...

"Teru."

I swerved in the direction of the call. "Oh, Chiaki. Good morning!"

"'Mor...ning," he said once he arrived.

Per usual, he had his one-shouldered backpack strapped overtop of his dishevelled uniform. He even pinned up his bangs like he typically did. But what stuck out like a sore thumb was the insurmountable amount of bags beneath his eyelids.

I gasped, bending forward for a closer peek. "What happened? Didn't get any sleep?"

His chubby cheeks puffed further as he shook his head. He groggily rubbed at his eyes. "I... was trying to figure out how to make a dessert all break. I finally got a batch right last night."

"A dessert?" Miko interjected. "What kind?"

"Don't tell me you stayed up consecutive nights again," Koyuki huffed.

I faced him. "Again?"

"It takes a lot to get Chiaki motivated enough to bake on his own. But when something does catch his interests, he disregards everything around him, even sacrifices hunger and sleep, to get it done. He won't rest until the finished treat is in his belly, and it's a satisfying one at that."

Somehow, the idea was difficult to digest. Chiaki, putting effort into something? Sure if it concerned frozen desserts, the guy would willingly run to the ends of the earth and back to receive one. But the Chiaki I knew wouldn't forfeit his easygoing lifestyle to desperately bake a dessert he could easily buy.

"Oh, Ko. You're here." Chiaki blinked, as if suddenly noticing his presence. Shielding another yawn, he slowly peered downwards. "Saku, too."

Miko beamed, clearly overjoyed by the nickname.

I, on the other hand, waved to get his attention. "Don't keep us in suspense! What kind of dessert did you make? It must be amazing if you worked so hard on it!"

Least to my expectations, a tender smile upturned the corners of his mouth. Although I hadn't expected it, my heart skipped a beat.

No matter how many times I saw the expression, it always caught me off guard. Chiaki was such a child-like spirit. Constantly speaking lethargically, as if mulling over each and every word he said. He even had the habit of pouting in virtually any situation. But his smiles were so far off from that. Not only were they extremely genuine, but they made him so much more handsome.

"It's... a secret," he finally told me.

I fluttered my eyelashes. Then pursed my lips. "Aw, c'mon. You can tell me about it. Just a bit—"

A tug on my sleeve seized my focus. I craned my neck towards Koyuki in confusion.

"Say..." He scuffed his feet, evidently bashful. "Do you... still need a job? My mom runs an arts and craft store, and I talked to her—"

"Oh, no. I'm good."

His mouth fell. "But— Why?"

"I actually got hired." Grinning, I seized Chiaki's wrist. "Meet the grandson of my employers."

Chiaki quizzically peered up at us. Koyuki gawked, the gears in his mind shifting swiftly to make sense of it.

"You work at Chiaki's grandparents' shop?"

"Yup." I smiled at the guy. "I came in for an interview and his grandmother instantly fell for me. Now that my mom's happy and I have a job, the two of us will be spending a lot more time together. Isn't that great?"

Koyuki scowled at him, hard. It wasn't a reaction I anticipated, so it garnered a bit of my bewilderment. Chiaki, however, was completely unfazed.

"Since when?" Koyuki demanded. "I thought the only thing you cared about was sleep and cold desserts."

Chiaki pouted. "I care about other things too. Especially Teru. I have for a while now."

Koyuki's jaw fell. "You seriously like—"

"That aside, it's your fault," he said, petulantly. "You took too long to offer your parents' shop to Teru."

"That's— I didn't realize—"

Chiaki rested his chin on top of my head and possessively wrapped his arms around my neck. "So now that you're out of the picture, Teru and I will spend lots... and lots of time together. Right?"

Although their exchange bewildered me, I happily said, "right," whilst stretching out the word the way he did.

Koyuki childishly puffed his cheeks. It was cute enough to make me giggle. Was he jealous?

"Don't worry," I told him. "Chiaki's kidding about you being completely out of the picture. I'll always be sure to leave some room for you on my days off."

"I'm just a rebound?" he demanded.

Miko patted his arm. "Don't mind it, Tamura. You'll climb the ladder into her heart eventually."

"You think?"

"Good morning, K-Kotorin."

I shifted my gaze only to find another one of my dearest friends. Peeling out of Chiaki's hold and allowing him and Koyuki to continue their staredown, I scampered off to join him.

"'Morning, Hayate!" My vision was immediately directed to the top of his head. Specifically, the cowlick sticking out from amidst his lengthy strands. "You have a little bedhead."

A newfound blush coloured his pale cheeks as he slapped his headtop. "I-I do?"

I tittered as I watched him flatten all the corresponding wisps of hair except the actual target. Then, pushing to the tips of my toes, I reached out to pat it down myself. "Not there," I chuckled. "Here."

Beneath his bangs hovering over his glasses, I could faintly spot his cheeks flush. "Th-thank you."

"You're most welcome." I dug into my bag. "Oh, that reminds me. Here!"

He paused blankly before taking the magazine in hand. "This is... Royal Sweets."

"You lent it to me since I couldn't buy the newest addition, remember? Ah, I loved it so much! Each chapter just keeps getting better. I can't even imagine how epic the next chapter will be when the cook-off continues."

His blue eyes locked with mine, and he moved his mouth, wordless for a while, before stammering, "Do y-you think Princess Hanna will win?"

"She has to! Or else I'll honestly cry." I sucked in a thrilled breath. "Agh, I need the next chapter now. But I'm worried I'll sleep in like I did last week and lose my chance to buy it."

Hayate bit his lower lip, hard. Then, after what felt like centuries of him timidly fiddling with his bangs, he blurted, "Want to stand in line for the magazine together?"

My eyebrows shot up. Seeing that, he vigorously waved his hands.

"S-sorry! I'm getting ahead of myself. There's no way you'd want to spend time with me outside of school, especially because of a manga—"

"Let's go."

"Huh?"

"Stand in line together!" I said, taking his hand in mine. "Can we? It'll make me extremely happy!"

Exactly like the first time I'd ever seen him so happy, a smile swallowed the bottom half of his face, leaving me dazzled. "R-really? You'd... really want to go with me?"

Warmth enveloped my cheeks as I grinned all the same. Seriously, how could someone be so timid and yet so adorable? "Of course! Oh, but I actually might sleep in so you should swing by my house to make sure I wake up. Just come over and we'll go together from there."

"Hey." Before I realized it, both Koyuki had intercepted us. Deadpanned, he sent us wary look. "Why are you two making plans to be alone? And... 'Kotorin'?"

Even Chiaki had taken part in keeping Hayate away. "Haya has been a lot less awkward around Teru lately. He even gave her such a cute nickname."

"I mean," I said, "we are close. Isn't it normal to be on a first name or nickname basis?"

Koyuki turned to me. "We're not on first name or nickname basis."

I brightened. "What? You want to call me by my first name, Koyuki?"

His complexion tinged. "I mean, uh— I—"

With utter stars in my eyes, I invaded his personal space.

This entire time, I thought he didn't consider us to be that close. But if he did. If he really did...

He bashfully glanced elsewhere. "Why are you getting so excited? Do you want me to say it that badly?"

"Yes!"

My enthusiasm caused him to flinch.

He fidgeted. Shifted his weight from foot to foot before finally meeting my eyes. He swallowed hard. "K..."

I thought he was going to do it. Heat even blossomed across my face in anticipation. But, of course, Koyuki being Koyuki, caved soon enough. He hastily spun around and grasped at his chest yet again.

"O-of course I can't call you by your first name," he sputtered. "It's too embarrassing."

"Wimp," Chiaki deadpanned.

Koyuki instantly scowled at him. He pulled him into a headlock, grinding his fist into his temple. Chiaki struggled for freedom, emitting cries of pain, all the while Hayate stood nearby, blinking innocently, as if from confusion.

Honestly, though, I was in the same boat. He didn't have to take me so seriously.

I gently massaged my definitely flushed cheeks.

Darn it. Just because he did, he went and made me all flustered.

Miko giggled uncontrollably from where she was. "Kotori must be special, huh?"

"Special?" I parroted, swivelling her way.

She simply waved me off.

"Teruhashi! There you are!"

Upon spotting my previous homeroom teacher barrelling across the school courtyard, I tilted my head to the side. "Mr. Hanamura? What's up?"

"I should be asking you that!"

He was out of breath, hunched over and breathing heavily once he arrived. Clearly, he didn't get much exercise.

Readjusting his glasses frames, Mr. Hanamura faced me, frazzled. "What did you do?"

My blood curdled.

Oh no.

"What happened?" Koyuki asked.

The others took their spots beside me.

"The Cooking Club," he stammered, frenziedly retrieving a sheet from his blazer, "they stopped by the staffroom asking about the Baking Society to deliver this."

Koyuki accepted the sheet before I could dare snatch it for myself. I watched in horror as he scanned it over, Chiaki and Miko also reading it from over his shoulder. Hayate poked his head around, but didn't attempt squeezing in too close.

But there was no denying what it was. It was a flier—all about the Sweet Treats Competition—doused in red ink.

Overtop an image of a beautiful chestnut trifle, only one sentence was legible: DON'T YOU DARE RUN.

"Teruhashi," Koyuki enunciated.

A chill darted up my spine. All eyes landed on me, pressing for answers.

I gulped hard, elevating my arms to protect myself. "I-I can explain!"

***

This chapter will forever be a favourite of mine, haha. It's cute seeing our boys protective/jealous over our oblivious MC.

Anyway, I posted an important author's note in the previous part, so if you haven't checked it out yet, be sure to! I even posted some aesthetics for the Cooking Club members like I did for our main characters in Part One. They may not be the best, but I tried and that's all that matters x)

Thanks for reading! <3