The first round of the Sweet Treats Competition arrived in no time.

Walking into the building where the competition was taking place was like walking into a new world. Considering it was the main building of one of the biggest culinary schools in Tokyo, it was exceptionally large and extravagant. Every nook and cranny was polished to the point of perfection. Even the floorboards were shiny enough to make out blurry reflections.

"So pretty!" I exclaimed, beaming as I adjusted my bag on my shoulder. "Everything's sparkling! Like another world!"

I darted forward.

"Must explore—"

"Wait." Koyuki yanked me back to his side. "Did you already forget why we're here? We came to bake. Not get ourselves lost."

I bloated my cheeks like a pufferfish. Then childishly flailed my arms. "We still have time don't we? Let me run around! I want to run around!"

"How old are you?!"

"Seventeen."

"Then act like it!"

"Teru."

I pinned my gaze forward. Chiaki stood in front of a tall piece of art. I knocked my neck back, taking in the glorious sight.

Macaroons the size of boulders, all stacked on top of one another in a unique design. There was also a sign pasted onto it, indicating actual macaroons were being passed out a safe distance from here.

I ripped from Koyuki's hold and bounded to Chiaki's side.

"Maybe it's for the participants," I suggested giddily.

"I love this place already."

"You two love anything dessert related," Koyuki mumbled as he sauntered up behind us. "It's like you've forgotten we're the ones who have to bake today."

I glanced over my shoulder. He was fiddling with the collar of his dress shirt, eyes shifting left and right, taking in passing groups donned in various school uniforms. He was the most fidgety I'd seen him. Did spotting our competitors freak him out more than necessary?

A smirk upturned the corners of my lips. I could have fun with this.

In a heartbeat, I stood from my position then creeped up from his blind side. His attention was glued ahead, his head in the clouds. He didn't notice me at all.

Taking that as my chance, I shot out my hands.

He emitted a high-pitched screech of surprise upon contact with his waist.

"T-Teruhashi?" he half-shouted, twisting his torso. "What are you— Hahaha!"

His laughter resounded louder than I anticipated. Although we'd garnered the looks of onlookers, I didn't relent to tickling him senseless.

"St-stop—" he pleaded through breaths.

"Nope," I replied, slyly smirking whilst suppressing his attempts to break free. "Not until you laugh all the nervousness right out of you."

"I-I'm serious," he heaved, the biggest grin slapped across his face.

He wrestled to get my hands off of him but I didn't relent.

"What? You want me to tickle you some more? Sounds good to me."

"T-Teruhashi!"

I found myself giggling before long. Possibly because I hadn't expected Koyuki to be so ticklish. Either way, after enjoying myself to the fullest, I reached for his armpits to deliver the final blow.

I didn't get the opportunity.

In the blink of an eye, Koyuki had seized my arms. He rose them to either side of my head, nose brushing mine. And although his complexion had taken on a flushed hue, his eyes were smouldering, lips caved in an unamused frown.

"I said stop," he huffed, breath fanning my cheeks.

My heart was knocked off beat. It pounded deafeningly in my ears. I couldn't bring myself to breathe either. He was close—too close.

Chiaki stabbed his fingers into Koyuki's sides.

Producing another profound yelp, Koyuki spun around to face him.

"What was that?" he yelled.

Chiaki's countenance had no emotion. He merely wiggled his fingers. "Tickling. To make you laugh."

"You gave me a heart attack, dumbass!" He warily wrapped his arms around his torso, winding backwards. His eyes darted between us. "Leave me alone!"

"Now, now, Ko. This is to get you over your fear of the competition."

"Stay away! And quit moving your fingers like that! I— I'm not scared!"

I placed my palm over my chest, inhaling heavily to calm my racing heart. Koyuki's sudden change in demeanour caught me off guard. He'd also gotten so near.

I needed to tread lighter whenever I teased him. If not, it really wouldn't end well for me.

A pair of beady eyes snagged my focus. I jerked towards the entrance of the building only to spot white tufts of hair poking through.

I cracked a hopeless smile. "He's hiding."

My comment interrupted Chiaki and Koyuki's banter. They turned to identify who I was referring to.

Koyuki automatically sighed. "We haven't seen that pattern of behaviour in a while."

"There're people he doesn't know around," Chiaki explained. "Obviously he's terrified to come out."

I beamed. "Nothing a little laughter can't fix, right?"

Chiaki and me locked eyes. We nodded. Then, arms raised—hands tickle-ready—we barrelled forward.

Koyuki watched in disbelief as we cornered Hayate and chased him relentlessly with the intent to tickle the nerves right out of him. But he was quick and crafty, and dodged all of our advances out of pure fear.

When I finally came to a halt, panting heavily and wiping the sweat between my brow, I hunched over. "I— I don't think he wants to be tickled. Why doesn't he want to be tickled?"

Chiaki was equally exhausted. "I need a break."

"If it's a break you desire, allow Eru to help!"

The unexpectedly cheerful voice startled me. Sauntering toward us with an ear-splitting grin was a familiar face.

My jaw fell. "You—"

Her scream cut me off. "No way! It's Tori! Eru found Tori!"

I was tackled into a hug.

Eyes twinkling, Eru retreated and took my hands into hers. "Yay! Tori is just as beautiful as Eru remembers!"

My eyelids fluttered rapidly, attempting to decipher the current situation.

I craned my neck left when it did. "Koyuki, she called me beautiful."

His eyebrow twitched. "I heard."

"Teru," Chiaki chimed in, "who's..."

"Eru is so, so happy to see Tori!" Reaching into the satchel she had strung across her shoulder, Eru yanked out a widely decorated box filled with an assortment of colourful desserts. "Eru is actually selling macaroons over there. Does Tori want some?"

I had many questions—the most prominent being why she'd be selling desserts when the competition was to commence soon—but when its sickly sweet smell reached my nose, all of them disappeared.

"Yes!" I received the box, buzzing with delight. "Can I really have these?"

"Of course! Take as much as you'd like, Tori!"

There wasn't an ounce of falsehood in her smile. She meant what she said. Part of me couldn't believe she was the same girl who'd insulted me the last time we met. Maybe I'd misheard her. Unlike the rest of the Cooking Club members, Eru was kind and cheerful. She gave me a nickname and even dubbed me a friend.

That's right. There was no reason for me to be so cautious.

Smiling genuinely now, I stared into her eyes.

"You said you were selling these, right?" I said, lifting them to scan the box for a price tag. "How much?"

She brightened. "Oh, a pint of Tori's blood is enough recompense!"

All nonchalance was sucked from the air.

"What?"

Eru released me and tilted her head with a bubblier grin. "Lord Atteru requires sacrificial blood from His subjects every month. But Lord Atteru said Eru's blood isn't enough. So Eru decided to ask others for theirs in exchange for macaroons!"

"Lord... Atteru?" I heard Chiaki murmur.

Eru addressed him with her stunning maroon-coloured eyes before doing the same with Koyuki. She opened her arms as wide as she could.

"If Tori gives Lord Atteru her blood, Eru will give Tori this much sweets! No, this much!" She widened her arms for emphasis. "Throw in two pints and Eru will grace you with Lord Atteru's divination!" Her giggles echoed within the hall. "So? What does Tori say?"

Truthfully, my complexion had blanched to snow. Koyuki and Chiaki were just as speechless.

Until Koyuki finally spat, "A cult?"

"No! No! Atte Island's faith in Lord Atteru is unparalleled to any other religion. If it's to please Lord Atteru, Eru will do anything." She entered Koyuki's vicinity in an instant. Her lips morphed into a broad, ominous smirk as she raised her index finger. Shadows from her bangs cast over her face, leaving a threatening impression. "Also, Eru wouldn't insult Lord Atteru again if she was you. You'll be punished."

The thought of the competition might've scared Koyuki earlier, but that was nothing compared to the degree of fright Eru had instilled in him with only a few words. He inched back, Adam's apple bobbing when he swallowed hard. I'd never seen him so pale.

I was suddenly reminded of the day we went on that Test of Courage field trip, when he told me he wasn't a fan of scary things. Looks like that was true.

Chiaki's hold on my sleeve seized my focus. I twisted his way. He had a finger under his lower lip as he discreetly peered ahead. "Teru, what is that thing?"

He no longer considered her human.

Truthfully, I didn't blame him. Eru Onitsuka could go from cute school girl to dangerous psycho within seconds.

And here I really thought I actually had a chance at being her friend.

"Stupid wench! Stop getting on the good side of our members!"

Before I could pin the shriek to a person, I was tackled. Darting out my arms, I clasped onto Chiaki's arms and saved myself in the nick of time. Jaw-dropped, I swivelled, only to come face to face with a fuming Shiori Aida.

Her purple hair was up and about, uniform unkempt as if she'd run a marathon. She looped her arm through Eru's, glaring daggers into me.

"We're not accepting you into the Cooking Club no matter what you try to pull! Now leave, wench!"

The hairs on the back of my neck bristled. "Wh-who are you calling a 'wench'?"

"Obviously you!"

We both proceeded to hiss at each other like defensive cats.

"Rin!" Eru shouted. Her innocence was back, alongside a signature pout. "Don't be so mean to Tori! Eru approached Tori first!"

Shiori's hawk-like eyes zeroed in on Eru. She shoved her arm aside. "How many times do I have to tell you she's the enemy? She and the rest of her idiotic club isn't worth our time!"

Eru laughed. "But Lord Atteru said it's fine if Eru befriends Tori. And what Lord Atteru says, Eru follows, nyahaha!"

"You—" Shiori grounded her teeth, hard. "This is why I was so against recruiting you! Stupid Ryoma doing as he pleases all the time. Even if you can bake, there's boundaries you can't cross."

"Aida..."

Koyuki was staring at Shiori, but there were no longer any traces of fear residing in his countenance. He set his jaw, narrowing his eyelids darkly. With only her appearance, he'd returned to his senses.

My stomach lurched as I unhanded Chiaki. What was this? Did they know each other?

Sensing our watchful gazes, Shiori swerved from Eru. Her pigtails flowed over her shoulders. With her palm positioned on her hip, her almond-shaped irises pierced into him.

"I did think it was odd when Ryoma told us that wench had formed a club. But if you're one of the members, it's no surprise she had the balls to challenge us." She emitted an airy scoff. "But I'm not sure I understand. After Brother Etsuya's... accident, you made it so clear you were done with baking. What changed your mind?"

Koyuki flinched. He balled his fingers at his side.

My heart dropped in my chest.

Shiori knew about Koyuki's older brother? How? Because they were in the Cooking Club together?

No. It wasn't just that. Those weren't the vibes I was getting. Shiori— she must've known him long before that.

And not only him. Even Chiaki was frozen from shock.

But why? What was going on?

***

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