All that encompassed my vision was spirals as I toddled outside of the greenhouse and into the school courtyard. I exhaled raggedly, willing my thumping heart and legs currently wobbling like jelly, to settle.

I was swooped into an inviting pair of limbs right as they gave in on me. Nori's timing was uncanny. He stabilized me, his suave smirk providing my heart another reason to pound.

"Why so antsy, Angel? You look like you're on the run."

If only this was something I could run from.

Countless issues bubbled to the surface of my mind, and I shouted the first thing that'd temporarily solve the majority of them.

"Hide me!"

"You've been so forward lately." He hauled me by the hips and leaned in until our noses themselves brushed. "Do you have a particular location in mind? I'll go anywhere if it means I can be with you."

Oh, right. This was the type of flirt Nori was. If I didn't drag him by the wrist, this exchange would extend forever.

"Follow me."

Yanking his sleeve, I scanned the premises and utilized a discreet path, zigzagging in the blindsight of other students until finally arriving at a secluded area with no worries for witnesses.

Nori chuckled when I freed him. "What crime have you committed to be so wary indeed."

Confirming once for all that the coast was clear of the villains responsible for the near-collapse of my heart, I peered ahead. Nori had taken a seat on the grass, his lunchbox decked out on his lap.

"Well, during times of strife, sweets come in handy, don't they?" He patted the spot next to him. "I brought some of the castella I baked last night. Share with me."

The mention of cake defenestrated any and all worries from my mind. Parallel to him in an instant, I sparkled like polished jewels. Nori's dessert? Yes, please!

"You'll really let me have some? The whole thing, even?"

"You love my confections that much?"

"Not just confections. Your cooking, too. Everything you make is all so heavenly. I can eat it forever!"

"Forever with you, huh?" The cool zephyr toppled his hair, a fond, small-scale smile curving his lips. "That doesn't sound bad at all. I'm curious, then. How would you rank me in comparison to Koyuki?"

"I love Koyuki's desserts too. His knowledge is limitless. But, after all, in terms of talent, you'd rank higher."

"I'm handsomer as well, correct? C'mon, Angel. Don't hold back on the compliments."

I laughed. When it boiled down to it, maybe Nori was easy to read. He found pleasure in being the centre of attention. Sure he was a womanizer, but he was gentlemanly and courteous. And although he quelled his boredom in flustering ways, deep down, his heart was as gold as his eyes. Even now, I so badly wanted to solve the riddle that constituted him.

"You've participated in countless baking competitions over the years, right?" I found myself asking for small talk. "I remember spotting numerous trophies and ribbons when I visited your house."

"I entered as a mere pastime," he admitted. "I'm glad, however, these skills can prove useful to you now."

"Pastime?"

He hummed. "I've been doing it for years but I can neither say that I like baking nor that I want to pursue it in the future with passion equal to yours. I don't particularly enjoy sweets. I make them to kill time. Similarly, winning competitions doesn't fulfill me in the slightest."

Spotting my blatant astonishment, he wryly snorted.

"Interesting, right? Ryoma from the Cooking Club gave me an earful about it months back. Oh, but I do like getting featured in articles. Means more people can stare at my gorgeous face."

His comedic remark flew above my head.

"Is that why you turned them down when they tried recruiting you? Before I jumped in and—and forced you—"

"I agreed to join myself," he corrected. "Not for a second have I regretted that decision. Not for a instant have I thought being by your side is boring. Like I said, I don't like baking much myself, but—"

"—you enjoy it a little."

His eyebrows skyrocketed.

"I mean," he said, struggling to find the words. "I do think it's therapeutic. Studies have shown it beneficial to stress and positivity."

"You're interested in it then." A wide grin spread back my lips. "Even a little is fine. If you get a thrill out of it and think it's beneficial, albeit little, that means there's room for you to grow to love it."

"But..."

"I get it. Not being passionate about something you're good at. You said it yourself, though. The reason you still haven't let go is because you can't decide whether or not you like it. But if you've been clinging to it so long, I bet deep down something continues to attract you to the process. There's some minuscule part of you that yearns to keep baking. Then, before you undermine this pastime completely, you should confirm that something."

He cracked a smile. "And I should try and grasp that something in your club?"

"It doesn't make sense if the four of us are the only ones who enjoy baking, does it?" I said, matter-of-factly. "What other reason could you have for joining my club?"

"A real, simple one if you ask me." A miniature smile carved his cheeks. "Say 'ah,' Angel."

"Ah!" I giddily complied, closing my eyes and readily anticipating the bite of mouth-watering cake.

I expected the sweetness to catapult me to the moon. Which was why the warmth against my skin ultimately baffled me. My eyelids pressed tighter as the texture of lips on my cheek settled in.

Once the dots aligned, I lurched away, sputtering, a hot spell claiming my complexion. I grappled for words, shielding my cheek beneath my hand.

"Y-you just—"

I was incapable of speaking coherently.

"Sorry. You're so trusting, it's adorable. I couldn't help myself." He laughed. "Even now, all I want is to keep all your loveable reactions to myself. I guess that's impossible, huh? You're terrible, Angel. Making me more and more serious about you every passing second. How will you take responsibility?"

I rapidly batted my eyelids.

"What?" He quirked a playful brow. "Don't tell me you didn't realize, Angel? I love you."

"Miko! Emergency! Help!"

I whipped my neck left and right, tackling Miko in the stairwell she monopolized. Nonchalantly, she comforted me, all the while I nuzzled up to her chest.

"Kotori? What's the matter?"

"I can't deal with surprise attacks anymore!"

"Surprise... attacks?"

"Everyone... All of them like me!"

"Are you just now realizing this?"

"You knew?!"

"I'm sure everybody does. Inside this book and out."

Book?

"I-Including you?"

She chuckled. "I do like you, but not romantically. There's somebody else I like. My older coworker, Hajime."

I coughed hysterically.

"Mr. Handsome?" I shook her. "Since when?"

"A little after I started working in his parents' shop? Please keep this quiet, though. You're bad at keeping secrets so I never told you."

I had an inkling they had something going on, but regardless, I wasn't sure how I felt about her confirming it. Did that mean I had to give her up to him one day? My Miko... being taken by another man...

Hajime Ozaki. I had to do a thorough background check on him.

"You've had boys confess to you before," Miko said, oblivious to my overprotective thoughts. "Many times, actually. And you've never had problems turning them down."

"That's..."

"Surely, if you can't now, you love one of them, right?"

"How about if I love them all? Is dating them all an option?"

"That's... greedy even for you. And it's insensitive to their feelings."

I throttled her into an embrace. "Take me as your wife!"

"So you can run away? You have to respond to them, Kotori."

Chiaki.

Koyuki.

Hayate.

Nori.

Okito.

"I—I can't," I said eventually. "I don't want to hurt them."

"Reject them, then. Plenty of girls reading this will gladly take them on your behalf."

Reading?

"Miko," I rebuked, "my life isn't fictional! I'm not the heroine to some reverse harem storyline!"

She glanced at an invisible camera.

"'Have I ever used my fame to get something for free'? The hearts of all my fans— Oh, 'you must answer seriously'? That was sincere, though, I promise!"

Sonorous laughter pooled from Miko's device, snagging my attention.

"While my life is falling apart you're out here watching a Rin Mizota interview."

"I worked late last night and didn't get to watch it," she defended.

Even Miko, a lover of all things old-fashioned and classical music, was weak to the wiles of teen heartthrob Rin Mizota.

I bet the idol was used to being fawned over by numerous women. With that sexy face and bod, it was no wonder.

I pouted. "Lucky him. He surely isn't tied down to a single girl. He's free to live his days in a delightful harem."

"With the whole country?" Miko remarked. "That's too big of a harem."

I frowned. She intertwined our fingers.

"We're graduating in a few months. Think about the resolution that'll make you happiest. Certainly that's doable. Right?"

Graduation... huh?

***

I've finished this book a few days ago and all that's left is to update, so I'll probably post a chapter or two daily for a while~