~Months later~

"Okito, wake up!"

"Stop yanking my blanket. Five more minutes."

He cocooned himself deeper inside his covers. Sighing, I flopped onto my knees and tugged them off. The instant his face was back out in the open, I leaned toward it.

"If we wait five more minutes, we'll be late for the graduation ceremony!"

His arm snaked around my nape. He dragged me onto his pillow, specifically underneath his chin.

"Stop yelling," he mumbled into my hair.

Muscles tense, I ignored my flaming complexion to the best of my ability. "Don't go back to sleep," I pleaded.

His shoulders rose and fell at steady intervals, countenance softened in peaceful mock-slumber.

He'd never been an early riser. Unless I personally visited to drag him out of his house, he frantically raced to get to school in time. In my absence for over a year, who woke him up in my stead? It was difficult to believe it was a result of his own efforts. Surely, it was his parents or younger siblings.

Well, I could sit here admiring his sleeping countenance all I wanted, but today was the one day we couldn't risk dawdling.

"Okito." I prodded his cheek. "Wake up."

"Two more minutes..."

I pursed my mouth. "Today's the day we're officially saying goodbye to the school, you know. You can sleep all you want after the ceremony."

By will of the gods alone, Okito released me. He dragged himself upright, exposing his bare chest—he consistently slept without a t-shirt—then rubbed his eyelid with the knuckle of his hand. As he suppressed a yawn, he drowsily addressed me.

"You have your hair down."

Maybe I should be grateful he noticed it at all. "Aren't you going to drown me in compliments?" I baited. "Oh, Kotori, I do not deserve to hail your beauty so early in the morning. I'll melt."

"You expect me to say something so cheesy?"

"It wouldn't hurt to flatter me every so often."

He hoisted himself up and onto the floor. "Wait for me downstairs."

Cheapskate...

"By the way..."

"Hmm?"

Halting by the entrance of his bedroom, the edges of his lips upturned briefly. "You're beautiful regardless of what hairstyle you wear."

Tingles exploded at the pit of my stomach.

"What're you getting all red for? You requested a compliment, didn't you?"

"I-I'm leaving without you!"

"Kotori?!"

The trees that lined Soetsu High School were clothed in pink. To see the bare branches become so beautifully adorned within a few short weeks lifted my spirits and filled my chest with warmth. Though, as magnificent as it'd be to admire the pink petals raining down in a steady trickle, I was busy trying to catch my breath.

Clutching my diploma to my chest, I raced across the courtyard, zigzagging between my fellow graduates and down the pavement in blurry speed.

Aggrieved, unrelenting footfalls barrelled after me.

"Teruhashi!"

"It was an accident!"

"Yeah right it was!" Koyuki's complexion burned a fiery red. "How could you embarrass me like that in front of the entire school?"

A dead end arrived at the moment I least expected it. I whipped my head in search of a exit but it was too late. He'd cornered me.

"It wasn't the entire school." I maintained a sly smile as I inched back. Koyuki neared, footsteps slow and perturbed. "Merely the students who were in the gymnasium. And the parents and staff. And—"

I barrelled into a partition. Our proximity knocked all the nonchalance out of me.

"You've teased me plenty these last two years, but this takes the cake." He extended a piece of printer paper to my face. "Explain why this was taped onto my back for the entire duration of the commencement ceremony."

'I luv, luv, luv my club president, but not as much as I luuuv my stuffed teddy bear that I snuggle in bed with every night.'

A bead of sweat trickled down my temple. Pursing my mouth and whistling, I avoided eye contact. "What a funny sign. Who put it there? Not me, that's who— ow! Ow. My chweek, Koyuki."

"We'll wait until you remember who wrote it then."

"It was me. Kotori is the culprit. Culprit is I."

I rubbed my face, sniffling like a child. He buried his face into his palm.

"Who told you about this?"

"Chiaki." I situated my hand at my hip. "As your primary teaser, there was no way I could let this information go to waste."

"Let it go to waste! Because of you—because your brain is made of sponge cake itself—I was made into a laughing stock!"

"It's all right, Koyuki. I'm a firm believer of equality." I motioned to the back of my uniform. "Which is why I also pasted an embarrassing sign on myself."

"'Koyuki, I luv you too. Pop the question now and I'll swear to eat your desserts and your desserts alone for the rest of our lives—"

He stopped mid-read, flushing like an apple.

"In what way is that compensating?"

"Friends who are ridiculed together stay together."

His exasperation spurred a good-humoured laugh from me. Even now, the Sweet Treats competition felt like a feverish dream. Since the Baking Society had come out on top, our two clubs merged into one. At the beginning, we argued and butted heads frequently, but before long, the environment grew comfortable. With the help of Okito, we smoothed our major differences and focused on having inexplainable fun with our members and club activities.

Between us third years taking time off to raise our grades and study for entrance exams, graduation had arrived in a flash.

The whole ceremony in the gym, the speeches from our peers, walking the stage and receiving our diplomas... Although we were technically supposed to return to our classrooms to take class photos... Although we had time to spare until the official 'end'... Although it wasn't technically 'over' yet...

Koyuki recoiled when unexpected tears spilled from my eyelids. I hastily brushed them away, much to no avail.

"I-I mean, I am mad but it's because you never think your actions through," he sputtered. "Surely you can't intend to poke fun at me like this forever?"

"I can't?"

"Even if you cutely pout, I won't cave and say 'yes.'"

"But, we're going to the same college. We studied and studied for the entrance exam these last few months so, so 'forever' was guaranteed... So we could make our dream come true together."

His shoulders drooped in defeat.

He wiped my teary eyelids with the pad of his thumb. "Jeez. You drive me crazy. I don't promise forever with just anyone, you know." I found my snivelling self buried in his arms. "Tell me already, Teruhashi. Can I get the wrong idea? Can I... call you mine? It's selfish, getting my hopes up time and time again. How hard do you want me to love you before you're satisfied?"

"Koyuki..."

"And if you look to your right, you'll find the eighteen-year-old who sleeps with a stuffed animal."

Koyuki swivelled on the balls of his feet.

"Chiaki!"

He stood at the forefront, completely unapologetic about interrupting us. The other members of the Baking Society had gathered also.

Eru jumped me and Koyuki into a squeezing embrace. "Tori! Yuyu! Don't leave! Take Eru with you!"

A smile upturned my mouth as I compressed her in return. She was sobbing buckets. "I wish."

"Stop acting unsightly, Onitsuka," Ryoma interjected.

Irrespective of his instruction, she tackled Shiori and Okito as her next targets. Overwhelmed by the emotions, I followed suit, barrelling each and every one of them into their respective hugs, including my fellow third-year graduates.

"Teru, I'm sorry for having to leave you alone with Ko," Chiaki said after we reeled apart. "If he ever blows his top, call me. I'll come running."

"We'll be on the phone every second, then. I rile him up a lot," I laughed.

I faced the boy beside him, who didn't do a superb job of restraining his waterworks.

"Hayate, I'll be counting on you to lead the Baking Society to greater heights next year. As President of the Baking Society, you'll have to carry on my awesome legacy, after all."

Chiaki whistled. "Sounds like a lot of work. Good luck, Haya."

Hayate rubbed his eyelids. "At least cheer me on sincerely."

"To think Hayate's gained enough courage to tackle such a daunting role." Nori folded an arm around my shoulders from behind. "Nevertheless, it's sorrowful that we'll be leaving behind our dearest comrades."

Newfound tears stung my eyes. I throttled him into a second hug. "Nori...!"

"Ah, ah. Please don't cry, Angel." He directed my gaze to his, melancholy of his own brimming in his voice. "You're the one who provided me irreplaceable memories and introduced me to people I'm honoured to call friends. Without you, I wouldn't have grasped why I think so fondly of the culinary arts either. So, in return, no matter how far apart we are, I'll love you. So dearly and irrevocably, nobody else can compare."

His intense sentiments sent shivers up my spine. From the moment we met, from the moment I tripped and ended up in his hold, I'd been transfixed by him in ways I could never outright vocalize. He'd been adamant that baking remain a mere pastime to him, and planned to travel the world a bit to broaden his horizons before settling on a resolute career path. It suited him, frankly, not being bound by norms. Chiaki and Hayate were still going to be within reachable distance as they completed their final year of high school. Okito was attending a different post-secondary to get a degree in medicine. But Nori, I wouldn't see him for who knew how long after next week.

"Having said that." He leaned nearer, softly smiling. "If you were to say the simple words of "I love you," I'll cancel my arrangements and remain with you evermore."

Chiaki petulantly shooed him off. "There's no chance she'll tell you that."

"Never say never," Nori responded. "Me and my Angel have a bond unlike the rest of you."

He pried Nori away from me and to his side, and without a hint of hesitation, said, "When it comes to loving Teru, there's no way I'm inferior. I love her the most—more than all of you combined."

My heart stuttered a full beat.

"That's... impossible," Hayate interjected. Albeit blushing, he neither ran nor hid. "I can't get by without, Kotorin. It's because of her I can tackle whatever life throws at me. I-I want to become someone like that for her too."

"Do you all have no shame?" Kohmi deadpanned.

"Spare me. Please," Shiori gagged. "I'll get a cavity listening to all this sap."

"P-plus Eru can't hold Gou and Yuyu back any longer...!"

Proof to that, she'd dug her heels into the grass to subdue Okito and Koyuki, currently exuding murderous, black miasma.

"At least next year we'll be free from this lunacy," Ryoma huffed. "More importantly, President, we've prepared desserts—"

"Where? Can I have? I want!" I sprung forward, glittering in tremendous awe.

Laughter and sighs erupted alike.

"Let him finish his sentence, Angel," Nori chuckled.

Eru tittered. "Us first and second years put together a party for you guys!"

"It's more of a goodbye party, if anything. Or so I've heard." Kohmi shrugged.

"What good will lying do you?" Ryoma said.

"Yeah! You're the one who suggested it, Mimi!" Eru exclaimed.

A bright blush flitted across her ivory cheeks. She turned the other cheek. "As your empress, I deemed there'd be no harm in spoiling my subjects sometimes. That's all."

Lighthearted conversation propelled from there. It was a scene I'd grown accustomed to at this point.

"I was wondering what the chaos was all about."

"Miko!"

Having retreated to the furthest recesses of the circle, I straightaway noticed her. Her identical graduation ribbon stood out against her blazer.

She looped her arm through mine. "Goodbyes are bittersweet, huh?"

"They are," I said.

"But you do love one of them. Right?"

It was a recent realization. Now that I was officially relinquishing these cheerful days, it'd become painfully clear how greatly I'd miss spending time with him. How wholly he'd taken over my heart without my knowledge.

"Don't keep me in suspense," she prodded. "Who is it? Who do you love?"

"The one I love is... The one I want to be with, always, is..."

—"Teruhashi!"

—"Kotorin."

—"Teru."

—"Angel."

—"Kotori."

"If you don't hurry, we'll finish all the goodies in the clubroom without you."

"Anything but that!!"

I sprinted to their sides, laughing and bantering in a way that left me warm. It was a scene I'd miss terribly. I wanted time to stall so I could enjoy being with them all as long as possible.

My answer could wait until after this party.

—FIN—

***

Sooo, I'm not fond of open endings either haha but since I did lose motivation, my original plan of writing multiple endings sadly has to be postponed to a later date depending if I ever decide to revisit this story (so sorry if you had an OTP and wanted closure).

Having said that, I've written ONE epilogue/ending because my friend also has an OTP for this book and has convinced me to write it for her lolol.

Any guesses on who it is??? Or anyone you personally want it to be?

I'll post it tomorrow! <3