Iroha smiled, approached, and sat beside him.
"What did you make today?" Akira asked, eyeing the lunch box.
"Senpai, take a guess," Iroha said with a smile.
"..I can't guess. Just reveal it," Akira said, shaking his head.
"Senpai, you're so perfunctory," Iroha pouted and opened the lunch box.
There was spicy tofu inside.
"Kouhai, spicy tofu are food that should be served with rice, you know," Akira Fujimiya said, looking at it.
"...The rice was made into egg fried rice by our club senpai," Isshiki Iroha said weakly.
Akira didn't comment further and picked up his chopsticks from Iroha's hand.
He tasted a piece of spicy tofu and was slightly stunned at the taste.
"This flavor… it's a little different from what we have here," he muttered.
"Senpai, I specifically asked my brother about this secret recipe, and he told me about it," Isshiki Iroha said, smiling when she noticed Akira's expression.
"...Could your brother be one of the Ten Greatest Talents of Totsuki?" Akira suddenly thought of someone.
"...Does Senpai actually knows my brother?" Isshiki Iroha asked in mild surprise.
"Satoshi Isshiki, one of the Ten Greatest Talents of Totsuki?" Akira continued, still eating the tofu, he want to confirmed if his guessed was correct or wrong.
Isshiki Iroha nodded slowly, still confused and intrigued as to when they both might have meet.
Akira thought of Satoshi Isshiki from the Anime:- Food War.
He had to admit, Satoshi Isshiki was quite eye-catching. He was handsome, though his choose of outfit… well, lets say it was very distinctive.
"Senpai..since you know my brother, would you like to meet him? I can ask him to prepare a meal for you again. The dishes from the Ten Great Masters of Totsuki are delicious!" Isshiki Iroha blinked, as she asked—her voice louder than before.
"Let's talk about it when there's a chance,"
Akira declined lightly. He didn't want his eyes to be dazzled.
.....
At sunset, Ebina Hina and Nishimiya Shouko returned to Sobu High School. Hina had arranged to leave together with Miura Yumiko.
While, Shouko brought something for Akira.
The two girls stepped outside the tennis court already knowing that Akira was their by his message, they were soon noticed by Isshiki Iroha.
Isshiki Iroha, seeing them, stood up and started to leave.
Akira simply reached out and pulled her gently into his arms before she could leave.
Isshiki Iroha froze for a moment, looking at him.
"Kouhai, are you not going to spend some time woth your Senpai," Akira said lightly.
"Senpai, aren't you and Senior Nishimiya…" Isshiki Iroha guessed.
"....I want to keep some distance from her for sometime and also let her see my bad side," Akira replied.
"Why?" Isshiki Iroha asked, confused.
"If I keep being nice to her, she'll become dependent on me. And also because she is still a little confused..."
"Senpai, do you mean...you want Nishimiya-san to see your worst side and then make her choice of what she should do?" Isshiki Caiyu asked.
Akira nodded — the meaning was essentially the same.
Just as they were talking, Nishimiya Shouko had already approached.
She didn't say anything about him and Iroha staying so closed and simply gave the bag to Akira.
Akira didn't say anything as he took it and open it, he saw the fried chicken nuggets and desserts packed box inside, and began taking them out.
He opened the box, picked up a piece, and handed it to Isshiki Iroha.
Isshiki Iroha glanced at Nishimiya Shouko.
Shouko glanced back smiled warmly at her. It was a kind smile, and seeing it, Isshiki Iroha felt slightly guilty for a moment.
Shouko probably didn't understand the subtle meaning behind Akira's gesture; she simply thought he was letting Isshiki Iroha to try some first before eating it himself.
After finishing the fried chicken, Isshiki Iroha stood up.
"Sensei, I'm leaving first."
Akira didn't stop her this time, as he turned to looked at Shouko still standing.
Shouko, noticing Iroha leaving, signed to Akira, asking if she had disturbed him and Isshiki Iroha.
Akira sighed back and motioned for her to sit down beside her.
Shouko complied.
As he picked up the fried chicken nuggets and fed her.
Shouko shook her head and signed that she had bought them for him and didn't intend to eat.
Akira didn't move away, his fingers not moving, watching her quietly. Seeing his expression, Shouko realized that she moght have been rude to reject his kind intention.
She signed apologetically and slowly ate the nugget from his fingers.
Akira didn't feed her a second piece but began eating himself, watching the three people in the field—Hachiman, Hayama, Saika.
When he finished, Shouko quietly pulled out the tissue and handed him.
Akira stretched his hand toward her as he took the one of the tissues and started cleaning the oil stains off his fingers before leaning towards her, her intention clear in his eyes.
Shouko blushed, her head lowered as she patiently helped him wipe the oil stains from his mouth.
Akira looked at her little face and leaned closer.
Shouko lifted her head to meet his gaze, her face turning even redder — It seemed Akira had no intention of keeping his distance.
She slowly closed her eyes.
However, Akira didn't kiss her.
A few minutes later, when she opened her eyes, she saw Akira eating dessert.
She hesitated and signed to him, asking why he didn't kiss her.
Akira glanced at her but didn't answer.
Shouko felt nervous at his silence but didn't dare ask further, fearing a negative response or disapproval.
After finishing his dessert, Akira stood up and left.
Shouko packed her things and followed him quickly.
.....
They walked off the tennis court together, heading to the school gate.
Yuigahama Yui who was waiting there, saw them and smiled at Shouko.
Shouko returned the smile.
Akira got bear her and held Yuigahama Yui's hand as they walked forward. Yui didn't link arms with him in front of Shouko.
Shouko, walking on the other side, glanced at Akira's hand and felt she should also be holding it.
'That might make him happy.'
Thinking this, she stretched out her small hand.
Akira held Shouko's hand but didn't turn to look at her. Instead, he told Yuigahama Yui that he was going to Yukinoshita Yukino's apartment tonight.
Yui blushed slightly as she started thinking strange things.
"Then I'll let Shouko rest with me," Yui said, after sometime.
"She might ask if I dislike her," Akira said, still didn't glanced at Shouko who was trying hard to understand what they were saying.
"Eh? Why would she ask that?" Yui asked, as she unconsciously glanced at Shouko.
"For now, I don't plan to take things too quick with Shouko. I want her to build better relationships with you two and then consider her own feelings carefully," Akira explained gently.
"Shouko must like you...." Yui said softly.
"Yui, you like me too, but would you depend on me like she does?" Akira asked.
Yui paused, seeming to understand his intention.
"If I'm the only one in her world, she won't changed much compared to how she was before—she should have more people in her World....Besides, you might feel jealous, which isn't good," Akira continued.
"....I understand, Akira-kun," Yui replied with a smile, don't denying it.
"If she has friends like you, a boyfriend like me, and later her hearing is restored, she'll be really happy," Akira said, glancing at passing cars, which also secretly glancing at Shouko who was walking with her head looking at front.
"Now I think I have one more reason as to why I like you so much," Yui admitted with a soft smile.
"I am indeed a gentle person," Akira replied.
"Although you can be bad and jerk at times, you are also gentle. That's why everyone seem to likes Akira-kun," Yui whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder.
.....
Back at Sakurasou, Yui took the charge this time and guided Shouko upstairs.
While, Akira walked towards the parking place, put on his helmet and left Sakurasou.
The two girls watched the motorcycle drive away from the window.
Shouko signed to Yui, asking where he was going.
Yui couldn't understand the signing fully but could guess Shouko's question. She took out the notebook and pen from her bag, wrote down the answer before showing it to Shouko.
(/Akira-kun went to Yukinoshita Yukino's place and probably won't return tonight./)
Shouko blushed.
Yui, seeing her reaction, turned and opened Akira's room.
Shouko, thinking over the events, sent a message to Hiratsuka-sensei before walking into the room.
Yui watched Shouko change her shoes.
She had many topics she wanted to discuss but didn't know how to begin.
She had sought help from Ebina Hina and Miura Yumiko.
Hina was sharp and gave a direct suggestion.
"Yui, add Shouko to our group chat and we'll quickly become good friends," Hina advised.
Yui realized this immediately and quickly invited Shouko to join the group chat.
Shouko changed her shoes, looking at Yui holding her phone, a little confused but intrigued.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,555