(Side) Chapter 11.5

(A/N Notes: Another week, another release, and I still haven't managed to finish the next chapter of my military novel haa…)

~How Takeru got his sweet tooth~

"Guys, can I ask you all for help to take care of something?"

"…" (x5)

When Ichiro asked that, the five guys he just said that to, all looked at him in silence

"Who are you gonna murder?"

"Do I really look that scary to you, Yasu?"

"More like suspicious with that smile of yours, Ichiro"

"Imma gonna cry, boo boo boo"

Ichiro joked about Yasu's remark about his always smug smiling face

"So what do you need?"

And Takeru who was playing a card game with his usual chunni friends was the one who went straight to the point, by the way, he was losing

"I'm trying some new recipes to help with the shop, and I want you guys to give me your opinions about them"

"… Just that?"

"Yeah, what else? I'm not always a guy who only jabs at his friend's maidenless situation all the time, you chunni four eyes"

"…" (x5)

"It's always surprising how you can naturally jab while being fully aware of it, Ichiro"

"Shut it, stone face. You guys gonna help me or not?"

"…" (x5)

Takeru, Yasu, Kenzo, Kazuo, and Kyo all looked at each other, before agreeing to Ichiro's request

"Good. Because I already brought everything with me"

Ichiro placed a cold food container on the table and began taking out everything needed, plates, tableware, and the dessert he wanted them to taste. This time, it was a handmade millefeuille, he put one slice for the boys

"Please enjoy it" *Service smile*

The five ate a piece of their slices, and they all made surprised faces, with Takeru following by quickly eating his slice

"Seconds!"

"Okay"

And then followed by asking for more, which Ichiro readily obliged. As Takeru ate his second slice, the others finished their slices, to which Ichiro asked…

"Kukuku… My handmade millefeuille… How is it…?"

In a very intimidating tone and smiling face… As he held more two slices, one in each hand, as he wore an apron from the cafe owned by his mother

"…"

And Yasu just looked at him with his always expressionless face, but his pose did give the feeling that he was saying "why are you always like that?"

"Yeah, it's good"

"Good, do you want seconds?"

"Eh, sure"

~An usual Yuriko and Takeru walk and talk to school~

"Nee, Takeru-san. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure *Yawns*"

"Why do you always never look embarrassed every morning?"

"… What do you mean?"

"Well… You always talk to me normally every morning, even when I do something embarrassing to you the day before"

"Ah that… Due to certain friends of mine, always doing embarrassing stuff all the time, I just learned how to not remember and think about the embarrassing parts and feeling of those particular moments"

"That doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but… Can you teach me how to do that?"

"… Well, for now, all I can say is simply try not to think about the thing or anything related to it, and instead think about something else before and when you go to sleep"

"I see…"

"Ah! And before I forget. Yuriko-san, so you're aware that you keep doing embarrassing things to me!"

"What're you possibly talking about, Takeru-san?~"

"You said that you did it earlier!"

"I don't remember ever saying that~"

"Hey!"

Yuriko accelerated her pace, as she had fun denying that she was aware whenever she made him embarrassed

~Yuriko shortly after the events at the rooftop~

Yuriko was seating on her classroom seat as she looked down, hiding her face that had a mix of dejection and sorrow from view while she looked really dejected. Seeing her like this, everyone in the class began to worry if something happened to her

"Hey… Did something happen to Yuriko-sama?"

"I don't know, she looked normal when she entered the classroom"

"But she's clearly feeling dejected about something!"

"And how am I supposed to know what is making her feel like that!? Go ask her yourself!"

"I can't even bring myself to say a word to her, and you want me to ask her something!?"

"If you can't do that, how do you expect me to do that!?"

As the two girls argued with each other, another girl with more courage went to talk with Yuriko

"Hmmm… Yuriko-sama?"

"!… Yes, how can I assist you?"

"Errmm…"

Yuriko showed the girl who called her a smile, but different from her usual bright and happy smile, her smile now was weak and slightly sad

"A-a teacher asked me to… T-tell you to pass at the teacher's office after school"

"I see… Thank you and sorry for troubling you"

"N-no, worries… … … Hmmm… Is something wrong, Y-Yuriko-sama?"

"Huh? Well… I think I went overboard with a little joke with a friend earlier, and… I'm afraid that my friend might hate me now"

"I-I see… W-well, g-good luck on making peace with your friend"

"Thanks"

The girl then left with a proud face of managing to have a conversation with Yuriko, while everyone else who heard the conversation prayed inside their minds that Yuriko's friend would make peace with Yuriko… They weren't aware that her friend was a boy, and that what happened earlier was something they all wished that happened to them

(A/N Notes: Something something idk)