Sweet Like Candy

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER MORNING with the chirping of birds, the aroma of coffee and a soft ray of sunlight peeking through the curtains in Hotaru’s apartment. There, its three residents sat together at the kitchen table, each with a steaming cup and a pile of cookies in front of them.

By all means, it should’ve been a nice and enjoyable breakfast, but the three of them just stared listlessly into the distance with dark bags under their eyes.

“Did any of you sleep at all?” Hotaru broke the ice.

“Not a wink,” replied Ryuuji, holding onto his cup of coffee.

“Me neither,” said Akari, slouching on the table.

“If you want me to, I can use my Kotodama to get rid of the fatigue.”

“No, thanks. I’d like to feel miserable for a little longer.”

“Same here.”

“… Yeah, that makes three of us,” Hotaru conceded, bumping her head down to the table in defeat.

Just a few hours ago, her brilliant idea to meddle with Ryuuji’s and Akari’s relationship had spectacularly backfired, to the point that she drove herself into a corner of dubious morality.

“Akari, you don’t have to listen to her. She lost her mind last night, so we can just forget about it and go about our lives.”

It was a desperate attempt by Ryuuji to salvage the situation, but…

“It’s too late for that,” said Akari, rolling a cookie back and forth with her finger. “She already told you I’m in love with you. I can’t pretend that didn’t happen and everything is the same.”

“I’m sorry…” Hotaru quietly cried out in misery.

“You can do way better than me. You’re bright, young and beautiful; anyone would jump at the chance of dating you.”

“But I don’t want anyone else.”

“See, that’s what I don’t understand. Why me, of all people? I’m a broke old fart, and a pariah at that... and now a criminal.”

“You might look like that to others but that isn’t the real you. It’s easy to judge someone when you don’t know them, but I do know you, Ryuuji.”

“You’re in love with an illusion of me, Akari. I remember how we first met, how I saved you back then. I’m sure it must’ve left a strong impression, but that impression isn’t something to fall in love with. That’s just an idea; it’s not who I am.”

“Yes, I know that. If you had told me this a year ago, you would’ve been spot on. Back when I forced you to make me your apprentice, I was just a stupid girl chasing after a childhood dream. It was a silly fantasy that you were some sort of prince for me, and I was adamant to make it happen.

“But then I saw your reality for myself. You weren’t a flawless superman that could beat anything that came at you. You were alone and bitter, shunned even by the Kami, and struggling to make ends meet. But despite everything, you continued to be a good person at heart. Heck, you’re the best of them!

“You always looked out for me, covered for my mistakes, and had the patience to teach me how to be better. Even when you were breaking inside, Ryuuji, you put up with my inexperience and always stuck to doing the right thing.

“So how could I not fall in love with you? You’re so cool, damn it! I’d be crazy not to feel this way, and so would anyone who got to know you. The real you.”

Akari sounded angry by the end, like it was the world who had gone mad.

As for Ryuuji, he had no idea how to reply to that, so he quietly sipped from his cup of coffee and stared dead ahead.

“I’m sure you’ll disagree with me and have a lot to say about it, but that’s the way I think of you. That’s the Ryuuji I’ve come to know, and… you’re very special to me. I like you, okay? I want to be with you and… love you.”

Hotaru covered her mouth, blushing lightly as Akari confessed her feelings. Even as the guy’s girlfriend, it was a sight to see.

Ryuuji, on the other hand, was put on the spot. He’d never thought of Akari in a romantic way, and her feelings for him were way stronger than he imagined. When he compared them to his own feelings for Hotaru, it was hard to find the difference. Sure, her love for him was at a much earlier stage, but it ran just as deep.

Thus, Ryuuji frowned and took a gulp of coffee.

“God fucking damn it. I can’t be falling for this.”

It was frustrating to no end, but he couldn’t deny it: Akari had succeeded at pulling at his heartstrings just now. It wasn’t strong enough to call it romance, but he did start to see her in a different light… and if she continued to push it, it wouldn’t be impossible for something to blossom.

“Fufufu, Ryuuji is feeling shy…” Hotaru poked him with her elbow.

“Shut up.”

“Congratulations, Akari! That was a beautiful confession.”

“Oh, um… thanks…” she shrunk into her seat, her cheeks flushed red. Now it dawned on her just how much she had said earlier, so Akari tried to hide her face by also drinking from her coffee.

“And Ryuuji… Don’t you have something to say to her?”

Hotaru had no intention of letting him scurry away, not after Akari had poured her heart and soul out to him. Poor Ryuuji was cornered, his chest pounding like he was fresh out of high school all over again.

“Yeah, well… I care about you too, Akari,” he began, hoping the earth would kindly swallow him right now. “To be honest, I wasn’t doing well before you showed up. The loneliness … it did get to me. I was feeling miserable, but then you came into my life like a wrecking ball. You didn’t give a shit; you just tore down all the walls I’d built and made sure I brightened up. It’s hard to tell you how much it meant to me.”

Ryuuji’s voice tightened by the end. It was only his pride and strength of will that stopped him from tearing up in front of them.

That didn’t help Akari, though. She did sniffle a bit, despite her best effort.

“As for romantic feelings, well… This isn’t the answer you want, but I didn’t give them much thought. You were my apprentice first and foremost, and I meant to keep it that way.”

“Ohh, look at the past tense…” Hotaru whispered, but Ryuuji ignored her.

“It’s still a lot for me to take right now, but…” he trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

“It’s okay; I already knew you don’t see me that way. The idea has always been to make you notice me, so I’ll just keep at it.”

“Even though I’m with Hotaru?”

“Well…” Akari looked away, scratching her cheek. “If it’s Tōka-sama, then I don’t mind so much.”

Ryuuji sighed in defeat.

“You girls are both wrong in the head.”

They each elbowed him at the same time.

“Guh!”

“How rude!” said Hotaru.

“Right?”

Then the girls looked at each other and laughed.

“I guess there’s no worries about you getting along...” Ryuuji murmured.

“Oh, it’s Tōka-sama. I could never hate her.”

“Do you like her music that much?”

“No, it’s not that. Um, how do I put it? She reminds me of you.”

“I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

“Oi!”

“Fufu, it is. You’re both good people at heart. I quite like her.”

“Aw, Akariiii~” Hotaru walked over and hugged her.

“Even after all her crazy shit?”

“Well, it’s part of her charm,” said Akari through Hotaru’s snuggles. “Besides, I’m glad we can talk openly now. I feel like we’re closer than before, and um… my old plan to confess was just as crazy. It was plain stupid, now that I think about it.”

“Whoa, you had a plan? Tell us, tell us!”

“Oh, um… Do I have to?”

“Heck yes you do!”

“Well… the idea was to buy an apartment, and ask Ryuuji to move in with me.”

Akari’s face lit up as she admitted it. The plan sounded so dumb when she said it out loud.

“You what!?” the other two asked in unison.

“I know! It was stupid, okay? Don’t laugh at me.”

“Oh my God Akari, you’re bold!” said Hotaru, with Ryuuji in full agreement.

“So that’s what you wanted money for…” the mystery was finally unraveled.

“Ugh, just forget it already…”

Akari covered her face in shame, and the group continued teasing each other over a light breakfast. Soon enough, a common sentiment grew within them… the hope that this would be the start of a long and prosperous relationship.