Dinner with him

After that, Futoshi and Reina headed to his home for dinner, and the air was as cold as icicles; the two's skin was being bitten by the cold air, their breath coming out in cold clouds. 

"Cmon, you're my helper, and t-this is... how you're treating me? Truly shameful...brrr."

Reina, who was standing close to Futoshi, bore a plaid red scarf and some matching mittens; on top of that, she had borrowed Futoshi's school jacket. Futoshi, on the other hand, had only his school shirt; much to his dismay, he didn't think it would get as bad as it did, so he didn't bother taking anything but what he had on his person.

 Futoshi's jacket smells like him...Wait, calm down, me. For right now, we're just club president and helper...

As Reina was getting lost in thought, she folded her arms as a wry smile pulled at her lips. 

"..."

Seeing this, Futoshi cocked his head. The cold was really starting to get to them, and it showed; their nose's were turning red, and their cheeks were almost as hot as the burning sun. 

"Bet you're thinking about what we're having for dinner, huh?" Futoshi said, flashing a bright grin in Reina's direction. Reina turned her head at Futoshi's shot in the dark, for what it's worth, he was half right - or that's what Futoshi wanted to believe anyway.

Is he seriously that much of a dunce? Has he not realized the situation we're in? His stupidity is really...really pissing me off! 

After she finished that train of thought, Reina wound her leg up behind Futoshi's rear as she lodged it into his muscular back. Despite her small nature, Reina really packed a lethal punch when she wanted to. Futoshi knew this more than anyone.

 As the kick had connected with his back, Futoshi's body plummeted to the floor. This would've been bad any day, but on a cold day like this, it makes the pain ten times worse. The cold pavement greeted him immediately, as the impact knocked the air out of him.  

"That's what you get for being tactless!" Standing above him, Reina began her usual sharp-toned onslaught; both her brows were furrowed as she wagged her tongue. Despite the lashing that was unfolding in front of his eyes, Futoshi scratched the back of his head. His voice softened.

"Ow, that's gonna leave a mark... And You..."Futoshi pointed at the girl in front of him as he gritted his teeth. As he gazed at the girl who was standing above him, his tone sharpened." Showing a bit of gratitude, will you?" In response to that plea of affirmation, Reina shrugged before relaxing her shoulders.

"Oh, will you shut up? If I keep hearing you talk, I'm afraid your stupidity will infect me. Seriously, you nag like an in-law."  After those harsh words escaped her lips, Reina plugged her ears with her fingers.

This ungrateful - Seriously, after all I've done for her today! I could at least get a thank you.    

 As Futoshi reveled in his thoughts, he started to remember something that happened earlier that day. 

"Thank you Akutami-kun" 

After remembering her sincere words a few hours prior, Futoshi turned his head as his gaze locked onto Reina. In that moment, he put his palm under his chin. I guess even she can be nice sometimes... In that moment, Futoshi flashed a beaming smile in Reina's direction.

"Come on, I'll make your favorite."

Those words, as warm as they sounded, sent a shiver down Reina's spine. "Ew, could you look any less creepy. Despite your conventional good looks, you are not the smiley type, huh."

In response to her playful jab, Futoshi just shrugged his shoulders as he waved his hand in the air.

"Lay off it, will you?" 

---------

After what felt like forever, Reina and Futoshi made it to his house. The house was your average lower-income house in Japan. The Tatami mat, which was coloured a yellow hue, spread out across two rooms. As for the rooms, the house featured a double room with the kitchen connecting to the living area.  Contrary to his popular persona, Futoshi seemed to live a very minimalistic lifestyle.  From what the house portrayed, Futoshi paid no heed to materialistic value, no paintings on the walls, even furniture, for that matter. All that was to distinguish between the rooms was a Kotatsu, sitting idly in the middle of the living area, and the kitchen floor, which had a wooden base. 

Where are the trophies, the achievements? Knowing how popular he is, he's obviously got a few nominations somewhere.

As Reina's eyes scanned the rooms from top to bottom, trying to find any resemblance to the Futoshi she knew, she ultimately came out empty-handed. As she was doing this, Futoshi puffed out his chest as a beaming smile tugged at his lips. 

"Welcome to my humble abode. May I offer you some tea?" Before Reina had enough time to slip off her outdoor shoes, Futoshi had already made his way to the cupboard before flashing the green tea in Reina's direction. In response to the sudden hospitality, Reina's eyes widened. Despite earlier, he really can be down to earth, huh?-

"Hey, Sakura-san, are you listening? What do you want to eat? We have..." As he said that, Futoshi rummaged through the cupboards, before his eyes scanned the top shelf."Onigiri... Oh, and pork cutlets... let's see..." Futoshi pushed the various ingredients out of the way before his eyes locked on the very back."Omelet!"

GURGLE-

As if it were listening to their exchange, Reina's stomach rumbled at the sound of the omelet that Futoshi had suggested a moment prior. Stupid stomach, don't rumble now! Are you trying to make me embarrassed or something? As her stomach called out for Futoshi's special omelet, Reina's gaze met the tatami mat beneath her. Her face went red.

"Someone wants omelet, huh?" Futoshi said, pointing at Reina. In retaliation for this, Reina poked her fingers together before facing Futoshi's soft gaze once more.

"Ugh, whatever, just hurry up and cook you damn helper, it's part of your job, isn't it? Less talking, more cooking." Reina said as she clasped her hands behind her head, before slipping under the kotatsu in front of her. 

"Alright, that does it-" before Futoshi could finish his train of thought, Reina glanced over at Futoshi before letting out a sly chuckle.

"You're a weird one, y'know that Akutami-kun? At school, you're like this, I don't know, like this... thing that's  so far out of reach, I mean, we all know how fondly people think of you..." Futoshi blushed at that slight compliment as he scratched his cheek."Jeez, what are you looking all smug for? Anyway, being here reminds me that... actually forget that." In that moment, Futoshi scratched the back of his neck as he finished cooking the omelets. What was she going to say? Hey, if someone like me is getting a compliment from THE Sakura Reina, I'm sure that's nothing to snuff at, whatever it was.

"Dinner is served!" As Futoshi said that, he put both plates on the wooden table in front of him, one at each end. "Ok, Sakura-san, the one on the right...is yours-" Before he could even let the sentence out, Reina grabbed the plate on the left before taking a bite. "Hey, that was mine!"

To that annoyed tone, Reina just shrugged before rolling her eyes."Whatever, they're the same anyway. Stop pestering me, you damned helper!" To be fair, Futoshi did put it on her side of the table, so her point was valid.

"The reason I put it there was to grab the Ketchup!" Seeing how much she was enjoying it, Futoshi shrugged before waving his hand in the air."Ugh, whatever, not gonna say anything before digging in though, eh?"

"Quit your yapping..." In that moment, Reina reluctantly pushed her palms together. "Thank you for the food. There, you happy now, Mr. Popular?" Futoshi furrowed his brow in response to that sarcastic tone. 

"Look, if you're gonna give me a nickname, at least make it something cool, or at least give me the decency of using my name..." Seeing this, all Reina could do was sigh. It was like this was his pathetic excuse for being equals with her. "And while I'm at it, what is this 'confession club' anyway?"

"Ugh, fine if you want a new nickname so desperatly how about dog? After all, all you seem to do is bark, quite fitting if I do say so myself." Proud of her snarky exclamation, Reina forced a wry smile as she puffed out her chest. "And the confession club is pretty self-explanatory, isn't it? People come to us to help them ask out their crush, things like that. That's good for you...dog?"  As he heard this, Futoshi's brow furrowed. What have I gotten myself into...

"Can you stop calling me a dog as well? If I were a dog, I'd certainly not want to be owned by you. Just call me by my family name, like a normal person." Futoshi clasped his hands together as he rested his elbows on the table in front of him.

"Anyway, I'd better get going. It's getting late, I expect a new member by tomorrow, got it?" Just as she said that, Reina flashed a fist in Futoshi's direction. One thing was certain: He had his work cut out for him from now on. 

As she dusted her behind before slipping on her outdoor shoes, she flashed a beaming smile in Futoshi's direction.

"Later, Futoshi, see you tomorrow."