"Losers should know their place~" Utaha Kasumigaoka's drawn-out taunt nearly made Eriri Sawamura shove her ice cream cone in her face.
As the two locked eyes in a heated glare, a clear, cheerful laugh rang out ahead—Fubuki, the B-Class queen known for her icy elegance in the Hero Association, was tiptoeing to hold a strawberry daifuku up to Gaio's mouth.
Gaio's ear twitched. Twenty meters behind him, the muttered words "loser" and "jerk" mingled with the bustling noise of the dessert street, reaching him as clearly as if they were whispered in his ear.
(Huh? Eriri? Fatso Utaha?)
(Weren't they abroad with Eriri's dad? They're back?)
"What's up?" Fubuki asked, noticing Gaio's attention drift.
"Oh, nothing. Just spotted some cute-looking dango over there." Gaio pointed at a stall with a long line, where colorful dango were shaped like adorable bunnies and kittens.
"They are cute! Wanna check them out?" Fubuki's eyes lit up at the sight of the Q-version treats.
"Let's go." Gaio took her hand and headed toward the dango stall.
(That jerk Gaio!) Eriri's cheeks puffed out in anger, her ice cream cone nearly crushed in her grip. Chocolate sauce dripped down the edge, but she didn't notice.
Utaha watched Gaio walk off with the curvy older girl, her eyes flickering with complex emotions. Still, she kept her tone light. "Alright, Eriri, since we're on the same team, let's not bicker. We've got Marin and Kaguya to deal with."
She nodded toward Gaio's retreating figure. "They're getting away. Let's catch up."
Eriri whipped her twin-tails with a huff. "Hmph, you're right. That sleaze has a girlfriend like Marin but still flirts with other girls, and now he's parading around with one in broad daylight!"
Utaha shot her a deadpan look. (Yeah, you wish that girl was you…)
She kept the thought to herself—Eriri's tsundere temper would spark a fight if she said it out loud.
Eriri, clutching her mangled cone, took two steps forward before a kid with a cotton candy bumped into her, smearing chocolate sauce on her pale pink skirt.
She exploded. "Hey! Watch where you're going, kid!"
The child shrank back, hugging their cotton candy, and scampered off. Utaha hurried over, pinching her lips to stifle a laugh. "Hey, loser queen, keep throwing a tantrum here, and Gaio's gonna vanish into the crowd with that lady."
"Mind your own business!" Eriri's face flushed as she grabbed the tissue Utaha offered, frantically wiping the stain on her skirt. When she looked up, her eyes locked with Gaio's.
He stood at the dango stall, holding two skewers of packaged treats, with Fubuki tilting her head as if asking, "Who are those girls?"
Eriri's ears burned, but she steeled herself, grabbed her skirt, and marched over, her twin-tails whipping like tiny lassos. "Ch-Gaio! When did you get back? Why didn't you tell me or Utaha?!"
"Just got back." Gaio grinned, waving the dango skewers. "What are you two doing here? Weren't you abroad with your dad?"
"Gaio, who are these…?" Fubuki tilted her head, her fingers dusted with sugar from sampling a dango, her gaze flicking between Eriri's flushed ears and Utaha's barely-contained smirk.
Before Gaio could answer, Eriri stepped forward, the chocolate stain still smudged on her skirt. Her voice was sharp and bright. "I-I'm Sawamura Spencer Eriri! I'm… Gaio's old high school classmate!"
She puffed out her chest, her twin-tails bouncing like propellers.
"Oh~ high school classmate, huh?" Utaha teased, poking Eriri's shoulder. "Someone was crying over the mug Gaio gave her last year, whining, 'Did he forget about me?'"
"U-Utaha, shut up!" Eriri's face went beet red. "Th-That was because… the mug broke, okay?! Not because I missed him!"
Fubuki watched Eriri's flushed face and instantly pieced it together.
(Another girl Gaio's charmed…)
(But she doesn't seem to have snagged 'official girlfriend' status yet.)
(This guy's already got Marin, Kaguya, and Yukino at home, and he's still flirting? Is he aiming for a harem of three thousand?)
(No way, I can't fall behind! I'll end up at the back of the line!)
With that thought, she shot Gaio a quick glare before rallying her spirits. She wasn't sure if the black-haired girl next to Eriri had the same intentions, but she'd treat her as a rival too.
Fubuki smiled, waving her dango box and deliberately leaning closer to Gaio, her voice soft and intentional. "Since you're old classmates, why don't we sit and eat together? This shop's sakura-flavored dango is limited edition. I saved two skewers for you."
Her eyes flicked to Eriri's white-knuckled fist, her lips curling slightly—this girl's reactions were more entertaining than she'd expected.
"Who'd want to eat with you guys!" Eriri huffed, turning away, the chocolate stain on her skirt fluttering in the breeze. Her eyes sneaked a glance at Gaio's dango.
"I-I just happened to see you, okay? I wasn't looking for you!"
"Oh~ buying cotton candy, huh?" Utaha teased, hooking an arm around Eriri's shoulders and nudging her toward Gaio.
"Perfect timing. Gaio's dango is sakura-flavored—matches your skirt~ Wanna trade it for your cotton candy?"
"Utaha, let go!" Eriri squirmed, only to stumble into Gaio's chest. Her nose brushed his shirt, catching a faint sun-warmed scent. "Ch-Gaio, what are you doing?!"
"Careful, don't trip." Gaio chuckled, steadying her shoulders and pressing a dango skewer into her hand. His fingers brushed her burning ones. "Sakura-flavored. Didn't you say last year at school you wanted to try sakura dango?"
Eriri's ears felt like they'd catch fire, the warm dango package seeping heat into her fingertips. "W-Who remembers last year's stuff?!"
She mumbled under her breath but took a bite. The sakura's floral sweetness mixed with matcha bloomed in her mouth. "I-It's… pretty good!"
"Glad you think so." Gaio grinned, ruffling her twin-tails. "Why didn't you tell me you were back? I thought you'd be gone longer."
"None of your business!" Eriri swatted his hand but didn't pull away, instead nudging the dango toward his mouth. "H-Here, one bite! Just one! As thanks for catching me!"
Gaio raised an eyebrow, leaned in, and took a bite, a smudge of pink sakura sauce on his lips. "Yeah, not bad."
"Don't get so close!" Eriri jumped back, frantically wiping her mouth, unaware of the sauce on her own face, looking like a squirrel caught stealing honey. "Utaha, what're you laughing at?!"
"Nothing~" Utaha covered her mouth, sneaking a photo with her phone. "Just thinking you looked like you did last year, crying over that mug~"
"Utaha, you're dead!" Eriri lunged, but Utaha dodged, laughing, as the two started bickering.
Fubuki listened to Eriri and Gaio's exchange, her heart churning.
(They're pretty close, huh.)
(I need to step up. If I'm serious about being this guy's girlfriend…)
(Sorry, Eriri—and Fatso Utaha? Weird nickname, whatever—I'm bringing out the Blizzard Group queen's full force!)
Watching Eriri's back as she pounced, Fubuki suddenly grabbed Gaio's arm, her voice laced with deliberate softness. "Eriri, stop messing around. Want a drink?"
She pulled a can from Gaio's bag and offered it to Eriri, her eyes flicking to Gaio. Seeing his amused smile, she relaxed a bit.
"Oh, uh, thanks." Eriri blinked, surprised by the older girl's kindness, and took a sip. "This matcha flavor's better than the one at school last year!"
"Yeah, I had the vendor add some honey." Fubuki smiled, adjusting Gaio's collar. "Tian-kun prefers the tea from Tokyo U, though."
Her voice was soft but just loud enough for Eriri to hear.
"Tch, who cares what he likes!" Eriri gripped her can, sneaking glances at Gaio and Fubuki's easy chemistry. Her twin-tails drooped like a kitten who'd lost its toy.
Utaha nudged her shoulder, whispering, "Hey, loser queen, looks like Fubuki knows Gaio better than you~"
"Shut up, Utaha!" Eriri glared but couldn't help asking, "W-What do I do then?"
"What do you do?" Utaha grinned, pulling a candy box from her bag and pressing it into Eriri's hands. "You were gonna give him Valentine's candy, right? But Marin got in the way. Give it to him now!"
"B-But—" Eriri clutched the box, her fingers trembling. "What if he doesn't like it?"
"He will." Utaha patted her shoulder. "If he didn't, would he remember you wanted sakura sweets?"
Eriri bit her lip, glancing at Gaio, who was chatting with Fubuki, a smile on his face.
Gripping the candy box, she stood and ran over, tugging his sleeve. "Ch-Gaio! Here!"
"What's this?" Gaio looked down at the candy box.
"I-It's from abroad!" Eriri shoved it into his hands and bolted. "It's not like I bought it for you! It's just extras!"
"Eriri—" Gaio called, but Utaha stopped him. "Let her go. She said she hunted through three stores abroad for those special candies~"
"This girl…" Gaio chuckled, opening the box. The candies were shaped like sakura blossoms, carrying a faint fragrance.
He glanced at Eriri's retreating figure, catching her sneaking a hopeful look back.
Fubuki watched, her heart twinging, but she smiled. "Gaio, Eriri really cares about you, huh." She popped a candy into her mouth. "Though, these might be sweeter than my dango~"
"Yeah." Gaio nodded, pocketing the box. "I'll grab her a strawberry milk later. It's her favorite."
"Strawberry milk?" Fubuki raised an eyebrow. "Didn't she just drink matcha?"
"She only drank that to not upset you." Gaio grinned. "Last year, she told me matcha's too bitter. Strawberry milk's her thing."
Fubuki paused, looking into Gaio's eyes, which held a gentle warmth.
She suddenly understood why so many girls fell for him. His gentleness was irresistible, remembering the tiniest habits, even the smallest details.
It was such a stark contrast to the commanding presence he showed when wiping out the Monster Association or Hero Association.
Maybe that's why his charm was unstoppable.
"I'll get it for you," Fubuki said, standing and brushing her skirt. "I could go for a strawberry milk too."
"Nah, I got it." Gaio pulled her back with a smile. "Wait here. If Eriri comes back, keep an eye on her."
"Alright." Fubuki nodded, watching him disappear into the crowd.
Eriri stopped after a few steps, her twin-tails swirling from the sudden halt.
She stared at the chocolate stain on her skirt, fingers fidgeting with the fabric—she'd been so impulsive, she forgot to check Gaio's reaction.
The air carried the sweet scent of desserts. She looked toward where Gaio vanished, her ears burning, and turned to run back.
"U-Utaha! Where's Gaio?" She panted, reaching the stall and seeing Fubuki on a bench, Utaha munching on dango. Her eyes widened. "H-He didn't leave because of you, did he?"
"Chill, loser queen." Utaha grinned, chewing. "He went to buy strawberry milk for a certain someone who's scared of bitter drinks~"
"Who's scared of bitter?!" Eriri's face flushed, but she shuffled closer to Fubuki. "W-When's he coming back?"
Fubuki looked at Eriri's white-knuckled grip on her can, remembering Gaio's "she didn't want to upset you." Her heart softened like melting cotton candy.
She patted the bench beside her. "Sit. He'll be back soon."
Eriri hesitated, then sat, her skirt brushing Fubuki's hand, carrying a hint of daisy-scented detergent.
Utaha flipped through her phone, suddenly waving the screen. "Check it out. Gaio opening your candy box—doesn't he look like you when you're swooning?"
"Utaha, stop taking random pics!" Eriri lunged for the phone, but Utaha dodged, laughing. "D-Did he eat the candy?"
"He did." Fubuki chimed in, pulling a candy from her pocket. "He said it's sweeter than my dango."
Eriri's ears turned scarlet. She clutched the candy wrapper, her voice barely a squeak. "I-I had to check three stores abroad to find those…"
"I know." Fubuki smiled, placing the candy in her hand. "So, keep at it, okay?"
Eriri looked up, seeing no hostility in Fubuki's eyes, only warmth. She opened her mouth but couldn't speak, her fingers trembling around the wrapper.
"Eriri!" Gaio's voice called from the crowd.
She shot up, seeing him holding two strawberry milks, the sunlight on his face like last spring's cherry blossoms.
She ran over, grabbed a milk, and took a sip, the sweet taste like that of someone she liked.
"Just got it, still warm." Gaio smiled, ruffling her hair. "Where'd you run off to?"
"N-Nowhere!" Eriri's face burned, but she nudged the milk toward him. "Here, have a sip!"
Gaio chuckled, took a sip, and got some milk on his lips. Eriri quickly wiped it off, her fingers brushing his chin and pulling back like she'd been shocked.
"Idiot, you got milk on your face!"
"Yeah, idiot." Gaio grinned, wiping a smudge from her lips. "Still so careless."
Fubuki watched them, her heart settling.
She sipped her strawberry milk, sweet like the taste of someone she liked.
She reached out, fixing Eriri's twin-tails, and smiled. "Eriri, this milk's really good."
"Yeah!" Eriri looked up, seeing Fubuki's warm smile. Thinking of their "competition," she gripped her cup, her voice stubborn. "W-Well, let's make it a fair fight!"
"Deal." Fubuki laughed, clinking her cup against Eriri's. "Cheers!"
"Cheers!" Eriri's laugh rang like bells, floating over the dessert street.
---