(Age 9)
----------
The Beginning of Chaos
It all started because of a stupid rumor.
During lunch, Alya was happily munching on a homemade bento Akira had packed for her (because she always "forgot" to bring her own). Everything was peaceful.
Until she heard the girls behind her whispering.
"Did you hear? That second-year girl confessed to Akira-kun yesterday!"
Alya froze mid-bite.
"Yeah! And guess what? He actually talked to her!"
Alya slowly turned her head.
"What did he say?" another girl asked, excited.
The first girl sighed dreamily. "He told her, 'Sorry, but I don't have time for love right now.'"
Alya blinked.
Wait. Wait.
Someone confessed to Aki?
And he actually responded?
The girls giggled. "I mean, of course, he's too cool to accept! He's Akira-kun!"
Alya's brain short-circuited.
---
The Idiot's Investigation
After school, Alya marched straight to Akira.
He was sitting under their usual tree, playing on his console, completely unbothered by the world.
She plopped down beside him. "Aki."
"Mm," he hummed, not looking up.
Alya pouted. Was he ignoring her?
She leaned forward. Closer.
"Akiiii," she whined.
"…What?" he finally asked, still focused on his game.
Alya huffed. "You rejected a love confession?"
Akira froze.
Then, without missing a beat—
"Yeah. And?"
Alya narrowed her eyes. "How could you?"
Akira raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'how could I'?"
Alya waved her arms. "That girl must've been so nervous! And you just rejected her like that?!"
Akira stared at her, unimpressed. "So, I should've said yes?"
Alya froze.
Her brain malfunctioned.
Wait. Wait.
She definitely didn't want that.
She glared. "No! Obviously not!"
Akira sighed. "Then what do you want me to do?"
Alya crossed her arms. "At least pretend to be nice!"
Akira scoffed. "I was nice. I didn't say, 'Go away, you're annoying.'"
Alya gasped. "Aki!"
Akira smirked. "What? That would've been faster."
Alya groaned, flopping dramatically onto the grass.
She stared at the sky.
She wasn't sure why she was so annoyed.
She just… hated hearing about Aki and some random girl.
Alya puffed her cheeks. "You're hopeless."
Akira yawned. "You knew that already."
Alya turned her head to look at him. Her best friend.
Her partner in crime.
The only one who truly listened to her dreams.
The only one who… felt like home.
And before she could stop herself—
"Then I'll just have to marry you instead!"
Akira's console slipped out of his hands.
Silence.
The wind gently rustled the leaves.
Alya blinked.
Wait.
Wait.
What did she just say?
Her brain replayed her own words.
I'll just have to marry you instead.
Alya turned red.
Akira finally spoke.
"…What?"
Alya sat up so fast she almost fell over.
"I-I MEAN—!" She waved her arms frantically. Her face was burning. "I MEANT—LIKE—UM—!"
Akira stared at her.
His expression unreadable.
Alya panicked.
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!" she yelled.
And then—
She ran away.
---
Akira's Processing Error
Akira sat there.
Still staring at where Alya had been sitting seconds ago.
"…What just happened?" he muttered.
Alya had just said she was going to marry him.
And then ran away.
Like a complete idiot.
Akira slowly picked up his console.
He tried to go back to his game.
…But for the first time, he couldn't focus.
Alya's words replayed in his head.
And without realizing it—
He was smiling.
---
Alya's Avoidance Mission (Failure)
Alya Kujou had one mission.
Avoid Akira Tachibana at all costs.
After her accidental confession disaster, she had spent the entire night rolling in her bed while screaming into her pillow.
She wasn't ready to face him.
She wasn't ready to see his stupid, unreadable face.
And she definitely wasn't ready to explain what she meant.
So, the next day, she ran.
Akira entered the classroom? She dashed out.
Akira looked her way? She hid behind a book.
Akira casually walked near her? She dove into a bush.
…Yes. A bush.
"Alya," a voice deadpanned above her.
Alya froze.
She slowly peeked out from the leaves.
Akira was staring down at her.
Unimpressed.
She laughed awkwardly. "Oh, hey, Aki—"
"You're avoiding me."
Alya flinched. "W-What?! No! That's crazy talk!"
Akira sighed, rubbing his temples. "Get out of the bush."
"N-No, I'm good here—"
Akira grabbed her hand and pulled.
Alya yelped as she tumbled forward—
And then—
It happened.
---
The Accidental Kiss
Alya landed straight into Akira.
More specifically—
Their lips touched.
The world stopped.
The birds paused mid-chirp.
The wind held its breath.
Alya's brain? Completely shut down.
Akira? Completely frozen.
They stayed like that for a few seconds.
Then—
Alya's entire face turned red.
"—!!!"
She shoved him away.
Akira stumbled back, blinking.
Alya covered her mouth. "A-AKIRA!"
Akira stared.
His usual calm, unreadable expression?
Gone.
For the first time ever—
He looked completely stunned.
"…Did you just—"
"NO!" Alya yelled.
Akira blinked. "But we just—"
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"
Akira, still processing, rubbed his lips.
Alya wanted to dig a hole and disappear forever.
But then—
Akira smirked.
"You're really bad at avoiding me, huh?"
Alya gasped.
"You—!"
And before she could punch him—
Akira casually grabbed her wrist.
"Relax," he said.
Alya pouted. "H-How can I relax after—after that?!"
Akira shrugged. "It's fine. It was just an accident."
Alya stiffened.
…Just an accident?
She didn't know why that made her feel weird.
Maybe a little disappointed?
But before she could think too hard—
Akira suddenly leaned closer.
Too close.
"Unless," he said, his voice lower. "You want to do it again?"
Alya malfunctioned.
"—!!!"
She kicked him.
Right in the leg.
"Ow." Akira sighed. "I was joking."
Alya crossed her arms. "NOT FUNNY!"
Akira chuckled.
His usual cool, distant mask?
Completely gone.
Instead, his eyes softened.
And then—
"…You know," he said casually. "We could just make it official."
Alya blinked. "Make what official?"
Akira gave her a look. "Us."
Alya's heart stopped.
"U-Us?" she squeaked.
Akira shrugged. "I mean, you already confessed, right?"
Alya turned red again.
"T-That was an accident—!"
Akira smirked. "So was the kiss. Guess we're full of accidents, huh?"
Alya stared at him.
Then—
She groaned into her hands.
"Why am I in love with such a stupid person?!"
Akira grinned. "Beats me. But I don't mind."
Alya peeked at him through her fingers.
"…You're serious?"
Akira nodded. "Yeah."
Alya bit her lip.
Then, finally—
"…Okay," she mumbled.
Akira blinked. "What?"
Alya pouted. Her face was burning.
"I said okay!"
Akira stared.
Then, he let out a soft laugh.
"Cool," he said. "Guess you're my girlfriend now."
Alya hid her face in her hands.
"SHUT UP!"
Akira chuckled again.
And just like that—
They were officially together.
- To be Continued