“What are you thinking about?”

“Ah. I’m fine.” answered but her it sounded like she still wasn’t aware of her surroundings. 

Fuji raised an eyebrow this time; it was quite rare to see his rather attentive girlfriend space out like this.  He tentatively laid his palm against her forehead, wondering if she was having a fever as he had suspected yesterday when her face looked rather heated after he had kissed her goodnight the night before.  “Your not running a temperature, are you?”  He asked.

’s dark brown eyes widened for a moment, “No, I’m not,” she answered and leaned against Fuji’s somewhat cool touch.  She pulled away after a moment then grinned at him, “Sorry, I didn’t know what got to me.  I didn’t mean to worry you Syusuke.” 

Fuji smiled back, though he wasn’t exactly put to ease.  “Maybe we’ve been working too hard.  Are you hungry?”

The brown eyed girl shook her head, her long dark hair swishing around at the action.  “You should take a short break Syusuke, you’re who has been working for a long time, and no I’m not hungry.  Are you?”  She put some distance between the chair she was sitting on and her boyfriend so that they wouldn’t collide as she stood.  “Shall I go make some tea and snacks?” she asked. 

The tennis tensai couldn’t help let the bubble to laughter escape his lips.  He took and step forward and reached for the girl’s thin wrist before gently tugging her forward, then enveloping her in a warm hug.  “Saa, you’re always worrying too much, .  I haven’t been doing anything but scanning books for information and making the outline while you’ve been putting it all together.”  He paused and caressed hair, “When I told you that I didn’t mind you planning the project design ahead of time, I didn’t mean that you should do the essays last night .  You should let me help you.”  It was a small reprimand on his part.  He was worried that she might end up unhealthy. 

He could see the brightening of her cheeks again.  “Are you blushing?” he asked, suddenly curious. 

hid her face against his chest before he could comment on the color of her face again.  “I thought that you might be tired after all we’ve been studying all morning and right after lunch we started on this project,” she took a deep breathe, willing her face to cool down.  “And I know that you’re tired after tennis practice…” she mumbled her explanation then chose to ignore his last question. 

His hold around her tightened, “I don’t want you getting sick.” 

He felt her nod, “Sorry I didn’t mean to worry you, Syusuke,” she mumbled an apology muffled against his shirt.  It was at times like this that Fuji felt lightheaded with happiness – for the lack of better word to describe the emotions he felt whenever he was with his girlfriend. 

Dropping a kiss on her head, he pulled away but kept their fingers intertwined as he led them both out of her room.  “Let’s take a short break,” he said and she nodded wordlessly, following him as he navigated his way to the kitchen.  The household as quite and as the afternoon sun filtered through the glass windows, Fuji couldn’t help but think that it was such a wonderful day to be stuck inside studying. 

When they reached the kitchen, tugged her hand free.  “What would you like to have Syusuke?” she asked, opening the fridge and taking out a pitcher of cold water and a bottle of apple juice.  She took two glasses from the cupboard and poured juice on one glass, pushed it to Fuji who patiently sat, legs apart, on the small table in the middle of the kitchen then proceeded to pour herself a cup of water before returning the beverages back to the fridge. 

“I was wondering if you still have the same sushi you made for the bento yesterday,” he answered, smiling his signature smile as he looked at her. 

could feel an involuntary smile spread on her lips, “Yes, I made another batch last night.” 

“Last night?”

She nodded sheepishly and explained as she took a plastic container from the fridge and set it on the table, “When I took a break last night I thought of making some more sushi since it seemed that you really liked them.” She turned to get a plate but when she was about to transfer the content to the small white dish, he was already eating them.  

“See, you’re the one working too hard.” 

She ignored him, her eyes on the sushi halfway into his mouth.  “You shouldn’t eat from the container,” she told him with a small frown. 

“Why not?” He munched happily on the savory mix of rice, wasabi and fish as he asked her, despite knowing the answer. 

“It’s impolite on my part; I should be serving the food on plates not plastic containers.”  

This was another part of her that Fuji couldn’t resist and he found himself chuckling again, but sometimes he wanted to grab her and shake really hard, “You always act so formal around me , it kind off makes me feel distant.” 

Her cheeks darkened again and she raised her hands in front of her chest palms out in defense, “I didn’t mean too,” she scrambled for words, not meaning to offend the tennis tensai, “I just didn’t want to be rude to you, Syusuke…”

“Ne ,” he suddenly called her name, interrupting her.  She then found herself staring into his blue eyes and it was as if someone stole her voice away. 

How could he have such an effect on her?

“Sit here,” Fuji gestured at the stool beside the one he was sitting on.  She wordlessly followed.  She sat, her knees gently pressed against the inner side of his thigh.   

His right arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her close to him, “I love you,” he told her, rather loudly and with confidence.  He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, not like a hushed secret between lovers. 

She sat wordlessly for a moment, it was just like Fuji to suddenly declare things like that all the time, but intensity of his voice took her by surprise all the same.  A smiled, an oddly warmer one, Fuji noted, and the way her eyes shone was different. 

It somewhat reminded him of melting cheese. 

He chuckled at his own thoughts, it was somehow inappropriate for the moment. 

“What is it?” she asked, blinking up at him. 

“Nothing, the image of melting cheese just suddenly popped into my mind.” 

She raised a curious brow, “Melting cheese?” she paused, for a moment, she thought that he was joking her, “Are you still hungry Fuji?” she finally asked. 

Chuckling once again, Fuji shook his head, “No I’m not.  What were you about to say ?”

“I was about to say something?”

A nod, “Before you asked me what I was laughing about, you were about to say something right?” He watched, amused again as color rose in her cheeks, then he gave a slightly audible ‘oof’ as she hid her face in his chest again. 

“Your really mean you know.”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say.” 

Her hold on him tightened, “But I love you anyway,” Fuji amended though still wearing a smile. 

“I love you too,” she told softly.

“Hm?”

“You really are mean, Syusuke.” Raising her head, she closer to his face, trying to ignore the fact that she probably looked like a lobster at the moment.  “I said I loved you too.” 

And she kissed him. 

End. 

[Tell the world with confidence, that you love me.]

Steph.