Chapter Text
Isagi walked into the cafeteria, feeling like he was missing a core part of himself. And he was, Bachira had a doctor's appointment today and wasn't able to join him for lunch. Isagi understands, it's just a doctor's appointment. It wasn't Meguru's fault. But he couldn't help himself from slightly resenting Bachira. Kaiser was going to be there, as always, jumping at the opportunity to pick on Isagi.
Isagi really wanted to leave as soon as possible so he quickly got to the serving counters and ordered his food. It was bland but at least it wasn't horrendous, like how his class ranking was going to be. He'd checked the exam board before coming to eat, like everyone else. He had failed his math “exam”. He just knew Kaiser was gonna blab on how Isagi could never beat him and about how Isagi was wrong to challenge him to a bet on who could get the highest score, if he couldn't even pass this one. I mean it's not like Isagi despised Kaiser or their stupid-silly fights so why WAS he so anxious? It felt like Isagi might just break if someone rubbed it in his face. Is it because 500 was now on the line? Or was this caused by Isagi's worsening appetite? He barely found the time to eat even before exam season began. Sure he was academically smart but not smart enough, clearly. He didn't want to eat now, but he had already paid. ”How could he even fail in the first place? It was just the warm-up, there were more ones coming up, ones that are much more difficult—
His spiral session while looking for a free table was cut short when he noticed Kaiser's sidekick, the one who was always sticking by his side. But Kaiser was nowhere to be seen. It was Ness, who was laying down on one of the tables. You could tell by his posture he was exhausted. Upon closer inspection Isagi noticed how the magenta haired boy looked a bit sad, depressed even. But most interestingly (for Isagi at least) he had something that wasn't on the menu by his side. And Isagi had scanned and analyzed everything in case any of personal favorites were somehow in hiding.
It looked like a chocolate cake but if it had some type of sauce or jam in the middle of it. Failing to realize where his steps were leading him to, Isagi found himself slowly walking up to Ness's table, captivated by this seemingly exotic pastry. (TOTALLYYY NOT BECAUSE HES CAPTIVATED BY NESS THOUGH ) It was too late when he did realize though, Ness stood up when he saw Isagi and quickly sat down again. It seems Isagi's surprise visit had scared the poor thing.
"Uh... hey there" Isagi gulped. this was gonna turn awkward, wasn't it? Why did he even have to start talking, he could've just went away and pretended this never happened. "What do you want?" The taller boy scoffed. Ness tried to hold up an annoyed expression but immediately went back to being exhausted and slouched with one hand holding up his head.
"Sorry." What was he even apologizing for? Failing his math test and getting the lowest possible score, maybe. "But what's that cake called? It looks tasty but I don't think I've ever seen it bef-" Isagi couldn't even finish before Ness stood up, gleaming with excitement this time, slamming his hands against the table and cutting him off. "Oh my gosh, this one? it's called sachertorte, it's really, super, amazingly tasty and delicious. You should DEFINITELY try it. Like it's so good, I could cry just thinking about it. Oh you must try it, it's the closest I've felt to heaven." Out of nowhere, Ness quickly picked up his spoon and scooped up a mouthful of this so-called sachertorte and brought it up to the boy standing in front of him. "Here, I swear you won't regret it" Before Isagi could refuse, the spoon was stuffed inside his mouth.
"Mpmh… Mmm!" Still chewing the cake, hummed Isagi. "I' rully ISH guo!" Isagi almost choked. "Huh?" Ness tilted his head, confused and worried. But there was a smile on his face. A big, giddy and stupid one. “Heh, you shouldn't talk with food in your mouth, Isagi. And I know, it's really good.” His voice was a lot softer than before, less high-pitched and wasn't squealing. Ah, when Isagi heard his own name coming from the other boy's lips, it felt like the name “Isagi” was covered in honey and sugar. He wondered how a person could make him so happy just by saying his name. "Would it feel as good if it was someone else's name being uttered?" thought Isagi, the sweet taste of the cake disappeared and now turned into bitter jealousy. He loathed how Ness seemed to only care if he liked the cake or not. Ness didn't care that it was just Isagi liking it. It could've been anyone else. Anyone else could've seen Ness smiling. "Ain't no way I'm jealous for a random classmate." But yes, he was jealous. He wanted to punch a wall. Maybe this was the missing meals was getting to him.
Isagi forced himself to swallow the remaining bits of cake, along with the out of nowhere jealousy. And then came another spoonful from Ness. "Say ahhh, Isagi" As embarrassing and random as it was, Isagi decided to comply. Isagi's name was still coated with sugar and honey, now there was a light chocolate drizzle. “I mean, who could refuse a bite of such a delicious cake from such a deli- I mean, lovely person?”
“Damn, I think I understand why you like it so much.” Was what Isagi was supposed to say before Ness could feed him again. But too bad Ness was faster than his lips and it ended up staying as a thought. This process of Ness feeding Yoichi and in turn, not letting him talk went on for a while. Until the entire cake box was finished, Isagi felt filled to the brim. If he ate something else now, like the tray of food he was originally supposed to eat, his stomach would explode, or most likely barf everything out. “And who in their right mind would barf out cake personally fed by Ness?” Isagi failed to look up and see how Ness's reactions had changed. Isagi averted his eyes from his tray, to meet Ness's eyes.
"Ah, uhm. Thank you," Ness looked away, not being able to hold eye contact, seemingly flustered about his past actions. His neck was burning a light shade of red. Isagi never really liked red but he wouldn't mind if his future house, his car, or his bed was in this exact shade.
The silence between the two should've indicated that Ness was waiting for an answer, which he didn't get. Isagi was too busy staring at his neck. Ness felt it getting even more redder when he noticed. “Thank you for trying the cake, I mean. I really appreciate it. And... sorry for forcing you to eat so much." Reality must have struck him when he saw there was no more cake left for him to shove. "No worries! The cake was very good and food today was pretty bland anyway. But I'll have to go now though. I'm too full. Thanks to you too, the cake was so delicious." Isagi couldn't help himself but adore the sight before him, Ness flustered and blushing looking very, very shy. He wasn't thinking much of anything else at this point "Kinda like a puppy after it's been found out, waiting for an ‘tsk tsk ’ "
“Well, then. Uhm, bye Ness. See you soon!” He sudden came down to earth, waved and quickly turned his head to walk out the door, which seemed to stretch out for forever. Agh, Isagi had messed up at that part. Now, Ness would think he was stuck up or something. There was no way Isagi was ever going to see him any time soon. They weren't suddenly friends because of some weird feeding ritual, Ness was just tired and subconsciously did whatever to cheer himself up. Isagi seemed to forget that fact over and over again. It wasn't even a “friends activity” to begin with. Oh, this would better suit something two lovers would do on a date. It kinda, basically, mostly fits in. “Hehe, is that so?” All his worries seemed to suddenly dissipate, the test, Kaiser's bet, future tests, his worsening food schedule, all that simply felt so minuscule compared to now.
Isagi left the cafeteria with a grin so wide his cheeks started to cramp, yet he couldn't put his finger on what exactly made him so glad. Was it the fact this interaction felt a little romantical? Or maybe it was because Ness, who was always cold or indifferent to him, just warmed up to him? (If Isagi didn't mind the part where Ness seemed like he wasn't exactly on his right mind). “Kaiser wasn't here today either! I can somewhat prepare myself before that interaction.” Whatever the case, today's lunch went immensely better than Isagi had thought it would.
One couldn't say the same for Ness though. Isagi forgot his untouched tray of food on his table and Ness’s entire week's worth of cake was gone. “Yeah, I guess it wasn't such a bright idea to bring the whole box here.”
THE END 🔥
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Other notes;
- “Ness’s entire week's worth of cake was gone.” Let's just say he wanted to eat it with a certain someone before and was too lazy/tired to pack it into a smaller box and store the rest safely at home, cuz what if that certain someone actually liked it and wanted more but Ness didn't have any to offer?
- Most of Isagi's thoughts don't make sense, okay? He's drunk on a coping mindset (?) and he's very delusional.
- "Mpmh… Mmm!” Like Isagi was tasting the cake first and the second “mmm” was because he found it good, you understand?