A Flavor to Love

2-2

Kirana stood in front of the main building of the university where she was going to study. With his autumn clothes consisting of pink dress patterned with yellow flowers, black coat long thighs, and, a pair of matching leggings with her coat and khaki brown boots are in tune with the strappy bag she uses making her look beautiful and graceful.

"University of Tokyo..," Desis Kirana. He breathed in the cold air and blew it away slowly. Not in vain he learned desperately to enter the campus of pride that became his goal since long though it was delayed a year due to a fatal accident that hit him. I don't know why every time he tried to remember it his head suddenly hurt.

"Where?" The call of someone with a light voice made Kirana turn her head and find a cute girl with a ponytail that is not too high wearing a white shirt, a deep blue coat and sneaker-clad jeans stood beside Kirana while smiling gently. Does he know this girl? Who yeah?

"You're Kirana Kiseki right? My rival in winning the number one position in High School first?" Ask enthusiastically.

Kirana scrunched her forehead looking confused. He tried to remember who the girl in front of him was now. Come on, my head, help this owner of yours get rid of his amnesia a little.

"You forgot about me? How upright..," The girl ruffled her waist and pursed her lips to make her cute and adorable. "Besides you my rival we're also best friends know!"

Slowly an image of Kirana's closeness to the girl flashed in her head. From quarreling to determining which formula to put in the IPA math problem that always makes a headache until he cried due to a fight with his father.

"Luna's? Luna Putri Putranto?" Kirana's heart is full of spirit. He hugged his best friend. "How are you Miss Jutek?"

"How are you too Miss stubborn?" Luna returned Kirana's embrace was no less tight. He thought he had lost his friend. The girl in his arms suddenly lost the news since the day of high school graduation plus her family problems increasingly make herself far from her best friend. The cold feeling that had been lingering in his heart slowly warmed up. They laughed together and chose to sit on a park bench adjacent to the main building of the University of Tokyo.

"I'm good, just have a problem with an accident and a little.amnesia," Kirana grimaced explaining her condition which she thought was ridiculous until she forgot about her best friend.

"It's only fitting that you disappear from circulation and that your social media is inactive, I think you're returning to Japan secretly and leaving me alone. I was about to label you as a former best friend to know" said Luna. "By the way about Japan, what are you doing here?"

"It's my first day here and I don't choose regular classes with native Japanese here but international classes."

"Oh yeah, what a coincidence! It's also my first day of college here and taking international classes" Sahut Luna excitedly said. "I managed to get a Mobunkagakusho scholarship from the Japanese Embassy a year ago and during this year I took an intense Japanese course while part-time at the Coffee Shop."

"His pleasure..," Kirana tightly grasped both of Luna's hands. "Then I'll make sure we can be in class again like we used to."

"Hey, how about after class after you stop by the cafe where I work? Counting my treaties to celebrate our little reunion?" Luna got out of her seat after convincing herself that her luggage had been put all in her backpack.

"Agreed!" Kirana follows and they walk hand in hand into the main building where they will start their first day as students.

***

The final bell of the lecture has sounded. Now is the time for students to be free from the hours of study and get ready with non-formal activities. Some take extracurriculars, study and work on assignments in the library, part time jobs, play in game centers and karaoke places or choose to go straight home. As for Kirana...

"Basketball or karate?" Kirana walked towards the club room she was interested in without paying attention to the road in front of her. His view is more busy weighing the club he wants to enter.

"Austenance!!" Suddenly Park Ha Neul appeared while hugging Kirana from behind.

"Heeekk, sick Ha Neul.," Kirana tries to escape from the lunge Park Ha Neul which makes her almost asphyxiated. They met at an international student and student meeting. This was the reason why Kirana liked the international class. He can get to know and exchange cultures between one country and another. Unexpectedly he could be close to Park Ha Neul, a Japanese-Korean model who he knew only from magazines he often bought. Seeing the original she was amazed, not only beautiful but also friendly. Very different from his image in the photo that seems cold and haughty. Although for his fashion style is really all out outside of the world of Kirana who was educated with the courtesy of Javanese manners from his grandparents in Indonesia.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Park Ha Neul who had walked on the left side of Kirana. With free clothes in the form of short-sleeved shirts collared orange, white shorts parachute material ten centimeters above the knee and a pair of basketball shoes in the same color as the shirt he wore. The girl was seen wanting to do club activities one of the sports available on the campus. "Where's Luna? You weren't with him today?"

"Luna went to odd jobs and I was choosing the extracurricular club I wanted to enter. Basketball or karate? Both of them I like very much, when I was in school in Indonesia, I could choose both because the training schedule did not clash. But if here it seems like it can't be..," Kirana let out a long sigh. He scratched his head with a wooden pencil that he used to scribble the paper he was carrying.

"How about basketball!" Persuade Park Ha Neul who swiftly brought or rather pulled Kirana's small arm forcefully towards the basketball hall. When he opened the door...

KYAA!

Akio-kun ! Kako!!!

YAAAAA!!

Kazuto-kun!

YAAAAA!!! Akio-sama!!

Kirana widened her eyes when she saw the scene before her. A group of frenzied girls screamed hysterically calling out the names of Akio and Kazuto who were competing as opposing camps. They fight each other for orange round balls and compete to increase the score for their respective teams regardless of the sound echoing with a volume louder than before. Kirana rolled her eyes lazily looking at the sight. It was as if the beautiful serial comic published by the country of Sakura that he often read incarnated into real. Why the hell since his arrival to Japan he always sees things that are excessive? A pair of beautiful irises were glaring towards Park Ha Neul as if protesting against her who had deliberately brought her here.

"Well you explain what you mean to offer me admission to the basketball club while I have to get this sight that gives me eye pain and earache?" Kirana Protest.

"Hehehe, I'm just testing." Luna nodded showing her rabbit teeth. "I introduce yes, the black-haired man with the sharpest glare is Akio Fujiwara. With a very handsome and athletic physique, note, VERY HANDSOME and intelligence and abundant wealth, making him one of the men of interest of women here. While the brown spike-haired man who was no less handsome and rich was Kazuto Hoshi, he was my fiancee. Rarely do you see them in public areas like this..."

"Well what does this have to do with me Ha Neul?” Kirana sighed and turned around about to leave the basketball hall. "Know with them only no, so why take care of them?” He wagged his five fingers rejecting Park Ha Neul's assumption. "I'm just a simple person who doesn't like everything that's excessive. If the condition of the basketball club is crowded like this it seems better I choose a karate club only. Dizziness if you have to see such a terrible sight every day! Thank you!"

"Hey Onna!" Suddenly a man with a sexy baritone voice called Kirana 'Onna' which means the woman and pulled the collar behind the khaki brown coat Kirana wore made the girl stop her steps because she felt suffocated. The voice sounded increasingly closer behind Kirana. "Try to say again what do you mean by the sight that makes you sore eyes and earache?" She faintly smelled the special fragrance that she longed to burst from the body of this girl before her. Could it...

Kirana who was upset that she had been treated like a guilty person finally turned her head towards the owner of the voice. He immediately turned his body and looked back at the man who called him Onna. Ooo..., so this is Akio Fujiwara, damn it! How dare he insult and treat me like a useless item! His words in the heart. To him, the call with the voice made him feel humbled. Want it he invites the man to fight one on one if he does not remember himself just a week set foot on this campus. But..., can he hold the promise to be the submissive child his brother wants? Where is the Javanese manners that have been painstakingly educated by his grandparents?! Akhhh...., why the hell should he keep his attitude just because he is a member of the Matsumoto family?! he was frustrated in his heart.

Kirana stared at Akio's figure from head to toe intensely. Somehow his heart said that he had met this man, but where? Kirana is preoccupied with her own thoughts and ignores Akio. Hey, what are you thinking Kirana Kiseki Matsumoto? At times as important as this can still comment on your opposite sex! You stupid Kirana!

Akio clenched both of his palms and curled his teeth holding back his irritation from feeling indifferent. Just this time there was a girl who rejected his charm. Usually they will blush his face if he approaches it. Yet this... "Hey Onna, try to say once again what do you mean by the sight that makes you sore eyes and earache?" The repeated questions that Akio asked the strange girl in front of him finally got a response from the girl.

"Yes, it hurts my eyes and ears!" Kirana was surprised by what she just said. Looks like he's been dousing kerosene into the fire. It felt like he hit his head with a hammer to fix his brain sensor that had sent the wrong words to his mouth.

"Is that?" His pair of black eyes stared coldly and intimidatedly. His position was getting closer towards Kirana. "What if I challenge you to play basketball? If you win, you can ask me anything, but if you lose, you have to follow all my will?"

"Good!" Without a second thought Kirana accepted the man's challenge. Apparently her pride as a woman who feels underestimated makes this beautiful girl more selfish than her logic. Shouldn't he know that no matter how strong women are, they will always lose and be subject to men?

"Kirana, are you sure you want to do it?" It seems Park Ha Neul is worried about her new friend. He shook the body of Kirana who had already risen in blood. "You're challenging Akio Fujiwara, the man who earned the MVP or Most Valuable Player in the championship last summer and!"

"No problem for me!" Kirana said steady and left her pink backpack and coat to Park Ha Neul. Not to forget he borrowed the basketball shoes Park Ha Neul because if he forced himself to use boots to play basketball it was tantamount to suicide!

He tied up his long hair like Park Ha Neul. With a steady step, he entered the basketball court where Akio had been standing waiting for him alone.

"Hey Onna, are you sure you're using your knee-length dress to play basketball? What if your clothes are exposed and your underwear is shown?" Akio said sarcastically with a faint smile. "You intend to give the men a free view of the beautiful scenery here?"

"Hahahaha." Of course, everyone in the hall laughed at his words.

"Just relax, I'm wearing thick warm leggings that can't be torn, so you and the others will never be able to see my underwear." Because Kirana basically has a pretty acute indifference no matter what others say, she just responds to Akio's sharp innuendo casually and makes the people who laughed at her fall silent. He saw the man in front of him. Their height difference was quite significant, twenty sentimental. But he did not care, as long as this man drew his insulting words earlier. "And one more thing, my name is not ONNA, but Kirana, Kirana Kiseki!"

"Whatever," Akio rolled his eyes lazily in response to Kirana's words. "The rules are easy, whoever manages to collect the numbers up to ten first is the winner."

"Deal!"

"Kazuto!" Call Akio with a slightly commanding tone.

"Yes-yes, I understand." Kazuto who had since noticed the debate between the two people of different gender could only sigh forced to engage with the childish attitude of Akio. He stood in the middle of Akio and Kirana while carrying a basketball in his hand. His entire life held the status of being the closest person to the Fujiwara only child, only this time witnessed the prospective target of the impingement of the young master was a girl. Hmm.., this is going to be interesting!

"You ready?"

"Yes!"

PRIIIT!

The sound of a whistle that Kazuto blew signified the match was starting. He immediately threw the basketball up.

THE PLAQUE! Unexpected by Akio, Kirana manages to retrieve the ball first. He who has a lighter and nimble body immediately ran towards the basketball ring behind Akio and landed the basketball perfectly into the ring using its beautiful lay-up to make the entire audience interesting gasp breath.

THE SNACK!

"1-0!" Kirana grinned triumphantly and whispered next to Akio.

"Curtain!" Akio picked up the ball and dribble it in front of Kirana. "A new game begins.., Onna..."

"I've told you I pu.." Kirana who was provoked by her emotions involuntarily weakened her defense to Akio. Akio swiftly took advantage of the fatal weakness and immediately darted far closer to Kirana's basketball hoop and...

ZRANK!!

A dunk was created hard from Akio's sturdy hands.

"1-1!" Akio smiled cynically towards Kirana.

"You cheated!!" Kirana's screams don't take it. He pointed the index finger of his right hand at Akio as a form of protest. "You're using my emotions!"

"You should have known from the beginning that Onna, in every game we have to use tactics" Akio brought the ball he put in and threw it at Kirana. "Use your brain, not your emotions!"

"Akhhh..., hammmm!!!" Destroyed was his brother's order for him to keep the attitude according to the meaning of his name, Kirana, which means beautiful and graceful.

"Kazuto, can't you stop them?" Park Ha Neul said.

"I put my hands up on this matter." Kazuto answered while raising both his hands in front of his chest like a suspect who was put on a gun by the police. "They're both stubborn."

"But pity Kirana, Kazuto..," Park Ha Neul tugged at Kazuto's moss-green t-shirt. "The girl came from the common people who knew nothing about Akio. If that girl makes Akio angry then..."

"Wouldn't that be interesting?" Kazuto glanced mischievously towards his fiancee.

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you want revenge for your cousin's sister who was almost played by Akio?" Kazuto chuckled at his beloved fiancee who was standing right beside him. "It looks like this time he is facing a tough and hard-to-conquer opponent. Honestly, I want to make Akio insyaf from his bad behavior all this time because from my inner heart it is very sad to see him like that."

Park Ha Neul chuckled at the expression Kazuto showed. He knew that his fiancee loved Akio Fujiwara as much as his own brother. Well.., it may be his idea, taking revenge to make Akio stop breaking girls' hearts would not hurt. True Kazuto said, he who always saw Akio was relaxed and not easily provoked his emotions suddenly became blood riding just because of a new child named Kirana Kiseki. It was too early for him to draw any conclusions. He will be patient and enjoy every development of their relationship.

YAAAA!!!

Shouts re-echoed inside the basketball hall as the scoreboard showed a score of 7-8 for Akio's superiority diverting talk between Kazuto and Park Ha Neul. The spectators who had originally underestimated Kirana's ability turned to support her. Not a few were amazed by his figure who was very tempting adam. It seems like they have found a new idol that they can worship considering that most of the students on campus are the fangirls Akio and Kazuto.

"Hoshis...Hosh..," There was a breath of hunting from Kirana as if she was out of breath. There was sweat that started flooding his face. Occasionally he fanned his body with his ten fingers to lower the adrenaline and emotional tension that ambushed him. Damnit damnit! It was hard to keep up with the speed this man had! Has he never practiced basketball in a year? The pecker is in the heart.

"Already, just give up, however the nature of the woman is always losing to the man, "Akio draws closer to Kirana while dribble the ball.

"Shut up! I don't need your comment!" Kirana snatched the ball from Akio's hand violently.

"Woo..., just relax Onna..."

Kirana had not been able to avoid the defense Akio, heard the sound of the door Hall opened loudly.

BRAAKKK!!

"What the fuck are you all?!" The sound of a heavy voice with an angry tone made all eyes look towards the owner of the voice including Akio and Kirana. "Not practicing it makes a fuss here!"

"Sir Coach Shinzo!" All members of the basketball team stood guard when the coach's deadly gaze looked around the basketball hall making all residents who were there not wrinkled. This famously fierce coach did not hesitate to give a punishment that made his students grimace in fear. Meanwhile, Kirana who lost her balance to take the ball unconsciously hit Akio's body and finally they fell together on the field with Kirana's position on top of Akio. A split second his pair of hazel eyes were captivated by Akio's dark eye color. Breathing choked. Oh my...

"Hey you two are in the field! Don't make fun there!" Shouted Shinzo in an angry tone. "Quick out the field immediately!!"

Hearing a voice full of anger and orders from the man who was about forty years old made Kirana immediately rise from her position and out of the field approached Park Ha Neul. In his heart he was really grateful to the fierce coach for making him realize from a pair of eyes belonging to Akio who had almost drugged and made his heart beat fast.

"Yahjiwara! What are you doing lingering there?! Come here!"Shinzo said in a high tone.

"Tch, Yes," With a lazy step he approached the coach. He already imagined what punishment would be received from his coach. He looked at Kirana's small back and patted her gently making Kirana startled in silence. "I won the Onna.., and you owe me." His whisper in the girl's ear made him gasp. He secretly sips the scent coming out of Kirana's body to make sure that the girl is an unknown girl who has been interfering with her thoughts lately. Fragrant blend of lavender and vanilla, same fragrance and same name...

"Your victory doesn't know!" Kirana who felt that she had not yet lost responded to Akio, again in a tone against him. Why is it like this? Never once could he act this rashly in response to others, wanting to feel like he was flushing his head with cold water to get his emotions back to normal levels. He had to record in his memory that keeping a distance from the man was one thing he had to do if he wanted the world of his lectures for the next four years to be enjoyed without any significant problems.

"Lose still lose," Akio put on his flat face back and passed Kirana who still showed a face holding back in annoyance. He smiled with satisfaction because he had managed to make the girl look at him. "So, what's the punishment for me, Coach? Because they broke the rules?"

"Run around the field 100 times!" The coach replied with a fierce expression. "Hoshi too!"

"Ekkhhh, why should I run too?" Kazuto's protest did not accept as he pointed to himself.

"Because you've let Fujiwara do the troublemaking!"

"Ukkhhh.., Akio fucking! Look out for you yaaa!!" He shouted to Akio who had preceded him to run. This is my reward for you fool! Umbat Akio inwardly and casually carried out the punishment that made his friends think a thousand times to make his coach angry. Not just angry already sadistic how angry is this?  It's hideous! Even an Akio Fujiwara alone did not dare to go against him.

"Well, beautiful lady, please tell me about yourself. You seem to be good at basketball?" Coach Shinzo caught both of Kirana's wrists.

Well.., start the disease again... His entire protege only sighed at the behavior of his trainer who could not bear to not approach and seduce the beautiful girl. Forgive me.., sangar-sangar turned out to be a basket-eye!

"Eh, no, I." Kirana had not yet finished her sentence, Park Ha Neul spoke up and cut her off.

"Yes Coach, her name is Kirana Kiseki, she's a second-wave freshman this year" casually embracing Kirana's shoulders and introducing her to the coach. "As you can see, this boy has a great ability! So it was immediately accepted sir was in our squad."

"It is with great pleasure Park Ha Neul" Coach Shinzo patted Park Ha Neul's head proudly for getting a good seed for his daughter's basketball team.

"You hear yourself? My coach immediately accepted you without the frills of the test!" Overly excited to get a positive response to Kirana's presence on the women's basketball team, Park Ha Neul shook Kirana's body a little hard.

Kirana patted her forehead. Dismissed his plan to avoid the annoying guy by escaping into the karate club. Papa..., Mama.., Niisan.., it seems like my life on this campus will be a lot of trouble!! Hueeeee... He was crying in his heart.

***