Hello, All! I've awakened and I'm back with a heartfelt tale.

Of Mochi.

This is the Before. Before Mochizou leaves Tamako to figure out Skype. Hmm.

Before

Bittersweet

It was exactly 6:45 A.M. on a warm Tuesday morning when Mochizou pulled out a letter from the university he had applied to from his mailbox.

This is definitely bitter, he thought staring down at the envelope. The results would be in this envelope; telling whether or not he would attend the university in Tokyo.

He remembered that day at the platform. He was only going to take an entrance exam and come right back. Mochizou was finally going to track Tamako down and clear things up. He was going to confess to her again and again until maybe she wouldn't have anything strength left to run away. He never, in his wildest dreams, would he imagine Tamako actually running towards him.

Mochizou!

But the voice he heard was not the out-of-breath Tamako from that day but it was Tamako from the balcony. He turned feeling his heart almost ripping out of his chest and he shoved the envelope in his bag.

"G-good morning!" She called. Her glasses still on but her hair tied up with her signature mochi.

Heat spread over his cheeks. After all these years, he though, after all the 'Good morning's, this one was different. He noticed how Tamako would linger more often when she said her greetings, when she would normally run off to finish getting ready for class. But he was not innocent of this crime, he would linger too. It was worth being a few minutes late for class.

Mochizou could only walk her halfway to school; this was the rule that Midori had claimed. Other rules were: Tamako eating with them, and walking home with friends after practice. Mochizou was not a selfless person; his time with Tamako was precious but what Midori did not know was that Tamako packed lunch for him every day and they often spent time by the river where he confessed.

Tamako squeezed his sleeve right before she ran off to join her friends. Even this amount of affection made him a little dizzy and he covered his mouth to hide a blush.

They met after dinner by the river.

Mochizou was already there, sitting on the grass rather the steps. He ran his hands through the blades of grass and marveled at their calming feeling. Tamako's quick footsteps on the stone stair shook him from his trance. At the last step, she made a small hop towards him.

"E-Evening!" She squeaked.

His eyes linger at the small beads of sweat that had formed on her temple, She must've ran here, he moved his hand at the empty spot beside him and motioned for her to sit. She blinks almost confused but finds Mochizou's gentle smile and a shade of crimson spreading on his face. She tucks her skirt under her and finds he place only inches beside him.

One day, she thinks, that space won't exist. Her face grows hot and she presses her cool hand against her cheek.

"Today, I . . ." Mochizou begins tugging on the collar of his shirt, the night sure was warmer than the morning, "I thought the mochi you packed in my lunch was really cute."

"Oh! That." She laughs, "It was supposed to be you as a mochi. And the other one . . . was me."

He grins, "I guessed as much."

"How different do you think our lives would be if we could be mochi?" Her eyes unfocus developing the dreamy look she gets whenever she thinks of mochi.

He raises a thin eye brow, he's had enough experience with Tamako's strange thoughts on Mochi that it rarely shocks him.

"I think it would be great. Only it'll be a little hard to walk, dance or hold hands-" His voice trails off as his eyes linger on the beauty mark on Tamako's pale neck –Oh how he wants to travel the warmth of those planes. Tamako turns feeling his gaze and her blush becomes more evident.

"Mochizou?"

He realizes his mouth is slightly open and quickly sits up in a rigid position, "Being a Mochi would be great!"

She grins.

That's when he remembered the letter the university had sent him was in his bag sitting behind him. As he shuffled through his bag, Tamako brought out a lunch box delicately wrapped and placed it on her lap.

"What did you bring?" Mochizou asked pulling out the crumpled envelope.

"If you tell me what you brought I'll show you." She smiled timidly.

Mochizou tasted something bitter in the back of his throat. He knew Tamako could be a bit dense at times but, when it came to caring for others, nothing escaped her. Of course she had seen the letter in his hand at the morning. I'm such an idiot.

He showed her letter and her smile stayed, "It's the results from my Exam to Tokyo."

"Well, open it!" Her voice rang with excitement.

His hands tugged at the opening and pulled out the piece of paper folded inside. He looks up at her, her face glowing with happiness for him, but he knew from her trembling hands that she felt the same anguish that he did.

He bit his lip and unfolded it. The emblem of the school was bold at the top and he read the start of it to himself and as he read on his lips starting moving.

"-We are happy to announce your acceptance in our school. . ." He whispered

So bitter. So very bitter.

"Tokyo's far," He hears Tamako murmur, "Tokyo's so far away."

He resists the urge to pull her close and instead says, "I know."

Her gaze falls to the wrapped box on her lap. He tosses the letter aside and places his hand over hers. The shaking stops and she looks up at him. She feels a slight stinging in her eyes from the tears threatening to fall but his steady golden gaze soothes her and she shoves the box towards him.

"Mochi! They're mochi," She squeaks, "We're trying a new flavor for fall and I wanted to give you some."

Mochizou grins and unwraps the box. The mocha inside were carefully packed with the familiar touch of Tamako. He takes one and offers the box to Tamako.

Her hand reaches for the biggest one and takes a bite of it. Her eyes close in happiness and she hums with the joy of the sweet mochi. He notices a small piece of it by Tamako's mouth and forgets all about the one in his hand. His body moves forward, almost on its own. She opens her eyes just in time to feel the warmth of his mouth on her cheek. She stares wide-eyes and her face burns hot. He pulls back slightly and sees his reflection in them.

"Sweet." He says.

Very Sweet