Disclaimer: Don't own MSLN.

What's with this tense silence? This place is a café and yet it's so quiet. Why is she looking at me like that? I… Didn't do anything, right? Why did I agree to come here with her?! Ah Yagami Hayate, you dug your own grave. I turned my attention to the window, hoping for something to distract me from the stare that Carim is sending me. Just why is she staring at me like that anyway?!

"You were avoiding me." That wasn't said loud but it made me jump.

"W-Was I? I, uh… Might have been busy, that's all." What am I getting nervous for? It's just Carim!

"Both you and I know that's a total lie. Rein-chan told me your schedule was quite free ever since you were discharged from the hospital!" She sounds a bit unlike herself. Is she… Mad at me for lying to her?

I didn't dare meet her eyes. I just can't find the courage to. It's been a week since I left the hospital and really just like she said I had nothing to do yet I always decline her invitations to go somewhere with her. I'm not even sure why I'm avoiding her. I don't seem to understand myself these days. I want her to acknowledge me in a sense that's more than a little sister yet I don't want her to know. My thoughts always seem to contradict itself these days. Does this happen to everyone who is in love or is it just me?

"Hayate-chan, tell me why!" She's speaking louder now. At least louder than normal talk but strange how no one around us seem to care.

"I-I don't even know myself. Sorry Carim, I'll… See you later." I placed some money on the table and left. I don't even know why I'm running away. Why did I need to run away? Even though there was no need to run away, I did anyway.

I wonder when was it that I have become a person who always runs away. When I first found out my own feelings for her? Maybe it was after the JS incident. Or was it when I first nearly lost her? I don't know anymore nor do I want to know now.

Stopping abruptly, I looked up at the sky the moment I felt a few big drops of water land on my arm. Even the sky pities me. I found my shelter under a tree after I realize that I had wandered into a nearby park. A few minutes later along with a few rumbles from the sky, it poured. Thankfully the tree I chose has enough leaves to keep me more dry than wet. I can't wet my arm after all or it'll be bad for the wound under these bandages.

I had the idea of asking someone to pick me up but sitting under this tree and listening to the rain fall with an occasional rumble of thunder feels nice. It's like the rain is trying to wash away my contradicting thoughts and leaving only one solid decision. I really wish it could but that's not going to happen anytime soon of course. I sat there for at least ten minutes watching the cars go by and listening to the rain fall.

What was I trying to achieve by running away? That question came back to me repeatedly but no matter how hard I try to answer it, the answers always comes back to me with the label 'excuse'. I really should confess to her. If this goes on, I might go crazy. If only... If only these feelings never surfaced then I won't be like this.

Sighing, I leaned back onto the trunk of the tree. Stupid contradictive feelings. I scowled to no one in particular but then someone behind me spoke.

"Scowling like that doesn't help, Hayate-chan." The voice was oddly familiar. But it can't be her. She was back in the café and well… It's pouring right now. No one in their right mind would be out here willingly. Says the one that's already out here enjoying the sound of rain and thunder, right what a nice thought Yagami Hayate!

"C-Carim?!" I turned around anyway and it seems I really wasn't hearing things. "Are you crazy? It's pouring right now and you just ran out into the rain?"

"Says the one who ran from me." I was rendered speechless by her words. I wasn't even sure if it's possible for me right now to think of some good comeback.

"Uwah, that hurts to hear Carim something like that." I'm trying to lighten this thick air around us.

"Well, why were you avoiding me? I want to know… Was it something I did?" Was that desperation I hear in her voice? Desperate for what though? An answer?

I stared at her for a bit from where I'm sitting. I guess this is the only chance I have be it rejection or acceptance. Hopefully it'll be acceptance. I motioned her to sit next to me and when she did I started explaining to her at the best of my ability softly.

"You know, for the past few months I've been thinking a lot. Things like when I told Fate-chan about just what kind of person you are to me and all that. Then suddenly there was that incident where the Church had somehow taken over and all. That time was probably one of the scariest things I have ever experienced. Seeing you in there with that bunch of S+ ranked mages and there was nothing we could have done until a plan was drawn."

I took a pause then and shift a bit to lean closer to her.

"Then it finally came to me just exactly who you are to me. You aren't just an older sister to me like what I first said to Fate-chan nor are you a best friend that I can speak my worries to. To me, right now my feelings point me to one thing. Right now you are without a doubt someone that I can call the one I love. Not like a family kind of love but as a woman. I-I won't tell you to answer me or anything. I just feel that right now is the only time that I have the courage to tell you."

As if right on time, the rain had slowed to a light drizzle and I stood up. I looked at Carim but she seems to be at a loss of what to do.

"Well then, I guess I should go. I have a meeting to attend at headquarters in an hour. Thanks for listening to me."

Even though Carim had never spoken throughout my confession nor did she speak after it, I think I can count that as a rejection. That look on her face, I wish that I haven't confessed to her after all. As I walked away, I could feel my eyes sting with tears yet I need to stay strong. I can't run away any longer and I won't do that too.

Wiping the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand, I lifted my head a bit and took a step, probably a step away from Carim both physically and mentally.

What... was that?! A somewhat sequel to Thinking and it came out differently than I first imagined it. This marks my second posted Hayate x Carim fic! Congrats to self. I'm undecided if I should make another sequel to this or not but I'm quite satisfied with this story. Thanks for reading!