Notes: New characters introduced. This won't be as long as Love and Strategies, though. There are a few things here that I am not sure if being used in Japan or part/s of Japanese culture because this is just imaginary. To be clear, this story is just a product of my imagination.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Takumi-kun series, as well as all major and notable characters here. The minor characters not mentioned anywhere in the manga and drama are my fictional work created specifically for this fanfiction.

Credits: To my very dear friend ukelove, whose made-up company name Saki Industries in her (just guessing here) fanfic Beautiful (please read it, it's an entertaining story) I borrowed and used here.

To the Manager of C2 community Stories!, thank you for adding Love and Strategies in your community. I had only found out today, I'm sorry for the late acknowledgment. Please enjoy this sequel as you enjoyed LaS!

SUMMARY: After the Yuki incident, the couple can now finally be at ease while waiting for their upcoming graduation. But a big trouble is seeking to destroy their newfound peace and their relationship.

"Kanpai!" Everyone raised their cups and cheered happily, toasting in celebration of Yuki's recovery. All six of them (Gii, Takumi, Yuki, Misu, Shingyouji and Akaike) were seated at a table in the same café the guys went during Tanabata, earning both Misu and Shingyouji knowing looks from the three other guys. After all, the place is a special one for them. Yamamoto Miyuki, Yuki-chan, is chattering boisterously about how she managed to evade all arranged engagements for her as the boys listened to her with interest, sometimes chuckling and sometimes commenting on the oddity of her ways, except Takumi who already knows and is just observing everyone's reaction with a smile.

"Miyuki-chan, you are so clever!" Shingyouji exclaimed. "I wish I could be as smart as you are." This made everyone laugh, Misu muttering a small "Baka" under his breath. As they continued to eat and drink and talk, Takumi remembered something. "Ne Yuki-chan, now that you've recovered, are you going home already? After all, Yoshinaga-san has been apprehended and your engagement did not push through."

"I've been thinking about it, even when I was still in the hospital. My father visited and talked to me for the first time. And he even apologized for not treating me like a daughter before. So I feel relieved and very happy. Maybe the place I call home will now really be a home for me, for us. Needless to say, I am excited in going home." Yuki said. "But I still want to stay here, even for just a few more days." She continued. "I still can't get enough of you guys! You're my friends!"

Everyone smiled and agreed. Gii, who was sitting next to Takumi, raised his cup and offered another toast. "To Yuki and to friendship! May our bond grow stronger with each passing day. We are all together in everything!" They all raised their cups and shouts of "Hai!" came with the clinking sounds of cups touching each other.

After drinking from his cup, Akaike made a horrible face. "Now that I think about it, I don't think you staying here would be a good idea." He said to Yuki, who jumped from her seat and put a hand on her waist, challenging Akaike. "And why do you say that?" she countered with a raise of her left eyebrow. Smirking, the always stoic but unexpectedly frank guy did not seem fazed by the obvious power projection of the redhead. "Because we need to focus on our last activities in school. With you around, that would be impossible for us, with your loud mouth and meddlesome attitude."

"How mean!" Yuki put another hand on her waist and made a slumping gesture of her shoulders. Then with puppy-like eyes, she looked at each one of them, "Am I really that of a nuisance to you guys?" She asked in her cute voice. As usual, the two gentlest boys (namely Takumi and Shingyouji) was quick to defend her, elbowing their partners to agree with them. Gii, laughing, relented after a few elbow punches from Takumi but Misu merely nodded which made Yuki jump in joy, much to Akaike's dismay. After a few more drinks and food, they decided to go back to the dorms as the next day they have school, except Yuki. On the way back, they commented everything to be alright as the graduating students are only about five weeks away from getting their diplomas.

Later that night, in Gii's room, Takumi is in deep thoughts about his future, their future. When his boyfriend asked what's troubling him, he asked him in return, "Gii, what goals do you have for the future?" in which the blonde simply replied, "To be with you, of course."

Takumi pouted his lips. "And do you have any plans to make it happen? You know I was thinking, after we leave here, we'd be facing the outside world and its opportunities and possibilities, along with the realities. Can we still be together like this?"

Gii moved closer to him and put an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close. "Don't think too much about it. As long as we love each other, we'd be together. We'll make it happen." The brunette rested his head on Gii's shoulders as he sighed, still troubled. "But Gii, don't think it's going to be easy. Our relationship will eventually be exposed. I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about you. What would your family think? Considering your and your family's status, it won't be accepted easily."

"Let me handle them." Gii assured him. "Don't worry yourself about my parents and what other people may think. I know it is going to be tough for us. But I won't give you up no matter what happens. Please don't forget that. In the future, when everything may seem to be falling apart, remember this promise, love. I won't give you up. I would rather have a difficult life ahead with you than live my life without you. So please stay with me. Just be with me through everything ad it will all be alright."

Turning his face up to look at his boyfriend, Takumi raised his hand and gently caressed Gii's cheeks, tears in his eyes but lips smiling, he nodded and whispered a promise before pulling the blonde for a kiss. "As I promised before and as I promise now, I'll be by your side no matter what. I will stay with you forever."

oOo

The next day, as Takumi is wandering in the halls, he caught sight of Yuki walking briskly towards the library, a thick folder in hand. He decided to follow her and got inside the room, sitting next to her in an empty table. The redhead did not even notice him as she opened the folder and started studying the materials with seriousness Takumi have never seen on her before. What is it she's reading? It must be something important and grave to have her looking like that. Deciding not to distract her, he slowly stood up and walked to the next table. Since I'm already here, might as well grab some books too. He was still thinking what to read when Yuki slammed her hand on the table, cursing at the same time. Shocked and somewhat afraid of the outburst, the raven-haired looked around and sighed in relief when he saw the library-in-charge desk empty and only a few students were in the room, who were quick to recover and resumed their activities. "Yuki-chan, is everything alright?" Still fazed, Takumi asked her.

Yuki's head snapped up and her serious face turned into a smiling one when she saw Takumi. "Takumi-kun! So you're here, too? Oh nothing, just a minor problem with Dad's financial accounts." She gestured to the documents she was reading. "His assistant faxed it to me this morning as he wanted me to study and analyze it. I guess I just got a little carried away." She laughed awkwardly.

"I see. So that's why you were so serious and engrossed in those papers you hardly noticed I sat down beside you just moments ago." Takumi replied. "Eh? I'm sorry, Takumi-kun! I really didn't notice you."

Takumi shook his head. "It's alright, Yuki-chan. Those are important documents so you really need to focus. And you said you have to analyze it. That must be tough. I mean, maybe. I don't know about you but finance is really not my best subject." He admitted, quite embarrassed.

The redhead took his hand and pulled him to sit next to her, the same seat he took earlier. "It's difficult at first, Takumi-kun. But once you get the idea, it just clicks into place." Yuki encouraged him. "I had a rough time with this before but eventually, I got used to it. I had to. Because this is required of me for our business." She further explained. Listening intently, the black-haired boy nodded in understanding. Yuki then took a few more documents from the folder. "Talking about business, what do you plan to take in university?" She asked.

Takumi plopped his elbows on the table and cupped his face with his hands. "I want to further my study in the Arts." He spoke softly, as if talking to himself. The girl turned to him. "Hmmm, the Arts?" The boy nodded. "Yes. I want to be able to improve my skills in violin and the piano. I don't have any grand dreams. Ever since I was a child, all I wanted was to play those instruments. And to play them beautifully."

"I see. I think you will be a great artist, Takumi-kun." Yuki encouraged him, smiling then, remembering the documents still in her hands, began to sort them one by one. It was then that Takumi noticed a sheet of paper apart from the rest, a little crumpled. Feeling helpful, he picked the paper and was about to hand it to the redhead when he saw, not mind-boggling figures and numbers, but bold words in large font, 'I LOVE YOU, MIYUKI. Please come home soon. Seichi'

"Eh? Takumi, don't read that!" Yuki grabbed the paper from him and crumpled it in her hands. The action confused Takumi. "Yuki-chan? Why did you—?" "It's just a prank, Takumi-kun. Don't believe what you just read." Yuki said.

"But, Yuki-chan I think, no, I know that it's true. He told us himself, to both Gii and I." he tried to defend Seichi. But the girl wouldn't have any of it. "He's a great deceiver. He showed me kindness all this time and made me fall in love with him. But all that is just his façade. He's a man who has no emotion and one who doesn't know what love is."

I don't think so. He really loves you. But he decided not to press the matter at hand. "Is that so? I'm sorry, Yuki-chan. I didn't mean to read it." Perhaps the earlier 'rejection' she got had greater effects than what I originally thought.

The redhead shook her head, "No, it's nothing. It's not your fault." As quickly as she lost her composure, she got it back again. "Ne, Takumi-kun, would you like to help me with this?" She gestured to the now-sorted documents piled in the table. "I will teach you how I do it. I think you will find it easier with my style." She's back in her bubbly self.

"Okay, I'll help." And so, they spent the remaining time studying financial accounts and doing balancing of assets and liabilities, which Takumi later realized isn't as hard as he thought. Yuki's technique is really effective and efficient. They managed to finish the work before 4 P.M.

Later, as Takumi is making his way to his room, the paging system announced a call for him. Wondering who might be calling him as his parents would be the only ones who would do so, but he knows it is highly unlikely since they only call to 'remind' him of his older brother's death anniversary, he went to the telephone area downstairs. Picking up the phone, he slowly put it in his ear and hesitantly answered, "Hello?"

"Good afternoon. Is this Hayama Takumi-san?" A polite yet distant voice of a male asked him. He doesn't recognize this voice. "Yes, this is Takumi. Who's this?"

"I'm Sumitomo Kagaira, Saki-sama's assistant." The man replied. Takumi gasped. "S-Saki?" Wait, what? "Saki? You mean- "

"Hai! Saki Ryuiichi, CEO and President of Saki Industries. My boss says he wants to meet you as soon as possible. Can you come to Tokyo this weekend?"

"Eh?" Takumi's mind went blank. Meet. Tokyo? "I said my boss wants to meet you. Can you come here to Tokyo this coming Saturday or Sunday? Ah yes, I almost forgot. He wants to meet you alone, so don't bring Giichi-kun with you." Kagaira repeated. Hearing Gii's name mentioned, Takumi froze as he realized who exactly was asking to meet with him.

Gii's father!

A/N: ***depressed*** I am so disappointed in myself. I feel like I'm not getting any better with my writing :( With the end of LaS, my confidence dropped down to negative. Is it obvious with this beginner chapter? If so, please let me know how I fare. Thank you.

By the way, everyone, do you want to see the model/image that inspired me to create Yuki? I can send the link to FF members who'd be the first to review but I think it would be unfair to anonymous reviewers… So here's the deal: If I get 5 reviews (registered and anonymous) in this chapter, I'd post the link to my profile for everyone to see. Fair enough? Then you know what to do :)