The sun was setting, a glowing orb of orange against the sky that was slowly darkening, its clouds a shade of soft pink. From his view from the balcony on the tenth floor of the condominium, Akihiko could see the streets bustling with people making their way home from a hard day's work. A flock of crows flew overhead, filling the skies with the sounds of their cawing. A gentle breeze was blowing, ruffling his platinum hair slightly. It had been three years since March 31st 2010, the day when time had seemed to stop flowing and he was trapped inside the Dorm, along with the other SEES members. Now they had all gone their separate ways, and as far as he knew, the Dorm had been closed down, or perhaps was now inhabited by others.

The cell phone in the pocket of his pants vibrated and a ring tone began to play. Akihiko wondered who it was that was calling him. His college roommate, a foreigner named Ronan Kendall, had left the condominium to do a grocery run. His classes finished an hour earlier than Akihiko's, so the condominium was empty when Akihiko had got back. Ronan had left him a note on the coffee table, explaining where he had gone.

He pulled out his cell phone and stared at the number on the screen. He didn't know anyone with that number…who could it be? Deciding to find out, he answered the call and pressed the phone to his ear.

"Hello? Is this Akihiko Sanada by any chance?"

That voice…it was so familiar…but how could it be her? He had lost contact with her two years ago. She had gone on a business trip to England for five months and contact had slowed to a trickle, finally stopping.

"Yes, this is Akihiko," he replied, going back into his living room and sitting down on the sofa.

"I'm so glad this is the right phone number after all," the familiar voice at the other end of the phone sighed with relief. "I hope you haven't forgotten how my voice sounds like, but in case you have, this is Mitsuru Kirijo."

"I didn't forget, Mitsuru," Akihiko said. "But, I really didn't expect you to call. We lost contact a couple of years ago, and my cell phone got stolen last year so I had to get a new one…how did you find my number?"

"I have connections," Mitsuru told him. "I know I've been busy lately, and I'm sorry about that. It's something that I can't help. I'm expected to take over the Kirijo Group next year, so I have to learn the ropes quickly."

"Yeah, I know…I get the feeling you're not calling me just for small talk, though."

"You guessed right, Akihiko. Are you still in contact with the others?"

"Most of them…Junpei, Ken, Yukari…I don't have Fuuka's contact details."

"That's not a problem," Mitsuru assured him. "I have Fuuka's number. I called you because I'm planning a sort of get-together at my house next week, and I was hoping that all of you will be able to come."

"A get-together? I thought you were in over your head with work."

"I was, but I've been given some time to relax," she explained. "It's been a long time since I last saw everyone, I'd like to see them all again. Will you call them and ask if they're available for next Friday evening?"

"I will," Akihiko promised. "S-so, you're home now, right? Are you busy tonight?"

"Actually, no," Mitsuru admitted. "I don't actually have any plans for tonight, I'm quite free for once."

"If you're not busy…would you mind going out for coffee with me?"

"Coffee…? Of course I wouldn't mind. Where do you want to meet up?"

"Chagall Café, if that's alright with you," said Akihiko.

"Yes, that's fine," Mitsuru agreed. "I'll see you there in half an hour."

**********

About thirty minutes later, Akihiko was pushing open the door of Chagall Café in Paulownia Mall. It was fortunate that the condominium which he lived in was not far from Iwatodai Station. He had taken a train from Iwatodai before boarding a bus to the bus stop just outside Paulownia Mall. He walked over to the counter and ordered a cup of coffee.

Just as he paid for the coffee and was searching for a place to sit, the door to Chagall Café swung open and a young woman entered. Akihiko's eyes stopped skimming the café and rested on the woman. She was stunningly beautiful, her skin flawless and her dark red hair done in a neat, elaborate hairstyle. She wore a knee-length black skirt and a fitted white coat over her white blouse, and white high-heeled shoes, all spotless as if she had just bought them an hour ago. Akihiko could smell the scent of her expensive perfume as she approached him.

The young woman was, undoubtedly, Mitsuru.

"Mitsuru?" he said, sounding a bit awed. He knew that Mitsuru was the same age as he was, twenty-one years old, but she looked very professional and somehow more adult-like. She seemed to be the same as she was three years ago, except that her dark red hair was slightly shorter. Akihiko suddenly felt a bit out of place and very untidy in his jeans and slightly rumpled shirt.

"Akihiko?" Mitsuru's eyes widened slightly. Akihiko looked different from the last time she had seen him years ago, when they had all parted at the Dorm. He was taller, and he had become more muscular. There was some light stubble on his chin, but his piercing grey eyes and platinum hair hadn't changed a bit.

There was a moment of silence as the two old friends simply stared at each other. It felt somewhat odd to see one another again after three whole years apart. Neither one spoke for a while until one of the customers complained that they were blocking the way.

"Er, let's sit down," Akihiko said hastily, moving out of the customer's way and seating himself at the chair by the window. Shortly afterwards, Mitsuru occupied the chair opposite him.

Mitsuru gave a short laugh. "That was quite strange, wasn't it? It's not like any of us to be ignorant of our surroundings like that."

Akihiko chuckled. "I agree, especially you. You don't seem to have changed much over the past few years, I see."

"You've grown taller," she observed. "You've still been training a lot, I presume?"

"I haven't broken that habit," he admitted, sub-consciously stirring his coffee. Then he noticed that Mitsuru hadn't bought anything to drink. "Do you want me to buy you some coffee? Or maybe you'd like tea instead?"

"Tea would be nice," Mitsuru nodded and smiled at him.

Akihiko got up from his chair and went back to the counter to order cup of tea for Mitsuru. Mitsuru looked out the window and drummed her fingers on the table-cloth covered surface, lost in her thoughts.

"He hasn't changed at all, really," she thought. "He's still the same old Akihiko that I knew. I suppose that's good. I'm not sure I would have liked it if he changed…"

At the counter, Akihiko wondered if Mitsuru still liked chocolate cake as much as she did last time. He bought a slice of chocolate cake too and brought it over to their table with Mitsuru's cup of tea.

"Is that chocolate cake?" she asked when he set down the plate with the slice of cake on it. Akihiko nodded as he sat back down in his chair. "So you remembered," Mitsuru said, with a small smile. "I had thought you'd forgotten…"

"How could I forget that fact? You like chocolate cake about as much as Yukari loves her chocolate bonbons," Akihiko grinned teasingly.

"Yukari and her bonbons…" Mitsuru echoed. "Now that is something I don't think any of us has forgotten. So, how have you been, Akihiko? You are attending college now, right?"

"Yeah, I am," said Akihiko. "It's just within easy driving distance of Iwatodai Station…I didn't want to go to the trouble of going somewhere miles away from here."

"But, why?" Mitsuru asked. "Someone like you surely must have attracted the eye of scouts that came to watch your matches back at Gekkoukan. Surely you've been offered scholarships to great universities?"

"To be honest, I have," Akihiko admitted, taking a sip of coffee. "But I turned them all down. Ken is still studying at Gekkoukan, you know. He doesn't have any family, so I'm the only one who can look after him now. That's why I chose to go to college nearby. So I could check on Ken sometimes and make sure he's alright. He's staying at a dormitory not far from here, and during the holidays I take him to stay at my place."

"Don't you share your condominium with another college student?"

"I do – his name's Ronan Kendall," he explained. "He's a foreign student, from England. Ronan's a nice guy, we get along well, but we're opposites when it comes to our personalities. Ronan doesn't work out much, he just goes for a brief jog around the park once a week and that's it. Most of his free time is spent in front of his laptop. Ronan doesn't mind Ken staying over during the holidays."

"What about you, though?" Mitsuru questioned, pouring a packet of sugar into her tea. "You're not going to hold yourself back just for Amada, are you? You have a bright future ahead, with your talents and potential."

"I'm not," Akihiko assured her. "Ken will be graduating in a few years. After I've finished my education here, I'll get a job and go on living where I do now. Once Ken's enrolled into college, I'll be able to leave and go to another university to continue my education."

"Well, have you planned which university you'll be attending next?"

"Actually, not yet…"

"I have an idea, Akihiko," Mitsuru said, sitting up in her seat. "The Kirijo Group doesn't own just Gekkoukan High. The company also owns a number of universities and colleges here around this area. The Tatsumi University is just within driving distance of Gekkoukan High. It's further than the college you're currently attending, but you will be offered a better education and more opportunities will be available to you once you've graduated. At the same time, you'll be able to keep an eye on Amada."

"I've never really considered that before, since I haven't thought too much about where to go next," Akihiko mused, running his fingers through his platinum hair in thought. "It sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll probably take the suggestion, though."

"I'll be able to pull some strings and get you enrolled in advance," Mitsuru told him, "but don't expect special treatment from any of the lecturers there. The Tatsumi University is also offering a full scholarship – it'll save you a lot of money if you manage to get accepted, so you should send in a scholarship application."

"The same Mitsuru I knew," Akihiko said, more to himself than to Mitsuru. "Always thinking three steps ahead with a full plan in mind. That's always been one of your best qualities, Mitsuru. I'm sure it'll help you out a lot when you take over the Kirijo Group."

"Speaking of taking over…" her voice trailed off but she quickly continued her sentence, "I haven't told you about this yet, Akihiko, but…they're expecting me to marry the son of another huge company, so that the two companies will be able to work together in harmony. It will be very profitable and beneficial to the company."

Mitsuru had mentioned that she might have to go through an arranged marriage once she took over her father. Akihiko had known it, he had expected it, but for some reason, it still came as some sort of surprise. His cheeks became red as he said in what he hoped to be a casual, nonchalant voice, "Oh, really? Do you really need to go through with it, though…?"

Mitsuru was uncomfortably silent for a few moments before she gave her answer. "Not really, however…it would be better for the Kirijo Group if I did. I can turn down the proposal if I want to, but they are counting on me, they all depend on me to successfully lead the Kirijo Group…the way my father did before me. I don't want to be an unsuccessful leader and shame my father's name. Although it goes against my emotions, it is difficult for me to refuse the marriage."

Akihiko tried to fight back the urge to tell her not to go through with the arranged marriage. If Mitsuru wanted to accept the proposal, that was entirely her decision, and Akihiko played no part whatsoever in influencing that decision. He had known Mitsuru for years, and to him Mitsuru was a very close friend, sort of like a sister, but something more. It was hard to describe what Mitsuru was to him. Akihiko took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"It is your decision to make, Mitsuru," he said quietly, looking at the dark liquid in the cup before him, avoiding her mahogany eyes. "Whatever it is that you decide on, I'll support your decision."

Mitsuru didn't know why she was feeling hurt at Akihiko's words and the way he said them. She could tell that he was completely against her decision to accept the proposal and marry someone she barely knew and certainly had no feelings for. But why was she feeling so hurt though? It wasn't as if she needed Akihiko's approval to confirm her decision.

"T-thank you, Akihiko," she said quietly, and her voice shook a little. She lifted the cup to her lips and sipped her tea. Then she set it back down in its saucer and looked at Akihiko. "I can tell you really don't want me to go through with my decision, however. If you don't mind my asking, I'd like to know the reason."

Akihiko blinked and looked up from his coffee cup to meet Mitsuru's gaze. The question caught him off guard. He hadn't expected Mitsuru to ask him why – he himself couldn't quite fathom the real reason.

"I just want you to be happy, Mitsuru," he whispered. "You don't love that man, and a marriage needs true love to be successful. He may love you, Mitsuru, but that won't do any good if you don't love him in return. I'm just afraid that if you marry him you'll end up unhappy and regretting your decision later on…and I don't want that to happen."

He got up suddenly. "I'm sorry," Akihiko said, looking away. "I've gotta go now. I just remembered something that I needed to do." He practically ran out of the café.

Mitsuru got up and ran after him, but by the time she had left Chagall Café, Akihiko had disappeared out of sight.