A/N: I actually really like the relationship between Yu and Ai (there's a pun in there if you look closely.) I think people overlook Ai, but I personally think she has more character than Yukiko could ever hope to have. Please don't hate me.

Disclaimer: Don't own jack shit.

Comfort Me: Ai Ebihara

"Don't look at me," she snapped as she placed her perfectly manicured nails in front of her face. Instead of following her command he continued to stare at her with a deadpanned look. "My makeup is all ruined and I don't want anyone to see me like this, okay?" She added and the trembling in her voice made him immediately pivot his head toward the school field down below. From the school rooftop, the soccer team looked so distant and he wondered how Daisuke would react when he realized Yu wasn't there.

The faint smell of flowery perfume brought him back to the crying girl next to him and everything soccer related seemed completely irrelevant. After a few tense moments of hiccups and tears, she finally whimpered, "He said he still had feelings for someone else. Her." Yu remained silent. During their last shopping hooky trip, he did vaguely recall Ai mentioning her upcoming high school romance debut. Whether it was his tired state from carrying her shopping bags or his misinterpretation, Yu never anticipated her so-called debut would turn out to be an actual confession.

Looking back, this explained why Kou seemed so uncomfortable when they briefly crossed paths in the locker room.

"What does she have that I don't?"

"Nothing," he replied still avoiding eye contact, "He just wasn't for you. It can't be helped." Out of his peripheral he could see her looking at him. Turning his head, he was only met with a teary glare.

"That's such a pathetic excuse."

He shrugged. For Yu, it wasn't too hard to comprehend that some situations couldn't be changed. Every transfer was out of his control. It would only cause him more grief if he tried to prevent yet another move. Pulling out his handkerchief, Yu handed it to her and she took it to wipe the mascara running down her cheeks. Then again, it was his submission that led to his solitude. If he had fought his parents then there was a possibility he could have remained at one school long enough to make friends. In a way, she was braver than he ever was.

"You're right," He added with a slight smile and she looked at him hoping he would elaborate. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, he merely said, "You look like a mess."

Instead of a harsh shove or biting glare, she unexpectedly laughed and he smiled again. Honestly, she was more likable when she accepted herself.

"I would kill myself if Kou saw me like this," She stared at the mascara on Yu's handkerchief with a frown, "I would kill myself ifanyone saw me like this."

The door to the rooftop opened and he instinctively put his arm around her to prevent prying eyes from looking at her "hideous state." She peeked up at him with confused and accusing eyes.

"Narukami!" Yu turned around to see Kou looking at him with wide eyes. "U-Uh, Daisuke was looking for you."

Yu glanced down as he heard Ai tensing from hearing Kou's voice. From the curious look on Kou's face it was obvious she wasn't recognizable from his angle.

"Tell him I'm with my girlfriend," Yu deadpanned with a slight shrug. With a flushed face and a thumb's up Kou nodded and turned to walk back inside the school. Finally the expected shove came, and he forgot how strong Ai was as he felt the pressure radiating on his chest.

"Why would you do that?!" She asked while pulling the hairs that were stuck on her lip gloss. Her brows furrowed in frustration.

Placing a finger on her forehead he dryly replied, "You're going to get wrinkles. Plus, he seemed a little jealous." Her face molded into a look of shock and then into a look of acceptance as she folded her arms across her chest.

"I hope you know you have to follow through now," She pulled out her mirror and began reapplying her mascara. Finally, she was back to the Ai he knew. Closing her compact, she looked at him. "Pick me up tomorrow at 6, okay? We're eating at that new French restaurant."

He looked at her as she confidently let him on the rooftop with only her signature hair flip as a wave goodbye. Yu wondered if it was a wise choice to openly let himself be trapped in a nightmarish one-sided relationship.

With a shrug he muttered, "It can't be helped."