Tangled hair, parted lips, and gleaming, purposeful eyes; she was running like her life depended on it. Utter disbelief coursed through body when she heard the news. They must have been mistaken, because he wouldn't... He wouldn't... Tears started to brim on the corners of her eyes, because she knew. She knew that he would.

She finally saw him by the trail way. She called, he heard, but he didn't turn his head. At least, not until she was able to cling on to him. The tears wouldn't stop as she begged. She begged him to stay.

His heart clenched as hard as she gripped his arm. He wanted to tell her what she wanted to hear. He wanted to tell her that he would stay in the club because he loved playing karuta. He wanted to tell her so bad, just to be able to dry the tears from her eyes. But that was lying, and he was done being a coward. Regardless of whether or not she would hate him.

But she was so beautiful. Even in her most disheveled state. And he just had to have her, so before he knew it, he was close. So close that their lips barely brushed against each other. So close that it hurt.

"Chihaya, are you under the impression that I'm made of stone?" he had to ask. Her eyes widened as his expression went grim. He pushed her away gently. "I can't play karuta anymore. Right now, all one hundred cards look completely black to me."

His words paralyzed her. He knew what she was thinking; she was probably blaming herself for ruining the game that he loved so much. But she had it all wrong, she always did. He never, not once, loved kurata. He enjoyed it, sure, but it didn't really matter to him at all. He wasn't like Arata or Chihaya. He didn't love the game.

He loved her.

He loved her, so he played. It made her happy, so he worked hard. But now, everything about her suffocates him. Karuta suffocates him.

So he left.


AN: Man, doesn't it hurt? I watched Chihayafuru and Chihayafuru 2 in a span of 2 days. I've caught up with the manga, too. AND I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

Damn, I like Arata, but I friggin' adore Taichi. And I hate how people criticize him for kissing Chihaya, saying that he hasn't matured at all. I think, character development-wise, he has grown the most.

Since it's my first fic, I just made it a short drabble. But I'm accepting prompts for oneshots, drabbles and poems, though! So please review. Thanks!