This is my version of what should have happened after chapter 44. I personally thought that Akane needed more time. Her chapter in volume 7 and the black sesame pudding special were my favorite chapters.

I guess for me, after a while, the Akane/Seiya couple appealed to me more than Najika/Daichi. I've always wondered what would have happened if Sora hadn't died. I know they wouldn't have put Sora with Najika in the end, because a lot of readers would be upset, and I can't help but think that Sora had feelings for Akane. Course, I like Seiya better than Sora, but I wonder what that would have been like.

There's a hint of couplings in there, but I'm mainly focusing on Akane and her feelings.

Heart of Ice

"I'm sorry, but… I can only look at you as a friend." Daichi said, looking away from the pigtailed girl. Next to me, I could feel Seiya's expression of shock alongside my own. Except for me, I had shock mixed with anger and pity for my friend.

I could see Daichi's retreating back as he headed towards his dormitory. Najika watched him with a long solemn face as he dissipated into the horizon and slowly, almost dejectedly, she went back to the Fujita diner, with the hint of a tear on her face.

That was one of the things I almost wanted to dislike about Najika. From the moment we met, I knew that the two of us were very different, in very different ways. And I almost envied her for it. She was able to bring Sora and Daichi closer as brothers, something I couldn't do, despite the fact that I had known them for years. I could just watch as they drifted farther and farther apart, until she came along. She never brought them to the brotherly love she hoped, but that was because we were all mixed up in a messed up love square anyways.

Growing up, I was taught that crying is weakness, and perfection was the only way to succeed in life. Depending on others was part of that weakness, which is why I never felt particularly close to the friends I had before Najika came along. I never let them in.

That was for Sora and Daichi.

I hated that Najika cried, and that she acted that she was so weak. Even more, I hated that Daichi and Sora were always, always there for her, just like they were there for me in the old days. I felt so isolated and I felt like my real friends had no more room for me.

My heart turned to ice, a spell that I didn't think anyone could break.

But Najika, with help from Sora and Daichi, kept trying. I don't know why she was so determined- I had been so mean and cruel to her. But she just kept trying and trying, and the spell wore off a little, with time.

However, it wasn't completely broken. But there would be something in the way that would distract us all from everything.

Sora.

No one expected his death, least of all Najika, who carried a torch for him. I could see that it killed Daichi, although he had told me that he didn't like Najika. I knew him well enough to know he was lying.

But none of that really mattered. Daichi took Sora's place, going back to the house he had escaped, for Sora's sake. And later, I learned, to keep Najika at the school.

My heart broke.

I didn't realize how deep his feelings were for Najika until Seiya had come along. Well, maybe I did, but I didn't want to believe it. But Seiya was arrogant and condescending, he was Sora's antithesis, except for the fact that they looked almost exactly the same.

I say almost because I did see a difference. Sometimes, when he smiled, on rare occasion, Seiya did look exactly like Sora, but Sora's features were softer, kinder. Seiya's had the hard marks of an unsatisfactory relationship with his parents.

I should know.

But he made me realize how much Daichi loved Najika. I knew then, I had to get closure and put everything out there.

Of course, he rejected me. But the spell was finally broken, and I was able to look at Najika with a real smile.

"I have to go after him." I thought, not realizing that I had said it out loud. As I moved out of the bush Seiya and I were hiding behind, I felt a hand on my arm.

"You're not going to confess again, are you?" He asked, estranged with a look of disbelief. "You know even though he rejected her, he still likes Najika, and you can't change that."

I yanked my arm out of his grip with a glare. "I'm fully aware of that, thank you. I wasn't going to confess, thank you very much. I wouldn't do that to Najika."

With a quick glance at the Fujita diner, I took off with a run after Daichi. I finally caught up to him, at the tree where I had confessed to him.

Ironic, isn't it?

"Akane, I don't really want to t-"

I cut him off. "Why'd you reject her?"

He looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about, Akane."

"Don't be stupid, Daichi. Why'd you reject Najika?"

"I have to go-"

"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't like her! Do you know how much it hurt when you told me you couldn't see at me as anything other than a friend? Because you liked Najika? You stupid idiot! I just watched you stomp over her heart, which you rejected mine for! Don't make me ever regret giving up on you Daichi!"

Don't make me regret letting go of my feelings, Daichi. I've gotten over the fact that you don't like me the way I used to like you, and I've moved on. Don't make me move backwards. Don't make me regret ever confessing to you.

She was the only one I could have ever given you to.

I glared at him, my cheeks flushed with anger. Finally, slowly, he looked me straight in the eye. He wasn't crying. The last time I had seen him cry was when Sora died. But he did seem very shaken up.

"Sora." He uttered. I blinked, bewildered.

"What about Sora?"

"Aniki liked her, Akane. Aniki liked Najika, and he died and I was so mean to him!" His voice rose with both sadness and regret. "I can't be happy, knowing I took the girl he liked after he died! I can't be happy, know I was so mean to him before he died! I can't be happy, knowing he sacrificed everything so I could live how I wanted!"

"Daichi, tell me something."

"What?"

"Najika was important to Sora, right?"

He nodded, unsure of where I was leading him.

"You were important to him too. And don't you dare deny it, Daichi. Everything Sora did, he had you and Najika both in mind. You said so yourself. If you think Sora would be upset that you were happy, you really can't say that you knew him. He did everything for you and her. Wouldn't he of all people want the both of you to be happy, even after he died?"

Sora, thank you.

I finally understand something.

I understand how much a person can care for others. I understand how much you cared for us.

You loved Najika, though I'm unsure if it was the same way she loved you. You loved Daichi, because however rebellious he was, and however much you two knocked heads, he was your brother.

And I know you loved me, too, Sora. I don't know why, but I know you did.

And I understand now that you sent us Seiya for a reason. He needed us, and I needed him- I realize that now. You knew the depth of Daichi's feelings, and you knew I would be heartbroken. You wanted to send someone to be there for me, since you couldn't.

Thank you, Sora.