"Smack" The sound reverberated through the air as everyone looked on in shock at what had just occurred.
"You think I wouldn't consider that possibility before confessing my feelings for you!" Mai screamed while tears began to stain her face. "You honestly believe I am that stupid, well do you?" Naru slowly brought his hand to his cheek as he turned to face Mai. He had never thought that she would be so infuriated by what he had said, and he had only said what was supposed to be obvious. But why hadn't he considered that she had already thought about it? For once he himself was at a total loss for words, " I…I don't know I just…", Mai was glaring at him with so much anger and pain waiting for him to answer. And then he knew looking at her pained expression he knew why he thought she liked Gene instead of himself why he had not considered that she had thought about that already.
"Well!" Mai said while gritting her teeth, "You just what? What Naru? Stop staring at me and tell me just tell me!" She collapsed to the ground in front of him crying so hard she started to heave, her lungs desperately trying to grab onto any bit of air in between the sobs. Naru knelt down and found himself gently moving her hands away from her face and lifting her chin so she could look into his face. "I'm sorry Mai I am so very sorry. I didn't think you had already considered it and made your decision after mulling over who you really liked, I never thought that and it was because…because I'm scared." He breathed to calm himself and regain composure before continuing but he couldn't stop them the tears that started to roll gently down his face he hadn't cried in so long not since Gene had died but now for this girl, for this crazy clumsy and beautiful girl he was crying. " I was afraid of loving you if I did that meant getting close to someone and possibly loosing them again. I don't want to feel that pain again I was so afraid of it I used you seeing Gene in your dreams all this time as an excuse to push you away, even though I knew it would be painful for you to hear I just didn't want you to come close. Because Mai if…if anything were to happen to you I don't know what I would do!"
Mai looked at Naru and then quickly wrapped her arms around him pulling him into a soft embrace. "It's ok Naru, I am right here. I don't know what tomorrow holds in store for me, but I love you and I will never leave your side. And as long as you are always with me I know that you will never allow me to get hurt." Naru sniffled and slowly pulled away from my keeping his hands on her shoulders and looking her straight in the eye. "I love you Mai Taniyama. I love you so much and I am sorry for hurting you I really needed all this as a reality check. I will not leave you Mai I will be by your side and I will protect you no matter what." Naru stood up and offered his hand to Mai who happily accepted and looked up at him adoringly a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks as he continued to hold her hand while staring into her caring brown eyes. "Just promise me one thing though Mai." Mai looked at him a suspicious look was on her face now, "What?" She asked. "Please try and be less clumsy."
"Naru, you jerk I'm not always clumsy." Mai replied an adorable pout appearing on her face while everyone else around them laughed.