Narrator's POV

Tears of regret welled up in his expressive fuchsia eyes and trickled slowly down his cheeks when a flashback hit his heart hard. It happened over a week ago, but he remembered it like it was yesterday.

-Flashback-

Cherry blossoms danced around Tadase and Amu in the cool morning breeze, and the gentle sun made the atmosphere temperate and beautiful. The young lady of sixteen smiled at the princely, handsome young man in front of her and inquired sweetly, "Is there anything you wanted to tell me, Tadase-kun?" Tadase quickly nodded his head, a tinge of red creeping up his cheeks. "Amu-chan, I just wanted to let you know that you are the most beautiful woman I know. I admit I've been in love with you for years, and I just wanted to ask you if you feel the same about me." Mildly surprised, Amu stepped back, her golden eyes shining. "Thanks for the compliment, Tadase-kun. I... have to go to class. Can you come back to me on this?" She ran off, and the blond admired the way that her pink locks danced in the wind. But his mind clouded with doubt that his love was unrequited, but he had the hope that she was in love with him but was too shy to admit. It was part of her nature, after all. Shrugging, he walked off to class.

Later that day, he was walking home from school and saw something that he thought would break his heart forever. His one and only love was staring into his childhood friend's eyes in a quiet, peaceful field. Tadase ducked behind a shrub and eavesdropped on them. Her angelic voice rang out, "Ikuto... I realized that I have feelings for you." Ikuto's nimble fingers lightly caressed her hand as he murmured, "Amu, I've always been dying to tell you that you have a smile like sunshine and are, and will always be, prettier than any flower. I guess what I want to say is that I... love you... my lovely strawberry." His last comment made Amu's cheeks turn the shade of a strawberry. Ikuto leaned in, and Amu's eyes widened. He leaned in a little more, and their lips met. Tadase felt his heart shatter into a million pieces...

Sighing, Tadase dried the warm tears that threatened to spill out of his eyes with a sky blue silk handkerchief. His soft blond tresses gently swayed in the cool spring breeze. He tenderly fingered the trunk of an old oak tree as lush green leaves floated to the ground. The moist grass tickled his bare feet as a fountain in the distance passionately bubbled and frothed. The lively birds who nested in the trees chirped enthusiastically. When springtime came, Tadase's garden was gorgeous and full of life. Tadase closed his eyes and thought, I suppose Big Brother deserves her heart more than I ever will. But he had the small comfort of knowing that both his childhood friend and his unrequited love would be content together. As long as she was happy, he was happy. Although he had convinced himself to get over the fact that his only love did not return the feeling, he couldn't help shedding more tears. He was grateful that Amu was satisfied and Ikuto was satisfied, but there was still an empty, aching feeling in the sixteen-year-old's heart. Amu would always be Tadase's one and only love, no matter what feelings she had for him. Even if she regarded him as simply a friend or a classmate, or even despised him, he would always love her. He never felt the same way for anyone else. She was the only one that stole his heart in his lifetime.

Amu-chan, you have my heart. I love you, and I always will. Always and forever.

Fin