This story follows Sekaiichi Hatsukoi Season 2 Episode 16 where Chiaki rejected Yuu and was "saved" by Hatori. Also Yokozawa no Baai 3, when Ijuuin called Kirishima, interrupting his conversation with Yokozawa in the conference room. I connected these events and they seemed to fit. Since their story is not so chronological I'm gonna take that advantage, but other than that this story is 100% original. And of course I'll be focusing on Yuu. Enjoy ^^

Chapter 1: Bruise

"Wait! Tori!"

"Let go of me, Chiaki!"

"Please stop, Tori! No violence!"

"Chiaki, please get this guy out of here…"

"What?!"

"Hurry! I just want to be alone now…"

"Who do you think you are-"

"Let's go. Come on Tori... I'll call you later, Yuu!"

"Sure."

*Ring*

*Click*

"Yuu speaking..."

"Yuu! Come over! We need your help!"

"What is it now, Kirishima-san?"

"The deadline is tomorrow! We still have 50 pages to tone and Ijuuin-sensei is not himself again! Please come over! We'll pay for overtime!"

"Fine, fine. I get it. I'm leaving now."

"Thank you, Yuu!"

*Click*

"Damn it all..."

Yuu packed his things and left the house, without cleaning the stain that Chiaki left, leaving it to dry on its own.

When he arrived in Ijuuin's house, he was greeted by Kirishima.

"Yuu, I'm glad you came. Come in."

"Mm... I'm coming in," Yuu responded.

"What happened to you?" Kirishima asked, noticing the mark that Chiaki left on his face.

"Ah... This is nothing," Yuu said as he went inside, leaving his shoes on the *genkan.

(*genkan - traditional Japanese entryway areas for houses, apartments or buildings)

"Do you need cold compress?" Kirishima offered.

"I think it's too late for that, but thank you for the offer," Yuu said.

"Well it's better to at least-"

"I'm fine, really. Let's just get this over with," Yuu interrupted Kirishima.

He went ahead of Kirishima and walked to Ijuuin's office.

When he entered, the atmosphere of the room was tense.

The tables were filled with pens, papers and empty coffee mugs.

Everyone had huge bags under their eyes like they haven't slept for days.

"Sorry for the mess, we've been working non-stop for two days," Kirishima apologized.

"Ah..." Yuu responded with a straight face, walking towards an empty workspace.

"Where's Ijuuin-sensei?" Yuu asked, as he glanced over Ijuuin's desk to see his assistant, Shizuku Ishi, with a tired and angry expression.

"He's in his room and won't come out. He's in that stage where even I can't reach him," Kirishima said with a sigh.

"He's been like that for the past two days. I don't know what happened with this "friend" he said he was meeting, but whatever it was he can't even get out of his bed to piss," Kirishima joked with an annoyed tone.

Yuu sighed and stood up.

"Wait... Where are you going?" Kirishima asked, surprised by the sudden action.

"I'm gonna get Ijuuin-sensei out of bed," Yuu declared, pissed at the mangaka's attitude.

He walked out of the office and toward the stairs up to Ijuuin's room.

When he was outside Ijuuin's room, he knocked on the door. But when no one answered, he tried to turn the knob and discovered that it wasn't locked.

"Excuse me? Ijuuin-sensei?" Yuu called.

He saw a figure moving under the blanket.

The room was dark, so he couldn't decide if what he saw was Ijuuin or just his imagination.

"Who's there?" Ijuuin asked.

"It's Yanase," Yuu replied.

"Yanase?" Ijuuin repeated, groggily.

"The freelancer…" Yuu clarified, taking a step into his room.

"Ijuuin-sensei, please get up. This is your manga, not ours. Take some responsibility," Yuu scolded.

"But there's no point in continuing it. It's not good enough… I'm not good enough." Ijuuin said with a melancholic voice.

"Sensei... I can't help but thinking that this is about the "friend" Kirishima-san mentioned you met two days ago," Yuu confessed.

Ijuuin fell silent.

"Were you rejected?"

It took a while for Ijuuin to reply.

"He said that he likes me the most, more than anyone else. He said he loved me and I know that it's not the fan kind of love. I know it's deeper than that. If only that author didn't get in the way," Ijuuin voiced out.

"*Sigh* Sensei, don't just conclude something based on your feelings. Even I can tell you that I love you and your works, because I do, because I'm a fan. If you just lie in bed and sulk all day your fans will start to hate you. You'll also make your "friend" sad. There's no use waiting for a miracle," Yuu preached.

Ijuuin slowly got up and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Yuu asked.

"To my office… There's work to be done…" Ijuuin said.

As he walked past Yuu, he said: "Thanks…"

"Sure…" Yuu responded, following after him.

"Finally! It's done!" one of the assistants rejoiced.

"Yeah! Four straight days without sleep! I don't think I can make it to my bed when I get home!" another one joked.

"Good job everyone. You all deserve a rest," Kirishima announced, when suddenly his phone rang.

"Hello? Kirishima speaking," he answered.

"Oh… Is that today?" Kirishima asked with a foul expression, "Could we perhaps reschedule?... Oh…Alright… I understand… See you then."

"Damn it," Kirishima cursed, as he started dialling another number.

"What wrong, Kirishima-san?" an assistant asked.

"It's me. Can you talk right now?" Kirishima said to the phone, ignoring the assistant's query.

"Seems like work's gonna take a little long this evening, so I don't think I'll make it home in time for dinner. Sorry about it - but would you mind going ahead and eating with Hiyo?"

"Oh – no, it's nothing like that really. Just – I had some other work to take care of after it that's taking longer than I expected. I'll be sure to bring Hiyo a treat home with me, so apologize to her for me?"

"Sorry for the trouble – I'll see you later."

{This conversation (from "It's me…" till "I'll see you later.") was taken from Yokozawa no Baai 3. Translated by September Scanlations}

"Sorry I have to go. I have other businesses to take care of, and mama bear's waiting for me at home. Bye! Thank you for your help today!"

Before anyone could react to Kirishima's announcement, he was already out the door.

The others said their goodbyes and left as well, leaving Yuu, Ijuuin and Ishi alone.

Yuu was quietly packing his things, when Ijuuin approached him.

"Thank you again, Yanase-kun. If you didn't get me out of bed we wouldn't have made it," Ijuuin thanked.

"I'm just trying to help out," Yuu answered. "I understand what being rejected feels like."

"Is that where THAT came from?" Ijuuin asked, pointing at his face.

Yuu covered it with his hands and said, "Nah. It's… something else."

"Sensei, I'm leaving already," Ishi said to Ijuuin with a straight face.

"Ah… Shizuku-kun. Good job today. Thank you," Ijuuin complimented Ishi.

Ishi blushed, but kept his composure. "Should I come by tomorrow?" he asked.

"No. You need to rest. It's alright. Thank you," Ijuuin said kindly.

"Alright, bye."

"Take care," Ijuuin said, seeing Ishi off.

"I'll be going as well," Yuu said, walking out the door.

"Ah, wait Yanase-kun," Ijuuin stopped Yuu. "Would you mind if I take you out to drinks next time?"

"Sensei… Please don't transfer your love for your "friend" to me."

"No. I just needed someone to talk to, since you seem to understand my position pretty well. Also, no offense, but you're not really my type. I like the cute straightforward types," Ijuuin joked.

Yuu suddenly blushed, realizing what he said.

"Fine," he said, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"I'll call you then," Ijuuin said with a smile.

"Mm… Well, see you," Yuu answered, leaving Ijuuin's house with a beet red face that concealed what's left of the bruise.