Even If.

.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.

"H-Hey, Ayane-chan."

"What is it, Sawako?"

"I need some advice.." Sawako muttered out nervously. It was just the two of them walking home from shopping. Chizu was with Ryu in his house, doing something probably Ayane and Sawako didn't know.

"What kind of advice?" Ayane asked while Sawako kept her head down out of embarrassment.

"U-Uhm.."

"Hmm. Love advice, right?" Ayane grinned at Sawako.

"Y-Yes!" Sawako lifted her head and looked at Ayane. But, it seems that Ayane's guess made her cheeks redder.

"You're so cute." Ayane smiled.

...

"So, what is it about?" Ayane proceeded as she stopped walking and placed her arms on the rail of the bridge they were about to cross.

"Uhm," Sawako began,

"I'm starting to think that Kazehaya is better friends with other girls in our school."

Then,

Ayane laughed at her.

"W-What? Did I do something wrong? I'm so—"

"Nah. You're just jealous, that's normal for the first three months." Ayane explained with a smile.

"B-But, sometimes he just...doesn't talk." Sawako mumbled.

"He's just having some shy moments, Sawako." Ayane looked at her troubled friend, who looked like she had other things in mind.

Ayane smiled as she continued walking,

"Come on, we have to give Chizu her share of miniskirt."

"Mm, okay!" Sawako replied as she followed Ayane's lead.

"And, don't worry about a thing." Ayane said, even though Sawako didn't seem to notice.

"He loves you, and that's all you need to know."

.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.

"Eh? It's your birthday today?"

Chizu replied with a smile,

"Yep!"

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ayane forcefully shook Chizu's shoulders,

"We should've bought something better for you, Chizu."

"What's better than a miniskirt?" Chizu looked at what Ayane and Sawako brought her for not attending their 'shopping day' together, yes, a red miniskirt.

"H-H-Happy Birthday, Chizu-chan." Sawako bowed politely in front of Chizu.

"Eh? You don't bow in front of the birthday girl!" Chizu corrected her.

"Huh? I-I'm sorry!"

"No. It's fine. Don't apologize. Geez." Chizu scratched her head out of embarrassment.

"Look," Ayane then pulled two small packages from her bag,

"We got one for me, and one for Sawako too."

"Oh? Sawako too? I wanna see!" Chizu said in glee.

"B-But.." Sawako began to protest, and yet,

"It's my birthday today, Sawako-chan. Can you at least do what the birthday girl wants?" Chizu pleaded, then..

"O-Okay, Chizu-chan! I'm gonna wear my miniskirt!" Sawako's already moved by Chizu's words and was already close to tears.

"Aye. Come on, let's change." Ayane pulled Sawako out of Ryu's room and towards the bathroom.

Chizu landed on Ryu's bed and flipped her phone open.

"Do you mind if I invite Kazehaya over?"

"Mm. Go ahead." Ryu simply replied.

"This is gonna be fun." Chizu chuckled as she typed down a few letters into Shota's phone number.

.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.

"Uhm.." Sawako came out with her printed pink shirt that matched the yellow-ness of her miniskirt.

"Do I look okay?"

And, if you narrowed it down to her legs, it still looked pretty even with her high socks on.

"Hmm. Try the other shirt we bought." Ayane observed her stature as Sawako hurried back and changed again. Ayane, on the other hand, had her daily sweater on 'cause it really matched her hair and her orange miniskirt.

.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.

"Does this look good to you, Ryu?"

"Mm."

"..."

".."

"Come on! At least say something!"

Ryu stared at what Chizu wore already, her red miniskirt. After a few breaths,

"It looks nice on you." Ryu averted his eyes back to where he was reading.

"Really? Well, it does look nice.." Chizu herself stared at the piece of clothing. Then,

knock. knock.

"I'm coming in."

The door slid open, and in goes Kazehaya.

"Happy Birthday, Chizu." Kazehaya greeted his childhood friend as he sat next to Ryu.

"Thanks." Chizu smiled.

"Hmm. I wonder what's taking them so long."

.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.

"U-Uhm. I'm a little bit nervous, Ayane-chan." Sawako mumbled as the two of them stood in front of Ryu's bedroom door.

"Don't worry, Sawako. Everything's gonna be fine—"

"S-Sawako?"

"K-K-Kazehaya?"

"Oh, come on. It's just a miniskirt." Ayane pushed Sawako to sit beside Kazehaya. But the two of them still looked redder than usual.

...

"S-So, what do y-you think?"

"About what?"

"The miniskirt.."

Kazehaya managed to say a reply, but it looked like he was too shy to say it with their eyes connecting.

"It looks cute."

"Oh."

Ayane sank back beside Chizu,

"I guess we're still at turtle-pace mode."

"Huh? Oh, Sawako and Shota.." Chizu concluded.

"I wonder if they kissed each other yet." Ayane looked at the two lovebirds. It seems that it was back to normal shyness. Well, history repeats itself, at all.

"Probably not."

...

Ring~ Ring~ Ring~

Ayane felt her vibrating phone in her bag as she flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"Ayane-chan~! I need your help."

"Oh, Miaka. Just wait a sec."

Ayane placed her phone down for a moment,

"Hey, entertain them for awhile. They're your guests after all."

"Okay!" Chizu turned to her three friends as Ayane got her phone and went outside Ryu's room.

"Let's play a game!"

.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.

"Mia-chan. Nice to hear your voice again." Ayane leaned on the wall near Ryu's door, talking on the phone.

"You too, Aya-chan."

"So, what's up?" Ayane asked.

"Hmm. I ran out of ideas, you see."

"I think I'm not the right person you should talk to, Mia. I'm not good at that.."

"I don't think so. I want Sawako and Kazehaya's love story."

"Eh? Since when did you become interested?"

"Since Winter Break when you began to talk about them to me over the phone."

"Oh, right." Ayane slapped her forehead in self-realization.

"So, I'm planning to transfer to Kitahoro High tomorrow."

"What? Tomorrow already?"

"Yeah. Do you mind if I stay over at your house for the mean time?"

"Sure. But.."

"But what?"

"Do you think it's a bit rude to break through their privacy, personally?"

"Ayane. I swear I won't break through. I'll earn it. And besides, I remember you saying that they're a little bit 'slow' now. So, I'll twist the plot for you."

"What will you do?"

"Don't worry. I'm still not sure. But, I'll say it when it's certain."

"Just make sure you won't ruin their relationship, okay?"

"Yes, Ayane-chan. But, there's something I'm worried about.."

"What is it?"

"I hope your class has an extra desk and chair when I transfer there."

"Of course there is. Wait. You're worried about that?"

"Oh, Ayane-chan. I have to go. I still need to pack some things. Later!" the voice hung up as Ayane closed her cell phone.

"Always cramming, huh." Ayane sighed as she entered Ryu's bedroom once more.

"What took you so long, Yano-chin?" Chizu asked as she viewed her set of cards. Sawako and Kazehaya were playing with Chizu while Ryu proceeded on his sleeping session with his bed.

Ayane smiled lightly,

"I just talked with an old friend of mine."

.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.

(A.N.)

Sooo, what do you think? Was it okay, or maybe not? I don't mind, but please do review what you thought of this chapter. Whether positive nor negative, it's fine. *smiles* Anyway, chapter 1 comes with chapter 2. So, you can read what happens in the next day. Enjoy~