A/N: Another chapter and more progression in the story! There's going to be more Chisaki/Tsumugu fluff and more insight on the relationship between everyone this chapter! Enjoy and review, it helps motivate me!

She opened her mouth, yet nothing came out. She wanted to reach out and catch him, but the water currents wouldn't allow her. Her eyes followed him as his body drifted further and further away from her into the abyss at the bottom of the sea. She wanted to cry, shout, yell.

But she couldn't.

Isn't this what you wanted?

She shook her head vigorously and screamed, yet there was no noise.

It all began when he came into your life, right? If he disappeared, then everything would have been fine.

The salty seawater seeped into her open mouth and gagged her. What was happening? Why wasn't her ena protecting her? She thrashed around and prayed to the Sea God to save her.

To save him. Her only anchor in this messed up world they were living in.

Please...don't leave me Tsumugu...don't die...

"Chisaki. Shhh, it's okay." Tsumugu mumbled, his voice laced with sleep. He rocked Chisaki back and forth in his arms, even though it caused slight discomfort on his wounds, as she cried soundlessly into his chest. He glanced over to his alarm clock and read the time as two thirty in the morning. He suppressed a yawn and comforted Chisaki by stroking her back gently. He closed his eyes and waited for her to let it all out. Although he wasn't sure what exactly made her cry, he knew that she must have had a nightmare about something horrible. It was a good ten minutes later when Chisaki's sobs turned into small hiccups and sniffles.

"You feel better now?" Tsumugu asked after he was sure she had regained her composure. She slightly moved away from Tsumugu so she could meet his gaze and quietly muttered a "yeah." He didn't press for any more information after that; he simply pulled the covers back over them (Chisaki had kicked it away during her nightmare), enveloped his arms fully around her again, and sleepily told her to go back to sleep.

Chisaki snuggled into his chest, soaking in his sweet smell that distinctly smelled like the sea and a bit of tangerine, and sighed in content. Her dream had terrified her to no extent.

It was when Tsumugu had fallen off the boat during the first Ofunehiki, back when they were fourteen and still naive. Chisaki recalled how she felt at that moment. At the time, she didn't have any deep feelings for him, but terror pulsed throughout her body. Her legs moved on its own as it pushed her to dive into the roaring and unstable sea in order to save Tsumugu. Even after she had found him, she struggled to carry him up until Kaname came and helped her bring him to the surface. Relief flooded her senses, and before she could understand what she was doing, she was hugging him close and thanking the Sea God for not taking away his life.

Her nightmare took a different route. It was one where she was unable to rescue him in time, and he eventually succumbed to the dark, deep sea. It was vivid and almost made her believe that Tsumugu had been taken away from her if it wasn't for his rhythmic breathing and his warm breath that blew upon the top of her head. It reminded her that he was alive, right here next to her.

And that was all she ever needed to know.

She was again the first to wake up from a dreamless sleep; the sunrays from Tsumugu's window blinded her and forced her to groan in annoyance. She found her body trapped under Tsumugu's loose grip on her, his hands lightly grazing over the back of her thighs. She was facing him, her head just below his chin. Chisaki's heart fluttered; she couldn't handle all of these sensations and emotions she was indirectly receiving from Tsumugu. She wiggled out of his bear hug, causing him to mumble in protest, but he easily fell back to his dream. Chisaki shook her head to chase the sleep out and slapped her cheeks lightly. She needed to wake up and get ready for the day; however, as she clutched the doorknob, she glanced back at Tsumugu. He was still shirtless from the previous night and had his dark navy blue jeans hung low on his hips. He used his right arm as a pillow as he slept on his right side, his bangs swooping over his eyes. The blanket was hanging off the edge of the bed, practically discarded. She noted how his left cheek was a nasty dark purple and glistened under the sunlight. His left shoulder and around his right rib shared the same color as his cheek, except it wasn't as dark.

It probably wouldn't end up as scars, but it still hit something in Chisaki's heart. She knew she needed to apologize to both Kaname and Hikari for acting out like she did, but she felt a lump in her throat every time she thought about talking to them. It was fresh on her mind, the brutal expression on Hikari's face and the frosty gleam in Kaname's eyes.

Stop thinking about it, Chisaki. You need to get a hold of yourself.

She silently excused herself from Tsumugu's room and sneaked out of the hallway. Chisaki decided that she would make breakfast for them, since she was starving from skipping out on dinner yesterday, and she was sure that Tsumugu was going to be hungry as well when he woke up.

At the kitchen, she worked hard to make a big breakfast. The clock that hung near the entrance of the kitchen read nine thirty-two, which was pretty late to what Chisaki was used to getting up at.

"I have to go back to Akari-san's house later on today and face Hikari and Kaname. They're my closest friends. I have to fix this problem," she egged herself on. Her mind drifted more over to Kaname and remembered how he avoided making eye contact with her. "…Especially Kaname. I made too many mistakes with him."

"I never knew you liked to talk to yourself so much until today."

Chisaki's right hand faltered at his voice, which was really nearby, and she would have dropped the bowl of rice she was holding if Tsumugu weren't there to catch it. His right hand grabbed a hold onto hers and helped steady the bowl. Chisaki felt her senses heightened as she felt his chest press against her back. His heat radiated from his body to hers, making her feel warmer than if she was under a blanket.

"Gomen. I didn't mean to startle you," he apologized. Tsumugu stepped back and allowed Chisaki to place the rice onto the counter.

"You seriously need to announce when you're coming. One day you're going to cause someone to have a heart attack!" She tried to sound stern, but her heart was still pounding hard and her voice ended up sounding high pitched and strained.

Why did he make her to such a dysfunctional mess with just his voice?

"And why were you so close to me, anyways?! I could practically feel your breath on my ear."

Tsumugu shrugged and offered her a slightly sly grin. "I wanted to have a closer look at what you were making. It smelled really good."

Chisaki blushed at his small compliment. "A-anyways, go into the dining room. I'm almost done preparing."

Tsumugu nodded his head and exited out of the kitchen nonchalantly. Chisaki breathed in deeply and sighed, almost hoping with that one breath she would be able to get rid of all the unfamiliar feelings Tsumugu had been showering her with ever since yesterday. It was becoming too much for her to handle, but she had to admit that these feelings weren't all that bad. She came to enjoy his warm and serene presence, and she liked the feel of his hand over hers during those few seconds.

Ugh, if Manaka ever figures out that I'm thinking like this, she'll for sure never let me hear the end of it.

Tsumugu studied over his research books once more, trying to reabsorb as much information that he could gather from them. Even though his professor told him to relax, he couldn't help it. Tsumugu wanted to learn more about the sea, at least as much as his books could provide him, and come to understand the secrets it held.

He peered up from his book when he saw Chisaki emerge from the kitchen, her face concentrated as she tried to balance the two platters in her hands. Secretly, he contemplated, he wanted to learn more about Shioshishio, Chisaki's home.

Tsumugu had only been there once when he went to chase Chisaki after his indirect confession. He distinctly recalled that it was white, covered in saltflake snow, and how there was no one around. He was sure that it was more beautiful prior to the hibernation, and the streets were probably bustling with activity from both the citizens and sea inhabitants.

"Tsumugu, could you move your books somewhere else?"

Her voice brought him out of his monologue and he stared at her blankly before he comprehended her command.

"Yeah."

He stood up and gathered his pile of books and made his way over to a nearby table.

"Why are you rereading the books you left here? Don't you have new books to read," he heard her asked him.

"Mh. Yeah, I have new books but I left them at Akari-san's house."

"Huh? You left them..?"

Even without seeing her face, her tone gave him a clue that his statement confused her.

"Oh, I guess I never explained why I was at Akari-san's house. I ran into Hikari after I got off the bus, and walked him home. Him and Akari-san got into a fight, so I took a small nap in their living room until Akira woke me up. He told me that the others were here, and I thought that I should change my clothes because they were wrinkled from my nap. And the rest is self-explanatory. But, I didn't know that you were with them."

Tsumugu sat back down and thanked her for the meal. He glanced at her and saw her pupils grow big.

"So we left your things at Akari-san's house? Sorry, we'll go there as soon as we can to get it."

Tsumugu shook his head and replied, "It's okay. We can always get it whenever you're free. Don't you have your training today?"

"No…? Why do you think I have training?"

Tsumugu stopped eating and cocked his eyebrow. "You're wearing your uniform, so I only assumed."

She blinked a few times while he munched onto a piece of toast. Then, she jumped up and yelped.

"I'm going to go change!" She rushed out her sentence and left the room before he could even respond.

Tsumugu swallowed his chewed toast and muttered, "Did I say something wrong?"

Three minutes later, Chisaki appeared back into the room with a different outfit. She wore a green jacket with a yellow shirt, and denim shorts with black tights. Her hair was done like she usually did it, with some strands braided off to the side of her face. She huffed and sat down across from him.

It was quiet as the two finished up their breakfast. Tsumugu continued eating normally while Chisaki stumbled in between bites as she tried to contain the blush of her face.

"Thanks for the food, Chisaki. It was good." He simply said while he went to put away his dishes in the sink.

"Hey, to answer your previous question, I don't have training today, so as soon as you're ready, we can go to Akari-san's house."

Chisaki approached him on the side and placed her dishes on top of his.

"Ah, okay. Let me go change right now then." Before he had left his room this morning, he reminded himself to at least throw on a shirt to look decent. He had a loose white t-shirt on, not something he would consider wearing anywhere else but home.

"Uh, do you need help? You shouldn't be moving your body too much on your own." She interjected. He gave her a sideways glance, slightly surprise by her offer.

"Sure."

Tsumugu led her to his room, and went over to his closet. It held some of his old clothes that he wore when he was in middle school as well as some of Kaname's clothes, and in one corner of the closet was where his actual clothes were. He chose a simple gray polo shirt and black skinny jeans from the small selection he had.

"Here," he handed her his shirt and awaited her instructions. "I shouldn't be moving my arms too much, right?"

"Yeah. For at least a couple of days. Um, can you raise your arms up so I could take off your shirt?"

Tsumugu did just as she told him to do and raised his arms well above his head. It was like she had told him; it hurt a bit to move his arms around, but it was doable. Chisaki was a bit hesitant, Tsumugu noted, to take off his shirt. It was understandable, but there was also another reason.

"Err, could you maybe sit down? I don't think I'll be able to pull your shirt up when you're so…tall."

"You can't reach?"

"Obviously because you're taller than me! Geez, just sit down."

Tsumugu situated himself onto his bed and waited for Chisaki. She gave him a stink face before she carefully tugged at his shirt. It was a light pull, as if she was testing him in case he might lung at her. Tsumugu felt his breathing hitch at the realization of Chisaki's positioning.

He felt his eyebrow twitch as he averted his eyes to the side. She was leaning forward a bit, her shirt hanging a bit off her body, almost giving him full view to somewhere where he was sure he wasn't allowed to look yet. His face began to grow hot, and he thanked the Sea God when Chisaki lifted the shirt high enough to cover his face.

It didn't matter if he was usually not aggressive or perverted. He was still a man and she was a woman.

That's right. Chisaki has grown a lot since then, and so have I. She's not the same fourteen year old anymore.

She slid his polo shirt down with ease, and helped pulled it down until it fit him snugly.

"Thanks," he said.

"No problem…eh? Are you sick? Your face is kind of flushed…"

"It's nothing. I'm going to change into my pants now. You can wait downstairs."

He cut her thought off, hoping she wouldn't press more into the matter. Luckily, she listened to him and told him not to take long before she went out of his room. As soon as the door closed, he leaned back into his bed and rubbed his face in frustration.

That was too close. If Chisaki took any longer, I'm not sure how much more I can hold back.

Tsumugu stood up and changed at a relatively slow rate, his mind off in another land.

It's too soon to try anything. I need to wait.

His body was protesting against his thoughts, though. The hair on the back of his neck was standing up, his heartbeat was beating irregularly, and his breathing was irrational. In short, he had become just like how a frightened animal would be to the face of a predator. Or rather, to be more accurate, his behavior was like a cat waiting to pounce on its prey. His excitement came from anticipation.

He wanted something to happen at that moment, but he had to control his urges. He had waited five years for this, and he wasn't about to ruin it from him losing his cool.

He walked down the stairs and found Chisaki already near the entrance of their house.

"You took your time," she teased him. Tsumugu grabbed his shoes from the pile at the entrance and merely gave her a small nod in response.

Despite how confident he sounded when he told her that she had loved him, it still scared him to know that his carefully constructed calculations could have been wrong. He was beyond happy when she accepted his feelings right after the second Ofunehiki, when she went to find him and hugged him out of relief. He remembered what she had said.

"Thank God that you're here."

She had said those exact same words last night when she woke up from her nightmare. Both of those moments made Tsumugu realize how he couldn't afford to screw up with Chisaki.

He glanced down to Chisaki and then to the sea. Most of the ice on the surface had melted away, however, there were still some leftover saltflake snow all around Oshiooshi. It was amazing how much had changed over the last couple of weeks.

"It's sure pretty now," Chisaki muttered. She was smiling fondly at the ocean, her eyes twinkling.

Tsumugu turned his gaze from the sea to her and replied, "Yeah, it is."

"Hey, hey. Since you're able to swim underwater, I'm going to take you to Shioshishio one day. It's beginning to look a lot like it used to now that mostly everyone is active again," she excitedly promised him. The tone in her voice was different than any he had heard before; it was upbeat and affectionate.

"You must love Shioshishio then."

"Of course, I mean, it's my home." She paused after that, as if she realized she had made a mistake.

"What's wrong?" He already knew. It was plain on her face. But he felt it was necessary to ask her.

"I mean, yeah, it's my home! But my home is also on the surface with you and Grandpa...Wait, where is Grandpa? I didn't see him at all yesterday or even today."

"Gramps went to the hospital yesterday for a checkup. He left a note that said he would be there for a little while. It was on the counter," Tsumugu cleared up.

She visibly relaxed, and seeing as though it was the perfect time, he added, "Going back to Shioshishio…have you ever thought about it before?"

"Going back...? Why, do you want me to?" Her voice became hurt and angry towards the end.

"No, of course not. It's just that you must be lonely being by yourself in that house. I thought you were thinking of going back down there."

"I'd be lying if I said I never thought about going back to living with Mom and Dad, but then I'd be leaving Grandpa all by himself and…you."

"Chisaki…" he breathed in the cold summer air. The air pained his lungs a little bit. The temperature was still chilly for it to be summer weather, but it wasn't as bad as it was a month ago. "Do you think that if I had…drowned at the first Ofunehiki, things would have been better off?"

"Why…" she stopped walking and stared at him, terrified.

"Why are you saying something like that?!"

Tsumugu hung his head down. He hadn't meant to phrase his question like that. He didn't want to be the one holding her back from returning to her true home. To her family and friends. But he didn't mean to make her upset.

"I don't want to be the anchor holding you down. I feel like I'm making you choose between your home in Shioshishio and the surface."

It was true. Ever since he had moved back to his university in the city, he thought about Chisaki and Shioshishio. He reminisced how she cried during the first couple of months after the failure of the first Ofunehiki. She was truly crushed that she was the only one forcefully separated from everyone. Now that she had the opportunity to return, she didn't. And Tsumugu knew that he was one of the reasons for it. He didn't want her to hold back because of him.

"Stop. Why are you making it sound so bad that I picked you over my home? So what if I chose to stay with you and Grandpa?" She yelled at him. "Don't say that you dying five years ago would have made me happier! Don't say that! You are my anchor, Tsumugu, but you're my anchor that keeps me in place!"

She came close to him and placed her hands onto his chest. His heart was fluttering at her touch. "If you had died in the first Ofunehiki, I would probably throw myself to the sea for the Sea God to take me."

He bristled at this. "Chisaki…!"

"I love you," she stated strongly. "When I woke up today and saw you lying there, alive and unharmed, I never felt so happy in my life. I love you." She began to weep.

"I love you so much, Tsumugu! You're such an idiot sometimes, but I still love you!"

Chisaki wrapped her arms around him, and buried her face into his shirt. Tsumugu was frozen. He had never vocally heard her say her love for him, and here she was, repeating the phrase over and over again.

I love you.

He swooped down and hugged her tightly, much to her surprise.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He simply said.

Chisaki balled her hands into fists and, like a dam, tears streamed down her face at a faster rate.

"You're such an idiot!" She cried as she hit him repeatedly.

"I know."

"Don't ever think of yourself as a burden."

"I know."

"…I love you."

He closed his eyes and smiled.

"I know."

The wind blew, bringing in cold air around the two. Tsumugu pulled her closer and sighed in content.

"Chisaki."

"…What?"

"Thank you for being here." He pulled away and wiped her tears from her face with his thumb. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"Thank you for loving me." He gave her one of his rare smirks. He grabbed her left hand and pulled on it gently, and they resumed walking.

A few minutes later, Chisaki glanced up at him, pouting. "Hey…you…never said it back."

"Say what back?"

"You know what!" Her face was red from both the cold wind and embarrassment. He grasped her hand a bit tighter.

"Chisaki, I really really really really really like you."

"Ugh! You're such an idiot!"

"Hii-kun…Hii-kun!"

Hikari, unfazed, continued walking ahead of the rest of the group. He had his hands stuffed into his pockets, and his back was hunched a bit forward.

Manaka was about to scream out his name again when Miuna stopped her.

"Don't, Manaka. Leave him alone. He might eventually crack."

Manaka felt her spirit drain a bit as she fell into silence. Miuna sighed and looked over to Sayu and Kaname. Kaname was emotionless, almost rivaling Tsumugu, while Sayu seemed uncomfortable and fidgety. Miuna felt bad for her best friend; it was hard to see your crush so down in the dumps and especially since you know the reason for it too. Miuna felt a bit ironic thinking about that. She had long gotten over her huge crush on Hikari, but there were still some feelings left over. What's even worse was that they couldn't do anything about Hikari and Kaname. They hardly talked at all during class and been pretty distant to the three of them.

"Argh! I can't handle this anymore!" Sayu suddenly exploded, bringing everyone's attention to her besides Hikari's. "He's such a big sore loser! An octopus head! He needs to get his head out of his butt and face his problem!"

"Sayu, that's pretty harsh to say about Hikari," Kaname interrupted, a small nervous smile on his face.

"And you!" Kaname leaped slightly back as Sayu turned her attention to him and pointed an accusing finger. "You're nearly as bad as him! You're both too stubborn to do anything but mope about it! How are you going to face them the next time you see them?"

"Sayu!" Miuna grabbed a hold onto her shoulders and pulled her away from Kaname. They have all stopped walking, including Hikari, who was a few feet away. "That's enough! I think you've proven your point."

Sayu pushed Miuna's hands off of her and glared.

"Um, you guys…" Manaka meekly spoke up. She placed herself in between the two. "Can we please go back to normal?"

"Normal?" Kaname chuckled. Manaka flinched back.

"Kaname…?"

"Things will never go back to normal. We'll never be the same ever again." He spat out. He looked at Sayu and Miuna, and frowned. "We were suppose to be five years older than these guys, but now we're the same age. We were suppose to be nineteen already. Why then…" He casted his eyes down and pressed his teeth together.

"Why were we left left behind?"

Hikari exhaled in frustration.

"Kaname, there was nothing we can do about it. Manaka and I have accepted the fact that time passed without us, and I thought you did too. That's not the case though, right?" He walked up to Kaname and met his gaze.

"When are you going to accept the fact that Chisaki and Tsumugu are years beyond us now? That we're behind them?" Hikari taunted him. He was pissed off at Kaname's attitude.

Kaname balled his right hand and lunged at Hikari.

"You bastard!" Hikari sidestepped and pushed Kaname to the ground.

"Face it. Tsumugu was going to take Chisaki's heart even if we had stayed up on the surface."

"Shut up!" Kaname stumbled up on his feet and ran towards Hikari at full speed. He tackled him square in the stomach, and both boys tumbled off of the sidewalk to the streets below.

"Hii-kun!"

"Kaname!"

"Hikari!"

Hikari pushed Kaname off of him and rolled away. Snow was littered on and around the two boys, but they didn't seem to notice.

Hikari wiped snow from his nose and sneered. "God dammit! I'm mad that we were left behind! That so much had changed and left us, like Miuna, Akari, and Chisaki! So what, Kaname? I'm pissed off that Tsumugu had gotten taller and stronger, and Chisaki, our childhood friend, had grown up! But we have to accept these changes. Damn, I'm mad that I beat up Tsumugu and ran out because I was too embarrassed! How about you, Kaname? Look around you; you just said it yourself. Things. Will. Never. Be. The. Same. All we can do is go forward!"

Hikari grabbed a hold of Kaname's shirt and shoved him into the railing.

"You're such an asshole! Why do you feel the need to bottle up your feelings like that?"

Kaname took a fistful of Hikari's own shirt and brought his face close to his.

"I'm not like you, Hikari. Unlike you, I didn't get my happily ever after."

"Wha-"

Kaname smashed his head against Hikari's face, causing the latter to cry out and drop on the ground. He tenderly held his nose.

"Asshole! Broke my nose!" Hikari yelled.

"Five years I had lost time with her, but it's been a lifetime since I've been the outsider in our circle. How come Tsumugu shows up and somehow becomes a part of our group, just like that? I've been together with the three of you since I can remember and somehow, he's able to come and-"

Kaname stopped short and took a sharp intake of air.

"Go on, Kaname! What's stopping you," Hikari barked out. He could taste the blood dripping down his nose to his lips and staining his shirt, but he was too angry to even care. Someone passed by him, and walked up to Kaname. Hikari gasped.

"Eh? Tsumugu?"

Tsumugu didn't spare Hikari a glance as he looked at Kaname with stern eyes. Kaname glowered at him and shouted, "What do you want?"

Hikari watched in amazement as Tsumugu grabbed Kaname by his shirt and pinned him against the railing with only one hand.

"I already told Hikari this once, but my strength and height is five years beyond you two." Tsumugu stated.

Hikari burst out laughing at Tsumugu's statement, and he was clutching his sides as his laugh echoed.

"You never change, Tsumugu. You always gotta say something really witty."

"I don't know. I just felt like saying it seeing how you two were fighting so poorly."

"Hey…" Hikari glared at him, but smirked soon after.

"We got you pretty good yesterday, though. You're so perverted, Tsumugu! Violating a girl like that. I never knew that side of you. Maybe your hormones are even more wild now that you're five years older!"

The tips of Tsumugu's ears burned up. "Hikari…" he warned him.

"Hahaha! I'm just kidding."

"Hikari!"

"Chisaki! Hm, I should have known you'd come. You and Tsumugu are glued to the hip...is that how is goes?" He shrugged and grinned at her. She came to a stop next to him.

"What kind of reaction is that?" Chisaki asked him. She looked at Tsumugu and saw Kaname.

"Tsumugu! Kaname! Let go of him, Tsumugu," she commanded him. Tsumugu shook his head and replied, "He may try to run away again, Chisaki. There are some things we apparently need to discuss." He lowered his voice. "All of us."

Hikari cringed. Tsumugu must have heard their conversation.

"He won't, Tsumugu! Stop holding him like that. Kaname?"

Kaname visibly flinched when she called his name, and Chisaki's eyes fell at the sight of it.

"You won't run away, will you?"

He begrudgingly nodded, and slapped Tsumugu's grip off of him. He glared at Tsumugu, his eyes burning.

"Remember what I said back when Chisaki got drunk?" Tsumugu's eyes widened a bit. He nodded, unsure of where this was going.

Kaname furrowed his brow and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

"I should have followed up with my thought. I should have done it.

Chisaki and Hikari exchanged looks, clearly not following what the two were talking about. Tsumugu, however, knew perfectly well what he was referring to.

"If I just overlook it, you'll disappear. And then I'll be able to be with Chisaki. Don't save him. Abandon him."

Kaname's words rang in Tsumugu's ears, and he felt his stomach turn.

"No."

"No?" Kaname repeated after Tsumugu.

"If you had truly followed up with your thought…" Tsumugu turned around and looked at Chisaki. Hikari was staring at him, trying to comprehend what was going on, while Chisaki had a somber gleam in her eye.

"If you had died in the first Ofunehiki, I would probably throw myself to the sea for the Sea God to take me."

Tsumugu's heart crashed against his chest uncomfortably.

"I would always find a way to find Chisaki." Tsumugu glanced at the sea and continued. "Nothing would stop me. Not you, the sea, distance…nothing. If you had left me behind, I would fight. Especially knowing what Chisaki would do if I failed."

As Kaname studied Tsumugu, from the determination in his eyes to the way his posture was firm and confident, he felt so inferior to him. Kaname was certain that he was serious. He felt sick at himself that he was able to trust Tsumugu's words so easily.

"You promise to never make her cry?" His mouth moved by itself.

Tsumugu nodded his head. "I would never allow her to experience that kind of pain ever again."

Kaname bit his lip.

"Dammit…" Tears streamed down his face. Realization hit him all at once. He was boy while Tsumugu was a man. Tsumugu was capable of taking care of Chisaki. He was capable of keeping his promises.

"Kaname…" Tsumugu reached out towards him, but Kaname slapped his hand to the side.

"If you ever make her sad or feel bad, I will cause you so much pain that you would wish the Sea God had taken your life!"

"Kaname!" Chisaki exclaimed out disapprovingly. Tsumugu quietly nodded his head and replied, "If I were to ever make her cry, then I want you to do much worse to me."

Hikari whistled offhandedly. "Tsumugu is seriously in love with you, Chisaki!"

"What's up with everyone teasing me these past few days," Chisaki groaned.

Kaname crossed his arms and inhaled deeply. "Just so you know, I'm sorry for hurting you yesterday. Even I have to admit that it was horrible for me to do that to you."

Tsumugu shook his head and gave him a dismissive hand.

"It's fine. Don't even sweat about it. Besides…" He came close to Kaname and whispered into his ear, "I've got to spend some time with Chisaki afterwards. In her nurse outfit."

Kaname's face lit up like a lantern. Tsumugu stepped back and watched as Kaname blabbered out, "What are you, an old perverted man?" Kaname face fell as he shuddered. "Why did I just think of Uroko-sama?"

"Kaname. I think you need to realize that there are more people here that love you. Love comes in many forms. And I think one of them is coming right now." Tsumugu pointed with the side of his head towards Chisaki and Hikari. Behind them, Miuna, Sayu, and Manaka were off in the distance, running.

"Hii-kun!" Manaka was the first to arrive, and she gasped when she saw Hikari. "Hii-kun, what did you do? And Chii-chan and Tsumugu-kun are here too?"

Miuna and Sayu passed by Hikari, ignoring his protest (he was mad they seemed unconcerned about him, lol), and slowed down next to Kaname and Tsumugu. Miuna was panting hard, her hands against her knees as she doubled over and fought hard to catch her breath.

Sayu, although a bit red in the face from running, was about ready to blow. "Stupid! Stupid, stupid! How could you say that? Did you already forget what I said the day before the second Ofunehiki?"

Kaname opened his mouth, but she interrupted him. "You promised to give me a chance! I promised myself that I would fill in the hole that Chisaki-san left behind! Have I failed?"

"Sayu-chan…" Kaname trailed off, clearly moved by her words. "Of course you haven't. I'm sorry for going off like that. Seeing Tsumugu again just reminded me of the past. Uh, I'm not blaming him or anything though!"

Seeing as his work is done, Tsumugu discreetly walked away from the three and went over to the other group. "Hikari, how are you?"

"Besides the fact that I'm bleeding out and hurting like hell, I'm fine now. Damn, Kaname's skull is as thick as your ego."

"Excuse me? You make it sound like my ego is as bad as yours."

"Watch it, Kihara-kun," Hikari said way too sweetly for Tsumugu's comfort.

"You boys and fighting! I bet once I become a nurse, you guys are going to be my number one patients," Chisaki grumbled.

Manaka giggled and beamed at Chisaki. "Everything is fine now that Chii-chan is here!"

The atmosphere around the seven of them was warm and bright, almost like it was five years ago in the spring when the five of them went to middle school. However, as Tsumugu pried himself away from his conversation with Hikari and observed as saltflake snow began to rain gently down, he couldn't help but ponder if it was possible to return to such a time.

"Things will never go back to normal. We'll never be the same ever again."

Unexpectedly, Kaname words popped into Tsumugu's head.

"Tsumugu-kun?" Manaka noticed that he had disengaged with the rest of them.

Tsumugu gazed over to Manaka, her eyes fixated on him, curious. A familiar scratching noise grazed past his ear, and he tensed up.

He looked over at all of them once more. Hikari was laughing and making his nose drip more, Chisaki began to scold him like a mother would, Miuna was telling Sayu to calm down, Kaname was smiling, genuinely smiling, at Sayu, and Sayu was blushing and started to yell in both frustration and embarrassment.

Their group had a good atmosphere with and around each other…but then why…

Tsumugu rubbed his hands together and exhaled.

"The feelings…still linger."

A/N: And the plot thickens! Sorry for making Kaname sort of the bad guy in this chapter. I honestly like him and I wasn't trying to bash on him or anything, but he'll be a part of the major plot development! I tried to include the others in there, like Miuna, Sayu, and Manaka, but I didn't do such a good job on that. Whoops! Haha, next chapter we will include them and their little side plot. We got some nice Chisaki and Tsumugu fluff there and here, and more to come as well! Thanks for all of you guys who viewed this story and please consider reviewing! It helps a lot! Until next time!

On the next part: Everyone is at Akari's house, together, but at the same time not together. Manaka, Miuna, Sayu, and Chisaki talk together and catch up, as well as share some secrets, while Hikari and Kaname go off in their own little group. Meanwhile, Tsumugu is somewhere, away from the group, but why?