(present time)

No matter how hard she tried, she still couldn't forget about that envelope. Up until now they could pretend nothing was going to happen and everything was just going to fall into place when the time is right. "We still have time until the graduation comes," he texted her later that evening, but it's not just some time in the future, because the future is now.

Chizu hated herself for that, but she secretly hoped Ryu would decide to stay home with her after all, but now this option was out of the question. University of Tokyo was a big deal and if there was someone who really deserved to study there, it was definitely him. It would be selfish of her to keep him from going there. Maybe it'd be better not to interfere and let him decide what's right. If they don't meet that often, maybe the separation won't be so hard for her.

To free her mind a little she took a game and turned it on. It was a belated birthday present from non-other than the person she couldn't stop thinking of.

Tink…tink…

"Man, those things really give off weird noises these days. Is it broken? But it's working!"

Suddenly the sound re-echoed and this time Chizu could tell where it's coming from. It wasn't the game, but little pebbles hitting the window, which was definitely the sign of…

"Hey, could you come down here for a minute? I need to talk to you."

"Umm…okay, wait!" She said. She knew exactly what's going to be the topic of the conversation, but ran downstairs anyway.

"I'm really sorry about yesterday. I should have told you about it," Ryu said.

"That's ok; apparently we're not as close as I thought we are. After all, it has nothing to do with me, isn't that right?"

"Do you really think so? I can't believe you're that dumb!" he yelped. Quickly realizing what he had said, he covered his mouth.

"Is that why you came here? To tell me I was an idiot? Gee, thanks, I'm flattered," Chizu retorted and smashed the door shut.

"I never said that. You did," he said to himself, squatted down and facepalmed. Yeah, congratulations, that's just the right thing to say to the most important person. You truly are a gentleman.

Chizu shut the door, threw herself on the bed and cried.

Chizu's POV

Why am I doing this? Just a few weeks and he will be gone and all I do is wasting time by throwing tantrums and picking fights! Why do I have to turn every word into an insult? He came to apologize and I practically force him to say such thing! Idiot, Ryu, idiot! Why did you have to say that? Is it because I can't attend a university due to my grades?"

She felt a sudden urge to slap herself for even thinking of that. He would NEVER say that referring to her studies!

Ryu Sanada sometimes unintentionally acted like a jerk and he was bitterly honest, sure, he has his mistakes, but he would never mock anyone (especially her) for something they couldn't affect themselves. It's always Chizu who picks the fights.

"Why do I have to be so childish?" Chizu yelled hitting the pillow with her fist. "I need to make things right tomorrow, we can't waste any more days!"

"Morning, Sawako!"

"Good morning, Ayane-chan!"

"Is Chizu here yet?" Ayane asked.

"Um, I haven't seen her for 2 days, actually."

"Yes, but now that she's going out with Ryu, it is normal, I guess." It wasn't until she finished the sentence when suddenly a tall short-haired guy walked into the classroom and quietly sat down.

"…..what?" He asked. Sawako and Ayane were staring at him. There were big dark circles under his eyes.

"G-good morning, Sanada-kun!" Sawako peeped in order to try to break the awkward silence.

"Morning," he sighed.

"So, I guess I don't have to ask whether you met Chizu, do I?" Ayane said.

"Well…"

"What happened?"

"It has nothing to do with you, Yano, does it?"

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to help you, moron!"

"Thanks, but I can sort it out myself." He said and lay on his desk.

"Why do I even try?" Ayane rolled her eyes and returned to her desk.

"Morning, e-what the hell?!" Kazehaya walked into the classroom and was welcomed with a dark aura soaring upon his friends.

"Good morning, Kazehaya-kun," Sawako greeted with a kind of absent-minded smile.

"Can someone tell me what's going on here?"

"Nothing much, your friend is a jerk, that's all," Ayane said in a way as if she was commenting a weather forecast.

"Huh? Kuronuma, do you have any clue of what is it about?" He turned to her girlfriend, but before she could speak a word she was cut in by a deep quiet voice.

"Let it be, Shota, it's not your problem." Everyone jumped of shock as they thought he was asleep.

"Where's Chizu-chan?" Sawako asked.

"Don't know." Ryu replied, half-asleep again."

"Well, you should know! She's your girlfriend for crying out loud!" Ayane yelped.

"BAM!" As the door opened it hit the wall and in the middle of that there was a hazel-haired girl heavily breathing from running to school in order to make it there on time.

"Good morning, Chizu-chan," Sawako greeted once again.

"Morning, Sawa!" Chizu grinned. Despite of this shiny greeting Sawako could see she's only pretending, judging from her puffy eyes and killing glance she gave her boyfriend when she was passing by him.

"They had a fight," Ayane whispered to Sawako.

"I'm right here, I can hear everything!"

"Okay, sorry, Chizu."

"Say hello to your favorite homeroom teacher!" Pin run into the class as gloriously as only he could. Suddenly a small folded paper landed on Chizu's desk.

"11:30 at the staircase near the canteen. I think we need to talk."

Ryu

She looked over her shoulder to see him anxiously waiting for the reply. Without hesitation she nodded and turned back.

When the school bell rang Chizu ran down the stairs like a bolt.

"Yosh," Ryu greeted with a poker face.

"Yosh."

The atmosphere was so tense that if you lit a match, you would've gotten a full-scale explosion.

"Tell me, do you really think you're not important to me?"

"No, look, I'm sorry for that, I…"

"I haven't slept all night, because I was worried about you. I've been wondering what I've done to you to make you think so. Do you still not get it?"

"Sorry, I really didn't mean it, it's just…I promised you to take care of you and always support you, but now I feel like I'm just standing in your way." Although she fought hard to avoid this, she felt she was losing it again. "I just don't want to spoil your future!" She sniffed and leaned her head against him. Suddenly she could feel he wrapped his arms around her.

"Chizu, stop that! I don't want you to consider yourself an obstacle for me, okay?"

"But I'm dumb, you were right with that part."

"Just because you're not a straight A's student doesn't mean you are dumb. Who told you that?"

"You didn't see those looks the teachers at the cram school gave us! I felt like a total idiot!"

"Don't say that, I know that if you work hard, you'll be able to pass any test."

"Thanks, Ryu." She said.

He squeezed her and pulled away.

"For you anytime. Do you feel better now?"

"I feel great, thank you." Chizu smiled "Alright, let's eat now, hurry up! I'm so hungry I could eat this banister."

"Whoah, now that's a radical change." Ryu laughed. "Well, I don't know how it tastes, but don't you think a bento would be better?"

"Maybe." She admitted with a grin. "By the way, why are you still holding my hand?"

"Sorry, I forgot."

"I never said it bothers me."

"What are you doing after school?" Ryu asked.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe hanging out with you?"

"Right answer," he said," but I'll pick you up at six, because I have practice. Is that okay?"

"Deal."

"Now let go of my hand, ok?"