Chapter 2: In The Hands of Another…and Another…etc.

With a scream of shock, Maora looked down at his hands where Okorimakuri-kun was supposed to be. He hadn't noticed that he was holding Haine's letter until he had gotten home in his room.

Calming himself down, he traced back to where he had left his angry pet.

HAINE!! He answered to himself, eyes wide with realization. But something bothered him more than the fact that Haine had Okorimakuri-kun. Ai, I hope she can handle his frenziness…I'll have to give this letter back to her tomorrow then. He stared at the letter, inspecting the beautiful ribbon. No wonder…


The next morning at school for Maora was somewhat similar to any other day. All the kids would wave and greet him and he would wave back and flash his smile.

Picking up his books and bags after 3rd period, he decided to go meet Haine. With the letter in mind, Maora hadn't watched where he was running into and had bumped himself and his bag into someone.

"You're getting in the habit of running into me, Maora," Maguri sniffed, lightly shoving Maora off his chest and away from him. The letter held inside Maora's bag had fallen out of its place and onto the ground.

Maora put a hand over his eyes to block the glaring sun as he stared up at Maguri. "Then that means you're too stupid to avoid me, Maguri," Maora countered angrily. Maguri dared himself to stare back but instantly looked away in fear of getting lost in Maora's always glittering topaz eyes.

"Don't think too highly of yourself," he mumbled, keeping his face turned uncomfortably. He hesitated for a bit.

After yesterday's encounter with Maora, Maguri spent a lot of time looking over things about himself. He too, realized that he hadn't loved Shizun with his whole heart as he had thought. But why had he felt so hurt yesterday? Yes, it still had to do with Haine, but it wasn't about Shizun anymore.

And then he knew. It was never about Shizun. After Maora voted on letting Haine in the Student Council, he hadn't felt that awesome about welcoming her. He also noticed that his jealousy over Haine was because Maora would always be with her instead. He felt like he had lost his childhood friend. He still had Maora's friendship, that was obvious, but was more concerned of losing his heart. To be simple, he had found out he was in love with Maora all this time…as he remembered Maora's confession so long ago.

"Hmph…out of my way, blondie." Maora pushed Maguri aside in impatience after waiting so long for Maguri to move. He stomped off with his nose high and proud.

Maguri had tripped over himself, but quickly got up to growl at Maora, "Hey! Get back over here!!! I'm not done talking to you!!!" Bringing it out bluntly, Maguri had wanted to ask Maora out, but had obviously lost his chance.

Maora ignored him and kept his pace.

"So that's why nobody likes you!" Maguri continued to screech, forgetting for a moment why he wanted to ask him out, "You're too THICKSKINNED!!!"

Maora went furious at that comment and ran back to slap Maguri on the cheek. He walked off steaming, leaving Maguri awed and rubbing his bruised face.

I need to see Haine…Maora thought desperately, running now. What he was really thinking was: I need to see Haine to get Maguri off my mind. Maora brushed an arm across his eyes to get rid off the approaching tears.


Maguri looked after Maora, feeling even more hurt that he had hurt Maora. He shouldn't have said that.

The spring breeze tangled his hair and blew the wrapped note into his sight. In distraction, he picked it up. Looks kinda like what Maora wore yesterday, he observed, feeling the texture of the bow between his fingers. Eyes big now, he remembered Maora abandoning it after crashing into him. He shot his eyes around the campus for any sign of him, but found no one.

He blew out his breath and tapped the note on his available palm.

Curious, he decided that whatever was in the note, it must have belonged to Maora and that Maora wouldn't worry if he read it or not. Right?

Walking toward his next class, he neatly loosened the ribbon, stuffed it in his pocket and unfolded the letter. Maguri stopped in mid-step, almost hyperventilating as he quickly scanned the whole page.

Love me or no?!? he repeated from the letter. Whether this was a confession for a new crush Maora developed, he wouldn't know. But he had to know. He needed to know. And he wouldn't wait, even if it meant ditching class.

He instantly pivited around to go find Maora, but in his rush bumped into someone else. Dammit… The confession letter flew out of his hands. He guessed Maora was right about him being too stupid to watch where he was going.


Maora ran to his next class where Haine was sitting, shaking feverishly with Okorimakuri-kun in her hands. He had guessed she found out about the unintentioned swap too.

"Err…hi there, Haine-chan!" Maora greeted awkwardly, giving off a strange smile.

"MAO-CHAN!!!" Haine sobbed, fresh tears gushing out. She shoved Okorimakuri-kun in his hands and waited, face still held in a sad expression.

"Right, right, I have your letter, Haine, so don't worry."

"Did you read it?" Haine asked childishly.

"I swear I didn't. I couldn't stand Haine-chan to look even sadder could I?" he beamed back, searching through his bag for the note.

"Oh, Mao-chan, you're the best!" Haine had to explain to Ushio that morning that she couldn't read the letter because of…issues at home. She fibbed that her toilet was squirting out like crazy and that all the pipes had to be fixed and stuff like that. Ushio forgivingly said to just read it as soon as possible.

But Haine's bubbling anticipation settled when she saw the worried look on Maora's face.

"Haine…" Maora said, knowing that he didn't need to explain. He had lost it. But what made Maora look even more worried was that he remembered dropping it with…Maguri.

Haine, in utter shock, sat frozen in her seat and thought about the worse that could happen.


Kusame scratched his bumped head and hurt bottom, cursing. A small folded piece of paper he held blasted out of his hands.

Komaki, President of the Middle School Branch, had wanted him to get the list of supplies for the up-coming Masked Ball at the Imperial Academy. He had taken all night to neatly write them all down (an order by Komaki) on felt-like paper, which must be folded nicely into a formal letter (also to Komaki's request). Letting Komaki wait any longer would conclude in a disaster.

But Kusame had bumped into a stranger…no wait, upper-classman…no, Maguri-sempai, also Vice-president, but of the High School Branch.

Just great. Kusame thought sullenly. Vice meeting vice. He stood up, mumbling an apology.

"Ah, that's alright," Maguri replied in the same unimportant tone, bending down to grab his fallen letter. Kusame did the same, bowing and rushing off to the much waiting Komaki.

Maguri watched him speed off, scratching his head and opening Maora's confession letter for a last minute check. Dammit… he repeated, turning his eyes to Kusame who had already disappeared.

All there was in his hands was a list of different items written in calligraphy. This hadn't belonged to Maora (obviously). The bell for the end of passing period rang like background music in his ears as he realized that...

Kusame had the letter.


HEY! Maguri stole my line at that last part there!!! Lol, whatever.

-End of Chapter-

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter better than the last. I'll do my best to get better at it. Please comment.