In this next chapter we're going to look at just how much Setsuna has had an impact on Makoto. I hope you enjoy it, and thank you once again for all of the fantastic feedback on my story. I'm happy to see that people enjoy reading my story as much as I do writing it!

Seclusion

'You'll lose everyone if you take them for granted. There's nothing worse than being alone...'

The final thing Setsuna said kept on echoing in the head of Makoto. It repeated day after day, none stop. It was proof that sometimes actions didn't have the power to be louder than words.

After Kiyoura's departure the young man had gone very quiet indeed.

If anything it had thrown him into a great spiral of confusion. Before their talk he was beginning to lose track of what he was doing. The relationships Makoto was getting involved in had become almost like second nature. His actions weren't something he was stopping to actually think about very much at that point. Ignorance had managed to blind him.

It was only then, after seeing Setsuna, that he really started to question the choices he was making. Bit by bit, it had pushed him into a phase of reflection. A phase or reflection so strong that Itou had fallen into seclusion for the past few weeks.

For three entire weeks Makoto hadn't once stepped foot in school. The fear of what would await him due to his twisted desires was enough to unnerve him. Three young ladies in particular had something in common. Kotonoha, Sekai and Otome had each been used by Makoto at one point for the sake of his personal gain.

In truth, Itou's mind was becoming a chaotic place. Now that he was finally aware of the situation's depth, it would be hard, if not totally impossible to correct.

He'd taken the hearts of three good women. Each of them had a great deal of love and affection for him. Instead of choosing the noble path, Itou had followed the path of greed and selfishness. His lust for more had pushed him into lying and being unfaithful.

Regardless of the situation he faced, time was against Makoto. He'd been out of school for quite a while now. So many times in fact, that he'd pretty much used all of his absences for the entire year in his second term...

That was also where the biggest problem was waiting for him. Over the previous weeks indoors Itou had fallen into a state of decline. He wasn't sleeping properly, or taking much care of his appearance. The young man was starting to look scruffy and displeasing to the eye. Signs of sleep deprivation were ravaging Makoto's usually handsome face.

How could the words of one woman alone throw him into such intense confusion? Even though Itou wouldn't admit it, the answer was indeed a simple one.

"I've been in denial all of this time," Itou whispered sadly...

There was a war going on within his mind. It was a battle between his head and his heart. Part of him was content with living in denial, trying to convince himself that his actions toward the ladies in school were justified in some crazy sense.

On the other hand, Makoto had been raised better than that. His mother always told him to live with a kind heart and respect those who loved him. It was getting to the point where two obvious sides of Makoto's personality were duelling for control. At that stage no one really knew which part of his personality would land the winning blow.

Makoto groaned as he came around from his short yet much needed slumber. The dark rings under his eyes were becoming so deep that it was unreal. Squinting, he managed to open his eyes and look at the ceiling of the dimly lit room. It was early morning from what he could tell, no later than Five or Six.

There was a sharp pain in his head as Makoto sat upright. This severe lack of sleep was making things uncomfortable for him. It took him a mammoth effort, but eventually Makoto managed to get out of bed and stretch his aching body. His attention was quickly drawn to the state of his bedroom.

"I've really let it get dirty in here," he sighed in defeat...

The carpet was littered with used tissues and his adult magazines. Old plates from his evening meals were beginning to stack up in one of the rooms corners. Not to mention he hadn't polished or cleaned up in a long time. In short, no one else had entered his room since Setsuna's departure to France.

The young man reached out to pick up his cell phone in a single pained movement. He dreaded turning it on. In fact, he hadn't even checked it for an entire two weeks now.

Sekai had attempted to come over about a week back, twice actually. Makoto was so wrapped up in his own mental labyrinth that he didn't even attempt to let her in. She waited there for hours and hours, but he never made a sound. Eventually she gave up, and she hadn't come back since. Given his mental state he was in no position to interact with her. Not in any form of proper fashion anyway.

Preparing for the worst, Makoto pressed down on the phone's power button. The sudden flash of light from the screen made his head hurt once again, "Here goes nothing," he spoke nervously.

The 'PING' sound of received messages kept on repeating over and over. Just how many people had called and emailed him in the past week? He was getting slightly nervous just thinking about it. He had after all, walked away from school for almost a month without warning.

When the final count of received messages was in, Makoto gasped. He let the phone drop from his hand as the a wave of sheer disbelief swept over him. He glanced down at the screen, just to make sure it was right.

"You're kidding me," a tone of bewilderment was plainly evident in Itou's voice.

28 New Messages received from: Sekai Saionji

15 Messages received from: Otome Katou

53 New Messages received from: Kotonoha Katsura

1 New Message received from: Setsuna Kiyoura

37 Missed Calls

"Kiyoura called me?" Makoto asked in a slight wave of confusion, "But... she's all the way in France by now. Just how important was what she needed to tell me?"

At that point Itou's mind was made up. He'd go back to school, even if it was just to check out the situation he'd left behind. Something was clearly wrong for him to have gotten so many messages. That, or he was deeply missed by all the young women he had waiting for him.

It would be a serious problem for Makoto now. He would have to face the young women he'd so casually walked away from. These young women all yearned for him, even after been given promises of false hope. Even Katsura, who he'd already told he was breaking up with, had left left him a mass of obsessive text messages.

Itou's conscience was torn between acting in two different ways. His vastly corrupted ego was telling him to continue down his current path. After all, he'd eventually find it in his heart to settle with one woman, right?

On the other hand, his much neglected heart was telling him something very different. He never used to be like this after all. He didn't... Something was responsible for changing him into the person he had become now. Makoto needed to figure out the answer if there was to be any hope of him finding solitude within this situation...

With yet another sigh, Makoto picked up his phone again. The young Japanese man ignored the text messages for the time being.

Before he made any further actions, Ito had to satisfy his curiosity. Though he had very few reliable friends in school, there was one that always looked out for him, despite his lack of maturity. Makoto was thinking of Sawanaga of course.

He dialled the number and waited for some kind of response. The chances of Taisuke actually being awake at this hour were pretty much impossible. Makoto didn't care though. He'd just wake him up and talk to him that way. It was important after all.

Taisuke finally picked up after what seemed like forever. He let a groggy yawn escape from his mouth, "Yeah... Yeah... What is it?" He clearly hadn't checked the caller ID to see it was Makoto.

"Hey... It's me," Itou answered bluntly with the phone against his ear.

"YOU!" There was a loud thud. It was almost as if Taisuke had fallen out of bed through the shock of hearing Ito's voice!

"Where the hell have you been?" The tone in Sawanaga's voice was a frantic one.

"Away." That was Makoto's simple reply, "I've had too much on my mind," he continued with a deep sigh in tow.

Sawanaga sat up in bed and put the phone to his ear, "Saionji hasn't left me alone! She's been asking about you like crazy! She's asked half the student council where to find you too. That girls a wreck!"

Hearing that only made Makoto more hesitant about going back into school. It sounded like Sekai had gone through some serious emotional hell. His recent departure couldn't have done her any favours.

"Well don't worry, Taisuke... I'm coming back to school," Itou spoke up in a very low and uninspired tone. His way of speaking boardered depression right now.

Sawanaga fell deadly quiet after hearing his friend say that.

"When?" Taisuke was clearly too surprised to say anything more than that.

"First thing tomorrow morning," Makoto replied quietly.

For the most part Taisuke stayed quiet. He knew that if Makoto did come back into school tomorrow, it would more than likely cause a big scene. Several young ladies had been worried about him. Not only that, but the Sensei of Class Three had also been making enquiries as to Makoto's prolonged absence...

Eventually, he found the energy to muster a response, "Good luck... You'll need it."

Hearing those words from Sawanaga made Makoto fear the worst.

In the end, Itou simply hung up the phone and sighed, "I'm going to be in some serious trouble..."

To be continued...

Thank you for taking the time to read this second chapter. As always, if you liked it please feel free to leave me some feedback. All of your opinions are most welcome indeed. See you in the next chapter.