It had been a week since Masamune had stopped going down to the bar during his break. However, the editor in chief was far from happy. Despite the approving look he gets from Ritsu when he returns from break sober that lifted his spirits slightly – he hadn't had a chance to talk with the woman for that entire week as she would always be whisked off somewhere by that shitty blonde as if he knew he wanted to talk with her.

He couldn't bring himself to call him out in front of the rotting bastard but he couldn't when Ritsu looked so happy. However, that ended today. Each and every time he went out he spotted that no good asshole up to no good. Masamune marched into the emerald department "Onodera come with me" Masamune growled.

Masamune lead them to one of the meeting rooms and lend on the table. "What's wrong? Did something happen"

"I want you to hear me out ok you cannot say a word until I am done" Ritsu nodded. "I know I am not supposed to bring personal stuff into work but your "Boyfriend is leaving me no choice" Ritsu frowned but stayed silent. "This has nothing to do with us and I'm not meddling at all but it's something you need to know because I cannot stand back and let this happen. Ive tried telling you but he just kept getting in the way" confusion skittered across her face.

"Let what happen?" Masamune pulled his phone out of his back pocket and pulled up the photos

"he's been hanging around with this chick for a while now. You two can work out wants going on because I don't want to assume he's cheating and to be completely truthful my feelings could be clouding my judgement-"

"No, they aren't" Ritsu turned to the picture of Rafael with his arm linked with a woman's and showed it to Masamune "That woman's name is Ashley, they were dating before I had gotten together with him. He said he'd left her though"

"What exactly did he say?"

"he said 'she isn't my girlfriend anymore'" Masamune sighed and opened his arms out to her as she looked like she was about to break down. She ran to him and cried her heart out. "I'm so stupid"

"You're not stupid he deceived you" Masamune pressed a kissed to the top of her head as he held her close. It was hurting him to see her this way bearing it as best he could for her. It was a few minutes later that Ritsu finally calmed down and pulled away rubbing her eyes.

"I have a really bad choice in relationships" Ritsu sniffled

"Ouch" Masamune said in mock offence

"Admit it ours didn't turn out that great either" Ritsu defended.

"Yea but I willing to give it a chance to change that" Masamune said quietly. Ritsu drew a sharp breath.

"Takano-"

"It's just out there. I'll always be here if you need it. In more ways than one" Masamune turned to move when he felt Ritsu grab his sleeve.

"Even after how awfully I've treated you… why do you still care for me?"

"Isn't it obvious? Because I love you" Masamune then continued to walk. "Take the time you need, I'll send Kisa to you" And then he was gone. Confusion swirled in her heart as she broke down once more.

Truth hurts

Takano strolled back into emerald "Kisa, Ritsu is in meeting room 1 I just had to give her some bad news and some girl talk may do her good"

"I got it, for how long"

"As long as she needs Me, Mino and Hatori can help her out on the work side of things"

"Ok" Shouta immediately left to go to the distraught girl. Masamune however was in turmoil himself, she had been crying her eyes out because he had ruined the illusion of happiness she had, had and no matter how much he wished for it he could never give her true happiness, not when it was clear she didn't love him.

But it doesn't hurt to try. Even if it means ratting out every asshole that tries to hurt her, or even if… if it's in the arms of another man.

Truth hurts

Ritsu heard someone enter the room quietly as she sat curled in on herself. "Ricchan, you okay?"

"I don't know anymore"

"What happened?" the older woman cooed.

"I thought I could trust this cheating asshole." Ritsu sobbed.

"Who? Takano-san?"

"No! no not Takano-san nothing is going on between us. No, it was this guy I had met in England, Rafael"

"That asshole is gonna get it" Shouta seethed

"Also, I am getting so confused about my feelings for Takano, I can't-"

"Ricchan let me tell you something" Ritsu turned to face the baby faced woman "When I first met Yukina – My boyfriend – I felt so confused. He has a nice face and an even better body-"

"Ew Kisa-san"

"- oh hush, anyways when we met up again an hour later my hope was slowly draining away that I would at least have a chance with him and it hit rock bottom when he suddenly kissed me" Shouta continued "I had never felt so confused in my life and looking back on it, I had been falling in love with him – I still am – more and more every day. Don't you think it could be the same for you?"

"Maybe, but it hurts, I thought I was in love with…"

"You two clearly weren't meant to be, Ricchan, but Takano-san might be better, we've all noticed that he gives you special care and we all encouraged him because we could feel the chemistry and you two just…fit!"

Ritsu giggled at Shouta's loss for words.

The two girls stood up "Thank you, Kisa-san"

"Anytime Ricchan"

Truth hurts

It was towards the end of the day and Ritsu had returned to her place and Masamune was relieved to see she had gone back to normal. Ritsu had decided to take a break only to run into Masamune.

"How are you feeling?"

"I could be better I guess"

"you know where to find me if you need me" Masamune smiled softly at her and Ritsu smiled back, life slowly entering her eyes. Just as he was about to walk past she grabbed his sleeve again.

"C-can we walk home together?" Ritsu asked with her head bowed. Masamune raised his hand and placed it on top of her head

"If that's what you want I would be more than happy too" he agreed as he let his hand slip through her locks as he walked away missing the bright red of Ritsu's cheeks.