Author's Note: Here's chapter 2. The plot thickens.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chihayafuru!

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Scene 2: The game ends. Chihaya wins by two cards. She and Taichi are sitting side by side underneath the window in the karuta club, catching their breath.

"Taichi, you've improved a lot. I saw, you've been working really hard!"

Taichi smiles. "You know Chihaya. I've been meaning to tell you – but you seemed so spaced out that I didn't. Harada sensei's match…" Taichi paused. He took several breaths to steady himself, unsure if he should tell her what he was thinking.

"Hmm? What about sensei's match, Taichi?"

"I have to tell her! I can't run away" Taichi thought.

Out loud, he said "Chihaya, sensei's match. It did something to me. It stirred my heart. It - it inspired me to try my hardest at karuta, and at everything else in life. I might not have Arata or your talent, but I'm willing to work with all my heart and soul. And so, I wanted to tell you before anyone else. I….I want to be Meijin, with you as my Queen. Uhhh..I mean the Queen. The Karuta Queen." Taichi starts to sputter.

Chihaya's eyes are wide as she says, "Taichiii, Taichiiii, you want to be Meijin! You want to be Meijin. I'm so happy. We can keep playing karuta together!"

Realizing that the whole "my queen" slip up was totally unnoticed by Chihaya, Taichi calms down.

"Yes, I do want to be Meijin. Chihaya, you and I have always been together, as kids, building the karuta club together, going to the tournaments, rising up in ranks, teaching the newer students. Before I knew it, I realized one of my most cherished dreams was to also be with you at the top of the Karuta world. I've just been too scared to admit it to myself until now."

"What were you scared of?" Chihaya asked, scratching her head.

"Should I be honest with her?" Taichi thought. He saw her wide eyes on him, and had a terrible impulse to tell her everything – how he was hopelessly in love with her, how he was scared of Arata taking her away, how he was scared of failure. He shook his head and simply said, "I was scared that talent would always beat hard work. But Harada sensei's match proved me wrong. Arata lost."

At the mention of Arata, the thoughts that Chihaya had pushed to the back of her mind came up again. "Should I tell Taichi – Taichi who's being so honest with me? He's my best friend right? I should tell him! He always makes things right for me. He can help me." She thought about the time before the Nationals when he knew the right thing to say to calm her down. That memory decided her.

"Taichi…I didn't tell you before. I didn't know what to do about it. But, I'm so lost. And you always make things better."

Concerned, Taichi said "Chihaya, you can tell me anything. You know that baka!"

"That's right, I can tell him anything!" Chihaya thought looking over at the boy who was always there for her. She opened her mouth, but realized she couldn't look at him anymore. Lowering her head she blurted out, "Arata said he likes me".

Silence.

"Why doesn't Taichi say something?" Chihaya thought. "Why can't I bring myself to look at him?"

Still nothing. "I have to look up. This is ridiculous." But still, she couldn't move her head.

"What did you tell Arata in response, Chihaya?"

Something in Taichi's voice made her look up. He didn't look like her Taichi. His face was pale, and he seemed to be struggling to hold his thoughts in.

"Is he angry?" Chihaya thought, "No, that's not it. He looks so sad. What did I just do!" She wanted to lean over, hug him and say sorry, but she felt frozen. Frozen by the situation. Frozen by the expression on Taichi's face.

Taichi asks again, his voice cracking a little "Did you say yes, Chihaya?"

"NOOO!" Chihaya shouted finally finding her voice. "I didn't say anything! He - he didn't give me a chance to say anything."

"I see."

"Taichi, why are you…"

Right at that moment, the door flies open and Kana walks in exclaiming, "Sorry I was late! I got held up at…"

She trails off at the sight before her. Chihaya seemed panicked, and Mashima Buchou was clearly upset! "Oh no!" she thinks in alarm. "What happened, what did I interrupt!"

"Excuse me, I need a bit of air, I'll be right back!" Taichi exclaims, rushing out of the club room.

…

That's the end of Chapter 2. Hope you guys enjoyed the story. I know Taichi gets bruised a little bit in this chapter, but don't worry, he'll make a comeback (fingers crossed that this happens in the real manga as well). I'm absolutely fascinated by this guy's character.

Will update again next week! Thank you for reading! Please rate and review if you liked the story! It keeps me writing.