The first thing I feel in the morning is my headache. I cover my head with a pillow, as if it would help but, of course, it didn't. I start to get up so I can brush my teeth and wash my face, but stop when I feel Takano's hand grab my wrist, "Where are you going?"

"Oh, um, I was just going to get some ibuprofen for my headache…" I am suddenly shocked when I realize the reality of the situation, "W-what are you doing in here!? Get out!" I yell pulling my hand away from him.

"Geez, already with the yelling so early in the morning…" he mumbles. "If I hadn't stayed the night someone would have stolen all your clothes and you'd probably would have passed out on the floor. If anything, I at least deserve a 'thank you'."

I sigh in defeat, not wanting to fight with him right now with my huge headache, "Alright, thank you…"

When I try to get up again Takano just pushes me down, "I'll get it, just lay down and rest."

I very happily oblige and almost fall right back to sleep, but Takano came back before I could. It wasn't until he came back that I realized he was only in his underwear. I swallowed the pills with the water he gave me and asked "D-did you sleep like that last night?"

"Yeah. I didn't think it was necessary to go over to my house and get clothes, since I sleep like this with you all the time. I didn't do anything to you, if that's what you're worried about."

I remember more about last night before I went to bed than when Takano first came over. I barely remember the dinner… but I remember when I broke the plates and went to my room and cried and Takano saw me and he didn't say much because "I probably wouldn't remember anyways".

"I can brew some coffee if you want, although that medicine might make you drowsy."

"No, I'd love some coffee, if it's not a bother to you."

He put on his pants that he found on the floor and went out to make the coffee. I went to the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth, and the clothes I was wearing smelled pretty bad so I changed into an old t-shirt and sweatpants.

I walked out sluggish and found a cup of coffee for me next to Takano and started to sip on it.

"I only put in a little bit of milk. That's how you like it, right?"

"Yeah, thank you…"

"Is the medicine working?"

"Not quite yet, but this coffee certainly is." I said, taking another sip.

Takano smirked, "You had one hell of a day yesterday, didn't you?"

I hesitated before answering, "I guess I did… I didn't mean to get drunk like that…"

"You said the reason was because you were nervous about me coming over for dinner."

"Yeah, I kind of was…" I said, starting to blush.

He put his hand on top of mine, "You don't need to get so nervous around me, Onodera. I am your lover, after all, or at least that's how I see our relationship."

I look down at my coffee, trying not to look back at Takano. I guess we did have a kind of "lover" relationship, even I could admit that to myself, but something still makes it uncomfortable for me to open up to Takano like he opens up to me. I just can't quite bring myself to step out of my box and into Takano's warm arms.

But I knew that if I kept thinking about that I would start cry so I quickly quaffed down some of my coffee to stop myself. I think Takano gave me a weird look but he just shrugged it off.

He took a sip of his coffee and then said "Hey, Onodera, I'm going to go to my apartment real quick to change and stuff. I'll be back in ten minutes." He walked over to my side of the table and gave me a quick kiss on my cheek, making me blush.

I finished my coffee while he was gone and washed the mug. He came back in fresh clothes, and it even smelled like he took a quick shower. As he walked closer to me I noticed a hand behind his back.

"Come here, Onodera. I want to show you something." He said with a warm smile. He offered his hand to me, and I accepted it hesitantly. He led me to the couch, not showing his back, and we both sat next to each other. He let go of my hand and pulled out a medium sized, rectangle-shaped present from his back. He looked at me with the same smile and said "Merry Christmas."

I hesitated a little bit before reaching out to grab it. I was too big to be any kind of jewelry, which was kind of a relief. I would feel somewhat bad if it was anything expensive. I took a deep breath and started to slowly tear open the present, careful not to make too much of a mess.

I opened it to reveal a back of a book. I flip it over and my eyes wander over the title in confusion, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

"Do you like it?" I look up at him. His eyes were filled with so much emotion of love, it was a little overwhelming. "Y-yeah. I've always liked Charles Dickens, but I haven't gotten around to reading this book yet."

He chuckled a little, "You don't remember do you?"

"Remember what?" It was a little hard to keep his gaze, but I didn't want to look away from his beautiful face that was emitting so much love.

"Do you remember when we first met? Or, really, when we first confronted each other?"

Yes. I remember it clearly. I was in the library straining to get a book on the top shelf, and Takano reached it with ease and handed it to me. Now that I think about it, it seems so stupid that that's how I fell in love with him…

A book…

"This book…" I mumbled staring back at it in shock.

As I said, I never had gotten around to reading it. I had completely forgotten about it, my mind being filled with thoughts about Takano (or, Saga, at the time).

In my realization, Takano gave me a hug from beside me and gave me a warm kiss on my forehead. I relaxed in his warm arms, still holding on to the book.

He let go after a few moments and I looked up at him, "I'm sorry, I didn't get you anything."

"You gave me that delicious dinner last night."

"Well that was for your birthday, not really for Christmas…" I look down feeling guilty. He had given me such a sentimental gift and all I gave him was pasta.

He ruffled my hair a little, "Well it's not too late to get me a present."

I looked at him again in confusion, "Like what?"

He leaned over me, making me move back a little, and engulfed me in a warm kiss. Only lasting a few seconds, he pulled back only enough to look at me in the eyes, "I'd love to spend all of today in bed with you."

I blush at the suggestion and, instead of protesting, offer a logical answer, "W-well actually I have to spend today at my mom's house…"

He frowned a little at my answer, "I see…" He pulled back but smiled again "Well that sounds nice."

I groan a little, "Not really. She's been on my ass since I told her I was canceling the engagement."

Takano nodded a little bit in acknowledgement. I respond to his obvious disappointment with, "You know, I would invite you but-"

"Don't bother. As much as I'd love to introduce myself to your family one day, I'm not too sure right now is the right time."

I cock my eyebrow a little, "Introduce yourself as what, exactly?"

"As your lover, of course." He says smirking.

I blush madly, "W-well don't bother cause' you're not going to do that anyway!"

As I get up, holding the book in one hand, he gets up with me and loops his arms around my waist. He then kisses me warmly on the lips. I grip his shoulder softly with my hand that isn't holding the book. A small part of me wanted to push him away, a very small part that kept decreasing as the feeling of bliss given by his warm kiss permeated my body…

He let go and said "I'll leave so you can go be with your family." He gave me a kiss on the cheek and left my apartment.

Recovering from my pink blush and regaining composure, I left the book on the nightstand next to the couch, took a quick shower and changed into fresh clothes.

Now it was time to spend the day with less desirable people…