Alright, for whoever still cares about this story... this was an interesting chapter to write. I realize this chapter may not roll over well because of certain things that I decided to include in the plot. I'm going to publish it anyway. Plus, this story is moving up to a T rating (from K+) due to one or two themes in this chapter.

Enough of my rambling... enjoy.

When Kotomi went to her temporary job for the first time, it was very underwhelming work. Nothing she was asked to do was beyond her abilities. She could easily process all the information and requests for fixing particular electrical units across the city. Absolutely nothing stood in her way from doing well.

But… there was one problem. Her reason for being there was gone. As it turned out, she found out the second day on the job that Tomoya was actually unable to be at work, at least for not for awhile. It turned out that Nagisa had come down with an illness a few days prior, not unlike what she used to get in high school. Some things didn't change in this little town, and Nagisa's tendencies to become sick were a familiar fact. Tomoya chose to spend time with his wife at home, receiving a modest, but still generous, paid leave from the company.

Kotomi didn't know whether she should be angered or sad that the man she loved wouldn't be there. Without him there, she had no reason to be there, and she knew she was only forcing herself to be there. Soon after, Kotomi went to her hiring supervisor and requested that she leave her job for… unexpected commitments. She didn't say any more than that. While her manager wasn't especially pleased, they had at least had one other hire on a waiting list in case Kotomi had to leave for any particular reason, so she was allowed to leave without too much hassle.

After that, Kotomi went on living as she had. Each day was a struggle of a unique calibre. However, ever since she'd delivered the letter to Tomoya's home, she'd felt a sense of relief, a loosening of the tension that was left unresolved inside her heart. It became the norm for her to remind herself every day that she had to keep fighting. Even if she wasn't sure what she was fighting for, it was better...better than giving up altogether. There was no value in losing… losing to her… her once friend.

She fought. She fought every day… as long as she could be a little stronger than she was the day before… that's all she needed to do. That's all she could do. When the nightmares kept coming, all she could do was fight through the pain in her heart when they left her awake, and borderline broken inside. Somehow… she held on. No matter how devastating her nightmares became, how much she missed Tomoya, how much she still loved him… she didn't lose herself. No matter how broken inside, she managed to hold herself together.

It wasn't easy. In the end, Kyou and Ryou were both heading their own ways, and weren't able to make time to spend with her. More than anything, this meant that there wasn't anyone Kotomi had to voice her troubles to… nobody that she truly trusted. It was difficult, being alone. Even back 'home,' she still felt as though she were far, far away from wherever home was supposed to be.

She hit the gym every day. It was her only release at this point, apart from her light research material she had to read up on while she was away from her lab in America. She now exercised harder than ever, her resolve only growing stronger. It was an absolute contradiction. As her hopes of ever being with Tomoya grew fainter, her desire only grew stronger.

Her desire, her desperate resolve, would shine through hard times. And not a moment too soon.

One day, as she walked through a grocery near her home, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. It seemed familiar, yet strangely different. She decided to ignore it and continue shopping. As she walked down the snack aisle, however, that presence grew nearer and nearer, until it felt as though it were right behind her. Growing suspicious and somewhat uncomfortable, she looked around.

It was right behind her. It was a familiar face… but with...black hair? She remembered this face with an obnoxious blonde hair. "You're...Ichinose-san, right?" Said a familiar...but still obnoxious, voice.

"You...are?" Kotomi said, trying to remember.

"Oh, me? I'm Youhei Sunohara. Remember?" the black-haired guy said. Kotomi thought for a moment, and remembered.

"Oh! You're the punching bag man!" Kotomi said, with a little smile.

"...Why is that how you remember me?" Sunohara whimpered. He shook his head for a moment," Anyway! How have you been? I didn't know you would be back here in Japan!"

"Oh yes, I'm on vacation right now, so I came back to take care of my house and get a break from America." Kotomi said.

"Huh. Interesting…" Sunohara pondered. He then sighed, "Damn, everyone's been doing so much, and I feel like I'm just barely making it along… my job is so stringent, my boss never gives me a break, and I haven't even gotten laid once all this time… goddamn."

Kotomi wasn't sure what she was thinking… but she felt really bad for Sunohara. She… wanted to help him...but how? She… thought about taking him on a date. Maybe? It felt wrong… yet, strangely, it felt right too. She decided to ask, "Would you… maybe like to hang out with me sometime?"

Sunohara hit his head on a shelf as he turned his head sharply. "O-ow…" he uttered. "But… r-really?! You would be okay with that?!"

Kotomi, not wanting to back out now… responded, "Well… yeah, sure. I'm honestly free after I get my groceries here, if you'd like…"

Sunohara's bored expression that Kotomi always knew was completely gone, replaced with a huge smile. "Yes! Absolutely! Let's go!"

Kotomi smiled weakly… she wasn't sure what to think… on one end, she wanted this. If she couldn't have Tomoya… maybe she could have Sunohara? He was Tomoya's friend, after all… but at the same time… he wasn't Tomoya. She didn't know. She decided to give him a chance.

After getting their groceries, they stopped by Sunohara's home on the way to Kotomi's house, so he could drop his off. Then they walked to her place, making some friendly conversation. As they stopped by the outside gate to her home… Sunohara exclaimed, "So this is your home… it's been awhile. It looks well taken care of!"

Kotomi smiled, "Thanks, I do try to make sure it looks nice."

"Damn, it looks so nice compared to my place… I just have a dinky little apartment… too small, even for just me…"

Kotomi thought to herself about what he said… it reminded her of Tomoya's apartment, and how small it must've been… but, it had everything Tomoya and Nagisa needed… to live together… to raise a family… to be happy. She decided not to say anything.

As they walked inside, and Kotomi put her things down, Sunohara said, "So, what kinds of things are there to do here?"

Kotomi pondered, and… like classic Kotomi, she said, "Well, I have lots of books to read!"

Sunohara's face frowned, "Um… Sorry, I'm not too into reading… do you have any movies?"

Kotomi pondered… "Well… not really! I mostly read when I'm home by myself!"

"Huh… well… if you'd like…" Sunohara suddenly hugged Kotomi from behind, around her stomach, "We could give you a new thing to do around here…"

Kotomi was starting to feel uncomfortable… she wasn't sure if she liked Sunohara's advances… but she decided to play along… maybe it would get better. She didn't say a word, though.

Sunohara started kissing her neck gently. He gradually worked her way around to her face… all the while feeling her upper body, starting to stroke her breasts. As he was kissing her cheek, nearing her lips… there was a shallow, hallow feeling revealing itself to Kotomi, and it started exploding out from the bottom of her soul. Just as Sunohara was about to kiss her on the lips, she pushed him off her, and looked away.

"Kotomi… is something wrong?" Sunohara said, puzzled.

"Sunohara… I'm sorry, I don't want this. Just now… I felt... awful. I felt empty. I can't do this… please forgive me…" was all Kotomi could get herself to say.

He looked away… and stayed quiet for a moment. "I'm the one who should be sorry… I'm the one who started feeling you up and all…"

When she didn't say anything back, Sunohara said, "Would you like me to leave?"

Kotomi nodded. As Sunohara opened the door, he said, "Hey, Kotomi, I hope we can still be friends… I don't want this to sour our friendship at all. You are still an old friend of mind, and that matters to me."

She looked at him… unwaveringly, her eyes said everything for her. She didn't really mind. As long as he never advanced on her again. Seeming to understand, he closed the door as he walked out.

Kotomi sat for a few minutes, with that shallow feeling in her heart. She felt lost again, like she'd betrayed everything she'd been fighting for. Her mind was everywhere… yet nowhere. Her soul felt pitch-black with doubt, and she wanted to give up. She wanted nothing more to do with the world.

But, that wasn't okay. And she knew that.

With that, she walked up to her room. Where she'd set down the suitcase with the teddy bear her parents had left her… all those years before. She also saw some old books, including one about time travel… one that she had read parts of with Tomoya… so long ago. "The day before yesterday, I saw a rabbit. Yesterday, I saw a deer. Today… you." She mumbled to herself.

Slowly… she remembered. She remembered what Tomoya meant to her. But not in the same way as before… she had a renewed understanding on what he meant to her, only now after her encounter with Sunohara… while unfortunate in terms of what ended up happening… she realized now that what she felt for Tomoya wasn't something that was easily replicable. And unless she would settle for less than Tomoya's love… she couldn't give up.

If she did give up… she didn't know what would happen. For now, all she can do is fight, and hold herself together.

If she can't hold herself together, she could crack… and she might inevitably…

...Break.