When I woke up I felt l very refreshed, warm with a tinge of liveliness. I opened my eyes to see Takano looking at me with all the love he could possibly show. He smiled and greeted me with a kiss. "I would say good morning but it's almost 2 o' clock in the afternoon."

My eyes widened, "2 o' clock!? Crap, we were supposed to go to work!"

His expression not changing, he said, "Hey Onodera, can I ask what you were dreaming about?"

I give him a face of confusion.

"Whatever you were just dreaming about, it looked like a good dream. It'd be a shame if you forgot it."

"How are you so sure it was a good dream?"

"Oh I don't know… You just looked so relaxed and happy," his gaze started to drift off to the side and his smile slowly turned into a smirk, "And, if I'm not mistaken, I think I heard you mumble something along the lines of 'I love you'."

I blushed and gritted my teeth, "No, you definitely heard wrong! I had an awful dream!"

He looked back at me with a smile and kissed me before hugging me and saying in my ear, "I just hope you were dreaming of me, Ritsu." He looked back at me, "Were you?"

"I most certainly was not!"

"Then who were you dreaming about?"

"No one! And why are you so concerned about my dreams anyways!?"

"Because I have to make sure every good dream of yours is about me, of course."

"Well I'll have you know all my nightmares are about you!"

Still smiling and looking into my eyes with enamor, he says "Well, you know what I was dreaming about?"

"What?"

"Our wedding day."

Frustrated at his words I say "Would you stop with that! Who's to say we're going to have a wedding anyways!?"

"I am. Just think about it Ritsu, it'd be so special! We could have the ceremony outside near a vineyard in warm, refreshing spring air, and have dinner in a large, elegant dining room with a crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling, dancing our first dance as a married couple under it to classical, romantic music. And I'd bet you'd look beautiful with your veil pushed behind your head, in a strapless white dress that drags on the floor, covered in lace-"

"I'm not going to get married to you, and certainly not in a dress!"

Teasingly, he sighed and gave me a dumb look, "You're such a buzz kill." He then tucked my head in his chest with a hand petting the back of it, "And, you know, I enjoyed your company today, Ritsu."


After some bickering, I finally convinced Takano-san to go into the office with me. Everyone was concerned about our health due to Takano's lie, but we convinced them we were fine and went on with a normal work day (well, as normal as a 'normal work day' could get…).

I let myself get distracted in my work, and tried not to think much about all that had happened today, but ended up doing so. I thought about the awful dreams I had, along with the good ones. I thought about how Takano had cared for me when he saw me upset, and smiled at me when he saw me happy. I thought about when I told him I loved him. It was embarrassing, and I just hope he'll remember so I won't have to say it again. Yeah, I want to be closer to him, but it's still embarrassing for me to say that kind of stuff…

I didn't have enough strength to tell him that I had also enjoyed being with him today. There's something about Takano-san, something through his sarcastic remarks and annoyingly constant sex, that I absolutely love, even though I hate everything else. The way he holds me close when we sleep together, and kisses me when I wake up in the morning, I know that's who he really is. I know Takano-san can't read my mind, and sometimes that concerns me. He may not even be aware that there are things I love about him. It would be a lot to ask of him to remember every tiny thing I do to show him I don't hate him, and to be able to understand my feelings for him based on just those actions. I know I have to do my part in this relationship if I want it to go farther, which I do. I'll do my part by returning his kisses and hugging him back, and as long as he does his, I'm sure our relationship as lovers will blossom into a whole new level from what it is now. Until then I'll fantasize about when I'm not as aloof as I am now, but more close to him. Perhaps, I do just want us to have a wedding…