"Rii-chan, are you okay?" I heard a girl's voice ask me, and I remembered that I was still at the restaurant with An-Chan. The memories just hit me so hard that I kind of just forgot for a moment.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine! Honestly I am, I was just remembering what it was like to be in England" I faked a smile and looked back down at the pictures. These ones were taken when my family came to visit me, An came as well. We all looked so happy in the photographs, even I did, Which was a little hard to believe, considering what I had just gone through when these were taken. I had just realized that my first and only love had only been toying with my emotions…Or that's what I had thought at the time. That little misunderstanding was only just settled a few months ago.

"Ah this is one of my favorites of you, Ritsu." The girl ran her petit fingers over to a picture of me while I was in England. In the picture, I was just sitting in my bed and in my bed and in my hands was a book. Not anything out of the ordinary, there was always a book in my hands back then. Literature was my passion even back in high school. But the expression I had on my face did make me smile. You could really see in my eyes how much I loved books. It was like I could escape my reality and just hide in the words on the paper.

"You know…I use to only think you gave that look to books when you read them…the look of love…" An-Chan said out of nowhere, I looked up from the picture and back up at her. "But I recently saw you giving Mr. Next-Door-Neighbor that look." Her cheeks were red and she seemed a little sad that I had never given her that look, But when she said that, my heart had skipped a beat. An didn't know what Takano's name was, so she would always refer to him as "Mr. Next-Door-Neighbor."

"I haven't...given anyone that look…" I looked away shyly, trying to deny it. But I knew that I often did look like that when I was thinking about Takano-san.

"Yes you have…I saw it that night at the hospital when your mom passed out."

"You have it all wrong-!" I tried to defend myself to her, but she immediately slammed her hands down on the table, which made me jump back a bit "An-chan."

"I know you love him Rii-Chan…" Her eyes teared up a little and she immediately wiped them away, and faked a smile "Does he know you're here with me?"

"He does…" I nodded and leaned back in my seat.

"Was he happy about it?" She tilted her head and took a sip of her drink.

"…Not exactly…" I mumbled out, remembering what had just happened before I arrived at the restaurant. How I had yelled at him.

"Then you should go back to see him…I gave you your gift after all. You have no reason to be here." She smiled at me and let out a small chuckle. "Don't worry, I can call and invite a friend here so the table doesn't go to waste."

A blush crossed over my cheeks at her offer, and I even considered it. "I couldn't leave you here An-Chan." I ran my fingers through my hair and pathetically smiled at her.

"No it really is okay Rii-Chan." She seemed persistent on me leaving, but she really seemed okay with me taking off. Though I was worried that she would go and complain to my mom like she did every time I had left her alone in the past, but I did feel like I had to go see Takano-San.

"Th-thank you…" I mumbled and pulled out a few dollars from my wallet. Even though we didn't even order, I felt that I should leave her a little something for the trouble. She opened her mouth to protest, but before any words could come out. I snatched the picture book and darted out of the restaurant. I quickly ran to the subway so I could make it back to the apartments. Then a thought hit me...What am I going to say to him? And instantly, all my confidence had drained out of me, I mean talking to Takano was practically impossible for me. What would I say…how would I say it…will he forgive me?

All my worrying made the train ride back home seem a lot faster than it usually did.

Shit…I stepped off the subway and made my way outside where I could look up a hill and see my apartment building. I wonder if he's even home…I thought to myself and took a deep breath before I got enough courage to actually keep walking

"So, you wouldn't care if I were to go out to dinner with Yokozawa tonight?" Where his exact words before I darted off earlier, He could have actually done it. No, Takano wasn't that kind of guy…at least…I don't think he is. He wouldn't go out with someone out of spite, would he?

Well, it was something that I would just have to see once I got back up there. I slowly dragged myself into my building and on to the elevator. My heart began beating rapidly in my chest as I neared my floor, I could feel beads of sweat dripping from my forehead. Not sure if it was because of the heat or because of how nervous I was.

Ding

The elevator door opened and I stepped out to the floor. My eyes darted to his door and I gulped, clenching my fists and I decided to just march over to the door and tell him what was on my mind. Which is exactly what I did, I dragged my feet over to his door and raised my arm up and flung it forward to knock on the door. But just before it hit the door, I stopped and bit my lip before turning my face away from the door. This was crazy…I would just see him at work tomorrow, so I could tell him then.

No, we wouldn't be able to talk if we did it at work…Once again; I gulped and hesitantly brought my hand up and knocked on his door. And I instantly regretted doing that, quickly I darted back to my door and reached into my satchel, eagerly trying to find my keys.

"Who was at the door?" I heard a male voice call out, and I looked over and saw that Takano-san's door had been opened. But Takano-san wasn't the one who answered it. Yokozawa-san was looking out of the door, and right at me. My eyes widened, and he seemed just as surprised to see me.

"It's Onodera…" He called back into the room and waited for a reply, there was none. I could feel my heart breaking in my chest. So…He really did hang out with Yokozawa-san. I almost dropped to my knees, but I didn't want to seem to pathetic in front of my superior.

"Good night Yokozawa-Senpai…" I said softly, yet loud enough for him to hear me. My fingers had finally found my keys in my satchel and just as I pulled them out, I heard his voice.

"It's really not what you think Onodera." Yokozawa said to me and crossed his arms. He gave me a look that told me that he was somewhat ashamed of being caught in a situation like this one. But, from what I remember, Yokozawa had enjoyed it when I got the wrong idea about him and Takano-San's relationship. Now was different somehow.

"No need to explain…" I put my key inside the lock and opened my door.

"Wait, Onodera…Takano wants you to go over." Yokozawa called out to me just as I stepped inside my door.

"Well I don't want to go…" And with that, I shut the door behind me before he could say anything else. And as soon as I shut the door, I slid down it and hugged my knees to my chest. I really am an ass…I should have realized that he didn't want me to visit An-Chan. I buried my face in my knees and just sat like that for what seemed like an hour. But just like that, I heard a loud knock on the door behind me.

"Oye! Onodera, open up!" A familiar voice called out and kept banging on the door.

"G-go away!" I shouted at him and hugged my knees tighter.

"No! I want to talk to you…now!" He kicked the door, which made me jump slightly.

"I don't want to talk to you…!" I lied and stood up and took a step forward.

"Look…Yokozawa was just bringing Sorata over to visit! I didn't even know he was coming…" He stopped knocking on my door and was now just talking to me. "Now can you please open up?" I looked down at my feet and took a deep breath before I turned around and nervously turned my knob, letting the tall man inside my house. He took no time at all with coming in and locked the door behind him as he came in. My eyes widened at the motion, and I took a step away from him. But Takano made no move to come close to me.

"How was dinner?"

"We didn't actually get to dinner…she gave this to me and I left" I partially pulled the picture book out of my bag and then let it drop back inside.

"What is it?"

"Just a picture book of my childhood…Nothing to special."

Takano crossed his arms and sighed. For a moment, neither of us said anything. But that was quickly over.

"Why did you react that way when you saw Yokozawa?" He leaned close to my face, and looked at me curiously. My eyes widened at the question and I looked away, too embarrassed to make eye contact. "I thought you said you didn't care what I did…why did you react that way..?" Takano reached his hand forward and gripped my chin, making me face him. And when I refused to answer he pinned my arms above my head and against a wall.

"Why?" He kept pestering me, repeating the question over and over until I had to answer.

"Because I love you!" My eyes widened as soon as the words left my mouth and instantly my face flustered up. I can't believe I said that! I struggled to escape his grip but he only tightened it. I finally built up enough courage to look up into his eyes. His eyes were wide as well, and were looking down at me with a shocked expression. And suddenly he leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against mine.

"mmpf..!" I was shocked at the kiss and at first tried to pull away. Takano's tongue shoved its way in between my lips and were now exploring the inside of my mouth. It didn't take long before I ultimately gave in to the kiss.

"Say it again." The kiss was broken and he pressed his forehead against mine.

"A..again..?" I tried to catch my breath from the kiss just now and looked up at him embarrassed.

"Yes…You finally said it…now do it again…" Takano released the grip he had on my wrists and slid them around my body and pulled me into a tight embrace. My heart was racing to quickly that I thought it was going to burst out of my chest, and I gulped. Clinging on to his shirt and I took a deep breath.

"I l…love you, Takano-San"