"Nanami, you can do things on your own. I'm sorry that I have treated you as a child for these years. Since you are an adult now, you will be taking care of Mikage Shrine by yourself. It was nice meeting you. You taught me many things goodbye now."

"Wait! Tomoe! Don't leave me! (chasing after him) You can't leave me like this!"

" nanami-"

"Nanami~"

Someone's calling me...

"NANAMI! GET THE FUCK UP!"

*jolt*

"What?! What's wrong?!" I looked around with a hint of panic in me. So it was a dream? Phew~ What would I do if Tomoe left me all alone?

"It's already 7:45! We're gonna be late for school! Hurry up and get ready!"

"Ok. I'm sorry. I'll be done in 10 min." I went to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I heard Tomoe head towards the kitchen to get our bento ready. I looked at myself through the mirror.

What am I doing here? I can't exorcise. I can barely grant prayers. I always rely on Tomoe. But why do I stay here? Truthfully, I don't think that I'm needed.

I ran to the front door to see Tomoe waiting for me.

" Let's go, Tomoe!"

We walked together and had our usual, weird conversation about random stuff. I tried to avoid the romance conversations because he doesn't about Ikkaku-san and I hoped that it would stay that way. We got to school and barely made it to class. As usual, the class girls would squeal and kya around Tomoe and Kurama. I just awkwardly sat there while listening to my fellow classmates fawn over them.

"they're not as amazing as you think they are.." I said under my breathe.

A girl heard what I said and turned to face me.

"What are you saying Nanami! Tomoe-sempai and Kurama-sempai are both spectacular people. Don't act like you know them so well. I bet that they would never take all their family's money and run off just like your stupid dad did (scoff). And here you were talking all mighty."

*SNAP*

She was right. I barely know either of them. They are probably a lot better than my dad, but that doesn't mean she can call him stupid!

I stood up and ran out of the classroom. I headed straight outside. Tears were dripping down my face and I was sniffling like crazy. The cool breeze blew away most of my tears and had cooled me down. I squatted down and tried to suck in my tears.

"Uhh.. Is that you Nanami-san?"

I looked up and saw Ikkaku-san looking down on me. I wiped my tears and stood up next him.

"Ikkaku-san!"

"Uh-YES?!"

"I want to go to the river bank!"

"R-Right now?! But school is about to start!"

"Yep! I want to go now! And with Tsuki and Mochi! Please?"

"Umm.. OK."

We walked together to Ikkaku-san's house and got Tsuki and Mochi. We played together until we were too tired to move around.

"You know Ikkaku-san, you're always there when I need you. Do you stalk me or something?"

~AWKWARD SILENCE~

"I-I'm joking. I know you're not that kind of person, right?"

"To be honest with you...(gulp) no I don't." He looked at me and smiled and I returned it by laughing hysterically.

"Phew~ You got me worried there for a second."

The cool breeze blew and with each gust of wind, my skirt kept flying up..

"You know Ikkaku-san,"

"Y-YES?!"

"I've been thinking a lot, and I have noticed a lot of good things about you... And whenever I think about how you cheer me up all the time, it made me really happy... So I think that I will go out with you." I shyly looked up at him and saw the biggest smile I had ever seen.

"Thank you so much Momozono-san! I promise to make you smile whenever you are feeling blue!"

We walked together back to my house/shrine holding hands the whole time. When we reached the front door we turned to each other. "I'll see you at school tomorrow!"

"Yep. I'll see you tomorrow, Kaze-kun!" (Note: Ikkaku's full name is Kazeshiro Ikkaku)

I turned around and headed towards the house door. I glanced back and saw Ikkaku-san melted on the ground and spouting nonsense. I grinned and continued to head inside.

As I happily skipped to my room I passed by Tomoe.

"And where have you been?"

I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Uhh... no where.. it's not like you need to know."

*turning around* "I know you were with the boy Nanami!"

"So!? What do you care?! You're not my boyfriend! He is! You have no right to say anything!"

Oh crap.

"Boyfriend, you say?"

"Y-YES! Boyfriend.. Ikkaku-san is my boyfriend."

Shocked by what he had just heard, Tomoe stepped back and gave me a pass way. I walked right by him and went straight to my room.

The next day, I left early to go walk to school with Kaze-kun. I had totally ignored Tomoe the rest of the morning.

When we got to school, Kaze-kun and I passed by Tomoe. I quickly linked arms with him as Tomoe walked by. He stopped right in front of us. Up close to Kaze-kun's face he said " If you EVER do anything to hurt her, you'll be dealing with me." He gave me a nasty look and walked away.. Thus a new love rivalry was formed!