Lol its been another year guys I feel so bad for this dying fandom. But I am packed with things to do till like end of this year. This chapter has been sitting here for months so lol its time to upload it. Idk if this fic will ever see its end (tho there's just one more chapter left), its been a fun time reading all the messages and all. I really appreciate them!

Interlude chapter part 2 ~

Chapter 3.1: Of their hearts part 2 (it was supposed to be uploaded earlier but)

-Middle school 1 year ago- (Fate POV)

Something bad always happens when I had something I wanted. Something bad always happens when I am happy. Happiness will never truly last for a person like me.

I was a shadow of my sister. And that will never change.

I will never have happiness cuz life can do terrible things.

So don't fall in love, there's just too much to risk.

(Hayate's POV)

Since I met Fate-chan outside the art room on the first day of our meeting, the colour of her eyes never did fail to strike me.

Till the day she left me, it never did fail to strike me.

On the last day though, the colour of her eyes left me in fear. Though she will never know that.

I met Fate-chan outside the school's art room during the second school term.

I bumped into her to be exact.

Art supplies and paint were splattered on the floor.

The cardinal colour spreading across shocked me, but after I realised it was just paint, I hastily apologised while bowing my head.

When I raise my head, I came into contact with the same colour again.

This time it was a deep ruby red.

The colour of her eyes were so strikingly beautiful.

"What are you drawing Fate-chan?"

"U-Uh… nothing…" The blonde in front of me was desperately trying to hide her sketchbook, seemly in shock.

You're such a bad liar, Fate.

I had sneaked into the art room after council meeting, and was greeted by the perfect view of cascading blond hair.

The owner didn't even sense my presence.

As I get closer, I saw my favourite blonde sketching a person on the track.

A person that suspiciously looked like her.

Who are you drawing?

"What are you drawing Fate-chan?"

"U-Uh… nothing…"

The eyes this time round, was so strikingly sad.

It was afterwards, that I was introduced to Alicia, the sports star of the school.

If I never knew her, I would never have known that she was one of those over-caring type. That kind with a serious sister complex.

The way she looks at her sister, sent chills down my spine. My beloved Fate-chan would then look into those brown eyes, gazing lovingly.

It's like an exclusive moment for them.

Thought the twins were similar, physically, I was proud to say I was one of the few people that could actually tell them apart.

Their eyes were so distinctly different that I was surprised that people actually didn't notice.

Fate's eyes were that of ruby, while Alicia's were that of amber.

It's the feeling you get when staring into their eyes that really tell them apart.

Those rubies, were so deep, that it was like staring into an abyss of red. There was a subtle spark of liveliness, though it was buried deep within. And there was concern and worry. It makes you feel sick with concern if you stared at it for too long.

Those ambers though, were shining. Staring into Alicia's eyes would never fail to make me smile. It is just so. Those eyes were wild with passion, so warm and happy. When they were determined, they seemed to piece through the very depths of your soul, and igniting a fire within.

But they weren't twins for nothing.

Those two pairs of eyes were terribly insecure.

"Hey Hayate! You're here again!" The clear voice of Alicia Testarossa rang through the room as the door to the art room was kicked open.

I almost fell off the ladder I was on, while Fate winced.

"O-onee chan! I hoped you realised that the art club is low on funds…"

"It's okay I could use the baseball fund for this door."

To that, Fate frowned, "Isn't t-that abusing your authority as the captain?"

"Hehe…" Alicia chuckled while she ran towards Fate, leaping over two chairs and landing her butt perfectly elegantly on the table right behind Fate's chair.

"So… it is time for you to go home?" The elder twin purred into her sister's ear, all the while playing with Fate's hair.

A weird, faint spark of something unrecognisable surged through me at that moment.

Seeing the younger sister sporting a faint blush, makes me feel… like I'm watching something forbidden.

Perhaps realising I was the only silent one in the room, Alicia jumped off the table and approached me.

"I hope you realised that I could see what's underneath your skirt." Alicia chortled, while giving my skirt a little flick.

"H-Hey onee-chan!"

I turned a furious blush as Fate rushed over and chivalrously lend me a hand in getting of the ladder.

However, I landed on top of Fate as I momentarily lost my balance – Alicia had gave the ladder a strong kick.

"O-ONEE CHAN!"

At that moment, I chose to look up instead of trying to get off Fate.

And I realised maybe… just maybe, Alicia's feelings ran deeper than that. It wasn't just a sister-complex.

I saw something that I was not supposed to see.

Those ambers were on her sister. It is only momentarily, but I saw a flash of hurt across those beautiful features and a sparkle of liquid within those ambers.

Why?

"Let's hurry up and go home." Alicia spun on her heels and headed for the door.

And I looked down, only to catch those rubies staring at me, its owner flushing furiously.

What is this?

What is this horribly confusing feeling?

The three of us, were an inseparable trio.

I gradually begin to realise that I actually prefer the company of the twins over my other friends.

Sometimes, I would notice that the two twins would speak as if they are in love.

"Hey Hayate. Do you have someone you like?"

Alicia's question came out of nowhere.

"H-Huh what a random question to ask!" I replied, somehow a little high pitched than usual. I winced at how terrible I sounded.

My eyes fleeted to the side but soon I found myself surrounded by two very curious twins.

"Tell us!" Alicia demanded.

Why is Alicia's gaze so damn penetrating? It's like an x-ray.

"Well…yeah…." I admitted after ages.

At that, both pairs of red eyes stared into the mine, while I was confused as to which I should look at.

"WHO?"
"Who…?"

Two voices of nearly the same frequency asked the same question, though in different tones.

"I am not telling."

"Come on Hayate! You can't just leave us hanging like that!"
"Hayate…. Tell us please?"

"Nope not telling. Both of you didn't tell me who you liked either!" I puffed out her cheeks, a little angry.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Alicia biting into her lips, seemly distracted.

Those ambers were on her sister again, before flicking to me.

Those lips were bleeding red.

"Alright fine. Hmph." Alicia walked away, but not before I caught that bitter look on her face.

The younger sister, however, was staring at me with such burning passion that I was caught off guard.

"Let's go, Hayate. We're going to be late for school."

As the warmth of Fate's hand engulfed mine in the cold morning, I couldn't help but secretly enjoy Fate's company alone.

Two days before my birthday, this happiness went crashing to the ground.

A phone call in the middle of the night generally did not bode well.

As I picked up the call nervously, a haggard, shaking voice rang through.

"H-Hayate…"

It broke into sobs and I felt my nerves freezing.

Deep in my conscious, I know it wasn't the voice I wished to hear.

"W-what do I do now?"

The strong and confident voice of Alicia Testarossa was reduced to a pathetic wimpering mush.

"What happened?"

"Mother and Fate…"

My world shattered, along with Alicia's.

As we waited outside the operation room, memories of the time together with Fate flashed through my mind, much like broken movie.

That time when we were playing on the grassy meadow. When Fate had nudged me with her nose, looking at me like a little puppy.

That time when we were studying together.

That time when we spend our Valentines together.

That time when we walked in the rain together.

I was afraid.

As the lights to the operation room dimmed, we leaped on our feet. Alicia was trembling so much even though my hand had held hers.

"H-how's my sister?" Alicia half-cried.

"She will be fine this time round. You do know of her condition right?"

"Y-yeah..."

"You are both strong children." The doctor gave Alicia a pat on her head, before walking away.

"Your mother's in room 212. She's fine as well."

Alicia collapsed on the bench nearby, the fire in her amber eyes had extinguished.

Her eyes seemed so dead.

I found out afterwards about Fate's condition from Alicia.

Fate had missed a month of school and Alicia practically missed the entire month as well, staying by her bedside.

"Do you love Fate?"

That was the question flung at me during one of the rare days we went home together in that month.

There was an awkward pause as I tried to find words to describe how I feel.

"Are you afraid…? Of Fate's condition?"

Tender ambers were gazing into mine, and I could see my reflection within those clear ambers, that shone even furiously after the incident.

Alicia's eyes were never the same anymore.

The happiness was gone.

"I-I… yeah. I love Fate."

"Good. Take care of her for me."

Those words left an odd feeling of forbidding.

-Part 2 end-

I'm really sorry about this guys for this long overdue chapter. This fic has been dragging on for too long...