"You know… this means we're together now."

Yahiro said this with such a straight face, Megumi could only stare, her tears gone… and then turned red in both embarrassment and indignation.

\Couldn't you say it a little more romantically?!/ she probably would have screeched had it not been for the fact that she had written the words. Yahiro snorted.

"Hey, you're with the man you've longed for," he said arrogantly. "How much more romantic could it get?"

"…" Megumi couldn't stop her cheeks from turning pink, a happy smile slowly spreading on her lips. Yahiro suddenly felt his own cheeks turning warm as well, as he saw the happy, loving glitter in her eyes. He immediately cleared his throat.

"J- Just to let you know!" he suddenly said, rather forcefully. "I- I don't believe in beeper buddies, couple T-shirts, or promise rings!"

Megumi stared, and then began to giggle. Yahiro's entire face and neck were crimson.

\Got it./ she assured him. \I won't expect much./

To her surprise, he grinned.

"Well… Yamamoto Megumi… it looks like you and I are in for an interesting relationship. You still haven't won the game, by the way."

\Game?/

"Make a fun date for me," he raised an eyebrow. "Have you forgotten?"

She blinked, and then smiled cheerfully. \I will try my best!/

Megumi felt like she was walking on a cloud. So this was the feeling of a love reciprocated. If that were true, she was envious of all the others in Special A who had found their special other much earlier than her.

She smiled as she surveyed Tadashi getting punched in the face by a furious Akira, inwardly giggling. No one could miss the tender gaze they held before Akira covered it with a loud yell and a strong punch.

"Ne, Megumi, why are you so delirious lately?"

Megumi looked up in surprise. \What do you mean?/

"…you know that you're not pouring into the cup, right?"

Megumi looked down and let out a silent gasp. She had completely missed the teacup, and now scalding tea was pouring over the edge of the table. She sent Akira an apologetic glance, who waved it off and brought out a dish towel.

"Are you okay, Megumi-chan?" Akira asked worriedly. Megumi smiled shyly and nodded.

\Yahiro agreed to go out with me!/

Special A grew silent. Akira and Ryuu exchanged worried looks, but Kei was the first to stand.

"Congratulations, Megumi," he said smoothly. "You deserve to be happy."

She smiled cheerfully. \Thank you, Kei!/

"Megumi…" Akira said hesitantly. "Are you sure…?"

\Yes./ she said firmly. \I will give it another try./

Akira hid the worry in her eyes and nervously managed, "Congratulations."

Hikari smiled excitedly. "Wow! You and Yahiro are the most surprising couple!"

Megumi smiled.

"But Megumi-chan…" Jun piped up worriedly. "What about Kaneshiro-kun?"

Megumi's smile dimmed and she sighed. She hadn't forgotten about Yuu-kun; he was her friend after all.

\I will tell him later./ she promised.

"Yahiro!"

The waiting man turned to her and scowled.

"I told you not to use your voice," he scolded. She smiled and shook her head.

"I saved my voice… so that I could sing for you," she smiled cheerfully. "Talking for you is fine!"

"…"

Yahiro couldn't explain why it suddenly felt so hot. He cleared his throat.

"Anyways… let's go!" he said gruffly. Megumi curiously followed suit.

"Go?"

"We're going to be late," he said rather arrogantly. "Let's go."

Megumi followed him, trying to fathom what went on in the lavender-haired man's mind.

"Yahiro…" Megumi's eyes widened. "This is…"

"Go in," he indicated towards the recording studio. Her eyes grew even wider.

"I- I can't!" she gasped. "Wh- What if-?"

"Hey," he stopped her sternly with one word. "Remember what you told me?"

She tilted her head and he had to bite his lip. She probably didn't realize how cute that simple gesture was.

"You said you would sing for me," he said softly. "So sing for me."

Megumi lowered her head and blushed before she finally gave him a consenting nod.

"All right, come on."

She cautiously entered the recording studio. She was no stranger to how these worked (having to visit her mother numerous times at her job), but she was slightly nervous when she saw the workers in the studio fiddling with the devices and knobs.

Yahiro indicated for her to put on the headphones, which she did, almost trance-like. He gave her the smallest of smiles and she couldn't help but to feel the tension ease in her shoulders. Her eyes focused on him, she took a deep breath and sang.

She sang of her fear, of her nervousness… but also of her feelings, her tender emotions.

"She's pretty good," the man next to Yahiro murmured, as the people in the recording studio nodded in assent.

"Is she a teen idol or something?"

"Yamamoto Rin's daughter," Yahiro said shortly, and the murmuring turned from accepting to impressed. But Yahiro heard none of this. He and the honey-eyed girl held their long, trusting gaze and he couldn't help but to let another smile tug on the edge of his lips.

Her song reminded him… it was their song, the song that took him back to the park that one fateful day he suddenly realized that maybe… just maybe, Akira wasn't the girl for him.

That maybe… there was someone who could teach him how to be loved, rather than to give unconditionally.

"Ne, Yahiro…?"

"Hmm?"

He looked to his side to see the slightly blushing Megumi, her figure outlined by the streetlamps. Although Megumi had been somewhat reluctant to walk home at night, he had insisted. After all, wasn't he there to protect her? And when he reached for her hand, she couldn't resist.

So here they were, walking home, the moonlight and the stars beaming over them.

"Thank you… this was a good idea for a date," she smiled. He coughed.

"Yeah, uh, no problem," he muttered.

"How'd you get the people to agree?" she asked curiously. He smirked.

"I bought it, so they'd better agree."

"You bought it?!" she gasped. "You bought the recording studio?"

"Yes, now keep it down," he said in an annoyed voice.

"But-"

"I bought it, and no amount of arguing is going to change that, Yamamoto Megumi," he warned. She closed her mouth, but couldn't help her pleased blush. Suddenly, another question popped into her mind.

"What'd you do with the CD?" she asked curiously.

"I'm keeping it," he tried to say without turning red, but of course, Yahiro was Yahiro, and even he couldn't hide how shy he was. "I… I'll want to hear you other times too, you know."

She giggled and opened her mouth to say something, but was suddenly interrupted by a jingle of bells. He sighed exasperatedly.

"Hold on," he dug in his pocket and took out his cell phone.

[You have one new text message.]

He uninterestedly clicked 'Read'. What he saw made his eyes widen and release Megumi's hand, as he clutched the phone with both hands, rereading the message.

"Yahiro?" she asked curiously, trying not to notice the unnatural lack of warmth on her small hand. He didn't answer, biting his lip as he hid his phone from the curious girl.

'I need to meet with you. Text me back to let me know when you're free. Do not tell Megumi. – Akira'

He felt his mind race. What had he done that had made Akira contact him? She must have gotten his number from Kei or Hikari, and if she had gone that far, there was something she needed to meet up for. What was so important that-?

"Yahiro!"

His head snapped to her, suddenly remembering where he was.

"Oh, uh… just news from my company," he said lightly, but she knew him long enough to know he was lying. She hesitated, then sighed. If he didn't want to tell her, he wouldn't. Yahiro was, after all, known for being rather stubborn.

"Okay," she said, and moved to take his hand in hers again. She felt her spirits lift as he gave it a reassuring squeeze. When they finally approached Megumi's house, he paused.

"Well… here we are," he said lamely. Being so caught up with Akira most of his life, he wasn't sure how to end dates, as he had never found the need to entertain women.

But this isn't just a woman. This is Yamamoto Megumi. Megumi…

Even though he teased her for being short, cute, a child… in the moonlight, she looked heartbreakingly beautiful. Her short hair only served the purpose of emphasizing her mature form. He wasn't sure if he could, but…

Megumi's eyes widened as Yahiro leaned in towards her. She squeezed her eyes shut, slowly anticipating it…

Poke.

"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaka."

Her eyes flew open and she glared at him, rubbing her forehead.

"Mou, Yahiro! That was not ni-!"

He suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips against hers, her lips soft and warm and inviting. To prevent from falling over, she wrapped her arms around his neck. In retaliation, his hands crept to her small waist, gently holding her… she was so delicate.

"I love you," she murmured as he gently parted from her. He tried to respond, but all he managed was a slight cough. She smiled.

"It's okay…" she whispered. "I can wait."

He suddenly embraced her fiercely.

"Thank you," he murmured. "Don't leave me, Megumi."

"I'm not going anywhere, baka," she smiled, curling into his warmth against the cool night air.

The night had been perfect. There was only one last thing to take care of.

For both of them.

"Ah, Megu-chan," Yuu smiled endearingly. "I feel like this is one of those few times you've actually asked to meet me first."

She smiled apologetically. He waved a hand as if to brush it off.

She had suggested a small, cozy café, the smell of coffee beans rich and thick in the air.

"No matter. We're meeting, and that's all that really matters. Shall we order?"

She nodded, and ordered a simple slice of cake. He raised an eyebrow, but ordered a cup of coffee. She clearly had no intent on making this a long meeting.

"So what did you wish to talk about?"

Megumi took a deep breath and began to scribble on her notepad.

\I don't think I can go through with this wedding./

He raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

\Yahiro and I… are together now./

His expression didn't change.

\So… I'm sorry./

She waited for his response, which to her surprise, was a simple, pleasant "No."

She tilted her head. He smiled lightly.

"Why, Megu-chan… that's all you came to tell me? You're with Saiga now? It doesn't matter…" he reached for his coffee cup and that was when Megumi saw that his grip on the coffee cup was shaking. "I'm not letting you go."

Her eyes widened.

"Wh- What do you mean?" she blurted out in surprise. He put his coffee back down, his face grim.

"I can't let you go with Saiga."

"But…" Megumi stared in confusion. This was not how she imagined this meeting going.

"Don't be confused," he said softly. "It's not because of you. Although I will admit, I am very interested in the prospect of you becoming my wife, Megumi, it's not because of you. It's because of Saiga."

"What are you talking about?"

Yuu fell silent, then finally managed out, "Saiga… took something precious from me."

Megumi waited for him to continue. Yuu took a deep breath.

"Saiga… took the only girl I've ever loved away from me."

She wanted to interrupt, to tell him he was wrong, but it didn't feel right just at that moment.

"I… I loved Yukihara Sayo so much," Yuu's blue eyes had a faraway look. "She was the only one who ever understood what I was feeling. When I was alone or scared, she held my hand. The other students were afraid of me because I didn't look Japanese; I looked every bit like the foreigner my mother was, but she didn't care. We both had dreams of being rich in the future… and I succeeded."

He laughed bitterly. "She sought it… other ways. She thought if she became friends with the rich, she could somehow gain some of their wealth. Of course, I didn't like it, but could I really begrudge my best friend? And then… she met Toudou Akira."

He lowered his eyes. "Saiga… Saiga threatened her. Told her to get away from Akira or else he'd have her father fired. She came to me, in tears. Do you know the feeling, Yamamoto Megumi? Do you know the feeling of seeing the one you love in tears, broken and crying because another boy threatened her with something she was too young to control?"

"After that… Sayo moved away. Her father had already gotten some warnings, and so he moved them out of the country. I found her… so many years later. She was with her… boyfriend," Yuu said the word in a barely audible voice. "And they were happy… I begged her to come back to Japan, but she said she had too many bad memories. She was ashamed of trying to exploit a girl's friendship, but I was willing. I said I could forgive her. But… she couldn't leave her boyfriend. She was in love with him."

Yuu's fists tightened. "She left me. And it was because of Saiga. That's why… I can't let him take anymore. He already took the woman I love. Next he's going to take my betrothed too. I can't let that happen, Megumi."

Megumi's head whirled. Had Yahiro really done that? She knew that he loved Akira, but to that extent…?

"Go," Yuu said softly. "Go ask him yourself."

Megumi automatically stood.

"But… don't be too relaxed," he warned. "I'm not letting you go, Yamamoto Megumi. I already did it once. I can't afford to let it happen again."

Megumi slowly let his words sink in before she left the café. Almost like a trance, she began to trudge… and then she broke out in to a run down the street. She wanted to hear this from Yahiro.

She approached his mansion, panting. She made her way to the front door, where conveniently enough, one of the maids was taking out the trash just as Megumi approached the front. Recognizing Megumi, the maid opened the door and allowed Megumi to slip in quietly. Megumi smiled. She would surprise him!

She took a deep breath and looked around. It would be hard to explain what she heard from Yuu-kun, but she was going to talk it out with him first.

"…would you let me finish?" Yahiro's frustrated voice rang out, making him easily pinpointed.

She smiled as she heard his voice coming from the living room and made her way towards it. It sounded like he was busy, but maybe later he could-

"I love you," Yahiro's voice held a tone that sounded very serious.

Megumi froze.

"…so."

"So."

There was an awkward moment of silence between the two teenagers.

"I trust Megumi doesn't know about this?" Akira suddenly spoke up. Yahiro nodded.

"She said she was meeting a friend today."

"I see. And we won't be interrupted?"

"I warned the maids not to bother us."

"All right."

With that, Akira stood up and crossed her arms. "I want the truth."

He raised an eyebrow delicately, prompting her to finish her statement.

"Why are you going out with Megumi?"

Yahiro choked. He had forgotten how blunt Akira could be sometimes.

"What kind of question is that?" he snarled, trying to stall for time, but Akira would have none of it. She shook her head.

"Stop. Seriously. Why are you doing this to her?"

"Did it occur to any of you that maybe I might actually… care for the girl?" he grunted. Akira stared at him in disbelief.

"The girl?" she repeated. "That 'girl' happens to be one of my best friends, and I won't let you hurt her!"

"Oh yeah?" he stood up. "For someone in Special A, you're surprisingly dense."

She gasped. "How dare you!"

"Can't you see that... that I don't want to hurt her?"

Akira was stunned into silence, and he used that as an opportunity to jump in.

"Look," he said wearily. "I… I can't deny the fact that I want to see Yamamoto Megumi happy. I'm going to be with her, whether you like it or not."

"But you'll think of me, won't you?" she challenged. He turned to her, suddenly thinking deeply.

"You're right. Sit down."

"What?"

"I have to do something," he said seriously. "Now sit down."

Akira fumingly sat. What came out of Yahiro's mouth next was not what she expected.

"I love you."

"OH, THAT DOES IT, I AM LEAVING!" she stomped towards the door, but he swiftly caught her wrist.

"Damn!" he cried in frustration. "I was confused and swimming in emotions for you for majority of my life! I have to let this out or else I'll keep thinking about it while I'm with Megumi!"

There was a moment of silence where Akira pondered over what he said, and finally looked up.

"…that makes sense, I guess," Akira finally admitted.

"Yes, so would you let me finish?" he said, rubbing his forehead. He was finally going to let go of his past and he wanted to do it quickly. Akira nodded and sat back down on the couch.

"I love you."

Akira swallowed but bravely kept her face neutral.

"When we were younger… you were the only one who didn't see me as a pile of cash. You actually sought to cheer me up. I was grateful to you for that. And… and soon I really fell in love with you. You were beautiful and full of life and I was jealous if anyone ever got too close to you."

"Isn't that the truth?" Akira muttered. He couldn't help a slight chuckle.

"I just… I wanted to tell you… thank you. Thank you for being a good friend when I needed one and… and I'm sorry I gave you grief. I forgot my place."

He tentatively reached out… and to his surprise, Akira didn't stop him when he gave her a brief hug.

And then, the words came out.

"I forgive you."

He jerked up in surprise. Akira sighed.

"Look, I never thought you were a bad person, Yahiro."

He smiled. He had been waiting for those words for over 10 years. And with that, the last tortured piece of soul untangled. He was free now. He had confessed, she had rejected, and he would move on.

Unfortunately, the brunette who was standing outside his door with tears streaking down her cheeks wasn't willing to move on with him. Megumi slowly turned around and leaned against the doorframe, her tears silently creeping down her cheeks.

Well, well… the haughty, scornful voice in her mind rang out. It was about time. Finally accepted he couldn't love you?

No… No... This can't...

Let's face it… he probably asked you out to forget about Akira. He was going to use you.

I don't believe it.

You heard him. He loves Akira. He loves Akira. He LOVES AKIRA!

She clamped her hands over her ears as if it shut the screaming voice out.

He probably asked you out…

No, no, no…

…because you cut your hair like Akira. You remind him of her just a little now, so he finally said yes.

He... He took me to that recording studio.

Obligation.

He kissed me.

Probably wished it was Akira.

I love him!

Yes, but what's the point of going after a man who will never want you?

She stifled a sob and ran out of his house, his life, the harsh voice laughing cruelly in her mind.