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"Saori, what's really going on? Are you and Tsuchiura-"said Len

"What do you care, even you-"said Saori

"What are you talking about, I never-"

"You never what!"

Len stopped at what he was about to say, what was he about to say? That he was in love with…he shook his head again, frustrated

Saori's eyes softened, "You love her, Len" said Saori

Chapter 7

"What are you saying?" exclaimed Len, finally losing his cool

"Len, enough! I've had it, how can you not realize? NO, I bet you HAD realized it." Said Saori

"Saori," Len said softly

Saori began crying, "Len, stop lying to me, you're in love with Kahoko. I know that you are, don't deny it…don't deny it, if it's because you don't want to hurt me, I'd be hurt even more if I knew you were lying to me."

Len clenched his fists, what was he going to tell her, it seems like she understood how he felt even though he hadn't really realized it. Was he really in love with Kahoko just like what Saori had said? Was this why he felt a sudden wave of jealousy when he sees Kahoko and Ryoutaro together? Was that the answer to every nagging feeling he had ever come down to?

Then his thoughts drifted to Kahoko, the way she smiled and called his name. The way he saw her not so long ago, a crying girl and then suddenly, she became one full of determination. Her music had always calmed him down. It was something he never felt when he was with Saori, so could this be his answer?

He looked at Saori, who was crying, but still waiting for him to admit his feelings; he closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair. He slowly opened them and gathered all his courage. "Yes, I am in love with Hino-san," he finally said

He clenched his fists harder when he saw the different conflict of emotions in Saori's eyes. He could see acceptance, pain, loss, a new beginning…and…betrayal?

"Saori," he said, then he reached to touch her face, but Saori moved away

"Don't touch me," she said

"Sorry," Len apologized; he could tell how much he was hurting her. If she knew from the start he was unconsciously in love with Kahoko, then he must've hurt her for so long, but she still kept that smile of hers on her face, masking her pain to the world, this is what he loved about her.

But then, he'd fallen for Kahoko because of her playing, her mysterious playing…she was a beginner who was good from the first time she had stroke the violin strings, but then suddenly she became a real beginner, a beginner that couldn't even play a straight tune.

"I knew it Len, I just want to hear it from your own voice, now I could have a clear mind, would you agree with me if I cancel our engagement?" asked Saori

Len just nodded numbly, he was hurting her and he hated that, but he couldn't lie to her anymore

Saori looked at Len once last time and whispered "I love you Len, but that's already gone," said Saori

Len closed his eyes…and sighed "Sorry,"

-~-~-~-~-

Saori ran out of the room, she turned around a corner and bumped Kahoko, the last person she wanted to see, "Saori?" said Kahoko

"Tomoyo?" said a deep voice

Saori's eyes widen, it was Ryoutaro's voice, she took a quick look up to make sure, it was him alright.

"What's wrong?" asked Kahoko, worried

Saori didn't trust her voice, instead she ran away again.

"Saori!" called Kahoko

Kahoko was about to run after Saori when Ryoutaro held her arm, "Tsuchiura-kun?" said Kahoko

"I'll go after her, go ahead and find an available music room," said Ryoutaro, then he ran after Saori

-~-~-~-~-

Saori was where Ryoutaro had expected her to be, the usual place under the Sakura tree where they usually met. She was sitting there, hugging her knees and crying.

Ryoutaro walked slowly towards her, when he was close to her, he stood at the opposite side of the old tree.

"Ne, Tomoyo," said Ryoutaro

"Leave me alone," she sobbed, her words came out in a blur

Ryoutaro stood patiently. He waited until Saori stopped crying, when she did, his mind was made up already, he didn't care how much more he would lose if her response came out negatively.

"Are you okay now?" he asked

"Do I seem okay?" asked Saori

"No, sorry, that was a stupid question, so, what happened?" he asked

Saori stayed silent, Ryoutaro closed his eyes, and he knew Saori had no other reason to cry unless she was rejected by the man she loved the most

"He said it already didn't he," he said, he didn't hear a response again, but when he opened his eyes, Saori was right in front of him, tears were welling in her eyes again, she suddenly hugged Ryoutaro, Ryoutaro was surprised, but he hugged her back anyway

"He loves her, he loves her!" she cried

Ryoutaro stroke her hair gently

"He admitted it himself. It feels like…I've been torn, it hurts so much especially when it came from him directly, but what could I do? He's…struggling, I just had to push him…it hurts…so much…" she cried

This was the second time Saori had cried to him about Len. Len had hurt her so many times already, still she never gave up, how dense could Len have been, hurting a girl like Saori, but wasn't Ryoutaro, himself, there to ensure Kahoko's happiness? Why does he feel like he wants Len to take Saori back? Ryoutaro started debating with himself; he stopped when Saori had spoken the words he must've been waiting from her

"I'm…over him…" said Saori finally

"Saori," said Ryoutaro

Saori's eyes widen at what Ryoutaro had just called her….her first name. It felt nice hearing him say her first name. How could she not have realized this? Was she blinded because of her illusionary feelings for Len, it already felt illusionary to her. She just clung on to Len because of the commitment they childishly made. She was actually in love with Ryoutaro now; the way he was there when she was hurt because of Len…Ryoutaro was there for her…

"I love you," Ryoutaro whispered in her ear. Saori's eyes widen

"Ryoutaro," Saori said shyly. Ryoutaro took that as a 'yes' to his confession

"Thank you," he whispered to her

-~-~-~-~-

Len saw the whole scene, he was now walking back to the music room, Saori had forgotten her violin so he would take it back to her house tonight and at the same time, he should explain everything to both their parents.

Now it seems that Ryoutaro would take care of Saori in his place. He knew that Ryoutaro would take better care of Saori than he did.

Somehow, he felt relieved leaving Saori in good hands. He knew what he had done to Saori was unforgivable, but someday they would both be friends again, like old times as childhood friends, but this time, they would be friends with their own loved ones beside them.

Len sighed; he was becoming more melodramatic these days. But then, he composed himself, he had to face something soon, but he was not ready yet. He would just see how everything goes on…for now…

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A/N: Whew, okay, almost done, hahaha. REVIEW please!