A/N: So I was unaware that deleting a chapter and putting up a new one in its place would make signed-in reviewers incapable of leaving a review if they had previously done one on the deleted chapter. I am so sorry about that; you have no idea. It was not my intention to keep people from being able to review. Regardless the side chapter (4.5) is up again. Again I am so horribly sorry for the trouble I caused.

Please enjoy this next chapter.


Takumi felt very strange. It was like all the happiness from becoming engaged to Gii was threatening to burst from him whenever he released a breath. It was hard to contain just how much it meant to him that there was now a truth to that first proposal, that Gii really was dead-set on keeping Takumi by his side for all eternity. Takumi had become stronger - both on his own power and through Gii's steadfast love - and he felt like he could take what could be thrown at them now. The happiness outweighed the bad. Gii and his love was a force that at the moment, felt nearly unstoppable.

It was interesting how something as simple as an engagement ring could make him feel ready to take on the world at Gii's side.


As students filtered back to campus post-Christmas holiday, the two prepared themselves for things to return to normal – for the freshmen to swarm around Gii again and to have to obey curfew, spending the nights apart from one another. But they would get through it – they just had to make it to the end of this year, after all. Then they wouldn't have to hide so much or obey so many rules.

For now they could cope, as long as they had one another and the sweet promise of forever.


Much to their amusement, their little group of close friends didn't notice immediately that there was a pretty silver ring around Takumi's finger.

The group was hanging out together in Gii's room, catching up post-holiday and enjoying warming up with some coffee. Takumi was cuddled against Gii's side on the couch, giggling as Toshihisa regaled them all with tales of a giant snowball fight back home. He was probably embellishing the story a bit, but it was nice to hear that his friend had gotten to spend an enjoyable time away from the school.

It was quiet Misu who first spotted the shiny object. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, though didn't say anything although the temptation was certainly there. Unlike his pet (who was sitting at his feet, interestingly enough), he could hold his tongue quite well.

It was only when Takumi moved his hand to pick up his coffee cup that the ring caught the attention of someone else. Akaike's eyes widened as he glanced from the ring to Gii and then back again.

"Seems like you two had a good Christmas," he commented idly with a slight teasing smirk in their direction. Those who hadn't noticed the ring followed Akaike's gaze and there were several noises of astonishment and surprise that rang out.

Takumi blushed slightly and Gii grinned happily, tightening his hold on his fiancé.

"The best one, right, Takumi?" the Saki heir commented, having no qualms about stealing a kiss from the violinist.

It didn't take very long for the others to start tossing questions their way and they spent the rest of the evening with their friends, celebrating the big step they'd taken together over the holiday.


School resumed and things went back to how they usually were. Though they were now engaged, the two lovebirds didn't get to see each other as often again; extra busy now that they were heading into the last part of their third year. Word had gotten around rather fast once people started to notice the ring around Takumi's finger, but it had thankfully not resulted (yet) in any sort of bad-intent attention.

It also didn't really decrease the amount of freshman that fawned over Gii – although they seemed to understand that no matter what, Gii was spoken for and wasn't interested. If anything the engagement seemed to make Gii more admirable in their eyes. They were however, even more polite to Takumi than usual (which had at first made him rather uncomfortable before he'd realized that they were trying to stay in Gii's good graces as well).

On the rare chances they got to walk together without the crowd, they didn't hold hands but walked close enough that their hands would brush against each other often. Takumi was just happy that the ring was simple enough to where it would fit (albeit snugly) underneath the fabric of a glove. He didn't want to have to remove the precious object unless absolutely necessary.

He and Gii still didn't seem to notice that his hands remained chilled, even with gloves and heated buildings. They didn't feel frozen, just cooler than they should.

If his fingers were feeling a little stiffer than normal, just a tiny bit less responsive when he played the violin, Takumi didn't mention it.

It was just a result of it being winter, that's all.