Flambé (flahm-bey)
to ignite a sauce or other liquid so that it flames
most of the time flambéing has no real function other than to impress


Absolutely perfect. That was the only way she could describe the few kisses she shared with Akihiko. So this was love, she thought. This utter trust and complete surrender of self. This gift of heart that left you open, defenseless, and full of joy.

"Hamuko-chan, did you hear? The exam results are finally posted!" Ryoji asked, waking her from her daydream. Turning to the side, she was greeted by his smiling blue eyes.

Her eyes smiled back. "Oh, it's already break, huh? I guess we've got to take a look then!"

After gathering the others, Hamuko walked the hallways cheerfully. She stepped lively, overly excited to see how she did on the past exam.

"Hoping to catch a glimpse of Akihiko-senpai?" Yukari giggled quietly, giving her a nudge in the arm.

Hamuko's head whipped up and took a look at her surroundings. It wasn't until then when she noticed where they were. She was in the third year's classroom hallway. Quickly, she turned her attention to her entourage. Everybody but Yukari was too busy chatting amongst themselves to notice. "Shh you!"

"There's nothing wrong with it," she smiled. "You two are so cute."

Ignoring her teasing, Hamuko continued walking down the hallway. Being the afternoon break the hallways were fairly busy, but not packed. Reaching Akihiko's class, she glanced in briefly and saw Mitsuru standing at Akihiko's desk. In that quick glance, she noticed Mitsuru talking to him, while Akihiko tried his best to ignore her. Even from that passing glance, she noticed the uneasiness in his eyes, the slouch in his posture. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to look away and quickened her pace.

Within a few minutes, they arrived at the commons where the results were posted. Using her uneasiness to her advantage, she shoved her way through the crowd. Then she saw it; number one. Her eyes stayed glued to the piece of paper, making sure it was real. A wave of relief washed over her and she smiled inwardly. That was one less thing to worry about.

Hamuko took a quick look around to make sure no one was looking, then skimmed the third-year's list. The results didn't surprise her at all.

1. Aragaki Shinjiro
2. Sanada Akihiko
3. Kirijo Mitsuru

"Ah, Akihiko-senpai." Yukari's voice one again caught her attention. "You're here too?"

Akihiko stepped forward from behind the others and smiled politely. "Yeah. My classmates kept talking about it all day."

Hamuko wondered if by classmates, he meant Mitsuru. Was she so important to him, that she wasn't just one person but instead several people? She decided she was being ridiculous, before shaking her head, trying to dismiss the thought completely.

"How did you do?" Akihiko asked. "First again?"

She nodded her head once and smiled weakly. "How did you do, Akihiko-senpai?" She watched as his cheeks filled with a rose color. Although he told her to call her Aki, she made it a habit of calling him Akihiko-senpai when they were around other people.

"Second. As always." A different voice answered.

Turning around, she was greeted by Shinji. Her shoulders tensed, sensing the anger behind his polite façade. He had that frigid look in his eyes again, she noted.

"Shinji-senpai..." She wanted badly to cringe, and had to force herself not to. The last time she saw him was the night at Naganaki Shrine when he confessed to her. As far as he knew, nothing happened between her and Akihiko.

He looked past her, focusing his attention to Akihiko. "Isn't that right, Aki?"

Hamuko saw the anger that flashed in Akihiko's eyes and was impressed when he ignored the jeer. Despite the surrounding students chattering, it was oddly quiet. The animosity seemed to silence everything.

"Kirijo-senpai is so amazing, she's right up there with Shinjiro-senpai and Akihiko-senpai!"

Everyone turned to where the sudden praise came from. Hamuko instantly recognized the girl as a classmate she barely knew. Turning back around, her eyes landed on Akihiko. His body stiffened noticeably. She never saw the look on his face before. He looked so...lost.

Less than a few seconds later, the bell rang letting students know the break was about to end. Before she could summon the strength to even say anything, everyone else turned to return to class. When the crowd cleared, Mitsuru stepped out from behind.

"I hope I'm not inconveniencing you, Arisato." she started, "Can we talk?"

Pressure weighed on her chest. She wanted more than anything to say no, but when she opened her mouth she replied, "Yeah."

Hamuko stood in place and watched as the few remaining students clear the area. Mitsuru, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind. "I've noticed that Akihiko has been acting strangely lately. Did you happen to say anything to him?"

She thought carefully for a moment, before choosing how to respond. "No, I didn't notice Akihiko-senpai acting any differently."

Mitsuru tilted her head to the side. "Hmm, is that so? I understand this grades have been falling as of late."

"His...grades?"

"Our teacher asked him to stay at the end of today's classes to speak to him," Mitsuru explained, before realizing she was getting off-track. "Regardless, I'd like to clear any doubts you have about Akihiko and I. The two of us have been friends for a number of years. Our relationship now is strictly platonic."

"Now?" Hamuko asked, choosing to fixate on the word.

Mitsuru recoiled a bit, then played it off by tossing her head, throwing a lock of red curls over her shoulder. "We've dated in the past. For a few months."

So it was true. "Do you need him?"

"Do I need him? What an odd thing to ask." A smile curved her full lips, her eyes sparking with confidence. "Yes. He's an important part of my life. I need him and he needs me."

The sting in her chest was impossible to ignore, but she did her best to push it aside. "Aki told me he likes me."

"Aki?" Mitsuru repeated. Her lips curved into something between a smile and a sneer. "Did he ask you to call him that?"

Hamuko was taken aback by the question. How much did she want to know? How much did she already know? "Yes."

Mitsuru laughed, a harsh, angry sound that scratched at the air like a cat's claws, leaving almost visible scars. "And who do you think gave him that nickname? Akihiko may have told you he likes you, but Aki told me he loved me."

Hamuko felt her body turn to ice. "That was...in the past."

"Even so, there's this saying," Mitsuru replied, folding her arms across her chest. She tilted her head, trying to recall how it went. "You never forget your first love. Isn't that right?"

"He told me he would stop seeing you."

"Do you think he can really do it?" Mitsuru asked, then unfolded her arms and reached into her pocket, pulling out her cell phone. "Let's make a bet. We'll both send him a text message to meet after school and we'll see who he comes to. Are you in?"

She released a deep breath of air from her lungs and said nothing. She'd been a fool to think she might emerge from this discussion unscathed.

"Afraid he won't show?" Mitsuru continued, the words stabbing at the air. "If I were you, I would be too. Akihiko will always be with me. With or without you."

With or without you. Those mere four words scared Hamuko to death. As much as she wanted to deny it, something deep inside of her feared Mitsuru might be right. He did it before, he would surely do it again. She had to fight it. She couldn't weaken. Summoning every ounce of courage in her body, she finally spoke, "I'm not afraid."

The last warning bell rang through the school, causing Mitsuru to shoot one last grin. "Good luck."


It was already the end of the day and Akihiko still hadn't sent a message back to confirm if he would be meeting her. Looking at the empty classroom, Hamuko wondered if he was with Mitsuru. Was he out having fun with her? Smiling and laughing like he did with her? Did he really have no consideration when it came to her own feelings?

Aki. Back when he asked her to call him by that nickname she was so happy. No, she was more than happy; she was ecstatic. It finally meant she was getting somewhere. Only to find out Mitsuru had already beat her to it. She claimed the land in the name of Kirijo and changed it's name to Aki. Someone like him was what they called 'damaged goods'. Surely being involved with him would only bring heartbreak.

"You're still here!"

Opening her eyes and sitting up quickly, Hamuko looked towards the doorway and saw Akihiko standing there. The way he used the door frame to steady himself made it look like he had a hard time catching his breath. It was clear that he had been running.

After taking a moment to regain his composure, he stood up and walked across the empty room towards her. "I thought you weren't coming," she informed him quietly.

"Of course I'd come." he replied matter-of-factly. In one fluid movement he lifted a chair off a desk and set it down across from her. She watched with mixed emotions as he straddled the chair and sat facing her. "Why wouldn't I?"

She stared in his eyes for a moment, not knowing what to say. He saw her gaze flit down to his mouth and return, startled, to his eyes. He heard the little rush of breath shudder through her lips. It was tempting, he thought, very tempting to close the slight distance, to taste what he had already sampled.

"Nothing," she said, before bringing her lips closer to his, reaching inside his head and making the decision for him.

However innocent she looked, she wasn't. There was something about her that sparked something, almost like a magnet. Every time he drew away, she always managed to bring him back.

"Really?" The words came out as a whisper. He wanted her mouth, and took it. His tongue swept over hers, teasing, inviting, mixing his dark, intimate taste with her own. Smooth, so smooth, that slide of tongue, that slide of lips. He gentled the kiss. He kept her simmering on the razor's edge of passion. His mouth teased, promised, then fed her growing need, before breaking away completely.

"Yeah," she said, moving her head in short, rapid nods. "I just really missed you."

"Hold out your hand," he ordered gently. When she did so, he dropped a cell phone into her hand. "I've been thinking about it...and I want you to have this. Even if I delete her number, she'll just keep calling me."

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice strained. "What if Mitsuru-senpai asks why you aren't responding?"

"I'll tell her how it is," he assured. "I told you I'm not going to see her and that's what I'm going to do. It's best this way, right?"

She looked in his eyes, searching for the answer. Then found it. "Yes. Yes it is."


"What happened? You don't look so good." Junpei asked while fixing his baseball cap.

Hamuko looked up to Junpei, who stood at the side of her desk. "What? Oh, it's nothing."

His intense stare made Hamuko shift uncomfortably. "Come on, you can't hide it from me."

"It's this damn cell phone," she said, finally caving in. She tossed it at him, then threw her arms over her desk dramatically. "It never stops."

"Akihiko-senpai's phone?" Junpei took the foreign item in his hands and started going through it. "Woah! Look at all these missed calls!"

Yukari raised her eyebrows, before leaning in to join the conversation. "Huh? How many are there?"

"Nine—"

"That's not so bad."

"—teen."

"Oh."

"That's not even the worst part. On top of that, he has a butt-load of texts too."

"But it's only been a day since he gave it to you, right?" Yukari asked, her voice incredulous. "That means these are all from last night."

Hamuko groaned. "Last night was the worst. Akihiko-senpai didn't even tell me how to silence it. It took me about an hour to realize it doesn't have a silent mode."

"What kind of cell phone doesn't have a silent mode?" Junpei asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.

"Apparently this one." Hamuko muttered as Junpei dropped the phone in her hand.

"Why don't you turn it off then?" Yukari asked, silencing the two.

She gripped the tiny electronic in her hand, trying to formulate an answer. "I don't know."

"That's so sad," Junpei sighed. "Right when things start going well, you can't even text him anymore."

"It's all cause of Mitsuru-senpai," Yukari replied, making a fist. "We should go lock her in the gym, that'll teach her a lesson!"

She couldn't help but chuckle as Junpei high-fived Yukari. Feeling a sudden vibration in her hand, Hamuko looked down and stared at the screen in shock. She blinked, then reread it to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

'Come to the hospital. It's father.'

Noticing the face she made, Junpei looked at her questioningly. "Did you get a text?"

As if on cue, the classroom door slide open and Akihiko entered the room. The few girls in classed squealed and started to crowd around him. He, of course, paid no attention to them and managed to make his way through the man-made barrier. "Are you ready?"

Hamuko swallowed. Hard. "Yup."

After saying goodbye to the other two, Akihiko slipped his arm over her shoulders and guided her to the exit. Deciding to go somewhere new for a change, the two headed towards Iwatodai Station.

As they boarded the monorail, Hamuko watched him warily. Should she tell him about the text from Mitsuru? It sounded like an emergency. Then again, by handing her the cell phone didn't he forfeit that right?

She took a seat and he sat down beside her. For the first bit, nothing was said between them.

"How was your day?" Akihiko suddenly said, surprising the both of them.

"It was alright." she replied, then felt a sudden smile come onto her face. "Yukari said something that made me laugh."

"Really? What did she say?"

Hamuko faltered for a bit. There was no way she could tell him how Yukari suggested locking Mitsuru in the gym. The smile disappeared instantaneously when she recalled the text message.

"Actually, there's...something I need to tell you."

Reluctantly, he turned his head toward her, an involuntary shudder disturbing his otherwise placid demeanor. "Huh? What is it?"

"Before you came, I received this weird text from Mitsuru-senpai. It says to come to the hospital." She watched as his shoulders rose, then fell. His eyes flashed with worry. "Are you going to go?"

The atmosphere turned uneasy and the silence stretched on between them. "No."

"It sounds really important," she explained, taking a hold of his arm. "maybe you should—"

Akihiko sat forward and stood up. "We're here. Let's get some takoyaki."

Giving out an exasperated sigh, Hamuko stood up and followed him out the doors. On the walk to Iwatodai Station, she made sure to stay a few steps behind him.

"How many?" The vendor asked.

She watched as Akihiko checked his watch for the fifth time since she told him the news. "Sorry, what?"

"How many do you want, kid?"

Her hand linked around his and she tugged him towards her. "Go see Mitsuru!" she ordered, holding out his cell phone towards him.

"What the hell...is this?" Akihiko asked, confused for a bit. Realizing what she was referring to, he narrowed his eyes. In a quick gesture, he grabbed her free arm and pulled her towards him. "Wasn't it you who said not to see her?"

"Ow...That hurts!" Using every fiber of her being, she withdrew from him and averted her eyes. "If I never said anything, you probably would've continued to see her...and then your feelings for her would resurface."

"What the hell!" he yelled. "I don't get it...What do you want me to do?"

"I asked her if she needed you. She said yes," she murmured, swamped with envy. "That answer was right."

His hand dropped to his side. "You talked to Mitsuru? When?"

"You told me before...that you always thought it would be you and her. You've been acting strangely since you agreed to stop seeing her. You look really hurt...or you're completely out of it. And the reason is so obvious that it's annoying! You need her!" she said, spitting each word into the space between them.

"What are you...saying?"

"It's true that you can't resist her! And that Mitsuru-senpai needs you too!" She stopped, then pointed a finger to herself. "That just leaves me then...I'm...I'm fine even without you around."

Akihiko wrapped his fingers around her arm. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape his white-knuckle grip. "Why are you always like that? Stop lying! Stop trying to be strong! Always taking on everything and enduring it all on your own! Stop trying to be tough!" She tossed his words aside with the wave of her hand, a shake of her head.

"No! To tell you the truth, it doesn't matter to me whether you look sad or if you're in pain...What I don't like...is that it's my fault." Gripping the cell phone even tighter, she brought it up to his face once more. Only then did he notice the pride glistening in her eyes. "I just don't want to be the bad guy, that's all! It's not all about you!"

There was a long pause during which neither spoke. Then suddenly, in that one moment, everything was clear.

"All right, I get it." he finally said, taking the cell phone out of her hand before turning around to walk away.

"It's best this way," she repeated, listening to the footsteps that faded away. "Right?"

There were no replies, no backwards glances. Not even so much as a goodbye.

Hamuko waited until he left completely before collapsing onto a nearby bench. The realization and overall grief of it all didn't hit her until a few minutes passed. Then she felt it. She couldn't catch her breath. It was like someone had reached into her chest and ripped out her heart. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach. This horrible feeling of nausea took over and made her double-over.

She didn't know what to do, much less where to go, so she did the first thing she could think of; call Shinji. Her hands trembled as she struggled with her cell phone to find his number. Twenty minutes later, just like that, he came to her side to find her sitting on a bench as strangers glanced and whispered amongst themselves. She looked like a doll, he mused. Inanimate and empty. Her eyes glossed over, probably from crying. He noticed her noticing him, and didn't say anything. He simply sat beside her and waited for her to speak.

"Why?" she asked minutes later, finally able to breathe.

Sulking. It was so unattractive, he decided, and sulked a bit himself. "Why what?" He returned, never taking his eyes away from their surroundings.

"Why did I say things that will only being the end closer?"

She looked so lovely, he thought. So lost. "Maybe deep down you knew it was right."

Hamuko felt Shinji's arm brush against the side of her own, waited for it to withdraw, was strangely pleased when it didn't. Reaching down, he linked their fingers together and squeezed.

"That hurts..." Hamuko murmured, using the back of her free hand to wipe away unwanted tears.

"I'm making it hurt," came his simple reply.

"I don't know why they call it heartbreak. It feels like every other part of my body is broken too." she said, her face twisting into a sad smile. The tears continued to stubbornly fall down her face. "Have you ever been in love?"

"I know the feeling." he began, a pesky smile threatening to destroy the intended seriousness of his tone, "It's horrible, isn't it? How it makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest, then opens your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you. Then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness."

He stared at her with reciprocated surprise at his words. Then her smile bloomed slowly, drawing his attention to the shape of her mouth. His heart pounded erratically.

I hate love, he sighed.


Akihiko sat on a hospital chair out in the hallway, counting the number of tiles on the floor. Visitor hours were over for the day and honestly, he couldn't care less. He hated hospitals more than anything in the world and yet there he was, sitting on some plastic chair like a chump. He couldn't quite figure out why he bothered to come. It wasn't for Hamuko, it wasn't for Mitsuru and it sure as hell wasn't for Mitsuru's father. He supposed it was because there was nowhere else to go.

Annoyed with himself, he dragged a hand through his hair. He watched through his peripheral vision as Mitsuru left the room her father was staying and walked towards him, her three inch heels clicking loudly against the ceramic tiles.

"Thanks for coming," she said gratefully. He stood up to meet her, pretending not to notice how obviously distraught she looked. "For a second I didn't think you would. It means a lot to me. You've been such a support. You always listen to my problems."

"It's nothing." he responded while throwing his school uniform jacket over his right shoulder.

She smoothed the pleats in her skirt nervously. "Although I like you, there's nothing that should worry Arisato. There's no reason why we still can't see each other. You know father really likes you."

"I know." he said, responding only to her last sentence. The look in his eyes was something she had never seen before. It was dark. Brooding, almost.

Unfazed by his behavior, she slipped her arm through his and pulled him closer. The scent of cherries were suffocating. "Would you like to eat somewhere before going back to the dorm?"


It was twilight and Hamuko sat alone at Naganaki Shrine. Hours after consoling her and keeping her company, Shinji had to leave for work. It was odd how before that moment, she never even knew he had a job. He must work really hard to juggle both academics and work, she decided.

Holding her MP3 in one hand, Hamuko browsed through the songs looking for something that would suit the mood. Settling on a blues song, she closed her eyes and let the lyrics flow through her mind.

"See I thought love was black and white,
That it was wrong or it was right.
But you ain't leaving without a fight,
And I think I am just as torn inside."

When the song ended, she opened her eyes and saw her mysterious classmate walking up the stairs. Minato Arisato. He, too, wore his similar MP3 and silver headphones. She recalled thinking he must have copied her when he first transferred into their class a few weeks ago, then again, what were the chances? She didn't wait before removing her own headphones so they could converse.

"What are you doing here?" she called out.

Making his way across the empty playground, he took a seat beside her. He looked towards the orange sky, then back at her. "Just killing time. You?"

"Same." she answered, thinking it was a good enough answer.

"Thinking about him?"

She looked at him quizzically. "Who?"

"Sanada," he replied evenly. His dark eyes constantly scanned their surroundings. "You two are an item, aren't you?"

"We're not an item." She said, fidgeting with the end of her skirt. Her once calm hands balled into a fists. "We just…"

Minato leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "I see. But you want to be with him, don't you?"

"It's complicated." She explained. "Too complicated."

He looked at her soulfully. "Love shouldn't be complicated."


"Hamuko-chan, are you busy later?" Ryoji asked cheerfully. "I was thinking after school we could head over to Game Panic and have some fun."

"Sorry Ryoji-kun, I'm not really feeling up to it today. Can I take a rain check?"

He frowned in disappointment. "Aww."

The sound of the classroom door opening behind her made her jump, spin around.

"Everybody come quick!" Fuuka shouted, her voice filled with panic. "Akihiko-senpai and Shinjiro-senpai are fighting!"

Everyone shot up from their desk and made a dash towards the commotion. Upon arriving the scene, Hamuko had to fight her way through the crowd to get a decent view.

"You selfish son of a bitch! You had everything yet you still threw it away!" she heard Shinji shout through the murmurs and chatter. Making her way to the front, she saw Shinji sitting on top of Akihiko, punching him repeatedly in the face. Mitsuru stood behind Shinji, trying to coax him to stop his assault.

Struggling violently, Akihiko managed to bring up his leg and boot Shinji in the chest causing him to stumble backwards, Mitsuru reached out to help steady his balance. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Regaining his composure, Akihiko lifted himself up and prepared his fist for contact. Before he had the satisfaction of landing a punch, Minato and Junpei grabbed a hold of both his arms. Meanwhile, Mitsuru pulled Shinji to her and away from Akihiko. Her chest tightened.

"Stop this nonsense immediately!" A middle-aged man yelled as he ran to the scene and used himself to separate the two. When both Akihiko and Shinji calmed down, he escorted them away to the faculty office. They both followed him reluctantly, never making eye contact with each other.


"I'm not exaggerating," Fuuka assured. Her left hand playing with a mechanical pencil while her right held her cell phone to her ear. "Fangs were bared. Murder was in the air."

Yukari flipped a magazine page. "What do you make of it?"

Fuuka rolled the pencil between her fingers. "I believe…he's seriously smitten."


Shinji sat at the bar of Hagakure, enjoying their special. It seemed like a good idea, one he looked forward to all day, but he didn't have an appetite. So instead of enjoying the taste, he merely enjoyed the aroma. He looked down, frowning at the waste.

A small bell sounded and he heard footsteps heading towards him. The bar stool next to him swung around and someone took a seat. Immediately, he knew who it was. Not willing to give in, he picked up some noodles and forced himself to eat. Just like always, he waited for her to speak first.

"Why did you start fighting?"

"Bastard ate the last of my cereal." he replied, rolling his eyes.

It was full of fun and affection and sly humor. It made her rest her chin on her fisted hands and grin and response. "Did you get him good for me?"

He chuckled, set his chopsticks down, then returned her stare. His eyes shined with amusement. "You betcha."

"So, what are you having?"

"The special."

Hamuko ordered the same thing, then watched him silently, knowing full well he wasn't enjoying his meal. It seemed like being expelled for a day had it's effect on him. Not only did he look ruffled, but it was effecting his appetite too. She studied the bruise on his face, assuming it was from a punch Akihiko managed to land before she arrived and Junpei and Minato intervened.

"Looks like he did a number on you." she said in awe. She brought a hand to his face and traced the circle under his eye with her index finger.

Shinji let out a sharp laugh. "This is nothing compared to what I did to him."


An hour later Hamuko sat on her living room sofa, watching the newest Steel Chef. One hour to prepare five dishes using one common ingredient. That was the kind of thing she wanted to do. She wanted to test herself, push boundaries and achieve new heights. How amazing would that be, she thought to herself.

Hearing her cell phone go off, she extended her hand beside her and answered it without thinking. All she heard was, 'meet me in the courtyard' followed by a click. Once the call ended she looked at the screen. It was Akihiko. To her intense annoyance, she felt her face go hot. She spent a fair twenty minutes contemplating if she should go. Nothing good was bound to happen if she did show up. Despite her better judgment, she threw on a sweater and headed out the door.

When she arrived, he was sitting on a cement bench. Shinji was right, he did have it worse. In addition to the mysterious band aid over his left eye, there was another one across his nose. A small, but noticeable cut on the right side of his mouth. He looked weak and extremely vulnerable.

Hearing the scuffle of her shoes, he stood up to greet her before settling back down onto the bench. She stayed silent as he leaned over and rested his elbows on his knees. "I...went to see her."

Hamuko nearly laughed. "What is this? You bothered to report that to me?"

"Listen to me!"

"No thanks!" she shouted, turning away. "I don't have that much free time on my hands! Just leave me alone!"

Instantly he was at his feet, ready to stop her from leaving. "Hamuko!"

Her footsteps froze in place. For a moment there was no sound except her breathing and the crickets chirping into the night.

"I've had enough..." she muttered under her breath. "Enough..."

She clenched her fists and looked down onto the ground, trying to hide the tears that began to collect in her eyes. Damn, she thought bitterly. I can't speak. I can't breathe...I can't even sniffle. No...If I sniffle, I'll give away that I'm crying.

"I can't leave her alone!"

Her breath came out in one explosive puff as she turned around. "I said, enough already!"

"But it's even harder for me to leave you alone! It pains me a lot more when you cry...than when Mitsuru cries. Your tears are more painful!"

For a moment she couldn't think straight, her breath frozen in her lungs, but when she felt the heat of his hands on her shoulders she began to fight. She couldn't listen to him. She couldn't weaken. He could only watch, stunned as she raised both hands, grabbed a hold of his sleeves and pushed his arms away.

She recovered her composure, and with it her resolve. "Just now Akihiko...you said, 'more than Mitsuru' didn't you? Tell me...what does 'more' mean? What do you mean by, 'my tears are more painful?' Why are you comparing us? Are your feelings so uncertain that you can only recognize them by comparing?"

"That's not what I meant!" he shouted, taking a step towards her.

"But isn't that right! Being chosen that way...This, 'well if I had to make a choice, then it's you', doesn't make me happy at all! I don't consider feeling that you can only distinguish through comparison to be genuine! And also, it pains you more when I cry? That sounds like pity to me! I would never mistake pity for love!"

"Hamu—"

"If those are your feelings, Akihiko, I don't want them! That's not what I want at all!" She yelled, no longer caring if he watched her cry. "My feelings were real! I liked you...Akihiko!"

Before he could say any more, she turned on her heel and began to run.

I liked you, she thought with a sardonic smile. How ironic, the words that I am finally able to say...signal the end...


"What? He actually said that?" Yukari gasped. Hamuko could only nod in response. "I'm going to go beat the crap out of him!"

Springing forward, she grabbed a hold of her friend's arm. "Wait! No, don't go, don't go!"

Yukari humphed in response. "After all he did, he has the nerve to say that? He's unbelievable!"

Hamuko felt a something in her pocket go off. Learning from her mistake, she took a look at the screen first. It was Shinji. "Ah, hold on. I got a call."

She watched as Yukari left her room. Although she never voiced it, she was grateful that she was room mates with her. After the falling-out with Akihiko, she planned on going to bed and crying herself to sleep. She didn't want to get up, much less speak with anyone. Yukari on the other hand, would have neither of the two. She came to her side and talked about her problems until she felt even a little bit better. That little bit made all the difference in the world.

She leaned onto her side, flipped it open and pressed it against her face. "Hello?"

"I've decided I'm never going to make you cry."

"Wh-What are you talking about?" she sputtered, sitting up quickly. She could tell from the tone in his voice that he was serious. Not angry, nor intimidating, but serious.

"I'm. Never. Going. To. Make. You. Cry." he repeated, deliberately leaving a pause after each word.

"What? Besides, you know I like Akihiko."

"But it's not working out." he replied matter-of-factly. "Just to let you know, I'm going to take advantage of that."

"What—"

She heard a click, then looked at the screen. The call ended.


Author's Notes:
* Silent mode-less phones do exist, I swear. My brother has one. Apparently the best he can do is set it to vibrate.
Finally, another update! I hope you enjoyed this chapter~ This chapter was built on blood, sweat, tears and even more tears. I feel like there's a lot going on now, it's almost hard to keep track. Is it just me, or does this chapter seem super long?
The next installment of music is finally available (another reason why this chapter took so long):

www[.]mega upload[.]com[/]?d=S5YHTSSA