It's been three days now since I had kissed her, ran away, and stopped going to the Mitakihara school. I was too afraid now. I feared she'd hate me. I'd rather she'd forget I even existed than to know I was despised by the girl I love.

I walk around now with my hood up. I can't bear the thought of her knowing the truth if she ever happened across me.

"If you spoke with her about what happened, I'm sure you'd meet some understanding" suggests the fleabag, tagging along side of me in the rain.

"You said if I stopped going, you'd forget the ordeal. It's over now. So drop it" I spit.

He obeys this time and we resume our stroll in silence, the raining massaging our backs. We're back in the park and happen across the bridge from before and I crawl underneath to avoid the wet for the time being. Kyubey shakes himself off, splattering my face with another dash of sprinkling rain drops.

"Apologies" he says.

I don't care anymore. I didn't even care enough to eat today, despite the feline pestering me, like a mother with it's kittens. Is that even how he sees me now? Am I his kitten?

I look out over the water's aquatic display, appearing to dance in the weather. It's hypnotizing. I can't help but remember the last night I was with her: the way she smiled at me, held me close and the way she kissed me. It's all just a memory now. None of it's real and it's best it fades away than tracks me forever as a guilty reminder.

"Kyouko".

I freeze, turning my head to see Sayaka bent over with an umbrella, looking at me from under the bridge. There are so many questions in her eyes and tears building steadily in mine. I can't fight it. They're breaking free and I dash out from under the bridge, wanting to make my way over it and head back to my room. I'm so desperate, I can't find my feet and half way over the bridge, I trip, skidding a little. She darts over in a panic with her umbrella and I look up at her, my motion flipping back my hood unintentionally, revealing my short cut hair. I'm exposed. She knows who I am now and her jaw almost hits the floor.

There's silence and the beating down of heavy raindrops over my weak and pathetic, miserable body. I'm trembling, not from the cold, but from fear. From overwhelming sorrow.

"K-Kyou...tarou-san? I... I don't understand..." she whispers, a little pale from shock.

I stand up quickly, asserting myself, but for what? I don't wanna run. But, I also don't wanna be here like this. My tears continue to blur my vision and I cover my face with my hands in shame, shaking now as I cry in front of her.

"Kyouko...".

She takes a step over to me.

"J-Just... leave me alone" I whimper. My heart is killing me right now, like it's hanging on its last strings and is about to fall deep into a chasm of despair.

"Look at me... please".

I can't.

"Please".

Pretend I never existed. Just turn around and walk away. I'm just a big mistake.

"LOOK AT ME, KYOUKO!" She wails, getting emotionally torn from this moment as well.

I do as instructed this time. There. Now you can see my stupid, tear streaked face. Are you happy? She appears close to tears as well. Confused, heartbroken I'm guessing, angry: an aggressive cocktail of teen angst.

"Just tell me..." she croaks.

Tell you what? You know everything now. You really want me to draw it out, putting everything into words? Making the whole thing more painful, awkward and embarrassing than it has to be? Fine!

"I'm in love with you Sayaka!".

Well, that was quick and painless. She backs up some. I don't know why she's so shocked by that declaration. I'm more agitated now and clench my fists.

"Ever since I met you, I've wanted to get to know you better. I didn't think you'd pay me any heed, 'cus I'm just some homeless kid, so I discovered where you went to school and went there to learn more about you. Looking back on it, I know I seem like I'm a total creep, but I couldn't help it. I kept telling myself I just wanted a friend, but the more we connected I just fell more and more in love with you".

Those tears are just running down my face now. It's hard to tell what's the rain or me anymore.

"I didn't mean to scare you that day and runaway, I didn't mean for there to be anything between us, but I wanted you to know there would be somebody you can find solace in: Someone who will listen to you, adore you and do whatever they could in the world for you... but... all I brought you was trouble".

I'm sniffling and hiccuping now, sobbing. I can't make out any coherent sentences, now I'm swept up in complete depression. Her hand finds my shoulder securely and I flinch in response, and make eye contact with her. That glaze of uncertainty has vanished and now her eyes are filled with determination.

"Let's find somewhere we can dry ourselves off" she suggests.


I take her back to my room, not far from the park. I throw my hoodie on the bed and sit down. I'm guessing she's still a little in shock, as she stands by the entrance, fiddling with her hands as a distraction. I glance over at her and a warm blush coats her features. Under my hoodie is a black crop top that exposes my navel, some of my feminine curves and, of course, I'm not binding my breasts anymore. All is to see, that I'm allowing her to.

"Y-y-you're a girl".

"Yes" I retort. I don't mean to come across as cruel, I'm just frustrated with myself over all of this.

"I-Is this where you live?".

"For the time being, yes".

"What hap-".

"I'd rather not talk about it right now. I think we should take it one step at a time".

I feel so bad. She's being so patient with me and I'm acting almost as if it's her fault. The least I could do is be more sympathetic. This is still a lot for her to take in.

"O-Okay... erm, would you like a snack? I'd made you a bento" she asks softly, taking out a lunch box from her bag. My eyes widen.

"S-seriously?".

She nods, chewing her lip and tapping the rim of of the container. "I'd made you one for the past few days, but I never saw you".

Man, I feel awful.

"I thought you hated me. Thought you'd never wanna see me again" I replied honestly.

She shook her head "I was confused why you ran away that day and I guess I was too absorbed in myself to notice or care for the people who were around me and if they had problems".

"I'm sorry".

"Don't be".

Finally, she works up the courage to come over and sit next to me on the bed with the box. She hands it to me slowly and I take it, unable to make eye contact at all.

"Y-You... don't think I'm some freak or something?" I tremble. My heart is hammering inside of me non-stop.

She giggles a little "What? Because you like me?".

My eyes find the floor, timid. Suddenly, I feel myself melting, a sensation that has my fingertips tingling and my chest fill up with a feeling of internal fireworks. Her lips are pressed against my cheek. My face is on fire and my breath seems to seize and lock itself up, to emphasize my desire to stop time, to prolong this feeling. Eventually, she pulls away and offers me a shy smile, a cute curve of those sweet lips. Brushing the bangs in my eyes, she looks dead into mine with a look of acceptance. That's all I need.

Placing the bento aside, I lean to kiss her lips. I don't pull away this time. Instead, I guide her into my embrace, holding her and feel an excitement as she kisses me back, her arms going around me, feeling my hair, rubbing my back. Those lips taste of that berry and I can't help but inch my tongue out to stroke hers. She hitches her breath in a gasp and pulls away, blushing furiously. Did I go too far? Dammit. I look away and scoot away to give her some room. I don't know what I should do.

"I'm sorry, Kyouko. I guess I'm still... taking it in" she admits. I nod sadly. "But, that doesn't mean I didn't like it".

Astonished by this, I can't help but smile some and I feel her move over more so as to hold me.

I knew she wouldn't love me right away. It takes time. Man, things would've gone so much smoother... If I were honest.

The End