It's been a couple weeks since I'd last seen Chitanda. I asked Satoshi if he had heard about any news on the project. He informed me that it was going forward on schedule and was only waiting for the ground to thaw for the ground breaking.

Moving forward as planned. Well that's good, she'll be happy that it's going smoothly. I doubt she'll need my assistance anymore. I turned back to my computer and rested my hands on the key board, ready to go back to work. I pulled up my e-mail and checked for any new messages or assignments. Nothing new, just updates on things people needed me to sign for. I turned to my desk to look for my stack of papers to work on...nothing. Nothing was in my stack. I moved around looking for anything to do, then suddenly recalled that I had finished everything early in case Chitanda needed my help. I was free. Technically I could go home, but there wasn't anything I needed to do at home. I cleaned so that if Chitanda wanted to come over the place would look nice; I usually keep it clean anyway, it saves time and energy that way. Taking a glance at my watch I noticed that I had three hours until lunch. Today could be a very long day. I was really hoping someone would come in with a stack of work, but to no avail. I waited, trying to look busy, for a half an hour, and nothing new came up. I even expected that girl to come in, but she didn't.

Sighing I took out my laptop but a paper fell out of it. Picking the paper up I found that it was one of the latest letters from Chitanda.

Dear Oreki-san,

How have you been? I ask that a lot it seems, but I hope you don't mind. I hope this season finds you well. It's been quite rainy out here, it hasn't flooded, thank goodness, but everything is coated in mud. My mother is becoming a little fed up with the weather. She wants to be able to go outside for walks again. She and I were talking the other day and she mentioned Fukube-san and Mayaka-san's wedding. She's afraid that I won't be married or have any heirs to take up the household. I told her that everything will be fine with time.

The rice crops are doing well this year. They're really flourishing in all the rain. Too bad students don't flourish in the rain as well. Does it rain much in Tokyo? How's life there? I know it's a busy city; are you taking care of yourself? How are Mayaka-san and Fukube-san? Are they ready for their wedding? I'm very excited for them!

I hope to see you soon,

Chitanda Eru

Reading the letter reminded me of what happened a few weeks ago. What was it Chitanda said? 'You would make a better husband' or something like that. She looked pretty upset. I pulled my arms behind my head. What could it mean?

Maybe she's gotten into dating sims? It's not likely, but it's best to investigate all possibilities. Maybe she meant that she would marry me if I was the last guy on Earth. It's a little harsh, but maybe it's true. But thinking that stings a little. Moving on, maybe she was just over analyzing the situation. I've heard many girl say that they over think hanging out with guys. Sometimes they mistake it for a date when the guy just thinks its for fun. That certainly could be it, it's a bit like her too.

Perhaps she's been thinking too much about Ibara's wedding and she's been dreaming about her own, pondering who her husband could be. I'm honored to be in your selection of fantasies. In a similar way it could be that she just read a novel and she was just muttering about it. Probably some sappy love story about forbidden love in an arranged marriage. I'm not a romantic, but depending on the story I might read something like that. While Chitanda is a little bit of a reader, but she might also get into TV dramas. I don't know what she does in her free time, probably think about rice and farming. But if she were to watch TV I bet it would be a reality show or documentary, dramas are a little much for me to think that Chitanda would like them. She might like one of those shows that's a matchmaking show. But again, I don't see her watching much TV let alone shows like that.

Maybe I misheard a word, maybe 'husband' is just another name for some foreign food, it sounds similar to hummus if you mumble it. But the 'd' is a definable sound so it would be hard to not hear it. Then again I could have just misheard the entire thing. She probably said something completely different. I mean, for Chitanda to say something like that is hard for me to believe. She's a rude girl who invades someone's personal space, but polite enough that she wouldn't want to offend anyone like that. That's probably it. I misheard it; many words sound very similar when said in a low voice, which is what happened.

All of this brooding made my hungry, and upon looking up I noticed it was almost lunch time. My cellphone rang.

"Hello?"

"Horatou! Are you free for lunch?"

"Sure."

"Really? You don't have some excuse about work or having lunch at your office because you want to save energy?"

"If you don't want me, then just say so. But you're the one that invited me."

"No! No! We're meeting down at a Chinese restaurant, just down the street from you."

"That one?"

"Is there something wrong with it?"

"No. I'll be there in 15 minutes."

"Right, see you later!"

"Hmm."

I packed up my things and organized them then left a note that said 'out to lunch put papers in the bin' then left. The lunch I had brought was in a refrigerator under my desk, so it would stay cool, and no one would take it. Thinking better of not eating it now, if I got hungry during the rest of the day I could eat it as a snack.

I walked in, met with the smell of Chinese food. Satoshi and Ibara had already arrived and called me over to their table. We all sat and ordered; this restaurant was a regular for us as a group so picking wasn't difficult.

The food was good as usual and conversation was casual. A lot of it was over the wedding that was coming up fairly soon. Satoshi had almost stayed completely out of it except when it came to the budget. I was the go between on many things during the process. Ibara had picked out several dresses, including her wedding dress. This with Chitanda's approval. Then speaking of Chitanda, the conversation towards the end of the meal turned toward her. We had practically finished our meal and the receipt was handed to us with some fortune cookies. I cracked mine open and popped it into my mouth the fortune itself read: 'a friend will help you in the future.' Fortune cookies are so generic these days, they probably just don't want to get sued by giving a fortune that doesn't come true.

"Poor Chitanda," I heard Ibara say as I swallowed the last bits of the cookie. "To be forced into something like that. I don't know what I would do if I were forced to marry some stranger for family's sake."

I looked up. Did she mean...that there was arranged marriage for Chitanda? "What do you mean by that?" I asked calmly.

"You what do you mean 'what'!?" Ibara glared at me. "Didn't you know that Chitanda has an arranged marriage? It's been in place since January!"

January? Is that why...? "I thought she told you! I asked her if she wanted me to tell you, but she wanted to tell you herself!"

"I never heard a word of it. She was acting a little weird and saying weird things last time I saw her," I grumbled crossing my arms.

"What did she say?" Satoshi pried.

"Something like 'I appreciate you' and 'you would be a better husband' but I'm sure I just misheard her..."

"Oreki! Are you really that dense?!" Mayaka slapped her hand on the table. "And I thought you were smart and lazy. Now I know you're just lazy!" she balled her hands into fists. "You could have helped her! You jerk!" she hissed getting ready to stand. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye; it was Satoshi. He stood first and had put his arm out to stop Ibara.

"Leave this to me," he said firmly, looking at her. She hesitated, deciding whether or not to let him have the pleasure. She relented. "Can you pay the check? We'll pay you back later." Satohsi moved toward the front door I stood and slowly followed.

Satoshi walked for a bit then reached a stopping point at the opening of a bridge. The clouds had darkened and snow was gently beginning to fall-just like that day.

"Funny isn't it, that I'd have to be the one to push you back." Satoshi turned and looked at me with a smiling face, but sadness beneath. "Every word you said that day has stuck in my head. I'd like to say thank you, Hotarou, for pushing me like that. It's helped me a lot. But you know, you've gotten soft." He looked at me with a piercing gaze. "What happened? You've changed, some for the good, but at this point for the worse. Does Chitanda getting married mean nothing to you? When Mayaka and I had that dispute on Valentine's day, you were concerned that we had hurt Chitanda in the process. Do you no longer care about her feelings? Don't you care about her?"

He clenched his fist then grabbed my scarf and pulled me down to his eye level. "That girl needs your help. You can help her, I know it! If you don't help that girl, I will hit you. I will hit you harder than you could ever hit me!" he put his fist up in my face. I looked away. "So what are you going to do? She needs you, Hotarou." he released my scarf and gestured with his hand. "She came to you, the one she expected to understand even from hints, for help. I know you're smarter then this. You probably knew this was happening! Why did you choose to ignore it?"

Why...I did understand. I was avoiding the idea of her getting married from the beginning. Why was I dodging it? Why, Why?! It's all so infuriating!

"So, Hotarou, what's your answer?"

It's a nuisance! To go out there for that girl! But it's for her. It's for Chitanda. She's pestered me since high school. She's always around making me keep her in the back of my mind! She's irritating...

"It's a bother...to have to go after her," I muttered to myself.

"Is that all you really think of her? A bother?" The melancholy came back to my friend's eyes. "I thought you thought more of her than that. Why else would you go out of your way for her?" He gave me one last glance then turned to get Ibara.

I was left to the snow and my thoughts alone.

Wow, I never knew just leaving one of these random comments at the bottom would actually get me reviews! Thanks for those who posted them! I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Don't forget to leave more comments!

Oh, and to let you know, I'm writing ahead on this story, so I have chapters already written. I post on Wednesdays and Saturdays, if you haven't noticed.

By the way, how many readers actually know or look up the meaning of the title of each chapter? I'm curious...