For the purposes of this story, Hanako has significantly grown as a person already (How couldn't she, with so many boys flocking to save her), and Misha's sexual orientation is bi.

I look up at the mirror, then splash my face with ice-cold water again.

This is something I did not need.

It's early morning, early enough that there's not a single soul roaming the hallways and common areas. Better that way. I don't think I'm up for people just yet...

The ceramic feels cold to the touch, and running cold water over it doesn't help in the least. I shift the knob the other way, letting warmer water flow for a while. My reflection in the mirror stares at me, face covered with light stubble, eyes tired and drained.

A simple memory makes me feel this miserable. I wonder what would have happened if she came to visit, or sent a letter; I wonder if I could deal with it. Despite what happened, fact stands that I loved her. Maybe a part of me still does. It'd explain the shock...

No, it doesn't make sense. We parted ways, and that's that. Nothing more to be said.

Maybe it's divine retribution for the way I forced Takashi? Nah, it's not that either. I have no God to punish me. I haven't had one for nearly a decade, ever since Oma died.

Still, a simple dream tore through me like this... It's cause for worry. I should've left all of that behind me, and now it seems I didn't do a good enough job of it.

I turn the water off, just leaning against the sink like the hero of a B-rate horror movie. I half expect some kind of monstrosity to leap out the mirror and eat me, but there's no such luck.

With a sigh, I turn around, squinting when the ray of light from the sole window hits me square across the eyes. Of course, why half-ass a miserable morning when you can have the full package...

The hallway is silent, as expected. The only thing that could make this worse is the guy from yesterday...Kenji, judging by his room, appearing again. I turn to glance at his door; to my relief, it's closed.

The whiskey-drinking punk would only get a slap across the face if he showed up anyway... I usually don't suffer fools; today I might not be able to keep myself under control.

And then a door clicks open.

I immediately turn to 117, but it's 118 that opens. The blondish head of an American classmate of mine sticks out, sleepily scanning the hallway. He brightens up upon noticing me. "Ah, the Russian!"

Even if I tried, I couldn't slip away now. He'd come around to bothering me about it sooner or later. However, there is an option...

"Ah, Adolf! Just let me get dressed, I'll meet you downstairs for coffee, alright?"

He ponders it for a second, then nods, disappearing behind the door once more. I sigh, relieved. There's time to clear my head, a lot if I volunteer to make the coffee myself.

Step slightly more determined, I head back to my room.

Dark liquid bubbles up in the coffee pot, a thin wisp of steam rising steadily from it. Aside from the two of us, the common room is empty, most likely due to the fact it's this early. I sigh, stirring the pot again.

My head is a lot calmer, but the hard truth is that despite my best efforts, I can't get her out of my head. Kanon, with that disarming smile of hers, and her scent, and her orange...

I sigh once more, turning the stove down. In one hand, there's the pot; in the other, a box of sugar cubes. Since the hospital, I couldn't drink my coffee sweet anymore. It was a passive shift, almost as if I simply forgot...

But the truth is, I didn't forget. Every morning, I'd taste the strong, unsweetened coffee, and I'd remember. The sickly strong taste would linger in my mouth, only washed away by the stronger taste of alcohol.

Such a cure was a sign of weakness, so I rarely used it. I sought out other things to keep me distracted... Up until last night, this school had enough to keep me busy. Honestly, it's a bit surprising the novelty worn off this fast.

A quick glance to the fridge reveals that it's not only completely lacking milk, which is a sin in its own right, but that it's stocked full of Dr. Pepper, the fizzy drink somewhat popular in Japan. If I remember correctly, the protagonist from that one anime was a dedicated consumer. A lot of people got shot in that one...

I take my cup, indulging myself with a painfully long sip. Adolf drops a handful of sugar cubes into his before bringing it up to his mouth.

"So, what's up?"

"Right now, or in general?"

He gives me a confused look, shrugs, takes a sip of his coffee, shrugs again, and only then speaks. "Right now."

I turn around, throwing a glance at the fridge. A student with his arm in a sling knelt down and opened it, thirstily guzzling down one of the drinks. In a few short seconds, the entirety of the bottle is empty.

"I'm astounded with the amount of in the fridge, for one."

He smiles, lowering his cup onto the table. "That's hardly enough to warrant such a dark look on your face."

Perceptive, huh?

"Seen right through me, did you? I don't know, I just woke up really angry all of a sudden."

Even if he did see through the lie, he has no solid starting point. He'll be forced to let it go.

Instead of asking anything, though, he just shoots a grin that would give Nurse a run for his money, bending forward a bit.

"Heh, maybe it comes with being Russian?"

"Ouch."

We both laugh and I almost start choking on my coffee. I'll remember this... the moment an opening reveals itself, my counterattack will be rapid and merciless. However, before I can even recover, he pushes on ahead with the conversation.

"And in general?"

I slowly exhale, mostly trying to buy a few more moments to focus the chaotic mess in my head into a coherent thought, all the while filtering out any information that might get him curious.

"Well, I'm getting along fine. Suzu in particular was really nice."

He leans back, eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Suzu...Suzu Suzuki...nice?"

He keeps the stare going for a while longer, throwing up his arms. "Impossible. You must have met an impostor."

Despite the dramatic gesture, his voice is rather calm. I can't tell if he's genuinely relaxed, or a devoted follower of the 'fake it until you make it' philosophy. It could swing either way, really. Fortunately, his little slip gives me the opportunity for the long-awaited counterattack.

"Jealous? Afraid your smooth American charm can't stand up to raw Russian attractiveness?"

We laugh again, this time he's the one almost choking on his coffee. Conversation dies down a bit after that, the two of us determined to finish the coffee before too many students descend into the common room.

During this lull, I take a moment to really study the American, noticing little details. For example, he checks his watch every time a student exits the dorm, and his eyes seem to wander off up and right from time to time, like he's remembering something.

With my drink done, I decide to indulge the question that's floating in my head.

"Hey, is something on your mind?"

Blush. Hesitance. Forced smile. He's about to try and bullshit me.

"Ah, it's nothing I want to bother you with. Everything's fine."

Yeah right. Well, if he's not going to come forward on his own, I'll have to poke for reactions. Let's see, what should I start with...

"It's Miki, isn't it?" Boom. Hole in one.

He shakes his head, standing up. The blush is completely gone.

"Just forget about it, alright? It's not something you should get involved with."

I stand up as well, taking a step towards him. My eyes narrow as my mind comes to a decision. Observing details about people means you can try and guess what they're thinking, while still having a decent chance of actually guessing right.

For example, I see that he looks mildly upset right now. It's not because I'm trying to provoke some kind of reaction, but something deeper. Combine that with my older knowledge about his relationship with Miki, as well as his reaction to her name a minute ago, leads me to believe that something happened between them.

However, now that I think about it, maybe getting involved would only serve to further complicate what I guess is already a complicated matter. This time, I'll back off.

"Right then. If you say so." And I take a step back.

The tension in his shoulders lets up, and he lowers his head. When he brings it back up, he's smiling.

"Right then, I'll see you around, my friend."

As he too leaves, I can't help but check my watch.

I find myself sitting down on a bench in the middle of the schoolyard, simply admiring the floating clouds.

Having opted for a lighter shirt and jeans combination, the surprisingly strong sun doesn't bother me as much as I expected. A soft breeze is blowing all over the yard, bits of paper and old leaves floating lazily across the ground.

I turn up the music player in my hand, letting "The Auld Triangle" blast my eardrums. Ever since I started to listen to music, I had a strong preference for foreign tunes, especially American punk. This preference led to me carrying 8 gigs of music with me almost everywhere I go, steadily destroying my hearing whenever the desire for extra loud overcomes me.

Shifting to the side to get the sun out of my eyes, I notice a familiar face standing a ways off, looking at me. She's wearing a dark, long-sleeved shirt, combined with standard looking jeans and sneakers. For all its simplicity, the outfit effectively covers the entirety of her scarring.

With a slow step, miss Ikezawa joins me at the bench.

"H-Hello. It's n-nice weather today, don't you think?"

Having pulled the earphones out the moment I saw her, I tuck them away in my pocket, forcing a friendly smile to my face. At least she seems fairly confident about approaching me this time.

"Ikezawa? Didn't expect running into you, of all people, this morning."

She bows her head slightly, the mild look of determination refusing to leave her. In all honesty, I have no clue why'd she want to talk to me. Still, helping her out a bit isn't out of the question.

"You look like there's something on your mind. What is it?"

She stiffens for a moment, but then looses up again. If I were to guess, a while ago, she'd just bolt from here instead. She has the look of someone who's recently grown somehow, the impression won't leave me.

"W-Well, I...I wanted to ask you something."

The two girls from the newspaper club pass by, giving Hanako reassuring smiles as they do so. It's apparently all she needs, and the words come flooding from her like a torrent.

"IwantedtoaskyouforadviceonhowIcantryandgatherthecouragetotalktoaboyIreallylikebecausehe'sniceandsweettomebutdoesn'tseemlikehe'sallthatinterestedinmeandI'mafraidit'sbecauseofthescarsbutIcan'tdoanythingaboutthemandheisn'tthekindofpersonwho'dmindsomethinglikethat!"

"..."

She gives me a worried look, probably fearing she didn't do the right thing in trying to talk to me, but I simply nod my head, raising a hand to signal her to wait.

Just give me a second to decipher what you said, woman...

"Well, I don't really see a reason why'd you put off telling him how you feel. If he was nice and kind towards you this far, it's safe to assume that even if he doesn't share your feelings all the way, he'll be gentle about it."

She nods, letting herself show a small smile of relief.

"So my advice is that you just up and tell him the next opportunity you get."

Clasping her hands in gratitude, she offers a small nod, short breaths escaping her mouth.

I smile, leaning back a bit. I'm fairly sure I had coffee with that 'boy' of hers just this morning, but there's always a chance it's somebody I don't even know.

Still, there's a question on my mind now that I want an answer to.

"Hanako...can I call you by your name?"

She offers a brief nod, her hands relaxing and lowering to her sides.

"Well, I wanted to know why you decided I was the right person to ask. We hardly know each other, and this was a fairly personal thing to talk about."

There's that faint smile again. She leans back herself a bit, looking towards the sky for a few moments until speaking.

"Y-You seem like an honest person. I don't think you'd ever give away a secret entrusted to you."

Huh... This level of observation I expected from people like Shizune, but not this girl. And more importantly, there's the strange trust again.

Seems like whoever I meet in this school, they decide to trust me right off the bat, no questions asked. How they can do such a thing is beyond me, but I can't deny it feels...good. Just the knowledge that people are willing to put their faith in you is reassuring.

However, that also makes it harder to bear with every new person. I can't return that courtesy, I can't make myself trust people...not honestly at least. Something like that is beyond me ever since the hospital, the place I lost the only two people I could call friends.

The way I am now, I don't think I deserve companionship like that. That's why the image of Kanon keeps lingering in the back of my mind, reminding me that the only woman I deserved is now very far away. Hell, ever since she abandoned me in those four walls, I hardly even thought about women. Only recently, when I went shopping with Suzu...

I don't deserve having people like Suzu or Hanako trusting me. I'm not the kind of guy who can bring good things to their lives. Misfortune is never too far away.

Heaving a sigh, I rebuild my false smile, offering it to Hanako.

"Thanks Hanako, that means a lot. Do tell me how it works out for you, ok?"

She gives a small nod, then hurriedly stands up and heads for the gate. Guess old habits do die hard.

With her safely out of view, I go back to my thoughts...back to Kanon, mostly.

Believe in me, and I will believe in you.

You're asking of me everything, so I'll give it all to you.

The song blasts out the headphones, turned loud enough that my ears slightly hurt. A little pain is nothing, though.

The sun moved quite a ways, leaving me in comfortable shade. However, the passing of time leaves an unintended side-effect. I'm hungry. Forcing myself up, I go back to my room, trying to remember if I bought cup ramen.

Turns out I did, so after a few minutes, I find myself back at the bench, this time slowly working my way through the two cups I prepared. With my music gone, left behind in my room, my thoughts are free to wander back to the one thing that kept their attention for most of today...her.

I miss having someone to touch, to feel close to. I miss having someone to love.

I've no doubt that I could find a girl here for myself. People are always lonely, especially in a place like this. Yet my problem is with myself, or rather, my past.

A part of me still loves her, I'm sure of it, and that's not the issue. The problem is that I'm not sure if I should kill off that part, or keep it closer to my heart. Maybe that part is my heart.

I wonder what Kyo would tell me... Actually, I already know. He'd just tell me to get laid.

In all his great wisdom, Kyo Sakuraba died believing that a good night of sex could solve all your problems. Maybe the fool didn't know any better. Never asked him about it.

I sigh. I miss him...I miss her too.

My ramen done, I get the overwhelming urge to get up and walk. Somewhere, anywhere... a place where I don't have to think about them.

The feet oblige me, heading towards the outer edge of the schoolyard, to a small path that leads through the forest. Even such a small route seems to be commonly used, as the path never actually disappears into the surrounding shrubbery, weaving slowly around tree trunks probably older than the town below.

Puffy white clouds disappear behind a thicket of branches and leaves, only the occasional warm ray of sun finding its way to the damp ground. Figures a forest wouldn't recover from yesterday's rain so quickly.

I shove my hands in my pockets, my mind struggling to keep itself sane. Questions about things I thought I'd forgotten by now pop back up, mixing in with the already present problems, creating a virtual flood of stress and discomfort.

So what's your plan? When you get out?

Fuck you Kyo. At least you knew you didn't have to worry about this.

He's silly, isn't he Shicchan?

Misha... she's there too, a spitting image of the girl I loved. Maybe I still do. The single difference is in the hair...were it not so unique, they'd be identical.

A wave of fatigue hits me, and I decide to stop, leaning against a tree. I get the feeling the bark will leave traces on my shirt, but that's hardly worth fretting over. I have enough on my plate as it is.

I need to forget her, to get drunk, to get laid. I need a break, most of all.

Maybe Kyo was right. Maybe that is the solution. Letting off some steam. But how can I go about that? What difference will it make?

When it comes down to it, it's Kanon I really want. If only one last time.

Then an idea pops into my head. Takashi worked, and I barely knew the guy. If I knew Kanon, I'll know Misha as well. What's the worst that can happen?

I stand up, brushing the bits of bark from my back, eyes set on the path leading back towards the school. If I go all in, I can't lose. A victory will let me put the business of Kanon behind me once and for all. A loss will create problems large enough to smother that same business.

I can't lose.

I start noticing little details about my room, things that I'd usually just ignore. However, if I'm going to sell this, such things cannot be overlooked. I remove a piece of plastic, some eraser dust, a wayward sock. Hell, is this thing even mine?

My body going through the menial tasks, my mind slowly prepares for the crucial moment that is to come. I have already made the call, all that's left is to wait.

It's late enough that any serious drinking will go into the night, early enough that I can actually get her here. Honestly, I don't know how I can come up with these ideas... And yet they keep working out.

With my room looking almost as bleak as the day I arrived in it, I don't have anything really working against me, or with me. The only difference is the obviously placed bottle, the prop I'll be using.

It's going to be enough. The only thing I have to do is play the role of the strong-but-scared student, and everything should fall into place. Even as I do this, preparing for her to arrive, her image blurs in my mind, becoming Kanon for moments, only to return to normal again. Still, even if it isn't honest, it's something I have to do. And I'll be damn sure to make it worth her while.

Throwing a glance out the window, at the setting sun, the orange tint in the sky, I go back to the dream, then the past. Kanon was fire, Misha will be too.

There's a knock on the door.

I throw on my concerned face, slowly opening the door. Misha smiles at me, looking almost as pretty as Kanon did back then. She's wearing a crimson turtleneck sweater, extending past her hips almost down to the knees. A small pouch hangs off her shoulder, pressed tightly against her dark jeans. The last thing I notice are the all-stars on her feet, colored the same red as the sweater.

"Hey Micchan, what's wrong? You sounded really upset on the phone..."

I gesture for her to step inside, directing her eyes towards the bottle. She frowns, and I invite her to sit down before saying anything. The small opening is just enough for me to be the first to speak.

"See, this is what's been bothering me. I found it in the room while I was cleaning up. It probably belonged to the previous occupant... I know it's against the rules to have alcohol in the school, so that's why I invited you over, Shiina."

She reaches for the bottle on the desk, inspecting it with a sour look on her face. After messing around with it for a while, she sets it down, frowning slightly.

"Micchan, vodka is about the worst thing you could find. It's really breaking the rules..."

She adjusts herself a bit, throwing her shoes off. It's either that she thinks this is going to take a while, or she saw right through me and has no problem with it. I have no particular problem with either of the options.

"The thing you should do is just throw it in the trash, or give it to some of those people around the train station." She unexpectedly grins at the last bit, telling me to recognize the joke.

I smile, slowly taking the bottle. After 'inspecting' it for a while, I turn back to Misha, a curious look maintained. Fake it till you make it, even if means going to the very end.

"Hey Shiina, did you ever try it?"

She glances at the bottle, then back at me. Her hands seem to stiffen a bit, and she shakes her head.

I make a sad face, lowering the bottle a bit. "Me neither... I really wonder though. Maybe it's like sake."

Almost everyone tried sake at some point or another in this country, it's almost a rite of passage. I shrug, bending over to reach for the trashcan under my desk.

"Oh well... Guess we can do it when we graduate."

I shake the bottle one more time, noticing how her eyes are almost glued to it by now. I let myself grin on the inside.

"Micchan..."

"Huh?"

"Well...we could try it."

I put the bottle back down onto the table, straightening myself up. I carefully mix in surprise and acceptance into the look I give her, sure that I got it right. She gives a nervous smile, and I respond with a shrug.

"Why not? It's only one sip, just to see what it tastes like. I'll go get some glasses."

Having already acquired said glasses, leaving them in the shower room corner, I give them a thorough wash and wiping, the time required approximately the same as if I went down to the common room.

I had to do this, there was a chance someone would bother me if I went down there this late.

Coming back, I find Misha still seated at the same place, somewhat more relaxed.

I open the bottle, pouring a small amount in each glass.

"Cheers."

We drink, wincing as the (to me) familiar burn rolls down the throat, leaving the aftertaste in the mouth. Misha shakes her head for a moment, but says nothing.

"It's...strong, don't you think so?"

She nods her head, still holding her empty glass. As far as I can tell, she has no intention of leaving just yet. I sit down next to her, staring into the empty glass for a few seconds, stirring when a 'sudden' idea comes to me.

"You know, I hear this is much better with orange juice."

Misha gives the barely touched bottle a look, then returns her eyes to her empty glass.

"It would be sweet... I like sweet things, Micchan." Her voice is quieter than usual, and I'm unsure if that's a good or bad sign. Still, if it worked out so far, so I'm not about to stop.

I reach for the carton of orange juice in the desk cupboard where I store all my food, pouring over half a glass to both of us. Then I reach for the bottle, topping the glasses off. I'm all too greedy to down a drink, while Misha takes a cautious first sip, only to join me in downing the entire glass, a look of content brightening her expression.

"I like it!" So did Kanon.

I put away the glasses, closing the bottle. Sitting down, I make a sad expression as if I'm about to ask her to leave and stop our little secret drinking, only to change it into a hopeful one at the last second.

"Shiina, you don't have to go back right away, right? You can stay here for a bit, we can talk a bit, play some cards maybe."

She throws on a look of deep thought... and stays there.

If I don't keep dictating the pace, the illusion breaks, and everything falls apart. With no other choice, I do the first thing that comes to mind; I reach for the deck of cards in the corner of the table, offering it up to her.

"Let's start off easy, how about a round of 'go fish'?"

So we start playing. Me, the boy who can't lose.

Against her.

Misha. The girl with amazing pink drills.

Having beaten her at the basic game, I declared that I'd get to pick the next one, being winner and all. Choosing poker, I let her get comfortable playing a few hands.

"So besides Shizune, you don't really hang out with people all that much, huh?"

She nods, maintaining some kind of shy half-smile ever since we started playing. Now, if I remember correctly, she should be having only a pair of jacks, regardless of how many cards she changes.

A thought occurs to me that maybe I went overboard with the preparation, but I quickly kill it off, going back to our conversation.

"Yeah, I know the feeling. Feels like I didn't really find anyone I can really hang out with all that much since I got here... It gets lonely."

She darkens a bit at the word, as do I. Poor girl must be lonely if Shizune has her running errands and being her personal plaything all day long. As for me, I just briefly realized just how good a liar I am. It doesn't matter, though. All that matters is that I succeed.

"Hah, pair of jacks! I win!"

I lower my ace high, smiling at her.

"You know what, we should make it interesting somehow."

She tilts her head to the side, much like Rin did that one time, giving me a puzzled look. I feign looking around, only really waiting to focus on the bottle.

"This thing. Lose a hand, and you drink. Sounds fair?"

She's been winning so far, and I'm sure some of Shizune's sadism has rubbed off on her. She won't refuse.

"Sure thing. Deal!"

She wins two more hands in a row, then loses just as much. From there, we alternate. I'm sure I can hold this entire bottle without much issue, going at this rate, but I'm afraid she'll have too much before we're done with the bottle. So I do the only sensible thing. I start folding.

Win. Win. Fold twice. Win. Fold.

Soon enough, the bottle is done, the hour nearing eleven, and the game has only just begun.

"So Shiina, mind if I ask you something personal?"

She takes the cards dealt to her, adjusting her fabulous drills. "I don't mind. Go on ahead, Micchan!"

"You have a boyfriend?"

The question serves two purposes. First, to remind her that she doesn't have one, instilling a sense of loneliness and desire for partnership. The second is to show that I'm, at least in some way, interested in her.

She lowers her head, shaking it slowly. "Nope... There is someone I like, though..." The tone of her voice is now so quiet, I can barely hear her. It's completely unlike her.

"Eh...I win..."

She's still staring at the floor, looking like every ounce of strength was sucked out of her. I reach over and touch her shoulder.

"Shiina, are you ok?"

She perks up, dropping her cards. "I-I'm fine." With her voice cracking like that, I think she's anything but fine. Maybe I shouldn't go through with this...

"Micchan...do you ever feel lonely?"

I put the cards away, moving over a bit closer to her.

The artificial yellow light of my room clashes with the dark blue of the newly descended night, flooding the room with a strange, almost nostalgic aura. Maybe it's just me being next to her; maybe it's the fact that she looks so much like her.

Misha leans against the bed, looking at me with sad, inquisitive eyes. In the light, the usual amber looks like a soft ocean blue. I edge a bit closer to her, resting my arms atop my knees.

"Well, to be honest. I do. More often than not."

She offers up a soft smile, but the sadness behind it is apparent.

"Me too. "

With nothing more to add to that, she silently waits for me to pick up where the conversation left off.

"And it's not about the school. I think the whole reason I'm feeling this way is because I have this imaginary chain around my ankle. With every step I take, it rattles, bringing up sounds of the past."

I pause, letting my words hang in the cool Sunday night air. Sitting next to me, she doesn't look like Kanon anymore. Almost completely still, the only motion the slight moving of her chest, I see her as Misha for the first time. Even when I met her, a part of me recognized the Kanon in her.

But I don't think I want that part around anymore. It's sick. It's idea brought me into this situation, only now letting me realize just how far gone I really am.

"And I thought that if I could just somehow make it stop, I'd feel better. I wouldn't regret the things I let slip away."

Another pause, this one much shorter.

"I don't think I can. If I tried, I couldn't live with myself. The guilt would burn through me."

I sigh deeply, a heavy feeling in my chest.

It's out. I wanted to use you, Misha, but I can't go through with it. I'm just a pathetic loser who can't let go of his own past.

"There, there...It's going to be ok~!" With that, she leans towards the right, throwing her arms around me.

It takes a few seconds for me to realize what happened, but once I do, I hug her back.

"I'm angry, and I'm happy, but I'm also sad. Can you understand that kind of feeling, Micchan?"

I smile, reaching for the half-full carton of orange juice. As she takes a long sip from it, I speak, my voice losing much of its usual strength.

"I think I can."

She wipes her mouth with her sleeve, something I find amusing, and then continues talking, one hand idly playing with a drill.

"I thought I could freeze a moment, and live in it forever, but that didn't happen. Instead, I just had regrets, things I wished I could do over."

I want to say something, but she doesn't give me a chance, just pushing on.

"But we can't keep looking back forever! We have to take that step forward, no matter how scary it is."

Her voice rises and falls randomly, but I get her meaning. Perhaps this miserable day can still be saved.

I think back to the day in the hospital, the one when I realized that Kanon wouldn't be coming back. The way I felt then, it's completely different than what I feel now. Back then, it was genuine sadness. Now it's just some kind of cruel mix of bitterness and desire. It's not true emotion.

When I invited Misha here, I said I was willing to bet everything. Only now do I realize that it wasn't for Kanon, it was for her.

I stand up, helping Misha get up as well. Her hands are soft and feminine.

"Come on, I'll walk you to your room."

The girls' dorm common room is empty. Given that Misha lives on the ground floor, we don't have to walk long to her room.

"Come on Micchan, I saw yours! Of course you're going to see mine!"

Phrasing Misha, phrasing...

There's something distinctly girly about the room. Visually, it's almost no different from mine, if only a bit more spacious; in feel, though, it's a whole other story. Maybe the faint scent of perfume, or the small stuffed...frog?

She has a stuffed frog. How cool is that?

"So, you like it?"

I turn around in place, taking in the whole sight.

"Well... it's..."

Before I can finish my sentence though, she tackles me, sending both of us to the bed. With the practiced elegance of a rhinoceros, she starts repeatedly pressing her lips to mine, small smacking sounds filling the room every time it happens.

I quickly grab hold of her, startled by her sudden rush at me.

"Shiina!"

She freezes, the spell she was under apparently broken. The look in her eyes both hesitant and determined. Her pouch somehow slid off her shoulder, hanging loosely off her elbow. Her sneakers were tossed into two different corners of the room. I didn't get the luxury of getting comfortable myself.

"..."

She blushes, but doesn't avert her eyes. I guess it's a bit more than just a moment's impulse.

The universe must be having a laugh. I'm all but ready to let go of my idea, and then this happens. Very funny.

"This is how you do it!"

I move my hands up, gently bringing her closer by the chin. The kiss is deep, if sloppy. She obviously didn't have much experience, but the fire's there.

My pulse quickens, and I find myself pulling at the edges of her sweater, a weak attempt of getting it off. Misha, however, decides to indulge me, and takes it off, revealing a tight white shirt, no bra underneath.

I smile. Unlike Suzu or Rin, Misha has some weight on her, not much, just enough to notice. I really don't mind... It even plays to her advantage.

We trade kisses back and forth, struggling to get rid of our clothes. For some reason, the buttons on my shirt feel like they're twice as large as they should be. Her jeans slide right off her incredibly shapely legs, and I realize I'm falling behind. Her underwear is a soft pink, not nearly as aggressive as the hair.

I rise up halfway, wrap my arms around her, and then turn over, sending her crashing down into the pillow. Maybe the madman was right. It does feel good to be on top.

With more room to work with, I quickly get rid of my own jeans, letting myself fall into old habits.

I start at the lips, then go down the neck. She lets out a soft moan, but I don't let it distract me.

Pulling off her shirt, I start from the shoulder, down to the surprisingly large breast, even adding a twirl of the tongue, just to hear how she'll react. Her voice is nowhere to be found, but when my tongue feels something hard, I can't resist smiling. She's enjoying herself all right.

I carry on, raining kiss upon kiss on her belly, every soft smack serving to fuel my intent.

Misha lets out a sound every so often, bringing a hand to her mouth in a hopeless attempt to muffle the lewd moans she can't control. I go back up and give her a normal kiss, if only to reassure her that she's not doing anything wrong.

Back to the belly, then down to the hips. She squirms a bit when I touch her thigh, which gets a chuckle from me. The girl's a virgin all right...

Maybe I should keep it light this first time? I rise back up to ask that very question, only to be met with a determined gaze. Saw the question coming...and she already knows the answer.

Returning my attention to her incredible legs, I let myself have some fun seeing just how close I can get to the sweet spot before she tries to lower her hands. Silly girl...I won't need help getting your panties out of the way.

The feelings of lust and desire are long since familiar to me, but seeing how she's willing to give herself to me completely, I can't help but want to return the favor. Kanon let me do this only once, but I think I should give it a shot...

Both men and women have sensitive spots that drastically magnify the arousal one feels when they're stimulated. Some are fixed, others vary between individuals. I hope what little I know about the female anatomy is enough to make this work.

The sheer tension in the air has me working up a sweat, and she's not having it any less than I do. For some reason, she smells sweet, the exact same scent I remember as a kid wandering into the candy shop in .

I hook a finger around her panties, pulling them aside. A part of me is disappointed...I expected pink. Pushing such useless thoughts from my mind, I go about getting acquainted with her most private parts. She's warm and more than a little wet, but it's no bother. Feeling around for a few seconds, I finally reach the small protrusion with the nerve endings, the part of her that I'll be having some fun with.

Change the speed, the pressure, stop altogether and wait for her to start harassing you because you're just sitting there with your tongue in...her.

At that last bit, Misha pulls me back up for a violent kiss, completely forgetting what I was doing only moments ago.

I start sucking on her breast as my hands go about getting rid of the soft pink panties. It grows on me, so I keep licking and sucking away until she finally pries me off, her face furiously blushing, her breathing ragged.

Screw missionary. I wrap my arms around her, once again changing our positions.

Before she can realize what happened, I guide myself into her, feeling resistance for only a moment. Strangely enough, nothing really happens after that. Some girls simply don't bleed on their first time.

Looking up to her, I see a mix of embarrassment, excitement and a bit of pleasure. As far as first times go, this is about as ideal as it gets.

She leans a bit forward, exploring her options, while I simply enjoy the free reign my hands get over her body. After some bobbing left and right, which only barely got me worked up, she starts moving up and down, and I once again feel my mind slipping away from me into some kind of haze.

Being in contact with her like this... I doubt I've ever felt this kind of warmth. She gives herself over to instinct completely, hopping up and down with almost no effort.

My hands on her hips, I try moving as well, creating a very strange, yet pleasant dissonance.

Every time she moves, her breasts bounce up and down, driving me crazy. My hands shoot up to grab and hold them, bouncing up and down along with them.

She starts going faster, intent on bringing this to a finish. Her downward thrusts become stronger, and I find myself going deeper and deeper into her.

The sensation sets my nerves on fire, and I bend upwards, burying my face between her breasts.

Spasms go through my body, followed by a brief white-out. My entire body shakes, and I squeeze her butt tightly. She gasps loudly, pulls my head closer, breathing heavily.

Slowly, my shivering slows down, only to have her pick up where I left off. She starts trembling, her heart sounding like a massive drum to my ears. Her nails bury into my shoulder blades, and she screams, her hair tickling me all the while.

"Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~!"

I smile.

"..."

She slowly lets go, both of us breathing heavily. With effort, I help pull her up long enough to separate us. There's a silly smile on her face, and I doubt I have it much different.

I run my fingers through her hair as I stare into her beautiful amber eyes. Right now, I can only see content in them. We managed to escape from our demons, hiding in each other's arms.

"Misha..."

She smiles, planting a big kiss on my forehead: "You called me Misha! Bwahahaha~!"

I join her in her laugh, the heavy feeling in my chest gone.

And it's not just that. It feels like I've been gathering stress ever since the hospital, like it's been layering on itself, creating a thick pillar that decided to show itself as an obsessive train of thought, headed for Kanon. But Kanon is my past. I don't need to bother thinking about her like that anymore. I proved my point, and the universe backed me up.

I yawn, feeling the weight of a very long day finally collapsing onto my shoulders. Misha apparently grabbed her stuff, and headed for the showers. Good thinking on her side, I'll do that too...

We're in her bed, neither of us really asleep. Sleepy, but not asleep.

"So Shiina, does this mean that we're..."

She shakes her head, forcing me to briefly stop stroking her hair. I do seem to have a thing for hair...

"Micchan, we both know why we did it. I think we were just feeling lonely."

I open my mouth, only to close it again. After tonight, I'll never be just a classmate to her again, nor would I want to. There's a bond between us, but it's not love. Maybe someday...

"Hey Shiina."

"Mmh?"

She answers with a muffled sound, her head buried in my side. I can't help but keep smiling.

"You know, whenever you feel lonely, you can swing by my room. It doesn't have to be like tonight, we can just keep each other company."

She nods her head, rising only a bit.

"It's nice to have someone to feel close to... I think I will..."

She then yawns, lowering her head back onto me. I follow suit, tucking one arm under the pillow, placing the other protectively over her.

Misha. The amazing girl with pink drills.

Ok, if ever I had to beg for reviews, this chapter is the one where I'd do it.

I destroyed myself over four hours, rewriting the entirety of the chapter twice, having to play through most of Shizune's route again to get a good Misha.

So please, leave your opinion, even if you're just a guest with nothing more than a simple "I liked it".

With the ship now done, there's really only one more thing to do for Act I, and that's introducing Rika. There will be no more risque and/or M chapters in this act.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please do leave a review, it really matters to me this time.