Once upon a time, Kyouko Kirigiri lived a happy life.

Even if some people would find her, interest peculiar. She was greatly blessed as she came from a family filled with love. As a child, she always admired her mother's strength, intelligence and beauty. She could still remember how her mother would always be there for her to talk to, whenever her dad or her grandfather is too busy with work.

'Mom, look!'

The 7-year old Kyouko excitedly burst into their living room and hugged her mom. As she pulled slightly away, she smiled as she looked up at her mother, showing her test papers – another set of straight A's.

She remembered how her mother happily and warmly smiled at her as she gently pat her head and told her that she was proud of her. Every word that her mother utter were precious to her. They always motivate her to do well, and to be the best that she could be. Kyouko wanted to be like her, because in her eyes, her mother was her hero.

"Otanjoubi Omedetou, Kyouko-chan!"

Her parents, along with her grandfather greeted enthusiastically as soon as she woke up in bed.

"Would you mind lifting your arm to me, Kyouko-chan?" Her mother asked warmly, she was sitting on the side of her bed, with a small black box sitting on her lap.

Kyouko nodded, she lifted her arm and offered her wrist to her mother. Her mother smiled and opened the box, revealing a handmade blue bracelet with her initials written on it.

"It's beautiful." The young Kyouko said in awe as she stared at the bracelet that her mother just gave her.

"I'm glad you liked it, Kyouko-chan,"

"Of course I do! I'll treasure this!" Kyouko wrapped her hand around her wrist with the bracelet and held it against her chest. "Thank you, Oka-san."

As her mother smiled warmly, she then leaned forward and gave her mother a hug, one that she would never forget.

Not because of the surprise birthday greeting that she had received that day, or because it came along with a gift.

But because it would be their last.

The next morning, she remembered, her mother was rushed into the hospital while she was asleep.

"Your mother will be alright." Her father, Jin Kirigiri, said with a sad lopsided smile, as they sat on the hospital bench near the emergency room.

She believed him, she believed her mother would be alright.

But…

Every thing was lie.

She could still remembered her father's despair painted face, when she visited the hospital a day after. The memory was still vivid in her mind, how the freshly picked lilies that she had brought for her fell down on the cold hospital floors as tears fell rapidly down her face. How her father desperately asked her mother to wake up as he held her lifeless hand.

Her mother's dead and along with her death was the death of a part of her as well.

Although she had become close with her father since her mother's passing, it left a huge void in her heart, a void that was tearing her apart until she met a girl named Yui when she visited her mother's grave, one snowy and frigid December night.

Kirigiri groaned softly as she slowly opened her eyes. She blinked for a few times, for her eyes to adjust to the room's lighting. She found herself lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room.

"Where am I? How did I get here?" She thought to herself as she slowly sit up in bed. Her question was answered when she saw Makoto sitting beside her bed. He was peacefully taking a nap, his were arms folded upon the edge of the bed and his head rested upon his arms.

She wanted to wake him up to query where they are, but he looked so peaceful in his slumber that she opted not to disturb his sleep.

However, as she tried to slip out of the bed, the slight movement that she made woke him up.

"Kirigiri-san?" He yawned sleepily as he rubbed his right eye. "How are you feeling?"

There was worry in his sleepy, hoarse voice. He was genuinely concerned that she might feel sick or woozy or something, as she suddenly passed out while they were finding the ingredients that they need for the doping potion. As Kirigiri assured him that she felt just fine, she asked her where they are and with a slight blush on his face, he explained that they're in a cheap inn near the park. He told her that the hospital was far from where they were, and as panic took over him, he just decided to rent a room for a night in the inn - that he happened saw while they were on their way to the park a while ago.

"I was worried," He sighed heavily. "I checked your temperature and you didn't have any fever. I didn't really know what to do, that's why I consulted Komaru and my aunt, Chisa what I should do. They told me to let you rest, which I did… and…"

"Hey, Naegi-kun," Kirigiri spoke softly, cutting him off. She looked at him and smiled. "Thank you."

Flushing, he returned her smile and said, "It's nothing."

"It is, you've spent money for this room and took care of me while I was unconscious. You have my gratitude, Naegi-kun and I intend to repay you somehow, one day." Her voice was calm, in contrast with the wild beating of her heart. She was quite surprised with the words that passed through her lips. It wasn't like her at all to blurt out something that she has in mind, she finds it weird, how she feels so comfortable around him – how even if he's a guy, she wouldn't mind being left alone in a room with him. She felt safe with him, as she knew he wouldn't hurt her or take advantage of her. He was kind - too kind that meeting someone like him in this world, let alone having to believe that someone like him exist, still feels surreal.

"I'll be back in a few minutes." Makoto said as he stood up from his seat and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

Makoto stopped dead in his tracks and peered over his shoulder. "I'm going to go out for a while, to get us something to eat." He responded, smiling.

"You've already spent a lot today because of me, aren't you saving money to help your mom?" Kirigiri sighed and grabbed her purse from the floor. She pulled out a thousand yen and slid off the bed, and walked over to him to give him the bill.

Makoto shook his head with a lopsided warm smile, refusing her money.

As he was about to step out of the room, Kirigiri grabbed his arm above his elbow and pulled him back into the room.

"Don't be ridiculous, you're working part time after school just to earn money," Kirigiri lifted her gaze to look at him in the eyes. "I don't want you to spend money for me. Now take it."

Makoto sighed heavily and grabbed her hand, she thought she'd finally convinced him to take the money but to her surprise, Makoto gently closed her hand around the money and squeezed her hand. "I can't. I told and promised myself that I'd take care of you because I somehow feel responsible for what happened earlier."

"… How?" She questioned, as she took her gaze off his face and focused them on the wooden floors.

Kirigiri felt Makoto's hand on top of her head as he spoke, "I'll tell you, once I get back, okay?"

What happened a while ago? I… He…

Kyouko bit her lower lip hard as she slowly drifted off in her thoughts; she mindlessly gave him a nod and walked back to the bed as Makoto stepped out of the room.

She sat down on the edge of the bed as she thought deeply of what happened a while ago. She remembered Makoto asking a question, a question that caused memories and haunting images of her past appearing and alternating in rhythmic spasms right before her eyes.

Remembering it once more made her feel as though her heart is being ripped into pieces. Her chest feels heavy and tight, making it a struggle for her to breathe. Flooded thoughts drowned her mind, and in her heart, mixed emotions intertwined. She looked at her gloved hand, and clenched her fist as she winced and grimaced upon hearing herself whisper, "Yui nee-san."

A few minutes passed and Makoto came back with a paper bag in his hand, containing the food that he bought for the two of them. He set the paper bag on the small round table at the center of the room and fixed the cushions around it.

"Kirigiri-san, I forgot to ask what you liked to eat so… I bought their best-selling meal for you." He chirped lively as he pulled the take outs out of the bag and set them on the table.

"Thank you." Kirigiri said softly as she sat crossed legged on the cushion.

Makoto just gave her a smile before he dug into his meal.

The two ate their dinner in silence. Although, Makoto wanted to have a light conversation with her while they were eating, he chose to keep his words to himself for a while as he felt that something was bothering her.

He wondered she remembered what happened a while ago, what he asked, and if that question had triggered her blackout.

"Hey, Naegi-kun." Kirigiri's voice pierced through the night's silence. Makoto lifted his gaze from his half-empty take out box, to Kirigiri's face. He knew she was trying to put on another expressionless mask to hide something, but he could clearly see right through her as her eyes reflected a mix of regret, sadness and anger.

"What is it?"

"A while ago, what was the question that you've asked me?" Kirigiri knew the answer but she wanted to hear him say it once again.

Makoto slightly flinched from the coldness of Kyouko's voice. "About that, I… I feel like I'm responsible for this mess because of asking you that question, I feel like I've asked something that I shouldn't have… and—"

"Just answer my question." Kirigiri spoke, her voice monotone and firm.

Makoto contemplated for a while and sighed, "I asked you why you were wearing gloves all the time, then you answered my question by saying that you wear those gloves as a reminder of a bad decision that you've made before… Then after that I asked," Makoto paused and took a deep breath before he continued. "…that bad decision, did that involve someone? Someone who you're close to or perhaps, used to be close with?"

Hearing that question made her think of her again. She thought she had gotten over it but who was she kidding? Every memory's vivid inside her mind, her mother's death, her father's death and her best friend's betrayal. It was her, who made her like this – it was her who made her miserable. She couldn't wrap her head around what she did. She tried to searching for plausible answers but came out with nothing.

"Kirigiri-san," Makoto's voice snapped her back to reality. He was now sitting next to her, his hand holding her tightly clenched gloved fist. "I'm right, aren't I? My question had something to do with your blackout?"

Kirigiri nodded silently. She felt Makoto's hand squeezed her's lightly as he sighed and whispered, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you that, I'm sorry." He was truly genuine. She could the feel his sincerity in words. It made her want to trust him; it made her want to open up to him. . . But the story's heavy and she feel as though that she shouldn't burden him with such a depressing story.

"I don't really know what happened, but I feel like… whatever it is that has happened to you was truly painful…"

"It is." She spoke softly, voice almost inaudible.

"I'm sorry for asking that question again, I shouldn't have."

"How many times are you going to say sorry?"

Makoto let out a soft boyish chuckle as he closed his eyes and slightly shook his head, smiling. "I don't know."

Then silence, silence followed as they stayed in that position; sitting right next to each other, his hand comfortingly lying on top of hers. She felt comfortable by his side, too comfortable that it was scaring her even though it feels so right.

"Naegi-kun…" Her soft voice shattered the comforting silence enveloping them. She scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm a despicable girl, aren't I?"

"Where is this coming from?" He asked. Makoto looked at her worriedly as he slightly tightened her hold around her hand.

"Yesterday, I said a lot of mean things to you when you were just concerned for me. I always do that, not only to you but also, to others who wanted to know me," She explained. "You're right about me though, wanting everyone to know me, to be friends with everyone but is too scared – afraid that people might find me too complex to understand."

Saying those words almost felt like a confession of her sins. She could feel the embarrassment crawling into every inch of her skin, but at the same time, saying all of those words were heart lightening as well.

She hesitated to continue and bit her lip. Seeing her like that, Makoto comfortingly brushed his thumb against her gloved hand, urging her to go on – telling her that it's okay and he'll listen.

"I want to make friends, to surround myself with people who I can trust again but… it's hard… because…" Kirigiri bit her lower lip, as she tried to fight her tears back but ends up miserably failing as tears started to fall from her eyes. "I don't want to be emotionally vulnerable again. To be betrayed by someone you trust so much and you believed in, is really really painful."

"K-Kirigiri-san." Makoto's voice was soft as he opened her clenched hand and entwined his fingers through hers. He gave it a light squeeze hoping that it would give her a bit of comfort to lessen the hurt that she's feeling. Her words felt heavy – they were sad and powerful, and it was crushing his heart inside. He wanted to tell her to stop but, he thought that maybe, releasing all of this emotions that she had kept for years would be for the best. That's why he opted to listen to every word she speaks.

"When I met you, I knew you were different from everyone else…" She started voice trembling lightly. "Everyone in that room, felt like they had to keep their distance from me because of the walls that I've built around myself, because of the mood that I had set into the atmosphere the moment I walked inside that room. But despite that, you… you were the only one who talked to me, and didn't talked to me behind my back…"

Makoto smiled softly. "When I saw you, I remembered thinking to myself how cool and mysterious you were. You did give me that peculiar vibe, which I found interesting but… then, I saw something that I couldn't ignore that even made me feel like I need to know you."

"Hm?"

"Your eyes," He paused and sighed. "Your eyes reflects sadness."

Kirigiri smiled softly as she closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. "You're pretty observant aren't you?"

"Pretty much, just not as good as you are though."

Kirigiri lifted head and looked at him, smiling. He felt his heart beat twice as hard, not only because of how beautiful Kirigiri looked like when she smiled but also because of their proximity.

He was tempted to close the gap between their lips at that moment, but tried his best to control himself by mustering every inch of his willpower to stop himself from doing so. It was a relief when Kirigiri laid her head back on his shoulder and talked once again.

"Hey, Naegi-kun."

"hm?"

"I'm really glad to have met you, to know you and to be comfortable with you like this…" She whispered. "Something's telling me to put my trust in you that's why… we're having this conversation..."

She took a deep breath and continued.

"But, even if that's what I feel, I couldn't brush off this feeling of being scared to be closer to you. To be comfortable with someone like this, in a short amount of time is scary. I'm afraid that you'll betray me soon, or worse, I'd betray someone because of you. I'll never forgive you or myself if that happens. And I know will break me apart again."

"I'd never betray you or hurt you. I'd never do that, I never will."

The genuineness of Makoto's words, made her heart flutter. She closed her eyes and smiled as she buried her face in his shoulder. She had never felt this way before; being with someone like him is foreign to her – to finally have someone to talk to about the burdens that she had carried for so long, to finally be slightly open to someone about her thoughts and her feelings. This was all new to her, being with him is like a safe haven where she could finally rest and settle her wings.

"Naegi-kun." She whispered against his shirt before pulling slightly away from him.

"Hmm?"

"I told you… I'd never forgive myself if I've betrayed someone, right?"

Makoto nodded. "You did."

"If I'd ask you, what would be worse? To betray someone or to betray yourself for not being true to your feelings?"

"To betray yourself for not being true to your feelings," He spoke casually with a soft smile. "Life only comes around once, that's why it's better if you'd be true to yourself and do whatever it is that makes you happy, Kirigiri-san."

With a soft smile on her lips, she closed her eyes as his words struck her. She's sure that she's going to regret what she's going to do tomorrow, but... she needed this, she needs to set herself free, to finally be true to herself in front of him… just this night.

She called his name and leaned in as he looked at her.

They felt their heart stop as they looked at each other, blush creeping into their cheeks. They were close – too close, that they could feel each other's warm breath linger against each other's lips.

She looked at him with hazy eyes, as she closed the lingering space between them.

Closer, until the warmth that radiated off her skin fitted right against his.

For the first time in their life, they finally had the lips of the one they love against their own.

A/N : Hey guys, sorry if it took me a while before I could update another chapter, life got in the way. I'm sorry if there are grammatical errors as well. Let me know what you think of the chapter through comments, it will be extremely appreciated. Anyway, I love you guys, stay awesome and Naegiri is canon!