Arrgh. Dipping the piece of dusty rag into a red bucket, Sakuno made a face of disgust. As she soaked the faded material in the warm soapy water, her eyes wandered around the cottage, just as her mind wandered back to the peculiar events a few days ago.

Ever since the match, she had not spoken a single word to Ryoma. Not in class. Not in the corridors. Not even when they brushed past each other by the shoe lockers. She hadn't even so much as laid her eyes on him. And even when she did, it was a hard glare followed by a toss of her braids.

On the other hand, Ryoma did seem to finally take more notice of her. On quite a few occasions, she thought she caught a flash of amber as the class was filing into their classroom, yet she was somewhat relieved it never went beyond that. If he had approached her in the week following the incident, she did not know what they could have said to each other – but one thing was for sure, the experience would not have been terribly pleasant.

It wasn't as though she had been on the verge of snapping for the whole week, however. She used what was left of her self-control (which she has always taken a great deal of pride in), and somehow managed to appear serene in public. The anger was gone, what remained was a deep pool of loss, reproach, and traces of pain from betrayal.

She had not believed Echizen Ryoma to be that kind of person; or perhaps she had only been reluctant to believe he was that kind of person. The truth, however, was not always as pleasant as she had believed.

She smiled bitterly at the thought as she wringed the rag above the bucket. An opaque waterfall tumbled into the murky pool.

How could he possibly use full power on a wounded man like that? Couldn't he see Akito wasn't one of those opponents who could be played seriously against? Yes, if it had been Ryoma who had been hurt she believed he could have somehow won the match anyway... yet Akito wasn't Ryoma, and nothing in the world was ever going to change that.

Sakuno clenched her fists.

Nevertheless, those fan club girls do seem rather satisfied by the fact that I've finally had some senses knocked into me…

The layer of dust under the counter is so thick that one wipe was enough to stain the material black.

She shook her head in annoyance and threw the rag back into the plastic container.

This is endless.

And no one else is helping me…

If Akito was here, then he would undoubtedly-

Hey… Where is he today?

She lifted her eyes to scan around the staff members scattered around the café. The Head Waiter was no where to be seen.

She frowned as she stood up to study the roster sheet stuck onto the notice board.

Hmm…He is on today's list… why isn't he here yet? He's not normally late to work.

Strange…

She lifted the bucket with both hands, intending to change the water before it overflows with lumps of dust particles and blobs of mud.

It was surprisingly heavy considering its size, but she managed to drag it to the drain outside and dump its contents through the tiny holes filtering substances entering the underground waterway. She began refilling the bucket using a nearby tap, but couldn't help but curse softly when she heard the backdoor of the cottage bang shut behind her from a strong gust of wind.

She sighed and went over to pull open the door, leaving the tap still running into the half-filled bucket.

But just as her fingers closed over the handle, it turned and the door swung open by itself.

She jumped back in alarm, but heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that the person behind it was, in fact, only a fellow waitress, Madoka.

A cool surprise also flashed within the dark eyes of Madoka. She nodded calmly at the younger girl and brushed past her to the clearing behind the café. Her inky black hair was gathered in a loose ponytail at the base of her neck and it seemed to claw at the air as a breeze swept past the pair.

Sakuno hesitated as she watched the other girl draw out a packet of cigarettes from her skirt pocket and hooked out a slender white tube with her long pale fingers.

Yet Sakuno had made up her mind. She drew a deep breath and walked around until she was face-to-face with the girl.

Madoka glanced down at her and raised an eyebrow. The lighter made snapping noises as she attempted to ignite the cigarette.

"How can I help, Ryuzaki?" Her voice was as thick and rich as cream.

"Um…I-I'm just wondering if you knew where Akito-kun is…?"

The end of the cigarette glowed amber as it caught the flame, causing a thin wisp of grey smoke to spiral up towards the sapphire sky. The older girl closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Sakuno could almost see the black gas rush down her windpipe, corroding the soft tissues of her lungs. And yet Madoka smiled.

She plucked the tube from her lips and tapped it elegantly with the tip of her finger, a shower of silvery ash floated down onto the earth.

"…Why do you want to know?"

"Uh…it's nothing important, really, it's just that… I-I think he's supposed to be here today - which I don't think he is -" Sakuno stammered and blushed when the explanation wasn't quite expressed as she had anticipated.

Madoka chuckled lightly and took another gulp of fume from the cigarette.

"He's… unwell." She replied while lifting her face to the weak sunlight, her sharp features seemed to glow with a faint halo.

But somehow, her expression, her gestures, her words did not convince Sakuno that Akito was unwell.

"…I-I apologize for my rudeness, but is that… true?" She gathered her courage and voiced her doubt. Both of her eyes were on the other girl's face in hope of finding a twitch, a frown, a smile, anything that could indicate a contradiction.

Madoka was silent for a while. She simply stood there sucking on the crumbling cigarette. Neither confirming nor contradicting.

Until her lips curved into a smirk. Her eyes lowered to those of Sakuno's, and Sakuno could see the amusement twinkling within the dark pupils.

"Thank goodness you noticed."

"Eh?"

"Now he can't blame me for telling you, because you forced me into it." She laughed and flicked a strand of hair over her shoulder. "...Well, you must remember the drunken man who nearly killed you last week?"

Sakuno blushed in shame but nodded.

"-Well, Akito got laid off because he attacked him."

A loud splash sounded behind Sakuno. The water was overflowing from the bucket, trickling down the side like droplets of crystals. Yet neither of them took the slightest notice. The tap kept running, and the liquid kept pouring.

"…What!?" Sakuno's voice trembled in shock as she gaped back at Madoka, clearly not believing what she had just heard.

"It's only temporary…until the Owner decides whether to keep him at the job." Madoka smiled sympathetically at the younger girl, she was trying to comfort her.

"B-But…That's ridiculous! What else could he do? Let him strangle me?" Angry sparks lit up Sakuno's eyes as she unconsciously raised her voice.

Madoka shrugged and exhaled another puff of smoke. "But he is a customer nonetheless…and you know that customers always come first."

Of course Sakuno knew that. But at that moment, to admit that would symbolize defeat.

"But -"

"There's no point arguing with me! Akito did tell me not to tell you… which I can see why now -" Madoka smirked again and glanced at Sakuno's red face and balled fists. She looked like she was going to have a heart attack any minute. "-But you did insist to know, right? Although I still wish I wasn't the one who broke the news to you…" She sighed.

Sakuno hesitated and relaxed a little as she smiled back at Madoka.

"Madoka-san…Thanks for telling me."

"Hmm, no worries… I mean, you would've found out eventually anyway." She flicked the diminished cigarette into a nearby bin with dead accuracy.

"…Good luck." She said quietly.

Good luck trying to help Akito…although there isn't very much you can do.

Sakuno bowed and shot one last grateful smile to her before turning back to the overflowing bucket. It was now resting in a deep puddle of colourless liquid.

She switched off the tap.

I know. But I still have to try.

Usually she loves sunsets.

The only time when the ball of fire seem to soften and melt into the sky like a slab of butter, staining it with warm shades of crimson, gold, and amber.

It's always so short, and therefore so precious, as its patterns differ from day to day.

Every moment of it is the first and the final moment.

It reminds Sakuno of how valuable time really is.

But now she has no time to admire the magnificent array of lights above her.

Her destination still seem a far distance away, and the dimming sunset only seem to be a huge clock reminding her of each second ticking by.

The young girl tore through the city streets, feeling the wind undoing her loose braids and fluttering her clothes.

Her mind was occupied with only one thought.

I must see him.

Her sandals made rapid clicking noises on the footpath, attracting several looks of curiosity. But she barely noticed. Even as she sprinted past the school gates of Seishun High School she did not so much as glanced back at the familiar brick fence.

Otherwise she would have surely seen the figure leaning against it, bathing in the fading sunlight with a can of Ponta crackling in his hand.

A/N: Wow it's been quite a while! Sooo sorry guys it's absolutely terrible of me... think it's about time that I finish up this story too! But thank you once again to you lovely people who have dropped in to read my story - you have all been amazing and such awesome supporters. I especially want to take my hat off to my loyal readers - you are my greatest source of inspiration and motivation and will always continue to be :) Sorry again for the late late laaaate update and hope you enjoy reading my humble creations!