NEXT DAY

Kikyan's POV

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"Morning already?" I mumbled as I rubbed my eyes. I already registered so I'm starting college today. Well, I already started it; I just need to finish about a year. Then, I need a job. Wonder which college mom and dad signed me up for… I yanked out my phone and searched for it in the map. An art school huh… Well… I always told them that I wanted to go to an art college. "Ranko?"

"Going already? Don't you want breakfast?"

"I'm afraid I'll get lost…" I muttered.

"Don't worry. I know where it is." Ranko exclaimed happily and gave me my breakfast.

"Thank you for everything Ranko." I smiled and started eating.

She sat across from me and picked up a fork. "Hey…"

"Yeah?"

"Did something happen yesterday?"

"!" I stopped. "No…"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay… But if you want to talk about it, let me know okay?"

"Yeah, thanks."

/ / /

"Here it is."

"Thanks for the ride Ranko."

"Hey, what are friends for?" Ranko winked and started driving off. "Good luck."

"Thanks." I waved and stared at the large building. "I can do this…" I whispered with confidence. I started walking past some people who were near the door talking. I heard whispers, but ignored them. Finally a group of guys were standing in front of me. "Um… Excuse me." I said hoping to get through.

"Woah!" One looked at me up and down. "What a cute chick."

"Yeah." The others agreed.

"Umm…" I looked down.

"Hey, leave the girl alone." A voice called.

The guys backed up. I didn't look up when someone stood in front of me.

"You okay?"

"Y-yeah."

"That's Hiro Sarashina for you, always hittin' on the new chicks in school."

"Hiro?!" I glanced up and saw the shocked look on his face.

"Kikyan?!" Hiro gasped and almost fell backwards. "What are you doing here?"

"Um… My parents registered me here…" I answered shyly.

"Really?" He face brightened. "Yay!" He picked me up and spun me around.

"Kyahh! Hiro! What are you doing?!"

"Sorry, sorry." Hiro sang happily and gently let me go.

"You know her?" Some asked with interest.

"Yeah, she's my childhood friend. Also, Riki's girlfriend." Hiro said proudly.

"Wow really? You're so lucky to know her!"

"I know right!"

"Um…" I started.

"Oh! I'll show you around! Come on!" Hiro gently took my arm and pulled me away.

"I didn't know you come to this school Hiro."

"Sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't even know that you were going to this school."

"It's fine… How are the others?"

"… Pretty good I guess… You should visit sometime."

"I was just there yesterday." I reminded him.

"Yeah, but it was because of that detective and his sis." Hiro replied. "I mean like… Come by yourself and we can all hang out."

"Hiro… I don't know if I should…"

"You should! I felt so lonely that I could die!" Hiro smiled.

"Tch, yeah right."

"Seriously." Hiro stopped. "Also… Riki's been acting different."

"…" I froze. "But there's nothing I can do… It's better if I don't go to LRN. Maybe Riki will then go back to his old self."

"Come on Kikyan. I think he acts different when you're not there." Hiro looked at me.

"…" I thought about the conversation mom and I had yesterday. "I'm sorry Hiro, but can we not talk about this?"

"Huh?!" He had a pained look on his face.

I stood in front of him. "I know you're worried. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much." I hugged him.

"K-Kikyan…"

"But trust me on this one… It's best if I don't see Riki for a while and the other way around too… Thank you so much Hiro… I still love him, but I'm pretty sure he had a reason for dumping me."

"…" Hiro still looked at me painfully. "Trust me when I tell you this Kikyan."

"Yes?"

"… Riki had a good reason. He's not seeing another woman. He still loves you, but… I'm pretty sure when things calm down, you'll feel as if nothing had happened. And you two will be all lovey dovey." Hiro chuckled and messed up my hair.

"Hey!" I tried to fix it. "… Thanks again." I smiled and let him guide me until first hour starts…

/ / /

Third POV

At LRN

"Howdy!" Hiro chimed as he strolled into the bar.

"Hey Hiro." Kenshi greeted.

"No work?"

"Got off early."

"Oh! Everyone's here!" Hiro noticed.

"Good observation Sherlock." Takuto muttered.

"Thanks!" Hiro replied playfully.

"Why were you so late?" Riki questioned as he grabbed a drink.

"I decided to stay a little after school." Hiro stated. "Guess who I saw at school today?"

"Who?" Riki started drinking.

"Kikyan."

"Pff!" Riki choked and Takuto pats him on the back.

"Wow… This is a different perspective…" Boss observed.

"What (Cough) was she (cough) doing there?" Riki said between chokes.

"Oh, well… She goes to that school now." Hiro explained all of the details. Saying how he ran into her, him showing her around the school, eating lunch together, etc…

"You did what?!"

"Walked her to her locker?"

"No, before that."

"Eat lunch together?"

"Yeah that's it! You ate lunch with her?"

"To keep her company. She was shy today… If I wasn't there, all the guys would've hit on her."

"…" Riki thought to himself and clenched his fists, knuckles turning white.

"Riki?" Hiro asked nervously.

"… Nothing." Riki quickly walked up the stairs and slammed the door.

Riki's POV

(BAM!) I slammed the door and threw myself onto the bed. "Hiro having lunch with her? Guys hittin' on her?!" I threw my phone next to me in frustration. "I'm doing this for her, I should be happy… And yet…" I stared at a photo album. I slowly picked it up and skimmed through the pages. It went back to the day we all met each other. Hiro and Kikyan were the same age back then, but Hiro takes care of her like an older brother. So does the rest of us… Even though Takuto curses, complains, or acts lazy, he cares for Kikyan. We all try to keep her away from boss in case it's considered sexual harassment… "Pff…" I laughed as I flipped through pictures. This was LONG before Kikyan moved and before we became Black Foxes. I should call her…

(Ring)

"?" I glanced at my phone. Kikyan Nigihayami appeared on the screen. "…"

(Ring)

"…" Should I answer it? I picked up the phone and held it to my ear. "Hello?"

"! Hey." Kikyan sounded surprised.

"Something wrong?"

"No… I… I just wanted to hear your voice…"

"!" I blushed even though I know she couldn't see me.

"Riki?"

"I wanted to hear yours too…" I said seriously.

"… Why did you dump me?"

"…" I held my breath. "Trust me Kikyan… I don't hate you or anything. I'm not seeing someone else. I just think that you deserve someone better."

"But there's no one better!" I could hear the pain in her voice. "I… I only love you…"

"!"

"(Sniffle)" She started crying at the other end of the line.

"Where are you right now? Are you at your friend's home?"

"No… I'm at the park."

"Wait for me there." I said and hung up.

/ / /

Riki's POV Still…

I ran down the stairs, surprising the others.

"What's going on?" Hiro asked first.

"I'm heading out!" I shouted and darted out the door.

Third POV

"O-Oh okay… Bye…" Boss called after.

"Pff… I don't think he heard you." Takuto laughed.

"Takkun… So mean…" Boss sighed and got back to working.

"Don't you guys even wonder why Riki's going out?" Hiro questioned.

"For a jog?" Takuto suggested with no concern whatsoever.

"At this time? I bet something happened." Kenshi muttered.

Takuto walks upstairs and finds Riki's phone. "Riki left his phone…" He said and connected it with his computer. Everyone crowds around him. "Hey, get out of my personal bubble…"

"Sorry…"

(Click Clack)

'… Why did you dump me?'

'…Trust me Kikyan… I don't hate you or anything. I'm not seeing someone else. I just think that you deserve someone better.'

'But there's no one better! I… I only love you… (Sniffle)'

'Where are you right now? Are you at your friend's home?'

'No… I'm at the park.'

'Wait for me there.'

(Click)

Everyone looked at each other.

"Hey guys…" Hiro asked innocently. "Wanna go to the park?"

"Yeah!" Kenshi raised his hand in the air first.

"Then let's go!" Hiro and the others raced out LRN.

Kikyan's POV

I stared at the grass as I sat on an empty bench. The gentle breeze blew through my hair and I sighed. Seconds later, a pair of shoes was in front of me. I didn't look up to see who it was.

"Kikyan…" I heard him panting for air.

"Riki." I glanced up. He looked worriedly at me.

"Kikyan…" His hand reached my face, but stopped. Instead, he handed me a handkerchief. "I'm not your boyfriend anymore so I don't have the right to wipe away your tears…"

I sadly took the handkerchief and dabbed my eyes, trying not to mess up my make-up. I still love him… And I can't just tell him that mom and dad made an arranged marriage for me… He hesitantly sat next to me, but at a safe distance. "Why did you come here?"

"…"

"I'm fine you know…" I laid back and sighed.

"…"

I sighed again and stared at Riki's face. "It's getting late, I have to go back home." I muttered quickly and stood up.

"Wait!"

"!" I felt his warm hand around my wrist, pulling me onto his lap! "!"

"S-Sorry!"

"I-It's… Fine…"

"Listen Kikyan, if I acted cold to you just now, I'm sorry. I just… I can't believe I did this to you… I stopped dating you because I didn't want to hurt you… But instead I did…" He hung his head in shame.

"Riki…" I tightly embraced him. "Remember that I still love you… And will only love you…"

"I love you too Kikyan."

"Awe…"

"!" We both jumped back in shock.

"Hiro! Look what you did!" Another voice hissed.

"Shh… Quiet guys…"

"Pain in the ass…"

"That's Takuto…" We both giggled.

"Heard that…"

Everyone walked out with guilty faces.

"How long were you guys here?" Riki raised his eyebrows.

"Ever since you came to the park…?"

"How did you guys know that I was here?"

"…"

"Guys…?" Riki raised his voice a little louder.

"Um… Well…" Hiro stuttered.

"Your cellphone."

"What about it?"

"I played your conversation on my computer."

"!" I gasped. "What?!"

"You idiots…" Riki said with annoyance.

"Sorry." Kenshi apologized. "I agreed to it first…"

"Kenshi, how could you…"

"No, I suggested it…" Hiro added.

"Actually…" Takuto started.

Riki's POV

"Guys, it's fine, just drop it…" I chuckled. I got great friends… That's for sure…

"But…"

"It's fine okay?"

(Ring)

"Sorry…" Kikyan apologized and walked away with her phone. "Hello?"

She happened to still be in ears range…

"…" Kikyan didn't say a word. "Tomorrow?! But… That's too soon… I'm not ready…"

"…" We all looked at each other.

"Alright… Where?"

Pause.

"Le Renard Noir? Around 6:30…?" Pause. "Alright love you too bye…"

"!" I thought she said that she loves me. Who is she talking to?

"Sorry about that…" Kikyan said slowly.

"It's not an emergency is it?" Takuto questioned for my sake.

"No, it was my mom…"

"Oh…" Everyone sighed.

"It's getting kind of late don't you guys think?" Kikyan questioned.

"Oh yeah…"

"See you guys later then?" Kikyan smiled.

"Bye." We all waved and watched Kikyan walking away.

Next Day Third POV Around 6:30

Everyone except Riki was at LRN because he was still working. It was Saturday and the Black Foxes were sitting by the counter chatting. Suddenly, Kikyan's parents walked in.

"Must be Kikyan's parents…" Boss said to the others who nodded. He took their orders and came back into the kitchen to start cooking.

/ / /

The guys were just minding their own business until the door slowly opened.

"!" Everyone was shocked seeing who it was. The person looked around and slowly walked towards Kikyan's parents.

"Hiro, get Riki!" Boss exclaimed and threw him the phone.

"Got it!" Hiro quickly dialed Riki's phone number.

"What?"

"You hafta come to LRN. NOW!"

"! Okay! I'm coming!"

Minutes later, when he opened the doors, he stared at that person in shock.