Chapter 11: World's Collide

"Guys, slow down!"

Michiru and Keiko paused and turned towards me. Keiko still had a hold on my wrist while Michiru held onto my backpack.

"Mai," they said. I gulped. They are going to hate me for not telling them this weekend!

"Yeah?"

"We want deets," Keiko said as she let go of my wrist and crossed her arms. "Now."

I sighed at my friends. "At lunch. I know Yasu and John will want to hear about everything that happened this weekend. Especially Yasu."

They glared at me for a moment before they sighed. "Fine," Michiru said as she handed me my backpack. "But, we better hear the whole story."

"You will."

Not really. I'm not going to tell them EVERYTHING. They don't need to know about Naru's secret. They don't need to know that I held him as he cried. Now, if Naru wants to tell them, that's fine. I don't feel right telling them about Gene.

I'm also not going to tell them I spent the night Saturday. Naru and I didn't do anything, I promise. But, we just didn't want to leave each other's side that night. I managed to get him to watch Angel Beats! with me. After episode 10, I was crying and he held me. We ended up falling asleep like that, in each others arms and lying on the floor.

I'm not going to tell them that Naru made me a traditional English breakfast the next morning and how amazing it tasted. I've never had such an amazing breakfast like that before.

There are just some things your friends just don't need to know.

…

As the bell rang for lunch, I walked over to Naru's desk.

"Hey."

He looked up at me and smiled. "Hey."

"Wanna eat lunch with me, Michiru, Keiko, Yasu and John?"

"I would hope I'm invited to sit with you now that we are together."

"You've always been invited," I told him as I rolled my eyes. "You could of just asked at anytime and we would of made room."

Naru stood and took my hand. "Well, I guess I was just waiting for my formal invitation."

I shook my head at him, smiling, as we walked out of the classroom towards the cafeteria. "You are a piece of work, you know that?"

Naru shrugs his shoulder. "I've been told."

…

"Mai!" Michiru waved. Keiko, Yasu, John and herself were already at the table.

I looked up at Naru. "They're going to want to know how this whole thing happened, so if you want to tell them anything you feel like I left out, be my guest."

Naru looked at me and smirked. "Anything?"

"Just don't mislead them. They wouldn't understand your sarcasm."

"Fine," he said as we approached my friends.

"Hey guys. I would like you all to meet Kazuya."

"Hey," Michiru and Keiko said.

Yasu and John stood up.

"I'm Osamu Yasuhara," he said as he extended his hand.

"I thought I recognized you from my Jujitsu class," Naru said as he returned the handshake. "How have you been, Osamu?"

"Great. And please, call me Yasu."

Naru nodded as John extended his hand.

"I'm John Brown."

"Pleased to meet you, John."

"So, how was your weekend?" Yasu asked as he sat down, eyeing Naru and my entwined hands. He looked back up at me and rose and eyebrow, catching a glint to his glasses.

"Fine," I said as Naru and I sat down. Yasu, Michiru, John and Keiko just stared at us for a moment.

"Just fine?" Keiko asked.

I nod.

"How was Saint Valentine's Day?" John asked.

"Good. I spent the day with Naru. We watched SAO together then he made me a nice dinner. We ate the chocolate I gave him and he took me home."

"So, when did this happen?" Michiru asked as she pointed between Naru and myself.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Naru beat me to it.

"I was the first to confess my feelings for her before we ate. Although, it took a while for Mai to confess." He looked at me, asking if he could continue. I nod. He probably would tell it so much better than I would.

"It was after dinner when Mai decided to approach the conversation about us again. A few weeks ago, Mai promised that she would tell me her secret that has been bothering her, and I promised to tell her about my secret. Saturday, she told me her secret. She told me that she had cancer."

Naru looks at me and his eyes softened as he continued. "But after she told me about her cancer and I felt my heart tighten, I knew right then that no matter what happens to her or to us, I will be there for her. I went on to tell her about my brother, who passed away and how I blamed myself for his death. After we both cried for a little while, Mai gave me the chocolate she bought me. I accepted them on one condition, that she would be my girlfriend. We then promised to be there for each other, no matter what happens."

Naru looked back to my friends, who all had misty eyes. What he said next surprised me. "I would of said this to her family, but I know that Mai doesn't have any other family besides you four." Naru paused as he took a breath. "I promise you all that I will take care of Mai while we are together. I have never felt like the way I feel around Mai, and I don't want to lose her. I want to protect her. So," Naru lowered his head, "Michiru, Keiko, Yasu, John, do I have your permission to date your friend?"

I looked at Naru in shock. He just… he asked my friends for permission to date me?

I looked back to my friends, who were exchanging looks with one another for a moment. They all noded and Yasu stood.

"Kazuya Shibuya."

Naru looked up and made eye contact with Yasu.

"We appreciate you asking us for our permission. I speak for all of us when we say that you should be asking her parents, but we did lose them a few years ago. Mai..."

I look at my friend through misty eyes.

"I know we don't speak for your parents, but I do see you as my little sister and I want you to be happy. We all do."

I nod at Yasu. "I know."

He looked at both Naru and myself. "So, on behalf of her parents, we, her friends, will give you permission on one condition. You must keep your promise that you made not only her, but to us as well."

"I understand."

My friends smiled as Yasu said, "Very well. Kazuya, or should we say, Naru, you have our gracious approval."

A/N: So, so, sooooo sorry this took a while to write! With my second semester ending soon, three of my teachers made big projects due within days of each other! Two research papers and a speech this week. That and last week was just a rollercoaster of stuff! Luckily I had up to chapter 10 written and was able to post them for you all.

Thank you to everyone who gave me their ideas for Luella! Working on first chapter right now for the next part of my GH series! I only have like 4 more weeks of school, so expect somewhat irregular updating. I'll continue writing this and maybe, just maybe, I can have this story done by my last final on May 8! (Wish me luck!)

Thank you all for the kind reviews as well! Whenever I'm not in a good mood, I think y'all know it and blow up my reviews. You all make me a very happy person and I'm so glad y'all are enjoying this!

Until the next chapter :)