The peace was like a calm weather as if the world was holding its breath, like a gentle breeze as soft as silk, or the still waters. It was peaceful alright, sleep was peaceful and relaxing for a certain boy with taupe brown hair. But unfortunately that peaceful and relaxing paradise was torn when he heard a voice.

"Houtarou-kun, wake up..! Hou-ta-rou-kun..!" Houtarou heard Mayaka's voice. She was trying to wake him up but Houtarou just buried his face to the pillow and brought another pillow to the side to cover his ears.

"Houtarou-kun,wake up..!" She tried raising her voice, louder than the last time.

"Hmm… Mayaka, 5 more minutes…" Houtarou groaned, and covered his ears with the pillow, trying so hard to get back to sleep.

Then suddenly it was quiet. Houtarou found it unusual because when Mayaka wants something she'd usually do anything to have it but he couldn't care less because right now all he wanted was some nice peaceful sleep. Before he knew it he felt a throbbing pain on his stomach.

"So are you awake now?" Mayaka had just jumped on his bed and her foot landed on his stomach heavily. She winks and smiles at him innocently.

"Mayaka, do you enjoy repeating this routine every day?" Houtarou asked in his usual monotonous and now sleepy voice. It was more of a rhetorical question. This has somewhat became an everyday routine and his energy saving policy would always get interrupted by the sepia haired girl.

Mayaka jumps out of the bed and faces him with a grin,"Maybe. Now get up. You promised me you'd help me with book club today and after that you're coming with me check out some manga. Don't tell me you forgot," Mayaka arched a brow.

"No, I haven't forgot about it," Houtarou said, attempting to go back to sleep but thinking it would be a very bad idea, if he wanted to have another kick on his stomach again that is.

"Of course, you're only lazy not forgetful. Now hurry up, will you? We're gonna be late," Mayaka said, placing her hands on her hips.

"It's Saturday, it's too early," Houtarou said in a sleepy tone.

"Get up or you'd have another kick planted on your face."

Houtarou grunted and got up from the bed even if he didn't want to. It makes him sad to leave his bed early on a Saturday morning, he had planned to sleep all day too. All thanks to Mayaka Ibara.

Houtarou 'promised' Mayaka that he'd go with her on today's book club activity. Well not really promised he wasn't really listening that time and just nodded so here he was- Forced to drag himself to an elementary school just for the sake of a promise he unconsciously agreed to. It was dangerous to break a promise to Mayaka Ibara and he knew that very well- based on experience. And so he learned his lessons, deciding this was better than 'that.'

"Houtarou-kun," A soft voice broke off his train off thoughts.

Houtarou turned to the short girl walking beside him, she was looking up at him.

"Houtarou-kun," Mayaka was puffing her cheeks in irritation because her companion didn't seem to be listening to her. This only made her look cute-r.

"I..uhm.." She stuttered, seemingly looking for words to say. Houtarou was puzzled with his companion's sudden behavior, she doesn't usually stutter. The Mayaka Ibara he knew was always straightforward and frank." I-I was thinking that maybe… maybe after book club we could go somewhere."

There was a soft smile in Houtarou's usual monotonous face," Sure."

Mayaka beamed with happiness.

So just like what Mayaka had said they went 'somewhere.' At first, they went to check some new manga which Mayaka really loved. Houtarou could still remember the absolute happiness on her face while eyeing the manga, a small smile unknowingly worked on his lips at this. Next they went to an Amusement park, where Mayaka clung to Houtarou tightly upon entering the Haunted house attraction and even when they got out of there she was still clinging on to his arm (Houtoura could swear his circulation had stopped for a moment there… or maybe it was just his heart that skipped a beat) then they went to the aquarium, where Mayaka was marveling at the beauties of the different kinds of fishes while he… He didn't even realize he was already staring at the girl, who was so caught up with the fishes that she didn't even notice him stare.

"You'll fall off," Houtarou said in his usual monotonous voice but there was a hint of worry there.

After all the places they went to the pair found themselves on a nearby river. The jewel-blue river was sparkling like tinsel. The sunset even made the river more dazzling than it already is, in an array pink, orange, and yellow. Mayaka was trying to balance herself on top of the river wall.

"I won't," Mayaka stubbornly replied, still trying to balance.

Houtarou gave up trying to get the girl to go down.

Mayaka was sticking her tongue out at Houtarou for the little victory she had, paying no attention to her steps. She lost track of her steps and slid… But before she could fall off to the cold river, a pair of arms snaked around her waist, bringing her closer. Her head was buried on his chest, his arms still wrapped around her waist. Mayaka felt herself flush, a deep shade of crimson appeared on her face. She instantly pulled back and looked away.

"I- I think we should go home now," Mayaka said softly, still looking away with that same blush that refused to disappear.

Houtarou gave a slight nod.

The atmosphere between them hadn't really changed as they waited for a bus, which Houtarou didn't think was a good idea at first because he always get sick when using transportations. It was as if nothing really happened at all at the river bank. Mayaka was chatting like her usual self and that meant some little insults, which Houtarou had gotten used to by now. When the bus came, they instantly got on and Mayaka quickly chose the seat near the window. When there was the absence of the sick feeling t the pit of his stomach, he knew. He knew that it was the girl beside him. She always had this affect on him. Whenever he should be feeling sick, she'd just be beside him and everything would be alright. And he was thankful for this.

Getting so caught up with his thoughts, he was sent to reality when he felt a weight on his arm. He looked over his shoulder to see Mayaka peacefully sleeping. He smiled when she nuzzled. But he never expected what came next.

"Hmmm… I love you… Houtarou-kun," Houtarou was taken aback with just this simple 3 words. He stared in disbelief. There was a sharp intake of breath. He felt as if his heart was hammering out of his chest because it was beating like crazy.

Houtarou smiled softly,' I always believed that If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, I'll make it quick. I always wanted to conserve energy. And I know the thing they called 'love' was just a waste of energy. But now… Maybe I found something worth using up my energy from now on…"

"I love you too, Mayaka Ibara."

AN: SO HERE'S THE END OF MY LONG(NOT REALLY) JOURNEY BUT ATLEAST I DIDN'T TAKE IT ALONE. YOU HOUTAROU X MAYAKA FANS WERE THERE FOR ME AND I REALLY APRECIATE IT. FOR YOU HOUTAROU X MAYAKA FANS, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE. TO BE HONEST, AT FIRST I NEVER REALLY PAYED ATTENTION TO THESE TWO BUT WHEN I NOTICED THAT HOUTAROU AND MAYAKA KEEPS BICKERING AND CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT HOUTAROU HAS THIS 'ENERGY SAVING POLICY' AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE IF HE SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO WASTE ENERGY THEN WHY IS HE WASTING HIS ENERGY OVER USELESS ARGUMENTS WITH MAYAKA? AND THERE THE FACT THAT SATOSHI CALLED THE TWO 'KABURAYA JUNIOR HIGH COUPLE' AND THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. SO I ENCOURAGE ALL YOU HOUTAROU X MAYAKA FANS TO WRITE FANFICS ABOUT THESE TWO. IT'S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND FANFICS ABOUT THEM AND BY WRITING FANFICS WE COULD ACTUALLY GAIN MORE HOUTAROU X MAYAKA FANS. SO GUYS IT'S BE NICE IF YOU'D WRITE ABOUT THEM. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW I'D REEEEEAAAAALLLLLLYYYYYY… APPRECIATE IT J