"What happened at that lunch specifically?" asked Murmur, sitting back.

"Well, Kosaka, Hinata, Mao and I all waited for Yuki at our table. We weren't expecting him to bring someone along, but he did. His name is Akise Aru. He sat with us and everyone took a liking to him enough to add him in our group." explained Yuno, "I thought that, 'this boy's pretty cute! He would be a good date for Kasugano', I'm good friends with her. We met each other on P.E and she has a huge crush on Akise."

"When did this crush begin?" Murmur raised her eyebrow.

"Kasugano seemed shy to admit this, but she said it was almost like love at first sight." said Yuno. "I'm guessing somewhere in the entrance ceremony."

"That could be it." agreed Murmur. "So you were serious about setting them up?"

"Kasugano's my friend! I would never play her like that." said Yuno defensively.

"I was only making sure. Kosaka said he couldn't tell if you were serious or not when I interviewed him." said Murmur.

"Kosaka…." Yuno frowned. "Is he mad?"

"Angry fits better." sighed Murmur, "With himself and Yukiteru."

"I see…"

"What else happened?" asked Murmur.

"After I said that, everyone got quiet…." explained Yuno. "Then, Yuki… He walked out." She frowned. "I think you know what went on from there."

"I do." said Murmur honestly.

Yuno stared down at her cellphone. Murmur noticed this and grabbed a candy. She shoved it into her mouth, setting the wrapper on the coffee table.

"How has Yukiteru been acting lately?" asked Murmur.

"….." Yuno flinched.

"Has he…" Murmur hesitated. "Been abusive?"

"N-not physically…." She said quickly. "B-but… he snaps sometimes…."

"Yuno—"

"Let me explain!" She cut across, shaking. "It's not him… it's me…" She sat back on her overstuffed chair, heaving deep sighs again. "I always trigger it… It didn't start right away. It was…"

Yuno threw her school purse over her shoulder, walking outside of her sewing club classroom. She smiled hopefully. She asked Yuki to wait for her at the gate, that way he could walk her home.

She checked her cellphone. He didn't respond to her text message. He must be busy passing time by doing his homework. She giggled to herself. Oh her Yuki, always the cutest.

She froze when she saw that he wasn't waiting at the school gate. The gate was opened after the eighth hour of school for those uninvolved in clubs to leave if they wished. She looked around. Yuki wasn't anywhere remotely close to the gate.

She walked around the school, looking for her darling. Could he have gone out with his friends and forgot to tell her? If that was the case… No, she forgave him. He didn't always forget to tell her. She only hoped they weren't somewhere with other girls.

She scrunched her nose in discomfort at the thought. She wouldn't want any girl having her hands all over Yuki. Yuki wouldn't either, because he had promises to keep.

It was when she heard heavy panting that her eyes widened in realization. She ran towards the source of the panting and sure enough, she saw Yuki standing in front of the bleachers.

Covered in his sweat, shirtless and wearing his P.E shorts. He wiped the sweat off of his face with a nearby towel that he was always sure to bring whenever he had track practice. Yuno kept tabs on his practice schedule and today wasn't one of those days.

She frowned. He only ran around the track field this late when something bothered him. Their friends haven't spoken to them for awhile and Akise hadn't come to school in awhile. If Yuki only apologized…. then maybe…

He started wiping the nape of his neck with the towel and sighed. Why was he so stubborn? Couldn't he apologize for his wrongdoing? Yuno couldn't understand why he didn't want to apologize. What did Kasugano do that bad?

On Yuki's orders, Yuno hesitantly stayed away from Kasugano. She didn't like the way they were treating her. For what reason must they be so cruel to her? What about herself? She only followed Yuki's orders like an obedient underling. Her mother taught her to always support her man, even if it doesn't seem right.

That's what she stood for. Isn't it?

Yuki threw his towel atop of his school pack, he could feel the uncertainty of Yuno's cerise eyes watching his back.

"What do you want?" He asked sternly.

This caused the indecisive line on Yuno's face to downturn as a frown.

"You weren't waiting for me at the gate."

"I was busy." He replied.

"I can see that, but you could at least give me one text?" She stepped closer.

"Next time I will." He slipped his sweat-dried P.E shirt on. He might as well wear something indecent since he smells like dog and is sweating like one. He'll shower and change into fresher attire when he gets home. Originally, his plan was to shower at the lockers but Yuno.

"Yuki… honey, is something wrong?" She asked as carefully as she could, outstretching her hand to tap his shoulder.

"Now, why would something be wrong, Yuno?" He evaded her touch to lift his pack and slide it onto his neck and over his left shoulder. When he turned to face her, Yuno never felt so unwanted. His gaze was empty and colder than winter air.

Her cerise eyes watered in hurt. He didn't even call her honey back. That's how they always addressed each other by nicknames.

"Come now, darling." She laughed it off. "It's no secret you run around the track this late when you're distressed."

"None of your damn business," He snapped. "You don't tell anyone about this. Am I clear?"

"…Yes, Yuki." She uttered weakly.

Even when he wrapped his hand around hers, she could feel the coldness of his touch. She flinched away from it in reaction, but he gripped her hand in his tighter. He paled their tanned contrasts. He held her hand the way he held her splintering heart…

"That happened a week ago." She mentioned.

"I see…." sighed Murmur. "I need one more thing from you."

This is for you, Akise.

"What's that?"

"As a favor for Yuki's wellbeing you'll need to let go of him for now."

Yuno's eyes snapped wide open from looking down at her lap, already watering. Her hands shook wildly as she sat there, mouth agape in surprise to what the counselor just said.

"…...W-what?"