Hello! First off, so very very sorry for the unwarranted delay. You do not deserve that. But life sorta happened and it just threw me off my game. And to make up for it, I made this chapter pretty long. Had this plot working at the back of my head for a while now so i'm really glad to finally get this chapter out. Once again, I am so sorry. To those who are worried about which couple isn't going to make it, please don't worry so much! I promise it would all make sense.

Thank you for all your kind reviews, you push me to keep writing! Enjoy! I don't own anything.

Chapter 13: Discomforting Feelings

"Is that the best you can do?" asked Yamato when he looked back to check on his companions that early morning run in the park in the city, it would be, after all, the best place to jog since the plants somewhat freshen the air. "My wife can run better than you slowpokes." He was referring to the former number one and number two, who stopped a few meters behind, clutching their knees and trying to catch their breath, because the ramen chef was doing just fine catching up with the police officer.

Yuuya was so tempted to give a rude hand gesture, fitting for the annoying person Yamato was at the moment, and he was surprised that Rei hadn't done so already. But he thought against it, Yamato had an arsenal of weapons after all, and at their state, he wouldn't be able to run away from him.

"So. You two, you do this every morning?" he managed to asked in between breaths, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Sometimes, more frequently a few months ago," answered Tatsuki who did not stop jogging in his place as well.

"Come on, we still got two kilometers left!" insisted Yamato.

Rei and Yuuya paled. They knew they were out of shape (one buried himself in work, and the other in booze) but this was murder. "The fuck, Yamato! If I knew I was signing up for torture I would have agreed to a shopping day with Ran."

But the policeman took none of it as he took off, slowly so the two could start their pace once again. "If I knew you two were going to whine so much I would have asked my sister to jog with instead."

Tatsuki laughed at the display.

It was he who asked the two to a morning run, saying he wanted to announce something to the boys, coupled with a declaration that the two would never outdo him in running (which is proving to be true). He added in as a factor, in Rei's case, that Yuuya would be there, knowing how the engineer was so busy lately he barely had time to check up on his best friend, whom, last he checked, was still wallowing in his miserable state.

Rei was surprised to see that such was not the case when they met up earlier this morning in one of the park benches. Sure, he wasn't his usual energetic and optimistic self, but he greeted Rei with a smile, and that was improvement enough. The engineer also noticed that all the beer and the pizzas had finally caught up to him, especially in his cheeks and his butt, but he decided against making a remark about it. In truth, he did better than Yuuya in the first two kilometers of the run, the latter had to pause a couple of times to catch his breath. Then after that he realized that he, too, was out of shape.

It wasn't that hard to convince Yuuya to jog. He was self-aware of how much weight he added, and that all the time he spent trying to reach that wedding-ready body went down the drain just as fast. But his last encounter with Yamato, nearly a week ago, did put him back to his senses, and that it was time to pick the pieces of his life once again whether he was going to be alone on this one or not, and he knew that had to start with himself.

"I am never agreeing to a morning run with you psychos again." Rei picked up his speed grudgingly, forcing Yuuya to pick his up as well.

"You'll get used to it, Rei, with practice" Tatsuki said sincerely, which only made Rei was to flick his forehead even more.

"I'm going to kick you."

"I don't think you can reach me though." Tatsuki stuck his tongue out.

"Just wait til we stop."

"Like the last five times we took a break?"

This time Rei released the rude hand gesture, which did not in any way dampen the spirits of the young ramen storeowner. He, in fact, enjoyed their little banter. Or perhaps he just in really good spirits, like he was these past few days. So when they reached the end of their little run, he stretched his arms outward welcoming the sunlight and fresh air, and as if they hadn't run a total of eight kilometers just seconds earlier.

"The two of you should exercise more," he said as a mater-of-factly. "I'll call you when there's a morning run, that should put you guys into shape."

The other three groaned at the idea. "Don't bother, I won't pick up," huffed Rei as he sat back on the grass and leaned on the tree that gave them ample shade from the glaring sun. He will never admit it to them but he did appreciate the view the hill gave them overlooking the city, it felt like everything else, including his problems were far away.

"I'll ring you until you until you give," Tatsuki retorted.

"I'll change my phone number."

"I know where you live. I'll doorbell at your apartment." With this Rei gave him a most menacing glare he could muster which did nothing to ruin the blonde's spirits. "Give it up, Otohata, I've been annoying all my life, and I'm not going to stop now."

"I liked you more when you where broken-hearted and sullen and mad at the world," Rei grumbled as Tatsuki pretended not to hear.

Yuuya sat back and took his seat beside Rei, smiling. "Hey, at least I'm now part of the club too, buddy!"

The three other men froze at the comment, not quite sure how to respond. Rei immediately remembering that the corn-haired entrepreneur was himself in the same state as Tatsuki was two years ago.

Yuuya stared back at them with a hollow laugh. "It was a joke, guys. I still know how to throw jokes." Yet no matter how Yuuya tried to mask the pain he felt, his friends knew better, and he guessed that that's what having the same friends for over a decade does to each other. And knowing better, they were generous enough to go along with it seeing as, at the very least, he was improving.

Rei shrugged, letting off a sigh. "See? I always knew relationships were evil."

Yuuya raised an eyebrow at his best friend. "You can't actually say that while you're in a relationship. You're supposed to be in relationship-bliss! Or something like that."

Tatsuki nodded in agreement, deciding to sit in the grass just within the shaded area as he took out his bottle of water. "Unless…" he let off, rubbing his chin. "Trouble in paradise perhaps?"

"There is no paradise," groaned Rei, tired of where the conversation is headed. "I don't want to talk about this. Not with you fools."

"Well how could there be when at the time you started your relationship, you were still hung up on your ex?" Yuuya chipped in innocently, as he took a sip of water from the water bottle he brought along.

"Maybe you still are hung up on Aya?" Yamato volunteered, not being helpful.

Rei didn't like the feeling that he was being ganged up on, especially not on the topic about his love life. And normally he would just brush away the questions and act like the cold-hearted bastard that he is. But today, or rather of late, he's been rather sensitive about these issues, unable to bite his tongue at the mention of Aya. "Wasn't it you who convinced me to take her out, 'take a dip in the vast pool of fishes just waiting for me'?" spat Rei, pointing at Yuuya, adding some air quotes for emphasis.

The blonde shrugged. "I don't know why you listened to me, lied to his fiancée and got dumped, remember." Rei gave him that round.

"Got left at the altar," Tatsukichi pointed to himself.

They looked at Yamato. "What are you guys looking at me for? I have a perfectly healthy, loving and lasting relationship."

They all looked at him, brows raised. "Married a girl fresh of off high school."

"Who was 6 years his junior."

"Pedophile."

Yamato, spat out the water he was drinking at his friends' remarks, clearly offended. "Hey!"

Yuuya enjoyed these little banters with his friends, it gave some sense of normalcy again, if that was even possible, but at least they were treating him less like the guy who got dumped before his wedding and more like their friend, and that felt good, not great, but good. So he let himself laugh, something he hasn't done in a long time. And this did not go unnoticed by his friends.

"So, anyway, Tatsukichi, what was it that you wanted to announce?" asked the corn-haired man, smiling.

"Oh right! Well, I wasn't going to announce it here," he laughed, leaving the rest of the men confused. "I'll be having a party in three weeks, I'll announce it there! You guys have to make it, no excuses!"

Miyu had called Ran for lunch that day, which made Ran ecstatic wanting to get away from some paperwork she had to do over some of the arrests she has made the past few days. Ran didn't mind the running around, arresting-the-bad-guys, and putting-her-life-in-danger part of the job, but the paperwork not so much. However, what Ran didn't expect was to have lunch here, of all places.

She stared at the wooden sign, at its name painted in black strokes, and below it in yellow strokes, House of the Best Ramen, and indeed it was not lying. She knew how much effort it took him to bring his father's ramen store to the glory that it is today, to grow it to the big business it is now. And standing in front of this ramen house, where he had brought her more times than he can remember when they were dating at times when he could not treat her out at another restaurant, she feels nervous. It's one thing to see Tatsuki, after all, things have been going pretty well between the two of them as of late, but to see his family, whom she knew she hurt pretty well too just twists her insides.

"Ran!" the corn-haired girl was brought back to reality by her friend who had been trying to get her attention. "Come on!"

Miyu grabbed her friend's wrist, but as she pulled, it was clear that she wouldn't budge. She let go of Ran's wrist, instead held her hand gently. "What's wrong?"

Ran looked into Miyu's blue orbs, unable to speak her mind. So instead she smiled and shook her head. "Nothing, I'm just… nervous. Eating here, I mean. You understand, right?"

Miyu smiled gently at her friend. "It's okay, Ran. It was Tatsukichi who invited us for lunch." The words caught Ran by surprise but before she could react, she found herself pulled into the busy ramen house where they were greeted by one of Tatsuki's employees.

"Mrs. Kotobuki, we've been expecting you," the young man greeted. "This way, please. Sir has reserved a table for you."

Miyu smiled at the young lad, thanking him as he led them to their table. It's been so long since Ran had been here she hardly recognized the place. So much had changed, she thought. The tables and chairs were different, the bar by the open kitchen was also renovated, now bigger and longer, there were booths installed now to one of which they were being led.

When the ladies were seated, the young man handed them each a menu. "The boss says order what you want, it's on him today. He'll join once he is done working the kitchen."

There was this sort of strange feeling that hit Ran, this sense of sudden sadness that she doesn't know where it's coming from and she doesn't know how to feel about it. Was it going back here where the memories come flooding back in? Or was it the sense of unfamiliarity, that the things that she used to know so well are the things that changed the most, that these things, the things she loved, the person she loved changed without her? But it was her fault wasn't it? She left. She changed her mind first. So what was this feeling of uneasiness, this uncomforting feeling that makes her want to run this very moment. This sudden rush of emotions caused a tear to fall from the corner of the super gal's eye, but she was sure to hide behind the menu, not to make her best friend see the mess that she's feeling right now.

It wasn't long into their lunch when Tatsuki was finally able to join them, still wearing his chef's uniform and bringing the strong scents from the kitchen. Nonetheless, he was greeted by Ran and Miyu warmly and gratefully.

"It's too bad Aya couldn't make it."

"Yeah, she had a shift so she her lunch break wouldn't allow her going all the way here from the hospital," Miyu responded when Tatsuki inquired about Aya's absence.

"So how's the food? We added in some new things in the menu, I should have recommended them to you." He took his seat on the same side of the couch as Ran, who froze as he scooted in.

"Great food as usual, Tatsukichi!" Miyu exclaimed. "Don't worry, I'll try those new dishes next time, and I'll bring Yamato and Yuri."

Ran nodded, focusing her gaze on the ramen bowl in front of her. "Clearly the best ramen in town," she said, trying to hide her blush.

Tatsuki scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Thanks," he gave a humble chuckle. "Birng the whole gang next time. Actually, I was with Yamato earlier today, taking a jog."

"Ah, yeah. He did tell me he was going out jogging with Rei and Yuuya too, is that true?" she asked after taking a sip of the broth.

Tatsuki laughed, remembering how those two 'jogged' this morning. "Indeed. I wouldn't call it much of a jog for those two though."

"Well, those two are clearly out of shape," said Ran, taking a look at Tatsuki who in turn looked at her and smiled. Suddenly, she felt a little more relaxed.

The conversation went on smoothly the rest of the time, and they were able to talk about other things without getting into awkward topics. Ran was slowly getting back to her cheery self, Miyu noticed.

"Hey, Tatsukichi," Miyu suddenly remembered the reason they were having lunch, and the fact that said reason still hasn't come to light and they were about to finish.

"Hm?"

"You said you were going to tell us something important over lunch," said Miyu. Tatsuki thought for a moment before his face lit up, remembering what it was he needed to tell them.

He smiled from ear to ear. "Yes, actually! Thanks for reminding me, Miyu. I'm going to have a party, well actually it's more of a small get-together, I'm going to announce something important there so attendance is a must for you guys!"

Miyu and Ran exchanged looks. "Why the party? Are you planning on opening a new restaurant? Or a new branch maybe?" Miyu then paused. "Oh my god. Are you going to leave Japan?"

Tatsuki shook his head. "Nu-uh, Miyu. No guessing game. You're gonna find out like the rest of the gang is gonna find out. In three weeks, okay?" He saw the worried looks on his friends' faces. "Look, it's good news I promise. And I can't wait to tell all of you guys, but I want all of us to get-together before I announce it. The last time we got together was when, you know," he said the last part in a hushed tone even though he didn't have to since neither Yuuya and Mami were there.

Miyu looked at him suspiciously, and Tatsuki just smiled nervously. "Okay fine."

"Great! It's settled then, yeah? I'll text you guys the venue once I got it settled. Please spread the word to Aya, I've already informed the boys this morning!" His smiled was unrelenting. Tatsuki had this glow that just radiated but neither of the ladies knew its source. In his eagerness, he reached out and grabbed Ran's and Miyu's hands. "Thanks so much, guys! I'm so excited to tell you guys the news!"

She froze at his touch, and he didn't seem to notice. She wanted to wiggle her fingers so that she could hold his hand as well, but she decided against this. But suddenly, Ran had that weird feeling in her heart, and at the moment she couldn't tell if it was a bad feeling or a good feeling. She can't help the nagging feeling that something big was about to happen with Tatsuki's news, and she quite couldn't put her finger on it. But his touch, instead she focused on his touch, and how good it felt and how it makes her heart jump.

But then he let go. She didn't want him to let go.

"Oh and if you could find a way to let Mami know, that would be great! It would be nice to get the whole gang complete. And you know, it'd be great to if those two could get a chance to talk," he smiled.

Ran only nodded, smiling, unable to process his words. "Yeah."

It had been a couple of days after having lunch with Tatsuki, and she had to admit that it felt good having spent some time with him again after the things that happened between them. It was giving her a glitter of hope that things may just work out for them after all. She has decided to ignore that nagging feeling inside of her that there was still something that was off about the whole situation because, as Aya and Miyu would like to phrase it, she had to focus on the good things.

So this morning, on her usual coffee run, she decided to buy her big brother some coffee, a sign of goodwill and a dose of good karma to send out to the universe.

"Ran?" said a voice behind her in the line to the cashier. Turning around she was surprised to see a light brown-haired woman standing there. "This is where you buy your coffee too? Funny we only ran in to each other today."

"Kaoru!" They both buy their coffees, Ran telling the barista to prepare the other coffee meant for her brother later on when she was about to leave. The took their seat in a table outside the shop with the big umbrella that provided them some shade.

"It's been a while, yeah?"

Kaoru nodded in response. "I think the last time I saw you was during that dinner."

Remembering the events of that night still sent shivers down her spine. What went down there was probably going to be one of the biggest hurdles their friendship is ever going to go through. But she remembered that the throwing off of the engagement wasn't the only eventful thing that happened last night.

"How are you holding up, by the way?" Ran asked.

The question confused Kaoru. "What do you mean?"

"I mean with the sudden revelation and all?" Ran answered earnestly, her tactlessness knowing no bounds. "How are you and Rei doing."

"Oh." That's what she meant, Kaoru realized. She did this awkward double take, fidgeting around her cup of coffee. "Can't say that didn't affect us," she said looking down. "But we're fine, we're… okay."

"Ah. That good." Ran took a sip from her own cup.

Kaoru looked at the former super gal, trying to read her expression but couldn't. "Can I ask you a question, Ran?"

"Ask away," smiled the corn-haired girl.

She hesitated for a second but asked anyway. "You don't like me very much, do you?"

Taken aback by her question, Ran almost spat out the coffee she sipped. "What? Where'd you get that?"

"I didn't meet you until a few months after I've been dating Rei, and we're not really close," she said, almost nervously. "And Aya is one of your closest friends—"

"Alright, I'll stop you right there." Ran looked at her sternly. "It's not that I don't like you, it's not that at all. I just… We just don't know each other well. And that's not either of our faults," she explained. "I only met you when I met you because that's when Rei introduced you to me, and we're not close because we haven't spent much time together. Like I said, that's not my fault or yours. And with Aya… yes she is one of my closest friends, and I'll do anything for her. But you haven't done anything wrong to her so there's really nothing there."

Her sudden response left Kaoru really still. But after processing what Ran said, she feels a little relieved. "Okay. Thanks," she managed to smile.

"Where did that come from anyway, Kaoru?"

Kaoru shook her head. "It's nothing, apparently it was all in my head that Rei's friends don't like me because they might think that I stole him away from Aya."

Ran laughed at the thought. "We don't think that!"

"Kaoru gave a soft but apologetic smile, "Yeah, I know that now."

"Look, Kaoru. Nobody blames you for what happened to Rei and Aya. What happened to them, to be honest, was both their faults. They let each other go, no matter who says what. And if you let your great love go, well, take it from me, it's a hard thing to get over."

And it was as if there was an arrow that pierced through her. Great love. Is that really what they had?

Kaoru sat across her boyfriend as they waited for their orders to arrive. They ate at the restaurant he thought would be the last place she'd choose, proving once again that he can't truly read her mind. They were in their café, the café that was just a short distance from where a certain raven-haired girl worked, which really brings up the chances of running into her.

It wasn't like he was avoiding her, anyway she was dating someone at the moment, last he'd heard. If he were to be honest with himself, he likes the little run-ins he'd have with her in this rustic café that to a knowing person it might have been a subconscious intention to have those run-ins. But it wasn't fair to Kaoru, to be having "fated" encounters with his ex-girlfriend and like them. So he wouldn't admit it, and he would avoid her.

But Kaoru, chose this restaurant to eat lunch. And as they waited for their orders, the silence between them grew. He'd often look at his phone, in the guise of checking some emails from clients or from the partners from the firm. So while she looked at him swiping his finger through his phone and reading emails, she has come to wonder when the silence that used to be comfortable and safe become unbearably awkward. She wondered when she lost the brown-haired man she loved that was sitting right in front of him. The sad part for her was she already knew the answer.

She knew he was trying to be a better boyfriend. She could feel his intentions were sincere, just as his apology was during their lunch at the ramen stop a few weeks back. But when did their relationship become so effortful on both their parts? On her trying to hold them together, and on him trying to stay.

Their food came not long after, and still they ate in silence. She would ask curt questions like "are you going on site today" or "have you finished the presentation for this project" and he would give answers she already knew, and their conversations would end just as fast as it has started.

"Kaoru-san? Otohata-kun?" said a voice that caught both their attentions. It belonged to the raven-haired doctor Kaoru knew they would run into in that restaurant, but she wasn't alone. Standing right behind her, holding a brown paper bag similar to one that Aya was holding as well, stood a young man with bright red hair and a smile to match.

"Hoshino-san," greeted Kaoru. She turned to look at Rei, and as she'd suspect, he was already looking at her with a look she hasn't seen in him in a long time. But then his gaze travelled from the dark-haired lady to the redhead behind her, and only then did Kaoru really take a look at the man the doctor was with.

Aya noticed that their attentions had lingered from her to the man she was with and she scrambled to collect her manners. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Um, this is Dr. Kobayakawa, a resident at my hospital."

"Hi, I'm Kobayakawa Shin. Nice to meet you," he smiled.

"This is Otohata Rei," Aya motioned towards Rei. "A friend of mine." Rei responded only with a curt nod, eyeing the male doctor intently. "And his girlfriend, Ishiki Kaoru."

"Nice to meet you," Kaoru smiled. "Are you guys having lunch? Why don't you join us, there's free space at our table."

Rei turned to look at Kaoru who did not look back at him, trying to read her actions. Instead she was looking at Aya with a small but warm smile.

"Oh no, it's alright, thank you. Dr. Kobayakawa has suddenly been paged so he has to go back—"

"I have to go back," he interrupted, smiling at her.

"W-what?"

"You can go have lunch with your friends," he said as he placed his hands on her shoulder and motioned her to sit on one of the empty chairs. "You might not have seen your friends for a while now because you've been so busy with your shifts. Go on now."

"Shin!" she blushed at his actions.

He merely gave her a boyish smile. "I gotta run, but will you guys please take care of this lovely doctor? On to saving lives," he joked, not letting Aya finish her protest. To be fair, Aya did not tell him about Rei and Kaoru so he was not totally aware of the awkward position he was leaving her in.

Kaoru, on the other hand, noticed just the slight flinches that the engineer made when Shin placed his hands on Aya's shoulder and the way he called her lovely, which only pained her more.

When Shin left, Aya stood up. "Sorry, I really didn't mean to interrupt. And it looks like you're almost done with lunch. It's really fine, I'll just take this back to—"

"No, Aya-san," Kaoru stopped Aya, holding her by the wrist. "Please, join us, it's really fine."

Aya looked at Rei. It was the first time she'd seen him in weeks. She noticed the bags around his eyes and the almost-barren look he wore. Still, he nodded signifying that she should stay.

"A-alright then, thanks." She opened the brown bag that was her take-out and continued eating with them.

"How have you been, Aya-san?" It was Kaoru that broke the silence and opened up the conversation. Her gestures had been a complete surprise for Aya, but then she remembered that Kaoru had always been kind towards her.

"I've been a bit busy in the hospital, actually," Aya said shyly, unable to look at either of them in the eye. "The love to drive interns like slaves around there." She was honest, then her eyes softened, "but I get to help a lot of people, not all, but a lot. And that's… it's really rewarding." She smiled warmly at Kaoru, and it was her turn to surprise Kaoru with such a gesture. Rei looked at her, and to anyone else his expression would simply be considered stoic, but both ladies would know that his brown eyes had become alive as he looked at the face of the woman to his right. But only one lady would know that his eyes hadn't shone this bright in so long.

"That's really great," the brunette replied sincerely.

A mobile ring interrupted the exchange and Rei's gaze had suddenly been broken by his ringing phone. He grabbed his phone as he saw the name of the caller, standing up he said, "I have to take this."

When he was out of earshot, Aya returned to the conversation with Kaoru. "How have you been, Kaoru?"

Surprised, Kaoru saw the sincerity in Aya's question. She took a while to consider he answer until she finally said, "I've been better."

"Oh," said Aya, with a paint of worry in her face. "Is something the matter?"

Kaoru simply smiled, shaking her head. "It… It doesn't matter."

But before Aya could prod on, Rei returned but instead of sitting down, he grabbed his jacket hanging behind the back of the chair where he sat. "I have to go, there was an emergency on the site, they need me there."

Kaoru stood up. "What happened? Do you need me to go with you?"

"No," he replied quickly. "Some of the materials didn't hold so there's been an accident. A senior partner is on his way to look into it but they want all the engineers on the project there right now."

"Oh alright then, I'll just meet you back in the firm?"

He looked at Kaoru as he wore his jacket, taking his car keys and his phone and putting them in the pockets of his pants. "Yeah, okay. Sorry about this."

Kaoru shook her head, "No, it's fine."

He looked at Aya who slightly became pink when their eyes met. "It's okay. Go and handle the situation."

And he left without another word, leaving the two women there to finish their lunch.

"I hope everything will be alright. Do accidents like this happen often?" Aya asked after Kaoru has returned to her seat.

"It's not uncommon. After all, it's the construction industry. But normally fingers would be pointed and someone might take the blame for these kinds of things. Some times, it's just really a pure accident," Kaoru replied.

"Oh I see," said Aya. "Well I hope that gets sorted," she smiled.

Kaoru looked at her for a while, studying her, looking at home the light hits her face, at how gentle her features are and at how warm her smile is. Suddenly there was this heavy feeling inside of her, and a rush of sadness comes over her.

"Kaoru?" Aya asks when she catches her staring. "Is there something on my face?"

She smiles and shakes her head. "No, it's just… you really intimidate me, Aya-san."

This catches Aya by surprise. "Excuse me?"

"You. The idea of you. Who you are. It intimidates me."

Aya looks at her utterly confused. "I don't understand…"

"You are…" she paused, taking a deep breath. "His great love." She says those words with a smile, a smile that reads a deep pain, a pain that blames no one but fate, but pain nonetheless. "Your love story to me is a legend. Everything you've been through, everything he's been through, and everything you've been through together, it's… it's intimidating." She says the word with a hollow laugh. "And the funny thing is, I only noticed now just how legendary it all is. How you fought for him and how you won his heart, and how he flew half-way across the world for you, granted that didn't really turn out well, but… Just the idea of it all."

She heaves a heavy sigh.

Aya was caught off guard at this sudden outburst of honesty from Kaoru. She can see the tears starting to well up around the corners of her eyes. But her words had the effect of reminding her all that has happened between Rei and herself, and from her point of view, Kaoru couldn't be more wrong. "Kaoru, I'm not that intimidating," Aya finally says softly after contemplating a response to what she had just heard. She offers her a smile. "And me and Rei, we're not legendary. There is nothing legendary about our story."

Kaoru looks at her, wiping a single tear that threatens to fall. "But you really are. And it really is. And I… I can't compete with that."

Aya reaches out to hold Kaoru's hand. "That's not true. You are his girlfriend now—"

But the brunette shakes her head, interrupting Aya. "I may be his girlfriend, but I can't compete with his great love. I've tried… I am trying but I can't… I'm just… I lose."

The doctor was lost trying to find a way to convince Kaoru otherwise because even her feelings at the moment were confused.

Kaoru placed her free hand on top of Aya's. "I'm not blaming you, Aya-san. Really, I'm not. I've known for a while now and I've tried to deceive myself otherwise, but now it's clear to me because I see the way he looks at you."

"I don't understand…" Aya says weakly, unable to keep up with the conversation

"I don't what to be the one he looks at only when you look away. Before that might have been enough for me, but it's really… It's really not, not anymore," she said, taking her hands away from Aya's to wipe the tears that are now falling on her cheeks.

"Kaoru… I… I don't… You're wrong... Don't…" But there was nothing coherent that she could form in her head. Instead she was asking why this was all happening and why this was all being unloaded unto her right now.

Kaoru simply smiled and shook her head. "You're his great love. And I just can't compete with that."

END