It had never really bothered Fuji that you didn't share your nephew's surname. It wasn't that he forgot, because he was informed of your name and your relationship with the freshman regular on the same day. He just automatically assumed that you were Ryoma's aunt from his mother's side. If one were to ask, though, he wouldn't be able to give an adequate reason as to why he thought so. But, whatever the case may be, he never thought it to have much consequence so he never asked.

This decision came back to bite him in the ass and it came with a sniggering reminder that he was an idiot and you had, in fact, already reached an age wherein it would not be weird for you to be married.

It would've really helped if you wore a ring, though.

You watched anxiously as Fuji's smile shrank. It remained a smile but it trembled so slightly you almost missed it. You wondered if he was refraining from frowning.

It did not help your apprehension at all when his regular smile returned with an eerie calm.

"I see, antique furniture would be a great gift for your mother-in-law, Yayoi-san. I suggest you don't buy from this store, though. Everything here's branded so they're bound to cost a lot no matter the quality. Non-branded furniture can be good too but it all comes down to quality in the end."

You had no idea how his piece of helpful advice entered your ears like a cold, cruel wish that you would just disappear.

It seemed you were the only one, though, because the two other boys in your group was not looking worriedly at Fuji. Instead, they were giving the look to you. That was when it became apparent to you that they were waiting for you to respond.

"O-Oh...? I-I see..." was all you could really force out.

"It's not a problem, Yayoi-san," he said with a gentle tone and a kind smile that really did not seem to reach his eyes.

"Yuuta," Fuji called his brother, just as he turned to walk away.

"Huh? Ah! Aniki!"

"I think I forgot something at the restaurant. Just stay here with Echizen and Yayoi-san for a while, okay?" He didn't even look at any of you as he spoke.

"What? Hey!"

Panic rose up your throat as you watched him rush away. You would never hope to fully understand Fuji's way of thinking but you did know that he was misunderstanding something about this situation.

"Y-Yuuta-kun! Can you look after Ryoma for me? I'll be right back!" you said before sprinting off, ignoring the matching "EEEEEHHH?!"s that resounded at your wake.

You eyes darted around the crowd, in search of the boy you knew you had to speak to right now.

Suddenly, in the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of a familiar head of brown whose body was wearing the same colored shirt that Fuji was.

"Fuji!" Your suspicions are supported further when the person hurries away at your call.

"FUJI!"

You placed all your focus on running after him. You cursed middle school boys and their annoyingly long legs.

It didn't take long until the chase brought you outside. Specifically to the park that stood in front of the mall. You were glad it did because there were no more jam-packed crowds to hinder you from him.

There he was, running just a few feet before you. Only a little more and you would finally be able to catch him!

"Fuji!" you cried as you tackled him by the waist. The both of you crashed to the ground and even though it was dirty, you were still a bit relieved as your legs were really beginning to feel like jelly.

"Fuji, just please liste—"

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

You blinked. Fuji's voice wasn't that squeaky.

You climbed off of the boy, allowing him to face you. Your jaw practically crashed to the ground when you were met with the angry, pimply face of a boy you were totally unfamiliar with.

"Wh-Wha—?!"

"Yayoi-san!"

You whipped around in shock, finding the source of the call to be the very boy you thought you were chasing.

"F-Fuji?!" you exclaimed as you watched him jog to where you were, slightly out of breath.

"Yayoi-san, why were you running?"

"I-I thought you were—!"

"UGH! Look what you did!" the pimply boy caught both of your attentions with his angry growl. He forcefully pointed to the front where a leashed dog could be seen running off.

"You made me lose Ko!"

"Uh, s-sorry, I—" The rude kid didn't even let you finish your apology before he sprinted off after his beloved dog. This caused a pout to surface on your features. You knew that you were the one at fault but he could've at least let you apologize properly.

"Yayoi-san," Fuji's call made you turn back to him curiously. Surprise filled the expression on your face when you realized that it was he who ran after you.

"Fuji! What are you doing here?!" Fuji also regarded you with surprise, albeit his was uncertain.

"H-Huh? Well, when I came back, Yuuta told me that you went off after me. I went off to look for you but you were chasing after that guy so I followed you."

"What about you, Yayoi-san? Why were you chasing that guy?"

"I needed to tell you something! I was chasing him because I thought he was you!"

"I see... What did you want to tell me?"

His question caused you to blink. Pause. Then, all too suddenly, you were dropped back to the reality of the situation, causing insistent pink to make a flash flood in your cheeks. You looked down and shut your eyes tight.

"I...!"

"... Yayoi-san?"

How could he do that, you wondered. To care for you or even look at you at all after the brutal way you had received his confession? Yes, you knew that your rejection had been cruel and brutal and you also knew that it was probably for the best.

However, you didn't want him to misunderstand. Every fiber of your being did not want him to misunderstand.

But why?

A voice in your head, one that suspiciously sounded like Shion, groaned and told you not to worry about it. You had rejected him because it was the adult thing to do. Letting him misunderstand would allow him to realize how wrong he was and thus, it was also the adult thing to do.

"Yayoi-san, can you not set aside the age difference even for just one moment? Can you not just see me as myself and not a 15-year-old kid?"

Impossible. Even if it suddenly rained coffee and premium grade rice, there would still be a 12-year age gap between you. Regarding and protecting him as a child while he's a child will always be your duty to him as an adult.

"'You're not a kid anymore'. That was what you told me when I found you in that bookstore."

Essentially! You said he was essentially not a kid anymore, dammit! And even though you said that, he really was still a kid who can't be taken responsible for the things he says!

"I would be really happy if Yayoi-san was the one who looked at me with a weird expression."

He... he couldn't be taken responsible because... because he can't take responsibility for the things he says. Because he's a kid! Right...?

"Yayoi-san, I'll stay here and study, okay? When I finish, I'll wake you up so we can both go home."

H-He didn't really even wake you up that time...!

"Yayoi-san."

Y-You were right, right?!

"I'm not joking, Yayoi-san."

And... he had... he had blue eyes...

The creases that had formed on your face cleared when you opened your eyes. Taking Fuji's previous request, everything suddenly became so much clearer. Clearer than it had been for a long time.

You had been so irresolute. But everything's okay now because now, everything was clear.

"May I ask why you invited him and not, I don't know, maybe Shion-chan? Or even Akane-chan or Daisuke-kun?"

Because you knew that you didn't want Fuji to misunderstand because...

"So you did it... to make him happy?"

... no matter what...

"The last time I saw you look like that? It was five years ago."

Fuji must never be the one to misunderstand.

Fuji almost backed away in surprise when you so suddenly looked up and stared right at him with determination burning in your eyes

"Shinya is... that man I married, he died three years ago, alright! I'll probably never forget him unless I get Alzheimer's or amnesia or something! But it really can't be said that I'm still with him and the only reason I'm still giving his mother presents is because Shinya was her only child and I couldn't just leave her after all that! That is the only reason you found Ryoma and I in the antique shop."

Fuji stared at you, his mouth gaping just a little. He ducked his head a little, shutting his mouth to form a straight line.

"Yayoi-san... why... why are you telling me this?"

You faltered.

"I... I didn't want you to misunderstand."

Your own lips formed into a tight line. Should you just... not? Even if you had done as he asked and considered him as himself and not as a 15-year-old kid...

After all, should you just do the adult thing to do?

His lips twisted to tight, bitter smile.

"Please don't worry about that, Yayoi-san. It's clear to me that I was the one who came onto you. You're not at fault. You don't have to explain anything to me."

Your eyes widened. Then, they turned angry.

Like hell would you just let him off the hook like that.

"I LIKE YOU, ALRIGHT?!"

You seeing his electric blue eyes once again had almost stopped you. However, you stood firm. No matter what, you must not stop until you have properly gotten your feelings across.

"I didn't explain the situation to you because of a stupid reason like not wanting to take the blame! I said what I said because I like you and you must never misunderstand my situation! Everyone else? They're free to think what they want but you... the only thing you're allowed to think about the matter this is the truth!"

You maintained looking straight at his wide eyes defiantly for a minute.

And another.

And another.

And then your cheeks got a refill on blood and heat.

"S-Stop looking so surprised already..." This seemed to have brought him to reality. He blinked but he didn't close his eyes. You mentally cursed. You turned away, you had to.

You would come to regret this decision, however, as you were unable to see how the corner of his lips turned up to a smirk. It was already too late when you decided to return you attention to him, whose face was suddenly only a few centimeters from your own.

"F-FUJI—!"

"I see, so Yayoi-san returns my feelings," he hummed, too obviously pleased. Somehow, you felt like this wasn't going to end well for you at all.

"Don't you think this is a little unfair, though? I confessed to you with a kiss, after all."

"Wh-Wha?! That wasn't even a kiss! That was just a peck! A peck!"

"Ah, is that so? Then I confessed to Yayoi-san with a peck, then."

"Y-You...! You haven't even said that you like me yet! All you did was k—PECK! Peck... all you did was peck me..."

"Oh? Is that so? Well, then I love you, Yayoi-san."

If your cheeks heated up any more, you were pretty sure the skin on them would be burnt off.

"... I-I said 'like'... Idiot..."

"Maa, then that means it's doubly unfair to me now~" Your eyes widened at this.

"Wh-Wha—?! That was your own decision! And stop making this sound like a debt!"

"Oh, but it is! Although you don't have to worry so much, Yayoi-san. I feel like being kind right now so I'll let you off with just a kiss~!"

Embarrassment was burning through every pore on your body. You didn't want to do it under such humiliation circumstances however, you did know that it was unfair to Fuji and you didn't want that.

Fuji watched with an amused smile as your lips pulled into a tight, determined frown. You had made your decision, it would seem.

"F-Fuji, you have to close your eyes first..." your kept your voice barely above a whisper, fearing that it would crack if you went any louder.

"Eeeeh? Why? If I close my eyes, I won't be able to see Yayoi-san's cute face clearly..." Your eyes shut tight as you felt his breath brush your ear with his quiet whisper.

"Because...! I can't focus if you keep looking at me like that...!" Fuji chuckled softly at that.

"You don't have to think so much... you just... have... to kiss me..."

You stared deep into his eyes. You couldn't back down now.

No, you wouldn't back down now.

Slowly, you faces drew closer.

And this time, it was your lips that met his.

Those BL mangas with a sadistic seme really influenced this one, haha.

Haaaaa, I'm really not good at sustaining tension. Oh well, this is it folks! The last chapter!

No I'm totally kidding. The interesting stuff starts from here! After all, even though the matter of their feelings have been settled, Yayoi is still 27 and Fuji's still 15. Plus there's the matter of the dead husband.

Thank you NyaaKitty-chan and Gemitri-chan for your reviews! And Iza-chan (Izaquix078), I'm happy to receive your first review. Thanks for that comment on how everyone's in character, I've been mulling over that, haha~

So, since school's coming up, I've open thinking of getting a beta from this story. Any suggestions anyone?

Anyway, thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated!

-Iggy