Please enjoy this chapter, though it's not as long as the previous chapters!

Amu's POV

I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling. My head was throbbing and I felt more Japanese than ever; I could feel that my eyes were swelling. I also notice that the nape of my neck was soaking in sweat and so were my chest and thighs. Waking up to a hot morning was rare. Really rare, since it was nearing October. I kick off the blanket, getting up from my bed, and see that it's 5:15 in the morning. School starts in 3 hours so there's no use in going back to sleep.

I grab my towel and my uniform, ready for a cold morning shower. I head into the bathroom and stare at myself in the mirror. I was hideous. I suppose the shower would fix up my face a little but I don't think it would do that much.

Maybe I should try putting a spoon on my eye to stop the swelling. I hear that stuff really works. Maybe my eyes would go back to normal and people wouldn't stare. Something catches my eye, interrupting my morning rounds. The scissors to my left were mocking me. It's just sitting there, waiting. Waiting to be used. Used on what? My skin. I haven't cut my thighs in a while. I'm sure there's more space now I could use.

So I grab the scissors and sit on the countertop.

I'm sorry, Dr. Aruto.

5:48 a.m.

I step out of the bathroom in my checkered boxer shorts and pale pink bra but the sudden change in temperature made me regret doing so. I look out the window and see it was storming outside. Great. 'After immense heat comes rain.' That stuff was obviously true. A bagel and some tea sound perfect so I make my way to the kitchen which was connected to the living room. I'll just put on a sweater after breakfast or something.

"Good morning," I greet Shinigami-chan. He was waiting patiently by his bowl so I decide to feed him first.

After opening a can of cat food for him, I proceed to my fridge and grab a bagel. Stuffing the cold bread in my mouth, I opened one of my few cupboards and reached for the tea. But it was on a higher shelf than where I always used to put it. Then I try to remember the last time I actually made tea until a long hand comes from behind me, reaching out for the tea. The hand was just above my head, and it had no problems with getting my box of tea bags.

"Thanks," I mumble. I turn around and come face to face with navy blue cotton. That's weird…I'm sure cotton materials don't have hands. So I look up, and see sapphire eyes.

"Good morning," Ikuto greets.

"Good morning." I stare at him. Then I see that his eyes travel down. And I realize that the only things I have on are—

"I like your boxers."

"Thanks, they're my favorite— wait, why are you here? You didn't come home with me after school for any projects because I had a date with Tadase-kun."

He just stares at me.

"Oh. My. God." My eyes widen. "I had a date with Tadase-kun."

I close my eyes and facepalm. And I remember everything.

"The storm was that bad?" I peek from my hands to look up at Ikuto.

"Yeah, dad said it was too dangerous to go home with the weather and you insisted that I stay here for the night."

"But I didn't see you when I woke up—"

"You have a very comfortable couch." He adds genuinely.

"Oh."

"Y-yeah." He stammers. He coughs and averts his gaze to another direction. And you could see a faint color of pink on his cheeks.

"What's wrong?" I ask him. But he doesn't say anything. He just points his slender index finger into a direction my eyes follow and I see that he is pointing at my chest. He was being all shy about this? I didn't want to step ahead or anything but I kinda consider Ikuto as one of my closest friends now. Two weeks aren't much but if you spend almost every hour of almost every day with a person, two weeks were enough. "Oh."

He then proceeds to cover his eyes with his hands.

"Look at me." I tell him.

"Ikuto," he looks down at me with an expression that of a child's when he breaks a vase and has to face his mother. His cheeks are now a deep, deep red. "We're practically best friends. And you know more about me than my actual parents or anyone else. If you're gonna see me cry about a boy or in my pjs or whatever side of me you've already seen, then I don't think you'd have a problem of seeing me in my underwear."

He closes his eyes, turning his head to the left as if it would help to shield him from my half-naked body. "I am a gentleman. I am a gentleman. I am a gentleman." He chants to himself. He then heads off to the other side of the kitchen, far away from me, almost hyperventilating.

I raise up both my arms, as if to back off. "Sorry for giving you cooties. I didn't know you were allergic to girls or anything." I say sarcastically. "And here I thought you were a pervert."

He smirks at this. "My, my. A little kinky are, we? What were you expecting me to do, Amu?"

I sigh, seeing that the old Ikuto is back. "I take it back. You are a pervert."

"You're feeling rather bold today…no pun intended."

I give him a sarcastic look. And he throws his arms up like how I did a while ago, as if he was backing off. "Okay, okay. I didn't say anything."

I roll my eyes and make my way to the bedroom. "Would you mind checking the TV for news, Ikuto? Classes might get suspended today." I open my closet and pick out a beige knitted sweater that went just above my knees. I've had a strange fetish for dresses ever since forever. But the skirts had to stop once my thighs became…occupied. Plus, the scars on my thighs today were fresh. So I think it would be okay not to wear anything underneath since the sweater was long and decent enough.

I hear the faint sound of news anchors on TV as I pull the garment over my head. "Any news?" I shout out.

I walk out, now dressed. "Classes for all levels today are suspended prior to heavy rains and winds. A typhoon is expected, coming from the south and—" Ikuto then mutes the TV. "My dad texted me."

"Uhuh…"

"He says it's still not safe to go home with the weather like that."

"I don't mind," I tell him. I sit on the couch – Ikuto seated on the other end – and place my feet on his lap again, resting my head on a throw pillow by the other end of the couch. Much like last night. I take a deep sigh. "I like your company."

"The feeling is mutual." He slouched a little so that his head could rest on the backrest of the couch. He then faces me, the right side of his face leaning on the cool leather.

I stare at him. "You know…"

"Hm?" He stares at me, too.

"My mom wasn't really there for me when I was a kid." He's quiet, but his eyes tell me he's listening. "So I wouldn't say I grew up to be a proper lady raised by her mother. But father did help me. He taught me everything he knew. How to make friends and how to be polite and all that. He taught me how almost everything works and how other people go about their day. But he left out the part about how babies were made. " I chuckle a little but it soon fades away and I sigh heavily. "My father…my father said that the only places where I was allowed to cry were in the bathroom," I sit up and scoot closer to Ikuto. "And in his arms."

He opens his mouth, as if to say something, but he closes it again and waits for me to start talking again. "So I would just like to say thank you." I then lean in and kiss his cheek. "Because of you, I didn't have to spend last night crying on the bathroom floor."

I'm sure now; Ikuto is someone to be trusted. He is selfless and mature despite his mannerisms. He doesn't let anyone down no matter what and is a somewhat decent individual. He never pries and when he does, it's for the better. He thinks I'm worth it. He is worth it.

"I think…" I stare at him. I see that he's facing the TV in front of us. "I think I can trust you." He turns back to face me. "Would you do the honor and carry the burden of being my best friend?"

"It's really awkward of you to be asking that, Amu. You're supposed to let these things happen naturally." He chuckles. "But, yes; I would have the absolute honor of being your best friend." He's smiling and I find myself smiling, too. "I promise I won't let you down."

First Monday of November

Ikuto's POV

"Please enlighten me," Utau is by the doorway of my room. I just got home from school, clearly frustrated and unsatisfied…for the 92385639th time. It's been a month – more or less – and I've been closer to Amu than anyone ever. I'm not exaggerating, really. She uses Ichigo Hime for her shampoo and some whitening herbal soap she buys at the grocery store ten minutes away from her apartment. She hates doing laundry. She hates ironing. She loves Earl Grey tea. She loves her cat. She wears her favorite grey boots almost every time we go out. She loves yakisoba. I can write a book about her. "But how are you two not a couple?"

Her eyebrows are knitted together, also frustrated. I was lying on my bed, face down, and let out a sigh. "'Oh my gosh, Ikuto. You're the best friend ever and I don't want things to ever change. I'm so happy I have someone like you to take care of me.'" I quote for her. I sit up and glare at Utau. "Is this some sort of revenge from you? Are you trying to make me suffer by having me to constantly remind myself that all Amu will ever want to be is friends?"

She narrows her eyes at me, "I'm not that much of a devil, Ikuto." She leans on the doorframe.

"How did your recording go today?"

Usually, she would smile when asked about her work and how her day was going. Utau loved attention. The good kind, I assure you. But she's just staring at me with a poker face now. "It went well but that's not what we're talking about here."

"Well even if I could do something about it…I can't."

"Wha—"

"She has a boyfriend."

"Is it that blonde kid we saw her with one time?"

"Yup."

"I thought he was a girl." I go back to my previous position. Face down. "Well…he's cute."

"Get out of my room," I tell her. "Go make dad a sandwich or something."

"I try, I really do." She says mostly to herself as she walks away. I hear feet shuffling and see that she's back at my door again. "Okay, I just couldn't stay away. You've been like this since forever and I it breaks my heart to see you like this – "

"Bullsh—"

"And I just want to help you." She finishes with a cheeky smile.

I lie on my back, staring at the ceiling. "Well, there's not much I could really do about this whole thing, Utau. I wouldn't want to play the bad person and break them up." She just stares at me this time. As if she was waiting for me to say more. As if she expected me to say something else. "What?"

"I was waiting for you to say something like 'But she's happy so I'll just be there for her' or some shit like that."

"Oh." Was all I say.

"Does this blonde kid even help her with her depression and all?"

"Well, he doesn't know about that – "

"And they've been together for almost how long?"

"Ikuto he asked me out again!" Her palms were flat on my desk. I was sitting, reading a Code Geass manga. "Up on the roof! Just now!" She obviously couldn't contain her joy. Her eyes were happy and excited. And my heart sinks at this. Because I clearly wasn't the reason for her happiness this time.

"You see, ichigo? I told you to just give it some time." I smile up at her and pat her head.

"He made it official on the second Tuesday of October." I tell her flatly.

"The fact that you know exact date is pathetic, Ikuto." She giggles.

"Don't make me throw a book at you."

She holds her hands up in defense. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

It felt like pre-school all over again. Arguing over crayons with my best friend Souma Kuukai. Just like the box of colorful mediums, Hinamori Amu wasn't owned by anyone. But now, this lame kid has her in his arms. And I want nothing more than to take her away from him. But all I could do is play the part of her best friend.

All I could do is watch.

The following day at lunch

"I'm glad I still get to have lunch with you like this." She tells before popping an asparagus wrapped in bacon in her mouth.

"Is there any reason not to?" I stop eating and put down my chopsticks. I sip at my box of chocolate milk, staring at her intently.

"Don't stare at me like that," She narrows her eyes at me. But she shrugs it off, like how she always does. "There's no reason…I guess. Tadase-kun's busy almost all the time with being class president and all…" She trails off, staring at her food. I just raise my eyebrows at her, urging her to continue. "But even if he wasn't busy, I'd still eat lunch with you."

"Please, do enlighten me."

"I'd never leave you like that, Ikuto." She assures me with a smile. I feel that my heart is pounding in my chest. "You're my best friend." And I die a little inside.

"I know that already." I give her a small smile. 'I'll wait for you,' I want to tell her.

But all I could do is watch and hope.

Reviews are appreciated :3