Leaning against the wall, Takano inhaled slowly, dragging his cigarette away with equally lax movements, expelling out thin trails of smoke. Instead of eating, he was having a smoke break during lunch hour instead. Taking his time, the editor in chief took another drag on his cigarette. Suddenly entering the smoking area, was none other than Yokozawa.

''Oh Masamune,'' Caught off guarded by Takano's unexpected presence, Yokozawa stopped in his tracks awkwardly. '' How are things for you?'' he asked. They hadn't seen each other in a while, with Yokozawa trying to maintain a distance between ever since the night at the bar now that he knows it's useless to wait for him. The sales staff still has no idea what to do with his feelings. ''As usual,'' said Takano, tapping his cigarette. ''You?''

''The same,'' answered Yokazawa, taking out his own lighter and cigarette. Conveniently, in the past, they used to share the lighter with familiar ease when one of them just entered. Now things are so awkward between them, they can't even look each other in the eye.

''No appetite? ''

''Yea''

Silence again.

Fretfully, Yokozawa wondered whether he should ask about the editor who transferred.

Of course not, he chided himself sternly. Had he forgotten about the fiancé?

Smoking in silence, both of them keep their questions to themselves, unanswered.

Diligently, Onodera was editing a draft in deep concentration when a co-worker patted on his back.

''Onodera kun, it's lunch time now.''

'' Please go ahead without me,'' said the editor, resolved to finish go through the draft first. Leaving Onodera to his work, the rest of them headed for lunch.

''He's so hardworking, isn't him? ''said a co-worker after a distance away. Murmurs of agreement floated over to the editor in his seat. Upon hearing the comforting words, the brunette smiled. His efforts were being recognized – and acknowledged. Perhaps he should have made the transfer long ago.

After completing his work, the young man stands up, going for lunch. In his pocket, Onodera's phone vibrated wildly.

''Oh Mum,'' greeted Onodera, walking.

''Ritsu,'' said his mum, '' have you taken lunch yet?''

''Not yet, I'm going for it now.'' Onodera was heading away from the route to the first floor; heading towards a random direction, finding a quieter place to talk. Since young, as a way to show manners while speaking on the phone, Onodera had developed a habit of talking with his head down, eyes lowered.

''What about breakfast?'' asked the wife of the current head of Onodera Publishing.

''I ate.''

''What did you ate?'' It had been a long time since his mom last called so he expected a furry of questions to come. Oblivious to his surroundings, Onodera walked to another part of the level, going to with no people.

In the smoking room, the two staff heard an approaching voice, breaking the silence. The person continued talking, seemingly heading towards their way. With growing realization of the familiar tone, the two staff came to know who it was. For whatever reason, Takano and Yokozawa felt a strange sense of anxiety coursing through them. What were they supposed to do if Onodera walks in?

Thoroughly occupied with answering his mum's question, Onodera came to a halt, lowering down to a squat. Leaning against the transparent glass panels of the smoking room, the editor had narrowly missed seeing the editor in chief and sales manager. Facing away from them, Onodera was unaware that he was being heard.

''How are things between you and An chan ?''

''It's fine,''

''What do you mean 'Its fine? '' probed his mum, confused with the term.

''I took her shopping and on dates. We celebrated Valentine's day together…'' Yokazawa glanced over at Takano, who was hearing every single word from Onodera's part of the conversation, as did he. Casually, Takano took a drag on his cigarette, his expression betraying nothing. Briefly, Yokzoawa wondered whether he should just march up to Onodera and tell him to talk somewhere else. On the phone, Onodera answered the questions mindlessly.

''Yes… …Yes….. Okay…. I know…. Okay…..''

'Forget it,' thought the sales staff. It's not going to make a difference anyway

''When do you plan to get married? '' came Mrs Onodera's blunt question.

''Mom,'' begged the editor in exasperation, rolling his eyes. ''I'm just trying this out. I… I haven't thought of marriage.''

A deep inhalation came from the raven while the sales head shifts his feet uncomfortably. The head of brown hair was pressed against the panels, at an angle away from them. Arms crossed over his thigh, Onodera hunched in a tense manner.

''What do you mean you haven't thought about it? Why date An chan if you're not planning to marry her. You two are engaged ! ''

''I know, I know. And I'm not playing around. I just want to try things out first. I just… don't have any plans for that.''

''Then start thinking about them. ''

''Mom,'' started the heir, bringing up an alternate possibility that could happen. '' What if I don't want to marry her?''

Have you considered that?

A pause.

''Ritsu,'' came his mum's voice after a while, wondering about her son's behavior. The mother's voice sounded strange over the phone, like all the sharp points and edges about the concern parent was gone. ''What do you not like about An chan?'' she asked, not understanding what was so wrong with the arrangement. '' She's nice, has good manners, and known you since forever. A lovely young lady. What you not like about her?''

Onodera sighed through the phone, his exhaustion on the topic palpable. '' I like her, Mom.''

Sensing something deeper than that simple answer, the lady on the other side of the phone stopped probing. '' Fine. Make sure to give her something nice on white's day. She came over her specially to learn how to make your favourite bento last time.''

''Yes Mom, bye.''

Ending the call, Onodera rose unsteadily. With his head down, the editor sighed, taking a moment to simply do nothing. Leaving, his footsteps echoed in the deserted corridor. Yokozawa glanced over at Takano, who was deep in his own thoughts.

''An chan,'' called Onodera, waving his hand as he moves forward to meet his fiance. He had promised her to go on a date on 14 March a month ago- the day when the guys returns the affection of the love their received a month earlier - White day.

Coming face to face, An greets Onodera back. '' Ritsu,'' she smiled, not as wide or broad as her usual smile, just a simple smile.

Onodera reaches into his pocket. ''I got this for you,'' he said, pulling something out. A brightly flowered hair pin rested in his palm. Onodera remembered seeing her wearing a rose in her hair the day she waited for him after the New Year's eve party. So he thinks she might like this as a gift. Seeing it, An's small smile widening slightly.

''Thank you.'' Instead of breaking into squeals, An calmly took the gift in her dainty hands.

In appreciation, she admired the gift, her normally bright smile strangely toned down. Gently, Onodera tucked a piece of her hair back, and pinned the flower in place, thinking his fiancé was apparently waiting for him to put it on.

Looking up at her fiance, the petite brunette took his hand, her voice soft and kind. '' Let's go.''

Walking, Onodera asked ''What do you wanna do An chan ?'' , seemingly going to nowhere.

''Anything,'' said the fiance, surprising the young man. Normally, the petite brunette would always have something to do in mind. Albeit what the two brunettes always do was shop, eat and walk around- there was usual an order to it. '' I just want to spend time with you. What do you want to do Ricchan ?''

''Erm… maybe just walk around?''

An nodded her head. ''Okay.''

Stopping halfway at a bubble tea shop, Onodera paid for their drinks. The two of them were strolling around town. After walking aimlessly, they wandered into the fashion district.

''Ricchan,'' said An, stopping suddenly. Pointing to a dress on display, she asked '' Isn't that dress nice ?''

''It is.'' Onodera agreed. ''Do you want me to get it for you? ''

''It's okay, Ricchan,'' said An, turning down the offer. ''I have enough dresses. You bought me enough things anyways.''

'That's strange,' thought Onodera, thinking about her answer. She would never pass on the opportunity to have more clothes. While walking halfway, they were suddenly stopped by a sales assistant.

''Excuse me sir, we're having a promotion now for White day chocolate,'' said the assistant merrily. They were most likely trying to sell off as much chocolate to generate as much sales as possible before the day ends. '' They're made with White wine, would you like to try some? ''

''Oh that would be- hey! An chan-'' Onodera was being dragged away by his fiancé, who had a surprising amount of strength.

''Let's go Ricchan,''

''Don't you want to try the chocolates ?'' asked the editor, slightly confused. ''It's for White's day.''

Maybe I should have gotten them instead

''It's okay Ricchan,'' An said, turning around. Her eyes carried a hint of sadness in them. ''I don't want them,'' she said quietly. ''How about we watch a movie? '' the lady suggested suddenly, spotting a cinema.

''Sure,'' said the young man slowly, thinking about how odd things were.

In the darkened hall, Onodera glanced inquisitively at the brunette beside him. She was in her seat, digging into their shared popcorn, eyes fixed on the screen, waiting for the commercials to end. Normally, she would be laughing about how lame the advertisements before the screening were to Onodera, but instead, she was quietly watching them.

Sensing a pair of green eyes on her, An turned her own brown coloured eyes at him. '' Anything wrong Ricchan ? ''

''Nothing,'' said the editor, wondering if there was.

Afterwards, the two wandered into a quiet park, surrounded by the peaceful silence in the night.

''An chan,'' said Onodera, unable to ignore her strange behaviour anymore. '' Is something wrong? You're a bit weird today.'' His green eyes looked at her in concern.

Stopping in her tracks, An turned and faced Onodera.

''Ricchan,'' she started, bracing herself for the words she was about to say.

Uh Oh

An took steps forward towards him.

This does not sound good.

'' I'm breaking up with you.''

Onodera stared confusedly at her. Completely serious, An stared at him back, sadness lining her pretty features. ''And I'm cancelling our engagement.''

''Why ?'' asked the editor, shock and surprise at the turn of the situation. '' Did my mom tell you something?''

''Ricchan.'' Taking Onodera face into her hands, An whispered his name. '' I love you, so I'm giving up on our engagement.'' said the young lady, thinking about to her fiancé's first love. '' We don't belong together.''

''Is this because of Takano san? '' asked Onodera.

''No Ricchan,'' said his fiancé. ''This is about you. ''

''About me? '' Standing in silence, Onodera let her words sink in. This couldn't be right. This couldn't possibly be right. ''I don't love him,'' he spat, sounding more like he was trying to convince everyone else than it was a fact. '' I do not love Takano san.''

''I dare you to say, you don't feel a thing for him.''

'' I …. I..'' Struggling to form an answer, Onodera looked away; face flushing as he tries to think of something to say.

It still hurts. It still hurts when the thought of him run through his head, stabbing through his heart.

''N-not in that way,'' he managed to get out.

''You have this look in your eye when you talk about him,'' said An. '' I've never see that expression before.'' The look of unattainable longing, a bit of heartbreak and utter smitten love all thrown together. The brunette thinks back to the time the editor in chief was staring at Onodera, on his last day of work in the Maiden department. ''It's the same for him , you know. I've seen the way he looks at you.''

An takes her fiance's hand. '' I don't want to see you fight so hard anymore.'' Onodera spent 3 years in middle school telling himself that it was just a phase, and the next ten convincing himself he didn't love the raven anymore. How would he spend the next?

''Follow your heart, Ricchan.''

Love at first sight. It might just have never ended for him.

''If you don't believe in love, then how about believing in second chances?''

Onodera looks conflicted.

''Give him a chance, Ricchan.''

It's strange. The brief but unforgettable relationship echoes loudly in the background.

Tip toeing, An leans in, touching Onodera's lips with hers, giving a chaste kiss.

''Thank you for spending time with me Ricchan,''she whispered into his eat, a smile mixed with sadness and joy graced An's pretty face. Under the light, her big brown eyes glistered with withheld tears.

Bravely, An was taking her first step in saying farewell to her first love, and tasting her first sting of heartbreak.

'' I'll see you next time ,'' said An. Having said her ending words, An turned, and walked off. The distance between them expands. Slowly, tears poured down her cheek as An tried to restrain her sniffles. She turns her head slightly, almost looking back to Ritsu behind her, but stops and moved on.

By himself, Onodera lets everything sinks in.

After quite some time, the editor moves.

''Tff,'' he snorted, adamant about everything. '' There's no way I can ever be in love with him. ''Onodera scoffed.

He walks off.

Takano was on his way home from walk, when spotted Onodera. The brunette was frowning slightly, looking bothered. Occupied with his thoughts, head lowered, Onodera had almost past the editor in chief without noticing him.

Stopping at the sight of a pair of legs in front of him, Onodera glanced at who it was.

''Onodera,'' called Takano, seeing how upset he looked. ''Did something happen?'' The raven only recalled Onodera looking so upset whenever Yokazawa was around.

The editor paused, debating whether to share the news with him. Onodera sighed. '' An chan broke up with me'' he said sadly.

Takano's eyes widen. With his head still lowered, Onodera blinked rapidly, furthering giving out news ''And she's cancelling our engagement. Now would you please leave me alone , I-'' Onodera's words were cut off as Takano suddenly pulled him into a fierce hug. ''Um, Takano san.''

Surprised and unsure of how to react, Onodera held still. The raven's arms were wrapped around him. As if the hug could not get any tighter, Takano squeezed Ritsu slightly, his arms tightening around him.

''Um… Takano san...''

''I'm so glad,'' whispered Takano, his voice barely audible. With his confession left unheard, carried by the wind, Takano held on to his immerse relief.

Warmth seeped in through his clothes. Onodera, held by Takano in his warm comforting hug, gingerly reach out his arms, and place them on Takano's back .For a while, the two stood there, holding onto each other. Releasing Ritsu, Takano place his hands on his shoulders, suddenly giving out an instruction. ''Meet me here tomorrow,'' he said.

''Huh?'' Onodera exclaimed loudly, more confused than before .

''I'll text you the time later,'' said Takano, releasing his hold on Onodera and approached the apartment complex swiftly, as if the past five minutes didn't happen.

''Wait, Takano san -''

''Just meet me here tomorrow,'' ordered Takano without stopping, acting like he was still Onodera's current boss, using that commanding tone again.

Left by himself at the pavement, Onodera folded his arms and grimaced.

And I thought he was going to comfort me.

Author's Notes: Finally got this chapter out. I'll be able to get more done now.

I think I've sort of lost motivation for the story though since i was so busy. And i'm running out of chapter tittles :/

Another thing is I'm editing some of my previous chapters, those with some mistakes in them :/ so you might updates on them

Side note: I would really like to see a drama adaption of the anime. If done well, with convincing acting and strong chemistry between the leads, I really believe it will explode with popularity all over Asia. Man, i would kill to see that happen.