Two more days pass as Sho begins to split his time between Marie and the boisterous group of friends. When he had met Yukiko, she'd hardly seemed concerned that Sho was now a friend. Actually, she seemed almost too comfortable with the idea.

The friends all accepted Sho, trying to help him get past his violent past. Sure, a couple times, Sho had a sparring match with either Kanji or Chie, but it always ended in laughter. And, while having friends proved to be more enjoyable than he wanted to admit, Sho found that his favorite times were when it was only he and Marie.

Times like tonight. Tonight, they sit out under the stars, two canisters of coffee and a bowl of snacks between them. Marie points out different constellations to Sho, attempting to teach him a thing or two. But Sho simply stares at Marie with a strange smile. Laying beside her, Sho realizes none of this would have been possible without her. Without this crazy, punk rock goddess, Sho would still be a worthless good for nothing that still hated this boring town. Who would have known what a difference friends could make?

As Marie points out another constellation, she looks over to see that Sho isn't looking toward the sky anymore. Her face turns red and she angrily crosses her arms over her chest.

"Well, if you weren't interested you should have just said something you stupidinconsideratejerk!" Though when she looks over, Marie is able to see the look in his eyes is a new one entirely. This, by no surprise, makes her blush more.

"So, what made you decide to keep trying to be my friend?" Sho asks as he looks back up to the sky.

"I don't know." Marie responds. "I guess...I remembered when Yu and the others were so determined to help me even though I was being so difficult. And I knew if it weren't for them, I would have never figured myself out. I didn't want you to feel like that." She sighs.

"Was that...hard? Learning who you really were?"

"Mmm, not so much as I thought it would be." Marie responds quickly. "I had everyone to help me."

"I'm glad." Sho speaks in a calm voice.

Then, they become silent again.

Sho peaks at Marie from the corner of his eye and feels his pulse racing. The heat in his face was burning and his lungs refuse to take a deep breath. This was the feeling of love. He tried hard not to admit it, but...somehow, looking at her in the faint light of the moon made it hard for even Sho to deny it. But, he couldn't tell her now. Not like this. Hell, Sho wasn't even sure how you went about telling someone that you...loved them. Seems like something that silly girl Rise would be really good at.

As he sits there, considering what to do, Marie whispers one of her quiet poems. This one was about the moonlight shimmering through the navy blue sky. Then it hit him. He knew what to do. It wouldn't be easy and he might not be very good at it, but Sho knew how he could tell her how he really felt. This single thought brings a smile to his face.

Early the next morning, Sho awakens early and rushes to ready himself for the big plans he had. Without wasting a second, Sho goes into town and buys a notebook, similar to the one Marie had. It was a nice, leather bound book with a piece of leather to tie it shut. Maybe now she wouldn't have to worry about having people unexpectedly reading her poems.

After that was done, Sho sends her a message, inviting Marie to his house. Hopefully by then, he will have built up the gall to tell her how he really felt.

All morning, his heart pounds in his chest. So much so that he finds it difficult to eat or even drink anything. But he heads to Sozai anyway, for that's where his next step would begin. Shortly after taking his seat, Sho hears the loud, squealing voice of Rise. She'd been beyond excited when she heard that Sho was finally going to admit how he felt. Of course, she'd known since the first time her and Marie had spoke, but she never thought she would get to help make it all happen. After buying a quick soda from the fountain, Rise sits down with Sho and they begin to scribble down a multitude of different things. The two looked like a truly unlikely pair.

But after a couple hours, the two of them had created what they both decided was a masterpiece, so Sho carefully copies the words over to the first page of Marie's new notebook:

I've been sitting here thinking,

trying to understand what I'm doing here.

Then I realize it's all because of you.

I don't care if it hurts anymore,

your smile is all that matters.

Whatever you want,

just let it show.

Because when I'm with you,

I know I'll be okay.

And when I'm with you,

I know someone has noticed me at last.

Because of you,

I know that someday I'll be okay.