Chapter Twenty-Six: Final Showdown?

I quickly – reflexively, really –put myself in front of Kotomi, shielding her from Kyou's imminent wrath. "If you're going to hit someone, you hit me, got it?"

"Tomoya-kun…" I could feel Kotomi's trembling grip on the back of my shirt.

"I'm not going to hit anyone," Kyou said in deliberate measured tones; she was really reigning it in. "Right now, I just want Kotomi to tell me why she was kissing you."

"H-How do you know that I didn't kiss her first?" I replied. Really, I would rather Kyou hit me than Kotomi; I knew my childhood friend wasn't very durable.

"She had her hands on your face, but your hands were at your sides. She was leaning toward you, while you were leaning away from her. But most importantly, I know you better than that."

She had me there. "All right, Kyou. But I will stand right here while you ask your questions. Kotomi is still my friend, so I still feel obligated to protect her from harm."

Kyou's fists relaxed. "Fair enough. Kotomi; why were you kissing my boyfriend?"

I had an idea why, truth be told, but I wanted to hear the answer, too. So I kept my mouth shut for the time being.

Kotomi didn't answer, and Kyou took a step closer. "Kotomi? Why were you kissing my boyfriend?"

"I...I…"

"Why were you kissing my boyfriend?"

"I'm sorry…"

"Why were you kissing my boyfriend?"

I had to jump in before things got bad: "Kotomi-chan; please answer her. She deserves an answer, don't you think?"

"Be-Be-Because…" Her voice sounded so tiny by this point.

"Yes? Because…?" Kyou prompted.

I felt Kotomi tugging on my shirt to turn me, so I turned until I was facing her again. "Kotomi…?"

The look in her eyes was sheer terror, but I admired the courage that she showed at that moment. "Because…I-I love you, Tomoya-kun."

That was what I had figured, but I was still stunned to hear her admit it. I watched, dumbfounded, as tears spilled over her eyelids to stream down her cheeks. I didn't know what to do, so I looked to my girlfriend for backup…

Except that tears were running down her face, too. What the hell? "Kyou?"

I watched as Kyou took hesitant steps toward me before realizing that she was reaching for Kotomi. I got the sense that everything would be fine so I started to step aside, only to be surprised again as Kotomi stepped around me and reached toward Kyou.

The two collapsed into a messy pile of tears and hugs. Neither of them seemed to be in a hurry to talk; they just held each other and cried. I figured that it was something only girls would understand, so I just sat on the floor nearby and waited patiently.

"She's so cute when she's sleeping," Kyou remarked while looking at Kotomi, whose sleeping face rested against my leg. "Maybe after we get married we should adopt her."

I chuckled softly along with her giggle. "That'd be awkward. She's actually older than us by a few months. Besides, I don't think we'd be a very good replacement for her parents." After a noticeable pause, I had to ask: "Are you okay?"

She sighed. "Yeah. I guess…well, when I saw Kotomi, I kinda saw myself from about a year ago. In love, but on the outside, feeling like I'd never had a chance."

I gently squeezed her. "Kyou…is there any chance that we could live around here? Kotomi wasn't lying when she said that I'm all she has left. I mean, I think she could use some therapy, but having me around could at least be helpful...in…"

"In the short-term?"

"Yeah, the short-term. Maybe stick around until she gets back on her feet."

Kyou's brow furrowed as she studied my friend. "I don't know…that could take a long time. I don't mind the idea of helping her out, but we're going to have our own life to live, right?"

"True," I grunted. "I just…I feel like I'd be abandoning her if I just went on with my life."

She smiled as she sat up and kissed me on the cheek. "Another reason why you're a good man, Tomoya." She sighed again, this time more heavily. "Let's just take this one step at a time. First, we see if we can get her some help. After that…we'll just have to see."

"So you're considering it?" I asked hopefully.

She nodded quietly. "I'd feel like I was abandoning her, too."

Kotomi started to stir, moaning softly. She looked up at us and smiled sleepily. "Tomoya-kun, Kyou-chan, good morning."

"It's actually the afternoon, sleepyhead," Kyou replied.

"Are you feeling better?" I asked.

She sat up all the way and rubbed at her eyes. "I do not know. I am content but sad at the same time."

I looked over at my girlfriend, who gave a slight nod. Turning my attention back to Kotomi I told her, "Kyou and I don't plan on going anywhere for a while."

"But understand," Kyou added, "we can't control everything in our lives, so we may 'go away' at some point." She took a deep breath. "Tomoya and I have been talking, and we think that it would help you to talk to someone about your sadness."

My childhood friend cocked her head. "Are you referring to a counselor?"

"Something like that," I confirmed. "You've been through a lot and haven't had anyone to talk to about it, so maybe talking to someone who could help you sort out your thoughts and feelings would be helpful."

She briefly seemed to consider what we had told her, and she slowly nodded. "I can see the logic in it. I have been alone for so long that I am used to it, but it may not be good for me." She focused on the two of us. "Do you know where I would start?"

Kyou and I smiled at each other. We had already looked into the possibility and knew just who to talk to.

I hopped to my feet and helped Kyou to hers before extending my hand to my oldest and dearest friend. "Let's go. We'll take you to him."