The thing about dating games is that you know what you can do. You know how many routes there are in the game. You know that if you put in enough effort, if you spend enough time trying different dialogue choices, you'll eventually get the outcome you were hoping for. Real life, needless to say, isn't so simple. Had they not both been willing to take a chance, the paths of Tsukasa Hiiragi and Masaru Nomura likely never would have crossed.

For sure, they were an unlikely couple. Tsukasa was a shy third-year student who mostly kept to the small group of friends who understood (or at least tolerated) her. Masaru was a jaded first-year, more interested in playing music than interacting with a world he believed had no need for him. Everything changed when one of Tsukasa's friends spontaneously decided to try and make life imitate art.

Slowly but surely, the walls Masaru built up to protect himself began to crack. A kind smile, a hand to hold, or even just a willingness to listen were enough to make him open up. Even so, there was no guarantee that things would work out the way they did. When she got hurt at a concert while he could only watch, it seemed like the only possible conclusion was a bad end. By that point, though, he had already found his way into her heart. Against all logic, Tsukasa refused to back down. For once she didn't have to hide in the shadows behind her older sisters. The next day after school, she found herself on the rooftop as the boy she had come to love poured out his feelings. Beneath his cold exterior was a gentle giant. Their fates were sealed the moment their lips first met.

One year had passed since then.

Tsukasa now found herself in a college dorm, away from the friends and family who had been her anchor for so long. There was still so much to get used to, but at least she still had a lifeline: her cell phone. When she held it up to her ear and heard Masaru's voice, it seemed like everything was going to be okay. The fact that a bouquet of flowers from him just arrived a few minutes ago didn't hurt. He had carefully chosen each flower according to its meaning, which he was now explaining in excruciating detail. Some of it went over her head, but it was nice just to know how much thought went into the gift. If nothing else, it was a beautiful arrangement. Perhaps this was his latest special interest.

"So that just leaves the white lilies in the center. The meaning of lilies varies depending on the color, but white ones symbolize purity. That's one of the first words that comes to mind when I think of you. You're such a pure soul. I still don't know what I did to end up with you."

"Aww, that's so sweet." Tsukasa couldn't help but grin as she lay back on her bed and admired the flowers on the table. At her bedside was a manga magazine Konata had been raving about. "This is just a hunch, but do you read Comic Yuri Hime? 'Yuri' does mean 'lily,' after all."

Masaru tripped over his words as he tried to stutter out a reply. "Well, y-yeah. That was kind of where I got the idea. That's not weird, is it?"

"Why would that be weird? It's just manga." Between the covers of the magazine were dramatic stories of girls who loved girls. Tsukasa just read it because it tugged at her heartstrings, but the way Masaru seemed nervous when he answered her question made her wonder. It wasn't like it was a secret that he had a sensitive side. She also knew that Konata got a kick out of seeing so many cute girls on the page, so maybe Masaru was the same way. Surely there was more to it than that, though. She knew he only had eyes for her.

"N-never mind. Anyway, it's great to hear your voice again, Tsukasa. When will you be back in town?" They hadn't seen each other face to face since Golden Week, and their time together never felt long enough.

Tsukasa checked her calendar. "I have exams this week, but Sis and I are planning on coming home for the weekend, just to catch up. Maybe we could do something then?"

"This coming weekend? Shit. I'm going to be busy with band stuff. Sorry."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm sure we'll get to see each other sooner or later." Even though it sometimes got in the way, she was glad Masaru was staying busy with his band. When he first joined, he was just a hired gun, filling in for someone who quit unexpectedly. Now he was a full-fledged member, and the way he talked about his bandmates made it sound like they had become friends. That was a welcome change. She also had fond memories of seeing him perform in the orchestra at school. The way he was so comfortable with both the double bass and the bass guitar never ceased to amaze her. Occasionally, on lonely nights, she would wonder what else he could do with those fingers…

"Are you still there?"

Tsukasa hadn't even realized that her mind was wandering off. "Yep, still here. Just thinking about how much has happened in the last year, that's all."

Masaru chuckled. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"Not recently enough," she teased. Even when they were busy, they always made a point to send each other at least one text message a day, even if it was just to say hi. Sometimes she would be drifting off to sleep at the end of the day and suddenly remember that she still needed to text him.

"Well, I love you, my angel," he said softly. That was his pet name for her. It started as an inside joke, but as time went on, he started saying it just as naturally as her real name.

"I love you too, Saru-chan. I hope you have a great week." With that, she hung up the phone and sighed. To be honest, she longed to feel his arms around her again. She couldn't wait until the next time he could be curled up next to her with his head on her chest, getting his hair played with. For now, though, she needed to do her homework. She picked up the textbook on the floor and opened it to the chapter her class was covering. For a split second she thought about calling Kagami to ask for help, but she couldn't do that anymore.

Out of all her family members, Tsukasa missed Kagami more than anyone else. They didn't always get along, but she never doubted for a second how much her older twin loved her. Even so, Kagami was also the biggest critic of Masaru and Tsukasa getting together. Not only was he Tsukasa's first boyfriend, but Kagami didn't trust him to not take advantage of Tsukasa. In the months since they got together, she kept her distance from him. Tsukasa hated feeling like she was in the middle, but she held out hope that the two could reconcile.

"Actually, before I start on this, I should get a vase for these flowers."