It's been a bit. Been busy. Sorry for the short upload, but I hope this stirs some interest. I don't intend on abandoning any of my fics, but it will take some time. Hope y'all like it.

Please review to fuel my motivation.

Beta: XenoTime39

"Good morning Sairenji-chan," Rito said, greeting Haruna with a smile.

'Ah, Rito-kun. How was your morning?" Haruna said before thinking to herself, 'I wonder what antics Rito-kun and Lala-chan got up to.'

"Eventful, as usu- oof!" Rito said.

"Good morning Haruna-chan! How are you!" Lala cut in, hugging Haruna.

"Ah, Lala-chan. I'm doing alright."

"That's good to hear. Tennis has been keeping you busy, right?" Rito asked.

'You're always so attentive to what's happening to me, Rito-kun. So caring.' Not wishing to be lost in her thoughts, Haruna gave a smile, saying, "Yes. I've been training hard with my teammates everyday, so I don't have much time after class."

"Lala and I will be rooting for you! If you need any help, just ask and we'll rush to your rescue!"

A blush made its way quickly to Haruna's face at Rito's word choice. 'I-I'm not surprised Rito-kun said something as embarrassing as that. H-he's always been that way. I was just a little late to realize the charm of that.'

Lala attached herself to Rito's arm as she nodded her head in agreement. "Rito's right! We're on your side, Haruna-chan!"

Haruna felt a pang in her heart just at the sight of Lala's easily displayed affection for Rito. It was obvious what was going on and truly, Haruna was happy for them, but she couldn't help but wish things were different.

Even while class started, Haruna's mind trailed on as the target of her thoughts.

Rito Yuuki.

Recent events have led him to be popping up in her head over and over again. Certain… troubling events.

It was the arrival of Lala that made Haruna question her earlier actions even more. She had tried to lay them to rest by maybe over time opening up to Rito about her feelings. Lala's presence showed that that option was no longer available.

A deep pang in her heart pulsed everytime she remembers that day. The day she rejected Rito.

'I hadn't known Rito for very long so I was taken aback by his sudden confession. All I could even say to Rito at the time was 'Can we start as friends first?' I-I should've given a better response to his feelings after we had become friends.'

"Sairenji-san? Sairenji-san? Can you read the following passage?" the teacher asked, seeing Haruna's glazed gaze.

"Ah, yes sir!" Haruna said, snapping out of her thoughts.

But even while class carried on, Haruna's thoughts carried on.

'There's a certain amount of irony at play here, right? The one I rejected is the one I don't wish to be rejected from. It's hypocrisy I know, but I know in my heart that Rito has a special place here. Hopefully I'll be able to stay by his side.'

'It… feels as if Lala is taking him away, not just by being the one he likes, but in the physical sense. If I don't try to extend my hand to Rito's, he might end up very far away from me. That's a very scary thought.'

After some time had passed, it was lunchtime and so the entire group sat together as usual.

"Haruna-chan, your lunch looks so good. Do you cook it yourself," Lala asked.

"Y-yes, I cook every lunch for me and my sister," Haruna answered.

"Ah that's right," Rito said, "You're a bit more responsible than your older sister. If I remember right, she was a little lazy."

"Eh? I didn't know Haruna-chan had a sister. When did you meet her, Rito?" Lala asked.

"I was delivering some school papers to Sairenji-chan while she was sick," Rito murmured, thinking back to the incident.

'Oh, that's right. It was at that time that I realized something special,' Haruna thought, her mind looking back to that day.

Haruna had already rejected Rito a few months before this happened, but Rito kept being friends with her as if nothing had changed. Rito and Haruna became so close that the teacher noticed and so asked Rito to deliver homework papers to Haruna's house.

"Can't you two go with me? Don't you wanna visit Sairenji-chan?" Rito asked Risa and Sawada only for the both of them to giggle at him.

"No no no, Yuuki. This is your job." Risa said.

"Yeah, go do your best. Give Haruna-chan our regards though," Sawada added.

With their rejection, Rito used the directions given by the teacher and walked up to the door of Haruna's home.

After ringing the doorbell, a familiar face came to the door but not who Rito expected.

It was as if an older Haruna came to the door! Rito tried to compose himself as he said, "Um, I'm here to give some of Haruna's schoolwork?"

"Awww, are you Rito? Haruna-chan talks about you all the time. Come on in! I'm Akiho, her sister." Haruna's sister was very different from Haruna, astonishing Rito. Her manner of dress didn't exactly leave much to the imagination as well.

Akiho took notice of Rito's reaction. "Oh don't be shy. Haruna-chan is up right now. You have to take your chance now if you're going to give her the rundown on what she missed!"

"Ah, I can just hand her papers to you. I don't really have anything to say to her-"

"It's not trouble at all! Go right ahead and say hi to Haruna-chan. She's especially cute while sick y'know," Akiho said, pushing Rito to Haruna's door before opening it and shoving him inside.

"N-Nee-san! That's not funny," Haruna whispered out sickly from her bed. She was clearly out of it, but was able to take notice of the situation. "Ri-Rito-kun, sorry for nee-san's pushiness. I-" she said while sitting up in her bed.

"Don't push yourself," Rito interrupted her, putting her papers on her desk before kneeling down to her level by the bed. "Hmm, you're still very sick. You should be resting."

"I got hungry," an embarrassed voice answered.

"Ah, but," Rito put his hand underneath her bangs and against her forehead, "you still have a high fever. Rest."

Haruna shivered at Rito's cold touch before looking up at Rito's warm gaze. "Thanks, Rito-kun. You're always so understanding a-and helpful." Haruna, in her sickened state, was much more vulnerable than usual.

'Rito-kun, huh. I thought the first was a mistake, but she must be really tired,' Rito thought. "It's no problem, Sairenji-chan. Momoika and Sawada give their regards as do I. Get better soon," Rito said warmly before exiting the room.

'That warmth, those words that make me feel all tingly inside. R-Rito-kun, you really are a nice guy. Always so welcoming and thoughtful.' Haruna's thoughts drifted off as she grew drowsy.

"I… I think I like you, Ri…to-kun," Haruna fell to sleep saying those words.

The next morning, Haruna awoke feeling refreshed, making a full recovery from her fever. Upon remembering Rito's visit and her thoughts from that day, a bright red blush covered her face. 'I-I've fallen in love with Rito-kun!'

As Haruna looked back upon her past self realizing her crush for Rito, she could only look back in regret at not acting faster on those realized feelings. 'Maybe, I've lost my chance,' The last bell quickly broke her out of her thoughts as she realized school was over.

(-)

'What a shame tennis practice was canceled due to Sasuga-sensei having an after-school meeting. I was hoping to blow off some steam.' Haruna thought to herself as she walked back home alone.

Haruna was stuck in her thoughts in quiet contemplation as she walked through the streets of Sainan.

'Lala and Rito do suit each other well. Lala is an out of this world girl and Rito is Rito, but something in my heart urges me on. Am I even allowed to show my heart to Rito after I broke his? '

Haruna shook her head. 'Maybe I'll ask Nee-san for some advice. She always seems to know what to do.'

"Oh, Sairenji-chan. On your way home?"

'That voice… it's…' Haruna thought. "Yuuki-kun?" The two of them were near a playground. Rito seemingly was alone sitting on one of the swings.

"You're on your way back early. Practice must've gotten canceled," Rito noted before his face morphed to concern, "Are you okay, Sairenji-chan?"

"What do you mean?"

Rito scratched the back of his head, "Well, you looked sort of out of it. If something was bothering you, I wanted to see if I could help, you know?"

'Ah, Rito is being thoughtful again. It's… nice to occupy some of his thoughts.' "I'm fine, Yuuki-kun. Just a bit under the weather."

"Ah. I hope you get better soon in that case," Rito gave a shy smile before starting to push forward on his swing. "Do you wanna chat for a bit?"

Haruna, caught off guard by the question, just nodded as she took to the swing next to her. "Did you have anything you wanted to talk about?"

"Not really."

Haruna wasn't fazed by his response."How are you doing then? You and Lala always seem to be having fun."

"Oh? Well I can't deny that. Lala's pretty unpredictable so usually that means something new to do is always available."

"That sounds a little exhausting."

"It is," Rito admitted, "But there's something about going out of my comfort zone everyday that fulfills me."

"That very thought scares me. I feel like it's not my right to go outside my comfort zone."

"Not your right? I'm not sure I understand."

Haruna elaborated. "If I were to take that leap, take that chance, I'd be troubling someone else greatly."

"Hmm, I see. That's so like you, Haruna. You never want to cause anyone trouble." Rito said. "But, I think you have your thoughts all backwards."

"Backwards?"

"If you're close to someone, then they usually want to be troubled by you if you need help. Even if you don't need help or you have some other situation to deal with, bottling it up doesn't help anything."

Haruna began moving her swing. "But what if by not bottling it up, others' feelings could be hurt. Is it not better for one person to be hurt rather than spreading the hurt to others?"

"I think that it's better to work through that hurt with the help of others even if everyone sorta takes a blow. Also, friends don't want other friends to be hurting alone even if it's for their benefit. Or at least that's what I think!"

Haruna looked up at Rito as his swing went high before he jumped off of it. 'His face- its so bright and warm!'

"So, Sairenji-chan," Rito said, once he stood up from his landing. "If you ever need some help, don't hesitate to ask me. And even if you don't ask me, Momoika, Sawada, and even Lala are there for you as well! Don't worry about troubling us!"

'Rito… even if you say that, I don't want to hurt you or Lala. But… I don't want to hold these feelings inside forever. You're special to me Rito.'

Haruna's thoughts moved fast as she parted ways from Rito. 'Even if I don't want to hurt anyone though, I must let my heart stop beating out of my chest everytime I think of Rito. I… want to be with Rito, so I must resolve myself, even resolve myself to maybe hurt Lala.'

A determined look made its way to Haruna's face as a twinkle appeared in her eye.

'I've decided then. I'll trouble Rito and Lala. Even if I don't deserve to realize these feelings, to take advantage of Rito, I will! From now on, I'll do my best to occupy a place in your heart Rito!'