Chapter 3

Sitting in her seat, Sakura quietly scribbled in a notebook paying no mind to her surroundings while the front of the room was becoming quite chatty. Satou, Karuizawa, and crew in particular were talking with an energy than shouldn't be allowed in the morning. Every so often in one of the groupies would sneak a glance at a certain someone. Pretending not to notice he would let out a yawn or rub his eyes.

"Having fun Kiyo-pon?" Sneaking up on him, a familiar face with a childish smile poked his cheek. Beside her, rubbing his temple in frustration, was another student who Kiyotaka also knew very well.

"Haruka and Akito huh. As you can see, I'm quite drained." He groaned, lifting his head.

"Kiyo-pon you should be happier; girls are competing to get at you. It's not exactly common, I mean look at Akito, still single."

"Ouch, you don't have to bring me into this." Akito replied with a slightly displeased.

"Speaking of this guy, Kiyo-pon did you know that Akito was a scaredy-cat? You should have heard him scream. His face was so funny, I totally forgot what we were doing.".

"Don't make things up!" He objected. "Kiyotaka, she's lying. You should have seen her when she noticed a spider crawling on her shoe, she-," Haruka swung her elbow towards his stomach but Akito stopped it the palm of his hand. "-immediately turned tail and ran only to end up getting lost. You have no idea how long it took me to find her." Akito explained while dodging blows from Haruka.

While the two played cat and mouse, Horikita walked in with Sudou nipping at her heels followed by Chabashira sensei. Her entrance signaled the start of class and then began the waste of a few hours he'd never regain.

At lunchtime, Satou quickly stole the seat beside Kiyotaka once again while Kei could only watch with anger. Careful to steer the topics away from Kei, Satou subtly increased their skin ship so that they sat nearly shoulder to shoulder. Once lunch ended, she casually closed with the same question as last time. Just like last time, there wasn't room for an answer aside from yes. Securing another opportunity to snag him away, she walked away with a victorious smile.

Two hours later classes had finally ended. Horikita made a quick exit while Sudou was putting his notebooks away. Unable to catch up with Horikita, Sudou grabbed the closest person to him, Yamauchi, and vented as usual.

Dreading the thought of being caught up in the aftermath, Kiyotaka picked up his bag and left the classroom. The fastest way to get to the dorms from the classroom was to take the exit under the stairs behind the classroom. From there you could walk around the building and head straight to the dorm. Since the exit was hidden under the darkness cast by the staircase, Kiyotaka was the only one who knew about it.

Going the same way he did, he passed under the staircase and reached for the door handle. His fingers had just fallen on the cold steel handle when an unknown forced sucked him to the side like a vacuum, and planted his back on the underside of the stairs.

Knitted brows and furious eyes glared at him.

"Kei what're you doing?"

Upon hearing his question, her eyebrows furrowed even further. Her hand grabbed his tie tightly and yanked his neck towards her so that only centimeters stood between their faces.

"What am I doing? WHAT'RE YOU DOING!?"

"..."

"You're letting Satou get close to you, and you ask me why?! Even though, EVEN THOUGH you already have me, you're acting as if you don't have a care in the world!" She said with her face inches away from his. Before he could reply back, she let go of his tie and averted her eyes.

The violent hurricane had subsided and now there only remained a pair of sad eyes and a quiet voice. "It's like you don't care as much as I do."

"Sorry."

"Well, 'sorry' isn't good enough!" She turned to leave.

"Wait!" He grabbed her hand.

"WHAT?!" She shouted angrily.

"I'm sorry. I mean it." He spoke firmly as he stared into her angry eyes.

"I didn't do it because I had ulterior motives. You and Satou are friends, I didn't want you guys to have a falling out because of me. I didn't consider your feelings and for that I'm sorry. I'll turn down Satou's invitation." Laying his faults before her, he displayed an unnatural sincerity Kei couldn't brush aside.

"So? What are you going to do now?"

"Can I buy you lunch tomorrow?"

The next day, as promised, the two spent lunch together. The night before, he'd informed Satou that he wouldn't be able to get lunch with her. That had been the first step. Now the second step was to gain Kei's forgiveness.

Although she'd been angry the day before, it had quelled quite a bit overnight. The two got lunch together and sat down. Kiyotaka ate a simple lunch while Kei was enjoying the most expensive item on the cafeteria menu.

Once they had finished eating, they moved outside and strolled through the facility together.

"You're not off the hook yet you know." Kei reminded him.

"Yeah I know."

"But this is a good start. For the rest of the week you'll have to do as I say."

"If it'll make you feel better."

"Good." She said with a happy look. "Now sit with me. I want to show you something."

They sat down at a bench outside. Moving closer beside him, Kei shared her phone screen with him. It was a photo of her in a dress.

"So…how does it look." She averted her gaze. He picked up the hint.

"You look pretty." The tips of her ears started heating up.

"…I have more if you want to see." He nodded.

Swiping her finger, she showed him clothes she'd bought recently and eagerly chirped away about her feelings about the clothes while asking what he thought of them. Not sure what to say he would give her a nod or agree with her. When she was on her tenth dress, Kiyotaka spoke up.

"That looks cute."

Kei's eyes lit up and a small blush appeared across her cheeks when she heard that. Quickly she swiped to all her favorite outfits and explained in detail about her thought process in picking it out. As the conversation continued, Kiyotaka unknowingly let out a smile. The way Kei so passionately spoke about the things she liked made him feel something new. This side of her was very cute. Attentively listening to her, their conversation continued smoothly and ever so slightly, a warm atmosphere began to form around the two. An atmosphere that gave the opposite feeling to a certain girl with dark magenta and wavy hair.

Curious as to why Kiyotaka had cancelled on her, Satou had decided to spy on him. At first, she felt rage that he'd chosen Kei over her, but as the minutes ticked by, it soon turned to jealousy then sadness. Why wasn't it her? Just how many times had she imagined herself doing the same thing with him only to see someone else take her place. The way he was acting with Kei, he'd never acted with her. The smile he made while Kei eagerly waved her hands around was so authentic. The attention he was giving Kei was so natural that it made it seem like the way he looked at her was two dimensional. She'd never seen him be like this with her. It hurt. Before that feeling could show itself on her face, she disappeared without a trace.

Chimes sounded throughout the school to signal the end of lunch and the two headed back to class, Kei making Kiyotaka promise to continue where they left off after class was over. Meeting up for the second time in the day, the two picked up their previous conversation. After about an hour, Kei's phone suddenly buzzed. Remembering she had made plans previously, Kei reluctantly left to go study in the school library. With no reason to linger any longer, Kiyotaka went to his room. He exited the school and arrived at the dorm.

Just as he was entering the staircase, he was stopped.

"Ayanokouji-kun?" A girl's voice came from behind him.

Suddenly finding himself walking back with Satou, a strange awkwardness filled the atmosphere. Neither was talking and he didn't know what to say.

"Why Kei?" Disturbing the silence with a question, Satou stopped him just as they approached the dormitory.

"Huh?" The question had come out of nowhere.

"Why didn't you choose me?" She looked up with pleading eyes.

"I'm cute and really fun to be around. I can make you food and I won't get in your way. I'm not clingy and you won't ever see me messing around with guys." Satou continued to list off all her good qualities but the distance between the two didn't get any closer.

"I know, try going out with me just once more. I'll show you that we belong together." A desperate look washed over her face. Her words no longer sounded like requests but pleas. Satou was a good person and she did have all the qualities she'd listed previously. She'd make a great girlfriend yet it didn't feel right.

"Satou, that's enough." He said sternly.

"I've already made my decision. You're beautiful and have a great personality but the way I feel around Kei, I don't think anyone else can replicate it. I'm sorry but I can't go out with you."

"Even if I beg and plead, would you still say no?" Clinging onto a strand of hope, she didn't give up.

"…"

"If you don't like the way I am, I'll change."

To go to such lengths for him, it made him feel weird and not in a good way.

"I'll change, so won't you say you will?"

He lowered his gaze to the floor. The weight was immeasurable, but he couldn't say yes. Even if tears were dripping from her eyes, even if she was begging and pleading, even if she was going so far as to change herself to his liking, he couldn't say yes.

"I'm sorry but I can't."

Satou's eyes wavered and tears lined her eyes. She apologized for wasting his time and promptly left for her room as tears marked her tracks.

Kiyotaka took a deep breath then exhaled. She really liked him more so than he realized. Uneasiness filled his chest. So, this was rejection, it didn't feel very good, but he didn't have the luxury of waiting around. There was one more thing he had to do.

"You can come out now."

CLANG

The noise came from behind the dorm's janitorial storage shed.

From behind the brick wall appeared Kei.

"Weren't you supposed to be at the library?"

"I was walking over there but when I saw her with you, I couldn't just leave it alone," she stammered trying to explain everything.

Kiyotaka shook his head. "Have some faith will you."

"Sorry." She apologized a voice that was neither quiet nor loud. Looking at him, his words rang in her head. She couldn't be replicated; in other words, she was special to him. Irreplaceable. When was the last time someone had felt that way towards her? She couldn't remember.

"It's fine," he reassured her as he ruffled her hair playfully.

The corners of her mouth turned up into a bashful smile. How could she not, after all, she was happy. Happy that he had rejected Satou. Happy that he said he cherished her, and happy that he chose her over another.

"Let's go inside now."

She grabbed his arm before he could take a step away.

"Can I come over?"

The minimalist and fairly neat room didn't seem like anything special to Kiyotaka, but it felt completely different to Kei. An odd excitement filled Kei when she walked into the very normal room. Kiyotaka watched as she looked around his room and inspected his belongings. Finally done searching the place, she took off her shoes and placed them on the floor. Falling back-first onto the bed she patted the space beside her. When did she get so bold? Kiyotaka wondered while he laid on the bed beside her.

"Thank you." She whispered genuinely.

"For what." As far as Kiyotaka knew, she had no reason to be thanking him. In all honesty she had more of a reason to hate him.

"Everything. When I'm in trouble you help me. When I'm in danger you protect me. When I'm scared, you reassure me. When I don't feel good, you look out for me. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you, but I still want to thank you from the bottom of my heart." Nuzzling her head onto his chest, she let herself grow comfortable and for the first time in what felt like forever, she let down her guard.

"I-I love you." She said shyly while hugging his chest.

Kiyotaka's eyes widened. It wasn't the first time she'd said it but even so the weight of her words surprised him. Out of anybody else in the world, Kei was probably the only one who harnessed such powerful feelings for him. If it was her, maybe he could trust in her love.

"...me too," he whispered.

Laying her head on his arm she stared at his face, examining every part of it. Separated by no more than a few inches Kei gazed into his eyes and Kiyotaka hers. The next thing he knew, they were no longer separated. Tender lips pressed against his. Staring at the girl before him, surprise turned into sweetness and he softened his expression. Lips parted flushing both of their faces. Realizing what she'd done, Kei's face became bright red.

"Sorry! I don't what I was thinking." She frantically tried explaining herself but it didn't really matter to Kiyotaka. He let out a chuckle.

"Why are you laughing?!" Kei said half angry and half worried.

He continued laughing.

"What's so funny!" Angry now, she jabbed him in the side.

"Ow. Well, seeing you act so cute, how could I not?" At the same time, he placed his hand on hers.

Using his arms like a seatbelt, he locked her into his embrace. Caught off guard the usually sassy Kei was speechless.

"...Mou, you could have just said that instead."

To that statement, Kiyotaka responded by planting a kiss on her forehead, Kei followed up by pushing him down on the bed. After playfully pushing each other around in between kisses for a while, Kei rested her head on his arm, while Kiyotaka stroked her hair.

Before they knew it, two hours had passed. As bold as Kei was, she wasn't quite ready to sleep over at a boy's place. Reluctantly she got up from her favorite pillow and stole a final kiss before she left.

"Can I come again" she asked, her hand on the doorknob.

"Only if you agree to be my girlfriend."

The following day their class was bustling with noise. The girls were gossiping and the boys were huddled up together. The classroom door slid open and the once noisy classroom went to pin drop silence. Kiyotaka walked through the door. Eyes followed him as he walked to his seat.

As soon as he set his bag down, Ike approached him.

"Yo, Ayanokouji." He called out with a mischievous grin.

"What's up Ike?" Ayanokouji asked with a confused look.

"Don't "what's up" me. You know what I'm here for right?" Ike said with a bit of a frustrated look.

"No, not really."

"I saw it, you know. You always seemed so uninterested in girls, but having one over so late in the night, especially Hirata's ex? I misjudged you man. Never thought you were such a player, but then again seeing how quick Karuizawa was to get with Hirata, it must have been easy to get a girl like her. After-"

The squeaky sound of a chair sliding back interrupted him but he paid it no mind.

"After all girls like those-"

A hand came out of nowhere and smacked Ike across the face, sending him tumbling backwards.

"Don't ever talk about my friend that way." Shinohara said, her eyes red with rage.

As if on cue, the door of the class opened and in walked Kei. Everyone's gaze shifted towards her abruptly enough to stop her in her tracks. She looked around nervously trying to make sense of why she'd become the center of attention. Parting through the sea of eyes, Kiyotaka walked towards her. Taking her hand in his, he cleared his throat.

"I guess I should clear things up. We're going out now. It's perfectly reasonable for my girlfriend to come over to my place. Also, since you didn't know any better Ike, I'll let it slide, but if anyone ever calls Kei an 'easy girl' I won't take it sitting down." He wasn't loud but the entire class got the message.

"Wow."

Haruka began clapping her hands, soon after the rest of the girls and some of the guys joined in on it as the class began looking at newly proclaimed couple in awe.

The glamorous atmosphere didn't last forever. As soon as Hirata entered, he took in the situation and worked his lyrical magic so that nobody would have any ill will.

Right after the last class before lunch ended, Haruka went out with Sakura to get food somewhere together. Kei was dragged along by some girls in the class so they could hear the insider information. On the other side of the classroom Akito and Keisei also made their leave together.

"How unfortunate, your friends and girlfriend have all left. Honestly, I didn't think you were capable of such an intimate human relationship. I guess people can change." Horikita said to Kiyotaka with an amused look.

"Yeah, now if only you could change that attitude of yours as well." Hearing that Horikita began to make another snide comment but the arrival of the ever-so-eager Sudou ruined her plans. While Horikita battled Sudou, there was a different battle of words happening elsewhere.

On the track field, two girls were sitting together. Tiny sobs came from Sakura as Haruka rubbed her back. "It'll be okay Sakura. There are plenty of other people, you'll definitely find someone." Sakura shook her head. "There's nobody else." Haruka let out a sigh and continued to console Sakura, unaware that at the same time Shinohara was doing the same to Satou.

By the end of lunch two broken hearts had been repaired to an extent. To draw the curtains on this chapter of her life, Satou had decided to take some time away from her friends. Sakura's biggest regret had been her failure to confess. With the help of Haruka, Sakura met with Ayanokouji after school. It was then she laid her feelings bare, Ayanokouji thanked her but couldn't reciprocate them. After a long hug and tears, they were able to remain as friends as per both of their wishes.

The last event of the day was a series of text messages between the newly announced couple with the last message being:

Then I'll see you Friday for the date Kiyotaka :) XD