Disclaimer: I don't own Karekano or any of it's characters BUT I do own this story.

Cherry Blossoms

By Maya Kitajima

Chapter 3

"Miyazawa-san! Miyazawa-san!" She heard someone call her name. She turned around and saw Reiko, one of her classmates.

"Hey, Reiko!" She shouted through the loud crowd. She and Kanata were standing in the middle of the people, accepting praises and cheers from them because of their excellent performance in the recent Math test. She was accustomed in this kind of stuff, but Kanata. She was very happy for him. She had helped him study for this test and he got the ninth place.

"Miyazawa-san." Her classmate caught her breath as she reached her.

"What is it, Reiko?"

"It's Arima-kun."

"Arima?"

"Yes, Miyazawa-san. He has collapsed!" Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Collapsed?" She giggled nervously. "Don't joke me, Reiko. He will never…He won't…"

"I'm telling the truth, Miyazawa! Now come with me." She pulled her and Yukino didn't hesitate. But suddenly, somebody grabbed her wrists.

"Yukino. Where are you going? Aren't you enjoying this?" It was Kanata.

"Kanata, Arima has fainted. I must go to him."

"Fainted? Don't believe in those rumors, Yukino. People are probably making things up because he didn't get in the Top 20."

"He didn't?"

Oh my God! I didn't notice it but yes, I didn't see his name in the list. Oh my…Souichiro.

She felt a tug on her other arm.

"Miyazawa-san, let's go!" Reiko said impatiently. She turned back to Kanata.

"Rumor or not, Kanata, I must go to him. I can feel it. He needs me."

"But, Yukino, how about the crowd? They're happy for the both of us. We should be together." Yukino frowned and

snatched her arm from him.

"I MUST see him."

And she ran off, leaving him disappointed.

She opened the clinic door without hesitation and went in.

"Miyazawa-san. I've been expecting you. Come in. Arima's still unconscious." The nurse announced.

I opened the curtain that separated the room. On the bed was a pale-looking guy, who was apparently Arima.

Oh my God! Is that Arima? Oh no…

She sat beside him on the bed and took his hand on hers. She stroked his hair.

"Are you okay, Souichiro? Please be…" she whispered.

He fell into consciousness as he heard her soothing voice. Her soft warm hands caressed his cheek and held his hand.

It was heaven for him.

Slowly and carefully, he opened his eyes and saw her. The one who he has been longing for.

"Yukino." He saw her broke into a smile. She hugged him.

"Oh, Souichiro. I'm SO glad you're okay. I was so worried! You were so pale and so…so…" She burst crying and buried her face in his chest.

He smiled and he hugged her back, pulling her closer to him.

"Yukino, don't worry anymore. I'm okay. So don't cry now." She wiped her tears away and stared at Arima's deep eyes.

"Arima, I'm sorry. You didn't get in the…"

"That's okay. It's my fault anyway. I didn't study."

"You didn't? Now that's weird." He chuckled.

"I just can't concentrate… With you going out with Kanata…" She gasped.

"You were thinking about that? But I thought you understood."

"Of course, I understood. It's just that you might be falling for him already, Yukino."

"What? Of course not! He's just a friend! What made you doubt me like that?"

"Do you remember? You promised you'd go home with me…you said that last Monday. But whom did you go home with on Tuesday? On Wednesday? On Thursday? Friday? You always gave your word…but you never did it…"

"Arima, don't be so childish! It was just going home!"

"But it meant A LOT to me!" He paused as he caught his breath in his sudden outburst. "You're my girlfriend, Yukino. I want to know you more. I want to be with you." Yukino didn't say anything.

"Promise me, Yukino. For the second time. And now I don't want you to break it. Promise me you'll go out with me tomorrow." He gazed into her hazel eyes, but she looked away.

"Souichiro, Kanata already asked…"

He suddenly grabbed her chin and pushed it so she would face him.

"Promise me…" He repeated, this time with a smile.

Yukino didn't hesitate anymore. All she needed was that smile. His warm genuine smile that made her knees weak.

She returned his smile and leaned forward.

"I promise." She whispered in his ear. And she kissed him…full on the lips.

Arima swore he could die right now. Yukino's kiss was too much for him. It made him forget all about Kanata. It made forget that he was still feeling a little dizzy. It made him remember how much he was in love with this girl.

Yukino stopped to breathe.

I'm not quite done with you, girl…

Souichiro used one arm to embrace her and pull him closer to him while he fixed the other on Yukino's jaw. This time, it was his turn to send shivers through his kiss.

"Thank you, Yukino." He said as they parted. She beamed at him.

"Yes, and this time, Souichiro, I won't break it."

"Thanks for going home with me today, Miyazawa."

"Not at all. Besides, I'd kill myself if I don't assure that you got home safely today. Especially now that I learn you have a slight heart problem." He grinned.

"Please be careful on your way home."

"Yeah. But before I do Arima, I'm gonna let myself in your house and make sure you go straight to bed. That's what the nurse advised."

"Yes, ma'am." They smiled at each other.

When they arrived at his house, Yukino waited as he took a shower. When he was done, she tucked him to bed.

"You're very like a mother, Yukino."

"Really? Well, at least I now have a future AS a good mother." She joked. "Well, I'll go now. Make sure you sleep at once, Souichiro."

"Yes, yes." He reached up and touched her cheek with a finger. "Goodnight, Yukino." She smiled at him.

"Goodnight." She then leaned forward and pecked him on the forehead. She turned and went out the door.

However, just as she closed his door, he heard Kanata's voice greet him outside. He frowned, got up and listened to them by the door.

"Please have hot chocolate first before you leave, Yukino."

"Okay, Kanata."

He heard them go down the stairs. He then opened the door and peeked outside.

They're downstairs…

He tiptoed down and stopped just outside the living room.

"Is my cousin alright?"

"Yes. Though we found out he had a slight heart problem."

"Oh…that's bad." Silence fell upon them.

"Yukino, do you love him?"

"Yes…very much."

"But-"

"Don't say anything you might regret, Kanata."

"But I do love you, Yukino."

"……"

"Please give me a chance."

There was silence again.

What are they doing!

He frowned.

I'm gonna look inside…

But as he took a glimpse inside, he gasped.

Kanata was kissing Yukino!