Part 4
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Surprisingly, Naota woke up to the sound of a motor running. A Vespa's motor running.

Well, that was a stupid idea. You coulda died, and then Taro-kun really would be dead. He heard that familiar voice as he turned his head to the source of the running motor, he turned away. Naota was tempted to just give out a fuck off' but wait -she'd already done that. Instead, he just remained silent.

Come on. Go home. I know Taro-kun isn't stupid.

My name's not Taro-kun'. Don't you know that by now?

When he didn't hear a reply, he made to turn around -but was met with a Rickenbacker bass.


Haruko had Naota sitting in front of her on the Vespa despite his slight growth from the last time they rode like that. Why the hell'd you do that for? he asked angrily, his headache making it hard to want to say anything at all.

You were being stubborn... and stupid. she replied flatly.

As pissed off as he was and as much as his head ached, he couldn't help but enjoy being so close to Haruko... with the slight chance that she was out here because she cared.

Like you aren't. he added.

What'd you say, Ta-kun?! she yelled, pulling on his cheek, the Vespa swerving across the road. I didn't say anything! he yelled back, innocently. They just missed a passing car. Like hell you didn't! she grinned, practically tackling him despite the fact that she was still in control of the Vespa. Naota laughed.

When they pulled up to the bakery, Canti could be seen shaking out a sheet from the upstairs. Kamon could be seen from the outside of the shop. Naota's mood fell. Haruko parked the moped and stepped off of it. Canti! Go and get Ta-kun something to eat!

I'm not hungry -and why does he have to get it anyway? Naota began until he found his feet in the air and Haruko's arms lifting him up. Hey -what the-

Lunch time for Ta-kun!


Naota found himself staring at the spoon coming towards him as he sat on his bed. Open up for the flying moped... Haruko said, then continued to imitate the sound of the motor -which she did quite well actually.

This is so stupid. he said flatly, not motioning to accept the spoonnowmoped.

You gotta eat something. You've only eaten one meal in the past two days. she replied, bringing the spoonnolongermoped down for a moment.

I told you, I'm not hungry.

Fine then. Plan B.

Plan wh-

Naota was cut off as he found Haruko in his lap. With a confused look, he watched as she proceeded to down some of the last night's soup. Before he could finish his question about Plan B -she was kissing him, only she pushed all of the soup from her mouth to his. He quickly pulled back, soup ended up dripping down both their chins.

Ugh, that's disgusting! he shouted, wiping his mouth off.

Haruko pouted her lips. What, Ta-kun doesn't like me anymore?

No! -wait. I... Naota paused. Angrily, he looked away from her. He tensed up as he felt her arms snake around his waist. With a burst of pent of anger, he suddenly pushed Haruko away from him.

Why don't you just go and fuck my dad again?!

She frowned. He wasn't supposed to get this angry.

Naota continued to yell.

You're like some damn whore! Why the hell are you even here, anyway?! Why can't just leave me alone? his voice broke. To his dismay, his eyes watered and he could barely breathe passed the lump in his throat. He immediately regret his words as soon as they had left his mouth.

To Haruko's surprise, it hurt.

She stood up from her position from where Naota pushed her away, looking upon him with an unreadable gaze. Every second that passed by was a lifetime. Almost as if his life was passing by in slow motion, Haruko turned towards the door. She was leaving.

Naota forced sound up from his throat.



His face was wet.

... Don't go...

Haruko paused.

He took a shaky breath. I... I didn't mean it.

Her eyes shifted over to his. There was a strong pang in her chest, and then something occurred that had never taken place before in her whole life. She regret what she did.

A few fatally silent moments passed.

Naota grabbed hold of Haruko's sleeve.

Don't leave me.

Haruko stood perfectly still and took a deep breath. She spoke in a low voice that Naota had rarely ever heard.

Does Ta-kun want Haruko to stay or not?

He shut his eyes.

I love you.

After another moment, Haruko walked toward Naota, placing her arms around him like she originally intended. He let her.

You should go to bed.

... It's not even two in the afternoon yet.

Maybe... it's just one of those days.

Naota let Haruko lead him back over to his bed. She laid him down before lying down next to him.

Are you going to leave me?

she placed a finger on his lips.

You're going to leave.

Haruko brought his head against her chest, over her heart. No, I won't.


They didn't sleep. Naota's eyes were shut, but he was listening to her heartbeat once again. Haruko was in deep thought.


Why was she still there?

Why did it hurt so much?

His harsh words still resounded in her ears, cutting through her like glass. She wasn't supposed to care. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Hell, she didn't know the real reason why she was there in the first place. None of this was supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to care. But she did.


After a while of imagining the way her pulse would feel again, Naota gazed upwards. Haruko was looking down at him.

You never tell me anything. he stated, shifting so that he was eye level with her.

I told you I was staying. she responded calmly.

Why are you here?

An unreadable look passed over her face.

He continued Why did you come back?

She still did not answer. He asked his last question.

What do you want?


Haruko's eyebrows formed an arc.




Naota couldn't help but feel his cheeks go warm. Slowly, as if the wrong move would make her go away again, he brought his hand to her cheek. To his surprise, a glowing silk soft hand covered his. Tentatively, his moved his face closer to hers.

Are you serious? he asked her softly, hoping against everything that the hand placed over his would not abandon him.

she repeated sincerely. At this, he closed the space between them.

Their lips met delicately at first. As soft as the skin of a ripe clementine.

Then a wave of previously surpressed desire hit Naota, and slowly he brought his hand down from her cheek and around her waist bringing their bodies closer together. His lips began to brush hers with more want... more need. Haruko placed her hand onto the back of his neck as she once more deepened their kiss.

Naota's heart pounding in his ears, his mouth traveled down to the spot where he could feel her pulse against his lips. It could feel it now with his whole mouth, and he noticed how much faster her pulse was now then the morning before. This prompted him to take his hand and place it over Haruko's left breast.

Her heart was practically racing. He was the reason why.

At this, Naota paused.




She cracked her eyes open to look at him. she asked so softly he almost didn't hear her.

he started. He took a deep breath.

This was going to be the hardest thing he ever had to do. But he had to.

Do you... love me?


Her eyes widened a bit, showing her surprise.

She may have wanted him, but that was different from loving him. And Naota needed to know which it was.

Haruko took a breath. Why had she come back to that desolate little part of the universe? Why had she returned to Naota?

Happy knowing she had something to loose...


He gulped. She would leave now, or if not now, the next day, while he was sleeping. Maybe after they had... She would be leaving him, either way. Sooner or later. Maybe it would hurt less this way? Who was he fooling?

He would die.


Haruko began to run her fingers through the hair at the nape of Naota's neck as her breath resounded in the otherwise silent room, everything was waiting on her response.

I... love you, Ta-kun.

A moment passed by while the sounds that had left her mouth traveled into his ears and registered in his head.

Before he could have stopped himself, he buried his head in the crook of her neck, and cried tears of three and a half years, or maybe more, of locked up emotion.