December 13: Tuesday

"Kaichou…?" Suoh lifted a bunch of paperwork just to get through the president's table. It's been two days since Nokoru did some progress in the student council. "I would like to talk of something." He said as he fixed his tie.

The blonde approached his friend and smiled, "I know, Suoh." He closed his fan and hit gently Suoh's shoulder. "Are you going to meet Nagisa-jo at the airport?"

"H-Hai…" Suoh bowed to his best friend with exaggerated respect and hoped to allow him to meet her at this time at such short notice. "May I go to meet her, Kaichou?"

Nokoru crouched down and looked at Suoh's face. "?"

"Onegai shimasu (1)!" He pleaded, still in his bowing position.

Nokoru sighed and answered, "Suoh… YOU DON'T NEED TO PLEAD AT ALL… If it's for dear Nagisa-jo, you don't need to confirm me at all!" He chuckled. "I am your friend, after all!"

"But, I have to leave your side for a while. I'm sorry to intrude you…" Suoh suddenly felt Nokoru's gentle hand up his forehead. "…?…Kaichou?"

"You must be catching a fever or something! S-U-O-H, If it means a lot to you, It's fine! No need for apologies!" Nokoru gazed the embarrassed ninja, feeling the thought of happiness on how he sees Suoh feel happy. It must be nice to care that much on some you love and act on it.

Nokoru could never do that at all.

He can't tell his true feelings or act upon it.

He had a side that wanted him to deny Suoh's favor and not let them see each other. It seemed selfish to think, but he really did want to act it. But even so, right at that moment, he wanted to scream how he really felt for the boy. He was deep in his thoughts.

Suoh looked into his clear blue eyes. Not realizing it, he was getting addicted. He had looked so deeply into those sapphire like eyes.

"Maybe you're the one who's sick, Kaichou." Suoh placed his hand on Nokoru's forehead when he noticed he was out of space. Nokoru suddenly blushed red. He never Suoh's gentle hand to his face before. "Are you feeling well? You look really red." Nokoru hid his face behind his fan.

"OH! It's n-no-THING wrong!" Nokoru pushed himself back.

Akira approached the scene and laughed at Nokoru. He finally saw Nokoru react, showing that he's in love with his dear senior. "What are you talking about here? Is it about Nagisa-san's return?" He asked.

"Can I tag along to congratulate her as well?" He approached his seniors with his usual happy-go-lucky glee.

"Um… How should I… say this?" Suoh sweatdropped.

"I'm not allowed?" Akira frowned. "Is that the reason?"

"I'm sorry, but someone has to keep an eye on Kaichou while I'm gone." Suoh explained. "Remember when we left him behind before?"

Akira had a very clear memory on that day. Nokoru had left the room, even if the door was locked form the inside and the windows shut. It took hours before they finally got him back at work! Realizing the future frustration, he agrees. "I guess you got a point there! I'm impressed, Takamura-senpai!"

"Paperwork first, kaichou!" Suoh held his face and pointed all the paperwork he had to do.

"But Suoh!"

"No buts!"

"S-U-O-H…" He sweatdropped.

Hearing three consecutive knocks at the door, Suoh went away the president's table and answered the door. A little lady with shiny black hair went inside the student council room carrying a medium sized box. "Konnichiwa! Takamura-sama, Nokoru-sama and Ijyuin-sama." She bowed.

"G-Good Af-Afternoon to you too!" Akira blushed.

Utako giggled at her beloved reaction to her presence. "I won't be long. I'm here to join Takamura-sama to go to the airport." She explained.

"I see." Akira took the box in Utako's hands. "I've been wondering… Does Nagisa-san know you're going to fetch her?" He asked.

"For some reason, I couldn't contact Nagisa-san after she left to Okinawa." She explained.

Suoh's watch beeped aloud. "We should go now. I'm afraid we'll not arrive on time to meet the arriving time of her flight." He explained.

Nokoru smiled at the blue haired boy and gave him a key. "This will help you get to your dear Nagisa-jo early." He teased the blushing Suoh.

"What is this?" He asked.

"The keys to the new airship." Nokoru answered.

"EHHH! HONTOU (2)! I've always wanted to ride on an airship!" She squealed. "Arigatou, Nokoru-sama!"

He bowed to the lady and showed a sweet smile. "Anytime. But before you leave… What's inside the box?"

"Cake. I cooked it just a moment ago, but I'm sure it's better to give it to the student council."

"So I see." Nokoru sweatdropped. Memories of times he had tasted cakes made by Utako, and always end up puked at the boys' comfort room. "You should be going now. Nagisa-san might be there already!" Nokoru showed the two students off.

Nokoru and Akira waved goodbye to the both of them.

Akira screamed on their way out, "Takamura-senpai! Utako-san! Have a safe trip!"

Utako slightly blushed hearing her first name since they decided to keep their relationship a little low profile. After they disappeared on their sight, Nokoru returned to his paperwork. No words were said. No strange action was done. Akira followed his senior in curiosity.

Why is Nokoru like this every time he leaves? Why does he always tease Suoh? Why does he feel at ease when he is so close to him? Why doesn't he be honest to his true feelings?

"Kaichou, let's have a tea break, ne?" He proposed to have tea with Utako's cake.

"No, thank you." Nokoru looked down to his work.

"Is there something you want to talk about, Kaichou?" Akira asked.

"I just want to finish today's paperwork, that's all. I'm fine without tea today." Nokoru continued to go through all the work on the desk.

"Takamura-senpai won't be back for a little while, so it's okay if you spend a minute or two with a nice refreshment!" Akira explained.

"I just want to clear things in my desk, Akira." Nokoru answered.

"You don't usually like to finish it. But you look a little pale and down, and some tea might be the best cure for it!"

"I TOLD YOU I DON'T WANT ANY! WOULD YOU STOP ASKING FOR A TEA BREAK!" Nokoru furiously screamed at his underclassman.

"I-I'm s-sorry…" Akira took the message and returned to his desk to have his own tea break, alone. All he wanted to know is what's on his mind. As a friend, he didn't have more guts to out-talk his upperclassman to talk about it.

Every step was made slowly. He reflected and thought on how stupid he really is. He saw how Nokoru reacts when it comes to Suoh. He finally got a chance to be alone with him. A perfect chance. To finally know what's on his mind. It was as if he was not needed. At all.

Useless.

Stupid Akira.

"I'm an idiot." Nokoru followed Akira's pace, holding his junior's hands. "I apologize for yelling at you."

"Lets have that tea break, Akira. We have plenty of time before Suoh gets back." Akira was overjoyed and finally showed his charming smile.

"Hai!" He jumped and hugged his friend tightly.

"Um… Akira?"

"Yes?" He asked.

"You can let go off me now…" Nokoru was totally squeezed tight.

Akira let go of his friend in a blushing embarrassment. "I think I should get the tea ready!" He dashed off and left Nokoru laughing.

Nokoru sat in the sofa, waiting for Akira to pour some milk tea in his cup. "Akira, is it okay if I just get a brownie from the refrigerator? I'm not really hungry for some cake."

"A brownie? Sure, go ahead. I should eat Ohkawa-kaichou's cake before it gets cold." Akira said.

Nokoru retrieved from the refrigerator a small brownie, of a pale brown of color. Little sprinkles on top and a small spot of chocolate frosting. "You always get that brownie when there's something bothering you." Akira thought.

"Kaichou, is something bothering you about Takamura-senpai?" Akira asked.

"How did-!" Nokoru sweatdropped.

"Don't worry, Kaichou. I KNOW." Akira sat down after pouring milk tea to every teacup.

Nokoru was embarrassed to know that a boy like Akira Ijyuin knew what was up in Nokoru's mind. Of course he did, he was observant. But it was too observing. "I guess you knew this secret since you joined the student council?" Nokoru asked.

"Hai!" Akira smiled.

Nokoru blushed.

Akira opened the huge box that Utako gave to him, carrying inside a 'cake'. After opening it, he noticed it wasn't a cake after all! It was a very large brownie! "Wow! A giant brownie!" Akira squealed of glee and joy. "So this means you'll be eating some this 'cake', since it's actually a brownie right, Kaichou?"

Nokoru had feared Utako's cooking for quite some time now. It would be an insult to Akira if he didn't get at least one. "F-Fine. I'll have some." Nokoru sighed.

"I'm glad that you got your appetite back, kaichou!" Akira took a giant 'slice' on the brownie and ate it in one bite.

Nokoru sipped a little on his tea and looked at Akira. How is it that he eats something so unsatisfying without complains just to please the one he love? "Akira, how is the 'cake'?" He asked.

"It's delicious! She's pretty good at making brownies than the last time." Akira answered.

"And when was the last time?" Nokoru had his eyebrow high.

Akira started to sweat, and caught himself suddenly scared. The last time was in a "secret" date with Utako, carrying the name of the infamous 20 Faces. "Is-Is t-hat su-suppo-sed to be a jok-e?" Akira stammered and suddenly filled his mouth with more 'cake'. "Hey… Are you trying to distract me so you don't have to talk about what bothering you about Takamura-senpai?"

"Who gave you that 'completely correct' idea?" Nokoru grinned.

"You're not really a liar. It's pretty obvious you try to plot to make me talk about Utako-san." Akira explained.

"You're quite an enigma, Akira." Nokoru laughed.

"How about if we play a game of Marigold?" Akira asked. "I know you don't like to express your heart out so why not play a game."

"What's Marigold?"

"First, do you know what Marigold means in the Flower Language (3)?" Nokoru shook his head.

"I'm not really an expert at Flower Language." Nokoru explained.

"EH! But, you're the smartest kid at CLAMP School! No way you're not an expert at a single field as Flower Language!" Akira exclaimed. "Anyway, my mothers and I play this game when they want to interrogate me about my day at school. It's actually like a talk show. We ask each other questions!"

"It's actually like a heart-to-heart talk, Akira. But okay, we'll play the game." Nokoru said. "But it is a game right? Is there a consequence for lying?" Nokoru asked.

"Of course! You'll be wearing this lie detector watch and when it beeps, you have to do what I tell you." Akira explained. "And when I ask or say an irrelevant question/fact, the game is over."

"Okay, How did you know?" Nokoru blushed. Akira was looking at him and smiled.

"To tell you the truth, it's intuition." Akira was a stranger before he joined the student council. "It was the day I met you and Takamura-senpai…" He first met Nokoru by coincidence. Funny, many happenings had happened to them by coincidence. But is there such a thing as coincidence? Suoh didn't trust him when they met each other with Nokoru.

It was the truth. Nokoru could remember that moment.

How could he forget?

Why did he scream out loud to him that Nokoru was his 'One'? It was the impression. Nokoru didn't mind it at all. How so, right? Even if Takamuras call the one they protect as 'One'. "But. Why Kaichou? Why did you let Takamura-senpai go?" He asked.

No offense to Nagisa-san (4).

"But first, why do you express something for the one you love, Akira?" Nokoru asked.

Yes, why should he? What would he get? You'll live in regret, finding out that the thing you treasure most doesn't love you. Telling someone you love him? You're not sure that he'll love you back right? Will you accept it? What if he tells you straight, that he doesn't have any feelings for you… NOTHING AT ALL! (5)

"I'll live a life of regret if I tell him. I'll just get rejection. How could I live further, knowing my feelings are nothing to him?" Nokoru explained.

He answered in the bowl of sadness. Answering every question, feeling how he finally realizes that Akira was there just to know why?

"Kaichou, you're very special to me. I love you for being kaichou." His adventures, or shall I say it 'games', were always without a care of life. They were playing endlessly, without thinking of other important possibilities. Was it love, Akira first thought. Did he like 'like' his kaichou? Was it because they share the same laughter? "But there are different 'loves'. I love Takamura-senpai for being there for me. I love Nagisa-san for supporting me. And Ohkawa-kaichou… Iie! I mean Utako-san!"

"…I really love her very much. And she loved me back, even if I haven't told her my true feelings before." But what he felt for Nokoru was different. Akira was just idolizing him.

Respecting him.

Adoring him.

It was totally different.

"Akira…" Nokoru smiled so sweetly.

"NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE!" Akira thought.

Maybe. It really struck Nokoru's heart. He has never heard with outmost truth, excluding the Nokoru fan club, that he has loved him. Always caring for other's happiness, will he be happy just to tell how he really felt? "But… Akira, it's really no use."

"Will you also regret that in the end, Takamura-senpai really does like you? If you didn't have the guts to tell him, what will happen? Even in rejection, you'll feel great." Akira smiled.

Nokoru was hit straight in the heart. Now his brain wanted to tell him that he should listen to the fullest to the young black-haired boy. "You told him. That would be the point. It feels like you let out all you hid and feel light, and at ease. The feeling of acceptance of love is great, no matter what situation you're in. Even you are rejected, sure you'll be saddened but now, you're proud you fell in love."

"I don't want to feel the pain of rejection. How are you sure you're sure?" Nokoru's eyes were starting to carry heavy bodies of water. It looked like it had to flow.

"Someone told me before that no one can read another person's heart. That's why words were created. Life has its own ways. You just have to find another perspective." Akira answered.

"It's no use, Akira. Suoh doesn't love me even if you try to force me to tell him." Nokoru said. "Look at him! He looked the happiest when he told me that he was to meet Nagisa-jo. Even when Suoh shown signs that he had a crush on her (6), he looked at ease. HOW CAN I COMPETE!" Nokoru started to rub his eyes, but tears backed up.

It wouldn't stop.

It is a game right? Why would someone cry while playing a game like Marigold?

"Kaichou… Please don't cry…" Akira gave him a handkerchief. "But, I wonder… Are you sure that Nagisa-san is the one occupying inside Suoh's heart?"

"I questioned myself that too. But what about Nagisa-jo, right?" Nokoru asked. "…She'd cry… Regret is worse when… She'd feel pain… Because of me… I won't… let it happen…"

"KAICHOU!" Akira stood up after eating another slice of the 'cake'. "HOW COULD YOU THINK OF OTHER PEOPLE'S HAPPINESS IF YOU CAN'T EXPIERIENCE HAPPINESS!" Akira slammed the coffee table.

"…I won't let… anyone sad… because of… me…" Nokoru sniffled.

"I'm sorry…" Akira wanted to cheer up the boy, but how could he? Marigolds are supposed to mean a comfort in the heart, but did he do? "It seems like I made the conversation irrelevant…"

But it wasn't irrelevant.

"It's okay…"

"Kaichou… Please don't cry… I won't ask you anything of the sort anymore…" Akira went close to Nokoru and held his hands. "You're supposed to set a great example to me. Otherwise, I would end up killing myself!" Akira humored.

"KA-I-CHO-U! Have a great 'cake' so don't feel faint!" Akira sang the strange verse.

"NO!" Nokoru screamed.

"Why not!" Akira asked.

"You ate all the 'cake'! You didn't even leave a piece!" Nokoru sighed.

"WAAH! I'm REALLY REALLY SORRY! I didn't mean to!" Akira sweatdropped.

To be continued

Onegai shimasu – Japanese for 'please', in the favor form.

Hontou? – Really?

Marigold in Flower Language means 'comforts the heart', well meaning, showing the marigold is kinda like you're saying you want that person to be comforted

Nagisa is always in between shounen-ai of Nokoru and Suoh. It's common sense that Akira wouldn't give Nagisa's name in vain.

This story is based on my experience… I understand how Nokoru feels! ( A waste of reading (5) )

This is the part of the anime wherein Suoh shows signs of out-of-space feeling… It's Episode 9…

Those who give reviews… THANK YOU! I hope to hear a review… Onegai!