Let the Rain Fall
pass the broccollini

Author's Notes: I just wanted to say 'thank you' to those who reviewed. Thank you! Specific comments/questions/concerns are addressed below. Have any? Leave a review!

SVZ - Thanks. I've been trying to keep to the basic theme of the original series and not make it completely farfetched and unrealistic. At least not until the later chapters.

MountainRain - Thank you for putting me on your Karekano Website!

BetseyLee - ...eh, I dunno. I think there's a fine line between possessive (in a good way) and completely controlling. Arima seems to be bordering on that line. Thanks for the review!

Chapter 7:

"Hey Arima!"

It was the second day after The Accident, and Arima was still brooding. Asaba and Miyazawa had managed to avoid him all day. However, he was currently being greeted by Asapin. Asapin ran to catch up with Arima, slowly jogging to a mere walk beside Arima.

"Hey Arima..."

"Hello Asaba. Pleasant day?"

Asaba could tell that Arima's teeth were clenched. And rightfully so. But...it really was an accident. An accident, right? Yes...yes...an accident.

"...look, Arima. I wanted to apologize for...uh...y'know and—"

"For what? For feeling up my girlfriend in my own home, eating my food while I was sick? And then having the nerve to avoid me all day? Oh, you're such a great friend Asaba. Thank you, Asaba. You're too kind."

"I wasn't...we weren't doing anything wrong. We were just hugging. You know how she is...we're both---just friends, Arima. Just friends. Honest."

They had almost arrived at the school doors. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Asaba had a point. Miyazawa was known for her...glompiness. In fact, she and Tsubasa would glomp any friendly face in sight. Hugs were a natural part of her family and life. She hugged everyone and they hugged back.

His parents never hugged him.

"If you give me your word..."

Asaba, despite this little incident, was still his best friend. Maybe it really was just an accident. Miyazawa was really stressed anyway, she probably just didn't want to bother him with her problems, since he was sick. Asaba was probably just giving her support, maybe encouraging her to treat her boyfriend extra-special. Maybe signing her up for "How to Massage your Boyfriend" lessons. His feet hurt, after all. In fact, maybe they were planning a surprise present for him, since he was most likely to be Valedictorian. No! That's what it was...she was stressed about competing with him for the position of valedictorian and she couldn't tell him because in school, they're rivals! It makes perfect sense!

" 'Course, Arima. Nothing's goin' on between Miyazawa and me."

"Then I believe you."

A small, faint smile crossed Asaba's face. Good. Arima was not a person to be lied to or deceived. Though Arima was a decent person, deep down, he could be really ruthless. It was amazing how easily he could manipulate the class. His looks, his seemingly carefree personality...for the first half of the year, the entire class was completely deceived. Miyazawa did the same. That's why they were so perfect for each other. Even if he was a womanizer, he knew that Yukino was completely off-limits.

They arrived at the doors of the school, where a few students were handing out newspapers. It was against school policy to hand out publications inside school doors, so the editors and newbie-journalists were frantically trying to pass out as many copies as possible before class.

"...Asaba?"

"Hm, yeah?"

"There's...there's a—bee. On you."

Asaba's eyes widened. That was his one great fear. Those slimy, creepy, icky, crawling bugs.

"Get it off! Get it off!"

"Asaba, just hold still and it'll go away."

Though Arima was calm and collected, Asaba was running around like the madman he was trying to swat it off. With a resigned sigh, he took one of the newspapers from one of the students, rolled it up, and smacked Asaba on the arm with it. Hard.

"Ow, Arima. That hurt."

"Good."

"..is the bee..."

"It's gone."

Asaba relaxed, detensing his shoulders and forgetting completely about the little bumblebee as the school bell rang.

"Damn...I was supposed to meet my Chem professor early. Alright, I'll see you after-school?"

"Yeah. Bye."

Asaba smiled and ran inside. Things were better now! They could be friends again!

Arima smiled and walked inside. Things were better now! They could be friends again! Approaching a trash receptacle, he unrolled the newspaper. He felt a bit guilty for swatting the bee. At least it got a chance to fly away. He felt awful about hitting things with newspapers. It was he who was hit by them as a child, and that had scarred him for life. Not as big a scar, however, as the one he received when he glanced at the headline of the unrolled newspaper.

MIYAZAWA DUMPS ARIMA FOR ASABA

Arima dismissed the headline as a lie. He should've known this stupid paper Miyazawa worked so hard for would just end up a gossip column. However, it was the picture that broke his heart.

There, in color and on the top of the fold was a picture of his Miyazawa cuddled up with Asaba on the lawn. He was feeding her pieces of sushi by hand, and she was obviously enjoying it. There was a huge smile on her face. His smile.

They say pictures are worth a thousand words. However, only one entered his mind.

Kill.

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