Mutsumi Otohime walked the halls of Tokyo University, turning heads as always. She wore her typical red dress and beret, and occasionally turned to greet some passing friend. She was incredibly popular nowadays, and her weekends were almost always totally booked with dates and party invitations. However, she always made time for her old friend Naru, regardless of social occasions. The two had bonded greatly since entering Tokyo Univeristy, and had come to rely upon each other emotionally. She turned a corner in the walkway, and smacked right into an oncoming young man.

She stumbled back clumsily, and fell to the floor, surprised. But not half as surprised as who she saw she had accidentally stumbled into. While certainly taller and more physically fit, her eyes could not trick her into thinking she was making a mistake.

"Keitarou!" she exclaimed. He was unmistakable, and yet their mutual shock seemed to suspend them in time. After several minutes of staring at each other, Keitarou was the first to break the trance.

"Are... are you ok?" he inquired, "Here, let me help you up." He pulled Mutsumi to her feet.

"You're back! I knew it! I knew it! I knew you couldn't stay angry at us forever! Oh god, this is wonderful! Oh Kei-kun I missed you so much!" Mutsumi had begun to hyperventilate, and was attracting some rather odd stares from other students.

"Com on, we'll talk about this outside." Keitarou lead the panicked girl out into the foyer, and made her sit down on a bench while he squatted down in front of her.

"I... I can't believe it's really you. I... I missed you so much." She laid a gentle hand on his cheek, and he managed a weak smile in response.

"Are you ok now?"

She signaled she was with a nod.

"Let's take a walk then." He helped Mutsumi to her feet once again, and the two began to walk towards the campus gardens, side by side. For some time, neither of them spoke.

"You finally came back."

"Yeah. I guess it was just time."

"When're you moving back into Hinata House?" Keitarou stopped short, caught off guard by the question.

"I'm not going back to Hinata House."

Mutsumi turned to face him, a look of deep concern on her face, "Why not?"

"I... I can't stay that long."

"You mean you're just visiting?"

"Sort of."

Mutsumi was beginning to get frustrated with his enigmatic answers, "Then what exactly are you doing here you enrolled in the University, right?"

"No, Mutsumi, I... I teach here now?"

"Oh come on, Kei-kun, you can't really expect me to believe that."

"It's true. I came back to teach a class on Polynesian History."

"I'm afraid I don't understand what exactly you're getting at.

With a sigh, Keitarou explained to her his past down to when he left the house.

"So... so you're not coming back to us?"

"I'm sorry Mutsumi, I can't." They paused again, continuing their walk. Mutsumi knelt down to smell a bright rose, and when she stood back up, her face was covered in tears.

Keitarou reached out, embracing her in a hug.

"It... it wasn't just Naru, was it?" she sobbed.

Keitarou spoke gently, "What do you mean?"

"The reason you left, it... it wasn't just Naru's fault. It was all of us. We were all so... so cruel to you. Even me. I'm... I'm so sorry Keitarou."

"Look at me, Mutsumi. Look at me." Keitarou brought her tear stained face to be level with his. She resisted, but he held her head firmly.

"The reason I left had nothing to do with you. You were one of the best friends I ever had. Can you understand that?" Still sniffling, she nodded. She leaned forward, kissing him deeply. He broke it off gently.

"Come on," he said encouragingly, "let's go split a watermelon."

"I... I love you Kei-kun."

He smiled warmly, but did not answer.

"And Keitarou?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad you came back."

"Me too."

Later that night, Mutsumi knocked on the door to Naru's room.

"Come on in, Mutsumi," came her voice from behind the door. Mutsumi entered quietly. Naru was sitting on the edge of her bead, facing Mutsumi and clutching her Liddo-kun doll in her lap. Mutsumi walked across the room and sat next to the girl.

"Naru?"

"What is it Mutsumi?"

"I've... I've got something to tell you."