Ren put Kyoko to bed. When he came back downstairs Hikaru had left. Kanae, Yashiro and Ryu were finishing off the sake.
"To Kyoko and Ren!" cheered the three of them.
Ren sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"You know what's going to happen when she wakes up right?"
Kanae, Yashiro and Ren looked at each other. Ryu looked at them.
"It can't be that bad can it?"
Kanae and Yashiro started laughing. Ren looked worried.
"You'll see" Ren said.
Ryu cocked an eyebrow at him. Ren sighed.
"Kyoko was seriously hurt in the past. She rejects love with everything she has. The LoveMe section was created specifically for her."
Ryu looked at the ceiling.
"That's a very special girl we have there."
Kanae raised her glass,
"Now that I can toast to!"
The four of them raised their glasses.
"TO KYOKO !"
In the morning Kyoko felt like a truck had run her over. Her head was pounding. What had happened last night?
There was a small, soft knock on her door. She grimaced and disappeared under her quilt.
"Come in"
"Kyoko-san. Are you in there?"
It was Kanae.
"How you feeling?"
"Like someone used my head as a Taiko."
"Pffft, it's not surprising. You drank the equivalant of an entire bottle of sake to yourself. Your dining room is full of people with various stages of hangovers. I brought you some aspirin and water. It'll make you feel better."
Kyoko emerged from the blissful darkness of her quilt. Kanae took a picture.
"Moko-san! Why would you do that?"
"A reminder of your celebration. "
"Uh"
Kyoko took the aspirin gratefully and threw them back. She drained the glass.
"Get dressed and come downstairs. Breakfast will be ready soon."
Kyoko threw some clothes on and splashed water on her face.
~Breakfast? Who's cooking? Not Ren?!~
Kyoko flew down the stairs and she bumped into Ren coming out of the restroom.
"You aren't the one cooking are you Ren-san?"
Ren smiled at her and shoook his head.
"No Kyoko-san, you're safe. I believe Itawa-san is cooking. Making pancakes I believe."
Kyokos shoulders slumped in relief.
"How's your head?"
Kyoko grimaced, "not as bad as it was, thanks to Moko-san."
Walking into the kitchen Ryu was stood over the cooker and Yashiro and Kanae were sat at the table.
"Doesn't anybody have work today?"
Ryu shook her head.
"Nope. The president gave us all the day off."
Kyoko was suspicious.
"Why?"
Yashiro spoke up.
"I told him what happened last night."
"And that prompted him to give us all the day off? Just what happened?"
Ryu dished up.
"You don't remember what happened?"
"Kinda"
"Eat your breakfast, then we'll talk."
Kyoko sat at the table and dug into the pile of pancakes in front of her.
"I DID WHAT?!" Kyoko screamed, her fork suspended mid air in front of her mouth. Everyone laughed at her.
"Kyoko, what's the last thing you remember?"
Kyoko put her fork down and put her hands on her head. Thinking hurt.
"I remember Hikaru-san buying another bottle of sake. You," she pointed at Ryu, "dragged Yashiro-san in here by his arm. Ren-san came in. We ate. After that it's a little fuzzy."
Ren looked down at the table. Kanae, Ryu and Yashiro laughed.
"You don't remember what happened after that? You don't remember starting your thank yous?" Ryu said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
Kyoko delved deeper into the fuzzy memories.
"I thanked Hikaru-san and his brothers. I thanked you. I thanked Yashiro-san and Moko-san. I..."
Recognition fell onto Kyoko's face.
Everyone jumped when Kyoko suddenly headbutted the table and started to howl apologies. Ren put his hand on his forehead. He had known this was coming. He was thinking up ways he could turn the situation into something that Kyoko could handle. He looked up.
Yashiro, Ryu and Kanae were frozen, staring at him. Kyoko was bright red and staring at the table.
~What have I missed?~
Kanae was starting to look angry. Ren looked at Yashiro and gave him a look that obviously said 'what did I miss?'.
Yashiro and Ryu sighed. Kanae looked like she was going to hit him.
Ryu nufged him under the table and handed him a note.
It read, 'She asked if you meant it.'
Ren looked at Kyoko.
"Kyoko" he said softly.
She flinched.
"Kyoko. Look at me. Please."
It was the please that got her. Bracing herself for what was about to happen she lifted her head to look him in the face. Without realising it, she had closed her eyes to face the inevitable.
She opened them slowly and the gentle smile on Ren's face filled her vision. He was gazing at her with such admiration her heart skipped a beat. She was staring at his mouth, that smile.
She read rather than heard him say 'I meant every word."
Kyoko burst into tears.
Kanae looked conflicted.
Ryu and Yashiro were already on the phone relaying all of this to the president.
Ren approached Kyoko slowly.
"Did you mean it too?"
He knelt by her side, as close as he dared get. Kyoko was still crying, mumbling to herself. Ren leant in and placed his hand on Kyokos cheek.
"Kyoko please don't cry. I don't like it when you're sad. Whatever it was, I'm sorry."
Kyoko shook her head.
"Not...upset...happy...thought...dream"
Ren pulled her into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her and put his chin on her head so he could look at everyone else. Yashiro had his fan girl face on. He was beaming. Ryu looked ecstatic.
Kanae had a look on her face that clearly said 'if you hurt her again you will disappear.'
Ren faced her death glare with a steady gaze that showed eyes full of the solemn promise that he would do what ever it took to be able to keep this girl happy. She scrutinised him and seeing that he meant it, she gave him a sharp nod.
Her face softened and she looked down at Kyoko in Rens arms.
Her best friend was happy. She seemed to be finally getting what she deserved. She seemed to have finally moved on from the past.
Ryu got Yashiro and Ryus attention. She pointed at the dishes and then the kitchen. They rose almost in unison. Leaving the couple in their little love bubble, they went off to tackle the Fuji sized pile of washing up in the kitchen.
Kyoko moved. Ren instinctively let go.
"Why'd you let go?"
Ren looked at her confused.
"I know you feel strange about..."
Ren stopped. It was different now.
As if she had read his mind she said,
"It's different now. Now I know what real love is and how good it can feel."
She took Ren's face in her hand and steadily gazed at him.
"From now on, you can hug me whenever you want."
He wrapped his arms around her.
A small part of Kyoko was screaming about purity and all that jazz but Mio, Setsu, Kuon, Bo and Natsu had pinned it down, telling it to hush, that it's Ren and it's fine if it's Ren.
Kyoko didn't feel embarassed or shy or uncomfortable. She felt right.
She kissed Ren.
Ren made a decision. With reluctance he pulled away.
"Kyoko. There is one thing first. Will you come over to my apartment tomorrow night?"
"What for?"
"I will explain everything tomorrow night. Please Kyoko. It's important."
She looked at him and saw the desperation in his face.
She nodded.
"What time?"
Yashiro and Ryu both stepped into the room. They had both been listening at the door.
"Ren, you are free from 8."
"Kyoko, you are free from 10."
"Then Ren I will be at yours at 11 if that is acceptable."
Ren looked worried.
"I will drop her off Tsuruga-san. Do not worry. She will be safe with me." said Ryu.
Ren moved Kyoko and stood up.
"Then my apologies but I have a lot to prepare. Kyoko, I will see you tomorrow."
Kyoko nodded.
"I love you Mogami Kyoko."
"I love you Tsuruga Ren."
He thanked Kyoko for the evening and bid his goodbyes to everyone.
In his car he let out a huge breath. He phoned the president.
When he answered, Ren cut in.
"Yes, yes I know. It's not important right now. I need Ten-san."
"Why?"
"I will not say yet but I have need of her services."
"Fine. When?"
"Anytime before 10pm tomorrow night is fine."
"I will do what I can. May I at least say congratulations?"
"Not yet."
"Ren. What is going on?"
Ren took a deep breath. He had debated this moment for months.
"All I will say is that tomorrow night, Kyoko will meet Me."
Ren hung up. He drove to his apartment, making plans and thinking of how to do this.
Lory sat in his office, staring at the beeping phone.
He played Ren's words over and over again in his head.
"Me, me, me, me." Lory muttered.
"What is that boy... No. He couldn't be."
Lory picked up his phone.
When the person picked up he only said six words.
"I think it is nearly time."
