I'm sorry I didn't post last night with Sowlmate's chapter, but I was too tired! Anyroad! Thank you to all who followed and favorited and reviewed! You're so amazing!

Finally the chapter with more insight on Kiku! :D

HaPPy2901 : Ahah, yes, Oikaawa is the absolute best when it comes to putting Kijime together~ I know it's cliché, ubt cliché are not bad, they're cute - to my mind, at least! x)

Tamani : I'm definitelly putting up a wrestling challenge at some point in the story! x) Kyoutani will get SO teased - and he'll probably be the adopted sno of Kiku and Hajime and all three of them, acting like some sort of family, will definitely get teased about that! XD

Berrybluexd : It wasn't exactly a kiss-kiss, more of lips against lips, so it doesn't really count as their first kiss - their first kiss will be when they'll actually be dating! ;)

pinkdoughnuts : He took to dinner before...? Aw, come on, you didn't have to wait THAT LONG to know what was the relationship between Kiku and coach!

Houshikun001 : I love using cliché because it always has the same effect~ I really can't wait for Kijime to spend more time together~

Faye : I'm actually considering making Kiku become their manager, but I'm still not sure about it. I'll definitely put more team bonding AND Kiku's parents in the story! ;)

LuxKlara : Grazie! In questo capitolo, Kiku dimostrerà molto piu di coraggio! Iwaizumi ha un altra prova a vivere in questo capitolo!

fairytaildoll : Thank you, I'm so glad you find it cute~

Lili : Thanks for all of your reviews! :D You'll know about Kiku and the coahces in this chapter! ;) I'm sure Oikawa isn't used to girls shutting him down, especially in such a harsh way! Hajime is ALWAYS adorable, though~! Oikawa CAN be the voice of reason at times, I just think he lets it to Hajime and remains his usual dorky self. Y'know what? I want to try baking milk bread some day because I need to understand why oikaaw is so obssessed with it.

Shy guest : The good part of holidays is that I get to write everyday! x) I'm sure Mizoguchi is one of the team's mothers, always taking care of them - despite the yelling, and shouting, and everything else that comes with him... There will be more interactions between Kiku and the team, and in this chapter, between Kiku and Hanamki. ;)

FANFICTION

HAIKYUU! : QUIET WORDS

CHAPTER XIV : Quiet Feelings

"Some things go too deep to be forgotten."

— John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga

"There is no exquisite beauty… without some strangeness in the proportion."

— Edgar Allan Poe

"Maybe we judge people too much by their looks because it's easier than seeing what's really important."

— Alex Flinn, Beastly

"There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds."

― Laurell K. Hamilton, Mistral's Kiss

Kiku was walking hurriedly, wiping away tears, her heart still beating way too fast for her to be able to breathe normally.

"Akiyama!"

She didn't react to the family name despite hearing footsteps behind her:

"Oi! Kiku!"

Someone grabbed her shoulder and she gasped, turning around and seeing a thunderstruck Hanamaki staring at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't run off like that when the night has fallen… Coach will kill us if he learns that something bad happened to you…"

It took a moment for Kiku to realize that firstly, Hanamaki had gone after her to make sure she'd be safe, secondly, that it was Hanamaki of all people.

"That's what you're concerned about?!" She shrieked, fists clenching suddenly, "Just fuck off and go back to your friends if that's what you're so worried about!"

She squeaked when she realized what she just said and Takehiro blinked, a little shocked but not surprised by her reaction. Finally, he huffed and smirked.

"Ah, well, it's been a while since I saw talking like that and so loudly." He said.

She flushed in embarrassment and glanced away.

"I'll accompany you, come on," he said, starting to advance so they'd go back to their respective homes.

Kiku glanced at him then followed him, shoulders dropping lightly. They remained completely silent until they arrived at the bus station, waiting in more silence…

"Y'know…" Takehiro suddenly spoke up, looking in front of him with an expression of boredom, "I've never seen you socialize with anyone in school you didn't know beforehand. I was surprised when I heard about everything going on between you and Iwaizumi. It didn't seem like you at all."

Kiku blushed at the mention of the boy's name.

"But I'm even more surprised you haven't made a move on him yet – he's shyer than appearances lead to believe so, if you want anything to happen, you'll have to be the one acting up."

"I… I w-wouldn't h-he's… I-Iwaizumi-san…"

Her voice trailed off and tears appeared in her eyes once again, her heart feeling like it was being torn apart.

"…I-Iwaizumi-san deserves b-better than me…"

Hanamaki's eyes widened and he glanced at the girl, knowing that despite her shell of shyness, anxiety and social awkwardness, she was prouder and more confident than appearances led to believe.

"You're right, he deserves better." He answered honestly, making the girl startle and her lips tremble, "He's about as popular as Oikawa, but because he looks so rough and is so awkward, not many girl confess to him. That's why he's unaware of his popularity – you're the last girl who would attract his attention, and yet, you did. He probably sees some sort of worth in you that no one else saw until now… I still don't get what the hell happened to him – he must have been brainwashed or something…"

Kiku didn't answer, but before she could even think abut Takehiro's words, he continued, pointing at her as if he wanted to prove his point:

"Also, you say he deserves better, but you've giving him lots of clues about your feelings and you've offered him patisserie and whatnot. It doesn't seem like you're willing to give him up yet, uh?"

Surprised that her neighbor would have noticed, Kiku's eyes widened lightly before she looked away guiltily.

"I… I've been in love with him for… so long… I just…" She whispered.

Takehiro was surprised, and felt awkward, to hear about Kiku's feelings for his friend for the first time. Her feelings were obvious – but hearing it out loud was just…

"You've known him for only a month, aren't you exaggerating a little?" He snorted.

But her shoulders slumped down and his eyes widened.

"W-wait!"

"I… I've been in love with Iwaizumi-san… since first-year…" She admitted, holding tightly her bag.

"Whaaaat?! You've been what?! For how long?! B-but!"

"Why do you think I was going to so many of your practices…?" She mumbled annoyingly at his shock.

"…Because you… were coming to watch our practices…? I… never noticed you…" He hesitated, blinking because he had never seen her around.

Kiku didn't answer. Takehiro rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He was a bit curious about how she had fallen in love with Iwaizumi when she had never talked to him before their third-year. But if she had been in love for over two years, he could somehow understand why she didn't want to give him up yet now that he seemed to pay her attention.

Back in middle-school, they weren't in the same class, and yet, they were still talking to each other and going to school and home together… Somehow, over the years, the little bit of friendship they had had back when they were younger had died out. When had he stopped noticing her presence? When did they stop talking at each other? When did they start ignoring each other as they crossed paths at school? But even asking himself that, Takehiro knew – for popularity. Because he had always been on the volleyball club, because he had always been somewhat popular – he had left Kiku alone all these years simply because he didn't want to be seen with shy, awkward, weird Akiyama… Now that he was in high-school, and had matured a bit, he could tell how childish he had been back then, but the hurt had been done. It probably explained why she seemed so different than what he's used to – she grew up and matured as well, in her own way, without him realizing it because she was so quiet.

When they were not at school, they usually annoyed each other as they had always done – their windows were right in front of each other so whenever one was being too loud or annoying, the other would throw stuff against the window. They had always been like that, throwing stuff and insults at each other – except at school, when they ignored each other and kept quiet.

Perhaps talking with Takehiro had made Kiku think back about all of these things as well because what came next out of her mouth took him out of the blue:

"We used to be friends… why did you leave me alone back then?" She asked so low, he almost didn't hear.

He looked down, feeling ashamed of his behavior. But because he was Hanamaki Takehiro and she was Akiyama Kiku, he smiled bitterly, feeling like he could be honest and still, she wouldn't judge him – because if one thing had not changed over the years, it was her endless kindness.

"Because I'm just so awesome." He said – he didn't feel 'awesome', though.

"…You're a dork," she answered with a side smile.

The bus they needed to take to go back in their neighborhood arrived and they climbed it in silence. They remained silent most of the ride back, Hanamaki sending messages to Oikawa and learning about Iwaizumi's recent realization that Kiku liked him.

Took long enough to this oblivious dork… He thought to himself, glancing at Kiku who was at the other side of the bus, watching the street lights.

"I've been in love with Iwaizumi-san… since first-year…"

Takehiro still couldn't quite believe it but he couldn't take it off his mind – why did she wait so long to talk to him if she liked him – shyness apart? She had more than enough excuses considering Iwaizumi was on the volleyball team. She must have had lots of opportunities over their high-school years. Did she remain quiet so long because Iwaizumi didn't know about her until recently?

When they climbed down the bus, they walked for the three minutes separating them from their neighboring houses. Takehiro glanced at Kiku – he could tell she was still shaken up.

"Akiyama, you're not angry because of this accidental kiss?" He asked because he had more or less caused it.

She seemed to struggle with her words and thoughts, cheeks blushing and eyes getting teary once again.

"…I-I'm not angry…" She whispered.

"So… let's say Iwaizumi asks you out or something? You'll say yes?" He continued, suddenly wanting to help out his friends to get together – what the hell? He was not Oikawa, why would he even do that…?

Kiku arrived at her house, the bakery's lights all out. She put her hand on the wooden wall separating her from Hanamaki's house. She would probably enter her house by the backdoor. He waited for her answer, getting slightly impatient when the silence continued on and on…

"I… it wasn't a real kiss b-but… I still enjoyed it…" She admitted.

Hanamaki opened his lips but she continued before he could say a thing:

"B-but… I don't… I don't want to date… Iwaizumi-san…" She whispered, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Eh? Why not? It doesn't make any sense if you like him and he likes you back?" Takehiro said, blinking in disbelief.

"B-because… I've been quiet for too long…" She breathed, looking away and hand curling into a trembling fist against the wooden fence.

Maybe it was too dark for Takehiro to notice her distraught expression. Maybe he didn't hear her and thought she had nothing else to add. Maybe he just didn't care.

He looked away and shrugged.

"Weido…" He muttered, "See you tomorrow, maybe." He said, waving half-heartedly.

He went to his home while Kiku weakly, slowly walked alongside the fence. It took her three times longer to walk the few meters to reach the backdoor. She glanced at the door and the world wobbled around her and she fell on her knees, a hand covering her mouth to smother her cries.

She couldn't face them now – her family. Not after what she just told Hanamaki – the real reason she had kept her feelings to herself for two years, the real reason why she didn't want of anything real with Iwaizumi…

"I've been quiet for too long…" She had said.

And quietly she cried in the darkness, keeping down her screams, her cries, her trauma and bottling up all of her feelings to be able to face another day.

Quiet was all she could be.

The next day…

Iwaizumi almost ran into his classroom – he had beat his record of fast shower after morning practice and he had tied his tie on the way there. His relief hit him like a wave when he saw Kiku at her desk – he had been scared she wouldn't be here today. She was listening to music, head turned towards the window, watching the clouds flying by.

"Kiku!" He exclaimed before flushing at the realization he had just called her first-name.

Some of his classmates glanced in his direction, shocked to hear him call her so casually but barely whispered as he strode towards the girl. As soon as his shadow towered over her, she paused her music and glanced up at him. He looked for any sign of anger or embarrassment on her face, but she was surprisingly normal. And that, in itself, felt anormal.

"Y-you're uh… you're okay…?" he asked in a whisper.

Something flashed in her eyes – she must have noticed that he had seen it because she blinked to pretend it was nothing. Then, she planted her eyes in his and the corners of her lips tilted up, cheeks flushed.

"I'm fine. And you, Iwaizumi-san?" She asked quietly.

Too shaken to see her acting so natural around him when she should not after everything that had happened last night – she had offered him patisserie and he had kissed her (by accident). It was too strange but he couldn't point at what was weird.

"I… it was delicious…" He stammered, blushing terribly while his clenched his fists from how sweaty his hands felt.

Kiku blinked, as if she had completely forgotten about the patisserie, then… she laughed. Hajime's heart missed a beat and several classmates glanced in astonishment at the girl while she quickly covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks rosy.

"S-so sorry!" She exclaimed, still chuckling and not quite believing herself she was laughing right now, "I-it was just so… unexpected! I didn't think… you'd mention it at all!"

"T-truth be told… me too…" He murmured with a side, awkward smile.

She smiled at him, feeling so much better after this little exchange. He sat at his desk, turned towards her. She noticed how his hair seemed wet and how messy his tie looked. Did he hurry to come here… for her…? She swallowed hard but quickly tried to come up with a conversation:

"Y-you didn't answer my question… how are you…?" She asked in a low voice, a knot in her throat.

"…Not good…" He admitted, lowering his head and blushing once again, "I-I can't stop thinking about… what happened yesterday and I…"

His voice broke and he swallowed hard. Kiku tensed, suddenly worried as he looked up at her, something close to panic in his beautiful green-gray eyes:

"I'm so sorry for what happened! I-it was an accident a-and I could never apologize enough…!" He exclaimed, stumbling a little over his words and feelings.

He looked right her widened eyes. She stared back in shock.

Hajime thought back on the realization that he liked her as much as she liked him. Kiku thought back on all the feelings she had kept for so long and the reasons why she could never tell him her feelings. He looked for forgiveness and signs she liked him in her eyes. She looked for any sort of hope to hold on all the while cursing herself for being so weak-willed when it came to Hajime…

Slowly Kiku nodded and smiled – it looked sad. But she still smiled.

It had been an accident. Hajime had apologized. She had forgiven him. It was more than enough for both of them at the moment. Both wanted to fall into each other's arms for comfort, for reassurance, for forgiveness… but they kept their wish quiet and continued chatting, acting as if nothing had happened at all.

They were so busy chatting that they didn't notice Oikawa, Makki and Mattsun watching them from the doorway and for once, miraculously, no fangirl seemed to notice Oikawa. He smiled, relieved to see his friend and his future wife not feeling weird or awkward.

"Let's go to our classes before they notice us…" He decided, turning around, "Oh! Sorry!" He exclaimed when he bumped into someone.

Oikawa blinked when a girl looked up at him and smiled, cheeks very lightly flushed. A girl he recognized.

"No, it's my fault, Oikawa-san, I wasn't looking where I was going… Good morning to you three," Yukimura Shinobu said, nodding to the three members of the volleyball club.

"Good morning," they echoed.

She walked past Oikawa without another glance in his direction. She had a book in her hands and walked past Iwaizumi and Kiku, glancing quickly in their direction while the volleyball club's third-years were leaving. Shinobu blinked and took a step backwards, stopping in front of Kiku's desk – her sudden appearance attracted Iwaizumi, then Akiyama's gazes, both looking up at the girl curiously.

"Is this… Dazai Osamu?" Shinobu asked curiously, pointing at a book on Akiyama's desk.

Surprised someone other than Iwaizumi would talk to her, Akiyama glanced at her book, as if checking it was Dazai Osamu's, then nodded at Yukimura. She smiled excitedly instantly, lifting up her own book and showing it was the exact same book from the same author.

"Oh…" Kiku murmured, blinking to see she had a common point with Yukimura.

"Do you like reading, Akiyama-san?"

"Y-yes… A-and y-you a-are… um… in the… literature c-club… r-right…?" Kiku asked hesitantly, flushing anxiously when she realized she was trying to make conversation with a classmate.

"Yes, I am," Yukimura smiled, "You should come to our club if you like reading – we lack members."

"A-ah, I… uh…" Kiku stammered, looking down, her fingers playing with the side of her book, "I-I h-have a c-club already…" She answered so low it was barely heard.

"Eh? Really? What is it?" Yukimura continued curiously.

"…C-cheering…" Kiku whispered, feeling like she was about to melt from so much attention.

"Cheering? Seijou has a cheering club?" Shinobu hesitated, blinking.

"Yeah, we do, even if people don't seem to ever hear about it." Iwaizumi intervened.

Yukimura looked back at him, eyes slightly widened by his harsh tone. Kiku glanced as well, not understanding what was happening. Realizing he had talked too suddenly, Hajime hesitated.

"I mean… there aren't many members… it might be why…" He murmured.

"Have you ever watched one of the cheering club's practice, Iwaizumi-san?" Yukimura asked with her constant, polite smile.

"E-eh?!" He exclaimed, flushing immediately when Yukimura glanced at Kiku meaningfully.

She acted innocent as soon as Kiku looked back up at Shinobu.

"I… I didn't…" He stammered, looking down.

He noticed from the corner of his eye Kiku glancing down, as if disappointed he had never seen her practice while she had watched many of his… Shinobu glanced between the two before speaking up and breaking the sudden silence:

"I'll leave you two – I realize I interrupted your conversation earlier, I apologize. And apparently… some people are rather protective of their friends…" She added in a low voice, gaze switching to a blushing Hajime while Kiku blinked innocently, "I'd love to talk again with you about books, Akiyama-san – if you don't mind, that is…"

Kiku startled and blushed before smiling because she was being social and it felt like a huge improvement – as if she had finally reached the peak of a mountain she had struggled climbing for years.

"I-I don't mind at all!" She exclaimed a little too fast.

Yukimura nodded softly then went to her seat. Iwaizumi watched her leave then looked back at a very proud-looking Kiku. She was obviously silently cheering herself for managing to hold a conversation with a classmate and having the possibility of another one. Hajime couldn't help but smile when he noticed this expression on her face.

"It's great if you get along well with other classmates…" He said.

"A-ah, y-yes!" Kiku exclaimed with an enthusiastic nod.

At practice…

The Aoba Jousai's volleyball team was practicing while Oikawa and Iwaizumi were talking with their head coach about the nearing Golden Week. Hajime felt something and glanced towards the gymnasium entrance, seeing Kiku approaching. The conversation going on (in which he was supposed to participate) totally became background noise and his whole attention turned on Kiku.

She was coming forward with a little smile, looking at the team, as if proud of their progress. He wondered how many times she had come here to watch them without him, or anyone, noticing her. She was carrying two bentos in her hands and she finally met eyes with his. She made some sort of bouncy step, as if she was impatient to get closer, her smile becoming big and bright. Without quite realizing it, Hajime started smiling as well, observing her and only her.

"…given their papers back and all questions from the first-years have been answered." Oikawa concluded with a smile, giving a handful of papers to his coach.

"Good, I– Oh, Kiku." Irihata finally noticed the girl at his side.

Both Hajime and Kiku jumped out of their staring to glance back at the coach. The girl lifted up her bentos very quickly, to show them to the coach then put them down on the bench.

"Thank you." He nodded, turning back towards the Captain and Vice-Captain, "As I was saying… Iwaizumi?"

Iwaizumi startled when he was called because he had been too busy staring lovingly at Kiku who glanced up shyly at the coach.

"Y-yes, coach?" He asked.

Irihata raised an eyebrow gave him a look that was explicit enough: he knew damn well why he was day-dreaming, or rather, who he was day-dreaming about. The Ace flushed in embarrassment, a little ashamed to be caught staring at a girl.

"I do hope you were listening to what I was saying these past five minutes, uh?" Irihata asked knowingly.

"Uuuh…"

Oikawa chuckled, earning a glare from his friend. Irihata rolled his eyes then turned towards Kiku who was looking at Iwaizumi as if he was some sort of deity appeared on earth.

"You're done with practice tonight?" He asked.

"Ah, y-yes, I-I wanted to come watch the volleyball practice…" She answered, fumbling with her fingers sheepishly.

"You can stay on the bench – just be careful of stray balls. Stay near Mizoguchi or me, okay?"

"Y-yes…"

Iwaizumi stared at the coach interacting with the girl so comfortably.

"How do you two know each other…?" He mumbled.

It was only when both Irihata and Kiku turned to him curiously that he realized he had talked outloud. Not only he had voiced his thoughts outloud but mostly, he had sounded incredibly rude towards his coach.

"I-I mean… I didn't… uuh…" Iwaizumi hesitated.

"You don't know, Iwaizumi?" Irihata asked, raising an eyebrow.

Oikawa looked expectantly while his friend's face turned into an expression of incredulity.

"Know what?" He asked.

"…Kiku is my…"

Irihata glanced hesitantly at Kiku who smiled up at Hajime:

"He's my uncle." She said as if it was obvious.

Hajime's lips fell open, his eyes widened and the papers he had been holding fell on the floor.

Oh. Was all he could think.

BONUS

"Damn it, damn it, damn it, fuuuuuck! I'm such an idiot!" Iwaizumi mumbled, repeating it over and over again to himself.

Hanamaki snorted while Iwaizumi continued pacing back and forth in the changing-room, shaking his hair in panic, eyes wide as he thought again and again about the fact that his coach was Kiku's uncle…

"How could I NOT know?!" He exclaimed to himself, almost punching the lights out of Kunimi when he whipped around.

Kindaichi threw his friend a worried look but Iwaizumi didn't seem to notice, going back towards his locker and hitting his head against it.

"Fuuuck… daaamn it…"

"I don't see how that's much of a problem," Yahaba intervened hesitantly.

"It IS a problem! Irihata noticed me staring at Kiku!" Iwaizumi shouted, "He doesn't usually say a thing about the players' girlfriends so I thought it wouldn't be much of a trouble as long as it didn't disturb practice BUT SHE'S HIS NIECE!"

"Calm down, Iwa-chan~" Oikawa said happily.

"STOP LOOKING SO DARN HAPPY OIKAWA! YOU KNEW AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!" Iwaizumi continued, pointing an accusing finger at Oikawa.

Oikawa was guilty of course, but he didn't feel guilty at all. He made a fake shocked expression and put a dramatic hand on his chest.

"Don't accuse me like that, Iwa-chan! How could I know that you didn't know the obvious?"

"Obvious?! Uh! Don't joke around! No one mentioned it ever, no one knew before Kiku told me Irihata was her uncle!" Iwaizumi exclaimed.

Silence fell in the changing-room, everyone staring, a little sadly, and maybe disappointed for the kouhais, at Iwaizumi.

"Actually…" Makki started with a smirk.

Hajime whipped around towards him at once, a shocked expression on his face:

"You knew…?!" He hissed.

"I'm her neighbor, remember? I see Irihata almost all week-ends since I've been ten years-old." Makki answered with a shrug as if it was normal.

"I knew too," Mattsun intervened with his usual deadpanned expression.

"What?!" Iwaizumi exclaimed before turning towards the second and first-years, "Who else knew?!"

They all glanced at each other guiltily and finally, after a long and heavy silence, Kindaichi had the courage to speak up.

"Sorry for not telling you before Iwaizumi-san… but I thought you knew…" He admitted.

"Even the first-years…?" Iwaizumi whispered, taking a step backwards.

"You were the only one not knowing, it's hilarious!" Hanamaki snorted as his friend fell against the locker with hands covering his face in shame and embarrassment.

"The most hilarious was your reaction, though!" Mattsun added with a chuckle.

Some time ago…

"Eh?" Iwaizumi said hesitantly.

"I'm Kiku's uncle," Irihata said with a little more confidence than before.

It took a moment for Iwa-chan to understand what was being revealed to him. The coach who had supervised his practice for three years now was the uncle of Akiyama Kiku, the girl he liked…

"B-b-but! Y-you don't have the same family name!" Iwaizumi exclaimed suddenly, pointing at the two while stepping back out of shock.

Irihata and Kiku glanced at each other before looking back at the Ace.

"You really didn't know?" Irihata asked suspiciously.

He then glanced at Oikawa who appeared all innocent. Irihata gave him an exasperated look, understanding that the Captain had known but kept it a secret for whatever reason while Kiku gently tried to reassure a panicking Iwaizumi:

"Uncle Nobuteru's wife is my mother's sister," Kiku explained calmly, "They both changed family names when they got married."

"Uncle… Nobu…"

Hajime's voice trailed off and he glanced at Irihata, thinking back on all the moments he had spaced out and been noticed by the coach – whenever Irihata had been asking him if he was all right, Oikawa had joyfully piped in that Iwaizumi was having heart trouble. This one time Iwaizumi had skipped classes with Kiku and Irihata had scolded him for that (because he's her uncle), saying not to get Kiku in trouble (because he's her uncle!), and how worried he had seemed upon hearing about the bullying (because he's her UNCLE!)… All the times Hajime had shamelessly and openly stared and waved and smiled at Kiku despite Irihata being less than five meters away…

He knows… Hajime thought.

He met eyes with his coach who gave him a long look, nodding very lightly. Hajime's heart almost leapt out of his chest out of fear and he had to hold back a very not manly squeak of sudden nervousness because this look screamed "Yeah, I know you have a thing for my niece and I am not very happy about this but well…"

Back in the changing-room, Hajime let his hands fell from his face and turned towards Oikawa with a hard look:

"You bastard, you knew all along but you hid it from me because you wanted this embarrassment to happen!" He hissed.

"…I may have known buuut… I thought… you knew?" Oikawa hesitated, feeling his lifespan shorten.

"…I give you a five seconds advance. Run."

You finally know about Kiku and Irihata. ;)

I know it's hard to understaand what's going on at the beginning of the chapter and what triggered Kiku's break-down, but when you'll know about her past, you'll understand! ;)

I'm off for a few days, so I'm wishing everyone a Happy New Year in advance! I wish you all health and happiness for hte year 2017! :D

Yours Truly,

May