Disclaimer: I don't own Chihayafur or any of it's characters.

Thanks everyone for reading this story.

Taichi could finally see the way out, he knew it is difficult and dangerous path, but at least now he has a 'path'. A path to recovery.

This past one year his mind had been filled with jealousy, pain, rage, futility and despair. But strangely it was Chihaya who brought this despair also showed him hope. Ironically both times, she is not even aware it.

Chihaya saw him this time, even though with disgust and sadness, it was enough for him to know what it meant. In the past times, even though she cared and looked at him, it was the same kindness she would show any other person.

Now he knew the answer, if Chihaya had caught him with Arata's glasses. She wouldn't have stayed as his friend at all. And he believed it, he has to believe it.

He always suppressed his darker instincts, that is why he always loathed himself for having those instincts in the first place. It always felt like fighting like fighting himself.

He was never like them at all, not even like his friends from Mizusawa. He didn't have a dream or a passion for Karuta. And he never could feel like them.

It is futile to hope for feelings of love or passion towards Karuta, and when he forced himself to like Karuta, he started hating it and got depressed and started hating himself. This he figured out last year when he met Suo-San. Now he understood Chihaya feelings for him, they will never be like love or passion towards him. Now he knows what it will lead to, if he tries too much to be with her.

There is no chance, that she could reciprocate his feelings. There was never a chance, maybe if they hadn't met Arata. But if Arata wasn't there, Chihaya wouldn't the Chihaya he fell in love with.

He has to let go of his love. In order to move forward, he has to let go of his past and forgive himself.

For that to happen, he can't be her friend anymore. Actually now he thought of it, they didn't act like friends at all since his confession. Maybe he is still a fool to think they were still friends.

Oh, how big a fool he is. He really made a mess of things with Chihaya, his friends and even his family.

But first, he has to meet up with a dear friend(maybe mentor).

Nagasaki Prefecture:-

He watched in amazement as Suo-san started chopping vegetables and meat, boiled water after taking the customer's order. There is a certain finesse to the way he chops. He never noticed it before, Suo-san never ceases to surprise him just like Chihaya.

He winced a bit being reminded of Chihaya, but now it doesn't bring any jealousy or frustration anymore. Just pain, intense heart-ache.

"So you finally understood my first lecture." Suo-san muttered as he served his customer with Ramen and sat beside him.

"You really are a slow learner" Suo breathed with a sigh.

Taichi couldn't help but laugh at that comment as he recalled his lecture about 'Spring of youth'.

He has to find the 'spring of youth' within himself now.

"Yes" Taichi agreed.

"So what are you going to do now?" Suo-san inquired.

Last year also Taichi had this revelation to find within himself, but then he still tried to cling to his past.

Taichi took a long breath, it hurts a lot "I am letting go of the past, I clinged to those sweet memories, now they leave a sour taste in my mouth. I have to leave Tokyo, I can't live there where all memories still exist fresh in my mind." Taichi hesitated " At least that is what I think is the right move"

Suo sat silently, Taichi was expecting a response. By then a new customer has come to the stall and Suo-san stood upto to take the order.

"So you are letting go of her, ha! So the Fukui upstart took your cake and eating it too." Suo-san started chopping the carrots.

"It was never a competition, he had it the whole time. I was just a placeholder." Taichi answered. He sat there pondering since the moment Arata entered his life. Did he hate Arata for doing this to him? He always knew, didn't he? Chihaya belonged to Arata. He hated himself, he didn't hate him, Arata is still a friend, he realised.

Suo-san served his customer and stood beside him. He spoke in a higher tone than before.

"Love is never enough for two people to be together. Everybody thinks that love is this great binding force, which solves all the problems, but in fact most of the problems are caused by love itself. It is never enough to fill the void in a person.

Everybody thinks that 'Romeo & Juliet' is tragic love story of two dead lovers. According to me, it is actually an allegory of two people who loved each other, but later separated because they stopped loving each other. Romeo and Juliet represent the love which they dreamed in their minds and hearts. But when they got together, it was surreal, but after a while, reality brought them back. All the external people in that story are the reality, they represented the hardships and flaws in their characters. So in the end, they couldn't accept the flaws of their partners, they couldn't come to a compromise, so their love faded as they come to know more about each other. And the reality finality killed their love"

"Most romantics think that Romeo and Juliet's is the purest kind of love. But in fact, it is the weakest form of love, which couldn't stand the reality."

"Ha!, I never thought of it liked that" Taichi exhaled as he tried to process the significance of the story.

"You want me to stop thinking that love is the only way to find happiness?" Taichi inquired.

Suo-san didn't answer. He switched to another topic "So where are you going"

"I am thinking of Kyoto" Taichi frowned, he is still not sure, how to convince his mother. She still didn't know the scores of his last exams.

"Shinobu-chan!" Suo-san suddenly exclaimed.

"Oy, are you trying to steal my bride-to be?" Suo-san glared with a fake pout.

Taichi laughed "I highly doubt she will fall for my charms if she hadn't fallen to yours."

"But anyway, I doubt I will even meet her, Kyoto is also still a big city"

Taichi took his leave and got on the train. Now on to next step, convincing his mother.

He thought of various strategies on how to break the news of his poor grades. He finally decided that the truth is the best way to go. He confessed to her about his love, leaving the details of who it is, and how. He told her what he has been doing for the past few months. And finally told her his grades.

He hung his head down and waited for her to blow up.

"It is that silly girl, isn't it? The Karuta-freak" Taichi raised his head to see that she is not angry but a very different look.

"I don't how you even fell in love with that girl, I don't think she even knows how to string up a proper sentence in a conversation? It is her isn't it?" His mom bellowed.

"Yes" Taichi restrained his natural emotions to defend Chihaya.

"I am very disappointed in you Taichi." His mom spoke in a sad voice.

Taichi was hurt, she was always angry at his mistakes. For the first time, getting a disappointed look from her hurt more than he thought. It made him emotional.

"I am very sorry for all my actions for the past few months. I know I have to move forward with my future, that is why I am requesting your help"

"Go on"

"I never asked you to use our money or influence for my sake, but only this once, I am requesting you to use our influence to get me into Kyoto University. I know I don't have the grades or merit to ask them to switch colleges in second year, that is why I need this. I can't be in Tokyo anymore" Taichi spoke with tears in his eyes, he felt shame, but this is the only way.

"Please, at least till I finish uni" Taichi looked straight into his mother's eyes.

She gave him a sad look "Al right, I will see, what I can do"

"Thanks Mom, I am really grateful for this. I will do my best from now on." Taichi replied.

Taichi was glad he went head on with his mother, instead of usual evasive way he treats his mother. She really surprised him.

As Taichi was retiring to his room "Taichi, I know it is hard and painful now. But you will move on from her. I know you will get through this." she spoke in a confident and understanding manner

Wow, he never expected his mother to understand what he is going through. Hmm, maybe that is why she is not angry,

But Taichi couldn't contain his heart-ache and the memory of Chihaya's smile.

"How do you know?" He retorted.

"Because you are my son." She replied.

Well he didn't have any reply to that. He hoped, he can move on, now his mother trusted him. It made him happy.