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"AHHHHHH I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S FINALLY OVER!" I cheered jumping into the arms of my best friend who was at least 9 years older than me, Asahina Masaomi. We met through a University Festival. I had been the chef of a small takoyaki stall, slices of octopus in balls of wheat flour batter topped off with mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce, and bonito flakes, lettuce and green laver for toppings.

Masaomi was the doctor in charge of first aid for my area and I had burnt myself on the takoyaki pan from nerves. He had tended to my burn wounds and later I made him a batch of takoyaki in thanks. We became fast friends after that. With Masaomi taste testing food I had invented, and me being his test subject for learning how to do injections and what not. I was currently still trying to make him get over his fear of blood.

"Miyu-chan!" He practically squawks at the sudden weight. I pulled him tightly into a hug, beaming at him brightly. We had received our degrees and were officially graduates. The only thing left to do was to attend the University Graduation Night.

He beams back, his russet brown eyes sparkling with mirth, and his curly dark coffee hair was for once gelled up and swept up and away from his eyes. I hopped off him to observe what he wore. A well-trimmed black suit with a long red tie, and a single red rose in his breast pocket. He looked awfully handsome and the clothes complimented his boyishly cute looks.

"Maa-kun," I faked a sigh and shook my head, sneering in fake disgust at his clothes. He looks at me like a deer caught in head lights. "YOU LOOK HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!" I hollered in his face, beaming cheekily. He raises a brow and lightly punches my forearm.

"You just had to do that." He sighs, his hands rubbing his temples. I grinned.

"Though thanks for the dress Maa-kun, I would have probably just worn a t-shirt and shorts for prom if not for you!" I twirled around in the strapless, high low crimson red dress that clung tightly to my well-developed curves. "Though the front is a little too tight." I frowned, glancing down at my chest which was almost falling out of the dress. Almost. I glanced up to see Masaomi blushing bright red.

"It's not my fault I d-don't k-know what c-c-cup you are!" He gasped in embarrassment. Aw, he's embarrassed and stuttering.

"You could have just asked!" I gave him a look.

"That's not what you ask a girl!" He yelps.

"But I'm your best friend!"

"That does not mean I need to know everything private about you!"

"But best friends know everything about each other!"

"Not anything to do with their private business! Like-like exactly when you use the toilet!"

"What? You want to know when I use the toilet. That's insane!"

"Exactly!"

"Oh. Good point Maa-kun." I nodded thoughtfully. He sighs. "But, just for your information," I leaned in closer to his ear. His scent of warm apple pie and honey drifted into my nose and I internally sighed happily. "I'm a C-cup." I leaped away from him to watch his reaction. He was dumbstruck and a blush burst onto his face, crimson red.

"MIYU!" He wails pitifully. Masaomi was known to be a pretty laid back and gentle guy but I totally drive him bonkers. Totally.

"NOW YOU KNOW!" I laughed. I grinned at him. "Anyway, how do I look?" I twirled around for him, and gave him a pose. He pursed his lips blushing slightly.

"You look pulchritudinous." He replies softly, a faint dusting of pink on his cheeks. I blinked at him owlishly. What does that even mean? It sounded horribly like something you would name an illness, or a medicine to me. "Come on let's go! We're going to be late!" He pulls me towards the ballroom, avoiding my gaze to walk in quick strides towards the hall.

"Wait up! What does that even mean? Maa-kun!" I wailed, racing forward to catch up with him. Oh well, I'll search the word up later on my phone. On a second thought, I'm too lazy to do that.

We arrived in the ballroom, a place the ballroom dancing club commonly used or we chefs used as a makeshift restaurant for guests. It was now decorated with banners and rainbow paper chains that hung to the huge crystal chandelier that reflected iridescent colours in the middle of the huge ballroom.

There were long tables covered with white lacy table cloth at the sides of the huge ballroom. Plates and cutlery were all laid out properly with vases of daffodils, freesias and baby's breaths as decorations. Students taking the culinary course ushered the graduates to their sits at these tables for a full course dinner cooked by the instructors at our school.

We sat together at a corner and were quickly served by the students. The dishes were fantastic with the main course of a slowly cooked crispy roasted duck breast seasoned with salt, pepper and herbs, with gooseberry sauce that has a hint of sweetness and zest of lemons and honey.

The gooseberry sauce was naturally sweet with a hint of lemons and thick richness from chicken stock. The duck practically melts in one's mouth with the sharp spiciness of pepper and the tangy scent of meat. I yawned sleepily from being overly full and slumped onto the shoulder of Masaomi. His skin was incredibly warm and soft, with that sweet scent of apple pie. Mmmm.

"Wake up Miyu-chan! We haven't even danced and you're already tired?" He chuckles poking me on the head.

"Maa-kun~" I whined. He sighs and pulls me up dragging me to the dance floor where there were graduates dancing to the music which has turned from a soft classical tune during our meal to a popular pop song. The chandelier rains iridescent silvery sparkles onto the skin of the people dancing giving them an unearthly glow. Creepy.

"Come on Miyu! It's a once in a life time experience!" He cheers and bounces in time to the music doing a cute little jig. I snorted. Masaomi was a total beginner in dancing. He beckons to me to dance. I shook my head. He smirks at me. "YOU'RE JUST EMBARRASSED THAT YOU CAN'T DANCE!" He teases me over the loud music. Oh fine! I mentally growled at him. I gave him a glare and he chuckles as I begin to dance.

I moved in time to each thundering beat of music, showing off my flexibility and strength. My dancing wows the crowd and soon most of the graduates were simply watching at me dance in awe. They cheer and whistle for more as the song changes to one of a sexier nature. Masaomi stares at me in amazement.

I grinned cheekily and sauntered over to him, trailing my fingertips over his shoulder. My hips shaking slowly side to side in time to the music emphasizing my curves, my moves were sinful, seductive and dangerous. His eyes never left my body, watching every dip, every twirl, and every move of my hips…

We end up with our eyes locked together and my body pressed tightly to his. The crowd applauses and I quickly leave him, pulling him outside of the ballroom where it was quieter. I turned to glance at Masaomi. His cheeks were crimson and burning red. He stares at me. His eyes glazed and dark with something akin to a predator staring at its prey.

"I so can dance!" I stuck my tongue out at him. The look leaves his eyes and he blinks hard. He blushes biting his pale pink lips with pearly white teeth. I can almost see every moist breathe escaping those petal pink soft lips, and something in me alights in swirls of flames.

"I-I know now." He replies, turning away to stare at something else aside from me, his ears were a burning crimson. Amusement bubbles in my chest and the memory of my present for him strikes me suddenly like lightning.

"Oh! I have something to give you! Wait here!" I sprinted off to the nearby locker room where I had stored my haversack packed with belongings for easy access considering how we were allowed to go home after this. I grabbed the stuffed bunny soft toy I had bought for Masaomi. I ran back to Masaomi, panting hard.

"Here! This is Usa-tan!" I beamed at him tossing him the toy. He catches it with a look of surprise.

"Use it to helps distract the children you're treating! Plus it's also a calculator!" I turned the toy over and unzipped the compartment at its back showing him the calculator which I had sewn deep into the toy. "I made it myself! Hope it helps!" I beamed at him. Masaomi stares at me his eyes wide.

"I did not get you a pres-" He begins to say. I interrupted his sentence with a tight hug and a cheerful grin.

"Nah, you don't have to get me one Maa-kun!" I beamed, wrapping my arms around him. "You're my present! Thank you for being my best friend Maa-kun!" I squeezed him tightly and released him from the embrace reluctantly. Man. He was so comfy to hug.

"I…MIYU!" He squeezes his eyes shut, his face burning and yells my name out loud. I stare at him, tilting my head to a side. "I-I lov-,"He was yet again interrupted by a breathless yelp of my name.

"Hinata-san!" I turned to see a panting school admin, running towards us. Her face was grave and sorrowful.

"Yes?" I asked blinking in surprise.

"I'm so sorry. But, your mother…" She begins to speak panting hard. My face drains off blood. What?

"She…she committed suicide." She shakily blurts to me.

"WHAT! But…She was fine…She was taking her medications. Are you sure? Who found her?" I gasped in horror, unable to believe what she was saying. The world swirls around me and I can hardly breathe. My eyes trained onto the admin. My body feels numb and all I can think of was that one word.

"I'm sorry. She…" The admin hesitates to continue. Her eyes drifting to mine in worry that I would not be able to bear the burden of the remaining news.

"Please! Just…Just tell me!" I gripped her arm tightly, so tight that her skin turns white and my nails were nearly breaking into her flesh. I couldn't believe what was happening.

"She hanged herself…In the woods, a hunter found her and called the police. I'm so sorry, Miyu-san." She tells me her eyes filled with pity. I freeze. Pain. Horrible, monstrous, incredible pain rips inside me tearing at my flesh. The monster squeezes at my heart and claws at it, biting into the pulsing flesh and sending waves of poison deep into me.

"Dead. She is dead. Dead." Sorrow whispered in my ear, its hand reaching deep into my flesh to crush my heart into tiny flecks of blood and flesh. It was so painful. So horribly painful. Tears would help me feel better. But I am unable to cry, unable to let the droplets of my pain, my grief out from my eyes.

Mom had depression from the loss of the love of her life and from her mistakes. I had gotten her medicine, and she was getting better, smiling more often. Yet, why? Why now? Why? Why did she have to leave when I had graduated? When I could finally work and pay for her medicine. We could live a better life. Why did she leave me?

My mind was blank and suddenly I feel as if I were alone in the world. A single lone plant in the wild with no one to help me. I stumbled and Masaomi catches me his warm arms wraps around me. His homely apple scent engulfs me. It was soothing. Tempting.

I want to just hug him and cry. Just tell him my problems. Everything. However, I can't do that. I can't let him suffer. I could not let him see me in pain, did not want him to feel sad for me. Masaomi was supposed to be happy. Happy. Happy. Happy. Forever and ever. I could not let him be burdened by my own pain. By my lost.

With shaky hands I stand and gently push Masaomi away. I smiled at him, and it takes all my will power not to cry when he gives me that expression of shock, horror, fear and worry. Masaomi was always so kind and so gently, empathic to other's feelings.

"I…I'll go back to my home town today Maa-kun. Go back and have fun at the party!" I mask my feelings with a cheerful grin.

"But…Miyu," He said, his voice sad.

"Nah don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'll call you if I need help okay?" I told him fiercely, my eyes boring into his. He nods. A weight seems to leave my shoulder and the 'mask' over my face hardens and sinks into my flesh as a second skin. Good. He won't be affected by my feelings or burdened by me.

I waved and turned to follow the admin who leads me to the general office to speak with the police. If only Masaomi had spoken earlier and finished his sentence. Perhaps I would agree to date with him and gain feelings for him romantically.

He would help me with my pain and give me a home. Eventually I would meet my father through him and perhaps Masaomi and I would have gotten married when I was 20. Maybe have a few kids and live a comfortable, happy life…but it was not to be.