The party soon ended and we all parted ways and head home. It was around time for the last train to pass so everyone could get home safely. I also had to take the train because the last bus had already passed. Haruka took the train to Kanagawa with me and stopped at the station to take another train home. I waited with her for half an hour before she decided to go ask when the train will arrive.

"The train's not coming" She said about to break into tears "They said the track is covered in snow and it's not safe. What do I do? I can't go home"

After calming her down I called my father to tell him what happened.

"Well that's no problem just bring her over. She can stay the night." He started "Just make sure she lets her parents know" He hung up before I could respond. The thought of bringing Haruka home for the night was embaressing. She probably didn't know what to expect from an all-guy household. To be honest I was going to ask him to drive her in the car, but it was almost as if he wanted her to stay over. And he seemed almost happy about it!

Haruka phoned her parents on the way to my house. We both entered and took off our shoes. As I slipped into my usual indoor slippers I noticed dad had taken out mom's old pair for Haruka to use. We both walked to the living room where my father was sitting on the sofa drinking a cup of tea and reading a magazine, like he always did.

"Oh! You must be Haruka-chan!" He said. He put his cup on the coffee table and walked over to shake Haruka's hand. "You two must be tired. I prepared a warm bath for you upstairs, and don't worry about a change of clothes you can borrow Touma's"

"Thank you. you're very kind" Haruka said with a flushed face. I was too dumbfounded with the situation to think of a way to respond to what my father had just said.

I took her to my room and opened one of my clothes drawers. Just the thought of a girl wearing my clothes was enough to send blood rushing to my head. I took out a button up pajama shirt and it's corresponding pair of trousers and handed them to her.

"Um..." I stammered as I made my way to my underwear drawer. I looked at her, but she was looking away.

"It's okay. I always carry a fresh one in case of well... you know..." I showed her the way to the bathroom and went back downstairs to talk to my father.

"Dad are you crazy?" whispered so that Haruka wouldn't hear me "I'm fine with her staying here, but a bath? and wearing my clothes?"

"Oh be a man would you?" He said "You're already old enough to get married Touma, I don't want you to end up alone like I did"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I don't want you to stop yourself from seeing girls as potential partners because your mom passed away." He put his had on my shoulder "Especially not the cute ones"

"But why Haruka?" I brushed his hand off my shoulder "why are you so forward with her?"

"Because you aren't!" He started to make his way to his room.

"Aren't you going to help me take out the futon?" I asked.

"You crazy? Are you really going to let her sleep on the floor?" He shouted. I was going to suggest that I sleep on the futon, but the old pervert had a better idea. "You can share your bed" At that moment so much blood rushed into my face that I nearly forgot how to speak. I fought for words.

"You can't possibly trust us that much"

"Whoever said anything about trusting you? You're sleeping with the door open tonight. If you do anything inappropriat don't expect to hear the end of it" He continued to his room and I went into the kitchen and made Haruka and myself some hot chocolate.

As I passed the bathroom, Haruka exited. She was wearing my clothes, naturally, I just didn't think they'd look so good on her. She had a towel on her head which she was using to dry her hair. As our eyes met we both looked away.

"Thank you for letting me use your bath" She said, her cheeks red with embaressment.

She followed me to my room and I sent her mug on the bed-side table. She stood at the doorway, looking aroun my room. It must have been her first time in a boy's room. She took a few steps forward, actually entering the room and turned to face the wall. Her eyes fell on my figurine collection. She stood on her toes as if she saw somthing that picked her interest. I walked to her ad pulled down one of the figurines on the top shelf. It was her latest christmas themed figurine.

"I'm a little embarressed now that you're seeing it. But I'm a collector, so it's part of my hobby" I lied. I quickly tried to change the subject. "Your chocolate is getting cold." I sat on the bed - legs crossed - and drank my hot chocolate.

"I hope I'm not being a bother" She said taking her hot chocolate.

"Don't worry about it, I think the geezer is actually happy that you're here" I put my mug, now empty, on the bed side table "You see when my mother died, he had to play both roles. He's afraid that her death might have given me the wrong impression on relationships" and I secretly started to agree.

Haruka put her mug on the bedside table and kneeled on my bed in front of me. She put her hands behind my neck and pulled me towards her. We were so close I was afraid she could hear my heartbeat. It was nostalgic, like when my mother was still alive.

"Touma. I care for you" She said as our foreheads touched and shut her eyes tightly as she pressed her lips against mine. At first I was shocked, but I slowly closed my eyes and wrapped my arms round her waist. The kiss lasted a while longer, but I broke it.

"You know?" I started "If the media..." She interrupted me with her laughter.

"Of all the things you could think of right now you think of the media?" We both laughed for a while longer until we fell asleep.