Seijuro declined to be introduced as Fuyuko's fiance. Again.

Akashi Masaomi took a drink from his whiskey as he stared out the window. His office was at the penthouse of his more than fifty-story building and its windows gave him a view of most of the city.

Was it really the girl named Mikaela who changed Seijuro's mind? He'd agreed to be Fuyuko's fiance before he entered Teiko so why the change of mind?

Masaomi had done what he had to do, transferring Mikaela's parents back to their homeland and making sure she won't meet his son anymore. But, who knew she would be enrolling in Seirin and appearing at the training camp?

The man's hold on the glass tightened. And Fuyuko had invited the girl to the opening of the exhibit days from now. Had she been friends with the Shimizu heir after a small amount of time?

"You called, Masaomi-sama." Tanaka, their butler, stood at the doorway of his office.

He took another sip of whiskey and asked, "How is Seijuro in the training camp?"

"So far he is winning every game, as expected, Masaomi-sama," the old butler replied politely. "Would you like me to observe his performance a little more?"

"Yes. And what about the girl?" Akashi Masaomi put the empty glass on the table.

"The girl?"

"Risa Mikaela."

"Ah. She is not as the rumors say but is nothing compared to Shimizu Fuyuko-sama."

Of course. The older Akashi grunted. If only Seijuro could see sense.

+0+0+0+0+

The room was brimming with people. Mika stood in front with a blank whiteboard behind her.

Wanting to help Shelter, Seiji instructed his team members to be there and obey Mika's every command. Aside from the Seirin basketball club members, the Generation of Miracles and a few of their friends were there too. The students squeezed themselves inside the tiny room as others wait outside.

"I think we need to find a bigger place…" Mika voiced out.

Seiji suggested, "Since the gymnasiums are occupied, let's move to the function hall. I can ask a few staff to let us in."

"Really? That'd be great!" Mika picked up her things and they waited a few moments until Seiji came and told them the hall was ready.

Actually, Shelter was finished with their works with Haven. They successfully conducted two feeding programs and one donation-giving. But, seeing these many people wanting to help Shelter, the little fire inside Mika was reignited.

"We'll be doing a fashion show!" she announced the moment they had settled in the function hall. The flames within her burned brightly again-bold and unrelenting. She continued to say, "We weren't supposed to do a big project at Haven but it would be a waste to just stop when we could do more. I know a seamstress named Madam Blanc who is an expert at sewing costumes. She told me earlier that should I be needing extra costumes for kids, she could find some from her basement. The number of kids in Haven is just 17. The others will dance in the background while the others will do the catwalk."

"That seems to be a good idea," chimed Hyuga. "Can't the other elderly join the catwalk too? Some of them would want to, even with their wheelchairs."

The crowd smiled and brightened. "That'd be nice!" Kise exclaimed. "So, what will the theme be?"

Mika answered, "Burst of Colors!"

The students were eager to help and gave plenty of good suggestions. The meeting took almost the rest of their day off but it looked like they didn't mind at all. It even seemed like they were excited about what they were to do.

When they were finished, one by one, they exited the function hall and said goodbye to Mika. The girl was on her phone trying to contact Juliette. After a couple of rings, a female voice spoke through the cell phone. "Yet? There has been a change of plan. We'll be having a big event at Haven after all. A fourth of the training camp will be helping us."

"Wow." The voice replied, "so you will be needing costumes for the kids? They're like, what, 17."

"Yeah, 17 kids. But we're thinking of letting the elders join the catwalk too."

A pause then, "I think that'll be a lot but okay. E-mail me all their measurements. Only jackets, blazers, and the like right?"

"Yes. Actually, just anything you can provide. Thank you very much."

"Okay. Will contact you again soon."

After Mika put the phone back in her pocket, Tanaka was at her side and gestured at the floor. Mika laughed so hard that the other students looked at her. There on the floor was a trail of red rose petals. It was like a deja vu. But this time, she was willing to follow the trail. "From Seiji," she remarked and saw the old butler's eyes widen. Oops, must be the first time he heard her call Seiji by his first name, and it's even a nickname. But, when the heck did they have the time to put the petals there?

She let the butler lead the way as she followed him and the trail of petals. It extended outside the hall. A maid covered her from the sun using a frilly white parasol and disappeared as they reached the middle of the beautiful garden. Inside the white pavilion was Seiji. He was sitting but he stood up as he saw her coming. He walked toward her and reached for her hand. "Do you want to have tea with me?"

Mika curtsied and said, "Certainly."

The boy smiled at her and led her to her spot on the table. There were only two chairs, one for her and one for Seiji. Tanaka-san poured them tea and another butler asked if she would like to eat some cake to which she gladly said "yes."

She was so happy that she started to worry that something bad would soon happen. Wasn't it that life should always be balanced? Yes, there would be good things but there would be bad things too.

"I'm sorry," Seiji suddenly apologized.

"H-huh? What are you being sorry for?"

The boy was frowning and there was sadness in his eyes. "For what Teiko did to you."

"It wasn't your fault."

"Still, I should have predicted that something like that would happen." He looked at her intensely and it almost took her breath away. "I should have protected you."

"I know you would have. And everything is fine now."

Seiji reached for her hand again and squeezed it tightly. "I should have looked harder for you."

The girl smiled at that. "Not your fault too. I think I did a pretty good job at hiding. I didn't have a cell phone nor social media account, my relatives aren't here, and I didn't have friends here. Well, I thought. I didn't contact Angels' Place directly but only asked Madam Blanc. I just disappeared."

"And my father instructed his people not to help me."

That was news to Mika. What was Seiji's father's role in whatever happened to her? And would he be involved further? The rich, proud, powerful Akashi Masaomi.

The boy probably sensed that Mika tensed because he squeezed her hand again. "Don't worry, Mika-san. I'm here. I won't let anything bad happen to you. Not anymore. Not this time."

"I-I know." The girl blushed. Was it alright to feel that with their love the two of them could conquer whatever obstacles laid on their path?

The sun was now on its way to the west. The sky was colored with red and orange. It was a beautiful dusk. Seiji stood up from his seat and got a beautiful brown violin handed to him by a butler.

"Do you have a favorite piece, Mika-san?" he asked her.

"Piece?"

"Yes. A classical piece of music, perhaps, that I can play for you. A modern piece of music can do too." He put the violin on one of his shoulders and angled his bow.

"Then… This song that played during my auntie's wedding…" She hummed the tune.

"Ah. That's Pachelbel's Canon in D. Let me see. It's like this, right?" Seiji played a short piece of it.

"Yes! Yes! That's it."

"Okay. I'll play it for you."

The sound of Seiji's violin enveloped the whole garden. The breeze was cool as it touched their skin. The last rays of light showered upon Seiji enchantingly. Mika's heart did its usual thump thump again within her. It was clear to her how she felt for the boy. She didn't just like him, no, but deeper, stronger. "I love you," she didn't realize that she had whispered.

Seiji's violin played out of tune and he looked at Mika wide-eyed. He stopped playing.

He heard her.

Mika blushed so hard and she wanted to run away but she didn't. She also didn't back away when the boy approached her and leaned toward her to claim a kiss.

For a moment that seemed forever, their lips touched. Seiji was warm and his lips were inviting. And when they parted, it was as if their hearts were beating as one. They were both flushed red. Even the maid and the other butler in the pavilion were blushing. Tanaka-san merely closed his eyes.

It was Seiji who broke the silence. "Would you like to eat some cake now, Mika-san?" His smile reached his eyes and Mika smiled too.

"Yes, please."

They conversed for more than an hour then Seiji walked Mika to her room.

+0+0+0+0+

"You're still young, bocchama. You can play all you want but you cannot be serious with someone like her. It will only anger Masaomi-sama," the old butler warned.

But Seijuro didn't want to listen to such nonsense. He walked away without sparing a glance at Tanaka and went directly to Rakuzan's room. It was empty. Leaning his back on the door, Seijuro touched his lips. He could still feel Mika-san's lips on him.

Of course, he thought. He was serious about her. And would always be.