I just now realized that in the character list the only one not filled in is the Phantom, and it's kinda obvious who he is. Oh well, oops! Sorry for the wait on this chapter, I got Harvest Moon: New Beginning, and... ALLEN.

Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom of the Opera or Sekaiichi Hatsukoi.

Rushing into the lobby of Marukawa, Ritsu had dropped his bag; he'd almost been reduced to tears at that, still groggy from his nap in the car and overwhelmed from this already stressful morning.

And it wasn't even hell week yet.

He stumbled into the elevator after gathering his belongings, running face-first into someone as the elevator door slid shut. He stepped back, rubbing his forehead as he felt tears stinging threateningly at his eyes.

"Oh! Ricchan!"

Ritsu froze at that voice, blinking his eyes open at the familiar tone, allowing a slight smile to fall on his lips as he blinked his eyes open to be greeted by the grinning Shouta Kisa.

"Kisa-san...! Thank you so much for finding me a ride!" Ritsu exclaimed, gathering his slipping bag against his chest.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Ricchan! Yukina-kun just called me, I was on my way down to get you." There was a pause, the noise of the elevator moving floor after floor, before Kisa spoke again.

"Ahh... Was Yukina-kun nice? Or did he overwhelm you?"

Ritsu blinked, glancing over at the older man, who kept his eyes on his reflection in the elevator's doors.

"Yukina-kun was very nice, Kisa-san." Ritsu smiled, "Ano... If you don't mind me asking, how is it that you know him?"

The silence was heavy, Ritsu waiting to hear if Kisa would tell or lie.

"... He works at Marimo, so I see him sometimes. He's a good friend... I guess."

The elevator dinged, and Ritsu followed Kisa as he walked out. Well, he supposed this wasn't actually a lie, though Ritsu couldn't help but wonder why Kisa kept it a secret...

Ahh, he was spending too much time with Kisa-san, worrying about gossip like this.

As soon as they stepped into the office of the Emerald department, the familiar scent of papayas and apricots wafted over him, the somewhat lulling voices of his colleagues comforting him.

That is, until a certain voice hit them.

"Kisa! Where did you disappear too?!"

Kisa opened his voice to respond, though was immediately cut off.

"And you, noob! Why are you late?!

Ritsu began sputtering, though luckily - for the second time that day - saved by Kisa.

"Takano, what're you talking about? Ricchan has been sitting here all day! Old age must really be catching up with you."

At the ironic words of the old editor, even Takano seemed shocked into silence. During this silence, Kisa went back to his seat, motioning for Ritsu to follow after him, and dropped down into his chair as he pulled his legs up with him. Ritsu sat in his respected seat beside Kisa, sitting his bag down as well as Takano's book, turning away to ask Mino for his charger just as Takano recovered from his shock.

"Well then," he said, turning on Kisa, who gave him a bored look, "if he's been here all day, where was he just now?"

Expecting Takano's challenge, Kisa leaned forward on his desk before replying. "Ricchan wanted some coffee, so I went with him to get some."

"And where is this coffee?"

Kisa responded, barely missing a beat. "I'm going on a diet, Takano-san, didn't I tell you?! I can't drink coffee on my diet, so Ricchan didn't want to drink it in front of me. Isn't he nice!"

Takano hesitated, attempting to think of something to question him about. Unable too, he just asked, "Diet?"

Kisa gave a smile, nodding his head, "Yeah! I only eat junk food at this job, and lately I've put on a few pounds! So I decided I'd go on a diet for awhile."

Takano didn't reply, appearing to have no actual interest with Kisa's discussion, going back to his desk at the head of the table as Kisa continued to speak with him. From beside him, Ritsu received a charger from Mino and booted up his laptop, plugging in his phone as it loaded and requested his password.

"- so I have the calorie counter on my phone now! Takano-san, did you know that if you drink coffee or tea, that, instead of burning calories, your body burns the caffeine?! And that sucks, because-"

Mino, noticing the way Hatori's face had suddenly gone red and could overhear the gritting of his teeth, piped up, "Hey, Hatori. Speaking of calories, wasn't there something you were supposed to give Takano?"

All eyes turned to the two on the other side of the table, the red of Hatori's face fading as he glanced over at Mino, "Excuse me, Mino-san?"

"Oh, you know, Hatori! The fax Yoshikawa-sensei sent you?"

Hatori blinked, before nodding, turning back to his desk and rummaging through folders stacked neatly to the side. "Ahh - Yes, Mino-san." Pulling a green folder from his pile, he opened it and retrieved a paper, handing it down to the editor-in-chief, who cast his subordinate a curious look.

Takano took the paper from Hatori, grabbing for his glasses and sliding them on, squinting as his eyes readjusted. The office went quiet for a moment as they waited for their boss to finish reading, all eyes going to the noriette.

Apparently finished, Takano glanced over his glasses at his second-in-command, "We were invited to a party?"

Kisa piped up, "What does that have to do with calorie counting?" though was collectively ignored.

Hatori gave an inclination of his chin, "Yes. Yoshikawa-sensei sent the fax to invite us. She said invitations will be send out to us if we seem interested."

"Well, of course we're interested. She's hosting the party to celebrate her new series, correct?"

"Yes, Takano-san."

"Then it would make sense to go, wouldn't it? Though I don't know how we could all take a break."

At this, Kisa spoke up once more, "Well, we could always just take what the authors have done with us, and work on it there. After all, this is more of a work-related vacation, right?"

All of the men shared a look, speaking their agreement.

"Well, I suppose." said Takano, removing his glasses as he ran a hand through his hair. "The party's two weeks from now, that should give us enough time to tell our authors." Giving his colleagues a glance, all hands went to their phones on cue.

Kisa grinned as he dialed a number on his phone. "This means a road trip~!"

In sync, everyones' head snapped to look at Kisa, and Takano barked,

"NO."

Handing Mino his charger back for the day, Ritsu gave a wave to the brunette as he left the office. Collecting his belongings and shoving Takano's book within his bag, he stood, heading towards the awaiting elevator. The sun had already fallen for the day, the trains already departing for their nightly trips. Kisa had offered a ride home with him and Yukina who had come to pick him up, though Ritsu simply bowed his head and declined, deciding the two had already done plenty for the day. He wouldn't mind walking, anyway - after Kisa's previous discussion, Ritsu had figured with himself that he did tend to only eat junk food nowadays.

Joining in the elevator with Mino and Hatori, their voices became background music as he thought. Maybe he and Kisa could do this diet thing together? Than again, it wasn't easy to eat healthy with their job, and Kisa didn't exactly seem like the type of person to stick to something like this for too long. Besides, for all Ritsu knew, Kisa could of just made up a lie on the spot-

He hesitated, knocked out of his thoughts when the elevator doors slid open. Walking out with Mino and Hatori, they split ways, Ritsu saying his goodbyes as he held onto the strap of his bag, heading down the lonely street. It was probably stupid for him to over think things like this anyway-

He gave a sigh, turning a corner so Marukawa was but a towering building, his crowded thoughts turning to the black bound book inside his bag.

"We never said
our love
was evergreen,
or as unchanging
as the sea -
but if
you can still
remember
stop and think
of me...

Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
don't think about the things
which might have been...

Think of me,
think of me waking,
silent and
resigned.

Imagine me,
trying too hard
to put you
from my mind.

Recall those days
look back
on all those times,
think of the things
we'll never do -
there will
never be
a day, when
I won't think
of you..."

As applause broke out amongst the crowd, a certain girl clad in weighing multicolor gems and a scarlet dress stood slowly, her elegant and well placed claps drawing the attention of Ryuichiro and Kaoru.

"Is that... Ricchan?" Her face broke out in a large grin, her claps becoming much less regal and much more clumsy. "Bravo!" she cried, "What a change, Ricchan! You're not really that gawkish boy you were before..."

Lowering down to her seat, with her hands now tightly clasped within her lap, though still beaming down at the boy center stage. You obviously don't remember me, but I remember you, Ricchan...!

"We never said
our love
was evergreen,
or as unchanging
as the sea -
but please
promise me,
that sometimes
you will think
of me!"

The curtain closed, the dancers gathering around the flushed Ritsu, who happily gave each a flower from the bouquet he held in his hands. Kisa fluttered at his shoulder, one hand clutching Ritsu's and the other holding his rose. Seen towering above the dancers, Yukina clapped his hands together in his own applause, deciding to wait before showing his approval.

Standing at Ritsu's other shoulder, Hatori tapped him in the middle of his spine, a silent order to straighten it. "Yes, you did well, Onodera. I'm sure she shall be pleased."

Turning to his dancers, he slammed his foot down onto the floor, "And the rest of you! Awful! We are to rehearse. Now!" With another stomp, his dancers scrambled along the stage to get into their positions, Hatori tapping his foot to keep them in beat. Ritsu, glancing from the dancers to Hatori, stood from his chair, beginning to walk down the unsteady stairs.

Kisa, muttering to himself about how there was no way he was awful, caught glimpse of the brunette in the corner, heading downstairs. Hesitating, his feet gave a slight stumble that was luckily hidden by the towering blonde girl in front of him. After another moment, he slid away from the rest of the dancers, able to flee with the help of Yukina, who proved to be great conversation for Hatori.

Downstairs, a hand atop the cold knob of the dressing room, paused at the voice that wafted across him, overwhelming him.

"Bravi, bravi, bravissimi..."

Pausing in his steps, the boy cast a suspicious look around him, almost giving himself a heart attack when Kisa's voice called out to him.

"Ricchan! Ricchan!"

"Ricchan..."

Looking around once more, Kisa's angelic voice tore him from his investigation.

"Where, in the world, have you been hiding?! Really, you were perfect! I only wish I knew your secret... Who is this new tutor?"

Ritsu gave him a look, replying back only after a moment of silence as he entered the dressing room.

"... Father once spoke of an angel... I used to dream he'd appear... Now, as I sing, I can sense him, and I know he's here...!" Giving another glance around at the walls, Ritsu shook his head, continuing, "Here in this room, he calls me softly. Somewhere inside, hiding... Somehow I know he's always with me, he, the unseen genius!"

Kisa, with a wary look, followed Ritsu into the dressing room, placing an unsure hand upon his shoulder. "Ricchan, you must have been dreaming! Stories like this can't come true... Ricchan, you're talking in riddles, and it's not like you!"

Ritsu shook him off with a hurried gesture, turning to another wall. "Angel of Music, guide and guardian, grant to me your glory!"

Kisa hesitated, clutching his rose to his chest, "Who is this angel? This..."

"Angel of music,

hide no longer!

Secret and strange

angel..."

"He's with me even now..."

"Your hands are cold..."

"All around me..."

"Your face, Ricchan, it's white!"

"It frightens me..."

"Don't be frightened..."

Looking at each other, Ritsu grabbed hold of Kisa's hands as the door slammed opened, Hatori standing in the doorway.

"Shouta Kisa, are you not a dancer?" Though laced with sarcasm, Kisa still took the bait.

"Hatori! I thought you and Yukina were talking!"

"No, we were not talking, he just came up to me and began rambling about how your feet were perfect during the coda. Which they weren't, speaking of which, and that is why you should be out here practicing!"

Kisa gave a frown, reluctantly pulling his hand from Ritsu's and giving a sullen wave as he left the room and headed back upstairs. As Kisa's shadow was seen trudging up the stairs, Hatori turned back towards Ritsu, stepping towards him as he tugged an envelope from his pocket.

"Onodera Boy, I was told to give this to you." After handing the letter to Ritsu, not another word was spoken as Hatori went back upstairs, yelling orders to Kisa who was attempting to sneak off again.

Glancing down at the letter, Ritsu blinked before tearing it open, reaching inside to retrieve its contents.

"A red scarf... The attic... Little Lotte..."

Ritsu was torn from his daydream at the sound of footsteps echoing down the street behind him. Pausing in his steps, he grabbed onto the strap of his bag before beginning to walk once more, speeding up. How long had they been following him, lost in his thoughts? Beginning to get jittery, he attempted to speed up again-

Though, as a hand graced his shoulder, a yell was ripped from his throat.

Ugghhh, I started writing this like five hours ago and kept getting distracted... Well, here it is! I'll try to get in a few more chapters, but band camp starts on the 29th and ends I-have-no-clue-when, I think the third (it better be the third). Band Camp is equivalent to hell week .

NinjaSheik: Thanks! :3 I didn't just want it to be Phantom, because it's kinda sad and I'm not good with stuff like that xD

nekocandy4life: *bows back* Thank you, that means a lot~! I follow a bunch of your stories, I tried to review the other day though my phone decided that was a great time to be stupid. xD I hope I can live up to your Phantom expectations! :3