Her inky pupils dilated to the size where only a fine thread of brown could be seen encircling the rippling darkness.

There, in the dimness of her wooden locker, was a yellow rose. A freshly picked yellow rose.

Tiny droplets of dew remained sparkling on its creamy yellow petals like a thousand winking diamonds, and the brilliant emerald leaves sprouting from the slim shiny stem seemed to have unfurled at the first sign of spring. Around the waxy coating of the stem was a wispy ribbon dyed a flamboyant shade of sunset and tied into a lovely bow like the loop of eternity. There was a flash of white - and a small note fell open beside the soft petals. Picking it up, Sakuno's heart thud heavily with emotion at the sight of a familiar handwriting - a style not so neat as to lose the touch of boyish energy, yet not so illegible as to confuse the chefs when placing the orders on the kitchen counter.

So soft yet so warm

So frail yet so precious

So delicate yet so beautiful

A light at the end of darkness

A hope at the end of despair

…Just like you

To a girl whose smile dazzles me like sunshine…

Happy Birthday

Akito

The note paper was imprinted with an exquisite pattern of roses on vines which snaked around the frame. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked it up and gazed down at the boyish writing. She felt a dizzying disbelief and happiness rush to her brain and trigger a reaction similar to that of sculling a shot of vodka.

"…Happy Birthday." Akito's voice drew her back from the trance. For a moment, she thought it was her mind replaying the phrase on the note, but the squeaks of rubber gloves being taken off was a slight misfit in the fantasy. The boy had wandered back to the room when she was reading the note and crept up soundlessly behind her to whisper in her ear.

She blushed and took a step back in alarm. Then her eyes lit up at the sight of his grinning face.

"…Oh, Thank you so much for the present!" She exclaimed with joy as she admired the rose resting quietly in her locker. "It's beautiful…"

"…You're welcome." The boyish grin remained, his satisfaction was apparent from his sparkling eyes. "Have you read the note?"

Sakuno blushed to a deep shade of scarlet, which brought an even broader smile to his face.

"Uh…Y-Yeah…you wrote it yourself?" As soon as she asked, she wanted to punch herself. Of course he wrote it himself! It's an insult to even suspect that.

Yet he didn't seem offended in the slightest. "Uh-huh, you reckon I can be a poet?" He laughed and made a face which received answering giggles.

"Well, I'd love to say so... but you still have lots more to-" She stopped. To her horror, she only just realized what she was saying and managed to bite her own lips before the "work on" could slip out. Yet he seemed to have already noticed her frozen expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Er…N-Nothing…" She muttered quickly, avoiding the questioning gaze she sensed that was focusing on her face. Since when have I picked up Ryoma-kun's line without noticing?

"Maybe you really should go…you still don't look too well." He picked up the rose from her locker and placed it on her hand. "I must get back to some more scrubbing… but how about me paying you a visit tomorrow?"

"Yeah you'd better…what!? I-I mean...um...sure! Of course! That would be...lovely." She hesitated but took a deep breath and leaned in to peck him lightly on the cheek. "Thanks again for the rose…and the note."

Then she flashed a quick shy smile at his surprised expression and pushed open the swinging doors into the awaiting night.

The street seemed much darker when the café door swung closed behind her, cutting off the warm glow of lights and the soft murmurs of people finishing off their last chores for the day.

Grotesque shadows lurked behind every object in sight - metal rubbish bins overflowing with filth, stray dogs diving eagerly into the filth in hope of finding a scrape of rotten food, random pieces of coloured notices which had detached themselves from the bulletin and were now performing on a midnight dance in the wind - deserted as the path was, it was filled with a grimness so heavy Sakuno could feel it engulfing her even as she stood silently in the night, her head cocked as if trying to hear a non-existent sound.

"Are you planning to stand there all night?" A cool voice pierced the still air and sucked her back from the trance into which she had fallen. She spun around in alarm and stared as a human-shaped figure detached itself from the shadows of the lamppost on which it was leaning. The person stepped forward and let the faint golden street light spill over his shoulders like a shower of sparks. His smooth emerald green hair was rippling in the breeze and his deep cold eyes were staring straight back into hers.

"R-Ryoma-kun!" She gasped, her eyes widening in immediate recognition. He is here then... Good. Now at least I know I havn't knocked my head too hard against the floor. "What on earth are you doing here?"

He was silent for a few moments. The silence was so long she suspected he had not heard her question. She was about to repeat herself when he finally answered, reluctantly.

"...To escort you home." The reply was so unexpected that Sakuno nearly choked, but the boy's tone didn't have the slightest hint of emotion in it, not even a tiny hint of humour.

"Pardon me?"

"It just so happens that if I don't see you to you house safely I 'won't get a bed to sleep in tonight'." Ryoma sighed and irritation finally got the better of him as it heated up his tone. His eyes shifted away from the girl in slight embarrassment as her lips curled into an amused smile and she began walking towards him.

"Could I be hearing correctly? The famous tennis star at Seisshun High School surrendered to one of his father's threats?" Her eyes were still filled with laughter when she stopped in front of him and wondered out loud.

Ryoma snorted and began walking down the street without her. "There is no way I'm sleeping out on the streets just because a high-school girl can't get home by herself."

Quite used to his insulting remarks by now, Sakuno ignored the last comment and quickened her pace to catch up with him, although the corners of her mouth were still twitching from the enormous effort to hide a smile.

Their coats fluttered in the breeze as they walked in a companionable silence down the street. Although still in disbelief, she beamed at the idea of the idolized Echizen Ryoma walking her home and felt so full of excitement that some of it was flowing out of her onto the concrete through her leather boots.

Then, with a jolt of remembrance, her mind flicked back to the violent catastrophe in the café.

She turned her head up to study the profile of Ryoma's face before inquiring about her suspicion.

"Something weird just happened in the café," She began slowly, making every word as clear as possible. She did not want to have to repeat herself if it had simply been her imagination.

"…What?" He kept his vision to the path ahead.

"A…uh…man nearly knocked down the whole café," She said, testing.

"That's a bit of an exaggeration." Although his voice still appeared to be emotionless, his eyebrows had raised a fraction higher as a sign of mild amusement.

He was there then. Her heart skipped a beat as she swallowed and pressed on.

"This could totally be my imagination… but did you - help Akito-kun when he attacked me?" She asked carefully.

He remained silent for a few seconds. They turned a corner and stepped onto a main road. The shimmering neon lights flashed blindingly above them, making her squint as she struggled to keep an eye on Ryoma's reaction.

Frowning slightly, he turned his head slightly so that he could shoot a quick glance at the girl walking alongside him. Then, to Sakuno's surprise, he grumbled in a voice faintly edged with sarcasm.

"Hmm, yeah, of course I could just stay outside when someone inside was getting strangled." He looked away and added in a low and almost inaudible mutter. "…even though I only helped."

Her eyebrows shot up in astonishment before, seconds later, realization swept over her features. She smiled and patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"Thank you for saving my life, then." Her smile broadened as she said half-jokingly. "…Sound better?"

He made no remark, but ruffled his hair and sighed. His eyes flickered over the luxurious window displays of a gift shop, over a polished copper mirror which caught the flicker of smile on his face as he walked past. Odd... it's either because he has become more easily amused or that... she was becoming more amusing.

A/N: Uh-oh... first update in 5 months... a huge sorry and thank you to all my wonderful readers who have continued to support me. I bet I'm going to get a whole truckload of criticisms now... oh well, at least be honest! I know this chapter is short, but if I combine it with the next chapter it will be way too long, so bear with me while I sort out the next one...the least I can do is promise you that the next update will be soon, with the exams over I should be able to manage more easily (hopefully)...