Why?

'Tamao, you can do it.' Tamao looked at her reflection in the mirror, she clenched her fist tighter still and headed out to call
Anna, Yoh and Ren for dinner.


"Anna-sama! Dinner's ready!" Tamao called, as she walked into the backyard.

"Dinner's ready. Yoh, you can come down now!" Anna said, walking inside, her facial expression arranged into a pleasant smile. Tamao waited for Anna to walk out of the earshot before she went out to look at Yoh climb down from the rooftop.

"What miracle did you work?!" she asked, eyes opened wide in astonishment.

"Nothing much actually," Yoh replied, jumping off, landing lightly on his feet.

"Hrmp! Come on!" Ren said, walking back in.

Tamao looked at Yoh, who shrugged his shoulders and followed Ren back inside.

'Well, this is it. This is it, Tamao. In fifteen minutes, Yoh is going to propose to Anna. I won't stand a chance now."


"Yoh. What is this doing in my bowl?" Anna asked, her facial expression did not show any signs of surprise, she was already smiling as if she was the most happiest woman alive.

"Anna, will you marry me? I know we are already betrothed but I wanted to do this," saying so, Yoh scooped the ring out of Anna's bowl and went on his knees before Anna.


'Tamao! Don't cry! The world still big! There would be others for you!' Tamao watched in slience as Yoh slipped the ring onto Anna's finger. The very same ring Tamao had just collected hours ago. Despite herself, unstoppable tears welled up in her eyes, and her world collapsed once again. She knew this would be the eventual ending ever since Yoh had asked her for her help, but why did it still hurt so badly?

As Horo Horo watched Yoh proposing, his attention couldn't help but shift to Tamao. She was sitting right beside Yoh, her
hands held tightly onto her pair of chopsticks as her eyes welled up with tears which had been locked for years. The happier Anna and Yoh smiled, the sadder Tamao's eyes became.

'Man, Yoh's too insensitive.' He thought to himself.


As soon as dinner was over, Tamao disappeared into the kitchen on the pretence of washing the dishes. Everyone knew what was wrong but not a single one was willing to go to her aid, to join her in her sorrow when others were jumping in joy. No one, not a single one.

Tamao curled up into a ball, sobbing terribly, alone in her tiny world.

Horo Horo looked on, his heart twisting inside. Tamao should never suffer so much pain! Yoh was not worth it. With a stride, he stood in front of Tamao and grabbed.

With not more than a surprised 'Oh!', Horo Horo whisked Tamao away from the Onsen's Kitchen.