Author's note: So here's chapter 7. Just an announcement, since classes start next week for me - I will be updating less. Worry not, I will still update them - not just as often as I'm updating now. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you for the reviews and keep them coming! It's very much appreciated! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own PoT.

But somehow, some things never change

And even time hasn't cooled the flame

It's burnin' even brighter than it did before

It got another chance, and if they take it...

Kenya stared outside of the window, his dark blue orbs focused at the sky; the memories of what happened yesterday flashed through his mind. Slowly, he placed his elbow on his desk – letting his chin rest on his hand. The memories of their childhood kept flashing through his mind when he heard a loud tap on his desk only to meet with Chiyo's angry countenance; he blinked a few times.

"Ken-kun! I've been calling you for a while now and you just kept staring outside. What's wrong? You seem in a deep thought." Chiyo said while pouting.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about the upcoming exams I guess." He said with an apologetic smile.

"That's like too far away."

"I know but—" Kenya was cut-off when he saw Mai enter the classroom, her face remained impassive somehow; he couldn't help but wonder if she's okay, he wanted to ask so bad – but who was he to do so. Kenya stood up and stuck his hands in his pockets before walking past Mai, striding out of the classroom.

"What's wrong with him?" Chiyo asked as she looked at Shiraishi who stared at Kenya also.

Shiraishi just shrugged before looking at Mai. The girl sat down and placed her bag on her desk. She then looked at Shiraishi and Chiyo who's staring at her.

"Is… there something wrong?" She asked, staring at both of them.

Chiyo sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you're not acting weird. Ken-kun has been acting weird, you see."

"Maybe he just ate too fast this morning. I told him it's bad for his stomach." Shiraishi said, placing his hand on his chin as he rested his elbow on his desk.

Kenya's words rang through Mai's ears, when he said that he loves Chiyo so he can't accept her feelings anymore. There's no way he would be acting weird because of her, he loves Chiyo after all and he won't be bothered by such things anymore.

Mai nodded in agreement with Shiraishi. "Yeah, Shiraishi-san is right. It must be your imagination."

Mai just smiled to her friend; in truth is, she's feeling utterly guilty for confessing to her best friend's boyfriend, but it's not like she can help it. Her love, jealousy, enviousness and all of her feelings have been bottled up inside her for months; it just suddenly exploded because of her jealousy. After crying herself to sleep last night though, she had made up her mind that she will move on and leave the two most important people in her life alone. Now that she has confessed, she felt somehow free. She has been dying to say those three words to Kenya before they graduated from grade school and now that she had finally confessed – she feels like she can finally move on.

Chiyo pouted then quickly headed out of the room to look for Kenya, leaving the two. Shiraishi then shifted his gaze to look at Mai.

"You look somehow… new today. Did something happen?" Shiraishi asked.

Blinking, Mai let out a light cackle. "I guess something did. I wonder if I can tell you though. It's kind of personal." She said with a smile.

"Is that so? I won't force you then. I'm glad you look happy now though." He said, smiling back at her.

The bell then suddenly rang, all of the students went back to the classroom, including Kenya. So far, Mai and Kenya didn't talk and kind of started ignoring each others' presence. Shiraishi could already sense that something happened between the two that's why they are both acting weird today. He wasn't sure if it's something good because Mai looked rather happy while Kenya remains impassive – but a lot were hidden through his eyes.

The class had ended and it's finally lunch break. Shiraishi sat there on the rooftop with Mai beside her, in front of Mai was Kenya while Chiyo was beside Kenya. How did they end up with this awkward setting?

Flashback…

Shiraishi quickly approached Chiyo at the hallway, smiling at her. "Hey Chiyo-chan. You think Kenya is acting weird, right? I think I've found a way to cheer him up. How about we have a group bonding this lunch? I'm sure Kenya would love that." He suggested.

"Really!? You think so!?" The girl's eyes sparkled excitedly.

"Yes." Shiraishi nodded.

"Ja! I'll bring him to the rooftop now!" Chiyo exclaimed, running off to drag Kenya to the rooftop.

Shiraishi then found Mai. "Hey, let's eat lunch together at the rooftop." He said, smiling with hopeful eyes.

Blinking, Mai then nodded. "Well sure." With, that, they all met each other at the rooftop.

End of flashback.

So that's how they ended up with such an awkward setting. Kenya then looked away as Chiyo opened her lunchbox, Mai did the same – opening her lunchbox impassively. Shiraishi observed Kenya and Mai carefully. As all of them talked, strangely enough, Mai and Kenya never exchanged words – they would either talk to Shiraishi or Chiyo which Shiraishi obviously noticed.

"Oh, sorry if I can't go home with you guys again. I have committee meeting again today." Chiyo said as she fed Kenya some rice.

"It's okay, we'll just head home together. Right, Kenya and Sayuki-san?" Shiraishi gazed at the two and they just nodded. He fought the urge of letting out one heavy sigh with how the two of them are acting and how utterly oblivious Chiyo is.

When the classes had ended, since they didn't have afternoon practice because of the upcoming exams, they all headed home. Shiraishi, Mai and Kenya walked to the station, all three of them not uttering a word as they did so. Soon, they got their tickets and rode the train – it was crowded, very crowded in fact. Since there were no seats available, the three of them stood with Mai in the middle of Kenya and Shiraishi.

Mai then just turned his gaze to Shiraishi so she could avoid Kenya when suddenly, the train stopped and as soon as it did – people went out. It wasn't their stop yet, Mai then felt someone touch her rear – she has heard about this from her friends that there's a molester going around this train but she couldn't believe it was actually true; she jumped slightly and looked at the one behind her to see who did it but many people went out all at once. He then saw the guy wearing a black jacket who was behind her earlier went out in a hurry.

"What's wrong?" Shiraishi asked worriedly.

"S-Someone just touched me, I think it's the guy who just went out. He has been molesting students in this train these days." She said, trembling slightly.

"What? We should do something about it then." Just before the door could close, Shiraishi dashed out together with Mai and Kenya. The two of them ran after the guy in black jacket while Kenya didn't, instead, the speed star turned to look at the guy who just got out of the train. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and a hat. Kenya stared at the said male intensely which the other guy noticed.

"Bastard..." Kenya muttered as he glared at the guy and the guy quickly ran nervously. "Oi, oi! You're 100 years too early to beat the Naniwa's speed star when It comes to running!" Kenya then quickly ran, catching up to the male in a split second.

"W-WHAT!? W-What the hell are you!?" The male exclaimed; couldn't believe Kenya's speed.

Kenya then quickly jumped behind him which made the people around gasp in horror; he then sat on the male's back and pushed his head to the floor before grabbing his hands, placing it behind him so he can't move.

"B-Bastard!" The male exclaimed as he tried to free himself.

"Heh, you should think before molesting someone. You're really unlucky to encounter Naniwa's speed star." Kenya stated proudly before letting go of the molester when the guards took him. Kenya then glared at the molester one last time before walking away.

"Thank you so much, Mister." The guard thanked him.

"Wait! How did you even know it was me!?" The molester exclaimed angrily.

Kenya's steps came to a halt before his gaze turned to the ground, his eyes lingering there before opening his mouth to speak.

"I was watching her." He said - his voice barely above whisper. The brown-haired male then switched his gaze to the sky.

"I have always been…"