Author's Note: I apologize for the delay. I was really busy preparing for an exam that will decide my future. *cries* Anyway, thanks for the reviews! I was motivated to finish this chapter because of you guys.


"I'm Kurihara-san's assistant, and I was the one who called to reserve a seat for two earlier," Amu took out her ID with a CDG label on it.

The receptionist quickly responded with a smile and ushered Amu to the table where Tadase was sitting. Amu's eyes widened in shock as soon as she saw the familiar blonde. Likewise, Tadase was unable to say anything. The both of them stared at each other until Amu broke the silence.

"You're from METI?"

"Yeah," Tadase awkwardly responded. "You… you're Kurihara-san?"

Amu broke out into a short laughter before taking a seat in front of him. "No, I'm Kurihara-san's assistant. She sent me because she has other things to attend to,"

"I see. She must be really busy,"

Amu chuckled once more when she remembered how Kurihara-san begged her to come to this meeting. Intending to not divulge anything about the famous designer's private life, she just nodded as a reply then changed the subject. "Hey, I've never heard anything from you for ages. How have you been?" she smiled.

When he saw her smile, he instantly remembered every little fragment of his memories with her. She was smiling like the way she did back then. Pure and sincere.

"Let's save the catching up later," he evaded the question.

"Alright, if that's what you want," Amu took out a pen and a small notebook from her bag.

"So what exactly is it that you want to consult about," Tadase paused then leaned a bit forward. "Hinamori-san?"


Dinner was served as soon as they started the consultation. The restaurant was known for its Mediterranean-style cuisine, particularly on meals consisting of seafood and grains. Both of them chose the chef's carte du jour, which was grilled tuna steak with cous cous and carrot curry nage, complemented by a Villa Orsara white wine.

While they enjoy the dinner, Tadase and Amu seamlessly talked about work. Most of the time, Amu nodded, took notes, and asked questions like an eager child wanting to learn new things. On the other hand, Tadase showcased an aura of sophistication as he presented various papers with regard to the statistics of the clothing trade industry in Japan. He explained each data elaborately by translating difficult concepts into terms that even a layperson like Amu could understand. They talked for over two hours, but neither of the two noticed the time.

"Wow, it's already this late," Amu remarked as she looked at her watch. A surprised expression came upon Tadase when he also noticed the time.

"I'm so sorry. I got carried away. But I can…" he faltered. He was about to offer her a ride, but he deemed it inappropriate. He did not want to get too involved with Amu anymore.

"No, it's okay. Thank you for making everything clear," Amu smiled but with a worried look on her face.

The time was still early compared to when she would usually go home during her college days. However, the situation now was different from before. Since it had only been two weeks since she moved in Aoyama, the district was still new and unfamiliar for her. The thought of commuting alone late at night still frightened her.

Silence covered the atmosphere. Tadase was tormented by his conflicting thoughts of wanting to make sure Amu would make it home safe and to make sure he would not get entangled in the world called "Amu" again.

"Let's go home now?" Amu stood up and carried her bag. Then she reached out for a handshake. Tadase quietly got up from his seat and shook her hand.

"I…" his voice trailed off. He sighed as he fumbled for something in his pocket.

"What is it?"

"I'll take you home," he took out his car keys then smiled.


Amu's apartment was not as far as Tadase had expected. It only took them several minutes to get to her place. Upon reaching their destination, Amu removed her seat belt but hesitated to get off the vehicle.

"Thanks for the ride,"

"No problem,"

The two of them remained uncomfortably quiet for several seconds. No one tried to speak nor move. They were waiting for each other to break the deafening silence. Suddenly, Amu giggled, amused with the awkward tension between them.

"It's been a really long while, hasn't it?" she cheerfully spoke.

"Yeah. What a coincidence that we meet today," he also laughed.

"I really missed you,"

Tadase was taken aback, startled by the words that came out from her mouth. As he noticed how her eyes were fixed on his, he felt his cheeks turn bright red.

"I should probably—" he was then interrupted by Amu.

"Why don't we go inside my place?"

He understood that this would be a bad idea, but he could not open his mouth. He could not resist the invitation. Get a hold of yourself, he thought to himself.

"Let's talk about our shugo chara," she continued. Tadase snorted at himself. After all, he was having some impure thoughts for a while there.


Tadase parked his car just outside the apartment complex. Afterwards, he followed Amu inside the building and watched her search for her keys in her bag as they stood behind her apartment door. A clanking sound was then heard when Amu pulled out a set of keys that were connected to a sand-filled starfish keychain.

"That starfish keychain…"

"This? Tsukasa gave this to me in the Road of Stars," she explained as she tried opening the door with one of the keys.

"Oh," Tadase realized that Amu had not yet figured out that it was him and not Tsukasa that met her in the Road of Stars.

"We're here!" Amu exclaimed happily. "Just sit anywhere you want,"

To his right, Tadase could see a fully furnished kitchen as if designed to accommodate a professional cook. Right next to the counter was a small round table with two dark-colored chairs. There was a porcelain vase that stood on its center while a lighting fixture hung above it.

"Are you okay with citrus tea?"

"Sure,"

There were two other rooms at the left side: one for the bathroom and another for Amu's sleeping sanctuary slash workplace. On the further side just before the balcony was a sofa with a glass coffee table and a 32-inch flat screen TV in front of it. Beside it was a small bookshelf containing lot of fashion magazines and books, as well as framed photographs of her family, dearest friends, and Ikuto.

"This is a cozy place," Tadase chose to sit on the dining chair just near Amu who was preparing the tea.

"It's a bit expensive though," she responded.

After a few more minutes, she served the tea together with some home baked cookies on a platter. Then she sat beside Tadase and gestured him to taste what she prepared for him.

"Wow, this tastes wonderful!" he remarked vehemently after having a bite of Amu's cookies. "Just the right blend of sweetness,"

"Really? Thank goodness you liked it," she blushed a bit. "It's funny how I used to suck at baking and cooking. I hated Home Economics,"

"I don't remember tasting any burnt food from you though," he took a sip of citrus tea.

"Well, I remember chara changing with Su every time I needed to bake something," she held her teacup. "I miss Su. I miss everyone,"

"When did your shugo chara disappear?"

"Around when I entered college," she answered. "But you know what? I don't think they had disappeared at all. I learned this from the Road of Stars,"

Tadase smiled when he remembered that journey. It may have been several years ago for Amu and the past him, but for the present Tadase, that was just a month ago. It could have probably been a premonition that the two of them would eventually meet like this.

"Until now, I can feel them inside of me. Well, of course, not literally," she laughed gleefully. "But the confident and athletic Ran, the artistic and creative Miki, the caring and domestically skilled Su, and the radiant Dia… they have become and have always been a part of myself. They were my would-be selves after all,"

"I feel the same way. At least I think I am now way stronger than I was before. But I wonder if I had become too egotistical and demanding just like Kiseki," he chuckled at the thought.

"I remember you were like a prince back then!"

They both burst out laughing. In the past, when someone called him a "prince", he would automatically chara change with Kiseki and would suddenly have this burning desire to conquer the world. But ever since Kiseki had disappeared, there were obviously no more chara changes. Strange enough, no one called him a "prince" anymore.

"I am not a prince," Tadase smirked.

Amu thought her heart skipped a beat when the atmosphere had suddenly gone serious. Tadase tilted his body towards her, closing the distance between them bit by bit. Amu forcefully closed her eyes and readied herself to push Tadase away once he got too close.

"You should not invite anyone inside your apartment too easily," he patted Amu's head and smiled gently.

"But you're not just 'anyone' for me," she reasoned out. Tadase could only smile as a response to her.

"It's getting late. I have to go now," he got up from his seat and walk towards the door.

"Tadase-kun..." she paused. "Why did you call me 'Hinamori-san' in the restaurant? It's as if we were never close friends,"

"I don't mix business with pleasure," he spoke in a strict tone.

"I understand, but I hope that if we're not talking about business, you'll call my name just like before," she replied.

"Okay," Tadase turned to Amu one last time before he headed out of her apartment. "See you later, Amu-chan,"


Tadase enjoyed the night breeze on the balcony of his apartment. With a glass of wine on his hand, he glanced at the stars above. All of a sudden, he remembered Amu's bookshelf which contained a framed photograph of Ikuto. When he saw that, he felt a piercing pain hit his chest that made him want to go home.

"Why did I call you 'Hinamori-san', huh?" he whispered to himself. Then he realized that he called her that way earlier because he was still trying to distance himself. Seeing her again made him feel the pain of jealousy and unrequited love again, and he did not want to openly grasp that agony of longing for someone he could not have.

He drank the remaining wine on his glass before taking another gaze at the stars that were scattered like pearls into an endless silk of sky. After more contemplation, he began to feel different. He was now becoming more honest to himself.

I still love you, Amu-chan.


I was in a hurry when I made this, so I had no time to proofread. Sorry for the grammatical errors and lazy writing. The next chapter will be a revelation of what really happened between Amu and Ikuto during the past ten years. I hope I can finish it by the first week of March!