The characters presented in this chapter are from the story "Junjou Romantica" and are owned by Shungiku Nakamura. In addition, these characters will be Out-of-Character.

In a dark room, a cell phone penetrated the darkness with a small light that beamed, 'TODO.' As Misaki's eyes met with the suddenly vibrating phone, awkward memories of her sexual encounter with Shinnosuke and Keiichi swarmed her vulnerable mind. She picked up the phone and sent the call directly to voicemail. Then the screen went black reinviting the darkness.

Once again, the light of the screen intruded with a message from Shinnosuke. Misaki hastily picked the phone to read the message.

'Hey. Can we talk? I want to talk in person.'

Misaki bit her lip unsure whether she should meet the boy now. She couldn't make up her mind because all she could still envision was Shinnosuke's red and sweaty face when he was on top of her that night. He was breathing hard, but he grinned at Misaki and his lusterless dark eyes made eye contact with hers. Misaki anxiously rubbed her eyes and forehead to remind her that she was in her room alone. She finally texted Shinnosuke back. 'Yeah, let's meet up at Kikumaru-En (Park).'

The two were a yard apart at the jungle-gym under the moonlight. Misaki sat with her arms crossed while staring at the animalistic rides that smiled eternally at anything. She waited for Shinnosuke to speak his mind so she could stop reliving their sex.

"I broke up with her."

Misaki's eyes shot open and her attention darted to Shinnosuke. Her folded arms loosened and her heartbeats rose.

"You what?" She asked

"I'm done seeing my girlfriend. I broke up with her this morning."

All Misaki could do is blame herself for the end of someone else's relationship. Once again, she thought about all the bad she brings in other people's lives. "I'm...sorry."

"No!" Shinnosuke immediately responded. "You didn't...I was the one…"

"If I didn't do that with you, the relationship wouldn't have ended."

"Misaki...It would have ended sooner or later. That's because I was actually in love with you."

Before Misaki could continue to apologize, her heart sank so low to the point she was speechless at the unexpected confession. The blood in her body was stilled with shock; not believing what Shinnosuke said.

"Misaki, I was slowing falling in love with you without realizing it," he passionately told a caught off guard Misaki. "But what happened to us last night made me realize. I have feelings for you. MISAKI, I LOVE YOU!"

Shinnosuke's head jerked clockwise towards the entrance. He gently touched his own cheek with his fingers and then pulled them away immediately when he felt the burning sting of four parallel cuts on his cheek. He slowly looked at the short flustered girl who backhand slapped him.

"What makes you think a fucking threesome automatically means its love," Misaki furiously questioned the victim. "How is it love if another person was involved? What you think I'm easy now just because Usagi's dead!?"

Shinnosuke glared at Misaki with a sad look with no response.

"ANSWER ME!" Misaki demanded.

"I-"

"SHUT UP!" She responded. "I can't believe I trusted you! You came onto me the way Usagi did and it reminded me of him only to remind me that he's dead." Misaki's voice became teary and began to tremble.

"I'm sorry," Shinnosuke responded. "But my feelings are genuine. I promise!"

"Genuine or not, I'm not interested." Misaki grunted. "Don't call me." She finished the conversation with an exit leaving behind the rejected soul who was now lonely.

"Misaki…" He called with hope. Misaki continued to leave with no response.

"Misaki…" He whimpered. Even the moonlight left him in total darkness as the clouds hid the moon. He fell onto his knees and his howls became a bit louder.

Misaki walked through the lifeless city while she wiped waves of tears away. She stopped at the bridge and pulled her apartment keys out revealing a small keychain. It was miniature figure of a character from her favorite graphic novel series. She knew that Shinnosuke was a fellow fan which was the beginning of a wonderful friendship which has came to an end. She tore the keychain off and turned to the emptiness right outside the bridge. She stared at the nightscape with the keychain clenched in her hand. Misaki raised her hand and winded it back; prepared to throw her prize possession away. However, she pulled her hand close and clung it to her chest. How could she throw her friendship away so quickly.

Misaki heard the sound of a vehicle approach her from her right side. Although the car was approaching her, she ignored it. But it finally received her attention as it came to a stop right behind her. The driver's window rolled down revealing Haruhiko's face. "Misaki? What are you doing here?"

Misaki turned away from the car while shoving her keychain in her pocket. "Nothing."

"It's dangerous to be doing 'nothing' outside this late at night. Get it the car."

"I don't want to."

"I'm not leaving knowing something could happen to you. I'll carry you into the car if I have to."

Misaki instantly turned to Haruhiko after hearing his warning. Haruhiko unlocked the car while looking his eyes on her; awaiting for her response.

Throughout the car trip, Misaki and Haruhiko sat in the car silently. Misaki watched the scenery through the window change while seeing her transparent reflection. Ever since she met Haruhiko, he desperately tried to get Misaki to become his even if it meant sacrificing Akihiko's happiness. Misaki thought about what Haruhiko said. 'I'll carry you into the car if I have to.' Is he attempting to take Misaki home with him? Misaki turned and looked at the driver's emotionless face. His eyes were still on the road. He noticed that Misaki was looking at him so his eyes briefly rolled towards Misaki making her turn back to the window. She realized that they were close to her apartment. This was unexpected.

Once they parked, Misaki gave Haruhiko a worried look wondering what was going to happen next. Haruhiko got out of the car and Misaki watched him approach the passenger door. He opened the door, grabbed Misaki's hand from her lap and lifted the light girl to her fee making her blood pressure increase. Haruhiko walked with her hand in his large hand.

Once they reached the lodge, Haruhiko releases Misaki's hand and took one step back. He gave her a melancholy smile and said, "Have a good night Misaki. Stay safe and be careful." Misaki's thoughts went rampant. 'I'm glad he didn't make a move on me, but what's really going on? More importantly, why am I so frantic?'

The morning that came was a partially cloudy one. The leaves were turning into different fiery colors, but one girl has already changed herself. Misaki now knows that she is no longer the same girl she was before Akihiko's death and the threesome with Keiichi and Shinnosuke. She was always the one to decline sex with Akihiko, but now it's different. She wants it along with hugs and kisses. She misses cleaning up after him or making him finish his deadlines. Even though she was drunk when she did it with Keiichi and Shinnosuke, Misaki still held herself accountable. Now all she could do was move on, starting with her job.

"I need you to bring these manuscripts to Ijuuin," a man in a suit instructed Misaki. "He's actually in the meeting room on the third floor."

"I understand Kirishima-Sensei."

Misaki emotionlessly took the manuscript and proceeded to perform the task. Kirishima and another man watched the girl fade into the background of numerous walking people.

"Man she has not been the same ever since Usami-Sensei was killed," the man said.

"What do you expect," Kirishima asked. "When you lose someone, you lose your mind."

Misaki approached the meeting room looking at the closed door. Behind it was a man who had been trying to get with Misaki even though she was dating Akihiko for a very long time. The last time she saw Kyo was at Akihiko's funeral. Is he going to try to ask her out she wondered. A close friend confessed his 'love' to her right after their threesome so who's to say Kyo wouldn't do the same. Misaki clutched the papers in her hands. She mustered up her strength to barge in the room, hand Kyo the documents and leave. She firmly grabs the handle and makes her way into the room.

"Hugh!~Hugh!~ Yeah~"

Misaki dropped everything on the ground at the sight of her favorite author sitting on the table with his shirt unbuttoned and his long and hard fruit exposed as he vigorously stroked it. Kyo panted through a gaping a smile and stared at the ceiling like he was looking at heaven while he pleasured himself. "Ahhh...Misaki!"

"WHAT!?" She shouted out of fear and rage.

Kyo halted and looked ahead; realizing that his imagination came to life. His smile returned. "Welcome back, Takahashi-San."