A/N: Sorry for updating very late. Since I don't have that much reviews for this story, I thought I would just update at any time. Sorry if it's short, but I found it better to stop at that point. Hope you like this chapter and enjoy! Happy Reading! ^-^

Chapter Four

He had waited for her before school started. When Ella noticed him, she smiled and waved at him while Kasanoda was beside her and nodded a greeting towards Takashi. He returned both with a nod before the three walked together into the school. The classes he had with Ella had been more calm. He did not feel nervous like before and he did not feel the need to escape from Ella. He would sometimes take a glimpse at her. Sometimes, she wouldn't notice. But when she did, she would give him a warm smile. Takashi would smile back at her and concentrate again on the teachings.

When lunch finally came through, Takashi waited for Ella. Ella looked up at him and smiled brightly.

"Are you going to eat lunch with Bossa Nova?" Takashi asked. She nodded.

"Yep. His lunches are the greatest," Ella said as her cheeks turned red. When Takashi thought he would be okay, he suddenly felt a pang in his heart when she blushed.

"You like him?" Takashi asked. Ella looked at him for a moment with confusion.

"ShiShi, you're silly. Of course, I like him," Ella said in a matter-of-factly tone. Takashi could feel something roll inside his stomach uncomfortably as she said it with such ease. "I can't be friends with him if I don't like him, right?"

Takashi's widened for a second before his whole body calmed down again. He wonders why his body felt relaxed when she added the last comment. It was as if the stinging had been stopped to be replaced with clouds.

"Well, I will see you after lunch then?" Takashi asked. Ella chuckled and nodded.

"You should get going, ShiShi. I'm sure NiNi is waiting for you," Ella told him and he nodded but did not leave. Ella was confused as to why he was still standing there. Takashi said nothing in reply to her look but just stared at her. Ella sighed and nudged him to get going. "Let me be the one to watch you leave this time, ShiShi."

Takashi felt a pang in his heart as she said that. There was nothing more hurtful to hear those words from her. Was he always watching her leave? Thinking back of all those times, he actually did. It was the same for Mitsukuni, now that he thinks about it. He always watched him leave before he followed after. But for some reason, Takashi didn't want to leave before she did. It felt out of place to him, but Ella didn't seem to want to back down. Takashi knew if Ella was determined, she would see it through no matter if it was good or bad.

"I understand," Takashi replied without a fight. He walked away from her. The moment he did, he felt his stomach rumbling with unhappiness. Was this how Ella felt when she left Mitsukuni and him behind? But Takashi shouldn't feel this way. After all, he was merely walking to the cafeteria. Those steps he took were long and painful. The heaviness of his steps were evident in that.

He looked back to see Ella is still watching him, and he wasn't that far from her. He was merely a foot away from her. Ella smiled at him when he seemed to stare at her a little too long. If he had taken any longer, they both won't have lunch.

"ShiShi, do you want me to walk with you to lunch?" She asked.

Takashi once again felt relief. Before he could reply, Kasanoda came by. He felt the emptiness fill him again when Ella turned away from him to greet Kasanoda.

"Oh, Soda-chan, why are you here?" She asked, her round doe-like eyes looked at her companion innocently.

Kasanoda scratched the back of his head and said, "I was afraid you got lost."

Ella giggled and tapped at his hand on his side softly.

"I am sorry for worrying you, Soda-chan," she told him.

Takashi watched with an unreadable expression on his face, but his hands turned into fists. He could not understand the pain on his chest. Why did he feel angry? No one is harmed, so why was he so angry?

"I was about to walk Takashi to the cafeteria. Do you want to come along?" Ella asked. Kasanoda smiled and nodded.

"We could eat lunch there too instead of going back and forth to eat at the garden," Kasanoda replied. Ella thought for a second and nodded, agreeing at the idea.

"That sounds great. What do you think, ShiShi? We can eat together as well," Ella said, turning herself around to face Takashi. Takashi seemed to stare blankly at them. His stance almost like that of a statue. "ShiShi?" She questioned before she took his hand. She noticed his hand was turned into a fist and he was shaking. Was he angry?

She looked at him worriedly before she softly patted his hand to calm him down. She would usually do this whenever he was angry back when they were children. He rarely ever gets angry. Takashi felt the soft hand touching his hand and looked down to see Ella's worried face. He was shocked and found himself looking away with an ashamed face. He hated worrying the people he cared about.

Kasanoda merely stood there, confused. There seemed to be something wrong, and he was usually blunt with it. But for some reason, he could not speak and just watched instead. Lunch will soon be over if they didn't get a move on.

"Are you okay, ShiShi?" Ella asked. Takashi nodded silently though there was hesitance when he first nodded. Ella sighed, knowing him well enough he was holding it in. She knew he would tell Mitsukuni about his bottled up feelings. He would never tell her though even though they were best of friends. She shook the thoughts and looked up at Takashi with a bright smile. "Would you mind if Soda-chan and I eat lunch with you?"

Takashi shook his head and found his hand holding onto Ella's hand. For some reason, his large and firm hand holding her small and soft one was quite a big contrast to him, yet why did it feel so perfect to him?

Kasanoda and Ella were surprised at the holding of hands. It was then Kasanoda realized Ella was Takashi's woman. Kasanoda didn't seem to mind at all. Actually, he was quite happy to find his short companion to find love from the loyal man. Kasanoda nodded his head, approving their relationship. Sadly, the couple did not realize it themselves even if Ella knew her feelings, she did not know Takashi's.

Ella didn't think too much of it when Takashi started walking with her walking by him and Kasanoda following behind. Kasanoda seemed quite happy for his newfound friend and senpai. Unfortunately, he did not notice Takashi was having all sorts of feeling going on in his mind and chest.

Ella could see Takashi's stiffness and was worried for him. By that time, she hummed a sweet melody causing Takashi to look at her suddenly. Ella looked up at him and smiled. He remembered that melody. Ella always used it to calm him when he was thinking too much. He smiled at the memory of Mitsukuni, Ella, and him together. They were like the musketeers even if Ella went to a different school. The melody was always meant for him when he was troubled. He always loved her angelic voice back then and he would love it even now.

In no time, they were already at the cafeteria. The hosts of Ouran club and Lina were waiting for Takashi. They seemed rather surprised to see Kasanoda with Ella and Takashi. They didn't really seem to care that Ella and Takashi were holding hands even though Mitsukuni was rather surprised.

Mitsukuni felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Sakuno.

"Are they together now?" Sakuno asked in a whisper for only him to hear. Mitsukuni took another look at Takashi and Ella, but there was something missing. He couldn't explain it, but he knew there was something bothering Takashi.

"I don't think so. Takashi must be lost in his feelings for Ella. There's something troubling him," he answered wisely to Sakuno. Sakuno let out a breath of disappointment.

"Hopefully, he will find out his feelings soon before he loses Ella," Sakuno said. Mitsukuni nodded in agreement.

"Shall we give them a little push then?" Lina cut in on their conversation. A smirk played across Lina's lips as if she was planning something. The conversation was supposed to only be between Sakuno and Mitsukuni, but she seemed to overhear their conversation.

"What do you have in mind?" Sakuno asked.

"The weekend is coming up, so why don't we have an outing? After all, it isn't bad to let them bond like they used to. And from there, we could let them decide which path they will take," Lina told them.

"That doesn't sound bad. What do you think Honey?" Sakuno asked her boyfriend.

"Just let it be anywhere other than the beach, a large pool, or a place containing any large bodies of water," Mitsukuni told them, "Ella has a fear of them."

"Hm? Why?" Sakuno asked. Mitsukuni lowered his head and sighed.

"It's the very reason Takashi is afraid of her," Mitsukuni mumbled, causing Sakuno and Lina to look at him confused.