"Good morning, Shoji," Mimi greeted apprehensively. She watched Shoji lay her school bag down and take her seat, letting her chin rest on her hand as she stared aimlessly in front of her. A look of concern furrowed Mimi's brow, I would expect her to be dancing right now considering what might have happened last night. I'm so confused.

Hearing the seat adjusting behind her, Shoji bit her lip and glared, the nerve of that girl. I can't believe all this time she's been going behind my back, smiling and promising to help me to be with Yamato when she's the one really going after him! How can she even pretend that everything is alright? I trusted her like a sister. Shoji cleared her throat and scooted her seat farther up.

"Shoji?" Mimi watched her and frowned, What did I do? What if she's realized that I've developed feelings for Matt also, but I tried to stay out of the way. Oh, Shoji…

Yamato Ishida walked to school that day with heavier and slower steps than usual. He became unaware of the usual greetings being thrown his way and stopped to stand in front of the classroom door, unsure of what he would be walking into. I wonder how Shoji is doing, and Mimi…what if Shoji told her that I love Mimi? I suddenly became so distant to her and now Shoji is probably very angry. What if I just ruined a great friendship? Oh wow, you really did it now, Yamato…He took a deep breath and slid the door open.

He carefully inched towards his seat, his glance moving back and forth between his friends. Mimi's usual cheery disposition and Shoji's shower of attention were absent and Yamato knew better than to say anything when two girls are upset with him. Great... just great.

Putting on her green hat and gloves, Mimi picked up her school bag and lifted herself off her seat as the bus began to slow down near her stop. Before the door could slide open Mimi spotted Yamato standing outside waiting for her.

"You've been avoiding me all day," he said, frowning as he watched Mimi step off the bus. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Turning her eyes towards the ground, Mimi shrugged and continued walking, "I already know more than I want to, Yamato."

Yamato cringed at the way she said his named and followed right behind her, "What? So Shoji told you?"

"She didn't need to; I heard it all last night."

"You did? Mimi, I'm sorry if my feelings were a surprise to you but—" Mimi suddenly came to a stop and looked at him.

"Why do you have to be sorry? She loves you, and you love her so why do you have to apologize to me? I'm actually very happy for the both of you, Yamato… I have known Shoji all my life, she's my best friend and you have become close to me, too. And I'm glad that you're together," She stared at him for a moment longer, opening her mouth again to say something and hesitated, seeming to argue with herself if she should continue but decided on the alternative of walking.

Confused, Yamato chased her, "What are you talking about? Yes, Shoji did say she had feelings for me but that does not mean I feel that way, too. I told you that."

Hearing this finally made Mimi stopped, "You…you didn't say anything back?" she asked, finally solving the mystery of Shoji's dejected behavior.

"Why would I say anything back?" Yamato cocked his head back. "I already told you that I don't like her in that way and I never will. Shoji is my friend, but Shoji's just not the one for me," he assured that got Mimi sort of laughing and signaling that he was safe.

"So... what else happened? Is Shoji going to be okay? I couldn't understand why she was avoiding me, too."

Yamato looked down and shrugged, "She took it pretty hard, I don't know if she will want to be friends for a while…I guess now she's even more upset when she found out who I do have feelings for. I'm, I'm just so lost right now that I don't know if I should have told Shoji because now I'm afraid I might have ruined a friendship…"

Mimi clenched her chest; I was too late for Shoji…and for me. He has already fallen in love with someone else, but…Mimi stopped in her tracks the same time Yamato did. He remained quiet as she studied his face; she hadn't even noticed that they were now walking near spot that they had first met. A small smile crept on Mimi's face when she thought back to the first impression they received from one another, and how great of friends they had grown since that day, how easily Yamato had made a place in her heart much like Shoji.

"It's snowing again," he whispered more to himself. Mimi held out her hand and glanced at him as he allowed his head to hang back while he took a deep breath of the cool winter. Mimi smiled as she watched him, bathed in the magic of winter love that she hated to ruin his moment by asking—"Does she love you?"

Yamato looked at her, "Huh? Who?"

"The girl whom you love, does she love you back?" Mimi asked.

Yamato shook his head. He took a few steps forward, "I don't know, really. Maybe, I think she likes me, although she rarely shows it, but I can tell when we're together... it's different. It just feels right when I'm with her," he smiled timidly. "Why do you ask?"

Mimi gently closed her eyes in wonder and was quiet for a moment, "I love winter, don't you? I have always imagined that, this is the season to fall in love for the light snow brings happiness in everyone's heart. I love taking such long walks in the park, as the snow falls against the night sky and brings warmth to me—snow bringing warmth, yes that might sound strange but as a bedtime story I was told that snowflakes are nothing but the tears of angels. And when you catch the very first one with your tongue a part of the angels are with you and they bring you happiness to survive the whole season," she sighed and opened her eyes to look at him. "You have been touched by the angels, Yamato Ishida, and I am so happy for you that you found your winter love. Now, if you would excuse me..."

Yamato watched in confusion as she slipped by him without another word, "Mimi, wait, where are you going?" he grabbed her arm. "Hey, tell me where you are going, what's wrong?"

"I promised my best friend that I will do everything I can so you two can be together, but now I see how much you love another girl and realized how hurt Shoji must be. I promised to help her in any way, Matt, even if that's just comforting her," she shrugged and frowned, her voice almost choked as she whispered the following words. "I can just think of bad she must feel…" And despite my promise, I cannot help what I feel either.

"Why are you being so nice to Shoji after she's been leaving you, using you, and now you're going to comfort her?"

"Even Shoji doesn't deserve to be hurt," Mimi replied and then took Yamato by surprise when she touched his cheek. He was even more surprised when she saw the teary glow in her eyes, "Who knew you'd turn out to be such a great guy that I just met across the street," she softly laughed. "I hope everything works out for you, Yamato, and like for Shoji, I'll be right here if you need any help," she winked before running off.

Lost somewhere between the lines, Yamato extended his hand to her fading figure, "Mimi, I don't want any help—all I want is you, why can't you let yourself love me?" He was overwhelmed with devastation. "Far longer than forever, remember, I'll still love you."

"Ow! Hey, Mimi!"

"I'm sorry!" Mimi shouted at the girl she bumped into but kept her speed consistent. She ran up the stairs, maneuvering past students in the hallway and smiled widely when she saw her homeroom door at the end. Because she had taken longer care to get ready that morning, Mimi had missed the bus and didn't see Yamato, but Mimi relished at the thought of Yamato's wide smile when she walks into the classroom.

After talking to a hysterical Shoji, who had spilled the truth of Yamato's feelings for Mimi, she couldn't help but feel dumbfounded that she didn't realize it before. There was never any other girl, just me, she whispered when Shoji had told her. How could she have ever tried to deny her feelings for him when he had always cared for her, even tried to tell her? Shortly after recovering from the shock Shoji wasted no time in letting Mimi see how upset she was with her friends and the betrayal she felt from Mimi.

"You knew how I felt! You stole him behind my back!" Still thinking back to Shoji's words, Mimi cringed at how hurt her friend had been. Thankfully, Mimi was the sort of person to always wear her heart on her sleeve, and Shoji couldn't help but realize and see the truth of Mimi's intentions and how she never meant to hurt her best friend.

Mimi smiled to herself as she tried to keep her joy in, I'm glad I didn't lose Shoji as my friend, although I'm sure it will take some time before she gets over Yamato... but, now I know... that he does care me! All those talks we had and the girl he talks about, was me all along. I swear I can be so blind, she sighed. And by the end of this day, he will finally know that I love him. She bit her lip and stepped into the classroom but frowned at what she didn't see.

Yamato wasn't there, she had pictured him to be at his usual seat behind her, and as she makes her way to her seat he would have the biggest smile plastered on his adorable face. But he wasn't there, he's probably running late, too. She sat herself down when Shoji walked towards her.

"Hi, there, Mimi," she wore a particularly wry smile and glanced at Mimi from head to toe.

"Oh, Good morning, Aikido-chan," Mimi responded, she's different today. She looked around, "Have you seen him this morning?"

"Who, you mean Yamato? I can't say I have. Are you nervous?"

Mimi laughed, "Y-yes…I'm just hoping I don't choke." Shoji simply shrugged and started to walk away. "Hey, Shoji."

"Yes?"

"Thank you," Mimi smiled sincerely. "I know you still have feelings for Matt but—"

"Just go for it, Mimi, before I change my mind and take him for myself," Shoji grinned and pulled Mimi closer by her shoulders. "Call me Cupid Shoji!"

Mimi giggled when a girl they knew suddenly burst into the room crying. She was muttering and then yelling at people about a student, catching everyone else's attention. Mimi and Shoji walked up to her for a closer hearing.

"…dead!" she screamed. "I saw his body—he's dead!" she said and cried to her friend.

Mimi looked at Shoji who shared the same blank expression. Students were shaking their heads, girls crying and holding one another, some were saying silent prayers. A quivering uneasiness started to form in Mimi's chest and she touched the girl's shoulder.

"Dead? Who's dead? Someone from our class…?"

The girl who was crying turned to her and Shoji, "Yamato Ishida was killed this morning."