Matt scooped up the last stack of his clothes from the closet shelf and placed them inside a large bag. Giving tit a final shake, he zips his bag close before slinging it over his shoulder and walking out to the living room of his apartment. Standing timidly between the kitchen and doorway was Shoji; she smiled apprehensively and held out a small pile of neatly folded shirts towards Matt.

"I thought you might be needing these back," she said.

"Thank you, Shoji," Matt nodded and stuffed the clothes inside his bag. Shoji watched as Matt gathered the last of his belongings, following him outside where the rest of his things occupied his car seats.

"Matt!—wait," she grabbed his arm when he opened the car door. "I, I just wanted to… say, again, how sorry I am for hurting you. I know my words fail in comparison to what I have done, but I can't bear the thought of you hating me forever, even though I know it's a consequence I must accept..."

"Listen, Shoji… there is no need to add any more suffering to yourself; I don't want to leave any room in my life for hate." Matt gave her an understanding smile. "I can't believe I'm saying this but…in a way, thank you, I guess. For adoring me that much… but it's not real, you and I."

"But—"

"Let go," he said as lightly as his shrug. "Don't be the girl from high school, Shoji; you are a good person, and it's time you believed it. You need to let go of your insecurities and selfishness... And I need to not be angry with you and move on too."

Casting her eyes towards the ground, Shoji allowed her grip to loosen from his arm. Matt leaned in and gave her a brief kiss on her forehead prior to climbing inside the car. Before he could close the door, Shoji asked one final question. "And Tachikawa, what will happen to her?"

"Inoue, can you ask Tachikawa to look through these photos when she can?"

"Huh? What are you talking about now, Lina?" Miyako looked up from her computer to see a pair of thick-rimmed glasses peering over her desk. "Can't you see I'm busy? You can ask her yourself, you know."

The woman pursed her lips, her eyebrows arching towards the direction of Mimi's desk. "I would but every time anyone has approached her with anything she just gives you a dozen more things to do! And she does not stop talking. It's nice to get excited about your work but that woman has turned into a cheerful and psychotic robot! It's worse than normal."

Miyako groaned. "—I know it's exciting and all, but just because she's dreaming of wedding bells does not mean she has to give herself a stroke—of joy," the woman continued to ramble.

"Alright, alright!" Miyako snatched the photos from the woman's hand and used them to fan her away. Miyako turned to look at Mimi, who was energetically scribbling all over her desk, humming tunes and stopping anyone passing by to give them more tasks that ended with a wide smile.

"Inoue-san!" she exclaimed when Miyako sat beside her desk. "Perfect timing. I just finished a list of articles I wanted us to look over and outlines for the discussion over the summer line for next year."

"Is everything alright, Mimi?"

Mimi tilted her head, "What do you mean? Have you seen Lina? I had asked her to copy some papers for me but she has been missing all morning. Come to think of it, I think a few more people have been missing too…"

"Mimi! Slow down," Miyako warned and held Mimi's hands. "Why are you behaving like this lately?"

"Why would you ask me that?" Mimi laughed shortly and brushed her friend's hold away. "I thought you would be so happy with my spirited productivity. Oh—Jin!" she called to a young intern walking by. Mimi waved him over, "Jin, I had final drawings for the spring line printed out a long time ago but they were never delivered to my desk. Wasn't it you who picked them up for me?"

"—I have them!" Miyako quickly cried out and startled the two.

"How did you end up with them?" Mimi gave her a puzzled look. Before Miyako could think of another quick answer, the intern intervened.

"Oh, that's right," he smiled. "I handed them to Inoue because Mr. Ishida was not here anymore. His desk was already empty when I got the prints." He continued to ask Mimi if she needed him for anything else, and Miyako noticed her gaze turn towards the empty cubicle across her desk. "Miss Tachikawa?"

"It's okay, Jin, you can go now," Miyako answered. Mimi remained motionless, watching the empty seat for a brief moment, only returning to her previous motions when Miyako touched her hand. Before Miyako could ask questions, Mimi looked up and smiled.

"I might as well get ahead of my work now before we get deeper with planning the wedding—and that reminds me! Michael's parents wanted to have a celebration for our engagement next week and I was wondering if you and Ichijouji would join us!"

Miyako sighed, knowing the next words that her friend was about to hear was going to break down the giant cocoon of denial she has carefully built. "I saw Matt, Mimi. Please forgive me for not telling you right away but I just knew how hard it had been with Michael in the hospital and Yamato—" she caught herself and paused. "It was before he left, we ran into each other here…"

"Oh," Mimi cleared her throat, perplexed by Miyako's confession. "What did he say?"

"Matt!" Miyako was startled when the elevators doors had opened and her eyes met his. He seemed just as surprised to see anyone in the office on a Saturday, and she noticed his grip tighten on the box he held when her eyes brushed over his belongings.

"Yamato," she stepped closer. "You are, leaving? Michael is going to be alright, you know, you don't have to leave now…" Matt opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but looked away instead and made a move towards the elevator doors. She pleaded him to wait. "Mimi told me everything, I don't understand why you are leaving…" she let out a small but nervous laugh. "I think it's wonderful—don't tell Michael but, I was actually rooting for you!"

"Why?" With a grieved look on his face, Matt shook his head and pressed the elevator button. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Inoue, but that's not how this is going to end. You won't understand." When the elevator doors opened, Matt nodded to Miyako and stepped inside. But before the doors could close, Miyako held her arm out and stopped them.

"What are you talking about?" she exclaimed in disbelief. "You think you're the hero now because you just want the best for her? You think you're being brave by leaving the love of your life?"

Matt shook his head, "She'll be torn between the two of us if I stay. They are together again and that's how it should be, the way it was before I came around.

"So what do you plan to do now? Quit your job and run away like a coward?"

Matt smiled at her, "Well, I've always wanted to run my own business. Maybe that is the way Fate had planned all along."

"You're Yamato. She believed in you, after all this you really just want to disappear? You think Fate brought you two together again for it to end this way?" When Matt tried to reach for the elevator button again Miyako made the move to grab a hold of his shirt. Shaking him, Miyako's eyes pleaded with his. "You love her so much you don't want to tie her down…you think you are so special don't you? You're going to lose her!"

The smile from Matt's face disappeared, he turned his head away, "I won't be losing her; Mimi has fallen for the wrong person. I can't be the one for her because I don't even know Yamato Ishida anymore. I did what I was supposed to and that was giving Mimi freedom from my past… she thinks she knows me but I don't even remember the times we've walked from school together or what her favorite food was. She loved Yamato, but the man she sees in front of her now is just Matt, a ghost of a man…It's over, Miyako."

"Mimi?"

Sitting back in her seat, Mimi glanced over to her purse, where she knew Matt's ring was nested in a small pocket. Even though it has already been over a month since the accident and everything and everyone else has continued on with their everyday motions, Mimi continued to carry the ring with her… hoping, maybe, that on a day that was supposed to be ordinary, she will look up and see him across the street, just like that first day. Maybe he is right. "Maybe he is right."

"You can't mean that, Mimi."

Mimi looked up and met her friend's eyes, "No, I think I do. You see…I've always thought there was this one perfect person for everyone. But maybe it's not true, or maybe our time is over. Whichever it is, Yamato chose to leave this time but I'm not going to stop living."

(Several months later...)

Taking the cap off his pen, Matt picked up the stapled pack of papers and examined the words carefully. He made a soft brooding sigh and shook his head, looking across the office table and at the dark-haired man in a grey suit.

"Seven months? What happened to our agreement of four? The plan was to have this Minakami finished in a new development before New Years, Harashi."

Taking the papers from Matt, the man adjusted his thin glasses and nodded fervently, "Uh-huh…yes, yes, well you are right. I will speak with the contractors again and make the right adjustments. Four months though, Yamato, don't you think that is rushing a bit?"

Matt laid a hand on Harashi's shoulder and smiled, "We can do this! Trust me, my friend, sometimes you're just going to have to believe that everything will be alright."

"Something tells me the contractors doesn't have your optimism," Harashi began breathing heavily, tugging on his collar. "This is going to be a long argument."

"Well, then, it's a good thing my business partner is also a lawyer, right, Harashi?" Matt grinned as he put on his jacket and headed towards the door. "I'm going to grab us some lunch, I'll return in an hour."

"Sure, sure, always leaving me with the paperwork," Harashi waved him away and flopped into his chair.

Once outside, Matt immediately squinted his eyes when the bright afternoon sun greeted him. It might have been cold in the building, but he decided the August weather was fair enough that he no longer had a need for his jacket, slipped it off, and turned left onto the street towards a familiar corner. It had been several months since he last frequented the streets of Tokyo, but with every step he took the more his surroundings became familiar again.

His move to a smaller city had been brief but necessary; the streets were less busy and he had quickly found a convenient location to establish his own workplace. Meeting a reliable friend and partner like Harashi, Matt settled into his new home peacefully and knew no one there… although, with the exception of the visits he received from his family, and Harashi driving in from Tokyo occasionally, not knowing anyone eventually proved to be a problem and Matt realized that resizing and relocating to Tokyo was a wise decision.

If I remember correctly, he surmised walking down a familiar street, right after this building should be that coffee shop I used to go to… he stopped short when he spotted the window. There it is, the coffee shop Mimi took me to when we met here in Tokyo. It still looks the same.

"Of course it does," he mumbled to himself and slowly began walking towards the door. As he was about to walk inside a thought came across his mind. What if Mimi still comes to this place? What if, they had parted ways only for Fate to cross their paths again? If she is here, then, I'll believe it; Fate must be on my side. Taking a deep breath, Matt placed his hand on the door, pushing it gently but with excitement as if this would be the last door he will ever open. A small gust of air escaped from inside and brushed his blonde locks back and, with one big step, Matt entered the room and quickly looked around.

"She's not here," the disappointment dripped from every word. He noticed he was gaining looks from nearby tables and decided to proceed towards the counter.

"Of course, what was I thinking," he shook his head and took another sip of his coffee, frustrated at his earlier thoughts. He was preparing to cross the street as the light permitted when he heard a familiar voice. Looking around, his eyes settled on a woman with round glasses talking on her phone outside a store building. Matt immediately recognized Miyako and without hesitating, he began making his way towards her but she had already entered the store before she could hear him call her name.

Matt peered into the window to look for Miyako but what his eyes caught made him drop his coffee. Turning around and examining herself in front of a mirror was Mimi, wearing a lavished white wedding gown. An attendant fussed over the hem of her dress while simultaneously chatting with Mimi, who was too transfixed at her own reflection. Matt watched her, unable to deny how breathtaking she looked and the sudden tightness he felt in his chest. He should have expected this to happen; after all, after countless attempts of persuading her to marry Michael, and with Matt out of the picture, she finally realized what she was supposed to do all along. Nevertheless, she never looked lovelier as a bride.

Tearing his eyes away, Matt continued walking.

(1 year after…)

It was proving to be one of the last beautiful days of autumn and Mimi found herself spending the afternoon sitting outside and absorbed in the book she held. Taking a bite of her sandwich, Mimi was also quite pleased with the restaurant she had stumbled upon on her lunch break. Almost a year has passed since she had decided to leave her job and begin her own boutique with Miyako. Michael was not the least bit fond of letting her go, but as much as Mimi and Miyako had enjoyed the big fashion world, the pair could not have been more satisfied with their new business arrangement that gave Mimi the opportunity to start fresh and have a more flexible schedule. Although lately any work discussion her and Miyako have seems to morph from manufacturers and budgets to reception seating charts and what type of dessert matches the wedding's color theme.

Mimi looked up and smiled when the waiter came by, "Thank you," she said and handed him the paid check. Feeling the brush of a cool breeze, Mimi quickly stood up to snatch her jacket sitting on the seat across from her, although her swift movement caused her to bump into someone who was walking beside her table.

"Oh! I'm so sorry," she exclaimed after seeing the bag of groceries spill onto the street. Bending down, Mimi began helping the woman. "I swear I can be so clumsy, please forgive me!"

"Well, I suppose some things will never change," the woman laughed. Upon hearing the sound of her voice, Mimi quickly looked up gasped.

"Shoji!"

Feeling the color rise in her cheeks, Mimi hastened to stand up. She ran through all the options she had for reacting to seeing an old friend and enemy but her thoughts were immediately lost when she watched Shoji slowly stand up, with one hand behind her back and the other on her inflated stomach.

"You're having a baby," she heard herself say.

Shoji smiled sheepishly, nodding, "Very much so… although lately I have felt as if I'm carrying an entire army in here!" Mimi watched as Shoji stroked her stomach and she couldn't help but become astounded. A quick glance at her left hand brought an uncomfortable feeling to Mimi's stomach as well; around her finger, sparkling and sitting comfortably, was a wedding ring. Yamato.

Realizing how long she had been staring, Mimi met Shoji's eyes. "Shoji… you look good. And happy. You must be excited."

"I am," Shoji whispered. Mimi watched her lips part and hesitate as she lingered for a moment, and then extended her hand in front of her. "Mimi, if you're not too busy… I was, wondering… how about I buy us some hot chocolate? Just like old times?" she added with a smile. "Besides, having a baby inside me pretty much leaves me craving sweets all the time!"

Looking from Shoji's wedding ring to her hopeful face, Mimi reflected her smile, "Sure."

Mimi stole a glance at her watch when Shoji had excused herself to go to the restroom and realized that they had spent almost two hours chatting. She couldn't tell if she was more surprised with the duration of the conversation or of the pleasant time she was having, but Mimi felt a warmth and softness in her heart at what was happening. Shoji was different; she had spent half of their conversation asking Mimi how she has been, taking sincere interest in her well being, and the other half sharing about her own life and baby names. Mimi smiled, thinking that this was exactly how she used to imagine hers and Shoji's friendship would have been like if they hadn't grown apart.

"Mimi," Shoji began when she sat back down. "I would truly hate to end our time, but if it's alright with you I think I need to be heading home now and getting some rest. This little one is starting to get a little fussy in here," she laughed, gently stroking her stomach.

Mimi laughed in return, "Of course, I understand," she offered to help Shoji with her bag of groceries and the two women started their stroll outside. They began walking a couple blocks together.

"Say, do you remember our first week of high school, how you convinced me to go to the zoo instead of class when I was having a bad day?" Shoji asked, looking at Mimi who immediately rolled her eyes.

"Do I," she laid a hand on her forehead. "My mother was furious when the principal had called my house!"

Shoji nodded, "Well, I didn't want to admit it to you then but, the reason I was having such an awful day was because I was having such a hard time fitting into all my classes."

"You? Shoji, everybody liked you! You are one of the most outgoing people I know."

"Yes, but I owe a lot of that to you!" when Mimi gave her a puzzled arch of her brows, Shoji continued. "I only began making friends because I tried to be more like you. You were always so happy and kind and made friends so easily. I was always jealous of you, Mimi… everybody loved you." Silence settled in between them as they entered a quieter street. Mimi took note of the rich orange that covered the sky as the sun began to set, turning her head towards Shoji when she started talking again. "I have a lot of things to apologize for, I don't even know where to start or how to begin. I know I've caused you so much pain and trouble, Mimi… but please know, that I never hated you."

Mimi frowned, seeing the shame and remorse in her eyes, but what tugged at her heart the most was the sadness and tears that now came out of Shoji.

"I was wrong," she said. "You were my best friend, Mimi, and I shouldn't have let my jealousy tear us apart. My best memories from my childhood are with you… you always made me laugh, and would watch scary movies with me even though you would have to spend the night because you got to scared to go home," a faint laugh broke out from the both of them. Shoji smiled sadly and looked down, "when Yamato came to our school, I wanted so badly for someone like him to love me… I knew he had liked you, but I became selfish and didn't want you to have what I wanted most, even though he had always belonged to you."

"I don't understand," Mimi said, "Matt isn't the father of your child?"

Shoji looked at her, confused, "No. Mimi, I haven't seen or spoken to him for almost two years now." When Mimi still looked perplexed, she stopped and took Mimi's hands. "Matt never stopped loving you, Mimi. Even throughout all those years we were together I could tell, that he always sensed that there was a greater love out there to complete him… and then he found you."

Mimi was unable to keep herself from crying, "Shoji, it's too late…"

"Michael, I know…" Shoji squeezed her hands and brought them to her chest. "Mimi, I know this is asking for a lot but I do hope it's not too late for us… the thought that I hated the most all that time was not that Matt would choose you, but that, I allowed myself to do all those hurtful things to you that made me lose you as my friend. I hope that someday you can forgive me."

"Shoji…"

When she entered her house that night, Mimi went straight into her bedroom and stopped in front of her closet. Getting on her knees, she stuck her arm deep into the back and dug around until she felt a small shoebox and pulled it out; opening the lid, a smile immediately came across her lips as she picked up the first thing that she saw. As she got up, Mimi used the heel of her hand to rub the dust away from the picture frame and an even bigger smile replaced her previous one when she could see the image of her and Shoji, smiling in their school uniforms as they posed in front of the zoo gate. Mimi placed the frame on her bedside table before slipping underneath the covers and turning off the light.