A/N: Tadaa! We've gotten to the second-last chapter~ The last chapter is coming soon hopefully. Anyway, I think you guys might like this chapter x3

Chapter 17 - Strawberry Fix

Nagihiko felt that the atmosphere in school today was not at all pleasant. The other students had been whispering amongst themselves in their small groups of twos or threes. Not about him, of course. They were whispering about the King and Queen's 'big break-up' as they called it. Rima must have broken up with Tadase yesterday after what happened. He guessed she thought there was no point, seeing as Nagihiko already knew that she actually loved him.

Back in their first year of middle-school he imagined that if Rima ever confessed to him he would of course return it with a teasing comment and that maybe he'd even get to see her small cute blush. He never imagined that when the day actually came it would end with them shouting at each other.

Then again he had never imagined that he'd ever be dating Amu.

He arrived in class and sat down. Rima wasn't in her seat, and if he wasn't here by now he knew that she must not be coming to school today. Maybe she couldn't face him. Truth be told, he didn't think he'd be able to face her either.

He saw Amu walk in a few minutes later and took her seat behind him. She too stared at Rima's empty seat. Nagihiko thought Amu must be confused as to why Rima and Tadase broke up. Surely she would ask Tadase.

But when Tadase had taken his seat Amu did not so much as glance at him.

xxxxx

Ironically enough, Nagihiko and Tadase had been put in charge of after-school clean up duty for their classroom. They had acted normally during the school day, Tadase insisting the break-up was mutual. Amu was acting unusually quiet today. Something was on her mind, but she didn't tell Nagihiko what it was. Tadase had maintained that Rima was just feeling ill today, and Nagihiko thought Amu was just worried about Rima.

Nagihiko wiped the blackboard while Tadase re-organized the class's book-shelf. He was unsure whether he should say anything to Tadase. He probably should.

"So…was the break-up really mutual?" Nagihiko's voice sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet classroom. That didn't matter though, he probably just chose the worst question possible as an ice-breaker.

To his surprise Tadase actually smiled. "Yeah, she was too proud to let me be the one who broke up with her."

…..

"Why did you agree to go out with Hinamori-san?"

Straight to the point for once, Nagihiko thought. "Well…she just seemed really upset about the break-up and I guess she was emotionally unstable."

"That makes you a traitor." Nagihiko was startled by that. Traitor? Tadase didn't stop arranging the shelf. He didn't turn around. He didn't even sound mad. Just matter-of-fact.

"If it makes you feel any better, I met up with her in the first place to talk her into calling you back," he said weakly.

"And of course that meant her going out with you." Sarcasm. From Tadase. Nagihiko actually felt a sense of horror. "But you don't actually love Amu-chan in that way, do you?"

That was the first time Nagihiko heard him say 'Amu-chan' for a long time. He shook his head vigorously. "No! You probably heard from Rima."

Tadase stopped arranging the shelf. Picking up the metre-long wooden ruler from beside the book-shelf he pointed it to Nagihiko. "Then I won't lose to you."

Nagihiko was amazed. Tadase looked more determined than Nagihiko had ever seen him. He held the ruler as if it was it was his Holy Sceptre, as if he could just blast Nagihiko backward if he wanted to. Kiseki hovered nearby him, looking extremely smug.

The former-Jack couldn't help but smile. For a shy guy, the King could be fierce if he really wanted to.

Xxxxx

Rima lay in bed. Although the curtains were closed a ray of light seeped into the room through the gap between the curtains. She wouldn't get up today. Her mum could knock on her door all she wanted but she wasn't going out today, even though she told Tadase she would. She would go back to school tomorrow. Nagihiko wouldn't tell Amu what she said, she was sure. She wasn't worried about that. She just need some time to herself. All this worrying made her tired. She just needed a break.

Xxxxx

Amu sighed as she sat down on the park bench. She had been worried about Rima all day. But not because she was 'ill' but because she knew that Rima had been hurting just so that they would still be friends. Why did everyone have to do this all for her? She didn't deserve that kind of friendship. Just like she didn't deserve Tadase's love.

"Hey," said a familiar voice.

Utau stood, crossed arm looking at Amu for a moment before pulling her up and dragging her with her.

"Huh? Utau! Where are we going?"

Utau didn't answer her but ten minutes later Amu found herself sat down at the ramen shop Utau liked so much.

"I'll have the usual," she told the chef and then turned to Amu.

"Alright, spit it out, what's wrong?"

"What makes you think anything's wro-" Amu stopped when she saw Utau's sharp gaze. There was no getting around Utau.

It wouldn't hurt to tell Utau. Utau wasn't involved with any of this. So she spilt her heart out, telling Utau all about how she was dating Nagihiko but he actually loved Rima and then Rima didn't want him to break up with her because Rima wanted Amu to be happy.

"But I'm not happy if she's not happy."

Utau whistled. "Kukai was right, you guys are making such a big deal out of all of this."

"Kukai?" Amu blinked. "You mean…he knew?"

"Who do you think persuaded Nagihiko to go comfort you in the first place?" Utau drummed her fingers. "Kukai's an idiot sometimes. Also, it just so happens that Yaya knew all about Rima and Tadase's side of things." Utau smiled. "Yaya's not that good at keeping secrets."

"Everyone knew what was going on except me…" Amu mumbled.

"The way I see it there's a simple way of solving all of this."

"Like what?" Amu said sceptically.

Utau rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to tell you. You have to figure it out by yourself."

"That's not helping!"

The idol sighed. "Alright, I'll give you a hint. If you want to make things right with Rima and Nagihiko again you should go back to the start."

"The start?" Amu repeated.

Before Amu could ask what Utau meant, the ramen came.

"Let's eat!"

xxxxx

They had just finished cleaning the classroom when Nagihiko's phone emitted a loud beep. He checked his phone to see a short text from Amu. 'Meet me at the park in ten minutes.' It said.

Nagihiko got to the park as fast as he could. He wondered what Amu wanted to meet him for. It could be that she wanted to see him for another date but he got the feeling that that wasn't the case. He stopped walking when he saw Amu sitting down on one of the park benches. He could see that her fists were clenched and she was looking down at them.

Walking over to her, he stood just in front of her, looking down at her. "What's wrong Amu-chan?"

For a while, the pinkette stayed silent. She took a deep breath. "There's a lot of things wrong. And it's mostly my fault."

Her tone was dark and Nagihiko didn't like it. He put a hand on her shoulder, bending down slightly. "What is it?"

Suddenly Amu looked up at Nagihiko, her eyes reflecting pain. Startled, Nagihiko tightened his hold on her shoulder. "I know about…the whole thing with Rima-chan."

At that point he let go of her shoulder and stood back up. "Amu-chan…I'm sor-"

"Don't apologise!" Amu yelled. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I overheard Rima telling you…that she loved you. Once she said it…I realised why she had been acting strange for these past few months. It's because she wanted to make me happy. And I was happy Nagihiko." Amu wiped a tear that had started to form at the corner of her eye. "I was an emotional wreck after the break-up with Tadase. That was my fault in the first place. And I'm weak, Nagihiko. It's like I just can't be alone and I had to go and say I liked you. Honestly I don't know if I did or I didn't but I was happy just not being alone."

At this point Amu started sobbing. "It sounds horrible, as if I used you just for a rebound."

Nagihiko felt his heart clench at the sight of Amu. Amu, spilling her heart out after keeping it chained for so long. He sat down and wrapped his arms around her while she cried into his shoulder with repeated 'I'm sorries'.

"You know Amu-chan…I did love you. Maybe it wasn't in a romantic kind of way, but I did love you as my friend. I still do." Nagihiko let go of Amu and smiled at her. "Don't cry Amu-chan, the reason all this happened…wasn't it so that you wouldn't be lonely, so that you wouldn't cry?"

Amu wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt and nodded. "I-I just. You and Rima…you two deserve a chance together. From what happened when she confessed to you…I realised that you two really do care for each other."

Nagihiko smile grew bitter. "She won't talk to me anymore."

Amu shook her head. "She will."

She stood up. "I'm going to go see her."

xxxxx

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Rima eyes snapped open. She rolled over so that she was now lying on her back. How long had she been sleeping? The light outside her curtains were dimming and Rima realised she had slept the whole afternoon. It must have been a while since her mum had tried to get her to come out but there really was no point.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Rima?"

She immediately sat up, recognising the voice. Amu.

She hadn't been expecting this at all. Should she open the door? She didn't know if she could face Amu. It would look suspicious if she didn't let her in though; Rima got up and slowly opened the door.

"Hi Rima. Can I come in?"

Rima nodded and sat back down on her bed, indicating that Amu should sit next to her. She wished she had known Amu was coming, she would have tidied the room a bit more. Her gag manga were scattered around the floor and her desk was a mess.

"How are you feeling?" asked Amu.

Like hell, Rima thought. Emotionally, of course. Physically she wasn't at all ill. "A little bit better."

Amu frowned. "Are you really sick?" She gestured around the room. "Your room's a bit untidy but I don't see any tissues around."

Thinking fast Rima replied, "Oh it's not a cold. I just have…a migraine." She couldn't tell if Amu believed her or not but Amu didn't say anything about it.

"I came to check up on you," said Amu. Rima knew this. "But…I also came to say that me and Nagihiko have broken up."

Rima's eyes widened. "What? Why would he do that?" Nagihiko! I told you not to break her heart you insensitive fool.

At the same time Rima couldn't help feeling relief. This meant…it meant…no more having to watch them together. She could…maybe have a chance to… no. I can't possibly be with Nagihiko now. Right after he breaks up with her, I'm just going to go after him? That's disgusting.

"You know, I was the one who broke up with him."

The blond's eyes widened even more. "You did?"

Amu chuckled at her tone. "Is it that surprising?"

Rima felt her cheeks grow ever so slightly warmer. "W-well you were always so…how to put this – lovey-dovey."

Now it was Amu's turn to blush. "Really?"

"Not as lovey-dovey as with Tadase-kun but still." Rima's hand jumped to cover her mouth. She mentioned Tadase! That subject was still taboo.

The other girl just smiled though. "I'm going to be honest here for once Rima." She glanced at her guardian characters who nodded encouragingly. "I heard you and Nagihiko talking at the flower exhibition. Rima, your voice was so sincere. I wish I could be as honest as you were all the time."

Then it dawned on Rima. "Then, you broke up for Nagihiko for me."

"Not just that," Amu assured her. "You've been holding back for me and I think it's time I did something for you. Friendship is a two way thing, isn't it? Anyway, I don't think my feelings for Nagihiko stretch as far as yours." She looked at Rima seriously. "I really appreciate everything you've done for me, but think of yourself sometimes too."

"I guess you're right," the petite girl smiled sheepishly. Kusu-kusu, seeing her bearer smile, giggled as well. "After sitting down here and talking with you, I've just realised. Since we're best friends I should've gone and told you about all this from the start. I'm sorry for keeping secrets from you."

Amu shook her head. "You're not the only one. I never told you what happened between me and Tadase-kun, so that makes us even."

The two stared at each other before they burst out laughing. There was no joke said, and nothing really funny to laugh about, but they laughed anyway. Rima figured it was the relief that she could speak to Amu normally again, and she was just so happy. She hugged Amu who returned it.

Once they separated Rima smiled. "So, do I get to hear the secret 'Tadase-kun' story now?"

Amu returned the smile. "On one condition."

"What is it?"

"You have to go talk to Nagihiko tomorrow."

A/N: That's a wrap for this chapter~ Oh and if anyone is confused by the title, it's because Amu is trying to 'fix' everything and I decided to refer to her as Strawberry. Thanks for reading and please review if you have the time.