.faAuthor's Note: …I'm going to try one last way of doing page breaks. If this doesn't work I give up LOL
Disclaimer: I do not own Itazura na Kiss nor do I own Card Captor Sakura
Chapter 4: Sakura, Syaoran, and the Elevator
Sakura usually enjoyed the start of a new year. She loved coming back from winter break, and seeing her friends again. Tomoyo usually would go skiing with her mother, and she would recount stories about the beautiful Alps in Switzerland. Chiharu would be full of boundless energy after having to take care of her younger sibling all break. The girls would laugh, and walk down the snow covered streets to their favorite café. However, this January was different. Since they were finally seniors, with this January the dreaded talk of universities was upon them.
The whole school was abuzz with nervous chatter. Syaoran's class was full of nervous energy. It wasn't uncommon to see someone from his class with bags under their eyes or with unkempt hair.
Sakura's class was mostly filled with restless energy. Chiharu could not sit still. Her leg would be constantly shaking, and her nails were bit short. Tomoyo, ever the picture of calm, sat serenely and drew in her sketch book.
Sakura sighed. Everyone seemed to know what they wanted to do with their life except for her. Tomoyo was going to study fashion design and business. Tomoyo's mother took the news in stride. She had hoped Tomoyo would take over her toy company, but she supported her daughter's decision 100%
Chiharu, whom was very talented piano player, wanted to be a music teacher.
Herself though? No idea. She wasn't particularly good at anything. She was pretty athletic, but not enough to be a professional. Her grades were pretty low, and archeology didn't excite her at all like it did her father.
Syaoran really didn't know how lucky he was. With this looks, brains, and athletic prowess he could pick any school he wanted. It was rumored Harvard and Yale had sent him applications from the States. Also China's top university had already sent over a representative to talk with him. Japan's top university, The University of Tokyo, was already making their move. First thing first though, if you had any hope of getting into college you had to pass the college entrance exams. The test had been looming closer and closer, and finally this Saturday was the big day.
Later that night was a rare occasion in which everyone was able to gather together for dinner.
"Nervous for your test this weekend Sakura-san?" Fujitaka asked his daughter. He tried not to show it, but he was worried about her. Being a lowly professor, he had no pull at Tokyo University. Thankfully her grades had come up with Syaoran's help, but Fujitaka knew it wouldn't be a small feat for get to get accepted.
"Hai," she answered truthfully.
"I'm sure you'll do well!" Yelan cheered.
Leiyun swelled with pride. "We know our Xiao Lang will do well. Right son?" he asked looking over at Syaoran.
The boy in question calmly finished swallowing his food, and then patted his mouth with his napkin before serenely answering, "I'm not taking the test."
"EH?!" everyone screeched in shock.
"What do you mean son?" Leiyun asked getting over his shock. "Surely this is a joke? Of course you're taking the test!"
"Of course he will!" Yelan agreed. "You were just joking right Xiao Lang?"
"No. I wasn't. I don't want to go to college," he answered seriously.
Sakura sat in stunned silence. "But why?!" she heard Yelan yell.
"I don't see the need for it. Anything I can learn there I can do myself. I'll be bored."
The family started arguing in Chinese, and at that point Sakura and Fujitaka took that as their cue to leave the family alone.
Later that night Sakura lay in her bed unable to sleep. She clutched her chest and sighed. She couldn't just sit there, and watch the person she cared about throw their life away.
When she couldn't stand it anymore she hopped out of bed, and threw on her robe. Sneaking out into the hallway she noted a light on in Syaoran's room. Nervously biting her lip she hesitantly knocked on his door.
"Yes?" came his brusque voice from within.
"Um…It's me, can I come in?" she asked nervously.
Suddenly, the door opened and Syaoran stood aside to let her in. He was dressed in his green flannel pajamas, and his usual messy hair was even more messed up than usual. Walking quickly inside she stood awkwardly in the center of his room. He indicated for her to sit on the bed, but her cheeks heated up thinking about their last encounter there. Instead she bolted over to his desk chair. He gave a small smirk and sat on the bed.
They sat in awkward silence for a moment before he asked, "Why do you want to go to college?"
She thought about it for a moment before answering, "Mostly I just want to discover who I am, and what I what I like. I hear you really learn who you are as a person through college."
He nodded and then cleared his throat. "How do you know if you like something?" he asked genuinely.
Sakura gave a warm smile, and reached up to touch her heart. "You'll know you like something when your heart speeds up. You'll get excited and nervous all at the same time."
"My heart?" he asked.
She nodded and rolled his desk chair over closer to him. Reaching out she took his hand in hers, and placed it on his heart. "Here," she said smiling at him; emerald eyes glowing. He swallowed, and pushed her hand away. Looking away from he said, "I wish I could feel that too."
Sakura gazed at him sadly. "I believe that a person who has a lot should share it. Whereas, I have nothing to share or contribute it seems, but I still have to try my very best!" she said pumping a fist into the air.
"I wouldn't say that," he mumbled but she wasn't sure she heard him right.
"I have to believe no matter what that everything will be okay." Giving him one last genuine smile she left the room.
Syaoran sat there for awhile and just gazed at the wall. Slowly his hand reached up, and touched his heart.
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When Saturday came the whole family gathered in nervous apprehension. Leiyun paced back and forth, and Feimei kept shooting daggers at Sakura like it was her fault. Sakura bit her lip, and nervously played with her hair. She glanced at her watch worried. If they were going to leave they needed to leave soon.
Suddenly, there was movement upstairs, and Syaoran came slowly down the stairs. Ignoring his family looking at him in apprehension he turned to Sakura, "Ready to go?"
She smiled hugely. "You're taking the test?!"
"It seems that way," was the only answer they got. Yelan gave Sakura thumbs up behind his back. Leiyun nodded approvingly. They were just about to leave when Syaoran coughed stopping everyone in their tracks. "Are you sick?!" Sakura demanded reaching out to touch his forehead.
He evaded her hand, but answered, "Maybe I have a small cold…"
"Oh no!" Yelan said dramatically.
"Wait! I have medicine!" Sakura declared digging through her bag. Feimei raced to get her brother water. "Here," Sakura said handing him two small tablets.
Taking the water gratefully from his sister he took the medicine quickly. It wasn't until after he swallowed that he looked concerned. "These won't make me drowsy will they?"
Sakura quickly scanned the back of the pill bottle, and her heart stopped. Tearfully she looked at Syaoran apologetically. "I'm so sorry!"
He just gave a frustrated sigh, and looked at her in annoyance. "Typical Kinomoto move."
Sakura followed him all the way to his test room. "Good luck!" she called to him, but he just ignored her.
Taking his seat he yawned hugely. Sota looked at him in alarm. "You don't look so good Li-kun."
All the heads in the classroom turned in their direction. No one could ever remember seeing the great Li-sama tired.
Afterwards, Syaoran couldn't even remember taking the test. The words seemed to blur as his eyelids drooped.
Waiting for the results was a whole new feeling for him. This was the first time in his whole life he could ever remember being nervous about his results.
The whole school was abuzz with gossip that Sakura had drugged him before the test. Girls in Syaoran's fan club especially kept giving her evil eyes.
Finally the day of the results came. When Syaoran's name was called all eyes were on him as he walked towards the teacher. The teacher smiled, and patted him on the back. With shaking hands he opened the sealed envelope. His eyes widened taking in his score. He laughed bewilderedly shaking his head. "I must be a genius after all," he said shocked.
Sakura was super relieved to hear that he had done well. She never would have been able to forgive herself if she had hurt his future. Looking down at her own tests score she heaved a sigh. Thanks to Syaoran's tutoring her test skills had improved, but the score was still mediocre at best.
Nervously she sat in front of the school's guidance counselor as they paged through universities. The counselor wore a frustrated expression making Sakura even more nervous. Finally the counselor said, "Wells let's see here. You do have some extra circular activities. You've been a cheerleader, and you had a lead role in a play a couple years ago," Sakura nodded hopefully. "But your grades are lacking. With just your low test scores, and your extra circulars there really isn't much we can go off of."
Sakura slumped in her chair. That was what she was afraid of. Her father was going to be so disappointed.
"There must be something though; anyone famous in your family?"
Sakura thought about it. "My mother was a model?"
The counselor nodded writing this down. "Yes that's good. How about do you have any other nationality besides Japanese?" Sakura shook her head no. "Okay, how about community service?"
Sakura shrugged. "I try to volunteer at the Children's Hospital."
The counselor's eyes lit up. "How often?"
"I try to do once a month," Sakura answered. "Does this count?!" she asked getting excited.
The counselor paged through some papers, and then smiled triumphantly. "It would be a long shot, but let's go for Hitsubashi University with a Social Science Major."
Sakura smiled happily. "Just tell me what I have to do!"
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Sakura could barely believe it when she got the notice that she made it past the first round. Giddy with excitement she jumped around the night before her big interview. Syaoran watched her from the couch and said, "Could you please stop jumping around? It's distracting."
"Sorry! I'm just so nervous!" she said plopping down on the couch. He moved his long legs back to give her room to sit.
Yelan was just about to call everyone to dinner when Fujitaka came stumbling into the house. He was drenched in snow, and his glasses were all fogged up.
"Oto-san!" Sakura said worriedly rushing to help her father. She took his wet coat, and hung it up for him.
"There is a blizzard starting," Fujitaka explained wiping his glasses on his shirt. "They've already closed some of the train stations. I barely made it on the last train."
Yelan looked worriedly at Sakura. "How about your interview tomorrow? Surely they will post-pone?" Syaoran looked up from his book.
Sakura bit her lip, and fiddled with her hair nervously. "Well if it's who I think it is heading over the interviews she won't cancel. She's known as the Dragon Lady," Fujitaka said.
"Well let's not think anymore about it," Yelan said guiding Sakura to the table. "Let me get you some hot water and lemon Fujitaka-san."
"Thank you Yelan-san. I would appreciate it."
The next morning came, and the blizzard was even more than what anymore could have imagined. Yelan paced worriedly watching Sakura bundle up for her journey. "Oh Sakura-san! Do you have to go?!"
Sakura tried to put on a bright expression. "I have to try!"
Syaoran tried to look indifferent leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Feimei looked from her brother to Sakura, and shook her head. As Sakura was getting ready to walk out when a green umbrella shot out in front of her. She blinked in surprise, and looked up at Syaoran.
"Take this," he said gruffly before heading upstairs.
"Thank you Li-kun!" Sakura called to him.
To say the journey was a hard one would be an understatement. Sakura was just about frozen by the time she hit Hitsubashi's front entrance.
From within the interviewers sighed. "Should we post-pone?" one asked. "A lot of the students weren't able to make it."
The Dragon Lady curtly shook her head. "No. If they want to go to this university they will work hard for it."
Suddenly a figure stumbled in. She had icicles on her ear muffs and eyelashes, and her nose was bright red.
A volunteer rushed forward with hot chocolate, and helped Sakura remove her coat. Trying to calm her shaking she politely bowed. "Hello. I'm Sakura Kinomoto."
The interviewers nodded, and looked her up as she took a seat sipping on her hot chocolate gratefully.
"Social Science major?" one asked her to which she nodded. "You're interested in people?"
Sakura smiled and nodded again. "I think the human race is fascinating, and I would love to learn what makes everyone the way they are," she said recalling Syaoran to her mind.
"Well your volunteer hours are remarkable," the third interviewer said. "And your mother was Nadeshiko Kinomoto?!" they asked surprised.
"Hai," Sakura said proudly.
"You didn't get her looks," the Dragon Lady said not even looking at Sakura. Sakura tried to keep her polite expression. "And your grades have been awful."
"But she was able to raise her grades from last to the top of her grade in 1 week," the first interviewer defended.
The Dragon Lady removed her reading glasses, and regarded Sakura with a cold expression. "Why should we accept you? You're not remarkable in anyway. What could you bring to our university?"
Sakura thought about it a moment before answering, "I know I'm not special like my mother, and I know I'm not remarkable. But I am a hard worker," she said eyes shining. "I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Yes there are probably more qualified students whom are smart than I, but I bet you won't find someone as tenacious as I am."
The first interviewer couldn't help but to look at the young girl differently. Sitting there looking determined with her eyes glowing, and honey blonde hair in a west clump on her shoulders. He couldn't help but to finally see the resemblance to her mother's beauty.
At home, Syaoran was still parked on the couch, and kept looking through the window every 5 minutes. Feimei noticed that he had been reading the same page for the past 30 minutes in his book. Suddenly, he closed the book, and left to go upstairs. Feimei frowned, but then heard the front door opening. A green umbrella shook off the snow, and Sakura smiled gratefully to Yelan. Feimei just shook her head.
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The week of waiting after the interview was torture, but finally the call came late at night. Sakura had made it! It turned out both Tomoyo and Chiharu were able to attend as well. Chiharu with a music scholarship, and Tomoyo with her decent grades, talent, and mother's connections.
As a congratulatory present, Yelan got Sakura musical tickets. "Meet me in front of the theater tomorrow at 3," she said winking. "Wear something cute!"
The next day Sakura waited in front of the theater. She was dressed in a simple black dress with black knee socks. She also had a little white sweater pulled over. She had even decided to spend extra attention to her makeup that day. She wore natural eye shadow, and pretty pink lip. She had also decided to slightly curl her hair.
Suddenly, her cell phone vibrated. Checking the caller ID she saw it was Yelan. "Moshi Moshi?" Sakura answered.
"Oh! Sakura-chan! What to do?! I can't make it today!" Yelan lamented over the phone.
"Oh.. That's okay!" Sakura said trying to not to sound disappointed.
"Don't worry! I'm sending someone to take my place! Go and leave the extra ticket at the call box and have a seat!"
"Oh. Okay. Sure!"
The lights started dim, and the seat next to her was still empty. Finally the musical began. It was based off her favorite anime. About a young girl who goes around catching cards, and discovering who her most important person was. She was so caught up in the musical that she didn't notice when someone took the seat next to her.
They were at the part where the boy was calling the main girl stupid. Sakura shook her head. "Sounds familiar."
"He had a point," came a voice next to her. Sakura jumped, and was surprised to see Syaoran. He was dressed in a white button down with a black blazer, and blue slacks.
"Li-kun! Sakura said surprised.
"Shh!" she was shushed. He just smirked, and put a finger to his lips.
After the musical was over with the famous teddy bear exchange; they walked out of the theater together.
"How come you came?" she ventured to ask him.
"It turned out that way," was the only answer she got. He had got a tearful phone call from his mother earlier saying she had been stood up by a friend. Before she hung up she quickly added for him to dress nice. He sighed. He should have known it would be something like this.
"Are you going to take the Tokyo University entrance exam?" Sakura asked him on the walk home.
He sighed. "I guess so. I still don't see what the big deal about college is."
"Why don't you just have fun? Whatever path you decide to take just make it a fun one. What's the point of living if it isn't fun?"
"Fun?" he asked surprised stopping.
"You could always come to Hitsubashi. I'll make it fun for you!" Sakura said smiling at him.
"More like you'll get in my way all the time," her face dropped. Quickly changing the subject he pulled out a necklace from his pocket. "Here," he said handing it to her.
Sakura took the necklace surprised. It was a souvenir from the musical. It was the Starkey Necklace that the main girl wears. "For me?" she asked in awe.
"Well I didn't buy it for myself," he said quickly turning away. "Congrats on Hitsubashi," he added before quickly walking away.
Her eyes shone. Syaoran had got her a present. He congratulated her! Hanyaan!
"Are you coming?" he called.
"H-Hai!" she said racing to catch up with him.
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With Valentine's Day came Syaoran's entrance exam into Toyo University. Sakura stayed up the whole night before to make Syaoran some homemade chocolate. She carefully wrote in English: Congratulations! From Sakura. Smiling triumphantly she placed it carefully in the refrigerator. The next morning everyone was on edge again waiting for Syaoran to come down the stairs. When he finally did appear everyone sighed in relief.
"I'll leave first," he announced shouldering his bag.
"Do your best!" Yelan cheered. She couldn't help but to heave a little sigh. She had hoped that Sakura and Syaoran would go to the same university.
He looked at Sakura last before leaving. All she could do was wave as she watched him walk out. Her heart raced in her chest. Finally she couldn't stand it anymore. "I'm going to follow him! Make sure he gets there!" she announced grabbing her coat. She flew out the door before they could say anything.
She followed him from a distance, and would quickly duck behind trees if she saw him turning. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. She made it so obvious she was following him. He smirked coming to the subway station elevator. He quickly ducked inside. Sakura saw this and panicked. What should she do? If she went in he would know she followed him. Right when the door was closing a hand stopped it.
"Well are you coming?" he asked her.
Maybe it was because it was so early in the morning, but they were the only ones on the elevator. She was too embarrassed to say anything. Suddenly, the elevator jerked causing her to scream in alarm. He rushed forward, and put his arms protectively around her as the lights went off. The elevator came to a standstill.
"What happened?" she asked tearfully.
He awkwardly removed his arms. "There must have been an accident. Don't worry. Help will come."
They stood in awkward silence in the dark for quite awhile. Each had checked their phones, but neither could get cell service. Her heart thumped. She hated the dark, but she didn't want him to know how scared she was.
Suddenly, a light illuminated the elevator. It was the flashlight off his cell phone. "No use standing in the dark," he muttered not meeting her eyes.
"Thank you Li-kun!" she said brightly, wiping away some stray tears. "Do you think you'll miss the test?" she added worried.
He checked his watch. "I'll have plenty of time."
She heaved a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad."
Suddenly the elevator jerked again, and the doors cracked open. There stood a fireman. "Hang on! There's been a small earthquake. We'll get you out in a second!"
Another earthquake? What was it with her luck and earthquakes all of a sudden?
"Okay!" The fireman shouted again. "One at a time!"
Syaoran turned to her, but Sakura quickly said, "No! You go first! You have to take your test!"
"But-"
"Please! I'll be fine! They'll get me out next," she said pushing him towards the door.
The fireman reached down, and pulled him out. Once he as safe he looked back at Sakura. "Get her out! Quickly!"
She motioned for him to go, but he ignored her. "Okay miss, your turn," they said reaching down to her.
Just as she was reaching up she felt something snap. Looking down she saw her Starkey Necklace roll away. "One moment!" she cried diving after her necklace.
"Miss! Really! We need to hurry-" he couldn't finish the sentence before the ground started to shake again.
"Aftershock!" someone cried in alarm.
The elevator jerked again making Sakura scream. Syaoran barely saw her scared face before the doors shut, and the elevator plummeted. Everyone screamed in shock as the firemen ran about.
He dropped to his knees in shock as everyone rushed around. His ears buzzed, and his breathing was shallow.
"Why didn't they get her out?" someone asked.
"She dropped her necklace. She was retrieving it," someone answered.
"It must mean a lot to her."
"The poor girl. Do you think she's dead?"
"Shhh! Not so loud… I think that's her boyfriend there," a person hushed the first speaker looking at Syaoran with pity in their eyes.
His whole mouth went dry, and he punched the pavement. Why didn't he insist she get out first? Not her… not "SAKURA!" he screamed in a strangled voice.
Suddenly, there was another commotion as the firemen emerged with a frail figure on a stretcher. Rushing forward in alarm he said, "Sakura! Will she be okay?!"
"Step back please," the fireman said pushing him away.
"Wait! No! Sakura!" he called again.
"Hold on! She's moving!" another one said as they watched her hand twitch.
"Syaoran-kun?" she barely whispered.
"Quick she needs to go to the hospital!"
"I'm coming too," Syaoran said jumping into the ambulance.
"Here," one said handing him the Starkey Necklace. "She had this clutched in her hand."
Syaoran's fist closed around the necklace. "Baka…" he whispered to himself. "Why risk your life over something like this?" Again her hand twitched as the sirens pierced through the morning. Reaching out tentatively; he grasped it firmly in his own.
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There was a beautiful lady, and she was surrounded by light. She enveloped Sakura into her arms. They were the arms that Sakura longed to feel around her. She felt safe and protected. This was only the beginning of her strange dream. She also saw Syaoran's face. He looked scared as he held her hand. "Why risk your life for a necklace? Why Sakura?" He's saying my name… she thought wistfully. Please say it one more time Syaoran-kun.
"Sakura…"
She smiled to herself.
"Sakura-san!"
"Sakura-chan are you okay?!"
Emerald eyes fluttered open she took in her surrounds slowly. She was lying on a hospital bed. Her father stood over her worried. Yelan also stood by the bed, and she was clutching Sakura's hand. Ah… she though sadly. Of course he wouldn't hold my hand.
"Oh Sakura-chan! I'm so glad you're okay!" Yelan said sniffing.
"The firemen said it was a miracle. The elevator got jammed so it didn't plummet straight to the bottom," Fujitaka said brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "I should have known Nadeshiko would never let anything happen to you."
She smiled warmly recalling the presence that surrounded her in a warm embrace before the impact. She sat up slowly, and looked around. She then cried in dismay seeing her other arm in a cast.
"You're lucky it's not worse," Fujitaka chided.
Suddenly, her head shot up, and she looked around. "Li-kun! Did he?" she asked afraid looking around.
"He brought you to the hospital, and then he must have left for his test," Yelan said patting Sakura's hand.
Her heart quieted. Thank goodness he made it.
A door opening caused everyone to look up. Sakura's breath hitched in her throat. There stood Syaoran at the door.
"What are you doing here?!" Yelan demanded. "Why aren't you taking your test?!"
"Oh that. Well I was hungry after I brought her so I went for lunch. I didn't go," he answered simply sitting down on one of the room's chairs.
Her heart dropped. He had missed the test. Because of her his future was ruined. Leiyun would be so disappointed. She couldn't meet his eyes.
Once everyone had left she curled up into a small ball. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She had ruined his future. She thought of all the other time's she had got in his way too. The bet, making him carry her down the mountain, giving him sleeping medication, and now this. I need to leave…. She thought.
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It was 2 days after she got home from the hospital, and she found herself walking down the dark street. Her breath came out in white clouds as she walked along. Her casted arm throbbed in the cold, and the hand rolling her suitcase was already numb. Where she was going to stay she had no idea. She was hoping that Tomoyo would still be awake at this hour, but she wasn't answering her phone. She was just about ready to go to a Sauna when a voice said:
"Taking a midnight stroll or are you running away?" came a deep voice making her jump.
Spinning around she was surprised to see Syaoran walking along casually.
Looking away from him, and not meeting his eyes she nodded. "All I've done is caused you trouble-"
"True," he mused walking closer to her. "This has been the craziest, disruptive, and troublesome year I've ever had."
She hung her head. 'I'm sorry-"she started to say, but he quickly cut her off.
"But… I'm starting to like trouble," he said grinning making her heart skip a beat. "While it has been crazy it's been fun. A new experience that's for sure."
"But Tokyo University-"she started to say again, but she quieted when he handed her a huge envelope with the Hitsubashi seal on it.
Looking at him questionably he indicated for her to open it. Her eyes widened taking in the words. "A full scholarship?! Are you going to accept?!" when he just continued to grin she couldn't help but to recall when she said she would make university fun. "Are you going because of me?" she asked slyly.
He just laughed, and took her bag from her hand, and started to roll it in the direction back home. "No. Not because of you. For me. So I can discover who I am, and what I like," He said quoting her.
She raced in front of him making him stop. "But still, you missed going to the greatest university in Tokyo because of me."
"No I didn't," he answered.
"What? But-"
He cut her off. "Even with dropping you off at the hospital I would have had plenty of time. The university postponed the test for an hour because of the earthquake. It was my decision to not go. Now can we please go home?"
Sakura nodded, and stepped aside to let him pass, but something kept nagging at her. "Look I'm not for sure if this was a dream, but I heard you call me Sakura," he stopped dead in his tracks. "Could I call you Syaoran-kun too?"
His tense shoulders relaxed. Sighing he turned to her. "Well I guess it makes since. We do live together after all. C'mon. I hate the cold. I'm going home; you can stand there, and turn into a popsicle though."
She shook her head and ran after him. "Let's go home…Syaoran-kun."
Author's Note: Decided to update early because I'm going to be gone all weekend. So they are finally calling each other by their first name! The Elevator scene is probably my most favorite CCS scene. I had to find a way to incorporate it. And as a preview for next chapter… let's just say this is the chapter that everyone has been looking forward to. Also my favorite episode of Itazura na Kiss, Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo, and Playful Kiss.
Please review!