Having never really dated before, Megumi was unsure what the protocol was for the day after the event. Did she call him? Was he supposed to call her? It would be nice if she could ask someone but she didn't have many close friends, most of her female acquaintances were in the classmate or colleague category. Maybe her best friend Hikaru… She discarded that idea as soon as it came up. Hikaru was more outgoing, much less traditional, and in short, the opposite of Megumi. Going to her for advice on this was out of the question. Besides, she would need to reveal the entire story to Hikaru and Megumi didn't feel up to the task at the moment.

She deliberated before finally deciding to trust her instinct and penned a note. Sano had left his coat with her when he brought her home the night before – events that were a little hazy to her except for the feeling of being safe and very comfortable. She had the heavy coat dry-cleaned then she neatly folded it, placing her note and a single purple rose on top. She wrapped it up and had it couriered to Sano's office.

Megumi imagined Sano's pleased smile and the way his eyes would soften when he received the package and it made her feel warm and happy. Satisfied with her gesture, she made ready to leave for the University.

"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream..."

I had a wonderful time. Thank you for last night. ~ M

~O~O~O~

That night, her phone rang as Megumi was getting ready for bed.

"Hello?"

"Megu-chan!" Megumi held the phone away from her ear at the volume of the speaker's voice.

"Hikaru."

"You sound extremely excited to hear my beautiful voice, dear friend." The speaker said. Megumi laughed. Trust Makimachi Hikaru to be so direct.

"I'm sorry. You know I'm always happy to hear from you."

"Well start jumping for joy because I'm going to be there in two days!"

"That's wonderful! Is it for work?"

"Hai, hai. There's a conference I'm attending but it's nothing demanding. It starts on Monday but I'm flying in Sunday morning to settle in and to see my best friend!"

"Do you already have a hotel? You know you're always welcome to stay here."

"I know and thank you but I have colleagues joining me so we'll all be staying together. I'll come by to say hi to Oji-san and Obasan sometime though."

"They'd like that."

"So, what's new? Actually. Hold that thought. Wait until I'm there."

"Good. I have a lot to tell you anyway."

"Now I'm intrigued! I should have booked a Friday flight instead!"

"I shouldn't have said that; there's nothing new really." Megumi teased.

"Ai, Megumi, have mercy, you know I thrive on events, stories, and all that might have a whiff of gossip. By the way, any guy stories to relate? Or I am still to be disappointed, hmm?"

"Well…"

"Aha! Finally another answer than 'there's no one' or, 'I'm not interested.' So, who is it? Someone I know? Not someone from your internship, I hope. I've seen a picture of your batch and not one good-looking guy there. Well, maybe that tall one if you take off his glasses and let his hair grow out a bit to hide his forehead…"

"Goodness, no. He's, someone from—"

"Your voice." Hikaru interrupted.

"Excuse me?"

"Your voice changed when you started to talk about him. My, my. Takani Megumi has a heart of flesh after all."

"I resent that."

"But you still love me. Listen, hold the story for now. It kills me but this is too important to talk about over the phone. I'm breaking a record here so I hope you realize the weight of this!"

"You're so dramatic, but alright."

"Okay, sweetie. See you in two days! I'll text you my flight details so you can meet me with a welcome party at the airport, ne? Ciao!"

"Bye."

Megumi hung up and finished drying her hair. Hikaru's arrival was a godsend. Despite her penchant for gossip, Hikaru was extremely loyal and could be trusted to give sound advice. Megumi valued her input and believed that the older girl could give her some insight on her feelings toward a certain brown-haired rooster head.

~O~O~O~

Megumi was entering her code to get into the laboratory the next morning when a hand landed on her shoulder. She gasped and spun around, ready break the person's nose with a palm strike. Light glinted off a pair of glasses and she checked herself just in the nick of time.

"Mr. Yamada." Megumi said in surprise.

"My apologies, Ms. Takani, it was not my intention to frighten you."

"No apologies necessary, I was just surprised." Megumi willed her body to relax from the sudden adrenaline rush and opened the door. The lights came one and illuminated the white room. "I'm usually the first to arrive in the mornings."

"Well I have a lot to cover in the short time I have, so I wanted to start early."

"Of course. Do you need my assistance at the moment?"

"Perhaps in an hour or so, I am still looking over data logs. They are very well maintained from what I have seen so far so I may ask for some of your time earlier than that."

"That's fine, Sir. I'll be in the vicinity."

"Ms. Takani."

"Yes, Mr. Yamada?"

"Call me Jirou, please."

"Very well, Jirou-san. Please call me Megumi."

Vincent van Gogh

A/N

To clarify, Megumi writing the note and sending the package happens on the same day as the previous Chapter (11). She does all this before leaving for the lab and daydreaming about the date.