If You Ask Me If I Love Her…

(This wasn't supposed to have a second chapter)

A/N: title is from Taylor Swift's I'd Lie, which I also think perfectly describes Satoshi and Mayaka's relationship.

Actually, I've already made an entire personal fic-writing SatoMaya playlist.

She stands there then walks away

My God, if I could only say

"I'm holding every breath for you"

Apparently, they had a fight. Again.

Mayaka and Jirou Tanabe's relationship continued into her second year and his third year.

But things have been getting a little rocky lately.

Satoshi would probably be happy about it if it didn't mean catching Mayaka hurriedly drying her tears whenever he enters the club room.

She doesn't like to talk about it. At least not with him.

After he caught her crying the third consecutive afternoon, she began retreating into the girls' bathroom, only going into the club room after she looks a little more decent, hoping that Eru's chatter had already filled the room by then and she would be spared Houtarou's and Satoshi's questioning eyes. Especially Satoshi's.

But it's not like they don't know why she's crying. On her first big fight with Jirou, she had been so inconsolable in Eru's arms and had wallowed so deep into misery that she actually asked even Houtarou and Satoushi to stay.

She was thankful, of course, but knew better than involving her friends in a problem she should really be fixing herself.

They do know why she's crying. They want her to talk to them about it.

She doesn't want to, and they try to respect that. But it doesn't mean they don't worry.

Mayaka doesn't know why knowing that doesn't really make her feel better.

First thought when I wake up is

"My God, she's beautiful"

So I put on my make-up

And pray for a miracle

Houtarou didn't pass by the club room and Mayaka had been in a foul mood all day. She wasn't exactly crying, but she was very snappish. It might actually have been close to the usual Mayaka had she not accidentally snapped at Eru, too. She apologized profusely and, after her friend assured her that she understands, rushed to go home.

Satoshi thought he'd be more productive doing homework in the club room, and that's how he found himself sitting there with Eru as she proofreads a manuscript.

"I hope Maya-chan and Tanabe-senpai reconcile soon," she thinks out loud, "It's hard seeing her like this."

He knew she'd bring that up some time in the afternoon, though he wished she wouldn't. He also knew she didn't say it to incriminate him (as Houtarou probably would) because Eru is clueless about Satoshi's feelings for Mayaka. But it doesn't make him feel any less 'on the spot.'

"It sure is," he tries to say it in a way that doesn't sound dismissive, but wishing that the topic be not discussed further.

Eru smiles at him, perhaps indicating that she picked up on his tone, and they both continue their work in silence.

It's 5:15 when Eru begins packing her things.

"Fukube-san, may I be honest with you?" she asks as she closes her bag. She looks at Satoshi with kind, but piercing eyes.

"I wouldn't want you to be anything less, Chitanda-san," he smiles.

Eru hesitates for a moment before saying "I always wanted Mayaka-chan to end up with you."

This wasn't what he expected to hear. He honestly didn't know what Chitanda was going to say to him, but he never would have imagined this to come from her. This was uncharacteristically frank of her, and, honestly he'd be shocked to hear anyone say this to him anyway.

"I-Is that so?" he falters and forces a smile.

He sees that his reaction makes Eru immediately regret what she said. She bows and sputters an apology, "I-I'm sorry! It wasn't my place to say! I'm sorry, Fukube-san! It's all just so incredibly frustrating!"

He wants to tell her that it's okay, but he can't because it isn't.

"Chitanda-san…"

So he settles for "Well, you did say you wanted to be honest."

"I truly am sorry," she pleads.

He just smiles and asks her not to worry herself over it.

She begs her leave and he's just glad to be alone.

Yes, I could tell you

Her favorite color's green

She loves to argue

Oh, and it kills me

It's Friday and Satoshi lets himself be the last to leave the club room.

As he retrieves his bicycle, he hears someone call him.

It's Tanabe.

The senior greets Satoshi with a smile, but he still looks tired and sad.

"I'm sorry to bother you, just when you're about to go home."

Satoshi tells him that it's no problem and checks his anger for the boy who hurt Mayaka.

"I'll just get to the point and tell you that this is about Mayaka-san."

Of course it is.

Tanabe then proceeds to tell him how he feels terrible for what's happening between him and his 'girlfriend' (Satoshi tries to ignore how much the term scalds him), and that he's been stressed with college entrance exams, but that it's absolutely no excuse to take it out on Mayaka who has been nothing but sweet and understanding. He confesses that he has messed up and that he's scared their relationship might be over.

"… and I don't want it to be." He actually sounds desperate.

Satoshi thinks of the terrible afternoon when Mayaka wailed like a wounded animal, and of all the other afternoons when he heard her stifle a sob, and of the light and warmth that he's always loved about her waning as each day of fighting with Tanabe passes by.

He'll do this for her.

"She loves apple pie, especially homemade ones." He knows because his mother bakes them for her on her birthday, until he learned how to do it himself. "I can make one and you can give it to her."

Tanabe's face, which moments ago had been close to tears, breaks into a hesitant smile. "Th-thank you, Fukube-san." He smiles wider, his eyes still a little teary, "Thank you, so much."

"I'll give them to you first thing on Monday," he says a little too cheerfully to hide how much he's angry at himself for helping Tanabe, and how much he's angry at Tanabe for caring for Mayaka so much, and how much he's angry at the entire situation.

After his senior thanks him again and he says that he's glad to help, they bid farewell and Satoshi speeds home, so full of everything that he wants to scream.

If you ask me if I love her

I'd lie

A/N: how do you write Satoshi