It's been a whole month without Ritsu by Mio's and the others' side. Mio is missing this certain girl's laugh, teasing and grin. She tells her friends that she is okay with Ritsu's gone and she can take cares of herself. Her friends nod their head and smile as they see their bassist is back. None of her friend, even their ex-club advisor, Yamanaka Sawako dare to mention Ritsu's name in front of Mio although Mio seems perfectly fine whenever one of them accidentally blurt out Ritsu's name.
"Mio-chan, do you want to join us for a movie?" Yui knocks and opens the door of Mio's room in the dorm.
"No, thanks. I need to rush my assignment." Mio smiles bitterly to Yui.
"Mio-chan, please move on. I know Ricchan won't like to see you in this state." Yui hugs Mio.
"What are you saying? I'm fine with the news now." Mio tries to deny.
"Don't lie, Mio-chan. We hear you crying and saying Ricchan's name every night." Mugi walks in and sighs. Tears slowly flow out of Mio's eyes. Mio can't hide the fact that she still miss Ritsu very much and can't accept the truth that Ritsu left her. She hugs Yui and lets the tear fall one by one. Yui just silently hugs Mio while Mugi pats Mio's back gently. Both of them don't know what to do when they see their best friend in this state. They left Mio when Mio stop crying and tell them that she is okay now.
"Ritsu, where are you? No matter what I try, I still can't reach you." Mio hugs the photo of her and Ritsu which she took when both of them are playing the main casts of Romeo and Juliet. Mio has tried several ways to reach Ritsu in United State. She has plenty of questions that she wants to ask Ritsu. Unfortunately, none of her ways reach Ritsu. She still can't contacts Ritsu.
"Why are you hiding from me?" Mio mumbles as she buries her head into the pillow. She takes her phone and flips open, browsing through the contacts that she saves in her phone. She stops for awhile when she sees Ritsu's name. She presses the call button and holds the phone near her ears.
"Sorry, the number you had dialed is unavailable. Please try again later." Mio off her phone and throws it to her side gently.
"I'm so frustrated! I guess I should go out for a walk." Mio gets up and changes into better clothes. She walks towards a café where she usually waits for Ritsu after class. She sits at her usual place, orders her usual drink and looks outside the window.
"She always sits opposite me and teases me." Mio mumbles when suddenly the café manager calls out for her.
"Akiyama-san, are you here alone?"
"Oh, Takahashi-san. Ya, I'm alone." Mio looks towards the café manager, who is like an elder sister to her.
"Where is Ritsu-san?"
"She left and went to study at United State last month." Mio says with a sad expression on her face.
"Oh, I'm sorry for asking such thing."
"No, it's alright. Takahashi-san, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Akiyama-san."
"How do we know when we fall in love?"
"That's a very tricky question. For my opinion, if you fall for someone, you will enjoy and appreciate the time you are with them. You also will keep thinking of that person. You will feel like you are incomplete if that certain person left you. Moreover, you will keep remembering those nice memories you create with them."
"Oh, do girls really have to love boys?"
"Oh my, such brutal question."
"Sorry, I just want to know."
"It's alright. Well, not necessary every girl must love boys. There are girls that love girls too and I don't really have any opinion about this type of relationship."
"Oh I see."
"Is this about Ritsu-san?"
"How do you know?"
"I can see it, you know. I can know that Ritsu-san is actually love you more than a friend should be by observing how she acts around you. Although she likes to tease you but she actually cares about you. She always secretly asks me to put less sugar in your drink because you always care about your weight. What a sweet girl she is. I better go see how my other customers doing. I hope you enjoy your day." The café manager walks away.
"Even the café manager can see that Ritsu loves me. Why am I such an idiot?" Mio hits her head on the table, ignoring the fact that she gains a lot of attention from other customer.
"I do appreciate and enjoy the time when I be with Ritsu and I do feel like I'm incomplete when she left. I also keep thinking about her when she was sick that time and when I saw her cry. Those memories with her, I can barely forget. The time with her is always so happy and fun." Mio smiles without her knowing when she remembers all those nice memories of her and Ritsu since kinder garden.
"Wait a moment, does this mean I love Ritsu?" Mio begins to fluster and looks into the mirror. Her face is as red as a tomato and the small but sincere smile that she never shows it to her ex-boyfriend on her face. She gently touches her face and finds out that it is hot.
"Maybe, I do love Ritsu. I dated that jerk maybe because he reminds me of Ritsu but I regret it now. I want Ritsu and nobody else." Mio begins to cry silently once again. Mio pays her drink and begins to walk slowly towards the dorm. Suddenly, she stops in front of a playground. She walks towards the swing and sits down.
"I remember Ritsu used to like the yellow swing at the park near my home although the one that I sit now is red color." Mio gently touches the chains.
"I also remember Ritsu used to protect me from those bullies." Mio smiles gently and looks at the children playing at the sandbox. Suddenly, there's a gang of boys, pushing the little girl and Mio thinks that gang of boys push a little too hard until the girl that has black long hair falls. There are tears accumulating inside the black hair girl's eyes.
"Minami-chan! Hey, you guys, stop bullying her!" Suddenly, a girl with red headband runs towards the black hair girl and the bullies. Mio and the bullies are shock when they see the red headband girl charge and stands in between of the black hair girl and the bullies.
"What kind of business do you have with Minami-chan? I thought I told you all don't bully her."
"Who are you to her anyway, Riko?" The leader of the bullies asks and slightly pushes the red headband brunette.
"I am her knight in shining armor so I will protect her. You all better leave her alone, if not, I going to punch you all until your mom don't recognize u all."
"Sorry, Riko-sama." The bullies run away.
"Riko-chan, I'm scare." The black hair girl hugs the brunette tightly.
"There's no need to be afraid anymore. I'm here; protect you from any harm because I'm your knight in shining armor, princess."
"But what if you are hurt?"
"A knight will never get hurt!"
"Riko-chan, why aren't you be the prince of the play? I don't like Takumi-san."
"Sorry, Minami-chan but I already decide that I will be your knight. That's why I don't want to be the prince."
"Okay, you won't leave me alone, right?"
"Of course, I promise that I will never ever leave your side." Soon, the black hair girl takes her book and walks home with the red headband brunette.
"That does remind me of when Ritsu protected me from the bullies. Those two little girls are just like me and Ritsu. I still remember the play. The play was nearly successful if Ritsu hadn't done such thing."
~FLASHBACK~
"Oh, princess. I will wake you up by giving you a kiss." The prince says and look at the sleeping beauty, which appears is Akiyama Mio.
"Not so fast, you dump prince!" A knight in shining armor, riding a fake horse that made out of broom stick charges into the stage when the prince nearly kiss the princess.
"Who are you?" the prince asks, confusing because he doesn't know that there's such a scene.
"I'm Princess Akiyama's knight and I don't allow she been kiss by such stink mouth of yours." Ritsu says with a sword in front of her.
"Then who should kiss her?" The prince asks.
"Of course, it's me!" Ritsu says and walks towards Mio. She bends forward and kisses Mio before anyone can say anything. After she kisses Mio, Mio wakes up and hugs Ritsu. This sudden act of Ritsu had gains a great applause from the audience. Ritsu manages to escape from the punishment because the school headmaster and the students' parent are very satisfied with the performance.
"Mio, are you alright?"
"Why are you doing that?"
"Because I'm your knight and it's my duty to protect you from bad people."
"But that's a prince."
"Who say a prince can't be bad? I think for a whole night yesterday and still think that there's no one suit you in the class. That's why I decide to kiss you instead."
"You are funny." Mio laughs and Ritsu laughs too when she see Mio laughs.
~END OF FLASHBACK~
"That baka, stealing my first kiss." Mio says but then she realizes that she just blurts out incredible things.
"W-wait! I gave my first kiss to Ritsu." Mio gently touches her lips and smiles.
"Glad that she is the one that I gave my first kiss to." She smiles and walks back to her room. She greets her friends with a smile on her face and that smile that she gives is so natural and so sincere.
"Mio-chan, are you alright?" Yui asks and puts one of her hand on Mio's forehead.
"I'm fine, Yui. I decide that I going to continue my study and after that I will find Ritsu even though I need to go to the end of the world." Mio says.
"Why will you say that?" Mugi asks, bringing a tray full of tea and cakes.
"Because I realize that, I love Ritsu too, more than a friend should be. That's why I know that Ritsu won't like to see me depressing. So, I decide to study and also find Ritsu and tell her that I love her." Mio says.
"Oh, we will always support you and Azunyan too." Yui says.
"I just glad that our Mio is back." Mugi smiles. Mio takes a cup of tea and drinks it.
"The Houkago Tea-Time should find back their drummer!" Yui pumps her fist in the air. Everyone laughs and so do Mio.
"I guess you better watch out, Ritsu." Mio smiles and continue to drink her tea.
The following years, there's nothing special happen. One day, they are having tea in a small café that is located nearby their university.
"So, now that you all are graduate except for Azusa, Ui and Jun. What do you all plan to do?" Sawa-chan asks while enjoying her tea.
"I'm going to be a kinder garden teacher! I am going to work in the kinder garden near the new apartment that my parents bought for me." Yui says with excitement.
"Oh, I going to try to be an actress and take care of my family business at the same time." Mugi smiles. No one dares to ask Mugi what kind of business that her family is doing because they know they won't be able to accept the fact.
"I'm going to a secretary of a CEO of the company while I also had been having being a writer on my mind." Mio says.
"May I ask which company you are working?" Mugi asks.
"Oh, you know the company that involve with many kind of activities. I heard that this company also helps your family in the music industries. The company's name is T.K Co."
"T.K? What kind of name is that?" Azusa asks.
"I don't know but I don't really care because now I need to save enough money to find Ritsu." Mio says while Mugi is sending a mail to a certain person.
"Mugi-chan, what are you doing?" Yui sits closer to Mugi in attempt to see what Mugi is doing.
"Huh? N-no, nothing at all." Mugi is shocks and quickly keeps her phone.
"You are hiding something, Mugi-senpai." Azusa asks.
"No, it's really nothing. Why don't we have some cake? Azusa-chan, do you plan to live with Yui since she moves into a new apartment?" Mugi asks, trying to divert the topic.
"I think I will wait until I graduate from university." Azusa answers with a blush across of her face.
"Why, Azunyan? I want you to live with me." Yui hugs Azusa tightly.
"Your apartment is far from the University and I haven't mentally prepared yet although our parents support our relationship." Azusa tries to struggle.
"It's good to see you two so happy." Mio smiles.
"I think I have to go now. Sorry, see you all next time. Bye." Mugi quickly rushes out from the café and stop when she sees no one follows her. She sees the yellow Lamborghini Murcielago parking in front of her with a person which has amber color hair standing beside the car. The person is wearing a white shirt which the sleeves had been roll up to the elbow, and also a black pants. The person one hand holding her phone to keep accepting call, and another hand holding her black suit. Mugi smiles and skips towards the person.
"So, you really are back."Mugi says while walking closer to the person.
"Oh, ya. Long time no see, Mugi. You are still as pretty as ever."
"Oh, you had been quite a flirter. What do you actually learn from there?"
"I learn that I need to tell about how I feel rather than save it in the heart."
"Oh, I hope that is a good thing."
"Of course it is, come on. I promise your dad to bring you to the dinner." The person opens the door and let Mugi get into the car.
"Oh, thanks you, Ritsu."
"You are welcome, Mugi. " Ritsu smiles and drives towards their destination.
"I guess you haven't told the others that I'm back."
"How do you know?"
"Judging by the how you run and the way you keep look behind." Ritsu smiles confidently.
"I thought you only take business course at there."
"I took business as my major, and psychology as my minor." Ritsu says while turning on the radio.
"So, how are Yui and Azusa?"
"They are fine and they are now all loveys dovey."
"Sawa-chan?"
"She becomes the principal of Sakuragaoka."
"Oh, I start to feel sorry for the current student."
"You aren't going to ask about…"
"You? Nah, you are the only member that I keep contact with since I transferred there. I'm sorry that you need to help me keep so many secret. First is about my family and now about me."
"It's alright. I just want to help you. Why didn't you contact Mio-chan?"
"This is because I don't want to have awkward atmosphere around us."
"So, you really don't want to ask about Mio-chan?"
"Okay, I guess you can tell me something about her."
"Mio-chan broke up with her boyfriend 4 years ago, right after you left."
"That's surprising."
"It is, and she swears to herself that she is going to find you and ask you why you left her."
"I thought it's obvious."
"She also realizes that she loves you too and her ex-boyfriend is actually a boy version of you."
"Oh, I see."
"She is becoming a secretary of a CEO from T.K Co, and I believe your dad actually arrange this."
"That old man of mine, I really can't follow his pace of mind."
"Haha, I also can't keep up my father's ways of thinking." Mugi giggles.
"I bet both of them have something in mind when they ask me to fetch you."
"I believe so." Ritsu continue to drive when Mugi is humming the song that Ritsu is playing on the radio.
"I can't believe you still listen to our song."
"Hey, this is the only way I can remember those good old times." Ritsu smiles as she listen to the song,' Fuwa Fuwa Time'. As she listens to this song, she remembers the first time Mio sings in front of the audience and trip over a wire.
"What are you smiling at?"
"Nothing, just thinking about old memories." Ritsu quickly concentrate on her driving and they reach their destination.
"You better go take a bath, since you are all sweaty." Mugi says when both of them walk into her room.
"You too, Mugi." Mugi smiles and nods her head.
"Ricchan, where's your headband?"
"Oh, that. I left it at home. I prefer without that because I look exactly like a boy."
After that, both of them walk down toward the dining room.
"Ritsu-kun, nice to see you again." Mugi's father hugs Ritsu as soon as they walk down.
"Nice to see you too, Kotobuki-san." Ritsu bows and greets Mugi's father. No one except Ritsu's family and Mugi know that Ritsu is actually a girl because of her boyish look, especially without her headband.
"Oh, both of you have a seat. Dinner is about to start." Mugi's mother says. Mugi's parents are just like Ritsu's parent, they aren't proud and don't even brag to others that they are rich, they also willing to help anyone and very friendly.
"Thanks." Ritsu and Mugi sit down.
"So, Kouchirou, do you want me to tell them the news or you want us to say it together?" Mugi's father asks right after they finish their dessert.
"Oh, let's tell them together." Ritsu's father laughs.
"What do you want to tell us?" Ritsu asks; continue to enjoy her ice-cream.
"Ritsu, me and Kotobuki-san had decided that, you and Mugi are going to get marry!"
"What the heck are you talking about, dad? You should know that I'm a g-girl." Ritsu begins to slow down her voice when she realizes everyone is staring at her.
"Don't worry about that, me and my wife already know about this long time ago. We support the relationship between you and Mugi. You two can get marry oversea and come back. We truly support you!" Mugi's father smiles. Mugi and Ritsu look at each other and sighs.
"You also should know that we can't give you any grandchildren." Ritsu tries again, to cancel of this engagement.
"Oh, don't worry about that. We will ask you two to adopt a child." Ritsu's mother says while celebrating the great news with Mugi's mother.
"Oh crap, they are too happy to think rationally." Ritsu mentally slap her face.
"No, I think they really are serious this time." Mugi says with a sigh.
"Mugi, do you have anyone you like?"
"Yes, I actually love Ui-chan." Mugi sighs once again.
"Oh, and I still love Mio. "
"So what are we going to do?" Mugi asks nervously, this is the first time she doesn't know what to do.
"I think we better follow their plan and engage with each other first. Then we will cancel it when both of us confirm that our loves are mutual."
"I guess I have to go with this."
"Ya, sorry but I think I'm now your fiancé. It's kind of weird."
"I understand."
"So what do you girls think?" Ritsu's father asks and Ritsu nods her head.
"Okay, we will do it."
"That's good. We will keep this as a secret first then we will announce the day you two get married." Mugi's father says after drinking some wine.
"I think we will take our leave first. Mugi is not feeling very well." Ritsu helps Mugi to get up and both of them quickly rush to Mugi's room. Ritsu soon realizes that Mugi is crying.
"Hey, don't cry. We will surely think of a way." Ritsu gently hugs Mugi and pats Mugi's back.
"B-but h-how? I l-love U-ui-chan. I regret t-that I d-didn't tell her that time."
"Shh, we will surely find a way. Please, don't cry. "
"Okay. You promise you will get us out of this?"
"Ya, I promise." Ritsu sighs and asks Mugi to go change into something more comfortable so that she can sleep.
"What am I going to do now? That old man, can't he ask his daughter's opinion for once." Ritsu sighs as she sees Mugi fell asleep.
"I better think of something fast. This is about Mugi and my happiness. Tomorrow I'm going to meet with Mio no matter what since she is my secretary." Ritsu sighs and sits beside Mugi, gently stroke Mugi's hair.
"Don't worry, Mugi. I will surely find a way to get us both out of this mess. I promise." Ritsu then walks out from Mugi's room and informs her parent that she is going to back to her apartment. She lies on the bed and stares at the ceiling; hopefully what happens just now it's all a nightmare.
"Argh! I better sleep now if I want to wake up right on time tomorrow morning." So, Ritsu drifts to her dreamland.
A/N: That's it! I hope you all satisfied with this. By the way, that day I was reading hayate no gotoku fan fiction and finds out that there's a fiction about daring the character and I found out its hilarious and totally fun, so I was thinking,' why don't let the K-On girls having someone to dare them.' So, I will be writing that right after I finish this story. AlexSamtin, I really glad that you like my story. I'm so happy because I was scared at first since there were so many fan fiction about K-On, so I was thinking what if I do wrong? What if the reader don't like my story? But seeing your review, I gain back my confidence. PervertDutchman , thanks for the review also. Actually I kind of wan bang my head on the table when I wrote about Mio with a guy other that Ritsu,Lolz..I glad that you enjoy the stories too.Nata, thanks for reviewing. That's all for now! Thanks a lot guys! Your review make me have more confidence and encourage me to write more stories. I hope my grammar isn't too awful since English is not my first language. That's all, see you all in next chapter! Please R&R!