A/N: Read bottom A/N. Thank you.

"Stay"

"It won't be a secret anymore if you tell it to everyone." -Anonymous

Chapter 15: Secrets Revealed!

"I'm sorry; I've been so busy and barely have time to spend with you…" The short brown-haired girl sadly said while driving her car. She stole a glance every ten seconds at the girl next to the driver's seat; her one and only girlfriend, Nakano Azusa. "Please, stop that… It made me feel guiltier when you won't talk to me like this, Azunyan." Her attempt still result a zero.

She sighed and pulled over her car on the sidewalk. Yui… What is she doing now? The other girl thought as she realized her girlfriend, Yui, parked the car on the sidewalk.

"I'll treat you." Yui got off the car, followed by Azusa. It was then that Azusa noticed where Yui took them both; the HTT members' favorite cafe. Yui turned her head just to see Azusa still pouting her mouth and she smiles at her girlfriend's cute pouting face. She walks up to Azusa and slowly took the shorter girl's hand gently. "I want to make it up to you, so please."

Azusa, on the other side, was surprised and slightly giving out a blush on her cheeks. Ugh, I hate her for always making me feel like this… She let Yui lead her way inside the cafe, offering a seat and allowing her to sit first in a gentleman way and took her own seat across the rounded table. "Yui, we should have going back. Your tests and my tests are coming up, we should study more."

"Look, I miss you."

It feels as if Azusa has stopped breathing for three seconds. She looks the other way, her left way to be exact just to avoid the brunette's eyes.

"Will you tell me why you are like this? I know I'm such an airhead and I can't take that much of hints whenever something goes wrong about us, heck, I think about all the other things. If I do something wrong, please forgive me, I can't stand having you act like this to me all the time. Plus the fact that we barely talk and meet each other, it's just—"

"I'm jealous." Yui blinked and stop talking. "There, I've said it. So can we just forget about it now? It's not really necessary."

"But, Azunyan is jealous of what?"

"I don't want to-" Azusa stopped as she saw the other girl already stood up across the table and her face is the one kind who made her look like she just fails her big exam. "Yui…" She echoed her mind and her voice came out more like a soft whisper.

"We'll talk at my apartment, okay?" The brunette look to her right and spotted a familiar someone and surprisingly sitting on a table-for-two with a guy. That guy… It strikes Yui's mind when she suddenly remembered who that guy is. "Ne, Azunyan, isn't that guy a friend of yours?" She asked, while not leaving her eyes on that guy. Mugi-chan and… Err… What's his name again?

Curious with what Yui have been staring at, she turn her head to where Yui's aiming at and out of conscious, she says, "That's… Isshi-senpai?" It sounded more like a question for herself, but the other girl noticed it.

"Eh? Isshi? I don't remember you have a friend named Isshi."

"E-etto… N-no, I mean, that's R—Rizuki-senpai!"

"Eh? Ah! That's it, that's his name; it's the male version of Ricchan!"

Azusa sweat dropped, "Yui, you can't just say that and call him all you want like that. Anyway, what is he doing with Mugi-senpai?" She stood up from her seat and looking at her friends' way curiously. What are they talking about? I never knew they were close… She thought.

"Meh ~" The brown haired girl pouted her mouth cutely. "How would I know?~ Mm, let's go there! We can join them, Azunyan!"

"Yui, don't shout, they can hear us."

"But- eh?" Yui stopped talking and tilted her head. "Mugi-chan's leaving already."

Sighing, the guy raised one of his arms, calling the waiter to order something else. One waiter came up to his table not long after and smiled, "Yes, sir? What can I help you?" She politely asked.

"Yeah, um… Bring me this drink and a toast with chocolate and vanilla on top."

"One each?"

"One each."

"Do you need anything else?" He shook his head and smiled. "Okay, a Lemon Tea and a Chocolate-Vanilla Toast. Correct?" He nodded in approval. "Please wait a few minutes, our waiters will come back with your orders. Just call the waiter if there's anything else you need." With a simple nod from the customer, the waiter's leaving to process his orders.

Just when he was about to let out a little sigh, a familiar voice spoke nearby. "We're not here for this! Yui!" Instinctively, he turned his head around and he was right. That voice was too familiar. "Iss— Rizuki-senpai!" The owner of the voice gasped as he looks at her way.

"Azusa? Yui?" He was rather shocked and a little curious if these girls have been spying and hearing what he and Mugi were talking about moments ago. "Uh… What are you doing here?"

"Eh? We're just hanging a bit at our favorite cafe and I saw—" The pig-tailed girl slammed Yui's mouth, fast but not forcefully. Rizuki, on the other side, felt something that the smaller girl was trying to hide. Azusa quickly pulled her hand from Yui's mouth as she noticed the other girl can barely breathing with her hand placed on Yui's mouth. "Ha ~ Azunyan is so meanie ~" She pouted again.

"Mattaku… Anyway, what were you saying again, Yui?"

"Well-"

"She saw you sitting here alone and we thought that we should tag along, if… um… you don't mind, Rizuki-senpai."

Nice dodge, kitty. He chuckled, "Well, this is really a coincidence. I mean I was just arrived and am waiting for someone, actually."

"Eh? You have an appointment?"

"See? We shouldn't have—"

"Azusa, it's okay. I bet my friend isn't going to be here for the next thirty minutes. Please, have a seat." The shorter girl was trying to say something else, but Rizuki cut her first. "I insist." A sigh of defeat escape Azusa's soft lips and so both Yui and Azusa took their seat. "You know, it's pretty boring to hang around this cafe all alone." Rizuki turned her head to other direction and look around the cafe, which most of the customers are couples.

"Ah…" Of course, that includes Yui and Azusa.

"Ne, since you look like Ricchan so much, can I call you Rikkun, instead?" Rizuki mutters an 'eh?' as the question came out from the air-headed girl.

"Yui, I told you to not-"

Again, he cut off Azusa's words. "It's alright. It's an honor actually to have a nickname from one of Ritsu-san's friends and 'Rikkun' sounds good. So I'm okay with it." The brunette replies him with her blabbers about how he similar to her friend. Little did Azusa heard, Rizuki was actually a big fan of Tainaka Ritsu, but she doesn't give much care about as something else is ruining her mind at the moment.

Well, he seems like hiding it, too. Azusa thought as she looked away, "So, Rizuki-senpai…" Rizuki turned his head to Azusa who's still looking the other way and frowns a little. "…Is Akiyama-san the one you're waiting for here?"

"Wow. How did you do that?"

"Azunyan's a mind-reader! I guess she learned that from Mugi-chan ~" Explained Yui while grinning proudly.

Ignoring what her girlfriend said, she responded Rizuki's question instead. "I don't know, maybe because I just saw her getting out of her car." Just then, the said girl stood behind Rizuki's seat. She's like Mio-senpai's older sister… She smiles at the black-haired girl. "Good evening, Akiyama-san."

"Whoaa, Mio-chan!" By that, she meant Ritsu's fiancée. Yui saw this girl and all she could think of how this girl similar to her friend's fiancée, which also having the same first and last name. That's really a rare coincidence. For once, she doesn't take this one normally, because something normal doesn't happen this way. Mugi-chan and Azunyan must know something… I wonder if I'm the only who had no idea what is going on.

"Ah, I didn't know that Nakano-san and Hirasawa-san will be joining us here. Konnichiwa ne." She bows down and giving out a polite smile after. That is the only thing both Azusa and Yui thought that their Mio and this Mio are two different people.

"Etto…" Somewhere in Yui doesn't feel right when people call her 'Hirasawa-san', knowing how this girl looks like her close friend. "You can call me 'Yui-chan', Mio-chan~" She scratches the back of her neck and giggles a little. I guess I can't call her 'Mio-chan', too… Mou, this is more confusing…

"Yui's right. You can call us by our first names."

Just when she's about to say 'thank you', suddenly, Rizuki stood up from his seat. "You should take your seat first." He said, allowing the beautiful girl to take his seat.

Real gentleman. Yui and Azusa mentally said in unison.

"You don't have to do this, Rizuki…" That blush on her cheeks is too visible for them to see. "I can get my own seat." The other two girls feel a little uneasy. They both switch eye contact and nods.

"Umm… Ne, I guess it's better if Yui and I take our leave." The pig-tailed girl said, feeling a little awkward and stood up from her seat. "I mean, Yui's purpose of taking me here was because she's going to treat me and we just happened to see Rizuki-senpai sitting alone and ended up joining." She lowered her head in an apology manner. "I apologize, Akiyama-san."

"Eh? No no, I mean, it's okay if we're—"

"Iie," Yui followed her girlfriend's motion. "I think you and Rikkun have something private to talk about." She winked teasingly at Rizuki and Mio.

"Rikkun?"

"Just a new nickname she had for me." Rizuki quickly explained.

"I might also have a nickname for you, Mio-chan~"

"Ah, thank you, Yui-san. That's a very kind of you."

What a really polite girl. She's like Ui but in Mio-chan's form. Yui grabbed Azusa's hand by instinct, causes the girl to flinched and blushed at the same time. "Yoshi, see you next time ne, Rikkun and Mio-chan!" They nodded at Yui and Azusa. "C'mon, Azunyan ~" Seeing the air-headed girl's antic, Mio couldn't stand holding her soft chuckle.

"Those two are really cute."

"I proposed Mio on Christmas Eve and she said 'yes' to it."

The woman's smile turned into a frown. "You did what? You and Mio cannot be together! What would people think if they find out about Tainaka's only daughter marries the same gender? You will ruin everything! That is a big mistake! I won't let you and Mio ever meet with each other again!" She saw her fiancée's arms grabbed by two big bodyguards and they dragged her away from Ritsu.

"No, mom! I love her! Mio!"

"You will never see her again, Ritsu. Never."

"MIO!"

"Ritsu!" Said the other girl, surprised.

Panting heavily, the brown-haired girl turns her head to the side. She felt a hand placed above her hand and chest. "Mio…" She pulled the black-haired girl into a tight hug. Mio thought that Ritsu isn't going to let go of the hug anytime soon. "Y-you're not going anywhere, are you?" Mio frowned at her question. "I just had a bad dream, Mio… I told mom, she disagrees about us and she took you away far from me… I just… I can't… Mio, I can't lose you, I can't…"

"There, there, Ritsu… It was just a dream. See? I'm here now." Mio chuckled, having Ritsu like this really made her think how cute she could possibly be. "It used to be the other way around, isn't it, Ritsu?" She smiles, caressing the other girl's back gently. Mio recalls the moment where Ritsu always there to comfort her.

"…" Ritsu move and hug Mio closer. "…So, I did it right?" Mio nods. "I told dad about our engagement this morning."

That's a good reason for her dream just now. She smiles at Ritsu. "What did he say to it?"

"He's fine with it, but… I just have to tell mom tonight. You should come along with me, Mio." She pleaded, making Mio smiling at her warmly. Ritsu doesn't have to plead like this, Mio would definitely accompany her to talk to her mother.

Mio ended up didn't reply Ritsu, but after two seconds, Mio called out Ritsu's name softly. "Ne, Ritsu…" As soon as Ritsu shifting her head to Mio, the black-haired girl pressed her soft lips against Ritsu's in a sweet-gentle kiss. It was more like a light kiss and Mio smiled at Ritsu right after it. Although Ritsu knows her too well, she caught those cute blushes on Mio's cheeks.

Ritsu chuckled and smiles. "What was that for?" She circled her arms on Mio's waist, pulling her closer.

"I thought… you'd feel better. I remembered that time when you said you love it whenever I kiss you first." Her face heated up more and turns into a deep shade of pink color. "You see… I've been thinking for a quite a while now on how to pay everything back to you. You've done much enough for me and-"

"Sshh." Ritsu hushed her up softly. She put one of her hand on Mio's cheek, adjusting the black-beauty to face Ritsu. "Hey, everything I do for you, I never count it as something that you need to payback someday. Even if I do, you've already paid everything back, Mio." She run her thumb on Mio's cheek lovingly and her eyes were staring at Mio's eyes.

"Paid you back with what, Ritsu…? My last year's birthday present for you? That doesn't count…"

"No. I'm not talking about paying me back with material stuff. When I said you already paid back everything, that means something that people may not able to see. It's love, Mio, your feelings. It's just… that is something and even that is the only thing that I need for you to give me and no, I don't want you to say 'I love you' to me, just because you want to payback."

"Ritsu…"

"You know, I really wanted to show everyone that you are mine and I'm yours. Sometimes I wished you love me back just as much as I love you. A pure love that has no base and you're just purely in love with me." Ritsu lowered her head, something around her chest aching. Then something decreased that ache.

She closed her eyes as she felt arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer every two seconds. "Then you should have known me better, Ritsu."

Ugh, why it has turned like this? That's a lame confession, Ritsu! She cursed herself mentally.

"Before you think further about how lame the confession you said just now, I just want you to know that I love you, too."

Man, she's started to have that mind-reader ability like Mugi. Ritsu sighed in defeat, "Alright and now we won't bring up this topic again, okay?" Mio nodded in agreement.

"I'm sor-"

"AND no more apology, because this is seriously something, that has nobody to blame on." Mio pouted her mouth, which makes Ritsu chuckles seeing how cute her fiancée with that pouting face. "Mio, don't pout like that, you look cuter that way ~" She playfully protested.

Her words made Mio blush again. "B-baka!" She hit Ritsu on the head in an instant. "There's no such thing…" The blush didn't leave her cheeks.

"So violent…" Now it's the other girl's turn to pout.

Mio rolled her eyes at Ritsu's words. "Anyway, Ritsu…" The brunette instinctively mutters an 'eh?'. Mio looked at the clock hanging on the wall and frowns. "Shouldn't you go back to your office? It's four forty-five now."

"What did you say again, Mio?" She tried to strengthen herself up and stretch her body.

"I said, it's four forty-five now."

She stunned. "What?"

"It's-"

"No no, I heard you, Mio. Man! I should go back to work now!" She panicked, put all the documents on the small table into her black case and trying to find her blazer. "Mio, help me! I can't find my blazer!" Mio only rolls her eyes and stood up from her spot. She walks to the TV and sighed. "Mio, my blazer! Where is it! ?"

"It's here, Ritsu. Stop shouting like that." Mio took the blazer on top of the flat TV and earned a quick kiss on the cheek from Ritsu. "Next time, don't put it off."

"I know, I know…" The brunette groans again. "Ugh, why the hell this is become real hard to put on?"

She felt a tap on her shoulder. "You're so troublesome." Sweat-dropping at her fiancée's antic, she helped Ritsu to put on her blazer, button up the tux and fixing the tie. "You don't have to be so in a rush. Everything seems hard for you when you're in a rush, Ritsu."

"Dad would kill me—literally—if he find out I'm still out for more than two hours after lunch. How am I supposed to stay calm?"

Mio finished the tie and grabbed Ritsu on her tux, making Ritsu looking down at her. "You're a famous businessman, right? You should have known how to handle it calmly." Mio smiles at her and kissed Ritsu's cheek softly. "Remember what I said, okay? Don't work too hard and…"

The brunette raised one of her eyebrows, waiting for Mio to continue. "And…what?"

Sighing, Mio pulled Ritsu into a hug. "And… don't come back too late at night." Ritsu chuckled.

"Of course not, Mio." She nuzzled her nose on Mio's. "Besides, we got plan tonight, right?" The other girl nodded in agreement while a faint blush coming out on her cheeks. "Just go dress up yourself and I'll pick you up at seven thirty." Ritsu suddenly leaned on the black-haired girl and planted a kiss on Mio's lips.

Mio's face turned into bit red as Ritsu's lips made contact with hers. The kiss didn't last that long as soon Mio pulled her lips from Ritsu's. "D-don't kiss m-me all in a s-sudden like t-that…"

"Then how should I kiss you?"

"W-well, I don't know… At least you can be a little slow, instead of surprising me like that."

The statement made Ritsu smirked. "You mean…" She slowly leaning on Mio again, this time with more caress as Ritsu ran her hand on Mio's pink cheeks, pulling her closer slowly. The other girl looks a little hesitated for a second, but Ritsu's touch and eyes are too hypnotizing.

They're lips made another contact in a slow yet gentle kiss. Ritsu… Mio echoes the brunette's name as they keep kissing. "Mm…" Came out a soft moan and Ritsu believed it was from Mio. It made Ritsu smirked knowing it's been a while that Mio doesn't give out this kind of respond when they kiss.

However, this whole kissing thing has made both of them forgotten something that Ritsu should have been doing. Yes, she should've gone to her office minute—hours ago. Good thing Mio remembered, so she pulled away from the kiss suddenly. "Baka! You should go now!" She said out loud and pushing Ritsu towards the front door.

Ritsu chuckled, "Alright, I can walk on my own, Mio~" She turned to Mio and see the other girl's face turning red slowly. She smiled, "I'll go now, kay? Don't miss me too much~"

The black-haired girl rolled her eyes. "Don't be so full of yourself."

"Don't act as if you never did." The heat rises up on Mio's face. "Stop acting so cute, that holds me back from going for a precious one minute."

"Ugh." Next thing Ritsu realized, her lips pressed against Mio's in a third kiss. She caught the brunette off guard for sure. The two slowly separate from each other's lips, staring at one and another person's beautiful yet hypnotizing eyes. "S-sorry… I was-"

"You're so naive, you know that, Mio?" Mio gave Ritsu a silent respond and those pink cheeks were enough to make Ritsu chuckles. "Mm, I think I shouldn't be worried about how you look tonight, you're beautiful even when you don't try to." With a smile and rare romantic compliments, Ritsu left to go back to work. Leaving her fiancée, blushing and speechless.

Ritsu's Apartment || 03.00PM

The huge apartment room seems empty. The windows are all open, letting the wind blows the insides of every room in the apartment. "This is quite boring." Sighing, the black-haired girl stood up from the couch, putting down her book and made her way to the balcony. She stops when she's five feet away from the balcony door. Mio hesitant and remembering how she did not like being on a high place.

Unfortunately, her boredom wins over her frightening feeling.

"It's…" All this time Mio had stay and live in Ritsu's apartment; even nearly a year already, she had never seen what the balcony would look like. It was too frightening for her; she might have collapsed the second she glance down the apartment. This is her very first time, trying something and sees if she can take it down easily like Ritsu always did.

Mio suddenly gasped, looking from left to right- finally standing on the balcony. The scenery was nearly perfect.

"…beautiful." She finished and smiles. Mio shut her eyes close, taking a deep breath and is ready to take another step, closer to the edge. Unfortunately, her cellphone's ringing. She sighed and secretly thankful to the sudden phone call. Maybe next time. Mio said mentally to herself.

She walks back to the living room after closing the balcony door, and then grabs her cell phone. She put a small frown as she saw the caller ID, shown, 紬(Mugi).

Maybe she wants to come over again. Predicted Mio as she presses the green button. "Moshi-moshi?"

"Ah, Mio-chan, right?" Mugi asked on the other line. Mio simply said yes to it. "Ne, are you busy now?"

"Um… No, in fact, I feel kind of bored around this big apartment alone."

She heard a little chuckle, "My, my, aren't you missing Ricchan? It must be hard on you, Mio-chan." Mio could visibly imagine how Mugi's face turned a little pink and giggles. The blonde has always taken interest with girl-to-girl relationships. She thought it was cuter that way.

"I-I don't miss her, okay?" Mio sighed, "Okay, maybe just a little. She just went back to her office, like, two hours ago."

"Sokka. Is she getting any better since that day?"

"I guess. She took more rest and come home unusually before midnight." She laid her back on the couch. "So, Mugi, why'd you call? Is there anything you want to talk about?"

"Yokatta ne ~ Um, actually, yes. There's something I want to talk about with you, privately, and I guess it is best if we're talking face-to-face. You're really not busy, aren't you?"

"No, Mugi. I'm alone in this apartment." The bell's ringing twice just in ten seconds delay after Mio talked to Mugi on the phone. Wait, don't tell me this is Mugi. Mio said mentally as she walks to the front door and grab the door knob, and then pulled it open. "M-Mugi, how could you—"

"Arigatou ~" Ignoring Mio's words, she soon found Mugi already took her seat on one of the couches.

Mattaku… Mio closed the door and locked it. Unlike Ritsu, she always locks the door of the apartment. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. In fact, I brought my tea sets for us and of course, with your favorite tea."

This reminds me of the first time she came over and magically had all her tea sets. She sighed in defeat, then walks to the couch across from Mugi. "So, it seems like there's something urgent you want to say to me. What is it?" Asked Mio, letting the other girl preparing the tea for two. By the time she finished the tea, she offered Mio and Mio accepted her offer. "Thanks, Mugi." She muttered.

"Well, I guess we shouldn't waste any time now." Mugi took a little sip before she start. "Mio-chan, what do you know about Isshi Rizuki Minamoto?"

Mio blinked, twice. "H-How'd you know—"

"What I didn't know?" Another sigh of defeat escaped Mio's soft lips. "Don't worry, you know me well enough to tell me anything you knew about him."

Seeing that comforting smile, Mio agreed. Besides the fact that this is not the first time Mio share something private with Mugi. "Isshi is a good guy; I assume you already knew all of his insides. I actually promised to him to never tell this to anyone, but it looks like this is what you're seeking for."

"Looks like you just read my mind, eh?"

"I'm not as good as you, though." Taking another sip of her favorite tea, Mio inhaled and continue, "Who and from where you want to know about him?"

"The people who ever had a close relationship with him—a girlfriend, if I should be more specific. Things before your family's aircraft." Mio suddenly frown at Mugi. Her face became more troubled for some reason that Mugi hasn't know yet. "Mio-chan, are you okay?"

The black-haired beauty shook her head. "No, Mugi… It's just… Why is this related to the things before the aircraft?"

"When the time you were done with Isshi's information, I'll tell you everything. Besides, this world is not as big as it looks."

"Today's one freshly news, surprisingly, came from the famous businessman and as we all known as Tainaka Ritsu, the CEO of the big Tainaka Company. Just this afternoon, we found him out from his office with a woman. Many sources say different opinions about this beautiful woman, an unknown source—"

The TV shows a video of Tainaka Ritsu walking out from the building with a new bodyguard and a black-haired girl. "Ritsu…" The one who's watching the video was not surprised. He quickly grabbed his cell phone and makes a phone call. "Ritsu, where are you now? Check the news on TV; you're almost headline news for the second time already."

"I've heard, Sebastian told me just now. I guess we can't get away, I can't hide Mio forever."

"I wasn't talking about your Mio. These paparazzi caught you made a scene with Haruka's daughter."

"Made a scene? What do you mean—"

"Check your TV now, I said."

A faint sound of the TV could audibly be heard from the other line. "—The fact tells people that the girl we saw with Tainaka Ritsu was recently being his partner in business, but most of people believe that this girl could be the same girl that Tainaka Ritsu had an intimate contact with in the previous issue."

"Before you want people to know about your fiancée, you need to clear this rumor first, Ritsu."

"Understood, dad."

Cafe | 03.00PM

A sigh came out of a black-haired girl after watching the second time her companion takes sip on his lemon tea. "Rizuki, can I trust you?" The question put a frown on Rizuki's face.

Why this question all in a sudden? He thought as his eyebrows knitted. "You know the answer already." Yes, he's right anyway. Mio should have known him pretty well to see if she can trust him or not. She still remember that time when Rizuki caught her eavesdropped her own father. Though as Mio said, she never planned on eavesdrop her dad in the first place.

Mio went silent and did not know anything to say or how should she start the thing she wants to talk about. She did one more sigh and Rizuki took this hint.

"Is it your dad?" He broke the silence.

She froze and lowered her head. "I found—"

"What do you wanna know from me, Mio? If that is your reason for our sudden meeting here." Rizuki knows, sooner or later, she will find out about the truth. I secretly believe you'll regain your memories not for any longer now. The urge of wanting to tell Mio about who she is, was raging inside Rizuki's inner self. Jump into my own conclusion would cause another wound.

"Who am I?" She suddenly asked.

"Why are you asking this? Shouldn't you ask this to Kaeda-san instead? He found you, didn't he?" Another silence came up upon the two of them. Rizuki inhaled, "Listen, I don't know who you really are and if I do, I'll definitely tell you once you ask me about it."

"You know I've experienced an accident before the aircraft. Don't lie, I saw your bike once before."

Rizuki chuckles at her statement. "Mio, don't be silly. There are tons of other people having the same bike as myself. Why would you think that I know something about you before the aircraft?" Watching the other girl in silence, he sighed in defeat. "Look, maybe you should take a good rest first. I know you've been forcing yourself to regain your memories and that's not healthy. Go and rest yourself, Mio. You're still a part of my responsibility."

"I don't need you to worry about me, I'm perfectly fine."

"This is for your best, Mio."

"I know what is best for me."

Troublesome and childish. He smiled, "I'm still your private doctor."

"Then you're fired." It made Rizuki chuckles instead of shock. "What are you laughing at? I just fired you." He raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Why are you looking at me like that? You think I'm kidding? I'm serious. You're fired." He made another remark, making the girl blush a little. "You think I can't fire you?" He smiled and nods his head.

Rizuki laid his body on his seat. "Only Kaeda-san could take me away from this job." Just then, someone turned on the TV at the cafe.

"Another thing we caught was a ring, which has never been there before, is now circling on Tainaka Ritsu's ring-finger. We'll wait for the future announcement that might also be an engagement ceremony like-"

"Ritsu-san…" It caught Mio's attention when her head and eyes looking at the TV screen.

"Mm…" He put a palm under his chin to support his weight. Looking at the screen, too, it seems like he doesn't like the news. Another rumor about Tainaka Ritsu dating with girl. "So, looks like they'll announce it not for long now."

"They thought it was me." Once she said that, the surrounding suddenly noticed her existence. She knows she can no longer be here. "I have to go now." By the moment she look around her surrounding, the guy already offered his hand to her and waste no time to grabbed Mio's hand then dragged her out of the cafe. She heard a few clicks, probably some people taking her photo.

"Tch. This will not go well."

Tainaka Ritsu's Apartment | 05.00PM

Mugi is the type of someone who loves story and more details, but in this kind of time, she needs everything fast. So, she asked Mio to get to the point. Mio told her everything, from Isshi's family; his girlfriend who passed away; how Isshi lost his girlfriend; and the name of his girlfriend. The one important thing Mugi was waiting for from the story was his girlfriend name.

"Her name was Himeko Mia." The blonde takes a note.

"I really do feel sorry, but Mio-chan…" Instead of giving a concerned look, Mugi smiled. "Since I promised you to tell everything, first of all, you need to know this." The other girl looks tensed, she's curious but something in her feels not ready yet for what is to come. "Promise me, this is only between us two." She nodded.

She even doesn't know why she nodded; she doesn't know why she agrees. It's probably my curiosity… Mio wondered and still waiting patiently for Mugi to say it the thing she wanted to say.

"The truth is… Himeko Mia…is alive." Mio let out a silent gasp. This is getting on her nerves, she want to know how her blonde friend could be so sure. She doesn't know Isshi that long; she wasn't even there to watch the accident happened on both Isshi and Mia. Mio thought that Mugi was jumping into her conclusion harder than she should have.

"Mugi, how you could be so sure of that? Don't tell me that's because you're basing this on how Akiyama Mio look similar to me, physically. That's not good; Isshi won't like it if he hears you say that."

Mugi responded her with a soft chuckle. "I know, Mio-chan, I know. You see, I haven't finished yet." Mio suddenly felt like punching her own face so hard or bury her head somewhere to hide her flustered face. "It is true if you thought that I jump into conclusion, but you have to know your real identity and sooner or later people must know the truth about the Akiyama family."

"…"

"Mio-chan, you can't hide forever." Mugi sighed, "Especially now you're engaged with Ricchan, as soon as you're related to the big Tainaka family, the news will spread all over Tokyo. All secrets will soon be revealing, it won't take forever as a closed secret. You do realize that, Mio-chan."

"I realized that and yes, it might be hard and I may not be as ready as I should, but I can't just stand and have them known about the truth now. Even if it's true that the one daughter of Akiyama family was Himeko Mia, I can't just pop-out and say that I am the real Akiyama Mio. At least we need prove, right?" Mugi nodded and smiles at Mio. If she wants to know and reveal the truth so badly, then she should have something planned.

"I'll keep you updated."

I wonder if she's secretly having a side-job as a detective… The thought suddenly came to Mio's mind. Mio thought that it was silly to think of Mugi that way; there's no way her blonde ojousama would have been a detective somehow. She felt that it is better if she just ask Mugi straight, rather than over-thinking things inside her head. So she asked, "Mugi, is there any specific reason on why are you taking it this far? Does it have something in return for you?"

Mugi, surprisingly, shook her head in denial. "Nope. This is truly a pure hobby of mine. I love being a detective and to be able to sense something odd more than other people is pretty exciting somehow."

Ah, I still am amazed at how her mind works. Imaginations and such. She thought while nodding her head, signaling Mugi that she understood everything the blonde said. "I thought you're more like Ritsu, working on family businesses or whatsoever…"

"Actually, yes, but not for now though… Mm, dad just found this new talented guy who's good at almost everything. Thanks to him, I finally got to take care of something else." Just then, a cell phone ringing, making Mugi turned to Mio, and she was right, it was Mio's cell phone. "That must be Ricchan." She saw Mio's face getting slightly flustered.

She quickly grabbed her cell phone on the table. Mugi was right, it is Ritsu. "Ritsu, why'd you call?"

"Meh, being cold now, are we?" Mio could imagine how Ritsu pouted her mouth. "I just want to remind you, I might get you earlier than what we had planned. So, please get ready soon, okay?"

"That's new. Okay, when exactly are you going back?"

"At seven, maybe. Almost finish with my works here. Besides…" Ritsu pauses for two seconds, then resume what she was trying to say. "…I missed you already, Mio."

Blood rushing up on Mio's face in less than one second. It was cute, romantic and she won't deny that it makes her heart race. But then again, Mio is a naive girl. "B-baka! Don't say things like that all of a sudden! Ugh, whatever, I want to get ready now." Mio swore she would hit Ritsu on the head for making her flustered and nearly lose control. See how she can make me act like this just because one phrase? Ugh, I hate her and love her for that.

"Wait, wait! I was kinda wish you'd say 'I love you' before you hang up, just like this afternoon."

Mio glanced at her friend; Mugi had that look on her face whenever she detects something she took interest with. This time, her yuri google sensitively detected the cute way of showing affection, even through cell phones. Mugi was nearly getting into her wildest imagination. "T-there's Mugi here…"

She heard a sigh, "Ah, why don't you tell me in the first place then? Alright, go dress yourself up. Be pretty, okay?"

Mio was about to talk back to Ritsu when she heard the last line.

"I love you, Mio." Then Ritsu hung up. For some reason, she felt guilty.

"Mio-chan, next time, if privacy is what you needed. You can just tell me or excuse yourself." Along with her usual motherly comforting smile, Mugi stood up. Again, the tea sets were magically nowhere to be found. Mio let it be a little secret she doesn't need to know about. "I see you have a plan with Ricchan tonight. I should be going now, still have something to do, too. Thanks for everything, Mio-chan." She tilted her head, making that remark of a cute angel.

Mio was sure enough she just saw an angel in a flash. "You know, you could stay here until she comes back."

"No, it's okay. I don't want to ruin your moments." She giggles; it probably because her mind was excited of thinking about her friends. Mugi made her way to the door, followed by Mio.

By the time they reached the door, Mio bring herself to call Mugi's name. "Mugi." The blonde turned around once again before stepping out of the apartment and instinctively reply her friend with a simple 'hm?'. "Thank you."

Her friend was taken aback for a few seconds until she realized what Mio was meant by saying thanks to her. "That should be my line." Followed by a soft giggle, she walked out of the apartment with a smile. "Have fun with Ricchan, okay? Bye, bye ~" Mio form a small smile as she watch her blonde friend making her way to the elevator.

She chuckles. Well, that's our Mugi for you.

A/N: Wow, I've received many reviews and PMs for this story. Asking the same one thing: "WHEN is the next chapter will be released?" | Frankly says, I feel really honored and guilty, too. Those who keep longing for the next chapter of this story must be loyal-readers! :D So yeah, this ended up in 10,000+ words so to take it down a little youth-ish and spare half of it so a new chapter won't be too long for readers.

Again, thank you for all your supports!
No BETA yet. | Mind me for such errors, I'm seriously half-awake here...

CielRz-Jr - iDachii (イダチイ) - iDutchman | Signing Off