I do not own anything. Last week of school for me.

"Out of all movies, why did it have to be this one—the cheesiest, most predictably romantic comedy every produced?" I thought to myself as the movie rolled on. Before I entered the cinema, I never thought there could be anything more cliché than Cinderella; but I had to swallow my words as I was trying to stifle my laughs. I could tell Yoru was having the same problem.

I leaned into Yoru's shoulder to whisper into his ear.

"Yoru, I know you've had your fair share of girlfriends—" My statement must have quelled his laughter, because his body went entirely rigid. I probably shouldn't bring up exes on the first date.

"What do you mean?" His tone hardened.

"I-I don't mean any offense to your date planning. Don't you think this movie is maybe too—"

"Cliché? Cheesy? A downright sin to all novelty?" His quick recovery stunned me only for a moment.

I turned my gaze from the movie into his golden eyes. His eyes, unlike Ikuto's, bounced back radiant colors that echoed the happiness and laughter of a child. Those eyes knew no pain, the kind of pain and sorrow Ikuto had experienced. The one of the only features shared between the two brothers was that midnight blue color.

I must have been staring too long at his features, because a smile was tugging at the corner of his lip.

"So you do know how bad this movie is? Is it just courtesy to bring me here on our first date; or am I not seeing the joke?" I gave him a brief look of disbelief. His eyes lit up to the color of the shining sunrise, at the word date.

"Amu, I know how you wouldn't want to watch a horror, or an awkward chick flick, or a suspenseful mystery, nor that movie about that book." Yoru briefed me on what I already knew. He must have been able to read that his answer was not relevant.

"So what you brought me to was the worst chick flick, instead of the awkward one?" I glared at him, ready to turn back to enduring through the movie.

"Definitely the worst chick flick, but the best comedy. C'mon, we could have running gags on this for weeks." He grinned his contagious Cheshire grin. Down to the last thought, he was definitely the best friend.

"Sometimes, I don't understand you." I breathed out a laugh, turning to the movie. Out of the corner of my eye, I swore I could see an unpredictable flash of wistful sorrow cross his face.

"That doesn't stop you from loving my brother." He whispered. I snapped my head to him, searching for those lingering words; but he just gave me that same grin and laughed at some words the man said to the girl.

Dead Boyfriend's Brother

"Ikuto, I don't mean to be a possessive girlfriend. I'm doing this as your friend." Lulu said with confidence that could easily be mistaken for arrogance.

"I thought you were my girlfriend." I softly let out a humorless joke, trying to comfort myself. We sat at a table outside of a café.

"Sometimes, I wonder whether you actually do know that or not." She sighed. "All I'm trying to remind you is that I'm here to make you forget her. It wouldn't be helping anyone, if you were to go interrupt her date."

Looking up from my coffee, I took in the image of my girlfriend. Her locks of a luminescent greenish-yellow framed her delicate frame, but don't be fooled. That delicate frame could hold more emotional strength and confidence that ten grown men. Her blue eyes darkened and attempted to pierce some sense into my hollowed soul.

"Lulu—"

"Don't say my name like that." She whispered into her latte, swallowing a moderately big gulp.

"Like what?" I gave her a light smirk, but all that earned me was a keener glare.

"You say it as if this whole relationship is filled with sympathy and sorrow. You say it as if I'm not your…" She trailed off. Though Lulu was brave, she wasn't a masochist.

"I'm sorry, Lulu." I filled as much happiness as I could muster, placing my hand on hers. Her look accomplished a great feat and was able to express grief and satisfaction.

"It's okay. I knew what I was getting when I went into this relationship. Don't worry, Ikuto," She smiled at me, brimming with hope. "I will do my best to make you happy."

"Lulu, you deserve so much more than to settle for this." I tried to persuade her. I meant every word. Lulu surely would be the wife to a prosperous man and the mother to the luckiest children.

We paused, just gazing into each other's eyes. There was no affection there, simply camaraderie.

"Ikuto, I know this is a selfish request of me." She bore a concerned look, bringing a regretful sourness to her face. "One day—soon-, could you tell Amu that you loved her?"

There was another pause between us, longer than the prior. She and I knew what she was asking. Saying, "I loved you," meant that I'd have to stop loving her. Lulu, as understanding as she always was, understood by my eyes that the equivalent to that would be asking to always live with a missing piece in my heart.

"Then if you can't do that, tell me that you love me. I don't care how much of a lie it is." She gave me a hollow smile, and I returned that same smile.

"I love you… Amu." The words just rolled off my tongue. A heavy burden seemed to come off my shoulders. I would've actually had hope for this relationship between Lulu and me, if I hadn't heard the sharp intake of breath she took. I could have sworn that I said Lulu's name, but I could've sworn a lot of things that happened in my dreams. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for hurting you—"

"Ikuto, you said her name as if it was the only word you knew, as if she were the rising sun, as if nothing else mattered, even me. You said every word like you meant it. Why couldn't you love me?" She whispered her words behind her hands.

"Lulu." I tried to put all the love I could into it, but it just broke her. She went off racing into another direction. I didn't do much else. I couldn't race off after her; that would've given her false hope. I couldn't bring myself to interrupt their date, after hurting my girlfriend—or should I start calling her my ex. I just sat there with my head in my hands, trying to rid myself of today's events.

Would I ever get over this phase of life? Is this even a phase?

Thanks for reading~!