Okay this wasn't really a fast update than usual but it's worth it than nothing. To all those who made efforts to show their support for this story, I would like to say thank you. And for those who are curious to death about what would happen next, here's the chapter which is considered as the turning point of the whole plot. Enjoy~

Rollercoaster of Hearts- Chapter Fifteen

Takumi narrowed his eyes at their newly gained companion and sighed for the nth time as he took a sip from his cookies and cream shake. He had been disturbed seeing Misaki talk to the blonde dude as if he was some invisible person and that only her and the new guy was present at their table.

"My, you've grown even more beautiful since the last time I saw you, Misaki," Takumi heard the other blonde comment and almost instantly his head darted up towards the two before it trailed sideward to Misaki's direction. And for unknown reasons, he felt a slight hint of resentment especially after seeing how the girl blushed at such a comment when it was obvious the guy was only flirting with her. If it was jealousy, he doesn't know. What he knows is that he doesn't like the fact that this guy was talking as if he was Misaki's boyfriend which he clearly wasn't.

Takumi was too caught up with his thoughts that how the two was acting in front of him went unnoticed even with his, as to quote Misaki, alien abilities. Only did he became aware of what was happening when he saw from his peripheral vision the sight of the new guy only inches away from Misaki. And in one swift motion, maybe a second or two, the tray made its way between the faces of the two courtesy to Takumi who was grinning proudly of his actions.

Tora backed away after almost being hit by a tray for God knows what reasons. "Woah! The hell!"

"Oops." Takumi smiled wickedly as he feigned innocence. "I thought I saw a fly somewhere near you so I tried and swatted it away."

"With a tray?! Are you freaking kidding me? You could've hit me."

Takumi looked away and with the softest voice he could achieve, he whispered, "That was my purpose actually."

"What was that?"

"I said it wasn't my fault the fly was hovering near your face. It seems to like you." Takumi leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms over his chest while stating his reply in the most sarcastic way possible earning himself an amused smirk from the other.

"I see." Tora nodded his head like an old man finally realizing the correct answer to a crossword puzzle. His eyes glinted with pure amusement as he returned his gaze back unto Misaki who had that blank look on her face, watching him and Takumi being caught up in a battle of smirks and words. "You have one possessive boyfriend you have here, Misaki."

Prominent in her pale complexion, a blush appeared on Misaki's face as she gathered the right words to say. "I…I…We…We're not d-d-dating."

"I didn't know dating is composed of four syllables now, Misa-chan. And how could you say we're not dating? We were obviously going to eat out if only someone did not appear and interrupt our supposed to be alone time together." Takumi took advantage of the moment and teased Misaki to prove to the guy in front of him that not only he was capable of making Misaki blush a hundred shades deeper.

"Idiot! Stop saying nonsense!" Blushing crimson red, Misaki threw the wad of tissue over to Takumi causing the helpless sheets to lay scattered on the floor. She reminded herself to apologize to the staffs later on.

"What nonsense? I am but only stating the truth. Is there something wrong with me telling your friend how he disturbed our date?"

Misaki only sighed in defeat as she slapped her face with her own palms. She sure wondered what's really going on inside Takumi's head. One moment he's poignant and the next he's being mischievous. She even doubt if even the best psychologist in the world could figure out what's wrong with Takumi for being the most unpredictable human being a Misaki could ever encounter in this world. "Again and again I'll tell you this; you are hopeless."

Tora, easily catching on to the situation smiled in enjoyment as he planned something in mind. He sure liked making fun of others especially an egotistic one. Slowly, he stood up and drew himself closer to Misaki before placing an arm over her shoulders making the girl cringe in both surprise and disgust. Tora couldn't help but smile deeper when he saw how the other blonde grew in anger as his face darkened. If only he could, he'd be laughing his ass out. Sure, Misaki and him were close and have a tight bond of friendship but that doesn't mean there is something else in between. Tora was a busy man. A thing as absurd as love is none of his concern or need. As long as his business empire is going smoothly, he'll survive even if it means taking on and living life without marriage. Of course, this current moment was just a way of having fun once in a while in his boring entrepreneurial life.

"Tora!" Misaki hissed as she tried removing Tora's grip from her shoulders only to no avail. The boy could hold on like some leech holding on for dear life.

"Ah, don't act like you're not used to me holding you, Misaki. Did we not use to do this a long time ago?"

Misaki glared daggers at Tora as she made it clear on her face how badly she wanted to kill him right now. At her mind, she also made sure to murder the other blonde sitting across them for not doing anything.

Tora opened his mouth to say his reply when he was forcefully dragged up from his seat via a person grasping on to the collar of his shirt.

Misaki stared wide-eyed at the scene in front of her. In her thoughts she wondered, how the hell did Takumi get there so fast. She was sure she saw him still in his seat the moment she tried squirming herself away from Tora. And therefore she concluded that indeed, he was alien. No man could move that fast unless if he was Flash. Misaki giggled a little at her own joke before she snapped back to poor reality where Tora was almost being strangled. Well, there wasn't what you call right and wrong, she'd never stop Takumi for killing Tora for her. The guy was a pervert. Period. But of course, there just had to be this killjoy thing called good and bad and also the Law so yeah, she had to bear with the choice of letting Tora live no matter how bad she wants him dead a long time ago.

"Don't. Touch. Her." Takumi spoke with venom as he made his every word sharp. It was not his style to pick up a fight especially with someone he barely even knows. He was supposed to be a gentleman but there was just something upon seeing Misaki being 'harassed' by some other guy besides him, he knew he had to shove the gentleman side of him away for a moment. Takumi gripped the fabric of the guy's shirt as he saw him smirk-that kind of smirk he hated the most.

"Oh? And are you perhaps her boyfriend? Is she your girlfriend?"

It hit him. The guy had a point. Who was he to act like that? He wasn't Misaki's boyfriend and he's engaged for goodness' sake! Bit by bit as he came to realize Tora's point, Takumi let go of his tight hold before completely releasing Tora. Today was supposed to be his 'move on day' if only he wasn't reminded of her. He was supposed to have fun and enjoy this day in order to convince himself that he could carry on life without his Chiyo. Little by little he'd do that and maybe, just maybe, he'd completely forget about her. But no, life contradicts with him in every way it can. Disturbed by his thoughts, Takumi did the only thing he does in every problem, he walked away.

Misaki stared dumbfounded at what was happening before her. She saw that Takumi was walking out the door but she witnessed what happened. She knew better than to follow him in that mood. It's like walking across a field you know is filled with landmines. It's suicidal. Sure, she wants to come up to him and comfort him, saying it is okay and that Tora didn't know. She saw how Takumi is trying his best to forget the past he has been dwelling on. And it also hurts her to see, the person he somehow grew fond of being hurt by his own feelings.

"What's up with him?" Misaki was brought back to her senses when Tora spoke as he sat back down casually on his seat as if nothing happened. Misaki glared and took a long deep breath. Punching Tora would solve nothing. It'll only add fuel to the fire instead. More trouble is not what she needed now.

"You said a taboo word."

"Taboo?"

"He doesn't like being reminded of his late girlfriend."

. . . . .

Takumi walked nonchalantly along the streets of Tokyo as if he wasn't feeling anything when in fact, his face contradicted everything inside him. He hated himself for being this way. He hated it whenever he'll feel so weak at the mere reminder of Chiyo. He was supposed to stop thinking about her but he just can't find the courage to do so. To others, he was their model, their idol but to hell with that. He knew he was nowhere near that. He was weak. He let a single girl that mattered to him most crumble his walls down and made him indolent enough to not build them back up again.

"God, I'm clueless to what I should do."

Takumi smiled bitterly and thought that maybe the reason why life had to do this to him was to tell him that there was a small glint of flame in his candle of hope. It could still be ignited. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't bound to move on from Chiyo yet. There is still a chance for him to be together. There's still a way for them to share life side by side. Well, now that he thought of it, anything missing could still be found. He just had to put in much effort.

"I guess giving up just isn't in my dictionary."

Takumi smiled feebly to himself before he made his way over to the nearest bench situated among the shade of a dozen trees. There, he rested himself and decided to give himself a little nap.

. . . . .

Takumi was an alien for nothing. Even with eyes closed, he knew something or rather someone was around his presence. He grunted in annoyance at the company and shifted to the side only to feel that something was different. Something felt so not right from before he fell asleep. He just couldn't fathom what. Idly, Takumi flicked one eye open to study his surroundings. There was nothing but green. Jumping to conclusions, he thought it was the leaves. He closed the one eye back and flickers the other. Still, it was green. But he came into his senses. The leaves…they weren't that green. They looked more like Seika University's uniform. Yes, it was in that shade of green but he thought, he must have been still sleepy enough to distinguish anything.

Takumi shut his eye back and decided to force himself back to sleep only to fail after a couple of tries for whole ten minutes. Giving up after he futile attempts for another hour or so of rest, Takumi opened both his eyelids and steadied his gaze. He blinked them a few times before realizing what that something was-that something that felt different. It was the surface he was lying on. It felt soft…comfortable. And the sight, it wasn't the leaves. It was something else.

A uniform…

Seika University uniform…

Just as he compared a while ago...

Takumi furrowed his brows in puzzlement before shifting to a more comfortable position. He altered his body so that he was sure to face up the sky only to be welcomed by something else. His eyes met golden orbs staring right through him both in embarrassment and something like worry. He wasn't sure of the latter though.

"I…I…Uhmm…I…You…You were…uhmm…" Misaki stammered with her words as she struggled to explain such a humiliating situation but was cut off with Takumi's sounds of laughter. "Hey! W-what's so funny? Stop that!"

"Pfft…Hahaha!"

"I said stop! It isn't funny!" Misaki flustered all the more as she started hitting Takumi lightly. "I was just…ugh! Stop laughing!"

Takumi did just what Misaki said but kept the amusement on his face. The girl sure does know how to make him change moods in a flick of a finger. He sat up from lying on Misaki's lap so the he was sitting with his back was all she could see. "You're just too cute for your own good, Misaki."

It was a whisper but to Takumi, it was as audible as someone speaking through a microphone. It might be an insult to almost everyone's ears but in Takumi's case, it was nothing but Misaki's way of showing how grateful she is for their friendship. 'Idiot' may seem undesirable to the ears but to Takumi's, it does nothing but take his amusement higher. He could not deny, through his entire existence, Misaki was the only girl to make him feel this way. And with all humble prayers, he thanked God for getting the opportunity to meet someone like her amidst the circles of troubles and pain he's been going through. If quoting in a dramatic way, he'd say she was the light through his darkness. Sure, she wasn't his love interest but there was something in her that never ceases to make Takumi come back for more.

"Oy, idiot?"

Takumi snapped back to actuality upon hearing Misaki's voice. He hadn't realized that he had been spacing out. "Yeah?"

"It's getting dark. Do you want to go home now? Patricia-san would be worried sick looking for you."

"Tell them I don't want to go home yet. I want to be alone."

Misaki grew silent for a moment, taking in his words carefully before uttering a quiet okay. She smiled to herself for unknown reasons and stood up, fixing the wrinkles on her uniform after sitting and doing nothing but stare around for almost two hours. Takumi might not know it but she enjoyed that moment. She enjoyed watching him sleep peacefully during sunset. She enjoyed hearing his soft snores and calm breathing. She enjoyed smelling the scent of his obviously expensive perfume. She enjoyed feeling the touch of her fingers brushing against his soft blonde locks.

"Where are you going?"

Misaki turned and faced Takumi who was now sitting normally on the bench with a confused expression on. "Home."

"Why?"

"What why?"

"You're leaving?"

Misaki gingerly nodded her head. "Y-yeah. You said you wanted to be alone so yeah, I'll be leaving."

"Oh."

She smiled. But she has no idea why. Her mind was telling her that she wanted him to stop her. Then again she's Misaki. Why would she think that? Dismissing the thought, Misaki went back to their conversation. "I'm off then. See you tomorrow."

She started walking away slowly, hoping he'd stop her but he didn't. She understood of course. Takumi was not in the right mood to deal with her. He was pissed after the encounter with Tora. Her presence with him will only be a hindrance for him to think things through. And for a brief moment, she wished she should have never followed him and stayed with him to watch him sleep. God, she even lent him her lap for a much more comfortable rest. At the thought, a sudden pang was felt by her.

. . . . .

Eyelids fluttered open revealing a set of grey eyes filled with confusion and pain. The said owner of the orbs shifted from the current position on the bed only to gasp from the excruciating pain felt in the head and throughout the whole body. Almost on cue with the movements on the huge bed, another figure from across the room ran across to reach the side of the mattress.

"Hang in there." the concerned voice said as he handed over his arm to support the figure in pain. Grey eyes roamed around before meeting with a tall figure giving assistance which the person in agony hesitantly accepted.

"Are you alright?" The same voice asked.

"I'm…I don't know."

"May I know what happened?"

The grey eyes grew in confusion before studying the situation. Bandages were wrapped all around the frail body. The grey orbs widened a little at the sight before the owner muttered softly, "I don't know either."

. . . . .

There across the large room stood a lone figure gazing out the gigantic window. He carefully and peacefully observed as leaves fall effortlessly from the branches of the trees on the mountains. It was a quiet evening for him only to be disturbed by the sudden sound of his large double doors flinging open.

"Master, she's awake."

Yay! Another update after almost a week. I'm sorry if it's quite short. This week is hell week. There's so many stuffs to do even on weekends. And also, I have personal reasons I could not actually share but I'm hoping that no matter what, you'd continue to support this story even when I update rarely.

Interview Corner:

Me: Welcome back everyone! This is your one and only host, Goddess-chan. So today, we'll be having again Tora as our guest. A round of applause please.

*Tora enters*

Me: It's your second time here. How does it feel?

Tora: It's bothersome. I have meetings to attend, you know.

Me: I know. I know. That's why we'll make this quick. Howdidyoufeelappearingfirsttimeonthisstory? Wasitgoodorwasitbad?

Tora: What?

Me: Isaidhowdidyoufeelappearingfirsttimeonthisstory.

Tora: I don't have a cat.

Me: Thatdoesn'trelatetomyquestion.

Tora: Why are you speaking as if one sentence is just one word? I couldn't understand a thing except the first word.

Me:YoutoldmethatyoustillhavemeetingssoI'mmakingthisinterviewquickbymakingonesentenceintooneword.

Tora: You are weird.

Me: Thankyou.

Tora: What was your question again?

Me: I-

Tora: Please say it in a normal way.

Me: *smiles* Okay. I said how did you feel after appearing for the first time in the story?

Tora: I appeared in the last chapter. Why are you only asking me this?

Me: Well duh! Obviously. Let me ask you this, did you appear in the interview corner during the last chapter?

Tora: No.

Me: See! Exactly my point!

Tora: Whatever. Let me just answer your question to get things over with. Okay, during my first appearance, I actually think it's not as good as I think it would be. I thought I'd be making a grand entrance.

Me: You're just too narcissistic. Who in the right mind would give you an outstanding entrance when you're nothing but a side character?

Tora: Oh really? I'm just a side character? Hmm…*smirks*

Me: Shut your mouth.

Tora: Reader, I…

Me: *clamps Tora's mouth* Shut the hell up! *smiles to readers* That would be all for now. We don't want spoilers now, do we?