"Wait," Ryoshi's hand grips my wrist, and I wonder if he can feel how quickly my pulse is throbbing.

"Jared! Uh, please, give this to my mom when she gets out." He thrusts a small white envelope into Jared hands. "Thank you both for what you've done. I swear I won't ever forget it." And he smiles the kind smile that I've fallen for.

"Hey, no problem! Now get out of here!" Jared grins.

"Yes sir!"

And Ryoshi and I are running down the hall, down the stairs, hair flying, heart pounding, his hand warm and getting sweaty in mine, but I couldn't give less of a crap— This is really happening. Holy cow. This is really real. I'm running away with Ryoshi.

He throws the door open, and an insane giggle bursts from my chest as I pull him through the entrance.

"What are we doing?!" I gasp.

"Ryoko, we're gonna be okay. My grandfather is coming in just a few minutes and then—"

"Then what?" I stare at him.

"I… hadn't really thought that far ahead… to be honest."

We look at each other.

"Me neither."

"It doesn't matter though. As long as I'm with you, Ryoko." He shyly takes my hands and squeezes.

I blush so hard I can't even look up 'cause I'm afraid he'll see.

"Uh… um…" I squeeze my eyes shut. Be brave. Spit it out already!

"S-… Same here."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Hey," Jared knocks cordially on the door that is the only barrier between him and the hell that is Morino-sama scorned, "they left this for you." He slides Ryoshi's envelope under the door. A manicured hand shoves it back through.

"I don't want your stupid notes! LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

"Ugh," sighs Amaterasu, "We will, okay? Just as soon as they're far away from you. And you might as well read the letter. I mean what else are you gonna do in there? Being locked in and all."

"Yeah…," Jared snickers suddenly. "No need to come unhinged!"

Amaterasu cackles with mirth. "Yeah, you're in a real jam!"

"Would you two morons shut up?!"

"Uh-oh! Looks like she can't—" Jared jiggles the door knob, "handle it!"

"I'll read the damn letter if you'll stop making those horrible jokes!"

"Aw… Hm. Should we take her up on that?" Jared strokes his chin thoughtfully.

"I guess," Amaterasu crosses her arms and pouts playfully. She winks.

"Here you go then. It's a deal." She gently pushes the letter beneath the door.

Inside Ryoshi's room, Morino-sama scowls at the innocent looking envelope. All this dumb letter is to her is a written symbol for her son abandoning her and lying to her and— She tears it open before her blood pressure can climb any higher.

Dear Mom,

I'm really sorry if this isn't the best thing you've ever read. I'm not the writing type I think. But this is all I came up with and I tried my best so I hope you'll understand because I don't want you to hate me.

Do you remember the day I left to live with Aunt Yukime? Well I do and we stood together on the front port that morning the day before school started, the day Yukime came to get me and everything. Well, we were waiting for her to drive up and you told me exactly why you were sending me away, because I wasn't all that happy about it if you'll remember. It was scary. And I didn't know anyone there and they would all be staring at me.

Anyways, you said you were sending me because I was sort of wimpy, and you loved me but you wanted me to get out there and have real friends, and be around people and become somebody I would like. Not that I didn't like me, but I needed more than just you and Grandfather and you knew it. So you sent me. And I guess we switched tracks because I ended up loving Otogi Academy and you ended up missing me.

I know that it's hard for you with Dad not around. I know you get lonely too out here by yourself. But I really wanted you to know something about me and something about Ryoko too.

I am strong now. I can look at people, Mom! And I'm actually used to it! And not only that stuff, but I have friends. I have a life and everything. I've helped people and grown. And it's all because you sent me away. So I have you to thank for all of that.

But I also have Ryoko to thank.

She's my reason, Mom. I never would have taken the opportunity you gave me if it hadn't been for Ryoko. I saw her, and I loved her before we even talked. But without talking to her and being closer to her, I knew it was useless. I was no good being like that—a watcher, somebody on the sidelines of his own life. And I couldn't get Ryoko being like that. So I became a man and I tried so hard, just for her. Because I love her, Mom. She means everything to me and there's nothing I wouldn't do for her.

She's amazing. How can I describe her? It's in the way she moves. Ryoko just being Ryoko. She tries too. She's just a girl like any other but at the same time she's nothing like the rest. There's this force that drives her and I want to be the one to hold her, not because I want to crush that force she's got, but because I want to be special to her… someone she can stop running from, even if she wants to be driven away from everyone else. And I'm not sure but I think I've almost made it to her.

What can I say about her to make you understand? She's kind and gentle. She fights because she wants to protect herself, but she also wants to protect other people, even though she pretends to be selfish about it. There's nothing she wouldn't do for somebody she loves. She's adorable. She's beautiful. She's full of the strength of someone who holds up her world all on her own… and the vulnerability that happens because of that same thing. She's... I just love her so much, Mom. And I could try telling you more but it just wouldn't cover it. I know you think this is because I'm a kid or whatever, but love is love isn't it? Just because I'm sixteen doesn't mean I don't know.

You sent me away to be a man. A man who will fight for things he loves and not be a coward. Well, I'm trying to be. And that's why I'm doing this. I love you. But I made Ryoko a promise. I promised her I would always be by her side. And nothing anyone could do would make me betray that. I'm going back to the city to be with her. I'm asking you to please let us go. Nothing is any different, I promise. I'm not mad or anything. I just have to do this.

I love you. Please understand.

—Ryoshi

Morino-sama slumps against her door. Her story eyes rest on the last sentence of the second to last paragraph. Just because I'm sixteen doesn't mean I don't know.

Morino-same blinks slowly. She looks at the words. But she sees something else. Someone else.

Morino-sama, sixteen herself, and in love with Ryoshi's father. Her parent's angry words when they hear the news that she is going to marry him, and their even angrier, disbelieving stares at her waistline—gradually getting larger by the month. You're just a child yourself! Her mother had said. What do you know about love or having a family!

I didn't know anything about it, she remembers. But I made a promise to Ryoshi when I made him. A promise that I didn't expect, but I promise nonetheless. And so I did it anyway. And…

She stares at the letter, her son's heartfelt, loving words. Pride rises in her heart, and tears fill her eyes.

...I did a pretty good job of it, too.