A/N: thank you for all that reviews, sorry for leaving a cliffhanger. I hope you would still read this story despite the delay! Was planning to have a plot twist, what do you guys think? Please leave your comment in the review, and suggestions are definitely accepted! :)

Disclaimer: Very unfortunate that Ritsu nor Takano is mine. . okay here we go… :)

Chapter 8: Starting Point

Takano's POV

"What the hell happened? Did she overwork herself? Is this even my fault for agreeing to her bet? ARGHHH this so frustrating! It wasn't supposed to be like this, we were supposed to be so deeply inlo-what the! Am I going to say in love? When did I ever- anyway when is she waking up?"

Ritsu was lying in the clinic's bed, Takano brush her bangs behind her ear.

"Ritsu, when are you going to wake up? Why did you allow this to happen?" staring at his student he continued "Do I even deserve someone as sincere as you? As sweet as you? Do you like me this much to sacrifice your health? Or is this just a joke or a prank for someone at your age?"

"Sensei…."

"Onodera! Finally you're awake! How are you feeling? Wait I'll get you a drink" but before Takano even left her side, he felt his shirt being tugged and he looked down.

"Sensei…. I… I… lost… our bet…" he can clearly see the tears that are trying to fall any minute so he sat down at the chair besides the bed.

"Onodera…" Ritsu hesitated to look at him, so he look around first then grab her chin "Look at me Ritsu."

He really liked how Ritsu's name rolled on his tongue, he felt like he could repeat it hundreds of times.

"It doesn't matter even if you lost, what matter most is that you let yourself be in harm during this whole bet. You're a smart girl, and a mature one, you above all should have known when to stop." Takano said not breaking their eye contact.

"But I just can't give up… knowing this might be my last chance."

"Okay, I understand… how about this then? We're going out to an amusement park this Christmas but in ONE CONDITION."

"What is it?"

"Promise me first that you'll keep the condition?"

"Uhmm..Okay?"

"Is that a question or a answer?"

"Fine. Okay I got it, so what's the condition?"

"We're… going out as a Teacher and Student nothing more." Takano said with narrowed eyes, but if Ritsu wasn't feeling bad and disappointed he would be able to see some short of sorrow behind those eyes, worry and longing in his voice.

"As a Teacher and S-student? But you know that I really Li—

"-please Ritsu don't make this hard enough, stop thinking this will be easy. Think of the circumstances, more importantly think of the reality!" Takano was starting to get angry but not on Ritsu but to his cowardness to fight for his own feelings.

"why? Why are you saying that? I know about the circumstances! I know about the reality! But is it bad to at least try? Isn't only natural to strive for your desires?"

"You're just a child who knew nothing about love."

"Takano no baka!" Ritsu shouted and run away from Takano, he couldn't believe he said that to her. Yes she knows that this is the first time she fell in love but she also know that it's not a joke, the pain in her chest prove it all. She fell for her teacher, she deeply fell for Takano, and she didn't know how to get out of it.

Days passed with Ritsu avoiding Takano so much that it started to bother Takano, he couldn't accept the fact that Ritsu actually listened to him and she really treated Takano as her Sensei! The class was silently working on their workbook, and Takano was sitting at the front couldn't stop glacing at Ritsu that was noticed by Kisa so being Kisa he turned to her side at decided to get Ritsu's attention.

"Rit-chan!"

"Rit-chan!"

"Rit-chan!" still Ritsu didn't even spare her a glance so she decided to throw a crumpled paper to Ritsu's desk successfully getting her bff's attention.

"Nani Kisa? Is it something you didn't understand?"

"Yeah, I really don't understand why you even bother to try to avoid Takano-sensei, when you love him too much to actually make a bet with him? AH! Are you disappointed you lost? Yeah that must be it!"

"Shessh! You speak to loud! And no that's not it!"

"Opps sorry, OHHH if it's not that then what is it?"

Ritsu was about to answer when-

"Kisa and Onodera stop talking and keep working!" Takano scolded them

"Sorry Sensei…"-Kisa

"Gome SENSEI!" yep Ritsu is still mad, did you hear that tone when she said Sensei?

The class ended and Takano decided it was enough playing cat and dog with Ritsu for he preferred the sweet and thoughtful Ritsu.

"See you tomorrow, and Onodera stay, there's something I want to discuss with you."

"Jaa Rit-chan gambatte on your love discussion!"

"Hey!"

"What is it Sensei?" there is it again!

"Let's stop this."

It seems Ritsu didn't get him, by tilting her head on the side indicating she didn't get what he meant so he explained.

"Let's stop hating and avoiding each other, in fact I want you to come with me this Saturday at the amusement park?"

"Hai?"

"I said I want you to COME WITH ME TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK."

"Eh?" what now? That's definitely not a question it seems like a demand for me…."As what?" he continued.

"As Takano Masamune and as Onodera Ritsu."

"Are you saying that….

"- yeah I want to have fun not with my student but with Onodera Ritsu, if you happen to know her. And just to let you know I wouldn't take NO for an answer, after all this is once in a lifetime offer I got here."

"And who even said I'd say no? Though you have to pick me up at my house, my mom wanted to meet you anyway."

"Fine by me, so are we good now? No more hatred and avoiding?"

"Hmmm… depends if you're willing to have snack with me now?"

"Hahaha you're a spoiled one aren't you?"

"Why don't like it?"

"Nope, totally love it"

"You love it?"

"Yeah, that attitudes of yours…so let's go?"

They ate at a fast food chain, looking as if they are a couple… and true they can not wait for Saturday to come….

A/N: so how was it? Not that much but I still hope you liked it. Please leave a review! I truly appreciate it and it also motivates me to write more! :) 3