We Never Learn - Reaching for Our Dreams in the Stars

by Maihiko

"If within those myriad of possibilities, this moment is one...that's right." The opening stage of our fated pair reaches its end, and with it, the next chapter begins. The sequel and start of a new journey as Fumino and Nariyuki tread the unknown waters of their blossoming and unbreakable relationship, reaching for their dreams together hand in hand. [Canon] [Post-Fumino Route]

28. Memories - Special Chapter

Hello! Special chapter here! There have been many flashbacks at different points in different chapters in this story, and I took the liberty of collecting them, rewriting, polishing, and arranging them in chronological order. I did this because we're heading into a new and important arc of this story, and I wanted to reflect on the memories that have defined our couple's beautiful relationship and the journey they have taken together. These all take place before the start of chapter 1, so if you would like, feel free to read this, and reindulge in this story from the beginning. It might change your experience entirely :) Enjoy!

---

~October~

"EHHH?!" Nariyuki exclaimed with wide eyes, having to reread the score on the paper in his hands to make sure he wasn't imagining it. "FURUHASHI, YOU GOT A PERFECT SCORE ON THE LATEST CALCULUS EXAM!"

"WHAT?!" Uruka and Rizu, also present at the study session, shot out of their seats with shock on their faces.

He was speechless.

Truly…and indubitably speechless.

"I'm…so surprised…" He continued dumbstruck. "This chapter was supposed to be about integrals…one of the harder calculus subjects…Not only did you get a perfect score, but you also got all the extra credit questions correct too!" He emphasized.

Fumino rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, unable to offer anything but a light blush in response to the praise.

"You taught me the methods to solve them, remember? It's because of your help that I was able to practice them so efficiently," she said with firm honesty. "I…still need to make sure that I keep practicing them. I'm sure the ones that show up on the center and secondary exam will be a lot more difficult. I need to make sure I don't ever forget how to-"

Uruka ran up to her, grabbing one of her hands in a desperate manner.

"HOW DID YOU DO IT?!"

Rizu followed identically for the other hand.

"PLEASE TEACH US, FUMINO!"

Fumino blinked, evidently taken aback by the unexpected reactions, but a moment later and a warm giggle escaped her lips. "What do you mean? You already have everything you need with Nariyuki teaching you."

Uruka and Rizu's eyes widened.

…as did his own.

"As long as we keep listening during his lessons…and continue putting in the effort to practice what we've learned…then everything will be just fine," she said with a resolute smile.

…

"All we need to do is just keep doing our very best."

The two of them were silent, taking in her words with steadiness.

But for Nariyuki…

He was certain that his expression was much more vivid in stupor. He felt something in his chest shift, a gentle warmth stirring as his eyes remained staring fully at the girl.

Yes. Putting in the effort. Willing to put in the effort to learn. Those sentiments were so very important and dear to him, because that was the very essence and very hope of being a tutor. He could teach anything and everything, but at the end of the day, it was up to the tutees to put in the work themselves. That was why lately…he had expressed some appreciation towards Rizu and Uruka, because he had noticed a slight change in effort and results from them, especially for the case of the latter, who had never bothered to study or practice on her own, always relying on him to provide her with solutions and very easily losing focus. He was appreciative because...though it was still slight, they were exhibiting what he truly yearned to see from his tutoring, improvement from one's own efforts…through their commitment to work harder and practice.

But…

For Fumino…

It had become so reoccuring to him that he had started to see it as natural for the girl. How there was never a need to ask her to work harder…or to expect her to have a change in her effort. He had unknowingly started to think…that the girl was no longer even one of his tutees, but…more so…a study partner to draw inspiration from.

Because no matter what…

Fumino was always…doing her very best for herself...to never take his teaching for granted...

No matter what stood before her, she was always…

Looking forward to improving for her dream.

If the notion wasn't already inspiring enough…the fact that she was willing to express that dedication with such kindness to both Uruka and Rizu…

He was so very moved…

And so very grateful.

"Furuhashi…I-"

"Oh!" Fumino stood up in a rush, suddenly taking notice of the time. "My next period is about to start! I'm sorry for cutting our study session short. I'll see you guys later, okay?"

Nariyuki blinked at the interruption, but surely enough, he smiled gently and nodded.

"Of course. Good luck in your next class."

Fumino beamed back brightly, and there was no doubt in his mind that the girl was going to be working her hardest in her next period as well.

Once Fumino left, he turned his head back to his remaining tutees, surprised by how uncharacteristically quiet it had become.

…

He was welcomed by the sight of the two deeply immersed into their practice questions, a new motivation written on their faces.

He chuckled…before smiling tenderly.

'All we need to do is just keep doing our very best.'

"Thank you, Furuhashi…"

---

"Furuhashi!" He called out to the Fumino, finally managing to locate the girl after the last period of the day.

Fumino turned her head at his voice, eyes immediately lighting up in recognition. "Nariyuki! Did your last class just finish too?"

He nodded gently. "Yeah…I was just trying to find you. I wanted to talk to you about our lesson tonight actually…"

"Sure." Fumino smiled. "Is there something in the next chapter that you think we can get a head start on?"

"Ah...uhm well…about that." Nariyuki rubbed the back of his nape. "This is pretty embarrassing…but…I was actually planning on reviewing the chapters on your latest exam with you, but…since you did so perfectly on it…I actually don't really have much else planned for the lesson." He admitted with a sheepish chuckle. "I haven't really had the time to prepare anything else since you showed me your score..."

Surprise filled Fumino's expression at the admission…

But without any hesitation at all…

It was immediately overtaken by a reassuring smile.

"It's okay. You've already done so much for me, Nariyuki…it's perfectly fine to not be prepared for every single lesson," she said with a giggle.

And then…

"Why don't you take a break today then?" She proposed.

…

"A…break?" He repeated curiously.

Fumino nodded, her smile softening. "You've been working so hard to teach all of us…you deserve to have some time to yourself. I've been wanting to review the trigonometry equations you taught me from the exam two weeks ago, so this is the perfect time for me to refresh my memory and practice those! I know those will also be especially important on the entrance exams, and I can study for my other classes while I'm at it too. I have an English and history exam coming up that I really want to ace, so there's plenty of things I can work on my own tonight!"

It shouldn't have surprised him, but he found himself again lost for words. Even after acing her latest exam, the girl was still finding every way to improve. If it wasn't for mathematics...it was for her other classes. She fully understood that to reach her dream…that it wasn't just about obtaining the physical results that was asked of her…but being able to always be diligent for herself.

He was almost too much in awe to accept it.

"A-Are you sure..? I…still feel bad that I don't have anything to offer for today…" He trailed off guiltily.

Effortless. That was just how genuinely the kindness made its way to the girl's gaze. "It's okay, Nariyuki. It would make me more than happy to know that you were able to have some time to yourself, so don't worry, okay? Go relax, and enjoy your free time!" she encouraged, smiling wholeheartedly.

…

Eventually…his eyes softened, and he was unable to bring himself to reject the girl's thoughtfulness…

"Okay…"

Fumino beamed, satisfied by his acquiescence. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"

Nariyuki nodded with a soft smile of his own.

"Yeah."

They exchanged waves with each other, parting ways for the day. In the moments after, Nariyuki remained in the hallway silently, pondering the girl's words with thoughtfulness.

"Free time…huh..."

---

"Okay, Let's see if I can get them all right this time…"

The breeze felt soothing as Nariyuki sat on the top of the grass, staring at the book in his hand while simultaneously looking up at the night sky with inspecting eyes. It was just a few hours after he had eaten dinner. He had spent the majority of the afternoon beforehand working on correcting Uruka and Rizu's latest practice questions, and once he had gotten that task out of the way, he had unsurprisingly found himself free of busyness now that his lesson with Fumino was no longer taking place. That of course left him with only one course of option for the remainder of the night.

Taking the girl's offer to heart…

And enjoying his free time.

"Okay so that one I know is…Andromeda…" He said as he pointed at the first group of stars in the sky. "Over here is…Pegasus…then a few degrees north and west of that is…Cassiopeia, and…then last but not least…over here is…Perseus, our hero who slew Medusa." Once he finished, he looked down at his constellation guidebook, going over the validity in his answers. "Hm…I got them all right, but I guess I should also remember Cepheus, since he's related to both Andromeda and Cassiopeia. It really does help knowing that so many of these constellations have some correlation to one another," he chuckled lightly.

…

'And it really does make it easier to remember…when I imagine Furuhashi's excited voice explaining this all to me…' He thought to himself with a smile.

Yes…

This wasn't his first time here…partaking in his own attempt at stargazing. Even on most days where he wasn't blessed with the leisure of free time…Nariyuki often found himself at this field these past couple of months doing exactly what he was doing now; studying the stars intently with hopes of expanding his knowledge of them.

Or perhaps…studying the stars…with hopes of further understanding Fumino's dream…was a better way to put it.

Regardless…

It was a time filled with excitement for himself.

And…admittedly…

One of utmost importance to him.

"Hm, I can't seem to remember this one though…this square one right next to pegasus. I know it's definitely related…but what's its name again..? The…uhm…the…"

BZZZT

His thoughts were interrupted as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled the device out, identifying the name of the message sender from the LINE app, and his eyes immediately widened when he did so.

It was from Fumino.

He unlocked his phone. The girl had sent him a picture, and he recognized it as practice questions from the trigonometry chapter that she had stated she would review tonight. It was filled with check marks, and even without having the solution handbook to refer off of, Nariyuki could tell simply by the wonderful detailed work shown that the answers were no doubt correct.

The girl had followed the picture with a message.

'I reviewed the trigonometry chapter tonight, and I got all of the practice questions right so far thanks to the equations you taught me two weeks ago! I'm going to keep practicing until I can answer them both comfortably and quickly so that I'm fully prepared for them on the entrance exam. I hope you're enjoying your free time, Nariyuki! :)'

For a moment, all he could do was stare, but his silence was quickly surmounted by the sheer amount of fondness that seeped into his smile. There was plenty he wanted to say, joyful and grateful sentiments, but for the time being, he withheld on replying, because there was just so much admiration brimming from within him that he was struggling to come to terms with.

The girl really was…doing everything for her dream.

The thought again reminded him of a certain event right around the corner. Tomorrow was to be their very first parent teacher conference. From what he knew, it was a time for teachers to discuss the progress of students' grades with their parents, but it was also an opportunity for students to discuss and consolidate any commitments they had towards their future career.

And from what he had seen today…from what he had always been able to see from the girl…he knew…that without a shadow of a doubt…Fumino would be able to convey her commitment to her career during that meeting. The drastic improvement of her results served as a testament to that. He just hoped…that everything else that followed…with the parent aspect…would go just as smoothly.

And…

In regards to his own conference…

…

"Perhaps I could also…tell them…what I really want to-"

"..."

Silence.

He scoffed.

And shook his head deprecatingly…

"Who am I kidding..?"

His expression fell with what almost appeared to be silliness.

"It's…nothing even close to it…"

---

~The Next Day~

His parent teacher conference was approaching its end, and for a while Nariyuki had considered it to be rather tame than to what he had expected. It had mostly just been friendly banter between his sensei and his mother, with the occasional mentions of his grades in his classes that he had prepared for.

But of course...the subject was to be brought up eventually.

"VIP recommendation?" His mother repeated.

"Ah...uhm. It's nothing..." He tried dismissing the notion.

"Hahaha! No need to be modest! There's quite the selection at Ichinose University, which partners with the VIP recommendation. Do you have any particular desires, Mr. Yuiga?" His sensei asked.

He blinked at the question. "Eh?"

"I meant department of course," the man elaborated. "Like what you would want to study, and what you would like to do in the future. They have quite the selection, you know?"

He felt himself go silent.

"Uhm..."

...

He did...have an answer...a truthful one.

But...

"..."

He hesitated.

And in the end...

"Which department here...would be the most beneficial in finding work and having the most stable earning power?" He finally said.

He couldn't bring himself to say it.

---

He walked side by side with his mother, leaving the classroom for the conference. It was surprisingly quiet as they made their way down the hall.

"Hey." Hanae finally said. "Are you perhaps worried about money, Nariyuki?"

"What?!" He felt embarassment fill him at the notion. "Absolutely not! As if that'd be the case!"

It was definitely the case. Of course he was worried about money, but he had at least tried to keep it subtle, albeit clearly failing.

And...it had been a lot easier to focus on that aspect...

When he had already run away from the real answer he had wanted to give.

"Although Mommy here doesn't really know all the difficulties of each of the departments and such...there's never a need to hold anything back from your family, you know..."

His eyes widened at the suggestion behind the woman's words, and he averted his gaze silently.

Had she..noticed his hesitation in the conference earlier?

"That's...I'm just doing what I want to do."

He lied.

"Really? If that's the case, then Mommy will support you no matter what it is. But at the very least, don't mistake it as the most important thing."

...

The most...important thing.

It was a bit too familiar. The words and the subject matter.

And naturally...

Fumino's warm, bell-like voice rang out in his mind in rememberance.

'But...when the times comes...when you've found something you really want to do...'

...

The things he really wanted to do. In truth...that was the reason for his hesitance earlier at the conference. Because that had been his very chance to say it.

But...right when he had thought that the words would escape his lips...

He remembered his lingering doubt at the field last night.

And...

More importantly...

He remembered that special night by her side.

He remembered how her eyes had sparkled staring at them...how her voice got lost with dreaminess as she rambled on and on about the deep knowledge she knew of them...

He remembered...just how lonely she had felt...as he had held her hand beneath the stars.

He had been afraid of truly answering...because he had come to realize...that there was something so much more to than just simply having a goal for the future...for it to be called a dream. That there was a reason why...he admired Fumino so differently from everyone else who had those exact said goals for the future.

That what the girl had for herself...that what the girl was able to do for herself...

Was truly...something special.

And he wasn't exactly sure...if the feelings that he felt in his answer...

Could even be considered close to being the same.

He didn't...want to take it for granted.

Afterall...

'What if these feelings I feel...are just me trying to catch up to my-'

"Please excuse me."

He was interrupted by a door opening to his side.

And he felt his expression immediately light up at the girl who exited it.

"Oh, it's you, Fumi-Chan! You're as beautiful as ever!" Hanae said with a delighted beam.

"Furuhashi...your conference ended, as well?" He added with a smile of his own.

Fumino nodded an affirmative. "Yes, just now! Good afternoon, Ma'am!"

In the very next moment, Hanae immediately turned to run in the opposite direction, smiling giddily the entire way. "Well then, I'll leave you kids alone. Enjoy!"

"W-Wait!" Nariyuki exclaimed before sighing. "Unbelievable...that darned love-crazed mother of mine..."

"Hehe! She's such an adorably fun mother whenever I see her," Fumino said with a smile, though Nariyuki continued to shake his head in embarassment. It was at that moment however when he noticed that the girl hadn't been accompanied by anyone for her conference.

Fumino must have noticed his restless curiosity. "Hehe, in case you're wondering, my dad didn't come."

"Eh?" He felt his heart drop at the explanation.

"Ah, well...looks like he came down with something!" She said quickly to reassure him. "It's nothing big so don't worry."

"Ah...uhm...then...does your father approve...of your career..?" He asked tentatively.

...

"O-Of course! No problem at all!"

Though her answer appeared to be shaky, Nariyuki let himself relax as he let out an exhale of relief.

Yes...it was fine.

As long as Fumino had a chance...for her dream...

Then...things...were okay for him too.

---

"What you want can't be called a dream...only an ignorant fantasy for those who are incapable."

...

"Furuhashi...will be staying with us!"

...

"There's nothing...for us to talk about..."

...

"I spoke with Fumi-chan's father...and he eventually told me everything that had happened with him and Fumi-chan. I don't know why he did what he did...but...as a parent...it breaks my heart to know that she's been in so much pain this entire time."

...

"Furuhashi...would it be okay...if we went on a date right now?"

...

"T-There's no way he'll listen!"

...

"No matter what anyone says...I'll support you with everything I got...for anything you want to do!"

---

~Later That Night~

Nariyuki sat silently on the bench next to Fumino.

It was late, but he had every reason to be there at that moment. The girl had finally confronted her father directly about her passion to study the stars, and he had wanted to be there for her no matter what the result was. He had been afraid. It wasn't him who had made the giant and courageous step forward, but to Nariyuki...every moment tonight had meant more to him than he could fully comprehend.

All this time...Fumino had been so strong. He knew it. She had lost her mother...and that had already been enough for him to admire her so deeply. That even after losing someone so precious to her...she continued to believe in herself each and everyday, working her hardest day and night. She continued to look forward...and faced all the fears of overcoming the very things she was untalented at for the dream that she loved...the very fears that he couldn't imagine himself being able to face.

Yes...he had lost someone precious to him too...but unlike Fumino...all he had been able to do afterwards...was run away from himself.

He was nowhere near as brave.

Yet...even with that in mind...even when he thought there was nothing else that could possibly be more wonderful than the courage and devotion that the girl had already shown him...

Fumino...had even lost another person close to her.

The only other person that she could depend on...the only person she could go to for comfort after losing her mother...

That person had pushed her away too.

He had belittled her. He had rejected everything that she believed in.

And...most tragically...in all the betrayal that Nariyuki could imagine...after the girl had been so kind in her efforts to comfort him through his mourning...

He had hit her.

He had left her alone and hurt...leaving the girl with nothing but her own strength to depend on.

That was what his mother had retold to him earlier in the night when Fumino had been asleep. The woman had met up with the girl's father the day before, and during that meeting, the man had let her in on the truth...the truth that had torn at Nariyuki's heartstrings when he finally became privy to it.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that Fumino had to be this afraid. It wasn't fair that to pursue the thing that she loved so purely...she had to abandon her own home.

It wasn't fair that someone as kind as her...someone so wholehearted and wonderful...had to suffer like this.

She was the last person that deserved such a thing.

That was why...he had been so frustrated...because he couldn't think of anything to really help her. He could only tell her how he felt. How much he admired her. How much he loved...whenever she talked about the stars.

In the end...he could only repeat the words that the girl had once said to him.

'But no matter what anyone says...I'll support you with everything I got...for anything you want to do!'

The very words...that had meant the world to him.

He remembered the moment that followed afterwards. The moment when the girl looked so small...with the world so big around her…

'Thank you…Nariyuki. I'm still scared to speak to him but...because of you...I feel like I can be brave now. Even though I'm unsure of what will happen...even though I'm afraid...of all the things he could say to push me further away...'

He remembered...just how much his heart had flowed with warmth...

At the faith and strength in her eyes.

'I'm going to listen to the love in my heart, and stand up for my dream!'

He had been so happy...so wonderfully happy. He was certain that time had stopped for him just so that he could catch the breath that had been so preciously taken away from him. Which was also why...in the moments leading up till now...he had been absolutely terrified. He wanted to see it. He wanted to see Fumino's courage rewarded. He needed to. Because anything less...was a reality that his heart wouldn't be able to bear. When the girl had finally exited her home...when she had told him that she had shared her love for the stars...and her father at the very least hadn't ended their conversation with words of rejection...

He felt his heart brim with a hope that he had never felt before.

A hope for the girl's dream.

And...though it was still tentative…

He felt a small hope…for himself too.

"Don't worry, Mother..."

Nariyuki perked up at Fumino's voice. So caught up in his emotion, he barely missed the words that the girl had just uttered.

"Did you say something, Furuhashi?" He asked.

The girl shook her head. "It's nothing…" She said before smiling softly.

"Thank you, Nariyuki…"

"...for supporting me."

He chuckled at the undeserved appreciation. "It was nothing. In the end, I didn't do anything really…"

Which he truly believed. Everything that had happened tonight was all due to the girl's own courage and perseverance. All he had really done was cheer her on from the sidelines.

She really was...so amazing.

*poof*

He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt a sudden weight on his left shoulder. He glanced to the side and saw Fumino's head resting on top of it.

The girl must have dozed off again.

"Furuhashi..? Did you fall asleep again..?" He asked.

When there was no immediate answer he smiled fondly.

"Well that's to be expected...you really gave it your all today, Furu-"

"I'm awake…"

He froze.

Two words.

There was no way he had misheard this time around, and before he could even come to terms with his shock, a deep blush formed on the top of his cheeks, burning like a flame.

"Uhm….this is a l-little…" He stuttered, failing to say anything coherent. "W-what…?"

'W-What's going on?!'

Despite his efforts to express his flusteredness, Fumino continued to lay on him. He couldn't move, and truthfully...he really didn't want to.

Was it really okay...for him to have this?

The silence stretched out longer than what should've been considered normal, and it wasn't until an entire two minutes had passed did the girl finally decide to speak up.

"Hey, Nariyuki…" His chest tightened in attention at her voice. "That day of the festival…"

Her eyes shifted nervously at the ground.

Until they met his own.

"Why did you hold my hand?"

Upon hearing her question, he felt his heart go still.

He immediately knew what moment the girl was referring to. Afterall, he had been relishing the memory of that night everyday since it happened.

Back then he had held her hand without hesitation.

And in the same way now,

He didn't need to think for an answer.

"Because...I used to...dream about my dad and cry a lot too. At the very least, I wanted to relieve your pain in any way I could. I know what it's like to be there...to miss someone you love and feel so helpless."

He paused, breaking eye contact for the next part.

"I wanted to tell you...that everything would be okay…"

The tension in the air was unnerving. Nariyuki's head was spinning slightly. He didn't know what it was, but he felt anxious. He had meant it as reassurance for Fumino...but in truth...the words were also directed to himself.

He wanted...to move forward...just like Fumino had done for herself tonight. The reason why he admired Fumino so differently than everyone else...it had become more clear to him than he could ever hope for it to be.

To live a life filled with passion and earnesty. To reach for something that was so scary...yet so very precious.

To listen...to the feelings in her heart...no matter what.

That...was what made Fumino...so wonderful to him.

Yes...it was scary...absolutely terrifying...

But maybe...just maybe...

He could take...that step forward too...

And maybe...just maybe...

He could give the answer...he truly wanted to give.

Eventually, he shifted his gaze back to Fumino.

...

And his chest instantly tightened at the sight before him.

She was staring at him with an expression that he couldn't discern. Her hands were over her chest and her eyes were peering into his deeply. To him they almost seemed...sad, as if she was on the verge of crying from his words.

He must have said something terribly wrong.

"S-sorry!" He said in a panic. "T-That was a bit too much, wasn't it? J-Just forget I said all of that…"

"N-no!" She replied just as desperately. "You didn't say anything wrong, Nariyuki. I'm grateful…really...for everything." She averted her gaze, looking hesitant to continue with her train of thought.

"And…"

Her nervousness disappeared.

And it was replaced with a sincerity that froze him to his very core.

"Thank you...for being such a wonderful person to me..." She whispered. "I'm really happy...that I got to meet someone like you…"

"..."

He stared...silently, taking in the unfathomable amount of warmth in the girl's words.

...

Slowly but surely, he returned the sentiment with a tender smile. But though his voice was steady, his composure was ultimately betrayed by the amount of shyness that could be heard there alongside it.

"I'm really happy...that I got to meet someone like you too…"

...

Yes.

It was scary.

But...

If Fumino of all people...thought...that he was a wonderful person.

Then maybe...just maybe...the feelings he felt for his answer…

Could be seen as it too.

He felt hopeful. Terrified still no doubt…

But so very hopeful.

---

~Two Days Later~

Nariyuki sat himself next to the Fumino in their special spot behind the school. Her parent teacher conference had concluded, and notingly, Fumino's father had actually attended the second time around. It was just a few days after the events of the girl's runaway from home, and the feelings that had come from the affair still resonated in Nariyuki's heart with clarity.

He had hardly done much, but he couldn't express how relieved he was by the outcome.

"I see. I'm glad to hear that he accepted everything without trouble," he said with a bright smile.

"Yeah…" Fumino looked to him gratefully. "All thanks to you."

Nariyuki chuckled, smiling shyly.

"I didn't do anything really," he insisted, expression bashful. "It was all from your own courage, Furuhashi."

The girl's smile softened at his words.

"You did plenty…more than I could ever be grateful for, Nariyuki." She said wholeheartedly.

His face warmed at the sincerity held in the girl's gaze and he was unable to stop himself from averting his own. It was strange…the anxiousness he was currently feeling, though it certainly wasn't negative. After everything that had transpired, he had expected to feel emotions of joy for Fumino, which he of course did in all of its entirety.

But that was the thing…it wasn't the only thing there.

There was something budding, persistent. How through everything that had happened for Fumino…through the imposing hurdle she had managed to overcome for her dream…

He had managed...to find a hope for himself too.

"Uhm…Furuhashi…i-if it's okay with you…I have something that I wanted to tell you…" he started shyly.

Fumino blinked, gaze curious.

"What is it?" She asked.

…

He hesitated, feeling the nervousness build up inside of him. He was afraid. Doubtful. His breathing seemed to shallow as the seconds of silence went on.

But...eventually...Fumino scooted closer to him.

And his gaze met her kind and warm one...

"It's okay...you can tell me," she said softly. "I promise I'll be here to listen...no matter what it is."

…

Soothing. That's what her kindness was to him, and Nariyuki felt his apprehension lift slowly and positively.

He took a deep breath.

And let himself speak.

"I'm...thinking of turning down...the VIP nomination."

The answer...he had truly wanted to give.

He finally...allowed himself to say it.

"..."

The girl was quiet for several seconds.

…

Until she wasn't.

"Ehh?!" Fumino exclaimed in shock.

The reaction was expected, but Nariyuki knew that if he stopped here that he would likely be unable to muster the courage again, and so he continued with a tentative voice.

"I-I've been thinking...that I want to try pursuing an education degree in college…" He explained. "A-After getting to see you confront your dream before your dad…I realized that I want to take a step forward too. I…want to be able to face you and your passion head on…and I thought...that this might be the first step in getting there. That doesn't mean I would stop tutoring you of course! I…still want to support you...no matter what. I just...wouldn't be doing it for the nomination anymore is all. Money would obviously be an issue with that…but…I would probably take some part time jobs to start saving up for tuition. I know that a teaching certificate is an alternative too…but if I do this…I want to be able to give everything I got."

He shifted uneasily at the next part, feeling the doubt seeping into him once again.

"I-I'm still not sure if it's the right choice…and…maybe I'm just silly for even thinking this…but I just...really wanted to tell you first...before anything…"

…

"W-what do you think?" He finished shakily.

It was forward to say, but there was nothing that could be closer to the truth.

It was unconditional.

'I'm going to listen to the love in my heart, and stand up for my dream!'

...

'Thank you, Nariyuki...for being a wonderful person to me. I'm really happy...that I got to meet someone like you…'

...

'It's okay, you can tell me. I promise I'll be here to listen...no matter what it is.'

It was Fumino...who had given him the courage...to finally make this step forward for himself.

And right now…as he bared his heart like this for the very first time...

She was the only one in the world that mattered.

"Nariyuki…"

His throat caught, staring in unfeigned anticipation.

Fumino smiled...

Heartfelt joy brimming in her eyes.

"That's so wonderful..."

…

He could hardly believe it...the pure amount of earnesty laced in her voice.

"R-Really..?" He asked dumbly.

Fumino nodded animatedly. "Of course! I mean…I'm obviously surprised that you might be turning down the nomination. It's…the whole reason why I even got to have you as my tutor in the first place. But…that doesn't make it silly at all. Not even a little. In fact...it's so obvious to me...that this is something that you really want to do..."

And then...

"Being able to take a step forward...for the feelings in your heart. How can that be described as anything else but wonderful?" She said affectionately.

...

"Furuhashi…"

He was speechless...

"I think it's so admirable that you're trying to save up for tuition now, and…I'm so grateful that you're still okay with tutoring me, Nariyuki…but…it's definitely going to be really stressful if you really do decide to take on multiple part time jobs…" Fumino added worriedly. "I know there's not much I can do to help you with your money issue, but…"

Her eyes became resolute, renewed with intent.

"I'm going to do my very best to help take off the load for you," she said confidently. "I'm going to make sure that I study harder on my own so that you don't have to give me lessons as often. That way...you'll have more time after school for your part-time jobs!" She emphasized firmly.

"..."

There was no end to it...his wholehearted and wondrous stupor.

She already assumed it...that he was decided. To say he was moved by the fact was giving far too little credit to his current state. He was relieved. So very relieved by her heartfelt affirmation. But through his gratefulness he also felt a tinge of fear from the girl's promise. Fumino wanted fewer lessons so that he could focus on this change for himself, but that also meant that though it was for his sake…they would be losing out on their overall time spent together.

And that was something that Nariyuki wasn't willing to give up.

"Thank you, Furuhashi…really...but…it's okay. I know you've already been working your very best every day. You're always making progress every time I see you, and…it makes me so happy to see that…but…I'd rather we keep our routine of seeing each other…" He said as his gaze became yearnful. "Afterall, I-"

'I really love…the time I get to spend with you.'

Yes. It didn't take much for him to know...just how much he had looked forward to it everyday. Whether it was tutoring her for the sake of supporting her dream...or simply talking to her about the excitements of their days...Nariyuki had naturally found himself drawn to those moments more than anything else throughout the day. Whenever he had the chance to be with her...he always seemed to be smiling so much more than he was used to...so much that in the past few months, he had commited nearly all of his free time to studying the stars just so he could understand the girl's passion just a little bit more. He already knew it...but...this was the first time that he really had to confront the fact out loud, and it was enough to cause him to blush heatedly...embarrassing enough for him to come up with a separate reason.

"I…study better when I'm with someone else…." He finished lamely.

It was far off the specificity that he truly felt.

Thankfully for him, Fumino appeared happy at his reasoning.

"I…study better when I'm with someone else too…but…I'm still going to do everything I can to help make things easier for you," she insisted with kindness. "If not for fewer lessons…I'll make sure to do even more self-studying whenever I can, so during our time together, you can at least spend much more time on your own studying."

"That way..."

...

"We can both do our very best...and ace our university entrance exams together!" She finished hopefully.

...

The warmth returned...even more so than before...if that was possible. From the softness in her eyes…from the belief in her voice. Never in his life before would he have expected to be able to make a commitment for a career of interest…much less one that could make him feel this...excited.

'But...if...the time comes when you've found something you really want to do...big sis will be here to support you...with everything she's got!'

Yet with Fumino…even when he had felt that he was treading in unknown waters…even when he had felt that the passion he yearned to be a part of was so far away from his reach…

'Being able to take a step forward...for the feelings in your heart. How can that be described as anything else but wonderful?'

She was always...giving him hope.

And he was so wonderfully…wonderfully grateful.

"Thank you...Furuhashi." He whispered.

Fumino smiled tenderly in return, meeting his gaze with sincerity.

"Of course..."

She was so kind. So very...very...kind.

And Nariyuki found himself wanting to continue to unravel the strange but warm feeling in his chest.

"Am I interrupting something?"

He nearly jumped at the familiar gruff voice.

"F-Father!" Fumino stood up from her spot next to him. "Don't you need to be at the university?"

"Yes, but I remembered that there was something I wanted to confirm," Reiji said before looking to him pointedly.

"Nariyuki Yuiga…" the man started mysteriously, and Nariyuki couldn't help but swallow thickly in reply. "Specifically, what stage of a relationship have you gotten to with my daughter?"

Nariyuki blinked in confusion. "H-Huh? W-What do you mean..?"

"Well…" Reiji looked back and forth between the two of them. "You two have been living under the same roof so…"

Comprehension dawned on him, his face turning bright red, but it was Fumino who made the first move in shoving the man away from their vicinity.

"W-WHAT ARE YOU SAYING FATHER?! IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT!"

---

~November~

Nariyuki stretched his taut muscles, heading for the exit of the building. It was late in the afternoon, and he was more than ready to return home after a long day's worth of classes. With entrance exams approaching, much of the third year curriculum had begun to center more on mock assessments, so it wasn't much of a surprise that his mind was a bit more strained than it usually was.

Even in his sapped state however…

It took him very little to recognize the familiar voice that spoke from a nearby room.

"No…I won't."

It was Fumino's voice.

Curiously, he made his way over to the open door and snuck a peek into the room. He didn't want to eavesdrop, but at the same time he didn't want to interrupt the girl if she was speaking of something of importance.

His surprise heightened even further when he realized that the person she was speaking to...was Kirisu Sensei.

And…

With noticeable tension in the air.

"Stubborn." Kirisu said with a sigh. "I understand that you're very committed to studying astronomy, Furuhashi-san. But I'm saying this because entrance exams are approaching, and this is likely the last opportunity for me to change your mind. Your drastic improvement of your grades in mathematics clearly shows your dedication to the part, but it doesn't change the fact that your talents still lie elsewhere. I've been compliant to your efforts so far, and I had even once decided to assist you with a favor outside of the classroom before, but it has mostly been out of instruction from the dean that I have tolerated your recklessness, and only because I wanted to gain your favorability to convince you now that I had helped you with your request prior. I'm saying this because as your instructor, it's my responsibility to make sure you don't waste your time with the wrong decision once you graduate. I am entirely certain that you'll regret taking this path…especially considering that you are also a very hard worker. It shouldn't be any difficult for you to shift that dedication to literature where you can truly excel."

...

Nariyuki felt his heart drop all too suddenly, a sense of protectiveness taking over his conscience from the familiar topic of conversation.

The girl truly couldn't catch a break. He had thought that the woman had come around to accept Fumino's career commitment, or at the very least…tolerated it, but evidently…things weren't as agreeable as he made it out to be. Why? Why was it so difficult for people to see how beautiful it all was...to have a dream so wonderful that one was willing to overcome any unfavorable circumstance to reach it? To say he was upset by the fact was selling it short. He was frustrated by it.

His disappointment made him completely unprepared for the woman's next words.

"And furthermore…it's come to my attention that this…behavior of yours…of pursuing something against your talents…has affected Yuiga-Kun." He started at the mention of his name. "I've been informed that he has decided to drop the VIP nomination to pursue something outside of Ichinose. I can't understand the reasoning behind it…so I can only surmise that it's because of your influence that he has decided to make this change. It's clearly a waste of his efforts thus far…and it will no doubt be a waste of his time in university as well, especially considering he has been undecided on a career for this long. It was no doubt a decision made from reckless spontaneity."

Reckless spontaneity.

A waste of his time.

The words were far more hurtful than he could have expected.

But surprisingly...that wasn't what Nariyuki focused on.

It was the saddening and guilt-ridden realization that dawned on him afterwards.

That the reason why the woman was bringing this to attention again…the reason why Fumino had to deal with the discouragement of her dream yet again…

It was because of him.

It was because of his change…that Kirisu Sensei had once more become doubtful of her.

And the sorrow that came from that responsibility...

Was enough to make his heart break.

"There are only two months remaining until entrance exams, so don't be silly about this," the woman continued stoically. "Again, it's my responsibility to advise you on this. I suggest you reconsider your decision, and convince Nariyuki to drop this farce as wel-"

"No."

The interruption came piercingly, and both Kirisu's and his own eyes shot wide.

Her expression demonstrated it…but to Nariyuki, it was even more apparent in her voice.

Fumino was determined…to have her way with this.

"Again Sensei. My answer is no," the girl repeated. "I won't change my mind. No matter what you say…this is my dream, and I'm going to pursue what I love even if it kills me," she promised. "I really wish...that you would accept that…but if you really can't, Sensei…then…so be it."

Her eyes then met the woman's calmly.

But calm as it was…

There was a frightening amount of firmness held there.

"And please…don't ever refer to Nariyuki's decision as a waste," she said, unflinching. "This is something that he truly wants to do…something very precious to him. It has nothing to do with my influence. It's something that came straight from his own heart!"

…

"So please…don't insult him like that." She finished with a whisper.

"..."

He had no words. Not one. There was no mistaking it…just how jarring it all was. The reality that Fumino was speaking against their sensei with such firmness…that was likely what stood out to most as shocking.

But for Nariyuki…

It was the very sentiments that the girl had spoken to defend him that caused his heart to still far from what was physiologically normal.

And the guilt that had previously consumed him so heavily...

Was replaced powerfully with an elated warmth.

In contrast...there was only guilt and shock written in Kirisu Sensei's expression now. It was obvious. She had been utterly unprepared for the conviction and earnestness that the girl had fought back with.

And...the woman's stoic composure broke as a result.

"M-My apologies…" The woman looked away. "Perhaps I was being too presumptuous."

…

If Nariyuki was being honest, it was hardly the apology that Fumino deserved, but the girl accepted it nonetheless with a nod of her head.

She then bowed to dismiss herself.

"Excuse me."

"..."

!

So caught up in his emotional state, Nariyuki failed to flee from his spot next to the door as Fumino exited. By some miracle however, the girl turned towards the other direction of the hallway, none the wiser of his presence.

Yet…even while walking away in the opposite direction…

Nariyuki could tell...that the girl was still upset.

And the realization that she was upset for his sake…

…

It was enough for him to move without any hesitation.

"Furuhashi." He called out her name.

The girl turned at his voice, and her eyes lit up in recognition. "Nariyuki! S-Sorry, were we supposed to have a lesson together that I forgot about?" She asked with worry.

Nariyuki chuckled before shaking his head reassuringly. "No, you didn't forget. I just…wanted to ask you something is all."

"Sure." Fumino tilted her head. "What is it?"

His eyes met hers…

And he smiled softly.

"Would you like to walk home together?"

"…"

The girl's face was unreadable at first, but the comfort that made its way into her expression moments after was simply to heartfelt for him to mistake.

And without any doubt it in the world...

It filled him with all the warmth just the same.

"I would love that."

---

~December~

He was napping.

He could tell by the way his head was buried into the crook of his own arms as he stirred through his sleepiness. He vaguely recalled the events before he had succumbed to his exhaustion. He had been studying together with Fumino for the majority of the afternoon. Originally, they were supposed to study at his place, but after hearing Fumino scream in panic and a loud crash erupt through their phone call, he had rushed over to her house in a frenzy, afraid that the worst had happened.

Turned out it had simply been a very cute and energetic cat that her father had offered to look after for a family friend. He had been relieved that it hadn't been anything harmful to Fumino's well being, but it was a bit embarrassing knowing that he had been completely off the mark with his presumption.

Not that he wasn't going to come either way. Afterall, even before their now shared goal of passing entrance exams together, his time together with the girl was something that he looked forward to happily every day, which seemed to be a major contribution to the warm feeling in his chest whenever he got to see her. But now that there was that new change in play, their study sessions were not only filled with pleasantness...but also wonderful shared smiles of encouragement for each other. It was no surprise that days like these turned out to be the most productive for him. But of course with this new commitment, his workload had increased signfincantly too, and falling prey to his drowsiness was bound to happen eventually.

But…he didn't remember napping being so cozy.

At the thought, he woke up fully, blinking as he took in his surroundings. He was still in Fumino's house naturally, and there was a comfortable weight that seemed to be enveloping him snugly.

It was Fumino's coat.

He blushed deeply, realizing that the girl had placed the garment over him to keep him warm as he slept. His senses finally seemed to return, and it was then that he took in the sight of Fumino still sitting next to him at the kotatsu, gaze concentrated on the practice problems before her.

She hadn't noticed that he had awoken.

For a while he simply stared, silently observing. The girl's expression in the moment was something he couldn't put into words. Her face was determined, eyes completely focused on getting the problem she was currently working on correct. She was speaking to herself, doing her best to recall the necessary equations from memory, and when she finally did, she smiled excitedly at being able to figure out the solution.

She was enjoying every moment of learning.

Something about it…something about the kind and selfless gesture of giving up her coat for his sake, and the beautiful and earnest expression on her face that he had come to witness time and time again. The combination of both had his chest fluttering, and before he knew it, he was reaching out with his hand, aiming to hold hers yearnfully.

"AHHH!" Fumino screamed at his touch.

"AH!"

God, he was an idiot. He definitely should've seen that coming.

"S-Sorry!" He apologized profusely. "I-I was just trying to get your attention!"

Terrible save.

"I-It's okay…you just startled me is all." Fumino said, voice still shaken up. "I woke you up, didn't I? I'm sorry…I must've been talking to myself again…"

"N-No!" Nariyuki immediately shook his head. "You didn't do anything wrong. If anything…I'm sorry for falling asleep on you and making you study by yourself…" He said guiltily.

Fumino's expression softened, eyes filled with warmth and understanding.

"You've been working so hard, Nariyuki…it's more than okay for you to rest," she assured him.

Nariyuki blushed at the compliment as he looked to her in question. "What about you then? You've been studying the entire day, but all I see is you working more and more diligently." He said in observation.

A pause, until a chuckle escaped Fumino's lips, her eyes crinkling in affirmation.

"I want to." She answered. "If it means helping my chances to ace my entrance exams, then I'll happily keep going."

Her gaze then set on him shyly.

"Afterall…" She continued with a tender voice. "When I remember how kind you've been to support me and my dream…when I remember how hard you're working to pursue your own hopes of education in college…"

…

"How can I not do my very best?" She finished wholeheartedly.

He stared. Silently. It seemed that was all he was able to do for the past five minutes.

Was it okay for him to feel this…happy? He was impelled. Driven by the genuine motivation in the girl's gaze…but more than anything…the inclusiveness in her words. The time was nearing midnight, but there wasn't a world where he was ready to go home yet.

'This is something that he truly wants to do…something very precious to him. It's something that came straight from his own heart. So please...don't insult him like that.'

He was going to keep up with Fumino...no matter what.

"Would it be okay...if we go for another hour together?" He asked hopefully, opening up his own set of practice questions.

His request was returned with an eager smile.

"Of course!"

---

~Early January~

He was falling, as one would expect to be after mindlessly putting their body weight on a rail covered in ice. He felt his balance leave his feet, prepared to stumble backwards into the flight of stairs behind him.

Just his luck really, on the day of the center exam.

Why did he have to be so careless? At the very least he and Fumino had managed to save the dog from running into the street right before.

And…at the very least…

It wasn't her that would be the one getting hurt.

The fall never came.

Out of nowhere, he felt a firm hand grab his own, stopping his momentum. A surprising amount of force pulled him upward, but the reverse was true as the one who had reached for him was pulled down in the process.

His eyes widened to its full length and by the time he had realized what was happening it was already too late.

The blue-haired girl tumbled down the steep stairs and landed at the bottom with a sickening thud.

He felt his throat dry and heart stop entirely.

"FURUHASHI!"

He rushed to her prone form as quickly as he could, feeling the panic rising in his chest.

"Furuhashi! Furuhashi, say something please!" He said desperately.

The girl groaned, turning over slowly to peer at him. Relief flooded through him. She was still conscious.

"N-Nariyuki…" Fumino managed weakly. "A-are you okay..?"

Nariyuki scoffed disbelievingly. "Am I okay?! Why are you asking me that?!" He yelled. "Why would you do something so reckless, Furuhashi?!"

He was angry. It surprised himself even. He rarely ever raised his voice at anyone, and he never would've expected to have done so to Fumino of all people, the girl who from the very first day they had met had always been so very kind and warm to him.

But he wasn't mad at her. He was furious with himself. He had been careless, and in doing so, he had let Fumino get hurt in his place.

"Sorry...I...just moved on my own…" She shied away from his unexpected outburst. Almost immediately, the anger left his body and was replaced by overwhelming guilt. Not only had he managed to let Fumino get hurt, but now he had even made the girl feel bad.

I'm the worst…

"N-no...I'm sorry." He apologized. "I was the one who lost my balance. You were the one who saved me, Furuhashi..."

He looked to the ground shamefully.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you..."

"I-it's okay…" She smiled reassuringly. "I'm just glad you're not-...Ow!" She cried out in pain.

"Y-your leg…" His attention shifted to her injured limb, deep concern written clear on his face.

"I-it's nothing! I'm fine...I should be able to walk…" The girl tried to stand, but almost immediately she winced and lost her footing, but this time Nariyuki was there to catch her.

"Clearly you can't." He chastised, a lot more calmly this time. "Lean on my shoulder. We need to head to the school to let the infirmary take a look at it."

"But Nariyuki...the exam..."

"That doesn't matter right now." He replied firmly. "Let's make sure you're fine first. Until then, I could care less about the exam."

If Nariyuki had been paying more attention, he would've noticed the deep blush that had creeped onto Fumino's face from his words, but his mind was too occupied with a particular thought of his.

Furuhashi...you're the last person I want to ever see in pain…

---

Nariyuki waited outside of the emergency room, pacing back and forth in front of the door. It was the only place he could be right now with his mind filled with restlessness. Fumino was currently being seen for her injury, and the wait for the diagnosis couldn't have felt longer. It was probably because he was the one responsible for her pain that the wait felt just that much more grueling.

He still remembered the moments before their exam as clear as day.

"Thank you, Nariyuki. I think I'll be fine now," Fumino said as she seated herself in her exam seat.

"A-Are you sure? D-does it hurt? I mean of course it hurts…but…are you sure…you'll be okay?" He asked worriedly.

Fumino's expression softened, and she nodded affirmatively. "I'll be fine. I"ll just treat it exactly like we've been preparing for. I'm sure I'll be able to get through it in one piece," she finished with a light giggle.

The comment did no justice in alleviating his guilt. Even if the girl really was able to get through the exam, it didn't change the fact that she would have to now experience it through the difficulty that was her pain.

It really was all his fault.

Fumino must've sensed his self-deprecation, because in the next moment, she was reaching out to touch his hand gently.

"I'm okay, Nariyuki," she said again, though this time clearly meant for his comfort. "Let's finish this exam together first, okay? Don't worry about me for now."

Her eyes crinkled with encouragement.

"Just do your best."

He didn't deserve it. The kindness given to him in this situation. Why was the girl able to be so thoughtful for him even when it was clearly his fault?

He truly didn't deserve it.

"I'll come get you to take you to the emergency room as soon as we're both done, okay?" Nariyuki promised.

Fumino nodded, smiling warmly.

"Okay."

Against his wishes, he took a step away from her seat, but not before Fumino called out to him one last time.

"Nariyuki…"

His head turned back, eyes meeting her gaze.

"Good luck." She said with a hopeful smile.

His chest hurt. He felt like he could cry. Whether it was from the joy of hearing Fumino say such words to him, or the guilt from her injury, he couldn't tell. All he knew…was that he didn't deserve it.

But he was so very blessed to have it.

"Good luck…Furuhashi."

That had been nearly three hours ago.

If he was being truthful, he had utterly failed at focusing only on himself throughout the exam. His thoughts had gone out to the girl, more than it already had regularly. He had managed to still do decent enough to where he felt that he had passed, but it seemed that was the last of his priorities at the moment. Even If the girl's injury turned out to be not as serious as he feared, he still wouldn't be able to relax.

"Nariyuki."

He was dragged out of his thoughts as he looked up to see Fumino walking out of the exam room. Her injured leg was wrapped in a cast, and she was now using a pair of crutches to aid in her ambulation.

The sight caused his very heart to ache.

"Furuhashi…"

"Sorry that it took so long. It took them a while to put the cast on..." She said sheepishly.

He immediately shook his head, quelling the girl's concern. "Don't worry about it. They could've taken the rest of the day and I would still be here," he said firmly.

Fumino blushed at his words, but Nariyuki was much too focused on her casted up leg to have even realized the forwardness in his claim.

"H-How is it?" He asked worriedly.

Fumino blinked, but eventually she smiled reassuringly. "They said that it's just a grade two sprain. It should heal on its own in two months or so. If anything, I'm just worried about these crutches. It's my first time using them, so I think it'll take a while for me to get used to them." She said with a chuckle.

Nariyuki's face visibly fell.

Two months…that was quite some time for recovery.

"I-I see…" He said softly.

It was silent for a while between them, but a second later, he was making his way to the girl's side, interlacing his arm through her elbow.

"Eh? N-Nariyuki?" Fumino said, surprised.

"You said that you're not used to the crutches yet. It'll be easier if I help you walk like this for today," he explained soundly. "Let's head back home so you can rest."

Fumino shook her head, still blushing from their sudden close proximity. "I-It's okay." She assured him. "You don't need to do that. You've already been with me so long today…I can't ask you to do more-"

"I'm going to walk you home." He interrupted.

And then…with an almost desperate gaze.

"Please..." He whispered.

Fumino stared, eyes wide and filled with stupor.

His plea was eventually answered.

"Okay…"

And that was all he needed to hear.

It was fortunate that the hospital wasn't too far from the station. They spent the next ten minutes walking there, with him bearing half of the girl's weight and going at a steady pace. He wrapped his other arm around her waist protectively, almost sheltering her from other people as they walked. When they finally arrived at the train, he made sure that she was seated on a side where others couldn't accidentally bump into her injured leg.

Admittedly, he was more focused on this task than he had been with his center exam earlier.

And he wasn't the least bit shameful of it.

Another ten minutes of walking and they arrived at the doorstep of Fumino's home.

"Thank you, Nariyuki," Fumino said, turning to him and smiling gratefully. "For staying with me the whole time."

Nariyuki did his best to smile back gently. "Of course. I don't think I would be able to live with myself if I didn't." He said with an embarrassed chuckle.

His expression then filled with guilt.

"And…I'm sorry…about everything," He said quietly, almost to the point of a whisper. "I-If I had been more careful then none of this would have happened. You wouldn't have had to save me…and be in pain."

It was true. There was no forgiving himself. He had been a burden, and there was no changing the fact that he had put Fumino in this undesirable situation.

And yet…in his lamenting, he felt a gentle touch reach for his hand.

"It's not your fault, Nariyuki." Fumino said with a voice filled with forgiveness. "Accidents happen. I would never blame you for that. I'm just glad you weren't hurt too…"

"And I know…that if you were in my position…" She continued.

Her gaze met his, an unsaid trust displayed fully.

"You would do the same for me," she finished with a warmhearted smile.

…

He didn't know what to say. Emotions were brimming from within him and he didn't know what to make of it. Happiness? Joy? There was something that he did discern however. Something that was noticeably recurring whenever he was together with Fumino.

Unwavering gratitude.

And so even if he was brought to speechlessness…he could at least express this wholly.

"Thank you…" He said, voice nearly cracking.

Fumino smiled.

"I'll see you soon, okay?" She said.

Nariyuki nodded slowly.

"Yeah…"

He waited for the girl to enter the door at her pace, and they waved at each other one last time. In the moments after, he didn't leave the estate. He remained standing outside, contemplating, for several minutes.

There was a desire in his mind, strong and unyielding. He wanted to do more for her. To be there for her in a way that would help her get through her injury. He realized that it was also a desire of selfishness, that it was also because…he needed it.

But if he wanted to do it…if he wanted to take care of the girl and nurse her to full health…he would need permission to do so.

And so…even if it was a reasonably lengthy commute…

He was going to make the trip to Reiji's workplace.

Afterall, his reasoning was well and clear.

He wanted to be by Fumino's side…supporting her no matter what.

Every moment...if possible.

---

~Late January~

The smoothie had not been his brightest idea. He was supposed to be helping Fumino, not making a mess, yet he had carelessly let his fingers slip when he had handed the glass to the girl.

Some caretaker he was.

"I'm sorry, Furuhashi…" He apologized while gently running his fingers through her hair. "After all the trouble you went through to make your hair look so nice today…"

The girl was quiet, taking a few moments before speaking.

"What do you mean? You said it looked the same as always…"

"Huh?" He said surprised, before remembering the words he had said when he had first arrived at her house. "Oh! I mean…what I meant by that was…"

He answered truthfully.

"You're as beautiful as ever."

This time, Nariyuki didn't earn a reply, and Fumino remained silent.

Wait...what the heck did I just say..?

"I mean, no!" He cried out in embarrassment. "I mean...it's true, but I'm not trying to be weird or anything! It's just a general statement! So…"

He looked towards the ground, feeling guilty.

"I mean, I feel bad for messing up your hair. I don't know a lot about it, but..it must be hard work making it so pretty every day."

From behind, Nariyuki couldn't see her face, but the girl smiled softly at his concern. "I guess so. Us girls…we put a lot of effort into grooming."

"I don't doubt that. Honestly...it kinda feels...like I'm a hair-dresser and you're the customer, don't you think?" He chuckled, trying to bring some humor into the air.

Fumino didn't laugh however, and instead her expression suddenly became shy.

"You know…" She murmured. "even if it's not true...it would be more fun if you said…"

"It's like we're a couple."

He froze.

"W-what..?"

In a heartbeat, the girl was turning around in a frantic manner to try to take back what she had said. "W-wait no! I didn't mean-" Her footing slipped, and time seemed to slow. It was a mere second, but instinctively, he reached his arms out to catch her.

They landed with a crash.

In the aftermath, she was on top of him, and the shower head that he had just been holding was now lying on the floor, sprinkling water over their entangled bodies.

Their eyes met timidly.

"That was just...part of your female psychology...training." She explained slowly with a voice near to a whisper.

"R-right…" He returned, just as tense. "I get it...but…now it really…"

"Feels like...we're a…" She attempted to finish his thought, but before she could, Nariyuki's eyes shifted to the girl's clothes, and his face turned red.

He quickly turned away with a blush.

"Y-Y-Y-ikes!" She cried out in panic, putting distance between them. "I'm so sorry! Why did I say that?!"

"Um no it's not that...it's just…" His voice caught in his throat as he put a hand up to his eyes.

"You should really hurry up and get changed…"

The girl gasped, and in almost an instant the blush on her face matched his own.

"W-why didn't you say anything sooner!?" She yelled, covering up her chest self consciously.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'll go get you a change of clothes right now!"

He rushed out of the bathroom, and sprinted in the direction of the girl's room.

"God, what is wrong with me?! I'm absolutely losing it…"

'It's like we're a couple.'

The words from earlier stuck to him, and when he really considered the possibility of the idea happening...

It made him feel…

…

He shook his head violently. "W-What am I even thinking?! I need to hurry up and get her clothes for crying out loud! I'm supposed to be her caretaker!" He said trying to refocus his attention back to the task at hand.

Yet, as he reached into her closet to grab her a new set of attire, deciding to go with a warm turtle neck, the image of the girl being on top of him with their faces inches apart flashed back in his mind.

She really was…so beautiful.

Both inside and out.

---

~Early February~

"It's okay...It's okay, Furuhashi! It was well wrapped in plastic, so the chocolates are just fine!"

He had made it in time. He wasn't the most athletic person, but as soon as he saw the bag of chocolates fly out of Fumino's hand, he had pushed himself to sprint faster than what he thought was physically possible for his body. His pants were wet now, but if it was in exchange of saving the girl's Valentine's gift for her father, then it was well worth it.

"Nariyuki...what are you doing here..?" Fumino asked in disbelief.

"Huh? I promised you I'd support you until your injury healed, didn't I?" He answered matter-of-factly. "I was on my way to your house when I spotted you...and it's a good thing too…"

"A good thing..?" She repeated, still confused.

He smiled at her earnestly.

"You went through all the trouble of preparing this heartfelt gift for your dad. It would be a terrible shame...if he never got it."

Adrenaline was pumping through him, his breath still shallow. He must've looked silly for being so terribly out of shape. It was hard to imagine his heart beating any faster than it already was.

But before he knew it, it was doing just that.

Fumino lunged forward and buried herself into his chest.

"F-Furuhashi?!" He asked in panic. "What's wrong?! Y-you s-shouldn't move l-like that, you'll hurt your-"

"No..."

"W-what..?"

"No." She said again, more clearly this time. "The truth is...those chocolates…"

"are for...you."

His eyes went wide, the revelation surprising him more than anything he had ever heard from the girl before.

"I mean...of course, they're platonic! You know...because you always do so much for me!" The girl tried reasoning, but he was far too focused on the mix of emotions swirling in his mind to hear her.

He never would have expected it.

Sure he had received chocolates from a few of his friends, but he never would have expected it from her.

Maybe it was the fact that he knew first hand just how hard Fumino was working every single day. The girl was practically studying in all of her free time which he found so very admirable.

He never would have expected it.

Yet,

A part of him had hoped for it. Unknowingly.

Now that it had actually happened…

He felt…

Without warning, Nariyuki unwrapped the bag, and popped one of the chocolates into his mouth.

KRUNCH

"EEEEK! D-don't eat them!" She cried out in horror. "W-what's with that sound?!"

"Haha, they're a little hard, but they sure are tasty." He commented.

"You're bleeding! Stop forcing yourself, Nari-"

"They're delicious." He insisted, and the girl froze.

"I can tell you put a lot of care into making these." He continued, smiling brightly. "I love them. Thank you, Furuhashi."

I guess it's to be expected...but...

Whenever it has something to do with you...Furuhashi...

I'm so very happy.

There were a lot of things he wanted to say in that moment, but for now, he settled on simply appreciating the girl's thoughtfulness.

The girl blushed, looking away and breathing a sigh of relief.

"Me too.." She uttered beneath her breath.

"H-huh, did you say something, Furuhashi?"

"N-no, it's nothing!" She said while waving her hands in front of her. "Let's get back to my place. You need to change before you catch a cold!"

---

~Late February~

"Thank you, Nariyuki," Fumino said as she walked to the door to see him off. "For coming over again."

Nariyuki shook his head, smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry about it. I told you before, didn't I? I study better when I'm over here. Even if it wasn't the day before the secondary exam, It's still normal to pick the best study environment, no?" He said sheepishly.

Fumino smiled brightly.

"We'll just have to make sure that Hazuki and Kazuki never hear about that," she said with a giggle.

"Then it's a good thing we're both great at keeping secrets, huh." He added playfully.

A beat, and the two of them laughed together, beaming at the delight in their exchange. In the past two months with him taking care of the girl, their days had been filled with pleasant moments just like these. Even before, in their time spent together, he couldn't imagine an instance where he wasn't smiling to his fullest, happy at the shared sense of productivity they were always able to achieve.

That's right. If Fumino's injury didn't exist…

He hoped…that the girl would still be okay with having him over this often.

"This is really it, huh," Fumino said suddenly, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Tomorrow's the real big day."

Nariyuki looked to her with a curious smile. "Are you nervous?"

Fumino chuckled lightly. "Quite a bit. Honestly, I would be shocked if I wasn't."

…

"But…" She continued with a reflective smile.

"I've had your support with me this whole time," she said.

Her eyes fell to his, warm and true.

"That's why I know…that I'm ready too," she said firmly.

If Fumino was able to feel his body temperature, she would know just how much his chest warmed at her words. He looked to her with a smile, one that could only be described as happy and hopeful.

"I know that we'll be at separate testing centers, but I'll come pick you up first thing tomorrow and walk you to the station, okay?" He promised.

Fumino blinked, but sure enough, she smiled softly.

"Okay."

He smiled, satisfied by the answer, and when he turned to leave towards the mansion gate, Fumino called out to him after his second step.

"Nariyuki…"

He turned.

And once again, his eyes set promisingly on the girl's kind ones.

"Let's do our very best tomorrow."

…

There was only one thought that consumed him as Nariyuki smiled back resolutely.

Yes. No matter what tomorrow showed…no matter how difficult the exam may end up being…

He had someone supporting him…the entire way through.

"Let's."

---

~Early March~

"I'm so nervous, Nariyuki…"

"It's okay. We'll look together at the same time," Nariyuki reassured Fumino through the phone.

It was a moment of anticipation for the both of them. The tenuous wait for their university entrance exam results was over, and their scores were now posted on boards outside of the school for all students to see. They had walked to school together this morning, but unfortunately their respective boards were on opposite sides of the campus, so they had to leave each other's side during the reveal, but that posed little of an issue when they could simply call each other over the phone.

Yes. It was obvious…just how much Nariyuki yearned to be a part of this moment.

Being able to hear Fumino's voice…being able to be the first person to hear of her results...

There was no where else in the world he wanted to be right now.

"Okay…I'm ready!"

"Are you sure?"

A pause, and Fumino's voice once again came assuredly.

"Yeah."

He took a deep breath himself.

"Three," he said.

"Two," she added.

And then together.

"One."

His eyes looked up to the board, searching intently. He found his name there, and shortly after his exam results. The attention to the detail was brief, as truthfully his mind was far more focused on the voice on the other end of the phone. His heart beat in his chest forcefully, curiosity threatening to overwhelm his composure.

"Well?" He asked tentatively.

A second of silence turned into two, turning into five.

Until…

"I passed."

His own silence followed promptly, taking moments to comprehend her words, but as soon as he did…

Relief flooded through him fully.

"W-what about you?" Fumino asked immediately after, almost sounding desperate. "D-did you pass..?"

Nariyuki blinked at the returned inquiry, but slowly but surely, he smiled positively.

"I passed."

…

"Thank goodness!"

This time his eyes went fully wide at Fumino's reaction. It almost seemed as if the girl's palpable relief was due solely from his results and not from her own. Though that surely wasn't the case.

Afterall…this was a step towards her dream…something that she had dedicated her love to ever since she was little. Something true to her heart.

Something that Nariyuki had always admired and cherished…so deeply.

"I told you that there was nothing to worry about, didn't I? You've worked so hard…of course you were going to pass, Furuhashi."

The girl chuckled lightly, seemingly still attempting to reign in her emotions. "I'm sorry…I just…"

"I'm so happy for you, Nariyuki."

"Eh..?"

His small exclamatory did little to highlight his surprise as Fumino continued speaking with a softhearted voice.

"This entire time…you've been helping me step by step to reach my dream, but…you've also been working so hard to pursue your own passion as well. Ever since you told me…that you were going to pursue education in college…I've prayed so much that you would be able to make it into your school of choice."

"The fact that your hard work is being rewarded...the fact that you're finally going to be able to do the things that you really want to do…"

...

"That's what makes me so happy."

A long silence followed, and for a moment, Nariyuki seemed to forget that they were in a phone call entirely. The sentiments expressed to him…behind the girl's earnest words, there was an insurmountable trust held there. He felt a sense of closeness imbue him. Intimacy. As if there was no one else around but the two of them to share their feelings of achievement.

'But...if...the time comes when you've found something you really want to do, big sis will be here to support you with everything she's got!'

…

'It's not silly. Not even a little. Being able to take a step forward...for the feelings in your heart. How can that be described as anything else but wonderful?'

…

'When I remember how hard you're working to pursue your own hopes of education in college…how can I not do my very best?'

…

'Let's do our very best tomorrow…and ace the exam together, Nariyuki.'

The things he really wanted to do…from the very start…Fumino believed that he would reach it.

And truthfully…with her at his side...

He had learned…to fully believe it too.

"Furuhashi I-"

"Oh!" Fumino started speaking simultaneously. "That reminds me, let me go find Ricchan to see how she did! She's probably waiting to hear about our results. And we should probably tell Kirisu Sensei about our results too!"

Nariyuki perked up at the reminder, feeling a semblance of embarrassment fill him at the mention of the other two.

It was much too often that this happened...where he found himself forgetting...that him and Fumino weren't the only two people in the world.

Though...who could blame him.

"G-Good idea. How about we all meet in front of Kirisu Sensei's office afterwards to tell her of our results together?" He offered with a smile.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll see you in a bit then!"

"Yeah…"

The call ended, and immediately after…Nariyuki found his gaze drawn to the sky with a thoughtful smile.

Yes. He was now sure of it. The feeling that settled into him when reflecting Fumino's kind words…there was no doubt just how much promise it offered.

He was going to reach it...more than just for the sake of success...

'The fact that you're finally going to be able to do the things that you want to do…that's what makes me so happy.'

He was going to realize...his own dream.

"Yuiga-Kun."

The sudden gruff voice pulled him away from his thoughts.

It was one of his teachers.

"Yamada Sensei…"

"I see that you've been accepted into Tachibana. Congratulations."

"T-thank you, Sensei," he returned the polite gesture gratefully.

The man smiled, continuing cordially. "Many students take it easy once they transition into college, but I hope you'll continue working hard moving forward, Yuiga-kun. Though from the looks of it, it seems I have not much to worry given how much you have your work cut out for you."

Nariyuki blinked, confused by the man's implication.

"W-what do you mean?" He asked curiously.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm referring to your father's legacy of course."

All at once, his eyes widened…

"I joined Ichinose shortly after his passing," Yamada Sensei continued. "but everyone I've spoken to that knew him said that he was quite an amazing instructor, though I suppose being the only teacher to earn four teacher of the year awards in a row is more than enough to show that. You decided to pursue education because of him, no?"

...

The feeling of optimism that he was moments ago savoring…slipped away silently.

His father. Pursuing education.

It was all too familiar. He didn't want to be reminded of it. But of course it had returned. It had always been there…latching onto him as he did his very best to look away from it. But...there was no way…that he could have avoid it forever.

The suffocation. The inferiority. He had tried to shut it out, and he had thought that he had been able to. In the past year...he had felt hope…from a girl that was so wonderful to him that his days had been filled with a joy that he had never experienced before. He had felt a hope...that perhaps maybe...

He could find a dream for himself too.

But…

That reality…clearly wasn't meant for someone like him. He began to see it regretfully. That all the steps that he had thought were taken forward…

'I've been thinking...that I want to try pursuing an education degree in college…'

Were simply steps taken towards his past.

He was reminded again...

Unwantingly…

Just how large his father's shadow was.

"T-that's…"

He failed to answer clearly, and Yamada Sensei tilted his head in confusion.

"Yuiga-kun?"

"S-sorry…it's nothing," he tried assuring the man, but his voice wavered despite himself. "I just…"

"I guess I'm just a bit anxious…thinking that far ahead," Nariyuki smiled thinly, hoping that his sensei wouldn't see through his facade.

Thankfully, his guise seemed to go by unnoticed.

"Don't worry about it too much. It's a lot simpler when you have the footsteps of a role model to follow. So long as you keep working hard, I'm sure you'll eventually be able to fill his shoes just fine."

Encouragement. That's what it was supposed to be.

Yet…the heavy weight on Nariyuki's chest remained all too prominently.

"R-right…"

The man turned to leave, waving one last farewell to him.

"I wish you the best in your future endeavors, Yuiga-kun."

He did his best to smile in return.

"You as well, Sensei."

A few seconds of silence later and his teacher was gone. There were still many students surrounding him, still coming to terms with the results of their exams. Most of them seemed to be happy. Cheers of celebration could still be heard clearly all throughout the courtyard.

It should have been contagious. Afterall, just a few minutes ago, he had been thriving in that exact atmosphere.

Yet…in this very moment…

Nariyuki couldn't have felt any more lonely.

---

"He approached all kinds of people with sincerity, honesty, and a firm resolve, and before long...everyone always ended up adoring him." He finished softly.

There was a brief silence as Fumino processed his story.

"He sounds like a truly great man."

He nodded slowly. "Yeah…"

"I always...wanted to be like him…" He said, no longer able to hold back the undeniable sadness in his voice. "But he was so big and so far away...it always felt like I'd never catch up."

And in the end...I wasn't able to.

His conversation with Yamada Sensei returned to his mind, and the sense of hopelessness in his chest returned. In a couple of weeks he would be graduating, and it would soon be his time to pursue his chosen career in teaching…but…

It really wasn't his career that he was pursuing afterall, was it..?

Even when you're gone, Dad...I'm still trying to catch up to y-

"It's okay. You don't have to catch up."

The words rang out fatefully beside him. He whipped his head to her, unsure if he had heard her correctly.

"W-What..?"

"It's okay." She repeated firmly. "You don't have to be like anyone else. Your dad was your dad. You're you. What's so wrong with that?"

"Or rather...what I mean is…" He stared at her, his eyes focused on every single detail, every single display of emotion on the girl's face.

His heart stilled like ice.

"You're great the way you are, Nariyuki!" She stated firmly.

…and ice…embraced in a healing warmth.

"Furuhashi…"

"Nariyuki...you're my tutor, and I'm so proud of you..." She continued. "And just the way you are...I'm sure...that one day…"

A warmth…that never stopped reaching out to hold him.

"You'll be an even greater teacher than your dad!"

"…"

He was stone still. He didn't even realize how his cheeks were in flames from his sudden blushing. He felt strange...that surely there had to be something wrong with his body. His whole chest felt like it could burst from the overwhelming warmth within.

Fumino finally seemed to gasp in realization.

"I-I'm sorry!" She averted her gaze, mortified. "W-Why am I getting all worked up about this?! W-we should probably head home, don't you think?"

He whipped his head away as well, but for him, he was afraid that the feeling inside of him was seeping much too fervidly into his features.

"Y-yeah..."

…

They walked side by side, leaving the campus grounds. It was a route they had walked back home together many times, but none were as tense and silent as it was now.

Minutes passed as he avoided his gaze from the girl. He was very much lost in his thoughts, and rightfully so. If anyone could visually see what he was currently feeling, they would understand just how important and powerful the girl's words had meant to him earlier.

…

She saved him. She saw him in a way…that he never once knew how to…in a way that could only be described as precious. Seeing him for who he really was…she showed him a truth that lifted him from the very shackles that had weighed down on his heart so heavily and unknowingly for so many years.

The truth that he didn't have to be…like anyone else.

That he wasn't his father...and the feelings he felt in his heart...for the things he truly wanted to do...

Were very much his own.

And…Nariyuki realized…that that…was who Fumino was…how she had always been to him. No matter what stood before her…she always saw so much deeper than what the surface showed. She never stopped listening to her heart. From the moment she had first shared her dream to him. From the moment that he had taken his commitment towards education…even now…when he had doubted his own conviction the most…

She always believed in him….just the way he was.

The chance to be one's self...the chance to believe in his own self. That was the hope that Fumino had blessed him with so wonderfully every single day.

And…he didn't ever...want to lose it.

But…

'We're all…going to go our separate ways…'

What if he…couldn't keep it?

Earlier he hadn't really understood it entirely, but now he realized the implication behind the sentiment. Their time together…wasn't forever…their time at each other's side…was reaching its end…and when he took in that reality fully…

His heart clenched all too painfully.

Furuhashi…

He wasn't ready…

No. He would never be.

He didn't want it to happen.

He didn't want...to have to let her go.

...

"T-Thank you, Furuhashi..." He broke the silence tentatively. "It's the first time...anyone's said anything like that to me. It…means a lot..."

He stopped walking to stand in front of her. The girl looked up, her attention completely focused on him.

The yearning returned in all its desperation.

"A-After we graduate...w-we're all going to go on our separate paths, but...if...you're open to it, Furuhashi…"

His voice caught in his throat, and he swallowed the knot that had formed there.

He wanted to say it.

He needed to say it.

"Maybe I could still...be your sup-"

"Fumino-cchi?"

---

~Late March~

The afternoon at the guest house had turned upside down with the sudden change of events. He had desperately wanted to talk to Fumino, chasing her down the ski course that he knew was well beyond his capabilities, and as a result he had gotten them both stuck in this precarious situation; trapped in a storage room in the middle of a brutal blizzard.

They were huddled close together under a thick blanket to preserve their warmth.

"Here Furuhashi...use this heat pack." He said softly. "And...I'm glad your ankle's doing fine at least."

The girl reached for the item in his hand and squeezed gently.

"I'm sorry. Honestly, it was better sooner...but I couldn't tell you." She said with a guilty expression. "So...I'm sorry."

"...w-what do you…mean..?"

Her voice sounded unusually regretful...sad…and…that saddened him. Unconsciously, he thought back to two weeks ago, right before Uruka had interrupted their walk back home. At that moment, he had desperately tried to tell Fumino that he wanted to continue to support her...to continue being by her side…but…the girl, in a shocking surprise, had dropped her crutch and ran off in a hurry. And since then, because his role as her nurse had ended...he hadn't had the opportunity to speak to her like this...especially with classes now being over.

That distance...had only made his heart even more yearnful. Even though there was a semblance of guilt from him turning down Uruka's confession...all he had been able to think about every moment after…

Was her.

He wanted her to stay...that even though that they were going to different colleges...he wanted her to stay together with him…but…he wasn't sure how to express that. He wasn't even sure what to call this feeling of desperation pulsing inside him….but at least…with that last thought in mind…he had something to start with.

"B-By the way…" He said nervously. "Lately, there's this person...who's really on my mind."

The girl turned her head towards him, not saying anything. He swallowed thickly. Uneasiness was coursing through him…but he needed to at least try to continue.

"I wake up in the morning...and I think about them. When I'm eating, when I'm studying…"

"I'm always thinking about them."

He clenched his fists beneath the blanket, throat constricting.

"I don't really know...what this feeling is. But I could really use your advice, Professor Furu-"

"It's love."

He blinked, whipping his head at her so fast that it almost appeared to snap.

"Huh?"

"You're in love with that person, Nariyuki." She said softly. "Very much so."

He felt his head spin at the answer, shock consuming him as if he had been caught red handed.

"L-Love?!" He exclaimed in a panic. "Me?! T-That's-"

"Nariyuki." She interrupted. "That's all the advice I can give you. The rest...is up to you. I told you, remember?"

She smiled at him in a way that made his stomach drop.

"We have to go our separate ways now and do our best. I can't...always be here for you…"

He stared.

There was plenty of noise from the walls being pelted by the heavy snowfall outside, but in the little space between the two of them, it was deathly quiet.

It felt like an eternity before he was able to bring himself to speak again.

"Yeah...you're right." He finally said quietly. "T-Thank you, Furuhashi..."

His eyes shifted to the ground, and he felt the clouds in his mind part from his new perspective.

For once, he finally understood.

Thank you...Furuhashi…

Because of you…

I now know for sure...what this never-ending feeling in my chest is…

He turned his head to her, eyes fixated on the girl's delicate face. A warm blush creeped onto his cheeks, and this time, he was well aware of it's reasoning.

Because of you...I now know why…

I don't ever...want to let you go.

From the very start…

It had been obvious.

I've fallen in love with you, Fumino Furuhashi.

---

~One Day Later~

"It's…like a dream."

Nariyuki could only stare speechlessly as Fumino continued to shed heartfelt tears before him. He still couldn't believe it. He had been well prepared to bare his heart to the girl, to confess the wonderful feelings that had been so very present with him since he had met her. He hadn't known what the result was going to be…and that had been utterly terrifying...but he knew…that he had to do it.

He had prepared for the worst.

And yet...in all his stunned disbelief…

'You're the person I love most...in the whole world!'

Fumino had confessed first.

And more than just a confession…she had bared her feelings so truly…in a way that had caused his heart to swell with stupor.

She loved him. She loved him wholly and truly. She loved him more than anyone in the world.

...

She loved him…just the way he was.

And now…the girl was crying tears of relief when he had returned her confession. Everything about her…everything that he was lucky to witness and cherish, they were coming to fruition once more. The way she was crying…as if this moment meant everything to her…it showed him again…just how much the girl lived by her heart.

And right now…his heart was telling him…

That he had to be the one to make the final request.

"So, Furuhashi…that's why…if you want…."

...

He moved forward...

And grasped her hands preciously.

"From now on…I want to always be there to support you!" He said with a watery voice.

The tears were flowing in the girl's eyes, but he saw the joy held there. And his eyes resonated with an equally burning hope.

The girl answered him by lunging forward into his arms…

And he embraced her with all the happiness in his heart.

"That's a promise…Sensei!" Fumino said tearfully.

He was crying now too, a visible contrast to the overjoyed smile that was also brimming on his face. He wrapped his arms around the girl tighter, and the girl did the same, burying herself into the crook of his neck deeply. It was both blissful and healing, her warmth against his. There was no doubt that he could stay like this forever.

"I'm sorry…" The girl said suddenly, so quiet that he barely missed it.

"There's nothing for you to apologize for, Furuhashi…" He said comfortingly.

Fumino shook her head against him. "No…I'm sorry…that it took so long for me to say it…" She elaborated, and Nariyuki felt his eyes go wide. "This whole time…I knew that I loved you. But I was just…so afraid," she whispered shamefully. "I gave myself excuses. Whenever I got to see you…and we were able to spend time together…that made me so happy. When you took care of me from my injury, and I got to see you everyday…that made me so happy!" She said with tears falling once more. "I wanted our time together to never end…so I lied…I lied about my injury taking longer to heal than it should have. I wanted to stay together with you even if it was just a little bit longer. I…didn't want you to leave."

"But…all I was really doing…was running away."

"I'm a coward…" she finished with a crack to her voice.

It was immediate…just how quickly he was ready to comfort her…because there was no world where he would ever describe the girl as cowardly.

But...in his instinct to affirm the girl…he also felt relief.

Relief that he hadn't been alone in his struggle with his feelings.

Heartfelt and unending relief...that she also wanted more than anything...

To stay by his side.

"You're not a coward, Furuashi," he answered gently. "If you're a coward, then I'm an even bigger one for running away the way that I did. This whole entire time…I loved you….with all my heart. Every moment I've spent together with you has made me so happy…and so hopeful. Whenever I get to be your side...I feel like the whole world stops for me...just so I have a chance to savor it. Every single moment...is so precious to me. I…thought about you so much…and yet…I couldn't even put it together and understand what those feelings were. I had to wait for you to tell me to finally put a label on it. And even after you did…I was still scared. I was terrified…that you wouldn't feel the same way. I gave myself excuses…and ran away. I ran away…because I was scared of sharing my feelings with you..." He said meekly.

But then…his eyes met hers and they melted with tenderness.

"But…when I think about going our separate ways…when I think about the possibility of not being able to be by your side…and discovering my future together with you…"

He felt the tears well up in his eyes once more.

"That's more scary than I can put into words…" He said, his voice nearly breaking. "I don't ever want to be away from you, Furuhashi…so that's why…from now on, i-if it's okay with you…"

…

"Let's always stay together…" He smiled tearfully.

The words left his lips...

And with all the hope that he had come to know and discover from their journey...

Fumino buried herself into his arms once again.

From now on...

We'll always...be here to support each other.

"Let's..."

Yes...

There was nothing in the world...

More precious than this.

---

~One Week Later~

"Furuhashi!"

Fumino turned her head at his voice, and immediately smiled in recognition. Once their graduation ceremony had concluded, nearly all of the participants had made their way to the courtyard to meet up with their family members and friends. The fall of cherry blossom petals in season, so it was the perfect opportunity for students to capture the beautiful setting in their graduation photos.

With the mass of people surrounding them, it was honestly a shock that he had even managed to find the girl.

"Nariyuki…"

"Sorry…" He apologized sheepishly. "I wanted to come see you as soon as I could, but Mizuki found me first and insisted on taking pictures with me…"

Fumino shook her head with a smile. "It's okay. If I were her I would too. It's your graduation after all…I'm sure she's just excited to be a part of this moment."

"You're probably right…though ten minutes of taking pictures is going a bit overboard, don't you think?"

Fumino giggled softly. "For some people, yes, but don't you remember what I taught you in our feminine psychology lessons?"

He perked up in remembrance. "Oh right! Girls really love taking pictures to keep track of memories."

Another bright giggle escaped the girl from his answer, and his heart fluttered at the sound. A comfortable silence fell over them, and Fumino smiled fondly, expression softening as he looked to him with a proud gaze.

"Congratulations…Nariyuki."

His eyes crinkled. "To the both of us," he returned heartfeltly. "The ceremony was a lot longer than I expected..."

"You can say that again. Honestly I'm just really happy we could see each other receive our certificates. I still can't believe we're actually going to be college students in less than a week. It feels just like yesterday that we started preparing for entrance exams…" She said wistfully.

Nariyuki smiled in agreement. "It feels even shorter for me considering I only decided to commit to education until my third year. I guess time really does fly when you're enjoying yourself…"

"Especially since I got to spend most of it together with you…" He finished shyly.

Fumino's eyes shot wide at the implication, and he quickly blushed as he realized just how inadvertently forward his words had been.

"S-sorry!" He apologized, flustered. "T-that was a bit weird to say wasn't it..?"

"N-no, not at all!" The girl assured him. "I was just…"

Fumino trailed off as her expression suddenly shifted.

"I was just thinking that…we're probably going to be really busy again soon when school starts. We just started...being a couple. I wish…we had a little bit longer of a break to at least spend some more time together..."

The girl then looked away sadly.

"I guess…I was just thinking about how much I'm going to miss you once I leave…"

He was silent. Longer than he even realized.

But only because his heart was swelling with unprecedented affection.

Nariyuki reached out to hold her hand.

"I'm going to miss you too…" He said softly. "I really wish…we could see each other everyday...more than anything. I want to see the real stars together with you…as many times as possible, Furuhashi..."

His grasp tightened around her fingers.

"But it's okay," he said firmly. "Even if you can't come back to visit every week…even if I can't see your face as much as I want to….I know I'll be just fine."

"As long as I remember…just how much you believe in me…."

He smiled tenderly.

"I'll be more than happy."

There was a warmth in his chest as he finished, and it grew tenfold when the girl smiled joyfully. She squeezed his hand intently, peering into his eyes with a hopeful gaze.

"Can I call you everyday..?" She asked shyly.

And of course…

There was only brightness held in his answer…

Awaiting her with a promising smile.

"I would love that..." He whispered.

Moments passed as they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. It seemed inevitable as they leaned into one another, drawn in like fireflies to a flame. They blushed shyly together, both aware of the possibility that awaited from their mutual approach.

Nariyuki closed his eyes…

And she did the same.

…

"You guys!"

In mere seconds, the two of them flung apart, putting distance between each other with identical expressions of flusteredness. The voice was Uruka's, and in tow with her was Rizu, Asumi Senpai, and Kirisu Sensei.

Nariyuki felt himself relax at the familiar faces.

"Fumino-cchi! Nariyuki! Let's all take a picture together!" Uruka proposed enthusiastically.

Rizu followed soon after. "Would you two like some Udon?"

Asumi smirked from behind. "Look at you two getting a headstart with celebrating before us."

Last but not least was Kirisu Sensei. "I would be happy to assist you all with taking photos if you would be willing to lend me one of your mobile devices."

From the side, Fumino smiled warmly at their acquired company.

"You should be in the photo too, Kirisu Sensei…" The girl offered kindly.

"Unnecessary."

"Awwww, don't be that way, Sensei!" Uruka insisted.

"Stop acting all cool and hop in already," Asumi added.

Kirisu raised an eyebrow in reply. "Then who would be the one to take the picture if I were to be included?"

"I can manage that."

Another familiar face came into view, and both him and Fumino perked up in surprise.

"F-father?! I thought you left to return to work already!"

"I decided to stick around for a bit," Reiji explained matter-of-factly. "Turns out that was the right decision."

"Yay! Study group members unite!" Uruka cheered.

"H-how should we stand?" Nariyuki asked.

"Isn't it obvious? With our main couple at the center of course!"

"Eh?!" Fumino and Nariyuki blushed identically at the girl's suggestion, and all at once, they were ushered to the center of the group, touching shoulder to shoulder.

"Come on. Don't be shy, you lovebirds," Asumi said teasingly. "Say cheese!"

The two of them made eye contact, still blushing. It was certainly an unforeseen arrangement, but surprisingly Nariyuki found herself not minding the silliness of it all.

And judging by the glint of humor found in Fumino's eyes.

Neither did she.

Reaching for each other's hand, Fumino and Nariyuki broke into bright laughter simultaneously.

"Cheese!"

This…was the beginning of their new story.