A/N: been busy with work lately :(

(Italic: spoken in English)

"He almost kissed you but then stopped himself? And then never called you?" Tomoka exclaimed from the other line. Sakuno immediately removed the phone from her ear. Her best friend has the most extreme reactions.

"Yeah… but it's okay. He technically didn't do anything to me. I'm just confused." She played with the hem of her skirt. Yesterday was very nerve-wracking. After that incident, Ryoma quickly left, Sakuno clenched her hand that had touched Ryoma's warm cheek. She slowly closed the door and let her imagination run wild. Her heart was about to burst.

But that aside, she was more troubled by the sad expression on his face.

"I know why he's upset." Tomoka said. Sakuno sat straight and prepared to listen carefully to what Tomoka is about to say.

"Please tell me!"

"You know he has a girlfriend, right? Maybe he's feeling guilty about it. I mean, he almost kissed a girl, in her room, just the two of them! If I were in his place, I would be like that, too!"

"True… well, I just have to respect him and his girlfriend. But…"

"But?"

"I guess I deserve an explanation, or at least a phone call about it…" she quietly said but still Tomoka heard this and sighed.

"Yeah, I know. Anyway, let's wait for him to calm down. I'm sure he's pretty shaken up about it, too. Maybe he'll call you soon." She said. Trying to comfort her friend. Sakuno nodded and they both ended the call.

The next morning, Sakuno had an early class. She did not sleep comfortably last night since all she thought about was Ryoma, so she decided to go to a coffee shop. She ordered a simple café latte and sat on one of the vacant sofa. She has a little bit of time to kill before she absolutely has to leave for school. She used this time to think about things.

I'm worried about him. I want to call him, but his girlfriend might get mad! But I want to talk to him... I don't know if I can send him a text message now after that phone call from his girlfriend who seemed to be upset with him having lunch at my place. But when will I see him again? I want to see him right now...

"Ryuzaki?"

A wild Ryoma appears before her. Sakuno gasped. Manifestation works!

"Ryoma-kun! How are you?" she stood up from her seat and politely greeted him. Sakuno did not expect to see him here, today, right away, that's why she hurriedly fixed her hair which looked like she came straight from bed. Ryoma looked at him before smirking. Sakuno could tell that Ryoma is in a better mood today than yesterday. Maybe they made up? She stops herself from asking. Ryoma took a seat on the sofa beside her bag. She then proceeded to sit on the other side of her bag. Now only the bag sat in the middle which gave them space from each other.

She took a side glance and admired the boy beside her. Er... her bag.

His hair was well styled, he wore a simple white shirt, nude colored cargo pants, and converse kicks. A very refreshing image of the prince, rather than wearing those tennis outfits.

"Um, Ryoma-kun. Are you going to grab some coffee?"

"Oh, uh, not really."

"Okay..." she said. The boy whipped out his phone at last and began to fiddle on it. He suddenly looked restless with his hands. Sakuno scratched her head. She never understands what goes on boys' minds, especially this boy.

"Miss Ryuzaki, your coffee is ready!" the barista called. Sakuno stood up and got her cup. She then returned to where Ryoma is.

"Ryoma-kun? Is there something you need from me? I need to go to class now, so..." she slowly grabbed her bag while looking at Ryoma, waiting for an answer. The boy just watched her move. His cat-like eyes followed her movements like an actual cat.

"Uh, well, then..." she was ready to say goodbye when Ryoma stood up and followed her out the door. She turned around and Ryoma stopped. They looked at each other, confused.

"What? I'm going to class, too." he blinked.

"Oh, okay."

They walked side by side on the way to school. It was a five-minute walk from the coffee shop but to Sakuno, it felt like an eternity.

"I want to apologize for the way I acted yesterday. It must have freaked you out." he said. Sakuno stopped. She was happy to know that Ryoma definitely was worried about her. At least that's what she thinks.

"So, sorry..." he said awkwardly, rubbing his nape. He averted his gaze from her to the random cat walking in front of them. He suddenly remembered Karupin.

"Thank you... But, if its okay with you, can we talk later? About yesterday." she blushed. She was surprised at herself for asking for Ryoma's time.

"Okay, I'll text you."

"Okay."

Then they went separate ways.

It was cooking class. The instructor had grouped the class into four people. They were instructed to cook Japanese dishes today. Sakuno, the girl who came from Japan, suddenly found herself being wanted by every group in the room. But of course, the instructor had already assigned everyone to their own groups beforehand. So the students had no choice but to give up on her. It was the most hectic day of her life so far. She finally walked to her group and was surprised to see a familiar face.

"Justin...kun?"

He smiled.

"Hey, Sakuno! Long time no see! Looks like we're cooking buddies."

"Ah, yes. Let's do our best!"

Another guy walked up to them, with a girl standing behind him.

"Hello. We're in this group, too. Nice to meet you all. I'm Dennis." he turned around and introduced the girl to them.

"And this girl is Emily."

"Hi." she muttered. Sakuno nodded but noticed the girl had no energy at all. SHe looked bored and lonely. Maybe a friend is all she needs, Sakuno thought with a glimmer of hope to finally have a female friend.

"Nice to meet you!"

After getting acquainted for a while, the class began to prepare to make Japanese food. Every group was assigned different dishes and Sakuno's team is assigned to make Japanese curry.

"You know, we're so lucky that Sakuno is on our team." Dennis happily said as he tied his apron. Justin nodded, but Emily said nothing and began to peel the potatoes' skin off.

I'm going to do my best!" she smiled.

"I didn't know you had this class, too." Emily said to Justin. The boy turned around to face her.

"Why would I tell you? We're not close." he replied with a bored tone. Dennis chuckled behind Sakuno.

"Knock it off, guys. I know the date didn't go as planned but can we for once forget about it?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't have enrolled in this class. I would lose my appetite just looking at your face." she said as she sliced the potatoes fast. Sakuno tried to stop her but was ignored. The potatoes are now sliced like potato chips.

"Well, I wouldn't even eat whatever you'll cook. No matter how hard you try to take cooking classes, you won't be able to make edible food!" Sakuno turned around and tried to take the carrots from Justin who is mindlessly cutting it in powder.

"Maybe I should do it..." she said in a tiny voice. Dennis took notice of her and pulled her away from the bickering couple.

"It's best to leave them alone. Let's just make our own dish!" he smiled as he guided Sakuno on another clean table. She agreed and began to cook with him.

"Wow, this looks good, Sakuno!" Dennis eyed the well-plated Japanese curry on the table. The girl smiled brightly as she presented it to the rest of her group. Emily and Justin had managed to make curry but it was color green, so they are going to use Sakuno's dish as the final result. Dennis, on the other hand, never made one. He was not born for this, he said.

After class, the four of them decided to go to a cafe to celebrate being the highest graded group in cooking class. It was all thanks to Sakuno, so the other three treated Sakuno as thanks. They sat down and Justin waited for their drinks by the counter, and Dennis went to the nearest mall to buy a few school supplies for his other class. Sakuno and Emily quietly sat beside each other. Sakuno wanted to befriend someone in her class so she can at least have someone to talk to aside from Ryoma and Tomoka. So, she breathed in, and breathed out and prepared to talk to her.

"Um, are you okay? You look tired." she said. Emily rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms.

"It's because of that guy Justin." they both watched the guy as he tapped his fingers on the counter. Sakuno remembered their fight from earlier. She thought maybe they were ex lovers, or something.

"May I ask why?"

"Ugh. We went on a date but turns out, he was a complete idiot. So, no thanks." she angrily said. Sakuno giggled. Emily looked so cute when she's pouting.

"What's so funny?"

"No, nothing!" she covered her mouth. Now, Emily looks scary.

"Well, that was one thing... my boyfriend actually dumped me."

Sakuno's eyes turned wide. Oh, so that's why she's so grumpy.

"Sorry, I'm being an asshole. You must've been annoyed." she rubbed her temple. Sakuno breathed a sigh of relief.

"Um, more like scared. But that's okay, you don't have to apologize. Do you want to talk about it?" Sakuno touched Emily's shoulder to comfort her. She finally smiled.

"Thanks... you're a really kind person. I've been depressed for a few months now and I don't know what to do. I'm sorry for opening up to you so suddenly."

"Oh, don't worry about it. I really want to be your friend. So, you can talk to me about anything."

"Really, Sakuno?"

"Of course, we're classmates, and now, we're friends." Sakuno felt like she was floating. She was so happy to have made a new friend. Those English lessons with Fuji-sempai didn't go to waste after all.

"Maybe I can have your number? I just need a friend. Most of my friends are guys and they wouldn't understand me even if I talk to them."

"Oh, sure!"

The girls exchanged contact numbers. Sakuno handed her phone to Emily, and she did the same. Sakuno typed her number and name, then saved it on Emily's phone. Then she exited the app but was surprised when she saw her phone wallpaper.

"Ryoma-kun?"

TBC...