"Did that really happen?" One of the girls in the locker room asked her friend as they and the other girls were changing back to their uniforms after gym class.

"Yeah, she said that it was his first kiss, but I still ran off."

"Saying it's your first kiss is really shameless." The girl said after sighing.

"He probably thought that it was better to say that it was his first time." What the girls didn't know was that Saya was listening in on the conversation as she was finishing dressing herself.

"When will boys realize that lies are totally transparent? It sets a pattern of mistrust."

"A first kiss…" Saya brushed her fingers against her lips. 'Up till now, I've never had a first kiss...'

"It looks like it baked fairly well." Akio stated as he placed a decorated cake at the table before Utena and Anthy.

"Amazing! You can do anything, can't you, Akio?" Utena complimented.

"Shouldn't the compliments wait until you've tried it?" Akio asked with a chuckle.

"But it's so rare to find a guy who can bake a cake!"

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

"Coming!" Anthy went to answer the door to reveal Saya. "Miss Saya, I'm so happy that you could make it. Please, come inside." Anthy stepped to the side and let Saya walk inside.

"Saya!" Utena greeted, while holding a tray of the tea set.

"It's good to see you again. It's been a while." Akio added.

Saya bowed and said, "Thank you so much for inviting me."

"Please come and get yourself settled." Akio gestured towards the table.

"Not to be rude, but may I ask why did you invite me over? I don't want to intrude at your home." Saya asked once she stood at the table.

"Utena and Anthy told me about what happened to your friend, Ruka." Akio said, causing Saya to look down, hiding her sadden eyes. "I know that his departure is hard to let go, but I'd hope that we along with this cake could help cheer you up."

"I know it's been several days since Ruka died and I knew that he wasn't going to be around very long, but…" Tears started to build up at the corner of her eye. "I still can't believe that he's gone." Saya quickly brushed her tears away and apologized, "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to bring my drama to everyone, especially since you invited me over."

"No need to apologize." Utena said, placing a hand on Saya's back. "There's nothing wrong with mourning over someone you cared about."

"I'm sure that Ruka didn't want you to feel sad. He'd want you to remember the good times you two had together." Akio added.

"You're right." Saya exhaled through her mouth and smiled. "Anyway, we shouldn't let this cake and the tea go to waste."

"Please help yourself. I can't guarantee it's any good, though." Akio offered.

"You made this cake? That's amazing!" Saya complimented.

Akio smiled at her and said, "Save your compliments until you've tasted it."

"It's not every day you come across a man who can bake in general." Saya added.

'She's practically saying the same thing I just said, just worded differently.' Utena thought while sipping her tea.

"Kanae must be lucky to have you as your fiancée. How is she doing by the way?" Saya asked.

"She's doing much better. Thank you for asking." Akio responded.

Utena is not sure why, but she felt a bit uneasy. Whenever she talks to Akio, she's always worried that she'd say something to him that's totally embarrassing. When she sees Akio and Saya talking to each other, it's the exact opposite; Saya can talk with him calmly like they've known each other for a long time. It didn't help that Saya even brought up Kanae in the conversation.

"Utena?" Utena snapped out of her trance and turned towards Akio. "Is something wrong?"

"N-No, nothing at all." Utena responded with an uneasy smile.

"Typical wicked girl's plots, eh?" Akio joked, causing Utena to laugh a bit.

Another school day ended and Saya was walking out after she finished her training in the kendo room. Just as she reached down to the bottom of the stairs, a voice called out to her.

"Saya!"

Saya stopped and turned her head to the parking lot and saw Akio leaning against his car. "Oh, Akio." She walked towards his car but couldn't help but notice that his car is similar to the cars she's seen at the Dueling Arena.

"Is something wrong?" Akio asked.

"Huh? Oh, no. It's just…your car…" Saya trailed.

"Hmm?"

"I've been seeing this car quite a lot lately." Saya finished.

"It's a popular model this year. Don't like it?" Akio asked.

"It's not that." Saya said. "It's very nice. Who am I to judge what kind of car you like to drive?"

Akio smiled and said, "Thank you. If you want, I can give you a ride sometime."

His offer caught Saya off guard. Why would he offer her a ride in his car? Wouldn't it look bad for him since he's the acting chairman and she's a student, not to mention that he has Kanae?

"Saya!" Looking over her shoulder, she sees Utena and Wakaba walking towards her. "Utena. Wakaba."

"Ah, Utena, Miss Shinohara." Akio greeted.

"Hi there!" Wakaba greeted back. "You know, you can call me Wakaba…not Miss Shinohara, if you want to." She leaned towards Saya and whispered, "Saya, where were you two sneaking off together? Maybe you two are on a date, right?"

"Of course not!" Saya exclaimed. "We just bumped into each other."

"Really?" Wakaba asked.

"Why would Saya lie about that?" Utena asked.

"Really really?" Wakaba kept pestering.

"Of course!"

"In that case…" Wakaba turned her attention towards Akio and called out, "Hey, Akio! Can we go for a drive together?"

"Whoa, whoa!" Utena gave her friend an expression that says, 'Are you kidding me?'

"It must be fate that I ran into you today like this." Wakaba added.

"She says after dropping by every day to visit…" Utena whispered.

"She what?" Saya didn't know that.

"Um, please?!" Wakaba pleaded. "It'll be a memory I'll treasure my whole life!"

"I see…If you have two hours to spare, I can spend some time with you." Akio turned his attention to Saya. "All though, I did offer a ride to you, Saya."

"O-Oh, that's okay. I need to get home anyway. Wakaba can take my place if she really wants to." Saya said.

"All right!" Wakaba cheered before running towards the car.

Utena sighed in disbelief and muttered, "Man, she's pushy…"

"Perhaps you'll take my offer another time." Akio said while entering the driver's side.

"M-Maybe." Saya said out of politeness, though she was originally going to decline either way.

Just as Utena was about to enter the car, Wakaba held out her hand and stopped her from entering the car. "Oh, no, you don't. You stay here, Utena."

"Why?"

Wakaba leaned against Akio and stated, "Because three's a crowd with dates! Right, Akio?"

"Uh, right. See you later." Utena said, though Saya can detect a tone of disappointment in her voice.

"Uh-huh. Later!" Wakaba waved her hand before Akio drove off. "Buh-bye!"

"Buh-bye…" Utena said back, even though she knew Wakaba wouldn't hear her.

"Is everything all right, Utena?" Saya asked, grabbing Utena's attention. "You seem to be a bit sad that you were left behind."

"O-Oh! It's nothing really!" Utena exclaimed with a nervous laugh. "I should be used to Wakaba acting like this when it comes to handsome boys. Besides, I need to be home anyway, tons of homework and studying to do. See ya!" Utena took off running, leaving Saya alone in the parking lot.

"See ya…" Saya knew that Utena was hiding something, however she's not going to get involved unless Utena wants her to since it's her business.

Another day of school came and went as the day ended. Saya was walking straight home as she had no club activities for the day. Her mind wandered off towards Utena's strange behavior from yesterday. She heard that Utena was acting a bit strange during a basketball game, to the point that she sprained her ankle.

'I truly hope that everything is all right with Utena. It's not like her to act like this at all.' Saya thought.

Suddenly, a car pulled up in the parking lot. Saya stopped and noticed Akio parking his car with Utena sitting on the passenger seat.

"Utena?" Saya whispered with one of her eyebrows arched. She hid herself behind a corner of a building and listened in on the conversation.

"Here we go." Akio got out of the driver's side and went around to the passenger's side.

"Thanks a lot!" Utena thanked as Akio opened the door for her. Just as Utena was about to get herself out of the car, Akio stopped her by kneeling down to her feet and picked up her left foot, where her injured ankle is located.

'What the?' Saya watched in confusion as Akio started rubbing Utena's ankle.

"Does it hurt?" Akio asked.

"I-I'm fine, really." Utena stuttered, hoping that he doesn't notice her cheeks turning red. She let out a grunt when Akio brushed his hand against a sore spot on her ankle.

"The doctor said you should stay off of it today." Akio stated.

"N-No, it's fine! I can walk!"

Akio slowly took off Utena's shoe and got a bit closer to her as he placed his other hand on top of her bandaged foot. "Now, don't be unreasonable. I'll carry you on my back."

"What is he doing?" Saya whispered. His actions were confusing her along with Utena not doing anything to stop him.

"Akio, you're…a real playboy, aren't you?' Utena asked unexpectedly.

"Why?"

"Because…You're so good at making girls feel good."

"Am I?"

"You don't act like a school's chairman. You seem almost…dangerous." Utena pointed out.

"You defy the rules by wearing boys' clothing, right?" Akio pointed out as well. "We're similar, you and I."

"But I do it for my prince." Utena stated as she slowly backed away from Akio who was getting close to her person.

"Your prince?"

"I met a prince long ago that I loved. And now…" Utena trailed off when Akio rested his hand against her cheek.

'Utena, what are you waiting for?! Push him away!' Saya wished she could shout what she's thinking but she would be giving herself away.

"I'll carry you on my back. Or perhaps my arms would be better…" Akio looked into Utena's eyes before he gently pushed her down and kissed her.

Saya quickly covered her mouth, covering the gasp that's begging to come out as she watched what had just happened with widened eyes.

'H-How could he…Why would she…' Saya didn't what shocked her more: Akio kissing another girl…or the fact that Utena is letting it happen. She didn't know what else to do except just to quietly back away and leave the scene.

No matter how hard she tried, Saya couldn't get the image of Akio and Utena kissing out of her mind. She had a feeling that Utena was acting a bit strange, but she'd never imagined that she had feelings for Akio; a man that is engaged and an adult.

A knock came from her door, snapping Saya out of her train of thought. She looked up at the door and answered, "Come in." The door opened to reveal Saionji entering. "Brother."

"Saya, are you hungry?" Saionji asked as he walked towards her desk, where she was sitting and pondering.

"Why do you ask?" She asked.

"Well, you didn't eat much at dinner tonight, so I got a bit concerned." Saionji replied.

"Oh…" Saya blinked a couple of times before responding, "I just wasn't very hungry." She looked down at her desk and added, "Sorry for worrying you."

"Something on your mind?" Saionji asked, knowing that Saya has something to get off her chest.

"Well…It's something that I overhead from some girls at school." Saya said.

Saionji leaned against her desk and asked, "Yes?"

"They mentioned that there was no such thing as 'wrong' love. That you can't help it when you fall for someone. But there are some people you shouldn't fall in love with…" Saya said, somewhat lying in order for her not to say what she saw.

"I don't know much about that, but…" Saya looked up at Saionji who continued, "I think those girls may be right…that there's a part of love that you just can't control."

"You really think so?" Though she's grateful that Saionji was truthful about what he believes, she's not so sure that she believes in it.

"Is there someone who you love?" Saionji asked, out of nowhere.

Immediately, an image of Touga appeared in her mind, causing her to trail her eyes off to the side with her cheeks turning slightly red. "Yes, there is, but I'm not sure if he feels that way about me."

Driving in the middle of the night on an empty road, Akio and Touga were once again in Akio's car.

"Well, well…Utena Tenjou, huh?" Touga asked while staring down at Utena's shoe in his hand. "She's the owner of the glass slipper?"

"By the way…You've fallen for her, haven't you?" Akio asked.

Touga brushed his hair away from his face before responding, "Actually, I've fallen for someone else. Someone who has been with me since we were kids."

"Ah, Miss Saya Saionji."

"Losing the duel was a shock to me. I don't simply mean my being defeated. It was finding a girl who shook my core beliefs. It was at that moment I've reconsidered how I live my life." Touga stated as his mind trailed off to the thought of Saya. How he wished he could hold her in his arms and never let her go.

Akio shifted gears and accelerated his car before saying, "You have good insight." Akio leaned back and closed his eyes. "She's a fine girl…"

Touga leaned back and closed his eyes as well. "She is, indeed, Mr. Chairman."

The next morning, Akio was having breakfast with Anthy and Utena until Kanae showed up unexpectedly with her mother who wished to speak with him in private. He led her to the planetarium room and had her sitting on the couch while he sat on the arm rest while swirling a glass of wine in his hand.

"What do you want to discuss?" Akio asked. "I believe I've been performing my duties well enough. Could it be something we can't discuss on the phone?"

"Akio…Have you been avoiding my daughter lately?" Kanae's mother asked. "Your position at this academy depends on your marrying her. And don't forget, engagements can be cancelled at any time."

"I'm good to Kanae, aren't I? I'm even considering naming a comet after her if I discover one. Besides…" Akio placed the glass on the table before getting close to Kanae's mother where he is hovering over her. "You see? I even wear her favorite fragrance. I'm always sure to wear it, and when we're alone…"

Kanae's mother turned her head away. She knows that Akio rightfully belongs to her daughter but…

"And how is your husband, the chairman?" Akio wondered.

At this moment, she doesn't even care about what's right and what's wrong. She needs to feel love again…and she needs it now.

"Who cares about him?!"

Akio kneeled down to her feet and, like he did with Utena, she gently removed her black heeled shoe from her left foot. The only difference is that he placed a gently kiss on her leg, causing her to throw her head back and let out a moan.

Akio turned on the planetarium projector, lighting up the ceiling with the stars.

"You're the only one...My only prince…"