Sigh.

I think that was my thousandth sigh since yesterday.

I counted the number of days left before I should confess to Takehiko. I have three weeks left.

Sigh.

I'm so tired of crying but I just really can't stop my tear glands. Right now, they're just taking a break but they do hurt as hell.

I sat down on the step of the house, casually sliding my school shoes on. I wasn't really looking at my feet. I was just staring up the ceiling where a spider was starting to build its new home.

"Hey."

I haven't really talked to them since the time they admitted that they followed me and Takehiko in the amusement park. I just asked them out of curiosity. It's not like I'm angry over such petty things. Well, I think it would have been a big deal if I learned of it when the sin was fresh. But now that months already passed since then, it's just like an insignificant detail of the date.

After talking about the amusement park issue, I just went to my room and cried on my bed. I even forgot to eat. The two didn't bother me which was kinda good since I don't really want to explain myself

"Hey!" I jerked up at the sudden call, accidentally tossing my shoe up in the air which ended up hitting me on the head.

"What?" I finally asked, looking at the culprit while rubbing my head. It was Shintaro, holding in his laughter by biting his lower lip. "It's Monday. I did not get the day wrong." I answered in advance if he's gonna nag about that.

He cleared his throat and started to walk, picking my shoe up. He then went in front of me, kneeling down.

"How can you even do that?" he asked, stifled laughter in his voice. This shit is laughing at me. Eh, whatever. Better than being called an idiot. Or was that better?

 He carefully took my right foot and slid the shoe on. "There."

Hah...

"This scene made me remember the time when you accompanied me to the cafe where my first date with Takehiko was supposed to be." I reminisced as he sat down beside me.

As if on cue, he started to gave my back soothing pats that has a single rhythm. This pat has its magic. It always make me feel that everything will be alright.

"I did not anticipate that we will form a bond with you. I apologize for that." He spoke, his free hand taking mine. "But I would like you to know that I enjoyed each and every day that I get to spend time with someone as stupid as you."

...

"Thanks." I smiled, bumping my head on his shoulder.

"I-I'm just telling the truth, nanodayo."

I gasped. "You said it!"

"S-said what?" he asked, letting my hand go. I quickly took his back, squeezing it tightly.

"You said it! The phrase your fandom knows you always say!" I squealed. "It's true!"

"S-shut up! I j-just slipped!"

"Doesn't matte--" a candy was put in my mouth, making me shut up.

"You're still so annoying." he said, rubbing his temples in frustration while I chew on my candy. "Anyway, this is for you."

"Will you finally show me where you get these watermelon flavored candies?" I asked as he snatched my right hand. "I mean you always give me these whenever I talk too much-- what the."

I instantly shut up when the carrot suddenly put a ring on my thumb finger. It was a simple ring with a round stone in the middle. The stone is kind of weird in color. It has this pastel color of blue and violet in the middle while the rest are the color of pale white-- but wait.

"Why are you giving me a ring?" I asked, my heart starting to send weird signals.

"It was my lucky item just before I enter your world." he answered me. "That explains why it's too big for you and can only fit in your thumb."

"Why are you giving it to me?"

"You don't need to know. Just take good care of it." he said, letting go of my hand and adjusting his eyeglasses.

"What stone is this?" I took a closer look at the ring, admiring its nice silver carving.

"It's a moonstone."

"Huh. Did your Aho(Idiot)-sama tell you that your lucky item is a moonstone ring?" I prodded.

"It's Oha Asa, idiot." the male retorted. "Not actually. But that's the item." he then gave my forehead a flick before standing up.

It didn't really hurt so I'll just shut up.

"It might not be a Sunday today but you're two hours too early to go." he teased with his cynical voice.

Well, fuck. What's up with me getting any schedule wrong? I really should learn how to follow one.

"Time is just an illusion and we're all just waiting for our--" I tried to reason.

"Well, can we use your remaining 'illusion' for a small walk?" a familiar voice interfered. Of course, it's the butterfly. "Ohoh! What I said just now is so perfect! Perfectly calculated, magnificent!"

"Right, right." I laughed, standing up to fully face him.

Rei was already in his outdoor clothes, sparkles all around him.

"You look so energized."

"It's a perfect day for a perfect walk!" he answered, grabbing my arm and dragging me along.

He opened the door with a loud slam, running ahead without bothering to shut the door. Oh, Shintaro will be so pissed.

He sure runs fast. We were going through the streets in a blur that I couldn't even keep up to the quick change in our surroundings.

"Rei, this is running, not walking!" I shouted as the wind kept slapping me on the face.

"Which makes it feel good!" he answered with joy, tugging me towards him.

And because I am a clumsy piece of work and he's one strong dude, I ended up stumbling and he ended up catching me in his arms.

"... Well, too much is too much for a reason." He breathlessly chuckled which made me look up and stare at his purple hooded orbs that were mere inches away from mine.

His hands that were resting on my waist soon snaked themselves to an embrace. He leveled his head to mine, gently bumping them together.

My heart was sending me weird distressed signals again.

Rei's face was as red as his eyeglasses. I'm sure as hell that mine also looks so red.

"What did the butterfly tell his flower?" he suddenly asked.

"How are you sure that it's a 'He'?" I asked with a frown. "Is this one of the riddles I can't solve unless I take ten years of high school?"

"W-what?" He surely was baffled.

"Is it?"

"H-huh?" Confused, he completely let go off me and increased our distance.

Is it me or did I just ruin a shoujo manga moment?

"Should I answer your question or...?"

"You're supposed to answer with a 'What?' !" he said. "It was your calculated response!"

"Really?" I asked in wonder.

"Yes!" he said, freaking out. He's about to do a back flip with that look on his face.

 "Umm.. So should I say 'What?' now?" 

"..." he gave a defeated smile. "Sure."

"What?" I asked.

" 'I like you.' " Rei answered, giving me a closed eye grin.

That was the answer to the riddle. I don't get the logic. I don't get the meaning of the riddle. But I do get one thing; My heart is beating so fast that I might have a heart attack right about now.

"W-why w-will the butterfly say t-that to t-the flower?" I stuttered. Damn. Am I that flustered?

"Who knows?" he then took a look at our surroundings. "Oh. This is the play ground where I told you about what happened to me in my world."

At the realization of what he just said, I also took a look around out surroundings. "Oh yeah. Woah. We sure have ran fast."

"That's right." Rei said, brimming with pride. "My running form is just so perfect."

I gave a laugh. "Whatever you say." I don't really know how to describe Rei's personality. He would be flustered at certain times and the next minute, he's back to this narcissistic OCD  guy.

Rei then snapped his head back to me. "Anyway. I have something to give you." He took my right wrist and gently settled a leather watch, securing the accessory tightly to my hand.

"Isn't this yours?" I asked, eyes widening. "I always see you wearing it."

"Yup. I treasure this watch so much." he laughed. "I was able to take it with me to this world. I want to give it to you."

"Why?"

What's up with these two eyeglasses giving me free stuff?

"I want you to have a part of me. I am well aware that you're pretty forgetful so I want you to think of perfect me whenever you see that. " he simply answered. "I mean, swimming is a part of me too so--!"

"No thanks. No large bodies of water for me. Not when I almost drowned." I quickly interfered.

"Well I--"

He was cut off when we both heard the loud ring emanating from my phone that was hiding on my pocket.

Rei gave his intelligent smile, adjusting his eyeglasses. "You should probably answer that."

"Alright." I nodded, grabbing the phone and staring at the screen.

It's Takehiko.

I quickly pressed the answer button and put the device near my ear. "Takehiko?"

"Hey." he greeted. He sounded so nervous with that greeting.

"What's up?" I asked. "You called so early."

"Well, I just figure that I want to walk to school with you." he said. I can imagine him smiling.

"Oh. Sure. What time should we meet in the intersection?" I asked, giving Rei a side glance.

He was just smiling at me... Is it me or does that smile feel so sorrowful?

"Can it be... Now?"

"Now? Isn't it too early?"

"Well, I really need to do something so we gotta be a bit early. Do you mind?" he pleaded.

"Um. I don't mind. I'll get going then."

We both said our farewells and ended the call.

That was a weird conversation. Takehiko sounded really off and jumpy and nervous.

"I think I need to go, Rei." I informed the blue-haired individual.

"Sure." he nodded. "I'll get back home then."

"I'll see you after school?"

"Hmm. Of course! Don't forget your responsibilities, alright?"

"Eh?"

"Like!" he shouted. "Err. Take care of yourself. Don't do anything that might cause harm. Bye." he then quickly turned around and made a run back home.

...Okay?

To Takehiko we go.

---------------

The cherry blossoms were falling down the pavement, making the entire atmosphere serene. I look like a lone main character walking down a park full of cherry blossoms. But I ain't in a park and I ain't a main character. The streets were just empty since it was still too early. 

I was absentmindedly walking at the road, thinking of Rei and Shintaro. They just suddenly gave me free stuff. Then they said some things that sounded like... they're leaving.

"Holy shi--" I suddenly blurted out as I felt myself slipping from the cherry blossom petals. I was about to pray for my safety when a pair of strong arms caught me.

Deja vu?

The person steadied me before letting go.

"Are you alright?"

Wow. I almost died in a pile of cherry blossom petals. Not too shabby.

"Yes... I was just... I tripped over some stupid petals." I stammered and looked at the individual who helped me. "Takehiko!?"

He laughed. "Why are you so shock? This is where we're supposed to meet, right?"

"Yeah..." I straightened my posture and looked around. This place feels just so familiar.

Oh right. This is where I would start stalking sempai on the way to school. I giggled, holding a hand to my mouth. Shit, I sound so weird when giggling.

"Why are you laughing?" he curiously asked, raising a perfect eyebrow of his.

"I dunno." I said, smiling like an idiot. "I just suddenly realized that time has passed by really fast. I used to walk to school alone." I used to stalk you as my sempai. I used to adore you from afar. I used to seat tables away from you. Now, I'm right in front of you. Talking to you. We even eat lunch together.

And it was all thanks to Rei Ryugazaki and Shintaro Midorima. I really owe them so much. They gave me so much happiness. I have to pay them back somehow.

"Time did really pass by fast." he agreed as pink petals animatedly fell down his frame.

We're under the branches of cherry blossom trees. They were gently swaying with the wind, petals falling down.

"I don't know why I haven't noticed your presence for the past years." he laughed. "I always felt like someone's watching me and I used to dismiss those thoughts as nothing."

My eyes widened, cheeks turning red. Holy bananas. HE KNOWS.

"It turned out it's you."

"Y-y-you knew that I was your stalker!?"

"More or less." he laughed wholeheartedly. "It's alright. I find it cute."

"But that's not really what I want to tell you."

I tilted my head to the side. "Then what?"

"Well, " his face started to turn into a different shade of red. "I haven't met someone as amazing as you. You're a complete clutz, you say whatever your mind spits out, you're so positive -- It's just amazing. It feels refreshing." he ran a hand through his silky blonde hair that just fell back to its place. "You're a magnet. Before I knew it, I was completely drawn into you. What I wanted to say is that..."

Oh.

It's happening.

It's happening all too fast.

Tears started to blur my vision, a single drop sliding down my cheek.

I'm still not ready for the words that sempai was about to say.

"I like you."

I couldn't help but imagine their smiling faces shattering into thousands of pieces.

It's over.

-------------------------------

(Bakamono: Hi there! It has been months, yow!

I wanted to tell you guys two things.

First, I'm sorry for leaving for a long while.

Second, this book is ending. There are only three chapters left. And these last three chapters are the endings. The endings are as follows:

⁂Takehiko-sempai's ending

⁂Rei's ending

⁂Shintaro's ending

Thanks for your support and I'll see you guys at the final act!)