"Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.'" - Erich Fromm

XXI.

When my feet took its very first step on the floors of Tokyo, a faint smile formed on my lips. I breathed in the fresh air and looked at the new surroundings.

I can't believe that I was finally outside the prison; the mansion.

When we arrived at the airport's lobby, a man with a black suit and tie caught my attention for he was holding a banner with our names written in big, capital letters.

Yuta-kun, who was beside me, offered me a smile and gestured towards the man. I furrowed my eyebrows but then nodded slowly. He grabbed my hand as we proceeded to make our way to him.

"Hiroko," Yuta-kun greeted the man.

"Welcome to Tokyo, Yuta-sama, Yurika-sama," The man named Hiroko greeted us as he bowed his head in a sophisticated manner. "Please proceed to the limousine outside, I will take care of your luggage." He offered and Yuta-kun nodded before he released his hold on the load and walked away, not letting go of my hand.

"Ne, ne, Yuri~!" Yuta-kun's excited voice rang through my ears and I shifted my gaze towards him and gave him a small smile as acknowledgement.

"What is it?"

"Would you like to take a walk around Tokyo?" He asked me, his eyes sparkling.

I frowned slightly and gave his cheek a poke. "Are you too eager to roam around? We still have plenty of time, you know." I chuckled.

Yuta-kun pouted. "I'm just so excited to spend time with you." He admitted.

"Yeah, I can see that," I grinned. "I'm still a little jet lagged, Yuta-kun," I admitted with a wry smile. "Let's go out some other time, okay?"

He nodded then slid his hands on my waist, hugging me on the way. "Okay~" He sang.

I caught a shade of red and my eyes followed it. I saw a boy at around my age with bloody red hair and stunning heterochromatic eyes sitting on the waiting area and staring at the guy hugging me, in a glaring manner. When his eyes shifted to me, his lips twitched up to a smile and I felt my chest tightened.

He smiled... at me.

I felt blood climbing up to my cheeks and I quickly looked away, biting on my lower lip gently.

What was that?

I suddenly... felt strange.

You are attracted to him.

What? No! I can't be! He's a stranger! And besides...

I looked at Yuta-kun who opened the car door for me, giving me a virile grin.

"I never took you for a gentleman," I commented with a giggle then stepped inside the limousine.

"Only for you, darling," He followed then gave me a peck on the cheek, making me smile.

I already have a fiance.

"When will the tournament start?" I asked him, diverting my attention away from the incident earlier.

Yuta-kun glanced at his wristwatch then thought for a moment. "This afternoon," He informed me with a tight smile.

I tilted my head to the side. "Oh, already?"

He ruffled on my hair and chuckled. "Yeah, but don't worry. We still have plenty of time, we can have all the rest we want, Yuri."

I slapped his hand away and glared at him. "Hey, not my hair, Yuta Kiryuu!" I complained as I tried to fix my hair.

He grinned. "You look so cute when you're mad, Yurika Sendo,"

I pouted with a snort then looked away, shifting my gaze towards the window. As I scanned the streets of Tokyo, my mind drifted off to somewhere else.

The attractive redhead at the airport.

I exhaled as I remember the way he smiled at me, it's as if he knew who he was giving that smile to. It's as if that smile was made because it was meant for me, only for me.

But still, he was a stranger.

And I couldn't help but let this thought and question cross in my mind...

Will we see each other again?

Will I get to see the same smile once again?

I wish, though.

You should be ashamed of yourself, Yurika.

You already have your man beside you yet you're having inappropriate thoughts toward another man.

You should be ashamed...

I took a glance to the sleeping boy next to me and I closed my eyes with a sigh, leaning my head against the soft headrest.

Shame and guilt.

That's something I didn't knew nor felt at the very moment.

•••

I was awestruck when I saw the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium from afar. It was huge yet elegant. There were a lot of people and athletes from various schools and regions. I prayed that I wouldn't get lost in this place, I had a poor sense of direction.

And truth be told, yes, my right hand that was very sure was only holding my fiance's hand is now vacant.

Where the hell did he go?

My stomach grumbled and I blushed, I was thankful that nobody heard it or at least, they didn't seem to care. What an unfortunate start of day in Tokyo, getting lost like a little girl would do and be coincidentally hungry in the process.

Oh God, now I regret for sleeping off the hours when instead it's supposed to be lunch time.

What should I do first? Search for my missing fiance or satisfy my whining stomach?

Well, practically, I was the one missing.

I scanned my eyes towards the sea of crowd but then sighed as I didn't spot a tall brunet whatsoever.

He's probably panicking right now though.

I walked forward and I was beginning to feel uneasy as I go further into the unfamiliar place, passing by various people and athletes without giving me any form of acknowledgement. It was as if only wind passed by them. It was as if I had lacked too much presence. Maybe that's what made Yuta-kun lose track of me so easily.

I passed by another unfamiliar place and there were at least 8 guys gathered there from different schools. It was obvious on their jerseys, except that 3 of them were teammates.

Seeing their hair color made my mouth water and my stomach grumbled once more. Oh God, their hair altogether looked like Skittles... I suddenly craved for candies.

That made me hungry even more.

I passed by the back of a redhead and I mentally sighed, another redhead, indeed. Why do I encounter redheads, lately? But still, they spared me no glance.

"Shintaro, could I borrow that scissors?" I heard the redhead ask, no, order one of the guys on the group.

"What are you going to use them for?" Another foreign voice asked as I continued to daydream about food.

"My hair is annoying," He reasoned as he took down the stairs. "I've been wanting to trim it," He continued as I finally got out of the area, also out of earshot.

"Mou~ I'm so hungry! Where are you, Yuta Kiryuu!" I cried out in frustration as I walk down a deserted area of the gymnasium.

And along the way, I saw a vending machine and I automatically put the Cheshire cat's smile to shame.

Oh, finally!

I happily purchased various sweets and junk foods, then munched on them like there was no tomorrow. I had forgotten how to eat like an elegant woman but then, I was so hungry that time.

But right when I finished eating, my stomach whined again and this time it's not in hunger. I feel like... I need to go to a restroom right now...

It was a good thing that there was a restroom nearby and I sighed in relief just as I finished business inside the cubicle.

"God..." I grunted as I look at my reflection on the mirror. I brushed the stubborn knots on my red hair and parted my bangs to look at the scar on my forehead. The scar that will prove as evidence that the previous pages of my life were torn away. And I wonder, who has those lost pages?

I shifted my gaze on the bright floor and I snort-laughed. "The floor was amazingly polished," I commented to myself as I walk towards the door to the exit. "I could already see my reflec-- Ah!" I screamed when I slipped on the floor, falling with my butt first and I winced in pain. "Ow," I groaned as I try to stand up. "I take back what I said earlier..."

Then suddenly, someone knocked on the door, taking me by surprise. "Hey, Miss, are you alright in there? I thought we heard a scream."

I blushed and panicked. "Y-Yeah, I'm alright!" I laughed nervously and proceeded to open the door and make an attempt to dash away to my escape. "No need to worry," I mumbled with my head down as I try to run away from the men in white jersey.

But to my surprise, one of them grabbed me by the wrist and I turned to them with surprise evident on their faces.

"Y-Yuri-chan?"

And yes, I was more than surprised and confused as to why they knew who I was.

And how they all looked so familiar.

"Yuri-chan, is that you?" A raven haired male stuttered, as his grip on my wrist slightly tightened, as if he was afraid that I'll break free.

"W-Who are you?" I asked slowly, glancing at each and everyone of them.

That surprised them even more.

Suddenly, a ginger haired male stepped forward and let out an amused laugh. "I don't understand, Yu-chan," He said in between chuckles but then I noticed the sadness in his voice. "You were in Australia for 8 whole months... how can you disappear so suddenly and come back as if you don't remember us anymore?" He asked me, the bitterness dripping out from his voice.

My eyebrows furrowed and bowed my head down. "I'm sorry," I muttered and tried to wrench myself away from the hold of the raven haired male. "But I seriously don't know you guys."

"Yuri-chan..."

My eyes widened as I remembered that I have my phone with me. I quickly pulled it out and was surprised yet afraid at the same time that I had more than 8 missed calls and texts from my fiance demanding where the hell I was.

"Yuri!" And it was as if on cue that he happened to find me.

I turned around and I met his eyes, that was laced with annoyance and irritation but at the same time, worry and relief.

"Where have you been? I've been worried sick searching for you!" He reprimanded me and shifted his gaze towards the strangers. "Who are they?" He demanded, I was sure that he was thinking that I was flirting with them but I was certainly not that kind of girl.

"T-They are..."

"Never mind." He cut me off then grabbed my hand. "Let's go."

"O-Ow, Yuta-kun," I winced in pain because his hold on my hand was tighter than necessary.

Then I saw a familiar redhead appear in front of us, with a dark aura surrounding him.

He was the same redhead at the airport.

My chest tightened once again.

We meet again...

"Let her go." He ordered to the man with the iron grip on my hand.

Since Yuta-kun was not in his best mood, he raised an eyebrow with a questioning look on his face.

And I know something unpleasant would happen when the words of question escape Yuta-kun's mouth to the redhead in front of us. "And who are you to order me around?"

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Okay, let us pray for the soul of Yuta Kiryuu. :) XD

Sorry for the long wait, guys!

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Exam in 2 weeks though

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