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“Ah-!” Tomoe stopped herself before she could say anymore.

“No! You can’t! You can’t be hurt by his words!”

Hatoki crossed his arms, scoffing. “Who does he think he is..? I could ruin-”

“Shut up, Hatoki!” Tomoe’s scowl made him start pleading with hands clasped together.

“Umm..err..I didn’t mean anything by that! Please forgive me, Tomoe!”

“That’s Akayami-san to you! Now get going!”

“Roger!”

______________

Matoko watched the ground, walking and gritting his teeth together.

“The sight of that guy…pisses me off! What was he doing, getting Tomoe worked up like that? Then again…why am I so worked up?”

Tomoe’s smiling face flashed in his mind. “She can take care of herself. It’s best that we stay the way we are. But…” He recalled Phys. Ed class with Natsuki & Taka, clenching his fist.

He glanced at his watch (16:09) as he arrived at an abandoned park. He leaned himself up against a rusted pole and slowly closed his eyes.

“I chose this path…I wanted this…I wanted you. Tomoe.”

______________

“Great work, you guys!” Tomoe grinning widely at her glum-looking clean-up team.

“What are you so happy about, Class Rep?”

A male student chimed in. “Yeah. We did your share too.”

Sweatdropping, she chuckled outloud. “Aww! You shouldn’t have guys! Then again…”

Tomoe raised her dark aura, cracking her knuckles. “…you should all be more grateful when I praise you..”

Her team remained glum, though replied in unison. “Ye~s, Class Rep. We apologize.”

“That’s more like it,” she said with a sweet smile. “Clean-up crew dismissed! Thank you for your hard work!”

______________

Dreams are the essence of truth.

“Do you hate me?”

“Hate you?”

“How could I…”

She’s coming…Enjoy your dreams, for they are the most precious thing you have.

It seems he approves of you…

MATOKO!

Matoko jerked himself awake, breathing heavily. Still leaning against the pole, he placed his hand over his face, peeking through. “Mother…are you trying to tell me something..?”

“Matoko!” Tomoe’s familiar voice broke him out of his light trance. She kept running towards him, all smiles. A faint smile and a calm gaze greeted her. “Sorry I’m later than usual!”

“Ehh, that’s perfectly fine…Akayami-senpai,” he smirked, waving his hand.

“…”

“Eh?” Matoko’s eyes shifted back in her direction to see her holding back tears.

“T-Tomoe! I-It was a joke!”

“Matoko..?”

“Y-Yeah?”

“I don’t know whether to punch you or cry. What should I do..?”

“She’s..really in pain..!”

“Punch me!”

Tomoe right hook shot like a bullet. “No…hesitation…!” he thought.

“Having to pretend we aren’t something we are…hurts so much.”

Matoko’s hand rested on her shoulder with his head lowered. “I know…and that’s why I am here. That’s why I share your pain. You shared in my pain…right?” His serious gaze lifted, placing his hand on her head.

“Matoko..I know..and that makes me happy..but is this right for you to suffer? You gave up your dream for me…and now everyone is angry at you because no one knows why.”

Matoko sighed. “None of that matters. If I can support you, then I’ll be fine.” Narrowing his eyes, he gazed upward. “Dreams…I’d be happier without them.”

“Maybe you would, but you seem to have gotten over that weird one.”

Tomoe tugged him down by his uniform for a kiss on the lips. “You’re…happier today.”

Matoko shifted his gaze, embarrassed. “Yeah…Don’t care about it anymore.”

“Um..did you get into a fight today? Hatoki said he wanted to deal with who messed with you.”

“That guy…”

(show Hatoki meeting with an unknown female)

“…That guy doesn’t care about anything other than impressing you, Tomoe. He hasn’t ever defended me before until now. Can’t you see that he is trying to break us apart?”

“That really was unlike him to do…”

“Yeah…but it worked. He got your attention.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that next time, I won’t let that slide…”

(show Taka and Natsuki kendo training)

“…Him or otherwise.”