It is night and it's cold outside
I'm currently in the riverbank lying on the ground while watching the stars from above
I then remember a place, so I get on my motorcycle while covering my neck with the scarf my brother Sarai knitted for me
It took me for a while to arrive at the place Sano showed me
I sat on the pier it is dark so you can't see the sea very clearly, but you can hear the wave and feel the nigh sea breeze from here
"Suou"
I look down from here it's full of giant rocks near the sea and saw Sano Manjiro his sitting on one of the big rocks, I never been to school for many days, it's already December 1 yet there is no snow to see
I get up and went and sit next to Sano
"I heard what happened, I tried to reach you only to feel disappointed, you never answer any of our call nor text me? Your friends I don't see them around as well, I don't even know where to find you, where have you been?" he asked full of question and I can feel his disappointment
"I lost my phone on the fire and I've been staying at zandaka's old place instead of going abroad and claimed my property also my friends are staying with me that's why they aren't going to school, and I've been thinking that's why we are out of contact" I explained, I don't even know why I bother to explain all those things that should be keeping a secret
"Have you ever wondered how worried I was to you?" he almost yelled that
"Have you also wondered how worried I was about you getting closer to me and maybe later they will kill you next" I did not handle my emotion it just came out
"I'm okay as long as I am with you" his honest I see those honesty
I laugh "You're just like my friends, they are too devoted from me and ready to die anytime, but I don't want that, I wanted them to live, I want you to live"
Memories of those bitter and painful memory suddenly flash on my head
I don't want to lose any more life, especially for those precious to me
"But you know Sano, it's better this way, I can see them, I can see them laugh, smile and do stuffs we always do together that's why I have decided, I decided to protect them until the end even if I don't achieve what I want, I'll die for them" I smiled
He just stared at me, then the first fall of snow came
"Snow finally come" I tried to reach one and successfully did it
"It's going to get colder" he muttered
I stand up "Want to go and visit my new place?" I asked him, and I saw him nodded
"I would like that" he showed me a smile
We went to my place and to my surprised everyone's inside, but they are asleep
I did not bother to wake them up, so I dragged Sano along with me to the sofa, it's not that big and elegant the house is plain and normal
"I'm sorry those guys can't meet you today, perhaps tomorrow you could"
"That's not a problem"
I guess it is a problem, I don't know what to talk in this situation
I still remembered what he had said to me before at the Halloween party
"Why does I feel like this whenever I am with you?" he spoke in his calmest, most reasonable voice, the voice which infuriated the whole place
I was stunned and currently at the state of loosing words to say being speechless
I suddenly take my leave and let his words remains unspoken, well I am not ready for the next words his about to say, I think I won't handle that at the time like this
In the end I felt bad being rude and not saying anything
I went to the kitchen and saw him approaching me
"I'll make some tea for the both of us, mind if you can wait a bit more?" I said glumly
He flashed a sudden smile hiding the face of being hurt in front of me, "You don't have to I'll be taking my leave now"
I was such a coward; I did not stop him on leaving and cannot even said something that would make him feel better
I really have a bad day last night and ended up waking up late. My head is still a bit dizzy from sleep, so I took a bit of rest before going to the living area
I wasn't that surprised to see the other guys still sleeping, I went to the kitchen and saw Rekishi and Rize cooking lunch and I really smell a blissful aroma of food
It didn't take them long to notice me around
Rize said, "Shinya I heard from Rekishi you brought Sano here last night"
"Eh? I thought you guys are asleep" I protested
Rekishi shot a glance on me "Sorry, I woke up and heard what you were talking about with him?"
He confessed about eavesdropping on my conversation with Sano last night
Rize smirked and look a bit of excited "What is it? Confession? Did you confess to him?"
"Kind of similar, but that didn't happen, right Shinya" he showed me sincerity
I throw them a smile "I did not let him say that, although I already knew what his about to say I still did not let him say those words to me"
The cheerful Rize changes emotion, "Why'd you do that?"
"I don't know I just did"
Silence occurred throughout the room, we had our Lunch silently
Later that afternoon I went to my family grave
I had a few drinks of sake and talk to them like they were still alive
Then suddenly a woman in a black cape approaches me
"December 26 at Ruins District Fort 6:30pm I hereby announce the battle between Muichiro Meiji and Suou Shinya" and after saying those words she vanishes
-
I told them the appointment Muichiro made
All off them are thinking vividly
I grabbed a book and read when I remember I have some errands to do
I excused myself to them and let them decide of a plan and strategies for that day, I've got an idea I already told them about it, but someone opposed, and someone said that's to dangerous and risky
Well, I only plan on going alone, that's the best Idea I could ever think of
But I let them decide that I know if I went alone, they are coming to rescue me and if I died, they will also
I am meeting with someone I knew today
Shohei and Nishima, they invited me for dinner, and it's been years since we were together
We planned to meet at a nearby mall, I went to late because I almost forgot our plans
They must be waiting for me
"You're late Shinya" that's Shohei
I put my arms on him "Miss my heavy arm Shohei?"
"That's imprudent of you, haven't you change?"
"Not at all, where are we having dinner Nishima!!"
"Hold on a sec, I just saw someone I knew, get on the restaurant without me"
Someone he knew, probably his sister Shinichi Eri I saw her pass by
Anyway, I dragged Shohei along with me to the restaurant Nishima pointed at
"You grown a fine lady Shinya; I did not think you would become such a hottie"
"How rude Shohei? You think I will stay like that forever" I argued back
"Not actually, I think you'll become a big mama, Onihime-chan" here he goes again
"You are too far from reality Shohei"
I grabbed a menu book, Shohei look for a waitress I guess this guy doesn't have a girlfriend yet
He ordered food and he ordered a lot, he said it would be his treat
People are chattering around; it's crowded and noisy
The door opened 'SCREECH' and it reveals a furious big brother
He saw us and sat down
"What happened to you?"
He looked at me for a second before bursting into tears
"What the heck had happened to you man!!!" Shohei muttered as he put the menu book down
"M-MY S-SITER HAS A BOYFRIEND" he said, his voice is a little shaky though
"What? Is that why you're crying?"
"Yes, I am happy for her but at the same time I'm sad because she finally abandoned me"
"Let's not think about negativity, let's be positive" I smacked his back caused for him to cough a little
The food Shohei ordered arrive in a split of minutes
Indeed, he really did order a lot, I suddenly remembered those moment when Sano keeps pouring me food and he won't stop if I didn't complain, ahh!! That guy where is he now? What is he doing?
"Nishima got a girlfriend, did you know Shohei?" I started a conversation among us
He nods, "Of course, I even hang out with them sometimes, Kawaragi Senju will protect our Nishima for sure"
"I should be the one doing the protection" Nishima almost cry
"How about you Shohei?" I said, while eating a lot
"I do, I have a fiancé" he proudly bragged
I gulp the food immediately
"Then I guess I am the only one who haven't" I laugh out loud
Nishima shut a glance at Shohei, then they both stared at me while smirking and grinning
"Shinya, Do You Like Someone?"
Their voice echoed in my head, repeatedly
My faced turned red like a tomato the moment I recall Sano Manjiro's face
"I guess I have someone I like" I blurted, and put various of food in my plate
"Did he reject you?" Nishima seems to know it's Sano
"NO!"
"Then, did he accept you, but that's impossible you don't have a boyfriend"
"I still didn't say any words to him" I mumbled, and drink water
"HA?? Then you got to tell him how you feel Shinya, I know that guy likes you, from just the way he looked at you and from how he acts towards you, even my girlfriend is convinced"
Those words Nishima said weren't leaving my mind
Did Sano really like me? I might over think things, but I really don't know if he likes me or not
I'm not even sure if my hunch about those words his about to tell me that day was even right
Calling Matsuri...
"Moshi! Moshi!"
"Yo Leader, you have a visitor?"
"Dare?"
"Sano Manjiro"
I was purely shocked and almost lose my balance
And I accidentally ended the call
But Sano' s there waiting for me
I run, I just felt like I needed to run I felt like I needed to hurry
There is something going wrong inside of me, like something is about to explode any minute now
But I only one thing for sure, I need to tell him something
I need to tell him now or never
I arrived and saw Sano leaving
I was catching my breath because I really ran to far
Before he even takes a step, I grabbed his shirt
And I caught his attention by doing that
He was surprised to see me exhausted
"S-sano" I paused, to get some courage
"Did you run?" he removed his long sleeve polo and wipe my sweat
I looked at him being worried and careful
"It's cold outside let's go inside"
"Wait a moment" I stop him from going any further
"Do you want to tell me something?" he stopped and turned to faced me
My heart started beating so fast as I scrambled for words in my head
I shook my head and brush all the doubts and worries that I had and intently looked at Sano Manjiro directly at the eyes
I took a deep breath, before saying "I Love You Sano Manjiro-kun"