Maybe.
He turns his head to face her, who stood next to him. She wore her hair long today, and he wonders what she was thinking about. What she was doing. Why she was here alone with him. Was she okay? Had she gotten hurt? Is something wrong?
Hiroto doesn't ask anything. He simply waits, watching her carefully until he hears her voice again.
"I think I might be in love with him."
Her words send a chill down his spine.
Love?
Did she mean…did she mean…
"With whom?"
Her eyes widen slightly and she turns towards him. "You know who. Who do you think?"
Who do I think?
She means Kaito, doesn't she? That little bastard. The one who constantly makes fun of Hiroto. The one who keeps making fun of Hiroto because Hiroto hates himself so much. The one who never fails to remind Hiroto that he can't keep his cool no matter how hard he tries. Hiroto clenches his hands tightly together, trying to fight the urge to punch Kaito in the face.
What would Hiroto do if she said yes? Would he go after her like the fool that he is? Yes, yes, of course.He loves her. He wants to be with her. He wants to protect her. He wants to love her with all his heart.
But does he deserve to? Does he deserve her? He doesn't think so, but sometimes he feels as though he doesn't even deserve to breath. He doesn't think that she sees him as a person worthy of loving. He doesn't think he deserves to be loved.
So why does he continue to let her fall deeper for him, letting her stay in his arms?
Maybe because he wants to prove that he deserves to be loved. That he deserves her.
Perhaps because he wants to prove to her that he's worth more than what he says. He wants her to believe in him, even if it's not always the best way.
Maybe he just wants to show her that he's not the bad guy she thinks he is.
"Why me? Why me?"
Hiroto opens his eyes to see Rias walking away with tears falling down her face. The sound of the rain hitting the pavement fills his ears as he watches her leave. Tears start falling down his cheeks too and he lets them flow freely as he continues to stare at nothingness, a bitter taste filling his mouth.He wishes for everything to stop.
He wishes to stop hurting, to stop feeling guilty, to stop wishing that he'll be able to fix everything. Because nothing is ever fixed. Nothing ever gets better.
It's just a cycle of pain and misery.
"Why me?"
He closes his eyes again.
He doesn't know.
He doesn't know why.
Maybe it was because they've known each other so long. Maybe it was because they grew up together. Maybe it was because he'd seen her in pain. Maybe it was because he couldn't stand seeing her cry. Maybe it was because when he saw her crying, he wanted to comfort her. Maybe it was because he knew that deep inside, she didn't want to hurt him either.
Maybe it was because she was his friend, his best friend.
Maybe it was because he cared.
Or maybe he was just selfish.
Maybe he just wanted her to be happy. To be free. To be able to smile without feeling so sad.
Because maybe he wanted to be the one to break her sadness and her pain. So he could be the reason for it.
Just maybe.She stops running after what felt like years. Her legs were sore, and her heart aches, her lungs burned with every heavy breathe, but she kept going anyway.
There was no stopping now.
She ran until she reached an empty alleyway, panting heavily as her knees hit the ground. She leaned against the wall with one hand, her forehead pressed against the cold concrete as she struggled to catch her breath. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears that threatened to escape back into her eyes to stop flowing.
She had to do it. No matter how hard it may be.
No matter how painful it may be.
She didn't have a choice, not anymore.
"You're the one."
He'd done it. He'd found a match. A beautiful, caring, talented, funny person whom he loves dearly and deeply. One who understands his feelings in ways that nobody else can.