Toko's POV-

     He WHAT?!

     I stared blankly at a visibly nervous Byakuya. How the hell did he fall in love with ME?!?

"God Toko I'm so sorry, this is sudden isn't it? Would you like to discuss this back home so we can get a little more privacy?" He asked, his face flushed. I nodded vigorously. We waved a quick goodbye to Makoto, Kyoko, and Komaru and left arm in arm.

We walked back to the apartment complex in silence only stopping when we reached my room. I gestured for him to come in so we sat on my bed and stared at one another.

Byakuya's POV-

     I felt so bad...

     This must be extremely weird for Toko, I just want her to feel comfortable around me but now that my stupid feelings are out in the open she'll probably think way less of me.

     "I'm sorry-" I said quietly. She looked at me in confusion and then...she laughed. My eyes widened.

     "W-what's so funny?"

     She wiped her eyes between giggles and turned back to me.

     "Don't be sorry you goof, I was over at the Naegi's doing the same thing as you were...asking for advice about a certain next door neighbor of mine."

     "Really?!"

     "Yeah! Ever since we started talking to you I thought you were so sweet but my feelings started growing as we hung out more and now...now I think I love you as well."

     "You love me...?"

     "Yeah, I think I do."

     She grabbed my hand gently and squeezed it.

     "What now?" I asked, I truly wondered what came after this...with my ex girlfriend it all went so quick but with Toko I felt a lot calmer and more able to slow down and process my feelings.

     "We can take this relationship as slow or as fast as you'd like, we don't have to even put a label on it! I want you to feel comfortable falling in love again more than anything." I smiled and started tearing at at her statement.

     "I know what I want to do..."

     "And what's that?"

     "I want to kiss you."

     "I think that can be arranged~"

     I blushed furiously as she grabbed my other hand and leaned in slowly. I shut my eyes and closed the gap. She squirmed under my grasp a little, I could tell she was excited. As soon as we pulled away she threw her head into the nearest pillow.

     "Toko! What's wrong?!" I exclaimed, leaning over to put my hand on her shoulder. She removed her face from the pillow and stared up at me, face swollen with tears.

     "25 years I've waited...nobody ever wanted to be with me. Nobody ever wanted to touch me or be around me. I've never had someone love me like this...that was my first kiss." She said while trembling with shock. I wrapped her fragile body in a hug and whispered in her ear:

     "I don't see how an incredible and beautiful girl like you has never had a boyfriend..."

     She laughed weakly.

     "Thank you Byakuya...but I have a question."

     "Of course, what is it?"

     "I'd like you to stay with me tonight if you're okay with that, I'm so happy with you and I don't want to be alone right now." She said quietly. I smiled and nodded. Her eyes light up at my response.

     "You won't regret this I promise!"

     A few hours later it was getting close to 11 pm which is usually when I go to sleep, so naturally I ran over to my place to grab some pajamas and my toothbrush and walked back to Toko's apartment.

     She and I sat on her small bed in silence for a while. It would be strange to others but it was quite comforting to me. After a while I heard her yawn and noticed her eyelids stating to get heavy.

     "You should get some sleep dear...I know how late you usually stay up writing." She fought through her drowsiness enough to laugh at my words.

     "Dear? Nobody's ever called me that before."

     "Well do you like it?" I asked while tucking her in beside me and turning off the light.

     "Yeah I think I could get used to it..."

715 words