Dedicating this chapter to ilovemybooks2000 !! Hope this is okay. If not, I'll also dedicate the next chapter to you too XD

Takara's POV Next Day... (A CONTINUANCE FROM CHAPTER 9 BASICALLY)

I slowly opened my eyes to the blinding sun that was peeking through the curtains. "Where am I?"

(That always seems to be the first question everyone asks... LOL)

"Mmm..."

"!?!" I quickly sprang up and looked around. "Takuto..."

"Mmm..." He muttered something under his breath and slightly shifted. His bangs covered his eyes and I gently brushed them away.

"He's so cute... (Sigh) Thank you for consoling me yesterday." I blushed as I pecked his forehead and quietly attempted to get out of bed.

"Mmm........." Takuto, who still had his eyes closed, wrapped his arm around my waist and yanked me hard into his broad chest.

"AHH! Takuto?!"

"Zzz."

"Wow, he moves in his sleep?" I giggled and turned towards him, poking his nose.

"Ngh..." He shook his head, probably trying to get away from me poking his face.

"Hehe, Takuto, can you let me go?" I asked, thinking that he was awake.

"Zzz..."

"Please?"

"Zz.."

"Oh boy..." I sighed and stared at the ceiling for a while.

(RING)

"Takuto, you phone's ringing..."

"Meh..." He waves his hand and cuddles next to me.

"Oh dear..." I sighed and peeked at his phone.

'Riki Yanase'

"Oh snap! Yo Takuto! It's Riki on the phone!" I shook his shoulders.

"Ugh..." He grunted and held me tighter.

"Geez..." I sighed. "I'll just tell Riki to leave a message..." I grabbed the phone. "Hello, Takara speaking, Takuto's sleeping and will have to get back to you at some point later. Well, looking at him, give him a few hours... Can I take a message?"

"Nice greeting Takara." Riki chuckled. "How do you know he's still sleeping? Don't tell me you're sleeping with him?"

"Well, long story short, it was storming badly last night and---"

"You got scared so Takuto slept with you to comfort you?"

"How did you--- Okay that's kinda creepy the way you know this..."

"Heh, I'm smarter than I look."

"..."

"Hey.. Say something, don't make me sound stupid here..."

"Oh! Sorry sorry! Um. . . A-anyway... You know the story... So don't go making wrong ideas..."

"I won't."

"Thanks."

"At the moment... (Snickers)"

"Ugh... What's your message?"

"Oh, um... Can you just tell Takkun to call back when he's awake?"

"No prob."

"Thanks. You two should stop by at LRN if you want, for lunch."

"Cool thanks. I'll talk to him about it once he gets up. See ya, Riki."

"See ya."

(Beep)

"Hahh..." I sighed and felt eyes on me. Then... Takuto's face was suddenly in front of mine. "Eyahh?!?!"

"Hey! Hey! Don't push me!"

"Sorry..."

"It's fine, sorry about that..." He blushed as he sat up in the middle of the bed.

'And you look great without your shirt on'. . .

(LOVE OHSHC AND THE BLOOPERS! XD) ^

Wait. . .

"Why the hell are you naked?!" I screamed and literally jumped out of bed.

"?!" He looked at his chest and blushed. "Oh well um... It was hot last night so... I must've taken my clothes off while I was sleeping!" He blushed a deeper shade of red and slipped on his t-shirt.

"A-At least you s-still have y-your s-shorts on..." I muttered as I quickly washed up in his bathroom.

"WHAT?!" I heard him exclaiming from his room. By the way he exclaimed, I figure he's probably blushing...

"Nothing! Pretend I didn't say anything!"

". . ."

"Um. . . Takuto, I'm gonna go make some breakfast, mind if I borrow your kitchen?" I asked as I walked out, a few minutes later, tying my hair into a messy bun.

"N-No, go ahead..." He turned his back towards me. "I'm gonna... change."

"O-Oh... Alright, um... I'll call you when it's ready." I blushed and sped walked out of his room, not without hearing a low chuckle...

15 Minutes Later

Takuto's POV

"Takuto! Breakfast is ready!" Takara shouted from the kitchen.

"Coming!" I replied as I stared at myself in the mirror. Sheesh, where's the comb when I need it? I sighed and splashed water on my face, trying to calm myself down. I stared at the mirror, watching the water droplets fall down my face like tears. Why does looking at Takara make my heart beat faster? The only time I would feel like that is when I'm about to eat pork noodles... Haha. Just kidding.

"Takuto?" Takara's voice was getting louder. I quickly grabbed a towel and dried my face. I almost jumped when I turned towards the door, seeing Takara leaning against the door frame, arms crossed with an amused smirk on her face. "I didn't think it'd take men this long to get dressed." She walked towards me and pushed the loose hair out of my face. "It was bothering me." She shrugged and backed away. "Anyways, the food's getting cold. When you're done checking yourself out, come downstairs kay?" She smiled, spun away, and left.

Damn.. Can't get her out of my mind.

LATER...

Takuto's POV

I was sitting on the couch, typing away on my computer. Takara was sitting by the window, knees pulled up to her chest, staring out quietly. "Hey." I called. She slowly blinked and turned towards me.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?" I asked, setting the computer down.

She stared at me. She then slowly nodded, as if she wasn't sure herself. "Why do you ask?"

"... Because you're quiet..." I started and she gave me a look. "Not like that, dummy. It's just..."

"I'm spacing out?" She suggested.

"Yeah."

"Well... I tend to do that a lot." She gave a small smile. "I'm thinking about..." She stopped and bit her bottom lip.

"Ryo and the others?" I asked.

"..." She scoffed to herself. "I'm becoming an open book. Pretty soon, everyone can read me and they'll for sure kick me out of the group...  Although... I think they already did." She muttered the last part quietly to herself, thinking I didn't hear it.

"I don't think so." I got up and stood next to her sitting form. She slowly looked up at me.

"I think so..." She sighed and stared at her reflection in the window. "I think it's best for me to not be in the group... I would only slow them down..."

I plopped down next to her. "Everyone makes mistakes. I'm sure they'll understand."

"... Ryo and I fight but this... Is different." She said. "I'm afraid what she's gonna say if I see them again. Maybe something around the lines, 'We don't want you with us anymore', or 'We'll kill you if you show your ugly face again' or---" She started but suddenly stopped, swallowing. "I'm fine." She said to me.

"No you're not." I stated.

"Is it that obvious?" She asked, turning towards me. "Maybe I am becoming an open book..."

"I highly doubt that. If I was in your position, I would be upset too." I admitted. "If you're upset, don't hold it in, let it out. We all have secrets. I'm not asking you to tell me, but to use my shoulder to cry on." I said slowly, turning crimson.

"Takuto..." She gasped.

"W-what?"

"Why are you so..."

"Yes?"

"So nice?"

"?!?!" I glared at her. "What?! I can be nice..." I pouted, looking away. Damn, am I turning mushy? I'm blaming Riki; he rubbed the perverted side of him on me.

"Hehe, I know." She giggled, turning me back towards her. "Thanks Takuto. We only knew each other for a while and yet... you were always there to help me."

"W-well..." I turned more crimson if that was even possible. I coughed to hide my blush. "Of course I'll be there. If not for me, you'd be lost..."

"Haha, you're right." She smiled shyly.

"....." I gave her a small smile. Slowly, we started leaning closer but then....

(BING)

"?!?!"

Seriously? An e-mail?

"S-sorry..." I stuttered, backing away. Geez what's wrong with me? Why am I acting like this when Takara's with me?

"N-no, I'm sorry...." Takara blushed, turning her gaze back towards the window and then suddenly gasped, looking back at me. "I forgot!"

"Huh? What?"

Takara's POV

"Riki wanted you to call back. And that if we want to, we can stop by LRN for lunch." I explained, accidentally forgetting about this morning's phone call.

"Oh..." He nodded. "Hate to say this but I think it's better to go there rather than talk on the phone."

I nodded in agreement. "You go ahead---"

"Huh? What about you?"

"?" I looked at him. "I decided to go talk to Ryo... If that's okay?"

At that, he nodded his usual smile. "Now that's the Takara I know! Have confidence. Everything will be fine."

I smiled happily and embraced him. "Thanks so much Takuto!"

"Oh and here," Takuto held his hand out and in it was a little Shiffey keychain.

"A Shiffey keychain?" I questioned, "You're not giving this to me are you?"

"Pff, of course I am!"

"But why?" I slowly took the keychain. "Shiffey's your favorite isn't it? You shouldn't give it away. Besides, this looks like a limited addition. I can't accept this." I said, holding it back out towards him.

"I can always get another one. . ." Takuto mumbled, face crimson. "Just think of it as a good luck charm or something. Something for you to remember me by, should you ever have to leave."

"As if you are with me. . ." I smiled while looking at the keychain. "Then I guess I have no choice but to accept it right?"

"Right." Takuto nodded with confidence.

"Thanks so much for everything, Takuto." I smiled shyly.

"Y-yeah, no problem." He replied while scratching the back of his head. "U-um, you should probably get going. . ."

"Oh yeah! Alrighty! I'll call you later! Bye!~" I pecked him on the cheek and quickly left, not seeing the blush on his face.

Hope you liked this chapter!!
😃😁

~KohanaAyame