Akari's POV

"Here you go," I helped Granny insert her arms into the wool coat.

"Thanks for bringing my clothes, Akari-chan!" Granny smiled at me and fixed her coat.

"I'm glad you're finally getting discharged," I hugged Granny. Granny was hospitalized for 3 days and I've been sleeping here by Granny's side ever since. The doctor said that Granny was okay for now, but I'm worried since he said 'for now.' Does this mean something could happen to Granny later? He said Granny just fainted because she had a headache and her body became so weak that her legs didn't have the energy to stand. I hope it's nothing serious.

"You must've missed home-made food specially prepared by me right?" Granny laughed, "Let's go back to home." I nodded and held Granny's hand all the way back home. Her hands were really warm, just like always.

<<<<<<<<<<< *7 years ago*

I waited for Haru today at the playground again. I'm still hoping that he would come. I sat on the swing waiting for Haru to sit next to the swing beside mine. But another kid was swinging on it. I think he's grounded.

I came to the playground again the next day, he is not here today either. I sat on the usual swing again and I looked at my left another kid was on it again. Her friend was pushing the swing for her. Is he sick?

Once again, I'm at the playground today too. Once again, Haru is not here. This time I couldn't sit on the swing anymore, someone else was on it. Does he not want to see me anymore? The next day, I heard that Haru moved away to somewhere else. It was all to sudden. Why didn't he tell me? Why did he moved?

I went to the playground one more time, I couldn't believe that he moved away. I was being delusional, hoping he would be there regardless of what I heard. But he wasn't. No one was on the swing so I took a seat at the swing I usually sit on....for the whole day. Are we no longer friends? Did he forgot about me? Negative thought filled my mind, I kept thinking that Haru might discarded me because he hated me just like the girls from last year. As I thought, no one wants to be with me. Tears started to swell in my eyes and dropped down my cheeks. "Everybody hates me!" I cried out loud. I lowered my head and let my tears pour out.

"That's not true," I looked up to the familiar face, "Akari-chan."

"G-Granny!!!" I hugged Granny close to me and cried even more. Granny embraced me with her arms and patted my back.

"There, there." Granny didn't say anything. Not even 'It's okay now' or 'Don't cry anymore.' She said nothing and just continued to console me.

After a few minutes, I stopped crying. I had enough of crying. Then Granny said, "How does it feel, to cry your heart out?"

"I don't know..it feels good even though I'm crying about something sad...," I sniffed. Just then my stomach growled. I held my stomach and glanced up at Granny.

She laughed, "Alright-alright. Shall we get back to home?" I nodded and grinned.

On the way home, we had a small talk. "Granny. Aren't you going to ask why I was crying?"

"Akari-chan, I know you inside-out." Then there was a pause. "Weren't Haru and you close?" I nodded. "I'm sure he must have his own reasons, can't you forgive him?" I shook my head.

"Still.. He should've told me!!" I pouted.

"Do you hate him now?" I was about to nod my head but I stopped. I can't hate him. Haru's my precious friend. I slowly shook my head.

She smiled, "Don't worry, Akari-chan, you'll meet him again."

"Really?! When??" My tears stopped.

"Well... I don't know when, but I know that you'll meet him again someday. So don't be sad and smile, okay?"

"Okay!" I believed Granny and grinned widely.

"Come on, let's get back and I'll make you your favorite snack."

"Pudding?!" I exclaimed in joy.

Granny laughed, "Yes, pudding."

"Yayyy!!"

From the playground to the house, I held on Granny's hand tight and did not let go. Her hands were warm.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Mari's POV

Potatoes, check! Carrots, check! Eggs, check! "Okay, I'm done with buying the ingredients," I smiled as I started walking back to the direction of my house. As I was strolling along, I notice the pastry shop beside me.

"Oh! Since I'm already out, I should buy a cake or some sweets," I thought out loud and entered the shop. As always, the sugary smell of the pastries and the fragrance of the store was filled in the store. The store was brightly lit with pastel interior design and furniture. The adorable cakes and other sweets were organized with its own group inside the glass cases. This store is so cute, it's just my type!

"Ah, Mari-san, the usual?" Kimiko-san, the staff from the shop asked.

I shook my head, "I'll try something different today!"

I bought a whole strawberry shortcake and two blueberry and red velvet cupcakes. I went back out as I got my cakes.

I continued on my way back until I got near the corner of the road, I heard a thud in an alleyway. Curious, I stopped in front of the alleyway, to check what it was, but decided not to go in and see. Sometimes, curiosity can lead to danger after all.

There, I met eye contact with a familiar boy with sharp golden eyes and scratches on his face. His clothes were covered in some dirt and messed up, along with his ash blonde hair. In the scene, there were some three other guys who were all on the ground, which I'm assuming, were beat up.

His eyes immediately enlarged as our eyes crossed and furrowed his eyebrows as he came up to me. I had a feeling I've seen this person before, but couldn't recall.

The boy's jaw dropped in shock as he came out of the alleyway and stopped his tracks before me. "You-You're that girl!"

"Ah! You're that guy from the amusement park, am I right?" I snapped my fingers.

His face suddenly went red, "Y-Yeah. What're you doing here?!"

"Oh, I was just on my way back home from grocery shopping," I smiled as I was proud of myself for remembering him. "Ahah, it's funny that we meet again even though we don't even know each other's name. Maybe it's fate," I joked.

"F-FA-FATE!!??!" He yelled out all of the sudden. "W-What are you saying?? Are you dumb?!! There's no such thing as--!!" I wonder if he's okay, his face is all so red. Is he sick?

I let out a small giggle, "I was just kidding."

"Wha-whaa— Don't even joke around with those kinda topics!!"

"Aheh, sorry," I grinned, rubbing the back of my head. He quickly turned away, that was when I realized about the scratches on his face. "Your scratches... what happened?" I started to worry.

"Huh?? A-Ah, these," he touched his cheeks. "They're nothing! Just got into a fight with those people," he pointed behind him, without even looking back.

"A fight?! That's bad, you're all beat up, it's the same with those people," as I was about to get closer to those guys on the ground, his hands spread apart, holding me back from going further.

"Don't." His eyes turn to a scary look. "They're dangerous, they targeted me while I was alone, those cheap bastards."

If I remember, he's a delinquent, does he always get into fights like this? The last time I met this person, he had four other big people with him. But they aren't here now. "A-Ah is that so. But anyways you're injured! Let me treat you."

"N-No, it's okay, they'll heal--" I stopped him and grabbed his wrist.

"Come on, it's not okay. My house is right around the corner, let's go and treat it."

"Y-Y-Y-YOUR HOUSE??! W-w-what're you even going to do to me?! Taking me to your house, you're really a dumb girl!!"

"It's fine! Just come on! Think of this as an apology for what I did last time. Oh! And I also have to return your shirt to you," I smiled.

"But--"

"Ah! If you're worried about my parents, they're not home. It's just gonna be us. Don't worry!"

"H-HUH? ARE YOU STUPID? Just the t-two of us?!?"

"Yeah isn't that better? I mean it would be awkward if my parents were home anyways," I chuckled.

"Well," he seems to be lost with words since he doesn't know how to reject anymore.

"Let's go! I also promised to give you back that shirt, right?"

He quiets down a bit. "...If you say so..," he muttered and looked away.

>>>>>>>>>>>

"Here, thanks for letting me wash your shirt, I really felt bad back then...," I handed him his shirt, folded. He took the shirt as he sits in a seiza position.

"Yeah, I appreciate it. Now that I've retrieved my shirt I'll get going now," he stood up.

"Please wait for a second! I told you I would treat your injuries too earlier." I paused. "....Or is it that you don't like being with me?? You were avoiding my eye earlier too. Am I bothering you?"

"Bother? Is-Isn't that obvious! B-But I'll let you do it anyways since you keep on nagging me about it! But I don't need it okay?"

"Ahahah, okay, okay~!" I pu some medicine on his scratches and stuck band-aids on them. "There you go! Done!"

He immediately retreated his hands that I just treated and observed it. "Hmph, I guess you're not that bad with this. I'll have to thank you," he looked away again and his face is all red.

"Hey...you..." I slowly get closer to him. Is he sick??

"W-Wh-What are you doing??" He became redder, almost like the red velvet cupcakes I bought earlier. "C-Close..!" He shut his eyes close.

I parted his bangs and touched his forehead. His temperature was burning like crazy. "Woah...I could fry an egg with your temperature right now!! Are you sick??"

"Wh-what- N-no, I'm not! I'm totally f-fine!"

"Are you sure?? You're really burning up."

"Yeah, it's, it's nothing!"

"Okay..." Then it hit me. We still don't know each other's names yet! I'm talking to him without even knowing who he is.

"Now that I think about it, we still haven't introduced ourselves yet! My name's Yoshino Mari! I'm in the 1st year of high school!"

"I'm... Tetsuya," he replied.

"Tetsuya....?" I dragged as I said his name so that he would say his full name. He didn't say anything but after a long while, he opened his mouth.

"M-Mikio...Tetsuya Mikio."

"Oo! That's a nice name! It has a nice ring to it!!"

His expression brightened. "Y-You think so??"

"Yeah!!"

"Thanks..," I saw a small smile on his face.

Oh? He just smiled and it's normal! He 'smiled' when we first met too, but I'm not really sure if that counts. He looks really cute when he smiles. "You know you're unexpectedly cute," I giggled. He reminds me of my cousin younger brother.

"C-CUTE?! I AM NOT CUTE!!" The way he gets worked up is so cute too. I wonder how old he is, he looks younger than me though.

"Which year are you in?"

"Why should I tell you?!"

"If you don't, I'll keep on saying that you're cute~!" I grinned evilly. "You really are though..."

"Ugh.... 3rd year of middle school."

"Oh? You're just a year younger than me then! Nice to meet you kouhai!" I ruffled his hair and grinned. It feels good to have a kouhai, hahaha. "Now call me senpai too!" I teased him more.

"S-Stop doing that!" He brushed away my hand. "Who are you calling your kouhai?!" He stood up from his seat.

"Ahah, Mikio-kun, you're so cute," I giggled. "Even your name sounds cute."

"Stop calling me cute!! I'm not! And don't call me that!!"

"Eh? I can't call you Mikio-kun?"

"Yeah."

"But it's cute."

"Because it's cute!!! Don't call me that!" He yelled.

"Alright...sorry. What do you want me to call you then?"

"T-Tetsuya is fine!" He puffed and folded his arms.

"Tetsuya-kun, huh... but, I like Mikio-kun better, it suits a cute person like you," I put on a sad face.

He clicked his tongue. "Ughh, I don't care anymore! Call me whatever you want. I'm leaving now."

"Byee Mikio-kun! I hope we get to see each other again!" I smiled and waved at him. He shuts the door closed. "He's too cuteeee~!" I clutched my heart. "He's so adorablee that I wanna give him a tight hug."

>>>>>>>>>>> *A week later*

Mikio's POV

The four guys and I are out patrolling this area that my father owns. He doesn't actually own it, but as yakuza, we have our own 'territories' and if we aren't on watch, enemies can take over this place. This is the place I certainly can't let those guys take since it's near the neighborhood of that...house. ...I wonder if she's doing okay. 'Ugh, why am I even thinking about her?! Ah, right, cuz she's just a dumb girl. A dumb girl that just let any stranger enter her house. Tch.. how naive can that girl be?? Anyone would be worried if they were at my place' I nodded to myself.

"Ah, young master, I need to go to the toilet my stomach's been hurting since the morning," Baldy said. "I'll be right back please don't leave me!" He said and scurried off.

"Okay, okay geez," I took a seat on one of one of the benches and waited for him.

"Young master, are you tired? Do you want a massage??" Poe asked and started massaging my shoulder before I reply.

"I don't need it, just sit down!" I answered. Just then a ball that a group of kids was playing rolled to my feet. The kids waited for me to kick it back to them but before I could Hawk stood in my way.

"Oi, you damn brats! How dare you kick a ball to young master?! Huh?!" Hawk jeered at the kids.

"Shut up, Hawk!" I pushed Hawk away and kicked the ball to the kids. "Let's go!"

"Consider yourself lucky since young master forgave you brats! Be more careful playing you damn soccer next time!!"

"But it just rolled near his feet!! What's wrong with that old man??" One of the kids said.

"Yeah, and his hair is weird!!!" Another kid pointed at Hawk's hair. All the kids laughed and ran away.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING OLD MAN?! I AM STILL IN MY 20S AND MY HAIR IS NOT WEIRD!!" Hawk shouted after them.

"Chichichichci.....that's what you get for picking a fight with kids these days," Sadako muttered.

"Whaddya say??!"

Soon, Baldy came back huffing and puffing. "Ah! Young master! I'm backk~!!" Baldy came running back as he waved his arms.

"We were about to leave you behind, you were taking so long," I continued walking.

"Awn~! Thank you for not leaving me behind!! I love you, young master!!" He ran towards me and spread his arms out. 'Ugh, this again.' I punched him away from me.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop trying to hug me?!"

"S-Sorry...," he laughed.

A music suddenly started playing. "Ah..young master. I need to take this call. My wife is pregnant with my beautiful daughter right now and she said she needs to keep hearing my voice!" Poe explained. "I hope my daughter is as cute as young master!!" He said and dashed off.

"Uhh...okay..go ahead," I replied.

Soon after a few minutes, he came back and this time Hawk went away saying "Young master! I think I just saw someone suspicious over there, I'll go check. Please stay here." What's with these guys? They're going away one by one. Are they making up excuses to do something else instead? I waited for Sadako to go after Hawk came back by he hasn't said anything yet. Maybe it's just a coincidence that they are going one by one?

After all the walking, my stomach growled. I need to eat something, maybe we should take a rest. "Why don't we--"

"Young master, are you getting hungry??" Baldy asked.

"Let's take a break, you must be tired too!!" Poe suggested.

"I'll go buy something!!" Sadako insisted and walked away.

"Hey come back fast, young master is getting hungry! Buy enough snacks for all of us!" Hawk called.

"Ah wait--" Sadako went away too something must be up. What are these guys doing?? Well, not that I care. It's none of my business.

Mari's POV

"Here's your order, Mari-san," Kimiko-san placed my parfait on the table.

"Thanks, Kimiko-san," I smiled and she went back to the counter. I grabbed the spoon on the table, took a spoonful of the parfait and popped it into my mouth. "It's so goodd~" I grinned.

Suddenly, something or someone ran into the cafe with a loud bang. It was a tall big guy with no hair. He, then, rushed over the counter and started looking at the menu. I seem to know this person, I wonder where.

"Ah! Maybe young master will like this!" He exclaimed and turn to the staff behind the cashier. "Hey, you! I'd like to order a cake for my young master's birthday!! Make sure it's delicious okay??"

Young master? I've heard of this. Oh oh!! It's one of the guys I saw when I first met Mikio-kun at the amusement park! Ahh, no wonder I felt like I've seen him. Just as he said that I heard a beep and he dashed out of the place.

I continued eating my parfait until someone dashed back in the shop. This time it was a guy with a pompadour hairstyle. I also remember him from the amusement park with Mikio-kun.

"Hi, what did the dude with no hair who came a few minutes ago ordered?" The pompadour guy asked the staff.

As the staff showed the cake the bald person earlier ordered, the guy just 'HA?!'-ed. "This isn't good enough for our young master!!" Then he took out a piece of paper from his pocket, "Hey! Can you make the cake with this picture?? Thanks! Make it good for young master's birthday! We'll come take it in 3 days," then he ran off.

Next up, another person came the same way the other two did. This time, it was a guy with a Mohawk haircut. He asked the staff about the order and fanboyed when he saw the picture of their boss. But all of the sudden, his squeals halt with a 'WAIT!!'. "I love the idea of this picture but then boss might not like it!! We're only doing what we want to do," he cried on his hands. Soon, a beeping sound from the pocket of his jacket could be heard and he suddenly stopped crying. "Sorry, a guy with long hair will come here, my time is up," he apologized to the staff and ran away.

The guy that Mohawk guy said didn't arrive after that. I peacefully finished the rest of my parfait and was about to pay when the door slowly opened. It was that long haired guy that the other one was talking about. He didn't even need to ask, the staff explained everything that happened.

"Those guys.... so they left it on me... what am even I supposed to order for young master!?" He panicked as he scratched his head vigorously. I sighed and got out of my seat after paying for my food.

"Hi there! I think you're in need for help. Should I help you choose the best cake here?" I offered.

He spun to me, "You. You know the best cake here???"

"Yeah, I'm a regular here," I nodded and gave him a smile.

"Then please help me choose the best cake for young master!! I don't have much time," he begged and cried.

"Hmm..." my eyes traveled around the menu, determining which cake is the best. "Ah, here. I would say the ____ cake is the best here! It's very delicious and I totally recommend it!"

"Really?? Then I'll take that!" The long-haired guy screamed in joy. "Thank you so much, young lady!"

"Your welcome! Oh, and may I ask one thing?"

"Yeah?"

"Is it Mikio-kun's birthday?" I questioned.

As soon as I said Mikio-kun's name, there was a loonnggg gasp. "How dare you call young master by his first name!!" He glared.

"Eh...?"

"Don't you know how much he doesn't like being called that? All the people say it's so cute and it ruins young master's pride! Young master hates being called cute! Although I think he's so cute," he gasped, "I'm not allowed to say it because the young master doesn't like it. Anyway, don't even call young master like that! Get it?" He babbled at such speed that I couldn't even understand him. "How do you even know young master??"

"Ah, if you remember, I bumped into you guys at the amusement park like a month ago. Plus, I met him again last week," I chuckled.

"OH! I remember you now! You're that girl that made young master's shirt dirty!! But thanks to you he wore my hoodie!" He shook my hand. "You have my thanks for that!"

"Ahahah.... so is it his birthday?"

"Oh right! Sorry, I got too into talking about young master! It isn't his birthday today. But it will be in the next three days!" He announced. "If you'd like, young lady, you can come to his birthday party! I don't know if young master would like it but I think it'll be okay since he knows you. Plus, you helped me out a lot with choosing the cake, I owe you!"

"Eh?? Haha, okay! Thank you very much," I bowed.

"No problem!" He turned to Kimiko-san, "Ah and I want these four different flavors of this bread for take-away." Then he told me where the party will be held at and took the take-away as he disappeared out the door in a flash.

I got out of the store. I went on my way to my house and saw Mikio-kun walking with the four guys. The guy with the long hair was already back, too. And I didn't think Mikio-kun would be here too. No wonder they were taking turns to sneak away from him. Mikio-kun was eating four bread at once, he must've been hungry. Should I surprise him?

I sneaked behind Mikio. But the four guys noticed me before Mikio-kun did. I waved at them. The long hair guy whispered something to the other four guys and they gasped and smiled gleefully at me as they bowed. I was confused so I just slightly bowed back at them and smile. Then I put a finger on my lip and mouthed a 'shhh' since I wanted to surprise Mikio-kun. They grasped what I was telling them and pretended not to notice me. I quickly paced up behind them and covered Mikio-kun's eyes. "Guess who~?" I whispered into Mikio-kun's ears.

"T-Th-This voice??? M-Mari?!?" He gasped and removed my hands as he turned around.

"That's senpai to you! At least use some honorifics!!" I put my hands onto my waist.

"Why are you h-here?? Ah, right you live around here...."

"That's right! What about you?"

"Uh... I was just...patrol-- I mean uhh taking a walk."

"Hmm? Is that so?" I looked at the four guys. They were staring back at me with their mouth wide open.

Mikio-kun noticed and introduced me to them. "This is Baldy," he points to the bald buff guy.

"Ahh, it's nice to meet you..." he scratched his bald head.

"Mari. I'm Yoshino Mari! Nice to meet you all too," I smiled.

"And this is Poe," he points to the guy beside Baldy-san with the Pompadour hair.

"Hi, I'm Poe!! Who are you to young master???" He asked as he got his scary face on and walked towards me.

"Poe!" Mikio-kun warned and Poe-san stopped.

"Ahaha, I'm his senpai! And maybe his friend...? If he considers me as one?" I laughed as I ruffled Mikio-kun's hair.

"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO YOUNG MASTER!" Baldy-san yelled.

"Get your hands off him!!" The guy with the Mohawk hair said.

"Young master are you okay???" Poe-san asked, worried.

Mikio-kun put his hand up, signaling them to stop and it's fine. They stopped immediately. "W-What are you even doing?! Stupid woman..." he mumbled as he removed my hand from his head. I just smiled.

"Ah, right you're not done," I realized.

"This is Hawk," he gestured to the guy with the Mohawk hairstyle. "And that is Sadako," he continued. It was the guy with long hair. He nodded in acknowledgment and I nodded back.

"You have wonderful friends that love you very much," I smiled at Mikio-kun.

His face turned a bit pink, "F-Friends? I don't know... they've been with me since I was young...so I guess so," he looked away.

Beside me, I could hear cries of the four guys and Hawk sniffed, "Young master considered us as friends," and they call break down crying again.

"And what's with you," Mikio-kun started.

"Huh?"

"If I consider you as my friend? Huh? O-Of course you are...even if we just met for a short time," he didn't face me.

A wide smile appeared on my face. I don't know why, but I was happy that he called me his friend. "Yayy!! Then I hope we get to know each other better, Mikio-kun!"

"W-Wha—" he looked flustered.

I giggled and soon had the thought that they might be busy. He said he was talking a walk but it was with the others, too. Maybe I might've interrupted them.

"Ah, you should continue walking then, I shouldn't interrupt," I excused myself.

"W-Wait!" I heard Mikio-kun called. "If you're free, w-would you like to also join us?"

Is he inviting me to walk with them? I smiled, "Sure! Let's get to know each other more!"

>>>>>>>>>>>

As we walked, we had a conversation going and we talked about many things. I told him about how I was at the pasty shop and how I usually go there, about Natsumi, Akari-chan, and the rest, and also my hobbies and such.

He also told me about his hobbies, school life and such. I found out the middle school he attends and it was a pretty famous school, almost like a private school. He said he didn't really have friends there because he doesn't need them and they're scared of him. It made me feel bad so I encouraged him to make more friends.

He didn't talk much though, I had to keep up the conversation since he's a bit quiet and shy. But overall, it was fun.

We walked around for and few more minutes, talking and we reached a riverbank. But it was already around afternoon then. "It's getting late now I think we should head back," I suggested.

"I should take you back home."

"No, it's okay, my house is nearer. If you take me to my house it'll be late by the time you go back home right? Isn't your house far?"

"Yeah. I guess you have a point. Then I'll get going now."

"Bye!"

"Wait How did you know where my house is?" 'Oh no, I wasn't supposed to say that. I only knew because Sadako-san told me earlier. How am I going to explain this now??'

"Umm Mikio-kun--" Before I start to make any excuse a voice overlapped mine.

"HELP!! Please help!! A thief took my purse away!" A woman screamed. Then there was a thief who was further away from us but closer to the river. Mikio-kun immediately chases after the thief, he managed to retrieve the purse and knocked the thief down. He returned the purse to the woman but suddenly the thief got back on his feet. "Young master lookout!" All four guys yelled. When Mikio turned the thief pushed Mikio-kun into the river. Mikio-kun looked like he was struggling in the water. Could it be that he CAN'T swim??