"Finally! Where have you guys been?! It's been forever since the last time I saw you guys..."

Watari threw out his signature smirk and gave her a thumbs up with a wink. "You know me! Getting all buffed up for my future wedding!"

Tsubaki rolled her eyes and pushed Watari. "Shut up, you're never gonna last long with a single girl."

"What if I went out with you, huh?"

"Ew, no!" Tsubaki pushed him away from her and scowled.

Watari laughed and walked over to sit on a chair in the corner of the room.

Kousei puffed out his cheeks and released a huge breath as he leaned on his hands on Kaori's bed. "So what do we do now?"

Everyone, aside from Kousei, started to try and come up with something fun to do but the only person who could come up with something is Kaori.

"What if we try playing truth or truth?"

"Truth or truth? Don't you mean truth or dare?" asked Watari.

Kaori shook her head. "Nope. Since I know some of the dares from us would come out as stupid or relentless—considering I'm still in this bed and we're just a bunch of 14-year-olds—we'll just ask for truths. I don't know, it's the only thing I could come up with."

Tsubaki sighed but shrugged and agreed either way as she grabbed a chair and sat down beside Watari. "Alright. Who goes first?"

"I think it'd be reasonable for Kaori to go first since she's the one who suggested we play this game," Kousei said. He moved over to sit down on the ground with his back against the wall, still facing his friends (a little skeptic about using the word "friend" on one particular blonde).

Is it just me, Tsubaki kept her eyes on Kousei, but is Kousei staring at Kao more than usual? Are they really going out? Or is what happened yesterday really an accident?

"Okay, then I guess I'll go," Kaori said brightly. She straightened up and scanned her friends before her eyes landed on Tsubaki.

"Tsubaki," she is saying, "have you ever gone out with anyone? Just say 'I don't know' if it's a sensitive topic, no pressure."

Tsubaki's face gained a tint of red and her breath hitched as she started thinking about Saito and their little ex-rendezvousing. "Ah..." Might as well be honest. "Yes..."

Kousei's eyes widened. "What?! When?!"

Tsubaki turned her attention toward Kousei and saw that he looked very surprised. "Um..." she started, "a little while ago."Since Kousei didn't even bother to listen at that time in the school's piano room, she's not even going to remind him for being such a stupid jerk at that time.

"I wasn't aware of that! Watari," the boy looked toward his other friend, "did you know about this?"

The brunette could only shrug. "I don't know, pretty sure I didn't. What was his name, Tsubaki?"

By now, everyone - even Kaori - had their attention on the short-haired girl, and it made her uneasy.

"Er...uh...h-his name was Saito." She looked down and avoided everyone's eyes.

"Wait." Kousei thought back to 6th and 7th grade. "Isn't he that guy you used to have a crush on?"

Tsubaki nodded. She was really close to burst at Kousei right about now.

"You guys still going out?" This time is was Kaori who had spoken up.

"Um...nope."

"Oh. Well, sorry for asking that if it was a hassle for you, Tsubaki." Kaori looked genuinely sorry to Tsubaki but Tsubaki just smiled and said, "It's okay. It wasn't that big of a deal."

"So...I'm guessing it's your turn now?" Kaori said, pointing to Tsubaki.

Tsubaki nodded, immediately, but unknowingly, asking, "Are you and Kousei going out?"

Everything was silent, and it was either everything around them stopped making any sounds or the birds outside the window pane just stopped chirping.

"U-uh...I...don't..." Kaori started to think that this game was a bad idea, but she didn't really think it'd lead to something like this real quick. "Ask Kousei."

Kousei stilled and tried to glare at Kaori but he couldn't really do that with the intensive stares he's getting from Tsubaki and Watari, mainly Tsubaki.

"Ah...er...no. No, we're not." When Tsubaki glanced at Kaori, Kousei held up a finger to Kaori and mouthed, "We'll talk later."

Watari noticed that gesture grinned subtly to himself. He decided to break the awkward aura around them and said, "How about we just move on?"

Kaori nodded frantically and thanked Watari discreetly before moving on to him as to not create a subtle back-and-forth war between her and Tsubaki about her "love life". "Watari, have you actually ever loved someone before?"

Watari blushed and looked down at his crossed legs, so to slightly stall he stood up and turned his chair around so that he was straddling the seat with his arms resting on the back of the chair. "Um...yeah, actually."

"Wow, that's a surprise," muttered Tsubaki.

"Hey! I'm not always a go-getter. I can feel love too."

Tsubaki shrugged and sent him a teasing grin. "Sure you can."

Watari frowned and looked down at his shoes, "Well...I've actually fell in love with pretty much half-the girls I've gone out with. The most recent were Keiko and...well, you Kaori. But, someone already has feelings for you anyways so..."

Kaori was slightly confused but then she started to realize that he had meant Kousei so she just gave him a small, sad smile. "Well, like what was discussed: we just weren't made for each other."

"Yeah, guess not... Welp, my turn now! Kousei!"

Kousei jumped at his name and turned to his friend. "Uh, yes?"

"Do you like Kaori?"

Kousei felt sweat already start to form on his forehead. "Uh..."

"Oh, come on!" Watari gave his friend a warm smile, which is pretty rare. "Just admit it! We saw you two kiss, we saw you two hold hands, why deny the blossoming love?"

Kousei almost choked on his own saliva but he just held it in and cleared his throat. "O-okay...I...I do."

"As a friend?" Watari pressed.

Kousei held his breath and shrugged his shoulders, letting out the gulp of air. "Maybe...maybe not."

"Okay," Tsubaki says, "so you either hate her or you love her."

Kousei only shrugged.

"Come on dude."

Everyone turned to Watari.

"I mean," he laughed and ran a hand through his hair, "it's obvious you love her."

"Let's just move on before something bad comes out of this, can we?" asked Kaori, interrupting the guys' conversation.

Kousei nodded, completely agreeing with Kaori. "Yeah. So...my turn then...um...Tsubaki."

Tsubaki 'hmmed'.

"Are you and Saito still going out?"

"Eh...no...didn't I already tell you?"

"Um, no. I don't think so."

"Oh," Tsubaki looked down. "Well, no. And it's for a reason I don't want to talk about." I don't even think he pays attention to anything that goes on in my love-life.

"Oh, okay."

Everyone went silent right after that until Watari's phone started to ring. Watari reached into his pocket and slid out his phone and immediately answered it. "Hello?"

He was talking on the phone for a few moments before he nodded and ended the call.

"Tsubaki," he says, "my coach said that he needs you with your team and I need to go to mine so that we can practice a little more for the game that's coming up."

Tsubaki felt a little relieved that she can leave and avoid all the love questions but felt a little skeptic about leaving Kousei and Kaori alone, since what happened last time was apparently a "mishap" but she just let it go and stood up from her chair.

"Okay," she said, "let's go then." She grabbed Watari's wrist just fast enough to not give him even 5 seconds to stand up so he was practically dragged out of the room.

"Why does she always drag him?" Kaori asked after she was sure the two who just left were probably at the lobby.

Kousei shrugged. "I don't know, she's been doing that a lot. She's also been sort of...distant, kinda."

Everything is my fault. Kaori looked down at her folded hands. If I hadn't interfered and knew Tsubaki loves Kousei I wouldn't have even introduced myself. She shut her eyes tight, tears building up behind her lids. I probably should have just died...I'm just ruining their friendship. "There was never any room for me anyways..."

"Huh? Kaori, are you okay?" Kousei got up from the floor and walked himself over to Kaori's bed.

Kaori looked away from Kousei and tried to wipe away her unborn tears without Kousei seeing but Kousei caught her in the act and started to worry.

"Kaori..."

Kaori pretended she wasn't about to cry and smiled at Kousei through the mask of sadness. "Yeah, I'm perfectly fine; no need to worry."

Kousei observed her face for a moment more and sighed right after. "O-okay then. But if anything is bothering you," he reached out and grabbed her hand and cradled it with both his hands, "please let me know."

Kaori let a faint blush creep onto her cheeks but she ignored it and smiled softly at the young pianist (and her maybe-lover). "Thanks, Kousei."

Kousei smiled softly back at her and gave her hand a squeeze with his two hands before unwillingly pecked the back of her hand, his own face turning red - even more so than Kaori - at the realization of what he just did and started to try and apologize with adorable splutters, well to Kaori it was adorable.

"Ah- I-I'm sorry!" Kousei stepped back a little to bow in apology but Kaori squeezed his hand to bring his attention to her.

"Kousei, Kousei...it's okay," she laughed out. "But..." Kaori stared into his dark blue orbs, "did you bring me any canelés?"

Kousei forgot that he brought them until she just brought them up. "Oh! Right! Yeah, I have them I just forgot to hand them to you." Turning to the left, Kousei reached behind the lamp on the desk and brought out a bag of canelés. "Are these what you want?"

Kaori's mouth practically watered at the sight of the bag itself but she kept that part to herself, but she wasn't able to control her overexcitement.

"Yay!!" Kaori's eyes flashed with a glint of joy and happiness as Kousei placed the bag on her lap, feeling satisfied and more complete when she took one right out of the bag and let the crisp, caramelized, evenly dark crust explode into her mouth with eagerness. She moaned in delight as little murmurs of "so good, so good!" passed her lips and Kousei felt his face involuntarily redden at that particular sound; he's been around Watari way too much to be as innocent he'd like to be and Hiroko is a very descriptive person.

"Hey," Kaori swallowed what was in her mouth, "you okay? You're kind of red."

Kousei, bringing himself back to reality, snapped out of his daze from Kaori's face and stammered out excuses for zoning out, again.

"S-sorry, were you saying anything?"

Kaori sighed and moved to one side of the bed and patted the spot right beside her. "Here, sit."

Kousei, obliging to her offer, nodded and kicked off his shoes so that he was able to sit atop the covers and lean against the wall behind him, the red engulfing his face slowly fading away.

"Want one?" Kaori offered, placing the bag of canelés in between her and Kousei.

Kousei shrugged and grabbed one from inside the bag. "Sure." He let the custardy interior bomber his mouth with goodness before he swallowed so he could speak to Kaori.

"Y'know," Kousei says, "I've never really had these, and...in my honest opinion I still think egg sandwiches are better."

Kaori huffed and pouted at him, throwing a piece of the canelé she had in her hand at Kousei. "Whatever."

Kousei laughed silently and grabbed her hand with his left while the canelé was in his right; he intertwined their fingers together as he watched himself do so and took another bite out of the canelé in his other hand.

"Hmm...hey, Kousei?"

Kousei turned his head to look at Kaori and noticed she had put down the canelé she was recently eating.

"Yeah?"

Kaori seemed a little nervous and reluctant trying to say what she wanted to say but she pushed those feelings away and just let it out. "What are we? Like...while we were playing truth and truth you...basically said you liked me and said we'd talk later. So, now seems like a good time."

Kousei almost choked on his canelé he was munching on but coughed it out, covering his mouth.

"Sorry," he coughed out. "Sorry... Um..."

"I-it's okay, you don't have to answer, I'd understand if it'd be just a friends with benefits thing."

Kousei sighed and looked down. "I...it's not that..."

"Then what is it? I actually want to know where this is going so I don't have to worry about it. I mean, we already said we loved each other in the most weirdest way possible and kissed, like, twice. We even slept together-"

Kousei gave her a weird look, making her huff and roll her eyes.

"Not in that way, dummy. You know what I mean."

Kousei stared into Kaori's eyes for a moment longer until he wasn't able to anymore and looked down at his lap once again. "You're right about that," he says, "but...it's just that I've never really been in a relationship and...I don't know what you'd expect from it... Have you ever gone out with anyone?"

Kaori thought for a moment before shrugging and saying, "Watari probably didn't count, but other than him, guess not."

Kousei, understanding, nodded and hummed a song for a while in thought before puffing out air and slumping against the wall, his hand tightening around Kaori's.

"So...then maybe we can both be oblivious together?"

Kaori nodded in agreement and smiled. "Now you're catching on; of course I'd like to be oblivious together. So, to make it "traditional", I want you to be the one to ask me out. I mean, I'd do it but I kinda wanna hear it from you."

Kousei felt a huge weight leave his chest at those words that came out of her mouth, relieved that he's positive she likes him back but he felt nervous. He shyly grinned and grabbed her other hand, placing down his half-eaten canelé before doing so; he felt a little more confident when he asked Kaori the question a lot of people are nervous about.

"So...K-Kaori...um...would you like to be my g..." Kousei felt his face grow hot and his throat tightened but he smiled through it all and took a deep breath, saying his words all over again. "Kaori, would you like to be my girlfriend?"

Thankfully, and obviously, Kaori agreed with two simple words: "Of course."

Kousei let out a really huge deep breath and let it all out as he leaned again Kaori's shoulder.

"Oh, thank goodness... You have no idea how hard that was..."

Kaori smiled softly this time and laughed, placing a short kiss on Kousei's cheek. "I know, that's why I wanted you to ask me."

Kousei groaned and hung his head. "Of course...I'd expect that from you."

"Haha, yup!" Kaori settled down and moved a little more closer to Kousei, as close as she can without murdering the canelés. and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"So," Kaori starts, "how's this gonna go? Are we going to make this a secretive relationship and make it obvious? Or are we going to make it obvious and just tell the world...? Specifically, Tsubaki and Watari."

Kousei gulped down air, his mind saying: I've never really thought of that... I'd really like to tell people I have a girlfriend, none other than Kaori Miyazono, but at the same time...no...because just imagining all the teasing that would happen is just too overwhelming...

Kousei leaned his head atop of Kaori's and close his eyes, quietly admitting, "Let's make this discrete. For now, though."

Kaori was a little surprised, but she just let it slip by and nodded, closing her eyes as well and enjoying Kousei's warm company as she tightened their hands together a little more securely.

All was quiet and comfy but Kaori abruptly shot her eyes open and moved away from Kousei to look over the edge of the bed.

But apparently Kaori's fast, and unexpected, movement caught Kousei off-guard enough to make him almost fall on top of her, considering their hands were linked so he held hers tightly, but he reacted fast enough to catch himself and push him back to the wall.

"Kaori, wha-?!"

"Sh! Hold on a moment. Here, grab my waist or something, just help me not fall while I look for something..." Kaori's voice faded as she pushed herself more over the edge of the bed as her head went under the bed.

Kousei widened his eyes and grit his teeth in fear as he saw her tip over and scrambled closer to wrap his arms around her waist, keeping her atop the bed and off the ground.

"Can you- wait, nevermind! I got it!" Kaori heaved herself up with both her hands and let out a surprised yelp when she and Kousei fell back, Kaori laying on his torso.

"Mm!" Kaori pushed herself off of Kousei, thrashing the breath out of his lungs, and hovered above him from the side, her hair framing her face like the first time they confessed. A piece of paper was hanging out of her pursed lips.

Kousei stopped rubbing his ribs and stared at the paper. "What?"

Kaori sighed through her nose and sat on her knees; she took the paper from her lips and held it behind her back.

Kousei furrowed his brow and leaned himself on his elbow. "Hey, what-"

"Gimme a kiss."

Kousei felt his heart actually skip a beat. "Uh...w-what?"

Kaori smiled. "Give me a kiss and I'll show you what it is I have behind my back."

Kousei couldn't breath correctly but he just stiffly nodded and decided to just giver her lips a little tap with his own.

Kaori's blush was evident, so was Kousei's, but she gave him a soft smile before holding up the paper in front of her, which appeared to be a photo.

Kousei's eyes skimmed the picture, spotting only three kids: one was a little girl who had black hair in two pigtails and the other is of a happy-looking girl with short, blonde hair and the last one is a kid with black-rimmed glasses like Kousei's and his hair was short.

Wait.

Kousei's eyes almost popped out of their sockets before he snatched the photograph from Kaori's fingers.

He observed the photo once, twice, even thrice.

"What...?" He looked up from the photo and stared into Kaori's eyes.

"Ah..." Kaori looked down at her lap with a blush. "I was supposed to put that in the letter before my surgery...but I forgot to...but the good thing is that I'm alive and I can actually hand that over to you in person!"

"It's something I've treasured for a long time, Kousei." Kaori stared deeply into Kousei's dark orbs with sincerity. "You have no idea how much this"—Kaori gingerly placed her hands over Kousei's and held the picture up in between them—"means to me."

Kousei stared at the photo and took in its details before placing it gently on the bed in the space between them and held of Kaori's hands in his own. He searched for her eyes.

"You're right," he says, "I don't know...but I wish I could know..."

Kaori sighed in half-sadness and half-bliss. "It's pretty weird to me when we don't yell at each other all the time. Sure, it could sometimes be relaxing, but it feels weird too."

Kousei let out a small laugh and shrugged his shoulders, playing with the blonde's hands. "You're right. But don't worry, outside, when you leave, we don't have to be this calm with each other since we're just friends in public."

"You're right...and Kousei? Speaking of when I leave...I have to tell you something."

Kousei's heart tightened in worry, "what if's" going through his mind.

"I'm actually being released tomorrow."

...

"Huh?"

______________________

Hi guys :D Sorry for the late update - later than usual, actually. I've just been trying to catch up with school and apparently I actually have things to do outside of my non-social life. I took this anxiety test online a week ago and apparently I've changed? I don't know, people just say I've started acting differently and started talking more. I don't know.

Aside from my life, I hope this was okay :D I honestly didn't know where I was going with this until I just, I dunno, went with it. And I've also been reading the YLiA manga (as long with Tokyo Ghoul: re) so I've been busy with that too... And Noragami and Free...and my mom is watching YLiA as well so I'm watching it with her (she's on episode 5, now she keep asking me why Kaori fainted and I just keep saying "Keep watching.")

AND, I've also been trying to improve my writing, I dunno if I or you could/can see any difference, but whatever.

That's it for today, I guess. Hopefully this wasn't too bad! I'm going to bed.

Goodbye :D