{2 days later}

It has been two days since that incident under the cherry blossom tree where the couple we all know and love created a memory that will forever be etched into their hearts. In the two days after it however, nothing of that magnitude has happened as they just enjoyed each other's company, showing nothing more than casual friendliness in the open, and will only steal a peck on the cheek when they thought no one was looking.

Tuesday came by, and since Kousei and Kaori's break is over considering: 1) Kaori is out of the hospital and 2) Kousei doesn't have any competition or recital coming up, they're back to school. But the good thing was that they didn't have to care about any exams considering they're both going to go to that one high school with a musical course that Kousei had been eyeing since the choosing of schools and since Kaori had missed loads of school and (like she says) didn't pay attention in class—she didn't think she needed to since she thought she was going to die—she's going to go too.

As the couple daydreamed through all the lessons, the long awaited lunch time finally came. They quickly rushed up to the rooftop, aiming to get a bit of time with just each other before other students, namely Tsubaki and Watari, join them on the roof.

Today, they both have bentos Kaori's parents had made for the two—Kousei sometimes buys his own since nobody at his home could do it for him since Hiroko is always asleep when he wakes up for school.

"Hello!" Kaori grinned from ear to ear as she skidded over to her boyfriend in happiness, bentos bundled in her arms. Kousei gestured her to the spot beside him, in which Kaori happily takes.

"Hey, Kaori." Kousei smiled at the girl who plopped down beside him and leaned against the wall to make herself more comfortable.

"Here you go." Kaori slid the bento she brought for Kousei over to him and smiled at him as if to say "you're welcome" when he thanked her before proceeding to open the box, but before he actually opened the lid however, he gave Kaori a teasing look and said, "Is there actual food in here or is it all sweets?"

Kaori pouted and opened her bento to show him what she has, and it was indeed as she said, the content of her bento consists of a piece of fish neatly cut into slices, an omelette and some rice.

"Hey, since I am not going to die I have to be aware of my figure now," Kaori sullened a bit more and mumbled under her breath, "as much as I hate it though."

Kousei laughed under his breath and finally opened his lunch, seeing the same things Kaori has. "Hmm, you're right, you're right," Kousei teased once again.

"Itadakimasu (let's eat/thank's for the meal)." Picking up the chopsticks, Kousei and Kaori both dug in, Kaori a bit more violently.

"Mou ot wot rife on wour wifs!" Kaori blurted out as she pointed to Kousei's mouth.

"What? Finish your food before speaking, I can't hear a single thing you are saying," Kousei chuckled as he tried to interpret what Kaori was trying to say

Kaori rolled her eyes and and held her finger up to tell Kousei to hold on until she swallowed her food and repeated what she had previously said.

"You-you have rice on your lips. Here-" Kaori leaned forward and squinted her eyes as she plucked the grain of rice from Kousei's lips and flicked it away. "There you go," Kaori grinned. It was only then she noticed the close proximity between them and how Kousei got himself closer.

"Well, ah...um... It's nothing, I just...mm-" Kaori never got to finish the sentence she unknowingly spluttered as Kousei leaned forward and captured her lips with his own.

Kaori felt a light blush appear on her cheeks (she never thought Kousei would ever take the initiative) but she closed her eyes and returned the kiss as she heard Kousei place his chopsticks down to gently cradle her burning cheeks.

Kaori didn't really do anything with her hands besides keep them in between them and hold herself up, the two missing to hear the door close from the side as they enjoyed their own little world.

~0000~

Watari could not believe what he is seeing in front of him, his childhood friend, who he's always known to have a timid personality, just voluntarily kissed a girl. Now, Watari is not stupid, despite one of his other friends apparently thinking so (*cough*Tsubaki*cough*), he saw right from the beginning at the hospital room when they busted Kousei and Kaori as they shared a kiss that the two weren't just going to be friends with benefits.

What he doesn't know, however, is that Kousei and Kaori's relationship with each other has already evolved to such an extent.

Maybe he should just back off and give them their own private time... But nah, who is he kidding, if he doesn't take this chance and tease the couple as much as possible, it just wouldn't be right.

~0000~

"Hey guys! How are you doing on this fine afternoon?" Watari exclaimed as he decided to make his presence known to the two love birds.

Hearing Watari's voice, Kaori and Kousei's eyes widened as they hurriedly broke the kiss.

"Oh my... I couldn't help but notice you guys seem closer, a little too close, perhaps?" Watari grinned impishly as he stared down at the two with a few cackles leaving his mouth. The two in question spluttered and turned their heads away and struggled to come up with a decent excuse on why they are...showing affection to each other through the contact of their lips.

Kousei was the first to speak out by saying: "U-um...w-we were..." Kousei sighed and covered his face in his hands, muffling his speaking. "Okay...you caught us."

Kaori wanted to protest but decided it was best to just expose themselves. She sighed, leaning back against the wall again. "Okay, yeah. We're close. Too close, we know."

"So...you two are going to finally admit you're dating?" Watari smirked teasingly at the two and plopped down beside Kousei while picking up a piece of his fish with his two fingers, eating it right after.

Kaori looked at Kousei and shrugged when he just stared back before looking over to Watari and saying, "I guess. I mean, it's just getting more obvious each day, to be honest."

Watari laughed and plopped down beside Kousei, teasing as he saw that the content of both bentos are exactly the same. "Whoa, you guys are even eating the same thing!"

Kaori and Kousei sent a glance at the other and laughed in an awkward manner till Kaori said, "Ah, well, my parents made the bentos so of course they'd be the same."

Watari grinned and nudged Kousei as he whispered to his friend and took a few glances at the blonde across from them. "Aye, Kousei, when are you two going to finally go to a more comfortable tier with each other?"

Kousei was confused as to what he meant before he caught on and choked on his saliva before turning completely red and pushed his cackling friend away from him as he felt his heart race 10x more faster than how it usually did. Just the thought made him completely flustered.

"We just got together, Watari!" seethed Kousei with a glare.

I swear to heavens, Watari will embarrass me in front of everyone now that he knows me and Kaori are dating! Kousei sobbed a groan as he covered his burning face with both his hands.

"What were you guys saying?" Kaori asked like an innocent little girl wanting to know her parents' conversation.

Watari was laughing too hard at Kousei to even answer so Kousei just answered himself with a red face.

"N-nothing important..."

"Hm. Okay." Kaori just shrugged and ate some of her rice. Truth is, she actually did know what they said since Watari isn't really a great whisperer, but despite her face not burning with a blush, she was dying on the inside.

But because of Watari's laughter, and Kousei's sulking mood, the three failed to hear the door open once again with a brunette walking into the scene. When she turned around, she was confused when she saw her annoying friend laughing and her neighbor silently sulking and looking away while her other friend was looking like the only normal one in the area.

Walking toward the scene, she rose an eyebrow at the blonde girl.

"Did you two bully Kousei again?" she interrogated Kaori and Watari as she stared at them as Kaori tried to stifle a smile while Watari tried to stop his smile which was getting way out of control and making his face feel numb. Like, he shouldn't be laughing this hard for something so small.

Kaori, being the only sane one, answered: "Well, I have no idea what Watari did but all I know was that he said something to Kousei and then a second later he's going mad and Kousei is just in his own little shell."

Tsubaki sighed and ran a hand across her face. "I wonder what he said that would have made Kousei this mad then."

Watari slid his laughs to chuckles and rubbed his cheeks to try and keep them relaxed and not sore. He sighed in a content manner and placed his hands behind him to keep him leaning up.

"I could whisper it to you but you'd just slap me for it." Watari chuckled nervously twice and gave Tsubaki a wary grin. He knows how much his friend loves Kousei; he's not as stupid as Tsubaki claims, once again, so he's afraid of what she'll do when hearing what will come out of his mouth.

Tsubaki glared at Watari, making him flinch a little, and turned to Kousei, watching as he slowly composed himself and let out a long, exhausted breath as he whispered in a distraught voice, "What the hell, Watari..."

~0000~

After a bit more of laughing, explaining through laughing, and a slip of the tongue by Watari later, Tsubaki implied, "You oddball, don't say stuff about them two! They're not together in that way!" as she prayed incessantly in her heart that what Watari said was not true. The couple gazed at each other for a minute, her eyes widened.

It can't be...

At that moment Kousei was already embarrassed, knowing that Tsubaki was his major childhood friend who liked him for who he was.

" Uh hey Tsubaki, would you like to join eating lunch with us?" Kaori grinned as she came in and saved the day.

"Sure." she replied as she sat cross legged beside Kousei, taking out her own bento box.

As the four ate and talked about the new changes in the school, Kousei noticed Tsubaki's tone was different when they were talking. "Tsubaki, are you okay?" He decided to test the waters.

Tsubaki glanced up from her lunch but quickly looked back down and avoided everyone's eyes, which made Kousei a lot more skeptic.

"Tsu-"

"Are you two dating?"

Kousei flinched at her abrupt question and his eyes widened by a fraction. "W-what?"

Tsubaki closed her eyes as she placed her chopsticks down and reopened her lids. "You and Kaori... Is it true?"

Kousei mentally stuttered and warily looked over to Kaori for silent permission, but all he got was a shrug and a 'go for it' look; on the inside she was preparing herself for Tsubaki's outburst because she was well-aware of Tsubaki's big crush

Oh, she's really messing with me right now... Kousei shakily sighed and fiddled with his fingers as he spoke out. "Ah, yeah...i-it's true, Tsubaki."

Tsubaki took in a deep breath and her emotions inside of her were no longer able to be held in, which led to her unforeseen stand-up and runaway to the door, her bento crashing to the ground. Tears escaped from her eyes, sobbing like she did before at the night she confessed to Kousei in a way she never thought was possible.

Watari was quick to go and run after her but Kousei held up a hand to stop him as he jogged over to the door that was just slammed closed. "I'll go after her! You stay here."

Kaori and Watari watched as Kousei opened the door and close it behind him a lot more softer than Tsubaki's, all the while he was thinking about what Tsubaki had told him back at the vending machine.

"What a moron! Kao likes Watari, you know!"

"As if she'd ever give you a second look!"

You weren't exactly correct about that... Kousei ran down the stairs and slowed down to a walk at the turn when he spotted Tsubaki at the last step with her knees up to her chin.

"When it comes to girls, if you're up against Watari, you don't have a snowball's chance in hell!"

That is somewhat correct...except... Kousei halted to a stop at the second step behind Tsubaki as he thought about what Tsubaki had confessed to him, what had had him pondering on their relationship for that day until he went to visit Kaori and let out his feelings about the blonde to his best friend.

"Maybe...you should fall in love with me instead."

"...Yo."

Tsubaki sniffed and used her sleeve to rub away her tears and took out her handkerchief and wiped her nose. She let out a broken, "Yo..."

~0000~

Kaori and Watari were alone on the rooftop awkwardly eating their lunches, not really making conversations after Tsubaki and Kousei left. But what made Watari wonder the most is why his best friend was the one who made Kaori's heart flutter. His flaws didn't exactly come to mind in girls but what did make sense was when the two played together on the stage. In fact, he bonded with her while she was in treatment at the hospital, but only this time it was quiet. He thought hard on how Kaori liked him.

"Hey Watari?"

Watari faced his her, giving full attention as he wondered what she was about to say.

"Yeah?"

"Listen, I hope you're not offended about me and Kousei going out, but I'm sorry for everything that I've done for you to make you hate me."

Watari didn't go exactly comprehend what Kaori was trying to say, but he didn't hate her for what's going on between her and Kousei, it was kinda obvious that Kousei went out with Kaori anyways. She inspired him to play piano yet again and he had respect for it; those crazy moments and fights they had were the things that Kousei sooned to love about her.

"You know, apologizing to me doesn't matter? I mean, of course I won't hate you for going out with my best buddy!" Watari laughed and nudged Kaori a little in a friendly way. "As a matter of fact, I'm actually glad you two are together because you actually make Kousei a lot more happier."

Kaori was fond about what Watari admitted to her, but she was surprised actually.

"Also, Kaori, I'm glad that you came to us. If it wasn't for you...well heck! Kousei would still be stuck in his little shell of his, am I right?"

Kaori smiled, her cheeks sizzling to a little blush. "Yeah, I guess... I shouldn't doubt myself any longer! After all," Kaori grinned up at Watari with a bright chuckle, "that idiot had always found ways to make excuses about visiting me at the hospital."

Watari laughed and nodded in agreement and glanced at his phone to check the time. It was almost time to head to class. He put his phone down and looked to his friend. "Think they'll make it on time?"

"I hope so," Kaori responded with a shrug as she took a bite out of her snack that she had brought, which was a chocolate bar.

Watari didn't question her about it but instead he laughed with a shake of his head and leaned against the wall beside his friend's girlfriend.

~0000~

"Tsubaki, hey, are you okay? Do you-"

"No, I don't need anything from you! I just..."

Actually she did want something. And that something has been in her mind ever since she and Kousei were walking barefooted at the beach, deeply staring off into the stars as they hummed Clair de Lune. Her words were all messed up and her emotions were tied up in a knot. She couldn't control anything of what she was saying but she couldn't keep it in any longer. She just wanted him to be by her side forever.

"I just..."

"Tsubaki, you just what?" Kousei seated himself on the one step behind Tsubaki and leaned on the wall to the far right of him.

She couldn't hold it in anymore... She just had to let Kousei know what she was thinking.

"I just wanted you to be with me instead of Kaori, okay?!"

Kousei flinched, his eyes widening by a fraction or two. He couldn't believe what his best friend said, and the most of it all was that it was from his best friend.

Wassup guys. So, this chapter was going to originally be longer but my friend had decided to end it here and make it a cliffhanger so ya idk.

I'm in a little rush because I have this project that we started today and it's due by the end of class tomorrow but I also have this health project due by Friday because my health teacher just rolls like that and gives the absent students some time.

I HOPE THIS CHAPTER WAS OKAY AND IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT SEEMS RUSHED OR WHATEVER I ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS BY ALWAYS THINKING THAT THESE CHAPTERS WON'T PLEASE YOU (even though the feedback by the some of you is great because it lets me know I'm doing something right, I like to be reassured)

Okay guys, thanks for reading :D

Good morning/good evening/good afternoon/goodnight! (BTW THE YLIA DUB IS SO GOOD OHMYGOD THE LAST EPISODE ACTUALLY MADE ME DIE LIKE I COULDN'T BREATHE. NOW WE JUST NEED THE LIVE ACTION THEN I'M COMPLETE)