After my past talk with my father, I knew I had to follow through. I should have known better than to talk back to him. He knows whats best, after all. He only has the interests of the company in mind, and as the heir I should feel the same.

So why do I feel so lost? 

"Togami! Hifumi has finished our tea," Ludenburg pulls my attention away from my book to hand me my cup. I wasn't actually reading the book; I couldn't concentrate with my girlfriend making idle conversation. She was always making comments on the current political state of Japan as she scrolled through her news feed, and I had half a mind to tell her to stop talking. The other half of my mind was telling me that if my father found out, Naegi would pay the price. 

I accept the cup. "Thank you."

After telling Yamada to go away, she smiles at me and looks at my book. "What are you reading?" She scoots closer to me on the love seat so it is easier to see. I'm not a big fan of my private space being invaded, but once again I don't argue. 

"It's a political fiction about World War Two. Interesting topic." I give her a thin smile and go back to reading when suddenly I feel her head rest on my shoulder. 

"I hope you are enjoying it!" She giggles coyly and kisses me on the cheek. I would be enjoying it a lot more if you weren't here. I flush from embarrassment at the kiss and feel a need to get some air, but knowing Ludenburg, I wouldn't go off easy if I left.

I stand up and offer a hand up to the girl. "Would you like to go on a walk? I believe the greenhouse is open." I help her stand and I feel her fingers link with mine. It feels wrong. So horribly wrong. Its for Naegi, I tell myself as we walk out of the room. That single phrase is what has kept me alive for the last three days. As soon as I got to school after my visit, I asked Ludenburg to be my... partner. I've been avoiding Naegi to make sure he doesn't find out for fear that he will do something irrational. It's been painful.

"I'd love to!" She smiles at me as we walk out of her dorm. The hallway seems to be miles longer than I remember it being formerly. Even though Ludenburg is next to me, it feels as if someone is breathing down my neck, causing goosebumps to go down my spine. We eventually find the door and the artificial warmth sadly doesn't help with my chills, in fact, as I watch Ludenberg, I feel more upset. I wish desperately for a way out of this, but as she starts pointing out the different types of flowers I find myself trapped. 

"Look! Its the flower Sakura was named after!" I follow her pointed finger to a tree with pastel pink cherry blossoms covering it's leaves. I have to admit, it is a beautiful flower. 

We continue like this for the next half hour, me making small comments here and there while Ludenburg does most of the talking. Its a nicely proportioned greenhouse, but we manage to make our way around the room a few times, and each time Ludenburg seems to find new flowers to gush over. Eventually, we get tired of walking and go sit on the edge of the fountain in the center of the room. 

"I'm glad you asked me out, Byakuya." Ludenburg smiles and puts her hands in her lap. "It has been a nice change in pace from my average life, plus, I have liked you for awhile." Her face turns a light shade of pink as she turns her face to look at me.

"Oh! I'm glad," I lie. The entire situation has just gone downhill. Truth be told, that was the last thing I wanted her to say right now. 

"I must voice some of my concerns though. You seem to be quiet around me, when usually you have so much to say. It's okay, you don't have to change your ways to keep me. Remember, I like you for you." Ludenberg is more than a little perturbed by my out of character behavior. 

I know that my actions have been different since the weekend, but who can blame me? "I apologize. What, would you like me to insult you? That's Fukawa level at its greatest." I try to say something rude, something that if I had said around Naegi, he would have scolded my behavior. 

Ludenburg giggles. "That's more like it!" She makes an effort to grab my hands again and angles herself slightly so she can see me better. "Fukawa has been avoiding you since we started seeing each other, you know."

At least one good thing came out of this.

"I'm scared she may kill you," I joke. "There is a murderer hidden in there that hasn't come out for a few days." I try to move my hands to loosen her grip, but it was to no avail.

"I have nothing to be afraid of. I can protect myself quite well, and if worst comes to worst, I know I can always count on you." She looks down with her eyes, still facing me. What is she looking at? 

The answer comes when she leans in and presses her lips on mine. It feels atrociously wrong, but I know I have no choice but to go with it. I squeeze her hands and close my eyes and try to match her rhythm, feeling as she presses harder and licks my bottom lip. 

This is the last thing I want to be doing.

I open my mouth and allow her to deepen the kiss, which thankfully doesn't last much longer.  She breaks it off and smiles sheepishly. "You're quite good at that!"

"I'm glad you think so," I try to smile back, but as I look past her face, I feel nauseous. No, horrified.

Standing in the doorway with his eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar is Makoto Naegi.