"...Shou-kun..."His name escaped from my mouth.

His mismatched eyes realized that they were staring at me for a moment,then blinked and looked away.

"Ithought you were with Kuroiwa." He spoke in an indifferent tone.

Why? Why do I miss his voice so much? Was it because I was exploring my memories that it felt like I haven't heard Shou-kun's present voice for years?

"U-uh,he fell asleep because of fatigue." I unfolded the blanket. "I'm about to bring Shin his blanket." I stated, showing the black object that reached my feet.

He looked at it and shrugged.

"Okay."Then he walked towards his room.

"S-Shouto-kun!"

He stopped and looked at me. His mismatched eyes gazed straight into my golden ones.

 I gulped.

What was I gonna say? I had no idea why I called him. What should I do? I should say something. But what? Oh no, think of something Aoi!

"You're not going to say anything?" He asked.

"I..uh...Sorry for bothering!..." I stated and ran away to my room.

At least I tried running away, because my feet accidentally stepped onthe blanket and I lost balance. I shut my eyes close preparing for the impact.

But I felt a strong pair of arms around me instead. When I opened my eyes, I found myself embraced by Shou-kun.

"You need to be careful." He stated. I looked up at him, and stared at his face.

I never bothered much about his scar. I never asked anything about it,nor felt annoyed by it. But when I saw in my memories what happened,I could not help but feel a tight pressure in my gut.

I could not protect him that time. And in return, his smile disappeared.

But I saw it once again. In the beach when we were playing at the ocean.Then he told me to stay unknowing about my past. Then he almost kissed me. And then when Shin did, he got jealous and... Then after that he...

My eyes landed on his thin lips. My mind recalled the event that happened, when those warm lips of his pressed against mine... I remembered how blissful it was for me. I actually thought that he has feelings for me.

I went back to reality when Shou-kun helped me gain my balance again,and then helped my back on my feet. My throat suddenly felt dry, and my gut felt tight.

"Are you alright?" Shou-kun asked, and I gave a nod. Despite the pain in the pit of my stomach, my voice spoke out. I looked back at his mismatched eyes.

"Hey Shou-ku—I mean Shouto-kun." I bit my lip to correct myself. I couldn't bear to give him the usual nickname that was given by my past self. "Why?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you kiss me?" I whispered breathlessly.

His eyes widen. Then he looked away from me. I felt the tightness in mygut crept up to my chest, then slowly to my throat. I could not breathe. His face looked frustrated and hurt. And it was probably because of me. I took a deep breath.

"N-nevermind." I smiled at him. "You don't need to answer that."

"Ao—"

"I need to give this to Shin, please excuse me." I bowed my head andwalked to my room. I pulled the blanket up to avoid stepping on it again.

Then I closed the door shut.

I sauntered towards Shin and covered his back with the blanket. Then I lay down my bed. I curled my body and looked at his exhausted face.

My hands held my chest. It hurts so much. The memories that I explored answered some questions, but it was not enough to answer all of them.

Why did I lose my memories? How did I met Shin? Who are the villains that are chasing me? Why am I chased by villains? Why did Shou-kun want me to stay out of my past so badly? Why am I his fiancée? Who isShou-kun's girlfriend? If he has one, then why did he kiss me?

I need more memories. If only I could remember everything right now.Because I still cannot remember anything about it.

Shin's eyes fluttered open. His sleepy silver eyes took a few seconds to focus and look at me. Then the sleepiness in them immediately disappeared the moment he looked straight to my eyes.

"I passed out..?" He stated like he could not believe it.

I smiled at him. "It's okay. I'm sorry for being a bother."

"No it's fine. We should continue so you can watch all of them."

"No,you need to rest."

"They weren't enough to answer all your questions yet. I can still handleit."

"Shin."I held his hand, and glared at him. "It's okay. Let's continue tomorrow."

He looked at my eyes once again. "Sorry." He stated softly."Tomorrow then."

I smiled.

"You wanted more time for Shouto after all."

"Wha—No I don't!"

"Really?Then why is you heart racing?" He smirked. My eyes widen.

I punched his head. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING AB—Oh I'm sorry, I—"

Shin was holding the top of his head that I punched.

"Ugh, Aoi is so brutal." He whined while burying his face on the bed.

"I-I'm so sorry...Does it still hurt? Is there something I could do?"

"Yeah,a kiss would help."

"Forget it. Go ahead and die." I glared at him and he chuckled. He stood up and...

"Wha-what are you doing?!" I asked loudly as he sat on the bed and lay downbeside me.

"I'm tired. Let me sleep beside you."

"B-But,i-it's—"

"Its fine, its fine~ you usually sleep beside Shouto before, right?" He stated as he wrapped his arms around my back.

"W-well but Shou-kun and I were young—"

"I won't do anything bad, I promise~~ so just be quiet and let me sleep~" He grumbled as he pulled me closer to him.

He was hugging me with his arms and legs like I was a body pillow. My face was in front of his and my arms were tucked between us. I could feel his breath tickling my lips.

"S-Shin you're too close."

"Shhhh, be quiet" He whispered. I pursed my lips.

Then I could hear the rain starting to fall again, but the room wasn't cold. His breath slowly became steady. My golden eyes stared at his silver ones. They looked like a pair of silver moons, and slowly,those two celestial objects were covered by his eyelids with long eyelashes.

When his eyes finally closed, I unintentionally stared at his lips. It reminded me that Shou-kun wasn't the only one who stole a kiss from me.

You bought a house for me. You're helping me gain my memories back. You watched over me when I was in a coma. You're always there for me.

"Shin."I whispered so soft and breathless that it seemed more like I wassilently mouthing the words.

"Do you like me?"

"Is that a confession?"

My eyes widen. Then his eyes opened slightly. Those silver gems were heavy-lidded and his lips showed a faint teasing smile. He looked effortlessly seductive. It's making me wonder how many maiden hearts he has broken.

"O-Of course not!" I cried while glaring at him.

"Awe~. Do not lie. I'll accept you more than Shou-kun will."

"I'm not confessing!"

"So why are you asking me that?"

"Don't turn the spotlight on me!!"

"Hahahahaha! I'm kidding. I'm kidding, hahahaha"

His hand moved from my back to my right cheek, and then gently tucked my hair, behind my ear. Then he stared at my lips.

Soon after, his playful smile turned gentle. He stared into my eyes.

"I'm not obliged to answer Aoi's question, right?"

My mouth gaped at his reaction. I wanted to say something but his words left me speechless. Of course, I have no right asking that question but it really made me curious. I want a reason why. I want to know why he does a lot of things for me.

"I'll tell you something though,"

I pursed my lips again, gulping down my saliva. I want to know. We're not family. We're not lovers. We may be very close before but what he's doing right now is weirder if he only thinks of me as a friend. So why? Tell me, Shin.

"Aoi is very important to me."

I didn't understand what happened, but I felt my heart burst from my chest. My jaw dropped. It felt like what he said was from an entirely bizarre language that I can't possibly understand.

Then Shin's hand moved to the top of my head and caressed my hair.

"You are very important to me. It wouldn't be an exaggeration if I say that you are my reason of existence."

"Eh?"

His words were totally out of my expectations. I could not utter a single meaningful word. And Shin knows it. I was hoping to have some explanation. I wanted a reason on why he does a lot of things for my sake.

But now, it seemed more and more confusing.

Shin chuckled once again, and pinched my cheek.

"Now,don't think too much about it is bad. Overthinking can kill you,you know?" He stated, then moved his face closer to mine. And planted a kiss on top of my head.

"But Shin—"

"Shhhh,your mind and mouth are too noisy...let me sleep." He whispered in an exhausted manner. Shin hugged me tightly once again, and buried my face against his chest. My eyes closed.

I asked him to clear things up, but instead it made everything messier.There is nothing that I could do though. Shin is tired and I have to wait until tomorrow to let him share more of my memories that I could not remember.

I mentally sighed. I wish that my mind could start remembering more. It would be very convenient.

~*~

The room felt oddly cold. My arms pulled a blanket as I snuggled sleepily with my eyes closed, but it wasn't enough. I could hear the rain tapping out my window. I opened my eyes, and looked around.

Then I realized that there was supposed to be someone beside me.

"Shin?"I called out. My hands suddenly felt cold.

Where is he? Should I be worried? I shouldn't be worried, right?

I went out of bed and opened the door. Only the light from the first floor could be seen from the stairs. Their rooms showed no light. I went downstairs. I could smell a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen, but when I saw Shou-kun eating on the dining table, my body moved on its own, and hid myself behind a wall, which separated the kitchen and staircase. I could hear Shou-kun slurping what seemed to be a type of noodles.

I heard someone sigh.

"If you're going to stalk, make sure the people you're stalking won'tnotice." Shin's voice echoed. My body stiffened.

He found me?! So he's in the kitchen? I didn't even get to see him but he saw me?! Just how on Earth did he—

"Is it an enemy?" It was Shou-kun who asked.

"No,just a fellow schoolmate. I'm sure you've noticed."

The silence lasted for a few seconds. I shut my eyes.

I'm busted...

"I see. I'll tell the teachers about it." Shou-kun stated, as he slurped. It made me frown. Shou-kun's reply seemed off. I'm not the one they're talking about?

"Speaking about observing someone. Why don't you want to see Aoi?" Shin asked another question. So the topic a while ago was really not about me. But now...

I gulped, and peeked out to look at the two people talking about me.

"Why are you asking something you already know?" Shou-kun replied nonchalantly. Shin who was standing, chuckled at his reply. He was holding a bowl that seemed to be the same type of noodles that Shou-kun's eating.

He sat down on the seat across the dining table. "I might misinterpret the things that I see, you know~"

Shou-kun didn't answer and continued eating his noodles while facing down. I looked at Shin to see what his reaction. Then my shoulder's shook since his silver eyes already caught me. He smiled.

Sweat rolled down my cheek. Then he looked back at Shou-kun.

"You don't want to see her because you feel guilty about the things that happened to her?" He asked curiously at Shou-kun, while wearing asly smile.

"Or are you still selfishly wishing that she would stay ignorant and unknowing about everything that happened?"

Shin's question made my heart sunk. It's true that Shou-kun wanted me to stay innocent about what's happening.

Shou-kun moved his face up once again to look at the black-haired young man across the table. His face was serious. Shin nodded cheerfully like a little child, in respond to him. Then Shou-kun looked back down at his noodles and started eating.

I tseemed like Shou-kun said something to Shin in his mind.

I wonder what Shou-kun said to Shin. Somehow it made me uneasy. Shou-kun wanted me to stay innocent. He wanted to protect me. And he thinks that the best way to do that is to stay me out of the chaos.But what happened days ago led to this situation. I need to know what happened to me. And I know that my decision pains him.

And maybe that's why he doesn't want to see me.

"Yep.The reason you don't want to see her is because of the kiss." My eyes widen at Shin's words. My fingers touched my lips in reflex.

Of course. It makes perfect sense. Shou-kun would've felt uneasy about what happened. And maybe the reason I didn't felt uneasy was because I got distracted by the frustration storming in my mind. I wanted to talk to him more to know more. However, Shou-kun doesn't want to.

My hand touched the left side of my face, recalling my past withShou-kun.

I want to remember everything. It's really difficult for me.Memories, when will you come back? When will I finally be able to understand everything?

"Okay, Aoi you can come out now~"

I heard Shin's voice, but ironically, I wasn't surprised. I knew he would call me out. I walked down the last steps of the stairs,towards them, behind Shou-kun.

His mismatched eyes looked at me shockingly.

"I got busted." I stated, letting out a painful smile.

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9-27-2018