I Will Win You Back(Completed)

62

"Oi, Ren" Nanami looked at him with worried eyes. "Are you okay kiddo?"

"Y-yes" the little boy, Ren looked away from the screen and focused on his hands. Nanami didn't believe him though, "Then why do you look like you've been crying?"

"I haven't! Men don't cry!" Ren insisted with a pout. Nanami laughs, something that sounded like music to the ten year old's ears. "Men cry too you know. They cry when someone they love passes away, cry when their expenses are too high, cry when they are hurt. We're humans"

The brunet sniffed, and wiped away his tears. "But dad said a man who cries is weak" his father was always so hard on him, he has to walk on egg shells whenever that man was with him.

"Your dad's stupid" Nanami spat. This made Ren laugh "and a jerk" he added. Nanami smiled, relieved to see him brightening up. "So what's the problem kid?"

The brunet placed the laptop on his lap so he could look at Nanami closer. She had a hand pressed against her cheek, her eyes showed concern for him, and her peony pink lips stretched to a small smile.

Ren might not meet a lot of girls(mostly because he's shy around them) but he knows Nanami is the prettiest girl ever. Just looking at her is giving him heart palpitations.

"Do you have a fever? You're red!" Nanami gasped, worried.

"N-no I'm fine!" Ren insisted. "It just got hot in this room"

"I see...well, tell me what's the cause of your tears kiddo" she looked at him worriedly. "Is it bullies? Are you being bullied? I can give ya the best revenge ideas!"

Ren just smiled at her

________________________________

"This is from Nanami-nee" Gakushū have his friend a carefully wrapped gift box. "She told me to tell you happy birthday for her"

Ren excitedly opened the gift. Inside was a carefully made dark blue muffler. The now eleven year old Ren lifted it with such care and delicacy, he ran his fingers on the fabric. There was a note in the box too.

He admired Nanami's pretty, neat handwriting.

Happy birthday Ren! I hope you like the muffler, it took me a long time to knit it but voila!

Sincerely, Nanami

"I love it!" Ren hugged the muffler and wrapped it around his neck. Gakushū looked at him weirdly "Ren it's summer"

"So what?"

"Wouldn't that make you hot?"

"But Nanami-nee made it for me!"

Gakushū just shrugged. "Whatever, but it you start sweating, I won't sit next to you even if it's your birthday"

___________________________

The brunet approached Nanami and Mira's house. He decided to take Gakushū's advice and go to Nanami for help with his "Rio problem"

He seriously wanted to grab a brick and hit himself upside the head for what he'd done. Why did he have to say that it was a mistake anyway? He's the mistake here! Who knows what's going on in Rio's mind now

What if she decides to get over him?

The brunet felt his heart clench at this thought.

He stood infront of the house, before taking hesitant steps approaching it. Once he was infront of the door he raised a hesitant hand to knock.

The door opened almost instantly revealing a woman with long raven hair that framed her heart shaped face. Her dark blue eyes widened in surprise to see him. "Oh, Sakakibara-san! Hello" she greeted.

"Hello Mira" Ren nodded at her. "Is..Is Nanami-san home?"

"She's upstairs" she stepped aside, allowing Ren entry.

The brunet was greeted by the twins play-wrestling in the living room. When they saw him, Alice and Alex ran up and hugged his legs.

Ren laughed and picked up the twins in his arms, shaking them a bit. The children giggled before jumping out of his arms and returning to their game.

Ren went upstairs to find Nanami. It was easy to find her really. There were only three rooms, one for the twins, one guest room, and the other was the couple's bedroom.

"Nanami?" He gently pushed open the door.

The blonde woman was on the bed, staring at her phone. When she heard his voice, she looked up and smiled at him. "Ren! Hey kiddo"

The brunet smiled in nostalgia. It seemed no matter what, he'll always be her "kiddo". It both hurt and made him relieved.

"I need to talk to you"

_________________________

Rio walked alone at the park, thoughts running in her head.

Last night, she received a message from Karma. It was only two words but it was enough to make her worry for her best friend

"He knows"

"So he finally came clean eh?" Rio slumped on a bench. "And how did it turn out...I wonder...." Her worry for her best friend grew increasingly. She tried to think of other things to distract herself

And then she thought of Ren, her current love interest. She's frustrated with him, but she's not angry. She knows how hard it is to move on from someone you've loved for sixteen years.

She finds it funny really. Nakamura Rio isn't known for her patience, Nakamura Rio acts boldly, impulsive, and she doesn't wait around to get something done. But with Sakakibara Ren she somehow finds herself with an long amount of patience. Probably because, she knows he wants her too

She knows he's into her. There's just one thing holding him back, and that's Nanami.

But she won't cut the strings holding Ren. That's something Ren himself needs to do. She may have strong feelings for that man but she's not about to do everything for him.

(Author: What's your favorite holiday?)