Deleted Scenes: Spectrum of Yellows

Part 1: Ch.1-40

•Chapter 12, during Yuma and Gumi's conversation:

Without really thinking, I slid my fingers into his hair and ruffled it. Maybe I shouldn't have done that, because he reciprocated very quickly.
"H-Hey...," I whispered as he put his nose against mine. He put a finger against my mouth. My lips tasted the material of his black gloves.
"Shh," he said, putting his paper bag down. He hugged me tightly, arms wrapping around and holding me securely. I wouldn't have admitted it, but I felt as though we were floating, and that he was hanging onto me so tightly that I'd never fall.
"I know I'm going too fast, Gumi," I felt his breath against my ear, "I'm sorry."
I closed my eyes. The sounds of students talking and playing began to diffuse into the background. "It's okay," I said, "We can make this work."
He pulled away and looked at me with wide eyes. "Really?"
I frowned. "Wait, what did I say?" I didn't understand what he was talking about.

~~~~~

Comments: I didn't like them getting so close so quickly.

•And altered ending for Chapter 32, along with the following portion of Chapter 33:

There was silence in the air around us. My eyes were focused on the students down below, and on the distinctive, ethereal scent of oranges that was slowly growing stronger and stronger. The wind fondled my hair and then I turned my eyes slightly upward, so that I could see Rin's face.
But I couldn't. Rin had her mouth pressed against mine for the smallest fraction of a second, for a millionth of a heartbeat, in the most innocent, fleeting kiss that I could have ever imagined.
Everything leading up to that moment was a heated mess that didn't make any sense, but maybe, just maybe, nothing needed to make sense for that one moment to be absolutely perfect and rational.

Chapter 33

Rin.

Even I don't know exactly what happened during that one minute. As Len went on and on about me acting that way towards Kaito, I felt that he was being accusatory. I wanted him to stop saying those things, because they weren't true.
And somehow the only way that I could come up with to make Len stop talking was to do...that.
It was only for a second, but I did it, and I could never undo it. After pulling back almost immediately, I got to my feet and stepped away. Len looked up at me, and both our faces were red. My ears throbbed with the thumping of my heart.
"I'm so sorry, Len," I whispered, "I really didn't mean to do that..."

Len.

The world stopped moving for the smallest fraction of time, during that point when Rin's mouth pressed against mine. What had led up to that moment? Why did it happen? I was angry, no doubt, when Rin had hugged Kaito, and she was only doing that to comfort him. And then I had burst, going on and on, wildly accusing Rin of things she probably never even thought, and if she did, what was the big deal? It's not like we were in any sort of relationship beyond just friends, right?
"Len, I'm sorry!" I turned to see Rin as she hurried back into the school building. Leaving my things behind, I chased after her.
"Wait!" I hurried down the stairs and grabbed her arm. She turned to look at me, her eyes fighting back tears.
"I didn't mean to do that, I just...," she began, shaking her head.
"It's okay," I whispered, trying to comfort her. She seemed unbelievably shaken, "Everyone makes mistakes. Let's...let's try and forget about this, okay?"
Rin nodded slowly, but tears were running down her face. "Okay," she said slowly, "But...I think I'd like to spend some time alone."
I couldn't say no to her, so I nodded slowly. "Alright, but only if you want to. I don't want you to cry without a shoulder...," I looked down at my shoes, "So please don't cry.
~~~~~

Comments: Len and Rin's kiss was too early. It's cute, but too early, that's all. And the following interactions got awkward.