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-17-

"Wow thanks Suwa's dad!" Azusa smiled, Suwa laying out the pictures on his desk. We were allowed to take one picture, I wanted to find one of Maria and I to put in my room.

Azusa was shuffling through a couple as she continued talking. "By the way.. How did it go with the reward?"

"What reward?" I asked curiously, looking at a couple of pictures.

"The kiss." She informed me. "Did it happen?"

I looked up from the picture in my hands. "They had a kissing bet?"

"If Kakeru won Naho had to kiss him."

I turned to Kakeru who was blushing deeply, and looking away from us. "Why who cares." He mutters as the girls shrieked in excitement.

"You know what?" My lips pressed into a thin line as I put down the picture that was in my hands. Everyone turned to me, "I don't want a picture." I looked at Suwa who was standing beside me before glancing at the others. "I don't want snakes in my picture."

I walked out of the classroom, waiting outside of the door to ignore them for as long as possible. I pull out my cellphone, one of the last friends I have in this class.

I know where I stand.

When it was lunch time I was walking down the hall to go to the cafeteria. I had my lunchbox in hand but Maria and I always meet up at our table. When I had reached the breezeway I was pulled to the side. I had assumed it was Suwa but instead I saw Kakeru, which was a surprise.

"You said you'd stop avoiding me."

I chuckled. "You seem to have made your choice." I said curtly. "Did you give her the necklace?"

"No, I'm still undecided.." He frowned, biting his lip. "How about we go out to a burger place after school, one just opened by your house."

"Look." I tighten my grip on my lunchbox. "Is this really hard? Do you just not want to hurt me because I'm strong than you think Kakeru. It's been a month-"

"Where would we go from there?"

I grew confused, "what?"

He only repeated his question as I thought for a moment. We would date each other, there was no more thought put in than that. He only sighed and grabbed my hands again. "Please, I just want things to go back to normal.. I don't want to lose you [Name]."

I rolled my eyes and nodded. "Fine."

He cheered and told me he'd pick be up at 6, I nodded and continued my walk to lunch. Maria is gonna freak when she hears about this date.

At 6 I was sitting on the couch in my favorite pair of jeans and sweatshirt, it was cold outside and this was supposed to be casual. There wasn't a need to dress up or anything. Kakeru knocked on the door and I stood to open it. He was wearing a black turtleneck and jeans, which he looked amazing in.

"You ready to go?" He asked me, stuffing his hands in his pockets. I nodded and grabbed my keys, putting my hands in my sweatshirt pockets.

I tried to forget about Naho's confession, I wanted this to back too. When we weren't worried about feelings because we were just having fun.

"We're all going to the shrine on New Years, you should come." He smiled, taking a sip of his drink.

"Are you already thinking about that? It's like a month away."

He shrugged, "I still want you to come." I took a sip of [Favorite Drink].

"Eh, I'll see. After all they're not my friends."

I took my hand on the cup and put it on the table. He reached over and grabbed my hand. "They are your friends, they care about you."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure. You know Azusa really thought I was Suwa's sister?"

He shook his head. "You don't even look related." I nodded with wide eyes, at least someone realizes. "You and Suwa are the only ones who know the details of my life. The others don't." I took the last swing of my drink before all there was left is air, I was officially done.

"Well I'm glad you did."

I glanced up at him, "I just want you to know you're not alone. No matter how bad your past is you can always be happy again." I smiled standing from my seat. "I'm going to throw this out."

We left not to long after, he then invited me to hang out again. The phone calls kept happening again and now we would hang out often.

He had invited me over to his house for the first time on December 28th. I looked at my letter for anything written about today or any upcoming days. There wasn't one for today but three days from now.

『December 31st』

Kakeru's grandma is rushed to the hospital on this night. Yet Kakeru goes out to the shrine with everyone and he ends up having a fight with Naho. In my letter it told me to avoid going out that night. I didn't listen.

It was weird for me, I've never seen him like that. Tell Suwa to go out and comfort Naho, to tell her how he feels. When you see Kakeru, do what you can.

This is make or break on everything, no pressure.

"[Name]. Kakeru's at the door." Suwa winked, opening my door. I rolled my eyes and put down the letter.

Kakeru stood at the door wrapped up in his winter coat as I spotted the scarf I got him. He's been wearing it since it got cold, I saw him wear it the last day before break in school. I slipped on my long overcoat and put a scarf on, stepping out the door with Kakeru. I said goodbye to Suwa as he told us not to have too much fun and winked to Kakeru.

"My grandmother has been looking for recipes all day, she's so happy you're coming over." He smiled interlocking our hands.

I lightly blushed and looked to at the concrete. We weren't dating or anything but he's definitely been hanging out with me more than Naho. That has to mean something.

"It's so nice to see you again [Name]." Kakeru's grandmother smiled, placing a plate of food in front of me. We had her homemade soup, everything made with her own to hands. "I hope you like the food."

"It looks delicious!" I smiled as we thanked the food and began eating. I praised her for the meal as she only slightly laughed before it turned into a coughing fit. I glanced at Kakeru who put a shoulder on his grandmother who attempted to lower her coughs.

When it died down she told him she was alright and he sat back in his seat, worried about his grandmother. I put my hand on his knee as he meekly smiled at me.

"She's getting worse." He told me, us down the street from my house. I frowned and squeezed his hand.

"Whatever happens Kakeru, I'll be right by your side."

He let go of my hand and wrapped it around my shoulders. "I'll always call you."

With a blush I looked down and we reached my doorstep. I looked for my keys in my long [Favorite Color] overcoat and took them out. I turned to Kakeru as his arm lowered. "I had a great time, call me if anything okay?"

He nodded as I opened my door and stepped inside, waving him a goodbye before shutting it.