"There was some research done a while back.." My blurry eyes focused on the small boy in front of me. I recognized him as Kyoya Ootori, he shared much of the same honors classes with me at the time. "They said that emotional tears contain manganese and prolactin, which your brain releases when you experience stress. Your body forces you to release those chemicals so that you can return to a normal chemical balance." The young boy steps up to the white board and uncaps an expo marker, erasing to of the squares in the periodic table and correcting them with proper capital letters. "If you never let your body produce that chemical imbalance, you'll never have a reason for tears." He recaps the marker and gives me a small smile before heading towards the door. "Besides, I don't think geek is that bad of a title." To anyone else, I'm sure such a small thing wouldn't mean much. But for some reason, on that day, he made another chemical in my brain release, and I experienced a natural high on dopamine every time he even raised his hand in class. Admittedly, he is the reason I chose to go to an Ootori Medical Facility when the time came. If I couldn't have the comfort of seeing him in class, I'd at least have the comfort of hearing his name every now and then. I guess somewhere, in the deepest depths of my heart, I went there wishing he'd come visit me someday... but I knew there was a snowball's chance in hell for that. Yet still, everyday I sat in that bed, ordered two cups of blueberry tea-- just in case-- and I waited. I daydreamed, I wished, and I thought about him.

A part of me wishes that I wouldn't think so much. I think that if I DIDN'T think so much, it would lead to a lot less misery. But then again, would I really be the same person if I didn't think so much? I don't think so anyways, because it's who I am. I am a contradict-addict, I'm helpless at times, I let my emotions get at me, I struggle with everything I do but I can always power through with encouragement... I may be pathetic at times, but all my strength comes from my friends. I wouldn't be here without them, and they've all done so much for me that it would just be stupid to look back and regret everything that my thinking brought. All I've ever wanted is to grow, to protect the people I care for, and to love with all my heart... Sounds like a real hero, right? Well, that's exactly what I want. I want to be a hero. There's so much I need to do, so many things I need to learn, and it starts with overcoming my flaws and becoming someone my friends can be proud of... Someone even HE can be proud of. I love Sora, and if I ever felt like I couldn't do it for myself, I'd do it for him. I'd be his hero, too.