Summary: When the freshly heartbroken Mio Akiyama was forced to stay with a roommate who disagreed with her in every thinkable manner, she doubted she would ever recover. MioxRitsu AU.

A/N: Hello all! Long time no see! And for you who haven't ever read my works before, nice to meet you! School's been rough, but I finally managed to finish a Mitsu story.

This is meant as an early birthday present for Ritsu. Happy birthday Ritsu! ! ! (21-08-2011)

Hopefully you all enjoy this little critter! Oh, and the rating might change to M if this continues.

Daredevil

Chapter 1

"What are you cupping your hands around, Mio-chan...?"

"Ayame-chan... what do you think it's doing?"

"It looks like it's hurt..."

"...I-It's not moving anymore.."

"What if it dies...?"

"Then it dies."

"Eh?"

"It dies."

"Then what should I do with it?"

"...Throw it away."

It is no use crying over spilled milk.

Even kids know that.

That was why Mio Akiyama arrived in front of the dormitory of Kyoto's best women university, a trolley case on one hand, and a chocolate bar on one hand, as she crunched away on her sadness.

That crushing blow to her heart happened two months ago.

For crying out loud, only babies can't get over something like that in two months.

She had seen worse.

It was time to move on.

Or maybe, moving on was an apparent cushion against her desperate cries for help.

She kept repeating it to herself as she crunched up the empty bar pack and walked confidently into the dorm.

The lobby was comfortable and clean. Several sofas were scattered around the room and some girls older than Mio were chatting excitedly near a long table. The pastel-colored wall and ceiling was brightly lit with some neon rectangular lamps hanging from above, and there was a pretty-looking, small fireplace across the room. Mio saw some doors directly leading to bedrooms, and as she was taking off her shoes and wondering where the resident manager of the dorm was, she unexpectedly heard her name called.

"Hey, Mio."

When Mio recognized the voice, her eyes lit up.

"Nodoka!"

The bespectacled girl with short, brown hair gave her a warm, welcoming smile. Mio was really relieved she was the first person she talked to. Her heart was really crying out for company at that time.

"Nice to meet you, Mio. Welcome to the dormitory."

"Same here. The manager is out again?" she asked as she sneakily threw the crunched up pack into the fireplace.

It started to shrivel and curl up in the heat. Just like her.

"She's out watching a local baseball match. Now she's probably in full cry with the rest of the neighborhood."

Mio forced out a laugh.

"So as you might've guessed already, she asked me to show you where your room is, and I gotta say we have a small problem about that," she explained, "Follow me."

Mio had already thought before that her sudden transfer to the university might become a curb on her choice of rooms, so she didn't protest.

Nodoka led her along a small corridor while explaining about some basic rules to stay in the dorm.

"...Oh, and I almost forgot, no romance allowed."

Mio stopped dead on her tracks.

"Excuse me...?"

There was an uncomfortable, curious feeling churning in her stomach when she heard that word, but she ignored it and wondered about the strangeness in Nodoka's words.

"No romance allowed. Some past events have been proven to be damaging to the university system. No romance allowed even if it's just idle curiosity."

A look of disbelief could still be seen in Mio's eyes.

"Nodoka, this is a women's university."

Nodoka blinked in confusion.

"Yeah, this is a women's university."

Half-surprised, half-curious, Mio repeated again, "But you said romance!"

"Yes, I did," Nodoka replied quickly.

"But..."

The rule still didn't make any sense at all to Mio.

"...But romance between two girls is harmless!"

She just said that out loud.

In the middle of a small corridor full of rooms which are almost as soundproof as a public toilet.

Nodoka's face was now a mixture between laughter and pity.

"...Mio-san... this is the first time anyone ever said that to me when I explained that rule to them."

Mio's face turned bright red as she cursed in her mind.

That might be a fool-proof way to know if a new resident of the dorm is gay or not.

Obviously what Nodoka meant was if a naughty guy happened to sneak into the dorm.

After her sexual orientation was found out by her schoolmate only within six minutes after she entered the university entrance, Nodoka's comment about it wasn't exactly cheering her up in the slightest. "Is it a crying shame in your community to, uh, come out in, let's say... the speed of light?"

"I hate you for being so clever."

They didn't talk much anymore until they arrived in front of Mio's room.

"Call me anytime you have problems," Nodoka said, "Oh, and you have a roommate."

Mio only gave her a curt nod, and Nodoka left her alone in that corridor.

'If this girl hears from anyone that I'm gay, I dunno how the hell I can handle living with her,' Mio thought bitterly as she opened the door.

Which she regretted as soon as she came in.

What was worse for a stressed-out lesbian than accidentally coming out to a girl she doesn't know too well?

Coming inside a cramped bedroom-cum-study where a girl she doesn't know at all is in the middle of changing her clothes.

And for Mio, it came with the worst combination possible.

Short-haired brunette.

Clear shot of breasts.

White panties.

What was the only logical thing she thought she had to do?

Scream really, really loud.

"For God's sake, Mio, you made me almost trip on my own foot!" Nodoka yelled in the lobby a few minutes later, still looking a bit shaken.

However, Mio looked more shaken than her. "I've told you before I don't want to stay with anyone like that!"

A short-haired girl ... that hair color...

Nodoka paused as if she remembered something, before she continued, "There's no other room left, Mio-san."

The raven-haired girl didn't even make any attempt to hide her refusal. "Please, I beg you!"

"Mio-san, please calm down!" Nodoka said, now a bit flustered, "I said, there's no other room left. You have to bear with it."

"No, no, I'm not gonna stay in there with her!" Mio said, shaking her head vigorously.

"Mio-san, please! In a few weeks Enomoto-san will move out and you can stay in her room instead, but, please, bear it just for a little while."

Breathing heavily and coming to her senses, Mio began to realize everyone in the lobby was staring at her. She was quite glad that brunette didn't follow her when she made a dash to the lobby.

"You're out of your mind, and you look pretty stressed. Please just rest," Nodoka said in a calmer voice, "I know, I know your request but there's nothing I can do, so please bear with her..."

Mio didn't even want to look at her in the eyes. "...If just for a few weeks..."

"Yes... just a few weeks."

After a few more consoling words from Nodoka, Mio hesitantly obliged and dragged her feet back to the room, feeling worse and guiltier with every step.

'What should I do first after screaming like a freak in front of her? She's done nothing wrong anyways... should I apologize first? Or laugh and pretend nothing happens? What should I do?'

That girl was much better in this than her.

That girl...

Mio found her mind wandering by itself.

Why was she suddenly thinking of that girl...?

"...How long are you gonna stand there?"

The voice almost made Mio jump.

Oh, right.

She was the reason.

Standing by the door Mio had just run away from in very casual clothing, the brown-haired girl folded her arms leisurely as she continued to watch Mio in amusement. Mio darted an impatient glance at her.

It was at that moment when Mio realized that she was shorter.

And that she had sparkling hazel eyes.

And that she had a grin that matched even that girl's.

She quickly cursed herself for thinking it, though.

"So," the brunette continued, seemingly bearing no interest at all to mention what had happened just now, or even to introduce herself, "Ayame Yoshida, huh?"

Mio felt that uncomfortable feeling again, clenching her stomach like a ruthless invisible grip. The girl didn't continue, as if she was teasingly trying to leave her dangling with surprise.

How could a complete stranger know the name of that girl...?

"...H-how do you know that name?"

"It's written on a letter that person sent to this room," she said, waving a small envelope, "Is she your ex-girlfriend?"

Mio stared at her dangerously.

"There's no way you can figure that out," Mio said in a threatening tone. It was too good to be a shot in the dark.

"Well, I happen to... peek inside this... "

Mio didn't wait for her to finish. With such speed she never thought she had, she snatched the envelope away from her, her face flushing in anger. At the same time, she tried to overcome the shock she had after knowing that girl could send a letter directly into her room.

How could...how could that girl know the room she was moving in? ? She didn't even tell that girl which university she moved to!

"Now you make me look like the bad guy here..." the brunette huffed, "And is that the kind of face you show to someone you have sexually harassed with your eyes? Please."

Mio's face turned even redder. "If you think I was ogling you, you have the completely wrong idea..."

"I like that idea."

Mio blinked a few times. "What are you, gay?"

"Guess."

Mio's face changed from red to white faster than a traffic light.

She turned around and strode away really quickly. "I really should change rooms."

"Wait, why are you the one acting like the victim around here while I'm actually the one? ?"

"You're the one who looks more suspicious than me!"

"Says a gay girl who spent her first day in this dorm barging into random girls' rooms? ?"

"I was not barging into your room!"

"Ohh, then what do you call that just now? ? Saying hi? ? I'm sure you only said 'aaah! !' just now !"

"Shut your mouth up! !"

The argument went on until a random neighbor started shouting equally loud at them to finish their fucking fight outside the dorm.

They stared intensely at each other, and Mio was wondering why she even bothered to stay.

"...Okay, we gotta stop this before we're thrown out by the entire dorm," the girl said.

"I agree..." Mio said to her, "But I'm not staying with you."

"Geez, it was just a little joke!" she said, hardly taking what Mio said seriously.

Mio couldn't believe what she said. "Peeking into someone's private letter is not a little joke! !"

"Dang, I didn't even know it was for you! !" she said, "Look at the envelope, see? There's nothing written on it."

Mio scanned the envelope and her eyes immediately prove that the girl was right. It was a plain, blank envelope.

A typical mistake that girl would do...

"You know, you've been treating me like a bad guy all this time..." the girl said with a slight hint of annoyance, "While I never hear an apology from you at all for coming into my room without knocking."

This girl had definitely made Mio's emotions bounce up and down in just one day. However, Mio realized her mistake in this case.

"...I'm sorry."

"No, you're unforgivable."

A nerve twitched on Mio's forehead. "You told me to apologize!"

She felt like she had ever had this conversation before. Something... something reminded her of the little sweet voice in the back of her head.

"That is not enough."

"Just that is not enough!" the girl said loudly to her, "So put that trolley case inside and let's hang out!"

Mio was taken aback. "Eh? ? But my schedule.."

"I have said your apology is not enough, right?" she smiled brightly, "There's a place I want to visit today but everyone happens to be busy. So you gotta accompany me!"

"You can accompany me!"

...So direct, so random... just like...

"You ask a stranger to accompany you...?" Mio asked hesitantly.

'And a gay one to boot...'

'...Why does this keep reminding me of something...?'

"This is so that we know each other better right...?"

"This is so that strangers know each other better, right?" she said, giving the grin that made every painful image came back into Mio's mind, "I'm Ritsu Tainaka."

"My name is..."

'No... I don't want to remember...' Mio thought. The memory was insistent in infesting her thoughts...

"Mi-Mio Akiyama," she replied, still pondering the reason she went along with this girl's flow.

It must be...because...

"Nice to meet you, Mio," she said, flashing that unforgettable grin again.

Mio couldn't stand the sight.

She acts so much like...

"Nice to meet you...Mio-chan."

"Mio-chan, Mio-chan, I just cut a tooth! Look, look!"

"It looks scary! !"

"Mama said to me, one day this tooth will be gone too."

"Really?"

"One day Mio-chan will lose all your teeth too!"

"I, I don't want it, it'll be even scarier! !"

"It's a part of growing up!"

"Then I don't want to grow up!"

"Ehh? ? But I want Mio-chan to grow up."

"Why?"

"Because grown-ups can get married."

"Married...?"

"Yes, grown-ups can get married with the people they love."

"S-so?"

"I want to marry Mio-chan."

In the end, Mio didn't have time to read the letter from that girl.

It turned out that the shop Ritsu wanted to visit was closed at that day, but instead of going back to the dormitory like Mio wanted, Ritsu dragged her to explore the random parts of the town, while annoying Mio tremendously in the process.

"You seriously look like you want to kill me," Ritsu said lightly to her, "Am I really that bad to hang out with?"

"I've accompanied you enough for today," Mio told her for the umpteenth time, "Let's go back to the dorm. We have to be there before dark."

"I wonder if you're also this bitchy during your dates with Ayame."

Mio couldn't count how many times Ritsu had mentioned that girl's name today. It was the major source of her annoyance during that trip.

"In that letter you guys seem to have a lot of problems," Ritsu continued.

"What happened between us is none of your business," Mio replied curtly.

"Well it seems like you still think about her."

'What's with this person?' Mio thought as she tried as best as she could to repress her boiling wish to smack her right there at that moment.

However, they were walking on a sidewalk where a lot of people could see them, so Mio could only say, "If you believe everything she wrote on that letter, you're an idiot."

"Well, sorry, but I'm just saying," Ritsu said, shrugging her shoulder, "A pretty girl like you deserves someone better."

That caught Mio off-guard.

'Huh, what? Don't tell me this girl is interested in me...'

So she was trying to make Mio forget about her ex for her own benefit? So sly, huh...

Mio decided that she was just thinking too much. This could never possibly happen in any other circumstance.

"Sure she has a lot of weaknesses, but she has her own good points, too," Mio said uncaringly.

Ritsu didn't look impressed.

"She treated you badly."

"So? It doesn't concern you," Mio said, feeling her heartbeat going faster. She began to walk faster, as if she was trying to counter her heartbeat with her walking speed.

"But you still like her."

"It's just her assumption," she replied, noticing Ritsu didn't follow her accelerating speed and was soon left behind.

"You sent her flowers!"

"It's in the past! !"

They had stopped walking. Happy families walked past them as they stood there, cool dappled light from the sunset raining on them under the trees.

She transferred to the university wishing to start a peaceful life, where everyone would always be in the dark about her past romantic life, but this girl...this girl...

There were limits about being on dangerous ground, and this girl just wouldn't get it.

"If you ever...mention any more word about that girl..."

"I'm just telling you to move on!" Ritsu said to her, ignoring her words, "She doesn't feel guilty at all in that letter, she's just playing with you! While you keep on...I just think that...someone like you deserves better!"

When she didn't receive any satisfying reply from the taller girl, Ritsu said again, "Why do you keep thinking about a jerk like her...? ?"

With those words, a slur of plain blankness suddenly filled Mio's mind.

Her past memories, which she had managed to bury deep inside her mind, finally succeeded in invading her thoughts.

...Ayame...

"Grown-ups can..."

Ayame was...

"...marry the people they love.."

...the only person...

"So...?"

...who was always by Mio's side, in laughter and sadness, even after her mom passed away...

"I want to..."

...the irreplaceable...

"...marry Mio-chan."

...person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

However...

"A person like you..." Mio started, tears began to stream down from her eyes, "...will never, ever understand how I feel! !"

...God went through such lengths to take every bit of happiness left in her life away.

Her mother...

Her girlfriend...

Her last... bit of happiness...

All of them...

"...Ayame is..."

...were cruelly taken away.

"...Ayame is already dead, you idiot! !"

The passers-by, the brown-haired girl, the trees, and vehicles now looked nothing more than a blur in her teary eyes.

The sun rose and the sun set, her friends went to school and went home, the trains came and the trains left...

Everyone... everything kept moving while Ayame was gone forever, and Mio was left alone in this ruthless, empty world.

I know you wrote that letter to make me forget about you.

But how could you actually leave me...?

Can't you see how broken I am from there...?

Don't you remember that we promised to live and die together?

...How can I possibly move on when I can no longer see the heaven that used to be reflected...

"I love you, Mio-chan."

...in your eyes...?

"Forever and ever."

A/N: And that's all for the first chapter... what do you think?

This story follows the 'what-if-Mio's-childhood-friend-is-not-Ritsu' AU formula. Been wanting to try it out ever since it crossed my mind.

Little trivia: As anyone following the manga to this point might've already known, Ayame Yoshida is one of the new characters introduced in the university arc of the manga (who happens to be a drummer and seems to be born to be Ritsu's sidekick *shot*). Her hair color has never been exactly revealed so far (Akira continues to be kakifly-san's new favorite), but we can assume it's lightly-colored.

So should I continue this story? R&R please.