Author's Notes: I TOLD you I was making progress XD anyway, I just wanna say that there will be no further chapters to this story or direct sequels (ie. the morning after story), unless otherwise stated on my profile XD Again, this is based on the play 20 Questions by Juan Ekis and some of the questions were taken from there as well so I can't take full credit :)) also, this took so long because I kept scrapping some scenes. there are actually a total of 5 pages that I scrapped so... yeah XD

Beware! This is looooooong.

Now bring on the angst before Valentine's Day X3

Chapter II: Can You Guess? Or Do I Have to Spell It Out to You?

Their break lasted for almost half an hour, most of it Mikoto spent in the bathroom doing things Touma had no knowledge of. As he waited, he busied himself by gathering all the snacks they opened and putting them into a large bowl, mixing the assorted chips they had and throwing away the packs. He also took out some ice, pouring them into a bucket that he dug up from the cupboards and settled the bottle of wine on top to keep it chilled.

When she finally emerged from the bathroom, worry once again gripped his chest when he noticed her puffy eyes. It seemed that she was trying to hide it though, because her indifferent façade was once again up as she sat down next to him.

He didn't hide his worried gaze but when she refused to speak, he asked, "Are you alright?"

She was pouring more wine into her glass when he spoke. "Should I be not?"

His brows scrunched up a little, "Don't be like that. I've known you for years. Don't you think I'd notice if something's bothering you?"

"Then let me ease your concerns and say that there's no such thing," she replied easily, almost making him believe her, "I just got a little woozy from the wine."

"Shouldn't you stop drinking then?"

"I'm fine, Touma. I'm still sober," she told him, emphasizing her point by emptying her glass once again. The amount of alcohol she had already taken was making him worry. "Besides, now that we're on the second half, let's up the questions a little. Make them more personal and harder to answer, you know? We're gonna need to be little drunk for that."

He was still skeptical, aware that she was trying to subtly redirect the subject away from herself. But although he wanted to know, he didn't want to force her to say it if he could help it. He wanted to know if she trusted him enough to share her problems. He wanted her to tell him herself.

But Biribiri had always been a stubborn person—he was very well aware of that—and he knew that sometimes, she needed to be pushed. She didn't like asking for help, especially in personal matters, that's why sometimes he forces his help on her.

He sighed, and silently decided to leave her be—for the moment at least. He didn't think he could stop himself for long though, because his worry was exponentially increasing every time he looked at her carefully put on mask. She wouldn't answer him anyway, he decided, so he had to find an opportunity where she wouldn't be able to change the topic or evade his question. "Alright then. Go on. It's your turn, right?"

She hummed, pushing her Pyonko finger doll onto the next square before saying, "If you could go back in time, what is the one decision you'd like to change."

There was absolutely no hesitance in his voice when he answered. "None."

She glanced at him. "None?"

"I wouldn't want to change anything." He clarified, "I've told you before, I'm perfectly happy where I am right now so why would I want to change anything?"

"What a boring answer." She said jokingly but it sounded forced in his ears.

He shrugged his shoulders, "It's the truth. I can't help it if the truth's boring."

She shook her head in disappointment but accepted his answer nonetheless, "Fine, fine."

He looked at her then, "Why? Is there something you'd like to change?"

She faltered for a moment and if he hadn't been looking at her so intently, he probably would've missed it, "…it's against the rules to repeat a question." She told him frigidly, avoiding his gaze.

He was tempted to just grab her by her shoulders and shake her senseless until she told him what was wrong. "Fine then," he continued to watch her for another moment, until he finally thought of a way to make her talk. "Okay, what's bothering you?"

She quirked an eyebrow at him, looking skeptical, "What do you mean?"

"You've been acting strange since I asked that last question before we took a break."

"Mm-hm, strange how?" she asked in a dry tone.

"You seem… sad… in a way," he said, hoping that being honest with her would coax her into telling him, "I can't figure out why but I know something's bothering you."

It seemed to have worked because she looked away guiltily.

He moved his Gekota finger doll one square forward, saying, "Consider that as my next question then."

She stared at her glass instead of answering, making his brows to furrow slightly.

Hesitantly, he asked, "Don't you trust me?"

"…I do…" she admitted quietly, giving him a brief glance before turning away again, "Believe me, there's no one in the world I trust more than you."

He kept silent, as if prompting her to continue.

"Promise me that no one, absolutely no one, will know about this, okay?" she looked into his eyes sternly, demanding that he swore, "Not until I tell someone else myself."

He nodded, "I promise."

She kept silent for a moment before explaining, "Heaven Canceller called me a week ago after graduation," she started, and he realized just how serious the situation was when she didn't call Heaven Canceller by nickname, "It was weird because normally, I'm the one that would seek him out, asking him about college or other ways I could use my ability to heal. When I came, he told me it was something about my Sisters.

"He said they detected some anomaly while readjusting my Sisters' bodies," she continued as she let out a heavy breath, "The effects of the drugs that were used to make them grow so fast cannot be fully removed. He predicted that in six years, their bodies will begin to deteriorate even with the adjustments. And in another two, their bodies won't be enough to keep them alive."

"…that's…" he didn't know what to say. Years ago, he had been someone who gives a speech about what's right and wrong against those he had fought—Mikoto had been the very person who had teased him immensely for that. But comforting someone had never been his forte, not if the problem was something like this. So instead, he asked, "Do your little sisters know?"

"They do…" she replied quietly, "They said that they're okay with it but… I just don't want to accept it," she let out a dry laugh, almost sounding mocking,"They were even the ones who ended up comforting me."

Again, he didn't know how to respond, "Does anyone else know about this?"

"Accelerator does. Actually, he was with me when Heaven Canceller told us," he unconsciously frowned at her words, not knowing how to feel about the fact that Accelerator knew of it before he did, "Last Order won't be affected because the amount of growth drugs used for her body was less than the others, with her ending up as a ten year old when she was removed from incubation. But the others… Heaven Canceller said that eight years is the most of their lifespan that he could regain." She explained, keeping a neutral façade on her face, "He can't cure natural death."

"…are you alright?"

She snorted, "Don't ask stupid questions."

Her tone made him flinch, and he mentally kicked himself for the insensitive question, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"What's there to talk about?" she asked, taking another sip of her wine, "They're dying and there's nothing I can do about it. So don't pity me. I don't need it."

"I'm not. It's just that…" he struggled to put into words what he was feeling. He was devastated, of course, because the clones were as important to him as they were to her. Their deaths weren't something he could just dismiss. But he realized she was right. There was nothing they could do but accept it. And at the very end, he realized that wasn't what bothered him the most, "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, sounding as hurt as he felt.

"What could you have done?" she asked back, sounding terribly tired as she set her glass down in favor of hugging her knees to her chest, "I know you and if I had told you, you'd just beat yourself over and try to find an answer that doesn't exist."

"I could've been there for you…" he told her gently, "You didn't have to be sad alone."

"Some pain cannot be shared, Touma," she softly said, forcing a small smile, "And I would've rather not burden you with this."

He watched her for a moment, debating with himself if he should force the issue, "Alright…" he relented, "but if you ever need me, just say it, okay? Don't be an idiot who keeps everything in."

"I'll do that when you stop being a hypocrite."

He was a little taken aback, "…I'm not."

"Mm-hm, sure, sure" she said sarcastically, emphasizing that she was disagreeing, "And I don't like Gekota. Everyone knows that."

"Hey, I tell you… stuff," he retorted lamely.

"Sure, you do."

He was about to respond when he realized that it was another of her many subtle attempts to change the subject. He frowned at this and returned to their topic, "There's more, isn't there?"

Her silence was the only confirmation he needed.

"Tell me, what did my last question remind you about that made you think of this?"

"…it's my turn to ask a question."

"Don't give me that." He easily brushed aside another attempt to close this serious subject about her. He moved so he was kneeling almost in front of her, grasping her shoulders with his hands to make her look at him,"I asked what was bothering you and I know that whatever my last question reminded you of was part of it. Don't even try to deny it either."

She offered no words.

"Please, Mikoto… tell me…" he closed the distance between them, hoping that she'd see how much he worried for her in his eyes, "Don't keep me out." He pleaded.

She was trying very hard to avoid his gaze, pursing her lips as if in thought. He never loosened her grip on her, never strayed his eyes away, "Accelerator helped me think of a way to show them one last time that they're not just clones, that they're people like us." She finally told him, meeting his glance, "I told my Sisters to give me a list of things each of them would want to do before they die."

He stopped short, realizing how close his question had been to her problem.

She pushed his hands off her, his arms falling limp at his sides, "Satisfied?"

"…you feel responsible for this." He mumbled in realization, understanding why her Sisters' condition was affecting her so much, "You blame yourself that they're having such a short life?"

"Shouldn't I?"

"No!" he interjected forcefully, "You gave them life. You gave them hope. You're the reason why they're living such fulfilling lives."

"And that's exactly what I'm going to make sure of." She met his eyes sternly, her resolve clearly shown in those hazel orbs, "They're going to live their lives to the fullest. They'll each reach a goal and that will assure them that every one of them is significant. They were never just clones that hid behind my face, they're… them…"

He backed off a little when her voice weakened. In a way, she's always managed to blame herself for everything. She was the type of person who believed she could make a difference, and that if something had gone awry it was her fault for not doing the right thing.

They were similar like that. And because he understood, he knew what he should do, "Are you doing it on your own?"

Her voice was firm when she answered, "Of course. They're my Sisters. I wouldn't let anyone else do it."

"Will you let me help you?" he asked.

"No. I told you, this is my responsibility."

"You don't have to carry the burden alone."

"Yes, I do."

"No, you don't, because I'm here," he told her, tilting her chin so she would meet his eyes, "You don't have to face anything alone."

He looked at her and saw pain. He grasped her hand and felt her tremble. This girl had been carrying such weight on her shoulders but never asked for help. She stood strong for those little Sisters she cared about so much even though all she wanted was to break down.

It broke his heart to see her like this once more.

So silently, he vowed to never let this happen again.

He pulled her into him, pressing her face into his chest. She stiffened for a moment when he did but slowly felt her body lose tension. "I know you want to cry." He said as he enveloped her with his arms, hoping that his embrace would show his support. "And I know you also want to look strong… but you don't have to be strong in front of me."

He gently ran his fingers through her soft hair when tremors began to rake her being. He held her tighter to tell her she could weep in his chest. He whispered to her to let her know it's okay. "I'll be your strength. I'll be right here with you… so don't be afraid to cry…"

He felt her hands climb up to his chest, fisting his t-shirt as if she were clinging to him for dear life. And with a trembling voice, he heard her mumble, "…you idiot…"

Mikoto wasn't sure how long they stayed in that position. Even long after the tears halted, she found herself holding onto him, unable to let go.

Her cheeks felt irritatingly dry and her eyes stung. She felt so tired, and being in his arms felt so safe and comfortable that she was very tempted to just pass out. She could finally smell him again, after all that sniffing, and his scent calmed him.

She didn't want to move. She wanted to stay like this with him. Forever.

But her demons refused to leave her be, announcing their existence every time she closed her eyes. It left her mind feeling restless, and though all she wanted right now was to lose consciousness, she knew there'd be a nightmare waiting for her in her sleep.

Taking in a deep breath, she let out a gust of air before pushing off of Touma's chest, prompting him to release her. She almost regretted doing so when the lack of his touch left her cold but she shook her head of the thoughts. It was time for her to put herself together.

He brushed his thumb against her cheek and she basked in his warmth, "Do you feel better now?" he asked gently.

She lifted a hand to secure his, keeping it pressed against her face, "A little,"

"Are you alright?"

She shook her head lightly, feeling exhausted, "No," she admitted, "I will be though. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he smiled softly at her, making her heart melt, "Remember that I'll be with you throughout this ordeal, okay? And I won't take no for an answer."

Her lips twitched up a little, "I know." She glanced at him and noticed his wet chest, "I ruined your shirt."

He didn't even take a glance at it as he said, "Don't worry about it. It served its purpose,"

"So you're saying it's an emergency tissue paper?"

"An emergency handkerchief," he corrected jokingly as he shrugged and they both let go, his hand returning to his side, "This isn't disposable, you know."

"Of course, barely anything is disposable to you,"

"And barely anything isn't disposable to you."

She finally found herself smiling lightly and she couldn't help but feel her gratitude toward him return, "Thanks again, Touma," she repeated, "For this and for your offer. I don't know what I would've done without you."

"Don't mention it. I was glad to help," he took their glasses in a hand each, offering her glass. She accepted it gratefully and they both drank, "C'mon then, let's continue with the game. We still have eight to go."

She felt her smile falter, "Alright but… can we… avoid this topic from now on?" she may be being a coward by saying that but she didn't think she could handle it again, "I'd really rather not talk about it again. At least for tonight,"

"Sure, if that's what you want," he relented, picking up the bottle of wine and pouring some of the drink into both of their glasses, "It's your turn by the way."

She nodded in response before pausing. She drank the contents of her glass in one go, the burning trail it left in her throat greatly welcomed. He dutifully refilled it, and she thanked him. She really needed the alcohol.

She tried to think of a question as quickly as she could as to not delay the game. And honestly, the sooner they continue, the sooner she'll get the distraction she needed. Her mind was already a little fuzzy though and her current state made it all the more difficult to think.

She put a hand against her forehead, attempting to will the light buzz in her head away by shutting her eyes closed. Was she drunk? She didn't think she was. Her senses just felt a little dulled but her mind still seemed coherent. And she guessed that if she were really drunk, she wouldn't have been able to think whether she was drunk or not.

Silently, she went back to thinking of a question. What could she ask him? Questions about his past were a big no, seeing as he didn't have any childhood memories. Family was out of the question too for the same reason. And she knew him well enough that trivial things like a favorite color were common knowledge to her.

She dug her mind for an idea. What were the questions in that script she read?

Without thinking, she asked the first thing that came to her mind, "Are you a virgin?"

His head snapped towards her, "Where in the world did that come from?"

At his incredulous tone, she suddenly realized what she blurted out. She felt heat rise to her cheeks, but she desperately tried to save face by turning away, "W-what?"

He could hear the teasing tone in his voice as he said, "First, you ask for my past love. Then you ask for my future love life. Now you want to know about my sex life as well?"

His blunt words caused her more embarrassment which he seemed to enjoy. With her pride in line, she bravely faced him and tried to explain herself, "I-I-I'm not—I mean, I just—not really your s-s-s…"

"Oh wow," he suddenly chuckled. Well that attempt was a failure… "I can't believe you still can't say that word without blushing!"

"W-w-what word?!" she honestly didn't know why—she's an incoming pre-med student training under Heaven Canceller himself, for goodness sake!—but she suddenly felt too embarrassed to say it.

"Sex!" she felt her face become hotter at his announcement, and he only laughed louder at this, "Oh my god, Mikoto. You're eighteen but you still have the innocence of a ten year old,"

"I'm not childish!" she retorted indignantly, but she knew it was in vain.

"Oh really? Then ask me the question again using that word."

"I-I don't n-n-need t-to do that!"

"See? You can't even say it."

"Yes, I can!"

"Then say it."

"Fine!" she suddenly stated. She was sure she had perfected an impersonation of a tomato by now. With all confidence she could muster, she said, "Have you ever had s-s-sex with someone?"

He laughed again, clutching his stomach in pain. She felt a vein pop on her forehead, "Oh Kami, the stutter—ow!" his laughter abruptly halted when she hit him on the head. He clutched the bump, complaining, "That really hurt, Biribiri!"

"You were mocking me!" she growled, releasing several sparks in anger. He visibly gulped. She felt a little pleased at his reaction, but it was not enough to douse her anger.

"I was kidding. I was kidding!" he insisted, raising both of his hands in defense.

She gritted her teeth, willing herself to ignore the annoyance that she felt. Really, how could he elicit such sudden reactions from her? She was being melancholic a minute ago and now she was acting as if nothing had happened.

She stopped at her thoughts, realizing something. He was trying to take her mind off the previous topic by riling her up, and she had to admit, it worked.

She almost smiled at this. He can be so sweet when he wanted to. Sighing, she reverted her attention back to him and sent him a half-hearted glare, "So? Are you going to answer or not?"

He relaxed a little, "Well, before I answer that, tell me how you even thought of that question."

She lightly blushed again but she was at least thankful that he seemed genuinely curious this time and wasn't just teasing her, "I read this script for a play a few days ago. It's about a boy and a girl stuck in a single room because of their friends and they play 20 questions," she explained, averting her gaze, "It's one of the questions there so I asked it without thinking."

When she looked back at him, his eyebrow was raised in amusement, "So that's where you got this idea?"

"What's wrong with that? It seemed really interesting!" she defended.

He shook his head, chuckling, "Sometimes I forget how much of a romantic you are."

"…what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing," he replied easily, the side of his lips twitching up, "But back to your question…" he turned to her with a playful smirk, "What do you think?"

She scowled at that, "This isn't a guessing game, you know?"

"What? Is it wrong for me to wonder what you think about me?"

"You're a dense idiot who like to whine about his misfortune and lack of love life when he can't even notice the amount of women he attracted," she stated dryly as she drank, "In short, an unaware playboy, that's what I think you are."

"…ouch…"

"I'm beginning to think you're delaying. Do you not want me to know your answer?"

"It's not that." He told her, finally looking more serious, "I'm a virgin, if that wasn't obvious enough. You know I've never had a girlfriend."

"Who says you need to be in a relationship to do it?"

He looked at her questioningly, "Do you really think I'm that type of guy?"

"Well, no," she admitted, "But what do I know? I don't think you're the type to bang and tell so why would you tell me something like that?"

"I guess," he shrugged, "How about you? What do you think about 'making love'?" he asked, making air quotations with his fingers, "It kinda sounded like you're very open about, what you referred to as, bang and tell. You think it's alright to have sex with someone you're not in a relationship with?

"I'm counting that as a question." She moved his Gekota finger doll one square forward, and he shrugged, "To me, it's exactly what you referred it to. It's making love; something you only do with the one you love. I'm not judging people who do it out of pleasure. A huge chunk of our generation does that but I'm not one to pry. I just think that making love is something very special, especially if it's going to be your first time," she explained before pausing and taking a sip of her wine, "If I'm gonna do it with someone, I want it to be with only one person; someone that I'd spend the rest of my life with."

"Your husband,"

She nodded, smiling lightly, "I won't say that premarital sex is wrong, but I want my first time to be with someone who is also going to be my last. And like on that script I told you about, what better gift for my future husband than giving him my virginity, right?"

"True," he smiled lightly at her, saying, "You know, I'm surprised you answered my question without blushing once. You even said the words 'sex' and 'virginity' without getting embarrassed."

"You were teasing me. Of course, I'd be embarrassed to some extent. But this is a serious topic," she insisted, "Most people nowadays think that you have a dirty mind if you talk about this, but I don't believe that. Sex isn't just an act of pleasure; it's the ultimate proof of two people's love for each other."

She took a long sip of her wine after she said that, and he smiled a little at her words.

"Or at least, it's supposed to be," she added, "A lot of people don't think so nowadays."

"Well, it shouldn't matter what everyone else thinks, right?" he noted.

Her lip curved upward, "No, it shouldn't."

'A girl who saves herself for marriage,' Touma thought, 'She's been my dream girl all this time and I never noticed?'

"Gah, we're back to that love topic again," Mikoto suddenly stated, a playful grimace on her face, "Let's try not to ask questions like that for the rest of the game."

He smirked a little, "Try being the keyword here."

"I've always thought guys hated talking about love and all the sappy stuff. How are you okay with this?" she jokingly asked.

"Contrary to popular belief, boys do need some heart to heart talk about their love lives as well. We're just not as open about it as girls are."

"So what? When you and the other boys have a sleepover, you have a… guy version of girl talk?"

"A guy talk," he clarified, "And yes, we actually do that. What do you girls think we do in sleepovers?"

"Well… I don't know," she drawled out, seemingly enjoying the conversation, "Make bonfires and do animal sacrifices?"

He gave her a deadpanned stare, "We're not cavemen."

"Really…?"

His brow twitched at her wide grin. Shaking his head, he decided to just go along with it and said, "I'm going to break that fucked up illusion of yours."

"Ha! Been there, done that. You know you can't raise your hand against me."

"And until today, I still wonder why."

"The reason, my friend, is because you are whipped."

He grimaced, "Am not. I just choose very carefully who to punch."

"And what? The ninety percent you chose were girls?" she snorted, "I'd be very afraid for your future girlfriend, you know?"

"Hey! You can't blame me if the Magic side is composed mostly by women."

"Mm-hm. Still punched girls."

"Oh c'mon, you know I only did that to save them," he defended vehemently, although he knew she was only messing with him. Somehow, when she pointed out his disregard of gender when it came to the people he defeated, he felt the need to explain himself even though he didn't need to, "I mean really, how many people has this arm of mine saved?"

"A lot," she replied, and it seemed to him that she was finally done teasing him. She glanced at him and continued, "I'm one of them, and I don't think I've ever told you this before but… thank you," she smiled gently at him, "For saving me… us…"

He smiled back, "I did it because I wanted to. No need to thank me."

She let out a breath of laughter, "You would say that, wouldn't you? Kamijou Touma, the Savior of the Sisters, the Hero of World War 3 and the boy who saved the world from the all-powerful Magic God," she shook her head suddenly, her expression a mix of amusement, disbelief and something else he couldn't understand, "When you sit here beside me, talking about the most trivial things, sometimes I forget."

"I'm really nothing special. I did those things because I was the only one capable. I saved people because I could."

A slight frown came to her face, "Yeah, but…" she trailed off and he merely glanced at her in question. After another moment of silence, she said, "Can I ask my next question now?"

He blinked at her sudden change of topic, "Okay?"

She bit her lip, looking conflicted, "I just wanted to know if…"

"If…?" he looked at her questioningly, wondering just why she was hesitating so much.

Finally, she asked, "Have you ever regretted saving someone?"

He looked at her in disbelief, thoroughly surprised by her question, "What did you say?"

She was obviously taken aback by his gaze, and she blinked several times as she repeated her question, "Uhm… did you… ever regret that you saved someone?"

He didn't know why she would even ask that, didn't understand why she even did. But all of a sudden, real anger bubbled from his chest at the reasons he thought of, "What kind of question is that?"

She looked apprehensive, seemingly alarmed at his tone, "Look, I think you misunderstand. I was just—"

"Is this about getting hurt? Or getting my life in danger?" he asked, unable to stop himself, "Do you think I would've regretted saving a life because I got a little beaten up? Is that how you think of me?"

"No! I—"

"Or are you saying that not everyone deserves to be saved?" he cut her off, too mad to care, "That what? The bad guys should just be left for dead so the world could be a better place? Are you really asking if I regretted saving my enemies? Someone like Accelerator or Fiamma or—"

It was her turn to interrupt him, gazing at him firmly with a light frown. "Touma, that's not what I meant." Her voice became grounded, the tone she unconsciously uses whenever she's suppressing her temper, "Trust me when I say that I respect you for saving those lives because not many could do what you do. And you know that like you, I believe that everyone deserves a second chance no matter how evil they were."

"Then what are you saying, huh, Mikoto?" he challenged her, "Why are you even asking me that? If this is another jab about my memories, I swear—"

"Because the biggest mistake in my life, I did when trying to save someone!"

It seemed she's finally become fed up with him when she cut him off violently, leaving him unable to reply.

"Did you know?" She continued, her voice sarcastic, "Once upon a time, I did something so I could save someone. But not only did it not save anyone but because of it, thousands died as well. So tell me, should I not regret the fact that I tried to save someone?"

He stuttered, not knowing what to say to her claim, "Th-that's—"

"No. You just don't know how it feels to try so hard to save someone and fail." Her genuine anger surprised him, leaving him speechless. But then she looked away from him, as if she didn't want to see his face—(and mildly, he was aware that she would want to punch him in the face if she saw it, that's why she averted her gaze)—and scoffed mockingly,"But I guess you're right. Why did I even ask you that question?"

There was a long silence between them.

"No, I don't regret a thing." He told her after a while. He took a glimpse of her and saw that she was still refusing to look at him, clearly angry. He inhaled deeply and continued, "But you're right, I don't know how it feels. I don't blame that you're regretful but you shouldn't be ashamed that you tried. Not a lot of people can do even that."

She didn't reply, and at that moment, he was terrified that she might ignore him for the rest of the night.

"Look, I'm sorry." He said, not knowing what else he should say, "You just—you cut me off guard. I didn't even ask what you really meant when you asked that so I apologize for misunderstanding and snapping at you."

He waited for a long moment for her to respond, and just when he was about to apologize again, she sighed, brushing the bangs on her forehead in a frustrated manner, "No, it's my fault as well." She told him, her tense shoulders loosening, "I should've thought of a better way to say it. And I snapped at you too so… sorry."

He could do nothing as another wave of silence washed over them. What could he say? In all their years of friendship, they have never gotten mad at each other like this. She was always irritated with him, but all those times were just jokes, with him teasing her and eliciting those tsundere reactions from her. And even if they did become mad at each other, they would have just avoided each other for a while, giving each other some space to cool off and they'll be fine again the next time they meet.

But this time, they were stuck. And he couldn't very well go on with the game after what just happened.

"Go on." She suddenly spoke up, making him turn to her, "It's your turn."

He frowned a little at her words, "Are you sure you still wanna do this?"

"Believe it or not, I actually expected we'd get on each other's nerves at some point." She gave him a wry smile, "But you know, that's the point of the game, because after this, we'll know things about each other that others don't. We'd be giving each other a piece of ourselves and if we ended up accepting them," she shrugged, turning to him with a smirk, "our relationship should be stronger, right?"

His lip twitched up at her words, "Alright." He proceeded to move his Gekota doll to the next square, "Well, uhm… how about this then? Why do you want to be a doctor?"

Her eyebrow rose, "What? Is it really that weird?"

"It's not that but..." he hesitated before finally admitting, "Back then I've always thought you'd be some kind of electronics expert or something."

She gave him a dry look, "My esper ability has nothing to do with my career choices."

"I know, I know. That's why I'm asking."

"..."

Her sudden lack of response made him confused, "...Mikoto?"

"…really, did you plan this?" she mumbled so softly that he wasn't sure if she intended for him to hear.

So he asked, "Planned what?"

She shook her head in dismissal, "Nothing," she then turned to him with a joking grin, "Remember when I said you have a knack of asking the questions that matter, and you asked if it was a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm starting to think that it's both," she said, "Mostly the bad part though," she giggled lightly but there was no humor in it, "Anyway, as for my answer, I wanted to find the cure to Muscular Dystrophy; in particular, Duchenne MD. That's why I decided to be a doctor."

He tilted his head in recognition, "Duchenne...? Isn't that incurable even with Academy City's technology? Why that particular disease? I mean, there's cancer and a lot of other diseases."

"Hmm..." she hummed, her gaze becoming far off as she mumbled a reply, "I guess I never told you about it, huh? Or anyone for that manner..."

He looked at her curiously, "Told me what?"

"Hey... Do you know how Academy City got my DNA Map?"

The term rang in his head, the words he didn't think he'd ever forget, "DNA...? You mean..."

"Yup," she affirmed without letting him finish, "The one that they used to create my Sisters," she clarified, her eyes finally focusing back on him, "The DNA Map that they used to clone me."

"..."

She continued over his silence, "I was still in elementary back then. There was this hospital that they invited me to and they showed me how DMD patients struggle with the disease," her gaze became unfocused and he knew she was reliving what had happened in her mind, "They were so weak... Yet they never gave up... But then the doctor told me that no matter how hard they try, they won't get better; that eventually, they'll succumb into the sickness and die…"

He could imagine a little Mikoto looking sadly at several boys in the physical therapy department, knowing their fate.

"I was so sad for them... But then the doctor told me this, 'We can find a cure with your help.'"

He could see a man in white lab coat, most likely a negotiator hired by Academy City, talking to her, deceiving her into giving them what they wanted.

She took a sip of her wine, licking her lips as she continued, "He told me that with my power, they can find a way to save those boys... That my DNA may hold the answer to cure that disease..." it was at this moment that he realized that this was what she had meant; the biggest mistake of her life, "So I gave it to them. If only I knew they'd clone me instead; that they'd use my DNA Map for a twisted experiment like that..."

Her voice had been so melancholic, so full of guilt that he realized, "You...still blame yourself even after all these years?"

"I can't forget it..." she told him, shaking her head as if to rid of the memories, "It's been so long... Even Accelerator found it in himself to let go but... I still can't," she let out a scornful laugh, an obvious mocking of herself, "Maybe I'm just that weak..."

"You're not weak," he gently disagreed. His brows furrowed at another one of her rare self-loathing moments. She was a wonderful person. She should know that. "Sure, even I think you should let go, that you shouldn't blame yourself anymore... but your inability to let go just shows how much you still care," he tried to meet her eyes but she refused, letting her gaze fall to her lap instead. Still, he continued, "It's not a sign of weakness." He told her firmly, hoping she'd believe his words, "And even if it is, you shouldn't be ashamed."

She had to smile at his words. Silently, she regarded the fact that he'd been doing that all night, making her smile that is. She could only wonder how he was able to do it.

She let out a breath, signaling the end of another angst-y conversation, "Aa~ah," she started, looking jokingly at him, "you just had to ask that particular question, huh?"

He suddenly looked guilty, and she tried hard not to let it show that she had been bothered by his rather sensitive question, "U-uhm... Haha... Sorry about that..."

She felt a twinge of pity when he apologized. It wasn't his fault. He didn't mean to bring up the topic he knew she had been trying to avoid. Maybe it was just his usual bout of misfortune that was rubbing off on her. "So there you go." She continued, forcing herself to sound unaffected, "That's why I wanted to find the cure for DMD, because if I don't, I'd feel like everything that happened was for nothing, that I really did just give my DNA for that experiment."

He offered no reply, and dimly, she realized he was hesitant of saying something wrong again, so she decided to go on with the conversation herself, "Well, whatever. It's my turn."

She looked at him at the corner of her eyes as she drank more wine, trying to decipher his reaction. There was still a light frown that wouldn't smoothen out, but as much as she was touched by his concern, she didn't like being fretted over—especially not by him.

She stared at the red liquid in her glass, suddenly realizing that she didn't have to pretend that she was okay after that short recollection. It had been eating her for years, ever since that fateful day—August 15, and she would never forget—and she had refused to tell anyone about it. Absolutely no one, not even her own little Sisters, knew of the circumstances on how she gave Academy City her DNA Map. It could've been because of the shame—she was still mad at her younger self for being so naïve and trusting—but a part of her knew that it was merely because she was scared. She just wasn't brave enough to relive that moment and bring herself to tell someone, locking the memory under chains and stocking it into the very back of her mind.

Right now though, she was surprised to find that she felt more relieved than anything else, as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from her shoulders. She wasn't sure if it was because she had told him—and to be honest, she didn't think she'd be able to tell anyone else—and that his words had made more of an impact to her than she noticed. But it mattered little right now because he didn't seem to realize that his question made her feel better about the event she'd been shouldering for the past few years.

She silently sighed, choosing to just continue the game, and went on to push Pyonko onto the next square, "If you could choose…" she trailed off ominously, hoping she'd get his attention. It proved ineffective though. "Who would you have wanted to be stuck in this room with?"

"Hmm... Seventy-two hours alone with someone?" he suddenly seemed normal as he answered with a hum, "I'd like that person to be someone whom I'd feel comfortable with; someone I'd be able to talk to about anything. And even if we're not talking, I wouldn't feel awkward around her... I'd like someone I wouldn't have to lie to about anything."

There was a certain tone in his voice that made her frown, "Even your memories?"

There was a short pause before he nodded, "...even my memories."

Both her eyebrows rose at his affirmation. To her knowledge, there were only a handful of people who knew about it, her being one of them. There was a bubbling hope in her that wondered if it meant he wouldn't have wanted anyone else in her place, even after everything that had already happened that night. She kept this to herself though, and tried to sound nonchalant as she said, "Well, that narrows it down quite a lot. Can you give a name?"

"Can't you figure it out yourself?" he asked in a serious voice, and it made her wonder what exactly he was trying to say.

She'd been thinking that he meant her, but it felt too good to be true. So instead voicing her thought out, she tried to match his vague, almost cryptic, answers with indirect responses of her own, "...I wouldn't want to assume..."

"Well, I bet your assumption is right."

She played with the idea for a moment, but decided to divert the topic instead. She wasn't quite ready for another heartache. "...you still haven't told anyone about losing your memories?"

"No," he shook his head, and if he noticed her attempt of changing the subject, she didn't call her out on it, "Only you, Index, Heaven Canceller and a very few other people from the magic side knows about it."

"You never told your parents?" she questioned as she realized his words.

"No," there was a sad smile on his face and she wasn't sure if he knew he was wearing it, "I don't really have any plans to either."

"But... Why?" his admission of his refusal to tell his family confused her. With a situation this big, she would've wanted to tell her parents the first chance she got. Family is too important to lie to. "They're your parents. Don't they deserve to know the truth?"

"I don't really see the point in telling them." He told her with a shrug, "I mean, it's been years and they hadn't even noticed. Why should I go out and tell them something that would only make them unhappy?"

His self-sacrificing logic made her frown. Sometimes, his hero complex really grates on her nerves. "They deserve it, Touma. You may think that you're protecting them by hiding the truth but the longer you stall, the harder it would be for them and for you in the future."

"Like I said, it doesn't matter anymore."

"How can it not matter?" she interrogated, unable to comprehend his reasons, "It's your past. You're just gonna let it fade without trying to know?"

"I've lived four years without knowing my past and everyone's happy despite the fact." He told her easily as that was all that mattered, "Why should I change that?"

"Are you happy?"

He didn't reply.

"Not knowing who you were..." she continued, because to her, what others would feel or think didn't matter. All she cared about was him. "Doesn't it make you feel... incomplete?"

He gave her another of those wistful smiles he always used when they happen to talk about this. "You know, sometimes I do wonder about that. How can I be me without my past?" he looked at her and this time, he didn't seem so sad anymore, "But then, I realized that it's not me that defines who I am. It's the people around me, the people I love."

She didn't know what to respond to that.

"So as long as you're with me-everyone's with me," he corrected himself, and he met her gaze, "I won't have to worry about losing myself."

She averted her eyes, a small smile creeping up to her face, "...how can I retort to that now, huh?"

"You can't. That's the point."

She shook her head at him, "You really are a frighteningly sentimental person."

There was a moment of silence between them as they both sipped their wine,

"So you'll never tell anyone else about your memories?" she asked again.

"Would you tell your parents about magic and how you're involved in them?"

"..."

His lip twitched up humorlessly at her lack of response, "Some things are better left unsaid, Mikoto. You know that."

Her brows furrowed again, because though she understood, she also knew how hard it was for him, "What if it isn't? What if the secret just ends up eating at you?"

"It won't." he replied confidently as he smiled at her, "As long as I have you, I won't have to worry about that."

Her breath caught in her throat at his words. For a moment, she considered the possibility that he meant it the way it sounded. But then, she realized that this was Touma, the tactless guy that didn't have a filter in his mouth which had often brought him into trouble.

She almost laughed at this. He probably didn't even realize what his words could've implied.

"What?" he seemed to have spotted her growing smirk because although he looked confused, a grin was also forming on his face.

"Nothing..." she told him, pursing her lips to rid of the smile on her face. She wasn't sure what she found so funny. Maybe it's his sheer denseness, or maybe it was the utter hopelessness of her situation with him, but she still couldn't stop a giggle from passing through her lips. "It's just that you haven't changed much. You still say a lot of misleading things. I wouldn't be surprised if you create another harem."

His brow rose at this, "What do you mean by misleading? I meant every word I said."

She responded by drinking more wine.

She then held her glass towards him. She saw him frown at this but refilled it anyway, "Oi, haven't you had enough wine?"

"Shut up. I'm fine." And to prove her point, she took another sip.

He didn't look convinced but he relented, "If you say so."

She nodded to him as he refilled his own glass, "Your turn."

"Hm…" he set the almost empty bottle down as he hummed. After another moment of thought, he asked, "Of all instruments, why did you learn to play the violin?"

"Isn't it obvious? Mama pushed me into it."

"Liar," he replied without a pause, as if he was very certain he was right. She frowned lightly at this while he continued, "I know Misuzu-san and she'd never force you into anything you don't like. She adores you too much, especially back when you were a kid."

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Why are you being smart when I don't want to?"

He raised an eyebrow in response, "Why are you going against your own rules?"

They stared each other down for a few seconds until she stated, "…I hate you."

It irked her that he had the gall to smirk, "You shouldn't say that to your first crush."

She could feel a vein pop out of her forehead with his statement, "You are never gonna live that down, are you?"

He grinned, "Nope."

She sighed.

"C'mon, Mikoto, how many times have you been dishonest tonight?" he asked playfully as he lightly nudged her side, "Play your own game. What's so hard about my question?"

"I don't know. It's just…" She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, feeling hesitant, "I learned the violin for childish reasons."

"Which are…?"

"…I thought it was romantic…" she admitted shyly, explaining, "Even when I was a kid, papa was rarely home so I often asked mama about him. She'd tell me how they met and how they fell in love. Papa was from a rich family; wealthy enough to have money to spend on a lot of vices he had. Apparently, he was also charmingly intelligent—kinda like Tony Stark, as mama says—so he was quite a playboy. Mama on the other hand was from the lower middle class; not really poor but they only have enough to sustain necessities. They met in campus when they took the same subject and became classmates." A grin slowly crept into her face, "Mama hated papa's type so she tried to stay clear of him but papa… he fell in love with her so quickly."

He smiled at her when she briefly glanced at him.

She felt her grin widening as she continued, "Mama was very beautiful… she still is, but when I asked papa how he fell for her, his answer was this, 'Because she was the first person to know me for who I am and not the person I try to be'." She told him like it was a very important lesson in class, and in a way, to her it was, so it made her glad that he was listening to her so intently. "My dad had a lot of family problems, you see, so it's his own defense mechanism to act like a happy-go-lucky playboy. But when he met mama he changed. He became the person he is now and started courting her," she snorted quietly, "much to her initial irritation."

He, on the other hand, laughed, "I guess Tabikake-san went through a lot to make Misuzu-san like him, huh?"

She couldn't fight a smile as she recalled, "You don't know the half of it. Mama told me that due to sheer desperation, papa made a habit of annoying her just so they'd argue and she'd talk to him. She was always mad at him but it was what started their strange yet undeniable friendship."

"Heeeh," he smirked at her, "It kinda reminds me of the two of us, you know? Since you always seem to be mad at me back then."

"It's not my fault you were such an idiot and always ended up offending me."

"Well, excuse me for being an idiot…" he told her dryly, "Anyway, how did Tabikake-san manage to make Misuzu-san like him?"

The smile was back on her face, "Papa tried to ask mama out again when they were finally something like friends. He wrote a short poem and had it delivered to her, telling her to go to a certain music room. When she arrived, she found the place covered with rose petals and candle lights, and in the middle was papa playing a grand piano," she trailed off dreamily, imagining the scene she had often tried to picture when she was younger, "She said it was the most romantic thing papa had ever done."

"And Misuzu-san fell for him?"

"You bet. Mama said that it was at that instant, that very moment when she saw him playing, that she fell in love with him… and when mama told me that story… I don't know," her head tilted to the side in ponder, "I just thought that maybe I can make the person I like fall for me like that."

"By playing the violin?"

She nodded, feeling a little embarrassed at her confession, "I know, it's silly, but I studied violin because of that."

He shifted in his position, turning towards her a little more, "But why violin? You could've studied piano, right?"

"I did study piano before violin, but it never had a calling for me, you know?" She glanced at him, only to catch his soft gaze. She turned away, hoping her cheeks didn't flush and that her heart would quiet down. She returned her attention back to what she was saying, silently telling herself not to get distracted, "I liked the piano, but that was papa's thing. I wanted something that was mine and when I first saw a violin recital… I fell in love with the sound… so I thought, if it could make me fall for it like that, I'll definitely make someone else fall for me as well."

From the corner of her eye, she saw him smile softly, "So… have you done it yet?"

"Hm?"

"Have you made the person you like fall for you yet?"

'You haven't fallen for me, have you?' she almost told him, but she held her tongue. Oh, the irony of him asking that. She wasn't sure whether she should laugh or cry at her situation. Was he really that dense? Didn't he realize that he was the only one, apart from her music instructor and family, that she ever played her violin for? All those solo practices that she invited him to, did he forget about it all?

Her silence must've been too long because he tentatively called, "Mikoto?"

"…no." She finally said. He wouldn't realize she meant him anyway so what was the point of lying? "Unfortunately, he's a dense idiot who doesn't really care much for music so it never worked on him."

He seemed to study her for a moment before replying, "Is that so?"

"Mm-hm." She hummed before taking another sip of her wine. It no longer burned a trail in her throat, and mildly, she noted that she didn't feel as sad as she should've felt. There was a slight numbness spreading in her chest. She wondered if it meant that the alcohol was finally taking over.

"Why don't you try again?" he asked and she almost burst out giggling at it.

Repressing her laughter, she told him gleefully, "Like I said, he's not that into music, even less since it's classical. It won't change anything."

He frowned, whether it was because of her words or her laughter, she didn't know, "You can't be sure about that."

The seriousness in his voice made her pause. What was he trying to say? He's been acting so vague that she couldn't figure out what was going through his head. It was as if he…

She unconsciously bit her lip. No. There was no way he could know. She didn't even try to give him hints—unlike those other times in the past that failed—so he couldn't have realized what she felt about him. And even if he did, why would he insist on 'making the person she liked fall for her' if he knew it would be him. It made no sense unless…

'Unless he liked me back…' she concluded.

But as quick as the thought came, she threw it out. It wouldn't help her to be hopeful and get her heart broken, and in this crappy night too.

'But what's another heartache?' she told herself wistfully. She'd only be delaying the inevitable if she passed this chance up. Who knew when she'd be able to ask him like this again when he wasn't allowed to lie? It would be better to just get it over with. The longer she waited, the more it would hurt when he finally turns her down for real. Besides, best to take the pain when the alcohol had already numbed her a little. And though she was well aware that it would wear off the next day, she found that she couldn't care less at the moment. She'd deal with it when the time comes.

Grimly, she imagined putting the last nail into her own coffin as she muttered lowly, "…maybe not…"

He watched her in silence as she became buried in her thoughts. Honestly, he wasn't sure why he told her that. Maybe it was because of his fear that she'd move on now; now that he finally realized what he felt for her.

It was her who broke the silence again and stated, "I'm into my last question."

He merely nodded, "Shoot me."

"Can you fall for me?"

He stopped at her question, taking a tentative glance at her. He questioned his soberness at the moment.

"Is there a possibility..." she repeated clearly, making him realize that he was in fact not hallucinating, "That you can fall in love with me?"

His mind went blank, and for a long moment, all he did was stare at her wide-eyed.

She suddenly laughed, bringing his thoughts back in track, "Sorry. You're right, I've been drinking too much wine," she said jokingly as she looked at her almost empty glass, "I think I'm getting a little drunk. My tongue's becoming loose."

He shook his head, more to get his mind to focus than to answer her, as he racked his brain of the proper way to reply to her, "...no, no... It's uhm..." he swallowed, silently berating himself for the pathetic response, "It's alright. No need to apologize."

"Heh. Thanks."

"You know, you should get drunk more often." He joked, but inwardly, he slapped himself for being such a coward as he tried to divert the topic, "You tend to be more honest when you're not sober."

She looked teasingly at him, raising an eyebrow as she smirked a little, "Really? Or maybe you intend to do something to me so you want me to be defenseless."

He mentally thanked the heavens that she went along as he shrugged, "Maybe."

She grinned back, elbowing him lightly, "Pervert."

"I have been called that multiple times."

There was another silence between them and Touma could easily feel how awkward it was. He knew he couldn't divert the topic any longer, but somehow, he was a little scared. Why was he so nervous now that he was given the chance to tell her? He loved her, didn't he? What was making him so hesitant?

"...so?" she prompted and he knew his time was up.

He licked his lips nervously, unable to stop himself from delaying it further, "Is that really your question?"

"I can't really change my question now, can I? It's part of the rules I set up."

"..."

She looked at him, her expression unreadable, "Can't you answer it?"

He took a silent breath to steel himself, "...me, fall for someone like you?" he repeated, looking back at her with a gentle smile, before he answered, "I think it's impossible for anyone not to fall a little in love with you, Mikoto."

"...impossible...huh?"

She seemed unsure, as if she found his reply hard to believe, so he continued, "You're a great girl. Sure, you're hot headed and you tend to be a little too violent at times but it's one of your appeals." He elaborated, finding it a little difficult to properly explain to her, "You still like childish things which makes you really cute."

She raised a delicate eyebrow at this, "You do know those aren't exactly compliments you're giving."

He blinked, suddenly feeling a little sheepish when he realized it was true, "Ahaha... Really? I was so sure I said it correctly..."

Her reply was to giggle back, "Idiot."

He couldn't help but beam as he watched her expression, "And that," she stopped at his voice, turning to him to find he was looking at her,"That's what makes people fall for you so easily; that smile that seem to touch your eyes, it touches people's hearts too." Then he added jokingly, "Kinda makes us feel all warm and fluffy inside."

Her eyebrow rose as she looked at him amusedly, "That sounds really made up."

"I'm being honest here." He raised his hands palm facing her in defense, "Besides, haven't Shirai ever told you yet?"

"What?"

"That she wants to protect your smile."

"…"

"We do, you know." He reaffirmed, "Even Ruiko and Kazari, Last Order and all of your little Sisters, we all want to keep that smile on your face. You've always been the one trying to protect us, no matter how hard it was for you. That's why we want to keep that smile in your face. The least we can do is to keep you happy."

She paused before letting out a humorless snort, "…are you referring to a certain event here?"

He looked sternly at her, "No, I'm referring to a lot of events."

"That's not fair. Your hero complex is much worse than mine. Why do I get the lecture?"

"Because unlike you, I actually ask for help when the problem becomes too big for me. You're the exact opposite. It seems that the heavier the situation is, the less of a tendency that you'd ask for our help."

"You know why I do that."

He frowned at this, "I do, which gives me every right to lecture you."

"…I still think you're a hypocrite."

"And I still say you're stubborn."

"…"

"We're here for you, you know?" he repeated, just to make sure she won't ever forget, "We always will be. So never feel that we wouldn't want to share your burden."

Another pause, "Is this your way of convincing me to tell them about it?"

He thought for a moment, "No…" he said, "it's my way of saying that you should never do that again."

She ran her hand down her face in a frustrated manner, "What would you have me do, Touma? Cry to you every time something like this happens?"

"I know you wouldn't do it even if I answered yes, but I at least want you to rely on us a little more."

She pinched the bridge of her nose before turning away and saying, "Can we just go back to the topic? Besides, you haven't even answered my question."

"Of course." He replied instantly.

Her eyebrow rose at this, "Of course?"

"I told you, it's impossible not to fall a little in love with you." he repeated, feeling a little braver to finally admit it, "That includes me too."

She rolled her eyes and sarcastically said, "Haha... Thanks for the nice words."

"You don't get it, do you?" his eyes narrowed as he realized she thought he was joking, "You're probably the most kind-hearted person I've ever met. You help people because you can. You save people when no one else will." He tried to explain what he'd been saying more elaborately, repeating, "And it's annoying but you try to shoulder every problem alone because you want to protect the people you love."

"If I said I did all those things for selfish reasons?"

"Then you're lying."

"..."

"Back when we're still in the middle of the war between science and magic, you never stopped trying to support me." he fondly recalled, "I know it didn't seem like it, but I was really glad to have you," he confessed as he gazed at her, "At first, I kept you in the dark because I don't want you to be endangered. But then, after World War Three, you suddenly tell me those things..."

"...things?" she prompted.

"That I wasn't alone..." he met her eyes as he continued, "That we were heading the same path from that moment on... You don't know how much that meant to me."

She averted her eyes, as if she couldn't stand his gaze, before letting out a breath, "...yeah, it really showed when you left me in Hawaii." She suddenly joked, smirking.

The sudden reminder made him stop, making him pull on his collar awkwardly at the memory, "O-oi... You still remember that?"

She looked at him dryly, "You left me alone in a foreign country. What's not to remember?"

"Okay look, I'm sorry. But as I was saying, how can anyone not fall for you?" he asked again, getting back to the topic and hoping that she'd understand, "You're such an amazing person."

She seemed to ignore his words though as she merely asked back, "And your final answer is...?"

"Yes," he admitted. He couldn't have ever predicted that this was how he was going to tell her. But as unromantic and out of the blue as it was, she needed to know who she was in his life. "I've already fallen in love with you,"

She was silent, so he waited.

But of all the reactions he could've expected—(ranging from her usual tsundere response to a shy one)—he had never imagined it would be this.

Because all of a sudden, she was shaking and giggling as if she just heard a funny joke.

It made him stop. He replayed what he said over and over again in his head to figure out what part of his confession could be interpreted as a joke. "Why are you laughing?" he finally asked, unnerved by her laughter. Suddenly feeling conscious, he continued, "Did I say something stupid?"

She tried to subdue her giggles as she answered, "Nothing. Like I told you, misleading."

A scowl made its way to his face as he realized what she meant, "You don't believe me, do you?" his voice rose in disbelief and frustration, demanding, accusing, "You think I'm lying?"

She shook her head, mirth and a little of something else remained in her eyes, and he couldn't fathom what it was and why. "No, not lying. Just... misunderstood."

"What part of my answer can be misunderstood?" he demanded, frustration coating his voice.

"Never mind... I'm done with my questions," anger builds within his chest at her dismissal of his confession. Why wouldn't she believe him? Had he acted so badly with her that she had been long convince that he had no interest with her? Was the thought really that ridiculous? "Aaaaand the wine's almost gone too so just in time." she poured the rest of the wine into her glass, filling it up for the last time.

He stared at her for a moment as she sipped her wine, not knowing what to do. He chugged his own drink in one gulp, the alcohol leaving a burning trail in his throat that he greatly welcomed.

He gave out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at her once again. Seeing that she really wasn't taking him seriously, he instead said, "I'll ask my last question now, okay?"

"Ask away."

His frown deepened. There has to be some way he can show that he was serious; that this time, what he said was really what he meant. Some way to… "If… if I were to kiss you right now…" he looked at her as she stared at her glass. He gauged her reaction and hesitantly continued, "What would you do?"

She locked eyes with him, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol but her gaze unwavering, "I'd kiss you back."

He slowly leaned in, his gaze dropping to her lips. But after a thought, he paused, his lips mere centimeters away from hers, "Are you lying?" his voice was low and husky as he asked one last time.

Her voice was just as soft as she answered.

"Do you want to find out?"

END

Author's Notes:

Thanks to cupcakesarereallygood for the question "Have you ever regretted saving someone?". Sorry for those who gave me questions last chapter but the questions were complete by then.

If you're a little annoyed with Mikoto being dense at the beginning and not believing Touma by the end... well, honestly, if that happened in the LN I might actually think that "Nah, Touma's just being his usual misleading self. He doesn't mean it like that." So I guess I somehow incorporated that to Mikoto. and she's a little drunk. what do you expect? XDD

the thing about premarital sex is my opinion. i hope no one takes offense on that.

and HA! You though the Neurologist thing was random? no it wasn't! XDD let's wish Mikoto luck on that, shall we? :))

I mentioned scrapping a lot of scenes and one of them was Mikoto and Touma's almost kiss after the second question "What's bothering you?" and the cry fest. It was really hard for me to remove it because I though it was really nice but I realzed it really had to go. If they didn't kiss that time, the whole atmosphere would've been too awkward and there would be another break (which I cannot afford because of the mood establishment), and if they did kiss, this would've probably ended up as smut... huh... maybe I should write that alternate version XD

And that is what happens when you put Touma, Mikoto and some wine together in a single hotel room :)

By the way I may or may not post another story that is a sequel for this. It would be more focused on the 9969 wishes of the Sisters. It would also be Kamikoto and I might need 'wishes' when the time comes. Heads up, okay? but I haven't even started yet so... XD

Again, no epilogues, no extra chapters, and definitely NO MORNING AFTERS. I leave what happens next up to you.

~I hope I was able to live up to your expectations and that you enjoyed reading this. Thank you to all of those who Favorited/Followed/Reviewed to this story. You guys are awesome!

I hope I'll see you guys again in the future!

~61wisampa