Title: Sub Rosa

Words: 470

Warnings: Angst.

Notes: I said I'd continue this! And look, I finally did...after so many months lmao. I sincerely hope it's as enjoyable as the first part. It's not as long, but it's a bit more introspective.

• • • • • • • •

Knowledge comes at a price. She just wishes it wasn't one she has to pay.

She doesn't know because anyone tells her – rather, it's the discreet looks, the smiles, and, finally, the hand-holding that let her know what she always knew would happen truly did come to pass. Akane's best friend confessed to her other best friend. Mikaela confessed to Yuuichirou. And Yuu confessed right back.

Her prepubescent crush has never let up, and she doesn't think it ever truly will. But seeing them grin like schoolgirls at one another from across the room makes her wish it had never really existed at all.

The brunette fumbles with the rose in her hand. Akane grips the stem in her hand just a bit too tight, and one of the thorns nick her skin, a small stream of blood welling up. The girl grimaces and quickly raises her hand to suck at the wound absentmindedly, soothing the rush of pain and gingerly transferring her flower to her other hand.

Oh, she realizes suddenly. Shindou Mikaela is like a rose.

Beautiful to look at, breathtaking, really; but it hurts to get too close. Even his hair seems to prove how flowerlike he is – yellow roses stand for jealousy (which she certainly is, as much as it pains her to admit), but it is also the flower of nobility. She doesn't think she's ever met someone as chivalrous as Mika is. Sure, he can be teasing and even a little abrasive at times, but overall, he is a lovely, loyal friend, who never fails to cheer her up and always keeps his promises.

He's never promised to fall in love with her, and he has kept that unmade promise as well.

But it won't do her any good to be bitter. And she isn't, not really – she won't let herself be bitter. That's childish and immature. She's above such pettiness – it has never been in her to hold grudges. And how can she be resentful over someone else's actions? It's not as if Mikaela ever chose to fall in love. It's not as if she has a right to be upset over someone else's happiness. It's not as if Akane chose to fall in love with Mika.

It still hurts, it still aches deep in her chest, like a blooming rose trying to tear its way out. It still makes her want to cry and scream and wish she had never met Mika at all.

But she'll overcome this. She's overcome worse before.

Mika finally notices her (such an accurate representation of their relationship, she thinks), and lifts one of his hands to wave Akane over happily. Undoubtedly, they want to break to her the good news.

She is nineteen years when she first tries to fall out of love with Shindou Mikaela.