"Hey, Ranmaru!" Momou grins. "I'm -"

I slap him across his face.

"How dare you?!" I yell, punching him. "It's been so long now... and you finally come? You jerk!"

I stop to look at him.

Momou's lip is bleeding, his head has a giant bump on it, but his eyes are sparkling.

"Please hit me more!" he yells, as ropes suddenly appear on him.

I forgot he was a masochist. Oops.

I slap myself in the face. "Of course not," I sigh.

"I missed you," he says.

My face turns red. "W-what?"

No way, no way! What's happening, what is-

"Hit me again!" Momou yells, his eyes sparkling again. "I missed your punch!"

I force a smile and slam my fist into his stomach, trying to release the frustration. Nice punching dummy. Especially since he wants to be hit.

You idiot! I tell myself. Did you really think he'd be romantically interested in someone like you?

Yes, my inner voice says. I did.

I stop punching and flop down on the ground- who cares if it's muddy anyway?

"By the way," Momou says, squatting down next to me, "how are Ichiko and that green-haired guy doing?"

"You mean Ichiko and Tsuwabuki?" I ask.

He nods.

"Fine," I shrug.

"Oh," he says quietly.

I stare at him. "What is wrong with you today?"

"Well, um," Momou says awkwardly. "You... like that guy, right?"

"Nah," I say. "I liked him. Not anymore."

"Really?" Momou asks. He seems to have cheered up.

"Yep," I smile. "There's someone else now."

"Really?" Momou asks again- but getting disappointed this time.

"Mm-hm."

"Can I ask who?"

"Dog god," I say.

"What?" Momou asks.

"Didn't you ask who?" I grin.

He blushes. Interesting. I've never seen him blush before.

"But..." Momou says quietly, "I can't be with you. I'm not supposed to come here at all- the gods are afraid I won't be able to leave. I snuck out for one last conversation with you."

"Wait- I- what?" I say, my words all jumbled.

"Thank you," Momou smiles. "I feel the same way."

I sit up. "You- you're just leaving like this? I-"

He gently places his lips on mine. My eyes widen.

"Goodbye," Momou says, standing up. "... Ranmaru."

Then he leaps into a tree.

"MOMOU!" I yell. "Don't just leave like that! I... I..."

"... I love you," I whisper, even though he won't hear it.

I slump over so the tips of my hair are touching the muddy ground. They ruin the pink color. It's fine, though, because the brown is soon washed away.

Was it raining? I look up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight. Completely blue sky.

I realize I am the only thing wet. And what I thought was rain were coming from my eyes. Tears.

I never should have fallen for him.