The Sousetsai festival was as lively as ever as the festivities carried through the night as they always had.

Ayatsuji-san really out did herself this time… Junichi thought as he admired the overall outcome of her, essentially solo, work in planning all this and making sure this all ran smoothly. Speaking of the devil herself, as he paced around the campus grounds he found her standing, clipboard in hand overseeing the bon fire and upcoming dances.

"Ah, Tachibana-kun," she greeted seeming to immediately notice his presence as he entered her immediate area.

'Good evening, Ayatsuji-san, how is everything?"

"Oh, you know first-hand, it's a lot of work, but I'll manage," she replied with a smile.

Student council president, founder's festival chairwoman, and an ace of academics, Ayatsuji-san truly was amazing and inspiring to Junichi. She did have her alter ego, absolute need to emerge victorious and commanding persona, but these were all things about Tsukasa that Junichi genuinely loved. On that same note however, Sensei's words echoed in Junichi's mind, of how she herself was very similar to Ayatsuji-san as a high school student.

The two stood in the glow of the massive bon fire in silence however, each affected greatly by the so called, 'elephant in the room.' Finally, Tsukasa broke the silence.

"Tachibana-kun," she began in a more somber tone, "I'm really sorry for the way I acted toward you when we both were on the committee together. Looking back, I rally regret everything I've ever screamed at you or hurt you for."

"It's okay Ayatsuji-san, it's all in the past." Junichi replied.

"It really isn't. I only realized my mistakes when we had already separated and I found myself alone again in the committee room."

"I really shouldn't have left like that-"

"I cried, Junichi, for the remainder of that day. What I had done had really hurt," Tsukasa said, not holding Junichi's coat sleeve between her thumb and index. He could feel her pull slightly.

"But, I know I was wrong and it was my fault I had lost you, Tachibana-kun, I just wanted to say I'm sorry, and I wish things would have been different."

"I'm sorry too, Ayatsuji-san."

Understanding her defeat, Tsukasa still managed to hold a bright and strong smile as she let go of Junichi.

The music for the first partnered dance began to play.

"Tachibana-kun, could we share this dance? I've never been able to participate in one." Ayatsuji-san asked.

"Sure," Junichi smiled and took her hand.

Maya continued to do what any supervising teacher would do during the Sousetsai: casually stroll around and monitor the activities. These festivities, although she enjoyed the significance of them, did make her board, occasionally lonesome, and even jealous. There were many high school couples around exploring the adorable bounds of their intimacy, or just forming ties. She would be reminded of her high school days here at this school, but would only be reminded of how work centric she was and how many experiences she had missed.

Where is Tachibana-san anyway? She wondered. She was still foreign to the idea, however she would at least look for him as someone to simply converse with? Given the circumstances of yesterday…my god Maya, how could you actually be pursuing and following along with this? No no no, I'm just looking for someone to talk to that's all. Right?

Maybe he was with a girl?

Her heart seemed to fall about thirty stories before she caught herself. Wait, so what? That would be great! For him and for you!

Right?

She shook it off and decided it was the atmosphere getting to her. Hastily she took another cup of Amazake from the tea club's table and hurried off to find some quiet to gather her thoughts. Rihoko's attempts to stop from downing yet another cup were to no avail.

Separating herself from the bustle and high energy of the booth areas of the festival, Maya stood overlooking the bonfire where the current dance tune was coming to a close.

She recognized this particular number as it played during her final year as a student at her final Sousetsai festival. At that time it wasn't that she didn't want to dance with anyone it was simply, no one asked her, or bothered to approach her.

She let out a sigh, recollecting the memory.

A shallow gasp followed.

Tachibana-san was spotted cradling a certain Ayatsuji-san at the finishing move of this line dance.

Call it wrong place wrong time, call it coincidence, call it jealousy, call it stupidity, Maya really didn't know what exactly to label it. She really couldn't even comprehend how fast her feet carried her to Junichi, or how much grip strength she was actually using to pull Tachibana-san off to some unknown location. To anybody else this was simply just the site of a teacher dragging off a student to face some sort of consequence. No one batted an eye, except Junichi who only now had realized what was happening.

No one else really took notice, except Ayatsuji-san who found this sudden action…fascinating.

Through the empty, and technically off limits, school building and up three flights of stairs, through the normally busy corridors, Junichi finally was released from her handcuff-like grasp in the stillness of a very familiar classroom. Well of course, she's the only one currently with the keys to this room.

"Sensei? Something wrong?" Junichi inquired, timidly.

Stillness.

"Takahashi-sensei?" Junichi asked once more, gently grasping the corner of her jacket sleeve.

"I don't know what to think Tachibana-kun. It's all so conflicting," she finally replied. "I want to shrug all of what was said last night off as just spur of the moment bantering," she continued, still not facing Junichi, "but even now I can't stop thinking about yesterday, or about you."

The glow from the bon fire outside, was the only source of light in the dark stillness of their classroom. Maya finally turned to face Junichi. He could notice significant redness in her face. Yes, part of it could be embarrassment, but he had a feeling it was probably the Amazake, she's been known to down gallons of. He could tell however, she hadn't drank as much as she had last year, so she was still consciously acting. Her composure as a teacher to student still remained up, hence the shadow of the formalities. But he could also tell her composure was failing her rapidly.

"I saw you and Ayatsuji-san together, Tachibana-san. Tell me, honestly, I won't take it badly if you say yes. In fact it may relieve me," she began in a much more somber tone. "Do you still have feelings for her?"

He understood everything now, it was jealousy.

"Sensei, we broke up because things didn't work out. I moved on, I take she's long moved on. She just asked me to dance, that's all. Truthfully, sensei."

She let out a sigh to his surprise.

"I'm not relieved, but at the same time I am," she smiled.

He was surprised when she wrapped her arms around him and pulled into a tight hug, resting her head on his shoulders.

Even with her heels on, she's only barely taller than me, Junichi thought.

"You know that song that you danced to with Ayatsuji-san was played during my final Sousetsai," she began. "I didn't get to share a dance with anyone during my years as a student. Something I feel regret for now. Pathetically," she laughed.

The music began to play yet another familiar tune, which could be heard faintly through the shut windows.

"Oh, I know this song too! It was the last song of the night all those years ago!" she remarked.

"Sensei, you act as though it was millennia ago. You're only slightly more or less around a decade older than I," Junichi remarked.

"Perhaps you're right," she sighed.

Maya stared out the window at the couples as they and their partners rhythmically stepped in and around each other in a close motion.

Junichi took his teacher by the hand. Despite all her writing, lecturing, paper grading, and other teacher duties, her hands were remarkably soft to the touch.

She quickly looked his way upon contact, but did not let go.

"Sensei, may I have this dance?"

She nodded, however responded with, "Do you know how though?"

The song was a more traditional ballroom type. Junichi glanced out at the courtyard to see what his peers were doing.

"We just follow how they do right?"

"No. The way they are doing it is wrong- Well, it's similar but not how the full thing went. This was the more intimate song in the rotation," she explained.

"Here, put your left arm around my waist," she instructed. "Then, take my hand with your right."

He did just so.

"Okay, then I just position my free hand here," she said putting her right arm around his waist.

The song's main tune began to play.

"Now, you lead with your left foot, and I'll follow. Just small movements," she instructed.

Even when class isn't in session she's giving me a lecture. Junichi thought.

As they quietly danced around the empty desks in the room in intimate closeness, teacher and student, Junichi noticed a very warm and happy smile adorning Maya's face.

"Even though I still cannot justify any of this Junichi…thank you for this dance and for everything," she whispered.

She planted a quick kiss on his lips before he could open his mouth to reply.