"She was crying and you walked away?!?"

Tonami's eyes narrowed and he glared at Yukino. Already he was mentally berating himself for telling Yukino what happened to him last Friday. "Why are you yelling it me? As if I could have done something about it."

Yukino stood on tiptoe and whacked Tonami squarely on the side of his head. "That is for being so stubborn." She hit him again. "And this is for making my friend cry."

Yukino was getting ready to hit him a third time but Tonami grabbed her wrist and held it up and away from him. "I'm sorry, okay. I didn't know what to do. I thought you were exaggerating about this."

Yukino twisted her hand from his hold and started to rub her wrist. "You could have walked up to her and apologized. You could have made sure she got home safe by walking home with her." She jabbed her finger into his chest. "You could have done a million things and this would all be over and the two of you would be together right now but you didn't." Yukino huffed. "How dare you accuse me of exaggerating."

Tonami couldn't help but grin. "You really think I'm stupid for not doing something?"

Yukino nodded. "For someone who manages to consistently tie with Arima and me in the quarterly rankings, yes."

"I'm sorry I disappoint you."

Yukino raised an eyebrow. "Are you really?"

"No. After the way you kept hitting me? No way." Tonami's expression turned serious. "But I am sorry that I didn't do anything when I had the chance."

Yukino reached out and patted his shoulder. "It isn't too late, yet. It's never too late to do something."

Tonami understood what Yukino was driving at. "I hope she gives me another chance."

"Knowing how much she loves you, I'm sure she'll give you a thousand other chances." She winked at him.

* * *

He found her sitting on the bench beside the drink vending machine, listlessly swirling a drink in her hand.

Tsubaki tipped the can of green tea carelessly -- not minding that some of the liquid was splashing out and creating spots on her uniform. She sighed. Where could they be? Aya and Rika were supposed to meet me here ten minutes ago.

She looked up and gasped. What is he doing here?

He frowned at the expression of alarm on her face. He took the time to study her intently and his heart ached at the sight of the dark shadows underneath her eyes. And she's lost so much weight. He took a deep breath and started to walk toward her.

He stopped and nimbly evaded the can that she had thrown at him.

"What are you doing here?!"

"I've come to talk to you." He resisted the urge to fall on his knees in front of her and beg her forgiveness.

"Funny. I thought we included everything in our last conversation."

He ignored the bitterness in her voice and the fact that she threw back at him the same words he had said to her a week ago.

"Not everything." He sat down beside her and took both her hands in his to prevent her from moving away. He increased the pressure of his hold when she started to squirm and twist her hands free.

"Let go, you're hurting me."

"Yes, I know. I've hurt you so many times in the past week that I've lost count and I don't know where to begin to make amends."

She stopped struggling, stunned by his admission. "You-- you've come to-- apologize to-- me?"

He loosened his hold on her hands. "Yes. If you are willing to listen, I can explain."

Her hands trembled slightly, she swallowed and slowly nodded her head. "Go on, I'm listening."

Tonami took a deep breath. "I was there. Last Friday. You were on your way home and I saw you. I was there when you were crying."

Tsubaki's forehead wrinkled as she tried to make sense of his words. "You were there? But I didn't see anyone. I turned around to see if anyone was following me and no one was there."

Tonami saw distress and bewilderment flash across her face. He couldn't resist it anymore. He let go of her hands and enveloped her in his embrace. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you like that. I just wanted to make you feel what I felt each time you pushed me away. I didn't think it would go this far."

She didn't struggle; she didn't try to pull away -- she was too tired of fighting him; too tired of fighting herself. Her hands slowly inched up his back, feeling his muscles contract with each sob. "I'm sorry for hurting you too, Tonami. I was so afraid to lose you because I loved you so much. I was so afraid." She buried her face in his shoulder, not caring that her tears were soaking his shirt.

He moved to kiss the side of her head. "When I saw you crying last Friday, I wanted to kick myself for causing you so much grief. I only wanted to take care of you and be with you. I was an idiot."

"You aren't the only one, Tonami." Her fingers dug into his back as she moved to press herself closer to him -- wanting to be part of him. "I love you so much, Tonami and I never want to be without you ever."

When he heard her words, he felt healed -- the wounds of the distant past and the wounds of the present fell away. He felt reborn; he felt new; he felt strong. "I love you, too. Tsubaki, you cannot begin to fathom how much I love you."