RIMA

Kairi looked at Amu intently. "Joker, I love you. Now and in the future. It will never change."

Amu turned crimson. "H-HUH? WHAT? KAIRI!"

"You should say something flirty and cool," I advised.

"Rima, not helpful!"

Yaya smirked. "Yaya always knew the Class President liked Amu-chi!"

Tadase shrugged. "So. I guess we're rivals. It was nice knowing you, Sanjo-kun."

Kairi smiled. "I should go now. My flight leaves soon."

I looked at the clock hanging above the E4 gate. "It leaves in three and a half hours."

"It's good to be punctual, Queen!"

"Sure, sure, whatever," I muttered.

"Kairi! Class President! Thanks for everything! We should definitely meet in the future!" Amu called.

Kairi smiled again. "Of course." He started walking towards his gate, C12. Suddenly, Kukai barreled sideways into him.

"Sorry, Sanjo! Here, I just got news that your flight has been cancelled!"

"Kukai? What are you doing here?" Amu yelled.

"Um, Yukari-san told Utau to tell me to tell Kairi that she'd cancelled Kairi's flight…"

"Since when were you so close with Utau?" I asked accusingly.

"We just met in the ramen shop the other day, and we sort of hit it off," Kukai shrugged.

"Why'd nee-san cancel my flight?" Kairi asked.

"She said there'd be no one to cook and clean for her."

Kairi shook his head. "Nee-san…but I have to go back! My classmates and parents are waiting for me…"

"But we all need you here, too!" Amu said. "The Guardians won't be complete without you, Kairi! We need a Jack!"

Kairi blushed. "This is entirely selfish of me, but Joker, wouldn't it be awkward between us now that I've…"

"Oh, no! Do you want to try going out for a couple of weeks? I was sort of considering you, too, you know," Amu confessed.

Tadase tripped. Yaya smiled. "Amu-chi and Class President would make a cute couple!"

It's been nearly half a year. Since then, Kairi and Amu have tried dating, but it didn't work out. They just weren't right for each other. Kairi eventually said that he'd realized that he'd admired Amu, not loved her. "There's a HUGE DIFFERENCE!" I had shrieked, burying my face in my hands. Yeah, I sort of overreacted…I don't know why, I'm usually not that type when it comes to love.

Nadeshiko moved back from Europe in January. It was pretty icy between us at first, but now we're pretty good friends. Sometimes I think we get along only for Amu's sake, though.

We found the Embryo in March. It turned out to be the Heart's Egg of this first-grader named Hikaru. He is currently the King of the Guardians, along with Rikka (also in first grade) being the queen, Kairi the Jack, and Yaya the Ace.

Yukari and Nikaidou got married also in March. I was the flower girl. THE FLOWER GIRL. I did a decent job, though. I only fell down twice. The skirt of my dress was really long, okay?

So now it's May, and we're all hanging out in the Royal Garden after school. Ikuto and Utau invited themselves in.

"You…two…are…dating?" Amu gasps, looking at Ikuto and Utau.

"There's got to be some kind of law against that," I mutter.

"She blackmailed me into it," Ikuto grumbles.

"But…Utau…you two…ugh!" Kukai storms out.

"What's wrong with him?" Ikuto asks.

"Isn't it obvious?" Nadeshiko sighs. "He likes Utau."

"He does?" Ikuto, Amu, Tadase, Utau, and I all ask in unison.

Nadeshiko facepalms herself.

Suddenly, the door to the Royal Garden bangs open. "Sorry! I had to quickly tutor Ace—"

"Just Yaya is fine! Not Ace!"

"I mean Yaya. She didn't understand how to divide fractions."

I glance at Kairi, and my heart begins pounding. I don't know why, but lately I've been getting sort of…well, jealous of the fact that Kairi and Yaya spend so much time together with tutoring sessions and Guardian activities. And I can't help but notice that his bangs fall perfectly over one electric-blue eye as he looks down, trying to straighten out his papers…

Okay, what am I thinking?