Bowing Out

Anni: Um…I do realize that we took a long time to get this out…

Aaron: You mean forever.

Alicia: *starting to get pissed off* What's that supposed to mean? *dangerous aura*

Anni: *Sweatdropping* Roll chapter!

Another day dawns on the campus of St. Marie Academy, and the A group wanders the grounds. Ichigo squeals over every bird and flower, and the Sweets Princes leave her be. Kashino simply thinks that it is a waste of breath; Andoh thinks that she should have fun, and Hanabusa is smiling with her. He helps her up from her most recent encounter with the ground, and his face is close to hers. She doesn't even blush. She thanks the Rose Prince, and continues on her way.

About to blow up, Kashino feels Andoh tense and Hanabusa smirk. But then, for the first time in his life, he stops, and steps back to look at the situation, for he is so very tired.
He comes to a conclusion that his attraction to the glutton is unnecessary and hopeless. And he decides on something. Once Kashino Makoto decides on something, he does not like to back down.

He had fallen in love with Amano Ichigo smoothly, silently, subtly, and gracefully. He intended to bow out just as he fell in.

Andoh glances at the no longer angry Kashino, dark eyes still wary. Hanabusa Satsuki is filled with a sense of unease when the chocolatier doesn't blow up and yell at both him and the girl. He studies his rival and friend.

The brown eyes are deep in thought and his expression as blank as usual. But his aura is one of a person who is tired. One of a person who has given up on something important. One of a person who has lost sight of the brighter side of life, of a new tomorrow. And both princes worry.

"Ma-kun? Dostano?" "Nandemo iio. I'm kind of tired. I'll be going back first, okay? Tell the idiot not to come after me or she shall be tortured within the depths of hell by her French homework." They smile, reassured by the Kashino-like response. The blond boy walks away from the garden, but he knows that he's walking away from the situation, too. And for a much longer time.

-Bowing Out-

"Hanabusa-kun? Andoh-kun? Where did Kashino go?" Ichigo pauses when she sees only two Sweets Princes. "Kashino went back first, Ichigo-chan." "Honto desu ka? I'll go af-" "Ma-kun said that if you go after him, that he would torture into the depths of hell with your French homework." "Kashino, you damn sadist!" She exclaimed…then realized that he was not there to hear. She felt strange without Kashino near her. It was he that had always been there for her, after all. She had taken his presence for granted; he had been there so long.
Andoh notices this, and he smiles sadly. He wishes that Kashino could've been there to see her face fall so dramatically when she realized he wasn't there.
Hanabusa wonders what Kashino is doing. The chocolatier was the most athletic out of those four, and had the longest stamina. He shouldn't have been tired after one circle around the grounds of the Paris campus. Andoh has noticed this too. Ichigo brightens up. "I'll go after him anyway!" She runs off…in the opposite direction. "Amano-san…Kashino went to the main building. He always makes Operas when he's tired." Andoh, ever helpful, tells her. Ichigo does a 180, and runs down the stairs, for once making it safely.
"Was it really wise of you to tell Ichigo-chan where Kashino went? You know that he's even crabbier when he's tired." Andoh gives his teammate a long, calculating look. "Do you really think he's tired?" "…No. Not really."

"Kashino! Kashino!" The chocolatier looks up from his Opera when he hears screaming that is all too familiar. He had been trying to distance himself from her. He keeps his mouth shut, and stops all preparation. He merely puts perishable items away and ducks under the counter as Ichigo opens the door.
"Kashino must've gone to see if Chocolat is awake yet." The Spirits were still asleep, as it was a holiday. Most students had gone home.
She bounds out, and Kashino gets up, still feeling very tired. But there is no time for being tired. He returns to his Opera.
"Chocolat! Have you seen Kashino?" "Iia, I thought he was with you and the others." Chocolat frowns. She is worried. Kashino has been acting strangely, tiring quickly and even more antisocial, even blocking out his own teammates. He had been distant to everyone. "Ne, Cake-Pig, has Kashino been acting weird?"