Last chapter! Even though I'm really happy I actually finished this, I'm sad it's gonna be over with... I hope everybody likes the final chapter, and I'm happy people actually saw this through! :3

Disclaimer: I don't own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, or Phantom of the Opera.

Kisa had been allowed back into Hatori's car for the returning drive home; Ritsu was slightly surprised, albeit glad, Kisa seated beside him in the middle of the seat as they drove out from the hotel's parking lot, and he pointed a finger skyward.

"Homeward bound!" he cheered, and Ritsu gave a chuckle, noticeably much less tense then he was the night prior. A long talk with Ana later and she'd bid him adieu, leaving his room and allowing him to finally falling asleep after a shower; he did not return to the party, and that had left Takano anxious and prepared for the newbie to get a ride from Yukina or Senbo - he was shocked when the boy had dropped his suitcase in the trunk and climbed into the car after Kisa, a large grin on his face.

Takano had no idea what Senbo nor his assistant did to get the boy in a much less sour mood, though he was grateful, nevertheless.

An hour into their trip, when the car had gone exceptionally quiet, Kisa was the one to speak up.

"... So, Remi-chan wants me to be her 'Man of Honor.'"

At that, all of the men hesitated, Hatori glancing into the rear view mirror to get a glance at a sheepish Kisa, Takano turning round in the passenger's seat to look at him as well.

Takano blinked, before replying, "... Don't you mean Maid of Honor?"

Kisa nodded quickly, "That's what I said!" he said, "She wants me to be that..."

There was a pause, and before any could speak up once again, Ritsu smiled from his position beside Kisa, "I think you should do it, Kisa-san."

Kisa turned to the boy, gasping over dramatically, hands clasping together in his lap, "What!" he snapped, and Ritsu shrugged in response, "But... Ricchan!"

Ritsu smiled back at his friend, "Well... It's for her wedding, Kisa-san, and she trusts you well enough to do that... So you should." he said simply, chuckling at the man's response, and Kisa remained wide-eyed, though he appeared to be thinking this over.

It was not half an hour later when Kisa fell asleep against Ritsu's shoulder, Ritsu's head falling against his.

The old woman had waved off the hands of those who attempted to help her, insisting she could do this herself; they stood at the carriage, patiently waiting for their Lady to return, the horses neighing as they watched their owner wheel through the cemetery, passing gravestones to look for a certain one. On her lap sat a glass rabbit; pink wings were crafted lovingly, a knob hidden in-between its appendages, looking as if it were to play music if wound.

She had left the old opera house not long after the auction had ended, Shouta Yukina following her out; the man had actually been the one to purchase the chandelier, though after he had finally won at the bidding he had hesitated, giving a bark of laughter, as if he himself couldn't believe he'd done that. He had said something on his way out that he had no idea where the light fixture was to even go, or how it was to return home with him, later muttering on their way out that he'd have someone else deal with this. He'd waved at the girl from his own carriage as the coach pulled off, giving an encouraging smile to her, as if he'd had some inkling as to what she were about to do; though he couldn't of, of course - An had made sure not to tell him, unsure if she were going through with this herself.

She hesitated, catching the name out of the corner of her eye; she paused, glancing at it to make sure it was correct, and gave a sigh - Ritsu had gone against changing his last name, stubborn as ever.

Glancing down at the rabbit in her lap, she hesitated for a moment, picking it up with delicate hands; she wondered briefly if she should wind the music box up, though decided against it for whatever reason, even though the Auctioneer had guaranteed it was in working condition. Leaning down in her chair, she gave a sigh as she sat the music box at the gravestone, made of a reflecting marble. It was shining back at her, and she gave thought as to who could possibly be taking care of it - Shouta, maybe? - when she caught a glimmer out of the corner of her eye.

There, atop the marble, was a blooming rose, black ribbon tied neatly around it. And slipped around it, a familiar diamond ring that sent a shiver down her spine.

She cast a worried look around the cemetery, and could only imagine herself stumbling back. After a tense moment, she opened her mouth, crying out:

"Haitani! Ready the carriage; we're leaving, now!"

Taking the train home, Ritsu had remained quiet as he always did on their rides on the subway, though the silence did not seem as tense this time around; it seemed just to be a normal silence, perhaps even labeled as comfortable.

Maybe that was why Takano was sure enough of himself to grab the hand of the newbie editor while walking home.

He prepared for his hand to get thrown back at him - though that never happened, and Ritsu did not begin yelling at him, either, as he'd hypothesized. When he'd glanced over at him, Ritsu did not exactly appear happy, a frown on his face, though did not appear ready to explode at any given moment.

Still hand-in-hand once they'd entered their apartment complex, no words were spoken until they'd reached the elevator, suitcases trailing behind them.

"I know Kisa didn't read all of that book." said the editor-in-chief, and Ritsu gave him a look, as if scolding him for not believing in the veteran editor, "Did you?"

Ritsu hesitated, eyes blinking as he glanced back in front of him, and he slowly nodded, "What? O-of course I did!" he objected, though his voice shook slightly, not looking back once he felt Takano's eyes on him this time, mentally scolding him.

"Really?" asked Takano, looking back ahead as well, "Tell me how it ends."

Ritsu, prepared for this question, set his shoulders, though still did not look at the taller man, "The Victom is at Christine's grave sight after the auction, and when he's about to leave, he sees a rose left by the Phantom." his voice was sure of himself, proud he was able to answer the question without missing a beat.

Takano, however, was not impressed. "That's how the movie ends." he said, and Ritsu hesitated, glancing back up at the editor-in-chief just as the doors to the elevator opened.

"You're not off the hook." Takano was surprisingly the one to drop their contact, beginning to walk down their hallway, leaving Ritsu in the elevator, "You still have to read that book, and I want it back when you're done."

Ritsu hesitated in the elevator, then suddenly regained himself - he stepped forward as the elevator doors slammed in his face, tired of waiting for him to leave. He panicked for a moment, hitting the open doors on the elevator, only to get taken down to the lobby and have to awkwardly press the number of his floor once again, glancing around the hallway for any sign of a waiting Takano before walking out onto his floor.

He was amazed, though not at all shocked, to see a rose at his door when he returned home, a black ribbon tied neatly around it and a plastic, play ring slipped onto the stem; he was unsure if this was a joke played on him by Takano, or if the Phantom from his dreams had indeed truly visited him.

[CURTAIN]

I know it's short, don't hate me. I just wanted the ending to be pretty short and sweet. :3

I feel like I should be ashamed to ship Haitani and An.

But I'm not.

SaySaeri: Yes, it's a different Akihiko then the one in Nostalgia, if that's what you mean xD I was just too lazy to google/think of another name, and considering Akihiko's a boy name (and I didn't really expect anyone to read Nostalgia xD) I just went with that. I went back and changed the name in the last chapter though, so it's not confusing anymore! :D

loopyhutton: Thanks! :D

NinjaSheik: ... Actually, believe it or not, I've never read or watched Junjo Romantica, but I might have to now! Hybrid Child's also getting an anime (but I've never read that either...), and I'm super excited for the Yokozawa no Baai movie! :D

Thanks again, to everyone who stuck with this story! :D Now I'm off to post the first chapter of Until Kingdom Come, and to hopefully get the next chapter of Nostalgia out~!