"That's why, Senpai, I… I fell in love with you!" the second year girl cried out, hands clasped at her chest, hopefully waiting for a return confession. She looked up at him, her dark green eyes looking up at him soulfully.

"Sorry," he said in a sincere tone, but he almost sounded bored. "I have a girlfriend."

"I… I thought that was just a rumor!" she gasped, on the verge of tears. "So someone did manage to get you!"

"…uh. Yeah."

What am I, a piece of meat that 'someone's gotten'?

"Please, Senpai…" the girl's eyes shone. "Let me prove myself! I can be a better girlfriend than her!"

"Oh really now?" he said, feigning interest. She nodded eagerly.

"Then take your clothes off," he said bluntly, reaching for his belt buckle. The girl stumbled away with a shriek.

"Wh- I can't… in public… we… you don't… I…"

"My girlfriend would do it anywhere," he said in a toneless voice. She glared at him.

"Y- You're a pervert," she managed to whimper out. He laughed harshly.

"Pervert? Until 15 seconds ago, you were swooning on about being in love with me."

She fell silent, cheeks tinged red with humiliation.

"Let me ask you then…" he neared her, eyes narrowing. "Why exactly do you love me so much?"

"…I… I… because…"

"Any day now, Yoshikawa," he said boredly.

"…m- my name is Yoshida, and-"

"Look, it's nice and all that you had this crush, but I think it's time you moved on."

With that, he gave her a sarcastic pat on the head, before turning around and heading back to his homeroom class.

Yahiro silently sneaked in, trying not to grab the attention of-

"Yahirooooooo!"

He neatly sidestepped as Sakura attempted to leap on him, pounced like a huntress. She 'tch'ed, then held her fists up.

"Look, you!" she yelled. "It's killing everyone! What exactly happened-?!"

"Not now, Sakura," he hissed. Everyone in the class was staring at them.

"Yes, now," she spat back. "Jun-kun and Ryuu-san are going insane! Megumi-chan won't-!"

"Okay, OKAY!" he finally had to raise his voice. Last thing he wanted was for anyone in the school to think he was having troubles with his girlfriend…. Er, "girlfriend".

"I'll meet you after school and tell you then," he muttered. Sakura eyed him suspiciously as he settled into his seat, an innocent smile on his face.

"Mr. Saiga… Mr. Saiga!"

Yahiro yawned. "Yes, Sensei?"

The teacher seethed. "You can't use my class as a place to sleep!"

"Says who?" he retorted. The teacher sputtered as giggles erupted in the class.

"Detention after school!"

And Sakura could only gape at how easily Yahiro had managed to slither away again.

Yahiro leaned back in his chair. Damn… he hated this room. The only other time he had been in here was that one time some idiot third-year had grabbed him and locked him in the closet with her, threatening him that unless he stayed still and let her do the nasty to him, she would scream that he was trying to rape her.

Next thing Yahiro knew, the closet was opened by a teacher, who looked scarred upon seeing Yahiro bemusedly holding the girl, who had fainted clean away with a bloody nose before she could barely unbutton his shirt.

Well, at least the worst he had gotten back then was just detention. Now that he was here, maybe he could actually start thinking about this problem he had landed in.

…dammit. Why did Sakura have to say anything? He, with his good common sense, knew that Megumi must have been completely torn down that day after he had used her, but after hearing Sakura say her name, he knew the damage he had left was irreparable.

Used her… Yahiro felt his heart clench, as he finally allowed the single traitorous thought slip in.

You left her there… all by herself.

Yahiro tried, in vain, to shut that little voice out, but it was too late. Now that it was out, it was going to have its say (and for some reason, it sounded very much like Sakura).

You enjoyed it as much as she did. You wanted it. But after you took "just enough", you threw her aside.

Yahiro imagined it, Megumi, crumpled on the ground, like he had left her, fighting back her tears, alone. Alone. Alone.

"Fuck," he hissed under his breath. He was the villain. He was not supposed to feel that jarring pain in his chest when he imagined his pseudo girlfriend laying in the alley, clothes strewn like a…

He felt sick to admit it, but in the end, he had forced her, and then left her in there, looking like a whore he had used in an alley. But Megumi's voice rang clear in his mind.

I would only let Yahiro do this to me!

And right there was what made her so different from the girls he normally slept with. Other sluts would take what he had to give, or would play hard to get so that he couldn't be with them at all, but Megumi… she would only let him touch her. Him. Dirty, villainous Yahiro.

He buried his head in his arms, trying to ignore the voice, but it grew persistently louder.

You know what it means, don't you?

No.

You had all of these fantasies of her…

No.

Fucking her…

NO.

Running your hands all over that soft, smooth skin…

I didn't!

Kissing those small, smooth, perky breasts…

Shut up!

He fisted his hair in his hand, but the voice was persistent.

You imagined that, because… for the first time, you fantasized about someone who wasn't Akira. You fantasized about someone, and didn't replace her face with Akira's. You fantasized about Yamamoto Megumi.

Stop it.

Just admit it. It's easier to get it done with sooner. You want Megumi. You want her so badly, it hurts.

Wanting her isn't the same as loving her.

Oh, wow, idiot… the voice was sounding very wry. You used to think wanting her was impossible for you.

So?

So what makes you think that you're incapable of falling in love with her?

"Megumi-chan, please!"

"Megumi, if you don't come out right now, I'm breaking down the door," Ryuu announced. "You haven't eaten or drank anything for two days, and I'm this close to calling Rin-sama and-"

The door finally opened as Megumi stumbled out, eyes hollow and red.

"Megumi…" Ryuu could find no other words, and simply gathered his little sister into his arms. Jun followed suit and Megumi couldn't help herself.

The tears she was so sure had dried up by now burst out once again.

Yahiro paced the floor of his study, too frustrated to focus on work. Well, now that he had calmed down and had a rational talk with his own mind (oh boy, did that sound strange), he realized exactly the depth of his actions.

He resisted the rather strong urge to throw something out the window, and began to work his apology. He took out a ballpoint pen from his shirt pocket, and placing a clean, blank sheet of paper before him, he frowned, before beginning to write.

Megumi,

How are you? Been a while, huh? Then again, I guess it hasn't, since it's been three days since I've seen you.

He paused, then scratched it out. He wasn't writing to some distant relative!

He tried again.

Dear Megumi,

He paused, and then scratched out the 'Dear'.

Megumi,

I hope you're feeling okay. I simply wished to apologize for my brash behavior the other day. I ask for your forgiveness, in hopes that we may remain

He immediately stopped there and scratched his head. No… Megumi wasn't a business partner.

Oi,

You annoying little nuisance. I bet you're bawling your eyes out, aren't you? That's not going to help how you look, you know.

He winced. On a normal basis, he would have actually sent this kind of message over, but after what he had said to her, he sort of doubted he would last the year, on the off chance that Tsuji or Megumi's twin saw it.

Having troubles? Of course you would. What would you know about apologies?

Yahiro politely told the voice to kindly shut the fuck up and die.

Seriously, it might be time to try me out.

Try you out?

Honesty.

Yahiro hesitated before picking up the pen again.

Megumi,

I'm writing to you because I'm too much of a coward to face you in person. What I said to you was a lie. I won't deny that I'm still in love with Akira, because I am, but when I was with you at that moment, it was Yamamoto Megumi I held in my arms, who I wanted to make love to, who I wanted to teach what the difference between a man and a woman was.

Yahiro flushed. Was this really something he should be saying?

Come on, his honest side coaxed. You've already started, might as well finish it. Besides, if it's honestly that bad, just don't give it to her.

With that reassuring thought, Yahiro continued.

I was angry with myself because I was so sure you would never discover this. I was so sure you would live your life waiting for me on hand and foot because you loved me enough, and I would be careful not to show you too much affection. But I couldn't take it then, because you had already been creeping into my mind. I'm furious, because I have always learned, my entire life, that being in love makes you the loser. I was the loser for my entire life, and now, for once, you made me the winner. I was proud and selfishly gloating at the fact that I had won in love for once. I wasn't the one who was suffering like I had no air, it was you. You lost on purpose, by falling in love with me and being willing to show it.

You're not good at kissing, but that just made me happier; it made me realize that you really had no experience, and the first one to touch your lips was me. It made me realize that you were, unlike other girls, really the innocent person I perceived you to be. Another thing it made me realize was that I would be the one to teach you how to kiss, how to touch a man, how to love someone physically.

And overall, it made me realize there are no winners or losers, because I think I'm starting to fall in love with you.

Yahiro dropped the pen, a look of horror crossing his face.

Had he seriously just…?

He crumpled up the paper and threw it into the wastebasket, gritting his teeth.

Fuck the apology, he bemoaned. I sound like some sappy American love song.

He buried his head in his hands. Even without talking to that honest voice in his head, he knew the truth.

There was no way to undo the damage he had caused to his songbird.

"Megumi, are you sure you're okay?" Akira asked worriedly as she placed a plate of cookies in front of Megumi.

The Yamamoto twin gave her a sparkling smile.

\I am fine!/ she reassured and even ate a small bite of green tea cookie, trying to show her durability. Akira exchanged glances with Tadashi. During the trip, they had been using the phone in the front office, and caught sight of Megumi stumbling into the inn, eyes red and clothes rumpled. When Akira had called out to her in shock, Megumi fled, her slender hand vainly trying to cover her eyes.

"W- Well… how about we have a sleepover tonight at my place?" Akira tried to say cheerfully. "You know, an all girls night!"

Megumi relaxed slightly. \All girls?/

"Yup! No boys!" Akira grinned at a slightly pouting Tadashi. As she did, she shot Ryuu a glance, who nodded in approval.

Thanks. Try to see what happened on the trip.

\But it's a school night…/ Megumi hesitated. Akira waved a hand.

"Don't worry! I'll wake us all up tomorrow and we'll head to school together!"

"I'm in!" Hikari bounced up. "I'll bring the snacks!"

Akira winced as she remembered the last time Hikari had brought "snacks". With her parents, her idea of snacks were dried squid and soda crackers, the ideal snack for a round of beer, not a group of girls who would most likely be hyper at 1 in the morning.

"H- How about you leave the snacks to me?" Akira suggested. "You can bring the… music choice, Hikari."

With their luck, maybe they wouldn't even have to listen to music.

Megumi finished buttoning up her sweet, light pink strawberry pajamas before emerging from Akira's dressing room.

"Megumi, those are just adorable!" Sakura gushed. "They really flatter you!"

Megumi blinked.

\Uh… thank you…/

Akira gave the tiniest head shakes to Sakura. Too strong.

"S- So… Megumi… nice weather, huh?" Hikari finally managed out. Akira winced quietly as Megumi gave Hikari an odd look.

\It's forecasted to rain tomorrow./

Too subtle!

"Megumi, please forgive us," Akira sighed. "But this sleepover is more than just a girls' night. We want to know…"

Megumi wasn't stupid. She had a faint inkling that Akira hadn't suddenly gotten in the mood to randomly have a girls' sleepover for fun.

"…did something happen with you and Yahiro in Kyoto?"

Megumi froze as she steeled herself. She was not going to cry because of Yahiro. So what if Yahiro didn't want her? She knew that from the start. She was not going to cry. She was not going to cry. She was not-

"Megumi…" Hikari said worriedly as she handed Megumi a clean handkerchief. The Yamamoto twin sighed. So much for not crying. She wiped the sparse tears that had sprung up and gave Hikari the handkerchief back with a grateful smile.

"I thought so," Akira said grimly. "I'll murder him. He forced you to do something you didn't want, didn't he, Megumi? Did-?"

"No!"

The three girls backed away at Megumi's outburst.

"I… I wanted it. I wanted him," her voice grew quieter from embarrassment, and began to shake from the shame. "I wanted him but he didn't want me."

"Wh- What are you talking about?!" Sakura shook her head in disbelief. "When I listened to the bug I rigged in the boys' room on the trip, I heard Yahiro moan your name! He was moaning it! Like, breathy sex sound moaning it!"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"I… I mean, what are you talking about?" Sakura giggled nervously, eyes clearing again. "I'm sure he wants you just as much as you want him."

"No. He doesn't."

And Akira suddenly understood. "He… Did he say he didn't want you because… because of…?"

Megumi chewed on her lower lip. Akira was as intelligent as she was beautiful. She was also very, very furious.

"That jerk!" she clenched her fist. "Asking you out, and then treating you like used goods! I oughta-!"

"But Yahiro wouldn't do that!" Hikari interrupted. "I mean, he asked you out, right Megumi? So he must really love you deep down somewhere!"

Megumi looked down, twiddling her fingers.

"Right?" Hikari pressed.

"R… Right," Megumi said softly. There was an uncomfortable silence between the four girls, until Sakura sneakily asked, "So… when you said wanted him, what exactly did you do to him?"

"Sakura!"

"What?" Sakura held her hands up defensively. "I just want to make sure our Megumi-chan has the right material when she goes through her first encounter, that's all!"

"…materials?"

"Oh! I get it!" Hikari nodded. "Like candles!"

"Candles?!"

"Yeah!" Hikari nodded affirmatively. "I heard that the first time needs candles and flower petals and music, and that's how a baby is born."

Well… I guess Kei's been trying… although I'm not sure how he's going to end up. She's as innocent as Megumi.

"You know what else helps with it?" Sakura teased. "Chocolate!"

"Really?!" the two girls squealed. Akira rolled her eyes.

"Stop it, Sakura… now I'm going to feel weird," she said through a mouthful of the sweet confection. Their boy talk postponed, the four girls began to dig into the sweet treat. As they ate, however, Megumi didn't notice Sakura giving Megumi a shrewd glance, the wheels in her head turning.

"Megumi-chan?"

Megumi sleepily looked up to see a still awake Sakura. Hikari and Akira had already dozed off, their breathing quiet and in sync.

"You don't need to answer out loud," Sakura said softly. "Just nod yes or no."

Megumi nodded once, her head feeling heavy.

"Did Yahiro ask you out… just so he could get rid of his fangirls?"

Sakura waited fearfully… until Megumi's head came down in an affirmative nod. With that, Megumi happily acknowledged her task done, and rolled over to sleep, leaving the Ushikubo heiress with a flaring temper, and a fist ready for her best friend when she saw him the next day.