"L-Luna..."

She pulled away and tears rolled down her face. "You disappeared for a whole night." She sniffed.

"Yeah, I'm sorry..." I said rubbing my head awkwardly.

Luna stepped aside from the door and I walked in, slumping down on the couch. Luna closed the door and sat with me.

"Is everything okay Ryo?" She asked.

"It's fine." I replied weakly. All I wanted to do at the moment was sleep.

"Did... anything happen between you and Mayu?"

I looked at Luna. She was staring at me intently with her pale violet eyes, the tears had stopped but her cheeks were still wet. I couldn't really tell what she was thinking. Her face appeared to be full of emotion but her eyes reeked of something inhumane... it was as though her face was simply a facade for a monster inside.

I shook my head slowly.

"Are you sure?" Luna persisted.

"Y-yeah." I replied.

Luna edged closer to me on the couch. "You were gone the whole night with Mayu."

"We didn't do anything..."

"Really?" Luna refused to let the subject go. Her face seemed to be closer than I had realised. Her pink lips looked soft and vulnerable. I shook my head.

"Seriously, Luna. Nothing happened."

"You know you can tell me anything Ryo."

"I-I know..."

"I would always be with you Ryo. No matter what." Luna grabbed my wrist. "I wouldn't ever leave you no matter what you do."

"O-okay Luna..." I looked down at my wrist. She was gripping on tightly.

"I-I really love you... so much..." Luna stared at me, her cheeks red. I felt her grip tighten. "More than any other person could ever love you."

"T-that's good to know."

Luna noticed me wincing and immediately released her grip on me. "S-sorry Ryo." Luna looked upset at herself. "I get carried away sometimes."

I laughed weakly. "It happens to the best of us."

Luna got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen. I stared at her back.

Should I tell her about Kaori and Daike? I couldn't predict how she would react. Luna was like a ticking time bomb. Someone that you had to treat with care at all times. I knew I definitely couldn't tell her about Mayu resting in my apartment.

"I made some food for you." Luna called from the kitchen. She placed a box on the kitchen table. "You can eat it when you want."

"That's great Luna..."

Luna walked over to me. I was lying on the couch. "Are you sleeping here?"

"Yeah." I replied, not sure if that was the right answer.

Luna frowned disappointed. "Okay... good night Ryo."

I looked at the clock. "It's morning." I said.

"Haha, that's right..." She laughed meekly. I watched as she went upstairs to the bedroom disappearing from my sight before I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

"Hey Ryo... wake up."

My eyes opened and I saw Eiji staring down at me dressed in uniform.

"Are you planning to go school or not?" He asked.

"Why are you here?" I groaned, my head fuzzy from being suddenly awoken.

"Luna had me come over from my house to wake you up."

I looked over to the clock. I had only slept for a few hours. My body was still sore but my mind was feeling a lot better from the nap. "I'm getting up now."

"Well, hurry. Luna and Akane already went ahead of us."

I got up wearily, rubbing my head. It didn't seem that Eiji knew how long I had been out for yesterday. Luna must had made up an explanation.

We were running late when we finally made it to school. Being late meant that you had to see the school principal and no one wanted to see the principal. The principle was an old man that shouted at every chance he could get.

Eiji slid open the door to our classroom and I trailed behind him. I looked around for the teacher and breathed a sigh of relief when he was nowhere in sight. Everyone was using the chance to talk to each other.

"Hey Akane, hi Luna." Eiji greeted as he sat down in the desk behind Akane. Luna was sitting besides Akane and she had a troubled look on her face. I could see jealous faces looking over at us as Eiji sat down.

"Yo..." I said looking at Luna and Akane, Luna smiled at me but my words drifted off when I caught a glimpse of the person sitting at the front of the class. Light blue hair and pale emerald eyes. It was Mayu. She smiled at me. I could see bandages wrapped around her broken leg and light bruises on her face.

Luna whispered something to Akane and Akane stood up pouting. She moved over to the seat behind Luna and next to Eiji.

"Sit with me Ryo." Luna said cheerfully.

"Ryo!" Mayu called my name. "There's a seat next to me!"

I looked between the two. My heart sunk into my chest. On one hand, I felt guilty that Mayu saved my life yesterday. On the other hand, Luna also saved me before. I thought about the dilemma for a few seconds. It didn't take me long to make a decision.

"Sorry Mayu." I apologised. "I think I'll just sit with Luna."

Mayu pouted at me.

"It's okay, Ryo." She said dejected. At least Mayu wasn't crazy like Luna was. I quickly shook that thought away from my head. What the hell was I thinking? Did I actually compare the two?

I dropped my bag off at the desk next to Luna and sat down.

The teacher walked in shortly after I sat and immediately the class went silent, turning to face the front. Oh joy, another day of learning things that we will never need to apply in real life. I looked to my side at Luna who was blushing happily that I chose to sit with her.

I looked back to the front of the class and my mind dozed off.

School ended without anything of note happening, besides the silent war between Luna and Mayu. I was dreading the moment when all their pent up frustration would soon be allowed to set loose.

I felt Mayu's eyes on my back as I walked out of the classroom with Luna by my side. Eiji and Akane were following close behind us.

"Why don't you like me?" Eiji asked Akane who looked like she was ignoring him. "Come on, give me a shot at least."

"I told you, I'm not interested." Akane breathed out, frustrated.

"Why? Is there another guy you like?"

"N-no."

"Then why not?"

"You're not my type..."

"Then who is your type?"

Akane glanced at Luna's back. "Someone smart, caring, polite and... beautiful."

"Beautiful?" Eiji repeated confused then he shook his head. "That sounds like me."

"No."

"One date?"

"No." Akane repeated.

"Please?"

"Saying please doesn't change anything."

Eiji sighed and Akane looked relieved that it seemed like Eiji was giving up but I knew Eiji better. He wasn't going to give up any time soon. I was wondering when I should tell him that Akane actually has a crush on Luna.

We reached the school gates where most students were rushing out to go home. Eiji stood at the side talking to Akane.

"Ryo!"

I heard a voice call out. I had a faint clue who it was. I turned to the voice to see Mayu coming towards me and Luna. Although one of her legs was broken, she could still walk at a decent pace albeit hobbling. The top of her collar slipped down slightly on her collarbone revealing the edge of a bandage on her shoulder. I remembered that she had taken Daike's bullet for me and I felt very guilty.

Luna took a step to Mayu, I saw her hand gripping onto the handle of her knife.

"H-hey." I grabbed her by the arm stopping her.

"If I kill her, there will be no one between me and Ryo..." Luna mumbled to herself.

Mayu noticed where Luna's hand was and she stopped at a safe distance from Luna. "Luna, you should really stop hounding Ryo to yourself."

Luna looked at Mayu bitterly. "Why can't you just leave us alone?"

Mayu was staring at Luna's hand. "Don't forget I still have the navigator, Luna."

"What are you guys talking about?" Eiji and Akane walked up staring at Mayu.

Mayu waved her hand casually. "Luna and me are just having a little chat, we're old friends."

Akane looked at Mayu jealously. "How do you know each other?"

"We... used to work together." Mayu said.

"We thought you two were long lost enemies." Eiji laughed.

"N-no way..." Mayu laughed weakly with Eiji.

"Anyways I'm Eiji and this is Akane." He gestured at Akane.

"Nice to meet you." Akane reluctantly bowed her head.

"Mayu." Mayu said, smiling brightly. She looked cute when she smiled.

"And what is your relationship with Ryo?" Eiji asked grinning.

I groaned. Eiji was another ticking time bomb. It seemed he had the ability to stir up trouble wherever he went.

Luna glared at Mayu. There was silence for a moment.

"I love Ryo." Mayu said out loud. Eiji was surprised at the sudden confession and I dropped my jaw. She hesitated. "But it's one-sided."

The tension in the air was chilling after she uttered those words. Even Eiji and Akane could feel the aura suddenly radiating from Luna. I had no idea what to do.

"I-I just remembered I had something to do." Eiji said, his eyes set on Luna. Eiji turned to me and whispered goodluck before he left in a hurry. That bastard... He caused this whole fiasco and now he tucks his tail and runs?

I looked back at Mayu, I was too afraid to look at Luna. Was Mayu actually serious? Or was she just messing with Luna? I couldn't tell. I thought Ashens weren't even supposed to be capable of emotions.

"That was all I wanted to say anyway." Mayu said. "And I really mean it."

Mayu turned to me. "You don't have to give me an answer Ryo. I just wanted you to know."

"A-alright." I replied. I didn't know how I should feel about her confession.

"Anyways, I have to get going." Mayu said, she waved bye to me and join the crowd of students leaving the school gate.

It was just Luna, Akane and me now.

"Um... sorry, Luna I have to go home now, my mum wants me home early today." Akane apologised clapping her hands together as though she was praying for a miracle. She waited for Luna to say something but she didn't. Akane quickly made her exit knowing Luna was in a bad mood. I waited for Luna to say something.

"Let's go, Ryo." Luna said quietly. Her eyes were hidden behind her hair.

"Uh... are you sure you're alright, Luna?"

Luna lifted her head up, revealing her eyes. She turned to me and smiled. "Yes, Ryo. Everything's fine."

She looked eerily calm. I felt unsure.

"Alright..." I said.

Luna grabbed my hand and dragged me with her. I didn't know where we were heading but I followed.

We ended up outside my apartment.

Luna had been quiet for the entire journey and the atmosphere made me anxious. We stopped outside the apartment, facing each other and the only noise I could hear was the ringing of insects in the background.

"Ryo." Luna broke the silence. "What do you think about Mayu?"

"W-what do you mean, Luna?" I tried to feign ignorance to give myself more time to think about my words.

"Do you think she's pretty?"

"No way." I laughed weakly. "I wouldn't let what Mayu said get to you. Mayu's probably just trying to make you upset."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. She probably doesn't mean it."

Luna frowned at me. "I don't want to ever lose you, Ryo."

I shifted uncomfortably. Something in the back of my mind tugged at me. "Luna... there's something I wanted to ask you."

Luna was looking to her side, the wind blew against her dark hair gently and she tucked the hair behind her ear. I couldn't make out the expression on her face but she looked really pretty, almost as though I was looking at a photo shoot. Her complexion was perfect and so were the rest of her features.

I coughed, feeling my cheeks go red. "Luna, why do you like me so much?"

"Huh...?" Luna turned to me. "You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

Luna shook her head, a sad expression on her face. "Forget it, Ryo. You probably don't remember."

I was confused. What was Luna talking about? Did something between the two of us before? I had thought the confession was the first time that we had seriously spoken to each other. Unless something had gone on before then, but I didn't have any recollection of what Luna was talking about. How could I forget meeting Luna?

"Can we eat dinner together?" Luna suddenly asked, breaking my thoughts.

"W-what?"

Luna's face was slightly red. She stared at me carefully. "I-I want to eat dinner with you, Ryo..."

I thought about it for a while.

"S-sure."

I didn't know if I had done something very stupid.