Plots And Line-art

'Oh my gosh, Taiga, not only is your mother going to freak but you still have an entire roomful of guests awaiting your return. Are you sure you'd be fine looking - like this?'

Ami gestured at Taiga who looked down consciously and her cheeks immediately flushed fuchsia. Her last layer of white robe had became translucent in the water and her inner wear was clearly outlined. Ryuuji instinctively covered his wife in a protective stance and glared at a helpless looking Kitamura who looked away frantically.

'Come on kids, get out of there and put this on Taiga.'

Minori handed Ryuuji one of the robes Taiga had previously discarded and they carefully packed the bride in layers of robes so she would neither been seen in this state nor catch a cold. Ryuuji was soon decked in his black robe and shivered in the chilly cold.

'Seriously I wouldn't say I'm the least surprise to find chibi-chan behaving so impulsively, but even Takasu?'

Even Sumire took the chance to mock the inappropriate couple while standing next to a somewhat reserved looking Kitamura who was trying to overcome the glare from his usually gentle best friend.

Taiga was grinning ear to ear when she looked up at Ryuuji, and Ryuuji smiled back despite his tendency to shudder in the cold every now and then.

'Well, we can't help it since this place -'

'This is where it all began.'

That awkward name calling deal in a japanese love story...

Taiga's small hands plucked up the heavy cluster of cloth that made up her white, wedding kimono as she ran down the hall in her petite wooden sandals. Ryuuji who was in a similarly heavy black kimono with golden embroidery ran after her with great effort, his mind racing through a million worries. There were simply too many reasons that came to mind as he tried to pin-point Taiga's outrage, and his heart crunched painfully beneath his rib cage every time he recalled Taiga's assumption that he would leave her for someone else. How could that ever be possible?!

Chihaya chuckled at the memory, 'Oh, you looked like such an idiot back then! You were boasting about how much pocket money you were given during the New Year that you didn't even notice me standing there and tripped!'

Taichi put his hands on his hips insolently, 'And you still dare to laugh at me after all these years? I had a shoe in my mouth after I fell, it's a good thing my shoes are being washed regularly!'

Chihaya shrugged pretending to be unconcerned, 'Yeah, that was the most ungraceful fall. We weren't even friends yet at that time, but you looked so much like you were going to cry that I just had to help you up.'

Taichi smiled at the thought, 'you sure did, and we became friends ever since.'

Actually, I'm sorry for missing out the link to the fanfiction, here it is~

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9104067/1/Our-places-the-after-years

'What if the reason why Arata rejected me years ago was because he is indeed in love with Taichi after all?!' The thundering revelation resounded throughout the café and the sound of crashing glass can be heard from the kitchen. Nishida looked at Arata awkwardly, and felt empathy for the poor boy who had heard Chihaya's impossible deduction in such an unclear situation from another room.

'I'd go and find out from them what is going on but would you be alright clearing up the broken glass by yourself, Arata?' Nishida asked Arata tentatively as he slowly approached the door, extremely worried that any sudden movement would trigger Arata to behave irrationally.

'Just, STAY – AWAY – FROM – ME! Stop trying to save me, or jumping in randomly like a knight in shining armor because you have made it perfectly clear to me that you're not! Okay?'

Kou was about to break his silence when Futaba tore away and ran into the classroom, leaving Kou once again dumbstruck and frustrated.

Minutes later, Kou re-entered the café with a gloomy expression. Even their friends sensed the tension between them and observed them from a distance. A few girls who visited the café flirted relentlessly with an expressionless Kou while Futaba watched all these with a deadpan look. In the meantime, Kou served tables like a zombie-maid.

Futaba's not going easy with Kou's bad choice of words this time and she is confronting it as the strong girl she is. Would Kou find a way back to change her mind?

Kou (Ao Haru Ride) - withhold Yano (Bokura ga Ita) - entangled Taichi (Chihayafuru) - devoted Arata (Chihayafuru) - focused Kurosaki (Dengeki Daisy) - protective Kazuma (Faster than a Kiss) - guardian Domyouji (Hana Yori Dango) - stubborn Vivi (Hana to Akuma) - denial Miyamura (Horimiya) - hidden Tomoe (Kamisama Hajimemashita) - belonging Kazehaya (Kimi ni Todoke) - change Yanagi (Last Game) - determined Kyouya (Ookami Shoujo) - deceptive Ren (Strobe Edge) - empathetic Tamaki (Ouran) - child-like Haru (Tonari no Kaibutsu) - impulsive Ryuuji (Toradora) - caring Kira (Kyou no Kira Kun) - cherishing

But that was all there is to it, Arata's entire life had revolved around Karuta and to understand him was as simple as understanding the art of playing Karuta. Karuta had become both his hobby and career, had become the love of his life and takes up more of his time than anything else. And Chihaya, who shared the same dream, understood him more than anyone else could have. And yet, there were missing pieces between this bond they shared and this is why Arata had always found Taichi's exclamation ridiculous.