Slide

Takakura Takeo jangled his keys in his pockets, whistling vaguely between his teeth. Striding down the hall of his dormitory, he continued to whistle tunelessly. Halting in front of his mailbox, distinguishable from the hundreds of other mailboxes only by number, he was so distracted by his meaningless whistling that he failed to hear the footsteps come up behind him.

A hand clamped down on his shoulder. "AIII!" Takeo jumped, startled, his hair just about standing on end, pony tail frizzing.

"Takakura-san. Kawaii." said a familiar voice.

Immediately relaxing, Takeo turned, coming nearly nose to nose with Aburatsubo Ayanjou.

"Takakura-san, ohaiyo. Ogenki desu ka. [Good morning, how are you?]" Ayanjou smiled, his eyes twinkling.

"Okagesama de, genki desu, Aburatsubo-san. [Thanks to you, I'm doing well.]" Takeo grinned and impulsively hugged his friend. "I almost forgot our lunch today."

Ayanjou laughed softly. "Still forgetful, Takakura-san."

"Hai, still a scatter-brain." Takeo stepped back, still smiling. Ayanjou was looking well, as unchanging as ever. It had been nearly a year since they had seen each other. After graduating from high school, they had gone to different colleges, but still managed to keep in touch. Ayanjou was back in Tokyo for break, to visit his family and friends. "Ready to eat?"

"Hai, dozo." With a laugh, the two headed for the doors.

The cafe was small and clean, serving a good selection fo American food. Takeo and Ayanjou seated themselves on the open air porch. American pop music, piped through hidden speakers, mixed with the quiet rustling of the nearby shade trees.

Takeo eyed his sandwich (turky and tomato with mayonaise, lettuce, and cheese on white) with a great deal of gusto. He picked it up and took a huge bite, chewing happily. He glanced across the table at Ayanjou.

Ayanjou was staring at him, his own sandwich untouched.

"N...?"

"Nandemonai, Takakura-san. [Nothing.]" Ayanjou sighed and poked meditatively at his sandwich.

Takeo finished chewing his over-large mouthful. He absent-mindedly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "So how have you been, Aburatsubo-san? Your letters don't touch on things too deeply." He considered briefly. "How are your plants? Have you kept up with your magic?"

"Chotto matte kudasai, Takakura-san. One question at a time." He laughed softly. "My plants, my horticulture projects, are doing just fine. I think I've found my calling. Working with plants is very soothing to me." Ayanjou smiled. "And I've kept up with the magic...my plants like it. I have some African violets now, and the Banzai you sent me last tanjoubi is flourishing." He sighed softly, smiling at the thought of his plants, his children.

"You didn't answer my first question, though. Your letters have been very brief and factual since..." Takeo cleared his throat guiltily, his speech falling into muttered incoherencies.

"Coherent as always, Takakura-san." Ayanjou felt his smile melt into a more bitter set. "You mean since I finally brought myself to the fact that you weren't interested in the slightest, and never would be?"

Takeo winced at the memory, swallowing nervously. It had been so unexpected. They still hadn't figured out what had set him off...shortly before graduation, Ayanjou had sunk into deep depression, and cut the veins in his wrists open with a piece of broken mirror. Takeo had found him, and called for help. Ayanjou had been helped in good time, but since that point, their friendship had been very strained.

"I've been as well as can be expected." Ayanjou scratched one of his wrists, a nervous habit that he had picked up. "I've done a lot of thinking since then...and my plants have helped." He smiled genuinely. "And my Nanaka-chan, dear to my heart." Ayanjou considered, and decided not to tell Takeo that he and Nanaka would be moving in together after she graduated high school. Not even Sae knew.

Takeo nodded. Nanaka hadn't left Ayanjou's side until he had recovered totally. Now they were even closer than ever, though it was impossible to tell if anything else was going on. He relaxed, feeling the conversation moving on to more comfortable grounds. "How is Nakatomi-kun? I haven't seen her or Aikawa-kun or...erm...uhm...I haven't seen them for more than what, two years?"

Only a slight flick of his eyebrow indicated that Ayanjou had noted the stumbling omission of a name. "Two years without visiting the members of the old club, Takakura-san? How cruel. You should visit them yourself, rather than find everything out second hand from me."

"Ano..." Takeo looked ashamed.

Ayanjou allowed himself a smile. "But to continue, just to keep you up to date until you see them yourself, they are doing well. Nakatomi-kun and Sawanogushi-kun are getting ready to graduate. Sawanoguchi-kun is the president of the magic club, and Nakatomi-kun is vice president. Under theyr care, the club;s gotten as large as the manga club. They even have their own room now." Ayanjou couldn't help but notice, with a hint of bitterness, how Takeo's face lit up so obviously at the mention of Sae. At the same time, he couldn't help but smile with pride for the achievements of the club he had helped start.

"Kakkoi! We'll have to go there together some time and work some magic with them. Does your old uniform still fit?" Takeo smiled hugely and took another bite of his sandwich.

"Of course it still fits, silly." Ayanjou smiled slightly. "But it's probably better to discuss that with Nakatomi-kun and Sawanoguchi-kun, rather than just dropping in..."

Takeo took another large bite of his sandwich, nodding.

"...which is why I invited them to lunch with us."

*Plop* Takeo's sandwich fell out of his now nerveless hands. Tomato slices scattered across the table, seeking refuge from some unknown threat.

There was a crash from inside the cafe, sounding as if someone had tripped over a chair.

Ayanjou suppressed a smile, and glanced at his watch. "In fact, I believe that is them, now."

"Ano..."

Nanaka and Sae stepped into view, still dressed in their school uniforms. The two years hadn't changed them any, except providing more confidence to Sae's steps and posture.

All the confidence, however, did nothing to stop Sae from tripping over another chair.

Takeo leaped to his feet to help Sae up. The moment he touched her, he turned a bright red. As soon as Sae was securely on her feet, he backed rapidly away, muttering incoherently.

Ayanjou glanced at Nanaka, raising his eyebrow slightly. Nanaka gave a slight nod.

"Ah, Nakatomi-kun, do you have that plant you wanted me to look at?"

"Aburatsubo-senpai, gomen! Nanaka wa baka. [I'm sorry, I'm stupid] I forgot it!" Nanaka smiled slightly.

"Well, then, shale we go take a look at it?" Ayanjou stood, offering his arm to Nanaka. She smiled and took it.

"We'll be back soon, Takakura-senpai, Sae. Why don't you two have a nice chat and catch up until we get back. Ii desu ne? Ja! [Good? Bye!]" Nanaka and Ayanjou hastily left, leaving Sae and Takeo staring at eachother.

For a moment, there was complete, dramatic silence. The only sound was the eternally piped American pop music, threading its way through the now still air.

"Sawanoguchi-kun...ano..."

Down the street, Ayanjou and Nanaka stopped in front of a flower-seller's stall. Nanaka reached out and touched one fot he carnations, her fingers seeking the softness of the petals.

Ayanjou slid his arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. He breathed a soft sigh into her ear.

"Sawanoguchi-kun...eto...there...there's..."

Nanka leaned against her friend, letting him lean against her in turn. "Are you alright with this, Ayanjou?"

"I don't have much of a choice, do I, Nanaka?" He let out a soft sigh. "Not even magic can change the human heart...and it's wrong to try...because it's for the best not to."

"Hai, Takakura-senpai?" Sae's voice betrayed her nervousness.

"Ayanjou..."

He made a soft shushing sound. "Don't be sorry. Be happy for what is. All regrets and delusions do is eat you from the inside." Ayanjou sighed softly once more. "I learned that the hard way, Nanaka."

With a soft sniff, she turned and hugged him tightly. "At least we always have each other."

Ayanjou hugged Nanaka back, just as tightly. "Yes, we'll always have each other, Nanaka, my heart."

"Sawanoguchi-kun...there's...something I have to tell you. I always meant to, in high school, but I couldn't, so I need to say it now...eto..."

Nanaka looked up at Ayanjou, releasing him. "I'm better now."

He smiled. "Ii," then kissed her on the forehead, then on lightly on the lips.

"Ayanjou?"

"Hai?"

"Do you think they'll get it right, this time?"

Sae took a step forward, her confidence wavering for the first time in nearly two years.

Takeo held his ground, barely, his face growing hotter.

"Takakura-senpai...nani?"

"I don't know, Nanaka. We can just hope."

Takeo took a deep breath, squashing all doubts for a moment, gathering every bit of courage. His voice cracked. "Sawanoguchi-kun...Sae...anata wa kirei desu. [You are beautiful]" He gulped, his words coming out in a rush. "Anata ga dai suki desu! [I love you!]"

Sae caught her breath. "Takakura-senpai..."

Takeo closed his eyes, waiting for rejection, fearing and hoping.

Letting go of all her own doubts, Sae took a deep breath. "Takeo...mo dai suki desu... [I love you too]" Sae's voice was almost too soft to hear.

But it was loud enough.

"Life almost never turns out right. But when magic is involved, the rules change."