ɴɪɴᴛʜ.

It was Christmas Eve when Fuyu received a message from Hokuto. He already arrived from America. She can feel her heart clenching but whenever she is looking at Sho, it eases her heart.

"Sho, I need to meet Hokuto." She confessed and he stopped for a while. Indeed, they are dating but it doesn't mean he will stop her from seeing other people.

"I'll go with you." She nodded and he placed kisses on her forehead and temples. He can feel her trembling, so he hugged her close for comfort.

He drove her back to her apartment first as she said she will give back the gifts she got from Hokuto. She only opened it once and she doesn't have any plans on opening it twice. He placed the box at the back seat and then, he drove again, going to the meeting place Hokuto gave to her.

It is already seven. Fuyu went out of the car as they arrived at the park where she and Hokuto had their first date during middle school. She saw him waiting for her. The moment Hokuto saw her, he immediately walked towards her and hugged her tight.

"Hokuto, I—" She mumbled but she didn't dare to hug him back. She can feel her tears falling. It's been three years since he left and now, he went back.

Sho clenched his fist while slowly looking away. He can't bear to see her in someone else's arms. He took a deep breath, shaking his thoughts away. Fuyu agreed to date him and for the years he knew her, she will never take her words back.

Fuyu released herself from Hokuto's hug and she smiled faintly. Hokuto tried to wipe her tears but she quickly stopped him and wiped it herself instead.

"I waited for you, Hokuto. I thought you will go back to me." She started while sobbing silently. It's been a while since she cried for him and it is feeling weird.

"I'm already back, Fuyu. I'm already back to you." He said but she shook her head. She kept on wiping her tears and she took a step backwards.

"I already changed, Hokuto. I'm not the Fuyu you know anymore. I'm not your Fuyu anymore. I'm already looking at someone else and he is making me happier. I'm really thankful to him that I met him the day after you chose to go to another country and pursue your career and dreams. I'm not Hokuto's Fuyu anymore. I'm already Sho's Fuyu." She smiled softly when she said Sho's name.

"Gomen, ne? I'm already done loving you, Hokuto. You were late. You were too late to come back. Sho is the man who makes me happier. I admit, I'm happy that you came back here but I'm much happier when I'm with Sho. I loved you, Hokuto. I loved you so much that it hurt me at the end. Thank you, Hokuto. Thank you for leaving me. When you left me, I met Sho. I'm thankful to you that you left me." She continued and Hokuto just stared at her.

He was late. He smiled faintly and nodded. He hates losing but he lost the most important person in his life. His gaze shifted when Sho went out of the car with the gift box he gave for Fuyu.

"I'm sorry, Hokuto. I can't really accept these. Though the flowers, I put it in a vase at my apartment. Thank you, Hokuto." She got the box from Sho and she gave it back to Hokuto.

"Take care of her. Don't ever leave her like the way I did to her. She is the most important to me.. until now." Hokuto said and Sho just nodded.

He should not thank him because in the first place, he worked hard to have Fuyu. He may not be the first but he wants to be the last. She smiled once again and bowed her head.

"We're still friends, desho?" Hokuto asked and she nodded before following Sho inside the car. He smiled as he watched them leave him alone there.

It only took them some minutes to go back to Sho's house. He stopped the car in front and she is just dazing. He reached for her hand and held it gently. Her mind went back to reality and she looked at him.

"Let's go back inside now." He said and she smiled softly. The two got back inside the house already and suddenly, Fuyu screamed so loud, giving him a shock.

"Nani?!" He shouted back and she just laughed softly, running towards him before jumping. He immediately caught her and she held tight on him.

"I'm Sho's koala." She said in a cute voice and he laughed while nodding his head. He left kisses on her temples and she just kept on giggling while trying to cover his lips with her palm.

"Ah, chotto. The chicken!" Their eyes widened and Fuyu immediately went down from him to run to the kitchen and see her precious chicken.

"My chicken!" She whined but when she took another look, it was still cooking. She furrowed her brows and turned her head to glare at him.

"Yamamoto Shogo! The chicken is more important than you! Remember that!" She gritted her teeth and then, she got the ladle to chase him with it.

"Hasegawa Fuyu! If you will hit me with that, you're fired!" He started running away from her, going to the living room.

"I don't care! Chicken is life!" She kept on chasing him with the ladle until she suddenly tripped. He quickly caught her but the ladle fell on the coffee table.

Their eyes widened when it gave the glass a small crack. She slowly looked at him and smiled innocently. Of course, he raised a brow.