Title: Let’s Return (Part 3)
Pairing: SoxMaoxJun
Rating: PG
Warning(s): …none?
Note:.
Gahhh it’s so short and cliche!
Last part!
Requester: The wonderful Aiba-wifey, Ace!!

——

Mao stood up when she noticed Sho coming towards her. Sho’s eyes were bright and there was a slightly confident smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

            “Sho-kun, I’m so sorry I-” Mao stumbled through her words, eyes flicking from his face to the floor and back.

            “I’m sorry, Inoue-san,” Sho said, cutting her off and bowing deeply. “I’m sorry for yesterday; teasing you. And I’m sorry for running out on our lunch.”

            “No, I’m sorry for inviting Jun-kun along. I was just…” Sho stood up straight and watched as a slight blush crept across Mao’s cheeks.

            He grinned fully and grabbed her by the hand. “I know. Come one, let’s go do something.” He pulled her out of the café. If Jun was still there, neither of them noticed.

            “Go? Go where?” Mao asked, voice high. Sho looked back at the pink cheeked, bright eyed woman behind him and felt his own face grow a little warm. His hand tightened nervously around hers and he turned away, raising his shoulders in a shrug.

            “It… it’s a surprise,” he said, though uncertain. He wanted to keep leading her so he could have a reason to hold on to her hand. He searched his brain for places to go, still walking forward and remembered and nearby park.

            “Ok…” Sho heard Mao whisper from behind him. She squeezed his hand, causing a ripple of excitement and nervousness to course through his body. He quickened his pace, unable to think of anything but the slender and tiny hand that grasped his so tightly. He wanted to run his fingers along her knuckles, to feel the slightness of them, but held back. He was afraid to see how she would react to that action.

            Once they reached the park, Sho let go of Mao’s hand quickly and shoved his hands into his pockets.

            “Oh! This park!” Mao said, clapping her hands together in excitement. “It’s so beautiful!” Sho looked around with her, and it was. They were at the edge of the park, which was outlined by benches. Sakura trees that were in full, pink blossom hung over them, petals drifting to the ground when the wind blew past. In the center of the park was a large fountain. Water flew up from the spouts and fell back to dance on the surface of the water below, creating a beautiful, tinkling noise.

            When Sho looked back to Mao, he saw she was looking at him. Their gazes snatched on one another and Sho felt a nervous ping in his heart. The clam mood that had been with them just a moment before was now replaced with one full of something tight. But it wasn’t unpleasant, just hard to stand in without words.

            “Sho-kun?” Mao asked hesitantly. Sho liked the way she said his name. It sounded much better to him than ‘Chiisai nii-san’. He motioned for her to continue, standing up straighter. “I’m really sorry about today. And at the SP. I just wanted to talk to you so badly! But when you said things hadn’t changed, I got upset. Because, to be honest, I wanted them to. When you called, I was elated, then nervous, so I asked Jun-kun to come along. I didn’t know why… so… I figured… I figured you guys were…” The scrambled flow of words stopped and the red faced Mao looked down.

            Sho swallowed any cowardice he had left, needing to comfort the disgruntled and wronged woman before him. “I wanted to be alone with you, that’s the only reason why I was so upset. When I saw you two talking so comfortably, I got jealous.” He grimaced at himself but continued, shifting from foot to foot, “I just wanted to be alone with you. And I wanted to apologize. You have changed.” She looked up at him, eyes bright and worried. He had to reassure that worried gaze. “You’ve gotten more beautiful.” On a whim, he took a step forward and cupped her cheek gently, brushing his finger along the pink, smooth skin.

            Mao put her hand over his and closed her eyes, a gentle smile forming on her lips. “Things have changed, ne?” She said, opening one, watery eye to look at him lazily. He guessed she wanted him to do something…

            “Even if it’s just a bit, yes. Even if it’s just a bit, I’ve gotten more mature.” He heard a snort of laughter before he leaned down to kiss her tenderly on the lips.