Earlier...

"You like her, don't you?"

Hanako's eyes were slits. He kept quiet, not wishing to say more.

"Awww, don't be like that, Amane!" Tsukasa chided childishly, looking up at him with a pout. "I just want to know if she's free for me to take!"

Hanako's grip on his uniform grew taut. "Why do you want her so badly?"

"I'll be honest." Tsukasa floated up, dangling in a sleazy position. "I envied your bond. I want to have something like that, too... but Sakura's too boring. Plus, she has that one lovesick courter Natsuhiko."

Tsukasa's face seemed to contort a little in distaste. He continued, "Anyway! That's besides the point. I want her because I want to be happy, like you! Why does she have so much effect on you? 'She really that special?"

Hanako wanted to retort defensively, but he didn't want to suffer from another bough of Tsukasa's teasing. He took a deep breath in.

"Love is not a thing you can simply toy around with," Hanako replied stiffly.

Tsukasa's catlike eyes flew open.
"Heavens... you don't like her..."

Hanako easened up a little.

"....you love her!"

Hanako wanted to curl into a ball and hide. "I didn't say that-"

"I DIdn'T sAY thAT!" Tsukasa repeated mockingly.

Hanako sighed, pulling away from his spot. "I won't admit anything, Tsukasa."

"Then I won't promise anything, either." Tsukasa floated up to him with a mischievous smirk.

"I won't promise I won't try to take her again... maybe with a little more force."

Hanako's voice grew shaky. "You wouldn't dare..."

"Yes I would." Tsukasa was eye-level to him now, resting his head on one hand.

"So, what's it going to be? You gonna' step up your game or not?"

Hanako stayed quiet. Tsukasa smirked. "Fine, then! I'll wait. You better make a move... or else."

Hanako's heart raced with fear. With that, Tsukasa settled on the floor again, walking to the exit of the broadcasting room and swinging open the door.

"Heya, you two!" Tsukasa called.

Hanako stood dumbfounded, staring past his brother and unto Y/N. He certainly didn't want her to get harmed... not after all she'd been through.

But could he really do something as drastic as Tsukasa told him? "Make a move"?

'What am I going to do?'

●●●

"See you, Aoi!"

"Anytime, Y/N!" The purple-haired girl shot her a bright smile before turning to walk home.

Y/N was in a nice mood today; and she couldn't be more happier without meeting Hanako. As the bell rang, signalling dismissal, she rushed to the girls' bathroom and opened the door.

As expected, he was already there. He sat by the windowsill, looking out at the view.

"Ahem," Y/N knocked the door three times, calling out teasingly. "Hanako-san, Hanako-san... you there?"

The spirit jumped in surprise, his hat tipping over. Y/N held back an amused smile.

He forced a grin, then patted the spot beside him. "Let's talk!"

Soon, Y/N was by his side. The two sat face-to-face.

"How did Tsukasa treat you?" Hanako nervously looked her over. "He didn't harm you or anything, did he?"

"I-I'm fine..." Y/N hastily recoiled before Hanako could lay a finger on her arm. She still felt uncomfortable after Tsukasa had pulled her close.

Hanako caught her discomfort. He grinned apologetically. "Sorry. Tsukasa can get a little touchy."

"Touchy indeed!" Y/N gave herself a tight hug. "Good thing you came! By the way..."

Y/N pointed at her cheek. "Why was it burning?"

"Quite simple, really!" Hanako laughed. "I gave you a charm. It'll help me protect you."

Y/N hugged her knees to her chest, overwhelmed with gratitude. "Really?"

"I owe you one, Y/N!" Hanako rested his head on one hand, a gentle smile on his face.

"What did I even do...?"

"'Made me proud." His eyes softened. "You've also been a helpful companion."

He laid his arms on her knees, then rested his head atop it. Y/N nearly jumped from the sudden contact, and how suddenly close he was to her face. She tried to fight down her embarrassment by changing the topic.

"So what if I recieve more of these charms?" Y/N asked skeptically.

"Good question." Hanako smirked, drawing closer and playfully pinning her down. "Let's find out..."

Y/N rolled off the windowsill in pure terror.

Hanako stumbled back with a start, surprised, too. He looked down at Y/N cowering with dignity on the floor.

"Can you not?" she simply objected.

Hanako blinked. There was a sort of funny feeling rising within him; he at first found Tsukasa's condition terrifying, but now he wanted to accomplish it.

"What's the matter?" He innocently tilted his head. "I think it would benefit the both of us quite nicely!"

"B-Benefit you?" Y/N stammered.

Hanako wryly smiled. "In more ways than one."

Y/N sighed, slowly unfurling from her tight-knit position. Hanako was growing a little perverted again.

She wanted to retaliate, but uppercuts never seemed to do the trick. She opted for another tactic.

Y/N stooped low, kissing his cheek.

"Th-that's a thank you..." She murmured bashfully, thinking of an excuse. "....for saving me."

No reply. Y/N slowly lifted her eyes from the floor.

Hanako was staring at her incredulously, touching his cheek in disbelief. His face burned a terrible red.

Y/N slowly descended into being flustered as well. "S-SORRY! Didn't mean t-to! J-just got to m-me and I thought I-I..."

Hanako turned away and floated a distance away from her, hands behind his back. Y/N burnt with white hot embarrassment.

"L-Let's pretend that never happened!" She babbled nervously, trying to reach out to him. "Let's t-talk about something e-else!"

Hanako, still looking fazed by the incident, nodded slowly.

Y/N cleared her throat, then got right down to it. From that day on, she decided to never make a move again.

●●●

"Well, then. How the tables have turned."

Sakura lifted her eyes from her paperwork. "What is it, Tsukasa?"

He was listening to a kakujoudai intently; even though it made no sound, Tsukasa looked like he understood it completely.

"Hanako didn't kiss her..." He said blatantly.

Sakura shifted uneasily. Was Tsukasa going to carry out a kidnapping now?

"...she kissed him." He finished slowly, looking surprised himself.

Even Sakura was taken aback. Y/N didn't look like the type of person to summon that amount of courage. She clutched her chest, secretly feeling a glow of pride.

"How bold of her." She murmured. "I'm proud."

"Ok, boomer." Tsukasa pouted, looking more envious than ever.

"'Boomer?'" Sakura blinked. "What's a 'boomer?'"

But Tsukasa had already left, going in deep conversation with the floating black wisp.