There was only one possibility, one option. Ritsu knew that what he had been doing was childish, to say the least. This was not something he should keep doing. Though it took quite a toll on him to even get up and head to the office. Even if he didn't want to, he had to. He should. Besides, he didn't know where else to go at the time when finding her. This was the next best place, that one place where he could always find her during working hours... Or almost always. Then again, it turned out that he didn't have to all the same. Why?

Because... Well... Just when he was about to knock and open the door it had opened on its own, Ann standing right in it and staring at Ritsu in surprise, wide eyes the moment she had taken in the sight.

And yet she had asked him to come in, apparently it was 'perfect timing'. She had just asked him to come inside, even if he had to wait for a short moment because she had to deliver some documents to another office. And he did, sitting down and trying not to fall asleep while being seated on a chair. Then again, he felt a little too tense to fall asleep, a rare occurrence. He couldn't, even if he tried, and thus only sat there, being unusually stiff.

Ugh, he was so tired. His body was begging Ritsu to rest but his mind clearly refused at any given moment. He felt tense, his body unable to move. And each passing second only made it worse, his hands clutching onto his knees, tugging on his very own clothes. It was just him and yet the air was unbearable. He couldn't breathe. Or maybe he just didn't want to. He wanted to get up and run but his legs were staying there, in place. He forced them to, but they weren't moving away. He made sure they wouldn't. He was scared but then again, there was no reason not to be.

The answer was scary, anything was. Because he did not know what to expect, what to think. What if his worries were true? What if any of this would turn out true? He didn't want to face it... Oh if any of this just had not happened, then it could all go on as it always would. Just the thought of it had his stomach turned all over again. But every waiting second was more agonizing than the last... He didn't want to wait. He just wanted to get this over with! And if it was over then–

There, the door had finally opened, making Ritsu sit there, straight, almost stiff. He knew who entered, at least most likely, and it would confirm itself soon enough when seeing Ann as she walked behind her desk, sitting down. But even then, it was awfully quiet shortly after as well, none of the two were saying a word. In fact, Ritsu himself had decided to look away for some time, trying to hold it all in. He didn't want to be careless and say something out of line, not like this. He was frustrated, sure, but he couldn't just explode on Ann... Right? Even if he was trembling in his seat. It was all so unusual for him. This behavior wasn't exactly normal for him. But he wanted to just say it, let it all out. What was he supposed to do? Wasn't she going to start? This was too long of a pause, even for someone like Ann. The silence was just unbearable. He couldn't take it. He couldn't!

"R... Ritsu..." He heard her begin and yet he didn't face her. There it was, the start of it all. "Listen, about... Rei–San, that—"

"If you love that guy, just say so..." He didn't know what overcame him at this point. He just... Said it out loud, right then and there. It may as well just have shot out of his very own mouth. He didn't control it and was somewhat shocked as well for the moment. Why did he say that? Unless he really just wanted to get this over with. Yeah... It would be for the better.

But when he turned to Ann he saw it in her face. Needless to say, she was looking at him with wide eyes, visibly frozen in her seat while looking at him in disbelief, somewhat bewildered. "Wh... What?" She first said, another long break in between. And it was only even more frustrating. "N... No! I do not!"

Hearing that made him nearly want to throw a tantrum. 'I do not' she said. And yet... "Are you sure about that? You two are getting very cozy these days." He said, though just barely. He was holding it in and yet he felt his hands shaking. He grabbed his own trousers tightly, just to keep said hands in place, as tightly as he possibly could. He had to hold it in. He couldn't just yell. And yet... Yet...

She had noticed this, she would be an idiot if she didn't. She wasn't that oblivious to things, or so he had hoped at the very least. "We are... Working, just. R... Really..."

"Right, just working..." He was trying to convince himself here in the end. Yet he felt it, his voice being so close to cracking right then and there.

"H... Honest! It's not more!" She argued, defensive. It could mean one of two things in the end and one of those outcomes he didn't like but saw as more likely.

But there was nothing to add, not at that point. He only looked at her, somewhat coldly. She noticed instantly, being aware that he knew at the very least. Yeah, she had said it before and has not forgotten. So she added the following, even if it was not much. But it had said it all. "N... Not anymore... At least.

That made his gaze only worse, feeling his eyes shooting right at her. His grip tightening even further. S... So... So in the end... This was turning into the worst scenario imaginable! "So you did..." He said, just very barely holding it back. But he knew the next sentence would make him furious no matter what... He knew. He should have just made a run for it. But he wanted to hear it anyway. Or rather, he felt obligated to hear it. "Then there is a chance that—"

"No! I'd never!" Ann interrupted him yet was he convinced? The words should have put him at ease yet the fear didn't go away. 'No' didn't cut it! It just didn't cut it anymore! How was he supposed to believe that!

"Yeah right! And dating me is a coincidence now!" Ritsu snapped. He couldn't take it anymore, he finally snapped. Right then and there. He just snapped. There was no other way to put it. "You just randomly throw in that you like Anija like that! And you two are getting ever so close again!"

He didn't even give her a chance to respond, standing up in one swoop. And he continued to yell. Being this loud was uncharacteristic for him. Even he was not used to it, hearing his own voice loud and cracking like this. And yet, he was just going with it, unable to bear it otherwise. "Just say it into my face, will you!? You only like me because I'm Rei Sakuma's little brother!"

It overcame him, accusing her of the worst thing possible, for Ritsu the equivalent to a sin. It was so hard not to run. But if she felt that way she should just say it into his face, now! Then he can be over this! Anija first disappears and now takes someone from him! Fine, he can handle it! He just needs to hear it!

"Wha— No! I did not know for a while!" Was her defense, also standing up by then. "It's having nothing to do with Rei–San!"

"Then why are you—"

"Because I want to be with you, Ritsu!" This last part was unusually loud, louder than one would expect from someone like Ann. If he was a cat he would have probably jumped up the next best tree he could find at that point. It was already echoing in his own ears. And her gaze did not make it better. It honestly only added to the effect at the end of it all. Her brows furrowed and her gaze sharp but not angry, not necessarily. It was just overly serious, as if wanting to get her point across. She was staring right into his eyes, no hesitation whatsoever. It was enough to silence him on the spot, only being able to stand there now.

And Ann had taken this chance right away, getting away from behind the desk and instead walking towards Ritsu, coming face to face with him before grabbing both of his hands in her own and never breaking eye contact while speaking. "Listen for a little... Moment." She began, a bit stuttery as she was still trying to find her words. But she was pretty straight forward in the end, keeping it to a minimum. "Yes, I did like Rei–San like that. But that was. I would never. Not anymore. I do not see Rei–San as a... A... Man. Uh he is a man just— Ah, you get what I mean!"

Well... Anija was a guy, no arguments there. But Ritsu could guess what she meant by that.

"Anyway, no interest. And I'm not being with you because of 'little brother' things..." she continued, though more careful. Ann became more and more bashful as the seconds passed, becoming more hesitant... But not because she was going to cook up a lie. No, it seemed to be a little too much for her to say the next thing, but she did. Even if she was looking a little flushed because of it. "I... I love Ritsu because it's you! Ritsu is Ritsu! No one else!"

All he could do was stare for a while, taken aback, shocked even. This was beyond bashful and yet she said this with no hesitation in the end, keeping her serious face up... He couldn't help but stare right at her, all while she was tightening her grip on his hands. She squeezed them actually, careful to not hurt him as she did. He was speechless, only looking at her in the end... Staring and staring...

That was until he just couldn't hold it in anymore. It just bursted all out of him. So much overcame Ritsu at once. He managed to break free from Ann's grasp yet not to run, no. Instead he was suddenly grabbing her, pulling her closer and have her lean against him, head resting on one of her shoulders, all to hide his current expression. It was embarrassing if she saw him crying like this, even for him. Though he wasn't sad, no, the opposite. He just let it all out at once before knowing it. "I... I..." Was all he could manage to say yet went silent shortly after, just holding onto her tightly.

This was all cruel, so cruel. In its own way it was at least. Having to live with the fear, and having lived with it again just now. You never knew. And yet, hearing this all the same... It made him feel a lot of things. It was hard to grasp for him still, even after all this time. She meant it, he hoped she did. But why shouldn't she? It sounded honest. Ah it was hard to put his thoughts into words at that moment! There was just so much going on, he doesn't even remember what he was exactly thinking at that exact moment! All he was certain of was one thing at that point...

" I won't let you go... Ever! " No one shall steal her from him ever again. Not back then, not now and especially not in the future. After all, he wants to be with her too!