[FINAL]He Loves me, He Loves me Not?

“What did you do…”

Minato asks Sayori as he watches Sakura’s body disappear amongst the crowd. A multitude of different emotions are all surging throughout his body at this point, the most prevalent being anger. An anger that he hasn’t allowed himself to feel since the passing of his parents. He clenches his fist, the image of Sakura’s sorrowful gaze lingering in his mind.

“M-Minato, I’m sorry.” Sayori sheepishly grabs hold of Minato by the arm, attempting to gain his attention, only for him to quickly yank himself free.

Through gritted teeth, he asks. “How long…” Refusing to even turn to face her.

“What do you mean?”

Finally turning to face her, she’s stunned to see the tears streaming down Minato’s face. For once, he was at his most vulnerable, and is unable to hide his true feelings, even if it means risking hurting those he cares for.

“How long have you been planning this?!”

He screams out loud enough to garner the attention from fellow festival goers. Among a group of three is a familiar female student.

“Huh, isn’t that that Minato kid from Class A?”

One of them asks, However, Satsuki couldn’t respond. All she could do was stand there silently watching, an expression of disbelief plastered across her face.

“I thought I wanted this… I thought I wanted you, but is this what you’ve been planning this whole time?!”

“No, Minato, it’s not like that, I swear!” She tries to speak, but he cuts her off immediately.

“Then what the hell is it like, Sayori?! Please explain that to me! You had a chance to be with me long ago, but you chose Ryo instead! I was in love with you, and for months, the fact that you didn’t feel the same way haunted me! You have no right to just force yourself onto me now that I’ve finally moved on!”

Moved on, Moved on, Moved on.

Those two words echo throughout the area. Each time Sayori hears it, her heart sinks more and more. It’s true, she isn’t the naive person she appears to be on the outside. She knows full well that Sakura and Minato have feelings for each other, but she desperately wants to be the one to occupy Minato’s heart instead.

“You’re right! I’m in the wrong here, but that doesn’t make my words any less real! I really am in love with you Minato, why can’t you just see that?! I want to be the only girl that you care about! So please don’t let someone you’ve known for less than a year come between what we could be!”

Though tears begin to well up in her eyes, Minato doesn’t stop to comfort her. Despite her behavior, this is still the girl that he’s grown to love over the years, and a part of him is pained seeing her like this. Especially considering that he knows her well enough to know that she isn’t being completely truthful.

“I see…”

Realizing that there’s no other way to handle the situation, he begins to walk away.

“I see that loving me has made you forget how to love yourself. So I think it’s best if we part ways. Take care, Sayori.”

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Having caught a glimpse of Minato leaving early, Kenta and Shin decide to follow behind him to make sure that their friend made it home safely. Despite walking multiple city blocks, the only one who looks tired is Shin, who now has the luxury of sitting atop Kenta’s wide muscle-bound shoulders. The further that the group walks, the less fireworks are ignited. Which is good, considering celebrating is the last thing on Minato’s mind. The only thought running through his mind is How am I going to explain this to Sakura… Is it even right to tell her how I feel after all this?

“Jesus, man, I would have never pictured you of all people to go off on Sayori like that. Is everything alright?”

Shin states, attempting to break the silence.

Minato pauses for a second to recollect himself before answering. “Yeah, I think it is. I just need to hurry and get to the shop. I’m sure Sakura’s waiting so that she can give me an earful-”

Though the sky had been filled with the loud explosions of fireworks all night, this explosion was different. “What the hell was that!” Kenta cries out, looking over his shoulder. Minato’s heart quickly sinks when he realizes that it came in the direction of the store.

Before he can take so much as a step forward, a familiar plant crawls into view.

I-is that Nectar?! Wait… why are his leaves singed?!

Minato breaks free from the trance, and runs over to the plant, gently scooping what’s left of its rhizome and its stalk with his hands.

“What happened?!” He demands.

“Heh… is that you, kid? I can’t exactly see in this…lighting…”

“Don’t tell me you went back to your old ways again! If Sakura’s in danger, I’ll end you myself-”

Before he can finish that comment, the plant cuts him off.

“She is… but it’s not by my hands. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do her in since y’all were stupid enough to give me a second chance, but I didn’t. Admittedly, I’ve grown fond of you both. Her for providing me a new outlook on life, and you…for never giving up on a poor sapling like me. So please kid…you have to go save her.”

Aiming its last remaining head in the direction of the store, Nectar slumps over. The magic used to give him sentience, seemingly dissipating.

A group of civilians gather around the Tanaka family flower shop, helpless as they watch the flames tear apart the very infrastructure. Though one person is on the phone with the fire department, they’re disappointed to learn that due to the festival, the response time will be fifteen minutes. A small child wearing a kitsune mask he won from the festival attempts to run inside, pleading with his parents

“Mommy, daddy! The nice lady in there, if I don’t save her, who will!”

All anyone can really do is stand around and watch, with the exception of those who decide to record such an event.

Minato is different though. Upon seeing the store in flames, his immediate thought doesn’t fall on the loss of his responsibilities, but rather the potential loss of Sakura. He also panics when he remembers Granny Haru, but he recalls that she had left earlier that day because she had a plan to enjoy the fireworks together with Doctor Iwata. That means Sakura is the only person in the store right now.

The store that's currently being devoured by a ravenous blaze.

No, I can’t lose you too…

Memories of the times that he’s spent with her surge through his mind. He remembers how she first started as a home intruder, but over the past couple months, she has become so much more. So, while Kenta and Shin are rendered speechless by such a sight, Minato bravely rushes in.

“Sakura! Just hold on okay! I’m coming!”

He screams out, as he’s immediately greeted by the rubble and glass shards that now encompass the store. The smoke rapidly begins to fill his lungs, the heat that he’s feeling from the flames being so close to him makes it so much worse, yet he still pushes through, continuing to toss away debris until he finally spots her. Underneath a loose ceiling tile is the unconscious body of Sakura Chiba.

“No no no no no!”

Grabbing hold of the now empty cloak underneath her, Minato wraps her in it, and uses the cloth to cover her nose and mouth to hopefully prevent more smoke from entering her nasal passages. Powered by the adrenaline and fear surging through his body alone, he grabs hold of her, and rushes back outside.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Not even the sirens of the approaching firetrucks could pierce through the silence that now encompasses the block. As Minato carries the girl out of the store, all anyone can do is watch silently, fearing that the worst has already come to pass. In an attempt to pay his respects, Kenta gradually lowers his shades, tears welling up in his eyes.

Gently setting her down on the sidewalk, Minato kneels beside her. A feigned smile forms on his face as he too begins to cry.

“Sakura, why do you have to be such an idiot…Who gave you the permission to just go and die on me…?!”

“This was not how any of this was supposed to go! You were supposed to make a new life here! A better one away from your past! A life where you actually had a fighting chance to live the way you always wanted to! A life where you actually got to experience what a family truly is!”

His face glows a bright red, and he began to choke on his mucus the more he cried and pleaded for her survival.

“But that’s all gone now! And I’m sorry that I failed you! I wish that I had done more for you in the time that we’ve known each other. More to actually show you that I care! Because quite frankly! I’m in love with you, and I have been since we first met!”

His tears begin to fall upon her cheek. Little to his knowledge, they disappear just as soon as they land, as if being absorbed by her skin.

Moving his sleeve to his eyes, Minato begins to wipe the tears away from his face.

Shin and Kenta look away, unable to conceal their own sorrow. Minato sobs, lowering his head to bury his face in the nape of Sakura’s neck.

“Big sister…” The kid with the kitsune mask removes his mask, and holds his parents’ hands tightly as he watches. “Why isn’t she waking up?”

“Damn it! Why the hell does this have to happen?!” Kenta turns and punches a lamppost so hard that it actually dents.

“I’m sorry, Sakura. I’m so sorry…”

Pressing her head to his chest, Minato weeps openly. He grits his teeth, the guilt gnawing away at his chest and the regret boils like lava. He wants to throw his head back and howl in grief. He should have been faster. He shouldn’t have followed Sayori to the pier. He should have…

…paid more attention to the girl he was embracing.

So lost in his thoughts is Minato that he almost doesn’t feel the soft, smooth hand on his cheek. As tears continue to spill from his eyes, he finally senses the gentle caress. Pulling back, his eyes widened in surprise at a smiling Sakura. A sheen of moisture glimmers over her skin, formed from Minato’s now sparkling tears.

Minato holds his breath, not daring to believe what he is seeing.

“You really are a crybaby at heart huh?”

“You…” Minato wipes his eyes and sniffles, but is unable to stop the broad grin from spreading over his face. “You’re…alright?”

“Of course I am! I’m the princess of the Fleurel! Did you really think that something like a little fire would be enough to kill me?”

She takes a deep breath and tries to sit up, only to fall. Minato quickly catches her. Realizing her intent, he supports her with a hand on her back, carefully placing her back on the ground.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I said, I’m fine. Or could it be…” Sakura hesitates before she smiles mischievously. “That you’re asking how I feel about you?”

“Huh?” Minato blanches, his face turning a bright red. Sakura giggles.

“That confession of yours. Even when I was on my deathbed, I heard every last word.”

“T…that…no, I…I…I can explain, it’s not what you think-”

“I love you too.”

“No! I mean…” Minato suddenly stops spluttering, and he blinks. “Wait, what did you say just now?”

Sakura looks away shyly. “Gosh Minato, don’t you know how rude it is to make a lady repeat herself…idiot.”

“I really do need an answer. I’m only asking because it sounded like you said that you…” Minato protests, but his objections are not only drowned out by the wailing sirens, but by her answering in the form of a kiss. The firefighters have finally arrived, pulling their huge red fire engine to a stop. The two lovers continue their embrace, as the firefighters launch into action, unwinding hoses and spraying liquid foam over the flames.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

“Granny Haru is going to be pissed,” Minato moans, scratching the back of his head, as he examines the blackened ruins of the floral store. Sakura tightens her hold on his sweater, lowering her head.

“I’m sorry that this happened. It’s all my fault. You and Granny Haru gave me a place to stay…gave me a home, and I repay you by destroying everything. I…”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Both Minato and Sakura jolt when they hear the familiar voice. Granny Haru is hobbling forward, supported by an elderly, silver-haired doctor. Shigeru Iwata raises his hand and waves at Minato, but remains silent while his date rounds on them.

“We can always rebuild the store. I was thinking of renovating it, anyway. This saves me the trouble of constantly agonizing over how old the damned place looks.” Granny Haru draws a deep breath and shifts her gaze from the crumbling store to the young couple in front of her. “What’s more important is the two of you. The store…hell, even the flowers inside, they can be replaced. But if anything happens to the two of you…I don’t know what I would do.”

For a moment, the elderly woman’s voice cracks, and Minato feels a stab of guilt. He isn’t the only one hurting over the loss of his parents, after all.

Granny Haru strides over and gives the two of them a fierce hug, holding them close. Shin, Kenta and Dr. Iwata watch them from afar, their silhouettes illuminated by the flickering embers.

“Still,” Sakura insists, downcast. “It’s my fault that the store is destroyed. If it weren’t for me, that person would never have burned it down…”

“Well then…” Granny Haru draws back and gives her a huge grin. “Then you’ll just have to work your debt off until you pay it back in full. Even if it takes an entire lifetime to do it!”

Minato smirks as he places his arm around Sakura’s waist, startling her a bit at first, but she quickly adjusts, and leans in closer. A lifetime huh? Doesn’t sound like it’d be all too bad. As long as I get to spend it with you.