The following day, Ayano had woken up during the afternoon.

Said female opened her eyes, and made a move to get up. But she felt that she was restricted in doing so.

With a sigh, she looked under the covers and saw someone. Souma had his face buried on her stomach, with his arms around her and his legs tangled with hers.

It would have been maybe sweet if only Ayano did not have any problems in her life. But, unfortunately, she has.

Not moving her body, Ayano looks around her room. She sees that the tray she prepared last night was on the night stand, so she concludes that Souma had brought it here. She spots the letter she wrote, and frowns.

Souma, take the pills and eat. Sleep again so that your body will heal. We really need to talk later. HA.

They really need to talk. They have to straighten out this relationship of theirs. They need to work it out if they still believe that they can, and if they still love each other.

Minutes had gone by, and Souma finally made some sort of signal that Ayano took as a sign that he was waking up.

".. Souma, wake up," she gently pets his head.

He hums in response, and Ayano rolls her eyes. She pulled almost all of his hair to grab his attention, and she knew she accomplished it when Souma released a groan.

"Alright.. I'm awake," Souma lifts his head, fixing his position so that he could face his girlfriend properly. "So what is it? I read your message this morning.."

It was now or never.

"Are you really serious about this relationship, Souma?" The question took his off guard.

He stares at her, baffled. "Yes, I'm completely serious."

".. Why does it seem like it's not?" She frowns, closing her eyes for a moment. She needs to tell him, all of her concerns.

Souma looks at her eyes, forming an answer in his head. He needed to properly answer her this time. He needed to show that his words were true.

"You're busy, I'm busy.."

"But that's besides the point. I feel like it isn't working out, Souma," as Ayano says this, she bit her lip. She felt like crying, but held it back for now.

Souma shook his head in response. "That's not true."

"You've been drinking. We haven't texted lately, much less call. Is there something you're not telling me, Souma?" This time, she seriously faces him head on while searching his eyes for answers. 

"I.." Souma began, searching in his mind and heart for the answer. He knew, but he couldn't just say it. But when he sees her face, he just knew he had to tell her. "To be honest, I feel like it isn't working out either, Aya."

There was his answer. The honest answer that she wasn't actually ready to hear in person no matter how much she told herself to be prepared.

"But it doesn't mean that it's the end, Aya. I've been thinking about it, and I don't think I can be away from you, knowing that you aren't mine," his words had reached her, he knew. And he was serious about this.

"I love you, too. Which means we have to set some rules now that we've established all this," Ayano makes a decision quickly.

"Don't think that this is like work--"

"It's not. We just really need it," Ayano pushes her idea with determination. "Okay.. So, no more drinking. Or at least, don't drink every night. Sakaki's rice juice might kill you if you consume much."

Souma laughs at that. It was so like her to be this concerned yet straightforward.

"I understand if we can't reply instantly, so we should always say if we won't be able to reply for awhile."

Ah. This, he understood.

"Third, you have to be completely honest in this relationship."

Okay. He kind of understands that. He knows that trust is important, but he doesn't know why she's saying this now. "What do you mean by being honest? I've always been honest," he tells her.

Ayano sighs with a sad smile. "Last night, it seems like you were being a bit too close to Megumi while you were drunk. I don't blame you, but I just thought of--.."

"You were jealous?" Surprised, Souma cuts her off with a question. He has every right to be. It was a rare case for her to be protective of him.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she says, "No."

Souma doesn't believe in it. He leans closer to her to kiss her forehead. "Sure, you aren't jealous."

"But I really am not," Ayano continues to say to him, becoming quite flustered.

"Alright, alright. I'll be careful to not be too drunk to not be too close to Tadokoro," he cheekily grins as he says this. 

Ayano pouts, slightly pulling away from him. But Souma had pulled her back into his arms so that he would be able to bury his face into her hair that had that familiar smell of her lemon scented shampoo, and her favorite lemongrass tea drink.

"Alright. I'm sorry," Souma apologizes with a sigh. "Was that all you wanted to tell me?" His question brings back memories of the day before, and Ayano pauses.

".. There's more. But it can wait," she says in content, which is true. She's finally cleared things up with Souma, she'll enjoy the happiness for now before she tells him the saddening news about her mother.

Souma chuckles, kissing the crown of her head. He's finally got her in his arms again. His problems for the past few weeks are now gone and he has that sense of trust and responsibility again. 

"I'll wait."