Crimson: Iwao
Azure: Kisaki
Scarlet: Ryo
Midnight: Keiji
Breeze: Yumeko

Note: I posted this 40 minutes after Sunday... ;-;

Chapter 3
“So…” Kisaki looked at both Ryo and Keiji. “You two snuck into Iwao’s house to read his diary?” she asked incredulously.
Ryo nervously s* his head while Keiji nodded. “We were going to kill him.”
Ryo stared at Keiji, unamused. “We were NOT going to kill him. We were just going to check up on him.”
Kisaki s* her head as the two started to bicker. Honestly, why do I even bother?
Iwao frowned. “Last time I remember, someone was holding a knife over me…” He pointedly looked at Keiji.
Before Keiji could incriminate them further, Ryo jumped in. “Iwao, we were just concerned. You’re usually so upbeat. Keiji just got sidetracked.”
Kisaki found herself agreeing. “True. Iwao, what’s going on? Is there something wrong?” She edged closer to Iwao unintentionally.
Oh god, I’m being *ed up on. Iwao sweatdropped. “There’s nothing wrong! It’s just the complications of youth!” He pulled a thumbs up (much like Lee’s) and smiled brightly.
“The complications of youth…” Kisaki muttered. Yeah, right.
“Yes. Youth.” Iwao stuttered.
“It’s a crush, isn’t it.” Keiji scowled.
“W-W-Where did you get that idea!” Iwao shuddered away.
Oh gods. Iwao actually has a crush. Everyone thought in unison.
Yumeko just so happened to be walking by at this exact moment. By coincidence (or maybe not, who knows what she’s up to).
And as expected, she jumped in at the mention of budding romance.
“Oooh~! Who’s the lucky girl?” Yumeko teased as she stroked Iwao’s arm in a way that made him want to run away.
He probably should’ve ran away before Yumeko leaned in and whispered, “I think I know who it is… wanna confirm it?”
“Nope. Not happening. Get off my arm. Now.” Iwao panicked at the strange look in Kisaki’s eyes.
Kisaki suddenly looks like a demon…
Yumeko followed his gaze to Kisaki. “Oh dear.” She leapt off of Iwap and advanced towards Kisaki. “You don’t look so good, darling. How about I take you to the hospital?”
With that, Yumeko picked Kisaki up and ran elsewhere, Kisaki protesting all the way.
Iwao was about to sigh in relief when Ryo asked, “So which one is it?”
“Huh?” Iwao replied, trying to act confused. Don’t get nervous Iwao!
“It’s got to be either Yumeko or Kisaki. There’s no other girls you hang out with or even look at.” Ryo continued matter-of-factly. “In fact, we’ve seen you stare at them in the hot springs. Don’t deny it.”
It was funny how Ryo seemed unbothered by the fact that Iwao might like his sister. It was not so funny how Keiji knew it was Kisaki and wanted to annihilate Iwao.
Liking Yumeko would just be so much easier. Oh, woe to Iwao’s life…
Why did Iwao even like Kisaki in the first place? When did his feelings for Yumeko die out completely?
---9 years ago---
It’s way too cold.
Iwao shivered outside, burying his head in his knees.
Where is Yumeko-chan? She said she’d be here.
There’s snow everywhere. Will it pile up and bury me here?
Yumeko was a very nice girl who always came to keep him company. She always gave Iwao this fluttering feeling in his chest, especially when she hugged him. Of course, Iwao wasn’t the only one affected by Yumeko this way.
But Iwao didn’t care. Yumeko liked him, and that was all that mattered. He wasn’t outcast by her.
Iwao sniffled, his bare rags barely giving him any shield against the snow. “A-am I g-g-going to die here?” His teeth chattered as he spoke. His limbs felt like frozen *s.
“No, you’re not. Get up,” A high-pitched voice complained.
Who was that?
Iwao suddenly found a blue-haired girl trying to lift Iwao off the ground. She gave good effort, but Iwao was just too big. Even if he was a bit malnourished.
“You’re gonna get in trouble if the wrong people catch you, you idiot.” And then she hmphed in this strangely cute way (Why was it cute again? The girl was literally lecturing him).
Iwao stood up shakily, trying to ease the girl’s struggle.
The girl didn’t thank him or anything after he got up. She only dragged him off to a small apartment, where he learned the girl’s name (Kisaki, which was pretty to his ears). Iwao also met this short white-haired midget who looked at Iwao in a mixture of confusion and su*ion.
None of them could cook, but Kisaki could make a simple sandwich for Iwao. The white-haired midget reluctantly d*d blankets over Iwao and pointed to a little heater.
Iwao had never felt so grateful. Even when Yumeko came to pick him up, he’d never actually get to enter her house and be warm.
Over the next couple of days, Iwao hid in Kisaki’s apartment. He wasn’t fit to go outside in the snow, so Iwao mainly wandered the apartment.
Eventually, Iwao’s presence in the apartment was discovered. The Hokage had to move him to another apartment, and his interactions with Kisaki immediately stopped.
Before Iwao had left, though, he had asked Kisaki one last question. “Kisaki, why did you come out into the snow to retrieve me?” he asked curiously. Kisaki had put her hands on her hips. “Would you? I sure wouldn’t.”
And that was that.
It was * of Iwao to think that Kisaki was the bravest girl ever. She feared imperfection to the maximum, always doing everything precisely. Iwao knew she didn’t like failure and strived never to fall to it.
He knew people always said ‘Failure doesn’t make you weak’ or ‘Failure makes you stronger’.
But Kisaki was always a special case to Iwao.
A few years later, Iwao had learned that Yumeko stayed inside during the snow storm and had forgotten to retrieve Iwao. Iwao had understood completely. I wouldn’t brave the chilling cold to go save some random person.
But secretly, selfishly, he thought that Kisaki had gone out when it was below zero.
Kisaki was his definition of a true savior.
---
*buries face in hands* who died of the cheese? I sure did...