Kumiko's mind was still filled with one though 'Sawada in love with her'. She got used to that thought 'Ok! It was Sawada loving her. Right? Nothing odd about that?' But in the end 'What was Sawada to her? And what was love?'

She spaced out, everyone was having breakfast at the main area. Sawada was already at work. Only Kumiko, her grandfather, Tetsu, and Minoru were sitting at the table. "What is love?" she asked surprising everyone in the table.

"Love is ... eating all the meat and still letting me eat with you guys the next time!" Minoru explained making everyone smile.

"Idiot!" yelled Tetsu and tapped his head. "Love is letting you follow your dreams even if it means to lose everything. Like your grandfather let you be a teacher and not become the 4th leader of the Oedo clan." Tetsu said.

Kuroda-san smiled at them and faced Kumiko "Kumiko, love has many faces... It has many meanings... But in the end the only that can answer you that question is only you. No one else can give you that answer." he honestly disclosed.

None of the answers though helped her. She was trying to find an answer about falling in love. She was trying to understand her own heart. So, those replies didn't really help her. She finished with her breakfast confused. Yankumi walked towards Akado Academy troubled. She made it to the stuff office. Everyone was already talking about the Sawatari and how he managed to get his promotion.

"You seem puzzled Yamaguchi sensai?" Fujiyama-sensai asked her.

"I am.. I am still trying to find an answer about 'What is love?" clueless Yankumi asked.

Fujiyama smiled at her "Well its when you cannot sleep, eat and you think only about him!"

"You don't have to know. I don't think Yankumi would ever find a man, right?" Odagiri . waiting for her gangster mood.

But Yankumi nodded at them and went to class. Seemed that the thought of 'What is love?' was honestly troubling her.

"No way?" asked Odagiri tilting his head confused.

Yankumi opened the door and entered the 3D class. She road at the chalkboard 'What is love?' Everyone in the 3D class that was also thinking about love and going on dates spaced out thinking about it. Everyone said about some quotes they have heard from somewhere, but really they couldn't answer it.

"It's when Yankumi comes and saves us!" said Ikki.

"No no... Its when she trusts us!" said Makoto.

"It's all the above!" agreed Junpei.

Reita smiled at them "You sound clueless like Yankumi. I think she means another kind of love!"

"No! You didn't help at all guys!" Yankumi said confusingly.

"Isn't when you y, find its only x root in a function!" Reita said.

Yankumi nodded again remain daydreaming as she walked outside the class. Odagiri was waiting at her outside. He started walking with her, as Yankumi had not noticed him at all.

"Baka! It's not because you love someone... It's because you love only that one... If it's not that person... then no one else will do!" Odagiri clarified and walked away, leaving a more confused Yankumi behind.

After school, with Kumiko being still confused, she showed up at Kuma's shop. She sat down and sighed. She sighed and sat down not greeting anyone, just asking "What is love?" Those, who were at the shop looked at her with confusion. Indeed Yankumi had her clueless moments. but she never asked anything like that.

"It's when you will do anything to protect the one you love. Even bow your head down!" Kuma said looking at Ami.

"Love... It's when someone is there for you. Always ... but you have to open your heart first!" Ami added.

"When you see fireworks and butterflies .." said Natsumi that was having dinner with Yanbuki.

"It's when one.. two-three seconds and you have fallen for them ..." Yabuki voiced "But then to undone, it cannot happen even in a lifetime."

"Those two are seriously in love." said Kazama while gazing at them "Yankumi there you have a living example."

"Not helping me Kazama!" she gazed at him.

"You can love someone for many reasons! But no reason will make sense when you really love them!" Ogata added very seriously making everyone turn and look at him.

"It's when you walk through hell every day... but when you return home you smile because you saw the one you love and care. It's when you don't say the truth, not because you want to lie. But because you don't want to worry about them. It's when you can handle all the pain in the world. But you cannot see the other even crying fake." Aya said as she thought how much she had hidden from her brother. Indeed it was another kind of love. But still, she was answering what love was.

Yankumi once again nodded at them and left. She was walking slowly through the park back at the Oedo family home. Everyone had given to her so many explanations. Some made sense, some didn't. As her Grandfather said love has many faces. But what Aya said also got her attention. 'When you don't say the truth...' she thought 'as Shin did?'

"It's like when you fight with someone for clueless reasons. Like the time back then I did with Shin. I didn't see him as my student back then. I am still wondering why I acted like that. No that isn't... It's when... no... I am so confused!" Yankumi mumbled as she crashed against someone.

Although he didn't step aside, he remained in front of her trying to get her attention. After a few minutes, she noticed she had actually crashed against Sawada. She jumped taken aback yelling "Shin!"

Sawada smiled at her "Clueless Yankumi! How long were you looking for an answer?" he asked with a big smile. It was the second time, Yankumi called him Shin, which made Sawada raise his hopes.

"I can give you as many answers as you want. But none will do! It's only when Yankumi can answer it! This is a quiz that only you can define the correct answer. No one else..neither me!" he honestly told her.

Sawada placed his hands around her and softly pinned her against him to a hug. Kumiko rested her head against his chest thinking still about it. "It's when Yankumi calls me Shin! It's when Yankumi's heartbeat rises! It's when Yankumi's cheeks blush! It's when Yankumi becomes more clueless than usual!" Shin went on explaining.

He once again softly pulled her chin towards him and kissed her. Only this time the kiss was longer but still soft. Kumiko didn't push him off this time. No, it wasn't because she was surprised this time or because she was daydreaming. It was only because at that time her heart was beating really fast. Pink, purple and red fireworks started flying above her head. Butterflies any kind were ready to smash out of her belly. 'Indeed it couldn't be anyone! It only could be one! Shin!' she realized and pushed against him making the kiss being longer and deeper.

That night Shin got his answer, although neither Kumiko or Shin spoke. They spend all night leaning across a Sakura Tree and watching the big moon. Although it already fell, that night's sky was open filled with starts. The night was silent, but before dawn came two voices were whispering...

"I love you!"

((continuing Chapter 15 ... ))