He couldn't help but stare at her now she was right in front of him. Why did he have to be so ugly compared to her? Sure, all the girls at school constantly discussed his good looks, but that was different. He was ugly, disgusting compared to her. The blue-haired girl who emitted that beautiful radiance, that brightness, that warmth.. He felt like he could die happily if she would just show him that bright smile one more time, if only he was able to stand in her light one more time.

As he took her hands into his own, he didn't say anything. The silence said enough, his eyes told her everything. To feel her hands in his own, those perfect hands, clear of any sin, unlike his own dirty hands, smudged in blood. Even if others never saw it, he did. The blood of innocent people that tainted his hands was always there in his view. Scars that would never fade away. But scars could be forgotten, and he completely forgot about them when she was near him. 'It could be her blood on your hands next time,' a voice inside his head told him. He should get away from her, he shouldn't be so selfish at to keep her near when that could mean her death. But he couldn't help himself, she was the only one that made him feel better, made him feel like a normal human, devoid of any other side.

"If loving you would be my sin," his voice was low and raspy, as if he had trouble with finding the right words and actually saying them, "I wouldn't mind to pay the price for all eternity." It isn't until that point that he looked directly into her eyes. Slowly, very slowly, they started to lean towards each other, and eventually their lips met as they finally kissed. Of course, the kiss was warm and made him feel complete, but something else happened as well. Something changed inside of him, some things shifted around and disappeared. All his bad things, all his trouble, all his sin, it all melted away under her touch, her lips, the urge to hold her close to him forever and never let go.

He didn't even notice as warm tears of sheer happiness rolled over his cheeks, as he finally, finally felt completely forgiven.

***************

The next day Naomi looked completely furious as she entered the student council room. When Mai dared to ask her why there was an empty seat, she only got snapped at. "Masato is gone. And he's never coming back."