"Why on Earth would you even ask that?!" Kyle asked, his face aghast, "After all the things I did just to avoid her? I certainly don't have a death wish!"

"Oooo," Sayuri said with a laugh, rinsing the towel in the kitchen, "The great Kyle Smith is afraid of a little girl."

"I am not afraid!" Kyle said, rolling his eyes. He knew Sayuri was teasing him, but he still didn't find it was something to joke about.

"The last thing I would want to do is feed her fantasies. It's best to just have a clean cut," Kyle said with a sigh.

Sayuri, seeing how serious he was, replied, "Sorry, that was an inappropriate joke. But wouldn't telling her straight be the better way though?"

Kyle thought about it and frowned.

Would it be better?

Was he being a coward to just keep avoiding her, and hope that Sarah would eventually just give up?

Thinking about Randall, Kyle knew that Xing Han was right about him being a special kind of stupid when it came to things like this. Even though he had been female in his past life, he was a quiet, nerdy and timid girl who didn't have any experience in situations like this.

"I don't know," Kyle admitted, "I tried hinting before. I even told her about my ex-girlfriend and gushed about her. Told her that I'm not interested in anyone at school. Isn't that clear enough?"

"If I was to see her to tell her 'goodbye and don't think or wait for me because I'll never like you', wouldn't that still give her some sort of hope? Because, you know, I actually bothered to go see her?"

Kyle wasn't being egotistical here but the experience with Randall did worry him. He had said 'goodbye' to Randall. He had told him 'it can never be' yet, see where that got him.

True, Sarah doesn't appear to be the obsessive type but if she had carried the torch for him despite the fact that he didn't shower her with any special attention ... Kyle shuddered.

"You have a point," Sayuri said, sitting back down in the living room. Then, a slow smile spread on her face.

"You know, I could help," Sayuri began, "You do know what one of my Clan's ancestor is famous for, right?"

Kyle nodded, "Of course. You're the direct descendant of Mochizuki Chiyome, who specialises in the ninja art of espionage and assassination for women."*

"However, I couldn't trouble you with this," Kyle said, shaking his head, "I do appreciate the offer, though."

Sayuri frowned at him, "Stop being so polite. Do you want to solve this problem, or not? Going about it like you have, in the hopes that she will just forget you, is not enough."

Kyle winced.

"See, you know I'm right," Sayuri pressed on, seeing that slight reaction from Kyle.

"Take it as my 'thank you' gift of appreciation for my Ninja Assessor," Sayuri pressed on, using the custom within the ninja family, "Or are you going to reject that as well?"

Kyle couldn't say no anymore now, could he?

✿.✿.✿.✿

Sarah was on the way back to the dorm after dinner when she saw something that made her stop and rub her eyes.

The figure was across the road, and she couldn't see his face, but there was no way she would mistake that profile.

It was Kyle!

Despite the fact that her brain was telling her it was not possible since he is on Country M right now, her heart was telling her brain that it was stupid. That was Kyle. He must have come back or something.

He was standing outside a shop, leaning on the tree that lined the street and playing with his phone. With her heart beating rapidly in her chest, Sarah checked herself and made a few adjustments to be more presentable.

Putting on a smile, she started walking over, her eyes fixed on his handsome profile.

Just then, he looked up, and even from that distance, she could see him giving out a big smile. She looked towards the direction he was looking at, and she saw a petite girl walking out.

She had shoulder-length brunette hair, its soft waves cascading upon her shoulder. Her face was delicate and fresh-looking, with minimal make-up. She was wearing a simple white dress that seemed to flow around her like a gentle breeze.

Sarah's eyes went wide open at that scene and she shook her head while blinking rapidly.

She had never thought anyone could match up to Kay, but seeing that girl, Sarah realised she had been too naive. This one had a different sort of charm: the sort of childlike innocence that would make a man want to protect and pamper.

She watched with mouth open as the girl ran straight to Kyle, wrapping her arms around his waist. Kyle didn't even push her away but returned the hug and kissed her forehead, looking down on her.

Sarah saw him nodding, listening as the girl was excitedly telling him about something.

Sarah's heart felt like it got squeezed painfully.

Despite the pain that was filling her up, her eyes didn't leave the couple and her legs didn't stop walking over.

Maybe ... maybe it wasn't Kyle. Maybe ... maybe that girl is his younger cousin or something. The loving scene in front of her may not be what it seemed, and Sarah was determined to find out the truth.

As she got closer, she could finally see his face and it merely confirmed what she already knew. It really was Kyle.

Her steps quickened, and she could now see the gentle and loving expression on his face as he was busy looking and listening to the girl in his arms.

He was so engrossed in her that he hadn't even realised she was standing right there! She had reached there a minute ago and yet, the two fools were oblivious to everything.

Sarah gritted her teeth.