"Hey Ryuhou! Let's go out for some ice cream!"

"Not now Scheris, I'm busy."

"But Ryuhou…" Scheris said as he walked out the door. I wonder what's got into him.

With Ryuhou

"Hi Mariko, how are you?"

"Oh Ryuhou! I'm great! Are you okay? You look tired. Are the guys at Holy pushing you too hard?"

"Huh? Oh no, I just didn't sleep very well last night, that's all."

"That's good!" Ryuhou said as he flashed her a big smile.

With Scheris

"Oh hi Mimori, is there something I can help you with?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you." I wonder where he went.

"If you're looking for Ryuhou, you just missed him." Scheris said as she revealed herself from around the corner.

"Oh, I wasn't…"

"Don't play with me Mimori. Stay away from him, he's mine. Got it?" Scheris threatened as she walked pass Mimori, bumping her shoulder on purpose.

"Oh Mimori, you should know by now that you should just give up on Ryuhou, he's Scheris' property. Everyone knows that. Why do you think he doesn't have a girlfriend yet?" Urizane said as he took a bit out of his many pieces of watermelon.

With Ryuhou

"So Ryuhou, what's new? You haven't come to visit me in a while" Mariko asked.

"Oh. Sorry about that. I was just busy with…uh, stuff that's all." Ryuhou answered without trying to tell all the details.

"What kind of stuff? Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Oh no, not that kind of stuff. You know I don't have a girlfriend. There's no time for that." Ryuhou said as he scratched his head.

"You don't have time or you just don't want one. If you didn't have time to waste, you wouldn't be visiting me."

"Oh come on, you know that I'll always have time for you Mariko, you're my best friend."

"Thanks! You sure you don't have another best friend? It's kind of hard to believe when I haven't been out of here since I was little. I'm sure you get lonely being by yourself. Maybe you should get another best friend, it might be better for you." Mariko said as she started to tear.

"Mariko, why would you say that, you know that you're my best friend and you will be forever. It's you and me, till the end." Ryuhou said as he walked over and gave her a big hug.

"Let's be real Ryuhou, you know as much as I do that I won't be getting better. I haven't left this hospital since I was 9. It's been 7 years already. If I was going to get better, it would have happened already." Mariko tried to say as she cried.

"No, you will get out of this hospital, even if it's the last thing I do! Count on it! Okay? So stop crying. Be strong!"

"I'll try. Thanks Ryuhou. You always know how to make me feel better." She said as she gave him a big smile.

"That's better. I have to go now but I'll be back soon." He replied as he gave her a kiss on the forehead, turned, gave a quick smile, and left.

"So Ryuhou, what did you do today?" Scheris said trying not to show how mad she was about him blowing her off.

"None of your business. I'm tired so don't bother me right now." He said as he headed straight for his room.

"Nice job Scheris" Urizane said as he stood in the background with his watermelons, laughing.

"SHUT UP URIZANE!" Scheris yelled as she stomped off in the opposite direction.