" 'Try lightening the mood a little by making a joke.'" Junpei shut the book and looked up at Akihiko gravely. "No wonder you're screwed."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Akihiko snatched it away from him. "And you shouldn't go through other people's desks."

Junpei ignored the admonishment and kept poking around through Akihiko's stuff. "Seriously, though? You have no sense of humor. None. Nada."

"I don't need a sense of humor because I can beat you up."

"Oh yeah, I dare you to say that to the next girl you ask out." Junpei came across some of Akihiko's white bandages next. He tore one off and put it on his face roughly in the same place Akihiko had his. "What do you think? Sexy?"

Akihiko sighed and swatted the roll away from Junpei. He put it and the book on 'How to Talk to Girls' back in his drawer and shut it before Junpei could grab anything else. After that Akihiko turned to glare at him but Junpei merely smiled back beatifically. Deflated, he reached for his soda and said, "So…I don't have a sense of humor."

"Nope."

"Fine…" Akihiko finished it off and then crushed the can. "Give me an example of a good joke, then."

"Um…oh, okay. I got one." Junpei closed his eyes and took a breath to heighten the tension. Akihiko leaned forward in spite of himself. Junpei went on dramatically, "What did the leper say to the prostitute?"

"Excuse me?" Akihiko suddenly feared that this was going to be an Inappropriate Joke.

Junpei opened one eye and grinned. " 'Keep the tip.'"

"… … …Yeah, that's not the kind of joke you tell a girl, stupid."

Junpei rubbed his chin. "I always did wonder why Mitsuru-senpai Executed me after I told her that one."

Akihiko looked at him sideways. Sometimes he couldn't tell when Junpei was being serious. Then he sat up suddenly. "Oh! I do know a joke."

"Well spill it, man."

"These three guys walk into a bar."

Junpei nodded encouragingly. "And…?"

"Uh…they all say, 'Ouch.'" Akihiko looked at him hopefully.

Junpei stared at him and then said, "On second thought you can just beat me up."

Akihiko's brows knit together. "Why do you say that?"

"It'd be less painful than hearing another joke like that."

Akihiko reached over and pulled Junpei's hood up so that it came down over his hat and the fur surrounded his face. "I don't have to take that from a fucking Eskimo."

"Racist."

Akihiko stared at Junpei. He almost looked like he was trying not to sneeze, and Junpei instinctively put his arm up to shield his face. Then Akihiko looked down and, unable to hold it in any longer, burst out laughing. Junpei wasn't used to hearing Akihiko laugh and it made him start to laugh too.

After he finally wound down, Akihiko rubbed his eyes and looked back at Junpei. "Okay, so…see? There's hope. I made you laugh."

Junpei shook his head. "That doesn't count. You didn't do anything funny."

"I hate you."

"Me and all my Eskimo kind."

"Oh god…stop it."

Junpei smiled as Akihiko struggled to keep from laughing again. "You know, Senpai…if you really want to impress a girl, just do that."

"Huh?" Akihiko was busy getting his breath back. "Do what?"

"Just be like you are now."

Akihiko frowned. "That's hard, though. I mean, it's easy with you since you act like such an idiot, but it's hard with a girl."

Junpei shrugged the hood away and turned his hat around. "Obviously you should go out with me instead."

"You must be losing your touch. That wasn't funny."

Junpei leaned forward and raised his eyebrows. "It wasn't meant to be."

The shocked expression on Akihiko's face was so perfect that Junpei savored it for at least twenty seconds before he collapsed onto his side.

"Oh man…the look on your face! Ahahahahaha!"

Akihiko was embarrassed. As with any other strong emotion he didn't immediately know how to respond to, he reacted physically. Junpei had to dodge quickly. They continued to scuffle but Akihiko stopped after he realized that Junpei was probably enjoying himself. While Akihiko was considering what to do next, Junpei suddenly took the offensive.

Akihiko pushed him away violently. "Hey!"

Junpei drew a thumb across his bottom lip and chuckled. "Sorry. You must have infected me with that schoolgirl-under-the-cherry-blossoms expression you had a minute ago."

"I do not look like a schoolgirl!"

"I'm gonna call you 'Tsukiko.' That rhymes, so it should be fine, right?" This time Junpei didn't dodge fast enough.

Junpei was still rubbing his jaw painfully when Akihiko said, "Besides, Eskimos are supposed to rub noses, you idiot."

"Shit, there goes my tribal affiliation."

Akihiko turned away. "I give up."

Junpei grinned. "Well, that's something I've never heard you say. You sure you're feeling okay, Tsukiko?"

"Come a little closer." Akihiko's friendly tone of voice shouldn't have fooled Junpei, but then again he had just been slugged in the face and his brains were still a little rattled. Junpei obeyed.

Akihiko smiled and Junpei, feeling encouraged, even leaned in a little nearer. Then Akihiko reached over and ripped Junpei's bandage off.

Later that night in Tartarus, Minato wondered why part of Junpei's left eyebrow was missing.