A/N: Nope. Still don't own Itakiss.

A/N2: I hope readers will enjoy my sequel to Pygmalion Project. The first story was a lot easier because I had Tada-sensei's wonderfully tight plot to spin the characters around. In this adventure, both new and familiar faces will help propel the story forward.

"Goodbye, Kotoko-chan!" Mrs. Irie smothered her in a hug. "Take care of her, Onii-chan!" She patted her son's cheek before pressing a wrapped box into his hand and running for the waiting taxi.

"Whew!" Kotoko flopped down on the puffy couch in the small living area. "I thought she was never going to leave!"

"Yeah," Naoki agreed. "And she probably wouldn't have, except that Yuuki has to start school too. It would be against the 'Mother Code' to ignore half her offspring."

Kotoko snorted. "I wonder how Yuuki-kun is going to enjoy being an only child."

"As long as she doesn't miss having a daughter too much and make him wear skirts, he'll probably enjoy it just fine."

"I'd like to see her try it with him. Does he even know…?"

Naoki shuddered. "I don't think so. I really hope he never finds out."

"So," Kotoko leaned forward, "what did she give you?" She pointed at the box in his hand.

"Nosy, aren't you?" he teased before tossing it over. "Here, you can open it."

"Great! I enjoy presents!"

Naoki, preparing the coffee maker for a fresh pot, noticed that she became uncharacteristically quiet. "Kotoko?"

She silently held up a large economy-size box of condoms. "Not very subtle, is she?"

He walked over quickly and opened the box. "Let's have a look at those!"

"Naoki!" she squawked, almost climbing over the back of the couch away from him. "Right now?!"

"Calm down," he ordered. He held the strip up to the light before clicking his tongue. "Pinholes, every one." He tossed the box in the trash. "She's serious about the grandbaby to have taken the time to destroy over 200 of them."

Kotoko let out a deep breath as she plopped back down on the seat. "Again, Naoki, your mother is cray-cray."

"I agree. And it's her bad luck that I can buy my own."

"We will provide you with housing, a reduced tuition rate, plus the use of our athletic facilities during your recuperative period, Shitara-san. As long as you assist us with a few public relations and recruitment appearances, I believe everyone can be satisfied."

Shitara Hiroto replied with a small grin, "I expect that the ACL surgery will have me back to speed within the year." He patted his still-braced leg. "I won't promise to stay longer than that."

"Yes, I know that the professional contract is most tempting."

"So make sure that you don't sign me up for any advanced courses." He winked at the female counselor. "I'm not really the academic type, if you get my drift."

As he maneuvered himself out of the building with a cane, he thought, "Plus, lots of friendly female soccer fans will certainly make it bearable, even amusing."

"Sugureta Sekai University." Matsumoto Yuuko looked around the campus on the hill above Osaka Bay. Lovely enough, but not where she thought she would be attending college. Well, she squared her shoulders, as long as Irie Naoki was here, that was good enough for her!