Update 1: So I edited Chap One finally XD I fixed a few things like grammar errors and edited how Ayumi acted. I... don't think she would be as rude to him outside Nirvana, y'know? Anyway, enjoy the edits, and please feel free to point out any grammatical errors.

"Ugh, no Manja...? Seriously?" Ayumi Shinozaki groaned and shook her head. "Stupid store...Plus it's FREEZING!"

All she wore was a light red hoodie, pink shorts, and slip-on shoes... obviously this was not thought through. She stood there, shivering for a minute. 'Gosh! Nakashima loves manja, and I don't want her to think I'm a bad hostess when she sleeps over tonight!' Ayumi thought with a grimace. How on earth was she going to get some if it wasn't at the all-night place? She stood, aggrevated by her lack of luck, in an aisle surrounded by tall shelves stacked with loads of foods and snacks - all except what she needed.

"Hey! Shinozaki!" A sweet but deep voice suddenly called. She quickly whipped around in surprise, calming down when she saw Yoshiki Kishinuma walking over towards her. He was one of her friends from school, a bleach blonde ex delinquent with a bad reputation and not to mention a bad attitude! But, Ayumi had to admit, he was getting better by the day. She had only seen him smoking twice the whole year, and she'd never found him drinking. There were no attacks on the junior high kids also, and he had proved a good friend. 'Still, remain aloof.' Ayumi reminded herself. 'He might poke fun at me for not finding what I need... and I can't even see the top shelf to check.' She might've asked for his help if she were in a different mood, but right now she was agitated and cold and most certainly didn't have time for this.

He was wearing green cargo pants and a loose red shirt, with a more than hopeful look in his eyes. Ayumi practically narrowed her's. "Hi Kishinuma. Need something?" She said with a voice that acknowledged his presence in a friendly manner, but with her aggrevation not hidden. He could take it however he liked, though it wasn't him she was angry at. He rubbed the back of his neck, blushing a bit. "Well, I um, happened to see a "Saqqara Aleister" signing books in the library, and... uh, I know how you're in to that paranormal stuff... I just thought you'd want one of her signed books...? We-er um... YOU, you could get one...with me...?" He finished his long, drawn out request with a small smile. What a cute face!

Ayumi simply shook her head. "No I can't. Nakashima is visiting tonight, I'm getting ready." She replied curtly, continuing to browse. Yoshiki looked down, slightly embarrassed and his disappointed face caught Ayumi's eye. He looked so disappointed in her answer that she couldn't help but feel bad. He proved his loyalty to her at Heavenly Host, and she could tell he cared deeply for her, which was suprising since they hadn't seen much of each other beforehand. In fact, she usually only saw him during class or when Satoshi brought him along. Thereupon, she saw him in a bit of a different light than her crush's best friend and her acquaintance: she saw him as a true and loyal friend, and as one willing to help people he didn't know too well. He wasn't the 'bad boy' she'd wrongly labeled him as in her mind, which was so wrong of her and she could see her mistake now. She'd always known he could be more...

But despite his geniune friendship, despite his undeniable attempts to better their understanding of each other... Ayumi still had her doubts about his intentions, and no matter how silly she felt for allowing her own selfish illusions manipulate how she reacted to him, she simply had to stick to her gut. And her speculations weren't just her own imagination: they were also a warning from Hinoe, Ayumi's older sister. Hinoe had said that a new, true friend would betray her in the most unexplainable way, a way Ayumi wouldn't see at first. That was in one of her readings, and she told Ayumi to be wary.

...Who says that person isn't Yoshiki Kishinuma afterall?

Yoshiki's disappointment made something in her want to comfort him, he just looked so downcast. Once upon a time, Ayumi would never had thought he would give her that look. 'He truly wants to go out with me, to show me what a good friend he could be...' Ayumi thought ponderously, and then was a bit embarassed of her mind's terminology. Go out, yes, but not in a relationship way. A-a friendship way!

"...O-okay...if you're sure..." He finally said, breaking the silence. She was thoroughly surprised, his persistence was low. 'He-he isn't pushing it... he's not trying too hard to get me to go...' She thought. 'How odd...' See, usually he pushed it until she firmly demanded him to stop asking her. Now he kind of... let it slide...

"Yeah. I'm sure." She confirmed, still confused. "Hey, I gotta go Kishinuma, but tell Mochida I said 'hi', okay?"

He looked at her with those sad eyes, but quickly shook his head, and when he looked back at her, his steel gaze was back, and he responded curtly, "Fine. Bye Shinozaki." He spun around and headed for the door. Her eyebrows came together in worry, and a small frown formed on her cheeks. She didn't know why, but she got that guilty feeling in her stomach, like she should've said yes just to spare his feelings. But she had plans! She couldn't throw one friend aside for another. Ayumi was also super confused. He changed his emotion so quickly, and made himself seem unaffected by her turn-down. Had he been practicing?

All she knew was that she needed to make it up to him, since she owed him so much...

"Yoshiki!" She accidentally called, gasped and covered her mouth. He immediately turned around, looking straight into her blue eyes with his hard, steel eyes. "What?" His tone was as rigid as his unnerving gaze. It freaked her out. He had never given her such a look. 'So this is what he's like when he's mad...'

"O-oh sorry! I didn't.. uh...mean...K-Kishinuma..." She even trembled and bit her lip in frustration. He waved her off, a bit more of a soft look forming to his eyes. "It's fine, Ayumi. What is it?" His tone was a bit more sarcastic, but mostly the same. That made her feel a bit better.

"R-right. So anyway, I-I... look maybe we can hang out...together... a different time?'" Ayumi asked, wringing her hands together. Why did he have to be so confusing? She was gonna say that they could hang out because she pitied him, and the next thing she know, he's cold and harsh, and acted almost annoyed by her. Did he really want to hang out or what?! How selfish of him to assume Ayumi was just always free to hang out at anytime! Ayumi's thoughts were boiling over her head, a mix of anger, annoyance, and pity, and she could barely hear his answer, it was just a mush of sounds. She was about to ask 'What?' When he simply turned back around, and left the store. She felt terrible, confused, and embarrassed. That was the first time since Heavenly Host that Yoshiki somehow manged to attack her emotions. How did he confuse her so? She felt somehow wrecked, and her head hurt and felt fuzzy. It felt like chaos in her head, so she sat down on a bench to regain herself. As she got her brain to calm down, she mentally slapped herself.

Once again, she had over thought things, driving too many thoughts through her head. Come on Shinozaki! Snap out of it already!' Yoshiki's words slipped through her mind as she tried to keep her brain intact. "Yeah..." She whispered to herself, rubbing her temples. "Snap out of it Ayumi." She regained herself, and as she stood a tall man with brown hair, light green eyes, and charming dimples was standing awfully close to her. "Snap out of what darlin'?" He said with a sickly sweet voice. He wore a brown long coat, like the kind that reaches his knees, yet it was form-fitting to him and unbuttoned, revealing a white undershirt and black pants. Ayumi wasn't really watching close enough or cared enough to glance at his feet. 'Heh, nice outfit for a creep.' Ayumi thought humorously, but she also instantly realized he could be a danger, she smiled and shook her head. He was the stupidest predator she'd ever encountered, like had he seriously not seen what just happened? "Oh, I'm just... having guy problems. Thanks for the concern." She answered honestly, and as he nodded she smiled again (to be polite) and exited the store. Yoshiki wasn't in sight. "Phew! That was close." She remarked, comically wiped off her forehead, feeling her clammy skin. 'Ugh, I need a bath...' She thought. Her home wasn't too far but Ayumi took a cab anyway.

She checked her phone and saw it was around 5:01 P.M. Oh no... I'm late, I'm SO late! 'Naomi should already be at my house!'

Five New Messages

Mochida- hey hows it going with naomi?

Sent: 4:23P.M.

Noticing the time it sent, she quickly sent a message back.

Me- lol srry i was shopping im not actually with naomi right now... I will be though of course XD

Sent: 5:05P.M.

I then checked Naomi's message, or should I say MESSAGES.

Nakashima- im at yours were are u?

Sent: 3:23P.M.

Nakashima- Shin? hello... :(

Sent: 4:02P.M.

Nakashima- im really worried where the fuck r u? :[

Sent: 4:26P.M.

Ayumi sighed at her friends worry, although she understood, and calmly answered back.

Me- calm down nakashima i was busy shopping and got a little side tracked. Everything is okay.

Sent: 5:07P.M.

By then the cab was only a block away from Ayumi's instructions to where her house was.

Nakashima- lol okay good! I'll be waiting ^~^

Sent: 5:10P.M.

Mochida- Ah okay have fun!

Sent: 5:05P.M.

I send back to him:

Me- lol i will!

Sent: 5:12P.M.

"We're here Miss." The taxi driver's raspy voice sounded and Ayumi jumped. So soon? "Oh already? Thanks!" She paid him and grabbed her black purse, hopping out and walking to her house.

Naomi was pacing at the front, dressed in white shorts and a pink tank top, and immediately spotted her friend, and ran to her. "Shinozaki! Oh my God, I was so worried! Stop worrying me!" She said, pouting. Ayumi laughed and shook her head. "I'm so sorry! I was trying to find you some Manja, but couldn't find any... hey, I think Mother has some though!"

Naomi's eyes sparked. "Awesome!"