Chapter One: Uploaded November 13th, 2007. Chapter Two: Uploaded December 4th, 2007.

AUGH!

I really can't apologize enough for this delay. I planned for this chapter to have been completed and uploaded weeks ago. Part of it is that I am writing this story on my spare at school, so that gives me about 45 minutes a day, five days a week. Another part of it is that I have been busy with a couple of side-projects. A final part of it is that I've just been plain lazy. I'm so sorry, I'd hoped to have at least three or four chapters written and posted by now! I hope that you haven't all given up on the story ever being updated again...

But hopefully this chapter will make up for the long delay!

Chi turned her head away from Hideki's magazines and looked at the window; it was just starting to get dark outside. A quick glance at the clock showed that it was 9:15.

"Hideki will be home soon," she said aloud. A miniature persocom dressed in a pink and red outfit with a long red cap sprang from a nearby counter to Chi's shoulder.

"Will you ever calm down and stop leaping around, Sumomo?" a second miniature persocom asked from the dresser.

"Never!" Sumomo boasted proudly. "This is the way I was programmed, Kotoko; it's fun to jump around!"

"Nothing's ever normal around here," Kotoko sighed.

"Chi, Hideki is coming," Chi said suddenly, oblivious to the usual argument being played out. She clutched the magazines in her arms to her chest and moved towards the door. Sumomo bounced expectantly on Chi's shoulder as the handle jiggled, and even Kotoko dignified herself enough to stand up in welcome.

"Welcome home, Hideki," all three chorused as the door opened. Hideki, his head downcast, mumbled an inaudible response as he trudged past them. He dropped his bag carelessly on the floor and collapsed onto his sheets. His chest shook violently and his eyes were red-rimmed and sore.

"Chi?" Chi asked as she knelt beside him.

"I… I got thrown out of college today," he said, raising himself to his knees but speaking more to himself than to Chi. "There was a really important exam we wrote a couple of days ago, and I scored really low. Too low. They kicked me out today, and said that I had no chance of being readmitted. I've been so stressed about the exam recently that it's even affected my work at My Pleasure.

"First I took off a whole week to study for the exam, which was completely pointless in the end, and since I got back I've done nothing but make mistakes. I made one too many tonight, and the boss fired me." He sighed. "I really wish that Yumi's dad hadn't sold the bar. If he was still in charge, I'd never have been fired…"

"Fired," Chi repeated. "Is this a good thing?" Hideki, Sumomo, and Kotoko all fell over. "Chi?" she asked in confusion.

"Being fired isn't good, Chi," Hideki tried to explain. "It means that you can never work at that place again and earn money."

"Hideki needs money?" Chi asked, her eyes straying to the envelope containing her latest pay on the table.

"Well, yes," Hideki admitted. "But I'm sure I can find a new job soon," he added hastily as he saw Chi's hand begin to reach towards the table. "It's really nothing you need to worry about, Chi."

"Hideki will be okay?" Chi asked.

"I'm sure I will be," he replied, forcing a taut smile on his face. He sighed and looked around the room.

"Sumomo, can you come with me? I'm going out for a little bit."

"Aie!" Sumomo agreed, running over to Hideki.

"Where is Hideki going?" Chi asked.

"I'm going to see if there's anywhere nearby that's hiring," he said, putting on his jacket. "I'll be back soon."

"Take care of yourself," Chi said as Hideki left the apartment, Sumomo in his pocket. Kotoko sighed in relief when the door closed.

"She's finally gone; maybe now I can get my sense of normality back," she muttered.

"Chi?" Chi asked, overhearing the laptop.

"I said that you're worried about Hideki, aren't you?" Kotoko lied.

"Chi does not like to see Hideki like this. Chi is very worried about Hideki. What will happen if Hideki runs out of money?" she asked. Kotoko sighed, but didn't answer the question.

"I'm sure that he'll be alright," she said comfortingly.

Hideki sighed and slumped to the park bench in despair. He'd combed the entire area around his apartment, but no place that he'd been to was hiring.

"I guess I can look around again tomorrow for the day jobs, but I might as well face it. I-"

"Telephone!" Sumomo shouted suddenly, springing out of his pocket and landing on his knees where she began to spin dizzyingly. "Telephone, telephone! Only six more rings until I-"

"Alright, alright, answer it," Hideki sighed, combing one hand through his hair in exasperation.

"Aie!" Sumomo agreed, switching over to her voice-chat mode.

"Motosuwa?" a familiar voice asked.

"Hey, Shinbo," Hideki answered dully.

"Anything new happening?"

"Not really," Hideki replied. "You?"

"Not a whole lot, but listen. Takako's going to see her folks in the country soon, so I was wondering if you wanted to come over and hang for a couple of days. I've already invited Kokubunji too."

"Yeah, sure, I guess," Hideki said without much enthusiasm. Shinbo paused for a moment.

"Is something wrong? You're sounding kinda down," he observed. Hideki sighed.

"Well, apart from getting kicked out of college and being fired, no, everything's fine," he answered.

"What?" Shinbo exclaimed.

"Yeah. Listen, thanks for calling but I'm kind of busy right now. I'll call you back, okay?"

"Motosuwa, wait," Shinbo protested. Sumomo clicked and then looked up at Hideki.

"The call has been disconnected!" she said proudly. "Would you like to make another?"

"What?" Hideki asked distractedly. "No, not right now…"

"Telephone!" Sumomo shouted. "You have another call! Would you like me to con-"

"Voicemail," Hideki said.

"Aie!" she agreed, her eyes flashing momentarily. "Recording comple- Telephone! Telephone! Would you like to-"

"Just take it on voicemail again," Hideki sighed.

"Aie! Teleph-"

Hideki groaned and buried his head in his arms. "Alright, alright, I'll answer!"

"Aie!" Sumomo said, her eyes flashing again.

"What is it Shinbo?" he groused.

"Mr. Motosuwa?" a hesitant voice asked. He bolted upright, cheeks reddening at his mistake.

"M-Ms. Hibiya!" he gasped. "I'm sorry, what-"

"Something terrible has happened here," she interrupted. "I need you to come back as soon as possible."

"What?" he began, but she interrupted again.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have time to explain. Please hurry." She hung up the phone with a click and Hideki was left staring at Sumomo as she disconnected from the telephone service.

"Call complete!" she announced.

"Come on Sumomo," Hideki said, picking her up and dropping her in his pocket as he began to run.

"Aie!" she agreed. Hideki ignored her and kept running, his eyes glued on the apartment in the distance.

Please, don't let it be something bad about Chi, he prayed.

Again, I'm really sorry about all the time it took to get this chapter up. I promise to try and get up the next chapter as soon as possible! Please review!