...AND THE DESPERATE SEARCH BEGINS

Niou had long forgotten about the incident in the library and he was only reminded when he saw the victim. He watched as Minami walked in the class, her left foot with plaster to protect her bones as they heal. She was being supported by a crutch as she carried her bag with her other hand. Niou suddenly felt kind of guilty and walked over to her.

"you need help?" he asked

Chika stared at him in a confused way but answered nonetheless "no, it's okay, I'm fine."

"are you angry at me?" Niou said as Chika continued to walk towards her desk near the window.

"why would I be?" Chika asked, although having a small clue on what he's talking

"it's… partly my fault, I think"

Chika smiled amusedly thinking how much Hiroshi influenced the trickster. "it's was an accident, there's no reason to be angry"

That was all she said as she settled down on her seat, putting the crutch by the window and taking out a book as they waited for the teacher to arrive. Niou was still bugged to how lightly the girl took it. Niou thought of her as a person who's very serious in her studies and would kill people if they interrupted her. Niou was the reason she was sent to the hospital for a week, meaning; he intruded in her studies. He was expecting her to at least glare at him for what happened. Niou headed to his seat which was in front of Chika's and sighed. He pulled his chair and sat down, facing Chika.

"puri~"

"yes, Niou-san?" Chika asked, raising her head for a while to glance at him

"are you sure you're not angry at me?"

Chika stopped herself from rolling her eyes and answered properly. She can only roll her eyes in front of Hiroshi since the student body have categorized her as the uptight and prim and proper one. It might be strange to follow what others expect of you, but it sure is easier that way.

"yes I'm sure" was her simple answer and it bugged Niou. Normally, any other girl would scream at him or some would even blush like crazy and ask something in return.

"why not?"

Chika sighed and closed her book to face Niou properly "would you prefer it if I just got angry with you?"

Niou smirked "depends, are you sexy when you're angry?"

It was getting harder to stop herself from rolling her eyes form Niou's antics "whether I am or I am not depends on the person looking"

Niou snorted "man, you honor students always have smart-ass answers don't you?"

Chika chose not to answer that – possibly to contradict his statement – and just opened her book once again to read.

"you're always reading, day in and day out, I never saw you without a book. What's so interesting in that anyway?" Niou continued to bug her.

"Niou-san, you're not going to let me read quietly today, are you?"

"nope, so what are you reading?"

Chika sighed once more and closed the book, putting it back in her bag, ready to just answer all of Niou's questions.

"The book is called 'to kill a mockingbird' by Harper Lee. I assume you heard of the book"

Niou heard of the book alright, Yukimura mentioned it. It's about… well, he doesn't really know what it's about but he knew it was a famous book. There was even a movie on it.

"What's it about?" he asked

"Something tells me you're not really interested"

"Depends, if the story is about a sadistic boy trying to kill a mockingbird then I'm very much interested"

"It's not; it's about a boy's observation of his neighbor who happens to be a hermit"

"How boring… who'd want to watch a hermit? What do you have for lunch?" he asked randomly

"Food"

Niou smirked, somewhat enjoying talking to Chika "where do you eat lunch?"

"in school"

"Who's with you?"

"no one"

"Where do you live?"

"In a house"

"Why aren't you answering properly?"

"I believe I did answer your questions properly, it's you who failed to be specific"

Niou sighed in surrender "do you know that that's exactly the reason why you don't have a boyfriend? You're so serious and rigid; loosen up once in a while"

"I don't want a boyfriend, especially if he can't accept me for being so rigid"

"Strange, normally, girls without a boyfriend would say I don't need one"

"That might be because they want one but can't say it due to their pride"

"but do you need one?"

"by saying I don't want one; I think I already told you that I don't needone"

"wants and needs are different" Niou reasoned

"okay, then do you think I need one?" Chika challenged

Niou just smirked and did not answer. Oh she definitely needed one, Niou thought. She was too rigid in Niou's eyes that he just knew a boyfriend would loosen her up. The teacher came in cutting their conversation. Niou faced front and wondered. Yagyuu told him he had to make it up to Chika somehow and he didn't know what to do for the girl. This time, he just might have an idea.

…

During lunch, the tennis club was on their usual practice. After their loss at the kantou finals, Yukimura made it sure that they would not lose to seigaku or any other schools during the nationals. Now, the tennis club had practice early in the morning, during lunch after they ate and after school until the school closes. None of them were complaining since they were all determined to get revenge on seigaku for letting them experience loss.

"ne, Yagyuu…" Niou started as they played against each other "what types of girls do you like?"

Yagyuu didn't think much about the question and just answered, "pure-hearted girls"

Niou snorted "what kind of answer is that? Pure hearted? What era are you living in?"

Yagyuu just sighed and hit the ball that was heading towards him

"how long have you known Minami?" Niou continued to ask

Yagyuu raised an eyebrow at the question but answered nonetheless "we've known each other ever since we were five"

"five? Wow, that's a very long time. Do you like her?"

Yagyuu furrowed his brows this time and said, "yes, but not the way you're thinking. We are like siblings to each other"

Niou rolled his eyes "yeah, whatever, if you're her boyfriend she'd be more serious anyway"

"two games to one, change court" the umpire announced

"Niou-kun, are you interested in Chika?"

Niou laughed like Yagyuu told a very funny joke "don't be stupid, I just want her to stop being serious, it's unsightly"

"I think we have very different views on what unsightly is" Yagyuu muttered, walking to the other side of the court.

…

When lunch was over, Niou came back to the classroom and faced Chika once more. This time he was just staring.

"Niou-kun, if you're not going to say anything, please face front. The teacher might come soon" Chika said, not even raising her head to look at Niou

"do you like giving gifts to guys?" Niou asked

"no"

"are you girly? Or do you dress girly outside of school"

Niou didn't understand why but Chika paused before answering and smiled meaningfully.

"yes"

"mhm" Niou nodded as if checking a mental note "are you cheerful?"

This made Chika chuckle "I suppose that's up to you to answer, am I?"

"mhm… I guess not" this made Chika smile again

"do you prefer guys older than you or younger than you?"

Chika closed her book again "as long as the age gap isn't that big, but I prefer if it's someone older or of the same age."

"okay… are you charming?"

"again, that depends on the people observing me"

"do you like foreigners? Like, oh I don't know, Brazilians?"

Chika smiled again in a very amused way "I don't dislike them, there is no reason for me to dislike them"

"mhm… would you like a very strict guy? Preferably one who shouts tarundoru all the time?"

"no" came Chika's quick answer

Niou laughed "yeah, me too… do you like guys in caps?"

"doesn't really matter to me" Chika shrugged

"are you healthy?"

"I think so"

"do you like feminine guys or do you prefer manly guys?"

"manly guys"

"do you like guys who are detail oriented or do you prefer a laid back one?"

"laid back"

"would you prefer a guy with a good sense of humor or a guy who thinks he has a good sense of humor?"

Chika chuckled "I guy with a sense of humor would be nice to talk to"

"Do you like guys who follow rules or ones who don't?"

Chika sighed, not knowing how to answer that "I suppose it doesn't matter as long as it doesn't affect me badly"

"mhm" Niou seemed to think about Chika's answers really carefully "so you like manly guys who are laid back. You prefer guys with the same age as you, you like guys with a sense of humor and you don't care if they break rules… hey wait a second, that's me!"

Chika rolled her eyes again "if you're trying to find me a boyfriend, I said I don't want one"

"yeah, but you asked me if you needed one"

"that doesn't mean I'm asking you to find me one"

"but you still need one"

"I don't think I do"

"oh, trust me, you do"

Chika just knew it was an insult but she chose to ignore it for the sake of not being in trouble. She did not want her injury to get worse by getting too worked up anyway.

"ah but I'm very sorry Minami, I know I've very desirable and I'm really hot but we can't" Niou said in fake sincerity making the students near them turn their heads. Chika just knew this would start a rumor "you're pretty and smart and all, but it won't work out between us"

Chika had to laugh at this. This guy has a lot of nerve.

"well, that is sad" Chika said, rolling her eyes. "but I understand that you're focusing on tennis right now"

Niou just smirked. He didn't expect the girl to play along. He didn't mind when their classmates started murmuring. Oh yeah, the start of a rumor.