"Okay, we can do this. I'm sure we can. We can get along for fifteen minutes to brainstorm for an idea for the Cancer Fundraiser. We can do this!"

"Sure we can," Nao muttered in a sarcastic tone. Yuki shot him a look.

"Not with that attitude, we can't! We can argue some other time! Right now, we need to start coming up with ideas! Today's the deadline!" Yuki told the group.

"You know," Kakeru piped up, "I have season passes to an awesome water park-"

Yuki frowned. "No more distractions!"

"Aw, Princess Yuki is in a bad mood! Did you get up on the wrong side of your canopy bed?"

Bang.

"Now, does anyone have any suggestions?" Yuki asked, stepping up to the white board that Kimi had gotten for them.

"I liked your idea for the walk," Nao answered. "It's simple and anyone can do it!"

"Boring!" Kakeru sang, rubbing his head from Yuki's hit. "I still like my idea about the dates. We can auction them off and make mega cash for this!" He smiled thoughtfully into the distance.

Kimi nodded, her curls bobbing up and down. "Kimi agrees! This is the best idea! We can make so much money for this! We'll auction a date with me for the boys and a date with Yuki for the girls!"

Machi frowned. For some reason, she didn't like this idea. It was for a good cause, but all those fan club girls didn't know the real Yuki and didn't deserve to go on a date with him. She knew her logic was…well…illogical but she still felt that way. She felt her cheeks beginning to burn as she looked up, addressing the student council. "I think that the walk is the best idea."

"Of course you do," Kakeru muttered, an amused smirk on his face.

Machi felt her cheeks turning even darker. "And what's that supposed to mean?" she snapped, turning into her more irritable form.

He shrugged. "Hm…what do I mean, Machi?"

"Let's compromise," Nao interrupted. "How about we do both fundraisers and get twice the money?"
"Kimi agrees! Yuki said Kimi could wear short shorts, so Kimi agrees!"

Kakeru groaned. "Come on! No compromise! Don't give in to the enemy!"

"I'm the enemy?" Yuki demanded.

"What does Machi say?" Kimi asked.

Machi was still bright red and frowning. "No compromise. Your idea makes no sense and the teachers will never allow it!"
Kimi laughed. "The teachers will be joining in, probably! At least the male ones."

"Yeah, how do you think she got the white board?" Nao asked.

Machi sunk back in her chair. "You're the ones who asked." She was surprised how much she was talking today. Usually she wasn't very open about her opinions during the meetings. Today, she was adamant that the walk was the best idea, though.

Yuki sighed, looking over everyone's expressions. "I think the compromise is the best thing for us to do," he concluded, "though I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to it."

Machi looked up, shocked that he was agreeing to this. She thought he'd be more reasonable than that.

Everyone collected their books and filed out of the room. Machi hung back, stalling, hoping that Yuki might try to explain his reasoning.

"I never thought you'd agree to that," she said.

He smiled sadly at her. "I wish I hadn't, actually, but if I had insisted on my idea only, we'd be here all night arguing about it. A compromise seemed to be the only way. Besides, if it's for a good cause, I guess I can suck it up for one date."

The walk was only a week after their decision. The student population had been very supportive of it, and everyone who could make it came. Even more so, they were looking forward to the second part of the fundraiser, which would take place the next week.

They walked along the nearest bike trail, talking noisily about the upcoming auction and other school events. Machi and the student council walked towards the front of the line.

"See? I did wear my shorts!" Kimi squealed. "They're lovely, aren't they? I'm going to go show them off." She slowed down, slipping into the crowd.

Kakeru yawned. "Man, I hate exercise. It doesn't help that it's so hot out today, either. You suck, Yun-Yun! This walk was the lamest idea ever."

"Your attitude is what sucks," he retorted. "Can't you think of someone else for once?"

He fell silent, considering it. "That may be difficult," he responded with a sarcastic smile.

Nao took a sip of his water bottle. "It is little hotter than I would have liked today, though. I can actually agree with Kakeru there."

"Wow, mark your calendars! Nao agreed with Kakeru!" Yuki joked.

It was extremely hot. Machi wished she hadn't worn such thick sweatpants. Everyone else had on shorts. She was sure to start sweating and her pale face would probably turn very red. She wished Yuki weren't walking next to her to see this all about to happen!

"Hey, Yuki!" Kyo called from behind them. "Why are you walking so slow? You're falling behind!"

"You're farther back than me, idiot," Yuki shouted over his shoulder.

Kyo clenched his fanglike teeth together. "Let's see who's the idiot – I'll race you!"

In less than a second, the cousins had run off far ahead of Nao, Kakeru, and Machi.

"Kyo and Yuki never change," a high-pitched voice came from behind her. Machi turned around to see Tohru Honda walking towards her. She was an upperclassmen and a close friend of Yuki's, though Machi was unsure of just how close she was.

As she approached, Kakeru seemed to vanish into the crowd.

"You're Machi Kuragi, right?" she asked. "Yuki's told us about you! You're in student council with him! This walk was a great idea."

"Thank you," she responded, wondering why she had suddenly begun talking to her. Most people avoided her completely. Except for Yuki. "I can't take credit for it, though, Honda-senpai. The President arranged the entire thing."

Tohru seemed shocked by the way Machi had referred to him. "I'm sure he wasn't the one who came up with the idea for the auction, though?"

Nao laughed. "As if!"

"It was another member named Kimi," Machi answered robotically, wishing the girl would leave her be.

"Oh! That makes sense. Poor Yuki would never agree to something like that on his own!"

"I should hope not," Machi muttered.

"It's a walk, though, not a run," Nao scoffed. "He and his cousin are complete morons. I don't understand how they're so popular!"

"Oh, they can be very competitive," Tohru agreed, "but they're both very kind."

Machi could agree with her about Yuki, but even though she didn't know Kyo, he didn't seem too bright…or friendly. Most of Yuki's relatives were a little crazy, though.

Nao coughed, looking down at his empty water bottle. "I'm going to get some more water. Do you guys want some?"

"Thank you very much!" Tohru grinned.

Machi winced. Tohru seemed so perfect in looks and personality. If Yuki and her were close…

Once Nao was gone, Machi turned back to Tohru. "So, how long have you known Yuki?"

Tohru smiled thoughtfully. "It's been two years!" she answered. "He's a very good friend!"

Machi nodded. "You two seem very close."

Tohru seemed to catch the tone in Machi's voice. Her bright smile softened a bit. "Yes. We're good friends."

Machi felt such relief that she almost smiled back, but then confusion prevented it from coming. Why was she so curious about Yuki's love life? It wasn't any of her business.

"Hey, Tohru!"

Tohru turned around and spotted some of the friends. "It was nice talking to you, Machi!" she called as she rushed over to her friends.

Machi walked the rest of the way alone (Nao seemed to have used the water as an excuse to ditch the walk). She kept her eyes on her feet, thinking over how strange she had been acting lately and trying to connect the pieces. None of it seemed to make sense to her anymore.

An hour later, she finished the race. She wandered away from the rest of the group, looking for something to drink.

"Machi!" a voice she recognized as Kakeru's called. She spun around to see that he was standing in front of the door to the nurse's office. "Yuki tripped and twisted his ankle during the run!"

Machi gasped, rushing over to him. "Is he alright?"

"He's lying down in the nurse's office right now," he answered. "You should go in and see how he's doing."

Machi nodded, not bothering to ask why he wouldn't come in with her. She slipped past him and into the nurse's office.

It was empty other than Tohru, Kyo, and, of course, Yuki, who was sitting down on one of the beds.

"Machi!" he called as she came inside. "You came!"

"Are you alright?" she asked worriedly, rushing over to sit next to him. "What happened?"

"The moron was no match for me," Kyo answered. "He tripped and twisted his ankle."

Yuki groaned. Machi bit her tongue. Now she was sure Kyo was a jerk.

Tohru grabbed Kyo by the sleeve and dragged him outside. "Give him a break, Kyo!"

Machi looked down at her lap. She was alone with Yuki now.

"Do you now how long you're going to be in here?" she asked him.

He sighed. "Not too long, but I won't be returning to my classes today."

She looked over at him uncertainly. "If you tell me your room numbers, I can collect your work for you and bring it here after school."

Yuki grinned. "Don't be silly, Machi. I'll have someone from my classes pick them up for me. Thanks, though."

Machi turned back to her lap, feeling a little stupid. "Is there anything else I can do?"

"Would you mind duct taping Kyo's mouth? He's never going to let me live this one down."

Machi actually laughed. "No, really. I want to help. I feel bad that you got hurt." She felt her cheeks burning, but not because of the walk.

He cocked his head so he could see her face, which was hidden behind her hair. She finally turned to look at him.

"You already have," he answered. "Thanks for visiting me."

"You should be getting to class," the nurse told her, "you're late already."

Machi jumped up and slipped out of the room.

Outside, Tohru stood alone, waiting. She grinned at Machi as she shut the door behind her.

"He was in a bad mood after tripping," she told her, "mostly because Kyo kept bugging him about it. But he seemed very happy that you came." Her eyes even seemed to be smiling. "Thanks, Machi."

Machi somehow found herself smiling at Tohru. "I'm just happy he's feeling better."

The two of them walked back to the main entrance together.