Why, oh why did he make this stupid deal?! First of all, Hisoka hated smiling, and that's all that Tsuzuki did! Second, he didn't really feel in much of a helping mood, which was all that Tsuzuki did. Thirdly, why should he feel bad for peoples' problems? He already felt them as is, he doesn't really need to know that some girl's boyfriend dumped her, or that this guy got a fuzzy sweater for his birthday from his girlfriend instead of sex. It sickened Hisoka to think that he has to feel those dumb emotions. Didn't he get enough torture from Tsuzuki on a daily basis? And that was hard enough as is.

But no, he had to be stupid and challenge Tsuzuki to a stupid "Be a Better Me" game. Hisoka felt his hand twitching whenever he noticed a piece of paperwork going unnoticed and Tsuzuki would forget to do it. Or when he didn't sign on the dotted line. Yeah, that really made Hisoka's blood boil whenever that happened.

But paperwork was the only thing that Hisoka was really good at. It was the only thing that he could really do right, and people actually appreciated him for it. It made him happy. Tsuzuki knew this, so he most definitely liked to rip apart the only thing that Hisoka loved. It's not like he liked soccer, or basketball, or football. He wasn't the most athletic person in the world. More so than Watari, but so's a rock. He also wasn't a scientist like Watari was, which was better than being athletic. He's not very kind like Tsuzuki and Tatsumi, and he just hates people!

This is why Tsuzuki always teases Hisoka about being nicer and actually opening up to people. But when he does, they always get killed or something. Something always goes wrong.

How can Tsuzuki be so forgiving? The way he's so honest with people and the gentleness and compassion and patience and- no! Hisoka's mad at him right now! But honestly, Tsuzuki understands Hisoka better than anyone, better than his own family, which isn't very hard. He's not judgmental like others, and he is very patient; he let Hisoka come out of his shell at his own pace. He didn't rush him like others normally would. He was truthfully Hisoka's very first friend, and Hisoka thanked him for that. But even friends have arguments, but they usually work them out. Hisoka just wanted Tsuzuki to see the error of his mistake. You know, apologize and go on.

But no, it had to come to this. Hisoka really hadn't wanted it to have had to come to this, but Tsuzuki was seriously starting to borderline ridiculous. How hard was it to do just a bit of paperwork?

What did Tsuzuki think Hisoka was? Some maid or slave? How did Tsuzuki think of Hisoka? Were they truly friends like Tsuzuki claimed, or just friends when it benefited the other? Maybe Hisoka was the one being unfair about all of this. Maybe he put too many expectations on the limits of their friendship, or maybe there was nothing to begin with. But whenever Tsuzuki was near Hisoka, it did make him feel safe, so at least the friendship was one-sided.

Hisoka looked to Tsuzuki, who was working on his paperwork with the best Hisoka expression he could muster. It really was against his nature to scowl, and it almost make Hisoka laugh if he wasn't thinking so much right now. Not doing your paperwork really does give you time to think about life. This could be why Tsuzuki is so passive all the time.

Was now really a great time to bring up the question of their friendship? Probably not, but Hisoka really was questionable, and it would make him feel better to know, even if the answer hurt his feelings.

"Hey, Tsuzuki," Hisoka started, completely dropping his Tsuzuki facade. Tsuzuki, however, decided not to, for he didn't even look up from his paperwork. "Not right now, Hisoka. I'm trying to do some work. We can talk at break if I have time and if it's really important."

Hisoka felt a bit hurt at this. "But-"

"I know you want to go and get something to eat, but you're going to have to wait, alright?" there was a certain coldness in his voice that was strangely familiar. Surely, he didn't act like this on a daily basis. He didn't even hear what Hisoka wanted to say before cutting him off. Tsuzuki was taking this acting thing too far, Hisoka finally came to a conclusion. If anyone would act this out of character for a simple doughnut, he really was acting pathetic. Ha, acting, a pun. Hisoka pushed that jovial and corny pun aside for the time being. Why was Tsuzuki acting so distant. It was as if he had separated himself from the world.

Hisoka didn't act like that, did he? Did he honestly separate himself from everyone else? Why would he? Hisoka racked his brain for answers as to why Tsuzuki would come to such a foolish conclusion.

"It's because you do distance yourself," Watari explained when Hisoka had come asking for advice. Of course, he was blunt about it.

"Do not," Hisoka argued.

"You're afraid to be hurt by others, therefore, you distance yourself from those that actually care about you. It really does worry Tsuzuki. He doesn't think that you're developing into a very social teenager."

He actually worries about me? And here I thought that Tsuzuki was this brainless, lazy, and just stupid guy. But he actually cares about me more than anyone else ever has. I'm...thankful...But I'm still going to win that bet! Hisoka decided, now completely over his emotional turmoil that had plagued him. Now that he knew that Tsuzuki was truly his friend, he intended to beat him, and then Tsuzuki could finally see the joy and friendship behind doing paperwork.

A.N.: 'Kay, I decided to do a chapter on Hisoka's thoughts about his and Tsuzuki's relationship, so now I'm gonna do my next one on how Tsuzuki thinks of Hisoka. Stay tuned!