A/N: Thanks for the reviews, it means a lot to me and encourages me to write. You all are the best! Here's the next chapter!

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With a smile on his face, Yoh made his way over to the transfer student that seemed to be the talked of the day. Manta trotted along by his side for support and to put a good word out there for Yoh, as any good friend would. They stood a few feet away from the student and Yoh held up his hand and waved. "Hi! I'm Yoh, and this is my friend Manta." Yoh said in his happy tone. Manta also waved at the boy who smiled in return. He wasn't any taller than Yoh, probably about the same size. Can't say the same for Manta, everyone was huge to him.

The boy waved in return and smiled. "Hi, my name is Lyserg. It's a pleasure to meet you." He said. This was the first time anyone has talked to him directly and actually being nice. Not like the other day when those kids confronted him nicely and then forced him to the last floor only to hurt him. There were four of them, and then that other kid came out of nowhere, obviously a friend of theirs. He saw that kid again today at his locker. "Wait, don't I know you?" he asked, a bit of an edge to his voice that he hoped the others did not hear.

Yoh's smile never left his face as he answered. "Nah, that's my twin brother that you've met. But trust me, we are nothing alike."

Manta jumped into the conversation, doing his job of putting n a good word for Yoh. "Well, they're alike, but they have certain different traits. For one, Yoh is a nice kid who loves to sleep and likes cheeseburgers. His brother on the other hand...well...I've been a bit lost with him lately." Manta finished, looking over his shoulder to see that Hao was watching them. He quickly turned back in hopes that he didn't know they were talking about him. "A-anyways, how long have you lived here?" he asked, changing the subject to a friendlier welcome.

They were all quiet for a moment as Lyserg contemplated in his head weather these guys were really asking him to be friendly or to be cruel like the others. It did not set so well with him that his brother's friends were those that bullied him. What can he make of that? But surely enough, Lyserg began to ease up. Yoh and Manta kept warming smiles on their faces and they did not seem mean. "I've been in town for about a week now. My first day was yesterday, though it wasn't the greatest." He answered looking down.

"Well Lyserg," Yoh started, still in that happy tone, "a first day anywhere isn't good. But this is your second day and I think you're pretty cool. Come, I want to introduce you to some of my really good friends!" With that, he turned and started walking back to his group.

Manta stood there with Lyserg to assure him that it was okay and that Yoh is super friendly like that with everyone. When they arrived at the group Hao kept his eyes averted. Of course Yoh would not introduce him to the new acquaintance knowing their brief history. But one can never be too sure with Yoh. First Yoh introduced him to Ren who simply nodded a hello. Then he moved on to Anna who also nodded. Then he approached Horo who stopped and pointed. "That's the kid with the accent!" he yelled. Manta quickly tried to hush him up and tried at a cover up. But Lyserg simply laughed saying it was okay and how he was used to it. Then Yoh moved on to introduce his brother, but he was no longer there.

*~*~*~*~*

Hao lay on the gym floor while his gang sat around him. Everyone at this point was just waiting for the teacher's arrival. Talk continued of the new student and his shocking return. Hao came to think about the kid more often and now realized he didn't know his name. He'd find out from Yoh later, so that matter was taken care of. Boris continued to argue the fact that the kid was asking for it and came up with ways to get him after school. The three girls would agree and then disagree on methods. The conversation grew boring and tiresome quickly and Hao found himself drifting off into another sleep. The sound of a whistle startled everyone as the gym teacher appeared from the double doors. She went off about how sorry she was for being late due to an injured student before the lunch period. Now they were to run the track in teams rather then play the scheduled game. No matter, Hao was hoping for the track. It was outside so he would be able to catch some air while running before returning to his roof next period to sleep.

The gym teacher ordered everyone to line against the wall as she paired them off. Of course she wouldn't let them choice their own teams, then they would never run the full track and would walk and talk the full mile. "Here's the objective! You run the track with your partner; you arrive back at the starting point, check in with me for your times, and then run it again. We will repeat this all through the class. Now..." she said, then began paring people off. Of course, for her own amusement, she separated Ren and Horo knowing they will finish faster if paired with people they hate. "Usui! You're paired with Boris." She was quickly answered with complaints and refusal. "Either you run together or you take a zero!" she yelled at them.

"Ms. Nelson, I'll take a ZERO!" Horo yelled back.

Her face grew red and she pointed to the door. "RUN THE TRACK USUI!" and that was the end of the argument. The teacher always wins. But Horo didn't have to like it and he made sure she knew it. Once they were out the door she continued to pair people off. Yoh was paired off with Manta which was a relief for him because that meant he didn't have to run that fast. Ren was paired off with Matilda to his most disliking. Anna didn't have to run but was the score keeper and the list went on. "Asakura!" she yelled. "You're paired with Diethel!"

"Huh?" Yoh said, completely confused. "I thought I was paired with Manta!"

Ms. Nelson rolled her eyes and pointed. "Not you Yoh! The other Asakura!" she pointed to Hao. "Let's go! Up and run!" she said, and then paired off the last few students.

Hao vowed to murder the gym teacher as he ran alongside Lyserg in silence. She must have known the tension between them, right? Lyserg also felt uneasy as he ran the mile. Though neither spoke to one another as they completed their first lap. When they were a quarter of the way done, Hao began to slow down. Lyserg hadn't noticed at first, but then stopped and looked back at his gym partner. "What's wrong?" Lyserg asked, completely against himself to do so, but he did anyways.

Pointing back at the building Hao explained. "Once everyone finishes the first run the teacher doesn't care. It's okay now; you can slow down, so long as you keep a light jog." Hao brushed the sweat from his forehead, his bangs sticking to his skin in the heat. Rather than keep a light jog, or walk on the red track, he made his way to the middle where there was grass and lay down.

Lyserg stood there on the track, a bit puzzled. They only completed one mile and he could not finish the track without his partner or they'd both hear it from the teacher. But he did not want to spend any more time with this other male then he had to. He made his way over to where Hao lay and stood a few steps away. "Come on, I want to finish the track. Get this over and done with." He said, hands on his hips. However Hao completely ignored him. "Hey, I can't cross that finish line without you." Lyserg pressed on more.

"Sit." Hao said as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the sun.

At first Lyserg was taken back a bit, but after a quick glance around he did as he was told. If he had to admit, his lungs were stressing to get air in this heat. "Do you do this all the time?" he asked, unsure of what to say to the boy.

"Yes." Hao answered. "Even if we were to continue running it would not end our time together any sooner than laying here. We'd just work off a sweat." He explained in his calm voice. He knew very well that the kid did not trust him one bit, and he must admit that he feels a bit awkward knowing that. Hao never laid a finger on the kid. He offered to help him up when his friends were picking on him. He let him get away from their grasp. And today he offered to help him open his locker. "Did you ever open it?" he asked suddenly, opening his eyes and facing the boy. Lyserg looked up, confusion played across his eyes. Hao could not help but stare at his eyes, for they were a breathtaking green. "Your locker." He answered quickly.

"Oh...no." Lyserg answered, looking away.

"I'm Hao by the way."

"Lyserg."

They stood there in silence for a while. It was an awkward introduction. Hao couldn't help but feel bothered that Lyserg thought of him as a mean person and that he was laughing along with the crew that hurt him. He wanted to prove his innocence to the fellow classmate and move on. But how was he supposed to do that when they kid gave any moment to walk away from him. Ms. Nelson blew her whistle and everyone made their way back into the building for showers and then class. Lyserg was out of Hao's sight before he got up from the ground.

*~*~*~*~*

The last bell was heard from the roof top and Hao gathered his belongings. He met up with Yoh and the group in front of his locker and they were about to head out to eat when Yoh said he'd be back. Anna's patience was gone after five minutes and she couldn't take Ren and Horo making out against the locker anymore. Screams were heard, but Hao paid no mind as he rested against the wall opposite of everyone, his eyes shut tight as he blocked out all sound around him. Manta stood by his side to be clear Anna's anger. He spotted Yoh walking down the hall with their new friend and figured he went to invite him along for a cheeseburger. The thought made Manta smile and he motioned for everyone to get ready to leave. "Uh, Hao...are you still awake there buddy?" Manta asked, lightly pulling on Hao's sleeve.

With a yawn, he nodded and turned to his brother with a smile. "Ready yet?" He asked, but his smile quickly left when he noticed Lyserg standing with him.

Yoh gave a thumbs up and a smile. "Yeah! Let's go get some cheeseburgers with our new friend! I say we all go to Jack-in-the-box! They have the best burgers." He said, throwing an arm over his twins shoulder and leading everyone outside the building.

Manta hurried along his side. "I thought we agreed at lunch that we were going to Johnny Rockets."

"Yes Yoh, you can't keep changing it on us!" Ren yelled.

"Yeah but leave it up to you and we'd be going to a Chinese restaurant!" Horo protested.

"And if it were up to you we'd be stranded at Taco Bell, so hush up!" Ren argued back.

Yoh simply laughed. "H-hey, come on guys. Let's let our new friend pick where to go." He turned to Lyserg and gave a reassuring smile.

Lyserg looked down to hide his light blush; he wasn't so comfortable with making decisions. "Um...that Johnny place sounds good." Lyserg had never even heard of any of the places they had mentioned, maybe except for Taco Bell which was worldwide.

"Then Johnny Rocket it is!" Yoh said, leaning on his brother.

Hao said nothing the entire way.