Author's Note: Question, question! Who's wondering what Ryou's planning? Tee hee! Guess you'll just have to figure that out for yourselves! Now, I split this chapter into two parts cuz the way this part ends... well, I just couldn't add on. And I still had more to say, so the 2nd part will be about the same length and that's when Ringo will get her speaking part while it's still chapter 3. If you remember from last chapter, I told her I would give her a speaking part in this chapter, so it still counts this way.

That's enough from me! (For now. ~grins evilly~) On with the story! And don't forget to review. They make me so happy! ^^

Chapter 3
(Part 1)

As Ichigo was lying on her bed, she thought about Mint's words. She had made very good points and was completely right. But then she thought about Ryou's words. He'd seemed so sad about it and rejected in some way. His voice had been so solemn.

~FLASHBACK~

"Go ahead and believe him," Ryou said distantly.

Ichigo looked up at him. His arms were folded over his chest and his posture showed that he was irritated. He wasn't staring at anything. Just looking straight ahead, focused on the air in front of him. "Huh? But Ryou…" Ichigo started but he cut her off.

"It's okay. Besides, innocent until proven guilty, right? Unless you catch him in the act of the things everyone's blaming him for, he's just a suspect. When someone finally decides to come clean about what's happening that's when we can judge." He let his arms fall to his sides and turned towards the stairs. "Just know, Ichigo, that if you do believe him over them, you're not betraying them. They'll forgive you."

~END FLASHBACK~

She sat up and wondered why he would say that. Sometimes, she just didn't understand him. It was funny how he could sound so wise when he was a jerk most of the time. Why couldn't he be like that more often?

Looking at the alarm clock next to her bed, she sighed got ready for bed. Then, she remembered the 'test' she agreed to do with Ryou. It started tomorrow, so she'd have to call to see when the best time for them to go out would be for him. That's when it hit her that she had a picnic date with Masaya in the afternoon.

After the incident earlier today, she didn't know if she wanted to be with Masaya right now. Or her other friends for that matter. Ryou was the only one she felt comfortable being with. Why was that?

Deciding to put off the date for another day, Ichigo reached for her phone on the end of the bed and dialed Masaya's number. He picked up halfway through the first ring and greeted her. (A/N: Needy much?)

"Hi Masaya," she answered back. "I just called to see if we can have our date another day. I don't feel like going out tomorrow."

"Do you not feel well?" He asked worriedly.

"No, it's not that. I just want to stay home," she lied. Why am I lying to him?

"Then, I'll just come over there. Your parents won't mind, will they?" He insisted. (A/N: Geez, take the hint and get a life!)

"No- Well, my dad will mind- Uh, no, I mean… I just feel like being alone. After today, I just want to be by myself and think things over."

"Okay. Yeah, I understand. Can you believe how everyone acted? They made me look like the bad guy." (A/N: Great, he's tattling on her friends for something they didn't even do. What a big baby! He sure is the spoiled brat. ~sweat drop~ Heh heh! Just read on!)

"Please, don't talk about them that way. Whether they're at fault or not, they're still my friends and I'd appreciate it if you didn't carry this on." (A/N: Yeah! You go girl! Tell him what's what! ~sweat drop~ Tee hee! Got carried away. Sorry!) "Talk to you later, Masaya." She hung up before she heard his protest and dropped her phone on the bed.

Slowly making her way to her desk, Ichigo thought more about the day's events. When she reached the desk, she sat down in the chair and took out some paper and a pencil. If she wrote down all the reasons why she should believe her friends, and then write the reasons for believing Masaya, maybe everything would become clearer.

Reason(s) for believing friends:

1.) Know more about them and been through a lot more.

2.) Have a lot of fun together.

3.) Love them to death and beyond no matter what.

So maybe they weren't the best reasons in the world, but there were two more than Masaya's list.

Reason(s) for believing Masaya:

1.) Love him and been through a lot together.

Ichigo was a little surprised about her reasons. Not only were they lame but they said something. All she needed was to know who she loved more: Masaya or her friends. Her friends meant a whole lot to her. But Masaya did too. She literally gave her life for him. (A/N: What in the world possessed her to do such a stupid, unnecessary thing?)

Maybe she would have to go with what Ryou had said. "Unless you catch him in the act of the things everyone's blaming him for, he's just a suspect." Innocent until proven guilty, huh? Then, she'll just have to play everything by ear. That's when it hit her. She was following advice given to her from Ryou.

Ryou! Out of all the people to follow advice from, it had to be him! Why in the world..? What was possessing her to do such a thing? It's Ryou for heaven's sake! Her boss- who just so happened to make a deal with her not too long ago about being friends- and she was actually listening to him for once. Was something wrong with her? Why on earth would she ever think to listen to her boss? Yup. Something was definitely wrong with her.

Meanwhile at the café, Ryou was in his room at the computer, planning ways to make Masaya look bad in front of Ichigo when she "just happened" to be there. It might take a few tries, but he would make sure Ichigo saw Masaya for who he truly was. He would make sure she knew the truth as to what had happened that afternoon.

There was a knock on his door and Keiichiro came in. "Hey, what are you doing?" He asked.

"Planning ways to make Ichigo see the truth behind today. If it doesn't work, I'll have to take extra special measures."

"And if that doesn't work?"

Ryou turned to his old friend and smirked. "I'll make her fall in love with me," he replied proudly.

Keiichiro chuckled as he folded his arms. "And how do you suppose to keep Masaya out of the picture while you're doing that?"

"Easy. I'll start tomorrow when Ichigo and I go on our date."

Keiichiro's arms fell limp to his sides in shock. "Whoa! Hold the phone… What's this about a date?" He placed his hands on his hips.

Ryou put up his hands in defense. "Her idea."

"What?!"

"Well, okay, it's not an actual date because we're going to be spending all of our free time together. Wait, that also sounds wrong. See, we made a sort of… bet, I guess you could say. She was about to quit and to keep her, I agreed to what she called a 'test' in which, for three weeks, we'd be spending every moment of her free time together and if we became friends in the end, she'll stay, but only if I give her a raise of five dollars more. If we don't become friends, she'll quit. The three weeks is her three weeks notice."

"Well… I must say… I never thought Ichigo would do something like this. But I wonder, why does she want so much to be friends with you?"

"Good question. I think she's doing this because she doesn't really want to leave, and becoming friends would be the only way she could stand being here."

"What an outstanding hypothesis!"

"Not really."

"I don't know… Sounds like you're right on the mark."

"Maybe…"

"Well, I'm taking off. See you Monday, Ryou." Keiichiro turned to go, but was stopped.

"Wait, Keiichiro. I need you to do some research for me tomorrow, seeing as I won't be here to do it."

"Sure," he smiled. "Goodbye then."

"See ya, Keiichiro." Ryou turned back around to his work when Keiichiro left.

What now? Does this mean she actually likes me enough to work here? Maybe I should ask her if I can just give her the raise and be done with it. Besides, I thought we were friends. Just because I like to tease her all the time and make her work a lot, doesn't mean I don't like her. I just want to see her more. And maybe that's being selfish, but I can't help it. As Ryou pondered over this, he was unaware of a pair of brown eyes watching him.

End of Chapter 3
(Part 1)

Gee, I wonder who the peeper is. (Tee hee! Peeper... That's such a funny word!... Awkward and weird moment! Me scawed!) Anyway, I know who it is, of course, and I ain't tellin' ya'll nothin'! Nope! Not tellin'. No, no, no, no, no! ... OKAY! I can't take it anymore! It's-

Ringo: Froggy! You can't tell them. It'll ruin the whole suspense thing you're going for.

Me: Hmm... You're right, Ringo. Thanks. I almost made a big mistake.

Ringo: You're welcome!

Me: Now, if you readers will please... REVIEW!! ^^

Ringo: ^-^