A/N: I apologize for making you wait this long. As everyone have experienced, things get in the way. I just started as a new graduate student last Saturday so I'm still trying to get the feel of working and studying at the same time. Between work and classes, it's difficult to include FFN in my schedule. Especially when I have only two subjects and yet the assignments that I had to do after the first class is quite a lot already and requires a lot of reading materials. If I'm reading stories instead of research materials, then maybe it would be easier haha ;)

Chapter 3

"Get some rest."

"But…"

Her protest died in her throat when he glared at her. He rarely did that to her so she was shocked into obedience.

"Fine."

The other student council members secretly watched the exchanged between the demon president and Usui. They sighed with relief when the coughing president finally listened to someone. She had been coughing all day, obviously not feeling well, but still working very hard. No one was brave enough to ask her to get some rest except for Shouichirou Yukimura, the vice-president, but he returned to his seat shivering with fear after Misaki snapped at his concern.

However, even if the other council members were relieved at Usui's success, they still wondered how he could make the demon president obey him when obviously no one had ever succeeded before. It was a puzzling thought that would keep nagging at their heads whenever Usui made the president follow his command.

-o-o-o-

"Is it just me or Usui-kun is always with Misaki?" Hanazono Sakura, one of Misaki's friends, murmured as she watched Misaki lectured Usui for sitting at her desk.

"He is always by her side," Kaga Shizuko, another friend of Misaki, commented as she, too, watched as Usui said something and Misaki started to sputter in her lecture.

"Don't they look good together?" Sakura said dreamily. Shizuko only nodded emotionlessly, still watching their friend and Usui.

One person, who had heard the conversion, nodded to no one in particular. He had been witnessed to a lot of things about the president and Usui. He had even tried before to break their bond but failed. The president and Usui might not admit it yet, but he, Soutarou Kanou, believed that they eventually would, especially now when there was tenderness that he could see not only on Usui but also on the president whenever they were together.

-o-o-o-

"I'm not hungry."

"Liar."

"What? Who are you calling liar, pervert?" Misaki snapped, her brow twitching in annoyance.

"You."

"Why, you…"

Another sound was heard, making Misaki paused and then blushed when she realized the source of the sound.

"Say ah."

"Wha…ugh…"

Words died in her throat, blocked by food when Usui took the opportunity to shove some in her mouth. She chewed the food while glaring at him. As soon as she had swallowed the food, she opened her mouth to shout at him but he was faster as he shoved another spoonful at her opened mouth.

"Misa-chan…oh…"

Satsuki, the manager of Maid-Latte, froze in her step seeing Usui fed Misaki. She grinned dazedly as she was transported into dreamland. She didn't even flinch when Honoka, another maid in the café, bumped into her in surprise.

-o-o-o-

"Did Misa-chan just blush?" One of the idiot trio asked.

"Yes, she did," the second answered.

"Misa-chan blushing is so cute," commented by the third.

With tears of happiness, the idiot trio were transported into a place where Misaki was smiling and blushing at them. The tears of happiness turned into tears of anger when Usui appeared in that same place.

"Why does he had to be there, too?" Complained by one.

"Yeah. He's already with her all the time here, so how dare him!" Added by the second.

"Yeah. We even saw them so close…" the third one added, too, then stopped mid-sentence when they heard the voice of the bane of their existence.

"Thank you, Misa-chan."

All three of them glared at the source of the voice. The glare turned dreamy once again when they saw Misaki heading their way to get their order.

-o-o-o-

"So you finally grew up a little, didn't you, weird woman?"

Misaki twitched at the weird woman comment, but otherwise maintained her cool as she smiled at Hyoudou Aoi, Satsuki's nephew who, once again clad in a really cute dress.

"What are you saying, Aoi-chan?"

"Don't say crap to me. Aren't you dating that Usui now?"

"E-eh. W-what…" Misaki stuttered, and though she fought hard, her face reddened.

"Are you?"

"Oh. I have to go out now. The others might need a hand," Misaki said, looking around except at the temperamental person in front of her. Then, she quickly left the kitchen to join the others at the dining area.

-o-o-o-

"Usui-kun is really a nice boy, isn't he?" Misaki's mother, Ayuzawa Minako, commented out of a sudden, startling Misaki.

"W-why do you say that?"

Her mother smiled, but it was her sister who answered in her monotone voice.

"One, he walks you home after work. Two, he takes care of you when you're not feeling well. Three, he gave you the necklace. Four…"

"S-suzuna!" Misaki half-screamed, half-stammered, her face crimson.

"He takes good care of our Misaki, doesn't he? And Misaki is always concerned with him, right?"

"Th-that's not true! Anyway, I'm going on ahead. I have plenty of homework to do," Misaki excused. Her mother and sister watched her stormed towards her room.

"She really can't lie, can she?"

-o-o-o-

"Again with the perverseness…" Misaki muttered as soon as she felt the warm arms that surrounded her frame.

"Huh? That's an unusual response, Pres. Did something happen?" Usui asked, his voice laced with concern. His concern grew when he heard her sigh in response. Turning her in his embrace, he gazed at her troubled eyes. He grasped her chin when she tried to turn away from his gaze.

"Tell me, Ayuzawa," he said softly.

Looking at his nose to avoid his eyes, she responded as softly, "Everyone is starting to notice, right?"

It only took him a second to understand what she was talking about.

"Yes."

"Usui…"

A quite long silence passed as Misaki debated with herself what she should do.

"Whatever is Ayuzawa's decision, it's fine with me," Usui said softly, turning her around again and then pulling her to lean on his chest.

"Aren't you tired being with me? I yell a lot, I'm violent, and I'm a coward…And I'm poor."

"But Ayuzawa is…"

"Don't say about me being cute again, idiot Usui."

He chuckled, before tightening his embrace. He dropped a kiss on her hair before he answered seriously, softly, "I will never get tired of Ayuzawa. The things that you said, yelling, violence, they are part of who you are. But I know better. Behind that violence is a kind and protective friend and daughter, a caring classmate, a wonderful person. You're not a coward. You're very strong…but I'm stronger…"

"Idiot…"

"And Ayuzawa is brave. As for the status, if the situation is reversed, wouldn't you like someone like me anymore?"

"Of course not. It's just that…"

"Then there's no reason at all to not like you. I like Ayuzawa a lot."

"You're really an idiot," she murmured, placing her hands on top of his as she leaned further into his embrace.

"But I'm your idiot," he said with a chuckle, kissing her hair once again.

Blushing, she murmured a faint "yeah" as she gripped his hands tighter.

For a while, they enjoined the silence, thrilled at the presence of each other, basking in their embrace, loving the moment.

"There's no helping it then. You should come home with me on my day-off."

"Oh? Is Ayuzawa telling me to live with her already? I didn't know you're so bold, Pres."

"Like that's going to happen, pervert," she exclaimed, accompanied by a slap to the hand that she was previously holding.

Chuckling, he caught her hand and brought it to his lips.

"So what are you trying to say then?"

Turning in his embrace, she gazed at his piercing green eyes.

"I'd like to introduce you to my Mom."

"Hmm…but Ayuzawa-san knows me already."

"Will you be serious even for just awhile, idiot Usui."

He smiled at her annoyance, then kissed her nose as he leaned his forehead on hers.

"Is this because you're worried about people noticing…"

"Yes and no. Yes, because I know that people close to us will be hurt if we keep it a secret from them for long. And no, because I don't want to burden Usui anymore."

He frowned at her response.

"But what about you? Is that what you really want? Because if that's…"

Misaki cut him off by planting an impulsive chase kiss on his lips, leaving him gaping at her. She was blushing at her boldness, but secretly rejoicing at the fact that for once, she was able to do to him what he always did to her when she was stating her case.

"It's what I want. I wouldn't have to hide anymore. At least to the people important to me. Um, I hope you don't mind if we only tell some people..."

This time, it was him that cut her words with a kiss.

"You talk too much, Ayuzawa."

-o-o-o-

"Are you alright? You've been acting strange lately," Misaki voiced out with concern, though she wasn't looking at him to hide the blush that crept on her face. She wasn't used to expressing concerns to other people, especially if that person was a male.

'A perverted male.'

The insult was tinged with fondness that she surprised even herself. Her blush intensified.

"It's…nothing…"

At Usui's hesitant answer, she turned to face him, not minding the blush. She was curious, and worried.

"Don't lie to…ah! What are you doing, pervert?" She exclaimed when he pulled her closer to his side through their entwined fingers.

"I'm trying to ease Ayuzawa's nervousness."

"Nervousness? Damn it. You're too close, idiot Usui," she complained, though she didn't pull away from him. For once, she understood his need to hug her. "There's no need for you to be nervous. I'm sure Mom will…ah…"

"It's Ayuzawa's fault. Suddenly saying that she would introduce me to her Mom as her boyfriend. I'm a little worried," he managed to say before his lips were covered by her hand even as she looked around.

"D-don't say it out loud, i-idiot."

"But we're not at the school grounds. I'm not breaking your rules here," he said, talking with her palm on his mouth. When she felt his breath on her palm, she pulled her hand, her fading blush returning to full force.

"Y-yes but…"

She stopped talking and shook her head.

'There's no use talking to this idiot about that. He would still do as he please, stupid Usui.'

"Y-you don't have to be worried, you know. Mom likes you. And Suzuna, well…you can't really tell what she thinks but I don't think she hates you or anything," she said, not looking at him. Saying those words, trying to ease his worries, her blush would be permanent in her face. Because she was avoiding his gaze, she didn't saw the surprise and tenderness that graced his handsome features.

"You're so reliable, Misa-chan."

"S-shut up. I-it's just that the Usui I know is not nervous about anything, so I…" she couldn't continue her words. Though it was true that she didn't want to see Usui acting strange, it also secretly made her happy to see his vulnerable side from time to time. He rarely showed other emotions except playfulness or lack of interest.

'And perverseness!'

-o-o-o-

"I'm home. Oh, Usui-kun, it's nice to see you again," Misaki's mom said with a smile when she saw Usui.

"Good day, Ayuzawa-san. Sorry for intruding in your house," he said politely.

"Mom! You're here. You're just in time. An alien insisted on cooking so let's eat while the food is hot," Misaki said, ignoring Usui's smirk at her comment, and blushing at her mother's surprised smile.

"Really? Misaki said that you're a good cook."

"H-hey Mom! I've never…ugh…"

Misaki lost her train of thoughts when she saw him smiling at her mother then winked at her. Blushing, she went back to the kitchen.

"Enough! Let's eat already. Suzuna!"

"Isn't she cute?" Minako asked the smiling Usui.

"Yeah."

-o-o-o-

"These are really good. Unlike Onee-chan, you can cook well, Usui-kun," Suzuna commented.

"Thank you. I'm surprise how an edible food turn into something poisonous once Ayuzawa got her hands on them."

"Ss-shut up, you…"

The laughter that filled the kitchen made Misaki blush even more.

"The one who ate them even though he knew it tasted horrible is stupid."

"But Ayuzawa made it so I would eat it."

"Because you're an idiot."

Realizing that they were giving her mother and sister a show, Misaki froze, and then mechanically shove food in her mouth to prevent herself from saying more. From the amusement that she could see from her family, not to mention from the alien, they were enjoying her embarrassment. She glared at Usui.

DIIING!

"Huh, who could it be? Are you expecting someone else, Misaki?"

"Eh? No I don't. How about you, Suzuna? Eh…That girl…" Misaki watched as her sister walked towards the doorway.

Even without seeing their visitor, they immediately recognized the loud voice of none other than…

"Hinata-kun…"

"Shintani…What are you doing here?"

"Eh. Misa-chan, I'm hurt. How could you be so cold?" Shintani Hinata, Misaki's childhood friend and classmate, whined. He then froze when he realized who was sitting beside Misaki. "You! What are you doing here, Usui? You're sucking up at Misa-chan again, aren't you?"

Not paying attention to Shintani, Usui continued eating, as if no interruption had happened. Though Misaki noticed that his relaxed posture earlier was gone. She glanced at Shintani, then back at Usui, and then sighed with defeat.

"Wahh! You don't look happy at all to see me here, Misa-chan!" Shintani whined again, focusing his attention back to Misaki.

"T-that's not it. Anyway, why don't you sit and join us."

"Wow! They look delicious!"

Mouth watering, Shintani became thoroughly distracted by the delicious meal, forgetting about whining and just ate with gusto.

Misaki, however, was distracted as she kept glancing at Usui's serious face.

'I have no other choice. Why do you have such bad timing, Shintani…'

Usui's eyes widened when he felt soft fingers wrapped around his, resting on his side. He glanced at the owner of the hand and saw a blushing Misaki concentrating on her food. His serious eyes softened and he tenderly squeezed her hands in return.

A/N: Please expect longer interval of updates. If I could though, then surely I would update earlier.

I have classes again tomorrow so who knows what my professors have for us this time. I'm counting already how many classes I have left, and I've only taken the first one :(

Anyway, any news with Chapter 51? Can't wait to read it.

-Arvendell-

25 June 2010

3:20 PM