The next day, the teacher didn't allow us to join desks again as now she had all the books she needed for the school. I could hear her thoughts while she drew whatever during class, distracting me from the minds of others. I should be a little careful, though. Her minding her own business is addictive, unlike all these idiots always gossiping about each other. Finally a break came and Nendou came a little before she did.

- Yo! Partner! - Nendou said despite my best effort to ignore him. - I have something to ask you!

- "No". - I said back.

- But I didn't ask you yet if you want to go to the beach this weekend.

The room went mute. Tehurashi came to join the conversation while Faustine also closed in. Both gave their best smiles, but it was obvious that a war had started between those two.

- Ah! Faustine! - Nendou said. - You should come with us!

- I appreciate the invitation. But I already have stuff to do this weekend.

- You do?

- Yes. I'm not fully used to the city yet and I asked Saiki to show me around.

- Ah! Maybe we could all go around for a walk. - Tehurashi said.

- I deeply appreciate it… but I really don't want too many people around, because I need to learn the address for some embarrassing stores. - Faustine blushed. What is she up to?

- Embarrassing…. Stores? - Tehurashi and Nendou asked out loud.

Now, the entire classroom was paying attention and Tehurashi was imagining Faustine trying underwear in front of me. By the way Faustine was smiling inside her head, that was her plan. Have I… trusted my peace to another crazy person?

- Yes. I can't go to the beach, because the moving company lost some of my clothes boxes. I don't have any swimwear and any scarfes. So I asked Saiki to show me around so I can buy new stuff another day.

- Oh… yes… of course… - Tehurashi laughed nervously. - Another day…

- But it is a good thing that that happened. Now I can leave behind my child-like swimsuits and buy some more age-appropriate bikinis.

The boys weren't descreet at all to not show that they were imagining the scene. How can they imagine such things? I felt Faustine's hand on my shoulder and she had the most innocent smile on her face.

- Oh, yeah, Saiki…. Next class is home economics, so what would you like to have for lunch?

- "why are you asking me that?" - I asked.

- I forgot my lunch box at home and I just brought the sweets. So I thought I could make something at Home Economics class.

- "Aren't you thinking about the wrong anime?". - I asked.

- Ooooooh…. No. But you gave me an idea! - Fasutine said.

- "what?"

- It will be a surprise… - She said with a smile again. - ...But could you show me the way to the classroom?

I sighed. Better to walk her out than to stay close to those baboons for any more time. Faustine was quiet along the way, plotting what she would do next. That beach trip would be the worst case scenario, there I wouldn't have anytime for myself. Then I noticed Faustine's mood turn dark. Inside her mind she kept repeating the same questions over and over again if she was ready to go to the beach or if she should do it. That was an unusual thing for her. Usually she was very bright and always plotting the next step, but to see another side of her was interesting in many ways. She wasn't a plain person like most of the people here and I could learn a little more about her past and from where she came from. Sadly our time was cut short while we approached the cooking room.

- "This is the place". - I said. Popping her out of her bubble.

- Ah! Thanks, Saiki! - She said with a bright smile.

- "Can I ask you something?" - I asked while we picked our spots.

- Yeah, what's wrong?

- "What were you thinking about?"

- Ah! - She facepalmed. - I forgot about it…. - She sighed right before the other students enter the room. - "We… I… I'll tell you about it later, ok? I promise".

- "ok. I'll be waiting".

When the class began, her mind was back to the task at hand, blocking me from further reading her mind. Home economics class…. Was interesting…. Tehurashi tried to compete with her, but Faustine was able to do way better than her. It doesn't surprise me since I already ate her food and she lived alone, so it was only natural she was good at ir. Even so, it was quite a show. Faustine looked very comfortable in the kitchen, following the recipe was pretty easy for her. To show off her skills, she prepared lunch for everyone in the class who wasn't successful and for me, of course. Her popularity as raising in an alarming rate. Could she be going for a kamikaze plan?

Later that day, I was walking her to downtown when I asked her to take a small detour on our way. While having some Ice cream, I inquired her on her thoughts before the Home economics class again.

- Oh… that… - She started. - That is something I was forced believe. Some people made me believe on that kind of stuff… and I'm trying to get over it..

- "who?" - I asked.

- I was bullied during middle school… but I don't want to talk about it. It makes me really uncomfortable and I'm doing my best to get over it…. So if you don't mind, I would like to change the subject.

- "Of course."

Some depth. She gets more interesting by the minute! So that is why she focus so much in everything she does? That would explain a lot. It was most likely she was reading my mind because I caught her smiling, taking me away from my human interaction comfort zone. On the way to her home, as we passed by some more shops, I heard what wasn't in the mood to hear.

- Master! - Chouno called.

Both me and Faustine looked back, to see a very excited magician coming from a door. Not that to add even more to the craziness it was already happening.

- Master - He called again. - I'm glad we met here! I'm almost on time to perform my new routine and would love to get some reviews from you!

- "I can't. I have to go home". - I said.

- Please, master! Your opinion is important for me.

"The lame magician!" - Faustine thought.

- Please, master. I'll be sure to impress your girlfriend. - Chouno said.

- "she isn't my girlfriend". - I protested.

- Let's go watch it, Saiki! - Faustine said. - "we could use a laugh or two" - She thought.

- Fantastic! - Chouno cherred. - Tickets on me!.

- Yay! - This time, faustine cheered before pulling me inside.

Once seated, Faustine was excited to see the show. The most curious part was to know that herself knew that would be bad, and yet, she was so willing to go through all of that. With people focusing on the show, I took the time to try to make sense out of that situation, when she rested her head on my shoulder.

- "what are you doing?" - I asked.

- "building gossip". - She said, still watching the show.

- "why? And how?"

- "People talk. We have six days to make people talk how closer we are getting".

- "I'm not liking this".

- "oh. Sorry". - She said before clapping and waving to Chouno at the stage with a huge smile.

Argh! I hate her plan! But it makes more sense than I wanted to and for now she followed it perfectly, achieving her goals. It was true, we had to start to build a reputation. I had to get her back to her plan… but how I would do it? I tried many times to discreetly sign her to rest her head on me again, I to reach the other side of her head to make her continue what she was doing.

"Ah! My master is trying to impress her girl! I should do something!" - I noticed Chouno think.

No! He got it all wrong! Why people have to be this stupid?! Chuono finished his act and Faustine cheered again, getting his attention. Had she changed her plan to make him notice her or to make me jealous? There was no time to think about it, because he was calling her to participate on his last trick for the night.

The trick he was about to make was something fairly simple, he would guess the card she picked from a deck and show it to the crowd. Faustine picked a Ace of spades, which she hid from everyone, obeying his command. After impressing the crowd with some lame extravagant "magic words", he took from the top of the deck a Queen of hearts.

- Was your card a Queen of hearts? - Chouno asked.

- Oh My God! Yes! - Faustine said.

Wait. She Lied? I jerked forward on my chair to see if it was true what happened and there they were. She was smiling to the audience before everyone clapped exited. Why she did that?

- You can keep it. As a lucky charm. - Chouno gave her the card.

- Thank you. - She smiled.

She hopped off stage, coming back to me. The curtains closed and people started to leave the theater. Before we could do the same, I was called to go backstage with Faustine. Chouno was waiting for us in his dressing room.

- Master! How was the show? - He asked excited.

- It was amazing! - Faustine interfered in my behalf.

- AMAZING! - The magician performed his punch-line.

Faustine clapped and smilled, getting his attention on her. Reading her mind, I realized she was doing that to give me some time to think an excuse for us to leave. Nice. She interacted with him a little more, before giving him a shy smile.

- Thank you for inviting me here, mr. Chouno. - She said. - This is the first time I', invite to come backstage.

- A master's friend is my friend. You are always welcome.

- We should bring Yuuta next time, right? - She asked me.

- "I guess". - I shrugged.

- Shure! I really want to see you again next time! - Chouno said.

Finally we said our goodbyes and headed to Faustine's place. After of what I had done, I could sense she was feeling a bit awkward about me and even making an effort to not think about it. She was indeed unusual in her logic, but it was working. The last week was really peaceful when she was around and she was good on entertaining them, to keep me out of their sight.

- "why did you lie about your card?" - I asked her once we were inside.

- I didn't feel like ruining his show. The magician felt like a good person and I felt sorry for him. - She revealed.

She was strange, but also a very decent person. Maybe I should give her a little more room to work her crazy plan. We both were eating desserts again, with she focusing on what she should improve on it.

- "If we are going to date, you need to be a little more clingy".

Her spoon stopped midway to her mouth.

- What? - She simply asked.

- "If we are going to date, you need to me be a little more clingy. Like try to hold my arm or something".

- But you didn't like when I rested my head on you. - Faustine put the spoon down for a second.

- "Yes. But I feel like I need to give you more room to work. No one will believe our story if we keep the same distance as friends".

- I have to agree with you. But are you really ok with it?

- "If you ask again, I might change my mind…" - I said a little bothered.

- Thanks, Saiki. - She gave me a smile.

For the rest of the evening, we just played some vintage games and TV shows no one talked about anymore. Later that night I went back to my house, had so trouble sleeping. I spent too much time thinking on the possible outcomes of all of this, finally giving up and just letting it happen.

I sincerely hope I don't regret it.