Authors note: IM HAPPY YOU GUYS LIKE THE STORY! Yeah it is a bit ooc, but it wouldn't work out if it wasn't XD You still see the key elements of the character though =) ITS SO CUTE!PLEASE REVIEW TO SHOW LOVE! Enjoy.

Btw the ending of this ch was inspired by a Katekyo Hitman Reborn doujinshi, if any recognizes it.

Disclaimer: I don't own these beautifully hot babies =(

Ch.4 Our Façade

Who would have known the surprise would be so big I'd try to stand up and hit my head extremely hard against the counter. Great, talk about being lame. I stand up while rubbing my head and look at Echizen as if he was delusional.

"Repeat that?"

After a few moments and a change in his eyes, he laughs, "Did you like how I said that? Cute, right? Man, I can be a great actor."

I keep rubbing my head, "Yeah, sure" I was tired of letting his foolishness get me frustrated. I bend down again and look for the key, finally finding it. I take what were now two clipboards and head to the inventory room.

Echizen smiles, "No need to get mad Tezuka, I was just joking."

I open the door, "When don't you?" Why am I so angered? Is it because I was deceived by him again…or because I'm disappointed? Wait, why would I be disappointed?

He laughs, "Come on, let me help."

I pass him his clipboard, "Can you just keep quiet for the remainder of the night? I'm getting a headache."

He nods, "Yes, yes boss."

We count and check items for a while, in a silence that hasn't been heard since Echizen's arrival. I glance over at him, admiring the rare serious look on his face. I continue my work, feeling oddly at peace. Silence is the best after all. After a quiet and tedious hour, we finish checking the inventory. I am grateful that Echizen listened to me because my headache is now gone. After turning off the light and closing the door, we head back towards the staff room.

Echizen takes off his work shirt, "So Tezuka…"

"Yeah"

He gives me smirk, "We should hang out tomorrow shouldn't we?"

I hang my work shirt, "No, we shouldn't"

He laughs and puts on his shoulder bag, "Come on, you said you don't have anything to do."

I close my locker and look at him, "Are you that desperate to have plans on a Friday night?"

Echizen laughs, "Pretty much, but still, I wouldn't ask someone I didn't like spending time with."

I won't lie; that line made my heart skip a bit…so cliché. I would seriously love to know what has been happening to me recently, maybe I'll schedule a doctor's appointment. "No."

He runs his hand through his silky black green hair, "You are so difficult."

I take my bag, "Sorry to be difficult."

Echizen looks up at me, "What do you have to lose? I won't be purposely annoying, I promise."

I sigh in defeat, "Fine."

He smiles, "So that's all you were afraid of? Me being annoying?"

"Yeah."

He laughs, "Geez, how cruel."

I lean against the locker, "So how are you planning to entertain me?"

Echizen shrugs, "Who knows, I'll think up something tonight." He takes out his cell phone, "Can I have your number?"

"90-2164-5583"

"My number is 90-3056-9991, I'll text you. Are you allergic to anything?"

I enter that in my phone "No."

"Anything you are picky about? Or hate?"

I had to think about this one, what angered me the most when I went out with people? "Noise."

Echizen smirks, "So a quiet place? That doesn't seem too hard to find."

"Hn." I was trying desperately to stay in my character, this unusual friendliness was unsettling.

He smiles, "No need to be so stiff Tezuka. Well I'll text you later, bye." He walks out of the staff room and leaves me behind with my thoughts, like always.

I wait for the numbness that our conversation invoked in me to leave my body. Yes, I am numb because friendliness on my part, even to this extent, is a foreign feeling. It isn't the same as when I'm friendly with Fuji. With Fuji, it's almost as if his character pulls these foreign feelings out of me. As if he's a vacuum, sucking the cold out of my ice composure. But with Echizen, the feelings flow out like burning water through a faucet. He makes the ice melt…rapidly. I don't exactly mind these feelings but I admit I am afraid of something breaking. Weather it may be my stoic mask or the only ties I have to people other than my family. But, I'll watch how things play out. For now I'll indulge in these oddly warm feelings.

In this thoughtful daze I arrived home and in this same daze I stayed throughout the whole school day. It happens even to the best of us. I sensed that Fuji noticed something was off but he didn't question me. I was glad because even if he did ask, I wouldn't have an answer for him.

"Going to work?"

I shake my head, "No, the bookstore closes early on Fridays so I don't need to do my shift."

Fuji smiles, "Oh that's convenient, do you have any plans?"

"Yeah…I'm going to hang out with Echizen later."

Fuji's eyes widen, "Ne, you're kidding right?"

"He convinced me into accepting, he's not a bad person."

Fuji laughs, "Oh, I know he's not a bad person. I'm just surprised you accepted. I thought you hated him…but recently it seems like you guys have gotten closer."

"I guess. Do you have any plans?"

Fuji smiles, "Yeah, a date with Saeki."

"I see."

"Well, we're going separate ways." He laughs, "have fun with Echizen, see you tomorrow."

I nod, "Thanks, bye." I watch Fuji walk away and sigh, leaning against our school gates. I take out my cell phone and look for the text Echizen sent me last night.

"I'll see you in front of the bookstore at six; we will walk to the restaurant."

I shake my head, "I should have stayed in my uniform." I look down at my dark jeans, white shirt, and blue cardigan. Yes, I look too put together to just be hanging out with a friend. Last night I had tried to convince myself into not bringing a change of clothes but my morals didn't allow it. I was not about to go eat at a restaurant with my school uniform, no way.

I look at my watch, "Hm its five." I look around for things to kill time with. The bookstore is out of the question. I see a sports equipment store and walk towards it; I was in need of grip tape. I enter and walk towards the tennis aisle. I find the grip tape section and look for blue grip tape. After examining it, I decide to buy it and walk towards the cash register.

I bump into someone, "Pardon me." I look to see who it is but his voice gives him away.

Echizen smirks, "I guess neither of us can stop thinking about tennis."

"Yeah."

He looks at my school bag, "So you didn't go home?"

I pay for the grip tape, "No."

"So the reason you are here is to kill time and buy grip tape?"

I nod, "and you?"

"Just looking at the racquets."

I look at his clothes, Echizen sure has good style. The shirt, light jeans, and converse he was wearing looked good on him. "Is your home close by?"

"Yeah. Well, even though it's earlier than we planned, want to eat?"

"Sure."

We walk out of the store and cross the street, taking a right at the corner. After walking for a few blocks, we stop at a restaurant and head inside. The restaurant is quiet and only a few tables are filled. It is dimly lit and has a comfortable feel to it, I like it. The waitress sits us at a small table in the back

Echizen smirks, "So how do you like the restaurant?"

"Right on the mark, it's perfect."

He smiles, "I'm happy you like it. But trust me; you'll love it once you taste the food."

I look at the menu, "I bet."

The waitress stands by our table, "What can I bring you?"

Echizen looks at her, "Can I have the fried fish with wild rice and an iced green tea?"

She nods and turns to me, "You sir?"

"I'll have the grilled eel with rice and a lemonade."

"I'll be back with your orders shortly."

Echizen looks at me, "Grilled eel? A favorite?"

"Yeah, is fried fish your favorite?"

He smiles, "Yeah, it became a usual after my first time here."

"You eat here often?" I don't know if it's the environment or Echizen himself, but I am being unusually talkative…

"Yes, like once a week. I've practically tasted their whole menu. The grilled eel is very good."

"Oh, good to hear."

Echizen leans back against his chair and looks at me, "So Tezuka, what's your favorite color?"

"Why? That is such a random question."

He shrugs, "Well, one, silence is awkward and two, its just to get to know you better."

I decide to go along with it; I wouldn't mind getting to know Echizen better either. "Blue and green, you?"

"Silver."

"That's unusual. Hm, what's your favorite subject?"

He sighs, "You would ask about school. Um…english. You?"

"I don't really have one."

Echizen laughs, "how boring."

The waitress arrives with our food and drinks. She places it in front of each of us and excuses herself. I taste the grilled eel, Echizen was right- it was really good.

"By the look on your face I see that you like it."

"Yeah, it's delicious."

He drinks some of his iced green tea, "So, what hobbies do you have?"

"Aside from tennis and reading, I often go mountain climbing and fishing with my grandfather."

He smiles, his smile is getting more enchanting with each passing second, "Wow, you sure are active."

"What about you?"

"…I'd rather not say."

I raise my eyebrow, "suspicious…you have to, I answered to you."

His cheeks turn bright red, "it's more like a habit than a hobby…I like trying new hot spring bath salts every now and then."

I laugh, for what seemed to be the first time since I last saw my grandfather, "Are you serious?"

He sulks and at this moment all I can think about is how cute he's being. Trust me; even the most serious guys have a soft spot for cute things. "This is why I didn't want to tell you."

I shake my head, composing myself, "It just took me off gaud; it sounds like a fun hobby."

He runs his hand through his hair and smiles at me, "but I'm surprised."

I put my empty plate aside, "by what?"

Echizen's eyes shine, "your laugh. I think it's the first time I've heard it."

I sigh, "I'm still human you know."

He laughs, "I guess you are. But still, it's nice seeing this side of you."

I finish my lemonade at loss for words. Echizen's words always make me unstable, either mad, annoyed or just the opposite…happy.

He interrupts the silence when the check arrives, "We're paying half and half?"

I look at the check and calculate half, "yeah, here." I hand him the money and he leaves it on the table along with his half.

We walk out of the restaurant and I look at my watch, "Wow, its seven thirty."

Echizen smiles, "we sure talked a lot didn't we? Which way are you going?"

We cross the street, "to the train station. You?"

"The same way, my house is a little before the train station."

"Oh, so you live really close to the bookstore and school, that's convenient."

He smiles, "I guess, my street is kind of lonely though, you see?"

I look around, "Yeah, it is."

He takes his keys out of his pocket, "Well, thanks for joining me."

"It was fun."

Echizen looks at me, the street light highlighting his golden brown eyes, "I'm glad."

I can tell you now, the last thing I am doing is being myself. I don't know what I am thinking as I get closer to Echizen's face, much less what I desire. I am sure he is going to back away, disgusted, but he doesn't. He closes his eyes as if allowing me to kiss him. I stop from surprise, inches away from his delicate face. Because of my idiotically long pause, he opens his eyes again, blushing intensely.

He forces a pitiful laugh, "I-I don't even know what I'm doing." He turns around and fumbles with his door knob, "see you Monday."

"Echizen…"

He turns around and I put my hand behind his head, bringing his lips to mine. At this moment it doesn't matter how much my façade has broken or how much I might regret this after. What matters is that I claimed the snow buried desire I had for so long, his lips.