"Konomi-chan! Here's the plan!" Kotoko dragged Konomi into an unused classroom after school the next day and shoved a sloppily written list in her hand. "Last night I asked Yuuki-kun a lot of questions about his favorite things. He shouted at me after a time, so I'll need to continue later. But anyway, you can memorize all these, maybe bake his favorite cookies, mention his favorite band, and show how well-matched you are. Then once he sees it, he will have to believe it and you can have a mutual confession of love!" Her arms were crossed in front of her chest and her eyes raised to the ceiling.

Enough was enough. "Say, Sensei," Konomi began, "how about we cut through all the crap and head straight for the end?"

"Wh-what do you mean?" Kotoko was startled.

"I'll just go confess right now and get it over with. If he rejects me, then 'que será, será'—it's over and done with."

"No, no!" Kotoko chased after the girl headed to Class 1-A. "It's too soon! Too soon!"

Be brave, Konomi told her cowardly self, now regretting letting herself get upset by Irie-sensei. All I have to do is tell the ass I like him, get refused, and it'll be over. However, when she slid open the door, he was not alone. Yipes! she thought. I didn't really want to have this large of an audience.

"Ah, Irie-kun?" she croaked out.

Yuuki turned to her and raised an eyebrow. Kotoko, peeking around a corner, winced at his resemblance to Naoki (and not in one of his good moods).

"Uh, I'm Sagawa Konomi. You probably don't know me because I'm in Class F." She heard snickers behind Yuuki and saw his face beginning to flush. Why, she moaned to herself, didn't I think this through? Everyone is going to talk about the dumb girl in love with the genius, even if I'm not! And then his sister is expecting this big confession… Maybe I could faint, like they do in the dramas? However, having no idea what the teachers would do with a fainting student made her quickly discard that idea. She licked her lips, closed her eyes and said, "I like you and I'd like to be friends with you. If you don't mind?"

She cracked one eye open when she heard his little group of friends cat-calling. Unbelievably, they were making fun of Yuuki and not her! She began to grin. This wasn't too bad.

Then Yuuki had to go and open his big Irie mouth. "I don't want to be friends with some stupid idiot from Class F." Oh, those were fighting words! But then he continued, "If you really want to be my friend, try getting into the top 100 on the next midterm scores, and I'll consider it."

Konomi's grin widened. Great. No chance whatsoever. She was free! "Thank you, Irie-kun!" She bowed and made a hasty retreat, missing the puzzled look on his face at her jubilation in defeat.

Luckily she missed Kotoko's attack on Yuuki and his immediate retaliation.

The next day Konomi swallowed her smile and made a sad face in front of Kotoko. "I'm sorry, Sensei. I tried my best, but I think I'm just going to give up on Irie-kun. The barrier is too high."

"Nonsense!" Kotoko made a fist. "Did I give up when Irie-kun refused my confession letter? No! Did I give up when the Tennis Club tent blew up? No!"

Konomi's eyes widened. Was she hearing martial music in the background?

"Did I give up when Yuuki-kun and I got lost in the woods? (By the way, don't trust pit bulls; they're actually cowards.) No! Did I give up when Irie-kun was going to sacrifice his life for the company? Well, actually I did, but it all worked out. Anyway," she clasped a by-now confused Konomi to her bosom, "I will help you with Yuuki-kun, the shorter and not-quite-as-smart Irie son."

"Uh, Irie-sensei," she looked at her from the corner of her eyes, "how?"

"I will tutor you for the midterms! After all, getting into the top 100 is how I first caught Irie-kun's attention!"

Midterms? Oh yes, Yuuki's requirement. "Not that I'm unappreciative, but…" Konomi paused. Midterms? Her grades could use an extra boost. Plus, even with an improved grade, she felt that Yuuki would want to be friends with her about as much as she wanted to be friends with him. So, no catch whatsoever. "Sounds great, Irie-sensei!" She beamed at Kotoko. "When do we start?"