4 – bombshell

"Well, any ideas?"

Gou shook her head woefully. "I don't know. But this science project is due in two weeks!"

"Don't worry," Ayaka assured, grinning confidently, "That's why I'm here. With me tutoring you, there's no way you won't pass!"

Gou's head fell against the table, her ponytail a burgundy river that spilled across it. On instinct, Ayaka reached over and brushed it away before it landed in any of the food there. Despite, Gou still didn't move.

She only said, "I hope."

"Don't stress! Even if you're managing our new swim team, I'll help you keep up with school."

"But it's not as easy for me as it is for you."

"It's just a science project," Ayaka assured, "Nothing too important."

As if to prove her nonchalance, the blonde girl picked a cookie from the plate and began to nibble at it. A wide-eyed look of awe passed over her features, and she was soon exclaiming, "These are good!"

Gou finally looked up, breaking into a smile. "Thanks, I made them myself."

"I just had an idea; you make these cookies, and it'll be your payment for me tutoring you." Ayaka decided, not offering much room for objection.

Gou nodded approvingly. "I can give you a take-home pack."

"Deal."

Truthfully, Ayaka had made the comment so help ease some of Gou's guilt. The younger girl had been insisting on some form of repayment, but Ayaka hadn't needed one. Her weekends were often boring, as Satsuki was busy working at her family bakery, and now she had a way that helped both Gou and herself. Spending her Saturday at Gou's house was the perfect solution.

"So, hand me the criteria sheet." Ayaka requested, returning the root of the problem.

Gou passed the sheet over, while Ayaka stretched her arm across the table to receive it. She was careful not to let her cardigan sleeve fall into the food. Gou and she, in terms of clothing, were almost matching today. Both wore jeans and a tank top; the only difference was Ayaka's sand-coloured knit.

"Hm, yes, okay," Ayaka frowned and nodded, her eyes perusing the sheet, "I might have an idea."

"What is it?"

"Do you have a piece of paper?"

Gou slid her notebook across the table, along with a pencil. Ayaka moved so that her arm shielded the book from view, while she began drawing scratchy lines with the picture.

"The aim of the assessment is to conduct an experiment, any experiment, and present it as a presentation," Ayaka explained as she wrote, "You'll want something that's simple to explain, so the theory part isn't hard, but you also need something that looks cool – that's how you get the teacher to like it. And I will not let my sweet Kou-chan get anything less than a 'B' on this."

"So, what is it?" Gou insisted.

"Just wait a second," she replied quickly, still hastily scribbling away, "Art takes patience."

"This is science, though."

"Art exists in everything. It doesn't have to be just beautiful."

Though Ayaka was answered, the reply that didn't come from Gou's mouth. "Is that how you justify your shitty drawing skills?"

At once, the pencil was slammed down on the table. Ayaka turned stiffly, eyes narrowed in a fierce glare. "Matsuoka," she hissed, "You just broke my concentration."

Rin smirked at her from the doorway, and it was the closest she had seen to happiness with him in a long while. Even though it was but an imitation, it was enough to overcome the blonde's temper. "Fine, you're forgiven – but only because you look cute." Ayaka proclaimed, falling backwards to the ground.

Rin walked inside, entirely comfortable with his intrusion. The time he had spent avoiding this visit home was not something he would willingly show – especially not to Ayaka. He had a feeling she would rub it in, at just how right she was. Rin wasn't interested in discussing his previous rudeness with her, though her insistence had driven the realization home.

All that weight on his shoulders, all those thoughts in his head, but he merely said, "Wow, Shibata, you really can't draw."

"Shut up."

Rin took another step closer, before his eyes drifted from her sketches down to Ayaka's face. "You should sit up if you don't want me to step on you."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Ayaka," interrupted Gou, "I'm just going to go ahead and look at your idea."

The blonde pushed herself to her elbows, thought it most definitely wasn't because of anything Rin had said. Whatever her reasons, Rin ignored them. Instead, he moved closer to the table and reached down for a cookie.

"These are," he swallowed mid-bite, staring at the remains in his hand, "Too sweet."

"Thanks." Gou replied distractedly.

"She made them herself," Ayaka added proudly, "And I'm taking some of them home. The perfect payment for the perfect tutor."

"Doubt it." Rin scoffed.

"I average an 'A' grade."

He, for a brief moment, stared at her. Ayaka caught the disbelief, and smiled smugly. She might appear to be an airhead, but she took her studies seriously. Her brother had always encouraged her to do well and not flunk out like him. She agreed that at least one person in their family had to make it big.

"Ayaka."

The girl looked up and over at Gou. Her friend was frowning at the book in her hands, eyes flickering over the notes Ayaka had made. Her lips parted in what was strained disbelief.

"Yes?" Ayaka asked innocently.

Gou met her gaze across the table. "This is a bomb."

"Brilliant, isn't it?!"

"Ah," Gou paused, before a cheerful smile lit up her face, "I disagree."

"You're an idiot, Shibata," declared Rin, "Why don't you just do that volcano experiment that everyone does?"

"Bo-ring." sang Ayaka.

From Gou's considerate expression, she realized that the younger girl was actually thinking it a valid suggestion. Ayaka stared up at Rin, who caught her intense look with a jolt of surprise. He mastered his expression quickly.

"What?"

"Nothing." She replied, again adopting that familiar grin.

He hated it – even when she was teasing him, even with something as simple as that smile, she looked beautiful. Ayaka wasn't a beautiful person, so surely his irritation was justified.

"Well," Gou brought the attention back to herself quickly, "The volcano would be less dangerous."

"But it's so childish!" Ayaka whined.

"So are you." argued Rin.

"But I'm the right kind of childish."

Gou pulled a face. "There's such a thing at that?"

"Of course," Ayaka confirmed, "I'm the optimistic type."

"More like the annoying type." Rin retorted, unable to resist the opportunity.

"Matsuoka, you can piss off," the blonde ordered abruptly, "You've had your cookie, now leave."

Rin's eyebrow rose in scepticism. "Whatever," he sighed, turning to leave, "Gou, you should just do what you want."

"It's Kou."

Rin waved a hand through the air, passing by the semi-long mess of his hair. It was, strangely, just a few shades off Gou's own peculiar red.

"Man, Rin-chan is so cool sometimes," Ayaka sighed teasingly, trailing him as he walked away, "Maybe it's a genetic thing. I mean, you and Kou are both equally cute and cool."

The red-head stopped short, hand on the doorframe. Though he may have faced the direction of his room, his red-eyed gaze was pinned down on Ayaka. Her full lips began to spread wide, parting in a grin. That she was so easily carefree irritated him, even more than her penchant for lewd comments.

"Something wrong, Matsuoka?" she asked.

At least, he turned to face her. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"Because you have really nice arms?"

"Seriously."

Ayaka shrugged coolly. "Why not? I'm just happy that I get to be around people that I like."

Gou thought about interrupting the two, but snapped her mouth shut. She didn't feel as if now was the time or place, and that it might just be better to let them sort it out. Rin and Ayaka, in all their brief meetings, had never really found any common ground before.

"You like me?" Rin echoed dumbly.

"Yes. I might even go so far as to say I consider you a friend."

"Well I wouldn't."

Ayaka frowned suddenly. "But that's my opinion, not yours. You don't have to agree – and it's not like anything you say will make me change my mind."

"Are you sure?"

All of a sudden, Gou was overcome with a sense of doubt. Perhaps her instincts had been wrong about this – had she spoken, she might have circumvented the rising tension. Ayaka loved challenges just a little too much, and she had forgotten Rin's pride entirely.

"I bet you I can," Rin declared, "I'll make you hate me."

Laughter echoed, though Ayaka's words did not. "Good luck then, pretty boy."

Rin thought it was a conclusion – he could not have been more wrong.

Hey, is a plot I see? Not really, I just love creating tension. Also, I think relationships with a sort of contrast and competitiveness about them are way more interesting. You get to see the two characters push each other, and it can go good or bad - also, it's less boring than any of that 'I like you but I'm too embarrassed to act like a human being around you' shit. I hope that Ayaka is at least, in some ways, relatable (I think that's the kinda characters I'd like to be able to write).

Thanks for reading and please review :)