Disclaimer: As much as it pains me to say this, I do not own Baka and Test: Summon the Beast.

A/N: It's going to be in...Minami's point of view! So, it's been a while... PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! I had my semester exams to worry about. This chapter may reveal a few things. Thanks for favoriting, following, and reviewing! I'll keep you guys posted on the bulletin board that's on my profile and check out the sneak peeks!

Chapter 4: Distances, Double-shift, and Dates

When I woke up I was surrounded by a familiar and comforting scent. It sort of felt like... deja vu. My eyes snapped open and I found myself in Yoshii's bed. To say that I was confused was an understatement of a lifetime. I checked under the covers to see if my clothes were still on because... you know, just in case. Thankfully, I was still fully clothed. Noticing the lack of sunlight in the room, I wrestled with the blanket to find my cell phone. There goes that deja vu feeling again. I checked the clock on the screen and was shocked to see how much time had went by. Have I been out for that long? Why was I in Yoshii's room, much less his bed? And why does my breath smell like a pub? Along with the stench, there was a vile tang that glazed my tongue and the back of my throat.

My memories flashed across my mind. I was sort of in that state of wondering if anything I recalled was either a dream or reality. I was walking down the street, I leaned backwards and fell hard on my back, Yuuji was there too, then I saw Yoshii on the floor beside the couch, suddenly I was hunched over a toilet, and lastly I saw me and that idiot's first kiss once more. Uh, so I... slipped and fell while I was walking down the street? Then Yuuji took me back to the apartment and... Nothing made sense. The pieces weren't coming together. That probably wasn't all that happened. The ringing of my cell phone brought me back down to earth and I answered it.

"H-hello?" I said with a bit of rasp to my voice.

"Minami." It was my dad.

"Dad! How is she?" I replied, now fully alert.

"Same as usual," he reported.

"So, she's still in a coma?" I mumbled, feeling the lump forming in my throat.

"Yes. Minami, you don't have to do this. You shouldn't push yourself. I can take care of this. I already lost one daughter and I don't want to lose another."

"I know I don't have to do this but I want to. She's so young and I can't just abandon her."

"You think I want to abandon her either? ...I'm so sorry Minami. If I hadn't thought that moving to Germany would be better for us, you wouldn't be in this situation. And Hazuki... This is all my fault..."

"No, it's my fault. Hazuki would have been with us if it wasn't..." I said while trying, and failing, to keep my voice from cracking.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door and I quickly covered the speaker end of my phone.

"Minami, I made dinner if you want some."

I questioned whether to answer him or not. But, I needed him to go away and I didn't want him coming in either so I spoke up. I quietly cleared my thoat before replying to him.

"Alright. I'll be right down, Yoshii."

I waited for the sound of his footsteps to disappear before returning to my call.

"I'll take care of it. I like said, I want to do this. You just need to worry about keeping a roof over your head and being well fed," I assured him.

"But, Minami-"

"I have to go, Dad. I'll talk to you later. By the way, could you send me some more of my clothes? I lost my luggage at the airport. Alright, bye."

I pressed the end button and realized something. Ah, crap... where's he going to send my clothes? The airport? Knowing my future plans, I didn't want to give him Yoshii's address but I guess there's no way around it. I texted my dad the address and a few seconds later my phone beeped. That was fast. It wasn't from my dad but from Yuuji.

Yuuji: How's that hangover? Bet your confused. Let's not repeat this event, okay? Akihisa could have caught on if he wasn't so stupid.

What? Still highly confused, I swung my legs off the bed and heard something being knocked over. I glanced down at the floor and there was a bowl, a few empty bottles, painkillers, and a plastic bag containing some bruised fruits. What happened? I didn't go to the bar again, did I? Damn it. I knew I couldn't quit cold turkey. Well, old habits die hard and I won't be going back to that hell-hole anytime soon.

I shook my head in frustration and headed downstairs. When I opened the door I was hit by the smell of Paella. His favorite. In desperate need of a shower, I sneaked past Yoshii and slipped into the bathroom. I rummaged through my backpack (which was placed by the doorway) and pulled out any remaining clothes that I had. After taking a quick shower I went to join Yoshii for dinner.

"How are you feeling?" he questioned at the table.

I nearly choked when he asked me this.

"Uh-"

"You were acting really weird," he mumbled.

A tint of red showed up on his cheeks and he averted his gaze.

"But when I asked Yuuji about it, he said that you were just sick. So, are you okay?" he asked again.

I sure dodged a bullet there and I was able to exhale a sigh of relief.

"Y-yeah. I'm alright. It was probably those 1 day-colds, you know?" I said, hoping he would drop the subject.

"Where did you go?" he pushed further.

I swallowed hard.

"I was, uh, walking down the streets. Sort of refreshing my memories of this place."

That wasn't a complete lie. I was walking the streets and then I just so happen to stubble upon a bar.

"Well, it's been pretty cold the last few days so I guess it makes sense that you got sick."

And with that, he dropped the subject.

For the past 2 months I've been avoiding Yoshii. But, not purposely. I've been trying to salvage every bit of cash I could possible get my hands on. I've already wasted enough time as it is. Do you think the reason why I came back to Japan was because I somehow telepathically knew that Yoshii would be back? Well, that wasn't the case.

I took on every job opportunity (within walking distance) that I could. During the week I would help set up the flower shop early in the morning, cook at the cafe until noon, sell snacks at the movie theater in the afternoon, give tickets at the train station in the evening, and then be a janitor for Fumizuki academy at night. On the weekends I would work at the hotel where I'm either taking cars, attending to the front desk, or cleaning the rooms for most of the day. Then I would head to Tokyo University and be a janitor there at night. I'll do whatever it takes. Do I even have time to eat or sleep or fulfill any of my basic needs, you ask? That's the thing, I don't. Ring, ring!

"Hello?" I answered my phone.

"Hey, Shimada. I was wondering if you don't mind me taking your shift at the movie theater. I want to save up a bit more cash for my daughter's birthday that's coming up."

"Yeah, sure. Tell your daughter I said happy birthday," I told my co-worker.

I hung up the phone and looked at my boss.

"Can I work a double-shift today?"

My boss gave me a wary look, knowing how I'm pushing myself beyond exertion. Time for the puppy-dog face.

"Oh, alright. But, you're going to have to close up the shop."

"That's fine." More money for me.

"Please, Shimada. Get some rest," he said, placing his over-sized hand on my shoulder.

I nodded my head, disguising my exhaustion with a cheerful smile. The afternoon continued rather smoothly and it wasn't too busy. I heard the door open and looked to greet the costumers. Only these costumers were the last people I wanted to see.

"You're treating us, right dude?" Yuuji said with a smirk plastered on his face.

"Yeah... sure," Yoshii whimpered, emptying the dust from his wallet.

I ducked behind the counter and tugged my co-worker's pants.

"Toshito, could you um take those costumers' orders yourself?" I said, trying not to sound rude.

"I guess. You owe me one, Shimada. You know waiting tables isn't my thing."

I stayed hidden but I couldn't help but overhear their conversation. I peeked over from behind the display counter.

"Same old Akihisa. You still think video games and manga books are more important than food or electricity?" Hideyoshi commented.

"Shut up! That's not true! Well... yeah I've been buying a few video games but I've also been buying food for the two of us!"

At that moment of awkward silence, both mine and Yoshii's stomachs growled.

"But...Minami hasn't been around lately. I still make dinner for her but it always goes untouched and then I have to throw it away."

"Oh, that's right. Minami is staying over at your place," Hideyoshi said, more to himself than to his friends.

"Where have you been? This is old news."

Hideyoshi and Yuuji both exchanged quick glances.

"So, what do you mean she hasn't been around? I see her everywhere," Hideyoshi said.

"Really? I hardly see her at all," Yoshii admitted.

"What are you talking about? I saw her coming out of the flower shop yesterday and then working at the movie theater a couple hours later," Yuuji confronted.

"Minami works there too? I saw her working at the hotel not too long ago. I saw her again at the university cleaning when I was there late, grading papers."

Yuuji looked in the corner of his eye and we make eye contact, causing me to hide. Beep, beep!

Yuuji: I got you covered.

"Is there any time you do get to see her?" Yuuji asked.

"Sometimes when I'm up late or when I'm just heading to bed, I hear the front door open and close. There's also really early in the morning when I hear her cellphone alarm go off, followed by the shower running."

"Well, don't you think that this is your chance to ask a certain someone out on a date? Since she's been working so much," Yuuji suggested.

Yoshii paused for a second and his face lit up.

"I can't believe I never thought of that! I haven't seen her in a while so here my opportunity to break the ice. I'll ask her tomorrow when I find her. Thanks, Yuuji."

Yes, thank you Yuuji. I already began texting my other jobs, telling them I won't be able to make it tomorrow. Strangely, they all said it was fine. I guess they're trying to get rid of me. Is my exhaustion really that noticeable? I better get my beauty rest.

I got 12 hours of sleep, took a nice hot shower, put on the nicest clothes my dad sent over, and satisfied my hunger. If only I knew my efforts would all go in vain later that day. Yoshii wasn't home so I decided to go out looking for him. I was walking down the street when I saw them.

"So, Himeji-"

"Please, Akihisa, we're not in high school anymore so you can call me Mizuki. If that's alright," she interjected.

"Uh- sure, no problem. A-anyways, I was wondering if you would like to go out on a date. Maybe for dinner? Tonight?" he offered.

"I would love to join you," she smiled, taking up his offer.

"Great!"

They walked off together and continued with idle chitchat and I suddenly found the concrete sidewalk to be very interesting. Someone placed a hand on my shoulder and I would have socked them in the face if they hadn't of spoken up.

"Remember, we're dealing with an idiot," Yuuji comforted.

"I knew he was stupid but this takes his idiocy to the next level," Hideyoshi said while watching the pair walk off.

"Thanks for trying anyways," I mumbled. "I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up too high."

"Don't think like that. He'll come around and when he doesn't, you won't be able to get rid of him. You'll be dying to get him away from you. Up to the point where you want to commit suicide. Like me-"

Zaaaap!

"Hi Shouko," I greeted.

Shouko held up an identical taser to hers but instead of Yuuji's name, Yoshii's name was engraved in it.

"No thanks."

"Love hurts, one way or another," she said and then dragged the fried corpse along with her.

"Hey Minami, I wouldn't want your efforts to go completely in vain so would you like to go out on a date with me?" Hideyoshi asked.

"I don't really swing that way."

The look on his face was priceless and I burst out laughing. I lightly punched his shoulder and caught my breath.

"I'm only kidding. Of course I'll go out on a date with you."

"Yeah, as friends," he added.

"I wouldn't want it any other way."