Nanami poked her head around Usui's office door and smiled sympathetically; "I've contacted the firm, they're prepared to send another lawyer", Usui nodded in reply and she disappeared as she closed the door with a click. Leaning back in his chair, he threw his arm over his eyes and sighed 'Iwasn'tprepared,' he groaned 'Ishouldn'thaveyelledatherbut-thememories-thatbleaksummer,God!' Usui groaned again and, sitting upright, stared at his hands 'Ineedtoseeheragain'. Suddenly, his head snapped up and he ran to the door, yanking it open just in time to see Nanami replace the phone on its base "no!" he slumped, defeated, on the doorframe

She looked up at him, confusion across her face "I thought you didn't like her?"

"No" he uselessly repeated

Nanami frowned "okay? Well they've found another case for her so she's unavailable anyway" she got up out of her plastic chair and walked down the corridor, Usui thought he heard her mutter something about him being ridiculous.

He glanced at Nanami's pad on the desk, full of scribbles and, without thinking, grabbed it, sauntered into his office and rapidly dialled the number for Misaki's firm on his phone. He was met with a dial tone; his stomach twisted and squeezed as the beepbeep rang on, after what seems like an age someone picked up the phone "hello? Suzuki Lawyers, how can I help?"

Usui swallowed the lump in his throat "um, I'd like to speak to Misaki Ayuzawa please?" 'WhyamIwhispering?' he frowned

"Certainly, may I ask whose calling?"

"Yes," Usui frantically searched his mind for a name "tell her it's Hinata Shintani calling" and, gritting his teeth at his choice, waited impatiently while he was diverted, he tried hard not to by annoyed by the lift music which played relentlessly in the background.

"Hinata?" Misaki said suddenly "I've told you not to call me at work"

"It's not Hinata… its Usui"

"Usui? Why are you calling me?"

"I wanted to apologise, for being so rude"

There was an excruciating pause "that's okay, I'm sorry for running out on you, it was childish"

Usui laughed "hey, it was a shock for both of us"

"Yeah but it's been 10 years now, we should be past that"

"I dove off the school roof for you!"

He heard Misaki chuckle at the other end "I know, I'm still shocked at that!"

Usui laughed again "and the Little Sister Day at the café"

"God don't remind me" he pictured her smiling

"Do you still see them?"

"Sometimes," she sounded a bit forlorn "but only Satsuki, and Maid Latte hasn't been going so well apparently"

"That's a shame," Usui felt terrible for Satsuki, she loved that café "I wonder how Aoi is doing" he added sarcastically

"Fine, the last I heard. Still a net idol" he almost heard her rolling her eyes

Nanami's silhouette passed by his window "I'd better go before Nanami notices her notepad missing but… I hope you can still take my case"

Misaki paused "…I, I will, yes"

Usui grinned "good, come into my office tomorrow and we can talk through it"

"Okay"

"Oh, and Misaki?"

"Yes?"

"I promise not to shout at you this time"

She laughed and hung up, Usui smiled at the receiver in his hand for a moment before placing it gently back onto its stand and quickly hiding Nanami's pad in his drawer.

As if reading his mind; she knocked on his door and, not bothering to wait for an answer, walked into the room looking greatly confused "Usui, have you seen the notepad that was on my desk?"

Feigning innocence, he shook his head; Nanami frowned and strode back to her desk.

Usui vowed to return it in the morning.