Disclaimer: I don't own Hana-Kimi. If I could own part of it, Umeda-sempai would be all mine. Ha ha ha...

Yay. We're going to start chappie 7 by thanking NightFox and Hiten for reviewing when I desperately requested. Did I spell that wrong? Really, guys. It means a lot to me that you care about Kayashima so much XD. I'd also like to apologize for being so cross with my readers. I'm not going to stop posting Kayshima just because you don't review.

I just don't know how you're liking it... :(. NO, more like T-T. Yeah, super sad. Anywho, I will continue, review please, but I deeply apologize for threatening to stop posting my story. (Deep Bow) Read on and review chapter 7!

Ch. 7: New Semester, New Friends

"… And so she walked into the cemetery to find the sweater neatly folded over the grave because the hook was on the bumper of the car and the flashlight was really inside. Ooh!" Nakatsu finished his ghost story.

"That wasn't very scary." Kayashima said flatly.

"Really?" Sano asked. He turned to Mizuki, a new student in the school who was now rooming with Sano in his dorm. Only Kayashima seemed to notice that she was really a girl. Of course, no one else could see the difference between male and female auras. She seemed to like Sano a lot, and whether or not he had even discovered it himself, he liked her too, so Kayashima kept his mouth shut. Right now, she was clutching his arm. "Are you frightened?" he asked. Mizuki blushed and let go. Kayashima raised and eyebrow.

"That was a s-s-stupid s-story." Nakao, another new addition to the crew forced out. Despite having gone to the school since the first semester, he had never associated with them until Mizuki came. Then, out of some jealousy, he tried to wage a war with her and in the end, the two cutest 'boys' in Osaka became inseparable. Although Nakao wasn't very mean once you got to know him, he and Nakatsu still didn't get along at all.

"If it was so stupid, then why are you shaking?" demanded the annoyed Nakatsu.

Nakao huffed. "Because you told it, of course, you stupid monkey."

"Why you ultra-feminine freak! I outta-"

Nakao ignored Nakatsu as usual. "If only Nanba were here to hold me…" he mused to himself, blushing.

"Ew. Get over that hopeless dream." Sekime scoffed.

"Or get a room." Noe added.

Mizuki turned to Kayashima, her wide brown eyes lit up. "Hey, Kayashima, do you know any good scary stories?" she asked.

"No more scary stories."

Everyone jumped and turned to face the door where Dorm 2's newest R.A., Minami Nanba stood, glaring.

Now everyone groaned, except for Nakao, who smiled sweetly and blushed.

"Back to your rooms." He ordered. Sano leaned back against his bed and Mizuki smiled as their guests rose to leave.

"Bye!" Nakatsu called loudly as he exited.

"See ya!"

"Good night!"

"Guys, it's past curfew. Don't let me catch you doing this again-"

"Yeah, yeah, we know, Nanba-senpai."

"Nanba-senpai, if you want, we could-"

"No, Nakao. No."

Nakatsu smiled and waited as Kayashima took his time exiting and stepped into the dark hallway.

"You seem to gave become quite the social butterfly." He noted.

"Yeah. Thanks."

Nakatsu placed his hand on Kayashima's shoulder. Kayashima didn't flinch or shrug it off like he might have a few weeks ago.

"You don't have to thank me. I like to make lots of friends, and you looked like you could use some, that's all."

They walked in silence, Kayashima enjoying the safe glow of his friend's aura.

"Hey," Nakatsu suddenly broke the silence, "are you OK telling ghost stories?"

"Huh? Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, that evil spirit… you're not afraid, are you? Not to say you should be, but-"

"Nakatsu, relax. I'm fine." Kayashima promised. "To tell you the truth, I've never felt more safe. I haven't sensed the spirit Yamimaru in a while. Maybe I'm finally safe."

Nakatsu's monkey-face grin stretched from ear to ear.

"KAYASHIMA—THAT'S GREAT!"

"Sh! Keep your voice down, idiot, people are trying to sleep."

"Oh. Right. Gomen."

Neither boy noticed the cool shadow crawl across a corner behind them, silently but carefully trailing their movements with a dreadful aura of malice.

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