Dlbn: What the hell? I haven't updated since then? Not a surprise since I've been dealing with a lot of crap, but still what the hell?
Nbld: Pathetic. We were actually keeping up with this one…
Dlbn: Looks like we're only two weeks behind schedule so it's not too bad. We'll keep this updated more frequently now, though.
Nbld: Review Corner! Thank you to Fizzydrink101, promocat, Maki-Sensitivity, halbarath, and ginselleavellaneda09 for reviewing! Green eggs and ham for you all!
Fizzydrink101: Yup, this is right about when she starts to go crazy.
Promocat: Strangely enough, Seimei said he'd take her and Ritsuka away with him instead of just killing her for some reason. Probably to manipulate her. Soubi's even tried to tell him it isn't his fault, I think, but he just won't listen. Then again, he did say he'll let her beat him if it makes her feel better, just as long as she doesn't leave him like Seimei and his father.
Maki-Sensitivity: At this point he's still ashamed of it and that's why he won't tell Seimei. Plus, he's probably certain it's just a one-time thing. Poor naïve, Ritsuka. Seimei will figure it out later on. He's just confused and devastated by everything. He takes anything and everything so personal :/
Halbarath: He's probably going to do something to her in the long run out of revenge, but you never know. If I were him, I'd deal with her head on and put a stop to it. His mother or not, she has no right to hit the poor boy.
Ginselleavellaneda09: I really don't know what her issue is, but she snaps at almost everything. Poor Ritsuka needs some cuddles *cuddles Ritsuka*
Disclaimer: I do not own Loveless or anyone/anything from it. I only own the plot. The rest belongs to Yun Kouga. I make NO money off of writing in this category.
000
Partner projects were the worst. While everyone else in the class teamed up in groups of two or three, Ritsuka just sat there at his desk, alone, staring at the board as if it was going to be his partner. He was the only kid in class without friends. He felt someone tap his shoulder and looked up. A girl in the school uniform was grinning at him from where she stood behind him. He'd been back a week and a half already and he'd never seen her there before. He'd heard her talking with some girls earlier in the morning about a vacation she took with her family. That must have been where she was.
"Hey, Ritsuka." She greeted. "Miss me?"
"Don't bother, Kimizuka." A girl informed her. "He doesn't remember anything."
"Huh?" The girl looked at Ritsuka. "Well, no matter. Wanna work together?"
"You want to work with me…?" He was surprised. "Sure…"
"Great." She sat backwards on a chair in front of him. "So what's this whole not remembering stuff about, hm? Where've you been?"
"Um…"
"Come on, you can tell me. We're friends." She stated.
"We are…?"
"I told you he doesn't remember anything." The girl laughed before turning back to her group.
"What is she talking about…?"
"Um…I was in a coma…and I…I don't have any memories of…you know…before…s-sorry….Kimizuka…"
"Oh, don't you call me that. It's Osamu to you." She grinned. "Osamu and Ritsuka, remember? Oh, right…sorry…you should come back to photography club. Its Thursdays after school."
"Oh…sure…?"
She grinned. "Great! Oh, and since you don't remember stuff, I'll help you learn everything."
"Seimei's already helping me with that…"
"Yeah, but he doesn't go to school here, right?"
"No…he's in high school…"
"Exactly." Osamu seemed proud of herself. "So he doesn't know all the secrets about this place, right? So I can help you with that. And I'll help you get back into photography club, deal?"
"Yeah, deal."
"Great. Let's get to work before Sensei gets on our cases. Alright, friend?"
"Yeah…friend…"
000
After school, Osamu waited with Ritsuka at the picnic table for Seimei to pick him up. She was laughing as she tried to explain to him something about the Photography Club that he didn't think was really all that funny. He sighed and placed his chin in his hands as he looked for Seimei.
"Say, Osamu?" He wondered. "Why do you still want to be friends with me?"
"What do you mean?" She asked, stopping her laughter.
"Well…everyone else acts all weird around me now since I don't remember a lot of things. But I'm trying to learn them again, I promise. And I go to a therapist now to try and get them back, too." He prattled on. "But you have no problem being around me and helping me remember, too. Why?"
"Well, we're friends, aren't we? And what kind of a friend lets their friend suffer in silence?"
"Well, I don't…"
"Exactly; a horrible one. Look, most people don't want to be around me either because my father's the police chief in Kyoto." She informed, leaning back on her palms as she was sitting on top of the top part of the table. "But you still wanted to be friends with me after you found out. Why would I stop being friends with you? We understand one another. People act weird around you because you lost your memory, people act weird around me because of my father. Us weirdoes have to stick together."
"I guess so." He shrugged. "You're just…you're my first friend outside of Seimei and…"
"I gotcha. It's weird, isn't it? And I've been gone on vacation and just got back, so it's like I'm a new kid at school you've never seen before. Only I know your name and a lot about you."
Ritsuka flushed. "Really…"
"You once knew a lot about me, too. Guess I'll just have to refresh your memory about that, too."
"Guess so."
"Ritsuka?" Seimei's confused voice called from the gate. "Are you ready to go?"
"Oh, hi, Seimei!" Ritsuka greeted, waving. "Sorry, Osamu, I'd better go."
"Alright. Thanks for the talk and being my partner today." She gently slugged him on the shoulder, which he'd learned was her way of showing her appreciation. "I'll see you tomorrow. Talk with Seimei about the club, okay? It gets out at three, so it gives you something to do while you wait for him. It's on Thursdays only, remember?"
"I remember. Thanks for everything, Osamu."
She flushed. "You're welcome, Ritsuka."
He rushed to Seimei's side. "Sorry about that, Seimei."
"Oh, it's alright." Seimei led him down the street. "Who's that?"
"That's Osamu. She just got back from vacation with her family."
"Oh?"
"Yeah just in time, too! We had a partner project to do today, and I would have been on my own or forced into a group by sensei if she hadn't been there and asked to be partners."
"That's very nice of her."
"Yeah, it is. And guess what, Seimei?"
"What?"
"She's my friend! I finally have a friend!" Ritsuka laughed.
"See? I told you it was only a matter of time."
"Uh huh." He nodded. "She even asked me if I could go to Photography Club with her…it's on Thursdays only, but it ends at three, so I'd be done when you get out of school and we can still walk home together!"
"That sounds great, Ritsuka." Seimei nodded. "Mention it to mother and father. Maybe you'll make even more friends."
"Yeah, maybe." Ritsuka grinned. "Hey, Seimei?"
"Yes?"
"Remember how I said I don't need friends?"
"I do. I'm not the one with the memory problem." He ruffled Ritsuka's hair.
"Hey!" The amnesiatic neko complained. "Well, I was wrong. Having you as my friend is great! I'm glad you were my first friend."
"I'm glad as well, Ritsuka."
"But I guess I do need friends. After all, who would I do group projects with if I didn't have any?"
Seimei grinned. "Right. Now, who's ready for some ice cream to celebrate?"
"Me! Me!"
