Hello everyone! How you been all of you? Man I'm glad to be back, well enough of the formalities! You are here to read so here we go! This will be a really important chapter though, so enjoy it! I will be trying to update 2-3 times a week.

Chapter 10: The Question.

Getting out of Hope Peak Academy is not a hard job, students are often in an out of the place. This is due to a way to promote that students don't only focus on the studies but that they can feel free in order to keep developing their talents, of course, most of the times the things needed are in the school so there is not really need of getting out.

But for a girl with scissors in her hand the school was a limited space for what she had in her mind. In the eyes of the people the scene developing in front of them was just a cheerful couple running around enjoying the wonderful breeze of the day as they went probably on a date. They would have been half right, after all, they were going on a date. Were they a couple? Hard to tell.

But on the views of the people is always hard to tell. But one person was thinking seriously this question, that one being Genocider Shou. What was Naegi to her? A friend? A partner in crime? An ally of justice in her quest? Names and titles flew in her head as she kept running holding his hand.

Naegi was in a similar state of mind, what were they? Good friends? As his mind was going around he could hear the voices of people as they saw them running.

"Ah to be young and in love" a voice said with affection in its tone remembering better times. "Oh my look at that couple" someone said seemingly surprised seeing them run. "Young love eh?" Seems everyone that saw them thought they were a couple. Well usually couples go holding hands.

He wasn't sure when it happened, but he noticed something. He had been keeping her pace. On some point of their run both Naegi and Shou had come to a steady pace that allowed to be moving faster than walking but allowed him to stay close to her. "As if she wanted me to keep close" Were the thoughts of Naegi at this.

On a moment they reached a park and it was then that Shou clearly bring them to a halt "Here we are! The perfect spot for a date!" Fukawa extended her arm as if to show Naegi the place, he does had to admit, it seemed a nice place. Green trees, benches, a lake in the middle. Quite normal but it had a charm into it, maybe it was the fact it was so relaxing. Well kind of hard to not be relaxing when there wasn't anyone around.

Naegi knew he had lost the day of class, but might as well enjoy it "It seems nice Shou" Naegi smiled, at this Shou smiled herself revealing her teeth "I knew you would like it, this place screamed your name allover kyehahaha" Before Naegi could speak he felt how Shou linked his arm with hers. "Let's go then! Is our date after all"

Shou took him walking, which surprised him, she was often more on the wild side of things, always rushing in explosions of energy, and it was surprising to see her so relaxed walking with him. She was guiding their movements, Shou was good at fast thinking, she wasn't one to make full plans ahead, to her life was an explosion of moments so might as well enjoy them as they come.

She had thought Naegi would prefer a place where they could be in calm without any interference around. Well she was the one who didn't wish people to bother them, it was her date with Naegi after all. Honestly, she still didn't got what made Naegi interesting, but he simply was to her.

"Well…what's next?" Shou stated in a deadpanned tone that surprised Naegi. "Honestly is my first date, I don't know how things work in this things kyehaha" she laughed, and Naegi couldn't avoid to smile "Same honesty as always" Fukawa would have never said something like that, but Shou would totally do it.

Honesty, bluntness and explosiveness made Shou unpredictable in a good way, a contrast to Fukawa shyness and planning. Naegi could only smile at her "Did I said something fun? You are smiling a lot" At this Naegi got red on his cheeks at Shou observation "No, I'm okay, is just…well you are always honest" This time it was her turn to smile "No better policy than honesty, unless a cop asks, then you can lie kyehahaha" Naegi thoughts drifted fast "No doubts why no one ever caught you"

Shou guiding of the park brought them to a tree that offered shade and was near the lake. A relaxing spot "Bet the little Macarena will like it" Shou decided to sit on the base of the tree, due to her arm being linked with Naegi he also had to sit. "Well enjoy the view Naegi" she extended her arm holding a scissor to show Naegi the view from their point.

It was nice, the clear water reflected the surrounding of the park and the sky as a mirror. Peaceful breeze blew around making the leaves of the trees dance around, making small ripples in the almost still mirror made of the lake. Naegi felt relaxed and closed his eyes, until he felt the poke of scissors on his cheek.

"Oi! No falling sleep on our date! I refuse to think I'm so boring to make you to fall asleep Naegi!" at this he laughed "Sorry…is just this place is really relaxing, thanks Shou" At his thanks she seemed to relax and put her scissors away. "Anytime Naegi" She smiled, her long tongue moved to the side as she smiled.

"Im still on the lost though, what do people do on dates? Just stay sitting and doing nothing? Sounds rather boring kyehahaha" She was trying her best to make conversation she then got an idea, Fukawa might be on the classics, but she was more on the other side of the books, so she told Naegi something Fukawa would have fainted by just thinking the idea.

As her mind worked on the plan Naegi mind was in deep thought.

Naegi had been simply relaxed being at the side of Shou, even if they weren't speaking he just enjoyed her presence, in a weird way, he felt oddly protected by Shou. The whole date thing had been surprising and in a way he couldn't refuse. But it was a weird feeling.

Often one is taught that a man should protect the girl, like a knight protecting a princess. But in Naegi case it was the opposite, the princess was protecting the knight, what's more, the princess had more knight material than him. Shou was confident and in a way her confidence and bluntness made Naegi relax, he felt that as long as she was there, nothing would really happen to him.

His thoughts were broken by the sound of Shou voice. "Oi Naegi! Rest your head on my lap!" Shou smiled inwardly, this never failed in books! The couple would sit in the lap of the other and they would chat a lot, at least that's how she remembered the book. Honestly she wasn't that much into books so her memory could be hazy about the details. "Who cares, I know this doesn't fails ever! Kyehahaha!"

Naegi who was just at the side of Shou suddenly became a blushing mess trying to form words. "A-ah, but…Isn't that..you" Shou smile turned feral as she took her scissor to poke Naegi side. "It wasn't an option, your head, rest. Now. Kyehaha" Naegi let himself be guided by Shou free hand. Her hand was on his cheek and she guided him to her lap.

Honestly. She couldn't see what was so nice of it. Sure he could see Naegi blushing face directly from her position. And Naegi could surely see her face from that angle, but really. "What is so nice of this, I thought it was something awesome on dates, feel pretty simple if you ask me." Her head was so into thinking what was so nice of the position she didn't notice Naegi.

She was even if unconsciously passing her hand through Naegi hair, who couldn't be blushing more even if he tried. "Is she seriously doing this?! Isn't this something really personal to do?! Why is she doing it! Why I can't say no!?" Naegi was blushing, but he also found himself relaxing at the way Shou hand rested over his head in a soothing manner, even if the person doing it wasn't conscious of it.

"Really, what's so nice of this? I thought it would make me feel something…I got to say is nice the whole deal of petting this…wait…is Naegi head isn't?" She looked down seeing the movements her hand was making and saw the blushing Naegi, who in a weird way looked relaxed. This brought a smile to her face as she suddenly got the feeling to tease him.

"Oi Naegi. Feeling comfortable aren't we?" At this Naegi opened his eyes and tried to look all over but just couldn't seem to be able to form words, not that he needed as Shou kept speaking "Kyehahaha relax Naegi, I'm actually enjoying it too" At this Naegi tensed but also stopped his intention to find something to say.

She kept Naegi in that position for a moment before speaking. "Hey, why are you always so nice to everyone, got me curious of that" She decided she could use the chance to ask personal stuff, people did that on dates right? Asking personal stuff? Seemed kind of rude but hey, she wasn't going to question how dates worked.

Naegi seemed surprised at her words and he fought the blush on his face before trying to be serious "I…I just think everyone deserves to be treated nicely, there is no need to be bad with everyone…" At this she smiled, her smile looked feral as she approached her face close to Naegi. "Even someone ugly as me?" she was about to laugh when suddenly Naegi spoke up fast.

"You are not ugly Shou" This took her by surprise. She opened her eyes in the surprise and Naegi kept speaking "You are someone who is beautiful…you are honest, you can be blunt, you are also do thing without much planning, but you always do the things you want to do…and I think that is something not many people do. You live the way you want to"

He meant every word he had said, he found her beautiful not only her physique, her red eyes that were full of mystery in them, the way she could smile so freely, how her feral teeth shined white, how her tongue moved independently of what she was doing, all of Shou was a representation of how free she was. She was beautiful because she was an explosion.

You couldn't hold it in one place, she would always found a way to do what she wanted, to make things go her way, and it wasn't for selfishness, no. It was because she was free like an explosion of energy that always made itself known, screaming to everyone, I am here. That feeling, that proof that she was there, made her beautiful in his eyes.

Shou wasn't sure what was happening. She wasn't sure, was she sick? She suddenly felt her face going hot. She couldn't be sick, she was okay, she didn't had any fever, she got straight and placed her hand over her forehead to see if she was okay, surely something happened, why did she felt like that? Her train of thought was interrupted by Naegi

"Shou are you…blushing?" Ah! Blushing! A result of suddenly getting blood up there and feeling hot all of the sudden, so that is the way Naegi felt always? "No, yes. Maybe. This is new" Her smile got bigger and bigger, threatening to hurt her cheeks if she smiled anymore. "Say that again" She looked at Naegi who suddenly blushed at seeing her so happy.

It wasn't weird, Shou was often either serious or happy from what he had seen. But this was new, she looked in the brim of happiness, smiling so much he could see all her teeth and her tongue to its full extent. He was confused, but a part of him knew what had got her so happy.

"You are beautiful" Naegi heartbeat increased as he watched her. She laughed, laughed like never before, crying tears of how much she was laughing and shouted. "Hear that world! I'm not ugly! I'm beautiful!" All her attention went back to Naegi. "My, my, when did you became such a smooth talker Makoto?" Naegi blush if possible had gotten even more marked.

She had called him Makoto, no one called him that way. What's more, something in her eyes had changed, sure they were red instead of the grey ones of Fukawa, but there was something more in them, those eyes suddenly seemed highly focused on him. As if the whole world didn't mattered for her, her target was in front of her.

When Fukawa had confronted Naegi of their friendship on the roof that night, her eyes had a burning courage on them and they didn't allow space for lies, they asked for honesty. And now the eyes of Shou asked the same, they asked honesty, she was obviously incredibly focused, no jokes, no smart comments, she was in her most serious self yet.

"Makoto…I like how it sounds, did you know it means sincerity? A word that really fits you…now I want you to be sincere, I don't care if is not pretty…I want you to be honest with me"

He nodded and noticed.

Naegi became tense as he noticed how positions had changed, he wasn't on Shou lap, he was on the grass and Shou was looking at him like a wild animal looks at prey. Shou wasn't showing any nervousness but inside she was feeling with lots of emotions a debate on her mind.

Naegi was nervous, he was on the grass, Shou was on top of him, and yet, even if nervous and tense, he knew he wasn't in any danger. Even in this odd scenario he found himself being the main protagonist, he wasn't afraid. Shou wasn't going to hurt him. But he was confused, what could be so serious that she was so focused.

"Am I going to really do this? This will change how he sees me…how he sees Fukawa…is it me? Is it her? Who is the beautiful one in your heart Makoto Naegi…My little Macarena…who is it that…"

"Do you love me?"

She said it. Shou had asked, her voice was full of affection, and this brought surprise to him. Naegi couldn't believe the level of affection in her voice, it was obvious she was seriously asking, it wasn't a joke of any sort. From all the things he had been expecting to hear from her, this wasn't what he expected. He was frozen, and she asked again.

"Makoto Naegi…do you love me?" The affection on her voice was the same and Naegi found himself trying to form words, it was hard because he couldn't stop looking at her eyes, he lacked air, and he couldn't find the courage, but he started, one word at a time.

"I…"

CUT! Well expect the answer of Naegi on the next chapter! Chapter 11: The Answer!