"A date this Sunday."

"Huh?" the blushing Ryuuji and Ami chorused together.

"In public too."

Both Ryuuji and Ami had be summoned by Rin. She wanted to meet them at her office for something urgent. Hunches told Ryuuji it had to be another scenario with Ami. Maybe it was for a commercial this time. To be honest, Ryuuji felt uncomfortable prancing around in the media, acting like someone he was not. Still, he wanted to help Ami.

The two of them meet outside of a six-story building. It was Ryuuji who got there first. Ami showed up five minutes after him. They briefly discussed their conversations with Rin and then entered the building. Ami lead Ryuuji to Rin's office, which was on the third floor. Once they got to the door of the office, Ryuuji knocked on the door four times, as instructed by Rin. Once given the go, the two of them entered. They saw Rin sitting in an office chair behind her desk and were shocked to hear the first two words come out from Rin were 'a date'.

"W-wh-wh-what do you mean a d-date?" an embarrassed Ami asked.

Rin sighed.

"Look. It has been almost two weeks since the photo. Your appearances on television and next month's fashion magazine were great, but people crave a bit more. The only thing I've heard, that is couple-related, is that you hold hands to and from school."

"Where did you hear this?" demanded a soft-spoken Ryuuji.

"Internet. There are forums following your every move. Especially you, Takasu."

"Huh?"

"Let's just hope you're built up."

"EHHHH!"

"Don't worry, Takasu. They are Kawashima's fans. Most of them are scrawny anyway. Most of them."

"Hold on," interrupted Ami. "That doesn't explain much. What about the forums? Why do we need to...date?"

"Kawashima, do you research yourself?"

"That depends," replied a prideful Ami. "Why?"

"In the beginning, it was more like 'I'll take on that guy who tricked poor Kawashima' or 'Why not me', but they are now calling it fake. I bet some of the people who posts are from you school, because they put things like 'They just hold hands and sit together with their friends at lunch' or 'I haven't seen them kiss or hug outside of television, so it could be fake' or, my personal favorite, 'That guy was just a sap for Kawashima for a week to gain popularity. What a...'. Well, you know."

Ami flicked her right wrist.

"So what? Like I care about them."

"I don't care if you care about them or not. Kawashima, if these people disgrace you now, how can you make it as an actress?"

Ami flinched.

"You're bossy, prideful, two-face, sour, like a-"

"Shut up," Ami grumbled as she trembled, like if she was going to cry. "I know who I am. I don't need to be reminded."

Ryuuji just looked at the trembling Ami, unsure what to do. He looked back at Rin.

"So...this date will help her?"

Rin crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

"Maybe. If they see her on an actual date, they might change their opinion about her... Don't know about yo-"

"I'm not popular, so I don't care. Besides..."

Ryuuji whispered so low that only Ami could hear his whisper.

"...I'm use to it."

As soon as Ami heard him, she stopped trembling and faced him.

"Did you say something, Takasu?"

"It's not that important... So about this date thing though. You said Sunday, right?"

Rin smiled.

"Yes."

"Alright then. I'll take Kawashima...on a d-date-te."

Ami's eyes widened. To see Ryuuji act so boldly was something she had seen at school. Even during the summer at her summer house. Was he always raised like this? Did that boldness come when people feared him because of how he looked? Did people reaction towards him made him change to be so direct? Did that accident do something more to him than forgetting parts of his memory? Ami slightly blushed as she saw the man inside of Ryuuji.

"Then it's settled. Listen, you take her to the park. You know, something public. That way, people can see you."

Ryuuji slightly nodded. Rin smiled and pulled something from underneath the desk. It was a white envelope filled with some paper yen. Rin nudged Ryuuji to take it.

"Here. Since you are doing this not only for Kawashima's sake but for mine as well, I'll pay for the date."

Ryuuji just looked at the envelope in Rin's hand. The envelope obviously had more money than what the date would cost. Ryuuji then shook his head after an intense pause.

"Thanks, but no thanks."

"Take it. You are helping us after all. It's the least I can do... You don't really have that much money, do you? Your mother works, and probably your father t-"

Ryuuji clenched his fists and glared down at Rin, forcing her to stop. She closed her eyes softly.

"Didn't know I stepped on a land mine. Anyway, take the money."

Ryuuji exhaled to calm down.

"You're right. We don't make that much money, but that doesn't mean we need it desperately. If I'm going on a date, I rather pay for it out of my pocket."

There was an intense staring contest between the two. Ami watched as she anxiously waited for a response from one of them. Rin sighed loudly.

"Boy, you're stubborn."

Rin put the envelope back underneath the desk. She smiled at them.

"So I guess it's settled. You two are to go out this Sunday. Just the two of you. Taiga's a sweet girl, but it's a date...a real one. You don't bring friends on dates. And no double dating. Just you two alone. And go somewhere populated in the afternoon."

"I think we got it," said Ryuuji.

"Very well," Rin said and leaned back. "You are free to go. I need to finish a few things up. Kawashima, enjoy your week off. You'll be back on Tuesday, advertising some jewelry this time."

Ryuuji and Ami left Rin's office. At first, they silently walked out of the building. As they breathed the air outside, Ryuuji continued to walk and soon realized he was the only one walking. He looked back to see Ami looking down, not moving an inch forward.

"Kawawshima, is something wrong?"

Ami looked up; her eyes somewhat narrowed, as if she was irritated by something.

"You should have accepted the money... After all, you are working for my benefit through Fukumi-sensei. It's only proper if you get paid. You're just acting to be my boyfriend. You are acting to like me in that sort of way."

Ryuuji sighed. He saw Ami's slightly shaking, probably being nervous on how he would reply.

"Like I told Fukumi-sensei, I would rather pay for the date. It probably have to do with my pride, but I don't really care. I would rather pay for the date myself. That way, it seems more real."

Ami's eyes widened as her face lightened.

"More real?"

"Yeah," Ryuuji replied, slightly blushing. "It might be real to other people, but to me and you, it will be fake. So, if it is fake to us, we might show it off as fake to other people. And if that happens, they might get the wrong idea."

"Wrong idea?"

"Yeah. Those forums..."

"... Oh, yeah."

Ami looked down, saddened by not only she had to suffer by what people said about it but also her friend.

"So, if I can surprise you, it won't seem fake."

Ami looked back up with a surprised face.

Wouldn't seem fake, huh? You know what. That doesn't sound bad.

"Alright, then," said Ryuuji. "I'll see you on Sunday. I'll text you about the time we should meet and everything else."

Ryuuji turned around and was walking back home until Ami's voice stopped him.

"Takasu-kun, you want to accompany me to get some coffee. I saw a coffee shop on my way over here and thought it would be great to get some coffee during the walk home."

Ryuuji thought about it, thinking Ami was just being kind about inviting him after the meeting just now. Still, part of him thought that Ami was inviting him just as friends, maybe even more. Ryuuji smiled.

"Sure."

Ami smiled. Together, side-by-side, they walked to the coffee shop.

"I haven't tried this one before," said Ami. "It seems local, so I'm not sure about the taste."

"Can't you check the reviews online on your phone?"

"By the time we get there, it'll be too late. It's just around this corner."

Ryuuji and Ami took a right at the corner of the street and quickly realized the names of the people walking towards them. They were two light skinned girls from Ryuuji and Ami's class, and they were about the same height as Ami. In fact, they were two good friends Ami usually hang around with. They would even sometimes eat lunch with the couple. Their names were Maya Kihara and Nanako Kashii.

"Kawashima?" called out Maya, the orange-haired girl with reddish-brown eyes.

"Oh, hey," said Ami as she and Ryuuji approached them.

"Looks like you two are enjoying a stroll."

"Oh, well, yeah. Takasu-kun is walking me home from work."

It was not entirely a lie.

"Well, that's nice," said Maya. "You must have already studied."

"Studied?" wondered Ryuuji. "For that history test tomorrow? Yeah, I've been at the books all week."

"It must be kind of hard," commented Nanako, a purple haired girl with purple eyes. "You just came out of hospital and all."

That's half of it, thought Ryuuji.

Ryuuji looked over at Ami. He was surprised to see an ashamed face on her. Nothing embarrassing, to his knowledge, was said. Why would she flip out just now? There had to be a reason.

"Shit! I totally forgot."

She frantically looked left and right and then faced Ryuuji with a pouted face.

"We'll take our coffees on the go. We need them for tonight."

"Huh? Why?"

"Cause you have to help me."

"Mm?"

"You have to help me study."