Chizuru was happy. She had very good expectations with regard to her next math exam. She had advanced a lot, thanks to the tutorials with Saito, the exercises already were not resulted to her so difficult to solve. The young man was a good teacher, and how not to be if he was an excellent student, the best one. Without him she would still be stuck in the first exercises.

Saito was definitely a guy endowed with great qualities. He was good at school, in sports, with the words, without mention, that he was one of the most attractive young men in the whole school. He could pretend to be cold and severe, but actually he was kind, sweet, complacent, loyal; there were many words that she could use to describe him. She had a lot to thank him for. Without any objection, he accepted her request to study at home, taking a little more of the usual time to help her.

The girl looked at him in silence while him correcting her work. He looked calm, serene, as he usually was. The young indigo was certainly an interesting person. In spite of being serious and inexpressive (Saito hardly expressed his feelings) he could also show his adorable and shy side. With only a compliment on her part, his cheeks turned red, and he looked embarrassed. Saito was as valued to her as Okita or Heisuke were. She loved him, now he was part of her world, of her family.

"You are a very good teacher, Saito-san." The girl spoke capturing the stoic young's attention. "Had you have other students before you came here?"

"Sometimes I helped some partners with Tsubasa-san's practices, at his request, of course, but being honest, I did not like it very much."

"Why?"

"They only made me waste my time. Especially the girls, they were always distracted. I do not know for what reason they attended the tutorials if they were not going to pay attention."

Chizuru smiled softly. She had a very clear idea of why the girls attended the tutorials. She did not blame them for not paying attention. The young indigo was a true distraction, attractive, intelligent, educated, she herself was sometimes distracted by his presence, but she did not want to fail her exam, so she put all her effort into concentrating, beside, Saito could scold her for the same reason, not paying attention.

"I see ... I suppose something or someone interesting distracted them." She said looking curiously and somewhat amused at the young president. It seemed be that the guy was not aware of how appealing he resulted to be for the girls, but him being so insightful, she doubted it.

"Well, not helped their much the distraction. I assure you ... I'm glad that you give better results."

"Even if, I give you a lot of work? Like you see, I'm not very good at math." She said with a shy gesture.

"You do not give me work," he said in a low voice. "I really do not think you're bad at math. As you can see, you just needed dedicate it a little more time." He finished by showing her the first exercises he had corrected, and they were correct. The girl was intelligent and learned fast. He liked that.

"Or ... I just needed a good tutor." She smiled, making Saito smile a little.

While the young man continued to correct her exercises, she went to the kitchen and took out of the oven, the dessert she had prepared hours earlier (wagashis, senbei.) She put them in a delicate dish and placed them on a tray next to the teapot of hot tea and two nice cups.

She had observed that Saito was not very follower to the sweet, although he never rejected her desserts, she assumed that he would prefer something less sugary. Also, he liked tea more than any other drink that she could offer him, and so she did not hesitate to please him. Immediately she had everything ready, returned to the dining room.

"So, how was I?" She asked, setting the tray on the table.

"You're doing it right." he encouraged her. "You'll do well in the exam, I'm sure."

Chizuru felt the firmness in his words. Saito trusted in her, and she was not going to disappoint him. Apart from helping her to study, the young man gave her the security she needed, the confidence that she was able of doing everything she wanted.

"Thank you, Saito-san ... for helping me to study."

"You do not have to thank me; I'm here as many times as you need me."

The young man took off his glasses, leaving them carefully on the table. "Now we will take a few minutes of break, and then we continue with the other equations."

"It seems good to me." The young woman served the steaming liquid into the cups, offering one to the sub-captain. "Meanwhile, let's talk a little."

"What do you want to talk about?" He asked, taking a sip of his green tea. He looked her thoughtful for a few seconds and then smiled as if she had found an excellent topic of conversation.

"Tell me about your brother, how is he? Is he as smart as you? "

Saito had to suppress the smile that threatened to appear on his face. The attitude of the girl when she was curious seemed funny to him. He did not mind answering her questions, but he felt strange. He was always very reserved and reluctant to answer personal questions, however Chizuru managed to get him everything she wanted to know without even bothering or irritating him.

"Haru is smarter than I." He replied, a small line of smile adorned his face. "We physically resemble each other, in the rest, we are very different. He is cheerful and enthusiastic ... just like you."

The young man took from his wallet the photo of a child no more than seven years old. He had his same blue eyes, his same features, only that his hair was a very dark brown, almost black.

"How cute is he." Chizuru took the photograph, visualizing every detail with fascination. Saito had mentioned his brother, although she had not had the opportunity to see him in photography. They were really very similar.

"Just as adorable as his brother." she said in a whisper. Though, it was impossible for him not to hear it, they were sitting very close.

Saito was not surprised by her reaction. The girls always said the same about his brother, but the last words of the girl left him unsettled. His cheeks quickly stained red without being able to stop it. He had been called attractive, mysterious, intelligent, quiet, and many other things, but never adorable. He did not think it was a qualifier that suited his personality.

Chizuru smiled. She did not mean to embarrass him. The young man simply seemed adorable to her. "He is small," She continued. "He must miss you a lot."

"Maybe a little." He prayed that the redness of his cheeks had already evaporated. "He likes to be more at school with his friends than at home. He is a good boy. "

"I'm sure so." she said, returning him the photograph. "I bet it's one of the many things he learned from you."

"He is good by nature ... me instead ... I don't know…. I do not think that many people think the same, especially at school. "

"Maybe they can think you're very rigorous, like Hijikata-san, but we all know you're a good person."

Saito breathed softly. He was on disadvantage with Chizuru, her sweetness, nobility and above all her smile disarmed him. If there was someone good, it was her, always looking for the best in people. Her words were sincere. He could see it in her big and beautiful brown eyes. He felt that he could tell her anything, and she would not judge him.

Several minutes passed when the girl received the waiting messenger. He looked at her self-absorbed for a few seconds talking to the young man while she received a package and quickly turned his attention to his cup of tea. He felt comfortable in her house. It was a nice place and cozy. It felt a lot of peace and more in her company.

"Well! I believe that I have already fulfilled my mission. "Chizuru approached waving an envelope in her hands that contained the airplane tickets of his father and his assistant. She smiled, taking her place next to the young Stoic, leaving the envelope and package on the table.

Saito nodded with a tiny smile. Definitely, the girl's good mood and joy were contagious.

"Your father will be pleased." He said in a good-humored tone.

"That's right." She liked to see Saito having fun and joking with her even if it was only for a moment.

"I've always wanted to visit Osaka. It's a very beautiful city, do not you think, Saito-san? "

"The city has its charm. I have good memories of the times I was there. "

"Did you go there on vacation?"

"Just once. The other times I only accompanied my father on his business trips. Really, it's a beautiful city. We'll go together one day, I promise."

"It would be fun to go together." She gave him a sweet smile.

The conversations between them were always spontaneous and relaxing. Regardless of the other's point of view on any subject, they fit in perfectly and that was a connection he had not had with any other girl.

The majority of the girls who were part of his environment ("social circle", as used to call it, those who considered themselves superior to others just for having better economic stability) used to overwhelm him at parties or meetings when he could not help but attend. It was tedious and tired. He always pushed them away with his stoicism and lack of interest in their trivial conversations that did not interest him at all.

With Chizuru it was the opposite. He enjoyed their talks and moments together. He began to yearn for her when she was not around. The girl clutched to making him feel an essential part of her life, and thus he felt, an important part of her life.

When the conversation turned to the different places they could visit in Osaka, such as parks and the huge libraries, the girl mentioned the book that she had spoken to him a few weeks ago, and immediately, she went up for it, to her room.

Saito smiled with pleasure when she handed him two copies, the one she had promised him, and another that seemed a little older and that she thought he might like it.

While Chizuru kept his father's documents in his office, he began to leaf through one of the books with curiosity. The books he usually read were educational or of topics that were of interest to him. The kinds of books such as love novels, comedies or fantasies, did not arouse much his attention, but he found it interesting to innovate with something new, in addition he had already told the girl that he would read it, and he always kept his promises.

He was absorbed in his task, when he found an old photograph. He recognized some people in the photo, only that at that time they were a few years younger. He never imagined feeling at ease being surrounded by such scandalous people as Souji or Heisuke, either that a girl as sweet as Chizuru would like to be close to him, he who was so different from her. He was grateful that they had given themselves the opportunity to really know him.

Chizuru returned to the table minutes later. Saito was so focused and calm that it seemed almost a crime to get him out of his thoughts. She was silent for a few seconds, sighing softly.

"So ... do books seem interesting to you?" She asked, taking her place again.

He lifted his face to look at her. "I must admit that I'm curious."

"They're good stories, you'll see."

Saito nodded. "I found this" He said, lifting the old photograph.

"Oh! I had forgotten where I had it." Chizuru looked at the picture with longing. "We went to a lake that day with Oto-san and Kondou-san. It was a beautiful place. "

"It was a long time ago, right?"

" About three years." Here are Heisuke-Kun, Okita-san, Nii-san ...

It was not difficult recognized to Souji and Heisuke. They had not changed anything. They looked cheerful and with the face as if they had just committed a mischief. He did not know Kaoru personally. He only knew what Chizuru had told him. The boy lived in the city of Fukuoka with some relatives, the multiple conflicts in which he was with Souji, among other things. The problems with Souji did not surprise him. The young man chestnut had a personality, not very acceptable to all people.

"He is Oshiro Sasuke." She said, pointing to a black haired boy behind her. "He was our neighbor ... and finally, here I am."

Saito observed the smiling girl in the photo. She was just as pretty as now. Chizuru was the kind of girl that everyone wanted close, kind, affectionate, noble, lovely. He imagined that she was like that since she was a little girl, and he wished he had known her much earlier. So maybe his heart would have felt as warm as now.

"Was the ride fun?" He asked with genuine curiosity.

"It would have been much more pleasant if the guys had not been fighting all day. Besides, I fell into the lake and as a result, I got a cold, but, apart from that, it was fun. "

"I see." Saito looked at her strangely. The young woman seemed amused, remembering the events.

"These guys never got along. You imagine the problems of spending a whole day together. "

"Souji has a list of people that do not like him, right?" He asked with a slight hint of amusement. If he counted the people who did not sympathize to the young captain, he would have a long list.

"It can be" Chizuru spotted the tone of humor in his voice. "But Okita- san is a great guy, with you he got along well from the beginning."

"I like Souji." I respect his opinions, he also respects mine. That way, we'll always get along well. "

"And I'm happy about that." She smiled. "Maybe we can go back to the lake all together. This time it will be much better because you will be there, but you must hold me, so that I do not fall back into the lake again, okay? "

Saito grinned widely. It was impressive how his cold mask fell in front of this girl without any difficulty. He knew that she meant it in a joke, but even so, he would never let her fall. He would protect her as he did the first time they met.

"Okay." He said with a small smile.

Chizuru was amazed. It was the first time that she saw a genuine Saito smiles, showing perfects white teeth. The young man was really handsome. She understood the reason by which all the girls in the school were behind him. She was very lucky to have him around.

During her brief thoughts, she began to feel nervous and with strange sensations that spread through her abdomen. She had never felt anything like that; however, she let it go. It must be due she was anxious about the exam.

"You should smile more often. You have a nice smile." She said shyly.

And there were his cheeks burning again. He had lost count of how many times he had blushed in the last few hours. What was happening to him? He was perfectly able of controlling his emotions.

"I like yours more." This time it was Chizuru's turn to blush. "Well, we've talked enough, it's time to continue." Saito took the book again, giving by ending the break.

He wanted to advance with the class, but what he really wanted, was to stop exposing himself to this young girl, although it was difficult, very difficult. Something happened to him with Chizuru. When he was focused on tutoring, he did not notice it so much, but when he concentrated on her, his emotions escaped without being able to stop them.

They continued with the classes approximately two more hours. By the end of the afternoon, Chizuru felt ready for her exam. Saito not only helped her with math, but also to study for her history exam, although she had told him that it was not necessary (she was very good at that subject, besides, she did not want to take more of his time, she knew that he had other things what to do) the young man insisted. Saito was very good with her. She could only thank him for his help and someday give him back at least a little of all her attentions to her.

After leaving Chizuru's house, Saito passed to the store to buy some groceries and returned to his apartment. He took care of everything he had to do while the thoughts were spinning in his head without stopping.

He had never felt so confused. Since he was a child he learned to control his feelings perfectly, he did not like to show himself weak before anyone. He was an ice boy for some, and a strange boy for others. He did not really care what others thought. He felt good with himself. Fortunately, his friends accepted him as he was, and that had him very animated.

He recognized that Tsubasa was right. No girl had captured his attention as she had. Maybe it was the unexpected way they met, he did not know, but she caused emotions in him that no one had ever achieved before, at least not so easily. Interest, trust, fun, he blushed, often smiled, was often surprised. He was baffled.

He did not know how to name that warm feeling that squeezed his chest when he was next to her, but what he was sure it was, he did not want her away from him. He wanted to take care of her, teach her many things and in the same way learn from her.

Forgetting a little his thoughts, he sat on the couch, taking of the living room table, one of the books the girl had him lent from. Inspiring softly, he read the title in a whisper.

"Behind your eyes" On the first page the name of the girl was written with a pretty letter. This made him smile softly. He was acting very weird.

At first, when he began to read. He thought that the story would not draw him much attention, but to his surprise it was more interesting than he imagined. With interest, he read the first two chapters before going to sleep. He was intrigued, not only by the story he was beginning to read, but by the emergence of new feelings and emotions on his within.

Note: Wagashi it's a traditional dessert Japanese that is often served with tea. They can be sweet as salty.

It took me a little of time this chapter, but I'm working on the next to updated faster that I can.

Guest: The secondary characters are important in this story. I'm glad you like the interactions between them. Tsubasa is somewhat intrusive as Souji, but also very hilarious.

As for Saito, we know his way of being, and I do not think that any girl gets his attention easily. He recognizes the beauty of Chizuru, and the fact of her being as she is, makes her even more beautiful before his eyes.

With Chizuru he feels good, and she has shown him her sincere affection. That's why he takes care of her and is sweet with her. Although, he still does not discover his true feelings towards the young girl.

And yes, Kazama will give some problems, although, he will not be the only one. Je Je!

Shinha: thanks for leaving your comment. I'm glad you like the history.

Enjoy the chapter. Sorry for the errors found, until the next. Bye!