I'm so tired, and I wrote most of this at school, and am typing it up while waiting to go to the SATs.

I'm back! It was like taking the ISTEP for the billionth time.

Trés easy!

And, (even though this was a review from chapter five) the reason that there was more TC than NH was due to the fact that TC was established, and NH hasn't really started up in earnest yet. Yes, I know this is an initially HotoxNuriko fic, so don't worry!

I own nothing.

Uozumi

The Brother Project

Chapter Eleven

As he made his way to his fourth-hour class, Nuriko felt his stomach churn. He knew that he wasn't sick, it was the kind of nausea that comes from intuition when it screams, "Something's wrong! Today you will find out something you'd rather not know!"

At first, he had entertained the idea that the incident he woke to was that, but it wasn't.

Had he really cried him to sleep? Had he really had Hotohori in a death grip?

Nuriko sighed. It was all so confusing, but all he could say was that he was glad he woke first. It was so awkward even if it made sense. He had cried, and Hotohori had sat beside him, giving him a shoulder to cry on until they both had fallen asleep. When he had fallen asleep, Nuriko didn't know, all he knew was that he had a splitting headache from his crying.

Part of him hoped that he was making something of nothing, but he highly doubted that since his inner self was dreading fourth-hour.

But, why?

Mr. Ri was the best, most original, and the easiest to understand teacher of all (even if he seemed to have an odd affinity for putting "no da" on almost all sentences, and rarely speaking in his actual voice). He didn't have to work at class discipline, as fi by magic; all students were attentive and followed the rules. He never got mad, although sometimes he would go into his own little world, and seemed to be sad, reflective, or introspective. There was great pain hidden behind his smiling countenance as though he had suffered long before, more than someone in their mid-twenties should.

Walking into the class, the young senior froze, staring at the teacher's chair with wide, almost glazed eyes. It wasn't Mr. Ri, but Mr. Miao, who all called Coach Mitsukake, because he was the assistant coach of the swim team.

"Coach?" a senior who could double for Tamahome, named Tomite, stared, blinking a few times, then glanced around the room cautiously, "Where's Mr. Ri?"

The class was as silent as death, all somber as they gazed at Mitsukake. It was as though Chichiri had died, and those wearing black fidgeted uncomfortably.

After surveying the class, Mitsukake closed his eyes, then spoke, "Mr. Ri quit last night."

The whole class stared, none believing it. Mr. Ri had taught them never to quit, never give up, telling them that not only was it a good school strategy, but one for life, and that strategy had helped him when he was their age. Yet, he had given up – !

"Why?"

All shifted their attention to a blonde boy in the middle left of the room, just in front of the windows. "Why did he quit?"

"Word has it that Tasuki has been sent to guidance about something that has to do with Mr. Ri."

Nuriko gasped, sitting straighter. No way.

Mitsukake held Nakago's gaze, then lowered his eyes, "I cannot say, and even if I could, I do not know all the details."

"Or is that your cover up? I know you know what it was about, and if you don't, I shall enlighten all," Tomo surveyed the room, a triumphant smirk on his features.

"Word has it that Tasuki has been sent to guidance about something that has to do with Mr. Ri."

Nuriko felt all color drain, barely noticing tense moment shared between them, then Mitsukake spoke, "Whatever it is, Tomo, it is not for you or I to divulge. That is one of the goals of the experiment Mr. Ri gave you."

"Which was?" Tomo leaned back in his seat, folding his arms.

"These are the goals," Mitsukake replied smoothly, without acting as though Tomo was haggling or harassing.

The "Brother" (or "Sister") Project Senior Sociology Mr. Ri, Fourth-Hour THE PROJECT: You and your partner shall spend two weeks together as though you were siblings. You shall spend one week at one of your houses, and the following week at the other's house. The parents and/or guardians preceding have been instructed to treat you as part of their own family as a son or daughter. Be yourself, and learn something that only this could teach you. GOALS OF THIS PROJECT: 1. Discover what it is like to live in a different "culture" than yours 2. Recognize the differences of people based on how they were raised 3. This is not a requirement, but try to make a new friend, or, if you are "enemies," try to at least become "acquaintances" 4. Look at your own life and contrast it with that of your partner 5. Ask yourself, "What if I was in this family…?" and fill in your own answer 5. Come out having a better sense of self, or how good you have it. By seeing someone else's life, you can pick out the goods in yours and theirs GRADING Your grade shall not be based on if you solely have met my criteria, or any other ethereal grading such as that. You shall be graded on a paper that meets the following: 1. A description of your life at home with rules, traditions, etc… 2. A description of your life at your partner's home with traditions, rules, etc… 3. A reaction of shifting into this other "culture" 4. The pros/cons of living in either life 5. Which did you enjoy? Why? 6. How did this project simulate us taking an exchange trip to somewhere faraway (i.e. China)? FINAL NOTE: I hope that all of you enjoy this project, which I do understand could be a stretch for several. This project was designed as a simulation of going to a foreign country without the airfare. You shall not be graded harshly, nor will this be like a completion grade. For your efforts, you shall be rewarded, but by how many points will be determined by the effort and such put into your reports once I receive them. Have as much fun as you can no da! Mr. Ri, Senior Sociology teacher, fourth-hour
"So, how are you going to grade it, Mr. Miao?" Soi spoke up after their new teacher had finished re-reading the requirements to them to reintroduce what they were supposed to accomplish.

"I shall try my best to follow these guidelines he has set for all of us," Mitsukake replied. "I will grade you upon effort, not a completion, but not a heavy-handed grade either. I am qualified to teach English or one of the Social Sciences, so this is my forte."

"So, the project goes as planned, Coach?" Tomite inquired.

"Yes, Tomite, the project still proceeds as planned."

"Fifth Son, why do you not eat? Is the food not to your liking?"

Nuriko sighed, eyes downcast, not even wanting to put up a mask, or "act like Hotohori" as he had discovered worked splendidly. "No, Honored Mother, it is a meal fit for a king, however, I simply had a very long day at school, and I'm worn out."

"High school can be taxing," Mr. Li nodded, "It seemed long for me as well, but then I met Honored Mother, and my days went by too quickly for my taste."

Nuriko offered a meek smile as Hotohori jumped in, "Mr. Ri left the corporation yesterday, Honored Mother."

"What?" the woman stared. "Is that what is troubling you, Fifth Son?"

Nuriko swallowed, then nodded timidly. He didn't like the overt attention, but he really couldn't thwart it now. "He was – He was my favorite teacher, Honored Mother, but something happened, and he had to leave."

Hotohori stared at Nuriko as his mother inquired, "What was it? We can fix it you know."

"You don't have to go to all that trouble," Nuriko smiled half-way, "I'm fine. It'll just take some getting used to, that's all."

Hotohori eyed his fiancé warily. Nuriko knew something, and even if he didn't like prying, Hotohori wanted to know what it was, especially since it was troubling the boy so much.

To be continued…