The girl was a little shorter than me, with brown hair somewhat restricted by a thing green headband. She blushed slightly as she looked at Mori, then me, then back to Mori.

"So," She said, "Are you two together, or is that just a rumor?" She said it with a smile, but I could tell she wasn't excited to hear our answer.

"Oh, us!?" I replied sheepishly. "Oh, God, no! Takashi and I are both single, and happily so!" Flustered, I laughed to pass it off as a joke.

She looked taken slightly taken aback, "Oh, well, that's good to hear! I was curious as to whether you'd be able to be a host with a girlfriend or not, Takashi!" She blushed again, just slightly, and there was an awkward silence.

She shifted back and forth on her feet, obviously nervous. I didn't like the look she had on her face. "So, you'll be at the dance then? Morinozuka-senpai?" She looked up at him, eyes wide and hopeful.

He didn't speak.

"Um... Cause, I was hoping, well maybe if you do go- that is, if you're willing," She coughed a little bit and restarted, "I was hoping you'd save me a dance... Maybe... If you're up for it..." She smiled again, but it disappeared quickly as she waited for him to respond.

He simply nodded, and the girl's cheeks flushed with renewed embarrassment. "Great! Uh, I'll, uh, see you then, I guess! And well, every other day until then, and, uh, I'm just going to, uh, go now..." She walked away with her head down, smiling and blushing like a little girl.

I let my shoulders droop a little, and hung my head slightly. I guess Ms. Yukomoji was right, I thought, disappointed, there are so many girls for him to choose from... What chance do I have? I guess I'm really just mad at myself for thinking I had a chance though... So there's no room for me to be disappointed. I began to fume in frustration.

Mori, already getting absorbed in his studies, opened his book as he started copying the examples off the black board into his notebook. Honey looked over at me as I sulked in my own anger and self-hatred. I watched him through my peripherals as he took in my mood and processed it. When he was done assessing me, he turned back to his work with a simple, "Hm."

Though I hated to admit it, I knew he could tell what I was thinking. I just couldn't wait till this day was over.

The class continued, grueling on, until we were all leaning our heads on our hands. The first day of school was always the most energetic back in the states, because we didn't do anything really... But here everyone's family requires them to be a genius so they can inherit the family business, so the studies start right away here. It might be the only thing I don't like about Japan so far!

Finally, what seemed like an eternity later, the bell rang.

I gathered my things and set them neatly in my bag, and took my phone from the side pocket. I checked my messages, none today, and went to put it back in my bag. But when I reached to put it in the pocket again, it was gone!

Momentarily spazzing, relief washed over me when a deep voice told me, "I got it." I looked up at Takashi, standing behind me with two bags in one hand, and one under his arm. I was about to argue when he interrupted me, "No big deal. I'll carry them." We set off, leaving the class, when I heard a little gasp from behind me. I looked back to see the girl with the headband standing by her desk, watching us leave. She blushed as I saw her, and she turned away quickly.

I kept walking with the boys, wondering if she was jealous or just shocked.

We were all the way to the north building and on our way to the south wing before I realized that I was supposed to be going home.

"Oh, you guys, I should probably head home..." Mori and Honey-senpai stopped and turned to look at me. Honey looked distraught, his eyes wide and shining as if he was going to cry. So before he could say anything to pull at my heart- how I had learned he does with ease- I said, "But, uh, I could always stay until you guys are done hosting...?" Honey's eyes widened and he perked up again.

"Yay! Bekah-chan is going to stay with us! Isn't that great Takashi?" He jumped on my arm and spun around, shouting and laughing with joy. This kid is way too easily pleased...

So I asked Takashi for my bag, and pulled out my phone. I knew that if my dad was still on a business trip, he wouldn't take calls, so I texted him instead. Just a quick message, 'Hangin with friends, be home in two hours.' And slid the cell back in my bag's pocket.

Before I could get the bag all the way over my shoulder, it slid off of me again, only to land in Mori's strong grip again. He looked at me and smiled slightly as he started off toward music room 3 again.

I blushed and followed closely behind him and Honey.