Rin's POV

To my great pleasure, Len returned to school the following Monday, which was when I was allowed to return to daily life and leave the hospital. Everyone was extremely confused due to his sudden disappearance and equally sudden reappearance. He told the class that he had some temporary family issues, but they were resolved quicker than expected and he was able to return to school. No one had taken his seat yet, so the teacher sent him back to the same spot, right in front of me. He was wearing his glasses, a sign that he planned to continue his little "act". His hair was a bit messy and covered his face. He looked like a sad and vulnerable kid. Of course, I knew this wasn't the case.

He sat down in front of me and didn't make eye contact with me. It was obvious that he was upset. I tapped him on the shoulder, but he didn't turn around. Well, if he wants to act that way… He was paying any attention to me, so I hit the back of his head with my hand. "OW!" he screamed, turning around. Miku looked over at me in horror. "What are you doing?" she said. "He just got back. Rin, you've gotten so mean lately." Man, he totally has her tricked. Does she even know the crap I've had to go through for this guy? I ignored Miku's comment and turned to Len. "Welcome back!" I grinned. Len's face turned a bit red and he mumbled something under his breath. "Do you want to hang out in the library during lunch?" I asked. "For old times' sake." Old times being only a few weeks ago, but hey, who's counting?

"Don't you think that'd be a bit weird?" Len asked. "All things considered." I shrugged my shoulders. "I think it will be delightful," I replied. "I'll see you there." He gave a groan, which I assumed meant that he would be there. I was too far into this romance thing to give up now. I've taken a bullet for him, so the least he could do is have lunch with me. It's insane to think that I could still love him, but maybe it was meant to be. I spent so much time reading those detective and thief mangas that my life became one. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't forget him. Even though he had lied to me, I can see his side of things. It's not like he could tell me the truth. The whole "criminal" thing is a bit of an issue, but that can be worked out at a later time.

While class was going on, Miku and I kept passing notes. "What's up with you and Len?" she wrote on a tiny sheet of paper. "You both are acting weird." She threw the paper over to my desk and I opened it up. It was so tempting to tell her the entire story, but I knew I had to keep it a secret. "We're completely fine," I replied. I tossed the paper back. Miku read it with an uneasy expression, but she didn't question me any further.

The bell rang for lunch and Miku ran off to be with Kaito. She didn't even offer to eat with her best friend, who just got out of the hospital. I waited for Len to pack up all his things so we could walk to the library together. "What are you waiting for?" he asked as he grabbed his backpack. "You," I said. "And you're slow. Hurry up!" The two of us walked to the library in an awkward silence. Neither of us knew what to say. We reached the library and we were the only ones in there. Even the librarian had left. We took our usual seat.

"I'm sorry for all this," I suddenly blurted. "I just… I just didn't want you to leave me for good." I blushed and cursed myself for saying something so utterly stupid. "I guess it's the least I can do," Len sighed. "You've helped me out a lot lately." It didn't sound like he was picking up on any of my cues. "It doesn't even matter anymore," Len continued. "Since I'm quitting my 'job'."

"What?" I exclaimed. "Why?"

"It's getting a little dangerous," Len explained. "The police aren't taking chances anymore and Gramps is worried about me. Thieving now is really different from when he used to do it. There's a lot of risks."

"That's good," I agreed. "It is dangerous and I can't stand being constantly worried about you all the time."

"Why would you be worried about me?" I was silent. Len rose an eyebrow, demanding an answer. "Because I like you, dumbass!" I shouted. "I already told you that, geez." I turned my head away, so he couldn't see how red I was. Little did I know that he looked exactly the same. "T-this is ridiculous," he stammered. "You know if you're quitting," I began. "We could try… dating and stuff. I mean, you did tell me you liked me. Even if you lied, that's a serious commitment to a girl and I'm not letting that go." I was going to get revenge and the boy I like all in one go. How devious of me.

Len didn't say anything. He was in awe at my request. I sighed and said, "We don't have to go that far, but at least tell me what you think of me. If you don't like me, I'll give up, but you have to say it to my face."

"I don't dislike you…" Len said. I crossed my arms and frowned. I wouldn't accept him dodging the question. "Maybe I like you… a little bit," he finally said. His answer surprised me and I felt a rush of happiness. I'm turning into such a girl right now. Miku could be saying "I told you so" if she was here. "So then we'll try dating," I said with a smile. "And we can turn that little bit into a lotta bit." With that, I noticed that was already time to go back to class and I hadn't even gotten to eat my lunch yet. A bit embarrassed, but also excited, I rushed back to class to tell Miku the news.

She was ecstatic for me. I promised her that I would tell Luka and everyone else tomorrow. She wanted everyone to know. She was extremely proud of herself that I had finally gotten a boyfriend as if she was the one who did it for me. The rest of the day went by in a flash and it was difficult to focus.

I went home by myself and had decided against telling Dad the news at least for a couple days. I wasn't sure how he would take it, so I wanted to wait a few days and see if everything worked out. Dad seemed to like Len though. I prayed everything would be fine, though if he ever knew what Len's other side, he might disapprove.

I was walking through the downtown when I got a shiver down my spine. I felt like someone was watching me. I turned all around and saw nothing but normal pedestrians. No one was looking at me in particular. Perhaps I was just going a bit crazy. I continued walking down the street, but couldn't shake the feeling that something was behind me. I was walking across an alleyway when suddenly someone grabbed me from behind. I began to yell, but the person covered my mouth with a cloth. It must have had chloroform on it because I began to feel dizzy. My body went limp and I couldn't fight back. My attacker was wearing a mask, so I couldn't see their face. What was going on? Why was I being attacked? Somebody help!

Len's POV

"Because I like you, dumbass!" Rin shouted. "I already told you that, geez." That's right, she had, but so much had happened since then that I forgot about it. It seemed like a joke. How could she like me? I lied to her and because of me she almost died. Though I know I'm attractive, there isn't anything exceptional about me that she would like. The greatest part about me is that I'm the Masked Gentleman and she doesn't like that very much. I turned red at her confession. Even though I couldn't understand her, I felt my heart rate increase. Damn it, not this again. Ever since that moment when she found out my secret, I've felt a little weird around her. I did a good job of masking it at the hospital and at the police station, but now that she confronting me, I couldn't control myself.

"You know if you're quitting," she began again. "We could try… dating and stuff. I mean, you did tell me you liked me. Even if you lied, that's a serious commitment to a girl and I'm not letting that go." I had put her through a lot. That fake confession really seemed to shake her. I felt a sense of guilt creeping up on me. "We don't have to go that far, but at least tell me what you think of me. If you don't like me, I'll give up, but you have to say it to my face." She continued. My heart stopped. She wanted a confession? Or a rejection, but I couldn't do that.

"I don't dislike you…" I said slowly. My hands were getting sweaty and I was ready to bolt out of the room. Rin crossed her arms and frowned. She wanted a serious answer. Before I could stop myself, words came oozing out of my mouth. "I guess I like you… a little bit." My mind had stopped working and my heart had taken over. This crazy detective girl who had been the bane of my existence for a long time, this girl that I had lied to and betrayed, this girl that saved my life and got me out of prison… I liked her at least a tiny bit.

"So then we'll try dating," she said with a wide smile. "And we can turn that little bit into a lotta bit." With those words, she got up and ran out of the library. I was left alone, astounded and a bit confused. Everything just happened so fast and I was leaving here… with a girlfriend? How was I going to tell Piko and Gramps when I got home? I had a suspicion though that neither of them were going to be too disappointed. In fact, Gramps might be happier than me.

The rest of the day felt like it didn't happen. Rin and I didn't speak much the rest of the day. We both felt a little awkward. Rin left school as soon as it was over like she was in a rush to get home. I took my time getting home, preparing myself to explain what had happened today. I walked in the front door and was welcomed by Piko, who asked if I wanted anything to eat. I declined and told him to get Grandpa because I had some news. I was just going to bite this bullet and tell them. They'd find out anyway.

Gramps came out of another room. "What's going on?" he asked. "I… I got a girlfriend," I said quietly. Gramps and Piko's eyes widened. "Is it Rin?" Piko exclaimed in a high voice. He sounded like an excited high school girl. "Maybe," I grumbled. Gramps ran over and gave me a giant hug. "I'm so proud of you, my boy!" he shouted. It looked like there were tears coming from his eyes. ? "I knew it was only a matter of time!"

"Thanks," I mumbled. In the middle of this "loving" moment, my phone began to ring. Gramps finally let go of me and I reached for my phone. The caller was an unknown number from an unknown place. Normally I wouldn't answer those kinds of calls, but this time I did. "Hello?" I said into the phone. "Who's this?"

"You don't need to know," the voice on the other end sounded unnaturally deep, like someone was using a voice modifier. "I have a job for you."

"Who is this?" I shouted, ready to hang up. The voice didn't answer my question and instead said, "I want you to steal the Queen's Crown from the Tokyo Central Musuem before the week comes to an end."

"I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about," I replied. Who was this person and how did they know I was the Masked Gentleman? Clients didn't have my personal cell number. This "Queen's Crown" they wanted, I had heard of it. The Tokyo Central Musuem is one of the most highly secure Musuem's in the world with an insane security system. The crown is not only made out of gold, but adorned in expensive jewels. It would easily be the most expensive thing I had stolen yet. "I think you do," the voice said in a smug tone. "How much are you willing to pay?' I sighed after a moment of silence. A job like this wouldn't be cheap.

"Nothing," the voice said. "Consider this job a favor to me if you want something returned. Once you steal the crown, I'll be in contact and tell you what to do next." The voice hung up. What was he talking about? What did he have? My phone rang again and there was a picture message that the unknown person sent. I opened the message and almost dropped my phone when I saw the picture. It was a picture of a girl in a dark room. Her legs and arms were bound and her eyes were covered with a blindfold. I could instantly tell who is was from that signature bow. It was Rin and she was in danger.

"Who was that?" Gramps asked. "Someone has kidnapped Rin," I said seriously. Gramps and Piko looked at me in fear. "They want me to steal the Queen's Crown before the week is up or they're going to hurt her," I continued. "That's too risky!" Piko exclaimed. "You can't take any more chances!"

"Rin is in trouble!" I yelled. "We have to save her." Piko looked frustrated, but even he had to agree. We couldn't leave Rin in danger. "Gramps, what do we do?" I asked. I was beginning to feel anxious and scared. What would I do if she got hurt again and it was my fault? Rin had been lucky so far, but if someone had gone far enough to kidnap her, who knows what they might do. "Gramps…?" I said again.

"Well," he said. "You'll just have to steal the Queen's Crown and get her back."