Leaving his new camera in the bedroom, Kojiro went to have breakfast and then to class. Ken, Kazuki and Eri talked cheerfully about the School Festival, until they saw the captain.

-Hi guys –he said once he entered the classroom.

-Hi, Hyuga-san… -said Kazuki and Eri, a bit nervous.

-What's wrong? You hiding something?

-No… Nothing.

-By the way, may I inquire if any of you placed something in my backpack last night.

-Nani? What are you talking about? –Eri asked, confused.

-I found a mysterious package in my backpack this morning.

-Wasn't me.

-Me neither –Ken added.

-Then… Kazuki?

-OK, OK, I admit it… I did it! –said the guy, sick of having everyone's glances over him. –After what Baru did to you, you couldn't be left without a camera, or am I wrong, captain?

-But… it's a very expensive one…

-It's one of the latest models. Use it well.

-Kazuki-san, that's very nice of you –Eri said, touched.

-Well, that's just the way I am with my friends, Eri. I try to be there in the good and the bad times.

A while later, in recess, Hyuga decided to be on his own for a while, but met with Hitomi, who looked distressed.

-Hi, Murata.

-Hyuga-san! Thank God I found you!

-What's wrong?

-Kousuke went berserk in the club! Everything's broken!

-As if beating me to a pulp wasn't enough…

-Yeah, everyone in the school heard the story. What are you going to do?

-Wait and see –and Kojiro whistled twice. His group of friends appeared immediately, worried.

-What happened? We heard the signal –Eri asked. –But… Baru isn't here.

-Tell them, Murata.

-Kousuke made a disaster in the Cooking Club. He's so obsessed with winning he broke everything so the others can't practice.

-That dirty two-legged rat! –Takeshi exclaimed, angry. –He made too much this time.

-Well, the principal's going to listen to us this time –Ken said. –Got the picture here.

-Let's get going. Murata, come with us.

-What for?

-You're the only witness to the chaos in the kitchens. We need you.

-Count with me then! –the girl exclaimed, pretending to roll up her sleeves, and Hyuga, Wakashimadzu, Takenouchi, Sawada, Kooda, Sorimachi and Murata ran towards the principal's office.

-You need something? –asked the secretary, without lifting her eyes from the papers she was checking.

-We need to talk with the principal, ma'am. Is he available? –Kazuki said.

-Luckily he is. By the way, Hyuga… Haven't you had enough with the soccer teams and now you pick a fight?

-It wasn't me the one that fought! –he exclaimed, angry. Moments later, the seven teenagers entered the principal's office, while he checked some reports.

-Sir, are you busy? –asked Eri politely. –we need to talk with you.

-What happened?

-A guy from 9-C, Baru Kousuke, has caused a lot of trouble –Takeshi said.

-He made a mistake; he has made my life a living hell –Hyuga said. –Sorry for the swearword.

-I can see it clearly. Did you pick a fight with him?

-It's really the other way, sir. Ever since I accidentally entered the school's Cooking Club, Baru hasn't stopped bothering me. In fact, Baru beat me up two days ago.

-Have any evidence?

-Out of my bruises and bandages, I do. Ken, give me the picture.

-Of course.

Ken gave Kojiro the picture, and he gave it to the principal.

-this was the last picture my camera took. It broke when it hit the floor, but the film was spared. And the nurse can testify to then bumps I have on my body.

-I doubt this is a fixed picture. The young man you're talking about seems to be very unstable.

-And that's not all –Hitomi said firmly. –He also rampaged like a bull in the Cooking Club room. Everything there's on the floor, broken just because he doesn't want anyone to win.

-Beating up a student is terrible enough already, but destroying school property is too much. I'll have to witness it.

The principal stood up, and went to the classroom where the Cooking Club members used to meet, followed by the students.

Hitomi didn't exaggerate. Everything was a mess, and Kousuke wasn't there.

-Thank god Fujiwara-sensei didn't come today, or she'd be heartbroken –Hitomi said.

-Worse. She would've had a heart attack –Hyuga replied.

-How could Kousuke fall so low? –Maya said, her eyes brimming with tears.

-I guess there are people who don't care about the consequences of their doings, Takenouchi-san –Ken said, patting her on the back.

-Kooda, Sorimachi, look for Baru and bring him here by any means.

-Yes, sir! –and the two best friends went to look for the bully.

-Judging by the looks of it, it'll be better to call off the School Festival.

-What? You can't do that, sir! Every member of the clubs has prepared him or herself too much for the Festival…! –Hitomi said, but Maya elbowed her to shut up.

-have a little respect, Hitomi-chan.

-However, Murata-san's right. The entire school can't pay for just one student's vandalism –Takeshi said, who had just discovered a word he had heard just once, vandalism.

-I can't allow these things to happen again. If only the School Festival causes this, I don't even dare to imagine what could happen if it was something more important than it –the principal said.

-Sir, not only would it be a mistake if you cancelled the School Festival, but you'd cause a great deal of pain to the students. Like Murata said, everyone in the school's getting prepared for tomorrow, and if you do cancel the School Festival, the entire school's morale would go below floor level –Hyuga said.

-You may be right on that, Hyuga… But then, what can be done according to you?

-Punish Baru in some way or another –Ken said.

-Expel him! –Takeshi said.

-I think the best lesson he could get would be that Takenouchi beat him in the Cooking contest there will be to choose the school's contestant for the Tokyo competition –Hyuga said.

-That is a good option, Hyuga, but, how sure can you be of beating Baru if it does happen?

-I have no guarantee, but I'm sure I can.

Hyuga wasn't really all that convinced. His shrimp cocktail recipe didn't convince him much, but time was against him and he couldn't go look for another recipe.

-I hope so, Hyuga…

And when the principal was about to leave, Kazuki and Eri arrived, dragging Kousuke like a sack of potatoes, since he had a rather painful bump on his head .

-Why did you bring up Kousuke like that? –Maya said, gulping spit OOU.

-Didn't the principal say we had to bring him by any means? The only way we could bring him here was hitting him on the head, and man is he hard-headed –Kazuki replied.

-How did you knock him out?

-Let's say math was the key –Eri said. And in that moment Kousuke woke up.

-I swear I'm gonna get… The principal… -and the bully's pale face went paper-white, out of being surrounded by his sworn enemies.

-Baru, what you did today and two days ago has no name or apology. Are you aware you caused serious injuries to Hyuga and destroyed school property?

-It wasn't me, sir! –Kousuke exclaimed. -Hyuga picked the fight, and I haven't been around here for days!

-Don't you call us liars –Hitomi said. –I saw you wrecking everything.

-And the camera doesn't lie –Ken added, showing the picture.

-It's a fake! A fake, I tell you!

-You think I've taken pictures of you before? Don't make me laugh, that because of you my ribs hurt like heck –Hyuga said, apologizing for the swearword later.

-How could you fall so low just to represent the school, Kousuke? To think you were my friend before makes me feel humiliated! –Maya finally exclaimed.

-Maya…ko…

-You're a disgrace for the Cooking Club. Don't you even dare show yourself at the contest, or you'll embarrass each and every one of us –Hitomi said. –Oh, I wish Fujiwara-sensei kicks you out of the club when she hears this.

-I doubt she will… -Kousuke said cynically.

-And how can you know that? Can you read minds? Are you a warlock? –Kazuki said, sarcastic. –You can't know what will the others decide, neither force them to do whatever you want.

-And you can't go around telling off whoever you want.

-I don't do that. I only tell off the ones who deserve it.

-Yamero (Stop it) –Hyuga said. –This'll be decided tomorrow, like it or not, Kousuke. There's nothing written in soccer and life, so you'll learn the lesson you need to learn tomorrow.

-Yeah, right…

-You're coming with me, young man –the principal said, pointing at the door. –The others please go to your classrooms. Recess ended a while ago.

-Hai.

All the involved students (except Kousuke, for obvious reasons) went to their respective classes, although Hyuga stopped for a moment. The bruises on his side were hurting.

-Hyuga-san, are you OK? –Maya asked, since the others hadn't seen him stopping to catch his breath.

-Yeah, Takenouchi. It's just the bruises on my side. I hope it's not a broken rib.

-The nurse would've told you if you had a broken rib, right?

-Um… Yeah.

Kojiro looked out thru the hall's windows. The sky wasn't completely cloud-free, but it didn't look as if it were going to rain.

-Hyuga-san… Sorry for causing you so much trouble.

-What?

-If I hadn't convinced you to go into the Cooking Club, you wouldn't be like this right now.

-Don't blame yourself. It's no one's fault.

-But it's my fault Kousuke… Kousuke beat you up –and Maya began to cry.

-Oi, no… Don't…

Kojiro didn't know what to do, or at least he couldn't remember what to do. Maya cried quietly and he stood there, confused… Until he got near the girl and dried off her tears with his handkerchief.

-Don't blame yourself. What's done is done and there's no use in crying about it, Takenouchi. What really matters is here and now.

-But, but… Aren't you angry at me?

-Hey, how could I? You're a really good friend, and that's what counts –and for Maya's surprise… Hyuga smiled.

Maya was amazed with that smile. Was she dreaming? Hyuga rarely smiled.

-Hyuga-san…

-Yeah?

-Er, no… Betsuni (It's nothing) –and she went to her classroom, just like the soccer captain, who wouldn't be able to play tomorrow.

The rest of the day was quite normal, although Kojiro decided to stay in the library in the afternoon; he wasn't sure if he could stand seeing his friends play soccer while he was forced to stay on the bench. He was doing the homework he had forgotten to do the day before.

-Hyuga-san… How you feeling? –Hitomi asked.

-The same, I guess. And you?

-Fine, as usual. You're doing homework? Shouldn't you be training with the soccer team?

-I can't train right now, Murata. Remember I'm badly injured.

-That's not what the unstoppable Toho captain usually says.

-I know it's not, but I have to concentrate on healing from the beating Kousuke gave me and then win the National Soccer Tournament.

-Ah, I see… By the way, I saw that you and Maya-chan stopped to talk. What did you talk?

-None of your business –Hyuga answered a bit too dryly.

-Oh, gomen nasai, Mr. Susceptibility.

-Uh, no… I didn't want to be so curt. It's just that Takenouchi thinks that everything that has happened is her fault.

-And?

-I told her that's not true –Hyuga said, looking thru the window. –Truth is it's all Kousuke's fault, but I didn't want her to feel worse than what she did. And yet…

-And yet what?

-She began to cry, and the only thing I could do was use my handkerchief to dry her tears.

-Mmm… Could've been worse.

-What do you mean?

-Maybe you're not as insensitive as you look.

-What do you mean with that? Are you saying I like Takenouchi? Òó…

-No. I merely say there are some guys who instead of doing what you did, they tell us women to be strong and stop crying.

-Well, I guess that having a little sister does help.

-How's that?

-Every time my little sister had any trouble, I tried to be there for her.

-Hmm, just as I thought. You're really a good guy, Hyuga-san. I just hope you're honest with yourself –and Hitomi left.

"Be honest with myself? But I'm totally sure I see Takenouchi as a good friend."

And in this case, Hyuga wasn't lying to himself; although he had never been in love, he was very sure of what happened in his heart.

A while later, Takeshi y Ken arrived to the library, although Kojiro wasn't there anymore.

-Looking for something, young ones? –asked the fat and bald librarian.

-We were looking for Hyuga-san. That's all, Mr. Murakami –Takeshi said.

-Well, he left some time ago. I believe he left when he finished his homework.

-OK, thanks –and the guys left. However, they kept on talking.

-Oi, Hyuga-san arrived with you to the classroom after recess?

-No. He took a bit of time, and I doubt it was his injuries.

-What?

-I dunno… I only know he took some time, but he looked strangely calm when he arrived.

-It wouldn't surprise me if it figures he had been talking with Maya-san.

-Quite likely –Ken said, shrugging.

-And shouldn't you be feeling jealous?

-Of what or who?

-I mean, Maya-san is your girlfriend, right?

-If it's a joke, it's one of your worst. You know Maya and I are strictly friends, Takeshi.

-I know, I know… I was just kidding, dude.

-Don't kid with those things –Ken finally said, lifting Takeshi by the collar of his shirt.

Ken arrived at his bedroom at last, but it was empty too Oo…

-And where the heck is Hyuga-kun? –the Karate Keeper asked himself aloud, scratching the back of his head. Had Hyuga-kun escaped again?

He pretty much doubted it; Kojiro wasn't well enough to escape Toho Chuu. He went out of the bedroom and met with Maya, who didn't look surprised.

-Maya-san… You've seen the captain?

-Not really…

-I can't find him anywhere… And in his condition, I doubt he's escaped.

-I don't think he left the school, Ken-san. He probably decided to go out for a while or something like that… But if you're that worried for him, I'll help you.

-OK –and both teenagers looked for Hyuga everywhere.

However, they couldn't find him anywhere… Until they arrived at Ken and Kojiro's bedroom. Hyuga was inside, taking a rest.

-Where the heck were you? –Ken exclaimed, annoyed. –We've been looking for you!

-You had Ken-san worried for you –Maya added.

-I was in the infirmary. Nurse checked my injuries and changed the dressings.

-Couldn't have you left a note?

-I didn't know you were looking for me.

Ken was about to beat Kojiro up, but Maya stopped him.

-I think that with all the trouble Kousuke caused, Hyuga-san, it's better for you to tell us where you are.

-Trouble? I bet that's Baru's middle name… -Ken said, finding a joke in what his pretend girlfriend said.

-Hey, that was funny –Kojiro said, laughing, although he felt a deep pain in his ribs.

Maya laughed too, but once she stopped laughing, she pretended to challenge her friend.

-By the way, Hyuga-san… We may be friends, but tomorrow, we'll compete against each other! Don't forget it's individual.

-I know that well, and you can be sure I won't hold back –Kojiro answered, pretending to accept the challenge. –You're challenging me, right?

-You bet… If you don't beat Kousuke, you'll have to do my homework.

-And if I do?

-Then I'll do yours.

-Nah… If I beat him and I get to the Tokyo finals, you'll be my helper.

-Oh, yeah? And meanwhile?

-You'll have to do my favorite Takenouchi Fruit Roll meanwhile… The mango and green apple ones, once a week.

-And what the hem got theck…? Oh, forget it --U –Ken told himself, while the others pretended to challenge each other, but he didn't figure they were just joking, and mind you, the threesome laughed like mad later.