Okay, I've been pretty busy as of late, but I finally got around to updating the next chapter. This one was kinda a weird one, but I hope you like it. Seeing that I've already gone 21 chapters without getting to Chihiro's first conquest, so I'll try to be faster about it.

Anyhoo, onto Chapter 21

"Ne, Shinji-kun…" I rubbed my hair nervously with one hand; the other one was behind my back, hiding the little package of cookies from his view. He pulled the basketball towards him and greeted me with a blinding smile.

"What's up?"

"Y-ya see… I wanted to tell you something…" I took a deep breath and brought out the package in front of me.

"T-the truth is that I like you. Please accept these…" I said quickly, and I could feel my face redden. I had done it. Now I just needed to wait for his reply to my confession.

"I-I'm flattered, Chihiro-chan, but I'm afraid I have to say no…" I felt my hands fall, along with my stomach. It was useless, just like I expected.

"I-it's Mappy-chan, isn't it?" my voice shook.

"It's not that…" I lifted my downcast head and I noticed that someone was next to him. My eyes widened… Katsuragi?

"Shinji…" Katsuragi put his hand heavily on Shinji-kun's shoulder, "you know I don't like you talking to other people…" he looked at me disdainfully.

"He's not interested," he said bluntly at me, "Shinji only needs me," he cast a fervid look at Shinji-kun, then I understood what was happening.

"Sorry, Chihiro-chan. My world revolves around Keima forever and ever…" he shrugged, and the strange urge to both laugh and cry started rising up my throat.

"Oh Chihiro, if only someone would like you…" Katsuragi laughed, shoving a chocolate cupcake by Shinji's mouth, who gladly took a bite, "so if you're done, I need to teach someone a lesson…" he then started unbuttoning Shinji's shirt.

Oi, you're doing that here? Wait till I leave, at least…

"Shinji…" Katsuragi pushed him down forcefully and climbed over him… "I'll show you exactly what happens when I'm jealous, and trust me, it won't be nice…" a smile stretched creepily over his face.

While this was coming off as really strange to me, Shinji-kun was completely red in embarrassment… I just felt embarrassed at their stupid drama act they had going on, but I couldn't turn my head away.

"Ke-Keima… it… it feels like I'm going to melt…" he averted his face.

I rolled my eyes… Maybe you guys should get off each other now…

"Exactly… Even if this is our last night together, my love for you is eternal…"

"Keima… My love for you and your glasses is eternal too!" I couldn't handle it then… My urge to laugh was getting too strong.

"That's what I wanted to hear," he smiled and leaned forward, obviously going for the big finish…

I couldn't help it… I fell out of my bed, laughing my ass off. Even though my butt got hurt from landing too hard, it didn't stop me.

"My love for you and your glasses is eternal…" I muttered, before I was completely lost it again. My God, what kind of BL does my brain write!? That's some crazy shit…

And it was starring Shinji-kun and Katsuragi, nonetheless… What the hell is wrong with my head?

Still, I was in a happy mood all through the morning. It seemed like the laughs I got out of those narmy lines were sticking, and it was probably a good thing, considering my foul mood yesterday.

When I saw Katsuragi in the classroom, I had to hide a chortle… And look, the Seme is here…

"Good morning, Chihiro-saaan!" Ellie greeted happily. I returned it, completely ignoring Katsuragi. Not that it really mattered, considering he was playing his games again.

"Did you do your homework, Chihiro-san?" I thought back to yesterday, trying to remember what it was. We had homework?

"Yeah, ages ago…" I lied, sitting in my seat. Considering I can't even remember what work it was, it probably wasn't that important. Only if it's Nikaido-sensei homework does it actually matter… She had dirt on me, after all…

"Aah, that's good, Chihiro-san… You're on top of things, just like Kami-nii-sama…"

While that was perfectly innocent in context, my dream just made that a lot more perverted and funny. As I was now, my throat jerked to try and keep the laugh down, which caused a coughing fit of its own.

"A-Are you okay?" she asked.

Miyako, who was in her seat behind Ellie, came and hit my hard on the back, which helped. I calmed down after a few seconds.

"Wow, Chihiro, did you choke on your gum or something?" Miyako asked when I could talk again.

"Nah, someone was gossiping about me…" I shrugged, avoiding her eyes.

"You know that's only for sneezing, right?"

Before I could reply, homeroom began, effectively sending everyone back to their seats and putting an end to all conversations. I kind of appreciated that though, because I could get my head in order.

I'm not one of those crazy BL fangirls who write dictionary thick doujinshi comics, so why am I having weird dreams like that? Heck, I only learned what BL was because Nee-san left some in her room once she started university two years ago, and I didn't read it… okay, I read it once, but it wasn't that good… And I didn't enjoy it any more when I read it the second time… or the third time, for that matter.

Eh, I guess that kinda explains where those corny lines came from. Still, dreams are supposed to have meanings, right? Could it be… that Katsuragi might actually be… gay?

I sniggered, but shook my head. It really can't be, coz he always plays those games about dating girls… yet, when Kanon-chan was singing for him on the roof, looking helluva cute and he didn't bat an eyelid.

OH MY GOD, HE IS GAY! All his games are playing the beard for him… And no, Brain! I'm not making this up to cover for my inner yaoi fangirl. It's a sign, dammit!

The poor guy… not being able to be true to himself because other people would judge… Society kinda sucks like that.

Luckily, that urge which made me want to crack up disappeared, but a stronger urge to want to talk to Katsuragi, and offer him my support started emerging…

You know, maybe Katsuragi just acts like a jerk because he's so cynical about life. He's spent his entire life in his games, trying to hide, that he's lost hope of ever coming out…

The poor guy… He looks extra cute today, focusing his entire attention into his game, even though most likely, his heart is troubled… I wonder what it would be like, being in his shoes…

From this day onwards, I vow to be nicer to him and be the friend he needs…

At lunch, I quietly read a magazine, peeking over the pages to see if the crowd was clearing out. When the class was less than half full and Ellie was gone to get lunch, I closed my magazine.

"Katsuragi…" I hissed, adjusting my magazine so the people on the left couldn't see my mouth. He didn't look back, obviously…

"Oi, Katsuragi… Can we talk for a second?" He turned around after some hesitation and heavy sighing… No surprise there. I think this might be the first time I've actually tried to instigate a conversation willingly with this guy.

"What is it, Kosaka?" For a second, I paused. I only realized our family names start with the same sound now. It doesn't matter, but it's weirdly fascinating.

"I-it's nothing really, but I was wondering how you're doing?" he looked at me suspiciously. I tried to keep cool, but his stare was drilling into my brain. I really don't get it, considering his eyes are brown like mines, but they had a strange electric quality that I couldn't look into them properly. It's weird though… I've had loads of crushes in my life, but that has never happened before. Still, it just looks weird if you talk to someone and they don't look back, so I forced myself to keep looking upwards.

"I'm alright, obviously… Why does it matter?" he pulled his PFP around and started playing. It was a relief, because my brain went out of hypersensitive mode. Dammit, focus, Chihiro…

"Well, you're a classmate and Ellie's brother, so I should at least check…" he frowned and looked up.

"I'm alright. If that's all you wanted to check…" his line ran off, and he turned around. I groaned. Just listen a little longer, will you?

"Look, I won't beat around the bush, but… I figured out about your… situation… I also wanted to give you my support, as a normal person…" his back froze up. I remember when Mappy-chan figured out that I liked Katsuragi, I had the same reaction. I was more certain than ever now that my dream had been trying to tell me something.

"You know of my situation?" he asked, and I could hear a slight quiver in his voice.

"Well, yeah. It wasn't obvious, but after I saw you with Kanon-chan on the roof after school, I had a slight hunch."

"Did Elsie tell you?" his voice was rising, and a panicked expression came onto his face. Wait, Ellie knew about this? At least it's a relief to know he isn't completely alone.

"No… I had no clue Ellie was involved… I just sorta figured it out on my own…" he pointed at his neck.

"Y-you seriously know about this?" he was shaking by now, that something just told me that he was actually trying to point at his heart. He really seemed so fragile and scared that I could feel my heart speed up.

"Yeah, as I said…" he pulled out his phone and tried to dial, but his fingers were shaking too much in the end.

"Look, you don't have to worry about that… I won't tell anyone unless you want me to," I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible, but soothing him seemed out of the question.

"This is bad… No one's supposed to know about that, and if Kanon finds out about this, I'll have to start that route from scratch…" his already quiet mumble which I had to lean in to hear trailed off, and he started aimlessly pushing buttons on his phone again.

"You don't have to keep the pretence of liking Kanon-chan here. I already know you don't swing like that…" he stopped and looked at me blankly.

"Err… What?" he shut his phone, and his body went back to the same cold confidence he always had. It was a bit alarming how quick that change came. I was a bit disappointed, because his face was a lot more open and surprised, and that slight redness was gone. How, he kinda looked pissed. It wasn't cute as all…

He actually looked really cute while he was fumbling around. I wonder what changed now.

"Yesterday, when she was singing for you, you weren't the least bit interested… I figured out that maybe girls might not be your thing, if someone as adorable as Kanon-chan doesn't appeal to you."

"B-but, all my games involve girls…" he turned the screen towards me, and as he said, there was a girl on screen.

"I know that, but I figured out that it either might be your beard, or you were trying to make yourself like girls through that."

"So you think I'm gay?" he said, his eyes narrowing. I was surprised he'd use that word without euphemizing it.

"Well, yeah… Isn't that it?"

"No! You're so off the mark that you're not even looking at the target anymore…" I had been so certain I was right, that the truth wasn't sinking in now. I guess he really isn't gay…

"But… when we were doing that worksheet together, you seemed upset that What's-his-face-kun had left…" I tried half-heartedly one more time, because I was confused. Given how he reacted before, I thought that was confirmation that my thoughts were right, and now I'm completely wrong. Make up your mind already, Otamega…

"That's not it! For a second, I thought you actually had a brain and figured out something…" still, he seemed relieved.

"Okay, so I was mistaken… You don't have to be so mean about that…" I pouted, "Man, and here I was thinking I got some good dirt on you…" I stretched and made myself comfortable, kind of bored now. It wasn't adding up though. Why was he acting so weird about something he knew wasn't true? Or maybe he didn't know what I was thinking…

"Say, what did you think I was talking about?" It might have been I hit one chest with my shovel while looking for another, so now I was definitely curious. I must have hit on some other secret which left Katsuragi a bumbling wreck…

"I-I think the better question is: where the hell did your idea even come from? There was absolutely no logic to that!" I thought about it for a second, and realized it was definitely that dream which planted the seed to that idea.

But I can't tell him that! I have barely shown a shred of interest to this guy before now, so it would be pretty obvious that I like him if he knew I was dreaming of him.

"Why don't you answer my question first?" I said stubbornly, crossing my arms. With any luck, I could pretend the blood rush to my face was anger.

"Why don't you answer first?" I could tell he was trying to be stubborn as well, but he was determined to keep playing his game, so he barely moved.

"No, you do it!"

"You do it… you're the guy here…"

"As the saying goes, ladies first…"

Well, it's official. This conversation is going nowhere. I have no clue what he might be hiding, but neither of us wanted to share. This is getting boring now.

"Geez!" I groaned, "how about we pretend this conversation never happened…"

"Fine by me," he turned back to his seat, "idiot…" I shoved my magazine open forcefully, annoyed as well. Still, I couldn't resist. I still had a few more jibes to make. Also, what fun would this conversation be if I didn't completely mess with his head?

"So are you the Seme or the Uke?" I added in gleefully after a few moments. He turned back and glared.

"Whoa, dude, it's just a question…" I pretended to be thoughtful, but it was just so I could push his buttons more, "Because I imagine you'd be the Seme…"

"Didn't you say you'd drop it? Besides, I'm not gay…"

"Yeah…" I said, making my tone as bored as I could while admiring my nails, "I can't say I really believe you… I can totally set you up with some cute guys… Unless you have a girlfriend…"

"I don't need one… I already get enough love from my games, anyway…"

"Nah, that doesn't count… Unless you have a girl you like…" He opened his mouth like he wanted to answer before shutting it and turning back to his games.

"Think whatever you want… It's not like your opinion matters anyway…" and with that, it was over, and I felt weirdly empty and confused. He was playing along just fine now, but he's turned back into Grouchy Mcmeanie-pants.

I guess, in the end, this sums up why I didn't want to confess to him. It's like I have an inability to have a normal conversation with him, and that can't be right. Still, this was fun. I wish I could talk to him more, but the more I open my mouth, the more I annoy him.

Dammit, there's only ten more minutes left till lunch is over and I haven't gotten anything. I took my bag as I left, half because I was too lazy to dig in my bag and half so I could "mistakenly" hit Katsuragi as I past him. He didn't have to call me an idiot…

At the bread vender, it was nearly empty. And by some miracle, there were a few omelette soba sandwiches left. I quickly pulled out 100 yen from my purse. That was, until I got ambushed.

Mappy-chan was by my shoulder.

"Chiro-chan," she said with a forced smile so stretched out that it was scary, kind of like the one Katsuragi had in my dream. Before I could protest, she dragged me off to an even quieter place, and all I could think of was the sandwich I could have been eating now.

I shook my head free of those thoughts and focused on the task at hand. Food can wait, but I need to fix this first. Our conversation yesterday didn't end on the happiest note, after all… I guess I should start first.

"Look, about yesterday-"

"I'm sorry, Chiro-chan," she burst out before I could say any more. She stood up from her bow.

"I was wrong to judge you because you didn't want to confess to Katsuragi. The fact is that it's your life, and you should do it in your own way and in your own time," I started waving my hands.

"It wasn't your fault. I was trying to be annoying on purpose, so I'm at fault as well."

For a few moments, we laughed awkwardly at the way the other was acting until it escalated into real, though rather subdued laughter.

"Even still, I am hoping that you'll reconsider, because I can imagine you'd be a good couple."

I wondered for a second why she'd possibly think that. So far, of all the things I've thought, even if he somehow liked be back, we'd probably break up within a week if we went out.

"Y-you really think we'd make a nice couple?"

"Yeah… you guys are actually more similar than you think, and that helps in a relationship," she said matter-of-factly, but I could only gawk. How are we remotely similar?

"I don't get it," I frowned. I can only think of how different we are.

"Well, you're both kind of subdued, but when it comes to stuff you like, you can both act a bit crazy…"

"Wrong!" I raised my hand, "He's just crazy all the time. I'm nowhere near as obsessed about anything…"

"Hot guy at twelve o' clock," she said silently and I swiveled to where she had said, inadvertently proving her right. I cursed at my weirdly boy-obsessed nature while taking in the view.

"You're right, he is pretty cute," I noted. She chucked and pushed her glasses up the rim of her nose.

"This one is a bit harder to prove, but you guys seem to be on the same wavelength sometimes that it's a bit weird…"

I sniggered. Hehe, that's so stupid…

"Now you're just making that up. How are we possibly on the same page?"

"Please, any time I see you talking with Katsuragi, it's like watching a ping pong match, because you act and react in the exact same way."

"So…" I didn't really get the relevance, but I think I understood what she was getting at. Talking with Katsuragi… it's really easy and I don't have to think so hard about it. Even if it's once in a blue moon that we do speak, I usually enjoy it a lot.

"Still not convinced, huh?" she muttered, thinking about it, "how about that day you got to put clips in his hair?"

I smiled at that… Good times, good times… Still, that doesn't support her point at all.

"That says nothing about how similar we are. That just shows that he's too damn lazy…"

"And so are you… When it comes to stuff you're not fond of, you'll try to get it over and done as fast as possible, like Katsuragi," she pointed out, and she was right. Most of the time, I did my studying and schoolwork as half-assedly and as fast as possible. Just like that guy. Actually, that's a lie…

"But he does great at school. He even gets perfect scores, so he can't be that lazy… And we don't like the same kind of stuff… And even so, I'm nowhere near as obsessed about the stuff I like as he is. He's pretty much a weirdo…"

She sighed, probably at how stubborn I was being. I didn't really get it myself, but I knew this whole crush thing was going like a yoyo in my head. One minute, I'd actually consider going out with him, then the next, confessing sounds like the worst idea in the history of the world. In the end, I just want it to go away…

"Look, you can disagree, but I made some fair points, so please don't write this whole thing off as something stupid-"

Ugh, can we just drop this already? As if my irritation levels weren't high enough this week already…

"Look, I understand that you want me to be happy, but I don't want to go out with that guy…" I tried to stay calm.

"You don't?" she cocked her head to the side and I wanted to scream. Does she not listen?

"Yeah, like I told you yesterday! I'm just going to forget about it, because it is stupid!" I ground and dug that blue book out of my bag.

"Seriously though, I used to love admiring cute guys, but since that jerk came along, it just keeps weighing on me and I can't even do it properly anymore…" I started ranting out loud before opening my 'Hot guy Information Assignment' book. I skimmed through it in front of her, showing the multiple entries and photos I had spent my time working on last year.

"Look here," I shoved it in her face, "last year, I wrote this as a hobby, but since that guy came and ruined my peace of mind, I've barely thought of any other guys, and I hate that!" While I was having my mini tantrum, she plucked the book out of my hands.

"Hmm, this is pretty impressive… Are these all the people you had a crush on last year?" she rifled through the pages.

"Yeah, during various times of the year… I used to love watching them and stuff, so I just ended up writing it down. But thanks to that jerk, I can't even do this anymore…" she was barely listening though, because she started counting the pages. I waited till she was done so I could whine more.

"Wow, that's at least one guy a week… And you even got pictures, like a stalker…"

"Hey, I'm not a stalker! Most of these were from the school yearbook or they were on Facebook…" I grabbed the book and stuffed it in my bag, disgruntled. I didn't show this her so she could judge me. She could see how agitated I had become, because she held both her hands in apology.

"Look, I don't think you're a stalker… You just researched well… In any case, maybe it's a good thing you aren't the same person you were last year. You've actually mellowed out your hobby, which is normal." She tried to explain it out logically, but it all started coming back… Why I did this last year… that conversation from yesterday… my dream… That damn chocolate cupcake!

"But I don't want to be normal…"

"What did you say?"

"I want to be a chocolate cupcake, dammit!"

"What are you talking about?"

"THAT'S IT! I'M GOING TO CONFESS NOW!"

"That's great… Go for it!"

"OI! CUTE GUY AT 12 O' CLOCK!" I screamed, surprising every person in the vicinity, including myself. The guy I was referring to looked up from in front of the library. He pointed at himself with a questioning look on his face.

"I LIKE YOU! WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?!"

Okay, if anyone actually saw the last two lines coming, here's a cyber cookie.

Yeah, so I'm back to writing ridiculously long chapters... And putting unnecessary cliffhangers... Deal with it...

Anyway, I enjoyed this one, but I'm pretty sure that some characters were derailed for this chapter. Still, more Chihiro and Keima interaction (with the two conversations, one dialogue added in for fun) and also, the stream of confessions are incoming. With any luck, I'll reach Chihiro's conquest in three or so chapters. Whoop whoop!

This was the first time a reference ended up dominating a chapter instead of being a passing mention, but that entire dream was a reference to Nakuru from Mayo Chiki!, who would probably have turned that entire dream into one of her BL novels. I was watching that show recently, so of course, I had to include that. Of course, that goes to show that I am both crazy and have too much time on my hands.

I'll try to get the next chapter out soon, so we can properly meet "The cute guy at 12 o' clock". I'm so stoked for writing that.

I guess I've said it all, so as usual, please review. Feedback is always appreciated, and honestly, I'm curious as to how you'll receive this chapter. Especially since this was kind of a turning point in the story.

Ja ne