A/N: Well, hello there lovelies. :D

First of all, let me thank all my reviewers for helping me get that Hundred Reviews Mark. Hehe. I'll consider it a personal triumph! YATTA!

Anyways, here are my thanks! XD

thatgirlingrey : The hilarity will continue on. Hang on there! :D

RockPrincess410: Uh-Oh. You seem to be hell-bent on preventing a certain Tensai from wandering too much huh? XD

neko1234 : YES neko-chan, Fuji will start 'liking' Kaede, but he would still be in denial. And yes, Risa switched Sanada's essays with porn scripts. She is such a genius, ne?XD

XxBloodandButterfliesxX : How many bags of popcorn have you consumed Butterfly?! XD

uriel's tea time: Your reaction was extreme. XD I love it!

AnImEbLuEpRiNcEsS13 : Stop squealing already! Hehe. I hope you like this one as well, Princess.

sweet-Lia : Here is the update Lia-san! Enjoy!XD

Espeon14 : Yes, dear, Chisaki will play matchmaker, but not that much. She'll just 'help' a little bit. XD

Chapter 21: What You're not Supposed to Be

He is called 'The Man With a Thousand Moves', 'The Tensai', 'The Charmer', and all other names, but you can never ever call Oshitari Yushi 'The Jealous Man'.

Oshitari Yushi does not do jealousy, thank you very much. No. The words 'jealous and 'jealousy' do not exist in his rather extensive vocabulary (unless he needed it to describe someone other than himself, of course).

He doesn't see any reason at all for him to be anything near 'jealous'. He is the Tensai.

...

Okay. So he isn't the original Tensai, but still. He is considered a Tensai. The Hyotei Tensai if you would want to be more specific.

So. Back to his self-assessment and the reasons of why he can not be jealous.

He is intelligent, charming, and good-looking. And no, he is not being narcissistic like his dear friend Atobe Keigo. He is simply stating the facts. His numerous conquests back when he was still in high school is enough proof of that.

Hmm. What else?

Oh! He is also proficient in three languages: French, Japanese and English. And he can speak a bit of Greek too (blame his diva of a friend- Atobe).

He is musically gifted (he can play the violin quite well).

A nationally-ranked tennis player. A student with excellent academic records, coupled with more than a few achievements in national competitions as well.

And just over-all good in anything that he puts his mind to.

So, why would he be jealous, right?

And besides, there has never been a girl who was capable of making him feel jealous of another guy (He wanted to believe that there is only a handful of males his age who can compare to his more than excellent and almost incomparable qualities. Atobe is one of them, as well as his current male housemates).

He's had more than a couple of flings back in Hyotei (although not these girls he'd charmed weren't all exclusively from his alma mater), and most of them would often resort to this ploy of 'making-Oshitari-Yushi-realize-what-he-is-missing', which of course, would most often than not backfires to the said girl who thought up of the scheme.

He remembers what he often does when the situation arises: he would raise an amused eyebrow at the girl, look her over from head to toe, and then his eyes would flit over the smug-looking guy she is currently entangled with, and then give them a charming smile and a rather quirky remark, before leaving the two stunned people to their own pretty little world while whistling a happy tune.

The next day, he will have another pretty (prettier and hotter than the last one) blonde or auburn haired girl dangling from his arms while parading the halls of their school, and the cycle would start once again.

Bottom line is, Oshitari Yushi does not get jealous, nor insecure, or anything close to those words. Ever.

So why in hell's name is he here seething silently in anger while watching a certain strawberry-haired girl smiling and laughing with a friend of his? It doesn't help that his mind reminded him of the scene he has had the privilege of seeing days ago, or the knowledge that Yagyuu-kun and Hoshino-chan had been walking home together these last few days.

He can feel his normally calm composure slipping away, just like the paper that is in his hands right now. And did he say that he has just crumpled said piece of paper in his hands? Which so happens to be his draft for that essay he needed to submit next week?

Oh, boy. This is such a wondrous scene.

Throwing her head back, Misaki once again laughed at what Yagyuu has just told her. Her face is already red from too much laughing, and her drawing paper and pens are left scattered around her while she is sitting at the floor of the living room; Yagyuu on her left side, smiling at the sound of her joyful laugh.

He has volunteered to help her look over some of her sketches, since he has had training in drawing and he actually likes arts and design. Rikkai had excellent clubs for both, and he would often frequent said clubs if he has the time. He likes hearing her go over her ideas, her pen drawing lines as her eyes glow with inspiration.

The two of them have been growing closer due to the fact that they have been coming home together almost everyday. And having lunches together as well. And helping each other in the kitchen whenever Misaki is cooking, with Yagyuu watching or offering to wash the dishes or set the table.

And oh! They have also met each other in the library a couple of times as well.

Oshitari would sometimes walk with them, yes, but the Tensai had been getting held up by an overly-eager professor and club members (the editor-in-chief of their school paper has been bugging him with invitations to join said club). During lunch, though they would always be joined by their other housemates, Misaki and Yagyuu would often sit side by side and have their own little conversation.

Something that the others have commented on about.

"What have you been talking about, Misaki-chan?" Hikari asked while the two were washing the dishes after dinner the other night.

"You and Yagyuu-san are awfully close during lunch, Misaki-chan." Kaede noted just after they finished their lunch in the cafeteria. Misaki just blinked and said they were sitting the way they have been before.

Kaede was left wondering why she hasn't noticed that until now.

"Great. So Chisaki-chan walks with Tezuka-san and you walk with Yagyuu-san?" Risa said to her earlier while raising an eyebrow, "Should I be worried and start looking for someone to walk with from now?"

To which Misaki just answered casually that the two of them just so happen to be walking out of their last classes at the same time and are passing through the same path when they are on their way home. None of those were ever intentional.

But of course, the other girls just raised an eyebrow or blinked their eyes at her. Misaki was left sighing and shaking her head.

She definitely does not understand why her friends are being overly observant and paranoid about this.

"So Sanada-san always ended up chasing Masaharu-san around the courts? While shouting 'Tarundurou?!'" she repeated Yagyuu's words in a disbelieving yet cheerful voice.

The former Rikkai regular was currently telling Misaki high school stories, which Oshitari thinks are mediocre and boring compared to his team's antics.

Still, Misaki finds the stories rather pleasing and funny. Oshitari can not understand why.

"Ah. Niou-kun is a really good prankster you know, and he loves making fun of people-in a harmless way of course. That is why he is called The Trickster." Yagyuu answered, eyes flitting over the girl's features. Pink seems to suit her very well, he thought silently.

"I'd like to meet him," Misaki chuckled, "but hopefully he won't trick me or something. I've never been good in those situations."

"Ah. I'm sure I can persuade him not to, Hoshino-chan." Smiling, Yagyuu pretended to ignore he didn't see the way Oshitari's eyes narrowed on him when he brushed strawberry-tendrils away from Misaki's face. "I am rather good at persuading him- or other people, I believe."

The girl grinned, looking comfortable even at the contact. "I am looking forward to meeting him them! Maybe he can even tell me stories about you during high school!" She exclaimed, eyes dancing in amusement.

"Whatever for, Hoshino-chan?" he asks with a raised eyebrow. "They are more than boring, I assure you."

"Well," Misaki stared at him with a serious look in her soft-blue eyes, lips trying to stop her smile, "They always say the quiet ones always keep the darkest secrets of them all. I'd like to know if it's true."

Yagyuu adopted a solemn look. "Then I am afraid I have to do something to ensure you wouldn't discover my deepest, darkest secrets Hoshino-chan."

The laughter that filled the whole living room brought a chuckle to Yagyuu; and an annoyed look on Oshitari's face.

The next day, Yagyuu raised a rather more than amused eyebrow when he saw Oshitari Yushi walking side by side by an equally amused looking Misaki Hoshino.

He was surprised at how fast his friend was able to leave their classroom, walk to the girl's department building, and locate said girl.

(He thought only Oshitari Kenya can move that fast. It seems that Tensais have that tendency to shatter all his previous notions to pieces after all.)

And when the two finally reached him, and Hoshino-chan invited him to join her and Oshitari-kun for a bite at that roadside cafe she likes so much, Yagyuu almost laughed when the other male threw him an almost-glare-but-not-quite kind of look and said pointedly:

"Didn't you say you have a book you have to borrow for that essay we ought to submit next week, Yagyuu-kun?"

He was quite right, Yagyuu agreed with a nod. Smiling at Hoshino-chan, he gently declined her invitation. She looked crestfallen, and so, Yagyuu added:

"Maybe next time, Hoshino-chan?"

The narrowing of Oshitari Yushi's eyes made Yagyuu to raise an even more amused eyebrow and for his lips to twitch in restrained amusement.

Well, well, well. Who'd have thought?

Oshitari Yushi does get jealous. How cute.

Yagyuu was chuckling all the way back to their apartment.

"Sugimoto-chan...?" Jirou calls out the name gently, afraid that the girl would just suddenly lash out at him like she did earlier, and yesterday, and the day before. His cheek and arms still feel a little tingly and hurt after her pinches and slaps.

Sighing, Jirou scratched his head. He really don't understand what he has done wrong for Sugimoto-chan to be that angry at him.

Was she angry about that book that he forgot to return after borrowing it last month?

Or maybe because he asked her about a certain problem in the middle of the hallway? She has never liked people asking her such things outside their room. But Jirou has actually been doing that before, but she has never been that angry at him.

Hmm.

Or maybe because he was waking-up a lot later these past few days? And she has to always be in a hurry to get to their first class in order not to be late? But that was because they have been spending a lot of time with their projects and home works.

Maybe she's just tired of doing the morning routine of waking him up...

"What do you want?"

The sharp voice of the girl currently occupying his mind stopped Jirou from his contemplation. He found her looking at her with a glare and a frown on her forehead, the book that she was reading earlier laid down on her desk.

Smiling a little nervously, he pushed the bar of chocolate that he bought earlier for her. Milk-chocolate with almond nuts. He has asked Kanai-chan about it yesterday, and the girl-after staring at him blankly-smiled and told him it was Sugimoto-chan's favorite.

"What is that for?" she frowned even deeper, though her eyes immediately glossed over the treat.

"Ah...a 'thank you'?" he replied, uncertainty clear in his voice.

"For what?"

"The other day...and the other times you have woken me up." He offered her a smile. "I'd probably missed a lot of important tests if you haven't been doing that."

Saying that, he just realized that it was true: he probably would have missed all of their first-period tests if she hasn't been there to wake him up. He knows it was a task given to her by their professor, but she can always choose not to do so.

But she still did, though not without a lot of complaints and bruises from her. He is still grateful.

"So...yeah."

Asuna blinked at the treat, and to the awkwardly-standing male in front of her. She knew she had been overly physical at him these past few days. Slapping his shoulders, pinching his arm, yanking him out of his bed with all of her strength, glaring at him 24 hours a day, cursing and shouting at him over little things...

Although it was normal for her to do those things to other people, Akutagawa is actually a little bit of an exception. He isn't like the other males she has met; he is actually quite a nice, respectable one. He is smart, funny and kind and gentle.

(Chisaki said 'cute' as well, but Asuna is disregarding her friend's opinion on this one).

And aside from the time when they have just met, this is the first time that she has treated him like that. And maybe the poor, clueless guy is being confused (he kind of reminds her of Hikari, the queen of cluelessness). She almost chuckled at the thought.

So sighing, she decided to just forget about the whole 'kissing' deal and move on from it (NOT that she is ever hung-up on it or something. She actually is not thinking about the damned kiss at all. And it is not a kiss for Pete's sake!)

And the humongous bar of milk-chocolate with almond nuts he is giving her right now is kinda hard to resist.

So.

"Stop talking nonsense." she mumbled, right hand tugging on her hair, the left snatching the treat least he decided to take it back. "I'm just doing what sensei told me to."

And then he smiled, and Asuna reminded herself that they are more or less friends. And that she shouldn't really feel the need to swoon or drool at that stupid, stupid smile.

"Ah...I know that Sugimoto-chan! I'm just really thankful!"

Rolling her eyes and tearing the wrapper of her treat carefully, she mumbled once more. "Whatever Akutagawa."

And she took a generous bite of the treat.

And Jirou was left staring in amazement as a pleased smile made its way to Asuna's lips.

And no, he chided himself silently, he shouldn't really be staring at those sinfully red lips biting on the chocolate that he gave her and wishing he is sharing it with her.

Crap. She'd kill me if she ever caught me looking at her like that!

Making her way to her classroom, Chisaki snapped her cellphone close and shoved it in her bag.

She will be having her last class today- Languages, and they were supposed to have a set test on said class.

"You need to get good grades in all of your classes if you wanted to get to that foreign exchange program Kanai-chan."

"And don't forget that you also needed to get an endorsement from at least two of the department's faculty members in order for you to be considered eligible for the program."

The dean of their department had reminded her of the requirements early this term. She doesn't have any problems about the endorsement. Most of her professors are quite impressed with her academic records.

What worries her is the fact that she needed to pull an above average marks on all of her classes from this term until the next one. The foreign exchange program will be held during the first term of their fourth year. They are currently in their second term of their second year, that means she needed full marks for the next two terms, excluding the current one.

It sounded quite easy enough, especially since she has already read her course syllabus. All of the subjects she needed to take next year are in her field of expertise.

But what worries her is the fact that if she wanted to get her desired marks, she needed to focus more on her academics. And that means she has to stop working, which will ultimately would mean she'd have to spend some of her savings in order to keep herself afloat for the next few terms.

She has more than enough money for her education fees and personal needs, and the money she had been earning from her part-time jobs are all for her future travel plans. And if she stops working now, then her plans would have to wait.

And she cannot afford to wait any longer. Sixteen years is more than enough waiting time.

But- what can she do? She has made a promise that she will finish her studies before she starts looking for her answers. She cannot break her promise. Not to the person who had been there for her when her family left her.

"Chi-sa-ki-chan!!"

Yue's giggling shout of her name brought Chisaki back to the present. She turned around just in time for her friend's embrace, which nearly brought her down. The people in the hallway laughed in amusement as Yue nearly tackled the slightly surprised Chisaki down to the floor.

Chuckling, she disentangled the nervously giggling girl from her. "Yue-chan...how many times have I told you not to do that when you are running?!" she chided Yue, who immediately pouted.

"Mou..."

Laughing at the other girl, Chisaki led the way to their classroom, nodding and smiling to the greetings of their other classmates. She can think about those concerns of hers some other time. She has a test to ace and expectations to meet.

"Here are the notes that I've borrowed, Shiraishi-kun. Arigatou."

Smiling at his classmate, Shiraishi took the notes from her and nodded his head. "No problem, Miyashita-san. Are you sure you've gotten everything you need from these notes?"

"Hai. Arigatou for lending them to me, Shiraishi-kun. I was a little bit worried since we are almost at the end of the term."

"Ah. No worries. You can always borrow them if ever you would need them again."

Bowing her head once more, Shiraishi watches as the girl went back to her awaiting friends. He raised an eyebrow in amusement when the group of five girls looked at him and giggled. He threw them a smile that sent the girls to even more giggling.

Chuckling, he returned his attention to what he was writing before Miyashita interrupted him. What the girl said about being the term ending is right. Most of their instructors are shoving projects after projects down their throats, making sure all the students are half-drowning in their academic activities. The month that is still left does not seem enough to finish everything it seems.

He doesn't mind though. He has always liked doing this sort of things. It gives him something to be busy of, something to occupy his mind so he can stop thinking about things he wanted nothing but to forget, but unfortunately can not.

Sighing, and combing his fingers through his hair (something that causes the girls loitering around the classroom to sigh dreamily), he gathered his things and shoved them in his bag. Although majority of the male students in the campus don't really feel the need to carry one, Shiraishi doesn't feel complete without his bag. It is probably one of the weirdest things about him (not counting the fact that he has a beetle for a pet).

Nodding a polite good bye to his classmates, he made his way out of the room. They have just finished their last class, so he is free to leave the campus already. Though he would normally stay in his classroom and do some light reading, or maybe visit the library in most days, today he felt like going home early. He doesn't know why, but something is pulling him towards home.

He chuckled. Home. Three months ago, he would never have thought of calling an apartment building 'home'. No matter what, home for him is in Osaka, with the smell of his mother's cooking and the sound of his sister laughing as he chases her all over their house, with their father barking for them to stop. That was home.

But now...He is feeling that familiar thrill of excitement every time his last class finishes, or when his shift at the shop is over. He is always looking forward to making his way back to the complex, where Furokawa-chan would greet him at the door with her familiar smile and asks him the usual question of "Have you eaten dinner yet?"

Of Sugimoto-chan's and his cousin's loud discussions.

Of Hoshino-chan's gentle laughter and asking him if he would want a drink of water or tea.

Of seeing Hikari-chan's smile, even if it is not the same one he would often see before.

Of seeing Chisaki-chan on her way to her numerous part-time jobs...waving him a cheerful goodbye before disappearing into the night.

And of seeing his male housemates either in the living room watching the evening news or a re-run of a tennis match, or in the kitchen trying to help in preparing for their dinner.

More and more, the apartment complex he's been living in now is becoming a little bit of 'home'.

Maybe it has something to do with the company, or just the simple fact that he is constantly seeing the people he had been missing all this time.

The apartment was silent when Shiraishi pushed open the door. Glancing at his wristwatch, he smiled. It is only three-thirty. Most of his housemates have classes until four or five.

Slipping off of his shoes, he puts on his slippers and made his way inside. As usual, everything is in their right place. Furokawa-chan probably checked everything before leaving for her classes this morning. He admires that girl for being able to maintain such control over the matters inside their living place. He cannot imagine what it would be like if Furokawa-chan isn't here with them.

The apartment would probably become a war zone.

He was about to make his way to the stairs when a noise from the kitchen caught his ears. Frowning, and wondering who could be possibly home this early aside from him, he walked silently towards the said room. He can hear the sound of soft humming accompanying the tapping of fingers in a solid surface, probably the kitchen counter or the table. He pushed the door open and was rewarded by the sight of Chisaki sipping from a glass of orange juice.

She is standing at the kitchen counter, with her hip leaning on it, legs crossed against each other and her fingers were tapping a rhythmic beat at the hard surface. She looks calm and contemplative, as though she is thinking about something deep, and knowing the girl, Shiraishi has a pretty good guess of what is on her mind.

Looking at her right now, he realizes just how much he missed her, and his cousin.

He thought that living in the same apartment complex would give him chance to be able to re-connect with the two girls, but it seems fate isn't on his side this time.

Chisaki is busy, whilst Risa will kill him first before even considering the idea of 'talking' with him. He chuckled at the thought. Risa is one hell of a difficult person to convince. Always have, always been.

Thinking about the current Risa is making him remember all those good times, and that unpleasant one that ruined them all.

Shrugging the rather unpleasant thought aside, Shiraishi cleared his throat to announce his presence, since the girl doesn't seem to notice him at all.

He can feel the smile on his lips stretching when the girl raises her face and grinned at him.

"Shiraishi-kun! I didn't know you'd be home this early!"

Chuckling, he made his way to her, encasing her in a one-arm hug. He can feel her arms going around his waist as well, her laughter filling his ears.

It has been a long time since he was able to hear that sound. It was both happy and haunting at the same time.

"No part-time jobs today?" he asks her.

Chisaki shook her head, relinquishing her arms from around him. "Nope. I'm free until this weekend actually. You?"

"I have a shift tomorrow."

"I see." She nodded, before taking a sip from her glass, her eyes still on him. She was surprised to see him here at this time. Normally, she would be the first one to arrive home on Thursday afternoon, and then she would have the apartment all to herself, allowing her time and space to think. Smiling at him, she asks "Do You want to drink or eat something?"

"Sure-"Shiraishi almost nodded his head, but then caught himself. "Actually, can we talk?"

She blinked, as her lips parted a little. "Talk?"

"Yes. Talk." He can see her hesitating. "You said before we'd talk, but we haven't got the time." He reminded her of that first night they moved, when she left hastily to her part-time job. "We have the time now, so let's talk."

"Hmm. About what?" Chisaki turns her back on him, walking towards where the sink is. Opening the tap, Shiraishi heard the sound of the water flowing endlessly from it. He walked towards the table. Putting down his bag at one of the chairs, he shrugged, although she cannot see him.

"About anything." He says, "About the four years that has passed, about high school, about the tournaments we both participated in and won- or lost." He smiled, because he knew Chisaki's team never lost a game. "About Nana Fran, or your grandparents-are they still alive? Are they still bothering you?" Her shoulders stiffened at the reminder. "Or just about the reason why you didn't come when I invited you to watch our game, and why you didn't write or call anymore." He stopped with a sigh. "Let's talk about them, Chisa-chan."

His calling her his pet name for her brought a chuckle and a soft smile to her lips, probably reminiscing about their younger days. When she raised her face to look at him, her brows are furrowed a little as she implores at him with her dark eyes.

But even then she remained painfully silent.

Stubborn girl, Shiraishi thought fondly. He has no other choice then, he has to remind her of that once again. He hated using this as a last resort.

"You still remember our promise, don't you?" he asks her softly.

And he watches as she closes her eyes, a soft sigh leaving her lips, her crossed legs untangled and her hands fell on her side. When she finally opened her eyes, the defiant and stubborn look on them was gone. It was replaced by a look so wistful she almost looked broken.

And it hurts Shiraishi to know that he can never fix her.

Ugh. Another drama unfolding? Sue me people. Hahahaha. Kidding.

Anyways, before any of you react and get angry at the whole 'Yagyuu-Misaki-Yushi' thing, I promise this is different. You can actually tell it is, but if not, then I am telling you now. (Grins)

Nothing else to say..since I'm feeling lazy as of now.

READ AND REVIEW though! Me love reviews!

XD YUNA