A/N: Well, this is a surprise. I didn't expect to see myself here, having been such a little shit for so long. Honestly, this time, I have absolutely no excuse. I went away for two weeks, which only extended my absence, but I've been back home for a week and a bit now, so I'm an absolutely disgusting person. July 23rd?! It's been over a month since my degenerate self has decided to post.

The worst thing? I've been writing the chapters but was too lazy to log on and post them. It's a shame you all have to see the real me, but here we go. Hi, I'm XOs and I'm possibly one of the worst procrastinators in this entire planet.

To redeem myself, I'm posting the three chapters I've been hoarding.

That still won't redeem me, ha.

Anyone a Hunter x Hunter fan, by the way? I recently read the latest chapter of the manga and I loved the 2011 anime.

Without further ado, the next three chapters of Gakutalia!

Chapter 24

F.V.

He was sitting with Ludwig, drafting out plans for the weekend, when Emma approached him with a cautious expression on her face. He could see the quizzical expression in Ludwig's eyes and his heart danced. He hadn't revealed the truth to Ludwig about his romantic kiss with Emma. He knew his friend would be ashamed to hear he was with two girls. Even Feliciano was a little put down by it, but at the same time, he didn't want to let either girl go, and he liked the idea of being with both Emma and Michelle.

"Hey," he sprang to his feet and met her halfway, just out of earshot for Ludwig. "You OK?"

She nodded with a small smile. "We haven't talked…"

Feliciano licked his lips. "Talked?"

She nodded, again, and guided him from the form room, standing just outside. Mr Saunders wasn't likely to mind them hanging around in the corridors during registration anyway. He was sure you could skip afternoon registration and he would mark you. That was how little Mr Saunders cared for the well-being of his students.

"I don't want you to think I thought it was a mistake," Emma blurted out quietly, keeping her voice low so passers-by couldn't hear.

"What do you mean?" Fel asked.

"I know I haven't texted or contacted; my brother managed to visit and he's staying for a while; he's taking a year off after university, and he's been around all sorts of places," she said. "It's just good to see him again, so I've been a little distant this week."

Fel's heart melted with relief. He'd been worried Emma may have, somehow, found out about Michelle. However, it was just about an awkward lack of contact whilst he attempted to organise his muddled brain and heart.

"It's OK, Emma, it's fine," Fel said. "I… I want you to know I was serious as well."

She blinked and seemed to exhale some tense breath she'd been holding.

"I… would love to spend Valentine's Day with you," she admitted sheepishly. "But I'm away with my parents and brothers, so…"

"Come to the Charity Ball with me," Fel said without thinking.

How could he go to romantic dance with her when he had another girl in the background?

Emma's eyes shone as she looked at him in wonder. "Really?"

"If we can't spend Valentine's Day together, let's take the chance to go to the Charity Ball together," he said, allowing a smile to creep onto his face.

She seemed taken by his words, joining in with his smile. Did he feel guilty, knowing Michelle was just a call away? Yes, but at the same time, the idea of beautiful Emma attending the Charity Ball with him whisked away those ideas and him along with them.

"I would love to," she grinned, and then winked. "I'll remember to bring some waffles to school tomorrow."

Fel nodded, following her back into the form room, where Mr Saunders didn't even cast them a fleeting glance. He seated himself with Ludwig once again, who sent him a questioningly look. He panned off an excuse – "she was asking for drawing tips, which changed to a conversation about Mrs Denver". Ludwig sucked it in.

Or so he thought?

A.J.

He was sitting in registration, lost in his own words and Francis and Arthur bickering quietly about something extremely trivial to him. He heard angry footsteps approaching and wondered what he'd done now. Dreading what was to come, he turned his head and met Yao's furious stare. He could only question what he'd done to make Yao of all people mad at him, but he was willing to listen to his mistakes. He'd already been subjected to emotional torture by angering Kiku earlier on.

"OK, aru, you need to start explaining yourself," Yao folded his arms. "About your Maths-"

"Aha, Yao," he leapt to his feet and grabbed his friend's lapels. "Enough of that, if you value our friendship at all."

"I'm beginning to value it less and less the more I learn about this," Yao scowled.

"Jones, Wang – take it outside," Mr Saunders grumbled. "I don't want to be held responsible for not interfering."

"What are you two doing?" Arthur glanced at them.

"We're having a chat and it's going to be taken to the corridor," Alfred hurriedly shoved Yao out of the room. "It's also none of your business."

"Whatever," Arthur returned to his conversation with Francis.

Alfred hastily closed the door behind him and glowered at Yao. "Did Kiku tell you about our tutoring sessions?"

"Tell me? He confided in me because of you being an utter twat, aru," Yao snapped.

"Where is this coming from?" Alfred demanded. "I didn't even think the two of you were on speaking terms."

"You reunited us," Yao replied coolly. "Now explain. Why the Hell did you brush him off?"

Alfred closed his eyes. He should've known that this would come round to bite him in the back.

"I get it; I was a dick," he groaned. "But he was talking to me about it in front of everyone else. Everyone would've thought I was lame for getting tutoring sessions on Maths with Kiku. I had to say something to-"

"Make him look like an utter idiot, aru?" Yao replied sweetly, then glowered at him. "At least put the pride aside to apologise to the poor guy. What's gotten into you lately? You're being an ass to everyone you can."

"Just Ivan – and now Kiku," Alfred grimaced. "OK, I'll apologise to Kiku, because I seriously feel bad about that, dude."

That seemed to calm Yao down a little more. "Fine, aru. But you have to mean it."

"Of course I'll mean it," Alfred pursed his lips. "Kiku's my friend."

"Really?" Yao looked cynical. "Could've fooled me."

His "friend" walked into the classroom, leaving a bitter taste in Alfred's mouth. He was beginning to really reconsider who his real friends were nowadays. He couldn't believe Kiku had told Yao about his Maths sessions, especially when it was such a sensitive topic. It was petty of him… Not only that, but Yao and Ivan had turned against him like vipers at some point. Why was it that Alfred was subjected to so much pain from those around him?

He could be a little silly at times, but other than that, he'd done nothing wrong.

L.B.

During drama, he hung around with his Charity Ball team, minus Germaine and Emil. Fel and Kiku were preoccupied with their lines. As Albany, he had less to say, and even less to do, so he found he had considerably more free time compared to his friends. That gave him just enough time to do some planning towards the Charity Ball.

Students in Year Thirteen were often placed in background setup and lighting if they weren't chosen, and since none of that was currently in place, Tino, Berwald, Mathias and Lukas had very little to do.

"We have less than two weeks to have the Charity Ball sorted out," Ludwig said. "Have we got a venue?"

"Yep," Mathias spread out several sheets of paperwork for planning, orders and e-mails. "We're just waiting for the decorations as well as all the replies to see if everyone who wants to come can make it. Catering is sorted."

"So, we're almost done, really," Tino said with a wide smile.

"Almost," Ludwig nodded. "Everything just rests on the decorations arriving on time."

"They will," Mathias said. "It'll all be fine, just like it was with the Talent Show."

The five of them nodded, agreeing they'd managed to organise the Charity Ball just within time.

A.K.

"I'm afraid you'll have to walk home on your own today," Arthur said to Peter. "I need to get this English coursework finished before half term; it's very important."

"Can't I just call and tell Mum I'll come home later with you?" Peter asked anxiously.

"No, because she was expecting both of us back now," Arthur huffed. "I need to get this done, but you have to go back home."

"OK," Peter hung his head.

"Why has walking home alone become such a problem for you?" Arthur demanded. "I'll be in university next year. Then you won't have any choice in walking home alone."

"I know…" Peter said.

"What's the problem?" he pressed.

"Nothing," Peter insisted quickly. "I'll see you later."

Arthur watched him shuffle miserably away, and beckoned for Francis to come to his side once his little brother was gone from view.

"The poor child, is so miserable," Francis gritted his teeth together. "What's the plan, rosbif?"

"Follow him," Arthur said. "But do it quietly; I need to know just exactly what's going on with my brother."

"A little bit of espionage is always good to focus the mind," Francis admitted.

"Quietly means no talking," Arthur glanced at him. "I need to know what's made my brother so anxious to walk on his own. I'm worried… I'm worried if someone's tried to bother him."

Francis nodded, chewing on his lower lip. The two students shuffled away from the school gates, where Arthur spotted his brother far in the distance, shuffling his rucksack protectively onto his shoulders. Motioning to Francis, they lingered on a separate path that would later connect to Peter's. For now, they needed a suitable distance between them to keep them from being spotted on their secret little mission.

Even the way Peter walked suggested there was something wrong. He was drawn into himself, and held the straps of his rucksack almost protectively, as if he believed it could get stolen at any moment. His head was bent down, watching each step he took, and he seemed completely oblivious to everything that happened around him.

Arthur and Francis crept after Peter, even across busy places such as streets and roads Peter and Arthur usually crossed together on their way home. Peter's lack of awareness to being followed in such a public place bothered Arthur. He was a young boy; anything could happen to him without someone watching over him. He felt a little guilty to have abandoned his brother when he'd been so obviously worried about something. However, he was here to find out what 'something' was, which halted him in interfering Peter in his walk of misery.

Along the walk that Arthur and Peter took to get home there was a small glade, that led down a pathway surrounded by trees. It could get quite dim during wintertime, and as it had only just become February, the sky was still relatively dark. The lighting was poor, with a few streetlights being spaced along the trees, but just enough for Arthur to keep sight of his brother. It was down this path that things started taking an unexpected turn.

Arthur watched as a group of three boys emerged from the darkness, blocking Peter's path. They looked like typical thugs, and all wore mean expressions on their faces. He was about to surge forwards and prevent what was about to happen, when Francis pulled him back into the trees.

"What are you doing, frog?" he hissed.

"We can't beat them," Francis whispered desperately. "They're built up like rocks. They must be around our age or the year below."

"I don't care," Arthur glared at him. "That's my little brother they're picking on."

"Wait, Arthur, they won't hurt him," Francis pleaded. "I don't know what they want, but if they were injuring Peter, you'd know by now."

Arthur hesitated. "And you expect me to watch my brother get bullied?"

"No," Francis said uncomfortably. "I'm just saying we need backup. Or a plan. Or both. I suspect they're from the Sports College nearby to World Academy; they'll beat us up for sure, and I'm not one for receiving physical damage."

"What about Peter?" Arthur asked desperately.

"Watch," Francis gestured. "They're threatening him."

Arthur turned, ready to leave, but Francis kept a tight grip on his shoulders.

"Think about it – Peter doesn't expect you to be here anyway," Francis said. "What he doesn't know can't hurt him."

"Watching still feels wrong," Arthur grimaced.

"He's walking away, now," Francis pointed out.

Arthur averted his gaze to the self-satisfied teens and the diminishing figure of Peter as he hurried along the path to make his escape. His blood was boiling, but he let Francis have his way, and allowed the bullies to get away with their terrible deeds.

A/N: Next chapter will be posted a few minutes after this one.