Chapter 26: Bad Idea

"You're late agaaain!" A boy teased as Roberto ran into the room out of breath. "Shaddup…" he grumbled, dropping his book bag on his desk. "You've been slacking lately, Jiei, got some issues at home?" the boy nosily asked.

"Not that it's any of your business, but no. I simply woke up late," Roberto replied with annoyance. "Just like yesterday. It's only a wonder what tomorrow's morning with bring you," the boy laughed.

He was an annoying kid, obviously Roberto's age since they were in the same class, but Roberto's closest friend. His name was Kumo Nobusuke. He wasn't in soccer like Roberto, though he commonly liked to join in on the "pour the water cooler on the coach" activity. Actually, Nobusuke was in risk of failing some of his classes. He was a typical, lazy, trouble-making school kid.

"Did you finish the review sheet?" Nobusuke asked Roberto. Roberto hesitated. "No…" "Neither did I!" Nobusuke replied quickly with a smile, as if it were a good thing. "Don't bother asking Kimura for his sheet. He's already been asked, like, five times," he said when he saw Roberto looking around.

Roberto sighed. Everyone knew that Travis always did his homework and every question was guaranteed to be correctly answered. He was the "prince charming" of the class, or better yet, the whole school. Fortunately or unfortunately, he was on Roberto's soccer team.

Roberto then noticed Laura, who was looking satisfied with herself as she talked to Kana. He had been trying to avoid her, like he used to, ever since the "dream." Though there were inevitable times when they'd be close to each other. Roberto would hide his bandaged wrist whenever she was near. If she believed everything had been really just a dream, then it was best not to convince her that it might've been real.

Although he should be avoiding her, this was an emergency!

"Hey, Haruna, " Roberto called, walking over. Laura looked up in surprised, then made that look she always gave him and asked, "What do you want?" She was pushing for an argument, though Roberto really did want something this time.

"Did you finish that review sheet?" He asked. "Yeah, why…? You're not getting it, you know!" Laura quickly growled. "Ouch…" Nobusuke muttered over Roberto's shoulder. Roberto gave him a glare and he sheepishly walked away.

"Aw, c'mon. Why not?" Roberto asked, returning to the conversation. "Because you should've done it yourself," Laura grunted. "I was going to finish mine this morning, but I woke up later than usual," It's because I'm used to waking up to Flute's wheel, Roberto explained.

His hamster hadn't woken up to run on his wheel that morning. His alarm clock when off minutes after Flute usually woke him up, thus making him lose time that morning.

"You shouldn't hold things off until last minute," Laura lectured. When Roberto made no response to this she reluctantly handed him the paper. "But you owe me big time. It took me all night to finish."

"Great!" Roberto exclaimed, snatching the paper and returning to his desk to copy the answers. "You're too nice, Laura-chan," Kana smiled. "I know," Laura replied, crossing her arms.

The bell rang after six hours of schooling and Roberto was just walking down the hall to go home. He had no practice today, which was convenient since he had to go to the vet. He stopped when someone called his name.

Laura reluctantly walked over to him, to his surprise. "Remember that 'you owe me' thing I said this morning?" She asked. "Yeah…" Roberto replied, not really knowing where this conversation was going. "Well, I know you're going to forget later, so you have to pay me back now."

"What? Why?" Roberto asked. "Because you'll forget! Or you'll just say 'I don't owe you,'" Laura quickly replied. "Well, what do you want?" Roberto shrugged. "I don't know," Laura replied.

Roberto thought to himself. "I could… train your dog a bit," he offered. "Are you saying Brandy's a bad dog?" Laura growled. "No. I just doubt he's been taught to do any more than 'sit' by his amateur owner," Roberto insulted. "He knows more than just 'sit'!" Laura snapped.

Roberto decided to drop the topic. "I could do a night's homework for you," he offered. Laura crossed her arms. "Like I'd want your work," she mocked. Roberto was trying to keep from losing his temper. He was out of ideas. This girl was too picky to please.

He then thought of the perfect idea as he looked down the hall. "I could set up a date between you and Kimura." He couldn't help but smile as he said this and held back a laughter at Laura's bewildered reaction.

"A-A d-date? With K-Kimura-kun?!" Laura stammered. "Sure. It'll be easy for me," Roberto grinned. "I-I guess so… yes, that'll be fine," she replied more steadily, trying to hide her uneasiness from him.

"Fine. I'll do it tomorrow, though. I'm busy today. Let's say… Saturday, at the festival?" Roberto asked. "Yes… that'll be fine," Laura replied, quickly turning and walking away stiffly.

After that Roberto headed home to retrieve his pets to go to the vet. He figured Samba was due for a checkup anyway. When he walked outside with Samba on a leash and Kaito's cage, he only got about halfway to the vet before someone called his name again. It was Kana this time.

"Jiei-kun, is it true that you're setting up a date between Kimura-kun and Laura-chan?" She asked, panting from running over to him. "W-what?! How do you know about that?" Roberto demanded. "Kumo-kun told me," Kana answered simply. Damn you, Kumo, you spying weasel, Roberto cursed to himself.

"So it is true. Then you'll be there, right?" Kana asked. "Where?" Roberto inquired. "At their date, of course," Kana answered. "Why would I?"

"To make sure everything goes well," Kana replied. "I don't care if everything falls apart," Roberto shrugged. "You should, because you know what she might do if it doesn't work out," Kana warned. "She'll tell you that it wasn't enough and you'll owe her again."

"Why do you--?!" Roberto began angrily. Kana simply smiled. "Ugh, fine… If I have to," Roberto sighed, rubbing his forehead. What a nuisance this whole thing was becoming. "Great! See you on Saturday," Kana said, running off. Roberto glared at Flute in his cage. This is all your fault, he blamed silently. "Eke?" the hamster squeaked.

Doctor Lion, expecting Roberto, saw him shortly after he arrived at the vet. "Yes, you're doing fine with him and he looks much better," Lion said after Roberto showed him the cage. "Now to check up on little Samba."

The puppy was cowering in a corner of the room. "Now, now, it'll only take a second," the doctor assured Samba, picking him up, then said to Roberto, "We'll give him his check up in another room." Roberto followed Lion out of the room, leaving Flute "alone" in his cage.

Ba-dum… This chapter was really just to show Roberto's school-life a bit, though it wasn't much… The POV will go back to Kaito next chapter. Hmm… not much to say… Well, don't forget to review and stick around for Chapter 27: Checkup!