Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing. All of the students got up from their seats at the end of the day and ran out the door after a very long Monday. Ulquiorra, however, took his time to look up at the clock before pushing the chair he was in away from his desk. He buried his hands in his pockets and strolled over to the door frame waiting for Nina to quickly finish up on her last math question before they decided to exit together. They silently walked down the student filled hallways, brains hurting from trigonometry, until they came outside where they were met up with Ichigo, Orihime, Rukia, and Renji.

"Man, that last class really hurt." Ichigo said rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Yeah, how can you even begin to understand that?" Renji questioned.

"Oh come on it wasn't so bad." Orihime smiled.

"We're all going to the soda shop for a while. Did you two want to come?" Ichigo asked. Orihime gasped before jumping on top of Ichigo to silence him.

"Uh, actually I think I need you guys to help me with some homework over at my place. Nina already told me that she has something else she needs to do." Orihime struggled.

"Yeah, I promised Orihime that I would and it would be helpful if you all joined." Rukia added.

"That's right." Orihime nodded.

"Well, I guess so." Renji stated.

"Whatever." Ichigo added. "Let's get going guys." Ichigo was the first to turn around and walk away. Everyone else joined and as Orihime walked away, she turned around and winked at Nina for good luck. Nina held her breath as it was just Ulquiorra and her. He turned facing her.

"Where do you want to go next?" Ulquiorra asked. Nina swallowed before answering.

"Let's go over to that soda shop. There's one more person I want to introduce to you." Nina said taking the lead and Ulquiorra followed closely beside her. The whole walk there was rather awkward for Nina. Her heart rate was abnormally fast, feeling it pulse all over her body, and she felt the palms of her hands sweating as they were in a tight fist. Ulquiorra continued to walk in silence with his hands in his pockets occasionally shifting his eyes over to her struggling figure. Just as they arrived at the soda shop, they stopped for a moment before walking through its opened doors.

"Are you alright?" Ulquiorra asked in his smooth monotone voice. Nina avoided making eye contact and just nodded then took the lead going inside. Hanataro looked up from a table he was wiping down and lit up upon seeing Nina walking inside.

"Nina what a pleasant surprise." He said.

"Hi Hanataro." Nina greeted. Hanataro's smile faded from his face once he seen Ulquiorra's melancholic figure walking close behind her then stopping once she had.

"Who's this with you?" He asked.

"Hanataro, this is my friend Ulquiorra. This is another one of my friends, Hanataro."

"It's very nice to meet you. Hanataro bowed and Ulquiorra didn't say much, in fact, he didn't say anything at all, he just stared. Hanataro immediately felt uncomfortable and tried to start conversation. "So, uh, what can I get for you two today?"

"I'll have the usual. Ulquiorra, what do you want?" Nina asked. Ulquiorra looked up at the menu and went through the available beverages and deducted them down to a simple glass of coke.

"I think I shall try some coke." He said surprising Hanataro with his monotone voice.

"Good choice. I'll be right back. You two make yourselves comfortable." Hanataro said disappearing into the back of the store. Nina walked over and passed her usual two seated table to pick out a larger one close by. Nina slid down the seat of the booth for Ulquiorra to join right beside her.

"How did you find school today Ulquiorra?" Nina quietly asked.

"It was somewhat amusing although I couldn't really follow everything. I now have an understanding of what is expected of you in this world."

"Did you want to come again sometime?"

"I would certainly be willing." Ulquiorra said and Nina smiled.

"There you go, one strawberry milkshake and one coke." Hanataro said almost interrupting.

"So, Ulqui..." Hanataro started trying to remember Ulquiorra's name.

"Ulquiorra." Ulquiorra stated coldly.

"Right Ulquiorra." Hanataro replied nervously. "How do you know Nina?"

"We took a class together outside of regular school hours."

"Oh really, how long ago was that?"

"A few months now." Ulquiorra stated. A few months. Was that how long Nina had been forced into Hueco Mundo? "All though it does not seem that long now." Ulquiorra lifted his glass so that the straw met his lips. He pulled in the sparkling liquid through the straw until it met with his tongue and his eyes shot open before jerking the glass away from his mouth.

"Ulquiorra." Nina called as Ulquiorra coughed.

"Are you alright?"

"What was that in the drink? It's like something very small causing a disturbance in my mouth."

"Oh you mean the bubbles? That's just carbonation to give the coke a little kick." Nina explained.

"Do you not like it? I can get you something else." Hanataro worried.

"Try not to take such a big mouthful this time." Nina advised. Ulquiorra sipped in a smaller amount of coke this time closing his eyes with satisfaction. "Better?" Ulquiorra nodded. "When you burp, do not burp though your nose. The carbon will cause it to burn on the way out." Nina sat back down in the chair and laughed. "I forgot that this is the first time that you have tried coke."

"That's just how I reacted when I first tried it." Hanataro joined in laughing. Ulquiorra simply sat there quietly. He wasn't smiling but he wasn't embarrassed either. He just went back to enjoying his coke that he found himself very fond of in fact he was starting to like the feeling of the small bubbles ticking his tongue. Hanataro stopped laughing as he noticed Ulquiorra not smiling at all then Nina quieted down as she sipped up the last of her milk shake.

"Wow, you finished that one up really fast. Should I get you another one?" Hanataro asked.

"No its okay. Thank you anyways." Nina replied. It didn't talk long for Ulquiorra to finish up his beverage. Nina and Ulquiorra got up and thanked Hanataro for the drink then they started off down the streets once again. As they were walking, Nina skipped on ahead for a moment then spun around to face Ulquiorra. "I have an idea on how I can repay you for all that you have done for me." She smiled.

"And what would that be?" Ulquiorra asked.

"Follow me." She said turning around and taking the lead.