:::::izaya:::

I'm sitting up watching the door.

I was awakened by the sudden bangs on the door by Rio's mom.

"Rio! Wake up! You're going to be late!"

I look at rio. She's sound asleep. I guess her mom noticed the note not resting on the fridge so she assumed she was back.

The reason why I don't want to wake rio up is because I'm confused on how she's such a heavy sleeper. Doesn't she wake up like at 7:00 to get ready? She went to sleep really late so I don't blame her.

I can't yell at her to wake up like I normally do so I shake her instead.

She makes an annoyed noise and opens her eyes slowly.

"Izay-" I covered her mouth. Does she not hear her mother?

Her eyes look like she finally woke up and sits up quickly. He puts her hand over mind and sets it down.

"I'll- I'll be right there!" She said.

"Rio, it's 6:27. If you don't hurry you'll be late!"

I then hear her start walking down the stairs.

I sigh and look at her.

She's still looking at the door. She then turns to me and smiles. Like a sorry.

"Did he woke you up?" She whispered.

"Yeah." I said.

I'm a light sleeper if you can tell.

She wasn't surprised that I was still here.

I was about to tell her she's going to be late and should hurry but... A phone started to ring. Loudly.

It startled me for a second. I looked at the floor and noticed that my phone fell from my jacket pocket.

Rio gets up and picks it up to hand it to me. I take it from her and flip it open.

"Where are you?! Don't you know that today was a 6 o'clock meeting?! I accidentally left my keys in the car so I'm up here waiting for you to open!"

I stand up and sit back on the wall. I watch as Rio stares at me and then looks away.

I sigh. "Namie... Calm down..." I said. Probably not the best thing to tell her...

"I was calm about an hour ago! Just come and open for me!"

"I can't."

"... Why not?!"

"I'm not in the building right now. I'll be right there."

Rio starts searching for her clothes and once she did she walks into the bathroom.

"Where are you?!"

"I'll be right there."

"Wait! Don't hang up-"

I closed my phone and start to rub my eyes. I get up and pick my jacket up. I walk up to the bathroom door and knock.

She opens the door. She's already dressed.

I nod at the glass doors that leads to her balcony. A sign that I have to leave.

She walks up to me and hugs me.

"Don't keep her waiting." She said.

I was surprised by the comment but I didn't say anything. I pulled away gently and walk to the balcony.

::::: Rio:::

He's gone. My eyes begin to wonder but I bring myself back.

I go and brush my hair. I then start to put on my socks. My shoes were next and I slip my hand into the pocket of the sweater from yesterday. The doctors note.

I get up and grab my bag.

I go down the stairs. I eat an apple. I'm late as can be. I really should set myself an alarm.

I walk down the sidewalk. It's still chilly. I remember how I carelessly whispered 'I love you' to Orihara-San yesterday... I smacked my forehead.

I'm so happy that he didn't mention it this morning.

I was really looking forward to wake up first and see how young he looks sleeping.

At least I learned how easily he wakes up.

Now... What am I going to tell masaomi?

I enter the office and give them the note. School starts at 7:45. That's when the first bell rings. I made it in about 4 minutes earlier. Lucky me.

I go down the hallway to my home room.

I enter and everyone is chatting away and having fun.

I sit down in my usual seat where I turn around for a second to look at Masaomi.

I was shocked on the face he was making. He looked like he was in pain or maybe worried about something. He's probably very worried about anri...

He raises his head and catches my eye. I stare right at him long enough for him to look away quickly. That's very strange.

Crap! I was going to catch up with masaomi so that we can both walk together but he was gone when I packed up my books.

Now I'm walking up the stairs to have lunch with him and mikado.

I swung the door opened and walk out. The sun is always keeping all of us warm even if it is cold. That's the reason anyone would even eat up here.

I look around and only see mikado. I walk up to him.

"Where's masaomi?" I ask.

"He said he had I do something urgent but don't worry, he said that he'll come with us to see anri come out of the hospital." He starts to chew on a pea.

Anri... Is leaving the hospital today?!

I felt happy to know this.

"Is she even ok to be released?" I asked, concerned.

"I don't know... But I'm sure we'll find out once we meet with her."

I look at my lunch. I wonder if mikado even knows that the slasher is long gone...

I take my finger and dip it in ranch.

School is officially over and masaomi never showed up to eat with us. He didn't even show up to walk with us... Mikado was done waiting since he came out of a student council meeting... So I had to wait for him. It was fine with me though...

I was worried until mikado started to bring up topics.

"The net has been quiet..." He said. "No Saika posts." He looks away from the road and looks at me. "That's good, isn't it?" He smiles.

Anri must have kept the part about the slasher being gone. She didn't want to seem suspicious to him.

"I was confused so I checked it out. Headlines covered the paper yesterday."

I nod.

Right, something happened that made people notice the slasher had officially died out of killing people. I'm still wondering what that is.

"Oh! Anri!" I looked at mikado's direction and saw Anri look up and happy to see us.

Mikado ran up to her leaving me no choice but to run too.

"Sorry we're both late... Rio had to wait for me since I was stuck doing student council..." He said.

I smile. "You're coming back tomorrow? To school, I mean..." I said.

"Yea... Are you ok?" He asked.

She nods. "Yes.. I'm fine!" She gave us a reassuring smile.

"That looks heavy... Here let me carry it for you."

"No no... I'm fine..."

"Let him carry it."

I was struck by the sound of the words.

I turn around.

"These two walked all the way over here to help you."Masaomi was walking out of the hospital. He didn't even look at me and continued to talk. "Do you know how many times I heard him say 'anri is coming out of the hospital today!' What should I bring anri?!' 'She's so cute~!'"

Mikado gets in front of him.

"I didn't say that last part!"

I stared at masaomi. He finally looks at me and smiles. I gave him a confused look.

"Say... Masaomi... Did you come out if the hospital just now?" Mikado asked.

Masaomi looked at him and then back at the door he just walked out of.

"Yeah... I kinda wanted to be here early.."

I noticed the uneasiness in his voice and mikado did too.

"Oh.. Anri! I have the notes for you... I... Lets see..." He starts to rummage through his bag.

I looked at Anri and she was looking over my shoulder. I looked back and Masaomi was was looking at the ground.

I looked right back at anri and she looks up at a hospital window.

"Here.. They're kinda messy though.."

"It's fine." She takes the notebook from him. "Thank you for coming to visit me yesterday..." She said.

I smiled and mikado and masaomi did the same.

It was at that moment where we heard a phone ring.

I looked at masaomi and he picked up. It was his.

He turned serious as Anri, me, and even mikado stared.

He finally hangs up and there's a silence.

He turns to us and a big smile came to his face.

"Well, I gotta bounce! I'll let the prince take the two princesses home!" He grabs mikado putting his arm around him. "don't blow this one!" He lets him to and starts to walk off but I grab his sleeve.

As anri and mikado start to ask each other on who would be dropped off first, I whispered-

"Text me later."

He looks at me, still smiling."What for...?"

"We need to talk." I continued. He can't just act dumb. I know what I saw and I know that he's lying.

I saw how he can change his emotion.

He grabs my hand softly and pulls it away from his sleeve.

"There's nothing to talk about." He didn't say it coldly... But it sure felt that way.

He walks off again.

I stare at him. Something is bothering him.

I look at the window Anri was looking at.

"Rio, lets go drop Anri off first."

I turn around and look at them.

"Ok..."

We all start to walk a different direction that Masaomi is taking.

I'll text him no matter what.

We finally got there and anri said thank you.

"Remember, when you're not feeling well just contact the doctor again."

Mikado is even more worried than I am...

"I will, thank you." She smiled.

Mikado and I start to wave good-bye and anri is still at her door waving too.

"I'm sorry rio... I live this way... So that means you're going to have to walk the rest of the way by yourself."

As long as the slasher is gone... I'm not going to whine.

"It's fine. I'm sure I'll find my way home." I said.

He begins to walk off. "See ya at school tomorrow!" He calls out.

"You too!" I say back. I wave and begin to walk the other way.

I was stopped by someone's hand grabbing on to mine.

I turn around in a hurry. Anri is gripping on to my arm.

I suddenly felt scared.

"I'm sorry... Did I frighten you?"

I haven't noticed that I wasn't breathing. I took in some air and put my hand over my chest. My heart is pounding.

"Yes... Why are you whispering?" I whispered too just in case.

"Because mikado is still somewhere close..." She looks at the direction he went off to. "Follow me."

She starts to walk to her house.

She's inviting me in? I would have been crazily happy before but now.. It's dark and she's acting weird. This is a very un anri thing to do...

I walk up the stairs again and we enter.

Her house is small but comfy. We made our way down a small hall and we were both now in front of a room.

Her room maybe. I look around. This house was too small.

"Where are your parents?" I ask.

She was already going out of the room and she stopped at the door.

I sensed another topic coming out so I changed this immediately.

"I like your room." I said.

The tension left and she turn to me.

"Thank you... I'll go get us some tea."

She leaves quickly so I sat on her bed. I look around eyeing the room some more. This looks like a room that I would have...

I begin to wonder what she would want to talk about. Is she going to talk about mikado? About how she knows he's in the dollars? I mean that could be the reason why she had to get rid of him first, right?

He comes back with the tea she promised.

I think I'll find out.

I take the tea and say thank you.

I drink a bit and she starts to say-

"I know that you started to wonder and worry about masaomi too."

I lower the tea away from my face.

This isn't about mikado... It's about masaomi.

"What makes you think that?" I ask. I'm not going to lie that I don't.

"You're the one closest to him." That got me. "I'm sure he tells you everything."she said.

That last part got me the most. I remembered how he made me stop touching him and said 'there's nothing to talk about'. Chills went up my spine.

When did he stop wanting to tell me things? When did we both grew apart?

"No... I don't know anything about what's going on with him... But I really want to know and find out... You know... Exactly what's been bothering him..."

I looks at her and she had a disappointed face. I look at my cup.

"Call him." Anri said.

Huh?

I bring my eyes up to her. She was serious too.

I begin to reach into my bag and pull my phone out.

I went to masaomi and pressed call.

Anri turns her body to me.

She's probably thinking if it was me then he would pick up... It's sad that I actually think that too.

One ring... Another... And another...

He sent me straight to voice mail and I felt anger burst in me.

I closed my phone loudly and tried I keep a straight face.

"Something isn't right..." She said.

I stand up and drop my phone in my bag again.

"Thank you for the tea anri... I'll try to call him again while I'm walking back home."

She looks at me. She then gets up too and says-

"You're leaving?"

I nod.

"Be safe." She said.

I was out the door and down the stairs. I wave good-bye to her one more time and walk down the sidewalk.

I take my phone out and dial his number again.

Voice mail...

I keep calling until I actually remembered it.

Nothing. He's not answering.

I turn a corner and look both ways.

Someone comes closer to me but turns the corner without looking both ways. This person had a black sweater on. This person had a girl figure.

I tried to forget about it. I begin to walk and went to texting.

'Masaomi. Call me when you're not busy.'

I close my phone and continue to walk.

What's wrong with him? Why is he acting like this? Is it because of his visit with saki? Or is it still because of anri?

Orihara-San would know...

I take my phone out again.

I went directly to Kanra.

Now I'm deciding to either call him or text.

Text. Yes.

'Orihara-San... '

I stop. What if he starts to think that I... No... He won't.

He's not that obsessed... Like I am...

'Orihara-San... I have a problem... It's about masaomi. And if you don't want to talk about it then that's fine and everything but... I don't know who else to turn to.'

I press send and I suddenly feel relieved that I don't have it all in me now.

I start to walk again. My real goal is to get home. I sneeze.

I heard my phone ringing. It's a call!

I flipped it open in a heat beat and yelled-

"Masaomi! Why haven't you been answering me?!"

Silence. Until the other line says-

"Remind me never to miss a call from you."

I stop my angry look.

It was Orihara-San and I just yelled at him...

"I-I'm so sorry! I... I thought you were..."

"Ok wait. Lets not get off track here. You texted me saying you had a problem with kida. What is it?"

I begin to walk again.

"It's just... He won't pick up his phone... And he didn't come and eat with me and mikado today... What's even more suspicious is how he was in the hospital when mikado and I came to pick up anri and how he had this one sudden phone call from an unknown person and he left completely happy but it felt like he was hiding something and-"

"Rio..." I looked at my phone where his voice came from. I have been making signs with my arms and I put them down. "Ye-yes?"

"You're talking too fast..."

I brought my arms closer to me.

"I'm... I'm sorry..."

"No... It's fine... This just shows more about you."

What does that suppose to mean?

"Rio... I need to tell you something. I'm sure masaomi won't tell you anytime soon but you deserve to know."

I'll take anything right now. I don't care if he's lying. I don't care.

I just need to know and put everything together to see if it makes sense.

"Ok... I want to know." And for once in three weeks... I meant it.

"Remember when you left me alone in the car?" He said. "I saw masaomi enter the hospital thinking that he was there for your friend. I followed him in."

So he left the car...

"Turns out he went to go check up on saki. I wanted to mess with him so I confronted him once again... I told him some things... But one thing I noticed by the way he was dressed is that- he was wearing a yellow scarf around his neck."

I started to breath loudly again. Masaomi had a yellow scarf...

Members of the yellow scarves wear some yellow accessories too...

Orihara-San doesn't mean...

"Rio?"

"Eh? Uh..." The worst part is... He really did went to go check up on saki... He could have told me in class about saki...

Unless.. "Orihara-San... Did you mention me? In your talk with him I mean..." I wait. No answer. "He's been giving me the cold shoulder." I continue.

"I might have slipped out a small detail but nothing too private."

"What?" I whispered.

"It was the only way to make him feel worse since he just couldn't see how alone he is now. Alone for hurting saki and alone for lying to you-"

"He didn't hurt saki! She did it to herself!" I feel angry. I was about to cry any second now. Mostly because he's... Right.

"Rio. I want you to calm down. What else happened."

What is there to say? Masaomi is out doing terrible things with terrible people all over again and for what?! Revenge? To know or find out about something? For saki? For anri?

These questions can only be answered by masaomi himself.

Tomorrow is Friday... I'll be aggressive towards him. I'll demand answers and if he questions me on what Orihara-San said... Then I'll tell him what he wants to hear. The truth.

"There's nothing else..." I said. "Is there anything else you would like to tell me?"

I wait...

"I'm talking to mikado right now."

Figures.

"Ok..." I'm not going to bother with the dollars right now. It's masaomi and the yellow scarves who have all my attention.

"If anything comes up on masaomi or the yellow scarves then I'll be sure to mention it to you."

This news is helpful.

"Thank you..." Now I know the conversation is over. "I'll see you later..."

When exactly is later? How long will later take?

"Ok... Bye..." I was about to flip my phone off until I hear him say something. "What was that?" I ask.

"I said 'say it again'."

Confused, I asked him what he was talking about.

Then I realized what he meant...

"You want me too..."

Even through phone I can feel his smirk.

"I... I was... " I look around. In this relationship... I want to be the one who says 'I love you' on Christmas... In front of a big tree. Not when we barely shared a moment in my room...

I finally sigh. "I... I can't..."

"Hm. I see." I hear him drink something. Probably some water... "I'll make sure to make you say it again real soon."

I went red in a second. The way he said it... It made me remember yesterday...

"I... I have to go! I'm... I'm in a rush to get home so that I can do my homework and you wouldn't want me to fail or anything, right? So.. I'll make sure to speak to masaomi again tomorrow and all... Thanks again for the information! I'll see you soon!"

I hang up and put my phone in my bag.

I turned from a mad girl to a blabbering idiot...

I need to stop this... He's Orihara-San. The same one I had a hate/love urge with... I can't just act this way just because he has a head in his apartment... That wouldn't be fair to him...

I breath in the cold.

As soon as the masaomi and yellow scarves thing is over... I'll make sure to try and turn things back to normal.

Back to normal where I have secrets... And I know everyone else's...