It's been about a week since we were ignored. The day's still young, but I'm dreading it already. Everyone greets each other casually, but I'm kinda sure what will happen today.

My mother and I tried to greet everyone casually too, as if nothing wrong is happening. We also greeted Mrs. Tachi, just to lighten it up. But it doesn't seem to be working.

Everyone segregates their trash to the right bin. They're just doing their thing as if we're not here.

'Excuse me, Mrs. Tachibana-san…' I say, but something is on my way. The cans teetered and fell. Mrs. Tachi's minions complained to me about it.

My mom went to help me as we pile the cans up. While we're doing it, I found out that people are still ignoring us.

'Akane said that you dumped Ryouki-kun. Is it true?' my mother asked. I can't help but notice the stress in her face.

'It's not like that, Mom. I…'

'I don't really want to interfere with your friendship. But I hope you didn't have a fight with him or something.'

'I know. I'm sorry.'

'What's done is done. Go to school. I'll do the rest,' she finished. Why does it have to be my fault?

My brother Shinogu and I walked together to school. He too, is being ignored. And he isn't complaining. Now I'm starting to feel guilty.

'You're being ignored too, right? Sorry. I didn't think it would be such a big deal. I was naïve. It's my fault for making Tachibana-kun mad.'

'I'm not particularly bothered by it. It's not your fault. Don't let it get to you,' he assured me.

'But Mom is pretty overwhelmed, and Hikaru says he doesn't want to go to day care.'

'Those immatures! They're acting like idiots! But what exactly happened? How did you make Ryouki mad?'

'I… I don't know why, but he asked me to be his… girlfriend… out of the blue. And I refused him. Keep it a secret okay?' I said. Whew! I finally told someone at last! My chest feels lighter now!

'THAT'S NOT YOUR FAULT! REFUSE HIM TO DEATH! THAT DAMN FOUR EYES!' my brother shouted! Boy, was he mad! I giggled a little. His reaction is so cute. :3

Then he declared, 'If you can't refuse something like that, we'll refuse the apartment ourselves!' If only that was easy. If it were up to me, I'll leave that damn apartment myself. But there's Mom… and Hikaru.

'No, don't!' I pleaded as I hugged him to keep him from going anywhere. 'I'll just apologize.'

'WHAT?' he asked, disbelievingly.

'Because Mom and Hikaru seem upset. if this is the only way for things to go back to normal, then I'll apologize. I'll do it as many times as I can. I'll say I'm okay being a slave.'

'Alright. I'll go with you. You don't have to bear the pain alone. But you're just exaggerating the slave part, right? If somebody would try telling you do to something, they would become criminal…' he said. Sigh. if he only knew.

Why does Odagiri have to be my classmate? I already have a bad day. Seeing that jerk made it worst.

'Narita! Let's go home together!' one of my classmates invited.

'Sure!' I replied.

'What a stupid school! And look at you, going home in a group!' someone spoke behind me. I was startled. When I looked back, it was none other than Ryouki.

'You're late! How many hours do you have to make me wait at a place like this?' he continued. Then he grabbed me.

'Tachibana-kun! Let go of me! it'll be bad if someone sees us like this. It would be worse if it's your mom,' I pleaded.

'Give me a break! Is it true that you embraced Azusa?' he asked. Where did that come from? That's the last thing I want to do to that jerk Azusa.

'What do you mean?'

'That's what they said! They also said you're a sl*t! That's why the people are ignoring you.'

'No way! But wasn't it you?'

'What about me?'

'I refused to be your girlfriend, so you told your mom.'

'I SAID GIVE ME A BREAK! Why would I do something like that?'

'But you always say if I don't do what you say, you'll tell someone.'

'Sigh. Come with me.'

'Where are we going?'

Ryouki took me the Day Care where Hikaru is going. He talked to the teachers there.

'The truth is we've been troubled too. We have no grudge against Narita-san and don't want to ignore them, but the person who deals with the personal affairs here is Mrs. Tachibana-san. Don't tell your mom, Ryouki-kun,' they blabbed like idiots.

'I promise I won't. What exactly is happening?' he asked. I can't believe it. How can he act so kind to others but so cruel to me?

'Mrs. Tachibana's minions are jealous. They prejudiced Hatsumi-chan because she's close to Azusa-kun. They spread rumors and this agitated Mrs. Tachibana-san,' they explained. Sh*t! What do I have to do with Azusa? I promise if I see him I'll hit him in the face.

'I'm sorry I suspected you,' I said to Ryouki when we're out of the Day Care.

'What do you want to do now?'

'I'll go to your mom and tell her everything was a misunderstanding.'

'You're really an idiot, huh? It'll just be pointless.'

'But I didn't do anything wrong.'

'It's still your fault because you associate yourself to Azusa.'

'No! I don't!'

'Yes, you do!'

'Shut up! But I still don't know how to fix this up.'

'You should have relied to me from the beginning. I have a good idea. Come with me!'

He took me to the 7-eleven where Shinogu is working. What are we doing here? What is he planning to do?

'Welcome. Oh! Tachibana-kun!' Shinogu greeted us. 'Can you take your hand off my sister's?' he continued. How cute! My brother's always there for me, protecting me. :3

'You study at Hitoppashi right? What department are you in? Can you teach me math?' Ryouki asked him.

'Oh! Welcome home! You're just in time!' Mrs. Tachi greeted Ryouki as soon as he came home. She introduced him to a student from Toudai. I'm outside their penthouse, eavesdropping.

'Mom! I have a favor to ask. Can Narita Shinogu be my tutor?'

'What are you talking about? We decided about it, didn't we? You always say you want your tutor to be from Toudai.'

'But the last Toudai student, Mizuno Yuka-sensei wanted to have s*x with me. I refused, that's why she quit. And lately, Shinogu-san has been teaching me the difficult parts in Math,' Ryouki lied. Shinogu had no choice but to play along. That Ryouki is amazing! -_-

'In time, I just became close to Hatsumi-san and the others,' he added.

'Is that so?'

'If Shinogu-san could teach me until the entrance exam next year, I am confident that I can get into Toudai.'

'I understand. We'll do what you say,' Mrs Tachi affirmed.

A few days later, Mrs. Tachi went to our apartment, telling my mother what happened. People acknowledged our existence again after that.

'Ugh! I can't believe it! They're despicable! The women here are so fake! But at least the silent treatment is over. Thanks to you, Shinogu,' Akane said.

I wasted no time to find Ryouki. I saw him coming out from the elevator and immediately went to him. 'Thank you so much, Ryouki!'

'You're so predictable! Is the silent treatment over?' he shot back.

'Why are you acting like that? I'm trying to be kind to you because of what you did for me… and yet… I know you think I'm stupid, but because things got back to normal, I'm so happy. Again, thank you, Ryouki.'

'Do you know why I went this far?'

'Uh…no.'

'Are you sure? I did all of it for your sake, and yet you don't know why?' he roared. He intensely looked at me in the eye. I blushed. it wasn't because he like me, right?

'Alright then. You're not stupid after all,' he said and went away. What was he thinking? That jerk! Hmph! But am I starting to like him?