A/N: I made it.. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to finish the chapter. And now it's late TT. Not that Mondays are usually filled with energy. Anyway, enjoy the read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko! Only my imagination :)!

The next day Yumi awoke to the loud noise of a drill. She groaned. The sound came from the apartment right above hers. "So much for sleeping in," she grumbled after seeing the time on her clock. It was only 09:10 AM. Yumi wished she could stay in bed, but her stomach told her otherwise. There was something she was convinced of was a jinx. Whenever she used her bed, Yumi got up earlier than intended.

She dragged herself out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom to get ready for the last day of the current week. That was followed by a simple breakfast consisting of toast and tea. A few seconds after she finished the dishes her phone rang. Yumi picked up her phone from the kitchen table to look at the caller's ID.

"Aelita?" Yumi answered the phone with a "good morning".

"Good morning, Yumi. Are you busy? Did I interrupt you?" Aelita asked.

"No, I just finished breakfast. What's up?" Yumi stepped into the living room.

"Everything is fine. I was wondering if you were up for some shopping," Aelita said.

"That's rather out of the blue. Is there something special?" Yumi was confused.

"Well, there might be. Yesterday Jeremie told me ELITA will be holding a party to celebrate its first anniversary. The party will be in the second week of April. The only parties I've ever been to are those during middle school and high school. And I was usually one of the DJ's. Anyway, this will be my first formal party. You could say I'm more nervous than I need to be," she heard Yumi speak up.

"I think it's pretty much a fact. You should hear yourself from my side of the line," Yumi chuckled.

"Jeremie seems so composed. To be honest, I don't know what that is based on," Aelita frowned.

Yumi laughed again. "It's all about business for him. Maybe he thinks it's the same for you."

"Yes. He's not wrong. Nevertheless, I'm worried. We have an image to keep. Or well, in our case it would be an image to create. I don't think my nervousness is going to help," she sounded genuinely stressed out.

"Relax Aelita. You will do fine. You can handle yourself in difficult situations, so this should be a cinch," Yumi tried to assure her. "However, if shopping helps, I'm in. I can use some new clothes myself. Want to go today?"

"I would love to, if you've got no other plans," Aelita was grateful.

"Hiroki is coming to my place to sleep over. He has a follow up for that activity from before. But he won't be here until 5 PM, so we have plenty of time," Yumi told her.

"That's great. Where shall we meet?"

"How about the shopping centre near ELITA? They have a wide variety of clothing stores or so I've heard my colleagues say," Yumi suggested.

"Okay. Will 11:30 AM do? Lunch is on me then," Aelita stated.

"Sure, see you then," Yumi said.

"Bye," Aelita hung up.

Aelita was waiting in front of a bakery when Yumi arrived. "Let me guess. We'll be eating here," she confidently said. "Yes," Aelita smiled. They went inside and saw all kinds of bread on display behind the glass. On the other side, there were round tables where the customers could eat. The young women ordered chocolate croissants, cheese croissants and plain ones. Aelita went for a café au lait. Yumi chose the lemon tea with honey.

"Great choice Aelita," Yumi complimented her after having taken her first bite.

"I like to come here every once in a while. To have some time to myself," she added.

"Ah, I understand. I've got those moments too. Though, most of them are spent in my office. I should also find a good place like this," she stirred her tea.

"Aelita," Yumi continued, creating a rather serious atmosphere. The pinkette looked up due to the sudden change in tone. "I've got something to tell you as well. So it's actually a perfect timing for you to start your worry frenzy today," she set the stage for her – probably unexpected – news.

Her friend put down her cheese croissant, while being unsure whether it would be good or bad. Yumi looked up as well and couldn't hide her smile. "Ulrich asked me out," she revealed. Aelita's eyes widened upon hearing those four words. "He did?" She asked, just to confirm she heard right. When the Japanese woman nodded Aelita got up to give her a hug. "That's wonderful. I'm glad for you. Ulrich and you really deserve happiness now," she smiled afterwards.

Aelita was truly happy for them from the bottom of her heart. She knew as well as Odd and Jeremie how much those two had gone through. She witnessed Ulrich's struggle, but could only imagine Yumi's. "I still can't believe it," Yumi's words pulled Aelita out of her thoughts. "I was so relieved when it happened. I guess I hadn't expected the weight of my worries about Ulrich to be so immensely large. We both talked about how we kept interfering with our own heartfelt wishes instead of following along and carrying out those wishes," she said. Yumi still stirred her tea.

"And now you finally have," Aelita put her hand on Yumi's free one.

"Of course, it's a little hard. I mean, we've officially changed our relationship now. I hope it won't suddenly become awkward. And there is work. I'm sure people will look down on us, especially me. I believe Ulrich also thinks his father isn't going to sit still. Although, I hope that won't be the case as long as we perform well and show good results from our hard work," Yumi started to fidget, plucking off bits of a plain croissant.

"I'm sure you two will treasure each other properly. You will be able to get through anything. Ulrich has been your partner in life in more than one way. If there is anyone you should completely trust, it's him," Aelita had seated herself on the chair next to Yumi, who nodded in agreement.

"I do," Yumi smiled. Aelita did so as well.

"Let's finish lunch. Otherwise, we won't get to shopping," Yumi quickly changed the topic. "Right," Aelita said. "I'll hear the details later," she joked. Yumi blushed. "There are none." Aelita crossed her arms. "Okay, later," Yumi gave in. They both laughed.

After lunch, the two of them spent hours shopping for clothes and shoes. In the end they settled on a dress that suited Aelita to a T. The outfit was completed by a fine pair of shoes and some accessories. "Jeremie is going to have a hard time," Yumi eyed Aelita as she came out of the dressing room. "But that's good, considering how he'll be into business mode all evening. You'll be the best distraction," Yumi smirked.

Aelita blushed. "I like it too," she admitted. "The dress or Jeremie being distracted?" Yumi teased her. "Both?" The blush intensified. Yumi chuckled. "So this will be it?" Aelita nodded. She took a hold of the clothes they had already chosen plus her newly added items and walked to the cash register. Yumi carried the bags that contained the clothes bought from other stores and followed her.

"Did you cycle here?" Aelita asked her when they had exited the store.

"Nope, I took the bus," Yumi answered. "Which is a good thing. I bought a lot more than I thought I would." She grinned.

"Then I'll give you a ride home," Aelita decided. Yumi was surprised. "You have a car?!" She exclaimed. Aelita shook her head. "It's not mine alone," she quickly said. "Technically it's our company car. Jeremie's and mine. We rotate, because we're out pretty often to meet with our clients. One week it's Jeremie, then it's back to me. It depends on the work in the office," Aelita explained.

"Ohh, that's convenient. Even you two have your driver's license then. I haven't really had time to take lessons, let alone take the exam," Yumi told her.

"It wasn't easy, but we managed. Jeremie's father was willing to loan us the money needed for our lessons. We are in the process of paying him back," she disclosed.

"I was about to ask where you got the money from," Yumi said. "Yes, it's definitely not cheap. So I'm glad I passed in one try. Surprisingly, Jeremie did too. I rode with him once during a lesson and he was making so many mistakes. I had to restrain myself from holding on to the door or the handle above the window. I didn't want to make him even more uncomfortable after all." They laughed.

"I'll be accepting that offer then," Yumi said. Aelita grinned.

"Thanks for the ride. You drive really well," Yumi winked at her friend.

"You're welcome. Don't forget. Details. Later," Aelita teased her after she had parked the car in an empty spot on the parking place near the apartment building Yumi lived in.

Yumi got out and opened the trunk to take out her bags. "I'm sure you'll message me over and over again if I don't call soon," she said as she closed the trunk. The pinkette had already opened the window the side of the passenger seat.

Aelita giggled. "I won't spam you. I'm just excited. It's really, really wonderful," she said.

"Thanks Aelita," Yumi smiled. "See you around. Drive safely. Bye."

"I will. Bye Yumi," Aelita said.

Yumi watched her drive away before she turned around to go home.

When she approached her front door, she noticed Hiroki standing there. "You're early," was her greeting. She remembered it was 04:20 PM after Aelita dropped her off. "I did message you," he claimed. "It must have been on silent. Did you wait long?" Yumi wanted to set down her bags, but Hiroki extended his hands. "Thanks," she handed him the bags and searched for her keys. Yumi glanced at her watch while she unlocked the door. It read 04:25 PM.

"About ten minutes?" Hiroki said. "Sorry, I was out," Yumi opened the door, stepped inside and took off her shoes. She took the bags from her younger brother and went to put them on the coffee table in the living room. Hiroki closed the front door and entered the living room after having taken off his shoes. He set down his bag next to the cupboard with the television on top. "With Ulrich?" He asked. Yumi blushed. Fortunately, she wasn't facing Hiroki. "No, with Aelita."

"Ah," Hiroki said, a little disappointed at the lack of development in his sister's life. He strolled into the kitchen to get himself a drink. "I'll be staying over the entire week. It's for Social Studies. An assignment in which we'll get training at a company. I have to write a report. My training is this week," Hiroki explained. Yumi heard him talk. "That sound like a pain," she said, busy taking off labels of her new clothes.

"It is. There is way too many factors to take into account. I can already hear the teacher complain," he returned with a glass filled with juice.

"Hang in there," Yumi said. "If you need help, I'll try." She grinned.

"Yeah, thanks," Hiroki sat down on the part of the sofa that wasn't occupied.

"So anything exciting happen since the last time I was here?" He asked. Yumi stilled for a moment. Hiroki noticed. "Oh? Usually you deny it immediately. Is it Ulrich?" Hiroki inquired again. Yumi blushed despite wanting to reprimand him.

"Can you stop making Ulrich the reason for everything?" She tried.

"No," Hiroki replied plainly.

"Ugh!"

"So, what happened?"

"Nothing," Yumi had calmed down. If Hiroki was going to stay here for at least five days, she was going to tell him when he would go home. She mentally groaned at the fact that Hiroki would not let her be otherwise.

"Liar," Hiroki found it suspicious.

Yumi was about to retort when her phone rang. "Busy Sunday for my phone?" Yumi picked up without looking who would be on the other side of the line. "Hello?"

"Hey Yumi." It was the voice that would be the cause of many blushes to come.

"Hi Ulrich. What's up?" She asked him. Yumi made eye contact with a visibly energized Hiroki.

"Do you want to go out and grab something to eat?" He asked. "We can talk about what we'll do after yesterday."

"Oh," she paused and looked at her younger brother once more. "Hiroki came just now, to sleep over, so I'm going to pass." Yumi turned around on purpose to hide her expression.

"Can I come over as well?"

"Eh?"

"I mean, just for dinner," Ulrich rephrased.

"Ah, I don't think that will be a problem," she said.

"I will bring the food. Is Italian fine?" He asked.

Yumi simply responded with a "yep".

"Great, see you soon then!" Ulrich excitedly told her.

She smiled at his enthusiasm. "Bye." Yumi hung up.

Hiroki stood behind Yumi. He had been trying to listen in on her conversation with Ulrich. "What are you doing?"

"Is he coming over?" Hiroki wanted to skip the wrath of his sister, but she hit his head with her fist anyway.

"Who is?" She faked ignorance.

"Ulrich," he urged her to tell him, while rubbing his head.

"Yes, he's having dinner with us tonight," she gave in.

"Nice!"

Yumi had put away all of her newly bought clothes and cleaned up the living room. Hiroki was watching TV. "Isn't that Mr. Delmas?" She pointed at the screen. "Yeah, it is," he turned up the volume. "Is it true that Kadic Academy has committed exam fraud in order to achieve a higher national ranking?" A reporter asked the question. Mr. Delmas stood in front of his house with bodyguards on either side.

"How did that happen?" Yumi asked.

"They are probably mixing news from the past and rumours from the present on purpose. I heard the school was involved with falsified results in the past. But that was well before Mr. Delmas became the principal. This year they came in fifth in the ranking and people started talking, I guess," Hiroki filled her in on the situation.

"I hope they can clear the misunderstanding. I'm sure Ms. Delmas will help her husband," Yumi said. "How can you be so sure?" Hiroki asked her. "Because I met her. She seems to be the influential type," Yumi revealed. She told him the story of meeting her in Delas company.

"Wow, and I thought Sissi was a lot to handle," Hiroki said.

"Now we know who she inherited that from. It developed into a bad quality for Sissi though," Yumi snickered. Hiroki laughed. "Seems to be the case."

The doorbell rang and Yumi froze for a moment. She walked away in silence. Once at the front door, she confirmed Ulrich was waiting in the hallway.

"Hey Ulrich," she greeted him when she opened the door. Yumi had no control of her rapidly beating heart.

"Hey," he greeted her back. Ulrich carried plastic bags with their dinner in his left hand. He stroked her cheek with his other hand. Yumi closed her eyes for a split second to relish in the moment.

"Is it Ulrich?" Hiroki shouted from the living room, disrupting them.

"You have no idea how many times I've heard that one sentence today," she whispered to him.

Ulrich chuckled. "Let's put an end to your misery then," he joked.

"If you'd please," she gracefully gestured for him to enter. He went ahead to the living room and she heard him greet Hiroki. With Ulrich here, there was no way Hiroki wasn't going to find out.

"This is going to be a long week," she thought to herself as she closed the door to her supposed doom.

A/N: Now, I'm tired XD. See you next time.