A/N: Aaannddd here I am. Forgive me for the late update. Again hehe. I wasn't expecting some things to pop up, such as doing errands, doing repairs at home, and my older brother kept on pestering me to start working out. I suck at that, so meh. Anyways, if you guys haven't noticed, the song played on the last chapter was from Phineas And Ferb. Couldn't keep the song out of my head enjoy the chap!

"How about I tell you what's bothering me, then you'll tell me, what's bothering you?"

"There's no negotiating on this one, Chi-chan", if only filling her in would've been that easy, "besides, like I said, it's nothing serious. Everything's all good"

His growling stomach would have to disagree. The text message might have shaken him a bit, so he had forgotten about looking for something to eat for breakfast, and he contemplated about asking his kouhai for a quick detour to the nearest restaurant.

He felt as hungry as a starving vulture, and he wouldn't be surprised if he saw his mouth watering by the time they reached whatever the heck their destination was. Better be somewhere close by. Hopefully, he could stuff himself with food once they get there. How much money does he still has again?

"Don't think you can escape this. What happened? You looked like you've seen a ghost when you came back outside", he wanted to say that he already had, although, the ghost was wearing a kimono (courtesy of Suzuno), but he should know, of all people, that she was just really concerned about him.

"There's nothing to worry about, okay?", no, there are a thousand reasons to be panicking right now. "Where are we going, again?"

She didn't seem pleased with his subtle attempt on shifting the conversation, but she didn't try calling him out for it, either.

"There's a café nearby "

Food. Glorious food.

"How long until we get there?"

Her eyes flicked to the left for a moment, and it wasn't hard to tell that she was dreading what was going to happen next. "Oh, not long"

He assumed that, since she didn't even try denying about skipping school today, whatever she needed him help with must be as serious as the time when she experienced an 'earthquake' back at home, or something as close to the experience.

His mind flew back to the mysterious text message, and he silently begged that this wasn't somehow related.

It just all didn't made any sense to him.

He's not up for a happy reunion with the narcissistic, fashion designer himself. Maybe he was just being paranoid. They don't really have any definite proof that he's out on the run again, so then, why did Emi sent those screenshots?

The more he delved into it, the more complicated and wild his imagination goes. Who the hell was F.S anyways? If this was some kind of prank, he's going to murder these idiots if he ever finds them.

He's not welcome for some added stress in his system. Stupid bike stealer.

"Remember when I told you that I don't need to hear an answer from you?"

Her timid voice brought him back to reality, and he didn't need to think hard enough to know what she meant. She must have also wanted to know every detail of what happened back in the mall.

He knew this moment would happen. But even though he had told himself plenty of times that he's all ready to face her, he could feel the inner coward in him telling him to shut up, and try to divert away the topic again.

They took a turn to another street, this time heading closer to the city's food district, and he was already imagining himself devouring every food that's on the menu. If only they weren't broke. He should really consider kicking Urushihara out.

"I think I already know why you called me out here, Chi-chan", he attempted to smile at her, but that didn't seem to ease her one bit. "But, you didn't really have to skip school just for this. Does your mom know abou-"

"Of course she doesn't know. She would freak out if she finds out", he spotted her playing with the hem of her skirt, and he found himself getting just as nervous as she was.

"I thought I wouldn't mind if I let you wander off with another girl all the time, and I could be just imagining things in my head, but", she managed to gain back enough confidence for her to finally face him, and what she said next almost threw him off. "I just can't stand it!"

He could hear himself yelling at him, asking him to make a move to delay the topic, but he knew that if he wanted his problems to disappear, he'll have to suck it up and meet with it head-on.

Chiho kept her eyes on him, and the tension rising in the air was making him pretty dizzy. Or, was it because he's hungry?

It was his fault. He shouldn't have lead her on like this. Sure, she was the one who said that it was fine if he didn't say anything from the start, but that's not really a good excuse to just toss away the fact that a high school girl has some rock solid affection towards him.

This girl is his friend. She had her chance to walk away from them, but she didn't. Instead, she stayed behind, no matter how dangerous it was.

I'm so hungry, I can't even think straight at all.

As if on cue, his stomach rumbled, and from the way Chiho was giggling at him that it was obvious that she heard it all. If it was any other person who heard this, he would've died from embarrassment.

"No need to wait any longer. The cafe's just right over there", she gestured to the one at the corner of the street, and he almost do a happy dance right then and there upon seeing the few people sitting down, either eating breakfast, or simply enjoying the taste of their morning coffee. Ah, bliss.

He chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Guess it's out in the open now, huh? I haven't eaten anything, actually"

"You should've just said so from the beginning, otherwise we could've gotten something on the way"

He shrugged. "Let's just get inside. Ashiya's going to flip out as soon as he realized how much money left in my wallet after this"

The café itself wasn't all that impressive.

Pictures and paintings lined up the white, brick walls, and a long counter situated on the left with a glass display of sweets was enough to elicit another complaint from his stomach. Calm down, will ya? Thank goodness she didn't hear this one.

The smell of coffee tickled his nose, and his eyes trailed along the menu written in chalk hanging to the ceiling. A short, scrawny man was stationed on the counter, lost in his own world with his phone. A piece of paper taped on the wall behind him next to some coffee grinders must be the password to a wi-fi, and he made sure to remember to take a little peek at it while ordering.

Soft music played in the background, and he only spied about four people here, each sitting on different tables.

"Hope whatever cash I got left will be enough to satisfy me. Want me to order for us?"

She pondered on his words for a moment, but he must've looked hungrier than he first let on, because without even waiting for him, she jogged towards the cashier.

"My treat!"

"H-hey! Let me pay for mine"

She chuckled, shaking her head. "I'll order you something good, so try not to drool all over the place while looking for a table"

He wanted to stop her, but she skipped out of arms reach when he tried grabbing her and started filling in their orders, and the thought of her buying a meal that costs way more than he could afford eventually prevented any more complaints from leaving his mouth. Well, if she insists.

He still felt bad making her pay for him, but he's not about to pass up this golden opportunity to eat something that was way above his usual diet plan.

Settling to just try paying her later as soon as she comes back, he walked towards the few, empty tables, looking for the best spot for the two of them. He zoomed past a brunette reading a newspaper by the window, and he took the table behind hers.

He prayed that whatever happens after all of this, it won't end up with him having to deal with another problem that he has yet to fix. Women really are confusing. And, it's driving him insane.

There was a tissue paper container designed to look like a cargo container sitting on the middle of the table, and he placed his chin down, blowing at the paper protruding from it's top.

It moved to the right, allowing him to catch a glimpse of the other person sitting a few tables away from his, and he thought he might've seen that person before, although he couldn't remember where.

It might take a while before Chiho comes back, so he might as well find a way to kill time.

The tissue fell back into place, blocking his view of this mystery person, and when he blew at it again, he saw a flash of red.

No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Of all the time she could decide to pop up, it just had to be now.

Emi had already noticed him, based on the sour look on her face, wearing her work clothes, and from they way that her eyes would dart from him and back to the counter, it was obvious that she noticed Chiho as well.

She attempted to conceal her identity by covering her face with the latest magazine cover of Seventeen, but she was too late. Chiho would've seen her once she comes back, and what better way to have a serious conversation with your love interest than to discuss things with the second culprit of the crime?

He wasn't sure if these two were exactly simpatico at the moment, given that they haven't really seen much of each other, but Chiho might lose some of her confidence if she saw her here, and bringing him all the here would've been all for nothing.

This was so not going to end well.

He turned his head back towards the counter. The cashier must have taken a liking towards his kouhai, because he could hear his high, squeaky voice blabbering about nonsensical things that Chiho wasn't even paying any attention to, and he felt sorry that he let her suffer from this man's weak attempt on flirting. But, on the bright side, that bought him more time.

'Psst!'

He looked back towards Emi. She massaged her forehead, stressed, and she waved him to come over to her. Ain't no way he's gonna lift his butt of this seat. Can't she tell things might get worse if he does?

What ever happened to his sunshine and bubblegum

He whispered back, furiously, just loud enough for her to hear. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I should be asking the same thing to you", uh, you may not want to know about that. "Just come over here for a sec!"

He wagged his finger at her. "Hell no! Get out of here before it's too late!"

"I didn't come here alone!"

"Ehem"

Holy crap.

Chiho came back with a tray filled with two glasses of water, body as stiff as a pole, but despite the awkwardness looming around them, she didn't let it bother her, instead opting to direct her trademark, friendly smile towards Emi.

"Y-Yusa-san, hi. What are you doing out here?", her cheerful personality was gone, and she grew even more wary when the girl in front of her smiled back. Perfect timing, Emi. Well done.

She walked up to her table, and seeing as there's nothing else he could do but hope things won't end uo in a total disaster, he followed.

Wasn't she supposed to be working right now? Why now, of all things?

Emi chuckled, and for a moment, he thought her eyes took a wary look behind them, but then she quickly returned her attention towards them.

Something smells fishy.

"Oh, this and that", she took another look again, and when he was just about to go take a look for himself, he heard her whisper.

"Since you guys are here, I need your help"

They both frowned at her, and keeping her gaze low, she gestured towards their backs. "She's here"

That's it. Of course. With a slight tilt of his head, he snuck a glance behind him.

Rika didn't seem to have notice them, earphones jammed on her ears, and she was also wearing her work clothes as she went through her phone.

"So, Rika's here. What are we supposed to do?"

She bit down on her lip, anxious, and they both waited for her to answer.

"I've been watching her to make sure she's okay", she leaned in close, and he has a feeling that whatever she's about to say was going to be another massive problem for him to deal with.

"Someone has been tailing Rika"