A/N: I OWN NOTHING! I am just borrowing Naoki and Kotoko for my own amusement.

Guest Adyasha: I would love to be able to let you know when I update chapters, but unless you have an account and follow, I have no real way of contacting you. I am going to attempt to do daily updates though.

-3-

The next morning, Naoki was stopped on his way into school by the fool's display. Ikezawa was

attempting to raise money for Aihara's family in the attempt to afford a new home. The girl in question

was red-faced and ranting at her friend. "KIN-CHAN! THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE! I DO NOT NEED

CHARITY!"

"Kotoko," he simpered. "It is my job as your future husband to take care of you and your needs. You

need a home."

Watanabe wandered up to his side. "Isn't that the girl who tried to give you a letter?" Naoki grunted in

agreement.

"YOU. ARE. NOT. MY. FUTURE. HUSBAND!" she grits out between clenched teeth.

"You are in my way," Naoki told the black-haired menace.

"Irie-Demon!" he exclaimed. "Do you know who is to blame for this tragedy?"

"An earthquake?" he replied with a raised eyebrow, skeptical about where this line of questioning was

going. "Or are you saying it is my fault?"

"IT IS!" Kinnosuke yelled. "If you wouldn't have turned down my poor Kotoko, this never would have

happened!"

"KIN-CHAN! That isn't true at all!" Kotoko defended, putting herself between the boy and Naoki.

"Pretty sure I said yesterday that I didn't actually turn her down," he smirked, pulling out his wallet. "If it

will shut you up though and let me continue onto my class, I don't mind donating."

"That isn't necessary, Irie-Kun." She said simply. "I don't want or need your charity. My father and I

already have a plan. We are going to stay with a friend of my Dad."

"You are?!" Her entourage exclaimed, clearly surprised by this development.

"I see," he stated, his voice smug, causing the girl to look at him in confusion attempting to understand

what he was on about. "I wish you luck then." At that he resumed his walk to his class, pausing briefly to

look over his shoulder at the young copper haired girl that was still watching him as though he held all

the answers, which to be fair, he usually does. "See you later, Aihara." He then continued to his class,

ignoring those around him, except for one.

"What is with you and this girl?" Watanabe asked, confused. He just shrugged in reply, not knowing how

to answer the inquiry for himself. She just intrigues him, and he is unsure why.

Throughout the rest of the school day Naoki kept hearing rumors about what was happening between

him and Aihara Kotoko. He heard absurd things like: Were they secretly dating, are they engaged, Naoki

was in love with her too… Each claim was more ridiculous than the last if they were to consider the fact

that he had just met her for the first time the day before. 'Although one of those ideas could have some

merit,' he pondered as he walked to the library after class, in need of a new book. He was honestly just

trying to delay his arrival at his home, so he would not be there before their new guests arrived.

After finding three new books to read, Naoki started walking home, book open as he walked. The path

to his home went quickly and before he knew it, he was standing outside his home, a truck for a

restaurant called Aihara Japanese Cuisine. He half smiled at the thought of seeing the enigma of a girl

that he had not been able to get out of his mind, sure that she was going to have some sort of dramatic

reaction to seeing him.

"I'm home," he called out as he slipped off his shoes and put his slippers on.

"Oni-Chan," his mother called. "Come and meet our new housemates."

As he rounded the corner, he saw the shocked look on Kotoko's face, before taking in her father's

curious expression. Bowing out of respect, he introduced himself. "Hello," he said softly. "I am Irie

Naoki, the eldest son."

"Kotoko-Chan" his mother started. "Don't you and Oni-Chan go to the same school? Do you two know

each other?"

"Our classes are far apart," he explains after he straightened up. "We have recently crossed paths a few

times."

"Yes Oba-sama," she replies. "Irie-kun and I have spoken a few times over the last couple of days."

Naoki watched as his mother's eyes lit up, bouncing back and forth between the two. 'Oh no,' he

thought with an inward grimace. 'Here we go…' Knowing his mother was going to attempt match

making between the slip of a girl and himself, he darted his eyes around to look for a suitable

distraction. Thankfully, his younger brother provided this.

"Kotoko-nee-san," Yuki drawled, attempting to be cute. "I am having problems with these Kanji; can you

help me?" Naoki watched on puzzled, due to his brother never struggling with his homework. As he

watched the clear vexation on the young woman's face, he figured out that his younger sibling was just

attempting to discredit Kotoko to everyone around her.

"I think it is sea pig," she responds softly, not overly confident.

'Close,' he thinks amused. 'She missed the other line that changes pig to horse.'

"It's SEAHORSE," Yuki exclaims triumphantly. "You are in your third year of high school and can't read

basic Kanji. BAKA!"

Naoki's eyes narrowed slightly, as his lips turned up, so his outward appearance showed his approval

with his brother's actions while his mother slapped his arm telling him to apologize. He watched as Yuki

made a face at Kotoko before running off to their shared dwelling. The girl's face was the color of a

tomato, and she dropped her head so her hair would act as a barrier. 'She is so unsure of herself, but

that spark is still in her eyes.'

"Kotoko-Chan," his mother said happily, trying to draw the girl out of her despair. "Would you like to see

your room?" As she nodded and followed behind Noriko, Naoki grabbed her belongings and lagged

behind. "I always wanted a little girl, but I had two boys instead. I really hope you like what I have done

with the place. We can always change it if you want."

Naoki stood in the doorway watching as Kotoko took in the sight of the pink frilly room, wrapping

herself in the lace bed hanging. "I love it, Oba-sama," she said with a small smile. "I've never really had

pink and girly things since my mother died when I was young. My Dad tried, but he just didn't ever fully

understand." Another piece to the Kotoko puzzle fell into place at her explanation. "Thank you so

much." He happily observed the two women embrace before making himself known as he set down her

luggage.

"Oh!" his mother exclaimed. "Oni-Chan, will you help Kotoko unpack and get situated?"

He internally rolls his eyes before walking into the space, bringing the luggage with him. "This used to be

Yuki's room," he said conversationally as he was left alone with his new housemate.

"I'm sorry for being an inconvenience." She responds softly.

He looks up, seeing her hiding her face again. Before he can really think about it, he walks over to close

the door and locks it before standing in front of her. He waits patiently for her to raise her chocolate

orbs to his stormy ones before he speaks. "You aren't an inconvenience," he explains quietly, watching

as heat begins to warm her cheeks. "You had an unforeseen situation happen, and our families are tied

together in ways neither of us knew. I have no problem with you being here if I am being honest.

However, we cannot let on to anyone that this is the case."

"Wha… What do you mean, Irie-kun?" she asks confused.

"My mother is already planning our wedding," he explains lowly, rolling his eyes as he watches her begin

to daydream. "Because of this, when we are around others, I will continue to act like myself."

"What about when we aren't around other people?" she asks bravely.

"When we aren't," he half smirks. "You and I can try and get to know each other better. Now then,

where are we going to start with your stuff?"

"You really don't have to help, Irie-kun." She blushes.

"Can I ask you a question," he inquires. At her nod he continues. "Why do you call me Irie-kun when you

tried to give me a love letter, but Ikezawa 'Kin-Chan'? Wouldn't that suggest more familiarity and

affection? Do you like Ikezawa and were just using the letter as a way to make him jealous?"

Kotoko's mouth dropped open into an 'O' shape, as she rapidly shook her head with her denial. "I

honestly never even thought of that," she says in surprise. "I respect you a lot due to your intelligence

and handsome appearance, so I call you Irie-kun. Kin-ch… Ah, Ikezawa-san I just called him the name he

decided on. I never really thought about the fact that he could see it as affectionate. If you were to read

my letter, you would know who I like."

"Ah yes, your letter," he began, acting like he had forgotten that. "Do you still have it?" She nodded and

went to her purse, pulling the letter out and presenting it to him. "I guess it is later, huh?" He takes the

letter from her and slips it into his jacket before walking over and unlocking the door. "Remember,

outward appearances."

As he opens the door, he sees his little brother standing there. "My room is cramped now with Yuki's

bed and desk in there. Just try to stay out of my way." He then makes his way to his room as he hears

Yuki taunt the girl a little more before going back downstairs. Laying down on his bed, he pulls out her

letter and begins to read:

Nice to meet you Irie Naoki. I am Aihara Kotoko from Class F…

After he finished the letter, he folded it back up and put it back into the envelope. He then stands and

adds it to a book that does not get used very often on his bookshelf, making sure the letter is securely in

between the pages. 'That girl,' he muses. 'She fell in love with me listening to my speech and has

admired me from afar. She has strived to become a Class A member, but repeatedly falls short. I wonder

if that is due to her or her teacher.' With that last thought, he drifts off to sleep, dreaming about a

copper haired girl with chocolate eyes.