Author's note: *...* signifies thoughts.

Chapter 4: A Project with Multiple Purposes

Back in the classroom, Mitsuki-sensei issued a technology history project. She began to pick names from a hat for groups. Yamazaki, Chiharu, and Naoko were placed in one group.

Mitsuki-sensei "randomly" picked the next three names. "Daidouji-kun, Kinomoto-kun, and Li-kun, you're in the next group. Please have the rough draft of your oral presentation and all of your sources prepared by Monday," she instructed. As she picked the next three names, she slipped Syaoran a sly little wink.

"I told her not to help me, " Syaoran growled under his breath. "Oh well, what's done is done...this isn't major enough for me to use the Time Card to go back and change it. She really is just trying to help, I think."

"Class, please have your sources and rough draft Monday," Mitsuki-sensei reminded. "If you turn them in Friday or before, an extra five points will be added to your final project grade. Any questions?"

"No, ma'am," the class chorused.

"All right, then. Please take out your math book and turn to page twenty-three..."

***

Still the day was tough for Syaoran. He kept straying from the lesson and looking out the large window to his left.

*Sakura-chan has to listen to me. Maybe I can get Tomoyo-chan to convince her to listen to me. Yeah, I'll try that, I suppose.* Syaoran felt a little eased by this suggestion.

Mitsuki-sensei noticed Syaoran's still present lack of attention and didn't call on him. Since he wasn't disturbing class and he already knew how to convert metric units, what was the harm?

***

After class, Syaoran met up with Tomoyo and Sakura. He blushed a little bit as he noticed Sakura's pink cheeks and defiant expression.

"What do you want, Li-san?" Sakura asked formally and coldly while still gazing straight ahead.

"I was curious as to when you guys wanted to meet," he asked with an involuntarily shaky voice.

"Well, how about we meet in the library after school for an hour or two for the rest of the week? We could start today," Tomoyo suggested cheerfully.

Sakura shook her head. "No good. I have cheerleading practice until five every day, and the school's library closes at four."

"Oh. Well, what time is good for you?" Tomoyo inquired.

"How about from six to seven-thirty at the public library? That would give you plenty of time to change and eat dinner," Syaoran interjected quickly. He looked at Sakura for a reply.

Sakura nodded approvingly. "Okay, I think I can manage that," she said as she walked out the school's front door. "Bye, Tomoyo-chan!" she called as she took off towards the track.

"Syaoran-kun, why aren't you guys on speaking terms?" Tomoyo asked as soon as her best friend was out of earshot.

Syaoran sighed and looked downcast. "Last night, we had a really huge fight. I said some horrible things about her, and she gave me a well-deserved slap across the face." Syaoran sighed again. Tomoyo noticed that it sounded more pained than the first time, like he was hiding something.

"And I'm sure that it was just by chance that you ended up in our group, huh?" Tomoyo asked facetiously.

"Mitsuki-sensei used her powers to draw my name," Syaoran stated in an annoyed tone. He sat on the top step. "I told her I could handle it, but she stepped in anyway. Maybe it's better she did. Otherwise, I may never have gotten Sakura to look at me again." Syaoran blushed as he looked up. "I guess, for that, I'm thankful."

Tomoyo smiled, then winked at Syaoran. "Given up on Yukito, I see."

Syaoran looked at her with surprise. "No, it's not that, uh..." He blushed redder and sweat-dropped.

"All right, deny it if you want. I'll talk it out of you sooner or later. Now, I've got to be heading home. See you at six!" Tomoyo waved goodbye to a still-red Syaoran as she dashed home.

"See you then," he replied meekly.