Disclaimer:      I do not own Slam Dunk!!  *boo hoo!* And, I certainly do not own Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata!  ~_~ Life is just so unfair isn't it??  *pouts*  

A big thanks to the reviewers again!  ^_^

Lotus:                         *Bows* Arigatou Lotus-san for your comments.  And, I bet'cha that Moon Glow-san is glad to hear that you like her in the fic ^_~ hahaha…

sLL:                            Hmm…Ying & Mitsui?  Well…you'll just have to read on and find out :P hehehe I'm not giving the story away :P

Tensaispira:               Model!?  Nopez…try again Tensai.  Hisae's definitely not a model… hehehe :P  All I can say is…some people knows her because of who she is, and she did cut her hair to hide her identity ;)  So… read on, and I promise you it will not be long before I reveal the big himitsu~ :D

ReI142:                      Hmm…well…guess you'll just have to read on and find out what the big secret is ReI142-san ;P  Let's see, it should be out in the open in chapter 5…I hope :x hehehe…

Fiery-chan:                 Aiyoh~ Me no kiang lah Fiery-chan!!!  X_x  Also, like I've told you, you have to read on to find out what the hitmitsu is :P  So…don't kill me?  If you kill me, you won't know what's gonna happen next!  Bwahahahahahaha~  (You know that I'm evil right?  Hahaha  :D)  Ano, I think Moon-san already told you who her fav SD character is rite?  So, no need for me to repeat what she'd told you lah ;)

Ryyan:                        Thanks for reading.  All will be revealed in due time…  enjoy this chapter ;)

NB:      …                Thoughts

 "…"                Character's speech

            (Numbers)        Explanations in akane の teahouse

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Chapter 3 – Her Shell Breaks…

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and Hisae sat before the baby grand practicing.  When the grandfather clock at the opposite end of the room chimed, she looked up at the time and closed the piano covers.  She stood up and walked over to the sofa to pick up her small shoulder bag.  Opening the bag to make sure that she had everything she needed, she turned to the coffee table and picked up the keycard of her condo and left.

When she walked out of Setsuge-ka En, she put her right hand up to shield her eyes from the warm summer sun.  She took a glance at her watch and noticed that she still have some time before her meeting with Ying, so instead of taking the bus, she decided to walk to their meeting place instead.

Over the past few weeks, she found out that Ying was a person much loved and respected by their fellow students.  Even though she gets into all sorts of troubles by irritating the teachers and being caught in the casual Mitsui-Ying brawls, the general student body adored her for her sunny characteristics.  Ying could bring live to any situations, even at the dullest of moments.  Ying had also introduced Hisae to other students, but Hisae found it rather hard to befriend the others because of her diffident nature.  However, with Ying was different.  Hisae didn't feel any pressure around her when she's with Ying.  This is probably what fate is, it has brought Ying into her life, a true friend.  She let a gentle smile curved her lips upon the thought.

o        o        o        o        o

"Hisae!"  The ever cheerful voice of Ying rang out above the hustle and bustle of the Sunday crowd in the central shopping distract of Kanagawa, and was waving her hand frantically at her approaching friend.

Hisae increased her speed slightly and stop in front of Ying.  "Bonjour Ying."

Ying tilted her head to one side as she raised an eyebrow in confusion.  "Nani?"

"Bonjour is French for hello or good morning, kind of a general term for greetings."  Hisae smiled as she explained.

"Sou…"  Ying nodded her head in understanding.  "Anyways, let's go.  I wanna do some shopping!"

The two girls shuttled in and out of different shops, ranging from fashion boutiques to book stores.  A number of paper bags found their way into the girls' hands in less than an hour, with 90% of these belonging to Ying.  She sure meant shopping when she mentioned the word.

"Hey, let's find some place to sit down for lunch, I'm pooped!"  Ying grumbled as they exited the shop they just patronized.

Hisae smiled teasingly at her now energy depleted friend.  "I thought you'd never stop until you've been to every shop."

Ying was about to refute Hisae when she noticed a change in her quiet friend's attitude.  She scrutinized the taller girl as she moved around her in circle, causing Hisae to fidget uncomfortably.

"Ano, Ying?  Is there something wrong?"  Hisae questioned.

A big smile of glee broke out on Ying's face.  "You just teased me!  That means you're opening up Hisae!  Finally!"

Hisae blinked at Ying.  Did I tease her just now?  Is that possible? She thought silently.

Ying watched Hisae as she plunged into deep thoughts and grinned.

"Ying-sempai?"  A voice broke the two friends' silent.

Ying and Hisae both turned around to see who the owner of that voice was.  A petite, brown haired, brown eyed girl was just behind them with two other girls.

"Aa, you're Haruko-chan right?  Akagi-kun no imouto?"  Ying asked.

Haruko nodded.  "Hai."

"Going shopping with your friends?"  Ying asked gesturing to Haruko's two friends, Fujii and Matsui.

"Not really.  We're just going to lunch then to the library to do some research for our project."  The younger girl replied.

"I see."  Ying nodded.

"By the way, these are my close friend Fujii and Matsui."  Haruko introduced.

Ying nodded at her two kohais.  "Hi."

The two younger girls bowed slightly.  "Nice to meet you sempai."

"Likewise."  Ying then realized Hisae was quiet again.  "This is Hisae by the way; she's also in third year."

The three younger girls then exchanged greetings with Hisae.

"Onii-chan had mentioned you before, Hisae-sempai.  It's really nice to meet you."  Haruko said sweetly.

Hisae just smiled at her, not knowing what to say in reply.

"Haruko, we'd better go.  Or else, we won't have enough time to spend at the library."  Fujii said.

Haruko nodded and the three younger girls bid their good byes to their sempais.

Hisae and Ying watched their kohais left and turned to face each other again.

"Let's go."  They said in unison.  Startled by their privity, they burst out laughing.  That was the very first time Ying saw Hisae laughed.  In fact, it was the first time that Hisae had laughed so heartily and so naturally in her life.

When they stopped laughing, they grinned at each other.  They then walked off to lunch together.

When Hisae stopped in front of a French restaurant, Ying gawked at her.  "We're not going in there are we?"

"Why not?"  Hisae asked confusingly.

"Because, that is one expensive restaurant and I don't know French.  Won't know what to order."

Hisae stifled a small laugh at Ying's rather funny predicament and shook her head slightly.  She then emptied the bags in her right hand to her left, and pulled Ying into the restaurant with her before she had a chance to protest.  "C'mon, my treat."

"A table for two please."  Ying said to the service attendant behind the service counter.

"Just a moment please."  The service attendant said and check for table availability.  He then took two copies of menu from the pile and gestured the girls to follow him.  "This way please."

The girls followed him to their table and sat down.  The service attendant offered them the menu and walked off after bowing courteously.

Ying opened the menu and began to see moon and stars because she couldn't understand a single word printed on the menu.  Hisae observed her friend's expression closely as it changed from shocking green to red hot embarrassment.  Ying's expressions were priceless at that moment, and she wouldn't be caught dead with them under normal circumstances.

Ying looked up from the menu and saw Hisae smiling at her.  "What!?  Can't help it if I can't read French and never had French food before!"  She exclaimed sulkily in a low voice.

Hisae just kept smiling.  "Don't worry.  I'll order for you.  What do you like normally?  Fish?  Duck?  Chicken?"

Ying felt better after hearing Hisae words.  "What do you recommend?"

"Hmm…their set lunch looks nice.  That is, if you like fish."

"OK.  I'll trust your taste."

Hisae nodded and signaled for the waiter.

"Are you ready to order, Mademoiselles?"  The waiter asked as he took out his order pad.

"Duex classique appareil déjeuner, en prime eau s'il vous plaît."  Hisae said.

"Oui."  The waiter took down their orders and left.

Moments later, the waiter returned with a bottle of cold water.  He poured it into the girls' glasses before bowing to leave.

"What the heck did you say just now?"  Ying asked Hisae excitedly, she was intrigued by her ability to speak French.

"I ordered our lunch of course."  Hisae smiled.

"Yea, I know that much.  But what did you order exactly?"

"Two sets of their classic set lunch and some water."

"Sou…"

Hisae nodded as she took a sip of the ice-cold water.

"Hey, teach me the language some time?"  Ying asked eagerly.

"If you're really interested, sure."  Hisae replied happily at her friend's interests.

When Ying was about to say more, the first course of their lunch arrived, crème of mushroom soup accompanied by two slices of buttered bread.

"Itekimasu."  The said in unison and started eating.

The second course, a cold chicken salad followed; then the main course, grilled fish in white wine sauce arrived.  They finally ended their sumptuous lunch with mango soufflé and a hot cup of tea.

When they finished their lunch, Hisae asked for the check.  When the leather wallet containing the check came, she placed her credit car in it without looking at the price.  The waiter then went off with the wallet and returned with the credit slip for her to sign.  Hisae added another ¥2,000 to the amount stated as tip and signed the slip.  The waiter cross-checked the signature on the card and the slip, and then folded the carbon copy of the credit slip and gave it to Hisae, together with her card.  Ying only stared wordlessly at Hisae's actions with an uncanny expression.

"Merci, mademoiselle."  The waiter bowed and left their table.

"Ikimasho?"  Hisae asked Ying.

Ying took her bags and stood up.  The girls walked out of the restaurant and Ying who was quiet throughout lunch turned to Hisae and fired her with a chain of questions.

"Do you know how much you just spend on lunch!?  That was more than my monthly allowance!"  Ying cried.

Hisae sweat-dropped at Ying's words.  "It's not that much is it?"

"Not much?!  How can you call spending almost ¥15,000 on lunch not much?!"

'Demo…"

"I don't think I'll ask you to go out for lunch again.  It's just too scary."  Ying said disapprovingly.

"Ying please listen, that was nothing compare to what you've give me."  Hisae said in a solemn tone.

"Nani?"  Ying didn't understand what Hisae was saying

"Compare to the friendship you offered me, that amount I spend on our lunch just now, was nothing.  What's important is that you are my friend, and I think that treating my friend to a nice meal is a reasonable thing to do.  Besides, a little indulging doesn't hurt occasionally."

'Wow!  I think that's the longest line I've heard you speak since I've known you."  Ying gaped at Hisae.  "But still, that's not what I call 'a little indulging', that's more like over indulging.  Also, there are ways you can pamper yourself without spending much you know?"

Hisae looked at her uncertainly.  "What do you mean?"

Ying hooked her arm into Hisae's and pulled her along.  "I'll show you slowly.  You sure don't look like you grew up in a normal family ne."

Hisae smiled weakly at her words.  "I'm afraid you're right there.  My family…is definitely not normal."  She said with a sigh.

"Hisae?"  Ying looked at her with hesitancy, thinking she might have trot upon something she shouldn't have.

Hisae shook her head.  "It's nothing.  Don't worry."  She let out a faint sigh then smiled brightly at Ying.  "Hey c'mon, I see a pet shop there, let's go."

Wonder what caused her to be like this, so diffident and so distant to others… Ying thought as she let herself guided toward the pet shop by Hisae, forgetting about something very important to her health.

"Kawaii!"  Hisae cried happily, as she peered through the glass cabinet, which held several kittens and puppies, in different compartment of course.

Ying clamped her right hand over her nose tightly.  She raised an eyebrow at Hisae's actions and spoke in a nasal voice.  "How can you like those fur balls?"

Hisae tore her gaze away from the adorable 'fur balls', as Ying called them and turned to look at Ying.  "Don't you think they're adorable?"

Ying rolled her eyes.  "No.  I think they're a menace."

"How can you say that about these cute creatures?"  Hisae said in a disapproving tone.

"Cute but irritating, that's what they are."

As if understanding something, Hisae tilted her head to one side and smiled thoughtfully at Ying, who was getting bluer by the minute due to the lack of air.  "Hea…why do I get the feeling that the reason why you don't like them is because you're afraid of them?"

"I'm not afraid of them!"  Ying rebutted and balled her hands into fists, hitting into the air on her sides.  However, as she exclaimed her remarks, she began to sneeze frenziedly.

Hisae's eyes widened to her friend's condition as realization hit her.  Ying's allergic to animals!  No wonder she kept her hand over her nose and mouth as soon as they stepped into the pet shop.

"Daijoubu, Ying?"  Hisae asked in a worried tone.

Ying held up a hand and waved in gesture that she was fine.  "I'll wait for you outside."  She told Hisae in between sneezes and ran out of the shop to catch some fresh air and to relieve her distressed sinus of the fur-ball-air.

Hisae could only watch as Ying ran out.  She smiled and turned back to the glass cabinet.  She poked her finger on the glass playfully and watched the kittens jumped up and down trying to get her finger.

However, unknown to them, a pair of blue eyes watched this with scheming interests.  The eyes' owner, an indigo head whistled a happy tune as he turned to walk away, grinning as a devious plot began to form in his head.

The shop keeper came over and said, "Can I help you there miss?"

Hisae looked up and said, "Can I hold them?"

"Of course."  The guy replied and fished out a chain of keys to open the cabinet.  "Which one would you like to hold?"

Hisae looked at the five kittens in there and spotted 'the one'.  "That one."  She pointed.

The guy leaned over and caught the cute ball of fur Hisae mentioned.  He handed the kitten to Hisae who held it with utmost care.

"This is a Birman koneko, which originates from Burma."  He said.

Hisae stroked the kitten's grayish-beige and white fur gently.  The kitten closed its blue eyes and purred in response.

"He likes you."  He said with a smile.

Hisae looked up at him, "How much does he cost?"

"¥40,000.  And he comes with scheduled vaccinations and some pet gear."  He explained.

Hisae nodded and smiled down at the ball of fur in her arms.  "I'll take him home with me then."

The owner smiled at the kitten-human pair.  "Alright, please come over here and we'll get you the things for this little fellow."

Hisae followed him to the counter and waited as he went around the back of the shop to get the things that came with the kitten.  He returned shortly with a box.  He opened the box and took out a cat-cage in which he placed the kitten.  The kitten meowed softly then curled up into a ball and closed it eyes.  He then took out other things from the box, including a kitty litter tray, a bag of kitty litter, a bag of dry cat food and a bowl, and some cat toys.  Hisae smiled at her soon to be companion and took out her purse.

"How would you like to pay for that, miss?"

"Put it on my credit account please."  Hisae handed him her platinum VISA card.

The shop keeper raised an eyebrow at the sight of the platinum credit card, but did not comment.  He turned to the cash register and punch in the amount, letting the system do it's magic.  Rich kid…

The transaction was approved within the minute and Hisae signed the credit slip.  Returning the card to her, the shop keeper waited for her to settle her things back into her shoulder bag before handling the cage and large paper bag to her.

"There's a schedule for its worming and vaccinations.  So, just bring him back on the day."  He reminded.

Hisae nodded.  "Arigatou."

"No, thank you."  He smiled.

Hisae took the cage in one hand and the bag in another and walked out of the shop to meet up with Ying.

Ying saw the 'things' in Hisae's hand and gasped.  "Stay away from me!"

Hisae laughed at Ying's reaction.  "Oh c'mon, he's harmless.  Besides, I really can't imagine the oh-so-mighty Ying is scared of a little koneko…"  Hisae teased.

Ying's face was red with embarrassment.  "It's not my fault that I'm allergic to fur balls!"  She cried.

Hisae stopped laughing and regained her composure.  "Ok, ok, let's go then, I have to get my little friend back home."

Ying's eye lightened.  "So, we're going to your place then?"

"Yes we are."  Hisae nodded.  "But I'm afraid that I don't have anything good to entertain you with though."

"Oh, that doesn't matter.  Let's go, let's go."  Ying said impatiently as she urged Hisae along, forgetting about her allergy again.

o        o        o        o        o

Ying stood gaping with her blue eyes widened to the widest extent in front of Hisae's condominium.  She thought she'd heard wrong when Hisae hailed down a cab and told the cabbie to take them to Setsuge-ka En.  Now, she had to believe what she heard wasn't wrong; instead it was very much a fact.

Hisae took out her keycard and slid it down the decoder.  The locks clicked and the door opened.  Hisae pushed the door to open further, and stepped inside.  When she noticed that Ying didn't follow her in, she turned around and saw Ying gawking at her.  She put her things down on the floor and pulled Ying into her humble abode.

When Ying entered the condo, she was still gawking at Hisae.  Hisae creased her brows in confusion.  "Daijoubu Ying?"

Not seeing any reaction from Ying, Hisae shook her slightly.  "Ying?  Earth to Ying!  Ying!"

"Huh?  Nani?"  Ying snapped out of her trance and asked blurrily.

"Daijoubu?  You look as if you're in shock or something."  Hisae said worriedly.  "You really don't like small animals that much?"

"Iie.  Don't worry about me, it's not that cat of yours, it's just that you took me by surprise that's all."  Ying said sheepishly.

"What do you mean?"  Hisae asked her in bafflement.

"You never told me you live in Setsuge-ka En."

"Ano…is there something wrong with living here?"  Hisae asked.  She was getting more confused by the minute.  "Anyways, come in first, I need to let the kitten out."

Hisae picked up the cage and everything else she left on the floor and walked into the living area with Ying following.  She put everything on the coffee table then sat on the thickly carpeted floor while Ying sat on the sofa.  Hisae opened the cage and took the kitten out.  She put it on the coffee table and played with it by tapping its front paws with the pen that was on the table.

Ying watched Hisae and the kitten played for a little while then said, "Hisae, how rich are you?"

"Eh?"  Hisae looked up at Ying.  "What do you mean Ying?"

"You really don't know that it costs a fortune to live here do you?  Not to mention you're living in the condominium level."  Ying said hopelessly.

"I don't."  Hisae replied uncomfortably.  "My brother arranged everything for me before I came here, so I don't know how much the rent costs."

"No wonder."  Ying nodded.  "Ooi, do you live here alone?"  Her blue eyes danced around as she moved her head.

"Hai."

"Can I snoop around your condo a bit?"  Ying asked excitedly.

"Sure, go ahead."

While Ying went exploring Hisae's condo, Hisae unpacked the things for the Birman kitten and got herself and Ying a bottle of mineral water each.  Hisae let the kitten play with its new toy, a feather that was stuck to a plastic rod.  She smiled at the kitten's antics as she walked pass and went searching for her snoopy friend.

Hisae found Ying examining the computer in her study with vast interests.  She tapped Ying's shoulder and startled the shorter girl.

"You scared me there."  Ying said as she gestured to sooth her racing heart.

Hisae handed Ying a bottle of mineral water and asked, "What were you looking at?"

Ying twisted the bottle open and took a sip.  "What are you doing with all these weird softwares?"

"What weird softwares?"  Hisae raised an eyebrow confusingly.

Ying turned to the switched on PC, moved the mouse pointer to an icon, and double clicked on it.  The program soon opened.

"This one for example."  Ying said.

Hisae looked over Ying's shoulders to see which program she had opened.  "Oh, that.  Well, I'm trying to compose a piece of music for the piano and that's the simplest music composer available on the market."

"Huh?  Compose a piece of music for the piano?"

"Uh huh."  Hisae nodded.

"You play the piano?"  Ying asked in surprise.

"Uh huh."  Hisae nodded again, and then added, "And the saxophone too."

"Wow, you play two instruments?"

Hisae nodded again.

"What sort of music are you composing then?"  Ying asked curiously.

"Come out and I'll show you."

Hisae turned to leave the study.  Ying followed her out of the study back into the living room, where she saw Hisae sitting down at the piano, and opened its covers fluidly.  She looked up and saw Ying standing by the side of the baby grand, and she began to play.  Her slender fingers moved over the black and white keyboard silkily, and a dolce (1) melody floated into the air.  Ying closed her eyes and let her senses drown by the soothing music.

The music stopped abruptly and Ying opened her eyes.  She looked at Hisae questioningly.  "Why'd you stop?"

"That's where I'm up do with the composing.  I still have to compose the rest before it's complete."

"Sou ka…"

Hisae nodded.

Ying leaned onto the baby grand's cover and winked at Hisae.  "You know, if Chitsuko know you can play the piano and the sax, she'd try everything to drag you into the music club."

"Chitsuko?  Ano, dare ka Chitsuko?"  Hisae asked puzzlingly.

Ying sweat-dropped.  "Morinaga Chitsuko, our classmate, long black hair, brown eyes, about my height.  Ring any bells?"

"Aa, wasurerareru (2)."  Hisae poked out her tongue cutely.

Ying rolled her eyes in hopelessness.

"Eeto…what about Morinaga-san?"  Hisae asked.

"She's the music club's president."

"Aa, naruhodo."  Hisae nodded and looked at Ying with puppy eyes.  "You won't snitch on me in now, will you?"

Ying threw her a bleak look.  "How can you think so lowly of me?"  She exclaimed.  However, the next thing she knew was, she was sneezing like crazy again, for the second time that day.  That would mean only one thing…

"Get away from me you ball of fur!"  She yelled and jumped away from the piano, trying to contain her sneezes.

The cute ball of fur looked up at the now hysterical Ying and meowed, big eyes watching her innocently.  Hisae laughed at the situation and picked up the tiny fur ball.

"Now, now, don't you dare go around terrorizing poor Ying-nee chan, you hear?"  Hisae said as she tapped the kitten's head lightly.

"Shitsuki Hisae!  Are you making fun of me!?"  Ying demanded from the other side of the room.

Hisae looked up and blinked innocently.  "Would little ole me dare to tease the almighty Zhi Ying?"

"Hisae!"  Ying groaned.

Hisae chuckled at Ying's helplessness.  She coughed to regain her composure and said, "Help me think of a name for my new friend here."

"It's a fur ball.  Just call it that will do."  Ying snorted.

"Ying, don't be mean."  Hisae shook her head disapprovingly.  "C'mon, help me think of a name."

Ying plopped herself onto the sofa and stared at the human-cat pair blankly.  "I don't know; I haven't named anything before."

Hisae continued to stroke the kitten's fur and it purred happily to her stroking.

Suddenly, Hisae looked up smiling.  "I know.  I'll call him Lucian."

"Huh?  Ru what?"

"Not Ru, Lu.  Lu-ci-an.  It's a Roman name meaning light."  Hisae smiled.

"Oh ok…"  Ying mumbled.

"I'm hungry again; do you have anything readily eatable in the fridge?"  Ying said and headed toward the kitchen.

Hisae put Lucian on the floor and followed Ying into the kitchen.  "I think there's some roast chicken left.  We can make some sandwiches out of that if you like."

"That'd be great."  Ying called out as she opened the fridge to take out the chicken and some salad dressing for their sandwiches.

While Ying made the sandwiches, Hisae brewed them some tea.  They then sat down at the kitchen counter chatting, enjoying their afternoon tea.

"You're good enough to be a pro with the piano, you know?"  Ying commented between bites.

Hisae's hand and sandwich stopped in midair upon hearing her words.  She smiled weakly and shook her head.  "Even if I have the ability to, I don't want to yet.  It's not time yet."

'What do mean?"  Ying took another bite off her sandwich.

"Nothing.  Ano, you know that term project we're supposed to be doing, when should we start?"  Hisae tried to change the subject, stiffly.

"Oh hell!  Do not mention the word project please.  It's a nightmare!"  Ying groaned.  Wonder why she changed the subject…  She is definitely hiding something, but what is it and how can I get it out of her?  Hmmm…it will have to wait.

Hisae smiled at Ying's annoyed expression.  "It can't be that bad.  Besides, we have the other two top students in our group.  So, that should ease things a bit."

"Come to think of it, we'd better discuss this with Kogure-kun and Akagi-kun tomorrow so we can set a date to start working on it."

"Un.  Demo, they've been quite busy lately though, haven't they.  I mean, it's the prefecture finals soon and their team's extending their practices.  Also, we'll be having our midterm exam soon, so we're really tight with time ne."  Hisae thought logically.

"Guess so.  Soshite, we only have two weeks before the project's due.  Oh, and keep your fur ball away."  Ying scowled as Hisae picked Lucian up from the floor and moved away from them before she started sneezing again.

Hisae tore her sandwiches into small pieces and fed them to Lucian.  "Should we make up a schedule for working on the project then?  Say, we can split the project into four parts and each of us can do our part individually then we meet as a group and compile the whole thing together.  What do you think?"

Ying nodded at the idea.  "That sounds good.  And we can have the group meeting here."  She grinned widely.  "I mean, you're living alone so there are no adults to pester us."

Hisae smiled at Ying's remarks.  "Let me tell you this then, you are welcomed here at any time, even to stay over whenever you like."

"Nesupa (3)!?"  Ying cried happily.

"Mochiron.  You're my friend Ying; of course you're welcomed at any time."  Hisae smiled gently.

"Ara, I just remembered something."  Ying said out of the blue.

"Doushita?"

"Kogure-kun's birthday is coming up, it's next week in fact, on the 12th.  Think we should do anything to celebrate for him?"  Ying said as she sipped her tea.

"Sou ka?"  A shy smiled curled Hisae's lips as the image of the basketball club's vice-captain came to mind, and a faint blush pinked her cheeks.

Ying stole a glance at the blushing Hisae and smirked teasingly.  "Hea…I think someone has a crush on the valedictorian-to-be."

Hisae's pinked cheeks reddened a few shades.  "I don't know what you are talking about."  Hisae mumbled.

Ying grinned slyly at Hisae.  "Are you sure you don't know what I'm talking about?"

"Ying!"  Hisae blurted.

"Bwahahahahahaha…"  Ying burst in into unstoppable laughter because Hisae now looked redder than the ripest tomato.

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akane の teahouse…

Konichiwa minna-san!  :D  Here I am again ^_~ Anyways, let's get the explanations for the Jap terms over with first…

                                    (1)        dolce                ~          music term meaning sweet

                                    (2)        Wasurerareru   ~          I forgot

                                    (3)        Nesupa?           ~          Really?

So…  What do you think about this chapter?  Please click that little button on the lower left corner and drop me a line?  Onegai shimashita~~

Okies… enough said, the lazy neko signing out =^.^=

P/S:  The neko can't speak French, so please don't kill me if I got the little French dialogue wrong ^_^;