Author's Note: Gomen ne for not updating soon! I was so busy working on an original anime/manga. Me and my friend KyoTasuki is working on it and because of it, I'll be having late updates gomen ne! Anyway if you want to check it out, it's titled KEY under Original fiction: Anime/Manga.

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Chapter 4: I'm Learning Chemistry!

SATURDAY, KAINAN GYM

Arika nervously stepped into the Kainan gym, the players were already there. She looked at the thick Chemistry book in her hand thinking, "What did I get myself into?" she knew that Ria always watched the practice and trainings of the Kainan players.

Jin noticed Arika standing there by the door looking nervous. Jin smiled and approached her. "Ohayou Arika-san!" Jin greeted. Arika's nervousness faded away when he saw Jin. Jin was a club member and a fellow chemistry lover.

"Sempai!" Arika exclaimed grinning at Jin Souichiro. Jin replied, "Arika-san how many times I'll tell you not to call me Sempai. Jin-san or Jin-kun is fine!"

Arika blushed pink and nod her head. "Jin-san is always so nice to me..." Jin then saw the Chemistry book on her hand and exclaimed, "I see Kiyota is scheduled for tutor today" Arika nod her head and said, "Don't worry Jin-san, I won't get in the way."

"I know that Arika-san, anyway I'll call Kiyota for you. He's done with his stretching exercise. It won't be his next on the hoop yet, wait over the benches Arika-san" Jin replied. Arika nod her head and headed towards the benches. She looked around but she didn't saw any Ria Masahara.

"I wonder, where's Ria? She should be here right?" Arika wondered. She then saw Kiyota running towards her. Arika smiled. Kiyota winked at her saying, "Yo Arika! I see your own time" Arika exclaimed, "I'm always on time Kiyota"

Kiyota then sat down beside her and asked, "So where do we start?" Arika opened the book and replied, "To the topic you are weak on." Kiyota raised an eyebrow and replied, "Arika... I'm weak to all topics in Chem"

Arika sighed and exclaimed, "Okay... then let's start with the periodic table" Kiyota's face grimaced and exclaimed, "Periodic table? yuck!" Arika snap the book shut and exclaimed, "Look here, studying the periodic table is the first step for you to pass this subject, It's either we start or not!"

"Whoah, hold your horses, okay... let's start, you don't have to be hasty" Kiyota replied holding up his hands for surrender. Arika smiled saying, "That's better"

Jin shook his head while laughing to himself. He knew that Arika was no domineering person and Kiyota is not some guy who would be taken down by a girl. It's was funny thing to watch, as Kiyota giving in to Arika and Arika dominating Kiyota to learn. "Looks like this is going to be a good term!" Jin thought watching the two from a far.

AFTER AN HOUR

Kiyota stood up saying, "Well it's time for me to shoot some hoops, it'll be just an hour so I'll be back" Arika nod her head and closed the Chemistry book. She smiled to herself, teaching Kiyota wasn't that hard, the guy listens to her as she explain the periodic law and such. She was glad the Kiyota is starting to like Chemistry.

FLASHBACK

"Whoah! That's cool, I never thought it would be like that!" Kiyota exclaimed as he understood the periodic law. Arika smiled and said, "That's right, there's nothing complicated and hard in it"

Kiyota laughed and exclaimed, "Yeah and Junta-sensei made it complicated and hard to understand!" Arika giggled and replied, "He always does, that's why nobody listens to him"

"Yeah except for Jin and you I suppose" Kiyota pointed out. Arika shook her head saying, "Not even Jin-san listens to him, I do not listen to him." Kiyota gave her a surprising look and exclaimed, "WHAT? Then how come you and Jin pass Chemistry with flying colors?"

Arika smiled and replied, "Simple Kiyota, self-study and hard work that's all" Kiyota's jaw dropped and exclaimed, "That's all? You can do that?"

"Yes Kiyota, that's why if you want to pass Chemistry you need hard work and lot of effort like you give in playing basketball. You're a great player because you give all the hard work and effort. I'm good in Chemistry because I give all my hard work and effort on it" Arika explained looking Kiyota deep in the eyes.

Kiyota smiled and said, "Amazing..."

END OF FLASHBACK

Arika smile grew wider thinking about it. She never imagine that she could be that close to Kiyota. Jin sat beside her asking, "So hows Kiyota as a student Arika-san?" Arika laughed and replied, "He's pretty good as a student, like I figured, he's just one of those stubborn students who loathed Junta-sensei"

Jin also laughed. "Anyway why are you looking so nervous back there Arika-san?" Arika blushed pink and answered, "Well you see... I'm quite nervous because of... of... Ria Masahara, you know, she considered herself the number one fan of Kiyota and her jealousy is like dynamite!"

"So you're checking the place out for Ria huh?" Jin replied. Arika nod her head. "No need to worry Arika-san, Ria and her cheerleading friends don't flock this place every Saturdays that's because the cheerleading squad also has practices at the other gym."

Arika heaved a sigh of relief. Then she remembered, she grabbed Jin's sleeve and exclaimed, "Jin-san, I can escape Ria's jealousy every Saturday how about the rest of the week?!" Jin scratched his chin and replied, "Hmmm... you're right... but then why to fear Ria? She's pretty nice she won't hurt you, she'll understand as long she learns your tutoring Kiyota and nothing else."

"Pretty nice? Ria to understand? If you only knew Jin-san!" Arika's mind screamed at Jin. Arika sighed and muttered, "I'm doomed..."

"ALL RIGHT!" Kiyota cried as his lay up was successful. It was his 50th lay-up. Arika watched Kiyota dribbled the ball and did another lay-up. Arika blushed. Kiyota is really good. Jin smiled and cried to Kiyota, "Good going Kiyota! Keep it up!"

Kiyota grinned and gave Jin a thumb up sign and he turned to Arika and flashed her a smile and a wink. Arika blushed and immediately looked at the book she's holding. "What the hell he did that for? Don't tell me he's flirting! No way he'll flirt at me, I'm not that pretty!" Arika thought staring hard at the book.

AFTER ANOTHER HOUR

Kiyota finished his 100th lay-up and went back to Arika. "Sorry if I'm all sweaty and stuff" Kiyota apologized as he sat down next to Arika. Arika shook her head saying, "It's all right" with that she handed him the book and said, "Review about the periodic table and the periodic law and I'll give you a short quiz about it."

"Graded?" Kiyota asked. "Not yet Kiyota, it's just a practice test" Arika answered smiling. Kiyota nod his head and started to review.

Arika stared at him while reviewing. "Kami-sama! He's sweating a lot and breathing... no panting a lot!" with that she got up and took out a cold water bottle from the cooler and handed it to Kiyota. Kiyota looked up and said, "Why thanks Arika!"

He took the water bottle, open it up and drank all of the content. When he was finished, Arika handed him a towel. He stared at Arika and smiled, "Thanks... you're very caring Arika" Arika looked away to hide her blush and said, "Your welcome"

After 30 minutes of review Arika gave her short quiz to Kiyota. Kiyota answered all the questions. Arika checked the answers and exclaimed, "You did well Kiyota, you got 4 mistakes out of 10" Kiyota smiled and said, "Wow! I wish I can have that kind of grade with Junta-sensei!"

"You will Kiyota, when will your next quiz?" Arika asked. Kiyota took out his organizer and looked. "It's scheduled on Tuesday all about the Periodic Table, Periodic Law and Chemical Equations" he answered not looking at Arika. Arika stood up and replied, "Looks like you got this afternoon, on Monday recess and afternoon to study for it Kiyota"

Kiyota's eyes widened and demanded, "We'll study Periodic Table and Law all over again?!" Arika nod her head saying, "That's right!"

"But that's so tiring!" Kiyota complained. Arika raised an eyebrow and exclaimed, "Don't be picky Kiyota! I mean look you never seem to tire repeating your lay-ups all over again, why not this?"

"Chemistry is different from basketball!" Kiyota pointed out. Arika then exclaimed, "Then starting right now treat Chemistry like basketball! Remember hard work and effort? It starts right now Mr. Kiyota Nobunaga!" Kiyota sighed and replied, "Jeez... you're much of a terror than Junta-sensei!"

Arika smiled and replied, "At least you learn something from me" Kiyota smiled and said, "I guess I don't have a choice do I?" Arika shook her head. "Okay, let's study them all over again Ms. Arika Fujisawa!"

"Sure thing but I think Jin-san needs you on court" Arika replied looking at Jin. Kiyota looked at Jin and exclaimed, "Oh I forgot, a one on one with the newbies, well got to settle this before anything else"

"Looks like this will take a lot of time, let's just resume our lesson at my house." Arika replied standing up. Kiyota exclaimed, "All right then, what's your address?" Arika took out a paper and a pen and wrote down her address and phone number.

With that she handed it to Kiyota saying, "That's my address and my number. Remember after practice and don't be late" Kiyota grinned and replied, "You got that!" Arika smiled and walked off.

AFTER THE PRACTICE: ARIKA'S FRONT STEP

He looked over his watch, it reads 5:00 PM. He was right on time. He rang the doorbell. The door opened, a cute little boy opened the door. "Yes? Who are you?" the boy asked.

Kiyota bended down and answered, "The name is Kiyota, I'm looking for Arika." the boy smiled and asked, "Are you nee-chan's kareshi?" with that a loud voice boomed, "SHINICHI!"

Kiyota looked up, the boy turned around and there stood Arika in a lavender shirt and white long skirt. Her hands on her hip and on her face one eyebrow was raised. "Shinichi! Time to go your room!" Shinichi gulped and exclaimed, "Hai nee-chan..." with that the young boy toddled off.

"Sorry about that Kiyota, it's the very first time Shinichi saw a guy visiting my house" Arika replied bowing down for an apology. Kiyota held out a hand saying, "It's all right Arika!"

Arika then said, "Please have a seat! I'll just finish the cookies baking in the oven" with that Arika disappeared in the kitchen. Kiyota sat down in the living room and scanned the pictures on the table beside him. It was pictures of Arika when she was a child.

Kiyota then spotted a Arika Fujisawa aged 10. She wasn't wearing glasses, but her hair is already carelessly braided. He looked it closely and thought, "This is Arika? Wow... she's cute when she was a kid... then again, how come she looks familiar?"

Arika appeared with a plate of cookies and drinks. "Thanks for waiting Kiyota!" Kiyota smiled and said, "Wow! You bake cookies? Sugoi!" Arika blushed and replied, "Uh... yeah..."

Kiyota then took a bite of the cookie and exclaimed, "Oishii!" Arika smiled and said, "Arigato..." she then took the Chemistry book by her side and said, "I think it's not a bad idea if we start while eating these cookies right?"

"Sure!" Kiyota answered edging closer to Arika. Arika took a deep breath as she opened the book to the page where Chemical Equations were explained. As Arika started to rant, Kiyota remembered the first time he bumped into her. She looked incredibly troubled. There were tear stains on her face...

"Nee Arika..." Kiyota replied his voice serious. Arika looked up and asked, "Doushite?" Kiyota looked away from her her and exclaimed, "I just remembered the day when I first bumped into you... there were tear stains in your face..."

Arika went white and stammered, "I-I just had... a ve-very bad day...." Kiyota looked at her and exclaimed, "A very bad day won't make you look like that..." Arika didn't replied. Kiyota then smiled and said, "Look, if you got any problems just tell me Arika. I'll be glad to help!"

"Why would you do that?" Arika asked. "That's because you're a friend" Kiyota answered grinning at her. Arika smiled and said, "Arigato Kiyota!" with that they returned to their lesson.

It was seven when they finished. Actually, they finished at six, but Kiyota wanted to stay a little longer to play with Shinichi. Shinichi apologized for thinking that Kiyota is Arika's kareshi. Kiyota was okay with it and played kiddy basketball with Shinichi at the garage teaching him some tricks. Arika smiled as she watched Shinichi played and laughed with Kiyota.

Their kiddy game ended when Kiyota noticed that it's already dark. When he looked at his watch it was seven. "Kuso! It's seven, I better go!"

"Seven? Nii-chan, eat dinner with us!" Shinichi replied tugging Kiyota's arm. "Can't Shi-kun, I didn't asked permission to my mom. Don't worry I'll eat dinner here next time!" Kiyota replied patting Shinichi's head.

Kiyota turned to Arika and said, "Well gotta go Arika, thanks!" Arika smiled and replied, "That's nothing!" with that Kiyota headed towards the gate and said, "See you then!"

"Kiotsukete (Take care)!) Arika exclaimed. Kiyota waved back and went off. Arika watched as Kiyota headed off. she couldn't help feeling lucky to studying in Kainan despite the cruel way of life there.

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TO BE CONTINUED

AU: Ohhhhh.... Kiyota is getting closer to Arika!!! I wonder what would happen on Monday? Stay tuned! Sorry for not updating soon!

R&R please!