"For the last time, Chifuyu, get down here!" Chifuyu's mother shouted. Her throat was getting sore from all the shouting. Chifuyu had been in his room all evening and she had no idea what the hell he was getting up to. Earlier, she had poked her head in and was greeted by the sight of clothes and mangas strewn across his bedroom floor. She didn't even bother asking what he was doing and left.

With a heavy sigh, Chifuyu threw the model toy plane onto his bed and threw open his bedroom door. "What?" He groaned. He's been trying to find the lost manga ever since coming from school, but he still couldn't find it and his frustration was starting to show.

"It's dinner time!" His mum snapped back, "Sit down and eat."

Begrudgingly, Chifuyu dragged his feet over to the dinner table and sat down. "Itadakimasu," He said, before going straight in for his mother's home cooked spicy tofu.

His mother sighed, "Slow down. It looks like you haven't eaten for days."

Chifuyu nodded in reply, his mouth full of food.

Shaking her head in amusement, his mother let out a little laugh. "Here," she said, using her chopsticks to place a slice of beef onto Chifuyu's bowl. "Eat more,"

"Thanks,"

"Have you fed Peke J yet?" She asked.

Chifuyu nodded, "He went out to explore again,"

"As always, that cat." She said with a hint of affection. "Also, what have you been doing in your room? It's like I walked into a disaster zone. You've been holed up in there since the very minute you came home."

"I'm trying to find a manga," Chifuyu replied, then he looked up at his mother. "It's called Cloud 9, have you seen it by any chance?"

She pondered for a few seconds, "Hmm, can't say I have."

Chifuyu sighed and slumped back in his seat. "Damn..."

"Why? Don't tell me it's borrowed from the library, and you've lost it!"

Chifuyu stared back at his mother, guilt written all over his face. She hit the nail on the head.

"Chifuyu!" She scolded his son. "There's a fine to pay for missing books, you know!"

"Yes, mum. I know." Though that wasn't what he was worried about. Instead, it was about disappointing a certain girl.

"If you know that, then you shouldn't have let it go missing in the first place." She responded, though not before nicely adding. "I'll help you to search for it after dinner."

"Thanks, mum." He smiled genuinely.

She nodded, "Now eat,"

The next day at school, Chifuyu couldn't help but to yawn all the way through morning lessons.

He stayed up late to search for the missing manga (mission failed) and this was the consequence. He kept fighting against his eyelids from shutting but it was proving to be difficult, so he let them shut for a few seconds. The few seconds turned into minutes and then he started to doze off.

"Matsuno!"

Someone was calling his name. But he was too deep in sleep to open his eyes.

"Matsuno Chifuyu!"

This time he was startled awake and his book that was propped up to hide himself tumbled onto the floor. "Yes!?" He jolted, making the class giggle.

He blushed and picked up his book.

"Answer?" His teacher said, tapping her finger impatiently against the question that was written on the chalkboard.

The numbers were blurry and fuzzy. He squinted hard, rubbing his eyes to get rid of the haze.

"Uhhh, unmm…" His mind was empty yet chaotic at the same time as he tried to digest the scribbles on the board. What was he even looking at?

From the other side of the classroom, Ryusei coughed loudly, catching his attention. Chifuyu looked over. Ryusei was discreetly holding up four fingers, his eyes darting to the question on the board.

"Uh, four!" Chifuyu answered frantically, turning his attention back to the front.

"Incorrect!" The teacher exclaimed, "Pay attention in class instead of sleeping! If I catch you again next time, that's detention."

"Y-Yes, I'm sorry," He apologised, slumping down into his seat with embarrassment.

When she returned to teaching the class, he shot a glare across the room at Ryusei, who was smiling sheepishly back at him. "Sorry!" He mouthed.

Chifuyu stared at him back with an unamused face. Apology not accepted.

"What's going on with you today, Sleeping Beauty?" Ryusei asked when he and Chifuyu reached the rooftop to eat their lunch.

"Don't call me Sleeping Beauty." Chifuyu groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes to block out the sun.

"Something kept you up at night?" Ryusei said, biting into an apple.

"Yeah, your face." Chifuyu replied. "It's terrifying."

Ryusei smiled sweetly, "It's sweet that you're always thinking of me, even at night."

Chifuyu let out a sigh and rolled over so that his back was facing the infuriating boy.

"Now, now, don't be shy." Ryusei teased. "You can talk to me."

Chifuyu ignored him and let his thoughts drift back to you. He remembered the way you smiled at him yesterday, and although he's only met you twice, he didn't want to be the reason for your smile to be turned upside down.

However much of a delinquent he was, Chifuyu was a dork and romantic fool at heart when it came to girls. It was something his mother always teased him about. She even called him 'Romeo' because he's soft-hearted and falls in love easily. Chifuyu called it 'being a teenage boy'. A teenage boy that was way too invested in shoujo mangas than the average.

"It's rude to ignore people, you know? Especially me." Ryusei said, resting his back against the wall.

"You? Mr. Ex-First Division Vice-Captain?"

The curly-haired boy scoffed, "Please, I basically gave you my position because the duties meant shit all to me."

"Because of your incapability?" Chifuyu retorted.

"Hey, Chifuyu. You tired of living?" Ryusei said, shooting him a menacingly sweet smile.

Chifuyu yawned and closed his eyes again, basking in the small rays of sunlight that peeked through the white mass of clouds. "Scram."

"What am I, your dog?"

"You can bark if you want,"

Ryusei scowled, "Fuck off,"

Chifuyu laughed, opening an eye to peer at the boy. "Anyways, since you weren't at the last meeting, I'm letting you know that you're to attend the next one on Friday night."

"Count me out," Ryusei instantly replied.

"It's an important one apparently."

"And?"

"Everyone is expected to attend. Mikey's orders."

Everyone knew that Toman's infamous president, Mikey's orders were law. Anyone who defied him was met with a terrible fate.

And Ryusei knew this. He sighed deeply. "Guess I won't be watching Friday night's football then."

Amused, Chifuyu patted Ryusei's knee with feigned sympathy. "Don't worry, it won't be the end of the world." He consoled him with a saccharine smile.