Don't worry, Hayate will get his hands dirty (good Hayate) but for now… not yet. Especially after that last maths test result…

*

The first thing she noticed the next day was that both Leon and Hayabusa were suffering the effects of the fight they had had. Leon was walking with a noticeable limp, and also had crutches but wasn't using them, and Hayabusa had his arm in a sling, although reluctantly, and had considerable bruising on his arms. It was too hot to wear a long shirt to cover then up, she assumed, but they were rather noticeable.

She didn't get the chance to talk to him or Hayate before recess. The first subject she had was drama, and she had had to put up with the slut regime from hell. How much drama do you need? They're already drama-queeny enough as it is!

As soon as the bell rang, she was down to the tree where they were yesterday, where both Hayabusa and Hayate were waiting. Hayate smiled at her, Hayabusa, however seemed to be absorbed in something happening on the tree.

"Ants," he pointed out without greeting her. Sure enough, there was a line of ants going up the tree. He shrugged, turning to her. "Enjoy drama?"

"That question doesn't even deserve an answer," she retorted, sitting down, leaning against the tree and hoping that ants wouldn't crawl onto her. "Anyway, I must ask you. You're wearing a sling because…?"

He smiled bitterly. "My father. He's over-protective and seems to know everything before I do. So he somehow managed to deduce that I had been in a fight without me saying anything to confirm the fact. Admittedly, me not being able to use my left arm properly didn't help matters," he paused, looking away. "So he took me to the doctor's. Apparently it's dislocated at the shoulder,"

"You are such an idiot," she shook her head at him. "Just because of some comment some stupid muscle moron said, you go and beat him up, and get your shoulder dislocated in the process,"

"His leg would probably have been sore for a while, even before you kicked him in the balls," Hayate shook his head at her. "He'll be limping for weeks. Stilettos and everything,"

She smirked. "He deserved it. Stupid ugly mug, stealing my insults,"

"So… how did your father like that?" Hayate asked almost carefully, and seriously enough for the entire tone of the conversation to change.

"Need you ask?" Hayabusa sighed. They exchanged looks that made her feel as though she was missing something important.

"Never mind…" she said. "Maths now, goody,"

As soon as she walked into the room, she remembered that they had the geek. She automatically disliked him. He was just so… geeky. But then again, it was a snob school. What else could you expect?

"Oh, Mr Hayabusa, you are actually gracing us with your presence this maths lesson," the geek observed. He was probably trying to sound sarcastic, but failing abysmally. Hayabusa nodded, emerald eyes boring into the geek.

"As strenuous as it was to find spare time for such petty activities, you will be graced with my presence for this lesson at least,"

She had a feeling that the geek and Hayabusa liked throwing sarcastic comments at each other. Although the geek couldn't be sarcastic to save his life, Hayabusa could compensate for both of them. And he was rather cute in a… gentlemanish way, she was beginning to think.

As she sat down next to Hayabusa, she heard Hayate's singsong voice. "Two points to him…"

They worked in silence, occasionally whispers could be heard, but there was basic silence. Until the geek's annoying voice drifted from the front of the room. "Mr Hayate, could you come here for a moment, please?"

Hayate made a face, but put down his pen and walked down to confer with the geek. Meanwhile, Hayabusa, who had finished his work and was getting set on hers, chuckled softly under his breath. Or was that just her imagination?

"He's so formal. It's Mr this, or Miss that. Can't he just use our first names like every other moderately sane teacher, instead of putting Mr or Miss before them?" there was a brief pause as she heard the scribbling of pen.

"Well, he doesn't use your first name. How come?" she asked. He turned, the amused look in his eyes glaringly obvious.

"He can't pronounce it,"

Hayate walked down, a serious look on his face. "What's up?" she asked as he sat down beside her, at the other desk.

"Nothing bad for you, at least," he glanced down at the paper in his hand, and made a face at it, before screwing it up into a tight ball. "Just didn't do too well on a test. Unfortunately for me, it was a rather important one. Now the idiot's telling me I need tutoring or something like that. What does he think I am, a total dunce? But I suppose Father will do something…"

She was sympathetic. When he found out, something would happen and poor Hayate would have hell to pay if he didn't get his marks back up again.

"Hey, Ryu?" Hayate sounded almost embarrassed now. "You don't suppose… you could go through some of this stuff with me tonight? Father's going to absolutely murder me if I mess up the test tomorrow as well…"

"There's a test tomorrow?" she exclaimed.

"You won't have to do it. You only just got here, remember?" Hayate was getting impatient by the sound of things. Probably took him a lot of humbleness to swallow his pride, she was assuming. There was a pause, before Hayabusa nodded.

"I probably won't be much assistance, but I will do what I can,"

"Great," Hayate smiled, before turning back to his page. "Man, this is bad…"