Hail Saturday. Seriously… I've been hanging out for a weekend. Anyway, it means we have time for a longer note. YES! Anyway, sorry about the last chapter. I didn't like it, but my friend kind of requested it, so I wrote it for her, didn't like it that much, but posted it anyway. When I re-write it, hopefully it'll be better. But even still, LC Wolf, I'm glad you liked it. Hopefully this chapter's a bit better.

Wow! Nearly 400 reviews! O.O Probably because this story's so long. Shrugs Anyway, shameless plug! Due to a somewhat foolish request, part two of Kurmoi's Test has been made. The link is in my bio. C'mon! You'll do better on this one, promise.

Anyway, better finish now. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Next chapter: Insightful Ryu talking to a butterfly. Don't ask. Ryu has a tendency to talk to things that aren't there/things that can't talk back in this story…

She could hardly believe it. There was actually school. The formal had seemed like the be-all, end all. But there was actually life after the formal. The world keeps revolving! How interesting! We still live! I was half expecting us to all keel over dead as soon as it ended.

"Hey, stupid," she dug Hayabusa in the side with her pen. "Give me a pencil,"

"You have a pen," was the simple response. "Why do you need both a pen and a pencil?"

She glared at him, but he was looking at the board.

"Don't forget the test on Wednesday," the geek informed them. "Make sure you study. Again, this test will be on your report card, and a letter will be sent home if your mark is not up to a reasonable standard,"

She felt Hayate stiffen beside her.

"Hey… don't worry about it," she tried to cheer him up. "At least it'll be two letters being sent home instead of one,"

For some reason, her caring encouragement didn't seem to work overly well.

Hayabusa turned to Hayate, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Study a lot, Hayate. You might be surprised,"

Hayate snorted inelegantly. "What makes you think so?"

Emerald eyes drifted to the window, watching a bird dance in the wind outside. "A little bird told me. Just try it. What do you have to lose?"

"Good point. Just my life if I fail again,"

Next to Hayate, Tina gave a short laugh.

"Don't worry; I get letters from this class all the time as well. But Dad doesn't care. He never was the greatest at math. And besides, I don't need math to be a model, so I really don't give a damn,"

"Speaking of your Dad, don't we have PE this afternoon?" she asked. Tina nodded.

"I hate PE sometimes. It's so embarrassing when your dad teaches it, especially when he does embarrassing things. Luckily it's only every few weeks or so for us senior students now. At least he's not a total lecherous twit like some of the other PE teachers we've had,"

"Tell me about it. And I think I've had enough of lecherous twits for the time being. Speaking of which…" she turned to Hayabusa. "What happened to… it?"

"It?" A faint smile appeared on his lips. "I don't know. I haven't seen him… it, since,"

"Hopefully they cut off his balls. If he had any to begin with,"

She really didn't like Raidou.

"Class dismissed!" the geek shouted as the bell rang. They filed out, on the way to their usual tree when suddenly; Hayabusa put a hand on her arm.

"Ayane… may I speak to you?"

"You are now,"

He smiled faintly again. "Alone,"

Why does he want to speak to me alone? "As long as you keep your hands to yourself," she instructed as they walked in the opposite direction, down to the back of the school, which was deserted save for a few nerdy looking computer geeks who were tapping away at their laptops. They pose no threat. Unless they hack into me… ha, ha… ha. I'm so witty.

"So… what did you want to speak to me about, Hayabusa?"

Emerald suddenly bored into her. "I believe I have never mentioned this to you, but Ryu is more then fine,"

"Fine, Hay- Ryu. So what did you want to speak to me about?"

He suddenly looked exceedingly uncomfortable.

"Forgive me for being so forward, but-"

"Wait a second," she put up a hand, instantly wary. "Just what is this about?"

Yup. He was blushing.

"Oh," Her eyebrow went up. "So it's something to do with… that,"

"Look, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be mentioning this. I doubt you want to hear it, especially after what happened on Friday,"

Was she just imagining it, or was there a trace of bitterness in his voice then?

"You have a crush on me? Is that what you're trying to say?"

She didn't have to feign surprise. Although the evidence was there, the fact that one of the star students in the school, one of the few who could have easily got just about any girl in the senior area without protest had a crush on her sounded ridiculous, even more so put into words. Wow. He… well… I don't even like him! I've barely known him for a month, not even! But… man, he is good looking… but… he's an arse! Oh, I don't know…

He nodded slowly, meekly. "I shouldn't have mentioned it,"

"Why, though?" That was one thing she didn't understand now, and probably wouldn't ever understand. "There's nothing outstanding about me. Especially when you compare me to… to that Kasumi. You have her at your fingertips. What do you care about me?"

He sighed softly. "I don't compare anybody to anybody if I can help it. And Kasumi realises that we can never be. We talked about it walking home on Friday night, and we both know that a relationship could never work between us. She would be trying too hard to be Irene, and I would be trying too hard to pretend that she was Irene. Because of the friendship we had before Irene's death… it stopped anything further from happening,"

"You still haven't answered my question, though," she narrowed her eyes. "Why do you care about me? It isn't as though I'm worth caring about,"

"That isn't true," When she looked, she saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. "Of course you're worth caring about. It's just…" he paused, breaking eye contact. "…just whether people choose to care about you. That is a completely different thing,"

"Okay. So I'm worth caring about but nobody does,"

"That isn't true either," He gazed back up at her again. "Somebody does. Somebody cares for you a lot. Would do anything to ensure your wellbeing,"

"Are you talking about you, or Hayate?"

What a way to spoil a perfect moment, she grinned, seeing Hayabusa's momentary confusion, before he shook his head.

"Well, Hayate originally, but I care for you as well. I would do anything that I could to ensure your safety and happiness,"

She rubbed her eyes. "Look… you can't just lump this all on me and expect me to go gaga over you. I'm not like that,"

"I understand," his voice was soft. "And if you don't feel the same way, then I understand as well. It's your choice as to what you do, and I will respect that decision. I just… after the incident on Friday, now that we are on amiable terms again, I needed to tell you,"

"Saved by the bell," she pointed out as the end of recess was signalled.

She walked off, ignoring the burning feel of emerald eyes on her back.