Damn, more waffle. –Sigh- Before this chapter, I have to say something…

Mask… um. Please don't take this offensively, because it isn't meant to be offensive, just a simple statement. Wouldn't you be kind of concerned about your irate father's reaction if said father was going to pound your head in if you stepped a toe out of line? To me, there's a difference between concerned for your safety and wussy, but hey, whatever floats your boat. And I don't mind if you think otherwise, just telling you what I personally think.

Onto more general notes, Snob College is now officially in the works! It definitely wouldn't have happened without you guys, so thankyou ever so much! You guys are great! And the constructive criticism is good too. –Raises eyebrow- So keep it coming, as long as it's helpful. Anyway, thanks as always for reading!

Gods. He's going to murder me if he finds out my current whereabouts. And what I'm about to do, mores to the point.

Even still… I don't know why he cared so much about the accident. It wasn't as though it would be detrimental for either of us if I did manage to get myself more severely injured in the car crash. Unless… oh. He wanted to do it for Mother. Now I understand.

The alcohol was slowly fogging his vision. Luckily nobody had questioned his age when he had stepped into the bar. Odd. I never thought I looked over-age. Never mind.

He had been here for… how long? An hour? Maybe more. The first glass had pleasantly dulled his thoughts, accentuated the colours swirling around him. Now he was well into the sixth glass, and the room was slowly spinning. He doubted strongly that he could walk straight, but didn't let that deter him.

"Ryu? Is that you?"

He turned around at the sound of his voice, made eye contact with that so-familiar amber gaze, yet so unfamiliar at the same time and swore mentally. "Good afternoon, Shiden,"

"God. You're not actually old enough to be doing this, are you?" Shiden gestured at the glasses littering the bench. Realising that Shiden could just as easily ask Hayate, he decided to tell the truth, shaking his head.

"Well, then. You had better stop that," Before he could protest, Shiden's hand swiped the glass away, leaving him longingly watching after it. "I thought you were more responsible then this, Ryu. What would your father say?"

"He wouldn't say anything," the alcohol wasn't slurring his speech yet, but making every word that bit harder to pronounce. "His actions speak louder then his words ever could. What does it matter to you, anyway? You have Hayate, Kasumi and Ayane to worry about, not me,"

"Be that as it may. Even excluding the fact that you are Hayate's best friend, I'm not just going to sit here and watch an underage drink themselves into a drunken stupor. Including the fact that you are Hayate's friend, I am definitely not going to let you drink any more,"

Shiden sounded like such a parent. Or what he had always assumed a father to sound like.

Father and I got along once. Before Mother died. But I don't remember it. Ugh. My head.

"Please don't mention this to Father,"

They were walking along, now. Well, he was only just managing to, but still sufficiently putting one foot in front of the other.

"How could I not? I would certainly like to know if Hayate ever managed to get as inebriated as you are, especially when neither of you are legally allowed to drink as of yet. God knows that I've had to do this to Ayane several times, but never would I have thought I'd be doing it for you, as well,"

"Well, what brought you there?" he asked less-then politely. "Surely there was only one reason for entering a bar originally?"

"There's a café too, remember. I was going to buy lunch, originally,"

Damn. So much for that idea. "Technically, Shiden, it is none of your business what I do in my free time,"

"Technically, Ryu, it isn't your free time. You're supposed to be at school,"

"I had a free period," he lied.

Judging by Shiden's expression, he was just as believable as he sounded, which wasn't very.

"My life is none of your business!" he pulled his arm out of Shiden's grip. "Hayate's life is your business. Kasumi's life is your business. Even Ayane's life is your business. You have no business in my affairs, sir. So whether or not I choose to get inebriated is not your decision,"

"You realise you could be arrested for it,"

"That doesn't bother me,"

Shiden sighed. "Get in the car,"

"What…?"

"Get in the car. I'm taking you back to our house. Get in,"

"I don't believe you,"

A hand clenched around his arm. "Do it now,"

Luckily, Shiden was true to his word. The house they pulled up in front of was certainly Hayate's. He was led inside, before being offered a chair.

"Why?" he asked as he sat down.

"Why what?" Shiden, having made himself a cup of coffee, sipped at it delicately.

"Why do you care about what I do?"

There was a pause.

"Hayate told me a while ago about your father. I've never mentioned it, assuming that you would be angry at Hayate for divulging your personal information,"

He was. "He has no right. You have no right to know,"

"Perhaps so, but seeing as I do know, you might want to shut your mouth and listen to me," Shiden said tersely. He shut his mouth, although reluctantly. "I see alcohol does nothing for you except give you an overly annoying argumentative streak,"

"Keep on talking," he instructed irately, "before I walk out,"

"I was concerned for you," his friend's father admitted finally. "Although, perhaps I can see now that you are just wasting my time,"

He stood up furiously. "In that case, I apologise profusely for wasting your time, sir. I suppose I had better let you get back to work or wherever the hell you came from so that no more of your precious time is wasted,"

Before Shiden could say anything, he was out of the door, heading to somewhere only his feet knew.

Is that all I do? Waste everybody's time?

Ayane, Kasumi, Hayate… I'm sorry.

It won't happen again.

I swear it.