Chapter three

Shinobu sighed in her sleep; a beam of sunlight had just sliced through the thin gap in her curtains and come to rest across one of her eyes. She opened them both now, even as she rolled to the side to save her vision. She yawned. (Aaauuu, what time is it? I hope I haven't slept in. Today's my day to make breakfast. I wonder what Sempai would like today?) Shinobu's thoughts usually ran one of two places in the mornings: her sense of responsibility to the Hinata-sou, or to him.

Him, of course, is Keitaro, the owner and former manager of the Hinata-sou, and Shinobu's secret flame since she was young. Ever since she'd met Keitaro, she'd had quite a thing for him; something that was incredibly obvious to everyone that wasn't named Keitaro Urashima. All the same, she'd never told him. Did she regret this?

"Sometimes, yes." Shinobu whispered to noone in particular. She shook her head. She needed to go make breakfast. After that, she was free to moon about Sempai to her heart's content... at least until she needed to go back to her studies. Shinobu got out of bed and quickly dressed in a sundress and stockings. She still dressed largely as she had three years ago; her style hadn't been changed much since she barely ever went out of the Hinata-sou.

Shinobu went to the kitchen and set preparing a simple breakfast of miso soup, rice, and green tea. She laid everything out on the table, then took a bowl of each for herself, and walked up to the roof. She preferred to eat there in the mornings, finding the early hour to provide the most pleasing of scenery to eat with. Today, however, scenery would soon be the last thing from her mind; though if you'd told Shinobu that fifteen minutes earlier, she would have laughed at you. It was practically the only time she didn't have other things on her mind.

As she climbed the stairs, she was subconsciously aware of the sound of light snoring coming from somewhere above her. She didn't really register it until almost walking on the snorers, though. Rounding the last corner on the stairs, she came across a blanket. Normally, this wouldn't be too out of the ordinary, but you must remember, dear listener, that this particular blanket has some significance this morning. The two curled up on it, at least.

"Aaaauuu! Sempai!" Shinobu squealed, and dropped her tray of bowls. She couldn't help it. What she saw was unbelievable. Sempai and... Motoko? The situation grew stranger exponentially. What possible explanation could there be for this? (This had BETTER be good, Keitaro,) she thought. She put out a hand, meaning to grasp his shoulder, shake the sleep from his eyes, and pry every centimeter of information he had about the previous night from his head. She stopped, her hand hovering just over his right shoulder. Keitaro sighed in his sleep, and smiled.

Her hand returned to her side, and she stood up. She turned around and walked fairly quickly away, stopping to pick up her tray and ruined breakfast. Not that she really felt like eating it right now, though. She had ideas running through her head at an amazing pace. Moral belief structures she'd had for ages could be felt to crumble as they came, too. She was almost disgusted with herself, but vaguely hopeful as well. This could

(would, oh please oh please say would)

benefit her greatly, in the long run.

She made her way to the kitchen to deposit her breakfast dishes, only to see just what she was really looking for sitting at the table, eating her share of Shinobu's simple breakfast. She had her hair up in pigtails today, and her glasses on. She was reading a text, most likely something to do with her teaching degree. She, of course, was Naru Narusegawa. Shinobu tensed. This wasn't going to be pretty. She flung the dishes, tray and all, into the sink, and sat down in a rush across from Naru.

"Naru-sempai, oh Naru! I'm so glad I found you. There's something you've got to hear about. I hate to pry into people's lives, I always have, but you deserve to know this."

"Shinobu-chan? What are you talking about?" Naru looked at her, seemingly disinterested with her eyes still mostly looking at her textbook, but Shinobu knew that she was listening. Naru always tried to make you think she didn't care.

"Naru-sempai, I went to have my breakfast in the usual place, and I saw Keitaro-sempai and Motoko-sempai asleep on the roof. Together." She dropped the bombshell neatly into Naru's listening ears, and waited for the sound of the explosion.

"You... what... Wait, Keitaro and... Oh, my... I... uh..." Naru stood as she spoke, babbling incoherently. Her face was going steadily redder, though, and she looked absolutely livid. She pushed past Shinobu, still muttering under her breath, and walked out of the kitchen, towards the roof. Shinobu sighed heavily. That hadn't felt good. She hoped with all her heart that she didn't end up regretting that.

End Chapter three

((Did you really think I was just going to give you KEITARO'S chapter NEXT?! What's WRONG with you guys?! :P Nah, I was planning on making this a fairly short story, but thanks to some recent inspiration, (thanks to my reviewers 3) I feel I can stretch it out a bit longer than three or four chapters. :D Next chapter – Naru's morning. After a few more reviews, you'll get it!))