I won't lie to you, this chapter isn't exactly the longest nor the best-written one in this story, but I had to fill in a little space and reveal a bit more on the competition so that you're prepared for the Combination Festival in the next two or three chapters. The time of Sano and Mizuki is approaching my loyal readers, you shall have your mature content soon. Though I admit it will take some time for me to make a good scene...

Chapter Four

Weird dreams but an even weirder reality…

Nanba stood before the congregation of males swarming inside of the meeting area, voices jumbled in an array of different conversations. Some were talking about Soccer, some of the festival, and some were just talking about how they wanted to go back to bed. Mizuki's head bobbed a little, her neck was cramping a little, meaning she must have slept in an awkward position last night or something. She had spent the night in Sano's bed again…

Speaking of Sano…

Peering over at him, she saw his head droop a little, eyes half-open and looking rather red.

"Are you sure you're ok?" she asked, "Y-You could've waken me up and I would have gotten into my own bed. H-Hey" she smiled, "you could have pushed me off, even."

"I'm not going to push you off my bed." He said looking over at her, "Just don't worry about it."

But I AM worried!

Sano turned his face away from Mizuki, his chin resting in his palm while his elbow braced on his knee. Izumi's cheeks were starting to tingle again…he couldn't even look at her very long now after what he had done last night. As soon as he was out the door he got a drink and sat out in the cold weather to cool himself off before heading back into the dorm. It took quite a while…

I need to get some kind of chain and chain her up to her bed… he thought, closing his eyes, One more night like that and I'm going to lose it…

"Ok, guys, quiet down!" Nanba called out, "QUIET!"

Silence filled the room, a few pairs of wide, startled eyes stared down at Minami.

"This Combination Festival is almost here and I've just been informed of what will occur there. This weekend festival isn't just going to be three nights of chasing women! At the festival we've got to give an example for a school, I can't say that the other dorms will be quite as honorable, but I assure you, if I hear that any one of you from Dorm Two have set a bad example in any way, I will personally see to it that it never happens again."

The majority of the males and Mizuki shivered at Nanba's demonic look in his eyes.

"Y-Yes, sir…"

He smiled, "Good. Now that that's settled, time to go over the activities that will be occurring at the festival." He pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket, unfolding it then holding it up. "There will be several booths there in which you can waste your time and money at like at any other festival, among all these booths is a competition set up by students of Osaka, prizes include: Stereo, small television, books, CDs, movies, a portable DVD player, blah, blah, blah…but the grand prize will be some cash and Mizuki Ashiya."

All eyes immediately began to search for Mizuki and she slouched down a little, Nakatsu glaring at all the eyes on his Mizuki.

"What are you all looking at!"

Sano opened his eyes, noticing all of the eyes on Mizuki and glanced over at her, she was practically on the floor now, slouching so far down in her chair. He reached over, patting her head.

"Come on, get back in your chair, they're not going to eat you." He said; taking her arm and pulling her up, while she tried to push herself up with her feet and her other hand.

He stared as her hand suddenly braced on his thigh and she pushed herself up into her chair, removing her hand again. He immediately released her arm, averting his eyes. Don't lose it…don't lose it…

"Yes, yes, Mizuki the school's idol." Nanba smiled, "One lucky man to win him for an evening. As to what you do with him…well, lets try to keep it legal ok?"

Ashiya's face turned crimson.

"Moving on now…"

She didn't hear the rest of the announcements…Mizuki was too busy inwardly panicking. So it was no joke…she really had to be a prize for an evening…but what if it was someone other then Sano or Nakatsu and they tried to…what kind of contest was this? Giving off someone as a prize without their consent was just…well…wrong!

"Hey, what's the contest?" someone yelled, interrupting Nanba.

Minami glared up at them for a moment, "It's a marathon." He said, looking down at the piece of paper, "Participants race through the grounds of the shrine and go through obstacles in order to receive their prize, first, second, third and so on. Only ten people can participate since they don't have many choices for prizes. Men and Women from other schools can join the race as well so that it is a fair competition."

So complete strangers can get a hold of Mizuki! Nakatsu thought, looking at his crimson Ashiya. No way…I'm not letting that happen! This is my chance to have Mizuki and I am not going to let it slip out of my hands!

"You're kidding, right?"

Mizuki shook her head side to side slowly. "No, I'm not kidding…I need to borrow a kimono from Rio again." Her head drooped further down, "I'm first prize…"

The doctor looked up from some forms he had been rather carelessly looking over, "Rio's using it for the Combination shin-dig." He said, pushing the papers away, "You'll have to go buy one or borrow a dress because she's not going to give that thing up easily."

"B-But a kimono's the only thing I can wear with my vests!" Mizuki groaned, "Dresses reveal too much unless I wear a sweater over then and that'll just make me look weird!"

Well at least her feminism remains in tact…Umeda thought, turning in his chair so that he could reach his phone. "You're supposed to look like a girl remember? That's what they want, let their imagination run wild for once, for all you know, Sano could win that competition."

"Sano?" she stared. "I didn't think he would want to join…"

You honestly think a young man in love is going to let his woman get set up as a prize for something without competing for it? Dr. Umeda thought rather bluntly.

He punched in the number and Mizuki distracted herself by staring into the depths of her cooling mug of coffee that was routinely offered to her whenever she went to talk to Umeda. In the brown liquid she could imagine the vivid dreams she had the previous night. She knew she fell asleep beside Sano but in her dream they were both awake…obviously awake as Sano climbed on top of her and kissed her from the neck up. His loving kisses different from the spontaneous kiss from the night when he was drunk. Each one meaningful and it made the pit of her stomach burn and churn at the though, not sickened by it more…longing for it.

I'm such a pervert…she thought hanging her head again, nearly spilling the coffee.

"Ok." Dr. Umeda set the phone back down, "Rio will let you borrow a dress."

"She will?" Mizuki lifted her head. Thank you so much, Rio! You're too good to me!

"She also wants to introduce you to some of her friends." Umeda smirked.

Mizuki paled.

"So you can't get out of it?"

Mizuki jerked her head up, her knees were getting cold from where she was kneeling on the sidewalk, the early winter air had chilled everything down to the pit, including the teens occupying the sidewalk. Mizuki had been petting Yujiro as a way of keeping her hands warm without Sano giving up his gloves as he had offered to do. She couldn't take anything from him…she was still trying to get the dreams out of her head after all…

"Can't get out of…what?" she asked, temporarily blanking out.

"The competition. You're still the prize according to Nanba."

"Oh!" she looked back to Yujiro when the dog whimpered from lack of attention. "Y-Yeah, I'm still first prize…"

Sano frowned a little, clutching the neck of his jacket closed, "They didn't even ask for permission…"

"What?"

"Nothing." He crouched down, stroking Yujiro's fur since Mizuki was still scratching the dog's ears and rumpling his fur around his face. "Just mumbling to myself."

She stared at him for a moment before grinning, "You're so weird sometimes."

He smiled thoughtfully, "Yeah…but not as weird as you."

"Hey!"

Izumi ignored her as he straightened up, looking up at the clear winter sky; it was time to change the subject.

"With how cold it's been recently…you'd thing it would snow."

Ashiya looked up to the sky as well. "Yeah, you're right…I wonder what's taking so long this year…"

"Who knows…come on, we'd better get back to the dormitories, that Festival weekend comes next weekend."

I may not be as fast as Nakatsu when it comes to running and I can't jump as high as I used to… Sano trailed behind Mizuki a little, watching her guide Yujiro along, But I've made up my mind…I'm always going to be by your side, Ashiya…and I won't let someone else find out your secret. Which is why…

Mizuki peered back at him over her shoulder and he caught a slight blush before she turned her face away quickly.

I'm going to enter that competition…

Ooo...Sano's going to compete, what will poor Nakatsu do?

Well, until next chapter then...I hope I can write this one a lot better. I hate disappointing you guys, especially the people who waste their precious time to write me reviews, for which I am deeply grateful for. I'M DOING THIS FOR YOU GUYS! I LOVE YOU!