One afternoon, on his way to his usual visit to Yoh's house, Manta glanced half nervously beside him at the tall, Chinese cloth-clad male.

"So… why are you going there to see them?" he asked, somewhat tentatively.

A few years of knowing each other didn't mean Manta wasn't slightly cautious around Ren. The guy did wield a huge spear while wearing an expression of perpetual irritation, after all, save for when he drank milk.

"…" Ren didn't reply at first, and Manta detected that he was embarrassed. His cheeks reddened ever so faintly, anyway. Ren shook it off quickly. "My sister wants me to send something to Yoh's bakemono-fiancee."

"Then why—"

"I don't know," Ren grumbled.

Manta blinked thoughtfully. He was going to ask whyJun would have her brother deliver something when the Tao family had literally hundreds of servants at their disposal.

They turned and walked up to the house.

"Hello, anyone home?" Manta greeted.

There wasn't any reply. Ren contemplated for a moment, and then Bason's ghost ball spoke up.

"The back yard, Master."

"Oh, Anna-san must be making him do push-ups again," Manta said, shaking his head. Poor Yoh-kun.

He followed Ren towards the back, but then went bump as Ren suddenly stopped.

"What's wr—" Manta began, but Ren turned around, this time very obviously embarrassed.

"I'm coming back another time," he said abruptly.

"Eh? Why?"

"…"

Not taking the lack of answer well, Manta peered into the backyard and tripped. Yoh and Anna were there, all right. Anna was sitting cross-legged on the porch reading a book and Yoh was relaxing with the back of his head resting on his hands—his trademark.

Also, his head-in-his-hands rested on Anna's lap.

Manta didn't know what to think.

Anna nudged her fiancé. "You have guests."

Yoh opened one eye. "Eh? But I'm comfortable…" He promptly closed the eye and dropped back to sleep.

Anna looked up at Manta and Ren. "...He's a bit tired right now."

"A bit?" Manta sputtered.

Ren's eyes narrowed. "Because of another special training course, no doubt?"

Anna shrugged indifferently. "When he wakes up, he has fifty-eight push-ups left. If he continues to sleep like that—" she gestured him with one hand, meaning he was on her lap against her intentions. "—it'll be a hundred eight."

Manta and Ren winced. This was a very momentary distraction from their embarrassment. Thought they really couldn't fathom how Yoh had fallen asleep on her lap like that. Passed out, probably…

"I guess I'll come back later, then…" Manta said, turning to go. Anna promptly threw her book at his head with incredible aim. "Itai!"

"Go make dinner," Anna ordered. "I expect a hot meal when we're through here."

"Wha-a-at?" Manta exclaimed. "B-but you've been making dinner recently! You don't need me to—"

"Baka," Anna said severely, and pointed at the sleeping Asakura on her lap. Though it was true she disproved the myths of Kyoyama Anna being no cook a long time ago, she couldn't very well get up, now could she?

Manta couldn't argue with that, so he went into the house grumbling.

"And you?" Anna asked Ren, with one raised eyebrow.

"Nee-sama wanted me to give this to you," he muttered, tossing her a package. Anna managed to catch it without bothering Yoh.

"Hmm," she said, looking at it critically. "It's the book she borrowed. Arigato."

Ren shrugged, and went on his way before Anna made him do chores.

He was still embarrassed, Anna could tell. She figured he still hadn't done much himself, and she smirked inwardly.

Me, on the other hand… she thought to herself, and before she could help it, she blushed. Thank Kami nobody can see.

She looked down at Yoh, and her eyes widened in shock. He wasn't asleep anymore.

They stared deep into each other's eyes for a while.

"You're really pretty, Anna," Yoh said sincerely.

Anna blinked, and then stood up very suddenly. With a resound thud, Yoh landed painfully unto to wooden porch.

"OW!"

"You still have fifty-eight push-ups," she told him resolutely.

"Awww, Anna…"

"Go. Now."

Yoh did, but he hid a grin. Anna didn't punish him for sleeping on her lap like that, you see, like she told Ren and Manta she would.

Not that he was really asleep, though.