A/N: I hate this chapter. It's too short, and I wrote it too quickly. Then again, it is an update. I've been getting very lazy about writing this, especially since I'm presently obsessed with Fruits Basket.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. Review please: D

"…With that being said, we'll conclude our study for today. Class dismissed."

Without hesitation, Ichigo grabbed her things, jumped up, and sprinted towards the door. She had almost made it out when…

"Oh, Shirogane-san, I'd like to speak to you in private."

"NOOOOO!"

She fell to her knees and dropped everything she had, as the rest of the class walked out the door. Most of them stared at her as they went.

WHY ME! she screamed in her mind. All she had wanted was to go to lunch with Aoyama-kun! Why couldn't anyone let this week be normal?

When everyone had gone, Legree spoke. "Shirogane-san, are you…um, feeling all right?"

"I'M FINE!" Before she could stop herself, her face was in her hands and she was bawling. Why me? Why me? I just want to go to lunch…

Legree stood over her, unsure of what to do. One thought played over and over in his mind: What the hell is going on! He stared in bewilderment at the young man as he contemplated the possibilities—none of them at all probable. This was understandable, since the cause of Shirogane's peculiar behavior was something beyond most people's imagination.

Ichigo continued her tantrum for several minutes. Once she had calmed down a bit, Legree said, "Perhaps, Shirogane-san, you should visit the nurse."

"Why! What good will the nurse do! She can't fix this! Aoyama probably gave his seat away to some other girl by now! HE'LL NEVER WANT TO SIT WITH ME AGAIN!" She temporarily went back to her crying.

"Well, uh, if you went to see the school councilor, then. He'll help you feel better, you know." Legree made sure to choose his words wisely, but he had never been one who easily comforted others. And his student was beginning to confuse him.

The girl sniffled a few times, forcing herself to calm down. Realizing that crying—or at least in front of Legree—would get her nowhere, she said, "No, I'm fine. Can I just go to lunch now, Legree-san?"

Legree nodded quickly, glad it was all over. He now regretted ever asking to speak to her.
Ichigo made her way down the empty hallway, trying not to cry again. The events of the past day had finally sunk in, and it was too much for the girl to take. Aoyama will hate me, she thought, if I act anything like Shirogane. Despite her efforts, the tears returned to her eyes. She suddenly plopped down again as she imagined the horrible things Shirogane would say to Aoyama.

"Ichigo?"

Her sight was blurry, but she knew that voice (it was hard not to), and she knew only one person would know who she really was. "Go away, Shirogane," she said with less contempt and more squeakiness than she intended.

Of course, Ryou didn't listen to her. He had learned not long after the Mew Mew Project started that when a girl is crying, the best thing to do is to at least try to make her feel better—at least temporarily. Like Legree, however, comforting was not one of his strong points. So for a moment he simply stood there undecidedly.

Ichigo didn't even realize that he still stood by her side, so it was a surprise to her when he placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder.

"I-Ichigo…er, that is…is something wrong?"

The girl looked up at him and sniffled a few times. "OF COURSE THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG! WHY ELSE DO YOU THINK I'D BE CRYING, BAKA?"
Ryou pulled away and blinked at her. Well, he couldn't just leave her there; then she'd get mad at him later, right? But what was he supposed to do? Sighing, he searched for the right words and then said, "I guess this is all because of our little switch?"

Surprisingly, Ichigo merely nodded and sniffled.

"Well…don't worry about it. It's all gonna be over in a week."

"Aowama-goon'll ape meeee!" she said between sobs.

After a moment, Ryou translated this as "Aoyama-kun will hate me." "No he won't," he

wearily answered.

"Yes he will!"

"No, he won't," Ryou insisted.

"Yes, he will!" argued Ichigo.

"No, he won't!"

"YES HE WILL!"

Ryou thought it immature to continue this argument, and Ichigo began bawling again when she realized he wouldn't answer. Frustration suddenly overcame him, and he shouted, "Oh, cut it out, you big baby!"

In surprise, Ichigo stopped crying.

"Do you think you're the only one with problems? This isn't easy for me, either!"

"Then…then why don't you tell Akasaka-san!"

"He doesn't need to know."

"Do you really think I'm that stupid! What are you hiding?"

"I'm giving you a raise, aren't I?"

"Like I care about the money! I just want—" She stopped herself.

Ryou raised an eyebrow. "You just want what?"

"N-Nothing." I just want you to care about me.

He was silent for a moment, then muttered something about the "baka-ichigo." To Ichigo's surprise, he sat down beside her. "Look, Ichigo…you just have to trust me. It's going to be okay." He smiled, his face turning slightly red from saying something so cheesy to someone he usually harassed.

Tears beginning to return, Ichigo suddenly hugged him. His face became very red as she cried on his shoulder. Awkwardly, he returned the embrace.

"Nobody cares about me and I can't talk to anyone about it and Aoyama says he's there but he isn't always but I just want to have a normal relationship with him and it isn't fair because sometimes I'm not sure if I really…" As if suddenly realizing what she was doing, Ichigo shut up and pulled away. "G-Gomen nasai," said she, face flushing.

Ryou quickly nodded and stood up. "I, um, that is, we should…get to lunch now."

Ichigo also stood, sniffled a few more times, and left for the cafeteria. Ryou remained in the hall, in thought.

Ichigo, Ichigo; how wrong you are. First she claimed to hate him, then she embraced him and told him her problems. "Nobody cares," she had said, but Ryou was there for her. "I can't talk to anyone about it," she had said, yet she poured out her heart to him (well, almost anyway).

The thing that bothered him most was the "Aoyama isn't always there." Could it be she really wasn't as in love with him as everyone thought? Could there be a possibility of being with her? Would she be willing to be with him?

Was she always going to torture him like this?

Ryou sighed and walked off in the direction Ichigo had gone.