For my reviewer/s: (ladycuteluck & Animeluvr101) Thanks for the review and sorry for the long update.

Disclaimer: I do not own this anime (Ultra Maniac) or any of its characters.

Chapter 6: Practice

"Could you two slow it down?" Nina interrupted the two. "What do you mean 'Miss Tachikawa's going to revive it?' What's it?" Nina questioned the two.

'Maybe I should tell her everything.' Ayu paused and started to tell everything she had been doing back in Hong Kong. "Are you mad?" She asked.

"Are you kidding me? My best friend is a superstar in her own school!" Nina was in awe. Her suspicions fade away. Now she knows why Ayu was a good singer and at the same time a good dancer.

"Are you actually telling us that Miss Tachikawa's going to revive this last practice that you and Chen had?" Tsujiai asked. He started to feel a little furious about the thought that Ayu was going to be paired up with Lee Chen; her childhood friend whom he thinks was a new competition for Ayu's heart. Tsujiai's question was somewhat flashed away.

"What is this 'Last Practice' about?" Kaji asked.

"It's like a concert thing where the performer gets to sing and dance while the audience enjoys the music and at the same time they can freely on the dance floor." Ayu answered.

"I see. Isn't that a little exhausting for you...and Chen as well?" Kaji said.

"Well, 50 percent of the festivities will be our performance and the other 50 will be the DJ's work. So, we can enjoy the festivities as well."

Ayu's POV

Does he really think of me even though he ask the perfect questions at the right time...He's so sweet! WAIT, what am I doing? Am I choosing Kaji now even though I already liked him from the start? What about Tsujiai? What am I thinking? What am I suppose to think? Tsujiai is always there when I need help. Kaji, on the other hand, says the perfect things at the right time; shows up at the right time and place. When will this confusion ever end!

End of POV

Nina's POV

That's a relief...---sighs--- Chen's not interested on Ayu. He seems to be a normal teenager who just wants to have some fun.

End of POV

Tsujiai's POV

I should have said those things! Maybe she's ignoring me from what I did back at her house. I just have to talk to her after class.

End of POV

"Hey Kaji, I heard that you're one of the hotties of the campus, is that true?" Lee asked.

Kaji sweat dropped at the statement. "Maybe..." He said in a low voice.

Ayu suddenly pulled Lee's arm. "I'm really sorry for his nosy attitude, Kaji-kun."

"Oh...I see what's going on." Lee said with a smirk on his face. "Don't worry I won't tell I'm a friend, ain't I?" he said.

LUNCH

"Hey Ayu, I got this weirdest idea, care to listen?" Lee said

"Go on"

"Well, since Kaji is well built. He can help us...you know the lighting and stuff. I'm sure Miss Tachikawa won't mind." He said.

"Why are YOU pushing me to Kaji?" Ayu asked.

"Ayu, I've known you for almost 9 yrs. I can almost read your mind. I know when you like someone. If you want to make it unnoticeable ask Sakura too." He said.

"I don't know...Nina could be clumsy in a way."

"Ayu, I'm not stupid. I'm trying to be friend like before. If you're not going to ask him, I'll ask him!" Lee stood fast and started to walk up to Kaji and ask him.

"WHAT?" Ayu yelled almost turning all attention to her. She blushed like a tomato when all eyes turn to her. She just looked down and sat on her seat.

Lee walked up to Ayu, whistling with a smirk on his face. "He said 'yes'."

"You know, I could really kill you right now."

"Well, you can thank me later." Lee said as he stood up.

"Hey, where are you going?" Ayu asked.

"Ayu, its lunch...care to recognize, Sakura's gone. Most of our classmates probably went to the cafeteria to eat. The only few people that's here is Kaji, you, and I." He said. He turned around. "Yo Kaji, wanna go take lunch with us?"

"Sure"

Meanwhile at the picnic grounds

Nina sat at one of the picnic tables outside the cafeteria behind her was Tsujiai. While, Yuta popped up out of who knows where. He waited for Nina and Ayu but much to his surprise he found Tsujiai instead of Ayu.

"Where's Little Ayu?" Yuta asked his girlfriend.

"I think I know where she is." Tsujiai watched at the other side of the picnic grounds. The group found Ayu with Kaji and Lee. He swore he could feel his blood rising up from his feet. He could feel a surge of jealousy ran through his head.

Lee looked around and decided to go inside the cafeteria. "I'll be right back." He said. Ayu was about to stop him but the moment she opened her mouth Lee was gone.

"Lee told me that you guys need a helping hand." Kaji said.

"We are? Oh yes! We are. What else did he say to you?" Ayu asked.

"Nothing...just that. Why? Are you hiding something?" Kaji asked.

"No, nothing at all"

"What's taking Lee so long?" Ayu said in a faint voice almost audible enough for Kaji to be heard.

Kaji could not help but to ask Ayu this question. "Tateishi" he called.

"Nani, Kaji-kun?"

"I don't mean to nosy or anything but what are you and Chen. I mean, do the both of you have a relationship or something?" Kaji looked down.

"Kaji-kun, what makes you think that Lee and I have a relationship?" Ayu asked with a chuckle.

"Well first, you call him by his first name and..." Kaji sighed. He didn't know what to say or do now that he thinks that Ayu might think that he's jealous or something. But he was...he was jealous just like Tsujiai right now.

"Tsujiai, just let her enjoy being with her childhood friend." Nina said.

"It's not that" Tsujiai sighed. He kept on watching Ayu and Kaji.

"It's Kaji, isn't it?" Yuta said. "You can't answer, don't you? You can't hurt your own best friend knowing that little Ayu likes Kaji than you, ne Tsujiai-san?" Tsujiai didn't respond knowing that Yuta had hit the jackpot.

Lee walked in with a tray of food. Ayu, on the other hand, wondered how the heck he paid all of these. "Sorry for keeping you guys waiting." Ayu and Kaji stared at the food. "What are you guys waiting for? Dig in! We should eat a lot for the rehearsals." Lee said.

"Yea sure...bon appetite" Ayu and Kaji said in unison.

"Hey, isn't that Sakura and Tsujiai? And who's that other guy?" Lee said after he took a bite on his burger.

"The other guy is Nina's boyfriend, Yuta Kirishima." Ayu said.

"I see"

"I don't know how to say this but...Miss Tachikawa is heading our table." Kaji said.

Miss Tachikawa stood in front of their table. "Mr. Chen, Miss Tateishi, I hope you didn't forget our rehearsal." She said.

"Of course not Ma'am, we would never do such a thing." Lee stood up in a graceful manner. "Here, a rose, which matches your beautiful lips." He bowed and smiled at the teacher as she received the beautiful rose. "Also Ma'am, I would like to say that Mr. Tetsushi Kaji is going to help us, would that be alright?" Lee said like a gentleman. He could almost pass the ones in the classical movies.

"Of course, Kaji-san may help and it would be a pleasure." Miss Tachikawa looked at Kaji for a while as she decided to take her leave.

"I think I already saw that performance of yours and I still can't believe she still fell for that rose-trick." Ayu said with a blink or two.

"What can I say; Teachers these days are quite weird." Lee said.

"Tell me about it." Ayu replied.

As soon as the lunch bell rang, every student was back to their classrooms and listening to their subject matter. Little by little, time flew fast. It was now dismissal time.

Tsujiai walked up to Ayu who was packing up her things. "Er, um, Tateishi, can I walk you home?"

Ayu faced him with a look --- Sorry, I can't I got something to do. --- Kind of look. "I-I-I'm sorry, Lee and Kaji are waiting for me." Ayu just realized that she had made the biggest mistake of her life.

"Oh...I see" Tsujiai looked away. He couldn't help but to feel lonely again. Like he suddenly turned into a walking wall like he used to be before.

TBC --- Well, that's it for this chapter. Anyways, I've decided to make this chapter a little different concerning from the fact that the previous chapters were TxA. So, I put a little KxA. I hope you like it and...I would really appreciate everything if you do kindly review. Thanks for reading my first Ultra Maniac fic!

Here's the result from the poll question: (Who should end up with AYU?)

Kaji – 3

Tsujiai – 4

There's a little progress Kaji-kun is catching up!