Disclaimer: Don't own the show, the characters or anything related to it. If I did, Seto would get more appearance, among other things.
Warning: Shounen-ai, OOC-ness (extremly so in this chapter, especially on Setos behalf...oh you'll see.), swearing, bad writing, mean Seto etc.
Note: In this chapter Seto might come off as... very out-of-character. I apologize for that. Keep in mind that he has been in love with Jou over a month and is slipping in his "I-am-too-cold-for-you" behaviour. -fidgets nervously in chair-
Unheard Love
Chapter 7
by Growing Pain
Soon all students had a new partner and the music was once again turned back on, signalling for everyone to start to dance. And that they did, including Seto and Katsuya. But Seto couldn't help noticing one thing: a smile that was on Jous lips.
"Why are you smiling so much?" He asked with a frown, since he didn't see anything to be particularly happy about. And smiling for nothing was just stupid, according to him anyway.
"I am not smiling much, it's just a little smile." Jou defended.
"Still, why are you smiling?"
"Why aren't you?"
"Why should I?"
"Oh I don't know. You're alive and well, you have all your limbs and body parts intact, you're rich and can afford a big fancy house and your grades are all good."
"That is merely normal to me."
"Perhaps you take some things for granted then. You never know when you might loose everything."
"Those are reasons for me to smile. Why are you smiling?"
He shrugged, and started looking elsewhere.
"Like I said before, my life is good. I just wanted to smile about that."
Seto stared at him for a moment, almost expecting something more but it never came. Deciding he shouldn't care about the blond he looked up from his face and enjoyed the silence.
"So what do you usually do after school?" Kaibas face fell and he groaned at the other ones consistent talking.
"Still bored! I pity those friends of yours for having to endure you all day long…"
Jou smiled at Setos annoyance.
"Nah, they're alright. They are used to it."
"Perhaps that is only what you think."
"No. They must be. Or they would have tried to kill me by now."
"Yes that is true…"
"So what do you do then?"
"Nothing worth mentioning."
"Ah…"
Seto narrowed his eyes, growing suspicious once more.
"What do you mean 'ah'"?
"That you either do the same monotonous routines everyday, or that you just hate what you do."
"…"
"Which is it?"
"Like I would tell you."
"Why not?"
"Seems to be a rather personal question, doesn't it? Maybe it is not even one of those options you mentioned."
"How can 'what do you do after school' be a personal question! What is it that you do? Watch porn movies?"
"Like I would need to stoop to your level."
"What makes you think I watch porn!"
"You and your male brunet friend talks about it quite loudly sometimes…"
Jou blushed, not having realised that people could hear what he and Honda discussed at times. He shyly looked up only to find Kaiba smirking at him.
"Oh stop it! Just because I watch it sometimes doesn't make you better than me!"
The smirk was still there, taunting him.
"Whatever you say." the brunet dismissed, obviously still gloating at his victory of embarrassing Jou.
"Let's talk about something else then!" Jou said cheerfully, making it very clear to Kaiba that he did not want to proceed in discussing his porn watching habits.
"Or we could just be quiet."
Jou thought about it for a while but came up with an answer quickly.
"No, that's boring."
"Talking with you isn't exactly the highlight of my day either." Perhaps that was a minor lie, but it was a necessary lie. Maybe if he kept telling himself he did not like Jou, his feelings would agree with his logical mind and everything would go back to normal. Though that seemed highly unlikely by now.
"Stop being so pissed all the time!"
"Why? Are you sad? Does the little boy want to cry?" Seto mocked.
"What are you implying Kaiba!"
"Too dumb to notice? Very well then, I will lay it out for you. You, my dear enemy, is one emotional and sensitive geek." Seto said as nonchalantly as he could, holding his head up high.
"I am not! What makes you think so? I'm as macho as can be!"
"Says the dancing girl…"
"Fuck you, Kaiba!" Jou spat out, face red from anger. Seto still remained calm and untouched by the whole conversation.
"See my point?"
"So what if I get a little worked up sometimes? At least I get my anger out instead of keeping it inside! That is unhealthy you know!"
"Your reactions are too emotional. That could be thought of as unhealthy too."
"You're not a shrink, you know nothing!"
"Are you questioning my intelligence, low-life!"
Jou cocked his head defiantly.
"Yeah, so what if I am? What are you going to do about it?"
"I can do more than you can imagine, but I would hardly waste all my assets on punishing you."
"Face it moneybags! You can't do shit."
Angered by Jous rebellious temper, Seto narrowed his eyes. Instead of giving empty threats, he jumped straight into action with a sneer. Before Katsuya could react Seto had him pinned down to the floor, stomach down, and his arms forcefully held on his back. In that quick process Jou had escaped a yelp before landing on his chest, making Kaiba feel even more proud of himself. The blond under him struggled to get loose, but to no avail. Of course this caused quite the commotion amongst the rest of the dancing pupils, and everyone stopped what they were doing as soon as they saw the brunet over the blond.
Ignoring the protests Jou made Seto leaned forward to the back of the other ones head and whispered.
"You're one masochistic idiot, you know that?" Then he released Jou and got up only to see the coach approach them both with a very furious expression on his face. Seto could care less about that however, and watched the blond get up on his feet instead. He was quite an enigma, that blond rival of his. He surely knows he can never defeat him, but he keeps trying with the same confidence as before. Why? Who knows. Perhaps he really is as stupid as he portray him to be.
"KAIBA!" Coach Inoue roared, making several students nervous. But it did not have the same effect on the brunet, as he lazily turned his head towards his teachers and asked "What?" in a raspish voice.
"Can't you two ever get along! You know it is against the school rules for you to inflict physical harm upon your fellow classmates! You can't do whatever you want! How would you like it if -" Somewhere around there the CEO tuned out the yelling man in front of him and fixated his eyes on another pair of eyes, a pair of familiar brown orbs. Jous eyes to be exact. And they looked back, appearing slightly amused. That was most likely because of the scolding he had to endure right now, but he ignored that fact at the given moment.
He could see his friends circling him, asking him if he was okay. Hmpf, like any major harm could have been caused by that little act. He hadn't even punched him and they acted as if his legs had been chopped off. Ridiculous how much they showed concern towards the blond.
Brown eyes continued to look back, and blue eyes continued to stare.
"Are you even listening to me!" Kaiba groaned inwardly as he released his gaze from Jou and looked down at his teacher.
"Listen old man, you're wasting your time. How about we just go on with your class and do what we came here to do."
"Fine. But you've got yourself a detention! Got it?" Ha, like he would even go. The principal is very understanding when it comes to him, and always let minor problems like these slide away to only be a forgotten memory.
"Yes."
"Good." The middle-aged man said with content, then turning to the rest of his pupils.
"What are you all looking at! This is a class, not a show! Continue to dance!" It took a few seconds, but everyone broke away from the scene and minded their own business. Jous friends however seemed too attached of him to let go. The same thing could be said about the coach.
"Now Jounouchi, we will all understand if you want to switch partner, or even leave class." Their teacher said with concern while Jous friends gave an occasional glare towards Seto. In return he folded his arms and glared back.
"Nah, I'm alright. Don't sweat it!" He said with a smile.
"You sure? I mean we can switch partners so you can take my place and dance with Yuugi if you'd like. I know how Kaiba can be a jerk to you." Anzu offered, with her hand on his shoulder. Jou smiled back.
"I told you, I am fine. Now go away and dance for Christs sake!" He exclaimed at his friends playfully, earning smiles from each of them. Coach Inoue deemed everything to be okay, and went away to help students. The gang slowly parted away from Jou, leaving him alone with Kaiba after quite some time.
The CEO walked up to his temporary dancing partner since he had been standing a few metres away, looking arrogant as usual. His hands were at his sides, unlike the blond, who had his arms folded.
"You're going to behave this time?" Jou said with an angry voice.
Seto snorted. "I'll try."
"Good enough…" Katsuya answered with a bored sigh and held out his hand, which was taken by Seto immediately. Right after their bodies were brushing against each other, swaying, but the eye contact was no longer there.
And that is how it continued on going. For a moment the CEO wondered if he had acted wrong when he pushed down Jou, because the shorter boy had been quiet for a remarkably long time. But he shouldn't care, couldn't care. Yet he did. Why did his emotions go so uncontrolled inside of him! When will they go away?
"You're angry…" Seto stated with a low, calm voice.
"No shit Sherlock." Jou muttered back.
"I don't see why."
Jou growled, still refusing to look at Kaiba.
"You fucking pinned me down. Should I be happy or something!" He muttered back, slightly louder this time.
"You brought that over yourself. I told you what I could do."
"You need anger management. It's not normal to just jump at someone totally unprovoked!"
"One; it was not unprovoked, and two; who told you I was ever normal?" Seto replied with a smirk, which went by unnoticed by Katsuya since he still insisted on looking at everyone else instead of his dancing partner.
"Still, you don't have to attack me!"
"You're overreacting."
Jou groaned and sighed. "Fine! Be that way you damn jerk."
"Be what way?"
"Being ignorant. At least you could have the decency to act like you are sorry instead of just putting the blame on me, the victim of all this!"
"Hmpf."
"For being such a genius you sure speak like a caveman a lot… You probably have your own grunting vocabulary, you bastard!"
"Do you want to end up on the ground again!"
"Fuck you, Kaiba! Stop your constant PMSing!"
"You should be glad you're not bleeding to death by now…"
"My God why do you hate me so damn much!" Katsuya shouted at him, finally turning to face him. The taller man knit his brow, surprised by the question. Why he was surprised he didn't know. After all, he consciously made it appear as if he detested him. Why was nothing making sense to him any longer!
"Hate is such a strong word." Seto answered in a calm voice.
"What do you mean by that?" Jou asked curiously while tilting his head a bit.
"Nothing. Now move your feet, you're slowing down."
A smile started to form on the shorter mans lips.
"Nothing? Really now?" The look in Katsuyas eyes and the smile on his lips was unnerving to Seto, who had absolutely no idea on how to interpret it. So he narrowed his eyes and glared, in hopes of making the other one nervous as well.
No such luck.
In fear, or rather in 'slight worry', of Jou starting to think he actually held a soft spot for him he looked away in hopes of ignoring this very subject. If he was lucky Jou would get mad and forget everything.
"I thought you liked to hate."
"Don't you come with an off-button?" Seto replied, trying to avert the blonds attention from the topic. Just as Jou was about to answer a loud whistle was heard, taking both boys attention.
"Class is over! Now get out of my sight!" The gym teacher exclaimed in a loud voice. The teenagers did as told and exited to the locker rooms. Seto Kaiba was no exception. He gladly walked away from the gym and into the locker room to get as far away as possible from Jou, who was too sneaky for his own good.
Luckily Jounouchi met with his friends, the male ones at least, and entered the men dressing room with them while chatting cheerfully. About what exactly he could not hear, and he didn't want to either. He was too busy to undress himself to care. After that task was done he quickly put a white towel around his waist and headed for the showers, ignoring everyone in his path. Since he was a man of privacy he was usually at the corner all alone, which was good enough for him. But that way he had a longer walk to the showers and that angered him a bit because he had to pass by people. But then again, all things that remained imperfect made him impatient, pissed off and annoyed. Some things he would just have to live with.
The room was filled with chatter and laughs, the air was starting to get humid since he got closer to the showers, and the ground was slightly wet. Must have been from previous students who had walked the same path… As a full conclusion of it all, everything was perfectly normal.
But normal also meant that people stayed away from him, and that would be proved not to be the case here.
"Kaiba." Damn…
Said person stopped his moving and turned his head to the source of sound, and that was a person named Katsuya. Seeing this the brunet frowned. Being harassed in the showers was not the idea of acceptable to him. Then again, he hadn't gotten as far as there yet, thanks to him.
"What now Jounouchi!"
The blond sighed at him welcome, and had his hands on his hips to support his dark red towel
"Nothing. I just thought I would be polite and greet you."
"Don't. I like my privacy." He stated coldly and re-started his walk that was so rudely interrupted, accompanied by the rude interruption.
Seto then came up with a brilliant idea, and he smirked inwardly at his genius.
Just as he was about to step inside the large shower room, Seto abruptly stopped and stared right in front of him with a shocked expression. A small gasp escaped his lips that was almost not audible. The shorter man by his side noticed this sudden reaction and was clearly alarmed by this strange behaviour. However he could not see what had scared the brunet as it only was a wall where the blue eyes were looking.
"Kaiba? What is it?" Jou asked nervously while staring back and forth between the CEO and the wall.
"Oh my God…it's horrible…" Seto whispered. Jou only got more uneasy and started to replicate Setos facial expression.
"W-what is it?"
"Look…" Kaiba said hauntingly while pointing at the same wall with his index finger.
"It's nothing there!"
"Yes it is. Look…"
"Stop playing around! You're freaking me out!"
"Oh no…Jou, you must run!" The CEO said dramatically.
"Why?" The blond asked while fidgeting uneasily.
"Otherwise the perverted shower ghosts will see you naked!"
Jou dropped his jaw and looked up at the CEO, who was now neither scared or shocked but smirking. It was clear that the shorter man was stunned and upset.
"I…I…You…I…." He stuttered out. The anger inside got the better of him.
"Bastard!" He finally blurted out to Seto, who was still very pleased with himself and watched his little victim struggle to go to a shower and try to take off his towel.
"What's the matter Jou? Scared of those ghosts?"
"Fuck you!" Jou hissed as he exited the shower room and went back to his friends. Kaiba found himself laughing his evil laugh as he removed the towel and went under the running water.
XxxX
He walked briskly through the hallway, pushing a few people out of the way for personal satisfaction. But it didn't cheer him up, no he was quite mad. Surprisingly he didn't know why. Or at least, he pretended he didn't know. For he could not regret making the blond angry, now could he? Things like that come as second-nature, why should he feel guilty over it? Why should he regret it?
The answer was simple. He shouldn't. And it wasn't his fault, really. Jou chose to expose that weakness. Obviously he was too stupid to realize he could very well use it against him, and that was what he did.
And he deserved it, didn't he? It's just outright idiotic to reveal something and only expect it will not be used as some twisted joke in the near future.
Such a naïve and stupid boy. He truly deserved it. No matter what that stinging pain in the heart said. That part of him was clearly insane and no one listens to that side anyway. His logic mind worked far too well to be replaced by some petty sentimental feelings.
Besides, he overreacted. Tremendously so as well. Who gets angry because one mentions ghosts will watch you shower? Honestly? Sick thoughts must be running through Jous mind to even come up with material like that.
And to run out of the shower! Because of that? Ha, it was enough to make him laugh. Actually, it did make him laugh at the time. And he would like nothing more than to feel like laughing at him for all eternity, but no. Everything was against him. Including himself. Which is highly ironic because he is the only person he can rely on.
Perhaps he needed to see a professional. With his mind slipping so much he wouldn't be surprised if he confessed his love with candy and flowers the very next month or so! And what is so special about candy anyhow? Kids eat it, old people eat it, and with absolutely no romantic undertone to it. And after you have done that you have holes in your teeth. What kind of sadistic way of showing your love is that? But then again, Jou would probably love to receive chocolate. Not that it makes the gesture any more normal of course. Just…bearable.
He opened the door to where his next class would be and walked inside. Fortunately no one else was there so he could fully enjoy the solitude with a good book. It had been quite some time since he had the last opportunity to read instead of working on the laptop.
Kaiba walked to his normal seat, gracefully as always and seated himself. He could hear people outside the door, their voices were muffled and unfamiliar, so he paid no attention to it. Instead he brought up his silver briefcase onto his desk and opened it. Inside was his trusty laptop, a lot of paperwork, school material, and last but not least, his book. How it all fitted inside was a subject he didn't want to know as long as it all worked.
The latest and current book he had been intrigued by was Shakespears well known Hamlet. The writing style fascinated him, but he already knew how it would all end so he was not as eager as usual to continue to read while wanting to know what would happen to the main characters.
Due to delay in reading he had barely gotten to read half of it, and being a man who believes time is money he could not want to finish the book any sooner. So he started to read, and skip certain paragraphs in hopes of just getting rid of it all.
But the thoughts, feelings and the irritating silence was all too distracting. Against his own will he had eventually read the same sentence around eight times, and it still didn't make any sort of sense. He sighed inwardly and let down his book inside his expensive briefcase only to rub his temples. He was not going to have another headache. He closed his eyes to relax and leaned forward in his chair while hiding his face behind his hands.
His feelings were all too much for him. They craved redemption, love, care, affection. Someone to hold him, caress his skin, whisper in his ear. It was not like him to be this way, created by a foreign place inside of him. That place has to be destroyed. But how does one kill a heart?
By ignoring what it craves? No, he was already doing so. By trying to destroy the one he has so deep feelings for? No, he was feeling guilty enough already, and that certainly wasn't the numbness he wanted to feel. By putting himself through endless of emotional heart ache? After all, that is what makes most people so uncaring. That is how he got to ignore the world to begin with.
But it would be foolish to expose himself to pain. He didn't want any more emotional torture. All his life had been filled with that.
Yet it had worked once before. Until Yuugi and his friends had come along that is. So maybe he just needed something else, another way out. He needed to get Jou out of his system. This could not go on! It was disgracing to be in love, and with him out of all people!
The classroom door opened, and he quickly glanced at his wristwatch. Apparently his next lesson would start in about five minutes. Slowly the room was filled with students, including a blond boy and his friends. They all chattered animatedly to each other, cracking jokes and doing wild hand gestures. Jou was also happily participating.
Then maybe he had forgotten about everything and Seto could finally get rid of the emotion called guilt. He was happy now, so why doesn't the regret go away? This was all too much…
Soon enough the English teacher walked in. She was in her mid-thirties, short black hair, black glasses and a brown, boring jacket with matching pants and shoes. Seto didn't like her much since she was a big pushover and didn't tell off her students if they interrupted class. At least she could speak the foreign language perfectly, otherwise she would be useless.
Swiftly enough, he placed his two textbooks onto his desk, searching for the place where they last left. Right after the English teacher started talking, even though some people were chattering in the back. It was obvious she had too little guts to tell them to be quiet.
"Good morning. Today we are going to practise our oral knowledge, and we will do so while going together, in pairs of two, and do a spontaneous dialogue where you have to order food. If you need help there are good pointers in the book on page 76. If you need further advice, just raise your hand and I will come and help." she said in a matter-of-fact tone, and then seated herself in her chair, waiting for people to start forming pairs.
He hated these kind of assignments. Like he would even need to practise on how to speak English, he knew it fluently after all his studying and business meetings in America. But the least likeable part would have to be the socializing. He did not appreciate finding a "partner", being alone was better.
However…today it could be a positive turning point.
He arrogantly rose up from his seat and started walking with locked eyes at his target at the other side of the room. He could practically feel the other students eyes on him. Luckily the room wasn't that long, so it didn't take more than three seconds to reach his destination.
Hands in his pockets and head held up high, he met the back of Jou, who was turned to Honda who sat beside him, and the gaping faces of the rest of his group.
"What? Do I have something on my shirt?" Jou asked, oblivious to who was behind him.
"Turn around." Honda said, eyes fixated on the cold ones that was staring down at his friend.
"Huh? What are - Kaiba!" Katsuya exclaimed when looking over his shoulder, and almost falling out of his seat in sheer surprise.
"Glad to have your attention." Kaiba said sarcastically.
"What do you want?" the blond teen asked with a glare, now fully turned to the standing brunet.
"This exercise, you and me."
"Wha-" More than that did not escape Jous mouth as Kaiba took a firm grip on his collar, turned around and walked back to his seat while dragging the blond with him. Of course, since Jou didn't want to be trailed on the ground, he had to oblige and walk along too.
"Let me go!" Jou hissed at his "kidnapper", who paid little attention to him, and pulled up a chair besides his instead.
"Sit." Seto ordered, pushing the blond down by his shoulders.
"Kaiba, I don't have time for your stunts. I am pairing up with Honda and -"
"He can be with Bakura, Yuugi with Anzu. Everything works out fine."
"But I don't want to-"
"Quiet." He ordered once more, and seated himself in chair afterwards, with an emotionless expression on his face.
"Just tell me what it is you want, you damn jerk!" Kaiba crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, appearing very calm in comparison to his companion.
"You are angry with me."
"It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out Kaiba." the other man muttered.
"I think you are just being irrational over the whole thing."
"Excuse me!"
"In the shower. It was no more than a joke, you took it so seriously. Too seriously."
"If it had been a joke, I wouldn't be this mad at you. But you didn't mean it as a joke! You only did that because…Hell I don't even why! You're just too sadistic to understand!"
Jou was not cooperating. Seto sighed inwardly in frustration. He wanted to be free from guilt, and he always got what he wanted. Always. And he would make damn sure this would not be an exception.
"I demand you to stop being mad at me." Seto stated in a commanding tone. Jou blinked at him with disbelief plastered over his face.
"Come again?"
"I believe you heard me the first time."
"You can't be serious!" He exclaimed rather loudly. Seeing that Seto did not appear to be joking, he gaped.
"You're fucking serious!" He shook his head as if trying to grasp it. Once again the CEO did not say a word and only observed the other ones reactions.
"I know you suck with emotions, but what the hell! Kaiba, it doesn't work that way!"
"Then what do you want?"
"Oh…I don't know…maybe an apology!"
"I don't do those. What else?"
"I don't want anything else! Just say you're sorry dammit!"
"I don't apologize to anyone."
"Suit yourself." Jou said and looked at the front of the class instead at the brunet.
This was not working out the way he wanted it to. People always obeyed him, why does that nerd squad think they are any different! He wanted Jou to forgive him, as much as he hate to admit it. And just because he couldn't get it, he wanted it even more.
"If, and I mean if, I apologize, would you stop your irrational behaviour?"
"What irrational behaviour!"
"You are always overreacting to everything I do."
"And you are always trying to humiliate me. Why should I not get angry?"
"If you stopped being so overdramatic, maybe I would stop teasing you."
"Oh, so now it's all my fault, is that what you are saying!"
"Well, it's someone's fault!"
"Not mine, that I tell you. Kaiba, either apologize or leave me the hell alone." Jou said while looking into his eyes anticipation an answer.
"I…"
"You what?"
"I take back what I did. Happy now!" That was the best he could do. Saying the words 'I am sorry' would take a lot more. Yet Jous face softened.
"You bet!" Jou said with a big smile. "So, how about that English exercise, eh? I can be the waiter and you can make an order? How does that sound?" Stunned by the sunny exterior and the warm personality he displayed, Seto stared in confusion for a couple of seconds before answering.
"…Fine."
XxxX
He was fearing himself. This was not the man he had grown into. He had given in once more to Jou. And he certainly knew that it could not keep on going like this. From now on, he would ignore him. It could not be that hard, now could it? He had done it everyday before he got to know them, before that day in Yuugis grandfathers shop. It was not impossible, he could do it.
He would do it.
Satisfied by his own resolution to his problem he took his lunch bag and seated himself at an empty table. He had brought along his book, and started to read while carefully eating his sandwich.
"Hi Kaiba." He heard a very familiar voice say. He needn't look up to know who it was, and held his eyes at the current page in his book.
"Jounouchi…" Deciding it wouldn't hurt to look up, he did so. To his surprise the rest of his friends weren't with him, only Jou and a tray filled with food.
"What do you want?" Seto asked.
"Just wondering if I could sit with you." He replied with a smile. Taken aback by his request Kaiba found himself staring in confusion.
"Uh…Kaiba? Earth to Kaiba, come in." Jou said jokingly while waving his hand in front of him. Seto, being sceptical of it all, wondered if this was some sort of prank.
"Where are your friends?"
"Over there." Jou pointed at the middle of the room, and at the given table was the members of the group. "I told them I would see if I could eat with you today." Jou said and started to chuckle while scratching the back of his head. Seto said nothing.
"They don't think you'll let me though. They even made bets." He continued to chuckle out of nervousness and looked down at the silent brunet.
"Did they now?"
"Yeah, Anzu and Honda betted that you'll say no, and Bakura was the only one on my side actually…"
"How about Yuugi?" Seto asked with curiosity.
"Yuugi? Oh he didn't make any bet, he said it was rude to do so. But I think that's only because he wants to bet against me." Jou said, feeling out of place while standing with his tray awaiting a 'yes' or 'no'. A smirk grew onto the CEOs lips.
"Uh…so can I sit or what?"
Such a tough situation. On one hand, it wouldn't hurt if he allowed him to eat at the same table. But on the other; he was supposed to ignore him and stay away. But…he didn't want to.
"Let's make the shrimp lose." He said while gesturing towards the chair in front of him for Jou to sit. Katsuya happily sat down with a smile and put his tray on the table.
To Be Continued...
Words: 5290
All my chapters are growing! My God, I just can't stop writing! Loving it all too much hehe.
Man, Jou and Seto were really out of it in this chapter, eh? I think so atleast. But I tried to keep as Kaiba-ish and Jou-ish as I could.
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