The Chinese New Year celebrations had put Fia into a lasting good mood. Feeling inspired to cook up Chinese food, something new to her, she went into the kitchen and opened up some cabinets to look for her collection of cookbooks. Fia reached up to grab a book from the tallest shelf but her fingers brushed against something smaller, something smaller that fluttered and fell onto her head.
"Ow…" Fia mumbled as she rubbed her head and reached down to retrieve the object off of the floor. Her eyes widened as she realized it was a notebook. Glancing at the page, Fia read "Fia gets easily embarrassed over just about anything." Her cheeks flushed. The next note read, "She has a special affinity for cute things. It's almost obsessive." Confused and embarrassed, Fia ran to her bedroom to find Haven. She threw open the door with a bang.
"Angel? Do I have an obsessive affinity for cute things!" Fia demanded.
"… Maybe," Haven replied meekly.
Fia sighed and dragged her feet over to where Haven was sitting on her bed with her computer. "I found this notebook. It has some weird notes on me…" She flipped through the pages until she reached the cover. "Wait… Isn't this Nagisa's?!"
"Let me see that," Haven said as she stole the notebook from Fia's hands and immediately began reading it.
"W-We can't do that," Fia protested. "It's an invasion of privacy! It just happened to be open when I found it - " she explained but Haven was obviously disregarding her.
"Let's see. This one says, 'Fia is very talented at cooking. She also seems to do a majority of the cleaning and household chores.' and this one says 'Fia acting as a little sister… Strange.'"
Fia dead-panned. "D-Do they really say that…?"
Haven nodded her head. "Yeah. Here, this one says 'Fia has quite the family. I can see where her patience and household skills came from. Extra Note #1: I'm not a girl!'" The white-haired girl sighed. "And I'm not a boy…" She continued, reading, "Fia's chemistry skills are very complicated. Somehow, she managed to create a chemical agent that shrunk her and Haven down to the size of my hand. Extra Note #1: Fia can also sew clothes. She does so for her sister's dolls. Extra Note #2: It was uncanny how similar Haven's miniature clothes resembled the ones she wears everyday."
The girl sighed and leaned against her friend. "Family Weekend was exhausting…"
"You can say that again, Tsu-chan." Haven turned a few pages. "Fia comes from a large mafia family in central Italy. She refused to disclose specifics, but it made her more accepting of Karma's and my occupation. Extra Note #1: If Karma didn't scare her away before, I doubt his career path would have."
Fia laughed dryly. "I can't and won't tell…"
Haven nudged her friend. "This is kind of related." She pointed at a line on another page and read, "Fia is an atrocious liar… Karma seems to like throwing this in her face by teasing her about very obvious things. Extra Note #1: How is Fia going to do when we start going on missions? Extra Note #2: Update: Fia appears to be able to bypass her inability to lie well by telling half-truths. On the last mission, her only outright lie was about seeing a mouse. Impressive spontaneity."
Covering her face with her hands, Fia sighed. "I'm working on it!" she protested.
"This one is about me. Haven is a very hyper person. Extra Note #1: Only when she has a lot of sugar." Haven flipped to the next page. "She is a little reserved, but she is also very-straightforward, organized, and practical."
Peeking at the next couple of pages, Fia read "Pink isn't such a bad color…"
"Why is that the only note on this page?" Haven asked as she skipped a couple of pages.
Her roommate shot her an incredulous look. "Really…?"
"What?" Haven asked.
The Italian pointed to a familiar blue plush sitting on top of Haven's bedstand. She raised her eyebrows as if to ask, "Do you get it now?" but she sighed when it became obvious that Haven wasn't understanding.
"You want Gisa-kun to play with Bacio?" Haven questioned in confusion. "Where is Bacio anyway?"
Blushing, Fia stole a glance at her closet. After New Year's, she had hid the plush. She couldn't hold her beloved guinea pig without thinking of the events surrounding midnight that night. Her crystal flower, by contrast, rested on her bedstand, where she could fall asleep looking at it every night. "J-Just read the next one…"
"Haven doesn't appear to like horror movies if shown on a large screen, at a theater, for example. Extra Note #1: I want to protect her again. Extra Note #2: She seems to have a tense, long-term relationship with a guy named Dick."
Fia laughed dryly. "Well, we know who Richard is now…" She moved to read the next one. "Haven is apparently the same size I was in middle school. Extra Note #1: It seems that we can swap clothing almost at will. I still can't tell if some of the clothes in my closet are hers or mine from the laundry mix-up. Extra Note #2: Haven doesn't wear a bra, according to her comments."
Haven shrugged. "It's not like I need one."
Fia blushed. "L-Lucky you…"
"Haven speaks in coding jargon when concentrating really hard. Extra Note #1: or when she cannot comprehend what she is hearing."
The girls read through the rest of the notes on themselves until they finally reached the most recent notes. "One of Haven's favorite holidays is New Year's… Extra Note #1: Thank you for the present…"
Black eyes looked questioningly at the page. "I didn't get him anything…"
Smiling wryly, Fia took the notebook from Haven. "Yes… You did. The best present someone can give…" Hoping that her comment would sink in, Fia hopped off of Haven's bed and left her best friend to think on her own.
Fia sat down next to Karma, who was laying on the couch and listening to music. "You left this for me to show Angel, didn't you?" she asked quietly.
Karma pulled one of his earbuds free. "What are you talking about?" he asked with a sly smile.
She waved the notebook in front of his face. "This."
"Nagisa's notebook? I didn't know you quite the pick-pocket, Fia~. You should give that back before Nagisa finds out," Karma laughed. "He'd scare you if you saw him angry."
Fia rolled her eyes. "How'd you get the notebook from him anyway?"
Karma placed his hands behind his head. "Gee, I wonder~. Aren't those notes interesting?"
Pouting, she turned towards him. "They're more detailed than I would like to admit… I think they still went right over Angel's head though."
"Tsk." Using his arms for momentum, Karma sat up quickly and took the notebook from Fia. "Those two are a lot of work."
She laughed lightly. "You can say that again. Did you read the notebook too? It has some very interesting things to say about you."
The redhead shook his head. "Not really, just the section on Haven." Curiously, he flipped open the notebook and skimmed until he found his name. Karma read, "Showing off or arrogant? His threatening of our new housemates is questionable, but not unexpected. Extra Note #1: Tsundere appears to mean easily embarrassed with a denial of that state of embarrassment." He shot a smirk at the pink-cheeked Fia and then paused in thought. "Well, his notes have become more elaborate and analytical since middle school."
Fia tilted her head. "Really?"
"Yeah, he used to write things like 'Weakness #3: He's petty' and call it there." Karma skipped to the next page. "Karma is not opposed to stealing the girls' personal clothing. Extra Note #1: I'm not surprised. Extra Note #2: Fia is very self-conscious about her… full body size." At that, Karma snickered.
She blushed and grabbed the notebook from him and scanned the pages for anything she could read back to Karma in retaliation. "Aha! Karma sings to himself when getting ready in the morning and showering. He normally doesn't notice. It seems like he likes a surprising variety of songs. Extra Note #1: What does it mean to bring 'Sexy Back'?"
Karma's cheeks reddened as he snatched back the notebook. "I think that's enough."
Giggling, Fia shook her head. "That's adorable. I read another one too! It said something along the lines of 'When Karma sleeps, he - '" Fia was interrupted by a hand over her mouth. She looked curiously at Karma, only to find that he had a finger over his lips.
"Karma, you've been avoiding me since this morning. Just give my notebook back and there won't be a problem," Nagisa's voice called from the direction of the boys' shared bedroom.
The redhead passed Fia the notebook and silently moved away. He smoothly made his way across the living room before escaping through the front door. Unsure of how to respond to Karma's sudden disappearance, Fia slipped the notebook under her leg.
Nagisa entered the room with a drained expression. "Fia, do you know where Karma is?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry." Although she felt extremely guilty, that wasn't a lie…
The bluenette sighed and made his way to sit down beside Fia on the couch. "He's definitely going to pay for this later…" he grumbled.
"U-Um, Nagisa," Fia stuttered, "I found your notebook." She pulled the pack of paper out from under her leg and handed it to him. "Well, it kind of found me."
Nagisa smiled with relief and graciously accepted his notebook. Blue eyes found olive ones. "What do you mean it found you?"
Fia smiled warily. "I was looking for a cookbook and it may have fallen on me…"
He sweat-dropped and scowled slightly. "Of course Karma would use my shortness to his advantage. Thanks, Fia… Did you read it?"
Cheeks pinkening, she admitted it slowly. "Y-Yeah…" In response to Nagisa's sequential sighs, Fia piped up again. "I admire how much you try to understand those around you… Your notes taught me a few things about myself that I hadn't, but probably should have, realized sooner."
Nagisa rubbed the back of his neck with a wry smile. He didn't want to tell Fia that he had begun the habit in middle school to keep track of the weaknesses of the world's greatest target, and teacher, that had ever lived. "Well, I guess I'm glad that they could help you."
The two sat in silence for a few moments longer before Fia spoke up again. "Is… Is that true what you wrote about Karma?"
He hesitated to answer. He wasn't sure to what extent the girl had read through his notes on his roommate, but he had a feeling that he knew exactly which note she was talking about. "It is, but he can take care of himself," he tried to reassure her.
"It just seems… So lonely…" Fia said slowly.
"He's always been like that," Nagisa admitted. "I think that's one of the reasons his relationships never last."
Fia sighed and quickly changed the topic. "What about you, Nagisa?"
The bluenette looked at her questioningly. "What about me?"
She laughed nervously. "Have you dated anyone before? I know Karma mentioned a Kayano…"
Nagisa dead-panned. "We never went out!" he protested before sighing. He smiled warily. "I've had two or three girlfriends before, but things just never worked out. We either had different interests or things came up…" he said slowly. "What about you?"
"M-Me?!" Fia's cheeks reddened and her gaze dropped to the floor. She shook her head, slowly at first, then profusely.
"Never?" Nagisa asked with a gentle tone.
"N-No…" She shifted awkwardly in her seat and tucked her knees under her chin. "I have had very minor crushes, but I was always too shy to say anything and I had my family to prioritize," she admitted. "A few people tried to ask me out back in middle school and the beginning of high school, but… b-because I couldn't speak my feelings, m-most people came to the c-conclusion that I thought I was better than everyone else." Her smile became bittersweet. "I-It was the opposite, actually."
Nagisa rubbed Fia's back in a soothing gesture. "I'm sorry, Fia."
She shook her head. "I didn't care until later on. Felix always helped me through those situations. I think… We used to joke about how I wouldn't even be able to get out my wedding vows if he weren't there, next to the priest." Fia laughed happily as a sentimental smile made its way to her face. "Are you going to read your vows from that notebook?" she teased.
He laughed. "I might have to. I have so many things to say to the girl I like - " Blue eyes widened and fair cheeks reddened as Nagisa realized what he'd said.
Fia's gaze softened and she placed her hand on Nagisa's shoulder. "It's okay… I won't interfere anymore, but I'm sure she's going to come around and notice soon enough. Hang in there and… just stay true to yourself."
"Did Karma tell you that?" Nagisa inquired.
Fia stared blankly at Nagisa for a few moments in shock. "Y-Yeah, I guess he did…"
Nagisa: (Scribbling furiously in his notebook)
Fia: (Sweat-drops) What'cha doing, Nagisa…?
Nagisa: Writing down some false things that only I'll know about for the next time anyone tries to snoop through it. Hey - (notebook is snatched)
(A crowd of people are fighting over and reading Nagisa's notebook.)
Jelavic: I take pride in being the supreme temptress of men! Take notes, Fia!
Felicia: I'm not that abrasive…
Karasuma: (Blood vessel pops) "Powerless to Puppies"?!
Lupe: I AM NOT SPOILED! But, thank you for thinking I'm cute~ (sparkles)
Karma: (Red-faced in anger and embarrassment) … How did you know about that?!
Wally: I'm… Naive? Haven?
Giovanni: "Papa Bear" personality? I like that! (Roars with laughter)
Florence: If I couldn't measure you with my eyes and construct the most visually-appealing outfit, I wouldn't be a top designer. Your receiving of female attire was no mistake.
Mio and Mia: Hey! Don't compare us to tornadoes! Those sometimes miss! We're more like hurricanes!
Fia: I can actually agree with that…
Gio: (teary) I AM NOT A CRYBABY!
Benny: … Why aren't I in here…?
Nagisa: (Facepalms) I didn't write half of that! You're interpreting my notes all wrong! How did you guys find out about my notebook anyway?!
(Entire crowd turns to look at a particular redhead)
Nagisa: KARMA!
Karma: (Laughing) Oh, look at the time! I have to go!
Fia: To bring sexy back?
Karma: (Blushes) Forget about that already!
Narrator: Thank you for the sweet notes on me, Nagisa!
Nagisa: (Sweat-drops) You too…?
Narrator: Speaking of sweet, the next chapter will focus on Valentine's Day! Life is a box of chocolates - who knows what you're bound to get next! (evil snickering)
