A/N: Thank you to those who encouraged this chapter to happen! I hope you all enjoy it - especially Nicole aka The AnimeLover ;)

NightBlue Aw, thank you so much for your comment! That makes me happy :) I hope you continue to enjoy this!

The Monday after Ema's ice cream trip with the twins, she decided not to fret over whether they were flirting with her or not. Both had been upfront about their feelings for her and neither were pressuring her to date. That was all she needed to know. If they wanted to flirt while still being respectful of her feelings, then that was their choice to make.

She put Yusuke's breakfast on the table, glancing toward the stairs. He still hadn't come down. He wasn't normally late. She glanced at the time, verifying that she didn't have breakfast ready early. After waiting a few more minutes, she went to his room. Maybe he wasn't feeling well this morning, or maybe he forgot to set his alarm.

"Yusuke?" she called as she softly knocked on his door. She got no response. "Yusuke?" she called again, knocking a little louder. Still no response. Slowly, she opened his door as she called, "I'm coming in, okay?"

She peeked in, almost wondering if she'd find an empty bed because Yusuke was in the bathroom. Instead she found him tangled in the sheets facing away from her. She smiled at the sight. He'd probably just forgot to set his alarm.

"Hey, Yusuke," she said, still keeping her voice low so she wouldn't startle him. "It's time to get up," she told him, shaking his shoulder.

He murmured something as he rolled over, facing toward her. She had no idea he was so hard to get up in the mornings. Good thing his alarm normally did the job.

She shook him harder, using both hands this time. "Yusuke, it's time to get up for school. We're going to be late if you don't get up soon."

"Mm, not yet, Ema" he muttered. Suddenly, his hands were behind her, snaking around her back before yanking her into his bed. She let out a yip of surprise as Yusuke cuddled against her, burying his head in her neck. "Don't want to get up yet," he whispered, his breath brushing her neck. "Let's just stay in bed," he murmured. Then he kissed her neck.

"Y-Yusuke!" she cried, pushing against him.

"Huh?" His eyes finally opened. He blinked blearily at her, then jerked away until he was plastered against the wall. "What are you doing in my bed?!" he demanded.

She rolled out of his bed, her hand covering the spot where he'd kissed her. "Because you pulled me into it! I came to wake you up for school and you dragged me into your bed." Who would have guessed the offish Yusuke would be so snuggly? She would have found the situation more adorable if she hadn't been accidently kissed.

"S-sorry," he mumbled, blushing as he stared at his bed. He peeked up at her, worry filling his eyes. "I didn't do anything else weird, did I?"

She couldn't help recalling the sensation of his face burrowing against her neck before he kissed her. "No," she lied, not wanting to make the situation more awkward.

His eyes went to the hand holding her neck. "Then why are you holding your neck?"

"I, um, think I pulled a muscle when you yanked me into bed," she lied.

He leapt out bed, reaching for her. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean—"

He broke off as she stepped back out of his reach. "Um, I'm fine, and I still need to get some things ready for school. You need to hurry, okay? Your breakfast is waiting on the table." She gave him a smile that probably wasn't very convincing, then fled.

~.~

"What did you think of today's game?" Subaru asked Ema on Tuesday as they walked around his campus. Yusuke was supposed to be with them, but had ended up needing to do make-up work at school. Subaru had offered to show them around campus after his game since they were both considering which colleges to apply for.

"It was exciting, as always!" She paused thoughtfully. "Though it seems like you're playing a little differently."

Subaru's heart sped up that she'd noticed. "Yeah, now that I've moved on to campus, I'm spending even more time practicing. Coach claimed I've been able to up my game, so I'm glad you could tell."

"Do you like living on campus?"

"Y-yeah," he said, trying not to stumble over the word. Mostly, it was true. The only part he didn't like about it was that he no longer lived with Ema. But if she chose to come to Meiji University, he'd get to see her more often.

"It's a great campus," he said, infusing enthusiasm into his voice. "I really like the atmosphere here. I think you would enjoy it too. The professors are helpful, there's lots of study groups you can join, and the campus itself is really pretty, especially in the spring."

"It is pretty," she agreed, looking up at a tree just beginning to change colors for the fall.

In front of her, he spotted some uneven sidewalk. "Be careful," he said, reaching for her. "You need to watch out for—" But he was so intent on warning her about the uneven sidewalk that he tripped. He stumbled, plowing into Ema and knocking her into the tree she'd been looking up at.

He rushed to cradle the back of her head with his hand even as he continued to stumble forward, his feet tangling with hers. His hand scraped against the tree, thankfully preventing her head from hitting, but as she winced and tried to disentangle her foot from his, she ended up pulling him forward. His eyes widened as their faces got closer. It felt like the world moved in slow motion as his lips brushed against hers. He only had a moment to marvel at how soft her lips were before he realized what was going on and jerked away.

"I'm so sorry!" he cried, covering his lips with the back of his hand. He couldn't believe that his first kiss was with Ema. It was an accidently kiss, but still. "I didn't mean to do that, I swear. There was an uneven bit of sidewalk and I—"

"Subaru, it's okay," Ema assured him, holding her hands out in a 'stop' motion. "I know you'd never take advantage of me like that. It was an accident." She was glad she wasn't the only one blushing. His lips had only brushed hers for a moment, but it still left her flustered.

"You're not mad?" he asked, peering at her. He looked so much like a little boy expecting to be scolded that it almost made her giggle.

"Of course not," she promised. "Should we continue the tour? Or just wait until Yusuke can come with us?"

"No, let's continue," Subaru, said, blushing as he scratched the back of his head. No way was he giving up spending time alone with Ema. "I'll show Yusuke around some other time." He made sure to keep his distance as they continued the tour, but was pleased that it took a few minutes for the pink to leave her cheeks. He hoped that was a sign that she'd been affected by the accidental kiss too.

~.~

Ema was still a little flustered Thursday night as she made dinner and she kind of wished Subaru was living at home instead of off at school. The sooner they saw each other, the sooner they could get rid of any lingering awkwardness from their accidental kiss. But maybe she was blowing things out of proportion and there wouldn't be any awkwardness the next time they saw each other.

Accidental kisses happened, right? Or maybe it was just her. She'd had two in one week, though Yusuke was, thankfully, unaware that he'd participated in one. Her mind was stuck on these two instances as she reached high in a cupboard for plates. Her mind elsewhere, she overbalanced, falling backward.

"Ema be careful!" a voice cried, then Masaomi filled her vision as he tried to stop her from falling. His arms went around her waist, but her momentum pulled him along, bringing him down with her.

"Sorry!" she gasped, her hands getting caught between their bodies and tangling in his shirt. "I wasn't paying enough attention."

"Are you hurt?" he asked at the same time, concern lacing his voice. One arm stayed around her waist as the other slid to her head to check for injuries.

She flushed red at being so clumsy. She lifted her head to assure Masaomi she was fine just as he lowered his to check on her. Their lips touched and she gasped, the movement melding their lips together. They both froze.

Her heart raced, the feel of Masaomi's lips against hers unlike anything she'd felt. It felt—like Masaomi for a better lack of description. Firm and warm and comforting, like she was held safe by a dependable force. Even if she'd been blindfolded, this kiss would have felt like Masaomi. Which was insane because she'd certainly never kissed Masaomi before. Or even dreamed about kissing him. But she felt so secure she found herself not wanting to move.

Masaomi moved first, though she honestly couldn't tell if he was trying to move closer or away. All she knew was that he shifted, changing the pressure of his lips against hers in a way that sent electricity down her spine. She shivered, her hands tightening in his shirt. His hand flexed against her waist, seeming to draw her closer.

Then they heard the slam of a door. They jumped, pulling apart. The air felt cold on her lips, and they tingled as though Masaomi's lips had caused a physical reaction in them. The air felt thick between them as they stared into each other's eyes, their hands still on each other. She couldn't help wishing that the slammed door had waited a few minutes.

Then she realized that she was sitting on the floor of the kitchen in the middle of making dinner and had almost made out with Masaomi, and still had her hands tangled in his shirt.

"S-sorry!" she gasped again, letting him go. "I—my head was somewhere else and I wasn't paying enough attention. I'm fine. Sorry for the trouble."

The look in his eyes—one she hadn't been able to read other than that it was intense—shifted into concern. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked, his hands sliding away from her. She wondered if it was her imagination or if he moved his hands slowly, like he'd rather keep them around her.

She nodded. "Yes. No harm done. Are you okay?"

He blushed, but nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm glad you didn't get hurt." He stood and held his hand down to help her up. She was almost afraid to grab it, like he had some magnetic force that would pull her back in, but she took it. His hand felt warm and comforting and she was reluctant to let it go once she stood. But she reminded herself, again, that she was in the middle of making dinner.

"Thank you," she told him, straightening her hair for something to do. "I appreciate the help." She wondered if either of them would address the accidental-maybe-turned-on-purpose kiss. She found herself not wanting them to, because then one or both of them might feel like they needed to apologize for it.

"I don't think I was much help," he said, giving a self-deprecating laugh. "But I'm glad things turned out okay. I'll get out of your way now."

He turned to leave and Ema burst out, "You're not in the way." He froze, then half-turned to see her blushing, one hand reaching toward him as though to stop him. She cleared her throat. "But I guess Ukyo might be home soon if that slammed door wasn't him. Three people in the kitchen might be a little crowded. I—I'll see you at dinner, okay?"

"See you at dinner," he said, giving her a small smile before moving to the hall. That was as far as he made it before he sunk to the floor. His hand hid his still burning lips, but he couldn't calm his racing heart. He hadn't meant for that kiss to happen. Certainly hadn't planned for it, but once he found himself in that position, he hadn't want to move. Especially when Ema seemed to have no intention of moving.

He wished he knew what was going on in her mind. She hadn't been upset—but was that because the kiss was accidental and no one's fault? Or because she'd been as affected by the kiss as he was? He'd never considered the possibility of dating Ema, though he knew some of his brothers were. He was so much older than her. But he had a feeling it would be a long time before he would forget the feel of her lips against his. And even longer before he forgot the look in her eyes after their kiss and when she'd reached for him as he left. Almost like she'd wanted him to stay by her side.

~.~

Ema really wished she had a friend she was close enough with at school to talk about all these sudden kisses. It was really hard to focus when this kept happening, and kind of annoying to not be able to tell anyone why she was spacing out so much. At least it was Friday. This weekend she'd hole herself up in her room for boy-free gaming time. She had the feeling her mind very much needed some boy-free time. And maybe her heart too.

It almost seemed like the universe was sending her a sign that she was meant to be with the Asahina brothers. But, if that was what the universe wanted, which one did it want her with? Or did it not care so long as she was with one of them? It was a nice thought that she was meant to be tied with the Asahina family however that turned out.

"Ema!" Erik called, making her jump. "I turned in our assignment."

"Oh good," she said, drumming up a smile. She really was happy the assignment was over. It was the hardest project she'd completed for school, and not just because she'd worked on it with her ex-boyfriend.

"I think we did good," he said, glancing back toward the teachers. Their two classes were mingling as they turned in their group assignments and filled out surveys on how the project went.

"Me too!" Ema agreed. "I'd be surprised if we didn't get an A."

"I'll certainly need that A to help with my grades," Erik joked. "School is a lot harder when you're doing it in a second language."

"Are you doing okay in your classes?" she asked, concerned. Erik had been an A and B student back in the United States. His parents might be upset if his grades dropped, especially for his last year of high school. The thought crossed her mind to invite Erik to her and Yusuke's study sessions, but she decided she should ask Yusuke first. And maybe Ukyo and Masaomi since it was their home she was using. Just the thought of Masaomi made her blush, but Erik talking again pulled her back to the present.

"Oh, I'll get by. I'm hoping colleges will give me credit for going abroad my senior year and be a little lax about judging my grades. But, um, that's not my biggest concern after our assignment." He blushed, scratching the back of his head as he looked away from her. His eyes timidly returned to hers, full of hope as he asked, "So, are we friends again?"

Her mouth rounded into an 'o' of surprise at the unexpected question, but her mind cast over the past five weeks they'd been working together. Erik's diligence with the assignment and always being aware of her needs. His patience with the limits she set on their relationship (even if he did unintentionally push some of those boundaries, but he hadn't asked her to invite him to her lunch table, and it wasn't his fault they were partnered together).

"Yes," she said quietly. "We're friends again." She quickly followed it up with, "Though I don't know if I'll ever want to be more than that."

"That's okay," he promised. "I'm just glad you consider us friends again." His bright eyes and slow smile made her heart speed up.