I'm super excited that I was able to find the time to write and bust out a new chapter during this winter break. I am currently writing this now on Christmas Eve night. It's hard to believe that Christmas is tomorrow! However, by the time this chapter is posted, Christmas will be over, so I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Chapter Three: First Day of Disaster

It was quiet. So quiet that Hiyori could hear the low mumbling of the elderly folk halfway across the bakery. Yukine stood behind the counter, obviously hiding the fact that he was embarrassed of the behavior of this Yato person. Hiyori tried to ignore it as she focused back on her phone, waiting for Yukine to finish up with her order so she could leave.

However, that wasn't going to happen, because before she knew it, Yato was at her side, leaning over the counter in a childlike manner as he watched Yukine in wonder. "Hey bud, whatcha making there? It looks awesome!"

"First of all, this is coffee, and the fact that you don't know what coffee looks like it sad" Yukine hissed, before turning to glare daggers at the guy. "And second of all, what did I tell you about barging in here while I'm at work?! You're going to get me fired!"

"Psh, yeah right. Your boss loves me so much that he wishes he could hire me" Yato explained, waving his hand back and forth.

Hiyori couldn't hide the small snicker that escaped her lips as she kept her eyes on her phone. This guy sure was full of himself, wasn't he? Apparently, her snickering wasn't quiet enough, because Yato soon darted his head to the side as his eyes landed on her.

She looked up at him, her eyes narrowing as he eyed her up and down. A few seconds passed before his face lit up. "Ah, you're my neighbor! Uhm, Hannah, right?"

Tucking her phone gently away into her purse, she turned her attention back towards him and smiled. "It's Hiyori, actually, but close enough."

"Hiyori, right! I remember now! How have you been, Hiyori? Life treating you well?"

Actually, it's not treating me well enough because I got no sleep last night!

"It's treating me well" she lied, giving the young man a forced smile. "I'm actually just waiting on my coffee and banana nut bread before I head to college. I have classes in an hour."

"Banana nut bread, huh? Did Yukine suggest that one to you? It's his absolute favorite. Plus, he always suggests it to the pretty girls that come into this bakery-"

His sentence was cut short with a croissant to the head.

"Shut the hell up, Yato! You know that isn't true!" Yukine argued, hiding the blush that was slowly creeping up his neck. Hiyori couldn't hide her giggling as Yato glared. These two, Yato and Yukine, seemed pretty close.

"Who the hell throws a croissant at their customer?! Wait until the boss hears about this" Yato replied, before throwing the flaky bread right back at the blonde. Their childish antics had the elderly folk in the corner soon pack up their things and exit the bakery, leaving only them three, and someone messing around in the back (probably the boss).

"Nice going Yato, you're making people leave with that big mouth of yours" Yukine mumbled, before turning his attention back to the coffee. He began adding cream.

"Eh, whatever. Anyways, can I have one of those muffin things that I had the other day? What was it again? Oh, a cinnamon crunch bar!" Yato explained happily, patting the counter for Yukine to get busy.

The blonde glared. "It's not a cinnamon crunch bar, it's cinnamon crunch toast. Here you go Hiyori" Yukine spoke, handing the warm cup of coffee over to the brunette who accepted it happily. Taking in the smell of the freshly brewed coffee and the color of the extra creamer, Hiyori smiled before taking a sip.

Oh sweet heaven.

"This is amazing, Yukine! Thank you!" Hiyori explained, giving the boy a bright smile as she took another sip. Yukine grinned, rubbing the tip of his nose in a bashful manner while Yato just rolled his eyes.

"Don't make his ego any bigger than what it already is. His head might explode soon if you keep it up" Yato added, making Yukine punch the obnoxious human being in the shoulder. Yato really needed a filter for that mouth of his.

"Anyways, and um, here's your banana nut bread, I hope you like it" Yukine explained, wrapping the baked good up before placing it in a small paper bag with the bakery logo on it.

"Oh, I'm sure I will. My stomach has been growling all morning" Hiyori explained, taking the paper bag from Yukine. "Anyways, I best head off. It was nice meeting you, Yukine. If the bread taste as good as the coffee, I might just be another one of your continued costumers."

"I'd really like that.." Yukine mumbled to himself before shaking his head. "I mean, I hope I don't let you down!" he sputtered out quickly, the nervous sweat breaking out all over the young boy making Yato snicker.

"Enough of that, Yuk, and hurry up with my breakfast. I gotta head to class too."

"Please don't call me Yuk."

"Oh, do you go to college as well, Yato?" Hiyori asked, looking over at him. Maybe he went to college too and wasn't just someone who sleeps during the day and has sex at night.

"Sure do, same one as you, probably. It's right down the road from here, about two miles" Yato explained, smiling brightly at Yukine when being handed his breakfast.

"Ah, yes! I'm going there too! This is actually my first year. Is it yours as well or are you a returning student?"

"Returning. This is my second year."

Hiyori smiled, actually somewhat proud that she was holding a conversation so easily with someone that goes to her college. Maybe he could give her some pointers?

"Do you think you could give me some pointers?" Hiyori asked, biting her bottom lip in hopes that he would say yes. Taking a bite of his breakfast, his bright blue eyes were soon on her as he raised a brow in her direction.

"Pointers? Like the do's and do not's of the college?" Yato asked. His attention was soon on the bakery's exit as he made his way out. Without thinking, Hiyori said her goodbye's to Yukine and followed.

"Actually, yes! I wasn't very… popular at my high school, so wanted a fresh start when attending college! I figured this was my chance to make something of myself!" Hiyori explained happily. She followed Yato, who stayed silent, probably thinking. She decided to stay silent as well and wait for him to speak up, taking in her surroundings as she walked. The summer breeze brushed through her hair as the leaves of the big oak trees blew. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she decided to take another sip of her coffee. Was he ignoring her? Should she start a different conversation? Maybe he doesn't like carrying on conversations with people he doesn't know that well? Eh, she seriously doubted that.

"Just be yourself" he finally spoke, turning Hiyori's attention back on him. "There's no reason to turn yourself into somebody you're not when attending college. Plus, the people here really don't care who you are. They're just here to attend classes and go home. However, with the few people who do care and want to make friends, just be yourself. That's the best advice I can give" Yato explained, stopping in his tracks to look back at her. With his blue eyes on her once again, Hiyori felt somewhat vulnerable under his stare as she slowly nodded.

"Be myself…" she muttered out before nodding her head. With that, she sent a smile his way. "I got it. Thank you, Yato."

Nodding, he turned his attention ahead and continued to walk, Hiyori walking along right next to him. It grew silent between them after that, Yato staring ahead and Hiyori sipping away at her coffee. It wasn't until loud squealing could be heard from behind him that the air around them changed.

"Yatty!"

Hiyori was taken back when a pair of arms slung themselves around Yato's neck. He didn't seem to be shocked at all, in fact, a smirk was playing on his lips which made Hiyori somewhat shiver. What's up with the sudden change of attitude? She decided to ignore it and focus on the girl who was hugging him; all she could see was pink. Pink hair, pink skirt, pink shoes.

"Yatty, I missed you so much! How was your morning?!" the girl chippered out, removing herself from the tall man and placing her feet back on the ground. Hiyori got a good look at her face, and wow, she was gorgeous.

"I've been great, Kofuku, how about you?" Yato asked, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth which made the girl giggle.

So, her name was Kofuku.

"I've been great, Yatty!" she said, the bright smile never leaving her face as she slowly wrapped herself around his arm. "However, I've been very lonely without you around" she pouted. "Why haven't you invited me over recently…" she muttered out, her whole mood suddenly changing when a challenging finger pointed at Hiyori, making the brunette take a step back in shock. "Is she the reason why, Yatty?!"

"W-What?! I-I-"

A loud chuckle could soon be heard leaving Yato's throat, making both Hiyori and Kofuku look up at him. Was this funny to him?

"Kofuku, darling, I could never replace you. This here is Hiyori. She's just my new neighbor" Yato explained, making the pink haired girl 'ooh' and 'aww'. With that being said, she quickly took Hiyori's hand and smiled.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! It's very nice to meet you, Hiyori! Can I call you something else, like Hiyo? Yes, Hiyo!" Kofuku exclaimed with glee; Hiyori was stuttering over her words in response.

This girl… Is this who Yato had over last night? He did call her darling, after all. Wait, no, it can't be, because she said Yato hadn't invited her over recently. Then that means… Oh…

"Uhm… T-That's okay! It's nice to meet you, I'm Hiyori Iki, but if you would like to call me Hiyo, that's fine too" Hiyori stated, waving her hand back and forth to clear the air. Whatever the scenario was, it wasn't any of her business.

"I'm glad I caught you, Yatty" Kofuku began, changing the subject as she let go of Hiyori's arm. "I was hoping me and you could walk to first period together?"

First period… First period… Wait…

Eyes widening, Hiyori quickly pulled out her cell phone and looked at the time.

No! No! No! No!

"Shit!" Hiyori shouted, catching both Yato and Kofuku by surprise. "Class starts in five minutes, I have to go now! I uh, I'm sorry for my language… I-I uh, bye!"

And with that, Hiyori took off running, leaving both Kofuku and Yato behind.

How could she let this happen?! It was her first day as a college student and she was late for her first class. Her mother and father would be ashamed if they found out. She was hoping since it was her first day, the professor would let her off with a warning. However, luck was not on her side and she now had to write a five-page paper on why being late to class in not acceptable. First, she got no sleep, then a girl about challenged her to the death, and now she was late to class. Why couldn't life treat her with a little sympathy?

Praying to the gods that nothing else would ruin her day, she turned her full attention on her professor, taking as many notes as possible.

Two hours seemed to fly by and she was now exiting the classroom, holding her booklet tightly to her chest as she walked along the sidewalk. She had a fifteen-minute break between this and her next class, so figured she would find a nearby area to rest and possibly start on this paper. She doubted it. Looking at the cup of coffee in her hand, she frowned at the cup still being somewhat full, just now with a cold liquid instead of hot. Her morning was so crazy that she barely got to enjoy the coffee Yukine made her for. She only got to enjoy a few sips. Sighing, and looking for a garbage can, she turned the corner, only to walk smack into another figure. To her dismay, the gods were not done with making her day a living nightmare as the cup of coffee slipped out of her grasp from the impact.

A loud gasp was soon escaping her lips when said cold liquid was now dripping from her clothes, the coffee stain clearly evident on her white blouse. Why was this happening to her?!

"Oh no! I am so sorry!"

Looking up at the person she made impact with, she slowly felt a sense of horror take over when noticing the cold liquid was all over him as well. His light brown hair was now soaked and matted down to his forehead, but he didn't seem to mind as he held out a hand to help her off the ground.

"No, are you okay? Oh my- your clothes are soaked because of me! Here, wait here I can get you some napkins!-"

"It's fine" he interrupted, a laugh escaping his lips and taking Hiyori by surprise. He wasn't mad at her?

"Accidents happen all the time and as far as I'm concerned, it was an accident" he stated, giving Hiyori a genuine smile. He then reached into his bookbag. "My class starts in five minutes, so I can't stay long, but hopefully these will help clean you up."

Holding out a few napkins, Hiyori went to protest, but kept her mouth shut when noticing the stern look he was giving her.

"Fine, but only because you gave me that look" Hiyori stated, a small giggle escaping her lips as she took the napkins from his hand. He smiled, watching as the brunette slowly began to wipe the dripping liquid from her shirt, a slight blush spreading across his cheeks while taking in the outline of her bra.

Clearing his throat and shaking his head, he brushed past her. "Be more careful next time, yeah?" And with that, he gave her one last smile before disappearing around the corner.

Waiting until he was gone. Hiyori let out a long sigh before looking down at her coffee stained outfit. Not only that, but she felt horrible for ruining that guy's outfit, as well. Thankfully he didn't seem to care that much and carried on with his day. Hiyori, however, still felt horrible, as she looked down at the napkins he gave her.

"I thought my day couldn't get any worse, but I guess I was wrong" Hiyori muttered to herself, wiping down her shirt. She could officially mark this day down as the worst day of her school life.

xxx

Trudging through her next few classes with a pounding headache and coffee stained shirt, Hiyori was almost ready to jump for joy when arriving back to her apartment.

Slinging her bag down on her living room sofa, the brunette sighed, rubbing her temples lightly as she made her way to her bedroom. The first thing she wanted to do was to get out of these sticky clothes and take a hot bath or even shower. Walking into her bedroom, she took a look at her appearance in the mirror and almost choked in horror when realizing how evident her laced bra was through her blouse after the coffee incident. Oh god, it was so obvious! No wonder she was getting so many strange stares and laughs today.

Moaning in disbelief, Hiyori pulled out some pajamas and made her way to the bathroom. She just wanted to get this shower out of the way and start on this stupid five-page paper her professor gave to her. At least he was somewhat kind enough and gave her two days to turn it in.

Stepping into the shower, Hiyori sighed in bliss as the warm water hit her back, relaxing her and slowly taking away all the stress from the horrendous day. She stood there for the longest time, letting the steamy water trickle down her skin. She was not ready to get out and face the world again, not after coming up with the conclusion that the gods must have a target of destruction placed on her back. Sighing because staying in the shower forever was not an option, she slowly turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping the towel around her small figure. Humming, Hiyori tugged on her pajamas: a pair of yoga shorts and a baggy sweatshirt. Once she was dressed, she threw her damp hair up in a messy bun and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

She looked like a tired, wet mess who needed to pull themself together.

"Alright, Iki" Hiyori began, smacking her hands together on both cheeks to pump herself up. "You are Hiyori Iki. You are a hot mess. A beautiful hot mess that will not let one bad day ruin her college experience. Take a deep breath, exhale, and go out there and kick some ass."

And with that, Hiyori smiled at herself in the mirror, feeling a bit more positive than before. Her little pep talks always seemed to do the trick.

That's all for now! Don't forget to leave a review.

Until next time.