The next day, Hiro exits his apartment feeling a bit more sullen than usual because of what happened yesterday with Zorome. He still feels guilty over being the reason of the other boy's insecurities and wishes that if only he wasn't who he was back then, then maybe they'd be living a far more better life than this.

But they can't because of him.

It's his fault.

With his resolve to go to school slowly breaking, he feels an arm snake across his back, pulling him into a bear hug. Gasping, he turns to see Zero Two behind him with a happy grin on her face. "Let's go darling!" She beams but he couldn't respond at once because of yesterday's events replaying on his mind. Just then, a sudden dread grows in the pit of his stomach. What if one day, he disappoints Zero Two like all the others? What if she hates him like all the others? What if one day, she realizes just how messed up he and then-

He gulps. Leaves his side?

He thought he'd be used in being left alone, but for once, solitude greatly scares him

Hiro stands frozen in his thoughts, his lips slightly quivering. Observant enough, Zero Two immediately feels something's off with her darling. 'Did something happen yesterday?' She wonders to herself before shaking him lightly. "Darling? Are you okay?" she asks, worried.

'huh?'

Regaining his senses back, Hiro's eyes instantly focuses on her teal ones', that showed her concern for him. He feels his dread disappear and be replaced with warmth as he realizes how Zero Two was different from the others; they understand each other's pains, both experiencing what it feels like to be alone within different circumstances.

They were both different, but very much similar in a number of ways.

"Ah, I'm fine, let's go, shall we?" Hiro smiles at Zero Two which instantly brightens her mood once more. Giggling, she grabs hold onto her darling's arm before heading their way to school.

"Are you sure about this?" Zorome asks his bread loving friend with doubts lacing his head. In his hand, was a box that contained a dove shaped bread filled with custard. Embarrassed, Zorome cringes, "I-isn't this a bit too...girly?"

"Of course not!" Futoshi grins, giving his friend a pat on the back. "Doves are symbols of peace, something you'd want with Hiro, right?"

"I just want to apologize..what's with all the symbolism crap?" Zorome argues.

"Well, you DID ask me for some help, so just suck it up and let go of that pride of yours!" hearing his friend's worse, Zorome does nothing but grumble under his breath. "Look, there they are!" Futoshi points at the couple.

Before Hiro and Zero Two could enter their room, they see Zorome and Futoshi standing by the door. Zero Two doesn't mind them but Hiro is visually perplexed. He still hasn't recovered from their emotional talk yesterday and if he could, he would hide his head in his bag all day as he doesn't feel confident facing Zorome.

His nervousness gets worse when their eyes meet, violet clashing with aquamarine. When they're both standing face to face, Hiro instantly lets his gaze drop to the ground.

'Darling?' Zero Two worries once more.

"..Zorome...I..-

"No, wait listen." Zorome interrupts, prompting Hiro to look at him. His surprised when he sees the shorter boy averting his eyes as well, trying to keep his cool persona but failing because of the light flush on his face. Even Futoshi noticed it and was trying to keep himself from laughing. 'If only I had my camera with me!'

"Look...I, uh...about yesterday...I wanted to say sorry about the ball incident, even if you DID deserve it a bit.." Zorome suddenly winces in pain as Futoshi elbows him hard at the side. "-A-anyway! After that talk, I kinda realized a few things and…" Flustered, he pushes the box to Hiro's chest, making the other slightly stagger backwards. "Here! Take this, just so I could get this over with!" Zorome says loudly. "A-and don't think just because of yesterday's talk I'll be all chummy with you! Like what I've said before, you're still my rival and always will be!"

Hiro, slightly surprised, scratches his cheek, "U-um, thanks Zorome.."

His cheeks puffing, Zorome turns his back at the three, "Don't get the wrong idea, Fatty made me give you that."

"OI!" Futoshi interrupts.

Ignoring him, Zorome slides the door open, not bothering to look back in order to hide his small blush, but not before saying,

"Anyways..see you later wu-...Hiro.."

Entering the room, he is instantly greeted by Miku, who had Kokoro by her side smiling nervously. He gulps as he recognizes the face Miku was pulling at him just now, with her ahoge swishing left to right and a mischievous glint in her eyes, she was obviously teasing him. "What the fuck woman! Where you spying on us?"

"Ohoho~ and what if I did?" she counters. "By the way, I love the blush on your face. Would you mind accompanying it with some lipstick as well?" and so, another round of battles begin with these two.

Meanwhile, outside the room, Futoshi was talking to Hiro, alongside Zero Two.

"Hey Hiro, don't feel too bad. You know how Zorome goes all 'tsun, tsun' when he gets nervous." He grins while patting Hiro's back. "Anyways, catch you later! And don't forget to share that with Zero Two!" Futoshi points to the box sitting on Hiro's palm.

Normally, he should start feeling better, but Hiro still couldn't fight off the heavy feeling in his chest; something he'd still be carrying until later at lunch.

Even with the misunderstanding between the two being solved, Zero Two notices how quiet her darling was being. Yeah, he wasn't that much of a talker, but this time, it really felt like something was bugging him, so as she swallows her honey coated steak, she turns to him and asks, "Darling, you've been awfully quiet since this morning. Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?" Hiro asks, snapping out from his trance.

"Well for starters, I know you're always quiet, but darling you're usually chatty when we eat. You'd usually ask me silly questions, until now, so what's wrong?" Hiro sighs, realizing he couldn't hide from Zero Two and her strong, observant skills. "You see...I'm still a bit bothered with yesterday's detention.."

"Why?" Zero Two asks, cocking her head to the side.

"Zorom told me why he hates me and I realized...everything was really my fault…" Hiro says while looking down, his hands playing with the rubble on the ground. "..if only I was just the same as the any other kid, then maybe…." He takes a deep breath,

"...Maybe I wouldn't be so pathetic…."

There was a long silence before Hiro sees Zero Two suddenly stand up. His heart immediately falters as he's struck once more of the fear of her leaving him for his weakness. 'She is really gonna leave me…'

Hiro's eyes widen in surprise when he sees her jumps over the railings and lands at the edge of the building, her feet dragging her gracefully along the narrow path, with one wrong move, she could easily fall down to her death. Instinctively, Hiro panics and runs toward her, reaching out his hand to her. 'Where are the teachers when you need them?' He calls out to her in desperation, "Zero Two come back here! You could die!"

She looks at him dead in the eye. "Once we die, we'll only be a statistic. We wouldn't matter in the end.' her words sends a shiver to his spine.

'It's true, but even so…'

"Look, Zero Two, it's not safe there, just please take my hand and get back here!" He strains further to reach her, which thankfully, she obliges by taking his hand and pulling herself back up with ease. Both of them land on the ground with Zero Two on top of him. Blushing over their, rather, intimate position, Hiro couldn't help but ask,

"You could've died there!" Zero Two shrugs before lifting her body away from him, opting to sit in a cross legged position. "I wanted to see how you'd react that's all." this mildly frustrates him, "Why would you do that?"

"I wanted you to feel what I'd feel if you did the same." she says with a serious expression. "You're not pathetic, darling." she mutters loud enough for him to hear.

"Zero Two…"

"Run away with me."

"W-what?" he asks, surprised. They've just met and now she's asking him to suddenly run away with her? A slight blush creeps its way to his cheeks, prompting Zero Two to realize the misunderstanding her darling was having.

"Oh no! Not like that" She waves off, "I meant, you know, let's ditch class!" She grins mischievously.

"But what if we get caught?"

"We won't! I know a way where the guards won't see us!" She reassures before taking his hand. "Come on, I'll take you somewhere you nice!" trusting her words, Hiro follows her with a small smile forming on his lips because he feels that with Zero Two, nothing, not even his past, could hold him back.

Lunch had ended fifteen minutes ago and the History teacher had already entered the room, yet there was no sign of Hiro and Zero Two. Ichigo grows concerned for the both of them, opting to write a hidden note, which she passes to Goro.

Have you seen them- Ichigo

Goro looks back at her, a knowing look on his face, before writing down his reply.

Hiro and 02? Weren't they eating lunch at the rooftop awhile ago?- Goro

Ichigo sighs and stares out the window, only to notice a pink haired girl running hand in hand with a raven haired boy. At first, she thought she was merely hallucinating due to her growing concerns for the pair, but taking a closer look, her eyes widen over the realization that those two were actually Hiro and Zero Two!

What makes matters worse is that they were heading out of school just to ditch classes, and as president, this was highly unacceptable!

With her chest tightening for unknown reasons, she tells herself she should talk to Hiro and Zero Two for some explanations.