Through Zero Two's request, she feels her resolve to help Hiro grow even stronger. All she had to do was think of ways in order for her and the whole gang to get closer to Hiro once more, and with Zero Two's support, she believes they could do it, no matter how hard it may be cracking Hiro's shell.

In fact, she thinks there's something all of them can do, especially with the first set of exams just lurking around the corner.

With a determined glint in her eye, she smiles at Zero Two, a silent camaraderie brewing between the two ladies,

'For Hiro's sake….'

"Zero Two, I think I have an idea that could help"

"You want a what now?" Zero Two asks, a bit surprised over what the bluenette was suggesting.

"A study session with the others." Ichigo reaffirms. She remembers back then when they were kids, Hiro would gather the whole group when exams were near so they all could study together, and if one of them had a hard time with a certain subject, Hiro would gladly help them till they understood it. 'Those were the days…" Ichigo thought to herself in nostalgia. "But why?"

"Well, you see…" Ichigo starts, "studying together had always been like, some kind of tradition, between us and Hiro when we have exams. It only stopped when Hiro kind of...shut himself off.." she frowns slightly. "But, I think, if we try studying together again, this could help Hiro open up more, plus, I think it would also be a great opportunity for you to bond with the others, since you are, kind of part of us now because of Hiro." Ichigo finishes with a smile.

"So, what do you say?"

Zero thought silently for a while. In all honesty, although she finds some of Hiro's friends okay, she still didn't find herself comfortable with spending an ample amount of time with all of them, she prefers spending time with her darling, alone. Also, the concept of 'study sessions' as a group was a bit foreign to her, given that all her life, she was mostly left alone. It all felt a bit overwhelmingly awkward for her.

Another factor was that she really wasn't really fond of studying. she was the type to let her mind wander during classes and probably do some late minute studying the night before the exams. To be honest, she'd rather laze around while sketching on her pad, than grab some Math book and study whole day long. '

A pain in the ass' she would inwardly shiver.

Still, if Ichigo, her darling's childhood friend, thinks that this would be a good idea, then she has no choice but to oblige, all for her darling's sake. Besides, it's not like she's gonna actually study.

She could always pretend to, anyway.

Sighing, Zero Two looks back at Ichigo and nods, "let's do it.." she says, in a sullen tone. Seeing how Zero Two seems to be taking her idea quite heavily, Ichigo couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Was the alleged 'Yankee Killer's' weakness studying? Well, that wasn't very surprising at all, but seeing how the horned girl's shoulders were slumped and how she had a small pout on her face made her look really funny.

"Gosh, you look hopeless.." Ichigo comments.

'But she seems more normal than I thought…'

The next day, Ichigo tells the others about the study session, which was a bit of a surprise for them since they haven't been doing that for years.

"You want us to study together like before?" Goro asks Ichigo who nods.

"But, isn't this all of a sudden?" Ikuno wonders out loud, prompting the bluenette to turn to her. "It might be so..but, I want to bring back this tradition of ours, since you know..it's been years…" like what Zero Two said, Ichigo couldn't find it in herself to talk about Hiro's condition with the whole group because of, one, it was a highly sensitive issue which would be better discussed with Hiro's consent, and two, she knew that despite knowing one another for a couple of years, there was a slight bit of tension whenever Hiro was involved, especially with Mitsuru, for reasons she does not know, and probably Zorome, who had fought with Hiro two weeks prior.

But she should probably talk to Goro about Hiro, given he, too, knows about his self harming tendencies; actually being a witness to one of his, many attempts.

"Well, I don't see the harm with it.." Kokoro chimes in softly with Miku immediately agreeing, "Yeah! It'd be just like the old times, right?" she beams and Ichigo smiles.

"Will Hiro come?" Zorome suddenly asks, being now more at ease with calling Hiro by his name, rather than 'wuss.' "And Zero Two as well?" Futoshi adds. "We don't have to concern ourselves with those two anymore. Besides, they seem better off with just the two of them together." Mitsuru answers cattily.

Ichigo sighs; this was the tension she was thinking about earlier.

Clearing her throat, she tells them, "Anyway, if it's okay with you guys, we could stay at my place till six on Wednesday. Alright?" after making sure everyone agreed, Ichigo turns towards Goro, "Goro, I'd like to speak to you at lunch.." a bit confused, Goro ultimately says 'yes'.

"So you finally know it too, huh…" after speaking to Ichigo about the things she's learned from Zero Two, Goro felt a pang of guilt settle in his gut; wishing he could've been as open as the pinkette when it came to Hiro's secret. When he sees Ichigo nod at him, a sadness filling up her eyes, he felt even more guilty. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner…" he murmurs, putting his hands in his pockets.

"No it's fine, I understand.." Ichigo tries reassuring but he shakes his head, "No, if I could've just told someone about it...then maybe it would've stopped.."

"...It's my fault…"

Suddenly, he feels a pair of warm hands press against his cheek, lightly squishing them. 'What the-?' he looks down to see Ichigo gazing at him intently. "If you're at fault, then I should be at fault as well for never noticing until now.." she squeezes his cheeks a little more, "but now's not the time for blaming who's at fault. Like what Zero Two told me, we should help Hiro in whatever problem he's dealing with!"

'Ah, there it is...that determined look that makes me love her even more.' Goro thinks fondly, before carefully removing her hands on his face. "You're right." his lips slowly forming into a grin as he pats her softly on the head.

"In any way we can, as his friends, we should always be there for Hiro…"

Meanwhile, on the rooftop, Zero Two leans on Hiro with their backs facing each other. "Ne, darling…" Zero Two starts, "Ichigo approached me earlier…" Hiro slightly turns his head towards Zero Two, a bit curious on what the two girls might've talked about. "Oh? What did she say?"

"She said we should join them in some study session." 'Study session, huh…' Hiro thinks to himself.

He remembers back then, when he was more happy and outgoing, he'd initiate study sessions with the group with the intentions of both helping them and making studying a bit more lively. He remembers how they managed to sneak in funny stories that'll make all them roll on their backs, laughing, or how they could go on with hours of silence, yet no awkwardness would loom over them. He'd always look forward for their study sessions back then, but since he started feeling more different, soon, their group tradition came to a stop.

Thinking about it now, a part of him misses those kind of peaceful moments.

"Darling?" Zero Two calls out, managing to break him out of his thoughts. Hiro faces her and sits a little straighter, "Yeah?"

"What do you think? Should we come?" she asks, her eyes showing a small bit of hopefulness. "I don't know…" Hiro answers honestly and her gaze drops a bit. Noticing this, Hiro asks, "Do you want to go?"

'I hate studying but-' "Well, I haven't been invited to any kind of study session, so I'm a bit curious.." Zero Two manages to say. "Also, Ichigo and the others seem nice, so why not?" she grins and since Hiro couldn't really say no to her requests, he concedes. "If you want to, then I see no harm in going." Hiro says while thinking that now was probably the time he started reaching out to his friends once more.

Besides, he had Zero Two with him, nothing could possibly go wrong.

Whatever problem they may face, they'd surely face it together.

Suddenly, Zero Two envelops him in a hug. Squeezing tightly, she beams happily now that Hiro agreed to Ichigo's plan. "Yay! Thank you darling!" once she lets go, Hiro asks her where would be the venue of their study session be and she tells him at Ichigo's house. They continue on with the break in silence, when Zero Two grabs hold of his arm all of a sudden, rolling his sleeves up to reveal once more the scars he inflicted upon himself.

"Z-zero Two?" Hiro asks, a bit perplexed. He could feel a slight tingling every time her fingers slightly trace the patterns of his scars. It almost felt, electrifying. "Is everything alright?" he asks her one more time.

"This scars…do they still hurt? Is the pain still unbearable?" To be honest, they didn't, but he knew what Zero Two's words meant; they were much deeper than that. "Not anymore...but the negative feelings beneath these scars...they still haunt me to this day..and it..it scares me…" he looks down. "...but when we talked last time..I realized, I wanted to stop; I needed to stop. For your sake, at least…" Hiro answers truthfully.

'I wanted to believe in your words..'

"Even so," he hears her say. Looking up, he sees Zero Two smiling fondly at him. With his arm pressed against her chest, Hiro could feel the slow, rhythmic, beating of her heart calming him, and slowly, he feels his own heartbeat synchronizing with hers'. "They still look beautiful.."

"And why is that?" he asks in a hush tone.

"No matter how painful the emotions behind these scars may be, they're beautiful because they're a part of you darling. They're a symbol of how you still manage to stay alive despite how hard your circumstances are.." she explains.

"That's why, if possible...please live for me, darling.."

It was Wednesday, after school, and all the others were by the school's gate, slightly wondering why they haven't started walking to Ichigo's yet for their study session.

"Hey, Ichigo, aren't we going yet?" Zorome asks impatiently while picking on his ear. "Besides, I don't have all day-ouch!" he staggers forward from being slapped in the head by Miku. "What the hell was that for?!" he screeches. "Come now you big baby! If you can't stay still, then why don't you just go home by yourself?"

"Well, I could, if it wasn't for you always asking to tag along.." he murmurs, although Zorome fully knows why Miku would be so insistent in walking home together.

'Those damn, perverts…' he angrily thinks back to her almost attackers.

"Yeah, yeah, but hey! With this study session, I bet you could score high in the exams so Nana-nee san could congratulate you!" Miku teases Zorome whose eyes suddenly lights up with hearts. "Oh yeah! Good thinking, Miku!" with the two babbling with each other, Ikuno couldn't help but whisper to Kokoro how the two would probably be perfect for each other.

'Unfortunately, those two are both dense AND stubborn to realize it…' Ikuno thinks exasperatedly. "By the way, who are we waiting for, Ichigo?" she turns to the said bluenette, who seems to be looking at a distance.

'Ah! There they are!' she muses when she sees both pink and black haired teens walking towards them.

"Hiro! Zero Two! Over here." Ichigo calls out, to everyone's surprise, sans Goro.

"You guys are late." Goro smirks, to which Hiro responds with a light flush. "S-sorry.." he murmurs, eyes widening when he feels the taller man fling his arm around his shoulder. "Don't sweat it dude! I was just kidding!"

"Zero Two! You're joining us too?" Miku asks, walking towards the said girl with hopeful eyes. Zero Two shrugs, "..yeah, I'm coming for darling…" the smaller girl squeals in delight, clasping the pinkette's hands with her own. "Finally, we could finally get to know each other more! Isn't that right, Kokoro?" Kokoro smiles in agreement. "I've also wanted to know you more Zero Two chan."

Zero Two could only nod in mild shock, "I-is that so…"

"Oi, Hiro!" Zorome suddenly calls out, pointing a finger at Hiro who gulps in nervousness over the rash boy's action, "I'm gonna show you just how better I am at you in Math!" he challenges, making the raven haired teen sweat drop. "Zorome, studying isn't supposed to be a competition.." Futoshi says, trying to stifle a laugh.

"Ehhhh…?! But that's no fun!" Seeing the shorter boy pout, everyone, started laughing, making Ichigo smile. For once, everyone seemed to be getting along with one another, now that Hiro and Zero Two were with them.

Well, all except one, that is..