Yuma's eyes glazed with concentration, but I got a weird feeling that he wasn't watching the screen.

"Earth to Yuma!" I waved my hand in front of his paralyzed face. His cheeks began to deepen to shade that was similar to his hair,

"S…Sorry."

"I bet you didn't expect that Fulbright was dead, right?"

"Yeah, wait…He's dead?"

I placed my hands on my hips, "Yuma, what's going on?"

"Nothing." He looked away and jerked his thumb towards the door, "I gotta do some work."

"Assistant manager stuff?"

"Yeah, that." He backed out quickly, bumping into the doorway before slamming the door shut.

I waved the blue 3ds in the air, "You forgot your DS!"

"You can keep it!" was the muffled reply.

"For realsies?" this time, there was no reply, I cupped my hands over my mouth and turned back towards the door, "I already have one!" Moments passed and I still didn't hear a thing. I flipped open the game system again and scrolled through the apps.

I tapped on his Mii plaza. There was me, standing in the corner, smiling, surrounded by complete strangers. Little Yuma was in the front, wearing a plain face.

"Cute." I said out loud, as a young boy walked in the store. He had messy blond hair tucked under a sailor's hat. One of his eyes was wrapped securely in bandages. His oversized blain blue sweater hung loosely over short khaki pants, but his mouth was in a wide grin.

"This place is so cool." The boy looked around the room, his eyes wide.

"Yeah, I think so too." I shut the DS and approached the boy, "What's your name."

The boy put his hands on the side of his face, "Momma said not to talk to strangers."

"Well I'm not strangers." I waved my hand, "I'm Teto."

"Oh." The boy's face brightened, "I'm Oliver."

"Well, hi there Oliver!" I motioned towards the wall, "Welcome to GameClan!"

"Do you guys have DS games?"

"Well…do Turtwig evolve into Grotle?"

The boy nodded vigorously as he raced towards the wall. Yuma finally revealed himself and peeked out the door.

"Well that took you long enough." I declared gesturing towards Oliver, "We have a customer." I pointed my finger towards Yuma's chest, "Avoiding customers is not our policy." I tilted my head, "right, Assistant Manager?"

"You can be so cute Teto." Just realizing what he just said Yuma clasped his hand over his mouth. I tried to ignore his words and returned to Oliver, "So looking for anything in particular?" I leaned over so Oliver could whisper in my ear,

"Is that strangers?" He glanced towards Yuma who was still awkwardly staring out the window.

"No, that's Yuma." I lifted my head up to convey my point, "he's weird."

"Oh. Okay." He put a hand by my ear, "I think he likes you."

"Well I have known him since I was a kid." I laughed.

Oliver tipped his hat and smiled mischievously, "Sure." He threw a game into my hand, "Can I get this?"

"Sure!" I grabbed two more copies off the shelf, "New or used?"

"Which one is cheaper?"

"Used."

"I'll take that one then."

"Okay, nine bucks."

Oliver dug his hands into his pockets, and his eyebrows suddenly rose with shock, "Aww I only have $8.75!" He hung his head, "Now what do I do?"

Yuma walked forward, often turning away to hide his face, "Hey kid."

Oliver looked up at the tall teenager, tears in his eyes, "What do you want?"

Yuma reached and took off Oliver's cap.

"Hey! Give that back!" Oliver jumped frantically to get his hat back.

Yuma laughed as he held it out of just out of the blond boy's reach, "Just wait a second."

"Yuma!" I clenched my hands in a fist, "Give him his hat!"

"Don't be impatient." Still holding the hat up high, he pulled out a quarter, "Ta da!"

I couldn't help but grin as Oliver grabbed the coin and thrust it into my hands, beaming, "Here ya go!"

"And here you go!"

"Thanks Teto! And creepy guy!" Oliver sprinted out the door, "I'll come back!"

Yuma straightened his beanie, "Did that kid call me a creepy guy?"

I returned behind the register, "Nah, you're just hearing things."

Yuma stuck his hands in his pockets and gazed blankly at the posters pasted on the walls, "So…" he said quietly.

"How's life?" I finished, leaning forward.

"Good," He sighed, "I mean, well, when I'm here it's good." He picked up a nearby game and studied it's cover, "School's been," he threw it to the side, "rough."

"Yuma!" I sat next to him, causing him to shift uncomfortably. Why is he acting so weird? I placed my hands on his shoulders in an effort to steady him, but it only gave him an even more odd expression, "What's going on?" I made sure that his eyes met mine, "I've known you my whole life," I tried my best to wear an encouraging smile, "you've always disliked school. You've always lived with it." I released him from my grip, "And you must be the most popular guy!" I leaned to one side, "So what changed now?"

"I don't know." His eyes finally steadily stared into mine, "Teto, you must be the smartest girl in the grade."

Before I could protest Yuma continued, "My grades have been steadily falling," He pulled his black hat over his eyes, "I just can't do it!" he whispered, "Do you know what I'm getting at?"

I nodded. "But, Yuma?"

"Yeah?"

"Is that the whole reason you've been acting strange?"

As if he suddenly realized his surroundings Yuma hastily pulled away, "Y-yes."

I brought my face close to his and pushed my finger to his nose, "You know you can tell me anything."

He dipped his rose tinted face and put on his headphones, "I-I-I will."

"Good." I said, trying to conceal uncertainty, "We can start tomorrow after school." I offered him my hand, "Okay?"

Hesitantly, the pink-haired boy took mine, his hand still shaking, "Okay."

"Good." I pulled on my coat and pushed on the glass doors, "See you tomorrow?"

Yuma grinned as he walked towards me, and gently placed his hand under mine, "its pull, Teto."

"I knew that!" I stuttered, "Bye Yuma!"

He lifted his hand in the air. I could see him part his lips but his words were muffled. Well, I can guess what he was saying. "Bye you dope." I looked back, his silhouette still in the doorway. He was so different today than usual. I tucked my head into my scarf. I wonder what's bothering him. And I made my way through the falling snow, trying to push Yuma to the back of my mind.