Disclaimer: I STILL don't own Hana-Kimi or any of that.

Chatper Three—A New Day

The second morning began at the same time for both the missing Sano and the Sano-missing Mizuki, although they didn't kno wit, and the way of the morning was abundantly different.

It was a Sunday—no classes—and Mizuki was awoken at 9:30 AM by Nakatsu, Noe, Sekime, Nanba, and Kayashima, crowding around her bed.

"I'm not sure what's wrong with him, but apparently Sano's missing," was the first thing she heard. She wondered idly, is Nakatsu really that stupid?

Nanba's voice was next. "Baka, Nakatsu. Tactless and clueless, that's you. Whatever. Let's wake him up. I think Nakao's ready."

"I'm already awake," Mizuki told the group at large, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Nakao's ready for what?"

"He's bringing it in, since it was his idea. We told him it was dumb, but he was pretty sure you'd like it, so..." Minami snapped his fingers and the door to Mizuki's room swung open. Nakao made his way in with a tray piled whigh with peach juice and Pocky.

"A pity breakfast," Nakao explained as he set it on the bed next to Mizuki. Fastening himself, predictably, to Nanba's arm, he added, "Kayashima said your aura was scary."

"Gee, thanks, Kayashima," she said sarcastically before turning back to Nakao. "And thanks, Nakao. I really appreciate it."

oOo

Meanwhile, Sano was waking from an uncomfortable sleep on a park bench. Despite having plenty of money, he had found it simpler to tie Yujiro to the bench and sleep on it instead. By the time he had settled down enough the previous night to even consider sleep, he was even more lost than before, not to mention in a very bad mood.

There appeared to be a bakery nearby, so he grabbed Yujiro's leash and made his way over to it to satisfy the growling, screaming pit of agonizingly blatant hunger in his stomach. His back, limbs, stomach, neck, and head hurt like hell.

"Eurgh... I hope I never have to sleep on a bench again," Sano told Yujiro.

Ignoring the odd looks he was receiving for walking down the crowded sidewalk talking to a dog, Sano added, "You know, Yujiro, I don't know how we got lost—we can't've gone far! I guess I'm not very familiar with the area after all."

At the bakery, he ordered a few anpan buns for the sake of saving money. Biting through the thin crust of the first bun, Sano sighed through a mouthful of sweet paste. "I miss Mizuki."

oOo

"Mizuki, we've got free tickets to the pool. With Sano gone, we can all go! D'you want to come with?" Kayashima held up the seven pool tickets.

I really want to go, but... A pool?! There'd be NO WAY to hide my secret THERE! "Um... N-no thanks," Mizuki stammered, unthinkingly drawing her covers over her chest.

"Why not?" Nakatsu willed Ashiya to come—he wanted to see "him" shirtless! This would be his chance!

"I think I'm... uh, I'm catching a cold." Mizuki prayed that her slow, awkward lie would be accepted.

"That's no excues," cried Nakatsu. I WON'T let this chance slip through my fingers! I'll be SANO gets to see him NAKED all the time! Nakatsu thought, blushing in a way that gave away his perverted train of thought to even the mundanes who could not see his aura.

"Nakatsu, if he doesn't want to come, don't try to force him," Minami chided his kohai. "In fact, I think I'll stay too—"

"OH, NO YOU WON'T!" stormed Nakao. "You'll come to the pool, Minami. You'll come and you'll like it!"

"No, really, I—" Nanba tried in vain.

"You're coming," Nakao said in a tone that left no question in the matter, and that was usually only perfected by mothers.

"Fine," Nanba conceded.

"Well, maybe Mizuki wants me to stay?..." Nakatsu looked unsurely towards Mizuki. He looks perfectly healthy to me.

"No, you go have fun at the pool," Ashiya assured him. She wouldn't have minded the company, to tell the truth, but Nakatsu could go to the pool. It was only fair to let him. Kami knew she'd go if she could.

"Well, if you're sure, then I guess it can't hurt..." Well, maybe he looks a LITTLE pale...

"Then it's settled," Kayashima said, tearing his eyes away from Mizuki and Nakatsu's auras. "The rest of us will go have fun and think good thoughts about Mizuki's..." he let the pause stretch, zoning out, staring into nowhere. Then, with a quick breath, he snapped out of it and finished, "...recovery."

It doesn't add up, Kayashima thought, frowning at Mizuki. Could Ashiya be... a girl?!