A/N: I hope you guys won't mind that I won't be updating next week. ^^; Hehe! Happy holidays!

Pages of a Storybook

Chapter 06: June 16 - Misconceptions

They were supposed to be observing the monkey section as Mr. Himuro had instructed, but Kei never did find any other animals as fascinating as felines. That was why he found himself detached from his fellow classmates - who had all gathered around the teacher to listen to his lectures about primates and their distinctive qualities - and silently observed the tigers.

Mr. Himuro had been giving him the evil eye ever since he strayed from the group, but Kei knew for a fact that he wouldn't waste his time herding him back towards the other students. Everybody knew that he didn't need to listen to his lectures in order to get a good grade.

He was aware that some were wondering why he even bothered attending the extra-curricular activities in the first place. They really should stop trying to come up with all sorts of ridiculous double meanings in everything he did. Contrary to popular belief, he was simpler than he looked. And for a guy whose hobbies include taking naps even in the most inappropriate times or places, did they really think he would have the patience or focus to come up with crazy plans to mess around with people's minds?

Heck no. The main reason he came was simple. He just didn't have anything better to do. The zoo, like the planetarium, was one of the places he loved to visit in Habataki city.

The other students wouldn't understand, of course, and some even resented him for it, saying that he was mocking them by showing off his genius. Even though they looked up to him with admiration in their eyes whenever he was near, he knew that as soon as he turned his back, they wouldn't think twice about calling him names or spreading dirty rumors about him.

The tiger glared at him from inside the cage, its large sharp teeth bared at him as it let out a soft growl. Kei continued to watch with ease, not at all bothered by the feline's obvious warning and the gentle vibrations that the growl caused inside his stomach. The tiger was too entrancing to watch. Looking at its piercing yellow eyes with slitted pupils made him feel as if he was being sized up from head to toe.

"Ehh... I guess it doesn't like us very much. Don't you think so, Hazuki-kun?"

His head whipped instantly at the voice and he found her face alarmingly too close to the animal's cage. The tiger's full attention was now focused on her and the way it crinkled its nose at the nosy girl showed its unreserved irritation. Its tail was flicking from left to right in a thumping manner, as if to say it was growing agitated. When she didn't stop glaring back at the tiger or moving some distance away from the cage, he decided to intervene. "Leave it alone. You're only annoying it more."

She looked up at him and shrugged. "You're one to talk. You were the one staring at it first."

He glanced at the animal only to see it head back to the inner most part of its cage, its interest probably lost at the two bickering humans. "Aren't you supposed to be listening to Mr. Himuro's lectures?" He asked, hoping she'd pick up the not-so subtle hint that he wanted her to go away and leave him be.

She frowned at him in reply and Kei realized that she wouldn't be leaving his company anytime soon. "Says someone who hasn't been participating in the class activity from the very start of the trip! What are you doing here alone anyway?" She peered over his shoulder as if making sure that the other students were still there. "And Mr. Himuro says that we're free to observe anything we want for the rest of the afternoon." She pulled a small notepad and a ballpen from her backpack and scribbled something. "We're supposed to choose which animal we'd like to make a report on. I just wanted you to know since you weren't listening at all to Mr. Himuro's instructions."

Kei sighed, not really in the mood to deal with her perky attitude at the moment. He could ask the teacher about the report later, so there really was no need for her to inform him. He scanned the area for something more interesting to look at instead.

"I'm gonna do a report about reptiles..." He could feel her huge smile even if he wasn't looking at her. "It'll make an interesting report if I compare them to Mr. Himuro, don't you think?" She giggled at her own joke, but when he only raised an eyebrow at her childish antics, she coughed loudly and set herself straight. "A-Anyway, I'll get started on my report now..."

She jogged towards the other students and left him to his business, not sparing him another glance. He returned his attention on the tiger and realized that the huge feline was not in the mood to entertain him any longer. Kei was about to leave to visit the lions when his eyes caught something that was plastered on one of the rails.

There was a note - a sticky, rectangular piece of colorful paper.

Curious, he plucked the tiny sheet of paper and read its contents. Written in clumsy handwriting were specifics on the report they were supposed to pass in three days. He considered it for a few more seconds before tucking it safely inside his pocket for later use.

For a girl who looked simple enough to understand, she could be so unpredictable sometimes.

A/N: Urk... it's so short... Oh well. Again, thanks for reading. You guys have no idea how happy I am whenever I see the increasing number of hits this story is getting. Reviews, of course, are very much appreciated. But can someone out there please write a Hazuki-centric fanfic, too? I'm getting lonely... T_T