A/N- I updated really quickly because (thank all that's holy) a paper we had due, the teacher cancelled. This chapter is half Romantica, half Egoist. I just, I love Egoist so much.

"Make yourself at home, Takahashi-kun." Ijuuin patted the couch next to him, smiling kindly.

"Thank you, Ijuuin-sensei." Misaki sat down on the couch, as far away as possible. Okay, he really liked Ijuuin, but if Usagi found out...

No, no. Stop being ridiculous.

"What time is it?"

Misaki checked his watch. "Shoot! I missed the last train."

"Oh, well, you can just stay here." Misaki looked over quickly, seeing if Ijuuin was joking or not, but he wasn't.

"Um, I think I can walk back. It's not too far," Misaki said.

"But if you've got to take the train..." Ijuuin insisted gently. "Really, Takahashi-kun. He will be fine."

"I already said, Usagi-san isn't waiting for me"-

"Oh come now, Takahashi-kun. It won't hurt."

Nii-san! This is getting awkward...

The doorbell rang.

Oh dear. No.

Misaki almost rose to answer, then he remembered it was Ijuuin's house after all.

"Takahashi-kun, stay put. I'll get it." Misaki sat back down slowly, staring at the cup of tea on the table.

He heard voices.

"Takahashi-kun?"

"Why is he here?" Definitely Usagi.

"Work. He came to drop some stuff by..."

Pause. "Oh. Well, he needs to come home."

"No, no, he's made it quite... evident... he wants to stay here. In fact, he told me several times you weren't looking for him. Isn't he only a lodger, after all? I'm sure you have much more important things to be doing, than looking for people," Ijuuin said in a measured voice.

Misaki gulped. This conversation was most likely not going to go well. He stood up.

"Ijuuin-sensei, please excuse me..." Misaki moved past the mangaka, not looking up at Usagi. The violet eyes would most likely be furious.

"We're leaving," Usagi growled.

For extra measure, probably, Ijuuin called out, "Bye, Takahashi-kun. See you tomorrow!"

Once the door closed on them, Usagi turned to face Misaki, shoving him into the red car. "What took you so long? Why did I smell tea?"

"It's no big deal, Usagi-san!"

"This always happens, Misaki."

"What, you overreacting? Seriously. Ijuuin-sensei's a nice guy! Give him a chance"-

"I don't give people who try to take away my loved ones chances," spat Usagi. "Okay? Stay. Away. From. Him."

"Fine," huffed Misaki. "Geez."

"I love you."

Always at the randomest times, Misaki thought grumpily. "Yeah, sure, whatever."

"Do you love me too?"

Misaki didn't answer.

Usagi didn't expect him to.

"Hiro-san!"

"Lower your voice, you idiot." Hiroki dropped a stack of paperwork on his desk. "Okay, what's up? I know you don't have time to waste, so why are you here?" He motioned around at the walls, acknowledging the fact Nowaki had taken time out of his busy day to stop by the University.

"Ah! Hiro-san. I know it may not be the best time..." Nowaki looked down at the ground. Hiroki rolled his eyes. "You want to see fireworks tonight?"

"No, no, it's not that..."

"Well, spit it out." Hiroki plopped down and took out a pen, slashing violently through any even slightly incorrect answers. If the idiotic students couldn't bother to study, they didn't deserve any high marks. It's not like Hiroki was known for his kindness anyways. Leave the emotional crap to Nowaki.

"I'mmovin" was all Hiroki could make out.

Hiroki pointed his free hand at Nowaki, not looking up from the paper he was grading. "Look, Nowaki! Neither of us have time for this. Just"-

"Hiro-san, I'm moving!"

"..." Hiroki's hand stopped moving. The ticking of a clock could be heard. "Um, like?"

A bad thought hit him. Like to America? Or what this time, England? Russia? Australia? No.

"Apartments," Nowaki said. "Oh no Hiro-san, I'm not moving far away! And"-

"Well, I suppose." Hiroki sighed thoughtfully. "Then, bye."

"Hiro-san, I was"-

"Nowaki," Hiroki said. "It's fine. You don't want to live with me anymore."

"Won't you move with me, Hiro-san!"

Hiroki coughed, looking away. There he had gone again, jumping to conclusions. "Y-yeah, sure..." Well, at least Nowaki wasn't leaving.

"Hiro-san! You didn't honestly think I would leave you?"

You have before. You might again. But no way in hell could Hiroki ever bring himself to say that, no, never. It would hurt Nowaki way too much, and he could hardly believe the words himself. It had been a while since that. Forgive and forget, right?

The door opened, and the thirty-five year old dark-haired man stood there, cigarette in hand, laughing and holding a stack of paper work. "Kamijou!"

"Miyagi."

Nowaki turned away awkwardly. Hiroki wasn't going to acknowledge him anymore. It was that way with most of Hiroki's friends. Hiroki wasn't doing it out of meanness or bad intentions, he did it subconsciously. Like when Akihiko Usami came around. It was the same with Miyagi.

"Bye, Hiro-san," Nowaki said quietly, closing the door.

He thought he might have seen Hiroki open his mouth to reply, but the brunet never did.