Author's Note: Ugh, I totally apologize for the late update, I got crazy sick Sunday night :( Anyway, next update will still be on Monday. As always, reviews, suggestions, and critiques are always welcome!

Disclaimer: I really don't feel like doing one this chapter, check the last one.


"You did what?" Ino grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. "What made you think that would be a good idea? Like, seriously, out of all the people you could have mouthed off to, it had to be him?"

"I didn't know it was him! I thought it was some first year!" I shouted back at her and knocked her hands off my shoulders. He just shouldn't have sassed me out. It's not like I asked for his opinion anyway, so you know what? I don't care.

"How are you going to fix this now?" She put her hand on her hips and stared at me, looking almost disappointed. I don't have a twin sister, so I can't blame it on her.

"You know, I won't. I'll just find someone else to talk to." I crossed my arms in defiance and pouted. "If he's all offended than so be it."

"Oh stop being so pig-headed Aki."I rolled my eyes. "You know, you just shouldn't have freaked out." She smacked me on the back and turned to face the entrance. "To be honest, he probably won't even remember it after a couple of weeks."

"I can't wait that long anyway, I'll just have to start looking elsewhere." I whipped my head around, finally realizing where we were. "What am I even doing here? Just because I don't care, doesn't mean he won't." I looked and saw Itachi making his way down the side walk. "I am not dealing with confrontation this morning, especially with his groupies. They'd probably scalp me if given the chance."

"Then let's go inside. You're the one just standing there." We walked up the stairs and I tripped dropping the contents of my bag. I gathered them up and stuff them back in as quickly as I could before grabbing the door and holding it open for Ino. She walked by and turned around to look at me. I leaned up against the door, and stared at her as she started making weird faces and confusing hand signals.

"Are you smoking something?" I said bitterly. She froze in her spot and started pointing at me.

"Akihana-" Ino stopped abruptly and stared, her mouth slightly ajar. I felt the weight of the door move off my shoulder and I turned around, looking up.

"Good morning." My jaw dropped just slightly. Itachi was standing behind me holding the door, and behind him were his fan girls, whispering loudly to each other.

"Oh, uh, good morning." I barely managed to squeeze out. I stared back for a few moments before scuttering off to Ino like a scared puppy. I looked over my shoulder as Itachi held the door open for the girls behind him. Ino grabbed me and yanked me in closer before whispering loudly in my ear.

"What the hell was that?"

"Does it look like I have any clue?" We walked quickly up to our class room. "Well at least I wasn't scalped, but he didn't look all that pissed off."

"Who knows, he's pretty stoic anway." She shoved me lightly. We climbed up the stairs and turned down the hall to our classroom.

"Ugh," I mussed up my hair with both hands in confusion. "You know, maybe he really isn't pissed off.

"You gave him more attitude than the last place contestant at a drag show. I don't understand how he wouldn't be pissed off."

"I don't know, maybe he took it as a compliment?"

"Alright, sure. While you're at it, tell him I said he's a dick. Maybe it'll get me a date with Sasuke." We walked through the doors, keeping our voices to a quiet whisper as we elbowed each other back and forth and continued to argue. Sakura noticed and walked up to us quickly.

"I don't like that look the two of you have, what's going on?" She said.

"He talked to her." Ino didn't give me a chance to respond.

"What? Which 'he'? How did you manage that?" Sakura was in disbelief.

"Itachi. She gave him major sass after school yesterday, and then called him 'piano hands'."

"What? That doesn't-" I interrupted her and gave her a more detailed explanation of what happened.

"...Then he just left after he was done." I shrugged, still a bit confused.

"I don't understand though, he just said good morning to you, like he knew you? Maybe he thought you were interesting? I'm sure that doesn't happen to him everyday." Sakura said.

"I think. Maybe it was just a weird way of saying 'get out of the way'." I said.

"I doubt that, 'good morning' and 'move bitch' don't really sound the same." Ino laughed. We took our seats and I listened idly to Ino and Sakura gossip. I couldn't help but replay this morning's events. He certainly has a weird interest in people if insulting him caught his attention like that.


The bell for lunch time rang loudly.

"Hey, I think I'm gonna skip out on lunch today."I looked over at Sakura. Maybe, if I was lucky, and I went to the music room I could catch Itachi on the way there, maybe offer an apology or something. I mean, at least salvage what I can I suppose.

"Alright, well, we'll see you in gym then." Sakura said as she started to unwrap her lunch at her desk. I walked out of the classroom and headed out toward the music room. I walked down the stairs and heard the piano playing softley. The door to the music room was open. I leaned up against the doorway, silently listening. Itachi continued to play for a few moments before abruptly stopping. Had he heard me? I felt a pit grow slightly in my stomach, before forcing it down.

"You can come in." Shit, now I look creepy. I hesitantly walked in, and leaned up against the shelving in the same spot that I had yesterday. Just gotta play it cool. Gotta be suave.

"Do you normally skip lunch to come here?" I asked.

"Well, it's always quiet, but not usually." I nodded stiffly, that was more awkward than I intended.

"Oh, uh, sorry then..." I pushed my self out from the shelving and adjusted my bag, about to leave.

"I don't mind." I leaned back up against the shelf. He's probably just trying to be polite. "Do you normally skip lunch to wander the halls?" He turned his head and looked up at me, resting his hands on his lap.

"Uh, you know, not really, but uh I wanted to say sorry for being snippy yesterday." I said awkwardly while rubbing the back of my head.

"That's alright." The corner of his mouth turned up in the smallest of smirks. "I have to admit, it's not a normal occurrence for an underclassman to insult me." My face flushed and his smirk grew wider. I quickly changed the topic.

"So, why did you learn to play, you're not half bad." Not half bad was a bit of an understatement.

"One learns to occupy themselves when their parents are always busy." He said with slight disdain. I cringed, sensitive topic I see. He straightened out and his face softened. "You?" I hesitated before answering. I couldn't imagine he was actually interested.

"Uh, my aunt taught me when I moved in with her. She uses it as a stress reliever and I guess it's rubbed off on me." He sat there, thinking for a moment.

"I suppose the piano is relaxing." He started playing again while I listened. It was a comfortable half-silence. I focused on the music that was playing, and quickly lost track of time. I only looked up at the clock when he stopped playing. There was only five minutes until classes resumed. He stood up from the bench and gathered his things before turning back towards me.

"It was nice meeting you, Akihana." He gave me a small nod.

"Thanks, you too, Itachi." Wow, first name basis already. That was fast. I'm not going to mention today's meeting on the blog post tonight. It would be rather unfortunate to come in tomorrow and see a gaggle of girls waiting around for him.


I climbed up the stairs to our second floor apartment. The sun was setting and cast a gold glow across the stone steps. I pushed the door opened and walked into the entrance way, slipping my shoes off. I threw my bag against the wall and walked out into the living room.

"Rui?" I walked into the apartment and called out for my aunt. Pans clattered in the kitchen.

"I'm in the kitchen!" She yelled. I cringed at the sound of glass shattering. "Oops." It was silent for a few moments. "Hey Aki, how about take out for supper?" I sighed. I walked into the kitchen. My aunt was squeezing a paper towel around her finger while shards of glass glittered on the floor. I hopped to the other side of the kitchen and started cleaning it up. "God, what would I do without you?" She said dramatically.

"Sometimes, I wonder which one of us should be running the house." I laughed. The kitchen was a mess, as it always seemed to be when ever my aunt tried to cook something more complicated than rice. "Hey, I'll trade spots with you. I miss high school!" I looked up from my crouched position on the floor and she smirked at me. It hasn't been that long since she's been out of school either.

"It hasn't been that long since you've graduated! You're only 26!" What is she complaining about?

"Hey, that's long enough." I rolled my eyes and smirked.

"Yeah, and how do you think my mom feels?" I crossed my arms.

"Yeah well..." There's a big age difference between my aunt Rui and my mom. She interrupted her self, trying to change the subject. "Okay Aki, I'll make you a deal. You make some supper, and I'll finish my work that's due tomorrow." She ran into the piano room before waiting for my answer. She writes jingles for commercials and was excellent at putting off projects until their deadlines.

"Oh come on, that's a rotten deal!" I shouted towards her. She started playing and drowned me out. Well, I hope she likes instant ramen.


Good evening ladies/guys/non-binary peoples,

Again, do not forget about the sports festival. We will be starting preparations next week. I hope you all have been training hard!

The women's restrooms on the second floor are out of order...again. Please keep this in mind when planning any mid-class gossip breaks.

The role of Ophelia in the school production of Hamlet has been filled. The performance will conclude this year's sports festival. For the culture festival, it has been announced that they will be performing Romeo and Juliet. This may be subject to change.

Unfortunately, I don't have any new information to post tonight.

Goodnight,

Ranjo