You know, this one gets harder and harder to write the more I try...I hope it's not turning into something that started out with a good idea and is now totally failing...but I suppose I'll find that out once I finally finish...whenever that will be. I seem to be slacking off lately. And who even knows why I chose now to work on this and post it...I just spent the whole day in the sun and I'm burnt and tired and I feel slightly ill (probably from too much sun) but I chose now to write. Maybe I just have to be in a weird mood to write...

Well, just ignore my ramblings and continue on to the semi-sensical story. The squiggly red line informs me that sensical is not a word, but I use it all the time, so it should be. :D

"I hear he's the one Usami Akihiko left everything to…"

"No way, really?"

Misaki walked quickly past the whispers and curious stares. That's all he'd been getting since he'd returned to school that morning. It had leaked to the papers that the famous novelist had left everything he owned and his entire fortune to someone he'd only known for a few years. He hadn't been mentioned by name, but everyone at school knew about Misaki being dropped off and picked up and possibly living with the novelist, so they immediately assumed it was him. They were right, of course. Not that Misaki was admitting anything; he got enough attention as it was.

Misaki entered his next class and sat in the nearest seat to the door. He was always on the lookout for quick exits these days. Looking around, he noticed he was the first one there; it was no surprise, since he had been speed-walking the whole way there.

"—already told you, I'm fine. You don't need to call so often, idiot!"

The classroom door opened and Hiroki walked in, talking on his cell. He stopped when he saw Misaki sitting there.

"I've got to go. Yeah…uh-huh….ok! Goodbye, Nowaki!" Hiro put his phone in his pocket.

"Um…good afternoon, Kamijou-sensei."

Hiro nodded. "Takahashi."

They stared at each other for a moment, neither seeming to know what to say. Hiro spoke first.

"I—"

Just as he started to say something, the door opened again and a group of girls entered the room. They stopped when they saw Hiro and Misaki then quickly walked past them to seats at the other end of the room.

Trying to ignore their stares, Hiro cleared his throat and started again. "I…er...well, I…just wanted to see how you were doing…" He trailed off nervously, not used to showing compassion towards students.

Misaki's eyes widened. Demon Kamijou was…concerned about him? He hadn't even spoken to Misaki at the funeral, let alone showed that he cared how Misaki was taking the loss. More people came in, glancing at the two of them before walking quickly past.

"Um…I'm all right, I guess…" This was probably the most awkward conversation he'd ever had with a teacher.

"Well, if you, uh, need help or…something…um…yeah…"

Misaki could tell this was just as awkward for Hiro as it was for him. "Yeah…thanks, Sensei."

Hiro nodded again and then quickly turned away to walk to the front of the room. A girl who had been standing off to the side during all this came up and sat next to Misaki.

"What was that all about? Sensei actually seemed…nervous or something!" Honami glanced at the normally angry man.

Misaki looked over at his friend and smiled. "He was, actually. I don't think he's used to showing students he has any feelings other than indifference and anger."

"So what did he want?"

"To check up on me. He and Usagi-san were childhood friends..."

"Ohh..." Honami looked at the teacher with new understanding and sympathy in her eyes. "This must be hard for him, too. I mean, he has known him a lot longer than you have..." Seeing the sad look on Misaki's face, she quickly backtracked. "No! I didn't mean that this is any less hard on you because you've only known him a few years! I mean, you guys were really close, like family and-"

"No, it's okay, Honami. I know you didn't mean it that way. You don't need to apologize." Though his voice and smile were sincere, his eyes were still sad.

"I'm still sorry, though..."

Class started just then so there was no further conversation.

So...umm...yeah. Please review and I hope you enjoyed.

(I hope this was at least mostly coherently written, because I think the sun fried my brain along with my back, arms, legs, and face.) (lol)

oh, and a side note: Honami is someone I made up on the spot becuz I decided that Misaki has to have friends! He's not completely alone! And Honami was the first name I could come up with thanks to my foreign exchange student friend who now shares her name with a fictional character! ILUHONAMI! :D