AUTHOR NOTES: I am so sorry it took so long for me to update. Such is life. But to make up for all that, I am uploading more chapters. One of my readers pointed out the age gap and time line of some of the chapters, specifically the age of Rukawa, Sakuragi, Hanasen and Noriko. To correct this once and for all and for the sake of peace of mind and continuity, they all have the same age. They're all in their second year in high school. Also Rukawa is Noriko and Hanasen's classmate. Sakuragi belongs to another section. I'm sorry but I won't take down the previous chapter of the story so we can just move on, ne?

CHAPTER 17 – The Unexpected Pair-Up

"Okay, class. as you all know that next week is going to be the annual school festival." An enthusiastic Okano Hajime-sensei announced to the class.

"And in the spirit of camaraderie and fairness, all your names are in this box I have here. Each one of you will take a piece of paper and the name you get is who you will be partnered with, understood?"

"HAI!" The class chorused.

Noriko winked at Hanasen.

"Alright...i'm going to call your name and you approach the table and pull out a name from this box." Okano-sensei patted the blue box on his desk.

"Yamaguchi Noriko!"

"HAI!" She dug her hand inside the box and fumbled. She hoped so badly that she will get Hanasen's name.

She pulled out a paper and handed it to the teacher.

"Your partner is Makoto Hajime." Okano-sensei read the content of the paper then wrote Noriko's name at the back of the paper and set it aside.

Noriko nodded and made a bee line towards Hanasen's desk and gave her a sad pout. Hanasen pouted sadly in reply.

As Noriko took her seat, she gave a quick smack at the boy's nape who was seated in front of her.

"ITAII!" The boy yelled and rubbed his nape.

"Makoto, what the heck?" Okane-sensei frowned.

"Nothing, sensei." Makoto slunked in his seat and shot back at Noriko an evil eye. Noriko merely narrowed her eyes at him and stuck out her tongue.

"Alright, next...Hanasen Sumeragi." Okano-sensei announced.

Hanasen stood up and walked towards the teacher's desk. She sighed and dug her hand inside the box and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to the teacher.

"Your partner is Kaede Rukawa."

If one could picture a synchronized jaw dropping action, that was exactly what happened in the class. Hanasen could only manage a very defeated look and walks back to her seat with her head low.

"Alright, next..."

For Hanasen everything was sounding like a loud buzz in her ear. She glanced at Noriko who just gave her a pout and a shrug.

This is insane, her mind yelled. Of all the shittiest luck I ever had, WHY HIM? ARGH! I can't do this. I have to do something before it's too late.

She suddenly raises her hand to the teacher.

"What is it, Sumeragi-san?" Okano-sensei frowned.

"Anou..is it possible to switch with someone else?" She grinned.

Everyone looked at her incredulously but all the girls' eyes looked hopeful. The boys snickered. The only one who looked at her confused was Rukawa.

"No." Okano-sensei shook his head.

"But why not?" Hanasen looked at him pleadingly.

"Rukawa-kun, do you have a problem being partnered with Sumeragi-san?"

Rukawa eyed the teacher sleepily and shook his head.

"No problem then. End of discussion. Take your seat, Sumeragi-san."

A collective unhappy sigh was heard from the class as Hanasen slowly slunked back to her seat. The class went on and all Hanasen could do was look out the window trying her best not to listen. The entire class period made her feel impatient to get out of class.

Thankfully, the bell rings to signal the time for lunch break.

"Yamaguchi-san, I need you to take these folders to the faculty office."

"Hai, sensei." Noriko nodded.

"Hana-chan, I'll join you for lunch, okay. Just wait for me at the cafeteria." Noriko smiled at Hanasen.

"sure thing." As Hanasen exits the room to go to the cafeteria, she had no idea she was being followed.

At the cafeteria, Hanasen gets ambushed by a crowd of female classmates.

"Choose me, Hana-chan! No! Choose me, Sumeragi-san! Please! Please! Onegai! HANA-CHAN! HANASEN! SUMERAGI-SAN!" They all chorused

Everyone was bribing her with lunch money, bento boxes till the end of the school year, club membership, flowers, promises to do all her homework for the entire school year. One even offered to massage her feet after each PE class. Hanasen felt trapped. This is exactly why I don't want to be partnered with that Rukawa.

Noriko shows up at the cafeteria but Hanasen was nowhere in plain sight. Only then did she notices a crowd across the hallway when she hears her best friend's name.

OH NO!

She pushes herself inside the crowd and tries to detangle her friend away from the clutches of their desperate female classmates.

"Get away from her, you losers! Leave her alone. We haven't even had lunch yet. Geez!"

One girl glares and says, "Oh yeah! we know you like Rukawa, Noriko. You're gonna try to manipulate her so you can her switch with you."

"What the hell did you say?" Noriko's eyes twitched. She was ready to pounce at her. How dare she!

Hanasen was fully aware of Noriko's temper about to flare and things could get ugly if she didn't do something about it fast. Noriko was a lot worse when she was hungry too. The little pipsqueak who dared Noriko wouldn't last 30 seconds.

"Noriko-chan..drop it. Let's go." Hana grabs her friend's arm and pulls her away before an impending fight.

"BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR DEAL, HANA-CHAN!" One of the girls complained.

"Eat lunch, you losers! She's not switching with any of you!" Noriko yelled at them as Hanasen tugged on her as they walked away.

They decided to eat at the grassy school grounds instead of the cafeteria to dodge their classmates. Noriko began snarfing at her sandwich. She still looked visibly annoyed from earlier but the tuna cheese sandwich was making her forget her temper after each bite.

"Man, I can't believe I'm gonna be working with that boy. No way. I'd much rather clean the entire school than work with him." Hanasen was fuming.

"Oh come on, it's gonna be alright. You'll be fine. Besides, it would be fun to see how those losers are gonna salivate. Hahahahaha!" Noriko pulls another sandwich from her bag.

"THIS SUCKS!" Hanasen pounded the grassy soil with her fist.

"Calm down, will you? We can still talk to the teacher and see if he can make an exception."

"Oh crap..not Okano-sensei. you know what a classic butthead he is. He won't budge. All Shohoku will come tumbling down but he will not budge." Hanasen sighed.

"Oh yeah." Noriko sighed in realization and agreement.

"Noriko-chan?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you wanna switch with me?" Hanasen grinned at her.

"What the? Oh no! Don't tempt me, Hana-chan. We were just talking that Okano-sensei won't budge and here you are giving me that offer?"

"Seriously, girl. I am not happy with my life right now." Hanasen looked at her pleadingly.

"I said don't tempt me!" Noriko squeezed her eyes shut.

"But you gotta help me please!"

"Rules are rules, Hana-chan. i have this shitty ass role as class secretary and you know the shitty ass pressure that comes with it. They'd give me hell and drag you down with me. I won't let that happen. You know that." Noriko gently squeezed Hana's hand.

SILENCE.

"So what in the world am I gonna do now?" Hanasen grabbed a fistful of her hair in frustration.

"well...I can help you set up your booth and I'll drop by your booth as much as I can and help you out. How about that?" Noriko massaged her shoulder.

Hansen thought about it momentarily. "I think that's great. Thanks, Noriko-chan. I love you".

"I love you too. But damn, girl! Those losers would have killed to be with Rukawa." Noriko laughed.

"Yeah, whatever...you won't believe what they were willing to bribe me with. Hey, what kind of soda did you get?" Hanasen mused.

"Fanta orange your favorite." Noriko handed her soda.

"NICE!" Hanasen gave out a wide smile.

Unbeknownst to them, Rukawa was having his lunch behind a large tree and was just within earshot of the conversation they were having. He smirks.