Author's Note: Sorry if I kept this fiction hanging for some time, but I'm back! This is Chapter 5 and this follows the cliffhanger in the preceding chapter. Beware of the possible out-of-character scenes. Please read and review! Thank you! :)

Chapter 5: Finally!

In Rika's room that night, Rika and Jeri are heard talking.

"What are you going to say, Rika? Is it about the date a while ago?" Jeri asked Rika.

"You see… That's why you went out today because… Henry and I set you up in meeting Takato… It was evident that he blushes whenever you're around. And I know how head-over-heels are you for Takato so we tried you two…" Rika explained with guilt.

Jeri just squealed in delight after hearing Rika's story.

"Aww! Rika! This was the best night ever!" Jeri said and she hugged Rika.

"You're not mad?" Rika, who was surprised at Jeri's reaction, asked her.

"No! In fact, I liked it. At least, I now know how Takato looks like when it comes to dates. But I don't know how to tell my feelings. I like him so much and I'm afraid that he might reject me…" Jeri explained.

"Oh really?" Rika sneered.

"Yes! Really…" Jeri said as she changed into her night clothes. "How I wish he would ask me out..."

"That depends, Jeri Katou!" Rika replied as she left Jeri for a while.

Back to Henry's apartment, the two of them are seen talking.

"Er…" Henry did not know what to say.

"Henry, answer me! How did you know that Jeri was my blind date earlier?" Takato exclaimed, desperate to hear Henry's explanation.

"Because, Rika and I set you up… We set you up in a date." Henry answered. "I know that you like Jeri ever since but you can't say it so Rika and I did that just for you two…"

Takato just blushed after hearing Henry's statement.

"Dude…" Takato just said in awe.

"Yeah?" Henry said.

"Thanks a lot for that!" Takato said simply.

"Why?" Henry asked, surprised at Takato's reaction. "You're not mad?!"

"Because of the set-up, I discovered a lot more about Jeri…" Takato explained. "But I like her..."

"Of course… You liked her even before, during and after the D-Reaper!" Henry pointed out.

"Yeah… But I don't know what to say to her…" Takato said sheepishly.

"Hmm… If you know when the perfect time to tell her is, then go for it. You might regret it if somebody else races you in doing so…" Henry told him but deep inside, he was surprised that he advised Takato something that he never experienced before. "I should take my own advice."

"Gee… Thanks, Henry…" Takato said and finally smiled. "You're the best friend I could ever have!"

"You're welcome, Takato Matsuki! So, back to my question… How was your date?" Henry said with a grin.

"It's fine and fun as well!" Takato replied.

Henry just laughed at Takato's answer.

It was Monday once again and the Tamers are in their classroom with the usual battle regarding schoolworks. Takato was sure that today will be the day he will ask Jeri out. He fished the drawing he created days ago. Henry and Rika are still seated together and apparently talking about something.

"So, Henry? Did Takato spill the crap out of you?" Rika asked.

"Yeah. That's because I slipped. I mentioned 'How's your date with Jeri' instead of 'How's your date with the girl'..." Henry explained. "How about you?"

"Same reason. Well, we really can't keep secrets too long!" Rika added.

"Yeah! I wonder what those two feel after we admitted the whole truth." Henry mused and Rika just shrugged.

When the bell rang for their lunch, Takato found Jeri fixing her locker.

"Uh... Hi, Takato!" Jeri greeted.

"Hi, Jeri!" Takato answered. "Swallow your pride, Matsuki! Ask her out! What's the purpose of your drawing if you won't ask her out?"

Then Takato fidgeted something from his Math book. It was time for him to show it to her.

"Uh... Jeri? Can you close your eyes for a moment?" Takato asked Jeri with a smile.

"Okay!" Jeri said and she closed her eyes.

When Jeri did so, Takato took out the drawing and showed it to Jeri with his two hands. He made sure that the drawing will look presentable before showing it to her.

"Okay, Jeri! You can now open your eyes!" Takato said with a smile.

Jeri opened her eyes and was surprised at what she saw. She saw a drawing and under that was a sentence.

"Will you go out with me?"

Jeri blushed because of what she saw. She was happy and it was overwhelming for her.

"Yes, Takato! Yes!" Jeri said in pure bliss.

"YESSSSS!" Takato said as he saw Jeri's happy reaction.

"Uhm… Takato?" Jeri said, now following her true feelings. "I have something to tell you…"

"Me too… What is it, Jeri?" Takato said.

"I… I… like… you…" Jeri stammered. "You know, like-like you…"

Takato was dumbstruck but eventually smiled after hearing Jeri's revelation. "I… like you… too!"

Then both teens hugged each other.

Rika was with her classmates for an assignment when she got a phone call from Jeri.

"RIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

With this, Rika held her phone a yard away from her because of Jeri's squealing.

"JERI! If you won't stop yelling, I'm going to put this down!" Rika said. "What was that all about?"

"Takato asked me out!" Jeri said from the other line.

"Oh really?" Rika asked with her eyebrow raised. "Finally, Takato got the guts to ask Jeri out!"

"Yeah and I told Takato my feelings!" Jeri said and recalled what had occurred at the locker area earlier. "And best of all, he told me that he likes me too!"

"Oh..." Rika said. "Are you a couple now?"

"Yeah!" Jeri said with a giddy voice.

"Oh well... Congratulations!" Rika said so the conversation will finally end. Once Jeri started rattling things about Takato, nothing will stop her from doing that.

"Okay! Byeeeee!" Jeri said and with that, she hung up.

Henry was on his way to the library to do something important. Because he was unaware of where he was going, he bumped into someone. Then as the person stood up, he realized that it was Rika!

"How rude of you to bump me, Henry Wong! Aren't you going to say sorry?" Rika said with pretend annoyance.

"Sorry, Ri. I'm on way to the library..." Henry answered apologetically.

"So, have you heard the news?" Rika asked.

"What news?" Henry asked curiously.

"Takato Matsuki and Jeri Katou are officially a couple!" Rika answered.

"Wow! That's a news!" Henry said in amazement because he was impressed with Takato having the guts to finally ask Jeri out. "How did you know about that?"

"Jeri called me a while ago saying that Takato asked her out. I was nearly deaf because of her overly excited state!" Rika said and she was wincing at the memory.

"Wait a minute. How did Takato ask Jeri out, anyway?" Henry asked again.

"Jeri was in the locker when Takato went behind her. Then, Takato made Jeri close her eyes then he showed her a drawing and with that, Jeri opened her eyes... Then, you can tell what's in the drawing..." Rika explained.

"The drawing has a 'Will you go out with me', hasn't it?" Henry finished.

"You got the answer, Wong!" Rika answered.

"That's good news. At least, they're now courageous to show their feelings!" Henry added.

"Yeah. The next problem we'll be dealing with is their public display of affection!" Rika groaned in disgust. "Anyway, can I go with you to the library?"

"Sure…" Henry said as Rika went along with him.

The two eventually went to the library and saw Ryo, Kazu and Kenta.

"Hey guys!" Kazu said.

Then the librarian snapped back at Kazu and said. "Shhhhh!"

"Kazu, have you forgotten that we're at the library?" Kenta asked in whisper as he was reading his book.

"Sorry!" Kazu whispered. "Hey, Rika and Henry!"

"Visorhead!" Rika whispered deviously. "Come on, Henry!"

Henry sat in front of Rika and began to write in his notebook.

"What's up with algebra?" Henry asked Rika.

"The usual… Assignments…" Rika replied dully. She herself is not even interested in Math though she can solve it in span of twenty minutes.

Ryo was in a deep thought and disregarded already Kazu's unnecessary remarks in the library. He was busy thinking about his dream girl. The girl had blond hair, blue eyes similar to his and has a personality just like Rika.

Kenta noticed that Ryo was spacing out.

"Here we go again, Ryo Akiyama… You're getting nuts because of someone!" Kenta pointed out. Ryo had been out of his mind for the past few days already all because of the girl.

Rika was busy solving Math in the library that she did not hear Kenta's fuhny remarks about Ryo.

"I think I need a calculator. I can't solve decimals by myself!" Rika whispered.

Henry just chuckled. "Yeah, you should!" he mumbled.

Rika saw her watch and it marked two minutes before lunch ends.

"Henry, I think we better go out. We don't know who the substitute will be at the 1:00 period…" Rika reminded Henry in whisper.

"You're right!" Henry said as he saw his watch as well. "Kazu, Kenta, aren't you going?"

Kazu also stood up since he and Kenta were Henry and Rika's classmates.

"Thanks for reminding us, Henry!" Kazu whispered. "Anyway, Ryo, catch you later!"

Kazu's companions eventually stood up as well and made their way towards the outside of the library. Ryo went ahead because he was going to a classroom that was located on the third floor. Kenta just laughed because he noticed Ryo's spacing out earlier.

"What's with the laugh, Chumley?" Kazu asked with a confused look.

"I was laughing at Ryo a while ago… Didn't you hear me what I said in the library?" Kenta answered.

"Nope. I didn't hear anything, Chumley!" Kazu answered.

"Did Takato blab something about you being set up or something?" Henry asked if Kazu and Kenta are still oblivious to what happened last week.

"What set up? And what about Takato?" Kazu said. Definitely, it answered Henry's question.

"Nothing… Just wondering…" Henry replied.

"Geez Henry! Is that the effect of having girls follow you and Ryo? You always space out?" Kazu jested.

"No… No reason. I just asked." Henry answered simply.

"Okay, Henry! We believe you!" Kazu and Kenta chorused.

The four made their way to the classroom and spotted Takato and Jeri now seated together and on the verge of showing public display of affection.

"What's with Takato and Jeri? They don't usually sit together during class!" Kazu asked. "And more importantly, why are they mushy with one another?"

"It's a long story, Shioda!" Rika answered and sat with Henry who agreed with what she said.

"Kazu, Takato and Jeri's love story is a long story!" Kenta chuckled. "I'd better find Lily. I envy Takato and Henry since they got girls to sit with during class!"

"I'mma go get Nikki!" Kazu answered. "Poor Ryo! Because he's a year older than us, he can't be with his lovey-dovey Alice!"

It was 1 in the afternoon and the students were waiting for their substitute teacher.

"What's taking that teacher so long?" one student complained.

"Yeah!" another agreed.

Then after a minute, a teacher went inside and began speaking loudly.

"Good afternoon, students! I'll be your teacher for today since Mrs. Onuki is somewhere in Kyoto so she instructed me to teach you English!" the substitute said as well as introduced herself as Mrs. Nakamura.

Jeri was happy now that she and Takato are now a couple. Her vision turned to Rika and Henry.

"I wonder if those two can get together… Henry seems to be fond of Rika so that's why he always goes with her…" Jeri thought as she saw her auburn-haired friend being seated with Henry.

Because their substitute teacher in English has finished earlier than they expected, they are now writing an essay as part of their seatwork. The essay was all about friendship.

Rika used to write essays when she was in her old private school. But this topic had hit her and her mind recalled how her friends did everything just to break her wall of ice down. With that, she began to write the words as many as she can.

"I used to be cold, selfish, mean and everything. But, when my friends came to my life, it became different. Now, I am caring and I'm even willing to open up to them…" Rika thought as she wrote them down. "Sometimes, you may not realize it but you will find yourself falling for one of them… And crap, why did I think of that?"

When the bell rang, the students in the tamers' class were the first to get out. Takato and Jeri quickly got out of the classroom so that they could celebrate their first day as a couple; leaving Henry and Rika to themselves once again. Kazu and Kenta got out and were surprised that Ryo was just waiting for them outside.

"Kazu, Kenta? Where's Rika?" Ryo asked.

"She's with Henry. Shall I call her?" Kenta volunteered.

"Yeah, Kenta." Ryo answered.

"Rika! Ryo's looking for you!" Kenta said.

When Rika heard Kenta's voice, she instantly turned around.

"What is it, Four-Eyes?" Rika asked.

"Ryo's looking for you!" Kenta repeated.

Rika's face wore a trace of disgust. "What does that Roosterhead want now?" she mumbled as she got her bag.

When she got out with Henry, Rika called out. "What is it, Akiyama?!"

"Uh, can I talk to you for a sec?" Ryo asked Rika.

Rika snorted. "Fine. Don't bore me for too long if you want to talk to me…" she added.

Ryo felt embarrassed in telling Rika his dilemma so he made a signal for Kazu, Kenta and Henry to go to a distance so that his and Rika's conversation will be out of the boys' earshot.

"Ryo must be telling Rika his secret feelings for her, huh?" Kazu sneered.

"No way… He's got Alice, remember?!" Kenta corrected. "I'm right, Kazu!"

Henry just agreed with what Kenta said to Kazu.

Ryo and Rika stood in the hallway, leaving Rika stumping her right foot because Ryo could hardly say something.

"What is it, Ryo?" Rika pressed.

"Uh… It's about Alice…" Ryo answered.

"Oh for crying out loud, Ryo! You're in a dilemma because of Alice?!" Rika exclaimed with wide eyes.

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ryo said. "You want everybody to know?"

"Sorry, Ryo! But I can't imagine you getting head-over-heels with Alice! Did you eat something that made your mind and heart stick-to-one?" Rika exclaimed once again.

"I don't know… This is what I feel right now…" Ryo answered sheepishly. "Can you help me put up with her since you've been friends in your private school?"

"I'll think about that, Ryo… Alice nowadays is hard to engage in a conversation about guys…" Rika said, not promising wholly.

"Thanks, Rika! If you can get something, please let me know…" Ryo said with glee.

"Yeah yeah! Whatever! Look, I'm going to go now because Henry's waiting for me…" Rika added.

"Okay! Thanks again! I'm going with Kazu and Kenta…" Ryo added as he went ahead of the girl.

With that, Rika just shook her head. "Boys…" she mumbled and walked so that she could see Henry.

When Rika saw Henry, she was breathing heavily from walking briskly.

"So, what did you and Ryo talk about?" Henry asked.

"Just a girl…" Rika answered simply.

"Oh…" Henry said and assumed that the girl was not Rika.

"Anyway, Henry… I had changed my number during the weekend so this is my new number…" Rika said and handed a sheet of paper with her new number in it.

"And new phone?" Henry inquired as he put the sheet of paper in his notebook.

"Yeah… My old phone was given to Grandma…" Rika replied. "My mother did that so the three of us could communicate as fast as possible…"

"Alright…" Henry chuckled as they went home.

The next day, Alice McCoy was walking to her classroom when she felt that she needed to do her personal necessities. After doing so and she was about to go out of the door, she heard two voices.

"I wonder who those voices are… Oh wait! I recognize them!" she thought and figured who the owners of the voices were.

It was actually Henry and Ryo who were chatting near the ladies' room.

"They're Henry and Ryo! They must be talking about something… Aww. Who am I kidding? I'm eavesdropping the boys who had a crush on Rika…" she thought but listened intently to the conversation.

She approached the door so she could hear it loud and clear.

"Uh… Henry, I want to talk to you about something…" Ryo said.

"What is it, Ryo?" Henry asked.

"What do you usually look for in a girl?" Ryo asked.

"I'm not after looks actually… I'm after her personality…" Henry stated. "What about you, Ryo?"

Alice was still listening intently because she was waiting for Ryo's answer with interest. She liked Ryo already from the day they first met. She was wondering if she could fit Ryo's standards in a girl.

"Oh… Me? I'm looking for a girl who is kind…" Ryo said.

"And?" Henry continued.

"Smart…" Ryo added.

Henry counted the adjectives with his fingers. "What else?"

"And of course, beautiful!" Ryo concluded.

"Wow! I hope that you can find a girl similar to what you're looking for, Ryo!" Henry chuckled.

"Actually, I found her already…" Ryo replied casually. "And it's Alice…"

"And who was that?!" Henry asked with suspicion.

"It's a secret!" Ryo exclaimed. "I've been thinking about her for three weeks… What shall I do?"

Alice heard Ryo's last sentence clearly and it disappointed her since she garnered no answers.

"Shoot! There goes my chance of knowing his girl! Oh well, who am I really kidding? I'm just a lousy old loser!" Alice thought.

"If that's what you want, then I'm not forcing you to spill it… But you can't keep a secret when personal feelings and emotions are at stake!" Henry said good-naturedly.

"You're right!" Ryo said with a chuckle.

"Anyway, Ryo, why did you talk to me about this?" Henry asked.

"I can't bring a conversation such as this with Kazu or Kenta… Those two will only get hilarity with what I say… Takato? I don't prefer love-sick comments… So, I think it would be best to talk about this with you…" Ryo said sincerely. "Since you're the wisest among the tamers…"

Henry just smiled. "Anyway, I'll see you later, Ryo! I got class to attend to." He said while walking off.

"Sure! Thanks for listening, Henry!" Ryo said with a chuckle and headed straight to his classroom.

When she felt that the boys are out of sight, Alice stepped out of the ladies' room and began to laugh.

"Wow! Ryo almost blurted out his secret!" Alice said in amusement. "How I wish I met his standards… Aww… Who am I kidding? He's setting his sights for Rika… But Ryo said that Rika is close enough to be Henry's girlfriend… Oh no… I'm getting confused… Why am I having thoughts about him? Oh well… Those will be my fidgets of my imagination."

And she started to walk towards her classroom to attend her class.

Later during lunch, Ryo sat alone because Kazu and Kenta went to buy lunch. He was also thinking about Alice. Rika went to the table so they could have the lunch as a group of seven together.

"Ryo?!" Rika called out.

Unfortunately, Ryo was not listening. He was still thinking about Alice. She is the girl that Rika knows and his neighbor as well.

"HEY, RYO!" Rika called harshly. Ryo had been spacing out again for the last five minutes since he sat down. "ARE YOU OKAY?!"

Ryo finally got himself a grip and returned to reality.

"Yeah! I'm fine…" Ryo answered. "I'm just thinking of something…"

"It's Alice again, huh?" Rika sat as she sat down in front of Ryo.

Ryo just nodded after Rika mentioned the name.

"Oh well… You remember what I said with I'll think about it?" Rika said.

"Yeah?" Ryo said with eyes brightening.

"Well, I'll do it…" Rika said. "I can put a good word for you…"

"Really?!" Ryo exclaimed and Rika nodded. "Thanks, Rika!"

"Anyway, I wasn't surprised if you like Alice… Alice may be like me, quiet and weird, but she has a personality that you yourself will have to explore. She was also my classmate in karate one time until I stopped…" Rika added.

"Why did you stop?" Ryo asked.

"Because I wanted to study judo at that time…" Rika explained.

"You're taking judo?! COOOOOOOOL!" Ryo said in amazement.

"Yeah… Wait a minute! Who is the real topic of this conversation, anyway?" Rika retorted. "Me or Alice?"

"Alice!" Ryo answered.

"Well! You've got it, Ryo Akiyama! It won't be hard for you to get girls because you're the Digimon King. Alice is one of a kind and not like those annoying fan girls of yours." Rika commented. "You better tell her that you like her or else I'll send Kazu over to get her!"

"But how?!" Ryo said. "You're her only friend here in school!"

"Just as I said, I could put a good word for you…" Rika replied. "I can't believe that I'm doing this for you, Ryo Akiyama!"

"Wow! From Ice Queen, you leveled up to being the female Cupid! I guess that you do have a heart!" Ryo smirked.

"But then again, it's just a way to help a friend!" Rika sneered.

Henry sat right next to Ryo with his food while Takato seated next to him. "Sorry we're late, guys. The cafeteria needs more building to accommodate such many students!" he remarked.

"It's okay… At least, we can still eat!" Rika said and after that, Jeri sat next to her.

When she went out during her English class, Rika met Alice inside the ladies' room. Alice, with Henry and Ryo's conversation still fresh in her mind, was poker-faced when she saw Rika.

"Alice, I'm not going to bore you with anything so I'll get straight to the point. What do you think of Ryo?" Rika said frankly.

"Why did you ask that, Rika?" Alice said in surprise.

"Answer my question, will you?!" Rika said impatiently to Alice.

"Well, he looks nice, smart, handsome… a basketball player…" Alice enumerated. "I actually like him…"

"What?!" Rika asked with her own surprise as well and eventually whispered. "You like Ryo?!"

Alice blushed and nodded. "Rika! It's embarrassing! You might tell Ryo that I've got a crush on him!" she pleaded.

"No, and I won't tell him…" Rika assured Alice. "It's a good thing you told me rather than you're blushing whenever Ryo's passing your way! Now I know why! I remember the day that happened."

FLASHBACK

Alice was just walking past the locker area when she saw Ryo heading towards her way.

"Hey Alice!" he greeted her.

"H-Hey R-Ryo!" Alice said nervously.

"How are you?" Ryo asked.

"I'm fine..." Alice managed to say.

"Catch you later!" Ryo winked and he brushed off.

She just blushed right after that while Rika watched the whole scene and laughed.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Rika, I trust you… Nothing will go out of this, alright?!" Alice said as she recovered from her blushes.

"Definitely!" Rika said coolly.

"What am I going to do, Rika?" Alice said in despair. "I don't want to follow him just because I like him!"

"Of course you won't do that! But, I know you've got experience with regards to love-life during our days in the private school, Alice, so you know what to do!" Rika retorted.

"Oh, Rika! I hope you're right!" Alice said in a plain tone.

"Anyway, I have to go, blondie! I need to finish my essay right now." Rika added and walked off.

When their classes were over, Ryo went out of his classroom and to the locker area. He saw Alice fixing her things.

"H-Hi!" the two greeted in unison.

"Oh great! It's bad that I confessed my secret to Rika and now this?!" Alice thought as she got her books again.

"Man, I confessed my secret to a girl who has my crush for a friend… What now?!" Ryo thought while secretly blushing.

The problem is that, both of them learned to like each other. They could say nothing so they spilled their secrets to the only person they knew and trusted.

Ryo recovered and began the conversation. "Hey, Alice! You won't mind if I walk you home?!" he offered. He was doing his usual ways of asking girls out.

"Okay!" Alice said. "What a good way to embarrass myself! I guess Rika's right. I know what to do!"

They were walking but they could not concentrate on what they are doing because they were both thinking about each many minutes worth of walking, before they knew it, they were in front of Alice's house. Alice saw that she is already home.

"Oh! Here's my stop… Anyway, Ryo, I'll see you tomorrow!" Alice said and smiled. She opened the gate afterwards. "Bye!"

"Sure, Alice! I'll see you too!" Ryo said as he walked past Alice's house.

When Alice got inside their gate, Alice looked at the walking figure of Ryo and went inside. She felt herself blush because Ryo walked her home.

Ryo eventually got home but he cannot remove Alice out of his system.

"Ughhh! I've been thinking about her! It's obvious that I do, but why?!" Ryo said. "Maybe by going on a date with her will make it easy for me to tell her… That's it, Ryo! Swallow your pride!"

He was busy thinking about Alice but he could not imagine what she likes when being dated. So, he decided to call Rika for details. When he did, the phone was just ringing and he assumed that Rika changed her number.

He then called Alice if she has Rika's phone number and in two minutes, he got Alice on the line.

"Hello?" Alice said.

"Hey, Alice! It's me, Ryo!" Ryo said in the phone.

"Oh, hey, Ryo!" Alice returned.

"Uhm, Alice, listen, do you have Rika's new number?"

"As in Rika Nonaka?!" Alice asked in surprise.

"Yeah?"

"Why?"

"It's a secret, Alice!" Ryo chuckled.

"Oh no, Ryo! I don't have her number. Sorry…" Alice said in disappointment.

"Aww. Okay. Thanks a lot, anyway!"

"Bye…"

With that, Ryo decided to call Henry because aside from Jeri, he is Rika's best friend.

"Hey, Henry!" he called.

"Oh, hello, Ryo!" Henry said from the other line. "What's up?"

"Do you have Rika's new number?"

"Yeah… Why?"

"Can I have it? Pretty please?"

"Uh… Okay!"

Ryo took the numbers while Henry dictated it from the other line.

"Thanks a lot, Henry!" said Ryo.

"No problem! But, you'll have to come up with an explanation once she gets mad at your prank calls!" Henry said good-naturedly.

"Oh no, Henry! It's not going to be a prank call! HAHAHA! Thanks again! Bye!"

"Bye!"

When he heard Henry hung up, Ryo called Rika with her new number.

Meanwhile, Rika's phone was ringing at home. Rika went to find an unknown number being displayed on the screen.

"Oh no! Another batch of prank calls!" Rika grunted. "Hello?"

"Rika, it's me, Ryo!" the other line said.

"Why did you call? And how the heck did you get my number?! A few good people only know that crap!" Rika asked.

"I took it from Henry. Anyway, I called because of Alice…"

"Yeah, what about her?"

"What does she like when she goes out on a date?"

"I can't answer that, Ryo! But I only got an idea… She likes simple stuff… Not too sappy."

"Oh! Okay!"

"Anything else you want to know, Loverboy?!"

"Oh no no no! Thanks a lot! Bye!"

"Bye…" Rika said as she hung up her phone. "Just great… Progress in charge!"

Meanwhile, back at Alice's house, Alice became disheartened. Ryo wanted to get Rika's number from her, and worst of all, she did not know the exact reason!

"Aww… I knew it…" Alice said wistfully. "Ryo likes Rika more than me… But what did Ryo mean about what he said to me in the past? Was that a joke?"

FLASHBACK:

"Is that Henry her boyfriend?" Alice asked.

"No… But she'd like to be HIS girlfriend!" Ryo answered with a chuckle.

END OF FLASHBACK

Her thoughts were ruined when she received a text message from an unknown number.

"Hi, Alice!

Will you go out with me on a date at 7 PM tomorrow? I'll see you outside your home!

- Secret Admirer. :)"

"Now I even got a stalker with me who even knows my house! What shall I do now?" Alice said in disdain. "Okay..."

Afterwards, she fell asleep in disappointment and exhaustion.

Meanwhile, in Ryo's house, Ryo was happy that he used his father's cellphone in asking Alice out.

"Finally! Now I can really tell her how I feel!" Ryo said with a smile.

Then he heard his father's voice over the house.

"RYOOOOOOOOOO! WHERE'S MY PHONE?!" Ryo's father said.

Ryo went down afterwards to return Mr. Akiyama's cellphone.