November 5, 7:43 AM

"You'll have it whether you like it or not, Ishida!" Ichigo said out of no where with a grin on his face right as he closed his front door behind him.

"Good morning to you, too." Ishida replied blankly without looking at him, eyes fixed on his pocket book as he waited for Ichigo on the sidewalk.

They were walking to Karakura High that morning, and it was Ishida's turn to fetch Ichigo from his house. Ichigo never missed an opportunity to mention Ishida's birthday ever since he found out about it. Ishida would always either ignore him, roll his eyes at him, or just plain right smack him if it got on his nerves already. Ichigo loved this. He loved how he had something on Ishida, even if it was as trivial as a birthday. Never passed a day where Ichigo didn't wear a smirk, and Ishida with a grimace.

"Hmm." Ichigo hummed in thought quite loudly when they reached an intersection-or more accurateley, whenever they crossed an intersection. It was Ichigo's so called brilliant tactic to get Ishida to say something instead of reading.

And it always worked. "Yes, Kurosaki. It really is a nice morning." Ishida said in his most sarcastic tone to properly show his annoyed state.

Ichigo just laughed. Ishida hated how much he's enjoying himself too much, but at the same time liked the view of Ichigo happy.

"So how are you planning it?"

"Planning what, Ishida?" More laughter.

Ishida rolled his eyes. "I'd like the pleasure of being prepared for what you're holding on my own birthday."

"You're birthday? Where did that come from? I've already forgotten about that actually, but now that you mention it, I do have something planned out." He beamed.

"Please, Ichigo, spare me." Ishida pleaded as he sighed. He used his given name to show how he meant it.

"Hehe, fine. I'll tell you later, okay?"

November 5, 1:37 PM

"Ishida-kun! Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime called from the classroom door during lunch.

Both boys turned to face her. She looked as beautiful as ever with her undeniable innocent smile she had on. It made the boys smile, too. "Hey, Inoue." Ichigo greeted.

"Good afternoon, Inoue-san." Ishida never failed to show utter complete poilteness to her.

She walked over to them moving aside the crowd of students towards the boys who were standing by Ishida's place in the classroom. "Good afternoon!"

"Where's Tatsuki? Why aren't you with her?" Ichigo asked out of curiosity as he looked around the classroom for her.

"Oh! She's at this martial arts competition for the week, actually." She gleamed, proud of her best friend. "Um, didn't she tell you, Kurosaki-kun?"

She did. "Hmm. I think I remember her saying something like that. Uhm." Ichigo said as he scratched the back of his head and chuckled a bit.

Ishida sighed, pushed up his glasses and said, "You know Kurosaki, always so forgetful."

"I am not!" Ichigo countered. "I just, have a hard time remembering, is all." He said in a small voice, and looked away embarrassed.

That made Orihime laugh. "Oh, don't take it too bad, Kurosaki-kun." She composed herself and remembered her reason for approaching the two. "So, um, can I eat lunch with you guys?"

"Of course you can, Inoue!" Ichigo said, surprised she'd even ask such a thing so shyly. "You don't mind, right, Ishida?"

Ishida couldn't help but feel uneasy the was Kurosaki said that. "Not at all."

November 5, 1:54 PM

Orihime had some crazy food concoction again. Both boys didn't even want to know what was in it. It was orange, bubbling, and... moving.

"Are you sure you don't want any, Kurosaki-kun? Ishida-kun?" Maybe this was why they didn't eat with each other.

"No, no, I'm full!" Ichigo said as he waved his hands quickly.

Ishida handled it better, "I'm fine, Inoue-san." and pushed up his glasses and drank from his juice box.

"Oh, alright. More for me!" She beamed as she took a spoon of her whatever it was. It made both boys nauseous.

"Hey, Inoue." Ichigo said suddenly.

"Yes?" Inoue answered.

"I have this friend who's birthday is coming up soon, and I was wondering if you would help me with the food."

Ishida then choked and coughed on his juice, "Excuse me." He gave Ichigo a horrified look.

"Oh, are you alright, Ishida-kun?" She wondered, "Ah, of couse! I'd love to help! I'm already trying out new recipies at home!"

"That's great, Inoue! I'm sure he'll love it." He looked at Ishida with a proud demonic grin, "Right, Ishida?"

Ishida just continued coughing, and at the same time gagged at the thought. "Y-Yeah. I'm sure he's just dying to."