Disclaimer: I do not own Hana-Kimi, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

-=Chapter Three=-

Akiha had left a few moments after chasing the boy off, staying just long enough to get his water and toss a teasing comment over his shoulder before disappearing once more out the window. The difference being that this time he did it without assistance and on purpose.

Umeda was left sitting in his chair, staring at the bit of paper that was lying in the center of his desk. 'He's sneaky when he wants to be, I'll give him that...' With that, he got up and went into the other room, going to look for a few student files he had to update after today's visits. 'He annoys me to no end,' He thought to himself, 'But every time I think about him, I just can't help but be curious...'

He found one of the files and pulled it down, placing it in the crook of his arm before going back to looking for the others. 'I can't believe I'm admitting that, even if only to myself.' Sighing, he pulled out another and added it to the first. 'Gah, why do these boys have to get sick so often? It's not like their old and feeble!'

After finding the few remaining on the list and in turn adding them to the pile, he returned to his desk and set the files down beside the piece of paper. Umeda settled himself in his chair and stared at the paper for a few more moments, but then crumpled it up and tossed it behind him. He was aiming for the trash beside the door, so when he turned around to make sure he made it and did not see a piece of paper beside the bin he assumed it had gone in. In reality, it landed inside his open satchel a few feet away.

After filling out the necessary paperwork and putting the right papers in the right folders he put them back in the filling cabinets and began to lock up the room. "There, finally!" He said in relief as he turned the key in the final lock and headed off down the hallway.

Just as he reached the door that lead out into the teacher's parking lot his phone rang. Cursing, he began to search through his satchel until he finally found it two rings later, the screen told him "15:34 Ryoichi" flashing the time and the name of the caller. "Inconsiderate bastard..." Umeda muttered to himself before flipping open the phone and pressing it to his ear. "Yes?..." He said calmly.

"It's me..." Said a familiar voice into his ear, sending a slight shiver down his spine despite his annoyance at his calling when he could still be working, not that that had ever bothered him in the past.

"I know perfectly well who it is, caller I.D. is all the rage now Ryoichi. You know that as well as I do." With that he set his satchel down on a nearby bench and then joined it, not wanting to stand in the middle of the hallway and have a phone conversation, but not wanting to have it outside in the cold wind either.

"Very true Umeda, but why should I bother with things like that when you know all of those useful bits of information for me?" Umeda just softly snorted in amusement, leaning back against the bench. "And besides, I didn't call to talk about devices. I called because I wanted to see if you are open tonight..."

He sat there thinking for a bit, fingering the strap on his satchel. "That depends on what you have in mind."

"Drinks at our normal spot, and then desert at your place if you're up to it." Was the reply, the hint not going unnoticed by Umeda.

"I'm always up for a bit of fun and games with you, you know that. But why not at your house?" He tossed the last out as a bit of a challenge, curious to see if he would take the bait.

"You know perfectly well why not..." Was the only reply from the man on the other end.

"Ahhhh...so it's true. I understand then."

"I knew you would..."

"I always do don't I?" Umeda's voice sounding a little melancholy.

Ryoichi ignored the tone and continued on with the conversation. "Four hours, be there?" It was said like a question, but Umeda knew it really wasn't.

"You know I will be, but will you?"

"I'm the one that made the invitation..." With that, he hung up, leaving Umeda to whisper into the phone alone.

"That doesn't mean anything with you and we both know it..."