With her head resting against the palm of one hand, the other dully paging through another student directory, Arakawa was not giving her full attention to the pictures of students looking back at her. It was all pointless. The picture of the boy the Director was looking for had already been found weeks ago and was now stuffed between her mattress. She was only doing it now to give herself something to stay busy in this otherwise boring place, which had the magnitude to drive her to the brink of insanity. Being more or less a prisoner, ways to keep yourself entertained were scarce, so she'd have to make do. Licking the tips of her finger and turning yet another page, Arakawa lazily studied the faces of the students, reading their names aloud to herself.

"Yue Suzuno...Seiji Yamaguchi...Hidekie Anno...Yori Takami," she yawned. Sometimes, to make things more interesting, she would make up little backgrounds and stories to fit the students. But she'd worn out that option when her stories were no longer feasible and started becoming ridiculous. The latest story she'd made up, was about a student who was a half werewolf, had an interest in polka music, and had a secret ambition of wanting to go to Pluto. Unable to think of a fathomable story, she returned to simply turning the pages of the blue binders with little enthusiasm.

"Taka Kumoshiro...Kyo Miyazaki...Tenko Hongo." These pictures were starting to look familiar now. Examining the cover, she realized this volume had been perused at least four times already. Arakawa wouldn't have been surprised if by now she could recognize half the campus.

"Nao Kaido...Shuichi Mizushima." Arakawa was starting to wonder what actually would happen if she were to turn in the boy to the Director. Based on what he originally wanted to do to her, she could make a wild guess. Or maybe he would do something worse then that. What was the Director so desperate to hide she wondered. What did he want?

"Xu Kaguraza." Now that she thought about it in greater detail, there were many things about the Director and this facility that had been bothering her for some time now. The professor had told her their research was to find the virus so as to develop a vaccine. She wasn't so sure anymore. If that were the case, then why were there so many diclonius still alive at this facility? Weren't they supposed to be quarantined then killed? Weren't they too dangerous to be kept alive? What was the Director up to? She now realized she had no idea what he exactly did here. She could only ever recall him just standing in his office, starring into the eyes of his own reflection in the window.

She had stopped turning the pages and reading the names to the room. Now, she was starring past the pictures, into her mind as pondering probed her thoughts from one to another. Something felt out of place. Nothing was adding up, or making any coherent sense. Even the extent to which they kept her isolated from the outside world was incomprehensible. All these questions and more filled her with a curiosity she couldn't ignore. Whatever the Director was up to, it couldn't be good. And she had to get to the bottom of it. Placing the book on a long stack of identical binders, Arakawa plopped on herself on her bed, pulling the unclean covers over her body. As she closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, she knew what she was planning on doing was beyond foolish. It was downright stupid and dangerous. If she was caught, Kakuzawa would surely have her killed this time. But something stunk here, and it wasn't from her lack of a bath for weeks. At the very least, she told herself, it would give her something constructive to do with her time.

Yuka awoke the following morning bright and early. Walking down towards the kitchen, she was surprise to see she was the first one up this time. A spot that was more often then not held by Nana. And as was the custom in Kaede House, since Yuka was up first she would be the one to cook breakfast. She decided on eggs and sausages, with some cut up cabbage as a garnish. Yuka was in the process of cutting up the cabbage on a worn and scratched looking cutting board when she heard a new pair of footsteps coming down from the stairs. She turned to greet them as they entered the kitchen, expecting to see either Mayu or Nana, but instead saw Tomo, who looked extremely well rested.

"Good morning...Yuka right," he said with a friendly smile, looking flushed at not remembering her name. She returned the greeting, then went back to cutting the cabbage. She didn't much care for Tomo. It was anything personal, or even him in general. She was just so frustrated at the idea of having another person in the house. It was crowded enough as it was with five people and one dog. But he was here now, so she thought she'd better get used to him. At least it wasn't another girl this time. That fact comforted her.

"Where do you keep the plates," Tomo asked her.

"In the pantry by the sink," she replied, not paying him or his question much attention. Without another response, Tomo reached up to open the pantry door and withdrew five plates and five matching tea cups. Yuka looked on, her knife halfway into a slice, stunned by this sudden helpfulness. She was speechless as he place the plates and cups on the counter and turned to her.

"What about the forks and spoons?" She merely pointed to the draw underneath the counter. He instantly began rooting through its confines and collected enough silverware for everyone, placing them on top of the plates. He saw Yuka's confused expressions and looked mildly worried. "Is something wrong?"

"What are you doing," she asked. Tomo let out a small snicker, clearly relieved that what was bothering wasn't anything serious.

"Didn't you say people who stay here have to help?"

"Yes," Yuka answered him.

"Well...I'm helping." Tomo picked up the small stack of plates and utensils, walking out of the kitchen and toward the dining room where they had all talked last night. Yuka had no idea he had taken to heart what she said so seriously. Never before had she met a boy with such nobility. It was her experience with them (and she had plenty) that they were generally unnoticing, dense, clueless, and just plain jerks. Tomo seemed different. For someone who grew up without any parents, you sure do have some good manners, she thought. He returned a short time later, standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

"You need help with anything else?"

Why don't you go check on Wanta please? He's the dog outside," she asked politely. Tomo gave a mock salute and marched for the front door. Maybe having one more person around the house wouldn't hurt.

Breakfast was unusually noisy this morning. Most times they would all chose to eat in a relative, and comfortable silence. Just enjoying the company, and mere presence of the others. But with the arrival of a new house guest, everyone was too excited and finding ti too difficult to remain quiet for even short periods of time. One by one the other members of the household awoke. First being Nana, next Mayu, then Kohta, who had to aggressively forced out of bed by Yuka. The others were sure Lucy had awoken as well, but since she did not come down, everyone decided she'd rather be left alone. They all gave Tomo a friendly "good morning", then proceeded to the dining room where he was hit with a horde of questions. When someone would take a break long enough to eat some food or drink some tea, one of the others would seize on the opportunity to ask him another question. Some of them might have been kind of personal and rude, but he answered them all the same with energy and a smile.

Yuka had to admit Tomo was growing on her quickly, and from the way the others were acting, they felt the same. He had this charisma that just made him likeable. He was funny, kind, polite, and very open. And Yuka felt girly for thinking it, but he was cute too.

"So you've really been to Tokyo," Mayu asked in awe.

"Sure have. But I didn't really like it much there."

"Why not," Kohta asked, curious as to how anyone could not like such a historic and well known city. Ever since Nana had started living there they always talked about going somewhere together on a vacation. And Tokyo had been one of many suggestions, but they decided against it quickly for being to expensive for them.

"Too crowded," Tomo answered. The rest of the meal went exactly like this, as the others wished to know more and more about their new, traversed friend. He regaled them with many stories about his travels through the country, about all the sights he had seen and people he'd met. Listening to him, you wouldn't think he'd suffered the tragedy of being abandoned by his parents at all. Or at least Yuka didn't think so. His life sounded adventurous and fun. He was so...worldly.

"I hate to break up the fun conversation," Yuka said, putting her fork down neatly beside her plate as she finished eating, "But we need to talk about what your jobs going to be."

"What do you mean," Tomo asked confusedly, "I helped out this morning."

"Yes, but we all have individual jobs too," Kohta interjected.

"Such as," Tomo pressed on.

"I take care of the shopping," Yuka answered first, sounding proud of herself. They each took in turn to name for Tomo the job that was specific for them. After they had finished, Tomo looked around the room as if hoping a way to contribute would jump out at him once he saw it. His vision turned to the cherry tree in the garden, its branches dancing in the breeze.

"Can I look after the garden," he asked hopefully, still looking out the door.

"Deal," Yuka stated. After finishing breakfast and another barrage of questions, Tomo stood in the light of the garden surveying what had just now become his responsibility. With Kohta and the others handling clean up duty, Yuka joined Tomo for some fresh air, standing behind him in the door frame between the garden and dining room. He looked slowly from left to right, seeming machine like almost.

"It's beautiful isn't it," she said coming up beside him.

"It sure is," he replied as he continued to take the garden in. Yuka tilted back and forth on her heels, trying to find something to start a conversation.

"Can I ask you something," Tomo said before she could say anything.

"Sure."

"What does she do here?"

"Excuse me," Yuka said, unsure of who he meant.

"You know, the girl I saved. Lucy," Tomo explained.

"Oh," Yuka spat distastefully, not bothering to hide her contempt. "Nothing really. Just sit up in her room all day. And she hardly talks to anyone but Kohta." Yuka then went on a long rant about Lucy, releasing months of unsaid frustration in a single moment. What surprised her most was that she was telling all of this to a person she'd only just met a day ago, and only really started liking a few hours before. "We try to get closer to her, but nothing gets through to her. Something is seriously wrong with that girl."

"Why do you put up with that," Tomo said.

"What do you mean?" Tomo continued scanning the garden.

"You guys told me if I wanted to stay I would have to help around the house. Sounds a bit unfair that she get to stay and not do anything. And if she's not even making an attempt at a relationship with anyone, then why is she here in the first place. Personally I wouldn't let that pass," he pronounced. Yuka considered this to herself for a moment before realizing something. It was unfair. Everyone else had to help out, why not her? If she wasn't going to at least make an effort to be their friend, she could do some house work at the very least. And why had she let it go on for so long was an even more pressing question. Now in a towering temper, deciding enough was enough, she turned and stomped her way inside and upstairs, not noticing Tomo's small smirk.

Lucy was wide awake, laying on her back, her eyes up toward the ceiling as the fan above spun around in a blur, sounds of the energetic conversation from downstairs wafting their way up to her. It sounded like fun down there, but Lucy did not wish to join them. Her belly growled with hunger, but she waited. That boy was downstairs right now, and despite wanting food, she wished to avoid him more at the moment. She didn't like being around him. It was that name. Tomo. That name reminded her of memories she'd just as soon forget. Regrets that she wanted to bury. She was grateful for saving her, and for showing her a kindness only previously shown by Kohta. But that name. She quickly told herself that he was only nice to her because he thought she was human. If she still had her horns, he would have treated her just as poorly the rest of the world did. But then another part of her told her she once thought the same about Kohta. Either way, all she knew was that she felt something with Tomo. An invisible connection between them that was difficult to describe. The fact that she felt anything remotely linking her with him upset her.

Lucy heard the hard stomps of feet on the steps outside her room and soon thereafter her door was thrown open as Yuka stood on the threshold, looking like she was in a foul mood. Great, she thought, This is just what I need right now.

"How long do you plan to stay in bed? You already missed breakfast, the least you can do is help out today." Even though Lucy knew Yuka saw that she was awake, she turned over in her bed and pulled covers over herself completely, hoping Yuka would catch the hint. She didn't. She marched inside and ripped the covers off her with such for she launched them clear across the room. "Get out of bed now!" Unable to ignore her now, Lucy stood up and walked out of her room without giving Yuka any acknowledgement she'd seen or heard her. Yuka stayed close on her heels, still yelling at her all the way down the steps. "Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you! It's about time you started pulling your own weight around here. You know the rules, you either help, or you can't stay."

"I don't think that's your decision," Lucy spat at her as they both stood by the clock.

"What was that," Yuka responded, shocked that Lucy was talking back to her.

"If I recall correctly, this is Kohta's house not yours." Everyone was now watching with baited breath, stopping in their work as the tension between these two mounted like a coming storm. Kohta stood in the hallway looking at them, but was to frightened to try and stop either one.

"My parents rent him this place, so it's our house," Yuka retorted. They stood still as statues, their gaze into each others eyes turning malevolent. Like animals ready to pounce.

"This is Kohta's house, and if anyone has the right to make this decision it's him," Lucy challenged, looking now at Kohta. She was sure she'd won now. If anyone would come to her aid, it was him.

"Fine, we'll let him decide then," Yuka said while turning a threatening glare at Kohta. Clearly she was under the same line of thinking as Lucy was. Before Kohta could try to escape, Yuka was on him, dragging him gruffly by the arm toward them. "Here Kohta," she said, placing him directly between herself and Lucy, "Tell Lucy she needs to help out more around here." He was unable to speak, shifting his sight between the two arguing girls.

"Tell Yuka she needs to mind her own business," Lucy stated, more to Yuka then to Kohta. He was very distraught from the situation and unsure of whose side to take, certain that either choice would be a losing one on his part.

"Well...maybe you could help out more," Kohta said tentatively. Yuka put her hands at her hips, nodded her head, and starred triumphantly at Lucy. "But you could be a bit nicer," he said to Yuka. Her face looked like she'd been hit in the gut.

"NICER," she shouted, sounding credulous, "Why do you always take her side? She just sits up in her room doing nothing. You said it yourself, if you don't help you can't stay."

"I'm not taking her side. I'm just saying you both could help out in different ways." Kohta was holding up his arms to defend himself from Yuka, afraid she might slap him or punch him as she often did when she was emotional. Yuka continued to scream at him, but Lucy heard none of it. She didn't wish to. While Yuka was busy yelling at him, and Kohta trying with no success to calm her, Lucy snuck outside to the shelter of her favorite tree and hide underneath the shade, burying her head in her knees.

"If it makes you feel any better, I think she has no right to talk to you like that." Lucy didn't need to lift her head to know who said that. He hadn't been here long, but long enough to recognize Tomo's distinct, deep voice quality. She ignored him. This was the last person she wanted to comfort her. All she wanted was to be left alone right now. Left alone to soak in her own misery and loneliness. Tomo stopped whatever it was he was doing and walked over to place a warm hand of her shoulder. Her first instinct was to shake it off, to slap his pitiful attempt at friendship away. But she didn't. Lucy let him keep his hand were it was.

"I don't know what happened to you, and I won't ask" Tomo said, his voice soft and gentle, "But I want you to know your not alone. You have them, and if you'll let me be your friend...you have me too." Tomo held himself there for a moment, then went back to his work. Lucy sat in the shade, mulling over what he'd just said to her. He was right. Yuka had no right to talk to her like that. She didn't understand anything she'd been through. What she was still going through. With new vigor, Lucy stood up and marched off to meet Yuka head on instead of hiding under a tree. As she went, she though to herself, Maybe he's not so bad after all.

Tomo listened as Yuka and Lucy's verbal head butting renewed itself, try hard to stifle the chortle building in his throat. He was bent on his knees in front of a flower bed, rooting in-between the flowers, trying to look busy and like he knew what he was doing. He'd never seen a garden, and thus knew nothing of how to take care of one. He'd have to learn how to though soon, or risk being exposed. But for the moment, he listened and enjoyed the fruits of his other work.

"This is going to be way too easy."