The next day was super awkward for everyone. Masako rose and watched her housemates tiptoe around each other. Everyone was walking on eggshells. Everyone, that is, apart from her…

Oliver was first to leave the house, followed closely by Yasuhara. Gene headed straight for the door without even eating — though Masako supposed being vomited on might do that to a person — and Mai rolled down the stairs in her pyjamas at half ten.

"Don't you have a lecture?" Masako asked from the dining room table.

"I'm skipping, they're recording this one anyway so I can watch it later."

"Don't skip because of a boy."

"I'm not skipping because of a boy," Mai moaned. "I'm skipping because I got no sleep."

"Because of a boy."

"Because of two boys."

"You're upset because of both of them?" Masako asked, frowning.

"What? Oh no, not the twins. Gene… I don't have enough brain capacity for him as well right now. No. Marcus messaged me."

Mai unlocked her phone, pulled up the message and showed it to Masako.

Marcus: Hey Mai! I just found out I got accepted for Singapore! What about you? Can we go together? X 3

Mai had not replied.

"Didn't you apply to Singapore?"

"Yeah, Singapore and California. But I haven't heard anything. I mean that's not a rejection but they said they weren't sending out the results until next week but maybe they changed their mind but I really don't want to go if he's going and—"

"Breathe, Mai. Wait until you get your results. There is no point panicking now."

Mai nodded and flicked the kettle on.

"Do you want a cup of tea?"

"No, but I'll have a coffee," Masako muttered. She downed her pen and pushed her work away from her a little. "Regardless of the outcome, you need to do something about Marcus. He's seriously grating on my nerves and I don't even talk to him."

"I don't know what to do," Mai muttered. "He just doesn't listen to me."

"Maybe you should do an Oliver and puke on him."

"You know, if I could projectile vomit at will, I probably would."

The two young women laughed a little. The kettle boiled. Mai made the drinks and brought them over to the table, where she sat down.

"If only Oliver wasn't being such an arse about this whole thing. I had half a thought that Marcus might leave you alone if you and Oliver got together," Masako mumbled.

Mai's expression soured.

"He made it quite clear last night that he's not interested in me."

Masako rolled her eyes.

"Mai, you can't expect him to open up about his feelings when his own brother just opened up the whole can of worms that is his insecurity. He obviously likes you. Everyone knows it."

"Then why was he so upset that Gene told me?" Mai asked. "Is he ash—"

"No. But think about it. You applied for the year abroad programme. Starting a relationship just before being away for a year is hard. I can see why he didn't pursue anything…"

Mai's mouth fell open to form a little 'o'.

"I… So what do I do?"

"Do? Nothing really. If he really doesn't want to start a relationship then you can't force him to," Masako said. "But if you don't get in then… Maybe try something then? I don't know."

Mai decided to change the subject.

"Is Sophie okay?"

"Yeah, she was feeling awkward as hell after everything so I suggested she go home… I don't think she'll want to visit for a bit."

"That sucks…"

"Yeah, it does," Masako agreed. "I never thought I'd go for a ginger but…"

Mai's eyes widened.

"Oh my! You like her!"

"Well duh."

"Damn you should have said something! I didn't even realise, I'm such a bad friend! I should have left you two alone yesterday!"

"And left you to endure Marcus alone? I'm not that cruel," Masako replied.

"I mean I'm grateful and all but—"

"Mai, chill. It's fine. Besides, I'm going to take her to the cinema at the end of term. She's not a big drinker so I thought it'd be a cute date…"

"Does she know it's a date?"

"It's just two gals being pals," Masako said defensively.

"Oh Masako, you are a wonder."

Masako finished her drink in a silence that Mai seemed unwilling, at first, to break.

"Do you… Do you think the twins will make up?" Mai whispered, as if saying it too loud would curse something.

"They will. I think. Oliver needs to calm down and then Gene needs to apologise and… Eugh I don't know. Gene was way out of line. He knows that. But Oliver is really good at pretending he doesn't care about something."

"Tell me about it," Mai muttered.

"But we all know he does care about Gene. So maybe…"

Another silence enveloped them.

"What Oliver said about Gene liking Yasuhara is true, you know," Mai said. "He told me right before he… Well yeah."

"Well duh. Gene isn't exactly subtle. It's only because Yasuhara has no self esteem that he didn't realise what those looks meant."

Mai huffed.

"That might still work out through right?"

"I don't know," Masako admitted. "Yasuhara seemed rather confused last night. Like he was told Gene liked him and then Gene didn't exactly… Well he straight up ignored him when Yasuhara asked about it. It's not really a good sign."

"Boys are the worst. I'm going to make breakfast. Do you want anything?"

"Nah, I'm good."

The rest of the day was quiet for Masako. When her housemates began arriving home, they all retreated to their individual rooms. All apart from Yasuhara, who crept into the kitchen to cook.

"Hey."

Yasuhara almost jumped out of his skin.

"Hey, Masako, you alright?"

"Yeah, you?"

"Yeah…"

Masako could practically sense the question coming — since when had she become the house agony aunt?

"Do you… Do you know why Gene acted the way he did?"

Masako sighed, heavily.

"I can guess," she said. "I might have overheard Gene moaning a while back about the fact that you only saw him as a friend? Which if he likes you is probably gonna bum him out? And so he probably didn't want you knowing he liked you? I don't know, why don't you just ask him?"

Yasuhara opened his mouth, closed it again, pushed his glasses up his nose and coughed.

"I, uh…" He pushed his glasses up his nose again. "I didn't think now was the best time all things considering…"

Masako considered this for a moment.

"True… Eugh. We just need to get this sorted. Go and sit in the lounge I'm getting everyone down here."

"But—"

"Just do it. I'm going to get this crap sorted out."

Masako stood up, packed away her work and retreated to her room. She dumped her stuff on her bed, took a deep breath and then rounded up her housemates.

Mai refused to come until Masako half picked her up out of her chair. Gene did not argue, but did not hasten in any way. Oliver straight up ignored Masako until she threatened to call Luella.

No one in the lounge wanted to sit next to anyone else. Masako groaned at how awkward all of her housemates were being, but carried on regardless.

"Right, who wants to go first?"

No one answered.

"Alright, alphabetical it is," Masako muttered. "Gene—"

"What? No!"

"You've caused most of the trouble here, I think starting with you is fair."

Gene stopped protesting.

"So have you got anything you want to say to anyone?"

"This is ridiculous, I'm leav—" Oliver attempted to stand up, but Masako silenced him with a glare.

"I will phone your mother. Sit down."

Oliver scowled, but remained seated.

"Noll… Noll, I'm sorry," Gene mumbled. "I ignored your wishes and I pushed my nose in where it wasn't wanted. I shouldn't have said what I did about Mum. It was a lie. I was upset and I wanted to hurt you. I was wrong and I'm sorry."

Everyone turned expectantly to Oliver, who had looked away pointedly.

"Yasuhara," Gene went on, ignoring Oliver's sullen mood, "I'm sorry for ignoring you yesterday. I've had the biggest crush on you for forever and… Well you've made it clear that I'm just a friend and I respect that and I didn't deal with yesterday particularly well… I want to still be friends, if that's okay with you?"

Yasuhara awkwardly nodded.

"Great," Masako said, hands on hips. "Who's next? Yasuhara, you don't really have any beef in any of this—"

"I can hear Luna meowing," Mai piped up, "Can I—"

"Yasuhara, can you go and deal with Luna please?" Masako said, smiling sweetly.

Mai scowled. Yasuhara jumped up to leave.

"I'll take care of her, Mai, don't worry."

He left.

"Mai," Masako went on as if Yasuhara had not spoken, "Why don't you go next?"

"I don't really have anything to—"

"Yes, you do."

Mai scowled again.

"I hate you sometimes."

Masako grinned.

Author's note: So I broke away from the twins POV... And haven't gone back yet... I want to get this finished before Camp Nanowrimo starts in July so we'll see how that goes!