Kyousuke hung his head low as he walked out of the building. He was saddened of course, but he knew that it was to be expected sooner or later, but the way Ayase spoke…

"I'm glad you could make it! We were starting to think you weren't going to come!" He let her words ring through his head. Kirino seemed just as surprised as he did when they saw Ayase, but the way Ayase made it look, she had been waiting on Kirino. Kirino wouldn't toy with him like this would she? Take him out just to have Ayase slam him to the ground? No. Kirino wouldn't sink that low…would she? Had he done something to piss her off? He couldn't think of anything.

"No matter," He sighed as he walked down the street. "Maybe I'll just go some place and get something to eat." He was puzzling the thought of where to go around in his head when he felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it out of his pocket and flipped it open. Seeing that it was a message from Kirino, he opened it up instantly. He read her message, and then flipped his phone back shut. He was now very confused, but he trusted that Kirino would keep her word and explain it later. And what was with the heart? She was never the type to use such sappy things, and saying things like 'please don't be mad?' Kirino might have actually felt bad for what happened. Maybe she honestly didn't know that Ayase was going to be there. Kyousuke shook his head.

"Kirino said she'll explain later so I need to do something to keep my mind off of it," He mumbled. As he walked down the street he kept his eyes open for a place to sit down and eat. While he was searching for a store he heard somebody shout out to him.

"Kyou-chan!" Kyousuke turned his head to see Manami running towards him from across the street.

"Is everybody we know out and about right now?" Kyousuke thought as Manami approached him.

"Hi Kyou-chan!" Manami said smiling as she greeted him.

"Hey Manami," Kyousuke replied.

"Are you okay Kyou-chan?" She asked. Kyousuke hadn't noticed, but sadness was apparent in his voice.

"Uh..yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Kyousuke tried to brush it off, but he couldn't.

"You know you can't lie to me, now come on. What's the matter?"

"It's just…girls."

"Girls?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I just need to do something to keep my mind occupied. I was going to get something to eat, and that's when you found me."

"How about we go out and eat together?" Manami blushed as she lowered her head. Kyousuke looked to her, and then back towards where he had walked from. He could see the Ski lift in the distance, taking people from one side of the place to the other. He knew that Kirino would have a fit if she knew he was going out to eat alone with Manami, but Kyousuke was hungry, and Kirino was with Ayase…so screw it.

"Sure, do you have any place in mind?" Manami got excited over the fact that he actually agreed to go out and do something with her. He had been a little more distant from her than usual in the previous months, so she was happy that he was willing to spend time with her.

"W- well if you don't mind traveling, there's this place in Akihabara that I've been wanting to try…" Kyousuke glanced at his watch. '6:12'. It would take about an hour to get there and an hour to get back which left him with plenty of time to get home. He had the time but did he want to chance being gone out of town if Kirino happened to leave before he got back? Then he would be dead for sure.

"Sorry Manami, but I don't think I can go as far as Akihabara. It is Christmas Eve after all, I think we should stay around here. Besides, dad want's Kirino and I back at a decent time tonight."

"Oh… that's alright… we can go someplace in town."

"Maybe some other time we can go out of town." Manami raised her head and smiled at him.

"Okay!" Kyousuke smiled back at her.

"So, looks like we're back to where we started. Where should we go?"

"Wherever you want Kyou-chan," She replied, smiling at him still.

"Let's keep it simple then. There's a café a few blocks ahead that's really good, I go there with Kirino all the-" he stopped himself. He turned away from Manami and started walking. "Come on, let's go," He said walking away.

"R- Right!" Manami stumbled over her feet as she walked beside Kyousuke.

"You know, you've been spending a lot of time with Kirino lately, not that that's a bad thing, but last I knew you guys hadn't spoken in weeks and then out of nowhere she wanted to hang out with you and now you two are practically inseparable." Manami wasn't helping him take his mind off of things at all. He knew that she was right, they were practically inseparable. Kirino was usually always by his side, whether she was acting the snotty sister role or the cute girlfriend, she was always there.

"You think so? I haven't really noticed," He laughed as he looked away from her.

"And the way she looks at you sometimes…it's like she's watching you like a hawk. Sometimes it looks like she wants to hug you, other times it looks like she wants to punch you."

"The punching I can understand, but hug? Come on, you have to remember who you're talking about here." Kyousuke laughed again as he tried to defend Kirino's stubborn attitude. Manami didn't buy it, but she would let it go for now.

"May I ask why it is that you two have become so close recently?" Manami asked him. Kyousuke was starting to get annoyed with all the questions, but he had to answer them in order to avoid suspicion.

"I'm not really sure. We both feel bad that neither one of us was there for each other growing up, so we're trying to make up for it now. Besides, us getting along finally makes mom and dad happy, even if they won't come out and admit it."

"I see…that makes sense. But what about Kirino's friends? If she's spending so much time with you, when does she see them?"

"I don't know…at school I guess? On the weekends? Why does it matter to you when she spends time with her friends?" Kyousuke looked to her with rising suspicion.

"I- it's nothing, forget I asked," Manami laughed and smiled at him. Kyousuke looked at her for a few more seconds, and then turned his attention back in front of him. They had walked a couple blocks and were approaching the café. Kyousuke held the door open for Manami as she stepped inside. He stepped behind her and began to walk to a table. Manami took a seat across from him, and within a few seconds they were greeted by a blond haired waitress.

"Hello Kyousuke!" The waitress said smiling. She set down two glasses of water on the table, along with two menus. Kyousuke forced a smile back at her as she set them down.

"Hello Ruka. I'll have the usual." Kyousuke said in a monotone like voice.

"No problem, and I take it Kirino will have the- oh, my apologies," the waitress bowed her head to Manami. "I haven't seen your face around here before, normally Kyousuke only comes in with his sister."

"It's fine really," Manami replied bashfully.

"So Kyousuke, is this your girlfriend?" Ruka asked, nudging him on the shoulder. Kyousuke was in the middle of taking a drink when she asked that. The question nearly made him spit water out all over the place. He coughed as he gulped down the water.

"N- no! We're not like that! We're just friends! Friends!" Kyousuke shouted in a panic. The waitress giggled as she turned back to Manami. Kyousuke let out a sigh as he leaned his elbows on the table and rested his head on his hands.

"What can I get for you?" She asked Manami. Manami was still looking at the menu.

"Uhm…I'm not sure. What's good Kyou-chan?"

"Huh? Everything is good. Just pick something."

"What'd you get?"

"The same thing I always get. An omelet."

"That sounds good," Manami paused and turned to the waitress. "I'll have one too." Ruka picked up the menus, and turned away from them. Kyousuke remained quiet as he kept sipping at his water. Manami was the one to break the silence.

"You know Kyou-chan, you still haven't come over like you said you would."

"I know. I will soon though, it's just trying to find the time."

"Well how about tonight? You don't have to stay, but you could help us decorate the place for tomorrow. We're baking cookies and all sorts of sweets as well." Manami's face lit up as she expressed her joy.

"I already told you, dad want's us home-"

"You'll be back in time, I'll make sure of it! We can get to my house by around six forty-five and you'll be home no later than 8:30."

"Manami…"

"Please Kyou-chan?" Manami looked to him with puppy dog like eyes. Kyousuke thought about what Kirino would say as he looked into Manami's eyes. If it was only for a couple hours, and they were only baking sweets and decorating, there's no harm done right?

"Fine… but only for a little bit. I need to be home by nine." Kyousuke told her. He knew he was lying, but he wanted to spend the time between nine and ten with Kirino so he could give her his present to her.

"Really?!" Manami shouted surprised. Kyosuke flinched a little at her loud voice. Manami blushed embarrassed.

"You're right, I have been a little distant lately, besides, I haven't been over there in a while. Poor Gramps is probably just dying to toy with me some more."

"They'll all be happy to see you." Manami smiled at him. Kyousuke stared at the table, letting his mind wander. He was doing a bad job of not thinking about Kirino. Ever since they had started dating, Kyousuke's attitude towards Kirino had changed. He worried about her more, he cared about her opinions more, he cared about her more. He wasn't sure why, because nothing had really changed. They would occasionally hold hands and cuddle and do other couple like stuff, but only when nobody else was around. Other than that, their lives hadn't changed at all, but yet Kyousuke felt different about her, in a good way.

"Kyou-chan?" Manami asked. Her voice snapped him back to reality. He looked up from the table and into her eyes.

"Hmm?" He mumbled back.

"You look sad," Manami said, her smile turning into a frown. Kyousuke forced another smile as he reached over the table and placed his hand on her head, messing up her hair.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me," He told her chuckling a little. Manami tried to smile back, but it soon faded away. Kyousuke could see that she was concerned. "Seriously, I'm fine. Let's just eat, and then go back to your place."

"Okay," Manami said, still trying to work a smile across her face. They sat in silence for a couple minutes, but then their food arrived. Ruka set down their plates in front of them, along with a thing of silverware.

"There you are, enjoy! I'm off now, so I'll see you later Kyousuke! Nice meeting your 'friend'," Ruka laughed as she walked away from their table. Kyousuke sighed as he watched her walk away. He unraveled his silverware from the napkin they were bundled up in, and began to cut up his omelet. Manami did the same. Kyousuke was slow to eat his meal as his mind would often distract him from eating. Manami watched him twirl his food around on his fork for a few minutes before eventually eating it.

Manami finished her plate well before Kyousuke, he still had at least half a plate full of food by the time she was done.

"I'm starting to worry Kyou-chan, I'm usually always the slowest eater, and you usually pig out and demolish anything you can get your hands on," Manami tried to bush it off as a joke, but she was being serious. She was starting to worry about him

"Let's just go. I'll grab a box and just take the rest of this with me." Kyousuke said standing up out of his chair.

"I was just joking Kyou-chan, we can stay until you're done."

"No it's fine. We should probably get going anyways otherwise we'll run out of time. We're already off schedule since it's almost seven." Manami watched as Kyousuke went up to the front to get a box. A small woman with short brown hair handed him the box at the front register.

"Thank you," He told her, taking the box from her hands. The women nodded her head and walked away. He walked back to the table and put the rest of his omelet into the small white box, and then closed the lid. He motioned for Minami to follow him, and then they walked out the door. They took a few steps outside when Kyousuke stopped.

"Oh shoot," He said turning around.

"What's the matter?" Manami asked him.

"Forgot to leave a tip. I'll be right back." Kyousuke handed Manami his box and then walked back inside the building. He made his way back to the register where the same women greeted him.

"How may I help you?" She asked him.

"I was just here but I forgot to leave a tip. Could you give this to Ruka for me next time she works?" He asked, handing her some money.

"Sure thing. Have a nice day," The lady took the money and put it in an envelope. She slid the envelope into the register, and then walked away. Kyousuke slid his wallet back into the back pocket of his jeans. He walked outside, and made his way back to Manami.

"Ready?" He asked her, sliding his hands into his jacket pockets. Manami nodded her head and smiled. Kyousuke took a few steps forward and stood beside Manami. They were about to start walking when Kyousuke happened to turn his head and look into the windows of the café. He paused his steps as he looked into the window, and there at the front register where he had just been, was Kirino, Ayase, and Kanako. Ayase and Kanako were talking to the lady at the register, but Kirino was looking right at him, and the two locked eyes.