Chapter 3

Hey! Hey! Yes! It's here, at last! Chapter 3 of remade Roommate! This was particularly fun chapter to write, so I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

Also to note, I am not going to reply to reviews like I used to. I'm sorry! There's just so much this time and I love, love, love you all, and wow, you're all so encouraging but to go through review replies are tedious for readers. I will answer any questions that are important here though, so ask away! I find it to be a lot easier for both of us this way, I hope you all understand my choice.

Questions:

To Guest: Your first question wasn't really a question, but you did make a good point about the school system. I'm not well acquainted with the Japanese system, so I decided to stick with the American system (School starts in autumn and ends in summer), you can imagine this story to be somewhere in America, though I won't give out any particular city name. Sorry for the confusion! I meant to put this somewhere, but seems like I forgot. And yes, to your second question, I have watched (and read) Kagepro (or Mekakucity Actors I think it's called) and I do really love it! And to your third question, if I'm not writing stories I am on video games. Nintendo 5-evers, Elsword, other MMOs and whatnot.

Thank you, everyone for your support! You are all wonderful and amazing and I am so glad you all like this story!

Enjoy~

That morning was the very first, and very last, time that Rinto has ever managed to wake up before the sun. And, so much was his enthusiasm that morning that he also 'accidentally' woke up Len by ripping the sheets off of the poor boy's body.

Good morning indeed.

"I-," Len groaned loudly, groping around for the sheets that Rinto held high above him. He sneezed repeatedly, shivering because that particular morning was especially chilly. "Is the window open?"

"Get up! Get up!" Rinto dragged Len off his mattress, dropping him unceremoniously on the floor. Len's head thudded against the carpet and he cried out, curling inwards. "Len!"

"It's Sunday," he whined thinly. "And like three in the morning."

"Six-thirty, but you were close," his roommate said dryly and then kicked him. "Len, please get up."

"Wha-why?" Len yawned and slowly drew himself to a sitting position. He looked up blearily. "It's-It's early. Really early."

"I noticed," Rinto growled, tensing up when the door started knocking. He grumbled and threw open the door, stepping up to meet Kaito. "What?"

"Hey-woah," the blue stepped back. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"Good morning to you too," he snorted.

"Well, I- Can you blame me? When was the last time you woke up before the sun?" Kaito slipped through and sat down next to Len. "Oi, Lenny! Whatcha doing? Still asleep? On the floor?"

"Rinto, he," Len yawned again, rubbing his eyes. "Woke me up."

The blue whipped around. "You woke him?"

Rinto looked out the door, turning his head this way and that, and then looked back inside. "I did."

"And pigs sprout wings!?"

"Since you're here," Rinto ignored him. "Can you get Len to get up and wash or something? If Meiko sees him like that..."

"Meiko? Is she here?"

Rinto shook his head, picking up some hairpins from his desk. "Of course not, idiot. But he should get ready now."

"Why? She won't kill him if he's a little scruffy," Kaito ruffled Len's hair, causing the boy to whine.

"I'm not scruffy."

"No," Rinto glared at Kaito, "she'll skin him alive."

"Who's Meiko?" Len slurred, dozing off again, only to be kicked lightly again by Rinto as he walked past.

"We've been talking about her all week," Rinto threw open the curtains, and a blast of cold air swept through the room.

Len bent over, shaking and reached for his blankets. "The-The sun's not even out yet…"

"'Course it is, it's behind the trees- Kaito! Please get him up!"

"Roger."

And Len felt himself being hauled upwards and dragged to the bathroom. Kaito closed the toilet seat and dumped him against it, shoving a toothbrush into his hands.

"This isn't mine!" Len said sloppily, standing up. "Get out."

"But this is kind of funny- Do you get low blood sugar in the morning?"

"Out."

An hour and a whole lecture later, Len found himself sitting on his desk chair, dressed in one of his nicer shirts and slacks. His hair was pulled back to a very high ponytail, brushed and combed to silken perfection, courtesy of Kaito. He stared, bewildered and a little irritated, as Rinto went over the list of things not to do in front of his sister.

"Do not do anything remotely abnormal, do not touch the beds for the time she is here, do not stare at her eyes, do not stare at her body, actually do not attempt to look at her for longer than three seconds at all, and, for the love of citrus fruits, do not talk to her unless spoken to," Rinto let out a long, stressed breath. "And who knows? Maybe we'll all survive this."

Len looked at Kaito.

"Rinto is overreacting, I think," Kaito admitted with a shrug. "Mei's actually really cool."

Offended, Rinto reared back his head and Len noticed the white clips in his bangs swing at his forehead. "Do you know what this guy is?" he pointed a deadly finger at Len. "He is my roommate. Do you think that she-devil is going to like that?" he threw in an equally dangerous glare. "I am telling you this to protect you."

"Is it just because I'm your roommate?"

"What do you mean 'just because', idiot?" Rinto glared at him and he swallowed.

"Well, it's kind of a given that-," Len stopped. "Does she not want you to have one?"

"Of course she doesn't want me to!"

"Why?"

Rinto's eyes sharpened and Len shut up, straightening his collar nervously. If the almighty, notorious Rinto was this scared, Len would hate to know just what kind of fiery Gorgon his sister turned out to be.

The door knocked and Kaito's whistling stopped abruptly.

All three boys tensed, stiff with shock, until Rinto eventually got up, answering with a very gruff, "hello?"

"Morning-, Oh, Kagami, you're awake," Len peered sideways and saw Yuuma, the guy in charge of the dorms, at the door. "Seems like your roommate has a visitor."

"Huh? What-hey!" Rinto jumped back quickly as a little girl latched onto him, squeezing his waist tightly.

"Len! Len!"

Rinto's mouth hung agape and he turned to Len and back at Yuki, looking panicked. "Wh-I-I'm not-."

Len stood up when he saw his sister, unable to help a small smile of relief. "Yuki?"

She froze and turned her head towards the inside of the room and saw that her actual brother was walking towards her.

Then she realized she was hugging a very scary person.

She pushed Rinto away and, wailing, jumped into Len's arm, burying her face in shame and terror. Kaito laughed sympathetically from the bed. "Ah, I told you, you two looked alike."

Rinto rubbed his cheek, looking completely docile and shy for once, and said. "I… Sorry, Len."

"It's fine, she didn't- ssh, it's okay, Yuki," he turned her to Rinto. "See? He's not so bad."

"I-I-I'm sorry," she squeaked, looking up at Rinto momentarily before ducking her head back into Len's chest. Rinto's mouth hung open uselessly and he looked away.

"It's fine."

Kaito giggled, but, because of the child, Rinto did not respond.

Len looked down. "Hey, Yuki, why are you here so early?"

"Mh-hm," she looked up nervously and nodded her head. "Mom brought us here. She said she wanted to go to the mall so she left us here by ourselves. We almost got lost."

"We?"

"Oui, I told you I was coming," Piko, sensing his cue, smoothly slipped into the room, spooking Rinto.

Len made a face at him. "And I thought I told you not to come."

"You owe me lunch for all that confusion you gave me on Monday!" Piko shot back. "And you're lucky I'm here! Do you want your precious sister wandering an all-boys high school all by herself?"

Rinto cleared his throat, not liking being ignored when Piko was so close to him. "Hi."

Piko swiveled his head. "Hey."

"Hello!" Kaito stood up excitedly, walking over to meet him. "So you're Piko."

"I-Who are you?" the boy stared at them and looked to Len. "Have you been talking about me?"

Len set Yuki down on the floor. "You wish. If you hadn't called on Monday-."

"Ah," Piko looked thoroughly pleased. "So you were the ones on the other side!"

"That's me," Rinto crowed happily.

"Ooh," Piko stood over him. "You're really a shorty."

"And you have weird eyes."

Len groaned. They seemed to get along well.

"Are you hungry, Yuki?" he rubbed his sister's shoulders comfortingly. "Do you want to go with me to get some breakfast?"

"I want you to treat me to breakfast," Piko pouted in the background. "You promised!"

Len considered spitting at him, but then remembered his audience and also remembered that he had not seen Piko in a good solid week.

He would never admit it, but he kind of missed having the idiot hauling him around.

"Fine," he shrugged and then glared at him. "Just this once."

"Really?"

Kaito held up a finger to Rinto. "Let's just all go, Meiko's probably not going to be here for another thirty minutes or so, anyways."

"Sounds good to me."

The small party of five walked through the halls avoiding the families that were now pouring in from the dormitory entrance. Len looked at Kaito. "Is it always this busy?"

"It's the first week back from Winter Break," he explained. "It usually simmers down once the first month of over, though."

Meanwhile, leading the group, Rinto suddenly grabbed Piko's shoulder. "Hey, hey, so you're real close to Len, aren't you? He's really quiet, you know? Kind of boring too. Is that him or is he just shy?"

Piko smirked, "Oh, he's a real monster on the inside. Once the lights are off and the door is shut, he becomes such a beast."

"Oh, scary, scary! To think I've been sleeping near something so dangerous."

"Watch it," Len snapped.

"Waaah!" Rinto threw up his hands, snickering. "That's a scary tone, Len!"

The mess hall was chock full of boys and their family members, all producing the longest breakfast line Len had ever seen. Nevertheless, they managed to get their food and find a small corner table without any problems.

"What did I say?" Piko licked at his fingers. "Perfect food for perfectly snobby students."

"I never said it wasn't," Len said exasperatingly.

"No. But you never told me it was either."

"It's really good!" Yuki agreed.

"Is it?" Kaito smiled. "I like the waffles better with ice cream."

"They have ice cream!?" she gasped and turned her Len, her eyes sparklingly. "Can I?"

"Finish your food and then I'll buy one for you."

"And me?" Piko batted his eyes demurely. "Can I have-."

"You can buy your own."

Piko scowled disappointedly, and Rinto and Kaito laughed heartily.

"So," Kaito leaned over the table and grinned at Piko. "You go to a public high school, right?"

"Well, not everyone can afford an elite private school."

"So then," the blue swooned. "Girls."

"Girls?"

"Girls," Rinto egged on. "God, I haven't seen one in a whole week. How are the girls in the outside world?"

"At my school?" Piko snorted. "Nothing impressive. Well, actually, there's this one terrifying- Oh! Len! Len!"

Len looked up, jumping back when the silver shot forwards excitedly. "What?"

"I fell in love with the most perfect girl!" Piko sighed dreamily. "And she has given me her number."

"Did you?" he asked dryly, pushing back his friend's face. "Who?"

"Do you remember Miki?" Piko grinned stupidly. "She's adorable."

"Miki… The redhead with a cowlick?"

In place of the girl, Piko took offense and swatted Len's head. "She wonderful. You cannot tell me otherwise!"

"I wasn't going to!" Len grumbled, rubbing his ear where he had been hit. "Actually, I think she's too elite for you."

"I-Yeah, she is, but I have her number so-."

"Oh, congratulations."

Piko glared at him, "Len, you are supposed to be supportive."

"Am I?"

Rinto and Kaito laughed louder. "Who knew you could be so mean!"

"Rude! Rude Len-Len!"

"Who's Len-Len!?"

The mess hall door opened and a draft entered, reaching their little corner. "Rinto Kagami," Yuuma poked his head inside, his deep voice rolling over the ruckus. "Your sister is here waiting for you."

Rinto, who was slapping Kaito's back and laughing, stopped and cleared his throat. Len glanced at Kaito uncertainly. "Should we go?"

"Nah, I'll go talk to her myself," Rinto stood up and grinned nervously. "It's all cool."

"I'll come with!" Kaito offered. "I want to see Mei. Is that okay with you guys?"

"Sure," Len also got to his feet. "I'll show Piko and Yuki around. I'll meet you two later."

Yuki gripped Len's hand as she followed him out of the mess hall, glancing at Rinto. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine, he's just going to see his sister," yet Len could not help but look back one more time.

They arrived at the large garden to the side of the school building. Although winter had not yet ended, some of the students had taken it onto themselves to grow a few flowers, though none of them were blooming yet. Yuki, however, was beyond delight and she ran through the rows and rows of the garden, squealing the little buds that would soon open up.

"You know," Piko's voice had suddenly gotten very soft and Len gave him a sideways glance. "At first I was really wanting to get a girlfriend because of our bet so I was really paying attention to all the girls in my classes. But then Miki, suddenly, the moment I realized she was there, I have not been able to look away. I can't believe I only noticed three days ago."

"Don't say you're in love yet," Len said tensely. "Three days isn't enough to fully know someone."

"I know that," Piko snorted. "It's just a-a feeling, you know? Something like she will become someone important in my life. A premonition."

"Oh, how dramatic."

"You are laughing at me!" he punched Len's shoulder and the blond whined, rubbing the sore spot.

Len shook his head, sighing deeply. "I'm not, but you know I feel about those things."

Piko frowned, his hand poised for another jab, and then shook his head. "Oh, that's right, you're the one who doesn't believe in fate or destiny."

"I'll wish you luck with Miki," Len said, "but if you say that you're going to be with her just because of 'a feeling' then-."

"I know, I know," Piko put up his hands and grinned. "Fine, let's talk about other stuff then. How's classes here? Orchestra? Choir? Are you still Mr. Prodigy or are you just a normal student here?"

"First Violin. Fourth Chair, and choir… Choir's choir. Not really much to say about that."

"What? Only fourth chair? Good lord, what are they are breeding here? Are there even humans in your classes?"

"Well the conductor is a bit…"

"Len! Len! Look! This flower, it's blooming!" Yuki approached them and tugged on Len's and Piko's hands, dragging them further into the garden.

An hour later, Len's mother drove up, her car full of shopping bags. She greeted Len, hugging him, and then ushered both Yuki and Piko into the car.

"You have until Spring break," Len reminded Piko. "If Miki doesn't have you under her arm by then-."

"Yeah, yeah, but don't you forget, if I win, you follow us around during our date as a third wheel."

"If you do."

"Boys!" Len's mother sighed and they grinned at each other. They shook their hands and then Piko went into the car.

"Bye Mom!" Len waved at her and she blew a kiss at him. "Bye Yuki!"

"Bye Len!" the girl shouted from the car. "I'll call you soon okay! See you next week!"

"See you!"

And they were off, waving at Len until they rounded the corner. He stepped back onto the grass and turned around, facing the dormitory.

It's been about an hour and a half since he's heard from Rinto or Kaito, and he hasn't seen head or tail of the fabled demon-sister either.

It was about time he checked on them.

Len was not sure what to expect when he entered his room, scenarios ranging from peaceful, quality bonding time to demonic, bohemian chanting rushed through his mind, each as unlikely as the next.

Thinking deeply, and quite seriously, about this, Len opened the door and slipped inside, jumping when a loud Rinto shouted at him.

"And here is that roommate!"

Meiko was not exactly as he pictured her to be.

Kaito was right, though, she was certainly beautiful. She had short brown hair and deep red eyes, though they were not exactly warm. Len had expected someone more like Rinto; brash, hard-headed, careless. But rather, Meiko was tall, proud and had a queenly air about her. Len felt like bowing to her, almost, but stood rigidly by the door, unsure of how to make a greeting.

In short, she was almost the exact opposite of Rinto.

"Len Kagamine?" she asked in a deep, mature voice. "Well, Kaito's right about one thing, he looks clean." She smiled politely. "My name's Meiko. I'm Rinto's sister, but I guess you knew that."

Len nodded stupidly and then cleared his throat and approached her. "Nice to meet you." Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Rinto, who was seated on the bed, sighing in relief.

"I told you," Rinto said. "He's real mellow. Nice guy, right? Couldn't have asked for a better roommate."

"No roommate is always the easiest to care for," Meiko replied. "But I-What did you say he does for his extracurricular activity?"

"Orchestra. And Choir," Len replied instead.

"Oh, you're a music buggy," she laughed and Len smiled a bit. "Both of them? Not bad. Scholarship student, right? How's your grades?"

"Uh," Len rubbed his neck. "Average."

"Average?" her smile wavered. "At least you're honest." Behind her, Rinto was bobbing his head, grinning almost comically at Len, giving him a thumbs-up of approval. 'Good boy,' he mouthed teasingly.

Meiko, of course, did not see any of it, but Len felt himself smiling. "Thank you."

She tossed her short hair and put a hand on her hip. "Do you have a girlfriend? Boyfriend?"

"Meiko!" Kaito cried out, offended. "Why are you asking that?"

"Not, for the reason you're thinking of," she snapped and Len could see Rinto's glare in her eyes. "He's too young for my taste, and why should you care, Shion? I'm just asking. It's a question. Boys are so quick to assume."

Behind her, Rinto rolled his eyes, but winked encouragingly at Len, motion him to answer.

Len rubbed his neck. "Um, no, I don't have one."

"Really? Where do you live?"

"Mei!" Rinto snapped, though delighted by his sister's good mood and tugged her hand. "You're being nosy, quit it. The boy is fine. I hate to admit it, but Chairman thought this one through." He heaved himself up and stood next to Len, ruffling his bangs. "Anyways, don't you have a study group or something to get to?"

"It can wait," she waved her arm. "Rinto, anyways, have you been abusing Len?"

"Abusing?" he snorted. "Excuse you. The only abuser here is you." Meiko leaned down and pinched his cheek, to which he cried out in pain.

"I asked you a question."

"No! I haven't! Off!" he shoved her away. "At least not as much as you abuse me. Citrus, do you ever cut your nails?"

"You're not bleeding, not yet anyway," she rubbed her nails and then turned back to Len. "You look like a good kid, at least. I won't have to worry too much."

Rinto growled, cupping his cheek. "Yes, yes, now leave."

"Beloved brother, do you want to rid of your precious sister already?"

"Yes."

Meiko sighed and shrugged. "Fine, alright." She patted Rinto's cheek, smirking. "But first, we need a talk. About your tardy record, hm?"

"I-It's not like I'm ditching class," Rinto replied. "I'm just late in the mornings. Late riser and all. You know that, Mei."

"I do, but you're in high school and I told you to fix this habit of yours!" and she proceeded to drag Rinto into the bathroom where their conversation was more or less private, both of their voices loud and clear from behind the bathroom door.

Kaito laughed and eased back into the mattress. "So that's Meiko."

"She's not as bad as I thought she would be," Len said. "I think Rinto was exaggerating."

"Oh no, Mei can get really scary when she wants to," the blue laughed and scratched his head. "That and she's over-protective of Rinto. Good thing you didn't do anything stupid."

"I was too nervous," Len admitted. "I kept thinking she would bite my head off."

"She might've," Kaito shrugged. "But you got lucky. She only asked you a couple of questions. Chairman must've told her about you before she came here."

Len perked up. "Does he normally do that?"

"Only in special cases, for parents that really worry and such- parents that act like Mei."

"Ah."

The siblings began screaming at each other in the restroom, their voice overlapping each other's in horrible screeches, echoing around the entire dorm.

Len and Kaito leaned away from the door, wincing, and at last Rinto and Meiko both emerged from the restroom, irritated but otherwise composed.

"See you soon, little brother," Meiko said lightly, though her smile was strained. Rinto grunted and she turned to Len who jumped. "Watch him for me. Don't let him do anything stupid."

"Sure," Len dipped his head nervously.

"And no goodbye kiss for me?" Kaito whined. "Mei!"

"Get out of high school, and then I'll think about it," she snorted, though Len could see a spark in her eyes. "Bye boys, see you next week."

"It's fine if you don't!" Rinto called after her, but she was already closing the door behind her. When the sound of her heels clicked away, Len laughed nervously.

"That wasn't too bad."

"Maybe to you!" Rinto retorted. "Was it your cheek she shredded? No. Did she drag you into the bathroom to scream your ear off? No. Kaito! Stop drooling over my sister, it's gross!"

"She's so charming," Kaito sighed dreamily, making the blond roll his eyes.

"Oh yeah, nothing more attractive than a red-eyed devil with claws," Rinto stood up quickly. "Anyways, who's hungry?"

Len stared in amazement. "Already?"

"I hardly ate during breakfast," Rinto defended with an uncaring shrug. "And I don't feel like staying in this room with the three of us. I feel like Meiko is going to come bursting through the walls with a sledgehammer- let's go."

Len did not eat, however, instead offering his free meal to Rinto who gobbled it up with much gusto. "Where does all that food even go?"

Kaito leaned over to Len, also staring at Rinto's massive appetite. "You would think that with all this food he would do better in P.E."

"I will spit on you," Rinto threatened, though he was hardly mad, he looked rather delighted by all the food.

"So where is Piko and your sister?" Kaito asked Len. "Gone?"

"My mom picked them up."

"Already?" Rinto asked, his voice muffled by food. "Well, I guess Meiko's visit was short too, but…"

"Well, I live pretty far, so they probably wanted to get back before lunch."

"Ah."

And Rinto went back to his food. Kaito stood up. "I want some ice cream, want to get some with me, Len?"

"Sure."

They both rose, leaving Rinto at the table, and stood by the vending machines.

"So," Len spoke up. "You like Rinto's sister?"

"Mei?" Kaito stared at the selection of ice cream, glancing at Len. "I have. For a long time, actually. I knew her before I knew Rinto, you know? It's that clichéd story- she saved me from a bunch of bullies. But she was three years older than me and the bullies, so she sent them screaming and crying in no time flat. I met Rinto a little later."

Len nodded slowly in understanding. "So, now you feel obligated to help Rinto because he's Meiko's brother?" Kaito laughed, hitting one of the buttons and took the ice cream that dropped down.

"Nah, nothing like that. I'm a lot closer to Rinto than I am with Meiko. I guess it's because Rin is only a year younger than me," Kaito bit into his ice cream and then gagged. "Rinto, I mean. Crap, you weren't supposed to hear that."

Len frowned, confused. "Hear what? Rin? Is that a nickname of his?"

"You could say that," Kaito laughed nervously. "Don't you dare mention that to him. He'll knock us both dead."

"But he calls me Len-Len."

"Yeah, well, this one is a little more personal to him," Kaito paid for Len's ice cream despite his protests. "And you know how he gets when things get personal."

"Ah," Len tore the wrapper and bit into his popsicle, nearly choking when something crashed behind them. They both turned, startled, and then shouted out when they saw Rinto and Gumo grappling at each other.

"Bastard," Rinto spat, his voice shrill and furious. "I'll kill you!"

Gumo laughed and held up his arms. "Come and try, tranny!"

Len saw something tick in Rinto and he and Kaito dropped their treats, pushing back the crowd of mothers and students.

But they were too late. Rinto threw the first punch, a hook that slipped under Gumo's arm, knocking into his shoulder heavily. His opponent cried out and suddenly, they were both slamming at each other. Kaito leaped back and called Rinto's name, pushing back Len to keep them from getting hit by a stray limb.

"That's my sister, you sick bastard," Rinto was shouting when they had broken apart. Gumo laughed and replied with something vulgar, but Len couldn't hear it because Rinto dove at him again, fists flying.

When Yuuma finally arrived, most of the crowd was gone, students ushered away by screaming mothers. Behind him, Chairman also followed and Len filled with dread. Kaito, fearing the worst, clenched his jaw and pushed himself between the two, pushing Rinto away from Gumo. Yuuma was soon next to him, prying the boys' arms from each other.

"Gumo Megpoid and Rinto Kagami!" Chairman roared and the two flinched, their movements stopping abruptly as if realizing what they were doing. "Let them go, Kaito, Yuuma."

Len stepped back quickly and Kaito joined him, a fresh red mark on his jaw where someone had punched him.

"Mr. Chairman…"

"Mr. Chairman!" Rinto started loudly, drowning out Gumo's pitiable voice. "He was bad mouthing my older sister!"

"You punched me first!"

"You provoked me!"

"Boys!" the older man roared. "Who's to blame? Your egos! What do you two think you are doing? Fighting in an elite school! In broad daylight and during Visiting Day, no less! Have you two no sense?" They both mumbled a gloomy apology, but he was not yet done. "Oh yes, a 'sorry' is all very well. This is not Kindergarten! This a private school designed for the top of the country! I should very well expel both of you from the spot!"

Kaito and Len tensed up and looked at each other with horror. Gumo looked up with a similar expression, terror across his face, but Rinto was motionless. His face twisted with fury and anger, but he did not move nor speak.

"However," The Chairman's voice was quieter, but not at all softer. "You are both excellent, excellent students. Never have I known such academic skill was possible for students so young. Shame that it be given to such hardheaded students. Shame!" he paced back and forth between them, looking from one bloodied face to the next. "I give you one warning. One. If I so much as catch either of you causing another needless squabble again, it will be expulsion without question."

Rinto and Gumo dipped their head gratefully, though the air was still thick with tension. The Chairman nodded briskly and turned around, heading back out the mess hall. Len could hear him talking and soothing the people outside, and after a few seconds, Yuuma spoke.

"Lucky brats," he said, though his tone was anything but light. "Come on, both of you, you need cleaning up." He looked back. "Len, you come with me too."

Len looked up and glanced at Kaito who also ended up following them. Yuuma led them to the health room and took off his beanie, tossing it somewhere else.

"Where's the nurse?" Len asked quietly, looking around the empty room.

"Technically speaking, my job is to be the school nurse," Yuuma replied, sitting down on a chair. "Dorm Master is just something I took on myself since I never have anything to do." He took out a box of bandages, medicine and patches. He beckoned Len forwards.

"Yes?"

"Here, take this," he gave Len a box of unopened band-aids and some antiseptic cream. To Rinto he offered a demanding glare. "Go back to your room and let Len clean you up there. God knows what will happen if I keep you two," he glared at Gumo, "in the same room for so long."

Rinto snarled and turned around sharply, ripping the door open as he exited.

"Rinto!" Len and Kaito went after him, worried that he might run away, but he only went back to his room. He sat on the bed, his head down, and Len crouched beside him.

"I'll be back later," Kaito promised. "Can you manage him for a while?"

"Yeah."

Rinto was silent.

Len set to work, dabbing a bit of the cream onto some tissue paper. "Rinto, look up."

Surprisingly, he obeyed, his eyes cold and glaring. Len flinched a bit at the damage on Rinto's face. There was a cut, red and swollen, on his bottom cheek and another on his forehead. His left eye was bruised and the skin along his jaw was a raw, fiery red.

"It stings," Rinto hissed as Len applied the cream to his cheek. Len stopped and then continued, adding pressure to the cut, making Rinto wince. "Hey! I said it-."

"Good! Then you deserve it!" Len shot back, an anger he didn't even know he felt bubbling within him. He unpeeled one of the band-aids and covered the wound none-so-gently.

Rinto pushed Len's hand away, caressing his cheek. "Watch it! Let me do it if you're just going to make this worse!"

"Worse?" Len growled. "You think it can get worse than this?"

Rinto stared at him in disbelief and scoffed. "Oh, you're mad at me too?"

Len ignored him and got another tissue, swabbing it with antiseptic. He was silent for a second and stared at the ground. He shook his head. "Why did you punch him?"

"Because he called my sister a dirty whore," Rinto spat back, not missing a beat. "What did you expect me to do? Smile and agree?"

"Stand up and leave," Len brought the tissue to Rinto's face, but the blond shifted back and out of reach.

"Oh, like that asshole would have let me leave," Rinto glowered at Len, but he held his ground. "Your morals and mine are very different. I don't care what you say, I don't regret throwing that punch."

"You were nearly expelled-."

"But I wasn't!" he pushed Len back and stood up, but his stance was not offensive. "I won't get expelled. That's not possible."

"Why? Because you're an honor student?" Len stood up too, standing over Rinto. "Just because you're top of class, you think they won't kick you out?"

"Of course they won't," Rinto laughed darkly. "Actually, I'd love to leave. I hate this place. With every fiber of my body, I hate this school. But they won't let me leave. Not yet."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Len cried out. "How important do you think you are? There are hundreds of students who would do anything to get accepted into this school. Students twice as smart as you and twice as poor! There are students, female students, who deserve private teaching but they can't because of their sex! And you're complaining, you, an honor student riding on full scholarships, crying because you can't leave Yamaha!"

Rinto turned on him, rage deep in the creases of his face. "What the hell would you know, Len? You've been here for nine days. You don't know me. You don't understand anything about me."

"You still could have avoided this!" Len reasoned desperately. "You could have held back! You could have bit down his words and turned away!"

"Turn away?"

"Yes! It's an elementary idea; Violence is not the answer!" Len felt himself rising over Rinto, but his roommate did not back down, choosing instead to take another step closer.

"Tell me," Rinto stood close to Len, his eyes two narrow flints of ice. "Would you have been able to hold back?! If Gumo came up to you and called Yuki, your precious little sister, some street slut, would you be able to hold back? And even if you were able to, would you be able to walk away, silent? Would you be able to swallow his words? Accepting them in some deep corner of your mind because you were afraid of getting expelled from school? Maybe you could have. But me? What do I have to lose? Consequences are the last thing I care about. If it's my reputation, then I already screwed that over, but he went to Meiko. He was threatening her reputation. I won't listen to her be stripped of her honor because of my problems. Gumo is my problem, and mine alone. And if it had been you he was insulting, I still would have smashed his face in and I am proud of that decision." He grabbed the cream and the band-aids and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Len stared at the space where Rinto stood, closed his eyes tightly, and then sunk down onto the bed. His gut was a firestorm of anger, frustration and confusion and he had to grit his teeth to keep from screaming out loud.

Rinto, he was sure, was irrational, impulsive, uncontrollable- but… his reasoning was solid, and that's what tripped up Len the most. Rinto was right, no one expected him to have a calm or peaceful demeanor, and if he hated the school, he had no reason to hold back.

But still, why?

How could someone so academically talented condone violence so easily? How could someone so reckless be so protective and defensive? How could someone so hostile and destructive be so logical as well?

And how could Len, who prided himself in being more sensible than others, accuse Rinto of such shrewdness?

How? Who was Rinto, if he was not another simple, easily read character?

Fin.

The ending is a lot more dramatic than originally planned. Welp. My bad.

I hoped you liked it anyways, and I hope you continue to support me as you always do!

Mush Luvve,

~asianchibi99