HEY. YEARLIES ARE COMING (in 3/4 weeks). I have some stuff due next week as well so you might not hear from me in a while. If I'm lucky, I might write a quick chapter! ^^ Also if you're wondering, Tsuna and Anna have retained a 'sibling'/friend relationship so it's normal to use 'chan'. For Enma later on, he's referred to as kun because he is being looked down on by the teacher since his test marks are low. Just to clear any misunderstandings. ^^Have fun reading.

Disclaimer: I don't own KHR.

Chapter 24

"Okay Anna san since you're so behind I'm going to give you some extra homework. I expect it to be done by the end of this week."

"Yeah sure."

"And Enma kun, what is wrong with your pathetic scores on these tests. I'm going to give you some extra homework as well. I expect it to be done by the end of today."

Isn't that the same amount of homework that I got?

"Yes sir…"

"I can't hear you!"

Whoa…

"Y-yes sir!"

Teachers are harsh, don't they all know that homework is a student's worst enemy. And it's a Friday. Who would be angry on a Friday?

*Yawns*

So tired, sleep was not nice with me last night. I feel like I'm worse than when I went to bed. What was I even doing last night? I kept waking up…leaving me…really tired…

"Anna san, what are you doing!?"

*Yawns*

"Breathing maybe?"

"Don't play smart with me! Detention for sleeping in class, after school. Same goes for you Enma kun!"

First detention ever. What a great way to get one, absolutely fucking fantastic Anna. Get a fucking grip on yourself.

"Enma, if you have so much time sleeping, you should be able to answer this question. What's the answer?"

"Err, ah…48?"

"It's 124! How could you get such an easy equation wrong?!"

Whoa, is this guy always bullied? He was there in the hospital when I woke up wasn't he? I wonder if we were close before.

*After school*

"Okay! I'm going to be supervising you! Don't do anything bad otherwise it'll bite you back later on. If you don't want to do stay any longer than you have to, stay quiet. Understood?! And no talking!"

I entered the room just as he was giving his emotive and inspiring speech so he didn't notice me. That is, until I took a step. Then he turned and glared at me for being a second late. Okay, okay, no need to get angry.

I slumped into the empty chair next to Enma. I'm too tired for this.

So for the next hour or so we sat quietly at our desks doing homework or nothing at all. I'm pretty sure I dozed off in the middle. The homework was mainly things that I felt that I had learnt. My amnesia was starting to wear off on these kinds of things.

Tiny snippets of memories of my school life in Japan and Italy (yes I remember that I used to live in Italy(MY BELOVED ITALY)). Memories of eating lunch with Enma, Shitt.P and Aoba, recollections of laughing at Tsuna for falling down the stairs(3 times in a row) all started to come back.

But there was always this barricade that stopped any further prodding. If I tried to remember anything else about them, it was blocked. Just. Simply. Blocked.

Why am I denied access of my own mind!?

Maybe I could try and ask other people about who I was, or maybe I could find something that brings me back.

The photo album that Nana showed me was kind of helpful. It's just that…I don't really think anyone remembers being bathed as a baby. Nor do I need to know what I looked like when I was a baby. I mean look how I turned out, I look like the Lochness Monster in the morning.

My eyes glance sideways to see how Enma's doing with his work.

WHAT.

He's only up to question 10?

My eyes sneak a glance at his face this time.

He looks like he's completely given up hope on his life. I wish I could give encouragement but I'm not a very optimistic person.

"Pst, Anna Chan what's the answer to question 10?"

"It's -51."

His brows were knitted together in an odd fashion. His natural hair colour didn't seem to stop the fact that it actually looked like his eyebrows were knitting something (probably a red scarf).

My silent giggle choked me and in that moment I looked like a dying animal.

The teacher looked up and stared at me for quite some time until he said…

"Detention for the rest of the week."

So while I was coughing my lungs out, I got punishment for it. Nice.

My lungs seem to have settled down for a bit. They too seem to be in shock of the situation.

"B-but she didn't…d-do anything…"

"Wanna say that again? How dare you disrespect your elders!? Detention for the rest of the week for you as well!"

"…"

That was pretty heroic of him. I mean I would've just held up my hands and said 'I surrender' to the teacher.

We spent the rest of detention in silence. The only audible noise was the ticking of the clock and the shuffling of papers.

But it's not really like I could do anything else productive at Tsuna's house. I'd be looking through Nana's stack of photo albums and laughing my head off. Wouldn't that be fun?

When it ended, the sky had entered a phase of mixing yellows, reds and blues together. If I went home now I could make it before dark but nooooo. The teacher has to give us some extra homework.

"…We'll leave it there and since it's getting late, why don't you walk Anna san home Enma kun?"

"Y-yes sir…"

It can't hurt for someone to walk home with me.

…Other than die from awkward silences. And that's what's happening now.

"So…is your hair naturally red?"

"Yes."

Isn't it weird to have hair so red? And don't answer my questions with one word.

Let's try a different approach.

"So…how was your day?"

"Good."

Why does he have to end conversations like this?!

Calm down, you can't get angry.

"It was really hot today don't you think?"

"…Yeah."

Okay, screw this.

"Yeah, there's an ice cream shop near my house. You don't have to come, it's pretty close to my house. Bye."

"It's okay, I'll follow."

…

Cue for a pissed off smile.

So when I got to the ice cream parlour, there was only a faint trace of sunlight peeking from the horizon. At the counter, I was deciding if I should get one scoop or two scoops. I ended up deciding on one. Dinner was still coming.

"I'll have one scoop of mint choc chip please."

"And I'll have one scoop of strawberry cheesecake."

That scared the crap out of me. He was there the whole time. What the heck?

"That'll be a total of 500 yen."

As I dug into my bag for my coins, Enma paid the total.

"Here's your ice cream and I paid for your share too."

"B-but-"

"It's cool, it wasn't very expensive anyways."

Arguing is futile in these situations. Now I just feel guilty for taking free ice cream.

"Can I make it up to you other than money because it seems you won't take that as an answer?"

We began making our way back into the street. The sky was dark but the stars couldn't be seen. The fluorescence of the street lights blocked out their glittering shimmers.

"I don't really mind though…"

"Fine, you can have the first lick of my ice cream. That way, you don't feel bad and I don't feel bad."

"…Okay."

He leaned in quickly for a second and was licking his lips the next. I was partially startled and my hand shook slightly. My face started to heat up from embarrassment. His expression on the other hand was hard to decipher and it seemed like he was deep in thought.

"Strawberry cheesecake is better."

What.

My head began working in overdrive to decode his words. I thought he was thinking about the meaning of life but he was just thinking about which flavour was better?!

But of course, mint choc chip is obviously better.

"No, mint choc chip is better."

"It's too bland for my taste."

"It is so much better by far!"

"Not really, strawberry cheesecake is a harmony. Mint choc chip is just 2 different flavours put into one."

"It is, like, the best ice cream ever! Like nothing can beat it, it's just the best! Ever!"

"Strawberry cheesecake ranks higher than it in most rankings."

"Does not!"

"It does."

"Yeah, well, you know, strawberry cheesecake is like, just…it has streaks like your hair!"

"Doesn't mint choc chip kind of look like your eyes? And thanks for the compliment. I think we've arrived at your house. Right?"

I actually really like the green colour of my ice cream.

…

He probably knew that.

Okay that was sly. That was really sly. That was the sliest thing ever.

"Err, yeah. I-I'll see you tomorrow!"

My keys awkwardly dangled from my hand as I clumsily tried to open the door. My hand wouldn't stop shaking. If I didn't drop my ice cream, I'd break the key from trying to open the door.

When the door finally budged open, I stumbled inside and went straight to my room. I passed Tsuna along the way but I was in no mood to talk to him.

"Anna-Chan! Your dinner's downstairs in the cling wrap. Why is your face so red? And why do you have an ice cream in your hand?"

"Not really in the mood Tsuna! But thanks for worrying!"

I closed my door, leaving Tsuna standing alone in the hallway.

My face is red?

I glanced at the mirror to face another copy. She had bright red cheeks just as Tsuna stated.

What's happening to me?

*The next day*

My sloppy arms tossed my bag over my shoulder. My brain was still half asleep in the morning. I used a brush as a toothbrush and almost walked out of the house with slippers on.

Now onward with the journey.

Urgh.

"Anna chan, we should probably hurry unless you want to get beaten up by Hibari san."

"Oh yeah sure. It's not like I can postpone school any longer."

We trudge upwards and we meet Gokudera and Yamamoto along the way. I don't really know them that well though, so I do my best to stay out of their conversation.

"Anna chan!"

"Enma? Aren't you usually the one who arrives at class right on time or with a beating?"

Woops, I let that slip.

"You don't need to say it like that…I decided to wake up early today."

"Because you didn't want to die again today? Good reason."

Seeing his downcast face made me feel a little guilty so I nudged him.

Too bad he wasn't expecting it and almost fell over.

He stabled himself next to a wall and kept walking.

"Though that wasn't as bad as your comparison of my hair to the ice cream."

What ice cream? Oh…

"H-hey! I couldn't think of anything!"

"Doesn't that mean that strawberry cheesecake is better?"

"Of course not, mint choc chip is very tasty! Y-you just don't know it yet."

"Really?"

"Really!"

Ladies and gentlemen, I made a friend by comparing their hair to ice cream. I should try it more often.

I probably shouldn't.

In the future, people are probably going to tell their kids about the stupid things I did. It is going to bite me back in the butt. Damn.

Just saying, I love all ice cream equally. No ice cream was hurt in the writing of this chapter. :D