Wow, it's been what...over two years since I've updated this story. I am so sorry and I doubt any of the original readers will continue to read, but I just want to thank all the people who might have come back for this chapter and to also thank all new readers of this story.

Hopefully you'll enjoy it

~Fay-Fay

Chapter Three: Sixty Seven Percent

Hikari stared down at her latest test results as she sat in the greenhouse, she didn't want to show them to anybody and she didn't want to look at them herself, but she had to. She could imagine her father's face already if she ever told him about these marks. The gloom radiated around her as she sat there alone and a couple of tears picked up in her eyes. Yes it was just one test, but she had never received a score this low before.

"Hikari!" Akira chirped as she came out of the kitchen, followed this time by Tadashi. "It's time for tea," she smiled before seeing the sadness in the girl's eyes. "Hikari?" she asked as the long haired girl tried to wipe away her tears, the test face down on the table. Akira however instantly came to hug her. "What is it?" Akira asked, "Did that stupid Kei upset you?"

"Did I do what?" Kei asked as he entered the greenhouse. He held the test in his hand ready to compete with the girl he loved, the girl he had grown even more protective of after learning her condition. As soon as he saw Hikari crying he came and crouched down before her and looked her in the eyes. "Is it stress?" he asked gently, "Did someone say something to you?"

Hikari shook her head, her eyes going back to the test paper and she closed her eyes tightly. She knew that he had probably gotten a 100% or higher, that was just the way he worked, but she was scared to tell him her score. She had been trying to study, but sometimes her illness made it near impossible. As Kei followed her eyes he caught sight of the test paper.

"Can I have a look at it?" he asked gently thinking that the girl must have gotten a score in the mid 90s and that was why, he wasn't expecting the actual score. Hikari nodded as he took a quick look at it, his eyes widening at the score before he quickly placed it down again. This score would definitely move her out of the SA and probably even into Group F. He braved a smile, "There are things we can do," he told her, his voice calm and pleasing but it was mainly for her he wasn't showing his worry about this. "I can tutor you if you like, then we can stop as soon as the stress gets to you."

"Why are you so concerned about Hikari being stressed Kei?" Tadashi asked as Akira sat down in her chair, leaning forward and observing the young couple. "I mean is it something to do with health issues?"

Kei looked back at him warningly, but that only proved that these health issues existed. He stood up and hugged Hikari tightly allowing the tears to fall onto his shoulder. He had never seen her get a score this bad, or cry so hard. She was usually able to pick herself up once things happened, but all of this only showed the severity of her illness and how it was affecting her daily life. "Even if you aren't placed in the SA next year," he told her, "That doesn't mean we won't be together, I'll spend every moment I can with you."

Hikari nodded slowly, "Thanks Takishima," she replied weakly.

Akira and Tadashi stared between themselves unsure what this conversation was actually about. Tadashi however couldn't stop his curiosity and picked up the test paper before staring at it wide eyed, even he had never received a score this low. This was most definitely not SA level.

Akira's eyes drifted to the number too, a large 67%. It wasn't the worst score that could have been received, but it was nowhere near Hikari's usual level. "What happened?" she asked her friend as she saw Kei's love shine through. It was as if the two of them were keeping this secret from her and she didn't like that, if something was going on with Hikari she wanted to help her.

"I..." Hikari muttered looking down, "I got stressed,"

Kei bit his bottom lip as he turned away, "I'm such an idiot," he scolded himself, "I should have noticed during the test," he ran his fingers through her hair, "I won't let it happen again."

"No..." the formerly second place student shook her head, "that wouldn't be right."

Kei's eyes narrowed as Akira set the test score on the table before them, "What you're going through isn't fair to you," he replied before Akira and Tadashi stared at them wide-eyed.

"What's going on?" the short haired girl asked nervously, "What is it? Is something wrong with Hikari?"

"Yeah, I mean is it to do with your family that you're getting stressed?" Tadashi asked wondering if something was going on at home, perhaps if there was he could help her through it just as she had tried to help him with his mother by agreeing to go on a date with him.

Kei took a deep breath, "Nothing's wrong..." he lied to them.

"Kei," Akira commented, "We know that something has to be going on with the way that you two are talking, and if it's hurting my Hikari," she said hugging the girl. Hikari took a deep breath before grabbing onto Kei's hand tightly for his support in saying these things.

"I..." she told them what was going on as their eyes widened in shock. Kei bowed his head just listening to her say these words again, he just wished that he had known what had been going on before it had been too late.

"So what you have is a mental sickness?" Tadashi asked as Hikari nodded nervously.

"And sometimes you don't know what you're doing, or what is actually the right way to act?" Akira inquired causing the other girl to nod again.

"Yeah well we won't tell anyone," Tadashi replied only care and concern in his eyes, "It's a big deal sure, but it's not untreatable. I'm sure there are hospitals that you can go to,"

Akira nodded, "There are treatments being done all over Japan, it doesn't even have to be extreme therapy anymore," she added as Hikari held to herself starting to shiver. Akira hugged her tightly as Kei held her hand tightly in his. "Hikari! Whatever you need we'll help, I mean we don't want you to be hospitalized so we want to try everything we can to keep that from happening."

Hikari shivered as she stared at the test again these words scaring her, she would have no idea that she was in this condition had it not been for her brother."

"Well," Kei replied, "I've promised to keep Hikari out of the hospital," he said to them, "No matter what it takes to do it, there are lots of things that we can try first."

"But if the cost is Hikari's health, I mean it's kind of weird but..." with that Akira kicked him in the head to shut him up.

Hikari looked at Kei for strength before she turned to the other couple, "You two won't tell anyone will you? I mean Takishima and Tokiwa-san have been so understanding that I thought you might be the same."

"Of course not," they both replied together.

Kei sighed as he picked up the test again to get a closer look at it, his smile faded as he picked up Hikari's hand and kissed it. "No matter what group you're put in," he told her, "I'll make sure that we can spend time together."

"Yeah," Tadashi nodded, "I could ask my mother about it."

Kei glared at him, "Do that and Hikari might be persuaded into going to a hospital," the blonde commented before the other three SA members entered.

"Hey guys," Ryuu smiled before he noticed the solemn look on all four faces, "What's going on?"

"Nothing," the four of them spoke together, Kei still holding onto Hikari's hand but looking off to the side, Hikari concentrating on her lap and Akira and Tadashi looking at one another.

Jun smiled weakly watching their expressions, something was definitely going on.

Megumi turned to her brother before holding up her whiteboard with the word 'Suspicious' written on it.

Okay so that's all for chapter three, sorry it took me so long to continue but hopefully I'll start writing it more quickly. Thanks in advance to anyone who reads and/or reviews this chapter.