"So I pushed the door instead of pulling it," he smiled. "I was really kinda embarrassed."

I laughed. "I have a friend that did that once."

"I think just about everyone has," he scratched his neck. "Well, we should talk more sometime. I've seen you around campus but never really got to know you."

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm a bit shy sometimes but you're really fun to talk to."

"We should - "

"My dear Amu," an arm wrapped around my shoulders. "Everyone's packing up to leave. We should head out."

"I'm in the middle of something," I hissed with a gentle smile to Tadase. "This is my...friend, Ikuto."

"Pleased to meet you," Tadase stuck out his hand.

"Likewise," Ikuto drawled not moving.

He dropped his hand slightly embarrassed. "Uh...I was just about to ask Hinamori-san to lunch. Would you like to join us...?" he looked at me. "Well, if it's okay with Hinamori-san that is."

OF COURSE IT'S NOT FINE! IT'S NOT OKAY AT ALL! "Yeah, I'm hungry. It's fine, Hotori-kun."

"Okay," he picked up his clipboard and pencil, nodding. "I'll just go set my stuff away. Why don't we meet up at the nearby cafe?"

"Sure," Ikuto smiled as he turned away.

When he was gone, my smile quickly vanished and I turned on him with a scowl. "Do you want me to hate you?"

He flashed me a dazzling smile. "Of course not, my dear Amu."

"Don't 'my dear' me," I snapped. "Behave when we get there and absolutely NO comments about my body and before you even say anything: we're not dating. Don't even joke about it, okay?"

He sighed and pouted like a ten-year-old. "Fine. But I'm not paying."

"You're so cheap," I rolled my eyes as we quickly batted away the bad air between us. I grabbed my clipboard and pencil, stashing it in my bag then walking off knowing he would follow.

As we entered our staying rooms, I quickly shut the door before he could enter my room. Apparently I was to share with one other girl, Rima. Her stuff were already neatly put away on the other side of the room. She was sitting on her bed on her laptop with her hair tied up in a big poofy ponytail. She glanced up briefly as I entered before returning her gaze to her laptop screen. she was casually dressed for what seemed like an awfully calm afternoon. Completely opposite from my day. I leaned against the door for a moment knowing very well he was still standing near my door.

"Who's he?"

I looked up to see her sitting cross-legged on her bed and leaned away from her keyboard. I stood off from the door and took off my bag. "Just a friend."

Her gaze remained steady on me then she went back to her laptop. Then she muttered, "Not for lo~ong."

She probably wanted me to hear that. I, of course, defended my self. "What? No, I just met him a few weeks ago. We're not dating or anything either, I swear." Shut up! Shut up! "I mean it. We're just friends." Stop talking now. "We're actually going to meet up with a friend now. All three of us."

"A boy or a girl?" I swear I heard amusement in her voice.

"Boy..." I replied unsure of what she was going to say next.

"A love triangle it is," she continued tapping away at her keyboard. "I hope you make the right choice. Though you might get hurt too..."

What the hell? Why was I even doing this? And who the heck did she think she is? Geez, I should just get fixed up and outta here. I bet Ikuto just heard everything too. Darn. "Well...I guess I'm heading out..."

"Have fun," she replied quietly.

What an interesting roommate. I could already hear him saying that. I quickly combed my hair and grabbed my wallet from my bag. Then I proceeded out the door with Ikuto standing next to me.

"What an interesting roommate," he told me as we walked out together.

"Knew it," I muttered under my breath. We both crossed the street headed towards the cafe. Ikuto made a move for my hand a few times. I'm pretty sure he was just shamelessly flirting like he always did. I got use to it by the first week.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked curiously.

"You're just a bit predictable is all," I replied flippantly. "But never mind that...hmm, do you think he meant that cafe or that cafe?"

"Is there a difference?" He purred getting closer.

I waved him off and looked at the two cafe's wondering why two people would build them right next go each other. He pouted when he got no response then took this moment of despair to grab my hand. I jumped from the sudden contact of his fingers closing over mine. He smirked triumphantly.

"Your fingers are so cold," he whispered into my ear.

I pulled my hand from his grasp. "Hey! No handholding you perv. Help me figure out which cafe he wants us to go to."

He shrugged smoothly still glowing from his triumphant moment. "Beats me."

"You're so helpful," I groaned then finally did a quick eenie-meeny-money-moe thing and finally strode towards the right one. Ikuto put his hands on my shoulder and steered me to the left one. "What - "

"I have a feeling it's this one," he replied as we got to the door.

I opened the door and to my surprise, he was right. Tadase looked up as a tiny bell rang and waved us over. Ikuto chuckled as surprise appeared on my expression. He continued ahead of me like an elegant twig striding through a sea of a wooden square ocean. (Not the best description, I know.) I continued after him quickly like a lost lamb in a labyrinth. Tadase greeted us as we sat down.

"I thought you weren't going to make it," he handed me a menu.

"How did you get here so fast?" I asked taking it from him.

"I just dropped my stuff off with my roommate," he replied. "I think you know him...Souma Kūkai?"

"Yeah," we both said at the same time. Ikuto spoke up first.

"He's a good friend of mine," he explained. "Since junior high."

"Really?" I blurted out in surprise. "Wow, that's a long time."

"Yeah," he looked at me. His eyes were...well, a little edgy, I guess. Not playful and light but more serious. More not-Ikuto like. But as quickly as it had gone, it returned. He smiled. A real not-a-smirk smile. "We're really good friends."

I stared at him, his serious look still in my head. The way his eyes were, his tone...I blinked it away then shook my head looking at my menu. "So what're we having?"

Tadase smiled at me as I let my menu down. He pointed down. "These are the best type food here."

"Thanks," Ikuto leaned over me looking as well.

"Pastas?" He mused. "Hmm, they're good but you get fat if you don't work out. And I like the way your figure is now."

I pinched his arm under the table. "Thanks for the heads up but I'm really alright. I'll just get this one."

He smirked and looked at Tadase. "Me too."

Tadase paused for a moment, his eyes going between us then he nodded slowly. "Okay, I guess we'll all get it."

After we ordered, we made small talk for the time being as we waited for the food to be finished. Tadase went on about his family and his dream job and his reasons as well. He was an only child in a well-respected family with kind parents and his dog. He explained to us in detail about his life and his living style as well as his strict grandmother. We patiently listened as he told his story. As he finished, the food arrived steaming hot.

"You've had quite a lot to go through," Ikuto concluded sprinkling parmesan onto his pasta noodles.

"Yeah, I guess," he laughed a little. "But it's all worth it in the end."

"What about you Amu?" I dropped my utensils, startled. "Oh, sorry."

"It's fine," I blushed slightly. Kami, I why am I so jittery? "Um, what?"

"What about your family?" He asked.

"Well, I do have one sister," I tried to remember any pets. "And my parents too but I think that's it. Though sometimes they remind of kids. My sister, Ami, should be just starting her first year of high school now."

"Oh, really?" Tadase took a bite of his food. "Lucky. What's it like having a little sister?"

"She's really...something." I thought of a word to describe her. "Sometimes a bit of a handful but she's a really bright kid. And she's pretty much happy-go-lucky, you know?"

"Mm," he nodded. "Must be fun though, right?"

"Yep," I smiled politely. "Always fun."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No." I looked at him strangely for a moment then asked, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

He blinked then wiped his mouth. "Well, no. I'm more of a friend-type of guy. Kūkai gets all the girls."

"He sure does," I agreed knowing of his playboy ways.

"He's still a good guy," Ikuto added defensively. "Well, at least to his friends."

"Do you have a girlfriend, Ikuto?" Tadase asked turning to him.

"Nah," he shook his head. "Girls are a bit of a hassle. I just like to flirt around." As he said the last line his gaze slid to me. "It's entertaining."

"Maybe you should stop giving them unwanted attention," I didn't look at him.

"They might crave it deep within themselves," he said smoothly. "Girls are rather unpredictable you know."

"Yes, I understand that," I wiped my mouth on a napkin. "But maybe they just want to be left alone."

"Then they'd be lonely wouldn't they?" He shot back.

"Well maybe they like being alone," I retorted.

"Whoa, guys," Tadase interrupted us. "No need for an argument."

I harrumphed. "Sorry, he just likes pushing my buttons."

"If I could undo them I would," he laughed at that.

"See?" I flicked him. "He does that just to provoke me!"

"But you're friends right?" Tadase smiled a little. "And friendship goes a long way."

"What're you getting at?" I peered at him curiously.

"Nothing at all," he replied lightly. "Just observing."

"Huh," I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "You sound eerily similar to my roommate."

"And how's that?"

"Well, before I came here she mentioned something about love and right choices." I made a confused sound. "But I don't know what she really meant."

I sighed. Life, love, friends...they're so confusing sometimes.

"Let's go out a little more," Ikuto suggested playfully.

We had just finished eating and Tadase had gone back. Ikuto, however, did not. Which meant I didn't either. I really don't know how he convinces me to 'play' with him sometimes. It's a mystery to me but I'll just go along with it for now since I usually do have fun. (Notice how I say 'usually')

"We should really get back," I say knowing that it's completely useless to say things like that.

"Just a little more," he whined tugging my arm. "I wanna have fun."

"Go have fun by yourself," I muttered.

"It's no fun if I have no one to scold me," he pouted.

"Then why do it at all?" I exhaled slowly.

"Just 'cause it's fun," he simply replied.

I sighed. "Fine...I guess I can have a little fun."

He smiled then boldly grabbed my hand as he tugged me towards downtown. We both quickly threaded trough the crowds, our hands never leaving each other. As the bright lights of the city illuminated the streets, he slowed down near the street vendors. Some sold food while others sold trinkets and other miscellaneous items. Crowds of people were walking to and fro from each small shop with chatter and happy smiles. Ikuto pointed to a small shop selling goldfish with a smile. I shook my head.

"We wouldn't even have a place to put it," I pointed out.

He frowned. "Alright."

He pointed to a stand full of animal masks. Before I could even protest, he bought two and shoved on into my hands. It was of a white owl with a small beak and slanted eyeholes. I found it to be quite lovely. Ikuto slipped his black cat mask on and grinned. I rolled my eyes and strapped it on my wrist. He quickly fixed that and put it on my face. Successfully.

"You look mysteriously hot," he commented tugging me along.

"Terrifc," I muttered. "Just what I wanted."

"Let's go, Amu," he pulled me to a booth full of tinkers and jewelry. "You don't have to go to the festival if you do this with me."

"Fine, fine," I quickly agreed with relief.

"Good," he held up a silver ring with a butterfly. "Whaddya think?"

"That you're not buying it for me."

He set it down again determined to please me. "Hmm...what about this one?"

I looked at the coiled snake with emerald eyes. "No."

"This one then." He held up another ring. This one had a panda face.

"No."

"Hmph," he searched again. "Hey...close your eyes."

"That sounds a little dangerous," I said raising an eyebrow in suspicion. I pulled my mask up onto my forehead. "What're you planning?"

"Just close them," he ordered more sternly.

I sighed and closed my eyes. I swear if he just ran off and ditched me...waiting patiently, waiting patiently...ho-hum... "Can I open them now?"

"Just a sec," he lifted my arm and I felt a cold chain settle on my wrist. "Now you can."

Opening my eyes, a flash of silver caught me eye. He grinned and held up my wrist. My lips parted with surprise. I mean, come on, how many guys can make you this speechless? He just proved to me he can be really sweet and thoughtful too. The small silver, chain-linked bracelet held five charms, all different colored. The first was a pretty pink heart and the second was a cute little emerald clover. Next to it hung a blue spade and then a golden diamond shape. Holding it together was a four-leafed clover with all four colors on each leaf. I don't really understand how this little thing made me feel touched but I do know how much I really like him right now. Just not in a romantic way. How much he's a good friend to me. And how much I like that.

"Heh, I got you didn't I?" He put a hand on my head. "Come on now, say it."

"I...I...love this," I said breathily. "It's really sweet, thanks Ikuto." I look up at him with genuine happiness. "It's beautiful."

His blue eyes were connected with mine, sending tiny bolts of electricity to my nerves and revving up my heart. He stared at me, maybe even speechless, with a surprised expression.

"I love it."

Ikuto's POV

"It's beautiful."

Her eyes became filled with golden happiness. I could imagine the sun dulling in comparison to her brightness at the moment. What I found was...breathtaking. I was surprised, shocked...the way she looked at me with such incredible happiness shook me to the core. Her face was practically glowing radiantly. Her eyes...her eyes were just incredible. They would've sent shocks to my heart had it been beating.

"I love it."

I swallowed inaudibly. "Y-yeah."

She giggled and surprisingly threw her arms around me. "Arigato, Ikuto!"

I just blinked then hugged her back. Her reaction was so weird. I then put her at arms length and leaned down, looking into her eyes. "Um...I know this might be rude but..."

She continued smiling.

"Are you drunk?"

[A/N] Ah, what a great way to end a date. Er, a friendly out-going. Well, it was a terrific way to end a chapter don't you think? Teehee, oh well. Thanks for reading guys. I didn't actually put too much hope into this story at first since I wrote it like, what...two years ago? But yeah, then I decided to post it up since I was getting bored. Well, review guys ;) I'll just leave you guys alone for now.

~kitana411