I am so very sorry for a later than usual update! I just got too involved working on my latest Digimon Frontier amv. I love making Digimon Frontier amvs, especially Takumi amvs! But this latest one is kind of a tribute to the whole gang. I kept writing this chapter in the middle of making it, but my pace was noticeably very slow, on account of my not giving much time to writing! I even got stuck badly for a while there in between, but it may or may not be such a valid reason!

Anw, for those of you who know me in youtube and watches/is interested in my videos, do check it out! ;D The link to my youtube channel is in my profile page. (Though it really isn't necessary, I'm there with the same name)

Reply to reviews:

Silverly Heart: He really has hasn't he? And more is in store to come!

Ibbe: I'm really glad I could play a part in cheering you up! And I really couldn't decide which genre to put with Romance; Drama or Humour. Because as I had originally intended it to be a humourous story, there actually IS some Tragedy in store for the future which challenges the Humour genre. I'm so confused -_-'

Once Upon A Purple Rose: Takuya is such an idiot, who knows what goes on in his head? :P

Beautifly18: If he just came up and told her, what fun will it be? The story will end a lot sooner even ;D

Back to the Future

13th April '08, Sunday

Takuya was fuming. He took out his cell phone and began sifting through his messages again, from the beginning.

To:
Kōichi

Hey!

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Yeah what is it?

Received:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

Need ur help!

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

I wont let u cheat off my paper AGAIN at tomoro's test. Wht did u do all weekend? N what r u doin textin me instead of actually studyin a word or 2?

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

Wasnt tlkin abt d test

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Oh. Then wht is it?

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

Hw do I impres Zoey?

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Y would u wanna do that?

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

2 prove dere r otha guyz out there xept jp n she shudn limit herself

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Y? She is happy with JP right?

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

She thnks she is! But I dun want him 2 use her!

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

He isn't usin her Takuya. He's happy as well. I haven't even seen him look at another girl's ass yet!

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Takuya

I hav gud reason 2 b concrnd Kouichi.

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Oh? Lyk wht?

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

butt out! Wht I say shud b enuf

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

To be perfectly honest, u haven't exactly proven ursel most intelligent person out there Takuya

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

Hey!

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

N besides, u should b usin this time 2 study for d quiz tomoro n not buggin d shit outta me durin the test jus lyk u do in all tests every yr

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

Who CARES abt d test when my future can b at stake?

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Wht r u talking about? Doesn't passing the test tomoro b the center point for your "future" 2 b at stake?

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

I meant Zoey's! Her future! Her future is more imp!

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

She's my best friend as much as yours Takuya, but I seriously doubt that your failing the test tomorrow is going to be of any concern to her future even if u do think her's is more imp than yours

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

y r u readin more in2 this than is necesary u nerd?

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Whatever Takuya. I'm gonna switch off my cell now so I cant be bothered. Specifically from u.

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

No way! U r nt goin anywhere!

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Kōichi moved to Greenland.

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

No u havnt! Hw can u still text onnet then?

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Takuya

Kōichi has international roaming.

Sent:
Today
From:
Kōichi

To:
Kōichi

U answr me wht I askd Kouichi!

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Kōichi

Kouichi! U reply me ths sec!

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

To:
Kōichi

Oh buddy, it is soo ON

Sent:
Today
From:
Takuya

Takuya called Kōichi's number.

The number you've dialled has been powered off. Please try again later. Takuya dialled again before the message could repeat in Japanese. However, it was with the same result.

Oh, you won't be getting away this easily Kōichi, Takuya thought. If you think you can, you're much less of a nerd than I thought.

14th April '08, Monday

Nakatsumaki (the 11th graders), Ise section:

Takuya: Psst… Kōichi…

Kōichi pretended not to hear anything.

Takuya: Kōichi!

They were in the middle of the test. And Kōichi now only turned around because he feared that if Takuya hissed any louder, he'd get them both caught.

Takuya: What's the answer to number 1?

Kōichi: Metamorphosis.

"Thanks," Takuya mouths, and writes it. Then after a moment…

Takuya: Kōichi!

Kōichi: WHAT?

Takuya: What's the answer to number 2?

Kōichi: It's ecology. Now don't bother me!

Takuya: Ok.

Kōichi: Good.

Takuya clicks his pen on and off absently against his desk, mind really not on his test. Then…

Takuya: Kōichi!

Kōichi: (jaw tightening) Yes… Takuya?

Takuya: What's the answer to number 3?

Kōichi: Takuya did you open a single page last night after we stopped talking?

Takuya: Well… No.

Kōichi: Then I'm not going to tell you.

Takuya: But Kōichi!

Kōichi ignores him and puts his head down, having not quite finished the test and ignoring the drone of whispers echoing around the classroom to soothe the headache which was threatening to come. Barely after two minutes of closing his eyes, somebody kicked his legs. He jumps and turns around to see the face staring back at him was… Takuya's. It did nothing to soothe his headache.

Kōichi (astonished): How did you get here?

Takuya: Switched places. Now tell me the answer to number 3.

Kōichi massaged his temples, looking at him unbelievingly.

Kōichi: It's isomerism. Look, if I promise to help you with your Zoë thing, will you promise to not bug me like this for at least a month?

Takuya: Now we're talking! But a month is too long; I can't go that long with less than average grades. No deal.

Kōichi: Ok, how about 30 days?

Takuya: Sure, as long as it's not a month. Deal!

"Good," Kōichi says, then turns his head back around… only to find the teacher's face staring back this time.

Teacher: Tsk tsk. I'm afraid I would have to make an example.

With that he snatches Kōichi's paper from beneath his elbows and writes -5 on Takuya's paper.

Kōichi: B-but…

The teacher looks back. He honestly did look like he hadn't wanted to do this. He was fond of Kōichi.

Teacher: I'm sorry son, no one will learn otherwise.

It was true. The classroom hushed suddenly as if they had entered a funeral. Takuya, however, was trying to rub off the -5 with his ink eraser. All he succeeded in doing was rubbing off the paper.

After the bell rang, Kōichi angrily took his bag and shuffles out to their next class before Takuya could catch up to him, which was in the lab. However, it was of no use seeing Takuya is his lab partner. Takuya comes bouncing in the lab to join him.

Takuya: Sorry about that buddy but knowing you, you probably had finished the test anyway.

Kōichi says nothing.

Takuya: Worry about me! I doubt I even scored five marks for him to deduct anything out of it. My marks will be so in the negatives.

Kōichi wasn't as aggressive as his brother and wasn't in the mood to hold a grudge. He shook his head.

Kōichi: Surprisingly, it really is you I'm worried for more than myself. You're right; I was almost done with my test anyway.

Takuya: I so knew it. That's Kōichi for you. So, now you help me. You promised you promised you promised!

Kōichi takes his head in his hands. Takuya's voice was hurting his brain like they would any sane person's.

Kōichi: Yes Takuya. I'll think about it. And I'll let you know what I come up with ok?

Takuya slaps him on his back happily. "Sure man!" And they went to work on today's assignment.

Takuya and Kōichi were roaming the empty corridors of the school after classes were let out, and for once, nobody had detention.

Kōichi: I came up with a plan Takuya.

Takuya: Great! Let's hear it.

Kōichi: You know the movie Back to the Future right?

Takuya: I don't really remember… I think so…Remind me what's it about?

Kōichi: It's about this guy Marty McFly. He accidently gets transferred to the past and almost wrecks his parent's marriage.

Takuya (barely controlling his excitement): How does it turn out in the end?

Kōichi: Come on, you must remember, Marty and Doc hatch a plot to save their history… I mean present… No wait, it'd be the past… Ah whatever! And the thunderbolt on the clock tower and…

Kōichi stops when he saw Takuya hanging on to his every word like he really was hearing this all for the first time.

Kōichi: Wait… You have seen the film haven't you?

Takuya: Nah, I haven't. I remembered the name only coz I remember seeing the trailer once.

Kōichi (yells): Great Scott!

Takuya (confused): What?

Kōichi: I can't believe I've met someone who hasn't seen the movie!

Takuya: Well, why's it so surprising?

Kōichi: Why's it so… Takuya! I'm not fond of movies coz you know I get a migraine if I stare at a flashing screen for long, and even I've seen the movie!

Takuya: Well, now that is surprising. But what really could I've missed? What's it gotta do with your plan?

Kōichi (cries): Everything! And it's not just that! You've not seen the most awesome time travel movie of the 80s! You are so coming over to my house to watch the movie. Now.

Takuya: Sure, I do enjoy a good movie once in a while anyway. But I think The Terminator is the greatest time traveling movie of the 80s, let's see if I'm proved wrong. Can we invite Zoë?

Kōichi: Ummm… Why not let it be just a guy thing?

Takuya: Why?

Kōichi: Then we'll have to invite Li as well. And JP and Tommy.

Takuya (nudges him): You actually want an excuse to invite Li don't you?

Kōichi: You kidding? She's… not exactly my type. I kinda prefer more feminine girls, because that is what makes them different.

Takuya: Well, she's uhhh… grown plenty of feminine stuff since we last saw her. I'm not talking about the hair.

Kōichi: You know what, we really shouldn't be talking about the girls we almost daily hang around with in that way. It makes it difficult to face them then afterwards for some reason.

Takuya: Aren't we doing that in a way about Zoë also?

Kōichi: You got me stuck in this! And besides, do you actually want the others to catch up on your plan by seeing the movie?

Takuya: No!

Kōichi: Well, it might give them ideas and they'll know what we're up to, especially if we've recently watched it, and together.

Takuya: Yeah you're right! How come I didn't think of that?

Kōichi: Coz… You never think?

"Yeah," Takuya says grabbing the excuse, thinking it was actually excusing him but which was really pointing out to his stupidity. But Takuya was too stupid to realise this of course.

The Kimura Household:

Takuya was hooting along with the scenes of the movie, annoying the hell out of Kōji. So it wasn't surprising that when Kōichi returned with a new batch of popcorn, Kōji snatched it from him and tipped it over Takuya's head, banging his head with the bottom of the bowl in the process while all the popcorn fell over his eyes to his clothes and floor. However, Takuya had no problem eating the popcorn off the floor, and neither did Kōji succeed in silencing him, because Takuya went right on cheering and laughing as Marty flew by with a skateboard on the screen and the manure fell all over Biff. So Kōji had to gag Takuya with his bandanna while an amused Kōichi watched with complete indifference. The only complaint Takuya had with this adjustment was that he wasn't able to put the popcorn in his mouth anymore. He didn't care about the beer they were drinking, but he did care about the Coke he had tricked Kōichi into getting for him instead in its place.

After the movie was over and Kōji left to "take a bout of fresh air" or in other words "to get away from Takuya", Kōichi and Takuya lounged in the twins' shared room. It wasn't the first time Takuya had been in there, but the difference still astounded him. The room looked as if it was divided by a line in the middle which despite not existing still looked as if it was there. It was like two sides of a coin, alike yet completely opposite. Yin-Yang was the phrase which came in Takuya's mind.

It wasn't like the paintwork differed or anything. One side of the room was orderly and neat, occupied with a big computer table and books stacked author-wise upon it. The other looked like as if a Tasmanian Devil had been set loose there just after a tornado had passed through it. Whatever furniture or item might be there was hidden by lots of upturned clothes, discarded accessories and paper balls scattered around the dustbin which no doubt had been aimed at the bin from a distance (i.e. the futon or the desk) because the occupant was too lazy to get up and dispose of them properly or they just used it as a substitute for a basketball hoop. It didn't take a genius to figure out which side was which twin's.

Kōichi warned Takuya he only had an hour more as he and Kōji both liked to be alone as they prepared dinner for their mother so she could get a few extra hours of rest. Takuya raised his hand and reminded him that he didn't need any reminding; the memory was all too clear in his head when the twins had invited him to dinner once and he had bursted in on them early in the kitchen and had seen Kōji in their mother's lacy and floral printed apron because Kōji didn't own any and had used hers. Takuya had dared commented on his appearance. Unluckily for Takuya, Kōji had been holding two long and sharp butcher's knife at that moment. Takuya had ended up running all the way home for his life and he kept looking over his shoulder fearfully to see if Kōji was following him. Kōichi had confided to Takuya the next day that the knives had taken the combined strengths of the twins, a few cuts and a half hour to pull out of the wall before their mother came home to find out about it. But, Kōichi had assured him, it wasn't the first time Kōji had done this kind of thing and he was still welcomed to come at their home anytime for dinner. Takuya had weakly told him he feared he had lost his appetite and will to eat dinner at the same table as Kōji for good and he had learned his lesson all too well and one he was never likely to repeat EVER.

Kōichi: Anyway, my plan is the same plan Marty came up with for his parents. We can get someone to pretend to harass Zoë and you can act like a big hero and "save" her.

Takuya: But how do we get her in this kind of situation? We don't have a prom.

Kōichi: It doesn't have to be the prom Takuya. We just have to get her somewhere isolated like the teacher's parking ground or anything where no student happens to pass by like JP.

Takuya: Ok, so you're going to be the one who's going to be "taking advantage" of her?

Kōichi: Ummm… No way Takuya. Believe me you've dragged me this far but there's no way in hell I'm going any further than this.

Takuya: But you promised!

Kōichi: I only promised you to come up with a plan Takuya. I said nothing about actually taking part in it.

Takuya: But how am I supposed to find someone to do the part of harassing Zoë?

Kōichi: That's your headache.

Takuya: But everyone I know are pathetic actors! And they're bound to tell Izumi about it.

Kōichi: Well, then get someone whose hatred for girls is genuine.

Takuya: Really? Like who?

Kōichi: Like Jason.

Takuya (laughs): You think Jason is gonna do you any favours? You destroyed him when you were Duskmon! You know he never forgets stuff which does him any harm. He hates your guts.

Kōichi: But given his new hatred for girls, I'm confident his hatred for me has long since subsided and he'll be willing to even help an idiot like you.

Takuya: Ok bud, you're on. Loser does the other's turn of washing the dishes for a week!

Kōichi (smiles): Prepare to get your hands dirty and soapy my friend.

Takuya: Oh, we'll see who'll be getting his hands dirty! Oh wait, I don't think that sounded completely right, doesn't getting your hands dirty mean something different?

Kōichi: Just shut up Takuya.

15th April '08, Tuesday

Boy's toilet in K.I.L.L.S:

Takuya: Remind me why he'll be coming here before assembly?

Kōichi: Coz this is the only place he can ummm… do anything without encountering any girl.

Takuya: What do you mean by "anything"?

Kōichi: Ahh… well… he likes to sort out his books and stuff in here so that he doesn't bump into any girls.

Takuya: Phssh! No one hates girls THAT much.

Kōichi: Jason apparently does.

Takuya: Russell and Delilah really did a number on him don't you think?

"Yeah, they did," said a disembodied voice in a British accent. It was followed by the flush of a toilet and the door to a stall opening to reveal a boy with brown hair and green eyes. Oops.

"Jason!" Takuya says, thumping him on the back while Kōichi fought to recover any embarrassment Takuya apparently wasn't feeling. Talk about dumb. He didn't even know if he had said anything inappropriate.

"Takuya!" Jason imitated him sarcastically.

Takuya: Kōichi here was just telling me how much you hate girls. How can you live like that?

Jason: Try retiring your plonker and then see how I do it. You guys need something?

Takuya: Yeah. But what did you eat for breakfast that you had to go to the toilet to empty your stomach this early?

Jason: I really don't think this question is very appropriate, you gormless worm. So why were you guys waiting for me?

Kōichi: Well, you see, we kinda needed you to play a role in this… play we're working on.

Jason: Really? What's the story?

Jason was suspicious. Takuya so knew this wasn't going to work. He rubbed his hands in glee as Kōichi began explaining to him.

Kōichi: Well, you see, the part we need you to play is like this: A girl comes out to her boyfriend's car because she forgot something. Then this crazy abuser guy comes out of nowhere and begins to harass her. She tries to scream for help but no one is really there. But all of a sudden, her boyfriend comes out of nowhere and saves her. Ummm… that's it.

Jason: Hmmm… Sure I'm in your "play", as long as I get to play the crazy abuser guy.

Kōichi looks at Takuya in a clear combined I-told-you-so/he-knows-it-isn't-some-play/he's-freaking-me-out way.

Takuya (coming to his rescue): That's exactly the part we thought for you.

Jason: Who's playing the girl and the boyfriend?

Kōichi: Takuya here is playing the part of the boyfriend and Zoë's playing the girl.

Jason: That bint? Sure, I don't really like the minger. No way would I lose any sleep over it.

Takuya didn't really understand the words but even his minuscule of a brain could judge by his tone that they weren't good words. He started to give him a piece of his mind when Kōichi casually stepped on Takuya's foot and shook his head a fraction of an inch.

Kōichi: Sure, so when are you free?

Jason (shrugs): I'm free in break

"Sure, see you then," Kōichi says, dragging Takuya out before he had a chance to open his mouth.

K.I.L.L.S Cafeteria:

Takuya took Izumi's purse-bag and began sifting through it, pretending to look for the packet of tissues she told him was there. He sifted through books, make-up kits, brushes, eyeliners, lip-glosses, accessories until he came up with a pair of gold earrings wrapped in a piece of paper. Looking at them, he saw they were the same pair she had been wearing on Saturday when she went out with Junpei on her latest date. He knew because he had been hanging around the park near Zoë's home. Not that he was stalking. He was just interested to see when Izumi returned home. It was just by chance he had gotten a good look at her.

He took one butterfly shaped earring and hid it in his pocket. Then he took the other one and held it up to Izumi.

"Nice earring Zoë," he said.

"Thank you, it's my mom's, it's pure gold you know," she says beaming. "It must've gotten loose from the paper; can you put it back in with the other one?"

"Sure thing," he says, and then pulls out the piece of paper. He frowns.

"Zoë, the other one isn't in here," Takuya says.

"Then check in the bag dummy, it must've fallen off," she says impatiently.

"Ummm… No, I might get cooties," he said, coz he didn't wanna run into any... extreme girly stuff she might be carrying.

Izumi snatched the bag from him and turned it upside down on the table. Then she began sifting through her numerous assortments. A worried frown appeared on her face as she saw it really wasn't there. Then she re-checked her bag.

"God, it really isn't there," she says worriedly. "My mother's gonna kill me if she finds out, what do I do?" she turns around frantically.

"Come on Zoë, where else would it go?" Tomoki asks.

Izumi was trying to remember where she had worn them last and why they were in her bag in the first place.

"I went out with JP when I wore them the last time, but I'm sure there were both of them when I put them in there," she says.

"Maybe your memory's running weak," Kōji says. "You couldn't even remember whether you ate any breakfast when you were buying that sandwich."

Izumi doesn't reply, knotting her fingers in agitation.

"Maybe you dropped it in JP's car or something on Saturday Zoë," Lili says the magic words, she being the only one Zoë tells the girly personal details of her life to.

Izumi turned to her. "Anything's worth checking," she says. Then she looks at JP. "Did you bring your car by any chance today?"

"As a matter of fact I did," Junpei says, surprised. "Quite a coincidence don't you think?" He fishes around in his pocket for his keys. "Let's go check the whole car Zoë."

"Oh no you don't!" Lili came to Takuya's rescue again, yanking Junpei back to his seat.

"What?" he says innocently.

"No way are you making out in the backseat of your car, we're having LUNCH for crying out loud! What do you think this will do to my stomach knowing you're out there doing THAT?"

"But I didn't say I'll do anything!"

"You feel guilty you are guilty," she says, totally repeating Kōji's lines from that time back when they had been deciding the seating arrangements in JP's car back in the holidays, earning a respectful nod from his direction. "Koi! Sit back down. Takuya, you go with Zoë."

"Awww man!" Junpei says unhappily.

Takuya couldn't believe his ears. Everything was falling perfectly in place without him even having to say anything! He nodded solemnly, refraining himself from looking at Kōichi, who really looked like he won't be able to control his laughter if Takuya stayed there another second.

"Let's go Zoë," he says, taking her hand and dragging her out of the cafe. He looks back to see Jason getting up from his table. Good. All the pieces were in place.

Takuya looked around to make sure the parking lot was deserted. Then he launched into his act. He smacked his head hard.

"Kuso!" Takuya says. "If we really are heading to his car, I might as well put my football in it. It is such a pain to carry it around all day! I'll be back in a flash ok?"

He runs off before Izumi could yell at his back nothing more than Takuya!

Shaking her head in frustration, she didn't bother waiting for him. Upon reaching the car, she fiddled with the door on the passenger's side of the car. (Oh by the way, in Asia, the cars mostly have the driver's seat on the right side instead of the left side like they do in Europe and America). Without completely getting inside, she leaned in and looked around. She realised she was blocking the sunlight with her frame, so she got inside the car a little more… When all of a sudden she was pushed inside, and fell face first into the seat. She looked back angrily, thinking it was Takuya playing some sort of trick on her and all ready to slap him, as his hand had touched her hips. But what she saw instead was the face of Jason looking back at her maliciously. His face was contorted, like he was trying to hold in a laugh.

"Yo Blondie," he says.

"Jason," she says distastefully, remembering how he had called her ugly before.

"Wow, a trollop like you, I never really expected you to remember my name," he says, getting inside the car. "I hear you get around."

"I don't care whatever you've heard you scumbag," Izumi retorts. "Get out of this car or I'll…" she flinched, as he scooted even closer. "I'll scream," she finished.

"But who's here to hear you except me little Blondie?" he says, laughing.

Izumi with a sinking heart realised he was speaking the truth. She was suddenly afraid.

"You wouldn't dare do anything!"

"Wouldn't I?"

"Ummm… No! Because… Because Takuya and the others know I'm out here, and they'll know something is up if I'm not back soon. And Takuya will be back here any second anyway! He's gone in to take his ball, and he'll kick your ass so hard you won't recognise it!"

"Oh, believe me when I say I won't even need that long Blondie," he says. "Believe it or not, I'm not interested in raping you. I just want to torture you and hear your screams of agony, because damsels in distress have started to have a tendency to… Arouse me."

"You are so overdramatic." Izumi declared, thinking Jason had memorised his lines or something before making his move, coz he sure sounded like he was reciting rehearsed phrases.

In response, he grabs both her arms tightly. Izumi tries to struggle out of his grip. When she couldn't, she started to scream, but he covered her mouth tightly, and her screams were lost in his palm.

From Takuya's vantage point behind a car around a hundred yards away, he could tell Jason was playing his part well. It totally looked like he was trying to rape her. Now, time to carry out his part of the rescue. He got up and dusted his uniform. Then taking a deep breath, he ran towards the car to play the big "hero". However, things were about to go unknowingly complicated.

Izumi saw how repulsed Jason was getting when her failed screams sent her spit flying on his palm, like he couldn't wait to get them off and was waiting for a chance to do so. She suddenly had an idea. She knew he hated everything about girls. Squeezing her eyes shut, she bean licking his hand.

It worked. Jason screamed and pulled both his hands off of her. He looked at Izumi with blazing anger in his eyes.

"You vile piece of shit! You bloody, manky scrubber! If I get the lurgy, I'm going to kill you!"

Izumi forgot all about her embarrassment or fear. She didn't know what to feel. She just looked at him in amusement.

"You are such a nancy-boy!" she says. Jason screams in anger, and forcefully gets out of the car. Izumi sat there wondering what the hell was going on.

Outside, Jason was angrily staunching away when he ran into Takuya, who was standing a little ways away and had watched the turn of events without understanding what the hell was going on either. When Jason approached him, he just shoved him and continued walking away, yelling something like the deal's off!

Takuya looked back in the car to see Izumi watching him. He made his way there, totally confused.

"What the heck is going on Zoë? Why was Jason walking away like that?"

Izumi eyed him angrily. "You are such a completely waste of space Takuya! Where the hell were you? What the hell were you doing?"

"Ummm… what?"

"Forget it!" she says, fiddling with the car door again. "What kind of a male even are you? You're not even there to protect a girl from harassment! Instead you're out there chasing after a STUPID ball! Which you couldn't even FIND!" she explodes, looking at Takuya's football-less hands.

"No wait, Zoë! Listen please!" he says leaping up to stop Izumi but he reaches just as Izumi slams the door on his face. "Ouch!" he yells but Izumi stalked off without even glancing behind.

When he was finally able to catch up with her, she insisted on ignoring him.

"At least I found your earring!" he cries. Izumi snatches it from him without even moving an inch to look at him.

Takuya smacked his head. He wished someone would tell him what went wrong and how things went so haywire. He had meant to impress Izumi, but all he had ended up doing was hugely pissing her off and giving her the impression that he was a man she could never rely on instead of the intended impression of making him look like her hero, Izumi hating him and a large amount of dishes in Kōichi's home. Now Izumi questioned the presence of his maleness, and would also really think Junpei was better than him. KUSO!

Add to the list of people he will NOT be asking for favours anytime soon:

1) Lili

2) Russell

3) Kōichi

4) Jason

He really should be getting back to working on his own future now, and if he intended to share it with Izumi, he better come up with a much better plan than his recent fails.