If I were ever in a relationship, I want it to be like kise and ya-chan's. T-T. But for now, I'm gonna cherish my single status. XD. Enough of me, so anyway, I finished this late cause I had exams… but meh… anyway[again]… The chapter is entitled like that…. because it is. XD [and because I can't think of any other title.] XD OVERLOAD.

Chapter 30 – Bittersweet

"I have to get to school early. Early. Early. Early." Too early. The sun hasn't even risen completely. It's just dawn. Kise was walking in an extremely fast pace. In fact, he looks like he's running and walking at the same time. He's even faster than the biking guy he just passed by. When he got to the gate, his eyes focused.

There, hiding behind the wall of the gate was a blue-haired girl. Her face looked nervous. She looked left and right, but didn't seem to see Kise. Then looked around again, and again and seemed to hesitate. So he walked up behind her and asked; "What are you doing?"

The sound of his voice made her jump in surprise. The sound she made was sort of like a shriek… almost like; "HIIIIEEEE!" She turned her head inch by inch like a robot. Only she was shaking. -_-

"O-oh, i-it's you." She wasn't stuttering in embarrassment. She looked nervous. Or better yet, scared.

Due to her weird behavior, Kise placed his forehead on her forehead. "…normal temperature." He said.

She turned pink and backed away. "Stop that! "

"Oh right, 'Do not embarrass me in public.' Okay. I'm very sorry~ ^O^" Kise smiled.

"I'm pretty sure that is not your 'sorry' face." She said in an annoyed manner.

They got to the classroom in a few minutes.

She entered the room first then Kise followed. But instead of just sitting down, Kise closed the door behind him, and hugged her from behind. Their height difference is absolutely noticeable. He can completely cover her.

His face was also pressed against her head as though he kissed her hair. Then he chuckled; "Ohayou~"

"W-hat are you d-doing?! Let go!" she shouted as she tried to free herself.

"Just greeting you good morning, anything wrong?" he asked.

"YES! I told you not to embarrass me in public!"

"But we aren't in public. "

"YES WE ARE!"

"Nuh-uh, nobody is here. We're alone. I also didn't hug you back at the gate although I badly wanted to, see? I'm obeying your rule~"

"Obeying?!— Do you even— *siiiigggghhhh*. You don't listen anyway." She sighed depressingly. "

He laughed. "So anyway, why were you hiding behind the wall?"

"… because I don't want to die yet." She admitted.

"Eh? Die?" Kise looked worried as his eyes widened.

"Yes, die. Because of you." She sighed.

"Oh?... OH! I see now, you think you'll die of extreme embarrassment when you're with me? Ahaha, that's cute~~~" he laughed even more.

"Not even close." She denied with a straight face. "Being the popular person that you are, your 'girlfriends' would absolutely come after me." As she said girlfriend, she thought of a bunch of glowing-eyed girls with their fists in knuckles with a lot of black in the background and splatters of blood all over. In her mind, it was labeled as; "Ikemen's girls." In other terms, they are Kise's admirers.

"Oh… them." He thought as well. "I don't think they'll kill you."

"Kill, unlikely. But maybe they'll put thumbtacks in my things, staples on the shoes, write on my clothes, pull my hair or.. or… "

"I~ won't~ let~ them~ do~ that~." he sing-songing-ly whispered in her ears. "If they hurt you in any way, it will make me sad, and they won't like that. Ahaha."

"That sounds narcissistic." she said, hiding the blush that was stuck on her face.

Kise chuckled at her response. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you. I'll be your prince charming that I will always protect you from evil. Those people don't stand a chance…. and besides…"

"I'm the only one who allowed to touch you."

He said the last line in a whisper close to her ears and with his arms tightly gripping her whole body.

The way he said that was too wonderful to describe. It was cool, sweet, with a pinch of bitterness, and kinda intoxicating. [I don't usually say this but, it really sounded sexy.]

She couldn't say anything, the words shot a critical blow at her straight face barrier. Everything was red.

Suddenly, the door began to click, due to reflex, Yachiyo grabbed Kise's collar. When the guy, Murata, entered the room, all he saw was Kise lying on the other end of the room. Looking quite dead. While Yachiyo sat there in her chair, looking out the window.

She turned to face Murata and greeted innocently [with matching flowers and pink background] like nothing happened. "Good morning."

At the same time, Kise's soul seemed to float away from its body.

"It was noisy inside and outside the school. The 2nd day of the School festival has already started! Lots of girls and guys are scattered around the campus. The stalls are lively and the classrooms are already full. Everyone seems to be having fun… couples are doing sweet things together. That is, in exception of me and my girlfriend. We're just here in the student council's offi—" A book came flying out of nowhere and hit Kise on the head. He held it with both hands because of extreme pain.

"Stop narrating your life." Yachiyo gave him a serious, yet annoyed-looking, straight face. "Look, if you are bored then go somewhere else. I still have a lot to do."

"I dun wanna!" he chibi-ly protested. She sighed. "Then just sleep, you look like you need it."

"Eh? Oh right… I didn't get to sleep las—" Kise said then he quickly added; "Wait, how did you know? Do I really look like I lack sleep?"

"To a normal person, you look okay. I just can tell it easily." She said.

Kise laughed; "So, you can tell if I'm sleep deprived even though I don't look like it? I guess you really stare at me so much to know that." Yachiyo looked annoyed with the 'big red nerve mark of anger' on her head. "Aren't you the one who constantly stares at me, Ikemen?"

"Hmn… true." He admitted. "Oh right, Meganekko…" Kise walked to where she was seated and whispered in her ears; "The reason I didn't get to sleep was because I kept thinking about yes-ter-day~"

She remembered what happened… an image flashed on her mind. It was her and Kise inside the classroom while sharing their first real kiss. She instantly blushed at the thought.

"Reminds me, we're alone now." He smiled as he whispered. Just as he said that, she went to furious mode. "Don't you even dare come closer or I will kill you." Her pink aura turned black.

It's easy to know that Kise looked every terrified now, he back down.

Unexpectedly, someone came bursting into the room. The random guy screamed; "President! Some guys are fighting, we can't stop them!"

Yachiyo stood up from her chair and said; "The president isn't here. I'll just deal with it myself. What's their location?" Her voice was serious, very serious. It was cold.

"Behind the Third building, near the tennis courts." The guy replied.

"I'll go with you! It could be dangerous." Kise said.

"Then catch up." she said. She ran out of the room in a flash and Kise was stunned for a while. Her speed was fast. Then he followed. The random guy by the door was a lot more shocked than Kise was. He just stood there like statue.

"Meganekko, where are you going? That's the wrong way!" Kise shouted at her as she ran ahead of him.

"No, this is the right way. This is…" She stopped at an open window, pulled herself up and jumped from the second storey. "…a shortcut."

She looked cool as her hair flew away with her blue eyes looking sharp. But Kise wasn't admiring, his eyes widened. He stopped at the window and saw her land perfectly on her feet while crouching down. As she stood up and ran again, Kise jumped from the window and followed.

She got to the fighting guys in a second. There were only 4 guys, and 2 girls.

"I told yah, leave our girls alone!" the gangster looking guy shouted.

"We're not you girls! You guys are disgusting!" a girl shouted.

"See there? They said so themselves; now go away!" the guy from the other side said.

"Shut up! If she's not mine, then yah can have this piece of trash!" The gangster guy grabbed the girl and pushed her away. As she was falling, Yachiyo caught her and helped her stand up.

"Are you okay, miss?" she asked with a smile.

"Y-yes. T-thank you." Despite being both girls, she blushed as well. Now she has another fan. Kise arrived and stood beside her.

"Who are ya?! Don't yah know who I am!?" the gangster said, but he stopped talking when Yachiyo looked at him with her beautiful blue eyes. The 2 gangsters blushed.

Then she started talking…

"Of course I know you. You are a piece of crap with a stupid face and an arrogant attitude. Am I right? Or am I right?" she smiled innocently despite the language she used.

"Wha—why you… How dare you—" the other gangster guy tried to say. But she cut him off; "Please don't move. If you take another step, say another word, or try to attack, I will not spare any mercy."

"You're all talk! I'll do what I want—" he took steps forward with his fist about to punch.

"You were warned." She said plainly. In a matter of seconds, she redirected his punch by twisting his arm. She tripped him and he fell with a loud thud. The other guy tried to attack as well, but before he could even move, Yachiyo' fist was already in front of him. She held back at the last moment but he fell to the ground either way.

"Run and don't come back." She said coldly. In terror, the two guys stood up and ran. Leaving the 2 girls and 2 guys in extreme admiration state. Besides Kise who stood there with his eyes covered by his hair.

"T-thank you!" the girls bowed at Yachiyo. "M-may we know your name?"

"Don't mention it. I'm Kuroko Yachiyo." She humbled. All of a sudden, Kise grabbed her shoulders and hugged her in the tightest way he ever could.

"I-I can't breathe." She complained. But he just continued on his tight embrace. "YOU ARE AN IDIOT!" he shouted. He lifted her and hauled her on his shoulder. It looked like he just lifted a bag. Then he ran away, leaving the 4 people at awe. She protested and tried to break free, but it wasn't effective.

Soon enough, they reached the clinic and he tossed her on the bed. Her head was placed on the pillow and lay there with a red face.

"W-what are you doing!?" she blushed even more. His face wasn't showing as it was covered by his hair. She tried to sit straight, but immediately, Kise pinned her to the bed.

"Don't move." He said. Both of his hands were placed on either side of her head. They were clenched on the white bedsheet. Aside from that, his face was also close to hers. Still she couldn't see his eyes. His shadow covered her completely.

In extreme embarrassment she looked away from him and said; "W-what is wrong with you!"

"Nothing is wrong with me. But something is definitely wrong with you. I'll go get the nurse in a minute, just stay still." He said seriously.

"Nurse? What are you talking about? I'm not hurt." She said.

"You don't know that! What if you hurt your feet, or your arms? You should think first before you do something! Do you have any idea how scared I was when you did such dangerous things?! You are a girl! And most importantly, I like you. If you get hurt… " The surprised Yachiyo felt something warm fell on her cheeks. A drop of something warm.

She turned her head to see that he was crying. More drops fell on her.

"… I don't know what I'm gonna do. I told you, I will protect you like a prince charming should. But I already failed." He continued.

Not knowing what to do, she just stared at him. He looked like a child who was afraid of losing something important. And it made her feel guilty, she raised her hands and pulled him down to him. "I'm sorry." She said softly. His head fell on the right side of hers and she patted it in a comforting way. "I'm sorry if I made you worry. Sorry."

He continued crying but this time, he embraced her tightly. "I can't breathe." She had furrowed eyebrows but a smile on her face. "Please stop crying. I promise I won't do dangerous things. Well, not always, but I'll try."

He raised his head and shouted in a cute chibi way. "What kind of promise is that?! Promise you won't do anything dangerous , EVER!"

"Well, I can't do that. That's just me." She said plainly…. "I won't promise something I can't do. Rather, I'll just do my best for you." Her expression changed into a smile.

This made Kise turn red. But her expression changed to a straight face again. "And besides, you scared me as well when you pinned me."

"Eh?" He looked at the overall situation. It's just now that he realized what he did to her. He was still pinning her. "S-sorry. I got c-carried away."

"Well don't get too carried away." She looked away from him in embarrassment.

"Wait a second. So… you thought I was going to do something bad to you? You did, didn't you?" he made a teasing expression. He whispered on her ear; "My, my, that was quite perverted, Me-ga-ne-kko." She grew furious and red at the same time. "Shut up."

He laughed. "I'll forgive you for making me extremely worried if you admit you are a closet pervert. Or…" he whispered again. "Give me a kiss."

She flustered; "H-hey! You also scared me so we're even!"

"Nuh-uh. That doesn't make up for it." He said. "And besides, if you don't do it now, I won't let go of you. And soon, the nurse might enter and find us like this, what do you think?" he smirked.

She couldn't reply. Her heart beat was loud enough that she could hear it, herself. "Is that my heart beat? Or his? I guess it's mine… what should I do? What do I want to do? I don't know." His face moved closer but the gap was at least 4 inches. "I'll just follow my instincts."

She quickly moved her head and closed her eyes. Without delay, she kissed him, lightly.

Kise was surprised, of course, and his eyes were wide. She backed away from him but his face was still surprised. "I didn't know you'd actually do that." He said. Then he laughed and touched her cheek. "I'm happy." Kise smiled and he scratched his head in embarrassment. "You were doing it wrong though."

"Well I am so sorry, Mister." she said with an annoyed face.

He chuckled as usual and added; "You are forgiven for making me worry. But I'm going to keep a close eye on you."

"I DON'T NEED THAT!" she protested with a red face.

"Yes you do. You are careless, and your superiority complex makes you think you can do anything even if it's dangerous." He explained in a comically criticizing way. The 'big red nerve mark of anger' appeared on Yachiyo's head.

"What did you say, Ikemen?" she asked with an evil-looking smile.

"Just as you heard, Meganekko~" Kise winked teasingly.

She gave up in arguing and sighed deeply; "By the way, should I continue calling you Ikemen?"

"mm? It's fine, I'm used to it. Ahaha."

"I'm also used to hear you call Meganekko, although I don't wear glasses anymore." She said; "But is it really fine? Ikemen is an insult so… "

She hesitated at first… then… "Should I call my kareshi that way?"

Her overall face looked ADORABLE. Her eyes looked teary and shiny. The timid voice added to the adorable meter. Not to mention, her background was pink and sparkly.

Kise backed away from her, stood up, and slammed his head on the side table near the bed.

"Eh?! Are you okay?! " Yachiyo shouted.

"Y-yeah, I am." Kise touched his head and crouched down in pain. "I'm sorry, but could you please stop being so cute for just a minute."

"What? I don't get what you mean."

.

.

"Because…it's the first time you directly said that I am your kareshi and… you look so cute that I'm… trying so hard not to…. harass you." Kise blurted out.

"EHHH?!" Yachiyo puffed out steam from her red face.

"NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT! IT'S JUST THAT GUYS TURN INTO MONSTERS WHEN THEY'RE WITH THE PERSON THEY LIKE! AND I SAID I'D PROTECT YOU LIKE A PRINCE CHARMING SO I HAVE TO PROTECT YOU FROM MYSELF AS WELL!" Kise defended. "I MEAN— I TRY SO HARD NOT TO UHM… MOLEST YOU?"

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHH? ! ? ! ? ! ? " Yachiyo flustered even more.

"NOOO I MEANT, NOT TO ABUSE!"

That did not help calm her down. She still looked like a tomato and so did he.

"NOOOOOO I MEANT, NOT TO ASSAULT!"

That didn't help. At all.

"NOOO I MEANT NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE! NOT TO MISTREAT! NOT TO HOLD BACK! "

"SHUT UP I AM NOT HEARING ANYTHING! " she covered her ears.

"NO WAIT. HEAR ME OUT! YOU MISUNDERSTOOD ME!"

"STOP IT. STOP IT. STOP SPEAKING!"

"I DIDN'T MEAN IT IN A PERVERTED WAY! OH WAIT I DID. BUT I WAS JUST THINKING—"

"URUSAAAAIIIIIIIIII"

Phew. Woah, I finished a chapter late… XD XD XD XD XD. That's the end of the school festival chapters for ya! Next chapters will be more about his and her moments. And a certain person will appear. Ho ho ho~ who do you think it is? XD XD XD. Wait til next update~ XD And to all the reviews, I thank you so much 3 Please also wait for my new story [for another anime] to be published soon. :D

Sundwitch out~