Author's Note: Sorry for leaving this fanfiction in the dark. This chapter was very difficult to write, especially the part with Kodaka and the club. I had to think of something that doesn't involve too much romance with Sena (Leaving that to Rinjinbu on the Fallout).

The ending for this chapter is also cut short. I'll finish the rest for Chapter 6. However, things are not going to look good for Kobato.

Published 7/24/2014

Chapter 5:

The Identifiable Pattern

"Kodaka. Can you explain to me what is going on?" Yozora asks Kodaka during breaktime.

"What do you mean 'what is going on'?"

Yozora raises an eyebrow. "You have not been showing up that much at the club lately. Meat too. Don't tell me there is something going on between you two."

"There is nothing going on. We're just good buddies." Kodaka attempts to brush it off like there's nothing suspicious. However, Yozora and Rika find it both suspicious that Kodaka and Sena are skipping many club meetings. The days when they skip club meetings create a trend or pattern. Yozora continues.

"Are you sure nothing is going on? One of you may be doing something harmful to your little sister. Both you and meat take turns skipping the club or you both skip the club together. The only explanation is that one of you is harassing Kobato somewhere else."

"Huh? Harassing Kobato? I'll never do that. Neither will Sena." Kodaka stands firm against him claims.

"Hmm… Is that so, Kodaka? Your little sister often comes here in the afternoon and refuses to go home. Luckily, I was still in the clubroom so I was able to babysit her a few times and watch her sleep. She was crying the other day. When I asked her why, she could not clearly explain. However, based on my previous experiences on the people she doesn't like, I can only conclude that she's afraid of you and meat. Did you really not do something horrible to her?"

"I don't recall anything going on. I'm not lying. Seriously, you can ask Sena the same thing."

"I won't even bother. The person I least trust is meat. She has every characteristic that will make your little sister scared and worried. All I am saying is that ever since you two have been skipping many club meetings, your little sister has been acting this way."

"I understand, but don't get us wrong. We are not doing anything horrible to Kobato. In fact, I'll come to clubroom to prove myself."

Everything Yozora mentioned about Kobato using the Neighbor's Club as her lodging is true. Kobato refuses to adapt to living at the Kashiwazaki's while their home is being remodeled. Kodaka recalls the other day when Sena and he got worried that Kobato did not return home during the evening. After searching for Kobato, they both got tired and end up falling asleep together on the sofa. Pegasus and Stella are usually the ones who pick Kobato up from school late at night. Kobato is usually biting, kicking, and screaming like a toddler as she is pulled into Stella's limousine.

Kodaka attends the Neighbor's Club today to assure everyone that he is not doing anything suspicious to Kobato. His plan fails when he finds Sena absent today from the clubroom. Yukimura is also not here. Yozora is reading another novel and Rika is reading BL manga. Kobato is also present, showing off to Maria all the accessories Sena bought for her. Kodaka sits at the table and quietly texts Sena about the club.

"Hey! Sena, it looks like Yozora is slowly uncovering our secret about skipping out on the club."

Sena replies. "Who cares? Let the witch make her assumptions."

"So, what's keeping you from coming to the club today?"

"Stella and I are currently shopping at a large mall. I'm buying many good treats for Kobato-chan. There's also this new multiplayer game I wanted to try out. Since there is three of us, we can play it later tonight."

As Kodaka continues to text Sena, he receives a strange message from someone else.

"Looks like Kodaka-senpai is having fun messaging with his cellphone. Let me join in too!"

Kodoka looks up and finds Rika secretly laughing behind her BL manga. She hid her cellphone behind her manga.

"Hey, Rika! I am sitting right here in front of you. There's no need to text me."

"Ahaha… Kodaka-senpai, you caught Rika. Rika just wanted to know who you were talking to on the cellphone. You seem to be really engaged in the conversation. It must be Sena-senpai." The only person Rika could think of is Sena because everyone else except her is present.

"Don't be barging into our conversations."

"What is it you're talking about? Are you looking to book at a love hotel? It sounds so fun that Rika wants to join in too."

"Eh?" Kodaka is disgusted by Rika's assumption. "No, there is nothing going on. We're just talking about business. Sena just wants to give me something tomorrow."

"Ooohhh… What is it? Maybe Sena-senpai wants to give you chocolates. The sweet aroma, the sweet sensation. The smell of chocolates will initiate your sex drive. That's a first step towards true love. Rika should give you chocolates too."

Suddenly, a shoe hits Rika's forehead. "Enough, Rika. I will not condone such activity here. Leave your sex fetishes at home."

"Oh come on, Yozora-senpai. You need to get with the times. Those old traditions you enjoy are outdated. Right now, your life is all black, grey, and white. You need some colors too. It will brighten up your day. Believe in Rika. You can start by reading some of Rika's newest collection. These manga appear to be dirty from the front cover, but these are toned down enough to evade the 'R-18' sticker. See? Look here."

Rika shoves Yozora one of her BL manga. True to her words, none of the volumes carry an R-18 sticker.

"You're missing out too much by reading all those classic literature."

"Uhhhh…" Yozora tries to fight back. "I am happy with these books. They enrich my bank of expressions, idioms, and vocabulary. Having a complete mind with a variety of knowledge is the absolute minimum for a human being."

"That's great, Yozora-senpai. You should add this to your knowledge too. It's a great way to expand your variety."

Rika continues to convince Yozora to read her BL manga. Yozora is unable to convince Rika and ends up giving in. As Rika offers Kodaka her BL manga too, Kodaka gets up and leaves.

"I guess I'll take my leave for today." Kodaka is unable to bear with Rika's craze about love.

"Oh! That's sad. Rika wanted a BL manga party. That's fine. He already has Sena-senpai so this isn't necessary for him."

"Tch…" Yozora tries to get Rika to stop talking as she ungratefully digs through Rika's BL manga.

In the hallway, Kodaka finds Yukimura and Aoi talking to each other. Yukimura notices Kodaka and starts talking to him.

"Aniki, good afternoon."

"Oh, hello Yukimura."

"Umm… Are you and Sena-anego doing well?"

"I kinda guess so," Kodaka tries to give a reply that does not sound suspicious.

"That's good. If you need anything, you can always rely on me. I'll always be there for help."

"Me too! It is my duty as the Student Council Treasurer to help everyone out including Hasegawa-kun," Aoi makes a firm declaration.

"Thanks, but I got to get going." As Kodaka is about to take his leave, someone else comes up from behind him.

"Yo! Aoi! Everything is going great? How is the Student Council Appointments coming?"

"Wahh! Hinata-san, well I was here just to make sure The Neighbor's Club isn't doing anything stupid."

"Ohoho… Aoi, you still have a bitter rivalry with Sena Kashiwazaki. It's what encourages you to be better."

"No! It doesn't have anything to do with encouragement. Someday, I will even the score with Sena. Watch me, Hasegawa-kun, I will show you that I am far better than her!"

"A love rivalry? That's interesting. I'll see you later. By the way Hasegawa-kun, the Student Council is looking to appoint new members since current members like me will be graduating soon. We would like you to participate." When Hinata finishes her sentence, she finds out that Kodaka has already left. As Kodaka is outside the chapel, he makes a note to himself.

"This is a stressful day. There's too much love chat going on. Maybe I should have just skipped today's club meeting too. Wait, it would make the situation more suspicious. I must keep everyone assured. I will let everyone know that I'm only helping Sena out with her errands."

Later in the afternoon, Kodaka walks to the bus stop and takes a seat. He obviously knows that he can't pick Kobato up as she knows Kodaka will be heading for Sena's home. After a few minutes, a limousine pulls right up to the bus stop instead of a city bus. Kodaka recognizes the color and shape of the limousine and tries to walk away from it. However, the limousine's rear end pulls right up to Kodaka and the rear window rolls down.

"Kodaka, what is this about? It's me, Sena Kashiwazaki." Kodaka obviously knows that Sena is inside. He pretends to ignore her to reduce the risk of inducing rumors. Yozora, Rika, and Yukimura may also be secretly spying on him, hoping to observe their advances in romance. As Kodaka tries to run, the limousine continues to follow him.

"Hey, Kodaka! Is this how you treat your fiancée?" Kodaka turns away from Sena and quickly searches for a pedestrian-only path, hoping to evade the limousine. When he finally approaches one, he makes a mad sprint.

"Phew, that was close. I got away safely and quickly." Kodaka quickly runs out of breath and collapses at a nearby bench. As Kodaka tries to think of more evasive ideas regarding Sena and Kobato, Sena walks up to Kodaka one minute later.

"Kodaka, what is the meaning of this? I only wanted to pick you up and this is how you respond to me?"

"Shh... Sena." Kodaka tries to quiet Sena's mouth. "Don't you think this looks suspicious? It hurts when someone who is already unpopular is found riding in the Chairman's limousine home."

"Umm… I guess so." Sena thinks for a moment, but then quickly makes a reply. "Who cares? It doesn't matter since it's their opinion. I could care less if I am labeled as the perfect girl who chose the lowly delinquent. Now, let's hurry and go home. Papa is getting worried that we're out here for too long."

As Kodaka is inside Sena's limousine, Kodaka expresses his concerns to Sena.

"You know, Sena? I went through so much hell during club today. Yozora is suspicious of us skipping club meetings just to harass Kobato. Since we're 'like' a couple, Yozora thinks we talking turns torturing Kobato for fun."

"What? I will never harass my lovely angel Kobato-chan. She's the brightest girl of them all."

"Well, Yozora doesn't believe a word I tell her. She also notes that the days of us skipping the club create an identifiable pattern."

"Who cares? Like I said before, let the witch believe whatever she wants. She'll have no evidence to bring against us if she dares to report this to the police."

"What about Kobato herself?"

"Kobato-chan will get better. I just need to know how to obtain the secret password to unlock her path. Kodaka, you will help me."

"Umm… OK, I guess." Kodaka then thinks to himself. "Winning Kobato isn't as easy as her galge games. She needs to realize that everything she is doing is only hurting Kobato more. If she can see her affection meter with Kobato, it would be dangerously low."

The limousine then stops. "Madam and Kodaka-sama, we're home. Please make your way to the estate. Master is waiting for you. I will be heading back to pick up your sister Kodaka-sama."

As Kodaka exits the limousine, he asks Stella about Kobato.

"Umm… are you OK with making two trips to the school on a regular basis? It seems like a big hassle to you."

"I don't mind Kodaka-sama. If it reduces Kobato-sama's frustration, then I will be glad to do this every day. Now, please go and greet master." As Stella drives off, Kodaka makes a comment.

"Even though Stella sounds fine with making two trips to the school, I find it a little selfish for her to do this just for Kobato. Kobato doesn't understand why we're staying here. She even doesn't make an attempt to get used to this place. I am not looking forward to it, but I must explain this to Kobato."

"Hey! Kodaka-kun. Dinner is ready! Hurry up and eat before it gets too cold." Pegasus calls for Kodaka from the front door.

"Coming…" Kodaka and Sena finish their dinner. After an hour has passed, a series of police cars arrive at the Kashiwazaki's. A police officer approaches Pegasus and speaks to him.

"Good evening. You must be Pegasus Kashiwazaki?"

"Eh? Umm…" Pegasus doesn't like his name being called, but he is not allowed to yell at the officers. "What is going on here?"

"Don't worry; you are not at fault for anything. We're just here to deliver this girl to you." The police officer hands over Kobato as Stella walks in.

"Stella Redfield was looking for this girl. However, this girl ran so fast that Stella was unable to catch up. She contacted us and gave us photos of her. We were able to trace down this girl near the red district, an area off-limits to her. Is it also near curfew so she should not be outside at this hour."

"I understand. I'm sorry for putting you through all this hassle. I will make sure I keep my eyes on her so this doesn't happen again." Pegasus assures the policemen. After the policemen left, Pegasus takes a look at Kobato. Kobato is angry, spitting out complaints.

"I don't wanna be here! I don't wanna be here! I DON'T WANNA BE HERE! This is the monster's hideout."

"Come on, Kobato. Sena is currently painting a picture with Kodaka-kun. Why don't you get some rest in your bedroom? I'll let Kodaka-kun know that you're home so wait for him there."

Hearing Kodaka doing activities with Sena angers Kobato more. Before Pegasus could say any more words at Kobato, she runs upstairs and storms into Sena's room. Kodaka is painting a flower while Sena is painting a character from one of her favorite galges.

"An-chan! Why don't you do anything with me? I want to play too."