Herb sat on Sissi's bed while she brushed her hair in the mirror. She smiled at her own reflection, her narcissistic feelings overwhelming as usual.

"Sissi, what's this big plan you've been talking about?" Nicholas said, leaning against her door.

Herb sat up and left the bed, standing close behind Sissi. "Yeah, why did we have to cut class. If we get caught in here we'll have detention for sure."

Sissi turned her head, the brush still running through her hair. "Quit worrying about yourselves, we have a job to do."

She got up from her chair and looked at Herb. "Have you ever photoshopped anything before?"

Herb was caught off-guard by her unusual question, never expecting Sissi to inquire about his interests.

"Umm... I do small things sometimes, but nothing big."

Sissi turned back to her table and picked up a small digital camera, tossing it to Nicholas who instinctively caught it.

"Nicholas, I need you to get a picture of Yumi and William together, and I need it before the end of last class." Sissi said, taking a seat in front of her mirror, continuing her earlier interrupted hair management.

"But Sissi, what's all this for?" Herb asked, perplexed by her requests.

Herb was able to see a sinister smile form on her face through the mirror.

"I have a plan in mind that will have Ulrich in my arms from now on."

—

*RING* *RING* *RING*

William and Yumi exited class, stuck in the middle of a stream of students who's soul desire was to get as far away from that class as possible.

"Well, that class was thrilling." William said sarcastically, forcing a few students out of his way as he and Yumi exited the flood of children.

"Defiantly." Yumi said, the two making their way out and into the courtyard which was packed with wondering students. "Nothing's more thrilling that functions." Sarcasm lingered on her words much as they did William's, but her's seemed off to William, as though she was more annoyed that joking.

"You okay?" He asked, both of them stoping in the middle of the courtyard. "You sure it was just studying that kept you up last night?"

Yumi looked down hesitantly, her head down but her eyes looking up to William for a second.

William began to take in the seriousness of the situation, changing his mood and tone to fit it best.

"Yumi, it's okay, you can tell me."

"It's..." Yumi turned her head away reluctantly, almost as through she could hide her emotions entirely through this motion, hoping that to be true, but she knew it was a futile attempt. "My parents... They've been fighting a lot recently. It started with money and my dad's job, now they can't agree on anything."

Yumi lifted her head and looked deeply into William, seekink support from him to ease the formation of her words. "I can't stand it when they do this, it hurts me so much inside to listen to it, but I have to stay strong, I have to keep a bold face for Hiroki."

Yumi dropped everything in her hands and fell to her knees, tears beginning to stream down her face, glistening in the sunlight.

William bent down next to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, hoping to convey some sort of comfort.

Yumi could barley see her friend through the tears covering her face, a flood of built-up emotions expelling from her all at once with an overwhelming sense of relief mixed with a hardy helping of sorrow.

"They're... they're considering getting a divorce..."

These words hit William with a wall of reality. For a long time, the only problems he really worried about revolved around X.A.N.A. and Lyoko, problems that he could fix with his strength or a return to the past, but neither could help his friend with this problem.

"Yumi..." William grabbed Yumi by her shoulders and helped her get back on her feet. So much time had passed that there was hardly a soul in the courtyard other than them.

They were now standing facing each other, William holding Yumi's shoulders mending the gap between them like bridges across a river.

"Yumi... You're strong, probably the strongest girl I know. No matter what happens with your parents, I believe you will make it through, not just through your own strength, but through your friends. We'll always be here for you in your time of need, especially Ulrich. I happen to know that he likes you very much." William's made that comment in an attempt to lighten the mood, and telling from Yumi's momentary smile, he had done just that. "Go to him, he'll help you through this more than I can."

*RING* *RING* *RING*

The two looked towards the building where the bell's sound had emanated, then back at each other.

"Well, I guess we had better get going." Yumi said, breaking William's hold on her. She bent over and picked up her earlier dropped books, coming back up to a reassuring expression from William.

"It'll be okay, trust me." He said, turning from her and heading to class. Yumi followed suit, walking to her own class on the other side of the campus as his, each taking their separate ways.

"Haha, got it!" Nicholas said, a camera held against his face.

—

Well, late again. But hey, major plot development. I wonder what Sissi has in store...

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