"Just apply some finishing touches here and there..." Herb said, working at his computer, Sissi watching over him as a foreman would his crew. "And done!"

Sissi grew a devilish grin as she watched him save the image, her work towards getting Ulrich going just as planned.

Herb stuck a flash-drive into his computer and copied the image into it.

"Here." He said, unplugging the small storage device and handing it to Sissi. "I think this will work well for what you have planned."

Sissi smiled and turned from the computer, walking towards the door.

Herb arose from his chair and looked at her as she opened the door.

"Wait, don't I at least get a simple 'thank you'?" Herb said, causing Sissi to turn and face him.

"I'll thank you when we see if it works, so until then, no."

And with that, Sissi exited the room leaving behind a hurt and disappointed Herb.

"Why do I even bother?" Herb said, falling back into his chair with a heavy heart.

—

Milly and Tamiya stood in the courtyard, both extremely tense about their situation.

"Where is she?" Milly asked, looking around to make sure no one else was there. "If we get caught outside of class, we'll get detention for sure."

Tamiya placed her hand on Milly's shoulder in an attempt to calm her friends nerves. "Don't worry, she'll be here soon."

Milly jumped momentarily, noticing something walking towards them from the corner of her eye. She turned to center her view on the movement, to her relief revealing Sissi headed in her direction.

"Took her long enough." Milly commented, walking towards Sissi, Tamiya following behind her.

The three converged at one location, looking at each other for a moment before someone broke the ice.

"So, your text said you have a "big scoop" for us, what is it?" Milly asked, taking charge of the conversation.

Sissi outstretched her arm and revealed the flash-drive in her hand.

"I have a picture here which I think you will find very interesting."

Milly took the flash-drive from Sissi's hand, but remained skeptical.

"What's it a picture of?" She asked, inspecting the drive.

Sissi readjusted her hair, leaving the air silent for a moment before she responded.

"I'll let it be a surprise, just make sure to make it your front page story this afternoon or else." Sissi replied, beginning to walk away. "I have a concert to get ready for."

Tamiya looked over at her friend who was still inspecting the drive.

"We should get today's news ready, we don't have much time." She said, Milly looking up at her only to nod in response.

—

Odd and Ulrich exited their history class, Odd jumping for joy.

"The school day is finally over! You know what that mean?" Odd asked, smiling gleefully.

"What does it mean, Odd?" Ulrich asked, his friends demeanor boosting his own, causing him to crack a small smile.

"It means I have a date in a few hours!" Odd exploded with joy, never seeming to run out of energy.

"So, why are you so excited about this date? Last time you went out with someone you weren't this happy." Ulrich questioned, promoting a quick response from Odd.

"I'm excited because Naomi and I have a real chemistry, ya know? She's different than other girls." Odd said, daydreaming as he spoke.

"Odd, the closest thing I've seen to you having chemistry with a girl is in science class." Ulrich joked, his words slapping Odd awake from his dreams.

"Ulrich, you just don't know chemistry when you see it, besides..." Odd was cut off by a loud yell coming from the center of the courtyard.

"Kadic News big scoop of the day: Love on Campus!" Milly yelled, waving the newest issue in the air for everyone to see. Tamiya stood next to her selling them to a large group of people waiting in line.

"Well, why don't we go see what the big scoop of the day is." Ulrich said, walking towards them.

Odd followed behind him as they made their way to the two journalists, Ulrich stepping up to Tamiya.

"So, what's in today's news?" He asked her, looking at the stack of brightly colored magazine-style newspapers.

"Something I think you will find particularly interesting. €2.50"

Ulrich was taken off guard at first by her comment, but shrugged it off as nothing. He reached into his pocket and fumbled around until he had exactly €2.50 and handed it to her in exchange for a newspaper.

Ulrich flipped the paper from what seemed like the back cover to the front. He looked over the cover for a moment, his heart escalating as he began to shake slightly.

He just stood there and looked down at the image plastering the cover, unable to move, unable to think, unable to breath. All of that was quickly taken over by anger; he dropped the paper to the ground and clenched a right fist out of his fingers, his breath now rapid and uncontrolled.

Odd approached him from behind, not noticing his discombobulated state. "Hey Ulrich, what's in the paper?"

Ulrich didn't move. He remained unresponsive to Odd's questions, but eventually began walking towards the boys dorms, leaving Odd behind.

"Hey Ulrich, where ya going?" Odd asked, about to catch up to him when he noticed Ulrich's paper on the ground.

He picked it up, and was shocked by what he saw. The image on the cover of the Kadic News, sitting under the headline "Love on Campus" was a high-resolution picture of William and Yumi kissing in the courtyard.

Ulrich's heart was broken, not in the way it breaks when you lose a big game or fail your finals, but the kind of brokenness you get when you lose someone you love.

The kind of brokenness that never really heals.

—

Sissi, Sissi, why must you ruin lives? Well, that chapter took forever (probably because I had to re-write the ending 5 times to get it right.) I expect very regular posts over spring break coming up for me next week, so hopefully that will happen. Make sure to review what you liked and what you thought could have been different. Thanks for over 11,000 views guys, you're the best!