"Another one?" Rangiku asked giggling as a note fell to the ground when Toushiro pulled his shoes out of his locker.

Toushiro rolled his eyes and stuffed the note into his bag.

"Aww, aren't you gonna read it?"

"No."

"You're no fun. Don't you want us to figure out who's sending them to you? They could end up being the love of your life."

"No."

Rangiku huffed, tugging a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm going to find out anyway."

Toushiro shrugged and headed to his classroom. If she was busy trying to figure out who had been sending him all the notes, cards, and occasional flower, she would have less time to bother him. She had the nose of a bloodhound when it came to sniffing up things like this. He was curious to see who it was, but he kind of had an idea. He'd be damned if he told Rangiku who it was that he suspected, though. She and his sister, Momo, could knock themselves out trying to figure it out.

He was almost positive that he knew who sent him the notes. There was a boy in his class, Sojiro Kusaka, who might have been friendlier than the rest of his classmates. He had his own group of friends, but he sat behind Toushiro and always started conversations whenever he got the chance.

"Hey, did you do the math homework?" he asked as Toushiro sat down.

"Yeah," Toushiro answered with a shrug. "Why?"

"Lemme see; I didn't get number 6."

He rolled his eyes and handed over his workbook. "You know, you could just ask the teacher for help."

Sojiro raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Nah, I like you better."

Toushiro had to turn around before he noticed that he was blushing. He was positive that it was who Sojiro left the notes; who else would say something like that to him? He just needed to build up the courage and ask him.

He took a deep breath. "Kusaka-"

"Here you go, thanks man." He handed Toushiro back his book and left his seat to go talk to one of his other friends.

Toushiro felt himself deflate slightly as he slid his book back into his bag. It probably wasn't Sojiro. He chewed the inside of his cheek. If anything it was one of Rangiku's ploys to, as she put it, keep his self-confidence up. He propped his chin up with his palm and stared at the blackboard, trying to ignore the way his stomach was sinking. He wasn't even sure if Sojiro liked guys.

Just before the bell rang however, Sojiro slid back into his seat and tapped Toushiro on the shoulder.

"Hey, we're starting the unit on soccer today in gym; I was wondering if you'd want to be on my team."

"Uh," Toushiro floundered for words.

"You're good at soccer, right? Come on, it'll be fun." He nudged him with his elbow. "Besides, how else am I going to repay you for letting me copy your homework so much?"

"Um, sure."

Sojiro beamed. "You're the best, man."

Okay, maybe it could be him.

They normally had gym with class 1-D, so for team sports they usually went class against class. Things were going well, for gym class. Sojiro had clapped him on the shoulder and winked before they started the game and they were up by two points. Sojiro had picked a pretty strong team; everyone had played before and knew what they were doing. He was passed the ball and immediately took off to the other team's goal. Sojiro was yelling his name and he hid a smile, focusing on the goalie, when suddenly his legs were kicked out from under him and the ball went sailing to the other side of the field. He went down hard, his left leg twisting underneath him, and the gym teacher blew his whistle, an angry, shrill screech.

"Ah crap, are you okay? I didn't mean to trip you."

Toushiro looked up fighting a blush; everyone had seen him go down. Sojiro had personally asked him to be on his team and he had tripped and lost the ball.

"Um, you didn't hit your head did you? I'm so sorry."

Toushiro shook his head. "No, my head's fine, but I think I messed up my ankle."

He locked eyes with a tall boy with bright orange hair and brown eyes. He'd seen him around before but couldn't remember his name. He winced and bent down, concern tinged with anxiety flooded his eyes.

"Crap, I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to-"

"It's okay." Toushiro cut him off. For some reason he felt like he had to reassure him. "It was an accident."

"I'm still sorry..."

The gym teacher and Sojiro came running up to them.

"What was that, Kurosaki?" the teacher admonished.

Kurosaki? Toushrio had heard his name floating around the school.

"I know, I know," he mumbled, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

The teacher shook his head. "You okay, Hitsugaya?"

Sojiro was staring at Kurosaki with a raised eyebrow. Toushiro was just glad that he wasn't looking at him. "I'm fine."

"He said he hurt his ankle."

The teacher sighed heavily. "Let me see." He knelt down on the grass and took Toushiro's leg onto his lap. He tried not to wince as his ankle spasmed at the movement. "You need to go to the nurse. Kurosaki, this is your fault so help him."

"Yes sir."

He helped him to his feet and they awkwardly stood for a minute trying to figure out how this was going to work. Toushiro was too short to sling his arm around his shoulders. The dilemma was cut short, however, when Sojiro stepped in and stooped down, giving Toushiro his back.

"Hop on," he instructed.

Toushiro blushed. "No way."

"If you don't get on my back, I'm gonna carry you like a princess."

Toushiro spluttered. His face was definitely red now.

"You could always hang onto Ichigo's waist. I just thought this would be easier." Sojiro looked over his shoulder with a smug grin on his face.

Toushiro chanced a glance at Kurosaki, noticing that his cheeks were beginning to turn red as well. He sighed and wrapped his arms around Kusaka's neck, leaning against his back. Kusaka hooked his elbows around Toushiro's thighs and trotted off of the field while Kurosaki followed, scratching the back of his neck.

"I kinda feel like I should be the one carrying him," Kurosaki mumbled a few minutes later. Toushiro glanced at him.

Sojiro shrugged, hoisting Toushiro a bit higher on his back. Toushiro blushed even harder. "It's fine. He's really light. My schoolbag probably weighs more than him."

"Yeah, but this was my fault in the first place."

"I said it's fine."

"But it's really my responsibility..."

"Do you want to carry him?"

"What? I..."

Toushiro rolled his eyes, pretty sure that his face was almost neon pink at this point. "Will you two stop talking about me like I'm a sack of rice?"

Sojiro scoffed. "Sorry. Which one of us do you want to carry you?"

Toushiro groaned. "Neither of you; I'd rather walk."

"Well tough luck."

Toushiro huffed and Sojiro jostled him in response.

"Stop that."

"Why? Afraid I'm going to drop you?"

"Yes."

Sojiro chuckled and bounced him up again.

"Kusaka!" Toushiro yelled, pulling away from his back just as Sojiro bounced him again. Unfortunately, he leaned too far back and while flailing to regain his balance, Sojiro lost his grip on his legs. He landed hard on the floor for the second time that day, this time feeling his lower back start to throb. He would have hit his head if Kurosaki hadn't dove to the floor, somehow managing to almost catch him. His head was cradled in his palm, his other hand wrapped around his forearm. Toushiro drew in a sharp breath, wondering why the first thing he realised was how big Kurosaki's hands were. If one hand could span the width of his skull then-

"Shit, Toushiro," Sojiro spun around his face crossed between amusement and concern. "What'd you do that for?"

Toushiro growled squirming himself upright.

"You okay?" Kurosaki asked.

Toushiro nodded as Sojiro grinned at Ichigo. "Nice catch, man."

"Nice catch?" Toushiro hissed. "I told you to stop bouncing me! I could have cracked my head open!"

"Sorry?"

Toushiro huffed as Kurosaki helped him up again. When Kusaka offered him his back, he snorted. "I'm not getting on your back."

"Fair enough." He shrugged. "Ichigo?"

Kurosaki spluttered and Toushiro noticed that his cheeks had turned pink once more.

He sighed. "Look, we're almost at the nurse's office; I can walk."

Kurosaki pulled him tightly into his side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Toushiro hooked his arm around his waist, trying not to notice that Kurosaki's hand could more or less completely wrap around his upper arm. As they hobbled along the hallway Sojiro ruffled Toushiro's hair, gently grazing his fingertips along his scalp. Toushiro had never been more confused in his life. It was if Sojiro was the master of mixed signals. But then again the blush on Ichigo's face could mean one of a few things as well.

It didn't help much when the next morning the note in his locker simply said 'sorry'.

Rangiku bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. "I think I know who it is!"

Toushiro raised an eyebrow, sinking down on the wooden bench to change into his indoor shoes – well shoe. His left leg was wrapped tightly in an ace bandage and would be for about a week.

"Who?" he asked after yesterday's event he was a bit more than curious.

"Do you know Sagawa from class 1-E?"

Toushiro shook his head. "No. It's either Sojiro Kusaka or Ichigo Kurosaki."

He might as well put Ranigku to good use.

Got done with this one early and I didn't see the point in waiting until Saturday to update.

I was originally going to do something pretty dark, but with the holidays here I didn't feel like doing that.

And this is an IchiHitsu series if you're still wondering who's sending the notes :)

Thanks to HoneyandPeanutbutterSammiches for this week's prompt. Up next is ShiroHalla.

Donations are open, so drop off your idea/prompt in a review.

- Mymomomo