A/N: TMI time! (just a refresher if you missed the Author's Note in the last chapter- TMI stands NOT for too much information but for Tora Michiyo Itinerary- which is a self explanatory title)

Alright, Itinerary time!~ I have come up with a wonderful idea for a rival to appear very soon, a rival to Tora who is after Akari, who is NOT Usui for obvious reasons, so if you were thinking that, let it goooo. Tora will have yet another rival besides the blonde perverted alien prince now! And I'm pretty sure the rival will surprise you all- you will NEVER guess who it is! you could try guessing before the next chapter arrives though via messaging me and I may tell you or I may tease you ;)

Also, very next on the Tora Michiyo Itinerary I have planned out, there will be some building up sexual tension between the two more often after Tora's mystery rival comes into play. So let's wait and see what happens eh?

Awwwlright you can read now, sorry for teasing you with my later plans for the story... but I have to say, dangling a hook of bait for you is fun~ my dears~! (peasants. you're my peasants) wow I'm having a really rough time pushing away that tyrant of a writer in me... hehe. *sweat drop*

Chapter Four. School For Akari, Answers For Tora

Akari had awoken in her room, placed on her bed with the light cream blanket thrown over her body. Groaning after remembering where she was all over again, she got out of bed and changed out of her wrinkled clothes.

Moving in with the Igarashi's... had almost seemed like apart of my dreams. But now that I'm awake... now that I remember my visit to mother...

She shivered at the unpleasant wake up call. Suddenly there was a knock at her door, and then the handle slowly started turning...

"Don't come in!" She cried, barely having time to duck into the adjoining bathroom off along the wall by her bed before she heard footsteps from the other side of the bathroom door she'd just slammed shut.

"Michiyo?"

She winced at the drawl of that voice, relaxed, sure-of-itself, and always so tinged with an undertone of flirtation. What was a better way to describe it...

Sexy. She wouldn't even beat around the bush, Tora Igarashi had a sexy edge to his voice that seeped through in every word he spoke. To her, it was infuriating, and yet demanded her attention in ways she couldn't completely control. God, she couldn't stand that boy!

"Do you need something?" She asked from the other side of the door.

"Yes. Can you open the door?"

"No!"

A pause. And then; "Hm, why ever not?" He sounded like he knew why though.

"I'm... because you can't see me like this."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

Her face grew red, though from rage or embarrassment, you couldn't tell which one.

"There is no need for you to keep bothering me in my own room! I will talk to you at a later time!"

"Oh, but why is it that you can't just discuss what I need to say to you now~?"

"You know why."

"I already said I don't."

"You're implying that you are stupid then. Anyone could tell from the situation why I can't have a proper chat face to face with you at the moment."

"...Oh, I'm sorry." He almost sounded sincere, but she knew better. "I suppose you may not be decent?"

Akari felt her heart stop when she saw his shadow from underneath the door. He had stepped closer to it now.

"Well?"

"Well yes." She mumbled, face burning with irritation.

"I'll come back at a later time then."

And she watched as his shadow disappeared, pressed her ear to the door to make sure the sound of his retreat was real, to be positive about the door of her bedroom shutting with a prominent 'click'.

With a heavy sigh, her bare chest heaving, she, with great care, opened the bathroom door.

And there he stood with his back turned to her, as if that was polite enough. When she saw his head turning just slightly, she sprinted in a way that would make any Track team jealous and threw her body into the closet on the other side of the room, pulling on a plain t-shirt and the closest thing she could grab for her lower half- a longer skirt that reached to her knees- and she had only barely dressed herself when the closet door opened and he stepped in after her.

"You sneaky bastard... you didn't leave!" She said as he turned his fiercely golden eyes on her. He had feigned leaving just to see her nude! What a man!

He tilted his head after flicking on the lights, inspecting her from where he stood by the door, blocking her escape route. "Aren't you not wearing anything under that? I wouldn't be insulting me if you're in such a vulnerable position."

She couldn't help it- her thighs under the skirt pressed themselves together tightly as she shifted, and she folded her arms to cover her bra-less chest. The plain white shirt she had on would show her nipples through the fabric, and so she planned to keep her arms there for as long as it took him to get out and let her change into something less revealing. His prying, lingering, saucy gaze made her even more so uncomfortable, as his eyes roamed her whole body as if picking out all the little details in one long glance.

He smirked, and tried to near her until she snapped at him.

"You- you lecherous tiger!" She half-yelled, and side stepped to a different end of the closet, an end that didn't seem close to him.

"You're not any better, being the lavish temptress that you are."

Her face felt so red-hot it could have heated the entire mansion up, and she knew she was about to lose her temper; her slowly-fading sense of calm was leaving with every spare second he eyed her, every time he moistened his pressed, slim, demanding lips, and every moment his eyes seemed to spark in the dimmed lighting.

Sure he was attractive, but for some reason, she couldn't stand staring at that face. Always a smirk, or holding a demand in it's features, or showing off such a terrifically threatening look that it shook her strong core to no end of trembling.

"Can you stop it with that look on your face and just tell me whatever it is you came here to tell me?"

She watched him lick his lips again, more slowly, leisurely, and she nearly licked her own lips as well. His ways of sneaking those thoughts into her mind... oh BAKA! She had to escape this hell as soon as she saw an opening between the devil and the door.

He almost laughed at her- for getting under her skin and making her angry and uneasy was a very enjoyable form of entertainment. In fact, it reminded him of the time he'd trapped Misaki in his office...

But then, he had to stop and realize something- he indeed had come here with a purpose in mind.

"You will be attending school tomorrow." He was trying to be blunt just to annoy her.

It worked.

"Okay." She did indeed sound annoyed. "But- I thought Miyabigaoka was on a school break this week?"

He smirked, enjoying the red that came to her defiant face. She was frustrated and he took so much joy in it! And the pride that came with knowing he had caused it was immense as well. The bitch did need to learn her place, after all, and he always knew how to put people in their place.

"Oh, no, I'm afraid you won't be attending there anymore."

She gave him a distrusting look. "Then where-"

"Seika High School."

He was out of there before she could argue, and as the closet door shut he said; "Your uniform is folded on the dresser."

As he walked back down the halls of the inner parts of his estate, he chuckled to himself. This plan was going to work weather that girl liked it or not. He was in charge of things, and she had no say in it.

Yes... And soon, he would be seeing that Ayuzawa once again.

An image of her ember eyes popped up in his head, and he just laughed harder, the glee in his voice unmistakably present in his dark chuckle.

He was a young man who enjoyed himself simply too much.

Akari finished with one last curve of her wrist, flicking the brush through to the ends of her shoulder-length cinnamon-colored hair with a scowl on her face.

She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She was wearing a pleated tan skirt that hit just above her knees, a long-sleeved white button-up shirt tucked into her skirt, and a red clip-on bow at her collar. Seika High's female uniform. She was going to Seika High School in a little less than a few minutes. She had no choice in the matter.

It's not that she cared a whole lot about switching schools. In fact, she was kind of glad she didn't have to go to Miyabigaoka because she always did fit in better with the normal crowd than the stuck up snobs who were power-hungry and raised to be arrogant money-makers. The rich kids. Her mom had money from her rich and busy husband, sure, but she had raised Akari differently than to indulge mindlessly in their wealth.

She knew that Seika High would actually be more to her liking. But what bugged her to no end is the fact that she hadn't even been given a choice in the first place- Tora's power over her own life was unsettling and angering at the same time.

So NO! She was NOT in a good mood today. As it is thus demonstrated when she slams the brush down on the counter with a good, hard, 'THWACK!'

"Grrrrrrr..." She mumbles, barely audible. Her temper is being contained (sort of), but her aura is not- it's rolling off of her in waves of dark red blazes of fires mixing with gloomy, threatening clouds of black.

It doesn't help when, while she goes into the bedroom again to put her shoes on, there's a knock at her door and without being asked, in comes the Igarashi boy.

"First day of school. Should be fun." He didn't even seem to be affected by the waves of hate attacking the atmosphere around them.

"Hmf." She finishes with her shoes and pushes past him, trying to sort of shove him in a harsh way, but it only feels like she hit a brick wall. How strong was this guy?! That only angered her more and she growled under her breath again when he followed behind her down the hallway.

"So. I'll be driving with you over there today, just to make sure everything is arranged with Seika's President."

"How wonderful." The sarcasm and lack of enthusiasm in her voice was very evident as they stepped into the front hall and she moved to open the large doors now in front of them.

Being his swift self, Tora reached the door's handle before her and suddenly she was face to face with him, looking up at him with her eyes filled with a look of pure disdain. He narrowed his eyes back at her.

"Do you still find me unworthy of your time and effort?" He suddenly asked, catching her off-guard.

"Of course." Is her simple reply, and with a hard push she shoves past him, opens the door, and escapes from his uncomfortable close-proximity.

When they're both seated in the car, she chooses to very carefully avoid Tora and his gaze, and pretends to be checking in her school bag to make sure she has everything ready. To her grateful surprise, he does nothing to punish her for her earlier words just a few moments before, and the entire ride to the high school is left in a silence that she comfortably sinks into, her eyes shutting half-way as she stares lazily out the window, glad to pretend he isn't even with her while she wonders about how it'll be at her new school.

Tora was thinking about ways to put the Michiyo girl in her place right before he got in the car, but as soon as he was seated his mind couldn't focus on it. He was thinking about how he would greet Misaki now.

Some would think he had fallen for her, but that wasn't completely it. A lot of the reason he pursued her was because of the competition- lots of men liked a good competition, the rush from it was fun, and winning always boosted one's pride. It was a lovely feeling to win a prize against another competitive man, and Takumi Walker was more than a worthy opponent. Also, since Tora felt he had lost to the other boy already, he had to fix that because it was bugging him too much. He HATED to lose. Especially when it involved women.

He glanced for a moment at the girl sitting across from him. He was playing this little game about fucking her by the end of the week because of the same reason- he hated to lose with women, and Akari was certainly testing his abilities. She was something he couldn't have because she wouldn't let him and therefore he had to have her- she had been right about what she said to him on that matter.

His thoughts traveled back to that Misaki. She was... hmm. Well, he was continuing to involve himself with her partially because he couldn't have her, and also because she was so damn entertaining as well. And attractive. She denied him everything and that was oh so appealing to him, because he could normally have the whole world in his hands. He wouldn't exactly call it having affectionate feelings towards her, but yet he felt something there. When he had kissed her that one day in order to see the look on Usui's face, he hadn't really expected to like it as much as he did. But it didn't exactly feel... like he would want that for the rest of his life. So that certainly couldn't be whatever they call 'love.'

He sighed, exasperated. But how the fucking hell would HE know? It was hard to explain even to himself how he felt. He wasn't very in touch with his inner emotions, the way he truly felt about things. He had been faking his way through life far too long to remember how it felt to be true to yourself.

He glanced again at Akari. Did she know what he was like? She had hinted at it before, huh? Well to him though, she couldn't possibly know, no one (including himself) knew what he was like, truthfully. He just figured Akari had the same feelings towards him as Misaki did- despise, discomfort, a severe lack of trust, the urge he saw in their eyes to do something like throw him out a window as soon as he walked into the room...

Except he knew one thing was different with Akari. It was apparent in that look of disdain she had given him- she wasn't foolish enough to waste herself on him. Meanwhile, Misaki was too trusting of people, despite knowing she didn't trust him, to not oblige to his insistence on even holding a meeting with her today.

He wasn't sure if that was a turn-off or not. It meant Misaki wasn't as clever as he had at first thought, but at the same time it meant she wouldn't refuse him if he asked in the right way.

Shaking his head, he tried to clear all thoughts of both girls from his mind. It didn't really work- in fact, it only seemed to mix the thoughts up of them all the more in his head, and he fought the urge to punch the windows of the car out in his frustration with himself.

Just go see Misaki today, re-associate yourself with what it's like. He told himself.

So he would stick to his little games. Enrolling Akari in Seika High, using her to get close to Ayuzawa. Yes, this was working just fine.

Though for once, he didn't know quite where he was going with things.

This time, he raised his hand into a fist to punch out the window, only to find that the door was open and Akari had stepped out. Good, he didn't want to have to bother himself with the mess of glass if he had continued with his physical anger. He lowered his fist, trying to carefully compose himself.

"I'm Ayuzawa Misaki, the student council president."

The girl in front of Akari was dressed the same as she, with the addition of a green blazer, and was holding her hand out invitingly for her to take. Grinning slightly, glad the girl seemed to exude an aura of superiority yet not the arrogant kind, she reached out and shook that hand. Misaki grinned too, and that's when Akari decided that she liked this girl. She liked the school too- they were standing in nice clean halls, with warm-colored walls and a nice, comfortable school aura was everywhere. It was more her pace, for sure. Miyabigaoka felt more like a palace than a school when she had visited, and so this place was much much better. Though she wouldn't be thanking Tora anytime soon- she had a growing suspicion that he had a hidden reason behind having her enrolled here so suddenly.

"Hai, President Ayuzawa. My name is Michiyo Akari."

"You can call me Misaki, all the female students do."

Akari gave her a puzzled look.

"Then, what do the male students call you?"

Misaki's amber gaze slowly lowered to the floor, and she started grumbling a bit.

"What was that?"

"Demon president." A certain attractive blonde boy was suddenly standing beside the two girls, answering for his girlfriend.

"Demon... president?" Akari's eyes widened slightly. Why would they call such a nice girl that?

"Hello, president."

Suddenly Igarashi was beside her, he had been a little ways behind when she had been walking to the front doors of the school, and she didn't wait up for him. Misaki's head shot up and she was instantly turned into a scary-calm business-like young woman.

"Igarashi." The raven-haired girl stated. Though her tone was nice enough, her eyes burned with something along the lines of... well, an evil glare.

So, that's why they called her 'Demon President'. She was currently exuding an unpleasant dark aura, which only let up when the other blonde boy held her arm gently.

"What are you doing here?" The attractive young man asked.

"I have a meeting with your dear president this morning." Tora's eyes bore into the other boy's for a moment before they switched to Misaki. "Where would you like to talk?"

"Igarashi, I don't think it's necessary for you to bother Misaki about things. I can figure out how to settle in without your assistance." Akari tried, and she thought she saw the other blonde nod in silent agreement.

"No, no..." Misaki sighed, and shook her head slightly before looking up at Tora. "We can speak in the student council room about Akari's situation."

"Prez..." The other blonde boy started, but stopped when the girl shot him a defensive look.

"I'm fine on my own, Usui." But her gaze held something unconditional for just that boy, despite her angry face she was making at him, and Akari noticed it. They must be in love.

Akari looked up at Tora. He was smirking in triumph, oblivous to the fact the two loved each other, as someone like him would be. She wanted so badly to smack him, but didn't want to come across like a violent person to her new schoolmates standing in front of them.

"Anyway, can you show Akari-san to her class? It's starting in a few minutes."

Akari looked at the green-eyed, handsome boy at the President's side, and he hesitantly pulled his eyes away from Misaki, wearily eyeing Tora before finally resting his eyes on herself. He smiled, or tried to. Then his gaze was back on the president.

"Okay, Prez, but come find me when you're done, or I'll find you."

There was a suggestive tone to his voice that everyone caught, and Tora tensed in discomfort while Misaki's face flushed a bit.

"Stupid... baka Usui!" She mumbled, and with that, she and Tora went their way while the handsome blonde led Akari in the other direction.

She glanced up at him carefully. He had a small smile on his face that had been put there by Misaki's embarrassment, and he seemed nice enough. Though he certainly didn't make any gesture towards Akari at all, not even looking at her or bothering to start some small talk.

"So are you and the president dating?" Akari asked, somehow thinking he would only talk about Misaki if he were to speak up at all.

She was right and his gaze softened and he nodded.

"I'd like to think so, though Prez get's a little embarrassed when it's said out so straight-forward like that."

"Well you two seem really good together." Akari commented off to the side, more to herself than to him.

He looked down at her, his green eyes obviously happy but his face still lacking in emotions.

"Yes. She's perfect. But I'm afraid I fall short sometimes of the worthy title of her boyfriend."

I don't see how he's any less perfect than Misaki is! Saying he's unworthy of anything at all is like saying that Igarashi is actually fun to live with- something so untrue that I can't even...

Akari was not one to hold back even after first meeting someone, and immediately she spoke up.

"Are you serious?!" She nearly smacked him, but withheld. "Don't you see the way she reacts to you? You are both so obviously in love that anyone would know that she is yours, and you are hers, and neither of you fall short of being perfect to each other."

He stopped walking for a moment. Actually, they were outside of a classroom- probably hers.

She glanced at his face, and he looked blankly amazed for a moment. You couldn't really tell though because his face didn't change much from a blank stare.

o.o "Really?" He asked in a low, flat tone.

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

O_O His eyes widened, as if he didn't believe her.

"Yes, really."

And then he looked upwards, pondering for a moment. Then he just shrugged, went back to his usual blank and bored expression, and pointed to the door.

"Here's your first class of the day, I believe. Homeroom."

Akari looked above the door to see a sign that said 1-7

When she turned back to the blonde boy, he was already walking down the hallway with his hands stuffed deep into his pockets.

"Hey, wait!"

He turned slightly to face her, stopping his pace.

"What's your name anyway?"

"Usui Takumi."

"Um... well nice to meet you?"

"Yes. You too." He gave a barely-there smile. She was guessing he saved his real smiles for Misaki.

And he walked off again. She shook her head slightly, thinking; Strange boy.

Looking up at the sign above the door once again, she started to feel the beginnings of nerves forming, but before she could let herself start to feel the doubt seep in, she adjusted the bag on her shoulder, opened the door and peeked inside before stepping into the classroom.

"Well, seems like everything's in order then."

Tora nodded. He wasn't really paying attention- he just was continually cursing himself in his head for not doing anything up until this point. Their meeting was nearly over and he just couldn't think of a clear strategy to take. Plus, that Takumi would be back soon.

"Hey, Igarashi, can I ask you something?"

He looked up, staring right into those amber-bronze eyes of hers. He allowed himself to smirk at her, as usual.

"What is it?"

She gave him a look he was fond of, the same look she had given him ever since she'd confided in him and used him to help her bring Usui back. He had found now that her gaze, whenever she looked at him now, held just an inch of trust, of thanks, as if she almost could stand being around him now. They had grown closer then, when he had helped her out, and maybe that was why he hadn't made a move yet. He didn't want her to hate him and let all the time they spent together be forgotten. It was nice when they were... acquainted like that. He wouldn't go far enough to say 'friends'. And they were certainly not beyond friends as well.

"What is the current situation with Akari? I was curious... as to why she has to live with you."

Ouch. That sounded as if she pitied the other girl for having to put up with him so much, living with him and all.

"Her mother died." He said flatly, and looked away from her eyes off to the side. He didn't know what this feeling was that he got, it had to do with Akari though, and when he'd seen her at that grave site...

He had realized that death wasn't just serious, it actually happened. And maybe that's what got to him- because he was worried about his own mother's condition, and seeing how torn apart Akari was without her mother...

It wasn't like he didn't have a heart. He knew when to be sympathetic towards something. He supposed that was why whenever this subject came up, about Akari's mother, he treated it with such care. It was a fragile topic.

"Oh..." Misaki sounded heart-broken, surprised, curiosity leaving her. Now that he thought about it, the most important people to her were her sister and mother. And Usui. Maybe she was trying to imagine what it could possibly be like for her mother to actually be dead, like Akari's was.

"Don't feel bad about it." He said, looking back up at her. "These things happen. Just try to forget about it, because that's what she does."

"Akari has forgotten about it? I- I don't believe that."

He shook his head, his bangs parted on the right side of his face swinging into his eyes, and he looked down again.

"It's a careful topic. She hasn't forgotten but I bet she hates remembering."

Suddenly Misaki was standing, and walking towards the door.

"Alright, then let's stop talking about it. Thank you, Igarashi. We'll take good care of her here at Seika High."

He looked up at her, but didn't move from where he leaned back on a desk.

For some reason, looking at Misaki now, he didn't know how he felt. He had thought she had infatuated him, and that was why he had helped her, had kissed her, had admitted to the fact of liking her as a woman... but he wasn't one hundred percent positive of that fact anymore.

And then, just as suddenly as she opened the door, Usui was there, and he looked back and forth between them defensively before stepping close to Misaki.

Tora grinned at his opponent.

"Alright, yeah. My thanks to you as well." He stood up, straightening his clothes slightly. He looked up.

Huh... have those two always looked so good together like that or have I just been ignoring it all the time?

He shook his head, and started to pass by the couple. He stopped when he was on his way, still right beside the two, and an idea came to him.

He spun himself around then because he had to know. He grabbed Misaki and kissed her before either her or Usui could expect it. It was very brief, but it was just enough.

Usui was quick to pull him back by his collar and punch him in the jaw. He just laughed as he fell back, and when the other boy pulled his fist back for another blow, he side-stepped the attack and raised his arms in defense.

"I'll be seeing you again some time, when your lover isn't so riled up." He said, and then he looked at Misaki with a smirking gaze.

She wasn't anything special, his eyes seemed to open up to see her for the first time.

Her uniform was wrinkled. Her hands were too small, too dainty. Her raven-black hair was really more of any normal color of black, and her eyes were still that orange-bronze color, glaring, shocked, at him now, but she had shadows formed underneath them from working too hard into the night, from probably over-working herself with Student Council business. She could be any normal, over-tired high school girl, with just a slightly more defiant nature than the rest.

He sighed, finally content. And then Usui grabbed his collar and he found himself suddenly being glared at by two bright green eyes.

"Don't. Touch her. EVER."

Tora smiled, his smirk still there. He might miss having an opponent this fun, though.

"Hmf. You know? I won't."

He gripped Usui's hands and pulled them off of him. He didn't even nod to either of them, didn't even bother to say a pointless goodbye, just pulled himself together and strutted away from the pair.

To them, the scene must have appeared to be him being his usual, proud, lecherous self. Randomly kissing her, forcing his mouth to hers, it probably appeared that he was doing it just to please his needs, just to make them angry, to get their reactions.

But they hadn't heard what had been going on in his head. He simply just wanted to know something.

He just wanted answers.

And he found them.

Simple as that.

He smiled to himself as he stepped outside. The infatuation was, surprisingly, gone. Or receding quickly now. He had no idea how it happened, or why it had so suddenly faded- really, yesterday, when he visited the school, it WAS there. Just like usual. But that kiss had been as uninteresting as a paper bag.

How interesting... He now thought, with new interest in a new idea now.

Why had he gotten over Ayuzawa Misaki? Just when had it become so uninteresting with her? He had to know.

"And I'll certainly find out." He said to himself as he made his way towards his awaiting limo, the smirk, even still, evident on his features.

He paused and for a moment frowned. Reaching up a hand, he held his jaw tentatively.

"Ow... that bastard..."

Akari surveyed those near her. She had just walked in and was told by the teacher where to sit, and that he would introduce her as soon as class started.

To her right there was a boy and also there was another in front of her. To her left was a girl, the only girl near her, since, when she looked around the room, she realized she was in the farthest corner, separated from most of the girls who sat collectively up front (but... she thought this was assigned seating? guess they didn't really care...) She was near the back with a small group of the guys, in front of her, and some scattered around her right side up the next row. She turned her head to see if someone was behind her as well, but was met with a bowed head covered by a grey hood.

"Are you new?"

She turned her head to her left, expecting to look into the face of a girl, as the aura to her left in that direction was sincere and feminine, but instead she looked into a pair of big dark orange/brown eyes, she would call them a coppery color- they were rimmed by long lashes, but the face certainly didn't belong to a girl, she knew. A guy with short dark green hair was staring back at her. Oh, so she really was the only girl back here.

"Oh. Yes. I'm new today." She said, trying to be polite to the cute boy beside her. He seemed friendly, maybe they could get along.

"Just for today?" He asked.

"No, no I'm here for good." She laughed a little, and he smiled, embarrassed.

"Oh- right! Ha-ha... Well nice to meet you, I'm the Vice President and second-in-command to our dear President here at Seika. Did you meet her already?"

"Misaki? Yeah, she seemed like a really powerful president."

The boy nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh, she is. She has us guys in the Student Council working extra hard, but I like how we all can work together. It's a happy environment."

Akari almost smirked at the boy- he was so peaceful and girly. But she smiled at him instead.

"So, what's your name?" She asked, curious now.

"I'm Yukimura Shouichirou. Oh! And this is my friend," The small boy quickly grabbed hold of the hood of the person with his head down behind Akari. "Soutarou Kanou."

The boy under the hood just stayed as he was. It wasn't evident if he was sleeping or not, he just stayed as he was though.

"...Well, he's probably tired from our studying late last night. We have a test today in another class that we share..."

For a moment, Akari found herself wondering if the two boys were gay. That'd be adorable, she was sure they were cute together-

"We're not."

The voice took her by surprise, and she pivoted in her seat to stare at the boy who had now lifted his head up.

"I know what you're thinking. We aren't like that though." He said carefully, as Yukimura scratched his head wondering what the heck his friend was talking about. He was really innocent, another girly quality about him.

Akari just continued to stare at the boy behind her as he sat up in his desk and leaned back in his chair. He didn't let his hood come down, but it slid back a little as he turned to explain to the other boy why he was tired.

"It's not your fault Shouichirou, you really didn't stay over too late..." His words were lost to Akari's ears as she studied him.

His shaggy black hair was slightly blue in hue. His face was clear and he had a fair, light olive complexion. His eyes were the same dark blue as his hair was tinted, except they stood out more brightly, the coloring more vibrant in those irises of his. They looked like sapphire. For some reason, she found those eyes mesmerizing, interesting, and it upset her when she blinked and came to the realization that they were hidden behind black-framed glasses.

The sunlight came through the window at an angle right then that placed a bright sheen across the surface of his glasses, blocking her view of his gaze as he finished speaking to the Yukimura boy. His head turned towards her.

"Uh..." He said, the sheen in his glasses disappearing from the change in direction. He was staring at her with wide eyes, looking like a deer in the headlights.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought. I didn't realize I was staring at you like that." She apologized, and she could've sworn he looked a little nervous, as if he had just realized something terrible.

"Uh- uh-huh." He mumbled and immediately looked down at his desk. She continued to watch as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small golden disk tied through with a thin wire, and he started fiddling with it in his hands, as if to distract himself from her gaze, to avoid conversation.

"So, can I call you Yukimura then?" She asked as she turned back to the smaller boy to her left.

"Yes, that's alright with me." He smiled lightly again, his face all sunshine-and-roses.

"Alright, take your seats." The teacher called out, and when Yukimura quickly turned away from her and sat back politely in his seat, Akari did the same.

"Excuse me, you're in my seat again."

Akari looked over to where the noise was coming from. To her right, a girl was standing with her back facing Akari, and she seemed to be addressing the boy that was sitting in that desk. Oh, so she actually wasn't going to be the only girl back here, after all.

"Sorry, sorry, Aika-san."

"It's alright, Ryuunosuke."

The boy sitting in front of Akari suddenly spoke up, turning in his seat.

"Since when are you two on a first name basis, eh?"

The girl, Aika, blushed as she took a seat after the guy who had been sitting there, Ryuunosuke, stood up. The blush only added to her good looks. Her pale face with the slight pink moving across it brightened her eyes, her hair was longer than Akari's, reaching down to her hips in pretty, soft curls. It was a nice black color, like Misaki's, but also had artificial honey-colored streaks in it. Her big, baby-doll eyes were a pleasant milk-chocolate color.

"Come on, Seiji. I call everyone by their first name." The pretty girl brushed it off, but Akari didn't miss the way she glanced back up at the boy Ryuunosuke one last time, or the way his hand lingered on her desk before the teacher glared at him and he reluctantly walked to the other side of the room.

She smiled. These people seemed to know each other well, she hoped she could be friends with them, maybe. She wanted to make friends quickly so she didn't have to put up with sitting alone at lunch time, for that sounded none-too-fun.

"Huh." The boy said, and then he suddenly turned his head in Akari's direction, and gave her a look of surprise. "Who are you?"

"Michiyo-san, please come up to the front of the room so that I may introduce you to the class."

Akari just shrugged at the boy and got up, listening to the teacher's words. She walked with an even pace to the front of the room, and there she stood, waiting to be introduced. To her surprise, the entire class was looking up curiously. She would have thought they wouldn't have cared all that much, really.

"This is Michiyo Akari. She just transferred here from Miyabigaoka, so treat her with kindness and I expect you to help her out with what she needs until she gets used to the flow of things here." The teacher said, and then he nodded for her to retake her seat.

Akari instantly hated the teacher for saying the part about Miyabigaoka. Technically she had never gone there before (but yes, was going to); her mom had hired private tutors at the mansion they lived at so that 'her daughter never had to witness the horrors of public school' so she had never had to attend that school.

But since everyone knew what a prestigious school Miyabigaoka was, they'd probably label her as that rich girl that most likely got kicked out of her rich-people school for being too much of an arrogant snob. How fantastic. She already had a label and it wasn't even noon.

When she took her seat and the teacher said something about taking roll, the boy in front of her turned to look at her again, his eyebrows raised.

He was an averagely handsome kid, with long blonde hair pulled back into a short ponytail on his head and very bright green-blue eyes. Well, she was just surrounded by blonde boys in her life, wasn't she? Usui, this Seiji kid, Tora...

"So, that answered your question." She said plainly, trying to seem as polite as she could.

"Yeah, it did. But seriously, Miyabigaoka?" He asked, his eyes seemed to be searching for secrets.

She sighed when she realized that both Yukimura's and that girl Aika's attention was on her now as well.

"No, the teacher mixed up his information." She glanced up at the boy and the other two. They all looked slightly relieved. "I was almost going to go there, if I were to be honest to you. But at the last minute I was told I was switching to Seika, and I'm glad." She threw them all a small smile. "I've never been one to enjoy being around the kind of people who attend Miyabigaoka."

Her fellow students now visibly relaxed, the blonde boy even smiled at her.

"Nani? That's strange. I would think it'd be nice to go to such a luxurious school. Anyway, it's nice to meet you, I'm-"

"Akamine, Seiji."

"Hai, Imasu." The boy called out, and then laughed a little as he faced Akari. "Well, yes, that's me."

"Akiyama, Aika." The teacher said again, going down the roll call list.

"Oh, and now you know me too HAI!" The girl chimed quickly, looking up at the teacher to make sure he noticed her.

"Well, it's a relief to know the people I sit next to in class aren't unpleasant." Akari said, not really trying to be all that touchy-feely or affectionate, more like speaking her mind aloud.

Nonetheless, the boy and the girl looked a bit shell-shocked, and then they both gave her sincere smiles.

"Hai. And it's nice for us to know you aren't an arrogant bitch." Said Aika, taking Akari aback.

"Aika-san. Don't be so judgmental, we don't even know what the people at Miyabigaoka are like."

"Hmf." Aika brushed off Seiji's comment as if things like this normally happened. "I know that anyone with loads of money is going to definitely be arrogant."

"I have quite a lot of money though... and you just said I'm not arrogant." Akari proved quietly, and then she regretted it, thinking it sounded boastful or too matter-of-fact, and looked away and down at her hands. She wasn't very good at this, was she? She had never had to go to a school before though! So of course she wasn't!

Sure, she'd gone to big social events for her dad, so she could talk to people. But this place was different, and school in general was different.

Suddenly, Seiji started cracking up, and the teacher stopped his continual calling of names to glare at him. He steadied himself and quieted down, glancing back at Akari approvingly.

"You're not shy, and you're funny. That's good, shy people are always intimidated by me. And also, Aika hates it when people are shy about anything."

"Not completely true, Seiji-kun! I only hate it when you try to engage in a conversation with someone and they either completely ignore you or cringe away from you like you're the plague! That's fucking annoying."

The blonde boy rolled his eyes.

"Excuses, excuses. Just admit you judge people too easily and we can be done with this."

"Shut up."

And with that, the pretty girl pulled out an Ipod from her bag, connected it to some earbuds, and slipped them in her ears, scrolling down the playlists and nodding her head when she selected one.

"Sorry, she's temperamental..." The boy grumbled, shaking his head, his ponytail flopping slightly from the movement.

"No, I like her. Stubborn people are considered my friends." Akari smiled, and met his eyes. He looked like he was about to burst out laughing once again. "Baka, what is it?!"

"Nothing. You're just pretty cool, that's all." He said, and then turned back around in his seat, just like that.

"Well, okay then..."

His shoulders in front of her shook. He was laughing at her again. She kicked the leg of his chair to get him to shut up, but he only laughed harder.

"Baka, you're annoying, Akamine-san."

He glanced over his shoulder at her, but then the teacher was glaring at him again with a look like one-more-outburst-and-you'll-have-detention, so he turned back in his seat.

Akari sat back and listened to the dull monotonous voice of the teacher calling out names she'd never heard before.

"Fujiwara, Saki."

"Hai, Imasu..."

"Fukuda, Mitsuru."

Silence.

"...Fukuyama, Hiiro."

"Hai Imasu."

"Funakoshi, Ryuunosuke."

Her head bobbed up at that name. That was the guy that she assumed Aika had a crush on.

"Funakoshi, Ryuunosuke..."

Silence.

"FUNAKOSHI RYUUNOSUKE! I can see you right there! Pay attention during roll call or you'll get marked as absent, how many times to I have to tell you this?"

Akari glanced around the room at the teacher, and followed his gaze to the boy at the middle of the row by the door. He, too, had ear buds in his ears like Aika did, and was now taking them out obediently and staring at the teacher with 'I'm sorry' eyes. The teacher huffed, and then continued the roll call.

"Gakusha, Atsushi."

"Hai Sensei!" Another boy called, obviously paranoid about being yelled at as well.

They sure had a scary sensei.

"Hey, Akamine." She said in a hushed tone, patting the boy in front of her's back.

He swiveled even the slightest bit in his chair, and the teacher automatically looked over in their direction, his hawk-like gaze penetrating the both of them. Obediently, the boy turned the right way around in his seat, sighing.

Akari leaned all the way back in her seat, deciding to withhold her question for now. And then, something tapped against her outstretched leg, and she looked down to see a shoe bumping into her shoe, a white square sticking out from underneath Seiji's shoe. For a moment, she only stared to marvel at how much bigger his foot was compared to hers.

"Take it." The boy in front of her barely whispered, and she snapped out of it, finally understanding. Looking at the sensei to make sure he didn't notice, she then leaned down and he lifted his foot so she could grab the note.

Upon opening it, she read his messy script more easily than she probably should have been able to. It said 'What is it?' in blue pen.

Grabbing a pencil from her bag, she wrote down under his words her question.

'Are Aika-san and that Ryuunosuke guy going out or something?'

She tapped his shoulder and he reached a hand backwards, beneath her desk. She was quick to place it in his palm.

When she next got the note, it read; 'Hah. You're weird to notice that so easily. I don't know if they are, but I'm pretty sure they both like each other.'

She quickly scribbled a 'Thanks, I was curious and didn't know if I should ask Aika.' and then handed the note to him the same way she had before.

The sensei was to the K's now on the roll call list, and for some reason he looked over at her then. She smiled slightly back, her hands placed on the desk innocently, and he looked away and called out the next name.

She was surprised when the little white note was back on her desk a moment later. Seiji had reached back and placed it there as soon as the teacher wasn't looking.

This time, the words underneath her own read; 'No problem, Akari-san. Can I call you Akari-san? You can call me my first name if you want.'

She smiled. Making friends was easier than she expected. She glanced at the sensei, who had his back to them for some reason now, probably scolding a student at the other end of the room. She tapped the blonde's shoulder and he glanced quickly at the teacher before turning his head to look at her.

"Okay, Seiji-kun." She nodded to him, glad he was so easy to talk to and that he wasn't too attractive, so she didn't have trouble looking at him or talking to him like this.

He smiled, and for the first time she noticed his one dimple in his right cheek.

"Hai, alright then."

"Mr. Akamine! Do I have to move you to a different seat?!"

"But sensei, you said to help her if she needs something."

The man holding the clipboard narrowed his eyes.

"Hmm. Okay, well what did she need to know?"

"Where the bathroom was."

Akari immediately raised her hand.

"Um, by the way, sensei... can I use the restroom?"

A few of the students snickered and her and Seiji's little act, and the sensei reluctantly nodded.

"Take the hall pass and be back within five minutes." He said as she stood and passed the rows of desks.

"Hai, I will."

When she was about to exit through the door, the teacher leaned in closer to her.

"He told you where it is, right? Down two classrooms and turn left."

She looked over at Seiji. He looked both suspicious and worried, so she figured the teacher might be testing her to see if their story was true. He seemed like the type to do that.

"You must be wrong," She said with a feigned puzzled look. "He told me a different route."

The sensei's tense shoulders visibly relaxed, and she was glad she had guessed correctly. She really didn't want to face this man's wrath and she certainly didn't want to get her new friend in trouble either.

"Sorry, I probably am wrong. Go on ahead, then."

And with that, she left the classroom. When the man had turned back around, she cast Seiji a mischievous smile that he returned the gesture by laughing softly before she closed the door.

At lunch, Akari was invited by Seiji and Aika to sit and eat with them.

Of course, she had wanted to. But she had to politely decline because she had already been asked by Yukimura.

"Okay, so she already hates us!" Aika had said throwing her arms in the air while that Ryuunosuke boy laughed at her little act and patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"Oh be quiet Aika, no she doesn't. If you have other plans for lunch today, then, will you eat with us tomorrow?" Seiji had asked, being cordial as ever.

She had agreed to that, and now she was approaching the Student Council room, figuring Yukimura would be in there since he is the vice president. He had never told her where to meet- he'd never gotten the chance since the sensei had yelled at them for talking during the lecture.

"Hello?" She said upon entering.

Several boys looked up at her from the desks or from where they were standing around the room. Suddenly, before she could try to recognize Yukimura, she was pulled into a fierce hug that smelled like paperwork.

"I never got to tell you! I had wanted to meet with you at lunch, how did you know?"

Oh, it was Misaki's voice. She pulled away slowly, and looked at Akari with a certain sadness in her eyes that she couldn't place... no, pity. It was pity.

But why would she pity me? Oh, wait. She knows that I have to live with Tora. That's definitely reason for pity.

"Yukimura invited me for lunch. I'd figured he'd be here."

"He's with Kanou, in the broadcasting room grabbing some things I need. They should be back soo-"

"Misa-chan! We knew you'd be in here! You've been much too busy lately~!" A girly voice said from behind.

"Oh, hai, sorry Sakura-chan, Shizuko...chan?"

Akari turned to see two girls, a very cute, pigtailed, strawberry-haired girl and a taller one with short hair and glasses. The taller looked rather angry...

"Misaki! Stop cancelling on us, you always leave me to deal with an upset Sakura. And you-" She turned to the strawberry-haired girl. "You need to stop whining when we can't find Misaki! I TOLD you we'd find her in here, didn't I? And look, I was right. Hmf."

As the three continued on like that, (the Sakura girl was now apologizing tearfully, the taller, Shizuko, was even more annoyed and reprimanding her again, and Misaki was sweat-dropping, trying to calm them down) two boys entered the room behind them, and her eyes immediately met up with first Yukimura's and then with Kanou's glasses.

"Hi, guys." She said politely, acting as if the scene in front of them wasn't happening.

"Um, p-president?" Yukimura started, but Kanou put a hand on his shoulder.

"Not right now, let's just put the stuff she needs on her desk."

When they moved, Akari decided to follow behind. Then, Yukimura turned back around to her and smiled, rubbing a hand behind his neck uneasily.

"Sorry... Michiyo-san... I sort of forgot to tell you where we'd be."

"That's okay, I figured you'd be here. Do you guys have lunch in here?" She looked up at Kanou, but he was looking at the ground. Maybe he disliked her...

"Oh, we don't have to if you don't want!"

She smiled at the smaller boy.

"Whatever you want, Yukimura."

They ended up, after much negotiation (because of Yukimura's good-natured insistence on having her choose where they ate and then her saying she honestly didn't care and then them going in circles about it for a while until Kanou finally stopped them), sitting in a few of the empty desks at the back of the room and eating together without talking too much. Whenever Akari would ask something of Kanou to try and involve him in what little conversation she had with Yukimura, Yukimura would jump in and change the topic with a strange tone of voice and Kanou would look slightly embarrassed or ashamed.

She couldn't help but wonder what his problem was. Or- maybe it was her?

A/N: I need a vacation. (and holy sheeet this chapter was lengthy)

This story is kickin' ma butt cuz sometimes I feel as if I'm getting ahead of myself a little... or making slight flaws in the story cuz I'm just writingwritingwritingspillingmybrainsout and I just dunno... I may be getting story-insecure!

(And your lack of reviews doesn't help. peasants.) SHUT UP TYRANNICAL NUISANCE! *pounds fists into head*

Really guys, I didn't mean that. I love you regardless of the amount of reviews or follows or other stuff that I get. I'm just happy to have someone reading my writing. :) You're all so great for tuning in to my story and though I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't enjoy your thoughts/critique in the form of your reviews, either way I'm happy because I get to share the inner workings of my novelistic (that's not a word, but it should be) brain with all you people! I love you guys.

Plus, I know I'm being insanely impatient because I've only had my story up for a very short time and I should definitely not be expecting the attention my inner-power-tyrant is craving, so I actually apologize.

LISTEN UP PEASANTS! REVIEW OR TO THE TORTURE CHAMBERS WITH YOU!

I may have a double personality... *raps knuckles against head* Anyone else in there? heeelllooo-?

Love,

CK :* :* :* (you deserved three kiss faces this time because I've been tyrannical once again. I hope my cerulean kisses make it all better!)