A/N: Not mine.

The girls stayed close to Kotoko once they returned to classes. She assured Naoki a few days later that Kinnosuke was remaining to himself and was–for him–subdued. "But I don't trust that," she shared. "That is so not like him; it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"Well, if he does, throw it at him," was the irreverent reply.

When the 'shoe' did drop, Kotoko actually looked down at her feet, but as she was wearing school slippers didn't think any damage would occur. Her friends proved true to their word and immediately challenged the smug boy at the front of the room.

"Who died and made you god of the fall festival?" Jinko asked pugnaciously." I didn't notice any election."

"Aw, come off it, Jinko," he gave her his swarmiest smile. "You know I do this every year."

"Yeah, and why didn't I remember this?" Kotoko smacked herself in the forehead.

Satomi stood. "As this is our last year, and our grades are even more important now, I demand that we be able to select our own events."

"Right." Nemeto stood. "Last year you worked us so hard that I almost got kicked off the team because I couldn't keep up with their practices." He turned. "Who's with me on this?"

Most of the class was, but the teacher decided not to allow committee rule, and, as Kinnosuke had already made most of the assignments, the status quo was maintained.

"Damn spineless sensei," Jinko groused. "If I'm in the three-legged run again– No!" she yowled when she was given the handout.

"Wait a minute!" Satomi waved the sheet. "What are you doing, Kin-chan?"

"Well," he temporized, "there may be a little shufflin' goin' on as I judge the practices. But don't worry, Kin-chan will come through and guarantee a Class F victory!" He raised both arms in the shape of a "V" and was nonplussed when he was not greeted with joyous cheers. "It's gonna be like that, huh?" he muttered. "Never mind, I'll win 'em over by the festival."

"Why so glum, Kotoko?" Naoki peered down at her woebegone face.

"That Idiot" (and he could 'hear' the capital letters) "is ruling the festival like a dictator," she complained. "I'm in the scavenger hunt and the long jump." She pointed to her petite legs. "These aren't going to be going very far, no matter how hard I train."

"Win or lose, what's the difference?" He patted a shoulder. "This isn't exactly going to be on your high school transcript."

"I know, but it doesn't make any sense. Wait a second," she tapped her chin, "maybe it does."

"Pardon?"

"He said he might shift things around based upon the results of practice. Oh, no," she moaned, leaning her head back, "I'm going to be put in an even worse spot. Probably something to do with him!"

Naoki appeared pensive. "Then, in that case, be prepared for the mixed relay."

"Huh?"

"Your fearless leader is not as invisible as he believes, at least in the closed environment of the school building. I saw him skulking on our end of the building, coming out of the Class A room, and we had our festival roster written on the board."

"So why do you think I'll be in the relay?"

"Because I am," he averred. "If nothing else, he is determined to show that he is the better man."

Kotoko snickered, "Especially after you got him kicked out of the water park."

"Correction. He got himself kicked out of the park."

"To-may-to, to-mah-to. So you think he wants to go head-to-head against you? Oh, crap, and he'd want me nearby to rub it in if he beats you."

"And that's why I think you'll be changed to the relay. And if he assigns himself the 100-meter race, you can be certain that he is focussed on me."

"I suppose you're in that as well."

"Um-hm."

"Then you'd better win," she ordered, poking a finger into his chest.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Mama," Yuuki stood in the den doorway," what is all this?"

"Oh, Yuuki-kun," she exclaimed, "how fortuitous. I need someone to look at these two designs and tell me which is best."

Eyes wide, he did as she asked, then asked, "Why are you making up posters with Onii-chan and Onee-chan?"

"It's for the Fall Festival at Tonan High," she gushed. "Imagine! Every year parents are allowed to come support their children's endeavors and your brother never told me! I will give him a piece of my mind for that!"

The boy refrained from asking if she could spare one; he doubted it as he looked over the paraphernalia. Fans, boom sticks, posters, streamers, megaphones, all personalized with either Naoki or Kotoko's name or face. "Does Onii-chan know you're doing all this?" he ventured.

"No," she pressed her hands together, "it is going to be a huge surprise, so don't tell!"

"I wouldn't think of it, Mama. Say," he proffered a winning smile, "is there any way I can get out of school and go too? I mean, I'd love to see their expressions when they see all you've done."

"Hey, Kotoko Babe," Kinnosuke sidled up next to her during Class F's enforced (by Hakamada) practice, "I'm afraid to tell you that it ain't workin' out."

She looked narrowly at him then shook her head. "I hear what you're saying but I'm not getting my hopes up that it means what I want it to mean."

"Yeah," he continued as if she had not spoken, "ya ain't improved any on your jumping. I'm gonna hafta move ya to, lemme see," he scanned the printouts, "the mixed relay."

"Why am I not surprised?" She rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, I get slot number three."

"Right you are." He grinned. "You'll be handin' off the baton to yours truly. And since I'm the best runner in school, even if you lose a little ground for us, I'll fix it."

"Gee thanks." She dusted sand from the long jump pit off her shorts. "So I guess I can leave now."

"Nuh-uh!" He placed a hand on her arm. "We gotta practice. I mean, ya been workin' on your jumps and not baton handlin'." His smirk at the double entendre fell from his face when she walked away.

"Forget it."

"Hey!" He made no progress in following her as his way was blocked by her two friends, who had made their way over once they saw Kinnosuke pull her into a tête-à-tête.

Jinko gave him a disgusted look. "You're such a perv. We know you're just taking this opportunity to hold Kotoko's hand."

"But what if she drops the stick?" he argued.

Satomi glared, arms akimbo. "I'm on the relay as well, remember? And I've been put through the paces for over a week. I'll take over Kotoko's training."

"It ain't gonna be the same–"

"Yes, it is!" Jinko shoved him backwards. "Leave the girl alone."

"After all," Satomi sneered, "that's what you said you'd do last summer."

He watched as they stalked off to catch up with Kotoko. "Drat those witches!"

Naoki looked over at Kotoko, toying with the rice on her plate. "Look, this is one time that I hate being right," he told her, "but at least I gave you some warning."

"Yes," she smiled wanly, "and since I told the girls, Satomi stepped in and is protecting me from his clammy palms during practice. Do you think I ought to run slowly during the race to give you a larger lead?"

"What?!" Mrs. Irie exclaimed. "Am I to understand that you two will be competing head to head?"

"Well, sort of," Kotoko replied. "I'm in the third lap and Naoki the last."

"How exciting!" She clapped and then began to mutter, "I wonder if I have enough supplies for an extra design?"

The teenagers looked at her and then each other. "It's better not to ask," Naoki advised.

She nodded. "After living here several months, that's my conclusion as well."