"You've got to be kidding me, Sakura," said Ichika. "That's ridiculous."

"I'm not kidding," Kurama replied calmly, folding his arms behind his back and looking at all the cheerleaders sitting in front of him, and at Hiei and Aratani watching in the bleachers. "Could I at least watch the tape, please?"

"Just let her watch it, Ichika," Tanaka begged. "This could be our only chance at winning the competition."

"Well…okay," Ichika said reluctantly, getting up to retrieve the tape from the locker room. "Just don't expect me to visit you in the hospital when you break every bone in your body."

Kurama didn't know if that was hyperbole or if he should actually be concerned, but he didn't have too much time to ponder it, because Ichika wasted no time in bringing back the tape, along with a portable TV and a boom box.

"When you perform the Meiou Monster, you do it in time to the same music I'm going to play out of this boom box," she explained, setting it down on a chair. "The song wasn't around back when Miss Legendary designed the routine, but it fit really well, so our school edited it in a few years ago."

"Fine." Kurama thought that was good news, because the music might help him memorize the routine. As the head cheerleader inserted the tape, he sat down to watch with all the others.

Ichika started the tape, and Kurama had to admit the Meiou Monster did seem a bit complicated. The whole time he was watching it, his brain was racing to memorize the routine. Just as he expected, the music helped him along. It didn't match up perfectly with every move the girl did, of course, but he knew that when he performed it, he could adjust his moves so that they did. There was also the matter of observing everything he would need, all around him—the rope, the rings, the balance beam, the pom-poms, the giant metal hoops that hung from the ceiling…Kurama had been wondering what those were there for, and now he knew. In the tape, the girl was dodging them. Even though this routine wouldn't be easy, he had done more difficult things, and he was already thinking of ways he could embellish it even more.

Once the tape was over, Ichika narrowed her eyes at Kurama. "Still think you can do it?"

"Yes," said Kurama, and she actually looked surprised. "I just need to watch it one more time."

So he did, and once it was over, everyone gawked as Kurama grabbed the pom-poms and set both feet squarely on the ground.

"I'm ready," he said.

Ichika looked a little pale, but she pressed the button on the boom box, starting the same spunky, energetic song she'd played during the video. It was time.

…

Hiei seemed to be the only one in the gym who had complete confidence that Kurama could complete the Meiou Monster. Even though it was far away, he used his Jagan eye to watch it, and he didn't doubt for a second that Kurama would nail it. Part of it was that he knew what Kurama was capable of, but he also just had a lot of faith in his friend. That was what friends did, after all. They believed in each other. But why was everyone else so faithless? Every time someone underestimated Kurama, they ended up either very thankful or very regretful. So these cheerleaders were just going to have to wait and see.

It started off with what looked like pretty basic cheerleading moves (not that Hiei would know), but as the song went on, things got more complicated. By the time the first verse of the song was over, Kurama had displayed all kinds of fancy gymnastics-like moves—flips, spins, handsprings—all the ones that were in the video, and even more.

There was one point in the video where Kurama had to throw the pom-poms up in the air and catch them in time to the music, and if his timing had been off by even a millisecond, or if he hadn't had such good depth perception and aim, he wouldn't have been able to do it. After that, there were all kinds of jumps—the hoops, the balance beam, even just jumping straight up into the air—all in time to the music. Kurama could jump higher than the girl in the video, and he was more flexible, with lightning-fast reflexes. Kurama actually seemed to be adding his own personal flair to the routine, making it even more impressive.

This was especially well-demonstrated when it came to dodging those hoops that were hanging from the ceiling. Unlike the girl in the video, who simply dodged them, Kurama used a few backflips to avoid them instead, landing on his feet every time. Then he did some more tricks with the pom-poms, and then it was time for the rope. Hiei grinned. He was especially looking forward to this.

…

As soon as the music prompted him to do so, Kurama tossed the pom-poms aside and grabbed the rope with his right hand, prepared to follow what he had seen the girl doing in the video. Always in time to the song, he started the rope part of the routine. This reminded him of a certain rope-like weapon with which he had quite a bit of experience, and what did you know…

The skills were transferrable!

Kurama decided right away that this would be the highlight of this routine, and that he could (and would) do a lot more than the girl in the video. Just as he had done countless times in the past, he lifted the rope above his head, spinning himself in an elegant circle, and showing off the Rose Whip's many abilities in the most performative manner he could. It wasn't exactly the same without all the rose petals swirling around him, but it was similar enough, and although he knew he couldn't waste too much time or deviate too much from the routine, he enjoyed himself showing off the tricks he could do with his signature weapon.

Done! Kurama was almost to the grand finale of the routine, and he had to think of something special to really make his performance pop…but what? There were some more basic moves coming up, but after that, he was supposed to throw his pom-poms in the air, jump from the high beam onto a giant foam block, catch the pom-poms, then jump down again, executing a perfect landing. After that, the song would be over, and so would the routine.

During another one of his handsprings backwards, Kurama found his inspiration out of the corner of his eye—the rope! If he could pull it off, that is…He would have to be quick, and time it just right.

Once the music called for the jump up to the high beam, he tossed his pom-poms high into the air like he was supposed to, but instead of jumping, he grabbed the rope again and flung it like a grappling hook so that it secured firmly onto the high beam. Then, keeping himself coordinated, but with his eyes on the midair pom-poms, he used the rope's hold on the high beam to flip himself over onto the foam block, and—yes!—he caught the pom-poms just in time. As the last line of the song played, he flipped himself over onto the ground again, landing down on one knee with both hands out at his sides, still holding the pom-poms.

"How did I do?" Kurama asked, panting slightly, then standing up straight as the song ended.

For the first time that whole afternoon, Ichika was speechless. Her mouth was just opening and closing again, like a fish. Hanako looked horrified, but the other cheerleaders' expressions were full of hope. Tanaka was beaming. Hiei and Aratani had lost control of themselves completely, jumping up and down in the bleachers as they clapped and cheered and whistled.

"Never, in all my years of gymnastics and cheerleading…" Ichika had finally found her voice again. "Congratulations! You've made the team!"

"Thank you," said Kurama with a little bow.

"If you do that well in the competition, there's no way we can lose!" she added, pumping her fist in the air. "Right, girls?!"

This time, all the cheerleaders cheered, except Hanako.

"Sakura, you seem to be a fast learner," Ichika continued. "Do you think you can learn a sufficient amount of routines before the big competition on Saturday?"

"Yes, I can do that." Kurama smiled.

"Great." Suddenly businesslike, Ichika ushered Hiei and Aratani out of the gym with a wave of her hand. "All right, time for us cheerleaders to practice like we've never practiced before. Go home, you two."

"I'm going to go hang out with Yu Kaito," said Aratani. "See you, Sakura."

Kurama knew that go hang out probably meant break up in this context, but he didn't say anything, just nodded and smiled again.

"I'll tell the other two to meet at your house, Sakura," Hiei called. "We'll meet you there."

…

Aratani left the gymnasium, and Hiei was just about to leave as well when he bumped headlong into someone heading in, knocking him hard onto the floor. He lifted up his head to yell at the person, but one look at them, and every word seemed to float out of his brain.

Wow. She was…she was really something. Permed hair dyed blonde, perfectly-applied makeup, and clothes that hugged her body just right. Hiei thought she might look even more beautiful without all the bells and whistles…but he could just sense something from her, something he found interesting.

"Watch where you're going," she snapped, which impressed Hiei even more. "I'm going to see Sakura's tryouts."

"You're too late," Hiei informed her as he got to his feet and dusted himself off. "She made the team."

"Really?" The girl's face lit up with a smile, and she pumped her fist in the air. "Yes! I knew she could do it. Did she really pull off the Meiou Monster?"

"That and more," said Hiei proudly. "Ichika is very confident in Sakura's abilities now, as she should be."

"Chizuko!" That was when Hiei heard Aratani's voice again. "What are you doing here?"

"I skipped out on detention," the girl, presumably called Chizuko, replied airily. "I didn't want to miss one of my best girlfriends' tryouts. But I suppose I did anyway."

"Well, you're still a cheerleader," said Aratani with a shrug. "Maybe Ichika will let you watch the rest of practice."

"Maybe," said Chizuko. "You know this guy, girlfriend?"

"Yeah!" Aratani smiled. "This is one of Sakura's best friends, Hiei—you know, the one she had a friend breakup with. They're back together!"

"I haven't seen you around here," Chizuko commented, looking at Hiei.

"Hiei goes to a different school," Aratani explained. "I suppose his school starts later in the year than ours does, and that's why he's visiting here."

"Or you skipped," said Chizuko, grinning.

"Of course I skipped," Hiei replied. He'd have to lie either way, so he picked the option that he thought would sound more badass. "Do you think I would sit through a whole boring school day? Who are you, anyway?"

"This is Chizuko." Aratani put her arm around the other girl's shoulders. "She's my best friend, besides Sakura, of course. I can tell we're going to be best friends, too!"

But when Aratani's back was turned, Chizuko caught Hiei staring at her. She lowered her eyelids and licked her lips. Clearly, she knew what he was thinking, and she wasn't being shy about it at all. Nice and direct. I like it, Hiei thought.

"Listen, I've got to get back to detention before I stack up any more," said Chizuko. "Nice to meet you, Hiei."

"Nice to meet you, too," he said honestly. He wanted to see this Chizuko again.

…

Kurama was worried.

Not about cheerleading. It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. What worried him was Hiei and Chizuko, who he had seen entering the room. Aratani, he could tell, was introducing them, and the look on Hiei's face was all too familiar—the same look Kurama had seen on many boys' faces when they first saw her. In only a few weeks, those boys' dopey smiles and drooling were always replaced by heartbreak, and Kurama didn't want to see that happen to his friend. Yet he knew Hiei would think Kurama was just telling him how to live his life.

"Excuse me, Ichika?" said Kurama, as soon as he saw Chizuko leave the room with Aratani. "Can I go talk to my friend for a moment?"

"Make it quick," she snapped. "You have a lot more to learn."

"Hiei," said Kurama, grabbing his friend's shoulder. "Wait."

"What do you want?"

"I…I don't think you should get too close to Chizuko," Kurama told him.

"Why not?" Hiei demanded. "Aren't you the one who's always telling me to get closer to other people? I've decided I want to get to know her better."

"Yes," said Kurama, "but you like her, don't you?"

"So what if I do?" Hiei crossed his arms, a slight blush on his face.

"Well, she's known around here for breaking boys' hearts," Kurama explained. "I just don't want you to get hurt like those boys did."

"They were just foolish humans," Hiei replied, turning his heart away. "My heart is made of surgical steel."

"There's no one here to impress, Hiei," said Kurama. "You don't have to pretend you wouldn't get hurt if someone you cared about broke your heart. And that's what Chizuko does. I don't want to see that happen to you."

"You're not my mom, Kurama," Hiei said harshly. "Don't try telling me what's good for me. I can handle myself."

Kurama looked up at the ceiling hopelessly. Hiei said his heart was made of surgical steel, yet Kurama was convinced Hiei was the most emotional out of all four of them, with his outside so cold, and his inside so chaotic. In truth, he could be very fragile in that way, and Kurama felt sick just thinking of what Chizuko could do to him.

"You don't go to this school," Kurama insisted. "You don't know what she's really like."

"She seemed perfectly fine to me," said Hiei. "Look. I…I've never felt like this before. The way I felt when I saw her…well, I want to feel it again. The only one who stands to get hurt here is me, and I don't care. The risk is worth the reward."

"Very well, Hiei," said Kurama, feeling tears in his eyes. "Do what you will. I don't want this to turn into another fight, and I know you can make your own decisions. But please be careful, okay?"

"I'll be careful," Hiei promised, rolling his eyes.

"Thanks," Kurama whispered, giving Hiei a quick hug. "Good luck."