Author Note and Update:

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments last week. I really wasn't expecting that. You all made me feel like my writing is worth it. It really made my week. I can't fully guarantee it, but I'll do my best to update once a week, so you can read more about Seto and Ana. I'll be updating at 8 p.m. central time on Tuesday's. This is the only day I can really update consistently. Starting with today! Enjoy 😊

Chapter 21:

Lunch

Ana sat in class the next day trying to focus on the lesson, but her mind kept wondering back to yesterday. Why did I throw my bag at him? When Seto came in that morning he hadn't looked at her as he took his seat behind her. That's nothing unusual, though. She felt guilty and a little sad. Pushing the thoughts and feelings to the back of her mind, she focused on the problem on the board. Oh, this is one of the one's Amin-chan explained yesterday. I use this formula and… I did it! Looks like Amin-chan really knows how to teach. She felt guilty thinking about him again. The rest of class went in a circle. First she would focus, then feel guilty. Finally, the bell rang for lunch.

Much to her surprise, Seto stood up and left with his lunch and tablet. That's odd, he always eats and works at his desk.

"What did you bring for lunch today?" Sanae asked as she pulled out her lunch box.

"The usual." Ana pulled out hers, but her eyes wandered to the door Seto had left through. "Eat without me. There's something I need to do."

"Oh, alright." Sanae looked at her confused, but Ana didn't explain and left.

This guilt is killing me. Ana went to the cafeteria, but didn't find him. She tried the library, and he wasn't there either. Where the heck did he go? What place would Amin-chan eat at? Some place quiet with no people. Oh, I got it! She headed outside to the athletic track and to a small secluded area on the side of the building. There was a small grassy alley in-between the building and the fence. Seto sat on the grass, leaning against the brick wall. He was eating one handed and holding his tablet in the other.

"Found you!" Ana exclaimed.

Seto flinched and choked on his food. He set his tablet down and took a drink of his tea to wash it down. He glared at her when his coughing stopped.

"Great, you found me. What do you want?" Seto's tone was laced with irritation.

Ana sighed and figured she'd get this over with. Bowing to him, she said, "I wanted to say I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have thrown my bag at you."

She waited, but there was no response. Confused, she peaked up and found him frowning at her. He looked uncomfortable and unsure. Opening his mouth, he looked as if he would say something, but then closed it.

Finally, he spoke. "Alright."

She sighed and straightened up. Well, that was a better response than I thought I would get.

"Ok, I'll leave you to your lunch then." Ana turned to go.

"Sorry…" The word was muffled.

Ana turned back to Seto, who was looking down at his lunch box, his brow furrowed.

"Did you say something?" Ana inched over slightly to Seto.

He mumbled under his breath. She cupped her hand over her ear and looked down at him expectant. The look of irritation on his face was funny.

"I said sorry!" He finally snapped, then looked like he regretted snapping.

Ana tilted her head and gave him an awkward smile. "For what?"

He grumbled, but she could hear it this time. "For cursing at you and shoving your bag at you."

Did he actually feel guilty about that? Why would he get upset about hurting my feelings? Could Sanae be right about him liking me? No. There's no way.

Ana felt the urge to mess with him. "Only for that? Not for being a royal ass?"

"I will never apologize for being a royal ass," Seto said with such confidence that Ana laughed involuntarily. He frowned at her and raised an eyebrow.

Ana walked over, plopped down next to him and then preceded to open her bento.

Seto ticked his teeth with his tongue. "I never said you could sit down."

"I spent half my lunch time looking for you. If I don't eat now, I won't get to eat." Ana pulled out her chopsticks and said "Itadakimasu" before digging into her karage, fried chicken, and rice.

"That's not my fault." Seto grumbled, but went back to his lunch.

Ana noticed the rolled egg omelet in his bento and eyed it. This was the day Sanae makes egg omelets. She always gives me one, but I bet she won't have any by the time I get back. Seto noticed her staring and followed her line of sight.

He snapped at her, "You're the one who made me bring lunch, so eat your own and stop eyeing mine."

Ana rolled her eyes and then smirked as she looked at his bento. "I'm not interested in your food. I was just thinking that Sanae always makes egg omelets on Wednesday. Hers are super delicious. She always gives me one."

Her goading was more effective than she figured. Seto looked rather put out and eyed his small omelets. Ana felt like picking at him more.

"Someone who normally has a chef to cook for him probably can't compare to a girl's home cooking." Ana smirked for emphasis.

"I doubt that."

"Uh, huh, sure." Ana laughed.

Seto picked up an omelet with his chopsticks and held it out to her. "Then try it!"

She grinned, leaned over and nommed the omelet. Realizing she'd taken it off his chopsticks with her mouth instead of her hands, she froze mid bite. Crap, Sanae always feeds me, so I just did it out of habit. Let's just play it cool. Quickly she pulled back and focused on chewing. She was too embarrassed to taste much of anything.

Finally, she swallowed and turned back to Seto. "It's good…"

Seto's entire face turned bright red and his mouth pulled tight as he looked at his chopsticks. Ana froze at his reaction. Crap! She quickly turned back to her bento. Her face was getting warm. She ate at lighting speed.

"Well, that was a fun lunch. See you back at class." Ana stood up and bolted without looking back.

Idiot, idiot, idiot. Why did you do that? You stuck his chopsticks in your mouth! Chopsticks he used… Oh, crap. Idiot! Ana chastised herself all the way back to the classroom. When she got there, she quickly took her seat.

"Where did you go?" Sanae looked at her and tilted her head.

"N-nowhere important." Ana didn't want to tell her friend what had just transpired.

Eventually Seto returned to the classroom, but Ana kept her eyes glued to her textbook. She was too embarrassed to look him in the face. For the rest of the day, she avoided looking his way at all. Sanae was giving her a suspicious look, but she didn't press. Eventually, the last bell rang. Ana bolted before anyone could talk to her. Her heart was pounding as she practically ran from school and out the front gate. Sanae's probably going to message me later about this. When she was far enough, she slowed down and tried to regain her breathing. Hurrying home, she entered the house greeting no one and went up to her room where she grabbed her pillow and curled up on her bed. Best way to get over something is to sleep. She focused on deep breaths. Three counts in, five counts out, until she drifted away.

The classroom was lit just by the afternoon sun. Ana sat in her seat. She looked around confused and found the room empty. When she turned forward, she flinched when she found Seto sitting in a seat on the opposite side of her desk.

"What the heck! Don't scare me like that." Ana's heart beat rapidly. Confused, she eyed Seto. He wasn't wearing the school uniform, but his signature flashy white coat dueling outfit. His arms and legs were crossed as he stared at her.

"What do you want, Amin-chan?" Ana wasn't in the mood for this right now. "You know you'll get in trouble for wearing something that flashy."

"Don't you like it?" Seto grinned at her and her heart skipped a beat.

"Wha? What are you talking about? Why would I like such a gaudy outfit? The suit you wore to the party at my parents' house was much nicer." Ana closed her eyes, shook her head and sighed. When she opened them, Seto wasn't in the seat anymore. She flinched when she noticed he was standing next to her now, wearing the gray suit from that night.

"You mean this?" Seto bent down so that their faces were only a foot apart, with one hand on her desk.

"Why are you getting so close!" Ana's heart nearly stopped beating, but before she could move back, Seto's free hand captured her face and brush back some loose pieces of her hair. He was way closer now. She was caught in the blue of his eyes.

"Wait!" She snapped out of it. "This has to be a dream. Amin-chan isn't this smooth. Ok, Ana, time to wake up. Wake up."

Seto's face was inching closer, and she couldn't seem to move. She could feel his breath on her face and their noses touched.

Thud! Ana woke up on the floor of her room staring up at the ceiling. She glanced over at the clock. It was about one in the morning. Covering her face, she turned over and resisted screaming. That was a ridiculous dream. How the heck am I supposed to face Amin-chan tomorrow. She crawled back into bed and tried to go back to sleep. When her alarm went off the next morning, she sat up feeling groggy. Mindlessly, she got ready and headed to school. Despite her fears about Seto, he came into the classroom as normal and the rest of the day continued normally. The only difference was that their class representative, Arata, held a meeting about the culture festival and what their class would do for it. After some debate, their class decided on a all gender butler café. At least it's not a maid café, though… seeing Amin-chan in a dress. Scratch that idea some people might really die if that happens.

When the day ended with nothing else happening, she almost felt a little disappointed. Sanae had club practice, so even though Ana could tell she wanted to talk about yesterday, there wasn't time. Ana walked home expecting Seto to pop out, but he didn't. Friday continued the same with nothing much happening. She ended up staying a little late to help prepare for the festival, but Seto left right away for work. Finally, the weekend came.

Ana was at her desk doing homework when her mother entered.

"Why aren't you getting ready?" Her mother frowned at her.

"Ready? For what? There's not a party this weekend, is there? I went to the last one, isn't it someone else's turn?" Ana frowned.

Her mother sighed. "Kaiba-san is coming over for dinner."

Ana's pencil hit the desk. She'd completely forgotten about it and glanced over at the clock. She only had an hour to get ready. Her mother left her room as she flew around picking out an outfit and trying to do her hair at the same time. Hikari wandered into her room as she was debating on braiding her hair or just leaving it down. Looking up, she found her brother, who appeared gaunt. Deep, dark circles lined his eyes.

"You alright?" Ana asked as she decided braiding her hair into an up due.

Hikari cleared his throat before asking, "Y-you won't ever date Kaiba-san for real, would you?"

Ana glared at her brother, feeling irritated. "If you're here to ask stupid questions, then leave. I have to finish getting ready."

She shoed him out the door and finished putting on her blouse and skirt. I wonder if the over work is getting to Hikari's brain? I don't feel that way about Amin-chan at all. She finished getting ready and as she headed down the stairs; the doorbell rang. She went to answer it and found Seto standing in the doorway in the same gray suit from her dream. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered it. He looked down at her and she noticed his lips twitching. What? Is something wrong with my outfit or hair? Oh well, whatever.

"Well, come on in. The torture awaits." Ana joked and opened the door wide for Seto to enter and discover his fate.