Being the first to class is nice as I haven't seen any other classmates since my outburst except Rin. He was the main person I was worried about. I have my textbook in front of me when a blank piece of paper is laid on top of it. I look up to see Rin with a little smile on his face standing in front of me.

"Jeez, thanks I needed some scrap paper for today." I tease him.

"Turn it over." He replies looking pleased with himself.

I do as he says and see the C- that sits at the top of a math exam.

"Rin, I don't know why you are showing me this?" I ask looking back up to meet his eyes.

"Well, my math teacher surprised us with a pop quiz today and about half of it was the problems from last night's homework. If you hadn't helped me understand the homework I wouldn't have gotten such a good grade for me." He explains.

"Really? Good job Rin. I'm really proud of you." I look over the paper again and noticed that he had gone over the problems carefully and applied the strategies I showed him.

"Yeah, well I couldn't have done it without your help. Both my teacher and I were surprised I scored so high. He was convinced I cheated since I also got all the questions right on the homework." He says rubbing the back of his neck.

"Rin, you're not causing trouble again, are you?" Yukio asks from behind him.

"What the hell makes you say that four eyed mole face." Rin gets overly defensive upon hearing his brother's voice.

"It's a common occurrence when you're around." Replies Yukio as he walks closer to the table. I hand him the math test and he gives me a frown. A slightly worried look crosses over his face before he says "Mika this is such a low grade for you. This isn't like you at all. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine but look a little higher on the paper." I say watching his eyes skim over the paper.

"No way! Rin you cheated didn't you." Yukio exclaims looking at his brother.

"What? No way. I've never cheated in my life. What makes you think I'm starting now?"

"Rin we've been over these problems already. I've seen every grade you've gotten, and this is way higher even with your random bout of actual studying, this grade is too good for you."

"Yeah, well, I studied harder this time."

"You weren't at the dorm until late, and I doubt you were at the library so tell me how you could have been studying?" Yukio challenges.

Rin looks at me with a slight blush on his cheeks. I just shrug my shoulders while sitting back as I cross my arms over my body. I don't make an attempt to say anything. Rin doesn't make a move to defend himself, but I think Yukio catches on after a few brief looks between both Rin and me. For some reason Rin doesn't want Yukio or his other friends to know he was studying with me. Why? because he was studying for real and actually putting in the work or because it was with me? Either way it shouldn't bother me but of course it does. Yukio doesn't say anything but gives me a sympathetic look before handing Rin back his test. Rin also doesn't say anything as he takes his seat next to a blonde-haired girl.

He shows her the test, and she starts gushing over him. Telling him how she knew he could do it. He laughs with her talking about how he could have gotten a better grade if he knew there was a test. I can't stop the feelings of anger that start burning in my stomach watching him take all the credit for the work I showed him makes me mad but again I refuse to say anything. I catch him stealing glances at me. His facial expressions shift slightly when he sees me each time. For a flash of time there is some guilt on his face. I do nothing to change my expression letting him feel the anger rolling off of me. He still doesn't make an attempt to tell anyone he spent the better part of last night studying with me. Even after several of his classmates question him on how he magically got a better grade.

Thankfully, with the 'great' news of Rins grade no one really pays attention to me sulking in the back. I plan to keep it that way today. All throughout the lesson I only answer questions that Yukio directly calls on me for. Bon after answering several questions in a row looks back at me. A puzzled look on his face like he's trying to figure out why I've all of a sudden quit. I make no effort for an explanation but rather keep a neutral expression on my face. He keeps staring at me. I'm getting annoyed each second that passes with his eyes on me only adding to my annoyance. Refusing to let it show I just stare back. Throwing a bored little wave his way I try to act as nonchalant as I can. I don't think he buys it. In his defense I spent most of yesterday competing with him in all classes and now I'm not even attempting to answer the simplest questions as I wait around to be called on.

A frustrated look comes across his face. He looks like he's about to say something, but he turns back around when he was called on to answer another question. Once the bell rings I can't help but pack up fast. I still have the majority of my day to be around Mr. self-centered, but at least I have one class down and thankfully a small break since my next class is tamers only. Before I get too far away, I can hear someone calling for me. Figuring it was Rin I just ignored it, willing him to go away as I continued my path towards my next class. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Someone's hand lands on my shoulder effectively stopping me from moving further. I let out a defeated sigh pairing it with an eye roll.

"Rin let go I'm really not in the mood right now." I say as I'm turning around only to be met with Bon looking at me with a puzzled look now transforming into a look of slight enlightenment.

"So, what did that moron do?" He said.

"Nothing that concerns me." I replied.

"Ah, so that's how the idiot got such a high grade out of nowhere. You helped him study."

"Now, what makes you think that?"

"I'm not blind you know. Okumura all of a sudden got a good grade, says it's from studying, but the most I've seen that guy study is like thirty minutes max, and then spent the better part of class staring at you with a guilty looking face. Everyone heard his brother calling him about how low his grades are. Plus, I would be pretty pissed off if I helped that moron study all night then he claims he had no help. Although you are a pretty cool chick to not call him out in front of the class. I probably would have done that myself."

"Honestly, it's not worth my energy to try and fight with him. Besides I already got into a small fight with him yesterday as I'm sure you know. I feel like attempting to change his view on anything is about as productive as telling the sun to stop being so bright."

Bon lets out a laugh and a contagious smile spreads across his face. my own mouth follows suit as my own small smile works its way onto my lips.

"Ha, you've got that right. Once the knuckle head gets something into his mind nothing can change it. Let me walk you to your class and honestly, I'm surprised that you got him to focus that long to retain anything worthy of importance." Bon begins walking next to me.

"To be real with you he came to me and asked for help. Well, he actually came to talk to me about how I spoke to him in class yesterday. Told me how uncool it was of me. I agreed with him even apologized to him and next thing I know he's asking for homework help. I'm not entirely sure what possessed me to say yes.

"Rin Okumura came to you? For help studying?" He questions offering to take my books from me. I thank him as they leave me hands. Now with my hands free I grab a strand of my hair twisting and playing with it as I speak.

"Listen, I'm more surprised than you are. Even more so due to the fact that I did call him out yesterday in class. I would have guessed that he would never want to speak to me again even if it meant taking a failing grade on the exam. I really didn't want to be paired with him but the headmaster told me it was to be paired with him and attempt to get a good grade or get a straight zero. I really didn't want to take a straight zero so I sucked it up, but then he really pissed me off in class and I kinda went off on him." I explain to him.

"Yeah, I don't blame you much. coming from someone who has worked with him, he's a very hard headed guy. He thinks he needs to protect everyone but refuses to let others protect him. Everyone needs help now and then. He thinks those flames of his plus his raw strength are all he needs. He charges head first into almost everything."

"That's what I'm scared of. I know his raw strength is powerful and I know he is strong, but the charging head first is going to get someone hurt. I really don't want it to be me, I also don't want it to be anyone else. He thinks he can protect everyone, I know that he can't logically and I'm glad he has some type of motivation to keep him going. I am just so afraid of him putting my life on the line. I know being an exorcist my life is on the line already, but it's myself putting it out there not someone else. I use that motivation to push myself to be smarter. There will always be someone stronger than me, but I can't ever really rely on someone else to protect me. If I have more knowledge I have a better chance of protecting myself even without the physical strength." I stated.

Bon looks at me not with pity, but with understanding. He nods his head in agreement almost wanting to say something but unable to find the words. We stopped in front of my class and stood off to the side letting others pass by without blocking the entrance. I notice the time on a clock hanging in the hallway. The passing period is almost over. I finally let go of the string of hair I've been messing with and held my hand out for my books. Bon lets me have them and places a hand gently on my shoulder while looking me in the eyes.

"You are both a strong and smart person. Don't let anyone make you think you're not. Your smarts will get you further in life than your physical strength." He says before dropping his hand and heading off to his next class. I watched him walk for a bit. I go to turn into my class when my sight catches Rin standing at the end of the hallway leaning against the wall. How long has he been watching me? When he notices me staring at him, he takes off presumably from his next class. I head into my own class and take a seat. Why did Rin follow me and Bon? Why was he watching me? Now I'm confused about that guy all over again for new reasons.