July eleventh, the most anticipated day of Aiko's current year, finally crawled to arrival. It was the day before Mitsuya's birthday and the day of the school event, and with her father gone she had no need to be on guard over her unusual excitement about attending a school event with Daichi, Yui and Ichika who they had no choice but to invite.

Study group had been cancelled for that day so that they would have time to go home and prepare, even though it would mean catching up on the extra studies later. So, after dressing and styling her hair as best she could, she left for the car waiting outside.

Daichi, who was always the last for the driver to drop off and the first to collect, got out of the car to hold the door open for Aiko.

"You look very nice," he said, taking in her black, short-sleeved, floral dress. She wore the top half of her hair up and slightly off-centred, with the back loose and a front side fringe.

"Thank you," she said, bowing her head slightly in appreciation. "You look very nice yourself."

Daichi was always well groomed, but now, with his slightly more relaxed style, he was much more charming. Daichi gave a small wistful smile and then gestured to the door for Aiko to enter.

Since the meeting in the tech room, their friendship seemed to have blossomed into something even more real than her and Yui's. Partially due to Aiko's over-exertion in trying to make up for the comment she had made that day, but both had seen it as a turning point for them to start over as friends by choice rather than compulsion.

Daichi led the group into the main hall where they quickly found Mitsuya, surrounded by a sea of girls, and, following the story that Yasuda had invited him to the award event, Daichi led the introductions mentioning a common interest between Yasuda and Ichika in the hope of keeping Ichika occupied in conversation with her.

Aiko congratulated Mitsuya and, after presenting him with a small gift she had bought, caught up on some of his latest projects, one of which included a gown that he was making for a girl he knew. Despite trying not to show any form of attachment as he said the word 'girl', it was obvious that she was special to him. If the expensive range of material that he was trying to locate wasn't enough of a giveaway, the sparkle in his eyes as he explained why it would suit her so well was.

Mitsuya let out a small chuckle when Aiko asked him about the relationship between him and the girl and repeated that she was just a girl he knew.

"Okay," Aiko accepted, but still wondered. "Is she coming today?"

Mitsuya's smile spread until his incisors showed. "We'll see," he said before excusing himself to greet some more guests.

"I'm sure Baji will be here soon," Daichi said when Aiko's eyes searched the room for the fifth time.

"Yeh, I hope so."

"How do you plan to keep Ichika off your back?" he asked.

Right, Aiko thought. She would definitely recognise Baji and was always sceptical, even at the simplest of times.

"Um, I don't know," Aiko said with a shoulder shrug. "What do you suggest?"

Daichi leaned forward and whispered from behind his hand. "Maybe we should try to set her up with someone. She needs something other than us to focus on."

"Yeah, right. I would feel sorry for the boy we set her up with."

Daichi stepped in closer as the two laughed quietly and whispered into her ear. "Can you imagine she fell for a Toman? I have to put in a word for her."

"Daichi, that's bad," she said, her giggle dying down as she noticed Daichi's sudden change in stance, from casual and leaning in towards her to a more formal position.

Daichi gave a small nod and before Aiko could turn to see who, although she was already sure, he was greeting, an arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into him.

Aiko's heart beat fiercely as Baji firmly held her against him for a moment before relaxing his grip.

"Hey Daichi," Baji's deep voice sounded into her ear.

Aiko turned to face him, grateful that his arm was securing her as her knees buckled beneath her, and was immediately engulfed in the warm smoky scent of his body spray. A smile completely overtook her face when his grip loosened enough for her to take in his casual, yet dressy attire. A black leather jacket, black t-shirt and trousers, and black boots, nicely topped off with his beautiful black hair.

Aiko blushed under his gaze as he slowly took in what she was wearing before commenting that she looked nice. A comment that set off a whole new round of blushes as she recalled Daichi's similar statement and then the close proximity that the two were in when Baji arrived.

"We were just talking," she said.

Baji shrugged nonchalantly before adding, "I know."

Wow, she thought, impressed as usual by the slightest thing that Baji did. I didn't think confidence could be so attractive.

Baji wrapped his middle finger around Aiko's and nodded his head towards the podium. "I think everyone is taking a seat. Shall we go?"

Aiko nodded just as Chifuyu jumped up behind Baji, wrapping his arm over his shoulder. "Aiko chan," he said in a hushed voice. "Where's Yui?"

"Oh, she's ..." Aiko took a glance around and realised that Daichi must have somehow managed to get Ichika out of the vicinity and saw them taking their seats near to where Mitsuya was already seated.

Chifuyu followed Aiko's gaze and noticed Yui at Daichi's side. "Ah man," he moaned. "I guess I'll catch up with her after."

Aiko looked back at Baji, her eyebrows furrowed in question.

"Yes," Baji said, "He's been speaking about her all weekend."

"Oh right," she said quietly and proceeded to give both boys a quick warning about Ichika who would have her eyes and ears on everything that was happening between them and then they too made their way over to the seating to watch the awards being given.

* * *

"Aiko? She's just a friend," Baji said to a girl who hadn't stopped fluttering her eyelashes at him for the last fifteen minutes.

Oh right, Aiko thought, pasting her smile on as hard as she could. Maybe I should leave them to it then.

Aiko backed away slowly as the girl went into the full history of her friendship with Mitsuya and how she had seen Baji a number of times and always wanted to speak with him.

The awards ceremony had ended two hours ago and, although more Toman members had arrived, Draken and Mikey included, the party was going on the slow side. Chifuyu had mentioned escaping to the roof and recreating their own party, but with Ichika on their tails, they had managed nothing more than a round of the hall and a few random discussions.

"Urgh," Aiko let out when she caught up to Yui and Emma at the other side of the hall. "I hate this."

After taking a quick glance between Baji and the girl with the eyelashes, Emma and Yui were immediately on the same page.

"Baji is pretty popular with girls," Emma offered. "But I'm sure he's just being friendly."

"Yeah. Well, I'm 'just a friend' so I guess I have no right to complain," Aiko said, doing her best Baji impersonation on the description of their relationship.

"Maybe you should spend some time with Daichi. I bet Baji comes back over really quickly." Emma was big on trying to force a boy's hand by stirring up jealousy in them, but Aiko wasn't too sure if that would work.

"Did someone say my name?" Daichi said, turning from a conversation he was having with Chifuyu and Hakkai, Mitsuya's division's vice-captain.

"Yes," Emma said. "I think you should take Aiko for a dance."

Daichi's eyebrows lowered slightly. "Dance? To this?" he asked, gesturing his thumb to the speakers. There was a low song playing in the background, but it was barely comprehensible and definitely not something anyone would feel motivated to dance to.

"Okay, forget the dance. Just take her for a walk, and talk and laugh ... a lot."

"I don't get it. Why would I do this?" Daichi asked.

"Because," Emma said with a short puff of air.

Aiko waved her hands to bring the attention back to her. "It's okay Emma. I don't think it's a good idea anyway. I'm fine."

"Wait a minute," Daichi said, by that time having noticed Baji and the girl talking. "Was this supposed to get Baji's attention somehow?"

Emma feigned interest in a napkin on the table while Aiko watched her foot, shuffling an imaginary stone back and forth.

"I didn't come out here to die tonight, Aiko."

"It wasn't my idea," Aiko defended.

"Ah man," Chifuyu laughed, digging Daichi in his ribs. "That would have been hilarious."

"You do it then," Daichi said, giving Chifuyu a small shove.

"No, thank you. I didn't come to die either."

"Nobody would die, silly," Aiko laughed. "I don't think Baji would care that much."

"Whatever you say," Chiifuyu said with a small chuckle.

"Look, I have a better idea," Daichi said before walking over to Baji.

Baji didn't seem very invested in his conversation with eyelashes by the way he embraced the conversation with Daichi, moving him quickly out of eyelashes earshot and then began, what looked like, a pretty deep conversation even involving Angry, another friend, at one point.

Aiko let out a sigh of relief and, without any real commitment, listened in on Yui and Emma's conversation until Daichi returned, first whispering something to Chifuyu, and then Mikey and Draken. Baji, who had also left Eyelashes proximity, waved over for Aiko.

"We figured out a way to lose your friend for an hour," Baji said, pulling Aiko to the side and giving a quick explanation of the plan he and Daichi had come up with to distract Ichika so they could all get away.

"I don't know," Aiko said after Baji detailed their plan to her. "Angry looks a little scary. I don't know if she will talk to him."

"Well, Daichi thinks it foolproof. We've already prepped Angry with a story so we've got five minutes."

"Five minutes to do what?"

"Chifuyu's getting the ice cream, Daichi's getting the chips, and we're getting the drinks," he said gesturing over to a table laid with drink cartons.

"We're going to steal drinks," Aiko whispered.

"It's not stealing. They're for the party."

Right, Aiko confirmed. If we stay down here we'll be drinking the drinks so I guess it doesn't make a difference if we take them to the roof with us, does it?

"Three minutes, Aiko," he said, pulling her over to the drinks table.

Chifuyu was already in place near the small freezer that held the ice cream cups, with Hakkai doing, what looked like, keeping watch.

Angry was watching Ichika from a distance, clearly preparing whatever he had been told to say to her and looking a cross between scared and nervous, but either way looked just as angry as ever.

Baji pushed some drinks cartons into Aiko's arms and folded them over each other to conceal the drinks as much as possible, while the rest he buttoned under his jacket and then he waited with his eyes on angry. "By the way, the last ones to the roof, have to buy ramen for everyone," he said just as Angry moved in to talk to Ichika and with that, he gave the signal for Aiko to follow him, first walking and then breaking into a run as soon as they were in the hallway.

It wasn't long before they heard footsteps running behind them, but Baji was sure to shut the stairwell doors after passing in the hope of slowing the followers as much as possible.

"Yes," Baji shouted after his first scan of the roof to see if anybody had made it there yet, and then he turned to take the drinks from Aiko and laid them out on the flooring, keeping two in his hands.

"Wow," Aiko said, looking up at the heavily starlit sky. "This is beautiful."

The idea that she would be spending the evening alone on the roof with Baji was quickly dismissed when a loud thump came from the roof door a moment before it opened with Mikey, Draken and Daichi on the other side.

"Ah man," Mikey exclaimed. "You beat us."

"At least we weren't last," Draken said.

Emma followed shortly after with Yui, and then Chifuyu and Hakkai came in last.

"Ramen's on you two," Mikey said as Chifuyu and Hakkai handed out ice cream cups and spoons.

"That was so unfair," Chifuyu complained. "The ice cream was the hardest to get."

"Yeah, and we didn't even have to get anything," Yui added.

"Shut up, Yui. We didn't lose," Emma said, giving her a small nudge.

"But," Yui began and then, after a quick glance at Chifuyu lost any nerve to continue her plea of his case.

"Ahhh," Emma said, looking back and forth between Yui and Chifuyu. "Well, if that's the case, then I agree. Chifuyu and Hakkai had an unfair loss."

The small smile that was shared between Chifuyu and Yui wasn't lost on anyone present, but Baji wasn't in the mood for sentiments when Ramen was concerned.

"Fine," he said. "Then you and Yui can share the responsibility of the ramen."

So it was settled that on their next meetup, wherever and whenever, Yui, Emma, Chifuyu and Hakkai had to buy ramen for everybody that was on the roof that night.

"I think this might be one of my best nights ever," Aiko said as she and Baji lay next to each other looking at the stars while the others played or talked on various parts of the roof.

"Again," he laughed.

"Yep. I think every day I spend with you becomes my new best."

"Hmmm," he said, turning to face her. "Maybe."

Aiko turned to face him too, watching the stars sparkling in his golden eyes as they settled on her.

"This is so surreal," she said.

"How's that?"

"Up on the roof, under the stars, with you. It's like I'm dreaming." A content smile spread across her face as she recalled the number of times she had imagined something similar. "You know, I think about this every night as I lay under my star lights. I imagine you there with me and wonder what we will say and do."

"You think about me lying in bed with you every night?"

"No, Baji, not like that," Aiko said, giving him a small hit to his chest.

"Doesn't sound too bad," he said, grabbing hold of her hand and holding it against his chest. "Does it?"

"Er ...," she tried, but that words stuck in her throat. But what about that girl? she wondered, remembering his comment to eyelashes. "Baji," Aiko said, pulling herself up to a sitting position. "Are we just friends?"

"Just friends?" he repeated, sitting up next to her. "You say that as if it's a low status to have."

"It sounded kind of low when you said it to that girl."

"Girl?"

"With the eyelashes Baji. You were speaking to her for like, half an hour."

"Eyelashes?" he laughed. "You mean Isuzu?"

"Whatever," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Aiko," he laughed before flicking her fairly hard on her ear. "You're such a baby, geez."

Aiko squeezed her arms tighter against her chest, trying her best to hide the hurt that was apparent on her face.

"Look," Baji said, his voice softening. "I didn't think I needed to explain my feelings for my friends to some random girl."

Her eyes settled back on his as he watched her.

"But you're definitely one of my favourite friends," he added.

"Really?" she asked.

"You know, I hate talking on the phone for longer than it takes to say meet me in ten minutes."

"Ok ... What ...?"

"But I look forward to your call every evening, and I'm happy to talk for as long as you're able," he continued. "It's the perfect end to a day."

Aiko felt a complete flush overcome her and looked away. They did talk every night and he always was cheerful and in no rush to get rid of her. Why was she so blind at seeing clear signs?

Silly me, Aiko reprimanded herself. How could I get so upset over such a simple comment when I should have known better?

"I'm sorry," Aiko said, embarrassed by her reaction. "I guess I can be a bit of a baby sometimes."

"Yeah. I hear girls can get like that," he laughed.

Aiko slammed her fist into his chest, making Baji laugh even harder which, in turn, made Aiko laugh too.

"Hey, look," Baji whispered after a moment and gestured with his head towards the roof ledge where Yui and Chifuyu stood.

Chifuyu was holding one of the cups of ice cream while both he and Yui took turns taking small scoops onto their spoons. That alone was sweet enough but then, after every two or three scoops, Chifuyu would offer his own scoop to Yui who, to Aiko's surprise, accepted it, eating the ice cream off of his spoon with a small giggle.

Aiko glanced around quickly for Emma, who had already noticed and was looking back at Aiko with a satisfied grin.

"That's so sweet," Aiko finally said.

"Yeah. It is pretty sweet," he agreed and lay back down.

Aiko lay down next to Baji and looked up at the sky.

This is fine, she told herself, deciding that she would leave it to Baji to express whatever 'feelings' he did have for her until another time. For now, simply spending time with him and watching him as he slowly opened up to her was precious enough.

"Aiko," Baji said, entwining his fingers into hers to hold onto her hand. "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

The moon? she wondered, staring at the low-lit half-moon. That's ... her head swung quickly to Baji who was in fact watching her rather than the sky. "You should be careful who you say that to, Baji. They might get a different understanding," she said, referring to the fact that such a comment was once used as a declaration of love.

Baji gave a soft smile. "I think you understand me exactly how I mean you to," he said and then turned back to look up at the sky.