The sound of birds chirping drew Ximena's attention away from the blackboard. Several students sat on the grass right beside the building her class was in.

I wish I could take a break. Being outside would be a lot more fun than trying to figure out calculus equations.

She sighed. Unfortunately, she had to go to work in the afternoon. Working night shift while in school wasn't easy. Worse, the week was barely beginning. If she could, she would quit her job to focus entirely on school. However, she needed the money to pay for her apartment. Thankfully, in a few weeks, she could finally quit as graduation came around.

The green-eyed young woman raised her eyes back to the blackboard. I need to continue! I can't let senior fatigue get to me!

***

After class, Ximena headed for the same restaurant she and Tetsu had taken Rosalba a few days prior.

Her eyes widened as she saw a red-haired kid standing just outside the restaurant, sniffing the air.

"Nori? What are you doing here?" she asked.

The kid jumped forward as his hair spiked up as if he were a cat. "Miss X-Ximena!"

"Miss Ximena?" She snickered. "If you're going to use 'Miss' then please use my surname, Kasai no Ki. That said, I much rather you call me by my given name or 'Xime'. My surname tends to scare some people."

Nori glanced at some people nearby as they gave me strange looks. Some were fearful, while others were bordering on hateful. Though, she had gotten used to them by now. They had been exposed to such stares for well over a decade now.

Ximena smiled. "So, why are you here?"

"N-Nori was hungry," he said, rubbing his stomach.

"Then how about you buy something? The food here is delicious. Or do you not have money? If you don't, then I can give you some." She removed one strap of her backpack and opened it up.

Nori stared at the humble-looking purse that Ximena had taken out. His face turned bright pink. "N-Nori has money. No need to pay for Nori's food." He rubbed his grumbling stomach.

"Then what's the problem?" she asked.

The boy's face gradually warmed up so much that his face nearly became as red as his hair. "Nori... doesn't know how to use it."

Ximena raised an eyebrow and snickered.

The boy lowered his head. "Nori knows Nori's dumb."

"You're not dumb, just inexperienced. I didn't know how to use money until I was your age either."

He raised his head. "Miss didn't know until she was sixteen?"

Ximena blinked. "Wait, are you really sixteen?"

Nori averted his gaze. "Nori knows he's short and has a babyface, but Nori really is sixteen."

She laughed and hugged the kid. "Aww, you're the cutest teenager I've ever met!"

The boy squirmed as his face grew even redder. "Nori isn't the cutest..."

Ximena laughed. She thought of correcting the kid on that last part, but she figured she wouldn't. The kid was already embarrassed enough as it was.

"Come, I'll show you how to purchase something!"

"Hmm, Ximena?" a voice called out.

This time, it was her face that was warming up. She slowly looking over her shoulder and saw Serrano standing behind her.

The blue-haired youth smiled. "Glad that I guessed right."

He's looking for me?

"Do you need something?" she asked, stepping aside to avoid blocking the entrance further.

He turned aside and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was hoping that we could eat together... as friends, I mean!"

Ximena stared at Serrano's blushing face. Cute. Though, why did he have to add the 'as friends' part? No. It probably was for the best. He is engaged, after all. Even if he likes me, our relationship isn't meant to be.

She smiled at him. "I would love to. Nori and I were just about to grab something."

Serrano glanced at the blushing kid. His smile faded. "Oh, I see."

Is he jealous? No, that can't be right. He wouldn't become insecure due to a kid. Well, a guy who looks like one.

"Nori doesn't know how to use money," Nori said, lowering his head. "So, Miss is going to show Nori."

Serrano gasped. "You don't? Hmm, Yuko didn't know how to read either..."

Ximena turned to look back at the kid. Did he and Yuko not attend school, nor get tutored?

"Nori can read, but he's kind of slow."

"I know someone who can teach you," Ximena said, smiling. "I'm sure that he would love to."

"Yeah, he's already teaching your friend whom I'm sure will be glad to study alongside you," Serrano said with a warm smile.

Nori giggled. "Nori's going to learn to write!"

"By the way, how did you learn to read?" Ximena asked.

The kid grinned. "Nori learned how to read thanks to the sacred texts."

Ximena smiled. "Oh, I see. Are you a devout follower of the Sky Father and Earth Mother?"

Nori nodded. "Yeah! Nori knows how the divine couple rose from the dark water and formed the plain of light, which was used to build this universe. Nori also knows about the civil war, which created Cianio, the realm of demons."

"Sounds like you've read them all," Serrano said.

Ximena sighed. "There's more to them than just the creation story and the rebellion of the dark angels."

Serrano blushed. "Yeah, I know, but those are the interesting parts. Well, the fall of man and the first murder are too."

Ximena shook her head. "You and Tetsu shouldn't view them as some form of entertainment. It's the history of the world and a means of teaching how to live a righteous life. The values you knights uphold were based on those same teachings."

"That's true," Nori said, his eyes gleaming.

Serrano sighed. "Maybe I should give them another read."

Ximena clapped her hands together and grinned. "Well, how about we order some food?"

Nori nodded.

Serrano laughed. "Okay."

***

Ximena stared at her notes as she sipped the last of her lemon honey tea. She gasped as a hand suddenly covered them. She turned and saw Serrano giving her a stern look.

"You should take a break from studying, else you might get sick," Serrano said.

She pressed her back against her chair and removed her reading glasses. "Our conversation outside was enough of a break for right now."

He grumbled. "That's not enough of a break."

"Miss is very diligent," Nori said. "But, Nori agrees with mister. Working too much can be bad." He lowered his eyes toward the multiple-ringed table. "Nori wishes that Yuko would listen to that advice too."

"Where is Yuko?" Ximena asked.

"She's training with Tetsu," Serrano said. "I invited him and Yuko to join me. Yuko didn't respond, while Tetsu said he would join us as soon as his match with Yuko was over."

"Can he still not activate Agnes?"

Serrano shook his head. "No. It's almost been a week now too... I feel that he's starting to get anxious. His anxiety about transforming it into its weapon form might only be making it harder."

"It's odd to see him so worked up about something."

"Well, Tetsu has wanted to be a knight since we were kids," Serrano said as he stared at his half-empty coffee cup. "To follow in uncle Takeshi's footsteps."

Ximena tapped her notebook. "True, but I don't recall him being this adamant about it when we were neighbors." She crossed her fingers and stared at the entrance. "I pray that it doesn't turn into an obsession."

Serrano rubbed the back of his neck. "I think it might already be too late for that. He didn't even want to give me Aventine when we first met."

"Huh? Really?"

Serrano nodded. "Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, I was hoping that you would be able to come to the club today."

"The gamer club? But I'm not an official member. I only drop by on random occasions."

"Yeah, but we're having a party," he said with a grin.

Ximena blushed. "I see." She took a deep breath. "Unfortunately, I have work today, so I won't be able to make it."

Serrano's smile vanished. "I see."

Nori rubbed his chin. "Why is Miss working so much? Is someone forcing her to?"

"No one but myself. Well, and circumstance."

"I was hoping that you would be free on your birthday this year," Serrano said, sighing.

Ximena gasped. "That's right, it's my birthday..."

Serrano grabbed hold of her hand. "Well, since it can't be helped, we'll just have to celebrate it over the weekend."

Ximena's cheeks warmed up again. "Okay. Thanks, Serra."

Serrano chuckled.

"I see you two are flirting," a voice called out. The two turned to see Tetsuya grinning at them while Yuko stared at them in confusion.

"It's not what you think!" they yelled in unison.

Tetsu chuckled. "Yeah, right! Like I'll buy that!"

Ximena cleared her throat. "Anyway, how about you two sit down and eat?"

"Don't mind if I do!" Tetsu said as he pulled up two seats, one for Yuko and one for himself. He smiled at Ximena. "Oh, that reminds me. Happy Birthday, Xime!"

Ximena smiled. "You remembered?"

"As far as I can recall, I haven't forgotten it once. Not even when you had moved." He reached into his right jean pocket and pulled out a green cat statue with a gold coin on its head.

"A cat," Yuko said, eyes wide. She glanced at Nori and smiled.

Nori stared at the strange cat. "A green cat?"

"Green means wealth and luck. When combined with a cat like this, it brings double the luck!" Tetsu said, smiling.

Ximena chuckled. "Thanks, Tetsu. I could really use it right now."

Serrano leered at Tetsuya.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

He sighed. "I was going to give Xime a gift first."

A gift? Wonder what he got me...

"Oh, why did you wait this long to do so?" Tetsuya nudged his cousin. A sly grin dotted his face. "If you don't take the initiative, someone will beat you."

Serrano blocked his cousin's elbow and smiled. "I'll try to keep that in mind." He reached into his black pants and brought out a heart pendant.

Ximena stared at the silver necklace and smiled. "Thanks, guys!"

"Open it," Tetsuya said, grinning.

"Tetsu helped me pick it out. It's a locket."

Ximena opened up the silver heart and smiled as she saw a picture of the three of them from a few nights ago. They were smiling as they ate Tetsuya's cookies at Eita's place after another session of studying. Even Eita, Yuko, and Nori were in the picture.

She closed the locket and beamed at the two. Tears slid down her eyes.

"Huh? Why are you crying?" Tetsuya asked.

"Did Miss not like her gift?" Nori asked.

"Or was it Mister's earlier teasing?" Yuko asked, glancing at Tetsuya.

Ximena laughed. "It's not that. I'm crying because, despite how hectic these past years have been, they have also been so much fun. I'll miss these days with you, boys."

Serrano and Tetsuya exchanged glances and chuckled.

"We can go and visit you in the capital from time to time," Tetsuya said. "Unlike when we were kids, we have more independence to go where we choose."

"Plus, the two of us will be in the capital. We'll visit you when we're free," Serrano said.

"Nori and Yuko will be around too!" Nori said, smiling. He stared at his plate. "Though, Nori didn't get Miss a gift."

"Yuko and Nori should go get one," Yuko said with a slight smile.

It made Ximena happy to see that she was gradually warming up.

"Thank you, you two too."

"There's a tongue twister for you," Tetsuya said, chuckling.

Ximena laughed. "I guess it is!"

"Happy birthday, Xime!" the cousins yelled, grinning. 

**Solar Note: Pray that you enjoyed the chapter :3. If you did, please give it a vote ^_^. Also, Happy Cinco de Mayo (which just so happens to be Ximena's birthday)!**