Kazuichi heard footsteps approach him from the classroom. Assuming that it was Fuyuhiko, he turned his head. To his surprise, he saw not the yakuza, but Sonia.
        Immediately, Kazuichi jumped to his feet. "Sonia-san!" he exclaimed, smiling broadly. He suddenly became paranoid that Fuyuhiko's kiss had left some kind of mark on his face. Fuyuhiko doesn't wear lipstick, idiot, he thought to himself.
        Sonia gave a small smile in return. "Hello, Kazuichi."
        Sonia-san noticed me! "I-Is there something ya needed me for?" he asked, excited.
        "Yes, in fact. Nekomaru and Akane began sparring, and knocked over the screen that you made. Chiaki requires your assistance in fixing it, and sent me to get you. Will you assist us?"
        "U-Uh, yeah, sure! Whatever you want!"
        "Thank you, Kazuichi. Your help is greatly appreciated." Sonia turned and began walking back towards the classroom with Kazuichi following.
        Upon entering the classroom, Kazuichi saw that, indeed, the screen has been knocked over. Akane and Nekomaru were still fighting over in the corner. Chiaki was kneeling on the ground by the screen, and looked up when Kazuichi came in. "Thanks, Sonia. Kazuichi, can you help me with this?"
        "Yeah, no problem." Kazuichi knelt to join Chiaki in repairing the screen. They were done in a matter of minutes.
        Almost disappointed that it was over, Kazuichi stood. "If ya ever need my help again, just let me know!" He gave a jolly smile to Chiaki and glanced discreetly at Sonia for a sign of approval. She was still smiling, which seemed like a good sign to Kazuichi.
        Chiaki nodded and smiled gently. "Yeah, I will. Thanks for the help," she murmured quietly.
        The other students clamored around to get a chance to play the games. Kazuichi stepped back to let them have their fun. Upon doing so, however, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
        "Gya!" For the second time that day, Kazuichi turned around. However, the source of the tap this time was not Fuyuhiko, but Sonia.
        "I apologize for frightening you, but I must speak with you once more."
        Kazuichi's heart soared with hope, but then fell when he saw the serious expression on Sonia's face. "N-no worries, Sonia-san. What would you like to talk about?"
        "Would it be all right with you if we conducted this conversation in the hallway?"
        "Yeah, of course..." Kazuichi followed Sonia out of the classroom, perplexed. Once out of earshot of their classmates, Sonia turned around to face Kazuichi.
        "Kazuichi, I hope that you shall not be too disappointed with what I am going to say next."
        A cloud of despair rose in Kazuichi's heart. Anger also hit him in a wave. D*** it, she's dating someone else! She isn't interested!
        "It's Gundham, isn't it?!" he yelled suddenly.
        A look of surprise came across Sonia's face. "How did you know? Were you informed by some other party?"
        Kazuichi put his head in his hands. "No, it should have been obvious to any idiot," he whispered. He let out a deep, rattling sigh.
        Sonia sighed, much more quietly. "I am glad that it was not a complete surprise. I apologize that I have hurt your feelings like this, but I felt that it had to be said."
        Kazuichi took his head out of his hands and wiped his tears. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry. It was really very rude of me to chase after you like that all the time. I can see why you would dislike me. I'm really sorry, Sonia." He sniffed and looked down at his feet.
        "Dislike?" Sonia asked in alarm. "Kazuichi, I do not dislike you. I believe that you are an intelligent, kind person. I admire your willingness to help others. I would be pleased if you would agree to be my friend."
        Kazuichi looked up, his eyes wide. "Y-you don't hate me?" His voice trembled.
        "Of course not. Why should I?"
        "Well, I've been a bit...creepy sometimes."
        "I do not think that is how I would describe it. If anyone in our class is creepy, it is Teruteru. You pale in comparison." Sonia smiled, and Kazuichi chuckled a bit.
        "That's true, I suppose."
        "I am very glad that we had this talk. I look forward towards our friendship together." Sonia stepped forward and placed a light kiss on Kazuichi's cheek. To his surprise, he flinched at the contact.
        He waited for Sonia to walk away before wiping his cheek with his hand. Huh, he thought. That wasn't as good as I had imagined it would be.
        Still confused, Kazuichi made his way back to the classroom, to be greeted by Fuyuhiko.
        "Hey, man. What was that about? What'd she say to ya?" the yakuza asked Kazuichi.
        "Oh, she told me that she's dating Gundham and just wants to be friends with me." Kazuichi took a small step back from the other boy, a bit apprehensive.
        Fuyuhiko's eyes widened. "You're taking that pretty well. I thought you were obsessed with her or something."
        "Yeah, well, people change." Kazuichi pushed past Fuyuhiko and moved to watch the gamers play Mario Kart.
        Fuyuhiko followed and sat down next to him.
        "Hey, I'm sorry if you're mad at me about something." There was a slight pause. "Are you mad at me about something?" He glanced at Kazuichi from the side.
        Kazuichi sighed and rubbed his eyes. "A little bit." He turned to face Fuyuhiko. "Why are you showing this sudden interest in me?"
        Fuyuhiko glanced around and dropped his voice to a whisper. "It's not sudden," he said quietly, his cheeks slightly red.
        Kazuichi's eyes narrowed and the corner of his mouth turned slightly down. "It's not? It certainly seems like it to me! In the past, you've barely said ten words to me, so don't be goin' 'it's not sudden' and s***!" He dropped his voice even more. "Fuyuhiko, you kissed me. Twice. And it was a bit against my will both times. Now you're actin' all friendly. What the h***, man? I'm just really confused and I don't know that's going on between you and me. I'm trying to act normal, but it's hard." Kazuichi ended his rant with a short puff of air. He ran his hand through his hair, looking at Fuyuhiko for a reply.
        Fuyuhiko's eyes narrowed as well. Scowling, he snapped, "Well, I'm sorry, this is my first time ever feeling like this. I'm confused, too. Do ya think you're the only one who doesn't know what's going on here?"
        Kazuichi scowled back. "You're the one who started the whole thing. I never said anything. I was just going with it cuz I didn't know anything! I still don't know anything!" His voice broke on the last word.
        Fuyuhiko's eyes softened, and his mouth relaxed a bit. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm such an idiot." He rested his elbows on his knees and placed his head in his hands.
        Kazuichi paused, a bit startled by Fuyuhiko's self-deprecating statement. "Um, I guess I'm a bit sorry, too. I'm just confused. Sorry for snapping at you like that." He reached to place his hand on Fuyuhiko's shoulder, but changed his mind and withdrew it.
        At that moment, Kazuichi heard footsteps approach. He turned his head to see the Ultimate Breeder.
        "Oh, Gundham. What do you want?" Kazuichi asked, a bit snappily. "Did you come here to gloat?"
        Gundham narrowed his eyes and smirked. "No, foolish mortal, that is not my purpose. I did not come to revel in my union with the Dark Queen."
        "Than what is it?" Kazuichi bristled a bit at being called foolish.
        "I wished to inquire as to your recent excursion with this mortal here." Gundham gestured at Fuyuhiko.
        Kazuichi bit his lip nervously. He had thought that no one had seen them leave the room together. "What's it mean to you?"
        "That is none of your business. I have noticed that you and Fuyuhiko have been inseparable today, which is odd behavior based on previous occurrences."
        Fuyuhiko looked up. "Hey, mind your own d*** business, weirdo. It doesn't ******* matter to you. Anyway, it ain't like you to 'meddle in mortal affairs'".
        Gundham frowned and crossed his arms. "Very well, I shall leave you for now," he growled in his baritone voice. He then turned and strode back across the room to join Sonia.
        Kazuichi watched as Gundham and Sonia discussed something briefly. They both glanced in his direction. Sonia smiled and shrugged, and Gundham made an irritated face. Sighing, Kazuichi turned back to Fuyuhiko. However, with alarm, he noticed that the other boy had gotten up and disappeared. He must've gotten fed up with me or Gundham and left, Kazuichi thought. Well, I'll probably see him later. That conversation needs to be finished, though. Looking around, Kazuichi stood up. The yakuza was nowhere to be seen. Kazuichi assumed that he had gone into the hallway. Shrugging, he moved over to where his classmates were playing Mario Kart and picked up a controller, ready to join.

((Author's Note: I apologize profusely to Templeguy for the chapter coming out so much later than anticipated! I promise that I'll be quicker with the next one. Anyway, I actually really like this chapter, and I hope that you enjoy it, too.))