Yuna ran off to the studio as fast as she could, not knowing that someone she was familiar with was near her destination.

"....."

Noboru stood in front of the entrance with a surprised stare, trying to register what he saw into his brain. "Was that Yuna-senpai..?"

"... I-I'm here..." Yuna said, looking at the ground in attempt to hide her flustered red face.

Noboru took a peek through the door and into the studio, eavesdropping on the group.

"Ah! You're here! Are you okay..? You don't look to good.." Akira said.

"I-I'M FINE! REALLY!" Yuna exclaimed hesitantly.

"Right.... Anyways, Yuna, we need to discuss about tomorrow's concert."

'Yuna...? So it was her all along!' Noboru thought, scrunching up his face.

The tiger loving boy stood up carefully, trying not to make any noise, but instead, fell over into the studio. "W-WHOA! Owww...." Noboru mumbled, rubbing his head.

"Oh dear.. Hey, are you alright kid?" Daisuke asked, walking over to the blonde. Noboru looked up to see Yuna, staring at him with wide eyes and mouth slightly opened.

"... Uhh, hey, Yuna-senpai.." he said, smiling a guilty smile.

"... Hello... Are you... alright, Noboru?" Yuna asked as she walked to the boy and knelt down.

"So.... You know this kid?" Akira asked with an interested look on his face.

"Yes, I do... He's a friend of mine.." Yuna said mentally facepalming herself.

Seeing a small, but surely deep cut on the boy's face, Yuna immediately stood up and dragged the boy along with her to the dressing room, grabbing the first aid kit with her.

"You're not in trouble, so don't be so tense," she said, smiling at the boy.

"Oh? Yuna, did your wound open up again or something?" she heard Fumi ask.

"No, no! My arm is alright. It's for... my friend... here.." she said drifting away as she took glances at Noboru.

"It turns out someone found out after all," Hanae said as she walked past the two. "We'll leave you two be."

Hearing the click of the door, Yuna let out a heavy sigh and lead the boy to a seat, finally letting go of his wrist.

"Noboru, be careful next time, okay? What were you doing though?" Yuna asked worried.

Noboru avoided her eye contact and stayed quiet until Yuna dabbed some cleaning alcohol onto his cut.

"Ah!" Noboru let out with a flinch.

"Sorry. I know it stings, after all, I had it worse," Yuna said giggling. "Now, would you please tell me what you were doing there?" she asked once more, placing a band aid onto his cheek.

".....I saw you run into this studio, so I got curious.." he mumbled, pouting a bit.

The older girl looked at the boy for a moment and then started to laugh. "I guess I should've looked before I came in."

Noboru looked over up to the girl only to see her face flustered again. "Senpai... Are you okay? You look deep in thought.. and worried.. More than usual that is," Noboru asked.

Yuna flinched at the sound of Noboru's voice and gave a fake smile to the boy. "I-I'm fine! Let's head back to the main room now."

Noboru stared hard into the back of Yuna's head, feeling that something was bothering her.

"So, are you going to make us walk to the office and ask to get you out of class or something?" Akira asked.

Noboru sat next to Yuna, listening intently to the conversation.

"I don't mind. Just as long no one in school knows. Just tell the principle about what is going on so he doesn't blurt anything out," Yuna said straightly.

"Alright then. We'll do just that."

Daisuke looked over to the group and walked over to them. "Are you going to wear your school uniform or your costume?" he asked curiously.

"Hmm.... How about both? Hahahaha! Just kidding!" Yuna joked.

"I think I'll wear my uniform. Don't forget the makeup remover though."

Noboru looked at Yuna confused with a face that asked 'why?' Yuna looked at the boy and winked mouthing out the words 'I'll tell you later.'

"Right, we'll get everything packed before you know it," Emiko said, finally butting in.

"Thanks. Now, can I go? You called me back for no reason since this is something we can discuss on the phone," Yuna said, crossing her arms.

"Right, sorry about that! You can go home and rest now. Daisuke just finished listening to the recording of your new song you wrote, just to let you know," Akira said.

"Alright. Thank you, guys. Let's go, Noboru."

The two stood up as Yuna led the way, waving bye to the group.

"Umm.. Sorry for the trouble," Noboru apologized, bowing to the managers and composer and running to catch up to Yuna.

"So, kid, did you cause any trouble to Yuna here?" Psy asked, appearing out of his card between the two.

"WHA!"

Noburu jumped back a few inches away from the dragon, almost falling backwards. Yuna took a hold onto the boy's hand and pulled him before he toppled over. The girl sighed and grabbed her dragon holding him in place.

"Thanks.." Noboru huffed.

"Not a problem. Psy, don't be rude. There was no trouble at all," Yuna scolded the dragon. "So, where's your buddy?"

Noboru looked at the girl for a second and then answered. "I think El Quixote wandered off around the city again. Oh, well."

The girl smiled and looked over to the path they took. "I plan to show myself to the crowd tomorrow at school if you were wondering. I believe people will be recording it and the news reporter will come. Hopefully, I'll still be Yuna in life and Kotone on stage...." Yuna said with hope written on her face.

"I see... And what happened with your arm anyways?" Noboru asked questioningly.

"Oh, that. Hana almost fell out of a tree and I jumped in to catch her before she landed. I have a huge gash on my left arm that is still healing from being cut by a... sharp rock.." Yuna said embarrassed.

"OH, OW.... NOW THAT SOUNDS PAINFUL." Yuna laughed at Noboru's reaction and looked at the boy.

"Say.... Would you like to come over to my house, Noboru?" Yuna decided to offer.

"... S-sure.."

Noboru stared at the girl's house in awe as he entered through the door. "This place is pretty big..." he noted.

"Haha! Make yourself at home!" the girl laughed.

"I'm going to go check the news for the day....." her buddy said.

Once the white dragon turned on the TV for the news, he sat there and stared at the screen for a few seconds only to turn back to Yuna with a suspicious face.

"... What is it?" Yuna asked, walking to the couch with Noboru tailing her.

"....."

Everyone went quiet and watched the TV intensly.

'....to be seen at the park! It turns out that he tried CONFESSING to that girl, but was merely interrupted by her phone. About to leave, our prodigy of this city decided to make a move on the girl and KISSED HER! I personally thought that THAT was quite a move he pulled on her out there! No one is sure of what they were saying, but it looked like the girl hightailed out of the park, shocked at what had just happened. I wonder how the girl feels about the Boy Wonder," the new reporter said.

".... I-I feel violated.." Yuna said with a teary smile on her face as she sank to her knees.

"Yuna-senpai! Are you okay!?" Noboru asked shocked as he flailed his arms around.

"I-I'm fine..." the girl answered with her arms on the ground and her head hung low.

'Now it's your turn to decide, Yuna.. Don't screw this up, you klutz...' her buddy thought smiling. "Hey, Yuna.. Let's go out to the backyard," the dragon invited.

Yuna nodded as Noboru helped her up and walked her over to the yard.

"Abend, you can come out. It's fine to be around Noboru now," Yuna said as she pulled out it's card.

Out appeared the Golden Dragon as it looked at Noboru curiously.

"I-is that from Dragon world?" the boy asked shocked.

"No, it's from Ancient world. A boy gave it to me on my second concert," Yuna told the blond as she sat down and showed him the rest of the deck.

"Oh, right. The first time you appeared, you said you weren't interested in buddyfighting..." Noboru recalled.

"I'm actually neutral about it, haha." Abend came close to the girl and laid down near her, prompting her to come over and snuggle up with it.

"Hm? What is it?" Yuna asked the dragon as she pet its snout.

Noboru looked over at the aqua green haired girl to see the dragon's tail coming towards her.

"A-ah! Yuna-senpai, watch -" Noboru's frightened face turned into a face that showed all out surprise.

"...out..?"

Noboru watched the dragon lead Yuna over and laying her down softly onto it and looked at Noboru, reaching at him.

"I think it wants you to come over here too.." Yuna said, getting herself comfortable.

'Is this dragon serious....' Noboru thought as he slowly walked over.

Noboru grabbed the dragon's tail, only to be lead over near Yuna and settled down softly onto it as well. Psy flew over and sat next to Yuna as Abend wrapped its golden tail around the small group, careful not to hurt anyone.

"You're dragon is... quite strange..." Noboru said, handing the deck back to Yuna.

"But it's sweet and nice, right?" Yuna asked happily.

The tone in her voice made Noboru smile and relax as he answered 'yeah..'

"Abend loves getting belly rubs. Would you like to give it belly rubs when you feel like it?" Yuna asked, looking up at the sky.

"I never heard of a dragon getting belly rubs before, but sure," Noboru laughed.

'This girl is really nice... Tasuku-senpai must be a very lucky guy if she accepts him..' Noboru thought, closing his eyes and drifting to sleep.

"Hey, kid, Yuna, wake up," Psy said, shaking the two students.

Abend nudged at the girl with its snout as it huffed and growled a bit. Yuna and Noboru woke up from the call and stretched as the both sat up.

"Looks like we both fell asleep.. Hey, Psy, what time is it?" she asked as she yawned.

"It's 2:31 right now. You both took about an hour nap."

Noboru looked at the dragon with wide eyes, worried about getting home late. Abend flipped over onto its back, waiting for a belly rub as Yuna stretched and turned over.

"Looks like Abend wants a belly rub now."

Yuna started petting at the dragon playfully as it starts to kick its legs. Noboru looked over to see her give that belly rub to her 2nd buddy and decided to join in petting the dragon and even tickling it.

"Alright, you need to get back into your card, okay?"

The dragon stopped kicking its legs and turned its head to look at the two students. Huffing out a groan, the dragon turned back into a card and flew into the girl's hand.

"Want anything to eat before you leave?" Yuna asked Noboru with a gentle smile.

Noboru nodded and told the girl he wanted something sweet. The two walked back into the kitchen, settling inside the house once more.

"Something sweet.... Hm... I made short cakes and pudding yesterday. Would you like those?" Yuna asked as she pulled out the desserts from the fridge.

"Can I eat the pudding here and bring some short cakes home then?" Noboru asked.

"Not a problem at all. Here."

Yuna set the pudding in front of the younger boy and handed him a spoon, walking over to the counter to pack the cakes.

"This is good!" Noboru exclaimed as he took his first bite and continued to eat.

"Why thanks! You and Tasuku-kun are the only people who ate my food so far actually. I appreciate your compliment," Yuna said, giving the boy his cakes.

"Do you plan to invite anyone else over to your house? I'm sure they'll like your food too!" he exclaimed happily.

"Hmm... Maybe.. Soon after the ABC Cup? It starts the day after tomorrow I believe," Yuna said, tapping her chin.

"That sounds great. Are you entering?" Yuna looked at the boy and shook her head. "I'm not that experienced and I wouldn't even have a team anyways, haha. I believe our student council, Shido Magoroku, is entering along with the other participants, Magatsu Jin, Todoroki Genma, and Amanosuzu Suzuha."

Noboru nodded as he finished the last bite of pudding he had left. "Thanks, Senpai! I should go now before it gets too late."

Yuna gave a nod and waved at Noboru. "Yeah, you should. I'll see you next time we talk!"

As the young boy left, Yuna let out a long sigh and allowed her fingers to trail up her lips. "What am I going to do.....?" the girl pondered confusedly.

Tasuku paced around the base as he rested his chin onto his hand and grabbed his head furiously, changing his pose every time he turned.

"What's wrong, Tasuku?" Stella asked curiously.

Tasuku snapped his gaze over to the teen and sped walked over to the girl.

"I-I think I messed up!" he exclaimed worryingly.

Stella raised her brow at the statement he just said. "Care to explain what happened?" she asked the boy, understanding what he was talking about.

"I-i- AGHHH! I TRIED CONFESSING TO HER, B-BUT I WAS INTERRUPTED FOR THE 14TH TIME! A-AND W-WELL SHE- SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE AGAIN! I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER CHANCE, S-SO BEFORE SHE LEFT I...." Tasuku trailed off, lowering his voice as he immediately turned red.

Stella waited patiently until the boy was ready to tell her.

"I kissed her...." He mumbled softly.

"Sorry, Tasuku, but what was that?" Stella asked, trying to hear the boy's voice clearly.

"I said I kissed her!" he said louder, causing him to feel dizzy from embarrassment.

".... Now that's going to leave her thinking.... Hey look, Tasuku. Everything will be alright! She's probably just shocked, but she'll answer you soon, okay?" Stella said, trying to calm down the boy.

"W-what if she turns me down?!" Tasuku asked with a sniffling looking face.

"Ehehe..... Right... I don't think that'll happen. Let's just see what'll happen tomorrow at school. Oh, and don't make her panic."

"Okay..." Tasuku answered, turning away and covering up his mouth.