_Chapter 28~ Some Kind of Answer_

"Wow."

"...Are you not satisfied?"

"No, I am. I've been wanting this for a while. But it's just... wow."

Staring down at the crepe I carried in my hands, a bunch of different emotions welled up inside of me. Mainly awe though, because damn was it good.

I looked up at him quickly. "Try yours."

Startled, he peered down at the one he held in his hand. "Is it that good?"

"Just try it," I urged him. "Right now."

"Right now?" he asked unsurely.

"Right now," I asserted. I beckoned for him to put it in his mouth to which he returned a strained frown.

"I don't exactly enjoy being pressured–"

"Eat it!"

"Okay!" At once, Ryu took a hesitant bite of his and a grin spread across my face when his own expression brightened considerably. Similar to the times I had given him my baking, he looked just as happy.

Since I was so used to his unfriendly expressions he wore on a frequent basis, his smile always caught me off guard.

Raising his head, eyes twinkling, he met my gaze. "This is good!"

A small laugh left my mouth as I sat back in my seat. "It is, right?"

Thoughtfully, Ryu returned his focus to the crepe and took yet another bite. His smile expanded. "I never would have thought they'd taste this good!"

Surprise got the best of me. "Wait... you've never had one before?"

He shook his head. "Never really needed to."

"No way!" My jaw had fallen.

He never tried a crepe before? I mean, sure it was possible, but still.

As I watched him eat his, being all elated the way he was, I laughed, "I'm glad we came here then."

A silence came over us as we both ate in peace. By the time I had gotten halfway done mine, Ryu was already tossing the last of his into his mouth. He watched me eat for a while, making me more uncomfortable might I add, before he decided to break the ice.

"So..." he began slowly.

Awkwardly peeking up at him, I drew out a feeble "so..." as well.

We made eye-contact yet the tension still didn't lift.

"So..." he drawled again after a pause.

Although Ryu was probably trying to make small talk, much to no avail, I guessed the only reason he wasn't able to was because we had absolutely nothing to talk about between us.

Well, really thinking about it, it wasn't like the two of us met like any two people would — with similar likes or dislikes. I accidentally sat on his lap, and he nearly broke my arm... Following after that was nothing but horrid situations I had no choice but to be dragged into.

Yeah, the relationship between us was definitely not bond worthy.

Looking back like that made me realize... I didn't really know much about him, did I?

Sure, I had a bunch of questions I'd want to ask him — considering his baffling personality, especially with what happened on Friday with Aki Mitsoyu — but even though I wanted to inquire what his connection to that delinquent was, I felt as if it wouldn't end well for me. I mean, we did reconcile and he did treat me to a crepe... so I didn't want to risk another fight about it.

That interaction was most likely less complicated than what I was deeming. Delinquents hated other delinquents all the time. Granted, Ryu wasn't a delinquent but he sure could pass as one. Maybe he ran into Raidon Tsuki accidentally before...

I shuddered at the idea.

As I finished my treat, I proceeded to wipe my mouth with a napkin. Clearing my throat, I tentatively met his eyes. "Um... wanna go?" I asked.

At first, it seemed he couldn't find it in himself to speak. "O-oh, sure. Let's go."

After cleaning up after ourselves, we both set off on foot down the road. We passed through some crowds, but after we turned the next curb, the silence in the air was killing me.

"So, Iwasaki!" I broke the silence, and winced slightly because of the high pitch of my voice. He successfully turned his focus my way, but despite the sheepish clearing of my spoke, I continued, "Um... So, do you have something you particularly like?"

He honestly appeared puzzled at my question. "Something I like...?"

Cringing at the way he said it, I spoke to rectify myself, "No, it's just... You did say you're a class president, right? I was just curious if you like that kind of stuff since you claim to be one..."

His eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not 'claiming to be one,' I am one. You still don't believe me?"

Veering my gaze from his smouldering one, I coughed, "Well... I have yet to see some proper evidence..." I quickly forced a smile. "But let's just say I believe you. So, is there a reason why you are one?"

Frowning to himself, Ryu returned his focus to the pavement before us. "I guess so?" he carefully responded, almost as if he were asking himself the question. "I'm not surprised you don't believe that I am, though. Most people have the same reaction whenever I tell them. I wonder why it's so hard to believe... "

I rose an eyebrow at him, slightly amused. "It doesn't suit you, that's why," I replied to him.

He glanced my way in confusion.

I continued, "You seem like the rough and tough delinquent type and yet you're supposedly a figure worthy of your class's representation. Besides, you don't seem like the hardworking type... A-at least, that's my guess." I held up my hands in defence the moment Ryu glared.

Rolling his eyes, he decided not to refute to it and kept quiet.

Eyeing him over, I opened my mouth again, "Maybe if you stopped slouching so much it'd be better?" I suggested.

Ryu subconsciously stood up taller. I tilted my head to the side.

"Oh, and you should wear the full uniform. If you just wear the dress shirt and tie so sloppily like that it doesn't suit a class prez's image. All class presidents dress accordingly, it's a rule."

"Huh? Really?" Almost in awe, he glanced down at his tie. "I didn't think it'd matter. But..." He frowned. "It's too hot to wear the vest."

"Then you should wear glasses," I suggested, stifling back a laugh.

Ryu made a face. "Glasses...?"

"They always work," I assured him. "Everyone knows that people who wear glasses only wear them to look more intellectual."

Once again, he seemed startled. "...Really?" he asked in amazement. "I was so sure people only wore them if their eyesight was bad."

I burst out laughing at that. He was taking me too literally! "Iwasaki, I was just kidding," I told him with a snort.

"About the full uniform thing? Yeah, that did seem fake," he responded, fixing his posture. "Miyabi never wears his vest and he's in a more important position than me."

I bit my lip to keep from laughing further. Seriously? Shaking my head, I couldn't drop the smile upturning the corners of my lips. Either he was extremely gullible, or he was extremely naive... Yet some other attributes that was hard to expect from someone like him.

"To tell you the truth," Ryu spoke again, catching my focus. "Even though I tell you I'm Class President, there's actually two of us in my class."

All my amusement vanished at once. I couldn't contain my surprise. "Two of you?"

He bobbed his head. "I think the class chose her as a joke. She's extremely terrified of public speaking and people... Especially if you try talking to her, she becomes this stuttering, frightened mess. It's hard to watch, honestly."

"Are you talking about a girl named Kinomi by any chance?" I asked him.

His eyelids rose. "You know her?"

I smiled meekly. "Well, yeah. I'm pretty sure all second years know about her. But, wait... if she's the class president of your class, then you were lyin—"

"I wasn't lying," Ryu cut me off curtly. "Let me finish. Anyway, even though she was picked to be class president, she obviously wasn't a good one. And I guess that's why Mrs. Hamada made me take over as punishment."

"Punishment?" I repeated slowly. "Wait, so you became the class president of your class because it's a punishment from the principal?"

Ryu sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Mrs. Hamada kept insisting it'd 'keep me out of trouble,' better than detention would. Mr. Hiroyuki approved of it too, threatening that if I did a bad job they'd kick me out of the school."

Listening to his story, for some reason it seemed way more believable than imagining his entire class voting for Ryu. Plus, Mrs. Hamada did seem like the type to come up with that kind of punishment. Although it was weird, her ridiculousness was something everyone at Akelius expected.

'What exactly did you do to get that kind of punishment?' I couldn't help but want to ask him. I mean, this school was overflowing with a bunch of dangerous delinquents but the worst kind of punishment they'd get would be detention — and trust me, that was hell in itself. But if Ryu didn't even get detention for it, was it possibly crazier than that...?

Ryu frowned. "Look, I don't want to talk about this kind of stuff anymore. How about you?"

"Me?" I asked in confusion.

For some reason, he avoided my eyes. Turning the other direction, Ryu cleared his throat. "Last week..." he began slowly, "with Aki. What... did he tell you?"

"Aki?" My eyelids rose. "Aki Mitsoyu?"

"What other Aki could we be talking about?" he snapped. "So?"

My lips came together slowly, and my brows knitted together. He could've said that better... "We didn't particularly talk about anything," I replied after a pause. "I was just cornered by some delinquents, and he helped me get away from them. Then you suddenly came— for a reason you still haven't told me— and are somehow associated with... you know who."

Ryu visibly tensed at my pointed words, but didn't change the subject. "He... told you that himself?"

Slightly surprised, I bobbed my head. "Um, he implied it at least." I waited a couple seconds for him to respond but he didn't relent. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

"Say what?" Ryu coughed, trying his best to stay discreet.

I deadpanned. "Seriously? You don't have to play dumb."

Ryu looked as if he had wanted to retort to that, but he clamped his lips down again. After a couple seconds, he spoke, "It's not important."

Feeling somehow courageous, I refuted, "Uh, yes it is! If the reason why I'm suddenly being bombarded by a bunch of heart-eyed delinquents squealing 'Miss Reina' left and right, when just a few weeks ago I had screamed at them for being idiots without a future; and including the fact that I was being tailed by Aki Mitsoyu, the R-Raidon Ts-Tsuki's—" It was still difficult to say his name, "right-hand man, who you somehow have a connection to — I think I deserve an explanation."

"It's just a coincidence," Ryu murmured. "Why are we talking about this anyway? Look, we're almost at our houses so let's forget it and go."

He beckoned left.

"But, Iwasaki..." I began.

"Don't worry about it, Kikuchi. It'll all probably settle down soon, and you can go back to your peaceful life," he assured me.

Although I knew I was being nosy, I still opened my mouth, "But I... I just don't want to be confused. Can I at least get some kind of answer— about anything?"

"I already told you: I don't know—"

"Yeah, and I also don't know anything about you. That's why I want to learn so why can't you just tell me?" I looked down at my feet, suddenly feeble. "All I know is that you're a confusing person. This is only a me problem, but I just want to get to know you better? I guess? I just want to understand something."

At first, he was quiet. "If... that's the case," Ryu began, "you're confusing too, Kikuchi."

I was taken by surprise. "Am I...?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "I don't really know anything about you either."

"Oh... Is that so?" I frowned. So this applied for the both of us? Well I guess I didn't share anything about myself so it wasn't a surprise he didn't know anything about me either.

"So, what are we supposed to do?"

"Well..." I didn't want to get discouraged. "We should get to know each other then. The way we met wasn't exactly the start of a friendship. So let's start one here, on a clean slate."

"Friendship..." Ryu's eyes were wide in shock. "With me?"

I couldn't help but smile. "This is kind of awkward, but why not?" I dug into my pocket for my cell phone. Just as I checked the time displayed, I nodded. "We've still got time. Instead of rushing home, let's..."

My words trailed off the moment I saw Ryu's strained countenance.

"Um, what's wrong...?" I tentatively questioned, baffled by his sudden change in behaviour.

In response, he quickly spun around. "I've actually got something to take care of. Go home without me."

"Huh?" I cried after him. "But—"

I was abruptly cut off the moment Ryu disappeared down the road. My mouth had fallen in disbelief.

What just...? My brows knitted together as I turned towards my own house. That...was pretty weird.

Did he actually have something he needed to deal with?