"I'm sick," he called her. "That burger caught up to me like you said."

"Awwww..." she replied. "How am I gonna survive school without you?"

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. If not, you can always talk to me. I'm a shoulder to cry on." 

"Thanks. You should meet my friends one day, after you get better. You already saw Ayumu. I have two others, named Ayah and Nataliya." 

"Oh, ok. I'll see them at some point. Till then, I better get some rest... My tummy's queasy."

............................................................

School came along. Adara was in algebra class, feeling squeamish about the fact Ashihiro won't be around for the day. 'How am I gonna survive without Ashihiro?!' she thought to herself. 'That Tsuhara guy is a royal pain! I'll fix Ashihiro some soup though I have my shrimp and veggies for said dish.'

Tsuhara turned to her. "Your boyfriend isn't here. Not so tough without him, huh?"

"Leave me alone." She rolled her eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me, cutie. I'll take care of you," he said creepily. 

"I'm interested in someone else, now leave me alone."

"You're so cute when you're angry."

"Don't call me cute!" Adara kicked his balls. CRUNCH!

"Oooooh!" he howled in pain like a sick dog. "My balls!" He lied down on the white, shiny floor, crying."

............................................................

Adara finally reached Ashihiro's two-story, white b rick house. "Finally. Away from that Tsuhara guy." She had a thermos in her hand; it was blue and full of shrimp-and-veggie soup. "Hope he likes this soup."

Ashihiro heaved in a grey bucket. Cartoon Network was airing in his room. "Why did I not heed her warning about the burger?"

Keiko opened the door. "Oh, so you're the girl Ashihiro was talking about. Come in, come in  What's in the thermos, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Soup. I wanted to fix him some. It's miso broth with shrimp and veggies."

"He's upstairs. Do be careful -- he's sick on his stomach."

Adara went upstairs to his room. "Uhhhh... Ashihiro? I got you some soup."

"Come in," he groaned. The smell of vomit fouled the air. She poured him some soup in the lid that was on the thermos. "Here you go."

"Thank you." He took a little sip. His eyes lit up. "Wow, wow, wow! This is so good!" He drank it ravenously. "It's not bland, the shrimp melted in my mouth..."

"I'm glad you liked it. Anyways, I have something to tell you... I-I-I have feelings for you, okay?"

"What?"

"I said I have feelings for you."

"That's the first time somebody said and meant that to me..." He put his hand over his heart. "I never had a legit girlfriend before."

"Well, you have one now." Her phone went off. She went to check it. "Dad wants me home. I'll see you tomorrow." She left the room.

"Boy, do I have a keeper."