~~~

After the incident of Takashi calling me by my nickname, he seems to warily avoid me the rest of the week. He takes the next aisle over to get to his desk during class the next day, and he doesn't return to our table in the Dining Hall. The week ends like that, and I assume that will be how it will stay for a long while.

"Good morning," a voice, closer than it should be, greets on Monday.

I turn around in suprise to find that it was indeed intended for me, but upon identifying the source, I'm filled with bitterness.

When that person suddenly takes a seat at my table, I lean away in shock.

"What are you doing?!" I question in outrage.

"I am sitting in my seat. What does it look like to you?"

"Since when is this your seat?"

"It's been my seat since I claimed it just a moment ago."

"I never invited you to sit here."

"You don't have to invite me; I invited myself, since it is, in fact, an open seat."

I stare at him in disbelief and chagrin.

"You are unwelcome here, Tsukino."

"I don't believe I have to be welcomed, but I will say that it'll be harder to work together on pair activities if you stay so cold."

Angered, I turn back to the window sharply. Takashi doesn't say anything else to me for the rest of class, but I'm overwhelmingly aware of his presence, nonetheless. The moment that class is dismissed for lunch, I sweep up my belongings and hurry out the door. As I reach my locker, I finally slow down and take a breath after shoving my textbooks inside.

That man has caused me to become so tense... I must calm myself.

"You sure left class in a rush."

I jump and spin around to find that Takashi had already managed to catch up to me.

He is quite relaxed with his breathing so even too... Is he some sort of phantom?! For him to catch up to me without even a hair out of place and stand so casually... It is illogical!

He speaks again, "I'd like to talk to you."

Regaining my composure, I begin to storm down the hallway, "That is funny, because I certainly do not wish to speak to you."

"Let's discuss it over lunch," he continues as he follows closely behind, ignoring my reply.

"The last thing I desire is to spend my precious lunch break with someone such as yourself."

"I'll meet you on the roof in a few minutes. If not, we can discuss it in front of your friends, but I don't think you would want to do that."

My eyes widen, and I freeze for just a moment.

Could he perhaps already know?

I spin around again sharply, but he had already left.

This will not be good... I can feel it.

~~~

Takashi had been so careful around Yukiko all this time up until now. She could see through his false friendly acts; He didn't want to make an enemy of her. However, she won't talk to him when he pretends to be nice, and he just ends up making her hate him even more. Therefore, he gave up on all his acts and precautions around her. It's not like he was getting anywhere when he was pretending to be friendly, after all.

He waits patiently on the roof for her to come. The door from the staircase opens, and she steps through it, just a couple minutes after him.

"Welcome," he greets with a faint trace of sarcasm in his tone.

She keeps her fierce expression, but still decides to sit down near him.

"What have you summoned me for?" she asks right away.

"Mostly, I just want to know you," Takashi starts, and she scoffs in response.

"Though, I also want to ask you some things."

She narrows her eyes, "Tch."

"What's with that look? It's like your preparing for war against me."

"Depends on what you have to say."

She didn't deny it. She is planning war... Perhaps I do need to be cautious, after all...

Takashi looks down and notices Yukiko didn't bring any food.

"Aren't you going to eat lunch?"

"I guess not."

"You guess?"

She doesn't reply.

What's with her?

"Here." he hands her a sandwich from his lunch.

"No thanks. I don't need your kindness," she says sharply, but there was a touch of gentleness in her eyes.

"It's not kindness. I'm simply not going to eat it, and it'd be a waste to throw away."

She looks up at him, glaring, for a moment. Then, she quickly grabs the sandwich out of his hand and starts eating it like some wild animal.

"You're not very ladylike."

"Shut up! More importantly, get to the point already! What did you call me out here for?"

Looking down, he remains silent for a few moments.

"Yuki..."

She stiffens at the sound of her nickname but doesn't say anything this time.

"I have no intention of telling anyone.... your secret. But," Takashi continues, looking back up at her, "I want your assistance in exchange. As things stand, you have no choice. You cannot decline."

Her face is frozen in horror.

This is where it begins.