NOTE TO MIPPA>> Read on. Here's where the story begins to split. Both Liz and I have an alternate scene, and now here are additions to BOTH SCENES. Meanwhile, Joanna's trying to get Keiko to tell Otaru the truth, and has already decided how it's going to happen, while the rest of the writers think it best not to do so. Here's where the thing goes haywire:

"Yes. Kakeru-Kun and I had the same idea." Otaru smiled cheerfully. The morning did agree with him. Unlike Keiko, who wasn't much of a morning person.

"Really." Keiko said in more of a statement than a question. "Fine, I apologize."

Kakeru put his hand on Keiko's head and acted worried. "Oh, are you sick?"

"Very funny." She glared.

"Hey, you thought so out on that cliff." Kakeru chuckled.

"Am I missing something?" Otaru blinked.

"So far everything has been running smoothly." Staci said. "No interruptions, no pranks, no nothing!"

She smiled in satisfaction. In her all too brief moment of glory, her walkie-talkie went off.

"PHEONIXSCOUT TO PHEONIX BASE!!" Naoki yelled. "WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE LAKE!!"

"Hmm? What?" Staci looked worried.

"IT'S COVERED! I MEAN AAALLLLLL COVERED IN SHAVING CREAM!!" Naoki exclaimed. "I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE!!"

Kakeru laughed to himself.

"What's so funny?" Keiko asked.

"Private joke." He smirked. Screams were now heard as girls fled from the lake in towels.

Otaru's eyes widened in surprise. "Kakeru? Didn't you just say...?" He said this as calmly as he could. What he was really thinking... "Keiko? Kakeru? Noooooo!!!"

Keiko suddenly felt trapped. She knew that what she had just said made no sense. She felt angry at Otaru... and had know idea why. Couldn't he just forget about the whole thing?!

"You know what? I really don't know the details... so just... ask her herself!"

She ran away before Otaru could see her eyes fill with tears. She felt really bad about being so sharp to Otaru, and suddenly wished that she could take it all back. But then... she realized she wouldn't be able to anyway. She had made up so many excuses lately, told so many lies, that... she wanted to go away to sort it all out! Before Otaru tried to ask Amuro Keiko about Kakeru... --Joanna

Keiko jerked suddenly out of her faint sleep. Her backed ached like mad from leaning against the tree, and her nose was numb from the cold.

/what a wierd dream.../ she thought to herself as she recalled it. Otaru, admitting to liking Keiko, Kakeru doing something nice for her, breakfast... She shook her head.

There was an uncomfortable warmness on Keiko's shoulders as she realized, with a sudden blush, that Kakeru and Otaru both sat beside her, asleep, with their heads resting on either side of her shoulders. She quickly pushed down any thought in her mind, and rested her head in her knees, convincing herself that she was still tired. But she just couldn't. Her back was aching, and, for some reason, she'd begun to have a stomach ache. And, she noted with sudden displeasure, she felt unordinarily unclean... unpleasent... moist...

"moist?!" Keiko breathed to herself, her eyes nearly bulging with realization. Without realizing, her fingers had slipped down between her knees and emerged, to her utter horror, red. She was breathing heavily now, and struggled to shift Kakeru and Otaru's weight from her shoulder.

/NOT NOW! NO NO NO!/ Keiko shouted furiously in her mind, propping up her blankets between her two sleeping friends, to make up for her absence. However, it seemed her presence was not really needed for, when she rose to her feet, Otaru and Kakeru merely shifted in their sleep and against eachother, now sleeping back-to-back with eachother. Keiko took a moment to admire the scene before recalling her emergency and panicking.

/Now what do I do?!/ she questioned herself, hopping impatiently on the balls of her feet and looking around.

"...Aika and Naoki!!!" Keiko breathed with relief, remembering stupidly that she was in a camp full of girls. She ran hurriedly up the hill, where she remembered Aika letting her sleep in a tent earlier that day.

Keiko, out of breath and cramping from the long trudge up the hill, eventually made it to Aika's tent, conviently located away from everyone else. Without much thought, she fell to her hands and knees, unzipped the tent, and fell in, gasping.

"AIKA! NAOKI! PADS! NOW!" Keiko shouted at both the girls who were wrapped tightly in their sleeping bags. She shook them feverishly by the shoulders to arouse them. When they finally woke up, Keiko took Aika by the shoulders (poor Aika had been nearest to the door), and shook her, shouting her demands. Naoki's eyes widened with shock as she listened in on Keiko's recent news. She managed to calm Keiko down, torn between amusement and pity at her friend's unfortunate situation. Aika, she noted, was feeling the same, by the look on her face matched her own. They both shared sideways grins before turning their attention to Keiko.

"So, why don't you have any pads, Keiko?" Aika questioned with false concern, attempting not to giggle. Naoki gave her a warning look.

Keiko sniffled. "I'm almost a week early!"

"Oh?" Naoki siad brightly, reaching into nearby bag. "So, would you prefer pads or tampons?"

"Pads."

"Sure?"

Keiko recalled an instance in her mind about using tampons. She had sworn never again. "Pads. I'm sure."

Aika and Naoki agreed happily to accompany Keiko while she changed behind a bush, as far away from camp as they could possibly get without the fear of being eaten by wild animals. Once she was finished, they said goodbye to her and left to their tent, stifling their giggles.

Keiko felt a bit cleaner now that she was changed, but she still felt sore and tired. She knew all she needed was sleep for a few days, but she knew she couldn't. They were going to finish up the hike tomorrow...

"Might as well get as much sleep as I can..." she thought aloud, relocating the spot where she had left Otaru and Kakeru to sleep on without her. When she got there, however, she was surprised to see Kakeru, his eyes now open and staring, but still leaning against Otaru, most likely to conceal warmth; or, to keep Otaru asleep.

Kakeru rose his head to her as she approached, and, to Keiko's surprise, smiled sympathetically as she sat down against the tree, once again seperating the two boys.

"That time of month?" Kakeru said knowingly, and Keiko could feel her cheeks turning red.

"How'd you--"

Kakeru cut her off. "I--er--woke up when you moved and saw you walking off... and--your pants were..." he trailed off, his own face turning a deep crimson to match Keiko's. She nodded, and shifted uneasily.
"Well," she began to explain, "I went to Aika and Naoki's tent--they're so cool--and they gave me some... supplies... and I changed."

Kakeru nodded knowingly, as if the same thing had once happened to him--which Keiko knew was impossible. Sighing, she rested her head against the thick trunk of the tree, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders.

"Just wish I had some aspirin, though--" Her words were once again cut off, this time by a tiny snort given off by (to Keiko's amusement) Otaru. It was everything she could do not to burst out laughing.

"I didn't know Otaru snored!" she whispered, an amused grin crossing her face. Kakeru grinned as well, but not so much out of amusement as Keiko.

"Sleeps like a log, that guy," Kakeru stated, "Poked him in the face, even; didn't even move. Just snorted and his head lolled onto the other side."

Keiko grinned wildly at this new fact. "Ya learn something new every day," she said, resting her chin on her knees. "But, now I have something to pick on him for!" Her eyes twinkled happily. Kakeru nodded, before resting his head on the trunk of the tree, and sighing contentedly.It had gotten cold without Keiko's presence there. Within minutes, both of them too tired to say anything mroe, they both fell asleep. --TD

Otaru woke up to see Kei beside him. He looked at his watch, and gasped. '8 already?!' He gently nudged her. She stirred, and opened her eyes with a groan.

"Sempai! Wake up. It's Eight'o'clock!" Otaru said. "We're late for breakfast!"

Kei's eyes opened wide, and her stomach grumbled. In her uncomfortable position that last thing she needed now was to eat icky, cold food. He nudged her again. "I'm getting up, OKAY?!" She exclaimed. Otaru jumped.

"No need to be upset Sempai." He smiled. "Someone got up on the wrong side of the tree this morning."

Keiko managed to smile. "Let's go."

At breakfast, Kei was unusually silent. 'I wonder what's wrong?' Otaru thought.

Once finished, Kei and Otaru were about to leave, but when Kei got up from the table, 'he' yelped in pain.

"Are you okay?" Otaru asked.

"Yeah, fine. Just cramps." She said, then opened her eyes wide. 'IDIOT!' She thought. "I think I slept on that tree wrong." She added quickly.

"I think any way of sleeping under a tree is wrong." Otaru laughed. He looked up at the sky. "Looks like rain."

'Great.' Keiko thought. 'Rain.. Ugh..'

"By that look on your face, I'm guessing you don't like the rain." Otaru smiled.

"Of course not!" She snapped. "Why, do you?"

"Sure! It's so traquil." He looked up at the clouds. "It's early yet, maybe they'll pass before it gets too heavy."

"I hope so.." Keiko mumbled.

Kakeru was looking over some sheet music in his 'tent', if you could call it that.

Keiko walked by, and mumbled something, and angry look on her face. A confused Otaru stood by a tree. Kakeru decided to check it out.

"All I said was that he looked irritated." Otaru told Kakeru.

"Then what?" Kakeru folded his arms.

"Then he said, 'WHAT DO YOU THINK?', then I said 'No reason to get all upset', and he said, 'NO REASON?!', then he stomped off. I just don't understand." Otaru sighed.

Kakeru supressed a chuckle. "Don't mind him. He's just upset, that's all. You need to let him cool off." In his mind, he added, 'Yeah, for like, the next ten days, give or take.'

Otaru shook his head in confusion and walked off.

Two hours later, Keiko had still not returned from her little steaming session. The clouds overhead were getting darker, and it was only a matter of time until rain fell. He decided to go after her. He found footprints that had to be hers, or o he hoped. As Kakeru followed, about 15 minutes later, sprinkles of water gently trinkled down his face. He looked up. The storm was begining. Within minutes, the few drops turned into a feirce storm, that he couldn't escape out in the open. After about ten or so more minutes, he found himself at the foot of a cave.The only way to get refuge from the cold wind and pouring waters was to go inside. The further in he got, the quiter the raging thunder became. But he soon heard another sound.. Crying. There, a sobbing, but dry girl sat on the ground, her long hair over her shoulders, and glasses in her hands... --Ikuno

"Keiko?"

Her head sprung up from her knees, and she stared at Kakeru, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She wiped her eyes distractedly, before shooting a menacing glance at Kakeru.

"Go away!" she said, before flopping her head down on her knees again and letting out a stifled sob. Kakeru was reminded of a five-year-old in the middle of a tantrum. Instead of doing what she had commmanded him, he approached her, his brows furrowed.

"Keiko," Kakeru said softly, the slightest hint of concern embedded in his voice. "What're you doing here? The whole camp's prob'ly looking for you, by now!"

Keiko sniffed, but did not raise her head. "I don't care. LET them look for me!"

Kakeru began to grow impatient. "Keiko, you--"

Kakeru's sentence was suddenly cut off by a sound that made goosebumps on his skin: thunder. Keiko screeched loudly at the sound, unable to control herself.

"I WANNA GO HOME!" she yelled, causing the cave to echo with her whiny voice. Kakeru covered his ears, before kneeling down beside Keiko and clasping his hand over her mouth.

"Stop that!" he ordered, cautiously taking his hand off her mouth. Instead of yelling, Keiko took to pouting, and looking as sulky as ever.

"Now," Kakeru started, glaring at Keiko. "Will you be reasonable and listen now?"

Keiko sniffed a "yes". Kakeru smiled.

"Good. We need to get back to camp before this storm gets any worse--" another roll of thunder bellowed through the cave, and Keiko whimpered.

"Take that back," Kakeru said, peering toward where a light stood as the cave entrance.

"We'll wait out the storm, then we'll go back to camp and--"

"NO!" Keiko whined, her face flushing. "I'm never going back there! Being a guys sucks!"

She hid her face in her knees again, just barely escaping the piercing gaze from Kakeru.

"Will you come off it?" he growled, "I know it's "that time of month" for you, but it doesn't give you an excuse to act like that!"

Keiko lifted her head, her brows furrowed in anger. "It gives me EVERY right! It's not easy being a girl, you know!"

"It's not easy being a guy, either!" Kakeru retaliated.

"Well, it's even harder being a girl being a guy!" Keiko squeaked, her voice going unusually high. Her eyes began brimming with tears.

Kakeru had no idea how to retaliate now. Having never pretended to be the oppisite sex, he had no idea how Keiko would have been feeling. Guilt hit his stomach like a weight. She really had it rough...

Keiko had gone back to sulking. Kakeru, now feeling guilty and not wanting another argument with Keiko, decided to sulk himself. Standing up, he decided he'd like to explore the cave some, if he was going to be stuck in it with an already moody girl on pms.

However, with the first step he took, he tripped and fell flat on his back, losing his breath. Laughter erupted in the cave, and Kakeru, having regained his breath only slightly, perched up on his elbows to look at Keiko, who held her stomach from laughing.

It was an improvement to see a smile on Keiko's face, but it was the fact that it was HIM that was the source of her entertainment that made him turn sour.

"That wasn't funny."

Keiko brushed her eyes against the back of her hand. "I know! It was hillarious! You should fall down more often!"

Keiko's laughter ceased when another roll of thunder shook the cave. She hugged herself tightly, shutting her eyes.

Kakeru noticed this, and sat down beside her. "Cliffs AND thunder?" he said teasingly.

"What are you--are girl?"

Keiko didn't smile. It didn't seem like she'd heard his joke at all, as she hugged herself even tighter. Kakeru raised his eyebrows in concern.

"Keiko?" he questioned, "You okay?"

Keiko burst. "NO! I'm NOT okay!" she spluttered, sniffling back tears once again. "And since when did YOU start caring about whether I'm okay or not?"

Kakeru blinked. "I--"

"Over half the time I'm NOT okay," Keiko interrupted, "YOU'RE the reason!"

Kakeru choked. Did he really do that to Keiko...?

Keiko pounded her fists on the ground furiously. "I hate you! I don't even know why I tolerate you! You're mean, insensitive, cruel...!" The insults continued. Kakeru sat, gazing at Keiko with awe. Did she really mean those things?

Keiko had begun to cry again. Her eyes were tightly shut, as were her fists, as if ready to strike Kakeru at any moment. He gulped and felt his own eyes sting.

/Do I really cause her that much pain that she keeps it bottled inside like that...?/

The insults were still coming out in a steady flow. Finally, Kakeru did something drastic, without much thinking (if any). Keiko's words were suddenly ceased and caught in her throat. She felt her heart skip a fewnecessary beats as, much to her surprise as his, Kakeru had her in a crushing hug.

"I'm sorry," Kakeru whispered into her ear, his lips just barely brushing against her cheek. Keiko felt her heart race, and, her eyes flooding over again, she allowed herself to cry freely onto his shoulder.

"I had no idea I caused you so much misery," Kakeru said after a moment, still hugging her tightly. He could feel Keiko's head moving back and forth on his shoulder in a derterminate "no".

"It's not just you, it's this whole... thing. Everything."

Kakeru nodded understandingly. Though he had no experience being a girl, he had a slight idea of what she meant, and pity surged through him. She really, really had it rough... --TD

Keiko, getting over her fears, blushed. Was Kakeru hugging her? Was he acting this way? And why was her heart beating so fast? She told herself it was the storm, but was it really? Kakeru felt his stomach turn. He was here hugging Keiko, they were there, all alone. He was wet, and cold, but somehow he didn't notice. Keiko pushed away, stood up and turned around. Something felt strange about hugging him. Not bad, just, strange. Kakeru stood up. "Have you explored this cave yet?"

"No! There could be bats, and spiders and all kinds of stuff!" Keiko looked in horror. He laughed and took hold of her arm gently.

"Hey!" She exclaimed. He pulled her closer.

They both paused. "Don't worry, I'll protect you," He smiled.

She turned around and put her nose in the air. "You protect ME? I'm gonna need protection from you, you creep."

Kakeru blushed, then put his arm around Keiko. "Okay! Let's go!"

Suddenly Keiko felt like she was in a movie she saw once. It didn;t turn out good. She clinged to Kakeru's arm. He blushed more. As they went through, there was a fork in the tunnel. The went to the right. Dead end. They turned back and went to the left. Kakeru looked around, his flashlight in his hand. Keiko was caught up in being so close to Kakeru.

"Woops. Can't go through here." Kakeru said.

"Why?" Keiko looked over. It was too dark, but when Kakeru pointed his flashlight that way.. Keiko screamed. A giant spider and it's web sat in front of the path.

"Well, that's it for exploring." Kakeru smiled. They walked back to the entrance, and Keiko sat down on a rock.

"I WANT TO GO HOME! NOW!!" She yelled.

"Shh!" Kakeru said. "Do you want to cause a cave in?"

Keiko looked at him, horrified. She put her hands over her mouth and cried again. Kakeru sighed. 'Why me?' He thought.

He sat next to her, and put his hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. The storm will be over soon." She quietly looked at him, still bawling. He gently wiped the tears from her eyes, and held her chin with his hand. Her mind was racing. 'What?! Is he going to kiss me? Did I say he could kiss me? Do I want him to kiss me? I dont even like Kakeru! I like Otaru! I mean, wait, I do like Kakeru, and I like Otaru, I mean, I like Otaru?! Since when do I like Otaru?! Since when do I like Kakeru? Am I insane?! Should I let him kiss me?' He lifted her chin closer to his, and closed his eyes, and.. She put her hand in between their lips.

"Hey, buddy! Did I say you could kiss me?!" She was furious, partly because she was mad at him, and partly because she wanted to kiss him, too..

"I, Umm, Uh, Er.." Kakeru was bright red. --Ikuno

"I..." Kakeru stuttered, his face going redder by the second. Finally, his mind came up with a reasonable excuse.

"You've got a bug in your hair," he stated, reaching around Keiko. "Hold still; I'll get it out."

There was a tense silence as Kakeru, pretending, managed to pull out an invisible bug. He hid it from Keiko's view as he let it out onto the ground, then got to his feet.

He ran a hand through his hair nervously. /Man... what was I about to do?/

Oblivious to Kakeru pacing around her, she had been wondering the exact same thing. What HAD Kakeru been doing? It was far too close for him to simply be retrieving a bug...

"Wow..." Keiko said, her own voice taking her by surprise as it broke the silence. "For a second, I thought you were really gonna kiss me!" she sighed with relief, though, cautiously, she watched Kakeru from the side of her eye, expecting to see him blush any moment. But, to her amazement, he turned to her, his face looking void of any emotion.

"I WAS gonna kiss you..." he said, his voice oddly monotone. Keiko felt her stomach twist in knots at his words. She opened her mouth to reply, when he spoke to her.

"Come on," he said, his voice taking on a cold note. "The storm's letting up. We should probably head back to camp before dark, or else they'll send out a search party."

Before Keiko could protest, he had grabbed her roughly by the arm and nearly dragged her all the way to the exit of the cave.

Then he stopped dead. For a moment, Keiko wondered why, until she noticed-- Her jaw dropped. The entrance to the cave was blocked by rocks and dirt. It felt as if the pit of her stomach had fallen out, leaving her feeling dizzy and disoriented.

"But... why didn't we hear... it..." she said dazedly, the air in her lungs slipping out. Her head felt dizzy.

"Must have happened when we were exploring..." Kakeru said, to Keiko's surprise, calm. His voice didn't quiver like Keiko's did; only his eyebrows showed any trace of concern on his face.

Panick gripped Keiko like a hand around her throat. She was trapped--in a damp, cold cave--no one knew where she was--alone with KAKERU!

"NO! LET ME OUT!" She screamed, jumping to the wall of rocks and pounding as hard as she could on them. "OTARU! OBARI! SOMEBODY! I WANT OUT! I CAN'T STAY IN HERE! SAVE ME! OTARU! OTA--"

Kakeru gripped a hand around her mouth. "Do you want to cause another cave-in?!" he whispered furiously, dragging her away from the wall. When Kakeru released her, she fell down to the floor, and started bawling.

Kakeru rolled his eyes. /how many times can a girl cry in one day?/ turning his attention to the wall, he attempted to tug out one of the rocks. it was wedged in. He followed suit with the other rocks, finding that they were all the same as the first. He turned defeatedly to Keiko.

"Well, the only way we'd be able to get those to budge is if we had a sledge hammer and about six other people," he stated, realizing immediately that this was the wrong thing to say. It only caused her to cry louder, and Kakeru was forced to clamp her mouth shut again, giving her a warning look.

Keiko nodded and trudged drearily after Kakeru further into the cave, as he had the only flashlight between them. They picked a suitable spot not too far away from the cave entrance to sit and...

"We wait," Kakeru stated simply as Keiko sat beside him, sniffling. He couldn't help but grin at how she acted; like a five-year-old just after a tantrum.

"I'm so tired..." she said, expanding her point by giving an audible yawn.

"Then sleep," Kakeru suggested, shrugging his shoulders and leaning against a nearby rock. He rested his head on it, and closed his eyes. "We're not gonna have anything better to do, for a while--til somebody finds us."

Keiko nodded, pain, misery, and Kakeru forgotten, she leaned on the rock beside Kakeru. She removed her glasses, realizing, for the first time, how very dark the cave was. She shivered. Beside, her, Kakeru could feel her skin quiver.

"You cold?"

Keiko shook her head. "No, just... kinda freaked out."

Kakeru nodded, but scooted closer to her, none-the-less, pressing his shoulder against hers. She felt her face go warm.

Making herself more comfortable against the rock, Keiko closed her eyes. It was only moments after she had done so that she fell into a peaceful sleep. --TD

A million thoughts wandered about Kakeru's mind. 'What was I thinking? Did I actually believe she would want to kiss me? I'm such an idiot.' He looked over at her, peacefully sleeping, and managed to smile, despite the scoldings in his head. 'She's so beautiful..'

He stood up, and figured, as long as Keiko couldn't panic, maybe he should go check out that spider web again. Maybe he could get around it..

Otaru's worried expression troubled Rina. He waited impatiently to speak with Obari about Kei. He knew they were doing all they could, but he couldn't shake this feeling of helplessness. Rina walked up to him, and put her hand on his arm.

"I'm sure they're doing everything they can to find Kei." She assured him.

"I want to help, but I cant do anything!" He seemed angrier than she'd ever seen him.

"It's okay, I'm sure sh- *cough* he is fine." Rina smiled. 'That was close. How could I almost slip up, and so easily?!'

Kakeru found himself at the spider web, with no spider in sight. 'Hmm..' He thought. He searched the area with his flashlight, and after finding nothing, he gently tugged on the web, to demolish it. After he was finished, he moved up his hand to wipe his brow. 'Whew.' His relief suddenly turned into horror, when the spider, about the size of a tarantula, was crawling slowly on his arm.

Keiko awoke to a yell. "Kakeru?!" She exclaimed. She stood up and brushed herself off.

She then ran towards the tunnel. Soon she found herself at the fork, and remembered. "He wouldn't.." She went to the left. Kakeru stood, his arm extended, with a horrified look on his face. She finally realized the large black spider on his arm. She gasped. Without thinking, she ran to his arm, swatted off the spider and stomped on it, full force, six times. She was ready for the seventh, and Kakeru stopped her.

"I think it's dead." He told her.

"Whew." She said.

Obari lead a group of TUA students to look for Kei and Kakeru. Otaru was the first to volunteer. --Ikuno

The search parties were divided into pairs. Otaru, to his sudden dismay, was stuck with Jiro, who was still planning "battle tactics". Otaru couldn't get a word in edgewise, so he contented himself with staying silent and scanning his eyes everywhere he went. It had gotten dark, and his stomach was twisted in knots form worry. /You'd better be alright, Sempai.../

In a matter of speaking, Keiko WAS doing alright. After the encounter with the spider, however, she felt extremely drained of energy; she wished with every bone in her body for a bath and a meal.

After the "attack" (as Kakeru had so nicely dubbed it), Keiko had wanted nothing but sleep and--

"Foooood..." Keiko moaned, rubbing her stomach absently. "I'm sooooooo huuuuuuungryyyyyyy..."

Kakeru vaguely remembered storing something in his pockets for a prank he had been planning earlier that day. Quietly reaching into his pocket, he located the item, and pulled it out.

"I have some caramels..." he stated, staring blankly at the candy he had been planning to melt all over Jiro. Keiko looked at the caramels greedily. Her hands lurched forward to grab them all at once, but she drew back, knowing it was unfair.

"So, how do we split them?" she asked gloomily, the prospect of having only half of the candies increasing her hunger. Kakeru inspected the candies carefully.

"Well, there are seven of them, so they won't be divided evenly... So, you'll get one more than me."

Keiko felt a rush of gratitude toward Kakeru. Quickly snatching her four candies and allowing Kakeru his three, she devoured them within seconds. Kakeru took his time, slowly nibbling off bits at a time and observing the shiny wrappers.

A sniffling sound met his ears and he lifted his eyes away from the wrapper to meet eyes with Keiko, who was bearing the poutiest face she could muster. Kakeru sighed.

"Fine..." he murmured, handing over his last caramel. Keiko squeaked happily and, almost as soon as she had snatched the treat, she had eaten it, and was smiling contentedly. Kakeru couldn't help but snicker at the childish look on her face.

Next moment, she was looking sour again. Kakeru raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Eh... can I use your flashlight?" she asked, a slight brush creeping up to her cheeks. "I need to... change."

Understanding immediately, Kakeru handed over his flashlight and watched as Keiko descended farther into the cave, out of his eyeshot. He listened, instead, and heard the ripping of plastic and other such noises as he waited patiently (though somewhat nervously; he always needed the comfort of a flashlight) for Keiko to return. When she did, she was in a happy mood again, obviously feeling refreshed.

Kakeru was glad; he didn't want to have to deal with a moody Keiko, in the morning. She sat down beside him, letting out a yawn.

"Yeah, sleep sounds like a good idea," Kakeru said, again resting his back against the rock. Keiko, however, was contented leaning against Kakeru, causing his face to go a deep shade of pink (which, luckily, Keiko couldn't see in the dark).

It didn't take long for Keiko to get back to sleep. Kakeru, however, had a hard time with that, as he wondered what might happen if Keiko were suddenly awake and find herself with Kakeru near her.

/slap me, most likely.../ he thought tiredly. /girls and their mood swings.../ --TD

"I say we go back. It's nighttime, there's nothing we can do now." Jiro said. Otaru was looking at the rock face.

"Hmm.." He said. "This looks, strange.."

"What?" Jiro looked at the rocks. "Just looks like a bunch of rocks."

"Let's come back here in the morning, this looks.. ..Interesting." Otaru said. 'It's almost if those rocks were moved.."

Kakeru awoke with a sudden embarrassment. Keiko was asleep. Her arm around his chest, and her head on his shoulder. He turned deep crimson. She stirred, as if to awaken, and he decided it best to pretend to be asleep.

Whe Keiko woke up, she realized her position. 'ACK!' She thought in embarrassment. She stood up and took Kakeru's flashlight, to go, change.. When the footsteps got farther away, Kakeru opened his eyes widely. The darkness was making him uneasy. But he saw light seeping through from somewhere. He stood up to see what it was, and...

When Keiko returned, Kakeru was in a panic. "Hurry!" He said quietly. "Put your hair up!"

In the rush of finding her tie, she finally realized. "We're being saved!" She exclaimed. Once she tied her hair, she hugged Kakeru happily. He blushed.

Otaru helped Jiro remove the rocks, along with Kuji, Obari and a few of the more muscular boys. Otaru knew they were in there. He could just feel it. Once the got a solid whole through, Obari yelled loudly, "IS ANYONE IN THERE??"

They heard it echo through the cave. A pause then followed. Otaru looked worried. The had to be in there!

"Yes!! Help us get out!" The voice of Kakeru said.

"Who am I speaking to?" Obari called back.

"It's Kakeru and Fujishige Kei!" Kakeru called back, happy to hear Obari's voice.

A sigh of relief followed from Obari. and One from Otaru aswell. --Ikuno

NOTE TO MIPPA>> *sobs* This is so upsetting. I forgot to save some of it and missed Otaru's relief, Anij's anger and a funny scene with 'The Rules', dictated to Otaru from Anji about his sister. That was some of my favorite scenes!! And now they're gone.. That's why there is a big gap, *sob*...

Kakeru and Otaru walked into the tent and then Otaru zipped the flap to the tent. He didn't want to risk Anjii finding him again. They then walked over to Keiko, and to there surprise, she was still asleep.

"Hey get up." Kakeru said. He then poked her in the shoulder. She didn't even move. So Kakeru just poked her harder. Keiko jumped up.

"Kakeru! What the hell are you trying to do!? I'm gonna..." She stopped mid-sentance when she saw Otaru. "Oh! Hi Otaru! How are you doing?"

Otaru blinked. 'He sure does change his emotions fast. Just a second ago he was chewing Kakeru out!' He thought. He blinked again.

"Um.. well fine I guess. But, Anji came over to my tent and started giving me rules about.." Otaru blushed.

"Who?"Keiko decided to play dumb.

"Keiko." Otaru looked like a tomato.

Kekio made a face."Oh god. Anjii's such a dork! Don't pay any attention to him, he's a nut-case." Keiko then rolled her eyes for an added effect. "He's a little overprotective."

Otaru laughed."Just a litte? He looked like he was ready to deck me."

"Ok then, he's extreamly over protective." Keiko grinned.

Kakeru decided to break this up, NOW. "Um." Kakeru budded in. "Sorry to break this conversation up but, we have to go back to our own camp in like 20 minutes." He didn't sound the least bit sorry.

"Hey!" Rina Yelled. "You have to tell somebody that you're leaving!"

"Why don't you tell then that i'm leaving! The tennis match is way more important then that!"Anjii yelled back. He was way ahead of her.

"A.N.J.I.I!" --Kayla

"Amuro-San, are you sure you'll be alright?" Rina asked Keiko while the rest of the TUA students gathered their things.

"Sure! It's only a hike.." Keiko said. 'A very grueling hike.'

"Then you didn't hear." Rina bit her lip.

"Hmm?" Keiko started to worry. What was wrong?

"One of the groups will be crossing a river on the way back!" Keiko's jaw dropped.

"WHAT?!" She said.

"Mmhmm. You'd better make sure you're not on it." Rina warned.

Keiko went to find Kakeru, since he was the only one who knew that was there.

"Kakeru!" Keiko said. "I've been trying to find you!"

"Why?" He asked in a deadly tone.

"What's wrong with you?" She asked.

"Looks like our team is going to be crossing a river." Kakeru said.

"I know, I was about to--" It just sunk in. "OUR TEAM?!!?"

"Yes.." Kakeru said. "We need to get you on another team. Wet clothes often tend to cling."

Keiko glared. But she knew he was right. Under somewhat baggy clothes she'd been able to hide her figure, but now she didn't know what to do. Not to mention how uncomfortable she'd be, being in her period, and waterlogged. "How?"

"I'll talk to Shuu-san." Kakeru said. Keiko grumbled. She knew he could get Obari-sama to agree to it. How come SHE couldn't have Obari wrapped around HER little finger? Kakeru walked off.

'I hope this works.' She thought. While she waited for Kakeru, Otaru showed up.

"Sempai, I have a question.." He blushed.

"What?"

"Umm.."

"What???"

"Uhh.." He blushed more. "Nevermind, it's stupid."

"WHAT?!" She said. 'Curiosity killed the cat.' She thought. 'I WANT TO KNOW!!'

"Umm.. Could you ask Keiko.." He was bright red again. Keiko loved to watch him blush.

"Hmm?" She asked.

"I mean, because you see her more often than I do, it seems.. And you know her better.."

Otaru blushed more. "Would you ask her if she will go to the dance with me?"

Keiko was now the one to blush. "I'll ask her." She answered. 'She already knows...'

"Thanks!" Otaru said happily.

'What?! Am I actually thinking of going to the dance with him? I don't want to say no, but do I want to say yes? And what about Kakeru? HEY! How'd HE get in my mind?! I can't believe this. I don't even know if Kakeru's going to ask me. My other alternative is going as Kei and.. Being pestered by Mai.. That's it. I'm saying yes. It doesn't have to be a date, right? It's just a way to keep Mai away from me. Kakeru will understand, wont he? I'm actually doing him a FAVOR. Then he wont have to take me. What if he wants to take me? Should I go with him instead? Go with Kakeru? When did I start thinking THESE thoughts?!'

Keiko was so confused.

"Earth to Sempai." Otaru said. "You've been staring off into space for about 3 minutes now."

"I'm sure she'd love to go with you." She said. 'WAIT!! AM I SAYING YES?!?!!? What about Kakeru?! I'm so confused. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!'

"O-okay." Otaru blushed insanely. 'She would want to go with me?! Really?!?!' "Thanks, Sempai!!"

She ran off like she was going to go ask 'Keiko', but she was really thinking. 'WHAT NOW?! I don't even know if Kakeru is going to ask me! I don't want to go as Kei, and I certainly don't want to be the geek going alone..'

Otaru waited a few minutes, and saw Kei running back towards him.

"She'd love to.."

Kakeru walked towards Keiko. 'I wonder if now's a good time..' He thought.

"So???" Keiko inquired.

"Yep. You are in group A with Otaru." Kakeru said. 'Great. Isn't that just perfect.' He thought.

"Oh. Umm... Okay.." She blushed.

"So, we have a few minutes before we have to leave.." Kakeru said. "I've been meaning to.. I've been WANTING to ask you something."

'Please don't be what I think it is, PLEASE don't be what I think it is.' She thought. "What?"

"Umm... I was wondering, or rather, hoping that.. I mean because it would be safer, because you don't want to blow your cover, and.." Kakeru blushed almost as much as Otaru did! 'JUST SAY IT!' He thought. "Would you go to the dance with me?"

"Oh.." She wanted to slap herself. 'WHY'D YOU SAY YES?! YOU KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!! IDIOT!!' She felt inside her chest get heavy. "The thing is..."

Kakeru closed his eyes. He really didn't want to be here now. He knew she was going to turn him down. 'It was too soon..' He thought.

"Otaru already asked me." She said, as she looked away from him. Kakeru's heart sank.

'With Otaru?!' Kakeru frowned at her, and stomped off. Keiko wanted to cry. She didn't want to hurt Kakeru. She also didn't want to hurt Otaru. After they got back to the camp, she would explain. She had to make things right. She WANTED to make things right with Kakeru. --Ikuno

"Unicorn Academy students! Into your groups!"

The students of TUA gathered where Obari directed them, all ready and prepared with their packs and gear. Keiko trudged drearily toward the back of the line, where she spotted Otaru and Jiro--for once--chatting happily with eachother. Keiko, without having to listen in, almost instantly knew that their chatter was about the dance. She approached them, and both boys grinned at her.

"So, Fujishige," Jiro said, "Who're you going to the dance with, huh?"

Keiko stopped dead. "M-me?" she stared at the two blankly. What could she say? "Um..."

"You HAVE gotten a date for the dance," Jiro said expectantly, "HAVEN'T you?"

Keiko nodded feverishly. "Oh, of COURSE!" she laughed, "I'm just... er... keeping it a secret! That's all!"

Keiko was grateful for Obari's sudden command to assemble into groups; she didn't want anymore discussion about the dance, if she could avoid it.

"C'mon, Fujishige," Jiro said, noticing Keiko slowly trailing behind Otaru as he left for group A. "He said get into our groups; you're with us."

Keiko's eyes went wide. "Oh, but--"

"Come on!" Jiro suddenly grabbed Keiko by the wrist, pulling her to the middle of the line of group B students. She tugged her arm in protest.

"Wait! You don't understand! I'm supposed to--"

"You're just trying to get out of crossing that river, aren't you?" Jiro asked scathingly, "Well, your excuses aren't gonna work this time."

"But, they're not excuses! I'm supposed--"

"It's MY JOB as student president to make sure that do-nothings like YOU, Fujishige," Jiro said menacingly as he drug Keiko forward, "don't manage to weasel their way out of every challenge that is set in front of them."

Keiko found herself unable to protest. She allowed herself to be dragged away, gazing longingly at group A, who were slowly dissappearing down the trail she had come up from.

Only once the other group was out of sight did Jiro let go of her wrist. He gave her a warning glance, but he really needn't have worried that Keiko would go back with the other group. By the time they had entered another forest, they were on another trail completely unfamiliar to Keiko--she wouldn't dare run away, and risk getting lost again.

She managed to wander to the back of the line, at least out of Jiro's demeaning eye-shot. Walking slowly backwards, Keiko suddenly tripped and fell backwards, taking (to her embarrassment) over half of the line along with her. Menacing stares followed her as she drifted slowly to the very back of the line, allowing herself to become the last in line.

Something snagged her elbow. As she turned her head, she was not surprised to see Kakeru there, looking deadly.

"I got you in the other group," he said, staring at Keiko with icy eyes. "Why aren't you with them?"

With a sneer, Keiko pointed to Jiro at the front of the line. "Him." she stated simply, hoping that Kakeru would understand that is wasn't her fault. He merely nodded and turned away.

"What's YOUR problem?" Keiko asked, raising an eyebrow. Kakeru "hmph"-ed.

"If you don't know, I'm not gonna tell you."

Keiko became automatically irritated.

"Oh, don't you start your pouting!" she commanded bitterly. Kakeru hastily folded his arms behind his head and focused his gaze to the side of the trail.

"How're you planning to cross the river?" he asked suddenly, taking Keiko by surprise, having been expecting some bitter retort.

"I... don't know..." she realized suddenly. How WAS she going to cross the river? Perhaps she could avoid it completely... and recieve a lecture from Jiro. Not worth it, she noted disgustedly.

"Well, we'll just have to see when it comes..." Kakeru said as brightly as possible, and Keiko raised her eyebrows.

"We?"

Kakeru nodded. "Yeah. You n' me." --TD

'How could she go with Otaru?' Kakeru thought. 'And now I'm going to get back to the camp, and we're going to be in the same tent... I wonder if I can bunk with someone else. Would I do that to her just because I'm mad at her? No, I can't be the one who gets her cover blown.'

The scenery was wonderful on this trail. If not for the river, Keiko would have prefered going this way. How could Group A stand the cliffs they would face on the trail Keiko previously journeyed on! She hoped this one didn't have any.. The good thing about being here, is now she felt uneasy around Otaru, maybe if she kept her distance, it wouldn't feel so wierd. 'I CAN'T BELIEVE I'm going to the dance with OTARU! OTARU! My BEST FRIEND!! How could I have said yes??! Do I even like him that way? If I knew Kakeru was going to ask me, would I still have said yes? Now I find myself thinking of Kakeru that way aswell. When did everything get all screwed up?! Oh yes, on this 'Great Adventure'. If I had been allowed to stay home during this little camping trip, none of this would have happened!! But NOOO, they have to have EVERYONE go.' Keiko's serious thoughts turned into sulking. 'Why did I have to go?! Why'd I have to cross a RIVER, and WHY DID EVERYTHING MESS UP?!'

Group A was led by Obari, so she STILL couldn't swoon over him, but that was all for the best. Kakeru chuckled. He looked over at a pouting Keiko. But he didn't feel like laughing.

'I made a fool of myself.' He thought. 'I should never had asked her. But I had to. I had to know.. Man! I wanted to go with her so badly!'

Otaru smiled, as he watched the beautiful trees. He didn't know why Sempai fussed so much when he went through this trail. He breathed in the warm crisp air. Otaru was more than his chipper self. Just knowing Amuro Keiko wanted to go out with him, such a beautiful, funny girl. Little did he know what this 'beautiful, funny girl' was doing right now..

"I can't!!" Keiko screamed, when she saw the water.

"It's very calm, you can just walk across it." Jiro said.

"No!! It's too deep!!" She cried.

"Don't be such a baby, Fujishige-Kun!!" Jiro pushed her towards the edge of the water... --Ikuno

"WAGH!" Keiko screeched as she fell toward the water, closing her eyes and preparing herself for the inevitable fall, ready to be swept away by the giant current of the river--

Then she opened her eyes. She blinked and looked around to find herself in ankle-deep water. She stood and looked a Jiro, who was almost doubling over with silent laughter.

"I thought we were gonna be going through deep water!" she stated irritatedly. Jiro smirked incredulously at her.

"Are you KIDDING?" he laughed, causing Keiko's face to go pink. "And risk students sueing the school 'cause they got hypothermia? No way!"

Keiko flushed. --TD

Keiko, majorly annoyed, looked up and saw that not only Jiro, who appeared to be having some sort of seizure, was laughing at her, but the whole group seemed to think it was amusing. Kakeru was no exception.

/Man, this is so not good for my mood./ she thought, as she looked daggers at Kakeru.

/Now I'm glad I'm not going to the dance with that jerk!/

She walked stiffly up to the other side of the river, where the rest of the group had already assembled, and pushed her way rudely up to Kakeru. "I don't know what you think is so funny!" she pouted. "Why didn't YOU find out beforehand what the river was going to be like? You would have if you really cared for me!" She walked past him, looking as if he had committed an unpardonable crime against her.

"Come on, Keiko!" he protested, suddenly looking as though he didn't find anything funny about the situation. "What was I supposed to do? I tried to help you..."

"Oh sure, you tried!" She whirled around to face him, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears. "I bet you knew all along that I could get across that river! I bet you, ::sniffsniff:: didn't WANT me to be with you!"

"Keiko, be reasonable!"

"I WON'T be reasonable, and I don't HAVE to be reasonable! There's nobody at this camp who cares for me..." she said, still looking tearful, "except Otaru! HE would never do this to me! HE cares for me! He even worried about me when I was in that cave with YOU..."

"Keiko..." Kakeru said, catching the obvious flaws in that argument, "Otaru wasn't worried about YOU. He was worried about 'Fujishige Kei', his best friend!"

"Don't talk to me!" she said, turning her back to him. "You could TRY to make me feel better, instead of, ::sniffsniff:: ARGUING with me! I can't take it!"

As she stomped away, Kakeru collapsed onto a handy stump. /Why me?/ he wondered.

/Why do I have to deal with an over-sensitive pms-ing teenager? Why do I LIKE this over-sensitive pms-ing teenager?/ He got up, having manfully summoned up the energy to get on with this grueling hike.

--Joanna

The moon was just peeking out by the time the students of the Unicorn Academy reached their camp again. Keiko, who was tired, sore, and feeling all-around unpleasent, stared at her camp area, and believed, for a moment, that she had never seen anything quite like it. She could have cried with joy, at that moment.

Almost jumping with joy (even though she was still cramping), Keiko sped toward her tent, which had still been set up while she was gone, as if waiting for her to come back. She crawled in excitedly before flopping down on her fluffy sleeping bag, glad for a comfort on her aching back.

Before she could drift off to sleep, however, Kakeru poked his head in the tent.

"Hey," he mumbled, pushing Keiko in the shoulder to keep her from falling asleep. "There's gonna be a short campfire before everybody goes to bed. Get up!"

Keiko blinked tiredly. "Campfire?"

Kakeru nodded. "Yeah; campfire. They're gonna take roll to make sure nobody died or got lost on the hike or anything," Keiko whinced. "Then we're gonna do normal camping stuff. Like, roasting marshmallows and stories and everthing. Really stupid, I think, but it's tradition.

"Now, let's go."

Kakeru grabbed her roughly by the arm. Keiko stayed planted to her sleeping bag. Kakeru gave a long, drawn-out sigh. "We'll be making s'mores!" he tried to say brightly, as if this was something special. He was surprised when Keiko sat up.

"As in, S'MORES s'mores?" she looked expectant. "Like, with chocolate?"

Kakeru nodded cautiously. Keiko grinned greedily, before nearly bowling Kakeru over in her hurried attempt at scrambling out of the tent.

"CHOCOLATE! MINE!"

Kakeru's eyebrow twitched as he watched her scamper toward a crowd of students who were assembling in a circle around a newly lit fire. He brushed himself off, leaving his pack inside the tent, and headed off to join the group. --TD

Keiko sat impatiently waiting to get her hands on the chocolate. Kakeru prefered to sit as far away from Keiko as possible. He was still upset that she turned him down. One of the campers handed Keiko a stick for roasting marshmallows. Keiko wanted to say, 'A STICK?! I DON'T WANT A STICK!! I WANT CHOCOLATE! NOW!!!!!' but she held back. Otaru walked up and sat down beside her, with a s'more in his hands.

"Mmmm.." He said.

Her eyes got big and watery. "Otaru..." They were glued on the chocolate in his hand.

"You can get one over there." He pointed, as he moved his own farther away from Keiko.

"Thank you!" She smiled, as she darted towards where the s'mores were being made.

"He must really like his s'mores..." Otaru blinked.

When Keiko returned with a handfull of gooey s'mores, she was pouting.

"What's wrong?" Otaru asked.

"They said 5 was enough.." She sulked. Otaru blinked, then laughed.

"You're strange, Sempai." He casually moved in his hand to take one of her five melting s'mores. She pulled them far away from him, and growled.

"Don't even think about it." She snarled. She snapped at his hand, which he jerked away.

"Ack! Down, Sempai!" He said.

After a couple minutes, Jiro stood up. "Okay everyone, time for scary stories." He grinned evilly.

After the campfire, Kakeru went to their tent.

"That was fun!" Otaru said cheerfully.

"Yeah.." Keiko replied. "..Fun.."

"What's wrong. Are you SCARED??" Otaru put emphasis on the last word, and wave his hands around.

"Don't be stupid! Of course I'm not.." She said. She turned around to go to the tent, and she felt something on her shoulder. Her face went blue and she screamed.

"See? I knew it!" Otaru laughed, his hand still on her shoulder. Keiko narrowed her eyes at him.

"Good night.." She said, as she walked off.

"G'Night, Sempai!" Otaru called to her. "Make sure you don't get killed by a wandering dead axeman or something!"

Keiko sighed. It was finally time for bed. She opened the tent and crawled inside. She covered her blanket over her head. 'It was all a story, it was all a story, it was all a story..' She told herself. Her hormones and emotions were causing an anxiety attack(been there!), and she couldn't get to sleep. It also didn't help she just heard the scariest story of her life. 'It was all a story, it was all a story--' She felt someone, or something, tap her arm. "AH!!" she screamed. Kakeru stood over her.

"WHAT IS IT?!" Keiko tried to catch her breath.

"Nothing.. Nevermind.." He said, as he lay back down.

Later that night, Kakeru was thinking. 'What was I thinking? I'm glad I didn't say what I was going to. In her position, I'm sure she wouldn't want to hear 'I love you' right now..'

"Kakeru..." He heard a whimpering. He sighed.

"Yes?"

"I can't sleep." She sobbed.

"Try."

"I can't!"

"Do it anyway."

"I CAN'T!"

"Just close your eyes, and go to sleep. I'm here.. Everythings fine." Kakeru said. 'I'm here..' He repeated in his mind. --Ikuno

Kakeru propped his head upon his hand, which, in turn, was supported by his elbow on the hard tent floor. Ever since Keiko had managed to fall asleep, he'd find himself unable to stop watching her.

/She looks so harmless when she's asleep.../ he thought to himself as he brushed some hair from his eyes. /If only she could look this way all the time.../

He layed his head back down on his pillow, unable to get into a comfortable position. His mind drifted endlessly, not allowing him to even close his eyes. He just lay there, hands behind his head, and, without realizing it, humming to himself.

Keiko stirred beside him, and he ceased his humming, only just realizing that he was doing it. She rolled over onto her back, and her brows furrowed in discomfort. Kakeru watched her with interest. /Must be having a nightmare.../ he thought blankly, noticing the cold sweat embedded upon her forehead. --TD

"uhh... noooo..." This was Keiko, murmuring in her sleep. Kakeru noticed this, and sat up in alarm. /What should I do?/ he wondered. /Is it a good idea to wake her up?/

Before he decided to do anything, Keiko sat up with a start, eyes wide. "Kakeru... I don't think that chocolate and scary ghost stories are a good combination." She shivered, and without realizing it moved closer to him.

Outwardly calm, but inwardly screaming with joy, Kakeru patted her hand to comfort her.

"Don't worry about it." he said soothingly. "Just try to get back to sleep, and if you get scared, I'll be here." How he longed to say more to her. He would have, if he was sure of Keiko's reaction...

"'Kay," she murmered sleepily, falling back on her pillow, Kakeru's hand still patting her own. "G'night."

"'Night," he said listlessly, noticing the way her hand folded under her pillow. Still unable to fall asleep himself, he lay there, thinking.

/This is strange, these feeling I have for Keiko. And she isn't even going to the dance with me.../

Thoughts suddenly shifting to the person she WAS going with... /Otaru is one lucky boy. I wonder if he fully appreciates that fact?/ His eyes widened, as he is thinking of something alarming. /Is it possible that Otaru likes Keiko as much as I do? CAN he? But... that would mean... please don't let it come to where Keiko has to choose between us!/

/Would she choose me?/ --Joanna

Otaru sat and watched the campfire go out. What once was seemingly a raging inferno became a pile of embers and burnt wood. The smoky smell filled his lungs, and he watched the tiny lighted ashes burn out. His eyes glowed with the last peices of wood that were burning. He sat there, watching, thinking. 'I don't understand this..' He closed his eyes. 'The way I'm feeling.. I don't even know her! This is crazy. I know nothing about her, yet... I can't shake this feeling I know her perfectly. And I can't get her out of my mind...'

Kakeru furrowed his brow. It was strange to think such a nice peaceful young man such as Chinen could be the biggest obstacle in his happiness with Keiko.

'OUR HAPPINESS?! Did I just think that?!' Kakeru's face turned bright pink. 'I just can't get her out of my mind!'

That morning at breakfast.

"Look Otaru, they're serving your favorite. Cold eggs." Keiko wrinkled her nose and Otaru laughed.

Kakeru narrowed his eyes at Otaru, and folded his arms. 'Am I being bitter?' He thought.

"So, Kakeru-Kun, who are you going to the dance with?" Otaru asked cheerfully. Kakeru didn't answer, and Keiko lowered her head.

'Don't ask him that!' She scolded Otaru in her head. 'Oh great, I hope he doesn't say..'

Kakeru sighed, and put on a fake smile. "I was going to ask Amuro-San, but you beat me to her." He said.

'I knew it..' Otaru thought. "Umm, well, I.." He sweatdropped.

"You snooze you lose!" Keiko smiled nervously, trying to cut the obvious tension between them. Kakeru glared at her.

'She's mocking me.' He thought.