Students were buzzing in the classroom as they were ready to take the math quiz. There was the creaking of desks, rustling of papers and Kenji was whining at Aoi to give him her notes.
You ought to have paid attention, you dumb fool," Aoi hit his arm.
Suki, meanwhile, frantically searched his bag, flushed. "No, no, no, no--don't tell me..."
He froze. His notebook--the one where he had written formulas neatly--was missing. He must've left it at home.
Great, he said to himself.
Ryuzi, who sat next him, looked sideways. "What's your problem?"
"My notes. I left them at home." Suki uttered a dramatic groan and leaned forward. "I'm doomed. Tell my sisters I love them."
You are a pathetic fellow, Ryuzi said to himself. But before Suki could reply, a little rustling was heard on the desk of Ryuzi.
A thin notebook glided over the surface, bumping against the arm of Suki.
Suki blinked. "...Huh?"
Take it, Take it, Ryuzi said in a flat voice, with his eyes on the board. "Before I change my mind."
Suki opened it, jaw dropping. The handwriting of Ryuzi was sharp and neat and painfully precise. It was all there--all the formulas, all the example problems.
You gave me my life," Suki said in a dramatic manner, and held the notebook as treasure.
"Shut up."
Suki grinned, eyes sparkling. You are not so hard-hearted, Ryuzi, as you make it out to be.
Ryuzi scowled, and his ears betrrayed him, faintly pink. You are taking too much out of it.
Suki wrote furiously during the quiz with his tongue sticking out as he focused. Once Ryuzi looked through and caught Suki muttering formulae to himself. He turned his head away hastily, feigning to be bored, but the corner of his mouth twitched a little.
At the end of the quiz, Suki turned and said, whispering, you are the best. Seriously. I owe you big time."
Ryuzi sighed. Then compensate me by keeping silent five minutes.
"Not a chance."
The hallway was filled with noise after the classes. Kenji had put his arm around Suki, teasing.
Didn't think Ice Prince would ever bail you out, boy, Yo, sunshine. What's your secret? Smile therapy?"
Probably, Suki grinned and shook off his friend, avoiding his headlock. "You should try it. Works wonders."
Some older students went by, one of whom intentionally ran into Suki. "Watch it, kid."
Suki faltered and almost dropped his bag. He had not time to fall, when a handheld on to the strap and lifted him.
He wheeled--Ryuzi was standing there with the cold, fierce look of the elder student.
Watch where you are going, said Ryuzi, coolly, in a low, heavy voice.
The elder boy sneered and strode away, talking to himself.
Suki looked up at Ryuzi, with a big-eyed stare. "...You just--"
Don't read into it, Ryuzi said, and threw his bag free. "You're clumsy. That's all."
But Suki grinned all the way across. "You care."
"I don't."
"You sooo do."
Ryuzi walked off, saying, "...Frustrating. Yet his heart was untrue, and it beat quicker than he wished it would do.
That night in the Takeda home, Ayumi peeped in the study where Daichi was working.
"He stepped in for someone today," she said softly, almost to herself.
Daichi looked up. "Ryuzi?"
Ayumi smiled to herself as she nodded. Perhaps he is letting someone in finally.
Ryuzi sat at his desk, feigning to study, upstairs. But he thought of the foolish smile of Suki, of the kindness in his voice as he spoke, you care.
Ryuzi threw the book shut and ran a hand through his hair. "...Idiot."
But the word was said with the ghost of a smile.