Monday, February 18, 2002

A/n: Chapter two is here! ^^ Please R&R and don’t forget to vote! ^^ Right now, Leeki is in first place, but I’ll decide the couple after another chapter or so, so please keep on voting! ^^ And thanks to those of you who reviewed in last chapter! ^^

It has been almost a month since the school started; every thing went just as normal as usual. But somehow, something changed over the pass few weeks; Takato and Jeri had become a couple. They do almost everything together, they eat together, they go home together, they come to school together, they even do their homework together, and Takato still thinks that they aren’t spending enough time with each other, and everyone thought Takato was crazy. However, Henry stayed the same way, Rika wasn’t so cold to Ryo now, maybe it’s because she’s not so mad at him anymore, but she’s still really cold and emotionless to everything.

The first bell of the day had ringed, students sat back to their seat and getting ready to start the lesson. Ms Yoshikawa walked into the classroom, onto the teaching stage and began her lesson.

“Before we start, I want to talk about the project I’m going to give you.” Said Ms Yoshikawa, sent the class into an ‘awww…’ “It’s your first big project, and it’s a group work, I’m going to let you choose your own partner this time. I’m going to handing out a instruction sheet, and please follow the instruction carefully” she got off from the stage and start handing out the instruction sheet to everyone, once she’s done, she went back onto the stage again.

“What you have to do here is to design and build a bird house. So first you have to design many diagrams that shows different dimensions and different view of the house, then use different materials to build a model base on your design. Please go home and read the instruction sheet carefully, and ask me when you have questions. Now, because this is a really big project, so everyone should have a partner. This project worth 10% out of your total marks on the report card, so work really hard on this one, and this is due on next week, you have total of 7 days to work on it which isn’t too long, so I suggest you get start on it today, that way you may finish it early. Any question about it?” Ms Yoshikawa asked as she looked around the classroom, seeing no student rise up their hand and then continued on with the lesson.

***

The last bell had finally rang, students rushed out from the classroom with their bags and books. Henry’s last period was history, and he’s finishing up his note as quickly as possible and as legible. He looked around the class, most of the students has already been gone, only few were still sitting on their seat copying the notes on the board, and he turned his left and spotted Rika sitting in her seat busy copying her note also. The teacher soon left, and told the remaining students to close the door before leaving, whoever is the last. It didn’t take Henry too long to finish up the notes, he closed up his notebook and put it neatly into his bag and was ready to leave. He walked to the door, and then stopped, looking back over his shoulder he saw Rika still sitting there; he stood there for a moment then turned back and walked towards Rika. He stopped besides Rika’s desk; right now there were the only one in the room. Rika has noticed his present; she looked at him from the corner of her eye. Henry took a deep breath then cleared his throat.

“Um…Rika…” he started.

“What do you want?” Rika asked coolly.

“Huh…um…do you have a partner for the math project yet?”

“No, I’m working alone anyway.”

“But it would be much easier if you work with a partner.”

“Whatever.”

“Would you like to be partner with me?” Rika finally looked up at him, and asked in suspension

“You?” Henry nodded. Rika lower a head again, she thought for a moment.

“Fine.” She said. Henry smiled and also felt a lot better, but he didn’t know why though, at that moment.

“Do you want to get start today? We can go to the library to do it, if you want.” Henry suggested.

“Fine, I’m finished copying anyway.” Replied Rika, with out saying another word she packed her bag, got up from her seat and walked towards the door, Henry followed immediately and close the door behind them.

They walked out from the school building and walked towards the school gate. Suddenly Rika heard a voice calling her from behind, they both stopped and looked at their back and found Ryo was running towards them.

“Hey Rika, oh hey Henry.” Ryo greeted, breathing a little heavy.

“Oh it’s you” Rika said, not too happy seeing him.

“Hey Ryo, why are you still here?” Henry asked curiously. Ryo looked at Henry, a little surprised seeing Henry walking with Rika.

“Oh, I just went to my English teacher for help. Um…Rika can I ask you something…alone…?” Rika looked over at Henry, and then looked back at Ryo.

“You can ask whatever you want to right here, and make it quick, I don’t have all day.”

“Um…huh…um…” Ryo looked over at Henry, Henry got the message, and he turned to look at Rika.

“Um…Rika, I’ll wait for you outside the school gate, okay?” with that he walked away, giving Ryo and Rika some time alone. Made sure Henry can’t hear them, Ryo looked back at Rika.

“Would you like to be my partner for the math project?” he asked.

“Sorry Ryo, but Henry’s my partner.” Rika said in a plane tone. Ryo was first surprised, then disappointed, but he tried to hide his disappointment.

“Oh…I see… Henry…oh well, maybe next time. I have to go now, see ya!” with that he walk away, Rika looked at him for a moment, then turned back and walked towards the gate where Henry’s waiting for her.

***

They’ve been walking for about ten minutes, 95% of the ten minutes were silence, and the other 5% Henry did the most of the talking. They walked for couple of minutes more until they finally arrived at the library, they went to the third floor, because that’s the most quite place so that they can work well. They found a good spot near the window where the afternoon sunlight could shine onto the table; they sat down as they took the seat across each other. Rika took out her math binder as Henry did the same and they began their work.

“Let’s read the instruction sheet first.” Henry suggested, without another word they both went silence again. After a brief moment, they both finished reading and had understood the instruction of what they had to do completely.

“Rika, do you happen to have any graph papers? Cause we need them to do the diagrams.” Henry asked, as he flipping through his binder trying to find some graph papers.

“I’ll check.” Said Rika, and then opened up her binder flipping through it.

“Ah…!” Rika winced slightly as a paper’s sharp edge cut her figure, made a deep wound. Rika covered her figure tightly with her other hand, and opened up again to see the wound, amount of blood running out from the wound caused Rika to wince again. Henry noticed this, he turned his attention to the Rika seating across her.

“What’s wrong Rika?” He asked, obviously concerned about her. 

“Nothing, just a paper cut, no big deal.” She said. Then Henry took out his handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Rika. Rika took it and used it to clean the blood on her figure, and then give it back to Henry.

“Thank you.” she simply said. Henry smiled, then took out a bandage from his pocket and walked over to Rika. He bent down his keens, and took her wounded figure in his hand and unwrapped the bandage quickly ready to wrap it onto Rika’s figure.

“Here, let me put this on for you.” Rika was shocked at his action; she quickly struggled her hand away from his. Henry looked up at her puzzled.

“Um…it’s okay, I can do it myself.” Explained Rika as she took the bandage in her hand and wrapped it carefully on her wounded figure. Henry went back to his seat and continued his work. They sat there in silence for a long moment when Rika finally broke it down.

“Why…?”She asked in a low voice, she has been thinking about that question since the last time they talked, and yet, she still couldn’t find the answer.

“Huh?” He looked at her confused. Rika looked away, and lower her head.

“Why…why did you care if my figure were hurt or not.” Henry blinked for couple of times for the sudden question, then smiled.

“Well, because…oh…well…you are one of my friends…I guess…” Rika was surprised at the answer he gave to her, she looked at him with confusion in her eyes.

“Friends…?” Rika repeated slowly.

“Um…yeah…I know we just met a month ago, and we don’t usually talk. Still we know each other.” Henry explained, doesn’t really know what he was thinking at that moment. Rika looked away again.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“Well…not really… Why would I afraid of you?”

“Um…because every one says I’m cold and mean, why would anyone be friends with someone like that?”

“Actually, I don’t really agree with that.” Rika looked up at him once more, more confused.

“That’s only what other people says,” Henry continued on, “ I think you are not that cold, at least not as cold and mean as other people says. I think you are just distance, and that’s just your personality that you don’t like to get too closed with anyone.” Rika stared at him for a moment, and then lowered her head again.

“What make you so special? ”

“Nothing made me special, that’s just how I think of you…right now…”

“…” They went completely silence again, but just for a brief moment. Then Rika looked at her watch on her wrist, 3:30, they’ve been in the library for more than half another now.

“Look, it’s getting late and I have to go home now.” With that she packed her stuff and left without another word. Henry looked at her as she disappeared from his sight, then he looked his own watch.

‘3:30, I think I’ll stay here a little longer.’ Henry thought, and then continued with his work.

***

End of Chapter two

A/n: okay, that was chapter two, hope you liked it!^^ it’s really crappy though, they are probably out character, really sorry about that. And please read on and review, and keep voting cause the couple is not decided yet, and I promise you some REAL romance will coming up… and it’s getting interesting!^^ Thank so very much to those of you who’ve reviewed^^ arigato again!