A few blocks away from Eizan’s house, Sano and Shimada were sitting on a bench at a small park. Sano was internally cursing Eizan as he opened his mouth. “Are you ok?”

Shimada glared at him. “Do I look fine to you?”

Sano sighed. “Please don’t glare at me like that.”

Shimada was still glaring at him. “Why did you follow me?”

Sano looked off into the distance. “Honestly, Eizan told me to follow you. He’s such a pain in the ass.”

Shimada had a surprised look on her face. “Why would he tell you to follow me?”

Sano frowned. “I have a feeling he planned all of this. He knew exactly what Murata would say.” He looked over at her, noticing she was about to start crying. “Why do you like that guy?”

She said in a sad tone. “He’s handsome, smart, wealthy and has a good family. What’s not to like?” Sano started laughing.

Angrily she said. “Why are you laughing at me?”

Sano stifled his laughter. “Those reasons are a little shallow, don’t you think?”

She frowned at him. “What do you mean shallow?”

“I mean shallow, meaning there is no depth to what you like about him. It sounds more like infatuation than love. I can’t really describe it perfectly, but I can say that if you don’t have a deeper answer than that, you might not really be in love. But what the hell do I know, I’ve never been in love. I have been infatuated before though, I know what that feels like.”

She looked at him curiously. “Who where you infatuated with?”

Sano laughed. “No way in hell, I would tell you that. You want to know something funny?”

Shimada grumbled. “I don’t think anything is funny, at the moment?”

Sano grinned. “I knew you would say that. You said all those nice things about Murata, but I can’t see any of that. I think he’s tall and ungainly looking. I only see his parents as wealthy, he may grow up to be a loser. He may be good at school, but I wouldn’t describe him as smart. His family might be wonderful, but he himself is very arrogant and self-absorbed. I think he’s the one with the disgusting personality.”

She yelled at him angrily. “Don’t say bad things about Towa.”

Sano just smiled at her. “Yup, looks like infatuation to me.”

“You keep saying that but I don’t get it at all.”

Sano was shaking his head. “That prick beat the crap out of one of my friends. Someone who didn’t even try to defend himself. He was claiming a girl, who he wasn’t even dating. He said you were disgusting and you still defend him. I don’t know you well enough to say much about your personality. But I can tell from what I have seen and heard that you are not a bad person. You have a lot going for you, your pretty, good at school work, athletic, and hard working. See, I just described you the same way you described Murata. Could you hear any love in my description of you?”

She stared at him. “Am I the one you are infatuated with?”

“Hahaha, I was at one time. But somewhere along the line, I grew out of it. You do know you’re considered, the most beautiful girl in school, right? Many of the male students are infatuated with you.”

She looked at him curiously. “You grew out of it?”

Sano laughed. “God, I wish I could keep my mouth shut.”

Ren giggled. “From what I’ve seen you’re not very good at it.”

“Haha, you are very correct.” He paused and thought for a few moments. “I realized something one day talking to Eizan. He didn’t judge anyone on their looks, wealth, or standing in society. He only judged them on the content of their character. It made me think, when I looked at you. I didn’t know anything about you. Why would I be in love with someone I don’t even know? That’s when I realized the feelings, I had been having, were something more akin to what someone thinks, when looking at a movie star. That’s not love, it is infatuation.”

He stood up from the bench. “Alright, let’s get you home, before it gets dark.”

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She glared at him. “Why would you take me home?”

“I don’t have to walk you home if you don’t want.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I’m surprised you didn’t try to insist.”

Sano laughed. “Why would I insist on walking you, to your home. I was just being nice and walking a girl, who just got dumped home.”

She yelled at him. “I didn’t get dumped.”

“Sure. So, are we going or not?”

She stood up. “I’m not going home.”

He looked at her strangely. “Where are you going?”

She smiled evilly. “I am going to give that bastard wolf a piece of my mind.”

Sano looked at her strangely. “Wolf?”

“Eizan you idiot.”

Sano sighed. “Alright, let’s go.”

She tilted her head. “You’re coming with me?”

Sano smiled. “I can’t send you into a wolf’s den alone.”

She smiled. “Ok, let’s go.” They started walking towards his house. They were silently walking the couple blocks towards Eizan’s apartment. When they were about to his apartment, they saw a black car arrive in front of his apartment and a man stepped out. Ren grabbed Sano’s hand and dragged him into an alley to hide.

“What the hell did you do that for?”

She was peeking around the concrete wall that lined the alleyway. “That’s Mio’s dad, I wonder what he’s doing here?”

Sano looked at her strangely. “Why are we hiding from him?”

Ren looked back at him. “He’s scary, I don’t want to deal with him at the moment.”

Sano asked. “Scary?”

“He’s a high-level government official. I have never seen him smile. He’s a really serious person, with lots of political power. He’s dangerous.”

Sano started laughing. “Yet, you’re messing around with Eizan? You do know his mother’s family is one of the most powerful families in the world.”

Ren’s eyes widened. “How do you know about his family?”

Sano had a weird look on his face. “We are really close friends. I just asked about his family and he told me.”

Ren thought for a few seconds. “I still don’t get that guy. Why is he at our public school instead of some fancy private school, if he’s so wealthy?”

Sano shrugged. “Who knows. I have never asked.”

Ren sighed. “Your useless.”

He frowned. “That’s kind of harsh.” He looked down and realized she was still holding his hand. “Um, can you let go?” She looked down at their hands, blushed and let go. “S-sorry about that.” He then explained “All I know is that’s Eizan’s family is wealthy. His father owns a successful business and his mother has something to do with computers. His grandpa is one of the most successful businessmen in the whole world. Eizan is afraid of him. He called him a demon, but apparently, he is really protective of his family.”

A shadowy figure appeared from the dark behind them. “He calls me a demon?” The two teens jumped and turned around.

Sano jumped in front of Ren. “Who the hell are you?”

The old man smiled. “I’m the old man, whose grandson, apparently thinks of as a demon.”

Sano laughed. “You did just appear out of the shadows in a dark alley.”

Carter laughed heartily. “I like you. I hope you stay friends with my grandson.”

Sano relaxed a little. “So, your Eizan’s grandfather?” Carter nodded. “Nice to meet you, I am Sano Ome and this is.” He motioned towards the girl standing behind him.

Ren’s had a shocked look on her face. She stuttered. “N-nice to meet you I am Shimada Ren.”

Carter smiled. “Nice to meet you, young lady. You have a very beautiful girlfriend young man.”

Ren blushed but Sano replied immediately. “Were merely acquaintances at this point.”

Carter smiled. “You expect me to believe a young couple, in an alley after dark, are merely acquaintances?”

Sano nodded. “It matters not what you believe. I spoke, the honest truth.”

Carter laughed. “You are very honest, that’s a good quality. I am Carter Alexander, please feel free to call me Carter. Can you do me a favor and not disturb those two for a while?”

Ren frowned. “Can I ask why?”

Carter smiled. “My friend wants to have a short talk with Eizan.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You are friends with Mio’s father?”

Carter smiled. “I have many friends young lady.”

She sighed. “Alright, we will go get dinner and then come back. Come on Sano.” She grabbed him by the hand and started to drag him away.

“One second, come here young man.” Sano stopped and gave him a worried look. “Just come here for a second.” Sano let go of her hand and walked up to Carter “Here take this and go somewhere nice for dinner.” He handed Sano 100,000 yen. He looked down at his hand and was about to refuse when. “I know it’s to much, but just take it. That amount of money means nothing to me.” Sano nodded. “Thanks.” He bowed and walked back towards her. She grabbed his hand again and began to drag him down the street.

“What did he give you?”

Sano thought about the money he had just put in his back pocket. “Why do I feel like I just made a deal with the devil?” He looked at Ren. “100,000 yen.”

She stopped and gave him a surprised look. “Why did he give you money?”

Sano laughed. “He told me to take you out to a nice dinner.”

Ren blushed. “Idiot.”

Sano laughed again. “So, milady what would you like to eat.”

“Come on, I’m going to drain your new found wealth, to nothing.” She continued dragging him down the street, to some unknown destination.