Mio and Eizan left the principal’s office and headed off to class. Ichigo and Izumi watched them leave. Ichigo turned and looked at Izumi. “It’s just like you said. It may be a good thing if those two get together. She definitely keeps him from going overboard.”

Izumi was staring at the door of the office still lost in thought after they left. “I know it may be a good thing for him, but is it for her?”

Ichigo smiled at his naïve niece. “I don’t know that girl very well, but I’m sure she gets something out of their relationship. It just may not be easily seen by us.”

Mio and Eizan are currently walking down the hall toward class. The hall was mostly empty because class was just about to start. She started to scold him. “It’s not nice to threaten people.”

“I agree, but It…” He was about to say it’s a good negotiating tactic.

She stopped him mid-sentence by putting a finger against his lips. “It’s bad.” She was currently frowning at him. Just as she was about to remove her finger, he kissed it. Mio’s face turned completely red. “N-not at school.”

He smiled mischievously “Oh, so it’s ok as long as it’s not here. I’ll remember that.”

She stuttered and her face turned a deeper red. “T-that’s N-n-not what I was saying.” Eizan burst out laughing. She hit him in the arm.

“You know you’re cute when you’re angry. I’ll have to control myself from making you angry on purpose, just to see that expression.”

She puffed out her cheeks “Be good you damned wolf.”

He got a seductive smile on his face. “You know I’m a wolf yet you stay with me in my den. I might decide to eat you, later.” Mio gulped. She then narrowed her eyes. “If you wanted to eat me, you would have already done it.”

It’s like there was a fire behind his eyes. If she only knew his thoughts at the moment, she would not say that. “If she only knew how much I’m restraining myself.” He looked over at her. “You sure about that?” She gave him a suspicious look.

They arrived back in class and took their seats. Ren and Mio immediately started to talk about something and Ome began to question Eizan. “Where did you go?”

“To the principal’s office.”

“Why?”

He was just about to answer when Izumi entered the class and told them to quiet down. Class continues mostly normally until lunch. The only difference was that Eizan was actually awake during class. He was awake but to say he was paying attention would be false. He was resting his head on his hand staring out the window. Every now and then he could hear students whispering to each other. Ome looked over at him when the break started. “I can’t believe you stayed awake the whole morning.”

Eizan laughed “Yeah, that’s the deal I made with the principal.”

“Try not to look so bored man.”

“Easier said than done.” Ome was shaking his head at him when Mio and Ren approached.

Ren bounded up to Ome. “Are you ready.” Ome nodded and stood up. Mio approached Eizan who still seemed to be lost in thought. “Having trouble staying awake?” Eizan nodded he looked tired.

“Come on let’s go grab a coffee from the vending machine before lunch.”

They eventually made their way to their normal table outside and sat down to eat. Ome commented “They are staring more than usual today.”

Ren laughed “That’s because of those two.”

Eizan and Mio sighed. Eizan grumpily replied “I wish people would mind they’re own business.”

Mio looked at Ren and Ome. “I still don’t get what the big deal is.”

They all sent her confused looks. Ren giggled and shook her head. “Still as naïve as ever.”

Mio puffed out her cheeks. “Am not.”

They all laughed.

Eizan looked over at her with a soft smile on his face. “It’s just not a normal thing for two high school students to do. Many of the more conservative minded people would surely be unhappy about it.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Mio looked at him strangely. “My father is very conservative and he doesn’t seem that upset about it.”

“That’s not exactly true. When I first started talking with him Friday, he definitely had a concerned look on his face. He questioned me quite thoroughly while your mother made tea. I would say this is definitely not something he is comfortable with. Honestly, I don’t blame him in the slightest.”

She had a surprised look on her face. “Do you think what we’re doing is wrong?”

He smiled “Yes and no. If we were just staying together for some short-term fling, I would consider it wrong. I also understand that what we are doing is necessary for us to make an informed decision. To an outside observer our situation could end in an accident and would require us to take responsibility. Many would prefer if two young people were not put in a situation where such accidents could occur.”

Mio tilted her head “Accidents?”

Eizan scratched his cheek “Um…”

Ren motioned for Mio to lean in so she could whisper something to her. Mio’s face turned completely red at what Ren whispered in her ear. She sat back down and glanced over at Eizan. Her face turned even redder. “I-I think I understand now.”

Eizan reached up and rubbed the top of her head. “You really are naïve.”

She puffed out her cheeks “Dummy.”

Eizan laughed “Y-yeah I know.”

They sat there talking about their summer plans. They decided on going to the pool and a fireworks festival. Eizan did have work but he was sure he would be able to work around his schedule. Ome asked “How much do you intend to work this summer?”

Eizan thought for a few seconds. “Originally, I had planned to work five days a week. But I think I will keep it to three days a week.” Mio was staring at him. He looked over at her and noticed she seemed worried about something. “Is something wrong?”

She denied it. “N-no I was just lost in thought.”

They went through the rest of the class day like normal. After class they arrived at the library and were surprised. The six of them had figured it would be quiet as usual but today it was packed with students studying. Hattori looked over at the five of them standing there. “What are we going to do? There's no place to sit.”

Eizan looked over at Mio. “Should we just invite everyone over to our place? There should be enough space.”

Mio seemed lost in thought for a second. “Did he just refer to the apartment as our place?” She snapped back to reality. “Y-yeah, I don’t see any problems with that.”

Eizan looked at the other four. “Do you guys want to come over to our place? It’s only a fifteen-minute walk and I’m sure it will be quieter.”

Ren ran up and grabbed Mio’s hand. “Can we really?”

Mio tilted her head in confusion. “Yeah, why do you seem so excited?”

Ren looked at her strangely. “You do know where you moved right?”

“Yeah, it’s just a normal apartment.”

Ren looked stunned. “You describe your apartment complex as normal.”

“Well, it certainly is nice.”

Ren put a hand on her forehead. “You just moved into one of the four buildings making up the nicest apartment complex in the city and you describe it as nice.”

Mio was scratching her cheek. “I mean it’s just a normal apartment.”

“Normal apartment complexes don’t have their own gym’s, tennis courts, and pool.”

Mio turned and looked at Eizan. “Is all that true?”

Eizan tilted his head. “You really had no clue where we just moved did you?”

“I mean I knew they were luxury apartments.”

Eizan laughed. “You can also tell the man at the front desk to go get you food from anywhere in the city and they will send someone to get it. It sounds kind of lazy to me though. Each building has their own pool and gym on the second floor. We just always take the right elevator. If you take the one in the middle it goes to the gym and pool. We can’t use the one on the left, that’s for apartments on the other side of the building. The tennis courts are located in the courtyard between the buildings. I guess I really should have shown you around this weekend.”

Mio shook her head. “I get it. We were busy moving.”

They all agreed to head to their apartment. Ren, Mio, and Hattori were all walking in front of Ome, Koga, and Eizan as they walked. Koga looked over at Eizan. “Is the apartment building you live in really that nice?”

Eizan thought for a few seconds. “I mean it’s pretty nice.”

Ome was shaking his head. “Compared to most apartments pretty nice is an understatement. How much is it to rent an apartment there?”

Eizan laughed “I really have no clue.”

“How could you not know?”

Eizan sighed and mumbled “I own the apartment.”

Ome spoke so loudly he was almost yelling. “You own it?”

Eizan tried to calm him down. “It was given to me a few months ago by my grandfather.”

“But you just moved in Saturday?”

Eizan scratched his cheek. “I’m not the biggest fan of my grandfather’s way of doing things. Besides, it’s way too big for one person. If Mio hadn’t moved in with me, I wouldn’t have ever moved here. Honestly, we wouldn’t have moved at all if we hadn’t been forced. I’m still paying for my old apartment. If she decides to move back home, I will probably go back.”

Koga interjected “You seem to have an aversion to money.”

Eizan laughed “More like I don’t like having things handed to me.”

“You’re a better man than me. I would love it if someone handed me an apartment.”

“You might think that. But whatever my grandfather gives me comes with strings attached. He gave me this apartment but I know he expects something for it.”

“Why did you decide to move in then.”

Eizan smiled “Mio.”

Ome and Koga both replied at the same time. “I see.”