That was about as bad as it could be . Yukio felt for Noriko-chan, but he wasn't about to root for her if Urufu chose Kuri-chan . 'Urufu, because we're too close for that honorific by now . ' Honestly the tall pair was the better match, and he wished them all the best luck should it turn out that they became an item .

Around them the fan-club was in an uproar, and Kuri-chan shone with delight .

'But that still was rather uncool of you Kuri-chan . Now everyone knows how Noriko-chan feels . '

And it didn't matter in the long run, because he wished Urufu the best of luck whomever he ended up with, as long as she made him happy . Yukio couldn't remember ever seeing his friend truly happy .

Besides, the unexpected turn of events made his own life easier . If Urufu and Kuri-chan paired up he wouldn't have to go the roundabout way of making good friends with Noriko-chan to get closer to Kyoko-chan .

Now, some might have called him scheming, but he had long since realised that no one would help him with his love life . Not that he had ever had any .

"Aren't you friends with Hamarugen-san?" It was one of Ryu-kun's female fans who had asked . She looked friendly enough . And kind of cute .

Yukio looked at her and smiled, he hoped, politely . "Yes, why?" 'Honestly, what does me being friends with Urufu have to do with anything?'

Kyoko-chan shot him a disgusted glare .

'What did I do wrong this time? I'm going to die of old age before I understand her . ' But even angry she was cute . More than just cute . She was beautiful . He loved how she filled out her clothes, which made her look like a woman rather than the bony girls most considered beautiful . Yukio found himself stealing glances at her while he pretended to chat with Ryu-kun's hang-arounds .

For some reason Kyoko-chan looked angrier every time he looked at her . 'I'm so out of my depths here . If only I could make friends with her . Then I'd have a chance to know how I made her so angry . '

He looked at her again . She looked away . 'd.a.m.n!'

Beside him Urufu-kun and Kuri-chan ran a conversation in Swedish . Yukio liked to listen to the melodic language, but he couldn't understand a word of what they said .

He turned his attention to the contents of his bento box . Kuri-chan's handiwork . It was a peculiar mix of western and j.a.panese food, and although tastes clashed a bit it still was an improvement over the pre-packaged lunches that were sold in the cafeteria . Well, most anything was .

'Wonder why Kyoko-chan didn't get one . And why did Kuri-chan insist I have one?' Yukio shook his head . He noticed how the students around him shot him amused glances from time to time . 'A set of three bento boxes, not two . Make of that what you will,' he thought . And that thought was hilarious enough for him to laugh out loud .

It was a hot day, but they sat in shade and refres.h.i.+ng gusts of wind dispelled the heat . Spring turned to summer and right now nothing, not even an angry Kyoko-chan, could take away that it was good to be young and living out his first high school year together with new friends . He laughed even louder .

"What's so funny?" Urufu abruptly interrupted his mirth .

Yukio swept his right hand over the scene around them . "It's warm, I'm warm and you two are just funny to watch . " He wasn't exactly clear where the words had come from, but saying them made them true, and he burst out in laughter again .

From the corner of his eyes he saw Kuri-chan giving him an amused smile . Then she looked at Kyoko-chan, and her smile widened .

'I don't have your problems, or your girlfriend, but I have both my parents, even if they're separated . ' The thought sobered him up a little . 'And I have friends, you among them . I wouldn't change lives with you for anything in the world . '

Kuri-chan looked at him as if she was searching for something . The smile still played over her lips, a bit more thoughtful now . She looked at him and Kyoko-chan both and her smile grew strangely calculating .

Yukio dared one last glance at Kyoko-chan, and there was a glimmer of a smile that reached her eyes . For a short moment she looked at him with something that didn't look like antipathy .

'I have my friends, and I'll be yours as well . If you only let me . I promise . '

They sat in silence and finished their lunch . Even the fan-club members had become slightly subdued . A few stray clouds ran across the sky and the bell rang for cla.s.s .

That was about as bad as it could be . Yukio felt for Noriko-chan, but he wasnt about to root for her if Urufu chose Kuri-chan . Urufu, because were too close for that honorific by now . Honestly the tall pair was the better match, and he wished them all the best luck should it turn out that they became an item . Around them the fan-club was in an uproar, and Kuri-chan shone with delight . But that still was rather uncool of you Kuri-chan . Now everyone knows how Noriko-chan feels . And it didnt matter in the long run, because he wished Urufu the best of luck whomever he ended up with, as long as she made him happy . Yukio couldnt remember ever seeing his friend truly happy . Besides, the unexpected turn of events made his own life easier . If Urufu and Kuri-chan paired up he wouldnt have to go the roundabout way of making good friends with Noriko-chan to get closer to Kyoko-chan . Now, some might have called him scheming, but he had long since realised that no one would help him with his love life . Not that he had ever had any . Arent you friends with Hamarugen-san? It was one of Ryu-kuns female fans who had asked . She looked friendly enough . And kind of cute . Yukio looked at her and smiled, he hoped, politely . Yes, why? Honestly, what does me being friends with Urufu have to do with anything? Kyoko-chan shot him a disgusted glare . What did I do wrong this time? Im going to die of old age before I understand her . But even angry she was cute . More than just cute . She was beautiful . He loved how she filled out her clothes, which made her look like a woman rather than the bony girls most considered beautiful . Yukio found himself stealing glances at her while he pretended to chat with Ryu-kuns hang-arounds . For some reason Kyoko-chan looked angrier every time he looked at her . Im so out of my depths here . If only I could make friends with her . Then Id have a chance to know how I made her so angry . He looked at her again . She looked away . d.a.m.n! Beside him Urufu-kun and Kuri-chan ran a conversation in Swedish . Yukio liked to listen to the melodic language, but he couldnt understand a word of what they said . He turned his attention to the contents of his bento box . Kuri-chans handiwork . It was a peculiar mix of western and j.a.panese food, and although tastes clashed a bit it still was an improvement over the pre-packaged lunches that were sold in the cafeteria . Well, most anything was . Wonder why Kyoko-chan didnt get one . And why did Kuri-chan insist I have one? Yukio shook his head . He noticed how the students around him shot him amused glances from time to time . A set of three bento boxes, not two . Make of that what you will, he thought . And that thought was hilarious enough for him to laugh out loud . It was a hot day, but they sat in shade and refres.h.i.+ng gusts of wind dispelled the heat . Spring turned to summer and right now nothing, not even an angry Kyoko-chan, could take away that it was good to be young and living out his first high school year together with new friends . He laughed even louder . Whats so funny? Urufu abruptly interrupted his mirth . Yukio swept his right hand over the scene around them . Its warm, Im warm and you two are just funny to watch . He wasnt exactly clear where the words had come from, but saying them made them true, and he burst out in laughter again . From the corner of his eyes he saw Kuri-chan giving him an amused smile . Then she looked at Kyoko-chan, and her smile widened . I dont have your problems, or your girlfriend, but I have both my parents, even if theyre separated . The thought sobered him up a little . And I have friends, you among them . I wouldnt change lives with you for anything in the world . Kuri-chan looked at him as if she was searching for something . The smile still played over her lips, a bit more thoughtful now . She looked at him and Kyoko-chan both and her smile grew strangely calculating . Yukio dared one last glance at Kyoko-chan, and there was a glimmer of a smile that reached her eyes . For a short moment she looked at him with something that didnt look like antipathy . I have my friends, and Ill be yours as well . If you only let me . I promise . They sat in silence and finished their lunch . Even the fan-club members had become slightly subdued . A few stray clouds ran across the sky and the bell rang for cla.s.s .