The lights in his room flickered on as he turned on the switch. He pulled off his tie and began brewing drinks for his soon-to-arrive guests.

"Why my house? I don't even have a mother to clean it!" Pein complained.

He turned on his faucet and ran a washrag under the running water. He had to clean up his bachelor pad before they arrived or he wouldn't hear the end of it. He scrubbed the table and the floor with fast and forceful strokes. As he stared proudly at his fast cleaning abilities, hurried knocks came from beyond his door.

"Hey, Pein-sensei, we brought some snacks and drinks for the night," the boys rang out, holding up bags and liters of soda.

He invited them in, but was still confused by their sudden request. "So, you wanted to stay over to talk about the Sports Festival, right?"

Itachi flopped onto couch. "Actually, we just needed some time to just be guys, so we wanted to hang out with you. Is that okay?"

Pein sighed, "Oh, so you're just using me? Fine, but this will only happen once or twice, alright?"

"Thanks, Pein-sensei!" Deidara exclaimed, taking a handful of chips.

Pein poured himself a glass of whiskey and chugged it down. "You know I'm too old for sleep-overs. What did your parents say when you told them you're spending the night with your advisor?"

"We just told them we were spending the night at one another's house. It's not that big of a deal even if they find out," Itachi replied.

The red-haired man groaned loudly and poured another drink. "Why me?"

"Pein-sensei, why do you drink?" Sasori asked.

Pein turned to the group of high school boys. "I drink because I can. Why do you all like Sakura-san?" he countered in a teasing tone.

The boys' skin flushed a bright red. "That's uncalled for, Pein-sensei," Deidara said, hanging his head.

"Well, it's true and, honestly, a bit hilarious. Why do you all like her so much anyway?" He handed them each a glass of soda.

Itachi leaned back on the couch and gazed up at his advisor. "It's not really anything you can control, sensei. She's not like all the other girls in our school."

"Yeah, and we spend almost everyday with her, so it was obvious that at least one of us would end up liking her," Hidan added.

Pein sat down beside Itachi. "So, what makes her different? Why is it just her and not any other girl?"

"There's nothing wrong with the other girls at our school, Pein-sensei. Most of them are pretty, but they don't act like Sakura-chan," Kisame answered.

"Yeah, I get that she acts different from other girls, but you all don't seem to want to answer my question on how she is different," Pein replied, agitated from the rounded-off answers he was receiving.

The boys stayed silent for a moment and thought of all the unique traits Sakura had. "She's so... humorous and good-natured," Itachi started.

Kisame agreed. "She doesn't judge a person by their appearance and acts very open and friendly."

Hidan joined in. "But she won't take shit from anyone because she isn't a doormat! And she hates it when people get hurt or bullied."

Pein smiled. "She has quite the impression on you all. I wonder what the other three have to say." He turned to Sasori, Deidara and Kakuzu.

Deidara grinned. "Sakura-chan is a beautiful angel! She's so spunky and cute, but she's even cuter when she gets mad at you! She's a walking cherry-bomb!"

Deidara elbowed Sasori and the junior blushed. "She's very empathetic and compassionate. She loves each one of us and we love her so much, sensei."

They turned to Kakuzu and waited patiently for the senior to finish their description of Sakura. He lifted his glass and drank slowly. When he set it down on the table he turned to his friends. "Sakura-chan is a diamond amongst stones... She's a treasure to have in the club because she's always bright and cheerful. She puts others before her and will protect each of her friends... But she's rather innocent and oblivious to others' feelings that involve her romantically. We have to face facts that Sakura-chan may not ever take the hint that we care for her more than just as friends."

Itachi sat straight on the couch. "Kakuzu-kun is right, however, we cannot break the code and shout out our feelings to her."

"Not to mention she might not even like us that way," Sasori acknowledged.

The room was absolutely still after Sasori's words. They hadn't even thought of her relationship with them strictly being platonic.

"Hasn't she had a crush on your brother for a while, Itachi?" Kisame asked.

Itachi gripped his cup tightly. "I... don't know. He never spoke about her, so I'm not sure."

"How will we know if she even likes us like that? We can't just say 'Hey, Sakura-chan, do you want to date one of us?' What should we do?" Deidara asked.

Pein chuckled. "Wow, this reminds me of a Shoujo Ai manga that Konan used to read when she and I were young or a television drama my mother would watch!"

The boys exchanged confused looks. "Sensei, you mean 'Shoujo' not 'Shoujo Ai'," Itachi corrected, slightly embarrassed.

Pein turned to the boy. "What?"

Itachi swallowed down his drink. " 'Shoujo Ai' is a Girls' Love genre of manga..."

Pein cocked his eyebrow in confusion. Hidan stepped in and said it bluntly, "We're not lesbians. That's what Shoujo Ai is - Yuri! You just meant Shoujo!"

The teacher blushed with embarrassment. "Shut up! I didn't mean that at all!" His students laughed at his humiliation.

Pein finally quieted them down and returned to the subject before. "So, what are you going to do? Are you just going to let her pick?"

"We have no choice, Pein-sensei, but all I can hope is she chooses before the seniors graduate high school," Itachi answered.

"I think you should just try harder. I know that she doesn't just think of you all in a 'best friend' way. But, I must warn you, that the friendship between all of you may go through many hardships, so is she really worth it? Is she worth ruining the relationship you all have together?" Pein cautioned, his eyes wandering around the room.

"We made it clear on the day of the Cultural Festival that whoever she picks will not break us apart as friends," Itachi reminded.

Pein nodded. "Well, I hope for the best of you all. Trying to make a girl like you is tough, but being unable to even confess it is even tougher. Now, let's get off that subject and onto a new one! The Sports Festival is in less than two weeks... are you all ready to participate? Other schools are going to be sharing the day with us as well."

Itachi furrowed his brow and frowned. "Other schools? Did Tsunade-sama just decide that?"

"Yeah, she accepted the offer with two other schools that will be performing. But don't worry Itachi, she'll set up the extra equipment the night before since it's so unexpected."

Itachi sighed in relief. "That's good, but what are the other schools?"

"Oto Academy and Suna High School," Pein replied.

The Uchiha's eyes darkened, but he continued with his calm tone. "So, Sasuke may attend?"

"Yes."

Deidara joined in. "But Suna High School is so small! Why are they coming here?"

Pein turned to Deidara. "Since Oto Academy isn't as large as Konoha High School, they requested Suna to join them as an entire group. It's all for fun anyway, so please try not to get too overworked, okay?"

The clock ticked on the wall and Pein picked up the boys' dishes. "Well, if you're all spending the night then you should get to bed!"

"We thought we could stay up all night since we're with you, Pein-sensei," Deidara answered with a grin.

Pein flipped the lights off and walked to his bedroom door. "I'm old and I need sleep. You guys can stay up and watch TV, but I'm going to bed." He opened his door and shut it before they could say another word to him.

"You know for a single guy, he really does know a lot of stuff," Hidan said, opening a new bag of chips.

"Yeah, so let's turn on the TV and continue to stay up until the sun rises!" Deidara exclaimed, pressing the power button on the remote.

Itachi awoke to a foot pressed against his face. He pushed Hidan's foot off the couch and moved into the kitchen. He pulled out the kitchen chair and sat with his elbows on the table.

"I must have passed out after the movie..." he thought, looking over his body for any signs that the boys could have pranked him.

The hinges of Pein's front door squeaked and he watched as Konan slipped silently through. She tip-toed into the kitchen and gasped in surprise as she finally noticed Itachi.

"Were you waiting for me?" she asked, quietly.

Itachi shook his head. "No, I didn't even know you were coming to visit today. The club, excluding Sakura, spent the night here."

Konan's amber eyes narrowed at the highschooler. "Isn't it against school policy for students to visit teachers off-duty?"

The Uchiha smiled. "I won't tell if you won't tell."

She blushed and her eyes moved around the room. "I just came to visit! Don't get the wrong idea from this. We aren't even dating, Itachi-san!"

"No need to explain, Konan-sensei, but could you spare some time to answer a few questions?" He motioned her to take a seat across from him.

She agreed and waited for the boy's questions. "Konan-sensei, you were in high school when you found out you liked Pein-sensei. What made you realize you liked him? Did he do anything to push you into a certain direction or what?"

Konan smiled. "Pein-kun and I had a lot in common - we were both alone and often bullied. Yahiko-kun brought us both together and we spent almost everyday that way Before Yahiko died, he made me promise to confess my affection to Pein. But even before that time, I acknowledged him as boyfriend material because he was himself and had all the assets I looked for in a boy. I guess you could say, that I realized I liked him when he started opening up more and showed me who he really was."

"So, you're saying that once he started acting like his one, true self that's when you liked him?"

She nodded her head. "Yes."

"But what if he acted that way from the beginning? I act like myself everyday, but nothing changes! She's too innocent and doesn't think about boyfriends or wanting one." He rested his head on the table in frustration.

" 'She'? You mean Sakura-san, right?" Konan guessed.

Itachi grunted in response, but continued to lay his head on the table.

"Something that helped me was having a friend that I could actually confide in. Yahiko-kun didn't have the same feelings as Pein-kun, so it was easy to confess. As long as you have a neutral friend, it may help ease her in. Just make sure it is someone you can trust with your life and not just your secrets," Konan explained.

He swiftly stood up and shook the woman's hand. "Konan-sensei that is a brilliant idea. I thank you very much for that advice."

"Eh, you're welcome?"

Itachi hurried to the sleeping boys and roughly woke them up. Hidan rubbed his eyes and glared angrily at the Uchiha.

"You ass! What do you want so early?" he growled.

"Let's hurry up, everyone. I have an emergency meeting that each of us need to attend about Sakura-chan," Itachi announced.

Deidara ran his fingers through his blonde hair. "What about her, hm?"

"We need to find her a girl friend!"

The boys rushed through the door, leaving Konan alone in the kitchen. She pulled herself up from the chair and walked throughout Pein's home. The living room was messy with chips spread out on the floor and used blankets sprawled on the couch and armchairs. She rested her hand on Pein's doorknob and opened it.

She yelled lovingly as she entered the room. "Pein-kun! I've come to wake you up again!"

xxx

xTsu