I know, I know. It's not like I was actually alone in the mall. There were a lot of people and it would get more crowded in a bit. But I didn't think I'd run into anyone from school.

To be honest, I was glad I hadn't run into Miku. Or Kaito. Maybe the latter would have been nice though, but we had already said goodbye on the subway.

But it could be like a little date, but not actually a date...

I zoned out, just like that. Until Gakupo said my name, that is. Though I'd much rather go on daydreaming. Perhaps the confines of my own room would be a better place, though.

"Oh, hey Gumi," Gakupo let a little snicker out. He patted Piko's shoulder. "I'll pay."

Gakupo walked past him and me, to the cashier, and handed over some change.

"Sorry about the mess," I heard him say.

"He put ice cream down the back of my shirt," Piko mumbled, walking up to me.

"Huh," I frowned. "Did he have a reason?"

"What? Does Gakupo ever need a reason to do anything?"

I laughed a little. "Not really. I'm sorry to hear that he did such a horrible thing. What a waste of ice cream."

Piko shrugged. "I guess it's a guy thing. And that sounds like something Kaito would say. The ice cream part."

My face reddened a little but I kept smiling. "Huh," I said. "I guess it is."

"You want to wash up?" Gakupo asked Piko as he walked up to us. "You should come along, Gumi. What're you doing here all alone, anyways?"

"Trying to find something," I said.

He grinned. "Bet you could use the company. We're going to rendezvous with the other guys in five minutes or so. Piko can wash up in that time."

"I don't know if you can help me find what I'm looking for," I said. We walked out of the shop. I made a mental note to grab a box of chocolates, if nothing else, for Miku.

"Well, what are you trying to find?"

I put my hands in my pockets and looked up at him. Piko was running towards the washrooms.

"I don't know yet," I said. "A present. Miku's birthday is coming up and if all the girls came to the mall together, it'd be obvious what we were up to."

"Is this Neru's idea?"

I nodded. "You could guess?"

He laughed. "She told me!"

"She told you guys?"

He shook his head. "She told me," he said softly. "I'm special."

I scoffed at him. He kept laughing and we followed Piko.

"That was horrible of you," I said. "What you did to Piko."

"It's what guys do," he said.

"He didn't seem too happy about it."

Gakupo shrugged. "So, you wanna hang out with us? We just got here ten minutes ago."

I didn't have anything to lose by saying yes. It'd be nice to have company.

"We could help you decide," he said. "There's me, Piko...the rest of the guys...no girls, though."

"Well, if you can help me out, then I'm all for it," I said, just as my stomach growled. I made a face and he tousled my hair.

"What a lady," he teased.

"Tell it to this guy," I patted my stomach. "Can we eat first?"

"Sure," Gakupo said. Piko walked out of the washroom with a huge wad of paper towels in his hands.

"Someone help me dry the back of my shirt," he said. I took the paper towels and started helping the poor guy. He thanked me and asked if I was going to hang out with them.

"Yeah," Gakupo answered. "Let me text the others. We can meet up in the food court."

He started typing up his message when a boisterous voice rang out throughout the mall.

"We see you, Eggplant Maniac! And hi, pumpkin!"

"Free publicity," Piko mumbled.

People looked up, at the escalators, where Yuma and Oliver were. Yuma had a wild grin on his face, and Oliver looked like he was trying to choke him.

"His voice is way too loud," Gakupo said. "Well, saved me the trouble of texting them."

"Gumi, I know you're hungry and all, but these guys can be total animals when it comes to food," Piko said. "Well, Gakupo and Yuma, at least. Oliver's alright."

"Shut up," Gakupo smacked his head. He yelped and dropped a few of the paper towels. Yuma and Oliver were scrambling down the 'up' escalator and getting yelled at.

They'd be like animals, Piko had said. I smiled. There was something about hanging out with animals.

Besides, I was sure they'd be paying for the food. Free food and company. I could be okay with that. I'd be totally okay with that.

Gakupo, Piko and I started walking towards the food court, with Oliver running after us, catching up. Yuma was quite a ways away, his phone pressed to his ear. I turned to look at him more than a couple of times. He seemed completely immersed.

"What's up with him?" I asked Gakupo, who shrugged.

"He's on the phone," he said stiffly.

"Well...I guess that makes sense," I said. I had just never seen him like that.

Then again, how long had I known him for? Still, it didn't seem to fit my perception of him.

"Alright, men," he said suddenly, walking quickly and catching up to us. He looked at me. "And woman. What're we eating?"

"Whatever Gumi wants," Gakupo said. "She's the hungry one."

"Well, we don't all have to eat the same thing, you know. I'd feel bad if you all had to eat what I was eating, only to have it turn out that you don't like whatever it was," I said.

Oliver laughed. "Come on, Gumi. Do you really think these guys are that courteous? That they'll eat whatever you'll give them?"

"Well, I know I'd eat whatever a pretty little flower offered me," Yuma said, throwing an arm over Oliver's shoulder. "One must be gentle with the ladies."

"Not all ladies are like that," I said. "I don't think you've known quite enough ladies to have a good idea on how they work."

He smiled at me. "One must also be adaptable."

I scoffed. He snickered.

"What's on your lips, pumpkin?" He said. "I can tell you've got something to add to our little conversation."

"Nothing, really," I said, putting my hands in my pockets. "It's just that you're very predictable. A mashup of cliché tropes."

"Are you insulting my character?" He was still smiling.

"You're like every other guy in all the romance novels out there," I went on. "And I am appalled by your disturbingly blatant attitude towards things."

He let out a short lived cackle that took a nosedive and became a little laugh.

Gakupo snorted. "Moving on, I know I'm not eating everything and anything that a girl would put in front of me. Some things just aren't worth it!"

"Not even if Luka made it?" I teased him. His cheeks reddened instantly.

"W-Well, in that case, I might reconsider," he said. "A-Anyways! Table ahoy, maggots."

Gakupo gestured towards a vacant table and we all sat down. I was seated between Yuma and Oliver, with Piko and Gakupo across from me.

"So, what're we having?" Yuma asked once everyone was settled.

"I'm going to have a salad," I said.

"Pfft," Gakupo shook his head. "You mean a bowl full of carrots."

"I'll be adding some other vegetables too, you know," I said. "So it will only be mostly carrots. Not just carrots."

"You can't have a salad!" Piko said. Yuma nodded.

"What? I can eat whatever I want," I said.

"A salad isn't enough, pumpkin," Yuma said. "You know what you need? You need Chinese food."

"Or ramen," Oliver said. "There's a new ramen place."

"How about just salad?" I said. "This isn't going to be dinner or something."

"Nope," Gakupo said. "They're right. A salad for me and one for you, and then either ramen or Chinese."

"And then a burger, and fries," Piko said.

"And truffles," Yuma said. "From that gourmet chocolate place on the second floor."

"You're all ridiculous," I said, shaking my head. "Can I at least start with a salad?"

The guys exchanged glances before looking at me. They all nodded.

"Sounds good," Piko said, pulling out his wallet and poking around in it. "I might not even have enough money to get you a burger and fries and fancy chocolate."

"See, he's not cheap," Yuma said. "He's a good guy."

"So?" I said. "I know that."

"So you should be nicer to him," Yuma said. "You should ask him out!"

"Augh!" Piko smacked Yuma on the head. That didn't stop Yuma from laughing, though. "That's ridiculous!"

"No worries, Piko," I said, though I couldn't really stop blushing easily, because Yuma's comment caught me completely off guard.

"It's not like that..." Piko mumbled, covering his face with his hands. Gakupo coughed, and it was very obviously intentional.

"I-I know, Piko!" I said, trying to calm him down. "Don't worry about it."

"What he means is, he doesn't feel that way," Gakupo said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms across his chest. I puffed up my cheeks at him.

"Thanks for saying it so clearly," I drawled. He shrugged.

"He's got someone else on his mind," Gakupo said, smiling now. This made Piko scream again.

"Gakupo, shut up shut up shut up!" He cried. "I won't hang out with you guys again if you do these sorts of things with me..."

"Look, you're scaring the poor guy," I said.

"Yeah, stop scaring Piko," Oliver said, patting his friend on the back. "Come on, let's go grab something to eat. I'm getting Chinese."

Piko nodded, eyes red and puffy. He looked adorable. In a little kid way.

"Yuma, want us to get you something?" Oliver asked. Yuma had his chin propped on the table. He was looking around.

"Yeah, I'm still not sure," he said. The guys looked at each other.

"Orange pop?" Gakupo asked. Yuma shook his head.

"Coffee!" Oliver said. "Iced!"

"Eh...no."

"What, is he not going to have a burger and fries and ramen and fancy chocolate?" I asked.

"He rarely has those sorts of things," Gakupo said. "I should tell you the story someday. The first time we hung out with Yuma...man..."

"Hey, I'd eat good chocolate," Yuma said. "Or anything a nice girl would make."

"Just ignore him," Oliver said, waving his hand dismissively at Yuma.

"Please," Piko said. "He needs to learn to watch his mouth."

"You're still worried about that, huh?" I asked. Piko's face reddened again.

"Well, it's probably still on your mind," he said.

"Yeah, it is," I said. "In fact, I'm curious!"

"Ack! Look what you've done, Yuma..."

"What? I didn't say much, you know," Yuma said. "You can yell at Gakupo."

Piko turned to Gakupo, glaring at him. Gakupo held his palms out in front of us.

"Sorry, man," he said. "Look, at least it's Gumi and not Neru, right? She would've told the whole school by now."

I could see it right there on Piko's face that he was grateful for the fact that she wasn't here.

"Can we eat now?" Oliver asked.

"Yes please," Gakupo said. "Piko?"

He exhaled, nodding. "Yeah, let's get going, I guess..."

I patted his shoulder.

"Decided yet?" Gakupo asked Yuma. He shook his head, swinging back and forth in his chair. He seemed restless.

"I still don't know what to get," Yuma said. I heard him sigh as he leaned forwards, letting his forehead almost touch the table. He was quiet. Then, finally, he spoke, very softly. "I'll get a coffee...with caramel. Large."

"I'll get that for you," Piko said. He got to his feet, and so did Gakupo and Oliver. I started to get up as well, but Gakupo gestured to me to sit back down.

"Hang onto our seats, alright?" Gakupo said, before walking away.

"You might get the wrong carrot to salad ratio," I joked.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head and walking away. I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms, watching the three guys as they headed off to different sections of the food court. And then I looked at Yuma, with his head down. He looked like he was asleep. I leaned forward, to see his face, to see if his eyes were closed or not.

They weren't. He was just lying there with his face on the table. His eyes met mine and he smiled a little.

"What's up?" He asked. I shook my head.

"Aren't you going with the guys?" I asked.

"I've already told them what I want," he said, sitting up. "Besides, I don't really do that sort of stuff. Getting up, getting stuff, coming back...just thinking about doing all that is enough to make me feel exhausted..."

"So you're lazy," I said. He shrugged.

"Sure," he said. He put his head down again. "I don't know..."

I watched as he swung his legs back and forth, under the table.

"You seem moody," I said. "Or restless...are you okay?"

He turned to look at me. "Absolutely."

"Okay then." I said. "That's good."

"Why, thank you."

I looked at him silently for a few seconds. "Do you want me to get your coffee for you?"

"That would be very nice, but I believe the eggplant maniac gave you a job," he said.

"Well, you can watch the seats!" I said. "Look! There aren't even many people around. I'll go. You seem like you could use it."

He groaned and clasped his hand over my arm. "Don't go..."

"H-Huh?"

He looked at me with big eyes. "I'll be alone."

"That's ridiculous! There's people everywhere!"

"But they're strangers," he said.

I scrunched my eyebrows together and pressed my lips into a thin line, not sure of what to say. I settled back into my chair and he pulled his hand back, letting it drop to the side.

"Happy now?" I asked. He laughed.

"Just watch the seats, pumpkin," he teased. "It's your responsibility."

I gaped at him. "I was doing that! I just offered to help you..."

He kept laughing. I scowled and pulled out my phone, deciding to busy myself and not bother with his antics anymore.

Happy 34th chapter! I forgot to mention this last time, but Connect will be updated biweekly, so, every two weeks, on Saturdays. Hope you look forward to the next update!