Aoyuzu looked at Honjo who looked at Corliss who stared at her phone. She was expecting a call. The other children started to notice, wondering if there was a problem. They whispered amongst themselves then looked at Honjo and Aoyuzu.

Corliss woke from her daze and noticed the children staring at her. She gave them a smile then slipped her phone into her pocket.

"So, how is everyone doing? Any questions about the words we're learning?" she asked. Honjo raised his hand. "Yes?"

"Could you tell us more about what bond means?" he asked, seeing the word had more than one meaning.

"Ah, but which bond?" she asked.

"Not the legal one." he replied.

"Well, as it says on the paper, bond is a word we use to say that two things are being put or have been put together." she said then walked over to Aoyuzu and Honjo. She took their hands and had them hold hands. "What I just did was bond your hands together."

The children "oohed" in understanding. The two separated then started to write.

"Bond is also a synonym for relationship and friendship. For example, you can say Aoyuzu and Honjo have a bond." Corliss explained.

"So that means you and Mr. Zoldyck have a bond?" Honjo spoke up.

"Yes, that's correct." she said, giving his head a pat. "All of us in this room have a bond with one another."

The children happily chatted, amazed by the word. Corliss checked her phone again then quickly took it out. She missed the call. She hurriedly called them back as she stepped out the room.

"Hello? Yes, this is Corliss Steinbeck speaking. Yes. That's correct. Really? Understood. Thank you, have a nice day." she said then hung up. She sighed then poked her head into the room. "Honjo, come here for a moment."

"What is it?" he asked, walking over to her.

She closed the door behind them then placed her hands on his shoulders. Her lip trembled, causing Honjo to worry.

"Next week... you... you can come home with me..." she said, trying hard to fight back her wide grin.

"Really!? I can really live with you?" he asked excitedly.

"For the week, yes. They still have to make sure everything's okay." she said, giving him a hug.

"I promise I'll behave. I want to live with you forever." he said.

"Silly, one day you'll outgrow me and want to go off on your own." she said, knowing he'd want his own place to do whatever he wanted.

"No I won't. I only need you." he said, holding her tight.

"If you say so." she said, smiling softly.

____

"Kiss me." he said, pointing to his lips.

"No." he replied flatly.

"Kiss me." he pressed.

"No." he said, feeling irritated.

"Hold my hand." he said, changing it up.

"Are you flirting with me?" he asked, finally looking at him.

"Lumi, why in the world would I flirt with a grade A het?" he said, shaking his head.

"I am not a het, Chubear." Illumi retorted.

"I said don't call me Chubear! And yes you are! That guy from years ago doesn't count." Chuuya countered, not wanting to lose the fight.

"You know damn well I don't know what I am! So shut up before I make you." Illumi said loudly.

Chuuya kept his mouth shut, knowing not to piss Illumi off. He had the honors of seeing a guy piss him off once. He shivered at the memory.

"Oh, Lissy just texted. Says she got approval." said Chuuya, looking at Illumi's phone. "Approval for what?"

"She's adopting a kid. I'm really hoping things work out for them. They seem to need each other." said Illumi.

"Ah, so that's why you won't make moves on her? You're worried that you'd be a third wheel in between them." Chuuya said, waggling his eyebrows.

"God, do you ever shut up?" Illumi seethed, seconds away from choking him.

"Well, I know you never asked for my opinion, but I think she might be a good match for you. Now, I'm not saying you two can't be just friends, but if you want to put yourself out there again..." said Chuuya, leaning against his desk.

"Corliss is a really sweet woman, that much is true, but she recently broke up with her boyfriend and even if she wasn't in a relationship before, I'm probably just a friend in her eyes." Illumi said, looking at Chuuya.

"Oh? So it's safe to assume you see her as more than a friend?" Chuuya asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course not. Why are you digging so deep into this?" Illumi said, pouting.

"Because..." said Chuuya, leaning in close. "Maybe someone else wants you."

Illumi blinked as Chuuya smiled while pulling back. He burst into laughter at Illumi's silence.

"I'm just messing with you. Don't get so serious." said Chuuya, wiping tears.

"That's not funny. Do you know how bad I'd feel if I had to turn you down? You're my best friend and I wouldn't want things to become awkward." said Illumi, looking down at his lap.

"I get it. Stop being such a downer. Now come here and let me give you a kiss." said Chuuya, taking out his phone.

"Absolutely not." Illumi said with pursed lips.

"Ah, right. About tonight, there's gonna be someone I want to make regret leaving me. So I need you to match my amount of affection." he said, checking his group chat.

Illumi hummed in response, assuming it wouldn't be much.

____

Corliss zipped up her bag then noticed something on the table under her bag. She picked up the paper then smiled softly. It was a picture of her and Honjo eating together. The door creaked open and Honjo poked his head inside.

"Hey, is something wrong?" she asked quietly.

"No... Sorry." he said, slipping back out.

"Wait, it is something. You wouldn't be here otherwise." she said, opening the door. Aoyuzu was with him as well. "What do you both have to say to me?"

"I just wanted to see you again before you left..." Honjo muttered, feeling embarrassed.

"He's lying! He said-" Aoyuzu said then whimpered as Honjo had hit his arm.

"Aoyuzu, tell me." she said, moving Honjo so he couldn't reach him.

"He said he was going to follow you home." said Aoyuzu, earning a hateful glare from Honjo. "He won't listen to me."

"Honjo, are you trying to put yourself in danger?" she asked in disbelief. "Didn't you promise to behave?"

"Yes... but-" he said then piped down. "I'm sorry..."

"You can wait, right? It won't be much longer." she said, ruffling his hair before walking away. "Thank you, Aoyuzu. I hope you keep watching over him."

Aoyuzu nodded then reached for Honjo's hand, but he pulled away. Aoyuzu frowned and forcefully took his hand.

"Don't touch me. You tattled." Honjo said, upset.

"I can't lie to Ms. Steinbeck. And I wanted you to be safe." he said, frowning more. "I don't want to see you get hurt, especially when I'll be leaving soon..."

"Leave already." he spat, pushing his hand off and walking away.

Aoyuzu watched him walk away with a heavy heart. He was only trying to look out for his precious friend.

Corliss made a stop at a store as she had a hankering for milk tea. She quietly looked at the options then heard voices behind her. She turned around then frowned. She quickly turned back around, wondering how she could hide. She lifted her hood up, hoping it'd hide her.

"Next in line." the cashier called out.

"Should I go vanilla or taro..." he said then looked at his partner. "What do you think?"

"Just keep it cheap. We have to pay our share of the bill later." they said then ordered theirs.

"I'll have a vanilla then." he said.

Corliss looked out the corner of her eye, hoping they had walked away from the counter. They were still there.

"Miss, your order." the cashier said, placing her drink down.

"Hey, that hair color. Doesn't it remind you of someone?" one said, looking at her.

"Why bring her up now if all times? Are you still trying to push from earlier?" he fussed.

"I was just thinking about her. You could do the same you know." he said then pushed him aside. "Excuse me miss, but is that flavor any good?"

She kept her head lower, wanting to stay hidden. He looked at her, wondering why she wouldn't meet his eyes.

"It's good." she squeaked.

"Sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable, you just reminded me of someone we knew. Man, she's pretty and I bet you are too." he said, chuckling.

"Idiot, you're scaring her. I'm sorry about him. Please, be on your way." the other said.

The two started to bicker and the one closest to her bumped into her, knocking her drink onto the floor. She internally sighed, moving to get napkins to clean it up.

"Now look what you did. Miss, allow me to buy you another one." he said, glaring at the perp.

She shook her head. The perp moved in close and surprised her, giving him a glimpse of her face.

"Corliss?" he called out.

"Corliss where?" the other said, looking around.

"In front of me, idiot." he spat.

"Hi, Illumi, Chuuya..." she said weakly.

"Why were you hiding your face? Got a pimple?" Chuuya asked, looking at her.

"Chuuya, can you shut up for once?" Illumi said, hitting him on the back of his head. "I had actually stopped by Sunny Side to ask you something, but you weren't there."

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

"Come with us to our get together! I'm sure they wouldn't mind a beauty like you. Plus you took off today too right?" said Chuuya cheekily.

"Ah, but wouldn't I be intruding...?" she said, unsure.

"Not at all. I promise you'll have a lot of fun." Chuuya said, giving her a reassuring smile.

____

Corliss quietly sipped on her third glass as the others acted rowdy while being loud. It earned them some looks from others in the vicinity. She looked at Chuuya who was getting rather loose. Illumi sat on his other side, a blush dusting his cheeks.

"Chuuya, your shirt!" one of their friends said.

"What? You want it?" Chuuya shouted, throwing it at her. "Keep it!"

"Chubear..." Illumi said, sitting Chuuya down.

"What? Oh, I see." said Chuuya, grabbing Illumi's face and forcefully kissing him.

"Hey! That's my guy, you asshole!" a guy spoke up.

Chuuya pulled away then glared at the guy, still holding a dazed Illumi.

"You left me asshole! I'm in good hands now." he said, rubbing his cheek against Illumi's. "We're in love!"

Corliss stared at them wide eyed. Her suspicions were right. Illumi looked at Chuuya who glared at the man farther down.

"Chubear..." he whispered, his eyelids growing heavy. "I'm getting tired..."

"Eh, really... Did you drive here?" Chuuya asked.

"Did I...?" Illumi responded, unsure of himself.

"Liss! How did we get here?" Chuuya shouted in her ear.

"Illumi drove us. Seeing as how he's both intoxicated and sleepy, I'll have to do the driving. I just hope this stuff wasn't the strong kind..." she said, still sober.

Chuuya sat on Illumi's lap and left gentle kisses all over his face. Corliss looked away, a small pit forming in her stomach. Illumi silently responded to Chuuya's movements before putting a bit of distance between them.

"I want to go home..." he muttered, leaning his head against Chuuya's shoulder.

"It's not even past 1am. Chuuya complained. He didn't say anything else at the sight of Illumi's pleading face. "Fine. I proved my point anyway."

"You're both ready?" she asked, noticing the way Chuuya held Illumi. "I called us an Uber just to be safe. Go wait outside and get some air."

Corliss gathered their things then wrestled Chuuya's shirt out of the woman's hands. It was nice getting to meet their friends, but things started to feel awkward when they suddenly got touchy. She pushed open the door with her head lower, only to look up and see them making out again.

"Break it up, both of you. Save it for when you get home." she complained, pulling them apart.

"Liss is no fun." Chuuya whined.

Illumi remained silent. A part of her wondered if he knew what was going on. The car soon arrived and she got them in the car. She was going to bring them back to her place and hope for the best.

They found themselves standing outside her building many minutes later. She helped Chuuya walk as he was completely wasted. She often had to clap in Illumi's face as he kept falling asleep while standing.

"I'm never going drinking with you two ever again..." she muttered, dropping Chuuya on the loveseat then hurrying to bring Illumi in before he fell asleep out in the hall.