Rei was sitting on his bed with a grim expression. Ichika's legs were across his lap as he continued to read the book Sayori gave him.

Ichika peeked up to see Rei lean back and groan.

Ichika frowned and set the book down.

"Is this about Yuri?" Ichika asked, in the loop of the scenario.

"My wrist hurts... and so do my feelings." Rei scoffed.

«•«

Rei walked out of the club room with Yuri. Yuri immediately knew what he wanted, and cursed to herself for letting her emotions slip in front of him.

"Are you alright? You didn't look to happy when Aimoto left." Rei was blunt, that she could appreciate.

"I was displeased to see that, yes. Make no mistake, I hold no grudge with Sayori. I am simply envious of their relationship." Yuri answered honestly.

"...So you like Hanamura." Rei muttered, making Yuri stop in her tracks. Rei did too, and saw she was glaring at him.

"So what?" She asked with sass.

"I'm not saying it's a problem. I personally think you could do better. Besides, my personal disdain for him shouldn't sway your feeling-"

Yuri grabbed Rei's wrist and pinned him against the wall, holding his hand over his head and placing her knee between his legs.

She glared down at him with a cold stare, the disgust on her face making Rei keep quiet.

"You don't like Hanamura?" Yuri asked calmly, her free hand reaching behind her.

"I see someone with little potential. He's inferior. I'm envious of the carefree attitude and laziness he can display despite the last years of his childhood being on the brink of ending." Rei answered with his own blank stare, annoyed by the grip on his wrist.

Yuri leaned in and peered into his eyes, trying to force a reaction out of him, but she was shocked when he grit his teeth and broke her grip from his wrist, shoving his elbow down and using his forearm to push her back.

Rei stepped away as she stumbled back, circling around to get away from the wall.

"I'm not stupid. He pays you no mind, right? You find that charming? Is this some random obsession? Do you want something just because someone else has it? Elaborate." Rei pressed with irritation.

"Shut your mouth. You don't know the half of it-"

"He probably doesn't give you the time of day, huh? His only connection to that club is Aimoto and you know it. What's with the delusion... or have you already accepted that he has nothing to do with you?" Rei harshly continued.

"Grow up. That kid is wrapped up in his own world, and here you are making no effort yourself. You can't possibly think you're getting anywhere by being bitter from afar." Rei spat with a glare.

Yuri clenched her fists and wanted nothing more than to hurt him, but she knew Monika was still cleaning up in the club room.

"I'll tell you what. I'll help you. I don't think you get how pathetic you look, so it's only right I do something about this..." Rei groaned before holding out his hand.

"You'll... help me get with Hanamura...?" Yuri asked in disbelief, flustered at the thought of actually pursuing him.

"Hell no." Yuri's expression slowly dropped as Rei smirked.

"I'm gonna break that delusion of yours. You're way too smart to not see just how much better you can have it. Hurting yourself with the feelings you have for him, just isn't the way to go."

Yuri slapped his hand away and grabbed him by the collar, making Rei's grin widen.

"You call that help? That's the exact opposite of what I wa-"

"Because you obviously don't know what's best for you-"

"And what is?" Yuri muttered, gripping his collar tighter.

"Me." Rei answered, making Yuri's grip falter. She leered at him in confusion and disgust.

"You... Are you trying to two-time Monika? You're despicable!" Yuri said with a glare.

"No... wait! No, that is not what I meant. I meant as a friend... way to make it weird." Rei said with frown.

Yuri blushed and shoved him away again, and this time he fell on his rear. She covered her face as she ran away, making Rei laugh as she fled.

»•»

"Albeit funny, she bruised my wrist... does she work out or something?" Rei asked rhetorically.

Ichika chuckled and sat up, moving himself to sit on Rei's lap.

"Smash Bros. to take your mind off things?" Ichika asked.

"You a masochist? You know I'm gonna win." Rei said with smirk.

"Pft- please. You know good and well that I beat you last time."

"That's cause you punched me in the dick!" Rei shouted in annoyance, standing up and throwing Ichika to the side.

He rushed to turn on the console as Ichika laughed his ass off.

~•~

Rei walked up to Yuri as she made her way to the cafeteria for lunch. She immediately scowled and turned to him with a glare.

"Yo." Rei greeted with a smile.

She couldn't bring herself to react how she wanted to. "Good Morning, Shizukesa."

"Good Morning, Yuri. Can I call you Yuri?" Rei asked, beaming with the energy to pester her. "No, you cannot, you bas-"

"I'm gonna call you Yuri, Yuri. Anyway," Rei interrupted her, making her clench her fists in annoyance as the two sat down at their usual table. "How's your day been? Classes been difficult? Tiring?" Rei pestered.

Yuri grit her teeth, losing her patience with each syllable.

"Oh! That reminds me- wanna hang out after clu- mpht?!" Rei was silenced by a piece of cut sausage being stuffed in his mouth.

"You just don't stop..." Yuri muttered, watching as he ate happily.

"Pretty good. You make that yourself?" Rei asked as Monika sat on his left. She was eyeing the two with curiosity.

"No. My mother did. Now could you please lea-"

"Have you ever tried cooking?" Rei interrupted, making Monika catch on and smirk.

"No-"

"Do you want to? We can bake at my house after club if you want? Wanna make a cake? Or a pie?" Rei continued to bombard her with questions, and Yuri wanted nothing more than to shut him up.

Yuri gave Monika a desperate look, but she simply looked away with a grin and greeted Sayori and Akira as they sat down.

"Come on, let's bake something. You like chocolate or strawberry? I have both, so maybe we can make both- or make one- with both!" Rei dramatized, making Yuri worried since she noticed Akira looking intrigued.

"I didn't realize you two were so close. Do you two hang out often?" Akira asked.

"N-" "Of course. She's my best friend." Rei answered in her stead, making Yuri suddenly pinch his side.

Rei's smile faltered for a brief moment, unnoticed by most, but he continued to smile. He retaliated by continuing his rant.

"S-So... Wanna bake a cake?" Rei asked, making even the approaching Natsuki intrigued.

With the pressure and risk of looking rude and brash, Yuri knew that he had cornered her with her own image of elegance she set for herself.

"Give me twenty minutes after club... Rei..." Yuri feign friendliness, making him smile brightly. "Great! I'll make sure I've got everything we need during that time." Rei replied, turning to Monika for a wink.

"We'll make sure to make enough to share tomorrow, guys." Rei smugly announced, nudging Yuri.

Yuri had enough and slammed her foot down on his, making him almost bite his tongue.

~•~

"You need help?" Rei asked, but another groan was the decline he expected.

"Twenty bucks says she doesn't show up?" Ichika offered.

"She has to. She knows I can now ruin her reputation now that she agreed. Don't show up and there goes her perfect image- though I don't know how much she cares about that..." Rei explained.

"You're evil." Ichika laughed.

"I claim clever, but both are true." Rei shrugged from under the kotatsu.

The doorbell rang.

"Oh! Let me get it! I wanna show her just how funny this is!" Rei shot up and ran to the door, in just shorts and a t-shirt.

Rei threw open the door with a blatantly fake smile, seeing Yuri beside Monika- something Rei expected, since he'd be having a girl over.

"Hello, my dearest," Rei said with bow, elated at the events yet to ensue...

"And Yuri, I guess." He added with a shrug.

"You quit calling me that immediately." Yuri spat as she shoved him inside.

•

Monika and Ichika were sitting under the kotatsu as Rei was whisking the ingredients for the cake batter. Yuri was observing in annoyance, crossing her arms over her bosom as Rei hummed.

"So!- Chocolate or strawberry?" Rei asked, the entire group.

"You know what I like, babe!" Ichika shouted. "Strawberry..." Monika answered, giving an odd glare to Ichika.

"What about you?" Rei asked Yuri.

"I don't car-"

"You seem like you like chocolate. I'll make it chocolate just for you." Rei ignored her, but that seemed to strike a nerve.

"Why does it seem that way? Are you saying that because it's unhealthy? Are you trying to call me fat?!" Yuri questioned, her face flushed red in anger and embarrassment.

"Eh. I wouldn't say fat. 'Proportionately plump' is the term the guys in my class use." Rei recalled, making Yuri gasp and grab his collar.

"They're saying what about me?! Do they think I'm fat?!" Yuri asked, nearly on the verge of tears.

"N-Not in a bad way! Wait- I can't explain it- Ichika, a little help!" Rei panicked, feeling an intense glare from the living room.

"Boys love your body shape! They say it's bountiful in all the right places!" Ichika explained while on his computer, making Monika smirk as she propped her hand in her palm.

'Simultaneously increasing her confidence and throwing her off Akira's trail. Albeit he's more... friendly than I'd like, it's working in its own way.' Monika thought, taking a sip of the tea Ichika made.

Yuri was struggling to comprehend the news, holding her head she leaned on the counter, and Rei rubbed her back as he multi-tasked with ultimately choosing strawberry for her insecurities' sake.

With strawberry syrup and red food coloring to the icing, Rei filled a piping bag with a red-pink hue. He put the mixed batter into a wide enough pan, and slipped into the oven, turning on the heat and letting it click at the perfect temperature.

"Okay, if I did everything right... should be done in about 35 minutes. Just call me when it dings," Rei said, washing his hands and heading upstairs.

Monika took this opportunity to put faith in her boyfriend, "Hey, Ichinose," Monika called out, "Do we have any containers for the club tomorrow?"

"Uhh. The cake probably won't fit in any tupperware. So, we should probably go buy some, huh?" Ichika caught on, the two smirking at Yuri.

In mere moments Yuri was downstairs by herself.

'That pesky son of a bitch... Why can't he stay out of my business.' Yuri thought, growing irritated that others were in on her obsession.

'Why can't I be left alone. Suffering in silence was more peaceful than others acknowledging the problem...' Yuri looked behind her and saw the knife Rei planned to cut the cake with.

"Fucking weasel... getting into my personal life... charming my best friend... I've had enough." Yuri muttered.

Monika's intentions had the opposite effect.

•

Rei was sitting his bed, playing Smash Bros. to pass the time, knowing Yuri would rather not hang out with him. He wasn't that cruel.

However, she was.

Rei heard his door open, and seeing the glint of metal closing in on him, Rei threw himself off the bed and watched a large knife plunge itself is into his mattress.

Rei's eyes widened as he saw a hand nearing his face next, and threw up his arms to block.

Unfortunately, she grabbed his arm and threw it aside, kicking his nose and making him crash into his closet door.

"Was it fun?" Yuri asked as Rei recovered from the shock.

He stood up and answered.

"Of course. Putting some sense into an idiot is always fun." Rei answered with a smirk, wiping his nose to see that there was a small drop of blood.

"Why do you meddle...? Who put you up to this? I understand that Monika worries I'll never find a boy because of this... but who cares! If I want to suffer, why won't you let me?!" Yuri shouted, but Rei didn't face her.

"Because you obviously don't love yourself as much as you love Hanamura. And, boy, is that pathetic." Rei laughed at her, but suddenly reached for the knife.

Yuri quickly shoved his wrist away and took it herself, "You call him stupid," she twirled it like an expert and aimed it him. "But you are far more incompetent. You think you can change me? By simply pushing my buttons enough- letting him see this side of me?" Yuri asked.

"No. I wanted to see this side of you." Rei answered, making Yuri freeze.

"Why?" Yuri didn't believe him.

"Cause I feel like it. You need help. And I'm the guy for the job." Rei took a step closer. "Not Hanamura."

Yuri grabbed his collar and placed the blade against his cheek.

"How do you think he'd react to this? Think he'll like it? Think he'll fawn over you after seeing the mess you are?" Rei asked.

Yuri hated that she had to actually think about what he said. She knew herself well enough to know that she couldn't hold back if she had the opportunities that Sayori had. Her tendencies were extreme, and looking at the knife in her hands, was all she needed to know he was right.

"It's taking a lot to not slit your throat... but there is some truth in your blabbering." Yuri threw him against the bed, and watched as he held his nose to stop the blood from leaking on his beige sheets.

"I won't accept your help. However I'll use this to reflect upon myself..." Yuri muttered.

"Did you have to kick me in the face to realize I'm right? You can do it again then." Rei laughed as he turned to her.

She swung her foot and kicked him across the chin. Rei held his jaw as she walked to the door.

"Maybe this what I needed to actually pursue him. Stay out of my way. I'm making my move tomorrow." She said standing at the doorway.

"If you want... I can help you bake him a special cupcake..." Rei panted in pain as he held himself up against his bed.

"...Don't say that like it's a favor. You'll do it regardless." Yuri spat, walking back downstairs.

Rei was crying in pain from the last kick. 'Holy shit... fat is far from what she is. Her clothes have to be hiding the physique of a body builder...'

Rei stood up, and wiped his eyes, nose, and mouth.

"This is going better than I thought." Rei chuckled as he turned to the door.

"I'll save you, dumbass." Rei thought out loud.

•

••

•••

"Damnit- I lost the match."