Mai and Kuma walk near the school to meet up with the other three. Kuma is eating and walking at the same time and Mai is getting over her nightmare.

It's amazing how happy he looks. It's like a kid eating candy. And it makes me feel warm. I'm doing a good thing.

"How Mai? This tastes like heaven's clouds. Been a while since I've had one."

"You're welcome of course. You deserve it."

"I haven't heard that in a long time. You are just a double shot of confidence."

She blushes. "Ummm, right. Doing my job. You okay?"

"Never better. Air is good. Food is good. Got a second job. So far going good. If I calculate everything up, I should have rent a week prior."

"Second job?" She grumbled.

"Guy has to make a living."

"You got a better one."

"Still need to make the money and get by. Maybe have other things too like buy a sandwich like this."

"Treat yourself even though me or the girls can make them?"

"I don't want to depend on any of you like that. It's not fair to you and it's rude."

"But I enjoy doing it. We enjoy doing it. And at least one of us has the hots for you."

"Haru and one other?"

"Haru yes. Not sure about the others but Aiko's mom loves you."

"It's so creepy. It's like hi boy do you want to plow my kid. Yeah that was too much. Gen is the quiet one of out of all of you, Haru is the flirtiest, Aiko is sweet, and you are a hard case but mean well. You are beautiful, smart, kind, and that boyfriend needs to be a nine or higher in every category."

"Marik I-thank you. But..."

"My pleasure. And I totally know my limits. I wouldn't date my boss's daughter. She deserves much more. Best friend is hard too if you put it on paper."

"Don't be harsh on yourself. Now the girls are straight ahead. Behave."

"Hey you two. You seem happy." Gen smiled.

"Warming him up for me?" Asked Haru. She really did dress up nicely. Her blue eyes popped from purple eye shadow, hair wavy, and white socks to her thighs.

"Wait hold on. What do you mean warm up?" Blushed Kuma.

"How's dinner at my place sound?" She proposed.

"I have work."

"You're coming when you get out. And you won't be all sweaty either."

"True."

"And I can feed you."

"Feed me?"

"What you don't like it when a girl feeds you?"

"Actually I never had that happen to me. But it sounds nice."

"Never? Oh goodie. I can't wait." She pulls his hand and runs off with him in front of the school.

"You okay Mai?" Asked Aiko.

"Bad dream. Felt real. It was about him and his father. Rough morning. Bouncing back from it though." Mai just couldn't get into rhythm so far.

"That's okay then. I thought you were jealous of those two." Thought Gen.

"What about them?"

"Can't you see it?" Thought Gen.

"She's flirty and he has a guard up. I don't know." Maybe that's why this is upsetting me. Even though I put two and two together.

"If you can turn a damaged goods jock into a sweet caring lady slayer then a flirty girl can find the man of her dreams." Aiko fixed her hair.

"Also gave him a 'second job' as he says it."

"Two? He's sixteen. He's going to kill himself." Aiko gasped.

"He needs to ease up. Don't you think?" Pondered Gen.

"We need to watch out for him. Granted least that side business garbage won't ever happen again. But we can't have him live like this."

"True. Should we use Haru to persuade him?" Giggled Gen.

"Possibly. They are having dinner tonight." Aiko gazed.

"Anyone thought that her experience in the love department could be rather intimidating to him? He hasn't had a first kiss."

"EHHHH?"

"EHHHH?"

"I thought so... Oh boy. Maybe we can tell her to calm down a bit."

"Or it could be good for him to come out of his shell. Haru wouldn't per say force eggs on him or anything." Gen waved off.

"Well after two dates he's kinda scared. Especially after Eri."

"I guess but we can pep talk her after he goes to work." Aiko lead the way.

At least show a little concern. Thank goodness the foundation is covering the raccoon eyes from my lack of sleep. Seriously it scared me. At the same time hurt me. At first I thought I was doing the right thing. Then I healed him and gave him reasons to continue going on. He's truly a good friend. Maybe more than that.

~~~~~

It was after school and Kuma and the girls all met outside by the tree. They are all laughing, and Kuma is wrapping things but to say goodbye. But there was was an unexpected guest.

"Kuma. This is why you left? That's pretty low on our part."

He turned around. "Yuuto?"

"You left us for girls dude. Granted they're hot but that's crap."

"I didn't give up baseball the one thing I was good at for a girlfriend. I'm single thank you."

"'Cause you can't commit to one right?"

"You think I just quit for the hell of it?"

"What are you talking about? You've acted weird since junior year started."

"Things change when certain events take place."

"Start making sense. What could possibly be your excuse." He was starting to get rowdy and get into his face.

"If you really want to know asshole my mother passed away of cancer, and my father hit me on a daily basis to the point I ran away and lived on my own. Now if you excuse me dickhead I have to go to work to feed myself. You and Coach can cut it out now." Kuma started walking away with tears starting to burn his eyes. Yuuto was shocked and felt like the most evil person on record. The girls stood there in pain for him.

"Kuma. Please. I'm sorry." Mai tried to grab his arm.

"Don't." He rejected and ran off. Because of his speed and Yuuto not finding the strength he was out of sight in a flash.

"I really am a jerk. Worst person on record." Yuuto's heart sank.

"Haru I'll give you his number for tonight. I'll call him soon. He's in pain. Too much to have him handle." Mai stood there sadly.

"Mai. Go after him. You got time." Offered Haru.

"You sure? He's your date tonight."

"I can't have a sad date. Go for it."

"Surely. I'll call all of you tonight. Before he knocks on her door. And you!" She pointed at Yuuto.

"Yes ma'am?" He flinched.

"Shut up about his secret. Nothing good will come from it. Absolutely zero. It will make things worse. Got that?"

"Sure thing."

"Now run off. You make me sick doing that."

"Okay." Yuuto was shocked. But he knew the best thing to do was shut his mouth.

"Now if you excuse me. I have a damaged soul to chase. Bye now." She took off running.

"Is she always like this?" He asked the girls.

"No nonsense."

"Very blunt."

"Bitchy but sweet."

"And Marik Iwakuma isn't interested in any of you?" Pondered Yuuto.

"I'm cooking for him tonight, but I have no idea. Doubt it. But also, he's afraid of getting more hurt." Haru was bragging about it so much.

"Right. I'll see ya. I need to get my head checked after that. I'm beyond terrible." He walks away with his head down.

Aiko sighed. "Girls? We got our work cut out for us. Hope Mai is holding up."

"She assigned herself to him. What are you thinking?" Thought Gen.

"Yeah. I mean he is my date tonight technically. But I'm not sure how Mai feels about it."

"Is she attracted to him? She's said no since day one but I'm not sure she knows what it is." Stated Aiko.

"Like she would say it out of the blue. It's Mai." Then an idea struck her. "Wait. I got a plan." Haru smirked.

"Whatcha got girl?" Gen got excited.

"How about I tell her fake things that happened on our date and see if she gets tick. We have to force it out of her."

"Good idea. This should be good."

-Meanwhile-

Mai banged on the door. "Marik. It's me. Mai. Please open up for me Sweetheart."

Marik opens the door. Tears are down his cheeks as he changes his shirt for work. "I'm sorry Mai."

"You don't have to be Honey." She hugs behind him and squeezed tight.

"I just couldn't take that. That hurt. It feels like needles stabbing my chest."

"Shhh. I'm here. Always will be. I'm your angel after all. And you have a, date, tonight."

"Date? Is that what it's called here?"

"I'd say so. Pretty safe to say so. She can cook too."

"Like you?"

"Potentially."

"Sounds nice."

"Question Kuma. Did you have your first kiss?"

"How did you know I didn't?"

"Just now."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"No, she wouldn't do that to you. But she is rather giddy and fun. Your type."

"You haven't found someone deserving of those lips. Have you?"

"How did you figure that?"

"You mean Miss. Tanaka the 'I don't have the time to put up with a guy not equivalent' and such?"

"You're right. Who am I kidding." Mai admitted that one easily.

"Mai it's fine. Just look at you. You have a great family, very intelligent, beautiful obviously, and you can grab anything by the balls and take charge."

"You seem upset."

"I can't dream of those things. And you got it. I see why you don't date. Who can compete with that other than maybe some kid at a country club who isn't smug?"

"Smells like politician. No thanks."

"Yeah. I doubt anyone could match. Let alone top. Can't say I'm not jealous."

"Seriously?"

"Very much. I know where I stand."

"Where's that?"

"I have no idea if medical is right. I only know it will pay the bills long term. Guess I can try. But for some that's not good enough. I think you have the ability to touch dirt and make gold. Dig a hole and strike a hot spring or possibly oil."

"Because of my gift?"

"Your mental state of mind."

She blushes. "No guy has ever said that."

"No guy is mindless. And just because he's high honors doesn't mean he has street smarts."

"You're right. Not all men are. But all pigs are."

"That we can agree with. And Mai?"

"Yes Honey?"

"Thanks for checking on me. I think you were the only person I wanted to talk to."

"Why's that?"

"Because you complete me."