<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Ryoko stopped him from making a snappy remark at his cousin. ”I already have a few for you. Don’t go into my room or mom’s. Ever. Also, knocking. Always knock.” Rakutsu was placing big emphasis on these two. In his mind, neither of them have any business going in their. Even if it’s too clean, he’ll do it himself.<br/><br/>”But fine. We’ll do that if your insistent on it.” The standoffish attribute he was giving was starting to get to him. He was being like this so unnecessarily. The arrangement too new, so it hasn’t sunken in yet. ”Thanks for the eggs. They are really good.” Maybe a complement can salvage this train wreck of a conversation? Rakutsu got up to get butter for his toast, adjusting his pants in the process.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"Those both sound reasonable," Ryoko responded to his rules. "Do you think so, Teruko?"<br/><br/>"But what if-?" Teruko stopped herself, then nodded. "Sure, we can work with that."<br/><br/>Ryoko sensed that Rakutsu was still in an awkward state, so she stood up after finishing her own meal.<br/><br/>“I’ll be going to get skim milk now, but I’m glad you enjoyed the eggs,” she said. “Let me know if you want to keep having them every breakfast. Teruko and I love to try new things, but I understand that some people are creatures of habit.”<br/><br/>With a wave goodbye, she exited the house with an overcoat. An overcoat over her rather unsubtle tight-fitting bodysuit, although from what little Rakutsu heard such things doubled as great insulators.<br/><br/>Teruko was now alone, and she tried to make conversation. “Do you need a ride to school, or can you get there yourself?”<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Rakutsu narrowed his eyes at the girl in slight disbelief. ”Your really going to risk stealing from your mother over a video game console? Sure it’s just a few hundred, but that doesn’t mean they won’t notice. The wealthy look over their finances all the time.” He tried to discourage the girl’s idea.<br/><br/>Speaking of Nintendo, he needs to send his joy con in for repairs. His old model has been going through phantom inputs lately and it’s starting to piss him off. Can’t play games on it without the controller messing him up. ”I can’t force you to change your mind, but I’ll tell you that my offer still stands. You won’t be bored alone, at least.”</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>“Well, when you put it like that…” Kaitlyn said as she reflected upon her words. “Maybe if you buy it for me, I won’t be so tempted, haha. Nah.”<br/><br/>She giggled at Rakutsu’s second statement. “I’ll have to make it super-clear to Mom and Dad that this isn’t a date, even if you are the only Japanese boy in class. Even if it’d be funny to see their reactions, haha. Well, I’ll text you an answer after school. See you later!”<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/XW6Kcn8.png)</div><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">”Phenol.” He didn’t even bother to look up as he answered with ease. ”And it’s Mr. Hayasa. Rakutsu is my given name.” Not even when boldly correcting his own teacher. Big balls for such a small looking guy.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Mr. Vanderbilt was silent for a bit, as those sitting nearby stared at what could (or was about) to happen.<br/><br/>“My mistake, Mr. Hayasa,” he said as he corrected himself. “Glad to see that some here are paying attention in spite of appearances.”<br/><br/>He then promptly moved on to the next inattentive-looking student without missing a beat.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">“What can I do to convince you to allow me to drag Kaitlyn into this team up?<br/><br/>I know you won’t agree with it, but just think about it. Two of the best students in our year teaming up on the project? Can you imagine how great it will make you look once the A+ is given on it? How bad everyone else will look compared to us?<br/><br/>Rubbing someone’s ego always helps to get them on your side.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>It took Chris a while to respond; for a moment it seemed as though merely bringing it up was a conversation ender, but he did get a response in person in the hallway at the end of Chemistry.<br/><br/>“Sorry for not saying anything,” Chris began, “but she and I have too much history. If we come to her now, she’ll say how ‘the boys are just going to ride an easy A+ on my hard work’ while she’s coding robot AI on her smartphone or something. Nah, it’s too obvious, she’ll never fall for that.”<br/><br/>The pair came up to his locker, which he opened with several quick turns of the combination lock. “But it’s not a bad idea, Rakutsu. We just need someone more agreeable, like Reyansh. Or maybe Eddie, although I think he’s working on his own thing. Lemme think about it.”<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>After School</strong></span></span><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/EUSbXqU.jpg)</div><br/>Kaitlyn already made her decision in the second-to-last period, and texted Rakutsu by then.<br/><br/>Will be happy 2 walk home. YBR can wait.<br/><br/>The way home was neither long nor arduous. Also living in the Eastern District, Kaitlyn’s living quarters were not far off the beaten trail of Rakutsu’s typical walk...in his secret identity at least. It was in a luxury condominium which some of the businessmen in more affluent fields were purchasing, and the ample greenery of household plants and window boxes on the outside balconies certainly gave it a more ‘natural’ vibe in the middle of the big city. A doorman was there to greet them, and the first floor was home to a swimming pool and even an indoor bar.<br/><br/>Kaitlyn’s apartment in particular was surprisingly low-tech, and vacant. It had the typical door lock, but the skylight windows had to be manually drawn shut, and while there was an electric stove it was unplugged.<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/iY4vGGS.jpg?1)</div><br/>“Suppose you were expecting ASTRO Labs?” Kaitlyn asked. “Well, my parents take the opposite idea; if it can make things more difficult for a hacker, it’s worth it. All the high tech stuff is ‘on the clock.’”<br/><br/>She rolled her eyes. “So uh, did you just want to walk me home, or did you want to stay? Sorry if there’s not much here.”<br/>