♣ Next Saturday ♣ Ai's room ♣
Third POV
"Hey, I'm gonna go get some drinks" Syo stood up from his bed and went outside.
"Oh, I'm coming too, Syo-chan" Natsuki followed.
Lacie sat on her chair, doing nothing in particular. It was really quiet and the only thing she heard is Ai's nonstop keyboard clicking. Seriously, all he does is work, work, work, and work.
"Ne, senpai.." Lacie twirled her pencil around.
"What?" Ai said, still clicking the keyboard.
"Do you ever rest? You have been clicking that thing for a few hours now..."
Ai turned, now facing the brunette who was still twirling her pensil instead of looking back. "Where's the assignment I gave you?"
Lacie had to think for a while before facepalming herself. 'Gah.. How could I forgot to save it in my data...'. She turned around, facing her senpai. "Look, I became your kouhai only for a week and I'm already worried about your lifestyle. All you're doing is work, work, and work" She said as she tried to change the topic.
Ai stared at her for a while. "Define 'worried' for me".
'I knew he was going to say that...' Lacie sat in a more comfortable position. "Being worried is when you care about someone and you're afraid they're gonna run into trouble. In your case, I'm worried you might get erro- I mean, sickness." Ai listened carefully as he stared at the girl.
"So you care about me?" He said in monotone, not aware what the sentence means in human logic. Lacie blushed again, which irritates her because she still doesn't get what the cause is.
"N-No- I mean, yes, a-as your kouhai.." Lacie diverted her attention to somewhere else.
Ai's POV
Worried... I know its meaning but I still can't feel what it's like. It's been like this for sometime now.. No, that's not right. It's been like this since this girl came. Since Rikaze Lacie became my kouhai, which I define as experiment subjects. But after spending a week with her, including the rides at the amusement park, I 'think' that she isn't just some experiment subjects.. She's more than that. And this includes Syo and Natsuki too. At first I accepted Shining's request because I was lacking experiment subjects, but the longer I am with them, the weirder 'experiment subjects' means.
"So you care about me?" I asked, and surprisingly, her cheeks started to turn red as she stuttered, "N-No- I mean, yes, a-as your kouhai.."
She worries... She cares... She blushes.. I wonder what these 'feelings' are like? Is this what they call 'curiosity'? Did I really overwork? So what she's trying to imply is... I should stop working?
"So.. What do you suggest when someone overworks?" I asked, just to make sure I was right. Then her face brightened up a little.
"Relaxation! You need a day-off!" Day-off? That's not what I can imagine when you're working with in the Shining Agency.. "Oh, and if you're worried about Shining-san, that's already been taken care of! So it's decided! You will take a day-off today~!" She skipped across the room and just in time to slam the door open straight to someone's face.
Syo's POV
"Natsuki, hold this" I gave Natsuki the cup of coffee before taking another one from the machine.
We went back to our room and when we reached the door, we heard someone said something unclear. Then the door slammed open right into my face.
"Gah! That hurts!" I yelled, rubbing my nose with my free hand. I opened my eyes to see a panicked Lacie.
"Are you alright, Syo-kun / Syo-chan??" She and Natsuki asked frantically in unison. I waved back and front in a way of saying 'Nah, I'm alright'.
"Why are you so excited?" I raised an eyebrow. It's really rare for Lacie to skip around with a happy face like that, escpecially when she's so similar with Ai-senpai.
"Mikaze-senpai is taking a day-off!" She said and skipped to who-knows-where.
I immediately spurted out the coffee I was drinking. Ai-senpai?! Taking a day-off?!! And the one that made him do this is Lacie! A newbie that came in a WEEK ago! This is unbelievable.. Just who is that girl.. And.. Why is she so happy?
"Ahh Syo-chan when surprised is sooo cute~~"
♣ Practice room ♣
Third POV
Lacie ran to the room to find the person she was looking for. There were a few people in the room including Ittoki, Tokiya, Ringo, Ryuuya, and-
"Reiji-senpai!!" Lacie skipped to Reiji's side.
"Whoa! What's wrong??"
"Mikaze-senpai is taking a day-off!!" She shouted to the whole room. Everyone there was like 'Whaaattt?!!' and Ittoki almost fell from his chair.
"Ai-Ai is... Taking a day-off?!"
"Yes!"
"That's great news!"
"Oh no it's not.. Shining won't allow th-" Ringo was cut off by a letter that suddenly appeared in front of him given by Lacie. He took it and took out the paper.
After a few minutes of reading, Ringo nodded. "Mm, I'll tell Shining about this~ But only for a day, kay~?" He said and left with Ryuuya to deliver the letter.
"Was that.." Reiji whispered.
"Yep" Lacie nodded.
"So have you decided what to do for the day?" Tokiya asked.
"Oh I know! Let's all meet in the meeting room and play some games!" Ittoki suggested to which everyone agreed.
Reiji's POV
"Ne, La-La, do you mind if I ask you something?" I asked after everyone else left the room.
"If it's about the letter, then yes, it's from the Professor" She replied.
"No no, not that... I wanted to ask... Why is Ai-Ai's day-off make you so happy?" Lacie was dumbfounded and then looked down.
"I... don't know"
Oh my, I guess my theory is right after all..
♣ Meeting room ♣
Third POV
They called Starish, Quartet Night, and Nanami and had explained everything about Ai's day-off. They were just as surprised as the others when they heard the news.
"Syo-chan! Let's play dress-up~!" Natsuki said while holding up a dress. As usual, Syo freaked out and got chased by the tall blonde. The others laughed at their acts, but because Ai is already used to this, he can't seem to find a way to 'relax' when his kouhai's action usually ticks him off. And yes, he's frowning.
Lacie, who sat beside him, noticed that he's not enjoying the moment when all of this is just for him. She nudged his arm and whispered, "Try smiling" while she did her own smile at him.
Ai's POV
Smile? Is the expression Lacie is showing me is called enjoying? So I have to do that too to 'enjoy' and 'relax'?
I tried to copy Lacie's expression but in the end I looked like an idiot and was teased all day long by Reiji. But.. when Lacie smiled, something feels heavy in my chest...
Third POV
After Ranmaru stopped Syo and Natsuki's 'fight', they started playing every games they know. Starting from 'Truth or Dare' to 'Hide and Seek'. Losers were punished, and winners are the punishers. It was a very loud and fun night as each members had their own fun. Yes, even Ai because he had learn how to have 'fun', but smiling was still quite difficult for him.
'Oh well, at least he had some relaxation today' Lacie thought smiling warmly while looking at a laughing Ai.
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[A/N]
As much as I like Ai's serious nature, I still want to see his laughing expression XD Anyways, comment (or vote XD) so I can know what your opinions are :)