There's the second part of the chapter. This is purely all Mao...completely Mao's thoughts with a little Jun input when she's hanging with him but other than that she rules this chapter. I haven't revealed any of the other character's points of view in this chapter.

Hope you enjoy it! Turned out quite long as well =D
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Mao sat on her bed looking up at Jun reading again. She seemed to be turning the pages rather furiously as if she wanted to tear them almost. Mao unconsciously gulped as she saw the ferocious movements and realized that she was slightly scared of the, well at least to Mao, sweet girl.

“Neh Jun-chan genki?” She inquired wrapping her arms around her knees and Jun turned to look at her from the balcony and shook his head.

“Can I ask you a question Mao-chan?” Jun spoke with a sincerely harassed voice. It made Mao curious. Most of the time Mao would have automatically rejected the plea with the reason that the people could sort out their own problems. Why the hell should Mao care? She found out about the scoop…she didn’t help solve it. Though really if she was being honest with herself she’d been a little worried about Jun this evening…well morning now. Jun’s odd reactions to things, like Ryo, and the fact that Toma may cheat on her with Maki, as highly unlikely as it was, it all made her curious. She was acting like someone she loved hurt her, plus she wasn’t as fawning as Jun was over herself usually.

“Dozo...” She encouraged and listened attentively for once she promised her attention she gave nothing else to a person. Jun nodded and started off on her story with such a fast paced voice that Mao couldn’t really understand half of what she was saying but she tried her best.

“So you see…there’s Miss A. and she loved Mr. R but Mr. R treated her like bull…meanwhile there was Mr. M he loved her a lot but she treated him like bull…and it was all a vicious cycle really. Then when Mr. R dumped Miss A. Mr. M helped Miss A. get over the but then…” Jun stopped here and took a deep breath and relaxed his body again and continued on. Mao wondered where this situation was coming from. It wasn’t like it had sprung up overnight. It was obviously something that had been bothering the poor girl for quite some time now. Was Jun Miss A?! Mao suddenly felt the need to delve into the situation further…after all she was nothing if not a hog for gossip and who knew what she could uncover. This could be the fattest paycheck yet!

These Americans though…really too many love triangles, she couldn’t help but think in a rather racist manner but then again Mao often hated on Americans. She just didn’t like them. It wasn’t like she hated the people or anything…just the culture itself with its mass media, but then again she was one to talk coming from Japan, and it’s hidden scandals (that she had a hand in uncovering often).

“Miss A. just went back to him and Mr. M found out…they fought…and then she yelled that he hurt her more than that bastard could sometimes…and it made him think. He wants to get over her…but he doesn’t know how he feels about it since she’s been a part of his life since…well his life had really started when she came into it. But he knows she’ll never feel the same way he does.” Jun realized that here he was making a total inference as he totally didn’t know how Aya really felt but knowing for as long as he did now he realized that she was probably feeling either just as lost as he was or totally understanding of her emotions for Ryo and how they’d never change.

He almost wanted to cry but he couldn’t cry in front of Mao. He couldn’t break down his defenses in front of this girl for some reason. He just couldn’t. It was as if she was the only person left that had no idea what he was like. He felt the need to remain the perfect, unaffected, strong person in front of her. Regardless of whether he was a girl or not he wanted to leave her with an impression, which would last a lifetime. That Matsumoto Jun was a person she could look up to, admire.

Looking at Mao, out of the side of his eyes, all that came back to his mind was the image of her running of with Toma yesterday in the dress he’d picked out for her, albeit randomly. He hadn’t really expected her to look so utterly gleeful in it…or perhaps it had been Toma that had put that expression on her face but either ways. That image in his mind made him feel like he’d lost a war he hadn’t even bothered to start fighting.

Why on earth were women so confusing? He hated them to the depths of his heart really. They confused him beyond repair of his poor mind. He couldn’t tell which ones he disliked or liked…which ones he wanted to help or not help…which ones deserved his time or not. Which ones he should sleep with or not…except that wasn’t really a problem in Japan where he was really a girl full time. Unless of course some really hot lesbian hit on him…then he’d have to re-evaluate on how that question would be bugging him.

He just thanked god that a guy hadn’t come up to him yet.

“Well did Miss A. and Mr. M have ual relations ever? Or like kiss or anything?” Mao said easily but Jun broke into a coughing fit at the mention of that word and he and Aya in the same sentence. He immediately blushed and ducked under the covers in a reflex motion as if he couldn’t believe what Mao had asked. Thankfully he didn’t look too much like a sissy due to the fact that he was in his little girly disguise. He could practically hear Mao shake her head in disapproval of his shy behavior. He couldn’t help it though. Aya reverted him back to that childish behavior where he tried to hide himself, and his feelings and deny absolutely everything and anything that was even remotely true.

He slowly peeked out in a girly manner and shook his head shyly conveying the truth that no they’d never done anything. Mao laughed at him and Jun couldn’t help but crack a smile underneath the comforter as well. It was almost contagious.

Almost. It wasn’t like she was the one putting a smile on his face…yeah pfft right.

Mao couldn’t see it but for some reason she felt like she could sense the smile on Jun’s face and that made the one on her own stay on for a little while longer.

“Well…does Miss A. have any sorts of feelings for Mr. M.?” Mao asked inquisitively as she wiggled her toes and Jun wondered…did Aya?

He thought about it seriously and knew he was deluding himself. Aya could never love anyone but that one person. She could still like him though! She’d never believed in falling in love multiple times but she’d always liked a couple of guys. Jun, in contrast, was a firm believer in the phrase “You have to fall in love multiple times to appreciate the one you loved in the very beginning

The one who made your heart go ‘Doki Doki’ for the very first time.”

“Zetai ni.” He spoke regrettably after a couple of seconds and Mao nodded and shrugged.

“I think Mr. M should give up on Miss A she seems a little flaky does she not?” Mao said raising an eyebrow as if she knew she was insulting Jun. If only she knew that Jun really wasn’t Miss A at all.

Well…she’d find out in about a second anyways.

“Aya is not flaky!” Jun yelped suddenly unable to keep his protective defenses out of their conversation and Mao cracked a small mischievous smile as she noted it down in her head.

An M, an R, and an A.

Oh yeah…her gossip business was back in town. She could always get Yuya-kun to do some research for her on the subjects and figure it out with the details she had for him.

“Neh…Jun-chan…I’m going for a little walk. Kiotsukete. I’ll be back soon. You can turn off the lights if you want. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m feeling rather…invincible right now. Not even the dark lights could affect me.” Mao said happily as she quickly bounced off from the room as she saw Jun race towards her as if to stop her. She raced to the front of the school walking the hallway as she flipped open her phone and dialed the number.

“MoshiMoshi…Yuya-kun? Ahhh gomen ne…I haven’t been able to give you guys information for so long but I finally got something juicy. You guys’ll have to put research into it though. I don’t know if it’s too interesting. But it’s a sordid love affair problem I’m pretty sure. Hai…yes I have the initials…I believe it’s foreign gossip so for it to be revealed here would be extremely good for you guys. Oh you have something to tell me? Hai? MASSU’S HAVING A BABY? You’re kidding me? Since when? Oh congratulations Tegoshi-san! Invitro fertilization can do crazy things neh? I want to be invited to the baby shower! God this really reminds me of the movie Junior…oh yeah! Off track. The initials are” Mao paused thinking again and for some reason could only remember two. A and R…what had been the third one?

.

“Right…the initials are…A.” She still racked her brains why wasn’t the third one coming to her. She had fabulous memory! She was sure of it. That weird neurologist that had looked at her head after she’d knocked it up pretty bad in elementary school had told her so! “Someone with an R. I have reason to believe this is a playboy type character so look that up too.” She added silently and looked around for a second as she saw two familiar heads bobbing their way towards the front of the school.

It was Toma and Maki! They were finally back. Mao grinned happily. Yes, now she wouldn’t have to worry forever and ever about whether the two of them had decided to lose each other in their passionate embraces and check into a love hotel.

Then again Maki would probably slap Toma if he even tried anything with her, which was exactly why Mao had picked her of all her friends…cause Mao trusted her the most out of all of them. She felt kind of bad though…she hadn’t really talked to her own best friend for so long. And Maki had even been looking rather down lately? Maybe Maki needed her help in getting things off her chest? Mao vowed that she would go talk to Maki and do whatever she could to solve the problem that was weighing down her best friend’s usually light spirit.

“Oh what was that Tegoshi-san? The last initial…right…” She couldn’t help but be a little distracted as she neared the two of them. She heard a crack and for some odd reason Mao found herself unable to move as she stared in front of her and she found herself moving closer and closer to the bushes that would hide her.

She saw Maki trip and fall and realized her heel must have broken but before Maki could crumple to the ground Mao saw Toma swoop his hand beneath her waist and stop her from hitting the hard gravel. YAY TOMA! He’d just saved her best friend’s head from being cracked open, really he was the best boyfriend ever! And with such grace too! After all what else could be ex-

He could let go of her now you know!

They stayed in that position for a while, rooted in what might look like poses from a tango dance. Maki’s back was arched perfectly to fit with Toma’s masculine frame. Mao couldn’t help but want to run out and break them apart but she stayed rooted to her spot. She could probably never look like that with him. They were mismatched in looks. He with his classic gorgeous beauty, herself with her playful/cheap-looking wardrobe…if clothes had relationships they were never meant to be.

She was now only vaguely aware of Tegoshi’s voice in the background asking her for the last initial to complete his research.

Normal people’s reactions would have been to let Maki fall and ask her later. “Maki-chan daijobu? Gomen! I wasn’t able to catch you.”

But Toma had caught her…that was all right and understandable. Now if he cold let go of her everything would be dandy rainbows and sunshine for Mao herself. She didn’t want to feel like a jealous but that was exactly how she was feeling looking at the two.
Mao finally released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding as he raised Maki to her feet and when he was sure that she was standing up right, Mao saw his hands brush her shoulders in an affectionate manner. She gulped, as Toma let go of Maki and walked ahead of her once more. See, she tried to convince herself, there’s nothing to be worried about! You probably just made time stretch a little more than it was.

“Tegoshi-san gomen I just can’t think of the last initial. Give me two minutes neh?” Mao said putting him on hold just as Maki grabbed onto Toma’s waist to as she was about to fall again as the neared the back entrance of the school, no there wasn’t anything suspicious about that! Maki was falling…it was human nature to grab onto your BEST FRIEND’S FIRST BOYFRIEND!

Okay she really hadn’t meant to think that so angrily…it was supposed to be calm and surreal. She was supposed to be CALM AND SURREAL.

This whole non-anger thing really wasn’t working out. She dug her nails into her skin as she saw the two edge towards the back door…uh oh.

They just didn’t want to get caught sneaking in…but why did it have to be the make out door? The door where everyone made out before entering. Megumi and Teppei had made out there, Megumi and Jin had made out there, Megumi and- okay so maybe it was just Megumi’s make out door but still! It seemed that Maki and Toma hadn’t noticed that they were heading in that direction. Was the make-out door like a magnet to couples that wanted to make-out but couldn’t say so? Aishh she was going to drive herself mad.

Mao stared them down, she knew that if she wanted to know what would happen behind her back she’d have to stay here hidden from view but not from their secrets.

Demo…she wanted so much to just go pull them away from each other now. She felt her foot move and saw Maki turn back to look at where she was and squint in recognition…had Maki seen her?

Great then there really wasn’t anything to be worried about was there? Mao started to get up but then she heard Toma say something that she felt she shouldn’t interrupt just yet and she sat back down on the muddy ground in her short shorts. Sure she’d have mud prints but that was a small price to pay.

“Maki, don’t tell Mao neh? She doesn’t need to know we danced. I feel bad enough.”

‘A dance? Phhfff that’s nothing to be worried about, unless I’m that ugly that you would consider a dance as cheating on me?! Grr…Toma you’ll really get it tomorrow won’t you. Baka.’ Mao thought but she grinned widely the whole time the thoughts went through her head. He really was super faithful wasn’t he? Feeling like he cheated with just a simple dance.

“Toma-kun…arigato neh? Pour le dansent. I truly appreciated it. I felt like I was being wooed again. I missed out on that with Shun…he didn’t woo me at all. I was the wooer. So honto ni arigato Toma-kun.” Maki said and Toma nodded as he turned away to open the door. YES MOVE AWAY FROM THE MAKE OUT DOOR! Mao yelled in her head…but her cheers fell short as Maki yanked on his wrist and pulled him back.

“Nani?” He said huskily and Mao started gulping nononono this couldn’t be happening.

“Uh…betsuni. Gomen. You can go.” Maki said giggling a little dizzily and Mao shrugged down and stopped sweating. She looked up to see the slunking Maki head back in but looking at where Mao herself was one last time before heading inside.

Mao gulped and answered Tegoshi finally.

“I think the initial was C. Definitely C.” She finished and hung up on him. Standing up and heading in after the two who’d come in.

Yes she could definitely trust Toma now just as Jun had told her to. There was nothing to worry about. He really liked her, he didn’t just want to use her for her power in the school, he didn’t just want to use her for her looks, okay who was she flattering here but he still didn’t want to use her for those!

Which in itself made Mao feel a lot better about her decision to date him.

“Arigato neh Toma-kun. It probably took a lot to hold back from a girl like Maki.” Mao said to the blank spot where Toma had stood moments before as she yanked on the doorknob and stepped in happily skipping towards her room.

She couldn’t help but wonder…before she would have said that she was a Mr. C in the scenario of Miss A and Mr. R and Mr. C…but maybe now….

Maybe she was Miss A.

She was the one who was wanted by everyone, well not everyone but most of the population.

“Maybe they’ll leave you alone eventually Jun-chan. Hopefully for me though…I’ll be chased my whole life.” She sighed wistfully as she entered the room seeing the lights off just as she’d told Jun to do if she’d wanted. She wasn’t going to hold the girl back from beauty sleep…especially considering beauty Jun needed as much of it as she could get without the natural genes her other friends had.

She slinked into bed and for a second couldn’t help thinking of Shun…were he and Maki really having problems? How was it possible that she hadn’t noticed? She’d always thought herself highly intuitive to people’s feelings, or at least those two as she regarded them as some of her closest friends between Erika and Megumi as well.
Oh well she’d figure it all out tomorrow.

She heard her phone buzz in the distance but didn’t bother picking it up.

Whatever it was it could obviously wait till tomorrow...couldn’t it?
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A/N: Well...there could be many a thing that call was. I would like not to reveal it just yet. I felt really bad for Mao in this chapter right in the middle but I made Toma pull back and I was super happy!

The major question now is if Maki saw Mao or not...cause this puts Maki's character into question!

Thanks for the comments: Fallenserendipity, Zing, Calliope, and...nad_skyblue91!! I will reply to you guys for sure after I put up the real next chapter which I can now give previews for...

(yeah I've been getting lazy with the actor's conferences. Previews are just so much easier =D)

Previews:

“What’s your name?”

"Erika"

"Well don't you want to know my name sparrow?"

“Kame-sama is going to be all oh noooz how could my Erika like someone else? COME BACK ERIKA! But then maybe he’ll finally grow some and ask me out right right? "

“Wow…you really have grown up haven’t you?”

“Junny Bunny? Gomen ne,”

That last one might show up a little later than the others. This week is going to be super long the way I'm writing it man. Finally the Sunday they arrived is overrr..such hectic lives these kids.

Commenting gets you lots and lots of love XD!!

<3 Lillith E.