Darren stretched out after class, "Well I suppose we should make sure to get plenty of rest before the next one," Ito glanced over at him "What about our morning runs?" she asked, "Those will be fine I meant we shouldn't need any intensive training this time round." Anya looked over at the two feeling left out, "Jeez you athletic types and your constant training, can't even take a day off from your running" she muttered. "You could do with a little more exercise" Ito mumbled shyly in Anya's direction, Anya looked at her not really hearing what she said. The group bumped into a girl from the regular course, she blushed fiercely and ran away. "Hey...wasn't that girl.." Anya began, Ito shushed her desperately, "What?" Darren asked, Anya took out her communicator "You know during the prelims we came across this girl in the restaurant." Ito grabbed Anya's communicator and shouted her denial and ran off down the hall, Darren gave Anya a quizzical look, Anya shrugged and chased after Ito. Darren thought he saw the regular student again from the corner of his eye but she was gone when he looked in her direction.
Darren woke up the next morning feeling slightly groggy, he lay in bed and stared at the ceiling, what Akira had been talking about during their fight had struck a chord in him, it seemed to explain all the weirdness he'd felt lately. He rolled over to see the shirasaya hanging on his wall just the single katana in its place, it felt wrong looking at it, even the final quickdraw during their match it felt forced, not something he would normally do. It was also strange that the audio from their match was incomprehensible, it had been corrupted somehow and was just static on the view screens. Darren shook his head clearing his thoughts and took out his communicator, he dialed in his parents number and waited....nothing, as usual no one picked up, he knew his parents were busy but he had heard nothing from them in the last two months since he had arrived in Russia.
Darren turned up early in the lobby so he decided to wait on the doorstep outside the dorm for Ito, he heard the door open behind him and turned around, it was that student again, she waved to him and sat down beside him. "Hi" she said meekly, "Hello" Darren responded putting on a polite smile, "I watched your matches, you were incredible!" she exclaimed, "I used to think the treatment you guys were getting was unfair but you've really earned it." "Well thank you" Darren replied feeling a bit uncomfortable, he'd never liked all the special treatment and being put on display like some prized horse. "If it's alright can I introduce myself?" she asked softly looking at her feet, "Yeah, to be honest I kind of hate all the attention and special treatment, you don't have to act so formal with me" Darren replied. A bright smile lit up the girls face "I'm Inessa" she said, "We lost to your team in the prelims," "Sorry about that" Darren said embarrassed, "I might have taken things a little to far." "No no" she said waving her hands wildly, "I was honestly impressed" she said blushing, the door suddenly opened and Ito half stepped out, as recognition dawned on her as to who Darren was talking to she suddenly blurted out "It's not like that! I just got to heated in the moment and the cursing was frustrating me!" The girl started laughing, she walked over to Ito and whispered to her "Don't worry we weren't talking about that" she said. "You know now that I've finally had a chance to talk to him don't think I'll let you or the President have him" she gave Ito a wink. Inessa waved goodbye to Darren and skipped off towards the school building.
Things were awkward between Ito and Darren on their run, he had asked her why she was so frantic earlier but she didn't tell him, every time he tried to talk to her she turned her head away. Ito was embarrassed but she was also angry, she couldn't explain why she was angry at Darren she just was and that was enough for her as far as she was concerned. She decided she'd have to watch out for this Inessa, she thought to herself that she hadn't humiliated the girl enough.
Anya was out of it today, she didn't feel like herself, she found herself constantly thinking about unnecessary things, she was blankly staring at a window when Aleksi startled her. "What? what is it" she said a little more sharply then she had intended. "I was just telling you I have a game today" Aleksi replied startled, "What's wrong? you seem a little off," he asked, "I'm fine" she said in a tone that wouldn't stand any argument. Anya noted that Aleksi was a smart fellow he didn't push the issue, he went and started up a conversation with Jeanne, again Anya thought something must be wrong with her. When Darren and Ito had left the room she began to feel annoyed, what was wrong with her she thought, after what she had done to him she had no right to be angry about who he chose to spend his time with.
She packed up her things and headed to the door remaining in a sullen mood, "You seem upset" Darren said as she passed him at the door, Anya looked up startled. "Didn't you head to class with Ito" she asked surprised, "No I sent her ahead, you looked kinda down today and I wanted to know if you'd let me cheer you up" Anya grumbled under her breath. "What's with you men today, whatever kind of mood I'm in its none of your business" she snapped looking away, "It is my business though" Darren replied, "I don't like seeing you upset." Anya looked up at him surprised on how forward he was being "If you're not your usual high strung perverted self, I just can't seem to relax" he said matter of fact, Anya felt like she had been struck by lightning. She didn't particularly like being called a pervert even if it did ring of truth so she felt annoyed, she also felt frustrated and happy and sad and even angry all at once, she wanted to hit Darren but she also wanted to hug him. Instead she ran away heading for her afternoon classes, Darren stood alone in the hallway confused about the whole exchange before he to headed to his class.
After class Anya wandered aimlessly and found herself in the library, she still hadn't come to terms with how she was feeling today, why did I run away she thought to herself, "I should have just punched him, he deserved it!" she quietly muttered. The librarian shushed her sharply, Anya felt embarrassed and went to her usual spot where she found Darren looking focused over a laptop. Anya froze when she saw him, should she leave? should she act like she normally does? maybe she should just go punch him and call him a jerk first? she didn't make any of those decisions. She walked over sat on the couch and began reading a book she pulled out of her bag, when Darren eventually noticed her he tried to say hello but Anya ignored him, "Come on I'm at a loss here" he said. Anya hmphed at him and looked away, Darren just scratched the back of his head and went back to work, feeling it was pointless to continue trying to get through to her while she was acting like this. Anya felt annoyed that he had stopped trying to get through to her, she didn't know why she felt annoyed, she eventually smacked Darren in the back of the head. "Idiot!" she exclaimed before storming out of the library, everyone turned to look at Darren and the librarian shushed him, he shrugged and shook his head, why was he getting reprimanded, she did it he thought.
Anya sat on the edge of her bed feeling pensive, why was she being so hard on him, if he knew the truth he'd likely never speak to her again, she simply couldn't help herself, everything about the way Darren had acted towards her today frustrated her. It confused her, he was just some guy who she had wronged, she felt guilty and that's all, once she had insured he could have a happy life she would likely never see him again. So why, why did the thought of never seeing him again make her feel so much pain, why is it that every time she saw him enjoying time with Ito or Jeanne make her feel lonely. She couldn't answer these simple questions, she knew that even if he were to learn the truth of his past she could never allow him to remember the part she had played in bringing him here.