Ito woke up early, she didn't feel like getting out of bed though, she hadn't thought about it before, Inessa had clearly stated her feelings for Darren and that had made her feel upset and then angry at Darren. Despite the fact she was shy and awkward at conversation Darren had always been kind to her. Although she didn't need him to he had come to her rescue in three different situations now and even if none of that had happened she'd felt drawn to him from the start. "Its not that I like him or anything he's just a good guy" she said out loud to herself, she immediately blushed in embarrassment, "What was that." I'm not some tsundere heroine of an anime she thought, suddenly a separate voice came into her head "You know this shy innocent girl isn't the real you" it scolded. "Even if you don't like him are you going to let Anya or this new girl take away your time with him" it asked "N...no its not like that" Ito stammered feeling self conscious arguing with herself. "Then do something about it!" the voice berated her, "If you don't I'm going to have to take over, don't get me wrong I don't like Darren." "Its just that he promised, and I have no intention of letting him out of that promise" the voice continued. As quickly as it had arrived the strange voice had vanished, Ito felt like she was starting to lose her grip on reality, the mere thought of that personality taking over mortified her.
While Ito was making her breakfast she began to think of what would happen if Anya were to confess to Darren "No no no, impossible I can't even imagine that pervert falling in love and she's so unladylike Darren would never go for that." Then Inessa came to mind, the girl was similar to herself, shy and reserved with a gymnasts figure, the long platinum blonde hair and sparkling green eyes. The thought of Darren going out with her made her heart ache, it also stirred a silent anger from within her, she didn't understand, it confused her so she decided she'd get in the way of everyone else if only to keep that embarrassing voice from returning.
Ito met Darren in the lobby, they were coming up on the weekend and she had decided on an initial course of action, she saw Inessa out of the corner of her eye but before Darren could notice her she got the run started. They were rounding the rear of the school, "Can we go to the mall on sunday?" she asked meekly, Darren thought about it, "That's pretty sudden not sure if the others can make it.." he started to say. "No!" Ito interrupted "Just us two, it doesn't have to be a group event every time" she said feeling brave, "You have a point" Darren mused, they didn't need the whole group every time and there was no time to invite the others anyways. They came around back within sight of the dorm, Anya was walking the path towards the library, Darren started to call out to her but Ito put her hands over his mouth. Anya noticed them and stopped for a moment but then looked away and continued towards the school building, "Just the two of us" Ito scolded.
Darren was unsure what had been going on lately, both Ito and Anya had been acting strangely, Anya would look at him in class but when he turned towards her she'd look away and when he looked at Anya he could feel Ito staring daggers into his back. He scratched the back of his head wondering if something had happened between those two, "Mr. Katagiri, I know you're not ignoring a lesson on a subject you're behind in" Dmitri scolded. Darren sighed and gave the instructor his full attention again, lunch time would be coming up and the tension was already killing him.
Ito decided she'd ask Darren to lunch today, she had put in the extra effort to make him something and she was determined to make sure it was just the two of them, she walked up to him at the same time Anya did. The two girls looked at each other then blurted out at the same time, "Let's go have lunch" they looked at each other again, Anya looked at her annoyed, Ito returned her stare, neither girl was willing to back down. "Alright, let's go, might be a nice day to go to the park" Darren responded, they both turned back to Darren "Idiot!" they said in unison before storming off in separate directions.
She put all that time into making him a lunch and he had the gall to suggest the three of them eat together? "Idiot" Ito whispered under her breath, she had gone to the park and sat on the bench silently eating her lunch. Anya turned up shortly, this being one of her favorite reading spots she had come to read a book for the rest of their break, the girls locked eyes again, they didn't like being at odds with each other. They felt they had no choice, the other one was always taking up Darren's time and as they had become conscious of their emotions they had begun to feel jealous of each other. "I won't lose" Ito said confidently to Anya, Anya was taken aback by Ito's forwardness and the fact that she was thinking the exact same thing at that moment, she still felt guilty for feeling this way towards someone she had wronged. She was determined not to lose, she gave Ito a look of equal confidence "I'll win" she said smiling brightly.
Anya had decided enough was enough, she could only feel sorry for herself for so long, it had gotten to the point she could no longer imagine life without Darren in it and if he managed to uncover the truth so be it she'd stay by his side. The two girls continued their stare at each other and then they both burst out laughing, "Whoever wins lets just promise to stay friends" Ito said, Anya agreed. Ito was determined, she couldn't remember the last time she felt this strongly, it may only have been a little over a month since the first term began but she felt that this was one battle she couldn't afford to lose. Anya had known Darren for a few years now, from his point of view it hadn't been that long but Anya's memories hadn't been altered, she'd known him for three years now. Despite being responsible for his capture she had done everything in her power to limit the testing the scientists put him through and felt she was the reason he was able to stay as normal as he was now.
"Maybe I am an idiot" Darren muttered to himself, "I didn't know you were self loathing" came Aleksi's voice to his left, Darren turned to see the big man's smiling face, he laughed, "If only" he replied. "What's going on?" Aleksi asked, "That's what I'd like to know" Darren replied, he explained what had been happening lately, "I'm not arrogant enough to think the girls both have feelings for me" he said. "That wouldn't be arrogant" Aleksi said, "They're definitely feeling something, its up to you to figure out what that is, preferably without making them any angrier" he said laughing. "Anya's so perverse all the time even if she walked up to me and confessed her feelings I'd probably assume she was just messing with me" Darren said, "With Ito I don't think she ever would say anything so directly." Aleksi considered his train of thought, "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Ito would probably push herself so far into a corner that she'd just act without speaking, as for Anya pervert or no that girl knows what she wants." "Don't think she'd ever let you think she was joking if she ever got serious."
That night Darren had a lot to think about, he already hadn't sorted through his thoughts on what Akira had said to him, he hasn't been able to talk to him since the guy had disappeared since the fight. He was concerned about when and where both Feliks and Jon would try something, and on top of that he now had to sort things out with Anya and Ito if he wanted any semblance of normalcy to return to his life.
He tried to call his parents again, hearing their voices would be enough to set his mind at ease, dial tone, nothing, no answer no answering machine, nothing, he was beginning to get concerned. "Maybe I should call my Grandfather to make sure everything is okay" he thought out loud.....nothing, strange, well his grandfather is a busy man, there was one more number. The Tsukamoto's the father Touma was a roboticist at Kurotaka he had two children his son was Darren's age and the used to play together the daughter was four years younger then him. Darren thought for a minute, "How'd I meet them again?" it didn't matter he remembered their number, tone, tone, click "Hello?" Darren could barely make out the voice there was so much static. "Hello, Takamoto-san" static, "Darren!?" the voice sounded elated. "Where.....you....." the voice kept cutting out from the poor connection "Ito.....there?" Ito? why was he asking about Ito? "Are my parents okay?" he asked. "rents...look...." it was no use he couldn't make sense of the conversation, the call disconnected shortly after, Darren looked at his communicator there had to be something interfering with the connection.