### The Next Day at Hillside High
Taiki was fast asleep at his desk, his head buried in his arms. Akio glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Why is Taiki out cold since morning?" Akio asked, nudging Kian who was sitting next to him.
Kian shrugged. "Don't ask me. I wasn't the one who dragged him to an underground street-fighting tournament." He pointed to Gene, who was also dozing off, his head lolling back.
Akio chuckled. "Those two are truly best bros."
Just then, the classroom door opened, and the teacher, a woman in her thirties, walked in with a stack of papers.
"Okay, students. Time for a pop quiz," she announced, placing the papers on her desk.
Akio sighed. "Of course it is." He leaned over and shook Gene awake. "Come on, you two. Time to wake up."
Kian tried to rouse Taiki but found him deeply asleep. "He's out cold."
Gene smirked and leaned in, whispering something in Taiki's ear. Instantly, Taiki shot up, wide awake.
"I'm up!" he declared, rubbing his eyes.
Everyone in the classroom turned to stare at him.
"What?" Taiki asked, blinking in confusion.
#### In the Hallway After Class
The four friends walked together down the bustling hallway.
"I passed!" Taiki exclaimed, holding up a test paper marked with an A.
Akio, Kian, and Gene stared at him in disbelief.
"Impossible," Kian muttered, taking the paper from Taiki's hands and examining it closely.
Gene whistled. "He really did pass."
The trio had been Taiki's best friends since childhood, along with the members of Team Aka.
"I thought you said you didn't study," Kian said, shaking his head.
"I didn't," Taiki replied, shrugging. "Guess I'm just lucky."
"Seems he's a natural genius," Akio said, giving Taiki a playful nudge. "That reminds me, what did you say to Taiki that made him wake up earlier?"
Gene grinned. "It's nothing important, really."
"Come on, Gene. Just this once, please!" Kian pleaded.
Gene chuckled. "I just told him that Mai finally agreed to go on a date with him."
Kian and Akio gasped. "Are you kidding me?!"
"I thought you said you got over her years ago," Kian said, looking at Taiki.
Taiki smiled sheepishly. "Seems I was mistaken."
Suzuki Mai, the most popular girl at Hillside High, had been Taiki's childhood crush. They had been neighbors since they were kids but had only ended up as close friends.
"Speaking of the devil," Kian said, nodding towards Mai who was approaching them.
Mai met Taiki's gaze and smiled, nodding in his direction. The bell signaling the end of the day rang, and Taiki grinned.
"And that's my cue to leave. I'll see you guys tomorrow," he said, walking over to Mai.
"How sure are we that he actually got over Mai? Those two seem closer than ever," Kian said, watching them.
"And what do you suggest?" Akio asked.
Kian placed his hands on both their shoulders, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Boys, time for a stakeout."
#### Later That Evening
Mai and Taiki walked home together, the sun setting behind them, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood.
"So, how did the test go?" Mai asked, glancing at Taiki.
"For once, not that bad," Taiki replied, smiling.
"You're saying that as though you've ever failed," Mai teased.
"What can I say? I guess I'm just lucky," Taiki said with a shrug.
Unbeknownst to them, Kian, Akio, and Gene were hiding behind a nearby building, watching them intently.
The two stopped in front of an ice cream vendor, and Taiki turned to Mai. "Two chocolate chip ice creams, please."
The vendor handed them the ice creams, and Taiki paid, handing one to Mai. She took it with a smile, and they continued their walk, chatting and laughing.
From their hiding spot, Kian, Akio, and Gene exchanged glances.
"Still nothing " Kian whispered.
" I tried to warn you" Akio replied. " It's not late to back out from the plan."
Gene resisted. " Not yet. Let's just follow them a bit longer ."
As the three friends slipped away, Taiki and Mai continued their walk, unaware of the stakeout. Taiki felt a sense of contentment, enjoying the simple pleasure of Mai's company and the sweetness of the moment.
The three continued following the two.
Mai inquired as to why after all those years despite her constant rejections,he was still always persistent.
Taiki had no answer to that but just said that he held on to some hope of winning her over and that he was planning on giving up any time soon.
They soon arrive at her house and Taiki sees her off. Taiki heard a breaking branch from behind and looked back finding nothing.
Akio, Gene and Kian quickly hide behind a lamp post nearly caught.
Gene is revealed to be covering Kian's,"are you trying to get the three of us caught?" He whispered. Akio looked back but didn't find Taiki,"he's gone."
" Hey there," a voice came from behind startling the three. It is revealed to be Taiki
" What are you three doing here?"he asked.
"Would you believe me if I said we just happened to be passing by?"Gene stated trying to his fearful tone behind a nervous smile.