"Fine. I guess they'll just have to deal with it." You shrugged, and she clapped her hands together with delight, a broad smile on her face. As much as you hated to put her in harm's way, you turned to Yuuko with an inviting smile anyway. "Do you want to come too? The more the merrier, right?"
"Oh, no it's fine. I have to meet up with my group after school in the library anyway." She said, getting up. "Have fun, though!" She headed for the tray station and cleared her plates, leaving the cafeteria in what seemed to be a hurry, as if the invite had frightened her off. You frowned, remembering how enamoured she had been with the Sakamakis when you had first met her; she once would have jumped at the chance to actually visit their house. You wondered whether something had happened. The rest of the day passed as if it were on fast-forward, like time knew that you were dreading the end of school so it made it go all the more quickly. You sat in biology numbly, thoughts ticking over how you would get around this whole 'invite' thing. Sure, they may not harm her, but they certainly wouldn't be all that pleased with you for allowing her to set foot in their home.
"Y/N, are you paying attention?" Dr. Reinhart's voice came into sharp focus and you glanced up, eyes flashing to the board to see a question on the board. "Well? How do electrical impulses go from neuron to neuron?"
"They pass over the synaptic cleft via various neurotransmitters which initiate an impulse in the next neuron." You answered instantly, barely having to think about it. Your intermediate biology course had been worth something, after all. He raised an eyebrow at you before turning to the person next to you, board switching to a new question. The rest of the lesson passed at light speed, the bell ringing sending an icy chill down your spine. Just as you were about to leave the room, Dr. Reinhart called out for you, gesturing you to the front of the class. You walked over to him with apprehension, thinking you were about to get berated, but instead you got a kind smile.
"You're a very bright girl, Y/N. If you actually listened in class and engaged I'm sure you could pull even further ahead." He said softly, and you shrugged sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Nakamura. I've just been stressing out a bit." You confessed, mulling over the budding idea in your head.
"Oh? About what? You needn't tell me, of course, but I would like to help any way I can."
"Well, you see...I invited a friend over to the house I'm staying at since we're working on a project together in a class I missed because of my...coughing attack on friday. But the thing is, I haven't really had the opportunity to contact Mr Sakamaki to ask if she can, and I don't have his number...is there any chance you could give it to me so I can call him on one of the school phones? I don't want to just invite people over without permission like it's my house." He considered you for a moment before pulling out a small notebook and jotting down a number, handing it to you with a smile.
"Remember to start with a nine for an external number." He said, and you gave him a grateful smile, taking it from him and dashing out of the room, quickly making your way to the phones. You waited until the hallway was empty before quickly dialling the number Reinhart had given you. After a few rings the person on the other side picked up, a coolly professional female voice emitting from the speaker.
"Office of Tougo Sakamaki, how may I help you?"
"Um...hello? I would like to speak with Mr Sakamaki, please?"
"I'm sorry, but he doesn't take calls without prior arrangements, not to mention you sound like a child―"
"Tell him it's...Yui. Please. It's important." She gave a sigh, the clicking of a keyboard filling your ears.
"He has been informed, but I really don't see him answering...oh! I'm patching you through now, bear with me," there was a click, then a smooth voice like chocolate made into sound filled your ears, so rich and crisp yet with an odd hollowness.
