"Thank you Ebana-san." Fuuka steps out of the car at school. The car drives off as the sun beams down on her. She ties her hair into a ponytail as he notices a mass of red walking up the stairs. "Ugh, it's too early to deal with them." She thinks as she waits for them to pass, hoping they wouldn't notice her.

"How long are you going to stand there? Fuuka, you're going to be late." Sanzo says, glancing at her. She grits her teeth as she reluctantly walks behind them. He waits up to walk beside her, whispering into her ear. "Find me. Let's talk in private."

She turns her head, curious, but all she sees is his hood covering his head. "W-What's his deal?" She stutters to herself as she catches up to the brothers. "Don't go sleeping in class Goro, like you did at my place." She huffs at him, taking her seat and moving her chair as far from him as physically possible.

"What the hell is he saying? What's a vertex?" She thinks as the teacher finishes his lecture. "It's not like we're going to need this stuff when we grow up anyway! What's the point?"

"Do you guys plan to quit? She's too much for you." Hitonari taunts the others. "Oh, hello there. Would you like to study with me today? If so, then let's go somewhere away from these idiots" Fuuka just glances at the table.

"What's that look?" Futaji scowls at her. "We don't need your pity, Uesugi."

He gets a smack on the head from Fuuka, who takes her leave, followed by Sanzo. "Shall we go then, Fuuka?" He walks to her side. "Let's get some privacy." His brothers all shift their attention to them, all with envious and malicious stares.

"Don't tell me. He's gotten ahead of me!" Shin asks, a dumb smile on his face. "I'll remember this Sanzo!" He fakes crying while writing something in his notes.

"To think, my own brother being reduced to underhanded tactics. How deplorable." Goro grits his teeth, actually looking up out of his book for once.

"I won't let you get away with this." Futaji wraps his arm around Sanzo, who jabs a finger into his gut.

"I've drawn first blood. Give up before this gets worse for you." Sanzo says, pulling his hood down to reveal his long, uncut hair that reaches all the way down to his shoulders.

"Well, it's not a win unless you actually manage to teach her. By the way, she left." Hitonari starts eating.

"Leave my table. People are going to get the wrong idea." Fuuka says, taking a sip of her drink. "And being in a relationship with you is a rumor I'd rather not have going around." She stares him down.

"Fine, I concede. Meet me at the rooftop at lunch. We have much to discuss." He gets up and reluctantly goes back to his brothers' table. They look at him with smiles on their faces.

"Knew it! Another fail from Sanzo!" Futaji gloats. Sanzo doesn't even bother anymore, he just stares him down.

"That's what you get for rushing in! Just watch me while I take this one." Shin leans closer towards his brother.

"Be my guest, it's not like I'm giving up." Sanzo puts his earbuds back in and starts eating. "I won't lose." He mutters to himself.

Fuuka waits on the rooftop for a while leaning against the railing and looking down at the ground below. She hears the door creak open as a hoodie wearing boy comes through it.

"I was scared you weren't going to show up." Fuuka turns around, her hair blowing in the wind. "So, what did you want to talk about?" She unties her hair, letting the wind blow it aside.

Sanzo sighs, thinking of something to say. "Fuuka. Are you lonely?" He asks bluntly. He watches for a reaction, finding her cheeks going red. "Did I say something wrong?" He thinks

"First you try to force me to be your student, now you try hitting on me?!" She says, causing him to take a step back.

"No, I just noticed that your house is unusually quiet." He says methodically, like a pre written script in a video game. "Use this for leverage, then the building will crumble along with the foundation." He thinks silently, but the words won't come out.

"None of your business!" She asks, offended. "I've had enough of you and your damn family!" She storms off, her hair brushing against his arm.

"Is yours okay? Your family I mean." Sanzo mutters. She stops where she stands, clenching her fists.

"Stay out of my life, Nakano." She says coldly, almost with murderous intent.

"But, I just want to know." His curiosity is taking over, he's not thinking.

"You have no right to know!" She turns around, her anger filled gaze freezes Sanzo's soul. "Leave me alone! You don't know what it's like to be in my family!"

"Her family...I already knew that it was just her and her brother, and with this reaction it shows that her parents aren't exactly on good terms with her." Sanzo thinks. "Capitalize on this opportunity, this is your one chance. She's left herself exposed." His brain, like clockwork, starts to form words.

He glances at her, her expression growing more and more furious with each second. It's like a quick time event, his timing has to be perfect and he can't afford to make any mistakes. With a deep sigh, he steels his nerves.

"Fuuka. I don't know how much pain you're in right now, but I want to help. Please, I'll be there for you. You can trust me." He says, calmly. His tone is sincere, but forced; a pre-recorded line copied from the archives of a dating sim. "Fuuka?" He sees her hands unclench and tears fall down her face.

"I...I'll tell you another time...I need to think about it." She turns with a relieved smile. "But, thank you for trying, Sanzo. This isn't something I can tell just anyone, not even my brother. Don't tell anyone okay." Fuuka brushes her hair aside as she reaches for the door. "Stay behind after the next tutoring session. I'll tell you then." Sanzo sighs in relief at those words

"Whew, that's one obstacle down. This game is getting hard, but I'm making progress." He mutters under his breath.

"Game? Is that all I am to you, a game? And here I was, starting to think you were different. In the end, I'm just another test for you guys." Fuuka slams the door behind her as she heads down to eat lunch.

"Fuck..."

"Asshole!" Fuuka runs down and through the halls, wiping the tears from her face. "They're all assholes!" She bumps into something, but runs off before she could see what it was.

"Uesugi?"

"You're late! I'm hungr-" Raito says as Fuuka swings the door open. "Onee-san? What's wrong?" Fuuka runs past him, running into her room.

"He...they...they'll use anything to get their way." She mutters to herself. "They're monsters! Demons!" She clutches a pillow and wipes her tears on it. "I'll never trust them again!"

A/N: Even after revisions, I can't make this anything more than a set-up chapter.