It was a request that almost went unanswered.

A request that was only heard by me.

It happened not without precedent, however. I knew something was wrong from the moment that she looked at me during class. She's not someone who tends to associate with loners like me. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Being a loner is great! Everyone leaves you alone. Indeed, they say no news is good news.

It's not like she looked at me like she was interested in me or anything. Actually, I was sure she wasn't. She had looked at me with a purpose. It wasn't a look with any warmth either. With all these facts, I could have hardly assumed it was a gaze of affection. Indeed, it was surely a look with intent. A look that, if I read between the lines - or looked, rather - I would see something along the lines of 'I have to talk to you, so you better not dare leave immediately after class.'

She can be pretty scary...

Figuring I'd rather not get involved, right after class I try to sneak out of the classroom without being seen. But of course, a certain airheaded individual breaks my stealth mode.

"Hikki! Wait up! We should go to club together, you know?"

Turning around to face Yuigahama brings me to make eye contact with one of my blond haired classmates. Her glare is piercing, and it feels like she really wants me to wait. And by "really", I mean I don't want to know what will happen if I don't wait.

Resigning myself to my fate, I stop moving to out of the room. Yuigahama notices and gives me a questioning look.

"Hikki, what's wrong?"

I use my loner skills to come up with an excuse on the fly.

"A-ah, Yuigahama, just go ahead without me. I need to talk to Hiratsuka-sensei for a little bit."

She looks at me with a slightly disappointed look. "Is that so? Aw, okay then. Make sure to come to the clubroom later, alright?"

Then giving me a wave and a smile, she walks off. As for me, I use my head to motion to Miura Yumiko that we should talk elsewhere. She gives me a quizzical look before sighing and nodding.

Giving her friends some sort of excuse that is sure to be a lie, she follows me out of the classroom and into the hallway. I come to a stop and turn around to face her, opening up the conversation in a rather annoyed fashion.

"So? What do you want?"

She straightens her posture and clears her throat. "U-um, well, I have a request for you."

I put my hands in my pockets since I don't know where else to put them. Besides, it's far more comfortable in there. "If it's a request then you should have brought it to the whole Service Club. Why does it have to be just me?"

Or, rather, what exactly is she planning so that I have to be the one to help her? What a pain...

She seems to be somewhat annoyed with my answer. "Hey, I asked nicely. Why can't you help me with my request?"

I narrow my eyes questioningly. "What kind of request is it that you need just me?"

She chuckles darkly. "I'm not telling you until you accept."

I scowl. "Why not? It already sounds like something I don't want to do..."

Miura shifts her weight onto her right foot. "Oh please, it's nothing bad. I just don't want to expose myself without knowing I'll get something out of it."

Of course, it's a matter of self preservation. "Okay, whatever. I still don't get why it has to be me."

"Hikio, I'm telling you, you're the only one I can ask. So just hurry up and accept it."

I cross my arms, somewhat thrown off with the use of her strange nickname. "Hah? Why me? I don't get it. I'm a loner, you know. I thought you'd rather I stay out of your business."

Miura gives me a dirty eye. "Look here, Hikio. I'm not asking you because I like you as a person. I'm asking you because I think you're the only one who can help me."

I sigh and sag my shoulders a bit. "Why can't you ask, like, Yui or something? I'm sure she'd be happy to help you, you know."

She looks down, fiddling with her hair. "I know she'll help, but... I don't really want to trouble my friends with my own selfish requests..."

Um, hello? I'm right here. What does that make me?

I squint my eyes a little bit more. "Is that so?"

She crosses her own arms and looks at me with a hint of distaste. "Don't get the idea that I'm like you, Hikio. It might be hard to understand because you don't have anyone you care about, but I for one care about other people..."

As I scowl, she seems to realize just how rude she was.

"O-oh, Hikio, I'm sorry, that was really mean. I wasn't, like, trying to say..."

I cut her off. I'm getting kind of sick of this. "Whatever. I don't care anyways."

She purses her lips and just stands there for a moment. She almost looks upset that I didn't let her apologize. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of apologizing?

"Well, fine. But anyways, it's like I said. You're the only one I can rely on right now, Hikio."

She takes a breath before looking me in the eyes.

"Please."

Looking at her, I feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, I want to say no. Why should I have to help someone I'm barely friends with? Aside from one or two interactions, we've never really talked. Besides, she just said something incredibly rude to me. I mean, sure, she tried to apologize, but saying sorry doesn't solve all the worlds problems. If "sorry" was all it took to solve a problem, there would be no problems on Earth right now. Surely, just saying sorry doesn't make what she said okay. It's not even that I'm particularly hurt by what she said, but rather the fact that she said it in the first place. And it's not like Yukinoshita, either. I'm certain that she meant what she said... Besides, her group of friends is made of the thing I despise the most: fake and shallow relationships, held together by a thread.

On the other hand, it is very rare that I am relied on. To be honest, it is a feeling I can't really describe. Though, maybe, this can be helpful for me... More often than not nowadays, any requests in our Service Club results in an argument over whose method to use. Perhaps if I successfully help her, I can prove that my ideology is superior. If I do that, they might stop bugging me to change who I am...

Even though I know that this will be a pain in the ass, and that I'm going to regret this down the line, the prospect of peace and quiet in the Service Club is too much of a prospect to ignore.

"Fine. What do you want me to do?"

She smiles triumphantly. "Come on, we can talk about this somewhere else."

I give a huff as she walks past me towards the school's exit. What a pain.

The two of us park our bikes outside the cafe. Looking up at it, it's a rather posh place, complete with stylish lights and windows. I can't help but feel out of place here. Miura, on the other hand, seems perfectly at home, giving a small smile.

"Yup. Let's go in, Hikio. This place will do nicely."

"Whatever you say, Miura."

Stepping inside, we are greeted by a well groomed receptionist.

"Hello there, customers. How many in your party?"

Miura takes the lead, as she should. I wouldn't know how to act in this situation.

"Just for two, please. Preferably somewhere away from a window."

He grabs two menus and makes a gesture with his hand. "Certainly. Right this way."

Leading us through a dimly lit room with other occupied tables, he stops before one of the tables, setting down the menus and promptly leaving. "Your server will be with you shortly."

Miura takes a seat. "Thank you."

I mimic her actions, taking a seat in the well cushioned chair. "Man, this place is pretty classy."

She rummages through her purse, pulling out some lip gloss. "Is that so? It's not all that special. But I guess someone like you wouldn't come to places like this too often."

What is that supposed to mean? Not that you're wrong though...

"Well, let's just cut to the chase so I can go home. What do you want?"

She rubs her lips together as she deposits the lip gloss back into her purse. "Well, it has to do with Hayato."

Of course. Why am I not surprised? "What about him?"

She picks up a menu, perusing the drink options. "Well, I want you to help me be more appealing to Hayato."

I take one look at the menu and know what I want. Of course, what else could it be but a cup of extra sweet milk coffee?

"And how do you expect me to do that?"

She gives me a disappointing look. "Hah? You're supposed to find a way to solve my problems when I give you one. Isn't that how the Service Club works?"

I give myself an inward groan. She really is a pain. "Well, I can't start finding a solution until I know exactly what the parameters are."

She opens her mouth as if to answer but doesn't get a chance to, as the waiter comes up from behind her. She starts a little at the sudden appearance.

"Have you decided on your orders?"

Somewhat flustered, Miura picks up a menu to check her order one more time.

"A-ah, yes, could I get a hot coffee?"

The waiter jots it down. "Of course. And for you?" he asks, gesturing to me.

"Just a coffee, with extra milk and sugar."

Miura chimes in. "Ah, I'll have some extra sugar as well."

The waiter nods as he finishes taking down our order. "That'll be out for you and your girlfriend shortly."

Upon hearing that phrase, I try to correct him. "Oh, actually we're not-"

Miura laughs, cutting me off. "Are you kidding? Me and him? Don't be ridiculous."

The waiter looks mortified. "O-oh, of course, my mistake."

As he hurriedly makes his way back to the kitchen, Miura's laughter dies down. She wipes a tear from her eye. Was it really that funny? I mean, hello, I'm right here you know. I'd rather not get treated as scum of the Earth, you know?

"Anyways, Hikio, I want you to find a way to make Hayato like me."

I give her an incredulous look. "What do you thank I am? I can't just make him like you."

She rolls her eyes. "Of course I knew that, if you would let me finish."

I sigh. What's with this girl? "Okay, fine. Continue."

She smirks. "I want you to observe the situation between us at school for the next few days and figure out what you could do to help me. I don't know, maybe see what he likes about me, or what he doesn't like so that I can change it."

As she finishes the line, our drinks are set in front of us. As the waiter leaves, Miura and I both reach for the sugar and cream.

"So, what do you say?"

I give a tired sigh. "Yeah, sure. I'll do it."

Smiling happily, she lifts the cup to her mouth. "Good."

As she sips away at her coffee, I down mine in three long gulps.

"Oh yeah, Hikio. Once you find out what I should change, you'll also have to figure out a way that we can make Hayato notice the changes. I don't know how you'll do it, but find a way."

Who does she think she is, commanding me around? Ugh, I suppose I'll just go along with it to prove Yukinoshita and Yuigahama wrong...

"I get it, so you can stop talking about it now."

She narrows her eyes. "Alright, Hikio. Whatever you say."

What follows is the awkward tension where neither person knows what to say, so they sit there trying to think of conversation topics. As a loner, I'm rather used to it, but I doubt it's comfortable for Miura.

Trying to lighten the mood, I talk about the first thing I can think of.

"So, Miura, have you always like sweet coffee?"

She's already pulled out her phone, despite being here with someone already. This girl...

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess I've always liked sweet things." She answers absentmindedly. "What about you?"

"Life is too full of bitter things, so coffee should at least be sweet."

I look at her after dropping my incredibly deep and true words, only to see that she's cracking a smile, as if stifling a laugh. She then bursts out in laughter, green eyes sparkling in actual amusement, not mischief.

"What the heck is that?! Hahaha, that's too funny, Hikio!"

I feel my face grow a little red. I guess that line is pretty embarrassing if you think about it... But it's true, you know!

After her laughter subsides, she looks a little thoughtful, gazing into the depths of her cup. "Though, I guess you aren't entirely wrong..."

I give a slight huff in triumph. See? A loner is always right!

She looks at me with a bit of... interest?

"You know, Hikio... You're actually kinda interesting."

I'm not used to praise, so I feel myself unsure of what to do. "Well, um, thanks I guess."

She just laughs again. For the first time, she actually seems somewhat relaxed. I guess when you actually get to know her, she might not be all that bad. Emphasis on 'might be'. I can't tell what she's really like. What is up with this girl?

Miura then perks up, as if remembering something. "Oh yeah, here, Hikio, give me your phone."

I instinctively reach towards my pocket. "Why?"

She's practically growling. "Come on, just hurry up and hand it over."

Knowing this could get ugly if I don't comply, I hand her my phone. Please don't mess it up! Not that I have any real use for it though...

After she fiddles around with it for a while, she hands it back. Looking at it, I see that the name Miura Yumiko is now in my contact list.

"There, now you can tell me all about what you observe so we don't have to always meet up like this."

It's been a while since I last texted a girl like Miura. How am I supposed to talk? Well, whatever, I don't really care. I pocket the phone. "Okay, makes sense."

Satisfied, she sets her own phone down, pulls out her wallet and motions the waiter over.

"Oi, Miura, what are you doing?"

She glances at me indifferently. "Just getting the check."

I reach for my own wallet. "Wait, let me help pay-"

The waiter arrives and she looks over the bill.

As she hands some coins to the waiter, she turns back to me. "Well, I guess normally the guy should pay for the girl, but you're helping me right now. So this time, I'll pay for yours as thanks."

I pause in my movement, surprised by her kindness. I guess she can be pretty considerate sometimes...

"But next time, I expect you to pay for me, 'kay?"

Giving me a smile and a wink, I can't help but think for a second that she's kinda cute. This is gonna be a pain, isn't it. Just what is up with this girl...?

Upon leaving the cafe, we unlock our bikes and say our goodbyes.

Miura begins to turn her bike in the opposite direction that I'm going in.

"Well I have to go this way, so I'll take off first." She lifts her foot onto the pedals. "Don't forget Hikio! I'm counting on you!"

"Yeah, yeah. I won't forget."

She smiles. "Good." And with that, she begins pedaling down the road.

I also hop on my bike, fitting my feet onto the pedals as I remember that I completely forgot to go to club, or at least give an excuse. Yuigahama isn't going to be happy...

As if on cue, I feel my phone vibrate. Pulling it out of my pocket, it seems that Yuigahama has been curious as to where I've been.

'Hikki, where did you go? I thought you said you would coming to club today...'

I quickly type in a response... Or at least as quick as I can manage. 'Sorry, got caught up in something. I'll go tomorrow.'

Waiting a few seconds, a message flashes across my screen.

'Well, alright. If you say so. Have a good evening! (^_^)/'

'You too.'

Placing my phone back into my pocket, I begin my journey home. My newfound task lied ahead of me, and I wasn't looking forward to it...

It was a request that almost went unanswered.

A request that was only heard by me.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoy this short little pilot for a new story I'm working on! It won't be a super long story, but I hope you guys find something here of interest nonetheless. I'm on winter break right now, so I've had more time to write. Hopefully I'll be able to put out a few chapters of various stories before I get back to school. Anyways, sorry for the OOC, and as always, feedback is always welcome. Hope you guys enjoy!

P.S I know that the coffee scene is already similar to one that happened in another Miura fic but it didn't occur to me until after I wrote it that it seemed familiar. Hope it isn't too much of an issue. Let me know if it is, I'd be glad to change it.