"I still need to get ready. I can't go to class in these clothes."

"They're perfectly fine. You don't need to go to class anyway," Gendo asserted. "Breakfast would be better than sitting in that lecture hall any day."

Pushing his hands away, Yui stood. "I probably look terrible. This shirt..." She looked down at herself and made a disgusted sound. "It's all wrinkled." Then she began to gather her things. "And all my stuff... I'm going to end up sitting in the front."

Shaking his head, Gendo stood and grabbed Yui from behind. "Relax. One day won't kill you, will it? Come on. Just one day." He turned her around. "Just one day."

Her eyes studied his face. "Just this once. Since you bought the pizza and beer," she said, giving in.

"Now that you've realized what a waste class is, I'm going to skip the breakfast suggestion." Slipping his arms around her, he smiled and tried to kiss her.

"None of that, Rokubungi. I am not going to waste my entire day acting like some crazed animal," Yui snapped, though did nothing to remove his arms. "I can catch up on the studying I should have been doing last night."

Leaning down, Gendo nuzzled her neck. "How about I bring back breakfast, and then we can study? No funny business."

Yui reciprocated his actions, closing her eyes and smiling. After softly kissing his neck, she nodded. "Okay. No funny business; just studying."

"As you wish." He pulled back, their cheeks rubbing against each other. "I'll be back in a little bit then." Giving Yui a quick kiss on the lips, he grabbed his glasses from the table and left.

"Why I put up with him..." she muttered to herself.

"Right again. I'd almost think you knew what you were talking about." Yui smirked at Gendo.

"Do I get a reward for being right so often?"

"What do you think?"

"Yes." Gendo smiled suddenly. "Hey, I'm right again. This really deserves a reward then." Without waiting, he leaned over and kissed Yui.

"No funny business!" Yui sighed and tossed her pen on the table. "Even if you don't take this seriously, I do. I'm trying to get a degree here." Looking at the books and papers stacked on the table, she frowned.

"I like you, Gendo, but..."

"But?" His smile had fallen at the hesitancy in her voice. "But what?"

"I need to concentrate on school. I can't play these games." She looked at him then, still frowning. "I know you're smart. If you'd just apply yourself..."

"Why?" he asked angrily. "So I can get all A's? All perfect test scores? For what? So I can sit at some desk and tell the other guys I work with how well I did in school? It's not worth it, Yui."

He smiled, but it was sad. "I like you. Maybe more than that, but this place... Before I met you, I was ready to drop out. Except for you."

"I really think that's sweet, and I like you. You're even a good study partner sometimes, but school is important to me." She smiled almost condescendingly at him. "I'm not against... having fun, but classes are my number one priority."

Didn't she know she was stepping all over him? Didn't she understand? "I... don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. I'm just explaining things from my perspective. School is top priority."

"And... me?"

"I'd say you're number two. Just not for serious studying."

That didn't help at all really. Rejection hurt no matter how politely it was phrased. "Fine. If that's the way you want it, that's... okay by me."

"No, that's not what I'm saying," Yui corrected. "You just have to realize there's a time for work... and a time for play."