"Let her go." Hanako replied simply, looking a bit uneased as his lookalike smiled brightly at him.

"HANAKO. GET. ME. OUT." Y/N mouthed in panic. Hanako affixed her with an apologetic stare.

"I'VE MISSED YOU!" Tsukasa cheerily exclaimed, ignoring his command.

"The same goes for me," Hanako said, but his eyes stayed on Y/N's wide, helpless ones.

Now Y/N was confused. Why was Hanako hesitating to attack her assailant? Why was her cheek burning?

She began to feel overwhelmed with all the confusion; almost like she was going to pass out.

Hanako caught her discomfort. His hands curled into fists behind his back as he faced his twin in the eyes.

"Tsukasa." Hanako said with a little more force. "Please. Let Y/N go."

Y/N felt the arms around her... Tsukasa's arms, as Hanako called him, grip her tighter. She wanted to die of embarrassment. Close contact wasn't exactly her forté.

Even Tsukasa sensed her lightheadedness. He begdrudgingly let her go.

Y/N stumbled out with a start, E/C eyes wide in terror. She immediately rushed to Hanako's side.

"'Hope you're happy, Amane." Tsukasa pouted. "The both of us were just becoming great friends!"

"Wh-Who is that?!" Y/N's voice was shaky and panicky.

"My twin brother." Hanako replied lowly.

Y/N's eyes dawned with realization. Why hadn't she noticed before?

"So it is true," Tsukasa continued, not catching their discomfort. He circled them with catlike curiousity. "You both are close as heck! Amane, do you like her? Can I know her, too? She's a lovely person!"

Hanako instinctively held Y/N's hand, stiffening. Y/N was glad to feel the warmth; Tsukasa never failed to send shivers down her spine.

"Is that a no?" Tsukasa's eyes narrowed.

"W-we said neither!" Y/N dared to croak out.

"I see~" Tsukasa sighed, arms crossed as he floated lazily in a lying position. "You both are too tightly-knit you have to make the decision together! 'You guys a couple?"

Y/N and Hanako turned red in the face.

"N-Now listen-"

"Tsukasa-"

"Amane," Tsukasa cut in, eyes slitted. He affixed his brother with a smirk. "You better make the first move, or I'll do it myself."

Y/N could sense tension between the twins. She felt so uncomfortable she just wanted to leave.

As if on cue, the door behind them swung open.

"May I come in?" Sakura's monotonous voice emanated through the Broadcasting Room.

"Ah! Sakura!" Tsukasa grinned at the greenette as she timidly stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.

"Sakura?" Y/N croaked, eyes wide. "Y-You know-?"

"Y/N." Her half-lidded eyes settled unto hers. "May I speak with you?"

"Of course-"

"Alone?"

Even Hanako was suspicious. Y/N was about to answer, when Tsukasa tackled her companion to the ground in a giant bear hug.

"AGH! TSUKASA-"

"STOP IGNORING ME!! IT'S BEEN SO LONG!!!!" Tsukasa whined, clinging on to him in a childish manner.

Y/N stood to the side awkwardly, about to reach down and pry off Tsukasa with the little strength she had, when someone gripped her wrist.

Sakura. Y/N looked up at her helplessly.

"Leave them be." She murmured gently. For the second time, she let out a small smile. "I think he's been meaning to spend time with him."

Y/N felt uneasy leaving Hanako with someone as mischievous as Tsukasa, even if he was his own brother. She swallowed a lump in her throat.

"You wanted to talk?"

"Follow me." Sakura turned around sharply, walking out of the room. Y/N leapt to her feet and did as told.

They closed the door as they made their way out. Hanako's protesting and Tsukasa's chiding faded, leaving the two girls in silence.

Sakura stopped by a window, which revealed a draft of sunlight pouring through the empty school halls. The distant laughter of students in the canteen echoed ominously.

"I see you're bound, too?" Sakura turned to face her after a long time looking outside.

"That I am." Y/N shuffled awkwardly on the floor, arms behind her back.

"You're awfully lucky to have his brother," Sakura sighed absently. "Much better than being bound to Tsukasa."

Y/N perked up in wonder.

"You're bound too?!"

Sakura let out a disgruntled nod.

"It's tedious to put up with him, but I manage. I like to imagine him as a cat."

Y/N couldn't help but laugh a little.

"But he nearly scared me there... pressing a knife against my neck and all."

Sakura's amused green eyes now darkened.

"That's why I came to talk; Tsukasa is a dangerous fellow. He is childish and rowdy, but can carry out violent acts with little to no shame."

Y/N felt herself getting goosebumps as Sakura slowly approached her slowly.

"I-Is he after me...?" Y/N squeaked nervously.

"I can't tell for sure." Sakura looked away. "All I can tell is he's been feeling jealous."

"Jealous?" Y/N gawked in disbelief.

"You see, Hanako doesn't visit him often... then he discovered the reason. When he found out you two had a relationship, he wanted to check you out."

Y/N's heart raced uneasily at the word "relationship."

"Y-You must be mistaken! Hanako-kun and I are no way partners-"

"-yet." Sakura cut in.

Y/N bit her lip, shaking her head defiantly.

"H-He's way too perverted for me. Not my type."

"He's fond of you," Sakura shrugged, walking past her. "He doesn't pester you like a cat and he can wait. He also cares deeply for your safety."

"'Sounds like a normal best friend to me!" Y/N curled her fists determinedly.

"Oh?" Sakura turned to her curiously. "Are you sure you haven't shared at least one kiss?"

Y/N stiffened, not answering. She had grown to confide a little in Sakura, seeing as she was also in the same situation as her, but she remained guarded.

"I see." Sakura thoughtfully tilted her head. "You're a funny girl, Y/N. I think we can grow to be friends."

Y/N didn't know whether to feel insulted or proud, but she smiled eitherway.

"I-I'd like that!"

"Heya, you two!"

Y/N and Sakura whipped their heads to the direction of the broadcasting room.

There stood Hanako and Tsukasa. The younger twin had a bright smile on his face, the older looking dishevelled and uncomfortable.

"We've come to an agreement!" Tsukasa clapped his hands cheerily. "Right, Amane?"

Hanako forced a smile.

"Right."

Sakura and Y/N exhanged glances.

BRRRRIIIIINNNNNGGGGGGG!

"Welp, there's your bell!" Tsukasa laughed. "See ya around, you two! Come along, Sakura!"

The greenette gave Y/N one last glance, before turning to follow Tsukasa back into the broadcasting room. The door swung shut.

Y/N rushed over to Hanako, eyes wide in concern.

"Are you alright?" She quietly piped up.

"We'll be fine!" Hanako managed a small grin. "Tsukasa won't come after you anymore."

Y/N was about to smile back, when a sudden thought nagged at her mind.

"That sounds too easy... isn't there a price?"

Hanako tensed up uncomfortably, readjusting his hat. Y/N immediately got the hint.

"I'll explain later." He turned to her, his smile returning.

"Are you free this dismissal?"

"Of course! Y/N nodded determinedly.

"Y/N-CHAN!!"

Y/N and Hanako looked up. Yashiro and Kou came hurtling towards them, embracing Y/N in a hug even tighter than Tsukasa's.

"THANK GOD! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD DISAPPEAR AGAIN!"

"WHERE WERE YOU?! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"

"Guys...." Y/N wheezed, finding it hard to breathe. Hanako took notice of her discomfort and cleared his throat.

Kou and Yashiro immediately pulled away. Y/N coughed, but they continued to pour down questions.

"Who were you with for three days?"

"Why the broadcasting room?"

"I-I'll explain it all!" Y/N smiled reassuringly. As she walked away with her friends to her next classes, she smiled gratefully at Hanako.

Hanako did the same... until she was out of earshot.

His smile slowly loosened to an anxious frown. As much as the price was simple, he found it too difficult to accomplish.

Why did Tsukasa have to give him such a terrifying condition?