* Kaede walks a bit down the hall, and sighs deeply, his 
  hands in his pockets and his back still turned. "I'm 
  sorry. I was a jerk."
* Chikako tilts her head.
<Chikako> Huh?
<Kaede> It's...nothing about you.  I thought of that when I 
  went outside...
<Kaede> The whole secret admirer thing...just...forget it.  
  I was irritated at Kyon, not you...
* Chikako waves it off. "Oh, it's cool."
<Kaede> I hope so...
<Chikako> Kyon wouldn't cheat on me. He's cool like that.
<Kaede> Especially not with a guy.
* Chikako grins. "It was a guy? That's so cool!"
* Kaede swivels around and covers his mouth. "Um..."
* Kaede pulls it away slowly, looking embarrassed. "I'd ask 
  you to forget that but..."
<Chikako> What kinda guy? Was he handsome? Was he cool?  
  Anyone I know?
* Kaede tilts his head to the side. "What do you see in him?"
<Chikako> I dunno. I never saw him before!
* Kaede scratches his head. "I meant Kyon."
<Chikako> Oh.
* Chikako puts a finger to her cheek. "Mmm...."
<Chikako> Well, he's handsome and cool!
<Kaede> Yes, but you think everything's cool.  And 
  handsome..well, there's not a lot of truck with 
  handsomeness..
* Chikako pouts. "I do not think everything's cool."
* Kaede takes a deep breath. "Do you think I'm cool?"
* Chikako considers. "Well..." She claps her hands together. 
  "You're cool, but different cool, and not as cool." She 
  beams.
<Kaede> There we are then.  Because I'm probably the most 
  uncool person on the planet.  I'm practically hot, if that 
  didnt have other connotations.
* Chikako tilts her head. "Huh?"
* Kaede sighs. "Nevermind. Just...no, do what you want with 
  Kyon."
<Kaede> I just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was 
  trying to be mean..at least, not to you.
* Chikako pouts. "I'm all confused now."
* Chikako shakes her head. "Nah, it's cool."
* Kaede smiles vaguely. "I'm sorry. I'm very confusing."
<Kaede> You wouldn't be the first to think so.
<Chikako> Yeah, but it's cool.
* Kaede pats Chikako's shoulder. "So long as everything's 
  settled..."
* Kaede strongly resisted to say the words "So long as 
  everything's cool" there.
* Chikako nods. "Yeah, it's all cool."
* Kaede starts to walk back and smiles a bit. "You're pretty 
  resiliant. Anyone ever tell you that?"
* Chikako beams happily. "Nope!"
<Kaede> Well, now they have.
* Kaede heads for the lockers.
* Chikako grins and follows.