There was very little Rean could do about the heat rising up to his cheeks. He could learn subterfuge, learn how to lie just a bit better, but willing himself not to blush, or keeping all those little instantaneous reactions in check, were still things that were far beyond Rean's reach. No amount of effort was going to give him mastery over those in a span of several years and so, instantly feeling like he was laid bare for anyone who took that moment to look back at him, to look long enough even, Rean feigned a yawn and curled back up on his desk, like a little turtle retreating into his shell.

One way or another, he was going to have the talk he'd long wanted to have with Crow. Right now, surrounded by classmates and under the watchful eye of Sara, there was very, very little he could do.