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visual-novels-json

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Rin: "Ah~ It's cold outsi—" Hina: "Nyaaa!" Even as the door closed, Hina was already leaping onto Rin. Rin: "Hey, let me take my shoes off at least." Hina: "No! I had to resist hugging you all day!" Hina said, clinging even harder to her. Rin: "Haah..." Rin kicked her loafers off with Hina wrapped around her waist. Hina: "Hey, that's bad manners." Rin: "And whose fault is that? Come on, put your bag down and take your scarf off. I'm not gonna pat your head if you act all spoiled." Hina: "Oh, I don't want that..." Hina: "Hey, thanks for this. It was really good!" Hina handed Rin a paperback. It was the book Rin had said she liked. Rin took the book, hanging her coat up. Rin: "Good job. You read the whole thing even though there's no pictures." Hina: "Hey, don't make fun of me!" Rin: "Ahaha. It wasn't really dirty, right?" Hina: "Not as much as I thought it would be. They did some weird stuff at some points, though." Rin: "Weird stuff?" Hina: "Yeah, like trying to put a headphone plug into your butt or using a vacuum nozzle..." Rin: "Ah, like squeezing a lemon in your crotch or putting out a cigarette with your tongue?" Hina: "That's perverted!" Hina scrunched up her shoulders. Hina: "If you like that kinda book, does it mean you're a pervert, Rin? Do you want to do stuff like that?" Rin: "What if I do~?" Hina: "Ugh... If you really want to, I'll try my best..." Hina said, clenching her fists. Rin: "Ahahaha. It's not like that. I like the author's writing style. It's all austere and cool." Hina: "O-Oh." Hina was clearly relieved to hear it. Rin laid a hand on her head and sat down on Hina's bed. Hina settled next to her. Hina: "I liked it, but it was sad that they had to part, even though Hanayo and Youko both liked each other." Hina: "I don't get why they couldn't be together. Do you get it, Rin?" Rin flipped through the book. Rin: "Maybe Hanayo was scared. To give herself over to Youko." Hina: "Scared?" Rin: "People who overthink things like her are scared of innocent types—" Hina: "......" Rin noticed the forlorn look in Hina's eyes as they reflected her. Rin: "C'mere." Rin beckoned her and Hina stood, sitting back down in between Rin's legs. Hina: "Eheheh." Hina's mood brightened as soon as Rin hugged her. She leaned back against her, turning her head to give Rin an innocent smile. Rin impulsively kissed her. Hina: "Mh, ah..." Her eyes opened in surprise for a moment, but she soon closed them, spellbound. Rin knocked a few times with her tongue and Hina's lips parted. Hina: "Ah... mmh!" A hot sigh escaped her lips. Despite the lack of air, Rin snuck her tongue inside. As soon as she was through that barrier, she was free to do as she liked. Soon, Hina's mouth was under the control of Rin's tongue. Rin: "Mm... chp..." Hina: "Mh... mmh... nnh." It was their first kiss with tongue. Despite the strange sensation of another person's tongue, they made no move to pull their lips apart. Hina: "...Ah!" Hina suddenly realized Rin's hands were going for her ribbon tie. Hina: "...Are we gonna do something dirty?" She looked nervously back at Rin. Rin: "Are you scared?" Hina: "...Not with you." Hina said, giving her best attempt at a confident smile. Rin felt a twinge in her heart. Rin: "...Ugh, so cute." Rin rained kisses on Hina's forehead, cheeks, neck... wherever her lips would reach. Hina: "Ahya... hyahn!" Rin: "Does that tickle?" Hina: "No... it kind of gives me chills." Rin: "...You're sensitive." Rin unbuttoned Hina's shirt and hiked up her bra. Hina: "Ah... h-hey?!" But Hina pushed it back down. Hina: "They're so small... I'm kind of embarrassed." Rin: "Heh. That's obvious enough even with your clothes on, isn't it?" Hina: "Ugh..." Rin: "And you drink milk every day, too." Hina: "!!" Rin: "Ow!" There was a thud as Hina's head collided with Rin's jaw. ......... ...... They pulled away from each other, but their lips were still connected by a line of saliva. Hina: "Haahh... mmh... Rin..." Hina's eyes swam and her cheeks burned. Her lips were wet and her voice was choked. Hina: "I thought... my tongue would melt." Hina: "Y... You're amazing, Rin... You're really good at kissing." Hina stared at Rin, enraptured. Rin: "...You know, it's my first time, too." Hina: "Mm...? What?" Rin: "Nothing." Rin smiled awkwardly. Rin: "I'm more impressed by you down here, Hina." Hina: "Ugh..." Hina averted her eyes. Rin: "You're gonna stain the sheets." Hina: "I-I'll change them right now!" Hina tried to jump up, but Rin grabbed her before she could. Hina: "What is this? Why is this happening to me?" Rin: "It's proof that you're in heat." Hina: "In heat? What's that?" Rin: "Huh? You're embarrassed even though you don't know what it is?" Hina: "...I thought I was too old to wet myself." Rin: "Ahaha. Actually, it's more like this is only happening because you're an adult." Hina: "O-Oh...?" Rin: "...And anyway, what are you doing knocking dirty stuff when you don't know the first thing about it?" Hina: "Ugh... well..." Rin: "Must be because you're a baby." Hina: "Th-Then... teach me. You know a bunch about it, right, Rin?" Rin: "Huh? Oh... I guess so." Hina didn't notice Rin's voice cracking. Hina: "Hnnh...!" Hina went completely stiff as soon as Rin's fingers touched her. Rin: "...Are you sure you're not scared?" Hina squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth. Hina: "I-I'm fine!" She nodded exaggeratedly. Rin: "Y-Yeah?" Rin: "...Well, I am. I feel like I'm gonna break you." Rin: "It's okay... alright?" Her tender words were directed at herself as much as at Hina. Hina: "...Ah, nnh..." Rin's hand slid down Hina's springy thigh to a soft hill. The trail of Hina's arousal went all the way down to her butt. Rin scooped some up on her finger. Rin: "You get wet really easily... What a girl you are, Hina." Hina: "Of... course I am." Rin: "I was a little worried about what I'd find inside your underwear." Hina: "Are you stupid? That's a terrible thing to say to—" Rin's fingers parted Hina's flower petals and touched the warmth hidden behind them. Hina: "A-Aah... nnnh!!" Rin: "H-Hina?" Hina: "I-I'm okay... I was just surprised." Rin might have been even more surprised. Hina: "I've... never been touched there before..." Rin: "...Yeah, I figured." Rin nodded. Rin: "Want to keep going?" Hina nodded, too. Rin traced Hina's slit with her middle finger. Hina: "N... Nn... naaah!" There were sticky sounds every time she moved her finger, and Hina shook her head, embarrassed. Rin pressed down and moved her finger deeper in. She was just a tiny bit inside Hina. Hina: "Unh... aaah! N-Not there!" Suddenly, the opening shut, preventing her intrusion. Hina's hand grabbed Rin's. Rin: "Is that still... a little scary?" Hina: "...I-I'm okay." She said, but her voice was trembling. Rin: "...Would this be better?" Rin pulled her finger out and moved it to above the slit. Hina: "Mh... ah..." She pressed gently on the slick bead there, and a needy sound came from Hina. Rin: "Does that hurt?" Hina: "N-No... nh... ngh..." Rin gave a little nod at that confirmation. Using only her fingertip, she skillfully stimulated the pearl. Hina: "...Nn... nah..." Hina's reactions to even the slightest touch were pronounced. Hina: "Haah... haah..." Rin: "That face you're making is really cute." She brushed aside the hair sticking to Hina's forehead and looked at her face. It was a heated expression Hina would normally never make. Hina: "Haahh... th-this feels... weird..." The unknown sensations Hina was feeling were confusing her. And knowing what her touch was doing to Hina... Rin just got more into it. Rin: "That's good, feel even weirder—" Rin's fingers pinched around Hina's everything. And... Hina: "Nnh... aaah... ah... aaaaah!!" Hina suddenly screamed and threw her head back. Rin: "Huh...?" Hina's head hit Rin's shoulder. Hina: "Aah... aaaah... nnnnh!!" Rin: "Whoa, wait, did you cum?" Hina: "Ah... a-ah... ahn!!" Hina couldn't answer. Hina: "Wh-What? What is this... I-It won't stop... haaaaah!!" Hina merely shuddered in Rin's arms. Rin: "Hina? Hina?!" Hina: "H-Help me... Rin?! I-I feel like, I won't be able to come... back!!" Rin: "It's okay! It's okay!" Rin wrapped her arms around Hina and held her. ...... Hina: "Hahh... phew..." Hina took a deep breath. Then she stretched up and fell back onto Rin's chest like a puppet with its strings cut. Hina: "Haah... that scared me." Rin: "That's my line. Just how sensitive are you?" Hina: "I-I don't think it's my fault! I-It's because you're too good at this!" Rin: "O-Oh...?" Rin seemed embarrassed when the blame was shifted to her. Hina: "But... it really did feel good." Hina was still clinging to Rin's shirt. Rin: "Yeah? Th-Thanks." She'd seemed nervous, but apparently that wasn't how Hina saw it. Hina: "Haahh... I'm really tired for some reason~" She must have calmed down some. Hina's usual smile had returned. Rin: "Haha, that was hard work, huh?" Hina: "It was more normal than the stuff in the book, though. I'm relieved." Rin: "I'm telling you, that book's different." Hina: "O... Oh." Does she really get it? Hina: "Umm, Rin?" Hina: "...Next time... Next time I want to make you feel good, Rin." Rin: "What~? I wonder if you can." Hina: "You're not taking me serously! I mean it, I'll pull out all the stops!" Rin: "Heheh, I'm looking forward to it." Hina: "Okay, let me get my headphones!" Rin: "No!"
Hina: "Hmhm♪" Rin: "What are you so proud of, with your ass out?" The two of them were completely naked, lying against each other. They'd returned to their room and, at some point while they were fooling around changing clothes, this had happened. Hina: "The idea today! Is to not just feel good on my own, but to make you feel good too, and to reach new heights together!" Hina declared. Rin: "How conscientious." Hina: "I'm always just at your mercy." Rin: "Well, I don't mind, but do you know what to do?" Hina: "O-Of course I do. I've been studying, you know." Rin: "That surprises me." Hina: "...Why?" Rin: "You don't seem like you'd have the time." Hina: "Ugh..." Hina made a frustrated face at Rin's diplomatic response. Hina: "A-Anyway! I hope you're ready today!" Rin: "Yes, yes." Hina: "Just so you know, I won't be mad if you stop moving your mouth because you're too preoccupied with what you're feeling." Rin: "Yes, yes." Hina: "Oh, and if you wet yourself, don't worry, I'll take—" Rin: "Fhoo..." Hina: "Hnnh?!" Rin blew a breath onto Hina. Rin: "Hey, Hina, your lower mouth is telling me you want to get on with it." Hina: "L-Lower... d-don't say... stuff like that!" Rin: "Yes, yes, yes, yes." Hina: "Okay, I'm doing it! Make as much noise as you want, alright?! Here I go!" Hina: "Hyaaaan!!" ...... Hina: "Wh-What kind of crazy technique did you just use?" Rin: "What do you mean? I just did what I always do." All Rin had done was run her tongue over Hina. Rin: "Should I go easy on you?" Hina: "I don't need your pity!" Rin: "...Well, okay." Rin extended her tongue out to Hina again— Hina: "Hyaaaan!!" Rin: "...That's what I thought." ...... Hina: "Ugh... maybe go a little easy." Rin: "Okay." Hina: "Nnh... mmch... mmh." Rin: "...Mmh... chp..." They ran their tongues over each other, and this time there were no sudden screams from Hina. (Because Rin was going easy on her.) Rin was avoiding Hina's sensitive center and only kissing the surrounding areas. Hina: "Nnh... hwah!" Still, Hina's hips bucked occasionally. But as for her own efforts... Hina: "Nnh... mmh... mmfh...." She couldn't be called skilled by any stretch of the imagination. She was just making the same movements over and over again, like a dog lapping up water from a bowl. Rin: "...Whew. She is doing her best, though." Hina: "Hm? What? Does it feel good?" Rin: "...Huh? Oh, yeah." Rin gave a half-hearted answer. Hina: "I'll do my best!" There was nothing she could say to that face. So she said nothing, and merely pulled Hina's butt closer to her. Hina: "Huh...?" Because of their height difference, her face was pulled away from Rin the same amount her butt was pulled closer to her. Hina: "Augh... hyaan!" Rin pressed her mouth to Hina's center. Hina: "H-Hey, wai—" But she didn't wait. Rin's tongue parted Hina's lower lips and exposed the sticky flesh behind them. Hina: "Ahn...!" Just exposing the area to the open air was enough to make Hina cry out. Rin: "Chp... nnh... mmh." Now that she was serious, Rin went for Hina's weak spot mercilessly. Hina: "Hyaaa! Wh-What happened to going easy on me?!" Rin: "Mmh... your bonus time is up." Hina: "I-I didn't... a-agree to this!!" Rin: "Oh, just be quiet and enjoy it." Hina: "Ahn, I-I can't be quiet! Aaaaah!" Rin buried her face in the cute Hina. ......... ...... Rin: "Whew..." Rin wiped off her mouth with the back of her hand, and... Hina: "Hahh, hahh... haahh." ...Hina's shoulders heaved with each gasping breath she took. Hina: "Th-That's it! You're banned from touching me anymore, Rin!" Rin: "You should just give up and enjoy it." Hina: "No! I want you to enjoy it too, Rin!" Rin: "I enjoy it enough just giving—" Hina: "Nnnnnh!" Rin: "......" Rin sighed and smiled wryly. She knew that she had no choice but to give in when Hina started whining like this. Rin: "...Alright. I'll tell you how to do it, then. Can you follow my instructions?" Hina: "I can!" Hina nodded hard enough to shake her bangs. Hina: "So, what should I do?" Rin: "Hyaha! That tickles. Stop breathing on me." Hina: "Huh? Oh, sorry." Rin: "It's good that you're motivated, but don't bite me, okay?" Hina: "I-I won't!" Rin: "Umm, first... Wait, it's kind of embarrassing to explain it..." Hina: "Just tell me already!" Rin: "Ugh... I'm not into humiliation." Hina: "I'll bite you." Rin: "Wait, I'll tell you. Umm... m-my clitoris—" Hina: "Christmas?" Rin: "No. There's a little bump at the end of my slit, right?" Hina: "Where?" Rin: "Here!" Rin poked Hina's with her tongue to show her. Hina: "Hyan! I told you you couldn't touch me, Rin!" Rin: "Well, I'm getting impatient. If you've figured it out, kiss me there." Hina: "O-Okay... Like this...?" Hina pressed her lips to the spot she'd been told to kiss. Rin: "Mmh..." Rin's clitoris was enveloped by Hina's warm lips. Rin: "Okay, so... suck there, but not hard, alright?" Hina: "Mmh... chp..." Rin: "Ah... mhh... y-yeah." Rin let out a small, sweet sigh. Hina: "What's next...?" Rin: "Mmh... next, umm..." Hina: "Bite it?" Rin: "Do not bite it! Under any circumstances!" Hina: "Mm." Rin: "Roll your tongue over it? Like... don't lick it, but make your tongue kind of hard?" Hina: "Mm... mmh... llh." Rin: "Yeah... like that. You're getting better." Hina: "......" Hina turned back to Rin, looking for her next instruction. Rin: "Mmh... keep going." Hina: "Okay... mh." Hina did as she was told. Rin: "Ah... mmh..." Hina's tongue technique was as unskilled as always, but every so often, she would brush against a good spot. Rin closed her eyes and concentrated on what pleasure she could. Rin: "Mhh... keep going like that..." Hina: "Hllh...!" Hina suddenly made a noise and stopped moving her tongue. Rin: "Wh-What is it?" Hina: "M-My... hongue... hramped..." Rin: "...Classic." Hina: "S-Sowwy..." Rin: "No, it's okay. I'm sure you'll figure it out next time." Rin patted Hina's butt with a wry smile. Hina: "Uh hunh..." Rin: "You did good. What now? You want a reward?" Hina: "N-Now... I wanna rest a little." ......... Rin got up from the bed and picked out a t-shirt from her dresser. Hina: "How cold." Hina pouted, still wrapped up in the sheets. Rin: "Huh?" Hina: "To get changed as soon as we're done." Rin: "Asou'll be getting home from her organ practice soon, right? You should get changed, too." Hina: "Ugh..." Hina rolled onto her back, looking displeased. Hina: "........." Rin: "What?" Hina: "I just haven't ever paid so much attention to you naked before." Rin: "What do you call what we were just doing?" Hina: "I didn't have any time to look!" Rin snorted. Hina: "Can I take your picture?" Rin: "You have to get your pictures developed, right?" Hina: "Oh, right. I guess that's one reason to keep a digital camera around..." Rin: "You're not getting pictures of me, even digitally." Hina: "Uuuuugh!" Rin: "No grumbling! Who are you supposed to be, Sachiko?" Hina: "I'm not like her! I'm not taking dirty pictures! It's art!" Rin: "Sounds like something Sachiko would say." Having changed their clothes, the two sat on the edge of the bed, each with a bottle of mineral water. Hina: "I want to be your dog, Rin." Rin: "Pfft... What?" Hina: "You know, the author of that book. Their other story." Rin: "O-Oh... that. 'Cause of what we just did, I thought..." Hina: "You thought what?" Rin: "Umm... you know—" Rin whispered to Hina. Hina: "I don't need butter or jam, I'll still—mggh!" Rin: "I get it already!" Rin covered Hina's mouth. Hina: "It was about how they wanted to become a dog and serve the person they love forever in return for their affection, right?" Rin: "Hm? How far into that book did you get, Hina?" Hina: "Umm, up to where the bartender turned Fusae into a dog." Rin: "Ah, I see... I think maybe you should stop there." Hina: "What? Why?" Rin: "I think the rest might be a bit beyond you. But I'll lend you another one." Hina: "O-Okay." Apparently she didn't want Hina reading the rest of that book. Rin: "Honestly, though... how many steps on the stairs to perversion are you planning on skipping?" Hina: "Am I... perverted? I just want to make you happy, Rin." Rin: "I think there's a misunderstanding here. I'm not a pervert." Hina: "You're not?" Rin: "I'm not." Hina: "I thought if I did the stuff in the books you like, you'd be happy." Rin: "How simplistic. That's very like you, though." Hina: "I really do want to be your dog though, Rin." Rin: "Do you really know what that means?" Hina: "I don't, but... I want all of me to belong to you, Rin." Her face was utterly serious. Rin: "........." Hina: "...Can I?" Rin sighed, then poured some water into her hand and held it out to Hina. Hina innocently lapped it up. Hina: "Eheheh♪" Rin: "........." Patting Hina's head, Rin fell into thought.
Hina: "Hey, Rin—" Hina chirped and went to sit in her lap, but... Hina: "Ngyah!" She fell backwards with a yelp. Rin: "Oh, sorry. You okay?" It was because Rin had suddenly stood up. Hina: "Ngh, I'm good." Hina popped back up. Rin: "Uh, I'm going out." Hina: "Huh? Now? Where?" Rin: "Just, out..." Hina: "I have a question about the English homework—" Rin: "Sorry, not today. I'll look at it later." Hina: "Whaaat?" Rin fixed her bangs in the mirror, ignoring Hina's sulking. Hina: "......" This was rare for Rin... and Hina noticed it, too. Rin: "See you." Hina: "Rin... My homework..." Fumi: "Oh, I can help you with the homework after I'm done with the dishes." Fumi said from the kitchen. Hina: "...Okay. Thanks." Hina was left staring at the door Rin had gone out through.
Hina: "Hey, Rin, where'd you go last—" Fumi: "Ogata." Fumi had been just a moment quicker in addressing Rin. Rin: "Ah, you ready?" Fumi: "Yep, all good." Hina: "Rin?" Rin: "Sorry Hina, Asou and I have somewhere to go today, so could you go home without us?" Hina: "I-I'll come with you!" Rin: "You will not. You're not done with that English assignment yet, are you?" Hina: "But..." Fumi: "I'm sorry, Natsume. We can help you when we get back if you need it." Rin: "See you." Hina: "Ah... Rin..." ......... Hina: "...What's with her?" Hina: "Haahh..." Sachiko: "Huh? All alone today?" Sachiko looked up from a bundle of old newspapers by the front door. Hina: "They said they were going somewhere together so I should go home by myself..." Sachiko: "Huh... Oh yeah?" Sachiko nodded knowingly and returned to her work. Hina: "See you..." Hina trudged off to her room. Sachiko: "Oh yeah, Hinacchi. When Rin gets back, tell her I'll see her again tonight, will you?" Sachiko said, head still down. Hina: "Huh?" Hina froze. Sachiko: "Man, Rin's beautiful, ain't she? She's got a great figure... huh?" When she looked up, Hina was already gone.
The date was about to change. The room was dark, and Hina and Fumi were both in bed. Rin, however, was gone. Hina: "......" Hina was tossing and turning. The door quietly opened, and light from the hallway spilled into the room. Footsteps approached. Rin: "...You're sleeping by now, right?" Rin kneeled by Hina's bed and peered down at her face. No response came from Hina. She didn't so much as budge. Rin: "........." Rin smiled contentedly and reached out to stroke Hina's head as if to feel her warmth. Rin: "...Good night." She gave Hina a kiss on the cheek and then climbed up the ladder to her bed. Hina: "........." When she heard Rin breathing evenly in her sleep, Hina turned to the wall. There were tears on her cheek. Hina: "She smelled like cigarettes..." Hina buried her face in her pillow.
Rin: "If she was gonna go home without us, she could have said something. She's not answering her phone, either." Fumi: "Maybe she's not feeling well. She seemed a little under the weather this morning." Unlike yesterday, today it was these two who had been left behind. They made their way to their room, perplexed. Rin: "Hey, Hina, why'd you go home without us?" Rin called into the living room, pulling off her loafers. Fumi: "Oh, she's not there." Rin: "Huh? Really? Then, her bed—nope..." Rin peered into Hina's bed. Rin: "Hmm, wonder where she went." Fumi: "Ogata!" Rin: "Huh? What?" Rin hurried to the living room. Fumi: "This was on Natsume's desk..." Fumi handed Rin an envelope that said, in Hina's handwriting: Rin: "'To Rin'...?" Rin opened the envelope and pulled out the stationery inside. Fumi looked on worriedly. Rin: "'I can't live with you anymore. I'm sorry for being so selfish. Thank you for everything. I really loved you.'" (show_name=False) Rin: "Huh? Wait, why? What is this?" Fumi: "Did she... run away?" Rin: "But why would she do that?!" Fumi: "I don't know..." Rin: "I'll try calling her agai—" Rin: "Huh?" Hearing something buzzing, she turned around to see Hina's flip phone vibrating on her desk. Rin: "........." Fumi: "Umm, her wallet and train pass are here, too..." Rin: "...What are you in such a rush for, you idiot...?" Fumi: "But she couldn't have gone far without them..." Rin: "Right. Let's split up and look nearby." Sachiko: "You're going out? It started raining, you know." Sachiko called out to the two of them on their way out the dorm. Rin: "Hina... ran away..." Sachiko: "Huh? Ran away?" Fumi: "Oh, that's right, you didn't see her leave, did you?" Sachiko: "Sorry, I didn't. Why would she run away, though?" Rin: "That's what I want to know!" Fumi: "You can't think of anything, can you, Sachiko?" Sachiko: "Why she'd run away...?" Sachiko folded her arms and pondered. Sachiko: "......Oh." Sachiko snapped her fingers in realization. Rin: "What?" Sachiko: "Shit, it might be my fault." Fumi: "What? Why?" Sachiko: "Rin, did you tell Hina about the modeling?" Rin: "No, I've been keeping it a secret." Sachiko: "That must be it, then. I told her to tell you I'd be seeing you again tonight." Rin: "........." Sachiko: "Maybe she's got some weird misunderstanding. That we're together or something." Rin: "No way. You're like twice my age." Sachiko: "Right... Hey, I am not!" Rin: "That idiot!" Rin stomped her foot and ran out of the dorm. Fumi: "I-I'm coming too!" Sachiko: "Ah, wait, Foomin. Here, take this." Fumi: "What's—" Fumi looked at the package thrust into her hands in confusion for a moment, but quickly realized what it was. Fumi: "Alright! Got it." And she made to run out of the dorm after Rin. Sachiko: "Oh, Foomin, I think you should give Rin a head start." Fumi: "Umm... yes, you're right." Sachiko: "Here, I'll go get an umbrella." Fumi: "Thank you."
With the setting of the sun, the rain had turned to snow. Rin seemed to have an idea about where Hina had gone. She headed straight toward a certain location. Rin: "Haah, haah, haahh..." Rin turned on the light and looked around the chapel. Rin: "Hina, you're here, aren't you? Come out." There was no answer. But a shadow was moving between the pews. Rin had surely noticed it, too. Rin: "...HINA!" Rin took a deep breath and shouted. It was rare for her to show so much emotion. Hina: "Ah!" A figure popped up with a yelp and tried to hide in the corner of the building. Rin: "Stay!" Hina: "!" The figure stopped. Rin: "Come here." Hina: "...Augh." Rin: "Get! Over! Here! Right! Now!" Hina: "...Auuugh." Hina emerged from behind the organ, trying to make herself look smaller. Hina: "...How did you know I was here?" Rin: "Haahh. Where were you gonna go without your wallet? This is the only place with a roof you could get into." Hina: "........." Rin: "Come on, let's go home." Rin said, holding out her hand. Hina: "...But I can't be with you anymore." Rin: "Why can't you?" Hina: "It was just a little bit of fun for you, wasn't it, Rin?" Rin: "Huh?" Hina: "I don't have any boobs or curves, and I suck at sex..." Rin: "Huh?" Hina: "You'd rather be with a mature woman who knows what she's doing than a little shrimp like me." Rin: "Huh?!" Hina: "But I love you. So I can't be with you anymore." Rin: "Huh, huh, huh?!" Hina: "Waaah!" Hina finally began to cry. Rin: "Okay, stay right there!" Hina: "Ugh..." Rin: "Down!" Rin snapped when Hina was about to run again. Hina: "...Ugh." Rin gravely strode toward Hina and embraced her, holding her in place. Rin: "...You really are a stupid dog." She held Hina tight. Hina: "Weeeh..." Rin: "Since you're so stupid, I'll explain everything to you." Hina: "..." Great, big tears fell from Hina's eyes and wet Rin's shirt. Hina: "You went to Sachiko's room... When you came back, you smelled like smoke." Rin: "You were awake last night." Hina: "...I was waiting for you." Rin smiled slightly and laid a hand on Hina's head. Rin: "I was going to Sachiko's room for work." Hina: "...Dirty work?" Rin: "Don't be stupid. I was modeling for her." Hina: "...For a dirty picture?" Rin: "I had clothes on!" Hina: "But why now? You never would before." Rin: "...To buy a present for you, duh." Hina: "A computer?" Rin: "No, that's not happening. But... I think you'll like it more." Hina: "...You could have told me." Rin: "You're supposed to keep these things secret." Hina: "Did Asou know?" Rin: "I told her not to tell you. She helped me pick it out." Hina: "...Is that what it was?" Hina sighed in relief. Rin: "And one more thing..." Hina: "Hunh?" Rin: "You said it was just fun for me..." Hina: "...!" Rin was quiet, but her harsh tone surprised Hina. Rin: "Do you know how much I stressed over you and over all this?" Rin: "I'm not an _angel_ like you..." Hina: "What do you mean?" Rin: "This is the first time I've been in love too! I don't have any idea what I'm doing!" Hina: "I thought you were way more experienced, Rin..." Rin: "How? Have you ever even seen me communicate with anyone outside of the dorm... ugh!" She took a self-inflicted wound there. Hina: "But you're good at sex..." Rin: "Wh... You think I'm not super nervous every time I touch you? Y-You're just too sensitive!" Hina: "Augh... I'm sorry." Rin: "...So, does that clear up your misunderstanding?" Hina: "Yeah... but..." Rin: "What?" Hina: "You haven't told me you love me yet." Rin: "Ugh..." She landed a critical hit. Rin: "Umm... I'm saving that for a special occasion." Hina: "......" Rin: "Fine... I love you." Rin put her mouth up to Hina's ear and whispered to her ever so quietly. Hina: "...Heh, heheheh! I love you, I love you, I love you, Rin!" And Hina held out both hands to her, a beaming smile on her face. Rin: "...What's with the hands?" Hina: "My present." Rin: "I'll put it in your stocking tonight." Hina: "I want it now!" Rin: "I'm saving it." Hina: "Uuuuugh." Rin: "Stop grumbling!" Hina: "Uuuuugh!"
Fumi: "May I come in?" Hina: "Oh, Asou." Rin: "I've cleared things up with the idiot." Hina: "I'm not an idiot!" Fumi: "Ahaha, you're back to normal." Fumi smiled, relieved to see them acting the same as always. Fumi: "That's right. Sachiko gave me this." Hina: "What is it, what is it?" Rin: "Haah... It's your present." Hina: "Woof!" Hina looked up at Rin and ran around her. Rin: "No! You have to wait until morning!" Hina: "Nooo! I want it now! I want it now!" Fumi: "Ogata?" Rin: "Ah, fine, whatever!" Hina: "Yay!" Rin: "Here." What emerged from the package was— Hina: "Huh? It's..." Rin: "I got it specially made at an accessory store. They just finished it today, so I had Sachiko go and pick it up for me." Hina: "Is this a collar?!" Rin: "It's a choker, you stupid pervert!" Hina: "Put it on, put it on, Rin!" Rin: "Yeah, yeah." Rin fastened the choker on Hina's neck. Hina: "Now I belong to you, Rin!" Rin: "Maybe if you run away again, I'll put a leash on it." Hina: "Can't breathe..."
Hina: "Are you fighting?" Rin & Fumi: "Huh?" The two of them both exclaimed at Hina's unexpected question. Rin: "Wh-Why do you say that?" Hina: "I'm not sure what it is exactly, but the two of you seem kind of distant lately." Fumi: "That's not true... right?" Rin: "Y-Yeah, of course it isn't... right?" Hina: "........." Rin: "S-See, we get along perfectly fine!" Fumi: "Aah!" Rin put a hand around Fumi's shoulder in an exaggerated manner. Hina: "...Yeah, something's weird." Rin: "Wh-Why?" Hina: "Well, before, you would've pushed Asou down and been all like, 'Shouldn't you be in bed by now, kiddo?' or something like that." Rin: "Ugh..." Her past actions were catching up to her. Now that they'd crossed a line, maybe it was somehow harder to do such things in jest. Rin: "Umm... aren't you tired?" Hina: "Nope. It's only 8." Rin: "...Right." Fumi: "A-Anyway, we're not fighting~" Hina: "Well, alright..." Hina said, putting her headphones on and sinking into her music. Rin & Fumi: "........." Rin and Fumi exchanged a glance.
Two shadows became one in the light of the setting sun, coming together tentatively. Rin: "Chp... mmh... ah..." Fumi: "Mmh... anh... nah... chp..." Their saliva mixed noisily. The sound was even more pronounced due to the emptiness of the classroom. Rin: "Mhh... mm... hwah... ahh..." Fumi: "Haah... mmh..." Their lips finally separated when they ran out of breath. Their tongues pulled apart last, as if reluctant to do so. Rin: "Amh... that was close." Rin caught her breath, wiping her chin. Fumi: "Haahh... what was?" Fumi asked, also catching her breath. Rin: "...Any more and I wouldn't be able to stop." Fumi: "I suppose you're right, then. There isn't a meeting or anything today." Rin: "Yeah. If Hina saw this..." Rin shrugged anxiously. Fumi: "She surprised me last night." Rin: "Yeah. She can be sharp sometimes... Call it animal instinct, I guess." Fumi: "I feel kind of bad, though." Rin: "I do feel a little guilty about keeping it to ourselves, but I don't really have the courage to say anything right now..." Fumi: "She is a little strait-laced about these things..." Rin: "Yeah. Well, if it comes to it, we'll just have to elope." Fumi: "Elope..." Fumi's face was sorrowful. Rin: "Oh, that was a joke. I was just joking." Fumi: "Our relationship is important to me, but so is the relationship between the three of us." Rin: "Hey, I agree." Rin: "We'll just have to keep our trysts secret for now." Fumi: "Right..." The two both sighed and smiled. Rin: "Asou..." Rin cupped Fumi's face and was about to kiss her again when— Hina: "I'm back!" Fumi: "Awawa." Rin: "Seriously... speak of the devil." Hina: "What, were you badmouthing me again?!" Rin & Fumi: "No, no."
Rin: "Heh heh heh." Rin poked her head out of Fumi's bed. Fumi: "Waaah?! Ogata—" Fumi almost shouted in surprise, but Rin covered her mouth. Rin: "Don't make too much noise." Rin looked over at the opposite bed. Hina: "Mmn... mmn..." Rin: "Safe." Fumi: "Phah. Really, where do you think you're popping out from?" Fumi looked somewhat bothered by the intrusion. Rin: "It's warm in your bed~" She wasn't listening. Fumi: "...Geez." Fumi sighed and closed her half-written diary. Fumi: "What if Natsume wakes up?" Rin: "We'll just tell her she dreamed it." Fumi: "Hmm..." Fumi looked over at the other bed. Hina: "Mmn... mmn..." Hina was curled up like a cat, snoring contentedly. Fumi: "But, I really think—" Rin: "I really wanted to feel you." Fumi: "Ah..." Rin whined, burying her face in Fumi's chest. Fumi felt the warmth of her breath and the cold metal of her glasses at the same time. Fumi: "...Does it have to be now?" Rin: "Yeah, it does." Rin had a firm grip on Fumi's pajamas. Fumi: "What do I do with you..." She didn't look that opposed to it, though. Fumi: "...Just for a little bit, okay?" She could feel Rin nod against her chest. Fumi smiled awkwardly and stroked the big child's hair. She turned off her light and gently removed Rin's glasses. Fumi: "You have to be good, though—" Fumi's words came just a moment too late. Fumi: "Haah...!" Rin nibbled on Fumi's breasts through her pajamas. Rin: "Mhmhm...♪" Fumi: "Ah, hey... where do you think you're... nnh!" Rin took advantage of the one thin layer of clothing Fumi had on to escalate her mischief. Narrowing her target to Fumi's right breast only, Rin's lips slowly climbed its slope. Fumi: "R-Really, we can't... do this!" Rin: "Heheh... you say you don't want to, but you're already hard down here." Fumi: "Haah! S-Stop that!" Fumi tried to pry Rin off of her, but Rin clung tight. Rin: "Come on, if you're too loud, you'll wake up Hina." ...Those books are a bad influence on her. Fumi: "Honestly... yah!" Flip. Rin: "Huh? What?" Suddenly, Rin found her place switched with Fumi's, and Fumi's irritated face right before hers. Fumi: "........." Rin: "H-Huh? Asou...?" Rin squirmed, but found both her wrists pinned. Rin: "A-Ahaha... You're pretty strong, huh?" Fumi: "And you're a bad girl who needs to be punished." Fumi smiled while Rin lay there, her arms caught above her head. Rin: "Punished...?" Without answering, this time, Fumi buried her face in Rin's chest. Rin: "Ah, hey... Hey?!" Fumi: "Mmh..." Fumi caught the zipper of Rin's jacket in her mouth, and pulled it all the way down. Then, she moved on to Rin's shirt, lifting it. Fumi: "Heh, your boobs have such a nice shape. And such a nice colornhere—" Fumi ran her tongue over the tip of Rin's breast. Rin: "H-Haah?!" Rin jerked up. Rin: "Nnh... mgh?" Fumi: "Don't be too loud." This time, Fumi's hand covered Rin's mouth. Fumi: "If you make too much noise, Natsume will wake up." They both looked over to Hina's bed. Hina: "M...Mmmh." Right at that moment, Hina turned over toward them. Rin: "Mmm!" Fumi: "It's fine. She's still sleeping." Rin was flustered, but Fumi didn't remove her hand. Fumi: "We'll get our underwear dirty like this. Want to take them off?" Fumi: "Okay, lift your butt for me?" Fumi pulled Rin's pants and underwear down and ran her hand down Rin's exposed nether regions. Rin: "Mm, mmm!" Fumi: "Oh?" Rin: "...!" Rin turned her face away. Her ears were turning red right before Fumi's eyes. Fumi: "Oh my♪" Fumi happily moved her face closer. Fumi: "I see you're already wet." Rin: "Mmgh...?!" Fumi's finger slid inside Rin effortlessly. She tickled Rin's soft flesh, Rin throwing her head back with each movement. Rin: "Mh... mh...!" Fumi: "Heheh, I already took my hand away. Did you even realize? I bet you like receiving more than giving, hm, Ogata?" Rin: "!!" Fumi: "...How cute." Fumi was transfixed by each one of Rin's delicate reactions. Fumi: "You're not going to make any more noise?" Rin nodded demurely. Fumi: "Heheh, good girl." Fumi removed her hand from Rin's mouth, and... Rin: "Phew... uuugh..." Rin whined, eyes teary. Fumi: "Oh... did I go too far?" Fumi went to pull her hand away when she saw Rin's tears. Rin: "No..." But Rin closed her thighs around her, holding her there. Fumi: "Huh?" Rin: "Ah!" Rin exclaimed when she realized what she'd done. Fumi: "...Or did you want me to go further?" Rin looked away and bit her lip. Fumi: "Please tell me?" Fumi whispered in her ear, then waited patiently for a response. Rin: "......" After much hesitation, Rin finally gave a short nod. Fumi: "I'm so happy! I'll do whatever you want me to do, Ogata." With a loving kiss to her cheek, Fumi slid her finger back inside Rin. Rin: "Mmmgh...!" There were wet sounds every time Fumi moved her finger in and out of Rin. Rin clung tight to Fumi's pajamas. Fumi: "Is this it? Does this feel good?" Fumi watched Rin's reactions closely, using them to figure out where she was most sensitive. Rin: "Mhh... nnnh!! Nah!!" Rin tried to keep her voice down but couldn't help gasping. Fumi: "Wow... You're pushing back against my finger here, Ogata." Rin: "D... Don't say... that..." Hina: "What are you doing, Rin?!" Fumi: "?!" Rin: "H... Hyaaah!!" The two both jumped up at the sudden shout. Hina: "...Mble. You'll catch a cold without your blanket." Hina said, turning over again. Fumi: "Was she... sleep talking?" Rin: "W-Wah... ah..." Fumi: "H-Huh? Ogata?" Fumi noticed the warm fluid covering her palm. Fumi: "Did that... make you...?" Rin seemed to have experienced a light orgasm, and— Rin: "Waaaah..." She flailed. Fumi: "Oh..." Rin: "Haahh... Were you always this vicious, Asou?" Her bitter voice came from under the covers. Fumi: "Vicious~? I was punishing you." Fumi said with a big smile. Fumi: "Did you not like being on the receiving end?" Rin: "I didn't... _not_ like it..." She could tell from her voice that Rin's face was bright red. Fumi: "Good." Fumi patted Rin's head through the blanket. Fumi: "Oh... that's right." Rin: "What?" Fumi: "You can't keep calling your wife by her last name, can you?" Rin: "Huh? Ah... I couldn't really... find the right moment... you know." Fumi: "......" A wordless push. Rin: "O-Okay..." Rin's hand timidly emerged from the blanket. Fumi placed her own hand over it. Rin: "...Fumi." Fumi: "Yes." They squeezed each other's hands. Fumi: "Would you like a pet name from me?" Rin: "...That would be embarrassing, so 'Rin' will be just fine." Fumi: "Rin." Rin: "Yes." Rin buried her face in the pillow. Fumi couldn't see it, but she could tell. Fumi: "You should get back to your bed and go to sleep now, or you won't be able to get up in the morning." She patted Rin's head again. Rin: "...Nngh." A grumble. Fumi: "Rin?" Rin: "...Okay." With a reluctant nod, Rin fixed her clothes underneath the blanket. She slid out from under the covers, and Fumi burst out laughing at the messy state of her hair. ...... Rin slipped out of the bed so as to not let the heat escape. Rin: "...Well, good night... Fumi." Fumi: "Good night, Rin." Rin bent down, Fumi stretched up, and they exchanged a brief kiss. Rin: "...Am I a bottom?" Rin muttered to herself, climbing into her own bed.
Rin: "Mmh... chp." Fumi: "Ahh..." Sweet sighs escaped from their parted lips. Fumi: "Haahh... You get better at kissing every time." Rin: "I-I do?" ......... Today, once again, they were having a short tryst as they waited for Hina to return from the faculty room. Rin: "Hey, Fumi? Can I ask you something I've been wanting to know for a while?" Fumi: "Sure, what is it?" Rin: "Would you rather be a top or a bottom?" Fumi: "Huh?" Fumi's face was blank. Fumi: "Well, I like having a bottom bunk right now." Rin: "Ah, that's not what I mean." Rin found herself embarrassed by Fumi's innocent answer. Rin: "It's like, about... whether you enjoy being in charge during... you know." Fumi: "Oh, I see." Comprehension. Fumi: "Hmm~" Fumi gave it some thought, and... Fumi: "Whatever you prefer, Rin." She lifted her skirt in a curtsy. Fumi: "Do you want to be in charge, Rin?" Rin: "Me? I... I guess so." Fumi: "I see..." Rin: "I just feel like you're so much more of a girl than me, so I have to do that." Fumi: "Oh? I think you're plenty feminine. Much more so than me." Rin: "You think so...?" Rin's face said she didn't agree. Fumi: "You were pretty incredible that night." Rin: "Inc—?!" Rin went speechless with shame at the memory. Fumi: "When I tried to sleep after that, my sheets were soaked—" Rin: "Wah, waaah..." Rin covered her face. Fumi: "I had to put a towel down—" Rin: "Waaah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!" Rin yelled and ran off. Fumi: "Ah, Rin?" Rin ran straight out of the classroom. Hina: "What was that?" Hina came in in her place, looking rather bewildered. Fumi: "Ahaha, hahaha."
Hina: "Hey, Rin?" Rin: "Hm~?" Hina: "I'm guessing I'm wrong about this, but Asou's not bullying you, is she?" Rin: "Wha?!" Rin dropped the book she was reading. Rin: "Wh-Where'd you come up with something like that?" Hina: "Well, you ran out of the classroom crying today." Rin: "Th-That's because..." Hina: "You seem kinda timid around her lately, but Asou isn't really acting any different." Rin: "O-Oh... Is that what you mean?" Hina: "What did you think I meant?" Rin: "Nothing, there's nothing going on!" Hina: "...Well, alright. But you can talk to me about anything, okay?" Hina: "We all get to live together in the same room, so we should get along. I consider both of you to be important friends to me." Rin: "Yeah..." Rin seemed to be debating something. Rin: "L-Listen, Hina. Fumi and I are—" Hina: "It's a good thing we're all girls, though." Rin: "Huh?" Hina: "Well, it'd make things pretty complicated if romance got involved." Rin: "Y-Yeah, I guess." Hina: "Oh, were you about to say something?" Rin: "No, it was nothing." ...The truth remains concealed. Fumi: "Okay, Sachiko's going to pick up our Christmas cake." ......... ...... Rin: "Whoops, can't find my glasses." Hina: "Are they on your head?" Rin: "I looked there first." It was Rin's usual reading routine. Fumi: "Oh, your glasses are right here." Fumi found them on her pillow. Rin: "...Oh." Rin's face said, "crap." And a moment later... Fumi: "...Oh!" Fumi's said the same. Hina: "Why?!" Fumi: "U-Umm... err..." Rin: "Uhh..." Hina: "A magic trick?!" Oh... she hadn't noticed.
Just after noon. The messy sheets and disheveled hair were a clear indication of what had just taken place. Fumi: "Wah!" Fumi exclaimed the moment she put the brush to Rin's hair. Rin: "Huh? What?" Fumi: "The brush just goes right through it!" Rin: "Oh, that? I thought you found a white hair or something." Fumi: "It might not be much to you, but think about the people who have unmanageable hair." Rin: "Yeah, Hina seems like she's at war every morning." Fumi: "I'm jealous. I wish my hair would behave." Rin: "But my hair is the only thing that behaves." Fumi: "You think so? I think your body's very well-behaved. I mean, justnnow—" Rin: "Don't say any more." Rin hurriedly covered Fumi's mouth. Rin: "My body's just flexible~" Rin said, bending forward. She pressed her chest to the floor easily and then rose just as effortlessly. Fumi: "Oh, wow. It's like you do ballet." Rin: "I did. I'm glad you didn't say I was like a sumo wrestler." Fumi: "Did you really?" Rin: "Yeah, only up until middle school, though." Fumi: "I never knew that." Rin: "Well, I never told you." Fumi: "You should talk about yourself more." Rin: "There's nothing all that interesting to say." Fumi: "There you go acting all twisted again. It's the listener who decides if it's interesting or not." Rin: "Well, maybe some day~" Rin: "Hwaah... feels good to have your hair brushed. I'm getting kinda sleepy." Fumi: "Eheheh, my dog always falls asleep when I brush him, too." Rin: "Your dog's a big one, right?" Fumi: "Yep. He's a retriever." Rin: "What's his name?" Fumi: "Arthur. His mom lives up with my uncle in Hokkaido, and he has a big brother named Jack at the school where my uncle works." Rin: "Huh." Fumi: "...You really seem like you're about to fall asleep." Rin: "Hm? I'm okay. I'm not sleepy." That's what all sleepy people say. Fumi: "Eheh, did you work too hard earlier?" Rin: "...You're kind of a bully lately, Fumi." Fumi: "A bully? I don't intend to be..." Rin: "It's even worse if you're not trying to do it." Fumi: "I'll have to start trying, then." Rin: "What about just not bullying me?!" Fumi: "Ahaha." Rin: "Ugh... you sadist." These exchanges were becoming routine for them. ......... ...... Time passed slowly, the only sound in the room the brush sliding through Rin's hair. Fumi: "I'm done brushing it. Should I tie it back now?" There was no response. Fumi: "Rin?" Fumi peered at Rin's face from behind and realized that she'd fallen asleep. Fumi: "So you did fall asleep." Fumi watched Rin doze for a while. Fumi: "Eheh, you're a very interesting girl, Rin." Fumi ran her fingers through Rin's glossy black hair. Fumi: "I want to see more sides of you." Fumi: "Well, you might catch a cold if we stay like this. Let me just shift you a little~" Fumi gently moved Rin so as not to wake her. Fumi: "Here we go..." Rin: "Mm... nnh." Rin stirred atop Fumi's lap. Fumi: "Are you awake?" Fumi looked down from her book at Rin's half-awake face. She sat up and... Rin: "Huh? Where's the angel?" ...was the first thing she said. Fumi: "What? Angel?" Rin: "...Oh, sorry. I was half-asleep." Rin looked around, now fully awake. Fumi: "Were you dreaming?" Rin: "Yeah, I guess." Fumi: "About an angel?" Rin: "Yeah. And I was a kid." Fumi: "Huh..." Fumi: "Rin, why don't you tell me about it before you forget?" Rin nodded and started to explain. Rin: "_I heard a voice out of nowhere and jumped. When I looked up—there was an angel there._" Rin: "_I screamed and threw the book I was holding._" Rin: "_The book went right through the angel and hit the wall behind her._" Rin: "I threw all the books near me, but the angel didn't disappear, and all of a sudden, she was sitting next to me." Rin: "By then, I wasn't scared of her anymore, and we just quietly read a book together." Rin: "I feel like she kind of looked like someone I know, but that part's all foggy. I can't remember it." Fumi listened to Rin's story, a gentle smile on her face. Rin: "Oh... and when I got tired, she let me sleep on her lap. Just like this..." Rin looked up at Fumi from her lap. Fumi: "It's rare for you to talk about angels." Rin: "Yeah... maybe you're rubbing off on me." Rin: "I think I could believe now." Fumi: "Really?" Rin: "Because there was an angel when I woke up." Fumi: "Aah!" Rin wrapped her arms around Fumi. Rin: "Ah, and the angel's reading a dirty book~" Fumi: "It's your book." Rin: "I know." Fumi: "I thought I'd do some studying for you." Rin: "Ha... hahaha."
Rin: "Looks like it's raining a little harder now." Rin muttered, peering out through the window. Fumi: "I'm sorry you got dragged into this with me." Fumi apologized, picking up the score she'd forgotten from the organ's music stand. Rin: "That's alright. It'll let up if we hang out here for a while." Rin said, turning back around and heading over to the organ. Rin: "Nice performance today. It was really good." Fumi: "Thanks. All the practice is worth it to hear that from you, Rin." Rin: "I wouldn't be able to do it even with practice." Rin said, hitting some random keys. A discordant jumble of sound bounced through the chapel. Fumi: "That's not true. You have a good sense of pitch. I'm sure you'd be able to play in no time." Rin: "You think so?" Rin sat down at the bench, a doubting look on her face. Fumi: "Mhm. Here, you start with your fingers here." Rin: "Huh...? Okay..." Rin put her fingers on the keyboard where Fumi told her to. Fumi: "Wow, your fingers are so long... You might be more suited to this than I am." Rin: "O-Oh?" Fumi: "Here, follow after my fingers." Fumi reached for the keys from behind Rin and played a short melody. Rin: "...Like this?" Rin copied her movements. Fumi: "Good, good♪" Fumi complimented her, her chin on Rin's shoulder. Fumi: "Can you press the keys a little lighter?" Fumi leaned even closer to Rin. Her breasts pressed against Rin's back. Rin: "Hey, your chest is touching my back." Fumi: "Oh, I'm sorry. Was I heavy?" Rin: "No, it felt good. Made me kinda horny, actually." Rin turned her head and gave Fumi a playful kiss on the cheek. Fumi: "Geez, you always have to make it sexual." Rin: "Sorry... mh." Fumi: "Mmh... hey... mch." Rin apologized, this time stealing Fumi's lips. And Fumi chided her, but didn't reject her, even entwining her tongue with Rin's. They shared sighs, their eyes watering as they stared at one another. Rin: "Pretty blasphemous of us to be getting all excited in a place like this." Fumi: "Honestly... The angels will be angry with us." ...... Rin: "Want to stop, then?" Fumi: "Oh? Do you think you can?" They looked at each other, mischievous smiles on their faces. Rin: "Of course I can't." Fumi: "Neither can I..." They exchanged another passionate kiss. Rin: "Fumi..." Rin made to turn around in her chair so that they were facing each other, but... Fumi: "No." Fumi gently held Rin down. Rin: "Huh?" Rin's chest hit the keyboard, playing a dissonant sound. Rin: "Wh-What? What are you doing, Fumi?" Rin looked back, uncomprehending. Fumi: "Eheheh, let's play a little game♪" Fumi looked down at Rin, a strange smile on her face. Rin: "...A-A game?" There was a distinct note of apprehension in Rin's voice. She had learned by now that when Fumi wore a smile like this, she was plotting something. Fumi: "Lift your butt, Rin?" Rin: "Huh...?" Fumi's coaxing voice only froze Rin even more. Fumi: "Please lift your butt up." Rin: "O...Okay." Her voice was sweet, but something about it brooked no argument. Rin was doing as she'd asked before she knew it. She timidly looked up to gauge Fumi's expression. Her skirt had already been flipped up and her underwear pulled down. Fumi: "So white and smooth! I love your butt, Rin." Fumi stroked Rin's butt adoringly. Rin: "...Ugh..." Rin, on the other hand, was stiff and twitching. Fumi: "Why do you look so nervous?" Rin: "......" Fumi: "You know I'd never do anything you didn't want me to, right?" Rin: "...R-Right." Fumi: "Good. ...Oh? What's this?" Rin: "Ah!" Rin gasped. Fumi: "It's spilling out already... There's juice dripping down your thigh, Rin." Fumi scooped up some of the fluid on Rin's thigh and showed it to her. Rin: "U-Ugh..." Fumi: "And I haven't even touched you yet. You get excited just from me watching you, huh, Rin?" Rin: "D-Don't be mean." It was hard to imagine Rin's usual flippant attitude, seeing her now. She was whining like a chastised dog. Fumi: "I'm not! ...No, maybe I am." Fumi nodded, coming to a realization. Fumi: "But only because you make me." Rin: "H-How?" Fumi: "Because you like it when I'm mean, don't you?" Rin: "I-I don't... like it." Fumi: "When you have that eager look on your face?" Rin bit her lip in shame. Fumi: "And you never say no. If you didn't like it, you could just tell me not to." Rin: "I... I guess that's true..." Rin mumbled. Fumi: "Oh, wow... It's twitching down here as we talk. Can you not wait any longer?" Rin: "Ah...!" Rin tried to hide the offending area with her hands. Fumi: "No! Don't hide it!" The words sprung from Fumi and Rin jumped and pulled her hands back. Fumi: "Rin? Can you spread it open and show me?" Rin: "Wait... what?! N-No way, I'm not embarrassing myself like that!" Fumi: "Don't say that. I know you like it when you're embarrassed." Fumi: "Can't you feel it in your belly? The wanting? The itch?" A shiver ran through Rin's thighs at Fumi's words. Fumi: "Would you prefer to beg or to open it yourself and show me?" Rin: "E-Either one is... embarrassing!" Fumi: "Then we don't have to go any further. Oh, I have a lot more patience than you, Rin~" Rin: "B-Bully..." Fumi: "Eheheh." Rin's fingers slowly moved, haltingly, toward that place, fluid dripping from her all the while, showing her excitement. Rin: "A-Aaah..." Trembling fingers spread apart her slit. Her petals were connected by strings of fluid. It gasped and twitched, shining with nectar. Fumi: "It's beautiful... It really is like a flower. Everything about you is beautiful, Rin. I'm jealous. You're like an angel..." Rin: "And you're... a demon." Fumi: "Hm? What was that?" Rin shook her head. Fumi: "I heard that. A demon? That's not very nice. Because you said that, I'm going to make you beg with your other lips, too." Fumi pouted dramatically. Rin: "Wh-What?! And how is _that_ nice?!" Fumi: "Okay, can you tell me what you want me to do?" Rin: "Augh... ugh..." Fumi licked her lips and looked down at Rin. Rin: "P-Put it in..." Rin's voice was so quiet it was almost silent. Fumi: "What was that? I couldn't hear you." Fumi cupped a hand at her ear, her face composed. Rin: "A-Augh..." Fumi wouldn't let up no matter how pathetically Rin whined. It was clear who was going to win this contest. And sure enough, after not even one minute, Rin gave in, her knees shaking. Rin: "P-Put it in... please." Fumi: "One more time?" Rin: "Put it in! Put your finger in me, please~!" Fumi: "Very good♪" Fumi smiled, satisfied, and stuck her finger inside Rin's molten core. Rin: "A-Aaah... hyaaaahn!!" Rin cried out at the same time as a crash rang out from the organ. After all of her teasing, Fumi's finger went into Rin like she was melted butter. Fumi: "You're almost hot enough to burn my finger. And twitching..." Fumi pushed her middle finger in halfway and moved it around to loosen Rin up. Rin: "A-Auuugh... nnh..." After a shout, Rin froze, clinging to the organ. Fumi: "Ah, you came a little just from me putting my finger in, didn't you?" Rin: "Y-Yes..." Maybe all the teasing had hardened her to the shame somewhat. Rin nodded, surprisingly forthright. Fumi: "You're getting more and more sensitive, huh?" Rin: "Th-That's because... you're... good at this." Fumi: "Thanks. I don't think that's all it is, though. I think you just have a lewd constitution, Rin." Rin: "I... I do not!" Fumi: "Are you sure? Don't you get turned on when you're bullied like a little masochist?" Rin: "I-I didn't... know that was part of your vocabulary." Rin was shocked to hear such filth coming from Fumi's mouth. Fumi: "Oh? Didn't I tell you I was reading your books to study?" Rin: "...Did you?" Fumi: "Of course! It's my job as your wife to make you happy♪" Rin: "Augh... nngh..." Fumi: "You've always wanted the things in those books to be done to you, haven't you?" Rin: "B-Books are... just books..." Fumi: "Oh, tell the truth. All the books you like are very similar, you know. You can tell right away what it is you want done to you." Rin: "Th-That's... not true..." Her tone was petulant. Fumi: "But... I might be just as dirty as you. Since I wanted to do all the things in the books to you." Fumi: "See? I want to do what you want done to you..." Rin: "Haaaaahn!!" Rin jumped when Fumi's fingers brushed against her. Rin: "Ah... aaah..." Rin's knees shook. She might have just come again. Juice dripped down Fumi's hand to the floor. Fumi: "You're making too much noise, Rin. You'll scare the angels." That's true. Fumi: "I think you need some punishment." Rin: "...Punishment?" Rin's face froze. Fumi: "This appears several times in those books you like... So I assume you'd like me to do it." Fumi said, raising her left hand. Rin: "Ah... ah... aah..." Rin seemed to know what was coming. Her eyes opened wide, her face turned fearful, then... she waited, tears shining. Rin: "Hyaaaaaahn!!" Fumi's hand slapped against Rin's butt. A shrill scream echoed through the chapel. Rin: "Ah... Hah... hahh..." The echoes of Rin's first spanking had her panting hard. Fumi: "Wow... When I spanked you, you squeezed really hard." Rin: "Th-That hurt..." A tear ran down Rin's cheek. Fumi: "Did you not like it? Do you want me to stop, Rin?" Fumi asked her tenderly, stroking her reddened butt. Rin: "Mm...mm..." Rin shook her head. Rin: "D-Do it... again... please." Fumi: "C-Cute..." Fumi shivered. Fumi: "Cute! Rin, Rin, Rin, Rin, my dear Rin! I love you! I love you! You're so cute!" Rin: "Aanh! ...Annh!" Fumi's hand hit Rin's butt again and again. Each time, Rin bucked and screamed. Rin: "I-I love you! I love you... Fumi, Fumi, Fumiii!" The internal and external stimuli together led Rin into a long orgasm. The small waves became a great surge that swept away all rational thought. Rin: "N-No... I'm cumming... I'm cumming..." Fumi: "It's alright... cum... Go ahead and cum!" One final impact. Rin: "Ah, ah... aaaaaaah!!" Rin screamed and arched, finally crashing onto the keyboard. Her knees trembled as she clung to the organ, unmoving. Fumi's faint handprint remained on her pale rear. Fumi: "I'm so happy, getting to leave a mark on you like this. I almost want to rub my cheek on it." Rin: "It stings... so maybe not now." Rin pleaded, still slumped over. Fumi: "Eheheh. Alright." Rin: "...You bully." Fumi: "Do you hate me for it?" Rin: "...I love you... stupid." Fumi: "Oooh... Riiin!!" Rin: "Hwaah?!" And right when Fumi leapt forward to hug Rin's butt and Rin screamed— Hina: "Rin? Asou? I brought you umbrellas!" Rin: "Huh?" Fumi: "Ah?" Hina: "Oh?" Hina & Rin & Fumi: "WHAAAAAA?!!"
An uneasy silence hung between them. Of course, they were all clothed now, but... Rin: "sob sob..." ...one of them was covering her face, crying. True, out of the three of them, this one had been discovered in the most compromising position. Hina: "Mm, well, I can't say I don't feel bad about this." Hina scratched her head as she watched Rin. Hina: "I thought you two were acting a little weird lately." Fumi: "I'm sorry. We couldn't find the right time to tell you." Fumi bit her lip guiltily. Hina: "It's fine. You two are free to go out with each other. You don't need to worry about me." Fumi: "......" Hina: "Wasn't expecting Rin to be on the bottom, though~" Rin: "Waaaaaaah!!" Rin almost ran out, but Fumi grabbed her by the collar. Fumi: "Umm, I was feeling a little mischievous today, but it's anyone's guess who will be in charge in the future..." Fumi: "It's just, I enjoyed Rin... Ogata's reactions more than I expected, and..." Hina: "Really don't need the backstory there." Rin: "Aaaaah..." Is this hell? Or an unexpected reward? Hina: "Anyway, I understand your relationship now. I'm not really sure what to say... Congratulations, I guess." Rin: "...Is that all?" Hina: "What do you mean?" Rin: "I thought you'd be mad." Hina: "Why?" Rin: "Well, your stance on deviancy, for one." Hina: "Like I said, you're free to go out with each other, and people who are going out... well, do that sort of stuff, I guess." Hina: "If it's out of love, no one has the right to object to that." Fumi: "Natsume..." Rin: "I always thought you were just a kid, but that was a real grown-up thing to say..." Hina: "Shut up, masochist." Rin: "sob sob..." Hina: "But... I'm gonna move out." Rin & Fumi: "What?!" Hina: "Well, I don't want to get in your way. I'll feel bad, now that I know." Hina: "I'll ask Sachiko about it when we get back. I think all the rooms in our dorm are full, so I'll move to another—" Fumi: "No! You can't leave! I want the three of us to stay together!" Fumi grabbed Hina's hand with both of hers. Hina: "...Asou..." Fumi: "If it will bother you, we'll keep our distance when we're at home. You can handle that, right, Rin?" Rin: "Huh? Oh, yeah." Hina: "I mean... as long as I can't see it, I don't mind. It doesn't bother you two to have me around, though?" Rin: "I wouldn't want you to leave either, Hina..." Hina: "Because Asou will bully you?" Rin: "Will you drop it?!" Rin: "If you stay, we'll go back to how things were. ...Until we graduate." Rin glanced over at Fumi, who smiled and nodded. Hina: "It's fine. I'd feel even worse if you did that." Hina: "...If you don't mind, I want to stay with you, too." Hina smiled tearily. Fumi: "We want you to stay, Natsume." Rin: "I told you about my ideal life, didn't I?" Hina: "Rin, Asou..." The three all held hands. Hina: "Asou, I leave Rin in your hands." Fumi: "Of course." Rin: "Why...?" Fumi: "Oh, I know! We can share her." Hina: "D-D-Don't joke about that!" Rin: "...Didn't sound like a joke to me."
Hina & Rin & Fumi: "Merry Christmas!" Laughter filled their room. They exchanged presents, ate cake, and enjoyed their time together, all three of them. However— Hina: "I have one more present for both of you." Fumi: "Huh? What is it?" Rin: "For us?" Hina: "I'll close my eyes for a little while." Rin and Fumi exchanged a blank look. Hina: "Ugh, god! I'm telling you I won't look!" Rin & Fumi: "Oh..." Hina: "I noticed you two holding hands under the table, you know." Fumi: "...Natsume..." Rin: "...Hina..." Hina: "Ah, but a kiss is all you get, okay?!" Rin: "Fumi..." Fumi: "Rin..." Hina: "Okay, Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" So Rin and Fumi exchanged a blissful kiss.
Hina & Rin & Fumi: "Merry Christmas!" Sachiko: "Phew..." Sachiko: "...?" Sachiko: "Welcome back. It's a nice Eve, isn't it?"
_We do exist._ When we came to be, no one remembers. When we became aware, we were watching a roiling Earth. After a time, the stars cooled and oceans formed. And we discovered small things moving between the waves. It was _life_. In the blink of an eye, life spilled out from the seas and filled the Earth. Then, after ten billion days and one hundred billion nights, life's journey arrived here... _Humans_. Their form resembled ours. ......... ...... Humans freed us from our endless boredom. Their individual lives are short. But in those moments, they experience a dizzying range of emotions. They live and die, love and hate, create and destroy, leaving countless marks on history. We became obsessed. We observed humanity from as close as we could. ......... ...... Humans cannot see us observers. But very rarely, there are some who can sense our presence. "Angels"— That is what they call us.
Here's how I came to start observing those girls: It began, in human time, about two months earlier. On that day, I was sitting on the water tower on top of a building, resting my wings. Sachiko: "It really is the middle of nowhere out here. Mountains in every direction..." There was someone else up on the roof, too. One woman, facing a canvas on an easel. Sachiko: "A cute girl right around here on the canvas would really bring this whole picture together..." She was muttering to herself all the while as she moved her brush. Sachiko: "No... If anything, I'd prefer to make the girl the subject... have the scenery in the background... Or just get rid of the scenery altogether... just give the whole space to the girl..." Sachiko: "I want to draw a cute girl in the nuuude!!" ...She seems to be a bit of a unique person. Curious now, I drifted down behind her and took a look at the canvas. ...... She was more talented than I thought she'd be. I had that _feeling_, at least. I say "feeling," because I can't see color. And not just me. We angels live in a monochrome world. We were given "light" but not "color." It was when we met humanity that we realized that this world exists in full color. But this was only conceptual knowledge. For instance, I know more about "red" than any human. The qualities of light, the structure of the retina, the workings of the optic nerve and the visual cortex... I understand all of these things. But no matter how much information I gain about color, I still cannot _sense_ it. We lack what humans call "qualia" in regard to color. I squinted at the canvas. She was painting the view from here. The roofs extending into the distance, the mountains behind them, and the expanse of the sky behind those. I imagined what colors it might use from its outlines and shades. But my imagining would never lead me anywhere. Sachiko: "I can't see you, but you're there, aren't you? I've been _sensing_ you all this time." Huh? I was startled when she suddenly spoke to me. She didn't turn around, but I could tell that it was me she was addressing. Sachiko: "What do you think? Pretty good, right?" She boasted to me. I took another look at the canvas. Sachiko: "The mountains are just bursting with color this time of year." Autumn colors... I do know of the phenomenon. Sachiko: "Color is great. Look at all this paint I have." She picked up her box of paints and held it out in my direction. Well, close to my direction. She didn't appear to be able to actually _see_ me. I peered at the various tubes of paint in the box. But, without color as I was, they were nothing but a dull gradient of black to grey to white. Sachiko: "How many shades of green do you think there are? Emerald, parrot, viridian, turquoise, lime, jade, evergreen, viridian..." She said viridian twice. She went on, unbothered. And she continued to add color to her picture as she spoke proudly of the vibrancy of the world. Sachiko: "I'll teach you to paint if you join me." _Join_ her? The door suddenly opened. She and I both turned toward it. Onto the roof walked three girls. The girls headed toward the woman. Her acquaintances, apparently. I spread my wings and took to the air. Hina: "Who the heck are you talking to, Sachiko?" Sachiko: "Why, the universe, of course." Rin: "Geez. You scare me sometimes." Sachiko: "Anyway, did you think about that modeling job? I'll pay. And I'll throw in an extra 8,000 if you do it nude!" Fumi: "I don't know about that..." Sachiko: "And I won't even touch you, either!" Hina: "Yeah, obviously!" ......... I sat down on the water tower and watched their exchange. It was inane, yet somehow amusing. I tried to imagine myself among them. —Huh? What was that? I pressed down on my eyelids and then took a look around. ......... It was the same old tranquil world as always. ......... I took a deep breath and looked back at the jovial girls. ......... ...... This is how it began.
A month passed. My visits to that roof became frequent. Whenever I saw her—Sachiko—from the sky, I flew down to meet her. She could always sense me, and spoke to me about this and that while she moved her brush. Of course, I had no way of responding. It was one-sided communication. But her intuition was incredibly sharp. She was able to respond to my questions so naturally it was almost like we were having real conversations. ......... She also often made plans with me, though I remained unseen by her. I couldn't respond to her, but that didn't stop her from proposing things. She'd plan places for us to go, things for us to eat, inconsequential things like that. Even if they were promises I couldn't keep, it was a new experience for me, and I enjoyed it. As I listened to Sachiko's ramblings, I pictured myself leading a human life. ......... It was on one such day that Sachiko made another plan with me. It was for Christmas Eve, a month away. Something anyone might propose to a friend: "Let's have some cake together in my room." As always, I nodded meaninglessly. Yes. It was the same as always... or it should have been. ......... After a little while, the wind picked up. Sachiko's canvas was rattling; her work was probably finished for the day. I decided to leave too, and spread my wings. Sachiko: "Hey." I turned back at her voice and Sachiko was looking up, almost exactly at me. Sachiko: "Why don't you come down?" She beckoned me. Come back down? Isn't she done for the day? Sachiko: "Ah, I don't mean come back down now. I mean come down to the surface." Huh? Sachiko: "Why don't you get rid of those wings? It's no fun up there, is it?" Does she... know I'm an angel? Sachiko: "It's fun down here." I was speechless. I'd realized that she was telling me to _become human_. Oblivious to my bewilderment (obviously, since she couldn't see me...), she went on to extol the virtues of humanity. I'd never heard of an angel becoming human. I had no idea if it was even possible. All I could do was fly confused circles above Sachiko. Sachiko: "Yeah, it's a hard decision to make. You're interested though, right?" Sachiko nodded to herself as if she knew exactly what I was thinking. Interested...? Well... I did have to admit I was tiring of eternity. But do I have the resolve to get rid of my wings? I would be trading eternity for a moment. ......... No way, no way. I came to my senses, shocked that I had given such serious thought to Sachiko's proposal. Was she talking nonsense? Making it up? Making fun of me? It was ridiculous— Sachiko: "Go watch those girls for a month. You can decide after that." Sachiko said, pointing down. Hina: "Okay, let's go!" I heard girls' voices. Familiar voices. It was the three who had come to the roof. Their room must have been right underneath us. ......... A month? Decide? I had no clue what she meant. ...... Another strong gust blew by. Sachiko: "I'll be waiting here a month from now, at night." Sachiko made plans I couldn't agree to, as always. And as always, I found myself nodding, though I didn't understand why. ......... ...... Sachiko: "I'll see you on Christmas!"
From that day on, I was a part of their life. Of course, they couldn't see me, so I just silently watched them. Whoops. Fumi walked through me, bringing mugs from the kitchen. Fumi: "Here you are." Not only was I invisible to them, we also couldn't bump into each other. And it wasn't just our bodies. We angels could in no way interact with the physical world. I sat down next to the three of them, tuning in to their conversation. Fumi: "You always look like you're having fun when you've got that camera in your hands, Natsume." She's right about that. Hina's eyes sparkle like a child with a favorite toy. Hina: "Yeah. I've always felt relaxed holding it." Fumi: "Your father's a photographer, right?" Hina: "Yep. He's a nature photographer, so he takes pictures of flowers and trees and stuff." Fumi: "Do you like nature photography too?" Hina: "I wouldn't say I've got a preference. I take pictures of whatever I feel like." Fumi: "It does seem that way." Fumi looked over to Hina's desk. I got up and went to see. Hina: "Rin, what's that?" While I was looking at the pictures, Hina spoke up. She was pointing at a package on Rin's desk—one she'd furtively accepted from Sachiko earlier. Rin: "I'll give you three choices, then. If you get it right, I'll give it to you." Hina: "Huh? Seriously?" Rin: "1. My allowance.n2. A super difficult book.n3. A brick." I picked up the package to see what was inside. In reality, though, it didn't budge in the slightest. All I had touched was _probability_. I won't go into too complicated an explanation. Just think of it like this: though we angels are not able to move things, we are able to comprehend them. I got a glimpse at the answer before the other two. ...Hmm. To be precise, it's none of the three options she gave. The package does indeed contain a book, but it's more "inappropriate" than "difficult." What is that woman giving an impressionable girl? Fumi: "#3 would be pretty scary." Rin: "Is 3 your final answer, Asou?" Fumi: "Huh? Huh?" Hina: "What would I want a brick for?" Rin: "Build your house with 'em and you'll be safe from wolves." Hina: "I won't have that problem!" The girls joked with each other. None of them cared what the correct answer was. I took a look around the merry room. Cameras, books, stuffed animals... There are all sorts of things in this room. And each one of them is bursting with the breath of life. The more attached the girls are to these items, the brighter they shine in my eyes.
Rin: "Every school has stupid rumors like that. There's no such thing as angels." Rin: "Okay, let's get out of here. Come on, Asou." Sachiko: "T-Twelve thousand!" Hina: "Shoo, shoo! Back to hell with you, demon!" ......... The lobby regained its quiet after the three left. Sachiko: "No such thing, she says." Sachiko turned around pointedly. She was as shrewd as always. I would claim that I do exist. However, if she's unable to see me or sense my presence, to Rin, I may as well not. Sachiko: "So, was that you?" —It was not. I shook my head without thinking. Though she couldn't see me. Sachiko: "No, it was at the school festival, which was before you came. Well, they do tend to pass through here pretty often." Now that she mentioned it, I realized she was right. In just these few weeks, I'd seen several of my kind. This school was founded because of an angel, too. Maybe there's something near here that draws us to it. There might just be something to these school rumors. Sachiko: "It's rare they'd show up on film, though." Sachiko mimed taking a picture. She might be right. There are sometimes people who can sense us, like Sachiko. But it's incredibly rare to catch sight of one so clearly. And for them to appear on film, too... Sachiko: "Oh, it's not your fault. That girl's camera is special." Special? What does that mean? Sachiko: "It's a Device." —I'm surprised. I've heard of them before, but it's my first time seeing one for real. Very rarely, there exist certain items called "Devices" that bridge the gap between humans and angels. Not even we know why they exist, how they work, or who makes them. Sachiko: "Are you surprised? I bet you thought all Devices are displayed in cathedrals or something." She's right. I never thought I'd see one here. And being used so regularly... Most known Devices are used in name only by various religions to whatever purpose they deem convenient. Sachiko: "Devices don't have to be holy relics or anything." I suppose not. It's not as if we angels are "holy" beings, either. If we're not able to intervene in anything, we're agents of no force, holy or otherwise. Sachiko: "It's not just Hina's camera. There's plenty of Devices in this world." It sounds as if she knows of at least one other. But how does she know so much about angels and Devices? Sachiko had a mysterious smile on her face. .........
Hina: "O Lord! I'll give you the best part of my lunch, so please give me a miracle!" Rin: "You resorted to that real quick." Fumi: "I don't think you're supposed to clap like that at a church..." I listened to Hina's plea from the pulpit, my chin in my hands. I was just listening, of course. There was nothing I could do for her. On the plate in front of the cross was a selection of delicacies hand-picked from Hina's lunch. This is quite an offering. ...But what am I supposed to do with it? I turned around and looked up at whoever it was depicted in the stained glass.
After the party. The decorations remained, but the lights were out and the noise had faded. I alone stood in a daze, missing the excitement of the previous hours. Echoes of irreplaceable moments remained here and there about the room. I wandered about, wishing I could pick them all up and hold onto them. I could hardly wait for Christmas. The room would probably fill with much the same warm joy then. ......... ?? I stopped, finding something of a different texture among the lingering warmth. The source of the feeling became clear to me right away. It was the sensation of budding love. I felt myself being drawn to their bedroom. For some time, I lent my ear to the chorus of their snores. I've felt it all this time since I first peeked into their room. Exactly how much these three care for one another. But a new feeling that isn't friendship has come to be among them. They may not even be aware of the sprouts of innocent love yet. But those sprouts will surely grow in no time at all, flowering and bearing sweet fruit. My heart throbbed as I felt all the vibrancy of their souls. How dear are these beings called humans? How wonderful is this emotion called love? I stood by their pillows, gazing down on their faces, blissful in sleep. I reached out to a cheek, wishing to feel that warmth. Ah...?! Something burst before my eyes for a second. I've felt this before. When I first saw them up on the roof... But it lasted only a second, this time and then. When I opened my eyes again, I saw the usual stillness. I wonder if that was "color." ......... With a sigh, I left the room.
Sachiko: "Hmm..." Fumi: "...Do you know what it is?" Sachiko: "Nope~ Teehee!" Sachiko spun the feather around so that I could see it. Did that really come from me? A picture is one thing, but I can't believe I could leave behind such concrete evidence of myself. Sachiko: "If there are no signs of infiltration from outside, then that means... the culprit is among us! Bam!" Eep. Hina: "We are not! Get lost already!!" The girls chased Sachiko out, and I followed her into the hallway. ...... Sachiko: "Ta-dah♪" Oh. Sachiko: "I switched it." Sachiko took my feather out of her pocket in the hallway. Sachiko: "They've got a goose feather in there now. I snatched one from Hina's down jacket." Sachiko: "So you lost a feather... Think that means you're getting closer to being human?" Sachiko: "You should be careful from now on... Not that anyone should be able to see you." Sachiko spun the feather around again. Sachiko: "Those girls are the only ones who can see this feather." And you. Sachiko: "They're special." Special? Sachiko: "They even remember me..."
Sachiko: "I'm guessing you've figured this out by now, but..." She took a cigarette out slowly. Sachiko: "I was an angel, too." She confessed to me flatly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ...Yeah. I accepted the information in much the same way. Actually, I'd been waiting to hear those words, and was relieved to have my answer. Sachiko: "The angel they saw as kids was me." I still wasn't surprised. I had begun to suspect. The way Sachiko looked at those girls was special. Sachiko: "I guess I've known them for a long time, come to think of it. It's just an instant for an angel, though." Supposedly, innocent children can see angels. They usually forget about them by the time they grow up, though. But very rarely, they'll be able to hold onto those memories. They must be the reason images of angels exist. Sachiko: "They grew into good girls." I nodded. Sachiko: "I wanted to see the things those girls saw, feel what they felt... so I got rid of my wings." Sachiko: "Though that wasn't the only reason... But that's another story."
I talked with Sachiko on the roof again. Well, she talked, since she couldn't hear my voice. Her painting wasn't progressing at all because she was moving her mouth and not her brush. ...... Sachiko: "When you come down to the surface, you have to borrow a human's appearance to do it." As always, she spoke as if she could see exactly where I was. And she was still assuming I would come down and join her. Still, this becoming human thing... there are more specifics to it than I thought. ...... Sachiko: "Angels don't have faces, right?" Right. We don't really have a distinct form. I mean, it's not like we're amoebas. We're basically the same shape as humans. It's more abstract to say we don't have faces or forms. What angels lack is "individuality." Sachiko: "So you've gotta borrow one, use it as a model. Like, Jirou Satsuma." Who? Sachiko: "You can pick whatever you like, but once you come down, you can't change it, just so you know." I see. An important decision, then. Seems like it's a pretty good deal to be able to pick whatever face I want, though. Sachiko: "Right, I'd suggest not picking someone who lives around here. That could cause all kinds of trouble." Sachiko gave me some pointers for becoming human. Sachiko: "Oh, and looks are important to me, so come down with a pretty face, eh?♪" How am I supposed to know what your type is? And stop assuming I'm even doing this! ...Though I do have an idea of what I'd call a pretty face.
Fumi: "...The truth is, I didn't need the feather anymore." Fumi: "Since you said you'd believe with me." Fumi: "I still believe in angels. But not the ones I can't see or touch... I believe because of what's in front of me." Fumi: "I think this feather really must be yours, Hina. To me, you're—" Hina: "Nnh..." Fumi: "...I'll go change your towel." Fumi: "......" Fumi: "...She's burning up." Hina: "...You'll catch my cold..." Rin: "...Hina, do you..." Rin: "Like me?" Hina: "I do!!" Rin: "Wah?!" Rin: "Do you actually want to keep going from where we stopped yesterday?" Fumi: "......" Rin: "I-If you don't... you can tell me. I know I can get carried away..." Fumi: "I do... want to keep going." Rin: "...Okay." Fumi: "If we get the chance..." Rin: "Right... if we get the chance." Through each door I opened, the girls fell in love— The room was full of possibilities when I first peeked in. But when I looked at one of them, a story was chosen. The reason angels exist... It's to observe one of countless possibilities, and through doing so, form the shape of the world. I thought to myself. Was this story what the girls themselves chose? Or did they fall in love _because I saw it_? If I hadn't seen it, would _her_ and _her_ romance have happened? Of course, according to Sachiko... The angel's will has nothing to do with where probability lands. All the angel does is throw the ball into the spinning roulette. Sachiko: "We're not the type of angel with a little bow and arrow, unfortunately. We have no power to begin or end a romance." Sachiko: "It's all chance. Change the world? Observers can't do that. It's rude to human will to even think it." Sachiko: "No matter what box you open, the cats inside are living happily." I spread my wings. —I'm off to see the conclusion.
Sachiko: "What'd you think of my three girls? Pretty cute, right?" Sachiko leaned against the fence and winked at me. Sachiko: "Well, you ready to get rid of those wings?" She was full of confidence as she asked. I am ready. I'll discard eternity in order to make _my own_ history. I alighted into a world of full color. Sachiko: "Table for one, right this way~♪" Sachiko welcomed me with wide-open arms like she was this world's representative. Sachiko: "Oh, but I'm not giving you any of those girls." That's a little disappointing. But it's not as if they belong to you. Sachiko: "Come on down. You're in heaven now."
Sachiko: "Come on, come to my room. I've got cake. It's my birthday today, too."
Rin: "Say... girls?" Hina: "Hmm, would they be cuter this way? Huh? What?" Rin: "Maybe this is a stupid question, but... do you know what you do with shoes?" Hina: "Huh? What do you mean?" Rin: "Well, I mean what I said." Hina: "You wear them, duh." Rin: "Good, good. So what is it the two of you are doing right now?" Hina: "Displaying our shoes." Rin: "Wear them!" Fumi: "Haha... It sort of feels like a waste." Hina: "I mean, if we wear them now, they'll get all dirty from the snow." Rin: "That's how shoes work." Hina: "But... it's my first Christmas present from Fumi!" Fumi held her own shoes to her chest and nodded in agreement. Rin: "I'm wearing mine." Rin's padded kimono had been a gift from Hina and Fumi. Fumi: "I'm glad you like it." Rin: "Yes! Thank you so much!" Rin: "Haah... Why don't you just wear them inside?" Hina: "I don't want the soles to wear out..." Rin: "Walk on your hands, then!" Hina: "I'll wear them in spring... probably." Fumi: "Let's display them until then." Rin: "Guh. Do what you like."
Hina: "Eheheheheheheh." Hina stole a glance at Fumi's face, eyes urging her for her opinion. Fumi: "Eheh, it looks great on you." Hina: "Thanks, Asou♪ It's a collar Rin picked out for me, after all~" Rin: "It's not a collar. It's a choker. I bought it at an accessory shop. For humans. Not a pet store." Hina: "Either way, it's a present from you!" Rin: "Ngh... O-Only wear it in our room, okay?" Hina: "What?! I wanna wear it all the time, though!" Rin: "No. Who knows what people would say to you if you wore that to school." Hina: "What? But it's a choker, right? It's fashion!" Rin: "Accessories are against the school rules. Aren't you class rep, Hina?" Hina: "Mmmm...!" Rin: "Whining won't help. If you're not gonna be good, I'll take it back." Hina: "Well, I..." Hina fell silent for a short time, then took the collar off. Hina: "......" She silently handed it to Rin. Rin: "Huh? Really? You don't want it?!" Now Rin was the one panicking, after she'd given it back so easily. Hina: "No. I want you to hold onto it." Rin: "Huh? You want me to wear it?" Hina: "No! I want you to put it on me when you want me to wear it!" Rin: "Oh, I get it. Why does it feel heavier all of the sudden..." Fumi: "Ahaha." Rin: "You know... I tend to lose things." Hina & Fumi: "Be careful."
Rin: "...Merry Christmas, Fumi." Fumi: "...Merry Christmas, Rin." Rin & Fumi: "Mh..." Hina: "Mhm, mhm, good, good. A friend's happiness might be even nicer than your own happiness." Hina: "......" Hina: "Kisses make more noise than I thought they would. I don't think peeping would be very polite, but... waaah?!" Hina: "Y-You know, even I'm not gonna completely reject anything sexual. I know it's a natural thing for two people who love each other to do." Hina: "I'm surprised you can hold your breath that long, though... You've got to be running out soon..." Rin & Fumi: "Whew..." Hina: "Oh, are you done...?" Hina: "What, it was just a break?!" Hina: "Haah... Fine, just go until you're satisfied..." Hina: "......" Hina: "............" Hina: ".................." Hina: "Ah! Hey! You're taking your clothes off, aren't you?! Stop, stop! Cut it out! That's enough! That's all for tonight, folks!!"
—Third term. The morning of the first day. Hina: "Get up, Rin!" Rin: "Four more hours..." It's getting longer. Hina: "It's the first day of school! I'm not letting you be late on the first day!" Hina reached under the covers and grabbed the grumbling Rin's wrist. Hina: "I'll wake you up with a _thunk_ again." Rin: "Wait!" Rin reluctantly rose and emerged from the bed. Hina: "Okay!" Fumi came over after placing the mugs on the drying rack. Fumi: "Okay, are you ready?" Rin: "Uh hunh..." Fumi: "Your lunch." Rin: "Yep." Fumi: "Your commuter pass." Rin: "Yep." Fumi: "Your wallet, your handkerchief." Rin: "Yep, yep." Hina: "Your tie... it's okay for once!" Fumi: "Last one. Your scarf." Rin: "Thanks." Rin wrapped her scarf around her neck. At this point, at least, she always looks the part of the cool beauty. Rin: "Okay—" Hina grabbed the end of Rin's scarf. She readied for her usual judo throw. Rin: "I was gonna say 'let's go'!" Hina: "Oh, were you? I was just going off of your usual behavior." Rin: "Isn't that a little harsh on the first day of school?" Hina: "And who was it who slept in until the last minute on the first day of school?!" Fumi: "Alright, let's get going~" Hina: "Okay—" Miyako: "Hwahh..." Rin: "Ah..." Fumi: "Huh...?" Hina: "Aaah!!" Miyako: "Good morning~" Hina & Rin & Fumi: "We forgot~!!" Sachiko: "Oh, I forgot..."
—Christmas Eve. Sachiko: "Chaaarge!!" The door crashed open and there was a series of deafening pops. Fumi: "Aaah?!" Hina: "What's going on?!" Sachiko: "Merry Christmas!! This room is now under the control of the armed group 'December Christmas'!" The only one who would do something like this was, of course... Fumi: "Sachiko...?!" Sachiko fired her weapons—several party poppers held skillfully between fingers. Hina: "Waaah?!" This time, the popping came from a different direction. Rin: "Like hell!" It was Rin. She scooped up popper after popper from the floor, pulling their strings one by one. Sachiko: "I thought it was just civilians here!" Rin: "Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker!" The firefight(?) between terrorist and policeman had filled the room with smoke. Hina: "Shut uuup!!" Wrath of the RA. Hina: "You two are officially way too into party poppers!" Rin & Sachiko: "Can't argue with that." Hina: "Seriously! You're going to bother our neighbors! Aaah... There's streamers on the cake..." Fumi: "Cough, cough... Hm?" Beyond the slowly dissipating smoke, a girl stood in the doorway. She was wearing the Seiyou uniform, but she wasn't in their class or their dorm. Fumi had never seen her face before. Fumi: "Umm... who's this?" Miyako: "......" The girl smiled meekly in response to Fumi's timid question. Sachiko: "That's Miyako. I came to introduce her." Fumi: "Miyako...?" Hina & Rin: "Who?" Miyako: "......" The girl merely continued to smile. Sachiko: "Miyako Takaoka. She's my cousin." Rin: "Cousin? Not niece?" Sachiko: "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Rin: "Just wondering about the age difference, I guess..." Sachiko: "F-Five years..." Hina: "......" Sachiko: "She's pretty, just like me, right?" Fumi: "You don't really look that alike..." Sachiko: "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Fumi: "Ah, oh, just that you have different looks!" Sachiko: "Well, it's just on paper. We're not actually related by blood." Hina: "So why'd you say you look alike?" Sachiko: "Oh, just a whim, I guess. Come on, Miyako, introduce yourself." Rin: "Unique as always." Miyako: "......" Meanwhile, Miyako still had a blank look on her face. It was like she didn't even realize they were talking about her. Sachiko: "Miyako?" Sachiko shook her shoulder. Miyako: "Oh, right." Fumi: "?" Sachiko: "Ah, Miyako's been abroad for a while." Hm, insurance. Rin: "Huh~" Hina: "G-Guten Morgen?" Miyako: "Japanese is just fine." Hina: "Oh, good~" Rin: "It's night, hon." Sachiko: "Aaanyyywaaay. She'll be your new roommate starting today!" Hina & Rin & Fumi: "Huuuh?!" Miyako: "Huh?" The sudden announcement surprised not only the three of them but Miyako, too. Miyako: "You didn't tell me I'd be moving in today..." Sachiko: "Didn't I?" Miyako shook her head. Hina: "You're so irresponsible." Fumi: "Well, we do have an extra bed..." Rin: "You've gotta give us some warning before springing a whole other roommate on us." Hina: "But if we don't take her in, she'll have to live with Sachiko." Rin: "...Good point. We're happy to have you." Sachiko: "Just how little do you trust me?!" Miyako: "But I don't have any..." Miyako herself seemed to be the most hesitant of them. Sachiko: "You'll be fine. I've got a toothbrush, towel, school supplies, everything you'll need for now, all ready for you." Sachiko: "Oh, but I didn't know your underwear size, so I'll give you some money and you'll have to go buy some tomorrow." Miyako: "Okay..." Fumi: "Oh, do you have pajamas?" She couldn't very well sleep in her uniform. Miyako: "All I have is this and a coat..." Sachiko: "Oh, I've got pajamas, too! They're really good, lemme go get them. I'll bring your sheets, too!" Rin: "There she goes." Hina: "What is with her?" Miyako: "......" Fumi: "Umm... well, would you like some cake?" Miyako: "That's fine... I just had some."
—Back to the present, lunch time. Hina: "Haah... I can't believe we were late on the first day..." Miyako: "...I'm really sorry." Hina: "No, No, I'm not blaming you, Miyako." Fumi: "We were too absorbed in our usual routine..." The three of them all bowed their heads apologetically. Rin: "Yeah, that sure was an ambush." And this one was pouring tea into a thermos. Acting like she had— Hina: "Like you had nothing to do with it! You waited until the very last minute!" Rin: "I've got a very accurate internal clock." Hina: "Well, set it earlier! We're all on a Rin shift! Our mornings are so tailored to your schedule that we can't respond to unexpected situations like we had today!" Rin: "Don't blame the shortcomings of the system on its user." Hina: "Shut up! It's all your fault, Rin!" Fumi: "Ahaha..." Hina: "Haah... That was really close, and on the first day, too..." Rin: "We just barely made it." Hina: "We didn't, actually, it's just that the principal let us off the hook." Miyako: "...I'll be more careful tomorrow." Rin: "All you gotta do is get used to it." Hina: "You should talk!" Fumi: "It's rare to see the principal around in the morning like that." Hina: "True. And she said hi to you, Miyako. Do you know her?" Miyako: "No, it was my first time meeting her." Hina: "She nodded when you said you were a transfer student, though." Fumi: "Maybe she saw your face on your transfer forms." Miyako: "Oh, that's right. I forgot to get the forms from Sachiko." Hina: "Huh? Then how'd she know you?" Rin: "Well, she is an old lady..." Fumi: "Hey." Fumi: "Alright, let's eat." Rin: "Everybody got your lunch?" Hina: "Yep." Miyako: "Yes." Fumi: "I believe I do..." They all took their lunches out of their bags and opened them up. Fumi had spared no effort, as always. Miyako: "Wow! It's beautiful! There are so many colors..." Miyako exclaimed with glee as soon as she opened the lid. Miyako: "It's like a little box of jewels... I'll get to eat this every day now... I can't believe it." Miyako stared, spellbound, at the assortment of hues in her lunchbox. Fumi: "I'm a little humbled by how impressed you are." This wasn't the first time Miyako had gotten so emotional. In fact, it had been like this at just about every meal for the week since she'd arrived. Miyako: "I-I'm sorry for getting so excited." Rin: "It's always like it's your first meal ever." Fumi: "Ahaha, it's nice to be appreciated." Hina: "You always start with the color." Miyako: "Yes. The taste and smell and texture are all wonderful too, but the color always catches my eye first." Miyako: "This tomato is such a beautiful..." She seemed to get stuck there. Rin: "Hm? Red?" Miyako: "Umm, yes, red... This is red, then." She looked at the tomato and repeated the word as if to create an association in her mind. Rin: "You speak like you're fluent, but you trip up at pretty weird places." Miyako: "I'm still learning." Hina: "It's almost like you're from a land without color or something." Miyako: "...Aha." An astute observation. It wasn't that Miyako didn't know the word "red," it was that _she didn't know which color red was_. Rin: "Here, Takaoka. The peppers are a beautiful green, too." Rin said, attempting to foist her hated peppers onto Miyako. Fumi: "Hey!"
Fumi: "Good job getting through your first day." Miyako: "Thank you. It was a lot of fun." Rin: "Everyone was staring at you. Even the teachers." True. Miyako: "I'm still not used to people looking at me." Fumi: "?" Rin: "Was it like this where you were before?" Miyako: "Well..." Hina: "I'm back!" And that's when Hina came back. Miyako: "H-Hello!" Hina: "H-Hm? I got your printout." Miyako: "Thank you." Rin: "What printout?" Hina: "The one you _never actually turned in_, Rin!" Rin: "You shouldn't hold grudges." Hina: "We have to turn in our second year course selections soon, so you'd _better_ turn that one in on time!" Rin: "It's after proficiency tests, so we've got some time, right?" Hina: "I'm giving you ample warning!" Rin: "Science or arts. Which one are you picking, Hina?" Hina: "I'm picking science. Whatever I have to do to get away from English. What about you, Rin?" Rin: "I'm good at both, so I dunno~" Hina: "Ugh..." Hina: "Oh, and it's not just about classes. There are career questions, too." Rin: "Now _that_, I forgot about." Hina: "I thought so. Think about it, okay?" Rin: "My career... eh?" Hina: "I've got an answer for that one, too." Rin: "Hmm..." Hina's face was proud, where Rin's looked forlorn. Fumi: "You need a guardian's signature on that printout. Are you going to mail it home?" Miyako: "I... suppose so." Miyako looked over the sheet after Fumi pointed that out. Rin: "You could probably ask Sachiko." Fumi: "Oh, that's right." Rin: "Even she should count as a stand-in guardian." Hina: "Harsh." Miyako: "Haha. I'll ask when we get back." Fumi: "Let's do our shopping before it gets dark and go home, then." Hina: "Yeah. We've gotta get Miyako some shampoo and conditioner." She'd been using sample bottles they had in their room, but those had run out last night. Fumi: "Did you like any of the ones you tried?" Miyako: "Hmm~ I'm not really sure." Fumi: "Your hair is soft and wavy... of the three of us, it's probably closest to mine. Want to try the brand that I use?" Miyako: "Yes, that sounds good." Fumi: "It'd be better if we could find what you used before... They don't sell it in Japan, you said?" Miyako: "Umm, err, yes." Rin: "Well, some of us here use body wash top to bottom, so..." Hina: "I told you, I don't!"
Hina: "It's cold~" Fumi: "We're home." Sachiko: "Welcome back! It's a cold one today~" Rin: "Here." Sachiko: "Danke♪" Rin tossed a pack of cigarettes to Sachiko, who caught them. A familiar sight. It'd probably be a problem if the school or her parents found out, but the dorm manager was not the least bit concerned about that. Sachiko: "I'll treat you each to one drink from the vending machine as payment." The vending machine was Sachiko's property, and she used its proceeds to pay for her cigarettes. Well, at least everything in it is only 100 yen... Rin: "Wow. Yay." Sachiko: "Oh, I only got cold ones, though." Hina: "What time of year do you think it is?!" Sachiko: "But you got pissed at me when I put beer in it in the summer!" Hina: "Put that in the fridge in your room!" What's that have to do with the time of year? Rin: "Talk about not catering to your customer's needs." Sachiko: "If we're talking needs, I could get a cigarette vending—" Hina: "NO!!" Miyako walked in just then, after knocking the dirt from her shoes at the entrance. Miyako: "I'm... home." Sachiko: "Welcome home, Mikoyan." Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "What is it?" Miyako: "'I'm home,' 'Welcome home'... They're very nice phrases." It was Miyako's first time exchanging such pleasantries. Sachiko: "They are, aren't they?" Just saying "I'm home" and receiving a reply was a new experience for Miyako. Rin: "You've been calling her that for a while now... Is it a new nickname?" Sachiko: "Mikoyan! It's cute, isn't it?" Rin: "Well, I guess so. Do you like it, Takaoka?" Miyako: "I don't mind. I can tell it's referring to me." Miyako: "And Sachiko gave me the name Miyako, too." Fumi: "Huh? Sachiko named you, Miyako?" Miyako nodded. Hina: "There must be a pretty big age difference, then." Rin: "Are you sure you're not her niece?" Sachiko: "Hey! What are you whispering about over there?!" Sachiko: "I just picked from a list her parents had. _When I was little_. Right, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "Oh, yes. You're right." Nice save. Rin: "You always come up with the weirdest crap." Like Hinacchi and Foomin. Sachiko: "What's weird about them, Rinrin?" Rin: "I'm not answering to that!" Miyako: "Rinrin? Rin has a nickname, too?" Hina: "It didn't stick." Fumi: "She never replied to it no matter how much Sachiko used it. They were both pretty stubborn, but—" Hina: "In the end, Sachiko gave up." Miyako: "I see." Sachiko: "Oh, right. The maintenance on the bath is done today! They've still gotta hook the gas up though, so it'll be a little longer 'til you can use it." Rin: "Finally~ Now we don't have to freeze our butts off going to the other dorm." Sachiko: "Good for you, Rinrin!" Rin: "Drop it!" Sachiko: "It should've been done over winter break, but they kept finding other stuff to fix, so it kinda became a big project." Fumi: "There was some damage in places." Hina: "That's putting it lightly. It was falling apart." Sachiko: "So I'll let you girls have the first bath, special!" Fumi: "Yay~" Sachiko: "It's bigger now, so let's all go in together♪" Hina: "Go in by yourself!" Rin: "Can we go see it?" Sachiko: "Long as you don't run the water." Rin: "Gotcha. Let's go check it out, Hina." Hina: "Sure." The two of them headed for the bath, leaving the other three behind in the lobby. Sachiko: "Anywhere other than the bath you want fixed up?" Fumi: "Hmm~ You fixed our water in the fall. I think everything else is fine." Sachiko: "Good. Actually, speaking of water, I think the roof might be leaking." Fumi: "Uh oh, you'll need to get that fixed before the rainy season, then." Sachiko: "Yeah... It's an old building, so it's starting to fall apart in places." Miyako: "How long have you been watching over it?" Sachiko: "Mm? Five years, I guess." Fumi: "Huh, really?" Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "What was that?" There was quite a bit of noise coming from the bath. Sachiko: "Hey! What the heck are you two doing in there?" Hina & Rin: "Checking for cameras!" Sachiko: "They have no faith in me." Fumi: "Ahaha..." Sachiko: "They really think I'd hide 'em somewhere they'd find right away?" Fumi: "...Haha." Sachiko: "I'm joking. There aren't any cameras." Miyako: "Oh, that's right." Miyako had been watching their interactions with a smile, but she suddenly remembered something and dug through her bag. Miyako: "Can you sign this form for me?" Sachiko: "You want my autograph? Sure, but I'm not co-signing any loans." Miyako: "No, it's—" Fumi: "She needs a guardian to fill out and sign a form. I thought it might take a long time to send it home, so she should ask you, since you're related." Fumi supplied. Sachiko: "Ah, gotcha." She took the printout and looked over its contents. Sachiko: "Okay. I'll fill it out, so come and get it after dinner." Miyako: "Thank you." Miyako bowed her head. Sachiko: "Okay, I'm gonna go stop those two from wrecking the bath. You guys want to see it?" Fumi & Miyako: "Sure."
Lounging around after dinner. The table had gotten busier, but time passed just as idly after Miyako joined the three girls. Fumi: "Here we go..." Setting down four mugs, Fumi took a seat. Miyako: "...What's this?" Miyako sniffed the steam coming from the mug. Fumi: "I made apple tea tonight. By boiling apple peels, not with tea bags." Miyako: "So this is apple tea. It's a beautiful color, too." Her curious gaze was reflected in the liquid inside the mug. Rin: "Takaoka, is this your first time having apple tea?" Miyako: "Yes." Fumi: "Try it. It's really good♪" Hina: "Apple tea's always kinda rubbed me the wrong way." Hina piped up from under the table. Hina: "I mean, apple tea doesn't taste like apples at all. It smells like them, though." Rin: "Aha." Hina: "The first sip always fools me." Fumi: "It does just taste like tea if you don't put sugar in it." Rin: "Widdle baby Hina can have some apple juice." Hina: "I'll drink it, okay?!" Fumi held out... Hina: "An apple!" Fumi: "Since I only used the peel." Hina: "I'll eat it~" This, Hina was happy to receive. Hina: "Apples smell like apples and taste like apples!" Rin: "I'll alert the media." Miyako: "......" Miyako looked curiously at Hina. Hina associated apples with a taste and smell from her previous experiences, which was why apple tea offended her. But Miyako, tasting both apples and apple tea for the first time, had no such associations, so it _was_ news to her, in a way. Fumi: "Would you like some apple too, Miyako?" Fumi offered, noticing her staring. Miyako: "Yes, please." Miyako _knew_ that apple tea smelled like apples and that apples tasted like apples. But she had never _experienced_ that smell or taste. For her, experience came after knowledge, not the other way around. Having a sense of color now, she could distinguish between green and red apples, but learning the difference in their flavors would be a future experience for her. Miyako: "I'll try the apple tea first." Fumi: "It's still hot, so be—" Miyako put the mug to her lips before Fumi could warn her. Miyako: "Augh?!" Ah, yes, that heat, too.
Sachiko: "Dahahaha!" The moment Miyako opened the door and Sachiko saw her, she burst out laughing. Miyako: "Not again..." Miyako was clearly getting tired of this reaction. Sachiko: "Well, it doesn't get any less funny the more I see it! The door opens and there's a big lion!" Miyako: "You gave me these pajamas." Sachiko: "I did good, didn't I?" Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "Ahaha. Well, come on in. It's cold out there, isn't it?" Sachiko beckoned Miyako in, wiping her eyes. Sachiko: "Here y'go." Sachiko held out the printout she'd been entrusted with that evening. Miyako: "Thank you." Miyako took the papers and bowed her head in thanks. Sachiko: "I filled in the guardian section. It's all bullshit, though." Miyako: "Heheh." Sachiko: "So how was your first day at school?" Miyako: "We were late." Sachiko: "Pretty rock 'n' roll right from Day 1. I'm guessing you were an unexpected element their Rin-shifted schedules couldn't accommodate?" Miyako: "Were you watching?" Sachiko: "I didn't need to. They baby Rin and you sleep a ton." Miyako: "...I'll be more careful tomorrow." Sachiko: "But the school part went okay?" Miyako: "Yes. But it makes me a little nervous to have so many people looking at me." Sachiko: "Well, people don't usually transfer in this time of year. And you're so pretty! It's no wonder you're drawing attention." Heheh. Miyako: "I'm used to being the one who does the looking." Sachiko: "It's only fair they get a turn, right? That's what it means to have a physical form." Sachiko said, grabbing her mane. Sachiko: "You'll get used to it." Miyako: "......" Miyako: "The principal excused our tardiness." Sachiko: "That was nice of her." Miyako: "Does she always wait at the gate in the morning?" Sachiko: "Nah. She was probably there to get a look at her new student." Miyako: "A look... I suppose so. She did stare a little." Sachiko: "Did she say something?" Miyako: "Not really. There was a strange look on her face, though." Sachiko: "I see. Well, she is an old lady." Miyako reported in great detail about all the discoveries of her first day at school and how fulfilling it was, and Sachiko listened happily. Miyako: "It's all thanks to you." Sachiko: "Well, I invited you, so it's only right I help you out now that you're here." Miyako: "Umm, can I ask you something?" Sachiko: "Hm? You want to know my measurements?" Miyako: "...No. How long have you been here?" Sachiko: "Mm, about five years. You were there when I told Fumi, weren't you?" Miyako: "Oh, I should have specified. Not here at the dorm, but here on the surface." She spread her arms for the first "here," then pointed down for the second. What lively gestures. Sachiko: "Ah, how long have I been human?" Miyako nodded. Miyako: "I was wondering how long it takes to be like you are now." Sachiko: "What do you mean?" Miyako: "Well, you're very human-like." Sachiko: "I'm just getting by on experience. Luckily, I had plenty of time to practice. And you'll—" Miyako: "A hundred years? Two hundred?" Sachiko: "What am I, a witch? Human bodies age, remember?" Miyako: "Then... fifty years?" Sachiko: "...Five years." Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "Do I look that old?" Miyako: "Oh!" Sachiko: "What?" Miyako: "You must have found it here!" Sachiko: "So where's 'here' now?" Miyako: "I'm sorry, I did it again... Umm, the school." Sachiko: "And what did I find?" Miyako: "Something special enough to trade for your wings!" Sachiko: "Why do you say that?" Miyako: "You started taking care of this dorm and came down to earth at the same time, five years ago. So the reason you did was here!" Sachiko: "What if it was just a coincidence? And what are you so excited about?" Miyako: "I just thought we were the same and that made me happy!" Sachiko: "I can't say I get it, really..." Miyako: "Was it love that you watched, too?" Sachiko: "........." Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "Haha, coulda been. I don't remember." Miyako: "What~?" Sachiko: "Alright, it's getting late. You're trying to get up on time tomorrow, right?" Miyako: "...Oh, yes." Sachiko: "Good night." Sachiko sent Miyako back to her room. Miyako: "Hwaahh..." And as soon as they parted, Miyako yawned hugely. Sachiko: "Yep, out of juice." Sachiko: "......" Sachiko: "I did see something special. Something I'll never forget, for the rest of my life."
By the time Miyako left Sachiko's room, these three were already in bed. Hina: "♪Nyaga nyanyaaa ganyaaa, nyaga nyagaaa, nyaaa, nyaaa. nyaaa!" Rin: "...Shut up." Fumi: "...Ah, ah..." Hina: "♪Nyaga nyaga! Nyagaaa!!" Fumi: "Ah...!" Rin: "200 candelas!!" Hina: "Gwah, that's bright!" Rin grabbed her bedside reading light and shone it in Hina's face. Hina: "What was that for?!" Rin: "What do you think?! You're! Being! Loud!" Hina: "Oh, you can hear my music?" Rin: "This is way beyond that!" Hina: "I love this song, so I just can't help humming it~ I have no idea what they're saying, though." Rin: "Your singing is an environmental issue." Hina: "That's mean!" Rin: "It's honest!" Miyako: "I'm back... Oh, you're all still up?" Miyako had opened the door quietly in case they were sleeping. Rin: "Can't sleep while Hina's singing." Miyako: "That's mean." Rin: "It's not mean!" Fumi: "Did she fill out the printout for you?" Miyako: "Yes." Hina: "You should put it in your bag now so you don't forget it." Miyako: "Yes, I'll do that." Miyako slipped through the bedroom into the living room. Hina: "She's such a good girl! The complete opposite of Rin." Rin: "Huh? Me?!" Hina: "You really need to be more careful. You even forgot something at my house the other day when you slept over." Rin: "Ugh, we don't need to air our dirty laundry like this, do we?" Hina: "Why are we talking about laundry all of a sudden? Don't change the subject just because you don't want to listen to what I'm saying." She didn't get it. Hina: "It wasn't dirty laundry, anyway! It was a dirty book of all things!" Rin: "With a cover over it, luckily..." Hina: "I had to run back there to get it! What do you think would have happened if my family had opened it before that?! Who brings dirty books to a sleepover, anyway?!" Rin: "I apologize for the trouble..." Miyako: "I put it in my bag. What are we talking about?" Miyako returned with perfect timing again. Hina: "How Rin forgets things too often!" Rin: "How did we get on that subject anyway?! I thought we were talking about how bad your singing is!" Hina: "Sorry for leaving you alone here on New Year's." Miyako: "Oh, it's fine, I had to unpack my things. And Sachiko was here." Hina: "Yeah, that's what I was most worried about..." Rin: "Now the subject's changed again!" Fumi: "Alright, alright, it's getting late, so let's get to sleep." Rin: "Mean!" Hina: "Not mean!" Miyako: "I'll wake up on time tomorrow!" Rin: "Good! You do that!" Hina: "You do it, too!" Fumi: "Ahaha." Miyako: "?!" Right when Miyako put her hand on the bed's ladder... Hina: "Whoa, sparks! Static electricity?" Miyako: "......" Miyako peered curiously at her hand. Rin: "Happens a lot with synthetic fibers." Fumi: "At this time of year, you should touch the railing first to dissipate the electricity." Miyako: "Right... Good night." Miyako touched the railing like Fumi had suggested and then put her hand on the ladder once more. Hina & Rin & Fumi: "Night!"n"Night."n"Good night." (show_name="Hina & Fumi & Rin", what_rest_indent=0) Miyako: "...Static electricity?"
—New Year's. A quiet afternoon. The girls were on their way back from their shrine visit. The crowds thinned as they got farther away from the shrine. It was a holiday, but things weren't that different from usual. Still, the four of them all wore cheerful expressions to match the refreshing air of the holiday. Especially Miyako. Miyako: "~♪" Hina: "Is this your first New Year's in Japan, Takaoka?" Miyako: "No, it's not that." Fumi: "There were a lot of people dressed up today and food stands and such. It's hard not to stare too much." Miyako: "Yes, exactly! Such a commotion of colors!" Her face lit up like Fumi had switched a light on. Rin: "A commotion of colors, eh? You have an interesting way of describing things sometimes, Takaoka." Miyako: "Do I?" There wasn't much in this town, but a decently-sized shrine was one of the things it did have. It's not like it drew people from very far away to it, but on a day like today, it was busy enough to get pretty colorful. For Miyako, who still wasn't used to the world having color, a "commotion" was probably her honest impression. Fumi: "It's nice to get dressed up on New Year's." Fumi muttered, spotting a group on a nearby street that was probably returning from a similar shrine visit to the one they'd just been on. Rin: "Aren't kimonos a pain, though? I sure as hell don't know how to put one on." Hina: "My mom knows how." Fumi: "Really?!" Hina: "Yeah, we sell them at our store." Rin: "Who even has a kimono, though?" Hina: "I think we rent them out, too." Fumi: "Waaah!!" Realizing a dream of hers had suddenly come closer to her reach, Fumi perked up. Fumi: "How about we all dress up next New Year's?!" Rin: "I mean, I dunno..." Fumi: "Let's do it, let's do it! We can all put our hair up and stuff♪" Hina: "I bet you've never even worn one before." Rin: "I've got a padded one?" Fumi: "That's not a kimono." Hina: "Well, it could be fun." Rin: "Hmm. You probably haven't worn one since you turned seven last year, huh?" Hina: "It wasn't last year! It was many years before last year!" Miyako: "Ahahaha." Miyako laughed at their exchange. Hina: "You should come over next year too, Takaoka." Miyako: "Oh? Is that alright?" Hina: "Well, I don't want to leave you alone at the dorm. You said you couldn't go home that much too, right?" Miyako: "Yes... that's right." Fumi: "You're welcome to come to my house as well." Hina: "Only if you want to, though." Fumi nodded in agreement. Miyako: "I'd love to!" It was a little early to be making plans, but the girls happily discussed next year's New Year's all the same. Fumi: "What did you get on your fortune? Mine was 'luck.'" Hina: "I got 'little luck.'" Rin: "Well, you are little." Hina: "That has nothing to do with it!" Hina smacked Rin's hand away when she started to pat thenpom-pom on her knit hat. Rin: "Is 'little luck' or 'luck' better?" Fumi: "Depending on the shrine, it could be 'great luck,' 'luck,' 'middle luck,' 'little luck,' 'future luck,' 'bad luck;' or 'great luck,' 'middle luck,' 'little luck,' 'luck,' 'future luck,' 'bad luck.'" Fumi: "I wonder which one that shrine is." Hina: "Huh, really?" Rin: "Heheheh. 'Great,' of course. Did you expect anything less?" Rin pulled a 'great luck' fortune from her right pocket and unfurled it smugly. Fumi: "Wow, that's amazing!" Hina: "Uh, actually it isn't." Hina said, plunging her hand into Rin's left pocket and pulling out some slips of paper. Rin: "Ah..." They were fortunes. Several of them, with outcomes other than "great luck," of course. Rin: "You saw?" Hina: "I saw!" Fumi: "I do hear that it's okay to draw again." Hina: "How many times, though?!" Rin: "Until you get it!" Fumi: "Ahaha. What did you get, Takaoka?" Miyako: "I got 'bad.'" Miyako held her fortune out with a carefree smile. In contrast to her, the trio's eyes widened. Rin: "Want to go back to draw again?" Fumi: "Want to go back to tie it up?" Miyako: "It's alright. It's my first fortune, so I'll save it as a keepsake." Hina: "W-Well, fortunes just give you advice. You just need to be careful and you'll be fine." Miyako: "Yes." Miyako: "I got 'little.'" Miyako showed them her fortune. Fumi: "You didn't tie it up, did you?" Miyako: "No. It's my first fortune, so I want to save it as a keepsake." Hina: "You got the same one as me." Rin: "Even though you're not little." Hina: "Height has nothing to do with it!" Miyako: "I got 'great.'" Miyako grinned and showed them her fortune. Fumi: "Wow! Impressive." Rin: "How many times did it take?" Miyako: "Just one." Hina: "That's a real 'great luck,' unlike Rin's, then." Rin: "All 'great lucks' are valid!" Fumi: "I bet you'll have a great year." Miyako: "Thank you." Hina: "We had mass in the morning and then went to a shrine at noon. Do you think that's bad karma or something?" Rin: "Why worry now? You were already clapping in the chapel." Hina: "Th-That was an accident." Rin: "Well, a lot of people go to both shrines and temples, so." Hina: "Those are different?" Rin: "Shrines are Shinto; temples are Buddhist. And you don't clap at a temple, either." Hina: "Huh? But I clapped back there, too." Fumi: "That was a shrine, so it's fine." Hina: "Phew." Fumi: "It does feel a little blasphemous, though." Rin: "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me?" Hina: "Oh, we did that in class." The Ten Commandments. Rin: "It's fine, isn't it? It's not like you have to be Christian to attend Seiyou or anything." Fumi: "We celebrated Christmas and went to a shrine for New Year's. It feels a little like sampling just the fun parts." Rin: "Well, that's kinda how it is in Japan." Fumi: "There's a Buddhist altar at my house, in fact." Hina: "We've got one, too." Rin: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image." Another of the Ten Commandments. Rin: "But who decides whose god is the real thing and whose is a false idol?" Hina: "People who go on crusades?" Rin: "That's a pretty scary thing to say." Seriously. Miyako: "Maybe they have different names, but they're all the same thing." Miyako suddenly spoke up. Rin: "Like the theory that Shinto gods are manifestations of Buddhist deities?" Miyako: "Nothing that specific." Hina: "What's that?" Rin: "Ah... you know that Shinto and Buddhism are different religions, right?" Hina: "......Of course I know that!" Rin: "So there's this theory." Hina: "That the gods are the same?" Rin: "Yep, that's the gist. So, Takaoka?" Hina: "Hey!" Miyako: "Humans invented religion in order to understand the universe. But whatever their interpretations of it, the world before them doesn't change." Rin: "Everyone has the same gods, they just have different names for them." Miyako: "Right." That was her thinking as one who had been given countless names in the past. Hiten, Tennyo, Houri, Valkyrie, Sky Fish, Mothman... No, those last two probably don't count. Too many to list, really. She had existed as such a being. That much she knew. But anything beyond that was just interpretation. Fumi: "Do you not believe in God or angels, Takaoka?" Miyako: "I've never seen God, so I couldn't say about that, but angels exist." Oh? Will she tell them? Fumi: "You've seen an angel?" Miyako: "...Oh." ...So she only let that slip accidentally. Miyako: "I-I... sort of feel like I saw one... I guess." Fumi: "Umm! I actually saw an angel when I was little! It was a snowy day! And I lost my shoe! And an angel...!!" Rin: "Okay, breathe, Fumi." Fumi: "Mmgh." Rin: "Sheesh. We've got more opposition in the 'angels exist' camp now, huh, Hina?" Hina: "Huh? Oh, yeah..." Hina: "So, where did you... feel like you saw an angel, Takaoka?" Miyako: "Well, they're everywhere... I think. At churches, and shrines, and temples." Hina: "R-Really?" Miyako: "Have you ever seen an angel, Natsume?" Hina: "Uh, I..." Miyako: "When you were little?" Fumi: "Pwah! It's easier for kids to see them, right?!" Rin: "Oh. Or is it just that kids get confused and think they saw them?" Miyako: "You might have seen one too and you've just forgotten about it, Ogata." Rin: "No way." Rin: "Well, isn't that lucky for you if kids can see them, Hina?" Hina: "......" Rin: "Hina?" Hina: "If angels go to shrines and temples too, then does that mean they won't mind if I clap at church?" Rin: "I don't think so."
—The night before the first day of school. Sachiko: "Phew..." She sucked smoke in, looking disgusted, then sighed it out. ...You should just quit. Sachiko: "Ah, it's the lion." Miyako: "R-Roar~?" The lion attempted. Sachiko: "What's up? Nervous about starting your school life?" Miyako: "No, I'm not... well, maybe a little." Sachiko: "You'll be fine. You've got those girls with you." Miyako: "Yes. ...Oh, here." The lion took a can of coffee out of her pocket. Sachiko: "You're a marsupial lion." Thylacoleo looks nothing like that. Sachiko: "Thank—cold!" Sachiko yelped when she touched the can. Miyako: "The vending machine only had cold ones..." Sachiko: "R-Right." She brought that on herself. Sachiko: "Guess I'll have this later. Aren't you cold?" They were warm pajamas, but they weren't meant to be worn outside. Miyako: "I am cold, but I like it." Even the cutting chill was a fun new experience for her. Sachiko: "You know, humans catch colds." She said sternly. Sachiko: "I get your excitement, but you've gotta get used to having a human body." For better and for worse. Sachiko: "You should learn from your first experience with the cake." Miyako: "Aaah..." That struck a chord with her. Miyako: "There's a lot to remember." Miyako said, donning her hood. Sachiko: "Not to mention all you'll forget." Miyako: "Huh? Forget?" Sachiko: "Taumata?" Sachiko prompted, instead of answering her question. Miyako: "Whakatangihangakoa... ua... uo... huh?" She'd hesitated for a moment, then attempted to continue, however... Sachiko: "Can't come up with the rest, right?" Miyako: "...What is this?" Miyako looked worriedly at Sachiko. She was confused that she couldn't remember something she should have known. Sachiko: "That's a _human memory_. I told you, you have a human body now, right?" Sachiko: "You can only remember what fits up here. It's not stored in the cloud like it was up until now." Sachiko tapped her temple. Sachiko: "It's not just your capacity, too. The flood of sensation will wash away whatever information you have now." Miyako: "Flood of sensation?" Sachiko: "You were enjoying the sensation of 'cold' before, right? That's a huge amount of data." Miyako: "......" Her face was blank, the information not quite processed yet. Sachiko: "...Let's see... Can you describe the sensation of 'cold' without using that word?" Miyako: "The chill of the wind... made my skin hurt... and my fingers numb, umm..." Sachiko: "Was that all you felt? It was just a part of the sensation, right? It's impossible to describe the entirety of the experience in words." Sachiko: "Let me give you another example. The _information_ that 'apples taste good' and the _sensation_ of 'eating a tasty apple' are two pieces of data with wildly different sizes." Sachiko: "Just knowing something is 'tasty' only takes one word, but you could use an infinite amount of words to describe the sensation after feeling it." Sachiko: "Those sensations you can't describe with words, what someone started calling 'qualia'... that vast amount of data is the flood." Sachiko: "When you came down to earth and started enjoying all those sensations, they started pushing away the information you had." Miyako: "Whakatangi... hanga..." Sachiko: "Everything you've got in that little head of yours is gonna be overwritten in no time." Sachiko: "You won't be able to remember everything like you have up until now. You'll have to _remember that you'll forget_." Sachiko: "But sensation isn't second-hand like the information you had previously, it's something only yours, that you experienced yourself." Sachiko: "And the experiences you're going to have are worth enough to trade them for millions of years of information." Miyako: "My own history..." Sachiko: "You don't need to remember trilobites, do you?" Miyako: "Ah..." She scowled. Guess she was never a fan of them. Sachiko: "Heheh, well, let me welcome you to the surface again." Miyako: "Yes. Thank you for inviting me." Miyako stared at Sachiko, her eyes sparkling. Sachiko: "Whoops, that went on a little long. We should—" Miyako: "Please tell me more." Sachiko: "Ah~, no, I can't. If you stay up here in that any longer, you'll freeze down to your core.'" Miyako: "I'm not cold... brr." Sachiko: "You liar, you're shivering. Your breath is white, too." Miyako: "Hoo... hoo..." She breathed out to see. Sachiko: "Come on, you can marvel at that later." Sachiko threw the butt of her cigarette in a pocket ashtray and reached out to Miyako. Miyako: "Hya?!" Miyako yelped when Sachiko touched her cheek. Sachiko: "Oh, sorry. Guess my hand was colder." Miyako: "......" Her eyes were wide open. Sachiko: "Come on, let's go back in." Sachiko beckoned her after picking up the can of coffee. Miyako: "Will you talk to me again?" She was staring again. Sachiko: "Yeah, she's got some powerful eyes. It's hard to say no to her..." Miyako: "Did you say something?" Sachiko: "Nah. We can talk however much you want, but that's it for tonight. You can't be late on your first day, right?" Miyako: "Oh..." Sachiko: "Go right to sleep as soon as you get back to your room. You sleep a lot already." Miyako: "Hwaaah..." Sachiko: "Get into bed first!" Sachiko headed for the door and Miyako followed. ......... ...... There was that spark again.
Miyako: "......" Fumi: "Yes?" Miyako: "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to spy or anything..." Fumi: "I don't mind. I was just wondering if you wanted something." Miyako: "I was just watching your face." Fumi: "Wah... That might be more embarrassing than you reading my diary." Miyako: "Your expression keeps changing as you write." Fumi: "Huh? Really? I was making faces?" Miyako: "Yes, lots of them." Fumi: "Well, you do sort of remember how you felt when you write about your experiences." Miyako: "Your memories must be very clear." Fumi: "I forget right away after I sleep, though. That's why I write things down before bed." Miyako: "I see." People forget. So they keep records. Diaries, pictures, videos... They have many methods. But angels don't forget, so they have no ways to keep records. Fumi: "If I write things down, I can remember them when I go back and read them." Angels are observers, but they are also record keepers. Maybe Miyako found Fumi's diary-keeping relatable. Fumi: "Hina's album must be the same." Miyako: "......" Every human has their own memory, or to put it more grandly, history. Fumi: "She'd probably say her pictures are art, but—" Rin: "Alright, pay the fine." Fumi: "Ah." Rin didn't miss the sound of Fumi nibbling on a cookie. Rin: "In case you forgot, the no-eating-after-nine rule was your idea, Asou." Fumi: "I know. Please keep reminding me..." It's hard to break longtime habits. Fumi: "Haahh..." Her sigh blew something up from the pages of the diary; it floated to the rug, where Miyako picked it up. Miyako: "This is..." Fumi: "Oh, it's an angel feather." Yes. It was _Miyako's_ feather. Though Sachiko had swapped it out for a goose's. Fumi: "I'm using it as a bookmark." Fumi took the feather from Miyako and gently closed her diary around it. Fumi: "It flew out of the window once, and Hina went and found it for me." Rin: "That was quite a day. Hina caught a cold and was laid up with a fever." Miyako: "I'm sorry." Fumi: "Hm?" Miyako: "N-Nothing." Fumi: "But it's thanks to that that Hina and I... Hina is my angel now." Miyako: "......" Rin: "That angel of yours is snoring over here." I _thought_ she was being rather quiet. Fumi: "Oh, I hope she doesn't catch a cold again." Miyako: "I'm going to go get my printout." Rin: "I'll come with. I'm gonna go take a bath." When Miyako stood, Rin joined her, slightly unsteady. Rin: "Ugh... I have to go next-door again... It's cold and I'll be all alone..." Fumi: "You should have gone with us when we went earlier." Rin: "I was right at the climax of the book I was reading..." Fumi: "I know. Go warm up, and make sure you don't catch cold." Rin: "Uuugh..." Hina: "Huh? Where's Rin and Miyako?" Hina looked around, rubbing her eyes. Fumi: "Ogata went to take a bath and Miyako's getting her printout from Sachiko." Hina: "Oh. Was Rin whining?" Fumi: "Yes, I think that describes it." Hina: "I thought she would. That's why she should have come with us." Fumi: "Right?" Miyako had gone with them. Hina: "It's kind of strange. It's only been two weeks since Miyako came, right?" Fumi: "Right. But it feels like she's been here longer." Hina: "Yeah. _She's_ also kind of strange, though." Fumi: "Aside from how she sleeps a lot?" Hina: "Doesn't she bump into walls and doors a lot? Without even slowing down." Fumi: "Oh, that's true. I guess she's pretty absentminded." Hina: "Maybe. It's like she thinks she can go through them." Fumi: "She jumps a lot, just out of nowhere." Hina: "Yeah, I've seen that. Like she's about to fly away! There's no way, though, right?" Fumi: "Ahaha, maybe she used to be an angel." Hina: "Yeah, right." Well, she's not used to this.
Rin: "Hey, Takaoka, you got plans after this?" Rin's question came from behind Miyako. The three girls had been walking a bit behind her, but they caught up when they came to a red light. Miyako: "Not really. What about you, Ogata?" Rin: "I don't really either." Miyako: "Oh yeah~?" ...... Two cars passed as they stood in silence. Hina: "Hey..." Rin: "If you don't have plans, do you want to hang out with me?" She finished her invitation as Hina tried to awkwardly cut in. Miyako: "Sure, I don't mind..." Head cocked, Miyako looked past Rin to Hina and Fumi. Rin: "Umm. These two have plans after this. Right?" She turned back to them and gave them a wink. Hina and Fumi exchanged a look, then: Hina & Fumi: "Yeah."n"Yes." They replied together. Miyako: "Alright. Thanks for inviting me, Ogata." Fumi and Hina gave appreciative bows behind Rin. Miyako smiled back at them. Rin: "G-Great. Let's hang out for about two hours." Fumi and Hina's smiles became a bit strained at the specific nature of her suggestion. ......... They walked off, holding hands. Rin watched them with a wry smile, Miyako with a genuine one. Rin: "Sorry about the kiddos. Don't hold it against them." Miyako: "Of course. I think they're adorable." Rin: "Umm... hmm, I guess I should probably tell you. I mean, it's not like it's a secret or anything, but..." Miyako: "You mean about Natsume and Asou?" Rin: "Uh... yeah. Like... let's see... you know how they're really close?" Miyako: "I suppose so." Rin: "I guess you could say their closeness isn't really from friendship, per se..." Miyako: "......" Rin: "Oh, but they are definitely friends, it's just, in their case... they're also..." Rin: "You know... the way they like each other is..." Miyako: "They're dating, right?" Rin: "Huh... ah... oh... yeah! You knew?" With how easily what she'd been trying to say was put into words, Rin couldn't help but point at Miyako in surprise. Miyako: "Oh... I could just tell." The truth was that she'd been watching from the beginning. Rin: "They're being pretty open about it, but they don't really bring it up to other people." Miyako: "Even people in heterosexual relationships often don't announce it to other people." Rin: "Right... So, that kinda thing doesn't bother you, Takaoka?" Miyako: "What thing?" Rin: "You know... how they're both girls." Miyako: "I think they make a very nice couple." Rin: "Huh. Guess I didn't need to be worried." Rin: "Holding hands and hugging and stuff is pretty normal between friends at an all girls' school anyway." Miyako: "Anything that people in a relationship do is normal." Rin: "...Yeah. Thanks." Rin: "You're right... They look super innocent, but they're doing more than that, aren't they~? Oh, not that I've seen it or anything." Miyako: "Ahahaha." Miyako had. Rin: "So, sorry, but you don't mind hanging out with me for a bit?" Miyako: "Of course not." ......... ...... They walked down the deserted street. Miyako: "........." Rin: "......" Miyako: "........." Rin: "......" They strolled without conversation. A fact they clearly had different levels of comfort about. Rin was anxious, trying to find something to say, and Miyako was perfectly comfortable, enjoying the scenery. Rin: "U-Umm—" Miyako: "Ogata, is this stuffed animal—" She'd attempted to say something several times, and when she'd finally succeeded, Miyako had spoken up at the same time. Miyako: "Oh, I'm sorry." Rin: "No, it wasn't important. You go first." Rin looked relieved, in fact. Miyako: "Okay. Is this stuffed animal from the same line as the ones Asou has in our room?" Miyako had stopped and was looking at a cart out in front of a small toy shop. The cart did seem to have some familiar stuffed faces on it. All the animals had angel wings on their backs. Rin: "Let's see... Yeah, looks like these are legit Angel Zoo products." Rin had picked one from the cart and inspected its tag. Very direct, just like her. Rin: "Good thing Asou's not with us. She'd add these to her collection." She sighed, putting the stuffed animal back. Miyako: "Do you not like stuffed animals, Ogata?" Rin: "That's not it. She just has too many. And she just sent a few back home at the end of the year." Rin: "Asou's usually really mature, but she's childish in the weirdest way sometimes. Like when angels come up, she's all..." She brought her hands close together in front of her face, giving herself tunnel vision. Rin: "And Hina's a little baby, just like she looks. I just worry about leaving the two of them to their own devices, you know?" Miyako: "......" Rin: "...That's not true. I'm the one they're always doing things for. All I can do for them is give them time alone like this." Miyako: "Isn't that enough?" Rin: "W-Well, either way, we're not putting more stuffed animals in that room! Otherwise they might claim the beds for their own and the humans will have to sleep on the floor!" Miyako: "Ahaha. That wouldn't be good." They laughed, then fell silent for a time. Rin: "...Anyway, don't worry. I'm sure those two will take care of you too, Takaoka." Miyako: "Yes, I know. They already are." Rin: "Right. It was the same when they'd just met me..." Rin: "I shouldn't be worrying about you. You're a way better communicator than me." Miyako: "No, I'm happy you're concerned about me." Rin: "You're all such good girls. Maybe I'm the one who's really just a kid." Miyako: "I think you're a good girl too, Rin." Rin: "I am? How's that?" Miyako: "You care so much about Asou and Natsume, don't you?" Rin: "...Well, they're my roommates." Miyako: "And you're spending time with me, too." Rin: "Well... it's more like killing time, isn't it?" Rin averted her eyes. Miyako: "I hope we can be good friends." Rin: "...Yeah." Miyako: "Should we hold hands too?" Rin: "That's not... I, uhh..." Rin hid her hands in her pockets.
Fumi: "Ugh~ The wind was so cold~ Are you okay, Hina?" Fumi scrunched up her shoulders as she shut the door. Hina: "I'm invincible when I have your handmade scarf equipped♪" Hina boasted. I doubt even the North Wind could rip the scarf from this traveler. Fumi: "I just knitted it for practice, so I'm really happy you're wearing it." Hina: "Well, it's warm and cute. Thanks, Fumi♪" Hina had received the scarf in question at Fumi's house at the end of the year. Fumi had put it around her neck knowing that she would likely underdress if left to her own devices. Fumi: "I'll never let you catch cold again!" This time, Fumi was the one boasting. Well, Hina _had_ given her cause to worry before. Hina: "Y-You think Rin's okay?" Fumi: "Hopefully things aren't too awkward with them." Hina: "I think Takaoka will be fine, but..." Fumi: "...But Ogata might not. She did say not to worry about her." That's right. Fumi and Hina had made sure (perhaps too many times) that Rin would be alright on her own with Takaoka. It was Rin who had suggested they go back to the room first, but they knew she was shy, so they couldn't help worrying. Hina: "I didn't get what she meant by rest and free time and stuff, though." Fumi: "Free time?" Fumi didn't seem to understand either... though, if she had, Hina probably would have sent her flying. Hina: "Well, worrying about her now won't do any good." These two were always concerned about Rin. Perhaps even more than each other. And Rin seemed to have noticed that. Hina: "And since she gave us this time alone together, we should make the most of it and flirt our hearts out!" Fumi: "Right. We can thank Ogata later." They nodded, looked into each other's eyes, held hands, and embraced. Hina: "Fumi... I love you." Fumi: "Me too... I love you too, Hina." They were alone together in the afternoon living room. The rustling of their clothes, their breathing, their giggles; these sounds came only from the two of them. Hina: "You smell good." Hina had her face buried in Fumi's chest. Because of their height difference, it was inevitable when they hugged. Fumi: "It's probably my fabric softener." Hina: "I could find you by following this scent." Fumi: "You think so? Lots of people use the same thing." Hina should smell the same way, in fact. Their shampoo was different, but they used the same fabric softener. Hina: "It's different when it comes from you♪" She gave her a toothy smile. Though there's no reason to think so, I get the feeling she really could do it. Hina: "Mm..." Hina stretched up and stole Fumi's lips. Their breath mixed and each of them pushed into the other's mouth with her tongue. Their tongues entwined, and then their breaths separated again into panting. Hina: "Fumi..." Fumi: "Yes..." They gazed at each other with moist eyes, full of longing. Their skin touched amid hastily discarded sweaters and shirts. Since they'd only just come inside, it was probably still cold in the room. But they couldn't wait for the heater to warm things up. Hina: "Are you cold?" Fumi: "I'm okay. I'm right up against you..." The more clothes they took off, the more starkly the difference in their physiques showed. Hina's form was lean and slim, while Fumi's abundant curves gave her a maternal maturity. They contrasted, but their forms suited each other; both were plenty attractive. Hina reached up and initiated another kiss. This one started with tongue. Hina & Fumi: "Chp... mmh... nh... haah..." Their saliva mixed together noisily and spilled from their mouths, dripping down their chins. As long as they could hold their breath. Hina desired Fumi with everything she had, and Fumi responded wholeheartedly to that desire. These desperate kisses were enough to ignite the passions of the still-inexperienced girls. Hina: "Pwah..." Hina finally emerged from the waters of the long, long kiss to catch her breath. Fumi: "Haahh..." As did Fumi. Hina: "I-It was hard to breathe, wasn't it? S-Sorry..." Fumi: "I-It's... alright." The two both sighed, and the line of saliva connecting their mouths thinned and snapped. Fumi: "It's all wet around our mouths, isn't it?" Hina: "Yeah, it is." Hina licked her glistening lips like she was lapping away honey or cream. Fumi watched her lovingly. Hina: "Whew... Can we keep going?" Hina asked, taking a deep breath. Fumi: "Yes, I'd like that." Hina pecked at Fumi's cheeks. Hina: "Your cheeks are so soft. They feel really nice." Fumi: "Your lips are soft, too." Hina's kisses traveled down to Fumi's jaw, then landed on her neck. Fumi: "Nnh..." Hina nibbled at Fumi's neck. It was certainly a sensual scene, but for some reason, nothing Hina did seemed all that lustful. Hina: "Oh... If I bite too hard, will I leave a mark?" Hina took her lips away. Fumi's face relaxed when the kisses paused. Fumi: "I suppose so... They might stand out on my neck." Hina: "Right. Your skin is so white, though. I'm kinda jealous." Fumi: "You think so? I can get freckles, and if I'm not careful, I turn red right away in the sun." Hina: "Ah~ I've never really worried about sunburns." ...You probably should. Fumi: "I think Takaoka is even paler than me. Her skin's practically see-through!" Hina: "Yeah, it's almost like she's made of snow. But..." Hina: "I like your color the most, Fumi." Fumi: "Haah... mmh..." Hina's breath brushed Fumi's earlobe, and she shivered. Hina: "Mmh... mm." Hina stuck her tongue out and pressed it to Fumi's ear. Fumi: "Nh... ngh..." Her tongue moved over Fumi's ear like she was tracing the rim of a cup. Hina: "...Mm, mah?" —Then it slid inside her ear. Fumi: "Haah?!" Fumi couldn't help yelping at the unexpected sensation. Hina: "Ah? Did that hurt?" The noise surprised Hina. Fumi: "I-It didn't hurt, but..." Hina: "...You got chills?" Fumi: "Umm... I was just surprised." Hina: "Did you not like that? Should I stop?" Fumi: "I'm just sensitive, so... go easy on me..." Hina nodded. Hina: "...Fumi?" Fumi: "Y... Yes." Hina: "If you want me to do anything, tell me, okay? Oh, and tell me if you don't want me to do something, too." Fumi: "Yeah..." Fumi appreciated her words, but still couldn't really give her specific instructions. She didn't know what she wanted, and even if she did, she'd likely be too embarrassed to say. Fumi: "Umm... I'm happy just having you this close to me." Hina: "Heheheh. Me too. You're nice and warm." She smiled shyly. Hina: "But I want to make you excited, too. I want to make you feel good in an adult way." Hina likely didn't even know what she meant by "adult." "Feel good" was probably largely undefined as well. But her energy and her motivation to please Fumi were no joke. Fumi: "Mm...?" Suddenly, Hina's hands were pushing up against Fumi's breasts, to Fumi's slight surprise. Everything Hina did was sudden. Freed from their bonds, Fumi's breasts pulled apart, exchanging their altitude for a wider plain between them. Hina: "I get so excited when I touch your boobs, Fumi..." Hina massaged the soft avalanche of her breasts. They spilled out from between her fingers, too large to fit in Hina's hands. Fumi: "Fh... nh..." Hina: "That doesn't hurt, does it? Did I squeeze too hard?" Fumi shook her head. It wasn't the force of Hina's squeezing that determined the volume of her moans. Hina: "Oh, good..." Unlike her kisses, she held back a little with her touch. It wasn't skilled, but it was gentle. ...To put it another way, she was a bit timid. They'd become closer, and her earlier impetuousness had given way to a desire to please her partner, which was actually causing her more awkwardness. Hina: "Mm..." Hina's tongue snaked toward one of Fumi's peaks. Fumi: "Ah... nnh..." It grazed the tip, and Fumi gasped. Her voice was sweeter than before. It was a sensitive area, so the stimulation won out over the ticklishness. Hina: "...Mm..." Noticing her change in tone, Hina realized she'd hit the right spot. She leaned in again and licked Fumi's nipple once more. Fumi: "A-Ahn... nnh." When she took the nipple into her mouth, Fumi's voice rose even more. Hina: "It's hard now." Fumi: "...I'm embarrassed... ah... nnh... haah!" Whatever resistance she might have put up was wiped away by the sensations she was feeling. Hina was getting serious. She rolled Fumi's nipple in her mouth and sucked on it, trying all sorts of different things. Hina: "...Does that feel good?" She glanced up again and again at Fumi's face. Fumi: "Yeah... a little bit." Hina: "I'll make it feel even better!" Fumi: "O-Okay..." She was confident and determined. ...But maybe a little too tense? She fondled one of Fumi's breasts with one hand while the other reached out blindly and tickled Fumi's stomach. Fumi: "Kh..." Fumi held in a laugh. Hina didn't notice. Hina: "Umm..." She looked down to check where her hand was and corrected course. Fumi: "H-Hwah...?" Hina's fingers traced Fumi's sensitive form, running from her side down to her thigh. But they started to wander again there. Hina: "Mmh... can you spread your legs a little?" Fumi: "Yes... er, maybe not." She'd stripped somewhat randomly. Her stockings were down to her knees, but her underwear was still around her thighs, so she couldn't spread her legs any more. Hina: "Oh, I see..." Hina stuck her hands into the thin gap between Fumi's thighs. Fumi: "U-Umm..." Fumi was likely attempting to ask why Hina didn't just take off her underwear. Fumi: "Nnh..." Hina's hand wriggled between her thighs. Tickling her here would never get her to where she was likely trying to get. Fumi: "Hah... nnh... nhh..." Fumi squeezed her knees together around Hina's wrist. But Hina made no effort to pry her legs apart. Hina: "Here, maybe?" Fumi: "Huh? Ah..." Her fingers moved against Fumi's thighs. Fumi: "Hgh... fhh..." Fumi bit her lip, trying desperately to keep her composure. It was obvious to Hina, of course. Pleased(?), Hina moved her fingers faster when Fumi's thighs loosened. Hina: "Fumi—" Fumi jumped. Fumi: "Ahahahahaha!!" She burst out laughing, Hina's hand flying from between her thighs. Hina: "Huh? Huh?" Fumi: "I-I'm sorry... Aha! Ahahahahaha!" Hina was bewildered as Fumi continued to laugh. Fumi: "Aha, ahahaha!" ......... ...... Hina: "I thought I was turning you on, but you were just trying not to laugh, huh? You should have said something..." Fumi: "Well... you seemed like you were trying really hard..." Hina: "Yeah... thanks." Fumi: "Umm... no, thank you." They both smiled awkwardly. Hina: "Sex is hard. You think there's a textbook somewhere?" Fumi: "Eheh. It really is." Hina: "My mom and dad probably wouldn't be able to help if I asked them, huh..." Fumi: "We're working with different components than them, after all." I would think it would be difficult to ask them for different reasons... Hina: "Think Rin and Sachiko know more about it?" Fumi: "I wonder." Ahahahaha. Fumi: "But... I really felt how much you were trying to please me. That made me really happy." Hina: "...Yeah. I'll do better next time..." Hina buried her face in Fumi's chest. She seemed a little frustrated. Fumi: "...Yes." Fumi gave her a gentle pat on the back. Hina sniffed at the nape of Fumi's neck. Hina: "Have you always used this shampoo?" Fumi: "Yeah, ever since I grew my hair out, at least." Hina: "Your hair was short before?" Fumi: "It was about the same length as yours until elementary school. My parents cut me and my brother's hair at home back then." Hina: "Huh... I can't picture that. I had long hair until elementary school too, though." Fumi: "Huh... I can't picture that either!" Hina: "I had a big sister, so they were always dressing me cutely in her hand-me-downs. But then I ended up like this." Fumi: "I think you're very cute now." Hina: "Thanks." Hina clung tighter to Fumi. Fumi: "Smells like summer vacation..." Fumi brought her nose to the top of Hina's head and giggled. Hina: "Zzz... zzz..." Fumi: "...Zzz... zzz..." ......... ...... Rin: "We're back~" Miyako: "Hello~" Rin and Miyako's voices. According to the clock, exactly two hours had passed. Rin: "It was cold! Super cold! But I bet it was piping hot in here~" Rin headed to the living room, cracking a decidedly un-ladylike joke. Rin: "Alright, your rest time is u—" She immediately laid eyes on the two girls, half-undressed and sleeping on top of each other. Rin: "Gyaaaaa!! Wh-What are you two doing?!" Miyako: "Aw, they're so cute together~"
Hina: "What are you reading?" Rin: "Sex-crazed Titty Teacher~" Fumi: "......" Hina: "A dirty one?" Rin: "A dirty one." No guilt there. Hina: "Why do you read sex books when you're having sex with me?" Fumi: "Pft!" Fumi almost spat out the tea she was drinking. Rin: "L-Let's talk about that when we're alone..." Hina: "But we _are_ having sex..." Rin: "Let's leave it as an unspoken agreement." Hina: "But..." She wasn't backing down. Rin: "They scratch different itches. You're not a sex-crazed titty teacher, right, Hina?" Hina: "No, but... then if a sex-crazed... whatever teacher came on to you, would you dump me for her?" Rin: "I have a firm grip on the difference between fiction and reality." Hina: "Hmm." Rin: "I don't really read these for titillation, anyway." Hina: "Really? You're not just making excuses?" Rin: "Really. I just like the writing in erotic novels. They use all sorts of expressions and metaphors. The ample descriptions really let you paint a picture in your mind." Didn't she say something similar before? Hina: "...I don't really get it." Rin: "Well... I don't know about other people who read them." The dorm manager, for instance? Miyako: "Mmh... mmble." Fumi: "Maybe we should wake Miyako." Rin: "Oh yeah, she was supposed to go get her printout from Sachiko, right?" ......... Miyako: "Okay, I'll be back." Rin: "......" Fumi: "Is something wrong?" Rin: "I was just thinking they really don't look alike." Fumi: "Miyako and Sachiko? They're not related by blood, right?" Rin: "She's real pretty though, huh~ A mysterious beauty." Fumi: "But she's also very easy to talk to. She really doesn't hide anything." Rin: "Yeah. Though you've got a great face and a personality to match too, Asou." Fumi: "Th-Thank you." Rin: "Big boobs, too. She almost seems invincible." Fumi: "Ogata, Ogata..." Rin: "Oh, don't worry, you're still the reigning boob champ in my book, Asou." Fumi: "It's not that..." Rin: "Huh?" Fumi's gaze was directed toward— Hina: "Mmmmh!" —a pouting Hina. Rin: "Ah!" Rin paled. Hina: "You pay a lot of attention to Miyako, huh!" Rin: "That's, err... b-but I pay the most attention to you, Hina!" Hina: "........." Rin: "You're the cutest, Hina! I love how you're full of energy and always try your hardest!" Hina: "......" Rin: "Your tiny boobs are the best, too!" Fumi: "Ah..." That comment had the opposite of its intended effect. Hina: "I'm sorry my boobs are tiny!" Rin: "Awawawa." Fumi: "That was definitely your fault, Ogata..." Rin tried to win Hina back over, but the latter refused to make eye contact. Honestly, she brought this on herself. Rin: "Oh, I know, let's go take a bath, Hina, a bath♪" Hina: "Grrr!" Rin: "I'll do anything you want me to today, okay, Hina?" Hina: "Grrrr!!"
Fumi: "Can I ask you to come shopping with me, Takaoka?" Fumi asked as they waited for the red light. Miyako: "Just me? What about you two?" Miyako turned back to Hina and Rin. Rin: "Umm, Hina and I have something else to do. Right?" Hina: "...Yeah." She looked up at Miyako with the gaze of an imploring puppy. Miyako: "Ah. Alright, I'll come with you." Hina: "Thank you!" Hina's expression lit up at that. Rin: "Thank you, she says." Miyako: "Ahaha." Rin: "Well, we'll see you guys later, then." Fumi: "Say, two hours?" Rin: "Is that okay?" Miyako: "If you could give me a tour of the town while we shop, I'd like that." Fumi: "I'd be happy to." Rin: "Ah..." Hina: "The light's green." Hina was already halfway across the street. Rin: "Umm... right, thank you." With a quick bow of her head, Rin chased after Hina. Rin: "Don't cling like that. It's hard to walk!" Hina: "Eheheh♪" Once Rin had caught up to her, Hina put her arms around her and clung on. Fumi and Miyako waved as they left. Miyako: "They're very close, aren't they?" Fumi: "Yes, they are." Miyako: "I'm sorry for not catching on earlier." Fumi: "Don't be! I think you actually caught on very quickly." Fumi: "It might be strange for me to be the one to tell you this, but Natsume and Ogata are—" Miyako: "They're dating, right?" Fumi: "...It's easy to tell, isn't it? Oh, but it's not as if they're hiding it or anything." Miyako: "Yes. The air between them is a little warm." She couldn't exactly tell her she'd been watching them since their relationship began. Fumi: "Does it bother you?" Miyako: "What do you mean by that?" Fumi: "Well, do you think it's awkward living together with a couple...?" Fumi: "I've been with them from the beginning, and I think they're rather adorable to watch..." Miyako: "I enjoy seeing them together too." Fumi: "...I'm glad you became our new roommate, Takaoka. I hope you'll continue to watch over them fondly from now on." Miyako: "I'm glad, too. I wanted to be your roommate..." Miyako stopped, realizing she'd said something she shouldn't have, but fortunately, Fumi didn't seem to have noticed. Fumi: "Should we take a walk by the station?" Fumi headed in the opposite direction Rin and Hina had gone, Miyako following. Miyako: "Are Natsume and Ogata going on a date somewhere?" Fumi: "I think they probably went back to the room. Natsume's been looking a little forlorn lately." Miyako: "It must be because I suddenly moved in." Fumi: "No, no, it's not your fault. If it were, then it would be mine, too." Fumi waved her hands, denying Miyako's suggestion. Fumi: "We're all glad you moved in!" Miyako: "Th... Thank you." Fumi: "They're just in the early stage of their relationship where they want to spend time with each other, and they've got a low charge on their battery right now." Fumi: "They can't be alone together all that much since it's a four-person room, and they weren't able to cuddle much at our New Year's sleepover..." Miyako: "You want to give them time alone together every so often, yes? I'm fine with that at any time." Fumi: "...Thanks. I'll take you up on that." Fumi: "I'm very impressed by you, Takaoka. You seem to see through everything." Miyako: "I'm impressed by you, too. You really watch them closely, don't you? I bet you know exactly what Natsume's thinking." Fumi: "Probably better than Ogata does, honestly. Sometimes I think I should just mind my own business, but..." Miyako: "You're like their big sister." Fumi: "I'm relieved you didn't say 'mother.'" Miyako: "Ahaha." Rin would have said that. Fumi: "Well, I am a little older than them. I was born in April. Natsume's birthday is in December, and Ogata's is in March." Miyako: "I was also born in December, so you're my big sister, too." Fumi: "Should I call you Miyako, then?" Miyako: "I would like that, Fumi." They smiled. Fumi: "Is your name written 'holy night' because you were born on Christmas?" Miyako: "Yes." Fumi: "I thought s—wah!" Fumi suddenly exclaimed. Miyako: "Is something—" Fumi ran off before Miyako could find what she was looking at. Miyako: "...A toy store?" Among the shuttered stores all down the main street, this small toy store alone was open, anticipating children's New Year's money. There were stuffed animals in a cart outside the store, and Fumi was picking up each one of them and saying something to them. Fumi: "I never thought I'd see you here!" Miyako peered into the cart when she caught up with Fumi. Miyako: "These look like the stuffed animals in our room." Fumi: "They are! These are their family!" Fumi: "This is Uri, Micha's cousin, and this is Meta, and this is San. He's Gabe's classmate, but they're actually twins—" Miyako: "It's a big family, isn't it?" Fumi: "It is! But they all get along... wait? Ah?! Oh!" She finally came to her senses. Fumi: "I-I'm sorry! I got carried away." Miyako: "Ahaha. You really love these stuffed animals, don't you, Fumi?" Miyako picked one of them up. Miyako: "Ooh..." Miyako exclaimed in wonder at the feel of the stuffed animal. Fumi: "They're so soft, aren't they? I love that about Angel Zoo." Miyako: "Angel Zoo...? Ah, that's what these stuffed animals are called? Uri and San, too?" Miyako looked at the toys' tags. Fumi: "Err... the names are just what I call them." Miyako: "They're very cute. But you don't have these ones in our room, do you?" Fumi: "These were just released this winter. I always keep on top of the new information, but I've never seen them in stores around here." Miyako: "They must have been waiting for you here." Fumi: "You're right! I'm going to bring them home! Do you mind waiting for me?" They began walking again, this time with Fumi carrying a large bag. Fumi: "...Sorry your big sister doesn't have any self-control." She must have bought all the new releases. Miyako: "But I bet the ones in our room will be happy to have a bigger family." Fumi: "Right?! ...I'm sure Ogata's going to get on my case about where I'm going to put them, though." She'd actually just made Fumi send some home at the end of the year due to overcrowding. Miyako: "Would you like to use my shelves? I have extra space." She didn't have a lot of things yet, since she'd just "moved." Fumi: "You're an angel, Miyako!" Miyako: "Huh?" No, no. She means you're an angel, like a good person. Fumi: "Uri, Meta, San, you can all stay together~" Naturally, Fumi didn't catch on to Miyako's misunderstanding, instead talking to the stuffed animals in her bag. Miyako: "Your stuffed animals are all named after angels, huh?" Fumi: "What? You know them?!" Miyako: "Uriel, Metatron, Sandalphon... It's the same for the ones in the room, right?" In reality, angels have no names. Miyako herself had been a nameless soul before she came down to earth and was named by Sachiko. There was no hierarchy of angels and archangels, either. Humans had come up with all of that. They were all the same kind of existence. Fumi: "You believe in angels, right, Miyako? You said before you'd seen them..." Miyako: "Yes. Just that I felt like I had, though." Fumi: "U-Umm! I also saw one, when I was little—" Her usual excitement threatened to well up again, but she covered her own mouth. She was trying to show a little restraint toward her new friend. Miyako: "It's alright. Please tell me." Miyako smiled. Fumi: "You don't mind?" Miyako: "I believe, too." Fumi's eyes sparkled. Fumi: "U-Umm, so, the first time I saw an angel—"
Hina: "......" Hina had returned. But she was clearly displeased, a pout on her face. Rin followed close behind her, a little out of breath. Rin: "Don't run off like that... You expect me to keep up with you?" Hina didn't turn to face her. Rin: "Hina—" Hina: "I don't care!" Hina shouted. Rin: "Huh? Hey... what are you mad about?" Rin finally noticed her mood. She went around to Hina's front and put her hands on her shoulders, but Hina wouldn't meet her gaze. Rin: "...Did I do something?" Hina: "........." Rin: "...I won't know what I did unless you tell me." Hina: "...You really don't know?" Rin nodded helplessly. Hina: "...Haahh..." The tension went out of Hina with her sigh. Rin: "Huh? What is it...?" Hina: "When I clung to you, you pushed me away." That rang a bell for her. Rin: "Th-That's kind of an exaggeration, isn't it? I just pulled away a little." Hina: "Why?" Rin: "W-Well... I saw some girls from our class coming our way." Hina: "I know. I saw them too. Is that why?" Rin: "Well... it'd be embarrassing if they started spreading rumors, right?" Hina: "...Are you embarrassed to be with me?" Rin: "...Sorry." Realizing what she'd stepped in, Rin elected to simply apologize instead. Hina: "Fine, whatever. You didn't mean anything by it, you were just being insensitive. I should have known you're just like this." Rin: "Ugh..." She swallowed whatever retort she was thinking of making, sensing that now would be a bad time. Rin: "...What do you want to do now?" Hina: "Organize my pictures." Rin: "Huh? What am I supposed to do, then?" Hina: "Why don't you read one of your sex books?" Cold as ice. Rin: "Asou was nice enough to give us time to be alone together! You're just going to waste it?!" Hina: "I don't care! I'm not in the mood!" Rin: "......" Hina turned her back, leaving Rin to flounder behind her. Rin: "Hiiinaaa!" Hina: "Wah?!" Rin leapt on Hina. Rin: "Let's make up! I was looking forward to this!" Hina: "I was too! But then you...!" Rin: "But I apologized! And I'll apologize more if that wasn't enough! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Hina: "L-Let me go! I hate this part of you, Rin!" Rin: "Don't tell me you hate me! You'll really hurt me!" Hina struggled as Rin held her down. They fought for control. With her height, Rin should have had the advantage, but Hina's physical abilities were no joke. Rin: "Urrrgh... h-how 'bout this?!" Rin blew on Hina's ear. Hina: "Nnh?!" All of Hina's strength left her. Taking advantage of her chance, Rin stuck her hands inside Hina's sweater. Hina: "H-Hey! What are you—" Rin found Hina's nipples through her bra without giving her a chance to protest. Hina: "Hyaaan!!" Now Hina couldn't resist. She crumbled on the spot. Rin: "You're sensitive as always." Hina: "Ahn... nngh! Th-That's not fair..." Rin: "You're so cute, Hina..." Her sexy voice was the finishing blow. Hina: "Mmmm! That's more unfair!!" ......... Rin: "I'm putting it on. Lift your chin up?" Hina: "...Okay." When Rin put the collar on her, Hina became hers. Hina had decided that herself. She likely had nothing as sophisticated as "S" or "M" on her mind. She loved Rin. That was the only feeling fueling her actions. ...Hmm. And what about Rin? Now, it begins. Hina clung to the ladder. She'd stripped her shorts, tights, and underwear, exposing her butt; her small breasts had been bared as well. Hina: "Hnnh...!" Hina bucked just from having her nipple squeezed lightly. Rin: "This is a weak spot of yours, huh? Actually, I guess you're weak everywhere." Hina: "It's because the way you touch me is—" Rin: "The way I touch you? I haven't even done anything yet." Rin said, giving one of Hina's nipples a flick. Hina: "Hyaaan!" A louder scream than before came back to her. Rin: "You get turned on~ because you have a lewd body, Hina~" Hina: "Hnnh... hnnh... hnh, hnh..." Rin was still tickling her nipple, so Hina couldn't form words in response. Rin: "You're a bad dog if you're blaming other people, aren't you?" Hina: "I-I'm not... blaming... I'm just saying... you're good at this..." Rin: "H-Hmm." She didn't seem to mind hearing that. She must like getting compliments. Rin: "Well, I like the compliment, but do you not like feeling good or what?" Hina: "It's not... that." Rin: "Then just enjoy it." Hina: "...You won't hate me 'cause I'm lewd?" Rin: "'C-Course not..." That one hit hard. A clean counter that dealt massive damage. Rin: "You, you... you adorable little creature..." Rin: "O-Of course I won't hate you! Just be as lewd as you want already!" Hina: "H-Hyaee?!" Rin resumed her fondling of Hina's breasts. She didn't have the volume for full-on groping, so Rin concentrated her attack on Hina's nipples, rubbing them with the pads of her fingers. But this time, she was serious. She wasn't teasing her like she had been earlier, but using all her knowledge, skills, and love to stimulate Hina for real. Hina had moaned just from Rin's light touches earlier, so she stood no chance against passion like this. Hina: "Haaaahnn!!" Yeah, like that. Rin: "Look, it's getting harder and harder here." Hina: "I-I can't... tell..." Rin: "...Huh. It doesn't hurt, does it?" Hina: "I-I'm... okay..." Rin: "Can I squeeze a little harder, then?" Hina: "Huh? But... any harder, and... haaahn!!" That response was clearly more extreme than her previous. And that amused Rin. Hina: "Ah... ah... aaah... nnnh!" She squeezed Hina's nipples in time with her cries. Narrowing down her reactions, she found the best way to touch her to produce the noises she wanted. With the stream concentrated, Hina now had no way of resisting its flow. And... Hina: "...Haaaahn!!" Hina shuddered, the ladder she was clinging to creaking. She may have just had a light orgasm. Rin enjoyed the sight of her flushed cheeks. Rin: "We're not done yet. This time we're going to enjoy it down here." Rin's hand slid down from Hina's breasts. Hina: "Hunh...?" Hina was a little out of it, but she came back around when she felt Rin's hand on her stomach. Rin: "It'll feel even better down here, right?" Hina: "H-Hnnh... umm..." Rin: "You don't need to answer, I already know..." Rin's fingers reached their goal before Hina could respond. A wet sound announced their arrival. Rin: "You're really wet." Hina: "...Ugh..." It wasn't like their first time. Hina knew now what that meant. Hina: "...I'm sorry." Rin: "Why are you apologizing? It makes me happy that you're wet." Hina: "It... does?" Rin: "It means you enjoyed it, right? I made you this wet. Of course that makes me happy." Hina: "O-Oh..." Rin: "Though your body is still lewd, of course." Hina: "...Ugh." Rin: "You're excited about feeling even better next, right?" Hina: "...Stupid..." Rin: "Ah, you called me stupid~" Hina: "Aaah?!" Hina yelped when Rin's fingers slid between her soft folds. Rin: "That's hot! You really do run hot, like—" Hina: "D-Don't... say that." Rin: "Heheh, sure, sure." She moved her fingers left and right against her. It was a soft touch, but it made Hina tremble all the same. Rin: "It's squelching." Hina: "Come on... you don't have to say that..." Rin: "I dunno~ I'm stupid, so I can't keep my mouth shut." Hina: "Uuugh..." Rin never lets something like that slide. Rin: "My fingers are completely soaked. But they move easier now, so maybe that's good..." Hina: "Ah... ah..." Hina moaned with each movement of Rin's fingers. Rin: "Hm... maybe I'll try going a bit harder." Rin said, digging her fingers in deeper. The knuckle on her middle finger was in just the right place to graze Hina's sensitive bead. Hina: "Nah... that feels too good!" Rin: "Hm? What's wrong with that?" Hina: "I-It makes everything go white in my head... I-I'll get lost!" Rin: "......" Rin licked her upper lip, looking positively ecstatic. Rin: "Let... me... help... you... get... lost..." Hina: "Eep... aaaaaah!!" Scooping up plenty of nectar on her finger, she rubbed it against Hina's core. Rin: "I can feel how hard it is." It was hidden away, but for a sensitive girl like Hina, it was probably best that Rin touched it through its veil. Hina: "Aaah!! Aaahn!! Hyaaah!!" Hina's cries resounded through the room along with wet sounds and the creaking of the bed. Rin: "I think you're making a little~ too much noise, Hina?" Hina: "Mmmh...?" Rin: "Why don't you suck on this, okay?" Rin stuck her finger in Hina's mouth. Hina: "M-Mgh..." She was surprised at first, but accepted it soon enough. Rin: "Inside the mouth is an erogenous zone too, you know~?" She sounded proud of that one. Must have read it in a book or something. Hina: "Mmgh... mmh..." She touched the inside of Hina's mouth gently, and Hina's tongue curled around her invitingly. Rin: "Whoa, your tongue feels good. That gave me chills..." Rin shuddered. Hina: "Chp... chp... mmh." Hina sucked Rin's finger even harder after hearing that. Rin: "Mmh... Puppies sure are good at licking." Hina: "...Nnh... nnh..." Rin: "Heheh, clever doggies need to be rewarded..." Hina: "Hnnh... re...warded?" Rin: "Yeah. Let's get lost, Hina." Hina: "Mmmgh!!" Rin rubbed Hina's core harder, pushing her finger deeper into her mouth as well. Hina: "Hagh... mmgh!!" She couldn't suck on it like she'd been doing before. Her tongue was at the mercy of Rin's finger. Rin: "That hurt? Is it too deep?" She was concerned for Hina, as she should have been. Her kindness may have come from cowardice, but it was clear nonetheless how much she cared about Hina. Hina: "Mm... hmmh..." Hina shook her head, her hair rustling about. Rin: "Go ahead and cum whenever you want, okay?" Rin's fingers sped up, relieved by Hina's answer. Hina: "Haah... haah... aaaahn!!" Hina may not even be able to hear her anymore. Rin: "Hina... Hina... you're so cute, you're so cute...!" Rin gazed, spellbound, at her small lover, bucking in her arms. Hina: "Hah... n-no... no... aaamh!!" Hina's small body scrunched up even smaller, her energy condensing before its explosion. Rin: "Go ahead... cum... Hina!!" Hina: "H... Hyaaah... hahh... hahh..." Hina: "Nnnngh...!" Rin: "Ow...!!" Hina's howl and Rin's yelp came at the same time. She'd chomped down on Rin's finger in her orgasm. Rin: "Agh...!!" Rin yanked her finger out of Hina's mouth. Hina: "Hahh... hahh... huhh...?!" Hina: "I-I bit you...?!" Rin: "Ow... gh..." All Rin could do for a minute was groan in pain. Hina: "A-Are you okay?!" Hina turned around nervously. Hina: "Ah... your finger! Is it bleeding?!" She must have tasted blood in her mouth. Rin: "Huh...? Oh... it is." She looked down and found blood seeping from the teeth marks in her finger. Hina: "Aaaaah... I'm sorry... I'm sorry!!" Hina was making a face like it was the end of the world. Rin: "Aha... haha... guess I got a little carried away..." Rin was almost more panicked seeing Hina in the state she was in. Hina: "I was feeling good all on my own, and lost control... and I even hurt you..." Rin: "No... no! It's not your fault, Hina." Hina: "...I'm a bad dog." Hina sunk deeper into her gloom. Rin: "Hina... it's alright." Rin embraced her from behind... it was all she could do. Hina: "Rin, I love you... I love you..." Rin: "Yeah... I love you, too." In just one or two hours, they went from anger to laughter to love to tears... These two were like a roller coaster.
The girls all spent their time before bed doing whatever they liked. Shff, shff. The soft sound of Fumi filing her nails. Hina: "......" Fumi: "What is it? I'm just doing my nails." Fumi noticed Hina watching her. Hina: "You really take good care of them, huh?" Fumi: "Oh, I wouldn't say I'm that serious about it." Hina: "No, it's super, like, 'girly'! It's like, 'nail care' rather than just clipping." Hina was impressed. Hina: "I've never filed my nails before." Rin: "You use pliers, Hina?" Hina: "That's torture! I use nail clippers!" Fumi: "If I just clip them, they're not smooth, and they'll scratch—" Fumi couldn't help looking at Rin, who realized where she was going and looked away. Hina: "Scratch? Scratch Rin?" Hina, of course, had noticed it. Fumi: "Er, well... yes..." Rin: "H-Hina!" The pair were flustered when Hina saw through them. Hina: "Hm? When you wash her hair for her or something?" Rin: "Huh? Ah... y-yeah, that!" Hina: "You baby Rin too much, Asou." Fumi: "Ahaha..." Miyako: "Come to think of it..." Miyako had been staring at her fingertips, but she suddenly spoke up. Miyako: "When do you think I should cut my nails?" Fumi: "Let me see." Fumi took Miyako's hand and checked her fingertips. Fumi: "They look a little long. You wouldn't want to catch them on something and break one, so you might want to clip them now." Miyako: "I see." Fumi: "They grow at different rates for different people, but you'll typically want to cut them every two weeks or so." It had been about that long since she'd come down. Fumi: "Here, do you want to use my file?" Miyako: "Yes!" Fumi: "—Hold it at a 45 degree angle and just move it slowly in one direction." Miyako: "Okay." Fumi held a little nail care workshop. Hina was staring at her own fingertips while Fumi was showing Miyako how to file her nails. Hina: "They're a little long... My hair and nails grow super fast." Rin: "We'll have to take you to a groomer soon. You'll be a good girl and stay put for them, right?" Hina: "I'm a human girl! I'm good with my hands! I can cut them myself!" Rin: "Oh yeah, I heard horny people's nails grow faster." Hina: "What?" Miyako: "Do your nails grow fast, Fumi?" Fumi: "Umm, uhh~, I'm not sure..." Miyako: "You seem to take care of them often." Hina: "Look! You made it all weird by saying something weird, Rin!" Rin: "I just said you were horny, Hina!" Hina: "Keee! These claws are for scratching you!" Miyako headed for Sachiko's room to pick up the printout she'd asked her to sign. Hina: "Want me to come with you?" Miyako: "That's alright." Rin: "They're cousins, so you don't need to be that worried about her, right?" Hina: "You never know. I bet her nails grow super fast." Miyako: "Ahaha, you think she has to cut them every day?" Rin: "Let's see..." Rin started to fidget like she always did. Miyako: "Oh, one moment." Miyako said, opening up the microwave and the fridge. Miyako: "They were in here this time." She took Rin's glasses out of the fridge and handed them to her. Rin: "Th-Thanks." Miyako: "Okay, I'll be back." Rin: "Ugh, they're freezing!" And cloudy. Hina: "Why the heck were your glasses in the fridge? And hasn't this happened before?" Rin: "I dunno either." Fumi: "Miyako found them right away, though." Rin: "Theory: Takaoka hid them." Hina: "Don't blame someone else for stuff you bring on yourself! This happened before Miyako came, too!" Fumi: "Maybe she remembered us telling her about finding them in the fridge and the microwave before." Hina: "She's got a good memory." Fumi: "Yes... She already knows where all the dishes and things are, too." Rin: "Very well, I shall appoint her to Glasses Safekeeping Officer." Hina: "Do that yourself!" Hina: "...Did we tell Miyako about your glasses, though?"
Hina: "Well, it's pretty nice out. Want to walk a bit more?" Hina asked Miyako at a red light. Miyako: "Sure, that sounds nice." Rin: "What~? It's cold, I don't wanna." Hina: "I didn't invite you. Shoo, go home." Fumi: "I—" Hina: "Take Rin home, Asou?" Fumi: "Ah..." Rin: "Hey, isn't that a little mean?" Fumi: "Okay!" Rin: "Huh? Okay? Wasn't she a little mean to me?" Fumi: "...Rin?" Fumi sighed and pulled Rin's sleeve so she'd bend down, then whispered in her ear. Rin: "Huh? ...Oh... okay... we'll go home." She mumbled. Hina: "Takaoka and I will hang out for about two hours, I think..." Hina shot a look at Miyako, who nodded her agreement. Fumi: "Got you. —Let's go, Rin?" Rin: "...Yeah." Miyako: "See you later." Fumi and Miyako waved at each other. ...... Hina: "Sorry for deciding without asking you." Hina turned to Miyako after watching Fumi and Rin leave. Hina: "We'll get cold talking out here. I hope there's a coffee shop open somewhere, but it is a holiday..." This was a town with no Starbucks. Miyako: "Oh, the cold doesn't bother me all that much." Hina: "Really? Same here. Wanna walk and talk, then? I'll show you around town." The two hardy girls walked off. Hina: "I imagine you've noticed, but those two—" Miyako: "They're very close, aren't they?" Miyako smiled. The two of them were on the same page. Hina: "Yeah, so... I wanted to give them some time alone." Miyako: "Yes, I agree." Hina: "Eheh. So you don't mind hanging out with me?" Miyako: "I'm happy to." Hina: "Well... I said I'd show you around, but most of the stores are closed." There wasn't much point keeping a store open on holidays in a residential town like this. Miyako: "I'm glad I got an opportunity to chat with you like this, Natsume." Hina: "So am I. ...You're a good person, Takaoka." Miyako: "Do you think so?" Hina: "I feel like you're already looking out for us even though you only just came." Miyako: "It's alright. I like seeing how close they are." Hina: "Yeah, I do, too. It's just... you know, they're at that age..." Hina suggested. Miyako: "Ah, I suppose so." Miyako understood. Hina: "I'm supposed to keep an eye on things as the RA, but..." Miyako: "You don't want to restrict them too much." Hina: "Right. Sorry, I'll probably end up asking for your help more in the future." Miyako: "Please don't hesitate to." Hina: "It's just, I feel kind of awkward about it." Miyako: "Hm?" Hina: "Oh, once, I caught them in the middle of the act... You just... wouldn't expect them to do that in the chapel, right?" Miyako: "Ah..." She couldn't very well say, "Yes, I saw that, too." Hina: "After that, they started acting closer in public, like they weren't restraining themselves anymore." Hina: "Even in front of you. Asou's still holding back, but Rin's all over her." Miyako: "It doesn't bother me." Hina: "It doesn't bother me either, when they're just flirting." Hina: "I just feel like Rin's a little dependent on Asou. Which I guess she's kinda always been, but it's hard to watch sometimes." Hina: "And Asou's Asou, so she babies Rin. Maybe I shouldn't, but I worry..." Hina: "...But, like, I get it. Rin's not used to having someone to rely on, since her parents haven't really been around since she was little." Miyako: "......" Hina: "What?" Miyako: "You really care a lot about them, huh?" Hina: "Ah, yeah... They're my best friends. I want to stay close to them as long as I can." Miyako: "......" She can use a phrase like "best friends" with complete honesty. She really is a strong girl. Hina: "Oh, sorry, you mind?" Hina suddenly stopped. Miyako: "Hm?" And she took a small box out of her pocket. It was her special toy camera. Hina: "I want to take a picture here. It's bustling with color, after all." It was a small toy store, the only business on the street still open for the holiday. Miyako: "It is. All the other stores have their shutters down, just this one is bustling." Miyako's eyes were sparkling when she turned back to Hina. Hina darted around, snapping pictures. Hina: "Is that a new one of the stuffed animals Asou collects, you think?" There was a cart outside the shop and some familiar-looking stuffed animals lined up on it. Miyako: "They do look alike, now that you mention it." Miyako picked one of them up. Hina: "Takaoka, over here!" Miyako: "?!" Miyako's eyes went wide when the camera was pointed at her. Hina: "Oh, sorry. Do you not like having your picture taken?" Miyako: "N-No... I was just surprised." She was still thinking like an angel. Even though now, she _should_ show up in pictures. Hina: "Then, can I take another? Smile this time♪" Miyako: "Oh, okay." This time she smiled. It was a little awkward, though. Hina: "Thanks. I'll show 'em to you next time I get them developed." Miyako: "Umm, can I see that camera?" Hina: "Yeah, sure. It's just a normal toy camera, though." Miyako took the camera. Miyako: "So this is..." She turned it, looking at it from different angles. Hina: "It's what? Is this your first time seeing a toy camera?" Miyako: "There's nothing unusual about it, is there?" Hina: "Yeah. Like I said, it's just a normal one." Miyako: "How strange..." Hina: "You're a little strange, too, Takaoka..." Hina: "Hey, Takaoka..." Miyako: "Yes?" Miyako was still fervently examining the camera. Hina: "...You believe in angels, right?" Miyako: "...Yes." She stopped fiddling with the camera and looked up. Hina: "Umm... well..." Hina hesitated. Miyako: "......" Miyako waited serenely for Hina to get the words out. Hina: "I... took a picture of an angel with that camera." Miyako: "Ah..." Hina: "It was a long time ago. When I was little. I got the camera as a Christmas present—" Hina spoke like a dam had burst. She told the story of the angel eating the strawberry off of her cake on that Christmas night. Her story wasn't organized particularly well, but her words were passionate, and Miyako listened patiently until the end. ...... Hina: "I'm sorry... for going on about something so weird all of a sudden." Miyako merely shook her head. Hina: "I just thought you might believe me, so..." Miyako: "Of course I believe you." She looked her straight in the eye and said that. Well, of course she did. She knows who that angel was, after all. Hina: "I've always kept it a secret... but I wanted to tell someone." Miyako: "I'm glad you told me." Hina: "Thanks. I'm glad I did, too." Hina's face lit up when Miyako accepted her story as truth. Hina: "When we get back... I'll show you the picture!" Miyako: "...Alright." Hina walked off, but Miyako was still standing there. She was happy. She knew that Hina sometimes snuck her album out to look at it, and she'd peeked at the picture from behind her back before, too. That was when she was watching the room as an angel, of course. What mattered to her wasn't Hina's story or her proof, but that she'd opened up about something important to her. Hina: "Takaokaaa?" Miyako: "Yes, I'm coming." Miyako hurried to follow Hina. Miyako: "They do exist... Angels." She suddenly pointed the camera my way. ...Whoops.
Rin: "We're back!" The door swung open and Rin strolled in. Fumi: "Not that anyone's waiting for us." Fumi followed, quietly closing the door behind her. Rin: "Yep. Which means we're all alone~♪" She looked like she could pirouette on the spot. Fumi: "We'll have to thank Natsume for giving us this opportunity." Rin: "Let's give her some New Year's money later." Fumi: "There you go, treating her like a kid again. You could just tell her thank you." Rin: "We've been having sleepovers since Christmas, then Takaoka moved in, so we haven't been alone together in so long~" Fumi sighed and smiled awkwardly. Fumi: "I wonder if Takaoka's figured it out yet." Rin: "You think? I think we've been pretty discreet since Christmas." Huh? Fumi: "Huh?" ...Right? Rin: "Fuuumiii." The restrained (so she said) Rin whined and went to put her arms around Fumi. Fumi: "Oh, wait a second. I have a LIME message..." Rin: "Pgh." Fumi put her finger on Rin's lips and looked down at her phone. Fumi: "Hm? It's from Rei?" Rin: "Rei... Oh, your brother? What'd he say?" Fumi: "He wants to know if I've seen his pass case, since he can't find it. He has a habit of misplacing things..." Someone else in this room has that habit, too. Rin: "You don't want to lose your train pass..." Rin dug in her pocket and took out her own case... probably just to check if she still had it. Fumi: "No, you don't. You should be careful, t—ah." Fumi did a double take when she saw the pass case in Rin's hand. Fumi: "I'm sorry, Rin. Can you check your other pocket?" Rin: "Hm? There's nothing in—huh?" A pass case appeared from this pocket as well. Rin: "It doubled?! Tap my pocket and I have two pass cases? Is it a magic pocket?!" Rin tapped her pocket, but no more pass cases appeared, of course. Fumi: "No. Look closer. The first one you pulled out is Rei's, I think." She opened up the case and looked at the train pass. The name on it was "Rei Asou." Fumi's brother. Rin: "You're right! Wait, what? The case is mine, though." Fumi: "It's a little bit different. Look at the stitching here." Rin: "Oh, yeah. You could tell from one look?" Fumi: "Rei's pass case was a birthday present from me. And I see yours every morning." Because of the Rin Shift, Fumi knew Rin's belonings better than Rin did. Rin: "Ah~ It was probably on the shoe cupboard, and it looked exactly like mine, so I took it without thinking. I feel really bad about that." The design of the case was another factor, since you couldn't see the train pass without opening it. Fumi: "No, it's Rei's fault for leaving it in a place like that." Rin: "Nah, I shouldn't have put it in my pocket without checking. And I never noticed after that either." Fumi: "It's alright. I'll probably go home again before the new semester starts, so I can give it to him then." Fumi sent a reply to her brother. Rin: "Sorry. I'll put some money on it before you give it back." She looked like she felt really bad about it. Fumi: "......" Fumi finished typing and closed the app, staring at Rin's face. Rin: "Hm? What is it?" Fumi: "Should we not have invited you over?" Rin: "What?! Where'd that come from?" Fumi: "You were really nervous, weren't you? At my house and at Natsume's." Rin: "Th-That's not... You could tell?" Fumi: "Yes. Taking the wrong pass case was probably—" Rin: "No, I'm always like that." Fumi: "........." Rin: "......" Fumi: "You were very polite at both of our houses." Rin: "Uh, yeah." The subject changed. Fumi: "You spoke a lot to our parents, too." Rin: "Ah~ I'm good at acting. And Hina was there, too." Fumi: "But you were really uncomfortable, right?" Rin: "...Yeah, I guess." Even through Rin's façade, it had been obvious to her. Rin: "Oh! But it's not because your family made me uncomfortable or anything." Fumi: "......" If Rin had been her usual careless self, Fumi wouldn't have worried. But at both Natsume's and her own house, she had had perfect manners. Knowing how she was normally, this was enough for Fumi to be able to tell that Rin had been nervous the whole time. Fumi: "Sorr—" Rin: "It was really fun. I was happy to be invited." She didn't let her finish the apology. Rin: "It was my first time spending New Year's with people. And I wouldn't have been able to have that experience if you and Hina hadn't dragged me with you." Rin: "I mean, everybody knows I'm not exactly the sociable type." Fumi: "......" Everybody, eh? Rin: "So I use more energy than others when I interact with people for the first time. But it's not like I always hate to do it." Fumi: "I see..." Fumi smiled in relief. Rin: "And, hey! I got to meet the mother- and father-in-law!" Aww, there she goes again. Fumi: "Are you going to introduce yourself to them properly someday?" Rin: "U-Umm..." See? She should have known she'd get countered. Fumi: "I hope you will... one day." Rin: "Ugh... uh... yeah." Release. Fumi: "Heheh..." Rin: "Huh...?" While Rin was busy being flustered, Fumi brought her face right up to hers. Fumi: "...Shall we?" Before she could even recover, Fumi was already making her next move. She slowly lowered Rin to the bed. Rin had already been stripped of everything but her underwear. And that was flipped up and pulled down, respectively, so she was almost completely exposed. Fumi: "You're so cute again today, Rin! You're beautiful! Wonderful! Everywhere, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes!" As usual, Fumi was raring to go right from the start. She always made sure to compliment Rin during the act. Rin: "Th... Thanks." And Rin was always happy about it, though her embarrassment tended to win out. But Fumi paid that no mind, observing Rin's limbs from close enough to breathe on them. Fumi: "Snff... Your scent always makes my heart pound. You always act so mature, but when you're naked, you smell like a baby." Rin: "W-We should have showered first..." Fumi: "It doesn't bother me. Does it bother you, Rin?" Fumi sniffed herself, then looked at Rin. Rin: "...No. You always smell good, Fumi." Does Fumi smell like... a mother, maybe? Fumi: "Heheh, good." Fumi likely knew from the start that Rin only brought up showering because she was embarrassed. They hadn't showered before their first time in the classroom, after all. Rin: "Anyway... I'm embarrassed being the only one with my clothes off." Fumi: "What~? I've got my clothes off, too." Rin: "Barely. You've still got your bra on, and you've got panties _and_ stockings on, too!" Rin bemoaned the inequality. True, she was the only one with the important bits exposed. Fumi: "Hmm~ Well, I'm the one on top, so it's fine, isn't it♪" Fumi considered it for a moment, then doubled down. Rin: "Ugh, that's not fair. You're not the only one who—" Come to think of it, it was the same for the first few times too, wasn't it? It feels like it was long ago, but... no, it's only been half a month. Fumi: "Eheheh. Why don't we switch off, then? Once you're satisfied, you can do as you like with me." Rin: "Wait, you get to go first?" Fumi: "Yep. Since I'm already going." Fumi said, drawing closer. Rin: "Ugh..." Rin was powerless to resist the force of Fumi's smile. It had been firmly established who had the power in this relationship. Who could have seen this coming? No, perhaps it was inevitable. Fumi: "Oh, and don't worry about making a mess this time." Fumi lifted up a corner of the towel she'd laid out under Rin. Rin: "Pfft...?!" Fumi was the only one who could bring to bear her wifeliness in a situation like this. Fumi: "You squirt right away when you're enjoying yourself, Rin. If you get my bed wet, it'll be cold when I'm trying to sleep tonight." Once, Rin had snuck into Fumi's bed and had gotten the tables turned on her. Come to think of it, that was probably when the roles in their relationship swapped. Rin: "Ugh... You're becoming meaner and meaner." Rin looked away. Her face was probably bright red. Fumi: "If I embarrassed you, I'm sorry. I really didn't put the towel down to be mean, though." Fumi: "Anyway, it doesn't bother me that you wet yourself. I actually find it cute—" Rin: "That! That's what I'm talking about!!" Ahaha. As Fumi insisted, she was likely acting out of kindness, but her consideration had dealt a critical hit to Rin. Fumi: "But you're _enjoying_ me being mean more and more, aren't you, Rin?" Rin: "E-Enjoying it? What's that supposed to mean? Th-That's not... true." Rin panicked at Fumi's counterattack. Fumi: "Well, I'm trying to make you happy, and when I'm mean, you enjoy it, don't you? So there's nothing else I can do." Rin: "What?! Everybody hates it when people say it's their fault too if a kid gets bullied! Bullying is uncool!" Fumi: "It's not bullying, it's being mean. You don't think I'd do anything you wouldn't like, right?" Rin: "You don't stop when I say no..." Fumi: "I'd stop if you meant it." Rin: "How can you tell if I mean it or not?" Rin had gotten mired in the argument while trying to protect what she could of her pride. Realizing what she was doing, Fumi sighed and smiled. Fumi: "Well... do you want to keep going?" Rin: "......" Rin just kept her eyes averted, unable to accept the escape Fumi was offering. Fumi: "You don't want to get started already?" Rin: "......" Her eyes swam. Rin knew best of all that there was no way for her to win this. Fumi: "Aww~ Time is just passing us by~ They might come home if we wait too long~" Fumi looked at the clock and then acted overly dejected. Rin: "...Ugh." One more push. Fumi: "Whew. Well, I don't want to rush. Maybe we should just chat today. I'll get dressed and make some t—" Fumi said, getting up. Rin: "No... wait." Rin gasped and grabbed her shoulder. Fumi: "Hm?" Rin: "U... Umm..." Fumi is............ Really............ Patient. Rin: "Please be mean to me..." Fumi: "Okay♪" A brilliant smile. Fumi: "Just lay back and really enjoy this. Leave it all to me. I'll take care of you." Rin: "...Okay." She nodded, but she still wouldn't look Fumi in the eye. Fumi: "Ahh, you're beautiful from the side, too. You really are pretty, Rin." Fumi was entranced by Rin, but her own looks were nothing to sneeze at either. I wouldn't be surprised if she was scouted for something off the street. Rin: "...Ah." Fumi's hands reached Rin's thighs before Rin could cover her face in embarrassment. Her palms slid slowly over Rin's skin, reaching her core and exploring there. Rin: "Nnh!" Fumi: "You're already wet. You got like this just from anticipation, huh?" Rin: "Why do you have to talk about it?!" Fumi: "Because you're so cute when you're embarrassed♪ And you get more excited when I do..." Rin: "Aaagh?!" Fumi: "See?" Rin: "Th-That's not fair! Th-This is just 'cause... you put your fingers in!" Fumi: "What~? I'm only touching you with the tips of my nails. Aren't you a bit too sensitive?" Rin: "I-I am not... I-I'm just normal..." Fumi: "Heh, yes, yes. I only know you though, so I don't know what's 'normal.'" Rin: "...Well... I only know you." Fumi: "I don't care what's normal, though. All I want is to get to know you, deeply." At which point, Fumi did move her fingers deeper. Rin: "Fu...mi... mmh!!" Rin gripped the sheets when Fumi's fingers intruded. Fumi: "It's so hot... You might burn my fingers." Fumi's middle finger stirred Rin's melting pot. Of course, she was only two knuckles deep. It was clear just from watching her that she was being as careful as possible not to hurt Rin. Fumi: "...You're sucking it, like you're trying to eat my finger up." Rin: "Mmh... I-I can't... control it..." Fumi: "Heh. Does my finger taste good?" Rin: "I-I don't know..." Fumi: "Maybe you can tell with this mouth." Fumi said, touching Rin's lips with another finger. With just a gentle tap on Rin's lips, it was let inside easily. Rin: "Aah... amh... mmh..." Fumi: "Ahh... This mouth is hot, too... Your tongue is so soft." Rin didn't have to be told to suck on Fumi's digit. Fumi: "Heh, is it good?" Rin: "Mgh... chp... hah... it is..." Rin looked up at Fumi with her tongue sticking out, entranced, and Fumi stared back at her passionately. Fumi: "Maybe I'll see how you taste, too." Rin: "Mmh...?" Fumi pulled her finger from Rin's mouth and bent down to kiss her cheek. Fumi: "Mmh... your cheek, too. You're burning hot everywhere, Rin." Rin: "Your... lips are, too..." Fumi: "Nnh... chp... lick... nnh..." Fumi ran her tongue over Rin's cheek. Fumi: "...So this is your taste. I'd like to just eat you up..." Rin: "I don't think I'd taste good. There's not as much to eat on me as there is on you." Ah... Fumi: "Heh, heheh. I'll cook you up good, so don't worry~" Rin: "Eep..." It sounds more realistic when a good cook like Fumi says it. Her eyes aren't smiling, though. Fumi: "I'm just kidding. I'd never do that to someone so important to me." Rin: "Y-Yeah... ah." Fumi kissed her soothingly. Fumi: "Mmh... mmh... chp." Fumi's tongue invited her, and Rin accepted. Rin: "Mmh... nnh... ahh..." Fumi: "Ahh... your tongue tastes good, too." Her tongue was covered in syrup. Was she tasting or being tasted? Rin: "Mmh... nnh... mm!" Fumi got even closer to her and Rin yelped, stiffening slightly. Fumi: "Rin? Wh-What is it?" Rin: "I-It's nothing... I-I'm fine..." Fumi: "......" Fumi merely looked Rin in the eyes. Rin: "Umm, it just... hurt a little, maybe." Rin dropped her gaze hesitantly. Fumi: "Ah! I'm sorry!!" Fumi hurriedly pulled her hand from Rin. Fumi: "I was so focused on kissing you... I'm really sorry." Rin: "I-It's fine... I overreacted—" Fumi: "No! Don't ever hold it in!" Rin: "O-Okay." This time Rin hurriedly answered when she saw how serious Fumi looked. Fumi: "I don't ever want to hurt you, Rin..." Rin: "What? But you hurt me all the time. Like with the spanking..." Fumi: "Oh, that makes you feel good, so it's different." Rin: "Urgh..." Fumi: "I would feel awful if I really harmed someone so important to me." Rin: "If it's you, Fumi, I—" Fumi: "No. Not until we're married!" Well, that's an interesting thing to say. But it means Fumi must have her own ideas about their future together. Rin: "Oh... Thanks for looking out for me." Fumi: "Of course... and I'm happy to hear that from you too, Rin." Fumi: "Now, let's keep going. I'll use this to make you feel good now." Rin: "A-Aaaaah!!" Fumi pinched Rin's bead and she gave a louder reaction than she had before. Fumi: "You're sensitive here, too." Rin was so sensitive, touching it through the hood was more than good enough. Fumi knew that from experience. Rin: "Aaaahn! Hyaaaah!! Nnnnh!!" She touched her like pushing a button, and Rin responded like a buzzer. Fumi: "So loud..." Rin: "...S-Sorry." Fumi: "No, I'm just happy. There's no one in this dorm right now but you and me, so you can make as much noise as you want." Fumi said, switching it up again. This time, she put her fingers to Rin's slit and moved them gently left and right. Her middle finger shook Rin's petals and produced a sticky sound. Rin: "Hyah... nnnnh!!" Perhaps it was easier to feel pleasure on the outside than on the inside, since there was no restriction of movement. Fumi: "It's not just down here either, is it?" Fumi brought her other hand up and pinched one of Rin's nipples. Rin: "Aahn!" There was no need to answer with words. Fumi: "They're so nice... The perfect shape and size. I'm jealous." Rin: "...Perfect means... something different to everyone. Your boobs are... big and soft. I like them." Rin showed her support for Fumi('s breasts) between ragged breaths. Fumi: "Thanks. I'm glad I have them if that's how you feel about them." Rin: "Yeah... ah." She was reaching out to Fumi's breasts, but stopped at her smile. Fumi: "It's my turn to give right now." Rin: "Haaah!!" The grind of her middle finger turned to a slight vibration. Fumi: "Your face is so beautiful when you feel pleasure... and your voice is so cute..." Fumi was enraptured by the sight of Rin as she toyed with her. Fumi: "Ahh, I'm the only one who's seen you make that face. I'm the only one who's heard your voice like this..." ...Sorry. Rin: "Nnh... aah!!" Fumi moved the angle of her wrist, changing the point she was stimulating. She adjusted until she was applying the perfect pressure to Rin's bead. Rin: "Aah... oh god... F-Fumi...!!" Rin reacted right away. The effect was considerable. Fumi: "...Are you ready?" Rin nodded, panting. Fumi: "Good... I'll let you cum. But first, I want to hear you ask for it." Rin: "Mmm... mm..." What little logic and shame she could muster through her boiling thoughts sealed Rin's lips. Fumi: "I'll wait until you say it." Her smile was bewitching. The difference between how she was now and how she was usually was incredible. She slowed her fingers down as much as possible and teased Rin. Fumi: "You're so cute. You're moving your hips yourself, you know? Come on, just tell me what you want." Rin: "Nnh... n-no..." Fumi: "What? No?" Rin: "N-No... I just... came..." Rin bit her lip and looked away. Fumi: "Ah... oh!" Fumi realized. Rin: "...Hyah?! Wh-Why?!" She was suddenly moving her fingers fast again. Fumi: "Please... I'll forgive you this time. But in exchange... I want you to cum again and really wet yourself." Rin: "N-N-No, no... I-I don't... w-want to!!" Fumi: "But you have to♪ Otherwise, what did I get the towel for?" She smiled, not letting Rin go. What a terrible face. How old is this girl again? Rin: "Ah, aaah... agh...!!" Fumi: "You're twitching... You're almost there." Her voice actually got quieter the closer she was to orgasm. It drew in before the explosion. Rin: "Ah... nngh!!" The dam was about to burst. Fumi: "Ah, it's so hot... there it is!" Rin: "H...nnnnngh!!" Rin squirted into Fumi's hand. And the towel served its purpose. Fumi: "Ahh... Rin, you're so cute." Fumi: "...It's absolutely soaked. I'll use two towels next time." Fumi inspected the towel. Rin: "Aaah... aah..." But Rin wasn't listening. Fumi: "Heh, I love that face, too." She kissed Rin's sweaty cheek. Fumi: "Well, what do you want to do now? Switch, or... go for round 2?" Rin: "More... give me more... please." Fumi: "Of course♪" Just as she planned. Fumi licked her lips, smiling from ear to ear.
Hina: "That was great!" Fumi: "Wow, that was fast." Hina: "Well, it's tasty. And we had PE in the morning." Rin: "Are you chewing?" Hina: "I am." Hina said, baring her teeth. They were very straight. Fumi: "It makes me happy to see you enjoy my cooking so much." Miyako: "I should hurry." Miyako rushed her chopsticks along, her lunch still only half-eaten. Rin: "It's more like you savor every bite than you eat slow, Mikoyan." Fumi: "That makes me happy, too. You don't have to rush, lunch isn't over yet." Miyako: "Thank you." Rin: "Hm? Hina, why'd you leave your meatball? Didn't you like those? Did you drop it?" There was indeed a single meatball left on the lid of Hina's lunchbox. Hina: "Oh, this is an offering." Hina stood and headed into the back of the chapel with her lunchbox lid. Hina: "I'll be counting on you again, Miss Angel." She left her "offering" under the stained glass and clapped her hands. Rin: "Huh? What are you doing?" Hina: "For our proficiency tests. Remember? I asked at the end of last semester and got through my supplementary exams because of it." Rin: "You still don't clap at a chapel." Hina: "What~? I thought we decided it was okay at that shrine." Rin: "We did not." Hina: "Well, amen." Hina crossed herself. Rin: "That was sloppy! And we don't cross ourselves at Seiyou." Hina: "Huh? We don't?" Rin: "Haahh... I feel bad for the angel who has to take this for just one meatball." Hina: "It was the best thing in my lunch today. It's the thought that counts!" Miyako: "Ahaha, I'm sure an angel is watching." It's convincing coming from her. But they only watch. Angels can't interfere. Offerings won't have any effect. Even if you sacrificed a whole lamb. Hina: "Nom, nom. Now I've got it in the bag." Hina came back after tossing the meatball in her mouth. Rin: "So you ate it yourself in the end." Hina: "Well, it'd be a waste not to. You eat the offerings you leave at Buddhist altars too, right?" Rin: "You're ridiculous." Fumi turned to Miyako while Hina and Rin were going at it. Fumi: "There are a lot of angel sightings at Seiyou, and most of them happen in this chapel." Miyako: "Is that right? I've never seen one." Fumi: "Ahaha, neither have I. But there's still time before graduation! It could still happen!" An oblivious exchange. Miyako had obviously met other angels, just never in this chapel. Rin: "If they show up in this chapel a lot, you should just put a camera in here." Like they're cryptids or something... Rin: "Your dad must have a camera like that, right, Hina?" Hina: "......" Rin: "Hina?" Hina: "My sister went here..." Rin: "Oh, the one with the huge boobs?" Hina: "...Ugh." Fumi: "Your mother also went to Seiyou, right?" Rin: "Oh, the one with the huge boobs!" Hina: "Gah, shut up about their boobs!" When they'd slept over at Hina's house, they'd met her mother and sister, who were considerably more well-endowed than Hina. This had greatly amused Rin, who hadn't missed an opportunity since to bring it up and ruin Hina's mood. Rin: "How did only Hina end up like this... a mutation?" Hina: "Gaaah!" Hina leapt at her. Fumi: "Now, now..." The huge boobs attempted to mediate. Rin: "Please, continue!" Hina: "You don't need to hear it!" Miyako: "I'd really like to hear it." Rin: "And I—" Fumi: "No." Fumi stopped Rin from making another comment. Hina: "Haah... Well, my sister's friend's friend saw an angel in this chapel." Fumi: "Waaah!!" Naturally, Fumi was very excited to hear this. Miyako: "When was that?" Hina: "Hmm, my sister's six years older than me, and it was in her second year, so... five years ago, I guess." Miyako: "Then it wasn't me." Fumi: "So?" Hina: "That girl had a friend in the hospital, and she was here praying for her recovery. And that's when the angel showed up." Fumi: "Oh, wow!" Hina: "But my sister didn't believe it when she heard. She said it was just that girl's imagination." Rin: "If you ask me, it's already pretty suspicious when it's coming from a friend of a friend." Fumi: "Ugh..." Hina: "True. But it was a rumor throughout the whole class at the time." Rin: "Couldn't it have been a ghost she saw instead of an angel?" Hina: "Don't say things like that~" She wasn't fond of ghosts. Rin: "In this very chapel..." Hina: "Stop it!" The bell rang and the four of them started cleaning up their lunches. Miyako: "What happened to the friend in the hospital, anyway?" Hina: "Ah, she passed away right after that, I guess. I heard her name from my sister... what was it, again?" Miyako: "Is that so..." Rin: "Fabricated true stories always have little details like that, don't they?" Fumi: "I believe!" Rin: "But if she passed away, doesn't that mean praying didn't do anything? Asking the angel was—" Hina: "Hey, don't jinx my proficiency tests." Fumi: "Ahaha. Let's make sure we study, too." Rin: "Yeah, yeah. The bell's gonna ring~" The four of them headed out of the chapel. Miyako: "I'm sorry." Fumi: "?" —It's not your fault.
After school. There was a gaggle of girls around Fumi's desk. Rin and Miyako looked on from a little ways away. Hina: "Hm? What's going on over there?" Hina joined them after returning from the faculty room. Rin: "Valentine chocolate recipe class." Hina: "Ah, I see." Hina understood right away. Rin: "Everyone knows she lives at a bakery, her dad's a patissier, and she's a great cook. Of course she's got students lining up." Hina: "Haha, she could charge tuition. Isn't it a little early, though? It's still January." Rin: "Well, it's the preparation that's fun with events like this... probably." Hina: "Hmm." The prelude to Valentine's Day. Even though it's a girls' school? Or maybe this is the sort of scene you'd _only_ see at a girls' school. Rin: "Come to think of it, what took you so long?" Hina: "Ah, I just got asked to put away the mic from the auditorium." Rin: "Hm? It didn't get put away after class?" Hina: "Actually, the mic in the auditorium wasn't working, so they had to grab one from the broadcasting room." Rin: "And you had to put it back. So you swung by the broadcasting room?" Hina: "No... I haven't yet." She was hesitating to say something. Hina: "Once Fumi's class is over, do you want to go together?" Rin: "I don't mind, but this looks like it's gonna take a while. You could go now and—" Hina: "I'd be bored if I went by myself! Don't they say the more the merrier?" Rin: "For just taking a microphone back to the broadcasting... oh." Rin had a realization. Rin: "Ahh, there was a rumor about the broadcasting room being haunted, wasn't there?" Hina: "Waaah, don't say that~" Rin: "People sometimes hear a voice from the broadcasting room trying to say something. And it goes out to the whole school through the speakers..." Hina: "Gyaaaaa!!" Haunted school broadcasts, eh? Miyako: "......" Rin: "What's up, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "I kind of like this restless energy." Rin: "Y-You do?" Miyako: "Doesn't it feel like it might start smelling sweet in here?" Miyako took a deep breath. Hina: "Like chocolate?" Rin: "Now that, it's a bit early for." Miyako was sensing life in the pre-Valentine's classroom air. It was probably close to the sensation she felt observing the three girls as an angel. Rin: "By the way, have you ever given or gotten chocolate, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "I haven't~ It's my first Valentine's." Hina: "Was she in a country that doesn't celebrate Valentine's Day?" Rin: "Like Saudi Arabia or something?" Hina: "Wait, really?" Rin: "They have capital punishment, too." Hina: "Whaaat?!" Miyako: "Hm?"
Hina: "Huh? It's open?" Hina looked perpelexed when she stuck the key into the broadcasting room's door. Fumi: "Did a teacher forget to lock it? Oh, maybe someone's inside." Rin: "But is that someone alive?" Hina: "Stop~ it~" Miyako: "Let's go in." But it wasn't a ghost inside. Sachiko: "Oh..." Hina: "Sachiko?" Sachiko put a blue notebook back on a shelf and came over to them, looking surprised. Sachiko put the broadcasting club notebook back on the shelf and came over to them, looking surprised. Miyako: "...?" Sachiko: "Wait, what are you guys doing here?" Hina: "We're here to return this." Hina hefted the microphone she was carrying. Rin: "We should be asking you that. Why are you here, Sachiko?" Sachiko: "Work. I come here and clean sometimes." Hina: "You're a janitor?" Fumi: "I've never seen you in the school, though." Sachiko: "I usually come during classes or on breaks." Rin: "...You need to take on more work to get by?" Sachiko: "Yeah, dorm management doesn't pay much... I haven't eaten since three days ago." Fumi: "Weren't you eating pizza last night?" Sachiko: "Was I?" Hina: "If you don't have any money, you could smoke less." Sachiko: "Are you telling me to die?" Rin: "That's a little extreme." Sachiko: "Actually, I'm saving money so I can make Sacchin Land and fill it with cute girls. I'll put you guys in it too, of course." Hina: "You will not!" Miyako: "......" While the four of them talked, Miyako headed into the room. Sachiko: "Hey, where are you going?" Sachiko reached out and grabbed her. Miyako: "I thought someone else might be here." Sachiko: "Nope. Just me." Miyako: "I thought I sensed someone, though..." Miyako was looking up toward the ceiling. Hina: "Hwaaaaaaah!!" Hina screamed in fright when she realized what Miyako might be seeing. Rin: "Can you see spirits, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "Umm..." Sachiko: "Alright, you're getting in the way of my cleaning, so get out. I'll put away the mic." Sachiko took the microphone from Hina. Hina: "Let's all go home, okay?!" Rin: "In order to get to the truth of the matter, we must—" Hina: "We must not!" Fumi: "Come on, we'll run out of time to go shopping." Fumi hurried them out, sensing that Sachiko wanted to be alone. Sachiko: "See ya. I'll lock the door." Fumi: "See you later." Fumi pushed Hina and Rin out of the room. Miyako: "......" Miyako was still looking around. Fumi: "Miyako?" Miyako: "Yes, I'm coming." Miyako followed the other three after bowing her head to Sachiko. ......... The broadcasting room regained its quiet with the girls gone. Sachiko looked up to the spot Miyako had been focused on. Sachiko: "...You're not there, are you?" With a little sigh, she put the microphone back on its shelf.
Lounging after dinner. But the usually relaxed air was more prickly today. Hina: "Tests, tests... After tests, tests... Why do we even live..." Hina faced her notes, muttering something rather frightening. She was the source of the prickliness. It's a scene we've seen before. She was studying for her upcoming proficiency tests. Hina: "Proficiency tests are even nastier than midterms and finals." Rin: "Why's~ that~?" A lazy voice replied to her from under the table. As always, Rin didn't have to do much studying for tests. Hina: "Because they cover too much!" Fumi: "It's stuff from both first and second semester, yes." Fumi pinched the pages of the textbook that the test would cover. Hina: "That's almost the whole thing!" Rin: "Stuff like this~ is really about the work you put in every day~" Hina: "Really pisses me off to hear that from someone lying around on the floor." Miyako: "Umm, I have a question." Miyako, copying some notes, addressed their original author, Fumi. Miyako: "It says here that Minamoto no Yoshitsune committed suicide in the Battle of Koromo River in Oushuu, but what about after that?" Fumi: "Umm, after that?" Miyako pointed at the notes in question and Fumi stared blankly back at her. Rin: "He actually lived and crossed over to the continent from Ezo, becoming Genghis Khan." Miyako: "Yes—" Hina: "Huh? Seriously?!" Rin: "Nah, it's legend, myth, folklore. Not academic stuff. The historical record shows it's nonsense." Rin shut her book and sat up. Rin: "You throw some really wild jokes around without warning sometimes, Mikoyan. That's not good. Idiots'll take you seriously." Hina: "Hey! Don't throw insults without warning either! Look at me! No, don't look at me!" Miyako: "But that really—" Miyako stopped in the middle of her sentence as a realization hit her. She was probably right. She must have seen it. Fumi: "Umm, are you okay?" Miyako: "Yes. I'm sorry for saying something so strange. Your notes are very easy to read, Fumi." Rin: "Aren't Fumi's notes great? If you've got those, you've practically won already. I almost want to copy 'em and sell 'em at the school store." Fumi: "...Please don't. That would be embarrassing." Rin: "Oh, the coloring is important here, so if you're copying it, borrow a marker and—oh?" Rin looked down at Miyako's notes and froze. Fumi: "Hm? What is it?" Rin: "No, uhh... you've just got some unique handwriting, Mikoyan." Miyako: "Ahaha, it's not very good. I'm sure it looks worse next to Fumi's nice handwriting, too." Miyako scratched her head, embarrassed. The writing on her notes was less unique and more... clumsy. Miyako: "I'm not used to it yet. Just looking and doing it are pretty different." Hina: "It's like you only just started writing. Is that because you were abroad, too?" Fumi: "You're very fluent when speaking. It's a little strange." Miyako: "Ahaha, I have to practice." Hina: "Ah! What are you doing?" Hina suddenly shouted. Rin had picked up her notes. Rin: "I'm helping you study. Uhh, English? You're writing everything down blindly again, I see." The pages were indeed packed. Hina's study strategy seemed to just be "write it down and try to remember." Rin: "...Pfft!" Rin suddenly burst out laughing, flipping through Hina's notes. Hina: "Hey, don't look at my notes and laugh!" Rin: "Dahahaha!!" It _is_ pretty rude to laugh that hard. Rin: "Well, you have '_uchuu kuukan_' as 'space space'! Talk about a literal translation!" That should be "outer space." Hina: "Shut up! Shut up! Give them back!" Rin: "No, I wanna see more. You don't find joke books like this just anywhere!" Hina: "It's not a joke book!" Hina leapt at Rin to take back her notebook, but Rin used the length of her arms to keep it from her. Fumi: "Are you going to go into the science class or the arts class, Miyako?" Their messing around was nothing out of the ordinary, so Fumi remained unbothered even with the ruckus they were making next to her. Miyako: "I don't know... I suppose it will depend on my tests." Fumi: "Your tests, huh... Do you have any plans for your future?" Miyako: "Hmm~, no, I don't have anything like that yet. I'm sorry." Fumi: "No, I think it's fine to not rush it. You can take your time deciding what you want to do." Miyako: "Thank you. It's very exciting to think about the future though, isn't it?" That's right. Since there was no real difference between past, present, or future for her until just recently, this was a new sensation. Fumi: "I agree. Even worrying about it is kind of fun, isn't it?" Miyako: "Are you thinking about your future already, Fumi?" Fumi: "I've wanted to make sweets for a living ever since I was little." Miyako: "I see. Is that arts? Or science?" Fumi: "...I-I'm not sure." Sachiko: "Heeey, you can use the bath now~" Oh, it's Sachiko. Hina: "Ah, you came in without knocking again!" Sachiko: "I~ did~ knock~ You guys were just making so much noise you didn't hear me~ I heard the ruckus from the hallway." Fumi: "Sorry." Sachiko: "You don't need to apologize, Foomin. It's an old building though, so don't blame me if the floor falls out under you." Rin: "Not my fault." Rin pointed at Hina. Hina: "It's not my fault either." Hina pointed at Rin. Miyako: "It isn't my fault... is it?" Miyako raised her hand timidly. Sachiko: "Ah~ Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna hit up the other rooms too, so you should hurry up if you want the first go." Fumi: "Yay~ I bought all new bath stuff for today~" Looks like Fumi was already prepared. Sachiko: "Come on, the rest of you get ready, too. I'll join you in a bit." She added nonchalantly. Hina & Rin: "You don't need to!" Sachiko: "Feh. Well, come make a report to me after you're done, then." Fumi: "Alright." Sachiko: "Oh, and we're having that hot pot party tomorrow night~" All: "Okay~"
Hina: "Look, it's snowing!" Hina looked excitedly out the window. The difference in temperature between inside and outside made it fog up quickly, but every time she poured hot water on it, she could see the snow swirling outside. Fumi: "Watching the snow from a bath, how romantic." Miyako: "It feels very luxurious to soak in a hot bath while watching cold snow fall." Like having ice cream at a heated table? Hina: "It's like an outdoor hot spring." Rin: "Haahh... How many times has it snowed this winter already? And it's just the backyard out the window. Seen it." Hina: "Yeesh... You're so jaded. It's different when the situation is different!" Rin: "I'm just glad we don't have to go next door to take baths anymore. We could've gotten lost over there." Hina: "That's a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it? It's not some hidden hot spring on a mountain." Fumi: "Eheh, it's fun getting to all go in together." Hina: "Yeah, big baths are great, you can really relax. It was too small before the construction. And run-down!" Before the construction, the room could only fit two people, and the bath could only fit one. While one was in the bath, the other would have to wash up and wait her turn. Rin: "There's a lot of stuff other than the bath I'd like fixed..." Fumi: "This is the oldest building on the campus." Rin: "Maybe it'd be easier to just rebuild the whole thing." Fumi: "Also, Sachiko said she's been managing it for five years." Rin: "How old is she?" Miyako: "I wonder." Rin: "You don't know even though you're cousins?" Angels didn't have much of a sense of age. They either guessed or used how many years they'd been human. Miyako: "Oh, but her birthday is Christmas Eve." Fumi: "What? It is?!" Hina: "Why didn't she tell us? We would have celebrated." Rin: "What's yours, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "Oh, mine is Christmas Eve, too." Hina: "Why didn't you tell us?" Rin: "Well, we can celebrate for all three of you next year." Hina: "Mine's on the 5th! It's different!" She's mad. Miyako: "Hya?" Miyako yelped. Hina: "What happened?" Miyako: "Umm, something touched my leg." Fumi: "Oh, that's just the ducky." A rubber ducky floated in the tub. Miyako: "What is it?" Miyako poked the ducky's head. Hina: "Probably just Sachiko messing around. Oh, and we checked it for a hidden camera, so don't worry." Miyako: "I see." Miyako removed her finger and the ducky floated off again. Rin: "Anyway, I'd rather enjoy the view in here than look at the snow outside." Rin said, eyes glinting as she wiped off her glasses. Rin: "Two of the prettiest girls in the school in the nude. It's truly heaven for the eyes. I'm so glad I'm a girl and rooming with you." Hina: "Hey, don't look at your roommates impurely!" Rin: "What do you think I brought my glasses for—augh, get outta here, you dirty bird!" Rin splashed away the ducky that had floated over to bump into her chest. Hina: "You're the dirty one!" Rin: "Boobs, boobs, skip that one, and boobs." Hina: "Hey! Yours aren't that big either!" Rin: "Huge boobs, big boobs, skip that one, beautiful boobs." Hina: "Youuuu!!" Miyako: "What sort of face are you supposed to make at a time like this, Fumi?" Fumi: "Ahaha... I'm not sure." Hina: "Don't even look at Fumi!" Hina splashed Rin with bathwater. Rin: "Bbbbh! What the heck, Stingy?" Hina: "I'm not being stingy! You're making her uncomfortable!" Rin: "Huh? Asou, are you uncomfortable?" Fumi: "Umm... I'm a little embarrassed." Rin: "She said she's just a little embarrassed." Hina: "That means she's uncomfortable!" Rin: "Those boobs don't belong to you, you know." Hina: "They do!" Miyako: "Wow." Rin: "It's not like I'm taking them from you just by looking at them a little~" Hina: "Fumi, I can hit her, right?!" Fumi: "Ahaha..." Rin: "Swipe~" Rin took advantage of Hina's excitement to take a swipe at her butt. Hina: "Aaah!" Hina jumped up with a cute shriek. Rin: "Yeah, you've definitely got the smallest, cutest butt." How does she say stuff like this with a straight face? Hina: "D-D-Don't do that in front of people!" She said, but her face was flushed and she clearly wasn't putting up a fight. Rin: "But I can do it otherwise?" Hina: "I-If you want to..." She looked down, blushing. Miyako: "Oho." Fumi: "Wawawah, no, that's too much!" Rin: "It's steamy, but you're looking pretty sexy too, Fumi." Rin pushed her glasses up. Fumi: "Umm, it's pretty embarrassing when you stare like that." Rin: "Oh, it's fine, isn't it?" Not a hint of guilt. Fumi: "Aah! Hey!" To make matters worse, her toes reached out to poke Fumi's thigh underwater. Fumi: "You need to be punished. Yah!" Rin: "Wah?!" Fumi grabbed Rin's ankle and pushed deep into a pressure point on the bottom of her foot. Rin: "Gyaaa! Ow, ow!" Hina: "Don't masochists like pain? It's not really punishment then, is it?" Rin: "No! Uhh! This is...! Not that kind of pain! It's not like just anything wooorks!!" Miyako: "I see~" Hina: "Ahaha, get 'er good." Rin: "Forgive me! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorryyy!!" Fumi: "What should I do~♪" Hina: "Miyako, your back..." Miyako: "Huh? Is there something on my back?" Miyako was about to leave the bath, but she turned around at Hina's voice. Hina: "You've got birthmarks." Miyako: "Birthmarks..." She tried to look at her own back over her shoulder, a mystified look on her face. Rin: "Hey, she might be sensitive about it. Nice tact." Rin poked Hina in the hip. Hina: "Oh, I'm sorry!" Miyako: "No, it's fine... I didn't know." Fumi: "They're really faint. They almost just look like your shoulder blades." Miyako: "Do they..." Hina: "It's almost like you had wings." Miyako: "Ah..." She's sharp. She really did have wings. The marks on her back were proof that she was once an angel. Miyako: "......" Rin: "And you've still got your Mongolian spot on your butt, Hina." Hina: "What?! No way!" Hina spun around to check her butt.
Miyako: "Coming in." Miyako: "Waph... koff!" The moment she opened the door, she choked on the smoke flooding out from the room. Sachiko: "Oh, sorry." Sachiko stood, putting out her cigarette. Miyako: "Koff. I'm okay." Sachiko: "Sorry. I don't usually smoke in here." The snow pretty much rules out the roof. Sachiko: "So, what's up?" Miyako: "The bath's open." Sachiko: "Gotcha. And how was it?" Miyako: "It was very nice." Sachiko: "Good. Oh, let's step outside. You don't want to get the smell on you just after your bath." Miyako: "Do cigarettes taste good?" Sachiko: "Not really." Miyako: "Then why do you smoke them?" Sachiko: "I'm just acting tough. Helps with the loneliness, too." Miyako: "Huh..." She didn't seem to understand. Miyako: "How long have you been smoking?" Sachiko: "Five years, I guess." Miyako: "Oh, you started just after you came down, then." Miyako was a little surprised at that. Miyako: "Did the person who invited you smoke?" Sachiko: "......" This time it was Sachiko who was surprised. Sachiko: "Yeah, I guess." It was a vague answer, but not a denial. Sachiko: "Why did you think that?" Miyako: "The person who invites you has a big influence on you. That's how it is for me, anyway." An innocent smile. Sachiko: "Nothin' good about my influence." Miyako: "You think so?" Sachiko: "You can try alcohol and cigarettes for yourself someday, but we've both got to act 'our age.'" Miyako: "Right." Sachiko: "If she finds out, Hinacchi'll dropkick me again." Miyako: "Ahaha. You're a bad adult." Miyako: "Was the person who got you smoking a bad adult too?" Sachiko: "The worst of the worst." Miyako: "You shouldn't have imitated them, then." Sachiko: "Ahaha. Well, it's too late now." You can't blame other people. Sachiko: "Come on, get back to your room before you catch cold." Miyako: "Okay. Good night." Sachiko: "...Empty already."
Miyako: "I'm back." Hina and Fumi were in the living room. Was Rin brushing her teeth? Fumi: "Welcome back. You didn't catch a chill, did you?" Miyako: "I'm alright. Sachiko said the same thing and made me come back." Fumi: "You go to Sachiko's room every night, huh?" Miyako: "Yes. I give her a report every day." Hina: "Is there stuff to say every day?" So says the girl who doesn't keep a diary. Miyako: "There is! I never get to say everything that I want to." Fumi: "I understand!" Says the one who does keep a diary. Hina: "Snff... Was she smoking?" Hina sniffed. It's impressive that she can tell from there. Miyako: "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll use the spray." Miyako went over to the entrance to get a deodorizer. Hina: "It's not your fault, Miyako. It's 'cause she's a bad adult who smokes in a student dorm." Miyako: "She just couldn't use the roof today because of the snow." Fumi: "Heh." Hina: "If she ever tries to get you to smoke, you've gotta say no, okay?!" Miyako: "I will. It's okay, though. She said if she did that, you'd dropkick her." Hina: "So she's not a total idiot." The three girls' laughter echoed through the room. Rin: "What's going on? Hina dropkicked Sachiko?" That's when Rin got back. Hina: "Not yet." Fumi: "But she will if Sachiko tries to get Miyako to smoke." Miyako: "She hasn't, though." Rin: "I get it..." Rin looked disappointed. Hina: "I don't kick people for no reason!" Rin: "What? You kick me all the time." Hina: "Because. I. Have. Reason. To!" Rin: "Like blowing off steam?" Hina: "Am I some kind of thug?!" Rin: "Be careful, Mikoyan. Piss off the RA and you'll get a roundhouse kick." Miyako: "Okay, got it." Hina: "I'm not a tyrant! And that's a different kind of kick!" Rin: "She rules by violence. Her reign of terror's scary, huh, Mikoyan?" Hina: "Fine, if you want me to kick you so bad, I will!" Fumi: "Ahahaha." Rin: "Have you gotten used to living here, Mikoyan?" Hina: "Ah, hey!" Miyako: "Yes, thanks to all of you." Rin: "Communal living's pretty rough. You gotta always keep the people you're living with in mind." Rin: "But I don't want it to be like that here. Go ahead and ask us if there's anything you need. Since our RA is prone to violence, you know." Miyako: "Rin." Hina: "Pfft." But instead of dropkicking her, Hina just burst out laughing. Fumi: "Heheh." Fumi laughed along with her. Miyako: "?" Miyako could only stare blankly at the two of them. Rin: "What? You're kinda freaking me out." Hina: "I just think it's heartwarming how you've grown." Miyako: "Grown?" Rin: "What? I've always been like this." Fumi: "Always..." She was trying not to laugh. Rin: "You too?!" Miyako: "Is this a secret only Hina and Fumi know?" Hina: "No, it's not a secret. It's just, Rin was pretty bad when she first moved in." Fumi was still giggling. Rin: "Ah!!" Rin paled, catching on. Miyako: "Bad?" Rin: "H-Hey, w-we don't have to talk about this anymore." Hina: "We haven't even started talking about it." Rin: "Then we don't need to start!" Hina: "There are no secrets between roommates. So, Miyako—" Miyako: "Yes?" Miyako leaned forward. Rin: "Stooop!" —Last April. Move-in day. Hina: "Nice to meet you. I'm Hina Natsume." Fumi: "It's nice to meet you. My name is Fumi Asou." The two bowed meekly to each other in front of the door. Hina: "I'm kind of nervous. This is my first time living in a dorm." Fumi: "Me too. So, why did you pick this school, Natsume?" Hina: "Well... My mom and my sister went here. What about you, Asou?" Fumi: "The uniforms are just so cute. I've always wanted to wear one every time I saw them, ever since I was little." Hina: "Every time you saw them?" Fumi: "I actually live really close to the school. I'm not even far enough to take the train." Hina: "That's pretty close. You could probably commute from there." Fumi: "Yes, but I wanted to live in a dorm. I'm not very responsible, so I was hoping to fix that." Hina: "Well, you look responsible." Fumi: "I hope you'll still think that when we're living together." Hina: "Ahahaha. I hope so too." Fumi: "Heheh. I'll do my best." Hina: "I'm glad you're easy to talk to." Fumi: "I feel the same way." Hina: "I'm looking forward to the next three years." Fumi: "I am, too." They shook hands. Hina: "Come to think of it, it's a three-person room, right?" Fumi: "Yes, that's what I've heard." Rin: "I didn't hear that!" Hina and Fumi turned toward the door at the voice. Sachiko: "That's strange. They should have sent paperwork to your parents." Rin: "...That paperwork's probably in Europe right now." Sachiko: "Huh... Well, you'll be in a three-person room, Ogata." Rin: "I'm telling you, that's not gonna work for me." Sachiko: "Well, I dunno what to tell you. It's not like we even have singles~" Rin: "I can't live with people I don't know..." Sachiko: "Oh, are you two Natsume and Asou?" Sachiko found Hina and Fumi standing in front of the room. Hina & Fumi: "Yes." Sachiko: "Great. I'll introduce you to your third roommate. This is Rin Ogata." Hina: "Nice to meet you, Ogata. I'm Hina Natsume." Fumi: "Fumi Asou. It's nice to meet you." Rin: "......" Rin bowed to them so slightly it was almost imperceptible. Sachiko: "Hmm~" Sachiko scratched her temple. Hina: "What's wrong?" Sachiko: "Guess she didn't know it was a triple room... She's a little miffed about it." Hina: "Are there no other rooms?" Sachiko: "Nope. All the dorms are full this year." Hina: "Well, I guess you're stuck with us, Ogata." Rin: "......" Hina: "Communal living's pretty rough. You gotta always keep the people you're living with in mind." Hina: "But I don't want it to be like that here. You can ask us if there's anything you need." Hina said, holding her hand out. Fumi: "Yes, think of it as an opportunity." Fumi nodded at Hina's words and held her hand out too. Sachiko: "See, they're good girls." Rin: "...I'm not really great in groups." Rin averted her eyes and went past them into the room without shaking their hands. Hina & Fumi: "........." Hina and Fumi exchanged a look. Rin: "Gyaaaaaaa!!" Rin screamed in embarrassment. There was too much she could think of. Hina: "I'm not really great in groups." Rin: "Eek!" Hina: "I'm not really great in groups." Rin clutched her head and writhed on the floor as Fumi and Miyako laughed. Then Hina twisted the knife. Rin: "Kill me! Just kill me!"
Morning. The dorm entrance. The girls were scrambling to get their shoes on. Sachiko: "Heading out?" Sachiko languidly called out to them, broom in hand. Hina: "We're going to school!" Sachiko: "You guys are always in a rush." Hina: "Yeah, and we basically know why." Miyako: "I'm sorry..." Miyako looked guilty. Rin: "Don't worry about me, just go on ahead!" Hina: "You could help out a little too!" Fumi: "I think we actually have a little more time to spare than usual today." Sachiko glanced at the clock on the wall. Sachiko: "True. Maybe you don't have to run today." Fumi: "Probably. We've got a little bit of time before the bus leaves." Sachiko: "That's good." Hina: "Why?" Sachiko: "Because there's snow on the ground." Hina & Rin: "Really?!"n"Really~?" Clearly one was happier to hear that than the other. Sachiko: "It's probably only up to your ankles at the most, though. But it's still dangerous to run." Fumi: "That's true. We'll be careful." This was more of a rural area than anything else, but it wasn't bad enough to be snowed in easily. Sachiko: "Ah, Foomin. Sorry, but could I ask you to go shopping on your way home?" Fumi: "Sure, for the hotpot tonight? What would you like me to buy?" Sachiko: "Thanks. I'll send you a LIME message later." Fumi: "Oh, my battery's been acting up lately, so can you send it to the group too, just in case?" Sachiko: "Mm, got it." Rin: "Of course, the group is basically just me. Hina's got an old flip phone, and Mikoyan doesn't even have a phone." The two had blank looks on their faces. Sachiko: "Oh, can I ask one more thing? After school's fine, but can I get one of you to help me shovel the roof?" Hina: "What? Is the dorm gonna collapse from snow?" Sachiko: "No, it's not that bad. But you know, the building's old. I'm worried about the roof leaking." Rin: "It really is showing its age in some places, isn't it?" Sachiko: "It's not real shoveling, you just gotta push some of it into the corners. It's real easy." Miyako: "I'll help." Miyako raised her hand. Sachiko: "Oh, thanks, Mikoyan." Fumi: "So, we'll go shopping after school, and Miyako will head home to help shovel." Miyako: "Yes." Sachiko: "That'll be great. Thanks." Rin: "Ah, aren't we gonna be late for the bus now?" Fumi: "Oh, you're right!" Hina: "Hurry! I hear it!" Sachiko: "You've got good ears." The four of them ran out. Sachiko: "Don't fall!" Hina: "Hyaaaah?!" Sachiko: "......"
After school. The three were returning from the store. Rin: "It's been snowing on and off all day." It was snowing now, too. Lightly, though. Fumi: "It's not likely to stay on the ground at this rate." In fact, most of the snow from the morning was gone. People were walking and driving over it in town, and it melted faster on asphalt and concrete than on dirt. Rin: "Good. If there's snow on the ground, people are likely to slip like a certain someone." Fumi: "Ahaha, that was dangerous this morning." Hina had run off into the snow and almost tripped this morning. But with her superior reflexes, she'd managed to regain her balance with a bit of a dance. Rin: "Hey, someone." " She called out to Hina, who was ahead of them, staying out of the conversation. Hina: "I wanna go to the beach." Rin: "Huh?" Rin was taken aback by Hina's words when she turned around. Hina: "The beach." Rin: "Uh, I heard you. But that's kinda out of the blue in this chill, don't you think? You wanna do a polar bear plunge or something?" Fumi: "Ugh, that sounds cold~" Fumi clutched herself and shivered just hearing the phrase. "A winter beach" sounds like lyrics from some kind of ballad. Hina: "No, not now. I mean in the summer." Rin & Fumi: "Ah." Rin and Fumi understood. Rin: "Getting a little ahead of yourself there, aren't you? What made you think of the beach in the middle of this cold?" Hina: "We bought some gas for a portable stove at the store, right? So then I was thinking about gas, and went from gas to bus, and then to bus stop..." Hina: "And then when we left the store it was snowing, and I thought of, you know, marine snow—which is in the ocean. See!" Rin: "What do you mean, 'See!'? What was the point of the first half?!" Hina: "Oh, you're right!" Fumi: "Ahaha. It'd be fun to go swimming with everyone, though." Rin: "We'd have to travel to get to the beach from here. You don't just want to go to the pool?" Hina & Fumi: "No way."n"I don't think so." Rin: "Oh yeah? Trips take time and money, you know." Fumi: "Let's save up for summer♪" Rin: "O-Okay..." Fumi: "We'll decide on a rule and put in 100 yen every time we break it." Fumi: "Yes, like that. You two should do it, too." Rin: "Sure. I won't eat after 9 either." Hina: "Same here." Fumi: "No! Neither of you eat at night anyway! I'd be the only one paying!" So she's assuming she'll be eating, then. Fumi: "You two have to pick something that will take effort or self-control." Hina and Rin exchanged a look. Hina: "Then you should pay 100 yen every time you forget something, Rin." Rin: "What~? Where do you want to go, Hawaii?" Hina: "You're not supposed to plan to pay! Try being more careful!" Hina: "Hmm. I can't think of anything..." Rin: "You can pay 100 yen every time you sing." Hina: "Don't limit my right to express myself!"
Sachiko: "Gimme a sec, I'll grab the stuff we need." Sachiko called from the manager's room. Miyako: "Okay." Miyako waited in the hallway. She had come back separate from the three who went shopping so that she could help shovel snow like she'd promised that morning. Sachiko: "Is it done snowing?" Miyako: "Yes, it was finished by the time I got back. It's clear out now." Sachiko: "We won't need slickers, then. Let's see..." Miyako: "Does the snow get deeper than this in this area?" ......... ...... Miyako: "...?" The door opened right when Miyako put her hand on the knob. Sachiko: "G-Got the stuff." Miyako: "R-Right." They were both a little flustered. Sachiko: "Sorry for making you wait." Miyako: "It's fine. Is that all we need?" Sachiko held two shovels and a small bucket with gloves in it. Sachiko: "Yeah, the bigger one's up on the roof already." Miyako: "I see... Oh." Sachiko wrapped a scarf around Miyako. Miyako: "What's this...?" Sachiko: "A scarf. It's cold out there." Miyako: "You don't mind?" Sachiko: "Nope." Miyako: "...Cigarettes..." Miyako noticed the smell on the scarf. Sachiko: "What's wrong? Is it uncomfortable? You don't like the design?" Miyako: "That's not it. I've just never seen you wearing a scarf." Sachiko: "Mm, well, I had it put away... I thought it'd look good on you, though." Miyako: "Really? Thank you!" Sachiko: "Sure. Okay, let's go." Miyako: "Yes!"
The two of them looked out over the roof, shovels in hand. Sachiko: "Good work." Miyako: "You too." They'd finished their shoveling. It wasn't hard work. All they had to do was move the snow closer to the gutters so that it didn't melt and leak through the roof. This wasn't a region with heavy snowfall, so the two of them were enough to get the work done. Sachiko: "You've got more stamina than I thought you would. Is it your youth?" Sachiko rolled a shoulder and took out a cigarette. Miyako: "No, I think it's just because of _that_." She pointed at Sachiko's cigarette. Sachiko: "Ahh, uhh, ahh..." Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "I shoulda picked a younger model, at least in looks. Then I could be wearing a uniform like you guys instead of being dorm manager~" She put the cigarette back. Miyako: "You can still wear one." Sachiko: "Eh, I dunno about that. It'd just be cosplay. I'm sure Rin would have something to say about it." I could just picture her smirking. Miyako: "Who did you model yourself on?" Angels don't really have a clear form. That's why when they come down to earth, they have to borrow someone's appearance. They call those people their "models." Sachiko: "The lady selling strawberries at the grocery store sampling corner." Miyako: "Hm? Did you have some connection to her?" Sachiko: "Nope. Just someone I saw. Don't know anything about her." Sachiko: "Now that I'm thinking about it, I really didn't plan anything at all..." Sachiko lamented, back against the fence. Miyako: "Well, I think she was very pretty." Miyako told her, watching her profile as she looked up at the sky. Sachiko: "Yeah, well, I'm pretty fond of it." Miyako: "So am I." Sachiko: "O-Oh yeah? Thanks." Wind blew on the mountains, shaking the evergreen trees. ...... Sachiko: "Hey... uh..." Miyako: "Yes?" Sachiko: "What about your model? Is it someone you had a connection to?" Miyako: "No, it's the same for me. I don't know her name." Sachiko: "You don't...?" Miyako: "No. I saw her a few years ago before I came here, somewhere far away. And it was just once that I passed by her." Sachiko: "Huh... Guess we're both pretty careless." Miyako: "She's the prettiest person in my memories, though." Wow. Sachiko: "...Hmm." Miyako: "You were the one who said it." Sachiko: "What? Did I say something?" Miyako: "Yes, when you invited me. You told me to come down with a pretty face, since looks are important to you." Sachiko: "Oh... Guess I might've said something like that." Miyako: "You did. That's why I made sure to choose well." Sachiko: "Well, I'm glad I did. It's a good thing you didn't come down as a trilobite." Sachiko joked, scratching her temple. Miyako: "So?" Sachiko: "Wh-What? You're kinda close." Miyako brought her face in close to Sachiko's. Miyako: "What do you think about it?" Sachiko: "Huh? Oh... You're real cute. You'll probably be popular." Miyako: "I don't mean objectively. I want to know if I suit _your_ tastes." Sachiko: "......" Sachiko: "...It's fine." Miyako: "Haah..." Miyako sighed and backed away, turning toward the fence. Miyako: "I guess I'm fine with it too, then." Sachiko: "......" Miyako looked up at the sky through the fence. This time, it was Sachiko that watched her profile. Sachiko: "...Heh." She laughed for some reason. Miyako: "What is—hah?!" The second she turned, a clump of white burst against her cheek. Sachiko: "How does your first snowball feel?" She'd balled up some snow still in the net of the fence. Sachiko: "Is it cold? But you like it anyway?" Sachiko brushed the snow from her hands, an impish look on her face. Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "Ahaha, you look like you're still trying to figure out what happened—bhyah?!" Miyako threw some of the snow at the base of the fence, which rained down on Sachiko. Miyako: "......" She grinned. And... They jumped apart, each running to different piles of snow. A snowball fight was suddenly upon them. They gathered up snow and threw it, then again. And they'd just shoveled it all. A little while ago, Sachiko was warning Miyako to get used to having a body without getting carried away by sensation. —Basically telling her to be careful, since humans can catch colds. And now, the two former angels were getting snow all over their hair and clothes, giggling and enjoying the cold. Miyako: "Yaaah!!" Having exhausted the snow in her territory, Miyako held the last of her ammunition in both hands and charged. Miyako: "Wawah!" But she lost her balance on the frozen ground just before enemy territory. Sachiko: "Ah... Whoa!" Sachiko reached out to prevent Miyako from falling, but the ground was too slippery to hold them both up. Miyako & Sachiko: "Waaah!"n"Whoooa!" Sachiko fell over on top of Miyako. The two stared at each other. Miyako: "It's the opposite of what happened before." Sachiko: "Before?" Miyako: "On Christmas... When I came down, I was on top." Sachiko: "It was more like you fell down." Miyako: "Ahaha. Sorry." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "What is it?" Sachiko: "That scarf looks good on you." Miyako: "Thank you." Sachiko: "Keep it. It's better that you wear it." Miyako: "Is that alright? Isn't it important to you?" Sachiko: "Just take good care of it." Miyako: "...Alright." Sachiko: "...I lied before." Miyako: "Huh?" Sachiko: "When I said your face was fine..." Miyako: "Oh..." Sachiko: "I like it... It's great." Miyako: "Good. That makes me happy." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "Huh? Umm..." Sachiko brought her face in close. They were close enough now for their breath to mingle. Miyako: "......" But Miyako never looked away no matter how close she got. There was no apprehension or bashfulness in her eyes, just acceptance of Sachiko right before her. Sachiko: "...Close your eyes." —Guess that was too much for her. Miyako: "...Okay." Miyako did as she was told. Miyako: "......" Her lips parted, trembling slightly, waiting for Sachiko's touch. Sachiko: "......" Sachiko brought her lips in once more— Sachiko: "...?!" But she jumped back just before their lips could meet. Her eyes were wide, lips trembling. Sachiko: "No—" A gust of wind stole away the rest of her words. Miyako: "...?" Miyako opened her eyes, sensing that something had happened. Sachiko's eyes had lost the heat they'd had a moment ago and now swam with self-loathing. Sachiko: "...I'm sorry." Miyako: "...Sachiko?" Hina: "We're back~" Miyako & Sachiko: "!" Hina: "Done shoveling~?" It was Hina. They could hear her voice from below. Rin: "You're so loud. Who yells up at someone on the roof?" Fumi: "Ahaha, what if someone from the other dorm answered?" Hina: "Well, I don't hear anything. Maybe they're already back inside?" The three entered the dorm, plastic bags rustling. Meanwhile, the two on the roof listened awkwardly, still on top of one another. Sachiko: "Sounds like they're back." Miyako: "Yes." Sachiko got up timidly. Miyako followed her. Miyako: "Umm..." Sachiko: "Ahaha, did I surprise you?" Sachiko cut off Miyako's words with her laughter. Miyako: "...A little." Sachiko: "Come on, go change. You're all wet and cold, right?" Miyako: "Actually, I feel a little hot." Sachiko: "Haha, well, we were moving around a lot." Miyako: "I suppose so..." Sachiko: "Go down first. They're probably waiting for you." Miyako: "What about you?" Sachiko: "I'll be right behind you, after I clean this stuff up." Miyako: "I'll help you." Sachiko: "You don't need to, I got it. Come on, go, go!" Miyako: "Alright." Sachiko: "Mikoyan." Miyako: "Yes?" Sachiko: "Thanks for helping me shovel." Miyako: "You're welcome. See you in a bit." Miyako headed to the stairs. Sachiko: "...I screwed up." Sachiko picked up her shovel, scratching her head.
The pot was boiling. In it was a seafood soup Sachiko had prepared. Hina, Rin, and Miyako were sitting around the table waiting for it to finish cooking. Fumi and Sachiko were at the sink. Sachiko: "Foomin, thanks for helping out." Sachiko said, wiping her hands off with a towel. Fumi: "Oh, I just chopped some vegetables. I was a little surprised to see you preparing that fish, though." Fumi said, setting a cutting board upright. Sachiko: "Yeah, I did some training before I started here." Fumi: "Huh? You were a cook before becoming a dorm manager?" Sachiko: "Nothing serious like that." Hina: "Not yet!" Hina's shrill voice cut off Rin's attempt to extend her chopsticks. Hina: "It's not done cooking yet. The cabbage is still hard, the tofu hasn't absorbed any of the flavor, and the crab and cod are still raw!" Sachiko: "Heheh, looks like someone's taking charge over there, so we don't have to worry about the rest." Fumi: "It does." The two laughed and headed to the living room. Rin: "What? Really? But it's bubbling." Hina: "Huh? Have you never done this at home before?" Rin: "Nope. I've barely ever eaten with my family." Hina: "Oh... sorry." Sachiko: "Well, great! It's your first hotpot!" Sachiko patted Rin on the head as she sat. Rin: "Mm. Well, it's more that I have no experience cooking rather than the whole family thing." Sachiko: "Try it sometime." Miyako: "It's my first hotpot, too!" Fumi: "It's fun. Let's all eat our fill." Sachiko: "You're in charge, chief!" Hina: "Leave it to me! Hey, what do you think you're opening?!" Sachiko: "Well, I got some local sake with this stuff! I'm an adult, so what's wrong with it?" Rin: "Where are you from, anyway, Sachiko?" Sachiko: "Why?" Rin: "This stuff's from all over the place. The ponzu sauce is from Shikoku, and isn't this booze from Tohoku?" Rin picked up the bottles and examined their labels. Sachiko: "Oh. Well, it's not sent from home. People I met when I was traveling sent it." Rin: "Oh yeah?—Ow." Sachiko slapped Rin's hand when she tried to nonchalantly pour the sake into her own glass. Hina: "Traveling?" Sachiko: "Yeah, all around Japan, painting pictures." Hina: "By yourself?" Sachiko: "Yep. I had people to visit all over. Learned a lot from them, too." Fumi: "Learned? Did you meet them in school?" Sachiko: "Ah... yeah." Miyako: "......" Miyako was the only one who knew what it was Sachiko had learned from those people. Sachiko: "And so, I had a woman at every port—" Rin: "Alright, no tall tales." Miyako: "Sachiko, Sachiko." Sachiko: "Yeah?" Miyako: "Are these paintings from then?" Miyako pointed at some canvases that had been hastily set aside. Sachiko: "Oh, uhh, yeah." Miyako: "Do you mind if I see them?" Sachiko: "Mmm, well... not really, but they're nothing special." Miyako: "Thank you!" Fumi: "Oh, I want to see them too." Rin: "Let's see here." Hina: "What~? I don't want to see any nudes." The four of them picked up some canvases. Each painting was of scenery. Fumi: "Wow... You're good!" Miyako: "Yes. The colors are wonderful!" Fumi and Miyako were very impressed by the painting between them. Hina: "Huh? There's no nudes." Rin: "That's disappointing. You don't have any?" Sachiko: "Nope. But if you model for me, I'll paint one any time♪" Hina: "No thanks!" Rin: "Well, I wouldn't call you prolific." Rin said, counting the canvases. Sachiko: "Yeah, I don't want to paint anything I don't like, so." Hina: "Do you still travel now?" Sachiko: "Sometimes, like on summer break." Fumi: "All alone?" Sachiko: "Heh... That's right, I'm always all alone on a sentimental journey..." Rin: "Yeah, you seem like you'd travel to try and find yourself or whatever~" Sachiko: "So do _you_. If you wait to catch the bug until you're older, the symptoms'll be worse, you know. You should get it over withnsooner." Hina: "So did you find yourself while traveling?" Sachiko: "Nope, not at all. Still looking." Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "Oh, looks like it's cooked. Can we eat, Hinacchi?" Hina: "Mm... looks good!" Time to eat. Sachiko: "Ahn, an indirect kiss~" Hina: "Don't put your chopsticks in the pot!"
With the soup put away, the hotpot party was nearing its end. All was well with the lovers, and their dear friend was by their side. A little ways away, the two former angels watched over them warmly. Miyako: "Are you drunk?" Sachiko: "A little. Can you tell?" Miyako: "You seem to be enjoying yourself a lot." Sachiko was tipsy. Pretty impressive considering she'd put away half a bottle of sake by herself. Sachiko: "The booze is good, but I'm also just enjoying watching those girls." Miyako: "Ah..." Sachiko: "They're so stupid, right?" Miyako: "Stupid? ...Are they?" Sachiko: "They laugh and cry over the most trivial things. They spend every day going through so many emotions." Sachiko: "But no matter how trivial it seems from the outside, to them, it's all so serious." Sachiko: "They're the protagonists of a super sweet, slightly bitter story right now, and they can't see anything outside of it. They're each other's entire world right now." Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "Just a drunk poem. Don't take it too seriously." Miyako: "No..." Sachiko: "Anyway, when you're in love, your head gets completely full of that person, and you suddenly forget about everything else." Miyako: "The flood of sensation..." Sachiko: "Yep. Major flooding. Love is a natural disaster, baby♪" Miyako: "......" Miyako stared at the couple once again. Sachiko: "Are you jealous?" Miyako: "I suppose so. I'd like to experience it for myself at least once." Sachiko: "You're so cute, you'll find someone in no time." —Whose heart did that stake stab? Miyako: "Have you—" Sachiko: "You show-offs! How dare you!!" Sachiko jumped on the three girls as if to avoid Miyako's question. Rin: "Whoa! What?!" Hina: "You smell like booze!" Fumi: "Aaah! Who's touching me there?" Sachiko: "Heheheheh." Hina: "HEY!" In all the chaos, Hina's leg bumped a shelf. Something square tumbled down from the shelf. It was a canvas. Sachiko: "Oww?!" The canvas bounced off Sachiko's back, flipped over itself a few times, and arrived at Miyako's knees. Miyako: "......" Miyako picked up the canvas and turned it over. Sachiko: "Ah, no, you can't look at that one!" Miyako: "Huh...?" But she was too late. The canvas had already been revealed. It was the portrait of a girl in a uniform. Miyako: "Is this... me?" Miyako turned the painting to the pile of the four girls. Hina: "It's Miyako!" Sachiko: "Uh oh..." It was almost certain that the girl on the canvas and the girl holding it were the same person. Fumi: "That's a very nice smile." The girl in the painting had a brilliant smile on her face. Rin: "That's pretty intense..." Compared to the paintings they'd all been looking at before, this one had been given a very different touch. It was rough, and a lot more simple, but because of that, there was much more emotion in it. Sachiko: "No... Umm, that's just..." Sachiko was flustered. Fumi: "You didn't know about this painting, Miyako?" Hina: "You didn't model for it?" Miyako: "Oh, no..." Rin: "So she got secret pictues of you? Criminal!" Sachiko: "I did not! I painted it from memory!" Rin: "So you've looked at Mikoyan so much you can paint her from memory, eh?" Sachiko: "......" Rin: "I bet in your imagination, it's a nude—" Sachiko: "It's not a nude, right?!" Rin: "Oh, I guess you're right." Hina: "You haven't imagined it?" Sachiko: "I can imagine, can't I?!" Hina: "You can't!" Sachiko: "I have freedom of thought and belief!" Fumi: "It's a little unfair that you've only painted Miyako, though~" Fumi was sharp as usual. Fumi: "Do you sense something bittersweet about this?" Sachiko: "I-I'll paint you anytime you want, Foomin." Fumi: "No nudes, please." Sachiko's response was so unusual for her that the three couldn't help mocking her. Miyako: "........." But Miyako looked a little happy, holding the canvas to her chest. Miyako: "...Huh?" She noticed some small writing on the back of the canvas. And then gasped. Miyako: "Ah..." Sachiko: "Alright, I'm confiscating that!" Sachiko grabbed the canvas hurriedly, face red, and put it back on the shelf. Miyako: "......"
—And the feast was done. The pot was empty, and all present had recovered enough from their full bellies to move again. Sachiko: "Thanks for everything today, guys." Sachiko said, standing up. Fumi: "Let's get this cleaned up real quick." Sachiko: "It's fine, Foomin. I'll handle it." She stopped Fumi from stacking up all the dishes on the table. Fumi: "Are you sure? There's a lot to wash." Sachiko: "Yeah, I'll figure it out. Is it okay if I leave her to you, though?" Sachiko's wry smile was directed at... Miyako: "Zzz, zzz..." ...Miyako, snoring with her head on the table. Sachiko: "She eats, then sleeps. Really true to her physical desires, huh?" Sachiko: "Mikoyan? Go back to your room and sleep there." Miyako: "Zzz, zzz..." Sachiko called her name and shook her shoulder, but Miyako showed no signs of coming to. Rin: "Dead to the world." Sachiko: "Oh, fine... Hup." Sachiko put Miyako's arm over her shoulder and stood her up. Sachiko: "Can you bring her to your room?" Rin: "Yes, ma'am." Rin tried to take Miyako from Sachiko, but... Rin: "Well, this isn't gonna work. She's clinging to you like a koala." At some point, Miyako had locked her arms around Sachiko's waist. Sachiko: "Geez~ She's such a handful~" Hina: "Guess you're just gonna have to carry her." Sachiko: "...Guess so." Sachiko's face was resigned. Rin: "We could try splashing water on her." Fumi: "We can't do that!" Rin: "I was joking." Sachiko: "Okay, Hinacchi, can you open the door?" Hina: "Yeeep." Sachiko staggered over to the four girls' room, carrying Miyako. The rest of the girls smiled as they watched her from behind. Fumi: "Heheh, it's kind of nice, isn't it?" Hina: "Yeah. They're like sisters." Rin: "Not a mom and daughter?" Sachiko: "I can hear you, Rin. So you're gonna help me clean that pot~?" Rin: "A pair of beautiful sisters!" Sachiko: "Good." Hina: "Should we wake her up?" Sachiko: "Nah, just let her sleep." Sachiko stopped the three girls from waking their roommate. Sachiko: "I'll wake her up when I'm done with the dishes. You guys can head back first." Rin: "There won't be any funny business, will there?" Sachiko: "Hee hee hee." Hina: "Hey!" Sachiko: "There won't." Sachiko saw the three of them back to their room. Fumi: "We should get our bath stuff when we get back to our room. We probably all smell like fish right now." Rin: "What~? I don't wanna~" Fumi: "You need to wash all that hair of yours." Rin: "I'll take one in the morning~" Hina: "Yeah right!" Fumi: "When Miyako wakes up, we'll come take her to the bath with us." Sachiko: "Alright." Heading back to her room, Sachiko slowly took a cigarette out of her pocket. Miyako: "Funny business?" Sachiko: "Pfft!" Sachiko choked. Sachiko: "When did you wake up?" Miyako: "I don't mind, you know." Sachiko: "...Are you half-asleep?" Miyako: "I'm awake, I think. Unless this is a dream." Sachiko sighed and put away the cigarette. Sachiko: "Well, if you're awake, go back to your room." Miyako: "When did you paint that picture?" Sachiko: "...That's a secret." Miyako: "Is that what I look like when I smile?" Sachiko: "Nope. It's a crappy painting." Miyako: "That's not true. I'm really happy about it." Sachiko: "Happy? Why?" Miyako: "Because you said you only paint things you like." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "Can I see it again?" Miyako had stood up and grabbed the painting from the shelf before she was even finished asking the question. Sachiko: "Ah, hey! Don't touch it!" Sachiko ran over to stop her. Miyako: "Ah... wawah?" Sachiko practically tackled her, causing Miyako to lose her balance. Miyako: "We keep falling over today." Sachiko: "Seriously." Sachiko sighed from underneath Miyako. Miyako: "......" Miyako was staring at her. Sachiko: "What is it?" Miyako: "So, will there be funny business?" Sachiko: "...Like what?" Miyako: "Like what you do to them all the time? Or what the two lovers do?" Sachiko: "Alright, that's enough messing around—" Sachiko made to stand up, but Miyako didn't budge. Miyako: "Why did you stop, before?" Sachiko: "I told you I was joking, didn't I?" Miyako: "......" There was disappointment on her face for a moment, but then... Miyako: "Can we continue?" Sachiko: "Huh?" Miyako: "Can I continue? Mmh..." Sachiko was pushed down again. Sachiko: "Hey—" Miyako brought her face closer, slowly. Hina: "Waaah! A lion's attacking Sachiko?!" —And that's where that ends tonight. Sachiko: "Wah?!" Sachiko went white as a sheet. Miyako: "........." Miyako had woken up at some point and was staring straight at her. Holding _that canvas_, too. Miyako: "Who is this painting of?" Sachiko: "What do you mean, who—" Miyako: "It says 'Noel' on the back. Is that her name?" Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "She's... my model, isn't she?" Sachiko: "......" Sachiko lit a cigarette while she searched for a response. Miyako: "So you knew her." Sachiko: "What a coincidence, right?" Miyako: "It's unbelieveable!" Sachiko: "I could barely believe it myself." Miyako: "What was Noel like?" Sachiko: "Well, she looked just like you." Miyako: "I imagine she must have, since I modeled myself on her... Did she act like me, too?" Sachiko: "Not in the least..." Miyako: "Oh. So—" Miyako went on, blithe as ever: Miyako: "Is she wearing the Seiyou uniform—" Sachiko: "Why does that matter?" Sachiko's face was as dark as Miyako's was bright. Miyako: "I want to know more about the girl you liked." Sachiko: "Huh...?" Miyako: "You said you only paint things you like." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "Noel invited you down, didn't she?" Sachiko: "...Why do you think so?" Miyako: "Because it has a date from five years ago by the name." Sachiko: "...I see." Miyako: "But it's more because it's such a beautiful painting." Sachiko: "It's the first one I painted after I came down... It's not that good." Miyako: "I don't mean technically. You can tell how important she is to you." Miyako: "I wish it was me in the painting." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "I thought for sure she was someone older, what with the smoking." Sachiko: "...She was a delinquent." Miyako: "Was she? What about now?" Sachiko: "Now... she's somewhere far away." Miyako: "Far away?" Rin: "Oh, she's up." Hina: "Miyako, we're gonna go take a bath~" Miyako: "Okay." Fumi: "I brought your bath stuff and a change of clothes, so you can come straight with us." Miyako: "Thank you~" Hina: "Hey, you're smoking!" Sachiko: "Oh, yeah..." The four girls left. ......... ...... Sachiko: "Ouch..." The cigarette had burned down to Sachiko's fingers. And that's that. February comes in like a lion—
Hina: "Business is booming, huh?" An endless stream of questions meant Fumi's class would likely continue on a little longer. Rin: "Seriously. Are there more people over there now? They've gotta be coming from other classes at this point, right?" Miyako: "She's really amazing, answering each and every question like that." Hina: "Yeah. It might have been faster to just go to the home ec room and give them a demonstration." Rin: "Haahh... Do we have time to get groceries on our way home?" Hina: "We'll be fine. Fumi knows what we need." It was starting to creep into Rin's voice how tired she was of waiting, but Hina was perfectly content. Hina: "Maybe I'll get Fumi to teach me too and make chocolate myself this year." Miyako: "What did you do until now?" Hina: "My mom or my sister always made it before. I just wrapped it." Rin: "Ah, the ones with the huge—hgh!" A sharp kick to Rin's calf. Hina: "Well, I never had anyone to give it to but my dad before. But this year..." Hina's eyes were, of course, on Fumi. Miyako: "That's wonderful." Hina: "Eheh." Rin: "I'm usually on the receiving end." Miyako: "Ooh~" Hina: "This is what I'm talking about." Rin: "What?" Hina: "Haah..." It's clear she's not trying to be snide or sarcastic, but... Rin: "I'm not really that into sweets, though. I can never eat them all. I know! I'll melt them down and give them back on White—" Hina: "Seriously, this is what I'm talking about." Rin: "Huh? Are you mad?" Hina: "I'm not mad, I'm just disgusted. Think about the feelings of the people giving you the chocolate." Rin: "I'm sure they're just giving it to me to give it to someone." Hina: "Still. It's not like you have to give them something homemade in return, but..." Rin: "Wait, but if I melt them down, then they're homemade, right? Isn't that right, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "This is what she's talking about~" Rin: "O-Oh?" It really is.
Hina: "Fumi, are you awake?" A little while after they all got into bed, Hina called over to Fumi. Fumi: "Yes, I'm awake. What's up?" Hina: "Umm, I was just thinking about chocolate." Fumi: "Well, you can't have any. You've already brushed your teeth. We'll have some tomorrow. We both have to wait." Hina: "No, that's not it. I mean Valentine's chocolate." Fumi: "O-Oh... What about it?" Hina: "I want to give you some too." Fumi: "Oh..." Hina: "But I've never made it before. I've just watched my mom and sister make it." Hina: "...So I probably won't be able to do a good job. Is it still okay?" Fumi: "I'd love any chocolate you gave me, Hina." Hina: "Fumi..." Fumi: "But if you want to make it, why don't we make it together?" Hina: "Yeah! I want you to teach me!" Fumi: "Alright, I'll teach you Le Chocolat Chocolat's special recipe!" Is that the name of Fumi's family's store? Rin: "Mikoyan, you ever been to a conveyor belt sushi place before?" Miyako: "I haven't~" Rin suddenly interrupted. Hina: "Where'd that come from?" Fumi: "I'm sorry, were we being loud?" Rin: "Just too sweet for me." Fumi: "Sweet?" Rin: "Like you're tossing sugar at each other." Hina: "What? That doesn't make any sense." Rin: "Just shut up and do your flirting in bed together!" Hina & Fumi: "Ah..." Hina: "Don't pout~ We'll give you some of the chocolate we make." Rin: "I don't want more sweet stuff." Rin: "Mikoyan, let's go get sushi sometime!" There was no answer. Rin: "Mikoyan?" Miyako: "Zzz..." Rin: "Geez, what a snooze monster!"
Hina: "That part's cooked, so you can eat it. This is... gonna need some more time." More than halfway into the hotpot, Hina was still busy, scooping out the scum and adding ingredients. Fumi: "Are you eating too, Hina?" Hina: "Yeah, I am. See?" Hina's shell bowl had several crab legs sticking out of it. Fumi: "Good. You're really good at this." Hina: "Thanks. You chopped the veggies, right?" Fumi: "I did... Did I mess something up?" Hina: "No, the opposite. You've separated the green and the white parts, and they're all the right size, too. You really pay a lot of attention." Hina held up a piece of cabbage, impressed. Fumi: "Yes, since they cook at different speeds." Hina: "Everybody in my family is so sloppy. They just chop everything up at whatever sizes. It's always like we're out camping or something." Fumi: "Aha, well, we're a family of bakers, so we want to measure everything." Hina: "That's so funny. Here, this crab is perfect right now. Take it before it gets hard." Hina moved a crab leg to Fumi's bowl. Fumi: "Thank you. You're so considerate, Hina." Hina: "Heheheh♪" Sachiko: "You two are so close~" Across the table, Sachiko was watching them, tipping back a sake cup. Rin: "They really are. So much it's a bit of a problem actually." Sachiko: "Heheh. They raise the temperature too much? You know, it _is_ kinda hot in here." Rin: "Don't say stuff like that. It's hot 'cause you're drinking. And we're cooking." Sachiko: "Oh, right. So why's it a problem for you if Hinacchi and Foomin are too close?" Hina: "Huh? What? Are we causing problems for you, Rin?" Fumi: "I'm sorry... we should have noticed." Rin: "No, I don't mind that you're close. I mean, I was the one who read you your vows." On Christmas Eve in the chapel. Rin: "I just kinda wish you'd have some shame, y'know~" Hina: "Shame? Why?" Sachiko: "What? Did something happen?" Rin: "Oh, plenty of things, but the worst was after our shrine visit on New Year's—" Fumi: "Ah! That was—" Realizing where she was going, Fumi tried to stop her, but Rin continued... Rin: "When Mikoyan and I came back, the two of them were sleeping on each other, _naked_!" Sachiko: "Oho! Was it after the act? Was it?" Rin: "I bet it was~ They looked like they wore themselves out and fell asleep just like that." Sachiko: "Aaaaah!!" Hina: "We didn't do anything. We tried, but... We ended up happy just holding each other, and before I knew it, I'd dozed off." Rin & Sachiko: "Aaaaah!!" Hina's blithe words elicited bittersweet screams from Rin and Sachiko. Fumi: "Hina, Hina...!" Fumi reddened at Hina's candidness. Sachiko: "Well, it is a four-person room, but you've gotta let them get away with some stuff. Just look at how pure Hinacchi is!" Rin: "I know. I'm not really bothered by it. I just like teasing them." Sachiko: "Yeah... I get that." Sachiko: "If you asked, I'd let you use this room whenever you want! You get three hours' free time, just call extension 9 for inquiries." Fumi: "Free time? Extension 9?" Fumi cocked her head, face blank. Sachiko: "Oh, free time means—" Hina: "Hey!" Kick! Hina kicked Sachiko's shin under the table. Sachiko: "Gfh?!" Hina: "I dunno what you're talking about, but it's dirty, isn't it?! Don't teach Fumi dirty stuff!" Rin: "She's got good instinct at least." Or Sachiko's usual behavior just makes it easy to guess. Fumi: "Umm, Ogata, what did she mean by...?" Fumi asked Rin, still curious. Rin: "Hell no. I'm not getting kicked by Hina." Hina: "Darn right!" Hina gave an emphatic nod. Rin: "Anyway, I just want you to think about how I feel when you put on displays like that." Fumi: "Umm... we'll be more careful." Rin: "After all, unlike you two, I'm all by my lonesome~" Hina: "Rin, you can't spend all your time sulking." Rin: "Huh? What's that? Your eyes are full of pity... no, more like lofty compassion, isn't it?" Rin: "How can you look so grown-up when you don't even know what free time is?" Hina: "I might not know what you're talking about, but I know that if you don't start acting more true to yourself, you'll end up all alone. You'll become a sad, lonely adult like Sachiko." Sachiko: "Hey!" Hina's words suddenly struck Sachiko on the right cheek. Rin: "Ack, I _really_ don't want that!" Sachiko: "Hey!!" And there was the strike on the left cheek. Rin: "Come on, Mikoyan, let's date!" Miyako: "...Huh? What? I'm sorry, I was eating crab!" The crab-eating lion looked back at her blankly, crab spoon in hand. ...I thought she was being a little too quiet.
Rin: "That's economics right there. Girls all over Japan are buying chocolate, right? Aren't the economic implications just fascinating?" Rin looked on at the early Valentine's atmosphere blossoming around Fumi's desk with a mix of wonder and scorn on her face. Rin: "I want to put a Valentine's tax on it and make a sweet profit." Would that be in chocolate coins? Hina: "On what authority?" Rin: "I'm sure you were the type to receive chocolates, right, Hina?" Hina: "I don't like the way you asked that." Rin: "You're being paranoid. So? Am I right?" Hina: "Well... yeah." Rin: "Knew it." Miyako: "You were popular, huh~?" Hina: "I think it's more like I just wasn't considered a girl." Rin: "Have you always shaved your head?" Hina: "I had long hair in grade school!" Rin: "Then you only shaved it in middle school?" Hina: "I've never shaved my head!" Rin: "Well, you don't have your secondary sex characteristics yet. Your voice hasn't changed yet, either." Hina: "My voice is never going to change!" Rin: "Hahahaha!" Hina: "Shut up already! I got a lot of chocolate from girls, okay?! What, are you jealous?!" Hina snapped. Rin: "I actually happen to have received quite a bit myself~ Oh, my hair's always been long, though~" Rin brushed a hand through her hair like she was in a shampoo commercial. It's irritating to admit it, but she does look good. Hina: "...How much?" Rin: "I would say 40 to 50 was the average per year. I mean, it wasn't enough to have to carry it in a truck or anything." Miyako: "Wow~" Rin: "I guess I was pretty popular~" Well, she is attractive. She's got that much going for her at least. Hina: "Uuuuuuugh." Hina's mood was only worsening. Rin: "Don't be jealous~" Hina: "I'm... not jealous." Rin: "It's better to have a popular girlfriend than an unpopular one, right?" Hina: "........." Miyako: "You must have gotten really full eating all that chocolate!" And this one's impressed about something weird. Hina: "Th-This year, I'll give you—" Rin: "Sick of it, more like. I'm not even all that into sweets in the first place~" Hina's words petered out before even reaching Rin's ears. Fumi: "Sorry I'm late." Rin: "Hey, good work." Rin welcomed Fumi to them when she returned, looking apologetic. Hina: "......" Meanwhile, Hina was stewing in her feelings now that they had nowhere to go. Miyako: "It's alright." Miyako put a gentle hand on her back. Hina: "Thanks." Hina turned to her and smiled. Rin: "Okay, now that we're all done here, let's get going." Hina: "Yeah!" Hina grabbed her bag and ran off. ...... She definitely is a girl.
Rin: "Mmmmh~" Rin stretched grandly, reaching a good stopping point in her book. Miyako: "Oh..." She was just stretching, but she was so flexible that it looked impressive. It almost looked like the cobra pose in yoga. Hina: "She's something, isn't she?" Miyako: "Yes." Miyako tried imitating her but could only bend her back about half as much as Rin had. But Miyako wasn't inflexible, it was just that Rin was extremely limber. Rin: "What?" Hina: "Just talking about how flexible you are." Fumi: "Ugh..." Now that one's inflexible. She can't even get her chest off the floor. Though she's got a handicap in that area. Hina: "Rin did ballet." Miyako: "Did she?" Rin: "I quit a long time ago, though." Hina: "But she said she was good at it. Maybe she could have been a famous ballerina if she'd kept it up." Miyako: "That's pretty amazing." Rin: "I would have quit sooner or later. I don't have the personality for it." Hina: "There you go again. You put yourself down too much, Rin." Rin: "No, you just give me too much credit." Hina: "I do not! I know! Do that thing, Rin!" Rin: "What thing?" Hina: "Umm, where you stand on one foot and raise the other one. Uhh... arabica?" Rin: "Arabesque. And no, I don't want to." Hina: "Why?" Rin: "Because it's a pain. It's too late at night." Rin rolled over, facing the other way. Hina: "Mmmmmmh!" The only comeback Hina had was to whine. Rin: "That won't convince me." Fumi: "Oh, I think I'd like to see that. What about you, Miyako?" Miyako: "Yes, I would, too." Fumi put in her support behind Hina and Miyako quickly caught on and backed her up. Hina: "Mmmh..." Rin: "Haah... Okay, just a little. I'm not doing anything showy." In the end, Rin folded. Hina: "Yay~! It's really cool! Everybody, watch." She bragged like it was her doing it. Rin: "Geez..." Setting her book down on the table, Rin stood slowly. She twisted this way and that, doing the bare minimum of a stretch. Even that was somewhat impressive. At the same time, Fumi pulled the table back to give her more space. Rin: "Mmh..." She straightened up slowly, reaching her full height and making them all almost forget how she usually slouched. Miyako: "Wow!" She looked beautiful just standing there. That was enough for Miyako to exclaim. Hina: "Watch what she does with her feet! It's really amazing!" Fumi: "I'm watching." Rin went through the positions at a quick pace. She must have done it so often in the past that she was going off of muscle memory. Hina: "Now pay attention to her upper body. See? Her legs are moving so much, but her upper body stays completely still." Fumi & Miyako: "It's true!" Rin: "...You're not making this easy." Hina: "Don't look like you hate it. Come on, make a cool face, too!" Rin: "Haah... Last one. I'm lifting my leg a bit..." With another sigh, she faked a smile. It was a bit strained. Her leg slowly lifted... She didn't lift it as high as last time, but it still made the length of her arms and legs prominent. It almost seemed like her limbs were filling up the room. Hina: "......" Hina looked on admiringly. Hina: "I fell in love with Rin when I saw this. That's why Rin's arapaima is a treasure of mine." Fumi: "Wow..." Miyako: "Ooh..." The two were touched. ...But it's an arabesque. Not a fish. Rin: "......" She lowered her leg slowly to finish. Miyako: "It was beautiful." Rin: "Thanks. I'm not doing it again." Fumi: "Your tracksuit looked like a tutu to me." Rin: "Come on, I was just stretching a little." Hina: "Mfh!" Hina raised her leg in imitation of Rin. She was flexible too, but in a different way, so it didn't go as well. Rin: "Ah, hey! An amateur shouldn't try that without a barre—" Hina: "Whoa, wah... aaah?!" Not even getting to the arabesque, she lost her balance just trying to stand on one leg. Rin: "Ah!" Rin reached out and caught her. Rin: "What are you doing?! You could've hurt yourself!" Hina: "I'm sorry... I thought maybe if I could do it too, I could dance with you." Rin: "Haah... I'm not doing that. I'm not good at dancing with people." Hina: "......" Rin: "Alright, show's over." Curtly letting go of Hina, Rin lay down once more. Clap clap clap. Miyako: "......" Fumi: "......" Miyako and Fumi exchanged a glance, applauding the performance.
After they'd all gotten into their beds, Miyako fell asleep right away, but... Rin: "Ngh..." Rin groaned when she turned the page of her book. Hina: "Rin?" Hina heard it from the bed underneath her. Rin: "Oh, you're still up? That's unusual." Hina: "Yeah. What was that sound? You okay?" Rin: "Oh, my finger just hurt a bit. Caught my cut on the edge of the page." Hina: "The cut from when I bit you?" Rin: "Yeah. It might be a little swollen." Hina: "...I'm sorry." Hina curled up in her bed, remorseful. Rin: "Well, I didn't really clean it or anything. I just left it alone." Hina: "......" Rin: "Ugh... It hurts. What if I get rabies~?" Hina: "Awawa..." Rin was exaggerating her pain, but Hina was almost crying, taking her seriously. Hina: "What if you lose your finger... because of me...?" Her voice was thick now. Rin realized she'd overdone it. Rin: "No, hey... I was joking. It'll get better in no time if I just lick it... mmn... Ow!" I guess that stung. Hina: "Aaah!" Rin: "It's fine! I'll go get some antiseptic and a band-aid from Sachiko—" Rin sat up and made to get off her bed, but... Hina: "I'll go!" Hina leapt out of bed quicker, and was out the door in the next moment. Rin: "Okay..." Fumi: "Ogata?" Rin: "Ah, yeah?" Fumi: "You shouldn't do that. You know Natsume takes everything to heart." Rin: "Er, I mean, I was just teasing her a little..." Fumi: "......" Rin: "...I'm sorry." Fumi: "Please tell Natsume that." Rin: "...Right."
Fumi: "I'm feeling pretty full now~" Fumi let out a little sigh. They were getting to the end of the hotpot. Sachiko: "I've got some rice soup to finish up?" Fumi: "Rice soup... That sounds good." Does she have room for that? Fumi: "I'm full, but it tastes so good it's hard to stop." She seemed embarrassed, but kept right on eating. Miyako: "You're exactly right! But if you keep eating just because it tastes good, something _terrible_ could happen later!" Miyako emphasized. Seems the Christmas cake incident was still weighing heavily on her. Fumi: "Augh! I figured today was a special exception, but I should probably stop, shouldn't I?" Fumi seemed to interpret Miyako's "something terrible" to mean something else. Rin: "Actually, since hotpots are so hot, they make you sweat, which cancels out the calories." Fumi: "Really?!" There goes Rin. Hina: "......" Sachiko: "Hm? Whatcha doin', Hinacchi?" Hina was rifling through the canvases stacked up in the corner of the room. Hina: "I wanna see Rin's picture. The one she modeled for before Christmas." Sachiko: "Ah, that one's not in the canvases." Sachiko stood up and plucked out a sketchbook from a shelf. Sachiko: "Here y'go." Hina: "A doodle book?" Sachiko: "Ahaha, yeah, I guess they're basically doodles." Hina opened up the sketchbook. Rough pencil sketches filled the pages. From the balance of her arms and legs and the length of her hair, it did look like Rin. They were mostly simple poses, some without any details on the arms and legs. Hina: "They're not dirty. Or nudes." Rin: "Of course they aren't!" Sachiko: "I tried so hard to persuade her, too..." Rin: "Like hell I'm stripping for you!" Hina: "I wasn't expecting this. I thought there'd be more details." Hina must have been expecting a portrait. Sachiko: "Rin's got long limbs and she's flexible, so she makes a perfect posing doll." Rin: "How rude." Sachiko: "It's a compliment." Rin: "Doesn't sound like one. But hey, all that paid for this." Rin said, tugging lightly on Hina's collar. Hina: "Yeah... thanks." Rin: "I worked real hard. I'm such a nice person." Hina: "Sachiko, can I have these sketches?" Sachiko: "Even though they're just doodles?" Hina: "No, I think they're really good. They really show off Rin's stuff." Sachiko: "Well hey, I can take a compliment. Thanks! I kinda want to hold on to my work, though." Hina: "I'll take really good care of them." Hina pointed her puppy-dog eyes at Sachiko. Sachiko: "Mm~ I'll trade 'em for that choker, then." Hina: "......" Sachiko: "Kidding! Kidding!" Sachiko backpedaled when she saw Hina about to cry. Hina: "...Could you draw us together sometime, then?" Sachiko: "Nude?" Hina: "If it's with Rin..." Rin: "Hell no!" That's a "no" from the costar.
As the questions of the girls surrounding Fumi appeared to be unending, the chocolate class didn't seem like it would be coming to a close anytime soon. The other three watched from a ways away. Hina: "What did you do for Valentine's Day, Rin?" Rin: "What do you mean, what did I do?" Hina: "I just can't imagine you giving chocolate to someone with an earnest look on your face." Rin: "How rude. Don't confine me to your sorry excuse for an imagination." Hina: "Sorry. So you did give chocolates?" Rin: "Nah." Hina: "Hey! Why'd you deny it, then?" Rin: "I just didn't like admitting you were right." Hina: "You're such a contrarian." Rin: "I didn't give any, but I got plenty." Miyako: "Ooh, you were popular?" Rin: "Yeah, I always got a lot every year, but I don't really like sweets, so I could never get rid of 'em all." Miyako: "What a waste." Rin: "What'd you do, Hina?" Hina: "I ate them. Wait, why are you assuming I got chocolates?" Rin: "Well, isn't that better than not getting any? What about White Day?" Hina: "I gave them homemade cookies. My sister baked them, though." Rin: "That's nice. I gave out gift cards in return." Hina: "Not a shred of sentiment there, huh?" Rin: "Well, I don't plan on accepting Valentine's chocolate anymore, so." Miyako: "Oh? You don't?" Rin: "From everyone but one, anyway~" Rin glanced over at the chocolate class. Fumi just happened to be looking her way at the same moment and their eyes met. Rin gave her a little wave and Fumi nodded from behind the circle of girls. Hina: "What are you, bragging?" Rin: "Sure am. So you know, I don't want any chocolate from you either, Hina." She held up her hand, indicating rejection. Hina: "Well I wasn't planning on giving you any! And I thought you didn't like sweets anyway." Rin: "Yeah, but chocolate from Fumi is an exception. She said she'd make it to my tastes." Miyako: "Not very sweet?" Rin: "Yeah. Not that things aren't super sweet between us." Hina: "Okay... I've had about enough of this." Rin: "Oh, don't be jealous." Miyako: "What are you going to do?" Rin: "Huh?" Hina: "Well you _are_ technically a girl, so you could stand to give her some chocolate, too." Rin: "Haah... You're so stupid, Hina." Rin shook her head. Hina: "What's that supposed to mean?!" Rin: "I mean, what kind of chocolate do you think is going to satisfy a patissier's daughter? A girl who's holding a chocolate-making class after school? She'll just look down her nose at any lame chocolate I could give her." Hina: "Uhh, no, I don't think Asou would do that. I mean, sure, it'd be tough to impress her, but it's the thought that counts, isn't it?" Rin: "I mean, I'll do something. Haven't thought of what yet, though." Hina: "I don't think you need to come up with something original or anything... Why don't you just buy her something? As long as it's not from her store." Rin: "Oh, maybe I'll wrap myself up in a big ribbon~" Hina: "...She's an idiot." Rin: "Who's an idiot?!" They really do get along well, don't they? Fumi: "Hey, you two. No fighting, now." That's when Fumi came back. Rin: "Oh, Fumi." Hina: "Oh, Asou." Fumi: "Sorry for keeping you waiting." Miyako: "Good work over there." Fumi: "The questions just wouldn't end. They let me go after I told them I'd hand out an easy recipe next time." Miyako: "Everybody's passionate about Valentine's Day, huh?" Fumi: "All girls are!" Miyako: "Oh~" Fumi was dazzling, puffing her chest out with pride. Rin: "...So what's your chocolate record? I got fifty once." Hina: "Ten thousand." Rin: "How?! You'd crash the chocolate market for the whole city! Fumi~ Hina's telling lies!" ...They _are_ girls, right?
They were still talking about their first day at the dorm after getting in bed. Even Miyako, who normally fell asleep as soon as she got under the covers, was wide awake tonight. She was eager to hear about the three girls from before she started watching them. Miyako: "That's surprising." Hina: "It's true, though. It took way more time for Rin to open up to Asou." Miyako: "Even though now, they're..." Hina: "Yep~ All over each other, right?" Fumi: "Ahaha..." Hina: "Her parents are never around, so she wasn't used to people taking care of her, or so she said." —Last May. The morning, before school. Hina: "Hey, we gotta go or we're gonna miss the bus!" She was small, but her voice really carried. And it sounded a little annoyed. Rin: "...You can leave first. I'll be right behind you." And this one had a lazy voice. She'd managed to get her uniform on, but was struggling to get away from her bed. Hina: "You said that before and you didn't show up until noon!" Rin: "......" Hina: "You can't get up in the morning because you're always up late reading." Rin: "So? I can do what I want, can't I?" Hina: "You can't! As your roommate and your classmate, I won't let you be late!" Hina grabbed Rin's arm and tried to pull her upright. Rin: "...Don't pull that. You'll stretch it." Hina: "Then stand on your own feet!" Rin: "...What, are you trying to score points as a good little class rep?" Hina: "What? What points?" When Rin stood up, their height difference became very apparent. They glared at each other, and Hina didn't back down at all despite having to look up at Rin. Rin: "...Hmph." Rin was the first one to look away, shaking off Hina's grip on her sleeve. Fumi: "Okay, let's get going♪" Fumi slipped right into the precarious air between them. Fumi: "Here, your handkerchief. I washed it for you." She held Rin's handkerchief out to her. Rin: "Huh...?" Rin stared blankly between the handkerchief and Fumi's face. Rin: "Uhh, you don't need to... do that." Fumi: "Well, I already have. Here, your commuter pass. Here, your lunch." Fumi held out some more items, smiling. Rin: "Huh? Lunch...?" Fumi: "Yes, I made enough for everyone♪" Hina: "They looked so good! I'm really excited for them♪" Hina was fired up after watching Fumi fill the lunchboxes. Fumi: "Would you like to eat lunch with us from now on?" Rin: "Huh...? Why?" Fumi: "Well, you always leave the classroom alone at lunch." Rin: "I..." Hina: "Just hang out with us one time, Ogata. If you hate it, we won't force you to do it again." Rin: "......" Hina and Fumi patently waited for Rin's answer. This was more important than catching the bus. Rin: "...Sure, if it's just today." Fumi: "Oh, good! I hope you like the lunch." Rin: "...Umm, I don't like peppers." Fumi: "It's not good to be picky." Miyako: "Wow, I can't even imagine that!" Hina: "She's still just as twisted, though." Miyako: "Ahaha." Hina: "We're only so close now because Asou never stopped bugging her until Rin opened up." Miyako: "I see~" Fumi: "You... think so?" Hina: "Now she just babies her too much, though. Like this morning—" —That morning, before school. Fumi: "Come on, Rin, please get up? Pick up your bag!" On the new version of the Rin Shift, they couldn't move on to the next item on the list unless Rin took her bag first. Rin: "No! I'm not getting up without a kiss!" Fumi: "Huh? Huh?" Hina: "Yuck, what a baby..." Fumi: "Umm... uhh, I'll give you a kiss when we come home. Please just get up now." Rin: "But I want one now." The baby would not negotiate. Hina: "This is bad... You should say something to her too, Miyako." Miyako: "Zzz..." Hina: "Are you sleeping standing up?!" Miyako: "Ahahahaha." —You laugh, but you're pretty bad, too. Hina: "I really can't believe her..." Rin: "You should leave it at that. Poor Rin is a delicate flower, you know." (show_name="Fumi?") Hina: "Asou...? No, that voice is clearly coming from under Asou's covers..." Fumi: "Ahahahaha..." Hina: "I thought it was too quiet up there..." There was a conspicuous lump under Fumi's covers. She must have been hiding there for the whole conversation. Hina: "Rin! Get out of Asou's bed and get into your own!" Rin: "Rin is a—" Hina: "Enough about how delicate you are!" Rin: "Uuugh..." Rin slunk out of the bed. Fumi: "Get into your bed while you're still warm, okay?" Fumi patted her on the back. Rin: "...I won't go unless you kiss me." Fumi: "Hahh, well, if I must..." Rin: "Gyuh!" Hina threw a pillow at the back of the big baby's head. Hina: "Get up there!!"
Miyako: "Nn... mmh... rgh!" The crab-eating lion was really struggling to get the meat out of the shells. They'd taken part of the shells off before cooking, and they had crab spoons, so the difficulty should have been rather low. But Miyako was trying this for the first time in her life. Hina: "Miyako, it's easier if you move the crab instead of the spoon. Be careful of the spikes on the shell, though." Miyako: "Okay! Oh, you're right!" Miyako dutifully followed Hina's advice, eyes sparkling when the meat came out smoothly. Sachiko: "Sorry. Maybe we should have taken the shells off first." Miyako: "No, this is fun! And it's delicious!" She said, bringing the fruit of her effort to her mouth and starting in on another leg. Sachiko: "Oh yeah? Well, good." Seeing Miyako innocently enjoying the process, Sachiko couldn't help smiling. Hina: "Miyako really gives everything her all, doesn't she?" Sachiko: "Yeah. She's a good girl..." Hina: "On the other hand..." Hina looked past Miyako with a sigh. Fumi: "Here, I got this crab meat out for you." Rin: "Yay~, nice and easy~" Fumi: "What would you like next?" Rin: "More crab~" Fumi: "You need to eat your vegetables too, you know." Rin: "I'll eat a vegetable after the next crab~" Fumi: "Really?" Rin: "Really~♪" Fumi: "Well, alright..." Fumi said, plucking some more crab from the pot and smiling as she worked the meat out. Hina: "What is this?! Seriously?!" Sachiko: "Couldn't tell ya~" Rin: "Fumi, my glasses are all foggy." Fumi: "They are! You must have gotten steam on them. Here, let me wipe them off." Rin: "I can't see~" Hina: "Is this dorm a preschool?! Is Asou Rin's mother?!" Sachiko: "I told you, don't ask me!" Sachiko's voice shook as Hina shook her shoulders. All throughout the hotpot, Rin was being a total baby and Fumi was taking care of her. She picked pieces of food out of the pot for her and cleaned it up when Rin spilled. And— Rin: "Hot!" Fumi: "Oh, is it too hot? I'll blow on it for you." Fumi took the bowl from Rin and blew on the soup. Hina: "...I'm gonna take that hot soup and..." Sachiko: "Settle down." Fumi: "Phoo... phoo... how's that? Say, 'ahh'~" Rin: "Ahh~" Hina: "........." Sachiko: "She got quiet." Hina: "This isn't just Rin being selfish. Asou's having fun babying her, too." Sachiko: "This that codependence thing?" Hina: "You think this is okay?" Sachiko: "Want me to blow on yours, Hinacchi? Say, 'ahh'!" Sachiko brought her chopsticks to Hina's mouth. Hina: "No!" Sachiko: "Feh. You're no fun. What about you, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "Yes?" Sachiko: "'Ahh'~" Miyako: "Ahh." She's easy.
The air in the classroom was more strained than usual. They were in the middle of proficiency exams. The sound of pencils scraping against answer sheets, of the teacher walking in between the desks. Fumi: "......" Fumi was checking over her answers. Hina: "Nnh~" Hina was busy writing and erasing. She seemed to be having a tough time. Rin: "........." Finishing quickly, Rin was absentmindedly spinning a pen. Rin: "Ah...!" The pen flew out of her hand, attracting a glare from the teacher. As for Miyako... Miyako: "......" Miyako: "Ah!" She'd been nodding off, but the sound of Rin's pen hitting the floor woke her up. Miyako: "......" She hurriedly looked down at her exam. The air in the classroom was more strained than usual. They were in the middle of proficiency exams. The sound of pencils scraping against answer sheets, of the teacher walking in between the desks. Fumi: "......" Fumi was checking over her answers. Fumi: "...Oh." A careless mistake. She erased an answer with a small sound of recognition. Hina: "Nnh~" Hina was busy writing and erasing. She seemed to be struggling to fully pull out the answers from her brain. Hina: "Oh!" Her expression lit up. She must have remembered something. She nodded a few times as she wrote an answer down. Rin: "........." Finishing quickly, Rin was absentmindedly spinning a pen. The pen almost flew out of her hand, but she just managed to catch it. Rin: "Whew..." As for Miyako... Miyako: "Zzz, zzz..." She was snoozing even though only half of her answer sheet was filled in. Well, that's not good. Miyako: "—!!" Miyako suddenly jolted awake. All the students around her and the teacher looked at her. Miyako: "Hahaha..." She looked awkwardly at her answer sheet. —That scared me.
The chapel, after school. The four girls were on cleaning duty, but they were chatting now, their work almost done. Fumi: "That scarf looks good on you." Miyako: "Thank you. I like it, too." Rin: "Oh yeah, you just started wearing that, didn't you? Where'd you get it?" Miyako: "Sachiko gave it to me." At Sachiko's name, a strange air settled between the other three girls. Miyako: "...?" Fumi: "Speaking of Sachiko..." Miyako: "Yes?" Miyako cocked her head to the right. Rin: "About the night of the hotpot party..." Miyako: "Yes?" She cocked her head to the left this time. Hina: "That really surprised me. You were right on top of her when we opened the door." Hina gets straight to the point. Miyako: "That was..." Hina: "Were you half-asleep? Dreaming about being a lion?" Miyako: "I just wanted to tease her a little." Fumi: "Not the other way around?" Miyako: "No." Rin: "She didn't just tell you to say that?" Miyako: "No." Hina: "Sachiko's being a bad influence on her!" That's not very nice, you three. Miyako: "I... think I love her." Hina: "Hwha?" Miyako: "Sachiko." Rin: "There you go joking aga... Wait, you're serious?!" Miyako nodded. Fumi: "Ahh..." Fumi was quick to catch on as always. Hina: "You mean you love her as family? Or you want to kiss her?" Miyako: "I would say I want to kiss her, yes." Hina: "Ugh..." Rin: "Haha, wait a second. Let's be rational about this. In some Western societies, family members kiss—" Miyako: "Like you two do." Miyako indicated the lovers. They exchanged a glance. Rin: "You're surprisingly assertive, Mikoyan." Rin scratched her head. Hina: "Well, the peach doesn't fall far from the tree." Rin: "Huh?" Hina: "Or is it pear?" Rin: "Pfft." That's Hina. Fumi: "But you two aren't blood relatives, right?" Miyako: "Oh, yes." Hina: "I guess there's no problem, then." Rin: "There... isn't?" I wonder. Rin: "There's a pretty big age difference between you two, Mikoyan." Miyako: "That's alright." It's only their appearances that differ in age, after all. Fumi: "Do you think your relatives will allow it?" Miyako: "I'm not worried about that." They don't have any, after all. Hina: "She's a pervert, you know?" Miyako: "Ahaha, that's fine." Hina: "Hmm." Well, that's how humans are. Miyako: "I feel all tingly when I touch her." The lovers looked at each other in understanding, while the third wheel looked on blankly. Hina: "Haah, well, you seem serious. What do you like about Sachiko, though?" Miyako: "Hmm~" She tilted her head again. Hina: "You have to think about it?!" Fumi: "Ahaha, well, she's nice. She is a little perverted, though." Rin: "She is pretty good-looking if you look close enough. Though she's a dirty old man on the inside." Hina: "I guess she's pretty reliable. Reliable but dirty." Miyako: "Ahaha. I love all of that." The three all took Miyako by the hand. Hina & Rin & Fumi: "Good luck." Miyako: "Thank you." They had plenty of commentary, but they were rooting for her in the end. —Well, Sachiko's pretty popular, isn't she?
Sachiko: "Yeah?" Fumi: "It's Asou." Sachiko: "Come in~" Fumi: "Good evening. Is now a good time?" Sachiko: "Yeah, yeah, perfectly fine. Come on in, sit down, sit down." Fumi sat down on the stool Sachiko had indicated. Sachiko: "Let's see... we'll angle you a little more... this way." Fumi: "...?" Sachiko made minute adjustments to Fumi's position on the stool. Sachiko: "Okay, could you start by undoing two buttons?" Fumi: "Huh? Huh?" Sachiko: "Don't worry, don't worry~ I'll paint you real pretty!" Fumi: "No! Umm! I'm not here to model!" Sachiko: "Huh? You're not?" Fumi: "I'm not!" Sachiko: "Damn." Fumi: "I just had something I wanted to ask you." Sachiko: "Perfect! We'll take turns, then. I'm going first! When'd you get your first bra?" Fumi: "That's not what I'm here for!" Rin: "Sachiko, you got a minute?" Sachiko: "Ah, it's Rin." Rin: "Oh, you've already got a visitor. Are you two busy?" Sachiko: "We're having a dirty little girls' night where we share our secrets with each other. The first question is 'when did Foomin get her first bra?'" Rin: "What are you talking about...? So, when was it?" Fumi: "It's not a dirty girls' night, and I'm not answering that!" Rin & Sachiko: "Damn." Fumi: "I came to ask Sachiko something." Rin: "Oh, so did I." Sachiko: "Something dirty?" Fumi: "No!" Hina: "Sachiko, can I ask you something~?" Sachiko: "Wow, now Hinacchi's here." Hina: "Wait, what's everybody doing here?" Sachiko: "A dirty girls' night where we take turns confessing our secrets." Hina: "What...?" Sachiko: "The first question is about when we got our first bras. I guess it's too soon to ask you that, though." Hina: "I wear a bra!" Sachiko: "What kind?" Hina: "This kin—" Fumi: "Wah, wah, wah, wah!" Fumi hurriedly prevented Hina from lifting her sweatshirt up. Sachiko: "So close." Sachiko snapped her fingers. ...This has happened before, hasn't it? Fumi: "It's not a dirty girls' night!" Sachiko: "Hmmmph." You have no right to be hmphing. Hina: "Do you have someone you like right now, Sachiko?" She brought the conversation back on topic with a super direct question. That's Hina for you. Sachiko: "Are you sure this isn't a dirty girls' night?" Fumi: "Please just take the 'dirty' off." Rin: "Have you ever even been in love before?" Sachiko: "Of course I have! What do you think I am, a robot?! Love installation complete!" _Are_ you a robot? Hina: "It wasn't just lust?" Sachiko: "Hey, hey, heeey! Foomin, they're being mean!" Fumi: "They usually say nice things about you. Right?" Rin: "She's good-looking if you look close enough, but she's an old man on the inside." Hina: "She's more reliable than you'd think, but she's dirty, too." Sachiko: "I dunno if that counts..." Fumi: "Come on, you two~" Rin: "Anyway, getting back on track, are you seeing anyone?" Sachiko: "Does it look like I'm—" Rin: "No, it doesn't." Sachiko: "If you're just gonna use the question as an excuse to dig at me, then don't ask it! You're just gonna make me sad!" Hina: "And there's nobody you like?" Sachiko: "I like you, Hinacchi~!" Hina: "Yeah, yeah, whatever!" Hina dodged out of the way of Sachiko's attempted hug. Fumi: "There's really no one you have feelings for?" Sachiko: "I have feelings for all cute girls♪" Rin: "Yeah, I really can't picture her in love." Sachiko: "I'm telling you, I've been in love. The brief realization of a love that wasn't to be, and then an eternal parting—but those feelings became kindling for a flame that burns even now in my breast, never allowing my heart to take another step forward or a step back—" Sachiko: "I'm quite devoted despite appearances, you know." Rin: "But you're single right now." Sachiko: "You really show no mercy, huh?" Fumi: "Umm, can I ask you about Miyako next?" Sachiko: "Hm? She gettin' into trouble?" Fumi: "No, she's a very good girl, but I want to ask what your feelings for her are." Rin: "Yeah, that." Sachiko: "My feelings? Well, I fully agree that she's a good girl." Hina: "But what are your feelings for her?" Sachiko: "I told you, I think she's a good—" Fumi: "Miyako loves you." Fumi interrupted her. Sachiko: "...I love her, too." She looked confused for just a second before she answered. Sachiko: "She's family. I'd barely met her before she moved in, though." Fumi: "Not that kind of love..." Sachiko: "What other kind of love is there?" Rin: "Romantic love." Sachiko: "Haha, well, we're cousins—ooh, but maybe that makes it sexier!" Rin: "This isn't a joke." Fumi: "Have you not noticed Miyako's feelings, Sachiko?" Sachiko: "Your feelings are painfully obvious, Foomin—" Fumi: "I have no romantic feelings for you." Sachiko: "Rejected! That hurts!" Rin: "She's so dense. I feel sorry for Mikoyan." Hina: "Yeah, but she said she likes her anyway." Fumi: "You mean because of that." Fumi elbowed Hina. Fumi: "Miyako is really too much of an angel. She's so gentle and kind." Rin: "And she's beautiful, too. She's a snooze monster, but her sleeping face is angelic! I just saw it when I left the room!" Hina: "She's like an angel, because, umm..." Rin: "...Hina?" Hina: "H-Her boobs are big..." Rin: "I'm proud of you for getting that out, Hina." Hina: "Ugh..." Sachiko: "Nothing but praise for Mikoyan, huh? Not like me." Fumi: "Anyway, we're rooting for Miyako!" Hina: "And we won't let you make her cry!" Rin: "This is the last chance you're ever gonna get, Sachiko." Sachiko: "It's pretty soon for this to be my last chance ever, isn't it?" They all went about it in different ways, but they were trying to back Miyako up. Sachiko: "I understand well your feelings of friendship, but this is gonna be between me and Miyako." She looked exasperated. Sachiko: "I mean, she hasn't actually said anything to _me_ yet, you know?" Fumi: "...Oh." Sachiko: "We can't exactly go over her head on this, can we?" The three girls all exchanged a glance. Hina: "...We're sorry." Rin: "...We got ahead of ourselves." Sachiko: "It's fine. Thanks for looking out for Miyako." She gave the three now-quiet girls a pat on the head. Fumi: "...Sachiko?" Sachiko: "Hm?" Fumi: "If Miyako does tell you her feelings, then—" Sachiko: "It's legal with consent!" Rin: "Hina, get her in the knees!" Hina: "Chwaaaaah!!" Sachiko: "Gwaaah!!" Fumi: "......" Sachiko: "Good night." Sachiko closed her door when the girls left. Sachiko: "...I'm not an idiot."
Fumi: "......" Fumi was knitting. Her hands moved with a practiced quickness. She really can do anything, can't she? Miyako: "......" Miyako watched her, engrossed. Miyako: "What will it be?" Fumi: "It's a scarf." Miyako: "Ooh." Fumi: "My brother shrunk his in the wash, so I'm knitting him a new one." Miyako: "That's nice of you." Fumi: "Eheh, I'm just knitting as a hobby and foisting the finished product off on him." Fumi's hands kept moving as they talked. Her fingers must just remember how to move. Miyako: "Is it hard to do?" Fumi: "You just knit in a straight line for a scarf, so it's not that—" Fumi suddenly stopped, coming to a realization. Fumi: "Miyako! If you're interested, do you want to try it? I'll teach you how♪" Miyako: "Do you think I can do it?" Fumi: "The way I'm doing it is a little advanced, but—" Fumi set down the scarf she was working on... Fumi: "If you want to just make something simple, you only need to learn the basics and then be patient until you're done." ...and took some balls of yarn and needles out of her bag, setting them down in front of Miyako. Miyako: "Wow, you have a lot of different colors." Miyako's eyes lit up when she saw the yarn balls. Fumi: "Heh, I wonder what color would look good on Sachiko." Miyako: "...!" Miyako raised her head and gave Fumi a curious look. Fumi: "Was I wrong?" Miyako: "Umm... no, you're not." Fumi's very perceptive when it comes to love. Miyako: "What color do you think I should use?" Miyako cocked her head, picking up different balls of yarn. Color coordinating is a bit of a challenge when you're new to the world of color. Fumi: "Maybe you can take your time picking the color out and just learn the basics now." Fumi picked up a ball of yarn that was already partially used. Fumi: "Let's use this super thick yarn. It's warm and really fluffy and cute when you finish with it." Miyako: "Sounds good." Fumi: "There's crocheting and there's knitting. I recommend knitting." Fumi: "It might seem complicated because you use two needles, but it's easy to count the stitches, so it's good for beginners." Miyako: "Okay. I'll go with the instructor's recommendation." Fumi: "I'll show you how to do it. Watch carefully." Miyako: "Right!" Miyako scooted closer. Fumi: "First you have to cast on..." On the other side of the table, the two less feminine girls were lazing about in their less feminine way. Rin: "Hey, Miss Hina~ Have you knitted before~?" Hina: "I've sewn cleaning cloths~" Rin: "That's not knitting~" Hina: "What about you then, Miss Rin~?" Rin: "I've done a little cat's cradle~" Hina: "That's super not knitting~" ......... Miyako: "Oh, it came off." The yarn she was trying to loop came off of the needle. She was copying Fumi, but having trouble. Fumi: "Start over from hooking it." Miyako nodded and began the process again. She went slowly, and carefully... Miyako: "—!" She looked up at Fumi. She'd taken her time and finished her first stitch. Fumi: "Good job!" Fumi gave her a passing grade. Miyako: "Ahaha. This is a little daunting." Fumi: "You'll be okay. Once you get used to it, you'll get quicker. You've just got to be patient." Miyako: "Patient... I should be good at it then, I think." Well, she _has_ seen eternity. Fumi: "That's the spirit. And then you just need to put some love into it." Miyako: "Aha... that's a little embarrassing." Fumi: "Let's take our time and have fun." Miyako: "Yes!"
Sachiko and Miyako walked down the street in front of the station. Sachiko: "Sorry to make you carry all that." Miyako: "It's fine. I was the one who asked to come along." Sachiko looked apologetic, but Miyako was all smiles. They both had bags from a candy store in their arms. All full of Valentine's chocolate. Sachiko: "It does add up to quite the number." Miyako: "You give it to all of the students at the dorm?" Sachiko: "Happily, I always get some from all of them every year. Gotta reciprocate." Miyako: "Not on White Day?" Sachiko: "I get and give on White Day, too." Miyako: "Hm?" Sachiko: "That kinda thing happens at a girls' school. Everybody just likes wrapping up chocolate and giving it out. And if it's fun, the more the merrier, right?" Miyako: "I see." Sachiko: "I'm happy to play along if it makes them happy♪" Sachiko: "...Of course, there's a bunch of them and only one of me. It's a little hard on the budget." Miyako: "Ahaha..." Four bags of chocolate... Yeah, that's probably not cheap. Miyako: "Come to think of it, why didn't you buy them at Fumi's store?" Sachiko: "Because I have to give some to Foomin, too. I don't think she'd be very happy to get something they sell at her own store." Miyako: "Oh, I get it." Sachiko: "Though she might be happy to get more allowance if her store gets more sales." Sachiko laughed. Miyako: "Did you buy chocolate for me, too?" Miyako looked over at Sachiko. Sachiko: "I did. I figure Fumi's likely to rope you into buying or making some." Miyako: "You think so?" Sachiko: "Definitely." Miyako: "I'll be able to join in the chocolate exchange too, then. I'm looking forward to Valentine's Day now." Sachiko: "That's not what the holiday's supposed to be about though, really." Miyako: "Well, I think it's okay. It's fun giving and receiving, isn't it?♪" Miyako walked with wide steps, swinging the bags at her sides. Almost skipping. Sachiko: "Hey, don't swing them like that!" Miyako: "Hm? What?" Sachiko: "You'll smush the stuff in the bags... if you..." Sachiko stopped when Miyako turned around and squinted as if she was too bright to look at. Miyako: "What is it?" Sachiko: "...Why'd you come down?" Her face was serious suddenly. Miyako: "Well, because you invited me." Miyako's face was blank at the sudden change in topic. Sachiko: "Is that the only reason why?" Miyako: "I started wanting to be human after watching their room for a while. Eventually, I thought I could get rid of my wings." Miyako: "But that was only because you introduced me to them since you were fond of them, so it does come back to you in the end." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "If you hadn't called out to me that day on the roof, I'd probably still be flying somewhere now." She smiled innocently. Sachiko: "Do you think it's coincidence?" Miyako: "Most likely. That day was my first time flying around here, after all." Sachiko: "...Right." Sachiko's expression softened at that. Miyako: "Why did you invite me?" Sachiko: "You asked me that before. But I just..." Sachiko: "No, I think it's 'cause I was cold." This time there was a self-deriding look on her face. Boy, she's busy. Miyako: "...Cold?" Sachiko: "I'm sorry." Miyako: "...?" Miyako merely stared blankly at her, not knowing why Sachiko had apologized to her. Sachiko suddenly started walking again, silently passing by Miyako. Miyako: "...!" Miyako jogged to catch up with her... Sachiko: "...Oh?" ...and linked arms with her. Miyako: "Well, it is cold♪" Sachiko: "...You're toasty. Are you sleepy?"
Sachiko faced the canvas, Miyako watching her from nearby. Miyako asked questions occasionally as she watched the paintbrush move, and Sachiko answered without stopping. —"I'll teach you to paint if you join me." That was something Sachiko had told her back when Miyako still had her wings. Sachiko: "How's it look now that your world's got color?" Sachiko asked for Miyako's opinion as she switched brushes. Miyako: "I like it much better with color. The mountains used to only be black and white, but now that there's so much color, they've gotten a lot livelier." Sachiko: "Ahaha. Well, I'm glad... hmm." She'd been moving her brush around above her palette for a while now. Miyako: "You're not putting any paint on it?" Sachiko: "I'm still not sure what color to use~" Miyako: "I thought you just used the same colors as the scenery." Sachiko: "Well, of course, but I have a hard time matching the colors I see to the colors of the paint. I'm not sure which ones are the same." Miyako: "Isn't green just green?" Sachiko: "How many shades of green do you think there are? Emerald, parrot, viridian, turquoise, lime, jade, evergreen, viridian..." Miyako: "You said viridian twice again." Sachiko: "Anyway, a lot of the time, I pick something and paint with it and it ends up looking completely different." Miyako: "Come to think of it, why do you have red on your palette? You're painting green things now." Sachiko: "Sometimes when you mix red in, it looks more green than just using green. I'm kind of still learning, though. Look here..." Sachiko pointed to a spot on the canvas. Miyako bent down and squinted. Miyako: "It's true, there's red there. I never would have noticed if you hadn't told me." There were some faint bits of red hiding in the green. The points of crimson brought out the hue. Sachiko: "All I'm trying to do is paint what I see in front of me, but even that's difficult." Sachiko: "The reality that I see with my eyes changes as I interpret it with my mind. That's where factual knowledge and the information you get from your senses differ." Sachiko: "I just have to focus my eyes and move my brush to create what I see, eliminating as much interference from my brain as I can to create an image as close to reality as possible." Miyako: "You're very serious about it." Sachiko: "I am. You didn't think so?" Sachiko scooped up some paint from her palette. Sachiko: "Why are you in your uniform, anyway?" Miyako: "Because I came here from school." Sachiko: "On a Saturday?" Miyako: "The principal wanted to see me." Sachiko: "...The principal? I didn't hear about that. What'd she want?" Miyako: "She wanted to know how I'd been doing at school and in the dorm." Sachiko: "...You didn't tell her anything unnecessary, did you?" Miyako: "Unnecessary? Oh, I kept my being an angel a secret—" Sachiko: "No, not that. I mean about the smoking and booze and stuff—" Miyako: "Ahaha. I kept those a secret too, of course." Sachiko: "Good girl." Miyako: "The principal asked about you, though. She said you should come visit again sometime." Sachiko: "Yeah, yeah. Eventually." Miyako: "Are you two friends?" Sachiko: "I'd say I owe her more than that we're friends. She's a real busybody." Sachiko swiped her brush across the canvas. Sachiko: "Let's see..." Miyako: "Is it done?" Sachiko: "Probably needs a stroke or two more..." She carefully chose the brush to put the finishing touches on her painting. Miyako: "This one's taking you a long time, too." Sachiko: "Yeah, I'm slow. There's a lot of evergreens around here, so not much changes, but there are some colors that have started to change. I have to draw from memory in some places." Miyako: "Why don't you just use the color you think looks best? It's your painting." Sachiko: "...I guess you've got a point." It's not like it's a photograph. There's a fence in between Sachiko and the view, but it's not in the painting. Miyako: "You were painting this the first time we met, too." Sachiko: "Yeah. I started it just a little before then." Miyako: "Before I peeked at your canvas, I thought you painted much stranger pictures." Sachiko: "That's not very nice." Miyako: "Well, you were screaming, 'I want to draw a cute girl in the nuuude!!'" Sachiko: "That passion still lives on. Want me to scream again?" Miyako: "No thanks. Those three didn't want to model for you back then either, did they?" Sachiko: "They're good at negotiating contracts." I don't think that's the issue. Miyako: "When I saw you playing around with the three of them, I imagined what it would be like to join you." Miyako: "Then, for just a second, there was color in the world. Maybe I'd already made my decision at that moment." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "You told me you wanted to see the things those girls saw, feel what they felt... so you got rid of your wings." Miyako: "I thought the same thing myself." Sachiko: "Oh yeah?" Miyako: "So what was the other reason?" Sachiko: "Hunh?" Miyako: "You said that wasn't the only reason. But that 'that's another story.'" Sachiko: "I said that?" Miyako: "You did." Sachiko: "...Okay! This is the final touch!" Sachiko put the date and her signature on the back of the canvas. Miyako: "Do you always date and sign your paintings when you finish them?" Sachiko: "Yeah. You know, since you forget." Miyako: "......" Miyako: "Huh? You haven't seen Noel once since then?" Sachiko: "Nope. She's probably forgotten about me, too." Miyako: "I don't think that's true. You said she lives somewhere far away now, right? It was somewhere far away where I saw her, too." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "I wonder if it would be hard to find her." Sachiko: "What would you do if you could? You're just strangers who happen to have the same face." Miyako: "Ahaha. She'd probably be surprised if someone who looked just like her showed up all of a sudden." Miyako put her hand to the cheek that looked just like Noel's. Sachiko: "...I was surprised, too." Miyako: "......" Miyako's expression hardened slightly at that. Miyako: "Will you paint me too one day?" Sachiko: "......" Sachiko's brush stopped. Miyako: "Would a painting of me look different than hers?" Sachiko: "......Can I paint you nude?" Miyako: "Sure!" Miyako's hand went straight for her scarf. Sachiko: "No! No exhibitionism! I didn't mean strip right here!" Miyako: "You're right. I wouldn't want to catch a cold." Sachiko: "That's not the problem!" Miyako: "Huh...?" Sachiko: "Okay, that's enough for today. I'm gonna clean up and head back down." Sachiko took out a cloth and started wiping off her brush. Miyako: "I'll put away the paint, then." Miyako gathered up the scattered paints. Sachiko: "Thanks. Be careful not to get your uniform dirty." Miyako: "Okay. .........♪" Miyako merrily lined up the tubes of paint in the box. It was a simple task, but one she could only do now that she could see colors. Sachiko: "......" Sachiko stopped washing her brush and looked at Miyako. Sachiko: "Listen..." Miyako: "Yes?" Hina: "Oh, there they are." It was Hina. She'd scrunched her shoulders up from the cold, but trotted over to them nonetheless. Hina: "We're having some sweet potatoes as a snack. Do you two want some?" Sachiko: "Oh, I was just getting hungry. I'll be right down after I clean this up~" Miyako: "Sweet potatoes... I've never had them before. I'm looking forward to it♪" Hina: "Need help?" Sachiko: "Well hey, if you're offering, mind folding up the easel?" Hina: "Sure thing. What were you two talking about while you were painting?" Miyako: "I—" Sachiko: "Negotiating some nude modeling." Hina: "Chwaaah!!" Sachiko: "No! No brandishing the easel!!"
Sachiko: "I told you to just let yourself in..." Sachiko's face poked out lazily. Miyako: "Sorry, my hands were full, so I couldn't open the door..." Miyako said in front of the door, lifting up the pot in her hands. Miyako: "Hello. I brought some dinner to share." Sachiko: "Oh... right. Uhh... thanks." Miyako: "It's a chicken and potato casserole. Please heat it up again before you eat it." Sachiko: "Usually Fumi brings it." Sachiko took the pot from Miyako, a question implied in her statement. Miyako: "She told me to bring it since she had dishes to do." Sachiko: "Oh yeah...? Busybody..." Miyako: "?" Sachiko: "Tell her 'thanks.' I'll wash the pot and bring it back." Miyako: "It's good." Sachiko was heading back into her room, but that didn't stop Miyako from talking to her. Sachiko: "I'm sure it is if Fumi made it." Miyako: "What kind of meat do you like best? Oh, but please keep it to beef, pork, or chicken. I haven't had anything else yet." Sachiko: "...Pork. I think it's better on average." Miyako: "On average?" Sachiko: "The pricier meats are all good, but pork's pretty much always good at lower prices." Miyako: "I see. Pricier meats are good..." Sachiko: "That's what you're focusing on?" Miyako: "You've probably tried all kinds of meat before. I'm jealous." Sachiko: "Want me to treat you to something?" I'd like to eat meat on someone else's dime. Miyako: "No, I was just thinking about how you know so much more than me." Sachiko: "Only a few years' more." Miyako: "I'd like to continue learning from you." Miyako was chatting happily, but Sachiko's mood only seemed to be worsening. Sachiko: "...Like a chick." Miyako: "A chick? Oh, you mean balut? I haven't had it. Is it good?" To make balut, you take a duck egg before it hatches and— Sachiko: "No. Do you know what imprinting is?" Miyako: "How when a chick hatches, it follows the first moving thing it sees—" Sachiko: "Yes. You're only so attached to me because of that. Imprinting." Miyako: "......" Sheesh. That's pretty harsh. Sachiko: "Your feelings are—" Miyako: "Ahaha, you might be right. You _were_ the first moving thing I saw after becoming human." Miyako laughed guilelessly. Miyako: "I don't mind if it was just imprinting in the beginning. Because now that I've cultivated it, this feeling is real." Miyako: "I know you still care for the person who invited you to the surface." Sachiko averted her eyes. Miyako: "Was she beautiful? I know looks are important to you." Sachiko: "...Very." Miyako: "Thought so. I might be a little relieved she's not around, though." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "If she were, it would be—" Sachiko: "Shut up!" Sachiko's voice rang through the hall, followed by a strained silence. Miyako: "......" Miyako stood frozen. Sachiko: "S-Sorry! I shouldn't have shouted. I scared you, didn't I?" She came back to her senses right away. Sachiko quickly formed an awkward smile, putting her hands together to beg forgiveness. Miyako: "No... I..." Sachiko: "I've been irritated all day... maybe it's the atmospheric pressure. I'm not really feeling well, either. I'm really sorry." Miyako: "I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have kept you in the cold hallway talking so long." Sachiko: "Ah...?" Miyako suddenly reached out and touched Sachiko's forehead, then touched her own forehead after feeling her temperature. Miyako: "I think they're the same. You don't have a fever, then... probably. Actually, I don't really know. I've never done that before." Sachiko: "What's that supposed to..." Miyako: "But you might be catching a cold, so please get yourself warm and rest." Sachiko: "Um... right." Miyako: "Okay, good night!" Miyako bowed and trotted back to her room. Sachiko: "...Ahh, dammit!" Sachiko groaned, resting her forehead against the closed door. Unlike simple conditioning, imprinting was an irreversible process, almost impossible to undo. If a chick started to follow a person, animal, or object after birth, it would chase after that thing for the rest of its life.
Fumi: "We're ba—aaah!" Fumi shrieked as she returned from her shopping trip. Namahage: "Any naughty kids around?!" Rin: "A namahage...?" Namahage: "Any naughty girls with naughty bodies around?!" Clang! Namahage: "Gyaaa! H-Hard! What did you throw at me?!" Hina: "Canned sardines." Namahage: "Hey, canned stuff is a bit much, no?! At least make it beans!" Hina: "They were on sale, so I've got plenty more~" Hina wound up with another can. Sachiko: "Waaaah!" Rin: "Thus, the namahage becomes the crybaby." Hina: "Everything about this is wrong!" Miyako: "This is very well-made. Where did you get it?" Miyako looked over the namahage costume, impressed. Sachiko: "...Akita." Rin: "That's pretty authentic! Why would you go that far?!" Sachiko: "I thought it'd surprise you..." Fumi: "It did surprise me!" Sachiko: "Yay!" Sachiko struck a victory pose. Hina: "But why was there a namahage at home waiting for us in the first place?" Typically, namahage were supposed to visit homes, not wait inside them. Sachiko: "'Cause it's setsubun." Fumi: "Wait, is a namahage a demon?" Hina: "Then it's even more wrong! The demon's not supposed to be inside!" I'm pretty sure namahage are supposed to be visiting gods, not demons, but whatever. Miyako: "Ah, here we go." Miyako pulled a cardboard demon mask out of their shopping bag. It was something the store had been giving away for free. Rin: "This is definitely good enough, isn't it?" Sachiko: "Let's celebrate setsubun! Any bean-throwing kids around?! Any makizushi-eating kids around?!" Hina: "What is wrong with her...?" Miyako: "Yay! Setsubun!" Rin: "We got another one over here..."
After the bean-scattering... Sachiko: "I object! Why did all the fire have to be focused on me?!" Hina: "Well, you're the namahage." Rin: "Yeah, that." Sachiko: "And why was it all 'demons out' and no 'luck in'? Why the super offense-focused bean-scattering?" Hina: "Ah~ Well, that I'll apologize for. I got pretty into chucking them at you." Hina and Rin had practically become berserkers as they'd chased the "demon" Sachiko. Sachiko: "Somebody else is gonna be the demon next year, okay?!" Rin: "Yeah, yeah. We'll see about that. Now, let's eat some of these beans." Hina: "I'm glad we have enough left over to eat. We really threw a lot of them." Fumi: "It's good we bought some, too." The beans they'd thrown had been prepared by Sachiko, while the beans the four girls had bought were untouched. Rin: "Really you're supposed to pick up and eat the ones you threw, but I don't really want to eat them when they've been on the floor." Sachiko: "You guys were so gung-ho with your bean attacks, the dorm's covered with them now. I'm the one who has to clean it all up, you know." Hina: "You were the one who said you wanted to celebrate." Sachiko: "I didn't say I wanted to be hunted!" Fumi: "Ahaha, I'll help you clean up later." Rin: "Here y'go. I counted out your age for you. Seven for Hina." Rin held out the beans to Hina. Hina: "I'm eating more than that! I'm not—" Sachiko: "I'll just have seventeen, then♪" Rin: "Don't lie. Open your mouth, I'll pour 'em in, straight from the bag." Sachiko: "Stop iiit!" Fumi: "Miyako, you—" Munch, munch, munch, munch... Miyako silently, endlessly brought beans to her mouth. Fumi: "U-Umm... Miyako? You're only supposed to eat one per year you've been alive." Miyako: "Om nom nom." Her cheeks are so full of beans I have no idea what she's saying. Sachiko: "Hey, follow the script here." Fumi: "Huh? I don't need to cut the sushi?" Sachiko stopped Fumi from bringing the sushi into the kitchen. Sachiko: "Yeah, it's called ehoumaki. You just eat it like that." Fumi: "Ehoumaki?" Rin: "The superstition is, on the night of setsubun, you eat the whole thing in one go while facing the lucky direction and thinking of a wish, and if you eat it all without talking, your wish will come true." Hina: "Lucky direction? What's that?" Sachiko: "There's a different direction that's supposed to be lucky every year. This year it's east-northeast." Miyako: "That sounds fun. Let's do it, let's do it." Hina: "What should I wish for~?" Rin: "You know ehoumaki's just another marketing thing pushed by corporations like Valentine's chocolate, right?" Sachiko: "C'mon, stop being a Debbie Downer and join in, Rin." Rin: "No way. It's just hard to eat it like that." There she goes, spoiling her again. Sachiko: "Alright, Rin, let's have a match to see who can finish theirs without talking. The winner doesn't have to be the demon for setsubun next year." Rin: "Heh, I was wondering what you'd say. Sounds stupid... Let's do it!" Fumi: "...Haah. Well, I'll make some tea, then." All: "Let's eat." The five of them faced the lucky direction and all put the sushi in their mouths at the same time. Miyako: "It's good!" One bite in. This one seems to have absorbed exactly zero of the rules of the activity. Likely completely unaware that she'd fallen out of the race, she continued munching on the sushi, an innocent smile on her face. Miyako: "There's all sorts of different textures inside the ring of rice, so it's delicious for your teeth too, not just your tongue!" Great commentary, too. ......... Hina: "Koff, koff!" Hina choked. She must have put too much in her mouth at once. Fumi: "Here, tea—" Hina: "Thanks—" By the time they realized it, it was too late. Fumi handed over the teacup and Hina accepted it, talking to one another. Hina & Fumi: "...Haahh." They both sighed, shoulders drooping. Hina: "Sorry I brought you down with me." Fumi: "No, I spoke first. Let's just take our time now. Here, your tea." Hina: "Yeah, thanks." Probably a predictable outcome, considering their gentle personalities. Rin: "........." Sachiko: "......" Meanwhile, the two who were more cunning smirked at each other. And they bit into their sushi dynamically, as if showing the action to one another. Who would win their cutthroat competition— Rin: "...Augh." Hina & Fumi: "Huh?!" Rin suddenly let out a pathetic whine and their match was brought to a rather quick conclusion. Fumi: "Umm, what is it?" Rin: "There's mushrooms in this~" Hina: "Oh, you didn't like those, right?" Rin: "I~ hate~ them~" Fumi: "Want to eat the rest without the mushrooms?" Rin: "Yeah... I'll do that." Sachiko: "Woohoo! I won~!" Uhh. Hina: "But you just talked before finishing." Sachiko: "Ah..." Miyako: "Delicious." All: "Oh." Miyako finished eating before everyone else. Miyako: "That was really good♪" ...Well, I hope her wish comes true.
—Sachiko was once again on the roof. Sachiko: "......" But she wasn't accompanied by her usual cigarettes. Instead, she was tossing beans into her mouth and chewing on those. She should just eat them in her room... Sachiko: "...?" The door suddenly swung open. Sachiko glanced in that direction. Namahage: "Any naughty kids around?!" And who should appear but the namahage. Namahage: "Any crybabies around?!" The namahage bellowed, marching forward. But it was a little unsteady on its feet, as if its visibility wasn't great. Sachiko: "Heh..." Sachiko had frozen, hand extended to the beans, but as the namahage approached, she started chuckling. Namahage: "Rawr!" It was just before her now, raising its knife in the air. Namahage: "........." Sachiko: "......" The namahage stopped, and a moment passed between them. Sachiko: "No, namahage don't say 'rawr' or anything." Miyako: "I'm disappointed. You weren't very surprised." Miyako took the mask off and revealed herself. Sachiko: "Ahaha, sorry." Miyako: "Smoking again?" Sachiko: "I would worry about the sparks if I were you. Straw's very flammable." Miyako backed away from the namahage costume. Sachiko: "Haha, I'm not smoking today. Just eating beans." Sachiko showed her the bag. Miyako: "For setsubun? Didn't you already eat your age earlier?" Sachiko: "Yeah, but I wanted to eat more." Sachiko tossed some more beans into her mouth. Sachiko: "Now I'm full." She crumpled up the now-empty bag. Miyako: "You ate a lot." Sachiko: "Still, that's only a hundred years or so. It's nowhere near my real age." Miyako: "You'd have to buy up all the beans in town." Sachiko: "That still wouldn't be enough. You can't count eternity." Only God could do that. Maybe Chuck Norris? Sachiko: "If it's just my age on the surface, it's only five beans, though." Miyako: "And I could only eat one. That wouldn't be very filling." Sachiko: "......" Miyako: "...?" Sachiko: "Do you regret throwing away eternity?" Miyako: "Well, the beans are tasty, but I'm fine just eating one bag." Sachiko: "That's not what I mean. Humans only live a hundred or so years if they're lucky. That's not even the blink of an eye to an angel. It's just too fleeting to exchange eternity for that..." Sachiko: "Are you still happy that you became human?" Sachiko looked Miyako in the eye. Miyako: "Yes." There was no doubt in her words or her expression. Miyako: "You taught me that there's value in being human." Sachiko: "I did, didn't I?" Miyako: "Do you regret it?" Sachiko: "...I wonder." Miyako: "......" Sachiko looked away, but Miyako continued to watch her face. Sachiko: "Just kidding." Is she strong- or weak-willed? Sachiko: "Let's get back inside. Don't forget the namahage." Miyako: "Okay." Sachiko: "Ugh... koff, koff!" Sachiko choked. The beans must have gone down her windpipe. Miyako: "Oh, here." Miyako took a can out of the pocket of her pajamas. Sachiko: "Thanks... ginger tea?" Miyako: "It's warm canned coffee." Sachiko: "Phew... Coffee's best warm!" Miyako: "Ahaha, I was using it as a hand warmer." Sachiko: "Oh, sorry for drinking it, then." Miyako: "That's alright. I brought it for you." Sachiko: "Oh... you did?" Miyako: "Since you weren't feeling well earlier. I thought it'd help to keep you warm." Sachiko: "Thanks... really. Sorry." Miyako: "Well—" Miyako picked up the namahage costume. Sachiko: "You're going down already?" Miyako: "Yes, before I go on too long." Sachiko: "Right..." Miyako: "You should come back down soon too, though. Your hand warmer's gone now." Sachiko: "Oh... yeah." Miyako: "Good night." Sachiko: "Night." ......... Sachiko: "She's such a good girl. I really might fall for her~" Sachiko: "...Guess it's time."
—Break time. Hina's roommates were gathered around her desk. Hina: "So, about Sachiko's chocolates." Hina looked up from the printouts she'd gathered from the class. Rin: "Now that you mention it, I'd totally forgotten about that. You're giving her some, Hina?" Rin turned from where she was lazily looking out the window. Hina: "I'm not sure." Fumi: "Huh? You're not giving her any?!" Fumi's stare toward both Hina and Rin accompanied her bewildered question. Hina: "We should probably give her some just as friends, huh?" Fumi: "I was planning on it... huh?" Fumi seemed perplexed by how unenthusiastic the other two were. Rin: "No, I get that we should give her some." Hina: "It's just embarrassing handing them over all formally..." Fumi: "Eheh, can't you just tell her they're thanks for her looking out for us?" Hina: "Yeah. She _is_ taking care of us." Rin: "Oh, can it be from all of us? Like, 'from the girls in Room 101.'" Hina: "Maybe we can get some discounted Christmas wrapping paper for it." Fumi: "I don't think we should do that~" Miyako: "Umm..." Miyako timidly raised her hand. Rin: "Oh, you want to get in on this too, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "Do you think I should?" Fumi: "You absolutely shouldn't!" Rin: "Wha?" Fumi butted in. Fumi: "You want to give Sachiko something more _personal_, isn't that right, Miyako?!" Miyako: "Y-Yes, I suppose. If I can..." Fumi: "We can't put Miyako's heartfelt chocolate in with our joint gift!" Fumi pointed at Rin as she scolded her. Rin: "...Sorry for asking." Rin bowed her head, but Miyako shook hers. Fumi: "Special feelings should be conveyed with special chocolate!" Fumi grasped Miyako's hands. She's more enthusiastic about this than the person in question. Miyako: "I-I'll do my best." Fumi: "I know! Want to come look at gift-wrapping materials with me after school?" Miyako: "Umm, Christmas wrap?" Fumi: "...No." Fumi: "They'll be all colorful and sparkling! We'll get some really pretty wrapping paper and ribbons to decorate the boxes with!" Miyako: "Colorful and sparkling... that sounds fun!" That got her attention. Fumi: "Yes, it's a lot of fun! Special chocolate has to have special wrapping!" Miyako: "I'd like that! ...But do you think I can do it?" Fumi: "Of course you can! I'll teach you how! Once we buy everything, I'll hold a wrapping lesson!" Miyako: "Thank you for all your help, really." Fumi: "Just leave everything to me, really♪ This is fun for me too, after all." Some people find more happiness in cheering someone else on (especially in matters of love). One of them's right here. Miyako: "...Do you think she'll be happy about it?" Miyako muttered. She held a hand to her chest to stop it from throbbing, her face the face of a maiden in love, filled with anticipation and unease. Hina & Rin: "Huh..." Even Rin and Hina, who were out of the loop, gave a curious sigh at that. I see. So she's making faces like this now. Huh...
Miyako: "I didn't know which one I should pick, so I bought a bunch of different colored ribbons." Fumi: "You should try matching them with the wrapping paper and decide that way." Miyako: "If this were Christmas, I could just pick green and red and not worry about it." Fumi: "But you can wrap Valentine's chocolate however you want." Fumi and Miyako were on their way home from their trip to buy wrapping materials. Rin: "Hey, welcome back." Hina and Rin should have been back earlier than them, but they were still in their uniforms. Fumi: "Wait, where have you been?" Hina: "Listen, Sachiko might stop managing the dorm." Fumi: "What?!" Miyako: "Did she tell you that?" Rin: "Umm, yeah. It sounds like she hasn't decided yet, though." Hina: "When Rin and I got back to the dorm, Sachiko was talking to this lady we'd never seen before." Hina: "She was the manager before Sachiko, but she took a few years off of the job because of some health problems." Rin: "So Sachiko was only taking over for her in that time, and now that the old manager's feeling better, she came back to discuss taking the job back." Fumi: "And Sachiko's going to quit?" Rin nodded. Fumi: "She didn't say she'd like to keep the job?" Hina: "She wasn't really putting up a fight about it, no. We didn't hear the whole conversation, of course." Rin: "I don't know what her contract's like or anything, but I'm guessing she doesn't have much say in it if she was just taking over temporarily." Fumi: "I see... This is so sudden, though." Rin: "At first I thought she'd pulled something and was getting chewed out about it." Hina: "...That would have been better." They were joking, but there was no heart in it. Despite everything, Hina and Rin both really did like Sachiko. Miyako: "Where is she now?" Miyako finally spoke after quietly listening all this time. Rin: "Umm, on the roof—" Miyako: "I'll go see what she has to say." She gave them a bright smile, then jogged over to the stairs. The three girls all exchanged a glance at how calm Miyako appeared to be. Hina: "Even if she quits her job, she's not going to go anywhere, is she?" Rin: "I mean... how would I know that?" Fumi: "...Miyako..."
Beyond the door was the same roof scenery as always. Sachiko was leaned against the fence, smoking. Sachiko: "Welcome back." She greeted Miyako when she saw her, waving a hand her way. Miyako: "Are you quitting your job?" Sachiko: "Wow, news travels fast. You hear that from Rin and Hinacchi?" Miyako nodded. Sachiko: "I'll just say I'm thinking about it." Miyako: "What will you do after you quit? Become a painter?" Sachiko: "That might be nice. I dunno if I'm that reckless, though. I might travel some more." Miyako: "Where will you go?" Sachiko: "Haven't decided." Miyako: "Sounds very free. I suppose that's nice." Sachiko: "What's the cute bag?" Sachiko indicated the bag Miyako was carrying. Miyako: "These are for wrapping Valentine's gifts. Fumi's going to teach me how to do it. I hope you're excited." Sachiko: "You're giving some to me?" Miyako: "Yes. And confessing my feelings." Sachiko: "Ahaha. I don't think you're supposed to say that now." Miyako: "Ah~" They laughed together. Miyako: "Also... I'm knitting you a scarf, but I don't think I'll finish before Valentine's—" Sachiko: "Listen... I'm probably not coming back." Sachiko cut Miyako off. Miyako: "...So you're really leaving?" Miyako: "I'll come with you, then." Sachiko: "Don't you have school?" Miyako: "I'll drop out." Sachiko: "You can't. It's not that simple—" Miyako: "But quitting your job is simple?" Sachiko: "Well, I'm an adult..." Miyako: "A couple years after eternity is hardly a real difference. I'm—" Sachiko: "You're not!" Her tone was harsh, completely changing the mood of the conversation. Sachiko: "I just... I can't take you with me." She tried to look away, but Miyako's voice pulled her gaze back. Miyako: "I don't want you to leave." Miyako: "I came here because you invited me. I'm only here because you're here. If you leave, there will be no reason for me to be here." Miyako: "I love you." Strong wind today. Miyako: "Maybe it's just imprinting like you said. But I believe in the flash of lightning." There was conviction in her eyes. Unable to take it, Sachiko looked away. Miyako: "......" But Miyako stared right at her, waiting for Sachiko's lips to move. Sachiko: "Yeah, you're right... I'm running away from those eyes." Sachiko: "...Thanks." She smiled and put her hand on Miyako's head. Miyako: "...Ah." Sachiko: "I'm sorry. I knew it from the start. You wear your heart on your sleeve; it's easy enough to tell what you're feeling." Sachiko: "I knew your feelings, but I never responded to them. You never tried to hide them, but I did nothing but hide." Miyako: "......" Miyako shook her head. Sachiko: "You really are beautiful. It hurts my heart to look at you." She ruffled Miyako's hair. Miyako: "Well, it's the prettiest face I can remember." Sachiko: "Heh, same here." They both laughed. Sachiko: "Which is why..." She gently pulled her hand back. Sachiko: "I can't return your feelings." Miyako: "...Huh?" Sachiko: "There's someone I've always had feelings for." The bag slipped from Miyako's fingers. Miyako: "Oh... I..." Miyako felt flustered for the first time at that. Miyako: "And... are they reciprocated?" Sachiko: "Unfortunately, it's one-sided." Miyako: "Umm, is this where I should tell you 'good luck'?" Sachiko: "Thanks. But it isn't ever meant to be." Sachiko said, pulling away from the fence. Miyako: "It's the person who invited you... isn't it?" Sachiko: "......" Sachiko: "...Yeah." Miyako: "Then... I suppose I can't compete." Miyako's own words were coming back to haunt her now. Sachiko: "I'm so—" Sachiko's hand moved to touch Miyako's cheek, but she pulled back at the last moment and walked past her instead. Miyako: "......" Sachiko: "......" Fumi: "Err, umm... we weren't eavesdropping, we just..." The girls were hiding behind the door. Sachiko: "It's fine. I knew you were there." Hina: "Awawa..." Rin: "Why—" Sachiko: "She's such a good girl, I'm worried I really might fall for her." Sachiko: "So I'm running away." Rin: "What?" Sachiko: "Sorry, but I'll leave the rest to you~" Sachiko gave Rin a pat on the shoulder and headed down the stairs without looking back. Rin: "What the hell?!"
As Sachiko left, the three girls peered out onto the roof from the shadow of the door. ...... Miyako stood lonesome by the fence, her back to them. The setting sun outlined her form in its glow, almost like she was cut right out of the scenery behind her. Rin: "Think she's crying...?" They couldn't see her expression from there. Fumi: "Miyako?" Fumi made up her mind and stepped out from the doorway, calling out to her. Miyako: "Oh, Fumi! Hina and Rin, too!" When she turned around, she was wearing her usual smile. The unexpected sight caused Fumi to swallow whatever words she'd been planning to say to her. The two behind her exchanged a glance, too. Fumi: "Umm, is Sachiko planning on..." She decided to avoid being too direct. Miyako did the opposite, however. She smiled bashfully and... Miyako: "Ahaha, she rejected me~" ...got right to the heart of the matter. Fumi: "I'm sorry. We didn't mean to eavesdrop on you..." Miyako: "Aha, that's alright. I planned on telling you afterward anyway." Fumi was apologetic, but Miyako just grinned, same as always. Maybe she didn't care about people watching her since she'd done so much peeping herself as an angel. Miyako: "I'm not great at talking, so maybe it was actually good that she told me exactly how things are. It's good to be precise and efficient!" Miyako: "So, I guess we found out her answer sooner than planned." Miyako smiled awkwardly, running her fingers through her hair. Miyako: "How strange. I was just going to ask her if she was really quitting today." She tilted her head, her gaze dropping to the shopping bag at her feet. Miyako: "Of course, I'm sure her answer wouldn't have changed even if I had told her on Valentine's Day." Fumi: "..." She was blabbing on and on to the point of foolishness, and Fumi wasn't one to miss how unlike herself she was being. Miyako: "I'm a little embarrassed to have gotten so excited about all this. Ahaha." She kept going, her smile only getting more uncomfortable. Miyako: "And you were all rooting for me, too. I'm sorry." Rin: "You don't need to apologize. It's not the Olypmics." Miyako: "Especially you, Fumi. You taught me so many things, like making chocolate and knitting." Fumi: "Don't worry about it. In fact, I probably only made things worse getting so enthusiastic about everything." Miyako: "That's not true. None of this is your fault, Fumi. It's all mine, really." Miyako: "I was so stupid and dense... Maybe I'm not cut out for being human, eheheh..." Hina: "Miyako—" Rin: "How could she reject such a cute girl and just leave?! And she's practically an angel, too!" Before Hina could say anything, Rin's annoyance burst from her. Miyako: "Ahaha, thank you." Rin: "And after I told her this was her last chance, too! I hope she regrets letting you get away for the rest of her life!" This really had nothing to do with her, but Rin was getting more emotional than anyone else there. At times like these, she's more pure-hearted than Hina is. Rin: "Just forget about that jerk." Miyako: "Yes... I suppose I'll have to try." People can decide whether they want to remember or forget something. Humans can make that choice. Rin: "Just tell me if you can't give up on her, though. I'll destroy whatever her excuse is and make the two of you get together!" Whoa there. Miyako: "But she has someone she likes." Rin: "That doesn't mean anything if it's one-sided. Until they start going out, it's not over." Miyako: "Ahaha, I don't know about that." Hina: "Rin. This isn't something you get to decide." Hina chided Rin for her outburst. Rin: "Well, aren't you frustrated?!" Hina: "It's Miyako who that feeling belongs to. Not you." Rin: "I know, but..." Rin couldn't argue that. Miyako: "Umm, I know you're only saying those things because you care about me, Rin. That makes me happy." Rin: "See, she's such a good girl..." Rin pursed her lips. Her empathy was higher than Fumi's and Hina's, though she was worse at handling it. When she took on the same emotions other people felt, she couldn't control them and just let them burst out like she was doing now. Miyako: "I know. Could you still teach me how to wrap gifts, Fumi?" Fumi: "Huh? Of course, I don't mind..." Fumi was a little startled. Unlike Rin, she sensed what was hiding behind Miyako's unnatural cheeriness. Miyako: "The samples they had displayed in the store just looked so colorful. I wanted to try that myself." Fumi: "I'd be happy to. We'll have our wrapping class just as planned, then." Miyako: "Thank you. I don't have anyone to give them to now, though." Fumi: "Will you exchange gifts with me, then?" Miyako: "Huh? Is that alright?" Fumi: "Of course. You bought all that wrapping paper and ribbons. We should decorate them as cutely as we can." Miyako: "Yay♪ It's a lot more exciting when you have someone to give them to, huh~?" Miyako: "Eheh, if I hadn't confessed to her, I wonder if she would have accepted them still." Fumi: "Miyako—" Fumi gasped when she looked at Miyako's face. Miyako: "What is it?" Fumi: "Your eyes..." Miyako: "Huh?" She blinked and great big tears spilled from her eyes. Miyako: "What is... this?" She bent her fingers and wiped at the corners of her eyes. Rin: "Huh? Are you crying, Mikoyan?" Miyako: "Huh? What? That's strange..." The tears must have gotten into her nasal cavity and were making her voice strange. Her throat must have felt odd from the sensation of it. This was her first time crying, after all. Before this, she'd probably only teared up while yawning. Fumi: "......" She reached to put her hand in her pocket, but stopped. Was she about to give Miyako her handkerchief? But it was a little early. That was the right decision. Rin: "Where'd this come from? Are you okay, Mikoyan?" Rin was surprised to see Miyako's tears. She had been taking Miyako's smile at face value, so the tears were unexpected for her. On the other hand, Fumi had been waiting for this. Miyako: "I-I'm sorry. It'll stop right away. Aha, ahaha..." Rub rub, rub rub. She wiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands again and again, still smiling while she cried. Miyako: "Huh? Did I... break or something?" No, you're not broken. In fact, you're perfectly normal right now. There's no on/off switch on those cheeks you're rubbing. The tears are coming from much deeper inside. ...... You see this a lot. It's like when a robot first experiences emotions. Miyako: "Th-This has never... happened before... I don't know what to—" The unceasing tears and the emotions she couldn't understand roiled inside her, confounding her. Hina: "You should just cry." Hina suddenly said. Rin: "Huh? Hina...?" The words were almost dismissive, and they went right past Miyako and surprised Rin instead, but Hina continued on, unbothered. Hina: "Your dam is all full of tears right now, Miyako." Miyako: "Dam...?" Hina: "You really loved Sachiko, didn't you?" Miyako: "......" Miyako nodded. Hina: "Since you loved her so much, the dam is really big, and just opening a little bit of it isn't enough to do anything about all the tears in there." Hina: "So I think you have to really cry and make the dam burst." Hina's explanation was simple, with not a hint of pretension. That's perfect, isn't it? Miyako: "...But..." Hina: "We're the only ones up here with you. No matter how much you cry, we won't laugh, we won't blame you, and we won't try to cheer you up." Fumi: "Right." Rin: "W-Well, yeah, I wouldn't laugh..." The three were close enough that they all instantly agreed when Hina spoke for them. Hina: "But we'll stay with you until you're feeling better." Man, I can see why Hinacchi's RA. I might just fall for her. Hina: "But if you want to be alone, then of course—" Miyako: "...Don't go." Her voice was faint. It was the sound of a crack running through the dam. Fumi: "...Miyako." Fumi looked down, bracing for the impact. Miyako: "It hurts... My heart feels like it's going to burst..." Miyako: "Waaaaaaaah!!" And Miyako burst. It was their first time seeing her tears. Hina looked at them straight-on, Fumi could only bear it by squeezing her eyes shut, and Rin couldn't do anything but avert her gaze. No one said a thing. The silence on the roof was only broken by Miyako's wails. Miyako: "What is this? It's painful... I don't want this! Please help me... Help me!!" All Miyako could do was writhe in pain and let her emotions break free. Love was a common ailment, but Miyako had no immunity to it, so the symptoms she experienced were severe. Now that her love was unrequited, it burned her heart and boiled her blood, its flames racing through her entire body. But you should writhe. You should tear apart. No one else can feel that pain for you. It belongs only to you. You can't get this experience from knowledge alone. This is history just for you, just like you wished for on that day. Miyako: "But I love her... I love her... I love her!! Why am I not good enough?! Why, why, why, why, why?!" Miyako screamed out all her feelings, unreasonable and selfish though they were. She threw her head back and let her tears flow. The only thing that could extinguish the anguish in her heart was the tears let loose by the burst dam. So cry. Wail. Scream. Your emotions truly are intense. Your face is soaked with tears. Your nose is running, too. But... Right now, you're truly beautiful. More than God Himself. That's right. That's why— Rin: "God, what is her deal?" Rin said, unable to bear the emotion anymore. Rin: "She's a good girl, so you're worried you might fall for her? Just do it! I don't get it!" Hina: "Do we need to get it?" Hina reined Rin in again. It might have sounded cold, but Hina was right. This matter was between Miyako and Sachiko. The rest had no need to understand the peculiarities of the situation and no right to know, really. Rin: "...Haahh." Rin's only response was to sigh. It would have been easy for her to argue. With her wit, she could surely come up with several retorts. But she knew how meaningless it would have been. Hina had given her an outlet. Rin had exploded with righteous fury. These were both things they did for Miyako, their friend. Fumi knew there was nothing she could do now, so she merely waited. Their responses were all different, but they were all on Miyako's side. Miyako continued to cry. Until the storm subsided. Until the dam rotted away. Until the flames died down. Fumi: "I'm sorry. But... I still believe that Sachiko loves Miyako." Talking to herself? ...Thanks. Now, the real problem is... ......... ...... ... Not again!! What is she doing?! Get yourself together!!
A sweet scent filled the kitchen. They were holding a chocolate-making class in response to Hina's desire to try making some herself. Instructor Fumi had many students, but her girlfriend naturally had the privilege of private lessons. The subject of the lesson was a trial run making a simple ganache. Basically, all this consisted of was melting chocolate and reforming it into different shapes, but watching it happen, it seemed to be a bit of a delicate process. It didn't require any careful measuring like baking cakes did, but you couldn't go about it as casually as you would making a curry while camping, either. For example, when melting the chocolate, you had to continually stir it to keep the temperature consistent and get the texture right. The process is known as "tempering." Fumi was dextrous through every step of the process; compared to her, Hina was awkward. It was natural for there to be a difference between them, since Fumi had been taught the basics by her patissier father since she was little, and Hina was doing this for the first time. She was trying to mix fresh cream and corn syrup into the chocolate, but was having a hard time. The idea was to mix at a fixed rhythm until it became smooth. Maybe she just wasn't good at simple, repetitive tasks. Though she looked like she enjoyed chopping up the bar of chocolate for melting earlier. Hina: "It's not mixing~" Fumi: "Just be patient. It'll get smooth if you keep at it." Fumi gave the whining Hina gentle encouragement. Fumi: "I'll keep the bowl still, so just concentrate on stirring it." Hina nodded and kept the spatula moving. Hina: "So it's not just melting chocolate and then hardening it again." Fumi: "No, a little more goes into a ganache. But this makes it smooth and delicious♪" Hina: "It's not just chocolate but corn syrup and cream and butter, too. Seems like it'd have crazy sweetness and crazy calories, too... Is that okay, Fumi?" Fumi: "A-A diet is nothing in the face of the pursuit of deliciousness!" Incidentally, the chocolate they were using was called "couverture" chocolate, a fattier variety with over 30%% cocoa butter. Hina: "Eheheh. My mom and sister said the same thing." The ones with the huge boobs. Fumi: "R-Right?" There'd be merit in a study of chocolate's effects on boob growth. Hina: "My mom and sister make Valentine's chocolate every year." Fumi: "My mom doesn't make any." Hina: "They always made it look pretty easy." Fumi: "I'm sure they screwed it up a lot when you weren't looking." Hina: "Did you screw it up, too?" Fumi: "Oh, tons. Enough to build a house of chocolate with." Hina: "Ahaha. That's pretty amazing." Fumi: "So it's okay if you mess it up, Hina. Plus, this is just practice. It's not the real thing." Hina: "Okay, got it!" Hina nodded emphatically at Fumi's encouragement and gripped her spatula tightly. Hina: "Mix together!" Fumi: "Wah, no! If you stir that hard—" Hina: "Ah!" Fumi didn't make it in time to stop Hina from stirring hard enough to spray chocolate out of the bowl. Fumi: "Aah!" The chocolate in the bowl was swept up the side. If it flipped over, they'd ruin all of their work so far. Fumi rushed to hold the bowl and Hina down. Fumi: "Ahaha, that was close." The chocolate was safe. Fortunately, the substance was viscous enough that only a bit of it spilled. Hina: "...I'm sorry." Fumi: "It's alright. It barely spilled. And even if it all did, we still have plenty of ingredients♪" Hina was dejected, but Fumi cheered her up. Hina: "Sorry I'm such a bad student." Fumi: "You're not a bad student. You're a cute student who's just a little rowdy♪" Hina: "Heheh..." Fumi: "Oh." Fumi was staring at Hina's face after that quiet exclamation. Hina: "What is it? Is there something on my face?" Fumi: "There is. Chocolate." Hina: "Really?" Fumi: "Hold the bowl, okay?" Fumi let go of the bowl and reached out to Hina's cheek. Fumi: "Your cheek looks delicious with a little chocolate on it, Hina." Fumi smiled, wiping the chocolate off with a finger. Hina: "Ugh, don't munch on me." Fumi: "I wouldn't want to run out of you, so I won't. But I might lick you." Hina: "That's probably fine..." Fumi: "Oh, I know. Why don't we try it to see how it tastes?" Hina: "Try it?" Fumi: "Here—" Fumi brought her finger to Hina's mouth. Hina: "Mh..." Hina stuck her tongue out to lick it. Fumi: "Is it good?" Hina: "Yeah. It's sweet... mmh." Fumi: "Ah..." Fumi let out her own sweet sound in response to the sensation of Hina's tongue on her finger. Hina: "I don't know if it's the chocolate or your finger that tastes so good." Fumi: "Eheh. I should have tried the chocolate from your cheek. Maybe I'll put some on there again." Hina: "You can't do that. We'll run out of chocolate for the molds." Fumi: "Well, we've still got plenty of ingredients." Hina: "But isn't it bad for your diet?" Fumi: "Ugh... It isn't like you to be so mean, Hina." Hina: "I'm not trying to be mean!" Fumi: "I-It'll be fine if I exercise later." Fumi wrapped her arms around Hina from behind. Hina: "Are you gonna go jogging after this or something?" Fumi: "Umm..." Guess she didn't get it. Rin: "Umm, excuse me!" Rin's voice came from the living room. Hina: "Oh yeah, she's here." Rin: "I've been here the whole time!" They'd avoided a steamy development, but Hina and Fumi were still a lot closer now as they worked on the chocolate. Rin: "Are you making chocolate or are you flirting?" Rin's commentary came. Rin: "You know, they say chocolate's an aphrodisiac, but these two don't even need that~" She grumbled, but there was no bite to her words as she looked into the kitchen. Rin: "I do wish they'd consider the time and place, though. We're not statues, you know. You should say something too, Mikoyan." Miyako: "Hwah?! I've had enough cake!" She's half-asleep.
Just before noon on Sunday. Rin was lounging around in the living room. Hina: "Okay, I'll be back." Hina came in from the bedroom wearing her uniform. Rin: "Huh? Were you subbing today?" Rin rolled over and looked up at her. Hina: "Yeah, softball and basketball today." Rin: "Ugh, a doubleheader?! You really do have too much energy." Hina: "Well, the softball team asked me first, but there's just enough time before the basketball game that I can make that, too." Rin: "Where the heck does all the energy come from in that little body of yours...? Huh, are you nuclear-powered, Hina?" Hina: "I'm food-powered!" Rin: "Come to think of it, do they pay you for your sub work?" Hina: "Based on performance." Rin: "D'you need an agent? I know an Ogata who's good." Hina: "Nope. Anyway, Fumi made you some lunch in the fridge. Go ahead and eat it if you get hungry." Rin: "Uh huh." Hina: "You just have to heat it up in the microwave. You know how?" Rin: "Of course I know how. How long d'you think I've been a latchkey kid?" Hina: "Right, right. Tell Miyako, too." Rin: "Mhm~" Hina: "Here we go..." Hina hefted up a bag with her uniforms and equipment in it. Rin: "You should join a team for real." Hina: "Yeah, they tell me they want me to join officially, but..." Rin: "Multiple teams, right? And they're letting you use shoes and equipment and stuff, not just uniforms. You're a regular VIP." Hina: "Yeah, but I'm not gonna." Rin: "Why?" Hina: "'Cause I'd have less time to be with Fumi♪" Hina smiled and wrapped her scarf around her neck. Hina: "Okay, see you!" Rin: "Kh, the confidence of the blessed..."
That night, everyone was present in the room. They'd just gotten back from the bath and were folding laundry. The dorm had washers and dryers in the bath area, so it was common to do laundry while bathing. Miyako: "What's this?" Miyako pulled a brightly colored shirt out from the laundry basket. Hina: "Oh, that's my basketball uniform." Miyako spread the shirt out and found the basketball team's logo on it. Miyako: "Did you wear it in today's game?" Hina: "Yeah, it's a new one they just started wearing today." Fumi: "That's why I didn't recognize it." Miyako: "You don't have a softball one?" Hina: "The softball one's at school. The team managers have a heavy-duty washer they use." Fumi: "If you use a regular washing machine, the dirt and sand can get into the machine and break it." Hina: "Yeah. I got mine all dirty today, too." Hina made a head-first slide gesture. Fumi: "I'd like to see one of your games, Hina." Miyako: "Oh, me too." Hina: "What do you want to see? Basketball? Track? Softball?" Fumi: "Anything that you get to show off in." Hina: "I'm good at all of them, so you can come and see any you want♪" Rin: "Is this size special-order? Ah, must be for kids~" Rin spread out the uniform and barged her way into the atmosphere between the two girls. Hina: "Alright, meet me on the roof. We'll have a one-on-one match." Hina raised one knee. Rin: "Y-You misunderstand. I just meant it's impressive that you're called in for backup in volleyball and basketball at your height." It _is_ impressive that Hina can contribute so much in sports where height is so valued. Rin: "How do you compete with the height though, really?" Hina: "I make up for it with speed and mobility, I'd say." Rin: "Hmm. The lack of chest makes her more lightweight?" Hina: "Graaaaah!" Fumi: "Wah! That was close." Fumi pulled back from where she was ironing everyone's shirts. Hina: "S-Sorry. You okay?" Rin: "Your mobility works against you in a small room like this." Hina: "You're right. Let's go to the roof. I can show you what I'm really capable of up there." Rin: "Nooo! It's cold and dark out there!" Miyako: "Are your breasts heavy if they're big?" She gets right to the point. Fumi: "Er, well... they do hurt when I run sometimes." Sachiko: "What's this~? You talkin' about boobs?" Suddenly, Sachiko appeared. Fumi: "Those ears of yours are really starting to scare me." Sachiko: "Wait, were you really talking about boobs? Yay!" Rin: "Put your victory pose away. Back to the roof with you!" Sachiko: "No! No! I wanna talk about boobs!" Hina: "If you don't need something, can you leave?" Sachiko: "I do, I do, I do need something! Here, I got this!" Sachiko waved around a white object she was holding. Miyako: "What is it?" Fumi: "Ah..." Fumi alone quickly recognized it. Sachiko: "Foomin left her bra in a laundry basket, so I brought it over." Miyako: "How could you tell that it was Fumi's?" Sachiko: "Well, Foomin's the only one in this dorm who's this big." Rin: "Ah~ That checks out." Fumi: "...!!" The eyes in the room all locked on to Fumi's chest, which she hid behind her arms without thinking. Hina: "Don't look at Fumi like that!" ......... After she put the underwear away in her dresser... Fumi: "Thank you for bringing it to me." Sachiko: "No prob. You can pay me back by letting me put my face in themnand—" Hina: "Grrrrrrrrr!" Sachiko: "They probably don't have many at your size, do they, Foomin? They're expensive, aren't they?" Sachiko asked, skirting around the room so that Hina couldn't lunge at her. Fumi: "Yeah... They don't go on sale all that often, either. And there aren't any cute ones anyway..." Fumi wore a rare frown. Rin: "Around my size is probably the cheapest. Lots of different kinds, too." Fumi: "Ugh... I'm jealous." Rin: "And Mikoyan's probably about as big as you can get while still getting some variety." Miyako: "This size?" Miyako lifted her breasts up in both hands. Rin: "Bfft... Thanks." Miyako: "?" The four of them had gone shopping around Christmas to buy Miyako's underwear. She'd moved in suddenly and without any spare undies. Hina: "You're cute no matter what bra you wear, Fumi." Fumi: "Mmh... Thank you." Rin: "Well, you can't go without it when you've got the volume Asou has." Fumi: "Right..." Sachiko: "As for Hinacchi—" Hina: "I'm not showing you anymore!" Fumi: "They all bind them tightly and lift them up... it's pretty tiring." Rin: "Yeah, the band on the back is pretty wide and they've got three or four hooks, too. The first time I saw them, I thought they were corsets." Fumi: "Seriously... That's why it feels really nice to take them off when I get back to the dorm. Yours are pretty big too, Miyako. Are you okay?" Miyako: "Mmh... I find them constricting too, so I don't really like wearing them. I make sure to wear them on days when we have PE, though. Otherwise, they move so much it's hard to run." She's not— Fumi: "...Miyako, it's fine when you're at home, but you really should wear them when you're out." Miyako: "Oh, okay." Sachiko: "Man, I really envy Hinacchi, though." Hina: "Why?" Sachiko: "Well, you can touch Foomin's boobs as much as you want, right?" Rin: "I hear that." Hina: "I keep telling you! Stop saying dirty stuff!" Sachiko: "What? But you're dating, aren't you? Isn't that normal, then?" Hina: "W-Well..." Fumi: "......" Hina and Fumi shared a look, both turning red. Rin: "I'm sure all Hina's doing is sucking on them like a baby." Hina: "...Huh? Ah..." She couldn't very well admit it. Rin: "Wait, what...? You don't have anything to say to that? Now it just seems like I'm honestly sexually harassing you." Sachiko: "Rin~" Miyako: "Oh, what kind of bra are you wearing, Sachiko?" Sachiko: "This kind!" Rin: "You don't have to show us!" Hina: "........." Fumi: "......"
Hina and Miyako had come to the manager's room. Hina started up the laptop on Sachiko's desk and placed a CD in the disc tray, plugging in her MP3 player. There wasn't a computer in their room, so when she wanted to put new music on her player, she had to come here. Hina: "What program do I use, Sachiko?" Sachiko: "Rin installed something... Oh, here it is." She clicked on a musical note icon, and the software started up, reading the data from the CD. Sachiko: "Now you just follow the prompts and go through your CDs." Hina: "Okay. Thanks." Sachiko: "You really listen to some oldies, don't you?" Sachiko picked up a CD from the stack, which was all western music from the 80s and 90s. Hina: "Yeah, it's all stuff my dad recommended me. I've got space on my player, so I borrowed a bunch of them over New Year's." Miyako: "They've got dollar prices on them. Are they imported?" Hina: "Nah, he bought them over there. Dad was overseas most of the time when he was younger. He's fluent in English!" Miyako: "Wow~ That's amazing." It's amazing how bad Hina is at English with a dad like that, too. Sachiko: "How do you fit in listening to just stuff like this? What do you sing at karaoke?" Hina: "What do you mean? I sing stuff like this. Here, I'll show y—" Sachiko: "That's okay." A hasty "no thank you." Hina: "Rude." Miyako: "I like your singing. It's untamed." Like an animal? Hina: "You've got a rocker's soul, Miyako." Sachiko: "Oh yeah. Don't open this folder or this folder or this folder or this folder." Hina: "That's a lot! That's everything on the desktop!" Miyako: "What's in them? The names sound pretty impressive... 'Amazing!' and 'Spectacle!' and 'Fantastic!'" Sachiko: "Well, I'd show you, but Hinacchi would get mad." Hina: "You will show nothing. The only thing that's not dirty on here is the wallpaper!" Somewhat unexpectedly, her desktop wallpaper was still the default image. Sachiko: "Well, of course it isn't. I use this computer for work and bring it to meetings and stuff." Hina: "It's for work, and you've got this stuff on it?!" Click. Miyako: "Wow, there's so many naked ladies~" Hina: "She opened one..." ......... Hina's music transfer finished, and Miyako began opening all the folders on Sachiko's desktop, beginning with "Amazing!" and "Spectacle!" Sachiko: "Having fun?" Miyako: "I don't know, but I just feel like I have to open them all and see what's inside!" She's lost in the sheer number of files. Sachiko: "You'll be here 'til morning." Hina: "......" Hina raised her head from where she was leaning against the bed, gathering all her CDs together. Hina: "...Hey, Sachiko?" Sachiko: "Y-Yes?" Sachiko turned around timidly. Hina: "I want to ask you something." Sachiko: "You're not mad about the porn?" Hina: "No, just..." She hesitated for a moment, then... Hina: "Sachiko, have you had sex?" Sachiko: "Gbfh?!" Sachiko spluttered at the sudden question. Sachiko: "...Am I being propositioned?" Hina: "I'm not propositioning you!" Sachiko: "Gufh!" Hina threw a pillow that landed a direct hit on Sachiko's face. Hina: "Have you, Miyako?" Miyako: "Not yet, no~" The blunt question was met with a blithe answer. Miyako: "Why do you ask, though?" She did understand that it wasn't like Hina to ask something like that. Hina: "I don't know what I should do with Fumi." Miyako: "Haven't you done it a few times already, though?" Hina: "Yeah, but... I want to get better at it. I want to make Fumi feel good." Miyako: "I see~" Sachiko looked somewhat befuddled at the extremely frank conversation the girls were having. Hina: "But you know all about that stuff, right, Sachiko?" Naturally, the conversation turned to her. Sachiko: "O-Of course! Ask me anything!" Hina: "Thanks. I've got a ton of stuff I want to know." Miyako: "I'm interested, too." Sachiko: "Uhh, err..." —At the same time. Fumi: "Do you have a minute, Ogata?" Fumi set some tea on the table and sat down. Rin: "Hm? What's with the formality?" Rin was lying under the table, but she sat up when she saw the serious look on Fumi's face. Fumi: "I have something I'd like to know, and you're the only one I trust to ask about it." Rin: "Well, I'm not sure what I've done to earn this trust, but ask away." Fumi: "Thank you. So, the thing is, umm..." Rin: "Uh huh...?" Rin sipped her tea, waiting for Fumi to continue. Fumi: "Please teach me about sex!" Rin: "Bhwh?!" She spit out the tea in her mouth, and spilled the rest from her mug. Fumi: "You should probably change everything under your jacket. Please take it off; I'll wash it." Rin: "Uh, okay." Rin stood and took her pants off. Rin: "Good thing nothing got on my kimono." Fumi: "...Yes." Fumi smiled, taking Rin's track pants from her. Fumi: "Do you have a spare pair?" Rin: "Yeah, I'm good. Anyway, that surprised me. I didn't think you'd ask me that all of a sudden." Fumi: "I'm sorry." Rin: "It's okay. Just gotta get over the shock of hearing the word 'sex' come out of your mouth." Fumi: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Rin: "Really though, where is this coming from? Oh, you're not propositioning me, are you?" Fumi: "I'm not, I'm not!" Rin: "Ahaha, I'm kidding. You're asking because of Hina, right?" Fumi: "...Yes. I don't know what to do." Rin: "What, you don't want to do it with her?" Fumi: "No, that's not it! I want to do it a lot more!" Rin: "A-Ah." Fumi: "But neither of us know the first thing about it..." Fumi: "Of course, Hina's trying her hardest, but there must be something I can do, too." Fumi: "So, I came to you because I figured you know a lot about it." Rin: "......" Her face was blank. Well, of course it was. This was basically her punishment. Rin: "Er, y'see... I don't know that I'd say I know a lot about it... since I've never... done it..." Hina: "We're back, Fumi, and we brought Sachi—aaah!" Rin: "Oh, hey—wait, what? Ah, N-No, th-this isn't...!!" Hina: "CHWAAAAH!!" Rin: "Ouch... Those guys are really putting me through the wringer today." Rin massaged her cheek. Sachiko: "I mean, she sees a pantsless girl about to pounce on her girlfriend... Can't blame her for bringing out the knee, really." Rin: "I just spilled some tea and was changing! Don't say 'pantsless'!" She was no longer pantsless. Sachiko: "Well, what do we do about this?" Rin and Sachiko had left the others in the living room and were now, of course, discussing... Rin: "You can't just ask me about sex in real life. It's purely in the realm of fiction for me right now." Sachiko: "Hinacchi came at me with the real naked truth about everything. And it's like the more innocent she is, the more guilty I feel." Rin: "Ugh, I get that." Sachiko: "Anyway, can you really talk specifics with them?" Rin: "Not me. I'm pure as an angel." Sachiko: "Physically, maybe. I guess it's like a rookie racer asking for advice from an unlicensed gaming addict." Rin: "Ugh. I'm not really sure, but I get the feeling you just hit the nail on the head, and I don't like it..." One real experience, even if less than perfect, is better than one hundred magnificent descriptions. Rin: "Then I guess it's up to the experienced Miss Sachiko." Sachiko: "Hey, that's not fair." Rin: "What, you're not going to tell me you're inexperienced? You talk like you're the authority on eros!" Sachiko: "O-Of course I'm experienced! Super experienced! I'm practically a pro!" Heheheh. Sachiko: "But what am I supposed to tell them to do? Foreplay?" Rin: "When I parted her firmly shut thighs, I found her slit already hot and dripping with honey, twitching..." Rin & Sachiko: "Aaaaah!" They both covered their faces with their hands. Miyako: "If they both love each other and speak honestly to each other, won't they find the way that works for them naturally?" Rin & Sachiko: "Waaah?!" Miyako made her way into the farce the two of them were putting on. Miyako: "I was just wondering when you were coming back." Sachiko: "Ah, umm... we're coming." Sachiko: "If you both love each other and speak honestly to each other—" Rin: "Whoa, she copied her!" Sachiko: "Hey, shut it.n —Won't you find the way that works for you naturally?" Fumi: "I see..." She said, though her face didn't seem to entirely agree. Hina: "What? What do you mean?" This one wants details. Sachiko: "Umm, basically, just talk to each other about it." Hina: "We are talking... aren't we?" Fumi: "...We are." They weren't the type to keep secrets from each other. They were just going in circles because of their lack of information on the subject. Hina: "Is there like a textbook on sex?" Sachiko: "A textbook, eh...?" Rin: "True, there's plenty of that kind of thing for a man and a woman, but for two women... I don't think I've ever seen one." Fumi: "Really?" Rin: "Well, if you're talking numbers—" Sachiko: "......" Sachiko cleared her throat and elbowed Rin. Rin: "Oh..." Hina: "Isn't that what the books you two read are like?" Sachiko: "No, no, no! You can't learn anything from those! They're useless!" Rin: "That's right! In fact, all those will do is give you weird fetishes." Rin & Sachiko: "Hey, don't point at me!" Miyako: "Ahahaha." Miyako laughed while Hina and Fumi merely stared blankly.
Rin: "What? You've got sub duty again next Sunday? I'm impressed you've got the energy." Hina: "Of course I do. If I were actually on a team, I'd be doing this every day, you know." Fumi: "I think it's more impressive that you're able to make a difference without practicing every day." Hina: "Thanks. But the team really belongs to the people who do practice. That's why I'm just a sub." Fumi: "Right..." Miyako: "So what sport is it this time?" Hina: "Volleyball." Rin: "Now that's the real myste—" Fumi: "Oh, that's me." A message appeared on Fumi's LIME, and she picked her phone up from where it was charging. Hina: "What's the mystery?" Rin: "Why do they call you to sub in when volleyball is like the posterchild for tall-people sports? I'm not picking on you, by the way. This is genuine curiosity." Hina: "Ah, that's 'cause I play as a libero." Rin: "Libero?" Hina: "Yeah. Basically, I only do defense. I can receive, but not spike or block, so height doesn't really come into play." Rin: "I see. Never heard of those rules before." Rin knows a lot of trivia, but I guess she's not very interested in sports. Fumi: "...Umm, sorry..." Fumi timidly interrupted, phone in hand. Hina: "What's up? The LIME?" Fumi: "Yes. My mother's asking for a favor." Rin: "What is it?" Fumi: "It seems our store was featured in a local magazine recently, and we've been getting a ton of customers because of that." Hina: "That's great!" Fumi: "Yes. It's good news, but..." Hina: "But?" Fumi: "It's getting hard for my mother to handle all the customers on her own. Weekdays are still somewhat manageable, but it might be hard on the weekends even with me helping out." Rin: "That's on top of it being Valentine's season." Fumi nodded. Fumi's mother was typically the only one serving customers at Le Chocolat Chocolat. Fumi only joined her on weekends. On the production side, it was possible to prepare more in advance, but that wasn't so with the customer service side. Fumi: "They're hiring part-timers, of course, but that doesn't solve the immediate problem." Hina: "Oh, is that the favor? Working part-time?" Fumi: "Yes, that's right. She wanted me to ask my friends if anyone could take a shift on Sunday. For pay, of course." Rin: "Hey, Mikoyan, you interested in—" Miyako: "Zzz, zzz." Rin: "...Well, you know what they say about letting sleeping lions lie." In Miyako's defense, I'll mention that she fell asleep before all the talk of the bakery. Like, right after she asked Hina "what sport?" Rin: "I don't really have any confidence in my stamina or my customer service skills, so I dunno..." Fumi: "Oh, there's no need to force yourself. I don't think she really expected much when she asked. I'll tell her no." Fumi unlocked her phone to send a reply. Hina: "Why? I'll help out." Fumi: "Huh? But you're playing volleyball on Sunday." Hina: "I'll just turn them down. Helping you is more important." Fumi: "Well, I'm thankful for that, but won't it inconvenience the team? You already said yes to them..." Hina: "I'll go apologize tomorrow. But I was thinking I'd have to say no one of these days. I've told the captain and manager that before." Hina: "They should have the people practicing every day with the team play in the games, not me." Fumi: "......" Hina: "So, tell your mom I'll take the shift." Fumi: "Thanks, Hina. That'll really help." Rin: "Hopefully height's not a factor for the job." Hina: "Shut up!"
As soon as the bakery Le Chocolat Chocolat opened, customers who weren't able to get in had formed a line on the sidewalk outside. Business was booming due to it being the Sunday before Valentine's Day, on top of the feature in the local magazine the shop had received. As a stomping ground for the local girls' school students, the area around the station was a veritable battleground when it came to sales of sweets, but it looked like Le Chocolat Chocolat was by far the winner when it came to this year's Valentine's sales. Hina had also come to the bustling bakery first thing in the morning, full of energy and ready to work her shift. Since she was a small girl, it seemed Fumi's mother intended to ask her to help Fumi with serving customers. However, just after greeting the woman, Hina spotted a pile of cardboard boxes that would hinder traffic inside the store and immediately headed into the back of the shop with them, starting on the physical work necessary to open the store. Impressing Fumi's parents with her surprising strength, Hina ended up continuing to help in the back right up until the shop opened. Fumi: "Yes, this is the one that was featured in the article." With a smile, Fumi handed over a heart-shaped container full of cute chocolates. Fumi: "It contains an assortment of milk, sweet, and bitter chocolates." This assortment was the season's best-selling product, featured in the magazine with a picture. Since it was so popular, many people asked about it every day. Fumi smiled and introduced it like every time was her first. She was the perfect face of the store, her customer service skills flawless. It almost seemed a waste to have her become a patissier and fall back to the kitchen. Hina was similarly excelling in her work, going between the front and back of the store. She brought ingredients into the kitchen at Fumi's father's request and restocked the shop at her mother's request. The way she weaved about inside the tight confines of the store with her small frame brought to mind a hamster. Hina: "Four here, Mr. Asou! Huh? Two's fine? It's okay, I can hold four!" Even hours after the store opened, the rush of customers didn't cease, and the store and kitchen were still just as busy. The fact that they were getting through the day with no unhappy customers was largely due to Hina and Fumi's hard work. Hina & Fumi: "Welcome!" At the same time, in the dorm... Miyako: "It's time for snacks, Rin~" Miyako carried some coffee and sweets in from the kitchen on a tray. Rin: "Mm~ Thanks. What's for snacks?" Rin sat up. Miyako: "Chocolate that Hina and Fumi made." Miyako sat down, placing the tray on the table. Rin: "Blech, chocolate they made... I don't really like sweet stuff..." Miyako: "They said not to worry about how it looks since it was just practice, but... mmm! It's good! And it's not too sweet, either." Miyako pushed the tray over to Rin, who took a chocolate just to be civil. Rin: "It's not the chocolate that's sweet, y'see... amh... ohh..." Miyako: "Right?" Rin: "Mmh..." Miyako: "They're probably pretty busy right now, huh?" Rin: "Yeah, they're both busy bees. Especially Hina; I bet she's working really hard to get Asou's parents to like her." Miyako: "They already had their wedding and everything." Rin: "Yep, and I was the priest." She raised one hand in what I'm guessing was a priestly gesture. Rin: "Of course, I've got no authority or binding power, so it was just an imitation... playing make-believe, really." Rin: "It's not just the wedding. Feels like everything those two do is playing make-believe. It's embarrassing just watching them, personally." Miyako: "So you say, but you always go along with them, don't you?" Miyako, of course, caught on to the softness in Rin's voice that didn't match her words. Rin: "I guess. They're kind of my dream." Miyako: "Your dream?" Rin: "Yep. The pure dream of a twisted girl." Rin: "My parents are never home, so I don't really have a lot of warm family memories." Rin: "Oh, just because I don't have any good ones doesn't mean I have bad ones, though. It's not like I hate my parents or anything." Miyako: "Right." Rin: "So those two are sort of like a fantasy for me. Though I know I shouldn't idealize them or anything." Miyako shook her head. Miyako: "You're just watching over them. You're not forcing them to do anything." Rin: "Thanks. Anyway, I just want them to have what they have forever. I want to believe that something can last forever." Miyako: "Yes... I'm sure they will." The sign that had been standing outside was now folded up, and screens covered the windows. It was earlier than their usual closing time, but they'd sold out of everything save Fumi's smile. With the store closed, the two girls' shift ended as well. They'd intended to help with the cleanup too, but they had school the next day, so Fumi's mother insisted they head home. Fumi: "Thank you for today, Hina." Fumi bowed to Hina as soon as they left the shop. Hina: "Geez. How many times is that now?" It was a lot. Fumi had been thanking her since morning. Hina: "The pay is thanks enough. Actually, it seems high, if anything." The envelope of cash Hina had received was pretty full. Fumi: "No, you earned it! And my mother told me to make sure I thanked you! You really helped!" She bowed again. Hina: "You and your mom and dad worked really hard too. We all did good♪" With a small smile, Hina bowed her head back. Fumi: "Rei should have been helping out too, really." Fumi looked apologetic at that. Rei was her younger brother who was in middle school. Hina: "It's alright; he did enough yesterday. I wouldn't have been able to reach all the stuff on the high shelves." Hina jumped up. Fumi: "He had to be in a basketball game today. But you had to cancel your game... I'm sorry." Hina: "It's fine, really! Our situations are totally different!" Hina's face was dead serious. Fumi was a little taken aback at her strong reaction. Hina: "I'm only a part-time team member, but Rei has practiced really hard to earn a spot on the team as a regular! Of course he wants to play in games!" Fumi: "True, he always goes to morning practice and practices late into the night, too." Hina: "Right? If he really wanted to be in it, I'm sure it was an important game. I hope he really made a difference today♪" Fumi: "...Let me thank you on his behalf, then." They both smiled and walked off. Hina: "Anyway, I had fun working with you today. That's enough for me♪" Fumi: "Eheh, me too♪" Hina: "You want to become a pastry chef like your dad, right, Fumi?" Fumi: "Yes, I do." Hina: "I thought it'd be really nice if we could have a shop together someday. We could always be together then, too." Hina: "You'd bake, and I'd help out. Oh, I know. I'd take pictures of your sweets and advertise with them♪" Fumi: "Hina! That's a great idea!" Fumi spread her arms wide like she was going to embrace her, but since they were out on the street, she left it at that. Hina: "Maybe I'll keep this pay and set it aside for that future, then." Hina patted her bag where the envelope of money was. Fumi's phone chirped. Fumi: "Hm? It's my dad." She stopped and opened the message. Hina: "What? Did we forget something?" Fumi: "No, he wanted to apologize for being so busy that he didn't have time to properly thank you." She showed Hina her phone screen. Hina: "Wow, you're right. Tell him not to worry about it." Fumi: "Okay." A reply came right away from her dad. The two of them looked at the screen together. Hina: "Eheh. 'We'll have to expand the store if this keeps up.'" Fumi: "It might just be because of Valentine's Day. Geez, he's always so optimistic." Fumi sent a reply accompanied by a bear stamp with a troubled expression. Hina: "Maybe the people who bought chocolate today will like it so much they become regulars." Fumi: "Well, I'd be happy about that~" Hina: "If that happens, I could work more regularly." Fumi: "Eheh. I'd like that, too." Fumi: "He says you work so hard, he'd like you to be one of his kids. He just says whatever he wants." Hina: "Eheheh. Even if he hadn't asked, I do plan on becoming part of the family one day♪" Fumi: "Heh, I'll have to go meet your parents, too." Hina: "Hmm, is Rei interested in baking?" Fumi: "Not really, no~" Hina: "Does he want to be a basketball player?" Fumi: "No, that's just a hobby. He says he wants to be a vet when he grows up. We have an uncle who teaches vet students in Hokkaido, so that's probably why." Hina: "Wow, a vet? I guess you'll have to take over the store, then." Fumi: "I wonder what my parents are thinking about that." She got another message. Hina: "Wow, 'you're our only hope for the future of the shop'? Eheheh, it's like he can hear our conversation." Fumi: "I don't think it's recording..." They looked at each other and laughed. Fumi: "He's so hasty. 'You shouldn't be retiring for a long'... oh?" While she was typing a reply, another message came. Hina: "What's it say...?" Fumi: "Ah......" Fumi's Father: "_I hope you'll find a good husband and take over the shop with him._"
Lounging after dinner. Rin was lying on her stomach, reading a book, and Hina was fiddling with her camera as she laid her head down on Rin's back. Rin: "Urk." Hina: "Hm? Am I heavy?" Rin: "No, the clasp on your collar stabbed into me." Hina: "Wah, sorry." Hina sat up. Rin: "It doesn't bother you to have it on all the time?" Hina: "No, not at all." Hina spun the collar around on her neck, changing the position of the clasp. Rin: "Make sure nobody sees that thing, okay?" Hina: "I could say the same to you." Rin: "What do you mean?" Hina: "When you stayed over at my house for New Year's, you left it on the counter in the bathroom." Rin: "Huh? Did I?" Hina: "You did. I didn't know what to tell my mom when she found it. I ended up saying it was Asou's dog Arthur's." Rin: "...Sorry about that." Hina: "You need to take better care of it. I'm worried you're going to lose it." Rin: "Well, I told you I tend to do that, didn't I?" Hina: "Which is why you need to be careful! This is really important to both of us." Rin: "I think it'd be better if you held on to—" Hina: "Mmmmmh!" Rin: "What's your deal, honestly? I gave it to you, so shouldn't it be yours now?" Hina and Rin seemed to have very different approaches to possessions. Rin's pragmatic. She treats a thing as a thing. On the other hand, to Hina, a thing is a physical representation of a feeling. The thing itself is important to her as well, but it's also a vessel for more important things, like memories or promises. This collar, for instance— Hina: "This collar is the proof that I'm yours, Rin. I want you to treat it like it's me." Rin: "Heavy..." Hina: "Huh? So I'm heavy?" She didn't get it. Rin put her book down and stood up. Hina: "Where are you going?" Rin: "Bathroom." Hina: "I'll come with." Rin: "You don't have to. It's cold. Who's really got the collar here, anyway?" Hina: "Should I lose weight?" Hina looked at the door for a bit after Rin left, then turned around. Miyako: "I don't think you're overweight." This one didn't get it either. Hina: "But Rin said I was heavy. Should I go on a diet like you, Asou?" Fumi: "Fgh?!" Friendly fire to Fumi. Of course, part of the damage she did to herself, as she was in the process of reaching for a cookie. Fumi: "Ahem... Listen, Natsume." Pulling herself together (and putting the cookie back on the tray), Fumi turned to Hina. Fumi: "When Ogata said 'heavy,' she meant your feelings, not your weight." Hina: "My feelings?" Fumi: "Like... they might be a tiny bit of a load on her, maybe." Fumi tried to choose her words carefully, but... Hina: "A load... Am I bothering Rin?" Tears formed in Hina's eyes. Fumi: "No, no, no! Not bothering, just, umm..." Miyako: "I think your sense of personal space is much smaller than Ogata's is." Personal space. A sort of range around a person where they're not comfortable having other people. Fumi: "Yes, that's it! I just mean that different people want to be alone for different amounts of time and can feel constricted by different things!" Fumi clung desperately to the lifeboat Miyako had tossed her. Hina: "I guess I get that. I know how Rin was last year." Miyako: "'I'm not really great in groups.'" An impromptu impression. It didn't really sound like her, though. Hina: "Heheh, yeah, that! Did you get a kick out of that?" Miyako: "Yes. Oh, but don't tell Rin." Hina's mood improved at that. Hina: "Maybe she doesn't like me being too clingy." Fumi: "You've only just started going out. You'll have to find the distance that's comfortable to both of you from here on." Hina: "Thanks. I don't want her to think of me as heavy." Fumi: "Don't hold it in too much, okay?" Hina: "Yeah, but I don't want to make Rin upset, so I'll do my best to cling to her less." Fumi: "...Natsume." Miyako: "Nom..." Fumi: "Ah..." A cookie.
Saturday afternoon. Hina and Rin were the only ones in the living room. Fumi had just gone back home, and Miyako was nowhere to be seen, either. Meaning they were alone together. Hina had been restless since Fumi had left. She was worked up, clearly itching to do _something_... Since the "heavy" conversation, Hina had been exercising a lot of restraint. The tackle-like hugs she threw at Rin when she got home had gotten softer (I think, at least). Of course, there were always consequences to holding back. Especially when the feeling was particularly strong. When they were finally able to be alone together, it was just about to explode... Hina: "Riiin!" Rin: "Oh, sorry. I can't today." Hina: "Hweh..." A strange noise came from Hina. Hina: "Oh, y-you can't... I-I guess that's too bad..." She backed away unsteadily. Rin: "You wanted to?" Hina: "N-Not really~ I just thought maybe if you wanted to, I'd say okay. ...So I brushed my teeth and showered and changed my underwear..." Rin: "...Rarin' to go, eh?" Hina: "O-Of course not." She looked away. I'm guessing her ears were red, too. Hina: "...Ah." Rin put her arms around Hina's head. Rin: "Should we do it, then? I can give, at least..." Hina: "...Nah." After thinking a bit, Hina shook her head. Rin: "Are you sure? Weren't you super disappointed?" Hina: "Honestly... I was. But it's okay." Rin: "Oh yeah...?" Contrary to her words, disappointment was clear on Hina's face. Rin: "Hey, Hina?" Hina: "Yeah?" Rin: "Wanna go on a date tomorrow?" Hina: "Really?! Where? Where do you wanna go?!" In a flash, with that one word, the sparkle returned to Hina's eyes. Rin: "Just got the idea now, so I don't have anything planned yet. Is there somewhere you want to go?" Hina: "I'll go anywhere if you take me, Rin!" I can see a wagging tail. She's like a dog excited to go on a walk. Rin: "I know I was the one who invited you, but is it really that exciting?" Hina: "Well, this will be our first real date!" Rin: "W-Will it?" Hina: "Since whenever we get time alone, all you wanna do is dirty stuff. Though I guess it was me who wanted to this time." Rin: "R-Right." Dug her own grave there.
Sunday afternoon. Hina and Rin strolled through town. Rin: "Whew..." Rin sighed, some fatigue in her expression. Hina: "Tired?" Hina looked up when she heard the sigh. Rin: "A little... wah!" Rin lost her balance at a sudden tug on her arm. Arthur: "Ruff!" She'd staggered because of a dog. The Asous' dog, Arthur. He was an almost fully-grown golden retriever, so he was pretty big. Hina: "Not that way, Arthur. Your house is this way." Arthur obediently returned to their original route. Rin had to jog a little to keep up with the tugging on the leash. Rin: "...I'm kinda sorry about this." Hina: "Hm? About what?" Rin: "Well, we were supposed to be going on a date, but we just ended up walking Arthur instead." Hina: "Oh, that? I was the one who told Asou we didn't mind." She'd asked them to walk the dog since their bakery was so busy. Rin: "I actually had a lot of stuff planned, though. Go there, stop by that store..." Rin was the type to start with the superficial trappings and go from there. Hina: "Eheh, you planned stuff? That makes me happy enough." Rin: "Y-Yeah..." Hina's innocent smile was too much for her. Hina: "And I had fun walking Arthur, too♪" Rin: "It was the first time I ever played with a dog in a park." Hina: "And Arthur's so smart. He's really good at fetch, isn't he?" Arthur: "Ruff!" Rin: "Yeah, he's smart, but I'm more impressed with your stamina." Hina: "You are?" Rin: "I mean, I was throwing the ball for Arthur, but you went running right with him. You probably moved around the same amount he did." Hina: "Ahaha, I couldn't help it~" Rin: "It was like I had two dogs with me. A retriever and a mini shiba." Hina: "Don't say 'mini.'" So she doesn't mind being called a shiba inu. Well, she does consider herself to be Rin's dog. Rin: "Come to think of it, I heard shibas have the closest DNA to wolves out of all dogs." Hina: "Wolves, huh? That's kinda cool." Rin: "I think it's kinda scary." Arthur: "Ruff, ruff!" Rin: "Waaah!" Arthur yanked on the leash again. A dog on the other side of the street had gotten his attention. Rin: "W-Wait, stop!" Rin pleaded, at the mercy of the large dog's considerable strength. Hina: "Give it here." Hina held out her hand for the leash. Rin: "Huh? Won't he pull you after him?" Naturally, she'd think that, given that she was having so much trouble at her height. Hina: "I'll be fine." But Hina took the leash from Rin with full confidence. Hina: "Stay!" She gave a tug on the leash to get Arthur's attention, then commanded him with her finger up. Arthur: "Ruff!" Arthur obeyed instantly, contrary to Rin's expectations. Rin: "Huh?" Hina: "Good boy, Arthur. Down!" Arthur crouched down, and Hina handed the leash back to Rin. Hina: "You're too nervous. Arthur gets confused since you're all scared when you interact with him." Rin: "R-Right." Since wolves lived in packs and dogs inherited many of their traits, they too had a sort of familial hierarchy and wouldn't obey someone lower than them on that hierarchy. Arthur had obeyed Hina because he'd judged her to be a higher rank than him due to her firm attitude, but since Rin was irresolute when interacting with him, he wasn't sure where to place her on the hierarchy. Hina: "We had a big dog once at my house, so I got a lot of practice then." Rin: "I see..." Rin still looked a little nervous. Well, she was shy. That probably applied to dogs as much as it did to humans. Hina: "But Arthur's really sweet and really nice." Hina ran her hand over Arthur's back. Arthur: "Ruff!" Rin: "Are you smart too?" Hina: "Of course I am!" Rin: "Shake." Hina: "Yep." Rin: "Other hand." Hina: "Yep." Hina placed her hands on Rin's right away. Rin: "Stand. Spin." Hina: "Toryarya~" Hina jumped up and ran around Rin. Rin: "Down—no, that would get your clothes dirty, so stay!" Hina: "Oop..." Hina carried out whatever ridiculous command Rin gave her, which actually just made Rin flustered. Hina: "So? Am I smart?" She said with a proud smile. Rin: "Sure... I'm pretty surprised you're actually doing all of it, though." Hina: "Well, I've got this on now." Hina pulled her collar and flashed the choker she had on underneath it. Rin: "...Ah, yeah." Hina: "Hm? What is it?" Rin: "Bang!" She shot a finger gun at Hina. Hina: "Gwaaah!" Arthur: "Arf, arf~" Hina and Arthur both spun around like they'd been shot. Rin: "......" From the muzzle of the gun came not smoke, but a band-aid that was starting to peel off.