A/N: Yeah, I know, it's another Lucky Star romance story, but most are KonataxKagami, so I'm hoping this will be a bit different. Enjoy!
Konata Izumi, Patricia Martin and the other staff of the Cosplay Café took a bow after another tiring performance of Hare Hare Yukai, as the audience gave their usual standing ovation. Konata looked on at the happily as she stood back up and waved. It was lucky she was such a massive fan of Haruhi, meaning she still loved every time she and the others got to perform it. Despite her happiness however, she knew this time was tinged with a little sadness.
"Attention everyone," Konata began, causing the applause to die down, "Unfortunately this is the last performance you're going to see from our colleague Patricia. After a fantastic year at the café, she's heading back home to America to go to college, so can everyone give her an extra special round of applause. We'll miss you, Patty-chan!" Patricia bowed again as everyone, including the other girls, gave her the loudest applause she'd ever heard at the cafe.
"Thank you everyone, I've loved working here so much, and I'll miss you all " Patricia blushed a little at all the solo attention she was getting and stepped off stage with the others, heading through to the staff area.
"Hey Patty," Konata came up behind her after she had finished changing, "Me and the other girls were wondering if you would let us take you out for dinner as a sort of leaving present."
"That's really nice of you to offer," Patricia replied as she gathered up her belongings and got ready to leave, "But I already have plans with Kagami and Miyuki." Konata looked at her curiously. This was the third time in as many weeks that the three of them had been hanging out together on their own. It struck her as slightly odd. Patricia wasn't even in the same year as the other two, and had only ever spent time with them when Konata and others had been there too.
"You know, you three have been spending a lot of time together lately," Konata stated with her finger on her chin thoughtfully, "You guys having a threesome or something?" Patricia laughed. While Kagami would have yelled at or thumped her for saying something like that, and Miyuki would have simply blushed in embarrassment, Patty was one of the few people who really got Konata's often perverted sense of humour. It was something she was going to miss about her when she moved back home.
"Ha, I wish," Patricia joked, "No, it's just..." She stopped herself, and looked at Konata apologetically.
"I'm sorry, but Kagami and Miyuki asked me not to say anything. It's nothing bad though, don't worry," she quickly added on seeing the change in Konata's expression. "It's just something the two of them want to tell you themselves." Now Konata was even more intrigued.
"Hmm, well, they are both coming over to mine tomorrow night," Konata thought out loud, "I guess I can find out then." Patricia nodded smiling.
"Well, even if you're not free tonight, but we should make sure to hang out one last time before you have to go home."
"Absolutely Kona-chan."
"Hey guys, I made some snacks, knock yourselves out." Konata entered her room with a tray of food as Kagami, Tsukasa and Miyuki sat looking through her endless collection of video games for something to play. Their high school graduation had been a few weeks previously, and all of them had decided to spend some time together relaxing and having fun before college and university began for them. Konata would be starting a computer science course, Kagami was starting law, Miyuki a medical degree, and Tsukasa, unable to decide, had gone for a general social sciences course for now.
"Thanks," Kagami said, reaching straight for a pile of Pocky. "You keep your mouth shut," she added, on seeing Konata grin at her excitement at the snack, and started eating one of the sticks hungrily.
"What do you think we should play?" Tsukasa asked, unable to decide from all the games on offer.
"How about Mario Kart?" Konata suggested shrugging.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Tsukasa asked nervously, looking over at Kagami.
"It's fine," Konata said, "Yu-chan is at Minimi's, my dad's working at his new night job, and the next door neighbours are out of town tonight."
"Hey, I'm not that bad!" Kagami protested, knowing she was the current topic of conversation.
"WHAT THE HELL! WHERE DID THAT EVEN COME FROM! OH DAMN!" Fifteen minutes later, the girls were playing through a tournament and Kagami was raging at game as usual, convinced the game had some sort of vendetta against her.
"YES! FIRST AT LAST!" Kagami yelled in triumph as she reached pole position for the first time that night. Konata giggled next to her, and Kagami glanced over to her section of the screen to see her character with a blue shell in her grasp.
"DON'T YOU DARE YOU LITTLE FREAK!" Konata just giggled again and fired off the shell. A few seconds later, Kagami's character was bounced off the track and by the time she got back on, she'd slipped down to ninth place.
"I GIVE UP ON THIS STUPID GAME!" Kagami through down her controller in defeat.
"Come on Kagami, don't rage quit on us again," Konata mock-complained, pausing the game. In reality of course, she found Kagami's attitude to certain video games hilarious.
"So," Konata decided to change the subject before Kagami got too heated, "Patty told me the other day that there was something you and Miyuki wanted to talk to me about." Kagami and Miyuki looked nervously at each other before Kagami shrugged.
"I guess now is as good a time as any. Miyuki?" Kagami stated, receiving a nod from her friend. She took a deep breath. They'd already told both their families the news,but had been waiting for the right moment to tell Konata, and especially Tsukasa.
"Okay. You guys know that we both got accepted to the same university?" Tsukasa nodded in excitement.
"Yes, I knew you both would! You're going to be a great lawyer someday, Onee-chan, and Miyuki's going to an amazing doctor. I wish I was as smart as you two."
"Thanks, Tsukasa," Kagami smiled back at her, "But, there's something else I didn't tell you. The university we're going to, it's... in America." Tsukasa's expression changed immediately to one of surprised sadness. Even Konata had a look of bewilderment on her face, something none if the girls were used to seeing.
"You're...you're leaving me?" Tsukasa struggled to say, Kagami feeling her twin's words like a knife through her heart. This is exactly what she'd been afraid of. Tsukasa had been upset enough when she'd first found out her and Kagami weren't going to be in the same class in first year of high school. Kagami quickly scooted round and put her arm round her sister.
"I'm not leaving you, Tsukasa," Kagami said softly, "It's only for a year, and I'll be back home for Christmas. I promise we'll Skype everyday." Tsukasa sniffed, Kagami's reassuring words being enough to stop her from crying.
"I know it'll be hard, and I'll really miss you too, but I think this could be good for you Tsukasa. It'll be a chance for you to become independent. I've always known you're a lot stronger and braver than you think you are, and also, I think this could be a really good opportunity for me." Kagami meant every word she said. She'd always felt that Tsukasa's reliance on her was holding her younger twin back. Seeing Tsukasa had calmed down, she released her grip on her.
"That's why you've been spending so much time with Patty-chan," Konata stated, it all starting to click for her. Miyuki nodded smiling.
"Patricia-san was kind enough to teach us some English before we left. Also, our university isn't far from where we live, so she's also been telling us about the area and has also offered to show us round and help us settle in when we arrive."
"So, when do you leave?" Konata asked.
"Our flights are booked for two weeks time," Miyuki answered.
"Hey Konata," Kagami began, "How about I help you clear up some of these dishes." Taking this as a sign Kagami needed to talk to her about something, Konata nodded, picking up the empty plates from the snacks while Kagami got the trays. They left the room together as Miyuki explained all about where she and Kagami would be living,which seemed to be cheering Tsukasa up.
"I'm really going to miss you Kagami," Konata said, in a rare moment of sincerity, as they walked down the stairs.
"I'll miss you too, Konata. It's not gonna be the same without my weird like Otaku being around."
"I'll just need to give you a life size cardboard cut-out of me to keep in your bedroom so you never get lonely," Konata said with her trademark cat-like grin.
"Geez, I can't even get sentimental for a second without you turning it into something weird," Kagami said with a look of annoyance, although she was glad Konata was being her usual self. It was enough dealing with her sister being upset without her best friend too. Both girls were silent for a few moments as they put the empty plates in the sink.
"Konata, in all seriousness, there is something I'd like to ask to you to do."
"Name it," Konata accepted, thinking she would just want to her to feed her fish or something.
"Look after Tsukasa for me while I'm away." Konata looked at her friend. She really hadn't been expecting a request like that.
"I meant what I said before," Kagami continued, "That she's stronger than she thinks she is, and I know she'll still have the rest of our family and everything, it's just that, well, I trust you, and I know she does too." A smile crept on to Konata's face. Knowing Kagami trusted her with the most precious thing in her life made her feel a little closer to the tsundere.
"Of course I will, Kagami."
"Thanks, I knew I could count on you." Kagami pulled her friend into a hug.
"Hey, I think those snacks you had earlier have already gone to your stomach," Konata teased, "I'm finding it harder to get my arms all the way round." Kagami broke the hug.
"Okay, comments like that I am not going to miss."
Exactly two weeks later, the entire Hiiragi and Takara families, along with Patricia, Konata, Yutaka, Minimi and Hiyori were gathered in the early morning at the airport for the three girls' flight to the US.
"Uggh," Konata moaned, lying down on a bench, "Why did you have to book such an early flight? I was up all night gaming, I barely got any sleep."
"And how exactly is that our fault?" Kagami retorted, as she hugged all of her family members in turn. "Come on, get up, I want to give you a proper hug goodbye." Konata reluctantly stretched and stood up. She walked over and hugged Miyuki and Patricia, as Kagami finished with her family, save Tsukasa, who she wanted to say goodbye to last.
"Take care of yourself," Kagami said as she embraced her blue-haired friend for the last time in a while, "And work hard when you start college. Remember I won't be there for you to copy homework from."
"Yeah, yeah," Konata replied smiling, everything having gone in one ear and out the other. Finally, as Konata stepped back, Kagami could see only one person to say goodbye to. Tsukasa was clearing trying her best to hold back tears, and Kagami had to admit she was struggling a little herself. She stepped forward in front of her sister and took her hand.
"Don't worry, Tsukasa, like I said, you'll be fine," Kagami said. Before she had a chance to say anything else, her sister grabbed her into a hug she was sure was going to break a few of her ribs.
"Have...have a great time at university Onee-chan," Tsukasa said, having given up trying not to cry and letting her tears flow freely, "And promise you'll phone me as soon as you arrive."
"I promise Tsukasa," Kagami said as her twin reluctantly let her go.
"We better get going," Patricia said, glancing at her watch, "We don't have much time before our gate closes." The three girls quickly gathered up their luggage, and headed off through security.
"See ya later guys!" Konata shouted happily after them as they disappeared round a corner, while Tsukasa just continued to stare at the spot Kagami had vanished from, teary-eyed. Konata turned to see this, and decided now was a good a time as any to carry out her promise to Kagami.
"Hey Tsukasa, do you wanna get some ice-cream? I saw this nice little place at the other side of the terminal."
"That sounds good, Kona-chan." Tsukasa smiled for the first time since she'd arrived at the airport as they headed off together with the others. It was going to be a weird few months.
A/N: Thanks for reading, Feel free to leave reviews, and please point out any mistakes I've made (such as mixing up yukata and Yutaka, I've done that before). I'll try and have the next chapter up in a week or so.