Nico: Just here to say Kise and Kashima have been friends for a long time now and that they're pretty comfortable with each other. Hehe. That's all. Enjoooy.


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The Stars of Tomorrow

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11. Changing

(In which Kashima is getting more weird looks from everyone)


Their third period was PE, and, of course, they had to change into their jerseys. As a girl who was often mistaken as a boy, this was quite a problem for Kashima Senri since people really did tend to think she was actually a boy. Right now, as she entered the girl's changing room, everyone kept on glaring at her until she finally had her back turned against them.

Their glares only got more heated when she was just wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts, and the girls only got more suspicious when they didn't get to see any kind of lumps on her especially on the chest and hips area.

Maybe she should really consider the idea of making her voice sound cuter, putting on some pads on specific areas and letting her hair loose.


12. Calls

(In which Kise is really popular and Kashima takes action)


For the third time that night, Kise's phone rang. The two of them were inside his room doing homework and assignments, and the black device was becoming irritating with its endless ringing.

Utterly annoyed, Kashima decided to take action. She picked up the phone, cleared up her throat and pressed the green button.

"Hello, thanks for calling Joe's strippers. When you got the dough, we got the hoe."

And she hung up. Hysterical laughter could be heard seconds afterwards.


13. Pocket Monsters

(In which Kashima has a specific memory that she could never forget)


Saturday night. Kise was out for his photo shoot, and Kashima was inside his room and waiting for his arrival. Initially, he invited her to come with him, told her it would be fun, but the girl rejected his proposal. Getting surrounded by too much people was one of the things she hated, and the thought of watching Kise get his makeup done would be boring.

That was how she got hauled up in his room. It wasn't like how it used to be - the last time she went here, it was totally messy and, ah, she remembered barging in without knocking on the door first and found Kise still putting his pants up.

It was a sight she could never forget, for he wore a pair of undies with a Pokemon, specifically Pikachu, print on them. He screamed afterwards, and it was a year before Kashima stopped pestering him about it.

Maybe she should ask him again.

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"I'm back! And- Oh, Sen, you're still here?"

"Of course. Say, Ryou, do you still have that Pikachu underwear?"

"... Do get out of our house and never come back."


14. Bikini Bottom

(In which Kashima goes to the swimsuit section for women)


The next day, the two of them went to the mall to buy something for Kise's mom's birthday. As they wandered around the place to search for the perfect gift, they decided to split up and just send a message to the other in case they found something good.

And since Kashima was already in front of a swimsuit store for women, she went inside to look for something that would suit Mrs. Kise's tastes.

Unlike her son, Mrs. Kise was an elegant woman, and maybe a simple one would definitely bring out her beauty more than those frilly ones. While Kashima checked out a few mono-colored tops, she noticed two girls watching her and giggling from a distance.

"Hey, look at him."

"I bet he's checking out some swimsuits for his girlfriend!"

"Kyaaa! I'm so jealous!"

Kashima looked confused. 'Him? Girlfriend? What the hell are they talking a-'

Looking around the place to see if there was a guy, she then noticed her reflection on the mirror beside her.

She was wearing a black t-shirt with a huge skull print on it, a pair of jeans and gray shoes. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she was also wearing a couple of accessories such as a thick bracelet and fake earrings.

And it hit her.

She looked like a guy more than ever.

Without wasting any second, she went outside the store and cried internally.


15. Love As Always

(In which Kashima's supposedly feminine aspect is nonexistent, and Kise is being a very nice friend)


Kashima decided to sleep over Kise's house for a project. They were about to sleep when she suddenly thought of something.

"Ryou, can I borrow your hand?"

"Alright."

"..."

"..."

"... Do you feel anything?"

"... Nope."

"..."

"..."

"... You know, thirteen-year-old girls like me should have lumps on this part of our body."

"Yeah, well, I hate to break it up for you, Sen, but maybe you're actually a guy."

"I let you touch my chest and that's what you tell me?"

"Your nonexistent chest, to be exact."

"..."

"..."

"You know what? Fuck you. I'm going to sleep."

"Love as always, friend. Love as always."


16. The Deadly Struggle

(In which they went through hell for that one slimmer of hope to get to a land called paradise)


Prelim exams just got finished, and a few days later, they got their exam papers back. Kise and Kashima were now at the dining room; both of them having a dark and dead serious look on their faces. Strained silence filled the air as neither of them touched he sheets of paper lying neatly across the table as if they were coated with blood and poison.

They shed blood, they shed tears, and most importantly, they studied. They exerted enough effort in order to pass their exams for that one thing they've been wanting for a long time now. They couldn't afford to lose, for failure meant the end of their lives. And-

Kyoko, Kise's older sister - the one who would decide their fate - interrupted the dead air in the room.

"Can I have a look now?"

The two blondes shot a knowing look at each other before they nodded together. The sole brunette proceeded to take a look at the papers on the table.

Once again, only silence could be felt around them. A few minutes after, Kyoko returned the papers where they used to be.

"Both of you failed. No Disneyland tickets for you."

Seemingly unfazed by her decision, the pair stood up, headed to Kise's room, and together, they cried their heart and soul out.

They had failed, and they were not going to Disneyland anymore.


17. Memories

(In which Kise remembers a few things about Kashima)


That weekend, Kashima was once again in their house. This time, she was playing with his PSP, and Kise pretended he was reading a couple of messages in his phone just so he could watch her. She seemed to be enjoying herself as she repeatedly cursed at the dungeon boss she couldn't defeat in the game, and he silently chuckled to that. She was hopeless; she was fighting against the monster by herself like-

Like the first time he met her.

They were only children by then, and she was a new kid in class. Everyday, she would go to school by herself. Usually, they would be accompanied by a parent - his mother walked with him until they reached school just like any other children around - but one day, he noticed she was always alone. She would eat alone during recess and go home without anyone with her. And-

And they bullied her for her appearance. Said she was weird and shady and gloomy; that she was an outsider who wouldn't belong anywhere.

But despite all the things they threw at her, she still went to school everyday without fail. Even if she was alone and bullied by a lot of people, she would still be sitting there in her seat in the class like none of them bothered her.

For such a young age, Kashima Senri was strong, and he admired her for that.

"Hey, Senri."

"Yeah?"

"Are you some kind of superhero with a tragic background?"

As a vein popped on her forehead, Kashima grabbed the nearest pillow on the bed and threw it to his face.

"Stop asking weird things, asshole."


18. Stairs and Stares

(In which some people have such beautiful minds)


Two girls downstairs, 'two' guys upstairs and a conversation that had a wild turn.

"Hey, hey, look at those two guys."

"They look handsome! Especially that guy."

"Which one?"

"The one with shorter hair. He's totally my type."

"Well, I like the smaller one. He's cuter!"

"Mine looks better! He looks like he can be an athlete or- Wait, they're coming down!"

"Ah, I'm gonna see my prince up close!"

The two blondes then headed downstairs and passed by. Soon enough, they were out the girls' view.

"... H-hey, why is the small one wearing a skirt?"

"I-Is he a cross-dresser?"

"If that's true, then... Then the other guy might be... Um..."

"... Gay?"

"... Yeah."

At the image of those two blondes secretly having a forbidden relationship with the taller one being the 'top' and the smaller one the 'bottom', the two girls became flustered.

Nonetheless, they thought it was beautiful.

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In the cafeteria, Kashima felt chills crawled down to her spine.

"You okay?" Kise asked when he noticed the girl looking suddenly uncomfortable.

"Nah, I just had goosebumps," she replied while rubbing her arms with her hands. "Someone might be thinking about me."

Grinning, Kise took the opportunity to tease her.

"Well, I always think about you, babe."

Annoyed, Kashima punched his gut. The blonde male bent down in pain. He deserved that.

"You disgust me."

"I love you, too."


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I made a poll, and it's up in my profile. Please do check it out! THANKS ILY XO

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokemon, PSP or anything. Just the story and a few characters. Sad life. :(