Chapter 3: The match

[-x-x-x-]

"My name is Kira Tsubasa from UTX high and I wish to challenge your club in a Rap duel." Everyone's mouths were agape.

"Oh…" The first to react was Rin. "I see…"

"Hein…?" The brunette turned and took a good look at the cat-girl. "I feel like I've already met you…"

"That's right!" Honoka commented. "Rin-chan used to go to UTX, so it's only normal."

"Rin…" it was now Tsubasa's turn to turn blue. "Could you be… Hoshizora Rin? The legendary miracle teen that won the tournament back in spring?"

The ginger did only rub the back of her neck. "Hehe… Rin is a little…"

[-x-x-x-]

"Tsubasa-chan…" Everyone turned to Kotori, who seemed to know the brunette.

"You know each other?" Hanayo asked.

"Yes! We used to play together back in our childhood." The little bird gave a bright smile that sent jolt of electricity on the other girls' heart. "Tsubasa-chan, do you remember me?"

"O-of… course…" She shyly answered.

It wasn't Tsubasa's type to be this shy around persons she knew. It was just that she was reminded of their childhood once she heard Kotori's voice.

The bird was her first friend, and of course, she knew all her secrets. Kotori wasn't the type of person to tease the others about their weak points, but her gentle smile was far dangerous for the heart than 5000 watt of electricity on the brain.

Tsubasa cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "Ahem… So, I heard that your club will be shut down if you don't become 'of any use' in one month…"

"Hey, don't say it like that!" Nico commented. "We still have some qualities!"

"Anyway, maybe this challenge will help you. Lately, we've been giving Otonokizaka high's Rap club some special interests… And it would be too bad if you were to be disbanded."

"I see… In that case, we accept your challenge!" Honoka cheered.

Everyone else looked at each other. They all smiled at the good new. Even Umi was glad to hear that some team as talented as UTX's Rap club recognized them as good enough as to be worth challenging.

"Well… as I see, you all agree too." Tsubasa walked toward the exit. "Also, the duel will take place at the shrine tomorrow at 14:00. It will be a 3 on 3 match, so only 3 of your members may participate. The rule will be simple: the teams who get more points win. We will play a 2 minutes match type because your are still beginners. Any questions?"

Kotori raised her hand. "So, how do we know who will participate in the match?"

"Hehe… it's your own problem. All we care about is that three of you compete against us tomorrow." The brunette smiled. "Choose wisely your members! We will be looking for tomorrow with excitement!"

With that, Tsubasa opened the door. She turned one last time to wave at the other 7 girls in the room and was about to exit the room when her face ended up in something soft. She fell backward after bumping on Nozomi's chest.

"Arara… Sorry! Are you all right?" The fortuneteller offered one hand to the shocked brunette.

"Yes, I am. Thank you for your concern!" She reached for the hand and stood up. "I should be the one to apologize for bumping into you!"

With that, Tsubasa excused herself and exited the room, only to have her face meet something soft again. This time, she didn't fall, but she jumped backward to see icicle blue eyes looking at her with a confused expression.

"I'm sorry!" Her face reddened at the thought of bumping into two gorgeous chests in a row.

Her poor little gay heart couldn't take it anymore. She dashed toward the school's exit only to bump into someone else at the outside.

"Kyaaa…" She fell on her bottom.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, yes… do not worry about me! I was on my way…" She lifted her head to see a familiar orange-haired girl. "What? It's you, Anju?"

The ginger just smiled at her. "We knew this would happen so we followed you."

Tsubasa's face went all red. "Sh-Shut up!"

[-x-x-x-]

"Excuse the intrusion!" The two members of the student council entered the Rap club's clubroom.

"Come in, come in! Want some?" Honoka offered some candies she took from her skirt's pocket.

Rin, Maki, Kotori and Eli watched her in surprise. She had about 20 candies in her pocket.

"Honoka-chan… so many candies…" Kotori used a concerned tone…"

"Ah, that is because…" Nico explained. "…Our family actually runs a sweet shop, so Honoka always takes the stocks we couldn't sell."

"Our…? Do you mean you're sisters?" The non-members of the Rap club got confused.

"W-well… the truth is that…" The raven-haired girl got frustrated. "…Well, yes… We're sisters…"

The others looked at Nico firs, then turned to Honoka, and then to Nico again. They tried to compare the two sisters in front of them. They couldn't believe it. These two didn't have any resemblance.

"We're actually science babies!" Honoka admitted.

"But still…" Kotori took a look closer. "…Why did your parents opt for science issues?"

The sisters face palmed at the commented. They shared some glance at each other, communicating from eye contact.

"W-Well… the truth is that, both our parents are female… We have two mothers and zero fathers…"

"I see… in other words, you're like me." Kotori smiled.

Everyone except Maki almost screamed. "W-w-w-w-w-what?"

"Hehe... Mom is actually married to the Doctor Nishikino, another woman."

"Wait…" Umi reacted. "Ni-ni-ni-ni… Nishikino? Like Nishikino Maki?"

The red-head finally decided to close her book and lifted her head to see 7 pairs of eyes looking at her for response. Kotori was just giving her a cheerful smile.

"That's right; Mama is married with the Principal Minami. In other words, Kotori and I are sisters. Science sure is advanced nowadays, so two women can have babies even without any male assistance. Though the only drawback is that the two daughters may look totally different. That is the consequence of mixing two different DNA of two persons of the same gender." She explained.

"Wait…!" Rin cut her. "Could you please explain in human language? It's as if Rin's head is about to explode."

"It's simple, Rin-chan…" Honoka answered. "Nowadays, science can grant homos' wish of having child… but the only problem is that the children may look different from their siblings."

"Oh… I see… Honoka-chan sure knows a lot!" Rin smiled. Honoka made a victorious pose.

[-x-x-x-]

"Ahem…" Eli cleared her throat. "Back into serious businesses…"

Everyone turned toward her.

"So, what's wrong, Eli-chan?" Honoka asked without a care in the world. She soon received a karate chop on the head.

"Well… It's about your club's closure…" Nozomi continued, ignoring the ginger who was rubbing her head to ease the pain. "…There will be a meeting tomorrow after class and all clubs must send a representative."

"Ah, so… that's all…" Honoka received another chop on the head.

[-x-x-x-]

"That's horrible, Umi-chan…" Honoka pouted.

"Well… I kind of agree with Honoka-chan…" Kotori walked closer to the ginger and started rubbing the older girl's head. "The head is really important, yet fragile… So, hitting it may have many drawbacks." She turned to Umi. "Umi-chan… could you please stop hitting Honoka in the head." She used a pleading tone.

The little bird placed a hand on her own chest. "Umi-chan… Please!" Her pleading was so heartbreaking. No one could resist these pure teary eyes. Even Maki and Eli couldn't say no to Kotori's requests.

The bluenette felt like a thunder is burning her heart. It pained her to see Kotori in such shape. She wanted to protect her smile.

"Fine, then!" the sea-girl admitted defeat. "I promise!"

"Thank you, Umi-chan!"

[-x-x-x-]

"Well, it will be all for today!" The quarter-Russian concluded.

"We are also done with our club activities." Honoka cheered.

"What activity are you talking about?" Umi sighed.

"How about we go home together then?" Kotori proposed.

Nozomi and Hanayo took glance at each others. Maki and Nico realized what was going on and their faces started tending into a darker shade of red.

"Well… I promised to go on a date with Nozomi-chan today… but I guess we can make it another day…"

"No! You mustn't cancel it nya!" Rin held her fellow first year's hand. "You have to do it today nya!"

The others couldn't get back yet from the sudden boldness in front of them. How come such pure cute little deer as Hanayo could have fallen victim to such a pervert witch?

"If you don't see anything against it," Nozomi commented. "We will be going, then~"

"Well… Everyone, see you tomorrow!" Hanayo and Nozomi walked toward the exit, linking arm.

"Where should we go today, Hanayo-chan?"

"How about we do some window shopping? I heard they released a new Sono Hanabira game (Author does not own this mentioned game) featuring the new generation couple."

"Great! Let's go!"

With that, these lovebirds went all around the town, looking for some clues about that new Yuri eroge. Everyone was so scared about Hanayo's purity.

[-x-x-x-]

Meanwhile, in the clubroom; the 7 remaining girl just stood there, mouth agape after the sudden shock.

"A-anyway… I will be going… I still have some work to finish before I leave…" Eli awkwardly started.

"In that case," Honoka finally returned to her senses. "You can take Nico-chan to help you out!"

"HEY!" The mentioned raven-haired girl yelled at the ginger. "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!"

"What? You don't like it?" Honoka whispered at Nico's ear. "Together… Alone with Eli-chan…"

The elder sister's face reddened at the sudden realization. Lot of pervert thoughts rushed in her head. She slammed that head of her on the wall to stop these thoughts, but no effect.

She couldn't help but to fantasize about Eli's beautiful blonde hair, her attractive chest, her thighs, her adorable voice, her sternness…

'Waaaa… Stop it, Nico-chan!' She yelled inside, trying to fight.

"I don't mind…" Everyone turned to the quarter-Russian. "…To be honest, I would be glad to have someone help me. This paperwork sure is a pain, so I won't say no to a helping hand."

Nico's face lit up at the sign of Eli's beautiful smile. She is definitely too gay for this.

"You see, Nico-chan… Being honest is good sometimes~" Honoka playfully whispered.

"SHUT UP¨!"

[-x-x-x-]

"We'll be going, then! Good luck, Nico-chan!" Everyone except Nico and Eli exited the school building.

The two remaining students walked toward the student council's room.

'We will only be there to finish paperwork! Stop being this gay, Nico-chan! You can do this!'

"Nico…"

The raven-haired girl almost jumped as she realized that the blonde was looking at her.

"Y-yes?" she awkwardly answered.

"We're here!" Eli smiled and slid the door open.

The two of them entered in. The quickly went into work as soon as they stepped in the room. There were only few papers to tidy up. The other members of the student council already cleaned up most of the hard work.

Though, it took them long enough to finish that job due to Nico always spacing out while accidentally looking at Eli.

"There! That was the last one!" The blond concluded. "Thank you for helping me today, Yazawa-san! I usually gat helped by Nozomi, but I asked her to take a day off for today."

"I-It's a pleasure!" Nico fidgeted nervously. "…Well… I was just wondering… but is it all right if we walk home together and stop somewhere? I will threat you of course!"

"S-sure…"

[-x-x-x-]

"Nya…" Honoka, Rin, Kotori, Maki and Umi were now walking home.

"I can't wait for Sunday! That was long since I wanted to challenge UTX in a Rap duel." Honoka yawned.

"So, who are going to face them?" The two gingers turned to Kotori. "I mean, this will be a 3 versus 3 matches… And our club has now 6 members."

"That's right!"

"Honoka-chan is our leader, so it's only normal that she is in nya." Rin cheered.

The bread lover rubbed the back of her neck.

At the next intersection, Umi and Maki excused themselves.

"We will be going this way. We will discuss the matter tomorrow." The bluenette took a glance at Honoka. "Honoka, you better train hard! I do not want the 'manju' accident to happen again."

By 'manju' accident, she meant a battle from spring where Honoka messed up her freestyle and it became more of publicity for manjus and candies than a Rap demo.

"Hehe… I will try."

Rin and Kotori just looked at their leader with blank expression in their eyes.

"See you next time, then." Maki bowed slightly.

"Hey, Maki-chan!" Honoka stopped her before they could walk away. "How about you join the Rap club too?"

"Hein? W-what do you mean? I don't get anything of your saying."

"I mean you could join us so you could spend more times with Umi-chan!"

Fortunately, Umi and Rin couldn't hear what these two was talking about.

"Come on, it will be fun!"

"T-that's…" Maki's face turned as red as her hair. "…I-I guess we can do it…" She said in a whisper-like voice volume.

"It's settled, then. I will be waiting for you application form tomorrow."

With that, they separated and everyone went back home.

[-x-x-x-]

Someone knocked on the door. Honoka rushed and slid it open. It was Maki with a paper in hand.

"G-good morning! This is my application form for joining this club." The red-head was blushing like a tomato.

"Hehe… Come in, come in!"

The other members were sitting around a table at the middle of the clubroom. After seeing the red-head, Umi stood up with a frustrated expression on her face.

"M-Maki… W-what are you doing here?"

"I joined the club."

Everyone else turned. "It's not like you, Nishikino-san… Did something happen?" Hanayo panicked.

The tomato girl played with her eyes and averted her eyes. "Maki…"

"Hein?"

"You can call me Maki…"

There was an awkward silence for a brief second. Rin was the one who finally broke it when she jumped and took the red-haired girl in a hug.

"Maki-chan… Maki-chan… Maki-chan!"

"Mou… What?"

[-x-x-x-]

"Now then… Let's discuss serious matter."

Everyone was gathered around the big table after calming.

"Who are going to face A-RISE next Sunday?" Umi announced.

"A-RISE sure is a worthy opponent. I heard they won the regional tournament twice in a row." Hanayo explained.

"They sure are tough nya…"

"By the way, Rin-chan… You went in UTX, right?" Honoka asked.

"Yes…"

"So, were you a member of A-RISE?"

"No. Rin was independent. That was why Rin was fired out from UTX."

Everyone watched in horror.

[-x-x-x-]

"So, our first member will be Honoka! Any objection?" Umi started. "No? Then, let's discuss the rest."

Hanayo raised her hand. "I think that Rin-chan should participate too."

"Nico idea!" the bread-girl gave her a thumb up.

"Wait!" The cat girl protested. "Are you really sure?"

"Of course! I want to see Rin-chan I action!" Honoka smiled at her.

"H-Honoka-chan…" For the first time since she joined the club, Rin blushed for the first time.

'She's so cute…' The other, especially Honoka thought.

[-x-x-x-]

"And for the third member…"

"I think it should be Umi-chan." Kotori proposed.

"What?" the mentioned bluenette almost stood from her chair.

"I mean because Umi-chan is always so responsible and mature~"

"T-that's…"

Everyone looked at her. Honoka let go of some giggles. "Still not good with the public?"

"A-anyway," she tried to ignore the comments, "We have to find someone competent enough."

"Then, let's randomly pick it!" Honoka proposed. "Everyone, write your name in a piece of paper; then, put the paper in this bag. Rin-chan will then select the third member."

No one complained. They all wrote their name on a piece of paper. Nico was the first to place her piece of paper in the bag, and then followed by Hanayo, Umi, Kotori and finally Maki.

"Why should I take part in this too?" The red-head asked.

"Because you're a member of course!"

[-x-x-x-]

"So, here we go nya." Rin picked one of the pieces of paper from the bag.

Both Umi and Maki prayed the gods that they aren't picked while Nico hoped that she was going to be the third member.

"And the winner is…" The cat girl slowly opened the paper. The waiting was killing the three praying girls.

"Hehe…" Honoka peeked and shared some devilish grin with Rin.

The others were still unaware of what these two were thinking.

"Come on, tell us already who won!" Nico got impatient.

"Ahem!" The leaded cleared her throat. "So, the winner is…"

"The winner is…"

"The winner is…"

"Damn it! Tell us already who you picked?" the raven-haired girl wanted to poke these two's forehead.

"So, the winner is… Maki-chan!"

"What?" the mentioned girl stood from her chair. She couldn't believe it. How could the gods have betrayed her?

"Now, now… A deal's a deal!"

"Good luck, Maki-chan!" Kotori cheered.

[-x-x-x-]

At that time, someone knocked on the door. This time, Nico was the one to open it. The raven-haired girl froze as she realized who the person in front of her was.

"E-Eli… What is it?"

"Good morning! I am looking for Nozomi. She disappeared all of sudden."

"Hein?"

"We were finishing some matter when she said she had some business to finish with Koizumi-san hour ago and hasn't returned yet."

"Ah, that's…" The rice-girl stood from her chair, "…She is just there." Hanayo pointed into a single desk at the side of the room.

The fortuneteller was playing with her cards, sitting on a chair.

"Wait!" All the other members of the Rap club were hyper surprised. "How come you were here and we never saw you?"

"Because you were too occupied. Don't you remember? I placed a paper with my name in the bag too."

Rin quickly browsed the papers and found out one of them had the fortuneteller's name in it.

"Wait! Does that mean?"

"Yes!" Nozomi pushed a paper toward Honoka. That was her application form. "Your club is so funny. Plus, I want to spend more time with Hanayo-chan."

"Hey, can you even Rap?" Nico challenged.

"Want to see?"

"Yes!"

[-x-x-x-]

"Duel start!" Honoka gave the depart signal.

"So here we are… I will give you a defeat that's sour. That's right, I can't wield a bow… but I don't care because I am better than a cow." Nico started.

"Ouch…" Rin commented.

"That's right, I am no better than Rin-chan… but I can predict future yan~. I remembered seeing you hiding behind a bush… When in presence of Elicchi, the only thing you can do is blush." Nozomi countered.

"That was dire!" Honoka cheered. "Next round!"

"Mpff… Not bad! You're tougher than I thought."

"Thank you yan~"

"Next up is my favorite line… my rimes are just as tough and powerful as chains. Open your eyes and take a look at my hair… they are better than yours, please don't cry… just get a breath and sit in a chair… because the Rap just like cuteness' domain is my…" Nico was fired up. Nothing could stop her anymore.

"Do not get carried away this easily… because I know that you always cry like a baby. I am not that bad in Rap… if you still insult others I shall give you a grope… You don't need to restrain yourself, come on let your mouth agape… Because with Hanayo-chan, we will make it into the top." Nozomi finished.

"That was amazing!" The two gingers cheered.

"Not bad! I have to admit that you surprised me. You won. I will accept you into our group." Nico smiled.

"I will be on your care from now on!"

"In that case," everyone turned to Eli, "May I join in too? I know that I was the one to put pressure on you, but I have to admit that this club is really fun… plus, I have to keep an eye on Nozomi."

"Does that mean that our club is saved?" Honoka asked with full of hope.

"Well… not really… but if you win against UTX this Sunday, you will be saved!"

Everyone smiled. Eli smiled back. Nico blushed.

"What's wrong, Nico-chi? You want a duel against Elicchi too?" Nozomi teased.

"Is that so?" The unaware quarter-Russian asked. "In that case…"

"No… It's no need! We accept your application."

[-x-x-x-]

"By the way, what is our group's name?" Kotori asked. Everyone turned to her. "I mean because UTX's band was named A-RISE, we should find a name too."

"That's right!" Honoka cheered. "How about Honkers?"

"We refuse!" Everyone else boldly said.

"Then, what about washi washi squad?" Nozomi joked. The others watched her with fear in the eyes. "That was a joke. Do not take it so seriously yan~"

"And how about Otonokiki? That sounds so kawaii, don't you think nya?"

"µ's…" Everyone turned to Nozomi. "How about µ's? That should fit us perfectly."

"Do you mean that we're like the soap?"

"No, like the nine music playing goddess. It's a part of our history class, Honoka!" Umi explained.

"And plus, it sound like music! I like it nya! What do you think, Honoka-chan?"

"µ's… That's perfect!"

The leader took a deep breath. Everyone turned to her.

"…In that case, µ'sic START!"