"Okay then! Let's keep going Secchan!" I see an on sale sign just up ahead!" Konoka said excitedly.

Setsuna sweat-dropped as she eyed the other bags of merchandise Konoka had already purchased. Setsuna bent to pick up the bags just as Konoka tuned towards the sale. Both girls cried out in pain when a strange force jerked them back, causing them to collide with each other.

"G-Gomennasai Ojousama! I-I don't know what-" Setsuna stopped when she saw that Konoka's hand was still in hers. She quickly lifted her arm and tried to let go of her friends but only succeeded in jerking Konoka's arm upward with her own. Confused, Konoka and Setsuna both looked down at their entwined fingers and spotted the innocent looking rings on the raven-haired girl's hand.

"S-Secchan? What's going on?" Konoka tried pulling away but only succeeded in dragging her friend with her.

"um... it seems we're stuck together..." Setsuna felt the familiar flush on her cheeks.

Is this what Sakura Mei meant? So she knew what the trinket would do?! Dammit! Does everyone know about how I feel about Konoka?

"Well, it could be worse, Secchan." Konoka said cheerfully while swinging their connected hands cheerfully.

This wasn't what Setsuna had expected to hear, but then again... being stuck to Konoka couldn't be all bad... still...

"How could it be worse? What good can come out of this?" Setsuna mumbled as she attempted to take off the rings to no avail.

"Well," Konoka pulled Setsuna closer and used her free arm to hug the Shinmeiryu. "you can't run from me anymore." Konoka stated, her voice muffled by Setsuna's hair.

What? I didn't think that she'd noticed!

Setsuna was really embarrassed now.

"D-Don't worry Ojousama! I'll find away to disconnect our hands!" Setsuna stuttered as she quickly ducked under Konoka's arm and out of the awkward hug."

"Why are you in such a hurry to separate us? Is spending time with me so horrible?" Konoka pouted. "And stop calling me 'Ojousama'!"

Uh oh. This was not looking so good. She definitely didn't want to make Konoka upset. Setsuna had not meant for the respectful title to become an annoyance.

"Then what shall I call you?" Setsuna avoided meeting Konoka's steady gaze. She knew she had dodged the first two questions.

"Call me Kono-chan. After all, you were my first friend and still are a very important person to me. So... please,stop being so formal."

Setsuna bit back an excuse when Konoka said that last sentence. It had sounded so much like a plea. She couldn't say no to this girl who was so dear to her. Seeing no way out, Setsuna gave in and nodded. But that wasn't enough to satisfy Konoka.

"Say it." Konoka said with a slight hint of a demanding edge. She wanted to hear it be said because she knew Setsuna would avoid the nickname like a plague.

Setsuna bit the inside of her cheek when she felt the oh-so-familiar blush take over. There was no way around it. She closed her eyes tightly and took a shaky breath.

"K-Kono-chan..." Setsuna wanted to drop to her knees at that very moment to beg the gods for forgiveness for referring to Konoka so casually. The only thing stopping her forehead and the ground from meeting was the fact that their hands were still attatched.