Chapter 3: A Night to Remember


Chapter three, Enjoy!

I don't own Lucky Star, I'm just a fan, and this is just a fanfic.


A Night to Remember

Kagami never found out about the night she and Konata spent together. The smaller girl had woken up as soon as her alarm sounded in the morning, quickly shut it off and set up the guest futon on the floor. She had messed up the covers, and then gently shaken her friend awake so she could head home for her school things. All Kagami knew was that she'd never slept better than she had that night in Konata's room. She felt a little guilty about forcing her host to sleep on the floor, but Konata hadn't made a big deal out of it. In fact, she took being forced out of her own bed so well that Kagami had been a bit on the defensive for a while, expecting some kind of retribution. But the big retaliatory prank she had been expecting never came.

October drifted peacefully into November, and soon preparations for the culture festival were underway. On top of class projects, Patty had drafted everyone she knew into a cheerleading routine to be performed at the festival's opening ceremony. Kagami had fought the idea at first, but if she was honest with herself, she cherished the opportunity to create such an important memory with all of her friends. Eventually, she wound up devoting much of her spare time to preparing for the show, and fell into something of a leadership role while the girls were practicing their choreography.

On the day of the festival, the performance went without a hitch. The crowd gave a standing ovation, and Konata's father was thrown out of the festival about halfway through the routine for rushing the stage with an absurdly large camera. Afterward, Konata, Kagami, Tsukasa and Miyuki made their way to the zuka cafe hosted by Yutaka's class for lunch. Yutaka and Minami had high-tailed it to their classroom almost immediately after the show to change into their costumes, chased by Hiyori, who insisted that they were the main attraction and that the cafe needed them.

They do look great in those costumes, Kagami thought to herself as she watched the pair in action from across the room. And they make an adorable couple...

"Don't Yu-chan and Minami-chan look great together?" Tsukasa observed.

"Your telling me, those two deserve the couple of the year award for sure!" Konata replied enthusiastically.

Kagami contradicted her earlier thoughts. "They're not a couple? They're both girls!"

"But Kagamin, you've been staring at them for almost ten minutes now, can you really tell me you weren't thinking the same thing? And whats wrong with two girls being a couple, anyway? It's the 21st century, get with the program!"

Hiyori had been standing nearby, and now she spoke to Kagami. "You've seen how those two get along together, senpai. It's not really that far-fetched, is it? And how can you be against female couples when every time we go to Akiba...Oof!"

An elbow to the ribcage shut her up not a moment too soon. Luckily, the other three girls were still focused on the zuka duo, and Konata hadn't heard a word. Kagami had in fact secretly accompanied Hiyori to several lesser-known shops in Akihabara since she and Konata had spent the day there, and her secret doujinshi collection had been growing. Most of it was yuri-themed, and a lot of it covered some fairly raunchy material. At first, Kagami didn't know why she kept buying the stuff. She'd never really been into dirty magazines and such, but for some reason she couldn't stop herself. On top of that, the computer Konata had won for her now contained several hidden folders. These folders held images that, if discovered by any other human being, had the potential to force Kagami to flee the country in shame. Yet she still couldn't resist the urge to search for explicit pictures of anime girls getting it on whenever she found some free time.

None of this was behavior born out of a new-found fandom for anime or manga, however. It's possible that Kagami was drawn to yuri because it was the first expression of mutual female love she'd been exposed to. Confusing feelings had been growing inside of her for some time, and she now had a sneaking suspicion that she might be a lesbian, and of all things, that she might be attracted to Konata. This thought had materialized for the first time in yet another dream starring Konata, on the night she'd spent sleeping in her friends bed back in October.

Kagami had been on stage, singing in front of thousands of cheering fans in some massive, ambiguous arena. For some reason, that Hatsune Miku cosplay had made another appearance. As she sang, The wild crowd blended into an amorphous gray seething mass. As Kagami looked out onto the spectators from the stage, she spotted one miniscule point of color. It was blue. The blue speck grew larger and larger, until she could make out a pair of bright green eyes. The crowd had disappeared. Even the theatre had disappeared. She was alone in a featureless world of gray with Konata. Without knowing why, she embraced the smaller girl. She felt the soft texture of her long, flowing hair. Her nostrils were filled with Konata's scent. She couldn't control herself. She shut her eyes, bent down, and kissed the dream Konata lightly on the lips. When she did so, however, she experienced not the soft, wet feeling she'd been expecting, but the taste of shampoo and a mouthful of hair. When she opened her eyes again, The dream Konata blinking up at her had a massive, blue mustache. Kagami blinked in alarm, and when her eyes refocused she was no longer in the gray, empty world, but lost in a sea of blue hair. She pulled back a bit and found herself in Konata's room, on her bed, her arms wrapped around the sleeping figure of her strange little friend from behind. At this point, Kagami realized that what she'd been experiencing was a dream, and assumed that she must still be dreaming, given the absurdity of her situation. She felt such a comforting peace of mind in this dream world, lying next to her best friend, that she pushed away her nagging confusion, snuggled closer, and focused on maintaining the dream for as long as she possibly could. Telling herself that she'd deal with her confusing emotions tomorrow, when she was awake, she closed her eyes and slowly drifted away from Konata and into a new dream.

Unbeknownst to Kagami, on the other side of the bed, the pressure on her back had woken Konata. She didn't know what exactly was going on, but she didn't feel the need to interrupt. She too had felt completely at ease so close to her friend. It had definitely been a much more peaceful atmosphere than the dream she'd been woken from. The maniacal laughter of a blood-spattered, green-haired girl had been haunting her dreams all that week, since she'd begun re-watching a certain very dark anime series. That night, the horrors of Hinamizawa were replaced by Kagami's comforting warmth.

A month later, back in the zuka cafe, Konata glanced up at the clock over the doorway. "We'd better get back to our classroom, ladies. It's almost time for us to start our shifts. You girls should come by and have your fortunes read when you get some free time!"

As Konata, Miyuki and Tsukasa left the room, Kagami had her eyes fixed on the pint-sized otaku.

Hiyori noticed where she was staring. "Senpai... do you... like Ko-Ugh!"

This time, The elbow connected squarely with Hiyori's stomach. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Well, I'd better head over to the haunted house. Remember to keep your mouth shut!" Her bright tone of voice clashed with the threatening words and the glare in her eyes as she held Hiyori's gaze for a few seconds to drive her point home.

After spending the afternoon scaring guests in her classes haunted house, Kagami was relieved by Minegishi Ayano, another of her classmates, and decided to head to Konata's classroom. Misao happened to be leaving at the same time. She ran after Kagami and punched her shoulder as she caught up with her in the hallway.

"Hey Hiiragi, going to see the squirt again?"

"No! Well, I promised Tsukasa I'd let her try reading my fortune again now that she says she's gotten the hang of it, so I am actually going over there... but its not to see her! I mean, it's not like I can't go a few hours without seeing the little weirdo!"

"Whoa, calm down! No need to get your panties in a knot! It was sorta rhetorical anyway, it's not like you'd ever be going anywhere else."

"...Shut it. So where are you going?"

"With you! We never spend any time together! And Ayano just started working the haunted house, so I can't hang with her."

Kagami grumbled noncommittally, and continued on her way with Misao close behind. When they entered 3-B's classroom Konata appeared almost immediately, dressed in her witch costume.

"Whats up, Kagami? Did they fire you for being too scary?"

"Why do I put up with you, again?"

Konata waved her wand and announced dramatically: "Because you love me, of course!"

Kagami turned bright red. "What the hell are you talking about? Don't say weird things like that, people will get the wrong idea!" She was shouting without realizing it, and the pair was beginning to attract attention.

"So.. Kagamin hates me? Waaaaaaah!" Konata erupted into a false fit of angst with such volume that everyone in the room was now once again staring at the pair. Then she ran off into the hallway, still pretending to bawl at the top of her lungs. Minutes later, she was back at Kagami's side as if nothing had happened.

"So anyway, I've been talking to Tsukasa and Miyuki, and we're planning a party tonight at my place to celebrate the success of our cheer show! I got a call from my dad after he was thrown out for taking too may pictures at the opening ceremony and just generally being creepy, and he said he'd be out of town for the night to do research in Kyoto for a magazine article, so I got permission to host a little get-together. Hiyori and Patty are game, and Yu-chan lives there so she hasn't really got a choice. I'm sure Minami will come too, since her little waifu will be there!"

"You..." Kagami was used to Konata's antics by now so she wasn't too annoyed by the scene her little show had caused, but she pretended to be anyway and turned her back. "Sorry, I need to catch up on my studying. Entrance exams are right around the corner now, you know. Besides, a party at your house is bound to be too weird to be any fun."

"Oh come on, Kagami, it'll be loads of fun! I have a big surprise planned! It's just one night, you can start studying tomorrow."

"...Maybe I'll come, maybe I won't."

Konata took that as acceptance, and turned to Misao. "You're in too, right Misakichi? Can you tell Ayano about it?"

Misao was psyched. "You know it! Lets party it up!"

Kagami walked over to Tsukasa's fortune-telling booth. "Party tonight, huh?"

"Yea! It sounds like it'll be loads of fun! You're coming too, right onee-chan?"

"I guess. Everyone doesn't get together like this very often, it probably will be fun" She admitted grudgingly. "How's the fortune telling going?"

"Oh, I've gotten a lot better! Want me to try yours again?"

"Sure, lets see what you can do."

"Ok, here I go!" Tsukasa broke a rice cake in half and stared at the inside edges. "Um... you're going to think I'm making this up again, but... It says your love fortune in the near future is good. Haha... that's exactly what I said the other night, isn't it? Lets see... It also says to look forward to social events, and to try new things. Maybe that's a good omen for tonight?" Tsukasa looked across the table nervously at her sister.

Unconvinced, Kagami decided to play along to keep her sister's spirits up. "Well, if that's what the fortune says, I'll be looking forward to the party. Keep it up, Tsukasa, you're doing much better."

Next she decided to pay Miyuki a visit. "So what do the cards have in store for me today?"

"Oh, Kagami-san! Well, If you'll please take a seat, we can find out together." Kagami sat while Miyuki shuffled her tarot deck. "If you would, please draw ten cards, and hand them back to me."

Kagami did as she was asked. Miyuki spread five of the card out in a cross, with four cards arranged vertically next to it, and held onto the final card.

"So, lets see. I believe the center card represents the potential outcome, true love, so your fortune pertains to your love life. This card here represents the time frame, near future, which indicates that the event will occur within the next six months. These three cards tell me that you will face adversity, both internally and from outside sources. And the four vertical cards tell me that a positive outcome can be expected if you exhibit patience and understanding, and are able to overcome a specific obstacle, signified by the final card." Miyuki laid the last card on top of the center card. "Oh my, and this card identifies the obstacle you will face as prejudice. Kagami-san, this is the most complex reading I've performed all day! It's quite exciting for it to go so well!"

"Yeah... It went well, huh?" Kagami seemed a bit perturbed by all the information.

"Oh... but I wouldn't worry too much about it. After all, divination is an incredibly imprecise art. I wouldn't put much faith in such things. It's... more of a game, honestly."

"...Thanks, Miyuki. You're right, of course I shouldn't take these things seriously."

But Kagami was still rather gloomy. Miyuki wouldn't understand why, but on top of Kagami's recent sexual confusion, two fortunes hinting at an impending love and one suggesting a need to overcome severe prejudice left Kagami feeling a bit uneasy.

"Yahoo! Kagamin! Let me predict your future next!" Konata was waving her over to the desk where she'd set up shop with her starling inferno replica.

"I think I've had enough fortune-telling for today, I'm going back to my class."

"Aw c'mon, Kagami. You let the other two do it, why not me?"

"Because you'll definitely predict something weird." Although, I guess there isn't much chance of Konata's prediction getting too serious. I guess I should humor her. "All right, fine. Lets do it. I still have some break time left, anyway."

"'Atta girl! Now sit down, and let me gaze into your eyes and read the future written withiiiiiiiin!" Konata put on a showy, mystical voice. "I see it... Yes, Your future is becoming clear!" Here she switched personalities completely, and in a robotic monotone rambled off a series of 'predictions' "Twelve minutes and forty-seven seconds from now, you will purchase takoyaki from the stall in the second year hallway! Twenty minutes and twelve seconds from now, you will bring it back to this room! And twenty-three minutes and thirty-six seconds from now, I will eat it! Your path has been laid before you, now go!"

Kagami sighed. "Well, I was right. Thanks Konata, that was exactly what I needed. But, there is no way I'm going to buy you takoyaki."

"Pleeeease, Kagami! I've been here for hours, and I'm starving! I know you're hungry too!"

"How would you know that?"

"We haven't eaten since the zuka cafe! And you're always hungry anyway, Kagamin."

"I am not!" Kagami shouted, but her stomach betrayed her by punctuating the outburst with a loud growl. Konata grinned widely.

"Argh! Damn stomach... Fine, I'll go get some food."

"Bring me back some yakisoba, Hiiragi!" Misao shouted at her retreating back from Miyuki's tarot booth.

When they finished eating, Kagami returned to the haunted house until the end of the festival. Then she met up with the whole crew by the school gate and they headed to Konata's house for the after-party. When they arrived, Konata revealed her surprise.

"Bum ba-da da da!" She was holding three large bottles of sake. "lets drink!"

"Um... I don't know about this, Kona-chan." Tsukasa was nervously eying the bottles. "I've never had alcohol before."

Kagami wasn't happy about the development, either. "Sake? Are you nuts? You're totally irresponsible, you know that?"

"Lighten up, Kagami! We're mature young ladies. As long as we take it easy, what could go wrong? Besides, this is the good stuff. My dad gets bottles from publishers and magazine honchos all the time, but he doesn't drink much so he's built up a pretty big stash. And didn't Tsukasa predict good things if you try something new?"

Kagami glared at her sister, who grinned back guiltily.

"I won't force you to drink, but I can promise a great party if you do! You need to let loose once in a while, you're always way too tense!"

"I propose a toast!" Misao was already filling glasses. "Everyone take a glass!"

Drinks were passed around, and everyone in the room accepted one, Kagami included, although a few were rather tentative about the idea. When they each had a cup, Misao stood on the table.

"To the best damn cheer squad in Japan! Nay, the entire world!" She started guzzling the drink, then coughed most of it up onto Minami's head. "Damn, this stuff is strong! I've never had alcohol before either, but I didn't think it'd be like that!"

Yutaka led Minami off to the bathroom to find a towel while the rest of the girls tipped their glasses. Miyuki was bright red after draining her glass. "Oh my... Lovely! ...hic... Kona-chan, another glass here, if you please! ...hic...

"Whoa, slow down girl! You won't last an hour going like that!" But she refilled Miyuki's cup anyway, and then topped off her own.

Kagami snatched the bottle away from Konata. "Ok, I'm going to be the bartender tonight. This is not getting out of control."

The party was a tremendous success. The girls played a few American drinking games introduced by Patty. Konata had asked her for help after reading about beer pong on a forum, so she came equipped with ping pong balls, as well as dice and a deck of cards for several other games she knew. Tsukasa was eliminated from most of the games fairly early, and went into the kitchen to bake cookies. Konata set up her old N64 and held a mari0 K0rt tournament which she, of course, won. As the alcohol took hold it became difficult to focus on games, and eventually everyone settled around the kotatsu and simply enjoyed each others company.

Several hours in everyone was definitely feeling the effects of the sake. Yutaka had begun to feel sick after a single glass, and Minami was now cradling her sleeping head in her lap. Hiyori could be found curled up in a corner, surrounded by dozens of Konata's manga. Tsukasa was seated next to a face down Ayano at the kotatsu and swaying crazily from side to side, hiccuping. Patty and Misao were singing the theme from their cheer bit in loud, abrasive voices, Miyuki had disappeared, and Konata was lying on the ground with a controller in one hand and sporadically shouting challenges to the room in general, but seemed unable to sit up let alone focus on a video game

Kagami, who had gotten a bit carried away despite herself and was completely drunk by that point, stood up to make a declaration. "Everyone, thanksh for all the wonderful memoriesh! I'm gonna mish you all so much after we graduate! I... I..." She began to sniffle."I love you all! These are the besht years of our lives, lets end it with a bang!" And finish with a bang she did, as she fell heavily onto her rear and crashed into a bookshelf, knocking a pile of magazines down onto her head.

After failing to stand up herself, Konata crawled over to her from the TV, looking worried. "You ok, Kagamin? You really can't hold your liquor, ...hic... can you? I totally knew you'd be a ...hic... weepy drunk."

"Hahaha!... oh shut up and come here, you little squirt!" Kagami grabbed her with a headlock, and the pair wound up wrestling on the floor. After a few minutes, The taller girl gained the upper hand and pinned Konata on her back, holding her arms above her head and straddling her chest. She stared down into her friends green eyes, and Konata gazed right back up at her without struggling. They held the pose for a few seconds that seemed suspended in time. Kagami was in a daze as she slowly lowered her head toward Konata. The otaku didn't resist. In fact, her neck strained upward to bring her face closer to Kagami's. Their lips were only inches apart when Misao screamed "Dog pile!" and tackled Kagami from atop the living room table. Seeing what was going on, Patty jumped in and soon almost everyone who was still awake was rolling around on the floor in a pile. After the wrestling match, the girls were all exhausted, and each one fell asleep where she lay. All except Hiyori, who had been watching since before Misao's interruption and was still sketching feverishly, a piece of tissue jammed into each nostril.

The next morning, the party-goers headed home one by one as they woke, until only Tsukasa and Kagami were left sitting with Konata at the kotatsu. Kagami kicked something under the table, followed by a bang and the sound of Miyuki's voice.

"Ow! ...huh? where am I? Oh dear, my head is so painful."

Tsukasa lifted the blanket, and Miyuki crawled out to join them.

"So that's where you were..." Kagami mumbled as she looked up from her face-down position at the table. "I don't know about you girls, but I'm never drinking again."

Konata was also face down, and Kagami could barely make out what she was saying. "That was a crazy party though. I get the feeling some really weird stuff happened last night, but I just can't remember what it was. Gah! I feel like my head took a hit from the giga drill breaker. I'm going back to bed."

"Yeah... Weird stuff... I'm going home to sleep some more too, thank god we don't have school today. Coming, Tsukasa?" and with that, Kagami and her sister took their leave. Miyuki and Konata cleaned up a bit in silence. Then the pink-haired girl returned home as well, and Konata crawled into bed.

As she walked to the station, Kagami was deep in thought.

I can't believe I did that! Sake is evil. Is Konata just pretending she doesn't remember? I mean, my memory's a little fuzzy too, but that moment is crystal clear. What the hell was I thinking... It must have been because of those fortunes. I had love on my mind, and Konata looked so helpless and cute pinned under me like that... First all this yuri, now Konata. I have absolutely no self control. Man, how the hell did I wind up falling for a perverted little midget like her?

As this thought came to her, she realized it was true. She had fallen for Konata. Despite her eccentricities, the girl was always there for her when she needed her, and Kagami never had more fun than when the two were together. She couldn't doubt it anymore. She loved Konata.

Oh god... I love Konata. I'm a lesbian, and I'm in love with a fangirl. What the hell am I going to do? She definitely responded when I tried to kiss her, but was she just drunk? I don't want to drive her away, but this kind of thing could ruin our friendship. I think I have to find out how she feels, but maybe I should just forget it and try to stay friends with her. After all, I don't think she's gay... Dammit, I don't think I can stand being just friends, now that I've come to terms with this!

Her inner monologue tormented her the entire way home. She had only managed to raise more difficult questions by the time she was finally able to get into bed and drift into an uneasy sleep.

And that's it for this installment. Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you thought in the reviews section!