this uh, took longer than i thought,

i did write something else tho and u should check it out cause its a shitty one shot

as a sidenote there is like 1 other thing i have on the backburner atm that i want to write but i haven't completed my outline for it yet so it's really questionable if that'll come out first or more stargazer.

this is also the first chapter where i didnt follow my outline to a t because someone suggested i do a thing. i hope you all like that thing.

While texting Kotori the news, something occurred to Maki.

I don't even have Rin-chan's phone number. I guess I'll tell her at school tomorrow. Or… There was a possibility she'd meet her up on the hill tonight. Maki was going regardless, but if Rin met her there, then she'd be able to pass on the news even sooner. Considering how close-knit their friend group was, Kotori had already texted Honoka and Umi anyway, so it just left Rin. And it was in person as well, so she'd get to see Rin's reaction.

For some reason, Nico's words echoed in her head.

No, no, I do not have any ulterior motives! She mentally kicked herself for that thought.

Why she was trying to convince herself that was beyond her.

She shook her head and grabbed her telescope, heading out easily and making for the hill she had frequented for years. She was glad that the night sky was clear today - there was a higher chance of Rin being there. Used to the weight of her telescope, she made it up the hill quickly, and was shocked at how overjoyed she felt at seeing Rin already on the hill.

"Ah! Maki-chan!" Rin waved to her, and Maki smiled as she brought her telescope over to where Rin was sitting. "What are you doing here?"

"Well… I figured it was a good night to stargaze, and I also have some news regarding the club." Rin glanced at her excitedly, waiting for Maki to resume speaking. "That third year, Nico, said she'll join our club. We officially have 6 members."

Rin's face lit up, and Maki suppressed a smile at the enthusiastic response. "Yay! We can finally stargaze as a group, nya!" Maki noticed that Rin tended to add "nya" to her sentences when she was particularly happy, like Nico added a "nico!" when she talked about idol stuff. Everyone has their quirks, Maki thought.

"A-Also… I was wondering if I could get your number… you know, just in case there's an… emergency, or something…" Maki worried Rin would say no, but Rin smiled and rattled off her phone number easily, and Maki relaxed.

She now had Rin's number. She wasn't sure why it felt so important, but it… did.

"Well…" Maki began. "Now that we're here, do you want to share more about yourself? I don't know much, other than the fact that you like stargazing a lot." Rin smiled at that, a sad look in her eyes, and Maki wondered what had promoted that look, but Rin had started talking already.

"Well, let's see… I really like cats, but the thing is, I'm allergic to them." Rin shot Maki a rueful look. "I also really don't like fish, but I love ramen! It's so delicious, and I can make it myself, because I otherwise can't cook too well."

"I also have two sisters, and I have to have them help me with English all the time, because I'm not too good at it…" Maki blinked. That was a lot to take in at once, and she furiously tried to remember it all. Likes ramen and cats, can't cook, hates fish, has sisters… good enough. Maki started to ask a question, but Rin then turned to Maki and asked, "What about you, Maki-chan? I only know that you can play the piano really well." Maki blushed at the praise, and put off her question to start talking.

"Hmm… I really like tomatoes, to start. They're my favorite food. I also don't like tangerines at all. And my parents are owners of a hospital, which I'm going to inherit once I'm older… you knew that already, too. And of course, I love stargazing, and classical music."

Rin just stared in silence, even after she finished, causing Maki to try and avert her gaze. If this were one of those old westerns her dad would watch with her sometimes, a tumbleweed would probably roll by right now. Realizing this, Rin coughed.

"Sorry, I just imagined you, uh… playing the piano… um…"

Oh. That was unexpected. She realized Rin had seen her play before. Maki had figured she would've noticed someone watching her play, but apparently not (First Nico, now Rin. Was there anyone else she needed to know about?). It was probably intended to be a compliment, though.

"Oh, oh! Maki-chan, look! Look!" Rin was pointing energetically at the sky. "Shooting star! Make a wish!"

"Make a wish…? Eh, I don't really have anything I want right now…"

"Fine! Then I'll make a wish! You get the next one, though! And you better have a wish then!" Watching Rin like this was quite humorous, especially since normally she was so shy. She had closed her eyes for a few minutes, her facial features softening, but still keeping that radiant smile.

"What'd you wish for?"

"That's supposed to be a secret! If I say it out loud, then it won't come true!" It wouldn't hurt to tease her, right? Just maybe a little…

"Let me guess… you wish you weren't allergic to cats." Maki smirked at Rin as she twirled her hair a bit.

"Nope! But almost. I was gonna wish for that until I had a better idea." The shorter girl grinned back at her, her eyes telling Maki she wasn't going to give up the secret on her wish so easily. Sighing and shaking her head, Maki silently admitted her defeat.

If she wants to be stubborn, she can be stubborn.

There was a question Maki did want to ask, though. Something she was hoping Rin would give her a clear answer on.

"Rin-chan, why do you stargaze?" Rin didn't look like the girl to partake in a hobby like this, and considering it was the basis for their friendship, she thought it would be something interesting that they could talk about with one another. If anything, it was a wonder the question didn't come up before now.

"Well, it's… um, really childish, and uh…" She dodged Maki's eye contact and ran her fingers through her hair.

"If you don't want to tell me, it's fine," Maki shrugged. "You probably have a better reason than me, anyway." Was that a bad response? It sure felt like it, because all it brought was silence. It seemed like Rin was thinking about something, judging by how her eyebrows were furrowed.

"Something on your mind?" She hoped asking Rin about how her stargazing hobby began didn't bring up any bad memories.

"Ehh, Maki-chan… could you close your eyes?" Well, that was sudden. Despite that, she complied.

"If you're going to prank me, this better be good," Hopefully, some light teasing would get Rin out of whatever funk she'd created. She would, however, be lying if she said that Rin doing something to her while her eyes were closed was not her first guess.

She could hear Rin walking closer to her, the grass under her shoes making it a dead giveaway.

"K-Keep your eyes closed." Despite it wavering, there was some determination in her voice.

She thought she knew what Rin was going to do.

She soon found out, moments later, she was entirely wrong.

By the time she realized what was going on, it was already over, and Rin had dashed off.

She… kissed me…