Hi there, my dear reader. Sorry this one took a little longer; I had a few interruptions along the way. This one has a slightly slower pacing, I would say, but is still intense with some drama.

Disclaimer: Yuru Yuri and its characters are by Namori.

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"Good morning" Sakurako said, rubbing her eye as she arrive in her sister's room. Either she was still dreaming or what her vision caught was her older sister sitting on the floor with a pile of books and papers circling her. The girl rubbed them both again to make sure she was still actually seeing what was true. Opening them again only seemed to make the day seem like it was on reverse; shouldn't it normally be her room in a state like that?

Nadeshiko gazed at the girl, a little surprised herself that Sakurako came there. But well, the girl had to wake up at some point of the day, and probably when she would be hungry.

"What a mess." Sakurako blurted.

"You're one to tell. I'm just organizing things." Nadeshiko retorted.

"Anyways, is there anything to eat?" Sakurako questioned earning a sigh from the older sister; she knew it.

"Well, we already had breakfast, but Hanako is still eating so you should go get something for you there."

"Okay, thanks" Sakurako said before letting out a yawn. The girl was ready to leave before her older sister interrupted her.

"Sakurako."

"What is it?" The girl questioned, turning her gaze back to her sister and the pile of books.

"Can you enter for a bit?"

.-.-.-.-.-.

Nadeshiko held the form behind her back. She never thought that she would find something from such a long time ago, and with such value, just like this, in her room. For some reason she was the one to keep it, although she had no memories of having taken it. Though considering the two had shifted their attention towards each other after filling it, she concluded to have taken it to keep safe. It then ended up forgotten inside her old art book, lying on the shelf in her room.

The older Oomuro increased her grip on the form as Sakurako stared at her, waiting for her to say something. The chestnut-haired girl and the bluenette had a fight the other day, and although she was not trying to defend Sakurako on this one, the girl seemed to be truly sad when she explained what had happened. Normally, she would simply just get over it in a while since she was 'Sakurako-sama' and therefore Himawari should have been glad for getting to help her. Nadeshiko considered that obviously wrong, and tried to always soften things before the blue-haired lost her cool and all. Sure, she didn't want Sakurako to fail her tests or exams, or to get in trouble for not doing her homework. But sincerely, making her sister drift far from the one she knew the girl liked — although she wouldn't always express it clearly — was one thing that Nadeshiko did strongly not want.

And now, she had the form in her hands – something she did not even remember. She questioned herself whether or not she needed to hide it; either peace or chaos could come after this. Peace if Sakurako would start being more honest with what she felt for Himawari and would make up with her, or chaos if it ended up destroying their relationship somehow or caused them to drift apart even further.

But honestly... Himawari obviously did not hate Sakurako, neither provoked her out of her own accord, merely responding and retaliating the younger Oomuro. Sakurako was sure a blockhead, but she always managed to get the girl to come make her company in her house, that when she wouldn't go herself to Himawari's. Why not inviting or going to study with another friend, someone who was not the blue-haired? Sure they lived close, but if she could not help her that day, what would she do?

Nadeshiko knew what she would do: she would just sulk, and stay there without doing her homework until Himawari could come and hurriedly help her so they could finish in time for school in the other day.

And Himawari never ever failed to aid the lazy Sakurako.

The girl gulped down as she decided to take the risk.

"Sakurako," Nadeshiko said, tightening her grip on the form. "Take a seat."

.-.-.-.-.-.

Sakurako sat as she wondered what exactly her sister had to say. The older girl had been silent for a while now, as if hesitant to say something. The chestnut-haired started getting a little impatient, but waited until her sister finally spoke.

"Did you think about what I asked you to yesterday?" Nadeshiko questioned.

Sakurako's cheeks reddened softly, almost unnoticeable before she replied. "Yes, I have." Her tone was sharp and short. Apparently she didn't want any conversation, at least not about this.

Nadeshiko would not give up.

"Sakurako, have you properly thought about it?" The older Oomuro asked, her voice getting a stronger tone as well, causing the younger one to flinch slightly.

"I already said I have. I'm going to go apologize to her later."

"What are you going to do after that?"

After that? Was there an 'after that'? Was she supposed to do anything other than apologizing for what she did? Himawari never got so mad before, except this time the girl completely lost it, and left Sakurako in the room not knowing what to do, or how exactly to react. She just stayed there, in shock, watching and listening to the echo of the door being closed with such strength.

"And what am I supposed to do?" Sakurako questioned, not knowing what her sister wanted from her. After a while of staring, Nadeshiko finally spoke.

"When Hanako and I came back home yesterday we met Himawari leaving the house," The older Oomuro paused before she resumed speaking. "She didn't look very happy, you know." Sakurako though of saying something, but her sister started speaking just as she was about to.

"She gave us such a glare, very uncharacteristic of her. For a moment though, she didn't look angry anymore, but seemed to have an sad expression on her face."

Sakurako widened her eyes softly before turning her face away, trying to hide a blush that was creeping on her cheeks. In vain.

"And then you told me the background of what happened. Honestly, I don't think I can defend you on this one, but although this isn't the first time you two fight, I didn't expect this reaction from Himako."

"I am going to apologize to her! Just where are you trying to get to already?" The chestnut-haired girl once again got impatient. She knew she had done wrong, and that she would go apologize to the girl since it did seem to affect her much more than before.

"What I'm saying is, don't you think there is something more to this?" Nadeshiko stared with a serious expression at the girl.

"S-something... more?" Sakurako asked, not quite sure of what her sister meant.

"Do you think Himawari reacted this way just because of homework?"

"Well..." Sakurako looked to the side, her blush only seeming to grow a stronger shade of red.

"Sakurako... just what do you think Himawari thinks of you?"

"What do you mean? Of course she hates me!" Sakurako exclaimed, unable to hold her voice back. Of course Himawari did not like her at all, right?

"I don't think that is true."

"Then why do you think she left like that? She wouldn't do it if she didn-"

"She left because you barely made any progress on your homework, and ended up taking too long on something that you sincerely didn't have to." Nadeshiko raised her voice, instantly getting Sakurako to be quiet and listen to her. "That doesn't mean she hates you. And I don't think you hate her either."

Sakurako now blushed uncontrollably, but she did not bother hiding it anymore. "What are you saying? Of course I hate her!"

"Are you sure?" Nadeshiko replied, unconvinced.

"Yes, I do! I hate Himawa-... I hate Hima...wa..." Sakurako's lowered her head as her voice betrayed her. Why could she not bring herself to say it? She had said it many times when they were quarreling, why was this any different from that?

The silence on the room was deafening, but the thoughts inside the blonde's head were at full volume. Soon enough, it became overwhelming and, aside from all the blushing her right cheek seemed to get a little warmer as Nadeshiko raised the girl's face to look her in the eyes.

"Sakurako... you don't really hate Himawari, do you?"

Sakurako blinked a few times before she closed her eyes. She could not bring herself to answer this question either.

"Sakurako... when you two were younger you two would get along so well... why has that changed? What happened along the way?"

The chestnut-haired wished she could answer the girl's question, but there was no particular reason. If there was one, she could not remember it. The girl's breast size came to her mind but, was it really the source of all this quarreling with the girl?

"I don't know..." Sakurako said softly, almost as if holding back tears.

"If you really hated her you would not invite her to come here as often as you do; you could just ask someone else for help, don't you think?"

It was true. It was not like she didn't have other options besides Himawari. Except, Himawari did live closer, and she would also nearly always available to help. In fact, it had become something common to expect the girl's visit on the Saturday, so much Nadeshiko would prepare something for them to eat while they were studying before the girl would even arrive.

"Well... she lives close so-"

"Sakurako, you know that is not the answer we're looking for."

The girl once again lowered her head and stayed in silence until her sister gently raised her again to look her in the eye.

"To hate someone is to hate their presence, and when it comes to Himawari, the last thing you long for is her absence, isn't it?"

As if the girl wasn't blushing enough already, the older sister's words only served to increase the amount of red in her face and ears. The younger girl remained quiet as she was unable to form anything coherent. After a while of silence, Nadeshiko let her hand go off the girls cheek.

"Sakurako... there is something that I want you to take a look at."

Nadeshiko knew it was now or never. She brought the form from behind her and handed it to Sakurako.

Taking a good look, the girl gasped as she realized what she was looking at.

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How is this? The pacing has become a little slower / intense, but I had to since it's a lot more drama. Sorry to leave you guys on a cliffhanger. The next chapter won't take too long to come by, but I need to rest a little so I'll definitely write it later today. Also, we aren't very far from the end of the story. I'm thinking of either writing some bonus chapters, or a one-shot sequel if I think of something. I wonder, do you have any ideas for what to write next? Please tell me in the comments something for a bonus chapter!

Until very soon~