a/n: chap title never have any meaning...

4 – Crush is Never Flat

Rin raises her hand high at the approaching ginger haired girl. "Yay!"

"Yay!" the girl replies with the same gesture before she looks around. "So… this is your new workplace, Rin-chan? KotoHana, eh?"

"Yep, yep! The owner is really pretty, Honoka-senpai!" Rin swoons as she starts to daydream about her boss. "Very different from the other places nya."

Honoka frowns as she gives the other girl an annoyed glare. "You meant I'm not pretty?"

Rin blinks, suddenly realizing her ex-boss status. "No?" She takes a step back quickly before the other girl can chokes her. "Wait! Wait! I mean… Honoka-senpai is cool! You know, different kind of beauty!"

"Hmm… oh well, if you say so," Honoka stands back. "Although, you can always come to our shop if you want a job, Rin-chan."

"No, no, no," Rin waves her hand in front of her face. "I think Senpai's mother had enough of me quitting whenever I've had enough money to travel."

Honoka nods at that. "Well, that's true." She sighs loudly. "But then how can I make work fun when my partner-in-crime is not there?"

"I think Yukiko would be happy with Rin not there," Rin deadpans before she laughs. "We teased her too much, Senpai."

Furrowing her eyebrows, Honoka stands upright as she poses. "It's older sister's job to annoy her younger siblings."

"Or maybe you just want revenge since usually you're the one being teased," Rin makes a point. Honoka sticks her tongue out and winks. "Teehee~"

"By the way, is that her?" she changes the topic.

"Who's her?"

"Your new boss," Honoka nods her head at the direction of the car. "Well… she's definitely cute. But I never know you like that type."

Rin turns her head, seeing one girl shying away behind curtain. "Huh? Oh! Yeah! She's my boss! But not the one I was talking about. She's actually my childhood friend! She's cute, right?"

"No? How many boss you have, Rin-chan?" asks Honoka curiously.

"Just two," Rin points at the KotoHana writing on her apron. "See? This is from… Kotori and Kayo-chin. KotoHana. And that girl is Kayo-chin."

"Hoo… Kotori and Kayo-chin... huh wait what…? Where's the Hana go!?"

"…Hanayo, of course," Rin stares at the other girl in confusion. "What are you thinking, Senpai?"

Honoka covers her forehead with her hand. "No, wait. Don't make me as the weirdo here. You said Kayo-chin before."

"Well… Kayo-chin is Kayo-chin," Rin says as a matter of fact. She turns her head around. "Right, Kayoo-chiiin?" And make the other girl moves to hide inside the deepness of car. "Hm… she won't reply. Oh well."

"I give up," Honoka shakes her head. "I can't follow your train of thought."

"Rin is a genius," the orange haired girl compliments herself shamelessly.

"Whatever."

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"No, Senpai," Umi holds back her senior as she explains the reason why she shouldn't do it. "Groping her won't make her like you, I'm sure."

The purple haired girl squirms in futile attempt, trying to make Umi lets her go. "But my cards said so!"

"It's wrong, then!" Umi almost screams. "Did you think this is a harem manga where a stupid misunderstanding like that could actually make the girls like the protagonist!? No!"

"Ahh… I always wanted to be the one…" Nozomi starts to daydream all of sudden.

"What?"

"To be the protagonist of harem story," says Nozomi with faraway look on her face. "It's nice, right? Receiving many attentions from cute girls without effort. Even if you were a loser, weakling, idiot, good-for-nothing… they will love you without question. You only had to help them once and they will fall for you for a lifetime."

"I wish you've got your nice boat ending," Umi grits her teeth. "Seriously, Senpai. Stop with the delusion. You're better than that."

"Yeah, of course," Nozomi nods her head before covering her mouth with the back of her hand. "Because I'm not a loser, weakling, and good-for-nothing."

The blue haired girl frowns. "I don't know what to reply."

"You just have to say yes, Umi-chan."

Her frown deepens. "Ah well, whatever, at least you had stopped."

Nozomi blinks, realizing she has lost her focus from her goal. She starts looking around frantically. "Huh? Where's that girl go, Umi-chan? I'm pretty sure she was there few seconds ago."

Umi runs her hand through her blue hair. "She had gon—No! Stop! Don't start wailing on me now!"

"But, but, I don't know when I could meet her again! And you always stop me whenever I want to approach her!" Nozomi sulks. "Umi-chan is meanie!"

"Aahh… okay, okay! How about this!?" Umi tries to compromise. "I will introduce you to her if you promise you won't do anything shameful to her!"

"Really?" Nozomi perks up.

"Yes, really. Now stop making scene in public," Umi sighs. "I swear you are an exhibitionist."

"No, Umi-chan. Even though I think it's a turn on with people watching, I don't like sharing my girlfriend's beauty to anyone," Nozomi quips as she gives the other girl a smirk. "Umi-chan is pervy."

"What? Uh? What? I didn't… I don't mean… What?"

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Nico wipes the plate slowly. The rush hour has passed and she finally can take a breath for a while. Really. At time like this, Nico wishes Kyoko-san still do her job as usual. It doesn't mean she can't handle it though. It's just… nice to have help or just helping rather than doing everything alone.

"Hi, Yazawa-san," Nico pulls back from her own world as the short haired girl enters the restaurant. She's smiling charmingly as she walks closer to the counter. "Busy?"

"Kira-san," Nico beams at the girl as she puts the plate down. "How are you? It's been a month since you last visit," She leans forward. "What's your order? The usual?"

Kira Tsubasa chuckles lightly. "Yes, please," She nods her head as she takes her seat. "This place really hasn't changed at all." She says as she looks around. "Still very comfy."

Nico laughs softly while she prepares the food. "You won't get any discount for compliment the place, Kira-san."

The short haired girl smirks. "And here I thought we are friends, Yazawa-san."

"We are," Nico nods as she blushes a bit. "But that is that, this is this," she serves the other girl her order. "Please enjoy."

"Thank you," Tsubasa gives an appreciative nod. "By the way, I see you've got a keyboard now. Who is playing?"

Nico looks at the keyboard in the corner. "New part-timer." She wipes her hands with a napkin. "I think she will come soon."

"How soon is that?"

"I don't know. Why did you ask?" Nico raises her eyebrows.

"I like when it's just us two," Tsubasa winks mischievously. "And I wanted to know when that will end."

"You are still sweet-talker as usual, huh, Kira-san," Nico tries to brush off the redness from her pale skin. "I can't believe you."

"Only with cute girls, Yazawa-san," She raises the corner of her lips.

"This must be how you've scouted the girls, right?" Nico sighs, knowing it's useless to resist Kira Tsubasa's charm. "Being a producer really suited you."

"Thanks for the compliment," Tsubasa raises her glass as if want to toast.

"You have no trouble scouting girls for JAV too, I suppose," Nico comments nonchalantly.

Tsubasa coughs, almost spurting her drink. She throws a scandalized gaze at the other girl as she says quickly. "I never do that!"

Nico laughs, giving the girl more napkins. "I know! You don't have to take it seriously, Kira-san."

Tsubasa grumbles under her breath. "I can't believe you…"

"You think I won't joke about that, eh?" Nico grins at her. "On the contrary, I will."

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Umi tries to hold her ground as her senior drags her to the nearest local public library in the area. "Senpai, you don't have to pay me back by introducing some girl to me! I'm not interested!"

"Don't be like that, Umi-chan," Nozomi chides, hand still holding Umi's arm in tight grip. "You won't know your fated one until you meet them."

"I don't have time for romance," the blue haired girl says a bit coldly.

"Old excuse."

"It's not—"

"Okay, okay," Nozomi lets go the arm she was holding as she raises both her hands in the air. "However, she's not only some girl, Umi-chan. She is actually an author. Consider this as our club's activity."

"Author?"

"Yeah, picture book author. But author nonetheless," Nozomi replies. "Ever heard of Ichi the Ant? Princess Sakura of the Snow Mountain? Chocobar Chucky? She's the author."

"No," Umi follows the older girl steps, now voluntary. "I don't read children or picture books anymore," she shrugs.

Her senior gives her a look. "It's fine if you didn't like it. But if you ever think it's not worth your time in the first place, I will make you reconsider your thought right now."

"I…," Umi pauses. "Why?"

"There's a value in each book," Nozomi mutters. "That's why you can't judge a book, a story, by its genre, cover, or summary. People have different tastes, and that's fine. But you don't have right to judge a book you haven't read."

Umi hums softly. "So… where's this person?" She looks around them as they enter the library.

Nozomi leads her to a table in the corner where the grey haired girl sits alone. "Here she is." The girl looks up as they near her. "I introduce you to… Minami Kotori."

The blue haired girl can feel her eyes widening as she meets the other girl's gaze.

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"No, Ellie is the best girl," Nico says without moving her eyes from the screen.

"You have shit taste, Nico-chan," Rin frowns as she presses the button on her joystick. "Kotoko is definitely the loveliest of them. She's kind, can cook, very pretty and she never got angry at you."

"She's boring," Nico sneers, fingers quick to push the combo buttons. "Ellie is popular. She's the flower of the village, you know. We have many rivals just to date her."

"Your taste is too mainstream," Rin push the jump button to avoid Nico's attack. "Kotoko is the perfect girl. She's Yamato Nadeshiko chara. Her route is the most touching. Ellie, on the other hand, just like your third-rate dorama."

"The one who write her scenario was just too good," Nico grunts, blocking Rin's punch before it lands on her. "But Ellie has Extra Story. And it's almost as good as Kotoko."

"So you admit her story is good," Rin proudly says. "Ah. Just die, can't nya!"

"No can do," Nico grins slightly. "And we both know we are Maeyama Juri's fans. There's no way we won't agree about that. But she wrote Hime route, and you didn't say anything about her."

"Hime is just a generic tsundere princess," Rin throws her joystick in frustration as the screen displaying '1P Win'. "I've had enough filling for that type of characters."

"Hmm… I think I will play Teresa this time," Nico chooses her character quickly. "I like Hime. She puts up strong façade, but she's actually very fragile on the inside."

"I choose MeiMei, she's fast," Rin says after thinking for a while. "Her background isn't that good. If we're talking about broken character, I think Elsie is my favorite."

"Don't bring another game to this discussion," Nico elbows the girl beside her. "We both know Elsie is the goddess."

"Hey! You ruined my combo!" Rin groans.

"It's not my intention, but good for me," says Nico as she jumps back fron Rin slash. "Ouch!"

"Say," Umi looks at the two in wonder. "What are you discussing about from a while ago?"

"Who is the best girl from Our Story: Blooming Flowers game," they reply in unison.

"And you are now playing…?"

"Queen of Fighter."

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Extra

So, they say you're dense. Want to be the Dense Trio?

Nico: No, I'm the most sensible woman ever alive.

Umi: No, I don't. And no, you don't, Nico.

Rin: Rin is pretty sensitive~

Nico: And if we're talking about dense… Eli is more suited for that title than us.

Umi: Or Honoka.

Rin: Or Maki.

They can be pretty sensitive, you know. Honoka could be the type of character who seems dense at first, but always notice her friend's trouble without you knowing.

Umi: She didn't notice Kotori's trouble until almost too late.

Uhm... and Eli is… like the parent to µ's with Nozomi, right? She has this… protective aura around her. So there's no way she is dense.

Nico: It's an exaggeration. She notice when Nozomi felt troubled, sure. But I doubt she will notice if I'm the one who's troubled.

Rin: Ahh… Is Nico-chan wanted someone to pay attention to her?

Nico: I'm not!

And Maki is smart! She would be a doctor in the future. It's bad if the doctor was dense, right?

Rin: …I don't see any connection nya.

Sigh, you won't admit you are dense, then?

Nico/Rin/Umi: We are not.

Oh well… since when pot ever admit it's as black as kettle…

Nico: I think you use the wrong proverb…

Umi: Maybe he did it intentionally?

Rin: Or maybe he just forgot the right one and then just put whatever?

Nico/Umi: Ahh… that's must be it.

A/N: i don't know why i like making nozomi annoy umi... and finally honoka (and tsubasa) appears.

GAT: Kotori sure is popular... (Rin: You added my rival again!)

guess: I haven't decide yet... means the mainstream pairings are possible too. :)

elichi nozomi: Hmm... Do both of you want to? (Honoka: I don't understand why we should appear as Tsubasa x Honoka! What's wrong with us as an individual?! Tsubasa: Kousaka-san really has strong personality. It's very charming. Honoka: *blush*I-is that so?)

Thanks for the review!