A/N: Hahahahaaa. I am trash. I am so trashy. I need to study. But here am I, being trash. I couldn't not write something after that gay gay gay gay episode. Ugh so gay.

I was also trying to update my multi-chp story but I keep getting sidetracked.

So, here: -SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 9 - S2

Main themes: eavesdropping, serial killers, jealousy, SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 9 - S2

"I-well-that…that was…"

Midori perked up at the sound of Kumiko's voice, surprised that the girl was still at school at this time of night. She smiled and skipped a little faster down the hall, eager to find someone to walk to the station with.

"See, there's something about you..."

Midori screeched to a stop before she rounded the corner. Kumiko wasn't alone.

"I'll catch you...and peel that good girl face of yours off."

There was a sharp gasp that permeated the air, and Kumiko's nervous voice followed.

"Asuka-senpai too...?"

"Well, I don't know about her, but I'm definitely coming after you, Kumiko."

Midori clamped her hands over her mouth, trying to stifle her gasp. Her eyes were widened in shock and horror at Reina's words, wondering if she had walked into a dangerous situation just now. Gulping, Midori kept to the wall as she crept back down the way she came, breaking out into a run as soon as she was out of earshot.

Meanwhile, neither Kumiko nor Reina noticed the intruder, carrying on as usual.

"Geez…Reina, if you say it like that, people are going to get the wrong idea." Kumiko sighed as she shook her head, letting herself trail behind as Reina continued down the hall. "They'll think that you're bullying me...or just plain crazy."

Holding her trumpet behind her back with both hands, Reina spun around to face Kumiko. She had a confident smirk on her face as she stared the euphonium player down.

"Even if I were bullying you, I'm sure you'd enjoy it, wouldn't you?"

Shaking her head again, Kumiko couldn't help but smile. She totally ignored the crazy part.

"If it's Reina, I wouldn't doubt it." She caught up to the trumpeter with a skip in her step, looping her arm through Reina's as they walked slowly down the empty halls. The windows were dark, the night sky outside seemed to suffocate the light in here, giving the school an eerie feeling. Kumiko felt the strange atmosphere seep into her bones, but just held onto Reina tighter, feeling at ease with the girl there.

It wasn't like Reina was as tall as Shuuichi or as well-built as Gotou-senpai, but…for some reason, Kumiko felt that no matter what they faced, Kousaka Reina was a force to be reckoned with.

That was what Kumiko thought…

…Until they reached the faculty office. It was there that Kumiko witnessed Reina's near meltdown. Taki-sensei had fallen asleep at his desk and they walked in just in time to see him wake up with a bad case of bedhead.

"Oh, Oumae-san…? Kousaka-san… Oh dear." Taki-sensei rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, quickly adjusting his glasses that sat askew on his face. A red mark was fresh on his cheek, probably from where he had his face propped up on his arm. "I'm sorry you two had to see me in such an unsightly state."

Reina was fidgeting and flustered and completely flabbergasted, forgetting why they were there in the first place. Kumiko sighed, prompting the trumpeter.

"Reina…" Kumiko chided her, more annoyed than she should have been.

Snapping back to her senses, Reina fished the key out of her pocket, holding it in her hands as she bowed deeply at the waist. "U-uhm…T-Thank you for all your help and continued instruction. I've brought the key back." Presenting the key to the music room like a prized item, Reina held it out in her palms.

"Thank you." Taki smiled as he took the key from Reina, his large hands grazing her skin as he did so.

"Y-You're welcome." Reina stiffened immediately, her eyes widening at the warmth from his hands. She looked like she was about to fall over, rocking precariously on her heels. The trumpeter held her gaze to the floor, finding her shoes terribly fascinating all of a sudden.

On the other side of their teacher, Kumiko stood there, a deadpan expression on her face as her left eyebrow started to twitch. Even though Reina had her head down, she could see how flustered and embarrassed the usually collected girl was.

How…uncool.

It bothered her to no end to see Reina…to see her Reina act so unsightly in front of someone other than her.

It was frustrating.

"Oh, right, Oumae-san…"

Forgetting her annoyance, Kumiko put on a neutral expression.

"Yes?"

Although Kumiko was nodding in all the right places and understood the gist of what their band advisor had to say, her mind was elsewhere. From the corner of her eye, she could still see Reina trying to recover from that pathetic excuse for physical contact that irked Kumiko to no end. She was beyond jealous and once they were out of here, she was definitely going to make sure Reina knew how she felt.

"Excuse us."

Both Kumiko and Reina said their goodbyes as they exited the faculty office. The short walk to their shoe lockers was quiet. Reina was still dazed and Kumiko was still angry.

They both seemed to stop at the same time in front of their lockers, but Kumiko was the first one to turn to Reina.

An indignant expression on her face, she took a breath before she exclaimed from the bottom of her lungs. "I…back there…I didn't like the Reina I saw just now!" Standing with her shoulders squared and her fists clenched at her side, Kumiko felt winded after her outburst, realizing that her voice was awfully shrill.

Reina's loafers dropped suddenly from her hands. She simply blinked as she stared at Kumiko.

Clenching her fists tighter, Kumiko continued now that she had Reina's undivided attention.

"You want to be special, don't you? You want to be different from others, right? When you told me that…" Kumiko's voice was soft now, her hardened tone melting away. "I thought to myself…that I loved your sound, your personality, your everything…"

"The Reina in there…wasn't the Reina that I know."

Reina gulped at the serious admission that Kumiko just blurted out of the blue.

"I…was right about you, Kumiko. There really is something about you. You act like you don't notice things, but you see right through me."

Reina took a step towards Kumiko, a smile on her face that told the brunette that she was admitting defeat. "I hate that side of me too."

Kumiko's breath hitched in her throat, drawn to the way the light flickered in Reina's earnest eyes, the way the trumpeter's lips curled up in self-disdain.

"I hate the side of me that makes me weak, that doesn't let me be my best. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with me liking Taki-sensei, but-"

"There is!" Kumiko rejected it with every fiber of her being, her face red with embarrassment at her childish outburst. She had to say it. She wanted to say it.

"Kumiko?" Reina looked up, raising an eyebrow in question.

Flustered and nervous under Reina's gaze, Kumiko knew her earlier bravado had abandoned her. She was at a loss for words. Kumiko strung together whatever came to mind, the sentences tumbling straight from her heart. "I-If you hate that side of yourself so much, just focus on me…Think only about me. When you're with me, I feel you're different. The Reina who's confident and kind and invincible…I love her."

Reina blushed at the sincerity in Kumiko's voice, a soft smile crinkling the edge of her eyes. She let out a small laugh, suddenly taking a step forward as she studied the flustered expression on the brunette's face. Smiling widely, she flung herself at the taller girl, burying her face in Kumiko's chest.

"R-Reina!"

Reina nuzzled the girl affectionately as she felt her heart swell at her words.

They both hit the lockers with a thud, the metallic clang of the doors reverberating loudly.

"Kumiko, you really do have the right words when it matters most." Reina released her hold on the euphonium player, resting her hands on either side of Kumiko's head as she angled her face towards her. Their noses just centimetres away, Reina peered into Kumiko's eyes, a hard determination burning in her own. The bodies were flush against each other, Reina pinning the taller girl to the row of lockers despite their difference in height.

"I promise to be the Reina that you love, no matter what."

Kumiko nodded eagerly, taken aback by the sudden shift in dynamics. Reina could be unexpectedly aggressive sometimes, but it wasn't that Kumiko disliked it.

A shy smile replaced the shock on Kumiko's face and she reached up a hand to cup Reina's cheek. "I'll do anything to help make that happen. I'll stay by your side and I'll remind you as many times as I can. And I'll even let you bully me to your heart's content…" Kumiko trailed off, her cheeks coloring a light pink as she got a bit carried away. She looked away timidly, bringing her hands up to grip the front of Reina's uniform.

Reina smirked, her heart racing in her chest from how empowered Kumiko made her feel, how Kumiko fired up the motivation within her using just her words. It was electrifying and she could feel the excitement coursing through her. Glancing up at Kumiko's flustered face, the trumpeter took a good look, realizing that there was no mask when she was with her. It was that face of Kumiko's that Reina loved so much and she leaned in instinctively. Something was driving her desire to take all of Kumiko for herself.

A clatter sounded and the girls jumped, darting away from each other. They both turned towards the noise and their eyes widened at the sight.

"M-Midori-chan?"

"Kawashima-san…"

Kawashima Midori sat sprawled on the ground at the entrance to the foyer, her books and pencil case strewn all over the tiled floors. Her school bag was half open, slipping off her shoulder. She laughed sheepishly, sitting awkwardly in front of the two brass musicians.

"Hehe…s-sorry. Clumsy me…"

Frantically, Midori got on her knees, sweeping her things back into her bag.

Kumiko jogged over with Reina in tow. She reached Midori first, bending down to help her friend pick up her things.

"Are you alright, Kumiko-chan?"

Midori's voice came as a hurried whisper, the girl not even looking up as she continued to put her things back in her bag.

"Eh? I'm okay. Why do you ask?" Kumiko blinked in confusion as she handed the bassist the last of her belongings, standing up with a slight groan.

Reina came up behind Kumiko, her usually apathetic expression showing concern, her eyes still wide in shock at the girl's suprising clumsiness.

"Kawashima-san, are you alright?"

"Haha, yes, Reina-chan! I'm totally fine! I just tripped over my shoes and I got sent flying!" Midori laughed her usual Midori-like laugh, her blonde curls bouncing along with the movement of her tiny head.

"That's good to hear." Reina smiled one of her rare smiles that was reserved for people she didn't dislike. Apparently, Kawashima Midori was one of them.

"Uhm, Reina-chan, do you mind going ahead for just a minute? I have something I need to talk to Kumiko about in private." Midori smiled apologetically.

"Sure. I'll just wait for you two by the entrance then." Reina conceded without protest, leaving Kumiko staring after her.

Waiting until Reina was well out of earshot, Midori dropped her voice to a whisper. "Kumiko-chan, are you sure you're okay? I don't mean to pry, but Reina-chan isn't…being mean to you, is she?"

Kumiko blinked in confusion, cocking her head slightly to the side as she thought about it. "Not in particular...Why?"

"I overheard you two talking and I heard something about her bullying you. Is that true? If it is, don't be afraid to confront her about it! I'm here for you too if you need me."

Kumiko stared at Midori, puzzled at the very serious expression the blonde had on her face. "What are you talking abou-" Suddenly, Kumiko paused, embarrassment coloring her cheeks as she remembered her own words just minutes ago. "O-Oh…that…haha…That was nothing. It was actually just a joke between us."

Yes, it was a joke…of sorts…Kumiko wasn't going to tell her petite friend that she really wouldn't mind if Reina did bully her. After all, Reina was a terrible tease.

In a good way, of course.

"Are you sure? What about all that talk about peeling your face off, Kumiko-chan?" Again, Midori's expression was dead serious. "I know Reina-chan's totally gorgeous and smart and talented, but I don't think you should get involved with such dangerous people!" Midori let her voice rise slightly above a whisper and Kumiko shot a worried glance in Reina's direction. Thankfully, the trumpeter was a good distance away, her head down as she focused her eyes on her phone.

Kumiko gestured for the girl to be quieter. "Shh! M-Midori-chan! It's not like that! It wasn't really a joke, but…"

"Is Reina-chan a serial killer?"

Kumiko gave Midori a strange look, only able to utter an incoherent noise at first. Her mouth was half parted, unable to finish her sentence after that random interjection. The petite blonde was…still…very serious about what she just said and Kumiko couldn't believe that Reina's twisted sense of flirting got so misunderstood.

"Haha…definitely not…" Kumiko laughed sheepishly, but she entertained the thought for a second, thinking that Reina could fit the profile.

"Then if it wasn't a joke, what was it?"

Kumiko laughed again, getting nervous about explaining her oddly intimate relationship with Kousaka Reina. However, there was no real way of getting out of the hole she dug herself, so she just dug a little deeper. There was no harm now, she supposed.

"Well, knowing Reina, it was probably a confession of love."

Her eyes wandering back over to Reina, Kumiko's voice adopted a slightly dreamy quality.

As if Reina knew they were talking about her, she suddenly looked over in their direction, flashing Kumiko a heartwarming smile when their eyes met.

"Yeah, that's definitely what it was." Kumiko grinned from ear to ear, almost forgetting she was talking to Midori because all she could see in front of her was Reina, the Reina she loved.