Well, that writing high lasted all but two chapters. Disappointing. In any case, here is the next chapter.

Enjoy if you can - if you can't, I apologize.

CHUUNIBYOU

From her bed, Shinka Nibutani stared at her uniform, hanged on the door knob of her closet. She was hesitant to put it on for reasons she couldn't piece together. Something about it being June second? Why would the date make her not want to change?

Ah, right, Shinka thought, remembering the reason for her reluctance. We start wearing the summer uniform today.

With that realization, she returned her navy-blue cardigan to its place in her closet, replacing it with her yellow sweater vest.

She held the vest at arm's length, tilting her head curiously at the clothing. "You know," she muttered. "It's taken me three years to decide this but I really do think the summer uniforms look better."

She swatted the idle thought aside and tossed the vest to her bed, taking off her pajamas. After a few minutes, she posed in front of the mirror, now changed into her uniform. "Yup. Like these better," she said, picking up the idle thought once more.

Now ready for school, she picked up her bag and exited her room.

CHUUNIBYOU

"You know," Yuuta muttered to himself. "I think this might be an interesting Monday."

Yuuta and Rikka sat next to each other on the table, eating breakfast. Across from them sat Kuzuha and Satone who were doing similarly.

"Ooh. I'm intrigued," Satone said, rubbing her hands together. "I may or may not drop by your club room, then."

"I haven't even said why I think it'll be interesting." Yuuta sighed, not sure what to make of the self-proclaimed devil-girl. "Don't you have your own club in your own school to attend?"

She snorted, giving him a dismissive wave. "Why the heck would I have that? The people from my school are all total normies."

Yuuta raised an eyebrow. "So everyone who doesn't have chuunibyou is a normy?" He asked dryly.

Satone shrugged. "Probably? It's not like all people without it are normies. It's more that we aren't. We who reject the reality and create our own - we who see what others do not - we who mingle with worlds that are not our own - everything that makes us who we are -they are the reasons we're not normies."

As Satone waxed philosophical over the nature of normies and how it related to chuunibyou, Yuuta glanced at Rikka. He sweatdropped upon noticing that she was hanging on every word. Of course she would…

One might wonder why Satone Shichimiya broke fast with her neighbors in their apartment that morning rather than in her own. As it happened, she was alone the night prior and had opted to spend said night at the Togashi-residence… without telling anyone. By the time everyone woke up, they found Satone asleep on the couch. They very well couldn't just kick her out - not without feeling about about it, at least - so they shrugged and accepted it. Rikka was happiest to have her, though.

"But now that I think about it, it doesn't really matter. Anyway, Hero, why do you think today will be interesting?"

"Oh? Well..." Yuuta paused, thinking of how to phrase what he was about it say. "You know how Nibutani and Dekomori made up last Friday? Well, we didn't really get to hang out with them much on Saturday because we had to buy groceries but they were acting kinda weird. It's wasn't that they were ignoring each other but it all seemed... quieter? Something like that? They weren't fighting the way they used to. Like, they still fought, but it wasn't as overblown - it was over Sanae not chewing her food of all things. Don't you think that's a bit weird?"

Satone tilted her head curiously. "I don't see how that's interesting. Doesn't that just mean they're getting along better? Or... well... getting along differently at the very least?"

Yuuta frowned, crossing his arms. "You know, when you put it that way, yeah, that does sound kinda boring."

"I find it fascinating!" Rikka exclaimed. "The oaths they spoke on the night of Thursday under the light of the full moon - it has caused a transformation in them. I wish to see the extents of the changes."

"Hmm... I'm conflicted now," Yuuta muttered.

"Jeez. You're all making such a big deal out of all this," Kuzuha groaned. "It's just another Monday to me. What difference does it make if someone thinks otherwise?"

The three chuuni stared at her for an entire second before they reacted - Yuuta with a sigh and slow nod, Rikka with a frown and a turn of the head, and Satone with a maniacal laugh. "Well said, Kuzuha! You are wiser than all of us!"

With a wry smile, Yuuta continued eating. "I probably shouldn't have brought this up in the first place..." he muttered.

CHUUNIBYOU

The day was disappointingly not interesting. It may have just been Yuuta's expectations spoiling what would otherwise be a perfectly enjoyable day. In fact - he was all but certain that he was only upset because how big a deal they made of it that morning.

As convincing as his train of thought was to Yuuta, he did not voice it. He very much doubted that Rikka would agree with him - and even if she did, she would probably have different reasons for agreeing. Yuuta, for one, was not in the mood to humor her in that regard.

Thus, the two of them trudged to the club room after school, silence and unhappy.

"Hey, anyone here?" Yuuta asked as she slid open the door.

Just as she promised that morning, Satone sat boredly at the table, reading what looked to be an algebra text book. She perked up when she heard Yuuta's greeting. "Oh, Hero and the Eye of the Wicked Lord!"

"Greetings Magical Devil Girl"

"Yo, Shichimiya."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yuuta and Rikka took a seat at the table, Yuuta pulling out his own algebra text book from his back. Rikka and Satone also began chatting. Then of course, right as he was about to start reading, the sound of running footsteps slowly grew louder outside the hall, joined by the cheerful humming.

The door slammed open as Sanae announced her arrival. "The wielder of the Mjolnir Hammer, Sanae Dekomori makes her grand entrance!" The bombastic blonde posed dramatically, arms raised and an arrogant grin on her face.

Outside, another voice groaned. "Honestly, Sanae, do you always have to do that?" Shinka emerged from behind Sanae and ducked under her raised arms, entering the room.

Sanae giggled as she relaxed her posture. "Of course! How else would I have my comrades acknowledge my arrival?"

Shinka rolled her eyes. "Maybe by greeting them? Use some common sense, stupid." She blinked upon noticing the three in the room. "Hey. Good afternoon."

What followed was another exchange of greetings. Then Shinka and Sanae seated themselves.

Yuuta and Rikka quickly leaned towards Sanae. "You know that trick you told us two days ago? It totally worked! Pretty much aced the quiz earlier."

Sanae laughed haughtily. "Of course it worked. I checked some references on the internet and the way they explained it was incredibly similar to my method. I was confident that you'd have no trouble with it."

Satone tilted her head curiously before turning to Shinka. "What's up with them?"

"They had a little study session last Saturday."

"Ah." Understanding dawned in Satone's eyes, followed by mild confusion. "Aren't they Deko's senior by like a year? How come-"

"I have no idea, Shichimiya. Honestly, the fact that Sanae hasn't skipped a year yet still confuses me."

Satone nodded slowly. She then leaned in close, whispering. "First-name basis now, I see. Congratulations, Mori Summer."

Shinka stiffened. "Don't call me Mori Summer," she growled.

Satone giggled. "It's cute how much it bothers you. Don't worry, just teasing. Seriously though, you two've gotten pretty close since the last time I saw you two. What's it been, two weeks?"

Shinka frowned, looking away. "One and a half," she muttered. "A lot happened, okay?"

"I'll say. Perhaps the vitriol has evolved into something else? Something deeper?"

Shinka stared quitely at Satone, attempting to find the meaning in her words. "What are you getting at, Shichimiya?" she asked with suspicion.

Satone smirked. "Dekomori adored you in the past, Nibutani. You may no longer be who you once were but I don't believe that adoration ever left. I may have merely taken a new form."

"Hmm." It soon dawned on Shinka - she realized what Satone was saying. And if what she was saying was true... It'd actually make a scary amount of sense, Shinka admitted. Like a child who bullies their crush... A small smile found itself onto Shinka's lips. "Sanae Dekomori," she muttered. "And all this time, she tried to deny it by calling me fake."

"Names have power, Shinka Nibutani. Whether she was aware of it or not, Deko associated that name with her feelings. That being said..."

The realization hit like a truck. "I told her Mori Summer was dead," Shinka breathed. She turned to Satone. "I just... just..." I basically told her to kill her feelings for me. That's why she was so upset... She scowled. "How do you even know this?"

"I come from a realm outside of yours. Thus, I see things from a different perspective, unclouded by the veil cast by proximity. I saw the signs and merely pieced it together." Satone chuckled. "Seriously, though. Anyone with eyes and an open mind would have noticed. The only reason Hero and Rikka haven't noticed is because they're too caught up in their own fantasy to see the other one blossoming in front of them. It's almost amazing how oblivious those two are..."

"Oblivious," Shinka repeated. She turned to the study group and found that, indeed, they were still too focused to listen to the chuuni and ex-chuuni's conversation. "You're not wrong."

She returned her attention to Satone. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because." Satone grinned. "I want you two to be a thing."

Shinka felt her cheeks flush. "What? Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds?" She turned away. "Besides, I don't even like her that way."

"Not yet."

"No," Shinka snapped. "There is no 'yet'. 'Yet' implies the existence a foregone conclusion that has yet to arrive. The eventuality you are speaking of will never arrive. There will never be a time where I want to start dating her."

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much."

"Shichimiya," Shinka growled.

"Do you really hate the thought of it that much?"

"I..." I do, Shinka wanted to say. Except, she felt in her heart that it wasn't true. So, then, what would her answer be? "I don't know..."

Shinka cursed internally. For the past several days, the answers to the big questions she kept getting were always those three irritating words. It frustrated her that she wasn't more sure of her answers.

I don't hate Sanae Dekomori, Shinka said to herself. And after everything that's happened in the past three years - especially last week - I might even be a little bit in love with her. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palms. But to actually go ahead and start dating her? No. That's not something that I can do. My pride won't allow it. She frowned. But is my pride really that important...?

Yes it is...

"I'm open to the idea," Shinka muttered. "But there is no way in all the realms of the world that I'll make the first move. She's always been the instigator. That won't change - not even with this."

"If that's what you want, then so be it." Satone sighed, shaking her head slowly. "Shinka Nibutani, you proud fool."

CHUUNIBYOU

"You know," Satone began. "Today was an interesting Monday after all."

The was the conclution she came up with while she, Rikka, and Yuuta walked home from the station. Much to her displeasure, neither Yuuta nor Rikka agreed with her.

"I don't know. It was actually kinda boring," Yuuta said with a sigh. "Set myself up for disappointment, honestly."

"What about you, Eye of the Wicked Lord? You saw nothing that kept your attention?"

Rikka shook her head. "I bested the most evil algebra professor in a battle of minds, but other than that, today was what I would call uneventful."

"Oh?" Satone nodded slowly. "Well, perhaps your expectations colored your experience. I for one found today to be filled with adventure - adventure of a certain kind."

Yuuta gave her a deadpan look. "Really? What kind of adventure, exactly?"

Satone laughed. "One of love and romance of the purest kind!"

"Uh huh..." Yuuta was not convinced and continued walking. Rikka on the other hand looked at her curiously.

Satone smiled slyly. "Are you aware of what it is? The purest form of love?" The question was met with a shake of the head. "Do you want to know?" That next question was met with an eager nod. Satone's smile became a grin. "Very well, Eye of the Wicked Lord. Meet me later tonight and I shall show you."

With that, Satone ran ahead, pushing past Yuuta in the process.

"Oi! Watch it, Shichimiya!"

"Sorry!" Satone continued running.

Rikka could only stare in bewilderment.

CHUUNIBYOU

Shinka opened her eyes, only just realizing the she fell a sleep. Feeling tense, she sat up and looked around.

The room was empty, with the orange lights of sunset streaming in through the window. Sounds of activity remained outside - the sports teams' practice weren't done yet. And of course, across the table, was Sanae Dekomori, slumped forward in a sleeping heap, much like Shinka was just a moment ago.

Shinka crossed her arms and stared.

I know the reason for everything, now. She thought to herself. And our agreement was that we'd help each other figure things out. With the knowledge I have now, I could just tell her and be done with it... She frowned. Do I tell her...?

As Shinka thought on that question, Sanae stirred. The chuuni sluggishly sat up and looked at Shinka. "Mori Summer?" she whispered sleepily. She then blinked. "Ah! Shinka. Shinka Nibutani. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," Shinka said, cutting Sanae off. "Just... Just don't let it happen again..."

There was a short pause before Sanae responded with a nod.

Man, I feel terrible now... Dammit, Shichimiya. Why'd you have to tell me? Why'd you give me this burden to carry?

The question remained, though. Should Shinka tell Sanae? They were alone and Sanae was awake now. It would be so easy to say: I've figured it out and the terms of our agreement have been met. Love was the reason for everything. It was such a stupid and cliched reason, and yet it was true. And even worse, Sanae would absolutely agree to it without question. What reason was there not to tell her?

"Glad to see you're up. I'm going home. Feel free to join me." With that, Shinka picked up her bag and left. Sanae merely stared at her as she made her exit.

Sanae did not follow her. Shinka was under the impression that she would but for whatever reason, she didn't. Shinka bit her lip.

Mori Summer, she thought angrily as she walked to the station. You should have told her. Dammit, you should have told her. She broke into a run. What the hell am I even doing anymore?

CHUUNIBYOU

There we go. Finally finished this chapter.

I decided to give Satone Shichimiya some much needed characterization. Before this chapter, she's had one scene the the end of the second chapter. I'd say it's barely enough screen time, especially considering how many scenes have had Makoto Isshiki in them. In any case, that was my alternative interpretation of her character. She's a DekoSummer shipper and gave Shinka a little push. Granted, she may have pushed too early, but that's nothing to worry about.

Other than that, I don't really know what else to say. I'll not make this author's note longer. Until next chapter then.