Hope you enjoy.

-Zero


Ch. 9

They spent a week at the Hasegawa's vacation home in the mountains. Ushio refused to go on the trails because he didn't want Kotori walking around on an injured foot. One could say that she was like a strict father who wouldn't let his daughter do anything on her own.

It was their last night before they headed home. Rin and Honoka protested that they needed to do something before the day was completely over. Luckily, Himawari told them that there would be a summer festival in the nearby town held tonight. Knowing the two, they were extremely excited to the point where they might knock out when they return from the festival itself.

"It sucks that they won't be wearing kimonos." Hiroshi whined for what seemed like the fifth time to the annoyed bluenet.

"And I will tell you again, Hiro, you've told me that already." Ushio grumbled.

"But it's a summer festival Ushio!" The older twin groaned. "What's a summer festival without girls wearing kimonos?"

"A summer festival where I get to hear a hormonal boy complain about girls not wearing kimonos." Ushio replied sarcastically.

"You're not a normal boy if you don't think about things like this!" Hiroshi shook his friend.

"Well, maybe I don't want to be normal." The blue haired boy swatted the other away from him.

"This is true."

"Another word out of you and I'll make Nozomi put you in that kimono that you want to see so badly." Ushio tilted his head back as the words came out coldly. Hiroshi whimpered from the death glare that Ushio gave him.

"What are you guys doing nya?" Rin came down stairs wearing a t-shirt with overall shorts over them. Hanayo followed her from behind with shorts and a light jacket over her shirt to keep her warm from the cool summer night (and probably mosquitoes).

"Just talking, right Hiroshi?" Ushio asked his friend who nodded in fear of what the bluenet might do to him if he said the wrong words. The two first-years tilted their heads in confusion, but decided not to ask about it.

"Are you sure you're not hiding your true feelings about us not being able to wear kimonos Ushio-kun?" Nozomi teased as she came down stairs with the others.

"Don't be ridiculous." Ushio replied to the busty girl with a blush.

"But it would have been nice if we could have worn them for tonight." Himawari added.

"There's no need for them." Ushio sighed. "You all look fine with what you're wearing right now."

"Oh my~ did we just get a compliment from Ushio-kun?" Nozomi teased him again making him blush harder.

"Did you hear that Maki-chan? Ushio-kun said that you look nice nya." Rin cooed at the redhead. A hand covered her mouth as she tried to hide her smirk.

"I-I-It's not like I asked!" Maki glared at the cat-like girl before crossing her arms and avoiding any eye contact with a certain second-year. Pink was lightly brushed against her cheeks.

"You're not being honest with yourself Maki-chan." Hanayo added.

"Right nya!"

"Hanayo! Rin!" Maki's face redden even more.

"Alright everyone, if we stay here any longer the festival will end without us." Eli brought the thought to everyone's attention. Before she knew it Rin and Honoka were already out the door.

Everyone followed after them. Ushio and Kotori were in the back as they were heading towards the festival, taking their time.

"Is your foot okay? You're not forcing yourself are you?"

"For the last time, Ushio-kun, my foot is fine now." Kotori was slightly annoyed, but giggled at how the boy could be such a worrywart. "You worry too much."

Ushio opened his mouth to argue back, but Kotori skipped a little ahead before turning around to face him.

"But I don't dislike that part of you." She flashed him a bright smile and left a red faced bluenet behind as she caught up with Himawari and Honoka.


Lost that's what she was. As much as the blonde didn't want to admit to it, she was lost. They had all arrived at the festival together, but eventually everyone had gone their own way (or more so two particular third-years had left her behind, most likely on purpose too).

"Mou, those two definitely left me on purpose. What am I going to do once the festival is over? By that time all the lights will go out and..." Eli shivered at the unfinished thought. Being left in the dark was the last way she wanted to spend the last day here.

"Eli?" She turned to the familiar voice that called out her name and found Ushio behind her.

"Ushio? Weren't you with Honoka and the others?"

"They ran off on their own...again, but I could ask you the same thing. Weren't you with Nozomi and Nico?" The question earned a sheepish laugh from the blonde. "Well, since it seems like they left us, do you want to take a look around together?"

"I don't mind."

Wait, wouldn't that mean us being together alone...be...a date...? The thought slowly caused heat to creep up the blonde's face.

"So is there anywhere in particular that you want to see?"

"Eh?! N-not r-really!" Eli stumbled responding back.

They walked around, trying some of the food and looked at some booths that caught Eli's attention. Ushio smiled to himself as he watched the quarter Russian brightened with curiosity and amazement with even the simplest things.

The pair was currently stuck at a goldfish scooping booth (it really caught Eli's attention like a five-year-old and candy). She was very interested in how the game was played and was currently on her fourth paper scooper.

"This is harder than it looks." Ushio couldn't help but chuckle at the older girl.

"Here, let me try." He took the paper scooper from her and squatted beside her. While in full concentration, he hadn't notice how much Eli was staring at him. She smiled; she found it cute how the bluenet's eyebrows would knit together when he was like that.

*SPLASH*

"I got it!" Ushio showed the two small goldfishes to the excited blonde.

"Harasho! That was amazing Ushio!" She praised him even though she wasn't paying attention the whole time.

They got a bag for the two small fished. Ushio was quite satisfied with his prize. He gestured it towards Eli, but she shook her head saying that it was his since he was the one who caught them.

"Come on don't cry! There's always next year's festival." A young boy was consoling his little sister who was upset about not being able to scoop a goldfish.

"But- but- but that was my last chance! I wanted to take home a goldfish so I could put it in Grandpa's pond!" The little girl continued to to cry out her feelings.

Eli's heart softened at the siblings. It reminded her of her relationship with Arisa. Ushio walked up to the two and kneeled down on one knee.

"If you'd like, you can have these two." He gave the little girl one of his gentle smiles that Eli came to like.

"Really..." The little girl replied through sniffles as she wiped away her tears.

"As long as you promise to smile for me." Ushio put the bag in her hand. "And take care of them."

The small girl smiled widely at the goldfishes and thanked Ushio. Her brother also thanked him before walking off with her, blending in with the crowd.

"That was very sweet of you." Eli commented.

"That- well- she seemed pretty upset about it. And besides, I didn't really need them." Ushio blushed as Eli poked his chest for getting flustered.

"Yeah yeah. But the crowd sure is getting big now."

Eli and Ushio looked around themselves and noticed the big change in mood. They picked up from passing people that the fireworks were going to start soon.

"Let's go and find a better place to watch them." Ushio took Eli by surprise when he grabbed her hand and held it tightly as they made their way through the crowds. As if time stopped, all Eli could see was the boy in front of her. The two were able to find a vacant area on the side of a hill. Eli became anxious because they strayed from the lights of the festival. She held onto the large hand that helped guided her way through the dark.

"Are you okay?" Amber orbs studied the older girl sitting beside him.

"I'm fine." She gave him a 'don't worry about me' smile.

Because you're here.

Being alone with Ushio reminded the blonde of the rainy day they spent together. Her crashing into him for fearing the dark, crying in his chest, almost kiss...ing him. Eli's face erupted in flames as she recalled the embarrassing memory of that day.

"Hey, Ushio..."

"Hm." He looked into aquamarine gems and found himself drowning into their color.

**"Ты мне нравишься"

*BOOM*

The loud explosion turned everyone's attention towards the sky. The colorful display left the people at the festival speechless. Eli was completely entranced with the fireworks that she completely forgot that her hand had unconsciously found its way with Ushio's.

Before they realized it, the firework show had already ended. Families, friends, and couples began making their way back home. Their hands separated leaving the comfortable warmth being touched by the cool summer breeze of the night.

"Hey Eli," Ushio called out the the girl walking in front of him. "What were you saying back there? I wasn't able to hear it because of the fireworks."

"Hmmm," Eli put a finger to her lips and gave him a playful smile. "It's a secret."

"Ah, Eli-chan!" Honoka and the rest bumped into the two. They chattered about the firework show and what they did during the festival. Of course when Eli got the chance she gave a good lecture to Nozomi and Nico for leaving her behind.


Everyone returned back to the vacation burned out. Once Hiroshi hit his face on the bed he was out like a night light. The next morning was when they would all head back home, but for some odd reason Ushio couldn't sleep. In his mind, there were many things that wouldn't go away. The words of Hiroshi still lingered in his head, never going away. And his parents' words were also keeping him awake.

Letting out a sigh of frustration, Ushio decided to get out of bed and get some fresh air. Usually, he would have no trouble sleeping, but it seems that his mind said so otherwise. He took a step outside and decided to take a walk to take his mind off his distracting thoughts. The bluenet didn't walk far before he noticed another person sitting on the grass looking up towards the sky.

"Maki?" Ushio called out to her and wondered what she was doing outside, in the dark, all alone. Her red hair shined as her eyes became illuminated by the moonlight. "What are you doing still awake?"

"I could ask you the same thing." She replied bluntly. Ushio inwardly smiled to himself from her reply as she sat down on her left. She was always straight to the point with him.

"I couldn't sleep that's all." She raised an eyebrow at his answer, but didn't push him to keep talking. "So, why are you not asleep yet?"

"I wanted to see the stars."

"The stars?" Ushio wasn't expecting that answer from the redhead. Then again, he wasn't expecting any actual answer from her.

"Yeah, when I used to go on vacation trips with my parents we would always go stargazing. It's been awhile since I last done so." A slight frown appeared on her face. Ushio noticed it when she mentioned the fact that it was with her parents.

"Then why didn't you say you wanted to go stargazing? I'm sure everyone wouldn't have minded."

"I prefer to watch the stars in peace, no offense, but I doubt Honoka and Rin would be able to sit still for five minutes." Maki bluntly stated.

"That may be true." Ushio chuckled. "But I'm sure they would have liked to see the starry sky you love so much."

"Ueh." Lilac orbs tore their gaze from the sky and made contact with shining citrine gems. Maki could practically feel Ushio's gentle gaze upon her.

"What's with that? I don't get it." She unconsciously began twirling a finger in her hair.

"You're not very honest with yourself." Maki blushed at his statement and turned away from him before she felt a familiar aching feeling in her chest. It reminded her of what Nozomi had said to her during their time at the festival.


"What wrong Maki-chan? You don't look like you're having much fun." Nozomi teased the younger girl.

"It's because I was left with you." The scarlet haired girl glared at the older girl.

"Ya~ so scary~." Turquoise eyes glittered with mischief. "But if you keep acting like that I'll have to give you my Washi Washi Treatment."

On instinct, Maki covered her chest and took a step away from her perverted senior. Never will there comes a day where she will understand why Nozomi likes punishing them so much.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" The redhead refused to let her guard down around the other.

"I wanted to talk to you about that." She pointed at a direction in the crowd full of people.

Maki was confused at first, wonder what Nozomi was pointing at, until she saw Ushio and Eli together. They seemed to be enjoying themselves at one of the booths. She didn't know why, but seeing them together alone made her chest swirl with many emotions.

"Hmph. What about that?" The younger girl pretended that the unsettling feeling on her chest didn't exist.

"Maki-chan you're not being honest with yourself again." Nozomi made an unsatisfied face at her. "At this rate your feeling won't be able to reach that person."

"What are you talking about? I don't get it. I don't know why you people keep thinking that I like him!" Maki was getting angry.

"Ara, but you seem to act more differently when you're around him. Like you can be more relaxed and opened." A grin appeared on her face. It seems like the redhead's anger didn't faze her. "You also seemed to have enjoyed your small moment with Ushio-kun in the library that one time too."

Maki was sure that her face was redder than the color of her hair. She knew it was too true to think that they escaped from Nozomi too easily.

"W-what your point?"

"Let me put it this way. If someone else were to confess to Ushio-kun and he accepted how would you feel?"

Maki opened her mouth the reply to Nozomi, but even her words failed to come out. She didn't know how to answer the purple haired girl's question.


"Hey Ushio..." Maki called to him.

"Hm." He turned his head towards her and hummed in response. "What is it?"

Is there someone you like?

"Would you like to learn some constellations?" Maki quickly replied.

I'm such an idiot.

"Eh, um, sure..." Ushio wasn't sure why Maki was acting strange all of a sudden, but he found it to be quite interesting.

They spent their moment together having Maki point out consolations. She named each one she knew, starting with her favorites. Before she knew it, Maki began babbling about the stars that she forgot all about time.

"You really like that stars huh?" Ushio couldn't help himself from laughing. This was his first time seeing Maki so passionate about something besides music. The face she was making while explaining about the consolations was...well...cute.

"D-d-don't laugh at me!" Red spreader across Maki's face as the bluenet tried to control is laughter. She crossed her arms and turned away from him annoyed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. It's just..." He paused to try and get a glimpse of her face. "I haven't seen you talk about anything else so passionately besides music. I find it to be...refreshing. Please forgive me for laughing if you found it to be rude."

Maki turned around to face his apologetic smile. She frowned at first, but slowly gave in to it.

"I-it's not like I've completely forgiven you...but I guess I'll let it go for now." Her response earned a chuckle from Ushio as he stood up.

"We should start heading back before they all start searching for us." He held out a hand and gestured her to take it.

Maki hesitated at first, but knew that he insisted, so she took his hand. And like a cliché scene in a movie she slipped and was caught in his chest.

"Are you okay Maki?" Ushio looked at her with a worried expression, almost similar to the one that he gave Kotori when she got hurt.

"I-I-I'm fine...but could you let me go..." Their eyes locked onto each other for a good five seconds before Ushio realized that he was still holding onto her. Like usual, heat rose up his face so fast that a person should have missed it if he blinked.

"I-I'm sorry!" He quickly let her go and turned around. "W-we r-really should be heading back."

"Y-yeah." She simply responded to his stuttering.

I won't run anymore. She thought to herself as they walked back together under the moonlight of the full moon.


**A/N – Russian for I like you (don't know if this is fully correct since I'm not a native speaker and used google for help, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)

So our heroines have all made their decisions. Now, the rest is up to you voters.

I'll let you in on a little secret of mine…

*Ships all of them with Ushio but can't do anything about it and has to wait patiently for the readers to vote*

Also, let me know if the characters ever go OOC. I can forget sometimes while writing.