Review Responses:

Masane: For Ch. 8, I did try to remember if they used bikes or they climbed. I couldn't remember, so I decided to go with biking. I did think about when they were going home, and how I could have made it a hell of a lot more tragic. But, what's in the past is done. Oh well.

As for chapter 9, I'm glad that you like the chapter finishing on the end of the day. I'm also happy that you liked the part with Asuka and Kumiko. Just how I thought they would be when it comes to it. Glad you enjoyed!

SixRay: That's how Asuka would be. Well, at least for me. Thanks for the kind words!

Reina woke up, eyes still feeling tired. Her feeling of guilt wasn't helping her have a peaceful morning.

'Natsuki-senpai will help me. I don't want to lose my best friend over…something I caused.'

Reina didn't want to cry right now. Thankfully, it was Sunday. She had time to prepare herself, at least mentally.

However, it would be better to prepare after a nice sleep. Her head looked over to her clock. '7:30? It's so early. Why did I wake up now?'

She thought back to the previous day. Ignoring the fight...was it even a fight that she had with Kumiko? Most of it was Kumiko pouring out feelings Reina could only assume were pent up for a while.

'No, focus on after that.' Reina didn't want to dwell on it for too long. Her day would start horrendously if she could only think of that.

When she got home, she immediately went into her room and…cried in a pillow.

'I must have passed out while I was crying.'

Reina rubbed her eyes, not expecting them to be watery. In fact, her shirt was being covered in tears. Just thinking about what Reina did to her friend…

She ran to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. No matter how much she wanted the thought of Kumiko out of her head, it wouldn't leave. Her eyes wouldn't stop streaming tears. She splashed water in her face.

'Just calm down Reina. Please, calm down.' She was taking deep breaths. It helped, but she was still feeling awful.

Not the greatest start to her day.

She walked back to her room, and saw that she had a message.

Natsuki:
You holding up?

She smiled. 'Natsuki-senpai is so…nice. And I hurt one of her friends. Why does she even help someone like me?'

She texted back.

Reina:
No, but I think talking to you will help.

She waited for the response.

Natsuki:

Cool. When do you want to talk?

She wanted it to be soon. She couldn't live with herself knowing that she dealt so much pain to someone she supposedly cares so much about.

Reina:
Is 12 okay with you?

The response was almost immediate.

Natsuki:
Yes, meet me at the café. The one with the cat.

Reina:
Okay.

Reina was happy. But she thought about why she was going to meet up with Natsuki and became deflated.

It was going to be a rough day.

…

Reina approached the entrance of the cat café. However, she didn't see Natsuki anywhere. Maybe it was because she was a bit early. It was 11:50, she had time to wait. So, she took a seat on a bench.

…

"Kousaka!" Reina opened her eyes. She didn't fall asleep, but she was tired. Her morning wasn't great, after all. However, she was slightly annoyed.

"You're 30 minutes late." Reina's tone was venomous and harsh. Okay, she was annoyed.

"Sheesh, my bad Kousaka. I had some stuff to do." Natsuki said, her tone having an "I don't care" feel. "Well, staying out here isn't going to help. Let's go inside."

Reina sighed. 'Maybe I put too much faith in Natsuki-senpai helping.'

The two took a seat. The waitress came over giving them a menu. The two didn't order much. The two got some coffee. Natsuki wasn't looking to relax here.

"So," Natsuki quickly got to the point once the waitress left. "How are you feeling?"

Reina sighed. She rested her head on her hands. "Not too well. I fell asleep while I was crying. I felt awful."

Natsuki nodded. "Did you get to say anything?" Their beverages came before Reina responded.

However, Reina was hesitating. "Y-yes…" She looked down at her cup. "I was only able to say that I needed her. I was feeling lonely without her. Then she went and told me everything."

Natsuki noticed the tears coming from Reina's face. "Hey, wipe your eyes. Crying doesn't look good on you." Reina listened and wiped her eyes with a tissue. "How much did she tell you? About her feelings?"

Reina was curious. "You seem to know a lot about Kumiko's feelings."

"Well, when a friend needs someone to talk to, you listen to them. Right?" Natsuki told Reina. "When she was spaced out while playing or wasn't playing right, she always took me aside. That's how I found out about you two."

"S-so, you knew about her feelings?" Reina asked timidly.

Natsuki nodded. "I was actually pretty angry with you. Kumiko quickly became one of my friends, and seeing her sad was upsetting."

"Did she talk about me liking Taki-sensei?"

"Yup. She was mad that she had to help you get with someone that…Well, he was way out of your league. Not only because of the age." Reina's mood flattened which Natsuki noticed. "Don't worry about that now. You're over him, right?"

Reina nodded. She was surprised that she got over Taki-sensei so quick. She hasn't really thought about love past him, which she didn't mind.

"I'm not mad either." Reina perked up. "Well, a bit. But, I can assume that you do feel lonely."

Reina sighed. "Yeah. I don't feel lonely as I do feel guilty. I don't think I deserve to feel lonely." Reina stirred her coffee. "I made my best friend hurt. She had all this pain built up…because of me."

Natsuki poked Reina. "We're going to talk somewhere else." Natsuki paid for the small drinks and the two left the café.

…

They found a bench to sit on. Reina had some time to think while they walked, but her thoughts were so muddled that she couldn't keep them sorted.

"Kousaka," Natsuki said. Reina perked her head up. "To be honest, this should take a while for both of you to get over. Knowing Kumiko, she would probably bottle it all up. And then as vice-pres, I'll have to scold her."

"R-really," Reina responded in a distant tone. She didn't like hearing that she and Kumiko wouldn't be able to make up for a while.

"Hey, cheer up."

Reina was confused. "B-but, you said that it-"

"Should take a while." Natsuki's emphasis on the word made it clear to Reina.

'I-I might have a chance?'

Natsuki saw the hope in the trumpeter's eyes. "How desperate are you? To be by Kumiko's side as her best friend again?"

Reina didn't hesitate. "If I don't have her with me, I'm lost. I need her."

Natsuki nodded. "You know that she will probably spend less time with you and more with Asuka-senpai. Can you deal with that?"

Reina took a deep breath. "I might not like it, but yes. I need to be a good friend and be supportive."

"Why won't you like it, Kousaka?"

'Wasn't that obvious?' Reina thought. "I'm lost without her, like I said. I won't like it if I'm away from her. She's my best friend."

Natsuki kept a neutral face. 'Kousaka need to face the facts.'

"So, none of it is because of romantic love?"

Reina wasn't following Natsuki's logic. "Of course not. I said, she's my-"

"Yes, I know that. But that's what I heard Kumiko say all the time." Natsuki saw the irritation in Reina's face. But, she had to be blunt. "If you do develop feelings for her, know that you can do nothing about it." Reina's face was in a state of confusion. "If you start to love Kumiko, you're going to face the same pain that Kumiko dealt with for that year. Can you handle that?"

Reina…never even thought about that option. But, one thing was certain. "Yes, I can. I won't fall in love with Kumiko. I've decided to put love aside after Taki-sensei. Focus on music, school. It's normal to be like that."

Natsuki sighed as she nodded. Reina took this as Natsuki understanding. "Whatever you say, Kousaka."

Natsuki was the complete opposite. 'I have a feeling. I know that this won't end well.'

"Well, I have something to do. I'll see you later, Kousaka." Natsuki told her goodbye to Reina.

Reina waved, but her feelings were mixed up again.

"Kumiko is just a friend. I'll be there for her as a friend, not a lover. I'll apologize tomorrow, she deserves it."

'Right?'

Quick note: How excited are you for the Hibike movies? I laughed when I saw that they were going to focus on second year and how I'm revolving my story around this. I'm more hyped for the second movie, though. Mizore and Nozomi was the ship I loved watching, and I'm excited for their backstory/future.