When she left the classroom Azusa stormed down the stairs and stopped in the empty hall. Everyone was in their clubs or already on their way homes, so she'd have the hallway to herself for a while. She sighed and slumped onto the bottom step of the staircase.

Her anger at Yui was fading, however it was being replaced by worry. She knew that her friends were probably just surprised, but their reaction to hearing about her and Yui's date hadn't been encouraging. Mugi had seemed happy, but that was to be expected. Mio had seemed shocked, like she couldn't believe what she had heard. She had even asked Ritsu if it was okay, which, considering that Ritsu already knew about Yui and Azusa and approved, would probably turn out to be fine. Still, the fact that the bassist had been hesitant, had thought it weird enough to ask her friend about it was worrying.
The worst had been Sawako. Azusa was sure her advisor hadn't meant to make light of her feelings. She was aware of the reputation all girls' schools had when it came to relationships, and Sawako had probably thought she was just another case of practice dating. But Azusa was certain of her own feelings on the matter.

She was less certain of Yui's feelings however. Maybe the older girl was using her as practice. Or maybe she just felt bad and was humoring her. Even if the she wasn't aware that she was, Yui could have a change of heart, or decide that girls weren't really for her. Azusa groaned. This was one of the reasons she hadn't wanted to tell anyone about her and Yui; everything seemed much more serious and official if everyone knew.

Azusa's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the clubroom door opening. She had though someone might come after her, but she wasn't sure wanted to talk to anyone right now. But as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs she sighed and accepted that she wouldn't be able to get away.

"Azu-nyan," she heard Yui yell. "Azu-nya- oh you're right there. I thought you would have gone further." She heard her senpai stop a couple of steps behind her.

"Yui-senpai, I'm not really in the mood to talk to anyone right now."

"Is it because of what I said in there? Ritsu said you didn't want anyone to know we went on a date."

"Mmm."

"Ah, I'm sorry then. I didn't know you didn't want anyone to know."

Both of them were quiet for a few moments. Azusa heard Yui fidgeting beside her. Eventually the older girl sat beside her on the step.

"Azu-nyan?"

"Yeah?"

"Um, I was wondering if there was anything I could do to make it up to you/"

Azusa took a moment to consider. "I don't know senpai, I just want some time alone."

Yui hummed beside her. She sounded like she didn't like that answer. "If it makes you feel better, I don't think anyone minds."

"A little," Azusa said. In truth it didn't. It sounded like something said just to placate her. But Yui sounded so hopeful, and Azusa knew the older girl did want her to feel better. But simple words weren't helping her concern over her friends' reactions or her worries about Yui's feelings.

"Senpai, I think I'm going to go home today. I don't think I'm ready to go back in there yet."

"Ah. Yeah, okay."

Azusa stood up and started to walk away. She didn't make it far before she heard footsteps behind her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Yui fall into step beside her. She spared her a quick glance before asking what she was doing.

"I'm going with you. If we're dating now, shouldn't I make you feel better if you're feeling down?"

"Yui-senpai, it's alright," Azusa said. "I'll be fine on my own."

"Not if I have anything to say about it." A moment passed before Yui realized what she said. She quickly waved her hands in front of herself. "I meant that you won't be on your own, not that you wouldn't be fine."

"You don't have to force yourself to do what you think I want," Azusa said.

"Eh? But I'm not forcing myself. I really want to help you feel better."

Azusa looked at the smile that had spread over Yui's face. It was honest, innocent. Much like Yui herself. Azusa sighed.

"I guess you're right. I'll let Ritsu-senpai know we're not going back to the clubroom.

"Eheh, good," Yui said. "Now let's get our stuff and get out of here."

She grabbed Azusa's hand and pulled her along towards the lockers. Azusa couldn't help the warm feeling rising within her. She wasn't certain what Yui might feel, but times like this filled her with hope.

Ritsu looked around Mio's room for the tenth time that evening. Everything looked the same as it always did except for the books and paper that were arrayed on the table that separated the two of them. Ritsu sighed. She was bored; studying did that to her.

After they had split off from Mugi, Ritsu had invited herself over. She had said she wanted to study, but really she was concerned about Mio's reaction to Yui's slip up. At the time, the other girl had asked her if it was okay. That wasn't a good sign, if Mio needed someone else to approve of Azusa and Yui... she was pulled out of her thoughts by Mio.

"I thought you came over to study."

Ritsu waved her hand. "You know I can only do it for a little bit before I can't focus any more."

Mio sighed. "I know, but you could at least try for a little longer. How long has it been? Ten minutes?"

"I have a lot on my mind, alright?"

Mio snorted. "Like what?"

"Like Yui and Azusa."

"Ah. Yeah, I guess that was rather surprising."

"Mmhmm. Must be nice for them, though. Those two get along so well," Ritsu said.

"Yeah. I guess it's less of a surprise that it's those two, and more that, well..."

"Well what?"

"I didn't expect to see two girls going out, not seriously."

Ritsu took a deep breath. Time to see what Mio thought about the situation. "Do you think it's strange?"

Mio's eyebrows drew together in concentration. She took her time answering.

"Maybe, a little, it is strange. Most people don't look at their own sex like that." She paused to gather her thoughts. "But some people don't like the taste of pineapples, or bananas. Or cilantro! Some people think it tastes like soap."

Ritsu grinned and nodded. "Some people don't like the sight of barnacles." She watched Mio flinch and glare at her. She giggled in response.

"I guess I was trying to say that you can't help what you do and don't like." She sounded annoyed. Ritsu smiled to herself. It was too easy to rile the other girl up sometimes.

"I'm glad you think so. You seemed kind of tense when Yui said she and Azusa went on a date."

To Ritsu's surprise, Mio laughed at that. "Well at the time I thought... well, it's not important."

Ritsu wasn't about to take that lying down. She moved around the table between the two and started pushing and pulling Mio. "Tell me, tell me, tell me," she whined.

Mio pushed Ritsu away and chuckled. "Alright, I'll tell you. When I asked you about Azusa, what she was doing at your house, you got all defensive, and said it was private. Well I kind of got the idea that maybe, you and her were... were doing what her and Yui are doing."

Ritsu was a little surprised. "You thought me and Azusa were going out?"

"You were being so secretive. And you tell me everything, but then you said you had to ask Azusa if it was okay, it just seemed like..." Mio looked away from Ritsu. "Well like the two of you were hiding something. Like a relationship."

Ritsu took a moment to consider Mio's words. She could kind of see how the other girl came to the conclusion she had. Still, looking at her stirred something in Ritsu. The two of them had promised not to hide things from each other, and even though she felt she had done the right thing, she couldn't help but feel a little guilt.

"Sorry about that," she said. She couldn't quite meet Mio's eyes when the other girl looked at her.

"It's okay. I understand why you did it." They were silent for a few moments, then Mio's voice took on a teasing note. "Still, it was a little weird, thinking you were dating someone. I didn't think I'd ever see the day that happened."

Ritsu was glad to hear the serious tone leave their conversation. Teasing was something she was much more comfortable with. And she figured she owed Mio a few good shots at her.

"Oy, I can think about that kind of stuff too. I just choose not to."

Mio rolled her eyes. "Somehow I don't believe you."

"It's true though." Ritsu thought for a moment, trying to think of an example she could give. "Remember that time you left lyrics in my mailbox?"

"Hm? I've written a lot of lyrics, you might have to be more specific."

"It was all lovey-dovey. They were about what someone looked like with their bangs down."

"Ah, yeah, I remember now."

"Well I never told you, but when I found them I didn't know they were from you, so I thought it was some kind of love letter," Ritsu said.

"Eh?" Mio shifted her position, turning more fully towards Ritsu.

"I don't know, I thought it was someone who saw me with my hair up all the time and wanted to see it down. I spent all day thinking about it until you told me it was just lyrics."

Mio was giving her a strange look. "How did... how did you feel about that?"

Ritsu felt the beginning of a blush coming on. "It's not important, I just wanted to prove that I can think about stuff like that too."

"But did you... would you have considered... if someone else had written it, if it was a- a love letter, what would you have said if the person who wrote it came to you in person?"

Mio was focused completely on Ritsu. Ritsu was a little unnerved at the earnest scrutiny she was under.

"I don't know," she said. "I guess it'd depend on the person? I mean, I wouldn't date some stranger because of some nice words."

Mio blinked and seemed to realize that she was staring. She turned back to the books in front of her. She coughed.

"We should get back to studying," She said. "Wouldn't want you missing any practice for bad grades."

Ritsu frowned, but went along with the change in subject. She whined a little for Mio's benefit but went back to reading over her notes. Mio was acting strange, but after her own behavior in keeping Azusa's secret, Ritsu figured she could give her best friend some time to talk to her on her own.