The sweat was rolling down Rima's face, which was glowing in the hot sun. The tourney had only started one hour, but Rima was having a lot of unexpected fun.
She was starting to pant, when one of the girls yelled her name.
''Hey Rima, pass me the ball!''
With all the energy she had left in her body, she kicked the ball towards the girl with brown hair, whose name was…. Mizuki? Yes it was Mizuki. They were doing well, her team had won everything so far.
Rima had always hated soccer, but, this time, everything was actually going well.
Probably except the fact that she was in a fight with Nagi- Nades-, oh, what did it matter? She didn't need him. She was perfectly fine without him. She didn't need his arrogant personality butting into everything she was doing. Amu and Yaya were there, without questioning her actions.
Rima had been spacing out for a little while now, up until she saw the ball flying her way. She was standing close to the goal; she could score a point!
As the ball was getting closer Rima decided to hit it with her head. It was a good idea because the ball went right in, and the keeper missed it.
Wow.
What just happened?
She had to rewind this again, in her head. The ball went into the goal, which meant.. That they had just won the tourney.
She could see all the girls from her team running up to her and hugging her. She heard them scream her name. And somehow.. She yelled along.
Rima felt happy, and a tad bit silly. There wasn't a thing in her body that liked or enjoyed soccer. Yet, yet she felt so happy! Maybe she had a sunburn because she had been out for so long?
Meanwhile, Rima was being pulled with the other teammates to a corner in the shadows.
All the girls sat down, and Rima was engulfed with all the compliments.
''That goal was genius Mashiro-san!''
''Where did you learn to play soccer like that?''
''I bet you're the best of you sport class!''
Rima laughed in a childish way.
''I'm not good at sports. I guess you guys just got me motivated. I suck at volleyball, really.''
A lot of girls smiled and laughed, while Manami tried to get their attention.
''We have to go to the prize announcement.''
All of the girls stood up and followed Manami. Rima compared the grounds with what it looked like before. Before the matches started, people had been walking up to the fields shyly.
But now, everyone looked tired, and was sitting in the shadow all sweaty and sticky.
Manami lead them to some kind of stage where Nikaidou-sensei was announcing the winners of the tourney. Well… The winners so far….
Since the tourney existed out of two sports, they had to do the other one first, and then they could play soccer against the winners of the other half.
Rima did hear the name of their team on the first place with soccer, but she didn't really care. She knew she was going to suck at volleyball.
''Is something wrong, Rima-chan?'' Manami asked.
''Don't put too much of your faith in me… I'm really bad at sports.''
''It'll be fine if you just give your best.'' Manami smiled in a way which Rima really reminded of Amu.
She felt guilt wash over her. She had been a little mean to the other girls.
Apologizing wasn't easy, but was going to have to do it. To Nagihiko, as well….
Rima sighed.
For now, she still had a fun tourney to play!
With her small legs, she ran after all the other girls, into the warm summer sun.

The sweat was lying on Rima's forehead again. All of the girls were standing on the field, heavily panting. The heat was getting unbearable.
Somewhere Rima heard a strange microphone voice. That was the last thing she heard before she passed out.

A strange microphone voice. With that same feeling she woke up in the nurses' office.
Even just for a second or two she didn't realize what was going on, but after that it seemed clear. She had passed out from the heat, and was brought here.
The nurses' office was cool, but it had some kind of degrading feeling. Around the fluorescent tubes there were little flies.
It almost seemed like it was night already… Was it?
Rima looked around and noticed that someone was holding her hand. The person who was holding her had, was sleeping in a chair.
And, apparently, this person had purple hair. Purple hair…. It was Nagihiko.
Judging from his looks, he had probably been here for a while. Plus, he was asleep.
She felt a little bubble of anger grow, but it popped right away. Right, she had to apologize.
Tell him that she didn't want him to interfere with her business. But it was obvious that he wanted to.
Rima sighed. This guy was impossible.
She slowly reached out her hand and pulled his hair. He didn't wake up. Again. He still wasn't awake.
Was she going to have to kick him? Rima considered pulling his hair again, but when she reached out her hand, he spoke up.
''I got it the first time.''
Oh really?
Rima didn't talk. He wasn't worth talking to.
''So are you going to say anything to me or…?''
And he was so rude!
Another sigh. He just….
''Listen.'' Rima said. ''I'm sorry. Please don't intrude with my business.'' That's how the words that came out of her mouth should have sounded like. Instead, it was more like this;
''.''
Nagihiko frowned. ''What did just say?''
''Nothing. Forget it.'' Rima muttered.
''Alright…''
Rima felt a tension built up. Maybe she should try to apologise again. This wasn't going well.
''I-
''I'm sorry about what happened.'' Nagihiko said. ''I'll promise not to intrude with your personal life again.''
Right! Rima sure showed him.. Wait…
''So you did understand what I said.''
''Maybe..''
Rima hit Nagihiko. Instead of groan in pain, like he should, Nagihiko gave Rima a smug smile.
He was really getting on her nerves.
''So did we win the tourney?'' Rima asked.
Nagihiko pointed to the table standing close to the bed which Rima was laying on.
A huge, silver trophy could be seen.
''It's going to your classroom.''
Rima smiled. ''So we were playing in our class teams then?''
''Yeah. I'm in your class too. My team won the volleyball tourney.''
Next to the huge soccer trophy, a small trophy with an inscription could be seen.
1st place; Seiyo volleyball tourney.
Rima shot Nagihiko a smug smile.
´´What´s up with that mini trophy?´´
´´Tsukasa said it was a budget matter.''
A smile formed Rima's face, which changed into laughter quite fast. It took Rima a while before she was able to talk.
''He buys this huge building….. HAHAHAHHA…. Gives us a huge trophy… and and…''
Rima's cheeks swelled up and she started laughing again.
''And… and.. He tells you it's budget matters.''
Nagihiko sighed.
''I think he hates me…..''
Rima patted Nagihiko on his head.
''It'll be fine, poor, poor Nagihiko.''
To be honest, Nagihiko didn't like to be treated like this, but he was happy that Rima could talk normal to him.
''Shall we go get dinner?''
''Don't forget your Nadeshiko ponytail.''
Rima jumped off the bed, and dashed into out of the nurses' office into the hall.
Seeing Rima run like that, Nagihiko realized something. He was not alone. There was a person who he could be his self to. How long had it been since he had known such a person?
''Maybe I should just drop my whole Nadeshiko act.'' He thought while pulling his hair up in a ponytail.
''Rima-chan, wait!'' He said with the high-pitched voice.

The Dining hall was shining in its full glory, and the guardians were eating at their table.
At one side of the table, conversations could be heard, but on the other one it was very silent.
The tension between Utau, Kukai, Yaya and Kairi was about to snap.
Rima was talking to Nadeshiko, but she noticed what was going on at the other side of the table.
But then, on the other hand… There was something going on in the hall as well.
All the other students were sitting at their round tables, but were watching Utau and Kukai with one eye. Even the students from their class seemed to be watching them closely.
Utau sighed and stared into the air. Kukai was playing with his food. Yaya was pouting with an entire new gloomy face, which worried Rima.
Kairi was just eating his food quietly. The situation stayed the same the entire time.
Nadeshiko spoke up. ''Why don't we start apologising right away?'' She said.
Utau's eyes twitched. ''I didn't do anything wrong! I'm not apologising!''
Now it was Rima's turn to be irritated. ''Why don't you apologise for almost wounding one of the other guardians, giving away our position to the rest of the school, making a mess of the roof, and causing us so much trouble?''
Utau looked like she was going to protest, but decided to do what Rima said.
''I apologise for all those things you just listed.''
''And… I… Uuhm…'''Kukai stuttered. ''Apologise for giving Kairi premission to publish this.''
''YOU DID WHAT?'' Utau yelled.
''I didn't know it was going to about this!'' Kukai made sad face, and it seemed to hit Utau right away.
''I suppose I could forgive you…'' She said with a stuborn undertone.
Kukai automaticly turned his head towards Kairi, waiting for him to apologise.
''I apologise for publishing something with premission.''
''Ahem.''
''I apologise for taking the picture and not giving the right information to Kukai-san.'' Kairi adjusted.
Next to Kairi sat a very sad Yaya about to burst into tears.|
''Yaya is very sorry for doing al those mean things to all of you, and Yaya really wants to make it up to you.'' Yaya started sobbing on Kairi's arm, Kairi blushed, but still patted her on her head to console her.
''Don't worry, Yaya-chan, we've forgiven you.'' Nadeshiko said.
Everytime Nagihiko acted like his fake alternate ego, it made Rima think a bit. How would it be, to constantly having to be something you're not.
Rima didn't even notice Amu tugging her sweater.
''Hey Rima! Don't you think Kairi and Yaya make a good couple?'' Amu whispered in her ear.
Yeah right. Kairi and Yaya. Fire and Rain. Venus and Mars. No way that would ever work.
''That wouldn't work Amu, they're total opposites.'' Rima whispered back.
Nadeshiko mixed in the conversation. ''They would make a good couple. They can help each other with their bad qualities.''
''What do mean?'' Rima whispered.
''For example; Yaya has to learn for a test but she doesn't want to, because she doesn't like less exciting-''
''Boring..''
''Stuff. Kairi knows it's important, so he pushes her to study. Another example; Kairi gets an invitation from his friends to go somewhere. He doesn't see the use, so he refuses. But Yaya makes him go since she knows he'll miss out.''
The idea still seemed pretty funny to Rima, but Nadeshiko's words did make sense. But how would they ever solve an argument?
''I guess it could work..''
Nadeshiko, Rima and Amu where whispering in about the topic, not following the conversation at the table.
''So did pass out at the sports tourney, midget?'' Ikuto said.
''I wasn't the only one. Besides I won with soccer. Sure can't say that about you… Did you even show up?'' Rima said bitchy.
Amu laughed awkwardly. ''Why don't we skip desert and go our room Ikuto?''
''No, I want to…. Wait what? Sure.''
Amu stood up, grabbed Ikuto's hand and dragged him away.
''What was that all about?'' Kukai said.
''I don't know.'' Nadeshiko said.
Rima knew that was a lie, but it didn't matter, they could talk about it later.
After finishing her food, Rima still sat at the table after one hour. Things were quite nice without Ikuto… But Amu probably already liked him. He wasn't that much of a bother.
''Shall we go to our room, Rima-chan?''
''Ok.''
Rima and Nadeshiko stood up and walked out of the hall, to their room.
''Why do you think Amu dashed off with Ikuto?''
''To prevent another fight, of course.''
Rima sighed. ''Amu's not the type to run off in such situations. I think she might have a crush..''
Nagihiko shot Rima a skeptic look. ''You do realize that I'm a guy, right?''
''I always forget that when we're talking for a while. Did you have any trouble with that on your last school?'' Rima giggled.
''You're probably joking, but the answer is yes.''
Nagihiko imitated girls with a weird voice. '' 'Nadeshiko, have you seen that new transfer student, he's hot! Who do you have a crush on?' And: 'Nadeshiko, I think I need a bra. Will you shopping with me?' Or, even worse: 'Did you get in your period already, Nadeshiko? I got mine last week'. ''
Rima started laughing. ''Oh my god..''
''I always skipped gym because I didn't want to be in a dressing room with all those girls. When I was older I could just make up an excuse myself, but when I was young, my mom did it. And she really can't lie.''
Rima was drying up her tears from laughing, when they had arrived at their room.
When she walked in, she noticed something. It was quite empty. No curtains, painting or posters. Just four blank walls, a window, and three doors. It didn't really seem like a domority.
''Don't you think we should put up posters, or something likely?''
Nagihiko smiled. ''And what kind of posters? Basketball posters? Can't do. I know, why don't we put up bala-balance posters.''
A red shade filled Rima's face. ''I-I don't even like that kind of stuff.''
''Oh no? How cute.'' Nagihiko said. ''Do the usual, Rima.''
And, just as Tadase reacts to the word prince, Rima chara-naried right away.
''Bala-balance!'' Said Rima in cheerful squeaky way.
About a minute later, Rima returned back to normal.
''You forced me!'' Rima shouted at Nagihiko.
''You don't have to hide it. I think the dream to make someone laugh is a wonderful quality, and I think you should share it as much as you can.'' Nagihiko smiled.
The weird, same, warm feeling bottled up in Rima's tummy again. She felt her hard beat faster. She had trouble looking him in the eyes, and couldn't come up with a witty comeback.
Instead, she walked over to him and kissed him on his cheek.
''Thank you.''