Lonely No More
by Cyberchao X

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: Running out of witty things to say.

"I…wow…" Suzuka said, a bit stunned. "Aren't you moving a bit fast?"

"We've known each other for years, Suzuka. Perhaps I didn't realize my feelings until you brought them to my attention, but…I don't really feel like I'm rushing into this at all."

Suzuka nodded. "And Makimaro-san?"

"What about her?"

"Do you love her?"

"I…I love her."

This time, however, the words were reversed, Suzuka's question using the stronger form and Arisa's reply using the weaker one. Since Suzuka already knew that Suki had told Arisa that she truly loved her, she found that Arisa's failure to use this same word was quite telling. "Arisa…" She hugged the tomboyish girl close, wanting to do so much more, but at the same time feeling as though she shouldn't come on too strongly—even though the girl had just confessed her love to her. "Uh…I think you said you had more to model for me?"

Arisa smiled. "Yeah, that's right…" She turned away from Suzuka as she stripped down.

"Why so shy all of a sudden?" Suzuka asked teasingly.

"I'm not being shy. Just showing you my better side." Suzuka couldn't disagree; Arisa's backside was quite attractive, and she seemed to be posing somewhat for Suzuka, turning to prominently display the well-toned lats—and glutes. The latter were still on display when she'd finished getting dressed, being tightly hugged by her pants. (CCX: That's "trousers" to you non-Americans. Yes, I'm well aware that in British English, "pants" are an undergarment.) "Judging by your silence, I take it you agree?"

"You don't have a bad side…but yes, that is…very impressive." She found herself unable to resist copping a feel, only to find herself rather confused. "That shouldn't be possible."

"What shouldn't be possible?"

"Those pants. Clothes that tight-fitting shouldn't be able to exist, at least not with that fabric. How do you get them on?"

"There are multiple clips holding the waist shut; the opening's large enough unclipped for me to get on. Barely. I actually learned quite a bit about 'impossible' outfits yesterday. Suki-tan bought this one top that has a zipper in the front that starts just below her breasts and goes down. Lets her frame her body to a ridiculously high degree. I'm kind of jealous because I don't need tricks like that, but…it looked so cool." (CCX: If Tetsuya Nomura hasn't made this top yet, he needs to do so immediately.)

"Yeah, well, I don't need anything weird like that on either end, so…"

"…So what? You're beautiful, Suzuka. I should be jealous of you."

"Of what?"

"Of…well, just you. I definitely get what you're saying, but my 'beauty' will fade eventually. Hopefully not for a long time, not if I can help it, but no one can stay that fit forever. You'll be pretty forever, though."

"'Forever' is such a long time. Until death, maybe."

"So literal." Suzuka just smiled back at her. "Okay, last one."

"The fashion show's over so soon?"

"I thought you said you'd rather see me out of them anyway," Arisa teased.

"Well, I certainly wouldn't mind…but I like you for more than just your body."

"Glad to hear you say that. We should try to keep things normal between us."

"Does that mean you don't want to be my girlfriend?"

"…Of course I do, but…I already have a girlfriend, whom I also love, and… and there are other reasons that being more than just friends isn't right for us at the moment."

"You're cute when you worry about others. Always have been. I guess… I guess I've been a little jealous of Nanoha-chan for longer than I realized."

Arisa paused, blouse still open. "Of Nanoha-chan?"

"Back when she first became a magical girl. Before we found out about that part of her life. We just knew that something was wrong, and she wouldn't open up about it. And of course, you got mad at her like you always do, because you were worried about her. We both were. But…that was the first time I really saw that side of you."

"We were so young then. Surely you couldn't have…"

"And why couldn't I have? You seemed to feel that way about her then. And of course, we all know now that she fell madly in love with Fate-chan the moment she first laid eyes upon her, which was around the same time. But, no, not then. Not right away. At the time, I just liked seeing a softer side of you. But since then, I thought about that side of you, and I wished that you'd shown that type of concern for me."

"And what reason would I have to do so? Unlike our other friends, you are not a magical girl who frequently jumps into dangerous situations with reckless abandon."

"That's harsh. Fate-chan and Haya-chan most certainly do not jump into dangerous situations with reckless abandon. Although I get the feeling that Haya-chan might if she didn't have Signum-san always watching over her, not to mention Vita-chan to do the reckless stuff for her."

Arisa laughed. "You know exactly who I was talking about. You're right; I shouldn't have grouped all of them together."

"…I worry about her too. Nanoha-chan gets so excited about using her powers to help people, but one of these days she's going to overdo it and get herself hurt."

"So? You haven't commented on my last outfit."

Suzuka was all too happy to oblige Arisa's desire to change the subject. "You already know what I'm going to say."

"Then say it."

"You look beautiful, Arisa-chan." Then she started to undo the blouse.

"So what would happen if my breasts actually did grow?" Arisa asked. "You seem awfully fond of these little ones."

"You know I'll love you no matter what." This time it was the real deal.

Arisa was pleased to hear it. "Suzuka…"

CCX: G-d I suck so much at slice of life, which is where this theoretically should be headed. Let's head on to the next significant event.