A/N:

So, I am back with chapter fourteen! Time to reply to some reviews:

Anjeal: Yes, I can see why you think that. I was planning Kotori to space out and start thinking about Umi, which leads her to being found out. Kinda thought that I rushed the end, so I'll try my best to take my time. Thanks An-chan (it's alright if I call you that?) and lol BurReito, haha. Good name, your a legend xD Also, thanks, I hope to never fail you with my characterisations. You're in for a long ride. Rin, you need to keep an eye on Anju.

Rin: Hai nya~!

Kumiko-chii: Mm, it sure is bliss, isn't it? Glad you liked it, Kumiko-chan. Hope you get better :)

MiloMilkshake: Yay! Saying that you're happy makes me happy! *smiles*

Nikorama16: Un, I noticed in the previous chapter that Nico was in the background most of the time, but chapter 13 was meant to be focused on Kotori/Umi, so yeah... Sorry 'bout that. Your Nico Nico nii~ will appear in this chapter though, not in the background, so don't worry.

Rena Bodewig: Yes, it was a quick update. You get a trophy lol. Erena does love Anju, but hmm... Anju's suspicious, huh?

Also, have you checked out the new release of the Love Live! songs? They're epic, check them out on YouTube at Lantis! Hmm, I guess that's about it. Let's read on!

~14~

"Maki-chan, you still have tears on your eyes," Nico informed the flustered redhead, and Maki's brows twitched in annoyance.

"I told you, s-shut u-up!" the watery-eyed paramedic tried to protest, her face glowing pink. Nico covered her mouth and snickered playfully, earning an eventual smack from Maki on the arm.

"Ow, ow! Maki-chan! That h-hurts...!" Nico cried, her giggles rising.

"Idiot, idiot!"

Meanwhile, the blonde was snuggled against the purplenette, and every once in a while gave her a refill of water, since Maki did state that she needed to take lots of water. And medicine. But, where were they kept? Eli's brows furrowed at the sight of Nozomi coughing with a scorching face—and not only that, but her ears burned scarlet, like Maki's hair. She frowned when Nozomi began to breathe heavily; it didn't help, for Eli's insides were trembling at the state of her sick girlfriend. It also turned her on to be honest. Though, just like Nozomi said, they couldn't do it here. Plus, she was sick—but Eli didn't care if she caught it. A light bulb flashed, and Eli glanced at the latter.

"Nozomi, you should unbutton your dress a bit," Eli suggested, and Nozomi's heated cheeks probably became more hot at the sound of the ridiculous recommendation. Honoka turned around quickly, a glint in her eye. She winked at Eli, pulling off a thumbs up, however the quarter Russian didn't understand what she meant.

"Eli-chan! Fighto dayo~!"

"...What...?" Eli said, dumbfounded. Honoka sighed. Seconds later, Umi shifted her gaze upon the blonde (which Kotori pouted at) and stammered.

"E-Eli! H-how shameful!" the bluenette cried.

"Eh? You've kissed me though, Umi-chan," Kotori puffed, her arms on her hips.

"WHAT?!" Honoka shouted loudly, almost crashing Eli's eardrum; instead it only stung it.

"T-that's different, Kotori!"

Kotori made a 'hmph' and crossed her arms.

"It's the same,"

Umi fell silent. Amused by the sight of her juniors, Eli could only grin. She then captured sight of Nozomi, and her face flared: Nozomi unbuttoned all of her buttons on the fashioned dress. The blonde was certain that a slight preview of her black, lacy bra was present.

"N-Nozomi!" Eli cried.

"...What...? You told me to unbutton my dress..."

"O-only a bit!"

"Well...you like the sight anyway," Nozomi smirked. Eli had to admit: she did in fact enjoy the sight, but she shook her head. The blonde's thoughts shattering.

"Y-you know what? I'm not going to look anymore,"

"Hah, as if, Elicchi. You know you want to,"

"No I don't!"

In the corner were Nico and Maki constantly bickering. But, when they were aware that the duo near the bed were rather loud, they paused. Entertainment shone on their face with a spice of a smirk. Their smirk faded as Maki could feel a vibration in the depths of her moist pocket; she took her phone out and cleaned the screen with her sleeves. Luckily, it hadn't been damaged from the storm of rain, but the screen was wet. She grinned: her phone was waterproof, due to some deal that she accepted a few months ago. Narrowing her amethyst orbs, she read the words that appeared on the tomato-coloured phone. It was Rin.

"Who's that, Maki-chan?" Nico asked with a questionable look, "Don't tell me you're cheating on me,"

Maki retorted, "I would never do such a thing! It's just Rin!"

"Oh, go on then, pick it up,"

"Whatever," and Maki held the phone beside her ear, "Rin-"

"Maki-chan nya~! We're at the SQ1 department!" Rin meowed on the phone; Maki's brows twitched in annoyance, but she calmed down.

"So you've seen Yumi then?"

"Mm! And Erena and Anju, I'm with Kayo-chin nya~!"

When Maki had heard the ginger cry out the name who betrayed the company, a volcano erupted inside her stomach.

"Why is she here?" Maki coldly questioned, receiving a whimper from Rin.

"Um, you see..."

"Ugh, just forget it, I'll talk later,"

"W-wait! Maki-chan, you-"

Maki ended the call, tucking her phone inside her pocket once she had closed it. A sigh of exasperation escaped her rosy lips.

"Well? Or did you actually cheat on me?"

"Nico! I already told you-"

"Yeah, yeah, now just tell me,"

Maki cupped her head—then she met Nico's ruby orbs.

"She just told me where she was, and who she was with,"

"Who was she with?" Nico asked in curiosity.

"Erena, Yumi, Hanayo...and Anju,"

A beep appeared, though it was muffled. Maki took out her phone once again—it was a text from Rin.

'Maki-chan, nya~! Why did you hang up on me~'

Exhaling an icy breath, Maki placed it back inside her pocket.

Nico's eyes narrowed, an expression of disgust on her face: Anju was still here. Umi turned towards the scarlet headed female, her eyes wide. Eventhough she knew already. Eli and Nozomi paused, and Eli pounded the floor as she strode to the latter.

"Speaking of which, how did Falcawks raid the headquarters?"

Umi flinched, "Oh yes, SIF is a classified location, so I don't understand how they got here,"

Silence engulfed the infirmary as the S-ranked investigators (Umi, Maki and Eli) rubbed their chins. Kotori held her hand up, while Honoka sat on the bed with a question mark levitating on top of her ginger hair. Eli didn't blame her though, since Honoka knew little about the SIF company. All Honoka knew was that Kotori worked there, and that the bird's mother was the chief of the building.

"Could it be...Anju?"—Kotori asked, and the investigators twisted their heads quickly—"Since she used to work here as well, before... she betrayed us,"

Maki's eyes widened, "Kotori, yes! That's probably how... but why did they raid SIF and take the papers?"

"There's a high possibility that Anju could've done it... anyway, probably because we have been trying to capture their members for crimes, and the recent crime they did... was when they stole a whole truck full of jewellery. That was two weeks ago. They haven't done anything else until today. But, the papers... that is unknown... " Umi said, "That's why Chief Minami told us to ask the member of Falcawks in the SQ1 department,"

"Crime...?" Nozomi barely murmured. Eli blinked; a rock slammed her head in realisation.

"Ah, Nozomi. I also need to tell you that, where we are now, is the SIF company. It's a private location that only we know, and I'm an investigator, along with Maki and Umi. Nico's a doctor, and Kotori's my lawyer. Maki is also a paramedic, and Umi does archery in the training academy: where we spar,"

Nozomi gazed in interest, awaiting for a further explanation, "Is that why you're wearing a suit? How come Nicocchi and Kotori-chan aren't wearing one? I know Honoka-chan works in the Homura Restaurant..."

"That's because Kotori has a part-time job as a bartender in Seagulls Bar, and, like Eli said... Nico is a doctor," Umi said, and Nozomi mouthed an 'oh.'

"Uh, what's this?" Honoka asked out of the blue, and the others glanced at the ginger.

"What's what, Honoka-chan?" Kotori said in her usual cute tone. Honoka pulled out a piece of paper from the floor, and from Umi's sight, there were words written on it. Could it be the note that Yumi had wrote? Curious, Umi walked towards Honoka and stared at the paper observantly.

'Hello Onee-chan, just to let you know that I'm out to get you. Can't believe that you killed Shiro-kun, and his parents. Baka. Sent this especially for you, and that idiotic company that you ridiculously work for. You're crazy. Love you, Ayase Arisa.'

Umi quaked in shock, the paper in her hands trembling simultaneously. She couldn't speak at all, gobsmacked by the sight in front of her. Nothing. All she could do was stare.

Her...sister...?

"Umi, what is it?" Eli asked, but gained no response from the bluenette—instead she was shaking uncontrollably, gaping at the paper that was wrapped in her hands.

"Oi, Umi!" Maki cried, crossing her arms; what could possibly be so shocking that she would stay silent?

"Umi, what the hell is up with you?" Nico questioned.

"E-Eli..." the bluenette muttered.

Eli sighed, and accelerated to the sea, eyebrows knitted together tightly. She leaned beside the stammering latter; and took the piece of paper. Her brows softened, her hairs on her neck sprouting up. Shell shocked, her eyes enlarged. She trembled in the same rhythm as Umi. Who dropped it? Yumi?

"H-how come she never...!" Eli's tone cracked, "Arisa..."

Her innocent little sister had become bad-mouthed, her little sister's soul had become tainted. It wasn't pure. Not anymore, at least. Ever since that event.

"Elicchi...?" Nozomi softly said. Slowly, the blonde turned to the purplenette, eyes of despair. It caused pain in Nozomi's stomach. She disliked the state of Eli.

"Stay here, I need to go,"

"I'll come with you-" she began but was interrupted.

"No! You're sick, okay?!" Eli cried—Nozomi jolted, and realising what she had just done, the quarter Russian startled.

"Elicchi, my job as your girlfriend is to stay beside you," Nozomi said, just what Eli had stated. Her tone was serious; Eli stood still, frozen.

"But-"

"Elicchi,"

"You can't, you need to stay here. Maki, Umi, come,"

Her aides nodded, and paced to the blonde, standing beside either side of her.

"Umi-chan,"

Umi glanced at the bird, "Hm?"

"Why can't we come?"

The bluenette smiled, "Because we three were involved from the beginning,"

Kotori frowned, "It's not fair, please? And Nico-chan, Honoka-chan and Nozomi-chan? I'll take care of her!"

"I wouldn't want to burden you, please, stay here,"

Pouting, Kotori and Nico, along with Honoka stood beside eachother.

"If you're involved, so are we,"

Maki raised an eyebrow at Eli.

"I guess you can go, but you must stay outside while we are talking,"

The three high-fived each other, equipping beaming faces. Afterwards, Kotori stared at the purplenette, "Nozomi-chan, let's go,"

"...Yay...! I-I'm getting better anyway!"

Then Nozomi sat up, clapping her footsteps against the floor. She dawdled to the others, who were blushing furiously.

"What are we waiting for then?"

"Nozomi, your dress," Nico said, covering her flaring face, gritting her teeth. Nozomi yelped and quickly buttoned her dress; eventually, the gradient of red disappeared on the cast of the females' faces.

Grinning, they all headed outside the infirmary, making their way to the department. But, Eli couldn't stop thinking about her sister—Arisa—and it bugged her throughout their journey. If only she could talk to her, persuade her that she didn't kill his parents. It was Eli's mother and father instead, well, and Arisa's as well. After all, they were murderers: a disgrace to humanity. Shiro was a filthy liar; whoever dropped the piece of paper will become history.