kt taborada: D'aw, you're awesome. You and your friends. Yep, yep.
Major Mike Powell III: XD When I play Shiritori with my friends, I sometimes almost blurt out a name of someone I like... and that's what I based it on, TwT
I'm baaaaack! D'oohhhh. Nothing much to say for now, so...
I do not own Love Live, nor do I own any of the characters, personalities, or any possible cameos involved.
.: Chapter 16 :.
"Welp, everything's okay." Tsubasa reassured herself, holding onto some- but to a lesser extent that previous attempts- of shopping bags. "At least it didn't take too long..." she muttered. After arriving at the park, she noticed the other school idols waiting for her curiously. Except for Hanayo and Rin, who were enjoying the park's playgrounds like little kids, because Tsubasa had taken quite some time. "E-ehhh, sorry to keep everyone waiting..."
"What took you so long?" Nico asked. "It was just a trip from Honoka's house to here... oh, I get it now." the raven-haired girl smirked at the sight of the bags.
Blushing, Tsubasa adjusted her scarf a bit (yeah, she was wearing one) and tightened the gaps in her newly-brought bags a bit. She certainly didn't want someone to see what she ha-
"Oh?" Honoka noticed the bags. "You bought something? No wonder you took long..." she mused.
Tsubasa nodded. "Y-yeah, I, uh... had something that I needed to buy... f-for school..." she lied.
Nozomi and Erena smirked. "Yep, definitely." Nozomi confirmed, and the other members of µ's (except Honoka) understood right away what was truly in the brunette's bags.
"Never gave up an opportunity, huh?" Eri chuckled.
"Honoka should at least learn from your determination." Umi mused.
Honoka perked up from hearing her name, her curiosity rising. "Huh? What does that have anything to do with me?" she asked. Her fellow idols chuckled at her and Tsubasa in particular, the latter's skin turning hundred shades of red. "Forget that, neh! What's in your bag? What's for school?" Honoka asked anyways. Tsubasa took a step back, her voice suddenly freezing as her face kept rising in temperatures. "Tsubasa-chan? Tsubasa-chan~?"
"I-it's nothing!" she exclaimed.
"Hwehhh? C'mon..." Honoka pouted. "Show me..."
Tsubasa frantically shook her head. "Nothing! T-there's nothing suspicious in here!"
Nico smirked widened. "And this is where things turn interesting..."
Rin and Hanayo rushed to them from the playground. "Nyaa, we all here?" the orange-haired cat-like girl purred.
Hanayo smiled. "It seems like Tsubasa-chan brought some more plushies of Ho-"
Eri and Erena hurriedly covered her mouth with their hands as Honoka turned to her. "Ehhhh? You know too, Hanayo-chan?" Honoka asked with a tone of disappointment. "Why does everyone know but not me? You're all unfair..." The others nervously laughed with some guilt, until Honoka gasped. "Oh, I know! It's a surprise birthday party preparation? Ahaha, sorry, guys, but my birthday's not tomorrow."
"...wow, uh... I, um..." Maki tried to say something to tell Honoka that it wasn't that, but she didn't really need to find out. However, she was too amazed by Honoka's assumption.
"What? I'm right, aren't I?"
Anju scratched her head, hoping someone would just say something soon. "Well... not exactly... but let's discuss our next plans instead of caring about Tsubasa's hobbies." she said and quickly clapped her hands together so the others would focus on her. "Well then, Tsubasa, now that you've gotten extra money, what will you do now?"
Tsubasa shot her a thankful glance and rubbed her chin. "W-well, maybe... I could start living alone in an apartment..."
"An apartment?" Umi asked. "That'd... be a good idea, if you don't want to be bothered by parents." she said. Tsubasa nodded, glad that Umi understood her. "However... would your parents allow you or even give you a chance to do so?"
The question made Tsubasa frown. "I... hadn't really thought about that."
"That's certainly a problem then." Nozomi said.
Rin suddenly ran up to Tsubasa. "Don't worry, nya~ Rin and the others can convince your parents to let you stay!" she exclaimed. "We're all here to help, nya!"
The brunette sweat-dropped. "E-ehh, thanks for the help, but..."
"It's a personal problem." Erena told Rin. "The rest is between her and her family."
Her to-be-lover, Eri, smiled. "She's right." she said. "If things go bad, we could help her, but for now, we should stand aside and let Tsubasa solve the rest."
The other members of µ's nodded in agreement and, along with Anju and Erena, they turned to Tsubasa and awaited her decision. The brunette was shocked at first, but then she smiled and chuckled. "You girls... really, thank you." Tsubasa finally said. "I'm... going to go talk to my parents now, and I'll make sure nothing bad happens. I'll make sure of it!" Tsubasa exclaimed. She suddenly turned around, grinning with confidence, and ran towards her house's direction... without her shopping bags that were filled with- obviously- Honoka goodies.
Kotori sweat-dropped. "Tsubasa-chan left her bag... shall we return it?" she asked.
Honoka smiled and jumped up. "Of course!" she exclaimed, and the others almost choked on their salivas. Anju, Erena, Eri and Maki quickly grabbed the four bags that Tsubasa had left before Honoka could pick up one and secretly look inside. "...meh. I just wanted to see Tsubasa-chan's house." Honoka said.
They let out a sigh of relief, but kept up their guard anyways. "L-let's go now..." Maki said, faking a smile. "I doubt that Tsubasa would want us to peek inside her bag." she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"True, true." Anju mused. "Knowing Tsubasa, she'd probably be wailing in the next few hours."
"Just like Tsubasa..." Erena chuckled. "Exactly like Tsubasa, indeed."
Eri chuckled. "Let's not waste anymore time."
The other members of µ's nodded, and for a split-second, all four girls felt a chill run down their spines. Maki nervously turned to Honoka. "...H-Honoka-chan? Is... something the matter?"
Honoka cocked her head curiously. "Wha?"
Maki stared for a few seconds before shrugging. "N-nothing." she said, the others not exchanging any words. ...I... could've sworn I felt a glare and a jealous pout... the crimson-haired pianist thought to herself. Perhaps I was just imagining it...
True to Anju's and Erena's expectations, Tsubasa was crouched down in front of her house, groaning in embarrassment. "N-noooo... H-Honoka's going to find out at this rate..." she grunted, then proceeded to knock her own head repeatedly. She immediately stopped upon seeing her friends appearing into view. Tsubasa gasped and ran up to them, thanking the four girls who had carried the bags and turned to Honoka. "H-Honoka-san!"
"W-what is it?" Honoka asked. She was slightly surprised by the manner of Tsubasa's... nervousness. She was also stunned by the obvious blush on the A-Rise leader's face; it seemed cute, somehow.
"You didn't... you didn't look inside, right!?" Tsubasa asked.
Scratching her head, Honoka pouted. "I wanted to... but the others wouldn't let me..."
Tsubasa let out a sigh of relief, confusing the ginger-haired girl. Then, she laughed. "Ahaha, it's okay, thanks for not looking through, though!" the brunette said. Before Honoka could say anything, Tsubasa purred. "Hugs~" she playfully whispered loud enough for all the girls there to hear, and then she proceeded to give Honoka a playful (meant to be romantic) hug- which caused both parties to blush. Tsubasa herself was shocked by her own actions. W-what the hell am I doing!?
"T-Tsubasa-chan...?" Honoka began. "You can... let go now..." she stated, looking away.
GAAAME OVAAAAAAAH! The brunette mentally cried. "S-sorry!" she exclaimed. "Anyways, um, thanks again! I'll be... going in to talk to my parents now..." she said.
The other school idols nodded. "Good luck, Tsubasa-chan!" Kotori squealed.
"We wish you best of lucks to convince your parents otherwise." Umi stated.
"Rin's here with everyone else to support Tsubasa-chan, nya!" Rin purred excitedly.
"I-I'll support you forever as well!" Hanayo shrieked happily.
"Go for it, we trust you." Maki smiled.
"And make sure you don't fail!" Nico exclaimed.
"Even if you do, we'll still help you." Eri gave her a thumbs up.
"The cards said you'll make it, so, make sure you prove it true." Nozomi smirked.
Anju and Erena each gave Tsubasa a pat on the back. "We're counting on you for this, Tsubasa." Anju smiled. "Make sure you succeed."
"Yeah, heh." Erena gave a wink of friendship to her brown-haired friend. "If you don't, I won't forgive you~"
They all took a step back, and Honoka stepped in front of Tsubasa. "And... Tsubasa-chan?" she began. Tsubasa nodded, signalling that she heard her, albeit blushing heavily. "I, uh... if you succeed, tell me about your location first, okay?" Honoka smiled cheerfully. "I'll make sure to v-visit you lots of times!"
The brunette nodded happily. "O-okay!"
The group dispersed, and Tsubasa was left standing alone in front of her house. She took in a deep breath, and sighed. "Well then... let's get this over with." she told herself, and entered the house.
She never noticed a certain ginger-haired girl returning to the scene.
Nozomi's words rang in Honoka's head. "Honoka, you should probably go back there. The cards told me that 'the help of another leader was needed for the brunette to succeed'." the third-year had told the Student Council President. Her fists clenching, Honoka smiled. "I'm here to help ya~" she whispered to herself, waiting patiently to hear the start of Tsubasa's conversation with her parents.
Ever felt like suddenly buying something before meeting up with someone? Yeah. Describes me a lot, really.
Also, I have the slightest feeling that this chapter might be a bit rushed or confusing. So I'll explain it shortly; (Tsubasa buys something before meeting at the park, Honoka gets curious about the contents, they get to discussing their plans, they encourage Tsubasa, their friendship grows stronger, and Tsubasa prepares to talk with her parents. And Honoka decides to come back in case she needed to help Tsubasa with the talk.)
And, bleh. I hoped you at least enjoyed it... I have plans for the next chapter.