The credits were rolling on the screen, and Miyuki still hadn't said anything, but her mind was reeling. Oblivious to her friend's scrambled thoughts, Shizuma leaned back with a sigh and finished her drink with a yawn.

"Good film. But I think I need to get to bed, I didn't get much sleep this weekend." With that, she stood and kissed Miyuki's cheek. "Good night."

"Good night." Miyuki said distractedly.

After another half hour, she decided this couldn't go on. Miyuki reached for her phone and dialled Suki's number.

"Hi, Suki. I'm sorry to call you so late...thanks. I really need to talk...can we meet somewhere? Sure, I'll be there in about fifteen minutes."

Sighing with relief, the blue haired woman stood and quickly penned a note to Shizuma, in case her roommate should wake and notice her absence, then pulled on her shoes and left, hurrying to meet Suki.

Ten minutes later, she entered the all-night café in which they had agreed to meet and spotted her friend.

"Hi, Suki." Miyuki hugged the woman and slid into the seat across from her.

"Hi, Miyuki. What's bothering you?"

Miyuki sighed. Before she could answer, a waitress appeared, and they ordered drinks.

"Well. I spent the weekend with Tamao. And it was awful." She swallowed. Suki looked at her encouragingly.

"When Shizuma and I went to that bar with you guys, we ended up in bed together."

"Oh." Suki's jaw dropped. "You were drunk. And Shizuma was lonely. It's not that bad."

Miyuki smiled weakly. "No, it wasn't that. There's always been...something...between Shizuma and me. I've always felt more for her. And it's happened before. But...the weekend with Tamao was just...awful. I couldn't stop thinking about Shizuma. And...it seems I talked in my sleep when I dreamed about her." She buried her face in her hands.

Their drinks arrived, giving Miyuki a chance to regain her composure. Suki stirred sugar into her tea and studied her friend.

"I think you might need to get out. Maybe you'll see more clearly when you're away from both Tamao and Shizuma."

Miyuki shook her head.

"I barely see Tamao anyway, and I know what I feel for Shizuma. I just don't know how to handle this situation.

"Hm." Suki sipped her tea. "How does Shizuma feel about you?"

"I don't know. She said something tonight...it sounded like maybe...but...I don't want to get my hopes up. I've been there before. I was the one who was there for her, after every heartbreak. I picked her up, I helped her heal, and in the end, I was the one who got hurt. I'm so afraid it'll be like that again."

"That's why you two really need to talk about it. You need to know what is going on and if there are real emotions." Suki took another sip of tea. "The last times you were schoolgirls, young and immature. Now you're adults. You need to act like grown ups."

Miyuki drank her hot chocolate thoughtfully.

"Probably. But it's hard to shake off old habits."

Suki laughed. "That's true." She hesitated. "Miyuki...even if you feel a lot for Shizuma, even if you always have...be careful. What you have with Tamao is real. What you want with Shizuma is a dream still. So please...be careful, okay?"

Miyuki nodded slowly.

"Thank you, Suki."

A moment later, Suki's phone buzzed. She picked it up and checked it.

"That's Kenji...he wants to know if I can come pick him up. Are you okay now, Miyuki?"

She nodded. "Yes. Go and pick him up. The tea's my treat."

With a quick hug, Suki left.

Miyuki remained at their table a while longer, finishing her chocolate, before heading home and crawling into her bed.

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Miyuki came home from a long day at college, and sighed. She had barely slept the night before, due to her meeting with Suki and the fact that her thoughts wouldn't let her sleep when she was in bed. She hadn't been able to focus on her classes that day, her thoughts circling around Tamao and Shizuma.

"Miyuki?" Shizuma called to her from the living room. The blue haired woman followed the voice and settled on the couch next to her best friend.

"Hi. Shizuma...we need to talk."

Something in her tone made the emerald eyed look up. "What do we need to talk about?" she asked uncertainly.

With that, everything came pouring out of Miyuki. Her deep feelings for Shizuma, how she had felt during their time in school, the weekend with Tamao.

Shizuma listened, her porcelain complexion paling. She had always known Miyuki felt something for her, but she hadn't known how intense those emotions were.

"Oh, sweetie..." She wrapped her arms around her friend. "I never knew it was so bad." she whispered. When Miyuki had calmed down, they both leaned back.

"Miyuki...I don't know if you and I would be a good idea."

"What do you feel for me, Shizuma?" the brown eyed woman asked quietly, takindg her friend's hand.

"I love you. Very deeply. But more like family than like a lover." Shizuma paused, her brow furrowed as she pondered how to phrase her emotions. "I loved the nights we spent, but...it was just those moments. I don't think I could be in a relationship with you." She looked at Miyuki. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I want you to be honest. And...I'm also not sure if I could be with you. Maybe it's just that I've wanted to be with you for such a long time that I'm having a hard time letting the feeling go. And...being in bed with you is incredible." She blushed slightly.

Shizuma chuckled. "Same with you." She squeezed Miyuki's hand. "I really think you need to straighten things out with Tamao."

Miyuki nodded. "Yes, I definitely do. I love her so much, and I don't want to lose her."

"So. We'll keep a bit apart from now on so we don't end up jeopardizing your relationship."

"Sounds like a good plan." Miyuki smiled. This talk made her see clearly, and it felt right. It also made her realize how much she missed Tamao.

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Tamao sighed and ripped another page out of her poetry notebook, wadded it up and tossed it into her bin. Her muse was gone. She hadn't been able to write anything since her disastrous weekend with Miyuki. Vividly, she remembered how she had lain awake and heard her girlfriend moan lustfully, caught in an erotic dream, ending with Shizuma's name. Tears collected in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

Shizuma. She ruined everything. First she had stolen Nagisa from her, and now Miyuki. How could she have thought the silver haired beauty could be a friend?

"Tamao?"

The blue eyed girl turned when she heard her best friend's voice.

"Nagisa! How was your day with Chiyo-chan?"

The red haired girl's eyes lit up. "It was wonderful. We went to the village and had a great time. I brought you something." With that, she pulled a box out of a bag.

"Oh, what is it?" Tamao was touched by her friend's thoughtfulness.

"Your favorite pastries. And a new tea blend. If you like, we could have tea after dinner and talk?"

Tamao smiled. "Yes, I would like that very much. Thank you, Nagisa."

A few hours later, they sat next to the low table, both holding a warm cup of tea in their hands.

"Do you think there's a chance you and Miyuki will make up?"

Tamao shrugged. "I don't know. There doesn't seem to be a point if she'd rather be with Shizuma." Again, tears sprang to her eyes. "I can't believe it turned out like this. We were all so close, such good friends. I keep remembering our road trip."

Nagisa was quiet for a while, thoughtfully nibbling on a pastry.

"What do you feel for Miyuki?"

"I love her. So very much." Tamao said without hesitation.

"Then you need to talk to her. Maybe it's not the way it seemed."

Tamao sighed. "It can't hurt, I guess." she agreed.