A/N: Hello again! I haven't said this in a while, so I just wanted to take a quick moment to say thanks to those who have help make this story what it is. You know who you are. Also, thanks to those who have followed/favorited/reviewed. You're all appreciated! Now, enough of me and more of the story!

The school year was coming to an end. Summer was right around the corner. Summer was meant for swimming, for hanging out on the beach, and for enjoying the company of those closest to you. However, this summer was going to have another focus as well; studying for entrance exams. College plans were already in the process for most; a few stragglers still had no idea what they were doing.

Kagura was one of those people.

Since the knee injury, Kagura didn't have a clue about her chances of making it to school on a scholarship. Would the schools still take her, even if she had to sit a season? Her grades were considerably better than they had been before, with Sakaki's help. In fact, even though they weren't the best, Kagura found that she might even be able to make it into a few schools with her current grades. But they weren't the schools she wanted to go to. She wanted to be able to compete. She spent a lot of time weighing her possibilities before realizing that she couldn't figure this out alone. She wondered about who to ask for advice. Not Chiyo-chan; she was heading off to America, and Kagura knew she had zero chance of going overseas. Not Tomo; the wildcat was hell bent on making it to a police academy, and Kagura had no ambition to become a cop. Not Yomi; she just cared about grades. Athletics weren't a factor in her decision. Same went for Osaka. Kagura thought about asking Sakaki, but figured that even Sakaki wouldn't be a particularly good person to talk to about this. Sakaki already had a plan of action for after high school. She'd go to school, become a vet, and take care of the animals that she loved so much. Kagura smiled at the thought. It was the best match for the job possible. Sakaki would take great care of all of the animals, and she'd love every second of it. Kagura tried to think of something that she'd love to do for the rest of her life. She tried to think of jobs that would include sports. Athletic trainer, sports team management, coach...wait, coach!

That's it! I'll just go talk to Coach tomorrow about options for after high school. Who knows, maybe she can recommend me a good university that will take me to compete too!

The next day, Ms. Kurosawa and Kagura stood on the sidelines during gym class, while they watched the rest of the class playing volleyball. Kagura wanted nothing more than to just jump in the middle of it all and start playing again, but she realized that that wasn't an option. On her way out of class, she got Ms. Kurosawa's attention.

"Hey, Coach?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think we could meet after school a little bit today? I wanna talk to you about college plans."

"Yes, of course. I'll meet you in my office right after school. Does that work for you?"

"Yepp, sure does. See you then."

"Yeah. Goodbye, Kagura."

At the end of the day, Kagura crutched into Nyamo's office.

Damn these things. I can't wait until I'm out of them. She thought. She could be off the crutches fairly soon, walking with just the brace. She looked forward to that day. But for now, she had to focus on one thing; her school of choice. She was met in the office by Nyamo sitting at her desk, reading some article in the newspaper. When she heard her student enter the office, Nyamo put down the paper and motioned for Kagura to take a seat in the chair next to her.

"So, finally figured it out, huh?"

"What do you mean, Coach?"

"That you're going to have to pick out a university sometime or later."

Kagura laughed a bit and scratched the back of her head nervously. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

"Do you have any in particular that you're already considering?"

Kagura thought about it a bit. Sakaki had told her about a school with a well known veterinarian program that wasn't too far from a university with a very strong athletic program. That had everything she wanted, right? A school where she could compete, and still see Sakaki a fair amount. She told Nyamo that this is where she wanted to go.

"I see. You know, your grades will have to get even better if you want to go there."

"I know. And they will get better."

"I don't doubt it. You've shown a lot of improvement lately."

"Thanks, Coach. Sakaki's been a big help."

"Sakaki?"

"Oh yeah. She's been tutoring me. She makes me do my homework." Kagura made a face, which Nyamo laughed at. She realized that the school Kagura had mentioned was close to the school with the big vet program. It sounded like she was trying to stay close to Sakaki, which intrigued Nyamo. She had been aware that the two had become very good friends over the course of the year. However, one thing stuck out in her mind, causing her to wonder the extent of the friendship; the day that Kagura had torn her ACL. How Sakaki had burst into the training room right after the accident, the way Kagura had stuck her hand out the window, and Sakaki had held on to it as if the moment she let go, Kagura would be gone for good, and the look on Sakaki's usually emotionless face when they had pulled out of the parking lot. All of these actions, albeit subtle, were enough to make Nyamo ponder the exact relationship between the girls. Were they just friends, or was there something more that she wasn't seeing?

"Well, at least someone can get you to do your work. But what will you do when you go off to separate colleges? I know you're not striving to get into vet school."

"Can't say that I am. But I mean, I can stay on track with my grades. She helps me with that, but if I have to go off to school by myself, I think I could handle it. But, thinking about it now, I would like to stay kind of close to her. You know, in case I need a reality check here and there."

"You know, Kagura, you won't always have Sakaki around to keep you in line. You're both going to grow up, take different paths. She won't be around forever."

Those words hit Kagura like a ton of bricks to the stomach. The possibility of Sakaki and her not being together in a year was a very real, very scary thing. Kagura knew that she could manage being on her own, but she'd rather be with Sakaki. In fact, there was no one else she'd rather be with. Kagura tried to quickly come up with a solution to the obstacle staring her in the face. She couldn't go to vet school, and Sakaki wouldn't go anywhere other than a vet school. So going to the same school was out of the question. Going to close schools was a possibility, but even then, how much time would they have for each other?

Nyamo saw the shock, the gears whirling in Kagura's head as she tried to figure out how to make this work out. The amount of concern Kagura showed about staying close to Sakaki was surprising. Her curiosity was starting to get the best of her, but she tried to remain professional. She had no right to ask Kagura about hers and Sakaki's relationship.

"I...I know she can't take care of me all throughout college. I can manage myself. I worry about her though."

"Why? Sakaki's a bright, young woman. Why would you be worried?"

"Because she's my gir-" Kagura choked on her words. "Best friend. She's my best friend. Why wouldn't I worry about her?" Fuck! I can't believe I just almost said that! Yeah, let's tell Coach that Sakaki and I are a couple. That's a great fucking plan.

As Kagura continued to beat herself up on the inside, Nyamo's suspicions were nearly confirmed. So, Kagura and Sakaki were a couple? She had to admit it, she was a bit surprised. She had never thought of either of the girls like that. But then again, she was happy for them. They may have been a bit of an odd couple, but she was glad that they both had found each other.

"Fair enough. She seems to worry about you a lot as well."

"Umm...what? What do you mean, Coach?"

It was Nyamo's turn to stutter. She hadn't meant to say that. She was supposed to be a teacher, a coach, a mentor. That didn't include asking her athletes and students about their relationship status. Hopefully, she could avert the crisis.

"I was just thinking about the day of the track meet when you...you know. Sakaki was awfully protective of you. She must be a very good friend of yours."

Kagura blushed, remembering the day vividly. She remembered the way that Sakaki had looked at her. It was the most emotion she had seen on the girl's face...well, ever. She was so worried that Kagura was afraid she'd faint. "Oh yeah...umm yeah, she's a worry wart. That's all." Kagura was worried that this conversation was about to take a turn into territory that she couldn't come back from. Although, maybe telling Coach wouldn't be that bad. She knew she could trust her to keep it between the two of them; Sakaki wouldn't even have to know. However, she was going to keep their secret until Nyamo asked directly. No need to tell if she wasn't asking.

"Really? I can't say I imagined Sakaki to be worrisome. But now that you say it, I can definitely see it."

"Yeah, she's a bit protective. She came to my house the day after the surgery to visit and wouldn't let me do anything for myself."

Nyamo laughed at the statement, seeing how Kagura's strong, independent nature would clash with Sakaki's worrisome, protective one. Nyamo spoke without thinking, regretting the words that came out of her mouth the second she had said them.

"I could see that. You two make a funny couple."

Kagura's face flushed a brilliant crimson, the blush reaching out from her nose to her cheeks. Nyamo stuttered, trying to recover the already deteriorating conversation. The two spoke quickly, and at the same time.

"I-I-I-I didn't mean that. I meant..."

"I-ah, umm...how did you know?"

The both froze, locked in a staring contest, faces both covered in ferocious blushes. Kagura averted her gaze, looking down at her feet, fidgeting nervously.

"How...how did you guess?"

"I, uh, well..."

Nyamo relayed her suspicions to Kagura, making sure to note that it was the day of the meet that she had began to wonder if the two were more than just friends. Kagura sat quietly, listening to her coach retell the story. After Nyamo had finished, the two sat in an awkward silence. Kagura rubbed the back of her head, and looked sheepishly up at Nyamo.

"So, uh...you're not gonna tell anyone, right? Sakaki still wants to keep it to ourselves for a while."

"I wouldn't tell anyone about this. Not unless you said I could."

"Thanks, Coach. So...I mean, you're okay with it?"

"Kagura, this is your decision, and if you're happy with it, then I have no right to interfere. You have my full support. I have to ask though; do your parents know?"

Kagura shook her head. She had no idea how her parents would react if she told them that she was dating, let alone another girl. She didn't have a very strong bond with them anyways, what with them always working. She figured that if they ever needed to know, she'd tell them then.

"I see." Nyamo continued. "Well, it's not exactly my place, but please know that if you two ever need anything, maybe someone to talk to, considering the unconventional situation you're in, that I'm here for the both of you."

Kagura relaxed significantly. She had always looked up to and respected her coach, especially with all the help she had given her over the years on the swim and track teams. To have her support in her relationship was even more important than her real parents' approval. "Thanks, Coach. That...that means a lot." She glanced at the clock, noting that she had already missed the first bus home, and was close to missing the second. She realized how hopeless it would be to try and catch the bus now, groaning at the thought of the long walk home.

"What's the matter?"

"I missed the bus."

Nyamo just laughed. "Don't worry, I can give you a lift. Besides, weren't we supposed to be talking about college options? Not you and a special someone?"

Kagura grinned. "Yeah, we were, huh? Thanks Coach."

The two walked out to Nyamo's car, speaking about colleges, degrees, and grades. After being dropped off, Kagura felt much more certain, more confident that no matter what happened, everything was going to work out.