a/n: Hello! As you can see, I am not dead.

It's been a fresh minute since the last chapter… about 8 months, in fact. I'm sorry to keep you guys waiting with my unintentional hiatus. While things have generally been going good for me in the time I've been away, there's been a lot of chaos that ensued. Being busy at a new job (been there for almost a year now), family health issues with my mom and dad, I was sick myself a couple of times, etc etc. And now, next month, I'm moving to a new place! Which is great! Despite real life getting in the way sometimes, I plan to keep this story alive and well and intend to see it to the end. I estimate about 30 chapters will conclude it. I hope you hang in there with me. Please enjoy what I've got for you so far.

If you'd like to keep up with me elsewhere, please feel free to follow me on twitter: kcseabrook & twitch . tv / kcseabrook

"99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer! Take one down, pass it around, 99 bottles of—"

"For goodness sake, Asuka!" Haruka exclaimed, cutting through the merry jaunting. "Be quiet!"

A collective sigh of relief washed over the bus when Asuka sat back down. Why Haruka didn't speak up much sooner—like maybe back at that 50th, or even 20th bottle—no one was sure, but the returning peace was much appreciated. No one else had dared to stop the force that was Asuka Tanaka, after all.

During the show, their band director had been passed out. Ms. Yamanaka said that she was prone to motion sickness, so she had doped herself up on dramamine. (Some rumors floated around that she actually had a hangover.) Had she been in the waking world, she no doubt would've barked at Asuka to be quiet long before their esteemed club president lost her well-worn patience.

"Aww, party pooper. I was hoping everyone would join in," Asuka said with a pout to Kaori, who was sitting on her right.

"Maybe no one could match your lovely singing," Kaori said half-sarcastically, but also genuinely. "But you were also starting to sound a bit hoarse. Here." She offered a bottle of water.

"Thank you," Asuka replied to the sincerity. "At least someone around here appreciates my efforts."

"Your efforts are driving us all crazy," Haruka tiredly said.

In the back of the bus sat Natsuki and Yuuko. "Oh, god, it's finally over," Natsuki sighed. "Why didn't anyone stop her sooner?"

"Yeah, like you," Yuuko snarked, removing one of her earbuds. "But I shouldn't be surprised. You are one of her groupies."

"Who're you callin' a 'groupie'?" Natsuki snarked back. "Asuka's one of my best pals, is all. Second only to Kumiko. And you… I guess."

"Excuse me? You guess?"

"Huh? Did someone say my name?" Kumiko asked, looking across the row towards Natsuki.

"Yeah," Natsuki mischievously grinned, finding the opportunity to make a jab. "I was complaining how it's going to be torture sharing a room with you and Kousaka—the most lovey-dovey, disgustingly perfect couple on the planet." A thoughtful pause. "Actually, scratch what I said about Asuka being my best pal. I think she was responsible for the room assignments."

"We're not perfect," Kumiko argued.

"Look at you," Natsuki argued back, gesturing to their position.

"Oh," Kumiko blushed a bit. Reina had dozed off about an hour ago, and was now using her shoulder as a pillow, and her arm as some sort of stuffed animal replacement. "Reina did that on her own."

"But you're not complaining."

"Well…"

"Disgusting."

"I have to peeeee!" Natsuki exclaimed, bursting into their hotel room and to the bathroom like her life depended on it.

"I told you not to get that giant Monster drink at the rest stop, you idiot!" Yuuko yelled at her through the door.

"Go away! I can't pee while you're listening!" Natsuki yelled back.

"I'm not trying to listen!"

Kumiko awkwardly shuffled by. "This is going to be an interesting evening, I bet…" she muttered mostly to herself, drowned out by their noise.

It was a standard-sized hotel room with two double beds. Not too swanky of a place, but not too shabby either. The art and decorations on the wall were typical hotel kitsch—odd shapes, paintings of fruit, and scenery of the city they were in.

The students were surprised that the school had the budget available to rent out this floor just for the band. Extracurriculars and the arts were always the first victims of educational budget cuts, but the concert band seemed to be a source of pride for North Kite High. Their principal seemed to have a soft spot for it, too.

"Let's claim that bed," Reina said, pointing at the one closest to the windows.

"Sure thing," Kumiko concurred, placing her and Reina's duffle bags down at the foot of it. Light filtered into the room as Reina opened the blinds. "Oh, hey, there's the venue."

Across the street was the concert hall, within walking distance in the metropolitan downtown. They were in one of the bigger cities in the state. The students and staff had journeyed at least 3 hours to get here to compete.

"Ahh, we're really high up," Kumiko commented shakily. "Makes me kinda nervous to look down."

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Reina asked quietly.

"It's a normal amount of nervous, I think. What about you?"

"A little more than normal…" Reina admitted, rubbing at her throat. Her voice was still a bit raspy. At Kumiko's insistence, Yuuko's orders, and Mrs. Kousaka's care, Reina took a couple of days off from school at the beginning of the week to fully recover. It was hard to maintain good breath control with the congestion and sore throat that her ill-timed cold brought upon her.

"Hey, don't worry," Kumiko encouraged, placing a hand at the small of her back. "You're sounding much better. And you've been getting plenty of rest and water, right?" Reina nodded. "You're going to do great. We all are."

"Hurry up in there, Natsuki!" Yuuko demanded, impatiently tapping her foot and knocking at the door. "The perfect couple are already being too sweet!"

"Hold your horses! I'm not finished yet!" A moment later, the toilet flushed. "…Hey, is it normal for pee to be blue?"

"Seriously, stop drinking those Monsters."

Bags unpacked and bladders emptied, the quartet settled in, unsure of how to spend their time first. Out of curiosity, Natsuki looked out the window as well. Instead of admiring the concert venue nearby, there was a shining beacon of joy sitting on the street corner that commanded her attention.

"Oh, shit!" Natsuki exclaimed. "There's a Sonic down there!"

"The hedgehog?" Kumiko questioned.

"No, you dope," was the answer. "The fast food place."

"Why are you losing your mind over it?" Yuuko asked.

"Because," Natsuki began her explanation as if it were common knowledge, "there's no Sonic near us, and I see their ads all the time on TV, and they make me so hungry…"

"Whatever."

"Kumiko!" Natsuki continued, undeterred. "We gotta go down there and get some Sonic."

"Are you serious?" Kumiko asked tiredly.

"I am dead friggin' serious, my friend."

Yuuko warned against the weird idea, "We're not allowed to sneak out anywhere, or we'll get in trouble. And they're going to feed us later anyway."

"Yeah, lame-ass sub sandwiches, I hear," Natsuki complained. "I want some decent food."

"Is fast food ever decent?"

"No judgin'! Kumiko!" she ordered again. "Let's go!"

Judging by Kumiko's face, there was an internal battle waging in her mind. On the one hand, she was tired and comfortably content on a cloud of pillows, with Reina snuggled up to her again. On the other…

"They have tater tots."

Yuuko calculated how many calories those were as Kumiko quickly got up with a resigned sigh. Yuuko found herself envious of the taller girl's apparently bottomless stomach. "Just go, you idiots!" she demanded, now annoyed. "Reina and I can spend time quality time together," she added, hopping up and jumping into Kumiko's place on the bed.

Reina scooted back a bit. "Every time you say 'quality time,' it sounds mildly threatening."

"I know, right?" Natsuki agreed with a laugh.

Yuuko huffed. "It's not. You're just paranoid," she said to Natsuki, waving the two euphs away. "Go!"

"Let's go, then!" Natsuki cheered, dragging Kumiko behind her. For a moment, she resembled her dog Yuta. "For the Sonic!"

Yuuko let out an over dramatically exasperated sigh once the two were out the door and their voices faded away. "Why does Natsuki have to be such a weirdo?"

Reina amusedly scoffed. "Says the one in love with that weirdo."

"Wh—what?" Yuuko sputtered, whipping her head in Reina's direction. "Who said anything about love?" The other girl sat there unperturbed, studying her fingernails, as if something utterly insane did not escape her mouth. "If you're actually suggesting that I… l—lo…"

"You don't?" Reina asked with innocent concern when Yuuko trailed off. "I love Kumiko. I've been telling her that for a while now."

Yuuko bawlked again, "You've already told her you love her?! When?!"

"Shortly before Christmas," she recalled.

"Wha… buh…" Yuuko did more mental math. "What the heck!" she exclaimed. "That's so soon. And so typical of lesbians."

"Is it? Well… if the shoe fits," Reina shrugged. "I don't understand why you're so shocked. You know me. I'm to the point."

"I am too, but…"

"It's hard to be honest with your feelings, huh."

"I'm not being dishonest," Yuuko argued, stubborn as usual. "I like Natsuki a lot, sure—or I wouldn't be dating her. But… love… who could love that idiot?" she exclaimed, kicking her legs on the bed petulantly.

Reina was unconvinced. "When are you going to tell her you love her?"

"As if!"

Reina placed a calming hand on her friend's shoulder. "Do we really need to go down this road again?"

"Alright, alright. Listen. It's not that I don't l—lo—… really like… feel strongly about Natsuki, I'm just not… ready to say it. We're not like you guys. It's too soon. It might scare her off."

"Would it? I figured that she'd be happy to hear it," Reina hummed contemplatively. She hesitated to share her thoughts, but went for it anyway. "Don't take this the wrong way, but… you two have been… intimate already…" she danced around the phrasing, "but haven't said 'I love you'?"

Yuuko slightly bristled at this criticism of her relationship. "And?"

"And… shouldn't the order be… never mind," Reina backed off, knowing it wasn't her place. "Well, you know her better than I do, and like you said, every couple's different. So I'm sure it's fine. Right?"

"…Right."

The unhealthy and delicious smell of fast wood wafted through the room the moment the door opened.

"We're back!" Natsuki proclaimed, holding the bag of soggy goodies up triumphantly as proof. Kumiko trailed in behind, her hands also full. "What, no fanfare?"

"Welcome back," Reina greeted. Getting up from the bed, she casually sauntered over to Kumiko, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend's shoulders in a hug and kissing her on the cheek. "Kumiko."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Kumiko dumbly blinked before blushing. "Ah… I love you too, baby," she said, embarrassed by the sudden affection in front of their friends. "I didn't know you wanted Sonic so much. Er, a, a milkshake. For you," she also dumbly said.

Natsuki grimaced, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, gross. You guys are gonna make me lose my appetite, after all the trouble we went through to grab food. Anyway," she continued, "I got you a milkshake too, Yuuko. You like strawberry, right?"

"Oh, yes… I do," Yuuko faltered, taking the cup from her. "Thank you."

Natsuki didn't have to ask if she liked strawberry—she knew. "What, don't I get a smooch too? Not even as thanks?" Yuuko huffed, and stomped off. Natsuki pleased grin turned into a frown. "Did you do something weird to her, Kousaka?"

"Not at all," Reina shrugged. "I think she's just processing some things. Leave her be."

"Man, there is nothing on TV," Natsuki grumbled while cycling through the channels for a third time, clicking faster on the remote than the old CRT could keep up with.

"Why didn't you bring a game or cards or something?" Yuuko countered snarkily, next to Natsuki on the bed, but turned away and still on her phone.

Natsuki exhaled through her nose, lips forming into an irritated line. Since coming back from their Sonic escapade, Yuuko had been in some kind of funk, even more cantankerous than usual. Not even the milkshake improved her mood. "Why didn't you?" she challenged, choosing to argue instead of letting it slide.

Reina glanced over at the pair, trying to occupy herself with her own Twitter and Instagram feeds while Kumiko was in the shower. Natsuki clearly was unaware of the reason of the tension—which Reina felt a bit guilty about, but didn't regret bringing it up. It was a bridge the two were going to have to cross anyway.

Kumiko thankfully emerged from the bathroom, saving Reina from the awkwardness. "That was refreshing," she contently sighed, also oblivious to the bickering pair. Still toweling off her crazy curls, she plopped down next to Reina on the bed, who smiled up at her.

"Kumiko," Reina started. "I've been meaning to ask. What shampoo do you use? Your hair's always so… fluffy."

"I don't use anything in particular," Kumiko answered, flattered. "My hair's always been like this."

"I'm jealous."

"Don't be. I can't do anything with it."

Natsuki watched this exchange from the corner of her eye, also feeling jealous, but for a different reason. "Speaking of hair, I guess I'll let mine free," she announced, undoing her ponytail and deliberately swooshing her hair in Yuuko's direction.

Instead of playing with it like she had hoped for, Yuuko swatted it away. "You need a haircut," she said.

Natsuki sighed. "I've thought about it before," she mused. "Like super short. Going for that 'soft butch' look, y'know?" A nudge of the elbow. "Y'think that'd look good? Make me more attractive?"

"I like ponytails," Kumiko answered before Yuuko could, giving a thumbs up.

"I know you do, you degenerate," Natsuki snarked. Another part of Kumiko's current appearance gave her an idea. "Hm… I also wonder how I'd look in glasses. Pretty sure chicks dig 'em." More elbow nudging. "What do you think, Yuuko?" she finally asked directly.

Yuuko huffed again. "Maybe they'd make you look smarter."

Under normal circumstances, Natsuki found that sassy smile endearing—maybe even cute—but right now, it was infuriating. "Well, that ribbon of yours makes you look dumb!"

"Don't lie! You said it was cute!"

"I was just trying to make you feel better!"

"You're a jerk!"

Reina spoke up, "Come on, children, let's not fight."

"Who're you callin' 'children'?" Natsuki raised her voice.

Yuuko offendedly pointed in Reina's direction. "Yes, you shouldn't talk to your elders like that."

"Impressive, Reina," Kumiko said. "You got them to agree."

"So what should we do?" Natsuki asked, still unbelievably bored, getting up to look out the blinds again. The skies were starting to turn orange. "The night is still young."

Yuuko also got up from the bed, rummaging through her suitcase for a pair of pajamas and cosmetic bag. "I think it should be lights out by 9pm."

"No way. That's way too early."

Kumiko said, "Maybe that's not such a bad idea. Reina needs her rest."

"Come on, she slept most of the way here," Natsuki reasoned, having no intention of settling in that soon. The early bird may catch the worm, but the night owl has more fun. "Didn't you, Kousaka?"

"I did," she answered, curled back up under the covers. "There's no need for me to go to sleep that early."

Kumiko chuckled at the sight of Reina's face peeking out from the fluffy cocoon of pillows. "You look like you're already ready for bed, baby."

"It's cold in here."

Natsuki and Yuuko shared a look before gagging in unison, agreeing again for once. It was time to air some more grievances. "'Baby'?" Natsuki repeated tauntingly. "You guys have the cheesiest pet names for each other. Oh baby, oh sweetheart, oh cutie pie…"

"Hey!" Kumiko yelped in embarrassment, self-conscious again. "Shut up! Don't you guys have any nicknames for each other?"

Yuuko smirked haughtily. "Sometimes I call her an idiot."

"That's not a term of endearment," Natsuki grumbled.

"Really? No pet names at all?" Reina interrogated. "I find that hard to believe." A particularly inquiring stare was sent Yuuko's way.

"Well, believe it—hey, where're you going?" Natsuki asked at Yuuko's exit towards the bathroom. "We're all girls. No need to change elsewhere," she waggled her eyebrows. Yuuko only dignified her with a light 'ugh' and an eye roll.

Kumiko said to Reina, "That reminds me of something you once said…"

"It's a valid point," Reina replied.

"Yuukoooooo! Come back," Natsuki crooned.

"I'm doing my beauty routine!" was the annoyed reply from behind the bathroom door.

"You don't need to put all that gunk on your face. You're already beautiful enough!"

"Aw, that was really sweet, Natsuki," Kumiko teasingly complimented as Reina snickered. "Who knew you were such a romantic?"

"Shut up, nerd!"

"Alright, I have an idea," Yuuko announced with a clap of her hands, sitting Indian-style on the comforter. "I was thinking that we could all share embarrassing stories about ourselves that we've never told anyone before."

Natsuki raised an eyebrow, also now in her pajamas. "Why the heck are you suggesting this?"

"I think it would be a great way for us all to get closer."

"We're all pretty close already, right? How could we get even closer—wait, I have a better idea for that. We could… get naaakeeeeeeed!" she cheered. The suggestion was met with silence. "What, you guys don't watch anime?"

"I do sometimes, but not the perverted ones you're into, apparently," Yuuko outwardly judged. "So, who wants to go first?"

"Why don't you—"

Reina interrupted with a raise of her hand, "I have one," she decided to start to keep the peace, and get the ball rolling.

"You don't have to, Reina," Kumiko spoke up. "They're just being dumb."

"I think it's a good idea," Reina argued. This was the first semi-sleepover she had been to, and wanted to fully participate in the silliness that came with it. Kumiko shrugged, letting her continue. "Being back at a concert venue reminds me of what I did in my last year of middle school…"

Natsuki and Yuuko stopped their bickering, interests piqued. "Oh yeah? What happened?" the former asked.

"Well…" Reina faltered, her unflappable demeanor starting to crack with mild embarrassment as the memory replayed in her head. "I had a huge crush on my band director in middle school. I already told you about this," she nodded at Kumiko.

"Yeah, I remember," Kumiko confirmed, even more curious.

"It was a borderline obsession, really. I don't know what it was about him, besides thinking he was nice and handsome, and—well. He wore glasses."

Natsuki and Yuuko immediately looked at Kumiko's bespectacled self before sharing a knowing glance of their own. "Ahhhhh." Now it all made sense.

"So, I had the bright idea to confess to him," Reina admitted. "While he was accepting an award on-stage. I screamed out from the crowd, 'Mr. Taki! I love you!' In front of everyone in the venue."

"Oh my gosh," Kumiko laughed. "That sounds… oddly like you."

Reina removed one hand from her embarrassed face to lightly punch Kumiko in the arm. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"That's pretty good," Natsuki nodded, chuckling alongside Yuuko, who was always a fan of juicy details. "Okay, Kumiko, your turn."

"Why me?"

"Because I say so."

Upon some thinking, Kumiko regaled them with a story about one of the first times she and Natsuki hung out outside of school and saw a movie together. She couldn't remember what movie it was in particular, since the embarrassing memory overrode and ruined it. Natsuki had gone into the theater ahead to get some seats while Kumiko, being the snacker she was, got some ice cream from the concession stand.

Which somehow led to the sad string of events that led to Kumiko placing the cup in her seat for some reason, forgetting it was there, and sitting it in. So, she sat in her ice cream. For like, an hour.

"My butt was so cold," Kumiko said, causing the rest of them to lose it laughing. Especially Natsuki, who had no idea this had transpired, and thought they had a great time at the movie. "Did we? Or did you?!"

"You sat on your ice cream?" Natsuki asked again incredulously, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Shut up. I didn't tell you 'cause I was embarrassed!" Kumiko whined, causing another round of laughter. "I didn't want to ruin the movie, so I took one for the team."

After they all calmed down, Natsuki attempted to match that tale with one where her regular nap time routine in class backfired on her when some of her classmates drew and wrote stuff on her sleeping face. (Thankfully, it was with a washable marker.) Natsuki was extra perturbed about it since Yuuko shared that particular class with her and did not see fit to stop it or warn her until she was out on display for everyone in the hallway to see.

Yuuko also denied that she was the ringleader of the operation. Which she most likely was. But there was no evidence stating otherwise.

In an attempt to placate her salty girlfriend, Yuuko shared some examples of when the ever-present ribbon on her head caused trouble. They all had a good laugh about it getting stuck in the door of a taxi cab, low-hanging tree branches, and a revolving door, to name a few.

"Aw, that sounds hilariously cute, bunny," Natsuki smiled fondly. It took a moment to register why her companions were regarding her like she had grown three heads.

"Bunny?!" Kumiko and Reina exclaimed.

Natsuki slapped her hand over her mouth, but it was too late. The 'pet' name had already slipped out. The only course of action now… was denial. "Shut up! I didn't say anything like that! You're crazy!" Looking for an escape route, she jumped up and grabbed the unused ice bucket from the table. "I'm gonna go get some ice!"

"Do we really need any?" Kumiko grinned.

"Yes!"

Yuuko smacked her forehead as Natsuki dashed out of the room. "What an idiot." Talk about a new embarrassing moment for the both of them.

"I can't believe I called her that in front of them…" Natsuki grumbled to herself, still mortified. They didn't need ice, but it was a convenient escape route. She went to get some anyways, shuffling her socked feet down the gaudy carpet and labyrinthine maze of rooms.

Someone familiar then entered her line of sight. Natsuki called out, "Hey! Bro!"

The lanky teen ahead of her turned around. "Do I know you?"

"Are you serious, Shuu?"

"Oh!" Shuuichi blinked dumbly. "It's you, bro. Sorry, I didn't recognize you with your hair down. It looks…"

"Good?"

"Weird."

"Thanks, man," Natsuki said sarcastically. "What're you doing out here anyway?"

"Same as you. Getting some ice," he answered, holding up the bucket as proof.

"Y'sure you're not trying to sneak into Hazuki's room?"

"What kind of man do you think I am?"

"I don't think you're a man at all."

"Ouch. That hurts."

"I'm just giving you a hard time. Lighten up."

The two made their way to the ice machine at the end of the hall, but something was strange. Natsuki raised an eyebrow. "You look like you want to ask me something," she noted at his imploring expression and unsure body language.

"Um, yeah…" Shuuichi shifted his weight back and forth. "I was hoping you could give me some advice."

"On what?"

"On… y'know…" Shuuichi started, making weird hand gestures. It reminded Natsuki of something Kumiko would do. Maybe after being friends for so long, their mannerisms and awkwardness had started to influence each other. He finally finished, "How to… please a lady."

"What are you talking about?"

"How to score. How to round the bases. How to strike," Shuuichi rattled off a list of sports-related euphemisms. He clapped his hands together, stating plainly, "Teach me how to get laid, senpai!" (Seems like all the anime had rubbed off on him too.)

"What the hell?!" Natsuki cringed. "Ugh. Ew. No. First of all… You're seriously asking me for advice on this? I mean, we don't even have the same, er, equipment."

"I don't mean that in particular. I mean getting a girl to want to… uh…"

"Second of all," Natsuki continued, interrupting, "you've been with Hazuki for like, a month, right? And you're already wanting to jump in her pants?"

"Hey!" Shuuichi barked back, offended. "You were the one bragging about banging your girl."

"That's totally different," Natsuki defended herself. "We've known each other longer, plus we… wait, I don't have to explain myself to you." She placed her hand to her forehead, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Point is, that's the last thing you need to be thinking, unless she brings it up first. You better not be getting any funny ideas when you're alone with her."

"Seriously, I'm not that kinda guy! I wouldn't force her into anything… Sheesh, forget I asked."

Natsuki tried to quell the unusual surge of overprotective feelings at the thought of Hazuki in that type of situation. "Sorry. You're right. I know you wouldn't do that, man."

"Thank you."

"But you way you asked was really creepy."

Shuuichi huffed, crossing his arms. "Well, my bad. I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask." The grumbling continued, "It's just that the guys were asking me for, y'know, details, and I didn't have much to give 'em…"

"You don't need to give those idiots anything," Natsuki snapped. "Hazuki's a sweet girl. You better not be talking about her like that, or making her uncomfortable, or I'm gonna…"

"Okay, okay, calm down!"

Natsuki did not calm down.

In fact, she punched him in the gut.

"What an idiot," Natsuki grumbled, turning on her heel and speed-walking back to her room, leaving Shuuichi to wheeze back his breath.

Maybe she had overreacted a bit.

She could always apologize later.

Back at room 1042, Natsuki aggressively fished the key out of her pocket. The door to the room across from theirs opened, catching her attention.

Funnily enough, it was Hazuki. "Hey, kid," Natsuki greeted pleasantly, now calmed down by the sight of a cute girl.

"Oh, hey!" Hazuki greeted back, looking like she needed to take a moment to recognize the girl in front of her. "I've never seen you with your hair down before…" she started stammering a bit, which Natsuki found adorable. "It looks…"

"Weird?"

"Good." A bit of pink dusted Hazuki's cheeks as she fidgeted with the bottom of her oversized yellow pajama shirt. There was an odd design of a cat eating noodles on it. "What are you doing?"

"I got some ice," Natsuki answered, holding up the bucket. The cold slosh of half-melted cubes in the container made her realize that she had forgotten her original mission. "Er, I meant to. What about you?"

"I wanted a snack. Do you know where the vending machines are?"

"Thattaway," Natsuki pointed with her thumb the direction she came from. No doubt Hazuki would run into her dumb boyfriend on the way there. She wondered if he would tell her about the punch. Either way, it didn't matter. "I'll see ya tomorrow morning. I know you've been hyped up about this, but try and get some sleep, okay?"

"Okay," Hazuki nodded in affirmation, taking her elder's advice. "I sure will!"

"Oh, and Hazuki?"

"Yeah?"

Natsuki flashed her a particularly charming smile. "The hair clips you always wear suit you and all, but I think you look way cuter without 'em."

"O-oh. Thank you…" The light pink previously on her cheeks turned into a full blush. "Good night!" she called out, dashing off.

"Night."

"Who were you talking to out there, Natsuki?" Yuuko asked at her girlfriend's reappearance.

"Oh, it was Hazuki. She and the squirt are in the room across from us," Natsuki answered, fondly chuckling. "She's so cute. She's still acting all nervous around me. I can't help but tease her a bit."

Yuuko deeply frowned—first from jealous indignation at Natsuki calling another girl 'cute,' but then the gears in her mind began turning, the dots connected, and her expression contorted into a furious understanding. "She's the one with the crush on you, isn't she?!"

Natsuki's expression had a simple meaning: 'oh shit.' She hadn't even been back for two minutes, and had already managed to put her foot in her mouth. "Uhh… well… I never said anything about that…"

"I seem to recall," Yuuko raised herself from the bed, "you trying to get a rise out of me by saying another girl had a crush on you. Is it her?"

"Uh, well, it's only a theory…"

"Don't think I forgot about you kissing her in the same day we got together!"

"I told you, that didn't mean anything! She needed my help—it was—"

"Who kisses a girl when you like another one?!"

"Yeah, well, who kisses a girl at a party and then starts ignoring her for a month?!"

"You, apparently, you dumbass!"

Kumiko and Reina had the awkward misfortune of witnessing this scene unfold in front of them.

("Do you think we should say anything?" Kumiko whispered to Reina.

"Just stay quiet. I think they've forgotten we're here," Reina replied, playing with Kumiko's hair. "And don't make any sudden movements. That's how they hunt.")

The bickering couple continued, indeed oblivious to their audience.

"I told you that you better not be flirting with any girls!" Yuuko growled, getting up into Natsuki's face.

Natsuki was not backing down. "I'm not flirting!"

"You better not be giving her any ideas!"

"I'm not! Why would I?" Natsuki snapped, before having a devilishly brilliant idea. "I mean, unless you don't mind sharing. There's plenty of me to go around, after all—ow, ow, ow! Hey!"

Yuuko kept swatting and punching her—light enough not to hurt, but hard enough to prove a point—forcing Natsuki up against the wall. "You know very well that I don't intend to share!"

("Hey, that sounds familiar," Kumiko commented.

"Shut up," said Reina.)

"I was just joking!" Natsuki yelped, wincing at the pummeling.

"It wasn't funny," Yuuko said with another swat. The liquid in the ice bucket Natsuki was still holding fueled more rage, "And what the hell, you didn't even get ice!"

"I got distracted!"

"By Hazuki, huh?!"

("Do these two even like each other?" Reina asked.

"That's a good question," Kumiko noted.)

"This is domestic violence!" Natsuki continued trying to escape, considering throwing the ice bucket elsewhere and making a break for it.

"This is tough love!"

Aha, an opening! "Love, huh?"

("Ah, there it is.")

"I'd love to kick your ass!"

("Never mind."

"This is kind of entertaining.")

"You're so infuriating!" Yuuko continued her dramatic tirade. "You're sleeping on the floor tonight!"

Natsuki had already dropped to the floor, just as dramatically. "Have mercy, princess!"

Suddenly, the phone on the nightstand rang, startling them all.

Reina crawled over to answer it. "Hello?" she asked. Some loud, but unintelligible muttering were heard from the receiver. "Our apologies," Reina politely responded, nodding even though they couldn't see. "I'll let them know."

"What was that about?" Yuuko asked when Reina hung up.

"It was a noise complaint. You two need to keep it down."

It had gotten late. Their room was now dark, the only noises being the low humming of the air conditioner and some light snoring. Two of the girls were not yet asleep, however.

"Yuuko?" Natsuki rolled over and asked in a hushed whisper near her ear, hoping that her voice would not travel to Kumiko and Reina's side of the room. "You awake?"

"No," Yuuko muttered into the pillow.

"C'mon, don't be like that," Natsuki said, pulling her girlfriend closer, hugging her from behind. Yuuko allowed it. "Don't be mad. I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to make you jealous."

"I wasn't jealous," Yuuko replied. Natsuki could tell she was lying. "And I'm sorry too. About all the punching."

"S'alright. It's not like it hurt or anything," Natsuki lightly laughed. "But seriously, don't worry. If Hazuki told me she liked me, or asked me out—or if any girl did, for that matter—I'd turn her down. I'm already taken." Finding one of Yuuko's hands, she interlaced their fingers together. "Cause, y'know… it was a lot of trouble finally getting together with you, so like heck if I'm gonna give that up."

"Good to know I'm a lot of trouble," Yuuko grumbled.

"I didn't mean it like that… It was worth it. Every moment."

Yuuko rolled over onto her back, looking up at Natsuki with an unimpressed glance. "You're such a cornball."

"Only for you," Natsuki quipped back. One sentiment felt stuck in her throat, though. "Yuuko, I…" she began. The girl beneath her looked up imploringly, curious as to what Natsuki was about to say. It was a familiar phrase that they had shared before, although unbeknownst to Yuuko, too embarrassed to be forthright about it. "…I hope we do good tomorrow."

"…Me too," Yuuko said after a pause, a tinge of disappointment. "Good night, Natsuki."

"G'night, bunny."

"Auuugh, don't call me that," Yuuko rolled back over, hiding her face under the covers. "It's too cheesy."

"Too bad. I know you like it."

"Shut up and go to sleep."

"Yes, princess," Natsuki sleepily replied before snuggling closer.

They had a long day ahead of them.