Two months have passed since Mari's accident. She spent one week on the hospital, copying and studying works of every single class during that time. Inoue wanted to help, so she and Chris were the ones that came everyday to her and spend at least three hours studying and all that stuff. Inoue seemed to enjoy herself when explaining things and being with the two girls. She started to tolerate Chris' perverted jokes after the first four days, and after the whole week, actually started to understand and laugh at them.

After the docs set Mari free, the first thing she did was to ask Inoue out to an ice cream, as sign of gratitude of helping her with school. Inoue denied and denied the invitation, feeling like she should be the one buying Mari something. But, as stubborn as they are, they ended up buying one for each other.

The girls had done the math and, by the time Mari is out of the cast and free to walk around without the crutches, it'll be the beginning of the summer break, so Mari will be able to go out with her friends to whatever adventures they have planned. The girls talked and talked and talked about the different possibilities of what to do once the time comes, bringing future plans, pranks and such to the topic.

During the time of Mari's dismissal from the hospital to the present day, Inoue and Mari were now close friends, going out more and passing the days together, to the point of spending almost four out of seven days together. Inoue never denied her feeling towards Mari, but if someone came and asked if they were dating, Inoue would say no. She was still shy.

Anyway, today is Friday. The school had ended and the two girls decided to go out. And so they did. However, they had company.

"Hulk can beat up Superman." Yui stated for the fifth time.

"Superman is an alien!" Mari protested. "Hulk is human with gamma radiation."

"Actually, Hulk is some sort of anger-energy." Chizuru defended. "Bruce Banner is a human that works as host for the Hulk. Or something along those lines."

"Superman can lift- heck, move planets!" Mari said out loud.

The girls decided to go on a double date to the Ne-ko-ffee and, right now, they have an argument.

"I once saw somewhere on the internet that Hulk destroyed an asteroid twice the size of earth with a single punch." Inoue added. "And... Split Wolverine in half."

"And remember that Wolverine's skeleton is made of adamantium." Yui said. "One of the strongest metal on earth."

"Superman can do all that with a finger!" Mari said with exasperation.

"Inoue is right, Mari." Yui said. "He also joined two separating tectonic plates together while in lava."

"And destroyed a whole planet with a punch." Chizuru said. "And lifted up a 150 billion ton mountain. And break atomic bomb proof doors."

"And survive a neck snapping." Yui said, taking her tea and drinking it.

"Okay! Okay. Hulk wins." Mari said. "You can all really go fuck yourselves." Inoue looked at Mari with slight annoyance. "Except you, darling." She looked away wit ha slight blush.

"What do you girls mean about all that Hulk stuff?" Suddenly, Haku appeared by the table, wearing her maid uniform. "I haven't seen any movie where that happens."

"It's on the comics." Chizuru said, just slightly surprised about her teleportation, so to speak.

"But haven't they made a movie about them all already?" Haku asked.

"Are you really that stupid?" Chizuru, and the rest, thought at her ignorance.

"There are more comic books than movies." Yui said. "I thought you would know."

"I mean, The Avengers is based off comics." Haku explained. "But what comics are you talking about?"

"Lots." Inoue said.

"Oh, I haven't seen you here before." Haku said, surprised, ignoring the original talk. "Who are you?" As Haku stated, Inoue hasn't been in the Ne-ko-ffee, this being her first time ever.

"I'm Inoue Usagi." The orangette said.

"And are you Mari's girlfriend?" Haku asked, making both Yui and Chizuru throw at the two girls a knowing smile. The two blushed, more Inoue than Mari.

"N-no! Of course not!" Inoue said.

"Why not?" Haku asked, taking a nearby chair and sitting down, receiving weird glances from her workmates and clients. "She's pretty."

"Because no!" Inoue said. "I mean, yes, she is. But no!"

"You make a cute couple." Yui and Chizuru were eating popcorn at this point, spiritually speaking.

"..." Inoue's blush was at it's limit now. Mari was holding her laughter at Inoue's reaction. "We do?"

"Yeah." Haku said. "I mean, girls always look cute together, but you two look extra cute."

"And us?" Chizuru asked.

"You two look like Yui payed you to date her." Haku said with the same aura that Akari has when saying cute stuff. So honest and cute. Mari couldn't take it any more and exploded in laughter, Yui and Chizuru where holding themselves from punching Haku, Haku stood up and left and Inoue was still blushing, but with a little smile and a warm feeling on her gut.

"Well, that was fun." Mari said with Inoue besides her, walking her home.

"Yeah..." Inoue said with a sigh. She had fun, and she missed having fun. The last time she went out with friends and had a good time before Mari's accident would be hard to remember. But right now, she felt unpleasant. "You don't have to walk me home." She eyed Mari's crutches.

"Yes, I have to." Mari said, not bothered by the extra limbs. "I don't get tired easily. I can walk you home and then go to mine if I'd wanted to."

"And you want to?"

"Nah, I'll take the bus."

Inoue laughed quietly. What a gentleman, she thought.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"You like me?"

Inoue was taken by surprise.

"Why do you ask?" Inoue blushed a little.

"Because I sure do like you." Mari said. "And, when I say I like you, I mean I really really like you. A lot."

"..." Inoue looked down. "Well... Sorta."

"Define sorta."

"... It's... It's weird." Inoue tried to explain. "I... I do like you, yes. But..."

"Not that much?"

"No." Inoue was having a hard time choosing her words. "I-I mean... It's complicated..."

"Language isn't complicated." Mari said. "It exists to say what your minds wants to. What is the word you're looking for?"

"... A mix between 'a lot' and 'not enough'." Inoue said.

"Well, just use those two." Mari said. "You like me a lot, but not enough. Not like I do, anyway."

"Kinda..."

"Yeah..."

And the two kept on walking.

"Oh, by the way, we walked past your house a minute ago." Mari stopped. Inoue reflected on the words and looked around her. They were one street ahead. She turned around and the entrance to her house was there.

"Why you didn't told me?" Inoue said and walked to her house.

"Because I didn't wanted to interrupt your thinking." Mari said with a giggle and followed her. When the two arrived to the entrance, Iboue looked for her keys while Mari rested a little.

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"Next date wanna go to my house?"

Once again, Inoue was taken back.

"Why?"

"I'm a really good chef."

"You are?"

"I make a really good pasta. And homemade pizza."

"..."

"Come on!" Mari took Inoue hip and brought her closer. "You'll like it. You can be my little pinche."

"Your what?"

"Pinche is someone who helps on the kitchen." Mari explained. "That or a cuss word."

"I think you meant the first one."

"Yeah."

"..." Inoue blushed a little more. "Okay."

"Alright!" Mari kissed quickly Inoue's forehead. "Tomorrow, same time, park entrance." She took her crutches. "See you tomorrow."

"Wait!" She took Mari's jacket before she could leave. Mari stopped and turned to Inoue. Inoue realized that she wasn't expecting Mari to actually stop, and her natural answer is to blush hard.

"How cute." Mari said and hugged the girl. Inoue accepted the embrace, and even returned it, inhaling deep the scent of the girl. "See you tomorrow, darling."

The two broke the hug, said their goodbyes, and after Inoue walked into her house, Mari left and walked to the nearest bus stop.