Chapter 2

Mysteries and Kindness

Nayuki sighs as she heads for homeroom at school. It's not snowing this time, so she can take her time having a nice walk. It can be a bit lonely by herself at times but sometimes, she enjoys the peace. She got to school on time and headed for homeroom.

"Nayuki!" A girl calls from the entrance.

The bluenette turns to a pretty girl with long brown wavy hair. "Kaori-chan! Hello!"

Both of them run up and give each other a quick hug. The pretty girl, Kaori Misaki is Nayuki's best friend. They study, play and pretty much talk about anything together. However, Nayuki still wants to keep that same gender love a secret even from her best friend. She might ruin it.

"How are you this morning?" Kaori asks.

"I couldn't sleep because of a nightmare," Nayuki sighs.

"You dreamt the same thing again?" Kaori asks.

"Yeah…" The bluenette nods.

"Haaaah…when is it going to end? I will bet that dream is trying to tell you something?" Kaori puts a hand on her hip.

"The problem is: I have no idea what it's telling me," Nayuki says.

"Yeah…this could be a problem," Kaori says and then pats her best friend on the back. "Listen, if you ever find out about it, come and tell me. I'll help you out."

"Thanks, Kaori-chan~" Nayuki smiles.

The bell rings for class and everyone takes their seats.

**Later**

Nayuki and Kaori walk together to search for a place to have lunch. They are heading for the stairs when Kaori decides to pop a question.

"Hey, do you get lonely at your home sometimes? You know with having only your mother?" Kaori says.

"I do," Nayuki admits. "But it's not all that bad. Okaa-san and I get along just fine. And besides, it's not like I never have any company. I invite you to sleepovers every once in a while~"

"Hehe! That is very good~" Kaori says. "So…is there by any chance you would want a guy to come over~?" She gives a teasing grin.

"Eh!?" Nayuki squeaks.

"I have noticed you haven't been talking to the guys all that much," Kaori says. "Is there anyone in particular that you would want to ask out someday? Or invite to the prom when we become seniors?"

This is a very difficult question to answer. It's like she's trying to lure Nayuki's secret out, but she knows she won't give up that easily.

"Y-you know, I think I will have to pass on the guys for right now!" Nayuki takes off running. "Let's just-KYAA!" She trips on a step.

"Nayuki!" Kaori cries in alarm.

Luckily, there are two girls that Nayuki crashes into, breaking her fall. But the cute bluenette whines in pain and then panic when she finds herself on top of them.

"I am SO sorry!" Nayuki apologizes.

There is one girl with blue hair tied in a pony-tail who looks like she didn't feel any pain. However, there is another girl with brown hair and wearing a large green plaid ribbon on the back who had fallen face down.

"Ahaha…Sayuri is alright," the cute brunette says, nervously chuckling. "Mai, are you okay?"

Nayuki nervously turns to the stoic girl. "U-ummmm…I didn't…hurt you or anything, did I?"

"I'm fine…" the stoic girl, Mai replies.

Kaori runs over toward the three girls and sighs in relief. "Thank goodness. You almost gave me a heart attack."

The three girls help each other up and dust themselves off.

"My apologies…again," Nayuki bows in shame.

"It's fine really," The cute brunette, Sayuri says.

"Sayuri, come," Mai beckons her friend.

"Coming~" Sayuri says. "Take care now~"

As the two girls walk away, Kaori steps next to her best friend.

"Lucky you ran into the seniors," she says.

"But it was still embarassiiiing…!" Nayuki whines.

"It can't be that bad~" Kaori says. "What if you were to fully face them while falling and have an accidental first kiss~?"

Nayuki blushes heavily and shuts her eyes tightly while squeaking. "There is absolutely NO way that would be possible! The chances of that are…very, very low…." She lowers her voice and taps her index fingers together.

Kaori shrugs with a chuckle. "You'll never know~"

"Can we just go….?" Nayuki says as she grabs her school bag.

*Later*

On her way home, Nayuki walks alone like always, looking around town.

"Okaa-san wanted me to pick up something.." Nayuki says as she looks at the text her mother sent her. "Hmmm…treats should be…"

She looks over at a stand where a young man is selling taiyaki. And she notices a small girl with medium length brown hair with a red headband on top of her head jumping up and down to see how much taiyaki is there. She is too small to face the young man.

Nayuki feels sorry for the young girl and approaches her. "What do you need, miss?"

"Ah!" The girl gets startled and stumbles about. "S-s-sorry! I was just…!"

"Do you want some taiyaki?" Nayuki asks.

"Ugu…yes…." The small girl replies.

"I'll get three then~" Nayuki says as she walks up to the young man.

"Huh? Three? What's the third one for?" The small girl asks.

"I want my mom to try it too," Nayuki replies and pays for the three taiyaki.

Nayuki hands one to the little girl. The small brunette happy eats it.

"Delicious?" Nayuki asks.

"Yes! You're a life saver!" The girl replies happily. "Without you, I wouldn't have gotten at least one since a few days ago~"

"You've been coming to the same place a few days ago?" Nayuki asks. "Aren't you supposed to be with your parents?"

"Well ummm…uhhh…" the girl sweat drops. "Actually, I am allowed to walk here on my own."

"At your age?" Nayuki raises an eyebrow. "When you're this small?"

"Uguuuu…I'm trying to tell you that I'm 17 years old!" The girl squeaks. "I'm older than I look!"

"I see…" Nayuki sweat drops. This girl can be a handful. "Anyways, hope you enjoy that taiyaki. Don't stay out too late."

"Ah, miss!" The girl calls as Nayuki is about to leave. "If we ever meet again…I want to know your name!"

"Meet again?" Nayuki questions.

"Yes! I want to talk to you again, whenever that may be!" The little girl replies.

Nayuki thinks about it and then shrugs. Might as well. "It's Nayuki. Nayuki Minase~"

"My name is Ayu Tsukimiya!" The petite girl says. "Nice to meet you, Nayuki-chan!"

"Ayu-chan.." That name. It sounds so familiar. Where did Nayuki hear that name?

"Are you okay?" Ayu asks. "You spaced out a little."

Nayuki snaps out of it and waves her hand. "N-no! I'm fine. Sorry about that!" She looks at her watch. "Oh, no! Okaa-san's expecting me! Sorry I really gotta go! See you later, Ayu-chan!"

She turns and starts running, careful not to drop the taiyaki. She stops for a moment to look back. However, Ayu just…vanished?

"She was here a couple minutes ago…." Nayuki says to herself. "Oh well. Must be a fast runner herself."

She decides to pick up some more treats from a bakery. A nice, fresh cream filled pastry. She pays for that and heads out. However, she fails to notice a hooded figure following her. Nayuki looks around at some stores until she turns around a corner.

The hooded figure decides to finally reveal itself and rushes in front of Nayuki.

"Wh-whaaaa!?" Nayuki squeaks.

"I finally found you…" a high pitched, cute female voice comes from the hooded figure. She yanks off the long cloak, revealing herself to be a cute girl with long blonde hair with partial pig-tails.

Nayuki stumbles on her behind. "Wh-why me!? You could be mistaken for someone else!"

"Don't give me that!" The girl squeaks. "I know you are the one I'm looking for so it's payback time!" She cocks a fist and prepares to punch the lights out of the poor Minase girl.

Nayuki braces for the impact however…that punch feels like a feather just hit her.

"Uhhhh…" Nayuki picks herself up as the girl punches and kicks her randomly, having no effect at all. "I don't have time for this." She turns to walk away but the girl grabs her arm to make her turn her way.

"I'm not finished with you!" The girl shouts. "You owe me BIG time!"

"Do i know you from somewhere?" Nayuki raises an eyebrow. "I don't believe we met."

"Well get it through your thick skull!" The girl shouts. "I want to show you how…how…" She begins to get dizzy and stumbles toward Nayuki. "So….hungry…"

"Ah!" Nayuki rushes in and catches the girl in her arms. She is completely passed out.

She deadpans at what just happened today. "Where did all these girls come from? And what will Okaa-san think when I bring this stray girl home…?"