"I liked the ending. It was predictable, but good nonetheless," Shiena said.

"You really seemed to like that anime. You're pretty when you're happy," Otoya replied.

The brunette blushed a little. She was sitting on the couch with her girlfriend, her arm around her shoulders. They had watched the last episode of a recent anime, Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

"Still, I found it rather weird. A talking giraffe, some random fight scenes, it really reminds me of that other weird anime, Yuri Kuma Arashi," Otoya said.

"Ah, I think it was mostly metaphorical, it's symbolism. But yeah, it's similar. I liked both of them."

"Then, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. So, who was your favourite character? Oh, let me guess...Junna?"

"Uh? Yes, how did you guess?"

"It was obvious. You two are really alike."

"If you say so...and you, did you have a favourite character?"

"Um, I would say...Banana."

"Uh? Why?"

"She's creepy," Otoya replied with a grin.

"Well, she kind of is, but still understandable...and she would make such a great couple with Junna! But KuroMaya is a fine ship too."

And Shiena started a passionate and deep discussion about shipping, while Otoya simply listened to her with a smile, seeming genuinely interested by what she was saying. Then suddenly, Shiena was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Were you expecting some guest?" Otoya asked.

"No...go hide, I'll see who it is."

The serial killer went to hide in the bedroom. Shiena approached the door, cautious. She wasn't expecting anyone. She didn't have many friends. She was worried that it was the police that came to arrest Otoya, and herself for letting a notorious murderer live here. With a shaky hand, she grabbed the handle and opened the door.

"Hello, Shiena-chan!"

The brunette remained speechless. She wasn't expecting that.

"...Ichinose?"

Haru was in the doorframe, a friendly smile on her face. She wasn't alone. Tokaku was with her, with her usual emotionless expression. For a moment, Shiena thought that they might be there to finish the job and eliminate her, but then she realized that Class Black was over and that it didn't seem like Haru to do that.

"What...what are you doing here?" Shiena asked, cautious.

"There was something I need to give you. May I come in?"

Shiena hesitated for a moment. What could Haru possibly want to give her? And why? After all, she wanted to kill her. Shiena felt some guiltiness over that, which made her choose to let Haru and Tokaku come in. She felt like after what she had done, she couldn't refuse.

"So what it is?" Shiena asked.

Haru looked inside of her bag and took out something. It was some kind of scroll, and handed it to Shiena.

"There. It's your diploma," Haru said.

"My...diploma?"

"Yeah, for Class Black. Mizorogi-sensei would be happy if everyone can have theirs, so I decided to give them to all of you," Haru said with a smile.

Shiena looked at the scroll with some hesitation. Did she really deserve it? She wasn't sure she did, but if it pleased her old teacher, then it was fine. She actually appreciated Mizorogi as a teacher, he was nice and kind. She kind of felt bad for him to have ended up with a class full of assassins instead of normal students. So Shiena accepted the diploma and took it.

"Thanks...Uh...you can give me Oto...Takechi's one. I...I know where she's hiding so I could give it to her, it would be safer for you."

"I would have been for not giving it to her, but Haru insisted to give them to everyone," Tokaku said.

"Well, it's true that Takechi-san can be...dangerous, but it doesn't mean that I shouldn't give her her diploma," Haru argued. "But...why do you know where she is? Have you seen her after Class Black?"

"Uh…" Shiena said, trying to find a good excuse.

"That voice...Haru-chi!?"

What Shiena was fearing happened. Otoya got out of the room and rushed towards Haru, arms opened, clearly about to hug her. Haru looked too surprised to react. Tokaku immediately went in front of her and pulled out a knife, forcing the serial killer to stop.

"Stay away from Haru!" she threatened.

"Uh? You're calling her like that now...I see that you got closer since I left Class Black. How unfortunate, it seems that Haru-chi is taken now," Otoya said with an exaggerated sad expression.

Somehow, what she said bothered Shiena.

"Anyway, it's not like I could be dangerous right now," Otoya added, showing them her injured hand in a plaster.

"How did you get that injury? And those marks on your face...Are you okay?" Haru asked with concern.

Tokaku seemed annoyed by Haru's sympathy towards Otoya. The latter suddenly had a sad expression, like she was consciously trying to gain even more pity. Shiena also felt annoyed by that.

"She just found crazier than her, someone more dangerous than she is," Shiena replied.

"Hey, crazier okay, but not more dangerous," Otoya protested with a fake hurtful expression.

"It doesn't matter. What are you doing here?" Tokaku asked coldly.

"Uh? But I'm living here, obviously."

Both Tokaku and Haru looked at Shiena with surprise. Haru seemed worried, while Tokaku looked indifferent.

"Why on Earth would you let that serial killer live with you?" the blue haired girl asked as if it was the stupidest thing she had ever heard.

"Well…"

"We're dating!" Otoya exclaimed happily.

Shiena would have preferred if she didn't say that. Now they were gazing at her not only with surprise, but with confusion.

"And here I thought you were rather smart," Tokaku said.

"Hey, don't insult my girlfriend!" Otoya said with an angry expression that didn't seem sincere.

"Anyway, let's give her her diploma and leave," Tokaku said.

"But...I would want to talk with Shiena-chan a little," Haru said.

"I don't want you to be around that...monster," Tokaku replied as she glanced at Otoya.

"What a hurtful comment! I'm sad now…" Otoya said with a mocking smile. "How about a double date?"

"Absolutely not. Let's go, Haru…"

"But...how about I go to a walk with Shiena-chan?" Haru proposed.

Tokaku looked like she hesitated for a moment, before she sighed.

"Do as you wish. But I stay here to keep an eye on her," Tokaku said.

"Ah? I'll be stuck with you while our cute girlfriends are having fun together? Not fair! I want to play with Haru-chi!"

Tokaku pointed the knife at her with a menacing aura. Otoya raised her hands, smiling.

"Okay okay, let's have a friendly chat while those two go for a walk."

Tokaku replied nothing to that. Haru softly grabbed Shiena's hand and headed to the door. The brunette would have like if they asked for her opinion first. But she decided to go along with the situation and followed Haru without protest. She glanced one last time at her girlfriend, who was still smiling yet looked unpleased, and left her apartment with Haru.

"So, how are you? You know, since you got poisoned…" Haru asked.

The two girls were walking in a park near Shiena's place.

"Well, I was hospitalized for a while, but I'm fine now. And...what about you? I see that...you survived Class Black. I'm...glad."

"Ah, yes. It wasn't easy though, everyone was pretty determinate to kill me. Good thing Tokaku was there to protect me, even if she ended up trying to kill me too."

"Uh? Why?!"

"It's a long story...but everything is fine now," Haru answered.

They remained silent for a moment. Shiena felt awkward. She didn't know what to say.

"Why are you with Takechi-san?" Haru suddenly asked.

Shiena kind of wish that she wouldn't have asked that. It was hard to find an appropriate reply to this, since even Shiena was still wondering why she was with her.

"Because I love her...I guess. Being with her...makes me feel good."

"I see, but...are you sure it's safe? She's a serial killer after all. And that injury on your face...is it because of her?"

The brunette brushed the bandage on her cheek, feeling embarrassed.

"Well, yes...and not just that…"

"So she hurt you!? And you're with her regardless?"

"It just happened once...twice...but she's not hurting me anymore! And it's not like the only one who has a girlfriend that hurt them...Azuma tried to kill you."

Haru blushed in shame, her hand touching her own chest. Shiena felt a little bit dumb. What she said made her sounded like a battered woman. But she knew that her situation was different. Otoya couldn't help but hurt others, it was in her nature. It was already a miracle that she was now treating her right, and Shiena was fine with it.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to insult your relationship with Azuma. But Otoya and I are fine now. She's nice to me, and she stopped killing people. It's all thanks to me. Being with her...save people. I'm doing the world a favour by being with her and...it makes me happy. I like that feeling. And I love her."

Haru looked hesitating for a moment, before she smiled softly.

"Then I suppose it's fine. You could have a good impact on Takechi-san. You could even make her change for the best, with love," Haru said.

Shiena smiled with pity. Haru was too innocent for her own good, so naive. A psychopath like Otoya couldn't change. But somehow, Haru's naivety somehow comforted Shiena.

"I'm sorry, Ichinose. For trying to kill you," Shiena suddenly said.

"Uh? But you never actually tried."

"That's only because Kirigaya poisoned me before, but it was my intention. But I realized now...that killing you would have been wrong. You're a good person, you don't deserve to die. I feel bad just to know you were targeted into this twisted killing game, and I'm glad that you managed to survive, I really do."

Haru's smile seemed brighter as she gently took Shiena's hands, looking at her in the eyes.

"No, I'm sure you wouldn't have tried. You don't seem like a killer to me. You're also a good person, I really enjoyed my time spent with you at Myojo Academy. If possible, I would...I would like us to be friends. For real."

Shiena felt a warm feeling in her chest. She wasn't used to such kindness, to have someone wanting to genuinely be her friend.

"I...I would love to," Shiena finally replied.

Haru smiled happily. Shiena could feel how pure Haru was, she truly had a pure heart. But somehow, this thought didn't make her happy. The same irritation she felt back then when Otoya talked to Haru came back.

"We...we should go back now, before our girlfriends killed each other or worst, trash my apartment."

"You're right. I'm glad we were able to see each other," Haru said honestly as they headed back to the apartment.

"Yeah, me too," Shiena replied, trying to hide her growing discomfort.

"It was nice talking to you, I hope we'll see each other soon," Haru said as she headed for the door.

"Yeah, me too! Thanks for the diploma, I'll treasure it, especially since it comes from you," Otoya said cheerfully.

"She wasn't talking to you," Tokaku said harshly.

"It's okay. But Takechi-san, this diploma isn't from me, it's from Mizorogi-sensei."

"Oh? That guy...I almost forgot about him. I only have place in my mind for cute girls," Otoya replied with a wink.

"Ok, that's enough. We're going now. Come, Haru," Tokaku said as she grabbed Haru's hand and opened the door.

"Ah, goodbye, see you another time!" Haru said.

They both left the apartment and closed the door behind them. Otoya looked at her diploma with a smile, like she was thinking about something pleasant. Once again Shiena felt this irritating feeling. Upset, she went to her bedroom and laid on her bed, hiding her face in her pillow.

After a few minutes, she heard the door opened.

"Shiena-chan? Is there something wrong?" Otoya asked.

The brunette didn't reply. She then felt the bed moving. Otoya must have sat on it. A hand suddenly started to lightly brushed her back, but Shiena did her best to ignore it.

"Come on Shiena-chan, what's wrong? Weren't you happy to see Haru-chi? Or did Azuma-san bother you as much as she did to me?"

Shiena suddenly turned back, glaring at Otoya.

"You sure were happy to see Ichinose," she said with a reproachful voice.

"Well, of course, it's Haru-chi after all. She's so cute and pretty," Otoya said with a dreamy expression.

Shiena was mad, but she wasn't even sure why she was.

"More than I am, uh…," Shiena replied bitterly.

"Um? Well, yes," Otoya said.

"Wow, you really suck at comforting someone."

"I'm just being honest for once."

"So she's prettier than me, and she has…a pure heart. Purer than mine. She's most your type than I am, isn't right?"

Otoya remained quiet for a moment, before an amused smirk appeared on her lips.

"No way, Shiena-chan….you're actually jealous! How adorable ~"

"What!? N-No, I'm not…"

But Shiena wondered if it was the truth. Could she really be jealous? It seemed like a plausible possibility, But it would mean that she was truly in love with Otoya, something she wasn't sure was a good thing.

"A-Anyway, the point is, Ichinose is both a girl with a pretty face and with a pure heart. You're probably more interested in her than in me. After all, isn't she your idea type?"

"Don't say that, she's not. My ideal type is older, and she's already with the annoying Azuma."

"So you're just with me because Ichinose is not available…"

"Of course not. Even if Haru-chi was single, I wouldn't date her. Because I would have killed her before. Her pretty face is only what I see with her, but you, I saw you pure heart first."

"But...you know that she has a pure heart now, so…"

"It doesn't matter. I prefer yours. And you know, Haru-chi...she's kind of dumb."

"...what?"

"Well, maybe not dumb, more….naive. Someone like her...would never be able to understand me the way you do, to accept my true nature. That's what I like about you. You're able to love me for who I am, to accept me, understand me. Haru-chi wouldn't. I would easily get bored of her and kill her. But you, I don't think I could even become bored of you. It's too much interesting and fun to be around you, Shiena-chan."

Shiena suddenly felt her heart raced, and blushed. There was something creepy in what Otoya said, but somehow, she also found it comforting. It made her happy to hear that. It made sense. Haru was too naive, she would probably try to change Otoya rather than accept her for who she was, and it would probably annoy Otoya one day. Only her could truly love Otoya. This thought reassured Shiena. They both could only love each other.

"I love you, Otoya. Only I could," Shiena said softly.

"And only I can truly love you," Otoya replied with a smile that genuinely seemed happy. "We were meant to be with each other, you were born to be with me."

Not so long ago it would have creeped out Shiena to hear that, but not today. It only made her so glad and happy that she smiled. Otoya then suddenly went on top of her and kissed her. It was exactly what Shiena needed. The kiss continued for a moment, until Otoya broke it and laid her head on Shiena's belly.

"Your tummy is so warm and soft," Otoya began to say. "I always liked that part on women. A woman's belly is so comfy, especially their inside. Truly beautiful. When I see girls like Haru-chi, I just want to cut them open and play with their guts."

Shiena knew that what she said should bother her. It did make her unease, but strangely it didn't creep her out as it should. She was just too used to it, too jaded.

"But I prefer yours where they are, safe in your belly. Your tummy is fine the way it is, all immaculate and pure like your heart...well, almost," Otoya said as she pointed the slight scar on it, caused during their first encounter since Shiena left the hospital. "But something perfect wouldn't be interesting, some imperfections can be attractive too. Especially if I'm the cause of them."

Otoya suddenly kissed her scar, which made Shiena shivered. She was ticklish there. She then stuck out her tongue and traced it on Shiena's belly as she removed her underwear, going down…

"O-Otoya…!"

"Shhh, let me show you some of my love," Otoya said as she kissed her inner thigh, before going for the main dish.

Shiena gasp in pleasure, leaving her body in Otoya's hands...well, tongue, and spend a wonderful moment with her, forgetting about her worries and allowing herself to enjoy the present moment.