"There it is, ladies. The door out of this world. After you."
Mr. Maruyama gestured at the gilded door which had opened on its own due to the bracelet worn about the large man's wrist. It was strange to see a door in the middle of a clearing but this whole dimension was full of odd spectacles. A free standing door with the view of a closet was on the normal spectrum.
One thing Kurumu could have lived without was the image of this aged giant sporting a skin tight outfit. A part of her was curious how they had ever found anything in his massive size. He had jested about how the tights would have looked better on him thirty years ago when he still had muscles. Not that he was fat but there was no definition to his torso. Sadly his lower extremities were too well defined. At least she had not felt anything lecherous from him during their sessions.
"Before anyone starts stripping, let Mr. Maruyama and Mr. Aono through. We don't need a repeat of the incident at the lake."
In their journey to find a suitable location for training, they had stumbled across a lake. They had set up nearby, using the lake as a water source for cooking and bathing. After a rigorous training session with Moka, Tsukune had the misfortune of wandering over for a drink. Kurumu had been bathing with Tora and Lady Hineri at that moment. The PSC senior had not been too happy about his arrival.
Unlike Mr. Maruyama, Tsukune was a healthy young man with a poorly hidden sexual appetite. It was all too apparent when his body liked what he was seeing. Moka had smacked him around countless times, telling him to learn to control his body.
"I want to sleep in a bed."
Kurumu wholeheartedly agreed with Yukari. In a huge list of unpleasant aspects of this trip, sleeping on the ground had to be near the top. Even with them finding a relatively level campsite, the ground was almost as unforgiving as sleeping on the floor without a futon.
"I want a bath."
"I know I wouldn't mind a nap before classes start."
Tsukune shifted a panting Mizore in his arms. The snow girl had fared the worst in this environment, spending more time under Yukari's care than in training.
"You don't have the time for that. Now hurry through the portal, Mr. Aono. Leave Ms. Shirayuki with one of your friends."
"Why can't you excuse us for a few hours? It's not like school this week will be demanding."
"My class will be moving forward today. I'm sure that Mr. Maruyama will be doing the same."
"Isn't that too aggressive for a foreign language course?"
"Not for third years. Now move along."
"I'd rather keep training."
The silver haired Moka laughed, walking alongside her sister. The vampire had the whip coiled about her thigh over the spandex. Unlike the rest of them, these two had not even attempted to bathe. Kurumu was fairly sure that they were both still wearing the first outfit they had brought.
"We can't. Our instructors have classes to teach."
"We can train without them."
"You also have club and your duties as a class manager."
"That's right, Kokoa. You might want to talk with your classmates about what they want to do for the upcoming cultural festival."
"They don't need me to talk. Nagisa can handle that."
"You also need to let your friends know about joining us."
Ms. Hitori paused at the doorway, allowing Rubi and Lady Hineri to exit this domain first. She shouldered a large duffle bag containing their soiled clothes and remaining provisions.
"I will see about getting outfits for those girls and leave them in the school store for them to pick up. I'll also look into bringing some sleeping bags for our next trip."
Mr. Maruyama wheezed out a chuckle as they arrived before the doorway.
"Some better grub would be nice. Don't know how you kids live off snacks like that."
"That's all the school store carries. If you have a list of stuff you want, write it down quick as I'm heading for Mononoke right away."
"Let me take Ms. Shirayuki off your hands, Mr. Aono."
"Why did we even bring that useless stalker anyways?"
"As much as it pains me to agree with her, Ms. Shirayuki was nothing but a liability."
"Ms. Shirayuki needs the training. As is, she wouldn't be able to defend herself from a single attack."
Yukari snorted, shaking her head as Tsukune awkwardly handed Mizore over to Ms. Kiyomizu.
"I think we would be better off not letting her fight."
"She's actually quite powerful, Ms. Sendou. Too powerful for her own good."
Mizore groaned as Ms. Kiyomizu hefted the girl up higher and comfortably in her arms.
"Ms. Hitori is right. She's like an air conditioner that keeps freezing itself over."
"I've always wondered how that happens."
Ms. Kiyomizu smirked at Tsukune.
"Normally it's because of a lack of refrigerant or poor air flow due to dirty filters. But in her case, she has too much refrigerant and its causing her to overheat."
"Move along, girls."
Smiling at the tap on her shoulder, Kurumu followed Tora. She crossed through the plane of existence three steps behind the vampire sisters. The sudden change of atmosphere and temperature gave her a momentary sense of vertigo. She staggered against Tora, clutching the sphinx's arm for support.
"Pleased to see I'm not the only one that did that."
Lady Hineri snickered, holding a white plastic bag in one hand which contained her set of casual clothes while her other rested on the door to the bathroom. The vampires stalked over to the far corner where they had all stacked up their bags of fresh clothes.
The large closet was stuffed with a bunch of junk, though the Headmaster referred to this mess as a collection of priceless, magical artifacts. Shelves lined both walls, stacked with trinkets and baubles. A good portion of this stuff was jewelry, including an ornate brush and a gilded mirror.
With no space for his clothes, the Headmaster utilized an armoire which stood near his bedside. She had seen this antique thing while passing through his personal quarters to his bathroom. Naturally he had to jest about young women frequenting his chambers late at night.
"Think fast."
Kurumu snatched her bag of clothes which were tossed over by Kokoa. Clutching the plastic bag to her bosom, she glanced back to the doorway as Tsukune arrived with Ms. Hitori.
"Go change in the bedroom, Mr. Aono. We need to make room for the others. Some of you come with me to the bathroom."
Ms. Hitori directed Tsukune into the adjacent room as Ms. Kiyomizu emerged from the portal with Mizore cradled against her.
"Mr. Aono. You need your things."
Rubi grabbed a bag off the floor and hurried after Ms. Hitori while holding her own belongings. As Yukari followed Lady Hineri into the bathroom, Ms. Kiyomizu shuffled across the room.
"Give me Ms. Shirayuki's things."
Moka handed over a bag as Mr. Maruyama stepped through the portal. As Ms. Kiyomizu exited the closet, Mr. Maruyama twisted the bracelet to close the door. He murmured apologies as he made his way through the space. The moment he was gone, they started to disrobe.
"I am not looking forward to doing this again."
Tora sighed as she rolled the fabric up her torso.
"Neither am I."
Kurumu grinned as she grabbed the hem of her bottoms, rolling them down her butt. The garment clung to her thighs like leggings.
"Maybe it will be more fun with more people."
A discarded top squelched upon the floor as Tora let out a sigh of relief. With her tanned torso bared, the sphinx tugged a lush green spaghetti string tank top out of her bag. Her dark nipples stood erect as she shook out the top before pulling it on.
"I think we had a good training session."
Kurumu smirked at Moka whom had also shed her top.
"Sure. If you don't mind the attire."
"What's wrong with these outfits?"
Kurumu had no idea where to begin with her answer to Kokoa whom was also topless. She finally freed herself of these sticky leggings, pausing to scratch her navel. Grabbing the hem of her top, she started pulling it up to bare her breasts.
"I guess they were easy to move in but they kind of show everything."
Tora snorted as she started rolling down her leggings.
"That's no understatement. I think I'll trim my pubic hair today."
"You don't need to fret over that."
"You might want to think about it too, Moka. It won't just be Tsukune and Mr. Maruyama next time."
Dropping her top onto her leggings, Kurumu admired the sphinx bent over.
"Is my ass fat?"
Tora snickered, wiggling out of her leggings.
"Yes. And so is mine."
"Why would you randomly ask that?"
Moka had put on this baby blue racerback top made from soft wool which she had recently bought with some matching shorts. The vampire started to loosen the whip about her leg while her sister pulled on a pair of dark blue track shorts.
"Just something Ginei was arguing over during Sports Day with Miyamoto."
Kokoa blushed as she grabbed her white spaghetti string tank top.
"Why would you care about what that dog says?"
Before Tora pulled up her pair of tight cotton shorts which matched the hue of her top, Kurumu tried to compare sizes. It was not something she was familiar with doing.
"Is my ass bigger than Tora's?"
"Get dressed, Kurumu."
Kurumu draped her powder blue, corduroy tank top over her shoulder so she had her hands free to put on her navy cotton shorts.
"We joke about Ginei liking butts, but why does he like butts? Guys have butts."
"Are you implying that Senior is gay?"
"No! I just have no idea why a guy would be into that."
"Maybe to Senior, it's about feeling something round in his hands."
Kurumu frowned, pulling on her tank top. She fluffed out her hair though it felt grimy from sweat.
"I suppose that makes sense."
"Do you think butt implants are a thing?"
"I've never heard of that."
"But girls get breast implants to be rounder."
A slap surprised them, causing Kokoa to yip and hop away from a smirking Moka. The vampire started to coil the whip about her arm.
"You have a cute butt, Kokoa. No implants are needed."
Blushing, Kokoa rubbed her bottom while wagging her free hand at her sister.
"But it's not big like yours."
Ms. Hitori stepped into the closet, dressed in a long sleeved, maroon blouse and textured gray slacks.
"Does Ms. Shirayuki have any makeup exams?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"I'm going to excuse her and send her to the nurse's office. She's barely coherent even after a spell from Ms. Sendou. We're having to dress her."
Noting Tora had dumped her dirty clothes into her plastic bag, Kurumu did the same.
"Do you want us to take her home?"
"No. She needs to train with us tonight. I'm afraid she might not show up at all if we send her home."
"Hey, Teacher. What do guys like about butts?"
Kurumu blushed as Tora covered her mouth and promptly looked away. Moka snickered, shaking her head as she rolled down her bottoms.
"Hurry up and get dressed girls. It's only a few minutes before seven."
Kokoa pouted when Ms. Hitori retreated from the closet. She leaned over to fetch her soiled outfit from the floor, scooping it into her plastic bag.
"Rude. She didn't answer my question."
"There's probably no answer to that question."
"And here I was hoping that I could have breakfast."
The Headmaster's bathroom was nice. Pristine white tiles lined the floor and walls. On the right from the closet door was the dryer and washer machine. Dressed in a periwinkle blouse and an ebony pencil skirt, Ms. Kiyomizu was undressing a limp Mizore seated on the dryer. With the bottoms still around Mizore's ankles, the teacher freed the snow girl of the top.
"Leave your dirty clothes with Ms. Kiyomizu."
Ms. Hitori's instruction from the other doorway caused Ms. Kiyomizu to glance at them. Nodding, the teacher gestured at the stack of outfits resting beside Mizore's bag of fresh clothes which included one of her long sleeved shirts with the central pocket and a school skirt.
"Right there, girls."
Kurumu absently set her bag of dirty clothes in the pile as Tora did the same. She stepped away from the door to be out of Kokoa's path, watching Ms. Hitori exit the bathroom.
A partial wall divided the dryer unit from a sink with a marble counter and silver handles. On the other side of the sink in the corner was a porcelain toilet kept pristine white. A small aisle separated these fixtures from the built up lip of a bath which stretched the entire length of the room. Four people could comfortably bathe in that huge area. The wall across from the tub on the left of the closet door was lined with a shelf containing towels and other bathing goods.
Since her pajamas could not pass as casual clothes, Yukari had packed her black sundress patterned with sunflowers. While seated on the lip of the tub, Yukari knotted up her spaghetti straps so the dress would be tighter about her bosom.
"I won't have enough time to cook a breakfast but we could have a bowl of natto."
Kokoa nodded, setting aside her bag of clothes.
"That sounds better than nothing."
Yukari huffed, joining them as they all walked barefoot to the next room.
"Speak for yourself. I'll pick up something from the school store."
"That isn't open yet."
"It will be when I come back."
"I'm thinking I'll run home, change and grab something from the dining hall."
Kurumu smirked at Tora as they walked through the vacant bedroom. The door to the office was straight across the room from the bathroom door and had been left open.
"Won't you be late?"
"Most likely. But I won't miss a whole period."
Ms. Hitori was chatting with the Headmaster while Tsukune stood nearby with Lady Hineri and Rubi. He had on a dark green tee shirt and gray sweat pants. Rubi was wearing a school blouse and skirt, lacking casual clothes to change into. Lady Hineri had on a black tee shirt with a spider web design and a pair of white shorts with black spiders patterned about it. The cute attire ruined her image of authority.
"Is Ms. Akashiya coming soon? I would like Belmont back."
Kurumu thumbed over her shoulder as she walked to the chairs where everyone was gathered.
"She's not far behind us. Takes some effort getting our pants off."
"Yes. That is a problem for every young man when it comes to a girl."
Kurumu smirked as the Headmaster chuckled at his own joke.
"That's all we have to report. I'll be off to get supplies."
The Headmaster nodded with a wave, prompting Ms. Hitori to depart.
"Why are you still here, Tsukune?"
He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Moka told me to stick around."
"I'm going to leave. Every second counts."
"Agreed. I shall accompany you, Ms. Nazohashi."
Kurumu murmured farewells to the PSC girls as they took off. Once the two were gone, Kurumu took in a deep breath and smiled at Rubi and Tsukune.
Something felt off about Tsukune. He looked away the moment she came close to making eye contact. She had noticed it yesterday about halfway through lunch but had not thought much about it. She figured it had something to do with kissing Ushio.
A part of her hoped he was jealous. He had been less careful with his dirty thoughts about her during the training trip. She wondered if she had broken the whole sister zone he had dumped her into. Or perhaps this was the thirst of the virgin he thought himself to be. Now that he was back to not having any sex, he was letting the physical attraction compromise his boundaries.
She wondered if he masturbated to her. While the notion excited her, it also bothered her. What was the whole point of forcing her down this path if he could not be her platonic friend?
"Sorry to keep you all waiting. I imagine you want this back."
"Indeed. Leave it on my desk."
Moka strolled purposefully into their midst, placing the whip upon his desk. The moment her hand left the whip, pink color rushed in to mask the silver. She staggered into Tsukune whom had been standing the closest to her.
"Are you okay?"
Moka wobbled in his arms, clutching his sides. Kurumu grimaced, glancing aside.
"Yea. Weak. Locked up for so long."
"Don't worry. I have you."
Moka lifted up and leaned in. Before Kurumu realized the situation, Moka had bared her fangs. She sunk them into his neck, causing him to tense up. The vampire made a slight whimper as she held him close for several seconds. Tsukune made pained sounds while holding his breath.
"Moka. Please."
Moka let out a gasp, pulling her fangs away. She pulled him in tight as she nuzzled the side of her head against his neck and cheek.
"Yes, yes, Ms. Akashiya. If you could take this affection outside of my office, I would most appreciate it."
Moka sighed heavily, rubbing her hands on Tsukune's sides. He had recovered enough to timidly return the gesture. He chuckled dryly.
"Feeling better?"
Moka drew back to arms' length with her body relaxed.
"Much better. Thank you."
"Remember to come back tonight. This was only the beginning."
Grabbing Yukari's hand, Kurumu prompted the witch to walk with her. Kokoa quickly fell in step. With a glance over her shoulder, she confirmed that Moka and Tsukune were moving to join them. They were holding hands like a couple. Though haggard, Tsukune remained timid about this gesture. Moka seemed too tired to comprehend what she was doing.
"Wish she would take my blood again."
Kurumu smiled, squeezing Yukari's hand as they exited the Headmaster's office.
"Don't forget your age. You should be happy that she did it once."
"Is that how you feel about Tsukune?"
"That's an entirely different situation."
Yukari continued to sulk as they made their way down the hall towards the stairs.
"I can't wait till we start training again."
"How do you still have energy?"
"That was so much fun. I beat the snot out of Mr. Maruyama. I wish the others would have fought me."
Mr. Maruyama was durable but lacked speed. Even with Kokoa telegraphing her strikes, the big guy was unable to dodge her viciousness.
"They're not here to fist fight."
"I know. I wonder what skills they'll teach my girls."
Kurumu shrugged as she started down the stairs.
"I'm curious how this will even work with more people."
"Don't worry. That Miyamoto guy will train you."
"Don't you mean he'll train you?"
"No way! I'm training with Big Sis!"
As they turned about on the landing and started down the next flight of steps, Kurumu sighed.
"Well I feel like I barely participated that whole time."
"Didn't you train with Ms. Kiyomizu?"
"Sort of. Though her lessons went over my head. She spent most of her time with Mizore."
"I doubt that considering how much time that idiot was in camp resting."
Kurumu smirked as they arrived on the second floor. They veered to the left for a short ways before turning right to walk alongside the railing overlooking the main foyer.
"I don't know if I can learn how to use undine powers. She showed me but I don't even know where to begin. The only water I feel I have any control over is the stuff I'm directly in contact with."
"Touch is a concept, Kurumu. You are always connected to moisture in the air."
"Understanding how it works isn't going to help much. I didn't understand what I was doing when I was healing myself. I felt that and forced that. I don't feel connected to air moisture."
Yukari shrugged as they started down the main stair, intent on the aisles of shoe cubbies.
"Maybe you can't. I know I can't make another person into a witch. That's why swapping your soul into another body was never a true method of immortality. Knowing how to cast a spell is not enough."
"Ms. Sendou!"
Yukari scowled as Huang waved enthusiastically from the door to the teachers' lounge. Dressed in his usual attire, the foreigner hurried across the floor and started up the stairs.
"I'm surprised to see all of you here. And your attire. Did you spend the night here again?"
Yukari blushed, pushing by him when he intercepted them on the stairs.
"Leave me alone, Huang."
He frowned, allowing Kurumu and Kokoa to pass by him.
"Mr. Aono! You were here too?!"
"Morning, Mr. Huang."
"Can I interest you in joining my family?"
"Not a chance."
Glancing over her shoulder, Kurumu shook her head as Tsukune descending the stairs with Moka and Huang. He was no longer holding her hand.
"You have quite the masculine scent about you."
"Uh… thanks?"
"How manly of you. To have an orgy with your harem last night on school grounds."
"I did no such thing!"
"We were training, Mr. Huang."
"Ah yes. Training. Also very manly. I shall join you in this endeavor."
"That won't be necessary!"
"I swear if he shows up tonight for training, I'm going home."
On that note, Kurumu had to agree.
"Oh dear. Guess that's all the time we have today."
Ms. Nekonome put down the chalk as everyone hastened to put their notebooks away. The teacher was sporting that textured gray tube top today coupled with a sleek burgundy pant. A thin black belt with a chrome buckle featuring the school crest which could be bought in the store encircled her slim waist. To hide her indecent shoulders, the instructor had thrown on a short sleeved, white blouse which she had left unbuttoned. Apparently there was nothing in the teacher's dress code against baring her midriff.
While Kurumu would never claim that she paid close attention to what her teachers wore to school, she was fairly certain that she had seen most of Ms. Nekonome's wardrobe. Or at least everything that the teacher was willing to wear to school.
As the teacher departed on the heels of Wanibuchi and Yakihara, Kurumu wondered if the nekomusume still planned on marrying her long term fiancé. She knew that they had reserved a venue for the first Saturday of winter break. But it would not be the first time Ms. Nekonome had backed out.
"Tomorrow."
Kurumu grinned at the hand on her shoulder. She nodded at Juri.
"Tomorrow."
With a laugh, Juri retreated down the aisle intent on the back door. Naturally the boys in the back were already gone. Hazumi and Madosuki were almost to the door.
Kurumu stood up, groaning softly as she stretched her arms overhead. Abe paused in his journey to the front door to admire the view before Satsuki shooed him and Senyou to keep moving. The pair left the room a couple of steps ahead of Kumiko and the PSC girls.
Taking a deep breath, Kurumu slipped her hands in her jacket pocket to feel her phone and lunch card. Kumiko had mentioned that she would be joining their training session tonight. Starting next week, she would be sporting the sleeveless black outfit of the PSC.
"Are you sure you don't want to join me?"
Yukari huffed as she got up from her desk.
"I'm perfectly fine sharing my lunch with my Moka. She will be dining with Tsukune today so there won't be any concerns regarding her sister."
Kurumu smirked as she walked with Yukari to the front door.
"Maybe you should try eating with other lunch groups. I'm sure the auto club girls wouldn't mind."
Yukari made a look of disgust as they exited the room and veered to the right.
"I find the lunch line annoying enough. I don't want to deal with the hassle of the cafeteria."
"But you should have your own set of friends like Kokoa has."
"I have friends."
"But not your own lunch group."
"You don't have your own lunch group."
Kurumu sighed, supposing that was true. Upon reaching the end of their hall, they drifted to the left towards the main entrance.
"I'm eating lunch with Juri tomorrow. I'm not going to change my plans because you have issues eating with Moka on the days she shares lunch with her sister."
Yukari nodded as they passed by the door to the broadcasting room.
"Then I'll join you tomorrow. I find Ms. Morisato's presence tolerable and I understand that Kana has been having lunch with her group lately."
Kurumu sighed as they entered the large foyer, walking alongside the railing to the central stair.
"There's no guarantee that Kana will be with Juri tomorrow. It's not like their groups have merged."
"I suppose I could join Rubi in the teachers' lounge if you must protest."
Kurumu grimaced, not wanting to encourage Yukari in that direction. As they started down the central stair, Kurumu noticed a familiar pair exiting the school store.
"Hotaru!"
The sylph stopped upon hearing her name. The beige haired girl was with Hikari. Both were holding bags to their chests. With a grin, Kurumu hurried down the stairs.
"I'm surprised you two aren't already in the lunch line."
Hotaru grinned, presenting her bag as Kurumu arrived.
"Kokoa insisted that we pick these up."
"Is Milady in the store with Taniguchi and Ishiko?"
"Nope. She might be getting her lunch first."
"We came down here right after leaving our lunches in our classroom."
"Thank goodness for small favors."
Hikari smiled, bowing politely to Yukari.
"Afternoon, Ms. Sendou."
"These things are kind of like our unitards."
Kurumu smirked as Hotaru inspected one of her outfits.
"Now I know why you girls don't wear those outside of practice."
"Do we really have to wear them without lingerie?"
"That's up to you. It's a snug fit but the fabric breathes better than cotton panties."
"Those things are surprisingly durable. My Moka broke her sister's arm and it didn't harm the fabric."
Hotaru chuckled nervously, sharing a glance with Hikari.
"We're not going to get hurt doing this, right?"
"I doubt it. You two will be with Ms. Hitori most of the time."
"How many guys will be training with us?"
Kurumu paused as she thought over the number of guys in the PSC which included Sabaku, Kitajima, Koike and Umizake. And she had to include Tsukune and Miyamoto.
"Six. No seven. I forgot about Mr. Maruyama. But I doubt any guys will be training with Ms. Hitori."
"They should have their own campsite. I wouldn't want guys seeing me in my gymnastics unitard."
"I suppose we could suggest that to the teachers."
Hotaru grinned, clutching the bag to her chest as she grabbed Hikari by her jacket's sleeve.
"I guess we'll see you tonight."
As Kurumu lingered for a moment, she watched the pair head over to the stairs. Sucking in a breath, she turned about and walked for the school store.
While the school store had two entrances, the glass double door across from the teachers' lounge was the main one. The school insignia was etched into the panes of glass above the silver bar cutting across the center of these portals. Kurumu grabbed the bar and tugged it open, gesturing for Yukari to enter.
The line of students waiting for the register was already stretched far down into the first aisle of goods. The counter with the register was on their right and was manned by a bald man wearing a green visor which wrapped about his mottled head with a white elastic strap. This creepy guy took pleasure in feeling up girls while taking their measurements for special order outfits.
The store was divided into two sections. The majority of the store was on their left. This area was mostly aisles of shelves lined with school stuff. The last aisle hugging the far wall was devoted to all of the school paraphernalia from mugs to generic sizes of school uniforms.
The other third of the store was reserved for food. There was an island lined with daily perishables in the middle of this area. The shelves on the wall had snacks while the far wall had refrigerated carts filled with beverages and treats. She spied Mizore in the line, holding her usual half liter of vanilla ice cream.
Murmuring apologies, Kurumu slipped through the line to the other side. She smirked upon seeing a familiar buxom girl pondering over the selection at the island. Holding a can of tea, this girl had chestnut tresses which fell down to the back of her knees. Unlike Sports Day, Kochimaru was wearing her pink framed glasses upon her tiny nose which was dotted with freckles.
Deciding not to torment herself in a similar fashion, Kurumu ignored the island and walked straight to the shelves of snacks. She grabbed a bag of Senbei rice crackers first. Holding this to her bosom, she perused her other options before selecting a package of Country Ma'am cookies. Stacking this on her other bag, she wandered over to the refrigerated carts to pull out a can of yuzu juice.
She chuckled softly as she made her way back to the island, noting that Yukari had joined in on this futile task of finding something decent this late in the day. Coming up beside the witch, she pressed her can of juice against the back of Yukari's neck to cause the girl to gasp.
"Kurumu!"
"Take something. Looking at it won't make your options any better."
Yukari scowled at her before grabbing two onigiri wrapped in nori.
"I question the nutritional value of everything this shop has to offer."
"You'll have to make your bento for tomorrow after school today if you don't want this to happen again."
Yukari sighed heavily, stalking off with her selections to fetch a drink. Grinning, Kurumu stalked over to Kochimaru whom was still frowning over her options. Resting her juice on her other items, Kurumu snatched up a potato bread and handed it to the girl.
"Take two of these and call me in the morning."
Kochimaru absently took the offering, smiling softly at her.
"Hello, Ms. Kurono. I don't have a phone to call you, but I can visit before classes start if you like."
Kurumu felt no reason to explain that as the girl grabbed a second potato bread.
"How have you been?"
The girl sighed, resting her wares on her bosom which rivaled Kurumu's.
"The usual. Boys are annoying."
"No kidding. I got a handful of guys that are giving me a hard time now that they know I'm single."
Kochimaru nodded, starting off towards the line. Supposing she had no real reason to wait around for Yukari, Kurumu followed the gyokuto.
"Are you thinking of getting a new boyfriend?"
"It's tempting. What about you? Did you ever get a boyfriend?"
Kochimaru sighed again as they walked down the crowded aisle to arrive at the back of the line.
"I don't know if I want one. A guy in my class, Mr. Takahashi, asked me out right before summer break. I turned him down."
"Well you can't date just anyone. It has to be someone you're familiar with."
"Did someone call for me?"
Kurumu frowned as a grinning guy holding two bags of snacks made his way back to them. His dingy gray locks were a complete mess with his bangs haphazardly falling over his pink eyes. He stood about as tall as Tsukune though he had a stockier build.
"Who are you?"
"Ashiharu Mamoru. I'm a second year in class nine. I overheard your conversation about finding the lovely Usagi a boyfriend."
Kochimaru shivered, clutching her items closer to her bosom.
"I didn't say I wanted one."
"You know her?"
The boy grinned wide as he settled in behind them.
"Of course I do. I'm Momiji's cousin. Those two were together almost all of the time."
"No we weren't."
"Well maybe not before junior high. But after Momiji got her tits, they became best friends."
Kurumu smirked as Kochimaru blushed darkly.
"I take it you're a fan of large breasts."
"Most certainly. The sack race on Sports Day was the most glorious event I have ever witnessed."
"It was embarrassing. I had hoped we wouldn't draw so much attention."
"When a bunch of big tittied girls have a hopping race, every guy will notice."
Kurumu snickered, shaking her head.
"Not if he's blind."
"That would cure blindness."
"Two boys asked me out after the race. I don't think they were from the school."
"Were they dressed in gym clothes?"
"Casual clothes. Momiji was also asked out by a creepy guy easily twice our age. Said he would give her something to hop on."
Kurumu took in a deep breath, thinking they needed to change this subject.
"So. I'm guessing you've asked her out before."
He laughed heartily, nodding as Kochimaru blushed.
"Back in the sixth grade. I guess that was before she became friends with Momiji."
"Would you ever ask her out again?"
"That depends on if she'd say yes and if Momiji wouldn't tattle on me."
"Is there some reason why you can't date her?"
"My parents insisted on me focusing on my grades instead of fooling around."
"He's not very smart."
"I don't want to hear that from a girl with two retakes tomorrow."
Kochimaru cringed, offering no response as they drew closer to the register. Kurumu noticed that Yukari had taken a spot in the line four students back.
"You two seem to get along well enough."
As Kochimaru shook her head vehemently, Ashiharu chuckled.
"Not really. Usagi has always been skittish around others. It's like her defense mechanism. She only acts like a normal girl when she's around Momiji."
"That's not true. I'm friends with some of the other girls now."
"That's good to hear. You need to get more confident with yourself. Like Ms. Kurono here."
"I doubt I could ever be like her."
"You don't need to be. But it would be nice if you didn't ignore me every time you see me in here."
"Do you come to the school store often?"
He chuckled, shaking his head. He held up his bags of Calbee chips and Sucorn.
"Usually every Wednesday. I like to keep myself stocked up."
"Next."
"Thank the heavens."
Kurumu giggled as Kochimaru surrendered her can of tea and pair of potato breads to the clerk.
"I should thank you, Ms. Kurono. Normally she ignores my attempts to drag her into a conversation."
"If you walked up to me and praised my tits, I would also ignore you."
"I don't start every conversation like that. I have to work it in after a few sentences."
"Why bring it up at all?"
"Because it's important?"
"How?"
"Big boobs make happy babies."
"You are so dumb."
Snatching up her change and goods, Kochimaru shook her head as she stalked off. Giggling at his crazy remark, Kurumu stepped up to hand over her juice and snacks.
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Are you ever happy about drinking from an empty can? A woman with big tits produces more milk. More milk means happy babies. It's simple logic."
"Seven hundred fifty yen."
Kurumu smirked, pulling a thousand yen bill out of her pocket which she had bummed off Moka this morning. The man took the bill and hit a button on the register, causing the drawer to slide out. In seconds, he handed her the change.
"Good luck, Mr. Ashiharu. It was fun talking to you."
Pocketing the coins, Kurumu gathered up her purchases. She walked over to the door, pushing it open with her shoulder. Kochimaru was already over by the bathrooms and about to start down the corridor to the senior wing. Kurumu hastened her step.
"Wait up, Kochimaru."
The girl glanced over her shoulder and slowed her step.
"Was there something you needed?"
"I'm eating with the fashion club in class three today. May as well walk with you."
Kochimaru was part of a lunch group of gyokuto girls from Tsunan which gathered in the senior class six. It was the homeroom for Makitoru from gymnastics and Kyubane from the cheerleader squad.
"So… if Ashiharu asked you out, would you turn him down?"
"He just wants to make a baby factory out of me."
Kurumu smirked, supposing that was one way to look at it poorly.
"He was the first one to ask me out."
"You know… that was almost four years ago."
"It's not like he's changed for the better. I used to think he was cooler."
Kurumu nodded as they turned left and started down the senior hall. Like the other wing, the lower numbered homerooms faced outwards. Class one was on their right with class twelve on their left.
"I won't force it. I don't know the guy well enough to care."
"He's not bad but he'd probably want to have sex."
"Most boyfriends will."
Kochimaru blushed, nodding without a response. Kurumu slowed as they neared her destination.
"I got a question. Did Mr. Funsui from the tennis team ask out any of your friends recently?"
Kochimaru brightened up with a smile, nodding enthusiastically.
"He did. One of the few Sports Day confessions that was good."
"I had a feeling he would. He did say he would let his special girl know before the cultural festival."
"Puri is so happy. She had not considered the possibility it could be her."
Kurumu stopped in front of the door to class three.
"Puri?"
"Oh! That's her nickname. I meant Ms. Kukioba."
Kurumu was genuinely shocked. She was fairly certain she remembered the stipulations he was going to pick the girl from. Garakuta had gotten more votes than Kukioba in the popularity contest. She had bigger boobs and was the dumber one. It had seemed like a sure thing.
"You seem surprised."
Kurumu managed a smile and nodded.
"When I wrote the article, the guys were teasing him about Ms. Haneru."
"You thought he would ask out Bouncy Bunny?"
"Not that he had a chance. I interviewed her last week and she clearly has no interest in any boys here. I was hoping he would ask out one of your friends instead. I just didn't expect it would be Ms. Kukioba."
"She is happy about it but very nervous. His next two tennis meets are away. She was hoping to go on at least one date with him before meeting his parents at the cultural festival."
"Well… I'll talk to her in home economics today. Congratulate her and wish her luck."
"I know. She's so nervous. Her parents are going to be here too."
"Lots of luck then. I'll talk with you again sometime."
As Kochimaru departed after a polite farewell, Kurumu stepped through the open back door of class three. Like every other group that ate in a classroom, the girls had rearranged the desks into a makeshift table. They had enough vacant chairs about this table to seat a dozen guests.
Most of the girls present were facing the other door. The silvery haired Manzoku sat at the corner closest to the door. Chouda was next to her with her mint tresses spilled across the seat she was upon. On the other side of Chouda was the indifferent Gawauchi, acting bored as she picked at her bento lunch.
Across the table from Gawauchi was an ebony haired, traditional beauty whom daintily wielded her chopsticks. This was the kimono club president, Betsutama Irodori, whose picture had been included with Kiki's article. This young woman had been quite distraught about Ginei barging through their changing room and seeing her naked.
Sitting beside Betsutama was a buxom girl with vibrant chocolate tresses. Her pink eyes caught Kurumu's as she approached. She gestured at Kurumu, drawing the attention of the last occupant.
Herikuda Yuko was not much taller than Chouda. The social butterfly whom had won the popularity contest had crimson highlights in her sable curls. At Sports Day, she had been in charge of the Dress Up relay and Betsutama had been on her team along with Denshou of the Ikebana club. Their fourth had been Odayakana's friend, Hyoushou.
"There she is. Over here, Ms. Kurono."
Kurumu grinned as she took the open seat between Herikuda and Gawauchi.
"I only see seniors here."
"Our younger members don't bring their own lunches."
Kurumu nodded as she set her snacks down.
"You don't have anybody with fourth period gym?"
"The two that come to mind are Ms. Shitchi, whom never eats with her club, and Ms. Hajihachi. And I understand that she is with Mr. Morioka presenting your paper right now."
Kurumu blushed, tearing open her bag of rice crackers as Herikuda seized a sausage from her bento which had the black and white design of yin and yang. She wagged the morsel at Kurumu.
"You are here early. I expected you to arrive with Ms. Goto."
"I decided to grab a lunch at the school store."
"Some lunch you have there."
"The school store isn't known for its selection."
"You'll end up fat if you eat nothing but snacks."
Kurumu frowned at the grinning Herikuda.
"I'm not getting fat."
"I hope a popular girl such as yourself doesn't need to be introduced to anyone at the table."
"The only one at the table I don't remember is this lovely lady across from you. I know she was with you when I first met you and I saw her in the dress up relay with Ms. Shikikawa."
Herikuda giggled, gesturing at the buxom girl.
"This is Kunahiyo Yorisou."
"That's it. I was told that she was dating Mr. Tashikana for a few months."
"I wasn't aware that my past relationship with Ichigo was common news."
"He mentioned it when I first met him."
"Why would he talk about that?"
Kurumu shrugged, taking a rice cracker out of the bag.
"He was chatting with Ginei and I was curious why he broke up with Lady Hineri."
"You know that they were done before I asked him out. I had nothing to do with him dumping her."
"He blamed the PSC."
Kunahiyo sighed, fussing with her tresses about her ear.
"Did he say why he broke up with me?"
"Well… he said he had never meant things to be serious with you."
"Would have been nice if he had been up front about that."
Herikuda giggled, wagging a hand at Kunahiyo.
"Would you have asked him out if he was?"
"Of course not."
"That is the mistake of asking a guy out. The only thing he'll want from you is sex."
Gawauchi snickered at Betsutama.
"That's true even if he's the one doing the asking."
"Fair point. Which is why we should focus on ourselves and not worry over the whims of men."
As Kurumu chewed on a rice cracker, she regarded Betsutama intently. She had a pristine white ribbon wrapped about her neck. It was barely visible since her collar was buttoned all the way up with a tie.
"Whom will be taking over your respective clubs next year?"
Herikuda sighed dramatically.
"That has been a big question for me. My only two second years whom are regulars are Ms. Noboru and Ms. Hajihachi. And it sounds like Ms. Hajihachi will be occupied with Mr. Morioka. I hate to thrust this burden upon Ms. Noboru. She isn't ready for the fame."
Kurumu smirked, shaking her head.
"I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear your opinion."
"Perhaps you would consider joining?"
"Not interested."
"Think about it, Ms. Kurono. You are already a popular girl. You could effortlessly take over this club."
"I'm fine where I am."
"And what will you write next year? Won't it be boring to do all of the sports clubs again?"
"She does have a fair point, Ms. Kurono. The only reason why your articles aren't terribly redundant is because there was nobody covering the sports clubs while Ms. Otonashi was in charge."
Kurumu smiled softly at Betsutama.
"I'll think of something to write."
"She has a harder choice than I do in picking a successor. She has only one that regularly eats with her."
"On the contrary, it makes my choice easy. Ms. Yasumono will make a fine club president."
"She's tiny."
"You're not one to talk."
Herikuda pouted at Betsutama. She was about to say something when her ruby eyes brightened up. She gestured excitedly at the pair whom had entered the room.
"Come over. We were just talking about you two."
Gawauchi snorted with a slight shake of her head.
"You mean badmouthing."
Noboru Hazuka had short, peppered hair which was styled in a feathered, pixie cut. Her small companion had her raven locks twisted into a bun which was speared by an ivory pin. Kurumu had seen this girl in the limbo competition. Lacking glasses, Kurumu had not realized she was a gnome.
As the pair took up seats across from Chouda and Manzoku, Kurumu bowed her head slightly.
"I've actually heard much about you, Ms. Yasumono. Ishiko appreciates you."
"Afternoon, Ms. Kurono. That's nice of her. I enjoy her company too."
Kurumu pulled another rice cracker from the bag, wagging it at Herikuda.
"I heard from Kiki that you are thinking about taking the stage for your fashion show this year."
"That's correct. Mr. Hatsutori is making twelve dresses for us."
"That's nice of him to help you out again. Will he have a dress for you this year?"
"He's finished mine. In fact, he's already made four of the dresses and is confident that he will be done with them all before the deadline."
Gawauchi snorted, shaking her head.
"That's not a surprise. That boy didn't even show up for Sports Day."
"Out of curiosity, which dresses has he finished?"
"He's made mine, Irodori's, Kaiya's and Kakuri's."
"So he'll be making Ms. Kunahiyo's next?"
"No. He's wanting to do Sumire's next."
Kurumu frowned at that response.
"But she's not in either of your clubs."
"He wants to make a dress for her and Ms. Sekkeimoto. Something about it being their last year."
"Strange guy but he does have talent. I've actually worn the dress he made for me last year in public."
"Why would you do that? I donated mine to charity."
Manzoku frowned at Gawauchi.
"But it was your design."
"And his hands were all over it. No way was I keeping that."
"I'm going to be a fairy princess."
Kurumu smiled at Chouda's announcement. Absently eating another rice cracker, she conceded that Hatsutori was right. This was the last year he could make dresses for his junior high associates. She mildly wondered what Sekkeimoto thought about this gesture, aware that the tennis girl harbored a small crush for the eccentric guy.
"I'm guessing the other five dresses are for your second years."
Betsutama nodded, placing the lid on her bento and setting it aside.
"Yes. Ms. Shitchi is reluctant to give us a design for her dress but Ms. Kusou was excited to participate."
"I don't even know where to begin with my design."
"That simply won't do. You're the future of my fashion club. Be bold."
"Yea. Thanks. Still no idea."
Kurumu giggled, pulling another rice cracker from her bag.
"Why don't you have Hajihachi help you?"
"She's as clueless as I am."
"I swear. I might have to turn this club over to Ms. Masataka. At least she has vision."
"She can have it."
They all shared a laugh as Kurumu munched down another rice cracker. She smiled at Herikuda.
"I'm glad you'll get your fashion show this year."
"So am I, Ms. Kurono. Better late than never."
There was something indescribably gross about pooling your sweat into a ball and then throwing it at someone. But after several hours of training, Kurumu had mastered this grotesque technique. Now if she ever wanted to disgust an enemy, she could sling a compressed sphere the size of a golf ball at them.
She had a feeling some guys would pay her to do it.
"I think it is time for a rest."
Ms. Kiyomizu was standing by Tokori whom had collapsed to her hands and knees. The pepper haired monstrel was gasping as her body trembled. She was doing much better than Kurumu or Taniguchi in her first lesson with the instructor, having spent her last session with the other PSC girls.
Like Kurumu, Tokori was only part undine. Her mother was an inugami while her undine father had been a first year math teacher at Yokai. He had left for Okinawa to attend to some family business over the summer break of 94. Turned out that this business was a wedding to an undine his family approved of. He never came back, sending a letter of resignation and abandoning his home in Mononoke.
Taniguchi groaned as she stretched grandly, thrusting her modest bosom out. The toffee haired girl had taken her braids out which gave them a wavy look. Her creamy eyes met Kurumu's and she smiled.
"I don't know about you, but I need a drink of water."
"Mr. Umizake. Go tell the other instructors that we're taking a break."
The tall guy nodded with his usual indifference. He walked off towards the forest. Most of the boys and PSC members were training in a different clearing a good kilometer walk from here on the other side of the guys' campsite. Her campsite was in the other direction closer to the lake.
They were sharing this clearing with Ms. Hitori and her two pupils. Hotaru was laughing as she flew about in circles above the other two. The teacher held Hikari's hands as the salamander attempted to hover. Hikari was doing better this time around.
"Ms. Hitori! Break time!"
The instructor looked up at Ms. Kiyomizu's call. Nodding, she said something to Hikari before letting the girl's hands go. Hikari remained hovering a half meter off the ground. She slowly descended, turning a smile on the woman the moment she touched the ground. Ms. Hitori nodded again, gesturing at them. With a grin, the salamander started trotting over while Hotaru zipped along overhead.
"To the campsite, ladies."
Ms. Kiyomizu helped Tokori up to her feet. With a pat on the girl's shoulder, she started off. Kurumu slowly followed after the woman, falling in step with Taniguchi.
"I feel jealous. I'm being outperformed by two half breeds."
"I will never brag about being able to throw a ball of sweat better than you."
"Are you feeling okay, Ms. Meirowasa?"
Tokori panted, shaking her head.
"Dehydrated."
Ms. Kiyomizu turned about and backpedaled the small stretch of grass which remained between her and the start of the forest.
"Everyone needs to drink a lot of water."
"Ms. Taniguchi! Did you see me?!"
As Ms. Kiyomizu turned about to begin her trek through the woods, Hikari trotted over to join them. A giggling Hotaru touched down in their midst.
"It blows my mind that she can fly."
Kurumu snorted at the sylph.
"I still don't regard what you do as flying."
"It's falling with style."
"I'm pleased that you figured it out this time."
Hikari grinned at Taniguchi, nodding.
"It's so hard to concentrate. It's so much harder than making a flame."
"I've never seen you make a flame."
"That isn't hard."
Hikari snapped her thumb and middle finger. She held her thumb up which now had a tongue of flame hovering over it.
"Can you shoot it out with force?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Because we're training for a fight. You could be like a flamethrower."
Hikari frowned at Hotaru's grin.
"I don't want to burn people."
"Go on, girls. No reason to dally."
Prompted by Ms. Hitori, they headed into the forest. An unfortunate thing about this uninhabited world was a complete lack of trails. It was like the wild creatures of this realm never made pathways. It sucked walking about this terrain with bare feet.
"I got a better question. Can you shoot flames from your feet?"
"I am not going to have Ms. Akegawa do that."
"Why not? It would be like rocket propulsion."
"She'll get hurt, Ms. Antai. She needs to learn how to hover with heat manipulation first."
Hotaru draped an arm over Hikari's shoulder, grinning.
"You could be like the next human torch."
"That was a guy."
"Torchess?"
Kurumu chuckled, familiar with the character. Kokoa had excitedly told her all about the Fantastic Four movie which had included a superhero whom could turn into a ball of flame and fly around.
"I've never seen anyone fly around and shoot fireballs. I doubt my brother can do it."
"That's not a surprise, Ms. Akegawa. Fire is a destructive element so your kind is quite cautious with its application. Once you are more comfortable with hovering, we can start on that training."
Hotaru grinned, giving Kurumu's shoulder a shake with her free hand.
"How goes the water training?"
"Revolting."
"I'll say. At least she wasn't having us throw our fluids at each other."
"I doubt any of you would want to get hit with what I had in mine."
"Likewise. Though I was picking up on how to pull moisture out of the air."
"I thought that was what you guys were doing."
Kurumu shared a glance with Taniguchi, unsure if they should explain this to Hikari.
"It's better that you don't know."
"Yea. I'm surprised at how effortlessly Ms. Shirayuki and Mr. Umizake do this. If she ever figures out how to not pass out, she could be dangerous."
"Could Ms. Shirayuki learn how to fly using heat manipulation?"
"In theory she could. But I've never seen it in practice."
"How long have you been alive, Ms. Hitori?"
"Long enough to know that asking a woman's age is inappropriate."
They all shared a laugh at the response to Hotaru's question. They continued their journey in relative silence, arriving at the campsite in a couple of minutes.
"Welcome back."
Satsuki was seated on the nearest sleeping bag, offering a salute. Six more sleeping bags all of the same dark hue were scattered about in a circular pattern about a smoking campfire. A black kettle rested on a metal grate straddling a pile of charred chunks of wood.
"Hey, Yukari. Making tea?"
The witch poked at the fire with a long stick.
"Coffee."
"Where's Ms. Kiyomizu?"
"She went to the lake to fetch more water."
Three other girls were sprawled out on the other sleeping bags. Tora had her hands folded below her breasts with a black mask drawn over her eyes. Mizore was on top of the next bag, lying face down. Ishiko was relaxing on another bag with her goggles dangling about her neck.
"I suggest everyone take a nap after getting something to drink."
Tokori groaned, kneeling down on the bag next to Satsuki.
"How can anyone sleep?"
"I have masks in my bag if you need them. It will help block out the sun."
Hotaru flopped on top of the vacant bag between Ishiko and Tokori, leaving only one between Ishiko and Mizore. Hikari made a slight smile at Kurumu and Taniguchi, gesturing at the bag.
"You don't mind?"
When they both shrugged, the salamander claimed the last sleeping bag. Unfortunately the sports store had only seven sleeping bags in stock and there were no other stores selling camping gear in Mononoke anymore. That specialty store had closed down six years ago according to Tokori.
Kurumu grinned, taking a seat on the ground between Satsuki and Tora. Taniguchi did the same between Hotaru and Ishiko while Ms. Hitori rummaged through her backpack.
"I suppose I should ask if anybody needs healing."
"We're all fine, Ms. Sendou."
"Just thirsty."
Yukari nodded, slipping her hand into a black cooking mitt.
"I'll pour out some coffee. Who wants some?"
"I'm fine with water."
"Same. I'll wait for Ms. Kiyomizu to return."
"Anybody?"
Yukari paused, getting no positive response. The witch shrugged, pouring out a drink for herself.
"Are you feeling any better, Ishiko?"
"Fine. I'm ready to extension."
While getting dressed in the suite, Kokoa had decided to drink Ishiko's blood. The gnome had been quite unsteady on her walk back to the school and had collapsed shortly into her first training session with Miyamoto. She had been sleeping when they had left camp for their second round.
"Do you think she can train with the others?"
Ms. Hitori shrugged as she handed a mask to Hikari.
"I think Ms. Fukai is capable of giving it a try. It sounded like Mr. Aono was fully capable of training."
Yukari snorted, taking a sip of coffee.
"Tsukune had some of Rubi's blood to speed along his recovery."
"Where is Rubi?"
"At the other camp to tend to their wounded."
Kurumu nodded as Ms. Hitori handed out masks to Taniguchi and Hotaru. Taking in a deep breath, Kurumu grinned at Satsuki.
"So how was your session with Miyamoto?"
"Fine, I guess. I don't have a clue what I'm doing."
Ms. Hitori paused in front of Kurumu, offering a mask. Not feeling tired, she shook her head.
"I'll sleep next break when there's a bag open."
"How many sessions will we have before we leave?"
Tora sighed dramatically. She had also taken her braids out, letting her raven tresses pool beneath her.
"We had nine sessions yesterday."
"Nine?!"
Kurumu laughed at the alarm in the girls' voices.
"Yea. It's a long outing."
"We would do more but us teachers do need to sleep at some point."
"I trust we'll have less sessions today. We need to freshen up before handing out papers tomorrow."
"We will keep that in mind, Ms. Nazohashi."
Kurumu smiled, thinking about their next paper. Along with Kana and Hajihachi, Ginei had recruited his archery friend, Sonoda, to be his fourth set of hands for folding papers after school.
"Well I need to pee. Anyone willing to walk with me into the woods to take care of that?"
Kurumu chuckled at Satsuki's announcement. Patting her thighs, she got up.
"Sure. I'll keep a look out while you squat in the bushes."
"Absolutely loving this experience. Nothing beats roughing it in the woods."
Kurumu smirked as she followed the nekomusume into the forest.
"I'm just hoping those sleeping bags provide some comfort. Yesterday was awful."
"I think they'll work fine if you sleep on top of them. We really need some sort of cushion beneath them, like a mat of sorts. Then it wouldn't be much different from sleeping on a futon."
"Though a floor tends to be smooth and level."
"I have to admit that it's hard going back to my dorm room to sleep. I missed having a bed."
"I won't pretend that Kokoa's couch is comfortable but it beats sleeping on the ground."
"Don't you have a bed in your own suite?"
"I do but I haven't slept in it that often."
Satsuki nodded as they put more distance between them and their campsite.
"I spent most of the summer curled up with Nerume. And since Tokori's brother is such a nuisance, I started sleeping with her in her new bed."
"I'm glad you're getting along so well with her."
"Yea. I think this is far enough."
Satsuki hunkered down, rolling her bottoms down to bare her rump.
"Did you want to swing by my suite someday? You never did see my mother's urn and butsudan."
Satsuki grunted as she pulled the fabric to her knees. Scooting her feet apart, she sighed in relief.
"I suppose I could. After school sound fine?"
Kurumu nodded, watching the woods for any signs of disturbance.
"How is Kumiko doing?"
"No idea. She and her sister are training with Mr. Maruyama this time."
Satsuki sighed again, lifting up and rolling her leggings back in place.
"I see you took the panties off."
Satsuki pouted at her, struggling to get the sticky fabric up her thighs.
"They were soaked in sweat. They smelled like I had pissed myself."
"Where did you put them?"
"I soaked them in the lake and the brat dried them for me. I then stuffed them in the bottom of the sleeping bag I was sitting on."
"I hope you don't forget them. It's not something you want someone else to find."
Satsuki finished with her task, exhaling loudly.
"I hate how this suit shows everything. I keep thinking someone can see my pussy crack."
"Don't worry, Satsuki. It's not nearly as blatant as Kokoa's."
"Is she completely oblivious to that?"
"There's not much she can do about it. Even when she's wearing panties, it's sometimes noticeable through her gym shorts."
"Miyamoto was gawking at it. Nazohashi had to snap him out of his trance."
"Miyamoto has issues."
"And a fucking package. I mean damn. You do not want to train over in the other clearing."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Your boy, Aono, looks like he could satisfy a fucking elephant. Out of curiosity, did you see his package before you showed us that crazy dream of him boning you?"
Kurumu paused for a moment. She then smirked once she recalled the dream walking she had done in a drunken haze with Satsuki, Tokori and Nerume.
"I'm surprised you remember that."
"It was fucking traumatic."
"Why would watching me having dream sex be traumatic?"
"Because it made me think of my brother."
Kurumu knew her natural response should have been shock. But Nerume had already spilled the beans on Satsuki's family issues.
"Kurumu!"
She shivered upon hearing Tsukune's call.
"Should I leave you alone with the elephant man?"
Kurumu smirked as the grinning boy bounded over to them through the brush. Her eyes drifted down, reassuring herself that Satsuki was not exaggerating. Not that he could compete against a big man like Mr. Maruyama. Why was she thinking these thoughts?
"I'll be fine. We can talk later about your traumatic experience."
Satsuki snorted, stomping off.
"Tell your boy to get a license for that concealed weapon of his."
Kurumu giggled as Tsukune closed in on her. He had a warm smile as he came to a stop a few seconds later, gesturing behind her.
"You didn't have to send Ms. Unari away."
"She was intimidated by your presence."
"Why?"
"Did you want something, Tsukune?"
He glanced at her though quickly averted his eyes. Chuckling nervously, he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I sort of wanted to talk to you, but didn't know if I should do it alone."
Kurumu sensed a small tinge of desire. For her aching body, it was like water to a man stranded in the desert. A part of her wanted to drop his britches and help him surrender to his carnal desires. Sighing heavily, she leaned up against the nearest tree.
"If you behave yourself, we can talk."
"I'll do my best."
Please don't.
"What do you want to talk about?"
He backed away from her to find his own tree to use as support. He took in a deep, steadying breath.
"It's about Moka."
"Is the training hard?"
"Actually, I was with Mr. Kitajima last time. Teaching me how to properly wield a stick."
"I don't think you need much help there."
"It's not like I've ever been in a sword fight."
Kurumu smiled softly, electing not to explain which stick she had been inferring.
"So who was Moka training with? Her sister?"
"Yea. Both of them were up against Mr. Sabaku."
"How did that turn out?"
He laughed sheepishly.
"Well… that Moka is pissed. Wanted me to take the rosary off so she could fight Mr. Sabaku without any restrictions. It's apparently real hard for vampires to tackle a monster with holy powers."
"I suppose it's nice that she is also being challenged."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"There was a time that you told me that I would have to choose. That I had to pick one Moka to love."
"Yea. They are two different souls, Tsukune."
"I'm aware of that. But… it's not that easy to see Moka like that. At times I do see them as completely different people. But I also can see this angry, passionate vampire as just another aspect of Moka."
Kurumu sighed, relaxing against the tree.
"I don't think that's fair to Moka."
"What are you saying?"
"That you can't act like all of the good and nice aspects of Moka are the seal and all of the other parts you aren't as happy about are the vampire. Do you look at Kokoa and think she's only a bad vampire?"
"Well, no."
"Exactly. The vampire Moka has been a part of all the good and nice stuff the seal has done. Compared to the seal, she's a much more whole individual."
A good half minute of silence followed as Tsukune contemplated her words.
"I thought you preferred the seal Moka."
Kurumu sighed, clasping her wrist at her waist.
"I care a lot about the seal. But she's a tsukumogami, Tsukune. The soul of an object. Her name isn't even Moka. She only responds to it because she was desperate to be loved and cared for by her family."
Another long pause ensued. It was frustrating to watch Tsukune struggle to comprehend this situation. Her body urged her to mate. If he was fucking her, he would cease worrying over Moka.
"What's her name?"
"Hatsue."
He nodded, continuing to mull over something.
"So even she has her secrets."
Kurumu bit her lip, wondering if she had made a mistake.
"I'm sorry, Tsukune. Maybe I should have told you this sooner?"
"No. It's okay. Maybe Tora was right. I'm loving a Moka that doesn't exist."
Kurumu grimaced, glancing aside.
"I don't want to hear you talk about your love for another girl, real or not."
"Yea. Sorry. I guess that's insensitive of me. But I don't know any other girls I could talk to about this."
"You have no shortage of other girls."
"Not really. You're the only one around that I've known for years. The rest might take it wrong."
Kurumu sighed, supposing she deserved this for messing with his head.
"Fine. What exactly do you want help with?"
He laughed sheepishly with a blush.
"I honestly don't know where to start. Here I was trying to figure out which Moka I truly love and it turns out that I didn't even know her name."
Kurumu felt sorry for him. He was favoring the girl without a body of her own.
"Hatsue is the soul of the rosary. She's much older than Moka."
"She doesn't act older."
"That's because she lacks a body, Tsukune. It's hard to learn anything without a body. While she's older in years, she's only had a body for about six. Which Hatsue do you want to believe in? An old spirit or a six year old?"
"Neither sound like good options."
"Then maybe you should pick Moka. The real one."
"That sounds like I would be taking the easy way out."
"Sure. Ignore the whole having to defeat her in combat."
He barked out a laugh. With a chuckled, he nodded.
"Yea. Ignoring that."
"It's hard to say, Tsukune. You might not be physically attracted to the body we find for Hatsue."
"That makes my love for her sound shallow."
Kurumu found his tone annoying.
"A love without sex is called friendship, Tsukune. If you remove the physical aspect, what's the point of dating that person? Would you kiss someone you're not attracted to?"
"You seemed to manage that just fine when you kissed Mr. Burumoto."
Kurumu flinched at his retaliation.
"You date a girl with the hope that you will marry and have children with that girl. Why would you pick a girl that you're not physically attracted to?"
"I'm not saying I would."
"Sex is not shallow, Tsukune. It's not an activity that you do with everyone you meet."
He took in a deep breath.
"Okay, Kurumu. I concede the point. I just feel like my love for Hatsue should not hinge on her looks."
Kurumu sighed, pawing at the dirt with her toes.
"It's biological, Tsukune. You don't get a say in whom you are attracted to. It simply is."
"Yea. I'm sorry. I guess it must be hard for you to talk to me like this."
"Now you're just teasing me by saying it's hard."
Tsukune reflexively covered himself which made Kurumu smirk. An uncomfortable silence followed.
"Tsukune. I think you should pick the vampire."
"But the vampire isn't the one I fell in love with. It was Hatsue that ran me over with her bike. It was her that needed me to save her."
"Tsukune. Moka has always been there. Always. Everything that Hatsue experienced while possessing Moka's body was shared by the real Moka. Every thought. Every feeling. That girl will never admit it, but she cares for you as much as Hatsue does."
"I don't understand."
"It's like how I peruse through memories. When I took Yukari's memories, those became mine. If I think about that experience, I feel it as Yukari did. I felt my teeth and bones break as they brutally raped me."
Tsukune nearly lost his balance. He grabbed the tree and regained his footing, regarding her in shock.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I also dived into Tora and I felt her terror as a young classmate tried to kill her. I experienced her horror as she watched her phantom murder him along with his two friends."
Tsukune nodded dumbly with his eyes still wide.
"It's not easy to separate yourself from first hand memories, Tsukune. It's not like watching the television or seeing something happen to someone else. It happens to you. Even though I know it happened to someone else, it hurts. It hurts the same."
Her eyes were tearing up as she indulged in his painful memories. He had desperately wanted Kobayashi to go out with him but he had never mustered the courage to ask her out. The year after he had given up on the love princess had been full of so much bitterness and depression.
"Hatsue needs her own body. For Moka's sake and her own."
He regained his senses enough to chuckle softly.
"Yea. I see your point. Maybe I should wait until after she gets her own body to ask her out again."
"That would be smart."
He sighed heavily.
"I guess that shelves one of the matters I was worried about. I hope you find her a body soon so I won't have to dwell on this forever."
She smiled softly, rubbing away the moisture in her eyes.
"You should pick Moka. Leave Hatsue to me."
"I think I prefer it the other way around."
"She loves you, Tsukune. She wants you to beat her in combat."
He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well that isn't happening. There's no amount of training that will ever get me to her level even if I wanted to fight her."
"I didn't say it was rational, Tsukune. But it is what she wants."
"I will hold off my choice until after you find Hatsue a body. If you decide to cruelly put her into an old codger, I will have to pick someone else."
"Oh? Your love can't cross that bridge?"
"I think it would be kinder to leave her in the rosary if that is the only body you can find."
"You have no argument from me on that. I guess it's time for us to go back to our separate camps."
He held up a hand which had her pause her retreat.
"There is one more thing."
"Like what?"
He clenched his fist, glancing aside for a moment. He let out a deep breath.
"Why did you not tell me about your mother passing away?"
Kurumu flinched, absently cupping her breast.
"Why would you think that?"
"Mr. Unsei told me about it the night after Sports Day. I guess you had a service over the weekend."
Kurumu grimaced, wondering why that guy had decided to blab about her problems to Tsukune.
"It wasn't a service. I had a small viewing with a few people that knew my mother."
"I knew your mother, Kurumu."
Lowering her hand, Kurumu fidgeted with her fingers at her waist.
"I didn't want to trouble you."
"It troubles me more to know that you don't think we are good enough friends to share something important like that."
Kurumu shook her head, feeling a tightness in her chest.
"It's not like everyone knows."
"Aoi knew about it. I didn't even think he was a close friend of yours."
"That was not my intention. Mizore's mother brought it up in front of him since we were dating."
"So Mizore knows. And I would be amazed if Moka and Yukari didn't know."
"I'm sorry, Tsukune."
"Mr. Unsei mentioned that Kagami girl whom was by your side most of Sports Day was also at the viewing. It has me wonder how close of friends you think we are."
"What is it that you want from me?"
"To act like friends. Friends don't hide important stuff like this from each other."
A tear crawled down her cheek as her mind tumbled over what she should have done.
"But you said I had to be happy. There was nothing happy about this."
"That doesn't mean you had to exclude me from it."
"Would telling you about her death make you happy?"
He let out a frustrated sigh.
"No. But it's something friends should do."
"Why? It won't change anything."
"If that's your logic, why did you bother telling everyone else?"
"I didn't tell everyone else."
"But you told someone."
"What do you want me to say?"
He sighed again.
"Do you want to be friends with me?"
"Of course I do."
"Then maybe you should act like it."
Kurumu swallowed thickly. She clutched her breast, feeling her heart twist painfully. She had no idea why he was so disappointed with her.
"You wanted me to be happy. I lost my mother and you refused to go out with me. I'm trying my best."
He sighed even heavier, scratching the locks on his head.
"I'm not mad. It's just… it's like you think it's all or nothing. I want to be your friend, Kurumu. And I do want you to be happy. There's tons of other guys out there whom are better than me."
She sniffled, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"I would know if my body was interested in another guy."
"I wouldn't be upset if you dated someone like Mr. Burumoto."
Kurumu coughed up a laugh. She blushed at the thought of Ushio wearing one of these skin tight outfits.
"Tsukune. That guy is way too big for me."
"There are other nice guys. Like Ginei and Mr. Miyamoto."
Kurumu sucked in a deep, calming breath and pouted at him.
"Ginei has a girlfriend and Miyamoto has a fetish for little girls."
"Work with me, Kurumu. What about Kamitsuku?"
"You are a terrible matchmaker, Tsukune."
"Maybe the other girls can help you out."
"I'm not going to start dating another guy just so you can feel better about dumping me."
"But we weren't going out."
"Yea. Wrong word."
"I would like it if you included me on important stuff like this. You should treat me like you would Moka."
"I make out with Moka in the closet."
That caused his desire to spike. His hands immediately moved to hide his body's response.
"Yukari then. And please don't say anything indecent about that."
She snickered, feeling the ache of her heart subside.
"Okay. I won't."
"I'd like to see your mother's butsudan. Mr. Unsei said that you have it in your room."
"Yea. I guess you could come with me and Satsuki tomorrow. She hasn't seen it either."
"Thank you, Kurumu. I'm hoping you won't feel so hesitant to share things with me in the future."
Kurumu smirked, wagging a finger at him.
"Okay. Satsuki says you need to get a license."
"License? What for?"
Turning her back on his frown, she started walking away.
"For that huge cock of yours."