Kurumu shivered at the sudden temperature drop she experienced upon arriving near the vending machines where Mizore waited for them.
"Stop worrying about it."
Mizore clutched her half liter of ice cream against her bosom.
"Easy to say."
Balancing her lunch tray, Kurumu fetched a hundred yen coin from her jacket pocket. Glancing over the options as she pushed the coin into the slot, she decided to go with the mango passion. After pushing the button, the can tumbled down the chute into the bin.
"He's not angry at you."
"It was his birthday."
Kurumu leaned down to retrieve the can. Placing the can next to her box of chicken teriyaki rice, she drifted over to Mizore's side.
"He'll forgive you."
"I'm a horrible girlfriend."
Tora snorted upon arriving, dropping her coin into the machine and pushing the button for a lemon tea.
"Still carrying on about that, I see."
"You know Mizore."
Tora added the can to her tray which also had her lunch card and keys. That fancy PSC jacket lacked a pocket for such things.
"I know that my tea doesn't need to be iced."
Mizore murmured an apology as Satsuki strolled over to join them. Like Tora, she had put her schoolbag up in her room so her lunch card and keys were on her tray next to her cup of udon and box of tonkatsu.
"You're nipping out, Kurono."
Kurumu confirmed that Satsuki was correct, but she lacked a free hand to close up her school jacket.
"It's Mizore's fault."
"Obviously. Feels like I just walked into a freezer."
As Satsuki selected her fruit punch, the cafeteria worker was ringing up the multiple entrees Nerume had stacked onto her tray. Nerume was wearing the sleeveless sweater vest over her school blouse. Lacking pockets, Nerume also had to put her keys and lunch card on her tray.
"Any luck in finding yourself a disposable boyfriend?"
Satsuki snickered, grabbing her can of juice from the bin. She sauntered over to Tora's side.
"No change since the last time you asked."
"Not every girl is desperate to be in a relationship."
"Nerume would like a boyfriend."
"Only because she doesn't know what else to do with her life."
Kurumu huffed at Satsuki.
"Don't act like your life plans haven't changed. I remember you saying that you would go to college."
"I haven't given that up yet. I just didn't consider how much that would cost."
"So cold."
Mizore murmured another apology as Nerume trotted over to the vending machine. The kirin paused to look over the selections after dropping a hundred yen coin into the slot.
"Hurry up, runt. The sooner we get snow princess to her husband, the sooner we can stop freezing our asses off."
Nerume pushed the button for the chocolate milk.
"It will be just as cold if she's too happy."
"If it doesn't improve, I'm eating with Kurono."
"It's the PSC lunch table, Ms. Unari. You are staying with us."
Kurumu giggled as Tora started off. She fell in step with Mizore while Nerume and Satsuki trailed behind them. They cut through the dining hall seating area, making a path for the center. Back when the second years had been eating lunch with them, Mr. Sabaku had wanted the PSC to have a prominent location.
Kurumu grinned upon seeing whom was present at the PSC table. Tokori was seated across the table from Umizake, wearing the sleeveless PSC jacket with a pair of black sweat pants. Tora approached the table without a break in pace, setting her tray down on Tokori's right.
"Afternoon, Ms. Meirowasa. Glad that you could join us."
"Thanks. I've been catching up with Mr. Umizake."
As Tora took her seat, Kurumu wandered over to the end of the table.
"I'm mildly surprised that you're here."
Tokori chuckled as Satsuki placed her tray to the left of Tokori.
"I don't like walking home by myself. I heard from Mikomi that they approved your newspaper."
Tora nodded, pushing her chopsticks free of the cellophane wrapper.
"Kurumu told me about that. I understand that they also printed the paper last night."
"They did? I didn't see anyone handing out papers."
"They have them stockpiled in Senior's room for tomorrow morning."
"Are you two going to just stand there?"
Kurumu smiled at Satsuki's prompting, noting that Mizore and Nerume were hovering beside her. She nodded at Umizake whom had set aside his meal.
"Go sit by your boyfriend."
There was another slight drop in temperature as Mizore stepped over to Umizake. Holding the half liter of ice cream close to her breast, she bowed deeply.
"Please forgive me. I forgot your birthday. I'm a worthless fiancée."
"It's fine, Mizore. Sit beside me."
Mizore softly uttered another apology before complying with his request.
"A belated happy birthday, Mr. Umizake."
Umizake nodded at Nerume as she sat down on the other side of Mizore.
"When was your birthday?"
"The sixteenth."
"About three weeks ago. I don't recall you telling us."
"He didn't, Ms. Meirowasa. Kurumu was one of the few people whom knew about it."
"And I forgot about it since it was the same day as the flower offering ceremony."
"I originally thought that even if Mizore forgot, I could say that she gave me a flower for my birthday."
"I am so sorry."
Tokori sighed heavily, her breath coming out in a puff of white vapor.
"I don't want anyone feeling awkward so I'll remind everyone that my birthday is the sixth of January."
"The last day of winter break. Do you want us to do something?"
Tokori shrugged at Satsuki's inquiry as the nekomusume stuffed a chunk of tonkatsu in her mouth.
"Not really. We plan to celebrate my birthday with my Uncle's family before we come back here."
Kurumu nodded, looking about the cafeteria.
"Where is Mikomi right now?"
"She and Bunii are having lunch with Ms. Naratoki and Ms. Kubo."
"Bunii is sticking around for lunch?"
"Well yea. After someone made her feel bad for blowing off her sewing club meeting last week."
"I barely teased her over that."
"At her workplace with Mikomi right there. She decided to have lunch at school this whole week."
"But they only meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You two could have gone home yesterday."
"Yea but it was nice eating with the Sadou club. Well. At least with the other first years. I'm guessing that you know about Ms. Ontoriki dating Mr. Ichida."
Tora snorted, swallowing down a mouthful.
"That is possibly the worst kept secret on campus."
"How did Ms. Nemoto take the news?"
"Isn't Ms. Kagami in your class? I'm surprised that she had said nothing to you."
"Well she sits by the door and cuts out of class to be with her sister on every break."
"They're supposed to be having lunch with Ms. Nemoto right now. Probably getting the talk."
"She knows that she's not Ritsu's mother, right?"
Tokori chuckled, gesturing at Kurumu.
"Are you planning to stand the whole lunch hour?"
"Actually I'm supposed to have lunch with Milady. My schoolbag is keeping them company."
"You should go."
"I'm in no hurry. I wanted to ask this dummy if he decided on any plans for Mizore's birthday."
Umizake smiled softly at Kurumu.
"I've been thinking about it."
"Did you at least decide how you want Kurumu to settle that favor she owes you?"
Umizake chuckled, shaking his head at Tora.
"Everything that crosses my mind is something that Ms. Kurono would do without a favor."
"It doesn't have to be something I don't want to do."
"Of course. Would you be willing to give me your room key?"
Mizore looked up at him, perplexed.
"Why do you need it?"
"I was thinking about throwing you a birthday party. I can pick up a few things in Mononoke today and decorate your room tomorrow. I'm assuming that Ms. Kurono will want to help with this."
"Was that one of your favor ideas?"
"Yes. I understand that you are staying with Ms. Akashiya now. Can I have your key?"
Mizore finally peeled the lid off her half liter.
"It's in my schoolbag in Tora's room. I can give it to you, but I need to get clothes for tomorrow first. I'm not living with Akashiya like Kurumu is."
"I haven't been in my suite in almost two weeks."
Tora pointed her chopsticks at Kurumu.
"You need to show your photo albums to Ms. Unari."
"Why do I need to see those?"
"Because they have pictures of your Aunt as a student."
"Then have her look at them."
"Maybe after her wedding. I'm shocked that this dummy didn't mention these albums to our teacher."
"It didn't cross my mind."
"Come on, Satsuki. I've been wanting to see those pictures."
"It's not like Kurono was hiding them from us. You could have asked."
Nerume pouted, stuffing her mouth.
"I wasn't sure if I should. I don't want Kurumu to be sad."
"Fine. I guess I can look at some old pictures of my Aunt if it makes you feel better."
"If you two are cool with it, maybe we could do a sleepover Thursday night?"
Satsuki shrugged indifferently, holding a slice of tonkatsu in front of her mouth.
"Suppose we could do that. How many are you planning to invite?"
"Well I only have a futon and a bed. If nobody minds sharing, it can be just the four of us."
"Ms. Chouda would lend you her spare futon if you asked."
Kurumu nodded at Tora's remark.
"Yea. I could also get Yukari's spare futons. She probably doesn't care to see the albums again but might participate in a sleepover."
"I hope you're not thinking to invite me because I can't. There's no way I'm letting Mikomi sleep in my house alone with my little brother."
Kurumu giggled, hoping that was not a genuine concern.
"What about inviting Morisato?"
"Juri? Why would she want to come?"
"If you are dragging me into this because of my Aunt being in those albums, only makes sense to drag her into it too. Her Aunt is friends with mine."
Kurumu smiled softly, fully aware that Juri's Aunt was in the album.
"I don't know. Juri has never joined us for things outside of school."
"I can't vouch for Ms. Morisato, but Kana would want to see them."
"Sounds like I should make Yukari aware of it then. Thursday night."
"And we will study."
Kurumu grimaced at Tora's statement.
"Sure. Umizake needs to tell Mizore about his family."
"I concur with that."
"What do I need to know?"
Umizake chuckled softly at Mizore's interest.
"These two were both surprised to learn that I was not an only child."
"You have siblings?"
Kurumu giggled at Tokori's surprise.
"Two sisters and a brother. He's the youngest."
"But none of them would have been at the wedding."
Umizake nodded at Mizore's confused tone.
"That wedding was a spur of the moment decision. My brother and younger sister would have attended the winter break wedding you were plotting to avoid with your Hong Kong trip."
Kurumu could feel the drop in temperature.
"I'm such a terrible girlfriend."
"Don't beat yourself up over that, Ms. Shirayuki. This guy doesn't share much about himself."
"I'm sorry. I know this might sound rude but I always thought it was obvious that I had a brother. Very few parents would arrange an interracial marriage for their only son."
In his two weeks of messed up memories, Kurumu had noticed that Umizake had a very different way of thinking. He clearly saw a difference between purebloods and lesser races. It was probably why he had not thought twice about killing those two akaname boys.
"Well I'm off. You guys have fun."
Kurumu walked off to the sound of farewells. It was a short walk to Kokoa's table since it was also in a central location. Kokoa was sitting in the center of her friends with Hikari on her left and Nagisa on her right. Hotaru sat on the end beside Hikari. The sylph grinned, beckoning Kurumu.
"About time you stopped chatting over there."
Kaimura's magma tresses fell down her back below the bench. She glanced over her shoulder, smirking. Her jacket was placed on top of Kurumu's schoolbag on the bench on her left. On her right was Akiyama.
"We were toying with the idea of leaving."
Kurumu smirked as she placed her tray down in front of her bag. She scooted aside the schoolbag and jacket, stepping over the bench to take her seat. All of the girls were finished with their meals.
"Sorry. Had to escort Mizore to her fiancé. She feels bad about forgetting his birthday."
"His fault for never telling us."
Kurumu grabbed her chopsticks, wagging them at Kokoa.
"He told Mizore and me. Tsukune too but we all know how far his head is up his ass."
"And to think that you were in love with him not that long ago."
Kurumu huffed at Nagisa's amusement, pushing her chopsticks out of their wrapper.
"Being in love doesn't mean that you're blind to someone's faults."
"Should we do something for your birthday?"
"Whose birthday?"
Hikari smiled apologetically at Hotaru.
"Yuko's birthday. She's turning sixteen on Saturday."
"Really? I thought her birthday would be late December."
Kaimura laughed at Hotaru's response as Kurumu mixed up her chicken teriyaki rice.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you said that you bought your first CD with birthday and New Year's money."
"I guess that makes sense. But I don't need to celebrate my birthday a second time."
"Second time?"
"Yuko was hanging out with her two junior high friends on Sunday."
"My parents will also do something for me over winter break. You guys don't need to trouble yourself when we got exams next week."
"Did your club do something for you?"
Kaimura snickered at Hotaru's inquiry.
"I doubt that I told any of them about my birthday. We've only had one official meeting since the school closed up and that was just to pick a new club president."
Kurumu swallowed down a mouthful of rice, intrigued by that remark.
"Whom did you guys pick to take it over?"
"Ms. Kazashimo."
Kurumu nodded, moving her chopsticks about in her bowl to get another serving.
"I had to fill out a club application form as the new president for the broadcasting club. I didn't know how to spell the names of any of my club members so Mrs. Senda promised to fill that out for me."
"You had to do that?"
"Mhm. Ms. Kazashimo might want to check with your advisor about filling that out if she doesn't know your club roster."
"I could probably name all of our members but the spelling might get me."
"Whom is your club advisor?"
Kaimura waved a dismissive hand at Hikari.
"That's Mr. Hirata. I've known him forever."
Kurumu chewed down a mouthful, recalling that Mr. Hirata was from Moegara. She picked at what little remained of her meal, thinking that the portions were small. Still she would never be as bold as Nerume to grab multiple entrees.
"Hey, Ishiko. Do you have tiny clothes for your true form?"
The gnome whom had been sitting quietly beside Nagisa turned a curious frown upon Kurumu.
"I do. Why?"
"Katahara showed me her true form on Sunday. I had no idea gnomes were so tiny and adorable. It would be cute if you were hanging out at Kokoa's place in your true form."
"No dragon to."
"What?"
"No dragon to. With the wind to others."
Nagisa giggled, placing her hand on Ishiko's greasy locks.
"I wouldn't mind if you were in your true form in the privacy of Kokoa's suite."
"Yea. Her true form is much cuter than mine."
"I've never seen yours. I heard that you're like a fire breathing lizard."
Hikari blushed at Kurumu's grin, glancing aside.
"Something like that."
"Shooting laser beams out of her eyes and breathing fire. Salamanders are much cooler than sylphs."
"Are you still upset over that?"
Hotaru huffed, crossing her arms.
"Oh, not at all. Not like I wasted two weeks trying to cut a tree down with wind."
Kurumu snickered, shoveling in the last of her rice. She had seen a truer form of Hotaru before but had never seen her truest form. She understood it was like sentient air. Most sylphs avoided being in that form once they learned how to manifest a humanoid body.
"I think I have the most hideous of true forms of the ladies present at the table."
"I doubt that. Kurumu is dating one of your kind."
"Hikari. You're adorable in comparison. Even if you don't think so."
Hikari pouted at Nagisa's response.
"There's nothing cute about being a lizard."
"It beats being a fish."
"I do want to see what you look like one of these days."
Hikari sighed at Kurumu.
"I suppose you could join us for a bath."
"Sounds like she wants a steamy encounter."
"I can't help that. My body runs much hotter in my true form."
"I don't think that was what Hotaru was implying."
Hikari frowned at Nagisa, clueless. Kurumu smirked, grabbing her dinner roll and wagging it at Hotaru.
"Have you seen Hikari's true form?"
"I have seen hers and Ishiko's. Nagisa is too shy to show us hers."
"If Hikari's had been uglier than mine, I would have shown it."
"Gee thanks."
"I understand her hesitation. My true form is very undesirable."
Kurumu swallowed down some of her dinner roll, brandishing the remainder at Akiyama.
"You went on that Kyoto summer trip with the jorougumo girls but you're not one of them. I understand that you're the same kind of monster as Ms. Yumeito and Ms. Sekkeimoto."
Nagisa clapped her hands with a wide grin when Akiyama murmured an affirmative.
"That explains a lot. Ms. Sekkeimoto is such a gorgeous little lady. Much like Kurumu now that I think about it. What kind of monster are you?"
Kaimura chuckled, leaning back on the bench.
"Throwing the rules out the window now."
"You've never thought to ask?"
"Of course I've thought about asking."
Swallowing down another bite, Kurumu nodded at Akiyama.
"Do you mind if I tell them?"
"I guess I can tell you all that I'm an oomukade."
"Oomukade? A centipede?"
Akiyama blushed, nodding at Hotaru. The sylph frowned, glancing at Nagisa.
"I didn't know that was a thing."
"Don't look at me. Most of my monster knowledge is limited to aquatic species and purebloods."
"I've heard of them. But I've never seen one."
Kaimura nodded at Hikari's comment.
"Same here. There are a few oomukade families that attend the Moegara elementary school. But they don't live in town."
"My kind tends to be reclusive. We have periods when our appetites can be… dangerous."
"Like when you're mating."
Akiyama blushed darker at Kurumu's remark.
"That's a different issue and entirely avoidable. What I'm talking about is the hunger. It's something that happens to my kind and it can last for months. We just eat everything."
"Like other sentient beings?"
Akiyama grimaced at Hotaru.
"Sometimes. The last time I had the hunger, my parents took me out to one of those all you can eat buffets every night for a whole week. It was so expensive but at least no small animals got devoured."
"How are you not fat?"
Akiyama laughed sheepishly at Hotaru's inquiry. The sylph looked genuinely puzzled.
"Well… I think all the weight goes to certain places."
"I wish that could solve my problem."
Kaimura snickered at Hikari's sentiment, nodding.
"Me too. If only food went were we wanted it to."
"You aren't going to have me show my true form, right?"
"I wouldn't fret over that, Ms. Akiyama. Kokoa only saw mine because I thought it might scare her away. And since Kurumu was already dating one of us, I figured there was little reason to hide it from her."
"When are you wanting to take my blood?"
Kokoa huffed at Hotaru's random inquiry.
"Moka will fuss over me taking too much strong blood if I try to do it before Thursday night."
Finished with her dinner roll, Kurumu popped the tab of her mango passion can.
"I just made plans for a sleepover on Thursday night. And I'm pretty sure that I'm invited to a sleepover Saturday night for a birthday party of one of Tokori's friends."
Nagisa giggled with a wide grin.
"Aren't you a popular one."
"I am. So if Milady is wanting my services for a sleepover, it will need to be on Friday or Sunday."
"Friday then. Sunday would be too troublesome with exams on the following day."
Kurumu nodded at Kokoa. She was about to say something when she noticed Miyamoto walking briskly towards their table. He was dressed in the school dress shirt and slacks like most male students.
"Looks like your big brother is paying us a visit."
Kokoa glanced over her shoulder and groaned.
"What is it that you want?"
Miyamoto chuckled, coming to a stop behind Nagisa. He gestured at Kurumu.
"Actually I'm here for Ms. Kurono."
Kurumu smiled at the president of the karate club. She had last seen him at the student council election but had not spoken with him in weeks.
"Hey, Miyamoto. I heard that you're still training with Tsukune."
"That I am. He's very determined to become stronger."
"Is he getting any stronger?"
Miyamoto chuckled at Kokoa.
"I don't think that I'm the right opponent to bring out Mr. Aono's full potential. His heart simply isn't in it to cause me any harm."
"That loser. What do you want with Kurumu?"
"Ah yes. I need you to escort Ms. Sonoda to a place of my choosing tonight."
"What do you need her for?"
Miyamoto frowned at Kaimura.
"I'm sorry. I don't know you."
"Kaimura Yuko, a first year in the karaoke club."
"This is a personal matter which doesn't concern you."
"Are you refusing to tell me where I'm taking her because these girls might tag along?"
"I suppose that they wouldn't know this location. Bring her to our secret meeting place at six."
Kurumu smiled, wondering what wavelength he was on.
"I don't think we have a secret meeting place."
"The place where we spoke of little sisters."
"That is not the least bit helpful."
Miyamoto sighed heavily, glancing aside.
"The secret meeting place of the loli appreciation club."
"Oh. Hikari. How good are you with burning things down?"
Kurumu giggled at Kokoa's sweet query.
"Don't bother. The place is a dump. Burning it down would just make them relocate."
"Thank you, Ms. Kurono. The other leaders of the club would be quite agitated with me."
Kurumu held her hand up the moment he retreated a step.
"Wait up. That shack of yours is nowhere near where I can be at six."
Miyamoto paused with a frown.
"Won't you be at school for your choir practice?"
"Not today. I promised to visit with the greetings club and they don't have their meeting until five. And that's in Ms. Okutomo's room. Not on campus. Even if they have a short half hour meeting, I can't make it to your meeting place by six."
"Make it seven then."
Kurumu sighed at his prompt response, glancing at Kokoa.
"Is Milady fine with a late dinner?"
"How long will this take?"
"A few minutes. I simply need to make things right with Ms. Sonoda."
"Are you planning to ask her out?"
Miyamoto smiled softly at Kaimura.
"Something like that."
"Then you definitely have permission to go with him. I want nothing more than my dear big brother to have a new person to obsess over."
Miyamoto chuckled at Kokoa, touching his chest.
"No woman could ever take your place in my heart."
"She better try to."
Kurumu grinned at Kokoa's distress. She cocked her head, glancing at Miyamoto.
"Are you sure that you want to do this? I'm certain that Megumareta still has feelings for Sonoda."
"I'm positive that this is the only path I can take which will make her happy. And I can't leave this matter unresolved going into winter break."
Kurumu smiled, wondering if this was the best thing for Sonoda. In her heart, she felt that Miyamoto deserved better. A woman that wanted him first. Not as an alternative.
"You know that I haven't spoken with Sonoda in weeks. I'm not even sure how I would contact her."
"That's not an issue. Ms. Sonoda always hangs out with Ms. Kazashimo in her room after classes. Her archery doesn't start until like four thirty or five if they do meet."
"Which they won't tonight since we have a home game. I already know that Ms. Sonoda will be free."
Kurumu nodded at the input from Kaimura and Miyamoto. She knew that they were playing Imoshinai tonight. It was arguably the most important game left in their season. She frowned at a sudden thought. The second years should still be in their last class.
"Wait. How are you here so early? Are you skipping class?"
"Ms. Idatsu had a study hall today. We were free to leave whenever we pleased."
Kurumu shook her head, remembering that this dummy was in Nijiro's class.
"Fine. I'll convince Sonoda to meet up with you."
"Thank you, Ms. Kurono. It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Kaimura. Good day to you all."
They said their farewells as the young man turned on his heel. He walked out with the same determined stride with which he had arrived. Kurumu shook her head, taking a long drink from her juice can.
"Sounds like you've scheduled yourself a last minute meeting with the karaoke club."
"It can't be any worse than how the sewing club meeting turned out."
"Oh? What happened?"
Kurumu smirked, tracing her finger in a circle upon the lip of her empty can.
"The girls forgot that they had invited me. To be fair, it was on open invitation for Tuesday or Thursday. They had nothing special planned so we just chatted until I had to leave for the choir practice."
Kaimura chuckled, patting the corner of Kurumu's lunch tray.
"Does the choir girl mind if she sings a few karaoke songs with us?"
Kurumu laughed, picking up her can of juice for another swig.
"I could use the practice."
"I can't believe that we're missing the most important game of the season for this."
"You could have gone with your friends."
Sonoda huffed, crossing her arms below the swell of her bosom. The harpy had mint eyes and thick, layered black hair which brushed her shoulders. Her jacket was tied about her waist by the sleeves.
"As if. I'd never hear the end of it if I stood Haiji up."
"If you don't want to meet him, you don't want to meet him."
"Majo will tell my mom. I'm already on thin ice there."
"Do you have a problem with your mom?"
"Every harpy has a problem with her mom if she sticks around too long. Especially if you had options but turned them down. Not saying she'd kick me out, but she's not going to let me stay after graduation or pay for college. Resources are better spent on girls making babies."
Kurumu mulled that over, fussing with the strap of her schoolbag as they steadily walked down the trail.
"Would she let you stay if you were pregnant?"
"No mother would kick out her pregnant daughter. That's something we don't do."
"Are your friends in any better position? They don't have boyfriends."
"Majo will be kicked out. Her mom's house is already full. Yuuga's mom passed away four years ago so she and her sister have been living with their Aunt whom never had kids. They'd probably take Majo in."
"But not you?"
"I'd rather not talk about this crap. She's not kicking me out this year but I don't want to deal with her nagging me over not getting my nest seeded when I had the chance."
Kicking teenagers out was not a foreign concept to Kurumu. It was rather common for tengu guys whom lacked realistic academic plans to get tossed out of the nest after junior high school graduation. Tengu girls whom were not attending high school usually stayed with their parents until a husband was found for them. One of Kurumu's former peers in Kengamine had an aunt in her late twenties still living with her parents. The random thought came with a touch of sadness when she realized they were most likely all dead now. Kahlua's destruction of Kengamine had nearly wiped out the entire population.
They reached the point where the paths diverged. The trail leading to her home required a sharp right. They continued moving forward, angling slightly to take the trail which ended in the clearing for the other third year girls.
"I often wonder what I should do with my life."
"Aren't you like property of those vampires?"
"I suppose that's true. I can always be Kokoa's maid."
"But you get along with her, right?"
"I do but I don't care for servant's work."
"Will that be an issue with Mr. Amesuki?"
"I don't know how serious she is about keeping me as her servant. She might not let me marry Nijiro."
"If it makes you feel better, I'm a year ahead of you and don't know what I'm doing after graduation. I'm not smart enough for Fairy Tale to consider paying for my college and there's no way Mom will."
"Can't you get a job with Fairy Tale?"
"Harpies aren't exactly viewed in the best light. I'd have better luck in the human world."
"Are you going to get your citizenship?"
"I feel like if I ask my mom to pay for that, she'll definitely kick me out when I graduate. But I can't take the college entrance exam without it."
Sonoda sighed heavily as they passed through the thinning forest. Not far up ahead was the squat, single story commissary which stood at the center of each of these clearings. Four two story buildings were spaced about at the edge of the clearing with half of the suites facing the forest.
The only time Kurumu had come to this particular clearing had been for Hiboshi's after party with the tennis team back in July. Three tennis seniors lived in this first building on the right. Okutomo's suite was 112 which meant it would be in that same building on the upper floor facing the forest.
"This could be good practice for a future career that I've considered if everything else fails."
"What are you talking about now?"
"I was toying with the idea of being a match maker. When you think about it, this secret meeting tonight is sort of like an omiai."
Sonoda laughed nervously as they entered the clearing, drifting to the right. The first double suite on the lower corner facing the commissary was 101 which belonged to two of those tennis seniors. Two sets of black iron stairs were anchored into the side of the building, leading up to each of the double suites.
"I doubt that Haiji wants to marry me."
"Miyamoto isn't the type to just want sex."
"I know. But marriage? That's hard to believe. Haiji is… special. He's probably going to offer me a place to stay if I get kicked out."
"Does he know that will happen?"
"It's common knowledge, Ms. Kurono. Offering that is way more believable than him proposing to me."
Kurumu always disliked being told that things she knew nothing about were common knowledge. Sure it made sense when she thought about it, but it was not like she had a reason to think about these specific things which had nothing to do with her.
Clearing the back corner of the first building, Kurumu noticed the four junior members of the greetings club standing near the start of the two stairs. The tiny Hitsuji sisters were practically identical. Both had glowing white hair which was styled in a princess braid, reminding Kurumu of Star Wars. Both sisters were shorter than Kurumu.
The little Anagume girl was limp in Ekizo's embrace. Ekizo was probably the same height as Tsukune but she looked much taller in this company. Her lovely white tresses spilled down to her waist. She was the only girl of this group without her school jacket.
"Afternoon, Ms. Ekizo! Is Ms. Anagume awake?"
Ekizo smiled warmly, absently patting the limp girl's head.
"She's always like this."
Both Hitsuji sisters greeted Kurumu and she responded in turn. The older sister smiled at Sonoda.
"What brings you here, Ms. Sonoda?"
"Ms. Kurono stopped by Yuuga's room to visit our karaoke club. She mentioned visiting your club later and I simply had to find out what your club does."
Ryomi smiled politely, gesturing up at the door to suite 112.
"Ms. Okutomo isn't home yet."
"Well it was only a little after four when we left the junior dorm. It doesn't take that long to get here."
Sonoda chuckled, thumbing at Kurumu.
"This girl has way too much fun with karaoke. We were supposed to leave earlier so that she'd have time to put up her schoolbag but we lost track of the time."
"You probably still have time. It might be another half hour before Ms. Okutomo gets here."
"I'm a little surprised that she isn't here. Sonoda reminded me that the seniors don't have an afternoon exam so I was thinking that she might start today's club meeting early."
"We thought she might too. That's why we've been waiting here since two thirty."
Ryomi frowned at her sister.
"Don't exaggerate. We went back home almost immediately."
"Only to sleep for an hour. We've been standing out here forever."
"It wouldn't feel right to go back home when Ms. Ekizo was already here with Ms. Anagume."
Kurumu smiled at Ekizo whom was staring off with her icy blue eyes.
"How long have you been out here?"
There was a short pause of silence with Ekizo continuing to stare off with a peaceful expression.
"She's been arriving here around four. Ms. Anagume leaves her sister in Ms. Ekizo's care while she goes off to her cheerleader activities. I understand that the two of them live on the same floor."
"It won't be an issue if I'm here, right?"
"You are quite welcome to join us, Ms. Sonoda."
"Well I do have another meeting after this at seven. I hope that you'll keep your powers under control."
Kurumu grinned at Sonoda's remark, noticing that she did feel a little drowsy.
"Yea. This better not turn into a sleepover."
The Hitsuji sisters giggled in unison. It was positively adorable.
"We do have some control over our powers."
"Though it's very exhausting. It's like every hour we suppress our powers requires an hour of sleep."
Ryomi smiled softly, clasping her hands at her navel.
"I remember my first week of school. I didn't bother suppressing my powers, not wanting to be that girl sleeping in class. I ended up being the only one awake. After a week, my teacher moved me to the back row since my powers were also affecting her. We had to work something out since she couldn't have the kids around me sleeping all day."
"It sucks that they don't allow us to rotate our seating arrangement. It doesn't need to be the same students snoozing every time you need a break from suppressing your powers."
Kurumu smiled at Sonoda's comment, nodding at Ryomi.
"Sonoda told me about how you can't suppress your powers for more than two hours. Do you ever make it to lunch?"
Ryomi smiled softly, shaking her head.
"If I got up for lunch, I'd lack the strength to suppress my powers for our last two periods. It's also nice that our third period is Ms. Idatsu."
Kurumu smirked, having heard that sentiment from Sonoda. Apparently the substitute teacher gave handouts at the start of each class which explained the material that would be on the test.
"She also naps halfway through Mr. Kamihara's lecture which is becoming a pain."
"It's English. I don't understand the material and I'm so tired at that point."
"I can almost do a whole hour and a half but it's troublesome if I miss a whole class period. It might be better if I go back to the half and half that I was doing before the school was trashed."
Kurumu frowned at the younger sister.
"Half and half?"
"Half hour awake and half hour nap. Then I never miss a class entirely."
Kurumu nodded thoughtfully, supposing that sounded more reasonable.
"Hey. Do you know Huang Fang?"
The way Chiyu's honey eyes lit up gave her the answer.
"Of course I do! He's that cute foreigner in class six. His sister is one of our science teachers."
"But not your chemistry teacher."
Chiyu waved a dismissive hand at her sister.
"He joined the kendo club which is full of respectable guys. I heard from Ms. Akebara that he's like a prince of sorts."
Kurumu smirked at the girl's enthusiasm.
"Well. More like the son of a mafia leader."
"That's so cool!"
"Would you like to meet him?"
"Absolutely!"
"Hold up! Are you serious about him being mafia?"
Kurumu smiled at the concern in Ryomi's tone.
"That's true. He's the heir to the Huang family."
"You never said anything about him being mafia."
"Does it matter? He's cute."
"There's no way mom and dad will support that."
"Come on. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"Buried beneath my common sense."
"He wants to meet me, right?"
Kurumu felt suddenly suspicious about this whole thing. Maybe it was not an error on her part that Huang had memories of this girl.
"Yea. He seems to have a crush on you. Something about seeing you in his dreams."
Chiyu clenched her tiny fists and hopped about in glee.
"I knew it would work!"
"Did you tamper with his dreams?"
Chiyu blushed, shaking her head.
"Of course not. Where does he want to meet me? Like tonight? Our next club meeting?"
"Sounds like you're working hard on becoming a match maker."
Kurumu smirked at Sonoda.
"I barely did anything here. This girl is fooling around in his dreams."
"Don't be silly! It's just fate that our paths have crossed."
"Do you know anything else about this young man, Ms. Kurono?"
Ryomi's resigned tone made Kurumu wonder if Ryomi had helped Chiyu invade Huang's dreams.
"I can't say a whole lot. He tried to marry Yukari."
"That's not what happened. Rumors say it was Ms. Sendou whom filled out the marriage certificate."
Kurumu sighed, aware of that rumor. Some girls in their class could not keep quiet.
"Oh dear. If he's interested in Ms. Sendou-"
"He's not!"
"Would you know if he is a member of the loli appreciation club?"
"Huang isn't like those freaks."
Kurumu smiled, wondering what she had expected to happen here. She had not truly expected this girl to want to meet Huang even though it had been an obvious possibility that his fascination with them was not because of her memory suppression failing.
"I doubt that he's a member of that club. Have you two had problems with them?"
Ryomi sighed heavily.
"I went through dozens of mechanical pencils last year. At first I thought that these were genuine requests from guys needing a pencil. But then one of those guys dropped a folder and a bunch of my pictures spilled out. I didn't realize what they were at first, getting down to even help pick them up. When I saw what they were, I was terrified. He continued to pick up my pictures. I couldn't say a word when he took the picture I was holding. He even thanked me."
Kurumu grimaced, too familiar what it was like to get a bunch of pictures of yourself. She remembered her unpleasant encounter with Nagare, wondering if he had been in Kengamine at the time of Kahlua's attack. That was one death she would not mourn.
"I've never had anything that creepy happen to me. The strangest request I've had was to pat my head."
"I wonder what clouds taste like."
Attention shifted to Ekizo and Kurumu had to giggle.
"Did you catch any of this conversation?"
"Blueberry would be nice. I like blueberries."
Sonoda snickered, stepping over to pat Chiyu's head.
"I can see why they'd want to do it. You have such soft hair."
"Yea. So when does he want to meet me?!"
Kurumu smiled at Ryomi's blatant distress.
"I didn't ask him about those details. I wasn't sure if you would even want to meet him."
"I take it that you don't get along with Mr. Huang."
"He causes trouble for some of my friends. But I wouldn't say he's a terrible person. Just annoying."
"It's not his fault that Ms. Sendou has a crush on him."
Kurumu was tempted to strangle this sweet girl.
"He was too aggressive in his attempts to recruit Tsukune into his family."
"He wanted Mr. Aono to join the mafia?"
"Yea. And when Tsukune refused, he challenged Tsukune into a fight which wrecked the school."
"I heard about that. Damages are going to happen when two powerful guys duke it out."
There was nothing Kurumu could say to discourage that starry look in Chiyu's eyes.
"I'll talk with him tomorrow and find out when and where he wants to meet you."
Ryomi sighed as her sister squealed in delight.
"Calm down. Having this guy as your boyfriend could be a real problem."
"You're just jealous."
"I wouldn't have helped you at all if that was the issue."
"What are you worrying over now?"
"What part of being a mafia leader's son doesn't worry you?"
Chiyu giggled, waving her hand dismissively.
"That just means he's rich."
"This is serious, Chiyu. What do you think will happen if you accidentally kill him?"
"Is that an actual concern?"
"No. Sister is being stupid."
"It's not stupid. Our grandpa died-"
"Nobody believes granny's wild tales."
"They're not wild tales."
"Nobody can die from having too much sex."
"Grandpa did."
Sonoda snickered, shaking her head.
"I think your little sister is right on that one. Your grandpa probably died of a heart attack."
"See! Only a dummy would blame sex."
"You can have a heart attack from having sex?"
Kurumu shrugged at Ryomi, not having heard that before but Sonoda was nodding vehemently.
"Yea. Especially if we're talking about a human guy in his late thirties or older. Their hearts can give out in the middle of doing the deed. It happens occasionally to the older gals in my village."
"It's not an issue since Mr. Huang isn't a human."
"Fine. But you need to make sure that there is no chance of that happening. He's mafia. They're not going to forgive you, no matter how cute you think you are."
"I wouldn't want to continue living in a world where my beloved died in the middle of making love."
"Well I don't want to die either. Mafia are known to wipe out whole families over smaller things."
Kurumu smiled, guessing succubi also had this issue. It probably paled in comparison to the fact that her body naturally created opiates which could quickly make a human addicted to her.
"Other than the likelihood that he'll be tired all of the time, are there any other concerns about your sister being with this guy?"
"Nothing that we couldn't overcome together."
"You should tell him that Chiyu is a neramu. That might scare him away."
"I honestly doubt that. Huang is a persistent guy."
"He probably doesn't even know what a neramu is."
Kurumu snickered at Sonoda's addition.
"That wouldn't surprise me."
"He's the son of a mafia leader. I'd hope that he'd be educated enough to know what a neramu is."
"You act like we're terrible to be with."
"Some guys like having free will."
"Wait. What?"
Ryomi smiled at Kurumu's confusion. Sonoda looked equally perplexed.
"It's difficult to be with our kind. When we become pregnant, we are bedridden for at least six months."
"If we get to that point, Huang would willingly do that for me."
"Not if he has to run a mafia family. Think with your brain."
"What does this have to do with free will?"
Ryomi sighed, glancing down. She fidgeted with her hands.
"Well. A pregnant neramu falls into a dream like state. She's barely conscious during that time. She has to be fed. Washed. Taken care of. She can't do any of this on her own."
"That sounds very vulnerable."
Ryomi nodded at Sonoda's remark.
"Yes. So to protect herself, a neramu will instinctively enslave her partner. Even guys of our race don't like the idea of becoming a puppet for six months."
"It's not like that is guaranteed to happen."
"It happens even when partners are in love, Chiyu. Stop acting like you'd be able to control it."
"But we'd be different."
"Many guys will avoid being with a neramu. Some girls have been known to avoid revealing this truth."
"Because if they get pregnant, he can't run away."
"That is often the reasoning, Ms. Sonoda. But it's not a permanent condition. Most men tricked like this will leave the moment they are able to."
"Which isn't right away. Some girls continue sleeping a whole month after childbirth."
"Sign me up for that. I'd rather not be conscious during childbirth."
Kurumu giggled, shaking her head at Sonoda's remark.
"How long can a neramu be pregnant?"
"The average is thirty weeks with a few cases lasting as long as a human pregnancy."
"Do you always sleep through childbirth?"
"I haven't heard of a case where a girl hasn't."
"Did you know that we're both born in the same year?"
Kurumu grinned at Chiyu's revelation.
"I wouldn't have guessed that."
"Mhm. I turned sixteen on the nineteenth of October. Ryomi's birthday is the tenth of February."
"Sounds like your papa really liked your mama."
Ryomi blushed, rocking on her heels.
"Actually mama was still in control of him and made him knock her up again."
"You can do that?!"
Ryomi nodded at Sonoda as Chiyu waved her hands in a placating manner.
"But it's okay. He stayed with her and we have a little brother. He's a second year in junior high."
"Dad lost his job during that mess because Mom wasn't very good with her mind control. That was the real reason why there was a break between Chiyu and Oru. Mom had to free him so that he could find a new job to support our family."
"But he loves her and they worked it out."
"Harpies would kill to have that kind of power over our mates."
"It's not that great. We can't do anything when we're pregnant, living vicariously through our partners."
Kurumu smiled at Ryomi's remark, doubting she would want that. Not being able to talk to her friends for months except through someone else. So much like Hatsue.
"Are there lots of neramu families in Uchimori?"
"There are several though none have kids our age."
Chiyu wagged a finger at Ryomi.
"That's not true. There's Tsunobu."
Ryomi gagged, looking away.
"Please don't remind me."
"Who's this?"
"Inemuri Tsunobu. He's in love with Ryomi."
"He's a disgusting little turd whom better not speak to me next year."
Kurumu chuckled, not wanting to push Ryomi's buttons here.
"Are there other communities in Niigata with your kind?"
The sisters paused, sharing a look.
"Maybe. But I think we're the largest community."
"Yea. Most neramu guys living in Uchimori found their wives through Fairy Tale."
"Like poor Tsunobu will have to."
"That shit would be doing the world a favor by not reproducing."
"Do girls use the Fairy Tale match making service?"
"Our traits are so dominant that any partner we pick would give us neramu babies."
Sonoda perked up.
"Seriously? No concerns of having a monstrel?"
"We know a young woman whom has a family with a Gizatochi. They thought for sure that they'd have raiji babies but they were classified as neramu."
"Well those are the head honchos of Uchimori. They wouldn't let a kid get branded a monstrel."
"Yea but a cousin of ours married a salamander and had neramu kids. Inemuri's aunt married a monstrel and has neramu kids."
"How many neramu families do you guys have?"
"Probably as many of us as there are raiji families in Uchimori."
"Damn. You know when I first heard about Uchimori from Robin, I thought it was mostly harpies."
"That makes sense. They probably have the largest percentage of the population."
"Yea. I wouldn't be surprised if they were half."
Ryomi shook her head at Chiyu.
"I doubt that. More like a third. Forty percent at most."
"I wonder if this Huang fellow would be cool with having a neramu baby."
Chiyu gasped at Sonoda.
"Of course he would be! Everybody loves a neramu baby. I got to hold our nephew. He was so cute. Like my heart could burst from the cuteness."
"He was like a little ball of sentient fluff."
Ryomi paused to hold her hands like she was holding something.
"So tiny for the first year. It takes about four years before we can pass as human."
"Harpies are the same way. Those that don't figure it out have to make do with sleeveless tops."
Kurumu grinned, glancing at the corner of the building before looking back at Ekizo. The tall girl was still staring off in her own little world.
"Why did Ekizo join this club?"
"Anzu is my friend."
Sonoda chuckled, thumbing at the statuesque beauty.
"I used to think this girl was a sylph when Robin told me about her coming from Uchimori."
"She's from Uchimori?"
The Hitsuji sisters giggled at Kurumu's shock.
"I suppose I should have clarified that Anzu has been my friend since the third grade."
"Hotaru never mentioned her."
"Hotaru?"
"Antai Hotaru. You would have gone to junior high with her."
Chiyu laughed, clapping her hands.
"Oh that Hotaru! She's my home economics partner."
"I remember her. She's that sylph whom always played with the younger tengu girls from Hateshinai."
Upon further reflection, Kurumu realized that Hotaru had said very little about these sisters. The sylph had also not talked at all about the raiji cousins on the baseball team. Hotaru lived on the same floor as Miyazaki, a harpy in band from Moka's homeroom, but she never hung out with her. She probably was not that close with the kids from Uchimori.
"I just always assumed that Ekizo was an out of prefecture student like me."
Ryomi giggled, reaching up to fuss with her hair.
"I've actually been mistaken for one too. I get the impression that Uchimori is one of the few villages in Niigata which doesn't have a dominant species."
"I wouldn't say that. Sure you aren't like Koutoukumo but it's not like you know what true form a kid has if they say they went to junior high in Akichi."
"I suppose that's true. I guess we're more like Aranoiji. The kitsune don't have the majority population over there but they run the show."
"Oh my goodness! You're all here!"
Kurumu laughed at the alarm in that cutesy voice. Okutomo Sana was hurrying towards them with three companions following in her wake. The greetings club president had her sky blue hair pinned back with a pink heart barrette. Her jacket was left open, betraying no signs of womanly curves.
Kurumu only recognized one of Sana's companions. Chouda Sumire was the frail girl with the long mint hair brushing the back of her knees. She was one of the third years in the film club.
The two young men were forgettable faces. The shorter guy was about Ekizo's height and had jet black hair which was slicked back into a point. The other guy had a goatee. His ashen black hair was parted perfectly down the middle.
"Afternoon, Ms. Okutomo. I hope you don't mind that I brought Ms. Sonoda with me."
Okutomo smiled at Kurumu, glancing at Sonoda. She pulled her keys out of her jacket pocket.
"I can't say that I've ever met you, Ms. Sonoda, though I've heard all about you from Himawari. What brings you here today?"
Sonoda grinned at the mention of her senior archery club member.
"Curiosity. Is Ms. Chouda a member of your club?"
"She joined back when these two did though she doesn't always attend."
"We should introduce ourselves. I'm Ishioka Itsuki."
The guy with the slicked back hair bowed stiffly as the other guy chuckled.
"And I'm Wakabayashi Naoki. Pleased to meet you."
They exchanged brief introductions much to Wakabayashi's amusement.
"We are quite familiar with whom you are, Ms. Kurono."
"Were you at the volleyball game?"
"We took our dear president out to lunch after exams."
"Yea. Himawari was with us but she decided to watch the games instead."
"Because someone was being rude to her."
Wakabayashi gasped at the accusation.
"I was no such thing."
"Ms. Hidaka mentioned the two of you went to junior high with them."
"That is correct, Ms. Sonoda. We are all from Shizukana."
"Well we shouldn't just stand her chatting away. Come upstairs and I'll get this meeting started."
They all sounded an agreement with Okutomo leading the procession up the stairs. Kurumu grinned, falling in step with Chouda, deliberately bumping her shoulder against the girl to get her attention. The sylph smiled warmly.
"Hey, stranger. Feel like I haven't seen you in months."
"Has it been that long?"
Kurumu came to a stop on the stairs behind the two young men as Okutomo unlocked her door. The last time she had spoken with Chouda was when she had met her family during the cultural festival. While that was not months ago, it was more than four weeks.
"Mhm. What day in January are you turning fifteen?"
"The twenty seventh."
Kurumu smiled softly, immediately realizing that was the day her father had died. She reached over and patted Chouda's far shoulder as the boys headed inside. Kurumu resumed her ascent to the top landing.
"We'll have to do something."
Chouda sounded an affirmative as they entered Okutomo's suite.
"This is not the right setting for a marriage proposal."
Kurumu chuckled as they walked along this rugged trail through the woods in the darkness of the night. The broken down shack was barely visible in the deepening shadows. Thigh high bushes encroached upon the trail and the structure.
"You're right about that. But Miyamoto isn't exactly normal."
"Normal isn't the issue here. This place feels more like where you'd want to commit a crime."
"We both know that Miyamoto would never harm you."
"That's tr-"
Sonoda let out a sharp cry, grabbing Kurumu by her arm. The harpy cursed, kicking at the dirt.
"Damn root. Scared the shit out of me."
Kurumu snickered as they drew closer to the abandoned building. She could make out the cracked glass where the windows still had their panes. The main door on the other side of the short porch was left open, hanging off of its top hinge.
"This is almost as bad as the 'trail' to the secret swimming spot the undines use. Are you ready?"
They paused in front of the dilapidated structure. The boards of the two steps leading up onto the porch were warped and cracked. If someone was inside, they were masking their presence.
"Are you sure we are at the right place?"
Kurumu chuckled, pulling her phone out of her pocket. She flipped it open, confirming they were a few minutes late. They had swung by Moka's suite after the club meeting to drop off her schoolbag. Her keys were in her other pocket. Closing her phone which had dozens of pictures from her two club visits, she stuffed it back into her pocket.
"Yea. We're six minutes late but I doubt that he would just leave. No point waiting out here."
Kurumu stepped up on the first stair, causing it to creak loudly. She minded her footing as she crossed the porch to the door, aware that there were some breaks. The musty smell of rotting wood greeted her as she crossed the threshold into the dark interior. She beckoned to Sonoda whom lingered outside.
"Can you even see in there?"
"My apologies. Let me turn this thing on."
Sonoda gasped at the familiar voice. Kurumu shivered upon the feeling of desire which licked her core as the young man fully appreciated her presence in the sudden light. Kurumu turned to face her admirer, shielding her eyes to better make out his features.
This guy with his mahogany locks styled in a faux haw was Megumareta Yudai. The tengu was wearing his karate gi and was placing a kerosene lamp upon a shelf mounted to the back wall.
"Sorry about the lack of lighting. But I have no clue how much fuel this thing has."
Sonoda crept up to Kurumu's side, shaking her head as Megumareta turned about to face them. He favored Sonoda a wistful grin.
"Hey, Kami. Long time no see."
"What are you doing here?"
"Following Haiji's advice."
"But I'm supposed to meet him here."
"I'm fully aware of that. He told me about the time change at practice."
Sonoda backed up against the door frame, still shaking her head. Her eyes were wide.
"No. Where's Haiji?"
"Haiji thought that if he told you that you were meeting me, that you wouldn't come."
"Of course I wouldn't come. Your mother-"
"Has nothing to do with us."
Sonoda looked down at the floor.
"No. That's not how it works."
"I'm not spending the rest of my life living with my mother."
"I didn't say that you would."
"Look at me, Kami."
He promptly stepped through the floor with his left foot and bust out into laughter. Kurumu could not help but do the same. Sonoda whimpered while they laughed, clutching her hands to her bosom.
"Just stop. We both know it won't work."
Megumareta chuckled, pulling his foot out of the floor. He carefully crossed the rest of the room to stand within arms' reach of them.
"Am I that revolting to you?"
"I don't want you giving up on your family."
"I'm not. I know that my mother will chew you out every chance she gets. I just hope that I'm worth that to you. I want to be worth that to you."
"You know that isn't the issue here. What if she disowns you? Stops paying for your high school."
"I can immediately apply to Fairy Tale and become their ward. I'm already in the business program so being told that I have to work for them isn't a threat to me."
Sonoda shook her head, still refusing to look him in his golden eyes.
"No. It can't be that easy."
"It might not be, but I'm willing to risk it."
Megumareta reached out to touch her cheek. Sonoda immediately turned her head away.
"Fairy Tale won't approve of this relationship."
"Since when does Fairy Tale care about whom their workers sleep with?"
"Since forever. You'd never get a job if they found out you were wanting to make more harpies."
"Now you're being silly. The only relationships Fairy Tale has ever been reluctant to endorse were ones that upset purebloods. When was the last time you heard a sylph getting upset over tengu men fooling around with harpies?"
Sonoda peered up at him with her mint eyes.
"Tengu women get upset all of the time."
"I hate to break it to you, but tengu women don't even run the communities where tengu are a majority. It's always sylph and tengu men. They can crow all they want but nobody cares."
"That's not nice."
"There will always be obstacles in every relationship. The only thing that matters is if you want to be in one with me."
Sonoda placed her palms on his chest. With her head bowed, he seemed so much taller than her.
"I'm not worth the trouble."
"Yet you were willing to meet with Haiji."
"It's not like I thought he would be asking me out."
"What were you expecting then?"
"I don't know. It's Haiji. My tits are too big for him to be interested in me."
Megumareta laughed, reaching up to place his hands on hers.
"Would you date him if he asked?"
"Yes. I'd be a fool to turn him down."
"Yet you have no issue rejecting me."
Sonoda absolutely would not look him in the eye.
"That's different. You're not going to molest a little girl if I refuse you."
"Do I need to develop an unhealthy interest in underage girls for you to take pity on me?"
"Underdeveloped is not the same as underage."
Sonoda's eyes snapped to the shadows. She scowled.
"I knew that you were here."
Miyamoto stepped out of the shadows with a broad smirk and his arms crossed. He was also wearing his karate gi. Kurumu was mildly surprised at his presence, not having felt him at all.
"Of course I was. I couldn't leave Yudai here by himself. Thank you, Ms. Kurono, for bringing her."
"No problem. Was I supposed to leave?"
"You are not leaving me alone with these two!"
Kurumu grinned at Sonoda.
"Oh, I'm sure that you could handle two healthy young tengu men if you wanted to."
"I am not mentally prepared for a threesome."
Megumareta chuckled, holding her hands firmly.
"You clearly aren't as innocent as you used to be."
Sonoda sighed heavily, meekly trying to tug her hands free.
"Let me go."
"Come home with me."
"No way!"
"I'll tell my mother that we are dating. Then you will now that I'm serious."
Sonoda whimpered, placing her head on his shoulder.
"I don't doubt your sincerity. I'm the one that has no right being with you."
"That's my decision."
Sonoda lifted her head and looked him in the eye.
"I asked for Haiji's dick. Do you understand that?"
"When did this happen?"
"Right before the cultural festival. This wasn't mirror nonsense."
"Was this banter between you and your friends?"
Sonoda turned an astonished look upon Miyamoto.
"Do you seriously not remember it?"
Kurumu giggled, raising her hand apologetically.
"Um… he won't remember that. That was Kyuushutsu's whole nude colony thing. I made all of the boys forget that happened."
Megumareta shared a glance with Miyamoto. Miyamoto shrugged with a shake of his head.
"Well if it's Mr. Kyuushutsu…"
"It wouldn't be the first time he's made Kami act shamelessly."
"But I've never asked for sex before. I'm not good enough for you."
"Yet you seem to think you're good enough for Haiji."
"Haiji's mother cares about him! Okay! Being with Haiji would work out because he is all she has. She would never disown him over me. Never."
Megumareta's hands squeezed, causing Sonoda to whimper. He stared firmly into her eyes.
"Prove it."
"What's there to prove?"
"That you're not good enough for me."
"How am I going to do that?"
"Seems easy enough. Haiji's here and I'm sure that his dick is with him."
"Last I checked it was still attached."
"Go on. Ask for it."
Kurumu giggled at the lunacy of this, thinking these two were too stupid. Poor Sonoda was blushing so hard, trying to pull free of Megumareta's grasp.
"Let me go."
"Come on, bad girl. It's very easy to prove this. Just bang my friend in front of me. Think of all the little girls you would be saving."
"Hey now. That's crossing a line."
"Sorry, Haiji. Back me up here."
Miyamoto sighed, lowering his hands to his black belt.
"I suppose that we can call her bluff. Everybody in this room has already seen my package."
"What?! When did Ms. Kurono see it?!"
"I have no idea what he's talking about."
"Nonsense, Ms. Kurono. Those skin tight outfits we trained in hardly left anything to the imagination."
Kurumu smirked, wagging her finger at him.
"That doesn't count."
"Whatever training you two did together doesn't mean you have permission to whip it out."
"How else will you prove that you're a bad girl not worthy of me?"
Sonoda whimpered at him.
"Can't you just accept it as true?"
"No. If you don't prove it now, I'm going to spend my winter break in Hankyouta."
"Are you wanting to get raped?"
"I'm letting your hands go now. What will it be?"
Megumareta released her hands which had pale marks outlining where his fingers had been. Sonoda brought her hands to her bosom, glancing at Kurumu.
"Can't you charm these two idiots into behaving?"
Kurumu sighed, supposing she would get asked that. She gestured at the boys.
"I thought that you just wanted to get knocked up so your mother wouldn't throw you out. Does it really matter whom the father is?"
Megumareta snickered, backing up a step.
"It matters to me."
"Fine! I'll fucking prove it."
Sonoda grabbed the sleeves of her jacket, untying them. She shook the jacket out, folding it over her arm before presenting it to Megumareta.
"Put this somewhere where it won't get too dirty."
"I think you're asking the impossible there."
"Well I'm not the first person to make that sort of demand."
Megumareta's amusement fled his face when Sonoda hiked up her skirt and reached beneath it. She tugged down some white fabric, bending over to roll it below her knees. She lifted up one foot and then the other, stepping out of her panties.
"Are those cotton, white briefs?"
Sonoda blushed at Kurumu as she held out the boring lingerie to the stunned Megumareta.
"Shut up! It's not like I woke up this morning thinking I would have sex!"
Megumareta took the panties in a daze, bringing them against the jacket.
"Are you seriously going to have sex with Haiji?"
Sonoda stepped up to him, jabbing him in the chest with her finger.
"No. I'm going to fuck your brains out."
A slight smile crossed his lips. He looked into her defiant eyes.
"Okay. Bring it."
Sonoda glanced at Miyamoto and Kurumu. Her eyes betrayed a mix of anxiety and annoyance.
"Could you two go somewhere else? This is my first time and I'd rather not have an audience."
Miyamoto chuckled, stalking towards the couple.
"Of course. Hand me over her things. She can come get them from our room later."
"You don't have to go home. You can wait at the school or something."
Miyamoto grinned, taking the jacket and promptly tucking her panties into one of the jacket's pockets.
"I suppose that's fair. We'll wait at the school gate if that is fine with Ms. Kurono."
Kurumu nodded, backing out onto the porch. Kokoa had already committed to having dinner with her friends in the dining hall so there was no rush for her to get home.
"Sure. If you want to break her stubborn attitude, lick her down there until she can't stand."
"Kurono! What part of using him for sex requires that?"
Kurumu grinned at Sonoda's pleading eyes.
"You'll love it. It will make your first time much better."
"I'll be sure to do that."
Sonoda turned on Megumareta, shaking her head.
"Please don't. I haven't bathed since Sunday night."
"It can't be helped. You're such a dirty, bad girl after all."
"Shut up!"
Miyamoto chuckled, stepping out of the shack and gesturing to the dark woods beyond.
"I leave her in your care, Yudai. Shall we, Ms. Kurono?"
Kurumu nodded, turning her attention fully upon her departure. They had only managed to get a few paces away from the shack when she heard Sonoda rasp out Yudai's name. She shivered, feeling happy for the couple but also a little jealous. She wished that Nijiro would make love to her soon.
"I hope that he had the good sense to kiss her lips before putting his beak in her nest."
Kurumu laughed softly at his casual remark. They plodded down this weathered trail with the sounds of the wildlife drowning out any passion being shared in the shack.
"I just hope that everything works out for those two."
"Agreed. I owed them at least this much."
Kurumu halfheartedly swatted his arm with the back of her hand.
"Will you be okay? Two of your best friends getting together like that. I know how lonely that might make you feel."
He nodded thoughtfully, keeping silent for a good stretch.
"I believe so. What exactly happened with Mr. Kyuushutsu which resulted in Kami asking for my dick?"
Kurumu smirked, wondering if she should remove the seal on his memories.
"I'll let you remember that if you tell me what you are plotting for Ms. Nekonome's wedding."
He stiffened up.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Udetama told me that you were leaving Mononoke this weekend after your exams. You had her swear to silence over something that you are plotting."
"Because she wasn't supposed to know but she happened to overhear when I was making arrangements with Ms. Okumura. I want this to remain a surprise, Ms. Kurono."
"I can keep a secret."
"So can I, Ms. Kurono."
They continued walking through the dark forest, neither revealing their secrets that night.