Chapter 7

Twice the Shyness, Twice the Friendship

Things have gotten hectic since I joined the Newspaper Club. Moka-san and I seem to be closer than ever. Or…so I thought. I could've sworn I saw her blush when I was treating her wound.

Anyways, since the incident with the club president, things started to go back to normal. However, even if I was a bit more confident in communicating with others, I am still feeling that I will run into someone who wants to pounce on me…

"EXTRA! EXTRA!" Moka calls as she holds up some newspapers. "Get the Yokai Gazette! Exciting news if you want to read them!"

Kasumi and the others are trying to get students to get the papers they printed out for the latest news. It's quite an attraction, considering that Kasumi has taken a couple photos of what is happening right now at the academy. Art clubs are now open, the summer fun is arriving soon and so on. There is many things they could read at the moment. And just like that, the papers are gone and they have gotten lots of money. Yukari cheers for their success.

"We did it, girls!" She says. "We sold all of them!"

"Except for that one," Kasumi says as she picks up a wrinkled newspaper. "I'll keep this one since I don't think anybody would want to read it."

"Hey, I know," Moka says with an index finger raised. "How about we do a little celebration? Get some drinks and snacks for our hard work?"

"Not a bad idea!" Yukari says. "Count me in!"

"Me, too!" Kurumu jumps in. "All of us are gonna party!"

"YEAAAAAHH!" All the girls cheer.

Just then, they hear some footsteps coming toward them. Kasumi turns and sees a cute girl with long purple hair, violet eyes and wearing a white long sweater and on her legs, she is wearing thigh high striped socks. She has something in her mouth, too. A simple tootsie pop. Kasumi notices that she is wearing the same uniform as they are.

"Is there, ummm….something I can help you with?" Kasumi asks.

"Newspaper…" the girl's voice soft and quiet, kind of like Kasumi's.

"Huh?" Kurumu asks.

The violet haired girl holds out her hand. "Can I have one…?"

"Ah…sure." Kasumi says. "If you don't mind something that is wrinkly of course." She walks up to the girl and hands her the paper.

After the girl takes it, she takes a step closer to the pony-tailed brunette.

"U-ummm…what do you need?" Kasumi asks as her pony-tail wags.

"It's moving…" The girl says softly. "That is so cool…"

"Wha?" Kasumi raises an eyebrow.

"You are Kasumi Aoi, correct?" The girl takes the lollipop out of her mouth and smiles. "You sure are cute up close~"

"Wh-what's that supposed to mean…?" Kasumi asks.

"Well, I'll see you later…" The girl turns away and leaves with a flip of her hair.

Moka clings onto Kasumi, desperately. "Who was that girl? Do you know her?"

"N-no…I never met her in my life," Kasumi says.

"Whoever she is, she has got some interesting taste in women," Kurumu says. "But she is no better than me~!"

"Oh, stop it…" Yukari sighs.

Later*

"Alright, class~" Nekonome-sensei says. "Today we will have a new student coming to the academy! Although…" She looks at the empty seat in front of Kasumi. "She IS a bit late, so I'm wondering-"

Her cat ear-like locks perk up upon hearing the door open and close. The same girl that Kasumi and the others met walks in.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Nekonome-sensei says. "You are here! Well then, everyone! This is Mizore Shirayuki. She's just transferred here, so please guide her as best you can~"

Kasumi stares at the violet haired girl. She seems to be deep in thought. She can't help but wonder what it is.

After School*

"Alright, girls," Moka says. "Kurumu-chan and I will get the snacks and drinks."

"I'll make sure everything is in order too." Kasumi says.

"Hey, baby~" Kurumu squishes her large breasts against Kasumi's slightly humble ones. "Once we get this party started, you and I will get suuuper close~"

"Hey! This isn't a bar! Come on!" Moka angrily drags the succubus away.

Kasumi laughs nervously while scratching her cheek. Just then, Kasumi's pony-tail wags again and she swiftly turns her head to find no one. But when she turns to walk away, her pony-tail wags once again. This time, Kasumi sees a familiar face hiding behind a corner.

"Again…do that thing again…~" The violet haired girl says.

"Ah…y-you're Mizore-chan, correct?" Kasumi smiles. "You shouldn't scare me like that."

"Would you mind…coming with me for a while?" Mizore asks.

"But I have something important to do," Kasumi says. "Can it wait?"

"You are a Yuri…right?" Mizore says as she walks up to her. "I want to be one as well~"

"So you like women because of me?" The brunette asks.

"Oh not only that~" the soft spoken girl says. "I have also done some research on you. You are quite a mystery, just like the rumors said~"

"I, ummmm…don't know what you are talking about…" Kasumi says.

"Let's hang out together, okay~?" Mizore says. "Just you and me."

Kasumi just simply cannot get herself to say "no" to this girl. She is desperate, which makes her realize what Kasumi was like back then. After giving a nod of approval, Mizore brightens and drags Kasumi outside.

An hour Later*

"Got the snacks, got the drinks~" Yukari checks to see if they have everything in place. "Got the sears organized. Anything else~?"

"No we got everything except Kasumi isn't here yet," Moka says. "I wonder what is taking her so long."

"Man, that mutt might have lost track of time," Kurumu sighs shaking her head. "Too bad Gin left early."

"We should go look for her," Yukari says. "To see if she ran off somewhere."

"I'll just stay here in case Kasumi suddenly drops in," Moka offers.

"Are you sure?" Kurumu asks.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry," Moka says with a sad smile. She is definitely worried about her dear friend.

"Let's go, Kurumu!" Yukari says.

"Right!" And just like that, Kurumu and Yukari zip out of the room.

Moka sighs and slumps down on the chair. "I hope you return, Kasumi. It's really lonely without you…"

In the hallways, Mizore is linking arms with Kasumi happily.

"So I heard you were a transfer," Kasumi decides to start a conversation. "What made you decide to come here?"

"I…really had trouble getting along with everyone," Mizore says softly. "The truth is though…I already enrolled since first semester."

"You wha!?" Kasumi gasps.

"But up until now, Nekonome-sensei offered the copies of the newspaper you guys have written so far," Mizore says. "And that's how…I became your biggest fan….~" She rests her head on Kasumi's shoulder. "Your one article on being gay. That was a sensitive topic to discuss…~"

"W-well…it was rather difficult to write," Kasumi says.

"But I liked it all the way~" Mizore says. "You were a lonely girl, weren't you? I was, too. So we both have something in common~"

"Th-that's nice of you to say, but-" Kasumi starts but Mizore grabs her arm again.

"Let's head outside and play for a bit~!" The violet haired girl says. "Let's get to know each other a bit more~"

"U-ummmm…!" Kasumi really did not want to do this, but Mizore is dragging her around like a dog on a leash.

About 10 minutes later, they arrive at a lake where Mizore tries skipping rocks. It takes a few tries but the 5th try, she skips the rock 9 times. She jumps up and down happily.

"Did you see that, Kasumi~?" She cheers. "Look! I did it over nine hops~"

"Ehehe! That's great, Mizore-chan," Kasumi says. "Buuuuut….I really, really have to get back to…"

"You can't~" Mizore says. "It's your turn now! You haven't made it past 2 hops~"

"Uuuu…so you are making me stay the whole time…" Kasumi whines.

Mizore gives a cold stare this time and turns her head away. "I get it. You want to be with your Newspaper Club right? Since they are close to you…"

"Wh-whaaaaa?" Kasumi suddenly feels chilly. White snow spins around the two.

"Don't worry…" Mizore says softly. "I will make sure…you are mine…and only mine…."

Meanwhile*

Moka wakes up as she realizes that she dozed off. It's been an hour and Kasumi still hasn't returned, nor did Kurumu and Yukari.

"That does it!" She stands up abruptly and heads for the door. "I'm going to look for her after all!"

But when she slides open the door, she steps back in shock to find Mizore standing there.

"Y-you are…!" Moka gasps.

"Kasumi will not return," Mizore says. "In fact, she will never return…to you at least." She shoves the cute vampire on the floor and quickly jumps on top of her to put her hands on her neck.

"Ack! Wh-what are you…!?" Moka tries to breathe.

"You are an eyesore…" Mizore says. "You will never, ever get in-between me and Kasumi…" She tries to strangle the pinkette more, tightening her grip.

Mizore's hands are getting colder and colder. At this rate, Moka will freeze instantly. Mustering up her temporary vampire strength, she does a strong back slap. However, she did not expect Mizore's face to….suddenly shatter.

"Sorry, but you are facing a puppet version of myself," Mizore who is considered a fake says. "Quite nice, isn't it?"

"N-no way…!" Moka gasps.

"I think it's time for you to disappear," The Mizore clone says as she raises her hand and transforms it into a long needle. "Moka Akashiya. This ends now…"

Moka is absolutely helpless. She cannot get free from the clone's grasp and now she's going to get killed in a second.

"HEEEEEELP!!!" She screams at the top of her lungs.

Meanwhile*

"Kya!" Kasumi is shoved to the lake, which is now frozen.

"Fufu! Don't run away~" Mizore says. "I have you all to myself~"

Kasumi sits up and is shocked at her appearance. Mizore's purple hair has changed to icy white and her hands are changed to sharp ice claws.

"What…are you?" Kasumi asks.

"Oh, you have never seen a Snow Woman before?" Mizore says. She takes slow strides as spiky ice appears behind her with each step. "I have the power to control ice and snow at will."

"So this is an ice monster…" Kasumi mutters. She looks down to see ice rising up at her feet, stopping her in her tracks and they rise to her waist.

"You and I…" Mizore says as she closes gaps. "We were once loners. But now we have each other. Think of this as a start of something new~" She raises her icy clawed hand. "I love you, Kasumi. I can become a Yuri just like this. And after that happens, we can enjoy our future~"

Kasumi shakes her head. She does not want this to happen. If only she had rejected her, then something like this wouldn't have happened.

"Kasumi!" A familiar voice calls.

Mizore gasps and turns her head to see Kurumu carrying Moka.

"You!" Mizore says. "My clone should've killed you!"

"Sorry to burst your bubble~" Kurumu says as she set Moka down. "But I heard Moka's cry for help so I came running and smashed your little puppet to pieces~"

Mizore glares at the girls. "Do not get in my way!" She raises her arms high to summon ice spikes. Kurumu uses her own claws to slice the ice into bits, letting Moka be able to get through and get to Kasumi. The ice lowers and disappears as Mizore turns toward the two.

"Kasumi….thank goodness!" Moka hugs her dear friend. "I was so worried!"

"Yeah…I'm so sorry…" Kasumi hugs her back.

"Hey! Don't forget me~" Kurumu tackle hugs the brunette.

Mizore stands there, shocked. She lowers her head, her bangs hiding her expression. "You are so selfish…"

Kasumi hears this and sits up to see the poor Snow Woman upset. "N-no! It's not like that…!"

"You set this up….!" Mizore shouts as she lifts her head up, revealing tears falling. "You lied to me…!"

"No way! You got it all wrong!" Kasumi tries to reason with her, but Mizore is too upset to listen.

"I…I can't believe you…" Mizore is crying. "You said you were lonely but all along, you have good friends. I didn't realize how much of a fool I was…."

"Mizore-chan…" Kasumi looks at her with a sad expression.

"Good-bye!" With that, Mizore flees the scene.

The three girls just look at Mizore's retreating figure. Kasumi feels so sorry for her because she knows exactly what it's like to be lonely.

Few Days Later*

"Have you heard? Shirayuki-san is still on a rampage…."

"Yeah…first she attacked two boys for no reason, then a day later, she attacked the gym teacher, Kotsubo-sensei."

"Whoa! You kidding me? That is definitely aiming for expulsion!"

"Yeah, I know right? Shirayuki has some issues…"

Kasumi hears all of this, but doesn't believe it for a second. Mizore would never hurt anybody out of impulse. After that incident, Mizore stopped coming to school, but there are strange rumors going around of the soft spoken girl just hurting people. Kasumi doesn't want to do this, but she HAS to be sure that all of this is a lie.

So she goes to the faculty room to meet up with Nekonome-sensei to get some details.

"If you want to talk to her directly, this is her dorm number," the cat woman jots it down on a small piece of paper. "Room 106. I hope things go well for you two. I'm honestly worried, nya…"

"N-not to worry, Nekonome-sensei!" Kasumi says. "I promise to bring her back!"

"I'm counting on you, Aoi-san~" Nekonome-sensei says with a smile.

Kasumi runs out of the school to the dorms and finds Mizore's room number. She knocks on it a few times, but no answer. She does it again, but still no answer. She is about to give up when she turns around to see Mizore exiting the dorms and walking.

"Where is she going?" Kasumi says to herself. She decides to follow the Snow Woman.

She follows her until they come to a cliff. Mizore just stands at the edge, looking over at the sea below her. It's near sunset and all Mizore can do is just stand there, staring at it.

"Why would she come here?" Kasumi says to herself. She shakes her head and decides to go for it. "Mizore-chan!"

The soft spoken girl hears her and turns her head to see Kasumi run up to her.

"Kasumi…" she says quietly.

"You…have to come with me…!" Kasumi says. "There are crazy rumors going around, saying that you are on a rampage and injuring innocent people!"

"Injured…?" Mizore says.

"Y-yeah!" Kasumi says as she holds out her hand. "If it's all true, then come with me to apologize!"

Mizore pauses for a second. Then, she closes her eyes, smiles and laughs bitterly.

"Are you serious…?" She says as she hugs herself. "You are just like them. Thinking I am the enemy when THEY are the ones causing problems for me…"

"Wha…?" Kasumi raises an eyebrow.

Tears fall from Mizore's eyes. "You don't understand me after all, Kasumi. You really are selfish…"

"But…!" Kasumi is surprised that Mizore is telling her this. Does it mean that the rumors were false?

"Nobody….understands me…" Mizore says as she shakes her head roughly. "Nobody….nobody…NOBODY!!!" She then screams at the top of her lungs, causing a blizzard to form around her.

"Kasumi!" Moka's voice calls from behind. "Thank goodness we found you!"

"We found evidence!" Yukari says. "It turns out that Mizore is innocent after all!"

"What are you talking about?" Kasumi asks.

Kurumu holds out Kasumi's camera, which she secretly borrowed while Kasumi isn't looking.

"EHHHH!?" Kasumi squeaks. "Why did you take my camera!?"

"Secret~" Kurumu winks and then gets serious. "But listen, take a look at this."

Kasumi presses a few buttons and photos flash up.

"We were doing some investigating," Yukari says. "It turns out that it was all a lie. Mizore froze the boys yes but she didn't hurt them. She was just angry."

Kasumi looks at the next set of photos after seeing Mizore defrost the ice, letting the guys free. She is shocked to see the next photos were. The gym teacher transformed into a giant octopus and tried to take Mizore by force.

"You see?" Kurumu says. "She was the one that was being attacked. He was trying to take advantage of her!"

"N-no way…" Kasumi looks Mizore's way. "I had no idea…" She puts a fist on her chest. "Mizore-chan, please forgive me! I promise to understand you a lot better!"

But once again, Mizore is too angry to listen. "Stay away! STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

From the impact of the blizzard, and Mizore's rage, water splashes from behind and freezes instantly. Ice clones of Mizore appear one by one.

"No one understands me…"

"I was a fool to let myself get close to these people…"

"I'd rather die than get picked on and get ridiculed…"

"People like them should just rot in a hole…"

Kasumi looks at the ice clones a they take slow steps toward them. "Are they…just Mizore's negative emotions..?"

"Stop! No more…!" Mizore cries as she shuts her eyes tightly. "You can all just freeze to death for all I care!" She summons a strong blizzard, freezing the ground and blowing snow toward the girls.

"Noooooo!" Yukari screams.

"I'm getting chilled to the bone..!" Kurumu says.

Mizore laughs bitterly once more. She has lost control of herself. Everything that is happening to her. Is it bad luck? Is it because she is just a snow woman and stands out from the rest? What is she to them?

The ground cracks all of a sudden and Mizore stops laughing and gasps in horror. She is about to fall. Kasumi zips to the rescue, managing to get past the ice clones and reach out her hand to grab Mizore's just in time.

"I'm not gonna let you go…!" Kasumi says as she struggles to pull her up. "Come on….! Mizore-chan, push yourself up…!"

Mizore just stares at Kasumi above her with tears rolling down her eyes. She is saved but at what cost? She is just going to be left alone again.

"It's alright, Kasumi…" she says softly. "Just let me go…"

"No, I won't!" Kasumi says as she keeps on trying to pull the poor Snow Woman up. "I know what it's like…to be picked on and ridiculed! To be left alone like trash!"

Mizore gasps and listens to the brunette carefully.

"I may have misunderstood you, but that doesn't change the fact that I am your friend!" Kasumi continues. She musters up all of her strength to use both hands and pull Mizore up safely. She then takes the soft spoken girl's hands in hers. "Let's start over, okay? Let's all be friends….and Yuri~"

"K-Kasumi…." More and more tears fall and she slightly turns her head away. "Oh no….I feel that I cannot control them anymore…."

"What do you mean?" Kasumi asks. Her pony-tail wags at hearing the crackling of ice coming toward her. The ice clones are moving at their free will because Mizore has lost focus.

One of then is about to shred Kasumi to pieces when Kurumu slashes one, shattering it instead. Yukari summons round bathtubs to crush the rest. Moka runs toward Kasumi and kneels beside her.

"Kasumi! Mizore-chan!" Moka says. "I'm glad you are alright~"

"Is it true…?" Mizore asks. "You all want to…be my friends…?"

"Well, certainly~" Kurumu says. "Do you really think we'd leave you alone like this after that whole incident~?"

"If you join us, there is lots more variety~!" Yukari cheers. "Variety of Yuri, that is~!"

Moka nods in agreement. "We will be the best of friends, Mizore-chan. We will be more kind to you than ever before."

Kasumi nods as well. "Let's be friends, Mizore-chan~"

The Snow Woman sobs and plunges herself in Kasumi's arms, crying. She has never been this happy in her life.

Next Day*

During a walk to school, Moka and Kasumi hear some footsteps coming toward them. They see Mizore all happy and cheerful, her long mane flowing gracefully.

"Good morning, Mizore-chan!" Kasumi and Moka say in unison, giving their best smiles.

"And a good morning to you…Kasumi….Moka…" Mizore replies with a bashful smile.

"Yo! A good morning to you, little Snow Bunny~" Kurumu arrives and wraps an arm around her shoulder.

"Snow Bunny…?" Mizore asks.

"Well, sure~" Kurumu winks. "You are bashful like a bunny, so I might as well call you that~"

"That is….so embarrassing…" Mizore says, covering her face.

"You have proved my point~" Kurumu says, putting her hands on her hips. "From now on, Mizore's nickname shall be Little Snow Bunny~"

"Yessss~" Yukari appears out of nowhere and waves her wand for both Kurumu and Mizore to hug each other "Nicknames are so right! You two are the ultimate ship~"

"Hey! Yukari!" Kurumu shouts.

Moka giggles and hugs Kasumi happily. "This has gotten me very excited! We have another member of our group~"

"Y-yeah…~" Kasumi says.

Moka is so happy that she wraps her arms around Kasumi and then leans in to bite into her neck

CAPU-CHUUUUUUU~

A/N: So after this, I decided to just make up some stuff since I don't remember the rest of Season 1 except the last half of the final episode. So, I will be taking your advice to start having it be original this time.

Have a nice day!