Don't fret about last chapter! I can assure you that everything will end in my readers' satisfaction. But for now, let's work on some more development.
Chapter 20, "Pathetic Fallacy".
The storms of the previous night weren't rain, or even thunder. Winter had finally made its descent upon Japan, although the first good snow wouldn't arrive quite yet. Chiyo was surprised by the weather. "It's mocking us..." she murmured, feeling that the snow was there simply to spite her and Osaka. She was still reeling from her parents' decision. "Oooh, why can't they understand? My decision won't be any different when graduation comes! It's not fair..." she sighed as she moved from the window to get ready for school.
During the walk there, she encountered no signs of her friends, not even Osaka. This wasn't helping, so she decided to make her way there as soon as possible. The sheath of snow covering grass and flowerbeds reminded her of how cold she felt without her girlfriend there to lighten things up. Upon entering the schoolyard, there was little activity; another oddity.
Inside the building warmth greeted her, but not very many people. Continuing on her way, she made her way to class. Arbitrary to the rest of that morning, her ears were assaulted by the noises inside: none. A few students sat around the room, and Yukari absentmindedly flipped through a magazine. The only one she knew beside her teacher was Sakaki, who was gazing out the window as she normally did.
"Good morning, Miss Sakaki!" she greeted, finding some level of relief in one of her friends.
"Hmmm? Oh, good morning Chiyo-chan." Sakaki replied.
"Where is everybody? I haven't met anybody today!" Chiyo wailed.
"Apparently there was a school delay. The people here now didn't know about it until it was too late." The larger girl replied.
"...I see...then why are they still here?" Chiyo asked, perplexed.
Sakaki just shrugged, returning her sight to something outside the school. "I wonder what she's doing right now..." Chiyo heard her mumble, and realized that she was thinking about Kagura. The thought sent another feeling of heartache through her, at the thought of her own loved one. Deciding it'd be best to try and focus her attention on something else, she slinked over to her seat and looked for any work that might need doing.
All for naught, however, as everything seemed to remind her of her bubble headed girlfriend. It wouldn't be until another half hour passed before the other students began arriving.
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"Damnit! It's too cold out for school. Why can't they let us stay home?" Tomo complained as she and Yomi entered the school from the ever-decreasing temperature outside.
"For once I agree with you. This is annoying; I was hoping I'd get to stay home today." The other girl grumbled, picking up the things she'd need for classes. Next in was Kagura, and a distinct aspect about her was already angering Tomo; she was only wearing a light jacket.
"What the hell? Were you born in the Arctic?" Tomo demanded.
"I'd go into detail, but I need to get to class; I'm on record as being on time often." Kagura countered, grinning at a now fuming Tomo. Osaka was the last of the girls to arrive, and entered with a somber expression.
"Eh? What's up, Osaka?" Kagura plied.
"...Ah...it's nothin'. I'm just tired, is all." She answered, wanting to avoid any...touchy subjects. Without further discussion, they traversed the halls to a place they really didn't want to be today. Entering the classroom, they took their seats, with the exception of Osaka. She watched as Chiyo talked with Sakaki, and a rush of angst passed through her.
"Hmmm? Oh...Ayumu..." Chiyo murmured her real name as she turned to look at her. Neither felt that there was much to say after what had happened, nor could they form the words for this situation. Rather, they simply acknowledged each other's presence with a nod, and took their seats.
"Why hello, class! Isn't it a wonderful day out?" Yukari asked as she flailed into the room.
"What is wrong with all of you?" Tomo was bewildered, looking from the teacher to Kagura, and back.
"You're one to talk?" Yomi balked, reminding her of her own oddities.
"Quiet, four-eyes! I didn't ask you anyway." She retorted.
"Enough! It's time to get some work done. The holiday break is next week!" Yukari ranted, righting an assignment on the board.
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The school day passed in what seemed like years, and at the final bell everyone was eager to leave. Yukari was especially intent on getting away from the school, as she had something she wanted to shop for. Yes, Yukari Tanizaki was thinking about another's happiness this year. In particular, Nyamo's.
"What kind of gift could I buy that'd impress her? I can't think of anything she doesn't already have...something romantic? No, no, that won't do! It's gotta be perfect, something she'll remember forever-"she thought before coming up with the most brilliant idea she'd ever conceived. "That's it! It'll be the absolute perfect thing to do! But wait...if...if she doesn't accept it..." she suddenly realized the repercussions if Nyamo rejected her gift.
"Well...I suppose it's a risk I'll have to take..." she decided. Meanwhile, Tomo and Yomi walked the streets seeing if anything interesting was about.
"Kagura's really starting to piss me off again. I may need to get revenge..." Tomo grumbled, with Yomi glaring at her.
"No, you won't! You remember what happened last time, right?" she reminisced, knowing what the outcome would be.
"Yeah, I remember, you and I got together soon after." Her shorter girlfriend replied, causing her to blush. She'd have said something more, but an odd sight caught her attention.
She watched Yukari exiting a...jewelry store? "What the...?" she uttered, although not quite loud enough for Tomo to notice. She decided to let it be, as usually only trouble came from snooping in their teacher's affairs.
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"What do you think of this?" Kagura prodded Sakaki, attempting to draw her companion's attention to the ad. Sakaki let out an exasperated sigh as she looked. "Ah...sorry if I'm annoying you with this." Kagura apologized sheepishly, putting a hand behind her head.
"No, it's not that...it's..." the other girl didn't finish her sentence, but rather gazed out the window of her room like she normally would at school.
"Somethin' the matter?" the athlete asked, wrapping her arms around Sakaki's waist.
"Just thinking about something...it isn't important." She decided, smiling as Kagura nuzzled her back.
"Come on, tell me." Kagura pleaded.
"Well...if I did, it'd ruin the surprise." Sakaki told her.
"Surprise? Bah! I hate surprises, you have to wait for'em!" she argued, laying on her side and pulling the other girl with her.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to wait, because I don't know what it is yet." The other girl admitted.
"...As much sense as that makes, it still doesn't change the problem!" Kagura huffed. Their peaceful silence was shattered by squealing tires. "Yukari's out already?" Kagura surmised, getting up to look out the window. Sure enough, a small, dented car flew down the road.
"How do you know it's her?" Sakaki asked, sitting up.
"Well, it's only logical; that car is breaking about every driving law in existence." At that, even Sakaki giggled a little.
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The lonely Mihama estate was quite the opposite of that in the summer, quiet and foreboding. Not many without knowledge of its occupants would guess that an energetic young genius lived there. Well, not quite as energetic as usual.
Chiyo sat in her room, Tadakichi at her side. "Oooh...I wish Osaka were here. Or should I call her Ayumu? I wonder if there's anything I could do for her for the holiday?" she began thinking about different topics almost as fast as the girl she was musing about. She almost didn't notice the ring from the front gate. "Hmmm? Who'd be out in this weather?" she wondered, answering it. It turned out to be...Osaka.
"Ah! O-Osaka, what're you doing here?" she cried, allowing the girl in.
"I'm still allowed to come and visit ya, ain't I?" Osaka huffed.
"Well, yes, I suppose, but..." Chiyo sounded unsure to the older girl. "But what?" Ayumu mimicked. "Well...I t-thought you'd be...m-mad at me." Her friend replied, her eyes beginning to tear up.
"I-I'm not mad at ya, Chiyo! I'm just...frustrated. What difference will it make if we have to wait?" she wailed, venting her confusion.
"Well...they aren't here right now..." Chiyo implied, causing Osaka to throw her a curious glance. "It's getting dark out already..." the small girl noted, looking out one of the large windows.
"Do ya think it'd be alright if I stayed here tonight?" Osaka asked.
"I was hoping you'd ask that." Chiyo responded, finally adorning her smile again.
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End of Chapter 20.
A filler chapter, the climax of this particular story is coming up very shortly, and was foreshadowed in one of the settings. I'll update soon, and I'll try to reformat all the chapters for better visual aid soon. Until then!