Hi everyone! I hope you all have been doing well. I've been pretty good, but more importantly, I've actually gotten some writing done, which is why I finally have some posting backlog.
I was quite happy at how this chapter turned out - it's less meandering and plot moving then the last one, so I hope that you guys enjoy it. I'll be back at the bottom then.
Eri could feel Haqua's ire from the look being sent her way, but she knew that she had it coming.
"I'm gonna just… cut up the salt a bit more," Minami excused herself and stepped away to a safe yet still eavesdroppable distance.
"So?" Haqua asked Eri, crossing her arms. The ex-demon gulped, not wanting to put it off.
"I'm Eri," her words spilled out nervously, "when I was a demon, my name was Elucia De Lute Ima, and I was one of Rimyuel… Onee-sama's younger sisters."
"Younger sister?"
"Well, one of five hundred," Eri held up a hand, "she was the caretaker at the institution which took me in."
"A likely story," Haqua nodded, "not very easily verifiable," Eri nodded sadly.
"More than that, it's not my reality in this world," Eri explained, "when I rewrote the world, I erased my existence from Hell, so Rimyuel-Nee-sama and you wouldn't have met me."
Haqua noticed Eri look away and wipe her eyes, and most of her irritation melted away. This was at least an explanation on what happened, but she still wanted to know more.
"Why did you do this?" Haqua asked softly, "if I was your best friend…"
"Because I had to protect you," Eri sniffled, "I learnt that I had powers that the bad guys would use to destroy the world, so I decided to rewrite everything so I wouldn't have those powers, and no one would ever try to use me to hurt my friends again."
Haqua felt a small smile come to her face. Even though she didn't know the girl, it was very clear that Eri was a good person who cared about humanity… and her.
"I'm really sorry, Haqua!" Eri cried, "I thought if you'd forget, things would be easier for you…"
"It's alright," Haqua patted her head, "I can tell that your heart was in the right place. I don't think I'd be able to get my memories back, seeing that this isn't even the same reality, but we can start fresh and –" the sentence cut off as Eri knocked the breath out of her with a tight hug.
"I really missed you," Eri squeezed her. Haqua smiled and stroked her hair comfortingly. She couldn't say that the feeling was mutual, but she knew that she'd get there eventually.
"You better have," Haqua retorted cheekily, "I'm too good to not miss, you know," she felt Eri nod against her shoulder. The blue-haired demon closed her eyes and hugged her closer, feeing a sense of de ja vu holding her warm and comfortable friend, 'and so are you.'
Eri was utterly giddy with excitement as she pulled away, and Haqua averted her gaze, blushing lightly.
"I-I'm not mad," she admitted, "I just wanted to understand why you would change reality rather than just letting us know that your circumstances had changed."
"I didn't want you to be sad knowing that I wasn't around," Eri sniffled, "I just wanted you to be happy knowing that you'd saved the world."
Haqua laughed.
"Nora took credit for that already, don't worry."
"Ehhh!"
"It's something she considered important and I just didn't care enough," Haqua shrugged. Eri's eyes widened.
"You've changed as well, Haqua!" Eri exclaimed, "what happened to you being recognised for your work?" the devil blushed lightly.
"I-it's more important that the work gets done," she explained, "Nora can take the credit if she wants. Besides…" she glanced at the curtained off part in the room, "it was you and Katsuragi who did the most, and I don't see you guys looking for recognition."
Haqua turned to Eri, who was watching her with an adoring look on her face.
"You're being creepy, Eri…" Haqua said it straight, but the younger Katsuragi ignored that.
"You won't go away again, right, Haqua?" she asked the question with teary eyes. Haqua softened.
"I won't," she promised, "I want us to be friends again."
Eri didn't need telling twice as she glomped the devil once more.
The younger sister loved her human friends dearly, but only now that Haqua was back did she realise how much she missed and needed her.
Haqua smiled and hugged her back. While this wasn't quite how she envisioned her day today, she was glad to have received Rimyuel's call.
Jun paused outside the classroom door and turned around to face the girls, who were both eating chocolate as they walked. They stopped mid-step.
"So what is our story again?" she asked in a very teacher-like manner.
"We went to the supermarket and didn't meet any perverts," Sumire responded, her face deadpan.
"That's good, but lose the last part: that's suspiciously specific," Mio laughed.
"That's fair. So we had an uneventful trip to the supermarket," Mio amended.
"And we definitely did not have the police called on anyone," Sumire snickered and Jun turned to her, one finger up.
"I'm serious, Uemoto-san, not a word," Sumire rolled her eyes.
"I get it, I won't tell a single human…"
"Nor devil not goddess nor whatever supernatural beings we have in the class," Jun closed that loophole, and Sumire clicked her tongue, clearly not liking how her chosen words were seen through. The teacher gave a triumphant smile and took a breath.
"Will you be alright, Sensei?" Sumire asked. Jun nodded, swinging her fist happily near her chest.
"Of course," she exclaimed, "now we better go in… Haqua-san is waiting for us."
Jun opened the door, noting the class seemed to be dispersed into their own conversations.
"Oh, you're back," Nikaidou looked at them from her seat a few feet away, "welcome back," Jun smiled, feeling a sense of calm fill her. The classroom was the place where she felt the most at ease.
"I'm back," Jun replied, holding up a shopping bag, "hope I didn't keep you all waiting too long."
"It's alright," Yuri responded, indicating to Haqua, who was still chatting with Eri, with Minami peeking up at them from her chopping workstation, "Rimyuel still isn't back so you're not the last ones. You can probably check if there's any preparation needed for the ingredients you've bought back now."
Jun nodded and indicated for Sumire to follow, as she had the other bag.
"Otherwise, was the trip alright?" Nikaidou asked. Jun turned to look at Sumire, but the shorter brunette made no attempt to respond, rather continuing to walk to the table. Jun didn't stop to respond either.
"It's where commoners shop," Mio shrugged, "nothing really to talk about there."
"True," Nikaidou laughed, "I guess all the action is happening here."
"It does appear so, yes," Mio replied, "I don't have much to say about it, but Sumire and I had an idea while we were out."
"And what idea might that be?"
"That we…" the blonde trailed off, "wait, she has it," she quickly followed the brunette.
Jun let out a sigh of relief that both girls were on board with being quiet.
Kanon wasn't at the bathroom when Nanaka arrived. She gladly took that time to soak some toilet paper in water and try to clean the sticky liquid from down there and on her tights. It was a struggle with the disintegrating paper, but she felt quite a bit cleaner by the time she was at the sink and washing her hands.
Now, if only she could have her panties back… well, all in good time… whenever Kanon got here.
As Nanaka rubbed the soap in her hands, she couldn't help but feeling a little anxious at this meeting she was going to have here. She didn't have any reason to be, considering this was just going to be them returning each others' underwear.
Just… was there something they'd have to talk about after that? Or was it just over and they wouldn't have any reason to speak anymore?
The orange-head sighed and turned to look up at the roof. She knew that it would be better to just leave it here… Kanon was an idol, and it was just a weird twist of fate that their paths had crossed in the first place. She had to stop thinking about this.
Yeah, Nanaka dried her hands on a paper towel, Kanon can go back to pursuing Keima here, and she'd go back and whip everyone's ass at shougi at Misato East, just like things are supposed to be.
The bathroom door crashed open and Nanaka nearly jumped as she watched Kanon barrel in.
"Five minutes please!" Kanon sounded a bit hysterical as she ran into a stall without pausing. Nanaka was a bit bemused, but she gave a faint yes and leant against the free wall and and took a breath.
That was a real fright! Nanaka could hear her heart beating loud and quick in her eardrums.
"Ugh, come on," she heard a grumble from inside the stall.
"Ye okay, Kanon!?" she called.
"Y-yeah," the idol responded, "just wish I could have some water…" the second sentence faded into a mumble, but Nanaka just caught it. Her brain put two and two together.
"I can get ya sum wet tissues… or ya can wet some yourself."
The silence in the bathroom got a bit louder.
"I-i-it's okay," Kanon squeaked, the embarrassment clear in her voice.
"Eh, di'nt ya wanna clean up!?" Nanaka stood up, "may as well do it now, coz iz gonna be a while before ya get tha' chance 'gain."
"Y-you're not wrong…" Kanon's voice shook, "it's just…"
Kanon didn't like how easily she was seen through. If her actions were this easy when she wasn't even in eyeshot, how quickly would Nanaka see through her when they were talking.
"Come off it then!" Nanaka laughed, "getchaself cleaned up so I can give ya panties back," Kanon's stomach lurched.
"Y-you have them?"
"O'course," Kanon could hear the smile in her voice, "managed ta grab it before tha' running chickie saw them, thank Gawd," Kanon let out a little snicker despite herself, "I'm surprised ya missed picking it when ya left."
"Ah…" Kanon felt her nerves spike up again, "I left in a rush and I forgot."
"Yet ya still remembered ta take mine," Kanon laughed awkwardly and wished that she could flush herself down the toilet.
The idol knew that she should have come up with some explanation or think of what the hell she'd say to Nanaka as soon as she left this bathroom, but her body was shaking and attempting to do cleanup without water was… irritating, in more ways than one.
She'd kill for a bidet right now… as if Maijima would be fancy enough for that… maybe she should just cut her losses and go home now and take a hot shower…
After a few minutes, Kanon took a deep breath and unlocked the bathroom stall. Once out, she made a beeline to the taps, making sure not to meet Nanaka's watchful eyes. She heard Nanaka's footfalls right behind her.
"Sorry, hey…" Nanaka stepped in next to her as she turned on the tap, "think I made ya feel awkward in there."
Kanon didn't say anything as she washed her hands.
"It don't matter if it was an accident or not… we can jus' return it and be on ow way," Kanon noticed something pink in her periphery which she obviously recognised. She sighed and murmured something, "sorry, I din' hear what ya said there."
Kanon deliberated before turning to face Nanaka.
"I don't want it back," she said more clearly, before turning to the soap dispenser, "you can keep it."
"Keep it?" Nanaka repeated, "you wanna stay commando?" Kanon nodded, "and what 'bout mine?"
"I'll keep it too," Kanon responded softly, "keep something to remember you by once this blur of a day is done…"
Nanaka thought about it for a moment, a relieved smile coming to her face.
"Tha's not a bad idea," Nanaka held the pink panties up to inspect it, "I'd prolly make bank selling these on ebay," she glanced at the idol, who made no reaction to that joke.
"You can do whatever you like," Kanon responded with a glum edge to her voice, "as long as you don't mind me keeping yours," Nanaka shook her head.
"I can't say I re'lly get it, but itz sweet," Nanaka smiled, "I was messing with ya, o'course… no matter the money, imma keep these for myself," Kanon's hands paused under the water as she washed the soap off.
"Really?" Kanon asked as she tried to keep her voice impassive. Luckily, she could focus her eyes on washing the last of the soap off her hands.
"Y-yeah," Nanaka folded the panties and put them away, "which other person's lucky enough to get these?"
Kanon's hand tightened on the faucet as she shut the water.
"'S-sides that, I don' really know waz gonna happen from here," Nanaka's voice softened, "I should keep the one proof so I know itz real, wha–" Nanaka flinched as Kanon flicked the water from her fingers at her, "whatcha do tha' for?"
"No reason," Kanon smiled mischievously, "just seemed like fun," she was just about to turn on the tap and wet her hands once again when Nanaka grabbed her wrists and stepped into her personal bubble. Kanon froze.
"Ne, Kanon," Nanaka spoke, her eyes not leaving the idol's, "will I see ya again… after today's over?" the idol had to remind herself to breathe… and not look at her lips… there was no way Nanaka wouldn't see it from her lower eye level.
"I-I want to," Kanon gulped, "I-I-I get busy a lot and we don't run the same circles and…" Kanon's gaze started moving down despite what she told herself, "I'll still… try –" Kanon hissed as Nanaka's hand landed on her bare thigh.
Her breath hitched. This wasn't a good idea, but she wanted it... both of them did...
J-just for today.
"I guess we gotta…" her hand slid up her leg, "take tha' time we do have," Kanon groaned as her eyes snapped back to Nanaka's orange ones, two shades darker than she remembered. The idol swore under her breath and tried to put some space between them.
"Are you trying to kill me?" Kanon mumbled.
"After ya flicked all that water at me…" Nanaka laughed, "I let ya off easy."
The idol pulled herself away, but she felt a tug on her sleeve, where the shougi pro had caught hold of her.
"I-is this alright?" Nanaka asked, an unmistakeable blush on her face. Kanon nodded silently.
"I-I guess," she agreed, "Just… I don't want to do it here," Nanaka nodded.
If Kanon was being honest, she wasn't sure that they should be doing anything at all… the original premise was long since over, and this whole scene pretty much implied that it was a no-strings-attached situation only. This was a bad idea, plain and straight!
And especially if she was already starting to catch feelings for this girl.
This beautiful, short, lively girl… this girl who had slipped her fingers between hers.
"T-then…" Nanaka took a long breath, "I hope ya know which way ta go…"
Nanaka could feel her hand shaking as she was led out into the corridor. Considering that it was dusk, the halls were empty and the shougi girl had enough silence to contemplate what had just happened… what she'd just set up…
Something had clicked with them being alone together, and while she couldn't put her finger on it, she did know one thing… she didn't want to forget this, like it was some dream.
Kanon had been realistic enough to admit that there wasn't any guarantee for what would happen after today, but she did still want to be with her. For Nanaka, that was alright… just to have that one last moment for today that couldn't be interrupted by someone else… have that moment where she wasn't trying to prove herself, but rather just enjoy it.
Kanon smiled gently and weaved their fingers together, with their palms fitting together squarely.
"I know a place, alright?" Kanon whispered. Nanaka nodded, allowing her to lead the way. They travelled down a different corridor and entered one of the classrooms. While it was brighter than the corridor from the proximity to the sunset, they didn't turn on any lights, so no one would look for them here.
Kanon let go of her hand and sat on one of the seats in the back row, out of view from the windows, even if someone did decide to pass by now.
Nanaka took a deep breath, wondering if she'd lost her mind here… That whole thing in the classroom had been them going with the flow… she'd made the choice to do this now… to go with Kanon to this secluded place… to see if it would still feel as good as it did before.
Kanon looked so beautiful in the dying rays of the sun… she could feel her heart being squeezed tightly, but Nanaka didn't mind it as she approached Kanon.
The idol gasped as the shougi girl bypassed taking any chair and sat on her lap, straddling her and moving her arms around her neck.
"N-N-Nanaka?" Kanon spoke in panic, but the now slightly taller orange-head leaned closer to her vulnerable face, "w-what are you doing?"
"Dis is what ya wanted, innit?" Nanaka whispered as she leaned forward and cradled her face.
"I… did…" Kanon's eyes wavered as she looked down. This weight and warmth was making her heart sing, and her small body fit unbelievably well in her arms. She smelled amazing.
This was exactly what she wanted.
"A-are ya okay, Kanon?" Nanaka asked, peering at her face. She felt a squeeze around her waist as Kanon hugged her tighter.
The idol didn't respond, stuck in her head. She should pull away and tell Nanaka the truth she was owed… she should just get over herself and give the girl what she wanted. Those were her two options, and she didn't know which one scared her more.
"K-Kanon," Nanaka whispered, softly lifting her chin up, "whatcha thinking 'bout?"
"Nanaka," she breathed, feeling her eyes tear up, "I love you."
Nanaka's concerned eyes brightened and she let out a laugh.
"Ya din' have to confess to me, ya know," she moved closer and wiped the stray tear which had started overflowing from her one eye, "I was gonna kiss ya anyway."
Before Kanon could say anything else, Nanaka softly pressed her lips on the idol's slightly parted ones. Once she got over the first round of panic, this felt as good as she could have imagined it, and she felt herself bringing Nanaka closer… she felt her mouth getting more aggressive and greedier, because she was certain of one thing.
Nanaka didn't believe her confession… if she had, she wouldn't have kissed her like this. Once this was over, the shougi-enthusiast would see her for what she was, and it would all come crumbling down. She just wanted this last thing before it all went to hell.
Nanaka moaned and Kanon felt her stomach lurch. After what was a good minute, Kanon loosened her grip, and Nanaka pulled away, breathing heavily.
"Ya really don' disappoint at anything, do ya?" Nanaka spoke breathlessly, and Kanon turned an endearing shade of pink.
As the rush from the kiss ran its course, Nanaka climbed off her lap and gave them both a bit of room… Kanon looked like she needed it, and the she definitely had some thoughts to sift through, now that her hormones were more under control.
"Didya really mean it…" Nanaka murmured, "that ya love me?"
Her first reaction to those words was to be relieved. She hadn't overstepped and hurt Kanon's feelings. Maybe Kanon had thought that she wanted a confession for this to continue, which was why she forced herself to do it.
It couldn't be that Kanon was in love with her for real. Kanon was an idol while she was a normal girl from nowhere who couldn't even speak without her dialect rearing its head…
They'd only known each other for one afternoon, for fuck's sake! What would Kanon even know about her?
This couldn't be possible… they shouldn't be in the same room, let alone in the same relationship!
Nanaka kept her eyes on Kanon, watching her open and close her mouth wordlessly for a few seconds.
"Yes…" Kanon got out after a few attempts, causing Nanaka's stomach to knot up, "I do."
Nanaka fell heavily into one of the chairs, her head falling into her hands as she tried to form some answer in her dumb head.
"'M sorry," Nanaka mumbled, "jus' need ta think."
"S-sure…" Kanon agreed, "take your time…"
It was a long, awkward few minutes as Nanaka was mulling the issue over, and Kanon considered opening the closest window and vaulting out of the classroom.
"Nee, Kanon," the idol jumped in her seat, "I've gotta question…"
"S-shoot," Kanon took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Do ya think tha' ye've thought this through?" Nanaka looked up at her, "lovin' someone like me…"
"W-why do you ask that?" Nanaka shrugged.
"Ya don' know all that much 'bout me," Nanaka responded, "Yer way out of my league and you already like Keima."
"I know it's weird," Kanon sighed, "But I want to know you, and that'll only happen if you know that I want to… everyone has good and bad things about them, and it's demeaning to put peoples in leagues, so I don't see it like that… and with Keima-kun… the feeling has kind of calmed down, so it might just be going away."
"But Kosaka was saying that ya confessed ta him 'fore," Nanaka pressed, "and ya still got ya individual tutorin' sesh with him later… whatcha gonna do 'bout that?"
"I-I don't know… maybe skip it," Kanon was a bit frazzled at how hard the questions were hitting, "and that confession was three months ago…"
"Izzat so?" Nanaka ran a hand through her hair, "how long did ya love him 'fore that?"
"Maybe two months… at least as long since I got my memories back…"
"So ya do have Apollo," Nanaka spoked exasperatedly, "why'd ya wanna give up those feelings fer me?"
"Because I love –"
"Even if ya do love me, what will ya get from this?" Nanaka stood up, "do ya wanna go out… date a bit an' get married?" Kanon blushed, but Nanaka wasn't done, "would ya be willing to tell yer friends about us? Yer family? Yer workplace and yer fans?" the orange-head folded her arms, "iz a big deal, ya know… if yer gay and ya wanna have tha' kind of relationship with another girl in public."
Kanon felt herself deflate, because Nanaka was exactly right. She hadn't considered the eventual consequences which would come by doing this.
"I-I mean, it would probably take time, but eventually I would let the world know… I'd get backlash going out with anyone anyway…"
"But not like this," Nanaka's voice rose, "Will ya really risk yer whole career for someone ya met today!?" she mopped her wet eyes, "how can ya think this'll be worth it when ya just fall in love at a drop of a hat to the next person ya click with?"
The air got colder with that last sentence, and Nanaka knew that she'd gone too far.
"For someone who claims to not know a lot about me, you're very quick to judge," Kanon stood up, "a simple 'I don't like you' would have done fine."
"Iz not that I don't like you," Nanaka argued, "I jus' knew that it'd never work like this."
"Oh no, I believe you," Kanon pulled her taser out from her pocket and turned it around in her hands, "thanks for letting me know now."
Nanaka shivered at the lightning sound from the taser, but luckily, her wrath and electrical current were focussed on a desk, which cracked on one of the wood lines and fell into two pieces.
"Don't fucking talk to me again," Kanon snarled as she shoved her weapon of mass destruction into her pocket and stomped out of the room.
Nanaka stood for a few seconds more before her legs gave out, and she slid to the floor, traumatised by the 180 in personality which Kanon had gone through. Of course, she barely knew the girl, so should she really be surprised to learn that she was capable of something like this.
Nanaka pressed her head into her hands, starting to feel her eyes prickle. Of course she managed to choose the worse play possible before flipping the board. She'd been so happy to get her alone… for a short moment after Kanon had confessed, she'd been on cloud nine. Of course, reality hit, and it was clear that those two had no business being together, and it made no sense logically or logistically, so Nanaka used the only strategy she knew: find your opponent's weakness and hit them there.
She'd done that amazingly well, though at her own expense. It probably would be worth it if it meant Kanon wouldn't hope for anything more.
Then Kanon would never need to learn that she loved her too.
Ah... well that's awkward. I kinda feel sorry for them both, because it's not like Nanaka was unaffected by this all. She clearly had more time to consider this on her own, and she knew that it was a bad idea.
But just because it's bad, doesn't mean that you can't want it. I just want my babies to be happy, so I have to fix this now.
Otherwise, we get a nice moment of Eri and Haqua making up and becoming friends, so that's sweet. I'm hoping that I'll get to do more of this.
And now to respond to reviews:
xellos540(chapter 21): Noooo, how could you get me to the 70 reviews! T.T
I kid. I love the reviews, so thank you very much. It's nice seeing your thoughts wander as you read each part and somehow add even more innuendo than this story has.
Thanks for your compliments on the Keima and Kusunoki scene. I really enjoyed writing it, and even rereading it now was a lot of fun. The pale pink material was her school shirt, coz her bra and underwear were orange... though do pots and kettles wear undergarments? Who knows. Also, I threw that ice cream cone reference in for you and Zel :P
Haqua in the hot seat is always fun, and if she was willing to accept that she loved Keima, it would make the teasing a lot less fun for them. Though the paizuri comment made me smile while writing it, but I laughed more at your remark - that was savage and I wish I'd written it.
And the last scene - more of a discussion about various people, like Nikaidou and her apparent aversion with thinking about underwear(from her war flashbacks about the HoJ arc), Tsukiyo's rudeness and whether Kanon should confess to Nanaka - which I guess you know now that this chapter is done.
ZelgadisGW: Thank you for the review. Lol, trust me, F.A.P was fun for me as well - so I guess that I have a mindset of a teenager as well, though I'm an adult woman.
Though I get what you mean about the Hinoki scene - she was mostly explaining stuff and there is a bit of imagination needed from the reader. That's the kinda balance I try for this story, anyway.
It was nice interlude to have Kanon and Keima talk a bit, though you're right... love is a pretty complicated feeling, and there's other things mixed in there to make it worse.
Also, if you draw that picture of Hinoki's boobs on Keima's head, I wanna see ;)
Ghost Man: :o Loaded Chekov's Gun... I guess we'll both get to see if that gun goes off at some point of the story ;)
Embarrassing or hot - why not both? I imagine she really enjoyed that.
Hehe, you noticed my wordplay with lunatic there... I was just in the mood for that.
Your recommendation about introducing Shiori and Minami is an interesting one, although I don't know know what they'll do other than being shy.
Thank you for the review. I hope I'll get to hear more of your thoughts.
xellos540(chapter 22): Lol, I don't think Chihiro regrets her actions either... and I really hope noone regrets reading it, because I was pretty excited writing that.
Nanaka being transparent as soon as Kanon is mentioned is what my shipping heart loves. I'm way too invested in this couple which I don't imagine most people like, but whatever, it's my story. B)
Lol, that was pretty sly of Shiori to try and get Tsukiyo to act so she can react, but I'm hoping that it does work for her... she's forever stuck in her head and isn't good at expressing herself, so she wasn't trying to be manipulative. And hopefully things will turn out good for them in later chapters.
Minami's back and ready to make everyone salty! I lie, she's too much of a cinnamon roll, even if she has too much salt. At least we get some nice conversation from her and Haqua.
Thanks for your review again. You're not wrong that there are a lot of developments, and considering what you read this chapter, it's gonna be a bit bumpy first - I can't help it, considering that this story probably isn't half way by this point.
But there you have it. I'm bombing ships left, right and centre, and jumping around does feel a bit like 'Four Lines, All Waiting', but I hope you guys stick around.
If you have any feedback or ideas for the story, do let me know in a review or PM, or you can find me lurking in the Kaminomi Discord server.
Until next time, stay safe and wash your hands. Bye bye!