Hey everyone! I'm back with the next chapter of A Lesson They Won't Forget, aka: the deepest crevices of Sir Sleeps-a-lot's shipping heart. Hopefully you guys are enjoying it in there :P

So recap of the story that is relevant for now - Minami has her dance party/tutoring session with Keima, Haqua's making the potion when she comes across a seemingly abandoned phone, Nanaka has been dragged back by Ayumi, and Jun had an unfortunate encounter while shopping which Sumire and Mio are keeping under wraps.

Anyhoo, onto the story. Please enjoy!

"Let me get this straight?" Kanon crossed her arms, "you want me to go back and talk to Nanaka…"

"Uh huh…" Yui nodded, "Ayumi's bringing her back now."

"Why would you do that when she just wanted to go home?" Kanon asked coldly, "there's nothing more for us to talk about."

There wasn't any coming back after what they'd said to each other.

Sumire and Mio had been the safest conversation for her to join after she'd gone back to class, but she was acutely aware of Nanaka excusing herself from the lesson then not wanting to wait for Jun to come back. She was very clear that she was ready to go and just put it behind her.

Then Yui had to drag Kanon onto the balcony for a talk.

"I refuse," the idol started walking back inside, "we've said what we had to say."

"What if she had more to say?" Yui folded her arms as Kanon brushed past her, "What if you missed something important?"

"If there was, she wouldn't need to be bought back by Ayumi, you know?" Kanon retorted back, "I don't know what you guys are getting at, but you need to butt out – goddammit!" Yui grabbed her arm and dragged to a desk in the quietest corner of the room. Kanon's angry expressions and retorts fell as she noticed Nanaka also being brought in against her will by Ayumi… like a sack of potatoes, draped on the runner's shoulder.

Kanon didn't know whether to laugh or get angry for both of their sakes. She was leaning to the former as Ayumi plopped Nanaka down on a chair close to them and pushed her to the desk Kanon was at, the chair scraping on the tile.

"You're really light," Ayumi remarked as she dusted her hands off, "here you go, Kanon-chan."

"Did you ask Nanaka if she wanted to be here?" Kanon raised an eyebrow. Ayumi shook her head.

"You'll thank me for this in the end," she shrugged, "c'mon, let's leave them to talk it out, Yui," the drummer nodded and gave them a wave. Kanon was on her feet, ready to fight it out, but Nanaka was just slumped on the desk, clearly not in the mood to fight or talk.

"Should I just… go?" the idol spoke softly, but Nanaka sighed.

"Do as ya want," she sat up and sullenly leant on an elbow, "I bet you were forced 'ere as well."

"You're not wrong there," she laughed without mirth, "those two are way too pushy."

Nanaka's eyes stayed on the desk, but she was aware that Kanon stood for a few moments before sitting herself opposite her at the same desk.

"So I don't know what there is to talk about," she took a deep breath, "but I want to say sorry for reacting like I did… and I don't want you to never talk to me again…" Nanaka looked up to Kanon's eyes, which were staring at her fingers on her lap.

"I deserved it," Nanaka shook her head, "I wasn't nice to yer then… I had it comin'."

"Okay…" Kanon let out a relieved breath, "so we're good, right?" Nanaka looked puzzled, "that's all you had to say?"

"Umm… I din't say anything at all…" Nanaka responded bewildered, and the idol laughed nervously… she'd been so on edge that she hadn't noticed that the only one to speak there.

Admittedly, her flight instinct was in overdrive and she really wanted to get out of this conversation, but this was way too obvious. She sat herself down again.

"So… there is something more…" Kanon wondered, and Nanaka turned red, running a hand through her hair.

"Iz not so much sumtin' new, but rather, sumtin' I gotta make clear…" Kanon looked at her with a raised eyebrow and Nanaka felt a shiver down her neck, "w-well, there wazza line I said…"

Kanon thought about it for a moment and Nanaka felt her bravery falter.

'Iz not that I don't like you'… she'd said. Once you got rid of the double negatives, that was what she wanted to say.

A lightbulb went off in Kanon's head, and Nanaka felt herself start to sweat.

"This is about us not knowing each other at all, isn't it?" Kanon nodded thoughtfully, "is this why Ayumi and Yui are so insistent we talk?"

Nanaka had to resist the urge to facepalm right there, but in a way, this wasn't a bad thing that she was remembering a different thing…

"Maybe…" Nanaka responded noncommittally, "we still gotta couple hours, so it might be nice ta do."

Of course, this was relying on Kanon not having anything better to do this evening, which was almost certainly not true…

Either way, this worked for her – she'd either bore Kanon out of being interested in her, or the idol would walk away on her own to chat with some of her other friends. Even if Nanaka liked her, there was no conceivable way they'd be able to get along outside of tonight.

Ayumi may have dragged her back, but it didn't mean that Nanaka would have to confess… maybe just getting closure on this whole situation was enough for her. She was still firm on her decision that nothing good could come from a relationship like theirs, anyway.

"So what are you thinking?" Kanon grinned, "maybe twenty questions, or…"

"I gotta better idea," Nanaka smirked as she reached into her bag, "le's play Shougi!" Kanon blinked slowly, as her smile faded.

"Shougi?"

"Yes, Shougi," she pulled out her set excitedly, "there ain't a better way to see how people tick than mind puzzles…"

Nanaka's smile widened at the look of Kanon's face as the pieces clattered onto the table. She gave it sixty more seconds before the idol would excuse herself from this activity and she could revel in her victory of being left alone.

Kanon stayed there… for sixty seconds, then for one hundred and twenty… first sitting through all the rules, then staying to play the first round, which admittedly, she was not good at.

"Havin' fun ye'?" Nanaka teased as the took her seventh piece.

"Well, it's something you enjoy, so I'm having fun with you," Kanon smiled back, "though this game might be too hard for me…" Nanaka chortled.

"I thought tha' too when I first started," Nanaka agreed, "knowin' the rules ain't enough ta play this… ya'll only get better when yer play."

"Figures," Kanon laughed as she played an objectively terrible move, "you probably practice a lot, huh?"

"At leas' eight hours a day," Nanaka responded as she moved herself to capture the unfortunate piece, "it'd be more if I din't spend all tha' time in school."

"I wish I could spend more time at school," Kanon admitted as she meaninglessly moved one of her pieces, "but being an idol takes a good sixteen hours a day, so I can't afford it, more often than not."

"Sounds like ya don' sleep much, huh?" Nanaka took her piece.

"Maybe three hours a day," she shrugged. Nanaka raised an eyebrow, "are you wondering how I survive on that little?"

"Nah," Nanaka shook her head, "tha's about as much as I sleep too…" they both laughed, and Nanaka cursed herself in her head. This was not how this conversation was to go, goddammit! Find less in common, not more!

"S-so Kanon…" the idol felt her heart skip being called by her name, but she tried not to show it, "what do you enjoy about being an idol?"

"It's hard work, but it's fun," she spoke after thinking for a moment, "I get to sing and dance and meet my fans," she smiled, "I'm not too big on acting and interviews, and modelling makes me a bit nervous, but I like having something to throw myself into and get better at.…" then she snorted as she moved a pawn into the upgrading zone and flipped it over, "the pay is pretty good too, but that isn't the reason I got into it."

"Izzat so?" Nanaka wondered, ignoring the game for a few moments, "so what made you want to be an idol?"

Kanon paused and she thought about it…

"I don't actually think it was anything in particular," Kanon admitted, "I was a bit of a gloomy introvert, but I wanted to change… I saw a contest poster one day and just… decided. I never looked back from there."

Nanaka looked away, her heart running faster than she wanted it to.

"I-I can't really imagine you as a child," Nanaka laughed awkwardly, "like a miniature idol or something?"

"I wish," Kanon scoffed, "as I said, I was a gloomy girl with glasses and no charisma… my first few auditions were terrible."

"Ya wear glasses?" Nanaka's eyes widened.

"I'm wearing them now, aren't I?" she snickered as she played with her round spectacles, and Nanaka's mind was blown. She'd literally had not noticed that the glasses were on her face the whole time and that was actually not normal for her usual.

"Whoa, yer really are!" the redhead let out a loud laugh, "it suits ya so much tha' I jus' took it as normal."

Kanon, who was making her glasses wiggle by playing with the temple tips, suddenly stopped, her cheeks and ears reddening. Nanaka's eye's got as wide as saucers.

The idol really was cute, but she hadn't intended to compliment her. She really needed a filter on her tongue.

"Umm..." the pinkette was a bit speechless there.

"D-don' make anythin' of that," Nanaka turned away, "glasses don' make a difference to me..."

"O-okay..." Kanon took a breath, and the shougi enthusiast let her eyes drift back to Kanon's heart-shaped face, her closed eyes behind subtle round frames, and she felt her heart skip.

Not good not good!

"A-anyway," Nanaka nearly hit a game piece in surprise as Kanon gained her composure and changed the subject back, "how was life for lil' Nanaka?"

She tried to sound casual with that, but her heart was pounding in her chest.

"Prolly different than yours… I waz in France till I turned nine."

"Whoa, really!?" Kanon asked excitedly. Nanaka deflated a bit.

This wasn't supposed to go like this… she wasn't supposed to enjoy talking to Kanon this much… Kanon wasn't supposed to be curious about her boring life either.

She was supposed to just be playing Shougi, and here she was, ignoring the board…

Kanon had her in check in a completely different way. In this game, she didn't have many moves to get out.

With that realisation, the lights were turned off, and their bubble popped, reminding them of the rest of the class which was still here. Coloured lights twinkled somewhere above them.

As the music started to play, many eyes turned to Kanon, but she assured them that she wasn't the source. Clearly there was something else going on.

"It seems like a dance party," Kanon noted as she saw the rest of the group begin to dance and sway to the music, "wanna join?"

"I-I dunno if I'll be good," Nanaka admitted, but Kanon stood up next to her, offering a hand up.

"No one cares," she laughed, "it's just for fun."

Nanaka took the hand she was offered, and even though the contact was only for a few seconds, her fingertips continued to tingle as she tried dancing. Kanon was obviously much more at home with this rhythmic dance music, but she tried to not watch her swaying hips and random hair tosses as she became one with the music.

Who was she kidding? She was obviously attracted to her.

Her body… her energy… her words… her heart…

Nanaka was fighting a losing battle to convince herself that she'd be able to step away from this.

That weird tingle she felt in her fingers was spreading all over body, but it was becoming apparent that this wasn't a nice thing… that slight heaviness of her head became an obnoxious pulse with every beat of the drum, and her vision kept shrinking and expanding.

Her knees gave way, but she was aware of Kanon turning to her as she fell.

"A-are you alright?" Kanon ducked down to her level, but Nanaka's throat jerked.

"N-not good," she swallowed, tasting something she really didn't like. Kanon looked up, suddenly aware of how loud and flashy the room was…

This was not good at all.

It was well into the song that Haqua heard the phone ring again. She'd asked every person who had been around beforehand, but no luck on that… on a slower part of the song, she dimmed the spotlight and programmed it to shine aimlessly as she took the phone onto the balcony. The screen displayed a number without a contact, which she noted as she answered on the last bell.

"Hello," Haqua greeted.

"Good evening. Have I reached Nagase Jun's phone?" the person on the other end asked. Haqua was relieved to have gotten an answer to the question which was on her mind the last few minutes.

"Y-yes," she agreed, "she's currently away from the phone, but can I pass a message to her?"

"Please do," the female voice spoke appreciatively, "this is Tanaka from the Narusawa Police Department. The investigation on the incident reported today at 17:49 has been completed. Kindly tell her to call this number back as soon as she is available."

"W-wait, what incident?" Haqua asked, eyes wide. Looking at her own phone, this was barely 45 minutes ago. What the hell was going on?

"Due to confidentiality laws, I cannot divulge more information. Nagase-san should be more familiar wit–"

"Wait wait, she just stepped into the room," Haqua spoke abruptly, "let me get this to her."

Haqua quickly covered the receiver, before grabbing a section of her hagoromo. That was a bald-faced lie that Jun had entered the classroom, but she wasn't waiting that long to get an answer. She took a breath before getting into character, the fabric disguising her voice to sound nothing like hers.

"Good evening, Nagase speaking," Haqua spoke after a moment.

"Good evening, Nagase-san," Tanaka from the other side responded, "before I continue, can you please recite your ID number to confirm your identity…" Haqua qroaned inaudibly but supplied it after a quick search through her hagoromo – thank God for how much information was supplied by hell.

"Perfect, thank you very much," the woman continued, "so as you are aware, we have concluded our investigation of your case which was reported this evening."

"T-thank you very much," Haqua responded enthusiastically, "can you inform me of your findings?"

"Your story was corroborated by the footage provided by Yokado and the knife found in the carpark matches the one on the video. Unfortunately, due to the camera footage cutting off some meters from the entrance and there not being any witnesses in the carpark, the perpetrator can only be charged on assault and attempted battery. The court case will take place on the 10th of April."

Haqua was frozen, but she managed to vocalise her question.

"C-can you give me more information about the perpetrator?" Haqua asked, readying her tablet.

"It was confirmed that the perpetrator is a Mr Kagaichi Tsukamaru, residing in Narusawa City. He is currently locked up with us and his bail is set at 1.2 million yen. We will hold him for 72 hours, but knowing his connections, he will likely be returned to his home shortly after that time."

Haqua didn't respond, furiously typing the name into her tablet.

"That being said, will you testify in court to increase the charges? If so, we will assign you a public lawyer, but the burden on proof will be placed on you."

Haqua's eyes narrowed. She didn't like the sound of this in the least.

"Can I confirm in a few days, please?" Haqua responded quietly, "I would like to look into this myself."

"Not a problem, Nagase-san," Tanaka responded, "if you have any further queries or have other questions, do call us again and we will try to help you as soon as possible."

"Thank you," Haqua responded between gritted teeth. The call ended quickly after that, but the devil was seething.

It didn't help that she still had very little idea what the hell had happened, but the call itself provided very little comfort.

She grabbed the phone and stalked back inside, but the music was only a distraction – going back to manning the spotlight again, she was very aware of exactly who she needed to talk to about that call – and it wasn't the teacher in question.

Sumire's dancing slowed down suddenly as she felt a shiver down her spine. Mio picked up the sudden change in boisterousness and looked at her questioningly. Sumire shook her head and took Mio's hand, giving her a little twirl as they both picked up pace to match the song.

Nanaka let out a pained groan as she clutched her head. Admittedly, her head had been feeling heavy before, but to get to this level with just forty seconds of music was unreal.

Kanon looked around her helplessly, extremely lost on what had had happened, but aware of how much pain Nanaka must be in with the heavy bass that was pulsing through the air. She had to do something!

What could she even do?!

Kanon's eyes roamed the class, but they were out of the way, with everyone congregating near the centre. There wasn't anyone who could help Nanaka. It was too noisy to scream for attention, even. As her eyes looked around, she saw her bag by the desk, and it hit her.

She dove to it, hand digging to find the only thing which might help – her bulky noise-cancelling headphones. She quickly located them and put them on Nanaka's head, as carefully and speedily as she could. Nanaka stopped trembling immediately, surprised to feel something heavy and snug on her head, then the music cutting out to an almost inaudible volume.

The headache had yet to recede, but she was able to think enough to see Kanon slumped in front of her, head bowed and body shaky. Nanaka frowned, not having wanted to put this burden on the idol.

As much as she wanted to just hop up and say that everything was fine, just the motion of leaning toward the other girl made her retch, and Kanon's eyes met her, worried but determined. Her lips moved to say something which she obviously couldn't hear.

Before Nanaka could even muster a thought in her slow brain, Kanon whipped off her uniform jacket and tossed it at her. The shougi enthusiast didn't have the body or mental capacity to do anything more than just take it in the face, it falling squarely enough that it stuck to her face.

As she sat stupefied, she realised that it felt better… the music wasn't making her brain pulse, and the lights were on the other side of the make-shift curtain that was the jacket.

It smelled… nice… of lingering perfume and warmth…

She knew that this was helping her feel better physically, but she couldn't help feeling mad. Why was Kanon being like this?

Nanaka struggled to her feet, although her balance was far from great, and her two senses were all but gone. Still, she knew the quickest way out was to leave this classroom.

She had to get out of the loud music and lights… out of this claustrophobic atmosphere… away from Kanon's nonchalant kindness. That was the only move she had left.

With quivering steps, she walked towards where she believed the door to be, but her leg bumped into one of the desks painlessly – or so it seemed painless compared to her pounding head - which sent her right back to the floor.

As she fell to her knees, she didn't try getting up again. Both her body and brain were far from functioning, and she could feel something push towards her throat.

At this point, she should give up and just be sick here.

"Don't you dare," she thought she heard as she felt arms on her back and thighs, and her being effortlessly hoisted up, just like a princess.

Nanaka may have blacked out around there because the next time she woke up, she was lying flat on the cool linoleum outside of the classroom. The darkness broke as Kanon whipped the jacket off her eyes, revealing the darkened ceiling of the hallway.

Of course the lights wouldn't be on here – everyone was inside.

The redhead didn't say anything as she felt Kanon loosen her uniform tie and shirt. Nanaka didn't move, her eyes starting to tear up as her brain started working, and she was reminded just how she got here.

Nanaka had felt those sparks when she'd first touched Kanon, trying to get her panties off. She should have taken them as a warning that something was going to blow into her life and never leave it the same.

Her body was pretty damn vulnerable now, but somehow, her heart was even moreso… she hadn't even realised what walls she'd had up until everything had been knocked down…

How Kanon had allowed her close enough to take those pale pink panties…

How she'd seen Kanon in a compromising situation which no one else had…

How Kanon let Nanaka soothe her ego on her body…

How Kanon heard her out without judging her clearly misguided words…

How Kanon held her when they kissed…

How Kanon enjoyed chatting to her about inane things too…

How, despite only knowing her for this afternoon, Kanon was certain that it was love.

Nanaka knew that it was love too…

Kanon glanced up at her face, noticing that her body was stirring… that momentary happiness moved to concern when she noticed that tears were leaking out of those light brown eyes.

"N-Nanaka," she whispered, "are you alright?" Nanaka shook her head, wiping her eyes.

"I din't want it ta be love…" the redhead responded tearfully, "I shoulda been more careful…"

"I-I don't get what you're going on about, wa-" she pulled away as Nanaka sat up, "you need to be more careful, you're still sick."

"I'm fine…" Nanaka sat up gingerly, "why're ya still here, Kanon?"

"I'm not going to leave you alone when you're sick," the idol responded, a little offended that she was being asked this, "do you want me to go?"

"Don't go," Nanaka answered simply. Still, Kanon nodded and gave her some more space.

For a long moment, neither girl said anything, though Kanon was the first to break the silence.

"What do you mean… that you didn't want it to be love?" she murmured.

"I din't want ya ta love me…" Nanaka sighed, "I din't want ta love ya either…" Kanon hesitated, her cheeks starting to get a bit pink, "think tha' ship has sailed, tho…"

"So you…" Kanon trailed off, her cheeks getting pinker. Nanaka wasn't in much better shape.

"W-wha' else could I do… when you shake up ma world like a fuckin' natural disaster?"

"I-I-I'm sorry…" Kanon bowed her head down, but Nanaka moved closer and tilted her chin up.

"I'm not," her eyes fluttered shut as she kissed Kanon once again.

There was no passion… this time, Nanaka only wanted to convey the truth… as much as it scared her having all her walls down… as much as she didn't want to know love like this… she was tired of trying to run away from it…

"I love you," Kanon whispered as Nanaka pulled away. The latter nervously ran a hand through her hair as her cheeks became pink.

"I love ya too…" Nanaka mumbled, and Kanon felt her stomach make happy flips inside her.

She was really starting to like the dialect.

Kyaaaa! They said it!

To be honest, I've been excited for this part for a while, though even rereading and editing this has been such a blast. I'm happy to see the ending with this!

Just to give some behind-the-scenes with this couple, I hadn't planned for this at all... at the start, this wasn't on my radar at all. The truth or dare thing was supposed to be a once-off gag. It just worked out conveniently that Kanon could possibly help Nanaka feel better after what happened with Keima, and maybe it would be something meaningful for Kanon. Even as far as their conversation in the bathroom, nothing was supposed to happen between them.

It just... did.

To be honest, this is one of the most beautiful things about the world. Sometimes you just come across something or someone, and you have no clue how important a place it will start to take in your heart.

This is how Kaminomi was as well when I picked it on a whim 9 years ago found me my favourite series and obsession. This was what that single review on Down Memory Train 7 years ago found me my best friend.

Reality really sucks sometimes, but knowing that you'll change... that new things can enter your life at any point... that's one of the things which makes life worth living.

If you don't ship Kanon and Nanaka, that's a-okay. There's nothing in canon to ship with them, and it's unrealistic for someone to fall in love with someone in one day (even though it's been four years in real life). However, it reminds me of the small magic that exists in the world... to change your mind... to struggle and come to terms with facts you might not like... to struggle, and come out on top.

This might not be the best couple and this story might not be the best fanfiction, but it's been following the ups and downs of four years of my life, and it damn well might be the story I'm most proud of.

I'm done my tangent now - onto reviews!

Mint-Car92: Once again, thanks for your review. I'd be pretty happy if Minami became a life guard too - or maybe a side-gig on the weekends :P

Oh yes, the PFP has made its entrance again, for the first time in a while. It is an important part of Keima's character, though I sometimes forget - like how the Goddesses are to the girls (I always struggle to write parts for them, which is why this goddess plot is coming so late into the story). It's cool though, Keima x PFP is still canon and will always be :D

Lmao, Minami returning the tracksuit to Miyako with Ayumi, Chihiro, Yui and Eri around would be the most hilarious thing ever. I'd actually like to write that, so I'll let you know about that :P

Hoo hoo, so you did know the song. My sister introduced me to it recently, and it's such a bop! Between the bisexual themes and just that it feels like you can dance sexy to it, I just had that song on repeat the whole time while writing. Music is great!

Lmao, and I guess you got to see that confession play out in this chapter. I really hope that it was to your liking. Thanks for all your sweet words. I'm really happy and blessed to read your reviews, and they always make my day :)

Xellos540: Hehe, you're back. I missed you too... and your lovely long reviews. Especially because you reviewed both chapters separately :o

I'm very lucky to have a fan who likes sending these.

The plunger sound is just to show that the inside has its own pressure and is air-tight... you can't be messing with time without having an air-tight container, you know :P

Lol, I lost my mind at the 'Haqua has to be tutored, as it's unbecoming to have this gap in her knowledge' comment. Imma steal that idea :D

Lol, if only you knew about the phone - except now you do :D

Lmao, Hinoki kidnapping Keima - except he's not tied up, and he's not forced to stay here. It's a pretty shitty kidnapping, if you ask me :D

Heavily outnumbered, huh... that's an interesting idea which I definitely did not think about and is not in my planning document or anything ;) ;) ;)

Lol, white is the best! So innocent... so pure... so see-through when you get it wet ;)

Lol, I think this ending was basically a culmination of everything Minami's learnt throughout this story. For being as shy and scared as she was at the start of the story, she gains her own confidence in herself and her skills, and gets to have a blast with Keima.

I would have liked to write more too, but I think this is enough for her - at least she'll have the hickey to remember him by.

Thanks for the reviews again. It's always a pleasure.

Man though. With both the Minami plotline and the Kanon x Nanaka plotlines winding to completion, it really feels like an end to an era. Luckily, there is still more to come... even in this chapter, Haqua finds out what happened to Jun, in a kinda vague sense.

With the potion nearly made and the other plot threads still hanging in the air, there's still plenty more to come. Please stay tuned, and thanks for all the support and the reviews. I love you guys. I'll hopefully be back in two weeks. Keep well and happy pride!