Hiya! Back with another chapter. A friend of mine feedbacked that the last one was too short… don't worry though, I'll be writing more this chapter. And as promised, this chapter will be focused on Ritsu and Mio. Enjoy!

Chapter 2: The Apartment

Ritsu Tainaka was in her room, she and her parents would be going to her best friend, Mio Akiyama's house for dinner. Ordinarily, this was a normal affair, seeing as the Akiyama and the Tainaka families are close, and that they live only a few houses away from each other, the two families would often have dinners together.

Strangely, Ritsu's parents told her to dress up formally for this particular night.

"It's just Mio's family," Ritsu thought,"What's with the formal wear? Dresses are uncomfortable…"

"Ritsu! Get dressed and we will be going!" Mrs Akiyama called to Ritsu.

"Got it!" Ritsu shouted as she got dressed.

"So what's the deal with the formal wear guys?" Ritsu asked her parents as the Tainakas were walking to the Akiyama's place.

"Oh, it's a special occasion," Mr Akiyama smiled. Ritsu pouted at her parents' secrecy.

"I'm gonna miss you sis," Satoshi Tainaka said mockingly.

"You know something about this!?" Ritsu said, pulling Satoshi into a headlock.

At the Akiyamas'….

"Mama, do we have to dress this nicely?" Mio asked her mother as she exited her room in a black dress.

"Your father and I, along with Ricchan's parents have something to tell you…" Mrs Akiyama replied.

"Alright…" Mio said.

After helping her mother set up the dining table, Mio heard the doorbell ring.

"Good Evening everyone!" Mr Akiyama greeted the Tainakas as he let them into the house.

"Good Evening!" the Tainakas smiled at the Akiyamas.

"Ooh Mio, that dress suits you well! Makes you look less dangerous," Ritsu teased upon seeing her best friend.

"Baka!" Mio flushed as she smacked Ritsu. Satoshi laughed at his sister and her friend's antics.

"Itadakimasu!" the two families said before they ate.

"So… what's the big news you guys wanted to tell us!?" Ritsu said excitedly while munching on her food.

"Ritsu, don't talk with food in your mouth!" Mio chided Ritsu.

"But I reaaaalllllyyy want to know!"

"Can't it wait till after we're done eating?"

"But the suspense is killing m-"

"It's alright Mio," Mr Akiyama said,"If Ricchan wants to know that much, I don't see why we should beat around the bush any longer."

"Indeed," piped up Mrs Tainaka,"The truth is, since both of you are nearing the age of 19 and are so close…"

"Hurry it up people! Get to the point!" Ritsu demanded.

"Baka! Don't interrupt our parents!" Mio said, smacking Ritsu.

"Ahem, we have decided to give you both an apartment near the University that you can live in together," Mr Tainaka said, interrupting the bickering pair.

Ritsu and Mio paused their squabble, looking at their parents.

"WHAT!" Ritsu screeched excitedly.

"Thank you Mama, Papa and Mr and Mrs Tainaka!" Mio said bowing to her and Ritsu's parents.

"No problem," Mrs Akiyama said petting her daughters head,"The rent is split between your father and I, and the Tainakas until you two get stable part-time jobs."

"You two are so such good friends!" Mr Akiyama said,"we figured you two would be excited to live in an apartment together."

Ritsu put her arm around Mio and grinned,"Of course we are, this is so exciting!"

Mr Tainaka coughed and said,"Of course you would have to help Mio-chan to do the chores."

Ritsu pouted,"Oh yeah the chores…"

Mio narrowed her eyes,"We will be living together, without our parents, and you didn't think there would be chores to do?"

"I can do the cooking!" Ritsu volunteered,"Mio-chuan's cooking is rather bland isn't it?"

"Why you.." Mio said pinching Ritsu's cheek.

"In fact, you two can move as soon as this weekend comes, the apartment is ready, and all it needs left are your clothes and such," Mrs Tainaka said.

"WHAT," Ritsu said,"There's no time to waste then! C'mon Mio finish your dinner quickly and let's pack your clothes!"

"Ritsu, you haven't finished your meal!" Mio said.

"I am now!" Ritsu said gobbling up her food.

"Careful or you'll choke!" Mio scolded.

Satoshi watched as the two girls bickered and said,"They're close huh?"

The Tainaka and Akiyama parents smiled, somewhat knowingly.

In Mio's room…

"I really appreciate that you are helping me pack my clothes Ritsu," Mio smiled,"Usually you would be lazing off reading manga or fiddling with your phone."

"Oh shut it," Ritsu laughed,"If we are living together, we might as well start helping each other out more often."

"You are being unusually mature, you sure you don't have a fever?" Mio teased.

Ritsu turned away from Mio and blushed slightly, but saw a perfect opportunity to tease Mio back, thanks to a certain piece of clothing.

"Ne Mio!" Ritsu said waving a striped pair of panties,"Remember this gem?"

"Ritsu!" Mio said as her face reddened,"let's switch duties, I'll keep the underwear…"

"And give me your shirts?" Ritsu replied, grabbing a shirt,"They're really baggy, specially round the chest area-"

*SMACK*

"Sowwy," Ritsu said, rubbing her forehead.

After the two friends were done keeping Mio's clothes, Ritsu jumped onto Mio's bed and whipped out her phone, to see a selfie sent from Yui, which showed Mugi smiling with a tea set, Ayame Yoshida and Sachi Hayashi smiling at the camera and Yui hugging Akira Wada and Azusa.

"Ne Mio-chuaan," Ritsu said, getting Mio's attention.

"Hm?" Mio hummed in reply as Ritsu showed her the selfie.

"Looks like Azusa will be joining us again!" Ritsu said,"Ain't that exciting?"

Mio smiled and replied,"Houkago Tea Time is back together at last."

"Ritsu! Time to leave! Say good night to Mio-chan for us!" Mrs Tainala called to Ritsu.

"See ya tommorow!" Ritsu grinned at Mio.

Mio smiled and said,"Same to you."

As Mio got into bed later that night, she pondered,"I'm moving in with Ritsu huh… this is gonna be a pain.""I guess it's going to be fun too!" Mio added as an afterthought.

Thanks for reading chapter 2! Hope yall liked it, next chapter will focus on Azusa checking out the University's Light Music Club and Mio and Ritsu's moving process. See yall -