The long weekend was over and a normal week was about to start. That was at least the plan a couple days ago, but the weekend, that was supposed to be spent studying for a test, changed this idea. Konata and Kagami got way too close to each other, by normal measuring and an awkward tension starting hanging over them. They started realizing something, but they had yet to find out what exactly it is and more importantly, what it means. The two had reached the school after a really awkward ride where neither talked or even looked at each other. In school, both directly went to their respective classes. Miyuki and Tsukasa had met them somewhere along the way, but got completely ignored, no the two hadn't even realized that they were there. The first half of school passed insanely fast and it was time for lunch break. Even though Kagami was totally out of it, she still had absent-mindedly decided to spend the break in the classroom of Konata and the others like usual. Even so, as soon as she sat down at the table of the group, Kagami's head immediately hit said table and she continued to be lost in thoughts. Konata was already in the same state before Kagami even arrived in the classroom. Tsukasa and Miyuki were extremely confused by the behavior of the two, but had no idea what happened on the weekend and started chatting on their own.
Kagami was having a recap of the weekend and everything else regarding Konata in her head in the meanwhile.
'What is going on with me? The whole weekend was kind of weird… and then today when we left the house… I grabbed her hand to finally get going, but as soon as our fingertips touched, I felt all weird and tingly… I can even still feel it a bit not… But that's just the tip of the iceberg. I think it all started with the flower viewing… Ever since then, I spent so much time with Kona. I even kind of lived at her house for two weeks and… spent almost every day afterward… to the point I even got my own key… Except for a few exceptions, we also always shared the bed when I slept over at her place… No, not just there… Even occasionally at my place and in the hotel when we were in Yokohama… Kona and I shared it after I didn't let Tsukasa sleep with Kona? Why did I do that in the first place? It's not like I didn't want Tsukasa to share a bed with her… It's… It's not, right? R-Right?'
Kagami started doubting herself while she was desperately trying to find out what's going on with her. 'I absolutely wasn't jealous or anything… I definitely wasn't… No, I was… right? Yeah… it's true… I was jealous because I… I should be the only one who's allowed to… WHY?!'
Her confusedness was increasing rather than decreasing. 'There's also the cooking… Even though Kona didn't want to help me in the beginning, she never gave up on me until the very end. Kona was the only person who could teach me… Even my own family gave up on me, but she… Kona no, she didn't… Then there's the thing with her past… Speaking of which, I still need the contact info of the girls to give them a piece of my mind. After that, a lot changed… Kona still was as clingy as always but I also started enjoying the contact more and more… I let her hug me whenever she wanted without saying anything and even started hugging her on my own… Not only hugging, the overall contact increased a lot and lastly the weekend that had just ended… We were basically all over each other to the point we needed to take a break from each other on Sunday but went immediately back on Monday again. We just couldn't let go of each other. My teasing ability also improved greatly. I'm even able to drive Kona into a corner and her reactions are so adorable… she's so cute… yes, she's cute…'
She started noticing a pattern in her thoughts. 'But it, especially yesterday, was a bit much… I kind of got nervous whenever I just looked at her… and then there was the staring contest… I hadn't noticed, but it looks like we almost had an accident and the same happened when she suddenly moved while being asleep… We… We… almost kissed… twice… I was sooo nervous when it happened. It was so embarrassing, but at the same time… there also was some sort of disappointment almost as if I wouldn't have minded if it did happen… N-No, I almost wanted it to happen… T-That's just wrong… Why would I want that? She's my best friend after all and even more, she's a girl! Just what the heck is wrong with me?! But then we're back to this morning and the hand holding… This weird tingly feeling… This warm and fuzzy feeling… What is that? I-I really can think of one thing now… but… but that can't be, it's simply not possible… not with Kona! That's… That's… No… I… I… it's really… there's no denying, isn't it? It's love… I-I fell in love… I love Kona… oh… that's bad, isn't it? Oh no…'
The truth got revealed and hit Kagami like a truck. She wasn't able to process it at all and slowly but surely started panicking and all color had left her face.
"No! That can't be true!" Kagami yelled after she broke free of her thoughts. Tsukasa and Miyuki watched her for some time already and got startled by the sudden outburst, but they had no time to ask questions because she immediately left the classroom in a hurry afterward. Kagami ran down the floor and disappeared into an empty corridor. Once she was alone, Kagami sank down and started hugging her knees in shock. "No…"
Tsukasa and Miyuki hadn't seen anything of it and focused their attention on Konata, who was still in front of them, but she was experiencing something similar at the same time.
'What's wrong with me? Did I eat something I shouldn't have? No… that would be too easy… It's definitely something related to Kagamin~. Yes, it's all her fault. What's wrong with HER? She was always so easy to tease and now… I think she's even better than me now! How could that happen? I was too careless! I guess I had just too much fun with her that I hadn't noticed that she secretly had her own training in the mountains to surpass me. She even forbade me to go to the mountains on my own… She sure is sly… Wait… when did she even had to go to the mountains in the first place? She was always at my place… Is there a mountain on the way? No… I don't think so… weird… Anyway, let's save that for later… but I better still go and take a look at Kagamin's~ way later…'
Even in her mind, Konata gets distracted easily. 'Back to the main problem, brain… Just what happened on the weekend? It started like usual, we played our game and had a good time, but Saturday… First, Kagamin's onto me when I woke up… Okay, that's nothing new but… something was odd… it was so much more intimate than ever… Then the cooking lesson. I was prepared for the worst but she actually managed to cook her rice and man, was she happy. She jumped around and hugged me and thanked me so often and genuinely. A happy Kagamin~ sure is cute… No, downright adorable… But the call of her mother scared me quite a bit. She was just joking about the marriage thing, right? Right?! I mean…'
Konata started feeling troubled.' Then I finally told her about the rice cooker… I really can't say she took it well… her revenge, though… wow, what was that? She became a different person… that wasn't teasing anymore… it was basically something out of a dating game she pulled on me there… I was completely driven into a corner and my heart couldn't calm down at all. The whole day was extreme and it got super awkward after I also managed to get a thing or two to tease her… Sunday was even worse. It became so awkward that I couldn't even look at her and in the end, we spent the full day studying… Awful! Monday ways thankfully everything back to normal. I finally calmed down and Kagamin~ also acted as usual again. Sure, she was clingier than ever, but that was kind of normal already… Everything was fine until the staring contest we started out of nowhere… One thing led to another and she almost accidentally… kissed me… I thought I would die… My heart easily skipped two or three beats there, only to beat faster than ever afterward. I was totally out of it since that happened. That's not the only embarrassing thing… Kagami was playing with my hair for hours, not to mention the lap pillow. Not that I was any better… I also started playing with hers and I made a ponytail again… It looked so good on her… I almost got a bit excited there… Kagami made me… no… that's not good… But it would explain a lot, especially the tingly feeling I have ever since Kagami touched my hand or when I think about the staring contest… Could it be…? No, this has to be something different, right? It's… no, what else could it be… No… No… No… I can't think of anything else… I got trapped on the Kagamin~ route… She got me… I… Kagamin~… love… I do… love her… I love Kagamin~!' She wasn't even able to form a complete sentence in her head anymore until she came to the final conclusion and it shocked her greatly.
"Oh! That's bad… that's really bad!" The revelation made her scream just like Kagami before and Konata instantly fled out of the classroom. The already startled Miyuki and Tsukasa got only more confused now that both escaped out of the classroom. Konata thankfully ran into another direction and found her own corner. "Why…" Konata couldn't understand it at all.
Both had no time to calm down or process it, though, because the break was almost over and both had to return to their classes. They got back a little late, but neither were able to participate in class at all. Miyuki and Tsukasa wanted to ask Konata what happened, but after seeing her face, they didn't dare to ask her anything.
….
Almost the whole week passed and things didn't look good. Neither Konata nor Kagami had recovered from the sudden realization. They haven't spoken a word to each other because even looking at the other person was impossible and Kagami also stayed in her own class during the lunch breaks. The only good thing that happened was that Kuroi-sensei got so drunk over the weekend that she had totally forgotten about the test she wanted to do. Even though both learned enough for it over the weekend, there was no way they would be able to pass it in their current condition. Miyuki and Tsukasa were really worried about the two, but because both refused to talk, helping wasn't possible at the moment.
…..
The weekend started and on Saturday, Tsukasa couldn't take it anymore because seeing her sister like she was right now, was too painful for her to watch. She had to find out what's going on with Kagami and decided to confront her. Tsukasa stood in front of her door and knocked a few times already but there was no answer.
"Onee-chan? Can I come in?"
"… No…" It took some time, but Kagami finally answered. Tsukasa didn't listen to her answer, though, and she slowly stepped inside the room while closing the door behind her again.
"Onee-chan?" She couldn't see her because Kagami was hiding herself under her blanket on the bed.
"I-I said no… I want to be alone… Go away!"
"No!" Tsukasa had enough of her and came closer to the bed and removed the blanket. "O-Onee-chan…" She was a bit shocked. Kagami had managed to pull herself at least a little together over the schooldays, but right now, she looked like she hadn't slept at all last night.
"Let me alone already!"
"I'm not leaving this room before I know what's going on." Tsukasa sat down in front of Kagami on the bed and intensely stared at her.
"T-There's nothing to tell…"
"Onee-chan…" She sighed as she took her hand to lift up Kagamis chin and looked directly into her eyes. "Look me in the eyes and say there's nothing wrong and I'll leave."
"I… I…" Kagami couldn't say it and started breaking down completely. Tears started falling down her cheeks and she fell over into Tsukasa's arms and embraced her deeply. "It's… It's all over… I… something bad happened and…" She finally started talking and it was like a breaking dam as she continued to cry on her shoulder. Tsukasa was really startled by the sudden breakdown, but returned the hug while gently patting Kagamis back
"Everything is okay, just let it out, onee-chan."
"Nothing is okay! Absolutely nothing…" The sobbing only got stronger and she showed no sign of calming down.
Kagami continued to cry on her shoulder and Tsukasa patiently waited for her to calm in order to talk about what happened.
…
Konata was handling the situation in her own way. The problems she and Kagami had after realizing their feelings were a bit different. Kagami had problems accepting it and broke down because of it, but Konatas problem was that she didn't want to believe it and fled from reality as a reaction to it. Ever since the day it happened, she immediately went home after school and played her online game until morning and slept at school again. This cycle continued all the way to the weekend. It was Saturday evening and she hadn't slept since Friday morning in school. She looked extremely tired and exhausted but she just couldn't sleep at home in her own bed because it made her remember Kagami and that was something she couldn't handle right now. Her ingame progress was astonishing, though, but her guild members started to become worried. At least most of them, some readily welcomed her to the dark side, but those were a lost cause anyway. Their worry was futile because Konata never replied to any chat request. She even went to the extent to hide her chat window altogether. Konata just wanted to be alone and completely focus on the game, nothing else but there was one person who didn't give up in her guild, her online friend and real live teacher Kuroi-sensei. She already wanted to confront her in school, but she was hoping Konata could sort out, whatever she's going through, on her own. Looking back, she realized that it was a mistake to ignore it because it only got worse. She wanted to talk with Konata now, but it was easier said than done because contacting her ingame was next to impossible. Chat was ignored and messages through ingame mail also stayed unanswered. Looking at her friendlist gave Kuroi-sensei a new idea. She saw the area Konata was playing in at the moment and went to search for her. It took her a whole hour, but Kuroi-sensei finally found the character of Konata and soon started spamming chat bubbles right in front of her because they couldn't be ignored.
Nanakon: Izumi
Nanakon: Izumi
Nanakon: Izumi
Nanakon: Izumi
Nanakon: Izumi
Nanakon: Izumi
Nanakon: Izumi!
Nanakon: Izumi!
Nanakon: OI!
Kuroi-sensei continued like that for quite some time. She didn't saw it, but Konata was becoming really angry and decided to finally respond.
Konakona: Sensei, you're really annoying. Stop it or else I'll delete you from my friendlist, block you and report you for harassing another player to a GM.
She finally got a response from Konata, but she wasn't expecting it being like that.
Nanakon: Oi! If you do that, guess who'll fail her next finals.
Konakona: …
Nanakon: Joking aside, what's wrong with you?
Konakona: Nothing.
Nanakon: Sure… How about stop lying?
Konakona: I'm not.
Nanakon: Is it too embarrassing or what? It's not like you fell in love with your best friend or something like that, right?
Bullseye. Kuroi-sensei got no answer and was about to write something again.
-Konakona- has logged off.
A system message appeared on her screen and she went pale.
"Oh… that was… great…" She talked to the screen and face palmed herself.
….
Kagami had considerably calmed down by now, at least to the point she stopped crying for a solid ten minutes. She let go of Tsukasa and went back to hugging her own knees while sitting on her bed.
"Hey onee-chan, can you please tell me what happened? I'm really worried about you…"
"No… I-I can't…"
"Why not? Even though I always come with everything to you… but you… is it because you think you can't trust me?" Tsukasa felt bad at the mere thought and started looking sad, making Kagami feel even worse than she already did.
"T-Tsukasa… that's not it. It's just that…"
"Just what? What is it?" Tsukasa was originally there to comfort Kagami, but her stubbornness was taking a toll on her.
"It's just that something happened and I'm really scared of various things. I just don't know what to do anymore…" Kagami finally started to open up a little.
"Onee-chan…" She got worried again because it sounded quite serious. "But that's exactly why I'm here. Let me help you. I'm sure we can figure it out together."
"B-But… I don't want to lose you, too… Once I'll tell you, there's no way you'll ever see me in the same light again… You might even start to hate me…" Kagami was really frightened.
"What?!" Tsukasa thought she didn't hear right as she blinked a few times and stared blankly at her. "There's nothing in this world that could ever make me hate you, onee-chan!"
"Are you really sure about that?"
"Yes, absolutely! I can't possibly ever hate my onee-chan because I love her way too much." Tsukasa's absolute honesty, proven by her serious looking face, gave Kagami finally enough secureness to tell her.
"Please don't make me regret it…" She gave Tsukasa a final warning but she strongly denied the chance. "Okay… It has something to do with Kona…"
"Yes, I already figured it out that it has something to do with Kona-chan… Huh, 'Kona'?" Kagami ignored her remark, took one last deep breath and said it in one go.
"I fell in love with Kona." She finally said the words she wanted to hide so desperately and felt really anxious for Tsukasa's reaction, but her sister didn't say anything. Kagami started feeling bad, but her sister continued to stay silent and just stared at her.
"P-Please say something, Tsukasa…"
"Huh?" She looked surprised for some reason. "You're already done?"
"Y-Yes?" Kagami wasn't sure what to answer.
"So you love Kona-chan… and now?"
"I mean in a r-romantic way." She made it clearer in order for Tsukasa to understand.
"Okay… Onee-chan, I'm still waiting for the part where I'm supposed to start hating you…"
"It's what I just said about Kona… I'm a girl who likes a girl… that's… not how it's supposed to be… it's… it's not… right…" She was hesitating with her own explanation and it became more of a question in the end.
"Onee-chan…" Tsukasa softly said, took Kagamis hand and gently squeezed it a little. "What's wrong with that? Okay, I admit that it's not exactly normal, no let me rephrase it, not exactly common is a better word, but so what? There's nothing wrong with liking the person you like, no matter who it is. You're supposed to love the person you fell for and not anyone else! Kona-chan is a good person and that's all that's important. No one has the right to question your choice because they don't agree with it for whatever stupid reason it might be. If someone ever tells you something different, come directly to me and tell me who it was. They'll never say anything against it again once I'm done with them, trust me with that!" Tsukasa ended her impressive speech and even got a bit scary in the end for Kagamis sake. Her sister was just staring at her with an open mouth. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Kagami wasn't expecting her sister to be so open minded and even more, so mature. Tears started to form in Kagami's eyes again and she once more hugged her little sister.
"Thank you." She whispered into Tsukasa's ear. "Thank you for being my sister and for accepting me… I love you." The word 'grateful' couldn't even begin to describe the feeling Kagami had right now. She tightened the hug and her anxiously died down.
"You're welcome, onee-chan." Tsukasa readily returned the hug and both stayed like that for some time until Tsukasa spoke up again. "But please, don't ever scare me like that again!"
"Trust me, I won't, but you can understand me a little, right?" Once the weight was lifted from her shoulders, Kagami started to get a little livelier again.
"Yes, I guess I can… Realizing their first love probably isn't that easy, especially in your case with another girl… Not that I have any experience with it, though…" Tsukasa couldn't really relate to it but it was easy to understand.
"Thanks."
"So… onee-chan, what now?" She raised a very interesting question.
"Huh, what do you mean?" A question Kagami didn't understand.
"Well… I mean…" Tsukasa was having a hard time. "Are you okay with how things are right now or do you want to be together with Kona-chan?"
"T-Together with Kona…" Her face had burned up just by the mere thought of it. She was incredibly embarrassed, but it wasn't a bad feeling. If anything, it was the very opposite. It was a very pleasant feeling and she started smiling, but not for long. "I would like that… really… but I don't think that's going to happen…" A sad expression soon replaced the smile.
"But you love Kona-chan, right?" Tsukasa didn't understand the problem.
"Y-Yes, I do… The problem here is that you need two for it…"
"And?"
"It's just me… there's no way Kona feels the same…"
"Hmm? I'm pretty sure Kona-chan likes you as much as you do, if not even more."
"R-Really?" Kagamis eyes started shining for a second. "N-No, you can't be sure with that… It's too dangerous…"
"But you also can't stay like that, can you, onee-chan?"
"Probably not…" Kagami knew it was no use. It was not even a week since she found out and she already had enough. "Then tell me, what should I do, sis?"
"Well… I'm not sure… Maybe we should ask Yuki-chan, she knows everything after all." Tsukasa thought she had a good idea but Kagami thought otherwise. Her eyes grew wide in shock and she got really nervous.
"N-NO! You can't!" She started yelling. "You absolutely can't tell anyone about it! Not Miyuki and especially not Kona!"
"Okay, then I won't tell Yuki-chan." Tsukasa understood a little why Kagami didn't want anyone to know and quickly discarded her idea again. Somewhere, someone felt really sad for some reason at this very moment. "That means we have to find out how she feels on our own, huh?" She started thinking about a new idea.
"It's fine, you already did more than enough. I can find something out on my own."
"Eh?! No way, I can finally be useful for onee-chan, there's no way I'll stop now!" Kagami just wanted to hug her again.
"Thank you… You really are the best little sister anyone could have."
"Ehehe…" Tsukasa got really from the big praise and soon rewarded Kagami with an idea. "Ah!"
"What is it?"
"Kona-chan's birthday is on the next weekend." Important information suddenly got revealed.
"Oh! I almost forgot about that…"
"That's no good, onee-chan. The soon to be girlfriend has to remember something like that!" Leave it to Tsukasa when it comes to thinking overly positive.
"G-Girl…" Kagami quickly stopped herself with slapping her own cheeks. "I-It's not the time for that now…"
"You should do something together with her on that day, just the two of you. Yuki-chan and I can wait until later for a little party. I'll keep her busy until then."
"That's a good idea. I'll think of something until then."
"It's great seeing you better again, onee-chan."
"It's all thanks to you."
"Ehehe…" Tsukasa really likes to be praised.
"On a completely unrelated note, do you have any idea what homework we have to do for next week?" Kagami felt like they talked enough about Konata and wanted to change to topic. "I wasn't really present last week, mentally speaking, and have no idea."
"EHHH?!" Ironically, today, Tsukasa was the most shocked right now. "Wow… I… ehm no, I don't really know, but I'll ask Yuki-chan later and tell you then."
"You know, I have a semi-good excuse, but you… Whatever, please do ask her." Kagami really didn't feel like scolding her today.
"Okay." She stood up and was about to leave the room, but got stopped at the door.
"Tsukasa?" She turned around and looked at Kagami again. "Really, thank you for everything today."
"You're very welcome, onee-chan and please don't hesitate and suffer on your own the next time you're having problems with something, okay?"
"Yes, I will." The scolding worked and she promised her little sister to rely on her more.
Tsukasa finally left the room, but immediately ran into someone else.
"Oh, hey mom."
"Hey Tsukasa, huh, you were in Kagamis room? She let you in?"
"Almost… I forced myself in because I couldn't take it anymore."
"Oh… good girl." Miki wasn't expecting her to be that aggressive. "So, what's wrong with her?" She obviously was very interested.
"Nothing's wrong with her. She just had a little crisis, but it's better already and will soon be completely solved."
"Oh, what's that about?"
"That's a secret." Tsukasa looked really proud and Miki was a little disappointed.
"Well… as long as she's better all's well… Even though I really want to know… Anyway, good job in being there for her, Tsukasa."
"Ehehe…" Tsukasa got a lot of praise today and happily skipped into her room.
"Oh my…" Miki said to herself and went downstairs.
…..
Konata was already staring for about 30 minutes at her empty PC monitor. The only sound that could be heard the entire time was the faint ticking of her clock in the background. The shock caused by Kuroi-sensei ran deep. The issue she tried to ignore so hard even started haunting her online. She was thinking about her options right now, but there was more or less nothing left.
"Might as well get back to the game and confront sensei… I really don't want to, but then she'll come at me in school and that would be the end of me… I just have to lie a little to satisfy sensei's curiosity and… Sure… that'll work…" She had absolutely no confidence in herself right now. "Haa…" She really took a liking to her desktop wallpaper the last five minutes she stared at it, but Konata finally decided to restart her game. She logged back in and her character appeared at the same time as before and sure enough, Kuroi-sensei was still waiting there.
"Sensei… just how much free time do you have…"
Kuroi-sensei saw Konatas character reappearing and quickly gave the command for her character to kneel in front of her. Konatas chat window also turned lively.
Nanakon: I'm soooo sorry, Izumi. I really wasn't planning on it.
Konakona: What are you talking about, sensei? My internet connection just had some problems.
Nanakon: You know perfectly well that the message we get if someone loses connection is a different one.
Konakona: Right…
Nanakon: So, what happened?
Konakona: Nothing.
Nanakon: Nothing, huh? You want me to come personally at you in school, after all, I see.
Konakona: No, I really don't want that.
Nanakon: It's not like I'm going to tell anyone. I'm just really worried. Leaving my role as a teacher aside for now because you also were completely out of it in school. As a fellow guild member
Nanakon: Stupid chat limit… -.-
Nanakon: …and ingame friend, I can't overlook your recent playing habits at all because they're no good.
"Like sensei is one to talk." Good thing she can't hear Konata.
Konakona: I'm not entirely sure what's going on myself. Something bad happened and I'm trying my best to ignore it right now.
Nanakon: Sorry to tell you, you're falling quite hard at it.
Konakona: You don't say…
Nanakon: Oh, so you do know?
Konakona: Shut up, sensei.
Nanakon: Are you a tsundere now or what?
Konakona: -.-
Nanakon: So what's the bad thing, that happened?
Konakona: Well, I spent basically my entire time with one person lately and became really close with them. Too close to be exact and I realized some feelings I shouldn't have…
Nanakon: What's wrong about falling in love with someone you enjoy being with?
Konakona: Well… theoretically, there isn't anything wrong…
Nanakon: By the way, who's the guy? I'm kind of curious.
Konakona: …
Nanakon: But now that I think about it… I didn't know you were this close to a guy. Is he from our school?
Konakona: …
Nanakon: Another school? You know guys from outside, huh?
Konakona: Sensei, I'm not particularly close to any of the guys I know.
Nanakon: Eh?
Konakona: …
Nanakon: Huh?
Nanakon: Wait…
Nanakon: Ehh…
Nanakon: But…
Nanakon: What?
Nanakon: Didn't you…
Nanakon: EHHH?
Konakona: Starting to understand my problem?
Nanakon: …
Konakona: So… enough? Can we change the topic now?
Nanakon: Not so fast here!
Konakona: Great…
Nanakon: You're into girls?!
Konakona: I'm into someone who happens to be a girl, so, yes, I would say so.
Nanakon: I see. Can't say I was expecting that…
Konakona: Can't say I was either…
Nanakon: And now you're having a hard time accepting that you're into girls?
Konakona: No, accepting isn't the right word. Well, I was never really sure what I'm into and so I'm not that surprised. Sure, I wasn't expecting that, but I don't think that's how it works…
Nanakon: Yeah, love never works that way.
Konakona: Huh? You have experience, sensei?
Nanakon: Well, college was… something else. Don't try to change the subject here! Right now, it's about and not me.
Konakona: Eh?
Nanakon: So, if it's not 'accepting' that you're having problems with, what else is it?
Konakona: Yeah… liking a girl is one thing, but liking her is… I can't do that.
Nanakon: Why?
Konakona: She's way too important for me.
Nanakon: Isn't that an argument for the 'pro' list`?
Konakona: No, because losing her is not an option and so, unless I'm 100% sure to succeed, there's no way I'm going to try anything. Because of that, I decided to ignore my feeling for her.
Nanakon: Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's not going to work.
Konakona: Sensei, isn't a teacher supposed to teach something one doesn't already know?
Nanakon: Eh, what do you want from me then?
Konakona: Huh? The only thing I ever wanted was to be left alone.
Nanakon: Right… fair enough. Not going to happen, though.
Konakona: What then? You're going to help me or what?
Nanakon: Well, after forcing you into talking with me, I might as well give you a little push.
Konakona: Is it okay to be scared?
Nanakon: Oi! Well… you should always be scared, but that's not the point right now.
Konakona: Sensei, I really can't let that slide.
Nanakon: Anyway, first, you need to normal again. Your current self is totally useless. Spent time with her again and get rid of any remaining awkwardness.
Konakona: Hmm… I might need to spend a couple days in the mountains first in order to do that.
Nanakon: Huh?
Konakona: Inside joke, don't mind, but yeah, I probably need a few days to be ready for it again.
Nanakon: As long as you do it in the end.
Konakona: But what can I do in order to find whether I have a chance or not.
Nanakon: Just kiss her. The reaction will tell you a lot.
Konakona: …
Nanakon: Eh?! o.O
Konakona: That's definitely NOT an option!
Nanakon: Wait… did I step on yet another landmine?
Konakona: Something -almost- happened but my heart almost didn't survive it, so, not an option.
Nanakon: Ah, the fragile heart of a young maiden. Wasn't expecting that…
Konakona: …
Nanakon: Just kidding. How about that, 'Truth or Dare'? The party game, you know?
Konakona: Yeah, I know it, but how's that supposed to help? Isn't it only for people to make others do humiliating stuff or make them say embarrassing stuff?
Nanakon: Or… Or you get some useful information out of her. Like if she has someone she likes or what she thinks about liking girls in a roundabout way.
Konakona: Wow! Sensei, are you actually a genius?
Nanakon: Next week, every time I have a question to answer in class, you're the first one I'm going to ask any single time.
Konakona: NNNNOOOOOOOOOO!
Nanakon: Too bad.
Konakona: By the way, what happened in college?
Nanakon: The start of something interesting. Speaking of which, we're talking about the big Hiiragi twin all the time, right?
Konakona: …
Nanakon: …
Konakona: …
Nanakon: …
Konakona: Topic change?
Nanakon: Topic change!
Konakona: Oh, I almost forgot! While my slightly increased ingame time, I found an unexplored dungeon in that new area and the loot inside is totally broken.
Nanakon: What kind of broken? The good or the bad kind?
Konakona: I made more gold with drops in the last week than in the last six months.
Nanakon: WHAAT?! No way…
Konakona: Oh, and I also got that unique legendary sword there…
Nanakon: Let's get going. NOW!
Konakona: Sure, follow me.
Konata led her to the dungeon and the two played nothing was wrong. Without her even realizing, Konata had considerably loosened up and decided to push forward instead of ignoring the issue. Kuroi-sensei really did a good job in getting her to talk by confronting her. The reward for her was also pretty good. Not only was she able to give one of her student or friend really good advice, the dungeon Konata found really had stupidly good rewards. The two played for a good amount of time together, but the toll the week took on Konata was great and she finally felt tired enough to sleep in her own bed again. Her extreme tiredness and the reduced anxiousness, thanks to Kuroi-sensei, made her forget Kagami at the moment and she quickly fell asleep.
Konata slept through the entire Sunday.
…..
The next week started and things were looking a bit better again. After finding someone to talk, both, Kagami and Konata, did better in school again. Almost to the point before everything happened, which means Konatas improvement wasn't that much. Kagami and Konata still haven't talked to each other and she still stayed in her own class during lunch, but both started talking with her classmates again, Kagami with her own ones and Konata mainly with Tsukasa and Miyuki. Both were still really curious about what's going on. Tsukasa because she wanted to know more about Konatas side to help her sister and Miyuki because she still has no idea at all. They tried, but as soon the topic diverted in that direction, Konata just brushed it off and both gave up in the end.
…
The week progressed a bit and Kagami finally had an idea for Konata's birthday on the weekend. School was just over and she had pulled Tsukasa aside.
"Hey sis, are you free after school right now?"
"Hmm? I think so… why?"
"I've got an idea for Kona's birthday, but I need help, or rather, mental support." Kagami said to her but the end sounded a bit worrisome.
"M-Mental support?" Tsukasa tilted her head a little because she was a bit confused.
"Well… for the present I want to get her, I need to go to Kona's stupid anime shop in Akiba."
"Oh, I see… I can see why you don't want to go alone."
"Yeah, I would rather die in a fire than do that." Kagami said so and Tsukasa thought it was a joke but she looked quite serious.
Tsukasa agreed and both went to Akiba together. Nothing noteworthy happened on the way to the shop, at least nothing a death glare by Kagami solve that it. The two entered the shop and after the escorting mission was over, for now, Tsukasa went for a stroll on her own inside. Kagami directly went to a clerk to ask for something.
"Hello, I'm looking for something…"
"Yes? Oh… it's Izumi-san's tsund… I mean girl… ehm sorry, friend. How can I help you?" A familiar looking female clerk answered to her call. It was the same one that helped Konata with the Cosplay before.
"Y-Yeah… hello… Wait, I'm not a tsundere and what do you wanted to say… girl…?
"N-Nothing…" The clerk tried her best not to laugh at the textbook like answer from her. "How did you like the Cosplay?"
"It was intere… OI!" Kagami almost carelessly revealed something she didn't want to and stopped. Luckily, Tsukasa was too far away to hear anything. "Why do you know about that!?"
"I helped Izumi-san choosing the right size for you."
"I see… so you're partly responsible for all this, huh?" Anger was clearly present in her voice, but a building up tsundere rage was nothing for a professional clerk in Akiba couldn't handle.
"So, what are you here for?" The topic just got completely ignored.
"Oh, yeah… ehm I'm looking for a manga." Kagami explained what manga exactly she's looking for and the clerk started thinking about it.
"Yes, I know that manga, but you're a bit too early…
"Too early?"
"The release of it will be next week."
"Eh? Really? Great… there goes a part of my plan for Kona's birthday…"
"Hmm?" The clerk didn't fully understand.
"Konata's… erm, 'Izumi-san's' birthday is on the weekend and part of my gift was supposed to be the manga…"
"Really? Her birthday is on the weekend… That's bad… I can't let her girl… argh, ehm friend fail her plans for the present. Please wait a moment." The clerk said so and suddenly disappeared to somewhere.
"O-Okay…?"
The clerk came back to Kagami about five minutes later and was holding a manga in her hand.
"I shouldn't do it, but here…" She handed it over to her. "We already have in stock, but technically aren't allowed to sell it yet."
"Eh? Is that really okay?"
"As long as you don't tell our other customers about it."
"I wouldn't even talk for money with them."
"Or my boss…"
"No, I won't. It's only good for me after all. Thank you."
"Only the best for Izumi-san's… friend(!) I hope her birthday is a success."
"So do I." Kagami went together with the clerk and paid for the manga. She said goodbye to her afterward, collected Tsukasa and left the store.
"Hey onee-chan, found what you wanted?"
"Yeah, I got it. What about? Have you seen something interesting? You completely disappeared in the shop."
"I did actually, they had an interesting looking dessert cookbook."
"A cookbook… in this store?"
"It's apparently about deserts from manga and anime or something like that…"
"Ah, I see…" Kagami rolled her eyes because she wasn't sure what she was expecting.
"But it's too expensive for me right now. Maybe I'll get it after our birthday if I get a little money there."
"Well, it isn't that long away after all." It was the end of May right now and the birthday of the twins is in the beginning of July so Tsukasa hasn't to wait that long.
"Yes, but first is Kona-chan on the weekend."
"I still can't believe she's actually the older one…"
"By the way, do you have a plan for what you want to do now, onee-chan?" It's going to be the first time for Kagami to see Konata again and she didn't want to be unprepared.
"I think so… We all wanted to go over to Kona on Sunday, right? I think I'll go on Saturday already. Kona's actual birthday is there and you won't have to keep Miyuki busy in order to give us some alone time together."
"I see." Tsukasa nodded in agreement. "It sounds like a good idea."
"I hope things will go back to normal with her soon." Kagami was already sick of how it's right now between them.
"Just back to normal?" Tsukasa was actually able to tease her with it.
"One step after another…" Spending time together was her first priority now. After all, without the two not even talking together, any further progress is basically impossible.
"Oh, that's right! I almost forgot… The store had Cosplay costumes. Kona-chan likes Cosplay, doesn't she? Maybe you could surprise her with it." Tsukasa thought she made another nice suggestion, but the reaction she got from Kagami was not like she expected. She stopped walking, turned completely white and her eyes looked like she was remembering something.
"W-What?!" She really wasn't expecting that now.
"Not good? I thought it would be fun…"
"No… I think that would be too embarrassing for me to do right now…"
"Oh, I see… that's true." Tsukasa agreed with her. 'Wait… right now?'
'Hmm…' Kagami wasn't completely appalled by it, though.
….
Konata's week also was a lot more relaxing. She slept a lot more, the ratio school and home switched a little again, and her gaming times were also back to normal again. At least her online game that is. She started playing a lot more dating simulations, especially those without any males present. For research purposes obviously, but there was a problem.
"What's up with these games? They have nothing in common with all that I experienced… Why do they have nothing in common with reality? Isn't that what they're made after?" No, they definitely aren't. "Well, they're fun, so it's all good, even if it's unrealistic, but it's no good for my plans…" learning how to read Kagami with games wasn't one of Konatas better ideas. "Whatever, I guess I'll ask sensei later for more tips again. She's actually surprisingly useful when it comes to this." Ever since Kuroi-sensei found out about Konata's situation, both occasionally chatted over their online game and worked on some strategies. "Well, I guess I still have some time later for that. Sensei's being only anyway, no matter the time. Seriously, she scolds me for playing too much, but she's always already playing when I log in and still plays when I log off again.
Konata continued to play her dating 'simulation' and the weekend with her birthday was just around the corner.
.
Maybe someone realized, the beginning is basically chapter 1 from the other side.
I think it was a little bit cringy here and there (I'm not good with serious stuff…) and messy because of the long mono- and dialogues, but that was all I could do.
It probably was a little bit too quick from the realization to the acceptance, but I really hate it when stuff like that drags over like 20 pages (or 342 manga chapters for example, or whole anime season) and so I made it quick.
Tsukasa new best girl… :)
Next chapter is obviously about Kagamis birthday plans for Konata and maybe more, depends on how long it gets because I want to do a little shorter chapters. The last one was a 'bit' long. (Now splitted but splitted chapters also kind of sucks…) Short still means something between 5k-10k words so not really short in the end…