I guess I'll blame the high fever I had because of the flu I was fighting while writing for the following chapter…
.
A new week had started and coincidentally, it also was the last week before their long summer vacation. The girls were in school and lunch break had started just a couple seconds ago. Konata was about to leave the classroom, like she did almost every day for the last two weeks in order to spend to break alone Kagami, when Tsukasa noticed something as she walked past her.
"Hey, Kona-chan, what happened to your neck?"
"H-Huh?!" Konata immediately froze in her tracks and touched her neck. Looking at her hand afterward, she realized the makeup she used to hide the hickey wasn't working as intended. On part of it was sticking to her hand right now and the other part was smeared on the collar of Konata's uniform. "Ahh… that… well… that's just a pretty nasty bug bite…"
"Oh, I see… I hate bugs!" It looked like Tsukasa bought it.
"But why were you trying to hide it with makeup, Izumi-san?" Unfortunately, Miyuki was also nearby.
"O-Oh… ehm…" Konata felt cornered already and started looking for help, but the only help, Kagami, was nowhere to be seen. She even looked at the door of her class and hoped that Kagami would just magically appear at the right moment. It didn't happen and rather on the contrary to her plea, Konata was almost sure she saw one of Kagami's twintails disappearing in the corner of her eye when she was turning towards the door. But no, Kagami definitely wasn't looking for Konata because she was late, overheard the topic of the discussion her friends were having and decided to run or anything like that.
"Yuki-chan's right, that is weird."
"Au… I-It's not exactly makeup… It's more like… uhm… it's supposed to be something against the itching, but for some reason, it also had some color pigments in it…"
"Oh… that makes sense, moderns crèmes sure are amazing." Tsukasa really was easy to convince.
"But what about the… bite on the other side, Izumi-san?" Miyuki, on the other hand, wasn't
"Huh?! W-What?" She was pretty shocked. 'Kagamin~ sure had her fun there, huh?' With the help of a small mirror, Konata quickly found out that there was another mark on her neck that was previously hidden by her hair. "Uhh… I… I guess that was a different bug because that one doesn't itch at all…" She's getting desperate.
"It doesn't look different at all, though."
"Ehhhmmm…" There was no getting out, or so she thought. Just when she was about to give up, an electronic lifesaver came to the rescue. 'Oh my… Kagamin~, I love you even more now. Thank you for forcing me to bring my phone to school… and yay for me for actually doing it today… Wait, it even is Kagamin~." She answered the call from the person that obviously had no idea what was going on and totally wasn't intending to help her on purpose. "Izumi here~. Eh? Really? Right now? I'm on my way!" Konata wasn't listening to the other side and just used the whole call as an excuse to flee. Without saying a single word to Tsukasa and Miyuki, she left the classroom.
"That was…"
"… Interesting…" The two stared at each other for some time and looked rather confused, Miyuki even more than Tsukasa.
"Something's wrong here…"
"What do you mean, Yuki-chan?"
"I'm not entirely sure yet, Tsukasa-san, I have to research a few things."
"I see."
The rest of the week continued in a similar manner. Konata decided to leave the moment she had the chance to because she didn't want to get pressured again by Miyuki, who became more and more suspicious because the so-called bug bites didn't fade much over the entire week.
The weekend started and the girls planned to have a little party on Saturday as the start of their summer vacation. The party, at Konata's house, was scheduled for the evening and right now, it was only just past noon. Tsukasa woke up a little while ago, but she was already bored and so, she decided to pay her favorite friend a visit.
"Hey, Yuki-chan, I came over to play!" Tsukasa energetically entered Miyuki's room after her mother had let her into the house a minute ago.
"Oh, hello, Tsukasa-san." Miyuki was a bit surprised because she wasn't expecting her today. "What brings you here?"
"Well… I got up… became bored, wanted to see you and here I am."
"The usual, it is?"
"Yes~."
"I see, not that I mind. Actually, you could help out a bit…"
"Of course. What is it, Yuki-chan?"
"It's about Izumi-san."
"Hmm?"
"Don't you also think she's acting a bit suspicious lately? Well, even more than usual, that is."
"Oh… you mean how she always disappears when she gets the chance or how she's so secretive?"
"Yes, exactly that! There's also those 'bug bites'…"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm almost certainly sure that there were no bugs involved."
"Huh?"
"Those were hickey's, Tsukasa-san."
"Ah, that's what it was…" Tsukasa didn't understand at first and Miyuki gave her a moment to think about it. "EHHHH?!"
"Yes…"
"How did Kona-chan get those? Wait… more importantly, from whom?"
"That's what I'm also wondering… It should be Kagami-san, but that's… I can't see that right now…"
"Yeah, onee-chan definitely would've told me then… But…"
"I can't think of anything positive right now… How Izumi-san disappears all the time and how it looks like she's hiding something…"
"Y-You don't think she found someone else… right… Yuki-chan?"
"I… There's also the fact that I almost haven't seen Kagami-san at all lately… It's almost like the two are avoiding each other again…"
"No… wait, nonono, that can't be! I don't know why onee-chan isn't coming over anymore for lunch break, but she's at Kona-chan's every single day for the last two weeks… Avoiding definitely isn't the right word…"
"What? Okay… I don't understand those two anymore, Tsukasa-san…"
"And the few times I saw onee-chan, she looked really happy and full of energy when she left or came back from Kona-chan."
"But are you sure she really went to Izumi-san's place?"
"Yes, when I called onee-chan a couple days ago, I heard Kona-chan in the background."
"Hmm… What else could it be then, though? The two got closer again? To the point where they kissed? Is that really possible? Do you think they could hide something like that? Those two, who as easy to read as a picture book?"
"Well…" Tsukasa couldn't deny it. "M-Maybe it really was just a bug bite and we're just reading too much into it, Yuki-chan?"
"I, too, thought about that possibility and did a lot of research because of that, but there's no bug that would match the bite, as long as Izumi-san wasn't in Australia lately, that is."
"Could the bug have come over on its own from there and…"
"I really doubt it."
"Okay, how about that, Yuki-chan, let's go a little early to Kona-chan's place and observe them? Maybe we'll find our answer there."
"Is Kagami-san already there?"
"Uh… yeah, like I said every day. Moreover, onee-chan grabbed a few clothes after school yesterday and went to Kona-chan's place and is there ever since…"
"…" Miyuki gave up, let out a sigh and agreed to Tsukasa's plan.
…..
The two got ready, left Miyuki's place and soon enough arrived at Konata's house. On the way, the two continued their conversation, but came up with nothing logical. The most obvious was too obvious for them after all. Miyuki and Tsukasa were standing in front of the door and waited for it to open. It didn't take long and they met a familiar face.
"Hello… Oh, it's you two, welcome."
"Onee-chan?" It was Kagami and not Konata who welcomed them. "Why did you open the door?"
"Uhh… why, you ask? Kona and I were both in the kitchen and I was nearer to the door, I guess… More importantly, why are you two here already? You're a good hour early."
"We got bored~." Tsukasa easily found a fine excuse which fitted her happy go lucky nature perfectly.
"I see, sounds like you, sis."
Tsukasa and Miyuki entered the house and the girls went to the kitchen where Konata was.
"Hey there, Kona-chan, what are you doing?"
"Tsukasa, Miyuki, welcome. What brings you here? Got bored already, huh, Tsukasa?"
"Ehehe… Hmm…" She looked at the ingredients lined up at the kitchen counter. "Cabbage, tofu, scallions, shirataki noodles, sliced beef, mushrooms… enoki and shiitake and some more vegetables… Hot pot?"
"Yes, sukiyaki, to be exact."
"Uhh, nice idea, Kona-chan."
"Tsukasa, look at the amount of meat… This was obviously Kagamin~'s idea."
"Oi!"
"Oh, you're right… onee-chan sure likes her meat in hot pot."
"Hey…"
"I like it, though. It's been forever since my last hot pot."
"Yes, I also haven't had it for a long time, Kagami-san."
"See, Kagamin~, no one blames you."
"Shut up already, Kona."
"Hehe." She quickly hugged Kagami's side and she calmed down before she had the chance to get angrier at her.
"Well… I guess we should hurry up with the preparations now that the two are already here…"
Konata and Kagami continued with the preparations for the hot pot. The ingredients were mostly done and the only thing left was the broth everything's going to be cooked in. Kagami, with the help of Konata right beside her, mixed everything for it together and the two carried the ingredients to the table in the living room where a portable stove was already prepared. They put everything in the pot and now they just waited for it to be properly cooked.
"Still… seeing onee-chan cook sure is amazing."
"Well, it's not easy to raise your g-…" Konata was about to say 'girlfriend' before she realized it and stopped herself.
"Hey, it's not like it was any less work to force you to do your homework on your own…Nott that I'm done with that… not even close…"
"That's all just a motivational issue."
"Oh, you mean how I actually wanted to learn how to cook, but you, Kona, have absolutely no intention of doing your homework?"
"Exactly." She looked pretty smug for some reason.
"Don't worry, we'll get there one day."
"I don't think so."
"We'll see." Kagami's fist playfully hit Konata's head and she decided to end the discussion.
"Good friends as usual, huh?" Tsukasa just had to say it.
"Yes~."
"Sure." Both agreed and Tsukasa leaned over to Miyuki.
"See, I told you, Yuki-chan."
"Yeah…" She whispered back.
They chatted a little more and the food was soon cooked. The girls started eating and Miyuki's eyes were fixated on Konata and Kagami in front of her. She wasn't sure what to think anymore because everything led to the assumption that the two actually were closer than ever and this feeling only increased over time.
"Hey, Kagamin~, I know that you're hungry and all, but just because we bought twice the amount of beef, it doesn't mean the extra part is just for you alone…"
"Shut up." Kagami didn't agree to the statement. Instead, she took her chopsticks and just grabbed another piece of meat. She was about to eat it when Konata had other plans. Before Kagami could even react, Konata stole the meat from the chopsticks with her mouth. Kagami obviously wasn't amused. "Big mistake."
"Really?" Yes, it was. Stealing food from Kagami wasn't a very good idea. She looked at Konata for a second and it was good that the girls were eating at a low table so were already sitting on the floor because the next thing Konata realized was that she was lying on her back while Kagami was sitting on top of her once more. It already became a habit at this point.
"Hmm~, what shall I do now?"
"Kagamin~. I don't exactly mind your next step, but maybe you should look at the other side of the table first…"
"Eh?" She didn't understand at first because her mind was concentrating on something else, but then she remembered Miyuki and Tsukasa. "Oh…"
"No… please don't mind us, onee-chan." Tsukasa remembered why they came over in the first place and felt like there was a nice scene about to happen.
"No, I do mind."
"Aww…" Not only Tsukasa, but also Miyuki and Konata as well were disappointed.
"Tzz…" Kagami gave up on whatever she planned and just gave Konata a little forehead flick before letting go of her again.
The girls resumed with the hop pot, but Konata and Kagami never stopped teasing, or rather flirting with each other ever since the little incident. A little poke in the side here, a small, playful push there and so on. The four were almost done eating when Miyuki, who was quietly watching them until now, finally snapped.
"Okay… I give up."
"Yuki-chan?" Tsukasa had a vague idea what's going to happen now.
"Am I really the only one who's noticing this huge tension?"
"Tension?" Konata just tilted her head, together with Kagami.
"You two, Izumi-san and Kagami-san, are acting quite obvious around each other for quite some time already. At least to any outsider, that is…"
"Obvious? About what?" Konata was trying her best to sound clueless. She obviously knew where this conversation was going and so she wanted to make the best out of the remaining few minutes she had to tease them.
"Okay… I'll say it. It's not really my right to do it, but it became so obvious that I can't take it anymore. Tsukasa-san and I are pretty sure that it's mutual and so it probably isn't that bad. Well then… it might be a bit shocking, but you, Kagami-san, are in love with Izumi-san, right?"
"Yes, I am." No hesitation or shock whatsoever.
"And you, Izumi-san, love Kagami-san, right?" She was too immersed in her speech.
"That's true, I do." Konata also gave up.
"Because of that, we think you two should get together already and make it official."
"Uh… we are already…" The two confessed that they're dating and while saying so, they wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders to prove their point.
"H-Huh?!" Tsukasa was the first to realize what just happened and was pretty shocked, but Miyuki was still so busy that it hadn't reached her head yet.
"I know it's probably hard to accept, especially for two girls, but you can be sure that Tsukasa-san and I fully support it and… hmm…" She began to realize something. "… I think you two should finally talk about a lot of things and get together… Ehm… w-wait… what was that just now?"
"O-Onee-chan, you and Kona-chan really are…"
"Yes~."
"We are."
"Ehh… wow…" Tsukasa wasn't sure what to say, but Miyuki was even worse.
"B-But… uh… what?" She absolutely wasn't expecting this turn of events and became totally lost. "H-How? When? …What?"
"C-Calm down, Yuki-chan!" Tsukasa was also surprised, but tried to calm her down.
"Is it really that surprising? I mean, just like you said, we were pretty obvious after all."
"Onee-chan, shut up!"
"Okay..."
"I-I'm sorry, but can I please get an explanation?" Miyuki finally was able to talk in sentences again.
"Explanation about what?"
"Kona-chan, shut up."
"Hehe." Konata was still having her fun. "Okay, ask away, Miyuki."
"Ehm… Where to start…? I wasn't expecting this situation and got kind of lost… Tsukasa-san, can you help me a bit?"
"Sure… First things first, when did it happen?"
"Today marks pretty much exactly two weeks."
"R-Really?" Miyuki couldn't believe it.
"Hmm… Wait, two weeks? Does that mean it happens on onee-chan's and my birthday?"
"Exactly."
"Oh… Ohh… OHH, that explains a lot!"
"Hehe." Konata and Kagami knew what Tsukasa meant.
"But why didn't you two tell us?"
"That's… a funny story actually…" Konata was thinking of a way to explain. "Kagamin~ and I found out that you two had realized our feelings for each other and tried to get us together and… well, we thought it would be fun to see how long it takes for you to find out that it actually happened."
"I guess we deserved that… more or less…"
"Wait a moment… Kona-chan, is that why you were acting so secretive lately?"
"Yeah."
"And you disappeared during lunch at school because…"
"To meet Kagamin~ of course."
"Oh… that also explains why onee-chan never showed up."
"Yeah, sorry about that, sis, but we wanted…"
"No need to explain, onee-chan."
"Thanks." She was happy that her sister didn't want to know more.
"No problem because the embarrassing part will start now." Tsukasa wasn't angry that Konata and especially Kagami, hadn't told her, but she still wanted to tease them right now as much as possible. Slight S-Tendencies seem to run in the family. "About that bug bite…"
"G-Gah!" Kagami immediately felt betrayed by her own sister.
"Yeah… that sure was some nasty bug…"
"Kona-chan…" If eyes were weapons.
"Okay… fine…" She gave up. "Kagamin~, don't ever learn how to stare at one to get her way like your sister does…"
"It's frightening, right?" Kagami knew how persuasive her sister can get.
"Yes… Well… like you, or rather Miyuki(?), found out… it wasn't a bug. I got attacked… by a pervert…"
"Ehhh?! N-No way… R-Really?! Oh my god, are you okay, Kona-chan?"
"Okay, that's it, Kona… I'm going to punish you later."
"Let me introduce you to said pervert." Konata simply pointed at Kagami sitting next to her.
"Oh… Onee-chan's the pervert… I see… It's good that it wasn't anyone more suspicious." Her eyes looked a little dead.
"H-Hey, Tsukasa, if you like your sister, even if it's just a little, please change the topic…" Kagami had nothing to say against it and begged for mercy and that her little sister still had a little faith in her. Needless to say, she was already two stages beyond embarrassed.
"Of course I like you, onee-chan." Tsukasa snapped back into reality.
"Sorry, Kagamin~, I guess that was a bit much." Konata felt slightly bad.
"Just a little, Kona, but don't worry. Once we're alone, it'll all be okay again." She wasn't helping her case.
"Hey, Tsukasa, Miyuki, how does a sleepover sound?"
"Nope." Kagami didn't agree with the proposal. "It's going to be just you and me~."
"O-Okay…" Konata actually wasn't sure anymore whether she should be scared or excited right now. Maybe it was even both at the same time.
"Anyway…" Tsukasa agreed to the change of topic, to some degree at least. "Isn't it good that your theory was wrong, Yuki-chan?"
"Huh? Oh, y-yes, that's indeed true."
"What's this about?" Konata got curious.
"Yuki-chan and I were trying to understand your behavior, Kona-chan, and she had a really interesting, but totally wrong theory. She thought that Kona-chan found someone other than onee-chan and secretly met them. Onee-chan found out and it got awkward between you two and so onee-chan decided to avoid us."
"Wow…" Konata and Kagami were speechless.
"I-I'm so embarrassed…" Miyuki turned completely red.
"Being so wrong… That's not very wiki-… ehm, Miyuki-like…"
"I-I'M so sorry…"
"Was it really that absurd to just assume that we just finally got together? I mean Tsukasa knew that I like Kona and you, Miyuki, were also pretty confident, weren't you?"
"To be fair…" Tsukasa wanted to defend her. "We did think about it, but came to the conclusion that it was very unlikely because we were sure that there was absolutely no way that you two would've been able to hide it… like at all…"
"Uhh…" Kagami had nothing to say back.
"Well… she may have a point there, Kagamin~…"
"Yeah… I actually wasn't expecting it to last two weeks."
"Me neither."
"You're forgiven, Miyuki."
"T-Thank you."
"Poor Yuki-chan…"
"She got more than she was expecting and we fried her brain, huh?"
"It'll recover. Well then… I'm not sure if I already said it, but Kona-chan, onee-chan, congratulation on finally getting together."
"Yes, I'm also happy for you two that you finally sorted it out and made it happen."
"Thank you."
"Yes, we're also happy." Kagami and Konata were honestly happy and grateful for having such great, understanding and supportive friends.
"Okay… Now Yuki-chan and I want to know everything… and I mean every single thing that happened."
"I guess we owe them that much, huh?"
"You're probably right, Kona…"
"By the way, before we continue, is it even alright to talk about all that in the living room? Isn't your father here, Kona-chan?"
"Nah, he's out on a date."
"Ehhh?!"
"Just ignore her, sis… He's on a meeting with his editor for the light novel he's working on."
"Oh, I see…"
"Wait, how do you even know that, Kagamin~?"
"He asked me for advice on something he wanted to write shortly before he left…"
"Oh, right… you were a fan. Did you help him?"
"More like I kicked him out of the door…"
"You've gotten pretty good at handling him, huh?" No trace of sympathy for her father was found.
"Is that really fine… I mean it's his house…" Miyuki looked a bit troubled.
"Yeah… he takes something like this as a reward." Konata knows her father well.
"She's right, Miyuki, you can't apply common sense to him." Kagami had gotten pretty used to the Izumi house with all the time she spends there.
"Oh… I see…"
Konata and Kagami got back to the topic and told them everything that happened. Well, they left 'some' details out here and there, but were pretty honest for the most part. From how their feelings changed over time by spending more and more time together to the actual confession two weeks ago. Miyuki and Tsukasa were intently listening to the story the whole time. They guessed the most already, but it was still interesting. After they told them everything, the girls kept chatting about various things, even though the main theme stayed the same for most of the time. It soon became rather late and Miyuki, together with Tsukasa decided to go home for today. Kagami obviously had no intention of leaving and Konata obviously had nothing against that.
….
The following day, around noon once more. Tsukasa had just finished her 'breakfast' and was slowly, but surely, getting bored again, which means it was time for Miyuki. She got ready, left her house and arrived at Miyuki's place soon enough.
"I'm here again, Yuki-chan!" She was energetic as ever.
"Welcome, please come in, Tsukasa-san." Miyuki welcomed her in and both went to her room.
"Yesterday sure was interesting, huh?
"It really was. I wasn't expecting it at all."
"Yes, confused Yuki-chan was really cute~."
"T-That's not… P-Please don't do that… I'm embarrassed enough already…"
"Ehehe."
"While it was shocking, I'm really happy for them."
"Absolutely, I really like seeing onee-chan so happy and cheerful when she's together with Kona-chan."
"It's a bit weird, though…"
"What is?" Tsukasa tilted her head questioningly because she didn't understand.
"Well… It's kind of hard to put into words actually…"
"Hmm?" She only tilted her head more.
"… Izumi-sand and Kagami-san said that the trigger for them to fall in love with each other was that they spend so much time with each other…"
"Yes."
"They were together almost every day, cooked together, watched movies and played games together, went out together, had sleepovers all the time and much more…"
"Yeah?"
"Ignoring a few details… H-How is that any different from what we do?" Miyuki turned a bit red while explaining because of the, in her eyes, rather embarrassing topic.
"Huh? W-What? Uhh…" Tsukasa had no answer available.
"I… I don't want to imply anything…"
"O-Okay…"
"It's just that I'm really curious about it… You can't really learn about love from books or the internet and so it's really hard to grasp."
"I-I see… I can't say I'm not curious because I really am, but… I don't think I'm the right person to ask… After all, I never was in love before. Yes, I helped onee-chan before, but to be honest, I have no idea… Do I like boys? Girls? Both? None of them? Even that I haven't found out…" Tsukasa looked a bit troubled while admitting it, but she felt comfortable enough around Miyuki to let her know.
"T-That's reassuring… I guess we're the same then."
"Really? I mean, yes, I like you, Yuki-chan, a lot to be exact, but… I don't think it's the same as Kona-chan and onee-chan… probably…"
"Yes, I feel the same… The two really give off a different vibe… I wonder what's the difference between them and us…"
"I could say that maybe time will help, but I have no idea…"
"Hmm…" Miyuki seemed lost in thoughts.
"Yuki-chan… Do you… Do you want to fall in love… w-with me?" Tsukasa wasn't sure where this conversation was heading, but that was the only thing she could think of.
"Uhh…" Miyuki herself couldn't give a precise answer and started thinking about it with a complex look on her face. "I-I'm not sure… I don't think I want it… like in forcing it to happen, but… if it would happen for whatever reason… I don't think I would mind…"
"I… I see…" She had absolutely nothing to reply.
"Is that bad?" Miyuki sounded strangely serious while looking like she thought that she had done something wrong.
"N-No, it really isn't." Tsukasa couldn't bear to say anything against it, not that she had any reasons for it in the first place. The slightly insecure Miyuki in front of her was rather captivating in her eyes. Tsukasa was interested in what she said, but something was missing on both sides. While feeling so, the conversation that was reaching a dead end, came to a stop.
"…"
"…"
The room fell silent and the two looked away from each other. Both had no idea what exactly just happened, but it became rather awkward. Miyuki and Tsukasa helped Konata and Kagami the best they could, but it was completely based on pure theory of what they thought could be helpful. In the first place, Tsukasa only found out that her sister was in love after she told her personally and Miyuki got suspicious because she'd read a book before that resembled the situation. Neither of them found out through experience. Doing their best in helping Konata and Kagami and watching how their romance progressed, obviously made them even more interested in the whole love 'thing' that's totally unknown to the two of them until now. Wanting to speak about it was only a natural thing to do. Although, projecting the behavior of the newly founded couple on their own maybe was a bit much. Comparing Miyuki and Tsukasa with Konata and Kagami, even though there were a lot of similarities on the surface, was, at best, early. Both never thought about how they feel about it the other person besides being best friends. Now that the topic came up, though, the two became a bit, or rather a lot, confused about their current relationship. Is there more or is there not? They had no idea right now, but now became aware of this question. The most prominent thing at the moment was the awkwardness and embarrassment and so, they decided to silently postpone this matter altogether.
…
A few minutes passed before Tsukasa finally had an idea to change the topic.
"H-Hey, Yuki-chan, there's this… chocolate mousse I wanted to try making on my own… How about it?"
"C-Chocolate mousse? Sounds delicious… I wonder if I can be of any help."
"I'm sure you'll be."
"Okay… well then, let's try our best."
"Yes~."
The two decided to try their luck with the mousse, went to the kitchen and started preparing the ingredients. Luckily, they already had everything they needed and didn't have to go shopping first. Dark chocolate, eggs, whipping cream and sugar. Not much was needed in the first place.
"With what do we start, Tsukasa-san?"
"Hmm… I guess with melting the chocolate. It takes a bit of time after all."
"Okay." The two started to simmer a pot of water and placed a bowl with chocolate on top of it in order to slowly melt it with the steam. While waiting, Miyuki and Tsukasa got a visitor.
"Oh my~, what are you two up to?" Yukari, Miyuki's mother came into the kitchen and noticed the two girls.
"Hello."
"Hello, mom, where have you been all day?"
"I accidentally took a nap in the garden. The sun sure feels nice~. Oh, is that chocolate?" She's quite carefree.
"I see… Yes, we're trying to make chocolate mousse."
"Sounds good, mom also gets something, right?"
"We first have to have success in making it, mom."
"It's you two, of course it'll work out."
"Ehehe, your mom got a lot of sweets from us already, after all, Yuki-chan."
"Yes~, and I'll welcome many more to come."
"Oh, that'll be an easy request."
"Great! Oh, by the way, Miyuki…"
"Yes, mom?"
"I have some slightly bad news… It looks like we have to cancel our trip to the beach… I'll have to accompany your dad somewhere around then."
"Oh, that's too bad… Wait, what about the beach house? The rent's already paid, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess we won't be getting the money back on such a short notice…"
"Hmm… Does that mean it's still reserved for us?"
"Yes… why?"
"I think I might have a solution then. Tsukasa-san, how does a trip to the beach sounds? Kagami-san and Izumi-san should also come. It's more than enough place there."
"What?! Really? Are you sure? I would love to go!" Tsukasa became instantly excited.
"Yes. Well, if mom allows it, that is."
"Sure, why not? Might as well use it when it's available."
"Yay!"
"Thank you, mom."
"Well then, I'll be taking another nap somewhere. Please find and wake me up when the chocolate mousse is ready. Oh, and I want an extra-large helping."
"Of course!"
Yukari disappeared somewhere to take a nap and the girls finished the mousse. They placed it in the fridge in order to let it cool down and went back to Miyuki's room for the meantime. Once there, Tsukasa immediately called her mother to ask for permission and Kagami to tell her the news. Needless to say, Kagami, and Konata right next to her on the phone, wholeheartedly agreed to the trip. With that, the first activity for their summer vacation was decided on.
.
Well… that happened, I guess. Maybe the fever really was worse than I thought. Good thing I'm fully recovered already...
I wanted to make a Miyuki and Tsukasa centered chapter and I thought I might as well tease a bit of a possible Miyuki x Tsukasa side story while planning and this happened. I really don't know what I was doing and was a little shocked when I reread it the next day (Kind of like 'Wait... what?'). Well, I kind of liked it and so, here we are. Though, I'm not sure how much it'll be expanded because I didn't plan to do so such a big step. Tsukasa and Miyuki are quite cute, though… (But I maybe nuked their personalities a bit in this chapter…)
Konata and Kagami are an idiot couple as usual and poor Miyuki missed her time to shine… Nobody could've seen that coming… :) (Except maybe everyone…)
Next chapter will, obviously, be a trip to the beach (because I couldn't think of something better…) and maybe more. I'm not sure yet if I make one big summer chapter or two small ones or whatever… Probably out somewhere in December… Summer chapter in winter, don't I make sense?