Chapter 34

The joys of fifth hour strike me again. Ever since Uni invited me to shoot with her after school I can't help but feel as if time is moving slower. Being in a slow paced computer class doesn't help matters either.

Sigh, it's the high school life I guess. Sitting through a boring ass classes just to get some satisfaction in the later years of my life doesn't exactly sound appealing.

If only there was something to distract me. I already have my work finished for the day so I could get on Four Goddesses Online again. I can't do that though, Vert and Martin have to be there when the dungeon is cleared.

"Hey, I just finished up. Are you alright?"

Nepgear's soft voice breaks my train of thought and I return to reality. I never expected her to be able to do that much. I really need to stop thinking so much and enjoy the little things in life.

"Yeah, I'm fine… just thinking about… how cute you are…" One thing I said I would do is start to break out of my own shell as Nepgear breaks out of hers.

The compliment earns a reddening of Nepgear's cheeks. I can already tell she isn't used to that kind of compliment yet.

"Was that too soon?"

"No… I just didn't expect you to say something like that all of a sudden."

So she likes the compliment that I gave her. I may have just earned myself some confidence points. It's too soon to claim victory though, for now we have to get used to compliments before we can truly move forward.

"Since you did it… you're really handsome…" Nepgear's face turns a bright shade of crimson. I didn't expect her to pull that move either. It's amazing what love can do to people.

My own face turns a bright shade of red. The unexpected compliments will probably keep going on until we can hardly breathe anymore. I wouldn't put it past us.

Trying my best to look away from Nepgear so I can regain my composure at least a little bit, I end up catching a glimpse of something in my peripheral vision. Uni takes a glance over to me.

Immediately after she turns back around quickly. We are making a little bit of noise so it wouldn't surprise me if a few people look here and there.

"Honestly, can you two make anymore of spectacles of yourselves?" Noire walks up to me and Nepgear.

"You're only commenting on them because you want what my dazzling kid sister has." Neptune also appears out of nowhere. I've already begun to tune them out because all they're going to do is argue.

Noire's cheeks stain red and she immediately looks away from the rest of us. A sign of defeat if I've ever seen one.

"N-No! That's not it at all!"

"Someone would also be lying." Now Vert joins the party. After one damn compliment the rest of my friends start to show up around me.

"Leave him alone… can't you see he doesn't want to be bothered?" And on top of that Blanc comes up too speaking in her emotionlessly calm voice. I like it a lot better than when she's hitting me that's for sure.

The other three friends of mine leave with a simple hmph and go about their business. Thanks Blanc, you're a lifesaver.

"Phew, thank goodness their gone."

"Whatcha talking about?"

Ram's sudden appearance behind me startles me pretty bad. I should've known she would come to me next out of the rest in the gang.

She stands right beside me waiting for my answer like an obedient puppy. All that childhood spirit still dwelling within her and all she does is ask me what I'm doing.

At least it's not as bad as I think it would've been.

"Are you and Nepgear gonna kiss or something?" And like that the childhood spirit turns into something I wish would've never happened.

"Please don't… not around me anyway…" Of course Rom has to join in the conversation. Now everyone has talked to me this hour except Uni. That should be expected since she hardly ever talks to me.

With everyone else talking to me right now, I expected this much. Ever since the day I've met them my peace and quiet has gone down the drain.

"Never a dull moment around them?" Martin calmly asks me. For some reason I actually don't mind when he talks to me. Must be just having another guy around.

"You have no idea…"

Martin nods at me before getting a chill down his spine. If I were to name that look it's the realization of what's going to come of this look.

Sigh, hopefully I can survive until the final bell of the day.

Nepgear places her hand on one of mine. Looking at her, all she does is smile at me in the way that I've grown to love so much. With her in thought, I'll be able to make it… maybe.

Maurice waits for Neptune, Nepgear and me outside the school once it finally lets out. I knew that keeping Nepgear close in my mind would get me through.

Just another reason I need to stop being so damn shy around her. Fifth hour was a good start, but I was still too uncomfortable speaking to her like that.

Enough of that though, I have to go to Noire and Uni's house for the afternoon. Hopefully Maurice won't make a big deal about it. I know I text him earlier about the plans but he'll end up having some idiotic story about why I'm there.

It's not really that big, just two friends shooting firearms together. I may not be an expert on social cues, but this isn't even close to being a red flag.

I sit in the back seats with Nepgear right beside me as we usually do. After Neptune takes the front Maurice begins to drive off.

He knows where they live, he's taken me there before for the band study session.

"So, how was school today for you?"

"It wasn't too bad…"

I can see Maurice giving me a glance in his rearview mirror. I think that he believes that I'm lying to him. I wouldn't lie to him about this sort of thing, school was fine today, if not a bit boring.

After a little while of driving the car reaches Noire and Uni's house. It's hard to believe that this is my second time visiting considering how friendly I've gotten with everyone as of late.

"Alright, get out." Maurice is as kind as ever I see.

My door opens and I step out of the car onto the driveway. As I stated a few weeks ago, it's a very beautiful house and suits the both of them perfectly.

Looking over my shoulder back at Nepgear I can see she's not moving. I half expected her to come with me today. I guess I was wrong.

"You're not coming?"

"No, Uni said to me earlier that she'd just like to hang out with you today."

It's sort of weird that Uni would have to tell Nepgear that. It's almost as if she doesn't want anyone else around except me. Oh well, I'm probably looking too far into it.

"I'll see you later I guess."

Nepgear nods and smiles at me before I close the door. I'll never get used to that smile… I know that much at least.

Walking to the front door of the house I pause for a moment. The only two people I've ever hung out with alone are Nepgear, Blanc, and Martin in the nurses office.

Ok Jack, you've been getting better at talking to people, just keep cool and don't show nervousness. I'll be fine, it can't be that bad right?

My finger reaches out to the doorbell of the house. Right before my finger reaches the bell, the door flies open suddenly.

"You actually came!" I don't think I've ever scene Uni this excited.

The over all expression on her face is a worried one that just got mixed with happy because I just showed up. It's getting weird because I've never seen her like this.

It's also worth mentioning that her cheeks and eyes are red. Wait… has she been crying recently? Again, I'm probably reading too much into it. It's just all too unsettling to think about.

"Why wouldn't I come?"

"Well… I… Um…"

Her stuttering is very painful to listen to. I was right before, she can't express what she's truly feeling. It makes me feel sad to see someone shackled like that just because of a personality trait.

"Ok, well now that I'm here why don't we go ahead and shoot?"

Uni's head perks up and she snaps out of her stuttering fit quickly. She gives a small nod while still looking shy like she was just a second ago. If only I knew what was in that head of yours.

Walking into her house I notice a certain emptiness to it. For instance Noire isn't here. I would've expected her to be here of all places.

"Say, where is Noire? Or your parents for that matter?"

This question causes Uni to snap out of her daze once more. She puts a hand on her chest and begins to try to breathe calmly.

"Sis… is off doing something. We technically live with our mother, but she's always away on business."

When Uni said her mother was away on business, her pupils dilated a little. I'm not sure how to take this. Perhaps I'm looking too far into it again but you can never be too safe.

Speaking of which, I haven't met any of my friend's parents yet. Martin mentioned that his parents thought it'd be best for him to go out here and get away from the city life for a while.

But other than that, I haven't met them yet. I'll be sure to ask Nepgear if I can meet hers someday.

After reaching the top of the staircase, Uni and I walk down a hallway until we reach a door. From what I'm guessing it's the door to Uni's room. She turns the knob and the door opens with a little creek.

Uni's bedroom is very beautiful for lack of better words. The walls are white with gray areas here and there. The drapes for the window in the room are a very nice shade of rose violet. And her bed has a very complex white wood frame with a white and black comforter.

There's also a small bookshelf in the room as well as two rifles hanging above her dresser. If I'd have to guess all her guns are stashed away in her closet.

Uni walks over to the closet door and opens it. I'm right as I can immediately see a few more rifles on a wall rack and pistols on a rack below.

"Go ahead… take your pick…" Uni looks a little shaken up about something.

Her whole face is read and she talks as if she were having a fever. Maybe she should get some rest after this little excursion of ours.

Walking over to her closet I take a closer look at some of the pistols. Among the various shades of silver and other metals I see one that pops out to me.

A 44 Magnum, one of the most commonly known revolvers ever. I think that will be my gun of choice today.

Before I get a chance to reach out for it, Uni places one of her hands on my shoulder.

Looking back at her all I'm met with is the sight of her face being even redder than it was a couple seconds ago.

"Jack… I…"

I have no idea what's going to happen but I can already tell that it won't be pretty.

"Ever since I met you… I've been a little scared to talk to you…"

"Uni?"

"And even though you're with Nepgear… I"

Oh dear god I can already see where this is going. Please tell me that I'm wrong about this and it turns out to be something completely different.

"I like you!"

Suddenly Uni pulls herself against my body and presses her lips against mine. My eyes are open in complete shock. My heart is going to explode from what's happening right now.