A/N : I hope you don't mind if I add a few OCs to keep the story flowing.
Thanks for reviews/comment/faves/follows!
Ayase's family living room;
A few weeks passed. Today is the time for Eli to go to the appointment she made with Kotori.
Hnn…. Nozomi….?
Eli thought as she could feel someone licking her face aggressively. She woke up slowly—Nozomi still licking her aggressively.
"Morning… honey…." Eli said.
"Morning! Darling!" Nozomi said cheerfully.
Eli could see Nozomi still having her tail and ears up.
"Nozomi… why are you growing your tail and ears now?" Eli asked.
"Ehh..? Why are you asking that! You should've praise me because now I know how to do that!" Nozomi pouts.
"Can you un-grow that…" Eli asked teasingly.
"Un-grow…? Uh… hmmm…" Nozomi trying to think.
"uhhh… caramel-caramel-caramel!" She mumbled. Her ears and tail disappeared.
"There! I can! Praise me!" she said excitedly.
Eli giggled,
"Good job…" she gives her a pat on the head.
"Ericchi! I'm not a dog! I'm your girlfriend, you have to kiss me!" Nozomi said.
Eli giggled again before she kissed her.
"Hmmm, Ericchi, your kiss is getting a little stronger… but it's still not enough! I wish Ericchi can make me weak until my knee when she kissed me!" Nozomi said excitedly.
"Really? Then I should practice that again…" Eli replied playfully.
"Oh! Oh! Then… uhm… You have appointment today, right?" Nozomi asked.
"Yes…"
"Then, I'll go prepare breakfast! Don't worry about the chores! I'll do it!" Nozomi said before she jumped off bed and ran out of the room.
"W-wait, Nozomi…" Eli tried to stop her, but looks like Nozomi isn't listening her.
Eli sighed,
Sheesh, that girl, I was about to ask her out after the appointment…
Minami's fashion center, Morning;
Eli went there with her bike, she parked it on the proper parking lot— get off it and locked it tight. She was then walking in to the building with her bag on her shoulder, but just right after she open the door….
A very quick katana swings right in front of her— she quickly dodged it,
"H-hey! Wh-what the…." Eli said.
The Katana pointed right in front of her face. Eli tried to look at who did such thing,
"Umi….?" Eli said,
"Eli…." Umi greeted her a little coldly.
"Wh-what with that Katana…" Eli asked a little nervously,
"What's your business here?" Umi asked coldly.
"Huh-what? I'm supposed to be the one who ask you that, what's your problem?" Eli said.
Umi remained quiet, she keeps pointing her katana to her. Eli frowned at her,
"I'm invited as a model here, my pay isn't as much as other studio— even though you're used to be my friend, I don't take terrible greeting like this… tell Kotori I'm canceling this appointment." Eli said before she turned around. Umi surprised to see that reaction,
"W-wait, Eli…" Umi tried to hold her. Eli stopped to listen,
"Sorry…. I didn't expect you to react like that…" Umi said politely.
Eli turned around again,
"Accepted, but just so you know, Kotori is the one who need me here, not me. I have enough for myself… do I make myself clear?" Eli said clearly.
"Yes, my apology…" Umi said politely.
"Now, tell me what's your problem…" Eli said.
Umi tried to look around, before she quietly beckoned to Eli.
At the way to the studio room,
"The fax made me feel paranoid with almost everyone… so, I'm… really sorry about before… I just really feel suspicious about you… especially you're just… gone… in a few years…" Umi said.
"The past is the past, I can't blame you too for doing so. Who's not being paranoid after receiving a blackmail…? Especially when you all just don't know who sends you it or why…" Eli said.
"I'm suspecting this is related to the murder of my uncle… the serial murder that has been happening to the law enforcements. To be honest though, it's not only murders that have been happening, there also some missing law enforcements everywhere. The police said they caught one murderer, one who kills his companion on the beach a few weeks ago…" Umi said.
Eli giving a faint mischievous smile,
"The evidences are clear and he admitted that he killed them— but the motives still unclear. He didn't admit about killing and kidnaping the other polices too… there was also a few polices missing a few days before that— we never know where and how they are…" Umi continued,
"Does it really matter?" Eli asked.
"Well, it does. We just wanted to know where and how they are because… we are all trying to stop people from dying. We've lost so much. Killing more in the process doesn't make it a justice. So even though those missing polices are member of this mafia gang— one that mentioned by the one we capture, we still have to make sure they're getting a proper justice, not a street justice…" Umi replied.
"You're really fond with your job aren't you…" Eli said
"Yes, I am… I want to make sure that everyone gets the justice they deserve. Even though it will cost me so much to get it…" Umi said.
Eli giggled,
"There, just make sure you're not pushing yourself too much, sometime it's good to let something go… and work on something more useful." Eli said.
"True, but I'll still do my best here…" Umi replied with a faint smile.
They enter the studio,
Kotori and a few workers already waited there along with a woman, tall and fair, pale white skin, wavy and long dark purple haired, light violet eyes, looks like another model that Kotori hire.
"Ah, there you are, Eli-chan!" Kotori said.
"Eli….?" The model turned to Eli.
"Lilith…?" Eli called her name.
"E-eh? You know each other?" Kotori asked.
"Well…. Yes, she is—…" before Lilith could finish her words,
"Ssshhh!" Eli shushed her.
"Oh…okay, but anyway, yes, we know each other…" Lilith said.
"W-wow… You two are the most popular models around and you two know each other… that's wonderful!" Kotori appreciated.
Umi remained quiet, she seems to be a little suspicious about it.
"Now-now, why don't you hurry up and change, Elichika?" Lilith said.
"Right, I should" Eli replied with a smile.
"We should have some talks later!" Lilith said cheerfully.
The photo session, afternoon;
Everything goes very smoothly and Kotori seems to be really happy with the work of everyone in the studio.
"Alright, that's it for the Russian Beauty theme…" Kotori said.
"This is fun, Kotori-chan, got any other?" Lilith asked.
"Eh? You two are already working overtime…. It's already 2:34 PM…" Kotori said.
"Oh? Really? Then can I request one pose?" Lilith asked.
"Hmm… Then I guess we can as a bonus poster in the magazine, the publisher asked for that too before…"
"Ah-great! I want to pose like I'm Elichika's slave!" Lilith said.
"W-what… My girlfriend will be jealous…" Eli said.
"That's where the fun is! Come on! Be a little more playful! We can't get a prey all the time!" Lilith said.
"Lil…" Eli is a little panic as she said it,
"Oh— I mean… Life…" Lilith said.
Eli sighed. Umi seems to be still staying with her samurai sheathed. Looks like she didn't actually hear it…
"Fine… just once okay? And don't be too vulgar…" Eli said.
"Yup! Can't make the mistress angry…" Lilith giggled.
"Uhm… so how it will be?" Kotori asked.
Lilith excitedly ran to get her bag and take out a long chain rope,
"Here! Tied it on me..!" she handed it to Eli.
Eli sighed weakly before she tied it on Lilith. Lilith went on her knee and move close to Eli.
"Just pose like you're really dominating me! You know how…" Lilith said.
Eli nodded before she placed her fingers on Lilith's chin, bending down and pretend like she is going to kiss her.
"Aaaaa! That's really awesome!" Kotori squealed,
"Take the picture! Take!" Kotori said.
The photographer took the picture a few times.
"That's it!" Kotori said excitedly.
"Should be enough for today, the battery is low…" said a photographer.
"Alright, thank you so much, Lilith-chan, Eli-chan!" Kotori said.
"No problem…" Lilith and Eli said.
"We're off now, it's already past of our work hours…" the photographer said.
"Yeah, we're off…" the other said as they just took their camera and left the SD cards on the box that already prepared for it and went off the studio.
Eli and Lilith looks surprised as they saw them going off so quickly, though they remained quiet since Kotori didn't make complain about it. She just took out her laptop and card readers, placing it on the table and start checking on the work. Umi stood up and she started to tidy up the studio.
Without questioning, Lilith and Eli started to help out with cleaning,
"Ah! Eli-chan! Lilith-chan! Don't do that.." Kotori said.
"Eh? Why?" Eli asked.
"I… I can't pay you more than it is…" Kotori said.
Lilith chuckled,
"Silly, Kotori-chan, we're doing it for free…" Lilith said.
"Eh… really?" Kotori asked.
"Of course, we still have a lot of energy to go on…" Eli replied.
Kotori smiled,
"Thanks!"
They began to work on tidying up everything.
An hour passed,
They just finished with all the cleaning. Kotori still busy with her own work, Umi started to sweep the studio, Eli and Lilith decided to walk to the changing room to get changed and see another work they can help today later.
"Ahh, that's pretty tiring, I think I'll have some nice sex after… wonder which lovers I'm going to do tonight…" Lilith said as she stretches.
"Which lover… sounds like someone has a lot in the basket…" Eli replied.
"Don't tell me, you're only in one relationship?" Lilith asked.
"Yes.. and that's more than enough…" Eli replied.
"Huh? How? What kind of girlfriend you're having…"
"One without tiredness… she is a werewolf…"
"Wow, that's…. hmmm… can you control her, I wonder? They're pretty furious…"
"It was hard, but not really once she gets herself to control… Thanks to a friend who just got turned into a werepanther, she is very capable of controlling herself. Being someone with a problem made her a lot mature than the one without problem… she was really a hot headed person back then."
"Solving problem makes us grow, but anyway, is this someone… Nishikino Maki— the one that getting a fake attack report? I saw her in newspaper… I wish I watched the court show before… it sounds fun…"
"Yes… she is currently investigating her own family business, trying to find the relation between her and the serial murder case…" Eli replied as she opened the door of the changing room.
"Hmm… It might not be related, you know…" Lilith said as she enters the changing room.
"What do you mean?" Eli asked as she closed the door.
"I've heard story…" Lilith started to change her clothes.
Eli also started to change her clothes,
"Someone is trying to create an army of chimeras. Chimeras are those creatures like werewolf or werepanther, if you don't know. They just called it that…"
"What for…?" Eli asked.
"Not sure, but I'm very sure it's a threat for us, if all humans turned into such creature, it will be a lot harder to get food since they hardly die… silver bullets won't work… it just some tales anyway…"
"Hmm…. How do they have their pure blood anyway?" Eli asked.
"I'm not sure, I haven't read much about them, but I just know that in order to be the alpha, they have to eat the heart of the alpha. There only can be one alpha in each generation of specific type of chimeras…"
"What makes them different?"
"Hmm… not sure, but I know that they just can't die before their heart eaten by the other… and it takes about 6 years for an alpha to actually turn into the alpha— male or females…"
"Now it made me wonder, is my girlfriend an alpha? Hmm…" Eli began to think.
"Probably… Elichika always get the best, right?" Lilith giggled.
"More like because I'm very picky…" Eli giggled.
They giggled together.
"Ahh.. I think I'll get on one of my boyfriend home tonight, need some rough sex…" Lilith said.
"What? That's so sudden…" Eli replied.
"That because being with you make me feel want to be dominated…"
"Huh? Why?" Eli asked as she giggled,
"Maybe because you're the alpha succubus?" she replied jokingly.
"There's no such thing!"
They laughed again.
"Seriously though, your passive charm is strange… it doesn't make people want to dominate you, it made people want to be dominated… you shouldn't wonder if people who have so much pride will deny you so hard…" Lilith said.
"Well that clears up something…" Eli said jokingly.
"Are you getting called as whore by a few peoples already?"
"Kind of…"
"That's normal for a succubus, you should be glad you're not incubus, sometime a woman gets freaked out as they see them and call them rapist… even if they did nothing…"
"Wow-what?"
"I'm serious, remember George?"
"That incubus who turned himself into a girl and joins school idols competition and name his group with his name?"
"Yes, he and his group— who named themselves with George 1, George 2, and George 3, they went to a bar and suddenly a woman called them rapist before she ran out of the bar…"
"What…?" Eli chuckled,
"I'm serious!" Lilith laughed.
"Really serious?" Eli asked.
"Dead serious… but at least they're showing their male form, not female form. Really can't imagine if they somehow remain in their female form and get some man in bed. Them joining the girls school idol is bothering enough…" Lilith said.
"Sheesh! I know right! Just imagine if they're also married… then having a baby… then at one day they figured out that they married an incubus…."
"If they're married to a girl, why not, but if man married to an incubus who transformed into a female…"
They snorted and eventually laugh really hard.
"That would be an interesting plot twist…" they said together.
"Speaking of which, have you ever think to impregnate your girlfriend…?"
"Not now, we're all still busy with a lot of things. I don't want her to be burdened with it…"
"Awww… so it's a true love route, hmm… then there's no way of you to eat the baby… ah well…I'll look for George instead… I miss the taste of infant…"
"Sure, he will name his baby George junior anyway…"
"True, but I guess he will name his lover as George's lady or George baby first before that…"
"Unless he is looking for a person named George… sure, why not… its George anyway… George loves George…"
They laughed again.
"Anyway, we should hurry up, Kotori-chan might need more assistance…" Eli said.
"Ah, right, we should…."
The studio, afternoon;
Eli and Lilith went back to the studio to check on Kotori and Umi, they didn't expect someone else in the room though,
"Aaaa! Ericcchiiiii!" Nozomi quickly run and jumped to Eli. Eli caught her and hugged her.
"Nozomi… what are you doing here…?" Eli asked.
"I was waiting for Ericchi at home! But Ericchi isn't returning for hours so I decided to check out what's up…"
"Oh… sorry, I was helping them out…"
"I've heard! I also helped them out a bit… for free! Praise me!" Nozomi said cheerfully.
Eli giggled,
"There, it's not free if you're asking me to praise you…"
"Well they didn't pay me…"
Eli giggled again before she kissed her.
"There…" Eli said.
"Yup!" Nozomi replied.
"Hey, Elichika, is this your girlfriend…?" Lilith asked.
"Oh right… her name is Nozomi… Toujou Nozomi." Eli said,
"Hi, Nozomi! I'm Ayase Lilith…" Lilith said. Eli put her palm on her face.
Nozomi frowned.
"How could you have the same family name with Ericchi?"
"I'm her cousin…." Lilith replied.
Nozomi still frowning, she was then started to sniff Lilith. Lilith remained quiet and let her sniff around,
"Ah! You smell like Ericchi! Did you touch my Ericchi?!" Nozomi said.
"Eh? Well… I did, I was in the photo session with her— we have a few poses where we need to touch each other…" Lilith said.
Nozomi squinted,
"Uhh! Excuse me!" Kotori said.
They turned to Kotori,
"Lilith-chan and Eli-chan are…cousin? That's… a breaking news…can I put that in the article?" Kotori asked.
"Sure, but make sure you're using our other name…" Eli replied.
"Are you writing the articles on your own too?" Lilith asked.
"No, Umi-chan helps me out sometime…" Kotori replied.
"That still count as on your own… you can't hire writers or something?"
"Uhm… well, we can't find a good one that willing to work with us, they said our pay is too low…"
"Have you tried to raise it?"
"If I raise it, we won't have enough materials to write— or at least it will be less interesting, I don't want to lower the quality of content to get a quality writer since… after all, people look for the fashion, not for how it written— it just a plus point…" Kotori replied.
Eli surprised to hear that.
"Since when are you a perfectionist…?" Eli asked.
"Eh…well… I'm not quite like that, honestly, I'm just trying to be as effective as I could in the hard time like this. My mother is getting older, she isn't going to take care of Otonokizaka forever, even though father still can provide us a good living, I just think that I should have my own business so I can return all the favour my parents gave me…" Kotori replied.
"Hmm… it's good to aim high, but you still have to remember your place…" Eli said.
"hehe— well, I got two best models around in the pocket now, I'm very sure I'll make a good ratings in this article… I should be able to boost profit—especially, from the hot poster and the breaking news…." Kotori replied.
"Hot poster?" Nozomi frowned.
"Uhm.. yeah, it was Lilith's request to take the picture…" Kotori said.
Nozomi quickly went to the laptop and check out the photos. Nozomi frowns getting deeper,
"Kotori-chan! Do you need an editor?!" Nozomi asked.
"Y..yes…?" Kotori replied nervously.
"Then I'll be your editor! I'm an expert on this!" Nozomi said.
"U-uh…yeah… I'm… sure… but I don't have—…" Kotori replied.
"I can be a photographer too!" Nozomi said.
"Ah—uhm….well….." Kotori flustered,
"That's good, you can fire those photographers and hire her… less outcome…" Eli said.
"W-what….? But…." Kotori getting more flustered,
"Then we could hire some security, yes…." Umi said.
"I'm not sure about that…" Eli said.
"We don't have a single security here… it takes more energy to tidy up everything and locked it properly to keep it safe. With a security, we can spend more time to do something else… besides… it will also help me to put my mind at ease about the blackmailing…" Umi said.
"Blackmail?" Nozomi asked.
"Oh… yes… uhm… I haven't told you about it, right?" Kotori said.
"No, what kind of blackmail…?" Nozomi asked.
"It's a fax… with unknown recipient… we can't even track down who sends it to us…" Umi said.
"Have you asked Nikocchi? She is good at something like that…" Nozomi asked.
"We haven't…. we're afraid if we're going to make trouble for her…. This is related to the serial murder…" Umi replied.
"Shouldn't be a problem, we will protect…" Eli said.
"Show me it if you have the mail right now…" Nozomi said.
Kotori and Umi turned to each other. They nodded before Umi went to look for it in her bag.
"Here…" Umi handed her the paper.
"This is…." Nozomi paused,
Eli approached her to look at it too. It's just a picture of frowning emoticon.
"This is a warning letter, no doubt…." Nozomi said.
"Warning letter, I thought that too. My uncle got the very same fax before he was murdered… I wanted to post it in the court but the lawyer and prosecutor refuse to use that as evidence— said I was being childish for giving that to them…"
"I've found this too in a few ex co-workers table— always found them to be missing at the next day, then reported dead after… I just didn't know this came from a fax." Nozomi replied.
"Then… is that mean, someone is after us?" Kotori asked.
"To be honest, yes… Looks like you could use some protection…" Nozomi said.
"Then that's set, let's hire Nozomi, fire the photographers, hire some security…" Umi said.
"But why is someone after us?" Kotori asked.
"Maybe you've been snooping around too much in the serial murder case? They tend to try removing threats… I'm still not sure but according to an explanation I get before, looks like they're moving as an organization with loyal members with a Big Boss as their mastermind…" Nozomi said.
"How did you get that information? It never been leaked out to the public because it might be a little too risky to mention it…" Umi said.
Eli is a little worried there, but she know Nozomi will be able to make a talk with her.
"Oh come on, Umi-chan. You know me… I know a lot of things… I always do…" Nozomi replied.
"It's Nozomi-chan after-all…" Kotori said.
Umi frowned,
"I'm always wondering where you get your information, Nozomi, but just so you know, things are different, we're no longer living in a phase where we can have fun all day and night— we're all grown up, we're all working for our own life…" Umi said.
"That's where you do wrong, Umi-chan…" Nozomi said.
"What do you mean I'm wrong? I'm trying my best to live here…" Umi looks somewhat angry.
"What's the point of surviving if you can't make a single happiness in your life time? You used to make a lot of them back then— when we're all school idols….and I thought you still did with that court show. But in fact you're just doing it without aiming for it… you chose to live in disappointment and scepticism…" Nozomi replied.
"That's…." Umi struggled with her words.
"Is that how you want to spend the rest of your life time?" Nozomi asked.
Umi remained quiet,
Lilith whistled,
"That's a good blow, Elichika, you have a bold girlfriend…" Lilith whispered,
"I know… lovely isn't she?" Eli replied.
"That doesn't matter! A true justice shall stand, no matter what…" Umi said.
"We both have the same dream, Rin-chan too have the same dream. But we all have different way to find it… If I have to be honest though, I think we should unite again, like how we used to be as a mini unit, Lily White…."
Umi surprised to hear that name mentioned,
"Why are you mentioning that? I… I don't even want to remember that…" Umi said.
"Why? Is it because you will lost your focus? You used to be so proud of that, being in an idol group called µ's…." Nozomi said.
"No… stop…" Umi cover her ears.
"We made a lot of songs together, singing, practicing, and hanging out until late…" Nozomi continued.
"Stop! I don't want to remember that!" Umi fall into her knee.
"Umi-chan…" Kotori began to feel concerned.
"Being an adult doesn't make you lost your right to be happy, to have fun, or to act at your will. It's your life, you can do anything with it. Don't try to deny yourself! Just be yourself!" Nozomi said.
"I am being myself! I am!" Umi retorted,
"No you're not! The Umi-chan that I know is not like this. Even though it's true that she always been too serious on many things— just like when we're riding jet coaster, you seriously make us ride it without safety belt to experience more fear. But you know how to have fun, you know how to smile, you know how to laugh… bring that back!" Nozomi said clearly.
Umi's eyes getting teary, yet she tried her best to not to cry.
"If you want to cry, cry! That's how life supposed to be—let everything naturally comes to you and deal with it…" Nozomi said again.
"You don't know how I feel! You don't know how it feels to lost everything!" Umi shouted at her,
"I know how it feel, I've lost everything until I got Ericchi coming back to me…." Nozomi shouted at her.
Umi surprised to hear it,
"Both of my parents are dead… they're killed by the very same murderer… and I could've prevented that… yet I didn't…." Nozomi said.
"She was living on the street too for a few years, remember?" Eli added.
Umi remained quiet to it.
"Think about it again, Umi-chan… you're not alone… you never be. Accept others; don't lose your trust to all people that's close to you just because you're betrayed by one of them…" Nozomi said.
Umi only let out some sobbing, she is still trying her best to not cry even though it's already too late.
A little ironic that we've been hiding something from her… but at least it could keep us out of the bay…
Eli said in her mind.
For now at least….
She thought again as she smiled a little mischievously.
"There's so much thing you don't know about us after all these years, we should get to know again… then perhaps we all can work together once again to solve this case… to end every madness that happening…" Nozomi said.
"You were the one who isolate yourself from us…." Umi said.
"I know I did, but I have reason— I was too afraid to involve you all into my problem, but turn out this is our problem now… so let us all work together once again… can you grant that?"
Umi remained quiet.
"Let's share our knowledge…. Let's share our burden, just like before…" Nozomi said again.
Suddenly after she said that, Kotori's phone ringing. Kotori quickly pick it up,
"Hello…?" Kotori said in the phone.
"Kotori-chan, have you seen Kayo-chin anywhere-nya?" Rin asked.
"No… she should be at home, right?" Kotori replied.
"No she isn't nya! No one in her family know where she gone to. I tried to call Maki-chan, she said she isn't with her, then Niko-chan said she don't know too… I tried to call Eli-chan's house but Arisa-chan said Eli-chan is out-nya…!" Rin said.
"Well, she is here with me, Umi-chan, and Nozomi-chan…How about Honoka-chan? Called her?" Kotori replied.
"Honoka-chan is out too, her mother said she is going out to meet you this morning-nya…" Rin said.
"E-Eh? But she hasn't arrived here since morning!" Kotori said.
"W-w-waaaa! T-This is scary-nya!" Rin said in fear.
"Tell her to meet up with us along with Maki and Niko… see if we can make a strategy together…" Eli said.
"Eh… uh… ok…." Kotori said.
"Ok!" Rin replied before Kotori could say it.
"W-whaa… not so loud!" Kotori said. The phone already closed.
Everyone in the room remained quiet….
Lilith breaks the silence with a stretch….
"Well….." she said.
"I'm not coming, I'm tired…" Lilith said.
"Alright, thanks for today anyway, I'll see you again later…" Eli said.
"Yup, we will meet again someday… Elichika…"
And they smiled at each other.
They decided to meet up at the town's park,
"Can you call her?" Niko asked.
"No… we tried to call her and Hanayo, they didn't pick it up…" Umi said.
"Maybe we should split up-nya…." Rin said.
"Good idea, but I don't think we can go on three, we will only get two teams.." Eli said.
"Then let's do 2-2-2-1… I'm fine alone." Umi said.
"Ehh? Umi-chan…?" Kotori worried,
"In fact, I need a moment to be alone for a while…" Umi said.
Everyone remained quiet,
"Hey, listen up, you can't go alone… murderers are on the loose and you're being blackmailed… it's not wise to go alone… have your alone time later, will you?" Maki said.
"I know… but, please, can you… just leave me alone…? This is… an emergency… a crisis, to be exact…" Umi said.
"No… I can't allow that, we will be going 2-2-3…" Eli said.
"Eli…. I thought you'll understand…" Umi replied.
"Talk to your friend. It's not a time to sulk alone…" Eli said.
Umi sighed weakly.
"Fine…" Umi said.
"What about you, Kotori and Nikocchi go together…?" Nozomi asked.
"Huh? Why are they going together…?" Maki asked.
"Because why not… they need their blackmail tracked, right?" Nozomi replied.
"Oh- right, I can do that…." Niko said.
"Hmmph… fair enough…" Maki replied.
"Hmmmm…. Maki-chan, are you jealous….?" Nozomi asked teasingly.
"Huh? No! I'm just thinking, maybe they need someone that able to fight…" Maki said.
"Umi-chan can do that…" Kotori said.
"Yeah, you should've seen her swinging her samurai. I'm so close to lose my head…" Eli said jokingly.
"Huh? Samurai? Why not bow?" Maki asked.
"Actually she has been practicing samurai since Honoka-chan want to use samurai theme in the next court… if it will ever happen…" Kotori said.
"Oh….."
"Hehe, we can't screw up on that one, it's our biggest income… and outcome… making articles in fashion magazines and selling tutorial for tailoring didn't give as much…" Kotori said.
"I see…."
"Then I guess that's a good team, right?" Nozomi asked.
"I suppose so…" Maki replied.
"Then I believe you're going with me…" Eli said to Nozomi.
"Of course! You have to take your girlfriend to date at least once a day…" Nozomi said.
Eli giggled,
"Sure..sure… I was about to ask you too before… but I thought you'll be busy with chores so I didn't…" Eli said.
"Ericchi, I finish chores quickly! I always have time for a date!" Nozomi said cutely.
Eli giggled again,
"Alright everyone, you know how the team is, let's go find them…"
The shopping center, dusk;
Nozomi and Eli decided to look for them around the shopping center, they've been walking around while also browsing for items.
"Ah-ah! Ericchi! Look! It's a really cute teddy bear! We should buy that for Christmas…!" Nozomi said.
"And who will get that present…?" Eli asked teasingly.
"Arisa…?"
Eli giggled,
"There, Arisa isn't a little kid anymore…" Eli said.
"Ehh.. but she will still like it!" Nozomi said.
"We should get her something that she can use as an adult…" Eli said.
"You said that too in the last-last-last-last-last-last Christmas…" Nozomi said.
"…and you still remember that…" Eli said.
"Of course! Ericchi is so stiff!" Nozomi said.
"Fine, fine, we buy a teddy bear, but what about yourself…? What do you want for Christmas…?" Eli asked.
"Hmm…. A baby! You should make me pregnant!" Nozomi said cheerfully.
Eli giggled,
"Nozomi, are you serious?" Eli asked.
"Of course not! You don't even—…." Before Nozomi could finish, Eli grabs her and hug her from behind,
"I can… honey… I really can…." Eli whispered seductively
"E-eh…. Uhm…Ericchi…. I'm really joking, ok? Don't take that too seriously…" Nozomi said.
Eli smiled mischievously as she began to stroke on Nozomi's groin and up to her belly.
"I really can fill this up…." She whispered again,
"Ericchi….." Nozomi said weakly.
Eli blows on her ear gently, Nozomi couldn't help to not blush madly, she didn't know Eli could do such thing in a crowded place like where they are right now.
"So….? What do you want for Christmas…?" she whispered,
"I…. I want…" Nozomi began to feel nervous as Eli started to tighten her embrace.
"Ahhh! Ericchi you're being embarrassing!" Nozomi shoved her away.
Eli giggled,
"Hey, I'm serious, what do you want for Christmas?" Eli asked.
"I—I'll think about that later, ok! It's still early December!" Nozomi said nervously.
"Alright…but tell me if you want anything, ok?" Eli said.
Nozomi remained quiet, her face still blushing madly.
"Let's go find them again…" Eli said.
Nozomi pouts at her.
"Nozomi…?"
Without words, Nozomi started to pull Eli to somewhere.
"N-Nozomi?" Eli flustered,
She keeps moving on.
"W-wait! Nozomi!"
The town's park, Night time;
Maki and Rin decided to search around the park,
"Hmm.. do you think they'll be around here?" Maki asked.
"I'm not sure nya… but Kayochin often walk around here for refreshing-nya…." Rin said.
"Huh? Why here?" Maki asked.
"Hmm... her job as journalist and researcher stress her out sometime, being in crowds too long make her feel anxious-nya…" Rin said.
Maki sighed weakly,
"Right, after all, she is still the shy Hanayo, even though she decides to force herself to fight her fear…" Maki said.
"Hehe… yup, after all, we are still who we are from the original… we never changes, but grow-nya…" Rin said.
"I can't say that about you, you're still using that –nya-nya-nya…" Maki giggled.
"Eh? Well… I can't make this gone-nya! Besides, I don't bother trying to act like a mature-nya. It's not fun and Rin always have fun…" Rin said.
Maki giggled.
"People like you that way anyway…." Maki said.
"Hehe, yup! Everyone loves everyone-nya!" Rin said.
They went quiet for a moment as they keep moving on.
"Maki-chan…" Rin called.
"Hmm?"
"Do you like who you are right now-nya?" Rin asked.
"Eh? Hmm… I don't care about who I am, to be honest…" Maki said.
"I'm talking about your other form-nya…" Rin said.
"Yeah, I know… I really don't care… as long I can be a good use for others… I don't care…"
"Is it hard to control-nya?" Rin asked.
"No… not really…" Maki replied.
"Hmm-hmm…" Rin nodded,
"Then…. Let's see if you can resist this-nya!" Rin took out a pen-like item.
"Huh? Laser pointer? What for?" Maki wondered
"He-he! Look at this!" Rin used her laser pointer and shaking it around the area.
"What are you doing…?" Maki wondered as she keeps her eyes on the red dot.
Rin remained quiet and keep on moving it around.
For some reason, Maki feel like the red dot attracts her. She tried her best to endure her urge to catch it because she knows it's stupid, but…
"Grrrrr…." Maki began to growl.
"Eh…?" Rin turned to Maki.
Maki already grow her panther ears and tail.
"Maki-chan?"
And within second, Maki hopped on the red dot.
"Aha! I know it works-nya!" Rin said cheerfully.
"T-Turn that off!" Maki said.
"Nope-nya!" Rin moved the red dot around, Maki started to keep chasing it around.
"T-turn that off already! I can't resist itttt!"
Rin ignored her and keep playing with the laser pointer.
"Riiiinnn!"
The shopping center, night time;
Eli and Nozomi went out from a store— carrying a few grocery bags on their arms.
"And we ended up shopping for home needs instead of trying to find them…" Eli said.
"That because Ericchi have no shame! I'm going to be happy if you flirts me at home, but not in front of public like that! It's still embarrassing!" Nozomi pouts.
"I know, I'm sorry…" Eli replied playfully.
"Besides… from now on, we will be playing things safely, ok?" Nozomi said.
"Eh…?"
Nozomi searched something in her bag, then she shoved a box with fruits picture on Eli,
"F….Female condoms….?"
"I don't want to have them before we finish everything…." Nozomi said shyly.
Eli remained quiet, she stare into Nozomi in awe...
"B-but… once we are done… can we have many of them?" Nozomi said shyly.
Eli smiled,
"Of course, as much as you want…" Eli giggled.
Nozomi still pouting with her face blushing red, Eli embraced her and kissed her cheek,
"But you're silly to think that far… we don't really need anything like this you know… I know how to time it…. besides, it was mostly my tongue that explores that area… not my thing… and I'm not going to turn you upside down to get that inside..."
"I also bought the chocolate flavor one…" Nozomi said.
"W-what?"
"Chocolate flavored condom…" Nozomi said again.
"Th-there's something like that?" Eli looks somewhat excited.
Nozomi nodded.
"You can enjoy me along with enjoying the taste and smell of chocolate…" Nozomi said.
"Wo-wooaaah! Then let's get home and try it on…" Eli said.
"Eh? But we have to find Honoka-chan and Hanayo-chan…?" Nozomi said.
"Chocolate first…" Eli said playfully.
"Honoka-chan and Hanayo-chan first!" Nozomi said as she pouts.
"Chocolate!"
"Honoka-chan and Hanayo-chan!"
"Chocolate!"
"Honoka-chan and Hanayo-chan!" Nozomi pouts harder.
"Choco—…." And before she could finish, her phone ringing,
They turned to see her phone. It's from Kotori.
Eli accepts her phone,
"Yes?" Eli said.
"E-Eli-chaan!" Kotori shouted.
"W-w-whoa! What…?"
"C-C-Can you come to the food-court area?!" Kotori said in panic.
Eli and Nozomi look around,
"Yes, but where…?" Eli said.
"I'll send you the address as soon as possible! Please come!" Kotori said in panic.
"Did they found Hanayo-chan and Honoka-chan?" Nozomi asked.
"Yes, found them already?" Eli asked.
"Y-yes! T-t-this is about them! Please come! Hurry!" Kotori said in panic before she closed her phone.
Nozomi and Eli turned at each other before they quickly ran to the food court area...
A/N : So yeah...
You see... so far, Eli could be an anti-hero or a hero...
I'm going to do 2 alternative endings: Dark Endings and Light Endings.
I can give an extra chapter too, but what do you want for extra chapter?