Tomo began tugging on Yomi's arm immediately.

"Tomo, stop, your going to pull my arm off! Just... Grrr... Help me up! Carefully, alright?" Unable to respond verbally, Tomo gave Yomi a thumbs up, which in the now dim light, she could not see, even through it nearly poked her in the eye.

Tomo took her arm more gently, putting one arm under her shoulder to lift as the taller girl used her friend as a crutch, making it to her feet despite her severely diminished balance and coordination. She sighed at the amount of effort just standing had taken and considered sleeping where she was. But Tomo was having none of that.

"Alright, alright! Go slow, and... I dunno, tap my hand when I need to step up." She knew she was going to regret agreeing to this, but she had agreed, and there was no way in hell she was going to let Chiyo win. At least Tomo was quiet for once. That redeemed the pigtailed prodigy slightly.

Tomo tapped her hand sooner than expected, and she carefully lifted her foot, feeling around in front of her for the first step. She wobbled dangerously, but Tomo wrapped an arm around her back and held her steady as she finally located the step. She smiled at the warm arm pressed to her back and remembered a bit of why she put up with the hyperactive girl to begin with.

"Hey Tomo, this is a lot like when we met, you know? I hadn't thought about that in ages... Do you remember? Oh yeah, tape. Forgot. Sorry. Jeez, it seems like forever ago and yesterday at the same time..." Yomi was carefully making her way upward, step by step, with Tomo still supporting her silently.

"What's it been now? Ten years? Yeah... I think so. Wow... I can't believe I've put up with your shenanigans for a whole decade... That day we met... I didn't have my glasses then either. They got broken, and you took care of me then too. And I haven't been able to get rid of you since."

She smiled at the memory of the hyper girl helping her up off the ground and informing her that her glasses where no longer going to do her any good. She'd then gone and guided her all the way from the playground to her house, and called her mother for her before handing her the phone. She smiled even wider when she remembered Tomo asking her to repeat the number a dozen times so she could do it all from memory in one go, just like Yomi.

The next day, they had eaten lunch together, and that had been the end of loneliness for both of them.

"Tomo... Thank you for sticking by me for this long. I know I complain a lot, and I'm not always the best friend I should be, but I really am glad I have you to lean on." As they reached the landing at the top of the stairs, Yomi hugged her long time friend close and smiled to herself in the dark.

Tomo was surprised by the sudden burst of emotions from her generally calm and collected friend. She blushed as she remembered how shy Yomi had been once upon a time, and how much of an annoying outcast she herself had been. Neither of them had really had any friends before then. Tomo had been amazed when the girl she had helped the day before sought her out the next day and ate lunch with her.

Tomo had talked and talked the entire time, and annoyed the bespectacled girl to the point of smacking her over the head with a plastic spoon, but despite that, she'd still been there again the next day. After that, Tomo had tried to keep within a few boundaries when she talked with the girl. She had a friend now, and she didn't want to drive her away like she had so many others.

As she stood there, with her best friend's arms wrapped around her, Tomo felt her eyes grow moist. She leaned into the hug and returned the embrace. A few moments later, the two pulled apart and Tomo began leading her friend to their room at the end of the hall. They made it with only a few stumbles and one stubbed toe. Tomo's, because she had been paying all of her attention to guiding her friend's feet, and none to her own.

"How's your foot?" Yomi asked, looking with concern in the direction she thought her friend was. She'd heard the thump and the whimper as Tomo's foot had hit the edge of a doorway mid stride. Tomo just patted her shoulder and then gently guided her to the foot of the bed. Now with some frame of reference, Yomi was able to maneuver herself into a comfortable position, pressed close to the wall. She felt the mattress shift as Tomo stretched out next to her.

Yomi rolled onto her side and reached out, inch by inch, careful not to poke her friend in the eyes, until she brushed Tomo's cheek and found the edge of the tape. With one sharp pull, it peeled off. Tomo winced, and then whispered.

"Thanks, Yomi." Yomi sighed in relief at hearing the familiar voice and relaxed onto her back again.

"Hey, Yomi... Thanks for putting up with me." She yawned and looked over at her blind friend, then inched closer. When they were nose to nose, she felt her cheeks growing warm and almost moved away again, but Yomi leaned up and brushed her lips against Tomo's.

"Yomi... Did you do that on purpose?" Tomo asked quietly. Yomi only nodded and rolled away from her friend, a smile on her face and her useless eyes closed.

"Go to sleep. I'm exhausted. I think that kool aid stuff must have been bad or something, I've felt weird all night." Yomi yawned. Tomo sighed and stared blankly at the ceiling, one hand stretched under her neck, and the other touching her lips. She'd been feeling weird as well. Yomi must be right. Every one had been acting a little weird. Maybe Yukari had spiked the drink with something while Chiyo was distracted or something.

She thought about the events of the night and smiled. Her best friend had kissed her. She hadn't even known she wanted that until it was a moment from happening. But Yomi seemed like it had been on her mind for a while. Tomo looked to her side at her friend's back moving slowly with each breath.

After a few moments, she rolled onto her side and wrapped her arms protectively around Yomi's middle, holding her close and pulling the blanket around them. She buried her face in the taller girls neck and kissed her gently. They'd have a lot to talk about in the morning.


Kaorin was feeling strange. She felt like she should be nervous. She was lying in bed, next to the girl of her dreams, wearing the ears and tail of a cat and her standard sleepwear consisting of shorts and a tank top. Sakaki was laying on her side with her back to the wall, idly petting the cat curled up on the pillow between them.

"Hey Sakaki... Do you like any one at school? I mean... do you have any crushes?"

"I... I do not have any romantic interest in any of the boys at our school right now..." Sakaki said evasively. Kaorin felt warm from her toes to her ears.

"Hmmm... Well you know you could take your pick of anyone there. You're the most beautiful girl in school and you're so cool, I bet anyone would go out with you if you asked." She squirmed nervously. Her mouth didn't want to obey her. It wouldn't stay closed.

"I don't think so. I'd rather go out with someone that knows more about me than just what they see. I'd like someone I can really be myself around without feeling embarrassed..." Sakaki looked down, avoiding her friend's face.

"What do you have to be embarrassed about?" Kaorin rolled onto her side, facing Sakaki and added her hand to the content cat's fur, increasing Maya's purring slightly.

"I... I like cute things but I'm not cute. I've never been cute. I've always been too big, so I was never really able to enjoy liking cute things. I was always supposed to be cool and scary even if I didn't want to be..." Kaorin shivered when her hand touched Sakaki's.

"You are cute. You have stuffed animals, and you are so caring for Maya... I like you inside and out. You've got nothing to be embarrassed about." She was about to mentally strangle herself. She'd just admitted she liked Sakaki! What was she thinking?!

"Not as cute as you. If I wore kitty ears and a tail, I'd look like some kind of prostitute, but when you do it, you look adorable. No one would think anything of it if you liked cute things." Sakaki said. Kaorin couldn't stop her mouth from giggling at that.

"Sakaki, you're being silly. You shouldn't care so much about what others think, especially people who are dumb enough to judge you without knowing you. I think you are cute, and I like you just the way you are, and I think our friends feel the same way." Kaorin blushed deeply and looked toward her toes.

"You're a really good friend. Thank you." Sakaki let out a small laugh that Kaorin had never heard. She looked up at the long haired girl. "I almost started petting you when I finished drawing those whiskers on you." Kaorin was burning red now, but her mouth still wouldn't obey.

"You can pet me, if you want. I don't mind." Kaorin whispered. Sakaki stared at her for a moment, then reached out a hand and gently pushed Kaorin's bangs out of her face before slowly running her hand over the shorter girl's hair and to the back of her neck. She repeated the motion a few times then rolled onto her back giggling when Kaorin attempted to purr. Kaorin joined her in laughter at her own pitiful attempt.

"Kaorin... Thanks. I feel more comfortable with you than I do with anyone else. Even Chiyo. It is nice to be able to be myself for once." Sakaki stretched out on her back, arching her back as Kaorin stared entranced at the taller girls figure before smiling and turning back to her crush.

"Hey Sakaki... Earlier, when I asked if you liked anyone... you specifically said you don't like any boys. Does that mean there is a lucky girl out there who's snatched your heart away?" Kaorin had her fingers crossed in her heart that the branch she was going out on wouldn't break and send her crashing to earth.

"No... I... Maybe..." Sakaki looked away from her again, but this time she held her ground.

"It's alright. I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Yes."

"How long have you liked her?"

"I don't know... I only realized that I liked her very recently."

"Do I know her?"

"I imagine so."

"Will you tell me who?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I... I'm afraid of what I'll lose if she doesn't feel the same."

"I know the feeling. But... I'm beginning to think maybe it would be worth the risk."

"Wait... Do you mean... You..." Without warning Sakaki pulled the smaller girl close and hugged her tightly, trying not burst into tears. "Tell me I haven't just made the worst mistake of my life..."

Kaorin was in heaven. The warmth radiating from the other girl's body was all the blanket she needed as she shifted slightly to a more comfortable position, her body meshing into Sakaki's perfectly in their embrace.

Sakaki moved away from her slowly, searching her face for any sign of acceptance or rejection. Kaorin couldn't make any words come out. She opened her mouth to speak a couple of times, then smiled warmly.

"Meow." Kaorin said teasingly. It was all she could manage.

Sakaki's face broke into a smile and she rolled on top of her soon to be roommate and kissed her passionately. Kaorin melted under her, draping her limp arms and legs around the torso suspended above her. After a few minutes, another meow interrupted the two. Maya was not pleased to have lost both of his personal scratchers.

The girls grinned at the cat and pulled the animal into a warm hug, petting and scratching him all over until her felt as loved as they both did. They fell asleep in one small pile of blankets and tails.


"Hey Nyamo?" Yukari was sitting up at the foot of the bed with a cold bottle of water grasped closely in one hand and a book in the other.

"What is it Yukari?" Nyamo sat up as well, looking groggily at her friend. Yukari held the bottle out to her and she drank a few mouthfuls before handing it back.

"Did tonight bring up any memories for you?" The English teacher asked. Nyamo rubbed her eyes and then looked questioningly at Yukari.

"What do you mean? Playing truth or dare? Yeah, I remember it too." Nyamo said. Yukari shook her head.

"More than that. Just college in general. All the ways we changed, and all the ways we didn't. These girls are going to go through that soon themselves." Yukari stated. Nyamo smiled and moved to sit beside the English teacher.

"They really have been your favorite students, haven't they?"

Yukari grinned at her friend's words.

"Well of course. They remind me so much of us it really is amazing. The way Tomo and Yomi fight but stay side by side no matter what. The way Kaorin is so crazy for Sakaki but can't bring it up face to face. Even Sakaki being embarrassed about having interests outside what people expect from her. Then there's Kagura, who's basically a louder version of you, and Chiyo who's a less athletic version of me."

Nyamo snorted at that and Yukari glared at her. Nyamo explained. "You were never that smart or that cute, you narcissist! English was your only good subject." Yukari stuck her tongue out, but didn't deny the accusation.

"Still, they really are a lot like us. Well, except Osaka. She's more like that one girl... What was her name?"

"Mikuru I think. Yeah, I see what you mean. Not dumb, just on a different wavelength. She doesn't pick up on any of the obvious things, but she never misses the subtle stuff." Nyamo decided. Yukari nodded in agreement.

"She figured out you liked me before I did." Yukari recalled. Nyamo laughed.

"Yeah, she did. And she immediately went and told you. After I had already went through the trouble of writing you that love letter." Nyamo giggled. Yukari smiled at the memory.

"Do you remember why we ended it?" Yukari's smile had vanished. Nyamo looked at her sadly.

"You said it would be better if I went with my mother's plan and got married and had a family. You didn't want a bit of high school experimentation to mess up my relationship with my mother or hurt my future."

Yukari closed her book and tossed it carelessly into her bag on the floor and stretched her legs out in front of her.

"Yeah... It sounds really kind and reasonable when you say it like that." Yukari said. Nyamo raised an eyebrow.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means... Those were just excuses. Or justifications. I was afraid if I didn't let you go on my own terms, you'd leave me on your mothers. I didn't want her to be then end of what we had. I knew if that happened I'd lose you as a friend too, cause I'd never forgive her for taking away my best friend and you'd choose her over me any day."

"You're an idiot."

"Yeah, I know. You still sound a bit surprised every time you realize it though. Tonight... Made me really rethink that decision though. Watching Chiyo work so hard to make them all happy, whether they wanted to be happy or not... It really made me feel... Hopeful. She's a really awesome kid."

"Why don't you let them see them act like this?" Nyamo shook her head.

"Cause... I don't know. I guess I only want them to see me like this if they're willing to look that deep."

"Not many people are willing to do that."

"You did."

"Ha! I didn't really get much of a choice. After you stood up for me that one time, most people wouldn't have anything to do with me. You were the only person I could get help from on my English homework!"

Yukari smiled a bit at the memories and slouched sideways, leaning on Nyamo's shoulder.

"I guess it is enough that they don't hate me after all I put them through. I certainly didn't make high school easy for them." Yukari admitted.

"No, but you got them all through. And I think, even if they didn't enjoy every minute of it, they appreciate what they've learned from you. Well, I know some of them do, but I think all of them do. Especially these seven." Nyamo leaned her head against her friend's hair and closed her eyes.

"Just like old times, huh Nyamo?" Yukari took a small sip of the water, then a more filling swallow.

"Your headache better yet?" The athletic woman asked. Yukari nodded and tossed the nearly empty bottle to the pile that was her bag of belongings.

"Nyamo... I know it was my idea to end it before... But it was a mistake. I didn't really feel any hope back then. I didn't have as much faith in you as I should have. I'm sorry. Would you give me another chance?" Yukari nearly whispered her question.

"My mother has been trying to set me up with arranged marriages for a while now... It's getting kind of tiresome. If I say yes, will you come with me to tell my mother?" Nyamo asked. Yukari slipped her hand into Nyamo's and nodded weakly.

"Yes. For better or for worse, I want us to do it right this time. I love you Nyamo." Yukari said quietly. The athletic teacher squeezed the hand intertwined with hers.

"I love you too, Kari." Nyamo whispered. Yukari giggled.

"You haven't called me that for a long time Minamo."

Nyamo wrapped her arms around her lover and friend and pulled her down onto the pillow, kissing her twice before nuzzling into her neck and sighing contentedly.

"I know. It seems too intimate to use to often. It would lose it's meaning." Nyamo explained. Yukari smiled and returned the embrace and kisses willingly.

"Yeah... I know what you mean. I wish I had made the same decision."

"You calling me by my real name is special enough. Now go to sleep. We've got a long week ahead of us."