Chapter 7

An unassuming evening fell upon the Yamanaka/Kuroi household. After Nanako left to join Mina on another one of her evening walks, Sawako did as they had planned just before the blonde left and ordered pizza. It was a Friday and none of them felt like cooking anything. She asked Nanako what kind she wanted, only to get the vague answer of "Surprise me." But after she thought about it for a while, Sawako came up with an interesting idea, asking the pizzeria for a "special request."

Nanako finally returned only a few minutes after the food was ordered. "I'm back!" she announced as she entered the kitchen, finding Sawako opening a bottle of beer. "Hey, toss me one of those too." After she did, Nanako finally noticed the large pizza box a few feet away on the kitchen table. "Ah, it's delivered already. Cool."

"Go on, open it up. I think you'll like my choice."

"Haha, oh yeah? Let me guess…" she reached for the box and threw up the lid. "I bet you got me my least favorite- What?" she then deadpanned.

Sawako apparent "special request" was a pizza that was made to look like a pokeball, with the red made from layered-thick pepperoni, the white made from feta cheese, and the black made from black olives.

Sawako looked back to her wife and, again deadpanning, asked her "… Really?"

"What? I thought you'd find it funny."

Nanako looked back at the pizza and, after looking at it for a moment, a sort of scoff escaped her lips. "You know what, Sawako? I've been waiting years to say something like this to you…

This is the lamest thing you've ever done. Ever."

"Ah-!" Sawako choked back a sound of shock. "Wha- What do you mean!"

The other turned back to Sawako, placing both hands on her hips, a fanged grin materializing on her face. "I mean really Sawako, a pokeball? This would have been funny when we were in our university days, but seriously?" It was quite obvious she was having much too much amusement poking fun at Sawako.

The brunette began to blush from embarrassment. "H-Hey, I was just trying to do something funny. Well if you're going to be like that then, then to hell with y-"

"Oh quit over-reacting. You know I'm only screwing with you, right."

"Ah-… Y-Yeah, right, I-I knew that. Totally…" The blush deepened.

"Seriously though, that was really nice of you. Thanks." Nanako, grabbing a steak knife from the utensil drawer, carved the pizza into eight equal slices, splitting the red and white halves into four. Then, taking one slice of each, asked her wife "So, did you pick a movie while I was on my walk?"

"Actually," the brunette replied, "I had another idea."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Nanako, you still have your old Playstation, right?"

"Oh yeah, sure. It's upstairs in the hallway closet, in that box on the floor. Why do you ask?"

"You still have that copy of Final Fantasy VII?"

"Of course! You know how rare black-label copies of that game are? I know a few people that are willing to buy it off of me for at least ten thousand yen! Uh, why are you asking this again?"

"Well, I thought back to how you were always playing that game when we were roommates. While I watched you play plenty of times, I never actually played it myself… So, I thought that maybe instead of watching a movie, we-"

"I'll be right back!" Before Sawako could register what had happened Nanako had already sprinted upstairs to the aforementioned closet. A short moment later she came bounding back down and headed straight for the living room, where their television was. She wasted no time in plugging it in and setting the console up.

By the time Sawako entered the living room after her, carrying both their drinks and plates, Nanako was already done and the console had already been turned on, the familiar start-up noise emanating through the speakers. Sawako grabbed the controller and plopped onto the couch as the opening credit sequence began. Nanako did the same and nudged herself into the other's left side, her head resting on the shoulder.

Once the main menu popped up, the blonde asked "Want me to remind you of the story so you aren't completely lost?" She assumed Sawako was going to play her save file.

"Fuck that," she replied. "I'm doing this the right way," and she started a new game. Nanako nestled in closer as the first FMV of the game played. She hummed along to the music with perfect memory.

"Jeez, I feel like I'm back in the dorm again, only the roles have been reversed. Glad I thought of this when I did."

- One Hour and a Few Beers Later-

"No, no, no! You're going the wrong way!" Nanako shouted in Sawako's ear with a mouth full of pizza. Her head was still leaning against the other's shoulder.

"Ok, ok! Jeez, you're going to fuck up my hearing. Ok, so- Damnit, another random encounter! Wait, why is the music different?"

"Boss battle! Boss battle!"

"Oh, really? Cool, the first one." She reached forward and grabbed the bottle of beer from off the table, taking a quick chug of it. "Ok, giant robo-scorpio, I see… Suggestions?"

"Make Cloud use Bolt a lot. He's weak against shock attacks. Barret can attack normally, I guess."

"Got it." And so the battle commenced. The two characters took turns making their individual attacks before the scorpion took his. It rotated around to Cloud and the caption "Scorpion Tail" popped up before the robot lifted up its tail and struck the spiky-haired character for massive damage.

Then, after the party made another round of attacks, the scorpion lifted its tail again but did not attack. Suddenly, a dialog box of Cloud's popped up, which Sawako read aloud.

"'Barret, be careful! Attack while it's tail's up! It's gonna counterattack with its laser!' Uh… ok, sure."

Nanako gasped and outcried "No, don't!" but it was already too late. Barret made an attack and the scorpion made an instant counter attack, hitting both members of the party, killing them instantly.

"Wha-! B-But I-! What the fuck! I did what he told me to, so why did I die?"

"I tried to warn you, Sawako!" Nanako protested. "That's a typo in the game. One of the biggest slip-ups in the game period. You're actually not suppose to attack when the tail is up."

"But-? What kind of shit is that! How could they let something like that slip by? Haha, imagine all those people who first got the game and got fucked over."

"Yeah, people like me," Nanako laughed back.

"Right, right." The brunette went through the menus again and started back where her last check point was which, mush to her dismay, was at a point ten minutes ago. "Great, now I have to go through all that dialogue crap again!"

"But hey, now we can get all those secrets items you missed last time."

"Oh shut up, Otakuroi. Ok, so we go up this way and- Hey!" Nanako suddenly shot a hand to the Playstation controller and pressed the triangle button, pausing the game with a menu. "Why did you pause it? I was- Eh!" Sawako turned to her left only to be met with Nanako's face only half a foot's distance away, her green eyes firmly locked the other's.

"What did you just call me?" Kuroi demanded.

"Uh… I-I don't know. Why, what did I call you?"

"You just called me 'Otakuroi'!"

"… I did? Really?" The blonde nodded back. "Huh… I guess I kind of just said it out off reflex. Sorry."

"N-No, it's ok, it's just that I haven't been called that in a while…"

"Not since we visited Ryoko, yeah… It's just, this moment kind of reminded me of our days as students, you know." Covertly, she dropped the game system's control, which fell to the carpeted floor with a soft, unnoticed thud. At the same time, she brought those same hands around the back of Nanako's waist and pressed each other tighter together. "The game, you geeking out, it was…"

"Nostalgic?" Nanako asked in a whisper, to which she got back a nod. She already had a feeling where Sawako wanted to take the evening's activities and she was feeling more than willing to do so. "I agree. It's kind of memorable… Well, since that's the case, let's do a bit of reenacting, hmm? I say… that night after going to Daiwa."

Sawako smiled. "You're on."

Sawako fell backwards and stretched her height across the length of the couch as Nanako crawled atop of her. Once there, she rested her body down, their breasts pressing together, and the two brought their lips to touch. The kisses, as they usually did, began soft, the two taking the occasional nip at the other's neck. But inevitably, it became progressively more intense. Their breaths became more and more hardened and wrapped with emotion. It would not be long before their moment would travel upstairs and into their bedroom.

That would have happened had the phone not rang.

Sawako ripped her lips from the other's to exclaim a frustrated "Shit!"

Equally frustrated, Nanako got up and marched into the kitchen, where the land line sat cradled in a receiver hung on the wall. She picked up the phone and answered with an unintentionally harsh "What!"

"… H-Hello?" sounded the voice on the other end. "Is this the Yamanaka/Kuroi residence?"

"Yes," she snapped.

"... Is Kuroi-san available to talk?"

"You're talking to her now."

"Oh, uh, hi. It's me, Yui."

The brashness dropped quickly. "Yui… Hirasawa?"

"No, Narumi. Remember, I'm Konata's cousin."

"O-Oh! Yui, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to sound so rude just then. I-I was just, uh, busy at the moment."

"No, that's ok. I guess I did call at a late hour anyway."

"Hmm… So, how are things?"

The other end paused. "… Actually, would it be possible to meet up soon? There's, uh, something I think you and Sawako should hear and I'd rather it be done in-person. You know that American diner in Ryoo?"

"Oh yeah, of course I do." She and Sawako had gone for a few breakfasts there in the past. "When did you want to meet up?"

"As soon as you can. Tomorrow, if possible."

"Hmm. Yeah, tomorrow sounds good, we should be able to stop on by… Why can't you tell me now?"

"Well, I could tell you now, but I also kind of wanted to see you again. We haven't really talked since the beach trip, you know?"

"Right. Ok, see you then."

"Ok. Goodnight."

"Night." Nanako hung up the phone, and as she walked back to the living room, took a moment to wonder "What could Yui want to talk about? And why did she seem so insistent on meeting up in-person?" She kept those thoughts as she entered the living room. "Hey, Sawako, that was Yui on the phone and- Uh, what are you doing?"

Sawako looked to be two buttons away from opening her shirt up. "Hey, just getting prepared is all. Just because you left to answer the phone doesn't mean I'm not up for some fucking."

"Yeah, well keep it in for a few more minutes. That was Yui Narumi that just called. You remember who she is, right?"

"How could I forget? She bailed us out of jail."

"Right, right. Well, she wants to meet the both of us in Ryoo tomorrow, at that diner we've been to before."

"Oh? What for?"

"She, uh, didn't say. She wants to tell us in-person… She actually made a point of that."

Sawako sat up on the couch. "Hmm, sounds serious. Did she say what time to meet up?"

"Actually, no, I didn't think to ask that. I'll give her a call tomorrow and tell you."

"Ok… Oh damnit!"

"Eh- What is it?"

"Humph, I'm not in the mood anymore! Damnit, just when I thought I was gonna get laid the phone rings!... Screw it, I'm going back to the game." She snatched the Playstation controller from off the floor and fell back into the game of Final Fantasy.

Though Sawako seemed easy to give up that night, Nanako was having none of it, so before she sat back down on the couch, she went back into the fridge and snagged a few more bottles of beer. "Yeah, get a few more of these in her system," she thought to herself, "and then we'll see who's not in the mood."

-o0o-

The next day, after the two teachers returned home from work, spent less than an hour there before heading off again. They took Sawako's regular car to the station before taking that to Ryoo. The diner was a good ten minutes off from the high school. The diner's interior and décor was influenced with the look of America's 1950s: the floor tiles were checkerboard black and white, the booth seating was in red leather, and the waitresses' uniforms fit the period to a button.

It was around 18:00 when they arrived, and at this hour, the dinner crowd had already arrived. The place was nearly full, so it took a moment for the two to spot Yui sitting at the far booth to the right. The two waved and said "Hi" as they sat next to each other on the opposite side of the table.

Yui managed to give back a weak smile. "Glad you guys could come. Wanna get some coffee too?" A steaming cup already sat in front of her. "I'll buy."

"Oh, no, thank you," Nanako replied, Sawako nodding in agreement.

"Ok, but you might change your mind in a second…"

The married couple exchanged a quick worried glance before one of them- Nanako- got down to the matter at hand. "You wanted to tell us something, Yui?" she asked.

The officer lowered her worried eyes to her cup of coffee. "… I-I really had no idea," she began. "I mean, I noticed that she had been sort of in a slump for a while, but I didn't think much of it. I thought it was all teenage stuff: hormones, mood swings, and all that. But it continued for a few weeks and I still did or said nothing. If I had know, I-"

"You're talking about Konata, aren't you?" Kuroi interrupted, to which Yui nodded back. "I know how you're feeling. I've actually been on Konata's case for the few weeks as well. No matter how many times I've tried to get her to open up she'd say nothing."

"Yeah, she can be stubborn like that sometimes."

"But in the last week or so, it's almost like she's back to normal. I can't explain it at all!"

Yui gaze lifted. Her left eyebrow was cocked in confusion. "You didn't hear? She didn't tell you?" she asked.

"Tell me what?"

"Well, Konata's dad is remarrying."

Both Nanako and Sawako's jaw almost literally dropped to the table's surface. "No way!" the former exclaimed. "I had no idea!"

"Yeah, and you'll never guess who the fiancé is…" The married couple leaned forward in anticipation. "It actually the mother of one of her friends: Yukari Takara."

This time the two really did do a double take. "Miyuki's mom?" Sawako yelled, causing people sitting nearly to look over. "We were just visiting their house not a week ago! Now that I think about it, she wasn't there that night."

Yui rolled her eyes at this. "Not surprised," she commented sardonically, taking a sip of her coffee. "Those two have been inseparable ever since their first date. Hell, they're pushing to get married within a month. That's why Konata has been feeling better recently."

"Wow. I never would have thought those two would get engaged, not in a hundred years… B-But before that, what was Konata depressed about this whole time?"

Again, Yui eyes lowered to her drink. They showed worry once more. "It's been over a week since Sōjirō told me these stories and I still have trouble believing them. There are a few parts to it, actually, but I'll start with Konata… Oh God, it's so damn crazy."

"Is it that bad?"

"It really is." She paused and took a moment to regain her composure before she spoke what would probably the first of many bombshells that night. "K-Konata… She came out of the closet, not long ago."

Yui looked back up to witness the other's reactions. Sawako's, surprisingly, was the more expressive, gasping a "My God…" She looked to her right to see Nanako's reaction as well. And while the blonde did look shocked, it was not as much as one would think. "Nanako? Aren't you surprised?"

"W-Well of course I am!" she replied. What her facial expression lacked was made up for in voice. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"It's just you don't look too surprised."

The blonde shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Well…" she drew out, "I'd be lying if I didn't have a slight suspicion that she was a bit 'yuri'."

"Hey!" Yui suddenly snapped. "What's that suppose to mean? You telling me you thought my little cousin was queer all this time and you said nothing?"

"N-No, no no, that's not what I meant at all! I-I meant that, well, she always does perverted jokes, usually toward her friend Kagami." The other's eyes opened slightly at the mention of Kagami's name. "Granted she probably means none of it when she does it, but sometimes it really seems like she's serious. Sometimes it's hard to tell."

Thankfully, the officer seemed to cool down from the other's explanation. "Hmm, I guess you got a point there. I'll admit sometimes she doesn't know when to quit- Hold on, we're getting off track here."

"Right… So, uh, h-how did this come about?"

Yui proceeded to detail everything Sōjirō had told her, which in turn was what Konata told him. "Well, she said it began in that airsoft thing you guys did a while ago." Both Sawako and Nanako felt a chill shoot up their spines. "I guess the two got into hand-to-hand and Ritsu, in order to get close and distract Konata long enough to pull the pins of her own grenades, pinned her to the ground and, well, kissed her…" She then continued to tell the entire story, accounting the teaching sessions Konata and Ritsu had that eventually lead to the former's heartbreak.

When she finally seemed to halt in her reiteration, Nanako was the first of the two to speak. Her voice was noticeably shaken. "… I… I don't believe it," she whispered. "All of this was happening and- I-I tried to help Konata out but she kept refusing. I never would have guessed her problem would be this serious."

"Y-Yeah," Sawako agreed, her voice just as affected. "Jesus, I had no idea at all that Ritsu was- That she and Mio have been- I must be the worst teacher in the world that I didn't notice this happening."

Out of Yui's sight, Nanako reached over to Sawako's lap and squeezed one of her hands. "We've both been blind. I'm as much to blame for this as well. I should have kept pressing into Konata until she finally told me what was wrong. I shouldn't have given up when I did."

"And that's merely half of what she's gone through," Yui added. "I'm surprised how strong she has been, what with what happened with the Hiiragi sisters."

"Huh?" Nanako shot back. "What do you mean, what's going on with them?"

Again, Yui paused from apprehension. "Well, it seems like they are have the same kind of difficulties that Konata is having."

"O-Oh my- You mean that they are-?"

"With each other."

"... Oh Jesus…" Kuroi's hand suddenly lifted up. "One coffee here!" she called out.

"Make that two!" Sawako added, lifting up one of her hands as well.

"Told you you'd change your mind," Yui remarked. She continued after the two were served their drinks. "According to Konata, the two of them came out to their family saying that they loved each other. And apparently, their mother got furious and kicked them out. They stayed at Konata's house for three days before then living with Miyuki. They've been there ever since and are still there right now."

Nanako, someone who normally drank her coffee with lots of cream and sugar, chugged the mug down black, muck to her wife's surprise. "So Kagami and Tsukasa," the blonde said, "are both lesbians as well? How did that happen-?" Yui averted her gaze for a split second. "Oh jeez, don't tell me it was from the same thing!"

"… It was."

"… Sawako?" she then asked the person next to her. "I think we're a bad influence on our students."

"Wha-?" Sawako exclaimed back. "What are you talking about?"

"Think about it, Sawako. We dragged them into that battle, that stupid fight we had! If we never did, these things would have never-"

"NO, Nanako, don't think that!" she suddenly interrupted. "It's better that it happened the way it did!"

"Y-You think so?"

"I know so. If not, they might have never known this side of themselves."

"But how do you know this is really who they are? Maybe we influenced them somehow into-"

"You're wrong!" Sawako pivoted herself in her seat to face Nanako directly. "We didn't do anything to them. If anything, we helped them. Inadvertently, yes, but somehow we helped." Even after Sawako's words, Nanako's face showed uncertainty. "*Sigh* You said it yourself in the past, Nanako: 'You can't become gay. You're either born it or not.' You're just contradicting yourself right now by saying otherwise."

"But I can't help but feel we're responsible for this. For all of this!"

"Damnit- Ok, fine, let's just assume that we are, ok? What are we going to do then?"

"I-I… I'm not su-"

"We're going to help them, that's what! Whether we're the cause or not, these are our students we're talking about, and right now, they're in pain. We're going to do something, one way or the other."

"Sawako…"

"Now, how to go about solving this… Maybe divide and conquer?" Nanako raised an eyebrow. "I mean one of us helps out Konata while the other helps out the Hiiragis. Sound good to you?" She nodded. "Ok, then I'll meet up with the sisters tomorrow and we'll-"

"No," Nanako interrupted. "I'll help out Tsukasa and Kagami. They're both my students, and Konata's problem involves Ritsu, one of yours. I think it'd be better that way."

"Hmm, good point. Ok, so tomorrow we'll-" The brunette stopped when both she and Nanako became aware of the crying on just the other side of their table. They both turned back to face Yui, who was wiping a tear or two from her right cheek. "… Yui?" Nanako cautiously asked. "What's wrong?"

She sniffled for a split moment before she replied. "Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized, "it's just sort of moving watching you two. You both seem so eager to help out my little cousin and her friends."

Nanako grinned back. "Well, we have them to thank for a lot of things. Without them, there might not have been an-" She glanced at Sawako. "- us."

"Wow. I guess I never thought about that… I guess it's nice to see young couples that still love each other. Most young marriages at our age usually end early. Luckily, we've both seem to hold onto ours."

"Hmm, yeah, you're ri- Wait. Yui, you're married?"

"Uh… Yeah, I am. What, you didn't know that?"

Suddenly Nanako turned back to Sawako and the two began to go back and forth, leaving Yui completely out of the conversation, as if she were not even there. "See!" Nanako began. "I told you she was married."

"What? You told me nothing!" Sawako said back. "You said you thought she was married."

"Well whatever the case we now know for sure. She's married, so we can't ask her. Damnit, I was looking forward to it, too."

"Yeah, I know what you- Wait. Maybe we can still ask her."

"Huh? Are you crazy? What about her husband?"

"If we get his permission-"

*Ahem* Yui cleared her throat. She caught the other two's attention, bringing their conversation to a halt. "Uh… What's going on here?" Yui asked. "What are you two talking about?"

Again, Nanako looked to her wife. "You really think we should still ask?" she asked.

"Go ahead. No harm in asking, I figure," Sawako answered

"Ok…" She looked back to Yui, who was showing slightly more confusion in her expression. "Well, Yui, originally Sawako and I thought that you were single, and if that was the case, we were going to… well, invite you to… have a bit of fun." A mischievous, fanged grin curled in the right side of her mouth as she said that last word.

"… Fun?" Yui repeated. "What do you mean…?" She already has a pretty good idea what she was about to be asked, but she needed to hear it from the horse's mouth.

Sawako grinned as well. "Oh you know," Nanako continued, leaning forward slightly. "Just a simple evening: dinner, some drink, and a night of… fun." She gave the person sitting opposite a wink.

Yui's face turned as red as the seats she was sitting on. "O-Oh my…" she initially stammered. "I-I-I'm not sure how to- Y-You guys would really want to? With me?"

"Of course," Sawako confirmed. "This was Nanako's idea, initially. After you called she asked if I was up for it and I said 'Sure.' Of course we thought you were single at the time."

"O-Oh…" She turned to Nanako, who was still smiling at her. "So, this was your idea, Nanako?" She nodded back. "But… Why me?"

"He he, isn't it obvious? I always thought you were kinda cute, Yui. Heck, that was part of the reason I agreed to do that beach trip with the girls last year: because you agreed to go as well."

"Oh. I-Is that so… Wait a sec. When we were both in the bathhouse, I remember you asking me something like "I wonder what people think of us seeing us together' and when I answered with something like 'Probably cousins' you gave this weird look, almost like you were disappointed."

"I did-? Oh yeah! I remember that. Ha ha, man, I can't believe you remembered that."

"W-Well, it seems just so weird at the time, but now… Were you trying to hit on me then?"

It was now Nanako's turn to be embarrassed. "Oh jeez, yeah. Man, I feel like such a goof thinking about it. You see, Yui, that was about the time when me and Sawako started drifting apart after graduation. It wasn't like we didn't like each other anymore, we just got caught up in our own things, one thing led to another, and we kinda stopped seeing each other.

Anyway, around the time of the beach trip, I was feeling down on myself. Heck, you could say I was a bit lonely, so when I heard you were tagging along, I thought I'd give you a try. Hehe, but I guess my attempts were pretty lame, right? You didn't even get the hint."

"Hmm, I guess not- But hold on. So right now, you and Sawako are asking if I want to- do it with you two?"

"Basically," Sawako answered, giving a shrug of her shoulders.

"I-I see. Well, I'm flattered by the offer, you guys, and I'm flattered you think I'm cute, Nanako, but I'm pretty sure my husband wouldn't allow me to do it."

"Well, why don't you ask him? Is he home right now?"

"Well, he is, but- Uh, what do expect me to say! 'Hey honey, can I cheat on you with two other women?'"

"Hey, if he says it's ok, it's not really cheating, is it?"

"I-I don't know-"

Nanako chimed in. "Oh come on, go ahead and ask. Give him a ring right now and ask. We'll wait here."

"U-Uh… *Sigh* Ok, I'll ask, but don't get your hopes up. Excuse me." Yui got up from the table and stepped outside. The married couple glanced out the window to their right and watched as the officer got into her car before getting out her cellphone and calling up her husband.

"… Hey, Nanako," Sawako asked in Yui absence, "I just had a thought: What if her husband wants in as well? Would you agree to it? I mean, you've never had sex with a guy before and-"

"I'm aware," Kuroi interrupted. "But I'm not sure if I would. He doesn't have to have sex with either of us, you know. It can just be with Yui."

"Hmm, good point. But what if he asks?"

"Then… I think I'd have to refuse. Sorry, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing it."

"Don't be sorry, because honestly I don't think I would either." A few minutes passed and Yui returned inside the dinner, taking her seat. "So, Yui, what's the verdict?"

She paused before giving her head a shake. "Sorry, but he said 'No.'"

"I see. I hope he didn't get mad or anything."

"Oh no, he didn't. I've told him about you two- I mean that in a good way- and he seemed to understand what you two were asking. But he still refused."

"Hmm… Well, maybe it was for the best. Nanako and I would feel terrible if we caused a split between you two."

"I don't think he'll get angry. We love each other very much, so I think he knew it was meant to be a one-night thing… Besides- and don't take this the wrong way- he keeps me plenty stimulated as it is."

The other's eyes shot open. "Oh?" Nanako said back, grinning once again. "That so?"

"Oh yeah," she laughed. "He may be away with work most of the time, but when he does come back, we make up for the time apart, believe you me."

The three of them laughed, and with the mood lifted, the three talked together as good friends should, the topic changing more times than one would bother taking count for. The small diner was empty when the three finally left. By that time the three were feeling much better. Both Sawako and Nanako were grateful for this, given that not too long earlier they had been struck with such awful news. But at the same time the two worried, both of them unsure how to go about solving their friend's dilemmas.

-o0o-

Sometime during the evening of the next day, a certain brunette approached the door to the Izumi household. Inside, Sōjirō and Yukari were sitting in the living room, a number of catalogues spread open on a table, the pages displaying many different types of flower arrangements. Yukari had had Sōjirō by her side looking through the pages for the last twenty minutes, and so far, it seemed that none of the choices were appeasing the woman.

"Well, how about this one," Sōjirō suggested, pointing to another arrangement of red and white flowers.

"Hmm, no no, that won't do," Yukari answered. As expected. While the both of them opted for a small wedding ceremony, Yukari insisted on a big party afterward. All of the Izumi and Takara family would be there, so major preparations needed to be made. Thus far, it seemed they were still stuck on floral dilemmas.

"Um, honey?" Sōjirō said, "Do you really need my help in this? I mean, we still need to call up the catering services, the band needs to be booked, and-"

"No, we have to do this together~!" she whined.

"… Yes, dear." Try as he might, the man was helpless against the pleas of a beautiful woman, especially one he was about to marry. The two went back to the catalogs, but it wasn't long before the doorbell rang. Sōjirō immediately got up and answered. Anything to stop looking at flowers at this point felt like a godsend.

Upon opening the door the man had to force himself not to double-take when he saw just who it was standing on the other side. "Y-Yamanaka-san?" he greeted.

"Hello," she greeted back, smiling and giving a polite bow. "Sorry to come so abruptly. I wasn't sure you were home or not."

"O-Oh, I see. Well, this is rather abrupt. Uh, why have you come?"

"Oh, I'm here to see Konata."

"Konata? But why-?"

"Sōjirō, hun!" Yukari's voice called out from within the room, followed shortly after by her entering the front door's hallway. Immediately her eyes fell upon Sawako and then to her future husband. She glared an icy look at Sōjirō. "And who is this?" she nearly seethed.

"O-Oh, i-it's not how it looks, I assure you! This is Sawako Yamanaka. I think I remember mentioning her to you before."

"And you must be Yukari Takara," said Sawako, "Miyuki's mother, right?"

Yukari's glare lifted as she began to remember. "Oh yes," she smiled. "How silly of me, I remember you now. For a second there, I thought you were here to steal my husband away."

Sōjirō instantly began to sweat. "Ah-! Y-You see," he quickly began to explain to Sawako, "she didn't really mean husband. I mean she did, but we're not, not yet, I mean that is to say-"

"Sōjirō," Sawako interrupted, cutting the other's ramblings off. "Relax. I already know you two are marrying. Your niece, Yui, told me all about it. Congratulations"

"O-Oh, thank you… She told you, did she?"

"Yes… among other things… She actually told me about the little problem Konata had not too long ago. That's why I'm here now: to help Konata out."

"You are? But how?"

"Actually, I'd much rather keep it between her and I. I know that sounds a bit out to ask, but I assure you she'll be fine and, with any luck, she'll be back to her normal self soon. You have my word." This raised an eyebrow from Sōjirō, but regardless he gave the woman back a weary nod. "Is, uh, Konata home right now?"

"Oh, yes. She's up in her room with Yutaka."

"Ok, thank you. And good luck with the wedding, you two." With one more bow Sawako entered the home and made her way upstairs. Not knowing what door was Konata's, she listened until she heard the girl's voice. When she finally did she approached the door and knocked on it thrice.

"Yes?" said Konata's voice from the other side.

"Hello, it's me," Sawako answered back.

"… Yukari?"

"Guess again."

"… Santa?"

"Wha-? No, you smart ass. It's me, Sawako!"

The door unlocked and opened a moment later with Konata answering. "Sawa-chan?" she said. "What are you doing here?" From behind her, Yutaka sat in front of Konata's computer. She turned herself around and poked her curious eyes out from behind the headrest.

"Hey there, Konata. Hello, Yutaka, was it?"

The pinked-haired girl shot up and made sure to give the woman a polite bow. "G-Good evening, Yamanaka-san."

"Hi there." He looked back to the bluenette. "Konata, we need to talk."

"Uh, about what?"

"I think you know already." It took Konata a second or two, but her eyes softened with realization. "I'd like to talk about this right now… alone. That means you have to leave, Yutaka."

"O-Oh?" she sounded back. "Onee-chan, is that ok?"

"Hmm," replied Konata. "I'll be fine, Yu-chan." Hesitantly, Yutaka nodded and left Konata's room for her own. Sawako shut the door after Yutaka, leaving herself and Konata alone. "Well, there's not much to sit on besides the bed," Konata offered, gesturing to it.

"That's ok, I'll stand." The girl nodded at this and decided to sit herself. "Ok… Nanako and I met with your cousin Yui last night. She basically told us everything."

"O-Oh, she did…? I'm guessing dad told her, right?" Sawako nodded. "I figured he would blab sooner or later… So, you want to… help me?"

"That's right."

"But how could you possibly-?"

"We're going to win Ritsu back."

"W-What? Are you nuts!"

"No, Konata, I'm not." Sawako ended up taking a seat to Konata's left on the edge of the bed. "It's obvious you've been through a lot, but… Konata, what were you thinking?" The girl looked back with a confused look. "You were helping Ritsu confess to Mio but you fell in love with Ritsu instead. Why the hell didn't you just tell her!"

"I-I… I just wanted to help her out. She really wanted to tell Mio how she felt, so-"

"But you ended up saying nothing and look where you are now. You're miserable, I can tell! *Sigh* Look, Konata, Ritsu… She gets single-minded sometimes, not to mention stubborn, and to get something through her skull, you need to be blunt." She paused. "Konata… Do you want Ritsu back?"

She seemed hesitant to answer. "I-I don't know-"

"Damnit, now's not the time to be modest, Konata. Answer me straight: do you want her back?"

"But she and Mio are-"

"Fuck Mio!" The girl flinched at the expletive. "This isn't about her! It's about you and Ritsu. Now, one last time: Do. You. Want. Ritsu. Back?"

Tears suddenly burst forth from the blunette's eyes. After a couple of sobs she fell toward Sawako and buried her face into the other's chest, bringing her arms around for a hug. Her muffled voice finally told the truth. "Yes!" she screamed. "Damnit yes! I want Ritsu back!" Sawako embraced Konata back, moved by both her honesty and how real her cried felt. There was real pain behind them. "I've been a giant idiot," Izumi continued. "You're right, Sawa-chan. I should have just told her! B-But it's too late now."

"No, Konata, it's not too late." Sawako let go of Konata, grabbed her by the shoulders, and pulled her away enough for them to look each other in the eye. "Remember, I'm here to help you get her back. I'm not giving up until she's yours. I give you my word."

Konata took a moment to wipe the water from her eyes before a smile materialized on her lips. "… Thanks. But, how are we going to do it?"

"Well, this might be a bit extreme, but here's the plan…"

-o0o-

On this same day, Nanako approached a different home: the one of Miyuki Takara. She rang the doorbell expecting Yukari to answer, but instead was met by her daughter. She greeted the older woman with the same sort of politeness one would expect.

"Good evening, Kuroi-san," Miyuki greeted with a bow. "Mother didn't tell me you were stopping by."

"Well don't worry," Nanako reassured. "I'll try to stay out of your hair. I'm actually here to see Kagami and Tsukasa."

"Oh? Well, both Kagami-san and Tsukasa-san are out currently. I believe they said they would return about an hour from now, so-"

"I guess I'll have to wait then. You don't mind, do you?"

"Ah- No, Kuroi-san, of course not, but might I ask what this visit is for?"

As Nanako entered the home and removed her shoes, she explained "I'm going to help the two with their family issues."

"… Oh, I see. Well, please, make yourself at home." Nanako nodded and followed Miyuki into the living room. "Mother isn't home at the moment. She's…" She paused. "Well, she's out as well."

The blond grinned back. "Sorry, Miyuki, but the secret's out. I know Yukari and Sōjirō are getting married. You must be excited."

"Oh, you know!… Well, yes, of course I am. Mother has never been so happy. How did you find out about it, Kuroi-san?"

"Well, Sawako and I met with Konata's cousin, Yui, and she explained pretty much everything that's been happening right beneath our noses. Sawako's actually at Konata's house right now helping her out."

"Hmm. Well, again, make yourself comfortable. If you would like anything to drink or eat, I'd be happy to-"

"Yuki-chan~!" Tsumugi's voice cried from the top of the nearby stairwell. "I can't find my clothes. Where did you put them~?"

Nanako's eyes widened as she looked back to Miyuki, who looked as embarrassed as could be. "… E-Excuse me for a moment," she whispered, desperately trying to sound calm. She turned and jogged out of the room in a huff.

Nanako merely laughed to herself as she sat down on one of the sofas and waited for the lavender-haired sisters to arrive. The woman did not need to wait a full hour, but instead, fifty-eight minutes. At that time the front door opened and she heard the two's voices enter and exchange conversation.

As they made it toward the stairs, Nanako snuck over back into the main room and behind the two. She kept quiet and stealthily walked ever closer until she finally uttered a loud "Hiya!"

The sisters yelped from fright as they spun themselves around. "K-Kuroi-sensei!" Tsukasa exclaimed. "W-What are you doing here!"

"Hello there, you two. Sorry for the scare, but I got bored out of my mind waiting for you guys to show up and I needed to do something to wake me up. Anyway, onto business… Kagami, Tsukasa, I just heard about your little- actually, it's a pretty big problem, isn't it."

"Problem?" Kagami repeated.

"Yes, Kagami, and I do mean that problem. I know all about it now, and while I can't completely condone something like this between two sisters, I think it's terrible how your family threw you guys out."

While Tsukasa seemed to turn silent and sink her head down into her shoulders, Kagami replied "Well, it's wasn't all of the family, actually. Just mom, pretty much."

"But everyone else just let it happen, right? I don't see a difference in that kind of situation."

"But it's not like they don't care about us. They do! We actually talk to dad and the others often… Dad… Dad actually left after the night mom kicked us out."

"O-Oh my God… They divorced?"

"Oh, no no, they didn't do that, but he and Matsuri left after that night. They were both furious. Dad has been staying in a hotel room while Matsuri has been over a few friends' houses."

"What about… Inori, was it?"

Kagami nodded. "She stayed at home with mom, but she's been arguing with her a lot about changing her mind. She's been unsuccessful so far."

"Oh shit. This seems worse than I thought… Ok, that settles it. Girls, we're heading over back to your house tomorrow, and I will personally make sure that you are back in your home by the end of the day."

"What? How are you going to do that!"

"I… I don't know. Heck, I've never actually met your mother before, so I really don't know what kind of person she is." When events such as parent-teacher conferences came around, Tadao Hiiragi was always the one to attend. Miki never went, but only for unavoidable reasons such as "Work had me stay late" or "Was sick and didn't want to spread it." "But I'll think of something when the time comes. Don't worry," Nanako reassured.

"You think that's a good idea?" Kagami warned.

"Hey, I've been able to bust out solutions on a dime in the past. What could go wrong?"