RIN'S POV

"Come on," I told Mao, "if something is bothering you, tell me. I'm your best friend, afterall." I said in a soft tone as we sat down on the chairs, facing one another. I haven't seen Mao lately and from the way she carried herself and her face…I could tell something had been bothering her for quite a while.

"I'm okay, really." She laughed lightly.

I stared hard at her, "no. No you're not." Her smile dropped and she looked uneasy, avoiding my gaze. I grabbed both of her hands and began stroking them, I looked at her tenderly, "it's okay. I'll be here, I promise. Stop keeping everything to yourself, Mao."

"Promise me we'll stay friends?" Hope in her voice.

"Of course." I gently smiled.

It seemed as if she was about to cry, she shifted closer and looked down, "I've…I've never told anyone this but, I…" she paused and cleared her weakening voice, "something happened to my dad. Something happened in his work and now… he's resulting back to his old habits of smoking and drinking because he's stressed." I felt my chest tighten as Mao looked away.

"Mao," I started. I met Mao's dad once. He was a businessman of late forties, he had a strong built which made him seem very intimidating, and he was an overall stern man. I also knew he had a severe smoking problem and bronchitis two years ago. Him drinking again definitely meant bad news. "It will be okay, trust me. Things always get better; they always do. Life won't put you through so much suffering." I put a reassuring arm around her.

"Thanks." She responded softly. "I'm sorry I'm bothering you with all my problems and you probably think I'm annoying. I'm selfish I know, but please don't leave me, Rin." Her hands were trembling.

"Why would I leave you? I asked, exasperated. Mao is my best friend and is one of the nicest people I know; who would leave this sweet child?

"I don't know, but people always…seem to get tired of me and I don't know what I'm doing wrong." Her feeble voice cracked. Leave? Mao? How could I have not noticed this problem? I…I've been friends with her for over four years and yet I never truly realized that she was suffering from depression? I felt sick to my stomach and I felt myself grow angry, slightly gritting my teeth. 'Some friend you are, Rin.' My brain spat viciously.

"What's wrong with me?" She whimpered as she rubbed her eyes.

Realization then caused me to be calm once again. "No, nothing is wrong with you, Mao. You're perfect. Why didn't you tell me this?" I asked her. Did she not consider me as a true friend?

She was quiet at first, but finally looked up to meet my eyes after what seemed like eternity, "you have been one of my only friends, Rin. I…I don't want to bother and annoy you with my problems." Mao's sorrowful eyes were gentle and childlike, and yet, that innocent face held such immense pain that I have never grasped. She gazed at me with pleading eyes, "I don't want to lose you like I did to my other friends. I don't want you to get tired of…me." Her voice broke on the last word as tears began to run on her face. She quickly wiped them up and laughed as if nothing happened.

I don't know what came over me but I slapped her across the face. I felt my palm sting from the impact and I could see the forming red hand mark on her pale cheek. My knees shook as I clung to her hard, crying now. She tried saying something but I couldn't what she said over my whimpers and cries. I felt so happy and privileged that she came out from that tiny shell and talked to me about her feelings, which she never did. "Stupid, stupid Mao!" After a while, my tears began to subside, I took this opportunity to let go of her and looked her in the eye, "don't EVER do that again, okay? Never keep secrets away from me. I am always here. I'll never leave you." She gave a sigh of relief with her melancholy eyes.

"Thank goodness…I thought you were going to hate me." She finally smiled slightly. I couldn't control myself and I hugged her as tight as possible, ensuring that she knows that she was safe in my arms. I will never abandon her.

MAO'S POV

A couple of hours after our emotional issue, I profusely thanked Rin. I walked to my, Rin's, and Kao's room, where I saw Saeki and Yuki sitting on the couch. Yesterday, Kao suggested that we go the beach including Rin because the past few days had been very stressful and we all decided it was a great idea. Not only that, but Kao also invited Kazu as well and that meant…yep, the whole Kogarasumaru team is going.

"What's wrong," Yuki asked with concern. "Something happened." He said matter-a-factly. "Tell me." Were my eyes still red? I'm sure I put lots of eyedrops. Yuki was my best guy friend, while Rin was my best girl friend.

I shook my head, "no, I'm all good." I've gotten used to this. "Let's go." I tried to change the topic.

"Hang on," I heard Kao call from the bathroom. "Plus, we have to wait for Tatsuya." I was about to open my mouth when Saeki cut in.

"Room and lunch reservation."

"Ahh." Just then, Kao came out in short denim shorts and a black bikini top. I caught Saeki raise an eyebrow, impressed at Kao's glorious curves and body. "Do you have your bathing suit ready?" She asked me, to which I nodded. Yuki got up and went to the bathroom, carrying his swimming trunks, probably changing as well.

"I gotta change too." Saeki said in a bored tone and followed Yuki.

Kao and I instantly looked at each other and our smirks grew, "gaaaays!" We sang suggestively in a low murmur.

I sat down on our reserved area where there were several beach chairs and a huge tent-looking umbrella thing that covered the chairs. Saeki already parted his way, most likely off to meet girls and I don't know where Tatsuya is. Yuki, Kao, and Rin were with me, sitting on the chairs.

Kao leaned over as she started putting on sunscreen, "Mao, you should you know…take your clothes off." She said and eyed me downwards; I was still wearing a Pierce the Veil shirt, denim capris, and flip flops.

"I can't," I hissed, "I'm allergic to the sun." I told her, extending my arm outward so that wasn't covered by the shade from the tent. When I felt the heat on my palm, I did a mini spasm like I was exorcised, and swiftly retreated my hand, pretending to be allergic to the deadly sun. "You see? It's so sad." I faked a frown while I took out my laptop.

"What the hell are you going to do, just stay in your laptop?" Kao asked. "You're in the beach!"

"Yeah, pretty much." I shrugged.

She gave me a strange look, "you can't stay in your laptop for five hours, Mao."

I gave her an amused look and then a sneer, "oh, watch me." I can watch my TV shows, read manga, and stories about my OTPs forever. My beautiful OTPs.

I heard a sigh and I turned to the direction, Yuki was leaving. I felt a sudden force and my laptop was out of my grasp in a matter of half a second.

"KAO! Give it back!" I stood up, grabbing it from her but she simply turned away and threatened the drop it. I felt like a mother who just lost her child.

"You know, Mao, you should just go and at least have a dip." Rin added, not looking up from her book, Bridge to Terabithia.

"I'm not giving it back until you at least take your clothes off."

"Hell. No." I said flat out.

She then dropped it; I screamed slightly and tried to catch it, bruising my knees on the way, but then Kao caught it anyways. Betrayed by my own flesh and blood…it's going to take years for me to trust Kao again. I'm kidding. I sighed and hurriedly stipped down to my striped tankini and board shorts.

"What. The fuck. Are you wearing." Kao spoke in choppy sentences, glaring at my attire. I personally found nothing wrong with it. "I bought a new set of bikini for you to use." I felt my chest squeeze a bit. "You should tie your hair back as well."

"Look, Kao," I started in a defeated voice, "I'm not thin, I'm not pretty, I have heaps of pimples—" I pushed my bangs back to show her and fixed it again—"and I have really bad skin." I said with utmost honestly. I caught Rin putting her book down, looking at me with a concern look. I sighed, "you guys probably weigh around like, I don't know a hundred five pounds while I'm incredibly short and I weigh a hundred thirty four or somewhere around that". I stared hard at them. "…I'm confident about myself at all, as you guys are." I faced away.

Kao was quiet for a long time and this time, Rin was the one that was talking, "Mao. You're perfect and don't ever change who you are. Be proud of your body and fuck whoever thinks otherwise." Rin grinned and punched my arm playfully.

"Yeah…" I replied awkwardly.

"I'm sorry, that was so insensitive of me." Kao apologized and I smiled to show her that it was okay.

Thinking of the depressing mood, "do you guys want to play beach volleyball? Not the regular two-on-two, but like regular volleyball, just…in the beach. There's a free court over there." I suggested and turned my head to the direction of the court.

Kao's face instantly lightened, "that's a great idea, I'll call Kazu and the others to play with us!"

We ended up choosing the two teams randomly. In Rin's team were Buccha, a pink-haired girl named 'Mikan', and myself. On the other team, there were a pretty girl with glasses named 'Ringo', Ikki, Kao, a girl named Yayoi, and Kazu.

Earlier, Kazu asked if he could bring a couple of friends through the phone and I could see slight irritation in Kao's perfect face. I think it was jealousy. Still, Kao told him it was fine. Now, the Ikki's team are everywhere in the beach and some of them decided to join us in our volleyball game. It was a four vs five match since no one else wanted to join and everyone else left to do their own thing.

We then took our positions as Kazu served the first ball.

20 minutes later…

I was dying. I felt so tired and my legs were trembling like crazy, like I could pass out any moment. Running is evil, why the hell do people even do this. The score was 11-15 and we were losing. I think I was a huge part of it though; when a spike was coming to my direction, I freaked out and ran away which earned groans. Hey, I don't want to break my arms for one point! I've always been bad at sports. I felt so stupid suggesting this.

"Can't…breathe…" I wheezed heavily, but ran, and did a dig. It was coming between Kazu and Kao, they were both running for it, but they realized it and neither hit the ball. Finally! My first point, good God. Hey, at least I'm trying, right? I saw them both blush awkwardly and apologize to each other.

I heard a whistle, I turned and I saw two muscular blonde guys approaching our side of the court with sneers on their pointy faces. I saw them eye Rin and I grew defensive, treading my way. Buccha, the only guy in our group, clenched his fists to intimade them but to no avail.

"What do you fucking want." I glared. Rin had always been targeted by many guys due to her unique beauty; she was only half Japanese and I always had to protect her. This time, it's my turn to help Rin now. I saw one of them look down at me with annoyance (I was short).

"Get lost." Rin waved her arm.

"Hey." I heard Ikki threaten from the behind, everyone following him.

"I'm not even doing anything, man. Jeez. Calm the fuck down." He shrugged.

"Yeah." The other one added.

"Then get lost." Rin repeated. I notice him reached his arm towards Rin and with all the energy left in me, I sprinted and kicked him in his manhood.

"BITCH!" He cried and fell on his knees, while his friend gave me an icy glare and helped him up. It's gonna take a lot more than an icy glare to make me piss my pants from fear, buddy. I heard a couple of tiny cheers from the behind me as Rin ran to hug me.

"If I had a dick, this is when I'd tell you to suck it, you perv." I looked down at him with a slight pout, I furrowed my eyebrows, extended my arms sideways the way how gangsters do, and with my most thug-like voice, I said, "come at me, bro!" I tried to be all confident on the outside but I was actually dying on the inside—my foot felt like I just kicked a wall.

"Fuckin' fat bitch." He uttered with toxicity in his voice, still gripping his crotch.

"At least I'm not a hairy twig like you." I retorted, looking at his bushy chest. "See, man, guys like you are the exact reason why girls turn into lesbians." I shrugged. "Not saying I am one, though." I sighed and rolled my eyes. Rin squealed happily, hugging me tightly.

"Ballsy move," I heard the familiar voice remark from the behind. So this was where he was.

A/N: How was it? Bad? Good? :D

Destiny-Shadow-Walker: Thank you! Yeah, I don't want Mao to be perfect because I think those Mary Sue characters are unnatural and boring so I hope I'm doing well, keeping her character constant I mean. Really? Do you think there should be a love triangle? If yes, with whom do you suggest Mao with (except for Agito) because I am very willing to take suggestions like things that YOU want to see happen in the story :) Hmm…maybe I should add one? Maybe not? :/ I'm so sorry ahahhaa I should stop with the titles…such give-aways D: I tried to make it funny and I hope you were laughing or else I'll be sad because I tried very hard to make The Downfall funny and it doesn't even work due to my horrid humor c: No, not at all! I love reading reviews and comments because they really inspire me to write more and grow as a writer; I appreciate your review very much so thank you :) Your story sounds very promising as well and good luck to you too! Very nice to read :D

Forever Fanfiction 22: I'm glad I made you laugh! I try very hard to be sarcastic and I hope it's working ahahhaha! Thank you so much for the support and more laughers will come :D

Reaper death: I'm sorry I didn't make it that clear and it was not descriptive (the problem plan thing, I mean). I was slightly hurrying the progress up because I felt that if I went into full detail as to why they didn't tell Mao, it was going to be super long. Don't worry, Mao's friends made it up in this chapter! Thank you for the support, you guys are the ones that truly keep on inspiring me to write more :)

Queen 0f Games: Thank you so much :D I felt that my intro was too long and that's the reason why people don't stay after the first chapter :( Still, if I went straight to the details, I'd feel...weird because the readers don't know anything about the characters. Thank you for staying and believing in my story! Yeah, I tried very hard to relate her to everyday girls who are socially awkward and are not drop-dead gorgeous because let's face it, perfect people are boring and they're unrealistic. I hope I can continue to meet your expectations :)

Aya Kruez: :O I'm so happy that you think I am doing a great job :D Though I think my story is getting slightly choppy and boring. Okay, I will definitely try to add gay moments for all the yaoi fangirls out there. If you have any more suggestions or things you'd like to see yourself in the story, please tell me :) Oh my goodness... you have no idea how much I'm blushing right now from your compliments. Thank you so so SO much! I will be updating around every weekend :D

A/N: Next chapter will include games, truth or dares, campfires, and other crazy events that people usually do in the beach ;)