Disclaimer: One more I say: I don't own jack!
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Saturday Afternoon.
That ever anticipated day of the week has finally arrived. The day when a young person can take a break from schoolwork and just let loose. That reason being the primary reason why the local traveling amusement park that made a stop by this town decided to open on this very day. It was still early in the day, just before lunchtime, but the atmosphere was already busy with tons of folks setting up rides, sceneries and a fairy large stage for a variety show later on that night. Everything was going well.
Well, almost everything.
Behind the stage, if one were to listen carefully...well, one really didn't need to listen that carefully since this argument could be heard from space.
"What do you mean I'm just an opening act?!" exclaimed Akira
"You're not an opening act!" replied Minoru. "You just happen to be going before Ms. Hirano. It's a variety show so, that doesn't make you an opening act in the technical sense."
"What are you talking about?! That's as good as making me the opening act!"
"This is not Ms. Hirano's show. For that matter, It's not you're show either!!"
"What? I'm not saying that!""You're not saying it, alright. You're screaming it!"
"You're just saying that because you go on before me."
"Oh, c'mon. All you have to do is sing. I have to sing and dance! Not to mention I still have to emcee a few other events after this."
"What do you mean, just sing? This isn't just any song; it's supposed to be my next breakthrough single."
"Breakthrough what? The charts or the audience's ears?"
"You're jealous because you're my opening act!"
"There are no opening acts in a variety show!!"
"Stop screaming at me you idiot!""You stop screaming you washed-up hag!"
"Hag?! I'm barely twenty!"
"The way you're acting, no one would ever think that!"
Akira was fuming. "Jerk!"
Minoru was fuming right back. "Tramp!"
A woman with light brown, short hair, glasses and a long white lab gown suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "Am I interrupting something?"
Both Akira and Minoru turned to her and exclaimed: "Yes!!"
It took about two seconds before the two teens to realize that they were yelling at Hikaru Sakuraba, who aside from being one of Ryōō Gakuen High School's biology teachers was also Akira and Minoru's stage manager.Both teens straitened up and bowed their head in apology. "Sorry, sensei!"
Ms. Sakuraba sighed and ribbed her head in frustration. "Look here you two. Both of you are talented enough to get your own shows on your own time, believe me. But right now I need you two to work together to make this show a success. I don't need any of your complexes until we're done here, got it?"
"Yes ma'am!" they both answered.
"Good. Now I suggest you two go get lunch. It's almost noon."
Ms Sakuraba then promptly left the two to themselves to go do something else more important. Minoru and Akira slowly turned their heads to face each other and as soon as the make eye contact they turn away from each other in contempt. A moment later they look over their shoulders at each other. They didn't move or say anything for about ten seconds of or so.
"So…you wanna get lunch?" suddenly asked Minoru.
"…Sure," said Akira.
They both head off to a nearby eatery together and leave the back stage area a lot quieter than a minute ago.
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Later that afternoon.
With the rides and attractions all set up, people started pouring in. Mostly, it was little kids with their families who were here to enjoy the attractions. But there were groups of teens as well. Some people came in pairs. After all a place like this was a good place to get to know one's significant other.
At the eatery, a large open space where a number of tables were surrounded by over a dozen stalls of food, was understandably one of the most crowded place in the whole park. It would most likely stay that way for the rest of the afternoon. Konata and Kirio were seated one of the tables, each eating a plate of spaghetti and drinking a can of soda.
Konata took a long sip of her soda. "Ahhh, man I'm pretty thirsty tonight!"
"After all that screaming at that karaoke place a while ago, I'm not too surprised," said Kirio.
Konata rubbed the back of her head while blushing slightly. "Well, I can get pretty heated at that sort of thing."
"Beside, all you kept singing were anime tracks."
"How would you know? You were never much into anime, Kirio-kun."
"Maybe, but I happen to be a big fan of Voltes V."
"Oh. I forgot about that."
"You sang pretty decently at some songs though. I never knew you could sing Koko ni Iru kara that well. And for some reason, I'm not all that surprised that it suits you."
"And I didn't know you could sing Kama ga Iru so well either."
"What can I say? I like cars and tofu."
Kirio took a sip from his soda. Konata wanted to switch topics for a while.
"So, Kirio," started Konata, "how's your love life so far?"
Kirio nearly choked on his drink. "Where did that question come from?"
"I'm just curious."
"Can I ask you the same question?"
"No!!"
Kirio was humored. "Nothing to say on the subject, huh?"
Konata blushed and fiddled with her spaghetti. Kirio simply smiled wryly, thinking how cute she looked right then and there.
"A couple of girls here and there," Kirio answered.
Konata looked up with what looked like an expression of slight disappointment.
"But nothing serious," Kirio casually continued. "I was never able to find anybody who I can take seriously."
"Why?" asked Konata.
"None of them were short enough."
Konata was confused for a few seconds but blushed bright red when realization het her. Kirio had a hardy laugh at this reaction.
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Meanwhile, three tables away.
Miyuki and Kagami were sitting at a table together. Miyuki, being her cheerful, moe-ish, self while Kagami was slightly brooding.
"Isn't this nice, Kagami-chan?" asked Miyuki.
"I guess," said Kagami, not really in a good mood after what happened the night before.
"You should relax more, Kagami. Why do you think Tsukasa-chan and I brought you here?"
"Sure. I guess I should be more appreciative for you guys. I should just try clear my mind for the night."
Just then, Tsukasa appeared carrying a tray of food for three. "How are you guys doing?" she asked merrily.
"Just fine," replied Miyuki.
"How about you, Onee-chan?"
"Better, I guess," said Kagami. "I think the fresh air is doing wonders for me. At least in a place like this I don't have to think about Konata and her stupid date, whoever he is."
Tsukasa sweat-dropped, remembering last night. She started to set the tray down on the table. "Well, I'm not sure what Konata might say to that, but I guess it's nice for you that Kona-chan isn't herrrreeee-eeee-ee-EEEEEE!!"
Tsukasa's glance went past Kagami to what was behind her and saw the familiar figure of Konata and a boy three tables away, happily chatting with each other. Konata and the boy was seated at an angle so that Konata had her back to them but Tsukasa could still recognize her profile. After all, that long flowing hair, short stature, and mole were unmistakable.
Tsukasa nearly dropped the tray onto the table. Kagami raised an eye-brow. "Tsukasa, is something wrong?"
For the briefest moment, Tsukasa had a flash back to the previous night. "No! Nothing's wrong, Onee-chan! Nothing at all!"
"…You're acting pretty weird."
"Am I?" said Tsukasa as she nervously tried to laugh of her older sister's comments. She finally set down the tray and distributed the food, ramen noodles for all. Tsukasa took her seat nervously giggling. This made both Miyuki and Kagami rather curious and worried.
"So how was your day, Onee-chan," said Tsukasa trying to break the ice.
"What do you mean? You were with me the whole day."
"Oh right! I forgot!"
"Did you hit your head on something?"
"No, I'm fine really!" she started taking huge mouthfuls of her ramen.
Kagami was getting a little freaked out but decided to concentrate on her food for the moment, turning away her sight from Tsukasa to the bowl of food in front of her. Miyuki took this time to try and find out what was going on with her friend. Miyuki gave Tsukasa a questioning look and before Miyuki could say anything, Tsukasa made some gestures to point behind Kagami.
Miyuki looked behind Kagami and spotted Konata having a spoonful of spaghetti being fed to her by some boy. This sight caused Miyuki to squeak in surprise. This squeak caugt Kagami's attention and the girl quickly turned to Miyuki.
"What is it?" asked Kagami.
"Miyuki statured. Tsukasa answered for her. "Um, a moth flew in front of her and she just got surprised by it, that's all."
"Huh?" said Miyuki towards Tsukasa. "…Oh! Yeah, that's right! A moth…"
"Is that so?" said Kagami. "I don't see any moths."
Kagami started turning her head to look around. Tsukasa and Miyuki almost panicked, waving their hands just in time to get back Kagami's attention before she was able to look behind her.
"Don't worry about it!" exclaimed Miyuki.
"The moth has already flown away!" added Tsukasa.
Kagami sweat-dropped. "What's with you two tonight?"
The two girls laughed nervously and returned to their ramen noodles. Kagami decided to jus shrug it off and return to her meal herself. She noticed that the taste was a little bland for her. "Hmm, needs some soy sauce," she said.
Kagami looked at the table they were sitting at and found that there was no soy sauce there. She probably got used to proper eateries with condiments at each table. She remembered that the stalls themselves kept some condiments on the counter for customers to use. She started to get up off her seat. Upon seeing this, Tsukasa jumped from her seat so fast that the seat fell down to the pavement, catching Miyuki and Kagami by surprise.
"W-Where are you going, Onee-chan?!" asked Tsukasa.
"To get some soy sauce…" answered Kagami. "…Why?"
"Um, why don't I get it for you so that you don't have to get up?"
"It's perfectly fine. I can get it myself." Kagami started to turn around.
Tsukasa suddenly pointed at a random direction away from where Konata was seated. "Look! It's Emiri Katō!"
"Huh? Where?"
Kagami turned to where Tsukasa was pointing but found no one there that resembled the girl she mentioned. Kagami turned to Tsukasa but she was no longer at the spot where she was standing only a second ago. Kagami then turned around to look behind her—
"Here you go, Onee-chan!!"
Kagami nearly jumped back when she found Tsukasa standing so close to her that she completely filled her view. Tsukasa was panting as if she just ran a marathon as she was holding out a small bottle of soy sauce in her hands. Kagami sweat-dropped a lot and went wide-eyed.
"What is going on here?!" asked Kagami.
Miyuki stood up to try and help the situation. "Um, Tsukasa just wants to be helpful, Kagami-chan."
By now, Kagami was too suspicious to just brush this off. Kagami tried looking over Tsukasa's shoulder but Tsukasa bent her body to continuously block Kagami's view of whatever's behind her. Kagami turned the other way and Tsukasa simply followed, all while maintaining a goofy smile on her face which was driving Kagami up the wall.
Kagami started leaning back towards the other side. Tsukasa had to follow. Kagami kept leaning until she went far enough and quickly snapped back unexpectedly. Tsukasa couldn't keep up and instead fell to the ground, leaving Kagami's view clear.
Tsukasa quickly got up and started apologizing. "I'm sorry, Onee-chan! Please forgive me!"
Miyuki followed suit. "Yes, we're sorry!"
"About what? I don't see anything."
Tsukasa and Miyuki quickly turned around to see that the table occupied by Konata and that boy just a while ago was now empty. They both sweat-dropped then creathed a sigh of relief.
"Was there something there that I wasn't suppose to see," said Kagami giving the two a suspicious look. The other two girls simply laughed nervously with sweat running down their brows. Kagami decided to simply ignore it otherwise she'll just end up giving herself another headache.
"You know what, just forget it!"
Kagami made a motion to sit back down. Tsukasa and Miyuki breathe another sigh of relief as for now they seemed to have averted disaster. Tsukasa looked back to the table where she saw Konata to make sure that the two were really gone. All she saw were their empty plates of food. She mentally thanked the gods of fortune for this turn of events. It was a good thing they were this lucky tonight and that they were able to avoid—
"Hey, guys, what's up?" greeted Konata who was suddenly standing right next to the table where the three girls were at.
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Author's note: Writer's block is a real pain in the ass, ya know? Well, I got this done anyway. Please R&R while I work on the next one. Cioa!
Other Notes: There were two songs mentioned here. Koko ni Iru kara is the ending theme of the anime Girls Bravo (season 1). Kama ga Iru is the ending theme for the anime Initial D: Second Stage which is the key to Kirio's comment about liking cars and tofu. The person Tsukasa was referring to, Emiri Katō, is the voice actor of Kagami in the anime.