After school, Ayaka hurried to her dormitory so that she could get there in time to meet Asuna. She walked as fast as she could and didn't want to run because she believed it wasn't ladylike, especially on campus. Her walk was elegant and brisk. Within about 5 minutes, she arrived at her dorm.

All of Ayaka's hurrying had done her no good--Asuna was already there. Ayaka's eyes widened when she saw that she was already at her front door, leaning against it in a relaxed state. Ayaka walked up to Asuna and blushed.

"How did you get here so fast?" Ayaka asked in her whiny, high pitched voice.

Asuna smiled at Ayaka. "I ran. That's how."

Ayaka shook her head at Asuna's agility and then smiled. "Smart Aleck...You should be on the track team."

Asuna rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Nah… I've got too much other stuff to worry about." Asuna said. "What took you so long anyway? I mean, I knew I'd get here before you, but I didn't know I'd be waiting at the door for almost 5 minutes."

Ayaka's eyebrows bent forward. "Well, I'm not Cheetah-woman like you."

Asuna grinned. "Oh, I know! You probably walked over here all proper, didn't you?"

Ayaka nodded at Asuna. "It's a lot less rude than just running everywhere you please."

Asuna grunted at Ayaka. "Well, I don't care if it is rude. I can do more stuff before transit if I run." Asuna blushed and closed her eyes in satisfaction. "Efficiency is key."

Ayaka smiled at Asuna. "Yeah, whatever. Let's go study."

Asuna moved aside so that Ayaka could get to the door. Ayaka shook her head at Asuna and smiled to herself slightly, taking her keys out of her bag and opening it up. Once the door was open, Ayaka looked in to see if her roommates were there. "Zuru-san? Natsu-chan?" Ayaka called out. "I'm home!"

No one seemed to be home, which Ayaka was very pleased with. She didn't want anyone to know that she and Asuna were so close to each other, at least not yet. Ayaka turned around and smiled to Asuna, holding the door open for her politely. "Come in." She welcomed.

Asuna blushed slightly at Ayaka and smiled, walking through. The absence of her thanks kind of infuriated Ayaka, but she knew that Asuna was no where near as polite as she was, and she just had to deal with that.

Ayaka closed the door behind Asuna and walked into their small kitchen. Ayaka, Natsumi, and Chizuru had the nicest dorm in the residence halls, having a private bathroom, two bedrooms, a living area, and a small kitchen. Ayaka set her bag down on the counter and opened up their small fridge. "Would you like anything to drink or eat?" She asked Asuna, who had already made herself comfortable on their couch.

Asuna smiled at Ayaka and blushed when she saw that Ayaka was bending over. My goodness, our uniform skirts are too short… Asuna thought. I can almost see her panties… She blinked at the sight of Asuna's smooth, pale thighs and looked away, her face beet red. "Ah… I'll have some soda if you have that. N-Not really hungry." Asuna said.

Ayaka grabbed two bottles of ramune out of the fridge, grabbed her bag, and walked into the living room, sitting down next to Asuna on the couch. She handed the ramune to Asuna, smiling.

"Thank you, Ayaka." Asuna said, smiling at her. The blush from earlier was still across her face, but it wasn't as bad as before. Ayaka smiled. "You're welcome."

The two opened their bottles of ramune and took a sip simultaneously. It was quite weird how they did things almost the exact same way at the same time. Everyone thought Asuna and Ayaka were so different because of their interests, but their personalities were quite similar in some ways.

The room was silent while the girls sipped at their soda. Asuna drank hers really fast, since she was pretty worn out from running so fast. Ayaka blinked at Asuna and laughed at her with a slight blush struck upon her face. "My god." Ayaka commented, giggling.

Asuna blinked at Ayaka and burped a little bit. "What?"

Ayaka scrunched her nose at Asuna's burp. "You inhaled that." Ayaka said. "And don't burp like that in our dormitory!"

Asuna rolled her eyes. "Oh, what do you think, it'll melt your flowered wallpaper off, Miss Priss?" Asuna said.

Ayaka frowned at Asuna and then looked away. "It's just not polite." Ayaka said. She then smiled. "But, I guess I can't really expect you to change your obnoxious ways." She said.

Asuna's eyebrows bent and she frowned. "Yeah, whatever." Asuna growled. "Anyway, are we going to study or not?"

Ayaka blinked at Asuna and nodded. "Yeah, we will. I just thought you might want to relax after running like that." She said.

Asuna blinked at Ayaka's concern and kindness and then looked away, nodding. "Yeah, you're right." She said. She remembered that Ayaka and Asuna were friends now and that she didn't have to act so rude around her, especially since Ayaka wasn't being that way. Asuna smiled at Ayaka. "Thanks for being so caring."

Ayaka nodded. "You're welcome."

Asuna smiled and then looked around their living area. The place was furnished very nicely, with the coffee table, the couch, and a medium-sized television. There was also a nearby table with a small lamp, a candle, and a vase of flowers on it. I wish I lived in a place like this… Asuna thought to herself. She then smirked and her admiration for the dormitory turned into greed. Maybe if Ayaka and I get close enough, I can live here.

Asuna looked back to Ayaka, smiling. "This is a very nice place." Asuna complimented.

Ayaka blushed at Asuna's comment and nodded. "Well, I try to keep it looking good. Natsumi-chan and Chizuru-san do a good job at keeping it clean, too… Even though Natsumi can be a pig sometimes." Ayaka said, giggling.

Asuna smiled at how carefree Ayaka was right now. Even though Asuna really had only thought of Ayaka as a snobby bitch that didn't have anything better to do than make herself feel better by insulting others, she was now really beginning to respect her a lot. The two had always been close, deep down inside, but now that closeness was becoming something more than it had ever been.

As Ayaka sat there holding her ramune, her arm began to feel a little tingly. She leaned over and put the soda back on one of their coasters. Afterwards, she stretched her arm out on the side of the couch so that it was behind Asuna's neck.

Asuna blushed at Ayaka's actions but tried not to think much of it. She looked down to the ground and then at Ayaka, their eyes meeting for a brief and awkward moment in the silence. The two then quickly turned away.

Ayaka smiled to herself, embarrassed, but still kept her arm there. "Uh… So, do you want to study or do you just want to hang out or what?"

Asuna smiled at Ayaka again. "Well, do you really have anything particularly fun to do here besides have a tea party?" Asuna asked, blushing.

Ayaka laughed at Asuna. "Very funny… I know Natsumi might have some video games." She answered.

Asuna blinked. "Eh, video games are okay… But I don't know."

Ayaka nodded. "Yeah, I'm not crazy about them either."

Asuna giggled. "Yeah, I mean… If we were to play against one another, I'd totally beat you." She bragged.

Ayaka sneered at Asuna. "Just because I'm lady-like doesn't mean I don't like doing stuff that boys like to do." Ayaka said.

Asuna blinked and laughed. She didn't really believe that, but maybe it was true. Ayaka's comment about boys brought up a question that Asuna had really been wanting to ask Ayaka.

"So, Ayaka…" Asuna started. "Why do you like Negi-sensei so much?" She asked.

Ayaka blushed even more deeply and a frown came upon her face. "Why are you asking? That's really none of your business." She retorted.

"I'm just curious." Asuna responded. "Why is it such a big deal? Aren't we friends now?"

Ayaka blinked at Asuna and then crossed her arms. "Yeah…" She thought about telling Asuna, but she didn't really know if she could trust her or not. What if she told Negi all about this? Not only would it make her extremely mad and possibly ruin her reputation with Negi-sensei and the class, but it would also but her and Asuna's friendship in jeopardy. Ayaka turned and looked into Asuna's eyes. She thought about how Asuna was and remembered that she wasn't a very gossipy person, unlike herself. After a moment of contemplating, Ayaka just decided to tell her.

"Ugh… Fine, I'll tell you, Asuna…" Ayaka said. "However, you must promise not to tell ANYONE." Ayaka paused and her eyes got narrower as she looked at Asuna. "If you do, I'll make sure that you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Asuna blinked. "Is that a threat?" She asked, smirking. She was silent for a moment as she watched Ayaka's face become more serious and then sighed. "Of course, I won't tell anyone. I'm not a gossip queen like you." She crossed her arms and tilted her head back, looking at the ceiling. She stayed like that for a few minutes, until she noticed that her head was resting on Ayaka's arm.

"Agh! I'm sorry." Asuna said, sitting up quickly, her face red.

Ayaka blushed and blinked at Asuna. "It's okay..." Ayaka said. "You can put your head back... Just relax, okay? You're my guest..."

Asuna bit her lip and nodded, putting her head back how it was and then smiling to herself. Ayaka smiled too.

For a moment, the two were silent as they felt a weird warmth gather up inside of them. Then, Ayaka remembered that Asuna had asked her a question.

"Oh, sorry..." Ayaka apologized. She then began. "Well… The reason I really like Negi-sensei… Aside… from him being cute and intelligent and all, is that…" Ayaka paused.

Asuna looked up at Ayaka and smiled comfortingly. "It's okay… Go on, Ayaka."

Ayaka looked over to Asuna and blinked… "I don't know… I just think that you'll criticize me for it because you always make fun of me for liking Negi-sensei…"

Asuna blinked at Ayaka and frowned a bit. She didn't know that her insults affected Ayaka that much, since Ayaka usually just brushed them off like crumbs and continued with arguing when the two got involved in altercations. Asuna then friendily put her hand on Ayaka's knee. "Don't worry... I won't criticize you." Asuna said. "I'm the one that asked you the question, remember?"

Ayaka looked down at Asuna and nodded. "Okay... Well... I don't know. Just, when I see you two together, you look so happy..." Ayaka said. "I wish I had someone to look over all the time... like how you watch over Negi-sensei." Ayaka said, blushing and looking down at Asuna's hand, which was still resting on her leg.

Asuna blinked at Ayaka. She had never known that her feelings were so deep. "Ayaka..."

Ayaka smiled. "I don't even think that I really like Negi-sensei as a person like that..." She said. "I just want someone to hold... To take care of."

Asuna nodded, understanding what she was saying. She then looked up to the ceiling again.

"Do you like Negi-sensei, Asuna?" Ayaka asked her.

Asuna immediately blushed and then turnned her head towards Ayaka at the speed of light, her eyebrows bent down and her nose scrunched up. "What kind of question is that?!" Asuna growled.

Ayaka blinked and smiled. "Haha... I knew it."

Asuna sat up, but kept her hand on Ayaka, her fingertips squeezing Ayaka's skin a little, subconsciously. "What do you mean you knew it?! I DO NOT like that little twerp!"

Ayaka put her face close to Asuna's and smirked. "Oh yeaaahh? Then why are you overreacting so much?" She asked.

Asuna blushed deeply and her eyes widened. "Be...Because I seriously do not like him!!" She answered.

"That's not what your face is telling me..." Ayaka said, her face turning a little red now too.

Asuna gritted her teeth and pushed Ayaka down onto the couch. "Why are YOU so concerned about it if you don't even like him?!" Asuna asked.

Ayaka's back fell against the arm of the couch, while Asuna was towering above her, their faces inches apart, Asuna's leg pushing lightly against Ayaka's crotch.

Ayaka blinked at Asuna, embarrassed and angry at the same time. She frowned at Asuna. "Would you just answer my question? I answered all of yours..." She said a little sadly.

Asuna looked into Ayaka's eyes and then bit her lip. "...I'm sorry, Ayaka..." Asuna said. "...The reason why I'm so obsessed with Negi sometimes... It's not because I LIKE him, okay?... I'm... actually jealous of him."

Ayaka's eyebrows bent. "Why are you jealous of a ten year old boy?" She asked.

Asuna laughed a little at herself. "Because he's so smart and he gets so much attention... Plus, he's got everyone watching over him and wanting to be around him all the time, like you and Makie-chan and Eva-sama..."

Ayaka interrupted Asuna, laughing. "So, wait... wait... Let me get this straight. You, the arrogant, independent Asuna... You want someone to watch over you?"

Asuna bent her eyebrows... "Yeah?" She said. "What's it mean to you anyway?" She asked blushing.

Ayaka blushed and then turned away from Asuna. "It's... it's nothing..."

Asuna got closer to Ayaka. "Tell me!" She said smiling.

Ayaka's eyebrows bent downward. "It's nothing!..." She repeated.

Asuna grabbed Ayaka's blazer. "Tell me..." She growled.

Ayaka was getting fed up with how annoying Asuna was being and had the last straw. She pushed Asuna off of her and then got on top of Asuna, holding onto her arms tightly and her leg now being pressed up against Asuna.

"It's because I've always wanted to be the one to watch over you, okay?!" Ayaka barked at Asuna.

Asuna blinked and blushed... "You want to watch over me...?" She asked. "What do you mean?"

Ayaka looked away from Asuna for a moment. "I... don't know..." Ayaka said. "I don't want to tell you...I shouldn't tell you... It's just not right."

Asuna smiled at Ayaka and blushed. She then looked into Ayaka's eyes and leaned in towards her. She planted her soft, pink lips on Ayaka's smooth cheek lightly, keeping them there for a second and then pulling away, looking into Ayaka's green eyes. "Is that what you mean?"

Ayaka's eyes widened intensely. She gulped and then slowly nodded. "Yeh..yeah." She said blushing. She couldn't believe what she was saying... what they were doing... how they were positioned... It all just happened.

It was true, she had always been in love with Asuna. Asuna was always the one who she could boss around, who she could make sure was going in the right direction. It was a vicious cycle of love and hate... Passion and jealousy. The two would never, ever admit it to anyone before, but they had now just admitted it to each other.