Lonely No More
by Cyberchao X

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, whatever. You know the shtick by now.

Arisa didn't say anything. So Suki had managed to say it… Normally, this would be an extremely happy moment for Arisa, but now it just made things more difficult. As wonderful as Suki was…Arisa's heart belonged to Suzuka. She knew this. Yet…she didn't cease to have feelings for Suki, either. "A-ai… Aishi…"

"It's okay. You don't have to say it. I…maybe it was too soon."

"No, it wasn't…you did nothing wrong, Suki-tan. It's my fault."

"'Your fault'? You've done nothing wrong, Ari-chan!"

"…Yes I have."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"Not particularly, but it'll probably be worse if I don't."

"…That's all I need to hear."

"What?"

"You don't want to tell me, but you don't want to hide it from me either. I can only think of one possibility, and that's that there's…well, I won't say it in case I'm wrong—no, in case I'm right. Because the fact that you don't want to hide this from me tells me that you still care about me, too. So…I won't make you say it."

"But wouldn't not knowing be even more painful?"

"Maybe. Or maybe I just don't want to hear it."

"I think you're putting too much meaning into this. Yeah, a first love seems like they'll be there forever, but…"

"…I know. I just didn't expect this to end so soon."

"It hasn't ended."

"Good."

*The next day*

Arisa answered her phone. "Well hello there, evil genius."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I know that you planned this. To make yourself the first one I ever spent the night with and make it so I can't get you out of my mind."

Suzuka laughed. "Well, the first part of that might be true…but I certainly couldn't have done the second thing. That's all you, Arisa-chan."

Arisa sighed. "I know, I know."

"So, I called to see how things went yesterday, but I guess I already have my answer."

"Don't be so hasty, Suzuka-chan. Suki-tan and I actually had a great day together. She was already waiting for me when I returned home, and we spent all day together. And she actually told me that she loved me. She's serious about this; she even came out to her boyfriend about her bisexuality."

"Must have crushed you to break up with her. Her too, for that matter."

"I didn't break up with her."

"I figured as much. I'm kind of jealous; you don't call me 'Suzuka-tan'. Well, except for in the heat of passion." The second sentence was kind of muttered.

"It doesn't suit you. Even 'Suzuka-chan' is kind of a stretch for a proper lady such as yourself."

"I know you meant that as a compliment, Arisa-chan, but I'm still only 15. Being told that such girlish honorifics don't suit me is kind of depressing."

"Seriously? …Wait, what was that last part?" Suzuka just giggled in reply. "Well, I guess there is one other thing I could call you…Suzuka."

Suzuka paused. "Can I come over to see you in person? Because that was…I really want to see you right now."

"I was hoping you would. Suki and I went shopping yesterday, and I kind of wanted to show off my new clothes for you."

Suzuka grinned. "Be right there, Arisa-tan!"

"…When did I become 'Arisa-tan'?"

"Hi Arisa-tan! Ah, you look so cute!" Suzuka squealed, wrapping her arms around Arisa.

"Uh, thank you…"

"Is something wrong?"

"You're just not acting like yourself."

"Don't be like that, Ari-tan; you're one of the few people who I'll let see this side of me."

"…I'm not entirely sure I like this side of you. Seriously, even Suki-tan doesn't call me 'Arisa-tan'."

"I thought she called you 'sempai'."

"We're not students at the same school anymore. So now I'm 'Arisa-chan'. Makes sense, right?" Suzuka nodded. "Well, come along; there are other outfits for you to see."

"You're going to change in front of me?" Suzuka asked, when Arisa led her into her room.

"Why wouldn't I? I'm an athlete, so I'm used to changing in front of other girls, and besides…it's not like there's anything you haven't seen." She grinned.

"True. And it's certainly nothing I wouldn't mind seeing again."

"Now this is a side of you I could get to like, Suzuka-chan."

"It's always the quiet ones who are the real perverts, you know. Hey, what a rip-off! You don't actually need that! …No offense." And with that she started to remove Arisa's bra.

"Yes, thank you for pointing out how horribly flat-chested I am. Sorry I couldn't measure up to Hayate-san in that regard."

"You're still adorable, pancake breasts and all. You don't have to compete with anyone, okay?"

"O-okay." Arisa was blushing quite a bit, partly because of Suzuka's words and partly because Suzuka had removed the bra and was now massaging her breasts. "Uh…are you going to let me finish modeling for you?"

"…Yeah, I guess. I'm kind of enjoying this right now."

Arisa couldn't help but laugh. "I've really had you pegged all wrong, haven't I?"

"Mm-hm," Suzuka replied. "Being around all of these strong, beautiful women for so long, I've had so many repressed sexual urges that are coming out now."

"What did I tell you about trying to do a seductive voice?"

"You said not to moan."

"Just…just be yourself, okay? God, I really hope you haven't been irreparably damaged by having had your first sexual experience with Hayate-chan." She finished getting dressed. "What do you think?"

"You look beautiful, of course. Now…" she paused to compose her thoughts, "let's see the next one."

"Nice save, but I can still tell that what you really meant was 'now take it off'."

"Sorry, Arisa-chan. I guess I haven't been able to get the other night out of my head, either."

Arisa put her arms around Suzuka. "…I'm sorry too. I've been a bit edgy, I suppose. I should know better than to expect you to be the same meek girl you always were, but…"

"It's okay," Suzuka said, nuzzling Arisa's neck. "I still love you." Were this conversation actually going on in English, such an off-handed use of the word "love" would probably be a much bigger deal, but as noted before, Japanese has multiple words for love and the one Suzuka used was not "the big one".

"I…I love you, too." The one Arisa used, on the other hand…was.

CCX: So this chapter ends pretty much the same way the last one did. And after seemingly defying the running joke last chapter, I ended up keeping it alive after all, and with a Ménage à 3 reference at that. Score! Cyberchao X, signing off.