Lonely No More
by Cyberchao X

Chapter 16

Disclaimer: Disclaiming.

*approximately half a day later*

"Well, someone's certainly glowing today," Shinamori teased.

"Nothing gets past you, Kanna-chan. Yeah, things got a bit wild last night."

"With Togawa-san?"

"…Nope." Suzuka grinned.

"Well, it certainly wasn't me…which only leaves Ari-chan. But she had her girlfriend with her, didn't she?"

"I may have done something that led to Suki-chan learning the truth about me back at the dance. Her reaction was unexpectedly amazing."

"…You're so lucky. So, have you sworn off boys forever yet?"

"Nah, I don't think so. Not yet, anyway."

"…What's with the limousine?" Tatsuke asked.

"I spent the night at Arisa's house," Suki replied.

"…I get the feeling that you like her more than me."

"I love both of you the same," she insisted, kissing him. "Don't you worry. If you're so insecure…perhaps we can make tonight just as special."

CCX: It has suddenly occurred to me that Suki is awfully sexually active for a 13-year-old, especially one in Japan, where morals are a bit more rigid than here in the United States. To which I say "It's just a fan fic; I should really just relax."

*early June*

"Ah, Tsukimura-san…"

Suzuka's face brightened up. "Yes, Kokuro-san? What is it?"

"I need some advice, and since you're one of my only female friends, I thought you'd be a good person to ask. I-I've got a date next weekend, and I really haven't the slightest idea what to do. What do girls like?"

Her face fell. "…I don't really know how much help I can be. Every girl is different."

"So, who's the lucky girl?" Shinamori asked, earning an elbowing from Suzuka.

"Chidori Kusakabe."

"Really." Now it was Arisa's turn to brighten up, and it was hard for her to contain a smile. "Good luck with that."

"Uh, thanks? I don't think we've met…"

"Arisa Bannings."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kokuro Hoshimaru."

"I, well, I guess I could give you some general tips…" Suzuka managed. Kokuro thanked her and walked off. "So, what was with that smile? You got a pretty good idea that it won't really work out?"

"You first. Why so disappointed?"

Suzuka put on an obviously fake smile. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"…Right. Sorry for making light of your feelings. Maybe the idea of you as a pure lesbian is just wishful thinking on my part."

"…So now that you know that much, why the grin?"

"That was completely genuine—although if I'd realized you wanted him for yourself, maybe I shouldn't have been so approving."

"That didn't answer my question."

"Just looking out for a friend."

"Kusakabe? Because it obviously wasn't Kokuro, since you only just met him as it were."

"No, it's not about whom Kusakabe's dating…it's about who she isn't."

"…So that was sarcasm. Should I warn Kokuro-san?"

"I honestly don't know her. But she went to the dance with Kaburagi-chan's crush, so if he's single now it means she might be able to tell him her feelings."

"I see."

After lunch, Arisa told Kaburagi that Jugo and Kusakabe apparently didn't work out. "Now's your chance. You should totally confess to him."

"N-no, I couldn't…I can't be that forward!"

"And why not?"

"Because…well, because… Just because, okay? It's improper for a lady to be so bold…"

"That's an awfully old-fashioned attitude. Now, I'm probably not the best authority on being ladylike, being such a tomboy, but even Suzuka took matters into her own hands when it seemed like she was going to end up without a date to the dance."

"Didn't she have the guys asking her out?"

"Well, yeah…but she did ask one person, and then made sure that others knew that she was still in need of a date. But that type of passive-aggressive behavior wouldn't work here, because we don't have a social function like the dance to work with anymore."

"There's the summer festival later this month…"

"True." Arisa sighed. "Maybe I should just have you ask Suzuka for advice. She seems to be turning into quite the problem-solver, even if she can't seem to help herself."

Suzuka didn't have any student council obligations that day, so she went to the Library Club to see Kokuro. "So, where should we start?"

"You came here? I, uh, I wasn't expecting that… Could we maybe talk later?"

Suzuka hesitated, unsure of why Kokuro was so nervous, but then she remembered—Kusakabe was a Library Club member too; that was likely how they ended up meeting. "Afraid your new girlfriend might get jealous?" she teased.

"She's not my girlfriend…yet. We haven't even had our first date…"

"She shouldn't have any reason to be jealous of me; she's more than pretty enough. But this definitely is a good start. You've obviously got some common ground."

"…I can't just talk about books all night."

"I think you underestimate yourself. You were certainly charming enough on our date."

"You're just saying that."

"I'm not."

"…You really think so?" Suzuka nodded. "Well, thanks…I guess I feel better about it now."

"Glad I could help."

"So how'd things go with Kokuro-san?" Arisa asked on their way home.

"Good enough, I guess. He didn't seem to catch the hint that I actually like him, but I did restore his confidence."

"Good, because I may have another job for you. I'm not much good at 'feminine advice', and Kaburagi-chan isn't too keen on the idea of making the first move."

"Then how does she expect to get noticed by her crush?"

"I have no idea."

"Okay, so why me? I haven't exactly had much experience with having to try to be noticed, my current issues with Kokuro-san aside."

"You're good at helping others. You helped those two class reps, right?"

"…Oh, Miki-chan and Izei-san. Yeah, you're right, I helped them sort out their feelings, and I also helped Kokuro-san… Funny, when I can't seem to help myself?"

"Yeah, I noticed that too…but give it time. I'm sure you'll end up with the right g—person eventually."

"Yeah, I suppose."

The next day, Arisa invited Kaburagi over to have lunch with her, Suzuka, and Shinamori. "Ah, Kaburagi-san…long time no see," Suzuka said, before introducing Shinamori. "So since Arisa-chan has volunteered me to help…what can I do to help?"

"Hell if I know. Do guys actually go for girls who make the first move?"

"It depends on the guy. I've never actually had to make the first move, except for…well, no, actually, I've never had to ask a guy for a first date, although there is one guy who I was apparently too subtle about trying to get a second date with."

"Really. I'd heard that you've had a lot of first dates, but I didn't realize you've been looking for seconds."

"I'm trying out different guys…and most of them suck. But there are some good ones. Then again, Kokuro-san's obliviousness to my feelings was what clued us in to Kusakabe-san no longer dating…"

"Jugo-san," Arisa said.

Suzuka sighed. "…Jugo-san, so I guess from your standpoint it worked out nicely."

"What's with that sigh, Suzuka-chan?" Shinamori asked.

"Nothing. Maybe there's something I'm missing."

Kaburagi didn't even seem to notice Suzuka's apparent disapproval. "So then…"

"…Are you afraid of rejection? Because if that's your problem, then there's nothing I can do to help. It's true that guys don't like to be chased, but at the same time, a love confession can often be very effective. You've got to be willing to set yourself up for that disappointment. Tell him how you feel—however you will; it seems like shy and demure is your main style—and hope that he'll return your feelings. And if he doesn't…well, then like I said, guys don't usually 'play hard to get' so if he says no, then you'll have to move on."

"…I'm not really that shy. But, um…yeah, it sounds like you understand my problem. I'll…I'll try to be brave, and ignore my fear of rejection…" She sighed. "Yeah, right. Like that will ever happen."

CCX: Well, what do you know? It looks like we've found the designated self-insert character—and this one's female! Although obviously, the fact that guys generally are expected to be the ones to make the first move makes my situation considerably worse than Kaburagi's. Anyway, this chapter seems a tad short compared to the last few, but it's actually not too bad. Also, there's an omake!

Omake—Urusai, Suzu-baka!

Arisa: So what's the deal with you and that chibi?

Suzuka: Don't call her that. Miki-chan's really sweet. Actually, she reminds me a lot of you.

Arisa *puts hands on chest*: Sh-shut up! I'm not that small! *blushes*

Suzuka: Ehehe…actually, I was referring more to her demeanor than her physical appearance. She's…a bit short-tempered, but actually very nice. Although you've grown out of your tsundere nature, so I guess it would be more accurate to say that she reminds me of you when we were younger. …If I close my eyes, she even sounds like a 10-year-old Arisa-chan.

Arisa: …She does not.

Suzuka: She totally does.

CCX: I got the idea for the omake when I realized that I had pretty much removed any trace of Arisa's tsundere personality, but then I realized that I made up for it by introducing a very tsundere OC in Miki Ichirei. Add in the highly loli appearance, the fact that my personal vision of her includes grade A zettai ryouiki (not grade S, because she wants to be treated as the young woman she is rather than the little girl she appears to be and therefore wouldn't be caught dead in twintails)…and it became obvious that she's yet another Shana clone and therefore would probably be voiced by Rie Kugimiya…Arisa's seiyuu. Hence Suzuka's comment about Miki sounding like Arisa. This is Cyberchao X, signing off.