Lonely No More
by Cyberchao X

Disclaimer: This is a non-profit undertaking. Well, nothing tangible, anyway. My happiness from writing and having my work read is all the profit I get.

Chapter 27

*January 1*

"A cat pun? Seriously? Well, it does explain our antagonism…bitch."

"I thought that was your job," Arisa shot back.

"That was horrible the first time," Suki said, "and it's still horrible now."

"Speaking of bitches, look what I found," Tatsuke interjected, dragging Hanna behind him. "So, you chose neither of us?"

"She chose neither of us," Arisa confirmed.

"You guys better not start another incident. One visit from the police was enough for one night," Suzuka tried to mediate.

"Was it enough, or was it one too many?" asked Tatsuke. "Tsukimura-san, did you by any chance catch the name of the officer who came to sort out the first disturbance?"

"Er, I wasn't really paying attention, why?"

"Was it by any chance Cpl. Aoba?"

"Yeah, I think that sounds right…what are you getting at?"

"It means that these two nudniks had another accomplice. Cpl. Aoba's daughter is quite the fan of Watagami-chan's."

"Eh? What are you talking about, Bannings?! Mayu-chan's the straightest arrow I know," Hanna said.

"Why does everyone always assume there's a romantic angle? You of all people should be above that, Watagami-chan. And I should slug you for addressing me without an honorific."

"Let go of me, Hayama-sempai. If it's a fight she wants, it's a fight she'll get."

"She isn't serious, is she? That suddenly large chest's about to swell up a lot more."

"Goddamnit, what I wouldn't give to be able to fire a Starlight Breaker right now," Suzuka thought. "Enough! Fighting!"

"But…"

"No," Suzuka insisted, and latched onto Arisa.

"Suzuka, let me go!"

"Mm-mm. Not going to let you get in trouble." She lowered her voice to a whisper so only Arisa could hear. "And since I can't Starlight Breaker your ass into listening to me like Nanoha-chan would, I'm just going to have to hold you until you calm down."

Hearing Nanoha's name and signature attack calmed her down a bit. "Yeah…Nanoha wouldn't want me to do this."

"Bannings-san? It looks like you have someone else who really loves you. I can't speak for Hanna-chan, but I don't want to have to fight you. Can you…can you please just give me this?"

"Watagami-chan easily cares for you just as much as Suzuka-chan cares for me, so your argument's kinda invalid…"

"But you love Tsukimura-san back. I care about Hanna-chan, but I don't have any romantic feelings for her, and…I don't think she has any for me, either."

"And you don't think it's the same with me and Suzuka-chan?" Katsura shook her head, and Suzuka was somewhat shocked. "…Yeah, you're right. Good eye, Himi…Katsura-san."

"You're backing down?" Tatsuke and Suki both asked incredulously.

"…Yeah. I still love you, Suki-tan…but I'm a woman of my word. I said it was your choice, and that I wouldn't be insulted if you didn't choose me."

"Actually you said you wouldn't feel insulted if I chose Tatsu-kun…" Suki pointed out.

"Well, at the time I thought that he and I were the only two options. But more importantly, the kitten's got a good point. I think…maybe the right girl for me has been there all along."

"I should've come here in the first place," Kokuro said. "Sorry I wasn't here earlier, Chi-chan."

"It's okay, but…why the change of heart?"

"Oh, no reason…"

"She kissed you, didn't she?"

"What? Who?!"

"The class rep. Tsukimura-san. I…see the way she looks at me. It…made me feel good, to think that there was someone jealous of me, though I felt horrible about thinking that way…"

"You could tell that she had a crush on me?" Kusakabe nodded. "I could've done something before it came to this…"

"Would you have? You're such a nice person…"

"I'm not sure if I like the implication there…"

"It's a good thing!"

"Well, if anything, that would make me the type to let someone down gently."

"Th-that's true. You are so very gentle…"

"Again, I know you mean well but I'm not sure if I like the way that sounds."

Kusakabe smiled. "Silly male pride."

*a few days later*

"Hey, I think it actually is working!" Miki said happily.

"What is?" Izei asked.

"The 'having a boy rubbing your breasts makes them grow' thing! Look, don't they look bigger to you?"

"Miki-chan…"

"Don't they feel bigger to you?"

"You're insatiable, you know that?"

"Hmph. Most guys would kill for a girlfriend who is so eager to give him access to her breasts," she said, puffing out her bared chest even further.

"There's eager and then there's overeager," Izei countered.

"You don't care one way or the other if they grow, do you? Maybe you even like flat-chested girls…but I don't think that's it. I think you don't care how I fill out a top as long as I can fill out a miniskirt. Is that it? Because I've been a horribly foul little girl…perhaps you should put me over your knee and spank me?" She obligingly pulled down her panties.

"Miki-chan, what's with the sudden interest in kinky stuff like that?"

"I'm just trying to find out what you like. Based on our interlude on New Year's Eve, you seem to enjoy my bottom quite a bit…"

"I enjoy all of you. Except for this perverted part that keeps coming out."

"Do you really hate my perverted side?"

"I didn't say I hated it; I said I didn't enjoy it."

"…I love you, Izei."

"I love you too, Miki."

"Did I do the right thing?" Arisa asked.

"I'm not exactly the best person to ask that question. You know full well I approve of your decision."

"I really thought she and I had something special. The two of us even told her the truth about Nanoha-chan and the others."

"Arisa…"

"I know, I know. I'm a silly, silly girl who should just shut up and enjoy the budding sex goddess snuggled up in my bed with me."

"Yes, you should," Suzuka said, perfectly deadpan despite being extremely embarrassed at being called a budding sex goddess.

"I can deal with that." She kissed her best friend and lover. "Love ya, Suzuka."

"Love you too, Arisa."

Omake 1—Loose Ends

"Hey, cutie," Kanna said. "Haven't seen you around school."

"Oops! You caught me. I'm a party crasher," Mayu replied.

"I'd crash you, alright…"

"…Sorry, but I'm straight."

"The cute ones always are."

Omake 2—Author Allusion

"I can deal with that." She kissed her best friend and lover. "Love ya, Suzuka."

"Love you too, Arinya."

"…Arinya? You do know that I'm not too big on cats right now, right?"

"S-sorry…but even if one of them stole your girlfriend away, I'll always be a cat person."

"Whatever…Chuzuka."

"'Chuzuka'?! Your thing is dogs; couldn't you at least call me 'Suzuwan' or something?"

"Eh, not so big on dogs at the moment either. Had enough bitches."

"…Let's forget this pet name thing."

"Sounds good to me."

CCX: …Um.

I said last chapter that this was driving us closer to the conclusion, but I didn't expect it to end this quickly. But…there's not much more to say. I think…I think this is it. Everything seems to be wrapped up neatly. Guess I'll have to get my act together and break the writer's block on Scarlet Devil Rhapsody. But hey, look on the bright side…there's a C2 that's already taken some of my other works that specifically says it only takes finished pieces. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before this gem makes its way in there. This is Cyberchao X, signing off.