"So you're not leaving today? You're staying with us for once?" Tsukasa asked, not believing.

"Yup," she said. She said nothing more, and all three stared at the door, waiting for Kagami to walk in. It went unspoken for Konata that she was horribly weary of Kagami's response to her presence. Would she blow up at her? Or just leave?

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Miyuki said comfortingly, as in walked the one for whom they'd all been waiting. Kagami looked normal as of any other day, but the moment she looked over at the three, a surprised look took her. Konata hopes rose for a moment as Kagami continued her approach unbothered and sat with them.

She quietly took out her lunch and ate, as she had done for quite a while by then. They didn't talk much anymore, and they all knew it was because of the tension that had taken them. But Konata sat there as she had used to, Miyuki and Tsukasa waiting for something to happen.

Konata searched herself for something to say, but all that came to mind were jabs at Kagami for eating so much – and that wouldn't help at all. "So," Miyuki spoke up awkwardly, "anything new happening with you, Kagami-san?"

Kagami shrugged and shook her head, a cold air fallen over her. Konata noticed and knew right away it was because she was there. Despite several attempts by Tsukasa and Miyuki to spark conversation, Kagami sat quietly, looking up and offering one word responses, but not once looking Konata's way.

She staid through the whole lunch, and then finally stood to leave. Wordlessly, she left. Konata laughed awkwardly to mask her anguish.

"Heh," she began, "she was giving me such a cold shoulder I thought I'd freeze!" Miyuki giggled supportively, knowing Konata was trying hard not to break down in class. Unfortunately, Tsukasa didn't catch it.

"It's alright Kona-chan, Kagami-chan is really stubborn sometimes," she said in consolatory attempts. "Besides, what does she have to be mad about?"

"Best let sleeping dogs lay," Miyuki said, noting Konata looked highly embarrassed right then. She didn't want to tell anyone yet, and Miyuki understood. Tsukasa nodded but seemed to disagree. She said no more, and went back to her seat. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Miyuki asked.

"She wouldn't even look at me," she said.

"You have to be patient with her," Miyuki said, comfortingly. "She just needs to see you more often, or she'll keep dwelling on her anger and never give you another chance."

Konata nodded sadly but seemed to agree, going back to her seat. As Miyuki sat through the rest of a most uneventful class, she found herself admiring Konata from the side. Miyuki and Konata hadn't really been the closest friends in the world, but Miyuki had always liked her as a person.

She was unscathable, it had seemed. Miyuki had respected her for that, but had also been kind of envious. It was strangely good to see Konata really did feel things, after all. Not that Miyuki enjoyed seeing anyone hurt like that, but somehow it made Konata seem more… accessible?

Miyuki wasn't sure if that was the word, but she was definitely glad that she and Konata were closer than before. Maybe they'd be better friends when this all got sorted out.

The moment she realized she was staring, Miyuki blushed and quickly went back to her notes, forgetting whatever she was thinking of a few seconds ago.

-------

School had passed and Kagami had walked home with Tsukasa in utter silence. And for that, Tsukasa was glad. The last few weeks it had really bothered her that her sister wasn't talking very much, but right then she could barely keep herself quiet.

She tried hard not to say something right then, because she had so much to say to her sister. But still, she held down her temper, knowing she didn't want to argue.

It wasn't till later, standing just outside Kagami's room that her feelings got the best of her. "Why are you being so mean?" Tsukasa asked pointedly. Kagami looked up curiously.

"What?" she asked.

"You're being so cruel to Kona-chan, and I don't get why," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. Kagami struck a humorous look at her sister, who looked very serious right then. Even when she was trying to be angry it ended up looking cute.

"You wouldn't understand," Kagami said. "Don't worry about it."

"Don't tell me not to worry!" Tsukasa demanded, frustrated. "She's my friend too, and you're being totally unfair with her!"

"Look," Kagami said, a hint of her own temper on her voice, "I told you, you wouldn't understand, so let it go, or go ask her if it's bothering you so much." She said this in a rather cold manner that had Tsukasa taken aback. There must've been something really serious behind Kagami's mannerism towards Konata. Kagami noticed her uneasiness.

"I'm sorry for snapping," she said, rubbing her temple as though suffering some mental malady, "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at her."

"Well, I'm mad at you," Tsukasa said. "You're hurting Kona-chan so bad and it's like you blame her for everything! Why can't you just let it go?" Kagami was quiet.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she said.

"Then tell me," Tsukasa asked.

"I told you," her sister rebutted, "ask her yourself."

Tsukasa seemed unable to respond, but quickly went back to her arguing, this time with a more tender manner. "Can you just go talk to her? Work this out?"

"Not a chance," Kagami said, not falling for it. With that, Tsukasa made an exasperated noise and stormed off. Kagami didn't blame her for being mad; she really didn't understand what was going on. Though they were the same age, Tsukasa was Kagami's little sister, and for that Kagami had to forgive her oblivious nature.

It was probably for the best that she didn't know, though. She was still okay with Konata and Kagami was happy for that…

But why was she? What did she care how Konata felt? Konata was a horrible, immoral person, and…

Kagami lay down on her bed. She'd wracked her brain over this for the last month. She didn't know why it was such an issue, but…

Why was she mad at Konata?

Because it was a stupid question. Konata was a… lesbian. Even thinking the word made Kagami cringe. It was wrong, immoral, dirty. Kagami didn't even have enough adjectives in her wide vocabulary to describe it. So that was that.

But still, the question remained. Why was she mad? That wasn't really an answer, was it? So Konata was a lesbian. How did that justify Kagami's feelings and actions towards her? She'd spent a month completely ignoring the girl, making her an exile, and she couldn't really figure out why.

She knew why being a lesbian was wrong, or at least her dad had convinced her she did. Her dad had told her all of that stuff about 'alternative lifestyles,' and all of the sudden Kagami's mind was made up. But what did that really have to do with Konata? Why did her choices make Kagami feel so mad?

Kagami lie in bed and let out a groan of distress. She didn't want to think about this. She just wanted to be angry and leave it at that, but it didn't feel right. She was starting to feel bad about all of this, and she couldn't figure it out.

Who was she supposed to talk to now? Definitely not her family, that much was obvious. If she told any of them that Konata was a lesbian, it would mess her life up even more, and no matter how mad Kagami was, she knew that would be unnecessary.

She could always talk to Naomi-sensei, though… No, that didn't feel right. Again, Kagami felt like sharing such privy information about Konata would be wrong of her. So who else was there?

Well, she did have another option.

-------

"Hey, Miyuki."

Miyuki looked over her shoulder with quite a bit of surprise as Kagami approached her. The two were on their way to school, and Miyuki often caught up with Konata, but never the Hiiragi twins. And that day, Kagami was alone.

"Good morning Kagami-san," she said politely with a smile. Her look didn't give away at all that she was a little worried Kagami was mad at her for forcing her into that confrontation with Konata the day before. "Where's Tsukasa-san? Sick again?"

"Yeah," Kagami said. "Nothing too serious, but she's lazing about at home."

"It's good for her to get some rest. She's been very stressed lately," Miyuki said, alluding to the rift in the group. Kagami harbored a surprisingly guilty twinkle in her eye at that. Miyuki was almost sure she hadn't seen it, but decided to assume she had. "Was there something you wanted to talk about?"

Kagami looked away shyly, rubbing the back of her head. "I wanted to talk about," she began, "you know, Konata and all that…"

"What about it?" Miyuki asked. It was obvious Kagami was speaking on a subject that bothered her sorely. Miyuki had been pretty sure she wasn't just mad about it all.

"Did she tell you?" Kagami asked. Miyuki knew what she meant, even if she wouldn't say it directly.

"Yes."

"And you're still on her side?" Kagami asked. Again, she didn't sound angry, maybe more confused or curious even. Miyuki nodded. "Why? Don't you think it's wrong, or something?"

"Not really. I think it takes a lot of strength to come out like she did with you and me. So I kind of respect her for it," she said. She took a second to consider her real question. It told her that Kagami didn't have a problem with Konata, but with her choice. "And I accept her for who she is. There's nothing wrong with it."

Kagami walked on in silence for a while, head down. "Do you think there is?" Miyuki asked her.

"Of course," she said quickly.

"What?"

"Well," she began, stammering, unable to find a good answer, "it's unnatural, and immoral, or something…" Miyuki raised gave her a curious look at that, though Kagami avoided eye contact. "What?"

"You're not really mad at her, are you?" she asked. Kagami immediately perked angrily.

"Yeah I am," she said. "But, I dunno. Not as mad. I've been really thinking about what I said to her, what I've been doing." Miyuki noted that right then Kagami seemed more vulnerable then she'd ever seen her. She wasn't sure as of right then what it might mean. "I just miss Kona-chan. I feel really bad about what a jerk I've been, but…

"But I'm still angry and I dunno how I really feel…" Kagami trailed off.

"Talking to her might help," Miyuki suggested. Kagami shook her head.

"No way, I'm not ready to see her at all," she said. "And she wouldn't want to talk to me."

"You don't know that. And why are you so afraid of seeing her? She's not mad at you, she just wants to work things out." Kagami shrugged.

"What if I freak out again and say stuff I don't mean?"

"If you had someone there to be like a debate moderator, would that help?"

"When you say it that way, no," Kagami said. Miyuki laughed quietly.

"What I mean is I know someone who could really help," Miyuki explained. Kagami seemed to ponder it, and then shrugged. "Sounds good? Are you ready? Because we can do it today, if you are."

"I don't see why not," Kagami conceded. Miyuki smiled victoriously. Konata had already agreed, and now everything was falling into place in her master plan.