"Are you sure you want to do this?" Miyuki asked, hands on Konata's shoulders, standing behind. For the second time in two days, she was staring down that damn door. This time, though, it was at least three times more threatening, knowing that Kagami was sitting in there, waiting for her.

The very concept of seeing the girl again scared her senseless, despite how much she thought about her. And this time, Kagami had said she'd wanted to talk, so maybe she wanted to reconcile?

But remembering how mad she'd been only yesterday, she found that highly unlikely. Maybe she just wanted another chance to chew her out. She looked up at Miyuki though, and the look in her eyes was somehow comforting. Like everything would work out, and even if it didn't, Miyuki would still be there for her after.

So Konata put on the bravest face possible and steeled herself, nodding. She opened the door and Naomi and Kagami looked up.

"Good morning Izumi-san, nice to see you again," Naomi said, motioning to the chair by Kagami. "I actually have enough chairs today," she joked to Miyuki, "isn't that wonder…" she trailed off, realizing she was one short once again.

"I'll stand," Miyuki said politely again. Naomi nodded apologetically, and turned to the two girls. They were looking anywhere but at each other right then, and Konata looked nervous enough to die where she sat.

"Well, Hiiragi-san," Naomi began, "I'm glad you decided to come and talk with Izumi-san. It's good that you're ready to start rebuilding that great thing you two had." At that, Kagami almost jumped out of her seat.

"I'm not here to rebuild anything!" she quickly blurted.

"Then why are you here?" Naomi asked.

"Because I can't think up good enough a reason to be mad anymore," she said simply, her tsundere attitude retaking her. Konata, though, took it just as it sounded – emotionally distressed as she was. Miyuki noticed her posture slouching further, as though she might fall through the seat.

"Why were you mad in the first place?" Naomi asked, trying to get to the root of the issue.

"Because," she began, "lesbians are just disgusting." Kagami seemed to stop short just after saying it, as though what she said had been way too mean, but she sucked it up and offered no apology to the still silent Konata. Naomi seemed slightly perturbed by her response. This topic was straying out of her jurisdiction. If this was a familial belief, then trying to change a student's mind on it could be potentially disastrous for the school…

"What makes you think that?" Naomi pressed, her voice gentle as ever in her inquisition.

"My dad told me," Kagami said with a shrug. Naomi suppressed the urge to cringe at her answer. This could be really touchy – lawsuits and Hell of the likes Naomi never wanted to know might ensue…

But, looking over Konata, how broken up she was, and remembering what great friends these two had been, she decided it was her duty.

"What did your dad tell you?"

"He told me it was totally immoral, and unnatural," Kagami explained. "You know, stuff like that." Naomi nodded.

"Okay. So your dad told you that and you made up your mind about Izumi-san through it?" Kagami nodded, thinking that sounded right. "And you were mad at her because of what your dad said?"

"Well, no," Kagami began, "I mean, that was a part of it, but there was more… My dad told me one thing, and I thought another thing, and I felt something completely different," she explained, elaborating with hand gestures, sounding like she didn't know what she meant herself.

"You were on overload, right? So you freaked out." Kagami shrugged. "Okay, Izumi-san, is it okay if I ask you some questions now? I just want to get a good feeling for how you two feel."

"Sure," she said quietly.

"What made you decide to confess to Hiiragi-san?" Konata looked utterly embarrassed, and looked up at Miyuki for guidance, but she just smiled supportively.

"I thought she felt the same way," she muttered. "I really liked her…" She looked over at Kagami sadly, "I still like you a lot, and I'm really sorry for it."

"And see, that's why I was mad," Kagami snapped, standing up. "Didn't you take even a second to think how I might react? Now we're all stuck in this mess because you can't just keep your thoughts to yourself!" she snapped, pacing angrily.

"Hiiragi-san, please calm down. We're not here to point fingers at each other, okay?" Kagami crossed her arms and huffed.

"Fine," she conceded uneasily. "I just don't get how she thought I could ever feel that way for her," she said, motioning at Konata but not directly addressing her.

"How did you feel? You said you felt a different way than your dad had wanted you to."

"I didn't mean it like that," she explained. "I meant, I was just too confused to figure anything out right then."

"Is that why you were mad? Because you felt like Izumi-san hadn't thought of your feelings?" Naomi asked. Miyuki and Konata waited expectantly for an answer.

"I don't know," she said, pacing again, "I guess so." There was silence for a moment as Naomi waited for someone to say something, hoping that she had accomplished something with that line of questioning. Finally, Kagami turned to Konata with a conflicted look, somewhere between angry and distressed. "Okay, so I didn't mean everything I said," she admitted.

"I was just," she stammered, not sure what she was trying to say, "confused. So I'm sorry for being a complete jerk."

"I don't care about that," Konata said, beaming, but eyes teary under her strained emotions. She pulled Kagami into an embrace. "I just want you back!" Kagami struggled and pushed her off.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Kagami snapped, prying the smaller girl off. Konata's spirits sank at the tsundere's angry look. She felt a little relief to note this anger wasn't the cold rage she'd thrown at her before, but more like her old, stubborn anger. "I'm not making up with you, I'm just apologizing for being mad for no reason."

"But you don't think I'm a freak?" Konata asked. "Please forgive me," Konata begged sadly. Kagami frowned, conflicted, but said nothing.

"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings and all, Konata," Kagami conceded, "but I just need time. I want to think about all this…" With that she quickly took up her things, and almost as though it hurt her to do so, rushed out the door.

Konata sat in shocked silence. "I really thought everything was going to work out," she muttered, sounding defeated. Miyuki sat beside her and stroked her chin, making her look up at her.

"Hey, don't cry," Miyuki said sweetly, wiping tears from her cheek. "It's not all bad. She talked to you for once, and now things can get better, right?" Konata sniffled.

"That's right," Naomi said from her desk, trying to ease Konata's obvious despair. She could tell that Konata thought there was no way things could be fixed, but that just wasn't true. "Hiiragi-san needs time to sort her thoughts out."

"You guys keep saying she needs more time, but nothing's changed!" Konata snapped, disappointment and frustration in her eyes and on her voice, running off. Miyuki looked back at Naomi, who seemed unconcerned.

"She'll be fine, she obviously has some thinking to do, herself," Naomi said, easing Miyuki's great concern, written plainly across her face. "But I'm sure she could use a friend right now." Miyuki nodded.

"Thank you again, Naomi-sensei," she said politely, albeit hurriedly, as she rushed out the door after Konata.

-------

The halls had been completely empty except for Konata as she ran on, looking for anywhere to be alone for a second. She was crying silently, but she didn't care. For a while, she'd really thought she and Kagami would work things out.

But hadn't Kagami just outright told her that they wouldn't? She might as well have.

She found herself on the rooftop, sitting in her old spot, crying softly to herself. She kept thinking about everything Kagami had said to her, how cold and uncaring she'd been… She sobbed harder, drawing her legs to her.

Miyuki heard her sorrow as she stepped onto the otherwise empty roof, and felt her own heart ache for the girl. She sat by her quietly, and after a few wordless seconds, wrapped her arms around her. She held her close and Konata quickly collapsed into her, letting out all the emotions she'd pent up for those past weeks.

"I love her so much!" Konata managed between sobs. "Why won't she love me back…?"

"I don't know, Konata," Miyuki said sympathetically, holding her tighter. "But you deserve so much better than this..." As Konata calmed herself down, Miyuki whispered soothing words to her, rubbing her back comfortingly. Eventually, Konata sat back with a sniffle.

"I deserve whatever I get," Konata said bitterly. Miyuki brushed Konata's long blue hair from her eyes and then laid a hand over the other girls. Konata gave her a look that made Miyuki's heart swell, one of genuine hurt and loneliness.

"No, you deserve to be happy," Miyuki said. "You're a beautiful person in every way, no matter what anyone says. You're brave and strong and kind and loving," Miyuki said, holding her hand and smiling at the girl as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "You can't keep beating yourself up over what Kagami-san thinks. Maybe there's no changing it, but you still have your dad, and Tsukasa-san and me."

Konata nodded sadly and hugged her again. She felt strangely calm in Miyuki's arms, and thought she could just stay there forever. She knew that she couldn't though, and that her fantasy wasn't real. Kagami was done with her.

Again she found herself crying softly, but Miyuki didn't mind, shushing her softly. "Just let it out," she said.

It wasn't long before Konata released herself from Miyuki's hold, and sat slumped on the bench, looking out into the cityscape. She sighed, and the sound was as depressed as anything. Miyuki laid a hand on her knee and scooted closer, smiling.

"How are you holding up?" she asked. She knew from experience that crying often made her feel better – something that might surprise people to hear her admit as such a proper young lady, but she was a teenage girl, after all.

"Better, I guess," she said quietly. "I'm sorry for messing everything up."

"It's not your fault. And me and Tsukasa-san will still be your friends," Miyuki explained. Konata smiled and nodded.

"Yeah," she said, but the tone of her voice somehow seemed to say 'but I want Kagami.' Miyuki put an arm around the smaller girl's shoulders.

"Buck up, Konata," she said supportively, "there'll be other girls." Konata laughed at that, and the sound made Miyuki laugh too, out of relief.

"I never thought I'd hear someone tell me that," she laughed, humor back in her voice. She smiled up at Miyuki with that usual cat-like grin, and Miyuki was happy to see it. "Do we have to go back to class?" she asked.

"I think so," Miyuki laughed at Konata's cute face. Konata nodded.

"I look like a mess, don't I?" she asked.

"Well your eyes are a little red, but no one will be able to tell," Miyuki began, "because you're so far below their eye level." Konata gave Miyuki a surprised look, and then squeezed her tight with a happily affectionate attitude.

"Yuki-chan told a joke! I'm so proud," she said. "Maybe I've taught you a thing or two?" Miyuki wrapped her arms around the girl once more, smiling now, heart swelling with happiness, knowing she'd brought her old Konata back.

"Definitely."

In the quiet, the two sat together in each others arms for seemed like forever, until Miyuki finally spoke up. "You still have to go back to class, though."