Wowee, my kittens! Can you believe it? It's been exactly one year since I posted chapter one of this masterpiece! REEeE!

I simply couldn't let the day pass without posting another chapter! Sorry I haven't posted in so long, I've just been busy, well, you know, dealing with involuntary employee drama. These things happen. Anyways, this chapter gets pretty dramatic! Enjoy it, kittens!

(ALSO I KNOW I SAID THIS CHAPTER WOULD BE ABOUT MORISHIGE AND MAYU BUT I WAS LYING SO WHATEVS)

Chapter 18: Life Without Anniversaries Isn't Life At All

Seiko knocked on the door loudly.

No reply.

Seiko knocked again, louder this time.

Still no reply.

Seiko wasn't in a patient mood. She grabbed a nearby Shion Sonozaki body pillow (that was rock hard from all of the various dried-up bodily fluids caked on its surface) and used it as a battering ram to knock down Naomi's door. What she saw next she soon wouldn't forget.

"Naomi? Mochida? W-What are you guys doing?"

Sitting on the floor, wrapped in each other's embrace, was Naomi and Satoshi who were totally making out. It was really gross and they probably got cooties later that day so whatevs. It seemed that Seiko's feeble whisper of an exclamation wasn't enough to get their attention, which was obviously diverted elsewhere.

Seiko's fists tightened. In the two years she and Naomi had been together, they had never even dared to hold hands, much less touch lips. And now, just a few mere days after they had broken up, Naomi was sitting there swapping spit with a boy of all people. This wouldn't do. This couldn't do. Seiko couldn't believe it. Seiko felt rage and sorrow all at once bubble up to her blushing surface. Her fists clenched even tighter.

"T-Tournament…"

It wasn't enough, they still didn't hear her.

Slightly louder this time: "T-Tournament… Arc…"

It still wasn't enough. They were still locked into an impassioned embrace.

"TOURNAMENT ARC!"

That did it. The both of them jumped in surprise and turned quickly to see who now stood over them. Naomi looked a bit shocked, while Satoshi only scooted back in embarrassment, hiding his effeminate face. Naomi's shock didn't last long as it quickly boiled into anger and then fizzled out into indifference.

"Oh, it's you. Who let you in?" Naomi said sharply.

Seiko couldn't look her in the face, so she looked at the ground instead. She wanted nothing more in that moment than to run home and bury her face in her pillow and cry. "Naomi… Just now, you were-"

"Yes, it's official now. Me and Satoshi are boyfriend and girlfriend."

"But… you and I, we never-"

"Never what, kissed? Yeah, I guess not. I suppose that just goes to show how shallow our relationship was, right?" Naomi stood up and started to pace the room. She was blushing, too. "I mean, it's no wonder we broke up! You couldn't even muster the courage to hold my hand, for goodness sakes! And my birthday? Forget it! Literally! You forgot my birthday three years in a row even though we've known each other our entire lives."

"Naomi…"

"What?! Naomi what?! What do you want from me? What could you have possibly come here to tell me?

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… Naomi, I'm sorry."

Naomi turned and saw tears falling from Seiko's face, still glued to the ground. "W-Well, you should be!" This was starting to become uncomfortable. "You should be… And… And it's too late now, anyway! I've found someone better! Someone who actually cares! She- er, he's perfect!"

Satoshi had slipped out the door unnoticed long ago.

"Naomi… Please… Please give me another chance," Seiko sniveled, "Please, Naomi! It hurts not to be with you!" The idiotic idea of a tournament had faded from Seiko's mind. Now all she could do was grovel. "I'll be better! I can do better! I've learned my lesson, Naomi, just please take me back! I'm sorry that I got caught up in my YouTube fame! I'm sorry I forget your birthday! I'm sorry that I wouldn't watch hentai with you! I'm sorry for everything, Naomi!"

Seiko suddenly looked up into Naomi's eyes and reached for her hand. Naomi pulled back and looked away. A tear began forming in her eye, too. "I think it's time for you to leave, Seiko."

There was nothing left to do. She had tried her best. Tears still streaming, she solemnly walked out of Naomi's room, past Satoshi, and out the door.

Satoshi timidly stood in Naomi's doorway and looked at her.

"I think it's time for you to leave, too, Satoshi."

"I… I'll see you tomorrow? I guess?"

"...Yeah. Tomorrow."

Sheesh, that was dramatic! I CAn'T beLieVe NaoMi diiid thaat!

I sure hope the next chapter isn't so dreary.

Will Nao-nao get back with Seik-seik? You'll find out eventually!

CAT-ch YA L8ER H8ERS (=´∇｀=)