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Ch. 30: Home ground disadvantage

"… What's this?"

"A futon."

"I-I know it is a futon… but…" Kogasa stared at the futon, a little hurt.

"Well then, good night!" Suika greeted cheerfully and quickly flopped into the futon.

"A-Ah… Okay…" Kogasa slumped her shoulders sadly and slipped into the futon as well.

With a day and night's grace given by Reimu, this was the second night Kogasa was to spend in the house. Of course, due to a lack of rooms for accommodation, Kogasa was to still spend the night in Suika's room. But that was fine. Suika had gotten rather comfortable with Kogasa actually.

"G-Good night…" came Kogasa's unenthusiastic greeting from across the room as the two girls lay in their separate futons.

Especially given the fact that they were sleeping with a good four meters between them.

Suika snuggled herself into warm cosiness. Ahhh! Nothing beats sleeping after a good, solid meal topped with several servings of sake. Her belly felt like it had its own personnel warmer strapped to it, and the night air outside was not so bad. It was pretty cool actually, with a nice breeze coming in through the windows. Rustle… rustle… The soft leaves of the trees outside in the shrine grounds, accompanied by the gentle sound of futon against tatami harmoniously sang to Suika a luring lula- Hang on.

Repeat? Futon against tatami? … I know what this means, came a voice from the back of Suika's head, which Suika tried to ignore by squeezing her eyes tight.

Rustle… rustle… ruffle… plomp!

Nnghhh…! Suika kept her eye lids screwed shut. Maybe she could fall asleep before-

"S-Sorry Suika? But do you mind if I shift my futon here?" came the warmth of Kogasa's pleading voice.

D-Damn! She's that close? ! Suika kept still, making sure to keep her breathing steady. A difficult task, considering her heart was drumming like mad.

"… Oh? A-Are you asleep already?" Kogasa asked a little sorrowfully, with enough force to stab Suika in the conscience.

Argh… I-I didn't mean to bluff her like that… Suika thought guiltily as she kept her lips tight, fearing that her Oni nature may forcefully urge her to answer truthfully should she open them. But if she turned to greet Kogasa now, Kogasa would surely see the blood in her cheeks… She musn't see that! For some reason… It'll… It'll look bad on me for some reason…

"Oh… Well then, good night!" Kogasa happily greeted what she thought was a sleeping Suika and flopped into her futon once again, only this time with a mere millimetre between the two.

... Suika's heart was racing as she heard the sound of Kogasa sink into her blankets, but at least for now, she'd have peace and quiet-

"Oops! I almost forgot!" came Kogasa's breath against Suika's cheeks. "Chu! Good night!"

… Rustle… rustle… The sound of the leaves of the trees gently accompanied Suika's rapid crash landing into unconsciousness.

DAY THREE

"Gooood Morning Everyone! ! !" came Kogasa's cheerful voice from the hallway as Reimu and Suika were seated around the table for breakfast.

"M-Morning…" Suika uneasily and a little reluctantly returned the greeting. That was a kiss… Last night's was definitely a kiss, right…? It wasn't just a dream, right….?

"Morning!" Reimu greeted courteously. "I see someone is in high spirits- Woah…"

"Yup! It sure feels good today doesn't it?" Kogasa came bouncing through the doorway. As in, "bounce". Like, "bouncing in a towel" that sort of bounce.

"Hi hi!" Kogasa entered the room, all relaxed and squeaky clean but most importantly, wrapped tight in a full body towel with her wet turquoise hair dangling sexily from a hair towel. "Ahh! A bath in the morning sure is nice, isn't it?"

… Reimu unconsciously put her hands to her body, her face a mixed expression of astonishment and envy while Suika frantically grabbed a nearby robe and rushed to Kogasa's side.

"K-Kogasa! Quick! Put this on!" Suika hurriedly draped the robe over Kogasa's shoulders.

"B-But why?" Kogasa looked at Suika, puzzled. "I'm indoors, aren't I?"

"Y-Yes you're indoors but this isn't your house!" Suika whispered frantically as she fussed over the rooobe OH GAWD! Suika forced a palm to her suddenly highly pressurized nose as she just happened to gaze over Kogasa's shoulders into the delightful valley between the gentle hills and the fluffy towel.

"Th-They aren't that big but…" Reimu uttered with awe, her ego being dealt a soul crushing defeat, for she had always held the impression of Kogasa being petite. "So… She wasn't that slender after all…" Reimu unwittingly thought out loud.

"Y-You shut up!" Suika was momentarily distracted from the valley as her own figure was once again put into question. "At least you have something!"

"U-Urm… Everybody?" Kogasa sweat dropped. "I-I don't know what's the commotion all about, but if you want me to get dressed now-"

"Of course we want you to get dressed now!" Reimu and Suika rounded on her.

"O-Okay...!" Kogasa complied nervously. "Just… H-Hang on a minute…" she began to remove her towel on the spot.

"W-Wait! Right here? !" exclaimed the slim duo.

"Here we go!" the towel came fluttering down to Kogasa's ankles and enlightenment was revealed.

"…! I get it now…" Reimu whispered quietly as Suika could only gape at enlightenment. "I understand… I completely understand…"

"K-Kogasa…" Suika's visual nerves were fried and her thinking box rendered incoherent.

"Suika...?" Reimu began slowly, "I'll bomb you, and you bomb me, okay?"

"Wh-what?"

"I said, I'll bomb you, and you bomb me, okay?"

"Wait… Wait no Reimu!"

"I understand now…"

"No! No Reimu! You're still young! You'll grow-"

"We'll both go pichu~n…"

"No Reimu! ! !You still have much to live for! You have to live! You have to liiivvveee! ! !"

Kogasa stared as Suika shook an empty-eyed Reimu by the shoulders, shouting nonsense desperately with tears gushing from her eyes.

"Urm… D-Do I get dressed now?"

DAY FOUR

"Hello guys!" Kirisame Marisa entered the living room, bringing with her the day's pickings of mushrooms. "Heh… Hope you won't chase me away this time for being uninvited Reimu because look at what I brought-" Marisa stopped short at the sight of Reimu sighing and resting her head on the table, looking every bit depressed.

"Wh-What's up with her?" Marisa asked a tired looking Suika who was seated across the table to Reimu.

"Don't fret about it Marisa, she's been like that since yesterday… Hello Sanae," Suika greeted the blue-white exhaustedly following close behind Marisa, she too bringing with her a small spread of summer food.

"Hello Suika-san! Hello Reimu-chan!" Sanae started off sweetly, but then stopped short at the sight of the depressed Reimu.

"Wh-What's wrong, Reimu?" Sanae quickly rushed to Reimu's side and looked a Marisa and Suika worriedly for an explanation.

"Dunno, she's been like that since yesterday," replied Marisa, as if she were in the know.

"B-But why?" Sanae asked Marisa.

"Yah, why?" Marisa relayed to Suika.

"It's because of Kogasa…" Suika sighed.

"Yah, it's because of Kogasa da ze… Obviously…" Marisa parroted back. "Wait… Who's Kogasa? Why does she sound so familiar?"

… Crash! All heads turned to see a shocked Kogasa stare straight in Sanae's direction, the afternoon tea tray dropped at her feet.

"Ko-ga-sa…" Sanae said, as something came back from memory to her.

"Sa-na-e…" Kogasa similarly mouthed.

"Oh, that's right!"

"Th-That's right…"

"Were'nt you the one I tried to exterminate back then!" "Eeek! She's the one that tried to exterminate me back then!"

A scarred (nope, not a typo) Kogasa ran to Suika's side while Sanae reflexively whipped out her gohei as if to finish unfinished business.

"Nooo! Protect me Suika!"

"S-Sanae! Put that thing away! Don't worry Kogasa, she won't hurt you…"

"Eh, ah! S-Sorry! Wh-Why did I take it out…?"

"Eh… You really need to learn how to control yourself rookie… How you keep making it into the main series as a playable character is anyone's guess… Anyway, I'll just put these mushrooms here, okay Reimu?"

"Reimu?" Marisa repeated, not getting a reaction from the red-white miko. Suddenly, Reimu sat up, her eyes wide and tearing a little.

"R-Reimu?" Marisa was starting to get a little worried, but got cut off before she could ask further.

"Aaarrrggghhh! Where did Kogasa get such a nice body? !" Reimu had the last wail.

DAY FIVE

"I was just thinking…"

"Yes Kogasa?"

"We don't really behave like a couple, do we?"

"Hurp!" Suika suddenly felt her heart block the base of her oesophagus. Kogasa and Suika were seated alone in Suika's room about the tea table, enjoying an afternoon tea while Reimu was out with her miko duties.

"Hey… Heeey… Why are you looking away, Suika?" Kogasa shook Suika by the shoulder as Suika looked away.

"A-A couple?" Suika was feeling highly uncomfortable.

"You remember what I said back then at the Myouren temple?" Kogasa said, "I was being serious you know!"

"… Yah, I remember…" Suika scratched her head and stared out into the trees outside her room. Were they yellowing a little? Oh yeah… autumn's pretty close actually, isn't it…? "Well… I also seemed to remember that you said you were the one who was going to win me over," Suika sneakily brought up.

"Oh… So it's my fault then?" Kogasa crossed her arms with a hint of annoyance in her voice, then lowered her head a little sadly as she looked at Suika out of the corner of her eye. "So you're really content to just be my friend then, huh?"

"W-Well… What's so bad about that?" Suika could feel the air in the room getting heavier. "I- I mean, this whole thing was your idea! You decided on it unilaterally-" Suika paused as she noticed Kogasa look really downcast.

"Ah… Aw c'mon! I-It's not like I don't like you right? A-At least that's got to be something!" Suika tried to get closer to Kogasa to comfort her in some way, but before she could move, Kogasa had already closed that distance with a hand on Suika's upper arm.

"But I'm not content!" Kogasa said with a serious look in her eyes.

"… S-So what do you want me to do about it?" Suika asked surprised at how assertive Kogasa could be.

"I want you to fall for me!" Kogasa said unabashedly.

"A-Ahhh… I… don't think that's how it works…" Suika chuckled awkwardly, finding what Kogasa said more funny than weird.

"Hmmm! I'm not joking!" Kogasa pouted, then sighed. "Hah… I'll have to leave soon, you know…" she said quietly, almost to herself rather than to Suika.

"Uh… Yeah, I guess…" Suika was suddenly reminded of the situation too. That's right… I've not thought of how to help out Kogasa yet…

"Well, I don't mind leaving. I don't want to inconvenience Reimu-san anymore than I have to, and I know where to find you anyways…" Kogasa said, "But I thought I would have at least closed the distance between us during this time…" she mused disappointedly.

Suika's heart started to skip beats. Argh… Th-This girl…! How can she talk about such… such embarrassing things so openly? ! At to openly state that she wants to make me fall for her so easily… T'ch… Does she think I'm that easy-

Chu!

E-Eh…?

Suika felt the top of her forehead. It was moist with saliva. Suddenly, she noticed Kogasa right in front of her smiling cheekily. D-Did she…? When I was distracted… Did she…? !

"Do you feel closer to me now?" Kogasa asked, happy about her surprise assault.

Suika buried her burning cheeks in her cool, clammy palms. Urgh… This has been such a tiring week…