AN: Minna-san! I guess I'd like to give you this as a present in return for all the reviews you've been giving me. They are like presents to me… they ARE presents to me. So thanks guys. Oh and btw Satsuki Rin-san Thanks so much for your review. In truth, I was so happy that I kinda like I dunno probably went berserk. To all those who gave a review and those who want this story to still advance, You got this bros, sis whatever you want me to call you guys. The intertwined feelings-san I won't leave you hanging. Merry Christmas, especially to one of my best buds, Pandah-chan 32. On to the story…

~Shintori Khazumi

"They were never ME." Honoka then broke out into a full sprint leaving everyone dumbfounded.

All Kotori could do was stare at the retreating figure of the person she cared for and yet… could never confess to.

Everyone just stood there in shock, unmoving. When they finally recovered, Everyone decided to look for Honoka. Kotori decided that she needed to fix a lot of things between them. She needed to fix them. NOW. Or soon, because now didn't seem possible.

"Honoka/chan!" Everyone kept calling out to the girl in hopes that she would show herself, but to no avail. Kotori, in particular, was growing more and more restless by the minute.

Kotori's POV:

Where could Honoka-chan be? We haven't searched everywhere, right? I still need to tell her how I feel. How could she have misunderstood what I meant? Actually, now that I think about it, I WAS pretty vague. GAH! This is all my fault.

Normal POV:

"WHAT IF HONOKA-CHAN BECOMES A HOMELESS PERSON?!" Kotori finally lost herself.

"Kotori! Snap out of it!" Nico said, slapping Kotori (hard) in the face.

"She'll be fine. I'm sure of it." Nico reassured Kotori.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't she be? And Nico I don't think it was necessary to slap her in the face." Maki commented.

"Why did you even do it Nico?" Eli asked.

"It was fun." Nico answered nonchalantly, but as she said this, a chill ran down her spine.

"So if I say I rub your breasts because it's fun… You'd allow it?" Nozomi said to Nico, a devious grin plastered on her face and hands at the ready, in a position that was ready to grope a certain twintailed superidol.

"TH-THAT"S DIFFERENT!" Nico screamed, hiding behind Maki. "And besides, aren't we getting off topic here? We need to find Honoka 'cause it's getting colder by the minute." Nico finished, just as a cold breeze swept across the air. All the µ's members huddled closer in attempts to block out the cold by sharing their body warmth.

"It's… snowing." All nine members of µ's turned to look at Umi, who had been quiet for some time, and saw that she was staring at the sky as tiny flakes of snow began falling from heaven.

"Ehem." Eli cleared her throat. Looking around at her fellow schoolmates and also observing the atmosphere around her, she decided that this was enough.

"Everyone," She looked at Kotori in particular. "I'm sorry to say this, but… we have to stop looking for Honoka now. It's getting late, plus it's snowing and it's cold. I don't want any of you getting sick, so…" Eli didn't finish her sentence afraid of the reactions she'd receive from her friends. She was right.

"ARE YOU SAYING WE SHOULD JUST LEAVE HONOKA OUT HERE IN THE COLD, ELI?!" Maki, surprisingly, was the first one to burst. Everyone stared at her in disbelief because she was known for being able to control her feelings better. Now, they had a new profound respect for the red-headed freshman.

"She's right." A soft voice echoed. "We can't just leave our leader alone." Hanayo voiced out.

The rest followed, but Eli needed them to understand.

"Guys-"

"Eli-chi" They all turned to Nozomi, waiting for her decision. She looked at each and every one of them, observing their expressions carefully. She then breathed deeply before saying.

"10 minutes."

"HUH?" Everyone said, confused at what Nozomi meant.

"Eli, Please give us 10 minutes to look for Honoka-chan. Everyone, If we can't find her in 10 minutes then… I'm sorry. Is that a deal?" Everyone was at a loss for words. Nozomi wasn't kidding this time, huh? She seriously meant every word she said. Everyone was thinking the same thing and all they could do was nod in return.

"Ok then, now that we have all agreed to this, use your 10 minutes to the fullest." Nozomi said and everyone decided to split up and look for Honoka and return to this particular spot when 10 minutes were up.

10 minutes left on the clock:

"Honoka! Honoka! Please respond! Where are you?" Eli said, hoping to find her kouhai and leader.

9 minutes left on the clock:

"Honoka-chan! Honoka-chan! Where are you? I'll treat you to a bowl of rice if you show up!" Hanayo screamed.

8 minutes left on the clock:

"Honoka! Where are you, you pig! I'm not cooking for you anymore if you don't show your face!" Nico said angrily, but her anger soon turned into bitter tears.

"If you die, Super idol Nico-nii won't forgive you, you got that!"

7 minutes left on the clock:

"Honoka-nyan! There's a ramen stall hear if you want it!" Rin tried to call out.

6 minutes left on the clock:

"Honoka-chan, please come out. I'll- I'll… I'll cry if you don't" Nozomi said, cold tears running down her face.

5 minutes left on the clock:

"Honoka! Tell me where you are! You'll get sick in this weather you know? Don't be so stubborn… don't be… just be ok." Umi said, anger crumbling like a cookie.

4 minutes left on the clock:

"Honoka! I'll never write a song for you again if you keep hiding! You know we can help you, so come out!" Maki said. "I definitely won't write a song until you come back, you blockhead of a leader."

3 minutes left on the clock:

Eli and Maki bumped into each other and as they were about to say something, they heard sniffling and a broken voice, which sounded too familiar. "Honoka-chan! Please, come back. The w-weather's not good y'know. You'll…" *sniffs* They find the source.

"Nozomi! Are you alright?" They say in unison.

"Eli-chi! Maki-chan!" Nozomi says, still crying. Eli hugs her tight not willing to let go. "Let's go back Nozomi" Eli said. "mmm-mmm… No we haven't found Honoka." Nozomi said, determination in her eyes.

2 minutes left on the clock:

"Kayo-chin? Is that you?" Rin questioned, seeing a figure in the snow that had now started to fall more rapidly, slightly blinding the girl.

"Rin-chan! It's me! Have you found Honoka?" Hanayo yelled, approaching her friend.

"Sorry." Rin said bowing her head.

1 minute left on the clock:

"Oi! Umi! You found Honoka?" Nico said, spotting her underclassman.

"No. Have you?" Umi replied.

"Do you think I'd be asking if I found her?" Nico deadpanned. "And I thought you were more level-headed."

Time: 10 sec….

"HONOKA-CHAN! HONOKA-CHAN, WHERE ARE YOU?" Kotori screamed at the top of her voice, hoping Honoka might hear and respond. It was no use. She heard no reply.

'What have I done' She thought to herself. 'I didn't want this to happen, I just wanted everyone to be happy and yet…'

As tears came to Kotori's eyes, she heard a soft thud. She turned to see a body laying inches away from her with a head of shoulder length, ginger hair.

"HONOKA-CHAN?!"

To be continued…

AN: Hi guys! Khazumi here. It's 10:59 pm and I finally finished this. I mean… I was gonna finish this tomorrow but then I remembered someone who told me to update soon and I told them yeah… I'll update on Christmas or the day after. I guess I felt guilty. I know some might read it Dec 26 still, but at least I feel a bit better than to accidentally forget tomorrow since I'll be busy. I started at 10:25pm or so cause I forgot that the one I promised to update quickly reviewed here and I updated the other story. hehe. Check it out if you like. It's MGLN fanfic though. Merry Christmas guys! This may be the only gift I can give you. hehe. Well, thank you for reading my story and stay tuned.

Love,

~Shintori Khazumi