The constant drill of the alarm jerked Shira into consciousness, causing her to flip out of the bed. She managed to break her fall with her face and she lay on the ground for a few moments, considering throwing the phone out the window and crawling back into bed. It was the first day back at school and she could not think of anything worse. Opening one eye she pushed herself up, grabbing her phone with one hand. She puched the red button to shut the stupid thing up and then collapsed back on the floor. It was acceptable to be fashionably late to the first day of the new term, right?

"Tamiko, you better be out of bed!" Arisu called as her fist connected with the wood of the door. Shira groaned, rolling onto her stomach and crawling towards the door. Her body decided that it wasn't quite ready to get up yet and she just laid down in the middle of the floor, her chin nuzzled into the shag rug and her eyes glued to the door. She should be getting up, but that required effort and that was something Shira seemed to be lacking that morning.

"I'm out of bed!" Shira called back, seeing the shadows of her mothers feet under her door. She heard Arisu make an unimpressed noise that was half way between a snort and a sigh.

"Are you off the floor?"

"... No."

"Hurry up then, or you have to walk to school!" Shira made a noise that was a long, drawn out groan that rumbled up from her stomach to her throat. Apparently it was very amusing because Arisu started laughing hysterically on the other side of the wood.

"Fine, give me five more minutes though!"

...

Takami hummed happily as she swayed from side to side, watching as her noodles gently heated up in the microwave. She could hear her father padding around upstairs, getting ready for his own day ahead. Her mother had already left for the middle school, she was a teacher and her excitement had made her leave early. The microwave dinged and Takami hurriedly pulled the foam cup out, placing it gently on the table before grabbing chop sticks.

Her father was in his study already, and pretty soon he would be on his computer. Takami hurriedly finished her noodles, fixing the tie around her neck as she did so. She wasn't fond of the uniform for Iwozuka but it wasn't the worst the she had seen. The skirt was grey and the shirt white and button up, the vest a dark velvety green with the schools emblem blazened on it in gold.

As soon as she finished her noodles she threw the cup away and turned the coffee maker on. Her mother had forgotten to and her dad wouldn't be able to find the button. He was fine with computers, but any other piece of technology he was sooner to destroy than to work. She skipped up the stairs, excitement brimming in her chest. She enjoyed school, much more than any other of the girls, and the idea of going back made her extremely excited.

"Annaisha, are you going now?"

"Not yet, just need to brush my teeth and then I'm off!" Takami called to her father as she skipped past his office. She heard him grunt in recognition and smiled softly to herself. Her father was a man of few words and even fewer conversations. Her bathroom was an ensuite off her room, quite small and only just managing to fit a shower, a toilet and sink, but she loved it nonetheless.

She brushed her teeth, swaying from side to side again and humming to herself. Shira would be late, she always was despite Arisu's proddings and pushes. Ishimura would be there first, despite her lack of commitment to school she was very sufficient in getting her brothers to their own. Luckily their school was close to Iwozuka so they weren't there half an hour earlier than necessary. Jo and Meyer would arrive together, often around the same time as Takami. If Saka were already at Iwozuka, she would be there just after Ishimura.

She spat the toothpaste out and pulled her hair into a bright green hair tie. It wasn't perfect and her fringe hung around her eyes, but it was good enough. She looked at herself in the mirror for a few moments, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything before walking out. She had a feeling that today would be a very good day.

...

"Yuki-Chan, I don't want to go!" Gou wailed as tears stained his cheeks. Ishimura repressed an eye roll as she juggled him onto her other hip, holding onto Satoshi's hand tightly. He was clinging to her, his face prepared to be buried into her thigh at any given time. Hiruko was walking on her left, his arms crossed over his chest as he sulked silently.

"Come on Gou, you love it," Ishimura panted, looking up to the sky and begging the heavens to give her one moments peace from her brother's constant whining. Between the sobbing Gou, the shy Satoshi and the sulking Hiruko, this morning was not going in her favour. Not to mention the string of strange looks she's been getting.

"I don't want to! I don't want to!" Gou sobbed, banging his small fists against Ishimura's shoulder. He started to kick his feet as well when they passed a basketball court and Ishimura considered throwing him in the hoop and leaving him there. She would never do it of course, but the image of her young brother wedged in the hoop with his feet kicking in the open air made her smile.

"Gou, if you kick you're going to walk," Ishimura warned the young boy instead. He stopped kicking but the whining and sobbing was a long way off. Ishimura just grit her teeth and pressed on, her eyes flickering to Hiruko every now and then. He was going to be in middle school next year and she wasn't sure if she was prepared for that. At least then he'll be able to walk to school himself and she won't have to worry about him. Still, he was the least of the trouble makers.

"Yuki-Chan, I don't want to go either," Satoshi sniffed and Ishimura started swearing in her head. One crying brother was enough, she didn't need another one. Why did my parents need to procreate so much in such a small space of time?

...

"You seem happy," Jo commented as Meyer skipped down the stiars. She shrugged, looking back over her shoulder and waving to Jean. He didn't have to start school until tomorrow, so he had been rubbing in her face the whole night before. Meyer didn't mind too much, she wasn't the kind of person to get all up in arms over things like school.

"I had a good nights sleep," Meyer replied, readjusting the strap of her back pack. It was heavier than she remembered, but she made sure to check that Jean hadn't put a brick in there for laughs. No, it was just all her text books and notes from earlier in the year.

"You have a marshmallow for a bed, I'm not surprised," Jo laughed as they began walking down the street. For as long as Meyer could remember, they walked to school together. Whether it was with their parents when they were younger, or with the addition of Saka who lived on their way to their middle school, they had always kept the tradition. Meyer sniffed and looked up to the sky, smelling the rain that was going to be coming later on in the day. She wasn't particularly fond of the rain, unlike Shira and Ishimura who often made themselves sick by dancing in the water droplets.

"Have you heard anything more about the Shutoku party?"

"It's two weeks before the Winter Cup starts. Not surprising, guess no one wants their athletes to be nursing a hangover the week before an important match."

"I'm more interested in the surprise guests. Katsumi's remaining tight lipped?"

"Won't tell me any names," Jo shrugged. She ran a hand along her hair, which had been pulled into a tight pony tail. "So it should be interesting."

"I can just imagine."

...

"If you eat any faster, you're going to choke," Shira warned as she watched Ishimura down a sandwich quicker than she could blink. Ishimura rolled her eyes, looking slyly to her left where Shira was sitting.

"You'd know about choki - ow Meyer!" Ishimura groaned, leaning her head the fence as she rubbed the spot on her leg where Meyer had delivered a quick kick. Jo chuckled, mostly at the face Shira was pulling at Ishimura. She didn't move from her position on the ground though, the back of her head resting on the palms of her hands as she stretched out along the grass. Takami was using her stomach as a pillow, her phone in her hands as her fingers worked out text message after text message. Jo was always interested in knowing who the hell she was texting, but Takami was always so tight lipped about it.

"Don't say stupid things," Meyer muttered, relaxing her shoulders and elbows, allowing them to loosen. Her legs were spread out in front of her, her arms holding her torso up with her hands planted behind her back. She was comfortable, but her joints would ache after a while which irritated her.

"That'll be hard," Shira snickered, pulling her legs out of the way. Ishimura just rolled her eyes, returning her attention on devouring the food in front of her. Shira had already finished the noodles her mum had made her and Takami had finished an apple and two bananas. Jo was just lying there, having forgotten her lunch and not taking anyone elses. She wasn't hungry anyway.

"... going to say no."

"You don't know that."

"I do though."

"Please, just ask." Jo opened one eye and twisted her neck to look behind her. Kazuki was standing off to the side a few metres away, one of his underlassmen standing near him. Jo took a few minutes to recognise who he was. Sadao Ryuji, he had gone to middle school with the girls. Jo closed her eyes again, wondering what he was asking Kazuki to ask. Something stupid no doubt.

"Fine, but I'm telling you it's all ready a no." Jo smiled a little before nudging Meyer with her foot. The latter turned to look at her friend, one eybrow raised as to why her attention had been summoned. Meyer didn't need to wait long, Kazuki was standing near them looking rather sheepish.

"Hey Kazu-Kun," Shira cheered happily. Kazuki gave her a cheerful hello in return before looking to Jo. He looked rather awkward, one arm crossed over his chest and the other tugging on a piece of plaited hair just under his left ear. Shira narrowed her eyes. When did he get that in his hair?

"Hey, Jo, I was wondering."

"Whatever Sadao asked, you're right, it's a no."

"Thought so. Well glad that's cleared up, I'll go let him..."

"What's that in your hair?" Shira asked, pointing to the plait. Kazuki looked to her slightly confused before he realised he was tugging on it nervously. He pulled his hand away, letting it rest on his other arm before he shrugged.

"What's wrong with it? Wait, don't answer, I don't care," Kazuki held up his hand when Shira opened her mouth to reply. He looked down to Meyer, his hand moving back up to the plait. It must be recent, Takami thought, he's been pulling at it incessantly. "I was wondering if I could speak to you Meyer."

"Is it something you can't say in front of the team?" Meyer questioned with a frown. As far as she was concerned Kazuki was a welcomed friend and member (although not official) member of their team and whatever he needed to say should and could be said in front of the team. Kazuki sighed, tugging three more times on the plait, before shaking his head.

"I can't." Of course this gave off a series of 'ooh's from the girls that was immediately silenced by the irritated look Meyer gave them. She nodded, extended her hand to him and he grabbed it, yanking her to her feet. She told the girls, mostly Ishimura and Shira, to behave whilst she was gone and followed after Kazuki. He was nervous, very nervous, and that was something that was quite uncharacteristic for him. Meyer was very interested in whatever was happening.

They walked in silence until they were well away from the grass, hidden in a small alcove in front of a door that never opened. It was the quietest and most secluded place in the school. Kazuki leant against the wall, tugging on his plait, his eyes not quite meeting Meyer's. Whatever he wanted to talk about, it must be serious.

Meyer tilted her head to the side. Shira had been right about one of her comments during the trip away, Kazuki was pretty. He had a strong jaw but everything else about his face just seemed to be delicate. Meyer wondered if he tried, if he'd be able to pull off dressing up like a woman, make up and all. She didn't completely doubt it.

"Did something happen while we were away?" Meyer questioned, toning down the excitement in her voice. She wasn't even going to try and deny that she was always interested in finding out new things about her friends. She frowned a little, thinking that sounded selfish and a bit horrible, but it was a true. Meyer knew well enough there were plenty of things that she didn't know about Kazuki, let alone the girls.

"Yeah, something did and I'm not," Kazuki trailed off into a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. Meyer stepped forward, putting her hand on his shoulder and smiling warmly. She knew him well enough to know that this was nerve wracking for him, whatever had happened. "I need your advice."

"You can't talk to any of you're other friends about it?"

"I tried. They're guys and they, well, they just don't understand." Kazuki was making a point of looking every where but at her, which was strange because he normally held eye contact with everyone no matter the situation. Meyer swallowed, thinking this over. He was nervous talking to her about it, refused to do so in front of the others and he muttered 'they're guys' as to why he couldn't talk about it with them. The information let her know that a, this was a matter of the heart and b, it was someone she and the other girls knew.

"I can't give you advice if you don't tell me what's going on." Kazuki nodded, sinking against the wall. He slid to the ground, hugging his knees to his chest and letting out a small huff. Meyer stepped over to sit beside him. He looked genuinely worried and glanced at her out the corner of his eye.

"There's this girl, and we get along really well. While you were away we hung out a bit and then, er, I've liked her for a while but thought that it would be best if I didn't say anything because it's probably best for her, but after these holidays I don't know any more."

"What makes you think not telling her would be best for her? If she was any kind of human, she would accept your feelings whether or not she returns them. If you were any kind of human, you would accept hers without irritation as well," Meyer replied after a few moments of thought. Kazuki sighed, shaking his head and resting it against the wall behind him. He was staring up at the roof, still pointedly looking away from her, and thinking over what she had said.

"I don't know how she'd react. She isn't exactly open to people in this way."

"Well," Meyer sighed as she stood, cracking her back as she did so, "the only way for you to know is to buck up and tell her."

"Thanks." Kazuki tried to force a smile but Meyer could see through it. He must have been exceptionally worried about the reaction he would be given and Meyer nodded to him. She started walking away before she hesitated, stopping and looking over her shoulder.

"Katsuo, I have known Saka for almost as long as I have known the others. I'm certain that this won't end badly." She turned and walked back to the girls, smirking slightly at the completely shocked look on Kazuki's face. He had managed to be subtle around her, but Takami had already told Meyer about his crush. There was no subtlety when Takami was around.