Hello, hello! It's been a long time, hasn't it? I no longer have a computer, which is just one of several random obstacles this fic has faced. I mention this one in particular however because what I had worked on for this fic was lost, which meant things were reworked and rewritten. It has been a long while, as I'm sure you're aware, so I truly apologize if this and the next (and definitely final) chapter leave something to be desired. I am more than a bit rusty, and this chapter in particular is very much a transitional and contemplative piece. The final chapter (which I will hopefully have up in the next few days) will hopefully be better. Again, I'm sorry. If nothing else, at least this fic will be completed. Without further ado, I present Chapter 6, Thoughts.
They ended up watching a nondescript romantic comedy. Originally, Akane had hoped to put on a horror film so that a frightened Akari would cling to her (a frightened Akari was particularly cute), but at just a glimpse of the DVD case for the scary movie she had in mind, Akari clung to the pink haired she-devil, and so Akane immediately (and rather forcefully) shoved it back into the bag and pulled out the next choice.
Akane was still fuming thinking about what she had overheard mere moments before.
She had just gotten home when she heard a shout from upstairs.
"What do you think you're doing!?"
Startled and curious, she started making her way up the stairs. She could hear muffled voices discussing something inside Akari's room, but the closed door was blocking most of the sound.
"...truth or dare?"
Akane quickly relaxed, the tension dropping almost immediately from her soldiers. The girls were just playing truth or dare. There was no cause for concern. She almost wanted to laugh at how silly she had been, thinking there could be trouble inside her sweet little sister's room. Or at least, that's what she thought until she heard whose turn it was.
"Dare."
That was undoubtedly Akari-chan's voice! Akane pressed her ear to the door in a panic.
"I dare you to kiss Chinatsu-chan."
Akane just about broke down the door. How dare they force her wonderful and pure Akari-chan into this!?
"Sakurako-chan, that dare's a bit much, don't you think? I mean… making us kiss is already bad enough, but doing it here, in front of you guys? That's embarrassing…"
Akane was not sure whether she should be relieved that the kiss might not happen, or even more infuriated that someone would DARE to insult her beautiful little sister.
"Well, a dare's a dare, Chinatsu-chan. But since Sakurako-sama is feeling gracious today, you two can go out of the room to kiss."
Akane panicked as she realized the girls would be opened the door, she took a step back, and did her best to train her features into a look of mild surprise and happiness.
"Ara, hello, everyone!" Akane smiled as the door opened, revealing her precious Akari and her less-than-precious friends.
That looked casual, right?
Akane quietly exhaled. She had made it home just in time. Just a few moments later and the pink-haired fiend would have tainted her beautiful, wonderful Akari-chan. She shot a glare (or two...or five...) at the perpetrator, and invited Akari-chan and her friends to a movie night downstairs.
Downstairs, where she could keep an eye on them.
Downstairs, where she could make sure her innocent Akari-chan stayed pure.
Downstairs, where no one could touch her beloved Akari-chan.
Thinking about it again, how her innocent Akari had almost been taken advantage of, filled Akane with irritation. She exhaled loudly, which caused Himawari to turn to her in concern, and Sakurako to glance at her in confusion and annoyance. Akari was far too busy staring just past the television - not quite able to focus on the movie - to notice her older sister's irritation. Chinatsu, on the other hand, was far too focused on Akari to notice anything around her.
Akane cleared her throat slightly, and focused on the tv, making sure to keep Akari in the corner of her eye.
As the film reached what Himawari could only hope was the middle (she was not particularly entertained by this choice of movie), she allowed herself to lean back against the couch. Himawari, may not have been particularly invested in the film, but she was quite invested in her friends' happiness, and she took this moment to glance around the room. She made mental note of the atmosphere she observed around her companions.
"Clearly, Akaza-san's older sister is perturbed... Akaza-san is not being her usual, cheerful self. I suppose that could be the reason that her older sister is currently displeased. Akaza-san's unhappiness, however, has been caused by...a misunderstanding?"
Himawari had a very strong feeling that Akari had feelings for Chinatsu, but could tell that for whatever reason Akari was under the impression that those feelings were not mutual.
"If only there were a remedy for this. It is so clear that Yoshikawa-san has strong feelings for Akaza-san." Himawari glanced at Chinatsu, who was well past staring at Akari. "How it is that Akaza-san remains in the dark as to Yoshikawa-san's feelings is a complete mystery." Himawari turned to briefly to observe Sakurako - not because of any feelings, of course not, but because Sakurako is an unruly child - and found that Sakurako's gaze had fallen onto her breasts. Himawari took a deep breath in an attempt to keep her annoyance at bay. "Incorrigle, honestly."
Himawari looked back at Chinatsu, who had been wistfully staring at Akari for so long now that it was a wonder she hadn't been caught by the object of her gaze. In that moment, she resolved to help. After all, they were two of her dearest friends. Himawari cared. She wanted them to be happy. She wanted them to be able to tell each other how they felt, and rejoice in their mutual affections.
(She absolutely was not trying to fix this due to the hopelessness of her own romantic situation. No. This had nothing to do with her exceptionally strong feelings for a certain blonde idiot. This was just about helping her friends.)
Himawari shot Sakurako a pointed look. She willed Sakurako to understand that they needed to come up with a plan to help their friends. "Sakurako, you beautiful idiot, look over here." When telepathic communication failed, Himawari tried to get the blonde's attention by waving as inconspicuously as she could.
After several minutes of what appeared to be rather awkward arm twitches, Sakurako finally glanced in her direction. "Honestly, Sakurako, if it weren't for everyone else being so caught up in their thought, they would have caught on. Couldn't you have been a little faster? And why did you stare at my breasts before looking at my face!?"
Himawari nodded her head at Sakurako. "Please pay attention," she thought. Sakurako nodded back. "Okay, good..."
This time, Himawari tilted her head in the direction of their friends. Sakurako glanced over. Movie, she mouthed. Himawari shook her head. She tilted her head in the direction of Akari, and added an additional tilt directed at Chinatsu. Sakurako's eyes lit up. Himawari held back a smirk. "Yes!" She nodded triumphantly.
Sakurako gave a slight nod in response, then shrugged. "What are we supposed to do?"
Himawari glanced down. She hadn't quite thought this far. There was only so much she could convey through eye movement and turns of the head. They would have to relocate to discuss possible plans of action. Still, she was impressed that she could somewhat successfully communicate nonverbally with Sakurako. (She would never admit that she was proud. But she was.)
With one final, rather purposeful, movement of her head, Himawari tried to point to the kitchen. Sakurako, thankfully, caught on. But unfortunately, rather than leaving in silence, decided to announce their departure.
"Himawari!" She bellowed, "I want some tea. Make me tea!"
Himawari sighed. "Alright, Sakurako. If you insist. But could you at least help out? If I'm going to make tea for you, I'd like to make some for everyone else, as well."
Sakurako practically sprinted to the kitchen, Himawari following with slight reluctance. She turned to look over her shoulder and noticed Akane glancing at them with a raised brow. Akari and Chinatsu, however, had not even noticed Sakurako's outburst. Himawari bowed her head slightly at Akane in apology for Sakurako's disruptive tendencies and then, with renewed conviction, faced forward and walked to the kitchen to join her childhood friend.
Once in the kitchen, Himawari located a kettle and started to fill it with water. She set it onto the stove, turned on the respective element, then turned to Sakurako.
"What are we going to do about Akaza-san and Yoshikawa-san? Their feelings are clearly mutual, but they both seem to be in pain, thinking their feelings are unrequited."
Sakurako put her hands on her hips, "Is it possible you've finally recognized my genius, and are asking the great Sakurako-sama for help?"
Himawari sighed. It gets tiring, always being the bigger person. "Sakurako. I am begging you. Please, put aside your ego for just a few precious minutes so we can help our friends. Can't you see how miserable they are?"
Sakurako frowned. She was only teasing. Why couldn't Himawari see that? Stupid boobs. "I guess...But only because you begged!"
Himawari smiled. She hadn't expected Sakurako to relent so quickly. Perhaps she had underestimated her childhood friend. "Okay. How do we get them to talk to one another? We know Yoshikawa-san has feelings for Akaza-san, she confessed them, after all. And I am certain that Akaza-san feels the same way. We just need them to convey this to each other!"
Sakurako pursed her lips as she brainstormed. "I know! We can lock them in a closet together! And they can't come out until they've admitted how they feel!"
Himawari rolled her eyes, "That's childish, Sakurako. Not to mention, it would be rude to lock them into an enclosed space. No, we need to find a way to get them to talk without forcing it. Or rather, without looking like we're forcing it."
Sakurako pouted as she raised herself onto the kitchen counter, grumbling, "I'm not childish, you're childish."
Himawari ignored the retort as she searched for tea cups. "Truth or dare obviously caused some tension." Himawari purposefully omitted her thought that it was Sakurako's dare in particular that had caused the tension between their friends. Pointing fingers wouldn't help. "So it's not like we could use that to our advantage, they'd never agree to another game of it." She reached into a cupboard, "I think green tea would be nice, after all, we had barley tea in the afternoon."
Sakurako kicked her feet absentmindedly as she threw out ideas, "What if we get Akari-chan's sister to help, do you think she would?"
Himawari pondered for a moment before answering. "I'm not entirely sure. I have no doubt in my mind that Akaza-san's sister wants Akaza-san to be happy, and she must have noticed that her sister wasn't herself, but I have the strangest feeling that she wouldn't help us with our matchmaking endeavors."
(In the living room, Akane sneezed.)
Himawari continued, "No, I think this is something better kept between us. But that wasn't a bad idea."
Sakurako beamed at Himawari's words of praise. "Of course! The ever wise Sakurako-sama would never come up with anything less than a great idea! Sakurako-sama can come up with amazing ideas in her sleep!"
Himawari clapped her hands together, "That's it, Sakurako! The sleeping arrangements!"
Sakurako tilted her head, not quite understanding where Himawari was going with this.
Himawari went on, "When Akaza-san invited us, she said that two of us would be in her bed, and two of us would be on a spare futon on the floor, remember?"
Sakurako snapped, finishing her thought, "So we just have to make sure that Akari-chan and Chinatsu-chan are coupled up! And then! ...And then...?"
Himawari took a breath, "And then, they will have to confront their feelings for each other. There is no way that in such close proximity their feelings for each other could remain hidden. At the very least they'll finally have to talk about it."
Sakurako cackled, "Sakurako-sama is brilliant! This plan is fool proof!"
The kettle whistled and Himawari turned off the stove. She readied five cups of green tea, and set them carefully on a tray. Once she had the tray steadily in her arms, she addressed Sakurako once more, "Remember to keep this a secret, okay? We have to make sure the arrangement looks like it came about naturally. It's the only way this plan will work."
Sakurako nodded confidently. She and Himawari hadn't come up with a plan together since, well, since before they were rivals. As much as she loved teasing the busty girl, she had forgotten how much fun it was to actually be on the same side as her, scheming and planning together. She wasn't about to ruin this.
With a final nod, they headed back to the living room. They would more than likely be going to bed soon, which meant it was almost time for their plan to be put into action.
Akari finally broke out of her daze when she heard Sakurako loudly proclaiming that she had made them all tea (and Himawari quickly cutting her off, "Sakurako, all you did was stare at the kettle"). She tried to put on her usual smile, but it did not take a close look to tell that the smile on her mouth didn't reach her eyes. She couldn't help it. She felt like she had been rejected. Chinatsu clearly didn't want to kiss her. It was the same as declaring she had no feelings for the red-head. And Akari knew that, she did. Or she thought she did. Chinatsu had always been more than clear about her feelings for Yui, and Akari felt like such a fool for allowing herself to believe for even a moment that the object of Chinatsu's affections might actually be her...
It was almost laughable.
Almost.
But all it was, instead, was heartbreaking.
