Disclaimer: I do NOT own Love Live!

"...But more importantly than anything else, I listened to her problems, and I was there for her."

Leaving that thought in the air, Tsubasa followed Honoka into the store. The other Muse remained where they were standing. There was only silence for a few moments, only interrupted by the sound of soft sobbing.

"Kotori-chan..." Umi went up to Kotori and hugged her tightly.

"We're her best friends. How... how did we not notice?" Kotori asked.

"Well, it's like they said," Nozomi pointed out. "We let our feelings for each other distract us, and didn't notice she felt alone."

"Yeah.. don't beat yourself up over it," Maki said. "We're all guilty for it."

"If anything, we should've been the first people to notice something wrong with Honoka," Nico added.

"I hope Honoka will forgive us," Rin said. "I don't want anything bad to happen to Muse."

"None of us want anything bad to happen. But we have to do something about it," Eli said. "We have to apologize to Honoka, and show her that something like this won't happen again."

"What should we do though?" Hanayo asked.

"I think the best thing to do right now is for us to go home," Nozomi suggested. "We should all take some time alone to think things over."

Eli nodded. "Agreed. Let's meet up tomorrow after class and discuss any ideas."

The other Muse agreed as well, and the eight of them walked off in different directions. They still left in pairs, just to walk each other home.

S-she's kissing me?!

Tsubasa couldn't do anything else but scream the question in her mind in the moment. As much as she wanted this, she couldn't have imaged this happening in anything but her wildest dreams. But she was far from complaining.

It took a moment for Tsubasa to recover from the shock and return Honoka's kiss in full. Which was good for her, because Honoka let the kiss only last for a few moments. Honoka didn't want to either, but she didn't want to push her luck.

"D-don't misunderstand, this is just my thanks for everything," Honoka stuttered.

"Huh?" Tsubasa looked at her confused.

"It'll make more sense once you read the last two books.. Just know that this was just my thanks for everything you've done for me."

"A-alright.."

Though, I'd rather it be something more, both of them thought.

"W-well... you're home now... Should I get going?" Tsubasa asked after a moment of silence.

"I.. uh.. d-do you want to go already?"

"I mean... I could stay a while longer... if that's okay... "

"If you want.. I don't mind..."

"I-I guess I can stay a while longer.."

Though, for the next couple of minutes, the two sat there in awkward silence. Neither really knew what to do or say. After that kiss, certain thoughts lingered in their minds. Yet, without being completely sure of what the other felt, they didn't want to risk acting on any of their desires.

Finally, Tsubasa focused on the one thought in her mind that didn't directly involve making Honoka hers. Though, she was still a bit of afraid to ask the question on her mind, as it would still be very telling of their future together.

"So... what do you plan to do now? With Muse, I mean."

Ah... she asked.. Honoka really hoped Tsubasa wouldn't bring that up so soon.

"I don't know... It's going to be hard talk to them for a while..."

"Maybe you should keep your distance for a while? Give them some time."

Honoka sighed. "You're probably right. What about practice though..."

"Well... if you don't feel like risking going to practice, we could go out somewhere again."

"Sure.. I'd like that. But, what about tomorrow?"

"Oh... I can't. I promised Anju and Erina that we'd practice tomorrow to make up for missing last week."

Honoka's shoulders dropped slightly. "Oh... that's okay. Maybe Tuesday, then."

But now... I really don't want to go... Tsubasa thought. Seeing Honoka even a little sad wasn't sitting well with Tsubasa right now.

At the last second, Honoka was a bit hesitant about going to school the next day. But after what she was almost confronted for yesterday, she didn't want to risk that being held over her as well. So she decided to do what Tsubasa suggested, and just ignore the other Muse for the day. Easier said than done, though.

As the lunch break started, she was quickly approached by her childhood friends.

"Umm.. Honoka-chan?" Kotori asked hesitantly.

Honoka didn't answer, but she looked at Kotori expectantly.

"W-we were thinking.. maybe we could have lunch together again? Just the three of us, like old times."

"Sorry... Maybe not today. I have other plans for lunch."

"With Kira?" Umi asked.

"N-no. She doesn't even go here. What makes you think it's with her?" Honoka stuttered.

"Uhh.. No reason..."

Honoka felt her face starting to heat up slightly at the thought of Tsubasa. She needed to get out of the classroom quickly.

"I-I'll see you later." Honoka quickly got up with her bread and tried to leave.

"Wait." Umi grabbed Honoka free hand. "Are.. are you doing anything later?"

"No.. But I want to be alone tonight, if that's fine."

"But-"

Honoka yanked her arm free from Umi before she could continue and bolted out of the classroom. Kotori looked to Umi, a little confused. Then, seeing that Umi was smiling, she was also surprised.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"I think I have an idea," Umi responded.

"What?"

Umi whispered into Kotori's ear. When she finished, Kotori smiled a bit as well.

"You think that'll work?" she asked Umi.

"Well... we have to try."

"Umi-chan, you're amazing."

Kotori gave Umi a congratulatory kiss, much to Umi's embarrassment. Luckily for them, the classroom had emptied out for the lunch break, and they were the only two there.

Honoka went to her usual isolated spot for lunch. She sat down quickly, trying to catch her breath. She never had to run here before. There was never a reason to. But she couldn't let herself be all flustered in front of Umi or Kotori. Not after yesterday.

What am I even doing...

Honoka sighed, not really knowing the answer to that. Her actions have been more and more impulsive recently. Even she wished she could understand what she's been doing recently.

She took a bite out of her bread, then sighed again. She thought back to Tsubasa's cooking that she got to eat the night of their date. She really enjoyed it, and would much rather be eating her food rather than this bread.

Tsubasa...

Suddenly, her chest felt funny. She began to understand a little why she's been acting weird recently. When she thought about it, she'd spent a period of time after she had gotten her friends together, sad. Especially last week, she almost reached a dangerous point. What Tsubasa said was somewhat true, who knows what she would've done. It's not like sitting there in the rain would've done anything life-threatening, but that also could've been the beginning.

Yet, that day was when she noticed that she started acting differently. Why? Because Tsubasa was there. She had reached out to her, and protected her from a potentially terrible series of choices. Though maybe she didn't even know it. But Honoka felt happy. Happy that someone saved her, cared for her, listened to her. Some instinct in Honoka had probably reacted to that happiness. And wanting to return back to her cheerful self, she must've been clinging to Tsubasa to try and keep that happiness. But maybe, maybe it wasn't that simple anymore.

No.. I know it's not just that anymore.

Maybe it started as Honoka wanting to be happy. But over time, it developed into something more. Something she briefly felt for Umi and Kotori, before finding out about their feelings for each other. Something she didn't get to feel for the others because she had put them together. Though, she wasn't sure of it herself until now. Now, she could confidently say it.

I'm in love with Tsubasa.

Meanwhile, at the start of the lunch break at UTX, the A-Rise trio were having lunch together as usual. They were in their clubroom, to avoid the usual attention from fans that are at their school. They had barely started on their lunches when Anju eagerly asked her questions.

"So, how did the date go?"

"They were good. A little unexpected, but enjoyable."

"You were with her all weekend weren't you?"

"Yeah.. The whole weekend was pretty unexpected, really."

"Are you two a couple yet?"

Tsubasa nearly spit out her food. "W-what?"

"Come on, you can't tell me neither of you confessed."

"A-Anju.."

"Tsubasa." Anju spoke in a more serious tone. "What do you think about Honoka?"

"..what?"

"You've been spending a lot of time with her the last week. You like her, don't you?"

"Well... you kno-"

"Tsubasa."

Tsubasa sighed. She knew when Anju was actually serious, she could be quite forceful.

"Yes.. I do like her." Tsubasa shook her head. "No, I love her. But with all the things that happened, I didn't get the time to say anything."

"And?" Anju could tell that wasn't the only thing stopping Tsubasa.

"...And, I'm really scared. This is the first time I've actually fallen in love. What if she doesn't feel the same way? What if I confess and she isn't interested?"

Anju sighed this time. "Honestly, do you think after all that time together last week, there wouldn't be something in her?"

Tsubasa shrugged. "I don't know... maybe?"

"Look. Really, the only choice you have is to just confess and find out. But you can't just keep stalling. You don't know how she is at her school. What if someone gets her first?"

"I guess you're right..."

Anju took hold of Tsubasa's shoulders. "Everything will work out, trust me. I've got a good feeling about this. You can't pass this chance up."

"A-alright."

"Promise me then. That soon you'll go to Honoka yourself and tell her how you really feel about her."

"Alright, alright. I promise."

Anju nodded, satisfied. As she turned to feed part of her bento to Erina, she heard Tsubasa sneeze. She smiled.

"What if Honoka's thinking about you right now?"

Tsubasa's face turned red. "S-shush."

Hey guys, nobodD here!

I've been really focused on this story recently. You've all been inspiring/encouraging, so I want to get updates out quickly while still keeping the chapters interesting. So as always, please review and let me know what you thought of the chapter, as well as your predictions for what's coming next.

For those that are unaware about the last two lines, there's a superstition that you sneeze when someone's thinking about you. The scenes happen at the same time, so... ;)

Way OT, but any SIF players here? I just got the event card. Pretty happy about that X3 Took quite a lot of play time, but SIF is so worth it.

Hope to see you back for more~