Disclaimer: I do NOT own Love Live!

Afterschool at Otonokizaka High School. Some students have already gone home, but many stuck around for club activities, even if they weren't part of the club. While most of the school was filled with the voices of various students, there was one particular room where that sound did not reach. It was inhabited by four people, but none of them dared to make a sound. It was quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop, or feel like the low creaking of a wooden bench was the loudest sound in the world.

Though, the other three couldn't blame the fourth girl for moving even slightly and causing the wood to creak. They knew the girl quiet well, and for her to have to sit in such a silence for such a long period of time was agonizing. She wanted to apologize, but she didn't. This wasn't the first time this disturbance happened, and she learned from the first time not to try apologizing, as it would only make the situation worse.

Though, it was also hard for her to not apologize. She moved a hand in front of her mouth to keep herself quiet. The two girls sitting on either side of her both casted sideways glances, the noise making them a little nervous. The fourth girl, standing a few feet away from them and facing away, merely sighed. The three on the bench didn't dare react.

In the next moment, another familiar sound pierced through the silent air. A soft thwang, followed by a short hissing sound and finally a loud thud. The three girls on the bench, who had been holding their breaths since the creak from the bench, sighed together in relief. As the fourth girl lowered her arm, all she could do was sigh once more.

"See? Umi-chan is amazing," Honoka said, happy to finally be able to speak again.

"She's wonderful," Kotori chimed in.

"Y-you guys..." Umi couldn't help but blush as she put her bow away and joined the girls on the bench. As she sat down, Kotori handed her a towel and water bottle.

"Well, I'd have to agree," Tsubasa said.

She looked down the range at the target Umi had practiced with. Aside from two arrows, her other eight were nicely clustered in the center-most circle. Even then, the last two arrows weren't far from the center, as they hit the ring just outside of it.

"That's incredible marksmanship."

"Yes, well... If someone could sit still for a little longer, the last two shots wouldn't be so off," Umi said. "Still, this was my best set of the day at least."

"Eheh... I'm really sorry, Umi-chan," Honoka apologized.

"It's okay. I really should be able to tune out distractions, anyway."

Kotori checked the time on her phone. "Oh, should we be going soon?"

"Sure," Honoka answered. "You two still want to come over?"

Umi nodded. "It's been a while since we came over to visit."

"That, and Umi-chan has been craving your family's manjuus again," Kotori added.

Honoka giggled. "Are you finished, Umi-chan?"

Umi nodded. "I'll change back into my uniform and we can go."

They waiting patiently for Umi. Once she returned, the four of them left the school. They walked in their two pairs on the streets. Honoka and Tsubasa led the way with Umi and Kotori slightly behind them. The best friends watched Honoka and Tsubasa's interactions.

"They've gotten really close," Kotori whispered so only Umi could hear.

"Yeah. It's reassuring to see."

They watched as the pair in front turned slightly to give each other a quick kiss. After, Tsubasa put an arm around Honoka and hugged her close. The two behind both smiled and the sweet scene in front of them.

"Hey," Kotori said, still in a low voice. "I'm getting a bit cold. Aren't you?"

"There are other ways to ask, you know," Umi replied. She didn't wait for it though, and put an arm around Kotori.

Kotori giggled. "Thanks. I'll give you a reward when we get to Honoka-chan's house."

"If I'm right, then it's been a while since you've given me that kind of reward."

"Well, you earned it. But..." Kotori kissed Umi. "I think this will do for now."

"That's more than enough for the moment."

"Mm..."

"Ah, what lovely sounds you're making, Umi-chan."

"T-that's because- Ah.. Your hands..."

"You weren't this loud before though. You must really miss this."

"W-well..."

Umi didn't finish her thought, and Kotori continued her work on Umi. On the other part of the bed, Honoka and Tsubasa sat resting against the wall, watching the scene with amused expressions.

"Hey, Honoka," Tsubasa said.

"Yes?"

"Would you ever consider learning how to give massages like Kotori-san is doing?"

Honoka giggled. "Is that a question or a suggestion?"

"Well-"

Tsubasa was cut off as Honoka caught her by the lips.

"Of course I'd learn, just for you," Honoka said with a smile.

"Ah..." Umi sighed in relief as Kotori got off of her. "That feels so much better."

"So, Kotori-san," Tsubasa said. "Do you always give Umi-san massages after her archery practice?"

"Well, archery isn't the only reason I'll give her a massage," Kotori replied. "But yes, I usually massage her after archery."

"It does wonders for me," Umi said.

"Is archery really hard?" Honoka asked.

"Not necessarily. But if you practice hours at a time, you start to feel it in your muscles."

"Given your aim, you must practice quite often," Tsubasa said.

Umi shook her head. "Not as much recently, with being in Muse and all. But I've been doing archery for many years now. I wouldn't be where I am right now without it."

Just then there was a knock at the door. It opened and revealed Yukiho behind it.

"Onee-chan, Mom wants us to help with dinner."

"Ah, okay. Thanks Yukiho-chan!"

Yukiho continued down the hall. Honoka turned to give Tsubasa one last kiss before she got up and followed her sister, closing the door behind her. Tsubasa turned and saw that both Umi and Kotori's eyes were fixed on her now.

"So.." Kotori started. "How are things with you and Honoka-chan?"

I guess I should have been expecting this. They are her best friends after all, Tsubasa thought to herself.

"Things are really good between us," she answered. "And don't worry, I promise I won't do anything to hurt her."

"We know, we heard from Eli and Nozomi," Umi said. "We don't doubt you, since we did ask you to help us after all."

"But, we're interested in how your relationship is," Kotori finished.

"Our relationship?" Tsubasa asked. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Like, what have you two done together so far?"

"Well... we've gone on a few dates already. We've stayed over each other's houses. We-"

Kotori shook her head. "No, not like that."

"Huh?"

"You know..." Umi's face turned slightly red. "Like, have you two only kissed. Or..."

Tsubasa's face started to turn red as well once she understood what they were asking.

"O-oh.. W-well..." she stuttered. "I don't think I'm right to ask. You should wait to see what Honoka is comfortable about sharing."

"But, we want to hear it from you," Kotori said. "We could never ask Honoka directly about those things."

"W-well... we haven't done that or anything... But that's all I'm saying without Honoka here."

"Well, can you at least tell us who asks for it? Do you or Honoka?"

"It's kind of both of us, I guess? Whenever we want to do anything at all, we usually see if the other is okay with it first."

Umi and Kotori looked at each other, then back to Tsubasa with a smile.

"Then you pass," Umi said.

"Huh?"

"We're Honoka-chan's best friends. You should've expected us to make sure you're right for her," Kotori said cheerfully.

"Well... I did... though not in this way."

"Well, it's not like we're going to stop you guys from doing things together," Umi said. "But we wanted to make sure no one is forcing the other into anything."

"The part with you not wanting to say anything without her was a nice bonus," Kotori said with a wink.

"Eheh... I see," Tsubasa said. "You two really are her best friends, aren't you?"

"Hmm?" Both Umi and Kotori asked.

"Ah... nothing. It's just... I had a somewhat bad impression of you two before. And I said those things to you all..."

"Oh... You mean the day we looked for Honoka?" Umi asked.

Tsubasa nodded. "I see now that I was wrong in thinking you weren't really her best friends. I just got a bad impression because Honoka was suffering so much."

Kotori crawled to Tsubasa's spot on the bed, placing a hand over hers.

"Don't worry about it," she said. "We're just glad you stuck up for Honoka-chan. We really weren't acting like her best friends at the time, so you weren't wrong in seeing it like that."

Umi nodded. "We haven't gotten to thank you properly for supporting Honoka like that. So, thank you very much, from her two best friends."

They both bowed their heads slightly, which surprised Tsubasa slightly. "A-ah, don't mention it."

A knock came from the door, and Honoka peered through.

"Dinner is ready," she announced. "And we have manjuu along with it."

"Great!" Umi said, getting off the bed first.

Kotori giggled. "Come on Tsubasa, let's go."

The two got off the bed as well, and Kotori and Umi left the room. Honoka caught Tsubasa and took hold of her hand before they followed them.

"So, did I miss anything?" she asked.

"Nothing big," Tsubasa said with a smile.

Hey everyone, nobodD here!

First off, I'm really sorry for being gone for a long time. *bows* Everything with my family should be taken care of now, though. So hopefully I can go back to updating a little more often for you all.

Not really much for me to say about the chapter itself. I guess as a side note, I actually do archery myself. I can say from experience that even when you're used to your bow, going a few hours straight of practice does start to get to you. It feels worth it though X3

Well, let me know your thoughts on the chapter, as well as the story as a whole. Leave comments or questions if you'd like, or PM if it's something a little more private.

I hope people are still here to read this. See you next time~