A/N: …And I'm back! Sorry, I was planning to post a chapter a longgg time back. Like, before I went on my vacation back. Problem was that I kept getting eyeaches, headaches, wristaches (usually all three of those at the same time). The five days before my vacation usually were bland: I usually had to stay in bed because staring at a screen for more than two minutes would strengthen the aches. I was in no condition to write anything before I went on vacation. Heck, I had headaches for three/four days in a row on my vacation, too. And not only did I have some issues coming back from vacation, I had other work too. Not to mention this chapter is a little different, so I needed more time to think about it. Also- just a notice- updates are going to be even slower soon. I can easily see this story going into the thirties. Now, without further ado, here's the next part!

Chapter 15: OMAKE I

"Ne, Rei-chan, did you study for the history test?" A girl with medium-length bobbed hair turned around in her desk. She folded her arms on the chair's top and supported her chin on them. She looked curiously at Rei, who was sitting behind her. It was lunch time in the classroom, and others were chattering amongst themselves in small groups.

Rei looked up from her history textbook at her. "Huh?" Rei looked at her blankly. Rei was leaning on an elbow with her chin in her palm. She seemed diligently studious, but at the same time uninterested.

The girl sighed. "I swear, you're in your own world the whole time school's going on. You seem so lonely, Rei! But you don't seem to mind at all!"

Now it was Rei's turn to sigh. "I was focusing on my studies just then, something you rarely do." Rei smiled. "So, yes, I have studied for that test. And I'm currently studying now. And I will be doing so throughout all of lunch, just a heads up."

"For your information, I did study for this test, so there." The girl stuck out her tongue. She looked behind her to the corner. "Haruhi and Reika should be here soon. It's nice that I didn't have to cook lunch today. This taking-turns thing isn't so bad after all." She stretched her arms upward and yawned.

"What, so you could cram with all your free time?"

"Shhh, no one needs to know that." She held her right pointer finger to her lips.

"Oh Kiri, when will you learn?" Rei shook her head and closed her book.

"Oh my Ryuu-chan, I have already learned. In fact, I just covered the Meiji Restoration!" Kiri sounded really happy. Her eyes glimmered with her sense of accomplishment. She turned to the door. "Maybe I should tell the guys what I learned! I'd be reviewing with them!"

"Sure you would. Keep telling yourself that." Rei looked to the door as well. "Ah, here they are. Time for lunch." She put all her materials back in her school bag, brushing any real and imaginary crumbs off of her desk.

"Goooood afternoon!" A girl with light brown and short bobbed hair carried two boxes wrapped with a pink fabric with blue polka dots. The other, a girl with shoulder length black hair, pulled two unoccupied desks near Rei together. Rei and Kiri moved their desks closer.

"So Haruhi, what did you make today?" Kiri asked, bouncing with energy. "I'm starving!"

"Fried rice with eggs and some leftover chicken." The girl with light brown hair said as she adjusted the desks into a square shape. Once she did that, she placed the two boxes neatly side by side. She took off the fabric and folded them into neat squares.

"Nitpick." The girl with the black hair joked.

"Come now, Reika. If your cooking was more edible, it'd be natural for you to be neat, too." Haruhi smiled.

"Ooh, she's got you, Reika! Anyway, itadakimasu!" Kiri speedily spoke and dug in into an onigiri and orange juice. The rest of the girls followed suit.

"I'm curious Kiri," Rei said as she took some rice and green beans into a separate small bowl, "you always eat with such gusto when Haruhi cooks. Do you really love Haruhi's food that much?" Rei noticed Haruhi shyly smiling, unwilling to make eye contact with either of them.

"What?! Is loving food such a crime?" Kiri retorted. Her voice was full of such alarm and energy. In other words, it was the exact opposite of Rei's calm and benign voice. "I hope you're not suggesting I'm a lesbian! I'm straight, you know!"

Haruhi and Reika burst out laughing. Rei laughed too, but it didn't have the same power as the other two. Kiri kept moving her glance from each of the girls and back again, merely observing them.

"Speaking of being straight…" Reika whispered. As if on instinct, all the girls leaned forward, eating their rice all the while. "Kiri, about that note…"

Kiri leaned back on her chair. She looked lax, crossing one leg over the other and drinking her orange juice as if it was wine and that she owned the entire place. She exhaled as she finished the rest of it. "Nope. Haven't found out who sent it. I have to meet the person tomorrow somewhere outside, I think? Don't remember. Left the note at home. If the person was serious, I don't want to deny the poor fella a response."

Rei looked earnestly at Kiri. "The person probably didn't want to found out ahead of time. He probably refused to put his name down so you wouldn't make judgments before you actually met him, whether it was for the first time or not."

Kiri waved the crushed juice box at her. "Yeah, yeah. What kind of a guy is this, anyway? He sends me a note two days ago, wanting to talk tomorrow. Is that normal?

"He's the really shy type?" Reika suggested.

"That plans far in advance so as to not back out later?" Haruhi added.

"Should we follow you or something? I mean, what if it's a prank, or a trap?" Rei added. She looked down, thinking to herself. She didn't notice Reika's blank stare and Kiri's narrowed eyes. Haruhi just looked repeatedly at Kiri and Rei, looked scared.

"Nah, don't think that's necessary…" Kiri said.

The group ate for a few more minutes in silence before Rei stood up. "Gochiso sama deshita. Excuse me. I'm going to go throw my trash." She carried the remains of her meal in her arms as she went out of the room, ignoring the overflowing trash can by the door.

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"My god, Haruhi, how can you stand her sometimes?" Kiri's voice suddenly became icy. "'Should we follow you or something?' What the hell, I'm not two!"

Haruhi's face only became more worried. "It's not like she's trying to annoy you! She just cares for her friends, that's all! She always could be right in that it's just a prank. Rei's really nice. Different, but nice."

Kiri snickered. "Right. She cares for her friends." She leaned towards Haruhi. "I know you don't notice this, 'cause you two are- you know- not even in this class, but she pays attention to no one. If anyone, it's not me. It's the freaking teacher. And that's only sometimes. And you know what her grades are?" Haruhi opened her mouth, but Kiri went on. "A's. It's like she gets top marks without even trying. And she never bothers to help! She basically pokes fun at me all the time."

"I hope you realize that Rei jokes, too." Haruhi pleaded. "She's a really nice person once you get to know her."

"We can't all be her roommate, Sei-chan. Surely even she tries on your patience at times." Reika looked at Haruhi. "Admit it. I bet she's disconnected even when you're sleeping in the same room as her." Reika turned to Kiri. "I mean, I'm pretty sure she is joking with you, Kiri, and she's insensitive for not recognizing your feelings and you're an idiot for not even realizing she was joking in the first place. But…" Reika leaned back and looked to Haruhi again.

"Come on, you two! You've known her for about a year now, and you still don't trust her!"

"She's a bit off, though, don't you think? Rei's not like most girls." Reika noted. "Like, she's never itching to use her power inside of class. Even though we all know that it's pointless; all the teachers have nullifying abilities and can see right through it. It's like…Rei passes through school as if she's normal. Like, as if she has no ability to start with." Kiri nodded. "I mean, we know a lot of people with abilities, right? Most people forget hers, and they only remember it when level testing comes around and we see how close she is to becoming a level 5."

"I bet she thinks we're all below her. We're all level 3s, right. I bet she thinks no one can understand her."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she felt that way, seeing how you two are!" Haruhi spat. Reika looked wondrously at her. Kiri continued with her icy glare. "Honestly!" Haruhi stood up. "Just because she spaces out at times and can't give you answers on her background- which, I MIGHT ADD, is BECAUSE SHE CAN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING- is NOT. HER. FAULT. If you're so inclined to think of her as poisonous, then why are you creating more poison by acting nice to her all the time!" Haruhi balled her fists, but when she saw a few faces looking at her oddly, she took her trash and ran out of the room. Reika and Kiri looked at her, shocked as they were, but didn't bother to stop her.

No one even noticed Rei standing near the door.

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"I think it's going to rain today." Haruhi's desk overlooked her room's window. Rei was in Haruhi's room, reading on her bed. Rei was lying on her stomach, moving her legs as she flipped pages. "It's today. Kiri said it would happen in the evening. Like, in a couple of hours. It would be terrible if it rained, don't you think? The guy asked her to go to a park."

"Well isn't that sweet…" Rei trailed off, not paying attention to anything at that point. She had merely come into the room because she had nothing to do after her homework.

Haruhi turned to her, looking uncomfortable. "Aren't…Aren't you going to go follow her or something? I mean, we don't even know if this guy goes to our school. Your ability could come in handy…"

"I doubt Kiri couldn't hold her own. It's really dangerous messing with fire. Both literally and figuratively."

Haruhi twirled her mechanical pencil uncomfortable. "Y-yeah, I guess. But…"

Rei looked up at her. She raised her eyebrows. "You sound like you want someone to go stalk her and her admirer."

"W-well…"

"I'll go if you'll come." Rei said.

"Really, you will?" Haruhi breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks Rei. I don't know, I just have a bad feeling about this."

"Isn't your ability invisibility?" Rei smiled. She stood up and stretched.

"Yeah, but I'm not that great with sneaking and turning other things invisible." Haruhi suddenly vanished. Rei looked down at the desk chair. "Anyway, I think it's at Hayami park. It's about 30 minutes away, so we'd need the subway. I'll stay invisible just in case. Let's go."

"You'll be able to stay invisible for the next two and a half hours?"

"I'm sure I can at least stay invisible for 24 hours. The question is if I'll be able to fool the heat sensors and never get accidentally caught by random people bumping into me. I'm still working on that, sadly…"

"In that case," Rei walked out of the room, "let's go."

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"…Now that I think about it…What about Reika?" Rei questioned. She was standing on the subway, gripping a pole. She was getting odd stares from the people sitting down. Was she talking to air?

"I didn't tell her anything. We'll just have to do our own thing. And, if she's actually going to be there, we can join up." Haruhi whispered. Clearly she did not want to spook anyone or be deemed as crazy by strangers.

"Yeah."

"Attention passengers. Due to mechanical problems with this train, we will stopping at the next station permanently. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

Rei looked alarm. She was sure that Haruhi felt the same way. "But the next stop! We just got on! It's going to take us like 20 minutes if we walk, and longer if we wait for a train."

"This is definitely a problem! Do you think Kiri will be okay until then?"

Rei looked grim. "We can only hope."

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Kiri wasn't sure what to wear, so she just wore a normal jeans skirt with knee length white leggings. She wore a striped blue and white long-sleeved shirt. Not that anyone would notice it under her similar-shaded blue jacket, but it calmed Kiri to know that she planned a little.

Now, I don't want to seem too desperate or shy. But if I'm too aggressive and ask people if he's the person looking for me…No, no. I just have to stay here, on this bench, until something happens! She sat up straighter and crossed her arms.

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How long have I been waiting? Kiri looked at her watch. Even though she had moved benches because of the downpour, her watch's screen still had drips on it. By my calculations, I've been here for…twelve minutes. Well, it could be a lot worse.

"Masuga Kiri." It was a boy's voice. The voice contained no shyness, only a normalcy that Kiri recognized. She whipped her head around. She looked up to the face of a boy with dripping black hair, a kind smile, and an umbrella. Kiri noticed that a great portion of his black school uniform was soaked. His entire from was dark from the rain.

Kiri's face showed surprised. "Ryota-san? You…wrote…" Her mouth kept twitching into a smile. She looked away.

Ryota sat next to her, still smiling and holding out the umbrella. "Maybe." He said. Kiri wasn't looking at him, instead she was smiling to herself. "I feel bad for making you wait out in the rain. I guess I should've listened to the weather channel…"

"I guess so…"

"So…If you just...Because I….uh.." Ryota was stammering now.

Kiri raised her eyebrows. "That is some stammering."

"You never responded back…"

When Kiri finally turned to Ryota, he was looking away. "Well…" She started.

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"Whas dis? A pre-tty lady all alone in the rain?" A voice slurred. Kiri's eyes opened. She had been lying back on the bench, her face to the stone celling shielding her from the rain. "Where's your boyfriend, miss?" The stench of alcohol made Kiri's nose wrinkle up.

"Ugh." She stood up and started to walk away, going into the rainstorm.

"Wait pretty lady!" The man grabbed her arm. Kiri looked in horror at his boney arms, his sleazy expression, and dirty blond hair.

"Get away from me!" She yelled. Her hand showed bursts of red.

"Yow!" The man drew his arm away. "You bitch!" Kiri started running. She could only assume that the stranger was doing the same.

The sidewalk seemed endless to her, and the rain only weighed her down. Kiri was in such a panic, she skidded on a puddle and fell. The black figure was only getting closer and closer. He was only a few meters away.

And then the rain became ice spears.

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"I wouldn't move if I were you. I'd be willing to wager that the ice is faster than you and whatever ability you have, if you're an ESPer, that is." Rei's voice was as cool as the rain. Haruhi was protectively hugging Kiri, who was huddling defensively into her. They were both glaring at the man. They was a circle encompassing them. There was only a slight sprinkle of rain where they were; everywhere else had no ice and a downpour of rain. Rei was several meters behind the man. He wasn't moving; there were too many ice daggers and spears poised only a couple of meters around him.

The man turned around and gave a dirty glare at Rei. She held her gaze steadily. The man turned around and took one single step forward.

He was immediately bashed with an army of spikes. He howled with pain, but Rei's arsenal was nowhere near complete. The man had been yelling for minute now. All the ice near him turned back into water and steam, drenching him. He was lying on the ground, unconscious.

"Is it just me, or does the air feel hotter?" Kiri whispered.

Haruhi didn't meet her glance. She still continued looking straight ahead. "The water could only become ice if the heat was taken away from it. Did you see the steam outside of us? The heat had to go somewhere. Are you okay?"

"It wasn't a prank. Someone actually came." Kiri didn't want to talk louder than a whisper. "I just stayed out for too long. It's almost evening. Look, the sky's so grey."

Haruhi's grip on Kiri got even tighter. Rei walked to them, walking on the grass to avoid the man. "Should I call the police?" Her voice was cold, but she was looking at Kiri, concerned.

"No, no. Let's just go. I'm exhausted." Said Kiri.

"So this was a prank the whole time." Rei sounded mad.

"No, Rei, you have it wrong." Haruhi stood up. Kiri did too, still leaning on Haruhi. "We have to go. Kiri said she scrapped her knee." Kiri didn't look good on the outside, either. Her bright blue jacket was caked with mud and dirty water.

"Fine. But I don't see why we can't call the police-"

"He'll probably still be here. Judgment will deal with him if they come across him, okay, Ryuu?" Haruhi said gently. She turned around, Kiri leaning on her. "Come, let's go."

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The three were in Rei and Haruhi's room. Kiri and Haruhi had taken a shower, and Kiri was borrowing some of Haruhi's clothes. Kiri and Haruhi were drinking hot chocolate. Rei was in the shower.

There was a knock on the door. Haruhi went and opened it. It was a dishelved-haired Reika. "I can't believe you guys." She groaned, walking straight to the couch ahead. She sat on the three-seater sofa with Kiri. Haruhi sat in the middle, taking her drink off from the wooden coffee table and into her hands. "You guys made me go through Rei's hellfire. That's the last time I do such a test." Haruhi immediately jumped to get a cup of chocolate for Reika. She handed to her, and Reika drank half of it in one sipping.

"I told you Rei would care. I told you." Haruhi said lightly, sipping on her drink. "You and Kiri just had to find out."

"God, Haruhi, Kiri, do you guys know how much getting stabbed by icicles several times hurt? It freaking hurt. I would rather have a period without medicine than get in the way of her."

Haruhi and Kiri shuddered. "Well," Haruhi said, "I hoped you two learned your lesson. Kiri, karma got you when your jacket got ruined." Kiri scowled in response. "And Reika, well…getting stabbed by icicles seems pretty explanatory."

"I'd say getting a jacket ruined isn't nearly as bad as my punishment."

"Hmph! Not if it was a present!"

Rei came out. She was drying her hair with a towel, her hair wild. "…Reika? What are you doing here? And anyway, Kiri, isn't curfew soon?" Reika and Kiri looked at each other in alarm. They each gulped down the rest of their drink.

"Thanks for the drink! 'K bye, gotta go!" They shouted, slamming the door shut.

"Shizuka-senpai might be lenient on them." Rei threw the towel into her room and started brushing her hair.

Haruhi had gazed at Rei indescribably. "So protective, yet so isolated…" She said to herself.

Rei looked at Haruhi. "Did you say something?"

Haruhi smiled and shook her head. "Nothing. Nothing at all."