8 – Eloping

"Waah! Kanade-san!"

That was not an atypical response to meeting Kanade, Serena was starting to realize. It was, however, definitely loud, and therefore came right from the mouth of Tachibana Hibiki. Serena had met her a few times before, at concerts, next to an embarrassed likely girlfriend, Kohinata Miku. This seemed to be almost the exact same scenario, except they were actually face-to-face and not across a stage.

Kanade took it all in stride, embracing Hibiki in a hug that would cut off the idea of air for anyone else. Miku leaned to the side of her and glanced at Serena. Her head shook in sympathy, a smile tearing her lips wide.

Serena couldn't help herself: She giggled. "Kanade," she began and the loss of the honorific came out much too smooth for her taste and she had to struggle not to laugh like an insane buffoon at the sound of it with cheeks redder than a sunburn. "We have to let them into the room," she said instead.

Kanade pretended to pout in Hibiki's hair, which now that she looked, puffed out like a baby chick's backside.

Does that make Kanade the mama chick? Serena thought and almost said aloud. She resisted and tapped Kanade on the arm. "C'mon. Let's hear 'em at it."

"Spoilsport," Kanade muttered, releasing Hibiki and letting the rest of the students stream in.

Hibiki didn't seem disappointed. In fact, she turned and launched herself at Serena. "It's been a while!"

Serena could only blink and nod. "Uh, I ... yeah?"

She was saved by Miku grabbing Hibiki by the ear and yanking her away. Miku studiously ignore the pained noises coming from her. Serena couldn't help but wince in sympathy and rub her ear.

Kanade clapped her hands, her mouth and eyes glimmering with mirth. There was a little fondness there too, like she was looking in a mirror.

Then class began and Serena was forced to forget about it, at least for a while.

When they were finished, however, there was nothing to stop Hibiki from grabbing them by the hand and dragging them to the cafeteria. Serena almost protested, but then dcided against it.

Miku shot her a sympathetic look. "Once Hibiki has decided on something, it's best to go along with it."

Serena couldn't control her smile. "That sounds incredibly familiar."

Miku laughed and it was loud enough to cause both Hibiki and Kanade to turn and look at them.

"Come on," Hibiki called, bouncing from foot to foot. "Rice is waiting Miku. Rice! Rice!"

"Rice," Serena repeated, looking at them all. Kanade is muttering gleefully to herself loud enough about chicken and sea salt. She doesn't want to know, really.

Miku sighed. "She'd subsist on carbs if I let her."

"And so you will not let her."

"Not without better grades, I won't."

Serena laughed. She liked Miku. She made this whole crush thing feel wayyy better. Then again, hers was apparently fulfilled because when Hibiki ran to take her hand, Miku only clenched tighter rather than pulled away.

Like Tsubasa did for Maria.

Was that what she wanted for herself?