Chapter 60: Ending a Casual Day
So my story! I know it'll be difficult, but... if the main reason is world building, I have a world, rules, characters, three overarching plots, and, honestly, it wouldn't be complete without some romance. I'm actually really confident in the story itself, the main issue would be if I could do it justice. Thanks for the votes of confidence, everyone! Well, I'm definitely going to try!
Hm. New goal. The Inheritance Cycle, a book series I'm a fan of, has quite a few words in it. Eragon has around 157k words. Eldest 213k. Brisingr 254k. Inheritance 280k. So all together, that's about 904K words. That also gives me some hope for my own original story since I obviously can't write a short one. Hell, TRTP, which I really didn't intend to be a long story, has crossed the hundred thousand word mark already. They published Eragon at 157K words, maybe they'll take a chance on me?
Gigarot, I like to think I've had some good experience here! Plus I have everything of the main story figured out. Of all three arcs. So I've got that much down.
Symantra, I believe this is the first time you've reviewed... Yay! Thanks! I'm glad you like it! And thanks for your advice! Luckily, as for the creating a new world, I've been fleshing this world out for a long time already. Of course, that's not to say that I'm done with it, there's so much more I could do. Honestly, the entire story would work better as a manga or an anime, but I can't draw, nor can I animate, so a book is where I'm going! Thank you again for your review!
Tomek, I'm glad you liked it! Sylph is just so fun to write... And uh... hehe... I wouldn't expect anything TOO good with the lemons... Practice may make perfect, but it takes a long time to raise up out of bad first...
Luna, I aim to make people laugh in public! Or in general, really. And thanks for the compliment, I really hope my books turn out good.
NoMutant! I enjoy writing slice of life chapters, they're the ones that feel most... Lucky Star-ish. And well... A long summation for a long chapter, I suppose? And I'm not sure why I enjoy writing the entire Hiiragi family so much. They're all just so fun to write. And I've had more practice writing Miyuki these days, thanks for TRTP, and even though they're in a different situation, it absolutely helps. And I've learned a secret on how to write things like that easier!
True Kimochi, that does sound like a good description of Lucky Star. And I'm happy that my story has that same feel! For my actual book, I will absolutely tell you! The biggest obstacle now is to actually write it! However, huge books are easier if you don't think about it like "I have to write a huge book." It's more like "I'll write a few hundred words today and then I'm done. Tomorrow, I'll write another few hundred." Kinda like that. If you think too much about how big it is, it just kind of gets overwhelming, you know? I mean, this story is going on 600K words and I'm nowhere near done. If I thought about how long this story is gonna be, it would definitely be overwhelming. Also, that means that you'll be getting more chapters for a LONG time!
Guests! Three Guests! Or one. I dunno. But thank you for your reviews! And I know Tony was a bit of a Gary Stu, but hey. That just reaffirms how fated for each other Konata and Kagami really are! Even someone completely perfect (at the time) couldn't get between them!
So yay. I decided to start writing my book. So far, I don't have much of it down, but I also have three separate stories I'm writing for as well, so I can't be too hard on myself. I don't want to slow down even MORE on these. Well, I suppose that's it, thanks for all of the confidence and advice everyone! Here goes next chapter!
Luckier Star Kai 59
"You're a pervert." Konata said.
"I'm a pervert! So are you!" Kagami said.
"I smell food!" Konata said.
"I made food." Miki said.
"I have a family!" Konata said.
"You have a family." Kagami confirmed.
"Wanna be immortal?" Konata asked.
"But everyone will die!" Kagami protested.
"I'm still alive~!" Miki chimed as she came in.
"We live..." Inori and Matsuri muttered.
"Summon!" Konata shouted as she ran away.
"Eating..." Matsuri mumbled.
"Same." Inori said.
"... Lap pillow?" Matsuri asked.
"No lap pillow." Inori said.
"... Lap pillow?" Matsuri asked.
"NO. LAP PILLOW." Inori said.
"Lap pillow..." Matsuri mumbled mournfully.
"You two are awesome." Kagami said.
"Shut up sister, I know it!" Matsuri said.
"My little sister is sexy~!" Inori chimed.
"My big sister is sexy~!" Matsuri said.
"I'm back!" Konata said.
"I'll make food." Miki said.
"I'm gonna keep summoning Sylph." Konata said. "Sylph!"
"My food!" Kagami complained.
"Is delicious!" Konata said.
"So is my sister's~!" Inori chimed.
"And mine too!" Matsuri chimed.
"Kagamin~, where's your porn~?" Konata asked.
"FOOD TO PORN?" Kagami shouted.
"Master!" Konata shouted.
"Bondage!" Matsuri laughed.
"Pervert!" Inori pointed.
"SOMETHING SEXUAL!" Kagami screamed.
"How nice~..." Miki giggled.
"Kill me..." Kagami complained, ending an entirely too long string of words.
"I'm hungry." Tony said.
"I'm cooking!" Tsukasa said.
"Chef!" Tony pointed.
"Wanna make dinner?" Tsukasa asked.
"Hells yeah." Tony said. "I'm gonna train."
"I'm gonna hang out." Tsukasa said.
"Cool beans." Tony said.
"... I wanna-..." Tsukasa cut herself off.
"Wanna what?" Tony asked.
Sleep... with you maybe...? Tsukasa wondered. "Nothing." She said.
"Well, alright. Let me know." Tony said.
"Let's play for porn!" Konata said.
"If I win?" Kagami asked.
"I'll be your slave!" Konata said.
"I'll choose the game!" Kagami said.
"Let's go!" Konata cheered.
"I win." Kagami said.
"Sniper!" Konata pointed at Kagami.
"I'm remembering a silly story!" Tsukasa said.
"I don't believe you." Mikado said.
"Let's... find out..." Tereya said.
"I'm telling a funny story!" Mikado said.
"Not funny enough!" Tsukasa pointed at Mikado.
"I'm telling a hilarious story..." Tereya mumbled.
"That's funny enough!" Tsukasa said. "Know what else is funny?"
"What?" Mikado asked.
"Kan-kun's cooking." Tsukasa said. "But don't laugh!"
"Contradiction!" Mikado pointed at Tsukasa.
"I'm losing?!" Kagami asked.
"I'm winning." Konata said.
"Alright, no holding back!" Kagami said.
"Have my baby." Konata said seriously.
"DAMN IT!" Kagami shouted.
"Gotcha!" Konata said.
"Got YOU!" Kagami said, exploding all over Konata.
"Last attack, GO!" Konata pointed at the game.
"I'm injured..." Miyuki sighed.
"You're not strong enough to avoid it." Masuta said.
"Everyone is stronger than me..." Miyuki complained.
"They started earlier." Masuta said.
"Tell me something." Miyuki said.
"I played piano since I was a kid." Masuta said.
"Piano player!" Miyuki pointed with her uninjured hand.
"We're going to an onsen~..." Tsukasa chimed.
"I'm shy..." Tereya mumbled.
"Don't worry!" Mikado chimed.
"Me and Kan-kun are living together!" Tsukasa said.
"You and Kan-chan are living together?!" Mikado and Tereya pointed at Tsukasa.
"Y-Yes...?" Tsukasa said.
"Let's test him!" Mikado shouted, grabbing Tsukasa and Tereya and running off.
"Done training." Tony said.
"Let's eat!" Tsukasa said as she called her boyfriend.
"Alright." Tony said. "Where do you wanna eat?" Tony asked.
"There!" Tony got the impression Tsukasa had just pointed somewhere.
"See you there." Tony said.
"Kona suggested this." Kagami said. "Right, Slave?"
"Yes Onee-chan." Konata smiled.
"SHUT UP!" Kagami shouted.
"Little sister fetish!" Matsuri pointed at Kagami.
"NO!" Kagami shouted.
"YES." Konata said.
"You're gonna cook!" Kagami said.
"Yes Master." Konata said.
"I'm gonna enjoy this..." Kagami said.
"I'm waiting..." Tony said.
"I'm seducing you." A woman said.
"HA!" Tony laughed, pointing at the woman.
"Hmph." She left.
"Kan-kun~!" Tsukasa chimed.
"Good job, man." Mikado said.
"I did something right...?" Tony asked.
"You did something right!" Mikado pointed at Tony.
"Kan-kun, I wanna..." Tsukasa mumbled.
"Wanna...?" Tony urged her on.
"... Nothing." Tsukasa said. Tony sighed a bit.
"Well, alright." He said.
"Here Master." Konata brought out lunch.
"Good. I want to watch you make dinner." Kagami pointed at Konata.
"Very well, Master." Konata said.
"Eat!" Kagami commanded.
"Okay, Master." Konata said.
"Lap pillow." Kagami said.
"Lap pillow?" Konata asked.
"Lap pillow." Kagami said as she laid down.
"I cooked." Masuta said.
"I ate." Miyuki said.
"Hello~! Wanna go on a date?" Yukari asked.
"Sure, where?" Masuta asked.
"To a love hotel!" Yukari said.
"No!" Miyuki said.
"To the movies!" Masuta said.
"Let's go!" Miyuki said.
"I want sugar. And a snack." Kagami said.
"I'll make pocky, Master." Konata said.
"Go!" Kagami commanded, pointing at the door. Konata nodded.
"Very well, Master." Konata said.
"This isn't fun. Why isn't this fun?" Kagami wondered. She dominated her favorite game even more than she dominated her girlfriend.
"That funny story really happened!" Tony said.
"Then sing!" Mikado pointed at Tony.
"Nope." Tony said. "I'm gonna cook tonight..." Tony sighed.
"It's gonna be great!" Tsukasa said.
"I believe...!" Tereya said.
"We're screwed." Mikado said.
"Let's walk home." Tony said.
"No magic?" Mikado asked.
"No magic." Tony said.
"I ate a lot..." Tereya mumbled.
"I'm talking to Sylph." Konata said.
"Sexy snack~!" Sylph chimed.
"Have you seen a lot of humans?" Konata asked.
"Nope! Not since Oji!" Sylph said. "But I was worshiped for a while!"
"That's cool." Konata said.
"Yeah, most people failed though." Sylph said.
"I'm interrupting again." Miki said.
"Eep!" Sylph yipped.
"Talking to yourself?" Miki asked, pointing at Konata.
"Yes!" Konata said.
"Minoru said the wrong name and now he's my SLAVE!" Akira shouted.
LUCKY~ STAR~!
"Not enough friendship!" Tea complained, leaving in disgust.
Getting Back to Home
Tony, Tsukasa, Tereya and Mikado all finally arrived at the couple's home. Tereya and Mikado had asked about the subway, but Tony had vehemently refused to go on the train.
Never the subway.
"So why couldn't we just take the subway? We would have gotten here so much quicker!" Mikado complained.
"Stuff happens on the subway." Tony said seriously. "Literally, something huge happens every single time we get on the subway." Tony said.
"Well what happened last time?" Mikado asked.
"Someone attacked us and we barely survived. And if someone like him attacked again, unless one of you has some super powers that I don't know about, we'd probably die." Tony said. Tereya fidgeted.
"I don't think we do..." She said.
"Well, that's why we didn't take the subway then." Tony said. He opened his door and the group walked in. "I better get cooking. I know we just ate, but it'll take a while to cook everything for everyone. Plus, now that I know that Tereya apparently eats even more than I do, I'll have to cook even more." Tony said. Tsukasa smiled sympathetically. Tony chuckled nervously, knowing that if Tsukasa had cooked, it'd be done in minutes. But the way he cooked, it would take a lot longer.
"You guys wanna watch a movie?" Tsukasa asked.
"We never did go to the Onsen..." Mikado sighed, scratching the back of her head. Tsukasa hummed.
"Hey Kan-kun, how long do you think it's going to be?" Tsukasa asked. Tony smiled.
"Long enough for you guys to go to the Onsen if you want." He said. He pulled out some money and handed it to his girlfriend. "I've never been, but will this be enough for you guys?" Tony asked. Tsukasa nodded happily.
"This should be enough for all of us to get a private family room!" Tsukasa said cheerfully.
"Call it an hour?" Tony suggested. Tsukasa nodded.
"We'll be back in an hour!" Tsukasa said. Tony chuckled and waved as he entered the kitchen. Tsukasa and the group got up and stretched.
"Thanks a lot for getting Kan-chan to pay for it, Tsu-chan!" Mikado said cheerfully. "I don't have anymore money!" She said. Tsukasa giggled.
"Hey, it was him that offered it." Tsukasa smiled. "In fact, he offered to pay for a few nights out for us, too!" Tsukasa said
"Your boyfriend is awesome." Mikado said.
"I know." Tsukasa smiled with pride. The three of the set out from the house, finally going to take a bath like they had wanted to earlier.
In the Kitchen
Tony smiled as he walked into the kitchen. He looked over to the table to see a familiar face.
"Oh, hey boss." He waved casually. "What's up?" He asked.
"That girl is irritating..." He growled. Tony's smile disappeared.
"... Which girl?" He asked.
"Kagami. I went with important information, and she ignores me! Tells me to just come back later!" Hachiman ranted. Tony scratched the back of his head.
"Er... Boss? You can tell me this important information if you want!" Tony offered. Hachiman sighed.
"I've made a little progress. I found a dimension that has a time dilation compared with this one. Time was moving at a ridiculous blur there." Hachiman said.
"Oh yeah? What kind of place is it?" Tony asked as he sat down to talk.
"Hard to say. For every day that passes out here, over a thousand pass there." Hachiman said. Tony blinked.
"Whoa. That's even more of a difference than the Hyperbolic Time Chamber." Tony said.
"Yeah, it's pretty crazy." Hachiman said. "The only thing is that, since there's such a time dilation, I'm not entirely sure how to even begin entering it. Especially with others. I might be able to protect myself from that kind of weird, timey wimey stuff, but I don't know if I can protect anyone else." Hachiman said.
"Ah, I understand. Hey, if you've found somewhere, that's awesome! I'm surprised she wasn't interested in hearing about that." Tony said. Hachiman scowled.
"Yeah, I'm working hard to help her and she waves me off like that!" Hachiman said. "Man how I've fallen. When I used to have the Spirits, I would strike fear into the hearts of men even stronger than myself. I struck down man and god alike." Hachiman said. "Now some little schoolgirl is brushing me off because she doesn't feel like talking to me." Hachiman said.
"Wait, the Spirits?" Tony asked. Hachiman seemed to think, having mentioned it off-hand.
"Yeah, the Great Elemental Spirits. You met Sylph, right?" Hachiman said. Tony nodded.
"You went around and got the elemental Spirits too?" Tony asked. Hachiman nodded.
"Well... Yeah." Hachiman said.
"Wait, all of them?" Tony asked. Hachiman smiled in pride.
"All four of them." He said. Tony whistled.
"Whoa." He mumbled. "The speed Konata got was insane just from Sylph, what kind of power could you get from each of the Spirits together?" Tony wondered.
"It's really some amazing power. How do you think I got deified?" Hachiman asked. Tony hummed.
"Right, you were originally human, weren't you?" Tony asked. Hachiman nodded.
"I was originally known as Emperor Ojin. I traveled the world and gathered the four Great Elemental Spirits." Hachiman said. "I practiced working with them for years and gathered a great amount of skill with using their power." Hachiman chuckled.
"Right, didn't you say that someone has to deify you in order to become a Divine?" Tony asked. Hachiman nodded.
"Yeah. You see, you can challenge any Divine you want to. If you win, or if you impress them enough, they may grant you a favor. If it's in their power to grant, they'll do so." Hachiman said. Tony hummed.
"Wait, so did I impress you when we fought during the tournament?" Tony asked. Hachiman chuckled.
"I told you you were stronger than I thought you were." He said.
"So that's why you gave me these powers just because I asked." Tony said. Hachiman nodded.
"Well, kind of. You had the powers already, they were just too weak to really do anything." Hachiman explained.
"So did you give me my Divine Well too?" Tony asked. Hachiman shook his head.
"No, you were born with that." Hachiman said. Tony hummed.
"So did you challenge a Divine as a human?" Tony asked. Hachiman smirked.
"Yep, sure did." He said.
"Who did you challenge?" Tony asked.
"Well, go big or go home, you know?" He asked.
"... You didn't challenge Amaterasu, did you?" Tony asked.
"I totally challenged Amaterasu." Hachiman said. "With the four spirits at my back, I challenged Amaterasu herself. I have to admit, I was cocky back then. I had fought some lesser deities and dominated them completely. I figured Amaterasu couldn't be THAT much stronger than me." Hachiman chuckled.
"And how did that work out?" Tony asked.
"Oh dear god I was wrong." Hachiman said. "Amaterasu was so much more powerful than I could ever imagine. Even right now, with all of my power, I couldn't hope to face her when she was serious. Maybe if I had Sylph and the others again, I might be able to do some damage, but..." Hachiman trailed off.
"You still couldn't win?" Tony said, more as a statement than as a question.
"It would be delaying the inevitable. I've been practice techniques to be used specifically against her, but... She probably wouldn't be able to beat me particularly quickly, but all of the damage I would do would likely be negligible compared to her energy resources." Hachiman said. "And who knows, she may not have even been particularly serious that time. For all I know, she could obliterate me immediately." Hachiman chuckled. Tony hummed.
"So... Konata got Sylph as a Spirit... Do you think I could get a Spirit?" Tony asked. Hachiman made a bit of a sour face.
"Please don't say it like you're collecting trading cards or something. These aren't spells that can talk, they may be living embodiments of the world's elements, but they are living and breathing beings." Hachiman said. "They have feelings and opinions." Hachiman scolded. Tony reared back a little bit.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean it like that, I guess I just didn't think about how I worded it that much..." Tony said. Hachiman sighed.
"I suppose you wouldn't have thought that much about it. Well, Konata recruited the Spirit of the Wind, Sylph. She also has Fujin helping her though, so I don't know if you wanted to try and form a contract with the god of fire as well. However, then who would you even want to contract with..." Hachiman wondered. "Kagutsuchi was beheaded long before I was born, so that wouldn't work. Kojin is also a god of fire a suppose, but I don't know if he really knows much about this sort of thing. Fujin makes contracts once a generation or so because he gets bored." Hachiman said. "Though, Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun, so she would also be a candidate." Hachiman said. Tony hummed.
"So why are we only talking about fire? Aren't there two other elements? Earth and water or something?" Tony asked. Hachiman chuckled again.
"Yeah, earth, water, wind and fire. Those are the four elements that have Spirits attributed to them. They aren't the only attributes, but they're the major ones. Angel and demons take over the job of the spirits for holy and dark energy respectively, I guess." Hachiman said. "And I would say fire is the best fit for you. When you first began learning to use magic, you started out with fire. When you talked about learning, you talked about fire. Your gem is the gem of fire." Hachiman said. Tony took out his red gem.
"This thing?" He asked.
"Yeah." Hachiman said. Tony turned it around.
"Gem of fire? What are you talking about?" He asked. Hachiman laughed.
"You guys really haven't figured it out then?" He asked. Tony stared at him.
"I really haven't." He said. The god shrugged.
"Then I'm not gonna be the one who spoils it for you." Hachiman said.
"Alright, so this gem somehow makes fire easier to use?" Tony asked. Hachiman nodded.
"It also makes fire do about half the regular damage to you. So it'd hurt, but it wouldn't actually burn you. And it wouldn't hurt as much." Hachiman explained.
"Ah... It sounds like a video game." Tony said.
"Well it's a lot more complicated, but I figured if I explained it like that it would be easier to understand." Hachiman said.
"Cool... So, let's assume I'm going to go recruit the Great Elemental Spirit of Fire. What do they do?" Tony asked.
"She's a master of all fire spells, just like Sylph is a master of all wind spells. However, she also has the most combat experience of any of the Great Elemental Spirits. If you were to be able to recruit her, along with your gem, fire wouldn't even effect you anymore." Hachiman said.
"Alrighty. Sylph makes Konata super fast, right?" Tony asked.
"That's correct." Hachiman said.
"What does this Spirit do?" Tony asked.
"Salamander is the best at handling energy. She increases your strength and your speed, but her main ability is to be able to multiply energy you give to her. So you can give her energy, and she'll return even more to you." Hachiman said. "However, proving yourself to her is going to be a lot harder than it was with Sylph. Salamander has thousands of years of experience and more. She's been around since the birth of the planet and actively enjoys fighting." Hachiman said.
"Heh, hey I might fall in love with someone like that." Tony chuckled.
"That would end very badly for you." Hachiman said.
"I was joking, I have Tsukasa." Tony said.
"Even without her, it's not smart to fall in love with a Spirit. Even someone like me is basically the age of an infant to them." Hachiman said.
"I get it, I get it..." Tony chuckled. He had only meant to make a joke and compliment the Spirit, not be taken seriously. Hachiman sighed.
"I just wanted to make sure you didn't make a mistake like that. There are those who have made it and paid for it." The god said. Tony hummed.
"Are you one of them?" Tony asked. Hachiman chuckled.
"Nah, I do love Salamander, but it's much more platonic." He said. "She's very... Well, I'll just let you experience her." Hachiman said. Tony sighed.
"Man, this has been a lot to take in..." He said. "So you know where Salamander is?" Tony asked.
"Yes I do." Hachiman said.
"Is there any chance you could help me get to her?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, but some other time. I didn't mean to take up so much of your time, I'm sorry." Hachiman said, scratching the back of his head.
"Oh, no problem! This has been very informative." Tony smiled. "I'm glad I got to learn some more about you, boss." Tony said. Hachiman chuckled.
"Well, I think we should leave it here for today. After all, you have a dinner to cook, right?" Hachiman winked. Tony paled as he looked at the clock.
"... Crap." He said. They had been talking for at least an hour. Great, dinner would be so late for Tsukasa now. Speaking of which, where was she...
At the Onsen!
Tsukasa, Tereya and Mikado laid around the tub, soaking in the warm water.
"I'm glad they had a private room available..." Tsukasa sighed happily.
"Yeah... This is... nice..." Tereya smiled shyly. However, like this, she didn't have to hide herself.
"Hey Tsu-chan..." Mikado put her head in her hands. Tsukasa kicked her head to the side.
"What's up, Mika-chan?" Tsukasa asked.
"You ever think of dating a girl?" She asked, as if nothing was odd about the question. Both Tsukasa and Tereya blushed.
"Wha-? Y-You know I'm dating Kan-kun." Tsukasa said. Mikado nodded.
"Yeah, but you ever thought about it? What if Kan-chan was a girl?" Mikado asked. Tsukasa blushed. However, she seemed to take the question seriously.
"A girl Kan-kun..." She imagined it. Then, she giggled. "That's kind of silly." She said.
"Do you think you would still have fallen in love?" Mikado asked.
"Definitely." Tsukasa said immediately. "I love Kan-kun because he's Kan-kun. He's nice, he's fun, and he's always there for me. I don't care if he were a boy or a girl." Tsukasa said. "Love isn't something that can be stopped by someone's gender." Tsukasa said. Mikado smiled.
"Alright." Mikado smiled. Tsukasa thought for a moment.
"How about you, Teri-chan?" Tsukasa asked. Tereya blushed deeper and pointed to herself.
"M-Me?" She asked. Tsukasa nodded.
"Do you think you like boys or girls?" Tsukasa asked. Tereya looked down and fidgeted.
"W-Why do you ask?" She asked. Tsukasa shrugged, but, while Tereya wasn't watching, she glanced to Mikado with a little slyness.
"I was just curious, I guess." Tsukasa said. Tereya hummed.
"Um... I think.." She said, seemingly giving the idea serious thought as well. "I think I could love either..." Tereya said. "Just like you, Tsu-chan. It's about the person." Tereya said. Tsukasa nodded.
"What kind of person are you looking for?" Tsukasa asked. Tereya blushed harder.
"I... I guess the same kind...? Someone who's nice... who's fun... someone who will never abandon me... Who'll stay by my side, even seeing wh-... what I am..." She mumbled, holding onto her burned side. Tsukasa and Mikado swam over a bit and put an arm around her each.
"Don't worry, you'll find someone. Besides, you always have us!" Tsukasa said. "Me, Kan-kun. Kona-chan and Onee-chan. We all like you for you!" Tsukasa said. Mikado blushed from the other side of Tereya. "And if something happens with this certain person you decide to go out with, we'll be there for you!" Tsukasa said cheerfully. Tereya looked up at Tsukasa, a stunned look on her face. As if that was something she had never known she needed to hear, but had just now realized.
"You'll all... be there..." She mumbled to herself. Tsukasa nodded happily.
"We're friends forever! You're stuck in our little group for the rest of your life!" Tsukasa giggled a bit. Tereya stayed, looking at Tsukasa for a moment before smiling warmly. She hugged Tsukasa tightly.
"Thank you... Thank you..." She mumbled over and over again. Tsukasa looked over at Mikado who, while she was certainly jealous, also recognized the gesture as one of friendship. Tsukasa smiled and hugged her friend back.
"I'm very glad we all met, Teri-chan." Tsukasa said. Mikado crept up behind her.
"GROUP HUG!" She shouted as she jumped on the two.
"Mika-cha-AGH!" Tsukasa laughed as the two lost their footing and were brought underwater for a moment.
And Forever I Shall Serve
"Slave." Kagami said.
"Master?" Konata asked.
"I'm ready for dinner now." Kagami said. "You'll let me watch." She said. Konata giggled a bit.
"Yes Master." Konata said. Kagami sighed. She got up and the two began walking to the kitchen.
"What will you be making, Konata?" Miki asked.
"Whatever it is that my Master requests." Konata said. Miki giggled.
"I look forward to seeing what that is." Miki said. Konata gave a thumbs up and entered the kitchen. Kagami followed her in.
"Slave, I want Yakitori." Kagami said.
"Do you eat anything else?" Konata giggled. Kagami smiled.
"You're getting too uppity, Slave." She said, though she couldn't suppress her smile.
"My apologies, Master." Konata said. She breathed. "Summon the wind inside myself..." Konata mumbled. The world slowed down once more. She was happy to notice that the speed was coming at less power than before. Not a lot less, but it was noticeable.
"Hey Konata~!" Sylph's voice rang in her head. Konata smiled as she began working on the chicken with the speed of the wind.
Hey Sylph. What's up? Konata asked.
"I spy a pretty twin tails!" Sylph chimed.
Mine. Konata said, giggling a bit.
"What are you doing now?" Sylph asked.
I'm making her food. Konata said.
"... Sexy food?" Sylph asked.
NOT SEXY FOOD, NO. Konata immediately answered, having known what the Spirit would say. Sylph, that joke might get a bit old... Konata scolded her.
"What joke?" Sylph asked innocently. Konata sighed before dropping it.
So, have I gotten any faster since we first met? Konata asked. Sylph giggled.
"You can't really expect that much improvement in such a short time. Although, you have been calling on me a lot... Either way, I'm happy~!" Sylph said.
Man, with this kind of speed, I might be as fast as Tsukasa when she cooks! Konata giggled.
"What~? You think there's someone who can match me in speed?" Sylph asked. If Konata didn't know any better, she'd say she hurt the Spirit's pride.
You don't get it, she's crazy fast at cooking! Konata said. Konata got the impression that Sylph had crossed her arms in a huff.
"But still! You might not be as good with me as Yama-chan, but you're still pretty fast!" Sylph protested.
... Yama-chan? Konata asked. Sylph gasped as if she had forgotten that she hadn't told Konata about them before.
"Oh! He's the first human I ever met! Although... I guess technically I met those guys who used to worship me... But Yama-chan was special!" Sylph said cheerfully.
I still don't know who Yama-chan i- oh, crap! Konata cursed as she made a spilled a bit of rice.
"Be careful, Slave." She heard Kagami scold, causing her to smile.
"Yes, Master." Konata answered. Did you really not meet a bunch of people? Konata asked.
"Nope! A lot of people were afraid of me... They treated me like some sort of god!" Sylph said.
... Are you a god? Konata chuckled.
"I'm not a god, I'm a spirit!" Sylph protested.
So still not a succubus? Konata thought. She could practically feel Sylph sigh.
"... Still not a succubus, no." She said. Konata chuckled as she finished preparing the meal. She put the oven to broil and put them in.
Hey Sylph, I'll talk to you later! My Master will want to talk to me. Konata giggled.
"It's okay! Talk to your twin tailed girlfriend!" Sylph said. Konata chuckled as she turned around.
"That was quick." Kagami said.
"I summoned Sylph, Master." Konata said.
"Don't bother her for something like cooking." Kagami scolded.
"She doesn't mind, Master." Konata said. Kagami huffed.
"Did she specifically tell you that?" Kagami asked. Konata nodded.
"Of course, Master." Konata said.
"How?" Kagami asked.
"She talks in my head, Master." Konata said.
"Hm. Maybe I should see about making a contract with a Spirit. That sounds pretty cool." Kagami said.
"Very good, Master." Konata said. Kagami made a sour face. Why did this interaction feel so weird? Although, it WAS pretty weird... Normally, Konata would make some crack about how lonely she must be. Now she was just replying the same thing over and over again. Master this and Master that. It was... frustrating. Kagami sighed. "Does something displease you, Master?" Konata asked.
"... No, nothing." Kagami said. She was gonna enjoy a pet Kona if it killed her!
At a Cafe
Miyuki and Masuta sat at the same cafe they had gone to to celebrate getting out of debt, having just finished ordering.
"So Miyuki." Masuta smiled.
"Hm? Yes, Masuta?" Miyuki asked.
"Tell me about yourself." He said. Miyuki blinked a time or two.
"You know a great deal about me already, what..." She began to ask before realizing what her boyfriend was doing. She giggled lightly. "I see, you want something I haven't told you about." Miyuki said. She hummed. "I'm not sure what you were hoping for." Miyuki wondered.
"Well, how about as a child? Anything, really." Masuta smiled. Miyuki hummed. "Have you always had glasses?" Masuta asked.
"Well... I remember as a child... My mother used to read me stories in my bed with me every night. She always fell asleep before she could finish though, so I ended up reading the stories in the dark after she fell asleep." Miyuki giggled. "I guess straining my eyes every night led to me needing glasses." Miyuki said. Masuta hummed.
"Your mother slept in your bed every night?" He asked. Miyuki nodded.
"Yes, she said my bed was more comfortable than hers." She giggled at her mother's seemingly obvious attempt at finding an excuse to cuddle with her daughter.
"Not in the same bed as your father?" Masuta asked. Miyuki blinked a time or two.
"... No, I suppose not." She said, as if she had never thought of that. Miyuki looked down at the table in thought. "That... does raise a few questions now that I think about it..." She said. Masuta realized he may have just started something that wouldn't end well.
"You know, I'm sure she must have just spent the extra money on your bed and yours really was just more comfortable!" Masuta said. The waitress came back with their food. "Ah, food's here, let's eat!" Masuta said. Miyuki, however, ignored her meal.
"Why WOULD she sleep apart from father every night?" Miyuki asked herself. Masuta could see she was using her considerable brain power to sort this out. He then realized that he was past the point where he could head this off. He sighed.
"Miyuki, maybe this would be better to not think about." Masuta said.
"No, I want to figure this out." She said. "What ARE the reasons that my mother would sleep in my bed rather than in bed with my father..." Miyuki wondered. Masuta sighed. "She could have been worried for me..." She said.
"She could have liked reading stories to her daughter." Masuta suggested.
"... She could have been growing distant from my father." Miyuki said. "After all, the two would later get a divorce... Perhaps... Perhaps she didn't love him." Miyuki mumbled.
"Miyuki, let's stop talking about this. I would rather we talked about something cheerful on our date." Masuta said. Miyuki sighed.
"I... I suppose you're right. I shouldn't be so depressing on our date. Besides, regardless of what happened, it can't be changed. Perhaps I'll ask my mother about it later, though." Miyuki said. Masuta cursed himself under his breath. He hadn't meant anything by the observation, but he had apparently brought up something troublesome. Miyuki began eating, along with Masuta. An uncomfortable silence fell between them. Masuta sighed.
"Miyuki, can I ask you something?" Masuta asked. Miyuki hummed.
"If you wish." She said.
"Do you dislike your life now?" Masuta asked. Miyuki seemed surprised at the question.
"No, of course not! My life is wonderful." She said.
"Do you think it would be different had the two of them stayed together?" Masuta asked. The two of them might as well tackle this while the wound was fresh rather than waiting for it to be opened later on. Miyuki hummed.
"I would think it would be." Miyuki said.
"You're a smart girl, Miyuki." Masuta said. "Follow it through. How do you think your life would be changed had your parents never divorced?" Miyuki seemed give it a lot of thought.
"Hm... Well, assuming my parents were in a-"
"Loving marriage." Masuta supplied, knowing what Miyuki was likely to have said. Miyuki sighed.
"Very well. Assuming my parents were in a loving marriage, I remember my father had been a lawyer. That in mind, he likely would have had a much larger influence on my life. I'd have wanted to follow in his footsteps since my mother..." Miyuki trailed off a bit.
"Has no such footsteps." Masuta chuckled. Miyuki giggled lightly.
"Yes, that. I would likely have attended a more... prestigious high school before going to whatever college my father had gone to. Probably gone into law, and become a lawyer myself." Miyuki said. Masuta hummed.
"So you would never have met Konata, Kagami or Tsukasa." Masuta said. Miyuki shook her head.
"It's unlikely. I perhaps would have met Kagami-san, but we would not have become nearly as close as we are now." Miyuki said. "We may have even been opponents." She said. "Plus, I never would have met you." Miyuki said with affection. Masuta smiled and scratched the back of his head.
"So that's already a future I want no part of." He chuckled. "Alright, if you want to think about it the way you were going to, you can." Masuta said.
"I doubt it would turn out much different had my parents been in a loveless marriage. The main difference would be I would try law to try and impress my father, win his love." Miyuki said.
"So you'd have never met us then, either." Masuta said.
"No, no I wouldn't have." Miyuki said.
"You said you were going into medicine, correct?" Masuta asked. Miyuki nodded.
"I'd like to help people, yes." She smiled.
"That green haired girl, Minami, was it?" Masuta asked. Miyuki nodded that he was correct. "She decided to become a nurse, because of you, correct?" Masuta asked. Miyuki smiled and nodded.
"That's what she says, yes." Miyuki said.
"Now, the girl she likes, Yutaka?" Masuta asked. Miyuki, again, nodded. "If I remember correctly, Yutaka is a rather sickly girl. So she makes constant trips to the nurse, who Minami helps." Masuta said. Miyuki seemed to realize what he was saying, but he continued. "You going into medicine is likely the main reason even Minami found who she fell in love with." Masuta said.
"I don't know if I would go that far..." Miyuki said.
"Miyuki, it's okay to wonder what might have been, but never regret what's happened. It's what led you to me and I couldn't be happier." Masuta said. Miyuki smiled warmly.
"If my mother had been more... put together, who knows what may have happened." Miyuki giggled. "It was her allowing me to do what I wanted that led me to make the decisions I've made." Miyuki said. "I'm... rather glad now. That things have happened the way they have." Miyuki said. Masuta smiled.
"I'm glad." He said as the two finished their meal. "Would you like to go home?" Masuta asked. Miyuki nodded.
"I've had a fine time. But I'm tired... I think I'd like to rest a bit." Miyuki said. Masuta nodded. Leaving money for the check, the two left the restaurant.
After Cooking Dinner
Tony finished up dinner, and looked over at the door. Tsukasa had yet to show up, and he was beginning to get nervous. Her amulet hadn't warned him of any danger, but maybe there had been some interference with it.
"We're home~!" As if to dash his expectations, Tsukasa walked in the front door.
"Welcome home, Tsukasa." Tony sighed in relief and smiled. "I was getting worried, you were late." Tony said.
"Sorry we're so late Kan-kun... We were just so relaxed and the water was so nice..." Tsukasa said. "I completely lost track of time..." Tsukasa scratched the back of her head. Mikado and Tereya entered behind her, looking a little guilty themselves.
"Sorry 'bout that." Mikado chuckled a little.
"I hope you weren't waiting long..." Tereya mumbled.
"No, don't worry about it. I only just finished dinner, I got distracted myself." Tony chuckled. "Well, try and stomach it, I guess." He said. He put the dinner out and all of the girls sat around the table. "I tried to put extra love in it." Tony said.
"You made a lot..." Tsukasa mumbled, looking at all of the food on the table.
"Well, I know that Tereya held back for lunch, I figured she might still be hungry, especially after that soak." Tony said. Tereya blushed.
"Th-Thanks for thinking of me..." She mumbled. Tsukasa giggled. Tony sat down at the head of the table and anxiously glanced at his girlfriend. Tsukasa hummed as she picked up a piece and popped it in her mouth.
"Hm..." Tsukasa hummed. Tony fidgeted. She gasped sharply and glared at Tony. "This honey. Why did you choose this honey?" Tsukasa asked. The sudden seriousness threw Tony off.
"I-I dunno, I've seen an empty container of it here before, I figured you'd used it and liked it?" Tony mumbled weakly. Tsukasa had used this honey before, and Tony figured she would know it, but this wasn't anywhere close to the reaction he had expected.
". . ." Tsukasa shivered for another minute. She had been caught. One of the ingredients for her Ama-Ama Dangos had been found. Wait, if he didn't know the context in which she had used it... "It's nothing, Kan-kun. But the name brand would have worked better for it." Tsukasa said.
"I'm not sure what store it was bought at, to be honest..." Tony chuckled.
"I do. It's the only store that sells the brand of honey you used." Tsukasa said. Mikado and Tereya both looked at Tsukasa in awe.
"How do you know what kind of honey he used?" Mikado asked. Tony laughed.
"You think that's impressive? Tsukasa, do the thing." Tony said.
"He used organic cabbage, pickled garlic, the store brand salt... the store brand honey." Tsukasa said.
"It looks like there's meat here too, though..." Tereya mumbled.
"Also, bacon, eggs, and... what kind of flour..." Tsukasa idly wondered.
"You don't have to go that far." Tony chuckled.
"That's crazy, Tsu-chan!" Mikado said. "How can you do that?" She asked.
"My girlfriend is an S ranked Kitchenmancer." Tony said.
"A... Wha...?" Mikado asked.
"I just... kind of know..." Tsukasa giggled a little nervously.
"I've never had an omelette for dinner though!" Mikado said.
"I might have used barbecue sauce for it, Kan-kun..." Tsukasa said.
"I figured I'd try to have it a little sweet, you know?" Tony asked.
"It isn't bad!" Tsukasa made sure to say. "And you made sure it wasn't bad for anyone! It isn't all that healthy, but it isn't bad for our health either!" Tsukasa said. "That's definitely an achievement considering all the bacon you used!" Tsukasa said.
"How does it taste?" Tony asked.
"It's..." Mikado began.
"It's not bad!" Tsukasa said. "In fact, it's pretty good!" Tsukasa said. Tony blinked before turning to Mikado and Tereya.
"It's... good." Tereya mumbled. Tony couldn't help but noticed nobody quite winced when they took a bite. He smiled.
"I found the secret ingredient!" Tony cheered.
"That's not the honey I use!" Tsukasa shouted hastily. Everyone looked over at her.
"I... meant love." Tony said. "Is the honey your secret ingredient in something?" Tony asked.
"N-No! Nothing like that!" Tsukasa said.
"So what is the honey for then?" Tereya asked.
"I-It's nothing!" Tsukasa said defensively. Mikado giggled
"Hm~... Maybe it's used for something we can't ask about." Mikado said.
"Y-Yeah! It's like that!" Tsukasa said.
"Well, you two ARE living together now..." Mikado giggled. Everyone else at the table blushed.
"W-We haven't done anything like that!" Tony said.
"We haven't." Tsukasa said surprisingly calmly.
"I mean, we aren't married yet, so that kind of thing is..." Tony trailed off.
"What, in this day and age? Plenty of people do it without being married!" Mikado said. Tony scratched the back of his head.
"Well... We haven't done anything like that." Tony said.
"Why not?" Mikado asked. Tony blushed.
"Wait, weren't you JUST betting I would try and cheat on Tsukasa earlier today?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, and you didn't. So obviously you love her! Tsu-chan, are you not ready for that kind of thing yet?" Mikado asked.
"..." Tsukasa blushed and looked at the table, unable to answer. She wasn't entirely sure if she were ready or not, but she couldn't answer either way.
"... Tsukasa?" Tony asked. Wait, was Tsukasa ready? Didn't she want to wait for marriage? Of course, that begged the question... Was Tony himself ready? Even if Tsukasa was ready and willing, Tony didn't know if he was yet.
"I... I don't... know..." Tsukasa barely squeaked out. Man, now everyone wanted an answer! Tony would definitely want to know!
"It's alright, Tsukasa." Tony smiled to his girlfriend. Tsukasa looked up at Tony. "As long as you're okay with me, we have the rest of our lives together. If you want to wait, make sure you're ready, that fine with me." Tony said. Tsukasa blushed and smiled. She nodded.
"Thank you, Kan-kun." Tsukasa said. Of course, that would also give Tony some time himself.
"In the meantime, dinner!" Tony said happily. And so, everyone went back to eating, Mikado sure she had helped this couple along.
The Hiiragi House
Kagami, Miki and Konata all ate dinner in relative silence. Kagami and her mother didn't have a lot of things to talk about and Konata would only speak when spoken to. Kagami sighed.
"Konata..." Kagami said, calling her slave to attention at the mention of her name.
"Master?" Konata asked.
"Can we... stop? At least, for a little bit?" Kagami asked. Konata blinked a time or two.
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, Master." Konata said.
"Stop the whole, Master-Slave thing until after dinner." Kagami said. "I want to talk to you... And to not have you say something like "Yes Master" and then nothing else!" Kagami said. Konata smiled.
"Oh? You like~ it when I tease you?" Konata giggled.
"Yes." Kagami said bluntly. "Kona, I miss just talking. You embarrass the hell out of me and you have no sense of timing, but at least I'm talking to the real you then." Kagami said. Konata blushed a bit despite herself. "And besides, lately I've been able to get you back a few times." Kagami smirked a little. Konata blushed a bit deeper.
"If that's what you really want Kagamin." Konata said with a smile. Kagami sighed. Hearing Konata call her by name was pleasant.
"However, after dinner, I wanna go back." Kagami said. Konata giggled.
"Sure thing, Kagamin." Konata said. Miki giggled.
"I see. So that's what been agitating you all day, Kagami." Miki said. Kagami scratched her head.
"Have I been that obvious?" Kagami asked. Miki nodded.
"To me, but I can be rather observant." Miki said. "Especially where my family is concerned." Miki said.
"So what do you wanna talk about, Kagamin?" Konata asked.
"I dunno, anything I guess." Kagami shrugged.
"So Kagamin, what was your favorite drink when we went out drinking?" Konata asked. Kagami shrugged.
"I don't... really remember it all that well." She chuckled. "Even after seeing that video Matsuri showed me. What did I drink a lot of?" Kagami asked. Konata hummed.
"Wine. A lot of plum wine." Konata chuckled.
"Plum wine, huh?" Kagami chuckled as well.
"Even when you're drunk, you've got a ridiculous sweet tooth..." Konata giggled at her girlfriend.
"Shut up..." Kagami smiled. Oh yeah. She so missed this. "Hey, I know Kona got me home that night, but how did everyone else get home? I distinctly remember everyone was drinking that night. A lot." Kagami said. "Mom, I think you drank the most, didn't you?" Kagami asked. Miki giggled.
"Yes, I did." She said.
"Mom was how they got home." Konata said. Kagami looked at the Otaku.
"Huh? But... How?" She asked.
"Apparently, she's a bit of a heavy weight." Konata said.
"She's right." Miki smiled. "I've got a little bit of a tolerance."
"Ya know Kagamin, it DID take a lot of get you drunk. I think you inherited some of that!" Konata said.
"How would you know how much it takes to get drunk?" Kagami asked.
"I've been drunk before! It doesn't take a lot!" Konata said. Then, she grinned. "Of course, weight directly influences how quickly you get drunk..." Konata commented.
"SHUT. UP." Kagami said, internally sighing in relief. "Besides, most of my weight either is or is gonna turn into muscle!"
"Oh? And how's that?" Miki asked.
"Kona and Tony are training me to be able to fight!" Kagami said. Miki, for likely one of the first times in Kagami's life, seemed legitimately surprised.
"Really?" She asked. She hummed. "Well..." She almost seemed at a loss for words. Then, the housewife regained her composure. "I look forward to seeing how you turn out. I'm sure you'll be splendid." Miki smiled.
"Hey Mom, maybe sometime you can help me learn how to use a sword!" Kagami said. Miki crossed her arms.
"And what makes you think I would know how to use such a thing?" She asked.
"... You said you the ace of the Kendo AND fencing club in college." Kagami said. Miki thought for a moment.
"Oh right... I did say something like that. I forgot I had told you that." She smiled. "Exactly how long have you been training?" Miki asked.
"Um..." Kagami mumbled. She knew what was coming now, and she could feel Konata glaring at her. You couldn't blame a girl for trying, though! "Not a long time..." Kagami sighed.
"You need a lot of training before you should ever pick up a sword. Remember what happened last time?" Miki asked. Kagami averted her gaze.
"... But shouldn't I learn so that that doesn't happen again?" Kagami asked. Miki sighed.
"I'm sorry, Kagami. My sword skills are... a bit beyond your ability right now. Perhaps later, with more training and age, but you wouldn't be able to use them now." Miki said. Kagami sighed.
"Alright, I understand. I'll wait." Kagami said.
"Seriously Kagamin, where are you going to get this sword in every fight you're apparently going to have?" Konata asked. Kagami shrugged.
"Well, Tony has a sword he can magically summon at will, now you have a sword you can magically summon at will, aren't I next in line to get something like that?" Kagami asked. Konata stared at Kagami blankly.
"... I don't think it works like that, Kagamin." Konata said. Kagami shrugged.
"Who knows how anything works anymore." She said. Konata sighed.
"Alright, I'll tell you what Kagami, if you DO get some kind of weapon you can call to you whenever you want, I'll teach you how to use it." Konata said. Kagami cheered.
"Thank you Kona~." Kagami finally finished her meal and gave Konata a quick hug. "Your meal was satisfactory, slave." Kagami said.
"I'm glad, master." Konata said. Miki giggled as the two quickly picked their roles back up.
With the Slightly More Normal Couple
Miyuki panted, her uninjured hand on her knee. The two had gotten home around a half an hour before, and Miyuki had surprised Masuta by trying to throw him. Since then, Miyuki had remained entirely on the defensive, trying just to stay standing.
"I think... I've got it..." She said. Masuta sighed.
"I told you you need to lay down. You're gonna hurt yourself more!" He protested as he approached her. Miyuki looked up and grabbed his wrist. Shifting her center of gravity, she put all of her weight against Masuta. Not having expected it, he was caught off guard. However, his sheer strength kept him on his feet. He grabbed her wrist and pulled, though carefully to keep from hurting her injured wrist. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and picked her up.
"But... I was finally understanding how to manipulate my center of gravity! And to manipulate my opponents!" Miyuki protested.
"Am I gonna have to tie you up to keep you from hurting yourself?" Masuta scolded her as he laid her on the couch. Miyuki looked down and sighed.
"I apologize... It's just... I had the theory down, I just wanted to test it..." Miyuki said. Masuta sighed and scratched the back of his head.
"You have it right. An average person probably would have been taken down by that." Masuta said.
"It's only because you're more skilled that I didn't?" Miyuki asked. Masuta hummed.
"Honestly, I couldn't tell either way. You can grasp the theory, and even execute it because you're smart, but that's also a liability." Masuta said. "When Ototo was young and I taught him, I also put him through rigorous muscle training. Your main weakness is that you haven't, and won't, have that. Honestly, I think your best bet would be to go with Judo over things like Karate." Masuta said.
"If I were to take something like Karate, would I not eventually develop the muscle I need?" Miyuki asked. Masuta chuckled.
"Yeah, but you want to learn quick. To do that, we need to play to your strengths. You're very good at developing skills, but you don't have a lot of potential power-wise. Even just now, manipulating your center of gravity is especially useful for Judo. Of course, even that is around a third power, two thirds skill." He thought out loud.
"So is that what I should try for?" Miyuki asked. Masuta remained silent for another moment, then chuckled.
"Nah, screw that. We need to modify those rules. Make it a hundred percent skill, no power needed." Masuta said. "But how would we do that..." He sat down and began thinking. "Maybe if we focus everything on your ability to manipulate your center of gravity, and your opponents..." Masuta wondered.
"Specialize?" Miyuki asked.
"Beyond that. Make it the sole purpose of our training sessions... You should be able to take on stronger opponents with skill alone." Masuta said.
"May we begin now?" Miyuki as she began to stand.
"We may not begin now." Masuta said. "You need to rest. Your stamina is also going to be relatively underdeveloped. Besides, you'll need both your arms to do this and your wrist is certainly not healed yet." Masuta said. Miyuki sighed before laying back down.
"I understand. I'll rest for now." Miyuki mumbled. Masuta nodded.
"Good. I'll get you some ice." He said as he stood and left the room. Miyuki smiled a bit and sighed happily.
"Oh~..." Yukari came in the room. "So you leave on a date and when I see you next, you're sighing happily? And you're all sweaty and tired!" Yukari observed. "I guess you two took my advice and decided to give me some grandchildren!" Yukari threw her arms up in a cheer. Miyuki blushed horribly.
"N-No, it's nothing like that, I swear! I was learning how to manipulate my weight and his to get an advantageous position over him, and-" Miyuki began trying to explain her training.
"No no, Mommy Yukari doesn't need to know the details, as long as I get to play with the little ones once they're born!" Yukari chimed as she quickly left the room. Miyuki laid there, sitting up and wishing she had talked faster, her face beet red. Masuta walked back in, ice pack in hand.
"Hey, I got the- whoa. Do you need another, your face is crazy red!" Masuta walked up and put a hand to her forehead. "I knew you were pushing yourself too hard!" He cursed to himself, though he kept the actual cursing in his head.
"N-No... It's nothing like that..." Miyuki mumbled. Masuta sighed.
"What's it like, then?" He asked. Miyuki explained, though she was quite hushed with as embarrassed as she was. "Oh... Well..." He blushed himself after she had finished explaining.
"Yeah..." Miyuki mumbled.
"Why is she so preoccupied with that?" Masuta wondered.
"I don't know..." Miyuki sighed. "Perhaps... I should go ask about that..." Miyuki said. Masuta chuckled nervously.
"Well... I'm not going to say not to, but I'm not sure if you really would want to..." Masuta said. Miyuki sighed.
"I'll be back..." She stood. She walked off, determined to talk to her mother.
And So Ends the Dinner Party...
The four people finished their dinner and stretched. Tony sighed.
"Well, it wasn't good." He said.
"It was! I liked it!" Tsukasa said.
"It honestly wasn't bad, Kan-chan." Mikado chuckled.
"You don't have to lie, Mikado." Tony chuckled.
"I'm not lying! It was good!" Mikado said.
"It... was good..." Tereya said.
"Kan-kun, it was good. Considering it wasn't bad for us, that's pretty amazing!" Tsukasa said. Tony scratched the back of his head.
"So uh... What do you guys want to do?" Tony asked. Tsukasa, Tereya and Mikado all looked at each other for a moment.
"I think we had better be getting home." Mikado said. "Hate to eat and run, but it's getting late." She said. Tereya nodded.
"It is..." She said.
"No, I understand! I've had a lot of fun today, guys!" Tsukasa chimed. "I'll see you guys later!" She said. Tereya and Mikado walked and waved as they went out.
"See ya!" Mikado said.
"See you later..." Tereya said. Tony chuckled.
"Have a good night!" He said. The two left. "So what do you wanna do, Tsukasa?" Tony asked. Tsukasa hummed.
"I dunno... I feel like this place is kind of a mess..." Tsukasa giggled a little. "I think I'm gonna clean up." Tsukasa said. Tony looked around.
"Hm? This place looks pretty clean to me." He said. Tsukasa smiled.
"It's pretty messy in the kitchen, all of the dishes and everything..." Tsukasa said. Tony looked around again.
"Alright, I can handle things in here if you want. I made this mess." Tony said. Tsukasa smiled.
"Thanks Kan-kun! I'll go clean the living room since me and the girls made a mess in there." Tsukasa said. Tony chuckled.
"I didn't even notice." He said.
"Who ever finishes first can go help the other!" Tsukasa said. Tony nodded.
"Sounds like a plan to me." He said. Thus, the two set to it. Tony, however, decided to cheat again and, once his girlfriend was out of the room, set a spell off to clean the kitchen. He sat and began to think. After all, he had a lot to think about now. WAS Tsukasa ready to take another step in their relationship? It seemed entirely possible, now. After all, he had thought she wanted to wait for marriage. Was that what she was wondering about earlier? That she had said she was feeling better about it after hearing Tony reject that knockout? That she felt that secure in their relationship was certainly nice. Tony liked being trusted again.
That said, what did Tony think? Was he ready for that kind of a relationship. Although, he was a guy, so shouldn't he be? He felt a little weird having to wonder about it. Tsukasa might be okay with it, why shouldn't he be? Of course, did that mean he was also ready for marriage? The idea sort of frightened him. He couldn't see himself with anyone but Tsukasa for the rest of his life, but marriage was a crazy thing to consider. Especially with how he had acted before. Could he trust himself not to hurt Tsukasa again?
What if he was an idiot? What if he hurt her again? What if he did that after they had... He shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts. He looked up to see the kitchen was mostly done. He smiled to himself as he thought about the fact that he had used this spell before, but had taken a lot longer to cast and a lot more energy to use. Or he just had that much more energy now. He sighed and walked out of the room, letting his spell finish up before cutting off the supply of energy.
"Hi Kan-kun! I was just about done!" Tsukasa said with a smile. She had a feather duster in her hand and was dusting off the table as though it had anything on it. Tsuki had done a well enough job of it, but apparently Tsukasa saw something the other girl hadn't. Tony chuckled.
"Well, you want to watch some T.V. then?" Tony asked. Tsukasa yawned.
"It's been a long, fun day... I might watch a couple shows and head to bed." Tsukasa said. Tony nodded.
"Yeah, me too." He said. "I was half planning on falling asleep on the couch as I watched." He chuckled. Tsukasa smiled.
"Alright, let's watch..." Tony laid down on the couch as Tsukasa sat in her chair, spending the rest of the night uneventfully before retiring to their respective beds.
As My Master...
"Slave." Kagami said as she sat in her chair, reading a book.
"Master?" Konata asked.
"Come here." Kagami said, bookmarking her page and closing the book. Konata nodded and walked over. "Sit with your back to me." Kagami said. Konata complied, sitting in front of her master. Kagami took some of Konata's hair in her hand and ran a brush through it. Slowly, she began brushing her slave's hair. "You have very pretty hair, Slave." Kagami complimented.
"Thank you, Master." Konata said. After a little while, with her slave's hair all straight, Kagami stood.
"Stay here, Slave." Kagami said as she walked to her night stand.
"Very well, Master." Konata said. Kagami dug around in her drawers for a moment before coming back up and walking back to Konata. She sat behind Konata again. Konata felt her hair getting pulled around for a while. After what seemed a long time, Kagami finally seemed done.
"Stand, Slave." Kagami said. Konata did so and turned around. Kagami blushed. "So cute..." She mumbled to herself, although now quietly enough that Konata didn't hear it.
"May I see myself, Master?" Konata asked. Her voice snapped Kagami out of her trance.
"Not yet." Kagami ran back over to her nightstand and dug through it again. Then, she ran over and put something on Konata's face. Kagami put her hands to her cheek, looking like a giddy schoolgirl. "So cute!" She couldn't even keep her voice down this time. Konata blushed, feeling like she was being inspected. Sure, Kagami looked at her a lot, but it never felt quite like this.
"M-Master..." Konata mumbled. Snapping Kagami out of it again, the Tsundere grabbed a mirror and held it up to Konata. The Otaku now sported two large braids that ran the length of her hair and a pair of fake glasses. "Are you pleased, Master?" Konata asked.
"Master is pleased! Master is very pleased!" Kagami shouted. Kagami let Konata's hair out again.
"Master, are you sure? After all of the work you did?" Konata asked.
"Oh, we're not done yet... Not nearly done..." Kagami was practically drooling. Konata gulped as Kagami began brushing her hair again. She felt her hair getting tied up, this time she suspected she'd share a hairstyle with Kagami. "Your hair's so pretty~..." Kagami chimed. Konata smiled.
"Thank you, Master." Konata said. Kagami finished this one rather quickly, obviously having years of experience. She showed Konata herself in the mirror again, making Konata smile. "You're very skilled with your hands, Master." Konata said, a bit louder than she meant. She looked like a Tsundere with this hairstyle.
"Shut up, Slave, I know it!" Kagami laughed out loud. She let Konata's hair down again.
"I didn't know you liked this sort of thing, Master." Konata said. Kagami smiled.
"I love tying it up!" Kagami said happily. This time, she tied her slave's hair on the side of her head. She tried to get all of Konata's hair, but there always seemed to be a stray hair that escaped her grasp. "Stop trying to get away from your master!" Kagami scolded her slave's hair.
"M-Master..." Konata mumbled. Kagami began grabbing the hairs one by one.
"I'm almost there, Slave..." Kagami said excitedly.
"Master..." Konata said.
"Almost there!" Kagami said as she finally got the sideways ponytail up. "Yes!" She shouted. "Now Slave, what is it?" Kagami asked. Konata turned and put a finger to her lips, as if to tell Kagami not to say anything. The Otaku stood and walked stealthily over to the door before opening it. Masturi and Inori fell in.
"Wah!" Inori shouted as Matsuri fell on top of her. The two simply laid there for a moment, face first in the ground.
"Wha- M-Matsuri, Inori, what the hell?" Kagami asked.
"Don't like tying Konatan up, huh?" Matsuri raised an arm, but apparently decided moving anything else was too much hassle.
"I-It's not what you think! And get up before you talk, idiot!" Kagami shouted, blushing horribly.
"Yeah, get off of me Matsuri!" Inori rolled out from under her girlfriend. "Man, just when it was getting juicy..." Inori scratched the back of her head.
"Nothing was getting juicy!" Kagami protested.
"Master is pleased! Master is very pleased!" Matsuri shouted, obviously mimicking Kagami.
"You're very skilled with your hands, Master..." Inori said passionately.
"I love tying you up!" Matsuri said. "Stop trying to escape!"
"M-Master..." Inori moaned.
"I'm almost there, Slave!" Matsuri shouted.
"Master!" Inori said, louder this time.
"Almost there, YES!" Matsuri shouted.
"THAT'S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED!" Kagami shouted as the two sisters devolved into laughter. The younger couple was blushing deeply.
"How did you even know we were there, Konatan?" Matsuri asked.
"The wind told me." Konata said.
"The wind...?" Inori asked.
"Don't tell them a thing, Slave!" Kagami tapped the back of her hand a time or two. Konata giggled as she realized Kagami meant to use a Command Seal.
"Very well, Master." Konata said.
"Come on, I wanna know now! That's some psychic stuff right there!" Matsuri said.
"I cannot disobey my Master." Konata said.
"Well I'm not leaving until you tell me!" Inori said, sitting down. Kagami smirked.
"Slave." Kagami said, tapping the back of her wrist. "Would you kindly throw my sisters out of here?" Kagami asked, expending her second Command Seal. Konata nodded.
"Right away, Master." She said, walking toward the two older sisters.
"Uh... Konatan?" Matsuri asked.
"I apologize, but my Master wishes for you two to leave now." Konata said. She picked Inori up with little effort and tossed her out the door with about as much.
"Wah!" Inori shouted as she flew. Kagami whistled.
"Well, I didn't mean to literally throw them, but that works." She giggled. Matsuri back up a step or two as Konata approached her.
"Um... Konatan...?" She chuckled nervously.
"Master used a Command Seal, so I must carry out that command to the letter." Konata said as she picked Matsuri up, Kagami smiling at the fact that, without a word, her Otaku had picked up on what she had meant. Again, Konata tossed the older sister out with less effort than one would expect from such a small girl.
"Very well done, Slave." Kagami smiled.
"Thank you, Master." Konata bowed. Matsuri and Inori groaned from out in the hall.
"We're gonna get you back for that!" Matsuri shouted.
"Just you wait!" Inori said as well.
"Slave." Kagami moved her hand toward her other arm.
"Eep!" Matsuri and Inori both ran away. Kagami smiled.
"Is Master pleased?" Konata asked.
"Master is pleased." Kagami ruffled Konata's hair. "Master is very pleased. Now, shall we continue, Slave?" Kagami asked. Konata nodded.
"If that is your wish." Konata said. The two continued to try different hairstyles on Konata well into the night, time passing without incident.
In Yukari's Room
Yukari laid in her bed, a smile on her face, a cheesy movie on the television. She paused it, however, at the sound of knocking on the door.
"Come in~!" Yukari chimed. Miyuki opened the door and walked in.
"Mother..." Miyuki smiled, a small blush on her cheeks.
"My little girl~! Come in, come in!" She patted the spot next to her on the bed. Miyuki did so and sat next to her mother. "So tell me, how was it?" Yukari asked.
"How was what?" Miyuki asked. Yukari giggled and elbowed her daughter in the ribs.
"Come on~, you know what I mean!" Yukari said. Miyuki blushed deeper.
"A-Actually, that's what I wanted to talk about..." She mumbled.
"Details, details!" Yukari egged her on.
"Mother, we're... not that far into the relationship yet. I do care a great deal for Masuta, but I don't think either of us are ready for that kind of... Physical relationship yet." Miyuki said. Yukari's expression drooped a bit.
"Oh... So you didn't-"
"No, no we didn't." Miyuki quickly cut her mother off. "If I may ask... Why is it you seem so insistent on us getting married and having children so quickly?" Miyuki asked. Yukari sighed. Her expression seemed... weird. Not so much the expression itself, but the fact that such a somber, serious expression was on Yukari of all people.
"Miyuki, dear... When I look at you two, I can see that you two really, truly like each other..." Yukari said seriously. "Seeing my daughter so happy makes me happy as well. And I know the joys of motherhood. After all, look how happy you make me?" Yukari smiled. Miyuki did as well.
"But still..." Miyuki began.
"Wait." Yukari interrupted her. "When I look at Masuta, I see something I haven't seen in a long time... He really does seem to love you. And he looks like he'd do just about anything to take care of you. With how things turned out with your father, I suppose I..." Yukari sighed. "I suppose I just don't want you to miss out." She said.
"What happened with father, mother?" Miyuki asked. "All I know is that the two of you got a divorce, and that you slept in my bed most every night." Miyuki said. Yukari looked up at the ceiling.
"Well, I suppose while we're being serious... And you ARE old enough to understand..." Yukari began thinking. "I want to say something first though." She looked back at her daughter.
"What is it mother?" Miyuki asked.
"We love you. Both me and your father have, do and will always love you." Yukari said. "However... I had fallen in love with another." Yukari put a hand to her cheek, averting her gaze. Miyuki put her head down, her bangs shadowing her eyes.
"... You didn't love father, then?" She asked. Yukari looked a bit shocked.
"No, that's not it! I cared for your father a great deal! He was always such a kind man, and he always had a crush on me. The truth of the matter is, I fell in love before I even met him." Yukari said. "That love of mine never died, even when the one I loved did." Yukari said.
"Mother..." Miyuki mumbled, having never really seen her mother so serious. Yukari smiled a bit.
"However, while me and that person dated, it was obvious that they didn't hold the same feelings for me as I did for them. And then I went out with your father. When he asked me out, I really had no reason to say no, so I didn't." Yukari said. "Honestly, I suppose I was just being selfish by not turning him down. I should have known I couldn't commit to a relationship when I was still in love with someone else." Yukari said.
"It's not your fault, Mom!" Miyuki protested. "It wasn't selfish of you at all!" Miyuki said.
"I thought maybe I could force myself to love him. After all, he was a nice man, smart and handsome. He had a bright future." Yukari said. "You know he's a lawyer now?" Yukari smiled.
"Yes, a rather successful one." Miyuki smiled.
"Yeah... I really can't think of a single reason to not fall in love with him, but... I just couldn't forget that love." Yukari said. "I guess... What I'm trying to say is... I want you to be happy." Yukari said. "And the two of you seem so happy together and you don't get much time in this world." Yukari said. "You never know when the one you love will be taken from you and once they're gone... There's no getting them back." Yukari said. Miyuki bowed her head for a moment.
"... Thank you Mom." Miyuki said. "Thank you for sharing all of this with me..." She said as tears fell from her eyes. Yukari smiled and brought her daughter into a hug.
"Dear... I'm sorry I couldn't give you a real family..." Yukari said as she stroked her daughter's hair.
"No, you've given me a wonderful family! Honestly, I couldn't be any happier, this life you've given me has been so wonderful!" Miyuki said.
"I'm glad..." Yukari smiled. "I'm so glad you're happy." Yukari said.
"It's what led to where I am now..." Miyuki said. "I love you, Mom." Miyuki said.
"I love you too, Miyuki." Yukari said. The two embraced for a time. After what seemed like a long time, the two broke apart. "You know Miyuki~, it's been a while since we slept in the same bed." Yukari smiled. Miyuki smiled.
"It has." She said. She removed her glasses and laid down on the bed. Yukari turned the television off and laid down as well, pulling the covers up over the two. They snuggled in, Yukari clicking the remote to turn the lights off.
"I love you, Miyuki." Yukari said.
"I love you too, Mom." Miyuki said. Like that, the two drifted off.
In the Living Room
Masuta sat there, waiting. Ten minutes turned to twenty, twenty turned to forty, and finally an hour had passed.
"... She's not coming back." Masuta finally decided. He left and went to bed as well.
Luckier Channel
"Luckier~ Channel~!" Akira shouted. "Hiya Luckies~! I'm your navigator, Akira Kogami~!" Akira shouted.
"And I'm the assistant, Minoru Shiraishi!"
"Man, things are calm right now, huh?" Akira asked.
"Yeah, it's about time they had a quiet day without getting attacked." Minoru said.
"And now Konata became a slave! I wonder how that feels~." Akira stared slyly at Minoru. He chuckled nervously.
"I-It's not so bad! You get used to it..." He said.
"Well, so long as you know what to avoid doing, you won't have to worry about it~!" Akira chimed. Minoru gulped.
*Music Tone*
"Aw~, that's all we get today? Man~!" Akira complained. "I'll see you all next time! Bye-nii~!"
"..."
"Man, what kind of bull is that? We got, like, five lines."
"Well Akira, there's probably a good reason."
"Yeah... I'm sure..."
*End*
After Section
Whew. That day is over. You realize the last three chapters have been just this day? So one of my friends mentioned that he knew a bunch of people in art school, many of who like and draw manga. Maybe I'll see if I can make a deal with them with my story, as it would work out so much better as a manga. I also thought of maybe going to a network or something, Nickelodeon could use a powerhouse since Korra finished. The art work would be similar and the world expansive enough to last, a massive cast to build on, really I think it would do well as a show too. Anyway, my next chapter will be TRTP. It will be out soon. And that's not an "Out soon, I totally have a good idea for it" out soon. That's a "I have most if not all of it done already out soon" out soon. As in, I have likely fifty percent to eighty percent of it done as I'm typing this now. Mainly, the real reason I'm not posting it now is so that it's not one big concentrated burst of reading. Plus, since it's almost, if not done, I can work on the next chapter of this story while we're waiting and hopefully get some form of a steady rhythm out. Anyway, thanks for reading!