Chapter 6: Onee-chan, The Alarm Clock
Jman, I'm glad that you like it even if it WAS mostly fluff. The last two chapters really were focusing on the Hiiragi Twins, so maybe other characters get more of a role later? Probably. Don't really know, though I know a few that'll be getting a larger role. Don't worry, I have no intention of stopping this story before I've finished it. Of course, those kind of bands are probably not the best to be listening to while reading a story that's almost entirely fluff, ya know? I hope you like the rest of it!
Jolly, is this game real? Um... Technically? I know what game that I'm talking about, but I've never actually played it. It's in Japanese and I don't know Japanese. I know the characters in it very well though, so I just kinda made stuff up about the routes. So, in summary, I know the characters, don't know the game. And for the story being more lemony... Well, I covered this in a separate story in response to someone else. Basically, I'm horrible at it. Not so much that I can't write the intimacy, more along the lines that I don't think I could write the ACTUAL lemon part well. Besides that, I've found that I'm VERY bad at skipping details. So the adult content would have to wait until after they were to get together. I might give it a shot. If it's only once, I can at least try, I suppose. However, I wouldn't be able to just post it, since I would be WAY too self-conscious and worried about it's quality to send it out without someone reading it first.
NoMutant, thanks for pointing those out. I catch a lot of them when I reread them before posting, but I obviously missed some too. Miki is honestly my favorite adult to work with. I've always seen that Matsuri and Kagami seemed to butt heads, and more because I'd say they look like they have similar personalities. Tsukasa has always considered herself plain, even in the anime and manga, right? Of course, big boobs aren't a requisite for beauty for everyone. As we all know. Konata's opinions, however... Well, we'll just have to see where she goes. I already have her general mentality written and I think I can describe it perfectly, but I'm gonna wait on that later. I'm glad it wasn't short! However, given the wall of text I left for you on the last chapter, I DID try to keep this one short.
Dave, I'm super happy that you're enjoying it so much! I can relate to not having nearly as much time to read anymore as before. As before, Miki really is my favorite adult. I always forget about Kuroi though. Yeah, the chocolate fondue is really awesome. You should try it sometime, it's easier to make since you can buy microwavable bowls of chocolate to dip in. Those facts are quite interesting. I didn't know the first one (or I didn't remember it), but I had considered the second. Maybe it'll happen! It might not. Who knows?
WingsofSeyfert, a Meganekko is basically a girl with glasses. Since Lucky Star, it's also been associated with the healing type characters like Miyuki. I always thought the same thing of Tsukasa. I don't think she's as sharp as Kagami, but she can do the work if she puts in the effort. I understand your position on Yutaka and Minami, but they're a little important for this story, so I do have to include them in it. And as for Misao... Well, it might actually be. See, I like Misao too, but that doesn't necessarily mean I can write her well. And one of the only things I HATE about writing is writing a character poorly. I have a bit of confidence in the main four characters, while I'm iffy on Miyuki (Hence why she hasn't had much of a role in Luckier Star), but the side characters, like Misao and Minami, are characters I have exactly zero confidence in my ability to write. Occasionally, I think I can get them okay, but to make them main characters is a bit... If I can find the ability to write her well in the context of the story, I will absolutely make her a main character. In this context, I think I might be able to pull it off. Now that it's been requested... Well, my brain is beginning to form ideas. I guess it's a big maybe on Misao!
So Kagami's cooking must be really awful. I have no idea how the chocolate tasted so bad. I actually wrote about six thousand words of this in one sit down. Wrote the rest in not too long a time after. Figured I would make you guys wait a little longer while I worked on the next chapter a little. That way, it won't seem as long a wait for you guys. Can't say for sure if it worked or not. Oh well, either way I hope you enjoy!
In the Morning
Kagami tightened her hug. She was having the most pleasant dream. She had ridden inside a large hammock carried by a large puppy and was now in the middle of hugging the stuffing out of it. It had turned into a human sized puppy once she had dismounted and started cuddling it, but it was very warm. She felt it was time to get up though, and she didn't want to leave. She gave this adorable puppy one last squeeze before she let herself wake up.
Kagami's eyes cracked open as she yawned. She went to stretch, but oddly found one arm was numb and the other was around something.
"Mm..." She heard. Wait... She moved the arm that was holding this thing her mind apparently had mistaken for a puppy. The blanket moved to reveal a certain little airhead.
Yeah, that's about right. Kagami's first thought was. Then, she realized the two had been asleep. In the same bed. Together. "W-Wah!" She shouted as she blushed as her heart skipped a beat. Her heart started again, though it was decidedly faster than before. Kagami attributed it to the fact that had been startled. For some reason, her body's first instinct was to immediately shove whatever was attached to her at the moment, which scared her since that thing was Tsukasa. However, she happily found that her muscles began to lose all of their strength when they went to push Tsukasa from the bed and resulted in little more than a playful shove that didn't even wake the little sister. Apparently, neither had her shout. Tsukasa burrowed her head into Kagami.
"Mm..." Tsukasa hummed in her sleep. Kagami's blush got worse along with her heart beating faster as Tsukasa made herself quite comfortable with her big sister. Kagami wasn't sure why this was so weird. The two had done this a million times when they were younger. Hell, it wasn't all that uncommon nowadays whenever Tsukasa had a bad dream. And she hadn't been any more startled than when she saw Tsukasa before, so why was her heart beating faster? It was oddly different now, but Kagami popped herself in the head with her free hand. She had to think.
What to do... What to do... She wondered. She yawned. This may be embarrassing somehow, but Kagami couldn't help but admit. It was also super comfortable. Kagami yawned again and went over all of her options. She could wake Tsukasa a few times until Tsukasa finally got up, but Kagami knew that she would be dreary all day. Kagami looked over at her clock. Wow, it was actually pretty early. Usually her internal alarm didn't wake her up until it was time to get ready, but she had a solid few hours. Oh, right... Kagami thought. She had fallen asleep directly after dinner. Wait, had Tsukasa carried her to her bed? But then, why to Tsukasa's bed and not her own... Kagami hoped her internal alarm would wake her again. There was no way she could manage to get out of this position now. She was too comfortable. She snuggled down, ignoring her embarrassment. She put her arm around her twin again and pulled her close, letting her eyes close again. This time, however, her dreams were of cuddling with her adorable little sister.
The Dark Room of an Otaku
Konata sighed as she leaned back in her chair. Finally. The Imoto route had been unexpectedly long and complicated as well. She yawned and looked over to the clock. She had a couple hours to kill before school started. Sleeping was an option, but that was no fun. Starting a new game wasn't likely to turn out well, since she had just gotten out of another game. There was one she had seen where there were two heroines that she had really wanted to try, but she would have to wait on it. Conquering another game was simply too emotionally draining after just getting out of a game. The Imoto route may have been difficult, but it had been very satisfying. In more than one way.
"Well, guess I'll get breakfast ready." Konata said, getting up from her chair and rubbing her shoulder. She walked out of her room and into the hallway to see the lights were still off. Except for Sojiro's room, of course. He was likely in the middle of the bookworm character route. Konata yawned and walked into the kitchen. She began getting everything ready. She put some rice in the steamer and began working on some soup when she heard shuffling behind her.
"Oh, hey." Sojiro said.
"Hey Dad. Do I want to turn around right now?" Konata asked. A moment went by.
"... Probably not." Sojiro said. "Are you taking a break from the game?" Sojiro asked.
"I actually finished a minute ago." Konata said. She heard instant coffee being made behind her.
"Oh really? All of the routes?" Sojiro asked. Konata nodded.
"Yep. I just conquered the Imoto." Konata said. Sojiro chuckled.
"As expected of my daughter." Sojiro said. "I'm still stuck on the bookworm route." Sojiro said.
"I figured. The bookworms aren't typically your type. I figure you already have all of the other routes finished?" Konata asked.
"Yeah, it's been a bit difficult." Sojiro said. "Making breakfast?" Sojiro asked.
"Yep. Rice with miso soup." Konata said.
"Not very original." Sojiro chuckled.
"Oh, I'M sorry~, if you want something original, maybe you should learn to cook!" Konata said. "Go get dressed and come back for breakfast." Konata said. Sojiro hummed his assent.
"Sure thing, Konata." He said. She heard him leave before yawning again.
"Alright, back to cooking." Konata said as she continued.
In the Morning Redux
Kagami's eyes cracked open again. She blinked the sleep from her eyes before looking at the clock again. She smiled in pride of her internal alarm clock. Then she remembered what had made her so snug. She blushed as she looked in her blanket again. Tsukasa snuggled in even more. Kagami smiled. But she was also a little worried. She was still super comfortable. This was dangerous.
"Onee-cha-..." Kagami smiled to herself. "Tsukasa." Kagami corrected herself as she shook her sister with her free arm. Even though her other one was numb, she couldn't deny that she was still just so comfortable.
"Mm..." Tsukasa hummed as she fidgeted in her sleep. Kagami smiled.
"Tsukasa~." Kagami chimed sweetly, shaking Tsukasa a little more this time.
"Mm... Five more minutes..." Tsukasa mumbled.
Wow... Tsukasa is really cute. Kagami giggled in her head. Suddenly, she realized just what she had thought. Wh-No. That's not a bad thing to think. She reasoned. Tsukasa really is a cute girl. Kagami nodded to herself. "Tsukasa." Kagami said a bit more sternly.
"Five more minutes~..." Tsukasa whined. Kagami blushed. She sighed and looked at the clock again.
"... Five more minutes won't hurt." She said with a smiled. Tsukasa smiled before rubbing her head into Kagami's chest. Needless to say, Kagami's face turned an even darker red. Kagami sighed and put her arm around Tsukasa again.
"Thanks Onee-chan..." Tsukasa mumbled as her breath became more rhythmic. Kagami smiled.
Five more minutes, you hear me internal clock? Five more minutes... Kagami told herself. She closed her eyes once again and relaxed into her pillow, giving Tsukasa one last squeeze before dozing off.
In the Mean Time
Konata finished her breakfast, having been joined by one Sojiro and Yutaka.
"That was really good Onee-chan!" Yutaka smiled. Sojiro nodded.
"As expected of my daughter!" He said proudly.
"Dad, you make it sound like you have any culinary skills whatsoever." Konata said. Sojiro scratched the back of his head. Konata and Yutaka both stood from the table.
"Are you ready to go Onee-chan?" Yutaka asked. Konata nodded.
"Yep. Let's get going Yu-chan." Konata said.
"Have fun at school today you two!" Sojiro said. Konata raised a hand as she walked out, Yutaka in tow.
"See ya!" She said as they walked out the door, and then out of the house. They walked for a while. "So, you gonna give Minami your present?" Konata asked. Yutaka blushed as she thought.
"... I forgot the books at home~!" She cried. Konata looked at her phone's time.
"If we go back now, we'll miss the train. Then we'll be late." Konata sighed. "Don't worry about it too much, Yu-chan. You'll find some way to give it to her. You remember your reason, right?" Konata asked. Yutaka nodded.
"It's a thank you for all the times she's helped me!" Yutaka said, looking quite determined. Konata made a fist.
"That's right! Fight, Yu-chan!" She said. Yutaka sighed, looking almost exhausted now.
"This is gonna be so hard." She mumbled. Konata nodded.
"But when it works, man will it be worth it!" Konata said. "Think, after you two get together, you can play doctor all~ you~ want~..." Konata drew out her words. Yutaka looked confused.
"What's that? Is it fun?" She asked. Konata giggled.
"It's the most fun you'll ever have." Konata said. Yutaka nodded.
"Then I can't wait! I'm gonna give Minami-chan my present, and then we're gonna play doctor!" Yutaka cheered. Konata giggled. Luckily, Yutaka wasn't drawing much attention since she looked like an elementary school girl and seemed so innocent. Not that Konata could talk.
"Yu-chan, sorry to tell ya, but you can only play doctor with people once you're going out with them." Konata said. Yutaka sighed.
"I understand..." She mumbled. "I won't ask anyone but Minami-chan!" Yutaka said as a fire was lit in her eyes. Konata smiled and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. You'll do fine with that attitude." Konata said as the two arrived at the station. The two continued on their way to school.
The Classroom
Miyuki sighed as she looked around. She had always been early, but it was getting close to the first bell. Neither Konata nor Tsukasa were there. Konata was understandable, as she would probably burst in at the last moment with some sort of excuse that made their teacher cry, but Tsukasa was never late. Luckily, the girl had her older sister watching over her and Kagami seemingly had a clock inside her head. Miyuki sighed again as she looked at the two empty desks in front of her.
"... Where are you... You'll be scolded if you're late..." Miyuki mumbled. The door opened, causing Miyuki to look up hopefully. Konata walked in and looked around.
"Huh, she's not here..." Konata said.
"Konata-san." Miyuki said. Konata turned and smiled, waving.
"Hey Miyuki! Of course you're here early." Konata smiled.
"Is Tsukasa not with you?" Miyuki asked, a worried tone in her voice. Kagami was never late and Tsukasa was always with her. Konata, however, shook her head as she made her way to her seat.
"No, they weren't at the station when I got there and I didn't meet them on the way." Konata said. Miyuki sighed.
"I see. Thank you." Miyuki said. She seemed decidedly disappointed. It was turning into a rather disappointing day. Minami had forgotten the tickets to the amusement park at home. Now Tsukasa wasn't there. Konata raised her eyebrows and developed her signature grin.
"You were really hoping to see Tsukasa, weren't you~?" Konata teased. Miyuki sighed.
"I'm simply worried that she isn't here on time. The two of them are always on time, so if they aren't, something out of the ordinary must have happened. Perhaps they're sick." Miyuki said. Konata stared for a moment before slouching over.
"You're right, I miss Kagamin. Teasing you is no fun." Konata sighed as she leaned over her desk. "So what did you do yesterday?" Konata asked. Miyuki sighed.
"I was helping Minami with something." She said, feeling it would be inappropriate to say any more without asking Minami. She also knew that her nickname embarrassed her and so decided not to use it in the presence of others. "And you?" Miyuki asked.
"Helping Yu-chan and conquering another game." Konata said. Miyuki nodded, though not quite understanding what Konata meant by 'conquering'.
"I see." Miyuki said. Kuroi burst into the class.
"I'm here! I'm not late!" She shouted, panting as the first bell rang. Her hair was it's usual mess that Konata recognized as meaning she had been up all night as well. Konata nodded as Kuroi called role. "Izumi."
"Here." Konata raised her hand. She set her head down as soon as her contribution to the class was done.
"Hiiragi." Kuroi called. "... Hiiragi?" Kuroi looked up. "Hm. She isn't usually late. I'll have to check on that later..." Kuroi said. That was about as much as Konata could take as she let her eyes close. Kuroi's voice providing the perfect lullaby, Konata went to sleep.
Where in the World are the Hiiragi Twins?
"Mmm..." Kagami awoke once again. Drearily, she looked down to see if Tsukasa had waken up of her own accord after the five minutes. When, predictably enough, Tsukasa still laid there, Kagami smiled. She pecked Tsukasa on the forehead, causing the airhead to smile in her sleep. She then noticed it was considerably lighter in the room than when she had laid back down earlier. Her stomach growled, causing Kagami looked over at the clock. She stared blankly at it for a moment. "It's... lunch... time..." Kagami mumbled. "It's lunch time!" Kagami shouted as she began shaking her younger sister. Tsukasa woke with a start.
"H-huh?" Tsukasa asked.
Damn you internal alarm clock! Kagami cursed herself. Then, something odd came over her. She saw Tsukasa's panicked face and she calmed down. She realized it was what needed to happen. If she lost it here, Tsukasa was likely to go into a full blown panic. She sighed.
"Onee-chan, what's wrong?" Tsukasa asked as she got up. Kagami sighed and rubbed the arm Tsukasa had slept on to try and get feeling back into it.
"We're late for school." Kagami said. Tsukasa seemed startled.
"We're late? How late, maybe we can make it!" Tsukasa said, looking around in a frenzy. Kagami stopped massaging her arm and put her hand on Tsukasa's shoulder.
"No, Tsukasa. It's already time for lunch at school." Kagami said. Tsukasa looked terrified, though Kagami understood. The two had never been late before. Absent once in a blue moon due to illness, but never late. Kagami sighed.
"... What do we do?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami thought for a moment.
"You know..." She said. "I think I'm feeling a little sick from all of the sweets I ate yesterday." Kagami said. Tsukasa looked guilty.
"Sorry Onee-chan, I just thought you would like..." She trailed off. Whether through her own intuition or hokey pokey telepathy, she began to understand what Kagami was implying. Her eyes widened. "Onee-chan..." Tsukasa looked almost afraid. Kagami smiled and nodded.
"What do you say?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa was a little afraid that she had slept in her bed and been transported to some alternate universe. The Kagami she knew would never suggest purposely missing school. Kagami, as if also through telepathy, understood her sister's fears. "Don't worry Tsukasa, I'm still me." She said. "It's just... I had so much fun yesterday. Is that the kind of fun you have?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa smiled widely and nodded.
"As long as it's with you, anything can be fun!" Tsukasa said with blinding enthusiasm. Kagami blushed as she looked up, as if the ceiling would tell her what to say.
"Except homework." Kagami smiled.
"Except homework." Tsukasa agreed.
"I guess I can understand a little of why you hate homework then. I had to tell myself not to cry yesterday when it was time for homework." Kagami chuckled. Tsukasa smiled brightly.
"I'm glad you had fun! Did I do a good job as the big sister?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami giggled a bit.
"You made an awesome big sister." Kagami said. "We've got to do that again sometime." Kagami said. Tsukasa's eyes lightened up as Kagami praised her efforts. Everything she had gone through, everything she had done. All of it was validated and well worth the effort through those two sentences alone. Tsukasa hugged her big sister.
"Thank you Onee-chan..." She mumbled as tears of happiness nearly formed in her eyes. Kagami hugged her back and patted her head. "It was really hard." Tsukasa said. "I don't know how you do it every day, finding things that I love all the time..." Tsukasa said.
"I've just grown up as the big sister, Tsukasa. For me, stuff like that is natural." Kagami said. "It makes me happy to make you happy." Kagami said. Tsukasa squeezed Kagami harder.
"Thanks Onee-chan." Tsukasa said. Kagami chuckled. Then, she remembered something.
"Quick question." Kagami said. Tsukasa broke off and looked inquisitively.
"What's up?" She asked.
"I'm guessing I fell asleep right after dinner, right?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa nodded.
"Yep!" Tsukasa said.
"So how did I get to the room?" Kagami asked.
"I carried you!" Tsukasa said. Kagami stared at her blankly.
"You... carried me... from the living room... to the bed?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa nodded. "... How?" Kagami asked. She knew that while her little sister was definitely the best wife material, her strength would generally be considered lacking.
"I just... picked you up and carried you..." Tsukasa mumbled. Kagami sighed and scratched the back of her head. This wasn't going to get her anywhere.
"So why did you bring me to your room?" Kagami asked. "I don't particularly mind or anything, but wasn't it uncomfortable having me take up most of the bed?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa shook her head quite fervently.
"It was super comfortable! I love sleeping with you!" Tsukasa said. Kagami's entire head went up in smoke as her face turned the approximate hue of a tomato.
"Wah..." She mumbled, unable to form coherent thought. Such a... blunt statement was weird.
"... Onee-chan?" Tsukasa asked after a moment. Kagami shook her head. What had she been thinking?
"Er... Never mind... But why this room? Why not my room?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa scratched the back of her head.
"Ehehe... Well... Misa-chan was in your room sleeping in your bed..." Tsukasa said. Kagami froze, glaring at nothing in particular.
"Misao..." She growled. "It's her fault we're missing school today." Kagami decided. "And she didn't even wake us up when she left for school, either! What's up with that?" Kagami asked. She then sighed. "I'll punish her later."
"So we aren't going to school today Onee-chan?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami shook her head.
"I don't think so." She said. Even she could cut loose sometimes. "The day is already half gone, and it would be a while before we got there anyway so there's really not much of a point." Kagami reasoned.
"I guess that true." Tsukasa smiled.
"So what do you wanna do?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa hummed.
"I don't really know." She said. "What do you think we should do Onee-chan?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami sighed and shrugged.
"Honestly, I don't really know. I guess we could go watch some T.V." Kagami said. Tsukasa nodded.
"Sure!" She said. The two of them exited her room and walked down the hall to the living room. They walked in to see Miki, reading a newspaper and drinking a cup of tea. She looked up with a smile.
"Ah, finally up you two?" Miki asked.
"Wait, you knew that we were still here and you didn't wake us up?" Kagami asked. Miki smiled and nodded.
"Mhm." She said, as if she had done nothing wrong.
"Well... Why not?" Kagami asked. She knew she was kind of out of line, since it wasn't really their mother's job to wake them if they overslept, but that didn't mean she shouldn't. Miki giggled.
"I'm sorry, I went in to wake you up, but the two of you were just so cute together. I couldn't have disturbed that." Miki said. Kagami blushed and looked off to the side. "Tsukasa happily hugging her big sister while Kagami had her arm protectively around her little sister. It was just too cute." Miki said. Kagami blushed a bit more and scratched her cheek.
"Geez... I'm a little sorry I asked." Kagami mumbled.
"I'm... I'm gonna go make some lunch..." Tsukasa said. Kagami looked over to see she was also blushing a little bit. Good. At least Kagami wasn't the only one embarrassed by her mother's teasing. Tsukasa shuffled out of the room and into the kitchen while Kagami sat at the table. Miki smiled.
"So, I assume you're not going to school?" Miki asked. Kagami scratched the back of her head.
"... Is that bad?" She asked. Miki giggled a bit.
"I suppose it's fine once in a while. Just don't make habit of it. This is the first time you've done this, right?" Miki asked, turning her eyes to Kagami. The Tsundere nodded.
"Yeah, I guess there really is a first time for everything." Kagami said.
"Then I'm sure it'll be alright." Miki said, turning back to her paper. Kagami smiled.
"Thanks Mom." Kagami said. Miki nodded. Kagami looked over at the door. "I wonder what Tsukasa is making." Kagami wondered idly.
"You two are starting to spend even more time together than usual." Miki commented. Kagami sighed.
"Yeah. I wanna enjoy it while it lasts." She said.
"While it lasts?" Miki asked. "What do you mean by that? Are you going somewhere?" Miki asked teasingly. Kagami, however, was in too melancholy a mood to acknowledge the question.
"... Mom... Can I ask you something?" She asked. Miki nodded.
"Sure honey." She smiled, folding her newspaper and putting it down.
"..." Kagami mustered her courage. It was surprisingly embarrassing to ask. Perhaps because her mother was smart and Kagami knew that Miki would see right through her. "... You said you have siblings, right?" Kagami asked. Miki nodded.
"Yes, I have quite a few of them." She said.
"... When you got married..." Kagami started. "... Did you stay in touch with them?" Kagami asked. Miki smiled a bit wider.
"Hmhm." She giggled a bit. "I must admit, I haven't spoken with them in a great many years." Miki said. Kagami sighed. "However, that was unrelated to my marriage with Ta-kun. Why do you ask?" Miki asked, though her tone suggested she had already figured it out. Kagami had to keep her gaze averted.
"Well... Konata said something recently that kind of got to me." Kagami said.
"Oh?" Miki asked. "And what was that?"
"Konata said... that when Tsukasa gets married, that she'll forget all about me. We'll fall out of touch and... I'll be alone." Kagami mumbled one of her greatest fears. However, if there were anyone she could confess something like this to, it was likely to be her mother. After all, Miki always seemed to come up with something that would help sooth her, maybe some words of wisdom. True to her reputation, Miki hummed.
"Hmm." She hummed. "... Nope." She said. Kagami looked at her mother.
"... Nope?" She asked.
"Nope." Miki nodded. "Sorry, you're stuck with Tsukasa." Miki said. Kagami blinked blankly a few times.
"... I'm not stuck with her, I like being around her. But I was just concerned-"
"Nope." Miki interrupted her. "You know Kagami, I consider you a very intelligent person." Miki said. Kagami smiled.
"Thanks." She said. Miki nodded.
"M'not finished. You're very intelligent, but when it comes to reading people, you're not very good at all." Miki said. Kagami cocked her head to the side.
"How do you figure?" She asked. Miki folded her arms.
"If you honestly believe that Tsukasa could ever abandon you, you truly are an idiot. She relies on you quite heavily, you know." Miki said. Kagami scratched the back of her head. "And besides, don't you remember The First?" Miki asked. Kagami looked confused.
"What? What do you mean "The First"? The first what?" Kagami asked. Miki giggled a bit.
"So you really don't remember. Perhaps you should ask Tsukasa when she's finished with her cooking." Miki said. Kagami sighed.
"... I don't really want to wait though." Kagami said. She got up. "I'm gonna go see if she remembers now." Kagami said. Miki giggled.
"Oh, you're unusually impatient." Miki teased.
"I want to know what you're talking about." Kagami said. "The reason that Tsukasa won't forget about me, even when she gets married." Kagami said. Miki smiled.
"Well then, I suppose you had better get in there and ask." She said. Kagami nodded as she walked out of the room. Miki giggled. "She can be quite silly sometimes." She said as she unfolded her newspaper.
In the Kitchen
Kagami walked into the kitchen to see Tsukasa hard at work on lunch for the three. Kagami would normally have smiled at seeing Tsukasa work so hard to make others happy, but at the moment she had a goal.
"Hey Tsukasa." Kagami greeted as she walked in. Tsukasa, so engrossed in her cooking that she failed to notice Kagami enter, almost dropped a piece of chicken.
"Hi Onee-chan!" Tsukasa said. "Did you come in to watch?" She asked, as Kagami had done a few times hoping to glean some sort of technique maybe she hadn't thought of. Kagami shook her head.
"Nah. I was just wondering..." She scratched the back of her head. She suddenly realized that, in her rush, she had neglected to come up with a way to actually ask Tsukasa tactfully. Sure, she could just ask what the first was, but the first what? If Tsukasa didn't end up knowing, then Kagami would have to ask their mother. Kagami sighed. "Do you remember... "The First"?" Kagami asked, placing special emphasis on the last two words. Tsukasa lit up.
"Yeah! I remember! You were so cool that day, Onee-chan!" Tsukasa said. Kagami blushed and scratched her cheek.
"Eh? Was I?" Kagami asked, averting her gaze off to the side. Tsukasa nodded.
"Super cool!" She said. "I remember it like it was yesterday!" Tsukasa said nostalgically as she thought back.
The Theater of Tsukasa's Mind - A long, long time ago...
"Hey, give me that toy!" A student shouted, attempting to grab the small circular container that Tsukasa held.
"I-I can't!" Tsukasa said, barely backing up out of the bully's reach. It was only her second year in elementary school, so she was rather unused to bullies. However, she knew that she could absolutely not let him have this.
"I said give it!" The bully shouted louder, trying to grab it again. Tsukasa's eyes started to water as she desperately moved her hand holding the container away.
"N-no!" She shouted as she backed up again. She hit a corner, causing the bully to crack his knuckles.
"I want that toy!" He said. Tsukasa, summoning up all of her courage, shook her head as tears began to flow down her cheeks. She held a gashapon container that she knew that Kagami had wanted for a long time. Every time the Tsundere had tried for it, however, she always got something different. Tsukasa had traveled with their mother to the store one day and saw that the gashapon had the one Kagami wanted in it and ended up sinking her entire piggy bank into it to get it. She knew Kagami's face would be worth it though once she gave it to her, but that was only if she could survive this ordeal. "I'm warning you!" The bully shouted as he drew back his fist.
"N-n-n-no!" Tsukasa shouted as she clenched her eyes shut and hugged the ball tightly.
"Fine!" The bully shouted as he struck. Tsukasa prepared for the hit. The sound of his fist hitting something rang out, but Tsukasa felt nothing. She opened her eyes to see Kagami in front of her, hair practically floating ominously with pure, unadulterated loathing, the bully's fist in her hand.
"Oh? And who is this that thinks they can bully my little sister?" Kagami asked. Just as Tsukasa wasn't used to bullies, that was a tone she had never heard before. Kagami got angry with her older sisters, yes, but there was a certain... something in her voice now. It was almost like a killing intent.
"Wh-What are you?" The bully asked, clearly very scared now and trying to pull his fist out of Kagami's grasp. Kagami simply kept holding however.
"I'm PISSED OFF IS WHAT I AM!" Kagami shouted as she squeezed and pushed, jamming the bully's hand into his wrist. The relative obscenity along with the fact that his wrist now really hurt scared the boy, tears started coming out of his eyes.
"Ouch! I'm gonna get you, I swear!" The bully cried as he ran off.
"I'd like to see you try!" Kagami shouted after him. She exhaled and turned around to see Tsukasa in tears.
"O-O-O-Onee-chan~!" Tsukasa hugged her sister, crying into her shirt. Kagami hugged her little sister and rubbed her back.
"There there. It's alright." Kagami said. After waiting a few minutes for Tsukasa to calm down, Kagami finally asked. "So what was that all about?" Kagami asked.
"He wanted this toy!" Tsukasa said, as she broke her hug with Kagami. The Tsundere looked the toy over, though she could really only see that it was a gashapon. She sighed and scratched the back of her head.
"Next time, you might want to just give it to him. I mean, I saw you had a lot of these, right?" Kagami asked. While she would normally never condone knuckling under like that, if it meant her sister would be out of harms way, she could forgive it. Tsukasa fidgeted.
"I couldn't! This one is for you!" Tsukasa held it up to her sister. She didn't want to give it to her at home, as Matsuri was likely to take it for her own if she had heard of it. Now, however, Kagami could safely accept and hide it away until she could set it up in her room. Kagami put a hand on her hip as she took the gashapon.
"Thanks Tsukasa! I didn't expect this!" She smiled. She opened it up and gasped. "Hey! Totoro! This is the one I've been looking for!" Kagami said excitedly. "Thank you so much Tsukasa!" Kagami said as she hugged Tsukasa again. Tsukasa smiled, clearly happy that her sister initiated the hug this time, and hugged back.
"That's why I couldn't give it to him!" Tsukasa said. Kagami smiled as the two broke their second hug.
"Well, I'm glad that you didn't give it to him, but don't put yourself in danger like that." Kagami said. Tsukasa smiled.
"It's alright though! You're always gonna be there, right?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami smiled.
"Yeah. I'll always be there for you!" She said with determination.
"Promise?" Tsukasa asked.
"Promise." Kagami said.
"Will you break your promise?" Tsukasa asked, covering her bases. Kagami giggled.
"I will not break my promise." Kagami said. "I'll tell ya what." She said. Tsukasa looked at her inquisitively.
"What?" Tsukasa asked.
"Here!" Kagami put out her pinkie. Tsukasa smiled.
"A pinkie promise?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami shook her head.
"Nope! It's a Hiiragi Twins Promise! Since we're the only Hiiragi twins, that makes our promise that much more awesome!" She said. Tsukasa seemed quite excited by the notion.
"So a promise that only we can make?" She asked. Kagami nodded.
"Yup! We should only use it when we absolutely promise to do whatever it is we promise we'll do." Kagami said. "There's no backing out!" Kagami said. Tsukasa fidgeted happily.
"So do you promise that we'll always be together?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami nodded as Tsukasa wrapped her pinkie around Kagami's.
"Hiiragi Twins Promise!" The two shouted for the world to hear.
"We'll be together forever Tsukasa!" Kagami said.
Back to the Present
Tsukasa finished the story. Kagami scratched the back of her head. Oh yeah. Something like that happened. Honestly, she couldn't remember much about the circumstances around a few of the Hiiragi Twins Promises, apparently including that one.
"Onee-chan, did you not remember?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami nodded.
"Yeah! I remember it!" She said. It wasn't lying if Kagami said that she remembered it as long as she didn't include that she didn't remember all of it, right?
"I'm glad Onee-chan." Tsukasa smiled. Then, she seemed to detect something behind her. Something that had no business being anywhere near her presence. She turned to face the burning food. Kagami smiled as Tsukasa launched herself at the food, saving it from burning too much. She walked out of the room and back into the living room, her feelings and her curiosity satisfied. She walked into the living room and sat down at the table, smiling.
"So, did she remember?" Miki asked, though Kagami could tell she knew that Tsukasa had.
"Yeah. It seems like a really special memory of hers." Kagami said. "I almost feel guilty I didn't remember it immediately." Kagami said. Miki giggled.
"Don't worry so much about it. It may have gotten lost in all of your other big sister duties." Miki said. "You should have heard how she told me about her day that day. She was so happy that you came to her rescue, and even happier that you liked her gift." Miki said. Kagami smiled.
"I still have it. It's one of the few decorations I still have set up in my room. I'm not really into figurines anymore, but that's still something precious to me." Kagami said.
"She tried hard to get it. It took all of her savings to find that one." Miki said. Kagami smiled.
"You have good memory, Mom." Kagami said. Miki beamed with pride.
"It's one of my best features." She said. Kagami chuckled.
"Well, I hope I turn out half as good as you." Kagami smiled. Miki smiled.
"Kagami, I believe you're going to turn into quite a splendid adult." Miki said. Kagami smiled. "As well as Tsukasa. Although, I'd imagine you would be the kind of person to work and bring home the money while Tsukasa would be the one to have a meal and bath ready for whoever it is that's coming home." Miki said. Kagami blushed as her day dream from the other day came back in force.
"That... That seems about right..." Kagami mumbled. Miki giggled. Then, Tsukasa opened the door.
"It's ready Onee-chan!" She came out with enough skewers of yakitori to feed the three of them. Kagami and Miki both smiled at the delicious meal they were about to have.
In Between Time
Konata and Miyuki sat around Konata's desk. The two were finishing up lunch and hadn't talked about much in general. Konata sighed and pulled out her phone.
"I think I might call Kagamin." Konata said. "See if she's okay and if we should go over to visit." Konata said. Miyuki nodded.
"A splendid idea, Konata-san." Miyuki said. Konata dialed her speed dial and came up with Kagami. She put the phone to her ear as it rang.
"... Hello?" Kagami asked, sounding raspy voiced.
"Hey Kagamin, are you okay? Both you and Tsukasa are missing school!" Konata said.
"Yeah, we're just super~ sick." Kagami said. Konata hummed.
"Do you want us to come over after school?" Konata asked.
"Nuh-uh. I don't wanna get you two sick too, it's super contagious." Kagami said. Konata huffed.
"You caring about getting me sick? You really are sick." Konata said.
"Ha ha." Kagami laughed humorlessly. "Don't worry about coming over. I would hate to spread this to Miyuki." Kagami said.
"Ah! How heartless, Kagamin!" Konata faked offense.
"Yep. That's me. I have no heart. I'll talk to you later." Kagami said. Konata sighed.
"Talk to you later Kagamin." She said. Kagami ended the call. "Man, I barely got to talk at all~!" Konata complained.
"What did she say?" Miyuki asked.
"She said she's really looking forward to seeing us after school today." Konata said. Miyuki smiled and nodded.
"Would you mind if we stopped by a shop first and purchased a basket of fruit for them? And perhaps some extra rice for gruel?" Miyuki asked. Konata smiled.
"I don't mind at all! Good thinking, Miyuki!" Konata gave a thumbs up. "After school to see the Hiiragis!" She cheered as the bell rang for lunch to end.
In the Evening
Kagami hung up the phone and giggled.
"What was that Onee-chan?" Tsukasa asked.
"She totally bought it." Kagami said. Tsukasa kicked her head to the side.
"What did she buy?" She asked.
"I told her we were sick." Kagami said.
"Why?" Tsukasa asked.
"Well, now we have the whole day to do whatever we want without having to entertain Konata all day..." Kagami said. Tsukasa hummed.
"Onee-chan... Do you not like Kona-chan?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami looked at her with a shocked expression.
"What? No way, it's not that I don't like her!" Kagami said. "She's just... irritating? Yeah, irritating sometimes." Kagami said.
"Oh... So you don't hate her?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami sighed and shook her head.
"No Tsukasa, I don't hate her." Kagami said. "But I wanted to spend some more time with my little sister." Kagami chimed. Tsukasa brightened up and looked quite pleased.
"I wanna hang out with you too Onee-chan!" She said. "So what do you wanna do?" She asked. Kagami thought.
"Hm... I dunno. Did you have any more ideas from when you were the big sister yesterday that we didn't get to do?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa thought for a moment, humming.
"Um..." She looked to the ceiling as if it held the answer. She knew she had thought of something, but she couldn't quite place it... Kagami could tell how hard her twin was thinking by the way Tsukasa's tongue ran across the top of her lip. "Oh!" She said, jumping a bit as if she remembered something. "We could go play video games! I know you really like the shooting ones!" Tsukasa said, holding an invisible gun and shooting. Kagami giggled.
That doesn't seem like something she would like to do... I guess some of the older sister stuck with her. Kagami thought to herself. "If you want, Tsukasa." Kagami said. Tsukasa grabbed Kagami's hand, which surprised the Tsundere, and pulled her from the living room. Miki giggled.
"I kind of wish someone else were here to see these two during the day." She said, trying to recall Matsuri and Inori's college schedules to see if they'd be off and home in time to see the twins acting so oddly. She sighed. "I suppose not." She said before turning the page in her paper.
Several Hours Later, Joining an Otaku and a Meganekko
Konata cheered as the bell to end class rang.
"Just remember your homework and don't slack off too much." Kuroi said.
"Don't worry ma'am! I'll TOTALLY get on that when I get home!" Konata said.
"Oh, Izumi." Kuroi said. Konata stopped on her way out of the classroom.
"What's up teach?" Konata asked.
"Do you know where Hiiragi is? She isn't usually absent from school." Kuroi said. Konata nodded.
"I called during lunch! Kagami said they were sick." Konata said. Kuroi nodded.
"Thanks. I'll call over there myself to hear it from a parent, but I'll keep that in mind." Kuroi said. Konata saluted.
"Any time, teach!" She said as Miyuki joined her. The two left. "To the Hiiragi house!" Konata shouted.
"First to the market." Miyuki said.
"First to the market, THEN to the Hiiragi house!" Konata corrected herself.
Ain't We Got Fun?
"Onee-chan, help!" Tsukasa shouted.
"Hold on Tsukasa, I'm on my way!" Kagami shouted as she rushed.
"I can't hold on!" Tsukasa said desperately.
"Just a little longer...!" Kagami said. "Get away from my sister, you jerks!" Kagami shouted as her character massacred all of the opponents close to Tsukasa.
"Whew... Thanks Onee-chan." Tsukasa exhaled. The 'Level Complete!' sign flashed on the screen as all of the enemies were defeated. Kagami made a peace sign.
"Nobody picks on my sister!" She said. Tsukasa had chosen a first person shooter, knowing that it was Kagami's favorite genre. Kagami, knowing she would smoke Tsukasa in a one on one, chose the co-op version so they could fight together instead of each other. However, Kagami found that she had to carry Tsukasa through most of the levels, since this was definitely not Tsukasa's genre of games. However, that basically meant that the fights were more difficult, which was fun in it's own way.
"Onee-chan you're so good at these kinds of games..." Tsukasa said with a smile. Kagami grinned proudly.
"I've worked a long time to get this good!" Kagami said. Her ear twitched as the new level started. She turned her character and cleanly picked off a sniper.
"Wow! I didn't even know he was there!" Tsukasa said as confetti poured out of the enemy. Since Tsukasa was there, Kagami had turned off all of the blood and, something having to come out of killed opponents, confetti was what replaced it.
"It's easy once you know what sounds each enemy makes." Kagami beamed with pride again. "Quick, there's something over there!" Kagami shouted as her character spun and shot another enemy's gun. It counting as his hit box, he exploded.
"Wah~!" Tsukasa shouted as she spun her camera around, accidentally running into a wall. Truly, these were not games made for Tsukasa.
"As expected of my Kagamin!" Konata cheered.
"Who's yours?" Kagami shouted before realizing who she was talking to. "Wah!" Kagami missed a shot as it suddenly clicked. "What? What are you doing here? I told you not to come!" Kagami paused and turned to yell at the Otaku. Konata grinned.
"You don't sound very sick, Kagamin." Konata said. Miyuki stood beside her with a basket of fruit, though looking very apologetic.
"I'm sorry Kagami-san. Konata-san said that you were expecting us." Miyuki said. She then smiled a little. "However, I am happy to see you feeling well." Miyuki said. Kagami sighed and scratched the back of her head.
"When did you guys even get here?" Kagami asked.
"Well..." Konata hummed.
A Bit Earlier
Konata and Miyuki stood in front of Kagami's house.
"Should we knock?" Miyuki asked.
"Nah, they're expecting us to just come in!" Konata said. And so, Konata holding a bag containing the extra rice and homework from the class while Miyuki carried the fruit basket, the two walked into the house.
"Yes, I'm afraid they were feeling under the weather this morning." They heard Miki say. They peeked into the living room to see she was on the phone. She nodded. "Thank you. Have a wonderful day." Miki said.
"Come on..." Konata whispered as she and Miyuki walked past to Kagami's room, where Konata assumed the two were. Miki hung up the phone and smiled.
"I could have sworn Kagami had asked them not to come. I suppose she's the type to do what she wants, though." Miki smiled.
Back to the Present Part ll
"And that's when!" Konata said cheerfully.
"You suck." Kagami said, lamenting the time with Tsukasa she would lose now that the other two were there. Man. When did she begin valuing time solely with her sister over time spent with her sister and friends? And by so much too?
"Anywhere you want Kagamin~." Konata chimed. Kagami huffed.
"Yeah yeah, you're starting to lose it Konata. You already used that line the other day." Kagami said.
"That just means the offer is still open, Kagamin~." Konata said. Kagami shot her a tired glance, which surprised Konata. There had been a blush on her cheeks, but not nearly as bad a blush as had been had the other day. Konata's cat grin made an appearance as she hummed.
"I don't like the sound of that hum, Konata." Kagami said.
"Hm hm. Don't worry about it, Kagamin." Konata said.
"Kona-chan, did you want to play?" Tsukasa asked, offering her controller to the Otaku. Konata gladly accepted, to the chagrin of Kagami.
Damn it, don't butt in! You're gonna make the game too easy! Kagami thought, cursing the Queen of Games.
"Is there anything you would like Tsukasa?" Miyuki asked, gesturing to the basket.
"You really didn't have to bring something over, Yuki-chan!" Tsukasa said, though she did look at the contents of the basket. Miyuki smiled with her eyes.
"Nonsense. I'll always come when you're sick." Miyuki said.
"Hm." Konata hummed as her ears twitched at hearing that, but she otherwise made no comment.
"Thanks Yuki-chan." Tsukasa said gratefully. Kagami glanced back out of the corner of her eyes. Tsukasa looked quite happy. Her breath caught as her grip on the controller tightened. There was a weird feeling. It wasn't a pleasant one.
"Kagamin?" She heard. Kagami looked over at Konata, who looked perplexed. Kagami looked at the screen to see the game had been paused and her character was near death. "You okay?" Konata asked, dropping her voice so that Miyuki and Tsukasa couldn't hear. Kagami breathed deeply and regained herself. She hadn't realized that her breathing had gotten so... harsh.
"Yeah. I'm alright." Kagami responded in kind, figuring Konata had asked quietly so that they wouldn't alert Tsukasa and Miyuki. Kagami appreciated it, as she didn't want Tsukasa to worry about her.
"You had an angry look on your face." Konata said. "Like this!" She put two fingers up to pull back her eyes and her thumb in her mouth to make it into an unnatural triangle. "Gr!" Konata said. Kagami knocked Konata on the top of the head.
"Shut up, I did not." Kagami said. "You're exaggerating." Kagami said.
"I'm totally not! I thought you were gonna explode!" Konata said, this time loud enough for the two other girls to hear. However, after briefly looking at the two playing, they figured it must have been something to do with the game and continued with their conversation. Kagami sighed.
"I will if you keep this up." Kagami smirked, returning to the game with vengeance. It was almost as if the computer players were killing themselves as the two slaughtered their way across the levels. What took Kagami twenty minutes earlier took the both of them a mere three. The two cut a swath of devastation through the enemy army unlike anything they had seen before.
"So Kagamin." Konata said. "Are you okay?" Konata asked. Kagami looked confused.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"You're not sick?" Konata asked. Kagami sighed.
"No. No I'm not." Kagami said.
"I'm glad." Konata said. Then, she stayed silent for a moment. "... Are you sure?" Konata asked.
"How the hell could I not be sure?" Kagami asked.
"Mentally I mean." Konata said. Kagami paused the game and glared at Konata.
"... Think about what you say next very carefully, Konata." Kagami said. Konata smiled and scratched the back of her head.
"Well, the Kagami I know would never knowingly miss school." Konata said. Kagami stared at her for another minute before turning back to the game.
"... That's fair." She said. "There were... special circumstances around this morning that led to me oversleeping." Kagami said. Konata looked surprised.
"You? Oversleep? I'm surprised your internal alarm clock didn't wake you up." Konata said.
"It did. But I fell asleep early yesterday, so it was off." Kagami said. Konata gave her a sly look.
"That's never happened before. You usually go to sleep at different times and always wake up at the same time." Konata said. Kagami huffed.
"How the hell do you know that?" Kagami asked.
"All the slumber parties we have." Konata said.
"They're not slumber parties." Kagami argued.
"Then what do you call them?" Konata asked.
"Sleepovers." Kagami said.
"What's the difference?" Konata asked.
"A slumber party is a lot of people. Sleepovers are just the four of us." Kagami said.
"There aren't a lot of other people who I'd WANT to come to our slumber parties." Konata said.
"Well, Ayano and Misao could come." Kagami said. Konata was silent for a moment.
"... There aren't a lot of INTERESTING people who I'd want to come to our slumber parties." Konata said.
"Alright, granted you don't like Misao, but what about the under...classmen..." Kagami thought about the four younger girls. Mainly about one Patricia Martin getting chatty with Konata about this and that that she saw and heard. "Never mind." Kagami said.
"Wait." Konata said, pausing the game. "... That's actually a really good idea, Kagamin." Konata said.
"Huh? What's a good idea?" Kagami asked.
"A slumber party with us four and the other four girls." Konata said.
"Um..." Kagami scratched her head. She briefly debated whether or not to ask Konata not to invite Patricia, but she realized that anything she could come up with would look suspicious and she really didn't need Konata knowing about her little day dream.
"Kagamin?" Konata asked. Kagami sighed, coming up with nothing.
"Sure. Why is that such a great idea though?" Kagami asked. Konata gestured for Kagami to move closer. Confused, she complied.
"I don't really want Miyuki to hear since she talks to Minami so much, but Yu-chan REALLY likes Minami. I was thinking if we can bring them both together, Yu-chan can give Minami the present she had meant to give her today." Konata said. Kagami blinked a few times. Then, she put a hand on Konata's head and one of her own.
"You're thinking of others with no reward for yourself. Are you sure you're not the one who's sick?" Kagami asked.
"I'm not sick!" Konata complained. "Yu-chan is like a little sister to me. Come on, you should know what it's like even more than me!" Konata said. "If Tsukasa fell in love with someone, wouldn't you help her any way you could?" Konata asked.
"..." Kagami was silent for a moment.
"Kagamin?" Konata asked.
"Uh, yeah. I... would." Kagami said. She hadn't meant to sound so... uncertain, but something made her hesitate. It was something like what Konata had said the last time the two had really talked. She sighed.
"You don't sound very sure of that." Konata said.
"... Konata, can we not talk about this?" Kagami asked. Konata studied her for a minute. The, she sighed as well.
"Sure thing Kagamin." Konata said as she turned back to the game, seemingly understanding that she was starting to tread on sensitive, not-good-to-tease-about grounds. "But is that okay Kagamin? Can you and Tsukasa make it to the party?" Konata asked. Kagami sighed and thought.
"Well, that depends on what day it is." Kagami said.
"I was thinking we could see if they have plans tomorrow after school." Konata said. Kagami nodded.
"Hey Tsukasa." Kagami paused the game again. Tsukasa and Miyuki turned from their strawberries.
"Onee-chan?" Tsukasa asked.
"Me and Konata were thinking of having a slumber party tomorrow. You in?" Kagami asked.
"Will you be there Onee-chan?" Tsukasa asked. Kagami sighed as Konata looked incredibly hopeful.
"Please~ Kagamin~?" Konata pleaded. Kagami rolled her eyes at her little friend's over the top act.
"Yeah, probably." Kagami said. Tsukasa looked happy.
"Count me in then!" Tsukasa chimed. Miyuki sighed at something, sounding a little sad for some reason. However, it seemed covered by a happy face directly afterwards.
"If you're going Tsukasa, would it be okay if I were to come as well?" Miyuki asked.
"We were intending on it." Konata said. "We were also going to invite Yu-chan, Minami, Hiyori and Patty." Konata said. Miyuki seemed excited for a moment, but got over it shortly.
"That's quite convenient." Miyuki smiled. Kagami nodded.
"Alright, it's set. I guess we should go ahead and invite them, huh?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa smiled cheerfully.
"I'll help!" Tsukasa said.
"I'll contact Minami." Miyuki smiled.
"Let's get to work then!" Kagami said. The four set out to begin inviting and making plans for the eight of them the next day.
After Section
Can you believe I tried to cut this chapter short? And yet here it is. Standing at I think ten thousand words exactly. The longest to date. Tell ya what, I never thought the story would be quite this... long? I suppose? Not that I intended this story to be super short or anything, but the events I had planned might take a bit longer to get to than I thought at this pace. But then, I guess that also means I get to write for this couple a bit longer, huh? That's always good. I like this story, although I can no longer say I only work on it in my down time. I do work on it for a break from Luckier Star sometimes. Not that I don't like writing that one, but five and a half hundred thousand words of a story and you need a bit of a break from it sometimes. The scale of that story is the most daunting bit, but I think I got something to help with that recently. Look at me talking about a story that isn't this story in this story. Well, it's good when I can type out most of a chapter in one day. I hope you all enjoyed this LONG chapter!