KONATA'S BOYFRIEND

Konota Izumi was a short girl who looked like she was still in grade school and acted like it too. She had long blue hair and a beauty mark under her left eye. She was also an otaku, obsessed with manga, anime and games. It was all she ever thought and talked about. While Tsukasa and Miyuki tolerated her hobbies enough to enjoy them, it always grated Kagami's nerves whenever Konata would use anime/manga/game references for everyday life. It was like she didn't have any life outside of those things…

Of course for the past few weeks Konata seemed to have mellowed out a bit. Sure, she still smiled a lot and would talk about games but it was like her mind was preoccupied with something, which was something that made Kagami curious. Tsukasa didn't notice it but Kagami was sure something was up.

Kagami Hiiragi and Tsukasa Hiiragi were twin sisters who were as different as night and day. Kagami was responsible and got good grades because she studied really hard. Tsukasa, however, was no good at sports and studying but was a good cook. She was also good-natured, friendly, but clumsy and often an airhead at times. They were also good friends with Konata. Miyuki Takara was also a member of their little foursome and was wealthy, beautiful, smart, well-mannered and polite, often explaining topics like an encyclopaedia when inquired. However, Konata's strange behaviour was something she could not explain.

"Maybe she's just tired from playing games all the time," Miyuki offered.

"Nah," denied Kagami. "If she was spending all her nights playing games she wouldn't be doing her homework and she'd be sleeping in class." That much was true. Konata was actually doing her homework. There was no real explanation. Maybe it was because they were all in their senior year and Konata wanted to catch up. Maybe she was becoming more responsible…

'Yeah, when pigs fly,' thought Kagami scornfully. She wasn't being mean. She just didn't think Konata would do so much without a reason.

"Kona-chan is still Kona-chan, Onee-chan," said Tsukasa.

Kagami sighed at that.

But, even with the changes, Konata was still Konata.

Of course there was something else. When Konata smiled there was something else there. It wasn't the smile whenever a manga/game she liked had become an anime or she had won something in a lucky draw or something. It was the type of smile someone wore when they were in bliss. Like they were…

Kagami couldn't imagine it! It couldn't be true! Could Konata…their little game/anime/manga otaku…have a crush on someone?

The idea of Konata showing interest to anything/anyone outside her hobby just seemed so ludicrous. Still, there was only one way to prove it. Konata still worked at that cosplay café after school so maybe her mysterious beau would be there and then Kagami would get the answers.

It wasn't that Kagami was jealous of anything. Rather, she was worried about Konata. The guy could be some pervert with a loli-complex and was just stringing Konata along. She was awfully cute and fun to hang out with.

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"OK, girls! I gotta go!" said Konata as she rose up to her feet after packing away her things. "See ya!" She exited the class quickly with Tsukasa, Kagami and Miyuki watching.

"OK, let's tail her," said Kagami.

"Must we really spy on Konata-san?" said Miyuki.

"Yuki-chan's right, Onee-chan," said Tsukasa. "If this is something private, we can't pry."

"It's a guy," said Kagami firmly. "It has to be. I mean what else could it be?"

"Even if it is a guy, why are we prying?" Miyuki asked.

"We aren't prying. I just don't want her getting hurt, that's all," said Kagami. "She's annoying as heck, sure, but that doesn't mean I want stuff to happen to her."

"So, Onee-chan just wants to be a good friend," said Tsukasa. "I'm glad."

"Well, then let's go," said Miyuki.

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They really couldn't sneak into the cosplay café that Konata worked at since she would somehow be there to greet them. Today, she was dressed up as a tsundere character. She was dressed as Louise from Zero no Tsukaima, complete with the pink wig. She wore a white blouse with a short black skirt, knee socks, leather shoes and a cloak.

"Welcome, Masters," Konata greeted with a wink.

Kagami sighed. She along with Tsukasa and Miyuki entered with Konata leading them to a table. She wasn't in character, yet, but it was only a matter of time. Working in the cosplay café was another student, a freshman and a foreign exchange student named Patricia "Patty" Martin.

"OK, guys, I'll be back to take your orders!" said Konata with hr cat-like smile before she walked off.

"It doesn't seem like she's acting strange," said Miyuki.

"We better keep an eye on her. Anyone of these guys could be the one she's crushing on," said Kagami.

Tsukasa gasped and pointed.

"Tsukasa-san, it's not polite to point," said Miyuki.

"But, there! Look!" Tsukasa said and her friends turned to look.

Konata was talking to a guy wearing a costume. Kagami had guessed it right. It was another otaku like her. Of course the costume he was wearing wasn't from an anime, manga or game.

He was wearing a black bodysuit with a silver gloves and boots. He wore padding on his chest that was parted wide in the middle for a triangle pattern in the centre. Hanging from his neck was a yellow scarf. He wore a blue helmet with red eyes like a bug and complete with antennae with a black chin strap and exposed the lower half of his face. His costume was Riderman. He was also a head taller than Konata and as they spoke Konata was smiling and blushing.

"What is that costume?" questioned Miyuki.

"Oh, that's a Kamen Rider," said Tsukasa. "One from the old shows in the 70's. You can see it from the scarf."

"Really? How interesting," said Miyuki.

Kagami grimaced. Could this guy be twice Konata's age? Now she was worried.

"I'm back!" said Konata, smiling wide. "So, what do you wanna order?"

"Who was that guy?" blurted out Kagami.

"Oh, he's a co-worker," said Konata with a shrug.

"Don't give me that! You were blushing when you were talking to him. Now who is he?" said Kagami.

"Can we talk about this later?" Konata said uncomfortably.

"Seriously, Konata. I'm just worried that you're dating guy twice your age."

"Twice my age?" Konata cocked an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"He's wearing a costume based on a TV show character from the 70's," said Kagami. "He must be some middle-aged otaku or something."

"He's not middle-aged," Konata remarked.

"He isn't?" blinked Kagami.

"Onee-chan, you were jumping to conclusions again," chided Tsukasa.

"Konata-san, would you mind introducing us to him?" said Miyuki.

"He's just a co-worker," said Konata softly, her index fingers touching as she blushed a little.

"Just a co-worker?"

Konata sighed. "I'll introduce you to him during my break, OK? Just, please, lay off."

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As Konata continued to work, playing the part of Louise from Zero no Tsukaima, Patty came to the three girls' table, beaming. Her costume was that of Mikuru Asahina in her maid outfit.

"Patty-chan, hi," said Tsukasa.

"Hello, sempai-tachi," said Patty.

"Hey, Patty," said Kagami. "Do you know anything about Riderman there?"

Patty looked to the masked man and shrugged. "Nothing much. He started work two months ago, but we've never seen him without his mask. Every time he comes to work he dressed up as a different Kamen Rider. Only Konata-sempai has seen him without his mask. I don't even know his name."

That was when Konata came over, holding the gloved hand of Riderman and dragging him along as he followed, smiling. "Girls, let m introduce you to my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend!?" Tsukasa, Miyuki and Kagami exclaimed in shock. Kagami and Tsukasa's jaws dropped and Miyuki's glasses nearly fell off in an almost 'moe' fashion.

Riderman smiled and nodded. "That's right. We've been going out for a few weeks now."

"Did I forget to mention they are dating?" Patty said, twiddling her fingers. "Gotta go!"

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"And that's how we met," finished Riderman.

"It was so romantic!" beamed Konata.

Kagami just stared. "So, you were both reaching for the same anime when your hands touched?"

Konata and Riderman nodded. "It was Karas. I happen to be a fan of the Henshin Hero genre," confessed Riderman. "Stuff like Super Sentai, Kamen Rider and Ultraman. My favourite has to be Kamen Rider, though, both the Showa and Heisei Era."

"I can see that," said Miyuki.

"How sweet," cooed Tsukasa.

"So, are you going to take off your mask?" Kagami asked.

"Kagami!" gasped Konata. "You must never ask a Kamen Rider to remove their mask! They wear them for a reason. They must hide their identities."

"It's okay, Konata-chan," said Riderman as he undid his chinstrap. When he took it off, he revealed himself to be a man of their age with amber eyes, fair skin and short black hair with the bangs framing his face. His hair was parted in the middle. Just looking at him made Kagami blush. This gut was an otaku!? He wasn't one of those stereotypical fat geeks with pimples all over. He was…bishonen!

"I'm Tobei," he said. "Tobei Tachibana."

"He's named after an important character in the franchise," boasted Konata.

"Really?" Kagami questioned. "Which one? I don't really recall a guy named Tachibana, except for that guy in Blade."

"Oh, he's an important character from the Showa Era. He's the guy that builds the bikes. My dad was a fan of the show and so he named me after Tobei Tachibana," answered Tobei.

Kagami narrowed her eyes in suspicion. From what she knew of Konata's dad, Sojiro, he didn't want her daughter dating anyone. He was overprotective and possessive of his daughter who resembled his late wife. "So, have you met Konata's dad?"

"Sojiro-san?" asked Tobei. "Yes, I did. He's a nice man too. Konata-chan introduced us. It was funny how he almost fainted when I told him my name."

Konata's dad was as much as an otaku as Konata and it was his influence that made the blue-haired girl the way she was. It wouldn't be impossible for Konata's dad to be a fan of Kamen Rider as a kid or still be a fan now that he was an adult.

"Well, our break is over," said Konata. "Gotta get back to work! Come on, Tobei-kun!"

"Right! I gotta get back into character too," said Tobei as he put his helmet back on and strapped it on tight. "See ya."

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As the three girls waited at the train station, Tsukasa spoke, "Tobei-san seems nice."

"Yes, he is," said Miyuki. "Don't you think so, Kagami-san?"

"There's something about him I don't trust," muttered Kagami.

"Come again?" blinked Miyuki.

"I don't trust him," said Kagami aloud. "I mean he could be a closet pervert with a loli-complex."

Miyuki placed a hand on Kagami's shoulder and said, "Kagami-san, you have nothing to worry about."

"I can't help it," pouted Kagami as she crossed her arms. "I swear if that guy hurts her, I'll-"

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Tobei was dressed in his school uniform after getting out of costume. It was a white shirt with a blue and white striped tie and dark blue slacks with a matching dark blue blazer. He was leaning against a bike parked near the cosplay café and waiting for his little girlfriend to show up. He was her ride home.

Tobei smiled as he flipped open his cell phone. On it was a picture of Konata, smiling and winking at the camera with a victory hand sign. The day he met her, it was love at fist sight. Well, not exactly, but he did think she was the cutest girl he'd ever met. He didn't mistake her for a grade-schooler either.

After their first meeting, they got to talking and hit it off quite well. They had a lot in common. They were otaku and loved playing games. Though they had different tastes in genres, with her loving anime and manga while he favored tokusatsu, it didn't make a difference. He liked her. It took him days after that to see her in the same store and then asking her out on a date.

Spending time with her was fun and he loved her. He really did. He also couldn't help but want to protect her.

He was a student studying at Shirogane High School. There he was a bishonen with plenty of fangirls but they were too shallow for his taste. He needed a girl that shared his tastes and hobbies and finally found her in Konata.

"I'm here!" said Konata as she skipped towards him. "Sorry if I kept you waiting, Tobei-kun!"

"It's alright," smiled Tobei as he handed her his spare helmet. "Let's go."

Konata beamed and on impulse she jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close to her so she could give him an Eskimo Kiss. This made Tobei blush deep red when she let go and she was still wearing that beaming smile of hers.

"I love you," she said.

"Me too," he replied. "Now, hop on, Konata-chan!"

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-TO CONTINUE OR NOT TO CONTINUE…?-

A/N: So, what do you think of my first attempt at a Lucky Star fic? There's still more, much more, in store for you, but I may need help. Like Tobei? He's a bishonen and otaku who likes Kamen Rider. You think we should add a touch of fantasy/supernatural or just make it slice of life? Pls, send me ideas, OK?

Here's my OC's bio

NAME: TOBEI TACHIBANA

AGE: 18

SCHOOL: SHIROGANE GAKUEN (Can also be called Shirogane High School or Shirogane Academy)

DESCRIPTION: He has short black hair that is parted in the middle, fair skin, amber eyes and bishonen looks.

BIO: Tobei is named after Tobei Tachibana from the Showa Kamen Rider Era. This is because his father was a fan of the series. As such, Tobei has also become a fan of Kamen Rider and every other tokusatsu series. He works at the same cosplay café as Konata, wearing Kamen Rider costumes from both the Showa and Heiser eras. He met Konata at the video store as they were both reaching for the same Karas DVD and they instantly hit it off. He rides a bike and even maintains it himself like his namesake.