"I'm heading out."
Kurumu hesitated to add the salted salmon to the skillet, glancing at the closet door by the refrigerator as it opened. The silver haired Moka strolled out, adjusting her school jacket higher up on her shoulders. The top buttons of her school blouse were left undone, exposing the black collar about her neck.
"What about breakfast?"
Moka strolled over to the side of the pink couch which faced the ebony stand supporting a large silver television. A small crate filled with Kokoa's DVD collection rested on one side of the television while several CD cases were stacked on the other.
"No time."
Moka snatched up the strap of her schoolbag which was resting next to Kurumu's schoolbag. The vampire hauled it up onto her shoulder as she started for the door.
"You're not that late."
Yukari huffed, standing on the other side of the half wall that separated the kitchen from the entry. The witch was garbed in her usual green school jacket with the red bow at her collar. The strap of her white satchel graced one of her slender shoulders while her schoolbag strap rested upon the other.
"It will be another fifteen minutes before your rice is done."
Kurumu pouted as she added the first fillet to the crackling skillet. The stove was nestled beside this half wall with a stretch of counter to her right before the single compartment sink. Beneath this counter was the dishwasher. The other counter between the sink and the refrigerator held both a microwave and the rice cooker which Kurumu had filled up before changing into her maid attire.
"She can at least eat the fish."
Moka strolled over to the entry, stepping into her loafers.
"I'll get something from the school store."
Kurumu added the other two fillets to the skillet, seeing no reason to return just one to the refrigerator.
"Too bad I don't have my toaster here. At least you could have had something."
Yukari snickered, pushing the door open and stepping outside.
"My Moka doesn't need to run to school with a slice of toast in her mouth."
Moka chuckled, fishing her keys out of her schoolbag before sauntering out.
"We'd have to get bread first. Don't let Kokoa drown in the tub."
Kurumu drawled out a response as Moka closed the door. She scooted the fillets about, hearing the turn of the deadbolt. She sighed, setting the spatula aside. She sauntered over to check the timer of the rice cooker. It had a little more than seventeen minutes which meant she had not even been awake for ten.
Somehow they had slept through her annoying phone alarm. Yukari had employed magic to get inside since they failed to answer the door after multiple knocks.
It had probably taken her less than a minute to part with her black chemise and pull on this clingy maid outfit given to her by Kokoa before the summer. The black garment had long sleeves and a conservative collar but stretched with her bosom. Beneath the heavy, pleated skirt which stretched below her knees was a velvety interior which hugged the curves of her hips and rump. A frilly white apron was fished through the loops stitched about the waist of this garment.
Yukari had still been struggling to get the lethargic Moka out of bed when Kurumu had steered Kokoa off the couch and into the bathroom. She had taken the time to fill the tub and prepare it with chemicals to not trouble the vampire. Moka had staggered in to use the toilet, prompting Kurumu to leave the room.
After that she had tidied up the couch and pulled out the low table from beneath the bed in the corner of the room. She had straightened up the crimson comforter and black sheets drawn over the mattress supported by the ebony framing. She had even arranged the black pillows with the pink heart pattern. A big golden bear sporting a black fedora rested in the far corner of the bed.
There was not much else in the room. Moka had a karaoke machine resting on the floor between the bed and the television stand though they used it more like a CD player with speakers. On the other side of the stand was Moka's desk which had portraits of her family and the jewelry box Rubi had bought Kurumu for Christmas. Moka's red bike was leaned up against the wall between the closet doors.
The sizzling of the skillet demanded Kurumu's attention. She stalked back over to the oven, grabbing the spatula and scooting the fillets about. Realizing there was no reason to rush this, she turned the burner to the lowest setting.
"Kokoa? Are you drowning in there?"
Kurumu left the spatula on the counter, stalking over to the open door in the corner closest to the desk. She stepped inside the bathroom, noting the shelf on her right which was stocked with bathing goods, towels and dental hygiene products to be used with the sink at the foot of the tub. She grabbed a plush, black towel off the rack, turning her attention to the tub on her left.
Kokoa was lounging in the tub with her right arm resting along the lip. Her head was pressed against the wall next to the holster with the shower head. The bottom of her ample bosom touched the steaming water's surface with her nipples standing out proudly. Her eyes were closed with a relaxed expression upon her face. The rest of her body was submerged.
"Is Milady playing with herself?"
"Already did."
Kurumu snorted, stalking over to take a seat on the toilet next to the tub. A row of drain tiles lined the tub beneath Kokoa's arm. A bathing stool was tucked away between the toilet and the tub.
"That was rather quick. Are you feeling better?"
"I'm feeling awesome."
Kurumu snickered, reaching over to squeeze Kokoa's arm.
"I mean about what happened yesterday."
"Yea. He's a dummy. Helps save the world but I guess that isn't enough."
"It doesn't bring his sister back."
Kokoa sighed, opening her eyes. She leaned forward as she drew her other hand out of the water.
"He's never going to be happy."
Kurumu smiled softly, withdrawing her hand.
"It's trauma, Kokoa. Miyamoto has lived with that feeling of guilt for years. Tora and Satsuki also have deep scars that they carry to this day."
Kokoa frowned, shifting in the water. The vampire felt around before tugging something. Her hand emerged with the stopper which she dropped on the drain tiles.
"What happened to Nazohashi?"
Kurumu held back her tongue, thinking about how Mrs. Senda had not spoken about the personal issue that Mr. Yokei had left the school over.
"Kokoa. You lost your mother only a month ago. That's trauma."
Kokoa huffed, standing up as the tub steadily drained. A swath of short silver hairs graced her navel.
"But not my fault. I'm not dumb enough to blame myself for that."
Kurumu flinched. There were times that she felt responsible for her mother's death. It was her invasion of Yoshii Kiria's mind that had compelled him to kill her mother.
"It's still trauma. You're not going to just forget about it."
Kokoa thrust her hand out. Kurumu forced a smile as she stood up, handing over the towel. The vampire promptly started drying herself off.
"I'm not going to forget it. The warmth of her blood. The smell of it. Her last breaths. Her last words. I'll never forget that Fujisaki tore my mother in half. That she sacrificed herself for my sisters."
"Do you want my help getting dressed?"
Kokoa paused, lowering the towel from her coarse, silver locks.
"Weren't you making breakfast?"
"I turned it down low but you're right. I don't want to burn it."
Kokoa rolled her eyes, making a shooing gesture. Kurumu hurried out of the bathroom, crossing the main room in seconds. She seized up the spatula, turning the fillets over which had started to blacken.
"What color are we doing on Wednesdays?"
Kurumu glanced at Kokoa whom was standing naked at her closet door with her towel in hand.
"It's yellow today."
Kokoa snorted with a shake of her head, dipping inside her closet.
"I still don't know why you guys ordered bright yellow lingerie for me."
Kurumu chuckled, setting the spatula aside. She wandered over to check the rice timer, confirming they still had eleven minutes.
"You didn't protest it at the time."
"I was traumatized and seeing death in the eyes of everyone. Not exactly in the right frame of mind to be protesting your weird color selections of lingerie for me."
Kurumu snickered, returning to the sink. Opening the cabinet beneath the sink, she pulled out the stool and dropped it on the floor. She scooted the stool over with her bare feet, stepping up on it to reach the upper cabinets. She fetched the kettle, thinking she should make some tea.
"These colors are for swimsuits. Do you know anybody else with hot pink lingerie?"
Kurumu giggled as she filled the kettle up in the sink.
"It's lace, Kokoa. Even though it is colorful, it is slightly see through. It's not like those are sports bras."
"Can we just do red instead of pink? I kept thinking about how embarrassing it would be if someone saw my hot pink panties yesterday. Luckily we can slip on our gym bloomers before taking off our skirts."
Kurumu placed the kettle on the stove, turning on a second burner.
"I guess we could ask the other girls about it. Yukari would need to get a red set."
"I'll buy a set for her myself if she insists on matching lingerie with us."
Kurumu giggled, fetching the box of tea packets. Setting it aside on the counter, she thought about the silly lingerie schedule they had agreed upon two weeks ago. Tomorrow was green and Friday would be blue. Black had been saved for the weekends with white getting assigned to Mondays.
"That could be a fun outing for the weekend."
Kokoa huffed, stalking out of her closet with a sweater vest in hand and her blouse unbuttoned.
"You have an odd sense of fun."
The vampire closed the door, drifting over to the couch. Kokoa placed the vest on the couch before she started buttoning up her blouse over the swell of her ample bosom contained within a lemon colored lace bra. It looked nice against the paleness of her skin.
"Buying clothes is fun. I'm envious over how extensive your new casual wardrobe is compared to mine."
"I've bought you plenty of outfits."
Kurumu wandered back over to the stove. She turned off the burner for the skillet, deciding the fillets were cooked enough. Stepping up on the stool, she fetched plates and tumblers from the cabinet.
"Maybe I should buy Nijiro an outfit with the money Iko gave me."
Kokoa snickered, pulling her sweater vest on and smoothing it out.
"That won't make him any happier about you posing for that dirty comic she made."
Kurumu pouted, arranging the dishes on the counter.
"Well I have to do something for him. I did just blow him off last night."
Kokoa sighed heavily, taking a seat at the table pushed up behind the couch.
"I didn't ask you to stay with me."
"I couldn't leave you alone."
"I wasn't alone. Moka was here."
"You didn't talk to her at all. I had to explain to her why you were crying."
"I wasn't crying."
Kurumu regarded Kokoa with what she hoped was a stern expression. Kokoa sighed, glancing aside.
"It's frustrating. You heard him. He would have turned down chocolates from anybody. What do I even do? How do I fix that?"
Kurumu contemplated those questions, turning her back on Kokoa. She picked up the skillet and the spatula, moving the fillets to the plates.
"It's not your issue to fix. He needs to work this out himself."
"She's been dead for more than a decade."
Kurumu sighed, dumping the empty skillet and spatula into the sink.
"Well he clearly hasn't been working on getting over this. And if you hadn't noticed, Moka ditched us. You get to eat her portions."
Kurumu sauntered over to check the time on the rice cooker. Seeing that they still had eight minutes, she drifted back to the sink. She grabbed the sponge, turning on the faucet. She briskly scrubbed the surface clean under the flow. It only took a few seconds.
"Maybe you should sleep in your own suite."
Kurumu frowned, glancing over her shoulder as she set the sponge aside.
"What makes you say that?"
"You know. Not dealing with things."
Kurumu squeezed the handle of the skillet. She thought about mommy's butsudan and urn resting upon her old desk in the corner of her room.
"I don't like sleeping alone."
She opened up the dishwasher, placing the skillet in the rack. Leaving it open, she made quick work of the spatula before adding it to the perforated bin.
"You'll end up sleeping on the floor at this rate."
Kurumu laughed, shutting the dishwasher. She turned about with a grin.
"Has this servant displeased her lady?"
Kokoa scowled, shaking her head.
"It's not that, moron. I'm bigger now. It's not exactly comfortable sharing the bed or the couch."
"You're not that much bigger."
"We can pull one of the school futons out of the closet if you're that scared of sleeping in your room."
"I'm not scared of my room. I just don't like sleeping alone."
Kurumu turned her back on Kokoa, noting that the kettle was still not ready. And there was no way the rice was done. She had shorted the timer five minutes when she had started it so taking it out before was just asking for unfinished rice.
"What are you afraid of?"
Kurumu took in a deep, steadying breath. She had summoned an apparition of her mother several times after mommy's passing. She did not want to deal with that if it happened again. Not alone.
"I can have a sleepover in my room if you insist."
Kokoa sighed heavily.
"That's the second question I've asked that you won't answer directly. Satsuki is that Unari girl, right? The teacher's niece that joined the PSC and trained with us before the cultural festival."
Kurumu patted the counter before decisively turning around. She flashed Kokoa a smile and a nod.
"That's right. She's in my homeroom."
"What trauma is she clinging to?"
Kurumu grimaced, wishing one of these things would go off and save her.
"Kokoa. I've offered to help Tora and Satsuki to forget the bad things that happened to them. And they both refused. I know it bothers you that Miyamoto isn't over his sister's accident. But we can't help them if they don't want to be helped."
Kokoa nodded thoughtfully.
"I took Mother's last drop. She wasn't dead until I made her so. But it's not my fault. She asked me to because she was going to die anyways. I only did what I was told."
The air was thick, making Kurumu uneasy.
"Kokoa. I'm sorry."
"Why? It was Fujisaki's fault. And your mother dying was not yours."
Kurumu breathed softly, trying to come up with an excuse to not be alone.
"Kiria gave me the memory of killing my mother. I experienced it through him. As him. I felt his… joy over ripping mommy's heart out. The thrill that gave him. Gave me."
"That wasn't your memory."
"I know that. It's easier sleeping in a room with someone else."
"Okay. I hope you don't mind a futon then."
Kurumu smiled, hoping that was the end of this discussion.
"We can still share the couch."
"No way. You'll molest me in your sleep."
"I'm not Hotaru."
Kokoa rolled her eyes.
"That dummy thinks loving me means putting a finger or tongue in my crotch."
"Which you like."
Kokoa shot her a quieting look.
"It's fine if it's on my terms. She needs to remember that I'm the vampire. I'm the one in charge. If she wants to take charge so badly, then she is going to have to fight me for it."
Kurumu smirked, bowing slightly.
"Understood, Milady. Your breakfast will be ready soon."
"Your boyfriend is in Haiji's homeroom, right?"
Kurumu frowned as she straightened up.
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"I'll apologize to him for you. Tell him that he can have dinner with you tonight."
Kurumu sighed, turning to regard the kettle. A wisp of steam was drifting out the end. Figuring it would whistle any moment now, Kurumu stepped over to turn off the burner. She hefted the kettle up, pouring out the steaming water into the two tumblers.
"Wish I could but I only have one clean school blouse left. I have to do laundry tonight."
"You can have your dinner and do your laundry afterwards."
Kurumu pouted, setting aside the kettle. She pulled the box of tea packets over, fishing two out.
"Eating with him wasn't the only thing I had in mind."
"Are you complaining that I just excused you from dinner making duties tonight?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Milady."
"You should at least try to sound grateful."
Kurumu shrugged as she stirred up the tea with the steaming water. She took her time with the task, waiting for the ding to declare the rice was ready. She had both glasses stirred thoroughly when the rice cooker finally sounded the completion of its task. She carried the plates over to the rice cooker.
"You need to write to your father tonight. Moka isn't even going to try since she's exiled."
"I should do that. I need to tell him about my plans of taking Moka with me to the fencing tournament in Arukasa and having Ms. Fukuda pick us up. Ask him what sort of plans he wants to make with us."
Kurumu nodded as she scooped out the rice, placing most of it on Kokoa's plate with the two fillets.
"You should also tell him about that car your mother bought for Moka that is parked in Lord Ruben's driveway. He probably has no idea that it exists."
Kokoa snickered as Kurumu picked up the plates. She sashayed over to the table, kneeling down.
"I had forgotten about that with everything else going on."
Kurumu grinned, setting Kokoa's plate first before leaving her own on the table.
"I'll be right back with the drinks."
She hopped back to her feet, prancing over to the counter.
"And chopsticks. I'm not eating this with my fingers."
Kurumu sounded an affirmative, pausing to fetch two pairs of chopsticks from the drawer below the counter near the dishwasher. She briskly returned to the table, placing one steaming tumbler beside Kokoa's plate. Kokoa nodded, taking a set of chopsticks so that Kurumu could settle in beside her.
"I still feel bad that Moka didn't know about it until after she got back from her fight with Alucard. I just thought Moka already knew until Yukari said that CD from Rubi wasn't Moka's only Christmas gift."
Kokoa swallowed down the first mouthful of salmon.
"Umizake told me that she has to be eighteen to get her license. She can practice with an adult before that if they are willing to take responsibility for any accidents she might cause."
Kurumu nodded, cutting up her fillet with her chopsticks.
"I wonder how long it takes to get a license."
"Why does that matter? She can't get it before she turns eighteen."
"Yea but she'll be eighteen before our last summer break."
Kokoa paused, chewing on her breakfast. She swallowed it down with a nod.
"I'll ask Umizake about it. His older sister has a license."
Kurumu smirked, recalling Umizake's memories of his sister.
"Umizake has driven his family car without an adult inside the car."
"Really? Surprised that he'd just break the law like that."
Kurumu agreed with that sentiment, turning her attention fully upon her meal. She took her time with the salmon, appreciating the flavor. She had to admit that Kokoa always bought quality stock. She was mildly surprised that Kokoa had not requested for her to fetch the karashi to spice things up.
Once she was done with the fish, she took a swig from her steaming tea cup before starting on the rice. Kokoa had already vacuumed up most of her meal with only a third of her rice left.
"Someone was hungry."
"I'm a growing girl."
Kokoa stuffed the last wad of rice in her mouth, pushing the emptied plate aside. As she chewed, she stacked her chopsticks on her plate. Grabbing her tumbler, she washed her breakfast down with tea as Kurumu scooted the last remnants of her rice into a pile on her plate.
"What's the name of that artsy girl in Moka's club? The one with the comics."
"Kana?"
"Yea. Does she have any new ones for me to read?"
"You could ask her. She's in class seven."
Kokoa sighed as Kurumu stuffed her mouth, setting her empty glass aside. She leaned back on her palms.
"Should I get more CDs?"
Kurumu shrugged, chewing on her last mouthful. She grabbed Kokoa's plate, stacking it on top of hers. She added her chopsticks and Kokoa's glass to the pile before she swallowed the rice down.
"Maybe. Is there a CD you want?"
"Don't really know. Hotaru got another album made by that Otsuka woman that just came out. Maybe I should get an album from that artist. I also liked that Hitomi compilation that witch lady got me."
Kurumu smirked, quaffing down the rest of her tea. Picking up the dishes, she slowly got up on her feet.
"Her name is Rubi. Can you put the table away for me?"
Kokoa sounded an affirmative as Kurumu sashayed over to the sink. Setting the stack down, she turned on the faucet and grabbed the sponge. She made quick work of the chopsticks and glasses. There was not much debris left on her plate and Kokoa's was spotless. She had the whole stack finished in seconds.
Cutting off the water, she opened the dishwasher and tugged out the rack. She quickly moved the dishes to the rack, dropping the chopsticks in the bin. She opened the cabinet below the sink to fetch the bottle of dishwasher soap. She squirted a dollop into the chamber, closing the machine up and spinning the dial to set things in motion.
"What albums would you get?"
Putting away the bottle of soap, Kurumu straightened up with a turn to face Kokoa. The vampire was sitting on the mattress, having tucked the table away beneath the bed. Kurumu shrugged, drying her hands off on her apron.
"I honestly have no idea."
Kokoa nodded thoughtfully, glancing over at the television.
"Maybe we should get a gaming system."
Kurumu snorted, drifting towards the door to Moka's closet.
"I think you spent way too much time with Kabuki."
"You're the one that kept leaving her with me."
"I'm going to get dressed. Be right back."
Kurumu slipped into the closet, shutting the door behind her after flipping on the lights. She wiggled out of the clingy garment, tugging it up over her head and pulling her arms through wet sleeves. Thinking she may as well wash it, she pitched the garment into her damaged, black wicker hamper nearby.
She breathed in deep, standing nude for a moment. She could have enjoyed a passionate night of sex but had spent her time consoling friends instead. Moka was still doubtful over Tsukune's interest in her, chalking everything up to him politely tolerating her. They had saved the world but nothing was fixed.
Sighing, Kurumu padded over to the stack of her lingerie. Knowing the order, her canary yellow lace bra with the front clasps was stacked on top with her pastel yellow boyshorts that had a pink lace hem and pink cherry blossom pattern. Grabbing the boyshorts first, she stepped through the holes one at a time before tugging it up over her patch of blue curls.
She threw the bra on next like a jacket, pulling the cups together. She fished the little hooks through the loops stitched in the center. Once those were secured, she tucked her breasts comfortably into the cups before fixing up the shoulder straps.
Kurumu grabbed her last clean school blouse, freeing it from its hanger. Thrusting her arms through the sleeves, she quickly started buttoning up from the bottom. She decided to do a jacket again since she had more of those than vests. Finished with her buttons, she pulled a jacket down and slipped into it.
Snatching up a school skirt and a pair of socks, Kurumu drifted back to the door. She paused to step into her skirt, tugging it up to her waist and cinching it. Seconds later she had donned the socks. She opened the door, turning off the light as she stepped out.
"Did I tell you about Ms. Herikuda bringing luxury jackets of other schools to the last Saturday meeting?"
Kokoa was over by the entry, fixing the strap of her schoolbag upon her shoulder.
"No. What about it?"
Kurumu grinned, closing the door. She pranced over to Moka's desk, leaning down to tug her black phone off its charge and stuff it into her pocket.
"Ms. Herikuda wants our school to offer luxury jackets made with nice material. Not this thick canvas type of material that our school jackets are made from."
"I'd have to see these other jackets to have an opinion."
Kurumu opened up her brown jewelry box with the relief of a red bird flying over a blue pond beneath white clouds carved into the top. A simple tune started to play as she regarded the contents which included a silver locket and four sets of different gemstone studs that her father had given her. She had a fifth set of citrine studs but those had been confiscated during a prison visit. She grabbed her purple lace ribbon from the box, closing it up to silence the tune.
"Moka could tell you about it. She was there."
"If they were nice, I might actually wear one. I can't zip up the jackets I had from before."
Kurumu snickered as she fixed her hair up in a short tail with the ribbon.
"I wonder if you could donate those."
"The school store might take them."
Kurumu stalked over to the couch, grabbing the strap of her schoolbag. She hauled it up over her head.
"We could ask. Are you ever going to put your hair up in twin tails again?"
Kokoa shrugged as Kurumu adjusted the strap of her schoolbag across her breasts.
"Don't know. It's thicker and longer now. I actually get headaches when I have it up in tails. I'm thinking about getting it cut."
Kurumu frowned as she sauntered over to the entry. Kokoa had her keys out and shoes on.
"Don't do that."
"What time is it?"
Her frown deepened as Kokoa pushed open the door, drifting outside. Kurumu fished her phone out of her jacket's pocket, stepping forward to wiggle her feet into her Mary Janes. She glanced at her flip phone's digital display.
"Seven twenty seven."
"You need to hurry. You'll barely make it before the first bell."
Kurumu huffed, stuffing her phone back in her pocket. She reached down to buckle her shoes.
"It's not like grabbing the announcements from Mrs. Senda will take extra time."
"Yea but they are distributing papers this morning. We both know that will delay you."
With her other shoe buckled, Kurumu straightened up and walked out into the bright morning. Kokoa closed the door behind her, locking it up.
"I'm guessing you won't let me wake up Mizore."
Kokoa snickered, stuffing her keys into her schoolbag.
"Those two might already be on their way to school. Come on."
Kurumu doubted that, starting towards the break between the stair and corner of the commissary. They walked quickly, cutting across the open space in front of the commissary in seconds. Setting foot on the trail, Kurumu spied two figures up ahead.
Even without the hand gestures, Kurumu recognized the Ohira cousins. The girl with the coarse black locks pulled into a short tail was Momoko while the other with the short, silky white hair was Natsue. These okami girls hailed from some small village in the Nara prefecture and had joined the track team.
"Come on, Kokoa. I want to talk to those third years."
Kokoa sighed but effortlessly kept up with Kurumu's faster pace. Once the okami pair reached the point where the trails combined, Kurumu raised her had.
"Ohira! Wait up!"
Only Momoko glanced back. But since the grinning senior stopped, so did Natsue. The albino girl looked in the direction her cousin was and managed a smile.
"Morning, Ms. Kurono. And Ms. Shuzen?"
Kurumu laughed at Momoko's uncertainty, arriving with Kokoa at her side. She gestured at the pair.
"Yes. This is Shuzen Kokoa. These two are Ohira Momoko and Ohira Natsue."
Momoko and Kokoa murmured the normal greetings when Natsue perked up.
"Please to meet!"
Momoko chuckled at Natsue's loud response. She made a few hand gestures.
"Excuse Natsue. She has no idea how loud she is."
"No trouble. Mind if we walk with you?"
Momoko shrugged, offering a quick series of gestures at Natsue. Natsue offered a snaggletooth grin which brightened up her pink eyes. She made her own set of gestures.
"Okay then. Shall we?"
Kurumu giggled at Momoko's invitation. They all started walking to the right, taking the combined trail which ended at the main school path.
"So how are the two of you doing?"
"We're doing fine. Feels kind of odd knowing that these will be our last weeks at Yokai Academy."
"How did the two of you do on your college entrance exams?"
Momoko chuckled, making a few gestures at Natsue. The albino smiled softly, shaking her head.
"Not to keep you in suspense but both of us got too poor of scores for the Nara Women's University to even consider us. Hopefully our computer experience will help us get jobs with Fairy Tale."
"You're not going to try for a different college?"
Momoko grinned with a spark in her green eyes.
"We actually did but we were turned down by the Nara Prefectural University and by the Nara Institute of Science and Technology. We can check in Hoshizora to see if Fairy Tale has a use for us. If that doesn't work out, I guess we get to put our names in the matchmaking program."
"What you say?"
Momoko giggled, making a quick set of gestures which made Natsue's eyes go wide.
"No! No husband!"
Momoko smiled, speaking as she signed to her cousin.
"You should put your name in. At least try."
Natsue huffed, making a dismissive gesture before her hands quickly moved in patterns.
"Don't say that."
"What did she say?"
Momoko glanced at Kokoa, favoring the vampire a snaggletooth grin.
"She's not ready to settle down and have puppies. She wants to work a few years."
Kurumu immediately knew that was a lie even without using her powers. She pushed out her presence, brushing against Momoko's to confirm her suspicions. Natsue felt unworthy because of her disability.
"Will she have to admit that she's deaf in the matchmaking program?"
Momoko chuckled, fussing with her locks over her ear.
"No, but you would get blacklisted if word got around that you were withholding that sort of thing. But I'm sure that guys won't mind having a deaf girl. She has nice tits and child bearing hips."
"What you say?"
Kurumu had to giggle at Natsue's tone dripping with suspicion. Momoko grinned, sending a message which had Natsue gasp.
"Not good breeding! You bad! Very bad!"
Kurumu smiled as they reached the end of this trail. They turned left, heading towards the school.
"What will you do if Fairy Tale doesn't have work for you? Live with your parents?"
Momoko winced with her smile vanishing. She sighed, slouching her shoulders.
"Unfortunately so. My mother is going to light me up for this. She already scolds me over not attending Chisiki Institute. Thinks I would have had a better chance finding a mate there."
"Chisiki Institute? Where is that?"
"It's in Hoshizora, Ms. Shuzen. The prefectural school of Nara."
"You two are from Nara?"
"Yes, Kokoa. I should have mentioned that when I introduced them."
"How did you end up here?"
Momoko sighed dramatically.
"I had a hopeless crush on Katashi Fuki from junior high. He's two years older than me and his father graduated from Yokai Academy. I came here with hopes of having his puppies."
Kurumu giggled as Kokoa blushed.
"That's a little too honest."
"I was such a fool. I pretended that I was coming here for Natsue's benefit. Take her to a school where the guys might not be so reserved about marrying a deaf girl. At least to a place where there aren't any rumors about us sharing a father."
"You talking much. Always bad."
Momoko giggled, making several gestures as she spoke.
"Saying how I'm a dummy for chasing Katashi. He already had a girlfriend by the time we got here."
"So her parents were siblings?"
Momoko shrugged at Kokoa's query.
"It's very possible. Never confirmed but it's hard to dismiss how close Dad is to my aunt."
"Do you go to those big study sessions the kids from Morihochou host?"
Momoko brightened up, nodding at Kurumu. She quickly made signs as she responded.
"Of course we do. I've gotten hit on a few times but no such luck for Natsue."
Natsue sighed, making gestures in return. Momoko smiled.
"I can't just abandon you now. Maybe I'll go live with you. That's probably easier than with my mother."
"What village in Nara did the two of you come from?"
Momoko smirked at Kurumu.
"Ikennotani. It's not far from Hoshizora so we actually went to junior high there. I know that the high school gets even more students, but we probably already knew most of our dating pool. That's why it wasn't that hard to convince my parents to let us attend an out of prefecture school."
"Saw you mention home."
Momoko snickered at her cousin's wary gaze. She made a bunch of signs.
"I did. Told them we will never find husbands there. That high school was better here."
"Yea. Track was fun. Like running."
"It was fun. You could put that you went to nationals on your dating resume."
Natsue laughed loudly, shaking her head at Momoko's gestures.
"No. No. Will miss track."
"Come on, Natsue. At least try."
Natsue sighed at a gesture Momoko had made before.
"No, Momo. No."
Kurumu had not realized but this conversation had taken them all the way to the place where the trail split off. They drifted right, keeping on course for the main school gate.
"We were in Unayama not so long ago. Do you know where that is?"
"Of course. It's also in the Tenkawa district. They were two or three kids from there in our junior high."
Kurumu nodded, realizing she had nowhere else to go with that. It was not like she knew anybody from Unayama. She did know that Ms. Nekonome had an older sister whom married a Fujihara and moved to Hoshizora years ago. But all of their kids were older. Almost Ms. Nekonome's age. There was not much chance that these girls would know anything about that.
"You two are from class twelve, right? You have your yearbook pictures today."
Momoko laughed, making signs to her cousin. Natsue laughed louder, replying with her own gestures.
"Yea. We're getting yearbooks this time. We messed up last year but that should be fine. If you get the ones from your first and last years, you'll have a picture of every person you went to high school with."
Kurumu grinned at that sentiment. She glanced at Kokoa.
"We should get yearbooks."
"I guess. I would like a good memory of my fencing club seniors."
"Get your school paper here! Read all about how I saved the world!"
Kurumu giggled at the distant cry of Ginei's voice. Momoko joined in as Kokoa rolled her eyes.
"What? Why you laughing?"
Momoko smirked, making gestures at Natsue. Her cousin's eyes widened.
"Bad wolf! Bad wolf!"
"What did you tell her?"
Momoko grinned at Kurumu.
"I just signed his name. He often made poor Natsue uncomfortable."
Natsue signed something with enthusiasm. Momoko nodded with a smile.
"Yes. He did that to me too."
"Bad wolf."
Kurumu had no idea what Ginei had done, but it was safe to say that he was guilty of it.
"There she is!"
As she handed her bento over to Yukari, Kurumu looked in the direction Akari was gesturing. Coming out of the exterior door was Nozomi and the trio she had been asked to bring. Goto kept stride with Nozomi, both holding their lunch trays. Kakeru trailed on their heels alongside her boyfriend, Kitamori.
"Over here, Chisa!"
Nerume waved enthusiastically with her left hand while her right continued fishing in her second entrée box that had come with the prepared PSC meal. Sitting on the ground beside her was Satsuki, picking at her own PSC meal while dressed in the PSC jacket and slacks. The pair had grabbed their meals and left Kumiko's company, following the example of the couple near them.
Mizore had her head against Umizake's shoulder and her left arm behind his back. Umizake was garbed in the standard PSC attire as he brought chunks of food up to Mizore's lips. The snow girl would open her mouth, allowing him to feed her.
"You should have let us cut in line."
Akari chuckled as Nozomi settled down on the ground beside her friend. To Akari's left was Nikki while Kiba was on Nikki's other side. As class representatives, Akari and Yukari were the only girls wearing their jackets closed with the red bows tied at their collars. Kiba and Mizore were missing their jackets while the rest of them had left theirs open.
"Nobody would have tolerated that."
"I didn't expect you to be on the ground."
Kurumu giggled at Kitamura's remark as he hunkered down with Kakeru and Goto near Nerume.
"Neither did us."
Yukari huffed indignantly, zipping up her white satchel.
"If I had been told about the lack of furniture, I would have enjoyed lunch with my Moka instead."
"Nobody was keeping you here."
Yukari frowned at Satsuki, dragging the satchel into her lap.
"You also complained about the situation."
Kurumu snickered as Satsuki shrugged. The nekomusume gave no response, preferring to eat instead.
"How much pampering are you giving that girl?"
Umizake chuckled at Nozomi's snaggletooth inquiry. He brought another morsel up to Mizore which the snow girl leaned forward to take into her mouth.
"I have to. She'll eat nothing but pudding and ice cream if I leave her to her own devices."
"You're having a baby. Not becoming one."
Kitamori laughed heartily at Nozomi's remark.
"Ah yes. I've heard the rumors about this girl's sense of humor."
"It's not humor, Airashi. Ms. Shirayuki is pregnant."
Kurumu grinned at Kakeru's use of her boyfriend's first name while Goto snickered.
"I was also fooled for weeks before Ms. Nazohashi confirmed that I wasn't seeing things."
Nerume frowned at Goto.
"You were teasing her over her eating habits finally catching up to her."
"I've seen what this girl eats."
Kurumu smirked, witnessing another morsel get presented to Mizore which she took like a child.
"Can you eat without his help?"
Mizore chewed, resting her head against his shoulder again.
"It tastes better this way."
"I'm so jealous."
Kiba snickered at Nikki's wistful remark. The okami watched the couple with hopeful brown eyes.
"You'll be like that with your man soon enough."
Nikki blushed, grabbing her can of juice. Her lunch tray was as empty as her friends.
"He's not my man."
Nozomi snickered, wagging a pair of disposable chopsticks at Nikki.
"Fumusuna accepted your chocolates and confession. You're a couple now."
Nikki pouted, taking a sip from her can.
"It doesn't feel like anything has changed. He didn't make any weekend plans with me. We might not even go on a date before he graduates."
"We haven't gone on that many dates ourselves, Ms. -"
He hesitated and Kakeru leaned in, breathing into his ear. Kitamori grinned.
"Matsudera. Mr. Fumusuna does eat in the dining hall. You could join him. That's what we normally do since I don't want Chisa sitting with me at the baseball table during lunch."
"You don't want to sit with your girlfriend?"
"I don't want us being harassed."
Kurumu grinned, realizing that Kitamori would have gone to junior high with Fumusuna since the kids from Morihochou attended the junior high in Watasora.
"Maybe you could chat with Fumusuna and arrange a double date for this weekend."
"I could do that if all parties were interested."
"I'm fine with whatever you want."
Kitamori smiled at Kakeru's remark. He reached over to caress the side of her face for a moment.
"I'll talk to Mr. Fumusuna in class. We should hurry and eat since we don't have much time."
Kurumu frowned as the young man turned his attention upon his meal.
"In class? You share a class with him?"
"He's in my homeroom, Ms. Kurono."
Kurumu laughed sheepishly, having no recollection of that. She picked up her yuzu juice can which was already half empty, taking another sip. Thinking it best to let them eat in the little time they had left, she turned her attention on Nikki.
"Do you know what Fumusuna plans to do after he graduates?"
"Not really. I know he didn't take the college entrance exams."
"He'll probably help his father out. Mr. Fumusuna is a handyman for the town."
Kurumu nodded at Akari's answer.
"What about his sister?"
"Now that's the bigger question. If this Mr. Ryouchou from Ashikantai doesn't want her, she might have to put her name in the matchmaking program and live with her parents."
"You could probably get points for talking to Ryouchou about it."
Nikki grimaced at Kiba's smirk.
"No way! If I talked to Mr. Ryouchou, he'd tell my brother about me being with Touma."
"Touma?"
Several girls echoed Kurumu's sentiment. Nikki bowed her head, blushing to the tips of her ears.
"Well. We are a couple."
Kiba snickered, jostling Nikki's shoulder.
"You need to make your parents aware of that. You didn't even mention him when they were here."
"Your parents don't know about him?"
Nikki shot Kurumu a pleading look.
"I didn't want to worry them about a guy that might turn me down. They didn't need to know."
"Well they need to know now."
Akari nodded at Kiba's remark.
"I agree. Ask your parents to come to his graduation."
"I guess I can write to them."
Nozomi slurped down a swath of noodles, making a sound as she wagged her chopsticks.
"And tell your brother about Futagi still longing for his friend. Maybe this Ryouchou will come too."
Nikki grimaced at the words delivered from a full mouth.
"I'm not doing that unless his sister says I can."
Kurumu chuckled, noting that Kitamori's white lunch box on his tray was nearly empty. She gestured at the young man as he stuffed his mouth.
"Did you get chocolates from Kakeru?"
Kitamori took a moment to chew and swallow his food before grinning.
"She gave me a portrait."
Kakeru smiled nervously.
"My drawing is better than my cooking."
"Which isn't saying much. I've seen your artwork."
Kakeru pouted at Goto's playful remark as Kitamori chuckled.
"It's the thought that counts."
Kurumu grinned when the young man paused to caress Kakeru's face again.
"I recall seeing you on campus for the entrance exams. What plans do you have after graduation?"
Kitamori sighed, picking up his box to scrape the remnants into a pile.
"Well my first choice disliked my exam results. I'll be taking the campus test for Niigata University this weekend. Hopefully that goes well."
"What degree are you pursuing?"
"Business, Ms. Sendou. While I could go straight to work for Fairy Tale, I was hoping that a degree would make me more useful."
Kurumu sucked down the last of her drink, holding the empty can against her bosom.
"Are you planning to marry Kakeru after she graduates?"
Kakeru blushed as Kitamori chuckled. He leaned over to toy with the locks about her ear.
"Our parents will be discussing that at my graduation. We might end up officially engaged."
Kakeru smiled, reaching up to catch his hand in hers. She guided his hand down, keeping hold of it.
"Are you dropping out of high school?"
Kakeru's pink eyes widened as she let go of his hand for a moment. He laughed, snatching her hand back up and scooting in close to her.
"No, Ms. Sendou. I think my chances of going to college are good which means I'll be living either on campus or in an apartment in the city. I'd rather not have Chisa spending most of her time alone in that environment. We can marry after her graduation."
Goto huffed, pushing aside her lunch tray with depleted boxes. She popped the tab of her can of tea.
"She better stick around. My little sister would never forgive her if she didn't."
Kurumu looked at Goto in shock.
"You have a little sister?"
"Of course I have a little sister. Poni has already convinced Toga and Sachiko to come to Yokai Academy so this brat better not drop out."
"I'm not dropping out."
"Why is the first I'm hearing about your little sister?"
Goto frowned at Kurumu as the bell sounded, warning them of the imminent end of the lunch hour.
"Have I not mentioned her before?"
"I've known about Poni."
Satsuki snickered, swatting Nerume in the back of the head.
"Of course you would know. You used to hang out with these two all of the time."
"To be fair, Ms. Unari, I don't recall if Ms. Goto ever mentioned having a little sister."
Goto's frown deepened as she regarded Kitamori.
"I didn't mention that brat when I told you about my family?"
"I asked if they were coming to the festival. You mentioned an older brother but not a little sister."
Goto laughed, pushing herself up onto her feet which prompted Kitamori to stand.
"Must have reflexively omitted her from the discussion. She is boy crazy."
Kitamori frowned as Kakeru gathered up their trays.
"Boy crazy? How so?"
"Could you get our trays too?"
Kakeru nodded, adding Satsuki's and Nerume's trays to her pile as Satsuki helped Nerume up.
"That girl has already had two boyfriends and she's only fifteen."
Kurumu frowned, deciding she should stand up since Yukari had already done so.
"I've had three boyfriends and I'm only sixteen."
Goto smirked as Kakeru finally got up, holding the stack of trays against her slight bosom.
"Most girls aren't like you, Kurono. And this is two guys from a junior high with less than twenty students per grade. One of her boyfriends was a year older than me."
"As interesting as this is, we should be heading for class."
Nozomi snorted at Akari, popping the top of her can as the other three got to their feet.
"At least let me finish my drink."
"You can do that on the way to class. Come on."
Nozomi sighed, grabbing her tray and standing up. She followed the others heading for the door.
"Pick up your feet, runt."
Kurumu snickered as Satsuki steered Nerume away from the group. The short kirin leaned heavily against Satsuki, causing the girl to stagger. Kitamori and Kakeru slowly trailed after the pair.
"Are you two going to keep flaunting your love for each other?"
Umizake chuckled at Goto's remark, setting aside the chopsticks. He pulled away from Mizore, causing the girl to pout.
"We should go. You don't want to be late for your chemistry lab."
"I'm too pregnant for chemistry."
Kurumu snorted, crossing her arms below her bosom.
"And I'm too dumb for English. That isn't an excuse for me to skip it."
"Says the girl whom learned Cantonese in a few hours."
Kurumu stuck her tongue out at Yukari as the witch stalked off. Kitamori had passed by the others and was holding the door open for the struggling Satsuki.
"He'll make me stand the whole hour. It isn't good for the baby."
Umizake chuckled, gathering up their things.
"I would carry you to class but the teachers would scold me."
"Yea. On your feet, princess."
Mizore sighed at Kurumu's grin, slowly complying with her demand.
"When are you going to use your powers to learn English for us?"
Kurumu smirked, clutching the empty can to her bosom as she started walking away. As tempting as it was, suddenly becoming fluent would only draw suspicion from Mr. Nagamushi.
"If I thought I could get away with it, I already would have done it."
Kurumu shivered from the brisk breeze that fluttered her hair as she walked quickly to the commissary in the night. Her nipples hardened beneath her corduroy, powder blue tank top despite having her black hamper shielding her chest. The rest of her attire were sandals and a pair of navy cotton shorts.
Moka accompanied her, wearing a pink tee with a large, white cat head graphic on the front. Baggy gray shorts almost reached her knees. The silver haired vampire was carrying two letters, having no need to do laundry in the middle of the week. Her other fist was enclosed about coins and her keys.
"Could you get the door?"
Moka nodded, holding up her lunch card to trigger the sensor. The commissary doors slid apart, allowing Kurumu to enter without breaking stride.
"Good evening."
Kurumu nodded at Mrs. Kurokira whom stood behind the counter next to the entrance. The dark haired woman had slender, dark eyes and a long nose. A gray sweater stretched with the curve of her modest bosom, almost reaching the top hem of her black slacks.
"I have mail for you."
Mrs. Kurokira's thin lips drew back in a smile as Moka presented the letters. One had been written by Kurumu last night while the other Kokoa had finished minutes ago. The woman took the letters with a slight bow of her head.
"I'll make sure these go out."
Moka murmured her thanks as Kurumu shuffled away from the counter which had a register on the corner. The wall with the mailboxes for the suites of this clearing came up flush with this counter. Since mail only came on Fridays, Kurumu knew that hers was empty.
Kurumu navigated through the aisles of goods, reaching the door to the laundry room. Moka quickly stepped ahead of her, opening the door for her. Kurumu grinned, shuffling through the opening. She passed by the vending machine of laundry goods, making her way to the folding table.
"Thanks again for coming with. This would be boring to do by myself."
"It's not like I had anything better to do."
Kurumu giggled, setting her hamper in front of the nearest washing machine.
"Yea. Kokoa will be too busy reading that latest volume of Full Metal Alchemist."
"It's not like she's been that sociable since the change."
Kurumu thrust her palm out, prompting Moka to surrender the coins. With funds in hand, Kurumu pranced over to the vending machine to get her detergent.
"Kokoa can be sociable. She talked with Nijiro and Kana today without someone holding her hand."
Moka chuckled as Kurumu pushed the button for her selection, causing a little box to fall into the bin. Bending over, Kurumu snatched the detergent out of the bin and pranced back to the washing machine.
"I wouldn't call either of those interactions being sociable."
Kurumu shrugged, lifting up the lid. Setting the coins on the lip of the machine, she tore the package open and dumped some of the powder into the center spindle.
"Maybe not, but it's an improvement."
Satisfied with the amount in this machine, she sashayed over to the next one. She lifted up the lid and dumped a bunch of flakes into the spindle. Kurumu grinned, setting the box of detergent aside.
"I'm surprised that Kana hasn't told Yukari about having new volumes of Nana and Nodame Cantabile. It's been weeks and she's been around Yukari several times for club and lunch."
"Kana is always in her own little world. We were fighting for our lives and she was more worried about missing the winter comic book convention."
Kurumu smirked, adding her lingerie, school blouses and the fancy blouse from this weekend to the first machine. She closed the lid.
"A lot of our classmates aren't aware of what we went through. And that paper you released today isn't going to change that."
Moka laughed softly as Kurumu hefted her hamper up. Kurumu dumped the rest of her laundry into the second machine.
"Ginei's story does read more like fiction than fact."
Kurumu snorted, setting aside the hamper and closing the lid.
"Because it is fiction. Didn't any of you read it before he printed it?"
"Tora had a look at it."
Kurumu grabbed the coins and started putting them into the machine slots.
"Tora wasn't there for most of it."
"It's fine. I don't care that he took most of the credit."
Kurumu huffed, slamming the slot in which dumped the coins into the machine. She selected the setting on the console for delicate wash before hitting the start button.
"It's a mockery of what happened. I bet his first draft had him showing up and his presence alone made our female adversaries drop their panties."
Moka giggled as Kurumu started placing coins in the slots of the second machine.
"He would have never got that through Ms. Sawayaka."
Kurumu sighed, shoving the other slot in. The console was already set for a normal wash so she just had to push the start button.
"I still think one of you should have written that article."
Grabbing up her empty hamper, Kurumu sauntered over to the folding table. She set her hamper aside, hopping up on the table and turning about. She smiled at Moka as the vampire drifted over.
"Do you think Tsukune still wants me?"
Kurumu frowned as Moka sat beside her.
"Did he say something today?"
"No. Nothing in particular."
Kurumu nodded, patting her fingers against the edge of the table between her thighs.
"But he took your chocolates yesterday."
"Well yea. But he hasn't talked to me since then. Not at yesterday's club meeting or when we were handing out papers this morning."
Kurumu sighed heavily, gripping the edge of the table.
"Are you trying to talk to him or are you standing around, hoping that he will talk to you?"
Moka laughed softly, fidgeting with her lunch card and keys.
"Probably the second one."
"Have you even told him about being exiled yet?"
Moka flinched, glancing aside.
"No. I don't even know if we are friends right now. It's like he's just going through the motions."
Kurumu groaned, doubting a guy would accept chocolates from a girl he had no interest in. There was a limit to how polite a person could be.
"I would like to help but I don't know if Nijiro would be okay with it."
"Why? Did something happen?"
"Nijiro doesn't want to be around Tsukune. That's why he didn't go to Tora's party."
Moka nodded thoughtfully with the sound of the washer machines in the background.
"Was your dinner with him okay?"
Kurumu sighed, recalling the stiffness of that shared meal in the Kurai dining hall. There had been no tender caresses. Not even a farewell kiss. Just a polite embrace when they had met.
"It was okay but not really a replacement for what he had planned for yesterday."
"What did the two of you have planned?"
"I wanted to have sex with him."
Moka giggled with a blush.
"Right. I should have known that."
Kurumu sighed heavily, grabbing the edge of the table and leaning back.
"I also told him about Iko selling a coming with my likeness to the porn shop in town."
"How did that turn out?"
Kurumu shrugged, recalling the look on his face. Shock. Disappointment.
"I don't really know. I told him at the end of our meal since I didn't want that setting the mood. Not that the mood was great to begin with."
"Did he say anything?"
"He just told me that we could talk about it later. He knew that I had laundry to do tonight."
"That's worrisome."
Kurumu sighed again, sitting back upright. She patted the table between her thighs.
"Yea. At least he didn't break up with me."
"I wish that I could help you. Vampires will fight to prove who is right, but that doesn't mean the two combatants will stay together. That's why I have no idea what I can do about Tsukune."
Kurumu smirked, doubting Tsukune would appreciate being beaten into submission.
"You wouldn't win a fight against him anyways."
"I'm stronger than I was before."
"Kokoa disagrees. She says you have no chance."
Moka grit her teeth, clenching her fists.
"Then why doesn't he challenge for my hand already."
Kurumu smiled, reaching over to pat Moka's thigh which was covered by those long, baggy shorts.
"Leave it be. You both have two more years of high school."
"That sounds more like something Tora would say."
Kurumu laughed, supposing that was true as she withdrew her hand.
"Tora is worried about you. She thinks you should still be going with her to church."
"Yea. She mentioned that. But I don't feel like I belong there. Not without Hatsue."
Kurumu mulled over the sentiment. It was not like she felt like she belonged in a church. She had been told about Lilith whom was supposedly her first ancestor. Why would she go to the church of a God that had forsaken her race?
"Start out small with Tsukune. Like a double date with Mizore and Umizake. Then I can have a date with just Nijiro. Fix things up between us. Things will be fine if we actually have the sex I promised him."
"That probably isn't the issue."
Kurumu snapped her fingers.
"Better yet. Don't ask him. Tell him that he's taking you on a date. That would work."
Moka managed a smile.
"I'll ask if he wants to hang out with us. I don't have nearly as much time with Mizore as I'd like."
"Good luck having a chat with her while Umizake is around. She's completely smitten with him."
"Yea. That's good. If things do go poorly, at least I can hang out with Mizore."
Kurumu sighed at the pessimism.
"It's not like it would be difficult for you to spend more time with Mizore. Just have lunch with her."
"Isn't she and Mr. Umizake eating with the PSC?"
"Only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Which I'm assuming you'll be eating with Kokoa on those days. You really need to think about eating with other groups like Yukari and I do."
Moka smiled softly with a shake of her head.
"I can't do what you do, Kurumu. That's like always being a guest. I want a place where I belong. A group that I can always turn to."
Kurumu pouted, feeling like she was being judged here. Shoving that sense of persecution aside, she focused on Moka's goal.
"I hope that you aren't thinking your group should be Kokoa's friends."
Moka smirked though the look in her crimson eyes was melancholy.
"There was a time that I thought that group was us. You, me, Yukari and Tsukune. I guess that's over."
Kurumu wanted to deny that. But Moka was right. It might be a long time before Nijiro would be okay with being around Tsukune.
"There is Iwa's group. Yukari is reluctant to eat with them since they are in the cafeteria but-"
"I had lunch with Ms. Hayate and Ms. Aori today."
Kurumu paused at the mention of Moka's classmates. Aori was from track while Hayate was from band.
"That's… different. I thought Aori has lunch with her two friends from track, Izumi and Kirizumi."
"She says they are more like acquaintances. And those two have fourth period gym. Aori doesn't want them to keep holding a spot for her in the line when she can eat with Hayate. She's known Hayate for years. They are always chatting between classes."
Kurumu's eyes lit up with understanding.
"That's right! Those two are both from Koutoukumo."
"Yea. So are Ms. Reiki and Ms. Odayaka. We had lunch in their homeroom. I thought that Kana would be with them but it seems that she's permanently having lunch with Ms. Morisato's group."
The two Moka had mentioned were also from band and in class ten. Kana used to have lunch with her friends in that room since it was Itazura's homeroom.
"Well I hope that works out for you."
Moka smiled, reaching over to pat Kurumu on her exposed thigh.
"I hope that Kabuki responds to your letter."
Kurumu snickered, feeling her body tingle from Moka's innocent touch.
"Do you think that goofball will end all of her sentences with huh?"
Moka giggled, withdrawing her hand.
"That would be a weird letter. What all did you write to her about?"
"Nothing much. Told her about how nice our new classrooms were. Making chocolates for Valentine's Day. Tora's birthday party. My double date with Nijiro on Saturday."
"Which hopefully was appropriate to share with a nine year old."
"Nothing inappropriate has happened since she left."
Moka smiled softly, taking in a deep breath.
"I guess she hasn't been gone that long."
Kurumu bumped her shoulder against Moka's.
"I'm more interested in the response you get from your father. I don't know if I'll be able to stay with Nijiro over spring break so your plans might end up being mine."
"Yea. I am curious about this car Mother bought for me."
"It's a pretty car. Flashy red."
Moka grinned as a long moment of silence passed. She sighed, staring off.
"I should have trusted her more."
Kurumu smiled, reaching over to pat Moka's thigh.
"It's not like she made it easy on you. She kept that tough love act all the way up to the end. She was even scolding Kokoa in her last moments."
"I don't know if I ever told her that I loved her."
Kurumu paused, thinking about her own mother. Their last meeting had been pleasant. She had told her mother her honest feelings.
"She gave you a car, Moka. I think she knew."
Moka placed her hand on top of Kurumu's upon her thigh.
"Could you show me?"
Kurumu winced, remembering that moment in the back of Lord Ruben's yard. Yukari passed out from casting a long range teleport to safety. Kokoa bawling and denying the inevitable.
"Are you sure you want to see your mother die?"
Moka laughed, squeezing her hand.
"Not that, dummy. I was asking about the car."
