Somehow, Kiriko's pro-bending team limped along to the end of the season. Last year, they'd been tied for first. Now they were ranked fifteenth. Barely eligible for the tournament.

After a narrow quarterfinals victory that she pulled off almost entirely by herself when the others got knocked out in the third round, she stayed in the locker room alone for a little while. Just…sitting. In the dark. Avoiding people.

Unfortunately, people found her.

The door crashed open violently and she knew without even looking that it was Nik.

…and Valen.

"Why are you in here sulking?" Nik asked. "You kicked ass out there! You should be celebrating."

Valen gave her a friendly wave but didn't say anything.

"Don't feel like it," she muttered, glad that the room was dim enough to hide her blush. Light spilled in from the hallway but didn't quite reach all the shadows. "Where's Raniq?"

"Shein wanted to talk to her. So I'm babysitting this hotshot"—He playfully mussed Valen's hair—"for a few minutes to help keep the peace."

"Shut up," Valen said with a smirk, shoving Nik away. "I don't want to be within fifty feet of that guy, so it's not like I didn't come willingly."

Kiriko could barely breathe. He was right there in the room with her. He was so good-looking. She bet he smelled good, too. But it was Nik who sauntered over with his hands in his pockets.

"So why are you still here, huh? You haven't even taken off your gear yet."

"I was getting there. See? Managed to get my helmet off already." And Spirits, do I wish I hadn't before Valen came in here.

A sly smile appeared on Nik's face and he leaned against the lockers. "Well, if you need help with the rest…"

Guess I walked right into that one, didn't I? "Go away."

"We've known each other since we were kids. I'm not bothered at all by you changing in front of me. Well, maybe a little bothered, but I can't complain–"

"Nik," Valen said sharply. "Knock it off."

Judging by his expression, Nik was a little taken aback. But whatever surprise he had was short-lived and he put his hands up as if in defeat, then walked out. Valen hesitated for a few long seconds. They were probably the most awkward seconds of Kiriko's entire life. Her heart pounded in her chest. She and Valen were in a room alone together. Her confidence was in shambles from how badly pro-bending was going this year; she couldn't find it in her to say a word to him.

"I'm sorry he's such a jerk to you," Valen said finally. Sincerely. "I should… probably make sure he doesn't say something else rude and get himself killed. See ya round, I guess…"

And then he was gone and she was left sitting on the bench alone. Again. But warm all over.

Valen had never expressed even a tiny amount of interest in her. He didn't look at her the way most guys did. She'd never caught him staring at her chest. He was just…there, in the background of her life—a once-irritating boy who had grown into a truly decent man.

The ache of wanting something she couldn't have battled with the glow of having shared that tense but sincere moment with him. It usually annoyed her when people spoke for her, tried to fight her battles for her.

But she could only melt when he did it.

Pro-bending Championship Upset! Makapu Mongoose Wasps Win the Title, But Not Our Hearts

Last year's golden rookies, the Republic City Polar Bear Dogs, couldn't quite find their rhythm this season following the departure of waterbender Anisa Sato and earthbender Cho Xian, who were replaced by Lotak Uunal and newcomer Shein Beifong, respectively. Ranked fifteenth by tournament week, they managed to squeak by at quarterfinals, thanks to fan-favorite powerhouse Kiriko Sato.

Now the pro-bending community is in an uproar following an incident at semifinals that remains under investigation. While the Riala Island Rhinorilla's earthbender Tuko Mong maintains that it was accidental, many believe the headshot that left Sato with a severe concussion was a desperate bid to eliminate their greatest threat from the competition—or possibly even revenge for last year's bitter defeat.

Fans were treated to a rare display when Avatar Korra leapt from the stands to the arena stage upon seeing her daughter get knocked unconscious. According to on-site medical personnel, the swift medical attention likely prevented permanent brain damage, and Sato—who is still in the hospital—is expected to make a full recovery.

Pro-bending officials, likely unwilling to make a decision that could conflict with the police investigation, disqualified the Rhinorillas from the tournament. It meant a default semifinals win for the Polar Bear Dogs, though Sato was unfortunately unable to participate in the finals match. Last-minute replacement Yuki Tom performed admirably, but the Makapu Mongoose Wasps took the win with a Round Two knockout.

Many fans remain unsatisfied with the outcome and feel that things should've been handled differently. The Sato family has so far declined to comment on the matter.

As she had for the last couple of weeks, Kiriko woke to the strong smell of flowers in her nose. It was an assault on her senses—too many different clashing floral scents—but she didn't care. Nothing felt better than opening her eyes each morning to see her bedroom filled with the colorful testament to how much her fans loved her.

The flowers had poured in, day after day, following the incident. Most had notes wishing her a speedy recovery and assurances that she would always be the best in their eyes. It helped soothe the sting of losing out on the championship title.

There was one in particular that her eyes were drawn to again and again—a delicate arrangement of varied golds and purples. The note that had come with it had obviously been written by Raniq, but it was the second signature at the bottom that she couldn't stop staring at.

Valen

He'd clearly signed it himself rather than just letting Raniq do it, and it made Kiriko warm all over to imagine him thinking about her. Writing his name on a card that would eventually reach her eyes.

She just lay there for a while, wide awake but unwilling to get up. Her head didn't hurt anymore, thanks to a lot of rest and healing sessions, but standing up too quickly still occasionally made her a little dizzy. More than that, though, she just felt lazy.

School was over. Pro-bending was over. Rehearsals were over. It was the beginning of a new year and her schedule was wide open for the next eight months.

She rolled over and saw the silver figurine that now sat on her bedside table—an unexpected gift from her fellow dancers. It depicted a woman firebending in a cleverly-designed combination of the dance costume and pro-bending gear.

Such a kind gesture. But what did it mean? That they cared about her? They were glad she was okay? She couldn't help but wonder. Everyone had been so nice to her after the injury. Talking softly. Walking on eggshells. It was like they thought she might snap or fall apart at any moment, and it was starting to get old.

Kiriko herself felt like maybe it was karma for putting that guy from the club in the hospital. They'd settled out of court, both parties wanting to avoid media attention as much as possible. Even throughout the deposition, she just wanted it to be over and put it behind her. No matter how many people told her that she'd done nothing wrong and had acted in self-defense, the realization that her lack of restraint nearly killed someone was a bitter pill to swallow.

When sparring or doing pro-bending, her control was flawless. She knew how to win without hurting people. But as soon as perceived danger had entered the equation, all of that flew out the window. And it made her see just how sheltered and privileged her life was. Most adults she knew had fought for their lives on many occasions; she'd benefited from their sacrifices.

She sighed and tried to redirect her thoughts. It was better to think about the Tura Tura performance, which had been a delirious dream. Despite confident assurances that she was perfectly fine and fully healed, all the twists, turns, leaps, and rolls had sent her into a dizzy spiral. The swirling colors around her had transformed into strange creatures; the music turned to raindrops that streamed down her face like tears.

Muscle memory got her through it and no one was the wiser. Even rushing to the bathroom afterward to spew her guts up hadn't dampened her mood. Once everything stopped spinning, she rejoined the party and reveled in the effusive praise that followed her like a spotlight. People said she'd been glowing. Rapturous. They couldn't take their eyes off her. They would never forget the sight.

"Kiriko?" Asami said through the door after a soft knock, interrupting her thoughts. "Still alive in there? It's noon."

"I'm fine."

"Mmkay. Do you want some lunch?"

"Yeah. I'll be down in a few minutes."

As nice as it would be to lie in bed all day, she had a therapy appointment that afternoon. Besides that, she really had to pee. And she was starving.

Asami was the only one around when she made it downstairs, and they enjoyed some instant noodles together in front of the television. Their chef was on holiday at the moment, so they'd eaten a lot of noodles in the last few days.

"Looking forward to Raniq's party tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Kiriko lied, though with little effort.

Asami leaned back to look at her with a curious expression. "That was not convincing. What's up?"

"Nothing…"

"I feel like things have been weird between you two lately," she pressed.

"It's nothing. It's stupid," Kiriko mumbled. "I'm fine. Really."

After a brief pause, Asami sighed. "Alright. If you don't want to tell me, fine. But just remember that I've probably experienced some version of whatever you're going through and I might be able to help, or at least commiserate. I know it's Teenager Law not to talk about your feelings with your mom, but I hope you'll at least consider opening up at your appointment today."

Kiriko did consider it. When the time came and The Question was asked, she finally surrendered and purged herself of the heavy secret that no one else knew.

"So is there anything going on in your personal life that you want to talk about?" Dr. Selusa was a handsome woman in her fifties. She kind of reminded Kiriko a little bit of Raniq's mom, which was…a little weird, given the circumstances.

"Well…" She took a deep breath and dove in. "I have to go to a party tomorrow. My friend's hosting it and I haven't seen her much lately."

Raniq had visited her in the hospital, teary-eyed and worried. Kiriko was drugged up and they hadn't talked much. Once home, she told everyone she wasn't feeling up to having guests yet, so the two of them had only communicated through letters.

"I'm getting the impression you don't want to go. Is there some conflict between you two?"

"Not exactly… Um. She's dating this guy…"

"You don't like him?"

"No. I do. That's…kind of the problem."

"Ah. I see." Dr. Selusa gave her a sympathetic smile. "Do either of them know?"

"I sure hope not."

"She probably knows you've been avoiding her, though."

Kiriko nodded; she knew it was true. Raniq was a sensitive, empathic person. She had a habit of assuming that, anytime anyone was upset, it was because of something she'd done.

"Are you angry with her?" Dr. Selusa asked.

"No." Am I? "I don't know. It's complicated. I don't know how to pretend like everything's okay."

"Have you considered not trying to pretend?"

It was the solution she figured someone like a therapist would suggest. 'Be honest.' 'Communicate your feelings like an adult.' She stared at her hands in her lap, unwilling to take that leap.

"Let's try a thought experiment," Dr. Selusa suggested. "Reverse the situation: She's upset with you, and you know it, but you don't know why and she won't tell you. Do you think you'd be searching for some kind of reassurance?"

"I guess. But if she told me that things would be weird until I broke up with my boyfriend so she could have a crack at him, I don't think that would reassure me much."

"What would?"

What would? She sat there for a minute or so, trying to figure it out. Fortunately, Dr. Selusa was a patient woman and never pressured her to answer right away.

When the answer finally came, all Kiriko could do was let out a sheepish chuckle at how she'd been 'tricked' into the realization. "I would want her to stop being childish and get over herself."

That progress was enough to get her to Zaofu in good spirits, but apparently not enough to make interacting with Valen any easier. The second he said hi and smiled at her, that familiar heat began to creep up her neck and cheeks.

"Are you okay?" Raniq asked, putting a hand on her forehead. "You're a little flushed."

"Uh, yeah, it's been happening a lot since the injury," she lied, deciding to simply pretend Valen wasn't there. "Feels like my internal thermometer's on the fritz or something." Is that even a thing? Do I sound completely idiotic?

"Hm, that's…a little concerning. Do you feel alright otherwise?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Well, if you need to lie down and rest at any point, feel free to use my room."

It wasn't just a celebration for Raniq completing her apprenticeship and becoming a certified midwife—it was also a housewarming party. She'd recently moved into a modest townhouse that was just big enough to accommodate the small gathering of close family and friends.

There were only about a dozen people there, including Raniq's normally very busy parents. Thanks to a recent argument between her and Nik, he'd been uninvited. Kiriko didn't know the details but was eternally grateful.

The party itself proved to be low-key, but Valen's presence made her so anxious that she ended up taking advantage of Raniq's offer. When the pressure became too much, she slipped away from the others and curled up on the bed. The pillow had her friend's familiar, comforting scent. It made all the long weeks of their separation feel like so much longer.

After only ten minutes or so of solitude, a soft knock preceded Raniq poking her head in.

"Hey. You need anything? Glass of water?"

"I'm good. Thanks."

Apparently, Raniq wasn't willing to take her word for it because she came in and shut the door before sitting at the foot of the bed with her knees pulled up to her chest. Kiriko sat up to see a vulnerable look on her face.

"Is everything okay?" Raniq asked in an uneven voice. "Between us, I mean. I–" Her voice caught. Tears glistened in her eyes. "I feel like you're mad at me for something."

"Why would you think that?"

"You're not?"

"No." It wasn't a lie, thanks to being therapized the day before. The word came out confidently and without hesitation.

Raniq's entire body relaxed visibly. "Okay. That's a relief. But…" There, she hesitated with a faint frown. "I like to think I know you pretty well, and you haven't been right for months. We used to be able to talk about anything. I have so much I want to talk to you about, but it seems like you've been so distant."

Before Kiriko could think of anything to say—some excuse that would justify her behavior—Raniq continued in a hurried voice.

"I mean– I'm not trying to guilt-trip you. I know your life has been so crazy lately. Your last semester of school, Anisa quitting the team, all that drama with Shein, pro-bending not going as well this year, and of course the injury. You've obviously been stressed out and super busy, so I don't want you to think that I'm being critical. I just… I just miss you."

"I miss you, too," Kiriko murmured, quite honestly. How had she ever let Valen get between them? It all seemed so stupid now. Maybe it was hard being around him, but there was absolutely no reason to act weird with her best friend when it was just the two of them.

Raniq's face lit up with a big smile. "I'm so glad that you're done with everything now. You can just relax, and hopefully even come visit more. I've been meaning to ask—do you have any plans? You mentioned before about starting a business…? Something to do with firebending."

"Yeah. I think I'll open a gym or something, but not yet. Honestly, I'm exhausted. I think I'm going to take spring and summer off and just focus on solo training. Keep my skills sharp and stay in shape."

"It's a good chance to start thinking about how you might want to set up the business. And I guess you're probably going to do it in Republic City?" She let out a small laugh. "No chance you'll move to Zaofu?"

"I don't think there'd be enough firebenders here to keep me busy," Kiriko said regretfully. The idea of living in Zaofu wasn't entirely unpalatable. In the event that Valen became available, she'd want the opportunity to take her shot. But it just wasn't feasible to move.

"True. Will you stay at home? Or get your own place?"

Kiriko smirked and shook her head. "Spirits, Raniq. Asking me all these serious questions and making me think about hard decisions. What do you take me for? A grownup?"

They both laughed and Kiriko felt better than she had in a while, like a weight was lifted from her shoulders.

"Like it or not, you are a grownup," Raniq said. "Even if you don't feel like one yet. I know I didn't when I moved here, fresh-faced and naive. But it was good. Scary, but good. And now I can't imagine any other life. I love Zaofu."

Morbid curiosity birthed a question that Kiriko didn't want to ask but needed to know the answer to. "So…are you and Valen serious? Do you think it'll last?"

Raniq's placid smile transformed into a much more complex expression. Uncertainty and regret, but also a certain wistful fondness. "Honestly? I don't think so. I mean, he's great. I really like him a lot. And we get along so well. But…"

Tentative hope began to rise. "But what?"

"I dunno. He's my first real boyfriend. And…other firsts," she added with a sly smirk. "Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I just feel like there's something missing . Does that make sense? I know you've liked at least one person. How did it make you feel?"

Kiriko closed her eyes and indulged herself with thoughts of Valen. "Like someone who's lost the ability to function. Clumsy and vulnerable when I'm usually confident. A little nauseated, but also warm." Her eyes opened to see a soft, dreamy look on Raniq's face.

"That's what I want. It's never been like that with Valen."

"But…those feelings are just a crush, right? I'm sure it's normal for it to calm down. Be more comfortable and low-key." They were her honest thoughts and feelings, but as soon as she said them, she realized they might encourage Raniq to stay with Valen. "But I guess when you're in love with someone, there should still be a spark."

"Agreed."

They both went quiet and Kiriko lay back down to stare up at the ceiling. A smile grew on her face and she couldn't get rid of it. Valen. He might be available soon. Raniq wasn't one to pursue a dead end; she wanted true love and a family of her own, and nothing would stop her from chasing that with fierce determination.

"While we're talking about guys…" she said suddenly, a mischievous catch in her voice.

Kiriko groaned. "Oh no. Please no."

"C'mon, pleeeassee? I can't talk to anyone else about this stuff. I've been dying to tell you."

"...Fiiiine. Just don't be too graphic, I'm begging you."

The mattress shifted under her as Raniq moved closer, propped up on her elbows with a conspiratorial smile. "I would die of embarrassment to give you a play-by-play, so you don't have to worry about that. But…ah, Spirits. I was so nervous. And he was so gentle and understanding. Clearly, Kyori taught him well. Of course, I definitely already knew what I liked, heh. And I was able to communicate those things because he made me feel so safe. He really is such a sweet guy and I'm sure you'd agree if you got to know him and oh my Spirits, your face is so red!" she finished with a cackle.

It was true. Kiriko tried to hide behind her hands, which only made Raniq laugh harder. Hearing those things about Valen was more than she could handle. It was beyond her. None of her fantasies involving him ever came close to anything like that. It was all supremely embarrassing and, frankly, a little gross.

But he would want to do that stuff if we ever started dating. He'd probably think I was weird and childish for feeling this way about it.

"You're just embarrassed, right?" Raniq continued. "Not your head feeling bad again?"

"I'm fine. But please tell me you're done."

"Alright, alright. I won't torture you anymore. We should probably get back out there, anyway."

Kiriko finally brought her hands down. "You go. I'm gonna lay here for a few minutes and try to purge my mind of the horrors."

"Hehe. You're so funny. I'm so glad you came." She sat up and gave Kiriko's leg a friendly pat. "Well, I'll let you recover from this trying conversation. I'll be in the living room."

It happened sooner than expected. Two weeks after the party, Kiriko got a letter from Raniq.

Dear Kiriko,

Remember our conversation at my party? Well, saying all those things aloud affected me more than I ever expected. And I realized this thing with Valen was going nowhere.

So…we broke up. It wasn't dramatic or anything. We just talked, and it turns out that he feels the same. Which…is both a relief and a little bit depressing. I'm okay, though. Just a little lonely.

Let me know if you plan to visit anytime soon. I know you were just here a couple weeks ago but I think I could benefit from having some fun. If only I could hop on the train and come to Republic City... I might even be willing to go out clubbing with you and Anisa. Sadly, I'm drowning in work. There must've been something in the air nine months ago because I swear there are twice as many babies being born than usual.

But of course, if you want to visit, I know I can carve out a bit of time for us to hang out. If nothing else, we can stay up late eating junk food and gossiping.

Hope to see you soon!

Love, Raniq

Kiriko read the letter all the way through three times, and then went back and read the second paragraph about ten more times.

Valen is single.

Valen is single.

It took all of her self-control not to call a cab and get on the next train to Zaofu.

They just broke up. He'll probably want at least a few days to decompress. Don't embarrass yourself by being too eager.

Full of nervous excitement, she ran outside instead and spent the next four hours using up every ounce of energy in her body. All she saw when she closed her eyes was his face. As her body flowed through the forms, his image moved with her like a shadow.

A night full of dreams where they almost kissed, over and over again, was rudely interrupted by Anisa banging on her door.

"Are you ever going to get up? Spirits, you've gotten so lazy! Mom says we have chores to do and if we want to continue living here, we need to contribute."

"You'd think we didn't have a housekeeper," Kiriko grumbled under her breath, though she knew it was pointless. They'd always been expected to do chores every now and then, and no amount of reasoning ever got them out of it.

The worst part was that laundry and gardening and tidying her bedroom weren't cerebral enough to be a distraction from…other things. All she could think about was Valen and what she might say to him. The longer those thoughts spun around her head, the more nervous she got.

Should she just come right out and say, 'I like you'?

Should she ask him out on a date?

Should she play it safe? Suggest that they hang out more and get to know each other as friends first?

When the chores were done, she wandered out to her mom's workshop. She was determined to wait at least a week before going to Zaofu and therefore needed something to occupy her mind.

"What are you working on? Can I help you?"

"Sure you can," Asami said with an excited smile. "I'm redesigning the engine block for the latest prop plane model." She beckoned Kiriko to come over and see the blueprint laid out on the workbench. "See—this is the old one. And this one here is my design for the new one. Today I'm going to take apart the old one and start tinkering. It'll be nice to have a helper."

Over the next three days, Kiriko grew more and more guilty when she realized how pleased her mom was that she was showing some interest in engineering and mechanics. She and Anisa had always helped out in the workshop occasionally, but usually only when it was part of their scheduled activities. With childhood gone, so was that routine.

Finally, when Asami asked her if she was considering pursuing this line of work, Kiriko had to come clean.

"Er…not exactly."

"Why the sudden interest, then?"

Her traitorous face went hot once again. Asami obviously noticed because she arched an eyebrow.

"Why are you blushing?"

Kiriko sighed in frustration and threw her hands in the air. "I like someone, okay? I like someone and I finally have a chance to tell him how I feel and I'm freaking out! I'm going to go crazy if I have to keep thinking about it."

It was painfully obvious that Asami was trying to keep her face straight. "So you're trying to distract yourself?"

"Yeah."

"Why not just tell him? The longer you put it off, the more nervous you'll be."

She was pacing back and forth now, worked up. "He just broke up with someone else and I don't want to seem desperate."

"Hey. Calm down. Take a breath." Asami came over and took both of her hands. "Listen. Don't worry about waiting, okay? If it's right, none of that matters. Confidence is attractive. If he doesn't admire boldness, then he's not good enough for you."

Kiriko went straight to her moms' room the next morning. They were both inside, getting ready for the day.

"What's up?" Korra asked.

"Uh…will you braid my hair?"

The knowing smile she got spoke volumes.

"Sure. Sit down."

"I guess you told her," Kiriko said to Asami with an edge of petulance.

"Oh, don't be like that. We tell each other everything, especially if it concerns you and Anisa. That's the only way to have a healthy marriage."

Kiriko sighed but figured it didn't really matter. The feeling of her hair being brushed was enough to relax her. Eyelids that were still a little heavy from sleep drifted closed and she let herself enjoy the gentle tugging on her scalp.

The styling itself was somewhat less gentle, but she didn't care at all. A tight braid was what she wanted—not the messy, half-assed style she'd been doing for years, but the much neater one that Korra had a special knack for.

"All done," she finally said with a light pat on top of Kiriko's head. "You look so beautiful."

"Do you want some makeup?" Asami asked.

"No." Kiriko looked back at her reflection, pleased with her natural self. "I don't want to look that different than how I normally look."

They gave her a very cheesy, sentimental send-off, both beaming like the proudest mamas in the world.

Spirits, you'd think I was getting married or something , Kiriko mused as she left, rolling her eyes with a fond smile.

And yet, during the brief cab ride and the not-so-brief train ride, she wished they had come with her. Sitting there alone, it was too easy to get worked up again. To get nervous.

There was plenty of excitement, too. It was finally happening. This was a major turning point in her life and she was so, so ready for it. She was a champion pro-bender, a firebending master, a lightningbender, and a damn good dancer, too. Valen would only be so lucky to have someone like her.

The train pulled into the station promptly at noon. Her hands shook slightly as she stepped onto the stone platform and she looked around at this shining city that had always felt like a home away from home.

It was his home. Would he be willing to leave it one day, if things worked out between them?

That was when Kiriko's thoughts began to spiral. She'd been so busy thinking about the next few hours that she had failed to consider the long-term. Would they stay together? Did she want her first-ever relationship to be serious? Did she want to get married one day?

What if he wanted kids? Would she be willing down the road? Would he stay with her if she wasn't?

Get a grip! she scolded herself. You haven't even told him how you feel yet. One step at a time.

One foot in front of the other. Each step brought her a little closer to…

Wait… Where does he live?

The thought made her laugh aloud; several nearby people looked at her sideways. There was nothing for it but to go to Raniq's apartment first. She was going to have to come clean. Either that, or get lucky and run into him along the way.

No, it's better if I tell her first. Get her blessing, so to speak. I'm sure she'll be happy for me. She'd probably be really hurt if I didn't tell her first, anyway.

With a decision now made, she determinedly made for the little suburban area that Raniq called home, not far from the medical center. It was a gray, overcast day—crisp from the nearby mountains but not uncomfortably so for someone as hot-natured as Kiriko. She pulled the end of her braid over her shoulder and walked with her head high. Confident.

Passers-by looked at her. It was something she was used to. Normally, her feelings on it were either neutral or slightly annoyed, depending on her mood. Right now, she reveled in it. Her biological parents had blessed her with good genes and she was dead convinced that no unattached straight man would ever be able to turn her down.

The front door opened just as Kiriko began to approach the threshold. Raniq froze, obviously surprised. Maybe a little too surprised. Flustered, even.

"Oh! I– I didn't know you were coming today!"

"Er, sorry... Are you busy?"

She blinked a couple of times, then cleared her throat. "Ah… No. No, it's fine. I was just going to get some groceries. It can wait. Come in."

Straight to the kettle, as always. Kiriko had yet to visit without finding a mug of steaming tea put in front of her almost immediately after sitting down at the kitchen table, regardless of the season.

"Did you do something different with your hair?" Raniq asked.

Is it that obvious? "Oh, uh… Mom braided it today."

"It looks nice."

There was an odd tension in the air that she couldn't figure out the source of. Did she lie about where she was going? Did I interrupt something important? Aloud, she asked, "So… How are you? I mean, I know you're not devastated about the breakup, but you seemed a little sad in your letter."

Raniq turned from where she stood at the counter and gave her a smile. "I'm fine, but thank you. It means a lot that you cared enough to come see me."

Shame and guilt washed over Kiriko. She'd come for Valen and no other reason. But there was no way she was going to admit that. "I had two reasons, actually. Of course, I wanted to make sure you're holding up alright, but I also want to talk to you about something."

With the kettle on and the mugs ready with their tea bags, Raniq seemed to have run out of things to do. But she just stood there frozen for a second or two. Her whole attitude concerned Kiriko enough that she stood up and walked over.

"What's wrong?"

Raniq spun around quickly and leaned against the counter. "Nothing! Heh. Nothing. Sorry. I– I actually wanted to talk to you about something, too. Nothing bad."

Any excuse to put off her confession was welcomed. "You go first."

After a brief pause and a small awkward chuckle, Raniq gripped the bottom hem of her shirt—a nervous gesture. Whatever was on her mind had clearly worked her up. "Do you remember our conversation? At my party?"

"Of course. Some parts I wish I could forget," Kiriko added with a smirk.

Raniq's weak smile slipped. "Which parts?"

"Well, mostly the part where you told me about your sex life…"

"Oh… Heh. Right." She cleared her throat. "Listen... All that stuff I said…about feeling like something was missing and wishing I could feel that spark… It made me aware of some stuff. I guess it's been there for a while and maybe I was having some trouble accepting it–"

Her voice faltered and she swallowed. During that whole spiel, her eyes had been trained somewhere behind Kiriko's right shoulder. Her normally olive skin was now unusually pale and she seemed on the verge of tears.

Kiriko furrowed her brows with concern. Raniq was clearly upset about something. Whenever she rambled like this, it always got her so worked up that she started crying out of sheer frustration.

"Hey. Just tell me."

Wide blue eyes finally made contact with hers. "Maybe it's easier if I show you."

There was a brief pause in which the switch finally flicked in Kiriko's mind, but her thoughts weren't fast enough to process it into true understanding before it was too late. Suddenly, Raniq was in her space. A second later, their lips were pressed together.

The shock of it made Kiriko go completely rigid. She couldn't breathe or move at all. Her eyes shot open, brows climbing halfway to her hairline.

Oh, Spirits, this is weird. I don't– What is happening?

She was trapped in a confusing prison, utterly unable to escape. After a second or two that felt more like an eternity, the pressure on her mouth became more pronounced when Raniq tried to deepen the kiss.

A hand on Kiriko's waist was what finally broke the chains. She pulled away, embarrassed and regretful, and backed up until she hit the fridge. Raniq's face quickly went from vague confusion to concern to fear.

Everything was beginning to make sense now. A 'harmless' lie had started this, she was certain.

'I like a girl.'

And everything since:

Her behavior when Raniq started dating Valen.

The months of avoiding.

The spark that was missing from Raniq's relationship and every other guy she'd dated.

Kiriko pressed her palms against her eyes and took a deep breath. This was not how this visit was supposed to go. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"For what?" Her voice was so small. Tearful. But a tiny sliver of hope seemed to linger in it.

"For lying to you."

"...What do you mean? When?"

How could there already be so much hurt in her voice when she didn't even know the depth of the betrayal yet? Kiriko forced herself to put her hands down and look her in the eye. What she saw only made her feel worse. Raniq had sat down and was gripping the back of her chair with white knuckles.

"Spirits, when was it…? A long time ago. I told you I liked a girl at school. It wasn't true. I like a guy. Someone–" She swallowed hard. "Someone you know. I didn't want you to guess. So I lied."

Several tears spilled from Raniq's eyes but her face was eerily calm. "You don't feel anything for me, do you? It was all in my head."

The grief in her voice was gut-wrenching. Kiriko cared about her more than she knew how to express, but she knew it wasn't in the way Raniq wanted.

"I'm sorry."

That finally seemed to shatter Raniq's fragile calm. Her face crumpled and she covered it with her hands. Kiriko just stood there like an idiot. What could she possibly do or say to make this better?

Nothing. There was nothing. So she let her best friend cry alone in that chair. Every second was worse than the last and her guilt grew stronger and stronger until stubbornness finally kicked in to provide a sliver of rebellious indignation. But it would have to wait for an outlet because Raniq sniffed and lowered her hands.

"It's Valen, isn't it? That's why you avoided me. Not because you have feelings for me, but because you have feelings for him."

Kiriko didn't answer, but her silence seemed to be enough confirmation for Raniq, who stood up with shaking hands and continued.

"And you didn't trust me enough to tell me. Instead, you made me think you were interested in women."

The accusation tipped Kiriko's festering resentment over to outright anger. "Don't lecture me about trust. I know that you told Anisa what I said. Who else did you tell, huh? Nik seemed pretty convinced that I was a lesbian. Who else? Valen? Shein? All the Beifongs? Everyone in Zaofu?"

Raniq's face went even paler, but her expression remained impassive. "I would never. You don't understand. Anisa… She forced it out of me. I felt terrible, but she's your sister. I knew she wouldn't judge you."

"You're the most gossipy person I've ever met, Raniq! I keep things to myself all the time so that I don't have to worry they'll get spread around. I had every right to try and hide the truth with a white lie. Because I was terrified you'd tell him."

Getting it all out didn't make her feel any better. If anything, she felt worse now. The deep hurt in Raniq's eyes was more than she could bear. But her words must've had an impact because neither spoke for several long seconds.

"I can't believe you think I'd do that," Raniq said finally. Her voice shook and faltered, but she kept going. "I know telling Anisa was a mistake, and I'm sorry for that, but I had no idea you really thought I'd gossip about you. You, my best friend. I've never cared about anyone as much as I care about you. And now that I've accepted the way I feel and shared it with you—which was the hardest thing I've ever done, by the way—I don't think I can go back. I can't turn it off. I can't pretend I'm okay with being just friends."

'How do I pretend everything is okay?'

'Have you considered not trying to pretend?'

The conversation with her therapist zipped across her awareness with dismal irony. There was only one path to go down and really, it wasn't even a path. It was a steep mountainside full of crumbling shale and jagged rocks. All she could do was start sliding and hope to reach the bottom intact.

A deep sense of loss accompanied her next words. She tried to make eye contact but Raniq was staring at the floor. "I understand. I'll go."

For just a moment, she paused, hoping to hear, 'Wait, I didn't mean it. Don't go.' But it didn't come.

So she left.

It was raining now, hard enough to saturate her hair and clothes long before she could figure out where to go. The rain was freezing cold and she found herself unable to summon the fire breath. Too distraught. But the rain hid her tears, so she was grateful for it.

I guess at least this day can't get any worse…

But it did.

It got worse.

Her aimless wandering took her past the arboretum. Crystal clear glass revealed the brilliant colors of the plants that grew inside of it. Bright greens and rich crimsons and lustrous purples. Kiriko had visited it many times, even played tag inside with her cousins, years ago, much to the displeasure of other guests.

Through the glass, a familiar face revealed itself and her stomach lurched with brief hope.

Valen.

He didn't see her. His focus was on someone else—a woman facing the other direction. Kiriko stopped and stared unabashedly. The rain drenched her but she barely noticed. Who was it? Who had Valen taken to the arboretum? Was it a date?

The mystery woman turned her head to look outside. It was Kyori. Valen picked up one of her hands and she turned back to him. The gentle, hopeful smile on his face was all Kiriko needed to set her feet in motion once again. They took her to the train station, where she finally found shelter from the rain but not from the pain radiating from her chest.

No Raniq.

No Valen.

She'd lost her best friend and her crush all in one day. Within fifteen minutes of each other, in fact. It hurt far worse than any injury. It hurt worse than losing her first pro-bending match. Worse than getting nailed in the head with an earth disc. Worse than her fight with Anisa. Those things seemed so small, so trivial by comparison.

They were temporary. This was forever.

The house was empty when Kiriko made it back. She went straight to her room and lay face down on her bed like a corpse for some hours. Numb. Zoning out was better than crying, at least.

Korra found her later and let herself in when her knocks didn't get a response. By that point, Kiriko was on her side, facing away from the door, and she felt the mattress move as a body scooched up behind her.

"What happened?"

What could she say? Were there even any words that could possibly explain it?

"Hey," Korra pressed, though gently. "Talk to me."

Kiriko barely recognized her own voice when she spoke. It was scratchy and weak. What ended up coming out of her mouth was unplanned and a little unexpected. "I had my first kiss."

"What? That's great! …Or…not?

"It wasn't with Valen."

She could still feel it. Or rather, the ghost of it. A lingering impression that might never go away. Part of her wished it had made her feel something besides awkward discomfort. If the kiss had awakened something in her, she would still be in Zaofu…

There was a long pause, followed by, "...Raniq?"

Shocked, Kiriko finally rolled over. "How did you–?"

"It was a guess. I mean, who else would it be? The only other people you know in Zaofu are Beifongs, and I really doubt it was any of them."

"Good point."

"What happened?" Korra asked. "Are you…confused? About how you feel?"

"No. It would be better if I was." Her lip trembled at the memory of Raniq's broken expression. "She doesn't want to be my friend anymore."

"Well, I'm sure that's not true. She was probably just really embarrassed and sad. Give her some time. I'm sure she'll come around."

"What if she doesn't? What if she can't bear to be around me because I'm never going to feel the way she feels? I kinda know what that's like. And it sucks."

"You talked to Valen?"

"No. I never got the chance. He and Kyori are already back together." She covered her face and shook her head. "I should've gone the second I got Raniq's letter. I shouldn't have waited."

"I hate to say it, but I doubt it would've made a difference. He obviously wasn't over Kyori. Would you really want to start something with a guy who's stuck on someone else? Especially if that 'someone else' feels the same way and is willing to fight for him?"

Kiriko realized she was right. "Kyori would've kicked my ass to Ba Sing Se and back."

"She would've tried, at least."

"There aren't many people I would go out of my way to avoid a fight with, but she's one of them." She sighed sadly, though her despondency about Raniq was almost strong enough to make the rest seem trivial. "I never had a chance with him, did I?"

"There will be other guys, okay? I promise. One day you're going to find someone that's crazy about you and makes you forget all about him."