Kaorin's phone began ringing while she was playing on her DS. She picked it up and started talking.
"Hello?"
"Hello Miss Kaorin!"
"Oh hi Chiyo-Chan, how are you?"
"I'm great! Would you like to spend a few nights over at my house? Some people are stating over here right now and I was wondering if you wanted to come over too!"
"I would love to! Who else is over there?"
"Miss Osaka, Miss Kagura, and Miss Sakaki."
"Ah, well that sounds nice."
Hearing Sakaki would be there made her heart beat fast and blush. She got directions to Chiyo's house and asked her mother if she could go, who said yes. She went into her room and packed everything she thought she would need, going on her way to Chiyo's house .
"Hello Miss Kaorin!"
"Hello Chiyo-Chan! I bought you these."
She handed over some flowers she bought to Chiyo, extending her arms out and gently placing them in her arms.
"They smell wonderful, thank you. It was very thoughtful of you."
"It's no problem."
"If you go upstairs, it's that room where everyone is. I need to go out these in a vase."
Kaorin entered the house, took off her shoes and went up stairs to the others. She only drew the attention of Sakaki, as Osaka had fallen asleep and Kagura was lost in thought.
"Hi you guys, Chiyo-Chan invited me, how are you?"
Kagura snapped out of her deep thinking after hearing Kaorin speak.
"Oh hey, Kaorin, how are you?"
"I'm good Miss Kagura, what about yourself?"
"I'm doing ok."
"That's good. How about you Miss Sakaki?"
"I'm doing well, thank you. It's nice you could come."
"Awh, thank you." She began to blush at this, which wasn't uncommon at all. Kagura had begun to pick up on little things like that, and she had made her own theories about things between Kaorin and Sakaki.
"Hello everyone!" Chiyo revealed herself as she opened up the door, her dog walking past her and up to Kaorin. He began to rub up next to her.
"D-does he bite?" Kaorin's trembling voice said.
"No, don't worry. He doesn't bite." Sakaki interjected, blushing because she knew so much about him. Kaorin gulped and slowly pet Mr. Tadakichi's head. She began to feel less afraid and began to smile.
"Wow, his fur is very soft." She smiled as she pulled her hand away.
"Yep, I make sure to groom him once a month, it's very nice to feel!"
Kagura began to pet him, then Chiyo, and eventually Kaorin and Sakaki taking turns.
Kaorin and Sakaki were going to share the futon in Chiyo's spare room, while Kagura volunteered to sleep on a couch downstairs despite Chiyo's continual objections. The futon was able to fit Sakaki, Osaka, and Chiyo because of the latters small size, however it would be too crammed for the three girls. Sakaki went into Chiyo's bathroom after Kaorin returned. Kagura knocked on the door almost immediately after Sakaki left.
"Hey, Kaorin, can I come in?"
"Oh, ummm, o-ok..." She wasn't sure if her stuffed penguin or not, making her worried about what she would think.
"I'm not gonna hurt you, don't worry. But, I have a favour to ask."
"Umm, what is it?"
"Can..." She bought her voice to a whisper "can you see if Sakaki is ok? She has something going on, and she may open up to you. You don't have to tell me what it is, I just want to make sure she's ok."
Kaorin began to feel uneasy.
"Sure. Do you...like Mis-"
"N-No! Not at all! I-I just want to be there for her, but I can't right now, and I want to try and make sure that she's ok, ok?"
"Y-yes ma'am, I understand. I'm sorry."
"It's ok Kaorin. Thank you."
She hugged Kaorin, who wrapped her arms around her in return.
"Why are you two hugging?" A curious Chiyo asked, peering out of her room. They let go of eachother and looked over to her.
"Just friend stuff." Kagura answered.
"Oh, ok." Chiyo went back into her room and closed the door. Kagura walked off downstairs.
Sakaki and Kaorin laid in the futon not saying anything. Sakaki was still awake and thinking about her home life, while Kaorin worked up the courage to talk to her.
"Miss Sakaki? Are you awake?"
She nodded while still laying down.
"Are you ok?"
This time she was hesitant to move, but ultimately shook her head.
"I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"
Sakaki began to think, then rolled onto her back and began to whisper.
"You won't tell anyone, right?"
"I promise. We're friends, I won't betray your trust."
As Kaorin rolled over to look at her, Sakaki took a breath and then spoke.
"My parents are...getting a divorce."
"That's not good, I'm so sorry."
"I-I feel like, they don't care about me. They don't care about how I feel. I never wanted them to divorce, and I know it's not my place to say, but...I just..."
Her voice began to break and she began to cry.
"I feel like no one loves me."
She moved her hand to cover her mouth as her tears fell. Kaorin could see that her friend was visibly distressed, and acted fast. She moved closer and hugged her, to which Sakaki hugged back.
"I...I...I'm here for you. I will be for a long time." Kaorin said, holding Sakaki close as she cried into her. Sakaki fell asleep in her friends arms, while Kaorin felt guilt for enjoying the moment, but didn't remove herself at all. She fell asleep hugging her friend.