A lot of this was my inspiration, worked out with Honoka and Umi-chan, like everything else. Yes, Umi-chan, too. I need to explain that, I imagine.

I am Minami Kotori, 16, 2nd year at Otonokizaka Academy, where my mother is the principal.

Our one-time detractor and current idol group member and friend Yazawa Nico was dumped by her girlfriend, a first-year named Nishikino Maki. I say this as someone who was famous and praised in Akihabara as a cute and beautiful maid - my identity there was "Minalinsky." I would say Nico-chan is cuter than me, and Maki-chan is considerably more beautiful. They were a pretty pair and a romantic inspiration to all of us.

When they started coming to school together blushing and tongue-tied, some of us realized they had reached the stairway to adulthood together. Our student council president and vice-president, Ayase Eli and Tojou Nozomi, seniors also in our idol group, realized it immediately, and so did I. My fellow second-year Sonoda Umi didn't want to accept what her suspicions told her, she wasn't entirely surprised about Nico being shameless, but was shocked at Maki-chan already having experience with sex.

It took much longer for the rest to get it, including our naive friend Kousaka Honoka, and the other young members of our idol group, Koizumi Hanayo and Hoshizora Rin. Hanayo often understands things she won't talk about, and waits for Rin to bring them up. Perhaps this situation was like that.

At any rate, to say Nico was hurt by their break-up would be too weak. She was actually more kind and gentle than we'd seen her before, but so sad, it broke your heart to see her. Nico had had many blows in her life, but it appeared this one was the final blow. Whenever we were brainstorming ideas, Nico wouldn't speak, and when asked, would apologize tearfully, and wait for us to tell her what to do.

One afternoon after school, Nico and I were making costumes. She is, honestly, a little faster at cutting and sewing than I am, so it was going very well. I had been pondering things in my head for a while, and I am known for wild ideas.

"Nico-chan," I said. She looked up at me, cautiously.

"Nico-chan, I think it would help your confidence if you dated someone that's not Maki-chan."

She looked at me in horror. Of all the things to bring up; of all the things to say. That's what she said with her eyes.

"I am not saying find a new love, Nico-chan. I am saying, just date. For a short time, even. To get you back on your feet. It could even be just a week, as long as we spent it together."

Nico looked puzzled, and pointed to herself and to me.

"Yes, Nico, I think it'd be good for you, and would teach me something about dating. Both of us would say up front we aren't seeking a new long-term girlfriend, but we could take it as seriously as we can in a short time."

"Kotori, that's really crazy, and wouldn't make me feel better. Thank you for the idea, I guess," Nico finally said.

"Do you really think it would hurt you worse than you're hurt now?" I wondered out loud.

"Yes, because now I am numb but that would tear open my wounds."

"I think you should try it. Be my girlfriend for a week. Everything's on the table."

Nico was puzzled as to what I meant by trying it, if we were going to declare in advance we weren't seeking a relationship.

"If it worked out, and if I could convince someone else, you could try again with them."

"Why would it make me feel better being dumped by more girls, Kotori?"

"You wouldn't be dumped. There would be no one being dumped. Just a mutual agreement. Nico-chan, Maki said you scared her and smothered her with your seriousness. You couldn't be too serious with this, because it would be planned to end."

Nico looked like she'd been slapped, but I was committed.

"That's why I say try it. Not 'try us out as girlfriends' but 'try dating without getting engaged.'"

Nico didn't look happier, but she looked defeated.

"Anything is better than the gray box I am in now, Kotori. The fact that you would offer this is good enough."

"This weekend," I said. "Let's start tomorrow - girlfriend."

"And I suppose Honoka and Umi won't object?"

"I'll talk to them tonight. But even if they object, I will still do it."

As I mentioned above, I had told Honoka and Umi I wanted to help Nico while we were at Honoka's house, so all I was going to talk with them about was that I was seriously going ahead with what I'd planned. As for how Umi would contribute to such a thing? She had really been stunned by how badly Nico was doing. "i've never seen someone so sad," she'd said. The three of us had matured to the point where we were questioning what our relationships with each other would be. Seeing how low a broken heart at love could bring someone was scaring her. I said helping Nico in this unusual way would also be an education for me. It might help me clarify my feelings, as well. Honoka agreed, which I took as evidence she'd been wondering and worrying about our future, too. And even Umi said as long as it was done with great care and respect, it might help. That was the most un-Umi-like thing I'd ever heard.

"Kotori is good at going her own way," Nico said. "I suppose they will be grateful you at least don't keep them in the dark."

"That's no way to talk to your girlfriend, Nico. I will call you tomorrow pretty early, before 11, and we'll go out. Give it a chance."

Nico nodded her head and gave me one of her half-hearted smiles. That was about all she could manage now.

"Oh, and ask your mother if it's alright if you stay over," I said. I had decided on something surprising I'd only discussed with Honoka