I forgot to publish this at midnight yesterday.

So here it is now.

I'm a day behind my writing schedule >:(

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Ran: Konnichiwa, minna!! We're baaack!

Su: It's good to see everybody again after a week!

Miki: The author will be posting this once she finishes writing this! Of course, if you're reading this, then that means she's already finished it, but oh well...

Dia: Picking up from last week, we find out that Rima-san and Nagihiko-san will be going to try the new parfaits in their favorite cafe! We also met Kusukusu, Rima-san's Guardian Character!

Kusukusu: We'll have a lot of fun together, minna!!

Ran: Wait! Kusukusu! You're--

Miki: --not supposed to--

Su: --come in yet!!--

Kusukusu: *giggles*

Temari: Why weren't we introduced last time?

Rhythm: It's A-OK! Everything's cool!! *does thumbs up*

Ran, Miki, and Su: GAH!! Temari! Rhythm!!

Dia: *over the background argument arising* You'll find out who they are soon! Keep reading, minna-san!

*curtains close*

*background fighting continues*

Narrator: SHUT UP, GUYS!!

*lovely silence*

------

~Rima's POV~

I slammed the flyer down on my desk. "I can't believe it!" I fumed angrily. "How could I have forgotten to buy the tickets to the new comedy live performance?! Now the prices are doubled and all the good seats are gone!!"

"Rima, Rima, calm down," Kusukusu tried to reason with me. "We can still watch it on TV like we usually do--"

"IT WON'T BE THE SAAAAAAAAAME!!" I whined, hitting the pillow on my bed.

Just then, my phone buzzed. I turned and looked at it. Nagihiko...

SHOOT! I'm running late for school!! I hurriedly picked up and shouted, "GIVE ME A COUPLE OF SECONDS!!"

His voice sounded calm and collected compared to mine at that moment. "... Rima-chan?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind," he sighed. "I'll tell you in a few minutes."

"Okay," I responded, and hung up. Pulling on my school uniform, I walked down the stairs and out the door, Kusukusu trailing behind me. She decided to come with me to high school.

"You're late, Rima-chan," he said when I went over to him.

I sighed. "Fine, you got me this time," I muttered, ignoring the playful smile that was tugging at his lips. We began the walk to school.

He looked up and saw Kusukusu. "Ah, ohayo, Kusukusu!" he said, smiling at her. Reaching for his book bag, he lifted the cover enough for his two Guardian Characters to fly out. One wore a pretty pink kimono with a spray of blossoms in her hair; the other wore a white hoodie with a long-sleeved shirt and blue vest, and a set of headphones around his neck. "Ohayo!" they both said.

"Temari and Rhythm said they wanted to see how the school changed from last year," he laughed. "Even though I keep telling them there's not much of a difference other than a new library."

I stared at him. "A library makes a big difference."

"Eh?"

"Surely, they'll want some students to help organize all the books," I said. "That's a difference. Besides, I can't even reach the top shelves. They're too high up."

He laughed and set a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be there to help you. I'm a lot taller than you, anyways."

"Hey!"

"So," he continued as we waited for the light to change so we could cross the road, "why were you in such a fluster when I called earlier this morning?"

Memories of that morning came flooding back to me. "I forgot all about the comedy live performance tomorrow. The one that Kusukusu and I usually watch on channel 8."

"You forgot to buy the tickets?" he asked.

"Yeah," I sighed.

"Well... weren't we going to get parfaits anyways tomorrow?"

"Oh, yeah..." I remembered. Kusukusu giggled besides me. "Rima forgot all about it! She was too busy thinking about a certain someone~"

"Kusukusu!!" I yelled, my cheeks turning bright pink. Temari covered her mouth and held back a laugh while Rhythm grinned and shouted, "Burned!"

Nagihiko chuckled, making his voice turn high-pitched so that it sounded just like a girl's voice. "I wonder who that could be, Rima-chan?"

"Shut up," I mumbled, turning away. "Although..." I stopped and looked up at the school's entrance. "I really wish I could've gotten the tickets to see that comedy act..."

~Nagihiko's POV~

We had a few minutes to spare before the bell rang. We were on our way to the main building when someone called out, "Um... R-Rima-san?"

It was Kirishima Fuyaki. He was on the school's basketball team, and that's how I knew him. But I also knew that he had had a crush on Rima since sixth grade. Without even meaning to, my body tensed up and I stiffened.

She turned around. "Kirishima?"

"U-Um..." he scratched his head nervously. "Eh... have you bought tickets to the comedy show tomorrow, Rima?"

"No, I missed the deadline."

I felt a sinking feeling in me. I knew what was coming next.

"Well, um, I got an extra ticket," he started. "Do you want to go with me?"

"Tomorrow?" I heard the hesitation in her voice. "But tomorrow..."

I stepped in. "It's okay, Rima-chan. You wanted to see it, didn't you?"

"But—"

"We can get the parfaits another time," I lowered my voice so he couldn't hear. "Go watch it. You'll regret it if you don't go."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know I promised..."

I felt the side of myself that was always the role model, the peacemaker— basically the good side that everyone wanted to see— feel good about not making such a huge deal about it. But the other side... the side that fought for what he loved... that was raging in me.

As soon as the bell rang, I turned. "See you, Rima-chan," I said quietly, and left for class quickly, with Temari and Rhythm trailing behind me.

——

Miki: Lunch!

——

~Rima's POV~

I felt a little bad for changing plans at the last moment. I know Nagihiko liked taking me with him to try new flavors for the parfaits. But, on the other hand, I was a little excited to be watching the comedy performance tomorrow.

When I got to our table, everyone else was already there. "Rima-tan!!" Yaya called from across the room, waving at me. "Hurry up already!! Amu-chi brought us some special snacks Su made!"

"Yaya!!" I heard Amu yell, and then whisper-yell. "People don't know who Su is, remember?"

Amu's Guardian Characters, Ran, Miki, Su, and Dia, along with Yaya's Guardian Character, Pepe, came flying over to us. "Kusukusu!" Ran yelled, waving her pom-poms in the air. "Hurry, hurry!" Miki called. "I baked some cookies for everyone!" Su said cheerfully. "They might run out soon!" Dia exclaimed. "Honestly, Yaya-tan's just eating too many of them," Pepe sighed.

I smiled at them and reached my spot towards the end of the table, next to Nagihiko. He looked up at me and gave me a slight smirk. "You're late again, Rima-chan."

I sighed and plopped down. "Whatever."

I looked down the table and observed my friends. Across from me sat Yaya, who loved sweets of any kind and liked to act as the "baby" of the group. Next to her was Amu, my first friend since middle school. She had many different sides to her personality, which was probably why she had so many Guardian Characters. At the end of the table was Kukai, the oldest out of all of us. He was the star player for our high school's soccer team and he was known to be extremely energetic. Next to him was Tadase, the so-called "prince" of the school, even though his personality was exactly the opposite from that of a charming prince. He was more like a king who wanted to conquer the world. And finally, to my right was Nagihiko. At a young age, he had to crossdress as a girl in order to learn the female parts of the traditional Japanese dance, and so he was Nadeshiko Fujisaki for quite some time. His first Guardian character, Temari, reflected that side of him. However, the "Nagihiko" side of him was more outgoing, athletic, and to me, fun. Rhythm reflected this side of him.

I smiled sadly, looking down at the table. The person who knows me the best... and I've hurt him.

"Rima-chan?"

His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Huh?"

He smiled, somehow knowing my thoughts, and he leaned in and whispered, "It's okay. Don't overthink it so much."

Everyone at the table was now staring at us. I felt my cheeks heat up again and I huffed, "I don't know what you're talking about."

He laughed. "I'm sure you do."

I couldn't really help but wonder, Does he really think it's okay?

~Nagihiko's POV~

Kirishima, you beat me yet again, I thought to myself sadly. But it's okay, isn't it?

I groaned as I walked to my next class. I'll let it slide this time, but next time...

I'm not going to lose Rima-chan to you.

———

Ran: Things got interesting here...

Miki: Nagihiko finds out that he now has a rival for Rima. Ah, the troubles of--

Su: *comes out holding a tray of cookies* Anybody want some freshly baked cookies?

All: ME!! ME!!

Yoru: Looks like you all are having fun-nya.

Ran: Yoru!

Miki: Wait! Does this mean...

Su: Ikuto's back too?

Dia: Amu-chan will be so happy~

Temari: Oh no... What will happen to poor Nagihiko next chapter?

Rhythm: Guess y'all will have to come back next week to find out! Cool!

...

Nagihiko: Why are you calling me 'poor'...?