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A long rectangular table, a dark room, a small table chandelier with 7 candles, 6 people sitting there in a row, 1 empty chair, 2 others, a boy and a man on a higher pedestal.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I called you all here to discuss our recent... Issues", the voice that denoted his leadership spoke. "2 issues to be precise. Take it from here please", the voice added and the average looking boy standing next to him got down the pedestal and stood in front of the 6 people on the table.

"First of all, know that none of you is one to blame for what happened. 2 of you had a mission to accomplish but it'd appear a couple of... Strange individuals got in your way. Individuals we hadn't seen before. Individuals we hadn't hear anything about. Individuals we know nothing about", the average one explained as he paced around.

"One of them looks to be no strange to the public eye although it appears she is relatively new in what she does. Unrestrained, that's how she calls herself and to put it simple, she believes herself some kind of superhero. That's all we know, the fact that she got in the way could very well be a coincidence due to the nature of our acts at the restaurant. The decision as of now is to keep our distance with her. Any questions so far?", the average boy asked and someone whose cat ears popped out of the chair she was sitting at raised her hand.

"Nya, can we rob a bank?", she asked. "Why... Why would we want to rob a bank Kanefusa?", the average one asked confused.

"Because we need monye!", Kanefusa replied. "I believe we have enough with Aoyama's financing so far... So no, that'd only attract that Unrestrained woman's attention to us", the average boy sighed and the cat girl pouted disappointed.

"Anyways, if there's no more questions, let's move onto the other issue. Since we have no name coming from his or other's mouth, we are calling him the top hat man due to the way he dresses. This man is a complete mystery but he said some very interesting things according to what you reported", he said looking at the long haired man sitting there quietly.

"They're the protagonists of this story, not you. From that we can speculate many things but one that seems to be for sure is that he knows Natsuki and Yuri and judging by his actions, he seems to be on their side to an extent. He also possesses some very intriguing abilities such as appear and disappear before your very eyes with even another person, almost like if he had teleported on the spot. Due to the lack of information, we can't reach a final decision towards him but to find him and find the guy he took with him, Satoru. We don't know if he plans to make him talk or was just a way to help Natsuki and Yuri without knowing anything but we can't take the risk, we need to find him fast and for that task you should continue your job as you were the one who saw him in person", the average boy looked at the long haired man.

"I promise a certain death this time. My life shall serve as guarantee", he replied. "Good!", The average one smiled.

"Actually...", as soon as the voice spoke everyone went silent and were ready to listen. "Kanefusa, go rob a bank or kidnap someone, I don't know, go and have fun", the voice said chuckling deviously.

"Nya! Thanks very much!", the cat girl stood from her seat with a big smile. "But sit down please, I haven't finished", she obeyed.

"All of you, go out and have fun, go and meet your enemy. - If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. - Sun Tzu said it better. Don't kill anyone, just play with them and see how far behind or how far ahead they're from you", the voice explained.

"Understood", the 6 replied at once. "Well, you already have a date with one of them, right, Murph?", the voice asked and next to the cat girl, a tall muscular white man stood up. "Tonight indeed", his american accent was unmistakable.

"Very well, the rest of you, see what you can do to face them like he's gonna do. Watch out for those two other issues and that's all for today", the voice announced. Everyone were dismissed and left the room.

"You changed the plans", the average one said as he went up the pedestal to stand next to him again. "Plans always change, reality always changes. Plus I wanna see how fates intertwine themselves this time. Will it change or will it be the same?", the voice replied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 9th 2017

"Good morning love!", a refreshed Yuri, with no vestiges from the chaotic and sorrowful parts of the day prior exclaimed as soon as the pink haired girl she had been waiting next to her locker arrived. "Who the fuck are you and what did you do to my Yuri?", Natsuki asked serious and taking her distance from her.

"I-I'm sorry... I just thought it would be... N-Nice for a change and...", Yuri quickly went back to her shy and awkward self, furiously fidgeting with her hair non stop. "Relax!", Natsuki shook her by the shoulders.

"I was just joking geez", Natsuki sighed with a smile and got on her tip toes to reach for Yuri's lips with a quick kiss. "O-One more please...", Yuri said, she felt that kiss didn't last enough.

"Lean down then, it's hard to kiss you like this you giant dummy", Natsuki said feisty and Yuri quickly obliged. "Much better", Natsuki said and proceeded to leave another soft peck on Yuri's lips. The purple one smiled shy but happy.

"How did you sleep last night?", Yuri asked while Natsuki grabbed stuff from her locker. "Not so great, you were texting me until 2 am so...", Natsuki said.

"I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to bother...", Yuri said now feeling guilty. Last night her heart was getting the better of her and the overwhelming happiness didn't have room for prudence. "Easy there, I never said it was. Stop panicking so easily", Natsuki said pinching Yuri's cheek playfully.

"Actually don't, you're cute when you do it", Natsuki thought it over and Yuri giggled flattered. "But really, texting with my hot purple girlfriend is better than sleeping I guess", Natsuki winked at her, Yuri felt funny.

"By the way, it was also cute how you greeted me", Natsuki said with an adorable embarrassed smile as she closed her locker. "I-I'll try doing it more often", Yuri replied enthusiastically.

"Alright, let's go to class, hell will start soon", Natsuki said extending her hand for Yuri to take. The taller girl didn't say anything, she just took it but Natsuki felt so much from that gentle and soft way she wrapped her hand around hers and squeezed it a bit to make sure they didn't let go of the other. They were warm and always soft, a bit slender.

Yuri walked hand in hand with the person she loved and although she had done it before, this felt like the first time because right now, they weren't just friends or clubmates, they were lovers, they loved each other and the way their hearts pounded the same as they walked hand in hand through the school hallways.

"Umm Natsuki?", Yuri asked a bit nervous. "Sup babe?", Natsuki replied.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask...", she said sounding more nervous. "What is it?", the short girl tilted her head cutely at her.

"W-When are we going to tell the others about... You know... us?", Yuri asked fidgeting with her hair with her free hand, head low from nervousness. "Ah... I already have that planned, good thing you reminded me. Later during lunch when everyone's gathered, it'll be a good chance so we don't have to go through the questioning multiple times", Natsuki explained.

"But wouldn't we still be missing Monika and our third and first years friends anyway?", Yuri asked. "You didn't see the group chat this morning?", Natsuki asked and Yuri denied with her head. She sighed.

"Let me see your phone", Natsuki extended her hand waiting for Yuri to do so. Yuri simply did as she was told and put it in her small hand. "Unlock it", Natsuki said serious.

The phone screen showed none other than their chat window, nothing more nothing less.

"You haven't closed or left our chat since last night have you?", Natsuki asked poker faced. "No...", Yuri replied like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Natsuki then looked around, right and left, front and behind, making sure nobody was looking.
She hugged Yuri tight for 3 seconds, burying her face on her shoulder.

"You're so freaking precious I swear!", Natsuki whispered as she let go of her to hold hands again and keep walking, her face still a bit red, Yuri's completely flushed but smiley. "Anyways, thing is Monika and Haru organized one last reunion before we all have to go and study or whatever shit we have to do for the midterms", Natsuki began to explain.

"They say we all gather at the cafeteria during lunch so we can talk and have some fun together before all of that since club activities are suspended from today", Natsuki said. "Oh... So it's like one more club reunion", Yuri said.

"Clubs", Natsuki corrected. "Clubs?", Yuri tilted her head confused.

"It's not just our friends from the literature club, some of our other friends from other clubs too. More specifically, Karate and wrestling clubs and of course the student council", Natsuki replied. "T-There's going to be many people then...", Yuri sounded a bit nervous.

"I know you're not good with that but relax, they're all our friends, it's not like they'll judge us, don't worry about it", Natsuki squeezed her hand kindly to reassure her. "Y-Yes, I'll be fine", Yuri smiled at her cutely.

"Besides, if anyone dares to judge us I'll just kick their ass", Natsuki shrugged and Yuri giggled. "And about how we'll let them know about our relationship... This is what we'll do...", Natsuki then began explaining her Machiavellian plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seeing her from afar never got too old for her.
Ever since the first time she saw her, that afternoon around a month ago, behind the tennis club. She didn't notice her presence at first and that allowed her to watch her being her.

Her beauty, her passion, her enthusiasm, her strength, those were the first things she saw in her, watching her train there in that narrow space all alone.

Ever since then it had become a secret thing she liked to do from time to time.
She loved to get to know more about her by being with her and talking to her but just watching her had a certain appeal.

Sometimes before go and met her at their usual places, she'd stop and hide somewhere nearby to see what she was doing, know more of her.

One time, she had arrived at their club first for their lunch time, so she hid outside and waited to see what she'd do.
When the bow hairband girl arrived, she looked around for her. She always had a little, kind smile on her face. She then grabbed a broom and swiped some off the dust that could be there in the meantime so the spot they'd eat lunch would be nice and clean.

Attentive and tidy. She had learnt something from her that day.

Even to this day, even if both now were as close to the other as it gets, she still liked to watch her from afar. Although the reason had changed a little bit.

She had seen her grow and better herself in the time had they spent together. Seeing her progress in front of others now was just something that made her feel proud of her.

So when she hid outside the doorframe, watching her talk to various people, laugh and even tell some stories of her own, making others smile, she felt proud of her once again, she loved that part of her, she loved all of her.

"Hey hey~ Came to pick you up~", the beanie hat girl finally entered the classroom, waving her hand up in the air for the bow hairband girl to see. "I'll talk to you later, bye", she heard her say to her friends to then get up and walk towards her with two lunchboxes in hand.

"Hi", Kanae said with a smile. "Hey", Jasmine said as she held the lunchboxes for her with one hand and caressed her cheek with her index finger of the other.

Both then headed out and to a new lunch spot for that day, one that made one of them a bit too nervous.

"D-Do you really think your friends will like me?", Kanae asked nervous. "Of course they will, relax! They're all good people, you've met some of them, remember?", Jasmine replied messing her hair playfully.

"I-I just asked them about you once... But yes, they seemed like good people", Kanae replied. "See? Nothing to worry about, besides, it's gonna be fun being the only couple there", the beanie hat girl laughed.

"So none of those couples you mentioned have become official?", Kanae asked. "Nope, they're all a bit slow it seems", Jasmine replied.

"D-Didn't we just go too fast maybe?", Kanae asked a bit concerned. "Nah, we got to know each other well, we saw we felt the same about the other, what else would we have to wait for? Those pretty little lips couldn't wait you know?", Jasmine said poking Kanae's lips gently.

"J-Jasmine!", Kanae blushed embarrassed and covering her red cheeks. "Hahaha, sorry, sorry, but seriously, some of them are so painfully obvious that it hurts, you'll see what I'm talking about", Jasmine replied.

They had reached the cafeteria.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Finally!", Natsuki stood up at once slamming her hands onto the table as a beanie hat girl and bow hairband girl approached, a big smirk on her face. "Good morning, Nats", Jasmine simply replied, not intimidated for any further teasing. Yet.

They were all there already.
Natsuki, Yuri, Sayori, Monika, Ryona, Mayu, Emerson, Erika, Haru, Omiko, Ryuko, Gensai, Ryou and lastly, the two Karate club members in love with the other.

"Okay guys, allow me to introduce to you to my girlfriend and president of the karate club", Jasmine said and gently pushed her lightly blushing girlfriend to the front to continue herself.

"Good morning, my name is Kanae Tanzaki. It's a pleasure to meet you all", Kanae, although a bit nervous, managed to introduce herself smoothly, gracefully bowing and smiling politely. Everyone replied to her with the same kind of smile and some cheerful greeting words.

"Fiiiiinally!", Natsuki repeated excited. "If you're gonna say something just say it already", Jasmine sighed.

"Kanae! Jazz takes pics of her abs and asks Gensai if he thinks you'd like them but she never gets the guts to send them!", Natsuki spoke fast but clear as water. There stood a tomato of beanie hat.

"H-H-How the heck do you even know that?! I mean that's not true!", Jasmine panicked. A rare sight to see but too much of a great pleasure for Natsuki. "I saw and heard you behind the lockers, you thought I had left but I forgot something and came back!", Natsuki exclaimed proud.

"K-Kanae I swear she's lying ha...ha...", Jasmine had started to pull her hat down her head almost about to hide her eyes. Kanae carefully reached for her ear and whispered, "I-I want to see them".

"Is she okay?", Monika asked concerned. "Yeah, she'll be fine, just help her to her seat", Natsuki grinned. Jasmine looked dizzy, almost drunk due to her funny smile and pink cheeks.

"Okay everyone! Now that we're all here let's enjoy this last hour we have to be together before two busy weeks keep us apart. I declare the lunch time inaugurated!", Monika announced and threw her fist to the air. A woo in unison followed.

"Alrighty guys~ I have something I really really need to tell you, something you won't believe that happened to me this past weekend~", Haru said with the biggest smile on her face. "What are you waiting for? Speak!", Monika exclaimed.

"Okay, so I was coming back home from hanging out with some friends, it had got a bit late so I was walking alone at night and then this two gross men grabbed me and took me into a dark alley, I was so scared I could barely fight back", Haru narrated dramatically.

"But then! Out of nowhere! A figure of hope appeared to save me! She was beautiful, strong, dazzling and her colors were red and cyan blue! She came and said a heroic speech and backed it up beating those two nasties in seconds, she is justice and justice I assure has a very, very pretty ass", Haru finished with a dreamy sigh.

"Pfft", Natsuki, Monika and Emerson almost spat their food. The others chuckled but one was intrigued. "What kind of ass she had? The wide and curvy type? Or the kind that's thick and hard looking?", Erika asked excited.

"It was round and nice, not anything exaggerated, the leotard shaped it neatly and it looked not soft but not hard either, like just on point, like a couch pillow", Haru described. "Niceee~ do you think you can grip one cheek with one hand or do you need two?", Erika asked.

"Can you two stop talking about other girl's butt please?! People will hear you and think this is the pervy table!", Emerson scolded exasperated as she slammed her hands against the table. "Aww~ don't get jelly Emy, I like your too~", Haru winked at her.

"That's not the point!", Emerson blushed hard. "Emerson's right girls, drop the butt talk, save it for a more Private place or something", Monika said with an awkward smile.

"You said her colors were red and cyan blue right?", Natsuki asked. "Yeah~", Haru replied.

"In that case I think we met her too. Yesterday at the restaurant when it was just Yuri and I there some... Gang of weirdos hijacked the place and had us and the other people there as hostages but this other weirdo in leotard came and saved the day. I think her name was... Unrestrained I think", Natsuki explained.

"That's the name of my wifey!", Haru pointed out proud. "Well, at least that should keep you away from me ahaha...", Emerson said relived.

"Nope, I'm still gonna earn your heart~", Haru winked at her cutely. "Eesh...", Emerson lowered her head defeated.

"Did that really happen after we left?", Monika asked surprised. Yuri nodded and the brunette had no doubts now. "Wow...", Monika was impressed.

"Looks like you all had some interesting weekends", Jasmine said. She had recovered now. "We did! Mayu and I went to a wrestling show and it was so much fun, right?", Monika said leaning towards Mayu next to her but she simply nodded.

The white haired girl looked a bit troubled. Although she had her head up high, she didn't seem to know what to say and this being the first time she interacted with the people she mocked and almost left clubless didn't help.

"Come on tell us about it, Mayoooo", Emerson next to Mayu as well, began shaking her dramatically. "Yes, Mayuuuu!", Monika joined her immediately.

"Would you stop that!!", Mayu shouted and they stopped amidst laughs of the other girls and boys there. Mayu crossed her arms and looked away but Monika saw a dim half a smile on her flushed face, she thought that was enough progress for now.

And while everyone laugh, Natsuki and Yuri took the chance to act a bit.
Natsuki discreetly poked Yuri's side to get her attention. She then grabbed her hand held it, rubbing it with her thumb. While everyone laughed, Yuri smiled like a fool and had her eyes closed, enjoying the subtle show of love her girlfriend gave her.

Maybe Natsuki didn't know, but Yuri needed that. Their plans to reveal their relationship required her to do something that made her feel a bit anxious, specially in front of so many people, but having Natsuki there reminding her she was by her side helped greatly.

Eventually, the laughs died down and they all continued a cheerful but more relaxed talk. Natsuki and Yuri stopped to avoid being caught beforehand.
In the meantime, Natsuki wanted to continue her teasing.

"So, say, Kanae", Natsuki began to smirk deviously and the beanie hat girl quickly glared at her. "Yes?", The black haired girl replied.

"Did you and Jazz... Do that already? Who's top and who's bottom?", Natsuki asked with a wide smirk and Jasmine began choking on her food. "I-I don't really understand the question...", Kanae smiled awkwardly while patting her girlfriend's back.

"You know what I'm talking about~", Natsuki grinned deviously and made two peace signs. Jasmine hurried to cover Kanae's eyes before she could see what Natsuki did with those. "Natsuki, do you really want me to talk about those things you said about Yu-", Jasmine spoke glaring daggers at her and forcing a smile.

"Okay, I'll stop", Natsuki quickly spoke. There are some things that shouldn't be mentioned in public, but she'd maybe tell her girlfriend about them in a more Private place. "You better", Jasmine sighed.

"That's an interesting topic to discuss though, who do you think would be a top or a bottom in a relationship... I'm sure Erika is top~", Haru commented happily. "Can you stop talking about weird things please?", Emerson replied.

"Omiko is bottom for sure!", Natsuki said enthusiastically raising her hand. "S-Senpai!", Omiko's face had gone red up to her ears even.

"Moni would be top too, I'd bet my butt on that", Haru said. "Actually, I may be more on the versatile side...", Monika replied with a smile.

"Oye, are we seriously having this conversation?", Emerson insisted and they nodded. "Mayo, stop them!", the messy ponytail girl commanded as if she was sending a pokemon into battle.

"Mayo?", Emerson said after no reply only to see her friend with her phone under the table, in the Google tab read the definition of versatile. "Maybe I should leave this table now...", Emerson sighed.

"Ryuko, what do you think about Nats and Yuri?", Gensai asked cleverly and Natsuki spat her drink. "Hmmm Tsuki would be top and Yuri bottom", Ryuko expertly pointed out. Yuri's flushed face was hidden behind her hair now, she was fidgeting furiously with it now of course.

"N-Nobody asked for your opinion!", Natsuki the tomato protested. She didn't disagree though. No one did. "W-What would Ryuko-senpai be then?", Omiko boldly asked surprising the strawberry red haired girl who blushed at once.

"Versatile", Natsuki replied with crossed arms like it was nothing. Yuri felt a bit anxious and without really thinking about it, she put her hand on Natsuki's thigh. The pink girl made sure no one noticed and discreetly moved hers under the table to intertwine fingers with her a bit. Yuri smiled and calmed down eventually.

"How long do I have to keep doing this?", Jasmine asked impatiently. She had been covering her girlfriend's ears the whole time. "Just a bit more, wait", Natsuki said.

"What about you, miss student council president?", Haru asked mischievously. Monika smiled big, if she was a dog, her ears would be standing and her tail would be swinging to the sides furiously now.

"Don't fall for these indecent things Mayo, let's just ig-", Emerson placed a hand on her shoulder but Mayu spoke before she could finish. "Versatile", Mayu replied serious, Monika's smile was disturbingly happy.

"Not you too! Mayooooo come back!", Emerson shook her dramatically. "What are they all talking about? Do you have any idea, Ry?", Sayori asked while eating her sandwich.

"Beats me", Ryona replied just as confused. "Come on, someone point out which one are those two or I'll have to do it!", Natsuki insisted pointing at Jasmine and Kanae.

"I think it's obvious, but let's just leave it to the reader's interpretation or something", Monika giggled. "Works for me", Natsuki replied.

After that, the top bottom talk died down and a few minutes later, Natsuki let Yuri know it was time.

"For being the literature club, well, most of us, we haven't talked about literature so far", Natsuki said. "I guess you're right, usually poems are what make us talk about literature, other than that...", Monika replied.

"Yeah, just a few of you have good taste in literature anyway, there's no point in bringing that up I guess...", Natsuki said. "I-It would indeed be pointless to talk about manga, we wouldn't seem a literature club really", Yuri commented shyly.

"Huh?! What did you just say?!", Natsuki asked outraged, turning to Yuri and glaring at her angry. "Come on girls... I thought we had moved on from that haha...", Monika said trying to calm things down.

"Are you gonna keep saying manga isn't literature?? Just because it's not a pretentious ass book with a lot of stupid difficult words?!", Natsuki stood up. "At least the books I read don't look like a children's picture book!", Yuri stood up as well, both now face to face, frowning and gritting their teeth at each other.

"Let's just calm down okay? We shouldn't-!", Haru stood up and tried to hurry and get between them but she was stopped death in her tracks as both girls shouted at the same time pointing at her, "you stay out of this!!".

"It's always the same fucking thing with you, Yuri! Can't you just open your damn mind and see out of your little pretentious world?!", Natsuki shouted furious. "Y-You are not one to talk!", Yuri replied a bit offended but still not backing down.

"And why not huh?!", Natsuki pushed her but Yuri stood firmly. "Girls! Stop!", Monika shouted death serious, her, Gensai and Jasmine began to stand up to separate them.

"Y-You are so immature! I hate you!", Yuri shouted holding back tears and pushing her as well. "You're gonna get it now asshole!", Natsuki grabbed her by the collar of her blazer, Yuri did the same.

And then, just when they were about to reach them and separate them, Natsuki pulled Yuri down and kissed her.
It was long, rough, passionate kiss, Yuri put her hand on the back of Natsuki's head and pushed her more against her mouth, her other arm tightly wrapped around her waist. Natsuki had both arms wrapped around her neck, she could feel the air lacking now from the intense kiss, Yuri's hot breaths and tasty lips were too much right now.

Finally both pulled away panting heavily but still, they smiled at each other and finally looked at their friends.

It was a fest of wide open eyes, speechless, some covering their mouths some even blushing from how intense that was, Ryona covering Sayori's eyes.

"Looks like we did it", Natsuki bumped fists with Yuri as no one could speak yet. Even other nearby tables were like that too. "W-What now?", Yuri asked back to her nervous self.

"Oh... Oh... Woaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!", at last, Gensai was the first to break the awkward silence with a roar that echoed throughout the entire school. "I should've know...", Monika shook her head a bit disappointed at herself.

"I believe I speak for everyone when I say there's just one question we must ask. Since when??", Haru asked with a big happy smile. "Since yesterday, last night to be precise", Natsuki replied as she and Yuri sat down again, their hands holding up on the table for the world to see.

"Congrats to the new couple!", Jasmine said grinning and began clapping, soon everyone joined her, wooing and congratulating the pink and purple girls who now felt more embarrassed than ever, but nonetheless happy to see their full and natural support.

"Come on spit out the details! Who confessed to who?", Erika asked intrigued but at that moment the bell rang, everything was coldly calculated. "Oh that's a shame! We gotta go back to class so we'll have to wait for the Q&A session, bye bye~", Natsuki and Yuri quickly stood up, grabbed their lunchboxes and ran away still holding hands.

...

"For once, everything went just as planned!", Natsuki exclaimed triumphant, swinging her and Yuri's hand back and forth happily. "It is nice for a change yes", Yuri giggled at her adorably happy girlfriend.

"There's one thing that bothers me though...", Natsuki said, her smile disappeared. "W-What is it?", Yuri asked concerned.

"Sayori. Her reaction was... Well not what I expected, you know her... I thought she'd jump and scream or bounce", Natsuki said a bit concerned. "M-Maybe it was too much of a shock for her?", Yuri asked.

"Yeah.. maybe it's just that...", Natsuki replied, she decided to let that go for now, after all, Sayori was the happiest girl she could think of, surely nothing could be wrong with her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Selfish. Selfish. Selfish".

"This is the proof you wanted, right?".

"I'm happy for them... I really am...".

"No, you're not. You don't stand seeing your friends happy when you're the only one suffering, you wish they were just as sad and pathetic as you, so they could understand you".

"No... I really just want everyone to be happy. I know I can't, but they do".

"Then do something about it. Release them from the burden you are".

"They would be better without me. Everyone would. She would."

"Exactly".

"Nobody needs me, nobody would miss me, they'd forget about me in weeks, maybe even days. I wouldn't blame them".

"You're useless, dumb and weak".

"Sayori"

"Eh?", the red bow girl asked. Her eyes looked up to see that dark blue hair color that covered half of the face of her companion right now. "Are you okay...? You look a bit... Distracted?", Ryona asked.

For the past 30 minutes, they had been studying together. They had decided to do it at the school's library since it was quiet and no distractions were near but even so, Sayori still looked like there was some.

For Ryona, there was one from the very beginning. The orange-ish color of the late afternoon sunbeams entering through the window and shining over that fluffy hair of peach like color was captivating.

Her small hands softly holding the pencil while her head was low and stared at her notebook. She was quiet and that's what worried her first. Continuing to look at her only allowed her to notice Sayori hadn't written anything there really for the past 30 minutes, that's why she asked.

"No, I just have trouble focusing on these kind of things hehe...", Sayori spoke low. She was still aware of being in the library. "I suppose I understand... Studying isn't my favorite thing either", Ryona sighed and put down her pen.

"No matter how much I try, I just don't understand these things very well... Maybe I'm just dumb", Sayori smiled sad.

"You just want her to lie to you. You want her to tell you you're not. But you know you are".

"At least you try... I usually just give up with these things...", Ryona sighed but her reply only made Sayori smiled at her strangely but enough to make her realize.

She saw the shine on those ocean eyes missing, the inner corners of her eyebrows angled up, the corners of her mouth for a brief moment drawn downward before quickly going upwards like a car realizing they were taking a wrong turn and tried to go back.

Was it something she said? Probably but she couldn't know what it was, right now, she was growing desperate to find a way to change that.

"I-I... Maybe we should take a break... Did you do anything interesting this past weekend?", Ryona asked the first thing that came to mind. "Not really... I was just at home doing not much", Sayori replied.

Ryona was bad at maintaining conversations and it was surely showing now as a brief uncomfortable silence fell between them.

"But something nice did happen, wanna hear about it?", Sayori asked as she remembered. She still didn't like that silence, it scared her. She feared that when a silence like that fell, she would be able to hear not only hers but other people's thoughts, she was afraid to hear and know what they really thought about her.

"Sure", Ryona nodded repeatedly. "Alrighty, remember Mr. Cow? Well, this past weekend they released the newest thing on these series... Tada! Mrs. Cow!", Sayori said while she pulled out her phone only to then show Ryona the image of a plushie similar to the one she had, but in female version it seemed.

There was one thing about that plushie that Ryona couldn't help but find funnily ironic. It made her smile.

"Mm? Why the smile?", Sayori asked curious. "Nothing. So... Are you planning to buy it?", Ryona asked curious.

"Yes buuut... Later, like when the price gets lower hehe...", Sayori smiled awkwardly. "I thought you'd say you already did", Ryona replied.

"I'd love to but I'm broke right now hehe... But it's okay, these things always get cheaper in like half a year, maybe I could even ask for her for my birthday", Sayori replied.

Ryona then remembered one thing her mother used to say.
"Things happen for a reason".

She was still angry and frustrated until now. She didn't care about the money she lost, she only was mad at herself for being careless and that that caused her to not be able to do something to light up that sparkle in those blue eyes yet.

Now, she knew what she needed to do.

"That'd be nice", Ryona simply replied with a smile she didn't even realize had crept up her face. "Well! Let's go back to study, we gotta let's keep trying", Sayori tried her best to fake enthusiasm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If there's one thing I hate more than Kaede, is studying", Natsuki grunted annoyed as she put down her pen and leaned on the couch. "That is a lot of hate", Yuri giggled as she did the same.

After being informed training would also be suspended, Natsuki wasted no chance and told Yuri to go and study together at the taller girl's house.
Right now, the only thing both wanted was to spend time with the other, the honeymoon phase of their relationship surely had just started.

But Natsuki always got a bit of a headache whenever she focused so much on something she didn't like. It was tiresome for her brain but luckily, now she had something to help her revitalize herself.

The pink girl turned to her girlfriend and like the cat she was in soul, began climbing on top of her so she could rest her head on her chest and relax herself lost in that lavender perfume of that softness.

Yuri simply smiled at the adorable sight and wrapped her arms around her, both cuddling on the couch in silence, closing their eyes and enjoying each other's warmth and company.

The sound of a few cars outside passing by, the birds chirping and the sound of Natsuki's quiet breaths was all Yuri could hear. She tenderly brushed her pastel pink hair, she ran her fingers through it and felt how soft and silky it was, she thought Natsuki surely took good care of it.

Yuri then felt a bit curious and without thinking undid one of Natsuki's little twintails. Natsuki began moving her hand to her head but she stopped mid way and wrapped her arm around Yuri again. She didn't mind after all.

Yuri undid the other and let Natsuki's hair fall spread freely. Luckily for her, Natsuki lifted her head and looked at her with cutely sleepy eyes so she could see better how she looked.

"How do I look?", Natsuki asked frowning cutely. "Beautiful", Yuri replied honestly, a sweet loving smile on her face as she looked at Natsuki's hair down.

She didn't look any less cute and certainly not any less pretty but it added something new, a bit of a more mature look, that's why she chose "beautiful".

"Good", Natsuki replied and went back to lay her head on her chest, snuggling her face a bit to get comfortable. Yuri blushed and felt her body bit hotter but she let it slide for now, Natsuki needed to rest and if she could help her with that, then she would do it gladly.

After all, so many things had happened, so many things that made Natsuki do so much for her, things that were exhausting physically and mentally.
She deserved a little break.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The plan was simple.
The first step was borrow her mom's credit card. A credit card that she just used when she bought the groceries or when something at home broke and she couldn't fix it.
On a normal day like that, she wouldn't even notice it gone.

Next, would be go straight to the mall and buy the newest in Mr. Cow plushies. She had checked in advance the price and it was not even half of what she had spent the day prior, it'd be fine.

Once there, she'd wait for her friends. Coincidentally, the place she was told to be at that night was that mall. The secret establishment for the underground activities could easily be somewhere in that mall now that she saw it.

After she got the money, she'd head to the first ATM she could find and retrieve the money to her mothers credit. Surely she'd noticed at the end of the month when the bills came but she'd think of an excuse later.

Things started to get a bit surprising when her friends arrived and lead her to the lowest floor of the parking lot under the mall once it was about to close.

"I don't see the cage or the ring here yet... Are they still setting everything up?", the blond delinquent girl said as she looked around. "Maybe", the pompadour boy replied.

All they found there was a crowd of people, most of them wore suits and fancy clothes, they were forming a circle, leaving a wide space in the middle of it.

"Good to see you ladies, gentleman", one of the red suit men of the day before came to greet them. "Where's everything? Are we too early?", the pompadour boy asked.

"No, this is everything, the only thing missing now are you and your opponent in the center of that stage", the red suit man replied. "You mean that's the stage? Just a bunch of rich looking people surrounding you in a parking lot?", Mei asked.

"Basically, yes. You see our clients like that how you call it... Sensation of authenticity, of seeing something real and natural. It's like those fighting games where you always have different stages to fight, bridges, roofs, warehouses, parking lots... They want to see a fight take place in an open environment and see the fighters go at it without limitations of a cage or a ring or that shit", the man explained.

"Whatever, where can I get changed?", Ryona asked. "That's another thing, you fight just as you're dressed right now, real factor", the man replied.

Ryona was wearing just a pair of old tight jeans, some black short boots and her black hoodie and because of this she simply said, "fine then".

"Excellent now I just need you to sign this", the man the pulled out a paper sheet from inside his suit. "What's this?", The pompadour boy asked as he took it and tried to read it.

"Just a guarantee, you see, unlike that place you come from, not only the winner gets money but the loser too, of course it's way less but still something at least to cover the basic expendings of medical treatment and food", the red suit man replied with a smile.

"Give me that", Ryona snatched the paper from her friend's hand and after taking a pen the suit man offered to her, she signed. She didn't need to read it, she didn't even need to win now, all she needed was the money.

"Thank you very much~ now we just need your opponent to arr-! Oh there he comes", before the suit man could finish the sentence, the familiar sound of a roaring engine was heard in the distance and it grew louder and badder with every second that passed.

Making an entrance worthy of a Hollywood movie, a chopper black and big motorcycle illuminated the scene with his only front big light and stopped putting the brakes with a 1080 degree loud skid.

Once the bike was turned off, it's lights went off and the rider started to get off it and it certainly had everyone's eyes on him now.

A white tall muscular man of blonde hair tied in a single bun, blond stubble beard and a pair of sunglasses to cover his eyes. He wore a pair of black jeans, long black chopper boots and a black leather vest with the picture of a flamed bull on the bag.

He had a tattoo on each shoulder, the same bull in flames on one and a number 6 patterned with the American flag on the other.

"Woo! Hell yeah baby it's time to fuck someone up!", He spoke in fluent American English, he laughed and started making his way into the crowd bumping fists and kissing the cheeks of some ladies there.

"I hope you're ready, Aono-kun", the suit man said with a strange smile to then turn around and go back to his business. "You sure you wanna do this?", Mei asked a bit concerned.

Ryona was no stranger to big and intimidating opponents, it had even become a normal thing for her so her answer was one and it was very simple, "yeah".

Ryona removed her hoodie while she walked into the circle of rich people that was the stage, wearing now her red tank top for more freedom of movement. The American man had already removed his vest, showing off his buffed torso, even dancing his pectoral muscles up and down while he waited with a big grin on his face.

"Without further ado! Ladies and gentlemen we introduce to you our contestants for tonight! Both are new faces here in the 7th stage of hell! First, we have a girl that fears no man, no nothing! She's the Unbreakable prince! Ryona Aonoooooo!", the man serving as announcer and referee shouted loud and pointed at the dark blue haired who calmly was brushing her long bangs backwards to uncover her face completely.

"Next, we have a man that likes to ride and likes to fight! He comes from the land of freedom just to show us how they do it there! He's the arsonist rider! Muuuuuurph!!", the referee shouted loud and the man now known as Murph threw both fists to the air and roared to the sky.

"Are you not gonna take off your glasses?", The referee asked as Murph and Ryona walked closer to each other to begin. "Nah, that won't be necessary", Murph replied grinning and took a basic stance, Ryona took hers.

"Ready? Then fight!", With that, the referee declared the match started and jumped backwards, leaving both fighters to take the stage.

Murph started right ahead. He began with a couple of rights and lefts, surprisingly fast for someone his size but Ryona easily dodged them and landed a hard body blow to the American.

"Ngggh! Nice punch!", Murph exclaimed in english, gritting his teeth after feeling the destructive power of Ryona's fist himself, something he only had heard stories about.

Murph then tried a thrust kick to Ryona's stomach but the tough girl pushed it aside throwing him off balance a bit to then take the chance and a land a hard back elbow to his temple that shook his head hard and sent those sunglasses flying.

Ryona didn't mind much the fight, winning or losing, but she absolutely hated being underestimated and she wanted to correct that at least by knocking his glasses off his arrogant face.

"Woo! You really have stones instead of bones there!", Murph said shaking his head but still grinning, his blue eyes now had been revealed. "Shut up", Ryona simply replied as she went at him with some rights and lefts of her own.

Murph managed to catch her fists after reading her attack pattern, the grip was firm and inescapable so Ryona braced herself as their heads clashed hard and it sounded as nasty as you'd imagine, even the crowd winced in pain for that.

Murph wouldn't let go of her. Both their foreheads had a cut now and a crimson mask was started to form on their faces. Ryona maintained eye contact as she kicked his knee hard forcing the break.

The girl wanted to follow up with a right hook but Murph caught her fist in time and like that, threw her backwards with his superior strength. Ryona landed on her back, tasting the concrete floor was nothing new for her but it certainly had been a while.

Murph then ran and jumped trying to crush her with an elbow drop but Ryona rolled over to avoid it. With a kip up, both were back to their feet.

"This is getting really good! I say we light things up a bit!", Murph exclaimed an with one loud clap he joined his hands together and began rubbing them against the other at great speed as if it was cold.

Ryona was a bit confused at first looking at this but she soon shrugged it off and decided to go at him while he did that. However, Murph wanted exactly that.

Ryona feinted a punch and ducked instead for a double leg takedown, but that's as far she'd get. Murph planted his feet on the ground well and lowered his base to resist to then grab Ryona by the back of her neck.

Ryona didn't scream, nor did she grunted, all she did was grit her teeth and open her eyes widely as her whole body reacted by pure instinct trying to break free as the feeling on the back of her neck was the same as touching a tray of cupcakes just coming out of the oven with your bare hands.

Murph let go of her and taking advantage of her confusion and pain, landed a hard boot on her jaw that somehow didn't knock the girl down but left her stumbling anyway.

The American followed up with a hard punch to the liver and a punt kick to her shin to then finish with a vicious knee to her jaw that was about to knock her down, however, he caught her in time and clutched her head to keep shooting knees to her face and torso.

The first 5 knee strikes landed on different parts of her torso and head as she felt the burning on the back of her head now, throwing her off focus. Once the impact from the strikes helped her refocus, she caught his leg and clutched it against her chest to then pull and take him down like that.

Ryona was now on top of him and managed to land a hard blow to his left eye before he put his guard up. Murph already knew this was bad for him but after thinking about it quickly, he decided to sacrifice his face once more to receive another punch.

But thanks to this, his hands were free to use and grabbed Ryona by her bare shoulders, burning her skin at once.
Ryona didn't scream again, she just gritted her teeth and quickly got off him to break his burning grip.

Both went back to their feet amidst a fired up crowd that shouted for more but Ryona took a punch to her jaw that knocked her down and would put an end to those requests.

"No matter how much I try... I just don't understand these things very well...".

"At least you try... I usually just give up with these things...".

"That's right... I'm not like you, Sayori. You're amazing because you always keep trying... You try... I don't and I don't need to right now... It's not worthy anymore, if I keep going, this part of me you shouldn't see may start to show...", with those thoughts in mind, Ryona came to a final decision.

The tough girl faked trouble trying to get back up to then drop to her side bluntly and close her eyes. The referee quickly approached her and seeing her unable to continue, he shouted, "OUT! YOUR WINNER!".

At first Murph looked at her on the floor a bit confused but as soon as the crowd gave him a roaring ovation, he attended that and celebrated fired up as only he could.

Something that didn't last 10 seconds.

Ryona calmly got up and walked away spitting some blood on her mouth. The crowd looked confused but Murph was immediately pissed off.

"You fucking...", Murph's eyebrow was twitching from anger. He felt underestimated and he felt insulted. He didn't say anything to her, nor did he follow her, but he wouldn't forget.

===================

The way home was certainly something she'd remember and mostly, felt for a while.

With pounding bruises on her ribs, a sore jaw, a burning neck and shoulders that felt even worse with that hoodie on and one limping leg as she walked, the dark blue haired girl still clutched that plushie against her chest dearly.

No matter how much her body hurt, she could deal with that, her prime focus was to ensure no one took that plushie from her so this time it could get to the hands that it was destined to be in.

She kept gritting her teeth to the point they hurt now as she withstood the pounding, burning and soring, but she realized midway the only way to maybe ease those a bit was to act right now.

Thankfully, Sayori's house was on the way of hers.
She stopped in front of her house and took a look to see if she was at least still up, it was almost midnight after all.

Luckily, a single light still shined on the window that belonged to her room so Ryona rang the doorbell and hoped for the best while her mind continued to think of possible questions and excuses she'd give to not look weird bringing her that plushie so late in the day.

Finally, the door was open and the mere sight her eyes caught, almost like an angel that healed her wounds, made any pain she was feeling on her body go away for at least a brief moment.

A fluffy and a bit messier than usual was her peach hair, that red bow seemingly always in place. A beige long sleeved and slightly oversized shirt, some red shorts and one hand rubbing one of her big ocean eyes in the most adorable way one could think of.

"Mm? Ry?", Sayori asked tilting her head. Her voice sounded odd, not sleepy, just odd. "Umm hey", Ryona said and quickly offered the plushie to her little angel of red bow.

"What's this... Ah!", Sayori said confused at first but once her eyes were well set on the little friend before her, these went wide open along with her jaw dropping.

"Y-You, you... How? Why! Cookies, I mean, Mrs. Cow!!", Sayori took it and touched it and looked the plushie from up close to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "The one and only", Ryona smiled shyly as she saw how that sparkle in Sayori's eyes had appeared for a moment once again.

The plushie was not much different from the original Mr. Cow, the only major difference was one.
A single red bow on the head of Mrs. Cow.

"But how did you get this?! Isn't it like too expensive?! What's more, I didn't know you liked these so much too", Sayori continued rambling. "It's not mine... it's yours", Ryona lowered her gaze feeling nervous, a light blush had appeared on her face.

"Eh? Mine? But...", Sayori at that moment, even if it was a starry dark sky what was above, somewhere she saw those rainclouds slowly moving and scattering away, letting the sunshine enter and bash her heart.

"You always try, you always keep trying... I usually just give up when I see no hope of things getting better but you are different... You never stop trying... I respect and admire you for that", Ryona said, it was hard to look at Sayori in the eye, her chest felt weird any time she tried.

"So... It may not be too much but... I think someone that keeps trying, even if things still are not as good as they would like them to be... Deserves something for their effort... A little incentive that could... I don't know, motive them or something to always keep trying... Like a little part of the good they hope to get", Ryona didn't know where those words were coming from, she simply let her heart move her mouth, fueling herself up with every shy glance she managed to get at Sayori.

"Ry...", for Sayori, those words would resound in her heart forever. Maybe that voice was right, she wanted someone to lie to her and tell her she was or wasn't. But in reality, all she wanted and she just realized it, was a bit of recognition.

She wanted someone to notice she was still there. She wanted someone to notice how hard she fought to get those rain clouds away. She wanted someone to see the efforts she made to smile. She wanted someone to tell her that maybe, it would all be worth it and that maybe, there would be hope to see the sunshine again.

Without thinking about it anymore, Sayori immediately hugged the dark blue haired girl, she buried her face on her shoulder and gripped her hoodie as if she would disappear at any moment.

Ryona was taken by surprise, her body specially felt that but she didn't care. She closed one eye wincing a bit but still smiled and hugged the red bow girl back.

Sayori always hugged her but this was the first time she hugged Sayori. Her hands moved shyly but soon gave in to the soft and seemingly fragile body of the bubbly girl. One hand carefully started caressing her hair. It was soft and fluffy, way more than that plushie she had been holding earlier.

They stood there in each other's arm in the silence of the night, neither of them knew for how long that was, they were just glad that was the way it happened.

"Oyah~", Sayori said cutely as she used her new plushie's paws to bop Ryona's nose. They had pulled away from the hug at last and Sayori's radiant smile was illuminating the world once again.

"O...oyah...", Ryona replied bopping Sayori's nose with her finger. "Hehehehehe!", Sayori laughed and it almost made Ryona's heart explode, her face had gone deep red, but she smiled as well.

"Thank you, Ry", Sayori said with a sweet smile, she was looking at the floor however, for some reason, looking at Ryona had started to make her feel nervous. "No problem... I... I should go home now, it's a bit late", Ryona said, nervously brushing her long hair bangs over her left eye.

"Ehhh~ so soon?", Sayori whined dramatically. "But I could... Stay if...", Ryona began saying.

"No, no, I was kidding hehe. We have school tomorrow after all, I'll question you about why are you out so late tomorrow there, besides we can always have a sleepover some other day right?", Sayori said bouncing and Ryona nodded intensely.

"Well, see you tomorrow then Ry, sleep well and dream of cows!", Sayori hugged her one more time. Ryona didn't even care about the pain right now.
It had all been worth it.