October 24th 2017

"What could they be talking about?", is what the red bow girl wondered.
Is not like she felt bothered about it or something of the sort, it was mere curiosity.

Seeing that dark blue haired girl, always so cool, always so composed, now always so joyful as well, it was a nice thing to look at.

It almost felt like it had been years since she first saw her sitting on top of that big tree at the park she used to go play and at the same time, years since she saw the lonely look in her dark brown eyes.

She welcomed her into her group of friends and from there, little by little that tough girl opened up more to them and the world as well, letting them see there was nothing to fear from her.

It's not like now she was all smiles like herself but that honest half smile she put on everytime some of their other classmates talked to her was beautiful enough for her.

Sayori tried not to give it much thought but she lately found herself looking at her from her seat at the other side, stealing glances at her during class or in between when some of their classmates sitting next to her would make some small conversation with her, just like now.

Her favorite part however, was the one coming a few moments later.
Once they were out of the way, Ryona eventually glanced at her direction and noticed her blue eyes on her, causing the tough girl to blush lightly and wave her hand at her with an uncharacteristic shy smile.

Sayori of course would do the same, although her smile was much bigger and her arm would be the one waving at her.
She wanted her to know she was proud and happy for her.

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

Lunch time was upon them and just like every other day, the pink girl and her group of friends rearranged their desks to make them into that table for them to eat like a good family would.

Now with the tests out of the way, aside from that incident of red hair the previous day, everything seemed to be going back to a much welcomed normal pace.

"Come ooooon! Just once!", Sayori whined. "No! Freaking let us eat Sayori!", Natsuki replied feisty.

"But you'll be eating! Just take that strawberry, put in your mouth and give it to- owie!", Sayori tried to explain again but a quick kick to her shin under the table shut her up. "I-I'm not against the idea...", Yuri added.

"Of course you're not...", Natsuki looked at her purple girl unimpressed whatsoever. "But I am, we're not her clowns and I'm tired of her taking pictures of us without our consent to sell them like a bubbly drug dealer", Natsuki added and huffed.

"Ugh... Fine, I'll give you 30% of the earnings", Sayori said pouting and joining the tip of her index fingers together. "What? No you dummy!", Natsuki exclaimed feisty as ever.

"Gen, how much are you willing to pay for that one? Just so she can see how much she would get", Sayori said determined. "Hmmm... 2000 yen sounds good t-gah!", Gensai tried to say but a hard impact to his face with Yuri's thick book cut him off.

"Gensai-san are you okay?!", Ryou asked worried. "Eh... Yeah, I'll live haha", Gensai replied after evaluating his bleeding nose.

"Natsuki that was my...", Yuri said concerned. "Easy there purple fella, Gen will get you another one if he has to, right??", Natsuki asked defying.

"Yes...", Gensai replied a bit afraid. "But I think it's okay, thankfully my blood didn't get on it and I caught before it fell to the floor", Gensai said as he gave it back to Yuri.

"Ummm... Yes, I think there's no need", Yuri sighed relieved. "So? You got my point now, Sayori?", Natsuki asked grinning.

"Back to discreet tactics then...", Sayori mumbled to herself. "Huh?!", Natsuki exclaimed feisty.

"Nothing! I mean yes! Loud and clear!", Sayori replied quickly. "Good. Now, you still got money from it so I think you owe- AH! QUICK! EVERYONE GET READY!", just when the pink girl was about to make a good money deal, a red haired boy of new sunglasses entered her classroom, forcing everyone to take measures.

"Yo! Good morning cut- gahbahah!", as he approached them with a cool grin, Natsuki quickly shot a piece of eraser into his mouth to shut him up. "Go back to where you came from!", Natsuki commanded.

"Aghah...hah... W-Wait a second!", Kai said putting his hands where they could see them as the pink girl wielding a crowbar, the tough girl putting a pair of steel knuckles on her fists, the gyaru listening to the buzz of her stun gun and even the purple one lifting her book like a shield, all growled at him ready to strike.

"I'm sorry okay! I just came here to say hi and apologize!", Kai insisted, hands up in the air. The girls wouldn't respond except for glares full of suspicion. "Give him a chance fellas", Gensai chuckled and soon, the girls put down their weapons.

"Good grief... Listen, I'm sorry about yesterday, ight? I was just excited to meet such gorge- aaaah! I mean, I was just excited to meet new people, so I got a bit carried away", Kai explained, correcting himself in the process as the girls quickly raised their weapons again.

"But I get it now, you and I are all into the same thing so we should be friends, ight?", Kai asked nervous as the deadly glares wouldn't cease. "Dammit Kai... What's he's trying to say is that he won't try anything funny again, he's sorry and just wants to be friends", Gensai sighed as he stood up to speak for him.

"Yeah that", Kai grinned awkwardly. "You still are bad with words", Gensai chuckled patting his back.

"Yeah, I'm just good when it comes to complimenting a lady", Kai said grinning proud. "Nah, you suck at that specially", Natsuki said, making the hairy boy hang his head sad.

"Anyways... Where's Kiyomi-chan?", Kai then asked back to his grinning self. "That was your ulterior motive, wasn't it?", Haru asked, Kai just looked away whistling.

"We don't know though... Now that I think about it... She's never come to eat with us...", Sayori said deep in thought. "Yeah... We usually just see her after club activities...", Natsuki added.

"Gen, she's usually around you, do you have any idea?", Haru asked. "No, I'm in the same situation as you", Gensai replied serious.

"Well, she's a first year, ight? I'll go look for her in those classrooms", Kai sighed. "Have some decency freaking stalker", Natsuki said.

"Hey! I'm not stalker! I just wanna see my friend Kiyomi", Kai said offended. "Sure, well, for some strange reason she doesn't want to kick you in the dick, so make the most of it while you can", Natsuki said faking innocence.

"That's what I'll do!", Kai exclaimed determined. "Good luck with that~", Haru curled her fingers at him as Kai turned around and marched out of the room, looking around everywhere for that dark orange hair somewhere.

"See? This is why I don't want simps in the club", Natsuki huffed. "Agreed!", Haru, Ryona and Yuri agreed with a smile.

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

The Time for literature was upon us.
Another day, another nice hour where the girls gathered and spent some quality time together.

Natsuki and Yuri chose to sit on the floor near the closet.
The purple girl had her pink girlfriend leaning on her chest and sitting between her legs as they cuddled a bit to read together one of Yuri's epic fantasy books.

"5!", Yuri exclaimed and Natsuki quickly shot a paper ball into Sayori's eye using a straw. "Kyah!", Sayori exclaimed covering the injured eye after trying to take a picture of them without their consent.

"Good one babe", Natsuki chuckled and rewarded Yuri with a kiss on her cheek. "Hehehe!", Yuri was happy nonetheless.

As seen, Sayori was on the hunt for new merchandise but the pink girl wouldn't make it easy for her, however, she wasn't counting on Sayori's new master strategy.

"Owie... I see two Rys now", Sayori said as she walked back to her seat next to Ryona, her eye fluttering and holding onto the nearby desks to not stumble. Ryona without saying a word simply showed her the screen of her phone.

"And I see two pics of Natsuri cuddles!", Sayori exclaimed in whispers. "Thanks so much!", Sayori wasted no time and expressed her gratitude wrapping her arms around Ryona's neck from behind.

Being Sayori's undercover agent wasn't any bother to the tough girl at all as long as this was her payment for it.

Emerson's surroundings were as lively as ever. Having not one but 3 girls around her was kinda surprising for her but she was still having fun.

"Kane-chan did you get to talk to your sister??", Erika asked eagerly. "Ehehe... Not yet, she was busy... Umm commiting crimes last night and she got home quite late, I was already asleep", Kanefusa explained the best she could.

"Awww well, hopefully you will be able to tell her today!", Erika said enthusiastically. "Or you could control your hormones a bit", Emerson said.

"Nope! My hormones dictate me to get myself a sexy evil cat girl and we pretty much agree on that", Erika said smiling proud. "Eesh...", Emerson simply replied.

"I'm not evil but I'm a sexy cat girl now............ Emy look at meeeee!!", Haru whined now that she had put on a new pair of yellow cat ears she bought the previous day for the occasion. "So I was thinking we could add like... A helmet like this...", Emerson said as she proceeded to draw on her notebook.

Kanefusa and her had planned on designing a character together. The messy ponytail suggested it so the cat girl could keep her mind distracted from the fact she lost her precious sketchbook two days ago until she could give her the surprise eventually.

"Nyoh! That's a good idea! We could leave some holes around here so the ears can... ", Kanefusa continued to add more to their character. "Nice detail dude", Emerson grinned.

"Nnnngh! Emyyyy!! Look at meeee! Is it the boobs?! My boobs are almost as big as hers! Touch them if you-ouchie!", Haru continued to whine but the messy ponytail one heard enough as a rolled newspaper struck the gyaru's head with great force.

"Go to horny jail, Haru", Emerson said with a smile as the gyaru sniffed sad. Kanefusa just giggled, despite Haru intimidating her a bit the previous day, it didn't take long for her to just find her funny despite whatever her intentions with Emerson were.

"Let's continue, shall we?", Emerson asked with a sweet smile. Kanefusa nodded and smiled back with a light blush on her cheeks. "Awww you two are making it so easy for me to unlock a new shi- hey!", Erika began to say but soon, Emerson put an end to her weird words with the rolled newspaper smacking the twintailed girl's head as well.

And with that, along with Monika helping out the student council president with some paperwork, Ryou enjoying some time alone with his book and Ryuko and Omiko discussing more theories about the cosmos together, is that another day of literature was going by.

That is until a new member arrived at the door of the literature club.

"Hello? Is this the literature club?", mostly to Natsuki's relief, it was a girly voice who asked that. "Mm? Ah! Yes, this is the literature club, please come in!", Monika stood up immediately and walked towards her while the rest of the girls looked at her with a welcoming smile.

"Thanks, umm hello everyone, my name is Mao Chikasue, I'm a first year", the girl waved her hand at everyone with a smile. She had dark brown hair tied in two low ponytails that rested on her shoulders, yellow eyes and everything else pretty much average. "Hello!", everyone replied at once. All but one.

"What can the literature club do for you, Mao-chan?", Monika asked raising her finger. "I'm here to join, I've been waiting to join ever since I came to check out your club during the festival but with tests coming the following weeks I decided to wait until that was done haha", Mao explained.

"Yeah, we kinda did expect something like that to happen, a considerable amount of students showed interest that day but the upcoming tests held them back, in my case, I was hoping to see new faces now that we're over with that and well! Two in a row now!", Monika exclaimed happy as she glanced at the magenta haired girl who made a cute peace sign.

"I'm happy to contribute then haha hopefully we may get a third one tomorrow?", Mao replied. "Hopefully. If it's a boy though... Well, I still gotta deal with that issue haha", Monika said and looked at the pink girl in the back.

"No simps!", Natsuki shouted from there. "That issue", Monika whispered to her.

"No simps!", Mao repeated happy. "Eh?? You're okay with that too?", Monika asked surprised.

"Yeah, I rather be around cute girls than around dense boys", Mao giggled. "If that's the case then this is best club for you!", Erika curled her fingers and winked at the new girl.

"So! Where do I sign?", Mao asked clapping her hands. "Ahaha... Over here", Monika smiled awkwardly as she indicated Mao to follow her to the teacher's desk.

Meanwhile, everyone went back to their business, all but one again.

"Hmm it sounds too simple... Like I'm just talking about the weather...........?", Ryona had gone back to her poem practice. Even to this day, she still had trouble writing a poem of her own but Sayori and her usually made use of club time to help her get better on that.

"You okay there?", Ryona asked a bit concerned after hearing no response from the bubbly one. "Mm? Ah! Sorry sorry!!", Sayori panicked after realizing she had been spacing out for some reason.

"Relax, it's okay... Anything on your mind though?", Ryona asked. "No, nothing I was just thinking about the crab's immortality", Sayori smiled awkwardly.

"Pfft what's with that?", Ryona snorted a bit. "It means I was just spacing out hehe but anyways, how's your poem going?", Sayori asked smiley again.

"This part, I'm not sure if it even looks like a poem...", Ryona pointed at her notebook. "Umm lemme see...... The idea is nice, just try wording it like a bit more redundant maybe?", Sayori suggested.

"Oh, right, right... Thanks", Ryona gave her a genuine little smile. "Y-You're welcome!", Sayori pinched her own arm under the desk after noticing her sudden stuttering there, after all, Ryona's smile lately had a weird effect on her. Not that she disliked it though.

"Hey", a third voice then interrupted, making both girls look up to see a dark brown haired girl before them. "Mao-chan!", Sayori did her best to put on a nice smile. Ryona just nodded.

"Monika told me to go meet the other members, so I decided to start by the ones who at least read the same stuff I read", Mao said. "Oh? But I don't read that much, I'm mostly about writing", Sayori said tilting her head confused.

"Oh, well Monika asked me what did I like to read, I told her that I read comics, superhero comics mostly so she suggested me to come this way first", Mao explained scratching her cheek. "She probably said it because of me then", Ryona replied.

"Ry likes to read comics...! How come I forgot that?! Wait, wait... Why haven't I read with her even once...?", Sayori came to a sudden realization. "That's a relief! Which ones do you read??", Mao asked enthusiastically.

"Spiderman, Punisher, Daredevil, Batman... Some Deadpool and Watchmen too...", Ryona replied. "Oh! Aside from Spidey, I see you're into antiheroes mostly, right?", Mao asked.

"I... I didn't know any of that... Why didn't I...?", Sayori asked herself and soon her eyes drifted to Ryona's notebook there. "Yeah, pretty much", Ryona let out half a smile.

"Poems... Have I been just... Dragging her into the things I like without... Trying to get into the things she likes too? This isn't like me... Why?", Sayori thought as her mind started to feel more and more gloomy.

Mao had already sat down next to them, she was now chatting with Ryona non stop. Sayori could see them both smile excited about the things they shared in common.

"Was I really... That selfish? Of course you were. No. No matter how much you try to hide it. No. The second someone shows a little bit of care about you, you just want them all to yourself. No... You don't want them to be happy. No! You just want someone to make you some company in that dark hole you are until you give up. No! No! N-

Sayori

"Eh?", Sayori lifted her head a bit startled. "Is everything okay? You seem worried?", Ryona asked concerned. Mao gave her that same concerned look, mixed with a bit of guilt.

"No... Please no...".

"Y-Yeah! I think I just didn't sleep well last night hehe...", Sayori replied. "Umm am bothering you somehow? Was it something I said maybe?", Mao asked sad.

"No! Please don't!".

"No! Not at all!", Sayori exclaimed. "I'm worried... Is there something I can-", Ryona tried to say.

"No! Anything but that! Don't worry about me, don't worry about me, don't let me ruin your happiness, don't let me!".

"There's nothing to worry about silly!", Sayori faked her best smile. "I'll go greet the other members, you two probably want to-", Mao tried to say as she started to stand up, but Sayori grabbed her wrist quickly to stop her.

"No... Keep talking to Ry please... I'll try to join in the conversation too! Look!", Sayori smacked her cheeks lightly a couple times. "I'm wide awake now!", Sayori exclaimed.

"Hehe, if you say so then, I'll be glad to talk to you too", Mao said with a smile. "Okay so where were-", Sayori was about to say but a different voice called her name.

"Sayori~ could you please come here? I need your help just a minute", Monika asked with hands joined in praying motion. "Of course! I'll be right back, you two keep going and Mao-chan, welcome to the lit club!", despite the big smile she gave her, Sayori still couldn't feel it came from her genuinely.

...

"What am I good for Monika?", Sayori asked. "Sit down", she replied serious.

"W-What's with the seriousness? Did anything happen?", Sayori asked nervous. "That's what I'm wondering... Sayori, how's your... Depression going?", Monika asked in whispers.

"Ah... That...", Sayori lowered her gaze. "I noticed after the festival you were in that kinda distracted state, I was worried but I wasn't sure if I should ask you, then like you didn't even react when Natsuki and Yuri told us about their relationship that's when I got truly worried...", Monika paused a bit.

"I was set to talk to you the next day but then, when that day came you were all happy again, the happiest I've seen you in a long time actually... Did anything happen that Monday after school or that Tuesday early in the morning maybe?", Monika asked. "If anything happened you say...!", Sayori mumbled and then, all those recent memories struck them like a thunder.

"You always try, you always keep trying...".

"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...".

The image of that red bow cow plushie and the warmth her heart and body still remembered from that night came back to her, pulling out a warm smile from her she couldn't control.

"Heh~ that face tells me something did happen~", Monika smirked. "Eh? Ah! No, nothing like that I swear!", Sayori blushed hard.

"I didn't even say what was it", Monika chuckled. "I just... Got a little reminder that what I do matters, that my efforts are not overlooked... That I... Am not overlooked", Sayori said still smiling warmly.

"And that there are people who truly care about you right?", Monika asked. Sayori stole a quick glance at her seat before answering. Almost as if the answer she needed before answering herself was gonna be there, Ryona met her blue eyes while talking to the new girl, granting her a quick but honest smile. Sayori's answer was one, "yeah".

"Good! However, I couldn't help but notice you were in that same distracted state just now... Did Mao say something to you that made you uncomfortable?", Monika asked. "Eh? Nononono! Nothing like that!", Sayori replied quickly.

"Then...?", Monika had a pretty good idea of the issue but she'd rather hope Sayori admitted it herself first. "Then nothing!", Sayori stood up determined to the White ribbon girl's confusion.

"Thanks Monika! I just gotta keep trying!", Sayori exclaimed. "Even if that's the only thing she likes and admires about me... I can't get to fail her on that too", she thought.

With that the red bow girl bounced back to her seat while Monika sighed relieved and smiled.

"I'm back!", Sayori exclaimed as she landed thunderous as ever. "Welcome back", Mao smiled sweetly.

"This time's for real! What are we talking about again?", Sayori asked gripping her fists. "About the spiderverse but! Do you mind if we talk about it tomorrow maybe? I got a bit carried away with Ryona here and I still wanna go say hi to the other girls", Mao scratched her cheek.

"Sure! Anytime", Sayori smiled. "Then I'll talk to you later! It was nice talking to you, Ryona", Mao smiled at the tough girl one more time before heading off to where the messy ponytail girl and her group was.

"Did you have fun talking to Mao-chan?", Sayori asked nicely. "I guess, she knows about this stuff I give her that... But that aside... You sure you good?", Ryona asked still concerned.

"Yup! Look! I'm right here the same as always!", Sayori put on a bright toothy smile, one that never ceased to brighten the tough girl's heart even in the darkest times. "I see", Ryona smiled relieved. She knew when that smile was genuine.

Following her heart once again, Ryona put her hand on Sayori's hair to then start messing it up a bit. The bubbly one opened her eyes wide as a light blush crept to her face but in no time, a soft and warmer smile appeared there as well.

"Ehehehe! Gotcha!", Sayori quickly trapped Ryona's arm to then quickly pull out her phone. "Say cows!", She exclaimed and took a quick selfie, the first in which they were together.

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

"Okay! I see Haru and Erika weren't joking, you two are the iconic couple of this club hehe, but anyways I don't wanna interrupt your quality time any longer", Mao said as she stood up from the floor.

"It's no bother really", Yuri said with a smile. "Yeah, you're not so bad, at least you're not trying to embarrasse us or something like that", Natsuki grinned.

"I'll take that as a compliment! Now... Onto the ne- huh? Where did the pretty boy go?", Mao asked confused as she looked around for the next member she had yet to properly meet. "Ryou...? Ah, it's 3:46 already... He usually leaves 15 minutes early for some reason...", Natsuki said after looking at the time on her phone.

"Guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow then... Okay, I'll just go greet that last couple there", Mao said with hands on hips as she glanced at Omiko and Ryuko on the opposite corner. "Good luck~", Yuri said and with that, the new girl headed off.

"She's nice", Natsuki commented. "D-Do you like her?", Yuri asked nervous.

"Eh?! No! Well not like that", Natsuki replied feisty. "I'm kidding love hehe", Yuri giggled as she kissed Natsuki's cheek.

"Look at you, making jokes now", Natsuki said. "I've been learning from the best I guess? But that aside... I need to get up...", Yuri said gradually more nervous.

"Mm? You got cramps or something?", Natsuki asked as she got off her for Yuri to get up. "No... Toilet", Yuri whispered looking away and fidgeting with her hair.

"Oh... Do you want me to...", Natsuki asked looking away as well. "No, no, it'll be quick", Yuri smiled awkwardly

"Okay... I'll be waiting for you here then", Natsuki smiled sweetly and leaned on the wall. "Be right back", Yuri smiled back and walked out of the club a bit fast.

...

"This is the first time I can't hold it back when Natsuki is around... Aaaaah! So embarrassing! ....that aside... now that we finally got the chance to cuddle... Natsuki's stomach felt a bit hard at times? Or was it just my imagination? Hmmm if Natsuki had abs... Ehehehe... I wonder if she would let me-? Eh?", as Yuri walked through the hallways heading for the nearest bathroom, lost in all sorts of thoughts, her violet eyes soon brought her back to earth as they met a very odd scene.

Just when she was turning to the next hallway, she saw a familiar hair color. Wine red. Stylishly messy and with those delicate facial features just made it unmistakable who she was seeing now grabbing the doorknob of the girl's bathroom and looking around presumably to make sure no one was seeing what HE was doing.

"Ryou?!", Yuri thought surprised as she hid in the corner while watching the pretty boy finally take a quick peek inside and then enter, closing the door behind him.

"Why's Ryou sneaking into the girl's bathroom?! Don't tell me he's... A pervert?!", Yuri covered her mouth surprised as she processed the idea based on what she just watched. "I should go tell the others or a teacher maybe....... No. I could be mistaking him... Her... Maybe it's just a girl that looks like him, after all his facial features are quite delicate like a girl's...", Yuri mumbled to herself, troubled on how to proceed. She even forgot she needed to pee.

"But if it really is him....... I should go in there and make sure, if it happens to be him... I'll confront him", Yuri took a deep breath and headed into the bathroom gathering all the courage she could.

...

"He's not here... Mm?", Yuri muttered and heard a noise of metal hitting the floor lightly. Yuri gulped. She kneeled and looked under the cabins. Her suspicions were true, what just made that noise was a belt buckle as a pair of blue pants just came down and off.

"He even gets naked to do it!", Yuri thought shocked, shattering that good image she had in her mind of that quiet and nice boy, the only one Natsuki could accept into their club even. "I gotta tell the others!", Yuri mumbled determined after a couple of seconds of chilling out a bit.

"But... If he escapes before I come back... He could deny it and with the good reputation he has... I'll end up as a liar...", Yuri thought just in time as she put her hand in the doorknob. "I need evidence", Yuri mumbled and pulled out her phone.

Feeling how her hands started to shake and chills all over her body as she waited, Yuri continuously took quiet but deep breaths, just aiming the camera there ready to tap once that door opened.

After hearing a brief rummaging sound and the zipping of something she thought were his pants, Yuri finally counted in her mind as the person behind gently opened the door, "3, 2, 1...".

📸 Click! 📸

"Eh?", Yuri asked. "Eh?", The person emerging from the toilet cabin also asked. Both started to sweat as nervousness, confusion and fear took over them.

"K-Kiyomi-san?!!", Yuri asked dumbfounded. "I...", Kiyomi(?) replied, words seemed impossible to come out of her mouth now.

"Wait no... H-How?! I-I saw Ryou enter here and t-then I swear I saw a pair of pants b-but now-?!", Yuri rambled greatly confused. "You... Saw me...", Kiyomi(?) finally replied and covered her flushed face with both hands.

"I did? W-Wait you mean...!!", Yuri muttered confused but as Kiyomi (?) shyly removed her hands from her face, Yuri was able to see it better.

Those delicate facial features were one thing she knew well she could mistake, the glasses too weren't any definitive but the purple one trusted her memory quite a lot. She remembered Kiyomi's eyes were dark brown and now the Kiyomi before her had magically got navy blue eyes instead. She also remembered one person that matched with that color of eyes.

"Y-You're... Ryou?!", Yuri asked, glad the sink was behind her to stop her from falling on her rear due to the shock. "Yes...", Ryou sighed defeated and hung their head in shame.

1 minute of dead silence passed until one was able to speak again.

"Could you please... Not tell anyone?", Ryou asked, gathering strength to lift their head and look at Yuri in the eye to make such request. "I.......", Yuri wasn't sure of anything at this point.

"Please? I'm begging you!", Ryou quickly got on their knees and put their forehead against the floor. "W-Wait! P-Please get up!", Yuri said panicking and looking around afraid of someone suddenly there looking at them.

"I-I won't tell anyone but please get up!", Yuri exclaimed and finally Ryou obeyed. "Thank you so much!", They exclaimed bowing their head in gratitude.

"Could you just please... Explain to me what's happening?", Yuri asked. "Yes, I suppose I owe you that much hehe...", Ryou smiled awkwardly, although more relieved.

"Let's talk outside though... Someone may come in", Yuri suggested now getting curious but not any less careful. "Sure...just... give me a minute to... ", Ryou said as they pulled out a smaller bag from their bag and pointed at their face and then the mirror.

"Oh... Okay, I-I'll text Natsuki meanwhile just so she doesn't get worried...", Yuri said. "Thank you, I'm pretty quick with my make up, It'll just take a minute I promise!", Ryou said and got to work immediately.

💜: Love, I met Kiyomi-san in the bathroom. She told me she'd go wait for Gen and since we have just over 10 minutes left I thought I could keep her some company, is that okay?

Sure thing babe (◡ ω ◡) I'll bring your bag to you then :💗

💜: Thank you 💜

( ˘ ³˘)♥ :💗

"Done! Let's go!", Ryou exclaimed now not only looking but acting more like that clingy and smiley girl that was Kiyomi. Their eyes were dark brown now even. "Let's go", Yuri replied a bit awkward.

...

Soon, they reached that bench outside the building Kiyomi and Gensai usually waited at. Ryou took a deep breath as they sat down, taking a quick look around to make sure that school cap boy or any of their friends was near yet.

"What you're seeing right now, Yuri-san... Is the real me", Ryou started with a bold statement. "The real you...?", Yuri asked confused.

"Yes. I'll try to make this brief since we don't have that much time before the others get here...", Ryou paused a bit. "I was born in the body of a boy however, ever since I can remember, I never felt quite like one. I watched girl's shows, I liked to play with dolls, most of my friends were girls who even defended me from other boys who always messed with me... And as I grew older, I continued to realize who I truly was.", Ryou paused a bit.

"I looked at myself in the mirror and felt uncomfortable. I looked at my clothes, my hair, heard my own voice... It all felt so... Wrong. I watched shows and movies where pretty girls appeared and I felt jealous of them... Their beauty, their grace, their sensitivity... I wanted that too", Ryou sighed. "One day, my parents took my older sister to her festival in middle school, I didn't go because I felt a bit sick so I stayed at home", Ryou looked at the sky and began to smile.

"I think you can already guess what I did, right?", Ryou then looked at Yuri and asked. "I guess so...", Yuri smiled back.

"I went to my sister's room, grabbed this cute red dress she had and barely wore anymore, I grabbed a pair of her pretty sandals, these with some little fake diamonds on the straps, and even... A set of her matching underwear...", Ryou rubbed the back of their head a bit ashamed.

"For once, I could look at myself in the mirror and smile at what I saw. I felt comfortable, I felt happy, it just felt so... Right", Ryou sighed with a smile. "Of course... It's not something I could just tell my parents, as much as I wanted to yell it to the world... As the years passed, I also came to understand the society we live in... and what it could imply if I ever say anything about it so in the end, it remained as my little secret", Ryou sighed.

"But there are things one just can't hide, specially those of your true self. As I grew up, I couldn't help but to take good care of my appearance, my skin, my hair... I just wanted it all to be soft and pretty, even my voice and way to speak", Ryou said.

"That of course, in other people's eyes didn't fit the standards. Boys and girls alike called me things like sissy, fag... But I tried not to let it bother me. I also felt attracted to boys eventually but of course, I couldn't say it haha", Ryou laughed sad.

"But despite keeping appearances in the outside world, ever since I put on my sister's clothes, I couldn't help but do it again everytime I had the smallest chance. After all, that had been the only time I felt comfortable with myself so little by little and as my parents started going overseas for work more often and my sister moved to another city due to college, with no one else around, at home I started to become who I truly was on the inside", Ryou explained.

"I bought this dark orange wig, sets of make up and all sorts of different girl's clothes online hehe... And in the end, after being trapped inside this body, Kiyomi finally emerged as the girl I always wanted to be", Ryou smiled again.

"She remained hidden from the world however, until... I met him", Ryou paused. "Don't get me wrong, I always appreciated other girls defending me from mean people but... I guess that girl inside me always had this cliché dream after watching all those princess movies when I was little... That my gallant, brave and strong knight would one day rescue me and we would fall in love~ hahaha... How embarrassing it feels saying out loud~", Ryou said melodically.

"So that day when Gensai-san defended me from those bullies, I couldn't help but feel like my dream was coming true hehe... Maybe he wasn't as handsome as those princes in movies but he doesn't ask them for anything when it comes to gallantry~", Ryou said with a hand on one of their blushing cheeks.

"He treated me with respect, he was nice to me and he didn't judge me for how I look or how I act... I got a crush on him almost immediately... But", Ryou paused. "But... You didn't know if he could even feel that way towards you?", Yuri asked with a sweet smile.

"I guess it happened to you with Natsuki-san too", Ryou replied. "A little I guess... But I already knew she liked girls, it was more of a case of... Me understanding she could feel that way with me maybe, so I did all I could to let her know all I care about is this", Yuri said putting a hand on her heart, pounding just from thinking of that pink girl.

"I wish there were more people like you... And like the girls in the literature club in general... The world surely would be a much better place", Ryou sighed. "Back to you though...", Yuri said.

"Right... Gensai-san is... Mysterious when it comes to love", Ryou said, looking at the sky again. "Mysterious?", Yuri asked.

"First thing I tried when we got to know each other a bit more was ask him if there was any girl he liked at school. He said no. I asked him which kind of girls he liked then. He evaded the question before I realized. That's when I thought maybe I had a little hope", Ryou paused.

"I tried... Subtle ways of showing him how I felt, like walking closer to him, look at him with those eyes... Smile at him like that... But he didn't change his reactions one bit. He smiled at me the same way he smiled at everyone else, he looked at me the same way he looked at everyone else... It's like... His head is always somewhere else...", Ryou said deep in thought.

"But then I thought maybe he just didn't like boys so naturally he wouldn't respond to my subtle attempts but as the kind person he is, he wouldn't do anything to hurt me either", Ryou sighed.

"I thought about it... Over and over again. How he denied liking any girl from school, evading the topic in general... I tried to remember everything, his facial expressions, the look on his eyes, his voice and... It was all so... Strange", Ryou said. "How come?", Yuri asked intrigued.

"How to put it... Sorrow? No... Not that... Shame? No... Ugh... Even to this day I can't quite put my finger on it but basically, like a hidden emotion there. I couldn't understand it so in the end... I gathered all the courage I had and decided I'd just try to earn his heart. But not as this fake person that is Ryou but as my true self", Ryou said serious.

"I bought our school uniform for girls and brought my set of make up and wig to finally show myself as Kiyomi once school ended, that way I could do it safely without teachers question who that new girl was haha", Ryou said.

"So far it had been a success, no one seemed to have noticed anything suspicious about me as Kiyomi, you all treated me as a girl and to be honest... That has made me extremely happy", Ryou sighed with a warm smile. "You proved us and yourself that your body doesn't define who you are, Ryo- Kiyomi, it's what's inside that matters", Yuri said as she placed a hand on Kiyomi's shoulder.

"Thank you, Yuri-san... I'll never forget those words. Also, thank you for... Acknowledging me as Kiyomi", Kiyomi smiled with watery eyes. "If there's something I've learned in my time in the literature club is that accepting someone for who they really are is the best way to create a better world", Yuri stated.

"The literature club is really amazing...", Kiyomi said looking at the sky with a smile. "It truly is", Yuri agreed.

"Back to Gensai-san....", Kiyomi said. "Right... How has that been going for you?", Yuri asked.

"Well he's still difficult to crack... Even as a girl in his eyes, his reactions still wouldn't change. No matter how much I clinged to him or how much I tried to flirt with him... He's still the same, not even one genuine blush!", Kiyomi pouted.

"But that was okay, I still didn't plan to give up...", Kiyomi said now lowering her gaze. "Didn't? Don't you mean don't?", Yuri asked.

"That's another issue... You see, lately he's been... Distant with me..." Kiyomi said. "Oh... Umm, since when?", Yuri asked although she remembered quite clearly what they all saw the previous day.

"Since last week I think... At first I thought it was just because we were all busy with midterms but this past weekend I tried to ask him to go hang out somewhere. He just refused without a proper explanation other than "I have something to do that day". Yesterday too... He barely talked to me or looked at me... I don't understand...", Kiyomi said worried.

"M-Maybe he's just having a bad time or something?", Yuri asked. "But you've seen him during lunch for example! He's still all smiles and as Ryou he still treats me the same as usual.... It's just to Kiyomi who he's being cold to", Kiyomi said sad.

"Didn't you two argue about something before or anything?", Yuri asked. "No, not that I remember at least...", Kiyomi said.

"Hmmm", Yuri got deep in thought. "I couldn't even talk to him yesterday on the way home because of Kai, even when he parted ways, my house is near that point so Natsuki and Gensai just continued talking to then drop me a few minutes later at my house so they could go to the Gym as usual, I couldn't even have time alone with him", Kiyomi sighed.

"That's really a p-! Wait a minute...", Yuri was about to say but her mind wouldn't let something go unnoticed yet. "Did you say Gensai and Natsuki went to the Gym?", Yuri asked.

"Yes, that's what I said..... AH!", Kiyomi covered her mouth 5 seconds later as she realized her mistake. "S-So that's why her stomach feels... And her legs are thicker now... Her arms too feel...", Yuri began remembering and daydreaming at the same time.

"I-I said Gym??? No! I-I meant emmm... Umm... Gy-Gy-Gyaaaa... Station...", Kiyomi couldn't fix that anymore. "But why didn't she tell me about it...?", Yuri asked deep in thought.

"I screwed up another secret...", Kiyomi covered her ashamed face. "Since when...?", Yuri asked her.

"Please don't tell them I told you! Pretend you don't know!", Kiyomi again stood up to then kneel and put her forehead on the floor. "A-Ah! Get up, Kiyomi-san!", Yuri said panicking again.

"Please! Natsuki will kill me if she finds out!", Kiyomi begged. "O-Okay, okay, I'll pretend I don't know but please get up!", Yuri said blushing embarrassed as she noticed a few students passing by looking at them weird.

"Thank you! Ah, my soul can rest now~", Kiyomi sighed relieved. "My goodness....", Yuri sighed.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Seeing you walking alone really disturbs the atmosphere", Sayori said. "Yeah, without her purple girl, Natsuki just looks odd", Erika added.

"You two want my shoe shoved up your asses, don't you?", Natsuki replied feisty. "Ry! Protect me!", Sayori hid behind the tough girl.

"Hey! No fair! I don't have a pretty bodyguard like you, Sayo!", Erika protested. "Then you should think again before mocking me you twintailed horny girl!", Natsuki exclaimed as she indeed, kicked Erika's butt with great force.

"Ouch! Ououou... I like it rough but not that rough...", Erika said rubbing her now sore butt. "Huh?! You didn't learn your lesson I see!", Natsuki exclaimed as she raised her leg.

"WAIT! I give up, I learnt my lesson I promise!", Erika pleaded. "Hmph! You've been warned then", Natsuki huffed.

"Natsuki, please stop attacking people in the hallways. I don't want to have to report you", Mayu sighed. "I didn't attack people, I taught some horny idiot a lesson", Natsuki replied.

"What she meant is that she won't do it again, just forgive her, alright Mayu?", Monika said poking her hair buns. "Fine but stop that", Mayu said gently slapping Monika's finger off her hair.

"Your buns are soft Mayo", Emerson said as she approached from the other side to poke them too. "They're like fluffy ears, Miss Mayo!", Kanefusa joined her too.

"Stop that!", Mayu slapped both their fingers off her hair hard. "Ouchie!", Emerson and Kanefusa replied at the same time.

"Now I'm tempted to poke May-!", Erika began to say as she approached Mayu from behind with a mischievous grin but once again, as they were reaching the lockers, her eyes caught a familiar figure sitting in the corner again.

"I-I forgot I had to go see my english teacher! Don't wait for me see you tomorrow!", Erika quickly said, turned around and escaped again. "Maybe if she spent less time being horny she wouldn't forget these things", Haru giggled.

"Like you're one to talk", Emerson snorted. "Oye!", Haru replied offended. "Oye! Don't oye me!", Emerson replied offended as well.

"Stop the oyes you two", Monika sighed. "Okaaay~", both replied in unison.

Soon, the girls got everything they needed from their lockers and left everything they didn't, ready to go outside they had already seen the purple one and the dark orange haired one sitting there just chatting about god knows what.

"It's so weird seeing you and Yuri here instead of you and Gen, Kiyomi", Natsuki grinned. "Ehehe... Well, he hasn't come yet, if I don't go there directly he takes longer training", Kiyomi explained.

"Well, Jazzy too but that's because of her girl there, probably those are making out Right now... Gen though, he's just crazy. Oh, the contrast!", Natsuki exclaimed dramatically. "Darling, where's Erika... And Mao?", Yuri asked curious.

"Erika went to see her English teacher, Mao told us she had already told her friends she'd walk home with them so she left on her own", Natsuki explained. "That's good", Yuri said as she stood up and went to cling to her girlfriend's arm.

"What the frick are you doing?", Natsuki asked nervous as Yuri shyly gripped her arm to feel her muscle. "Nothing!", Yuri smiled innocent and proceeded to just wrap her arms around it.

"Kiyomi-chan!", then a familiar voice exclaimed. "Here comes the simp", Natsuki sighed as they saw the red haired boy of sunglasses running their way now.

"I've been looking for you all day! How have you been? How was your day? Did you eat properly?", Kai asked as he grabbed Kiyomi's hands and looked at her with a huge smile.

"O-One question at a time please?", Kiyomi smiled awkwardly. "Ight, my bad hahaha! I'm just so happy to see you", Kai said grinning to then kiss her hand softly.

"O-Oh my!", Kiyomi said blushing deeply and putting a hand on her cheek, genuinely surprised. "Talk about not having any shame", Mayu commented.

"At least he's not bothering you now wahahaha!", A school cap boy now behind the literature girls laughed happy. "Hey Gen. Yeah you're right, too bad for Kiyomi-chan though", Natsuki said as they watched Kai asking the orange haired girl all sorts of stuff.

"Yeah, anyways, time to go, Jazz will go on her own, you know how it is", Gensai said. "Gotta have some time alone with her girl, huh?", Haru said.

With that, the group soon left the school as another day of school had come to an end.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"It's almost 5... This time should be enough", Erika sighed as she got up from her seat in that empty classroom she was waiting at and exited right after.

"I've been hiding from her all past two weeks since I met her at our apartment building... I told her I'd walk home with her but I just... Can't... Am I too scared of what other people would say if they saw me hanging out with a girl like her? ...no, that's not quite it... Then why does she make me so uncomfortable now...?", Erika continued with her train of thoughts as her phone wasn't distracting her anymore, walking through the empty school hallways ready to leave.

"Ever since she... Gave me that drawing...", Erika remembered and felt weird again. "Ugh... Did it bother me after all? No, I didn't feel bad that day, it was just... Something weird...", Erika couldn't understand her own emotions yet but as soon as she reached the lockers, she got on alert again.

"She's still there?! Geez, she waited longer today, she's usually gone at this time...", Erika mumbled as she glanced, hidden behind the entrance of the lockers area, at that dark green haired girl still sitting there with that sketchbook on her lap.

"Guess I'll have to go hide a bit lon-? Eh?", Erika sighed quietly, ready to go back inside the school to kill some more time but before she could, Ruri finally closed that sketchbook book.

"Oh well, she's leaving now... Thank goodness...", Erika muttered but before she could feel relief, what her light brown eyes saw caused a bitterness inside her throat.

The short dark green haired girl's expression quickly changed as she closed her sketchbook. From a serious and focused one to a gloomy one as she sighed quietly. She looked at her phone presumably to see the time, she lifted her head looking around for someone but no one seemed to be there until finally, a single tear escaped her eyes.

"No, no, no! Dammit!", Erika whispered as she felt a knot in her stomach getting tighter and tighter, the bitterness getting worse and a huge urge to punch herself. "What am I doing?! Agh!", Erika exclaimed in whispers smacking herself quickly to then rush inside before the small girl could begin to leave.

"Ruri!", Erika shouted her name and like a little puppy who hadn't seen their parent all day, Ruri lifted her head and her eyes lit up, quickly looking around for the source of that expected voice.

Ruri smiled shy but happy as she quickly rubbed her eye and hurried to wipe off the few tears that escaped her eyes as she saw that twintailed girl coming her way.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Ruri-chan...", Erika panted a bit. Ruri quickly denied with her head and hands nervous. "You were waiting for me, right?", Erika asked ashamed as she twirled one of her twintails. Ruri nodded.

"I mean... Look at the time, I made you wait for so long... I'm really sorry I was... I don't even know what I was doing haha...", Erika smiled awkwardly. Ruri hurried to write on her phone, "Don't worry about it! I understand you have things to do too".

"No, I don't... Well, I do but I shouldn't have taken so long... eehhh you get me haha... anyways! Let's just go home now, okay?", Erika asked with a more relieved smile as she saw the shy but honest smile of the shorter girl who did nothing but her best to let her know through it she was just glad to see her again.

"I'm really sorry", Erika couldn't help but feel horrible as she remembered the sorrowful expression she just saw a moment ago, hidden there like a coward from a girl that just wanted nothing but to see her only friend.

Ruri denied with her head again but Erika stopped her, putting a hand on top of it. "No, it's not okay... I told you I'd walk home with you and yet... I haven't done it once in almost two weeks since...", Erika sighed sad and guilty.

"It's really no problem. I know tests were probably keeping you busy and that you probably have other friends that want to see you. I'm just happy you made some time for me today! ＼(^o^)／", Ruri wrote on her phone quickly and showed it to her. "Ruri-chan...", Erika sighed Feeling even worse, although reading that last part tickled her a bit for some reason.

"You really are a good girl", Erika said as she smiled sweetly at her and started messing her fluffy hair, causing Ruri to blush lightly a bit surprised but smile flattered and happy as well.

"Shall we go then?", Erika asked and Ruri nodded happy. "Okay~ lemme just get some stuff from my locker, write on that phone how was your day meanwhile", Erika grinned and Ruri once again, nodded the happiest she had ever been.

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

"Dinner's ready~.................. I said dinner........ Hehe...", the dark blue haired woman smirked after hearing no response from her daughter still sitting in that couch looking at her phone. She knew it could only mean one thing and she wouldn't miss the chance to tease her a bit.

She quietly walked and stood behind her, seeing now with a moved smile as a picture of her daughter all surprised and a smiley red bow girl was showing on that phone she refused to stop looking at.

"Hah~ can you feel the love~", Michiko said melodically on Ryona's ear, startling her greatly as she quickly hid her phone behind her. "Mind your own business!", Ryona exclaimed feisty.

"Ryona, it's been long enough. When are you gonna ask her out?", Michiko sighed with hands on hips. "Shut up", Ryona looked away frowning.

"You just gotta go and say: Oh Sayori-chan! You've turned my grumpy and delinquent ass into a more responsible and happier one, your bright smile makes me get up earlier than the sun itself just to see it once again! I even mumble your name in my sleep! My love for you burns with the intensity of a thousand suns! Will you accept my confession?", Michiko dramatically put on her improvised monologue.

"Wo-Would that be okay...?", Ryona asked doubtful. "Of course it would! I'm sure you- eh?", The dark blue haired woman realized a crucial fact.

"Wait, you're still here? Nonono! Forget the fact you always go hide in your room or outside when I tease you about Sayori... You're not even denying it?!", Michiko yelled in disbelief. Ryona simply looked away all flushed and frowny.

"Ahem... Give me a second....... KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!! MY SHIP IS REAL!", Michiko shouted her soul out as she hugged her daughter full of joy and excitement. "Let me go or I'll leave", Ryona said serious.

"Sorry! But anyways! Ryonaaaaaa you little delinquent! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! Ever since she came the first time I knew you were head over heels for her!", Michiko said bouncing excited on the couch. "I'll go to my room now", Ryona tried to get up but her mother trapped her before she could do so.

"Noooo! I'll stop that I swear! Ask away! I'll advice you the best way I can!", Michiko pleaded. "...I just... Can't stop thinking about her... Is this really what they call love?", Ryona asked.

"Does she make you happy?", She asked, Ryona nodded. "Do you want her to be happy?", Ryona nodded again. "Do you wish to see her smile at you everyday?", Ryona nodded. "Do you think she's the most beautiful person in the world?", Ryona nodded.

"Then what the hell are you waiting for?! Just go and tell her that you love her please!", Her mom insisted. "You totally suck at giving advice", Ryona huffed and freed from her grip.

"But it's so clear you just gotta do that now!", Michiko whined. "Soon... That's all I can say", Ryona sighed and smiled to herself as she thought of that red bow girl once again.