More Than one

Obviously as they headed towards the restrooms, the girls were aware that they weren't going for a simple pee break. As they neared their destination, the tension rose with each step. Soon enough, they rounded the corner to be out-of-sight from any potential eavesdroppers. Mainly the boys were their concern, seeing as anyone else here were pretty much strangers.

"This seems like a private enough spot." Yuriko said. No one was going to bother a group of girls like them while they were here. "So, what's up?"

"I was just wondering…" Akiba started to speak after glancing back and forth between the other two girls. "What do you both think of Arata?" Their reactions were the only answers she needed. The pair became much more apprehensive the moment she brought him up. Though they both spoke in a manner to deny anything.

"He's a nice boy." Yuriko said while coughing from the sudden question.

"Yeah, he's a great friend." Erina followed up. "Funny, considering how he came to this group."

"Really?" Akiba wasn't falling for their poor acting. "I think he's really kind… And maybe a little cute too."

"You really think that?" Yuriko was surprised to hear her admit that. "I mean, sure, but don't you like Yogi?"

"Just like you also like him?"

"I don't like that kid." She quickly turned on the tsundere mode. "I mean, I don't have a crush on anyone, that's just silly. Only little girls have those…" Her attempts at throwing them off the trail was terrible. "B-but there's nothing wrong if either of you have crushes, or anything."

"You really need to get over yourself." Akiba's words were sharp. It was a lot harsher than what the other two had expected from her. "Is it really so bad to have a boy take your heart?'

"Whoa, are you all right?" Erina asked, but she was ignored as the girl approached the other. Neither of them would've thought that she's be so forward since this girl usually was so reserved.

"So, who do you like then? Yogi? Arata?"

"Look, it's not that easy to say." Yuriko felt herself backed into a corner here. Normally people would drop asking her if she spoke in a cold manner. It wasn't working here, so what could she do.

"Or is it… Both?" Akiba dropped out her theory about this girl. "There's nothing wrong if that's what your heart feels right now."

"Well, I just don't know, okay?" Yuriko spoke up, trying to muster courage in this situation. "When I'm with Yogi, he makes my heart skip. But Arata… I can't stop thinking about him… I'm always feelings like I'm waiting for the next time we'll be alone with the kids. Where you guys can't get in the way." Her hands were shaking when she was finished with her monologue. This went on a lot further than she was intending, but the emotions took over her body. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"That's… Fine." She responded by giving her some space once more. "The truth is, I'm confused just like you."

"We all already knew that." Erina spoke up from the sidelines. "During the festival, you kissed Akaki." All of the girls were well aware of the backroom drama that Arata and the boys were still struggling to understand. They all knew about the issues they all faced.

"Just like how you kissed Arata, right?" Akiba turned it back on her.

"It was a mistake, I didn't mean it, okay?" Erina got defensive immediately. "I was feeling down, and he came all that way to get me." To her, the girl simply got caught up in the moment. It was something she did that came with instant regret. "But, I like Yogi. I've never hidden that from you, never ever."

"Stop pretending!" Quickly, she felt herself pushed up against the wall. The eyes of her friend, mere centimeters away, seemed different that she had grown accustomed too. "Stop lying to yourself."

"Akiba." Yuriko spoke softly to try to diffuse the situation. "C-calm down, is s-something wrong?"

"Sorry, I've just been stressed out." She replied. "But, Erina… You got to stop pretending you're doing something wrong."

"But, Yogi-" Erina tried to continue the same line of reasoning she had been using the past few months.

"You're not your parents." She cut her off. "You don't hurt him just because you like another boy. And, there's nothing wrong with being confused with your feelings about these boys." At least, that's what Akiba hoped. After all, none was as conflicted as she was about those three. "Yogi, Arata, and even Akaki. I get how you feel." Was she a bad person, were they all bad people were holding these feelings for all these boys? Especially ones that they considered to be good friends at that.

"And what are we supposed to do about that?" Yuriko spoke from the sidelines this time around. "It doesn't even matter, they're the ones who need to return those feelings anyway."

"You're right." Akiba backed away from Erina to give her some space. "And I don't want to pursue one without knowing how I truly feel."

"That's why you're hanging out with Arata today, right?"

"Actually, this one was his idea." She giggled in response. But that didn't mean she didn't take advantage of the plan. "He's a lot more denser than he lets on, but I guess he already knows about my feelings for Yogi. So perhaps he's been holding back during our little 'date' today."

"That's the worst part." Yuriko lamented his attitude in protecting his friends. Since he came into this group being aware that they were after Yogi, that he almost doesn't want to consider any of them as love interests. This led to him holding back on what he was feeling, which made it impossible to see where they stood to him. "It doesn't help that Misei straight up confessed."

"Maybe we should also let him know." Akiba wanted to try to be a more honest person. That's what Arata had been pushing her to do, even when it seemed hardest. That's what he was trying to do for himself, since he became their friend based on lies. Perhaps in an attempt to continue to be their friends with the truth. "Maybe if I tell him and Akaki, then that they might understand my heart is in a strange place."

"I'll think about it." Yuriko also considered the idea. "But, I'll do it on my own terms."

"No one's forcing you." She reminded them. "And Erina, if you really want to suffer to yourself in silence, then go ahead. But I encourage you to at least think of Arata some more. He's a good friend to you, and maybe there's a reason you're conflicted."

"We'll see about that." Erina gave a non answer that wasn't very satisfactory. However, they had little time left in this bathroom stop before the boys would wonder what happened to them.

Speaking of boys, they were handling their own business while the girls were gone.

"You know I like Akiba." Akaki spoke, not giving Arata much room to move. "You even encouraged me, so why are you on a date with her?"

"It's not a date." He knew that he was on thin ice here. "The two of us were just hanging out. You know, just couple of friends."

"We both know that's a lie." Arata didn't understand what he was referring to until it was spelled out to him. "She almost never wears that kind of makeup when it's me and Yogi. Her outfit, that's special too. Even if you didn't consider it, I can tell when she's trying to impress. It's just like when I tried to set her up with Yogi." When he mentioned her dressed up appearance, Arata felt a little less bad about seeing her as a real beauty. It was meant to illicit that response from him.

"I can't believe this." Was this supposed to be another girl that fell for him? That didn't seem real to him, it was just too crazy. There was no way this was the case.

"Was that your plan all along? To steal her just like with Misei?" It would look like that to any bystanders to his life. But Arata knew what he was doing, and there was no ill intent to any of his actions.

"Of course not." He responded with anger this time. "But if she did fall for me, did you ever consider why that happened?" Arata's energy forced the boy to take a step back. Now he was the one in control of this situation. "Do you know her favorite manga? Did you even know that she has a secret place to get away from us. And I know you haven't seen her at her worst."

He wasn't going to allow himself to be pushed around. Backing away from people only led to bad things for him. "It's fine that you like her. You can even idealize her a bit, but she's worried about being with you or Yogi. That you won't like it if she lets you know how she really feels. I know about it, and it doesn't change how I've always seen her."

"I… I see." Akaki was stunned to near silence by his reveal. "She doesn't deserve a boy like me."

"Now don't bring yourself down." That wasn't Arata intention with his speech. "I'm just saying, you like her, but neither of you want to open up. That won't work, no matter how hard someone like me, or someone else, try to support you."

"But I'm not ready to confess."

"And you don't have to." He placed a hand over his shoulder. "Not right now at least, but maybe try and understand her before she learns of your feelings."

"You're right." Akaki got fired up. This confrontation they had gave him the strength to push forward with his heart. Today wasn't supposed to be viewed as an unfortunate situation, but an opportunity to grow.

"Hello boys, we're back." Akiba announced their return from the restrooms. "Now, do the two of you want to go watch the stars display?"

"I'd love too." Akaki came up to her, now that he was more energetic, he was also a lot more bold. "And I'm glad that I get to do it with you." Arata was a lot more muted in his reply, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

"Yeah, let's finish out this day on a high note."