Chapter Fourteen: The Soundtrack Of Rain

After what felt like the longest week of Kanako's life, it was mercifully almost over. But, while most were celebrating the soon-to-be coming of another weekend and the end of the month of May, the weather outside did not match the mood. Overcast skies hung above, and although it was no heavy storm, rain was predicted for most of the day. In a way, it felt fitting for Kanako and the mood she was in.

"Haaa…" she sighed as she ate her breakfast. "Is something wrong sweetheart?" her mom asked. "You've been sighing like that since last night." "H-Have I?" Kanako asked. "Sorry…" "Did you have a bad day at work or school?" her mother asked, but Kanako shook her head. "Work and school were both fine… I've just been… dealing with someone unpleasant." "Are you getting bullied?!" her mom panicked. "N-No!" Kanako exclaimed. "It's not like that…"

Honestly, Kanako wanted to explain further, but she wasn't really sure how. All she could do was think back on her argument with Katsumi. "I wonder if I said too much…" she initially thought, but then she shook her head. "No, I have to be firm. It's like Mori-san said. I have to fight." The prospect of being in a long-term battle with Katsumi was not one that Kanako relished, but if it was necessary, then that was what she would do. "It seemed like I got through to her a little yesterday, so maybe…" Kanako thought with hope.

"Kanakoooo," her mother called, suddenly getting the girl's attention. "Y-Yes?!" she yelped. "Geez, I've been saying your name for the last minute now," her mom pouted. "Haruna-chan's here to pick you up, so finish getting ready okay?" "Ah, s-sorry," Kanako said, quickly finishing her breakfast before dashing off to her room. However, as soon as she grabbed the last of what she needed, she was surprised by Haruna standing in her bedroom doorway.

"Kya!" Kanako cried. "H-Haruna? Why are you up here? I was about to come down." But, instead of vocalizing an answer, all Haruna did was march over to Kanako and then suddenly pull her in close. "H-H-Haruna?" Kanako sputtered, taken aback by the attack. For a moment, all Haruna did was stare down at Kanako. Then, she brought her lips to Kanako's, allowing them to share a kiss.

After she pulled away, she saw Kanako staring up at her, a faint blush in her cheeks. "...what was that for?" Kanako eventually asked in a lower tone. "Um, well," Haruna said, starting to feel awkward from her abrupt actions. "My aunt… called me last night. She told me that Ikehara-san had stopped by and caused some trouble for you at work."

"Oh…" Kanako said. When she had gotten home, she had been so exhausted by it all that the thought of telling Haruna had slipped her mind. "I-I'm sorry Haruna. I was going to tell you-" "I'm not mad," Haruna said quickly. "I just wish I could've protected you from that. Although, considering what my aunt said, it sounds like you didn't really need my protection." "Huh? What did Mori-san say about me?" Kanako asked. Haruna smirked a little. "She said, and I quote, 'That girl's a force ta be reckoned with. Even I shook a lil' when I saw her givin' it ta that red head.'"

"I'm sure she was just exaggerating," Kanako said. "Mori-san has lived a crazy life. There's no way someone like me would scare her." "...Kanako, you really should learn just how terrifying you are when you're angry," Haruna said in a defeated tone. "But anyways… I guess… that kiss was a way to soothe my own worries. Sorry if that's kinda selfish."

"If this is you when you're selfish, then you should do it more often," Kanako said with a smile. Then she stood up on her tiptoes. "What are you doing?" Haruna asked with a small laugh. "Making a request," Kanako said happily. "One more kiss please." "Well how can I turn down such a cute request?" Haruna said. Then they kissed once more, and after, they finally started making their way to school.

*****

"You know, it's a little lonely without Chiyo around every morning now," Kanako said as they walked along. "Really?" Haruna said. "I'd say it's more peaceful." "I know you miss her too," Kanako teased. "Yeah, I totally miss getting pounced on and knocked to the ground," Haruna said sarcastically. "But seriously… hasn't she been spending a lot more time with Fukuhara-san lately?"

"Yeah, you're right," Kanako agreed. "I think that's a good thing though." "You do?" Haruna asked. "Don't you?" Kanako asked back. "They always seem so happy together." "But they're not actually dating, right?" Haruna asked. "Ummm," Kanako let out. "No?" "Why do you sound so uncertain?" Haruna said, though she felt the same way. Really, if Chiyo and Michi were dating, Haruna was sure they would've been told, but recently, there were times when Haruna wondered if they weren't already a couple. "Then again, it's really not like Chiyo to keep secrets. She'd tell you her entire night life story if you asked."

Thinking back, Haruna was truly amazed at how much her life had changed up to this point. Not only had she managed to make up with Kanako, they were a couple now. On top of that, the girl she called her best friend had gone from constantly sleeping around to being completely head over heels for another girl. Even Jasmine had become a more open person than she had been before.

Haruna had a girlfriend, a future, and a career tentatively planned, all of which were things that she had been nowhere near having at the start of her second year of high school. "I've really come a long way, haven't I?" she thought. She held Kanako's hand a little tighter, getting the girl's attention. "Is something wrong, Haruna?" she asked, but Haruna just shook her head. "Nope. Everything's great."

…Although, one issue did still remain. "Will Ikehara-san really leave Kanako alone now?" Haruna wondered. "Kanako can be scary when she's mad, but Ikehara-san hasn't really reacted to that much in the past. And knowing her, it's totally possible that she'll just brush it off and keep gunning for Kanako." It was definitely a frustrating situation. "How do you stop someone who seemingly won't take no for an answer?"

While that was certainly a worry, Haruna still did her best to not think about it too much. "I shouldn't be worrying so much when I'm with Kanako. After all, as soon as we get to school, I'll have to be on guard duty the whole time. I should really just enjoy this time we have together." So with that decided, Haruna focused more on the girl next to her.

"She really is pretty," Haruna thought as she kept stealing glances at Kanako's features. "Her face is so smooth, and her eyes are such a calming shade of blue. And her small nose is cute. And her lips are really soft…" Running through all of the things she liked about Kanako began to make Haruna feel a little embarrassed. "It's kinda weird to be thinking about all this stuff when she's right next to me," Haruna thought. Then, perhaps unfortunately, Kanako looked up.

"Is there something on my face? Or do you just like looking at me that much?" she teased, apparently having noticed Haruna's glances. "O-Of course I like looking at you…" Haruna mumbled shyly before giving Kanako a very innocent look. "Is that so wrong?" "Ah, n-no, it isn't…" Kanako sputtered, caught off-guard by Haruna's sudden maiden-like expression. "I-I'm glad… you feel that way." "You know, this is the part where you say you like looking at me too," Haruna teased. "W-Well I do, so there!" Kanako declared, making Haruna laugh.

*****

As they continued to enjoy each other's company, they soon arrived at the school. Quickly, Haruna looked around, but she didn't spot Katsumi. "I don't see her, but she might already be inside," Haruna thought. She wanted to remain vigilant, just in case Kanako's scolding really didn't have any effect on Katsumi. "I hope Chiyo gets here soon," she thought. "It's a lot easier to guard with her around."

Just as Haruna thought that, she spotted the gal approaching. She was walking side by side with Michi, and while the shorter of the two seemed to be slightly annoyed, it was also clear that she was enjoying the company as well. It was an expression that Haruna had never really seen Michi make before, most likely because Michi only made faces like that when no one else was around. "I seriously don't get her," Haruna thought. Though then again, perhaps it wasn't her place to judge. After all, Haruna knew she had probably had very similar expressions on her face when she was with Kanako before admitting her feelings.

Reaching the gate, the two pairs greeted each other. "Mornin' Haru-chi, Kana-chan!" Chiyo said happily. "Good morning Chiyo," Kanako said. "You seem to be in a good mood today." "She's been like this all morning," Michi muttered. "Did something good happen?" Kanako asked. "Nope," Chiyo answered plainly. "I just like, woke up feeling ready to enjoy the day!" "Sometimes you're way too energetic," Haruna sighed.

Haruna and Chiyo started to make their way toward the building, but as Michi went to follow them, Kanako stopped her. "H-Hey, um, Mi-chan?" Having hardly had any one-on-one conversations in quite some time, Michi was surprised to hear Kanako call out to her. "Y-Yeah?" she said. "I-I was just wondering," Kanako said. "Is there… something going on between y-you and Chiyo?"

It was an incredibly bold question for Kanako to ask. Not only did she and Michi not really talk anymore (meaning something so personal wouldn't really be any of Kanako's business), but there was a pretty good chance that Michi would lash out at what Kanako was implying. However, regardless of the potential consequences, it was a question that Kanako felt the sudden urge to ask. Lately, she had been seeing much more of Michi and Chiyo together, and as she watched more of their interactions, she really started to wonder if maybe there was more happening than what she knew. Seeing Chiyo look especially happy just a moment ago was ultimately the final push for Kanako to ask.

She braced for impact, but to her surprise, nothing happened. "Mi-chan?" she said, looking at the girl who seemed to be spacing out. "D-Did you hear me?" "...I heard you," Michi eventually said, her voice quiet. "But I don't know how to answer you." "Eh? Isn't it just a yes or no question?" Kanako asked. "If it were that simple…" Michi said, still staring into the distance. "I probably… wouldn't feel the way I do…" Then, before Kanako could ask another question, Michi walked away.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kanako wondered. "Does it mean she has feelings for Chiyo? Or she doesn't? Or maybe she just doesn't know what her feelings mean?" She watched Michi head up to the front doors, and as she did, Kanako had one more thought. "Hang in there, Mi-chan."

*****

Katsumi's mind felt as though it was covered in a thick haze. Ever since her accident at Kanako's workplace, Katsumi had only been able to vaguely think about what had happened. Kanako's words had certainly been impactful, but what was really causing the most damage to her was how Kanako had reacted in the first place.

It wasn't simple anger. It wasn't just Kanako being a little mad. The emotion in her eyes had been nothing short of unbridled rage. That was something that Katsumi had never seen from Kanako. In fact, she had never realized that it was possible for someone to get that angry. Sure, she had gotten on the bad side of some of the girls in junior high and at her other high school, but that all felt like minor incidents in comparison to how Kanako had acted. "It was like she was a completely different person…" Katsumi thought, shivering a little from the memory.

But while that scared her, there was another feeling within her that was stronger than her fear. Mainly, confusion. Katsumi truly was incapable of understanding how things had gone so wrong for her. There had certainly been a bump here or there along the way, but she really didn't think there had been anything too bad. And yet, somehow, with the drop of a few dishes, that shattering sound came to also represent Katsumi's approach breaking to pieces.

"Why?" Katsumi thought. "Why? Why? Why, why, why?! I don't get it!" She clutched her head in hands as she leaned down on her desk in her bedroom. Ordinarily, it was a space that looked neat and stylish, but over the course of her pursuit of Kanako, it had become messier and messier. Now, clothes were strewn about and piles of various items had formed here and there on the floor.

"I'm the one that's meant for Kana-chin! Me!" she thought, her confusion shifting to immense frustration. "Not that stupid, bland imbecile who'd make a better plank than a girlfriend!" Katsumi's own angry feelings threatened to overwhelm her, but before she let it go too far, she took a breath. "I need to calm down. Being so mad isn't attractive at all…"

In the end, she understood why Kanako was upset with her. Or more accurately, she understood that Kanako was upset with her for being the main cause of those dishes getting broken. "I guess I'd be pretty embarrassed too if I was in her shoes," Katsumi thought. "That's probably why she yelled at me so much. Still though, it's really not fair. That wouldn't have happened if she had just paid attention to me in the first place. And, she didn't even give me a chance to explain! If I could just explain myself…"

That was always it for Katsumi. If she could just explain, if she could just tell Kanako her intentions, if she could just get Kanako to understand, etc, etc, etc… Because she herself couldn't understand the fact that the girl she had spent most of her life waiting for had rejected her, she just kept coming up with the same excuses in order to keep her dead hopes alive.

But excuses could only carry her so far. In reality, it was only action that could truly bring about the changes she wanted. But what more could she do? She tried flirting, going on a date, taking more extreme measures, and being persistent… none of it seemed to work. Getting mad at Kanako wasn't going to solve anything either. If anything, that would probably just make things worse. And as things stood now, it was Kanako that was the one that was mad. Regardless of how Katsumi perceived it, anger was anger, and there was really only one way to resolve it.

"I have to get her to forgive me," Katsumi thought, although it wasn't as if she was truly sorry for anything. She felt a little bad for playing a role in those dishes breaking, but otherwise, Katsumi didn't really see much wrong with her actions. Honestly, the thought of even asking someone for forgiveness was one that bothered Katsumi. It wasn't as if she believed she could do no wrong. Rather, it had more to do with the times she had screwed up, Katsumi had been able to work around or get out of it completely. Whether it be her looks or her smarts, she always found a way to get things to work out for her. But now…

How could she get Kanako to forgive her if Katsumi herself failed to see her own wrongdoings to the severity that they had gone? Was such a thing even possible? Then again, if Katsumi didn't actually understand anyways, then the answer of whether or not it was possible was obviously zero. At least, that's what the average person would conclude.

"Maybe if I apologize and it's believable, Kana-chin will forgive me. It's not like I really have to feel bad or anything to give a heartfelt apology. My feelings of wanting to reconnect with Kana-chin should be more than enough to cover that." So, with a new plan made, Katsumi mentally prepared to approach Kanako once more.

*****

After talking with Michi at the front gate, Kanako suddenly felt like she had a lot to think about. Their conversation really wasn't much, but to Kanako, it really felt like progress. Somehow, without even trying, the two of them were beginning to mend fences. "I'm sure that's because of Chiyo too," Kanako thought. It was a reasonable conclusion, really. Chiyo and Michi had started spending a lot more time together, and that meant eating lunch together too. What that also turned out to mean was eating lunch together with Haruna and Kanako. When it had first started, Kanako had been worried about having all of them in one spot, but so far, their lunches had been relatively peaceful. And now, it was thanks to that everyday association that Kanako was beginning to speak with Michi again, if only a little.

It gave her hope for potentially having a friendship with Michi again, something that Kanako had thought would take a miracle to make happen. "It would be nice… if we could hang out like we used to," Kanako thought, but to be clear, this wasn't a desire to return things to how they once were. Rather, it was a hope to regain some semblance of a relationship that Kanako deeply treasured. Despite all of the arguments and troubles that had occurred between the two girls over the last year or so, there was no denying that Michi had done a lot for Kanako in the past as well. Aside from that, the two of them shared plenty of fond memories together. They had laughed, played and had all sorts of good times before their friendship fell apart.

Michi had been Kanako's best friend. Someone she confided in, trusted and relied upon. Whether or not it was possible to get back to such an intimate level, Kanako wasn't sure, but the thought that she could one day call Michi a true friend of hers again someday was certainly something that lifted her spirits.

But as she thought about friendships, Kanako's eyes drifted to Katsumi as they all sat in the classroom. A lecture was in progress, but Kanako could hardly focus as she thought on recent events. To be more precise, she was thinking about her relationship with Katsumi. "It's so different from Mi-chan," Kanako thought. "I mean, Ikehara-san and I were friends, but it wasn't like we were super close. And then she just disappeared…"

It made Kanako wonder. What would her life be like right now if instead of vanishing, Katsumi had stayed in touch? Would they have remained friends? Or perhaps… things would've gone further… Honestly, with the way Kanako's life was right now, imagining something like a different relationship or different life was just a picture that didn't come together in Kanako's mind. For her, the only present and future that mattered was the one she was going to build with Haruna.

But what if? What if Kanako really had ended up in a relationship with Katsumi? What would that look like? Would she be just as happy as she is now? "Could we… have had a life together?" Kanako wondered idly. It wasn't a thought she pursued nor put any weight into, but just like any other "what if" question that comes into one's mind, Kanako did think about it a little.

Ultimately though, it was pointless. Kanako was steadfast in her love for Haruna, and she knew Haruna felt the same. While it was perhaps too bold to call it destiny, it felt as though it was impossible for the two of them to go onto a track where they weren't together. As far as Kanako was concerned, her future was decided.

Perhaps that was why it was so frustrating for her that Katsumi kept coming to her in romantic pursuit. To Kanako, Katsumi's chase was like a wild animal constantly running its head into a brick wall. No matter how many times it did it, nothing would change. The skull of the creature would sooner cave before the wall fell. In that same line, Kanako had to wonder what the end result would be for Katsumi. After having received such a stern lecture the other day, Kanako hoped that Katsumi would learn from that and move on. However, past experience told her that that was unlikely.

For the time being, Katsumi was behaving herself, but Kanako had the feeling that at some point, the girl would try to approach her again. In what method that would be, Kanako could only guess, but it felt like it was a certainty that it would happen. So the question became, how would Kanako deal with it? Just yelling at Katsumi again probably wouldn't solve anything. Sara's words of telling Kanako to fight briefly came to mind, but she knew that getting physical was definitely not the answer either. "I just don't know how to get through to her…"

All through the school day, Kanako thought about the (assumed) impending encounter with Katsumi. Yet surprisingly, that encounter never came. Breaks came and went, lunch went uninterrupted, and after school was free of surprise. After having expected Katsumi all day now, Kanako was almost to the point of worry. "Is she really not going to talk to me?" Kanako thought. That was something that should've brought her relief, but instead, all it did was make her anxious.

Though perhaps she was being too hasty. There was still her job after all. It was always possible that Katsumi could show up there. "That would be even worse than school…" Kanako sighed. "I just hope she doesn't make me break any more dishes…"

And yet, Katsumi didn't show. Kanako spent most of her shift constantly glancing at the door and around the tables, but there was no redhead to be found. That is, until Kanako's shift ended. Finally, just as she was ready to leave, Kanako caught a glimpse of Katsumi's face outside the door's window. "There she is."

Having braced herself for this moment, Kanako walked out the door and met Katsumi head-on. "This feels familiar," Kanako said plainly. "Were you waiting for me again?" "I figured this was the only way I could talk to you," Katsumi said, her voice lacking its usual energy. "Can you talk?" "I can, but I don't want to," Kanako said, beginning to walk away. She felt a little guilty about being so cold, but at the moment, this was the best way to fight that she could think of.

"Kana-chin," Katsumi said, sounding serious. "Just… just a few minutes, that's all." "Why should I?" Kanako asked, turning around. "You've done nothing but cause me trouble, Ikehara-san. Give me one good reason why I should listen to anything you have to say."

"You're right."

"...eh?"

Hearing Katsumi concede so easily really caught Kanako by surprise. "W-What do you mean I'm right?" she asked. "You're right," Katsumi repeated. "I have caused you a lot of trouble. Your words from before really made me think, y'know? So I figured the best thing for me to do right now is to talk to you… and say I'm sorry." Then Katsumi bowed deeply.

As for Kanako, she was more confused than anything. "Is Ikehara-san… actually apologizing for the things she's done?" she thought. It wasn't as if Kanako thought Katsumi was incapable of saying she was sorry, but so far, Katsumi hadn't shown any remorse at all. Had Kanako really gotten through to her after all?

"I-Ikehara-san, do you really mean that?" Kanako asked tentatively. "Yeah, I mean it," Katsumi answered. "After all, my feelings for you are important to me. There's no way I'd do something insincere." However, hearing that response made Kanako stop. There was something in that phrasing that she noticed. A detail that stood out the most that told her Katsumi still really hadn't learned anything.

"My feelings for you…" Kanako muttered back. "If you were really sorry, you wouldn't even bother bringing up those feelings, considering they're the biggest reason of all why you keep causing trouble in the first place." "N-No, I just meant-" Katsumi sputtered, realizing her error. "Forget it, Ikehara-san," Kanako said, glaring for a moment before closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh. "Haaaah… I'm just so sick of this. Why does stuff like this keep happening?" "K-Kana-chin?" Katsumi called out, becoming confused by Kanako's irritation.

"First it was Haruna. We had to pretend to be a couple. That was one big lie. Then it was Akio-kun. He told me he loved me, then turned out and told me it was all one big joke. Another lie. And now you, Ikehara-san. No matter how many times I tell you I won't fall for you, you keep coming. Then, when it seems like you might've actually learned something for once, it turns out your apology is just an act. Liar."

"I'm tired of all the lies, manipulation, and insincerity. Is it really so hard for people to pursue love earnestly? Can you not chase after something that has a chance over something that doesn't? If you have to compromise yourself, is it even worth it? To me, a love built on things like these is shallow and weak, and it would never last."

"B-But you mentioned Endo-san, so doesn't that mean-" Katsumi began to point out, but Kanako cut her off. "She changed, Ikehara-san. Haruna changed in ways I never imagined. She not only became the girl I knew, but she also became someone that I know I can have a future with. But you, Ikehara-san… You just refuse to accept what's happening. Instead you keep insisting that your feelings for me are strong and that you love me the most, but you can't seem to see that it doesn't matter."

"It…doesn't matter?" Katsumi uttered darkly. "What the hell? It doesn't matter?! Of course it does! It's mattered to me for years, Kana-chin! I've held onto these feelings for so long because I know there's something special between us! I felt it the moment I met you! Are you really just going to tell me that none of that matters just because you're being stubborn?!"

"Stubborn?" Kanako repeated. "This isn't about being stubborn, Ikehara-san! I'm dating someone and you keep telling me you love me anyways! If anyone's stubborn here, it's you for not accepting rejection!"

"What's the point in accepting it when I'm clearly better?!" Katsumi shouted back. "God Kana-chin, you were never like this before! The old you would've understood! I'm sure that beast you call a girlfriend is behind these bad behaviors!"

"Stop constantly insulting Haruna!" Kanako yelled. "Why do you even have to be so mean, Ikehara-san?!"

"I'm just telling the truth!"

"You're just being a bully!"

"Okay, okay, girls, that's enough. Yer scarin' away my customers."

Having heard all the yelling outside, Sara had come out to investigate. "If you two wanna fight, that's fine, but it can't be here." "S-Sorry, Mori-san…" Kanako said with a short bow. "Whatever," Katsumi said with a huff. "I've had enough of this anyways." Then she turned to leave, but before she really left, she said one more thing. "I'll make you see how much better I am, Kana-chin."

After Katsumi walked away, Sara scratched the back of her head. "Sheesh, what was that about?" "I don't even know anymore… " Kanako sighed, but then she felt a hand on her head. She looked up and saw Sara smiling at her. "Fight, Kana-chan. Don't ever let go of what ya really want." "Right," Kanako said with a nod. With that encouragement, Kanako's mood improved a little, and she finally made her way home.

*****

Having gotten one more hectic event squeezed in, finally, Friday had come. Though Katsumi had left with a villainous-sounding statement, Kanako had decided to not give it much thought. It wasn't as if thinking about it a lot would help her at all, and really, she had more important things to think about, like a certain fixation she had. Really, it was thanks to Katsumi that Kanako was even thinking about this as much as she was, finding a renewed desire to make her and Haruna's relationship even better.

To put it bluntly, Kanako wanted to have sex.

Of course, this had been something that she had been thinking about for a while now, but the constant distractions from Katsumi had made achieving that objective difficult. Now, with Katsumi no longer much of a problem (at least in Kanako's mind), Kanako wanted to put her focus on the things that really mattered to her. Mainly, that meant progressing her relationship with Haruna.

In order to achieve that, she had managed to set up Haruna to eat lunch with Hinami (and fortunately, Michi's other friends asked her to join their group). This allowed Kanako to talk to the two girls that had more experience than anyone she knew. However, unlike the last time she had spoken with the two gals, Kanako had something different she wanted to know.

Sitting on the roof once more, Kanako faced the two of them. "What's up Kana-chan?" Chiyo asked. "I'm gonna guess this has somethin' to do with Haru-chi,'' Jasmine added. Kanako nodded. "Y-Yeah, it does. A-And also me too…" "Ohhh?" Chiyo said with intrigue. "What could involve both of ya, I wonder?" "Stop making her feel more embarrassed than she already is," Jasmine sighed. "Go ahead Kana-chan. We're listenin'."

"W-Well," Kanako began. "How, um… h-how do you… s-set the mood… for, u-um… se…" Unable to bring herself to completely say her question, Kanako could feel her face burning up. "So innocent. So cute," Chiyo said as she enjoyed watching Kanako. "Uuu…" Kanako whimpered. "Hey, it's okay Kana-chan," Jasmine said kindly. "Everybody's gotta start somewhere with this stuff. And it's even different for you, considering you're dating a girl."

"Huh? Would it really be different?" Chiyo asked Jasmine. "If I like, played some slow music and made you a nice dinner, would your first thought be 'Oh, she wants to do me?" Jasmine asked back. Playfully, Chiyo snuggled up to Jasmine. "Ravish me, my dear," she said. In response, Jasmine rolled her eyes and pushed Chiyo away by the face.

"Anyways," Jasmine said, ignoring Chiyo's cries of being so coldly rejected. "What exactly do ya wanna do Kana-chan?" "I-I'm not really sure. I-It's not like I've done anything like this, s-so I thought asking you two might be a good idea…" Kanako answered shyly. "Well, we totes know Haru-chi pretty well," Chiyo said, having recovered from her rejection. "I'm sure we can come up with a great mood-setter for the two of ya."

"But then again," Jasmine chimed in. "It's not like either of us have a whole lot of experience in romance." "That's true," Chiyo agreed, but then she quickly changed her mind. "Wait, no it's not! Jas-chin, you have like, boatloads of experience with all those boyfriends you've had!" But in response, Jasmine shook her head. "It's true I dated a lot, but I don't know how much of it could be considered romantic. Most of the time it was just guys looking for a fling or guys that wanted to look cool by having a hot girlfriend." "I'm not sure if I should pity you for being treated like that or envy you that you just called yourself hot," Chiyo commented.

"My point is," Jasmine continued, looking at Kanako. "While we both know Haru-chi, we could end up being completely off the mark when it comes to what she wants romantically. That's something only you'd know, Kana-chan." "Yeah, I guess you're right…" Kanako sighed. "But I just don't know what I should do. Should we go on a nice date before, or should we just flirt some at home, or…"

Watching Kanako give her first time such serious thought, Jasmine smiled. "Kana-chan," she said, getting the girl's attention. "Maybe this won't mean much, coming from me, but… I think it doesn't have to be some big event. Unlike everything me or Chiyo have done, you're in a relationship with someone you genuinely love. No matter how it happens, it'll be special for the two of you."

"B-But how do I know when the right time is?" Kanako asked. "It'll just happen," Jasmine said. "After all, aren't the best moments unplanned ones?" "That sounds pretty romantic," Chiyo said, giving a side eye to Jasmine. "W-Well, it's not like I've never had a moment or two," she quickly said, feeling the pressure a little. "And don't act like you haven't either." "What? Me?" Chiyo asked, confused. "Yeah, you! Does a short, blonde girl ring any bells?" Jasmine shot back. "Y'know, the one you never shut up about?" "I-It's not like I talk about Mi-chan all the time!" Chiyo cried.

Seeing the two gals go back and forth made Kanako laugh. "Thanks for your help," she said, giggling. "I think I'm going to head back now." Then Kanako stood up and headed for the door to the stairs. Once she was out of sight, Chiyo turned back to Jasmine. "Think we were any help?" "I know you weren't," Jasmine said back. "Jas-chin, why do you hurt me?" Chiyo said, acting wounded.

For a moment, they sat in silence. Then, Chiyo asked another question. "...Think Haru-chi will be any good in bed?"

"...I'm leaving."

"Ah, hey, c'mon Jas-chin! I know you're totally curious too!"

"Nope," Jasmine answered swiftly, walking away.

"Wait up, Jas-chiiiiin!"

*****

"...You didn't happen to bring an umbrella with you, did you?" Haruna asked as she stared outside. "No…" Kanako said, sounding defeated. At the moment, the two of them were standing just outside of the school building under an overhang. As it so happened, a rainshower had rolled in, leaving many students to either protect themselves with whatever they had on hand or just simply brave the elements.

"I didn't think it was going to rain today," Kanako commented. "And I usually don't carry an umbrella," Haruna added. "Huh? You don't?" Kanako asked. "Aren't you worried about catching a cold?" "Isn't that just a thing in anime and manga?" Haruna asked back. "It's not like a little rain hitting you will put you on death's door." "If either of us get sick now, I'm blaming you for saying that," Kanako said.

"K…Kana-chan," a voice suddenly called. Turning around, Kanako saw Michi standing behind her. "Mi-chan?" she said, surprised by the girl's appearance. Briefly, Michi stood awkwardly, seeming to not be sure how to proceed. But, before Kanako could say anything else, Michi then stuck out her hand. In it was a rolled up umbrella. "Here," she said. "Eh? But what about you?" Kanako asked.

Looking embarrassed, Michi lightly pointed behind her. Standing off to the side was Chiyo, a large, hot pink umbrella hanging over her head. "Chiyo… said we should share…" Michi said meekly. Picking up on what was happening, Kanako smiled. "That's nice." "There's nothing nice about it…" Michi muttered, her cheeks gaining a small amount of red. "A-Anyways, you can just give me back the umbrella at school on Monday." "Well, if you're really okay with it…" Kanako said, slowly taking the item from Michi.

Once it was out of her hand, Michi gave a short nod before walking over to Chiyo. The gal looked over and gave a small wave to Kanako and Haruna, then she leaned down to whisper something to Michi. Right after, Michi flinched and seemed to harshly whisper something back, but Kanako couldn't tell what it was. Then the two of them began walking out into the rain under the same umbrella, with Chiyo being sure to keep Michi close so she wouldn't get wet.

"I guess we should go as well," Kanako said, unfurling the umbrella. "Give that to me," Haruna said, taking it. "I am the taller one after all." "Then please protect me from the rain, okay?" Kanako said smoothly, causing Haruna to blush. "I-I'll do my best."

Despite the rain, the walk home turned out to be a calm one, and both Haruna and Kanako managed to make it back, hardly getting hit by the rain at all. "Alright, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Haruna said as she stood in front of her entryway, making plans for the weekend. "Hang on," Kanako said, not wanting to part yet. "W-Why don't I make you some tea?" Hearing that offer, Haruna smiled. "Alright. You do make good tea." So the two of them headed inside of the Endo residence.

To Haruna's surprise, both of her parents were already home. "Huh?" she let out as she walked into the living room. "What are you two doing here?" "Surprisingly, we got everything done early and there was nothing else that needed to be done before the weekend," her mother explained. "So we were able to get home earlier than usual."

"H-Hello," Kanako said, making her greetings. "Hello Kana-chan," Haruna's mother said, her father adding a small grunt as he continued looking over at papers in his hands. The two Endo parents were sitting at the dining table. Though they had said their work was done, it certainly didn't look that way. However, Haruna didn't have much interest in what they were doing, so she decided not to ask.

"Do you mind if I use your kitchen?" Kanako asked Haruna's mother. "Go ahead," she said. So Kanako went in and began brewing tea, soon creating a comfortable fragrance that wafted through the air of the open space. Once it was done, she poured four cups and brought them to the table.

"Oh, I thought you were just making some for you and Haruna," Haruna's mother remarked. "You didn't need to go through the trouble." "It's no trouble at all," Kanako said kindly. "Haruna could stand to learn some of those manners you have, Kana-chan," Haruna's mother said. "H-Hey!" the daughter cried. "You make it sound like I'm a horrible kid or something!" "Don't worry Haruna," Kanako said. "I think you're wonderful." "T-Thanks…" Haruna mumbled shyly.

With tea in hand, the two girls then made their way to the couch, sitting close to each other. "Mmm," Haruna hummed in delight. "Seriously, why is your tea always better?" "Maybe it's my love for you that I mix into every pot," Kanako joked. "That would explain the hint of sweetness I always taste," Haruna added, getting a small laugh out of her girlfriend.

The mood in the living room was quite relaxed, as Haruna and Kanako drank their tea together and Haruna's parents spent their own time together at the table. But, in an instant, that tranquility was shattered by a resounding knock at the front door.

"Sis! Ya home?" a voice called from the other side. Hearing it, Haruna's mother looked up with a start. "Is that Sara?" she wondered aloud, surprised. Getting up from her seat, she went to the door and opened it. Immediately, the three remaining individuals heard a "Hiya Sis!" followed by an "Oof!" from the other voice. Curious, Haruna's dad got up as well and went to see what was going on.

"Well look at that!" Kanako and Haruna heard. "Yer both home! Aren't'cha usually still at work at this time?" "We got off early," Haruna's father answered. Based on his tone, he sounded annoyed, but with his next words, that assumption vanished. "It's good to see you, Sara."

Kanako looked at Haruna. "Are your parents and Mori-san close?" she asked. Haruna thought for a moment before answering. "It's kinda hard to say," she said. "I mean, they don't spend a lot of time together now, but when they were younger, apparently they were always together." "Really?" Kanako asked. "That's right!" an enthusiastic voice responded. Turning, Kanako spotted Sara standing right next to her. "Eep!" she squeaked.

"Hey there Kana-chan," Sara said. "Didn't expect to see ya here." "W-Well, here I am," Kanako said, not sure what else to say. Sara laughed at her response, then looked at both Haruna and Kanako. "Yeah, the three of us played around a lot way back when," Sara continued. "Haruna, your father was a riot in those days." "W-We don't need to rehash the past," Haruna's dad called from behind, but Sara ignored him. "Lemme tell ya," she said. "When he first met yer mom, it was like watchin' love bloom on sight! He had stars in his eyes and everythin'!" "Sara, really, you don't need to tell my daughter these things…" Haruna's dad whimpered. Watching the usual stoic man falter so much caused Kanako to see him in a slightly different light than she had before.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop," Sara said with a grin. "S-So, Mori-san," Kanako chimed in. "I know Haruna's mom is your sister, b-but how are you so close with her dad too?" "Ah, that?" Sara said casually. "Simple. I set 'im up." "Eh?" Kanako let out. "Sis here wasn't the romantic type," Sara said, pointing back to her sister. "So, Haruna's dad came to me and asked me if I could get her to agree to go on a date. I thought it'd be fun and good fer her, so I decided to help him out."

"Unfortunately, it turned out to be harder than either of us thought it'd be. We spent a lot of time together comin' up with plans, so we just naturally got close." "That sounds like the set-up of a romance manga," Haruna said. "But, in that case, you would've gotten together with my father."

Sara laughed loudly. "Yeah right! That guy ain't my type!" "I'm not interested in her either, for the record," Haruna's father said. "Although, just like back then, it still hurts to hear that put so bluntly…" "Hey, what's it matter? Ya ended up with a great girl, right?" Sara said back with a grin. Haruna's parents both smiled at each other in silent agreement.

"W-Who is your type, Mori-san?" Kanako asked. "Hmmm," Sara let out as she thought. "Probably someone fun. Y'know, like the kind of person who's up for adventure." "There probably aren't a lot of people like that," Haruna said. "At least not around here." "Really?" Sara said. "I had a customer that fit the bill perfectly the other day." "Who?" Haruna asked, but Sara just smiled wryly. "That's a secret."

After the conversation wrapped up, Sara stuck around for a bit to talk with Haruna's parents. She had swung by once before just to tell them she was back in the area, but this was the first time they were spending any substantial time together since her return. The conversation at the table seemed quite lively (although, that was mostly because of Sara).

A couple of hours later, Sara was ready to leave, but as she was beginning to head for the door, she went over to Haruna and Kanako. "Y'know, you two have looked awfully cozy the whole time I've been here," Sara said to them, keeping her voice low. Then she stared at them for a moment, seemingly thinking about something before then making a decision. "Hey, Kana-chan," she said in a whisper. "I'm gonna help ya out a bit." "H-Huh?" Kanako let out. "Help me out?" "You two look like you could use some alone time," Sara said with a knowing grin. "But it's hard to do that as kids, yeah? Let your auntie here lend a hand."

Kanako was beginning to catch on to what Sara was getting at, but before she could say anything, Sara went to work. "Hey you two~!" she said to Haruna's parents. "I just had a great idea. Let's go on vacation!" "...huh?" both of Haruna's parents said. "Pack yer bags!" Sara declared. "S-Sara, hang on!" her sister exclaimed. "We can't just go on vacation on a moment's notice! We have work, and-"

"Ya can't just think about work Sis. When was the last time ya took some time for yerself?"

"T-That's not really the point…"

"We simply can't. There's no way our boss would allow it," Haruna's dad added.

"What's his number? I'll give 'im a call," Sara said casually. Then she took her sister's phone and found the number. She dialed, and after a few rings, someone on the other end answered. "Hey, this is Sara Mori. I'm calling about… yeah, that's right… c'mon, you can lose 'em for a week… Call this number I'm gonna tell ya and it'll be fine…" Then Sara hung up. A few moments later, the phone rang again, and she answered. "...Great! Thanks a bunch!" Then she hung up again. Everyone who watched all of this had no idea what had just happened or what Sara had just done.

"Vacayyy!" Sara declared once more. "B-But what about Haruna?" the girl's mother said, offering up one more excuse to get out of the trip. Ordinarily, a spontaneous trip would be a gift, but a trip with Sara was not to be taken lightly (or really, taken at all).

"Ah, right," Sara said. Then she pulled out her wallet, pulled out a card, and flipped it to Haruna. "W-Whoa!" Haruna said as she had to catch the card. "Use that," Sara said "Feel free to spend what ya want. Oh, but don't go too crazy. If ya buy a mansion, that'll dent my account." "W-Who's gonna buy a mansion?!" Haruna exclaimed. Looking at the shiny, black card in her hand, she began to wonder just how much power she had been given. "I kinda wanna know what the deal with this card is," Haruna thought. "But then again, I think it's probably best if I don't know. I'll just stick to using this for regular expenses."

With work and money both taken care of, Haruna's parents had no more reasons they could come up with to refuse. "Sara, will your cafe be alright?" Haruna's mother asked, but Sara just shrugged. "It'll be fine for a week or so. I'll just say we're doin' renovations or somethin'." "Don't lie to your customers!" her sister complained. "Well, then I'll just actually make renovations," Sara said. Then she made another phone call, and that was that.

After about 30 minutes of packing (moved along by Sara), the trio then got ready to set off. As they did, Sara swung by Kanako and Haruna one more time. "Have fun you two~." she whispered, making both Haruna and Kanako feel embarrassed by her implications. Then Sara and Haruna's parents left, leaving the two girls alone.

"...W-Well, I guess I should probably get going!" Kanako said abruptly, although in her head, she was chastising herself. "Ugh, what am I doing?! This is a perfect opportunity! Wait, no, thinking something like that makes me sound like some sort of lecher, doesn't it?! And why am I freaking out anyway? Isn't this what I was hoping for? But then again, even if I want to, Haruna may not-"

"Hey," Haruna said, breaking Kanako out of her spiral. Along with her words, Haruna had also moved to grab Kanako's wrist. "Why don't… you just, um… y-y'know… s-stay… the night… o-or something…" Considering how embarrassed Haruna seemed to be, Kanako wondered if her words meant what she thought they meant. "Are we… thinking about the same thing right now? Then again, after what Mori-san said, it'd be kind of hard not to be…"

Regardless, Kanako couldn't deny that Haruna asking her to sleep over was a very tempting offer. "But if I do…" she thought. "What will happen…?" At the moment, Kanako was feeling so many emotions. Excitement over the potential of reaching a new level in her relationship with Haruna. Fear over what changes that new level could bring. Nervousness because of her lack of experience. It was one after the other. "I wonder… if Haruna is feeling the same way I am right now?"

"H-Haruna," Kanako said. "Are you sure… you want me to s-stay the night?"

"Y…yeah…"

Her brief hesitation, the slight avoidance in her gaze as her answer crossed her lips, and the way her movements slowed, as if putting her uncertainty on display, all told Kanako what she wanted to know. "We are thinking the same thing…" It made her smile a little knowing that.

However, knowing and doing are of course different things, and while her newly gained knowledge brought her some peace of mind, Kanako had no idea what to do next. Initially, she sat back down. Then she got up and offered to make some snacks or something, but Haruna reminded her that they had eaten not that long ago while Sara had been there. Then Kanako sat back down, but she couldn't seem to stop fidgeting.

Suddenly, Kanako saw Haruna's hand come over her own. Looking up, she saw Haruna smiling at her. "After what Auntie Sara said, I guess we've both got ideas in our heads. That's why you've been acting weird, right?" "Y-Yes…" Kanako admitted. "I-I'm sorry… I just keep thinking about lewd things… That's probably gross, isn't it?"

"Why would it be?" Haruna asked point-blank. Kanako stared at her. "Kanako, we're dating. Isn't part of what's included in that being able to do things you wouldn't be able to do if we weren't a couple?" "W-Well, yes, but-" Kanako began to say, but Haruna cut her off.

"I've imagined a lot what it'll be like to see you naked!" she suddenly said. "H-H-Haruna?! W-Why are you saying something like that?!" Kanako exclaimed. Although Haruna had said what she said with boldness, her face was practically steaming from the heat of embarrassment. "B-Because I want you to know," she said. "That you're not the only one… w-who's been thinking about… o-our… f-f-first time…"

"It's not easy for me either, you know," she continued. "I hold back a lot. There are so many times when I just want to hug you or kiss you when we're at school. On our walks home, I wanna hold you so close that it's hard to walk. And when we're alone like this, I just… wanna touch you…" Haruna was doing her best to hold Kanako's gaze, but the longer she went on, the more shy she became, eventually averting her eyes by looking down.

"Wanting to do more… wanting to have more… monopolizing someone's everything… seeing sides that only you'll see… feeling equal amounts of both love and desire… Isn't that what it means to be in love?"

"Haruna…" Kanako uttered, amazed at her girlfriend's words. After taking them in, Kanako closed her eyes. "Yes… you're right," she said. Then she opened her eyes again and took Haruna's hands into her own. "Haruna," she said. "I-I want… to do more with you…" "I feel the same," Haruna said softly. "Although, it feels a little forced now, doesn't it? Like we're only doing this because of what Auntie Sara said." But Kanako didn't agree.

"Even if she had said nothing, I think this day would've come sooner rather than later," Kanako said. "After all, you said you've been holding back too. If two people are dating and holding back, just how long will they hold out?" "I guess that's true," Haruna said with a laugh.

Unfortunately, the conversation petered out there, creating an awkward silence between the two of them. "Great," Haruna thought. "Just when a good mood was starting to get going, we both froze up." Looking next to her, Haruna could see that Kanako was struggling too. "Geez, when it comes down to it, we're just two inexperienced girls who have no idea what we're doing," Haruna thought.

"S-So, um," she managed to say. "S-Should we… go up to my room? F-For the bed, I mean…"

"Oh! Y-Yeah, s-sure…"

Standing up, Haruna felt completely stiff. "Even my body is awkward," she thought dejectedly. "C'mon girl, get it together!" Forcing herself to move more fluidly, Haruna reached out and pulled Kanako up by the hand. "L-Let's go," she said. But, hearing Haruna sound so serious (especially considering the situation), Kanako just ended up laughing. "Are we going on a journey?" she giggled. "I-In a way…" Haruna said. "Ugh, whatever! Let's just go!"

"Hang on."

Hearing that, Haruna stopped, but as soon as she turned around to face Kanako, she was met with a sudden tug downward on the collar of her shirt, and a soft sensation on her lips. The two were kissing, and after a few seconds, they separated. "W-What was that for…?" Haruna uttered. "I-I guess… it's a prelude," Kanako said. "And it was just to say that I love you."

Warmth filled Haruna's chest. Bending down more, she took Kanako's face into her hands and kissed her again. "Why're you so damn cute?" Haruna said softly after the kiss, still holding Kanako's face. "Eheheheh," Kanako giggled. "There's no way either of us can hold back now, huh?" "Not. A. Chance." And with one more kiss, the two of them headed for Haruna's bedroom.

*****

"Kyaaa! Ahahaha!" Kanako squealed in delight as Haruna playfully pushed her onto the bed. Quickly, she climbed on and laid down next to Kanako, wrapping her arms around the girl's waist and pulling her close. With no hesitation, Haruna kissed her again. "Mm," Kanako moaned.

Normally, they would've stopped there, but this time was much different than any other. For them, Haruna and Kanako both knew that this time was special. As if to acknowledge that fact, their lips continued to separate and reconnect, each exchange igniting more desire between the two of them.

"Haa…H-Har… Haruna…" Kanako managed to say. Her head was slowly being filled with ecstasy. This was it, she thought. This was what she had been waiting for. Her lips never leaving Haruna's. Her hands always in contact with Haruna's body. Her mind filled with only the girl that was lying next to her.

Following the flow of things, Kanako's hand slid down and then back up, going along Haruna's torso. For a brief moment, the girl flinched, but then she continued on, with her own hands doing much the same that Kanako's were.

"I guess… we should… get undressed," Kanako said between kisses and breaths. Giving just a short "mm," as her answer, Haruna stood up and Kanako followed suit. "You know, it's been a long time since we changed in front of each other," Haruna said. "But I guess this isn't really changing as much as it is… g-getting naked…" "I-It feels kind of embarrassing, doesn't it?" Kanako said, blushing. "But… I want you to see, Haruna… "I want to see you, too…" the other said faintly.

The two girls both got undressed, and they faced each other.

"Wow…"

"Amazing…"

Both Haruna and Kanako let their impressions slip through as they took in the sight of the other. In Haruna's eyes, she saw a girl shorter than her, but with just noticeable curves that accentuated Kanako's assets. Her skin also looked incredibly smooth, like Haruna could sink into it. And as for what Kanako saw, she stared at the girl who was perfectly slim. Though she lacked on the discernible features that most girls had, Kanako found a beauty in it that she couldn't describe.

"God..." Haruna muttered. "This is so embarrassing… Why'd we have to do this with the lights on anyways…" "Why do you sound upset, Haruna?" Kanako asked. "Come on," Haruna said. "You… you can see everything right now… or more like a lack of everything…" "Haruna, it's fine," Kanako said gently, but Haruna just shook her head as she tried to cover parts of herself. "It's not fine. I mean, look at me… It's not like I care a lot about my looks or anything, but… In a situation like this, having nothing really to speak of just really doesn't feel great. Haah, seriously, why'd I have to be as flat as a board anyway? It's not attractive at all…"

Before Haruna knew it, the lights had been flipped off and a couple seconds later she was being pushed down. "W-Whoa! Hey, Kanako be care-"

"Don't say that…"

"Huh? S-Say what?"

"Don't say you're not attractive!" Kanako shouted. "There are so many things I love about the inner you, Haruna, but there are just as many I love about the outer you! I love your skin and how pale it is! I love your breasts being so flat because it means I can press my ear right to your heart! And I… I-I love your butt too, because I think it fits you perfectly!"

"M-My butt?!" Haruna exclaimed, having never heard anyone give her such a compliment. "O-Okay, okay, I get it Kanako! And… t-thanks for loving my body so much…" "I love every part of you, Haruna," Kanako said as she continued to kneel above her. "From your hair to your feet, to your heart, mind and soul, I love you." "I love you too, Kanako…" Haruna said. Then Kanako leaned down and kissed her.

*****

The rain steadily poured outside, softly rapping against the windows. With each drop that hit, a note was formed, adding to the music that would become and so remain as the soundtrack to a moment that the two girls would never forget.

They laid on the bed together, their bodies intertwining, becoming one and then separating, their mouths gasping for both air and with delight as they experienced things they had never experienced before. And while it wasn't always smooth, it was memorable. A memory that would last an eternity in each of them as they dove into the pleasures of the moment that was sure to be the first of many.

*****

"I'm…so…exhausted…" Haruna said between breaths. "Me…too…" Kanako managed to say. Currently, they were both lying on the bed, the sheets only covering them from the waist down. Haruna was flat on her back, and Kanako was right next to her, with her head on Haruna's chest. "I can hear your heart racing," Kanako said softly. "I don't think… I've used my body this much… since I was snowboarding," Haruna said, causing Kanako to laugh.

"But… it was fun, wasn't it?" Kanako asked. "Other than when you stabbed me with your finger," Haruna said, still a little miffed. "S-Sorry about that…" Kanako said sheepishly. "But you also bit the wrong thing, remember?" "Y-Yeah, sorry…" Haruna mumbled. Looking at each other, the two of them couldn't help but laugh.

"I think I understand now why Chiyo liked doing this so much," Haruna said. "You should probably never tell Chiyo that," Kanako said. "Agreed," Haruna nodded. "But still… there were so many things I felt that I didn't even know existed." "You also made a lot of sounds I didn't know you could make," Kanako teased. "S-Shut up!" Haruna said. "It's not like you were any better!" "W-Well…"

The two of them fell into silence, enjoying the company and warmth of the other. "...It's still raining," Haruna said. "Yes," Kanako said. "But I'm kind of glad it is." "Huh? Why?" Haruna asked. "Because," Kanako explained. "In this moment, cuddled up next to you after what we did, the rain feels like the perfect soundtrack." "That's true," Haruna agreed. "I could hear it earlier, but it's nice like this too." "The rain and your heartbeat…" Kanako said. "They're sounds I'll treasure for the rest of my life."

After laying in bed for a little longer, the two girls eventually got up (got dressed in pajamas, which caused Haruna to almost have a cuteness overload seeing Kanako in oversized clothes) and went downstairs. Kanako made them some snacks, and then after that they got in the bath together. Once clean and relaxed, the two of them went back to bed, now completely ready to sleep at a moment's notice.

"We're sleeping in the same bed," Kanako pointed out. "Well yeah," Haruna said like it was obvious. "Did you think I was gonna make you sleep on the floor or something?" "That's not what I meant," Kanako said. "I mean that this really feels like the future. That one day, this will be our everyday life. We'll bathe together, eat together, and sleep together, just like this." "That… sounds nice…" Haruna said, beginning to drift off. Seeing that, Kanako gently smiled, then shuffled upward to reach Haruna's forehead. "Goodnight, my love," she whispered, kissing Haruna's forehead. Shortly after that, Kanako also fell asleep.

*****

The next morning, Haruna was the first to wake up. Naturally, the first thing she saw was Kanako's sleeping face. "Cute…" she thought, unable to resist poking the girl's cheek a little. Kanako's face twitched a little in annoyance, but she didn't wake. "God, I could just lay here for hours watching her like this," Haruna thought happily. "I can't believe that when I woke up, the girl I love was the first thing I saw. How great is that?"

Haruna thought back on Kanako's words from last night. "It feels like the future…" she repeated to herself. "If this could be our everyday life… I don't think I could ask for more…"

It was truly amazing to Haruna. Her life had changed in ways that she never would've imagined. "If past me could see this, I bet she'd faint from the shock," Haruna thought, laughing to herself. "Who would've thought… the person I'd experience so much with would be Kanako…"

Haruna continued to lay there for a bit longer, but soon enough, she decided to get up. However, when she did, an incredible amount of pain shot through her body. Everything felt so rigid, and everything hurt to move. "Owww…" Haruna groaned. "I'm…so…sore…"

Love can be painful, but this was definitely one pain that Haruna wasn't anticipating. "How did Chiyo do this every night?" she wondered as she dragged herself over to the door. Haruna also noted that the activities of last night most certainly could not be a daily occurrence.

End of Chapter Fourteen.

Author's Note: As some of you may have noticed, the last two chapters have been posted much later. This is due to a number of factors (getting sick, procrastinating, etc.). However, I've found that I've been more satisfied with taking my time with these chapters, as I feel they're coming out better than some of the previous ones in this volume. That being said, I'll continue to do my best in trying to post weekly updates, but there's the chance that updates may slow in exchange for better quality.

Thank you for your understanding and for continuing to read my series. –Saturnalia Blackrose