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PART 34
YOSSY - SEPTEMBER 22ND
Miki opened her eyes cleared her throat. We all stood there expectantly.
"Rika, Maki, Kei, Yocchan, Yaguchi, Shiba, Gaki, Eri, Yocchan, Aya, Nakazawa, Yui, Konno, and when the hell did Aika get here?" she recited calmly. I grinned broadly.
"Told you. Now, pay up," I smirked and flopped down next to Miki on the couch, holding out my hand as the grumbling crowd dug into their purses for money.
"Whaaaaaat?! I thought putting you in there twice would throw her off," Yaguchi complained, slamming a wad of bills into my open hand. Miki grinned and wiggled her fingers.
"I have very talented hands," she laughed.
"I can attest to that," I piped up, looking happily at the growing stack of money in my hand.
"Didn't need to know that," Risa groaned, slinking away into the crowd.
"I'm not sure if 'talent' is the right word, but being able to identify someone by the feel of their ass is kind of creepy," Rika commented.
"I bet I could do boobs too. Would that help?" Miki smiled sweetly.
I sighed and tapped Aika on the shoulder.
"What d'ya... Oh! Yoshizawa! How are you?" Aika smiled sweetly.
"Yeah, drop the act, kid. What are you doing here?" I demanded. Aika stared at me blankly.
"I don't know what you - "
"I told you to drop the innocent act already!" I laughed. "You know perfectly well that this is an adults only party. We barely let in the girls who can't legally drink yet. And you, my little puppy, are only fourteen."
"If it's adults only, then why's Tanaka here?" she retorted, thumbing over her shoulder at Reina, who was busy chatting up Takahashi.
"She's got what... 2 months left before she's 18? Close enough. But... I mean, it's not YOU, Mitsy, but, you know... if we let you in, then next time, Koharu will come. And then half of Berryz will show up, and... quite frankly, it's a slippery slope that leads to Maimai and a bunch of random Eggs."
"You of all people should know that I can be discreet," Aika smirked. "I never told anyone about the time I caught you and Fujimoto - "
"YOU!" Aika and I jerked and turned to the source of the authoritative shout. Nakazawa's eyes narrowed and she stalked towards us, sake bottle in hand.
"Yes, Nakazawa?" Aika replied, looking innocently up at the leader to end all leaders. Nakazawa pointed at the cup in Aika's hand.
"That damn well better be apple juice," she snapped.
"It is as far as you know," Aika smiled sweetly and took another sip of her beer.
The entire party went dead silent. Even Risa stopped her weird multilingual karaoke rendition of Furusato. Every eye in the room was on Nakazawa Yuko and the suddenly very ballsy Mitsui Aika.
"That's all I've ever asked," Nakazawa said finally, reaching her hand out and slapping Aika on the back.
"I can't see you!" Sayumi belted out tunelessly into the microphone. "This really long Sunday!"
"What song is that?" Miki asked Aya loudly.
"Um... your debut single?" Aya stared at her incredulously.
"No, that can't be right. That song had a tune," Miki retorted. Sayu glared from her spot next to the karaoke machine and began to sing louder.
"WE MET BY ACCIDENT! LATELY, I'M CALLING YOU EVERY DAY!!" I winced and swiftly escaped onto the balcony.
"Hey," a voice said softly as I shut the glass door behind me. I glanced over towards the sound.
"Hey, birthday girl!" I laughed. "Hiding from your party?"
"Wouldn't you?" Maki replied with a wry grin. I chuckled.
"Sayu's singing on the karaoke machine," I explained, gesturing towards the closed door.
"Oh, thank God. It sounded like there was a dying animal in my living room," she laughed, setting her empty glass down on the edge of the railing. I pointed at it.
"Did you want me to sneak back in and get you a refill?" I offered. "Since you're the birthday girl and all... Can't have you getting sober." I grinned.
"Oh, it was just iced tea," she replied. "I'm... not drinking much these days."
"Yeah, me either... Nothing like a little drunken amnesia to scare you sober for a while," I laughed. She stared wordlessly out over the city. Neither of us spoke for a minute. "...Sorry," I said finally. "I didn't mean to bring that up. I really didn't - "
"I need to tell you something," Maki said suddenly. She still stared out at the view.
"Ok...?"
"I didn't... I mean, I wasn't entirely..." she sighed heavily and turned to face me. "I didn't tell you - "
"YOSSY!" Aya exclaimed, slamming the sliding glass door open. Maki and I both jumped.
"Aya, what in the - " Aya grabbed me by the arm and dragged me towards the door.
"Sayumi told Mikitty that her karaoke version of Aenai Nagai Nichiyoubi was better! I think - "
"SHIT!" I cursed, running past Aya and into the living room.
"Aya..." I heard Maki say quietly.
"I know... But don't do it," I heard Aya reply just before she shut the door. I didn't have time to think, though. I grabbed my homicidal girlfriend by the waist as she lunged for Sayu.
"Yocchan, LET ME DOWN!" Miki practically spat, struggling against my grasp.
"No."
"Ah~ My prince has arrived to save me from the evil witch~!" Sayu exclaimed.
"Sayu, shut up," I said calmly. "Miki, honey, calm down."
"She said hers was better because she was way cuter than I've ever been!" Miki growled.
"Baby, you don't need 'cute' when you're that damn sexy," I whispered in her ear. She looked over at me and a smile slowly spread across her face. I smiled down at her. "Now... why don't you go call off that silly bet with Aya?" Her eyes narrowed.
"Never!" she proclaimed, wiggling out of my arms. I groaned in defeat as my girlfriend began running around the party, setting up her best friend on a fresh set of the worst blind dates known to man.
...Wait a second, where did she think she was...
"Mitsy~!" Miki called in a sing-song voice. "How old are you again?"
"MIKI, NO!" I exclaimed, taking off after her again.
"Hmm...." Sayumi reached over and poked Risa's shoulder.
"Whaaat?" Risa mumbled grumpily, taking another sip of her drink. Sayu pointed in front of them.
"Is that a microwave or a television?" she asked, tilting her head to one side. Risa stared at the object intently.
"I... I don't know... maybe both....?"
"Ok, that's it," I sighed, reaching over their heads and snatching their drinks away. "You two have had enough."
"USO!" Risa exclaimed.
"Whyyy?" Sayu whined.
"Well, for one, we're the only ones left. It's three in the morning and Maki's asked me to kick everyone out."
"USO!" Risa exclaimed again.
"And two, because this is a bookshelf."
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