Suzuki Manor
===
"W-where am I?"
"Oh, hello! You're awake. Finally. You're in our guest room."
"W-who are you?"
"My name is Airi Suzuki. I'm a friend of Maimi-chan."
"Maimi? Yajima Maimi?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?" Shin asked as he sat up. "Did I do something to her?"
"She's alright. You should keep on resting, Shin-kun. You took quite a beating."
"What happened? Could you tell me, Suzuki-san? I can't remember anything."
"Sure." Airi said as she sat beside Shin's bed. "Well, Chinami-chan, Maiha-chan and you were fighting Maimi-chan on the rooftop. Hey, do you want some grapes? I can peel them for you."
"T-thanks. Please, go on with the story."
"Maimi-chan was able to hold off your attacks until Maiha-chan used a binding technique to stop her from moving. You and Chinami-chan were able to land some hits and then she ordered you to finish Maimi-chan off. You were about to blast her with your Magical Rainbow laser beam..."
"Magical Rainbow laser beam?" Shin asked as he raised one of his eyebrows.
"Yeah, that. Say ahh." Airi said as she tried to feed him some grapes.
"No need to do that, Suzuki-san. I can...ouch." Shin didn't notice that his right arm was heavily wrapped with bandages. "Oh, alright."
"Say ahh..."
After a few minutes of feeding Shin with peeled grapes...
"Thank you, Suzuki-san. I feel a lot better now."
"Well, you should be. Maimi-chan told me to take care of you. Or else she won't go to the zoo with me."
"So, could you continue the story?"
"Oh, okay. Where was I?"
"I was about to blast Maimi."
"I remember! You were about to blast Maimi-chan with your Mega Prism deluxe wave."
"My what?!"
"Whatever. You were going to blast her but you hesitated. I think Maimi-chan said something that made you stop. Chinami-chan ordered you to do it but you didn't, so she asked the Berryz with the crystal ball to increase her hypnotism but it seemed that it was at its limit and the crystal ball broke and you became unconscious. Hmm, I think I've seen that girl before too, the one with the crystal ball."
"So I was brainwashed. I'm such a failure. How did I end up here?"
"Maiha-chan and Chinami-chan tried to finish the fight with their special attacks but before it could hit Maimi-chan, you went in front of her to protect her."
"I see."
"Maimi-chan got free and it looked like she was really angry. She walked towards Maiha-chan and Chinami-chan and slapped them both. Maiha-chan was about to retaliate but then her phone rang. It was her mom and was she asking her to go home since she had exams the next day. She tried to reason out but her mom threatened to ground her and cut her allowance if she didn't go home, so she left. Chinami-chan just smiled and accepted defeat. Then she invited Maimi-chan to go bowling with her. The nerve! Like I'd let Maimi-chan do that!"
"Haha. Why not?"
"I have my reasons."
"Like?"
"Well...Maimi-chan is..."
"Cute."
"I know, Maimi-chan is cute but..."
"I wasn't talking about her when I said cute, Suzuki-chan." Shin said as he held Airi's hands. "I..."
"S-Shin-kun..."
"You are cute, Suzuki-chan."
*ehem*
A red faced Shin let go of Airi's hands. Airi, whose face was all red as well, ran towards Maimi and hid behind her.
"What do you think you're doing?" Maimi asked. "Do you know how old she is?"
"Sorry. I couldn't help it. She's...she's just too cute. Oh I'm only fourteen, mind you. You're older than me."
"I know that she's cute. But don't try to hit on her again."
"Are you jealous?"
"Of course. No one else tried to hit on me. Besides Shun. And Erika. And Airi-chan. And...wait, let me clarify that. No other guy tried to hit on me, except Shun."
"Haha. I won't hit on you. There's no way I'll be able to take Shun's place. And besides I wont think Suzuki-chan would let me do that, right Suzuki-chan?"
"It's good that you know." Airi said as she clamped on Maimi's arm. "Maimi-chan, lets go take a bath with Erika-chan and Mai-chan and Chisato-chan and Megu-chan."
"Ummm, okay. But I want to talk to Shin first."
"I'll wait for you."
"I can take care of myself."
"I won't hit on her, Suzuki-chan."
"No! I will wait for Maimi-chan!" Airi said as she purred on Maimi's arm. "Nyaa!"
"Okay." Maimi said as she patted her head. "It won't take long anyway."
"Yay!"
"Shin."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry with what happened to Shun. It's my fault. You have every right to be angry with me. If you want to do it, do it. You can kill me, I won't stop you."
"Maimi-chan?" Airi said as she tightened her hold on Maimi's arms. "What are you saying?"
"You can kill me Shun. But please, do it after I have freed our school from Berryz Kou...Berryz Kouk..."
"Koubou."
"Right. Berryz Koubou. "
"Fine. If that's what will give you peace of mind."
"Thank you."
"But I won't do it. I don't have to."
"W-what?"
"If I said that I wanted to kill you before, it's just because of the brainwashing they did to me."
"I see."
"Shun was really lucky to have someone like you. And he was right. You would put others first before yourself."
"How do you know?"
"He wrote about you in his letters. He said that you're a sweet and kind girl, but always ready to take on any challenge."
"Really?"
"He also said that you eat a lot, don't wash the dishes and snore in your sleep."
"Hey!"
"Kidding. But that bastard Shun didn't tell me something really important."
"What is it?"
"He didn't say that you were a lot prettier in person."
"I'm not used to flattery but thanks."
"Your face is all red, Maimi-chan!" Airi said.
"I would like to know more about you though. Because you are the last link I have to my brother. Shun knows that you worked hard to become the successor of Raikou Taikyokuken. I know that too, and I can see it. You deserve to become the successor. You can still help a lot of people but if I grant your request, you won't be able to do that. Maybe we can just spar someday, but please, wear some less distracting clothes or I will surely lose."
"Shin..."
"Just promise me that you will use the power of Raikou Taikyokuken to help those in need."
"I promise."
"Nice. It's settled then. I never had anything against you. When I heard of Shun's death, I didn't blame you for it. It wasn't your fault Maimi, you should stop thinking that it was your fault."
"T-thank you Shin. And thanks for saving me back there."
"No problem. You’re a friend of Shun and his friends are my friends too. Besides, if you got killed because of me, I won't be able to hold Suzuki-chan's hands again."
"Haha. Right."
"That's not funny!" Airi said.
"You know, Maimi, you could have been my sister-in-law. I should call you oneechan." said Shin.
"No way! That makes me sound old. Just call me Maimi."
"Okay. Wait, why are you two still here anyway? Don't you have classes?"
"After Chinami and Maiha destroyed half the school? Classes have been suspended indefinitely."
"But the classrooms will probably be back in a few weeks so we have to enjoy this surprise vacation. Let's go Maimi-chan." Airi said.
"I see. Alright, I think I need to rest now. See you two later." Shin said as he lay down and covered himself with a blanket.
"Later Shin." Maimi and Airi said as they started to walk outside.
"On second thought…"
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I have one last request."
"You want us to turn off the lights?"
"No."
"What then?"
"Can I....take a bath with you girls too?"
"..."
"So?"
"What do you think, Airi-chan?"
"Why not? But he's gonna need to wear a blindfold."
"Yosh!" Shin said as he got off the bed
"Okay."
"Wait, what?!"
Berryz Hideout
===
"Ha! I beat you again Maa-chan!" Momoko said as she raised her hands in the air, the gloves's cables still dangling. "I'm the champ!"
"Well, it's because I let you beat me. But fine, I will treat you with crepes later."
"Don't you get tired of that boxing toy Momo?" Yurina asked. "You should be working out."
"It's a good workout. I'm sure it will help me when I get a rematch with Maimi. I can punch faster now!"
"Now that Chinami has also lost, only Captain and Miya are left to fight her." Maasa said.
"Miya could win, if she stopped looking at herself in the mirror most of the time and actually started to practice. Remember, she was the only one who almost beat Captain. But without any training, she might be rusty." Momoko said.
"Where is she anyway?"
"She's had her crystal ball repaired." Risako told them. "And it was quite expensive. That Maimi girl should be prepared to get her ass kicked."
"I will defeat her, Rii-chan. I won't forgive her for humiliating Berryz Koubou like that." Miyabi said as she entered the room.
"How do you plan to fight her, Miya?" Maasa asked. "You already have something in mind?"
"I..." before Miyabi could answer the question, Momoko cut her short.
"Just don't challenge her in cooking, you know you don't have a chance..."