Chapter 38Approaching Konno slowly with cautious steps, Makoto thought of what to say. She knew Asami had a jealous streak and hearing from Eri that they had shared the previous night together over a brand-new chocolate fountain wasn’t going to help matters even if all that happened really was innocent.
“Asami-chan…”
Seeing Makoto coming closer and closer, Konno didn’t know if she could face her. As a result, she did the next best thing. She ran away. Whirling away quickly, Asami knelt down on the floor next to Ai and stroked her back soothingly.
“Are you alright Ai-chan?”
Averting her glazed eyes away from someplace she had been staring at earlier, Ai now focused on Kon Kon’s cubby cheeks instead. Seeing her friend’s concerned expression, Ai knew she could trust her.
“What have I done Kon Kon?
What have I done?”
Collapsing into Asami’s arms in a fit of sobs, Ai finally let out all the pent up frustration she had been holding in for days. She had been pretending everything was fine ever since the night she and Risa chanced upon the two rokkies in the bushes. But now she could no longer swallow back the tears that were drowning her inside.
The gentle gokkie was the only other person besides Risa that Ai could pour all her woes out to and this time she didn’t hold back. Asami didn’t mind that Ai’s tears were soaking her favorite pink shirt, she just hoped holding Ai tight and rocking her gently was enough to make the miserable girl feel better.
Seeing Konno’s actions, Makoto knew only too well that her soul mate was avoiding her. It was just her character to avoid a confrontation. Makoto gave up trying for now and decided to look Konno up again later that night. She just needed to get her alone for a while. Five minutes was all Makoto needed to prove her innocence.
“Yo, you’re still alive right?”
Strolling over to Reina who had since planted herself in a far corner of the room, Makoto plopped down heavily in front of the yankee.
“Of course I am. Why shouldn’t I be?”

Reina’s reply was indignant but she really was barely alive at all. Her heart was almost dead, bleeding from the fact that her actions had caused such a serious rift between the two generations.
“You know it isn’t entirely your fault right?”
Makoto tried again. After hanging out with Reina much more after their Iroppoi Jirettai single, she knew the girl was hard on herself, even if she never admitted to it.
“Yeah it isn’t. Global warning isn’t my fault. But just about
everything else is.”
“Come on Reina. This is blown way out of proportion. I bet things were really simple. Why don’t you just clarify stuff?”
Reina never liked to explain herself. It wasn’t her style she said. But everyone knew that most times things would be a lot easier if she just did. It was hard guessing her thoughts when she constantly kept to herself.
“You don’t understand.”
“Try me.”
Settling into a more comfortable position on the hard floor, Makoto peered intently into Reina’s eyes. Ogawa was here now, and she was ready as she ever will be as the listening ear her junior so desperately needed.
[In a random hallway]
“I didn’t even know this place existed.”
Risa was truly astonished as she looked around the fairly dusty corridor. Sayumi had led her all the way here after refusing to let go of her arm. Practically forcing her to come along as they searched for Eri after she took off.
“We stumbled upon this place when we were exploring the building once.”
Looking at Sayumi with a raised eyebrow, Risa at last had the answer to the question she had wondered about for so long. What the girls did every time they ran off together. And now she knew. Exploring buildings…
and each other.
“You two are better at buildings than me eh.”
Risa expressed amusement at her joke referencing back to the time they made an appearance on Music Fighter for Osaka Koi No Uta. Not hearing laughing from Sayumi, she gave a cough instead to hide her embarrassment.
“Where’s Eri anyway?”
Being second best at changing subjects and creating atmosphere after Yaguchi, Risa put her carefully honed skills to use now and alerted herself back to the missing turtle.
“In there.”
Following Sayumi’s lifted finger, Risa’s eyes followed the direction it was pointed at and let her eyes fall on top of the object standing a few feet away. Her expression that ensued was something MasterCard couldn’t buy.
“You’re kidding…. She’s in the
broom closet?"

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TydusArandor: Haha yeah, I bet spending so much time together made sparks fly. HAKKKANNNN Fusion! :ONluvluv2:
Sukoshi: I won’t comment on that yet. Keep reading to find out :ONkekeke:
wordsworth: Yup definitely poor rokkies :baa60776: When will the trauma end?
Yuuyami: What do you think might happen? I love reading about what readers think :ONglasses:
jafeijai: It will end but I don’t know when :ONwhistle: Keeping the suspense.
KrazyForKamei: Don’t let your mind wonder
that far. This story is suitable for all age groups

rndmnwierd: Its unfortunate that its Eri but someone has to be ‘broken” right :pen_nod:
erink: Hey you’re back :yay: I'm happy now
DO Me DO Me: I just read about Eri getting mad on Sayumi’s radioshow. And omg the similarities :kcrazy:
Owaranai_sLaVe: Glad you liked the chapter. Oh Sayumi taking Risa
definitely has meaning to it. Get ready the :popcorn:
stefy: You can call me anything as long as its not bad :ROFL I toyed with the idea of KameMame but I don’t know if I’ll go through with it. It is complicated enough isn’t it

00HB: New reader!

You like the Gaki-Reina combi? Me too! :panda_love: