Mi-chan rolled her eyes and forced herself not to laugh at Neko and Tenshi. They were trying so hard to behave, and yet their every glance between them betrayed their feelings� at least if you were looking for it. And they had reached a stage in their relationship where they wanted to be touching constantly. As soon as Hoshi was looking away, it was like they were magnetized and Neko's hand automatically found Tenshi's. But then Hoshi would make some movement, and Neko would jerk away from Tenshi, looking horribly guilty.
Mi-chan was impressed with how patient Tenshi was being with all this. But Tenshi was a pretty patient person, willing to endure practically anything if Neko asked her to.
But it wasn't surprising that before too long, Tenshi had figured out a way to isolate herself and Neko from Hoshi. Just as Hoshi was pointing out the music store to Neko, since the two of them loved music, Tenshi was pointing out a store of her own.
"Ne, Koneko? There's the sports store. Shouldn't we pick up the chalk that we need for pole vault."
"Oh�." Neko's eyes widened. "Chalk�, that's right."
"Chalk?" Hoshi looked confused.
"In pole vault we use chalk for our hands to keep them from getting sweaty and slippery," Tenshi answered Hoshi, hoping that an explanation would satisfy her.
It didn't. Hoshi gave Neko a questioning look, as if asking her, "Come on. Do you really want to get chalk with Tenshi-san, or go to the music store with me?"
Neko didn't miss that look, but Mi-chan knew she really longed to be with Tenshi. The two of them had spent nearly every day of summer vacation together so far. Mi-chan knew she was dying to get some alone time with Tenshi. With a nervous glance to Tenshi, Neko told Hoshi, "I- I should probably go get the chalk with Tenshi-kun."
Mi-chan decided it was a good time to intervene. "Ne, Hoshi-chan, there's a really good art store around the corner. Why don't I show you that while Neko-chan and Tenshi-kun pick up their chalk, and then we can all meet at the music store?"
Neko and Tenshi didn't hesitate to agree, and finally Hoshi conceded. But Mi-chan was tired of this game, and she didn't know how long she and Neko could satisfy Hoshi while Tenshi was around.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tenshi quickly purchased some chalk, and then the two of them found a hiding place in the back of the store where they could neck for a short while before they had to return to Hoshi and Mi-chan.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I just don't understand why Neko-chan is so willing to put up with anything Tenshi-san wants," Hoshi complained as she perused the painting supplies.
Mi-chan didn't quite understand herself� why Hoshi was so against Tenshi, that was. From what Neko had said yesterday, she could have understood if Hoshi knew that Tenshi was a lesbian, but it didn't seem as if that was the case. Hoshi clearly didn't understand the nature of Neko and Tenshi's relationship, and yet she was completely against it. From Mi-chan's point of view, this sucked. Not only did she have to dance around both Hoshi's and Neko's feelings, but she also had to defend a relationship on false grounds. A relationship that if Hoshi knew the true nature of and if Tenshi was a boy, Hoshi would be ecstatic over. Mi-chan hated trying to hide things from Hoshi, and since Hoshi didn't like Tenshi much anyway, she didn't really see the point. But she would never purposely out Neko to anyone without Neko's permission, so she continued to defend their "friendship."
"I just don't think you realize how much Tenshi-kun does for Neko-chan too."
"Oh, please! Like what?" Now annoyed, Hoshi gave up on art supplies altogether and began to walk back towards the entrance of the shop so the two of them could wait at the music store. "All I know is that Neko-chan only went to the sports store because Tenshi-san asked her to. It's like she's another person every time Tenshi-san is around. She does whatever she wants, not to mention that she lets Tenshi-san call her 'Koneko'! I mean, what is that?!"
Mi-chan sighed and tried to figure out how to explain. "Hoshi-chan, she honestly doesn't mind when Tenshi-kun calls her 'Koneko.' It's a special nickname just between the two of them, really not anything for you to worry about."
Hoshi sent her a scornful look. "You know how much she hates that name!"
"Yeah, but-" Just then she saw Tenshi and Neko enter. Relieved at the break, she dropped the subject as she waved them over.
"Hey, what are we talking about?" Tenshi wanted to know as the couple joined them.
"Names," Hoshi informed her. "Ne, Tenshi-san�." Mi-chan braced herself, figuring that Hoshi was about to challenge her about the nickname, when instead Hoshi asked another question. "Why do the twins use '-kun' with your name. Are you trying to be a boy?" It was only half of a challenge, which was still better than Mi-chan expected. Plus she figured Tenshi could hold her own.
"That's a funny story actually," Tenshi said, smiling despite Hoshi's attempt to provoke her. "I don't like to be called 'Tenshi-san' by my friends and ask that they use any other honorific - 'chan,' 'ko,' even 'kun.' Koneko thought that was funny and started calling me 'Tenshi-kun,' and it has stuck ever since!" Hoshi scowled at Tenshi's nonchalant manner and continuation of the use of "Koneko," but Tenshi paid it no heed. "Hey, I have a name question I've been meaning to ask," she solicited the twins. "Why do you guys use '-chan' for each other?" Anyone who was as close to each other as Mi-chan and Neko were should have no need for honorifics.
Neko giggled and looked at Mi-chan, but she just shook her head. "It's your fault. You can tell her."
Neko went into the anecdote about how she used to not be able to say "Michiru" and heard people referring to her as "Michiru-chan," and thus shortened it to "Mi-chan" so she could pronounce it. "�and it has stuck ever since!" she giggled.
Hoshi found herself smiling at the story as Neko told it, but frowned at the ending statement. *Just another invasion by the will of Tenshi-san.*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The lone spacecraft hovered slightly beyond the solar system, not quite close enough to be considered an
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