"Fine," Hoshi sent Tenshi a look of disdain, as she let Neko lead her to the punch.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Haruka took a break and let Michiru do a couple of violin solos before the ceremony. She walked back to the table, where she found Puroko in front of an empty plate with chocolate all over her face.
"Having fun, Aiji-chan?"
"Hai, Tenshi gave me some cake, but then she started talking to Neko-san about pole vault, and so I left 'cuz they weren't really bein' interesting."
"Ah, so no pole vault for you."
"Iie. Soccer is better!"
Tenshi arrived at the table. Haruka took one look at her face and asked, "Doushita?"
But Tenshi just shook her head. "I'm going to go get some air," she informed her okaa-san.
"You'll miss the ceremony."
But Haruka could tell that her oldest wasn't really in the mood to argue this point. "I just really have to get out of here right now. If I don't come back here, I'll meet you at the car when the party's over." She walked out.
Haruka was taken aback. It was unusual for Tenshi to be so bad-tempered. Unlike Haruka, Tenshi usually was pretty patient with people. She had a sociability that usually allowed her to get along with most people, even if she didn't always agree with them. So either someone had done something really spiteful that had just ticked her off, or she had been hiding a lot of frustration lately that had finally culminated into this show of moodiness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Neko-chan, talk to me!" Neko hadn't said one word to Hoshi since they had left Tenshi behind.
"Hoshi-chan?" Neko asked quietly. "Why do you hate Tenshi-kun so much?"
"Neko-chan! When I came up to you guys, you were about to start crying. I mean, she obviously did something to hurt you-"
"She didn't do anything. If anything, it was my fault."
"Come on, Neko-chan. You're such a pushover. It's just like you to take the blame for her like that. But you shouldn't. She's not worth it."
"Yamate. She didn't do anything." Neko's eyes filled with tears. "Hoshi-chan, don't hate her, onegai."
"Okay," Hoshi conceded at last. "I'll give her another chance� but only because you asked me to."
"Thank you," Neko said relieved. All Tenshi really needed was a chance.
"Neko-san?" Neither girl had seen Puroko approach them. She looked uncharacteristically timid, and Neko wondered what was wrong.
"Hai, Puroko-chan," Neko said as she wiped her eyes. She didn't want to cry in front of the younger girl.
"Did you hurt Tenshi's feelings? 'Cuz I think she's sad. Did you make her sad?"
"Huh?" Neko looked around for Tenshi, but couldn't find her.
"Did you? She said she couldn't stay here, and then she left."
Neko began to panic. "She did?! Where'd she go?"
"Outside somewhere�. Neko-san, if you hurt Tenshi's feelings, I don't think you can still be my bestest friend. So you should go make sure you didn't."
"Gomen, Puroko-chan. I'll try my best," Neko whispered as the young girl left.
She started towards the door, but Hoshi grabbed her arm. "Neko-chan, don't leave."
"Hoshi-chan, I can't not go. I have to go to Tenshi-kun and make up with her."
"Neko-chan, you promised."
The words froze Neko. She had never broken a promise before. But she had made a promise to Tenshi too.
"I have to follow her. If it was you-"
"If it was me, I would tell you what was wrong before I ran off."
"Demo, I�. Tenshi-kun-"
Hoshi realized with shock that Neko was still planning to go, despite her promise. "I don't want to hear about 'Tenshi-kun.' Ever since I came it's been 'Tenshi-kun this' or 'Tenshi-kun that.' 'Ara, I saw that movie with Tenshi-kun;' or 'Tenshi-kun gave me that;' or 'This is mine and Tenshi-kun's beach.' You're my best friend too, you know! Tenshi-san isn't going anywhere, but I'm only here for a couple more days. Is it too much to ask that you spend a little more time with me?" Hoshi's trembling hand balled into a fist. "Demo no, you have to go make up with her. You're even willing to break your promise to me to save her feelings. Demo� demo what about my feelings, Neko-chan? Don't they mean anything to you? They used to, but I'm not so sure anymore. But I guess if you leave me here, then I'll finally know that I'm not your best friend anymore. So do whatever you want to do."
"Hoshi-chan�. Please don't make me choose between you two." Tears welled up in Neko's eyes as she pleaded to her friend.
Hoshi didn't show any sign of sympathy. She crossed her arms stubbornly. She hadn't planned on making the ultimatum, but now that she had, she wanted to know what Neko would do.
"Iie, I couldn't. I love both of you. Onegai, Hoshi-chan. I couldn't choose between you. It'd be like choosing between Tenshi-kun and Mi-chan."
Like choosing between Tenshi and Mi-chan�. *But not like choosing between me and Mi-chan. Because no matter how good a friend I was, you'd always choose Mi-chan�. I� I lost you.* Hoshi look of determination turned to one of defeat as she came to the realization that Neko really did love Tenshi at least as much as her, if not more. The fear that she had been trying to suppress since she had arrived - that she had been replaced as Neko's best friend - had finally culminated.
She took a step back. "Iya, Hoshi-chan!" Neko grabbed her shoulder.
Hoshi jerked away. "Don't! And don't follow me. Go make up with your 'Tenshi-kun.'" She ran off.
"Hoshi-chan�"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hoshi-chan!" Mi-chan called out to her friend as she ran by, but Hoshi ignored her and ran out the door.
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