MC: surprise kids, I bet you thought you'd seen the last of this story

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The natatorium was packed. Fans from both schools filed in to the bleaches and filled the room with idle chatter and charged the air with anticipation.

Up at the top of the bleachers in the last row was Yoshiko, hands stuffed in her leather jacket. She nervously flipped her phone around glanced out the corner of her eye. Next to her was Riko who was looking at the pool with curiosity shining in her eyes.

"I've never been to a swim meet before. I didn't even know that diving was involved." Riko looked at Yoshiko with a small smile.

"I've only been to a few. My friends and I went to different high schools so I didn't get to go to all their games. But they're surprisingly entertaining."

"Kanan and Yō, right?" Riko says tentatively and Yoshiko nods. "Do they both swim?"

"Kanan swims. Yō dives."

Riko hums in understanding. Yoshiko, who was still fiddling with her phone, silently worried that her lack of social skills was finally biting her in the butt.

"I was surprised you invited me here. You didn't seem like the sports type."

Yoshiko snorts, "I'm not. Honestly I'd rather be in my room playing video games."

"Well I think it's nice that you come to support your friends. Although at first when you texted me I thought it was to talk about the project."

"We are."

"Huh?"

Yoshiko smirks, "My plan is the best of both worlds. Our theme is love and for some reason I am rather fond of those two. So by showing each other what we both love we can create a better piece."

"Wow, I'm impressed, and a little… surprised? I mean! I didn't mean anything by it, it's just you don't really seem like the type to think these kinds of things through? B-But your spontaneity is one of the things I like about you!" The flustered redhead suddenly flushes as her words finally catch up to her brain.

Yoshiko finally removes her hands from her pocket and places it on the other girls shoulder.

"Even the strongest little demons get flustered around Yohane. My latent powers of charm are hard to handle."

They stare at each other for a beat before the redhead lets out a breath that turns into giggles. Riko brushes a stand of hair behind her ear and looks at Yoshiko with a soft smile.

"I believe you. But even though I sometimes don't know what to say to you just having you near me makes me feel at peace. I know that sounds a little weird but it's something I've noticed from sitting next to you in class this past month."

Yoshiko looked at the other girl with a sense of wonder.

How can she go from being nervous and awkward to so cute and saying things like that? At God, you really are testing me aren't you?

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Down in the locker room Kanan and Yō, along with the rest of their team, were changing into their swim gear with nervous excitement.

"I know it's still preseason but I can't help but get all worked up." Yō says bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"I know what you mean; the rush of competing still gets to you even if it's just a scrim." Kanan says while stretching out her arms.

"But ya know in a D1 school even scrims have the intense feel of a tournament." Yō observes while leaning into a lunge.

"That's why we never catch a break even when the season ends." Kanan chuckles while falling into the warrior stretch.

A hush blankets the locker room as their co-captains stood at attention near the exit.

"All right it's time to head out there, everyone feeling excited?" said Fuu Saiki with her short brown running wild from being towel dried and her steel blue eyes sparkling with mirth. Her slim frame casually leaned against the wall as she observed everyone.

The girls all cheered in response bringing the energy in the room up.

Their second captain, Leo, jumped in place. Her burnt orange hair peeked out from under her hastily applied swim cap.

"Yeah! Let's go. Let's win!" she turns on her heel ready to bolt out the door and up the stairs but Fuu grabs onto the back of her red and orange swimsuit halting her steps. Leo's muscles flex under her tanned forearms as if she was ready for fight and she narrowed her eyes at Fuu.

"Slow down there Leo. That wasn't much of a motivational speech now was it?" Fuu teased. Leo pouted in response but relaxed under the other girl's touch.

"Now I know this isn't an official match but everyone should treat is like one. Remember that your performance during pre-season games does affect the line-up for competitions. So seniors don't get lazy on me, your spot could be taken by one of the underclassmen. And freshman, you still have a shot to be on the starting line-up." Fuu looks at all the girls with a serious look making sure they understood.

Opposite her Leo's smile grows and her pent up energy was bursting at the seams. "We're all strong. Together we're the best team. I know all of you are capable of great things because I believe in you. And my gut is never wrong." Leo's eagerness was obvious as her usual awkward Japanese became even more broken by the end of her speech.

"Breathe Leo." Fuu chuckled, "But she's right. We're a great team and individually we're some of the best swimmers in this division. So let's go out there and show them why our school is so feared!"

The locker room was filled with cheers. Girls threw their fists in the air and high fived each other and a warm feeling blanketed them. Without wasting another moment they all headed up the stairs and walked to the open double doors that led to the pool. As they stepped over the threshold the announcer introduced their team.

"Now entering the natatorium, the Numazu… MIKAN'S!"

The crowd cheers as the team walks in, some of the members waving to familiar faces in the bleachers. As they approached the team bench they all took in their opponents who had entered before them on the other side of the pool who were huddled in a circle.

"First up will be the freestyle. All competitors please make your way to the starting block."

The other team breaks their circle and four girls make their way to the starting area.

"Yeah! Let's go, go, go!" Leo cheered as she hopped up from the bench along with two fellow seniors, a sophomore and a freshman.

Kanan and Yō's phones suddenly ping simultaneously.

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: :waves:

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: turn around

Following the texts directions they turned toward the audience, eyes quickly zoning on Yoshiko's usual spot. They both wave at their friend before turning their attention back to their phones.

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: so when do u guys go?

DiveCityBinch: I'm up next

YousoNO: I'm second to last

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: did u drink ur exlirs?

YousoNO: yeah

YousoNO: did u add smthin new it tasted different

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: I added an extra skill tonic to the mix so u guys don't mess up

YousoNO: hmm, well it tasted a lot like peaches

DiveCityBinch: u know this is just a scrim?

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: yea… but I kinda talked you two up to lily so don't make me look bad

YousoNO: aww Yohane-sama wants her gf to like us

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND

YousoNO: whatever you say ;)

DiveCityBinch: don't worry we'll put on a good show for ur girlfriend

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: …

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: et tu Kanan?

Their texting dies down from there as the announcers voice comes back over the loud speaker telling the swimmers to take their mark.

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The meet went as expected. Numazu totally blew the competition out of the water. No pun intended. After it was over Fuu and Leo praised them with a job well done and gave them their usual post-meet analysis before letting the girls hit the showers.

Twenty minutes later, standing in the now deserted hall Yō leaned against the wall while texting Yoshiko that she and Kanan would be outside in five minutes. Kanan was always the last one out of the locker room because she took longer showers than everyone else. A sudden thought just hit her and she let her finger swipe quickly across the screen.

YousoNO: have u ever thought tht Kanan might secretly be a mermaid

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: ?

YousoNO: it's just…. doesn't she spend a weird amount of time in water?

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: …

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: so do u tho

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: so if she's one then you are 2

YousoNO: hmm, the 2 mermaids

YousoNO: pftt sounds like some weird indie band

The typing notification pops up and Yō takes the time to pocket her phone and reach into her messenger bag to pull out the mikan she had picked up from the dining hall before the match. Moving towards the nearest trash can she unlocks her phone after hearing it ping.

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: although… I would prefer if you both turned out to be sirens, then you could lure more little demons into our midst

BOW_BEFORE_YOHANE: then my army would become the largest and most powerful of them all and I could claim the throne of hell for myself!

Yō blinked, unsure of how to even respond to that, so she didn't. Pocketing her phone once more she began to peel the mikan exposing half of its juicy inside. Humming to herself she tosses the peel in the trash.

Right before she got to break a piece of the fruit off Yō felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Her hands freeze in place and her body tenses. She can feel a presence behind her and her mind tries to determine if she should turn around and confront the person or try to walk away as casually as possible. Both choices are taken from when suddenly there's a face leaning in next to hers.

Scared into action Yō blindly reaches behind her and easily captures the mysterious persons arm in her hand. Cocking her hip back quickly and pulling on their arm Yō easily sweeps the person off their feet and within the next two seconds they were flying over her shoulder and onto the ground in front of her.

It's quiet for a moment as shocked blue eyes looked into excited red ones. Wait… excited? Yō's eyebrows furrowed at the smile on the strangers face.

"Wow that was so cool! Can you teach me how to do that?" The girl exclaimed.

"Uhh…" Yō was lost. What was with this girl?

"I mean one moment I'm just standing here and the next I'm like flying! You must be really strong!"

Finally finding her words Yō questioned the other girl. "What were you doing sneaking behind me?"

The girl tilted her head, "Huh? I wasn't sneaking, I was going to tap you on the shoulder but then I kinda got distracted." The girl laughed and scratched at her cheek. "Oh yeah that reminds me," the girl brightens up, "Can I have some of that?"

She points to the mikan that was still in Yō's other hand. Finally releasing the weird girls arm Yō takes a step back and looks back and forth from the girl and the mikan. Not sure what else to do Yō tosses the fruit to the orange haired girl who was now sitting up on the ground.

"Thanks!"

Still dumbfounded Yō mumbles out, "You can keep it."

"Really?"

The brunette just nods. The mysterious girl smiles brightly before digging into the mikan enthusiastically.

"Are you okay? You hit the ground pretty hard."

"Oh yeah, that was nothing. I've had worse falls. One time I stayed at my aunt's house for the summer and had to share with my little cousin and they had a bunk bed." The girls' features narrow in displeasure. "You'd think falling from the top bunk would be bad enough by my cousin had left their legos out."

Yō winces in sympathy. She wouldn't wish legos on her worst enemy.

"So you just wanted the mikan?" Yō asks trying to get the conversation back on track.

"Nah that was just a bonus!" The orange haired girl finally gets up from the ground and hops in place before leaning in close to Yō's face.

"I saw your match and I thought you were really cute!"

Yō flushes at the compliment and leans back suddenly nervous from their close proximity.

"Then I saw you dive and you looked really cool and I wanted to talk to you!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! Although if I'm being honest I didn't think about what I wanted to say." The girl rocks back on her heel and rubs the back of her head.

"Hey sorry for the wait, ready to go?" Kanan's familiar voice floats through the hallway and Yō looks past the still unnamed girl to make eye contact with her friend. The older girl casually takes in the scene with her hands in her green jacket and a gentle tilt to her head.

"Who's your friend?"

"We're not-" Yō begins to deny only to be interrupted.

"I'm Chika Takami!" The girl chirps, "Wow you have long pretty hair, I never would have guessed. It's like swimming caps are magic!"

"Aw you're sweet" Kanan cooed totally unfazed by the compliment.

"I remember seeing you too. You were moving through the water so fast." Chika starts making random gestures and noises trying to recreate the scene.

Oh god she's cute Yō mentally groaned as she continued to watch the performance in front of her, completely enamored. Luckily Kanan was there to move the conversation along.

"Is that really how I look when I swim?" Kanan places a finger on her chin and tilts her head.

"If you mean awesome, then yeah!"

"Hmm, well it's nice to know I have a fan." Kanan lets out a light carefree laugh and Chika smiles even harder. "So are you joining us for dinner?"

Yō lowkey nudges the older girl in the side and gives her wide eyed look, but Chika was too busy getting all worked up to notice.

"Ah dinner. With the two of you? I uh, I'd love to but it's getting late and Shiitake doesn't like being alone for so long. So rain check?" Chika looked quickly between the exit and the two girls before quickly deciding on something. She rushed forward and hugged the still dazed Yō and then waved at Kanan. And just as quickly as she appeared the strange girl vanished through the double doors.

"What?" Yō whispered, "That just happened right?"

Kanan snorts and pats the shorter girl on the shoulder.

"You always get the eccentric fans don't you?"

"I just… you know what forget it, let's go meet up with Yoshiko." Yō scuffs the ground with her shoes. Kanan grabs the now pouting girls' wrist and pulls her out of the building and into the brisk night.

Walking down the ramp they find their friends standing by the street lamp on the corner deep in conversation. As they approach bits of the exchange make it to their ear.

"Sorry but you're wrong, Kanan definitely has more of the allure of a siren than Yō. But overall she would have to be a mermaid." Dia argues

"Then what does that make Yō?" Yoshiko questions

"A sea nymph of course. She'd rather help sailors than kill them."

"Um, excuse me; I'm not sure if I should be a mermaid." A read head interrupts.

Yoshiko turns to her with sly smile, "It's the perfect fit for you. Mermaids are like underwater angels."

The redhead just blushes and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, falling silent once more.

"Now Kanan being a mermaid is still debatable, I'm telling you Dia she'd be a siren."

Dia gestures with her hands trying to find words, "But she's just so… so Kanan."

Yoshiko chuckles, "Behind every shining light is a dark creeping shadow." She says mysteriously

Dia considers her words carefully before crossing her arms over her chest. "Hmm"

"I'm kinda hesitant to ask what you guys are rambling on about now." Kanan says walking next to Dia

"What sea creatures you two would be."Dia answered. Kanan gives her a questioning look before she turns her gaze to Yoshiko.

"It wasn't me, Yō brought it up."

Said brunette peeks her head over Yoshiko's shoulder and shrugs, "You give off a mermaid vibe."

Kanan holds back any other questions already used to her friends random topics of conversation and strange thoughts.

"Well sorry for making you wait everyone ready to head out?" The group nods and starts their walk to the dining hall.

"Oh yeah, Kanan, Yō, I'd like you to meet my art partner Riko." Yoshiko introduces.

"Riko? I thought it was-" Yō is cut off by an elbow to her stomach effectively knocking the wind out of her, "Geeze you two are so abusive. I don't deserve this." Yō mutters still trying to catch her breath

"Nice to meet you Riko" Kanan greets breezily with a warm smile that is returned.

"It's nice to meet you too. Yohane was telling me a lot about you two before your match." Riko shoots a worried glance at the still hunched over Yō who was now leaning herself against a protesting Yoshiko, "Is she going to be alright."

Kanan waves off her concern "Don't worry about her. There are two things to know about Yō, she's overdramatic, and talks before she thinks." Kanan crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head muttering to herself, "Now that I think about it she and Yoshiko are very similar."

Riko looked unsurely back at the now bickering duo before nodding slowly.

"More importantly, she got you to call her Yohane?" Dia asks

Riko tilts her head, "That is her name, isn't it?"

"Oh hun," Dia tsks understandingly and shakes her head Riko just looks more lost. "It's Yoshiko. Yohane is just what she calls herself. Personally I don't get the whole 'fallen angel' thing but Kanan and Yō go along with her."

Kanan laughs, "I think you're just still hung up on the fact that she accidentally scared you the first time you met."

Dia crosses her arms and frowns. "Who in their right mind lurks in the dark and then sneaks up on someone and starts talking about demons and Satan?"

"To be fair she really thought that I was going to be the one waking in the room." Kanan tries to defend. Dia only rolls her eyes and continues to sulk.

The rest of the walk to the dining hall was very lively. Riko seemed to fit into the group effortlessly; Dia took a liking to her immediately. She was impressed when Riko told her she was double majoring in music and art.

"I play the piano and viola." Riko says shyly

"A girl of many talents huh? I knew that you'd be the perfect little demon." Yoshiko praises

"What's a viola?" Yō asks

"It's like a violin but a little bigger and it has a deeper sound." Riko answers.

"Impressive, I myself play the yamatogoto, so I understand the time and effort you must put into to play two instruments. I'd love to hear you play sometime." Dia admires

"As your mistress I reserve the right to hear you play first." Yoshiko butts in.

"Yeah, I'd love to show you the piece I'm working on once I'm done." Riko smiles so brightly that Yoshiko gets distracted by the angelic beauty that was currently gracing her presence.

But of course, as usual, whenever she thinks she gets to enjoy something nice her luck likes to remind her that it hates her. So of course she doesn't hear the warning call Kanan throws her way before the ground beneath her feet has disappeared and her face was suddenly meeting concrete. She lets out a strangled yelp and her arms flail at her sides too caught up in panic to try and catch herself.

She lays there for a moment wondering if it was possible for a random car to come out of nowhere and put her out of her misery. But of course that was just wishful thinking.

"Uhh, Yohane?" a gentle hand touches her back and Yoshiko instantly pops up placing her elbows on the ground and resting her head in her palms.

"Are you okay?" Riko asks as she worries her bottom lip.

Yoshiko scans the worried faces of her friends and moves one of her hands into her signature pose giving them a confident smirk.

"Of course I'm fine. You silly mortals forget that this is just a vessel so I am not affected by the normal 'pain' that you feel."

"Your nose is bleeding" Dia says bluntly.

Yoshiko squeaks and quickly goes to cover her nose forgetting that her other hand was propping her up. Her chin hits the concrete and Yoshiko groans and turns over onto her back now holding the lower half of her face and rolling back and forth.

"Oh for goodness sake. Could one of you please help her sit up?" Dia orders. Yō hops into to action and helps Yoshiko ease into a sitting position.

Dia digs in her bag before producing an icepack and handing it to Riko, "Here place this on her cheek by her nose, and Yoshiko pinch the lower part of your nose, and don't tilt your head back."

"Do you always just carry an icepack with you?" Kanan asked slightly impressed.

"Of course, not only that but I also have a first aid kit." Dia pulled out a kit in the shape of a mini ambulance which she hands to Kanan to hold. Dia rummages through the kit an retrieves antiseptic wipes and bandages. She turns to kneel in front of Yoshiko and inspects her now ripped tights and scraped knees tsking in disapproval.

"I like to be prepared. Plus my little sister is quite the klutz so I got into the habit of carrying this around." Dia says as she open the wipes. "This might sting." She says but doesn't give Yoshiko any time to protest before she was already cleaning the wounds.

Yoshiko jolts from the sudden sting and whines nasally. Riko gently strokes the younger girls cheek in order to soothe her and Yoshiko thanks every deity she knows that the cold compress that was against her face stopped her impending blush from showing.

"Luckily the dining hall is right across the street so you can go clean your face there." Dia notes as she finishes bandaging her second knee.

Yoshiko got up from the ground with a little help from Yō and Riko. She tries to appear unfazed but she honestly looked like she just lost a fight.

"You sure you're gonna be okay? I could give you a lift the rest of the way." Kanan offered. It was tempting, and normally Yoshiko would agree to but the presence of a certain redhead that was now sticking close to her swayed her decision.

"Don't worry about me I'm not as fragile as I look." Yoshiko says. Kanan gives her a dubious look but lets the shorter girl be as the group starts walking again.

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When they make it inside Dia drags Yoshiko to the bathroom to clean up while everyone else secures a table before going to get some food.

"There's never a dull moment with Yohane-sama around huh?" Yō asks with an easy smile on her face.

"Is it always like this?" Riko asks

"I want to say no but Yoshiko is pretty consistent when it comes to tripping over herself. Although she usually doesn't end up injured." Kanan muses.

"Hey Riko, do you happen to have a favorite flower?" Yō inquires suddenly.

"Uh not really, why do you ask?"

"Hmm, just wondering." Yō replied trying to appear nonchalant. She reaches past Kanan and picks up a mikan from the fruit bowl. A mystified expression crossed her face as she stared at the fruit before she shook her head and pocketed it.

"So Yoshiko told us that you were the one who asked to be partners for your project." Kanan picks up a plate and scans the stations wondering what she felt like.

"Did you lose a bet or something?" Yō scoops some potatoes on her plate humming happily to herself.

Kanan rolls her eyes, "Be nice."

Yō shrugs, "I'm only joking." The brunette then gives Riko a serious look, "Unless it's true."

"N-No it's not like that!" Riko waves her hands in defense.

Yō glares for a few more seconds before her expression instantly lightened as if nothing happened, "If you say so." She then heads to where a fresh batch a chicken tenders was just brought out.

Kanan sighs as she watches her go, "Sorry about that, Yō is kinda protective when it comes to Yoshiko. We've had some less than pleasant experiences with people who have had ill intentions toward her." They both head over to the pasta station and stand on line.

"I didn't know…"

Kanan giggles, "I wouldn't have expected you too. It's not something we like to talk about."

"But I really do like Yocchan! Honest."

"Yocchan?"

Riko flushes and tries to backpedal, "I mean- It's just a nickname I thought of but I haven't used in front of her. Is that weird?"

"No I think its fine." Kanan says with an easy smile, seems like they have something in common. "And don't worry I believe you, and I'll be rooting for you. You're both actually cute together."

Riko just looks at the other girl with wide eyes as if she was just caught with her hand in the cookie jar, "Is it- I mean, am I that obvious."

"No it's just a feeling I had, but I guess I was right."

Riko pouts when she realizes she's been tricked and Kanan admits to herself that teasing the younger girl was kinda fun.

"Although Yoshiko is kinda dense so you're probably going to have to spell it out for her." Kanan winks encouragingly. After reaching the front of the queue Kanan hands her plate over to the chef and patiently waits for her noodles.

Just then a familiar low chuckle sounds from behind the two girls.

"Like a phoenix from the ashes the great Yohane returns." Putting her hand into her signature pose Yoshiko offers them a wink, "Hopefully her little demons didn't miss their mistress too much."

Riko and Kanan just look at her and let silence reign over them for a beat. Then Kanan lets out a mix between a laugh and a scoff.

"What are you laughing at?" Yoshiko whines

"Nothing, it's just you look kinda adorable. Like a kid who just got patched up by their mother."

Yoshiko pouts and crosses her arms. "Honestly Dia feels like she is someone's mom the way she nags us all the time. Like geeze, thanks mom." Yoshiko absently scratches at her cheek.

"You're welcome dear." Dia suddenly materializes out of nowhere and pats Yoshiko on the cheek with a coy smile. "And don't scratch or you'll make the ban-aid fall off."

Yoshiko sticks her tongue out at Dia as she passes by and then returns to her pouting.

"I think you look kinda cool."

Yoshiko's ears perk up as she stares at Riko with sparkling eyes. Kanan's pretty sure that if Yoshiko had a tail it'd be wagging right about now.

"Really?"

"Yeah. With your clothes you give off a delinquent vibe."

Yoshiko pops the collar of her jacket attempting to look cool and indifferent.

"Hmph, well I won't deny that I dabbled in some delinquency in my high school years. All the knowledge I need as a fallen angel can't be taught with mundane schooling. But it was brought to my attention by my closest advisors that if I wanted to blend in with humans that I had to go."

"Ugh my head just hurts thinking about the all night study sessions we had do just to catch her back up in her freshman year." Kanan quietly complains to Dia who pats her on the back consolingly.

Five minutes later the group meets back up at the table food in hand. They all settle in and start eating with the conversation flowing naturally between them and no further incidents occurring.

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Time seemed to fly and soon everyone finished with their food and headed out the dining hall. Once the group was all outside they began to say their goodbyes since it was getting late.

Dia and Kanan paired off and waved to the group deciding to head off first since the 3rd year dorm was the opposite direction of everyone else's.

"Yō don't forget we're going on a morning run tomorrow." Kanan reminds.

"Gah, do we have to? Your runs are always brutal." Yō pouts.

"Yes you have to, gotta keep that stamina up. And remember if you try to sleep in I'll personally come over and wake you up." Even though she said it with a smile there was a certain foreboding aura behind it that made Yō shiver.

"Ok, ok, I won't forget, look I'm gonna set my alarm right now." Yō hastily says pulling out her cell phone. 'Geeze, Kanan has been hanging out with Dia way too much she's starting to get that scary aura of hers.'

Satisfied, Kanan just nods and turns her attention to Yoshiko, "Try not to hurt yourself on the way back okay Yoshiko-chan." Kanan places her hand on Yoshiko's shoulder and gives her a soft look.

In response Yoshiko crosses her arms and pouts, "It's Yohane!" but after a moment her posture relaxes and she gives Kanan a small smile. "Yeah okay I'll be careful."

Kanan gives her a satisfied smile and reaches out to ruffle the younger girls' hair despite her protests.

"And try not to remove your Band-Aids until you're injuries are healed or unless you're planning to put on fresh ones, understand?" Dia buts in sternly.

"Yes mom." Yoshiko sighs while rolling her eyes.

Ignoring Yoshiko's exasperated tone Dia just gives her a half smirk before patting the dark haired girl on the head. "Good girl." Paying no attention to the now indignant cries of Yoshiko, Dia turns her attention to the other girls.

"Have a good rest of your evening Yō-san, you as well Riko-san also it very nice meeting you." Dia gives them a slight bow.

"Ah it was nice to meet you too Dia-san, I hope you have a good evening." Riko jumps a little in surprise and returns the bow.

"You two are so formal geeze. Night Dia, see you later." Yō throws a lazy salute at Dia before crossing her arms behind her head.

"Goodnight Riko, I have a feeling we'll being seeing a lot of each other from now on." Kanan winked making the redhead blush.

"Goodnight Kanan-san…"

With a final wave Kanan and Dia head off to the third year dorms.

Now down to three people Yō, Riko and Yoshiko turn the opposite way and start walking.

"Ahh it's such a nice night out." Yō observed tilting her gaze up to the starry sky. "It's the kind of night the makes you just want to take a walk with no destination."

"It is really nice out." Riko agrees. "Do you often take walks like that Yō?"

Humming in thought, "Sometimes, but mostly I just like to look at stars. Yoshiko on the other hand loves to take random walks." Yō smirks

"Yo~Ha~Ne"

"My bad Yohane-sama." Yō claps her hand in front of her and gives Yoshiko and small bow.

Rolling her eyes at Yō's theatrics Yoshiko focuses on the path ahead of them really not wanting a repeat of earlier.

"But yes I do like to take walks. Fallen angels can get quite restless you know and walks are the perfect cure!"

"That sounds really nice. Maybe I should try that? Sometimes I get restless at night too, and back home when I felt like that I'd just play my piano."

"Then you should take walks with Yohane-sama, I'm sure she knows all the best spots to stroll past!" Yō exclaims.

"I would love to! I mean, if it's okay with Yohane?"

Choking on nothing, Yoshiko just splutters for a moment before collecting herself. "Y-yeah I don't mind. But! Beware, taking a walk with the great Yohane can be filled with trials and tribulations since her misfortune may spread to you. So be aware it's not for the faint of heart!" Yoshiko voice deepens trying to keep her cool.

"Hmm, well as long as I'm with you I'm sure everything will be fine." Riko turns and smiles at Yoshiko and the younger girl feels like she has to cover her eyes from the sheer brightness of that smile.

That smile… it's truly too good, too bright, too pure for a fallen angel like me. I feel like I'm unworthy to stand near it.

Yoshiko is brought out of her thoughts when she hears quiet laughter to her left. Narrowing her gaze she turns to the culprit and points an accusing finger at her.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing Yohane-sama, I was just thinking that you two really suit each other." Yō winks before running ahead tactfully avoiding the hit Yoshiko was trying to give her. Turning around Yō starts to walk backwards.

"Hey Riko, I have a favor to ask you."

"H-huh? Me? Sure, if I can help you I wouldn't mind." Riko nervously answers.

Yō just smiles widely ignoring the warning look Yoshiko was currently throwing her. "I just wanted to know if you could walk Yoshiko back to her dorm. Ya know since she's been such a klutz tonight I wouldn't want her to get hurt anymore. I would do it but if I go I know we'll end up wasting time hanging out and I'd rather not have Kanan lecture me tomorrow."

"Yō don't ask weird things of Lily! Besides I'm not a kid I can walk there on-"

"Uh, I wouldn't mind it." Riko speaks up.

Yoshiko pauses mid rant, ears perking up, "Really?" she asks turning toward Riko.

"Yeah, I'll walk back with you. I really don't mind, actually it would ease my mind if I could."

Yoshiko just stares at Riko nodding dumbly at the girl as she freaks out in her mind. Saving her poor friend from looking like silly Yō speaks up taking the attention away from the silent girl.

"Great! Thanks Riko, you're a life saver, our little Yoshiko can be a handful sometimes, but for now I leave her in your care." Yō finally turns back around, now looking forward, "I'm going ahead, you two have fun on your walk." Yō turns her head and gives the two blushing girls a wink before jogging off into the night to her dorm.

Riko and Yoshiko watch her retreating form, and continue to look even after Yō was out of sight. They both in silence for a while, shifting awkwardly. Clearing her throat Riko decides to be the one to break the lull in conversation.

"Shall we go?"

In response Yoshiko just nods and stuffs her hands in to her pockets. They start a casual pace heading to the first year dorm both trying to shake off the initial awkwardness. Once again Riko is the first to speak up, clearing her throat to gain Yoshiko's attention.

"So uh, earlier you said Lily? Is that supposed to be me?"

Yoshiko's eyes widen as she realizes her mistake, color filling her cheeks, her voice cracking a little before she settles into in Yohane voice.

"Ah, yeah, I mean, yes of course. Since you have such potential as a little demon the great Yohane decided to bestow onto you a nickname more befitting of you." Yoshiko scratches her cheek and looks sheepishly off to the side as her voice returns to normal, "…if that's okay with you?"

Riko bites her lower lip trying hold back the large smile that was creeping onto her face. "It's fine with me Yocchan."

"Yocchan?" Yoshiko asks her voice going high pitched before she relaxes and laughs sheepishly. "T-that's an acceptable nickname."

"That makes me happy. It's kinda funny though, it seems that our feelings have unconsciously connected in a way." Riko' large smile can longer be held back as she thinks about both of them having secret nicknames for each other.

"Yocchan?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm really happy you brought me out tonight. I had a lot of fun with you and your friends, and I also feel like I learned a lot about what you love and how you express it. I somehow feel even closer to you now." Biting her lip Riko stops walking and grabs Yoshiko's hand waiting for the younger girls' eyes to meet her own.

"Next time I want to take you out and show you what it is I love, and maybe I'll even play you that piece I was talking about."

Yoshiko's heart begins to pound away in her chest as she stares into Riko's sparkling eyes. She feels something inside her melt, maybe her heart, or maybe her sanity because, omg Riko was holding her hand ahh, either way it doesn't' change her answer.

"That sounds good. Whenever you want to, let's do it."

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MC: are y'all surprised I updated this? So am I tbh... But look forward to more (maybe... hopefully?)

Also It may seem like the swimming/diving team don't have a coach, but they do. The poor soul just suffers from the Akari syndrome (aka no presence syndrome), and mom friend Dia is my aesthetic