Just a starting note, this story exists completely independent of my "Never Change-Yuri Orpheus storyline." That's why Ayano is her normal tsundere self here. No, this is a complete return to usual Yuru Yuri antics.

Without a furtherado, let's start!

An intense buzzing disturbed Akari from her slumber. She opened her eyes, still clouded by drowsiness and she looked at the clock. 6:45. Akari hit the snooze button, then she arose. She went to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She gave a mild groan – she was having a great dream. That dream she often has. Her favorite dream. The one where she was known to everyone in school and was loved by everyone. Akari loved that dream, but she hated it as well. It made her invisibility all the harder the following days. Akari bushed her teeth, rinsed with water, and spit, and then she did her best to cheer herself up. She looked into the mirror and smiled.

"Having no presence can be hard sometimes, but still my life isn't that bad," she said smiling to herself. "And who knows? Maybe something special will happen." Having reestablished her usual sense of optimism, she returned to her room and packed her things and prepared. She ate her breakfast until she heard a knock at the door.

"Ah, there they are!" Akari said happily. She went to the door and opened it with enthusiasm, "Hello fri-eh?" Akari was caught of guard by the site of a short, red, rectangular box being thrust into her face. It blotted out her vision of the carrier.

"Good morning, Akari-chan," Kyoko said, pantomiming with the box. "Happy Valentine's Day," her friend addressed her in English.

"Huh? Oh, yeah that's right!" Akari said cheerfully. "It is Valentine's Day today! I almost forgot!"

"Yes! And here's your chocolates, Akari!" Kyoko said, smiling like a fool.

"Hmm," the raven-haired girl next to her nodded, "and here are mine, Akari. Happy Valentine's Day."

"Thank you, Kyoko-chan. Yui-chan!" Akari accepted the boxes. "And thanks for reminding me. Be right back." Akari dashed back into her kitchen and traded her two boxes for three. She went back to her front porch, "Here you are!" she said as she closed the door behind her, "Happy Valentine's Day, Kyoko and Yui."

"Thank you, Akari," Yui said immediately as the trio began to walk. Kyoko began to cry crocodile tears.

"Pfft! I was hoping for bigger and more numerous chocolates-ow!"

"Be grateful!" Yui said, after striking her.

"Eh? You didn't like your box, Kyoko-chan? Did Akari fail you?" Akari said worriedly.

"Ah, don't worry, Akari-chan. She said the exact same thing to me. She's just being ungrateful, per usual."

"Do you like yours, Yui-chan?" Akari asked concernedly.

"Yes, of course."

Akari sighed in relief. Kyoko rubbed the throbbing spot on her head. "Buu~ so abusive, Yui-chan!" she muttered.

"Where's Chinatsu-chan?" Akari asked as the three walked along the seaside road.

"Oh, she said she'll meet us at the school. She's off picking something up before school starts."

"Oh! Oh! Maybe she's out getting me a Valentine's Day gift fitting to express her love for me!" Kyoko jumped up and down at the prospect.

Akari chuckled, "hehe"

"In your dreams," Yui said with a deadpanned look on her face.

"Well, at least I have dreams!" Kyoko exclaimed.

"It's a good thing you guys decided to give me the chocolates right away," Akari said, "I almost forgot it was Valentine's Day."

"Hmm, as did I until Kyoko showed up. She actually did something of use for once." Akari laughed again at her friend's remark.

"Keep it up, Yui!" Kyoko just laughed, "but abuse is usually the first sign of …"

"…Love!" Kyoko fluttered her eyelashes. Yui simply stared at her.

"Although it's not hard to see why you fell for me! I'm very beautiful, and artistic, and charming, and intelligent! And I'm good at the housework! So, you can go out and work, and I'll stay at home and take care of the kids."

"You're extra delirious today, aren't you?"

"Perhaps!" Kyoko skipped backwards so she could face her friends with authority, "But I'll bet you all my title of group leader that I'll be swimming in the love notes before the day is out."

"You have to actually have something before you can bet it. Since when we're you group leader?"

The exterior of the school and its hallways were ecstatic with activity. The schoolgirls chatted excitedly with themselves, giving and showing off gifts to each other. Some boasted and hoped for the attention of boys, and some for the fairer sex, but regardless, the intoxicating spirit of the holiday had ensnared all and volleys of arrows descended upon the institution.

"Ah, here comes, Ayano!" Kyoko said excitedly. The purple-headed tsundere neared the group at a steady, fervent pace with her smiling, spectacled friend close behind her. She was carrying a red, rectangular box of chocolates. She was red herself and muttering something under her breath.

"I'll bet she's coming to give me something!" Kyoko continued.

"Why would Ayano give you something?" Yui said snidely.

"Because she's gonna be the first of many!"

"That didn't even slightly answer my question."

"Toshinou Kyoko!" Ayano addressed the blonde loudly as she approached.

"Hello Kyoko-chan. Yui-chan. Akari-san," Chitose waved cheerily. The other two reciprocated.

"So, Ayano-chan! What have you got there?" the blonde asked. "Ah box of chocolates for some lucky girl?"

Ayano stammered, embarrassed by Kyoko's remark. "Um…mmmuuummm…T-Toshinou Kyoko! Since it is Valentine's Day we give out boxes of chocolates to the school club leaders as a token of good faith! And so I, er we rather, got you some as well. Here you are!"

Yui slapped her head. "Seriously, since when was it decided that she was club leader?"

"Oh, cool!" Kyoko exclaimed, "But, I'm not an officially recognized club leader."

"Eh?" Ayano exclaimed, the hole in her explanation exposed. Chitose giggled. "Yes, Ayano-chan, Kyoko-san isn't an official leader, so why did you get her the chocolates?"

"I, er, w-we wanted you to feel involved anyway! I-In the sp-spirit of charity!" Ayano panted heavily and sweated fiercely.

Kyoko smiled and took the chocolates, brushing her fingers along Ayano's as she took them, nearly causing a collapse in the hallway. "Thank you, Ayano-chan!" Kyoko said accepting them.

Ayano recovered from her shock. "You're welcome, Toshinou Kyoko," Ayano began to breath a little calmer now that the deed had been done. "Well, we'll see you in class, then!" She turned to walk away, but she felt an arm on her shoulder restrain her.

"Wait," Kyoko said as she rummaged through her backpack and withdrew a box of her own, "here's your one, Ayano-chan!"

Ayano's eyes nearly popped out of her sockets at the sight of the chocolates. "Eh? A h-he-heart-shaped box?" Indeed, Kyoko's box was heart-shaped. "And with …. A CARD!"

"Ehhhhh…hehehehe!" Chitose bled off to the side.

"Th-thank you, Toshinou Kyoko!" Ayano snatched the box quickly from her crush's hand, bowed up and down speedily, and then, grabbing Chitose, dashed off down the hall.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ayano!" Kyoko waved after her.

Yui and Akari just stood there looking. "Hmm, I wonder if Ayano-sempai likes anyone?" Akari thought curiously. Yui nodded calmly in return. "Hmm, yes. I wonder."

"Haha!" Kyoko chuckled as they walked toward their respective homerooms. "Victory! One box o' chocolates down! Now I just need a few thousand more and a hundred love confessions!"

"You're not going to get any love confessions, Kyoko," Yui said.

"Y'know, you've been yappin' all morning, Yui! How about you put some money where your mouth is!"

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"I propose a wager that I'll get more love confessions than you before the day is out!"

"Hmm, interesting. What do I get if I win?"

'Well, whattyawant?"

"Hmm?" Yui pondered, reflecting on all the fortunes that were at Kyoko's disposal. Only one idea in particular stood out. "Oh, I know! I'll take your Mirakurun plushie."

"Pfft! That's stupid! I have hundreds of those."

"The one with the tear in the shoulder," Yui said with gravity in her voice. Kyoko nearly collapsed.

"What?" Kyoko asked, frazzled. "B-bu-but, that's my first one! The one I've had since I was little!" Yui nodded. "But why on Earth would you want that one!?"

"Because it would drive you nuts!" Yui said, a little proud of her own cruelty. It was good to let the dark side out every once in a while. Kyoko was now a little anxious, but regardless put on her usual superior air. Victory was most certainly hers. "Oh, okay then! If I win I … want …" she thought if an appropriate rebuttal, something that would really miff Yui. Something worth putting her first Mirakurun on the line for. Only one thing could be worth it, "… your panties!" Kyoko smiled pervertedly.

"Pick something else!" Yui said crossly.
"Nope!" Kyoko shook her head. "You want my plushie. I want the panties you are wearing right now," the blonde maintained her perverted grin.

"Why would you want those?" Yui asked in an irked manner. Kyoko just stared her in the eyes and with master mimicry, said, "Because it would drive you nuts!"

With confidence a bit shaken, Yui ultimately capitulated. "Fine!" she said. "But this is by far the weirdest request you have ever made! And for you, that's saying something!"

"Heheheh!" Kyoko chuckled evilily. "What's the matter, Yui? Not so brazen as before? Scared?"

"No!" Yui said, riled up a bit again.

"Because if you are," the blonde continued, "you can still back out now!"

"No! I won't," the black-haired girl said, "Let's shake on it!"

The friends clasped hands. "I wasn't even really going to take this that seriously since I thought that really none of us would be getting any confessions, but y'know what? It's on now!"

"Oh, yeah! You bet it's on! Just remember when I'm wearing your panties that it all could've been avoided if you left Mirakurun out of this!"

"I'll be sure to remember that when she's perched up in my trophy case!"

The two friends then stared at each other's eyes, beams of energy bursting from them.

"Okay, guys! I'm here at my homeroom now," Akari said. "I'll see you two later."

"Eh?"
"Eh?"

The pair was disrupted from their laser battle by the sound of Akari's voice. "Akari, you're still here? We thought you went to your homeroom ages ago," Kyoko said.

"EH? We've literally just arrived at my homeroom! I was beside you guys the whole time!"

Yui scratched her head. "Huh, could've sworn you did."

"I didn't!" Akari pleaded, "Why would I still be here, then?"

"Huh," Kyoko said, "Guess you're presencelessness is so powerful it is now transcending all time and space."

Akari sulked. "Oh, I'll see you guys later," she went into her homeroom.

"Yes, bye Akari!" The two waved as they headed off to their own. Akari skulked on over to her desk, where she sat down and sulked about her presencelessnesses recent failure. Himawari and Sakurako didn't notice her either, but they were so caught up in their fight, they probably would've been oblivious to her, presence or otherwise. She looked about the room and saw many of her respective classmates exchanging cards and chocolates and gifts, She was certain that some of them were receiving special ones. With a sigh, she bent down and unzipped her backpack. She came back up with her notebook for class and with Chinatsu's gift for when she came in. With nothing more worthwhile to do, she observed the latest fight with a mild interest. It was certainly one of the tsundere pair's more perplexing confrontations.

"Here, idiot!" Himawari exclaimed while handing her dirty blonde rival a basket of cupcakes, "I got you these cupcakes for Valentine's Day!"

"Thank you, boob fiend!" Sakurako yelled back, accepting the basket. She handed over her own gift. "I got you some chocolates, too! But it's not because I like you. It's only because it's a holiday!"

"Well, THANKS! THAT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL! OF YOU!" the bluenette screamed.

"YOU'RE WELCOME!" Sakurako yelled herself hoarse. "YOUR CAKES WERE ALSO VERY CONSIDERATE!"

"Umm, Ohmuro-san, Furatani-san," Akari interjected. "What exactly are you two fighting about today?"

"WE'RE NOT FIGHTING!" they screamed, facing right at her.

"Aggghh!" the frightened redhead let out. "Okay! You're not fighting, I get it!" The bickering pair simmered down by the time Chinatsu entered the room, looking chipper.

"Good morning, Akari-chan!" she greeted amiably.

"Good morning, Chinatsu!" Akari responded as her pinkette friend took the seat next to her. Akari studied the intense smile on her face.

"You're looking happy today, Chinatsu-chan," she said.

"Oh, am I that obvious? Anyway, it's only because I am. You see, Akari," she said leaning in close to her, "I just spent the morning getting Yui-sempai the best possible gift!"

"Oh! What is it?"

"Hehe! It's that game she's been wanting forever for! Plus, chocolates, plus roses," Chinatsu said ecstatically, listing the items off with her fingers.

"Wow! That's great, Chinatsu-chan! Yui-chan will be so happy!" Akari applauded, living vicariously through her friend.

"And to top it all off, I have a card and written in it is my confession!" Chinatsu smiled, anticipation heavy in her voice.

Akari gasped. "Y'mean? You're going to … tell Yui how you feel at last." Chinatsu nodded. "Are you sure your ready?"

Chinatsu nodded again. "Mmmhmm! After today's gift, she'll have to accept it! You said yourself! She'll be ecstatic!"

Akari smiled, happy for the gift Yui would receive and hopeful for Chinatsu's ambitions. Both of them were very close friends and the idea of the two of them getting together happily was a pleasant one.

Akari sighed. "That's nice."

"Oh, and before I forget, here are your chocolates, Akari-chan!" The two exchanged the chocolates.

"Thanks, Chinatsu-chan!" she said, followed by another heavy sigh. Chinatsu took notice of this one, and she detected a faint sadness in the redhead's demeanor – not an excessive amount, but even an iota was out of character for her.

"Is something wrong, Akari? You sound a little down?"

"Eh?"Akari was taken off-guard by the address. "Oh, no! I'm not sad at all! It's just," she paused and reflected on her words.

"Yeah?" asked Chinatsu edging her on.

"Well, it's just that-"

"Akari-san!" a trio of fellow classmates approached the redhead, interrupting her conversation. They surrounded her desk.

"Oh, hello Mariko-san, Kumiko-san, Chouko-san " Akari acknowledged them, "what's the matter?"

"We forgot to do our English homework for today, and we know that you're pretty good at it, so we were wondering if we could see yours before class. We hate to impose, though."

"Umm," Akari nodded, "It's no trouble at all," she said digging into her bag and recovering her English book. "Just get it back to me before English begins."

"All right, cool! We'll return it at recess. Thanks again!"
"No worries," Akari waved as the trio returned to their respective seats. She turned back to Chinastu. "Anyway, what were we talking about?"

"Eh? Oh yeah, right! You were explaining why you were feeling a bit down."

"Well, I wouldn't say I'm feeling sad," Akari said looking down, "it's just you know, everybody appears to be getting special things or making special plans for Valentine's Day and everything-" she paused.

Chinatsu nodded, "And?"

Akari looked up at her," –and, well, I was kind of hoping that maybe I could be involved in something-"

"Okay, everyone," the door slid open and the teacher came in," everyone stand as I take attendance!"

"Oh, damn it!" Chinatsu said disappointedly, "we'll talk later." Akari nodded, and the two stood up along with the rest of the class.

TO BE CONTINUED