Author: YuMto
Disclaimer: KHR does not belong to me.
Beta reader: Chocolate and caramel

Kyoko was standing in front of her with a pile of paperwork; her usual happy face was sullen. It was break time and they were in class, doing things separately like usual. That is, until Kyoko decided to appear in front of Haru.

"What's the meaning of this, Haru-chan?" Hahi? –Chan? "I went to see sensei to return the lab keys but he congratulate me instead for finishing this. Didn't I say we'll do this together?" Haru gulped as Kyoko gestured at the pile of papers. Noting how things went, the teacher was probably trying to praise their 'teamwork' but only to discover Haru did everything herself. Unable to hear anything from Haru, Kyoko slammed the papers on top of Haru's desk, causing everyone looking to their direction. "We're redoing this, no matter how much effort you did! This time together! Or I'll just tell the teachers how you refused to work with me!"

"Hahi! No!" Haru stood up, shocked by Kyoko's threats.

"After school, wait for me in front of the entrance. I'll come by afterwards!" Kyoko firmly held both of Haru's hands, her eyebrows were frowning. Haru nodded her head vigorously; not wanting to know what would happen if she were to refuse her 'friendly' demands.

With a satisfied smile, Kyoko suggested burning the papers, her tone suggesting she wouldn't accept the otherwise. Haru could only nodded to her demands, inwardly terrified; realizing that going against Kyoko is a no-no for future safety.

As soon as Kyoko left the classroom, Haru noticed that everyone in the classroom was actually watching them. The most popular girl in the school was getting angry with one of the smartest girl, an unusual sight even in Midori High. Haru blushed in embarrassment and sat down, pretending to do her work with shaky hands.

That afternoon;

Haru waited at the entrance as told earlier. To her, it felt as if she was waiting for a friend or maybe even a boyfriend. Haru pondered on the thought 'boyfriend'. Being in an all-girls school, it was extremely hard for her to get one, especially those high class boys. A 'friend' was something Haru couldn't touch either. Her past with friends were exactly as good as it should be. "Haru-chan!" Haru turned to see Kyoko running to her direction with a small wave. No matter what she saw Kyoko was doing, Haru couldn't shake the feeling that Kyoko would still be the popular and most pretty girl in school no matter what she did.

"Sorry, did you wait long?" Kyoko asked when she's near Haru. Haru shook her head, lying to herself. The two of them began to walk wherever Kyoko wanted to lead them. Along the way, Kyoko tries to make some conversations with Haru, whom merely responded with a mere yes or no. Kyoko had not notice Haru's discomfort and continued, " Anyway, I hope you don't mind me seeing my brother for awhile before doing our project?"

"Sasagawa-san has a brother?" Haru perked her head up at the mention of Kyoko's brother.

Kyoko giggled, "Kyoko. You should call me Kyoko-chan. You'll get my brother confused if you use our family name and yes, I do. Though many people said we don't look alike. Or even behave the same way." Haru began to think Kyoko's brother as someone who was extremely quiet, smart and unpopular. Well, it wouldn't hurt to meet someone who had been handling Kyoko for all his life..

Kyoko smiled and stopped, "Well, we're here!" Haru looked around to realize that her surroundings were full of teenagers passing their way and among of the people were those who looked like delinquents.

Haru gulped, Did Haru just dug her own grave?

"My brother always forgot his bento and comes home late so I always bring it to him after school. I didn't know about the project yesterday so I thought of giving it to brother and telling him to bring it from now on. He still forgot about it though," Kyoko shyly smiled. That explains why Kyoko-chan was in a hurry yesterday. Haru felt a pang of guilt for judging her. Kyoko was saying something about going inside but Haru wasn't listening over her guilt. Instead, she followed Kyoko into the studio, not aware what she was doing. Kyoko knocked the door of their destination.

"OI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, LAWNHEAD-" "TO THE EXTREME-" "Hahahaha!"

Various conversations and noise were filling the room in front of the two girls. Haru was sweating, fearing the people in front were dangerous. Kyoko's brother was probably dragged into that kind of people. That was what Haru believed until someone opened the door and heard, "Kyoko, you brought my lunch to feed me to the extreme!" Haru saw an older guy opened the door. He had a bandage on his nose and he looked rather he was having a blast.

"Big brother! You forgot about it again," Kyoko gave the bento to the guy. Haru blinked, realizing her imagination was far fetched. Her ideal guy turned out to be the opposite. He was rather loud that Haru had to close both of her ears.

"OI! You can't run away while we're practicing, you dimwit!" A rough voice was heard from the room. It sounded familiar to Haru and more reasons why she wanted to leave this place as much as possible. The brother shouted back into the room, "I'm coming! I'm coming!" He then turned back to Kyoko and Haru, "Sorry, Kyoko, I need to get back now. Thanks extremely for the bento!" The two siblings smiled and nodded to each other.

As soon as they got out of that place, they went to a nearly café and were enjoying sundaes and cake, when Haru finally able to sighed in relief.

She was away from that dangerous place. She didn't get kidnapped or anything and her family reputation were still intact.

"Haru-chan?" Haru snapped back to reality and to find Kyoko stared curiously at her. "I was asking how should we start our report?"

"Hahi, Kyoko-chan doesn't know?" Kyoko nodded her head and Haru continued, "We could go to the bookstore. Haru went there yesterday to do her research."

"You did that for a short time?" Haru nodded and closed her self, getting ready for impact that she was arrogant. "Wow! That's really amazing of you, Haru-chan!"

"Hahi?"

"No one's actually able to finish it in a day. Now I know why you're always the top in our class," Kyoko gave Haru her sincere smile. Haru was rather dumbfounded. It was the first time a classmate actually told her that honestly. Kyoko didn't look like she was lying or trying to get to her good side.

"Ky-Kyoko-chan too," Haru gulped and covered her face with both of her hands while looking down from embarrassment. "Kyoko-chan is really popular but she gets her work down neatly. Everyone likes Kyoko-chan."

"Hm? I'm popular?" Kyoko laughed it out, "I think you got it wrong. I'm not. I'm like Haru-chan. We're friends, right? You don't need to get embarrassed." Kyoko revert her attention to her cake and mumbled, "It's too bad that I can't eat cakes so many unless it my cake appreciation day."

"Hahi? Kyoko-chan likes cakes too?"

"Haru-chan too?"

A smile began to appear on Haru's lips as she nodded her head earnestly. To think that someone actually enjoys cakes like her. For once, Miura Haru felt as she was no longer alone, for once, she felt she was truly gaining a friend.

That was also when she view cake as her symbol friendship with Kyoko.