FYI: Try not to take too long a hiatus between chapters. I forgot what happened in the previous chapters, so I spent an entire day rereading my fic so I understood where I was. The series is starting to wind up! Woah! But before that, the Neighbor's Club arc comes to an end with this chapter! So to all you yobbos who don't like Hisao being dragged out of the KS universe, fret not as KS characters will be reappearing next chapter...when I get to it

"Nice to meet you. I'm Fujibayashi Akari." A 2D image of a pink-haired girl in a school uniform introduces herself to the 2D version of me, Nakai Hisao. Sena and I had a bit of an argument over what name my character was going to be. Apparently, Yozora made Sena's character Semopomune in her first playthrough, so she wanted someone else to go through the embarrassment of having a stupidly nonsensical name. Luckily for me, I managed to input my name before she could wrest the controller away from me.

I'm now given three options to choose as my response to her:

1. Nice to meet you, Akari-chan!

2. Oh, it's nice to meet you Fujibayashi-san.

3. What a pushy broad! Get lost!

Hmm, decisions decisions. It may be Yozora's personality rubbing off on me, but I think 3 is the best choice. This Akari seems way too forward towards someone she just met. I select 3 and press the button.

"What a pushy broad! Get lost!" The 2D me says to Akari in an angry manner.

"S-sorry, Nakai-kun! As it is our first time meeting, I may have been too forward...I'll be more careful from now on, so I hope you're not mad at me." Akari hastily apologizes.

"Hmm, great minds think alike, it seems." Yozora comments from the sofa.

"I'm guessing you picked 3 too?" I ask.

"Yep. I played through it once with Sena. We both agreed on 3." Yozora replies.

"But that was before I found the kind of hardships Akari-chan went through!" Sena protests. Oh God, I remember that Yozora told me that Sena took her eroge a bit TOO seriously.

"Calm down, Sena. I'm the one playing here, right? So just let me do what I want to do."

"Fine..." Sena still looks a bit reluctant, but she lets me do as I wish.

Getting through the introductory scenes, I'm now faced with the 'stat-boosting' screen, as I like to call it. Basically Hisao (The 2D one) has free time during the day, and you can use it to boost stats like strength, intelligence, speed, etc. Somehow, the 2D me has pitifully low stats. It's a wonder he even made it to high school with an intelligence that low.

"So Hisao, what're you gonna do?" Sena inquires. Looks like she's gotten a bit impatient.

"Dunno. I guess I'll go with going to the weight room. Can't have 2D me running around being a weakling, can we?"

For some odd reason, the two girls watching me don't accept this reasoning, as they give me strange expressions.

"Your child's going to be dumb as hell when he grows up, isn't he?"

"Hisao, you know academics are the most important thing as a child, right?"

Sena and Yozora respond to me at the same time. I feel sorry for any kids those two will have.

Way to promote the stereotypical Asian parent. But for someone who's already physically weak, I'd rather others don't feel the way I feel right now, even if they are only imaginary.

Ignoring those two, I make my guy train his body for the whole day, using up all his energy. Unfortunately, with no energy, I have no opportunities to go to town and meet girls. But that's something that can wait until later on.

As I meet the rest of the girls, I start to get the appeal of why these kinds of games are popular. With all these improbable scenarios where the protagonist meets attractive girls from all kinds of stereotypical tropes (Like the nerd, jock, etc.), it's like the ultimate form of escapism. You can pretend to be someone who gets all the girls (If you can roll the harem ending, that is). Well, that explains all the otakus in the country, at least. I once thought of them as strange and having a negative effect on Japan's reputation culture wise. But now, I can sympathize with them...a little. I'm pretty sure I can get a real, 3D girl though.

Looking up at the clock, it says it's nearly 6 P.M...6 P.M.?

"Jeez, have we been playing this for that long?" I ask in wonder.

"Hmmhmm." Sena nods her head. "It's easy to lose track of time once you start playing. I once spent a whole night clearing a route and didn't notice it until my alarm clock went off."

"And that is why you need psychiatric help, Meat." Yozora interjects in her usual cutting manner. "It was interesting seeing Hisao play though, I think I understand him a bit better now."

Wait...don't tell me she actually inferred stuff through my gameplay? I hope she doesn't take seriously the fact that I went after the antisocial girl in the game, a tall dark-haired girl by the name Tohsaka Rin. But I can worry about that later.

"Anyways!...I got to head back to Yamaku soon. I have no desire to be moping around the city at dark." I explain, veering the conversation towards safer waters.

"Already? Oh, fine, it can't be helped since you have a curfew." Yozora concedes. "I'll guide you to the city, at least. What about you, Meat?"

"Well since you two are leaving, I might as well leave too. But I can get Stella to drive you both back home if you want." Meat...no Sena offers.

"Really? You'd do that for us?" I ask, astonished at the generous offer.

"Of course! I like you, Hisao. You're different from all the doormats here at school."

"You're actually going to take up Meat's offer?" Yozora doesn't seem pleased by this sudden change in events.

"Why not? It'll save me some money on bus fare and we'll get to spend a bit more time together." I reason out.

"But if you have any issues, Yozora, you can just go home by yourself. I can take Hisao back to Yamaku by myself." Sena taunts.

"Out of the question, Meat. I'm coming along, and you're dropping me off as well." Yozora puts her foot down, both literally and figuratively.

"Fine fine, let me just call Stella." Sena pulls out her phone and dials a number.

"Ah, Stella?...Yeah, I'm going to need a ride home...I have two friends who need a ride as well, is that OK?...It is? That's good...You already know where Yozora lives, but the second one dorms at Yamaku Academy..."

"Hey Yozora, who's Stella?" I ask Yozora while Sena's still talking.

"Her butler. Her dad is the head of the school's board. And yep, she's rich."

"Ohh, that makes sense than. I thought butlers were guys though, but whatever."

Huh...well it does tie in with the whole 'perfect' image Sena has going on, except for the eroge addiction and personality problems.

"Ah OK we'll meet at the front entrance...Thanks, Stella." Sena hangs up and directs her attention to us. "We're meeting her at the front gates in ten minutes."

I get my bag and sling it on my back while Yozora tidies up the room. After a couple of minutes, we depart. Weaving through the church hallways and through the scenic garden, I make a mental note to come back here again. Yozora's school certainly is picturesque. At the gates, a fancy black sedan is waiting for us, with an unfamiliar woman in butler's clothing who must be Stella standing next to it.

"Ah, Hello Sena-sama, Yozora-sama." Stella greets the two girls with a bow when we approach the car. Upon closer inspection, Stella is pretty attractive, with short blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes. If I didn't know any better, I definitely would've called Sena and Stella being related.

"Hey Stella. This is Nakai Hisao, he's a friend of ours from Yamaku." Sena introduces me.

"Hello. Sorry for troubling you about taking me back to Yamaku." I apologize to Stella in advance.

"There is no need to apologize, Hisao-sama. It is good to see Sena-sama and Yozora-sama branching out to boys outside of St. Chronicas."

Wow, Stella's statement could be misunderstood in so many ways. But I'd rather not point that out.

"Ah, well I'll be in your care than." I say.

The three of us clamber into the car, Sena taking shotgun while Yozora and I take the back seats. Stella gets into the car after us and drives off.

"So Sena-sama, if you do not mind me asking, how did you meet Hisao-sama?" Stella inquires after a couple of minutes of silence.

"Me? Oh, um, Yozora dragged him into our club meeting today. You'll probably be better off asking Yozora that." Sena passes the question along to Yozora.

"Now that I think of it, I never told you guys how I met him." Yozora realizes. "Well, it was one of those chance meetings you usually see in love comedies or something like that?"

"Really? I always thought those kinds of movies were completely unrealistic." Sena says.

"That's the point, Meat. Here I was, tucked away in a corner at the Starbucks, and this dolt walks up to me thinking I'm someone else." Yozora jabs her finger at me.

"Hey, I'm not a dolt. And that's because you looked like someone else I knew."

"I'm not sure how you confused Yozora for anyone else too, Hisao. After all, she's unsightly. I doubt anyone you know is as much of an eyesore as her."

"Fuck off, Meat." Yozora glares at Sena. If Stella had not been present, I'm sure Yozora would have hit her with the flyswatter. Although Sena's comment could be seen as coincidental when I take into account Hanako's scars. Not that I think Hanako is ugly, but to someone like Sena, Hanako could be seen as unsightly.

"And yes, you are a dolt Hisao. You were like all 'Hello Hanako' even though you didn't see my face." Yozora continues her rant.

"Who's this Hanako? By the looks of it, she must look similar to Yozora if you called her that without seeing her face." Sena asks. Blah, why is she perceptive at times like this? Can you not point out the obvious please?

"Wow, there's something that doesn't happen everyday: Meat thinking of something before I do. But seriously, Hisao, how similar did I look to this Hanako girl?"

"Umm...a lot. Right down to how you were facing the corner and hiding your face in a public place. You two even would look similar if I placed you two side by side." I answer honestly.

"Hmm...this could be troubling." Yozora looks out the window, looking very thoughtful.

"I am interested in meeting this Hanako. I think it is extremely rare for someone like Yozora-sama to exist, let alone two in the same area." Stella drops a bombshell out of nowhere.

I have to concede that last statement to her though. Yozora might be the only attractive anti-social girl in all of Japan...well if you can look past Hanako's scars, that'd make two. Hell, even Kenji grudgingly admitted (in secret, of course) that Hanako was cute even with scars. But seriously, Yozora is definitely unique.

"Oh, that's a good idea, Stella!" Sena adds.

"Wait wait wait, I just met you two today, and you already want to meet my friends? Isn't this a bit fast for our first meeting?" I counter.

"Well I want to meet her too." Yozora turns to me with a strange expression. "So I can...y'know, learn how you became friends with them. After all, as president of the Neighbor's club, I must gather intelligence on how people make friends from as many sources as possible."

For some reason, I think Yozora's reasoning is full of crap. But I'm too tired to start a verbal sparring match with her.

"And we've been friends for a decent amount of time too, Hisao. Unlike Meat over here. Also, it's only proper since she's the one you confused me for to begin with." She tries to reason out.

"Yeah but... she's a bit of an...introvert. Like you. Except replace the assholey attitude with...shyness I guess." I try to describe Hanako with as much accuracy as I can.

"Oh yeah, I forgot you went to Yamaku. What kind of disability does she have?" Sena asks.

"You really shouldn't be asking that kind of question so freely, Sena. It's not good to treat us as different just because we have physical disabilities. When the personal feels comfortable revealing their sickness, they'll tell you. Although in some cases, like Hanako's, it's a bit...obvious. So I'm not going to say." I shoot down Sena's question. Her asking that sort of question made me remember the ignorance normal people have of Yamaku and its students, something I was last aware of back at the school festival.

"Oh..." Sena awkwardly mutters.

"Anyways, even if I did want to introduce Yozora to her, I'd have to check with Hanako first. So you'll have to wait for a bit." I 'compromise'. Knowing Hanako, I doubt she'd be interested in meeting Yozora (And Sena if she comes along somehow). So it's a win-win situation for me since I can do what Yozora told me to do and have a legitimate excuse when Hanako says no.

"Alright..." Yozora looks at me hesitantly. "I really am interested in meeting this Hanako, so don't try anything funny."

"Yes yes, I won't do anything stupid." I promise. "Oh, but she'll probably bring Lilly with her too if it does happen. And if I recall correctly, you two didn't exactly get a good impression of each other back at the water park."

"What? You two went to the water park together?"

"Shut up Meat. That is none of your concern. But Hisao, I guess I can deal with her. Go ahead and try to set me up with Hanako."

"Jeez, now it sounds like I'm playing matchmaker." I complain.

"S-shut up Hisao! I don't roll that way! I just want to see what your other friends are like."

"That still sounds extremely nosy, but whatever. I probably would have dropped the idea of you two meeting eventually. I'll talk to her in homeroom when I get the chance. Like I said though, can't guarantee anything."

"Thanks, I guess...It's fine as long as you try."

"Hey, don't just make plans in front of me without including me in it!" Sena whines.

Before she can attempt to shoehorn her way in, Stella announces that we're at Yamaku. Looking outside the window, I can see the familiar front us.

"Your stop, Hisao-sama." Stella informs me.

"Ah, right. Thanks for the lift, Stella. And, umm, to you too Sena."

"No problem, Hisao. Make sure you visit the club again soon!" Sena replies.

"I'll drag you there by force if you don't want to!" Yozora threatens with a scary expression. But then she suddenly gives me a glowing smile. "But seriously, thanks for coming today. It was fun." She reaches out and takes me in her arms in a hug, or as much of a hug as you can get while sitting in the backseat of a car. I mirror her movements, and for a second, it was just the two of us leaning on each other. But as quickly as the moment happens, it ends, as she breaks away from me.

"Bye Hisao, message me later, K?" Yozora waves me off, blushing.. From the side of my vision, I think I saw Sena looking...jealous? I think...might've been my imagination though.

"If you have a moment, Hisao-sama, I'd like to talk to you in private before we leave." Stella says as I open the car door.

"Oh, umm OK then I guess." Confused, I get out of the car and stand on the curb. Stella joins me after leaving the car as well.

Once we're a fair distance away from the car, Stella suddenly grabs my hand and places something in it.

"A present for you, when you and Yozora reach that stage in your relationship." Stella says with a straight face. Looking down at the item, it's a small plastic pouch that contains...a condom?

"WHAT? WHY DID YOU GIVE THIS TO ME?" I shout in disbelief.

"Teen pregnancy rates are on the rise, and I must do my part to counter that. Also, I can sense you are a good person. Try your best to keep Yozora-sama happy. If you know what I mean." Stella continues in that same straight face. I have to give her props for not showing any kind of emotion though. If I was her I'd be cracking up right now.

"That still doesn't explain why you have condoms on you to begin with! And it's not THAT kind of relationship!" I sigh. If Stella's brazen enough to hand me condoms, I doubt an explanation will get through to her. "But anyways, thanks again for the ride back. I'll see you later, Stella."

"Indeed, take care Hisao-sama." Stella sees me off with a bow, which is quite fitting given her butler's uniform. I watch her get back in the car and drive off into the distance. Well this was definitely a bizarre day.

While I walk through the park, I start to wonder what would happen when Yozora and Hanako meet. In a sense, it'd be like two universes colliding. They're both similar, yet so different. Looking past the predictable hostile reaction from Yozora, it'd be nice if the two could get along. Then I wouldn't be forced to split my time between the two and leave one on the sidelines all the time like I just did with Hanako. But then that leaves the question of how to integrate Lilly and Sena into the group...bleh, this is a lot more complicated than I thought. And now it looks like I'm trying to create a harem!

But still...I'm aware that Hanako likes me. And I like her too. Than I have the outsider Yozora who appears out of nowhere and throws things into chaos, and the worst thing is that I brought it upon myself when I first confused her for Hanako back at that Starbucks. Now they both like me...well I know Hanako does, but it's still a bit tentative on Yozora's side. Maybe she's just exuberant that she has a guy friend for once and that I've been relegated to the friend zone?

Damn, I'm still undecided about the whole thing. Can't get my thoughts straight at all. I mean come on, no girl would just kiss a guy than friend zone them! Maybe? I'm not a girl, so it's not like I can exactly predict their thought patterns. Ahhh now I'm confusing myself even more!

I scratch my head in confusion over what I just thought. I think some sleep will do me some good. I'll need a clear mind when I talk to Hanako on Monday.

Yay, now you get to wait for me to update again! Good thing is, the series is winding up to its conclusion, so you'll only have to wait at least twice or at most four times before you don't have to wait in anticipation for the next chapter! Because it will be done! WOAH!

But no seriously, this is probably going to be my first fanfic with a definite conclusion. I suck with conclusions in any written form. So sorry in advance.