Chapter 15

When Haruko woke up she found herself in an awkward position, spooning Lily. She gasps and quickly untangles herself from the other woman, only to notice that she was actually awake. "W-Woah...!" Haruko scrambles off the bed, sitting on the floor now. 

"Good morning, Haruko." Lily giggles, she sits up to face her "What happened? You were holding onto me so tightly."

"I--"

To their surprise, Minami walks into the room with a bright smile. "Good morning you two." She greeted them excitedly. "Oh! You're awake, great!"

"I've been awake for a bit, I would've gotten up already but your friend here was hugging me." Lily motions to Haruko in amusement.

"M-My bad..." Haruko said timidly, she hurries to her feet, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "I-I'll go make breakfast or something..."

"Ah, actually Haru. Hana came over when I got here, she brought some breakfast with her so..." Minami explained briefly, she hands Lily a bag full of clothes. "You two can just get ready for the day, since there's classes. Meet you in the dining room?" she hums before heading back out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

'Ahh... Minami should just live here at this point, since she's been letting herself in.' Haruko thought, amused by her best friend. She looks at her phone to see that Saeko wasn't jogging today so that frees her time up a little more. 

"I hope you don't mind, Haruko. I took some selfies while you were asleep." Lily admitted, showing her the pictures on her phone. 

In the picture, Lily was smiling up at the camera as Haruko hugs her from behind. Lily throwing up a peace sign, resting her fingers against Haruko's cheek cutely. 

"A-Ah... that's cute." Haruko smiles nervously, 'I didn't know that was a thing people do...' 

"I'll send them to you~"

"Sure."

Lily hums, she moves closer and pulls Haruko to sit beside her on the bed. "Now that you're awake~" she leaned her head on her shoulder, bringing her phone up for another picture. Lily waits patiently for Haruko to pose. 

"Oh! Uhh..." She wasn't used to taking selfies, pictures in general. The most she did was take pictures of scenery back in the real world, or some animals. Haruko, being the awkward person she is, just leaned her head on Lily's and smiled. She sighs in relief when Lily took a quick picture. "Let's go get ready?"

They took a few minutes to each do their morning routines. Haruko letting out a violent yawn as she sat at the edge of her bed, buttoning her shirt up lazily. 

Lily watches her curiously as she tucked her shirt into baggy skater jeans. "Hmm.." Haruko looks at the mirror thoughtfully, untucking the shirt instead. She lays a black tie around her neck, leaving it to hang.

"Ah, Haruko." Lily calls out, stepping in front of her. "Let me help you with this." she motions to the neck tie.

"Sure."

Lily begins to put Haruko's tie together, her movements slow. "Did you know, Haruko... that you get handsy when you're sleeping?" she admitted with an amused chuckle.

"O-Oh my God, did I do something to you??" Haruko asks worriedly, looking down at the woman. This is what she was worried about, Haruko unconsciously moving the body around while she was sleeping. 

"You were just being touchy. I didn't say I minded." Lily giggles, she finishes up and rests the tie properly under Haruko's collar. "In fact, I was hoping you were actually awake and doing that." She pulled Haruko in for a comforting hug, petting her head. 

Haruko waits for Lily to let go of her, watching her grab her things before heading towards the door. "B-But wait, what was I doing??"

"Hmm...?" Lily stops just at the door frame, standing there with a thoughtful gaze before she grins teasingly. "Let's just say, you were spooning me for a reason." she laughs and heads out, leaving it to that. 

"...Did I...?" Haruko facepalms in embarrassment when she tried to figure out what they could do in that position, she slaps her cheeks softly to stop her brain from going further.  "Of course I would be doing that..." she groaned. She quickly pulls an oversized sweater to finish off her outfit and follows Lily out with her own backpack. 

After eating breakfast, they get ready to head out. Minami and Haruko to their college while Hana and Lily towards their own. Which is pretty much the other direction. 

To their surprise, on the way out they're met with the Hasegawa siblings standing there. Erina had a weary expression on when Lily comes out. 

"You're... the older sisters?" Lily motions, looking between Erina and Reika. She knew enough to make those claims.

"Yuki told us everything, I'm so sorry for my younger brother's behavior..." Erina says, bowing her head apologetically. 

"Apologize to her." Reika demanded, she smacks the back of Takashi's head.

"I've said it already... a million times now." Takashi groans, rubbing the area she had hit. 

"No. You have not." Lily said calmly, "For cheating on me? You did not apologize. You've tried to excuse your behavior a million times by saying that Chisako was there for you... unlike me apparently. Not once have you ever properly apologized."

"Oh..." Takashi thought back on it to realize she was kind of right. He held his gaze low out of shame, "I'm.... sorry... There's nothing I can do to redeem myself for you and I'm not trying to ask for forgiveness, nor do I think I deserve it, but ... I truly am sorry about what happened."

"You're right, I won't forgive you. In fact, I don't want anything to do with you. And that's that." Lily huffs, she walks past him with Hana to look if their ride was there. 

"Takashi, I don't want to withhold you from meeting girls because you're an adult, but I do think that you should focus more on yourself for now instead of seeking women out." Erina scolded, facing him directly.

"Pull this shit again and I'll hurt you, seriously." Reika threatened. "Let's go to school already. There's enough trouble as it is, now we have to worry about his stupidity with everything else..." She grumbles to Erina.

"Have a good day at school." Haruko calls out to the two women, noticing that their ride had arrived just in time. 

"Let's go to school, Haruko~" Reika hums, clinging to her arm after she locked her front door. 

Lily glances briefly at how Reika clung to Haruko's arm, frowning slightly. Her expression switching to a smile when they look her way. "Thank you Haruko, I hope you do as well. Please, text us as much as you'd like." she offered.

"I will." Haruko smiles back, "Please feel free to message me as well. Even if they're just pictures of yourselves."

"You're okay with us spamming you with selfies?"

"Of course, I like seeing your pretty faces." 

"Aiyaaa~" Hana became giddy from her compliment, hitting Haruko's shoulder playfully. "We'll send you a lot then~" she said before getting into the car.

"It was a pleasure meeting you-- oh! You as well, Minami." Lily approaches them to give Minami and Haruko one last hug before she enters the car.

"You as well! We'll see you later?" Minami beams.

Lily pauses when she looks up at Haruko, "..." She stood on the tip of her toes and leans in close before placing a peck on her cheek quickly. "Thank you for last night...I appreciate everything... " Lily smiles softly.

"N-No problem..." Haruko held the area she kissed in surprise, she stood rigid, stunned as they watch the vehicle drive off.

*

When it was around lunch time, Minami and Haruko had just gotten out of their math class and were heading down the hall towards the cafeteria. 

Minami stops when she notices Takashi standing outside of a classroom talking to Daisuke Hashimoto. Haruko squints in the direction she was looking at to see the two, taking in Daisuke's appearance; his hair was black and at a moderate length, brushed back with heavy gel and he wore glasses. When standing beside Takashi, he definitely seemed larger in both height and muscular mass. "Oh, it's Daisuke--"

Minami grabs Haruko's arm, dragging her into the nearest classroom. "OW!" Haruko gasped when she ran right into the door frame instead. 

"SORRY..." Minami whispered, tugging her more until she was in the classroom with her. She shut the door behind the, the two crouching on the ground. "Why is he always around lately....???" she whines.

"Who? Daisuke?" Haruko groans, rubbing her face in pain. "Why don't you just go and say hi??" Is it that hard to talk to your crush? Actually, Haruko wouldn't know. If she had a crush on someone before, she was bringing that information to the grave. There was no way anyone would like her back like that in the real world. 

"I-I can't..." Minami shook her head, "It was already too much when we went to eat with them that one time..."

"Takashi is there, so it shouldn't be too bad, right? We can go check it out." Haruko suggests, she stood up and opens the door. Just enough for them to see Daisuke passing by.

Minami, panicking, pulled Haruko back and shuts the door. The other girl falling backwards from the sudden holt. Haruko pulling Minami along with her when she hit the ground.

They both groan in pain, sprawled out on the floor. They were startled when the door opens slightly, Takashi poking his head in curiously before opening it fully to reveal Shizuka and Yukiko standing behind him. "What in the world are you two doing...?"

"...Laying down..." Minami answered awkwardly.

"In a classroom? There are areas where you can rest, you know? Like the nurse's office... that's just down this hall." 

"Right, of course... We knew that... B-But-- how else were we going to feel this cool ground, y'know??" 

Haruko groans, Minami was good at coming up with stories on the spot but she was so bad at lying when it comes to her crushes apparently. 

"Were you hiding from someone?" Yukiko raises a suspicious brow. "We were walking over and saw what happened." She motions to herself and Shizuka, they must've seen when Minami pulled Haruko into the doorframe. 

"She was--" Haruko started, grunting when Minami put a hand over her mouth. "Mmmphh..."

"Nooo, of course not..."

"Uh, right. Are we going to go eat something now or...?" Shizuka trails off, staring at Haruko curiously.

"C-Coming..." Minami laughs, she stood up and helps Haruko up. The taller woman rubbing her head in pain.

"Geez..." Haruko grumbles, "Anyways, Takashi what were you and Daisuke talking about?" she asks suddenly, gaining a look from Minami. 'Shh, I'm trying to help you...' she rolls her eyes, motioning for Minami to calm down.

"He was talking about some upcoming house party he was going to throw." Takashi shrugs, "Asked if I wanted to come, I thought I'd discuss that with you guys first."

"We'll talk more on it alone." Shizuka nods, "Are you alright, Haruko?" 

"Hmm?"

"You have a red spot, right there." Yukiko motions to her forehead.

"Ah... yeaaa. Ran into a door a while ago." So they did miss that part, Haruko laughs awkwardly. "Let's get going." she motions for them to lead the way.

When they entered the cafeteria and got their food, Takashi was quick to spot his friends. "Will you girls be okay sitting on your own...? I should be watching them." he motions to his friends.

"...Go sit with your boyfriends." Yukiko shrugs, she could care less about his presence right now. She motions for him to walk away. They take a seat somewhere secluded and away from the crowds. Somewhere that was a bit hidden so they weren't interrupted either.  

"So... are we all in agreement that we should attend that house party...?" Shizuka brought up to the group once they were settled. 

"It's an idea, the three of them will definitely attend it." Minami hums, "Did Takashi mention seeing those guys again in class or...?"

"Some of them are out due to 'sickness' but there are a few that attended classes today." Yukiko grumbles, "Nothing different about them just yet, but we're going to have to wait in order to see anything, right?"

"Interesting..." Shizuka frowns. "Yes, the drugs effects won't show until multiple uses... speaking of, I need to go and pick up the research papers from the forensic lab."

"Would you like us to come with you after classes today? Or well, after my practice? " Haruko offered. "Since we're supposed to be moving around in groups?"

"Perhaps another day, I-- I'm going on a date after my classes..." Shizuka admitted, almost hesitant. 

"Oh... cool." Haruko nods slightly, she pokes at her food silently. 

"It's alright, we can hang out after your basketball practice." Minami suggests as a means of cheering her up. She put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "You, me and Yukiko!"

"Uhh... sure?" Haruko agreed awkwardly, she was unaware that Minami thought that she was sad because of Shizuka having a boyfriend. "Sounds like fun."

"It will be, don't worry." Minami hums, she notices the older girls coming by to sit with them as well. "Oh, welcome ladies." she greeted in awe.

"Saw you four sitting in the corner, what's up?" Akira asks curiously. "Not feeling social today?" she chuckles, sitting beside Yukiko and ruffling her hair playfully.

"Ugh... Akira..." Yukiko whines, swatting her hands away. "We just wanted to have some peace and quiet..." she pouted when Akira hugs her tightly. 

"Well, you're not getting that when I'm around!" Akira chortles, she pats her back. "Gotta keep you underclassmen on your toes. Can't have you burning out right away." she hums.

"How are you, Haruko?" Akemi asks curiously, fiddling with her fingers underneath the table. 

"Hm? Me?" Haruko looks up from her food in confusion, "I'm fine. Busy preparing for a presentation coming up..." she sighs heavily. If there was one thing she was bad at, it was presentations. Public speaking in general made her nauseous. "Ugh... it's making me nervous..." she admitted out loud, slouching over in defeat.

"Not the presenting type, huh?" Akemi giggles.

"I'm horrible at public speaking." Haruko grumbles, "The only time I did well was when she held my hand throughout my presentation in high school..." she shuts her eyes, laying her head on the table while thinking about it.

"Who?" The women looked at her in confusion, especially Minami.

"Her, my--" Haruko pauses when she realized what she was talking about, memories popping into her head violently of her high school days; her teenage self with a woman-- no a teenager that was about her age at the time, holding her hand in front of the class. Her face was still distorted but her voice was soft and comforting. "My-- who... who am I talking about?" 

Haruko groans when there was a sudden pain that shot through her head. "Ughh... I-- ow..."

"Haruko...??" Saeko calls out worriedly, noticing she was wobbling around in her seat. "Haruko, are you okay??"

"Who is she--...?" Haruko whimpers, opening her eyes slightly when she hears the voice clearly. "W-Where--...??" she looks ahead, seeing a ghostly figure standing there. 

"Yuu..." The woman said, Haruko could see her lips moving but not the entirety of her face. 

Haruko gasps, standing up in shock when she sees her there. She goes around the table and makes her way over, her body feeling heavy as she drags her legs. "Wait...Mi--" she said quietly, noticing that she was getting further away.

The others watch her in surprise and shock, some of them standing up from their seats wearily. They look ahead and see other students around but not what Haruko was seemingly looking at. 

Minami does spot the Ishikawa and Chisako though, approaching their table as well. They watch Haruko in confusion.

"Yuu..." She said again, Haruko could see a tear running down her cheek. 

"M---Mizuki---!!" Haruko cries out, finally realizing the voice. Her legs were picking up, she was running now. But just when she thought she was about to reach her--

 She gasps when it felt like someone shot her in the back of the head, a piercing pain going through before she collapsed to the floor. The people around her winching at how hard it sounded when her body hit the ground. 

"Haruko!" "Kisaragi...!" "Haru!!" Voices called out to her in a panicked state, she could feel them surrounding her but everything became a blur. 

And then she was out. 

*

The next time she woke up she found herself in bed, most likely the nurse's office. She notices the others standing around her bed chattering quietly around her. 

Haruko groans to make her presence known to them.

"Haruko!" The women were quick to turn to her in shock. "Are you okay?" It was the most asked question there.

Haruko sat up slowly, holding her head in pain. "I-I'm fine... what happened...?"

"We don't know, you got up and started walking towards Chisako but then you just... collapsed." Yukiko said with a weary expression, Haruko could tell she was crying a bit. 

"D...Did I say anything??"

"Not that we heard of, no." Erina answered for them, "You stopped talking after we asked you who you were referring to." she admitted. "Then you just stood up and-- well, as Yuki had explained."

'They didn't hear any of that...I suppose the game is preventing them from hearing anything about the outside world...' Haruko thought, she looks around to see that it was just the women around her. 

Including Chisako.

"Goodness, what happened?" Reika frowns, she presses the back of her hand against Haruko's head to check her temperature. "It's a bit warm, Akemi." 

"Perhaps a fever?" Akemi frowns, she goes to the cabinet to bring out a thermometer to check her temperature. "What did you do last night...?" she asks.

"I-I went to bed..." Haruko answered awkwardly.

"Hold on, let me get you some medicine." Akemi spoke, going back to look for something to help with her head and lowering the supposed fever. 

"Perhaps when Lily slept over, she unconsciously hogged most of the blanket?" Minami blurted out, slapping a hand to her mouth quickly when she caught what she said.

"Lily... Nishimura...?" Chisako questions hesitantly. 

Haruko cringes when Chisako said her name, she was hoping they would never figure out that she was talking to both of them. She coughs and hunches over in faux pain to try and distract her. "Ugh...!"

"Haruko??" Chisako approaches her worriedly, sitting at the side of her bed. 

"C-Chisako..." Haruko mumbles, tiredly reaching out to Chisako. The woman taking her hand into her own. 

"What's wrong, Haruko...? Are you alright??"

"I-It's hot... please h-help...?" Haruko whines, her face flushed red out of embarrassment, but they probably thought otherwise. She guides Chisako's hands to her shirt. 'Oh God this is-- P-Please don't look at me everyone...' she pleads in her head.

"E-Eh?? H-Hold on, I'll help you..." Chisako flushed red as well, her fingers fumbling to loosen the tie and take the sweater off before she began to hesitantly tug the buttons of her shirt open. Her eyes go over the bare skin every time she undid a button. 

At that point, Minami was shielding her eyes timidly, it's one thing to see her changing on her own. To watch someone else undress her was a different kind of scene that she would rather not see. 

The rest of them were staring her down though, their eyes wandering the taut muscles beneath her shirt, fair skin teasing them to leave their own mark. 

Chisako was making it towards the very end, the silence being fairly loud between them, aside from the sound of Akemi rustling through the cabinets. But that was drowned out by their hearts racing. 

And just when she was about to slide the shirt off her shoulders...

BAM

The women jump in surprise when the door suddenly swings open, Takashi and his friends piling in with weary on... some of their faces (Takashi and Ryouta), "Hey! Is Haruko alright!??" he asks.

"GET OUT!" Yukiko snapped, the tension in the room shifting to panic as she tries to shove Haruko down again to hide her under the blanket.

THUNK

They wince at the loud clang, realizing that Haruko had hit her head on the metal framing of the bed on her way down.

"H-Haruko...!?" Yukiko cries out in a panic.

Haruko mumbled a few things, seemingly disoriented before her eyes shut again and she was out cold. 

*

This was her third time waking up today, her head aching harshly because of everything that had happened. She'd rather just die to get rid of it, maybe prevent everything from happening, but that would be distasteful wouldn't it...

She sat up groggily again, looking around to see that she was somewhat alone in the room this time. The only one being there was Yukiko, who was sitting at the edge of her bed. "Yuki...?" she calls out.

"Ah, Haruko...!" Yukiko looked relieved to see her up. "Y-You're okay??"

"I don't really remember what happened if I'm going to be honest..." Haruko admitted, she massages her head in pain. She remembers briefly having those flashbacks, but the rest of the day escaped her mind. 

"Y-You hit your head... because of me, I'm so sorry..." Yukiko said, holding her gaze low in shame. 

"It's alright..." Haruko tried to shake her head, instantly regretting it when she felt the jolting pain from the sudden movement. "I-I'm fine..." she groans but tries to reassure her. 

"Are you still feeling sick?" Yukiko asks, pressing her hand against Haruko's forehead. "Akemi left you some medicine and water, she said to take them for the pain."

"Thanks..." Haruko mumbles, taking the medicine when Yukiko handed them over. She drinks the water slowly, her throat felt slightly dry. Probably because she was out most of the day. 

"...I'm sorry, Haruko... Takashi is right, It seems that I only cause you harm..." Yukiko sighs heavily. "... Maybe just forget ever trying to take me out, you can just focus on that other girl or the Ishikawa and Chisako. You don't have to worry about redoing our date... it wasn't supposed to be anything serious anyways."

"Ehh...?" Haruko looks at her worriedly. "Please, Yukiko. We should at least have a proper one before you decide on that... you do more good than harm, don't say that about yourself. This was the only time I actually got hurt. But it was nothing too serious, so it's okay, okay?"

"But--"

"I'm okay. I have a hard head." Haruko jokes playfully. Yukiko scoffing at that, resting her own head against Haruko's shoulder.

"You're so silly... you know that, right?" 

"I've been told yes..." Haruko chuckles, "Please, will you still think about going on a proper date with me?" she asks, cupping her cheek softly.

"Yes... I'd love to.." Yukiko nuzzles into Haruko's hand. Haruko hums, pushing some of Yukiko's hair behind her ear, rubbing light circles into her cheek. "Thank you, Haruko... you always, encourage me to think about myself better."

"Of course... If you won't do it, just know that I think you're great." Haruko grins. 

"H..Haru... I..." Yukiko looks up to meet her eyes, her breathing slow but her heart beating fast and hard. She slowly began to lean in, her eyelashes fluttering until they shut. 

'Is she...?' Haruko thought, noticing Yukiko's intention. She lifts Yukiko's head slightly, tilting it upwards by the chin. Their lips barely an inch apart, 'She smells like Vanilla...' Haruko thought, her own eyes closing the closer they became. 

She feels her soft breath against her lips before closing the distance between them, pressing her lips against Yukiko's.

They kiss for a bit, Haruko reaching around to grab her hips first before bringing her hands to her thighs. 

Yukiko squeaks when Haruko pulls her close, practically straddling the other woman. They were getting lost in the kiss, Yukiko running her fingers through Haruko's hair before resting her hands beneath her shirt, touching the bare of her shoulders. 

Before Haruko could get her own hands under and clothes, the door slams behind them. The two backing off one another quickly. They whip their heads around to see who had just entered to see Shizuka standing there. "What exactly do you two think you're doing...!?" She called out angrily.

"W-What are you doing here...??" Yukiko was breathless, staring at her in shock.

"What am I doing here? What the hell are you two doing...!?" Shizuka shot back harshly, "I came here to check on Haruko because I was worried. You should be thankful it was me and not Chisako, or Noriko, or Kou for God's sake..."

"Why are you getting so worked up about this???"

Shizuka flinched when Yukiko's tone rose as well. "... You are jeopardizing this entire mission. What were you going to do if someone else walked through that door...? You and your brother are nothing but liabilities, I don't know what I was thinking, asking for your help...!"

"S-Stop...!" Haruko tried.

"And you! Do you just kiss anyone!?" Shizuka hissed, directing her attention to Haruko now.

Haruko was baffled, Shizuka hadn't scolded her up until now. It wasn't something she wanted to get used to.

"You did not just--" Yukiko stood up, her fists clenched tightly. Haruko got up as well, still a bit unstable. She got in between them before they could hit one another. "Why are you defending her?? Even after she said that about you..??"

"We shouldn't fight, we're still a team..." Haruko shook her head slowly, "And...she wasn't entirely wrong..." she grumbles, in all honesty she was kissing a lot of people lately.

"We can't keep making excuses." Shizuka continued. "You need to stop kissing other people..."

Haruko gnaws at her lower lip, she was growing a bit frustrated by Shizuka's sudden need to tell her what she can or cannot do. "I don't think you can tell me what I can do..." she bit back.

"You're endangering yourself by indulging like this."

"I took the risk when I agreed to help you in the first place." Haruko deadpanned. "Have I not done a lot already?? Can't you at least let me do what I want sometimes??"

"We just can't keep risking our mission on some juvenile fun." Shizuka huffs. "We have to buckle down until we deal with that group, then you can do whatever you want afterwards. When we're no longer a team."

"Who the fuck died and made you the boss??" Yukiko glared from behind Haruko.

"You think you could lead the group? With how childish you act sometimes??" Shizuka glares back.

"You're so... UGH!" 

"What the hell is going on here?? What are you three talking about? I can hear you from the hallway." Takashi asks as he walks in, he looks between the three women in confusion. 

"None of your business!!" Yukiko and Shizuka shouted in unison, shoving Takashi out the door. He grunts when he falls back out, landing on his butt. 

Haruko has had enough at that point. 

"UGH! All this has done is worsen my headache. Can we just shut up and go...?" Haruko groans, raising her tone at the other two as she pushes past them. She helps Takashi up first. 

"T-Thanks..." Takashi said nervously, feeling the heavy  air around them.