Chapter 3

Childhood Friend

Time has flew by since Souji received that call from a girl named Fuga. After that, no one has heard from her until the day winter break begins. Bashou and Ibuki are walking together after school. Ibuki has been noticing that the greenette has beens spacing out a little a few days after the Christmas party. She wonders what's wrong with her, so she decides to ask her now.

"What's the matter?" the sandy-blonde asks.

"Ummm…i-it's about Sou-chan…" Bashou replies.

"Ehehe! So you have that girl still on your mind? What's up?"

"W-well…she was on the phone with someone. I wonder if it's some family member…or better yet… a boyfriend.."

"Wha~? A boyfriend? When she goes to this school? Impossible!" Ibuki pats her friend on the back. "If you're that curious, why don't you ask her directly~?"

"Eh? How should I do that?"

Ibuki winks at her. "Well, supplementary lessons are tomorrow and you and I are participating. Souji-chan will be there as well."

"I-I see…" Bashou blushes heavily, making her best friend laugh again.

"You're so cute~!"

**Next Day**

After the teacher leaves for the students to self-study, Bashou sits there, waiting. Souji hasn't shown up all morning. Ibuki is starting to get impatient. The greenette sighs in disappointment. So much for asking what's on her mind. Perhaps it's for a good reason. She's pretty nervous about it honestly.

The other girls are chatting up a storm when one of them stands up from her desk.

"Hey, guess what? Guess what~?" she says. "I saw Souji-san leave with someone!"

"Wow, that came out of nowhere," another girl deadpans.

"No, it's true! I saw her walk out with someone!" the first girl says. "It's a super beautiful girl!"

The other girls gasp in surprise, including Bashou and Ibuki. The greenette swallows hard. So it WAS someone. But who was that girl? Was she a close friend of hers? Some questions float in her mind as she thinks about this when she fails to notice Souji walk in and slam her school bag down on the desk.

"Well, well~" she says as she sits down, flipping her hair. "I never expected the class to be THIS lively in the morning~"

"Souji!" Ibuki says. "Where have you been?"

The blonde ignores her and whips out a mirror to take a look at herself. "Quiet for a moment while I check on my appearance. I'm as gorgeous as ever, aren't I~?"

"Souji-san!" one girl steps up to the blonde. "I'm very curious to ask, but…who was that you were leaving with?"

Souji raises an eyebrow, while lowering her mirror. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

The girl whips out her phone, showing her the same exact green haired girl she encountered. "This girl! A 3rd year student at Sakigei Municipal, Fuga-sama. Are you two like close friends?"

"Fuga…" Ibuki mutters.

"Hm? Do you know her?" Bashou asks.

"I've heard rumors about her," the sandy-blonde says. "She's a top model and a student at an all-girls' school. Many other girls admire her just for her mature behavior and appearance. But I know nothing about Fuga-sama and Souji-chan's relationship."

"We're old friends," Souji says, leaning back against her chair. "Fu-chan and I. We're old friends. We've been like that since kindergarden. Though she moved away during junior high and I haven't seen her since."

Bashou looks away for a moment. Being friends for that long. It does seem like a close relationship, the same it has been for Ibuki and Bashou. However, the greenette's heart is set on the blonde's and she's never going to change that. However, since Fuga has been brought up, it makes Bashou wonder if Souji is taken.

"Still, girl, it looks as if you two are dating~" one girl comments.

"No, she's not! Are you serious?" another blurts out. "Souji-sama hasn't dated anybody yet! I wonder if I have a chance with her!"

"Shut up! Obviously, Souji-sama's into mature girls, like Fuga-sama!"

"That's quite true! Souji-sama is also a model and she most likely hasn't dated anyone."

Bashou perks up a bit. If that's the case, then she might still have a chance with her. But with Fuga involved, it's going to be a bit difficult. However, what she really wants to know is what kind of person is Fuga? And furthermore, how close are her and Souji?

"Ba-chan?" Souji turns around to face her little friend.

"Y-yes?"

"How about you and I go on a little study date together?"

"EH!?" Now that is something the greenette is not expecting. Why say that out of the blue?

Ibuki chuckles. "Knowing you, Souji-chan, you might slack off. I better go with her to help her out a bit."

"Whaaa…?" Souji deadpans, but sighs in dismay. "Fine. Do whatever you want."

"Alright!" the sandy-blonde turns to her best friend. "Don't worry about a thing. I know what to do."

Bashou just nods. How is it going to work exactly?

**Later**

At a restaurant, where there is a large buffet in the middle of it, the three Hebijo girls take a seat. However, about 10 minutes after getting situated, Ibuki taps Bashou on the shoulder.

"I'm thirsty," she says. "Why don't you get some drinks, please?"

"Shouldn't you get it yourself…?" Souji sighs.

"Nah, I'm a bit tired after all this walking," Ibuki replies. "Hehehe! I gotta rest my legs."

"No wonder you aren't working out as much," Souji says. She stands up as well. "In that case, I shall go with Ba-chan. I'm pretty thirsty myself."

"Go right ahead~" Ibuki says, happily gesturing toward the drink bar. "You two help each other out, okay~?"

Bashou swallows hard and nods. Whenever Souji is around, she gets all nervous and she doesn't know why. She's just another classmate, right? Both the greenette and the blonde head toward the drink bar to get some drinks. Bashou gets her own and Ibuki's while Souji helps her carry one of them. Bashou is sweating a little bit from how close the blonde is to her. Her face is red as well. Souji is so beautiful, so of course modeling would be her hobby. Anyone could fall for her.

However, Bashou snaps back to reality. "O-oh, so…what would you like to drink, S-Sou-chan?"

Before the blonde can answer, a hand points to the pink lemonade. "Souji-san…drinks this~"

"Eh…?" The greenette turns around to see a more beautiful green haired girl, at least a bit taller than her.

"Isn't that right~?" Her voice. So gentle. So kind. Bashou could almost swoon at that.

Souji on the other hand isn't at least surprised by her arrival. She just gives a nod and the prettier greenette proceeds to get her a drink.

**5 minutes later**

Ibuki is stunned by this new girl's arrival as well. The prettier greenette introduced herself as Fuga and she happened to pass by when she saw the two. Bashou just stares at the prettier greenette. Just as everyone says, she's super beautiful and mature for a model. Anybody could fall for her as well…maybe even Souji. Not only her face is attractive, but her slender figure, her long green hair…just everything is so beautiful. Fuga takes notice of the smaller greenette staring and giggles.

"Well, well~" she says. "You're certainly a cute one~"

"Wh-who? Me?" Bashou points to herself and Fuga nods.

"Yes. You're so small and cute I want to hug you and cuddle you if I want~"

"O-oh…thank you…I guess…" Bashou blushes in embarrassment and Souji huffs.

"You're always into cute things, you know?" the blonde comments.

"Awwww, don't be like that, Souji-san~" Fuga playfully elbows her childhood friend. "Girls should like cute things! It's their nature~"

"Whatever…" Souji stands up to go out for some air, but Fuga decides to follow her.

But them being together attracts attention from some of the other customers.

"Wow! Look at them! Are they in a relationship?"

"Must be. This is the first time I have seen a yuri couple with my own eyes."

"Seriously, they look so well together. Almost like a painting."

Bashou stares at the two girls who are talking. It may just be her, but whenever Fuga is around, Souji acts so different than her usual self. Now why is that? Sure people said that she's not in a relationship with her, but how could they not? They are so perfect for each other. Bashou wonders if she even stands a chance.

When they go back to their seats, all Bashou can do is watch Fuga and Souji talk, supposedly catch up on stuff they missed. Fuga seems so happy talking to Souji, and the blonde is pretty decent. But what Bashou can't figure out is why she's acting so differently around Fuga. She's usually so confident and not a care in the world. Is she that serious about Fuga? Bashou cannot stand this any longer and stands up abruptly from her seat.

"I…I have to use the restroom…" she says softly. "I'll be right back…"

"Ba-chan…" Souji's face is full of concern when she sees the small greenette drag herself all the way toward the bathroom.

She looks at herself in the mirror, leaning close to observe her appearance. She now gets the picture. Fuga is so beautiful and attractive that Souji might have been nervous around her and doesn't want to admit it. It seems that Bashou really doesn't stand a chance after all. She's so small and so shy, she barely talks to anyone without having any confidence. Souji's the opposite. It'd be better if Fuga were the one to be with the blonde. They are both models and are so confident that it's easy for them to interact with people.

"I'm so…pathetic…" she whispers, trying not hard to cry.

She fails to notice Fuga walking in and she gets startled just from a tap on the shoulder. Bashou squeaks as she turns around to see the prettier greenette smiling and waving. She then casually turns to the mirror to adjust her appearance.

"You know…I say what's on my mind most of the time," she says suddenly, making Bashou turn her attention toward her. "If something happens you don't like, you can either learn from it, or try to change it." She turns around and pets her like a puppy. "Souji-san won't fall for you…if you're like this~" With that, she heads for the exit with a giggle.

Bashou's face goes tomato red. Did she see right through her?

**Later**

"Ah, Bashou-chan!" Ibuki waves to her as soon as she comes out of the bathroom. "I was going to check up on you. Are you okay?"

"Yes…" the small greenette cannot forget what Fuga had said to her. What does she want? Is she not in love with Souji? If not, is she setting her up for something?

"Hey, Ba-chan!" Souji waves. "Let's get to studying okay? We got no time to lose!"

"Ah…r-right!" Bashou immediately sits next to the blonde and the three girls start studying.

Over a half-hour passes, with Bashou mostly helping the group out with some problems they didn't understand and when they finally finished the review sheets, Souji pays for the check and they head out. However, there is one thing missing.

"Come to think of it, where's Fu-chan?" Souji says. "I almost forgot."

"I think she left…" Bashou replies.

The blonde sighs. "Well….that's just how she is. Acting a little mysterious at times. She can do what she wants." She slightly turns away, and Bashou notices a small melancholic expression on her face. "Sorry…"

As the small greenette thought, that expression shows whenever Fuga is mentioned. Something about these two, Bashou is so curious about it. But…she can ask another time. Ibuki says good-bye and parts ways while Bashou and Souji go the opposite way to the train station. While they are walking, the small greenette can't help but cast glances at the blonde. Surely, since she and Fuga are childhood friends, the prettier greenette must know more about Souji than her. Furthermore, she still wonders if Souji's even interested in that girl.

"H-hey…Sou-chan?" Bashou stops walking for a second, looking down at the ground.

"Yeah?" the blonde turns around.

"S-sorry I'm so…shy and…small…" she says quietly.

Souji blinks twice and chuckles. "Aw, don't say that." She pets her friend like a puppy. "If anything, we both stand out. It's a perfect contrast between us."

Bashou blushes at this. Souji doesn't mind that sort of thing? Come to think of it, Souji has been talking to Bashou a lot more than usual. But the small greenette wants more than just talking to her. She wants Souji to notice her more. She wants to get to know her better. Fuga's words of wisdom were correct. She HAS to speak her mind a lot more often to gain confident.

"S-Sou-chan!" she blurts out. "I…ummmm…I want to…umm…g-get along with you! How do I do that?"

There is a bit of silence with Souji blinking twice, no maybe four times. Bashou blushes in embarrassment again. She can't believe she would say something as silly as that. Souji burst out laughing and playfully bonks her on the head.

"Aren't we getting along just fine~?" she says. "Then just get along with me~!"

"O-okay…"

"Hey, I know," Souji says. "How about we exchange numbers?"

"Eh?"

"It's fine, right? Since we're friends~"

"Friends"…yes, that's right. Bashou almost forgot about that. She thought Souji was just a classmate that only cares about herself. But actually, she's getting along with the small greenette very well. And to add to that, they exchanged numbers. Friends do that for one another.

After that, Souji and Bashou head toward the train station to get home as quickly as possible. There is nothing but silence the whole way. After getting home that night, Bashou decides to send her a little text. Just a small one to be sure that Souji would respond.

"Great work today, Sou-chan."

"S-send!" Bashou presses the button and waits. A few seconds later, her phone vibrates and a text from Souji appears.

"It was a lot of fun working with you, too, Ba-chan. Keep being strong."

These words make Bashou blush, but also smile at the same time. She is taking short steps toward her goal. It may be a bit small, but that's a good thing. This is the first step she's taking in order for her to gain confidence and have nice friends. Someday…she'll reach her destination in no time.

A/N: So sorry for the super late update. Other things in mind, busy with other stuff and so forth. Buuuut…a certain someone begged me to write the next chapter. You know who you are. XD

A-anyways, hope that meets your approval. And hope everyone else enjoyed it as well.

Have a nice day!