.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter One **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Girl Who Was Not A Girl
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

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A trickle of sunlight peeks through an elegantly crafted Victorian-style window with a soft and feminine style. The window is arched, its lacy curtains color a pristine white, and the glass is clear without a trace of a stain or even a smudge. As dawn passes into morning, more light comes through the window and brightens the room, chasing the shadows in the corners away bit by bit until the bed in the center of the room becomes gradually more visible. A comely though fragile-looking girl lies there, motionless. Her slender form is swaddled in a warm and comfortable-looking blanket. Her long dark hair spills out across the pillow her head lies on, her expression is serene. There's not a single rumple in the blanket covering her, indicating that the girl hasn't stirred even a little bit since falling into her deep sleep.

In her mind, nightmares terrorize her, nightmares of the last moment in time that she was conscious. The last moment that she could talk, laugh, smile, or scream. A haunting scene plays back, over and over again; each time it replays, the mind of the girl writhes with unrest, even if her body is incapable of doing so. Her body has been incapable of that type of basic reaction to the fear that tormented her for a long time. Then all at once the pain and fear disappear, as the scene replays again in an endless loop that holds her imprisoned within her own mind, a tragedy that she can never escape. In this dream, she's a boy, and about to begin a pleasant vacation with her family…

"Are you looking forward to it, Madoka?" A kindly woman smiles at the boy, who grins in return.

"Of course! It's vacation, Mom! Of course I'm happy," the boy chuckles.

The man in the front seat grins. "We haven't had a nice vacation like this in a long time... my job's just had me so pinned down... I'm glad I could make them see how much I needed a break," he chuckles. "How much WE needed a break," he amends.

The boy's mother smiles at the man, his father. "I'm proud of you, Nobuo. I was starting to feel like you would never have the courage to ask... but you really came through for your family." She winks at the man, and in response Nobuo scratches his head sheepishly with one hand.

"Well... you knew what type of man you were marrying, Mana. I've always been shy about confrontations with my superiors..." He trails off and smiles wryly. "They're very strict with us lower management types."

"I know dear... I know..." She pats his shoulder. "What matters is we're here now... and we're free to relax for a week. It's so exciting. I haven't felt like this since our honeymoon." She smiles at him.

Nobuo blushes and grins lopsidedly. Madoka rolls his eyes and smiles at his parents’ behavior. It still seems type of gross, but he’s getting old enough to understand the relationships between men and women. Even though his father hasn’t always been able to be there for him, there was no shortage of love in his family. He knows his parents are always thinking of him. Madoka turns to look outside the window and smiles. They are finally out of the city and into more rural areas. Not having been outside the city before, Madoka is particularly interested in the scenery passing by to either side of the road. There are mostly flat lands with trees. It all reminds him of a large park.

Madoka closes his eyes and zones out, listening to his parents playfully banter in the front seat. A moment later Madoka snaps out of his comfortable reverie, and his eyes widen. "D-DAD!!!" Madoka yells and points. Outside, in the lane across from the happy family, a car is swerving dangerously. Nobuo stares for a moment and the car decelerates, and the swerving car pulls ahead.

"Jeeze..." Nobuo finally sighs, turning to Mana with a serious expression. "Just because it's the weekend doesn't give people a right to let loose like that... you can hurt really someone driving like that," he comments.

"D-DAD!!!" Madoka screams, pointing straight ahead. Time seems to slow. Instead of accelerating ahead, the driver has chosen to switch lanes and slow down. There is no time to stop or swerve. Madoka screams as he feels his body snap forward. A loud explosion goes off in his ears, and soon the sharp pain inside his body is joined by sharp pain outside his body. He opens his eyes and sees a car wreathed in flames. His parents’ bodies are limp and motionless, blood dripping down from numerous wounds. Madoka stares in shock and then screams, trying to free himself from the burning wreckage surrounding him as the smoke thickens and the heat increases. Bloodied and battered and in pain, Madoka blacks out.

The girl continues to dream, suffering from this same nightmare, over and over again, unaware of the figure that enters the bedroom. As the figure steps closer to the bed, the figure is that of a tall man with graying hair and a face lined with worry. The man wears an elegant dark suit with a white undershirt, for all the world appearing to be a stereotypical butler, right down to the tray in his hands. On the tray, however, is not a full course breakfast as one might expect... instead he carries a bag of fluid, a washcloth, and a neatly folded towel. He sets his tray on the bedside table and sets about opening the curtains to let more light into the room. Soon the room is brightly illuminated.

The room is lacy, and the colors of the wallpaper are soft pinks and other feminine healing colors. In the corners of the room, many stuffed animals stand in precisely arranged spots. Off to the side, a vanity mirror reflects the light streaming in through a nearby window.

"Good morning, Sugar." The man smiles at the motionless girl. For lack of a better name, he had long since started calling her Sugar. She has a sweet face, especially since the terrible scars that had marred it once has faded. His master had done some of his best work. Despite his age, his skills had apparently not diminished.

"I see you haven't decided to wake up yet. Well, in any case, you're looking beautiful today, as always." He smiles and puts a gentle hand on the quilt covering her body for just a moment. It always touches his heart whenever he comes in to visit Sugar. He doesn’t know a thing about her past. One day she had been found nearly dead... or perhaps she really had died, because she had yet to come back to her body. He still hoped she would awaken. There were many mysteries concerning Sugar. No one knew who she was, and his master certainly hadn't told him.

With a rueful shrug, the man smiles. "Just you rest... save up your strength for the day you wake up, Sugar. Old Kozuke will look after you, no matter what," he murmurs, patting her stomach, and walks away towards a door that leads into a small bathroom. It has a comfortable looking bathtub and full amenities. His master has spared no expense in preparing for Sugar's needs. When she wakes up, she will find a kind and welcoming home. The master is a lonely man with a complicated problem.

Due to this problem he had been unable... or perhaps unwilling would be a better way to describe it, to find a loving wife and make a family for himself. He also had been against the idea of adopting a child, yet when he had found this girl, for some reason his heart had gone out to her entirely. Kozuke still marvels at how far his master has gone for a stranger. But that kindness has earned him a great deal of Kozuke's respect. To honor that kindness, he has treated Sugar as he would his own daughter. He has always been especially caring with her.

Kozuke begins running water from the faucet, and then opens up a cabinet under the sink and removes a metal basin. He runs his hand through the water and after a few moments, when the water seems adequately warm, he holds the basin under it and begins filling it. From the counter, he selects a scented soap from among many kinds standing in a row. He has made it a point to select a different scent for her daily. It is a small form of pampering. It is said that people in comas may hear, feel, and smell things from their deep sleep. Kozuke reasons if true, a different scent daily could communicate to her that someone is caring for her and making an effort to treat her well. Perhaps those feelings will reach her one day and she will awaken... and yet a year had passed since she had come. She hasn’t stirred even a little in that time.

When the amount of water in the basin reaches the halfway mark, Kozuke turns off the water and mixes in the soap quickly with his hand, and then he lifts the basin, grunting only a little as he bears the weight of the water. He carries the basin quickly to the bedside table and sets it down next to the tray. Then he gently pulls the coverings from the girl's body, exposing her nude flesh to the cool morning air. Kozuke gently runs the washcloth through the basin of scented soapy water, and begins to gently sponge the sweat off of her body. For some reason, she is always very sweaty in the morning. He suspects her dreams aren’t pleasant.

"Shhhh... It'll be alright, Sugar..." he murmurs reassuringly as he cleans her body carefully and meticulously.

This job was a great deal more difficult when they first found her. She was bloodied and pulped. He had to clean all that away from her mangled looking body, and even after the master's procedure, there still had been horrendous swelling and scarring, and it took a long time for the burns and blisters to heal properly. He had to clean her three times a day and apply healing ointments. Although she is a girl, he understandably felt no attraction for her... rather he felt sympathy and a desire to look after the poor girl.

When her skin finally healed and became an unbroken pure white complexion, her face and body told the tale of the master's surgical skills. Even when she had become a beauty that quite took his breath away, he still felt nothing but a desire to care for this girl. Kozuke continues to efficiently yet caringly wash the girl, toweling her front dry, and then turning her over gently as he works. The girl doesn't stir even a little, as usual. When he finishes, he gently towels her back and turns her back over, yet he doesn't re-cover her again. Kozuke walks over to a nearby closet and removes a metal rack on wheels stored within. It somewhat resembled a coat rack, except it is instead for the purpose of hanging IV bags.

Sugar was unable to feed herself, so three times a day, she must have a bag of nutritious fluids and medicines infused directly into her bloodstream. In her right wrist a needle has been inserted. It feeds directly into her veins. Attached to the needle is a short see-through rubber tube that must be replaced multiple times a week. The master handles that duty, thankfully, alternating wrists when inserting new needles weekly. Kozuke feels his Master is far more qualified for that work since he is a doctor. Attached to the plastic tube is a simple device like a faucet to allow or disallow the passing of fluid or air, and an air bleed line to make sure she doesn’t get any air in her bloodstream. The tube has a joint on it designed to disconnect before sufficient pressure on the needle can cause damage, supposing Sugar were to suddenly move, tangling the line in the process.

Kozuke carefully attaches a longer plastic tube to the bottom of the bag, and after wiping the connection point with a packaged alcohol pad, he attaches the other end to the tube extending from Sugar's wrist. He twists the valves at the bag and her wrist, and in moments, the liquid from the bag is traveling along the line and feeding into her bloodstream. The sight used to make him shudder, and he is not a man to faint at sights like this. It didn’t take him long to get used to it, but the vision of her is still saddening to him. It stirs emotions in one's heart to see someone fed in such a way. Without it, however, Sugar would surely die. She can’t take in enough sustenance, medicines, and liquids any other way.

With a sigh, Kozuke gently lifts the blanket and tucks her in once more. Now that she smells nice again and is being fed, his duties are essentially over. Yet, as usual, he pulls a chair over and sits. He has some time to himself in the mornings, and this is one way he chooses to spend it. He reaches under the blanket, gently clasps the girl's small hand in his, and gives it a soft squeeze.

"Wake up, Sugar... things aren't as bad as they seem."

"D-DAD!!!" Madoka yells and points. Outside, in the lane across from the happy family, a car is swerving dangerously. Nobuo stares for a moment and the car decelerates, and the swerving car pulls ahead.

"Jeeze..." Nobuo finally sighs, turning to Mana with a serious expression. "Just because it's the weekend doesn't give people a right to let loose like that... you can hurt someone driving like that," he comments.

Madoka stares ahead, his heart beating wildly. Hasn't this happened before? Haven't they narrowly avoided crashing into that car before? Is it Deja Vu? He frowns, shivering. He can’t get over the feeling that he has seen this scene before... things aren't as bad as they seem. Where is that voice coming from? He’s heard that voice before, but he doesn’t know from where. Wake up, Sugar… The voice frustrated him for some reason.

"Where have I heard..." Madoka mutters to himself and looks up again. His eyes widen in terror.

"D-DAD!!! Pay attention!!!" Madoka screams, pointing straight ahead. Time seems to slow. Instead of accelerating ahead, the driver has chosen to switch lanes and slow down. There is no time to stop or swerve. Madoka screams as he feels his body snap forward. A loud explosion goes off in his ears, and soon the sharp pain inside his body is joined by sharp pain outside his body. He opens his eyes and sees a car wreathed in flames. His parents’ bodies are limp and motionless, blood dripping down from numerous wounds.

“Help meeeeeeeee!!!” Madoka screams as he witnesses his parents’ deaths again. He struggles and tries to free himself from the burning wreckage surrounding him as the smoke thickens and the heat increases. Bloodied and battered and in pain, Madoka curls up.

“I... I don't want to die... please, God... help meeeee!” Madoka wails silently as the pain sears his body. He feels himself being cooked alive... he feels himself dying again... Again?

Later on that day, when the sun's position has lifted higher in the sky, the light in the girl's bedroom dims and shadows once again leap out in the corners of the room. Although the light has faded, it is by no means dark in the girl's bedroom. Finally, something occurs that hasn't in just over a year's time.

The girl stirs in her bed, twitching weakly. Her fingers tighten and claw at her bedsheets, and a weak scream escapes her lips.

"D-Dad... M-Mom... I... I don't want to die..." she moans and mutters, clawing at her sheets. Her eyelids flicker fitfully, and then she screams, the pitch of her scream increasing. In her dream, she is being roasted alive.

Her body stretches and contorts with pain, and the tube that until moments ago was feeding nourishing fluids directly into her bloodstream snaps free, the before mentioned safety preventing the needle from damaging her vein with the force of her sudden thrashing. She moans, clawing the sheets, until finally, her eyes snap open, filled with horror.

Her body is covered with a new sheen of sweat, and her bedsheets are soaked with it. She looks around, searching the room with fear-filled eyes.

"M-Mom... D-Dad..." Her eyes moisten and she curls up under the sheets and blankets, sobbing loudly.

Some time later, the tears stop flowing, and she shows some interest in her surroundings. She glances around, woodenly, taking in the lacy decorations around her. Her mouth twists humorously, though she isn’t feeling particularly like laughing right now. One image fills her mind completely right now... there is no room for anything else... even humor. The image of her parents’ dead and bloodied bodies has her shivering again and again. Finally, she hunches over again, losing interest in her surroundings, and falls asleep.

Sometime later, the door opens, and Kozuke enters the room again, another IV bag in his hands. He closes the door behind him, and smiles at the bed.

"Good afternoon, Sugar." He smiles and steps towards the bed. As he walks towards the bed, he finally notices a few things. His eyes turn towards the IV rack. The tube that was attached to Sugar's IV drip tube is hanging down. He glances at the bed and his eyes widen. The bed is rumpled, and the girl seems to have changed her position. In fact she is curled up now instead of laying on her back. Kozuke's practiced smile changes instantly to a broad one. He walks over to the bed and carefully pulls the covers away from her body.

As he had suspected he finds she is indeed curled up. Her face is peaceful, though tear-streaked and still a little red. She’s cried herself to sleep. He cannot blame her. Apparently her parents died in the accident that she had been horribly mangled up and very nearly killed herself in. Kozuke carefully checks her wrist, and nods to himself. The IV needle is still securely taped in place, and she has not harmed herself. Kozuke notes to himself that she's covered in sweat again. Most of the scent from the soap he washed her with is gone now, replaced with the scent of her terrified sweating. Kozuke makes a note of her status and gently tucks her in again carefully. He strokes her hair gently then. "It'll be alright now, Sugar. You'll see... you won't be alone," he murmurs.

He smiles and walks towards the door. He needs to report this to the master. Perhaps a welcome could be arranged for Sugar. She will need reassurance and care.

The girl's eyes open slowly as she feels herself slowly becoming conscious again. She stares up at the lacy canopy above her bed and sighs. What is this strange place?

"Why am I here?" she mutters under her breath. "I don't recognize this place..." she trails off.

"Because the master saved your life, Sugar. Good morning, by the way," a familiar voice speaks up, making the girl practically jump out of her skin. If it weren’t for the fact that the girl is utterly exhausted and weakened by her long sleep without any physical exercise, she might have leapt out of her bed. Her eyes focus and turn towards the person who spoke. She blinks as she stares at the person. He is practically a stereotypical butler, well into his middle years. His hair seems to be graying, and he has a kind smile on his face.

"Have... we met before?" she frowns, muttering. She feels like rolling back over and going back to sleep... but as she considers that option, fear eats at her. If I do that, I might not wake up again… she thinks to herself, worrying.

"Ah... not quite... though I've been caring for you for a long, long time, Sugar." He smiles, and steps forward, seating himself on the edge of the bed. "My name is Kozuke. I'm the butler here at the house that you'll be staying at... as for your condition.... Ah... well now. How to say this... you've been in a coma for over a year now. We don't know a thing about you or where you come from. There was no identification on your body... and all records in your parents’ car were reduced to ashes by the fire, I'm sorry to say. Do you by any chance have any memory of your life before now? Do you know your name?"

The girl blinks and frowns, her sorrow plain in her eyes. "My name is Madoka... not Sugar. And... if you think just because I have a girly name that means you can treat me like a girl, you're wrong." Madoka smiles weakly at the elderly man. For some reason she likes him, and doesn’t want to hurt his feelings by lashing out at him.

He blinks and then smiles tolerantly. "Alright then... Madoka it is. It could take me a while to get used to calling you that, but I'll do my best not to refer to you as Sugar."

"Why Sugar?" Madoka asks after a moment of silence. "I know I have a girlish figure, Kozuke, but no one's ever called me Sugar before... I'm not insulted or anything, I guess... it's just... I don't understand it," Madoka murmurs quietly.

"Why not Sugar?" the man returns with a smile. "Ah perhaps you weren't as pretty before the accident as you are now..." he murmurs with a flash of intuition. "I assure you that you're one of the prettiest girls I've ever had the pleasure of knowing now. The master does good work. There wasn't much to work with... your hair and body features were all so horribly burned... it was a wonder that you managed to cling to life. Your insides were damaged up too, so you needed replacement donor organs as well as extensive burn care," Kozuke explains.

"Kozuke... is it? I... I'm not a girl," Madoka murmurs simply, with a wry expression. "I'm a boy... so..." the girl murmurs, shaking her head. For the first time, due to that motion, she notices her hair and how long it is. "Huh? Wow... I really was out for a long time..." she murmurs.

"A boy?" Kozuke questions her with a startled expression. "Are you certain? You were a boy?" He blinks, suddenly appearing to be very upset.

"Yes... I'm sure..." Madoka says with a dry expression. "I checked a few times..." she chuckles, and then falls quiet, a realization dawning on her just now." Hey... w-wait... did you say... were?" she asks, gasping.

"Yes... used to be," Kozuke reaffirms. "Look... please don't hold it against the master... I saw your body when you came in... your entire genital area was charred and burned by the fire. Your whole body was a mess of blood and burns in fact. Your skin was charred and there were no distinguishable sexual characteristics, except for your feminine figure. The master not only saved your life, but he made you beautiful. So please don't think of him in an unkind manner," Kozuke murmurs, a pleading look on his face.

The girl just stares, shocked, and reaches weakly down between her legs. Her eyes widen again and she squeaks. "N-no way... it's another dream... I-I'm a freak now?" Her voice cracks and her eyes moisten.

"No!" Kozuke suddenly puts his hand on her head and gently strokes it. "No... not a freak. From what I can see... you're every inch a girl... you aren't a freak. You're in fact very beautiful... Why, when you go back to school, I'd imagine you're going to be very popular, even..." he murmurs, trying to console her. He isn’t quite sure of what to say. It is true his master has made a horrible mistake, but the way she was when she was found, well, technically she wasn't a boy any longer even at that point.

The girl sobs softly as Kozuke gently runs his fingers through her hair. The gesture is soothing, and soon the girl is able to relax a little.

"I... I don't know if I want to go to school... I... I should just die... my family is gone... my... whole life is... it's ruined..." she moans.

"Don't speak like that," Kozuke murmurs in a fatherly tone. "Young people should go to school... and as for your family... they would want you to go on living... they would want you to be strong... if you committed suicide after everything done to save your life, how would that repay the master's kindness? Would your parents be so happy to see you that they would forget you just threw away your life, and your chance at happiness? You have a second chance, Sugar! Don't waste it..." he implores gently.

The girl remains silent for a long moment, curling up a little under the blanket. "I don't... I don't know... I don't know how to be a girl... I don't... my family... my friends... all gone... and I'm so weak... I can hardly move," she mumbles, almost inaudibly.

"I understand. We've been massaging your muscles and using electricity to exercise your limbs, but there's only so much we could do... you need exercise. All our efforts were only enough to keep your muscles from atrophy." He pats her head gently. "It will probably hurt... and a lot... but you'll walk... and run even... in time." He smiles. "To that end, I have prepared a wheelchair for you. Would you perhaps like to see the garden? There are some people who would very much like to meet you. You've been something of a mystery around here ever since you came."

The girl stares off into space quietly, and takes so long to respond that Kozuke almost decides to leave. "You know.... Kozuke... I... I think that's a good idea..." the girl murmurs, sitting up with obvious effort.

"My parents wouldn't want me to just die... and I don't want to live this way... laying in a bed," she murmurs, forcing a smile.

Kozuke smiles at the girl, feeling his heart warmed by her words. "I understand, Sugar... ah... I apologize." He smiles. "I can't seem to kick the old habit." He chuckles, stands up quickly, and walks to a corner of the room where a wheelchair now sits.

Madoka frowns as she looks at it. "That wasn't here before... did you know I was awake?" Madoka asks with a confused expression.

"Ah yes actually... you see..." Kozuke smiles as he pushes the wheelchair over to the bed. "When you were in your coma... you wouldn't move even an inch... the blanket covering you was rumpled so I could tell you had moved. Also, your IV line was disconnected at the safety joint... I alerted the master and the maid about your awakening... if you feel up to it, there will be soup for dinner. More broth actually... and applesauce. We need to baby your stomach. It hasn't been used in a very long time." He smiles and walks over to the dresser. "The master has already prepared everything you could possibly need. Unfortunately... everything he has prepared for you... well..." he reaches into the top drawer and dangles a pair of white panties from between his fingers.

"It's of a feminine nature. You have makeup kits and all sorts of feminine toiletries at your disposal... and we even researched the clothing that's in style for young girls of your age today," he murmurs as he digs through the drawers and produces a skirt, leggings, a blouse, and socks. Madoka winces at the sight of all the above.

"Are you serious, Kozuke? You expect me to wear that? I'd be... embarrassed." She blushes very redly. "A boy shouldn't..." Madoka trails off. Kozuke just smiles at her.

"No offense... but I don't see a boy right now. I see a cute girl who will look simply ravishing in these clothes. No one in their right mind will think anything of it. Furthermore,... it's either these clothes, or you could streak." Kozuke smiles with an amused look.

Madoka turns another shade of red at that and shakes her head vigorously. "No... no thank you. I'll wear the clothes... but I... I don't think I can..." Madoka trails off, looking at the clothes.

"No worries. That's part of my job. You aren't able to clothe yourself. I'll do it. That was my intention, actually." He smiles and walks over to the bed. Kozuke carefully helps Madoka into a sitting position. "Put a hand on my shoulder to steady yourself," he murmurs and smiles approvingly when she does so, and carefully helps her into her undergarments, and finally her skirt and blouse and leggings.

"That didn't take as long as I thought it would," Madoka murmurs when she's been transplanted to the wheelchair. He simply lifted her bodily and set her in the chair. That was a sensation that Madoka was not familiar with. It was extremely embarrassing too.

"Alright... shall we go? If we don't hurry there won't be any sunshine." Kozuke slowly wheels Madoka out of the room.

Read more of this story faster at: http://www.tgstorytime.com/viewstory.php?sid=4342 (link is external) or my NEW! personal website at:
https://www.rellawings.com/?mode=stories&story=1 (link is external)
Cover art is now available at Rellawings. If you would like to see Kozuke and Madoka, please have a look, and please bookmark it! <3
Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Two **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Man Who Hid Himself Away
**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**
Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**

Madoka blushes, flustered and a little annoyed as the butler wheels him… her, he supposes he is now, reaching down surreptitiously to confirm once more what she has been told. She nearly faints when the tactile sensations the nerves in her fingertips transmit to her brain once again confirm everything that Kozuke told her.

Kozuke studiously looks away as he wheels her down the hallway at a measured pace. He can’t blame the girl… the boy for it. Finally, the girl speaks. "Tell me more about this... master of yours. Is he a total idiot?" Madoka murmurs, her question extremely blunt.

Kozuke hesitates and almost trips. A brief flash of what would have happened if he had, the girl’s wheelchair careening down the hall, crashing into the foyer, destroying everything in its path, makes him wince visibly as much as her comment does.

"Not at all! He's a very kind man. When we witnessed your car accident, he had me search the wreckage for survivors... and due to that, you're here, alive today," Kozuke firmly replies. "The master deserves your respect." Madoka, however, already has that sad look in her eyes again, and he notices she isn’t paying attention. Kozuke sighs and shakes his head, patting hers after a moment.

I need to be more careful about what I say around Sugar... of course reminding her of the car accident will make her think of her loss… Kozuke sighs mentally.

After a moment of thought, he pauses in the foyer of the mansion, looking down at his young charge. "Please cheer up, Sugar... the sun's bright and you're awake again. Everything will be alright," he murmurs, and finishes tousling her hair. At that, Madoka looks over her shoulder, looking perhaps a little less depressed.

"It's strange... when you say that... it cheers me up a little... I don't know why," she murmurs, turning to face forward again. Kozuke wheels the frail girl out the front door, tapping a button on the wall and causing it to open electronically. The whole house has been prepared in this way for a long time during Sugar’s coma. The doctor anticipated that its newest resident would not be fully ambulatory for a time.

He continues to wheel the girl down a ramp and along the side of the house to an expansive garden. Madoka squints, shielding her eyes from the sunlight. Even though it is later in the afternoon, it is still far brighter than her eyes are prepared for, and yet the sun feels so good on her skin. It burns a little, but it warms her in a way that she welcomes from the bottom of her heart. As her eyes adjust, she is able to take in the topiary, the flowers, the trees and statues in a Greek style. This master of Kozuke's has money to burn... or so it seems. Her eyes open wide in awe.

Kozuke finally responds to Madoka’s observation. "Perhaps it's because I said things like that to you daily while you were lost in your coma. Wake up, Sugar. The sun’s bright and everything will be alright. I would not be surprised if you were able to hear me. I’m gratified that you could." Kozuke smiles. The girl frowns and nods in response.

"I think maybe I did hear you... There's…. your voice is comforting… like I’ve heard it all my life," she murmurs. The garden is pleasant. There are the aforementioned Greek statues, or at least replicas of them, seemingly randomly placed here and there throughout the garden, although for the randomness of their placement, the plants are placed to great effect. Several different types of grass, flowers, and trees, including many Sakura trees that are not now in bloom, but she can recognize them among the other trees and anticipate how beautiful they will be come April… whenever that was. The other trees stand tall and verdant, suggesting it is summer, so she supposes it will be a whole year before she can see them.

There is a little stream trickling merrily through the garden and stone walks and paths through it. A warm breeze blows through the grass and the locusts chirp loudly, while songbirds sing their trilling intermittent songs.

"The garden is really... nice," Madoka murmurs appreciatively, taking a deep breath, taking in the fresh summer scenery around her and letting herself zone out.

Kozuke smiles and nods in response. "Yes... it is... the master has a great love for plants and greenery. It's one of his few passions.".

Kozuke wheels the girl forward after a time towards an area with a wooden gazebo. This too has been fitted with a ramp. The affectionate butler wheels her up into the shade and parks the chair in the direction with the best view of the garden around and the forest trees beyond the property.

“Some sun is good for you, but too much at once will cause problems for you yet, I am told.” Kozuke pulls the brake handle on the wheelchair and turns to face the girl, going to one knee in front of her. Madoka is shocked to see there are tears in the man’s eyes. She looks into them, fascinated by this man. He seems so gentle. The most gentle man she has ever met. She doesn’t understand how a stranger can care so much for her, and yet she has the feeling that he really does somehow. He seems to be on the point of saying something.

The moment is ended by the sudden appearance of another figure on the gazebo; it is a man visibly older than Kozuke. Madoka examines the man as he eyes Kozuke testily. He is short with graying, originally dark hair. He wears a dark gray blazer buttoned once in the front and neatly ironed slacks. His posture is erect and his expression becomes somewhat exasperated.

“If you’re done bonding with her, Kozuke, I would like a moment with my daughter,” he says in a crotchety tone. Kozuke blinks and smiles slightly at Madoka, rising gracefully to his feet.

“Of course, Master Hamada,” Kozuke murmurs. “Madoka, I present you your adoptive father, Doctor Hamada Yoshi. The Plastique Professor. An unrivaled revolutionary in…” Kozuke says, his tone reverent and respect filled.

“Yes, yes… thank you, Kozuke,” the older man chuckles, cutting Kozuke off, his expression embarrassed. “I can toot my own horn quite well enough you know.” He looks at Madoka, his look of embarrassment fading into a look of admiration. Just like a man admiring his greatest masterpiece, Madoka thinks.

The Master seats himself in a nearby chair in front of the girl and thinks for a moment. “I wasn’t sure that you were ever going to wake up, girl. I thought about stuffing you, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it,” he says.

The girl stares and then gasps, eyes wide at the man who suddenly barks a laugh. Madoka retreats as much as possible into her wheelchair seat. Kozuke reflexively puts a comforting hand on her arm. “Just kidding, girl.” The master laughs, seeming amused. “You really did turn out amazingly though. The work of my life.” He pats himself on the back. “I see it even more now that you’re finally awake.”

“Are you some kind of crackpot, you old fart? Why would you do this to me?” Madoka responds angrily after a moment, recovering from her shock. Her fear explodes suddenly into helpless anger. She feels extremely weak and vulnerable right now. Any type of threat, even one from an old man like this, is deadly serious to her. That fact just makes her angrier. She’s never felt this way before in her life!

The old man gapes for a long moment, each insult seeming to hit hard. After a moment he collects himself visibly and looks at the girl testily.

“A crackpot? Me? I’m a genius, I’ll have you know! No one else could have done more with you than I did! Be a little grateful! If it wasn’t for me you would be renting yourself out as a monster at haunted houses every Halloween and making good money doing it!” retorts. “If you even were alive to begin with. Show a little gratitude.”

Madoka’s eyes widen and then harden, full of tears. “I would if you hadn’t stolen my manhood away from me, you old fool. What am I supposed to do now? My parents are dead and I’m mangled… What am I going to do? My life is over!!!” To everyone’s surprise, Madoka breaks down, crying loudly, in a way that even surprises Madoka. What’s wrong with me? Madoka wonders to herself. She can’t stop crying. Visions of the accident, visions that she’d relived over and over in an endless cycle flash in front her eyes. She feels herself slipping away as she curls up into a ball in the wheelchair, seeming to lose touch with everything as the hurricane force of repressed emotions threaten to drown and suffocate her.

Suddenly she feels arms around her. Strong comforting arms. She shakes and sobs and after a while, finds that she can breathe again. Her eyes open blearily and she sees that it’s Kozuke, holding her tightly, comforting her. The master sits across from her still, looking worried, and somewhat guilty maybe.
The supportive butler pats her back gently as she hiccups and recovers, breathing hard. He doesn’t say a word, but turns a chastising eye on the older man who stiffens and looks away guiltily.

Finally, Madoka breathes, feeling more relaxed. She feels even more exhausted than she had before, but more in control of her emotions. Finally, she eyes the old man and the old man eyes her, both guardedly.

Finally, Madoka breaks the silence.

“I’m sorry, Doctor. I spoke rudely. I do owe you my life,” she murmurs, looking down and away slightly.

The old man studies her and relaxes a little, nodding. “That you do. I had no way of telling who you were beforehand. It was only half a year ago that I managed to track down your identity, and that took a bit of doing, you know,” he says, attempting to make his voice more gentle. “You look like you’re a bit too tired to hear all the story now, but I’ll be happy to tell you all about things when you are physically up for it.” The old man stands, running his fingers through his thinning hair a little awkwardly.

“Kozuke, please prepare her an IV as usual and I’ll take my meal in my study,” he says awkwardly, and after eyeing her, walks away off of the gazebo, seemingly deep in thought.

“Yes, Master Hamada.” Kozuke murmurs.

“It seems it was too early for her yet… we’ll start mild physical therapy tomorrow, and…” Master Yoshi talks to himself as he paces back to the building, seeming very much lost in thought.

After a moment, Kozuke pats the girl’s frail shoulder. “Let’s get you inside, Sugar,” he murmurs softly, and starts wheeling her down and towards the building as well.

“I... I thought I would get to eat tonight?” Madoka murmurs, feeling tired out. Why is she so weak? She’s never felt this exhausted before just from crying.

“The master and I got ahead of ourselves a little bit, I think. We were both excited that you had awakened. I think the master somehow expected your first meeting to go a little differently. It can’t be helped. You must get to know each other. Please keep in mind that the master is a little eccentric… he’s a little bit of a shut-in and can be a little awkward around people… but he has a big heart. He was a philanthropist, sometimes doing work pro bono as they say. For free. He specializes in repairing the bodies of people who were damaged beyond the point of healing in accidents and incidents. His techniques are cutting edge and revolutionary… well beyond what modern medicine is said to be capable of. He has performed miracles that his colleagues were jealous of… but because his methods were unapproved, they took away his license, stating that he was conducting illegal human experimentation and testing. I suppose it was a case of the medical community not seeing ends as being more important than the means.”

By the time Kozuke has completed this story about the master, Madoka realizes that she has been returned to her lacy girly room. She looks around tiredly as her wheelchair is parked by the bed and Kozuke busies himself with lifting her easily into his arms and sitting her on the bed. She didn’t realize they had come so far so quickly. She was focused on his words and his soothing voice to the exclusion of all else.

“I will prepare you a nightgown, Sugar.” He smiles at her and she smiles back, her expression becoming wry when she sees the cute flowery nightgown that Kozuke has picked out for her. He notes her expression and laughs a little as he sets the gown down on the bed beside her after showing it to her and begins helping her out of the light clothing that he’d selected for her only a few hours previously.

“I apologize if the clothing offered offends you. The master and I know little about feminine fashion, so we ended up enlisting the maid Midoriyama for that, who you will meet soon, I assure you. Her selections seemed quite apt,” he murmurs as he completes the process of undressing the girl, leaving panties in place as he slips the nightgown over her head, and then sets about helping her to get into bed.
“I’m assured by her that her choices are quite fashionable for young girls in Tokyo these days.”

“Kozuke…” the girl says sleepily as she looks up at the man tucking her in. “The doctor said that he found out who I was last year… couldn’t he have fixed me in all that time?” she mumbles tiredly.

Kozuke sighs and shrugs. “Ah… fixing… doesn’t seem to be an appropriate term. In our eyes you are perfect the way you are. The master’s greatest work, but far more than that I assure you. I’m not certain that he could even if you convinced him to try it. It is not a process one should undergo lightly, and was only really possible because you were ruined and comatose after the accident. A more apt question would be the one that you asked earlier. What will you do?” he asks her gently, smiling.

She yawns and finally nods, grudgingly. Kozuke sits next to the girl and strokes her hair lightly as he had been wont to do when she was in a coma. He looks down at her, and his presence, Madoka is startled to find once again, is reassuring. He is like a rock she can cling to in the midst of the chaotic river that is her life at the moment. It is only possible because this man doesn’t look at her as a man would at a pretty girl or a woman even… not exactly.

“What will you do?” he repeats and smiles. “You will train hard, regain the ability to walk. You will learn and grow as you have done so far in your life. You will hopefully form relationships with the people in your life now who care about you. You will graduate, and chase your dreams like all young people do. Over? Your life has only begun, Sugar. You will see it.”

"D-DAD!!!" Madoka screams, pointing straight ahead. Time seems to slow. Instead of accelerating ahead, the driver has chosen to switch lanes and slow down. There was no time to stop or swerve. Madoka screams as he feels his body snap forward….

Madoka tosses and turns fitfully, sweat soaking her sheets as her dreams haunt her, repeating over and over again. She feels a gentle hand on her suddenly and slips finally into a deeper and more restful sleep.

The next day Madoka wakes early; a shaft of sunlight streams through a nearby window and falls squarely upon her face. Her eyes flutter and after a moment of squirming in the soft sheets she opens them and sighs. She has somehow wrapped herself around a second pillow during the night. She doesn’t remember doing it, yet the cushiony warmth of the pillow feels good against her skin. The comforting contact keeps her from moving much for a little while, but finally she pushes the pillow aside and looks around the room. She still feels so weak as she struggles to sit up on her own. She is so frustrated that she starts to cry a little as she finallly forces herself up into a sitting position.

She wipes the streaming tears away as she studies the surrounding room. She knows that yesterday’s events weren’t a dream. No, they were reality, cold and harsh reality. She sobs a little, thinking about her parents again, but after a bit she screws up her courage, clenching her teeth. A man doesn’t cry no matter what happens to him. Well, she isn’t exactly a man… a boy any longer, but there is no reason to be so weak. Because it was so hard to merely sit up, she knows that there is little chance that she can hope to walk. Even so, she tries to maneuver her legs over the edge of the large bed she lies in. It’s like a fluffy soft prison. She flails, trying to get some type of leverage, eventually giving up.

Her eyes turn towards her wrist. The IV drip line is connected to the needle in her wrist again. They must have fed her through it last night, after all, when she felll asleep. As she reaches across with her free hand and fumbles the tube free, the door to the room opens with a click. A figure enters the room and closes the door behind it. Madoka tiredly rubs her eyes and focuses them realizing that this is the master.

She remains quiet as he walks over to the bed and pulls up a nearby chair. He studies her quietly, and after a moment, Madoka grabs the pillow again, putting it between them like a shield. The man barks a laugh.

“Morning, child. I trust you’re feeling a little better today? Maybe a little hungry?” he asks. He pulls the pillow away, shockingly easily, and studies the girl, finally pulling her into a sitting position. It is clear she was attempting to sit up.

After sitting up, Madoka’s stomach growls suddenly at the mention of food and she blushes a little, not saying anything in reply.

“You might not say so, but your body’s honest about it.” He studies her another moment. “I see you don’t feel much like talking to me. That suits me just fine. Just listen then, and afterward I’ll have Kozuke or Midoriyama send in a little broth.” He sits back and composes his thoughts for a moment, and then speaks.

“About one year ago there was a collision in the nearby roadway. The sound drew my attention. There’s not much around here but Onsen Resorts and such. I gather that your family was headed for one of those,” he says. He waits a moment for confirmation and Madoka nods finally.

“I could have called an ambulance, and they might have gotten here in time, but I didn’t think that was likely. You were in a critical condition, about to die of third degree burns and blood loss among other things. I had Kozuke cut you free of the wreck, but unfortunately there wasn’t anything that could be done for your parents. They took most of the damage from the accident and I believe passed away quickly without too much suffering. You, on the other hand, were a different story. You had been trapped in the wreckage until Kozuke cut you free. It’s a miracle that you survived.” The man studies Madoka. Tears well up in her eyes, but she doesn’t show any signs of breaking down as she did yesterday. Good… she has some steel in her, Master Yoshi thinks to himself.

“Once you were stabilized, I went about doing my best to repair the damage. I didn’t have much to go on, so I went with what was there. I’d never had anyone as severely damaged as you to work on, and when it’s like that it’s like… for lack of a better euphemism… carving wood. You start with something that has no features, like an end of wood or a stick, and with work bring the patterns you see in the wood out of it. I look at what I do in the same way an artist looks at what they do,” the master says, not seeming to particularly care if Madoka is listening or not.

Madoka does indeed listen, taking in everything the man says, and yet still remains quiet. She is still feeling resentful and even fearful of this man who changed her so much as she saw it. Without her permission, without her consent. Who was he to decide such things?

The master seems to see the resentment in her face and shrugs. “I understand how you must feel. While I was working, the only thought I had was that I was saving the life of a poor girl whose options were suddenly cut short.” He studies her and shakes his head. “I only found out your identity later while you were healing from most of the work I had done.” The door to the room opens at this moment, and Kozuke enters, interrupting the master’s words. He looks at the figure of Kozuke.

“Master. It seems Social Saito has paid you another unannounced visit.” He smiles a touch. Master Hamada looks at Kozuke incredulously, and then exasperatedly, sighing. “That nosy busybody...” he grumbles, and looks at Madoka. “It looks like our little talk will have to wait. I have to deal with that impudent kohai of mine.” He stands up and then seems to consider something.

“Kozuke… I think we’ll have tea. Put my daughter in something lovely and wheel her into the study.” He smiles and Kozuke bows.

“Of course, Master.”

“Social” Uchida Saito is a young man of medium height. He has dark hair cut short, friendly eyes and a way about him that says that he will poke his nose in your business whether you want it or not, out of curiosity or for whatever reason. He waits patiently in the foyer of the lovely well-kept mansion house of his senpai Doctor Hamada Yoshi. He is still amazed at how opulently ‘western’ the place is and in truth likes to make excuses to come visit just to take in the place. Saito is actually very proud of his senpai and the relationship he has with him. It is true he has had his license revoked, but even so it is undeniable that his senpai is a true genius when it comes to aesthetics and beauty. These natural talents tie well into his chosen vocation, that of a plastic surgeon.

They hadn’t worked in the same field, rather their relationship had been formed when Yoshi had sought a way to help others around him. It might have been boredom or some other reason, Saito had no idea which was the case. Being a social worker, Saito had ended up working with the prestigious and eccentric genius somewhat regularly.

He had helped find cases of people who had been burned horribly in fires, disfigured in accidents of all kinds, and in almost every case Yoshi had found ways to repair the damage beyond the expectations of what surgery should be able to accomplish. Furthermore, his work had been pro bono or free in most cases. There had been times where he had charged people, but an astonishing number of times he hadn’t, and when he had, the price had never been unaffordable. Still, he had managed to accrue a great deal of wealth despite having his license revoked in the last few years.

Saito blinks as his senpai taps him on the shoulder. He hasn’t been paying attention.

“I see you have your head in the clouds as usual, brat,” Yoshi grouches good naturedly. “To what do I owe this unexpected and unwanted invasion of my privacy?” he asks, eyebrow raised. Saito laughs, scratching his head. “Oh, don’t be like that, Senpai. I don’t need a reason to want to visit my good friend, do I?” he laughs.

Yoshi scowls suspiciously. “You’re up to something, brat,” he harrumphs. “If that’s your story, come along. Kozuke will bring tea shortly.” He starts walking towards his study and Saito follows with a wry expression. They don’t go far down the hallway, but Saito still examines details as they walk together. Yoshi has hung various art pieces in the hallways. Most them are abstract works, far more abstract than one would expect from someone in Yoshi’s profession. He half expected to see one of his patients end up looking like a Picasso painting come to life, and yet he’d never failed to see anything but perfect symmetry to his work.

They enter Yoshi’s study and Yoshi gestures absently to the chair that he usually has Saito sit in when he visits. Saito doesn’t actually pay any attention, naturally taking the seat and sitting back, crossing his legs. “You look well, Senpai,” he says with a smile.

Yoshi grunts and nods. “Well enough. I trust you are as well? Of course you are. You’re still a young brat, aren’t you? Don’t they say something about fools never catching colds?” he gripes good naturedly.

Saito laughs. “Ah yes… they do say that, Senpai. Actually I did come here for an official reason,” he ventures.

“Don’t you think I couldn’t guess that? In fact, I did, didn’t I?” Yoshi grumbles. “You’re going to bring up Madoka again, aren’t you?” He pokes a finger towards Saito, who shrugs and smiles.

“Sort of,” Saito confesses. “I know that she’s in good hands, but we’re concerned that after a year we haven’t heard anything about her recovery, and…” Saito spreads his hands in a manner that indicates helplessness.

“Hah… that’s where you’re wrong!” Yoshi grins, seeming extremely self-satisfied.

The two banter for a while, and as they do, Saito becomes increasingly suspicious of his senpai. He has started dodging questions, without any real care to make decent arguments, and Saito is actually starting to become annoyed with his irascible senpai when the door clicked open. “Ah, the tea… and a treat, I expect.” Yoshi grins.

Saito frowns and looks awkwardly over his shoulder; he looks suddenly astounded as a wheelchair is pushed into the room. It isn’t the wheelchair itself but the contents of the wheelchair that astonish him. Seated in the chair daintily is an incredible beauty. Young, true, but one that he much appreciates all the same. He suspects he knows the identity of this mystery beauty and that astonishes him all the more. He saw the figure now and again during the healing process, but after a certain point he was not allowed to directly monitor her recovery or status. She looks like a fragile flower whose petals might blow away in a moment’s gust.

“Madoka… I presume…” he murmurs.

After Yoshi left the room, Madoka was helped out of her nightgown and into light pink dress that looked and felt way too poofy. Her hair was brushed out carefully, and even lovingly by the affectionate butler while she sat, sighing, wondering why she had to go through this. Her stomach was growling, telling her that she was long overdue for some sort of meal. She began to fantasize about karaage and beef bowls and curry pork katsu. Those thoughts just made it worse. She clutched her stomach and whimpered a little.

Kozuke chuckles a little in response to her gesture. “Now, now, Sugar. I will be bringing tea soon… and we’ll get something into you, though it may not be quite as satisfying as you would like. Perhaps a cookie wouldn’t hurt.” He winks at her and magically produces said cookie. Madoka stares at it and laughs in delight, taking it eagerly. She feels like wolfing it down, but her inner voice tells her that doing so would make her extremely sick, so instead she nibbles at it, savoring the sweetness of it.

“Thank you, Kozuke…” she mumbles around the cookie, her eyes shining.

He puts his finger over his lips. “Quietly now. Finish and we’ll go to tea.” He resumes brushing out the girl’s long straight black hair as she happily munches the cookie down.

After she finishes it, feeling surprisingly full after such a small amount, Kozuke lifts her once again effortlessly. She feels butterflies fluttering in her stomach as he does and sets her down in the nearby wheelchair gently. It isn’t long before they wheel out of the room, across the hallway and foyer and towards the study. Madoka examines everything curiously, somewhat nervously. The strange art hanging on the walls of the hallway and the statues. Now that she’s eaten something, she feels somewhat more alert. The world around her feels a less ephemeral and a little more solid perhaps.

Kozuke wheels her into the master’s study after opening the door with an audible click and rolls her over to the nearby coffee table the two men sit around. Madoka studies the newcomer, who looks at her with astonishment in his eyes as well as with a slight flush in his cheeks.

“Madoka… I presume…” he murmurs after a moment. Madoka studies him and nods, finally bowing a little from her sitting position.

“Yes,” she says simply. She glances over at the master who she notes looks highly amused and self-satisfied. Her eyes narrow slightly. She finds she is unable to read the situation.

“I shall have Ms. Midoriyama bring the tea, sirs.” Kozuke bows to the master and the newcomer and exits the room quietly, leaving Madoka alone with them. She fidgets a little but steels herself as the newcomer examines her. Finally, he responds. “Ah, I apologize for my rudeness. I was not expecting this. I knew how profound my senpai’s work is but I didn’t…” He looks at Yoshi, who grins.

“My daughter, this young upstart brat is Uchida Saito. Your social worker. It’s due to him that I was able to track down your identity and gain legal custody of you.

Madoka stares at Saito now with growing resentment. “You’re his accomplice!” she accuses suddenly.

Saito’s jaw drops and he looks at the girl, perplexed. “Er… I guess you could say that… but I don’t understand what you mean by that…” he trails off uncertainty.

“She thinks I’ve kidnapped her or some such nonsense,” Yoshi says dismissively. “I assure you, young lady, that I have legal custodianship of you because there was not another soul in the world willing to care for you. It’s a hard world out there, and if you don’t have family you end up in social programs. You’re lucky. I could have sent you off to an orphanage. Instead of that, I wanted to make a family,” he grumbles.

“Now, now, senpai… gently.” Saito waves his hands at Yoshi and laughs again. “I am your social worker. If you don’t fit in here, I do have the authority to remove you and take you somewhere else, but like he says, you don’t have very many options, and it would be extremely short sighted of you to reject what he has given you. Ahem. I understand, though, the difficulty you must be experiencing. I am aware that you were born as a young man. I actually wasn’t expecting this would be what our first meeting would be like.”

He produces a book and shows a picture of what Madoka looked like in her… his first year of middle school. The picture is of a boy with a passably handsome face. Not particularly masculine. He had developed somewhat slowly compared to his male friends, reaching a height of only 1.5 meters when many of his friends had reached 1.7 or higher. It had been frustrating. The facial features of the girl now are surprisingly close and yet different from what is depicted in the photo. Saito flips to another picture and Madoka nearly vomits. She guesses it is a picture of her laying in a bloody hospital bed. It is initially hard for her to determine that what she is looking at is human except for the clean slightly bloody hospital gown on the figure and something that looks vaguely like a face. It is bandaged pretty heavily.

Saito notes the expression of sickness in the face of the girl and quickly changes the picture once again, showing a still bandaged up figure but no blood on the bedding or the bandages.

“I have been following up with Senpai as often as possible, but one day when I finally, via a DNA test, determined your identity and started working with him to win your custody, during the process of winning legal custody of you, the old fox cut me off and I wasn’t able to see you again after that. He came up with some nonsense about contamination risks as an excuse at first and then finally it was just, you weren’t going anywhere so why bother?” He laughs ruefully. “The fact of the matter is I wasn’t aware that you had been or would be made to look this way.” He stares down Yoshi who looks away, seeming a little embarrassed.

“The work was done already,” Yoshi manages finally. “I couldn’t do anything about it, and I can’t do anything about it now. There wasn’t anything to work with,” he grouches. “She’s alive, she’s more beautiful than anyone has a right to be, I don’t see the problem.” He scowls. The door opens and a tray is wheeled in by a cheerful looking woman in a maid uniform. The uniform has a long skirt and looks stylishly cut, not that Madoka knows much about such things. The window in the front of her dress top exposes generous cleavage, yet not an improper amount. The woman has dark red hair in a braided updo that makes her look extremely classy. Madoka feels her heart flutter a little at seeing her.

“Master.” She curtsies elegantly to Yoshi. “Sai-kyo and Sugar.” She looks at the girl and smiles approvingly. She sets a tea service tray down on the coffee table and busies herself with pouring a cup of tea for Master Yoshi first.

“Ah, good to see you, Midoriyama-san.” Saito grins appreciatively at the woman who smiles at him somewhat flirtatiously. She hands Master Yoshi the cup, framing her generous cleavage for her master as she does. He scowls, drawing back slightly as he accepts the cup, looking away.

“Midoriyama, please stop that nonsense this moment.” He scowls as she sips his tea. Hisako’s lips part in a teasing, laughing smile, and she straightens, turning to pour a cup for Madoka, winking at her. Madoka blinks and blushes a little, looking away embarrassedly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sugar. It’s been a long time. We’ve taken such good care of you, especially Kozy-kun.” She laughs, offering her a cup. “Would you like some sugar, Sugar?” She laughs again at the slight pun.

“Uhm… no, thank you, Midoriyama-san…” Madoka manages, taking a sip of her own tea. She blinks and looks into the cup at the dark golden liquid. This is the best tea I have ever tasted! she thinks to herself, looking up at Midoriyama with wonder. Did this woman make the tea?

“What happened to Kozuke?” Yoshi complains loudly. “I’ve told him that I don’t like it when you serve tea to my guests, Midoriyama. You’re too improper!” He scowls, seeming to enjoy his tea despite his complaint.

Hisako curtseys again to the Master, smiling a little teasingly. “I’m sorry, Master. Kozy-kun’s hands are tied. I heard that Sugar’s awake and I just had to come have a look. Please forgive me,” she smiles. “ And I heard that Sai-kyo was visiting.” She winks at Saito who loosens his collar slightly. She turns and prepares a last cup of tea while Yoshi grunts. She turns to Saito and offers him the last cup, providing a glimpse of her assets that she’d offered to Yoshi previously. “With two lumps of sugar as usual, right?” She grins, and Saito accepts the cup with a grateful little smile. “Yes, thank you very much.” He grins.

She straightens and curtsies again to Master Yoshi. “Would you like me to stay and continue pouring for you, Master?” she inquires.

“No! Go get Kozy… Kozuke!” Yoshi scowls. She nods in assent and wheels the cart out with impish flair.

“That woman… I will fire her,” Yoshi growls, draining his cup and then lifting the tea kettle to serve himself another cup.

“You won’t, Senpai. Her cooking is too stellar,” Saito replies with the assurance of a man who has heard this statement many times before. Yoshi scowls and grunts.

Madoka looks back and forth between them, remaining quiet and sipping her tea. The master seems too bad natured to her. How could Kozuke… Kozy? Madoka smiles at that. He does seem very cozy doesn’t he? How can he say the master is such a good man? Even so, it is very clear that Saito-san is very fond of him, Madoka thinks.

“Master…” Madoka begins finally. “Why…” She’s interrupted quickly, however, by the master.

“No, no, call me Father,” he says, seeming to cheer up a little when she speaks. “I’m your legal adopted father so it’s only appropriate. I’m not your master. You’re not a maid or a servant or anything like that. Why, you’re free to go if you really want, but you’d be silly to. I have a lot to offer you. A fine education, a new lease on life.” He grins, taking another sip of his tea.

“R… really?” Madoka asks skeptically.

Saito looks at her and nods. “I did say that. But if you do, being as you’re a minor, you’ll likely be placed in a boarding school somewhere. It wouldn’t be horrible, but why turn Senpai down? All he wants is a child of his own. Between you and me, I don’t think he could catch a wife with that personality of his, so adoption really is his only option,” he says frankly to Madoka, though he does shoot a grin at his senpai indicating that he was poking fun at him.

Yoshi looks at him, seeming deeply offended. “Brat,” he harrumphs. “You’re a hundred years too young to talk like that about your senpai.”

Madoka finds herself smiling behind her teacup, laughing a little. The master before had seemed strange and disagreeable, but she now finds herself starting to accept the situation she is in. Maybe she does have a future after all.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Three **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Boy Who Struggled
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

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The frail girl with lustrous waist length black hair studies the two men in front of her in the tidy office. Her… his situation seems so surreal. He remembers the dreams he experienced vividly. He doesn’t honestly think he could forget them, even as swept up in events as he has been. He doesn’t focus on them as he otherwise would have, but now, listening to the two men banter lightly, he can’t resist having thoughts of the accident, flashbacks that paralyze him momentarily much like a deer in headlights. He thinks about the interior of the family car, which he had rarely ever had a chance to ride in, and thus the opportunity to do so had distracted him more than it should have perhaps.

Once again, he relives the experience of the accident. His will has little to do with it. The car had been a somewhat older model and it had folded upon impact in a way that newer models perhaps would not have. The result had been a skewing of the frame that had rendered the doors unopenable with normal human strength... Not that any of the family in the car had the strength or ability to escape the burning vehicle. The hood had exploded and the inside of the car had quickly turned into a hellish inferno. Madoka didn’t know the exact mechanisms of how cars worked, but he had been unable to open the rear doors and he didn’t know if the front doors were openable because between himself and their questionable opportunity for freedom were the broken and bloodied bodies of his parents.

Tears leak from the corners of the frail girl’s eyes as she stares straight ahead and the two men in the room seem suddenly very aware that the girl’s mind is a million miles away as she sits there, weakly clutching the arms of the wheelchair she was tucked into. The two men leap to their feet, rushing to the girl, putting their hands on her pale skin as she stares, tears streaming from her eyes. She suddenly screams, and the men look at each other helplessly.

“Madoka! Madoka! Are you alright?” Saito snaps his fingers in front of her face. One moment she was smiling, and suddenly she went into this episode.

“PTSD.” Dr. Yoshi grunts, his eyes full of pity and worry. However, there is a great awkwardness about him as though he has no idea how to express his concern. It is as though there is a wall between him and the rest of the world and he simply has no concept of how to tear it down. Saito understands his senpai. He’d been focused solely on his career, and had never been a social man, but he was brilliant despite all that.

The two men feel as helpless as the frail girl agonizing before them. Their staring at one another is interrupted by the door of the office opening. Kozuke steps into the room, pleasant and professional smile on his face as always, and he opens his mouth as though to speak. However, at a glance he immediately takes note of the situation and bounds forward, turning the girl’s face towards him with his hands. “Sugar!” he calls out. Sugar screams again, wailing. Her eyes try to roll up into her head, fluttering. Her pulse is erratic and out of control; Kozuke feels it through her luminescent skin.

Madoka slammed his fists against the car door desperately, crying, screaming. “Mother, father, oh God, help me! I don’t want to die! Please save me... someone!” The heat of the fire was burning, blistering him, and the pain was agonizing. His ability to see and hear were greatly diminished. His ears rung and he heard everything as though through a layer of water, and he felt so weak. His head felt stuffed with cotton that had been ignited.

“SUGAR!!!” came an urgent and familiar voice from a distance, sounding as liquid and distorted as every other noise, but Madoka clung to that voice somehow as though to an anchor line. The car door suddenly wrenched open and sunlight shone through it gloriously.

That hadn’t happened before… always he had died, frightened and in pain... alone… certain that he had been burned alive.

The worried butler lifts the frail girl into his arms and cuddles her desperately to him. Three concerned faces look at one another and the tortured expression of the frail girl, locked in a rictus of intense despair and agony. Kozuke holds the girl tightly, stroking her face reassuringly.

“Wake up, Sugar… everything will be alright. You will see. Open your eyes, please…” Kozuke murmurs, his voice surprisingly impassioned, and suddenly, miraculously, the girl’s face relaxes and she takes a deep wrenching breath. Her eyes open blearily. From her eyes issue a stream of hot tears, but after but a moment she looks up at the face of the gentleman holding her and smiles weakly, attempting to be brave.

“I… I am… alright, Kozuke-san… thank you,” she murmurs, closing her eyes tiredly now and seeming to relax.

The men study the girl and breathe sighs of relief, visibly relaxing a little themselves.

“I think for now our Princess should rest, Master. Are you certain that we can go forward with her physical therapy so soon?” Kozuke asks Master Yoshi, looking for all the world like a concerned mother hen.

Saito collapses back down on his chair, shaking his head and steadying himself. Yoshi straightens his coat and nods, looking at Kozuke. “Ah, yes… well… some complications were anticipated… we might have to factor in therapy as well as physical therapy. This is…” He frowns and nods. “Saito. I have the physical therapy regimen covered, but I’ll need a discreet and talented therapist. Do you think you can handle that without mucking it up?” he asks Saito. Saito nods, glancing at the girl.

“Yes, of course, Senpai. I already have someone in mind for the job. I suppose this should not be a surprise, but… are you sure you should put the strain of physical therapy on her as well as psychiatric therapy?” he asks. The girl seems to him as though if she is pushed very far she might shatter like thin porcelain.

“Yes. The sooner the girl can overcome these issues, the better. Yes, it’s little risky, but it seems that Kozuke has a surprising calming effect on the girl. No, it’s not surprising at that, I suppose. I think we can move forward.” He nods with a smile, seeming reassured. Is he relieved he has not had to forge that close bond with the girl himself? That wasn’t what he had sought when he’d decided to adopt this child, was it?

“As you say, Senpai,” Saito says, skeptically.

“May I put Madoka to bed, master?” Kozuke asks. Yoshi nods and gestures. “Give her an IV feeding tonight if she doesn’t wake up, otherwise I think it would be a good idea to get her reacquainted with bathing and simple exercises as soon as possible. You know the regimen. Start it tonight if she awakens, otherwise in the morning. For now, put her on simple fluids to keep her hydrated.” Yoshi seats himself behind his desk, seeming thoughtful, and Kozuke exits the room, carrying the girl swiftly away.

“I suppose I had best be on my way as well, then, Senpai. I’ll see how quickly I can have your therapist out here. I expect money is not a concern?” Saito asks as he stands.

“Of course not. Money is no object where my daughter is concerned,” Yoshi replies stiffly and stands again himself. He acts with the pride of a father who deeply loves his child in these matters at least, but in matters of the heart...

“Oh, you need not see me out, Senpai. I know the way.” Saito bows and smiles, and excuses himself quickly, leaving the room. When he gently and politely closes the door to the office behind him, he studies the swiftly retreating back of Kozuke across the foyer. He is tempted to call out to him to satisfy some questions he has on his mind, but he intuitively realizes that Kozuke wouldn’t appreciate that at the moment.

He’s formed a very real bond with the girl… the boy. She would naturally come first. Saito shakes his head, pulling out his pocket album once more and studying the picture of the boy prior to all this mess. It’s shocking. He can, with close scrutiny, see the features are those of the same person, but he never would have connected the dots if he wasn’t personally involved with this matter almost from day one.

He wonders if the change is more than skin deep. Surely his senpai hasn’t gone so far as to make all the necessary changes, has he? Just how much of a woman… a girl can a boy become due to the skillful and highly unorthodox techniques of his senpai? Saito remembers the gruesome figure of the child that was rescued from the wreckage of that car. His identity had certainly been a mystery for quite some time.

He sighs, his face troubled, as he sees his way out of the mansion foyer. He walks down the walkway towards his vehicle, mentally considering the list of things that his troublesome senpai now required of him.

Some time later, Madoka awakens again, stretching and yawning. The weakness and frailty of his body brings reality crashing in viciously and he chews his lip, his eyes moistening again. This time the room is empty. The sun hasn’t gone down yet and there are still a few hours left in the day. He suppresses the tears and finally attempts sitting up, struggling with it. Between attempts, he idly notes that another IV tube is connected to the feed line in his wrist.

He ignores that and looks around the room again, studying all the cute accents that surrounded him. With determination he finds that he’s finally able to sit up at least, if not manipulate his legs over the edge of the bed and truly sit. He decides to compromise with himself and struggles somewhat to his knees returning to his study of the room. There are lacy curtain-like things all over the place. On the bed, the walls, and especially the windows. It lends an almost spiritual air to the room in its soft girlishness.

The pink wallpaper is a light pastel color, and now that he has time to study it further, he sees there are teddy bears and other cute chibi creatures patterned across it. The boy… the girl feels an odd appreciation for the cuteness of it. His eyes move to large wardrobe. It is a work of art in a rich hardwood, and closed at the moment. Thus, his eyes slide onward to the desk and mirror. It’s the sort of desk that probably every girl wishes she had if she doesn’t. There is a lighted mirror attached to it, powered off at the moment of course, large enough that he can actually see some of his reflection within from even this distance.

It’s the first time he’s seen himself since waking up, although he can’t see well from this distance. The figure is small and definitely frail looking. It has long black hair and very white skin. From this distance, he thinks that it looks kind of creepy, actually. The way his hair is all messy gives him an appearance disturbingly reminiscent of Sadako*. He wraps his arms around himself, shivering and looking away as the door opens.

“Ah, Sugar! I am pleased to see you awake again!” Kozuke smiles brightly as he steps over to the bed. “Are you cold?” he inquires, noting quickly that her arms are tightly wrapped around herself.

She looks up at him and smiles, shaking her head. “No, Kozuke-san… I’m alright.”

She sets her arms back down at her sides and Kozuke nods, smiling. “That’s very good to hear.”

He studies her for a moment then. “Since you seem to be feeling a little better, Sugar, how would a warm bath appeal to you?” he asks her.

“Oh, that sounds wonderful, Kozuke! I feel awful… dirty, that is.” The girl sniffs her arm and smiles wryly. “I smell sweaty,” she says with a sour expression.

Kozuke laughs. “You appear to be keeping your balance well enough. You haven’t had much of an opportunity to study yourself. While I draw your bath, why don’t I set you in your desk chair momentarily? There are brushes and such if you should care to make any adjustments to your hair,” he says solicitously. He moves to lift the girl into his arms, and the girl leans forward, assisting him.

“I… I’m afraid, Kozuke…” she murmurs as he sweeps her upwards into his arms once again with shocking ease. He carries her effortlessly towards the desk and chair.

“Afraid? Of what? Oh… yes… you poor child…” he says softly, stroking her hair and face. “I know… I have heard stories of what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can do to someone,” he says simply, and after a moment’s hesitation, sets her down gently into the chair in front of the desk.

The girl blushes and frowns a little awkwardly at him for a moment but she seems to dismiss whatever thought that has come to mind. “Oh… yes… that… I don’t want to think about that, Kozuke-san…” She looks down. “I… I’m afraid of many things I guess...” She glances at the mirror and away quickly.

“I think I understand,” Kozuke says, not really understanding at all, or at least thinking that he did. “The world is a frightening place… and you have seen some of the worst of it. It would be easy to think the world holds nothing but troubles, but I assure you, Sugar, that your life from now on will be like a dream.” He smiles reassuringly.

“Wh-what if it is a dream… Kozuke-san… what if I’m… dead… and this is some kind of strange dream?” the girl asks, her tone plaintive.

Kozuke smiles, laughing slightly. “Oh dear one… this is not a dream. I can assure you of that. In fact, you do have some difficulties ahead of you. I must be honest… but a lot of those things I… your father, I mean..." he pauses and continues. "A lot of these things are things that we can keep you safe from. I guarantee that things will be better for you. You will have a wonderful life.” He places his hand on her wrist and kneels. “I swear this to you,” he murmurs.

Madoka blushes, shocked by the gesture and then warmed by both his words and actions, as always, it seems. “Kozuke-san… Kozy… it’s not that… I saw myself and I looked like a ghoul… a ghost… a monster… I’m hideous.” The girl places her face in her hands and hides it.

For someone who supposedly used to be a boy, Sugar certainly is concerned about her appearance, Kozuke notes affectionately.

“Sugar… I don’t know what you saw, but you couldn’t be more wrong. You are truly the loveliest young lady I have ever had the privilege to set my eyes upon or serve. Please, uncover your eyes, and look at yourself. What I said before, I meant. You will see,” he murmurs. Madoka hears a clicking noise and a little light streams in between her fingers.

The girl hesitates and then slowly moves her hands away and down, peeking up at the mirror, glancing at first and then finally really looking. She touches her cheeks, her eyes widening, shock and wonder in her expression, and possibly… attraction?

Madoka lowers his hands slowly to his lap. He really does trust Kozuke. There is something sweet and nurturing about the man. He obviously grayed early, and Madoka wonders what it was that had happened to him that had caused that. As he considers it, his thoughts flee from his mind. He spies his reflection again in the corner of his eye, and what he sees draws his full attention. He turns and really looks at himself, and he is struck by how different he is. All over. It isn’t just the face, but everything he can see in the mirror is different from what he expected.

He studies the fine features of his face in detail and touches his cheeks gently, gingerly, feeling everything perfectly. That is his face and it is excruciatingly lovely. His hair is long and mostly straight except for where it’s mussed from sleeping and freaking out. His eyebrows are delicate. His nose is somewhat smaller, his lips more full, his chin more defined. And he… can’t possibly see the face reflected back at him as male. That face is the face of a girl. One that he would have loved to date. His… her heart starts beating quickly and she blushes redly.

Kozuke reaches forward, opens a drawer, and shows her a set of brushes and combs. All very high quality. He starts the process of brushing out her lovely hair and then gently hands the brush to her, wrapping her fingers around it and smiling reassuringly.

“I will be back shortly, Sugar. There are many scented bath salts. Once you’re immersed, I’ll have you choose one. I hope you don’t mind a man scrubbing your back. I assure you that I’ve dutifully done so many times before and I will serve you properly and respectfully as always,” he murmurs.

Madoka blushes in response but nods and smiles. “I understand. Thank you Kozy. I trust you.”

Madoka can tell… those words gratify Kozuke. Madoka returns to studying herself, gently running the brush through her hair, and is amazed at how silky soft it feels as it runs through her fingers. As she moves, she senses things about herself that she can only wonder at. It’s true that she doesn’t feel anything like she used to, now that she thinks about it. There are differences in her body's balance. The breasts standing on her chest for instance, that she is trying desperately not to look too closely at, and has been trying not to think about are actually pretty generous. On an impulse, now that Kozy is gone for the moment, she touches one and is shocked at the sensitivity of it. She feels it all over, and, shockingly it feels… well, she doesn’t know what a breast is supposed to feel like… but it feels elastic, springy, soft, yet firm. How would she know if there is was something weird about her? It doesn’t look or feel weird.

Madoka stops, blushing, suddenly embarrassed about exploring herself a little right there. She is interested and yet… it’s her body, isn’t it? Is it weird that she’s a little bit excited looking at herself and touching herself? Maybe doing it in front of a mirror adds something extra to the experience. She resumes brushing out her hair, and it looks neat and somewhat glossy when Kozuke returns to her with a smile.

“Your bath is ready for you, Sugar. Ah, perhaps you would prefer Mistress, or Hime?” he asks, a twinkle in his eye as he sees her expression.

Madoka shakes her head in response. “My name is Madoka, but I’m fine with Sugar if it’s you, Kozy,” she murmurs.

Kozuke smiles and sweeps the girl up into his arms and holds her. “As you wish, Sugar. Ah… I note that you have picked up the troubling nickname Midoriyama-san has applied to me.” His expression is wry.

“I guess I have.” Madoka laughs after being swept up into his arms. What an experience it is to be handled in that way. “It’s just… you really are cozy you know.” She smiles, seeming embarrassed. “If you don’t like it…”

“Not at all. If it’s you, I’m fine with Kozy. As you wish.” He winks at the girl.

Madoka studies the bathroom somewhat distractedly as they enter it. The bathtub really does look so inviting. She takes in all the details of the room, but the only thing she has eyes for is that bathtub and how dreamy the steaming water looks. When the water touches her skin, she yelps a little at the heat of it on her cool skin, but Kozuke gradually lowers her, making sure that she is in a sitting position and stabilized. With the hot water slowly enveloping her body, Madoka can only gasp and sigh contentedly, and finally when she is fully immersed, she feels herself zone out.

“Sugar! Don’t fall asleep!” Kozuke chastises her, and his sharp tone brings her eyes back into focus. She blushes sheepishly. “If you start feeling faint, please let me know,” he murmurs.

Madoka enjoys that bath, truly completely relaxing as Kozuke scrubs her back. She selected a bath salt with a soothing lavender scent. The scent is all around her, causing her to zone out almost as much as previously, except she is careful to stay fully awake. She doesn’t think Kozuke would let her drown, but she doesn’t want to embarrass herself, or let him down. As she relaxes, a peculiar thing happens… something he has not done since Kindergarten, since it is considered extremely rude in a family home where everyone shares the same bathwater. She can’t help it, though. A stream of warmth ejects from between her legs that is at once more relaxing and more mortifying than anything else could be at that moment. She blushes and acts as though nothing happened, though Kozuke does note the sudden strange tension in the girl. Though he wonders at it, he doesn’t say anything, much to Madoka’s relief.

The bath is complete shortly after, and the dutiful butler pulls the girl gently out of the tub and wraps her in the fluffiest towels she has ever felt. She very nearly falls asleep right there. If it weren’t for the edge of embarrassment she struggles to hide, she might have.

Kozuke dutifully and yet tenderly dries the girl’s body, and then helps her get dressed in a set of clothes that he selects for her. There’s a lacy floral bra, matching panties, a cute skirt that accentuates her very feminine thighs, a blouse, and short socks to keep her feet warm. The girl is then placed snugly in her wheelchair seat and wheeled out of the room and to the foyer. From there she is taken into a different portion of the house that she has not seen before. She is taken to the dining room, where the master waits. It is a small dining room. Even though the house is opulent, a man like him has no use for a table that would seat more than six at best. It, like the rest of the furniture in the house, is Western in style. Madoka can comfortably sit in it in her wheelchair at it.

“My daughter. You look good,” Yoshi says with a smile. “Today is our first meal together, obviously. Nosey Saito wanted to join us, but he had more important things to do. Are you feeling better? I need you to try to stay in control of yourself. Episodes like earlier will put your life in danger. Even a young one like yourself could end up having a heart attack or a stroke. I’ve invested far too much in you to…” His words are broken off by the noisy entrance of a service cart, and the smiling face of the maid Midoriyama.

“Oh, aren’t you looking lovely this evening, Sugar?” she gushes, examining the girl while bringing the cart to a stop and starting to serve the meal. Madoka blushes in response to the unexpected compliment.

“Ah… hello, Midoriyama-san,” Madoka says, embarrassed by the compliments.

“Oh, none of that… call me Hisako. Or even Onee-chan.” She grins at the awkward looking girl as she sets a bowl in front of her. “Actually, I think I would much prefer Onee-chan, so do please use that.” She winks.

“Oh? When did I adopt you as well, you shameless girl?” Yoshi harrumphs.

Midoriyama grins broadly at her master. “Shameless, Master? Why don’t I show you just how…” She grins, leaning down in front of Yoshi as she trails off suggestively. Yoshi looks away awkwardly. Kozuke swats the back of Midoriyama’s head, very gently, and she straightens, looking back at him challengingly. He returns her look blandly. Eventually she shrugs and winks at him as though to say she can’t help her nature, and finishes her dinner service.

Madoka is struck by the strange dynamic between these three. Midoriyama seems to enjoy teasing Master Yoshi. Kozuke is like a loving but stern older brother to Midoriyama, quietly exerting a stabilizing effect on her. They are clearly not related, but they seem very family-like to Madoka. She studies the master. Perhaps he doesn’t realize it himself? Madoka looks down at the meal placed in front of her and sighs. It’s broth, of course. There is a little serving of rice on the side, which she is happy to see, but it isn’t anywhere close to being the mountain of Karaage that her mind tells her that she wants right now. Even so, she hesitates only a moment before quietly enjoying the meal.

“Tomorrow will be a big day for you, Madoka,” Master Yoshi says from across the table after the two eat quietly for a short while. “You will start physical therapy immediately. I expect you to put out maximum effort. It will take much effort to even bring you about to the point where simple actions we take for granted daily don’t completely exhaust you. Nosey Saito insists on your going back to school as soon as possible, and I suppose I must agree with him. You’ve been out of school for entirely too long for someone your age. You’ll regress into idiocy if I let you lay about here for the rest of your life.” He sniffs, taking a bite of his much more substantial looking meal. Madoka stares at it longingly for a moment before turning her attention back to her own meal.

“Yes, sir,” she responds. “I’ll do my best. I hate being weak like this,” she murmurs, showing a little fire. Even Master Yoshi has to nod approvingly, seeing it.

“Not only that, but what happened earlier… your episode brought it to my attention that you will need other help as well. Starting as soon as possible and as needed from now until who knows when, a mental health specialist will work with you. I expect you to do your best there too. Your mind is perhaps even more important than your body.”

Madoka nods, feeling a little annoyed finally. No one ever wants to be told they need psychiatric help. “Yes, sir,” she says, perhaps a bit less agreeably. Master Yoshi notes the frustration in her tone, but doesn’t comment on it.

The rest of the meal is concluded without further incident.

The following day, Madoka’s physical therapy begins. Kozuke is in charge of it. They start by introducing spring tension contraptions attached to Madoka’s arms. She is made to sit in front of her mirror and brush her hair that way, or to do other simple tasks with her arms and hands. It is incredibly hard. After only ten strokes of a brush, her arm feels leaden and she has to switch hands. Kozuke gently encourages her, and for her part she shows fiery determination as she continues with her upper body therapy.

The therapy also focuses on leg and torso exercises. On a mat brought in expressly for the purpose, Madoka is laid down and held down while she lifts her legs. This is oh so much harder than even the arm exercises. She can only do five reps per leg. It hurts a lot, and tears stream from her eyes at times, but she struggles forward with it, multiple times a day.

Physical training isn't all that she is expected to do. A day later, in between exercise sessions, she is helped to her desk and a pile of study material is put down in front of her by the stern but still caring butler. Madoka winces, but being as she had good grades before, this isn’t as much of a trial as the physical therapy.

“Master Yoshi still has some influence among his peers, but not even he can get you into a good high school without your having to take the entrance exam. He was able to arrange for a special testing with the local high school. With your past record, neither he nor I believe you should have any difficulty,” Kozuke murmurs as he sets a tray with a tea cup and a small mochi in front of the girl. He winks at her when she sees it, and she smiles warmly at him. Sweets aren’t exactly in her prescribed diet, but Kozuke doesn’t see the harm in a little sugary encouragement.

In another couple of days it is clear Madoka is making progress with her physical therapy. It tires her less to sit at her desk and read and write, though she still is unable to even consider walking, and still has to take breaks periodically. The addition of electrotherapy into the mix seems to help as well. Master Yoshi explains when he monitors one of her sessions that she isn’t as strong as she used to be, and likely won’t be any time soon due to the hormones in her system. He explains that estrogen encourages the building of body fat and has other effects he doesn’t really care to explain, whereas testosterone, which she now has a great deal less of in her system, is an aid in muscle development and growth. The bottom line is that it will take a little more time, but she will gain the necessary muscle to become independent. She just has to work hard for it.

Madoka’s mental therapy sessions began around this time as well. Social Saito arranged for a therapist (a woman of just twenty-four years, much to Master Yoshi’s consternation) to start paying visits to the secluded mansion.

Miura Shizuka is a brilliant young therapist who comes highly recommended by Saito. Being a social worker, Saito comes into contact with many types of people he regards as his peers, and Shizuka has one of the strongest and most interesting characters of all of those people. Most importantly, she is quite talented and discreet. Of course, this is a legal requirement in the field, but over and beyond that he has found her to be a particularly exemplary specialist in her field.

Madoka first meets her in the mansion’s garden. Ahead of time, Kozuke took Madoka out to enjoy that morning on the garden's gazebo. When Shizuka pulls up to the mansion, they both see it, and Kozuke momentarily leaves the girl. He finally feels all right leaving her alone, for short periods at least, because she is making great progress and looking stronger, so he leaves her there sitting in her wheelchair. He walks quickly to greet the woman who steps out of her vehicle. Madoka can’t see her very clearly at this range, but she notes that the woman has blonde hair that glints in the morning light. That in and of itself is highly unusual to say the least. Madoka is fascinated by that hair and she watches her as she is escorted into the mansion by Kozuke. The woman glances her way several times, speaking with Kozuke lightly as she leaves Madoka’s field of view. Afterwards Madoka waits and enjoys the morning air.

The mansion is in the mountains some ways outside the Tokyo Metropolitan area. She recalls that they were headed through the area of Mount Tsukuba. She supposes she must still be in that area. She can’t see much beyond the garden except for the gates, the tall trees of the forest around the mansion's grounds, and a nearby mountaintop that’s more of a hilltop. There aren’t any huge mountain peaks to loom overhead… at least none that she can see.

The garden itself is warm. Cicadas chirrup noisily, and as before, birdsong comes from various places in the surrounding area. The creek burbles and chuckles its merry way through the well maintained garden. A squirrel bounds across the flowerbeds, looking for edible things. She’s never really seen one up close, so she’s mystified by how cute it is. Its little whiskers are twitching as it looks around here and there. It doesn’t seem to see her as a threat, however, so when she moves, it freezes a moment and looks at her, and then just as quickly goes on about its business, which delights Madoka.

Her thoughts are interrupted by the seemingly sudden approach of Kozuke and the blonde woman. The woman approaches the girl and smiles broadly.

“Oh my… you’re a real life Yamato Nadeshiko aren’t you?” she gushes, impulsively throwing her arms around the girl in a very un-Japanese manner. Madoka blushes and squirms a little, looking at Kozuke who laughs softly behind a raised hand.

“Sugar, this is your therapist, Mrs. Miura Shizuka-san,” he murmurs, introducing her politely. “This as you know is the young mistress.”

Shizuka pulls away, looking the girl over again, and whistles. “Uhm… Shizuka-san… your name is very…” Madoka hesitates in continuing her words not wishing to be considered rude.

“Oh, yes, I know. Everyone asks about it. I’m half-Japanese. Born and raised here. The other half is American. My father I’m told was a gaijin otaku,” she laughs. “I don’t want to go over my whole life story, but yes, that’s why I have blonde hair. and yes. it is natural.” She smiles, winking at Kozuke who coughs awkwardly in response.

“Would you mind stepping away, Kozuke-san?” she asks after a moment, seeming more businesslike suddenly, Kozuke blinks, looks at Madoka, and then nods. “Of course.” He bows and steps away, leaving the two ladies alone on the gazebo. Shizuka then pulls up a chair, seats herself and smiles at the girl.

“I had heard that you were in a pretty traumatic accident. You look so stunning I could never have imagined it. As your therapist I’m going to need to ask you to talk about it a little, if you think you can handle it. I heard that you have PTSD symptoms, so I would like you to go slowly, and say only what you’re comfortable with saying for now. We have a lot of time to get to know each other, so don’t force it. I get paid more that way." She whispers that last part jokingly. "On a serious note, I will sit here with you for as long as you need me to.” She smiles encouragingly.

Madoka haltingly and then increasingly with greater ease talks about her feelings. It doesn’t take long for her to open up to Shizuka. Her friendly face and demeanor help her to relax, even though she looks like an outsider. That easy confident manner quickly wins over Madoka. Not in the same way that Kozy’s nurturing manner does, but in a more casually friendly way.

She talks about her dreams, treading carefully. Whenever she feels a surge of out-of-control emotion she stops, taking deep breaths as Shizuka instructs her. The woman even holds her when tears stream uncontrollably down her cheeks. By the time the session is done, the two have formed a curious bond with one another. Most of all, when Madoka finally mentions that she used to be a boy, Shizuka is astonished, seeming floored.

She probes the girl gently for details, and the more she hears, Madoka can see that she is becoming visibly angry. In response, Madoka draws in on herself. Noting this reaction, Shizuka’s expression blanks and becomes more relaxed and supportive.

“I’m sorry, it’s not you. Don’t worry about it, Madoka,” She pauses a moment, noting that Kozuke is still hovering nearby. Not close enough to overhear or interfere, but close enough to betray the dear man’s feelings towards the girl… boy?... who sits placidly in the wheelchair next to her. She is happy to see such caring in him, and just seeing that caring brightens her mood a little, but she still needs to have a word with Master Yoshi, who has not said a thing about this to her before, nor had that idiot Saito.

She gestures towards Kozuke, who seemingly in relief walks back towards them. There was not a chance in the world that he would have missed a signal even if she had been subtle about it. This is a very fine man indeed. Idly she chews her lip, wondering if the man is available. Surely someone like him would be… she puts it out of her head. This is not the time to be thinking about such things.

“The session is done for today. I think Madoka will be just fine. She’ll need much support and plenty of additional sessions, but you have a strong young… girl here.” she pats Madoka and winks at her. Madoka smiles at her in response, seeming embarrassed by the compliment.

“I need to speak with your master.” She straightens and takes Madoka’s hand. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you. I’m looking forward to working with you in the future,” she says.

“Yes… please take care of me, Sensei,” Madoka replies, for all the world like a polite lady. Shizuka steps away and walks back towards the mansion. When she is far enough away and out of sight of the -- girl? -- her strides become more violent and purposeful. She storms into the mansion and then into Yoshi's office, her expression seething. She knows that this behavior and reaction are highly unprofessional of her, but she really doesn’t care about that at the moment. Yoshi seems understandably startled as she slaps her hands down on his desk forcefully and stares at him intently from the other side of the desk, her eyes seeming to bore holes through the old man.

“Are you INSANE? I can’t even conceive of the potential damage something like this could do to him!” she practically yells.

The cat was out of the bag, clearly.

An hour later, Kozuke escorts a mollified and puzzled-looking Shizuka from Master Yoshi’s office. Kozuke doesn’t know the extent of what went on in that office, but when he returned his young charge to her room to get her out of the growing summer heat in the garden, the scene he came upon wasn’t a pretty one.

The Gods only knew how he managed to get the two to speak civilly to one another, let alone prevent Master Yoshi from firing this woman on the spot. After seeing how she had been able to reach Madoka earlier on the Gazebo, he knew he had to act. Somehow it all worked out. She not only seemed mollified at the end, but expressed an intense desire to continue working with Madoka, much to his relief, and if Master Yoshi had been stiff and angry, he had been willing to go along with that.

Things are looking good for Sugar. If things continue to go so well, she will take the entrance exam soon and attend High School. He is excited for her from the bottom of his heart.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Four **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Things That Matter
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I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

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Madoka continues to train her body and her mind, and the progress she makes is good, but it feels so agonizingly slow to her that she almost despairs at times. Comparatively, she flies through her course materials as though they’re nothing, though has to take too frequent breaks for writer’s cramp that never bothered her previously. Not only that, but she has arm muscle spasms. She remembers having muscle spasms in Physical Education after she had run many laps. It is shocking to her to experience them doing simple everyday things. She is miserably certain that the muscles between her thumb and forefinger will build up faster than any other muscles in the rest of her body.

At least one good thing has come of her hard work. Her bloody nightmares of the accident that killed her parents and set her life on this odd path, the ones that she still has most nights, are occasionally broken up by a new and equally horrific nightmare where her right hand suddenly becomes super buff and muscular and her body shrivels up to a matchstick. Just the thought of it makes her shudder.

Several days after her therapist Miura Shizuka’s first visit, the master visits again, this time while she is in the middle of studying. The door opens with a click and Madoka glances over to it with a smile. Perhaps Kozy was sneaking in another sweet thing for her; she smiles. Her smile turns into a scowl as she notes that it is the master and not the affectionate butler this time. She knows she should stop glaring at the old man, but there is no one else she can blame for this situation she finds herself in. She knows it is unfair. She can restrain herself from speaking unkindly but her expressions are a little harder to master.

The old man just grins wryly at her, seeing her expression, though his own expression becomes serious as he pulls up a chair.

“Madoka. It’s time to think about what is going to happen with you going forward. Your physical therapy has progressed enough that I think we can consider letting you go to school. Daily routines outside the mansion will help supplement your strength training regimen. If I allow it, I will need you to be more discreet than you were with Miura-san.” He looks into her eyes sharply, waiting to see if she says anything in reply. She looks down and then back at him.

“I don’t see the problem with letting people know what you’ve done to me.” She restrains herself from insulting the old man.

“I do. Let me tell you what the problem is. We live in a gender-centric world right now. Rights are improving gradually, but humanity is still very repressed. What would happen if you told people in your new school that you used to be a boy? Perhaps nothing. Young people have open minds generally. What if they don’t? Think about that. You won’t be going to a Tokyo high school, you know.” He continues to look into her eyes, making her feel uncomfortable. Madoka looks away and back, not wanting to back down from this old man.

“Are you saying they’d want to hurt me?” she asks incredulously.

“Maybe not. You’re too pretty. Even if they believed the story, I’m not sure they would go that far, but you never know. The way a person presents themselves goes a long way towards how they’re perceived. I think if you behave the same way you behave around here you shouldn’t have a problem. Your mind seems to be more agile than I hoped. I know you don’t like me and I can’t say that I care about that, but you do owe me something for rescuing you and healing you up. So I will ask you to be discreet. Can you do that or not?” He scowls.

The girl hesitates, frowns, and then finally nods in acceptance. “You wouldn’t let me go to school otherwise, right?” she asks. Lately, after hitting the books again, she has started to feel more and more interested in going to school again.

The old man nods and grins. “You catch on well, girl. Study up. I’ve scheduled your entrance examination in the next few days. Normally, you would have to go to the school to do it, but I managed to convince them to send someone out here. When they get here they will supervise your testing and tell you a little about the school you will be going to. Got that?” he asks.

The girl nods, feeling a rush of excitement. “Good.” He pats her shoulder and stands, setting the chair aside. “I’ve things to do, girl. Work hard.” He steps out then, leaving her alone to consider. It would be nice to meet others of her own age again. She wonders, suddenly, how her old friends in Tokyo are doing. They probably think she is dead. Madoka sighs. Perhaps one day she would find them. It might be fun to see how they react to seeing her.

Madoka continues this routine until several days later the teacher arrives.

One day, Madoka wakes up, stretching gently to find not only Kozuke waits for her but also Midoriyama Hisako, the maid. She rubs her eyes as they both smile at her.

“Today is a big day for you, Sugar!” Kozuke exclaims. “I’m pleased to inform you that your teacher will be arriving shortly to begin your testing.” He smiles broadly at Madoka and she smiles back, surprised and eager.

“We have selected a nice dress for you so that you will make the best impression, and Midoriyama is here to help you with more complex hair styling, that frankly is beyond my field of expertise.” He chuckles.

Midoriyama curtsies and winks at Madoka. “Good morning, Sugar. I’m looking forward to helping you find a style that you like. There’s nothing wrong with brushing your hair out straight, especially with hair as lovely as yours is, but every girl likes to experiment a little bit. I have a few ideas of what might look good on you, depending on the look that you want to try to convey.” She smiles.

“Uhm… thank you, Midoriyama-san.” Madoka blushes, a bit flustered at the idea of actually trying to style her hair. That would be like accepting her womanhood. Not that the panties that she had worn daily since waking didn’t already force that acceptance.

“No, no, no! Onee-chan!” Midoriyama smiles at her encouragingly. “I always wanted a cute little sister.”

Madoka blushes again and bites her lip. “O-Onee-chan…” she makes to say. Midoriyama’s reaction is instantaneous. She impulsively wraps her arms around the girl and hugs her tightly. “Good girl!” She squeezes the girl to her.

“Now, now… don’t suffocate Sugar, Midoriyama.” Kozuke frowns. Madoka’s face was buried in Midoriyama’s impressive cleavage at the moment.

“Mmm mmph!” she protests. Midoriyama laughs and releases the girl, tousling her hair. “You’re going to look so lovely when you meet your teacher.” She grins at the disheveled young girl, who alternates between blushing and scowling at her.

Kozuke and Midoriyama help the girl up into a sitting position and begin undressing her, removing the cute nightie that she had worn to sleep. It was tan and pink in coloration with teddy bears on it. With their help, her underwear is changed first. Today the panties and bra selected are green in coloration. The bra frames her small but well-developed breasts nicely. She tries not to look at herself during the process and blushes, unable to suppress her curiosity. Afterwards they help her into a nice green dress whose skirt flares at the knees. It has a white petticoat and white lace accents about the bodice and sleeves. They complete the look with a pair of white knee socks, showing off her unblemished feminine thighs. Then she is taken to the desk and mirror. Midoriyama activates the light switch and Kozuke steps away while she begins to gently brush out Madoka’s long lustrous black hair.

Madoka’s eyes close as she enjoys the feel of the brush running through her hair, the bristles massaging her scalp. There is something sensual about having someone brush your hair for you. Madoka blushes slightly. When finished, Midoriyama produces a little book that she had on her person somewhere and when she opens it, she shows various hair styles in it -- ways to put the hair up in ribbons or with pins that look trendy and cute. A girl would change her hairstyle frequently as she experiments with it and finds the look that is truly her.

Midoriyama echoes her thoughts and expands upon them. “The look that you choose might end up being that look that you feel is truly you… it might end up being that look that you wear daily. It’s the look that sets you apart from the other girls in your class. Nothing is more important when most girls in class will have the same classic Japanese features as yourself.” Midoriyama smiles.

That makes sense to Madoka, though she doesn’t think that Midoriyama ever had that sort of problem, assuming that her dark red hair is natural. Even so, the way she wears her hair in that braided updo indicates to Madoka that she might actually worry about those things even with such a unique hair color, and that makes her feel as though she might understand at least a little about how important hair is for a girl.

Madoka studies the book of hairstyles and finally one appeals to her. It has bangs, long lengths on the sides to frame the face, and a bow in the back. “This one,” she says finally, blushing. She feels her resistance towards exploring her femininity wearing down and away, especially since she is currently sitting in front of a mirror at the moment. Had Midoriyama planned it that way? She can’t help looking at herself and down at the book, wondering how she would look with this or that style, and it amazes her that one that appeals to her is possibly one of the girliest styles.

Midoriyama grins at her from behind, giving her a little hug. “That’s a nice choice. I think that style will look good on you.” She winks. “Let’s get started with it.”

Midoriyama steps away to a cart that Madoka hasn’t noticed yet and wheels it over to the chair. The cart contains neither food nor tea, though Madoka thinks to herself that she would like some tea right about now as she studies its actual contents. There are hair care items on it, a blow dryer, scissors, razors, etcetera. She realizes Midoriyama intends to give her a full haircut rather than just a simple styling. Well, she thinks. How else would I get bangs? She has to cut them, doesn’t she? The temptation to ask Midoriyama to cut it super short strikes her, but a glance at her reflection in front of her quells that impulse.

There is no way that simply cutting her hair short would make her look boyish in the slightest. Her delicate cute face can’t possibly be taken as anything but girlish, even were she completely bald.

Midoriyama pulls a plastic cloak about her, wrapping it tightly around her neck and tying it off. She sets about spraying down Madoka’s hair with a water bottle, combing it out one last time and then cutting it. It takes a shockingly small amount of time, but when she is finished, Madoka looks very much like the picture she pointed out to Midoriyama. Her hair now has bangs that sit lightly at eyebrow level. Those parts of her hair adjacent to the bangs are left long and hang down to either side of her face while in the back the remainder of her, long-evened out hair is gathered up loosely in a pastel green ribbon to match her dress. Madoka barely hears the hand vac sucking up the hair that fell to the floor as she studies herself in the mirror. Her heart pounds as she does so, and she finds she loves what she sees far more than she ever would have expected to. A little tear leaks from the corner of her eye as she surrenders to her feelings. Kozuke notices the tear and takes her hand. “Are you alright, Sugar?” he asks her gently.

“Yes, Kozuke. I think I am. It’s just… I feel… pretty.” She smiles, wiping her eye with a finger.

“Awwwww…” Midoriyama grins at the girl, looking as though she wants to hug her into her bosom again. “You’re too cute, Sugar.” She smiles.

Madoka wonders whether Midoriyama knows she used to be a boy. She doesn’t act like it, but some things she says seem like she is instructing her in the art of girlhood. Madoka isn’t sure if she is just talking about it one girl to another, or if she is gently teaching the boy turned girl. These thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. The three look towards the front of the mansion and at one another.

“It looks like it’s showtime. Make us proud, Sugar.” Midoriyama winks at the girl. “I’ll get it, Kozy. Finish cleaning up and I will see him in. The master will want to talk to him.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Kozuke asks, smiling wryly at her. “The master doesn’t particularly like it when you greet our guests,” he points out.

“Oh, he’ll get over it.” She grins. “You should worry about feeding Sugar.” She blows a kiss to the two and steps out of the room quickly.

Kozuke shakes his head. “Oh, dear. I think I will be chastised later for letting her have her way,” he remarks, laughing. Madoka smiles in response.

“One moment and I will bring a light breakfast. Go over your books if you feel you need to, Sugar. I am certain it won’t be long before your testing begins.”

Takahashi Ren is a man in his early thirties with short red hair and a pleasant and easygoing disposition, popular with his students. It is summer break at the moment, but he still has duties to complete for the school, and this is one of them. He is a homeroom teacher and as such his duties are to check in on students from time to time, frequently at their homes, acting sort of like a surrogate father figure to them. It stands to reason, of course. that he would be the one chosen to conduct the entrance examination of his newest student, Hamada Madoka. He had heard from the principal that this girl had been in a horrible accident that had kept her out of school for over a year and in a coma.

He was so moved by hearing of her story that he insisted on being the one to conduct the testing. Who was better for the task than he? In his mind, there was no time to waste in forming a bond with his newest student. He is shown into the study of Master Hamada Yoshi first by the maid, who had introduced herself as Midoriyama Hisako. She had been extremely friendly in her greeting.

Master Yoshi scowls when he sees who leads the teacher into his study. “Midoriyama. Why aren’t you preparing breakfast? I’m hungry,” he grumps. Midoriyama smiles, curtseying to Yoshi. “I’m sorry, Master. Kozy’s busy with Sugar. He wants to make sure she’s ready for her testing.” She smiles, winking at Ren, who smiles. These two are interesting to say the least.

“That is important. I suppose I wouldn’t be able to count on you for such a thing.” Master Yoshi scowls and looks at Takahashi. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sensei.” He stands, extending his hand for a handshake. Ren takes his hand easily and firmly. “Nice to meet you, Doctor Hamada. So where is my new student?” he asks, getting directly to the point with apparent eagerness.

“She’s enjoying her breakfast. Can I offer you some tea, Takahashi-san?” Yoshi asks, seating himself and gesturing for Ren to take a seat as well. Ren does so, bowing slightly.

“I would very much appreciate some tea.” At this response, the maid excuses herself, and the two study each other, striking up a light conversation. Ren is curious about his newest student, and eager to get on with the testing. “It’s highly unconventional to have someone come out to your home to conduct an entrance examination. You must be well connected, Doctor Hamada,” Ren observes lightly..

After a while of conversing and enjoying a cup of maid Midoriyama’s excellent tea, the tentative conversation between the two is interrupted. Kozuke steps into the office, bowing. “Master, Madoka is ready to begin the testing,” he murmurs.

Ren looks up at Kozuke with a grateful smile, and looks at Yoshi. “Ah… if you will excuse me, Doctor.” He stands and extends his hand one more time, which Master Yoshi takes when he stands.

He excuses himself and follows Kozuke down the hall, taking a moment to study the art on the walls.

This place really is peculiar, he thinks to himself, studying the Picasso paintings. His attention doesn’t linger on them, though, as he is shown down the hall and into the girl’s bedroom. He first sees her sitting in a wheelchair calmly in the room. He is struck by how relaxed she seems to be and how pretty she is. He can’t help thinking to himself that she is a work of art, much like the statues outside and the paintings hanging in the hallway, except unlike them, she truly is perfect, as though every minute detail of her being was lovingly sculpted by God himself.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hamada-kun. I am your examiner, Takahashi Ren. Shall we get started?” He smiles at the charming girl. She nods in response, seemingly very eager.

“Yes please, Sensei. I’m looking forward to going to school again,” she murmurs. Ren smiles approvingly in response and lifts his briefcase which contains the test papers.

“I will supervise you while you test. Each section of the test will take thirty minutes to complete. No references or notes are allowed. Fill in what you can in the time allowed, and I will assess your tests personally. Normally a letter of acceptance would be sent, and one still will be sent before you start attending in a few weeks. You will be starting a few months later than most other students as I’m sure you know. I hope this won’t be too much of a burden on you.” He sets the first test on her desk, and helps her wheel up to it.

“The subjects tested are Japanese, Science, Social Science, and Mathematics. The total time of the testing period is two hours. Begin,” he says, marking the current time on his watch and then studying her as she starts. She seems largely confident, hesitating in a few places as she progresses through it.

Ren leans against the wall by the desk, studying her as she works, and the girl looks up finally, blushing.

“Sensei… could you not stare at me like that?” she asks, chewing her lip. She doesn’t spare any time, however, returning her attention to the paper. Ren smiles.

“I need to monitor you to make sure you don’t do anything improper like using crib notes and such.” Ren shrugs and chuckles. “I will step back a little though if you prefer.” Ren notices a chair nearby and pulls it over and takes up a position where she won’t see him as directly, but where he can observe her freely without missing anything important.

Time passes in this way; every thirty minutes he stands up, finding that she has completed the sheet that he put before her. He replaces it with the next subject’s test paper and resumes sitting, once again marking the time. The only subject she seems to have issues with is Social Science, and when he takes that paper, replacing it with the Mathematics paper, he notes that the girl has completed it, though her answers took longer. He is tempted to scan through the tests that have been completed, but it isn’t allowed if he is being honest, and he is honest to a fault. It is his duty to watch the girl, even though at this point he does not expect any problems from her. Madoka finishes the last page somewhat quicker than the other tests, but Ren waits just in case she’s uncertain about any of her answers and wants to backtrack or look over what she’s put down. She does not. The final thirty minute segment finishes.

Ren walks over and collects the final paper. Finally, with the testing over, Ren smiles at the girl, impressed overall. “Please relax. I will review your answers now.” He reviews her answers while standing.

“Yes, Sensei,” the girl replies, betraying a hint of anxiety only now.

Ren notes the girl’s expression of relief while he reads through the test answers and smiles. As confident as she seemed going into it, it looks to him as though she is less confident afterwards than beforehand. That says interesting things about her character. He finishes reviewing her answers in a great deal less time than it took to conduct the testing itself, and smiles at her.

“Are you ready for the results, Hamada-kun?” His tone is lightly teasing as he examines her expression. Her expression wavers between slightly annoyed and anxious.

“Yes, Sensei!” she repeats.

Ren waits another moment for dramatic effect and then delivers his proclamation. “Congratulations, you pass!” He grins at the girl, who smiles brightly in response.

Madoka takes a deep breath. “Thank you, Sensei!” she exclaims happily.

“Congratulations, Sugar!” Madoka blinks and looks over at the door, seeing Kozuke standing there. She smiles at him and waves.

“Thank you, Kozy!” she exclaims.

“Master Yoshi has had Midoriyama-san prepare a lunch. Would you care to join us, Takahashi-sensei?” Kozuke inquires.

“I’d be delighted. I can’t stay much longer than that, but I would like to get to know my student a little better.” He smiles and looks at Madoka. “I will be your Homeroom teacher as well. I couldn’t say that officially until you had passed the exam. I am very impressed by how capable you seem to be. I can tell you are still physically weak from your ordeal,” he notes.

Madoka nods, sighing. She is indeed a little tired already. She has to continue to work hard to build her strength so that she will be able to handle going to school. “I can handle it, Sensei,” she replies, her tone positive.

Kozuke wheels Madoka out of the lacy bedroom and Ren follows alongside, re-studying the mansion and the girl in particular as they go. The three meet Master Yoshi in the foyer.

“So how did the brat do, Sensei?” he inquires, looking directly at Takahashi.

Ren blinks at the term he used. “Brat? She did excellent. It wasn’t a perfect score, but I expect she will do as well as any other student in the second term, possibly better than most. As you know, unlike many other high schools, we do have an elevator for disabled students and utility purposes, so even in her wheelchair she should keep up well enough. How long is she expected to need the wheelchair, Doctor?” Ren asks.

Master Yoshi gestures for them to follow him, and he leads everyone into the dining room with a pleased expression on his face. “It’s not certain. That depends a lot on the girl, herself. If she stays motivated, perhaps several months. If not, possibly not until the start of the third term,” Master Yoshi muses.

“I thought about having her home schooled, but a certain nosy kohai of mine insisted she won’t continue to grow socially if she’s not reintroduced to the school system. Please take a seat wherever you like, Sensei.” Master Yoshi gestures and seats himself at the head of the table. After noting the place Madoka is wheeled to by Kozuke, Ren seats himself on the other side of Madoka from Master Yoshi.

It isn’t long before Midoriyama wheels lunch in.

Madoka is excited to see that lunch is Pot Au Feu. Apparently among Midoriyama’s seemingly endless list of talents is French cooking. The aroma of the French stew immediately makes her stomach start growling audibly. She blushes softly as Ren starts laughing.

“You must have worked up quite an appetite, Hamada-kun.” He grins good-naturedly at her.

To her greater dismay however, what is placed before her is not a bowl containing that delicious-smelling Pot Au Feu. Instead, it is just broth. Madoka looks at the maid Midoriyama with tears in her eyes. Midoriyama winces a little at the look, actually losing a little of her usual grace as she sets a bowl in front of Ren. “It’s not my fault!” she protests.

Madoka immediately refocuses on the master whose fault it has to be. “Master Yoshiiiiii…” Madoka bawls.

“You aren’t ready for much solid food yet…” Master Yoshi huffs. “Just keep drinking your protein shakes and be happy I’m feeding you!” he retorts, his expression morbidly embarrassed. Ren looks across the table at him, amused.

Lunch passes quickly. For the sake of Master Yoshi’s pride, Ren deftly turns the subject of conversation towards Madoka, asking about her early life. He finds to his consternation that despite his gesture he can't get much more information out of Doctor Hamada. The girl Madoka is a mystery to Ren. The records say that she is the adopted daughter of Doctor Hamada Yoshi. A little investigating easily turned up facts surrounding Doctor Hamada Yoshi. That he had been a revolutionary plastic surgeon with a prestigious career. It is easy to believe when you see how fancy Master Yoshi’s home is.

With information concerning Madoka, Ren immediately ran into a dead end. It was his policy to find out as much as possible about his students in advance, and none of his resources had turned up any information about the Doctor’s adopted daughter. It was almost as though he’d made her himself out of thin air. He studies the girl again, shaking his head. As he thought, she is so perfect-looking that he can almost believe she has been created by someone with a mind rather than the usual genetic lottery. She doesn’t have any flaws that he can see, though beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. Not everyone would see it so, maybe. He imagines that an extremely human-like robot might look exactly as perfect on the outside as Hamada Madoka does.

After a while, he gives up and just speaks directly with Madoka, attempting to draw her out directly. Oddly enough, this method doesn’t yield any results either. Madoka doesn’t talk much about her past, sticking to subjects in the present.

And so Ren ends up leaving shortly after lunch has concluded, without any of his questions having been answered.

A week later, Madoka’s physical training had continued and she’d continued to make more progress and assert her independence in very small ways. At this point she can get up into a sitting position by herself in bed. and with work she can move herself into her wheelchair, provided it is close by. Using the bathroom is trickier, but she determinedly forces herself to make progress in that department. Being supervised by someone when you go the bathroom is quite embarrassing. Not to mention when they have to help you clean yourself up. Madoka had to tolerate that a few times but she had drawn the line afterwards even though Kozuke was only sweet, helpful, and respectful towards her. It was still embarrassing!!!

Madoka is sitting at her desk, practicing styling her hair, when the door to the room opens with a click and she looks over to see Kozuke, holding several objects.

“Good morning, Sugar! Your school uniform has arrived.” He sets the articles of clothing down neatly on the desk and holds up the jacket and skirt for her to inspect. The skirt is pink and navy checkered and really pretty underneath the navy blue coat. There are three buttons on the coat, and the fabric seems to shimmer a little to her eyes. She has never worn such a pretty school uniform before. In the schools she had attended so far, the Junior High uniform had been a standard militaristic boys' uniform with jacket and pants in black. The girls’ uniform had been a black and white sailor uniform with a pleated skirt. Elementary uniforms had been even more simple and boring.

Madoka blushes a little staring at it. At this point she isn’t even surprised that her first thought is, how will it look on me? As opposed to, why do I have to wear this? She finds that without a doubt, she did look forward to wearing it!

A week later on the morning of August 1st, Madoka is gently awakened earlier than usual by Kozuke. Her eyes open, her vision a little hazy from insufficient sleep. She had not been able to go to sleep quickly the previous night, anticipating that tomorrow was going to be her first day of school, and she had found herself breathless with excitement over it. Kozuke helps Madoka into her wheelchair that he has already pulled up near the bed, and wheels her into the bathroom where he helps her to take a quick bath, moving her to a bath stool temporarily so he can pour hot water over her and then set about washing her thoroughly. Not for the first time, Madoka thinks that having someone wash her is embarrassing, but also really nice.

When she is cleaned and rinsed, he allows her fifteen minutes in the bath before helping her out and toweling her off thoroughly. Afterwards, he immediately starts blow-drying her hair, and she sighs happily at the warmth of the hot air as it quickly moves over her hair, efficiently removing the moisture. She has visions of Kozuke undergoing a secret boot camp with Midoriyama-san just for this day. Was he a little more efficient than usual?

When her hair is dry, he wheels her back into the room. Madoka watches eagerly as Kozuke starts laying her uniform out for her. He selects white knee socks, the skirt, the coat, a white button up shirt, and a long stringy thing that matches the skirt that Madoka had seen last week. Kozuke had said it was called a krevat. He also sets out a matching pink lacy bra. She will finally get to wear her pretty uniform today! Kozuke helps her into it, starting with the pair of warm white knee socks. He hands her the lacy pink panties which she can put on herself for a change, thankfully. She had learned a few tricks that let her put on certain articles of clothes in a sitting position. She accepts the bra from him next and puts that on. Midoriyama has taught her how to wear one properly. She stuffs her breasts into it neatly from the sides and then fastens it behind her, with a little fumbling.

Kozuke helps her put on the rest of everything, the white button up shirt, followed by the plaid/checkered skirt, and then the coat, which he buttons over the white shirt, making sure to tuck the white shirt into her skirt before finally wrapping the kravat around her collar and tying it for her. Unknown to her, Midoriyama is standing at the door, and when Kozuke finishes, she steps forward, holding two shoe boxes and a bag.

“These are gifts from the master and us, Sugar.” She winks and holds out the first of the boxes. Madoka sees some cute outdoors shoes that went well with the uniform. They are black and in a Lolita style. She hands the box to Kozuke, who smiles up at Madoka with tears standing in the corners of his eyes. He gently helps her into the shoes. She will not be walking, but there are appearances that one has to keep up. Midoriyama shows her the contents of the second box. It is another pair of shoes. This time they are indoor shoes, in a style much like the ones she wears now. These are for school. Madoka smiles and nods.

“Thank you, Midoriyama-san.” She smiles. Midoriyama looks at her disapprovingly.

“Onee-chan!” she corrects her playfully, making Madoka blush. “Lastly we have this…” She holds up a large bag. It is a fine leather shoulder bag. She places it in Madoka’s lap and opens it, demonstrating it isn’t just an empty bag. Inside are a couple of clear file binders, a pen and pencil case with cute bunnies on it, and a lady’s wallet.

“Inside the wallet is your school ID, and a charged Manaca card just in case you end up using the bus one day. You could run away with it, but I think you’re too smart to run away from your loving home.” Midoriyama smiles. “There is also some yen in the wallet and a charge card. That should show you how much Master Yoshi cares for you and trusts you. The charge card has a spending limit on it, so don’t abuse it.” She tucks it back into the bag and pulls out another case with flower patterns on it. “This is from me. It’s a starter makeup kit. There is also a wireless flatiron just in case your hair gets frizzy since it’s getting to be winter. There is also a small umbrella.”

Madoka is already overwhelmed by what Midoriyama is showing her, and she isn’t even done. Tears leak out of the corners of her eyes quietly.

“Here is a cell phone. It’s a modern model with good capabilities. No schoolgirl worth her panties would be without one. You can keep in contact with the friends you make with it, go online and do things, but most importantly, the numbers for home, the master, Kozuke, and myself are in the contacts if you find yourself in trouble. The charging cable is in one of the pouches in the front of the bag.” She gestures. “Do not use the phone in school. If it gets confiscated, Master Yoshi will be very angry.”

She pulls out a cloth wrapped bundle next and winks at Madoka. The cloth has teddy bears and hearts on it and it’s a pastel pink. “Your bento. I will make you one daily, Sugar.” She winks at Madoka. “There is a thermos with tea in it as well. There is a notepad, rulers, a protractor and compass, and a few other odds and ends for organization and school work as well.” Midoriyama breathlessly finishes tucking everything neatly back into her bag and zips it closed while Madoka sobs quietly, completely overcome with emotion.

Finally, Midoriyama wraps her arms around the girl and hugs her tightly. “Stop that crying! You’ll look awful when you get to school if you don’t.” She pulls back, giving Madoka a wink. “A breakfast is waiting for you and then Kozy will drive you to school. We would let you take the bus, but the buses in this area aren’t always outfitted with wheelchair access.” She smiles. “Let’s hurry you into the dining room.”

She does so and Madoka enjoys a light breakfast. She enjoys a light meal of miso soup with tofu, a side of rice, a single mouth-watering delicious sausage, and mixed fruit pieces. When she finishes her meal and is bundled out through the foyer, Master Yoshi stands in front of his office. He gives her a grudgingly approving nod and waves to her as she is wheeled out and loaded up into a van outside by Kozuke. Her wheelchair is loaded onto the back and the two set out. This is the first time Madoka has been allowed outside the grounds of the mansion. Kozuke pulls out of the driveway, down it a ways, and to the nearby two-lane mountain highway; they turn onto it heading due south. Madoka has to admit to herself that after her previous experience she is incredibly nervous, but by now she trusts Kozuke.

The way is a little windy and twisty as it travels through the low mountain range, and at one point Madoka thinks she sees a cable car high above the road crossing over it. It is pretty early in the morning. When she looks at the clock on the dash, it reads 7:47. It isn’t too long before they reach the town, seeing more and more homes and buildings along the way. At one point they pass a bus heading in the same direction. Madoka thinks she can see a scattering of students in the same uniform that she is wearing mixed in with the morning commuters and people out for early errands.

The school isn’t too much farther into town. They turn several street corners and pull up to a large building slowly. A wave of tired and excited-looking students in uniforms identical to hers, but also in shades of blue and gold as well, walk towards the large school building. It is a typical looking Japanese high school building. It is several stories high, a large wall around it with a sturdy gate that is open at the moment. A couple of teachers stand at the gate watching the procession of students passing inside. Groups of boys and girls either mingle or walk separately, but for the most part the groups seem fairly static to Madoka. She realizes that it might be harder to make friends now that most groups are already formed.

Kozuke exits the vehicle, lowering her chair and unfastening it from the rack that holds it, and then wheels it around to Madoka. He helps her to lower down into the wheelchair seat and then, looking both ways, wheels her across the street and up to the school building. Students around her are already taking notice of her, looking at her as they walk by. She blushes, having expected some attention, but she is receiving a lot of it.

“Alright, Sugar. I will have to leave you here.” He smiles at the girl. It seems she had her bag and nothing was amiss. “Please do your best!” he encourages her with a smile, and she nods, eagerly putting her hands on the wheels of her chair.

“Thank you, Kozy, I will!!!” she exclaims, and eagerly wheels forward, feeling free. It is a little cold, but there is otherwise no problem. She is already a little winded by the time she approaches the building. Her stomach has butterflies in it from anticipating what her first day of school is going to be like. It’s cramping up a little bit from her anxiety as she wheels into the building.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Five **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Day She Made Friends
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

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Madoka wheels into the school yard, looking around as she does so. She can push herself forward without too much difficulty. Her arm muscles have built up quite a bit from wheeling herself around at home and the physical therapy regimens. The protein shakes the master is always making her drink might also play a part, though she doesn’t want to give him any credit. The yard in front of the school is fairly standard. Madoka notices a statue in the middle of the yard that looks like a bust. Madoka squints her eyes, but without getting closer is unable to read the inscription on it. There are trees in areas not covered with cement.

The main entrance of the building consists of two double doors that are pulled open when groups of students approach it. The sounds of light chatter fill the schoolyard. Students watch Madoka with interest as she wheels up to the doors, but go on about their business. Here is the first of Madoka’s trials. She reaches up for the door handle and pulls it, but has difficulty with her insufficient leverage in the chair. She looks around but nowhere in sight is any sort of electronic button to cause the door to open for her. After a short while she gives up, frustrated.

What am I doing? Maybe I’m not ready after all, she thinks to herself. She feels her chair suddenly pulled backwards and the face of a boy peeks around the chair.

“Hello there… I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. I think I would remember a lovely face like yours.” The boy is tall and his hair is greenish, his eyes a masculine hazel.

“No… I’m a transfer student,” Madoka replies. “I’m having a little trouble getting inside. Do you think you could help me out?” Madoka asks, smiling. She feels so self conscious. It’s her first time talking to another boy since… to a boy since her accident.

“Oh sure… I planned on it. I suppose we shouldn’t linger out here.” He grins at her and slips past to open the door. It seems he pulled her chair away so that he could open the door for her. He gestures, bowing to her, moving his arm in a sweeping motion towards the school interior. “Welcome to Tsukuba Shiritsu Seishun Gakuen. We’ll meet each other again soon.” He winks as she wheels herself inside. Her stomach has started cramping up again. Having a boy hit on her like that makes her feel a little sick. She just smiles at him thankfully, though, and goes on about her business. By the colors of his pants and tie, it looks as though he might be a first year like herself.

Madoka wheels on into the foyer and, after looking around, digs through her bag for the clear file containing her first day instructions. She reviews a diagram with a locker number. She wheels over to the correct row of shoe lockers, carefully navigating around other students removing their outdoor shoes and replacing them with their school shoes. For her it doesn’t even really matter as her shoes are still impeccably clean and new looking due to never being walked in, but it is traditional to remove your outdoor shoes and she does not want to be different from any other student. She opens her locker and bends down to remove her shoes. She is very flexible, so she has no problems quickly removing her shoes and placing them in the locker. She next removes her indoor shoes from the inside of her school bag and pulls them onto her feet. They feel as nice as the outdoor shoes do.

Madoka closes the locker, carefully navigates away from the lockers so that she doesn’t get in anyone else’s way, and studies the clear file with her instructions again. A hand taps her shoulder and she looks up in surprise. Takahashi-sensei stands over her with a smile. “Good morning, Hamada-kun.” He smiles.

Madoka smiles in return. Takahashi-sensei is a nosy guy, but otherwise nice, and he seems pretty cool. “Good morning, Sensei,” she replies.

“How about I help you out? I’ll show you to the gymnasium. The second semester opening ceremony will start soon. Do you mind if I push your chair for you?” he asks politely.

Madoka hesitates and shakes her head. “I don't mind. Thank you, Sensei,” she responds. Ren nods and takes a position behind her and starts wheeling her forward. Madoka is grateful for the gesture, honestly. Her stomach is still doing flip flops due to her anxiety. Ren wheels her quickly but carefully down the hallway and on the way he stops, pointing to a door with an electronic reader next to it. It looked like some sort of security door.

“This is the elevator. Only students with the electronic key can use it. It is not for general use. When you can walk, you will be expected to return the key.” He holds out a card to the girl. “Just press it to the reader like you would any magnetic card. Other students are not allowed on the elevator. It’s a cost saving measure. When you are able to walk, we will ask you to clean the interior of the elevator,” Ren says. Madoka accepts the key, bowing, and slides it into her cell phone case’s card holder.

“Don’t let a teacher see you with that cellphone out. Don’t use it while you’re in the classroom. They won’t do anything if you appear to be doing what you’re supposed to, but many teachers take a hard-line stance on cellphone use,” Ren says to her, starting to wheel her away from the elevator.

“Yes, sensei,” Madoka replies, looking around. It is not long before they reach the end of the hallway and enter the gymnasium. The gym is full already. Most students had already taken seats according to their seniority. First years sit in the left grouping, second years sit in the middle grouping, and third years sit in the third grouping. Ren wheels her to the left and parks her chair on the end, near the front to give her a good view.

Some students stand in front of the seated students. A microphone has been set up there. A man in a business suit stands with the students, talking with them. Two other adults stand with him. After a while of waiting, a girl steps up to the microphone. Madoka’s stomach feels like it has butterflies in it.

“Good morning, everyone!” the girl calls out.

Everyone in the gym, including Madoka, responds: “Good morning!”

“For the sake of new students I will reintroduce myself. I am the elected Student Council President, Matsuda Chizuru. I will continue to work hard, everyone, as we strive for excellence together in this second term. As you know, there are some annual events upcoming. I will talk more about those after a few words from Kocho-sensei. Please stand and bow,” she says, bowing to the man in the suit who steps up to the microphone. Everyone stands and bows to him, and Madoka bites her lip, making do with a bow in her wheelchair. She feels so embarrassed.

A few people look at her, but don’t say anything, and she blushes profusely. She can’t do what she can’t do! Everyone sits and Madoka sits up, looking straight ahead, ears burning.

“Today we begin the second semester of our school year. Last semester ended well. The grade averages were high. I expect everyone to maintain their hard work and dedication, and continue to push themselves. Together we make this school great. Now we will sing the anthem together, and I will pass the microphone back to your student council president.” The students applaud and stand up as a jingle starts playing over the gymnasium speakers. Madoka has studied this anthem as it was a part of her instructional papers, and she sings alongside everyone else, albeit from a seated position. When the anthem finishes, everyone bows and sits again. The microphone passes back to the student council president.

“I will now talk about expectations for the current semester and events that will take place in the near future. As usual, there will be a school Festival. Ours will take place on September the 10th. That is only ten days from now. You will need to take time to plan out what your class will be doing for it. Time will be allocated at the end of the day in your final homeroom period. Most of the work involved will need to be done during after school hours and club times. Please work hard to make this year’s Cultural Festival successful! Twelve days afterwards are the National Achievement tests. Please don’t forget this. Whatever time you end up investing into the Festival must not be prioritized over the exam, although we expect you to take both events seriously. The National Achievement tests are important because they reflect on how the government and the rest of Japan see us. Please remember that you represent the whole school.” The class president finishes, bowing. “I will work hard throughout both events as well to make sure that our school is among the best.” The classroom applauds. “Now please go to your homerooms. You are dismissed.”

Ren left Madoka during the ceremony, so Madoka wheels herself out of the gym, with the assistance of other students who hold doors for her. She makes her way back to the elevator and removes the key card from the cell phone card holder. She swipes it over the reader, and after a few moments, the door opens. Madoka wheels inside of the elevator, and presses the button for the second floor. She has studied her clear file and has a general idea of where to find her homeroom. The elevator quickly reaches the second floor and Madoka disembarks, passing a group of vending machines as she makes her way down the hallway five doors down. She reaches the appropriate door, 12B, and notices with surprise that the boy from earlier is waiting, leaning against the wall. He looks at her with a cool smile.

“We meet again.” He slides the door open for her and gestures as he had before, winking. Madoka blushes. “Welcome to class 12B. I’m your lovable class president, Sugawara Eiji.” He smiles.

“Stop posing, you moron,” a male voice grumbles from behind her. Madoka turns her head to see a boy with thick glasses, dark blueish hair and a serious expression. “You’re blocking the door,” he says to Madoka, adjusting his glasses.

“Ah… sorry!” Madoka laughs and wheels forward into the room. The students are talking with each other in groups as she enters and looks around. There is one desk that doesn’t have a chair. Madoka supposes that must be her place. It is by the window, too. Lucky! She grins as she wheels over and carefully navigates between the aisles of seats. People turn their heads to look at her, expressing interest. She wheels up to her desk and turns and then relaxes, sighing. Her stomach is going crazy. She has never been the type to get sick when she was nervous, but anyone might change after going through what she has. She sees to her delight that she has an excellent view of the track and fields, and a decent view of the pool below. Nothing is happening in those places at the moment, but it might be fun to turn her head and watch students from there.

“Hello! Good morning!” a friendly female voice says from behind Madoka. Madoka blinks and looks back, guardedly. Girls don’t talk to her. It must be someone greeting someone else, she thinks. However, the girl in question is looking right at her with a smile. She’s really pretty with long light brown hair and blue eyes. Her body was fit, suggesting a certain amount of athleticism. “I’m Wada Aoi, what’s…” she begins. Madoka blushes intensely, extremely flustered. Her stomach seems to do a flip. The class door opens as the chime jingle plays, indicating that homeroom has started. Takahashi-sensei enters, sliding the door closed behind him. He walks to the front of the classroom and stands there, looking at everyone.

“Good morning, everyone. How is your second semester?” he asks.

Everyone responds, saying “Good morning, Sensei!”

“As Matsuda-kun mentioned during the opening ceremony, we have upcoming events to think about and discuss. There isn’t a whole lot of time to spend on it this morning. The ceremony has cut homeroom short. The most important takeaway is work hard, keep studying and do your best. More importantly, as I am sure you all have noticed, we have a transfer student. Please welcome Hamada Madoka-kun. She has been through some pretty awful things recently, so please go easy on her. We don’t have any time for questions, but please say a few quick words, Hamada-kun.” He gestures to Madoka who blushes intensely, feeling queasy and embarrassed.

Ren watches and listens to her intently. “Uhm… there isn’t much to say. I’m a normal student, I work hard. I’ve been out of school for a year due to an accident that I don’t want to talk about. I can’t walk yet, but I will. Please take care of me.” She turns her wheelchair and bows, bumping her head into the edge of her desk. “I.. itai…” Madoka gasps under her breath eliciting chuckles and laughs from the class.

“Ouch…” someone murmurs. “Kind of a klutz.”

“She’s really pretty though right? And her boobs are…”

“Think she’s super cute…” someone says. “Love her hair!”

“Okay, everyone.” Takahashi says. “Let’s get serious. Until the chime rings let’s discuss ideas for what we can do for the cultural fair.

“A maid cafe, of course,” Eiji chimes in over other voices that start tossing around suggestions. “With so many high level ladies in our class, it couldn’t fail to be popular.” He grins.

“Shut up, you pig idiot,” Aoi responds to him. “There are plenty of high level boys in this class too. I think a butler cafe would be better,” she responds.

“Why not both?” Eiji grins winningly. “I would not mind playing the part of a charming butler.”

“No you wear the maid costume, I’ll wear a butler costume,” Aoi counters. Eiji’s jaw drops at that and the rest of the class laughs.

“Good one.” A girl with blonde hair in twin-tails grins at Aoi from her desk not far from Aoi’s.

“Just let Fuyuki come up with the idea,” another boy chimes in.

“Yeah, let the Shadow-Prez handle it,” a boy near him nods. The scene is cut short by another jingle played over the loudspeaker, indicating the end of homeroom time and the beginning of first period.

“Alright. That’s the end of it for now, class. Hold those thoughts and we’ll talk more about it at the end of the day,” Ren says. His eyes slide towards Madoka as the door opens and the first period teacher shows himself in. He is an older man with a bald top like a kappa. His hair is a mix of gray and white, combed neatly down. Ren looks at him and back at Madoka and finally exits the room, nodding to the new teacher who nods back to him in response.

“Wow… Takahashi-sensei really seems to have a thing for the new girl,” Madoka hears a girl murmur.

“Really? You think so?” a guy replies.

“Didn’t you see how passionately he looked at her?” someone says, joking, eliciting more laughter. Madoka’s stomach twinges in response, and she clasps her hands over it, groaning a little under her breath. Aoi seems to notice it and reaches out, touching her sleeve.

“Are you alright?” she asks, looking concerned. Madoka must admit she is feeling pretty sick suddenly. Is it the idea that a man or a boy might be interested in her?

“I… I’m not sure. I’m recovering from something… and I’m not sure what’s going on. I haven’t felt sick like this,” she whispers.

“Let’s begin, students,” the teacher interrupts. “As you know I am Nakagawa-sensei. I teach Social Sciences. I say it for the benefit of our new student.” He begins the lesson after that short introduction and begins marking things on the board. Madoka does her best to pay attention but her stomach cramping up makes her clutch it again, and she bites her lip. Finally, Aoi stands.

“Sensei, Hamada-san isn’t doing well,” she says. The teacher pauses his writing and looks at the girl and then at Madoka who blushes.

“Do you need to see the nurse?” he asks. His tone expresses what he thinks of students leaving the classroom on their first day. Madoka hesitates, but a new twinge makes her nod her head.

“Yes, Sensei. I think I do. My stomach is hurting,” she says, looking down, tears in her eyes.

The teacher hesitates and nods. “Alright then. Go to the nurses’ office,” he says.

“Sensei… I’d like to accompany her,” Aoi says quickly. “She may not be able to get there on her own,” she says.

The teacher hesitates, glaring a little, but finally waves his hand. “She is a new student after all. Take her quickly. Be back as soon as possible. I hope you have someone you can copy notes from.”

The blonde haired girl in pigtails stands. “She does.” The girl looks at Madoka sympathetically and winks at her. Madoka blushes, smiling at her.

“Sensei… I’d like to accompany them too.” Eiji stands up, gesturing.

“No,” the teacher says flatly. Eiji blinks as the teacher shoots him down mercilessly. “Be on your way, girls,” he says.

“Yes, sensei!” Madoka says and wheels out from behind her desk, setting her bag underneath it. Aoi suddenly starts pushing her from behind. Madoka looks back at her, blushing, and then smiles her thanks to the girl who nods to her. The teacher opens the door for the two and closes it behind them as they wheel down the hallway to the nurses’ office, which thankfully is located on the second floor.

Madoka’s stomach continues to lurch as Aoi wheels her, but she looks back at Aoi again, blushing. She’d never had such a pretty girl look out for her like this before. It made her heart pound and her face blush.

Aoi slides open the door to the nurses' office and pushes Madoka inside, bumping it closed with her butt as she wheels the girl inside. They both look around. No one is currently in the room. Not even the nurse.

“Let’s get you onto a bed.” Aoi gestures, and helps the somewhat smaller girl up and onto the bed. Afterwards, she helps her into a lying position. Finally, she sits down in the girl’s wheelchair since it’s a more convenient chair and sits with her, studying her. The girl is shockingly beautiful. Her body is well proportioned, seemingly sculpted. She exudes a cuteness and frailness that makes Aoi want to protect her.

“Do you think you might have a stomach flu?” she asks, looking at the girl. Madoka shakes her head in response.

“I don’t know… I just feel achy and heavy,” she says.

That could be any number of things. Aoi looks around the room for a moment and then back to the quiet girl who seems extremely flustered, as though she doesn’t talk much to anyone.

“Where are you from?” she asks, deciding there isn’t much else to do but ask questions… and she’s curious about the doll-like girl.

Madoka hesitates a little as though thinking about what to say. “Tokyo,” she responds, smiling.

That isn’t unexpected. It’s not very far from here to Tokyo. One could take a bus and get there in only a few hours. A train took considerably shorter time.

“What’s it like growing up there?” Aoi asks, making polite conversation.

Madoka thinks and shrugs. “Normal, I guess. I mean… it didn’t feel special or anything,” she says.

“Do you like anime?” Aoi asks. “Have you ever been to Akihabara?” she adds.

Madoka smiles. “Yes to both. Akihabara is a lot of fun. I miss Taito Station.” She sighs.

“You’re a gamer?” Aoi asks with a laugh.

Madoka nods and grins, still clutching her stomach. “Not much of one, but it’s fun. I like to play the crane games. I haven’t won at them, but there was one anime figure I was working on for a week and I think if I’d been able to…” Madoka falls quiet and blushes, looking down.

Aoi laughs. “That sounds like fun. Maybe we can go back someday. If you’re lucky no one has gotten your figure yet.” She grins. Madoka laughs and nods, tears in her eyes.

She must be in a lot of pain, Aoi thinks, her expression turning serious again. The door to the nurses’ office slides open and closed and Aoi stands, walking around the curtain separating beds to see that the nurse has arrived.

“What are you two girls doing in here?” the nurse asks.

“My friend is feeling sick. Can you have a look at her? She has stomach cramps. She’s hurting so much she’s crying,” Aoi says, feeling a little worried for her new friend.

The nurse nods and steps over to the bed, pulling back the curtain. She leans down, noting the wheelchair.

“You are the new student… Hamada-san, right?” she asks, beginning to examine the girl, pressing her fingertips against her abdomen.

Madoka winces and nods. “Yes, Nurse,” she murmurs.

“Have you ever felt like this before?” she asks as she continues to pressure her abdomen. “Where exactly are you hurting?”

Madoka presses her hands to her lower stomach currently exposed. She blushes. “Here…” she indicates her lower stomach above her crotch. “No, I haven’t, Nurse,” she responds, biting her lip.

The nurse frowns, her expression puzzled. Finally, on an impulse she lifts the girl’s skirt and inspects her pink lacy panties. “Cute panties,” she comments.

Madoka gasps and blushes, hiding her face. Aoi peeks at them and giggles which makes Madoka squirm even more.

“I think I know what’s wrong… but what’s puzzling to me is why it’s even an issue.” The nurse lets down Madoka’s skirt and she sighs a sigh of relief in response. “You’re just having your period, I think. There’s a small blood spot on your panties. That’s a shame. If you suspected, you should have worn a pad. Blood stains can be annoying,” the nurse says dismissively. “Do you have a pad? I would recommend putting it on right away.”

Madoka shakes her head, blinking. “I don’t know if I have any… my bag is in the classroom though... “ she says, doing her best not to convey that this is her first time, even while she is stunned by the idea. A period? Her? Boys didn’t have periods! What had Master Yoshi done to her? She feels tears in her eyes again. Aoi looks at her strangely, but her expression also holds knowing compassion. Madoka feels her hand taken and squeezed lightly by Aoi. Was she suspicious?

The nurse walks over to a cabinet and removes a pink squarish object. She walks back and tosses it onto the bed next to Madoka with an exasperated smile. “Put it on and head back to class. You could stay here for a bit, but you don’t want to waste time on your first day of school, right?” she asks.

Madoka shakes her head, indicating that she does not. “Um. How…” she trails off. Picking up the pink package, she opens it, studying the pad. She turns it over several times in her hands. Aoi starts laughing at the dumbfounded expression on Madoka’s face.

“You’re funny. You look just like a boy playing with his mom’s…” She blushes and laughs again. Madoka turns scarlet and stares at Aoi. Does she know? When Aoi finishes laughing, she smiles at her, patting her hand. “Put it in your panties,” she says, humoring the girl. Madoka notices the sticky strips on one end of the pad and reasons out the process, doing her best to keep a cool head. She waits a moment, but it looks to her as though neither woman is going to give her any privacy. She continues to blush as she wriggles her panties down, trying not to let the women see her private areas in the process. The nurses’ expression becomes amused. Aoi’s expression becomes a little confused as she watches, and she grabs her right arm with her left.

Madoka pulls the panties down to kneesock level and after thinking about it a little she presses the pad against the seat of the panties.

“No… a little further to the back,” the nurse points out helpfully. “You’ll leak.”

Madoka tears the pad off with a little ripping sound as the adhesive detaches and she repositions the pad, wanting to get this over as soon as possible. She pulls her panties back up over her lovely thighs and presses the pad against her. She is struck immediately by how foreign this feels. She has been used to having something between her legs for pretty much all of her life, but this is more intrusive.

She shakes her head and looks up at Aoi who is looking away. “Uhm… Wada-san… I think I’m ready to go back,” she says. Aoi looks back at her and nods, smiling.

“Call me Aoi,” she says as she helps the frail-looking girl back into her chair.

By the time they returned to class, Social Sciences was over and a new teacher had taken the place of the previous one. The subject was now mathematics. Madoka forces herself to man up, or woman up she supposes it is now, and focus on the lecture. It is easier now that she has an idea of why she feels so awful. She can compartmentalize it a little bit and cope.

The math teacher, Kaneko Mae, is a buxom woman in her mid twenties. Madoka notices the effect that the attractive teacher has on the male students in class when she looks around. Kaneko-sensei has that effect on her as well, although she can’t appreciate it as much with the cramping she is feeling and the hot, uncomfortable sensations in her abdomen and crotch area. That class goes by uneventfully, and Madoka manages to take a good amount of notes.

The chime rings and another teacher enters the classroom. Kaneko exits as he introduces himself as Shibata-sensei. He’s another older man with wispy white hair and big glasses. He teaches Science. This period goes by quickly as well, with Madoka managing even better than before. When the next chime rings, it’s lunch time. As the teacher excuses himself, some students leave the room while others group up and start eating their bento brought from home or convenience stores on the way to school. Madoka pulls out the cloth-wrapped bundle Midoriyama packed for her with its teddy bears and hearts on a pastel pink field. She unwraps it and studies it. It looks as amazing as Midoriyama’s cooking usually does, but maybe more so for being organized. She removes the thermos of tea and sets it on her desk and goes back to studying the contents of the lunchbox.

There are little sausages cut into octopi, battered shrimp, assorted vegetables, a small potato croquette that looks delicious to her with rice, a little rolled omelette and nori.

“Cute lunch!” Aoi exclaims with a smile. She has pushed her desk up against Aoi’s without her noticing. “Kanna-chan, come have a look at this,” she adds.

The blonde girl with the twin-tails walks over and seats herself on the windowsill by Madoka’s desk as she looks down at Madoka’s lunch, holding her own. “Wow! That’s really nice!” She smiles. “Does your mom make such cute lunches, or do you?” she asks, munching on a piece of karaage from her convenience store bento.

“Uhm…” Madoka blushes, shocked at the sudden proximity of these two cute girls that she would have loved to date in a heartbeat back when she was… well, she shouldn’t think about such things. Even so it embarasses her.

“I’m sorry your you know what started today.” Kanna blushes. “That must really suck. I’m sure there are other unlucky girls today but still, it’s rough,” she says.

“Kanna! A little tact…” Aoi blushes, looking around.

“I have plenty of tact, Aoi-chan.” Kanna grins. “Hey, Madoka-chan… how are you liking the school?” Kanna asks.

Madoka blinks, blushing profusely again at the sudden use of her first name, particularly with chan attached to it. “Ahm… it seems like a nice school. I like the cute uniforms…” She blushes as she eats one of the little octopus sausages finally. Oh, Gods, the meat tastes so good. She has’nt gotten to eat much of it lately, but she almost swoons at the flavor of the sausage. A pair of chopsticks suddenly reach over her and snag her potato croquette faster than she can blink.

“Hamada-san’s cooking…” Madoka hears Eiji’s voice behind her and a crunch that makes her break out into tears. “It’s delicious!” Eiji exclaims.

“My croquette!!!” Madoka cries, tears flowing.

“Sugawara-kun!” Aoi and Kanna jump up at once, seeming to loom over the hapless green haired boy who finishes off the last of the small croquette.

“What?” he asks, blinking. It is clear he can sense impending doom, however, because he edges backwards a little despite having the advantage of height on both of the girls.

“What do you think you’re doing, you useless class president?” The boy from earlier with dark hair and glasses walks up to Eiji. “It’s not good to make girls cry, you know.”

“You tell him, Shadow-Prez,” someone speaks up.

Madoka looks at the boy. He seemed a little rude earlier, but it was hard to say. Maybe he’s just really serious.

“You should just step down, Sugawara-kun,” Aoi says. Kanna nods.

“We wouldn’t have voted for you if we knew how useless you are,” she adds. The boy in glasses seems to smirk as Eiji staggers as though from physical blows.

“Please don’t say that,” Eiji finally manages. “I know. Let’s go on a date, Madoka-chan. I’ll make the croquette up to you. How do crepes sound?” He grins, winking.

Madoka stops crying, wiping her eyes and looking at Eiji. The shock of being called Madoka-chan again got her attention. “No,” she replies, her expression deadpan.

Eiji seems to fall over as though the last blow has been delivered as the chime for next period sounds. Madoka’s eyes widen. She hasn’t gotten to eat anything at all. Around her everyone else looks more or less finished. Madoka immediately starts shoveling down rice and vegetables with her chopsticks.

The rest of her day passes by in a blur. Takahashi-sensei returns to teach Japanese. Ren notices a grain of rice on the girl’s cheek, and a few more on her uniform. After a moment, he also notices Madoka’s red-rimmed eyes and he frowns in puzzlement, wondering what happened. He puts it out of his mind and starts Japanese class. The period passes quickly, however, and Madoka seems to be doing well, so he doesn’t comment.

The next period, the art teacher comes in, introducing herself as Sakurai-sensei. She is a woman in her late twenties, attractive but not as attractive as Kaneko-sensei. She wears her hair in a long thick braid. She dresses in a light blue jacket shirt worn over a knee length business skirt in dark navy. Stockings complete the look of a mature sophisticated woman. Madoka wonders idly if she’ll look like that when she grows up. What will she look like? Will she be locked in this form, or will her appearance change over time? She thinks about it while Sakurai-sensei begins her lessons in calligraphy. Madoka is a little behind in the subject, but with Aoi’s help she is able to catch up.

Before the period chime rings, Madoka feels a growing urge to use the toilet. She has been sipping tea from the thermos that Midoriyama had provided off and on. When it does ring, Madoka puts her things up in her desk and picks up her bag, putting it in her lap. It’s a break period now. Afterwards would be gym, and other than returning for homeroom, that would be the last class of the day. The day wouldn’t end there, however, unless she leaves early. She doesn’t want to do that if she can help it.

“Where are you heading?” Aoi asks her, seeing her preparing to go.
“Ah… oh… I’m going to um… the… the… you know…” Madoka blushes.

Aoi laughs in response. “You’re so delicate, Madoka-chan. I’ll come with you.” She smiles, stands up, and pushes Madoka’s chair for her again to her surprise. Kanna catches up and paces alongside her with a smile and a cute heart-melting wink. The three girls head to the bathroom, Kanna holding the door while Aoi pushes Madoka inside. They immediately come to the conclusion that this will be problematic.

“You know…” Aoi says, leaning up against a sink. “The teacher’s bathroom might have a western toilet,” she points out helpfully, blushing. Kanna looks at an available toilet stall and blushes a little.

“I didn’t think about this,” Madoka says, morbidly embarrassed, not for the first time today. Only the standard floor toilets are generally available to students. Madoka has never had to care much about them except when he went… well, they weren’t a huge deal before. Now Madoka considers that it is going to be extremely difficult to get into position over one, let alone support herself when she could not walk. How do other people in wheelchairs deal with it?

“I’ll just hold it in…” Madoka says, squirming a little awkwardly.

“Don’t be silly,” Aoi says firmly in response. “Gym class is next and then we’ll be here for who knows how long while we plan out the school festival. These sorts of things can go long,” she comments, and looks at Kanna, who nods, smiling. “We’ll have to do it. We’re all girls here after all, aren’t we?” Aoi says with a brave smile.

It makes Madoka blush to recall what just happened as Aoi wheels her away from the bathroom and Kanna paces alongside.

The girls ended up helping support her as she squatted over the toilet. Madoka’s face flames, and she hides it, grateful that she doesn’t have to push herself to the gym, so she can continue doing so.

“You’re too adorable.” Aoi laughs, making Madoka shrink even more into her chair. She’s had enough of that type of thing with Kozuke, and now this!

Gym class was perhaps the easiest class for Madoka. Since she can’t get up out of her chair, she can’t really participate, so she sits off to the side resting from her previous experience. She watches as the boys and girls of class 12B exercise together. She feels a little envious. She has a gym uniform, but it doesn’t mean much when she can’t run or jump or anything yet.

She watches her friends stretch, and does some simple strength building exercises of her own while she watches. The cute little shorts that the girls wore are great. She blushes when she realizes that she hasn’t been able to resist checking out her new friends’ cute butts in their gym shorts. She turns her eyes forcibly away from them to the boys of the class. Her eyes focus naturally on Eiji. The boy who stole her croquette.

At this point they broke up into groups to play volleyball. When he notices her intense scowl, he freezes in place and a ball that he’d intended to set smacks him in the face instead, bouncing up.

“Pay attention, stupid class rep!” Fuyuki Ippei jumps up and spikes the ball back over the net, causing the students on the other side to scramble for it. They miss the ball and Ippei lands, adjusting his glasses. Madoka blinks, shocked at how athletic he is. He seems like a bookworm type, but Fuyuki Ippei is capable. This was the man called the Shadow-Prez.

“Nice spike, Fuyuki-kun,” Takahashi-sensei calls out as he walks over to Madoka. He bends down and looks at Madoka’s face. “I have some leg weights here… if you would like, I’ll help you do some leg exercises. It doesn’t sit well with me watching a student unable to participate in gym,” he says.

Madoka blinks and smiles, her expression happy that she can be included in some way.

The period passes with Ren focusing mostly on Madoka, occasionally turning his attention to the class. With his help, she is able to do a variety of simple leg exercises.

Finally, Takahashi-sensei stands and blows his whistle after marking time on his watch. “Alright, everyone. Pack everything up. It’s time to get cleaned up. Head to the locker rooms and when you’re done, head to homeroom. We have a lot to discuss.”

Madoka wheels herself over to her friends and the three head into the locker room together. To Madoka’s surprise, the girls freshen themselves up but don’t use the showers. She had this image in her head that girls would get naked just like boys did after physical education, and she dreaded it. To her great relief, all they do is talk, freshen up makeup for those who wear it, towel off sweat, and change clothes, of course. Madoka does her best not to stare. She didn’t even bother to go into the locker room before, because it was sort of pointless in her opinion to change her uniform if she wasn’t going to do much moving around.

She hadn’t thought about this though. All she really sees are panties, though here and there a set of breasts spring free as a girl changes her bra.

“Are you okay, Madoka?” Aoi asks, noticing the girl’s discomfort as she changes into her uniform.

“Uhmm… yes, I’m fine.” She blushes. “I’m just… still feeling bad,” she says, glad suddenly that she has her period as an excuse.

Kanna pats her arm. “Oh, I know… my last flow was horrible.” She shudders. “I was glad that I didn’t have to go to school,” she adds as she fastens her skirt around her.

Madoka doesn’t really have much to do to freshen up. She moves to a mirror to take her mind off the situation and adjusts her hair as Midoriyama taught her. She still looks really cute. It’s easy when you don’t have to move around a lot. She sighs softly, looking at herself.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Six **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Weight of Her Convictions
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

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The three girls finish up in the locker room, Kanna and Aoi doing a great deal more than Madoka, who simply tidies up her hair. They exit back into the gym. The boys are already standing in groups, chatting, though some exit the gym, heading back to the classroom. Madoka watches them go with a wry smile on her face. My days of quickly cleaning up and heading back to class are over now. She sighs. She feels exhausted after today’s events. Thankfully Aoi is still pushing her chair, so that at least helps conserve some of her dwindling supply of energy.

Madoka can’t remember a school day that had ever been as exhausting as this one has been, and with the upcoming events, the days ahead promise to be more exhausting. Madoka strangely looks forward to it, however. For the first time in a long while, it feels as though she is moving forward with life, even if her life now is completely different from the life she has known. Kanna notices her brooding expression as she holds the gymnasium door for the girl and her seeming self-appointed guardian, Aoi.

“Are you doing alright, Madoka-chan?” the cute green-eyed and blonde-haired girl whose hair is tied up in cute twin tails asks the cuter wheelchair-bound doll-like girl.

Madoka smiles, shaking her head. “I’m alright… Kanna-chan.” Madoka hesitates a moment before returning the familiarity that Kanna is displaying towards her. Kanna smiles a happy smile in return, placing her hand on Madoka’s while she walks alongside the chair. “I am just tired. I’m happy that I can attend school now, but it is still exhausting,” she says.

Kanno nods in response, smiling. “You’ll get stronger, though, Madoka-chan. You will, right?” Her positive expression becomes questioning. “We don’t know very much about your condition… you aren’t paralyzed, I hope?” Kanna asks.

“You’re being nosy, Kanna-chan,” Aoi chastises Kanna, who looks at her and sticks her tongue out playfully in response. Madoka laughs, and shakes her head.

“No… it’s alright, Aoi-chan… I am not paralyzed. I’m just recovering from something. The master says that I should be able to walk again if I work hard,” Madoka says, making an effort to smile and be positive.

“That’s great to hear!” Kanna exclaims, her tone enthusiastic.

“The master?” Aoi asks as they stop at a bank of vending machines.

“What do you like to drink, Madoka-chan?” Kanna asks as she looks over the various buttons on the face of the vending machine.

“I’ll have a milk-tea,” Madoka replies with a smile. “Please let me pay for it… um…” Madoka trails off when she realizes she doesn’t have any money on her. “Um… I’ll pay you back when we get back to class.” She blushes. Kanna laughs in response to the girl’s awkwardness.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s for my cute new friend.” She smiles and pushes a 100 yen coin into the coin slot in the machine, followed by a fifty yen coin with its doughnut shape. She presses the button for a Georgia Milk Tea, and the machine dispenses it.

“You should save those lucky coins for a shrine to pray for good fortune in the upcoming achievement test!” Madoka protests, too late as the girl squats down carefully to retrieve the milk-tea from the dispenser at the bottom of the vending machine. The girl hands Madoka the milk tea with a wink and a smile.

“Don’t worry about that, Madoka-chan,” Kanna says dismissively. “I’ll get more, and we can all go to the local shrine together before the day of testing. Maybe we should study together too.” She looks up at Aoi, who smiles at her. “Want a Pocari as usual, Aoi-chan?” she asks.

“Yes, thank you, Kanna-chan,” Aoi responds, smiling. “Yes, let’s study together. It will be a little harder for a transfer student to get caught up, but I promise that I’ll be a good tutor.” Aoi smiles confidently at Madoka who blushes, smiling.

“I would like that,” Madoka says happily. She can’t imagine how she got so lucky as to have two such lovely girls as her friends on her first day of school. She was afraid that she would not make any friends due to the sure formation of cliques in the first semester that she missed. Madoka feels very fortunate.

Kanna finishes selecting drinks from the vending machine, always very careful not to flash her panties at any of the now more sparse groups of students passing by on their way to their own homerooms. Kanna tosses a Pocari Sweat to Aoi, though Aoi hands it to Madoka immediately.

“Hold onto it for me until we get to class, okay?” she asks Madoka, and Madoka nods, smiling in reply.

Kanna selects a root beer for herself, an uncommon but increasingly popular selection in Japanese vending machines. The three head not much further along with Madoka guiding them, and they come to the firmly closed door of the special elevator that Madoka had permission to use. Madoka slides the magnetic card free from her skirt pocket, where she had kept it temporarily during gym. She had taken Takahashi-sensei’s warning and decided not to take her cellphone out of her bag while at school any more often than she must.

The door slides open after a wait, revealing the small elevator interior. Madoka wheels herself inside as the other two girls examine the interior. Madoka looks at the other two apologetically. “I’m sorry. Takahashi-sensei said that no one else is allowed to ride it with me. It’s cost-saving, he said.” Madoka smiles.

“It’s okay. I was just curious,” Aoi replies, while Kanna pouts a little.

“Who would know? I bet I could sit in your lap.” Kanna laughs and winks, joking.

“You would probably break her.” Aoi rolls her eyes as she waves to Madoka and heads away from the elevator.

“Hey! I don’t weigh that much!” Kanna protests, stamping a foot. She looks back to Madoka with a blush. “See you upstairs, Madoka-chan.” She waves and chases after Aoi.

It takes a minute or so before the door on the second floor opens. The elevator lurches a little, making Madoka’s already sensitive stomach twinge. Madoka hurries out, hoping that the elevator doesn’t have any issues. She wheels herself towards the classroom. The halls are mostly empty of students at this point, though soon enough they will be full of students cleaning it. She sees her friends at the top of the staircase on the way, and the three walk together the rest of the way, Aoi once again taking up a position behind and pushing her.

“You don’t have to do that, Aoi-chan,” Madoka protests, feeling a little like a burden to her new friend.

Aoi smiles in reply. “I want to do it. If you don’t want me to do it, though…” she trails off, smiling.

Madoka shakes her head. “No… I really appreciate it. I want to do it myself sometimes because it’s the best way to keep building upper body strength, but at times like this when I’m exhausted, I’m just grateful for the help,” she says.

“I’m glad that’s the case,” Aoi replies. “I hoped I wasn’t being too presumptuous.”

“You are a little pushy,” Kanna teases Aoi. Aoi blushes in embarrassment while Kanna and Madoka giggle.

“Really, it’s fine.” Madoka smiles brightly. The three enter the classroom as the period chime goes off.

“Cutting it a little close, aren’t we, girls?” Takahashi-sensei smiles wryly at the three who blush.

“Sorry, Sensei!” the three say together, bowing, Madoka doing so in her chair, causing her to double herself over. The class laughs and Ren-sensei smiles at the girls.

“As long as you beat the chime I guess I have no complaints… but try to be a little faster for your own sakes in the future, okay?” He smiles and turns his attention to the rest of the class. “Alright, so now we are going to take up where we left off this morning. Let’s start brainstorming about the festival.”

The class throws ideas back and forth for a half an hour, and as before, are unable to come to a consensus. When the final chime rings, Takahashi-sensei dismisses everyone in light of the fact that the class does not yet have a solid project.

“Please make an effort to decide soon; we don’t have very much time, and the longer everyone takes to decide on what to do, the harder it will be to make the deadline,” Ren-sensei admonishes everyone.

Everyone acknowledges his warning and begins tidying the classroom up as he exits the room. Some students gravitate out into the corridor where they begin their cleanup duties. Some students sneak away, which happens from time to time. Those students would be singled out for cleaning duties if they repeatedly snuck out without helping clean up. Madoka is unable to help with much but she does what she can, helping wipe down surfaces within her reach. The students in the classroom and outside of it chat quietly as they work together to tidy up their classroom. The three girls enjoy the drinks they had gotten in the vending machine downstairs, chatting together while they work.

When everything is tidy, everyone gathers up their bag and exits the room. Some students go on to club rooms while others head home via public transit buses, walking, or rarely via rides from parents. Students do not have cars, even in high school, and do not drive usually. It is possible to get a license when you reach the right age, but the expense of having a car and maintaining it versus taking the very accessible and reasonably priced transit system makes having a car the less popular choice.

Aoi and Kanna walk with Madoka as they head back to the elevator that Madoka will use once again to go downstairs. “Do you have a club yet?” Aoi asks as she pushes Madoka’s chair. “Kanna and I are in the girls’ Kendo Club. I know you’re not on your feet yet, but when you are, would you be interested in joining us?” Aoi asks.

Kanna looks at Aoi and laughs. “Ohhhh I see… nice job snagging the new girl, Aoi-chan,” Kanna teases. Aoi blushes and swats Kanna.

“It’s not like that!” she protests. “I just thought since we’re all friends now and all, maybe she’d like to join us!” She scowls at Kanna.

Kanna nods. “Sure, sure… of course,” she says, hiding her smile behind her hand. Aoi stares at her for a long moment as the three come to a stop in front of the elevator, and Madoka swipes her card again on the electronic reader. The door opens and Madoka wheels inside, turning her chair to face them.

“Are you two going to your club, then?” she asks.

“No. We don’t have club activities until after the festival. Some do, but we don’t,” Aoi says. “We’ll walk you out. See you downstairs.” She waves and heads over to the staircase, Kanna following. The elevator door closes and Madoka rides it down. When it comes to a stop, she disembarks and wheels herself towards the front of the school and the shoe lockers. The other two catch up to her quickly and Aoi resumes pushing her. They reach the shoe lockers quickly amid a crowd of other students getting their shoes before heading home.

Madoka directs Aoi to her locker and she opens it and fetches out her outdoor shoes. She quickly, but tiredly slides her feet out of her school shoes, and after polishing them up a little, places them inside the locker, and slips on her outdoor shoes. Neither are scuffed, really. They’re both polished and new still. A hand taps her on the shoulder and she looks up to see Eiji. Madoka scowls immediately at him, making him wince a little.

“Hey… sorry about your croquette. I didn’t know it was such a big deal. I really want to make it up to you sometime,” Eiji says, sounding earnest. Madoka notices Ippei standing behind Eiji. He adjusts his glasses and swats Eiji in the back of the head.

“Don’t be pushy, stupid class president,” he says. Eiji looks back at him, scowling.

“I’m not being pushy! I just want to make it up to her!” he protests.

“Uh huh…” Kanna smiles with her skeptical expression, hand on her hip. “She’s exhausted, so maybe you can confess to her another time, useless prez.” Madoka and Eiji blush, though Madoka looks a little ill. Aoi scowls at Eiji and Ippei tugs him backwards, giving Aoi room to wheel Madoka out. The three girls leave the building amid crowds of other students, and the two boys follow them out through the yard of the school and towards the gate.

Madoka immediately notices Kozuke, anxiously waiting by the gate. He notices her and smiles, seeming to want to walk towards her for a moment, but he stands there instead, waiting after noticing her friends walking with her. An expression of pride crosses his face. Madoka points to Kozuke and the two girls and two boys gasp as they change course to go directly to him.

“Kozy!” Madoka grins as Aoi stops her chair in front of him.

“Sugar! Did you have a good day at school?” he asks, smiling. “Are these your friends?”

“Yes… these are my friends.” Madoka smiles happily. “The strong pretty girl behind me is Wada Aoi-chan. The pretty blonde girl at my side is Tsukimi Kanna-chan.” Kozuke nods, smiling, taking the girls’ hands, which makes them blush. He leans down and kisses each of their hands.

“Thank you for taking care of Sugar. I cannot express how happy I am to see that she has made such fine friends on her first day of school. Please continue to look after her when I cannot,” he murmurs, smiling.

Kanna blushes and Aoi seems to have a meltdown, squirming a little in reaction. “Yes. We will,” the girls say together. Kozuke turns his attention to the two boys behind the girls.

“Are these two not your friends then, Sugar?” he inquires, eyeing them. Madoka hesitates and looks at them.

“I think so. Sugawara-san is a jerk, but Fuyuki-san seems reliable,” Madoka says. Eiji staggers as though a great blow has been delivered to him, while Ippei bows to Kozuke.

“We aren’t exactly her friends, sir. Sugawara is just being a pest,” he apologizes for his friend.

“Traitor!” Eiji gasps, balling up a fist. “You want me to kick your ass?” he whispers under his breath, and the two stare daggers at each other, locking eyes. Aoi and Kanna step back from them.

“Try it, useless class president,” Ippei says calmly, and the two face each other down.

“I think it’s time to be on our way, Sugar,” Kozuke interrupts the byplay, smiling humorously. “Can I offer you two ladies a ride to your homes?” he inquires solicitously. Aoi nods eagerly, smiling. Kanna shrugs and grins.

“Sure.” she says.

“What about us?” Eiji protests. Ippei jams his elbow into Eiji’s side, making him grunt.

“I guess it’s not fair to leave them out,” Madoka suggests, finally, feeling bad for the two. It wasn’t too long ago that she might have been in their position, and she empathizes with them.

Eiji grins brightly, seeming on the point of hugging Madoka. A dark look from Kozuke, like that of a protective and doting father, causes him to freeze in place. To Madoka, it’s like Eiji is literally frozen solid for a split second.

“Alright,” Kozuke allows. “Everyone who is coming, come along, and behave yourselves,” he says sternly, leading the party of youths to the van he had used to take Madoka to school this morning. He motions to help Madoka up into the passenger seat on the left side as he had this morning, but Madoka pauses.

“Um… can I sit in the back with my girlfriends, Kozy?” she asks. Kozuke smiles warmly and nods.

“Yes, I think that would be a wonderful idea.” His eyes fall on Eiji again, and he directs him to take the passenger seat wordlessly. Eiji blinks and slides up into the seat. Kozuke nods to himself and helps Madoka into the second row of seats. The other two girls sit to either side of her. He directs Ippei to seat himself in the back row of seats, which he does with a silent nod.

In minutes Kozuke has the chair loaded up on the back of the van and sets off. He eyes Eiji occasionally, making it clear that the reason he is sitting up front is so that he can keep an eye on the muscular boy. Eiji doesn’t protest, though he awkwardly tries to engage Madoka in conversation, finding to his dismay that the girls are happily chatting together and altogether ignoring his existence. When Kozuke pulls up to his house first, which happens to be probably the house the farthest away of all the students’ except perhaps Madoka herself, he exits the van with a defeated expression on his face.

Kozuke next drops off Ippei, who rides quietly in the back. Ippei bows to the van after disembarking. “Thank you for the ride!” he exclaims earnestly and loudly.

“Bye shadow-prez!” Kanna waves. The three girls smile at him and he waves politely before walking to the apartment building that he lives in. It is a somewhat old-looking building, but otherwise nice. Next Kozuke drops off Kanna who lives in a similar apartment complex not too far away. Kanna impulsively hugs Madoka who blushes in response and waves to her cute twin-tailed friend as she exits the van and trots over to her building. They drop Aoi off last. She lives in a well-kept traditional Japanese house on the outskirts of Tsukuba, close to where the city ends and farmlands begin. Aoi takes Madoka’s hand and squeezes it, smiling at her, and Madoka smiles back, her heart beating quickly. The contact with Aoi’s soft hand feels really nice, and she finds herself hoping that Aoi will hug her like Kanna had. That was a great experience. She thinks about how the girl’s chest had felt squishing up against hers as she had spontaneously hugged her.

Aoi doesn’t hug her, however, choosing to keep their contact more modest. Madoka watches her go with a sigh of regret and a little loneliness. She could never have imagined how fulfilling a relationship with girls could be. She daydreams a little as Kozuke pulls forward, taking them back home to the mansion.

“You look really happy,” Kozuke remarks warmly after studying Madoka in the rear-view mirror for a time.

Madoka blinks and looks at Kozuke, smiling and nodding. “I am happy,” she replies.

When they arrive home, Madoka is wheeled inside. Midoriyama waits for her in the foyer, smiling warmly at her. “Did you have fun?” she asks. Madoka nods in reply, blushing and smiling.

“Oh… did you find a boyfriend already?” she grins broadly at the embarrassed girl.

“NO!” Madoka blushes, protesting vehemently.

Midoriyama blinks, taken aback by how forceful her reaction had been. “What’s got you so embarrassed, then?” she asks.

“I… I made some friends…” Madoka squirms cutely, blushing still.

“That’s wonderful!” Midoriyama smiles, taking the girl’s hand and squeezing it. “Onee-chan is so happy for you, Sugar!” she exclaims, grinning.

Madoka nods happily, and a twinge in her stomach makes her remember that making friends wasn’t all that had happened to her today. She touches her stomach, rubbing it a little with a little sigh.

“Are you alright?” Midoriyama notices, and Madoka hesitates but finally gestures with her index finger for Midoriyama to lean forward.

“I’m… having my period,” she says in a soft whisper, deliberately not looking at Kozuke who has been standing by with a smile, though he frowns a little when the two women look at him as though he’s too close. Kozuke looks away, his brow wrinkling a little.

“I see,” Midoriyama says seriously. “We’ll have to make sure you have pads and tampons,” she whispers to Madoka, who blushes profusely in response.

“Um… I don’t know how to use… the tampon things… don’t they go inside… you?” she asks. Midoriyama looks at the girl, frowning slightly.

“You’ve never used them before? Well, I suppose that’s not too out of the ordinary.” She hesitates a moment and finally whispers: “I’ll show you how to put one in.” She straightens and looks at Kozuke.

“I’m going to take Madoka to get into something more comfortable… Kozy, can you finish up dinner?” she asks Kozuke.

“What? But I…” Kozuke protests.

“Everything is ready, more or less. You won’t have to do any cooking… you just need to plate things,” Midoriyama adds quickly, reassuring the butler.

Kozuke nods, seeming relieved. “Of course, Midoriyama.” He nods and smiles at Madoka before stepping through the foyer, into the dining room, and towards the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Midoriyama escorts Madoka into her bedroom. It is unusual for Midoriyama to help her undress, but the maid does it with all the grace that the butler does, though she acted more like an older sister.

“You’re really well developed so far,” Midoriyama comments when she helps Madoka out of her school uniform. Madoka blushes brightly, looking away. It’s not as though she grew them naturally. Why should she be proud of them?

Midoriyama smiles at the cute reaction and resumes aiding the girl in her disrobing. When she is down to her underwear, Midoriyama carefully hangs up the girl’s uniform so that it won’t wrinkle, and then wheels the girl into the bathroom. She then quickly ducks out of her room, leaving her alone for ten minutes, with nothing else to do, really, except examine herself in the mirror. Madoka is curious. She’s had the opportunity to look at herself previously, but she ignored her reflection steadfastly, a part of her perhaps not wanting to accept the reality of her situation.

She examines herself, trailing her fingers over her skin. Her hair is still up in its cute ribbon and the definition of the muscle she has been putting on lately makes her look a lot less like Sadako from The Ring and more like a traditional Japanese beauty. She studies her reflection in its cute pink bra and panty set Kozuke had chosen out for her this morning, and feels her heart start to race. Her skin flushes prettily and she feels the already humid sensations between her legs that she has had to deal with all day intensify slightly. She looks away, clearing her mind. Her chest feels a little tighter and her nipples feel stiff in a way that she really isn’t at all familiar with. Midoriyama saves her from these awkward feelings by re-entering the bathroom. She studies the girl for a moment, but doesn’t say anything as she sets a box of tampons down on the nearby countertop.

For the next fifteen minutes, she shows Madoka how to use a tampon applicator. It takes time, but Madoka is able to insert a tampon herself, with much blushing and some awkwardness. When finished, Midoriyama hugs Madoka reassuringly, and Madoka smiles, feeling comforted by the embrace rather than aroused as when Kanna had hugged her. Is this what it’s like when a mother teaches her daughter these things? Madoka thinks, wonderingly.

The four sit down for dinner that night. Master Yoshi doesn’t say much, inquiring a time or two about her day at school, but otherwise seeming largely disinterested. Madoka still talks about it and in her eagerness she lets slip about her visit to the nurses’ office.

Master Yoshi immediately starts paying attention at that point. “Why did you go to the nurses' office on your first day? Are you feeling sick? You need to tell me about it when you’re not feeling well,” he says firmly.

Madoka blinks and blushes, hedging and evading at first, but finally she admits the truth in a small voice, ears burning. “M-my period started today,” she says.

Kozuke’s eyes widen and he stares at the girl, his expression that of puzzled understanding. Master Yoshi grins broadly, seeming extremely happy about Madoka’s admission. Midoriyama studies the two men, equally puzzled, and embarrassed for Madoka.

Finally, overcome with feelings of humiliation, Madoka grits her teeth. “Why do I have to go through this, you old idiot? I’m a boy! I shouldn’t have to deal with things like this!” She starts sniffling, feeling tears leaking down her cheeks. For some reason she feels so suddenly angry and emotional!

Master Yoshi stiffens and glares at the crying girl. “I told you… I didn’t know! Stop blaming me. If I’m going to do a thing properly, however, I will do it as completely and properly as I can. When I decided you were a girl, I went about fixing everything that would normally be in a girl’s body. Do you have any idea the intricate and extensive work involved? It took a year to make sure that your body wouldn’t reject the donor organs and would heal up properly. The whole process was messy and entirely not worth it for such an ungrateful child.” He scowls at the girl.

“What?” Midoriyama, who has only recently been joining them for their meals, mostly due to Madoka’s urging, blinks. “What’s this? I knew that Sugar was the victim in an accident, but you’re telling me she used to be a boy?” she gasps, staring at Madoka.

Kozuke sighs at the back and forth argument between the two, seeming worried. Master Yoshi scowls at Midoriyama now. “It was on a need to know basis… and I myself didn’t find out until half a year ago for sure. I had some doubts as I was performing surgery, but…” He scowls even more deeply. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. You forget your position, Midoriyama,” he growls sternly. “Keep this up and I won’t allow you to join my daughter and I for dinner any longer. You are the help, understand?” He glares at her.

Midoriyama blinks, taken aback. She stands up quickly, her expression firey. “I don’t do it for your sake. I do it for hers.” She points to Madoka, who squirms and bites her lip.

Oh no, what have I done? She really didn’t know? Madoka wrings her hands in anxiety as she watches the two.

“She doesn't need you. I’m her family. You’re just a useless flirty maid who lives to make trouble for me,” Master Yoshi growls.

Midoriyama scowls back at Master Yoshi. “What kind of trouble do you mean? This kind?” She stamps over to him and practically shoves her generous breasts in his face. He holds his hands up to ward her away and looks away.

“Stop that!” he growls. Kozuke stands, seeming at a loss for what to do.

“Master, Midoriyama… please come to your senses,” he protests. Midoriyama chases Master Yoshi into a corner, shaking her breasts at the man, the two yelling back and forth. Finally, Kozuke steps forward and puts a hand in between them. After a moment’s hesitation, Midoriyama steps away. The master immediately gets to his feet, pushing Kozuke’s hands away.

“You’re FIRED, Midoriyama!” he growls. “I expect you to be out of my home this very night.” He glares, stomping out of the dining room.

Madoka watches, her expression awed. “Master, please wait!” Madoka calls after him, too late.

Kozuke sighs, sinking down into a chair, stunned. “Midoriyama… you took it too far this time.” Kozuke shakes his head.

“I just can’t forgive him for what he did to Sugar.” Midoriyama wrings her hands, pacing in circles, and finally stops in front of Kozuke. It is obvious to Madoka and Kozuke that she is regretting her actions a little, but is determined to stick to her guns.

“Can you? How can you just placidly accept it? She’s such a sweet child… I never even suspected it, even though you two had me teaching her things that she should have already known. I had thought this situation was pretty strange, but I had no idea just how bizarre it really was!” She points a finger at Kozuke accusingly who sighs, head in hands.

Madoka sniffles and cries, feeling more helpless than ever in this situation. It’s as though her small happy new family is breaking apart right before her eyes.

“Please don’t go, Midor--Onee-chan… please… I need you,” Madoka sniffles. Midoriyama pauses in her poking of Kozuke’s chest, her attention immediately on Madoka. It is clear that the girl’s forlorn cry wrings at her heart as much as being called Onee-chan by her does.

“Oh, Sugar…” she says softly, soothingly as she caresses the girl’s hair and pulls her against her chest. “Oh, dear… I messed up badly. I’m sorry,” she breathes. “You’re such a good girl.” She squeezes Madoka. Madoka feels hot tears land on her head as the older woman holds her tenderly.

Kozuke stands after a while, his expression resolute. “I will do what I can. Sugar needs you, I think. She has no feminine role models, and while I don’t approve of your unprofessional attitude, I must do something,” he says.

“You just don’t want to have to cook when I leave,” Midoriyama says, her expression slightly teasing, and slightly deadpan.

Kozuke winces, the truth of her words expressed on his face far more eloquently than words could do. “Thank you, Kozy… I don't think it will do much good at this point, but…” Midoriyama smiles gratefully at him, holding the still sniffling girl to her.

Kozuke nods and exits the room, seemingly preparing for battle.

“Master, we must have a discussion about Midoriyama.” He knocks on the door to the master’s bedchambers, which annoyingly are locked tightly at the moment. No reply is forthcoming when Kozuke waits a minute or two.

“Master. Please be reasonable. I know that what Midoriyama did was unconscionable, but we knew how… unorthodox… she was when we hired her on. Her actions notwithstanding, we still very much need her. Madoka needs a mother figure,” Kozuke calls through the door.

“You seem to do a good job of mothering her, Kozuke,” the master finally replies, his tone crabby. “Maybe I should give you a sex change too,” he adds.

Kozuke blinks and laughs. “Oh… your sense of humor is… quite sharp as usual, Master.” Kozuke laughs. “Humor aside, we both know what my cooking is like. I would venture to say that the inconvenience of finding another maid of Midoriyama’s expertise greatly outweighs the inconvenience of keeping her on. The lunch she prepared for Sugar was positively adorable. She put her heart into it,” Kozuke says. Midoriyama had meticulously shaped the rice into a heart shape, and all the other little touches she had added to the lunch had impressed Kozuke. He was sure that he could not come anywhere near the level of mastery that she had displayed in making cute lunches.

“Eh… it’s edible,” Master Yoshi huffs through the door, indicating his unwillingness to cooperate.

“Ahaha… it seems that you have forgotten. Shall I remind you by preparing you a special snack tonight?” Kozuke tries. He didn’t like threatening the Master, but he was getting desperate at this point.

“I’m not hungry anymore. That woman killed my appetite!” Master Yoshi pouts through the door.

Kozuke continues to knock on the door, and attempts what are, in his mind, much weaker arguments for keeping Midoriyama on staff. Finally, Kozuke sighs, head against the door.

Midoriyama, tears in her eyes, pulls a large suitcase through the foyer of the mansion. Madoka watches from her bedroom at the end of the right wing of the house, and finally wheels forward. Her arms and body are exhausted and tears are streaming down her cheeks, but she wheels herself hurriedly forward in a desperate bid to catch Midoriyama and keep her from leaving. Midoriyama pauses a moment, her eyes emotional as she sees the girl frantically and clumsily wheeling towards her. She bites her lip resolutely and exits through the front door, closing it firmly behind her. She hurriedly rolls her suitcase down the path towards the road approaching the house, her expression forced and stiff, even while her heart breaks.

She is resolute, however. She cannot agree with what Master Yoshi has done to Madoka. She cannot support it. In a way, staying at the mansion and aiding him would be like tacitly approving or accepting it. She isn’t sure she can even forgive Kozuke, though she knows he means well and loves the girl dearly. No one cared for her more tenderly while she was comatose than he, and he still continues to tenderly care for her. She hears the door open behind her and the forlorn wail of the girl, but she hesitates only a moment before pressing on, almost in a run down the road leading up to the mansion, to the nearby highway, and the bus stop that awaits. If she hurries, she can make it in time for the last bus of the evening. Otherwise, it would be a long wait through the night… or asking Kozuke for a ride, which she does not want to do.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Seven **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Onus Of His Duties
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

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Aoi waves to the white van as it pulls away up the street from the front of her house. She holds her book bag in her free hand and smiles warmly. Madoka doesn’t ride around in a limousine, but even so, Aoi is still amazed by how well off her new friend seems to be.

“This is like some kind of crazy dream. My new friend is a beautiful rich girl. Is this some type of manga plot?” Aoi laughs, turning towards the gate that leads into her yard. “Madoka even has a butler. A handsome butler.” She blushes as she toys with a strand of her hair and thinks. There is something strange about Madoka. There’s a quality about her that makes me want to protect her. She is extremely adorable. But what is it about her that feels so strange? She frowns, pushes open the aged wooden gate in front of her family home, and steps into her yard.

She walks up the path made up of a series of flat weathered stones of slightly differing colors. There is well trimmed grass to either side of the path in front of the Japanese-style house and plants sitting both in pots and in designated planting areas about the yard. A variety of wildflowers are planted in this mini garden as well, though it’s no longer the season for viewing them. A few hold on here and there, but as it gets further into September, the trees will turn golden or red before their leaves drop in late November or December. Even so, the tail of Summer seems to be holding on for the moment.

Aoi steps up the path and slides open the front door of her home. The smell of cooking dinner immediately assails her and her stomach growls a little, making her blush. She steps inside and closes the door behind her, turning to remove her shoes and then placing them neatly in the shoe rack that her family has had for ages. They always keep their shoes in the same places out of habit. She steps up out of the genkan and slips her feet into her house slippers. She slides open the inner door and calls out the ritual phrase: “I’m home!”

A woman’s face pokes out from the nearby kitchen as Aoi walks inside across the dark stained wood floor. “Welcome home, Aoi! How was your first day of the new semester?” She smiles, walking out the kitchen. Aoi’s mother is a woman in her mid-thirties with mid-length reddish-brown hair and the same light-blue eyes that Aoi has.

“It was fun, Mom.” Aoi smiles, stretching. “I made a funny new friend today.” she says. “A new girl who started the year a little late due to an accident,” she says.

“An accident? What happened?” Aoi’s mother’s eyes widen slightly.

“I don’t know.” Aoi frowns. “She didn’t want to talk about it. But it was bad enough that she’s in a wheelchair,” she says. Aoi’s mother gasps, putting a hand to her mouth.

“Oh dear… is she alright? I suppose she must be if she’s going to school,” her mother comments.

Aoi nods and smiles. “She’s alright. She seems a little anemic though. She gets tired quickly. Honestly, she’s the cutest little thing.” Aoi laughs.

Her mother smiles. “Oh? Are you taking in another stray, Aoi?” She chuckles.

“She’s a person, Mom,” Aoi chides her mother, frowning.

“I know, dear. But you always had a habit of taking care of strays. It doesn’t surprise me that this girl interests you.” Her mother smiles knowingly.

Aoi blushes. “It’s not like that. She’s a genuinely cute and interesting person.”

“I look forward to meeting her sometime.” Aoi’s mother smiles. “Dinner is Cream Stew.” She winks and steps back into the kitchen. Aoi smiles brightly. She knew she recognized the rich chicken-y smells that are wafting from the kitchen. She hums a little as she makes her way through the corridor towards the back of the house. The corridor branches to the left or right and is open air from this point. The storm panels are open as they are usually on warm days, affording a view of the back garden, which is really just a continuation of the small garden surrounding the house. A stone lantern, a goldfish pond, shrubbery, artfully placed stepping stones in shades of gray and white, trees, and flowers are some of the main features of it.

Aoi walks past the door that opens into the garden, which is also left ajar this time of day. She comes to her room at the end of this hall and slides the door open and closed behind her as she steps onto the softer tatami mat inside. Aoi’s family home is a mixture of Western and traditional styles. The overall style is traditional, but rooms like Aoi’s have beds, though the family keeps traditional futons for houseguests that are aired regularly. Aoi has a bookcase full of manga, light novels, and study materials, and a desk with a small lamp. There are pictures on the walls of cute characters, flowers, one poster of a bishounen wielding a sword from an anime series that Aoi enjoys. By her bed, a wooden practice sword rests against the wall, between the bedstand and bed. Her bedding itself is a pastel green with cute characters on it. In the corner is a low wooden table with assorted cute cushions in light colors around it.

Aoi sets her book bag down on her desk and pulls on the nearby cord to turn on her overhead light. It flickers and turns on after a moment. Aoi slides open her closet door and starts undressing. She wriggles out of her plaid pink skirt, taking care to step out of it and set it on her desk. She unties her krevat and pulls it free from the collar of her uniform jacket and sets that aside as well. She unbuttons her uniform jacket and then her undershirt, smiling at the feel of cool air on her skin as she sets these aside. She slips out of her slippers and pulls out her desk chair and pulls off her socks, crossing her legs easily as she works on each foot.

Now nude except for her underwear, she stands again and crouches in front of the closet, pulling open a drawer inside to select some more comfortable clothes. She selects a soft pair of shorts and a loose tee. She feels the woven mat of the tatami under her toes as she balances. She closes the drawer and straightens, lifting her legs one at a time to step into the shorts and then pull them up snugly. She pulls the tee over her head. She turns to a nearby mirror and lifts a brush that she keeps on her desk and runs it several times through her hair.

Her room isn’t enormous by Western standards, though there is room to sit at the desk, do exercise in the center of the room, and have a couple of guests sit with her at her table. For the moment there isn’t anything to study or any homework, though that would change fairly soon. Aoi still pulls out one of the schoolbooks she had taken home with her in her book bag as well as her notepad and starts paging through it, taking notes occasionally. She loses track of time and soon her mother knocks on her door.

“Aoi-chan… it’s time to eat!” she calls out, not invading Aoi’s privacy by opening the door, thankfully. “Okay, thanks!” Aoi calls out in return and finishes up for another two minutes, before finally sitting back and stretching. Through a nearby window, Aoi can see that the sun is down already. She puts her book and notepad away in her book bag and then stands, sliding the door open and walking out. She leaves the door open as she walks barefoot down the hallway. The storm panels have been closed for the night, though Aoi can still see the moonlit garden through the windows in them as she walks through the hallway, turns left and enters a room on the right.

The table is already set. Her father, a still young looking man with dark brown hair in his late thirties is already kneeling in seiza-style on a cushion at the head of the table, reading. He lowers his book and sets it aside as he hears Aoi enter and smiles at her when she seats herself at her usual place.

“Aoi. Did you have a pleasant day?” he inquires. Aoi smiles and nods as her mother comes in carrying a large container full of Cream Stew. The aroma of the cooked meat and vegetables elicits another loud growl from Aoi’s stomach.

“I did, father.” Aoi says, distractedly as her mother sets the container down and takes her position by the rice cooker. Her mother smiles.

“Aoi-chan made a new friend today, Toshiro.” Aoi’s mother beams at her husband.

“Oh?” he asks, looking at Aoi, who blushes and nods.

“Yes. I’ll ask her over sometime. But she’s in a wheelchair… so it might be a little hard for her to get through our house." Aoi thinks of the narrow hallways and Madoka’s chair. It might be a little too hard to manage.

“Oh… I can see the problem.” Toshiro rubs his chin thoughtfully.

“Oh, dear…” Aoi’s mother shakes her head with a sigh as she starts preparing bowls of rice for her family and distributing them. Aoi accepts hers with a smile for her mother.

Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of the front door sliding open. They all look at each other, and Aoi’s mother pauses while ladling a bowl full of Cream Stew. “Who could that be?”

Kozuke awakens with a start. He blinks and rubs sleep out of his eyes and looks down at the canopy bed and its occupant. He stands up, stretching, and works the kinks out of his neck and back. “Old habits die hard I suppose, Sugar.” He sighs.

Well, those habits had seemed to be dead ever since the girl he seemed to spend every waking moment thinking of and caring for had finally awoken from her coma. He had oftentimes fallen asleep in this chair while keeping the girl company after the master had gone to sleep. He had never slept very well doing it then and he hasn’t this time either, but that wasn’t, and still isn’t what matters.

After Midoriyama’s unanticipated and regrettable departure from the mansion the previous evening, Madoka had been oddly despondent. Losing even someone she had been nominally attached to had hit her very hard.

“I can’t blame you. Everyone you cared for had already disappeared,” he murmurs softly so as not to disturb her sleep, despite the fact that it is… He glances at his watch and nods, confirming his sense of time. It is a little over an hour before Madoka will have to wake up for school. Kozuke considers the idea of not waking her up. Surely she will sleep in, given how much she seemed to be crying uncontrollably.

It is hard to believe that the girl had actually been a boy in the past, particularly after he had comforted and held her until she finally fell asleep last night. He is tempted by the idea of letting her sleep, but dismisses the idea, deciding that it would likely be better for her to spend time with her new friends that she has made.

It seems likely to him that they would have a major part to play in healing Madoka’s wounded heart… and not simply due to this most recent loss. Kozuke gently pats her head and steps away, briskly. His back twinges and he winces a little, but he has duties, and there is no one else to complete them.

He quietly exits the room and steps briskly down the hallway towards the far wing. He tries the doorknob again and finds that it is still locked. He contemplates knocking loudly to wake the master, but finally shrugs. He probably hasn’t had a good night either. The old man isn’t as heartless as he pretends to be, Kozuke is sure.

Kozuke steps away briskly and down the hall again to the dining room. He passes through it into the kitchen and flips the light switch. This is not a normal part of his duties. By now Midoriyama would be awake and the two might share a cup of morning tea before they each get on with their duties, but with Midoriyama gone, Kozuke must prioritize Midoriyama’s duties over his own.

The problem is, as he stated the previous night in jest to the master, his cooking is not good. Most of what he can cook is essentially limited to what most young to middle aged bachelors can cook. He sighs, rubbing his temples for a moment and then starts. The first place to start was rice. Any fool could use a rice maker. They come with measuring cups and markers on their inner pots for water and rice levels.

Kozuke pops open the rice maker lid and measures out several cups worth of rice. He deposits that rice into the pot in the rice cooker, and then carries the pot over to the sink, where he briefly whisks the rice through water several times. He drains the rice each time, and then when finished, fills the pot to the line indicating two cups worth of water, and then carries the pot over to the rice maker, depositing the pot inside, popping it closed, and finally pressing the start button, with aplomb.

“Well, there is breakfast.” Kozuke smiles wryly. “Except that it isn’t. The master should be aware of my limited capabilities where food is concerned, but even he will complain with only rice offered for breakfast.” He frowns, puzzling over the problem.

Finally, he smiles. “Perhaps an omelette. I’ve seen Midoriyama cook them, perhaps it won’t be so difficult.”

He steps to the refrigerator and chooses out four large eggs. He carries them over to the counter and fetches a mixing bowl and a whisk. He breaks the eggs a little clumsily, opening them and dropping their golden contents into the bowl one at a time. A bit of shell drops in from one of the eggs, so he must fish it out with a fork, chasing it around the bowl with a frown until he’s able to pin it down and lift it out. He almost loses that bit of shell to his frustration as the egg itself does not seem to want to let go of it.

Kozuke plucks the shell off with his fingers before it can fall, and flicks it into the sink, turning his attention to the bowl. He studies it for a moment, trying to remember all the ingredients that Midoriyama had added. Finally, he gathers up soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, and sake from various shelves in the kitchen. He pours small amounts of each of the liquids into the eggs, and then measures small spoons of the sugar and salt, and drops those in. What were the ratios supposed to be for four eggs? He frowns and sighs, and starts whipping the eggs with the whisk.

He removes an iron pan from a cabinet and begins heating it on the stove. After a moment he pours a little cooking oil from the cabinet in and goes to the refrigerator, getting a stick of butter. He slices a portion of the stick off and drops it into the pan, watching as it melts quickly and blends with the other cooking oil. He pours the egg mixture into the pan and he distributes a layer into the pan as he has seen Midoriyama do it.

He waits for the egg to cook, making sure there is egg to completely layer the bottom of the pan. When it seems almost done, he attempts to flip the egg over to roll it with cooking chopsticks. He frowns, finding that the texture of the egg seems to disintegrate when he applies pressure to it. He tries several more times, worried that the egg with cook too much or even burn. Finally, unable to lever the egg over he sighs and mixes the egg up. Scrambled eggs would have to do for Madoka’s lunch.

He pours the remainder of the mixture in and stirs it with the chopsticks. He was sad that he could not make a fluffy omelette for Madoka’s lunches. He would have to either learn it, or the master would have to hire another helper. The master might prove to be stubborn, however. It took Kozuke a while to convince him that another helper was needed. He expects that has many days of extra work ahead of him if he can’t manage to convince Midoriyama to return.

He blinks as the melody of the rice cooker goes off, indicating that his rice is complete. He pops the lid on the rice maker and fetches Madoka’s bento box. He opens it, and spoons rice into the center. When he finishes spooning the steaming rice, he pauses and as Midoriyama had done, he uses the paddle to shape it into a heart. Once that is done, he pours the eggs into the empty side to the left of the rice, leaving the right for other things.

He closes the lid for the rice cooker and then grabs the teapot up and takes it to the sink to fill it up for tea. He carries it back once full to the stove and turns on the burner. He looks back to the bento, and frowns. What else should I do? He smiles suddenly, thinking of a visit to a maid cafe when he was younger. He fetches a bottle of ketchup and carefully begins drawing on the scrambled egg. It didn’t look at all like he had hoped. He finds that his words, “Do Your Best” are barely legible, not so much due to his handwriting so much as the canvas that he had to work with.

Kozuke sets the ketchup aside and after further consideration, he heats a pan up again and fetches a salmon fillet from the refrigerator. He unwraps it, oils it, drops it into the pan, and cooks it, managing this somewhat better than he had the omelette attempt. He damages the meat as he turns it, and overcooks it a little bit, but he deposits the filet into the free side of the bento.

He finishes the lunch with assorted vegetables and slices of a Mikan orange. After consideration, he draws a smiley face onto the salmon fillet with the ketchup. Perhaps this would be easier to interpret. He chuckles a little and closes the bento, setting it aside. He measures tea leaves into a basket, closes it and drops it into the pot. He waits for the appropriate length of time and removes the tea leaves. Afterwards he fills Madoka’s thermos with tea, and saves the remainder for breakfast.

Kozuke wraps the bento box with one of his own handkerchiefs. While not being cute, it at least would give it his personal touch. With Madoka’s lunch taken care of he must consider breakfast still, and after what he had already produced, he finds that he is somewhat tapped out for ideas for breakfast. He studies the stove for a moment and his eyes fall on the bowl in which he had whisked his eggs. He looks at the rice and grins. He knew what he would do, and what was more, it might just shock the stubborn old master into deciding to have Kozuke attempt to rehire Midoriyama… or at the very least a suitable replacement maid.

Madoka wakes up that morning shortly after Kozuke has left the room, though she is unaware of it. She sighs. Her eyes feel horrible. They burn and her head aches, and the ache in her stomach seems more pronounced than yesterday. She sighs, realizing that this is just day two of her period. She might have three to four more days, and it might get worse before it gets better.

Despite her extra weariness this morning, she has an easier time sitting up and levering herself to the edge of the bed. She looks around and sees that the chair is in range of her foot. She reaches out and levers it awkwardly, hooking it with her toes.

“I’m determined to do something by myself today at least,” she complains under her breath. She finally manages to inch the chair closer and finally pull it. She leans against it with a frustrated sigh, and then after a moment to regain her energy, she locks the brakes on it and then pulls herself up into it, her teeth gritted. It takes a while and a supreme effort, but she feels her backside clear the edge of the seat and she is able to lever herself into it. She stops and pants as though she has run a mile uphill. She is sweating already.

She just sits for a moment and then with an exhalation, she starts wheeling herself into the bathroom, forgetting at first to disengage the brakes. She grouches slightly at the lack of forward motion but then unclips them and moves forward. It doesn’t take long to move into the bathroom. She studies the bath, deciding that she really wants one.

She briefly considers trying to call Kozuke, but decides against it. Kozuke has a lot more to worry about right now. She can’t trouble him any more than is necessary. She turns on the water faucet and checks the water temperature, somewhat awkwardly leaning forward out of her chair to do so. When the temperature feels right she searches for the plug. Not seeing a physical plug she spies a switch and flips it.

Like magic the bathtub starts to fill. She smiles an accomplished smile and starts to consider how she will lever herself into the tub. She yawns and tugs her pajama top off easily, baring her breasts. They are small but well developed. She studies them for a moment as she has once in a while, still amazed at the fact that she has them. She idly scratches an itchy spot on the right nipple before focusing on her pajama bottoms.

“I think I will wear a nightshirt next time.” she grunts as she wriggles them off. Finally, she forces herself to her feet, leaning against the bathtub, and lets them fall down, baring her pantied bottom. She wiggles out of those, too, letting them also fall down, and looks into the water. It looks really nice and inviting. She feels her legs tremble a little as she turns off the water faucet. She takes a deep breath, studying the water. It doesn’t seem too deep to her. It wouldn’t be a good idea to drop into a bath and drown because she doesn’t have the strength to avoid it.

She feels confident, however, that she can definitely sit up under her own power. Her upper body strength is improving quite a bit even if her lower body strength is poor yet. She wonders idly if the accident has done something to her to keep her from ever walking again. She shakes her head, forcing those thoughts away as she drops into the tub with a squeal. She splashes and makes a general mess of it, but she is able to position herself and, finally, lean back with a sigh.

The best part is that she is truly alone at the moment. Kozy has been always so nervous about leaving her unattended in the bathtub, and it embarrasses her that she has no secrets from him. He really has started to become like a father or mother… or maybe a doting older brother? Being an only child she has never known what it would be like to have a sibling, but her mother had been doting for a while. Kozy is like that. It’s touching and sweet. Does familial love apply to people outside your family? she wonders.

She sighs and puts it out of her mind until she’s reminded by a nagging sensation between her legs. She remembers that she must wear tampons now, and as annoying as that fact is, she must change them several times a day. Otherwise, she will have problems, as Midoriyama told her. Madoka feels her heart wrench as she thinks about Midoriyama again, so she shies away from those thoughts as she does what she must do. She reaches down and tugs at the string and slowly levers it out. It comes out easily, and she drops it over the edge of the bathtub. Her nose wrinkles at the scent and her stomach seems to clench in response, but she puts it out of her mind forcibly and just soaks.

After a while, Kozuke enters the bathroom with his characteristic smile on his face. Madoka studies him, noting with concern that he looks worn down.

“Good morning, Sugar.” He studies her for a moment, and shakes his head. “Congratulations on managing to finally take a bath on your own.” He smiles wryly, reaching out to one of the canisters of scented bath salts and sprinkling some liberally into the bathwater. “Do I need to tell you how foolish it was to do it?” he asks her, looking down at her. Madoka blushes and smiles.

“No. You know how I feel though, Kozy. I need…” She trails off with a sigh. Kozuke nods understandingly.

“I know, Sugar. It is very hard not to be impatient in your situation.” He studies her a moment and smiles. “You seem to be doing well this morning?”

“Yes. I feel a little better.” Madoka nods. “I’m sorry for last night, Kozy.” She blushes and looks down at the bathwater, unable to maintain eye contact.

“It’s alright, Sugar. I am here for you. Never feel like you cannot talk to me or rely on me, please,” he murmurs, and Madoka nods in response, forcing a smile.

Kozuke helps her to finish her bath quickly, dry off, and dress in her uniform. He leaves the room while Madoka puts the finishing touches on her hair. She then moves back into the bathroom to carefully insert a fresh tampon, not having wanted to do it in front of Kozuke. She puts several spares into her book bag after wheeling back out and zips it closed, putting the bag in her lap.

She wheels out of the room, turning the light off as she passes. She heads down the hall and right into the dining room. Madoka notices the master already seated at the table, looking a little worn like Kozuke had, but his body language communicates stubbornness to Madoka. She studies him, but doesn’t say anything as she wheels up to the table.

Finally, he breaks the silence. “Morning,” he grunts.

Madoka looks down. “Morning,” she murmurs.

The silence stretches out unbroken until Kozuke brings in the service trolley. He stops at the table and pours a cup of tea first for the Master, placing it in front of Master Yoshi. He lifts the cup immediately and sips with a sigh. He frowns but continues to not speak. Kozuke pours another cup for Madoka and sets it before her. Madoka smiles at Kozuke. “Thank you,” she murmurs.

Kozuke nods and smiles at her before preparing two bowls of rice from the rice cooker sitting on the service tray. He sets one in front of Master Yoshi and the other in front of Madoka. Afterwards, Kozuke lifts something from the service tray and hits it against the table. He holds the object over Master Yoshi’s rice and Madoka giggles when she sees the raw egg plop down on the top of Master Yoshi’s rice. Master Yoshi goggles at it and looks at Kozuke.

“Bon Appetit.” Kozuke smiles at Master Yoshi.

“Egg Rice? Are you serious? What am I, a poor college student?” he complains. Madoka covers her mouth and stifles further giggles as Kozuke does the same with her own bowl of rice.

“I know you’re bad at this Kozuke, but could you at least put a modicum of effort into it?” Master Yoshi growls, staring down at his egg, which was starting to cook very slightly from the contact with the steaming rice.

“You might want to stir it soon, Master. It will get lumpy,” Kozuke suggests. “You do know that I am bad at this as you say, and it is safe to say that you did not hire me for my cooking skills. That is what we hired Midoriyama for, is it not?” He looks down at Master Yoshi as he grumbles and starts using his chopsticks to burst the yolk and stir the egg into the rice. Kozuke sets a soy sauce dispenser down onto the table. He places a dispenser of mirin down next to it.

Madoka eagerly follows Master Yoshi’s example, stirring hers with her chopsticks and watching as the glistening egg mixes with the rice and cooks in its heat. The two pour soy sauce and mirin into their bowls to taste and start in on the food with differing levels of enthusiasm.

“Shall I allocate some time to tracking down Midoriyama today, Master? Now that some time has passed and you’ve had a night to cool off, perhaps you’ve reconsidered your position on firing her?” Kozuke inquires, keeping his voice neutral. Madoka listens carefully as she eats her rice. She has had Egg Rice once in a while and looks at it as a treat.

“I…” Master Yoshi trails off, grumbling under his breath. “I suppose we should think about hiring someone after all,” he grunts. “Put out an ad for help wanted. If you can convince that woman to come back and beg for her job back, I might consider re-hiring her, but not before the month is out. She needs some time to consider her foolish actions,” he growls as he shovels food in.

Kozuke’s eyes widen slightly. “A month, Master? That is a little excessive. Personality issues aside, how long do you think it will take a talented young woman such as she to find a replacement job? Surely she will not wait that long without taking another job,” Kozuke murmurs, resisting the urge to groan.

“Let that woman enjoy working at a local fast food chain for a month. Someone with her personality will end up either doing that or working as a hostess at a club in Tokyo. It’s not that far as commutes go after all.” Master Yoshi shrugs. “She’ll be fine. And perhaps the experience will mellow her out.” He smirks, grinning broadly.

Madoka’s enjoyment of her meal is cut short by this line of conversation. Half finished, Madoka turns her gaze to Master Yoshi, and her anger flares. “How can you be so cruel? How can you let your family suffer so much? For the last month all four of us have become something of a family. How could you turn her out like that? Family doesn’t treat each other like that!” Madoka protests, slapping her chopsticks down.

Master Yoshi blinks and then glares at the girl. “She’s not my family. She may have acted like it with her antics, but I recall legally adopting only one troublesome and big mouthed girl,” he harrumphs.

“Troublesome? If I’m so troublesome why did you bother? If I defy you will you throw me out as well?” Madoka stands, glaring. Her knees wobble immediately but she locks them and ignores the weakness and discomfort.

“Why did I bother?” The master stands and glowers at Madoka. “I explained it many times already. You aren’t an idiot, girl,” he growls, seeming happy to have something to focus his dissatisfaction on.

Kozuke steps between the two, holding his hands up. “Master, I don’t think we need a repeat of last night’s debacle, do we?” he asks, his expression sharper than usual perhaps.

The Master looks into his eyes, his own eyes narrowing. Finally, he nods. “You have the right of it, Kozuke. I won’t let my anger get the better of me.” He looks at Madoka.

“I know that you don’t like the decision I made last night, and I don’t much care whether or not you do. It is my house and my rules, and I keep whatever staff I feel is doing a good job, and fire those that I feel are not. It is none of your business. I understand that you have emotional needs, and I am sorry about that. I will schedule a visit from your therapist.” He looks down at his mostly finished breakfast and then exits the room.

Madoka watches him go, her eyes still angry. Kozuke looks at her and reaches out and gently squeezes her shoulder. Finally, Madoka lets herself collapse back into her chair. Her knees and leg muscles burn.

“If you can stand for so long with support, perhaps we should get you to do so once in a while. Consider doing it at school once in a while, but take care with it,” Kozuke says.

Madoka nods, unable to smile. She is too frustrated and angry with the master. Tears of frustration well up in the corners of her eyes. Kozuke gently pats the girl’s hair soothingly. “Do not worry. I will do what I can to find Midoriyama. If I cannot, I cannot. I still firmly believe that all things aside, she has been a good influence on you.” He sighs and smiles. “Finish up your breakfast. We are a little short on time now,” Kozuke says.

Madoka nods, forcing a smile. Kozy always makes her feel at ease. She turns her attention back to her egg rice and finishes it in perhaps not the most ladylike fashion, but certainly efficiently.

The two make their way in the white van back down the twisty and narrow mountain road to the town. In moments, Madoka is once again being loaded up in her wheelchair. This time her friends are waiting for her at the gate, and run up to her with a smile. Aoi and Kanna look just as immaculate as they had the first day of the semester, though Aoi seems a little tired around the eyes.

They grin at her and wave. “Good morning!” Kanna says.

“Good morning, Kanna-chan!” Madoka smiles, happy to see her new friends. She would never have imagined that she would feel this way about two girls, especially after only knowing them for just one day.

“You look awful… no offense,” Aoi says, noticing the dark circles around Madoka’s eyes. It is clear to her that something serious must have happened to her friend in the short period of time since she had last seen her. “Are you alright, Madoka-chan?” Aoi asks.

Kanna blinks and nods, her eyes narrowing as though she had just noticed. Madoka laughs a little anxiously. The two stand aside while he finishes helping Madoka to transfer into the chair’s seat.

“Good morning, girls,” Kozuke says, smiling at the two girls as he straightens. He winces slightly but covers the wince with a bigger smile. “Please take care of Madoka again for me today,” he asks them politely.

They both nod, Aoi still blushing slightly as Kozuke looks into her eyes. Kanna eyes her friend’s reaction and hides a grin behind her hand. “Of course, Kozuke-san!” Aoi smiles. Kozuke nods in response and bows to the girls.

“Excellent. I need to be on my way then, girls. I shall see you later this evening.” He waves and turns to walk back around to the driver’s side of the van. The girls watch him go as he pulls away, and Aoi smiles down at Madoka.

“I look bad?” Madoka says after a moment. “You’re looking tired too, Aoi-chan,” Madoka comments, noticing the tiredness in her friend’s body language.

Aoi smiles and shakes her head. “I’m fine. I stayed up a little late last night. A family member visited late and has decided to crash with us for a little while.” She shrugs. “Anyhow, let’s hurry up,” she urges her friends as she starts pushing Madoka’s chair automatically for her. Madoka looks back at her friend with a concerned expression, but decides to just let her friend wheel her. She feels so much more exhausted today than yesterday. There is a lot on her mind.

“My tired isn’t important,” Aoi says as she wheels Madoka past the statue in the center of the schoolyard towards the front doors. “You really do look exhausted. What happened?” she presses.

“What? Oh… I…” Madoka blinks, having allowed herself to slip into autopilot. “Oh, last night was pretty bad for me. The one who made my lunch yesterday… a maid that I really liked was fired by that crabby master.” She scowls. The two look at each other and Kanna whistles. “First a hottie butler, and now a maid? What are you, a rich young lady?” she asks experimentally.

Madoka blinks and laughs. “Me? Oh, no… I just live there,” Madoka says. Kanna opens the door and Aoi wheels Madoka inside towards the ramp up to the shoe lockers.

“Just live there? I would say that if you live there you must be the young lady of the house.” Kanna persists. “What are you to this master? Do you know? Surely he isn’t thinking about marrying you?” Kanna says, suddenly sounding a little scandalized. Aoi blinks in surprise as she looks at Kanna.

Madoka’s eyes widen and she shivers. That old man? That is impossible, she thinks. “No… I seriously doubt it. He said he had adopted me legally. I don’t think that even he would do something that awful… and besides, I…” She trails off, managing to stop herself from completing that line of thought. Besides, I’m a guy. That would have sounded utterly ridiculous. How much of a guy is she at this point? Not very much anymore, that is for certain. She glares at the floor. Aoi notices her glare and leans over to give Madoka a tight hug from behind that makes Madoka smile a little again.

Kanna notices her glare as well and smiles wryly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be gross. I just wondered. Seriously, though… if you were adopted by him you are the young lady of the house. What is the house like, by the way?” Kanna asks.

“Kanna…” Aoi had come to a stop in front of Madoka’s shoe locker after having woven through the crowd of students coming and going. “You’re going too far.”

Kanna sticks her tongue out slightly, and Madoka opens her locker, fetching out her school shoes, and quickly changing her shoes.

“Well…” Madoka blushes. “Um… it’s… it’s kind of a… mansion…” Madoka mumbles, feeling embarrassed.

“A mansion?” Kanna’s ears seem to perk up. “What kind of a mansion?” she asks, fascinated. Aoi starts wheeling her away from the shoe lockers and the three make their way to the handicap elevator.

“Um… the Western kind.” She blushes. “I don’t really want to talk about it.” She feels morbidly embarrassed, as though she is intentionally showing off or bragging by just talking about it. She does not want to seem that way and she still isn’t perfectly happy with her situation. Kanna seems to pick up on her reluctance as they reach the elevator, and smiles.

“It sounds amazing. I hope we can see it someday.” She winks at Madoka.

Madoka swipes her card on the electronic reader and looks at Kanna with a smile. “Of course. I can’t speak for how polite the master would be towards my guests, but I don’t really care as long as Kozy’s okay with the idea.” She smiles as Aoi wheels her into the elevator. Madoka turns and presses the second floor button.

“Looking forward to it then, Madoka-chan.” Kanna grins. As the door closes, Aoi punches Kanna in the arm.

“Ow!” Kanna complains.

The three get to class just in time again. Ren-sensei smiles wryly at the three, but this time doesn’t say anything as the homeroom chime goes off. Aoi wheels Madoka to her seat and Kanna and Aoi sit down hurriedly as the class begins.

“Alright, class. We really need to pull together and make a decision about the fair today. Start throwing ideas around, and I’d appreciate it if you would step up more this morning, Sugawara-kun,” Ren-sensei notes. Half the class laugh.

“Of course, Sensei.” Eiji stands and walks to the head of the class and turns towards everyone. “Alright, so let’s get started with this. I’ve heard some ideas so far, let’s go over them again,” he says.

“Like, a fifties American-style diner!” a girl calls out.

“I think it should be a haunted house!” a boy speaks out..

“A Western saloon with cowboys, Indians, and sexy bar ladies!” another guy chimes in. That one receives more than a few laughs and shouts of agreement.

One of the more muscular boys stands up and grins. “Let’s do a paintball thing.”

“How?” Eiji asks, his eyebrows lifting and an incredulous expression on his face.

“Yeah… like, what if we just open fire on our customers with paint guns? That like sounds like such a great way to get people to spend money at our stall. Ruining their clothes and all,” the girl who had recommended a fifties diner scoffs.

“I didn’t mean that.” The guy looks at her with an annoyed expression. “I mean us. We do a betting thing where people put bets on whoever is going to win of everyone in the class that wants to participate.” The guy grins.

“You’re just a paintball addict,” the girl replies sourly.

“Where would we do it? Any place on school grounds would end up a horrible mess after that. Not to mention where would we get all the equipment?” Ippei speaks up, adjusting his glasses.

“It sounds like a fun idea… but how legal is that? Betting?” Eiji chuckles.

“I think it’s not going to work out.” Ippei shakes his head. “Let’s focus on a cafe type idea. I’ll help out with the cooking,” he says.

“Ooh… Shadow Pres’ cooking.” One of the girls of the class grins. “Can you really cook too?”

The classroom talks animatedly for a moment before Eiji lifts his hands. “Let’s keep up this line of thought. Any more ideas? We have a Saloon and a fifties America cafe idea.” He nudges everyone.

“We also have a classic maid cafe. What’s more popular than that?” another guy speaks up. “I want to see the new girl in costume.” He grins. Several of the other students cheer at that, and Madoka looks around, blushing, eyes wide.

“But I…” Madoka protests.

“Oh… you’d look totally adorable!” Kanna grins at Madoka, interrupting her protestations. “If we’re all dressing up I don’t see why we shouldn’t take advantage of the assets of one of the prettiest girls in class.” Kanna winks. There are several cheers in response to that.

“Cosplay cafe then! Why not make it even more moe,” a guy shouts. The class erupts into laughter, and even Eiji seems swept up in the excitement.

“Class! Have we made a decision then?” Ren-sensei finally steps up. “We have ten minutes left to start serious planning.” He firmly attempts to redirect the conversation.

“Oh… yes… well… I think we agreed on a cafe. Since everyone has their ideas about what type of cafe we should have, why don’t we just keep it simple and do a cosplay cafe? Everyone serving can dress up.” Eiji smiles.

Ippei stands up again. “Let’s divide the class up into three teams. Cooking, Waiting, and Costuming plus Promotion (these last two being combined into one team). I will lead the cooking team. You can lead the waiting team, useless pres, and I think Tsukimi-san should head the last group. You were interested in costuming weren’t you?” He turns his attention to Kanna who blushes and grins.

“Yeah, I’ll do it, Shadow Pres. No problem.” She smiles.

The class breaks up into three groups. “I don’t see why I have to be on the waiting team!” Madoka protests. “I can’t carry much!” she lies. She can probably manage something with a tray across her lap, she has to admit to herself.

“You have to, Madoka-chan. Those looks weren’t meant for hiding yourself away. Can you sew?” Kanna asks.

Madoka hesitates and droops a little. “Um… no… I can’t…” she says in a small voice.

“I thought so. You’re too much of a cute lady. You’re so adorable.” She grins at Madoka.

“Stop picking on Madoka.” Aoi scowls at Kanna and Kanna just giggles.

“I want to go as an Oni,” Madoka hears the guy who had floated the Haunted House idea say.

“An Oni waiter? That sounds interesting.” Someone laughs. “I’ll be a witch then!”

“I think Wada-san should be Momotaro,” Eiji suggests, grinning at Aoi. “You like Kendo, right?”

“Oooh yeah! I could work that!” Kanna smiles, looking Aoi over, who blushes.

“Don’t pick on me either!” Aoi laughs. "You're going as a maid too. You aren't getting off easy by getting to go as a butler." Aoi grins.

“Madoka simply must be a maid. A French maid,” Kanna says, studying Madoka with a wicked grin. "And I think a matching cute outfit for useless Pres.”

“Whaaa….” Madoka and Eiji both complain in unison, blushing.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Eight **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Burden Of His Suspicions
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

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“So now that that matter is settled,” Kanna grins.

“It’s not settled!” Madoka and Eiji interrupt her with equally embarrassed and annoyed expressions. Their expressions are surprisingly and amusingly similar.

“Now that that matter is settled,” Kanna continues. “I need people who have costume requests to start collecting what they can or buying what they can and bring it in as soon as possible. Tomorrow, preferably.” She looks at Madoka and winks. “Don’t worry about yours though, Madoka-chan, and yours, Useless Pres. I have plenty of material.” She giggles.

“I’m not wearing it.” Eiji scowls. He looks at Madoka and grins suddenly himself. “Maybe your butler friend has an extra tuxedo I could borrow? Don’t you think I would look handsome in one?”

“It’s called a tailcoat, idiot,” Kanna corrects him with a smile. “And request denied.”

“I didn’t ask you, Tsukimi!” Eiji scowls.

Madoka giggles. “Request denied. If I have to wear it, you do too.” Seeing another boy in the costume would at least help her to feel better about it. Not that she was one any longer. No amount of depressed introspection would change that reality.

“So start naming off what you want to be and I’ll write it down. I will discuss your costumes with you each individually,” Kanna says, pulling out a notepad shaped like an ice cream sundae from her handbag. She starts taking down notes quickly as students around her one at a time re-state what they want to dress up as.

Madoka loses interest midway and turns her attention to the Shadow Pres’ group of students. The cooking team.

“... cake and ice cream of course,” she hears someone say.

“I think we should do crepes too. Crepes are super popular, and I have an electric crepe maker,” a girl enthuses.

“Cake is a lot of work. Is anyone a good baker? Maybe we should order cakes from a shop and resell them?” another girl suggests.

“Shadow Pres can bake,” someone offers.

All the talk of cake makes Madoka’s stomach rumble a little, even though it still feels tender. She eyes her lunch box and resists the urge to snack early.

The conversations are interrupted by the first period chime.

“Awwwwww….”

The sounds of complaints and mild frustration are audible all around as desks are pulled back into their normal places.

“Well done, everyone. I’m very pleased with the progress we made this morning. Good job, Sugawara-kun.” Ren-sensei smiles. The door slides open and Nakagawa-sensei grumps his way into the room, bowing to Ren-sensei slightly. Ren-sensei bows slightly to him on his way out. “Keep those thoughts churning today, class. We have a lot more pre-planning to do tonight. Tomorrow we will start putting together the things needed for the cafe as well. We have eight days. Do your best, everyone!”

The day passes slowly, and Madoka finds herself starting out the window more often than not, but finally lunch period comes and everyone breaks up into their usual groups, Kanna walking over and seating herself in the windowsill as usual while Aoi pulls her desk closer to Madoka’s. Aoi rubs her eyes tiredly before pulling her bento out and popping it open. It was far less extravagant yesterday. As Madoka studies it, unable to resist doing so, she smiles.

“I guess my lunch yesterday made you want to put together a cute lunch too,” she giggles.

Kanna looks over at it and grins. “Oooh. Curse you two and your designer lunches,” she complains, reaching out with her chopsticks to pluck free an octopus sausage. Aoi smiles wryly.

“I don’t mind them. I’m fine with combini bento. My aunt is staying with us temporarily while she looks for an apartment and a job.” She shrugs and smiles. “She’s super girly.”

“Oooh… you should get her to teach you a few things about the fine art of womanhood.” Kanna grins. “You’re too boyish, you know. The only thing you take seriously is Kendo. I’ve tried to impress some of my feminine charm on you but...” She cuts off when one of Aoi’s chopsticks is leveled at her, the point touching the bridge of her nose between her eyes faster than her eyes can track it.

Madoka blinks. Aoi looks kind of silly wielding a chopstick like a sword, but there is a certain fierce dignity about Aoi that makes the move more cool than anything else. Somehow Aoi had managed to leave her desk during Kanna’s speech and was standing in front of Kanna now, pinning her up against the window by chopstick point.

“Um... okay… I get it, Aoi-chi…” Kanna laughs nervously.

“I’m glad you do,” Aoi says quietly, and with a mocking grin she lowers her chopstick and stabs a strawberry in the lunch box in Kanna’s lap. She walks back to her desk with a smirk and pops the strawberry into her mouth.

“Ohhhh… I have to learn that,” Madoka enthuses. “I’ll join the Kendo club.”

Aoi pauses as she sits down and grins. “Great! I’m glad to hear it! Looking forward to having you, Madoka-chan! It’ll help you build your strength up. A little extra exercise won’t hurt, though you’re looking a little tired. Are you sure you aren’t pushing yourself too hard?” she asks.

“I’m alright.” Madoka smiles warmly at her friend, feeling her stomach growl at her again. She unwraps the masculine handkerchief from her lunch, smiling at it, and opens the box. The first thing that she notices is the enormous pile of scrambled eggs with ketchup on it. The second thing she notices is the rice heart, which had somehow broken. There are two piles of rice with a jagged crack down the middle. It hasn’t held its shape, though she can tell it is supposed to be a heart like yesterday’s rice was shaped into. The accidental symbolism of that broken heart hits her like a blow for a moment, her eyes moistening.

“What is that?” Kanna’s nose wrinkles as she studies Madoka’s lunch. “A man made that,” she says like a statement of fact.

“Isn’t that writing? On the eggs?” Aoi says around a mouthful of her own expertly crafted lunch.

“Is it?” Madoka blinks, rubbing her eyes and studying the eggs more closely.

“Q… u… i… o… u… i… c… e… s… t...” Madoka puzzles the lettering out. “I’m not really sure that the letters are those… they’re so garbled up. It’s gibberish, though.” She frowns.

“Quiouicest?” Aoi frowns. “That sounds French,” she comments.

“Does anyone in class know French? We’re not allowed to use our phones to translate,” Kanna points out.

“Why would Kozy write a message in French? That’s weird.” Madoka rolls her eyes.

“Qui oui c’est. It is gibberish,” Ippei comments, looking at the girls from nearby. “It might mean, Who is it? Or if you reach, maybe who are you? That’s Qui es-tu.” The girls stare at the eggs and finally Aoi reaches out with her chopsticks and takes a piece of scrambled egg. Her nose wrinkles when she chews it.

“It tastes kind of weird.” She frowns.

“Thanks, Shadow Pres,” Madoka manages, blinking tiredly. Why did Kozuke put a message like this in her lunch? She looks at the salmon and sees a heart written in ketchup on that. She decides to put it out of her mind and try the fish. It cuts with only a little difficulty, and she pops it into her mouth. It isn’t Midoriyama’s cooking, but it tastes like fish at least. She tries the eggs and a shiver runs up her spine.

“The eggs do taste weird,” she blinks. “What did he put in these?” The girls giggle together taking turns eating the eggs and making comical faces at each other.

After dropping Madoka off and leaving, Kozuke debates on what the best use of his time will be. He needs to start looking for Midoriyama as he has promised Madoka that he will. Where can he look?

After a moment he decides to start with calling Midoriyama’s phone number. He swipes through his address book and dials Midoriyama.

The phone rings once and goes to voicemail. Kozuke sighs, shaking his head. He did not expect Midoriyama to pick up the phone. He tries again once again, with the same result.

She has either blocked the master and himself, or her phone is off, he decides. He ponders the situation as he parks the van to think. Finally, he decides to pay a visit to Social Saito. If he is unable to find Midoriyama, he will have to put a notice in for help wanted, but he has not given up yet.

He puts the van back in gear and drives towards social services.

Her phone ringing wakes Midoriyama. She scowls at it, bleary eyed and immediately hangs up. She hasn’t had an opportunity in a long while to just sleep in a little bit. Living as a live-in maid demanded that you work pretty much all of the time. There had been no one to take her place as chef in the mansion, and Master Yoshi had been a little bit of a skinflint in some areas. One of those areas was on the subject of hiring a second maid or at least a dedicated chef. Not that she had ever minded being the cook. She had always been passionate about cooking, and being a maid has always made her feel happy. It is as though, when she puts on the dress and corset, she becomes years younger.

She puts her phone in Do Not Disturb mode, and then rolls over an effort to go back to sleep. She does not bother to check the identity of whoever tried to call her. She is simply not in the mood at the moment to deal with whoever it is. Probably it is Kozy begging her to come back and save him from having to cook. She closes her eyes, snuggling a pillow and smiling at the thought of Kozuke desperately trying to keep order without her. Okay… she does feel bad for him… a little, though she can’t help but take at least some sadistic pleasure in thinking about how troubled he probably is.

When she thinks of Madoka, her expression becomes moodier. The boy-no-longer Madoka. What kind of a sick sad joke is it that he has been named that, in any case? It is a girls name, isn’t it? She has heard of a few cases where boys have been given technically girly names and vice versa, though it isn’t the most common thing. Considering how she acts, it’s much easier to think of her as always having been a girl. Granted that she didn’t have any idea of how to use feminine hygiene products, or even know more than the basics of styling her hair. Even so, Hisako finds it hard to believe.

She tosses and turns and with a growl; finally she jumps up to her knees in her futon and yawns. There isn’t any help for it. Her body is used to waking up early, and because she has been awakened, she simply cannot go back to sleep. She picks up her phone and smiles amusedly as she finds that her guess is correct. She has two missed calls from Kozuke. She considers calling him back, but finally shrugs. She has decided to make a clean break.

She crawls out of her cozy futon in the little room and unzips her suitcase. She pulls out clothing suitable for job searching in, her grey suit with a skirt with its white button-up undershirt. She removes her bath towel from her bag and slings it over her shoulder. She will take a bath, dress up nicely and she will have a new job lined up. If Master Yoshi thinks she will just sit around and mope about losing her job, he has another think coming.

Kozuke pulls up to the Social Services building’s parking lot and parks. He locks up the van and adjusts his suit collar before striding confidently up the walk towards the large four story red brick building.

Kozuke finds the main entrance, and steps inside, looking around. There are rows of seated people, women, children, the elderly. Some turn to examine him, although more do so as he strides over to the information counter.

The woman behind the counter studies him over the rim of her thick glasses, and she adjusts her hair and smoothes her skirt before speaking.

“How can I help you, sir?” She bows. Kozuke bows in return.

“I am looking to speak with Uchida Saito. I understand he works here?” Kozuke murmurs, smiling.

“Works here? Yes… he is one of our social workers. Do you have an appointment, sir?” she asks.

“No,” Kozuke murmurs. “I work for a man he calls senpai. Please let him know that Hashiba Kozuke would like to see him, if it’s not too much trouble.”

The woman pauses for a moment, looking undecided, finally, toying with her hair, she nods and smile. “I will call him for you, Hashiba-san.” She smiles at Kozuke enticingly. Kozuke smiles in return and bows.

“Thank you, I appreciate that. I will wait patiently.” He turns and walks over to a seat, missing the slightly disappointed look in the woman’s eyes. She hesitates a moment and then shrugs and picks up her IP phone receiver, and, after examining a directory pinned out of sight under the counter, she dials the extension for Uchida Saito.

Kozuke notices her talking into the receiver after a brief wait, and after another long pause, she nods and speaks again, placing the receiver back onto its hook. She looks over at Kozuke and gestures him back over. Kozuke grins, not having expected to be seen so quickly.

Kozuke stands and walks back over to her, and when he gets there, he bows again.

“Thank you for your prompt service, my lady,” he murmurs. “He will see me?” Kozuke inquires.

The woman blushes and blinks and then nods, smiling. “Yes. Mr. Uchida will see you. Step through this door.” She indicates the one beside her desk. “Walk down the hall until you come to an intersection. Make a right and come to the elevator. Take the elevator to the second floor. Go right after leaving the elevator and walk down the hallway to the end. Mr. Uchida’s office door will be marked.” She bows.

“Thank you,” Kozuke grins at her, and steps over to the door. The door makes a buzzing and clicking noise before Kozuke pulls it open. He steps inside and closes the door behind him before proceeding forward and following the receptionist’s instructions.

He takes the elevator up one floor, and then proceeds down the second floor hallway far to the right until he reaches a door with the placard bearing the name of Uchida Saito. He knocks and hears Saito’s voice through the door, beckoning him inside. Kozuke steps inside, closing the door behind him, and then he looks around, studying the simple but clean office around him.

A room air conditioning unit hangs from the ceiling directly over the man, and over the window behind him. To the sides are a few bookshelves filled with various books. There is a couch in a corner of the office with a table for tea, a desk with a computer on it, and two office chairs, one in front of the desk and one behind it. A few simple paintings hang on the walls. Kozuke examines one in particular: a picture of a wrinkled, elderly white woman in white robes with blue borders across her robe’s hood and more blue bands on the robe itself. The woman holds a meager, hungry-looking child with dark skin color in a loving and motherly fashion.

Kozuke turns his attention away from the portrait as the man behind the desk patiently waits for the butler’s focus to rest upon him. Saito smiles warmly, standing and bowing.

“To what do I owe the honor of your visitation, oh stoic butler of my cranky and undeserving Senpai?” he grins, playfully.

Kozuke chuckles. “I admit that my… stoicism is being tested greatly at the moment.” He shakes his head and waits for Saito to gesture for him to take a seat before doing so.

“How so?” Saito asks, eyebrow raised.

Kozuke pauses, sighing. He has not thought this through completely. Now he has to air the master’s dirty laundry to some extent. Still, he has come here in the hopes that Saito might have an idea of where to find Midoriyama, so he does have to talk about it, doesn’t he?

“Where to start…” Kozuke sighs. “The master and Midoriyama had another altercation…” Kozuke begins.

“Oh, another one? That’s not unexpected. The woman lives to egg Senpai on.” Saito laughs. “And, let me guess the situation.” He holds his hand up to forstall Kozuke continuing the story.

“Senpai and she are not on speaking terms, and that has put a bit of a pressure on you?” Saito smiles knowingly.

Kozuke blinks, shocked at how deeply Saito saw into the situation.

“Yes… that is correct… but the situation is far worse than that.” Kozuke sighs. “I’m afraid that Midoriyama found out about our Madoka’s unique situation recently and the mistake that was made by the Master when he performed emergency surgery… and well… it did not go well.” Kozuke shakes his head.

“Oh… that is not good.” Saito gapes for a moment and shakes his head. “So things are pretty serious then?” he enquires delicately.

“Yes. The master fired her on the spot. There was nothing to be done about it.” Kozuke puts his head in his hands.

“Oh… my. That is pretty bad.” Saito sighs. “I had never imagined that it could come to this. I liked her, I truly did. I thought that she really livened things up around the mansion. If she had stayed longer, perhaps even…” Saito trails off and shrugs. “Or perhaps not. Senpai is a very stubborn old man.” He laughs.

“I’d say not.” Kozuke chuckles. “He avoided her whenever possible. He didn’t even like it when she served tea, as you know… but her cooking was worth everything. Now I will be searching for new help to replace her, and I would honestly prefer to find Midoriyama. If she could just let go of her pride for the sake of Sugar… for Madoka…” Kozuke trails off again.

“She was despondent when it happened last night. She could not have gotten very restful sleep. I know that I did not.” Kozuke sighs, sounding very tired indeed.

“I regret to tell you, Hashiba-san… I only have as much information as you do.” Saito sighs. “I have her phone number, and I assume you would not be going to this trouble if that was enough to resolve the issue. Perhaps time is the only thing that can resolve it?” he suggests.

“Time? How much time do you think that stubborn woman will take? She will be looking for a new job this very day. If I don’t hurry, she will reject my request with a good excuse. If she finds another job it might be too late.” Kozuke wrings his hands.

“You sound like you feel something personal for the woman, Kozuke.” Saito grins. “I don’t blame you. She even gets my blood boiling, and I have no idea why she doesn’t have that effect on Senpai. Well it’s obvious that she does have some effect… but he seems to feel anger more than anything else. Could it be that Senpai has Gynephobia?” Saito asks.

“That seems possible,” Kozuke says with a dry expression. “He doesn’t seem able to deal properly with any women at all that I have seen. It isn’t really my place to say such things, however,” Kozuke adds.

“That is true. One does not speak poorly of his employer.” Saito nods. “I can’t do anything for you in regards to Midoriyama in the short term. Through my contacts I might be able to gain some information on where she ends up living or where she might have gone to, but it will without a doubt take time to gain that information. These sorts of things don’t go quickly when you have little information to work with.”

Saying that reminds Saito of the situation half a year ago… no, a whole year ago practically, when the poor boy, now a girl, had been discovered by his Senpai on his way home from the only time he had ever been able to convince the older man to join him in an Izakaya. That night the master had drunk copiously. He had lost his license to operate over the previous week, and that night had sunk himself into his drink. Without his normal inhibitions to get in the way, the old man had actually had a little fun and laughed.

They had gone to karaoke, caught up in the whirlwind moment. Saito cannot imagine his old Senpai letting loose in that way ever again. The very next day, after sobering up and heading home with his butler Kozuke, he had called Saito, begging his Kohai for help. He had not been able to refuse the old man. He’d driven up the mountain road out of Tsukuba, enjoying the nice drive into the mountains despite the urgency of his Senpai’s request. When he had arrived he had found a shocking surprise waiting. He had of course noticed the burned out hulk of the car that Madoka’s family had crashed in, though he had passed it.

Kozuke had shown him into a room of the mansion that he had never been into before. This room had been a fully kitted out surgery room and laboratory. His Senpai had claimed that this room had existed as a place for him to practice his revolutionary techniques. How he had done so, he never really explained to Saito.

What surprised him most had been the bloody, bandaged body sitting on a hospital bed in the new room Kozuke had shown him to. To say that he had been frightened out of his mind for a moment was an understatement.

Kozuke had stoically held onto his shoulders and explained the situation while his Senpai had checked fluids and computer screens.

The girl had gotten into an accident last night. The master had had to perform emergency life-saving surgery on her when he determined that she would not survive a trip into town. He had started work immediately, despite his hung-over condition. At the moment, the girl was comatose but stable. After a time, Saito’s horror had turned to admiration for his Senpai for going to such amazing lengths to save the life of the girl. Truth be told she could not be in better hands, and yet he had just lost his license. There was something of a legal issue there.

When Master Yoshi had finally been able to break away from his care of the girl, he had tiredly explained the situation again. Patting Saito’s shoulder and telling him he was happy to see his hohai, he joked, stating that they should never speak of their previous night’s festivities ever again. His senpai was understandably horribly embarrassed by his lack of restraint the previous night. Saito had agreed, of course, though he was inwardly amused by his senpai’s pride.

When he asked why he was needed, his senpai had explained to him that they needed to find the identity of the girl. For various reasons, likely legal reasons, he would not allow Saito to take a DNA sample to analyze. It had to be done in the most mundane way possible. Saito had protested of course. Such a search might not turn up any results at all, and certainly not for quite some time. His senpai had been insistent, and Saito had grudgingly agreed to do things his way.

Saito had insisted on taking pictures. His senpai had argued against that, not wanting to allow it, but he had had to give Saito something, so he had agreed to a few photos, and he had also agreed to let Saito take a few more photos as the girl’s recovery progressed. Saito snapped those photos, spoke of the situation a little more with his senpai, and then left to begin his task. He had started at the burned-out hulk of the car, searching it. He wondered why there weren’t any police cars there. His senpai obviously wanted to keep things extremely low-key for the moment, but that fact did not feel right to him at all.

He had found absolutely nothing of use. A few trinkets, a melted charm from a shrine that had not seemed to do the family any good on their trip, sadly, and oddly no papers of any use in the glove compartment nor underseat. Saito’s information search had to start from the outside in.

It took half a year for him to find out anything worthwhile. He had finally been able to track down a missing persons report on the family who had gone vacationing from Tokyo. A bit more digging had gotten him the identity of the child. Thankfully the child was an only child, but what disturbed him most was that his senpai had referred to the child on the bed as a girl, and as the girl’s healing had progressed, Saito had seen hints of it behind bandages. His senpai had never uncovered the wrappings from her body or her face, but they had ceased to be bloody a month into her recovery. Her comatose condition had not changed in all that time.

The child of the family he had found, the Fugui family, however had been a boy indeed. He had brought all of this information to Yoshi. His senpai had grunted when he studied the information, shaking his head, but he hadn’t seemed all that surprised.

Saito had brought up the discrepancy at that time, and suggested that perhaps his senpai had misstated himself when he had called the child a girl. Yoshi and shook his head and denied it. He had explained that the girl’s body was too damaged to tell, and even if he had been able to tell, trying to repair the damage and make the child a fully functional male would in effect be far harder at that point than conducting the surgery that he had done.

Saito had grudgingly accepted the logic, but felt bad for the child. If he ever woke up… if she ever woke up, she would be extremely confused and disoriented to say the least, he thought.

He had suspicions about the condition his Senpai had been in when he had started the surgery, but he could not question a man who had worked so hard to save the life of the child, and beyond that, had gone to amazing lengths to repair the damage instead of just leaving the child broken and burned as a normal surgeon might. What was more, he was not going to charge the child a single thing for the medical care given to him… her. These things had definitely won Saito’s loyalty. He believed strongly in helping others to the extent which was humanly possible. His senpai was in a great position to help many people, and he already had, working pro bono for the experience and challenge as often as he worked for pay it seemed.

Saito shakes his head, staring into the distance. As kind as his Senpai is, she still suspects that there is something more to the situation than he knows.

“Is Madoka doing well, despite everything? How is school?” he asks Kozuke. The butler had also quietly sat, deep in thought. Kozuke blinks and nods.

“Yes. She seems to be making friends. She is quite popular with both the girls and the boys, it seems.” He smiles, pride in his eyes.

It amazes Saito how… fatherly the butler seems to be towards the child. It was his understanding that his Senpai intended to adopt the child in order to start a family, and be charitable towards Madoka, who had no other family to rely on. Instead, the butler seems have taken that role, and his senpai, as usual, is hiding his true feelings and being his usual self, which is to say… he is not especially compatible with others, period.

“That’s good to hear!” Saito grins. “I was afraid she would be horribly mal-adjusted. Miura-san seems to feel much the same way. Madoka’s therapist,” Saito adds that last part just in case the butler had forgotten her name.

“She spoke with me after their first conversation and she definitely seemed concerned, although she was surprised at just how… fragile and feminine the child seems to be.” Saito chuckles. “That is truly amazing. I haven’t been granted the opportunity to talk to her yet very much, other than that one time when Senpai introduced us in his study, of course. Perhaps I should talk privately with her soon. I am her social worker after all.” Saito smiles. Honestly, he has to admit that he has felt somewhat uncomfortable around Madoka. not knowing what to say to the boy-turned-girl whose life had turned completely upside down.

“I think that would be fine.” Kozuke smiles in response.

“Then I will call Senpai and see if I can get him to agree to it.” Saito chuckles. Kozuke stands, however, bowing and extending a hand to Saito, who stands and takes it, bowing and shaking it.

“I appreciate your help, Uchida-san. I unfortunately need to start looking into putting an ad or two here and there for help wanted.” He smiles wryly and Saito laughs in response.

Madoka watches as the others in her class play volleyball again in the gym. She sighs and puts her head in her hands, feeling gloomy and a little out of sorts. Whenever she watches things like this it just frustrates her that she cannot jump in and play. She burns to do so. To run and jump and laugh. She focuses on the weights that Ren-senpai has again brought her, and works her leg muscles. Today, as Kozuke suggested, she has stood up now and again, forcing herself to place her full weight on her legs. She isn’t able to stand for prolonged periods, and her legs and knee joints throb and ache with the exercise she has given them, but she perseveres. It isn’t much different from when she started her arm exercises after waking up from her coma.

The chime rings and everyone starts cleaning up quickly, heading off into the gymnasium’s locker rooms to clean up and change before heading back to class. Madoka wheels herself to the storage room and hands off the weights she had used to Ren-sensei, who nods and smiles to her.

“Does it seem to be improving any?” he asks.

“Not much yet.” Madoka laughs. “I just have to keep at it. It’s not going to get any better by itself,” she says, forcing a cheerfulness that she doesn’t feel.

She bows a little to Ren-sensei and excuses herself, wheeling to the locker room. Aoi joins her, wiping sweat from her forehead. She looks… happy to Madoka. Kanna joins the two while Madoka admires her athletic friend. Kanna pokes her shoulder and she jumps and blushes, laughing. Oh no… I shouldn’t stare like that at Aoi-chan, she admonishes herself. She isn’t a boy anymore. Doing things like that will not fly with the girls.

They walk into the locker room and start changing. Once again, Madoka hasn’t bothered to change into her shorts, and Ren-sensei hasn’t said anything about it. It really does not make a lot of sense to do if she is not going to stand up and get sweaty… at least not as sweaty as everyone else, in any case.

Madoka washes her face and uses a bathroom stall, taking a moment to change her tampon as well, and then leaves, waiting for Aoi and Kanna to finish. They head back to the classroom together.

The focus seems a lot more intense now that the class has a project they have declared. The students pair off again as they had earlier this morning and continue to discuss the festival. Kanna resumes making notes about what everyone will need for costumes.

Ren-sensei calls for everyone’s attention again, and the classroom falls silent. “We also need to discuss props and decorations we will need. You have done well pairing off into groups that will actually perform jobs in the cafe, but we’ll also need people to work on decoration and such. Will we use the classroom, or will we do it somewhere else? Consider these things as well. I would appreciate it if you would take over on that note, Sugawara-kun.” He gestures to Eiji who blinks and stands. He has been for the most part doing very well, except trading taunts with Aoi. He grins at his sudden newfound infusion of importance and stands up in front of the class, clearing his throat.

“Yes, sensei.” he says first and thinks. “I think maybe we’ll need to have some of the people who are in other groups form another group focusing on props and such. I think it would be a good idea if I head the prop team as well as the serving team. There really isn’t a whole lot for me to do until the festival otherwise.” He laughs.

“But that’s just the way you like it, right, useless pres?” Kanna teases aloud.

“That’s not true!” Eiji holds out a finger, his expression annoyed. “Why would I offer to head this new group if that was even remotely true?” he protests.

The class erupts into laughter.

Eiji sighs and waits for the class to calm down and finally waves his hand to put a stop to it.

“Okay, everyone, seriously. Let’s start picking out some people. Who wants to talk cafe decorations? Raise hands if you have nothing else you’re doing and want to pitch in with it.”

A large percentage of the waiting staff raise their hands, though some people conspicuously try to look smaller.

The class ends in much that way, and even goes into overtime a little as the three planning groups start discussing things.

Midoriyama Hisako sits tiredly in a bus, looking outside as the scenery of the city passes by. She has had a busy day today. She studies her reflection. Her hair is out of its old style of braids that complemented her maid look so beautifully. Now it is tied back behind her ears in a ponytail in a professional style. She doesn’t look bad… pretty, but also more professional. All the accents she would otherwise wear are not present.

Tired as she is, she has great news for her family.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Nine **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Value Of A Good Time
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

I haven't been posting here for very long, but if you feel like helping me...
I didn't want it to come to this, but this month I find myself in a situation where it's going to be hard for me to pay my bills. I'm hoping to find a better equilibrium, cutting a lot of expenses. Anything could help. To donate go here!

http://paypal.me/rellawing

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Hisako steps off the bus with a sigh of relief. It is a walk of several blocks up a narrow street from the stop to her family’s home. She trudges up the street, taking in the scenery lit by the afternoon sun. In the distance ahead, she can make out where residences end and fields start. There are a lot of such fields lining the mountain range, which itself is such a gradual rise that the mountains don’t figure in especially prominently, though Mount Tsukuba itself is a different story.

Hisako steps up to the gate of her family’s traditional home and pushes it open, smiling at the garden. Ai is taking excellent care of it. She has fond memories of her childhood spent here. It was and is a wonderful place to grow up. She thinks fondly of her niece, smiling. A part of her regrets leaving such things behind; however, everyone has to grow up someday, and that involves moving on with your life, letting it take you to new places, and experiencing new things.

It is hard for her to think such thoughts, however. In her heart, she is still a little childish. Otherwise why else had she pushed Master Yoshi so far? In her defense, she was so angry at the time that she couldn’t help herself. Combined with her seeming need to tease the crusty old man, it had just led to her doing something she now regrets, a little bit. She pauses, hand on the door, thinking back to Madoka’s anguished little face. There is no help for it. You can’t get spilled milk back into the bottle.

She slides open the door and enters, closing it behind her. She slips her feet out of her heels, which quite frankly have been killing her feet for hours now. With a sigh of relief, she wiggles her toes into her slippers. She takes her shoes with her when she slides the door further into the home open.

“Who is it?” Ai calls from the kitchen. “Hisako?”

“It’s me, onee-chan!” Hisako smiles, closing the door behind her. She walks down the hall a little and enters the kitchen. Ai stands at the kitchen counter, slicing vegetables for dinner. The strong spices emanating from a pot on the stove draws her attention momentarily. The strong scent of the beginnings of a particularly spicy batch of mapo tofu make her mouth water a little.

“Mom’s old recipe!” she laughs. Ai smiles at her.

“Yes. Have you made it lately?” Ai asks her sister, as she puts water on for tea.

“No. Unfortunately. I know the recipe but my ex-employer didn’t much care for spicy food.” Hisako chuckles. “Now that I’m not working there anymore, I think I will go out of my way to cook a lot of spicy food.” She leans against the counter and smiles.

“Good. Spicy food is good for the digestion, Mother always said.” Ai smiles. “So did it go well?”

Midoriyama grins broadly. “As a matter of fact, it went wonderfully!”

Kozuke sighs as he clicks through a job posting website on his small laptop. He has considered putting an ad in the paper, but that didn’t work very well the last time the master asked him to hire help. At that time he had learned that, unfortunately, more and more of everything is being done via the internet.

On the bright side, he’ll have a moment to sit and think while he works on submitting this job posting. He has much more work to do, however. He wonders absentmindedly whether or not Madoka enjoyed her lunch.

“I know I’m not an excellent chef, but I hope my feelings were properly conveyed,” he mutters to himself as he begins to type into the field that asks him to state the job description. He speaks as he works his way through it.

“Live-in Maid or Servant Wanted -- Looking for a level-headed and capable worker who can cook. Must be polite and respectful. Preferably male,” He frowns and pauses. That might come off a little on the sexist side. He knows that the master will certainly prefer a male employee, but what are the odds that a man might answer the job posting and have a higher ability in cooking than he himself does? It doesn’t seem likely, though it certainly isn’t impossible. He knows how bad he is.

“Preferably male, although we will not discriminate based on gender…” he frowns again. He doesn’t really have to mention race does he? Non-Japanese workers aren’t especially common in the area. He doesn’t have anything against a potential candidate from another race or nationality, though a working understanding of the Japanese language would be… well… perhaps it would not be required but how else would they properly communicate? The odds are really truly remote that it would even be an issue, so he continues. “Based on gender, race, creed, or nationality. Must be authorized to work in Japan, Must have a working command of the Japanese language.” He smiles to himself and starts a new line.

“Duties include, but are not limited to: Cooking, Cleaning and Serving. Must be well groomed, have good hygiene and manners. Being good with children is a plus.” Kozuke smiles, taking a moment to think again. In truth, he prefers another maid. The master is woefully unable to cope around women, but surely not every woman will have Midoriyama’s tendencies towards inappropriate teasing? Madoka needs a strong female role model. She seems to be doing well so far, but he is certain that there will be things that he will find himself at a loss to help her with. No… he needs to modify that last word. “Must.”

Madoka taps her pencil on her desk as the people around her discuss props and such for the cafe, gesturing to the various corners of the classroom, indicating their visions for the cafe.

“I think we should get vases and flowers and tablecloths, and maybe put some curtains up over the windows… some nice lacy curtains,” one girl with short cute hair suggests eagerly.

“Where are we going to get all that?” Eiji protests. “That seems a little too ambitious… especially the curtains,” he laughs.

“We can have Kanna make them.” The girl grins.

“Kanna has her hands full with the costumes,” Madoka says, quickly stepping in before her friend is burdened with yet another big job. “If you want lacy curtains you can have mine,” she says, and suppresses a grimace. Madoka thinks about her room. She has lacy curtains everywhere. Even where they aren’t needed! Had Midoriyama had something to do with how girly the room was? Madoka bites her lip. She can’t ask her that question anymore. Midoriyama had just walked out without looking back.

“That’s very generous of you, Hamada-san!” The girl from before grins with delight. “We’ll need... “ She turns to the windows, counting them.

“Wow… I think we’ll need ten… is that a problem?” she asks.

Madoka shakes her head and laughs ruefully. “No, I don’t think so. If it is, I’m sure I can get my hands on more of them.” She is fairly certain that she has this amount of lacy curtains, but if not, the Master is rich after all, and probably… hopefully won’t mind contributing to the school project. If worst comes to worst, she can probably work out something with Kozy.

“That settles things then.” Eiji says, his expression wry. “Just how lacy are these curtains?” he asks.

“The laciest, most girly things you’ve ever seen,” Madoka replies, her expression deadpan.

Kanna hums to herself as she sketches off in a quiet corner of the room. She’s taken down all the details of everyone’s costumes already. She will try to honor them as much as possible, but she has given everyone lists of items they will need to provide to create the costumes. Unlike her new friend, she does not have money to burn.

She finishes the details on a rough sketch of an oni costume; she has taken inspiration from Rei, a character in a popular classic old anime full of oni from outer space and other such oddities. It would be classic, though the stripes would be a little tricky. Plus it should be pretty popular with the ladies. She grins to herself, toying with one of her long blonde twintails idly as she thinks.

“That’s really all I can do with this one. How about Madoka and Eiji-kun’s?” Her grin turns a little wicked as she thinks about French maid costumes she has seen. Of course it simply has to be a little skimpy in the right places. That goes without saying. She is dying to see Madoka in something cute like this, and seeing Eiji in it will be a bonus. Like the cherry on a sundae. Kanna squeezes the notepad shaped like a sundae to her chest and squees, thinking about it.

Kanna calms down after a moment and starts quickly scribbling notes. A low bustier for Madoka with a skirt that goes to her thighs… well maybe a little lower. She does care about her friend’s comfort after all. Eiji on the other hand… she grins again. A higher cut at the bodice. Maybe a corset? Maybe she can design one in the dress itself… with laces. She nods to herself. Eiji is not fat at all, though a little extra pressure will give him more of the appearance of feminine hips. Her eyes gleam as she laughs. Several of the male students turn their heads to stare at her, their skin suddenly crawling.

Finally, Rin-sensei calls an end to the planning for the evening, and everyone sets about putting desks back in their appropriate places, while continuing to talk. When finished they gather up their bookbags and packs and shuffle out, most faces eager and excited as they talk while leaving. Aoi walks over to Madoka with a smile.

“Madoka-chan… I hope this isn’t too soon to ask this… and I know this is short notice for it… but Kanna and I were planning a sleepover this Friday night, and my parents have expressed an interest in meeting you. I was thinking… we were thinking, if you were okay with it, we’d like you to join us.” She smiles, seeming a little shy.

Madoka gapes. This possibility was not on her list of things she has anticipated happening. Sleepovers are perhaps one of the most girly things in existence… at least from her perspective. She is being asked by Aoi-chan to sleep over at her house! Madoka stares at her dumbly and Aoi waves her hands in front of the confused girl’s face.

“Hello… Madoka-chan…” Aoi calls out to her. “Are you okay? I hope I didn’t misread things… I thought we were…” She trails off, looking embarrassed.

“No! Yes! I… oh…” Madoka blushes, embarrassed herself. “I don’t know if Kozy will allow me to do it… but we are friends,” Madoka rushes to reassure her friend.

Aoi smiles, the expression lighting up her face, and she bounces a little, and then blushes, self-consciously stopping her bouncing. That little bounce she has just done is so unlike the normal Aoi who seems to prefer to express herself with dignity. She is almost boyish like that, and truthfully that quality about her has drawn Madoka closer to her than Kanna. Kanna is the girliest girl she has ever known, but Aoi seems easier to understand.

“Well, then! Let’s ask him! He’s always here to pick you up every night, right?” Aoi smiles.

Madoka squirms a little, thinking about it. Will Kozy be okay with it? He is very protective of her. Madoka looks at her friend’s face again and decides that she does not want to disappoint Aoi. Not ever. “Yes. I’ll ask Kozy.” Madoka smiles.

Truthfully, the more she thinks about it, the more she is looking forward to being out of the mansion soon for a night. No cranky master to deal with!

Once again, the butler offers a ride home to Madoka’s two new friends, which they accept gratefully. The three ride in the back of the van as before. This time the boys have not walked them out, so it is just the three.

Kanna holds up her notepad as she shows the other two the various costume ideas that she had designed based on what her classmates had said they wanted to look like.

Madoka giggles at the Oni costume. When Kanna shows the rough sketch of the Momotaro costume she has in mind for Aoi, Aoi’s eyebrows raise.

“It’s a little skimpy, isn’t it?” she asks, blushing.

The outfit is not at all what Madoka would have expected. It resembles a Shrine Priestess’ robes. The bodice is cut to reveal some cleavage, and it has a skirt with thigh-high leggings. A long, complicated ribbon hangs from the hair of the sketched figure.

“It’s pretty though.” Madoka smiles, giggling, eager to see how Aoi would look in it. She blushes a little herself.

“I’m pleased you like it!” Kanna grins. “It was inspired by an anime based on Momotaro. Now for yours, Madoka-chi!” She grins and flips the page.

Madoka gapes at the drawing, and it’s Aoi’s turn to giggle. Kanna joins in, and it’s so contagious, Madoka can’t help joining in.

“It’s too sexy!!!” Madoka laughs.

Kozuke looks at the three girls through his rearview mirror and smiles warmly, though his eyebrow does raise slightly.

“Cold tofu? Really, Kozuke?” The master’s indignant tone makes Madoka cover her mouth and suppress giggles. “Are you even trying?” Master Yoshi glares at Kozuke.

Kozuke shrugs and smiles. “I have told you time and again, Master, that I don’t do cooking. If you like, I will prepare a more complex meal tomorrow night, although I do not guarantee the flavor. It is my policy to strive for simple dishes, but…” Kozuke trails off.

Master Yoshi waves his hand with a sigh, relenting surprisingly quickly. “Don’t bother. I remember the last time you tried to get fancy. I think we’ll just order out until the new help is hired.”

“By the way, Master, I submitted the ad this afternoon. With any luck, someone appropriate should answer it soon. Also, it’s Hiyayako,” Kozuke murmurs.

“Hiyayako?” Master Yoshi frowns.

“The tofu dish. I’ll grant you that it is cold tofu, but it just so happens to be a normal part of the dish. Notice the various herbs, ginger, and soy sauce. You are supposed to garnish it with them.” Kozuke smiles.

Madoka deposits a layer of herbs on top of her block of tofu, unable to suppress her little grin. She doesn’t care really what they end up eating as long as it isn’t too weird. She has never been a picky eater. It’s a nice bonus to see Master Yoshi’s reactions, however.

Madoka liberally pours soy sauce over the tofu, and out of the corner of her eye she sees the master apply his own toppings.

“It’s still cold tofu, Kozuke. Please at least try to make an effort,” Master Yoshi grumps.

Later that night, when Kozuke tucks Madoka into bed after helping her take a nice relaxing bath, Madoka decides to ask Kozuke. She supposes that she should think about asking the master since technically he is her adoptive father, but she still does not feel close to the grumpy old man.

“Kozy… Aoi-chan has invited me to her house this Friday… for a sleepover.” She blushes and squirms a little. “I… I think I would like to go.”

Kozuke looks at her with an eyebrow raised for a moment and then smiles. “You never cease to surprise me, Sugar,” he laughs. “I think some in your situation would be far too embarrassed. Instead you charge fearlessly forward into the unknown.” He chuckles.

Madoka pouts at being laughed at, although his words are complimentary. “Does that mean I can go, Kozy?” she asks.

Kozuke grins broadly. “Of course you can, Sugar. You are not a prisoner here. I am certain that the master will agree. Will you need anything?” he asks.

Madoka smiles happily and then frowns a little. “I don’t know… don’t girls stay up all night giggling or something?” she asks.

“That would be the expected outcome. I have never attended a slumber party, so I could not tell you, Sugar,” Kozuke says with a serious expression.

“I wish Midoriyama were still here.” Madoka sighs and looks down. “I think she would be able to tell me what to do,” she mumbles.

Kozuke studies Madoka for a long moment and then sits down next to her on the bed and puts an arm around her, hugging her lightly. Madoka’s eyes widen slightly but she doesn’t say anything.

“Sugar… I know that you need someone like Midoriyama. I promise that I will do my best to find someone to replace her. I doubt that she will come back. That woman is stubborn and headstrong. I am very certain that she will be employed elsewhere very soon. I have Saito looking into the situation, but it may take a while for him to pull up any information for us. Can you be brave and keep charging forward for me?” He smiles at the girl.

Madoka nods and hugs the butler after a moment. “I think so,” she murmurs, falling silent. Then it occurs to her that she still has something else to ask the butler.

“Kozy… my class needs my curtains for the cafe,” she says.

“Oh? I don’t see any problem with that. The room will likely look very plain without them.” Kozuke smiles.

“I think I’m okay with that.” Madoka grins.

The next three days pass quickly. Kanna has started to design the costumes. They are a lot of work, so they take time. Madoka watches her, fascinated by her work although she sees no hint of Aoi’s, Eiji’s, or her own costume being made yet. When she asks, Kanna assures her that they are being worked on and will be much higher quality than the costumes she is putting together during homeroom and club periods.

The master continues to grump about his meals, but otherwise does not engage. He seems content to leave things the way they are at the moment, and Madoka herself is happy with that. They start ordering out a few days after eating the cold tofu, due to the master’s stubbornness. After that, the food is sometimes not as optimally heated as they would like, but it is usually satisfying.

Days pass and no one answers the ad, as far as Madoka can see. Madoka continues her leg exercises, and by Friday she is able to stand for longer periods. The cooking team leaves the class during homeroom. Ippei has arranged a deal with the Cooking Club to borrow their club equipment for the event.

The design of the cafe hasn’t really come together all that much, although a bunch of supplies sit in the corner of the classroom waiting for the day of the festival. The pile becomes ever larger as students find more of what is needed.

“The design of my house won’t really accomodate a wheelchair, but my father has said that he will help when needed, and we have a backdoor that is very close to my bedroom door.” Aoi smiles.

“It will probably be okay.” Madoka smiles. “I can stand for much longer periods, though I haven’t tried to walk yet,” she says.

Kozuke opens the van door, and Kanna hops out of the van, smiling at Kozuke who nods to her.

“It’s so cool having a butler.” She grins at Madoka.

Madoka laughs. “Kozy’s my friend.” She smiles.

Kozuke smiles at this and helps Madoka out of the van and into her chair. “Are you certain that you’ll be alright, Sugar?” he asks.

Madoka nods. “I think so. I want to test my limits. Plus I’ve never done a sleepover before.” She blushes.

“Never done one? At all?” Kanna asks, shocked. “What kind of a life have you had, Madoka-chi?”

“A very normal and dull one.” Madoka smiles, sticking out her tongue at Kanna.

Aoi climbs out of the van and stretches, smiling. “Well, why don’t we head inside?” she asks.

Aoi wheels her away and up to the gate of her house, where the three pause and wave to Kozuke. Kozuke hesitates and then smiles and waves himself. He gets into the van and pulls away as the three enter the gate.

Madoka looks around, interested, as she is wheeled into the garden. It isn’t the same as the garden at the master’s home, but it is still cozy and well tended. A bee buzzes past and alights on a nearby flower, causing Madoka to flinch and then laugh.

They wheel her to the front door, and wait as Aoi enters to tell her parents that they are here. After a few moments, the door opens and Kanna wheels her inside the Genkan.

“Wheel her over to that side. We’ll leave the chair here.” She indicates a place and Kanna wheels Madoka over to it.

“It’s kind of like her shoes, isn’t it?” Kanna laughs.

Madoka blushes and unzips her bag and pulls out a pair of fluffy slippers that Kozuke had bought her. They are fuzzy and pink. Perhaps not her first choice; she winces a little, but the girlier she looks, the better. She is still nervous that the two will somehow discover that she has not grown up as a girl.

She crosses her legs to pull off her shoes and replace them with the slippers. For a change she will actually need indoor shoes, since her wheelchair can’t enter the rest of the home. She feels oddly happy about that. She has hardly left the wheelchair for any reason, except for bathing and sleeping.

The door into the Genkan slides open and Aoi’s parents step into it. A vague smell in the air that has been making Madoka’s stomach growl ever since entering the home. Aoi’s father nods when Madoka hurriedly and politely bows. Kanna giggles a little. Aoi’s mother smiles warmly.

“Please make yourself at home here,” she says encouragingly.

“Are you comfortable with me helping you enter our home?” Aoi’s father asks.

Madoka nods and smiles. “Of course. I’m sorry to be such a bother.” She blushes.

Aoi’s father waves his hand dismissively and looks at Aoi. “Where would you like to go? Your bedroom first?” he asks Aoi.

“Dinner is ready. We’re having hotpot,” Aoi’s mother says with a warm smile.

Aoi nods with a smile. “Oh, wonderful, Mother, Madoka-chan?” Aoi asks.

Madoka nods and smiles. “Yes, please… thank you.”

Aoi’s father lifts her up easily, though perhaps not quite as gently as Kozy always does, and carries the girl carefully out of the Genkan. Everyone follows as he carries her inside and down the hall to the left. He walks through the door into their dining area and sets her down gently on a zabuton, winking at her. Madoka blushes and looks at Aoi as she settles down to her right with a big smile. The table is already set. All that is missing is the food. Madoka’s stomach growls.

“I’ve never been in such a traditional house before,” Madoka admires, looking around as she sits on her knees. It feels good to sit on her knees for a change.

“It’s been in the family a long time,” Aoi’s father murmurs as he takes a seat in his usual position. Kanna seats herself to Madoka’s left.

“It really is something else.” Kanna laughs. “You don’t get the same feeling from hardwood floors in a 3DK.”

Aoi’s mother walks in after a few moments and sets down a large pot. Delicious smells emanate from it. “I haven’t had such tasty looking food in days,” Madoka says, feeling her stomach grumble.

Aoi’s mother blinks. “That’s very flattering! I thought that you… well, I was a little embarrassed, thinking that I might not be able to provide a meal that you would like,” she says, a touch uncertainly.

“Oh… I didn’t tell you, Mom. Their chef was fired recently.” Aoi chuckles.

Madoka nods. “Since she left, all I’ve had are simple and weird meals… or takeout.” She laughs. “It’s okay though… Kozy does his best, and it’s not like I’m entitled or anything.”

Aoi’s mother and father look at each other with surprised expressions.

“Well, I hope you enjoy the taste as much as the look of it.” Aoi’s mother laughs, and starts to ladle out food.

“That was wonderful, as usual Mom,” Aoi enthuses.

“I haven’t had hotpot in a really long time… thank you!” Madoka says, looking happy and content after her meal.

“I was thinking that we could go into town and spend some time at the arcade. Is that okay, Mother, Father?” Aoi asks.

“Are you sure? Will you be able to manage with your friend?” her father asks, his expression dubious.

“I think so. Some buses can accommodate handicapped persons now, particularly with the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics coming up.” Aoi grins, looking at Madoka. “I know you aren’t paralyzed exactly, but I read up on it a little bit, because I wanted to understand it better,” she says.

Madoka blushes and smiles. “It’s temporary, they say, but thank you, Aoi… that’s really sweet of you.”

Aoi blushes and laughs, looking away. “When you have a friend in a wheelchair, it’s expected I would think,” she demurs.

“I still don’t know anything about it.” Kanna grins. “Aoi can tell me what I need to know.”

Aoi rolls her eyes and smiles.

After helping to clean up, the girls exit the house and head up the narrow street to the bus stop. While they stand there waiting, Aoi turns to Madoka.

“So is it just the crane games you like playing, Madoka?” she asks with a smile. “I myself like a good fighting game once in a while. I’m hoping to get a round or two of Dissidia in.” She grins.

“I like them all, really, though the crane games are my favorite.” Madoka smiles. “I’ll play that with you, Aoi-chan.” She has played Dissidia, though she isn’t especially good at the game.

“I like rhythm games,” Kanna comments. “Love Live and dancing games are my favorites. The arcade we’re going to still has some DDR.” She grins.

“Really? You don’t see those as often anymore.” Madoka smiles. “I can’t really do much there though… but I’ve played it and it was fun,” she enthuses.

“Right!? I love working up a sweat dancing. And the more crazy moves, the better.” Kanna laughs.

The three are interrupted by the bus pulling up the narrow street. It comes to a stop in front of them and the door opens. The bus driver looks at the three, eyeing Madoka for a moment. He stands, and walks out of the bus.

“This bus doesn’t have a ramp.” he says. Aoi looks at him, visibly bummed out. “But we can put your chair in the storage area and I can help you up into a seat.” He smiles. “If you’re going to board, let’s hurry. I have a schedule to keep.” He bows.

The driver first helps Madoka up. Finding that she is unable to walk far on her own, he scoops her up easily. Madoka blushes again, suppressing an urge to cover her face. How many times is she going to be picked up like some storybook damsel?

The man steps up into the bus, and the passenger in the closest seat takes one look at her, then stands and vacates the front row seat. The bus driver nods to the polite man and sets Madoka down into the seat. He quickly disembarks and sets about stowing her chair. Kanna sits down next to Madoka and Aoi stands in the aisle, grabbing a nearby pole to steady herself. Buses are frequently standing room only during certain times of the day.

The driver climbs into the driver’s seat and pulls forward with the accompanying loud rumble of the motor.

The ride is invigorating for Madoka. She watches the scenery of Tsukuba go by as the bus goes for several stops. It brings back memories of a time when she was more independant. Three stops later, Aoi presses the stop request button on the pole that she holds onto and at the next stop, Aoi walks to the bus driver, not far away and informs him that this is their stop. He nods and parks the bus and steps off to retrieve Madoka’s chair. In moments, Madoka is lifted and redeposited outside in it, and the three wave as the bus continues on its route.

Aoi wheels Madoka up the street and onto the walk. The three continue on for several blocks. Madoka is unable to stop smiling. When the reach the arcade, Madoka notices that it is a smaller arcade than she is used to. It’s not a Taito Station in any case.

“We have a lot of arcades here in Tsukuba, but this one is our favorite.” Aoi smiles. Kanna holds the door for her as she wheels Madoka inside. Madoka looks around. On the inside it isn’t necessarily smaller than a Taito Station. She sees that there is only one floor. Immediately to her right she sees photo booths, which are still popular despite the rise of cellphones and selfies. She sees banks of fighting games and racing games, and a whole bank of the claw games that she loves. She grins eagerly. Although this arcade doesn’t have the machine she had been working on for months in Tokyo, maybe she can get lucky?

Aoi wheels Madoka over to a change machine. She notes gratefully that it is a rare machine that takes manaca cards and other types of magnetic payment. She fishes her phone out of the small bag that Kozuke had given her for this occasion. It is a small purse shaped like Totoro’s head. She smiles at it a moment before sliding her manaca card out of her cellphone card holder and swiping it over the magnetic reader. She presses some buttons on the screen and in moments 100 yen coins start pouring out into the bin. Madoka smiles at her friends.

“Go ahead and take some.” She smiles happily. The three distribute the coins, though Aoi protests a little, saying that it had been her idea for them to come to begin with and this should be her treat.

Madoka waves her protestations off with a grin. “Let’s have fun!”

The three are surprised when they run into Ippei and Eiji at the bank of rhythm games. None of the three had noticed the boys.

“Oh… Shadow Pres is at it again,” Kanna murmurs, pointing to the boy with now semi-fogged up glasses. He is currently racking up high points dancing on a DDR pad. Madoka gapes as Eiji steps over with a wry expression on his face.

“I can never beat his scores. I don’t know why I hang out with him. He doesn’t respect me at all.” He looks at Madoka and gapes a little. She is wearing casual clothes now, and this is the first time he has seen her in anything but the school uniform. Madoka blushes uncomfortably, feeling his eyes on her.

She is wearing a skirt and knee socks with a cute white long-sleeve shirt that Kozy selected. He packed several such cute outfits for her, including a cute nightie, and those slippers she wore earlier. She wears a set of cute heeled shoes. The shoes and the skirt are a pastel baby blue with white accents.

“You look great, Hamada-chan.” He grins at her. Kanna steps in, rescuing her.

“What, and I don’t?” she asks. She herself is wearing a pink dress. It is pink and white, and so frilly and girly that Madoka was shocked when she first saw her change into it at Aoi’s house. It suits her, though, with her long blonde twintails. In contrast, Aoi’s outfit is more like something she herself would prefer to wear. Aoi wears a set of blue jeans, a nice blouse top in a red color. Her hair is tied in the back in a loose ponytail. A pair of walking sneakers complete her utilitarian but still very cute look. Maybe it is Aoi that makes the look cute?

“Well, you do too, I guess,” Eiji says skeptically. “Change my costume and I’ll give you better compliments.” He grins.

“Not a chance.” Kanna smiles. “I don’t need your compliments, stupid pres.”

Ippei finishes his set, and steps off, wiping sweat from his forehead. He takes off his glasses and carefully clears the lenses with his shirt. Behind him the screen flashes, displaying a high score.

“Oh hi, Hamada-san,” he murmurs as he looks at the girls. “Tsukimi-san. Wada-san.” He nods to each of the girls.

“Hi, shadow pres.” Kanna grins. “Destroying everyone’s scores again I see.” She grins up at Ippei who shrugs and smiles.

“I guess so,” he replies shortly.

“I have an idea.” Eiji grins. “Since all five us are are here together, why don’t we rent one of the karaoke rooms in the back?” he suggests.

“Karaoke?” Madoka blinks and smiles. “They have karaoke here?”

“Yup.” Kanna smiles. “That’s another reason we like this arcade. They have a lot of options. That sounds like a great idea to me… what a strange thing for the stupid pres to have a good idea,” she teases.

“I wish you’d stop calling me that.” Eiji frowns. “But why don’t we go to the counter? I’ll rent the room.” He trots away towards the front desk and, after a short time, he heads back and gestures with a grin.

“Let’s go. I’m eager to hear Hamada-chan’s beautiful singing voice.” He grins at Madoka who gasps, suddenly realizing that karaoke means she probably will have to sing after all. She can beg off, but it will be rude if she does. Madoka resigns herself to her fate as Aoi wheels her to the rear of the arcade and the karaoke rooms.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Ten **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Value Of A Good Time Part II
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

Moving and going on disability:
I'm not actively asking for help anymore, though it doesn't hurt to leave it as anything can help. *smile*

http://paypal.me/rellawing

**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.**

The four walk through the arcade towards the back, Madoka wheeling herself after them. She is filled with anxiety suddenly, realizing that she will have to sing. She has been to karaoke a few times with friends in Tokyo. It is one of the more entertaining things that one can do, not that there is a shortage of such fun things to do, and she has shown some raw talent despite not having been specifically interested in singing. Due to that lack of a specific interest in singing, ever since waking up she has not once thought to test her singing abilities. What will it sound like? Her voice is slightly higher in pitch than it used to be, though it is such a slight difference that she hasn’t focused on it.

Eiji opens the door to the correct karaoke room for his fellow classmates, Ippei included. “What a gentleman,” Ippei says, his expression deadpan. Eiji shrugs and grins.

“It’s how I was raised.” He waits for Madoka to wheel herself through the somewhat narrow door. Madoka finds, to her relief, that the door is too narrow to allow her wheelchair to pass through. The rooms, she notes, are very space economical themselves. The one Eiji has rented contains a couch that spans from wall to wall in a green color with a table in the center, looking like a slightly oversized and comfy restaurant table. That isn’t uncommon, though some are roomier than others. A large television screen sits on the far wall over the couch, which will display the lyrics and menus and such when activated.

On the table sits a complex remote with a keyboard on one side of it and a normal television remote on the other, except for what looks like a speaker and a call button. A pair of wireless microphones sit next to it. By the door is an area that the singer might stand in, facing their friends as they sing and reading the lyrics from the television screen above them if needed.

“Oh… I should have thought about this.” Eiji frowns.

“It’s alright.” Madoka smiles, brightening a little. “I can just go play the crane games. I saw a few that look like they’ve been primed. With a little work…” Madoka starts backing out.

“Oh, none of that!” Aoi puts her hands on her hips and frowns. “It’s only a short distance. I’m sure the boys won’t mind giving you their shoulders to hold onto.” Aoi looks at the two boys. Ippei has already settled down at the end of the table.

He nods simply and stands again, walking over. “Of course. Are you comfortable with that, Hamada-san?” he asks politely.

Madoka hesitates and with a sigh, nods. “I am. I think I can probably walk enough with support.” She looks longingly towards the arcade, but throws on the brakes on her chair and slowly pushes herself to her feet. She wobbles a little as she stands there, but she is able to stand under her own power. The two boys quickly move to her sides and allow her to put an arm around each of their shoulders. Eiji blushes slightly, Ippei nods to Madoka, and the three sidle into the room sideways. Madoka walks over with their help and they are able to help Madoka into the end of the booth without much difficulty.

“Yaaaay! Good job, Madoka-chan!” Kanna claps excitedly. “Now we can sing!” she grins.

“It’s not like I did it myself,” Madoka says with a wry expression. “But I will soon,” she adds, her expression determined.

Aoi smiles warmly at Madoka, watching her with a mixture of emotions on her face that Madoka can’t interpret. Madoka blushes and looks down as Eiji closes the door and then walks over to the table and lifts the remote. He turns the television screen on, and after a moment the Karaoke menu goes into focus. He uses the remote to put it into search mode and then flips it over, holding it horizontally.

“Being as I’m paying, I’ll grace you all with my powerful singing voice to get things started. I’ve been working on a special number just in case.” The four seated crane their necks up to see the screen as Eiji confirms his song selection.

In moments heavy guitar starts playing and Eiji strikes a pose as he starts the song off with the iconic lyrics on the screen. “One Puuuuuunnnnchhhhh!!!” He holds the microphone up to his mouth and arches his back, making the pose dramatic.

The girls all giggle as Eiji begins his hot-blooded rendition of The Hero by JAM Project. Ippei rolls his eyes and grins. Eiji moves and gesticulates wildly as he sings the metal song. Aoi starts clapping along with the beat of the song.

“Hero! I don’t want voices praising me or an ovation. Hero! So I fight against evil in secret…” Eiji sings, his tone not 100% spot on, but that just lends his performance a comedic flair rather than ruining it.

Madoka starts clapping along with Aoi, and the two grin at each other. Kanna cheers for Eiji, bouncing a little in her seat. All too soon, the song comes to an end, but it successfully sets the mood, and not even Madoka can help but feel excited and happy after Eiji shouts the final lyrics and the song comes to an end. “I wanna be the strongest HERO!”

Eiji puts true metal flair into those last lines, shrieking them and tossing his head as though he has long hair to throw around. He ends in a pose with his fingers in the air, his other arm to the side and out, one leg in front of the other and spread slightly, his head down, eyes closed. He takes a deep breath and grins, his eyes immediately going to Madoka who grins at him. Everyone in the room claps and cheers, although Ippei’s cheers are more muted and polite than the three girls’.

Kanna blushes and jumps up, suddenly snagging the microphone from Eiji. “That was good for you, stupid pres. Let me show you how it’s really done, though!” She bumps him with her hip and Eiji actually stumbles a little as he takes a seat. He rolls his eyes.

“This should be good.” He looks at Ippei.

Kanna navigates the menus faster than Eiji had and a guitar and almost techno-like pop beat starts blaring over the speaker. Madoka gasps as she recognizes the song, thinking that this song suits Kanna too well. It is too cute, like Kanna.

“Without anyone noticing, the rain let up. With the rain having stopped, the town sparkles…” Kanna sings, her voice taking on an adorably cute tone that matches or even surpasses the artist herself. She wields her cute sex appeal perfectly as she sings, dancing and gesturing like Eiji did in his performance, but with a lot more elegant precision.

“Indeed, what a wonderful wonder world! Taking your hand now, I want to open this door with you.” She gestures with her hand, and almost seems to be doing it specifically in Eiji’s direction. Madoka notices Eiji blushing a little, as though he thinks so too.

“Come on! Continue to play the music and take control! Bravely seizing your dreams, s-s-s-s-stand tall!” Kanna winks, seeming like an idol as she whirls, her blonde twintails swinging as she dances with amazing rhythm. For the first time in her life, Madoka feels jealous. Of what? No, she knows. She is jealous of the grace and natural sex appeal that Kanna has. Those dance moves. She is jealous of Kanna’s ability to dance and spin wildly. She covers her face as she gets herself under control. Part of her finds Kanna’s undeniable sex appeal attractive, the other part is consumed with this jealousy. Can she sing anywhere near as well as Kanna? Should she even try? How can anyone follow this act? Her frilly pink dress with white lacy accents is perfect for the cute tone of the song she has chosen, lending her an even more idol-like atmosphere.

“Indeed, what a wonderful wonder world! Taking your hand now, I want to open this door with you and… proceed to a place that we haven't seen before. Such a wonderful wonder world! It’s also felt scattered throughout this city. Even the worrying future fades away when I’m with you! What a wonder!” Kanna finishes her song, joining in with the final chorus singing “na na na”s. When the song finishes, Kanna is in a pose that shows off her creamy thighs. Her dress’ skirt is somehow lifted more than usual showing a hint of panty and her lovely legs to great effect, and her pose is sassy, but cute, one hip extended, one eye closed in a wink.

The room is quiet for a moment. Aoi starts clapping excitedly, grinning and squealing a little at her friend’s amazing performance. The boys soon join in too, clapping very animatedly. Madoka blushes, and joins in. She has to admit that Kanna’s performance has affected her too. The worm of jealousy gnaws at her even as her body seems to be responding in a way she hasn’t really expected.

“You go next, Hamada-chan,” Eiji says after a moment. “I don’t know if my heart can take it, but I’m willing to take the chance.” He eyes Kanna and she laughs, blushing as she steps forward and sets the microphone and remote down. She plays with a twintail as she grins.

“You… you really liked it?” She seems to focus on Eiji but looks at all of them, and everyone nods, expressing their enthusiastic approval of her performance.

“No… I… I can’t follow that,” Madoka says in response to Eiji’s statement.

“That’s okay. You go next then, shadow-pres.” Kanna smiles. Ippei is blushing slightly. He shakes his head and nods.

“Alright. I’m not very good at this, but I don’t mind.” He clambers out, and Eiji moves for him so that he can. He picks up the remote and starts searching. He hesitates as he navigates through various song choices. Finally with a shrug he makes his decision. The title ‘Forever Love’ comes up on the screen and a piano starts playing with a soft drumbeat. Soon strings start joining in with the melody. Ippei doesn’t pose or gesture. He just stands with the microphone with his eyes closed and head down and he starts singing. Despite his lack of physical movement, his voice stuns everyone.

“I’ll never walk alone again, the winds of time are too strong. Ah, it’s that what you hurt, which you’ll have to live with…”

Kanna blushes pretty quickly as Ippei’s performance continues and she clasps her hands to her chest. Aoi isn’t as affected, but even her eyes moisten as he sings.

“Will you hold my heart? Stop flowing, tears. Again, my heart is completely broken…”

Aoi and Kanna’s eyes are filled with tears by now as they listen. Eiji watches Ippei and shakes his head, but when he turns his head and notices the reactions of the girls to Ippei’s performance, the words he seems to be on the point of saying die on his lips. He blinks and laughs and looks over at Madoka and his eyes widen even more when he sees that Madoka is in a similar condition. He chews his lip. Madoka notices out of the corner of her eye but she can’t help but watch Ippei as he seems to pour his heart out into the lyrics. Even her heart throbs a little at the shadow pres’ impassioned performance.

“Forever love, forever dream, within flowing tears, bright seasons forever change again and again, forever love….” Ippei sings, finishing the song. He simply stands there as the music comes to an end. Madoka half expects to see tears in his eyes when he looks up based on the amount of emotion he has put into his performance, but his expression is the same as ever as he walks over to the table. Kanna starts clapping enthusiastically.

“Not as dynamic as Eiji-kun’s performance, but amazing, shadow-pres!” Kanna enthuses. Aoi nods her agreement, smiling and wiping a tear from her eye, and after a moment Madoka does too, blushing.

“Not as dynamic? Hell! He didn’t move an inch and it was still powerful,” Eiji says, his tone admiring and jealous both. “Amazing, man.” He pats Ippei on the back.

“I don’t need your patronization, stupid pres.” Ippei smiles at Eiji. Eiji rolls his eyes and shrugs, smiling.

“Well! I think…” Aoi turns to look at Madoka. Madoka shakes her head and waves her hands at Aoi’s questioning look. “I think I’ll go next.” Aoi squirms under the table and crawls out from under it. She turns and picks up the remote Ippei laid back down onto the table, and starts searching through the menu.

“Hey… let’s order some drinks,” Eiji suggests. “Hit that call button.”

Aoi blinks and then smiles. “Yeah sure.” She hits the call button and after a few moments a voice comes over the speaker on the remote.

“Thank you for your patronage! What can I get you?” Everyone calls out their order, which Aoi clarifies for the person over the intercom. Kanna orders a milk tea. Aoi orders a melon soda, which Madoka seconds. Eiji orders roasted green tea, and Ippei orders black coffee.

Once the order is finished, Aoi resumes her search and finally, looking unsatisfied, settles on a track.

Piano again starts playing, and drums join. Aoi starts singing the song titled, ‘My Soul, Your Beats!’.

Madoka watches with a smile as her friend opens her mouth. She doesn’t pose much, but she does move with the beat. “On a sleepy morning when I just fall asleep and wake again over and over…”

Madoka grins, recognizing the song after a while. She laughs, feeling like she should have suspected that Aoi would be into anime with fighting like Angel Beats. Aoi sings the song soulfully like Ippei has, but her singing voice is obviously less polished than Kanna’s. Even so, her song mesmerizes Madoka even more for some reason. Aoi’s eyes meet hers periodically during her performance and when they do, a shock goes through her and she blushes. She isn’t sure what Aoi is thinking, but at those times, Aoi seems to move more animatedly. Finally she is moving, her motions less full of sex appeal than Kanna’s were, but still powerful and graceful.

“Before I knew it, I took off running, pulled along by your hand. Yesterday so distant and tomorrow so close. Naturally it made my heart leap,” Aoi sings. Madoka feels her heart beating quickly as she does. A polite knock comes at the door in the middle of Aoi’s performance, however when no one opens the door, the knocking stops, allowing Aoi to continue her performance. She is distracted for a moment, but resumes, without missing a ‘beat’.

“These days that could vanish like some hundred million dreams. I saw them off, waved goodbye, and said ‘thank you’.” Aoi finishes the song as the driving beat stops and the piano finishes its somewhat mournful melody. When the song finishes, Madoka claps excitedly.

“That was great Aoi-chan!” She grins, bouncing almost as excitedly as Kanna, who also bounces.

“Yaaay, Aoi-chi!” Kanna cheers, laughing. Aoi grins and blushes and holds her hand up as she opens the door, quickly.

After a moment, Aoi steps aside and an employee walks in, and starts setting drinks from his tray onto the table. He politely excuses himself after depositing them and everyone takes a little break as they sip their drinks.

“Wow… everyone is so good at this,” Kanna enthuses. “I’m having so much fun! We really need to do this again!” She grins, looking at Eiji.

Eiji chuckles and nods. “I’m having a blast. I still haven’t heard Hamada-chan’s performance yet though. Do you feel better yet?” Eiji asks Madoka. Madoka blushes and squirms a little, sipping her melon soda. She is really enjoying the flavor, not having had a melon soda in ages. Finally she frowns and looks down at the table.

“I’m still anxious,” she murmurs.

“I don’t see why.” Kanna looks at Madoka. Aoi does too, with a puzzled frown. “Where is this lack of confidence coming from?” she asks as she sips at her milk-tea through the cute straw in it.

Madoka blushes. “I don’t know… I’m not used to singing,” she says.

“Not used to singing or never went singing? I can see how a lady like you might not have had the opportunity,” Ippei enquiries.

Madoka shakes her head. “No… it’s not that. I’ve been out with friends. It’s just been a really long time.” she squirms. “I don’t know how I’ll sound.”

“Why don’t we sing a duet?” Eiji grins, waggling his eyebrows. “I bet I can find something super fun that will get you into the spirit of things.”

Madoka blushes and looks around. She feels like she wants to escape. She doesn’t know what to do, but she can’t, because she won’t get far. She thinks for a moment about whether she can crawl out successfully.

Aoi, noticing her friend’s distress, chews her lip and then smiles. “Well, I’m still warmed up. Why don’t we do a duet. I promise I’ll go easy on you,” she offers, putting a hand on her friends’ shoulder to calm her. Madoka looks at her friend and blushes, feeling her hand on her shoulder. Her heart throbs a little as she hovers on the point of indecision. Finally, she makes her decision.

“Okay, Aoi-chan.” She smiles.

Eiji looks a little crestfallen for a moment, but smiles warmly. “Alright! You can do it, Hamada-chan!” he cheers her on.

Madoka smiles at him. “You can just sit there.” Aoi hands Madoka the second microphone.

“Let’s see if we can find some good duet songs.” Aoi scrolls through the options and points out a few songs, playing samples. Madoka shakes her head, not recognizing any of them. Eventually she comes to Sayonara no Tsubasa. “Macross F… do you recognize it?” Aoi asks, seeming excited.

“Yes!” Madoka grins. “I loved this part! I never thought I would sing it though.” She blushes.

“Let’s do it!” Aoi crows, and Madoka giggles as she hits the button and the opening of the song comes on. “You do the second part, okay?”

Madoka nods, squirming in sudden embarrassment. The sound of guitar and then strings and drum play over the speaker. Madoka stays seated. Aoi stands next to her, and the other three move to the other side of the booth so they can watch both better.

Aoi starts the song off. “The wind that shakes the horizon… is the blaze burning?” The beat of the song and Aoi’s voice fills Madoka with feelings of excitement.

“Shivering, I stand at the entrance to the world, Until my feelings are delivered, I can’t die.” Madoka sings the second part, her tone clumsy and a little weak, but Aoi’s enthusiasm infects her quickly.

They sing the next lines together, not harmonizing especially well, but their voices sound really nice together, Madoka’s higher pitched voice and Aoi’s lower pitched voice blending with a natural and untrained quality.

“Those wings are Valkyria before the wounded soldier, Valkyria lover of swooping illusions, crossing over the rainbow bridge to guide that spirit Valkyria!. Even if I disobey fate, Valkyria, Even if torn away from tears, Valkyria, Before daybreak there is no life that won’t glitter. I love you.” They look at each other as they sing. Madoka’s tone has evened out and become more confident.

Eiji watches and listens and his jaw drops a little for some reason as he watches them sing. Ippei smiles approvingly. Kanna watches with fascination, a smile on her face.

“Take a breath; let’s go to the future, and make our choice,” the two sing, at this point harmonizing to an amazing degree despite the odd quality in Madoka’s voice, but that quality seems to lessen as time passes and more emotion is invested in the song.

“Valkyria! I rendezvous with the wind, Valkyria! Someday I’ll bid it farewell, Valkyria! Before daybreak, there is no life that won’t glitter. I’m alive. Wearing armor of light on this body, soaring towards the sky. Valkyria: Wings of Goodbye. I love you…”

The two finish the song powerfully. Tears stand in Madoka’s eyes and she blinks and rubs them with a little giggle when they finish. Her heart is pounding fiercely. Aoi leans back against the wall, a smile on her face. Suddenly, Madoka feels Aoi embrace her, hugging her. “You’re such a mystery, Madoka-chan.” Aoi laughs fondly. The two feel themselves glomped by Kanna who squeezes them tightly.

“You two! I can’t believe how amazing that was!” she squeals. Madoka blushes and Aoi laughs and the three squeal as they hug it out.

“Cuteness overload.” Eiji sighs as he watches the girls.

“Oh yes.” Ippei adjusts his glasses which seem to have fogged up slightly.

After a moment, Kanna lets go of her two friends and looks at Eiji and Ippei. “Are you thinking impure thoughts?” she teases.

“Never!” Ippei says stiffly, his face deceptively calm even while the fog clears from his glasses. Eiji blushes profusely and scowls a little.

“Not about you, flat chest.” Eiji says indignantly. Kanna gasps and her eyes widen in response.

“Stupid pres!” She picks up her milk tea and downs it quickly. After a moment she looks at Eiji with angry determined eyes.

“Alright, stupid pres! We’re going to do it too. Come on!” She crawls out from under the table and takes the microphones, shoving one into Eiji’s hands. Eiji blinks.

“No… that’s alright. I…” he starts.

Kanna grabs his collar and pulls his face close to hers. “We’re gonna do it, so just sing, idiot,” she says. “Do I have to make Aoi-chi beat you up?” She grins.

“Oh no… that’s alright.” Eiji looks at Aoi who looks at him blandly. To support her friend she cracks a knuckle, and Eiji winces. “Let’s sing.” He laughs anxiously.

Kanna smiles brightly and picks up the remote and starts clicking through options. She finally settles on one and the title displays as music starts playing. ‘Forever From Just One Second’. Eiji looks at Ippei as though begging him for help as the piano music starts playing a lovely little song. Drums and strings join in with the piano and the male lyrics start.

“I am not going to say goodbye, because every time I close my eyes, you are always there,” Eiji sings, unenthusiastically at first but his showmanship takes over and he stands and poses dramatically. Unlike his previous performance, he adopts a more relaxed pose as Aoi and Ippei had in their performances.

“If tomorrow is coming, I do not need anything else, I just want to keep smiling, always.” Kanna sings her part with great passion, backing up against Eiji and looking over her shoulder at him cutely. He blushes a little and Eiji starts his next line.

“Please do not say it, I want to feel you by my side more,” Eiji sings, seemingly losing a little of his confidence as his voice shakes a little.

“If you say it out loud, I feel like something is going to break,” Kanna sings, winking at Eiji. Eiji rolls his eyes and the two start singing together. “I was making sure by the warmth of that hand of yours. If unstoppable time is going to separate us, I want to stare at you more, I want to hold you forever, time is slipping away.”

The two sing together. Aoi smiles and scootches Madoka over, and reaches across the table for her drink. She sits with her hip up against Madoka’s. Madoka blushes a little at that and sips her melon soda, realizing that she has finished it already.

“Aren’t they cute?” Aoi asks softly to Madoka, grinning. “You know… I think Kanna likes the idiot.” She laughs.

Madoka blinks and watches them and then laughs. “I think so too,” she observes as she watches her friend sidle up to Eiji while they sing the duet together. Eiji seems somewhat oblivious, but even he has to blush here and there, his voice shaking a little at some of what Kanna does, seeming to flip her skirt by accident. She really pours on the sex appeal, and it all seems focused on Eiji. Ippei watches with his usual blank expression as he drinks his black coffee.

“If tomorrow is coming, I do not need anything else, I just want you to keep smiling, always… forever more. If tomorrow is coming, I do not need anything else, I just want you to keep smiling, always… I’m not going to say goodbye…” they finish the song, Kanna looking up into Eiji’s eyes.

Everyone in the room applauds for them, and Eiji quickly takes a seat, blushing. He looks at his empty roasted green tea bottle and curses under his breath.

“We’re almost out of time,” Eiji says regretfully. “I paid for an hour.” He checks his cellphone, confirming his sense of time. “We have time for one more. Do you think you could do one solo, Hamada-chan?” Eiji asks Madoka, his eyes begging her.

Madoka hesitates, but buoyed by the excitement and having already done one, she nods, blushing. “I’ll do the last one,” she consents.

She picks up the remote and flips through the options, uncertainly. She bites her lip. She eyes some of the more hot-blooded songs she used to be into, but decides against it. She’s gotten enough odd looks today. Finally, she settles on Crossing Field. She has heard that more than a few times from when she watched Sword Art Online, and the lyrics suit her mood in more than one way. The techno-like J-pop beat starts and Madoka sings, putting her heart into it.

“Even as I’ve acknowledged my cowardly past, I still act so scared like I don’t understand a thing. Now my past is being projected into the present.”

The voice of the artist goes through her mind as she sings, and her own voice unconsciously emulates it, exuding more femininity than it has so far. Eiji watches raptly, seeming on the edge of his seat. Ippei watches quietly, but intently. Kanna smiles, surprised and pleased with her friend’s performance. Aoi seems shocked and she watches Madoka with intensity. Madoka can’t move much but she does rock to the beat of the song, shaking her hands and gesturing a little like Kanna has in her own performances.

“Jumping high from my dreams. No matter what sort of anxiety clings to me, I’ll go ahead and shake it off. Expand and bring out that sleeping, small little thought. I realize that I’m weak, but not if you’re here. You give me strength to face the darkness of this world. My heart seems to be looking at a long dream forever.”

Madoka finishes the song strongly, and looks up at everyone as the background singers in the track sing ‘I want to always be with you, I want to hold you tight right now, I swear I will wipe your tears, I’ll give you everything I have’. She blushes as the song ends, breathing a little hard, as though she’s run a mile.

The room remains quiet for a moment and then everyone claps and cheers. Kanna dog piles on her again while Aoi looks at her, chewing her lip. Finally Aoi joins in again.

“That was great, Madoka-chan. You’re so much better than you thought,” Eiji enthuses, whistling and clapping.

“It was a good rendition.” Ippei claps more politely, but smiles, rolling his eyes at Eiji’s enthusiasm.

The rest of the evening goes by fairly quickly. Madoka and Aoi make their way to the Dissidia game banks and Eiji joins them, while Ippei and Kanna make their way over to the rhythm games. Madoka doesn’t do as well as she hoped. Aoi and Eiji dominate, getting a lot of KO’s on her. After spending 400 yen in trying to approach their performance, Madoka gives it up with a laugh and excuses herself to go do what she has had her heart set on doing.

Aoi and Eiji trash talk each other as Madoka slips out to make her way to the bank of crane games. The figure she has her eye on still seems poised to drop, it seems to her, so she puts ten 100 yen coins into the machine and prepares to stretch her crane game muscles. She is disappointingly inaccurate, though she does manage to nudge the box closer to the edge by the time she finishes the first ten rounds of attempts. Her face is pouty as she digs out another ten 100 yen pieces and slides them into the coin slot. She resumes her attempts, happily humming, slipping into the zone as she works the box closer and closer to dropping.

Kanna taps the buttons on the Love Live machine with amazing rhythm and precision. Her pace is very rapid dueto, the game being in expert mode. Ippei watches as she doesn’t make any mistakes as she plays. She does not miss any notes. Finally, with a laugh, he cracks his knuckles and puts some coins into the machine next to hers and then focuses on his own screen. He too is expert level. Will she notice it?

Kanna takes a break, pulling a cute kerchief from her purse and dabbing her face lightly so as not to mess up her light makeup. Has Eiji noticed the extra work she has put into her appearance for him? She hopes he has. She peeks over her shoulder back towards the Dissidia bank where Aoi and he are still dueling each other. She pouts a little. Would it kill him to come over and watch her awesome playing? Well she can do that too she decides. Maybe if she flatters him a little bit about his skill at Dissidia… she is fairly certain that Aoi is wiping the floor with him, though, so maybe there won’t be an opportunity for her there after all.

After all the work she has done arranging this whole meetup secretly with Eiji and Ippei, it hasn’t gone quite like she has wanted, though the duet was fun! She pouts a little over the things that haven’t gone exactly the way she wanted them to and looks over at Ippei’s machine before thinking about doing another song or two herself.

He is pretty good as usual. He is a king of DDR, which means most rhythm games are right up his alley. She turns her attention back to her screen with a little sigh.

“I’m sick of Wada beating me. Let’s play some Mario Kart, man,” Eiji grouches at Ippei, trying to peel him away from his boring rhythm games. It really is all he likes to do, and that annoys Eiji. It won’t kill his friend to try out some more manly games. Dissidia, for instance. He’s reasonably sure he can beat the frustratingly cool guy if only he can just get him to join him for a round or two of some fighting game. Wada is demonic when it comes to fighting games. He shivers a little. Oh, he has won a few rounds, but unfortunately very few rounds.

“Come on, or I’ll knock you on your ass.” Eiji scowls as his friend ignores him as he taps out the rhythm to a cheery and sickeningly cute sounding song.

Finally Ippei looks at him as he finishes. “Fine. Let’s go play. Calm down. Girls don’t like it when you’re not cool.” He gets a dig in on Eiji, who grimaces.

“I’m cooler than you. Which one of us sang a corny love song and which sang a high energy super cool theme song that everyone knows and loves? I rest my case, dude.” Eiji gestures as if dropping a microphone and Ippei laughs.

“Keep up that sassy attitude, Sugawara. You’ll need it for the cute maid uniform that Kanna is going to stuff you in. Then who will be corny and cute?” Ippei gestures the same way Eiji had, and Eiji just looks at him; completely shut down.

“Damn… good comeback,” is all Eiji can mutter.

The five play a few rounds of Mario Kart together. Eiji has managed to get them all together for the final round of gaming. Madoka sighs as she steers her kart. She is currently playing as Wario. Despite all her powers, she has been unable to budge the figure that looks as though it is going to fall any moment. Those machines do tend to bait you, and objects can be deceptively hard to drop.

She hits a double item icon and her items resolve to a green shell and a blue spike shell. She is in third place. She grins a little, an idea forming in her mind.

Several minutes later, Madoka cheers, her hands in the air. She has successfully offed Aoi with the green shell, taking second place, and then brutally destroyed Eiji at the finish line with the spike shell, taking first place in a stunning upset. Everyone laughs and cheers for her.

The girls finish their night at the arcade in the photo booth. Madoka warms up to the silliness quickly, sitting in the booth, but still making faces and gesturing with the other two girls as they pose and apply various effects to their faces, creating long strips of cute photos and making copies of them for all three as they spend the last of the yen they have.

The boys walk the girls to the bus stop, and when the bus comes, they part ways, the girls boarding and the boys walking on towards another whose line goes in the direction of their homes.

“I know how you feel man,” Ippei murmurs after a moment, after hearing Eiji sigh.

This bus has a ramp, so once it lowers, Aoi wheels Madoka up onto it and the three girls sit close to each other, Madoka in her chair with the brakes on, and the other in a nearby set of two seats. At this time of night there are plenty of seats available for the ride home. They get off the bus after many more stops at the appropriate one for Aoi’s house and soon they’re back. Once again, Aoi’s father helps Madoka into the house once he is alerted to the girls’ return to their home. Aoi directs him to take Madoka into her room and the three settle down at the low table surrounded by cushions while Aoi’s mother prepares some tea and a light snack for the three.

They chat lightly, and Madoka looks around, taking in details of Aoi’s room with a little blush. Her room looks girlish, but also is a little more plain than she has expected. She blushes more as she sees Aoi’s bed. It isn’t as impressive as her bed at the mansion, but then, the room itself isn’t as overpowerfully girly. It feels comfortable and alot more ‘lived in’ than her own room. Her own room feels like a hotel room to her… containing nothing of her own personality or likes or dislikes in it. Aoi’s room is different. It shows her personality. Her cute side, and her somewhat boyish side. She examines the poster of a man with a sword, and blinks.

“Ninja Gaiden?” she asks. Aoi pauses mid-sentence and gapes a little. “You know it?” she says, her tone disbelieving.

“What?” Kanna asks, her expression clueless.

“Yes! It’s a lot of fun. I’m not great at it. I got into it after playing a little Dead or Alive and…” Madoka says, trailing off as Kanna studies her with a raised eyebrow. Aoi smiles broadly however, and shakes her head.

“You constantly surprise me, Madoka. You don’t look like the kind of girl who enjoys things like this and yet you played Dissidia with me, a little at least.” She grins. “You know, I can help you work on your skills. I bet you could beat stupid-pres if you work at it.” She grins eagerly.

Madoka giggles. “I’d love that.” She blushes.

Kanna rolls her eyes and smiles, standing up. “Okay, you two, enjoy your geek talk. I’m going to go out briefly.” She stands and walks over to the door, sliding it open and then closed behind her.

Aoi sits closer to Madoka, looking into her eyes as the two talk about fighting games they’ve played. She’s surprised to hear the shockingly long list of titles. She has assumed that Madoka is pretty much a cute princess and even though she is weird sometimes, nothing much has really changed her mind about that until now. Madoka is a puzzle to her, one that she doesn’t understand.

Madoka looks into her eyes and her heart beats quickly. She doesn’t understand those emotions. Something about Madoka makes her feel that way, she knows, and she hasn’t felt this way about anyone ever before. She blushes, resisting a sudden urge, and moves to stand, flustered. I need some air, she thinks. Where is that stupid Kanna? This wouldn’t feel so awkward if… As she stands, her leg cramps and she gasps, falling forward. The two girls scream as they go down. Aoi ends up on top of Madoka and their eyes meet. Madoka groans softly as she wriggles her legs out from under her, but she doesn’t look away from Aoi and Aoi doesn’t look away from her. Her heart beats so fast she feels as though it will shatter her ribcage any moment, and something happens that she never would have imagined. She leans forward and kisses her cute new friend.

Madoka looks up into Aoi’s eyes, whimpering a little as she moves her legs out from under her. She is more flexible than she used to be, but that still hurts her. Even so, she is lost in the moment, looking into Aoi’s eyes. Her heart beats quickly, and she feels Aoi’s body on top of hers. The softness of it is wonderful. She freezes like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming bus. Then the bus hits her. Aoi’s soft lips press against her own. Her eyes widen and she stiffens, and then all her senses go hazy as she finds herself kissing her new friend back. The two hug each other as they kiss the passion that has been building between them tonight out. If it wasn’t for the door sliding open things might have gone even farther between the two.

“Mr. Uchida! What is the meaning of this!?” the voice of an angry Sakamoto-Kocho challenges Saito over his desk phone. Oh no… this isn’t good at all! How did he find out!? Saito leans forward, head in his hands. I’m sorry, Senpai… I can’t stop the coming storm now.

“Sakamoto-Kocho… I’m not sure what you mean…” Saito lies as convincingly as he can.

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Eleven **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Depth of Their Feelings
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

http://paypal.me/rellawing
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Aoi’s mouth presses down on hers suddenly and the shock stiffens Madoka. She has lost hope that she will ever find a girl that might be interested in her in this way. It has hurt her, thinking that perhaps it is her fate to end up the wife of a nice boy. She has been halfway resigned to that possibility, not imagining that her new friend would ever reciprocate the feelings that she has tried to quash. The sudden passion of Aoi’s kiss causes her brain to melt down.

She stiffens at first and feels tears pour from her eyes and her mind blanks as she reciprocates, arms wrapping around Aoi. Aoi herself seems startled at first but does not stop kissing, and as the two kiss, the mood heats up instead of cooling down. Aoi tentatively quests out with her tongue and Madoka instinctively reciprocates, caressing hers against Aoi’s gently, passionately. Gentle holding turns to heavy petting as the two heat up and Madoka feels an intense heat building in her lower abs and spreading out from that point. A heat that she is unfamiliar with, but which drives her on.

Hands quest gently over each other’s soft bodies and fingers grip the fabric of each other’s clothes. Aoi’s tongue plumbs Madoka’s mouth deeply and Madoka accepts the penetration wholeheartedly, welcoming it and wanting more of it. Madoka tugs her friend’s shirt up slightly. As she does, the door slides open and Kanna’s gasp shatters the intense moment like thin porcelain under a hammer. Aoi’s eyes widen and her already blushing cheeks blush an even deeper shade of crimson. She throws herself backwards and the friends stare at each other uncertainly, panting.

Kanna gapes, blushing redly herself as she looks around then quickly hurries in, closing the door behind her.

“What is this??? What did I just see?” she asks, her expression turning slightly lewd. “Oh my! Aoi-chi… Madoka-chi… I didn’t know you leaned that way.” Her expression is kittenish and teasing.

“I… I don’t… Kanna… it wasn’t what it…” Aoi protested and then looked at Madoka, chewing her lip in consternation.

Madoka is frozen solid with shock as she stares at Kanna. Even her tears have stopped. Kanna starts laughing and kicking her feet. “Oh, this is too good,” she squees. “If it isn’t what it looks like, what is it, Aoi-chi? Careful… you don’t wanna hurt Madoka-chi’s feelings.” She grins.

“N… no… I… I… I... “ Aoi claps her hands to her burning cheeks, looking around in desperation. “I need to go!” she gasps, jumping to her feet and rushing to slide open her bedroom door and slam it shut behind her.

Kanna watches her go with an amused expression and then she turns her attention to Madoka, wrapping her arms around her knees as she sits on a cushion at the small table where she had sat before she had left the room previously. She is now wearing a nightie as cute as any of the ones that Madoka herself had been provided with, in pink of course. Kanna seems to like the color pink a lot.

Madoka stares at her and suddenly seems to thaw. “I… I…” she gasps in much the same way that Aoi has already done, trailing off.

“Well, I actually expected it a little from you, Madoka-chi. Believe it or not. It was just a guess though. You respond to the boys, but you also look at the girls a little. I was reasonably sure that you were into both.” She giggles. “Just so you know, I don’t exactly swing that way myself.” She grins.

“What amazes me is that Aoi-chi does. I never read that in her, not in all the time we’ve spent together. She never looked twice at me and honestly, no offense intended, I think I have you beat slightly in the cuteness department. Very slightly.” She smiles at Madoka holding up her fingers to show the very small amount she means metaphorically. “Again, no offense, but you’re weird, Madoka-chi… you act strangely. No one else seems to get that except for maybe Aoi-chi. We haven’t had a moment to talk, just you and I, until now. If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask why you seem like you don’t fit in perfectly. It’s like you’re just learning these things we take for granted for the first time in your life,” she points out.

Madoka gapes and blushes, floored by Kanna’s sudden perceptiveness. “I... “ she hesitates. “Um… you… you wouldn’t believe it. Trust me...” Madoka closes her eyes and hugs her legs up against her like Kanna does. She buries her face in her knees, however. Tears leak from her eyes and she sniffles, feeling a panic attack coming on. She hasn’t had one in a while, but this situation is just too much for her to handle. Her emotions are running so high with elation, disappointment, fear, and anxiety. She feels herself starting to hyperventilate as Kanna gently probes her for information.

“Try me. I have a pretty good imagination and an open mind. Are you some kind of super sheltered princess who only got let out of her cage recently? That would explain why you’re so awkward,” she says with a giggle.

Madoka looks at her, still breathing hard. She sees the way out in that moment. She can lie, she can encourage that belief that Kanna already holds. The words she is about to say die on her lips. She feels herself overwhelmed again as she felt several times before, most notably in the master’s study what seems to her now so long ago. She doesn’t want to lie to one of her only friends in the world. She doesn’t want to lie anymore at all to anyone. She needs to tell someone the impossible truth, but when she opens her mouth, nothing comes out. Her eyes glaze and start fluttering as she relives the nightmares of her accident once more.

Kanna rushes forward, realizing that something is wrong, and she wraps her arms around Madoka, hugging her.

“Oh wait… no… what’s going on?” she asks, at a loss as Madoka starts to wail unintelligably. She hugs her, not able to do anything else. She didn’t mean for it to be like this. All she wanted to do was poke a little gentle fun at her best friend’s new budding romance, as shocking as it had been for her to discover. Now this is happening and she has no idea of how to cope with the weird noises Madoka is making. What sort of princess is she? Madoka certainly doesn’t quite fit her idea of one any longer. Princesses stay calm under pressure. Or is she just putting the idea of one up on a pedestal? She can see the tears streaming from Madoka’s eyes as she cries.

“AOI-CHI!” she screams loudly. “AOI-CHI COME BACK!” she yells, desperately. Hopefully her friend hasn’t gotten far.

Aoi darts from the room in a panic, slamming the door behind her. She hesitates when she reaches the door to the back garden and hops from one foot to the other, indecisively. She does not want to see her parents right now. They will ask her questions she does not want to answer. They will ask her things that she herself doesn’t understand. Aoi pushes open the door and rushes outside into the garden. She runs instinctively to a place she knows very well. In a corner of the garden is a dense group of trees and bushes. There is a spot deep amongst the brush that is still hollowed out. It has been her private place, her secret fortress when she needs to escape, particularly when she was much younger. She needs that desperately at the moment.

She crawls inside the brush, barely fitting now. She hasn’t been in her special place in years now and she has grown since then. Once inside the brush, she sits and curls up, rocking a little. She doesn’t care if she gets her clothes dirty. That was never a concern for the younger Aoi, who loved to play here. She loved to get dirty and play with the boys, even getting rough with them. Being boyish had just been her way growing up. Eventually a day had come when she had started to blossom, and the differences between her and the neighborhood boys had become more and more pronounced to the point where they couldn’t be ignored. The boys grew stronger; she grew in strength too, of course, but only slightly.

To compensate, she had convinced her father and mother to let her take kendo lessons, having at that point been enamoured of samurai dramas and stories. She had decided that if she were able to become a master swordswoman, she could level the playing field with the boys and regain what she had lost. She didn’t want to be a boy, exactly, she was just always the most comfortable around them. She understood them more than she did girls her age. Girls liked cute and pretty things and she liked cool things like boys did. She didn’t reckon on what her natural female development would do to her, however. She continued to learn kendo, but as if something or someone wanted to prove how futile that was, she had her very first period while at kendo practice one day.

She had panicked, thinking that she had been struck by an attack that had hurt her inside, somehow. The instructor had taken her aside, determined the issue, and then arranged to send her home for that day, where her mother had explained it all to her. That had truly started her down the road to womanhood, forever separating her from the boys. Her mother had explained all about it. She had gone down that road, but it had been kicking and screaming, rather than a willing journey. In the end she had come to accept it thanks to Kanna. Kanna had taken an interest in her, the class tomboy. At first, Aoi wanted nothing to do with her. She was the girliest girl that ever girled. She was the epitome of what a young Japanese girl should be, and even at a young age her cuteness and presence had been almost idol-like. That was not her, it was not who and what she wanted to be.

Kanna had worn down her defenses and the two had become grudging if not fast friends. Kanna helped her to understand the parts of the equation that had been gibberish to her before; though she still wasn’t super girly herself, she had been able to embrace her own image of femininity, and that had been more than good enough for her friend. Neither of the two had been attracted to each other, physically. As much as Aoi admired her friend, she was not sexually attracted to her.

That is why Aoi is unable to comprehend how things have gone so very wrong with Madoka. Or so very right… a voice inside of her says, persistently. That kiss had been mindblowing. She hasn’t ever imagined what her first kiss will be like. That sort of musing is for cute girls who think of nothing but boys all day long. If Kanna hadn’t come in when she had, where would she be now? She is very certain that things would have escalated well beyond anything that could have been easily ignored or explained away. They already did. There is that inner voice again. You reciprocated… no, you started it. You wanted it. You wanted to explore that cute mouth. You needed to touch Madoka and-- She blushes redly, feeling faint suddenly as she cuts off that line of thought harshly.

“AOI-CHI!” Aoi sits up, shocked by Kanna’s loud and sudden yell. “AOI-CHI COME BACK!” The panic and desperation in her friend’s voice decides her course of action. She still feels angry and confused, but she pushes those emotions aside and squirms out of her hiding place and runs across the garden to the door, sliding it wide open. Her mother rushes up the hallway towards her room.

“What’s wrong, Aoi?” she asks, her expression worried.

“I… I don’t know… I’m checking now!” Aoi blushes and dashes into the room, unable to meet her mother’s gaze. Sorry, Mama… your daughter is strange.

She slides the door open with a bang and sees a look of relief cross Kanna’s expression for a moment when she sees Aoi, but her expression changes again to worry as she looks at Madoka laying in her arms.

“Aoi-chi… Madoka-chi… she’s… I don’t understand it,” she wails, hugging Madoka. Madoka’s eyes flutter, her skin is pale and she wails again. The sound of it chills Aoi. Her mother rushes in behind her and she stares in shock at the girl having an episode of some sort on her daughter’s floor.

“I… oh… I’ll call emergency!” she declares and rushes out. Aoi hesitates and then dashes forward, hugging Madoka.

“MADOKA! Stop this, you’re scaring Kanna… what’s wrong? Are you okay? Please…” She feels tears in her eyes as she caresses the girl’s face with her hand. Madoka’s eyes focus and she mumbles. Aoi gasps, noticing the reaction, and despite her desire to withdraw, she continues to gently stroke Madoka’s tear soaked face. “Shhh… shhh… it’s okay… just relax… I’m here… I get it. I know,” she says softly, hugging her. She understands instinctively at that moment that Madoka is experiencing something frightening, and it has reduced her to this. Kanna sobs and cries softly, seeming to do her best not to be too audible. She catches on pretty quickly to the reaction that Madoka has to Aoi’s touches and she leans back slightly, seeming to not want to counteract Aoi’s efforts by making things worse in some way. Aoi is grateful for that.

Madoka’s wails lessen into whimpers and then she closes her eyes and rubs her face against Aoi’s caressing hand, seeming to control herself. Kanna draws back at this moment with a soft sigh and a quivering lip.

“I’m so sorry, Aoi-chi. I didn’t want this to happen. Who could have known?” She wrings her hands as she speaks quietly. She doesn’t carry on, however, she just steps aside and puts her head in her hands, shaking it. Her twintails swing back and forth as she worries.

Aoi nods to her and looks at Madoka, wondering at how she was nuzzling her hand. Madoka’s nuzzling makes her feel strange again. She puts that out of her mind for the moment, and just hugs her friend.

“Are you okay, Madoka-chan?” she asks softly.

Madoka takes a deep breath and nods. Suddenly Madoka feels hot as a stove to her and she knows her friend must be blushing incredibly. “I… I’m sorry, Aoi-chan… I really am… I… I have problems. I have a lot of them… I’m such a burden on everyone!” She trails off, sniffling.

“Oh…. it’s okay… don’t think about it… just relax… do you need to go to the hospital?” she asks her friend softly. Madoka gasps at that and shakes her head violently. “No… I don’t need a hospital. I just have these fits sometimes… it’s really rare. I don’t want to go to a hospital… it will be okay now,” she says, her tone pleading. Aoi hesitates and looks at Kanna.

“Go stop Mom… please, Kanna.” Kanna looks at her, and blinks, uncertainly, herself. She looks at Madoka, and then she nods, jumps up, and darts out the door.

They manage to cancel the emergency call, although Aoi’s mother insists that they call Madoka’s guardian. Not wanting to involve Master Yoshi, Madoka decides to use her cellphone to call Kozuke.

The phone rings and Kozuke picks it up immediately. “Sugar? Is everything going well?” he asks.

“Yes… no… Kozy…” Madoka trails off, crying a little. “I messed up, Kozy… I had another fit. They’ve been gone so long I thought I was in the clear, but something happened and it just triggered it…” Madoka cries. Aoi pats her back gently and Kanna hugs her again.

“Oh no…” Kozuke sighs. “I’ll be over immediately!”

“Ah… you don’t need to do that, Kozy… I think I’ll be okay… Aoi-chan’s mom wanted me to call someone and let them know. I’m really sorry about this,” she sniffles. “It was all going really well, too… I feel so awkward now.”

“It’s okay, Kozy,” Kanna says, putting on a tone approaching her usual good cheer. “We’ll take good care of her. I promise there won’t be any more problems,” she calls out. Aoi rolls her eyes and smiles.

“Yeah… we’ll look after her for tonight… you get some sleep,” Aoi adds, grinning at Kanna who giggles in response.

The laughing of the two serves to soothe the worried butler’s worries. Kozuke grudgingly nods. “Alright. Tell them that I expect them to do a good job of it,” he says gruffly.

Madoka, infected by the sudden joviality, giggles as well. The heavy mood shatters then and the three hug each other tightly. Aoi’s mother watches from the door, her expression initially skeptical. Finally, she too smiles.

“I’ll bring some chocolate to you girls. Make sure you brush your teeth before you sleep.” She leaves and slides the door shut behind her.

“Thanks, Mom!” Aoi calls out with a smile as the three girls giggle. Kanna is the first to throw a pillow, then, her mischievousness triggered by the happier mood. Stunned at first by her audacity, the other two pause and then, seeing the smirk on Kanna’s face, they join in. The room fills with the sounds of laughing and shrieking. Kozuke listens to the fight escalate and, with a laugh, disconnects the phone call.

Around the same time, Sakamoto-kocho studies his computer screen, scrolling through a series of records. While checking them routinely earlier, he had noticed a glaring discrepancy that he thinks he can’t ignore. He has a few connections with Social Services and a couple of other government agencies. Saito isn’t talking now, but he knows that something is up. The exceptions that have been made in the case of Hamada Madoka, or should he say Fugui Madoka, have been highly suspicious in nature. The question now is, does he want to open this Pandora’s Box or does he want to leave it closed? He looks at the earlier transcripts and records of the boy named Fugui Madoka and thinks.

The rest of the night goes well. Madoka and Aoi are unable to forget their kiss and sometimes find themselves staring at each other, but Kanna is there to help keep things lively and relatively uncomplicated. They enjoy cups of hot tea and pieces of chocolate and talk long into the evening. Finally, Aoi’s mother knocks on the door to tell them to get settled down. She adds once again that they need to brush their teeth. The three girls smile wryly at one another and the two trudge out, leaving Madoka behind for a moment. Kanna returns shortly, with a cup of water and a basin, and Madoka uses it gratefully, to brush her teeth. When she is done, she looks at Kanna with a warm smile. “Thank you, Kanna-chan.”

Kanna giggles, seeming to want to say something, thinks better of it, and then just says: “No problem. Aoi-chi will be back soon. I think it might be a good idea if I sleep between you two tonight. If you two don’t agree with me, that’s fine, I just want to help out.” She smiles uncertainly. “Plus I’m kind of a third wheel. If you two start cuddling, I won’t know what to do with myself.” She laughs. “Oh… poor stupid pres.” She shakes her head, actually grinning as she says this.

Madoka laughs, not understanding everything going on with that grin. “That might be a good idea,” she allows.

When Aoi returns, the two girls together help Madoka up, and they are able to get her into the bed. The three are small enough to lay together with Kanna in the middle.

“Mmmm… warm…” Kanna giggles. “But I think I’d rather be sandwiched between…” She trails off with a blush. Aoi snorts and swats Kanna. “Owie!” Kanna complains.

Madoka blushes, sort of getting the idea. She is shocked at her friend’s perverted comment. She is not one to judge, however, she knows. Kanna hasn’t been the most perverted of the three here tonight. Kanna isn’t the one who nearly lost control. Madoka shakes her head and sighs, sleepilly. Kanna snuggles between the two and the three giggle softly as they hug and drift off to sleep. Even though it is the beginning of Autumn, it is still hot enough that the three don’t need covers, particularly with pajamas and nightclothes on.

When they wake up in the morning, Aoi is already up and out of the room. Madoka rubs her eyes, looking around. She half-expects to see the lacy curtain-filled room she occupies in the mansion. Instead she sees Aoi’s room and blushes redly, remembering last night vividly. She hugs herself and next to her Kanna shifts, mumbling in her sleep. She wakes, her thick lashes fluttering a little. She yawns cutely and rubs her eyes and then looks at Madoka.

“Morning, Madoka-chi.” She sits up and stretches, looking around. “Oh… Aoi-chi’s doing her morning sword exercises,” she comments. Madoka looks to where she has seen the wooden practice sword leaning against the wall nearby and notes that it is indeed missing.

She sits up as well, and mimics Kanna’s actions slightly, rubbing her tired eyes. “Oh, is that where she is? I wondered.” Madoka blushes. “I kind of want to watch her… do you think she would mind?” Madoka asks hesitantly.

Kanna rolls her eyes a little. “Yes… no… I don’t know. I don’t think she would have before last night. She still might not. Why don’t we ask her? The sooner she wraps it up, the sooner we can go shopping!” She bounces a little.

“Shopping?” Madoka asks, her eye arching slightly. “I didn’t hear anything about this.” She frowns.

“Saturday ritual, Madoka-chi. What did you think we would do? Just go home today? Today is Saturday! We’re going out to have a little more fun before we go home.” She smiles. “Unless you can’t?” she asks.

“No… I don’t think so… I mean… I think I should call Kozy again… but I don’t think he’ll mind. He might even drive us around,” Madoka points out with a smile.

“Hey… yes… he might!” Kanna bounces happily and then laughs. “That solves that problem, maybe! You call Kozy and I’ll run out and ask Aoi-chi if she’ll show off a little for you.” She winks at Madoka, and Madoka blushes, embarrassed and squirming slightly under her friend’s teasing gaze.

“Ehe… cute.” She taps her finger against Madoka’s nose, laughs in response to Madoka’s blush, stands, and exits the room. Madoka hesitates a moment before pulling her cellphone back out of her bag which was, thankfully, left nearby. She scrolls to her quick contacts and taps Kozy’s name.

This time it takes two rings, but the butler answers quickly enough. “Sugar? Are you ready to come home?” he asks her.

“Oh… no… I didn’t understand it, but it seems sleepovers are complicated things. We had a pillow fight and ate chocolate and had a long talk… and this morning we’re going to go shopping.” Madoka smiles, recounting the, theoretically, more normal sleepover items to Kozuke.

“That’s wonderful, Sugar! I’m so pleased to hear that your night was successful after all. We were very worried for you!” His tone is full of relief.

Madoka blinks. “We?”

“The master and I of course.” Kozuke chuckles.

“The master? You told him?” Madoka hisses, confused. Her tone is slightly accusatory.

“Why… yes, of course I did. He is your legal guardian. He needs to be notified of these sorts of things, don’t you agree?” Kozuke’s tone was stern.

“I… yes… I guess so, Kozy.” Madoka blushes. “I just thought it was our… secret,” she trails off.

“Something like that cannot remain a secret. When it concerns your health and personal well-being, it is your father’s business,” Kozuke chides her.

“You’re right… Kozy. I’m sorry,” Madoka apologizes. “Um… so Kanna and I were wondering if you’d be willing to drive us to a mall today, Kozy. Is that possible?” she asks.

Kozuke hesitates a moment, seeming to think it over. “Yes, I think it should be alright. I have little enough to do at the moment, particularly since you have been out of the house. It would be my pleasure to help you. What time shall I be there?” he asks.

“Um…” Madoka checks her phone’s clock. “It is 7:30 now... I don’t know… maybe 9:00?” she asks.

“Sure,” Kozuke replies. “I shall see you soon, then. Do you need anything else?” he enquires.

“No, I’m okay, Kozy.” Madoka smiles, seeing Kanna waiting at the door. “Thank you! See you at 9:00,” she says, and disconnects the line. She looks up at Kanna.

Kanna grins. “She’ll be in to help me take you outside soon. She’s gone to get your chair and is wheeling it around the garden. She seems eager to show off a little for you. When she gets here, we’ll take you out back and put you in it so you can sit while you watch her. Aoi’s mom is super good with sleepovers and timings of meals, so breakfast is probably nearly ready. If we’re quick, though, you should be able to see Aoi nerding it up with her sword.” She laughs.

“How is kendo nerdy?” Madoka asks with a raised eyebrow. “It’s really cool,” she protests.

“It’s old-fashioned.” Kanna shrugs. “I fill a seat in the club for Aoi-chi’s sake, but I’m more interested in cosplay.” Aoi’s face pops in behind Kanna and she glares at the blonde twin-tailed girl.

“Old-fashioned? It’s still relevant, Kanna.” Aoi frowns. When her eyes meet Madoka’s her cheeks flush and she looks away.

“When you usher in a new age of Samurai, let me know. I’ll make a killing selling cool modern kimono and loincloths. I’ll even throw in a sexy loincloth for you for free.” She grins.

Aoi blushes again and swats Kanna. “Owie,” she complains.

The two help Madoka out with slightly more ease than they have anticipated and they set her in her chair, just outside. The garden is beautiful in the morning sunlight, Madoka thinks. Aoi looks at Madoka, not meeting her eyes.

“I already completed my normal exercises, but since you’re interested, I’ll show you.” She smiles.

“First and most important is your posture.” She demonstrates, gesturing as she does, turning so the two girls can see the line of her back muscles. She straightens her back and pushes her shoulders back into a relaxed position, her chest slightly pushed out. Her bottom clenches and her feet separate. She rolls her shoulders.

And so does she… Madoka sighs inwardly, watching her friend with more than scholarly interest.

“See? The line of my back is straight, my butt muscles are supporting my lower back, my feet are relaxed and slightly apart. My posture is like an invisible line is hanging from the sky and supporting me.” She gestures upwards. Madoka blushes in response. This pose has, mostly, just served to draw her attention to nice places of Aoi’s body that are inappropriate to stare at. Up until now, she has been able to force her eyes away from such areas for the sake of politeness and conformity, but Aoi is candy for her eyes now, and it is hard to hide that fact.

Aoi looks at her and blushes, looking away. “Are you here to…” She was going to say ‘watch me’, Madoka thought. “Are you here to learn or not?” Aoi scowls, face still red.

“Yes… I am.” Madoka looks down, chastened.

“Good, then next is wearing the sword,” Aoi says, her tone businesslike. “You hold the sword like so… blade up in your left hand, unless you’re left handed. You must not raise the boken above your hip. Keep your arm straight. Keep your thumb off-center. If you should ever use a real sword, you don’t want to cut yourself.” Aoi smiles. Madoka nods, interested. It reflects in her face and her fading blush encourages Aoi to relax a little more, herself.

After several kendo lessons and breakfast, it was nearly 9:00. The three girls head out the front door to see Kozuke waiting just inside the front gate. Finding that they were able to do so with only a little more trouble than Aoi’s father himself would have had, the two girls escorted Madoka out. Kozuke gave them a small elegant bow and smiled, pleasantly.

“You seem to be well, ladies. Are you ready to leave?” he asks.

Madoka smiles and nods at him. “Yes, please, Kozy!” She waves her right hand, excitedly, as she wheels outside the house genkan behind the two girls.

The three approach the gate and Kozuke holds it open for them. They step out and go through the usual routine of Kozuke helping Madoka into the backseat of the van, before wheeling her chair to the back and loading it up. The two girls climb in afterwards. Kanna gestures to Madoka, flipping her fingers forward. Madoka blinks and nods, moving over to the side in acceptance. Kanna seats herself in the middle and Aoi on the other side of her.

Aoi blushes and frowns a little and looks at Kanna. “You don’t have to go to so much trouble, you know. I can handle the situation like an adult,” Aoi whispers.

“I know. Just keeping everything going smoothly.” Kanna smiles. “Greasing the wheels…” She trails off and breaks down into laughter. Madoka and Aoi look at each other behind Kanna, sighing. They make faces, grinning at each other.

They head into town and Kanna directs Kozuke to the mall she has in mind. The girls disembark when Kozuke parks the vehicle nearby. He turns towards them. “Did you girls want an escort inside the mall?” he asks.

Kanna and Aoi look at each other. Aoi grins and nods her head positively. Kanna shakes her head indicating she’d prefer it if Kozuke didn’t come along, and then shrugs. The two look then to Madoka, who looks back at them. For answer, she grins and nods, two thumbs up.

The four head into the mall with Kozuke pushing Madoka’s chair.

They begin the adventure of moving from store to store and checking out cute things. When one sees something that interests them, she points and the other two crowd in to look. Kozuke watches politely, not engaging, though he does smile. Madoka smiles back at him. They pick out several cute matching My Melody keychains. Aoi and Madoka hesitate; the cute character is not exactly their style, but at Kanna’s insistence they buy them together. She seems really happy afterwards, skipping and bouncing a little as they move on to clothing stores. “Friends, for-ever!” she says in a sing-songy voice.

They start by looking at cute tops that are very Tokyo fashionable. Kanna picks out several cute blouses. Aoi sticks to simpler blouses and tees. Madoka follows Aoi’s example, feeling that her casual, not too cutesy style better suits her. They move on to pants and skirts. Kanna chooses out a skirt in a gothic lolita style, and after only a moment or two’s hesitation, she snags the matching top as well. She tries to convince Madoka to try on something like it, but Madoka steadfastly refuses. Aoi picks a cute pair of jeans that seem like they will be very flattering on her. She blushes a little while doing so, and surreptitiously snatches a creamy blouse with a bit more decoration than the others she has chosen. It looks to Madoka as though it will go very well with the jeans she has chosen.

The girls move to the changing room and try on what they have picked out. Thankfully, there is a larger changing room, allowing Madoka’s wheelchair to pass inside, and affording it excess room. The three crowd into it and unconcerned, Kanna starts to undress. Aoi hesitates a moment and then seems to make up her mind, following her lead. Madoka blushes and forces herself to not stare at Aoi. Kanna, on the other hand, flashes Madoka on purpose in an effort to tease her. Madoka recognizes it as the way that she teased the two boys at karaoke the previous night.

Madoka treats her teasing differently than she expects. She stares at her openly in a way that shows she’s not affected by it. Well, she is definitely affected, and is able to appreciate the cuteness of her friend’s body. Unlike with Aoi, she is able to ignore that attraction as she has been since finding herself in this situation and going back to school. Kanna pouts a little when she realizes her little teases are ineffective on Madoka. Finally, fed up with her joking, Aoi bops her on the head again. “Aiiiee... “ she complains. Madoka and Aoi laugh together and Kanna joins in, grinning.

Kanna and Madoka both complement Aoi when she tries on the pants she has chosen. Madoka notes, amusedly, that the cream blouse she noticed Aoi snag earlier isn’t anywhere to be seen at the moment. Madoka tries on a pair of jeans she has herself selected. Combined with a T-shirt, it makes her feel a little more like her old self as she examines at herself in the mirror. Well, she has to be honest with herself. She doesn’t look a thing like her old self, but in her off days she preferred to wear these sorts of clothes. The feel of them is like a welcome home to her, in a way.

Even though she wears them differently. These accentuate her figure and are nearly as flattering as the cute things that Kozuke usually sets out for her to wear. Although she resolves herself to definitely purchase these, and to ask Kozuke if she can get more clothes like this in the future, she won’t admit that the clothes she has been wearing are starting to grow on her a little. Kanna has a quality of cuteness that makes even her want to compare herself and compete a little. Aoi studiously looks away from her after trying to force herself to look at Madoka normally. It seemed clear that she can’t. A blush quickly stains her cheeks.

I hope things go back to normal at least a little between us, Madoka thinks sadly. The tension makes it hard to be as natural together as usual. At least it is hard while they attempt to maintain a distance between them and deny what has happened. I wish she would kiss me again, she thinks. She blushes at that thought. Shouldn’t I want to kiss her? There is something inside her that says that that is not what she wants. She definitely wants Aoi to kiss her the way she had last night. She wonders if Aoi will ever do so again. The feeling makes her feel girlier than ever, even though it is also a girl that she has her heart set upon. She doesn’t understand how that makes any sense.

The girls finish up and check out their items. Kozuke stands politely off to the side until they leave the store, and then takes their bags for them while Aoi pushes Madoka.

Why can’t I stop thinking of her? Aoi chews her lip as she pushes Madoka’s chair. She looks at the delicate curve of her neck where it meets her shoulder. It is a neck that she wants to kiss, and that thought makes her flush again. Madoka’s soft and lovely lips. She feels herself wanting to look into her beautiful violet eyes. She admires that small and cute body. Why is it so hard to just shut it off, she asks herself. She has to admit that she looked at Madoka before the kiss, not really understanding her feelings towards her or even acknowledging them. What is she going to do with these feelings, now that she knows? It feels impossible to her. She feels deeply saddened. How long will they even be able to remain friends? The way she feels and the way Madoka herself seems to feel, it seems inevitable that they will either separate forever... Or… or what? She blushes. What do I want?

Everyone around her will judge her if she accepts these feelings openly. There is also an even better issue. She hasn’t ever looked at another girl the same way she looks at Madoka. These feelings seem to be meant only for one person. Isn’t that the way it is? Don’t people find their one true love? Do they really have to be attracted to anyone else before they notice that person? She finds herself trying to look at other girls in the mall on the way out, and there are plenty of other really cute and fashionable girls much like Kanna, and even some who are the soft and weak type like Madoka. Is that my type? I thought I liked samurai! She looks at those girls in particular, but still she finds herself unable to find them attractive in the same way that she finds Madoka. That scares her. Why does Madoka excite her so?

.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Mouikkai Musume **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
.·:*:·.**.·:*¨¨*:·.** Chapter Twelve **.·:*¨¨*:·.**.·:*:·.
The Courage To Experience New Things
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Editor: Trismegistus Shandy

http://paypal.me/rellawing
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Aoi stares outside the van window as the three girls and one butler head back in the direction of her family’s home. She frowns as she toys with strands of her hair, and thinks. She has not been able to come to any conclusions regarding her feelings for Madoka. She knows that she needs to either commit to figuring them out, or she needs to break things off. The thought of breaking things off with Madoka makes her heart quiver. She glances towards Madoka, taking in the sight of her once again as she talks animatedly with Kanna. Aoi herself is not participating at the moment and the other two seem content to leave her to her brooding.

When they arrive at her home, she opens the van door immediately, and slides out. She is running away again. She isn’t facing her feelings, and that annoys her the most. She is usually the most straightforward person she knows.

“Umm… Goodbye, Aoi-chan.” Aoi hears Madoka’s voice behind her. She sounds sad, as though she senses that she might never see Aoi again and is resigned to it. Is that what I want? Aoi asks herself, and hesitantly takes a step farther away.

“See you on Monday, Aoi-chi!” Kanna’s cheery voice cuts the dramatic moment. She seems oblivious, but Aoi is certain that she is fully aware of how they are feeling. Like when she kissed Madoka, she feels an intense urge, and she is shocked to find herself surrendering to that urge. Aoi turns, steps back up into the van, and wraps her arms tightly around Madoka. She feels her heart beating super quickly. This is still salvageable… it might still be considered a goodbye hug between friends, she says to herself. She isn’t finished, however. She can’t let it be finished there. She has made a decision. She leans back from the embrace and looks at Madoka’s shy, blushing face. Her eyes are slightly downcast and she sees tears in them.

She feels an intense desire to lick those tears, but she suppresses that desire, instead satisfying herself with something else she has been wanting to do. For the second time.

“Thank you, Aoi-chan… it felt sad to just leave it like…” Madoka trails off as Aoi lifts her face and meets her eyes. Madoka seems stunned by what she sees in Aoi’s eyes and seems to melt in her arms as she leans down and kisses her for the second time, thoroughly. She doesn’t use her tongue this time, but the kiss is no less passionate for that. When she draws back from the kiss, blushing slightly, she notices Kanna squeeing on the other side of Madoka. She’s bouncing up and down a little.

“I wondered how long it would take you to do that, Aoi-chi! What are you going to do now?” Kanna asks, seemingly pleased for all the interference she has run all morning in an attempt to re-normalize things between the friends. Aoi supposes that her girly friend just cannot help getting caught up in romantic moments.

“I don’t know,” Aoi says quietly, and looks at Madoka again, who blushes and squirms in her arms.

“Aoi!” Madoka says softly. “I’m so happy… so happy that you can have feelings for me…” The girl wraps her arms around Aoi tightly, and bawls.

Kanna giggles and gently pats Madoka’s back in an effort to calm her.

Kozuke examines the three in a mirror, a slight frown warring with a pleased smile on his face. “Take your time, ladies,” he murmurs.

Aoi blushes. Kozuke still does it for her, in a different way. He appeals to her old fascination with samurai, oddly enough. She always pictures him in a kimono with a katana belted on his side. His classic looks and overall fitness make that sort of vision easy for her. She recognizes that for what it always was, however, a fascination with an idealized strength. She has never imagined herself wanting to date someone weaker than herself, but she realizes that the drive to become stronger began with a desire to be tougher than the boys around her, somehow.

She realizes now that this is the reason why she hasn’t fallen in love before. She doesn’t want a strong partner that makes her feel small and weak… she wants one that makes her feel strong. She wants to take Madoka on a date and explore their feelings further, but she does not want to do it here in Tsukuba where anyone from school might see. She decides on a course of action, then.

“Want to go on a date tomorrow, Madoka?” Aoi asks her. Madoka blushes and doesn’t hesitate in her response. The time for hesitation is over.

“Yes!” she exclaims happily. “I would love to, Aoi-chan!” Tears are still falling from her eyes from the wealth of emotions swirling around inside of her. Her dearest dream has come true! Aoi is holding her tightly, and they are going to go on a date!

“How about a classic Tokyo date?” Aoi asks, smiling at her. “It will only take a little over an hour to get there by train. I think we should be able to manage just fine with you in your chair.” She smiles.

Madoka gasps, her eyes widening at that. “That’s a wonderful idea! I haven’t seen Tokyo in what feels like forever!” Madoka feels at that moment as though going back to Tokyo might give her some sense of closure with her previous life.

“Then it’s a date.” Aoi smiles, touching Madoka’s cheek and rubbing away her tears softly. “Meet me at Tsukuba Station at 8 am tomorrow, okay?” She smiles. “We’ll take the Tsukuba Express into Tokyo.” Aoi looks towards Kozuke. “Is that alright, Kozy?” Aoi uses Madoka’s nickname for the affectionate butler who is watching them.

“I would like to say yes, girls,” Kozuke replies, his misgivings showing slightly. “I am uncertain about how the Master will take this news,” he murmurs.

“That’s understandable,” Aoi replies, a little glumly.

Kozuke smiles. “I think it will very probably be alright, and there is a gift waiting at home for Madoka’s return. I will speak strenuously on behalf of Sugar and your blossoming romance. I personally could not be happier about it.” He smiles.

“Kozy….” Madoka nearly breaks into tears again in response to the butler’s approving words.

“We will be there on time tomorrow morning, or failing that, Madoka will call you,” Kozuke says.

Madoka squirms, feeling nearly overloaded with excitement. Her heart is beating super quickly. She has never felt more like a girl, and she has never been happier in her life. She leans forward and hugs Aoi quickly.

Aoi’s smile is warm and affectionate as she strokes Madoka’s hair. “You need to be on your way, Madoka.” She winks. “I also have something to tell my own parents. I can’t just up and go to Tokyo without letting them know about it, can I?”

Madoka looks up at Aoi’s face with a happy smile. The feelings inside her chest are so fluttery that she feels as though those feelings will burst from her and take flight into the sky.

“Yes!” Madoka says, her expression joy filled.

They drive Kanna home next after leaving Aoi behind, waving to the van. Kanna looks at her friend and then squeals again, hugging her. Her feelings are warring inside of her. On one hand she’s ecstatic about seeing Aoi break free from her shell a little more and indulge in romance. On the other hand, she’s a little upset, and she cannot help but wonder what this will mean for the friendship between the three, particularly her friendship with Aoi, which Madoka has only recently become a part of.

That part of her is jealous. Not romantically; she really has no feelings for Aoi in either a romantic or sexual way. Rather, she feels as though her friend is going to be stolen from her by her new friend. She dislikes feeling that way. Madoka is a sweet girl who would never do anything like that maliciously. She knows that, and she wants to approve of their relationship. She knows, however, that no matter how well intentioned her friends’ feelings for each other are, it will mean an inevitable change in the relationship they have enjoyed so far. Sleepovers could be awkward too. They would definitely want to cuddle.

Kanna had strictly forbidden it last night because this might be the last normal night she could spend with the two, though she hadn’t been completely certain at the time that anything would come of their feelings. Madoka was too shy and girlish, and Aoi has had no interest whatsoever in a love connection thus far. She really hasn’t read that her friend has yuri tendencies, until now. The way she touches and embraces Madoka makes it shockingly clear to her.

“You look really happy,” Kanna comments, noting her friend’s adorably joy-filled expression.

“I am!” Madoka exclaims, bouncing a little. “I can’t believe it. I wished that it would happen, and now that it has…”

Kanna giggles softly. “Well I wish you two the best of luck,” she says.

Later that night, Kozuke and Madoka pull up to the mansion in the van. Kozuke parks it, and then exits, moving to the back of the van to unload Madoka’s chair. Madoka waits, watching him through the windows and squirming still at the happy feelings inside of her.

He slides open the door and Madoka climbs out, needing only a little guidance to slip into her chair. The van door closes and locks and Kozuke pushes her chair up the path through the gate.

“Let me explain it to him,” Kozuke murmurs. “The master has been a little out of sorts lately.”

“Okay, Kozy!” Madoka smiles, still wrapped up in her emotions and bubbling over with them.

Kozuke pushes her chair up to the front door and opens it, then they head inside. They are greeted by Master Yoshi. He looks grouchier than ever.

“Are you happy depriving me of my butler?” he grouses.

“I…” Madoka is taken aback by this reception. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to…” she trails off.

Master Yoshi waves his hand dismissively. “More importantly, are you doing better after your fit?” he asks her.

Madoka blinks and nods. “It went well after all,” she replies, her voice sounding small.

“Master.” Kozuke spoke up suddenly, drawing Master Yoshi’s attention. “I have excellent news. Madoka has fallen in love!” he exclaims.

Master Yoshi’s eyes widen and he smiles slightly.

“Hmmm… tell me about him.” His expression is thoughtful, as though something he hasn’t thought of has just occurred to him.

“Well, it’s actually a her. Madoka fell in love with her good friend Wada Aoi.” Kozuke smiles.

“A her?” Master Yoshi’s eyebrows raise and he growls. “What nonsense! You aren’t a boy any longer. You can’t possibly have a meaningful relationship with her.” The force of his gaze has fallen directly on Madoka at this point. “I won’t have you indulging in a relationship that isn’t going to go anywhere.”

Madoka’s eyes widen and become cold. “You don’t get to tell me who I fall in love with! You aren’t my father! My real father was a good man who would have supported me no matter…”

“Be quiet!” Master Yoshi roars. Kozuke places himself between the two.

“Perhaps we should shelve this unproductive discussion for another time. You have something to show Madoka. Master, there is no changing a person’s heart no matter how you would wish for it. Only time will tell if this love is meant to be or not,” he interjects, his tone betraying a touch of steel in his defense of Madoka. Madoka smiles, wanting to hug the handsome butler.

“Hmmmph. I suppose you are technically correct. We will have further words about this, however,” he grunts, and gestures for the two to follow him. Kozuke wheels Madoka after the master, towards her bedroom. When they enter, Madoka sees something strange.

A weird thing made of metal stands in the center of the room. It looks like a wiry robotic thing with straps on it. ”This is your next step in physical rehabilitation. You should be ready by now to stand more frequently, though you can’t move freely. That is where this walking brace, or exoskeleton comes in.” Master Yoshi taps it with his hands.

“Put it on her, Kozuke. Let’s see how well she does with it.”

Madoka stares at it, and wonders if this thing will allow her to walk around with a little more freedom than she has in her wheelchair.

Kozuke wheels her close by and flips the brake levers on the chair. He helps her into a standing position, and then starts attaching the brace to her legs. Madoka still wears the skirt and kneesocks she wore to the mall and feels the cool metal brush against her skin. The sensation gives her goosebumps. Once it’s connected to her legs, she notes that it feels as though it has been perfectly sculpted for her. It’s firmly strapped to them at the ankles and her thighs. Thankfully, the straps aren’t so high up that they make her skirt ride up. The brace continues up to either side, hugging her hips perfectly. A brace across her lower back keeps the two parts of it connected and provides support to her. After some adjustment, she feels her weight seem to lessen some and keeping on her feet becomes much easier.

Master Yoshi has her perform a series of movements, then. He first has her walk around the center of the room. To her surprise, she finds that she is able to, though the process is slow and halting. Her legs do not tremble, however. She feels fully supported by the mechanism.

“Good!” Master Yoshi grunts. “If you can increase your speed to a normal walk by your bedtime, I’ll consider letting you go on your silly date. At least it will be good exercise for you.”

“Thank you, Master.” Kozuke bows. Master Yoshi waves his hand dismissively.

“I still don’t approve. Keep that in mind, daughter. We will have words about it again.” He leaves the room. Madoka is still caught up in the euphoria of being able to move around on her own two legs, even if it is proving a little tricky.

“I’m going to do this!” Madoka enthuses, immediately starting to walk again.

Kozuke watches her with a fond smile, ready to reach out and catch her if she should fall.

To Kozuke’s great pleasure, Madoka is able to master the art of walking in the brace by dinner time. She is still slower than she would like, but she is able to get around without stumbling and maintain a pace that will allow her to get around quickly enough.

Kozuke has once again ordered a meal in, while watching over Madoka. The two make their way out of the bedroom, and Kozuke hovers nearby as Madoka puts one foot in front of the other, making her way towards the dining room at a normal walking pace. She cannot go any faster than that, but it should allow her to get most anywhere she wants with a great deal more freedom. The smile on her face tugs at Kozuke’s heart. She seems so very happy, in a way that she hasn’t since awakening. Finding love might just be exactly what Madoka needs to put her past behind her and start looking towards the future.

When they enter into the dining room, Kozuke holding two bags of takeout from CoCo Ichibanya, Madoka walking over to her seat for a change, thanks to the brace, Master Yoshi grunts.

“You look like you’re adapting well enough. I suppose you can go, if you aren’t feeling too tired already.” He frowns and looks at the bags in Kozuke’s hands.

“Fast food this time, Kozuke?” he scowls. “Has anyone called about the job offer yet?” he asks.

“I’m afraid not, Master.” Kozuke smiles as he lays out containers of curry on the table. “We haven’t had Midoriyama’s curry rice for a long time now, and I for one had a craving for some. I hope it’s acceptable.” He looks at Madoka. He actually asked Madoka what she might be in the mood for, wanting to reward her a little for her great progress, and she had stated that she wanted curry katsu from CoCo Ichibanya. Kozuke had known that the master would likely complain about it, but he had not been able to resist calling the order in after seeing the longing in her eyes.

Madoka practically drools as she removes the lid separating her from her delicious meal. CoCo Ichi wasn’t as good as Midoriyama’s wonderful curry, but it made her think of her previous life. The boy Madoka and his friends had sneakily stopped on the way home from school to enjoy a bowl of udon or a plate of curry rice, or a beef bowl. Growing up in Tokyo had been fun, with a combini seemingly on every corner, something exciting to do only a walk or a bus or train ride away.

Tsukuba doesn’t seem so bad to her now, though. It is a comparatively smaller city, but she has realized that a lot of the things she has treasured most in her short life can still be found here, and the friends she has made are worth as much or more than the ones she has been forced to leave behind.

There is also Aoi-chan. Madoka feels her heart beats quickly as she starts eating her curry rice. She had asked for spice level 7 with extra garlic, and it was amazing. Even Master Yoshi seems to enjoy his, and the rest of the meal is completed pleasantly.

The next morning, Kozuke wakes Madoka at 6:00 am. Madoka yawns and stretches, arching her back in an almost catlike manner, before sitting up. Her legs and hips are a little sore from all the practice with the walking frame the previous night, but she is still excited to put it back on. She will be able to date Aoi-chan and not feel like an invalid doing it. She blushes redly, clapping her hands to her cheeks as she imagines Aoi kissing her again on their date.

She snaps out of her reverie due to the smell of breakfast wafting on the air. When she opens her eyes she notices Kozuke has set up a tray of food for her. He has brought her breakfast in bed!

“Kozy!” she exclaims, smiling. “This smells wonderful!” She scoots over into a sitting position on the edge of the bed and studies the contents of the tray. Kozuke grins at her. “You need a good meal for a fresh start. The master won’t be up this early, so I figured I would have this ready for you. Hurry and enjoy it and then we’ll give you a nice bath to pretty you up for your date.”

Madoka squeals a little, bouncing. “Thanks, Kozy! I love you!” she enthuses. Kozuke smiles, seeming embarrassed by her effusive and very girlish reaction.

Madoka studies what he brought her. She is happy to see a meal of breakfast sausages, eggs, toast, miso soup, and rice. The eggs still have that slightly odd flavor they had in her school lunches, but she is getting used to it. She finishes the meal perhaps a little quicker than might be considered ladylike.

Kozuke helps Madoka out of her nightclothes, and then lifts her in his arms. Madoka blushes, looking away. As usual, Kozuke’s expression is fatherly, so her blush fades as he carries her nude into the bathroom. He sets her on the bathstool and then turns the water on the shower nozzle on. He has already drawn a bath for her, Madoka notices. Kozuke quickly and efficiently sprays Madoka with the shower nozzle, and the hot water feels amazing. She allows him to immerse her hair in the hot water and shampoo it. He rinses it and then applies conditioner. Meanwhile Madoka pours a little body soap onto her loofah and starts scrubbing herself. He now leaves this part of it to her, though she welcomes feeling him massage her scalp with his strong fingers.

He rinses her hair out after letting the conditioner set for a time, and when she is clean, he helps her into the bath, where she luxuriates. She picks out a scented bath salt and Kozuke liberally drops the salt in. The scent of lilacs fills the warm steamy air.

Madoka can’t soak for too long, however. She stands up after what seems to her like too short a time bathing. The aches she used to have in her lower body have eased quite a bit after soaking.

He helps her to sit on the stool again and hurriedly uses the hairdryer to dry her long hair while she towels her body off. He has also started letting her do that herself lately as well. Madoka feels as though she is close to attaining that freedom she has desired, even though it inevitably means that Kozuke will be doing less for her. When her hair is dry, Kozuke helps her into the bedroom and sets her up at her desk. She turns the light on and starts brushing her hair out to style it. She has gotten better at adding the ribbons to her hair as Midoriyama had taught her, and she has even started to make slight tweaks to the style. When her hair is tied to her satisfaction in the cute ribbons, Kozuke draws her attention to an outfit that he has selected for her.

It is a frilly and pastel pink blouse with a dark blue checked skirt. He has selected a set of kneesocks in the same pink shade as the blouse. He also has laid out a set of pink and white striped panties and bra. “Are you sure it’s not too cute?” Madoka asks as she puts the underwear on.

“I am no expert in what women should wear on a date, but I would have to say that if a woman I was interested in were to wear something like this, I would certainly appreciate it.” Kozuke chuckles.

“She’s a girl though… maybe she won’t want me looking cute like that.” Madoka hesitates after finishing tugging on the panties.

“Cute is how you look every day, Madoka. If she didn’t like cute, I seriously doubt that you would be where you are now with her.” He laughs. Madoka blushes at that, embarrassed. What Kozy is telling her is true.

She pulls on the blouse and then Kozuke helps her to put on the skirt. He helps her with the kneesocks as well. For footwear, they select her cute mary janes to go with the rest of her outfit, and Kozuke brings her a light blue jacket to keep her warm. The colors go well with the rest of what she wears. Madoka notes, not for the first time, that Kozuke is surprisingly savvy when it comes to selecting outfits from her wardrobe.

When she has pulled the light jacket on, Kozy hands her her purse. “Everything you need is inside of it, of course. Don’t hesitate to use the cards as you need. I expect you to have an absolutely wonderful time, Sugar.” He grins. Madoka finds herself wishing that Kozuke was the master of the house.

Aoi yawns, waiting for Madoka. She leans against the metal and glass structure standing over the way down. There is an elevator here, and a lot of other stations have them. She has investigated thoroughly, making certain that every station along the way will be wheelchair friendly. She blushes a little, thinking about the day she has planned. She knows that Madoka is from Tokyo and that intimidates her slightly, but she feels that since it was her idea, it is her responsibility to make the itinerary and show Madoka a good time.

This morning, she chose to wear the cute blouse that she had sneakily purchased at the mall yesterday. It is creamy colored and goes well with her form fitting jeans, emphasizing her shapely and fit bottom. She waits with her hands in her pockets.

Kozuke and Madoka pull up to the station after not much longer, and the butler exits the vehicle, moving around it. He smiles at Aoi, bowing slightly to her. “Good morning, Wada-san. Please show Sugar a wonderful time today. She is very excited.” He grins. Aoi blushes and nods. Kozuke still had an effect on her. Did that mean that she was bisexual? She waits while Kozuke opens the door and helps Madoka out. Aoi immediately realizes something is amiss. Kozuke hasn’t gotten Madoka’s chair as he usually does. When Madoka steps out, standing, Aoi’s jaw drops. Her friend is standing without seeming to struggle as she usually does with her standing exercises at school.

Upon closer examination she sees a low-profile metal suit thing attached to her lower body. “What is that?” she asks, smiling.

“My freedom,” Madoka replies, happily. “You don’t have to push me around everywhere now, though I’ll need frequent rests.” Madoka seems to bounce, although the effect is muted by the rigidity of the frame she is strapped to.

“It is the new phase of Sugar’s physical therapy. It will be adjusted every so often to do less and less of the work in supporting Madoka’s weight as her muscles build up. The end result, providing there is no damage preventing it, should be Madoka walking normally in several weeks to a month.” Kozuke smiles proudly at Madoka who blushes, seeming overjoyed.

“You ladies should really be off. Please do take care, and do not hesitate to call me if you need anything. I am quite willing to make the drive to rush to your side.” He seems a little anxious, but otherwise very pleased.

“Yes! Let’s go!” Aoi grins, taking Madoka’s hand. Madoka blushes and looks into her eyes. Aoi did not expect this any time soon, but the feeling of being able to take her friend’s hand and lead her normally makes her feel happier than she expected it to.

Madoka feels Aoi take her hand and squeeze it. Her heart flutters at the look in Aoi’s eyes. There is an expression of definite happiness there. She follows Aoi as fast as she can, and Aoi adjusts her pace to Madoka’s as they leave Kozuke behind and head over towards the elevator bay.

“You can probably take the stairs, carefully, but since the stations we will be at all have elevators, I don’t see any reason why we should complicate things, do you?” Aoi winks.

Madoka giggles and shakes her head. “I don’t! I was a little bit nervous about stairs. Did you really put that much thought into it for me?” she asks Aoi, her heart racing at this. Aoi pushes the button to call the elevator to street level and looks into Madoka’s eyes.

“Of course I did.” She smiles, seeming to be embarrassed that Madoka has noticed it. “I don’t know how these kinds of relationships work, but I guess one of us has to act like the boy, and I don’t see that being you. You’re too cute.” She winks at Madoka.

Madoka blushes and squirms at the compliment as the elevator dings and opens. An elderly woman currently occupies it. She smiles at the girls, bowing a little as she walks out, holding onto her walker. Once the woman has exited, the two girls slip in. Madoka feels a little guilty, looking at Aoi. Her comment about her not being remotely boyish makes her feel happy, but at the same time, it hits a little too close to home. Despite that, she feels really happy.

The two ride down, and Aoi slips her arm around Madoka’s waist. She definitely seemed to be into being the boy. Madoka was happy to let her. The idea of being the boy on a date oddly does not appeal to Madoka like it once might have. The sensation of having Aoi treat her like a girl on one thrills her. She looks into Aoi’s eyes and snuggles against her. Aoi blushes and holds her tightly. Madoka is happy to be as girly as Aoi wants. When the door opens, they separate slightly, both blushing. Aoi leads her out into the station proper. They pass a coffee shop and a couple of combinis as they approach the IC reader and ticket taking machines. Madoka pulls her Manaca card free from her cellphone card holder and swipes it over the IC reader, walking through. She waits as Aoi does the same.

They hurry on together onto the platform and find a bank of chairs with two unoccupied seats. The two sit down and wait for their train, which is to arrive at 8:27 am. Aoi puts her arm around Madoka and they hug. Some people stare at them, but Aoi glares at them, seemingly daring them to say anything.

“I have our day all planned out,” Aoi says, her tone excited. “We’re going to go to Shibuya and Akihabara. I’d love to do more, but I don’t think we have time with what I have in mind. I know you loved it in Tokyo… do you mind letting me lead us?” Aoi asks.

Madoka shakes her head and smiles happily at Aoi. “No, I don’t mind at all. I’m so happy that you planned so much in advance for my sake. I’m looking forward to it!” Madoka feels her heart race in anticipation of this date. Never would she ever have imagined that a girl would take her on a romantic date. Always in her mind it had been her, maybe taking in an amusement park or a carousel ride with the girl she confessed to.

When the train arrives, a jingle plays and a recorded voice blares over the station speakers. “The Tsukuba Express is arriving, bound for Akihabara Station.” Aoi smiles in excitement. The platform is crowded as the train comes to a stop and its doors slide open. Aoi pulls Madoka along, and some people note the walking brace and the way she moves, making way for her. Even so, every seat is taken inside of the car they had selected. Madoka prepares herself for the long trip standing, grabbing ahold of a nearby metal pole. The person sitting next to it eyes her, noting her walking brace and with a smile, he stands.

“Please sit.” He gestures to the vacated seat.

Madoka smiles warmly at the man, hesitating. Aoi pushes her towards the seat. “Don’t be silly! You can’t stand for an hour.” She grins.

Madoka pouts, but allows herself to sit down. She sighs in relief, and Aoi touches her cheek with a warm expression before taking up a position in front of her.

Madoka feels the love inside her for Aoi blossom even more.

The two have a fun ride together. After a few stations, the seat next to Madoka is vacated and Aoi is able to sit, pressing her hip to Madoka’s. She feels the cool metal of the brace, and wishes that Madoka didn’t need it, but without it they might not be able to enjoy the day as much as she hopes they will.

She enjoys both the sight of Madoka’s excited and blushing face and the sight of the scenery passing by. At first they don’t see anything, as the train passes underground, but as they leave Tsukuba the track goes above ground, affording riders a view of the more rural areas between Tokyo and Tsukuba. Greenery passes by as the train cars gently but noisily rock as they go. Occasionally the computerized voice comes on, announcing the next stop and final destination. “Momentarily, we will arrive at Midorino.”

The only way the trip would be better would be if it were a bullet train. Unfortunately, no bullet train goes anywhere near Tsukuba. They enjoy the trip, and Aoi is amazed when they reach Tokyo. It doesn’t seem like much as they approach it, though Aoi knows it has to be, since it is one of the greatest cities in the world. As the train moves deeper in, though, the buildings around the train become enormous. Everything is far bigger than she has ever imagined that it would be. She has seen pictures of it, but the pictures do not do justice to what she sees. By the time they reach Akihabara Station and disembark, Aoi is incredibly excited.

They venture forth in a crowd of people and follow signs indicating the Chuo-Sobu line that would take them on to Shibuya. Every guide she has read has indicated that the best dates in Tokyo start at Hachiko’s statue. She bounces a little in excitement. She has always wanted to see the legendary dog’s statue.

Madoka watches Aoi’s expressions and can’t help giggling, seeing how excited she is. Madoka has seen these things millions of times, and the only reason she is excited is that she is here with Aoi, seeing sights that she has been afraid she would never see again. Aoi’s expressions make her see things in a whole new light, however. They are leaving Shibuya station via the Hachiko gate now, and Aoi’s eyes are open wide at the buildings towering around them, and the massive crowds of people they are walking through.

When they reach Hachiko, Aoi pulls Madoka after her, eagerly. She reaches out and touches the statue and laughs, petting it. Madoka blushes as she watches Aoi, thinking that she’s the cutest thing in the world. She reaches out and touches Hachiko herself with a happy smile. Nearby, a pink mascot with a rather disgusting poop-like silhouette totters by. Aoi and Madoka watch it, and Aoi rolls her eyes. “Really, is that supposed to be cute?” She laughs.

“I guess it is. I’ve never seen that thing before…” Madoka laughs. The two move on, leaving it and its peculiar antics behind.

Aoi leads Madoka first to Shibuya 109, a high class mall in Shibuya. She gapes as they come to the famous scramble square, taking in the sight of people quickly walking across it in all directions when the signals start beeping. She laughs aloud, pulling Madoka across it and towards the distinctive building towering in the direction they were moving. You could not miss it, standing in the square even with the other tall buildings around. The go down the narrow streets after passing through the scramble square, and approach the large building. They enter it through a large store at its base.

The next few hours are spent going from store to store. They look at books, clothes, and accessories together, though they resist the urge to buy things, knowing that they will have to carry whatever they get with them. Madoka suggests leaving anything they buy in a locker somewhere to pick up at the end of the day, and Aoi grins at her.

When they finish shopping there, they have a couple of bags with them. They head back to Shibuya Station and get back onto the platform; this time Aoi elects to take the Yamanote Line after studying her cellphone’s maps. They get onto Platform Two, and wait for the next train. As they wait, Aoi and Madoka walk up to a nearby vending machine and purchase a couple of drinks to keep them hydrated. Madoka has a juice, and Aoi has a sports drink.

They don’t wait long and board the train together. This time there are seats available for the two in the ladies’ car. They ride for twelve stops and then disembark. They deposit their bags in a rental locker, and then they leave the station, taking escalators when possible, and they walk with Aoi leading the way. Madoka cheerfully follows her, having more fun in Tokyo than she has in a while.

Aoi leads her to Animate, a store she has been very familiar with. She grins as they enter the building, and Aoi’s eyes widen at the huge selection. They widen even more as she notices how many floors the building has. They laugh, going from floor to floor via escalator, checking out light novels, manga, anime videos, PVC figures and avoiding the obviously ecchi floor. They stop at a Gachapon machine and enter yen coins, gaining cute anime keychains for themselves. Aoi ends up buying a few light novels that have interested her. Madoka notices that one of them features a cute protagonist, and the other features a tough looking boy holding a sword. Madoka purchases a manga or two.

Where she definitely would have picked out something more action packed before, she finds herself gravitating away from those types of books and more towards the books depicting romance. One book pictures a girl holding a practice sword, and it reminds her so much of Aoi that she just has to buy it.

When the two leave, they’re happy. Madoka is a little tired. “Can we find a place to get some lunch? My hips and legs are sore.” She smiles apologetically.

“Oh, sure!” Aoi winks at her and flips through her phone for a few moments. “Oh… there’s a Mos Burger not too far away… think you can make it there?” She asks Madoka.

Madoka grins and nods affirmatively. “I think so, definitely.” She giggles. Aoi takes her arm and wraps it firmly around her. Madoka blushes and smiles at Aoi shyly.

“Don’t be afraid to use me for support. I want to support you,” Aoi says to her.

Madoka gasps and leans against her, overcome with a need to nuzzle Aoi. Aoi giggles, blushing as she looks around, but she hugs Madoka and when Madoka turns her face up towards her she kisses her again, making several people in the near vicinity stop and stare. Some people shake their heads, others blush, and still others smile.

They head on up the main street, taking in the sounds and scents of the big city. When Aoi spots the Mos Burger across the big decorated street, they approach a crosswalk and press the button. The crosswalk beeps and jingles melodically when it’s time for them to cross and they do, as quickly as Madoka can manage with Aoi’s support. Once they cross, they enter the restaurant, which is once again a part of a massive building. They approach the somewhat standard looking counter, waiting their turn in line, before finally coming face to face with the girl working the register.

“Thank you for coming to Mos Burger! What would you like?” she bows. They look at the menu, thinking for a moment, and then place their orders. Aoi orders the Spicy Mos Burger, and Madoka has a Croquette Burger. They are given their trays of food after a short wait and sit together on one side of a table. They enjoy their meal together. Aoi impulsively starts a game when they feed each other their French fries. It escalates a little when Madoka suggests that the one who is being fed should close her eyes and try to find the fry. Madoka once finds herself nibbling one of Aoi’s fingers, which makes her giggle.

The game escalates further from there as Aoi sneaks kisses when Madoka leans forward to nibble at a fry. Neither one of them minds, however, though a good many people stare at them when they leave. They walk around the block a good distance to the Kanda Myojin Shrine, taking in the sights of the buildings, the trees, and the grey stone walks. They walk through the torii and into the shrine proper, pausing along the way at the purification fountain to wash their hands and drink. They move on to the offering hall and wait their turn as people offer their prayers to the Kami. When it’s their turn, they throw coins into the offering box, clap their hands twice, bow twice, clap twice again, and bow once more together. Madoka wishes for continued happiness for herself and Aoi.

Once they walk away from the shrine, heading towards where Mikos sell good luck charms to people visiting, Madoka turns to Aoi. “What did you wish for?” she asks.

“It’s a secret.” She sticks her tongue out playfully, and Madoka giggles.

They buy charms there, for good luck in studying and for luck in love. They leave then, Madoka’s heart feeling full, spiritually. She looks at Aoi then. It is also full of love for this beauty with long brown hair and light blue eyes standing beside her and supporting her.

Madoka and Aoi head next to Taito Station on their way back to Akihabara station. It is around 3:00 pm now, and sadly approaching the time when the girls will have to think about returning home.

When they reach the Taito Station, they play a few games together. Aoi insists on a few rounds of Dissidia, and Madoka smiles, agreeing.

“I’m not very good though… go easy on me.” She winks at Aoi who laughs.

“Not a chance. You’re going to get good enough to beat Stupid Pres, remember?”

Aoi teaches Madoka the ins and outs of playing Dissidia and to her great joy she is able to beat Aoi once at least, following her advice.

“You’re ready.” Aoi winks at her. “Next time we all go out, you’ll make him cry.” She rubs her hands together in a mock evil gesture. Madoka giggles at that, feeling elated and happy. “Let’s go to the bathroom. I think that tea in Mos Burger is kicking in.” Madoka giggles, getting to her feet. She heads to the bathroom, leading Aoi.

“Why do I have to come with you? I don’t have to…” Aoi trails off, a little embarrassed.

“Because. You just do,” Madoka says. She feels an urge that she can’t deny deep inside of her. They head into the bathroom, and when Aoi tries to wait outside the stall, Madoka firmly pulls her in with her. Aoi laughs and bumps the door shut behind her, locking it.

“What has gotten into you?” she asks Madoka.

“Nothing…” Madoka says softly.

“I’m not going to watch you pee.” Aoi rolls her eyes.

“I don’t want that!” Madoka blushes and squirms and looks into Aoi’s eyes.

“I want you to kiss me again… like that first kiss…” she says, her tone betraying her feelings. Aoi gulps at the tone of her voice and she crosses the small distance between them. She scoops Madoka up into her arms, presses her gently against the near wall and kisses her. Aoi’s body gently rubs against hers as they kiss. After a long period of soft and hot kisses, Aoi stops, kissing her way across her cheek and down to her neck where she licks and nibbles softly.

Madoka’s eyes flutter and she shivers as she feels Aoi rubbing against her, kissing her sensitive skin. She lets out an involuntary little moan, reaching up to cover her mouth. Aoi continues to nibble and lick there, experimenting, and listening to Madoka’s little mewls and moans. Finally, Aoi’s mouth kisses back up to her mouth, quieting her little moans as the passion builds further between them.

Aoi holds Madoka tightly and it isn’t long before their tongues are caressing as they did during their first amazing kiss. Madoka’s hands run up and down Aoi’s body. Aoi redoubles her efforts to be the masculine partner, feeling that, and grabs Madoka’s butt, making her squeak. Madoka melts into the kiss at that point, her hands dropping in acceptance of Aoi’s will.

The things that Aoi is doing with her fingers on her butt make her heart flutter and her stomach radiate heat. A pressure and moisture is building up slowly between her legs, and she finds herself rubbing against Aoi as she touches her. Finally, Aoi breaks the kiss as she notices that tears are flooding down Madoka’s cheeks. She follows that impulse that she had earlier and kisses Madoka’s tears away. Madoka pants and wiggles in response.

“What’s wrong?” Aoi asks her gently. “Was it not what you wanted? I can do better,” Aoi attempts to reassure her.

“No… nothing was wrong… I... never in my whole life imagined that I would be kissed like that… I thought that I would take a cute girl like you on a date. It was absolutely perfect though.” She looks up into Aoi’s eyes passionately, and snuggles up against her. “I love you, Aoi,” she exclaims softly, nuzzling.