What the hell? First real walking talking session this year. You arse!

But no matter how much Ryu grumbled he just couldn’t compare what they were doing now to his own attempt just days earlier.

It didn’t help that sis ran Urufu’s errands with a brightness in her eyes that hadn’t been there since Nao cheated on her.

And Nao, you coward, you’ve not shown your face since.

Which technically wasn’t true. His face had shown up more than once. Usually together with Kuri’s, on ads on billboards, television, the Internet and magazines. His fame grew, backlit as it was by Kuri who had stayed the sensation for half a year now.

“Kuri,” Ryu started and glanced at his sister.

As every time before Kuri just shook her head. She grabbed his hand and leaned closer. “I’ll be there whenever she wants a shoulder to cry on, but I’m not interfering directly with Nao.”

“But they should at least talk, or let me punch his face.”

Kuri smirked and tightened her grip. Her hand was smooth and warm, just about perfect like anything else on her body.

Damn, she’s not listening. Ryu flashed his most winning smile at one of the new members from Irishima High, and got the predictable result in return, plus a small bonus. The girl threw Kuri an uncertain smile.

Ryu looked at his girlfriend just to find out what kind of predatory grin she had served the poor girl, but there was none, just an amused and welcoming smile. OK, that one didn’t work. Let’s push her some more.

“What was your name, again?” he asked the girl.

“Ryu, really! It’s Chiyo. She’s so cute so you really should remember her name!” Kuri said in mock exasperation and let out a bubbling laughter. It came to an abrupt stop, and Ryu felt her flinch.

Now what? Oh, of course.

That bell like laughter had rung farther than she planned. Further ahead of them Ryu saw Urufu turn, mesmerised by the sound.

Well, you’re an arse, so why don’t you just hurt a little bit more! Ryu tugged Kuri closer, ad for the first time since they agreed on her boyfriend girlfriend deal she tried to pull away.

Crap, I didn’t mean for you to hurt as well.

The thought barely registered when Ryu saw his sister beelining for Urufu. Some problem or another she hadn’t been able to help a team solve, Ryu guessed. Just as she reached her target she threw him and Kuri a measuring look. It quickly turned into an angry stare.

What’s she up to?

Noriko nestled in all the way under Urufu’s arm, and Ryu saw him give her a surprised glance while at the same time typing out some outline on a touch-pad.

“Is it really that cold?” Kuri’s voice said.

Both Ryu and Chiyo looked at the show playing out around Urufu. Whatever Noriko had planned, it worked in a way. Urufu’s face no longer displayed pain, but instead it showed discomfort with Noriko’s closeness.

“Uh, I think I’ll join Ai-chan,” Chiyo said and made herself scarce.

Ryu followed her back with his eyes until she reached his ex. Damn, goes both ways, I guess, he thought when the familiar lump build in his throat. He wasn’t anywhere near over his former girlfriend. Why did I agree to this stupid set-up in the first place? Ah, yes, Vogue would have forced another boyfriend on her otherwise.

Was that even legal? Ryu doubted it, but then there were a lot of things that weren’t strictly legal, and showbiz, in any of its forms, was infamous for being hard on the girls. Slave contracts his father once explained, and Ryu wondered how he knew. There never was an answer.

“Ryu. Ryu! Idiot bro!”

Ryu shook his head and stared at the apparition facing him. “Yes?” he said somewhat belatedly.

“Don’t yes me,” his sister said. “Urufu needs the two of you to handle the next station,” she continued and glanced at Kuri.

You really don’t like to see Kuri and me together. Hell, I probably wouldn’t if I were you. “Sure,” he drawled and pretended he disliked being disturbed by his sister.

“You,” Noriko said and pointed a finger at Kuri, “had better shape up or I’ll take him from you.”

“Huh?” Kuri said.

“Even if just for comfort, I’ll take him from you, so get your shit in order and make up with him.”

“Language!” Ryu protested.

“Shove it, idiot bro! Fix that station and leave Kuri to me.” Noriko growled at him, and for a moment Ryu played with the thought of disobeying her. “You want to see if I’ve mellowed the last year?” Noriko threatened him.

Ryu caved in and made ready to help out with the next station. After he let go he started walking a bit brisker, but he only got a few steps ahead of the girls before he heard his sister again.

“Kuri, you can ask Ryu about me. Whenever I really put my mind to something things end up the way I planned.”

“What is this? A declaration of war?” And that was Kuri’s voice. It had an edge to it Ryu hadn’t heard for a while.

“Kuri, just trust me on this. If you don’t make up with Urufu in a week I’ll make sure he never as much as looks your way again. Your call.” With those words Noriko caught up with him and sprinted ahead of him all the way to where Urufu longed by a stone wall and helped one team with a problem.

This is bad, Ryu thought. Really, really, really bad. Sis is scary whenever she gets that way. She hadn’t, for two years now. That attempted rape scared her from acting too rashly. In a way Ryu felt happy that side of her had been restored. Still bad. She got that part from mom, and dad always backs down whenever she’s in that mood.

Ryu glanced at his girlfriend. Do you have any idea how scary sis can get? he thought when Kuri returned a quizzical look.

***

The solution to her problem surprised her. Playing rival to Kuri would help her get over Nao quicker. Besides, Urufu needed a distraction, or he’d just keep on moping over Kuri. And it wasn’t as if she was offering her body to him. She’d just kind of make it look that way. At least to Kuri.

Idiot! Moron! You love him so much your eyes water over every time you see him feel bad, and you’re the very reason he feels bad in the first place. The epic stupidity of the two adults stunned her. Noriko couldn’t understand what made people go to such lengths hurting themselves and each other despite being in love.

Anyway, it would be kind of fun teasing her brother. If he wanted to play Kuri’s boyfriend, then he could watch his sister cling to Urufu like a lovesick puppy.

Only one problem. Noriko needed to gather up the guts to do any clinging to begin with. Nestling under Urufu’s arm a bit earlier nearly drained her of all her bravery.

She was still a little awkward around him. Hers had been a major crush after all, two times over, and she did confess rather publicly. Even though she no longer harboured any feelings for him, or at least not any strong ones, she once had.

I hope she understands I’m doing this for her sake. But Noriko knew she might very well earn herself a broken friendship in return.

We’re falling apart. The thought scared her. What could she do to keep her friends? Would it so far that she was forced to choose between them? I refuse to do that. Even if they can’t stand each other every one of them is equally my friend.

“What is it?”

Noriko looked up and bit her lower lip. “Nothing Urufu,” she lied.

He frowned and gave her a quizzical stare.

Noriko shrugged, threw a glance in Kuri’s direction and hoped Urufu didn’t notice.

He did. “If you’re planning something funny, just don’t. I don’t need your help to patch us up again.”

Noriko grimaced and met his eyes. Damn, he’s still far more perceptive than an average kid. Guess that comes with experience. “What do you men with patching up?”

Urufu responded by patting her head. A thoroughly condescending gesture she hated, but he bore her no ill will. Had she known why he did it last year she’d jumped with joy. Anything cute needed patting according to him, and a year ago she’d do just about anything to be considered cute in his eyes – which she already was, as she learned later.

But cute was never the same as loved, she thought sourly. Oh, get over it! When he found out Kuri was his age I never stood a chance. Noriko face him squarely and grinned. “As in act as a go between?”

Urufu turned to help a team leader who had arrived with his touch-pad. A few sentences later the problem had gone away. Then he turned back again. “Yes, that would be exactly what I don’t want you to try,” Urufu said.

“Don’t worry,” answered, and grinned even more widely. “Just about the last on my mind.” Urufu’s nonplussed expression made her laugh, and all her nervousness went away. “Look,” she said, and hugged his arm. No matter how small her breasts were he had to feel them through their clothes. “Trust me, I’m not doing that.”

For the first time he blushed because of something she had deliberately done to him.

Yes! Victory! she thought. It had nothing to do with Kuri, just that she for once managed to get the upper hand on him.

“You know...” Urufu scratched his head. “Eh, Noriko, I promised not to treat you as a child, but you know...” He made an attempt to get out of her grip, but Noriko just squeezed harder. “Noriko, well...”

“Yes?” she said and pressed his arms even harder against her chest. “You were saying?”

“Noriko, people are watching!” But he made no attempt to free himself.

“Watching? Heartbroken little me getting support from my friend?”

The gaze he gave her made her heart jolt. “More like guessing your bra-size,” he said. “Look, Noriko, I’m bad rebound material, OK?”

A little further away Kuri stared at them. Noriko noted how her eyes widened and her mouth twisted in disapproval. Do something if you dislike it!

This was fun, and as far as Noriko knew it really couldn’t backfire any worse than Kuri getting really angry with her, and making Kuri angry would be a victory in itself. She was one of Noriko’s two best friends, and an angry Kuri was a Kuri who showed feelings rather than the ice-queen who had attended school ever since she broke down after dumping the man she loved more than anything else.

A joke, nothing more.

Then Urufu’s arm twisted when another team wanted his help.

The stares she received from the girl who approached Urufu could as well have been daggers, but that mattered little. What did matter was that when Urufu turned Noriko got dragged closer to him, and then his arm moved across her chest, and a sensation of pleasure spread through her body faster than she had imagined possible.

Noriko jumped, but this time her grip on his arm trapped her instead.

She met Kuri’s gaze, and this time it wasn’t filled with disapproval. Kuri’s eyes quickly moved away and searched a head above.

What? She’s staring at Urufu?

Then Noriko, for the first time, knew what jealousy and hate looked like.

Shit!

This was more than she had bargained for. While she watched Kuri stare at Urufu with open wrath in her face Noriko experienced a surge of sensations. No way! I’m not! But she was. When she clung tighter to Urufu this time it was no longer a joke. Feelings she hadn’t felt since early autumn welled up unbidden.

No no no no! But there was no denying it. She had fallen in love with him twice before. Denying what she felt was like refusing to believe she got wet when it rained.