The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 79~♫

 "Ah, but it's great!" Kagetsu moaned a bit.

Showing her teeth in an uncertain smile, Freya lifted her body, revealing a photo-place of her fantasy. Flowers, ribbons, and balloons adorned it, and under the arch stood a horse with one odd-looking leg.

"First, we need to ask Satos if they agree."

"But, Ka, are you going to be okay?" The middle sibling turned to his brother.

All stares turned his way.

Shivers danced across his back. "Y-Yeah, as long he won't run at me, I'm fine."

Thunder and rumble interrupted them. Hours had passed that they didn't notice it was time to go.

"Better to go. We can discuss our club activities at home." Rigaku got a few questions regarding the LGBT+ community, and he thought about it. So far, he had only one open discussion, but thinking about another filled him with pride and excitement.

Promptly leaving the school building, Freya turned toward the park. The clouds darkened, it seemed waterfalls could rain instead of raindrops. 'Would they be okay?'

"Freya, are you okay?"

She turned around, nodding. However, after a few steps, she shoved her bag into Rigaku's hands. Taking her phone, she bowed, dashing back.

The three brothers stayed, watching in silent awe. Aiyoku's mobile beeped, an announcing incoming message. Kagetsu stood on his toes to read it as well.

"Sorry... need to do something... go ahead... sorry. F."

Arriving at the hut losing her breath, she found the cats unharmed and sleeping.

"You?" Ueno asked.

Freya flashed her a smile, waving hello.

"Worried about the cats? That's so much like you."

Freya narrowed her eyes with a playful smirk, pointing at Ueno's chest. It billowed like the sea. The older girl hid it behind her bag.

"I-I can do whatever I want!"

Freya grinned, entering the hut.

"Hey!"

Inside, they made sure the nest was good enough for them to stay. The holes in the roof worried them. But they had no tools or material to cover them. They used the table to shield the cats and covered its sides, so no draft could send shivers down their spines.

Finishing, they stood up, rating their creation with strict but happy eyes. Freya checked her phone, waving Ueno goodbye.

"Hey!" The other girl stopped her.

Looking around, Ueno stretched her hand as if she demanded something from Freya. Ueno gestured with her fingers, and after a confusing look at her mobile phone, Freya placed it on the open palm.

"Took you long enough," Ueno mumbled, typing something. "Is this prehistoric? How it still works? It's heavy."

Freya waited with her hands behind her. Why would Ueno need her mobile phone?

"Here!" Ueno shoved the phone back to her hands, quickly walking away with her bag.

Checking inside, Freya smiled, and soon her teeth peeked out. 'U-sama, huh?' Without a doubt, that was Ueno's number.

The ginger-haired student hurried to the gate as the first drops landed on the ground. Flashes of light and rumble blinded her and assaulted her ears, and soon the drops turned into strings of water. In front of the gate stood a long car. The doors opened, and Freya jumped inside.

Brothers waited for her in the car, giving her a deeper feeling of guilty. Kagetsu passed her a towel, so she dried her hair. The driver started the car, heading home.

The silence in the vehicle was overwhelming. Everybody looked at the floor or out of the window, watching the streaks of water slid down. The moment Freya turned to start a conversation, she realized everybody had the same idea.

Their faces blushed, breaking eye contact for a few seconds before connecting with each other and laughing after that. Calming down, Freya clasped her hands, bowing in an apology.

"What for?" Kagetsu asked, and the girl pointed in the general direction of their school. "You mean sorry for making us wait?"

She nodded.

"No worries. Waiting was our decisions," Rigaku ensured her.

"I wanted to be close just in case Ueno-san tries something," Aiyoku added with a tint of pink across his cheeks. "I can't imagine what she is capable of."

'Like taking care of a stray cat?' Freya gave them an awkward half-smile. Unsure how to make her reaction, she waved them, dismissing their worries.

"Well, you had your phone, so I was sure you would call us in the case of an emergency." The oldest Kamini pushed his glasses up. A weak attempt to cover his reddening face.

\\_(''>_<'')_//

On their way to their shared flat, Freya noticed two new blank tags, and one held all of their names. She smiled as this was a subtle hint of how close they grew.

'But how much close?' she thought. 'Could we be closer than a group of friends?' She placed down her bag, picking up her pajamas, she headed to take a hot shower.

The bathroom was at least as big as her old flat. She could almost swim in the bathtub, dip there for hours as the tub had a built-in heating system.

The clean interior, soft towels, various shampoos, hair oils, conditioners, and other products, that she had never seen, stood along the wall or on shelves. She could pamper herself for the whole day and still had enough beauty products to try.

'And I would die by boredom before that.' She giggled, putting down everything. For years she used the shower, and even the tempting bathtub couldn't break her will. 'Thanks, Buddha, it's not sushi-shaped.' Then she would sell her soul to a devil.

Stepping into the shower, she glimpsed her reflection. The burns covered reminded her of the past, but looking at them now, it didn't hurt as much.

'Is it because I'm with them? Because I'm not alone anymore?' She traced her burned side. Spreading down her face, it reached her waist, and a lonely island of wrinkled skin rested on her buttock.

'Maybe I could get a skin transplant or treatment. I remember doctors saying it was possible.' She let down her arms, turning around until her eyes noticed standing Kagetsu.