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Gulp! This is it!

It’s come down to the final race between the two rival racing teams! Wah! I’m not even a racer, but I feel like my heart’s about to burst out of my chest I’m so nervous!

What’s happened to me all of a sudden…? These sorts of events never used to hype me up before. I used to just sit in the stands and eat my popcorn casually. The only time I’d get excited then was when the hotdog vendors would walk past for crying out loud! If anything, I’d get bored watching the bikes race in circles and the whine of their engines would start to annoy me. I’d count the seconds until it was over and I could go home. I really only showed up because these races were important to Popuko…

Right… I didn’t understand why back then…

But now, I truly feel that these races have become as important to me as they’ve always been to him.

Maybe it’s because I am well aware this time of just who exactly will be facing off against Popuko today since I’ve been in the middle of this intense rivalry since the very beginning. I’ve seen how severe this conflict between them can get… I’ve seen how fiery and aggressive Popuko is rendered under Pipimi’s cold and calculated ways.

The two of them get to each other’s heads entirely. They both know exactly how to get under each other’s skin.

Yes, I could say that is the reason why my heart feels like it’s in my throat…

But after everything…

I understand the truth behind my feelings!

Yes! I’m determined today! I’m as determined to let the truth of my feeling shine through as he is to win this race! I’ll do my best and… if I’m lucky, he won’t be the only one returning home with a prize today…

Ah-! Lady Luck please be merciful!

I press my hands together with a loud slap, ignoring the sting that burns across my palms as I squeeze my eyes shut, lower my head and begin to pray.

Please let him win! Please let him win!

Please give me courage! Please give me courage!

“What the hell are you doing, y/n? You look really stupid like that, you know?”

“Ah-! P-Popuko-!”

My head snaps up at the snarky comment and sure enough Popuko stands before me, that same little grumpy, exasperated pout tugging at the corners of his mouth like always.

Heh… seeing that expression used to make me feel just as grumpy right back.

But now… all I feel when I look at that face is… the warmth of familiarity. I know what’s behind that expression now, ever since that day on the rooftop, when he poured his heart out to me about how much winning against Pipimi meant to him, and I saw a glimpse of that sincerity he tries so hard to hide behind a mask of indifference.

He hides him, but he’s still there. That sweet and sensitive little boy next door that I grew up with was still there after all this time, I know it now.

I know the real him. I always have really.

So, I smile at him. He seems a bit taken aback.

“I don’t care if I look silly. I’m praying for my favorite racer to win today. It’s super important to me! I want to see his smile when he takes home the trophy he deserves. He’s worked so hard after all.”

“Y/n…”

“Oh?” Another voice coos curiously.

Popuko visibly bristles at this voice. His disarmed expression vanishing from his face in an instant. He grits his teeth and glares at the boy who walks up to us.

I regard him with a serious look.

“Pipimi…”

“How kind of you to root for the superior racer, y/n…” Pipimi murmurs gently, lifting a hand to his chest. “Though your prayers are greatly appreciated, I’m afraid they won’t be necessary. I do not need them in order to come out on top today.” He continues with a sly wink in Popuko’s direction.

“HAHN?!”

Oh boy… Pipimi is usually such a docile soul. As the president of the student council he is always the one diffusing conflicts among students but… Popuko seems to awaken quite the instigator in him. I was surprised to see it at first but recently it’s become a pretty common sight since I’ve seen him around Popuko more and more.

Geez, Popuko, you doof. You really bring out the worst in others don’t you.

Heheh, it’s kind of cute though.

“You think she was talking about you?! As if! Tell him, y/n, you were praying for me because I’m the one who deserves to win, right?” Popuko asks, giving me a look that tells me I better say he’s right. Yipes! So scary! ….And so hot~

“Is that so, y/n?” Pipimi looks at me too, though his expression is much kinder.

Ah… they’re both expecting an honest answer from me… so…

CHOICE:

>”No, you’re right! I’m rooting for you, Pipimi!”

>”Of course I’m rooting for Popuko!”

(For Popuko’s ending choose the latter!)

>”Of course I’m rooting for Popuko!”

“Damn right!” Popuko says with a nod, putting his hands on his hips and he’s so cool I wanna squeal! I know I made the right choice.

Pipimi’s face softens. “Ah, I should’ve known. You’re rather lucky having such a loyal childhood friend. My, I must say I’m terribly jealous.” He says putting a hand to his cheek.

And for some reason… I get the feeling that his bright smile is hiding something.

“And…” Pipimi continues, shutting his eyes. “I must concede that you have in fact worked very hard, Popuko.”

He looks up at Popuko and extends a hand.

“I am happy that my final battle will be against a truly worthy opponent such as yourself. Let’s have a fair race today, Popuko, and may the better racer win.”

Ah, there he is. I can practically see sparkles and roses around his politely smiling face. This is the princely and elegant president of the student council that made every girl swoon… including myself at some time, I’ll admit.

Now, that I have more certainty in my stronger feelings, his debonair demeanor does not sway me at all.

I look to the boy responsible for that.

He looks at Pipimi’s hand, seemingly just as unimpressed.

“Tch.”

Popuko walks past Pipimi without shaking his hand.

Agh! That was so rude though. So unmannerly, even if it’s kinda cute it’s still embarrassing honestly!

“I’m sorry about him, Pipimi…” I apologize for him, as has become standard procedure throughout our lives since the jerk never apologizes himself.

Again Pipimi smiles.

Again… it seems like it is to hide something.

“Dear me…” Pipimi starts softly, seemingly amused and unbothered. “What ever will we do with him…?”

~

Ohhh, this is gonna be intense! I can feel it as soon as I arrive at the racetrack. The sweltering heat of a fiery competitive atmosphere hits me in an instant. Or… maybe I’m just feeling the heat of the high and bright summer sun…

Wherever the heat is coming from, it's gonna be one hot battle. There is a wavering haze rising from the asphalt, the smell of engine smoke hangs in the air as the racers loop around the track doing practice laps, the crowd is sweaty and loud and excited as they exclaim their support for their favorite racers, they themselves compete to shout over each other.

It’s insanely heated already… it’s about to get even hotter…

My eye catches a sleek blue bike at the starting line. I recognize who it is right away despite the fact that a helmet hides his face. He takes such good care of his bike that it looks like a brand new model amid all the others that look well broken in, yet he’s probably had his longer than anyone.

He takes off his helmet. Long raven locks tumble down the racer’s shoulders. He throws his head back with a gasp, wiping the sweat from his brow. He takes a water bottle and instead of drinking from it he splashes his face, running a hand over his forehead and slicking back his bangs as he pants from the heat.

“KYAAAAA–!”

Uwah! I cover my ears at the chorus of high-pitched screams that pierce through the air. A recognizable group of girls stands in the front row with large and obnoxious banners to accompany their equally obnoxious voices.

“KYAAA WE LOVE YOU, PIPIMI-SAMA!”

Good grief, Pipimi’s fanclub was as loud as ever.

“PIPIMI-SAMA–”

VROOOM!!

“AHH–!” The girls all squeal and cower, quieting down when someone revs their engine right in front of the stands.

Everyone in the stands grimaces at the volume. That was a rather rude and unnecessary thing for that racer to do so I know right off the bat who the loud motorcycle belongs to.

Sure enough a red bike veers in front of the stands and then screeches to a halt at the starting line next to Pipimi.

That red bike with all the torn stickers and the plethora of scruffs from many a wipeout could only belong to one person.

As soon as he stops, Popuko rips his helmet off. He looks even more winded from the heat than Pipimi does. His shoulders rise and fall heavily and his face is totally red as he glares at Pipimi.

D’aw, he almost looks like he’s blushing like that.

But that happens a lot when he looks at Pipimi. He gets so riled up he turns as red as a tomato.

Pipimi smiles at him and leans over his handlebars casually, while Popuko stiffens and crosses his arms. They’re talking but I can’t hear what they’re saying from this distance with all the ruckus around me.

It looks to be the same old song and dance. The constant taunting, the cold vs. hot back and forth shtick that was always their thing.

Sigh, they couldn’t even save it before their final battle. They really just can’t seem to help themselves and…

Huh? What’s… Pipimi saying? Popuko suddenly looks shocked. Pipimi has a small smile on his face, his eyes are closed and he looks content. Popuko stares at him with bewilderment written on his features before his face contorts and he looks angrier than ever. Oh geez, he looks like he’s ready to get off his bike and throw hands-!

“ALL RACERS AT THE STARTING LINE!”

An announcer suddenly shouts. The crowd whoops as the rest of the racers drive up to the starting line.

Pipimi calmly puts his helmet back on as Popuko continues to glare daggers at him. Popuko looks so livid but there is something else in that expression. I recognize that face despite the mask now.

He looks angry… but in reality he’s really hurt by Pipimi’s words, I can tell.

“READY!”

With a pained grimace, he shuts his eyes and looks away. As the countdown starts, he is forced to turn the other cheek. He pulls his helmet over his head again and grips his handlebars looking ahead.

Not only did whatever Pipimi say have him upset, it also seems to have fired him up. He revs his engine impatiently as he waits for the announcer’s go ahead. His posture is rigid as he leans forward at the ready to rocket away from the starting line.

He’s determined to win. I know how dead set he is on winning this race.

Me too. I’m determined to see him win too. I feel our wishes are totally in sync right now.

He’s completely focused on that goal right now… and if I shouted anything right now he probably wouldn't hear it…

CHOICE:

>*Shout words of encouragement louder than anyone to show your support*

>*Remain quiet and hope that he knows and can feel in his heart how much you support him*

(This choice really doesn’t effect the ending at all so pick whichever you like, but the first one is the funnier option so I’ll show you that one >u<)

>*Shout words of encouragement louder than anyone to show your support*

Alright! That does it! If Popuko is going to do his best then I have to do my best too!

I stand up!

Take a deep breath!

Cup my hands around my mouth!

And shout at the top of my lungs!

“POPUKOOOOOOOO!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!”

My shout bellows so loud that everyone around me flinches and turns around to glare at me. I could hardly care! Popuko’s head turns toward my direction.

Yay! Looks like he heard me, he knows now how much I-

“GO!!!”

Ah-

The racers all zoom away from the starting line.

All the racers except Popuko… Popuko jumps and takes off after them…

I can hear his cursing from all the way up here.

Whoops… my shout took him off guard and distracted him from the race.

Wah, oh no!! He got a late start because of me! Geez, just like our first day of school. You’d think I’d have it together by now! Ugh, stupid me!

If Popuko loses because of me I’ll never forgive myself…

I sit back down, my face burning with embarrassment…

My embarrassment soon fades as I look up and become utterly enraptured with the intense battle I witness ahead of me.

It’s very different than usual.

For a while, Popuko had not been above using tricks and cheap tactics to get ahead. Borderline cheating… well maybe calling it borderline is a little lenient. He had definitely gotten away with pulling some pretty awful stunts. Sabotaging the track before the race, riding the other racers asses and discreetly knocking them into spinouts, one time he had even tossed this weird… oversized turtle shell at someone?

It’s a wonder how he hadn’t gotten banned from the races in the meantime, he was able to somehow pull it all off under the refs’ radars. This certainly didn’t make him a crowd favorite. Almost everyone here was rooting against him today actually… Agh, why am I in love with this mess?!

Anyway, despite the blatant cheating that should’ve gotten him easy wins, Pipimi never allowed it.

Pipimi had won all of their previous races not only thanks to his incredible skill… but also his incredible wits.

He’s a planner. He goes into every race with a strategy. His methods are effective and yet significantly more fair and less underhanded. Sometimes hanging at the back of the line till the last moment, sometimes intimidating others by riding close next to them unfalteringly, sometimes distracting them all with a sick wheely… He knows exactly how to play to his advantage in a way that is unconventional yet not against the rules, it’s insanely impressive.

Now… there’s none of that going on, however.

Pipimi doesn’t look to be deploying some kind of grand strategy. Popuko isn’t doing anything shady.

The both of them are just charging ahead full throttle.

They’re just racing. Plain and simple.

And they’re neck and neck the entire time.

In what seems like the blink of an eye, it comes down to the final lap.

The crowd is electric, the noise around me has reached a fever pitch. My heart is hammering in my chest, and I jump to my feet again.

He’s so close! They’re getting so close to the checkered flag waving ahead of them.

“Popuko!! You can do it!”

He can win!

“POPUKOOOO!!”

At the last second, one racer pulls ahead ever so slightly.

The crowd is roaring.

The bike that pulls ahead…

“FINISH!!”

Is red.

“AND THE WINNER IS RACER POPUKO!! RACER POPUKO WINS!!”

Gasp!

I can’t believe it!

The crowd mostly boos, this seems to be quite the upset. But I don't care, I don’t care about them at all.

“Popuko…”

I cover my mouth.

I feel absolutely over the moon!

“Popuko!”

I rush away from my seat, and dash down the stands. I run straight into a raucous crowd that immediately gathers around the racers at the finish.

I push past everyone. I have to get to Popuko. I have to get to him now. I’m so ecstatic I want to just run straight into his arms and give him a congratulatory kiss! I’m too happy to think.

I’m gonna do it!

I see him. My face lights up.

“Popuko! Popuk-”

I stop.

I stop dead in my tracks when Popuko takes his helmet off.

Because when his expression is revealed he looks… absolutely devastated.

Huh…?

“Congratulations Popuko!” A scantily clad woman commends him as she holds out a big shiny trophy for him to take.

He doesn’t take it. He looks upset and… lost.

“Congratulations Popuko.” A much calmer voice states.

He tenses at the voice. He turns to it, Pipimi smiles back at him.

“You did a-”

Pipimi is cut off when Popuko grips the front of his jump suit and yanks him forward.

“Fuck you, man!” He yells in his face.

The crowd stares at him in disbelief.

““Let’s have a fair race today” my ass! You call that fair?! How dare you!”

Pipimi’s face is an emotionless mask. He doesn’t say anything. This seems to make Popuko even angrier.

“Augh!” He pushes him away with a frustrated yell.

He storms away.

“Popuko-”

He walks past me.

He doesn’t even see me.

~

“Popuko! Popuko!”

I call out his name for the umpteenth time, just as futile as the last time. My voice is hoarse, my throat feels ragged from all the shouting I’ve been doing, and at this point I’m absolutely parched. I know I must be terribly dehydrated from running back and forth all afternoon, the low sun is starting to feel unbearable.

I press on despite the burns reddening my shoulders and cheeks.

Where on Earth could he have run off to?!

He had stormed away without claiming his prize. The prize that he had been dreaming of attaining for years. I really thought he would do anything to get his hands on it, but since he’s met Pipimi things have changed.

There’s only one reason he wouldn’t accept that trophy.

He must not feel like he truly beat Pipimi today.

And…

I stop. My lungs are stinging too much to keep going. I rest my hands on my knees as I double over and gasp for air.

As I pant, I start to realize where I am. Before I had only really registered it as “where Popuko isn’t” but as I stare at the ground… something sparkles in the corner of my eye.

I turn to look beside me. Ah, I’m running along the cape.

The water glistens with dappled white light, I hear the light trickle of gentle waves that lap at the shore next to me.

There is nothing at the edge of the cape, it is empty despite the legends of what can appear here during this time of year…

I hear something. A page turning. I realize I am not alone. I look ahead of me and sitting on a bench casually a few paces ahead of me is…

Pipimi.

His eyes are downcast, he holds the small notebook I always seemed to see him writing in whenever we’d talk. He flips through the pages idly. His eyes glide over the words on the pages and as he does he looks so… wistful. It makes me wonder what is written there, what is the subject of the notes that made him read them with such longing evident in his features.

He doesn’t seem to notice me yet.

I steel my resolve and approach him.

“Pipimi…”

He doesn’t look at me, but he stills.

I didn’t get it at first, why Popuko had run off and looked so upset. But after the initial shock… after running in circles with ample time to think, I realized…

“Pipimi… you let him win today, didn’t you?”

“...”

The only answer I get comes in the sound of the wind around us rustling the trees and sending ripples along the water. As the light gust blows past him, his hair falls forward and hides his expression but in the split second before it did I could see the little smile tug at his lips.

“... heheh.” He laughs gently.

So it’s true.

“Why…?”

He lifts his head and takes a deep breath, his eyes closed, his expression serene, same as it had looked when he was talking to Popuko earlier. He gently shuts the notebook and lies it on his lap, then he looks to me, smile as kind and inviting as ever.

He shrugs. “It didn’t matter to me at that point. I figured I’d already lost really.”

“Wh… What?” That doesn’t make sense.

“Yes… the real battle was already over then. But… I don’t like leaving conflicts on bad terms… so I thought I’d make my peace by granting that last coveted victory.”

After a brief pause, he scoots over, patting the seat next to him with one hand and… holding out a water bottle to me with the other.

His smile is apologetic. I can’t turn him down. I take a seat, take the water and chug, it’s a great relief.

“Heh…” Pipimi continues. “Seems like my plan backfired this time…”

I still feel lost. I have not idea what the “real battle” could possibly be, but there’s something else that’s bothering me. Something that might be able to give me a hint.

“You… what did you say to Popuko at the starting line? What made him so mad then?”

He chuckles. “Oh, just a bit of motivation.” He turns to me and says collectedly. “I told him that if I lost today, I'd quit racing for good.”

“What?!”

No way! Pipimi is the best racer on his team, he’s pretty much everyone’s favorite, he’s the star of the circuit. One loss wouldn’t be enough to ruin him. Why would he quit in the middle of his prime?

“Are you crazy?!”

He laughs looking entirely unbothered by this. “Heheh, that was his reaction too. You two… you’re really two peas in a pod, aren’t you?” He murmurs. And this time… the hollowness of his smile is obvious. “You work very well together I think…”

“Pipimi…”

He slaps a hand over his face so suddenly it makes me jolt. His fingers curl and he grips his hair aggressively. His face morphs into a deep grimace as his nails dig into his skin.

I’ve never seen an expression like this on his face, he always hides his emotions so well… It startles me.

“Dammit.” He growls deeply. “Dammit all. Dammit, dammit.” He curses shakily before his hand falls from his face. He looks up and laughs humorously up at the sky, sorrow clear all over his face. “Ha… ha ha… I lost today, y/n. I really lost. In more ways than one.” He shakes his head. “I let the most important thing slip away… far more important and precious than a shiny trophy that would’ve only sit on my shelf to collect dust… something that gives me a much greater high, and one that always lasts.”

“Pipi-”

“Let me have it.”

“Huh-?”

“Why couldn’t you let me have it?”

He looks at me and there is a dark desperation in his eyes. I can’t believe what I’m seeing, I can’t believe what I’m hearing most of all.

“Give it back.” He grasps my shoulders, he looks on the verge of tears. My heart hammers in my chest, I don’t know what to say, I honestly can’t believe this is happening, I’d no idea till now. “You’re the only one who could give it to me, y/n. And you’re the only one who could take it away too. And I… I let you. I let you take it away. How could I? I thought it was more important to me, I-”

He stops, he double takes at something behind me and his face falls even more.

I turn around to look and it’s…

Popuko.

He power walks forward. His hands shoved in his pockets, his head down and a deep frown on his face.

“Popuko?” I call his name softly.

He jolts at my voice and looks up.

His eyes widen when he looks in our direction. He looks us up and down and his expression turns livid again.

“What are you two doing?” He whispers sharply.

“Ah-” Pipimi and I look at each other. Pipimi retracts his hands from my shoulders so quickly it seemed like they'd burned him. “I-I’m sorry, I wasn’t-”

“God, you-” He grits his teeth and roughly runs a hand through his hair. “You just have to make it worse. You always do, Pipimi- I-” He shuts his eyes and turns on his heel. “I’m done. Fuck this.” He hisses but his voice is shaking so much, he can’t hide it.

Pipimi watches him walk away, watches him with a hopeless look in his eyes. He tries to stutter something out in response, but eventually he clenches his fists, shuts his eyes.

He stands up.

“Are you really satisfied leaving things like this?”

Popuko stops but he doesn’t turn around.

“Are you really okay with leaving so many things unsaid?”

“...”

“Stop running away, Popuko. Let’s both stop running away. Why don’t we settle this once and for all right now?”

I swallow thickly as I look between the both of them, Pipimi’s expression is firm, his gaze in his direction unwavering. Popuko slowly turns around and then…

Something bright flashes me in the face!

Agh! We all flinch at the blinding light.

I shield my eyes with my hands, but I try to peek out from behind them and see past the light. I blink, trying to make out what it is that’s shining so bright.

I gasp when I finally realize it.

It’s… a bell!

A bell shining atop an elegant white gazebo at the edge of the cape, that most certainly wasn’t there before. A bell just waiting to be tolled…

It… it can’t be… just like the legend said. The bell that appears just once on the cape each summer. If two people toll the bell together, they’re bound in eternal love forever.

And! And this is that bell! It’s real?!

Popuko and Pipimi stare at it slack jawed same as me.

Their eyes then return to each other and something in the air changes. There is a mutual certainty in both their expressions, they’re both thinking the same thing. We’re all thinking the same thing.

We’re all thinking about who is going to ring it together today.

The tense air is so thick it feels suffocating. I clasp my hands together over my chest and watch them. I’ve felt this electricity in the air around them before. The electricity of an impending fight.

It really is going to be settled right here, right now.

And… and I’m the one who decides who wins, aren’t I?

I step between them, they watch me intently.

While Pipimi’s words are flattering… there is no doubt in my mind who the true winner is today. I won’t hesitate at all. I know, I’ve always known.

“Pipimi…” I start.

Popuko swallows thickly, he squeezes his eyes shut and I try not to giggle at how cute he looks. He looks pretty distressed though so I shouldn’t draw this out.

I turn to Pipimi and bow my head.

“I’m sorry.” I say to him.

Popuko opens his eyes and looks up with shock.

“Huh?”

“Pipimi, I can’t give you what you want.” I continue. “You see… I want Popuko and I to be-”

“I know.” Pipimi states, taking me off guard. “I know I’ve been defeated.”

He smiles and puts a hand over his chest.

“Heheh… you’ve been the strongest opponent I’ve faced yet. I fear that from the very beginning I was no match for you. Yes… when I saw you two walking side by side on the day of the entrance ceremony, I was afraid that my fate was sealed then. And… I was right, wasn’t I? I never stood a chance…”

“Pipimi…”

He walks up to me and… pats my head.

“I lost. I lost to you, y/n.”

“Pipimi, I-”

Wait.

What????

“You were my greatest rival, y/n. Please take care of him for me.”

?????

Eh???

“Wh-what?!” Popuko voices my confusion for me. The two of us look at him with wide eyes.

He continues as if we saw this coming.

“You’re his childhood friend… you have so much more history than us… you get along better… I should’ve known you would win his affections all along… yet. I couldn’t help myself from trying, I couldn’t resist. I drew as close to you as I could so I could learn more about him from the person who knows him best since he would never tell me himself. I kept notes on the things you told me about him even…” He says as his holds the notebook to his chest. “Of course, it wasn’t so simple. Of course it’s not like school or races, notes and strategies mean nothing in the face of passionate feelings.”

He smiles. “You already knew that, didn't you? That’s why you didn’t spare a single detail. Because you knew no matter how much you told me, it wouldn’t matter in the end. You had that much certainty in your feelings for each other. Goodness, I’m terribly envious you know.”

I… wha???

“I mean??? No? I didn’t think that… I wasn’t…?”

I don’t even know how to respond to this.

This… was not what I was expecting. Well.

“What are you talking about, you weirdo?!” Popuko voices my exact thoughts once again. I look to him, see his bright blush. He stiffly walks forward. “You’ve got the wrong idea, dude!”

He puts a hand on my shoulder and my heart leaps into my throat.

“B-Because y/n is… she’s my…” He’s blushing deeper by the minute. His hand squeezes my shoulder as he looks away.

Oh my god. Is it happening? It’s happening! I-

“Y/n is

my

rival!” Popuko shouts.

………………………..

“EHHHHHH?!??!”

I’m gonna cry! What is even happening?!

“You idiot!” Popuko continues. “Why do you think I was always talking mad shit about you in front of her? I was trying to make her not like you so she’d leave you alone! Goddamit!”

He scrubs a frustrated hand through his hair.

“Of course I never did a very good job… you’re perfect, anyone could see that… you’re perfect so I thought someone like me would never stand a chance. I thought that maybe if I beat you in a race that you’d see me as someone worthy…”

He clenches his fists.

“And then you told me you were gonna quit and it made me so scared. I thought it was because you hated me, I thought it was because I’d lost to y/n. So I tried to race you fair, I knew you’d beat me if we did. And then I saw you tap the breaks right before the finish line. I thought the reason was because you wanted to get away from me so much-”

“That’s not true!” Pipimi shouts and rushes over to him. He takes his face in his hands, cupping his cheeks. “That’s not true at all. That’s the last thing I wanted Popuko. I thought winning would make you happy, I just wanted you happy. I thought that was the only thing I could do for you.”

“Pipimi…” He puts his hands over Pipimi and rubs them with his thumbs, starting to tear up. “Stupid… you’re so stupid…”

“Heheh, it’s true. I don’t think clearly around you. It’s so frustrating, you know. None of my plans ever worked with you.”

“Tch. You think I’m the frustrating one? You’re impossible. Annoying motherfucker…” Popuko grumbles with a cute pout.

“Heheh, well I forgive you. I hope you’ll forgive me too…”

He smiles smugly back. “Nah, I don’t forgive you. Giving you hell is too much fun.”

“Ah, I suppose I share the sentiment.”

“Good…”

And then… Pipimi tilts his head down…

And kisses Popuko on the lips.

Well. I think my soul just left my body actually. I felt it really.

This is not how this was supposed to turn out.

But now that I think about it… even though they’d sounded bitter before… on our “dates” they only really ever talked about each other.

They’re obsessed with each other. They’ve always been.

Oh...

Pipimi pulls away slowly and their eyes flutter open. Popuko catches him by the front of his shirt before he can back away.

“Don’t quit racing, Pipimi.” He murmurs with soft eyes. A smile spreads across his lips. “I wanna beat you for real someday.”

“Well… if you insist.”

He grips his shirt, his face serious. “Promise me?”

“Of course. And you know what? I think I know the perfect way to make that promise.”

He steps back and looks to his side. Looks at the bell.

“Ah, good idea!” Popuko smiles bright at me… he really looks happier than I’ve ever seen him. “Come watch me and Pipimi ring the bell, y/n! It’s a once in a lifetime sight.”

Pipimi laughs. “I must say I feel rather embarrassed now. I’d really thought that you were intending to ring the bell with her.”

“Psh. Of course not, we grew up together. Y/n is like a sister to me!”

Oof! It feels like a knife just went through my heart!

“Ah, she’s like that to me too. All the kohai are like my precious little siblings. Even though I considered her a rival I couldn’t help but look after her, heheh.”

Two knives! Two knives through the chest now, this isn’t fair!

“Now then…”

They turn toward the bell and approach it. They stand under the gazebo. Popuko takes the rope attached to it, Pipimi puts his hand higher up on the rope and gives Popuko a challenging look.

“Ugh, you always have to one up me don’t you.”

He yanks the rope forward, the bell clanks loud.

“I’m not gonna lose though.” He continues as he rings the bell with raucous fervor. “I’ll show you my feelings are louder!”

“Oh? Don’t count on that.” Pipimi flicks his wrist toward him and the bell sounds even louder. “I won’t lose there.”

“Ha ha, you bastard!”

The two of them laugh as they pull the rope back and forth like a game of tug of war. The air rings with a bellowing and victorious sound.

They won.

I lost.

I can’t watch. I cover my eyes and run away.

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

BAD END

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

BBRRRNG!
The bell rings letting us know that school is out for the day!
Yes!! I’m so excited!
Because not only is school let out for the day, it’s also let out for the rest of the summer.

Yep, today was the last day of school. What a relief!
“We did it, Pipimi! We made it through the whole year.”
I stand up to pat him on the back as he is sitting at the desk in front of me.
He… doesn’t respond. He’s staring blankly ahead.
“Pipimi…? Hellooo, earth to Pipimi?”
I tap his back a little harder.
He snorts and jolts up. “Huh-whu…?”

What, was he sleeping with his eyes open or just intensely zoning out? I can’t tell honestly.

He turns and looks around with tired eyes. He scrubs them with the oversized drooping sleeves of his sweater with a little groan. He blinks.
“Where am I…?”
“Pfft, you’re at school silly.”
“Oh… still? Ugh…”

“Good grief.” I laugh. Such an oddball this one. He makes me laugh… I noticed that lately that’s been true. Whenever I’m around him I find myself laughing and smiling an awful lot… I find myself happier.

“I’m just…. not a fan of the daylight…” He mutters.
“If you keep saying things like that you’re never gonna beat the vampire allegations.”
He tenses. “Don’t bring that up.”
“Hehe, I’m just kidding. And hey, you won’t have to worry about turning to dust in the daylight for much longer anyway because school’s officially out! Though I guess the sun is brighter in the summer so maybe it’ll still be a problem.”
He ignores my teasing. “Summer… huh…?” He trails off looking out the window, but I can’t tell if he’s looking at somehting or just zoning out again.
I follow his gaze out at the bright clear blue sky…
Yeah… summer…

I wonder what I’m gonna do this summer… I wonder if I’ll see Pipimi. I’ve gotten so used to seeing him everyday.
It’s so strange. I really didn’t think that I was going to spend this year almost exclusively with him but… when we started hanging out… all the other kids started avoiding me too. He’s not exactly Mr. Popular.
It’s a lonely thought… it’s even lonelier knowing that this is the world he’s always lived in. And I can’t imagine why he’s had to suffer like this. Sure, he’s a little out there but he’s the kindest soul I know.
It’s everyone’s loss really. Everyone is missing out by not giving him a chance. I don’t know why I’m the only one who sees it.
Well, I guess I’m not the only one. It hasn’t been just the two of us this whole year. Tagging along with us the whole time was-
“Senpaiiii!”
Ah.
As if on cue he peeks his head around the corner. It’s him, the little handful himself, Popuko.
Our little underclassman has been following us around like a little puppy dog too. It’s very cute, I must say. I’m not nearly as annoyed as I act about it, though I’d never say that out loud.
He runs into our classroom with his arm stretched out like he’s pretending to be an airplane. No one pays him any mind. At first they had been confused to see a student so much younger than them hanging around the older kid’s building but everyone was used to it now.

He all but throws himself up on Pipimi’s desk, sitting atop it.
“Hey, that’s rude!”
He ignores me, the twerp.

“Guys! It’s time for our graduation ceremony! Do you know what that means? Do you know what that means?” He asks excitedly as he bounces a bit.

He throws his hands in the air. “GRADUATION PRESENTS!”
“SHHH!” Everyone shushes him. “No yelling in the classroom, Popuko.”
“Ah, whoops.” He covers his mouth bashfully with a giggle. “I’m sorry I’m just so so so SO excited, hehe~”
He turns toward Pipimi, kicking his legs back and forth cutely. “You’re gonna get me lotsa presents aren’t you Pipimi-chan-senpai?”
Pipimi never protests to that ridiculous nickname and I don’t know how he does it. Pipimi smiles and chuckles lightly as he lifts a hand to run over Popuko’s head.

“Nope.”
“Eh?!”
“I’m only getting you one thing.”
Popuko puffs his cheeks out and crosses his arms. “Geez, so stingy! I’m not just graduating out of my grade, I'm also graduating elementary school! This is a big accomplishment. I deserve lotsa gifts!”
“Well… I’ll only get you one gift… but…!” Pipimi taps the tip of Popuko’s nose with his finger. “I promise I’ll get you your favorite.” He murmurs sweetly.
“YAY!!!!”
“SHHHH—”
“Ah, sorry!”
I laugh. He’s so cute. And Pipimi is so good with kids. They both warm my heart, I didn’t mind being stuck with them all year at all. I’ve grown so attached to them both.
But… there’s one of them I’ve grown attached to… in a bit of a different way…
“Pipimi-chan-senpai, what do you want me to get you for your graduation present?”
“Do you have enough of an allowance to even get him anything?” I ask. He replies by sticking his tongue out at me.
“Um…” Pipimi starts.
I listen intently for Pipimi’s answer. Honestly, even though we’ve spent so much time together lately… I still don’t know that much about him really, he doesn’t talk about himself much. I’d really like to know what he likes…
“I don’t know… you don’t have to get me anything… it’s fine…”
Aw man… looks like I’m not gonna find out anytime soon though.
“Whaaat? But I wanna get you something…” Popuko shrugs. “Oh well! Sucks for you. I’m gonna get a lot of presents anyway, ‘cause y/n is gonna get me a ton of stuff right?”
“Huh? When did I say that?”
“You’re gonna say it right now! Go!”
Pipimi turns to me. “You should really... Use the money you were gonna use for my present. I don’t need anything.”
Geez, that response just makes me sad!

Well… really what I’ll do is…

CHOICE:

> “I’ll find the perfect gift that suits you, Pipimi.”

> “I’m gonna buy you aaall the gifts you want, Popuko!”

(For Pipimi’s ending choose the former!)

> “I’ll find the perfect gift that suits you, Pipimi.”

Pipimi blinks at me. “Huh?”
“Hehe~” I laugh and put my hands on my hips. “That’s right!”
Pipimi blinks at me again. “No, I said “huh” ‘cause I wasn’t listening. What’d you say??”
“Eh?!?!? You’re not even gonna get me anything?!?!” Popuko whines at a frequency high enough to shatter glass.
“SSHHH—”
“Sorry!”
Geez, what a couple pieces of work…
~
So, I begin my quest to find Pipimi a gift that suits him to a t…
And over the course of that quest…
I have found myself…
In Paris, France.
Yeah, you’re probably wondering how we ended up here.
Hah… I’m wondering that myself…
Listen okay, I got myself in a bit of tizzy trying to figure out what to pick out for Pipimi’s present. Okay… maybe a tizzy is putting it lightly.
I got a little obsessed if I’m being honest.
But by god, I stand by the conviction that it has to be. Just. Right.

The boy deserves it! He doesn’t get any appreciation from his peers and it’s not right! He deserves to have someone go way out of their way for his sake! He deserves to have someone put an insane amount of thought and effort into something that probably shouldn’t be as big of a deal as I’m making it out to be! Whatever! I don’t care! I love him!
I’m in France now! Fuck you!
*Inhale* *Exhale*
Hoooo, okay. Got a little excited. I’m sorry.
I'm just a little frustrated. I’m finding it hard to communicate with the people around me lately. Obviously. No one speaks my language here or in any of the other foreign countries I’ve visited during this trip…

Oh yeah, this trip has taken me to other countries too, long story, I’ll get to that.
But anyway… honestly…
The weird looks people give me, the way they look frustrated at the things I do say and from the way I act, the way they see me and go out of their way to avoid me…
It all seems uncomfortably familiar. It feels exactly like how people treated Pipimi at school.
The thing is, I’m in a foreign country where I don’t know how things work around people I don’t know.
Pipimi is treated like this at home .
I’m feeling so angry and sad myself just from the little time I’ve spent here. I can’t imagine how he puts up with it all the time. I get it now though. How it feels to be so disconnected from everyone around you… how it feels when no one understands you and it feels impossible to get through to anyone…
All the more reason for me to do my best for him. I want to let him know that it’s not gonna be like this for him anymore. He’s not alone anymore. I want to give him all the love and attention validation that he’s been severely lacking for so long. I want him to know that he’s seen, truly seen for all that he is and that no matter what I see, even the parts of him that other people shun him for, I’ll still love him for all his facets, and I won’t ever leave him for it.
He deserves to have his needs and wants taken care of…
Ah… only problem is… I don’t exactly have any idea what those wants are yet…
Look I don’t exactly have much to go off of… So! I’m taking what little I do have to go off of and running with it and so the gift I’m going with is-!
Bread.
The boy loves his bread.

I think… I never actually saw him eat it, he’d just buy out all the bread in the cafeteria everyday and immediately leave with it. Maybe he saves it.
Anyway! I couldn’t just get him any ol’ store bought bread. I have to get something made in real bakeries. I have to get something high quality and authentic. And what better way to ensure that they are authentic loaves than to travel to their country of origin to order them!
This is a reasonable conclusion! Let’s tell ourselves that at least!
For the sake of justifying the fact that I took out money from my college savings account for the sake of travel costs. Sorry mom and dad! There are more important things in life! Like buying garlic bread in Italy for a boy who doesn’t have very many friends. This is far more important than paying for tuition.
Yes. Pipimi is a very important boy.
He’s worth flying to New York to get an authentic American burger from a fast food chain that is most certainly also present in our hometown and also looks exactly the same as the one at home save for the fact that the one in America looked like it hadn't been visited by a health inspector in a while. But it's an authentic AMERICAN whopper. That’s the important part.
Getting a real, genuine baguette from Paris is also important. It’s a bit difficult since all the bakeries are on strike. Oh well, I can see some behind the display case through the window of one of them though. A little breaking and entering never hurt anyone anywho. It’s fine.
Pipimi is gonna really enjoy his gift.
He better enjoy it anyway…
~
Phew! Home sweet home!

I couldn’t get back fast enough! Not just because being home in and of itself is comforting but also because I finally get to see Pipimi again after all this time!

Today is the day I finally give him his gift and… perhaps more importantly… tell him how I really feel about him…
Kya— I’m so nervous! I clutch the basket of all the carefully procured breads I’d collected and make my way toward the spot I told him we should meet up.

This will be the perfect spot to tell him. Honestly my roundabout trip made me pretty late to the party as the graduation ceremony ended several days ago, but in the end that’s just fine. I think I’m getting back just in time really.
Because the spot I’m meeting him at is the cape. And right now in the middle of the humid summer is the exact time that a legendary bell is supposed to appear there.

If it really shows up like the legend says, I’m gonna ask Pipimi to ring it with me. I’m determined!
So I make my way down the walkway beside the water and stare at the sparkling ripples twinkling along the surface, the bright orange sun hangs low and glaring.
Ah, Pipimi doesn’t like it when the sun is out and imposing like this so I’ll probably find him somewhere in the shade. I venture over to where I know there is a bench among a canopy of trees and sure enough I find him there sitting hunched over as usual.
I smile and am about to call out to him…
But then I realize he’s not alone because sitting on the bench next to him…

Is Popuko.
Oh…. Well this is going to be… difficult.

It’s not that I don’t like Popuko! He’s our cute little buddy! He hangs off the two of us like we’re his parents and we both love him. It's just that…
Confessing my love to Pipimi with him here might be a little weird… Ah, the poor little third wheel, he doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Oh well, whatever! He’s just a little kid, he probably won’t even get what’s going on. It’ll be fine!
As I approach, I can hear Popuko’s excited chatter and Pipimi’s calm but engaged replies. Popuko can talk on and on and on about things and Pipimi is always there to listen, always there to encourage him and let him know he’s interested even if his disjointed ramblings can be a bit hard to grasp at times. Pipimi’s always been that considerate, it’s sweet.
Popuko has his arm looped with Pipimi’s, his head resting on his shoulder, and it’s gotta be one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. They both hold little handheld gaming consoles that are linked by cables. Wow, how retro. I’d no idea kids even knew about these old things…
“And then, and then,” Popuko tells him as he nuzzles his cheek against his shoulder. “And then you can trade me your Clefairy and I can trade you my Haunter, and they’ll both evolve when we do!”
“Oh~” Pipimi coos gently. “Is that how it works… that’s nice… let’s do that…”
“Yay, hehe!” Popuko cheers, he looks up and does a double take when he sees me. “Ah- y/n?! Is that you?!”
“Hi, Popuko!” I wave to him.
He jumps out of his seat and runs over to give me a hug.
Pipimi looks up quickly, he seems to tense a bit at the sight of me. “Oh… y/n… we’ve been wondering where you’ve been all this time…”
“Yeah!” Popuko says, lifting his head up to look at me, resting his chin on my chest. “Pipimi-chan-senpai got really worried when you didn’t show up for the graduation ceremony!”
“Ah- Well…” Pipimi jolts a bit. He runs his fingers through his long raven hair bashfully. “I-I just… thought maybe… ah, never mind…”
I tilt my head, wondering what exactly he thought.

Popuko pokes my stomach, I look down at him and he ushers me to come down to his level so he can whisper something in my ear.
“Pipimi-chan-senpai was scared that the reason you didn’t come was because you didn’t like us anymore…” He whispers.
“Eh?!”
“Yeah, he was scared that maybe he made you uncomfortable or said something that upset you, but he didn’t know what. I think he was just worried that another friend was going to just leave him again.”
Again…?
“Y/n, I got scared too.” He whines quietly. “I know Pipimi-chan-senpai didn’t do anything wrong so I thought maybe it was something I did…”
“Oh, Popuko, of course neither of you did anything wrong.” I reassure him as I pat his head.
Oh these poor boys, they’re entirely used to being left behind, aren’t they?

Pipimi watches me nervously, I smile softly at him.
I straighten and walk over to him taking Popuko’s hand.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Pipimi.”
“…” He eyes me, seeming to not know what to say. I know now what that means, I know he’s afraid of doing something wrong.

So I’ll be patient with him, I know that’s all he really needs.
I take a seat next to him. I see him tense.

Patience. No need to rush this today.
“I was surprised to see Popuko here too.” I start. “It was nice of you to bring him along. You knew I was missing you both, didn’t you? Hehe.”
“Um…” He looks at me, his half hidden expression hard to read. “Actually… I didn’t have your number saved in my contacts… so I had no idea that text was from you… I was kinda worried. I didn’t know if it was from someone trustworthy… so I brought Popuko as backup just in case…”
“Ah-oh…”
He brought a little kid as backup?!

“And it did turn out to be someone untrustworthy after all!” Popuko shouts as he pushes me with a laugh. “I’ll protect you from this suspicious lady, Pipimi-chan-senpai!”
He says as he jumps on Pipimi’s lap and hugs him.
Goodness, as hyper and rambunctious as ever, this one.
Pipimi chuckles softly as he wraps his arms around him to hug him tight. “Hu hu… he’s just being silly… really… we’re glad you’re back, y/n.” He smiles at me.
His smile looks… a little sad… a little uncertain.
I want to reassure him.
“I’m glad to be back! I’ve been waiting to give you something…”
“Hm…?”
“Your graduation present, remember?”

“Wha… y/n, that was two months ago, you’re a little late…” Popuko says.
“Eheheh… yeah, I know.” I say as I rub the back of my head. “Ah, but I had a good reason for that!” I lift the wrapped basket out to Pipimi. “Ta-da! For you, Pipimi! I hope you like it… I tried my best…” I say softly, twirling a strand of hair between my fingers nervously.
“Oh… thank you… y/n…”
He takes it from me and when our fingers brush, my heart skyrockets. It takes all my willpower not to squeal. Geez, I’ve got it so bad. I hope this doesn’t ruin it. I put my hands to my cheeks, so nervous I can hardly watch him as he opens it.
Popuko looks down at it as he does, almost looking more interested to see what it is than Pipimi does.

And when he opens it.
“Oh…”
“OHHHHHHH!!!”
Pipimi just kinda blinks at it, Popuko on the other hand goes absolutely starry-eyed.
“It’s…”
“BREAD! It looks so yummy~” Popuko squeals with boyish delight, his mouth watering at the sight.
Well! Popuko likes it, but Pipimi’s reaction is really starting to worry me!!
No, it’s fine. Pipimi’s never very outwardly emotional. I’m sure he’s excited, he just doesn’t show it as obviously.

“Pipimi.” I put a hand on his arm. “Do you like it?”
“Ah…” He looks away.
I squeeze his arm gently. “Don’t worry, you can be honest.”
“Oh… well then… no… not really… I don’t really like bread all that much…”
“EHHH?!”
Okay nevermind!
“Wh-But you said be honest! I-I’m sorry.” He says looking immediately apologetic.
“Geez, Pipimi-chan-senpai, you know you’re not actually supposed to be honest when people say that…”
“No, no, I didn’t know that. I’m sorry. I really appreciate it, I just-”
“Pipimi, it’s fine, really!” I quickly reassure him since he looks like he wants to disappear suddenly. “I’m not upset, I promise. I’m just surprised is all. I thought you loved bread. It’s… kinda you’re thing. Or I thought it was since you bought it at the cafeteria every single day.”
“Oh… that’s-that’s-”
“Pipimi-chan-senpaaaaaiii! Can I eat them? Can I? Can I?” Popuko asks shamelessly.
Pipimi looks at me, his expression that of a kicked puppy.
“It’s okay. If you don’t like them, he can have them.”
“I’m sorry…”
Well, I thought I knew of at least one thing Pipimi likes. Guess not… guess I’m back to square one…
“Don’t be.” I assure him.
“Yeah, don’t be! Thanks for the bread guys!” Popuko shouts, immune to the tenseness in the air.
Popuko takes a big enthusiastic bite of the baguette. He tries to rip the piece he bit off by yanking it, and yanking it and… oh, it seems like he’s having trouble.
His face sours then. He lets go and frowns.
“This baguette is really hard… y/n? How old is this…?”
Oh… I didn’t even think about that… the flight back was pretty long… oh no…
“I, uh-”
“Oh well! That’s okay!” He says tossing the baguette over his shoulder unceremoniously.

I watch it fall to the ground and I almost want to cry… I almost got arrested for that baguette…
“My absolute FAVORITE is in here! Do you know what it is, y/n?”
“Of course I know what your favorite is. It’s…”

CHOICE:

> “A hamburger of course!”

> “A hambaga of course!”

(Again your choice here doesn’t really affect anything. So I’ll just show you the one I like better uwu)

> “A hamburger of course!”

Popuko stops and glares at me at my words. What—? Is that wrong?!

“Did you just pronounce hambaga with a hard ‘R’?”
“That’s kind of offensive, y/n…”
Oh. Oh yeah, they’re weird about how that’s pronounced, I forgot.
“No, no, I said hambaga, I swear!”
“Hmm, if you say so…”
I sigh a breath of relief when he drops it.
“A-And that’s a real American burger you know!”
“Really? Oh, it’s gonna be so good then-”
He stops as he lifts it up.
As soon as it’s revealed I immediately want to cover my nose.
Oh… that is rancid…
“Popu-chan, don’t eat that… That’s concentrated food poisoning…” Pipimi states.
“Y/n… how old is this…?” He repeats.
“Oh… you know… a… a month-”
“A month?!”
Actually a month or two really…
“EWWW!” He throws it over Pipimi’s shoulder into the water. “You’re so mean, y/n! Why’d you get us something so scary!”
“I thought it’d still be good by the time I got back, I just-”
Didn’t think this through very well at all… I’m so stupid… I really messed up.
I sigh. “I’m sorry, Pipimi… I really wanted to get you something you’d like but I… I got carried away and I screwed up! Ugh, I’m an idiot!”
“Y/n…”
“I just wanted to make you happy. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you and I want to get closer to you. I thought I knew of at least one thing you liked… but I was wrong about that too…”
I put my head in my hands. So much for letting him know I understand him…
Pipimi and Popuko share a look.

“Y/n… it’s okay.” Pipimi says softly as he rubs a hand over my back. “I… I really appreciate the effort, I mean it… No one’s ever really done something so considerate for me before-”
“Except for me!” Popuko interjects.
“Yes, except for you of course, Popu-chan.”

I look at him. “Really…?” It’s really that tragic, huh? “That’s not fair.”
“Well… I get it though… I’m weird, it makes people uncomfortable-”
“It shouldn’t though!”
He looks surprised. “Huh…?”
“That’s what makes you special! That what makes you the best person to hang out with! It’s not a bad thing, it’s great!”
“You… you really think that…?” He looks like he can’t believe it.
“Of course I do! Don’t ever let anyone try to change you, Pipimi. You’re perfect the way you are.”
“Y/n…” Tears collect at the edges of his eyes.
“See, I told you.” Popuko says softly. “I’m not the only one who thinks that.” He wipes away Pipimi’s tears and for a moment he almost seems… much older.
“Thank you, guys. That really means a lot.” He looks to me. “I’m gonna be honest, y/n… when you didn’t show up at graduation I was a little scared. I thought that maybe you didn’t accept me after all… but now… Hu hu… I know… you are really interesting after all.” He smiles genuinely… comfortably. “I know I can trust you. ”
“Yep… you can tell me anything you know.”
He swallows thickly, his face reddening. “Right… there’s something… I want to tell you then… you said you wanted to know what I like… so I’ll tell you…”
Popuko looks up at him and tilts his head curiously. Pipimi squeezes him closer for support, he shuts his eyes tight looking afraid to say it.
“The truth is… I… I’m…”
Oh my god… I think I know what he’s gonna say…
The way he looks so nervous, it must be…
“I’m-”
“You’re a vampire!”
“E… eh?!”
“I knew it! I knew it all along!” I say because really it’s been obvious this entire time!
“No! No, no, no. I’m not!” He shakes his head vehemently, he’s squeezing Popuko so hard at this point it must be hard for him to breathe.
But… he has to be a vampire. There’s so much evidence!
“But-But, what about at the pool when you refused to leave the shade?”
“I told you. I’m just embarrassed… I’m so pale…”
And ripped! Everyone else there was either turned on or jealous!

“Okay, what about that one time I saw blood on your sweater then!”
He frowns deeply. “No, it was worse than blood…”
“What?!”
“I spilled my Code Red Mountain Dew all over. It was really sad…”
“Oh…”
“Y/n, you’re a dummy! Of course Pipimi-chan-senpai isn’t a vampire! He wouldn’t last a day as one!”
Pipimi pouts cutely. “Yeah, I would…” He mumbles.
“Then! What’s your secret!” I say now totally embarrassed that I had believed the vampire theory so strongly.

“That’s… well, it’s about all the bread I used to buy at the cafeteria… I wasn’t actually buying it for myself…”
Popuko tenses and looks up at him.
“Oh. Who were you buying it for?”
“For my… for my…” His face is as red as can be.
No… it can’t be…
“For my boyfriend!” He says hurriedly, immediately hiding his burning face in Popuko’s hair once the truth is out.
“Ah… of course…”

A part of me just died I think.

Really? He’s not single? But…
“But… I’ve never seen your boyfriend before…” I say probably in denial and clinging to a futile hope that he’ll say he’s joking.
“Yes… you have actually…”
“Pipimi.” Popuko looks very unnerved for some reason. He doesn’t use his nickname and his voice sounds deeper suddenly. What is going on??
“It’s okay, Popuko. We can tell her. We can trust her, I know we can. She’s not gonna judge us.”
Wait, wait, wait, no way!
“Popuko is my boyfriend.” He states as he nuzzles his face into Popuko’s hair.
“Wh-”
“Pipimi!!”
“Wh-I-Huh-”
But Popuko is- He’s just a-
“Popuko is a little kid!! You-you can’t-”
Am I gonna have to call the cops?!
“Wait, no, you’ve got it all wrong! Popuko is actually older than us!”
“WHAT?!”
One bombshell after another and I have no idea what to believe anymore.
“Noooo! Pipimi-chan, I didn’t want her to know!” Popuko shouts.
He crosses his legs and groans. Again, his voice sounds much deeper and older than usual. Is it… it it true?? But…
“I-I’m sorry, I just thought-” Pipimi stutters.
He pats Pipimi’s head. “Oh well, don’t beat yourself up about it. I’m sure she woulda found out eventually, but goddammit, babe…”
I cover my mouth in shock. “Popuko! That’s a big kid word-”
“And I can use ‘em, if I fuckin’ please! I’m the biggest kid here!”
Who is this?! Who is this rude brat?! This isn’t my precious little innocent kohai! No, this isn’t really the real him, is it? No… my little boy…
“But… I don’t get it… you went to elementary school…”
He sighs again. He sits on the bench and leans heavily on his knees. “That’s ‘cause… I… I got held back a grade a shit ton of times, okay? ‘Cause I’m a fuckin’ dumbass, okay? And it’s embarrassing!
So… I pretended to be one of the kids so that people wouldn’t find out…” He scrubs a frustrated hand through his hair. “And I thought this year I finally broke free too! But, fuck it all, I got held back again… I gotta keep this stupid charade up for another year, ugh…” He groans.
“But… how come you're so… tiny…?” Does he have a condition too?
He glares at me murderously.
Oh, nope. Just a short ass.
“Jesus Christ. It’s a pain in the ass. I need a fucking beer right now, I hate it when people find out.”
Is he of legal drinking age???

“J-Just… how many times did you get held back…?” I ask, kind of scared of the answer.

Is Popuko the one I need to call the cops on??
“You’re not old enough for a beer, Popu-chan…”

Oh, thank god.

“That never stops me from drinking them, heehee~”
“Alcoholism isn’t funny, Popu-chan.” Pipimi says seriously and I can’t tell if the sarcasm went over his head or if there really wasn’t any. “Geez, you spend so much time with kids you’re starting to act like one…”
“And you spend so much time with y/n that you’re starting to act like a hardass. Come on, that’s her job.”
“I’m not a hardass! I'm just the only reasonable one here!”
“Yeah, yeah…” He says putting his hands behind his head.

Still Popuko. Still a little brat. That part wasn’t an act at least.
Huh. You’d think knowing all this would change how we talk to each other but… it doesn’t seem to really. This is the same banter as always.
“Well… now you know our secret, y/n…” Pipimi starts. “You see… it was very hard for the both of us for a while…”
Popuko’s smug smile falls. He takes Pipimi’s hand.
“We had… a difficult time fitting in with our peers. I have a hard time understanding people… Popuko struggled to fit in with the little kids since he’s so much older than them but he struggled just as much to fit in with the older kids because they always perceived him as being so much younger…
“It took us a while… but eventually we found the place we fit in.” Pipimi smiles and so does Popuko. “Eventually… we found each other…”

They touch their foreheads together. They look so in love and… it’s odd… I can’t even be upset.
Watching them makes me happy actually.

When they pull away Popuko gives me a sly side eye.
“Oh yeah, and then you showed up one day and started following us around like a puppy.”
“Popu-chan…”
“I'm just kidding! We like you I guess, we’ll keep you around.” He pats my back roughly with a laugh.
“Seriously though… we’re happy to have a friend we can confide in…”
I smile, genuinely.
“And I’m happy to be that friend.”

And I mean it.
The little puppy crush I had for a moment there was not nearly as strong as the familial love I feel for the both of them.

I’ve found a place to fit in too. Even if it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, it never is with these two. That’s why they’re so great.
“Ah-!” Popuko jumps to his feet suddenly. “The sun is almost down. Come on, Pipimi-chan. The sunlight won’t be so bad now, if we rush we might be able to make it in time!”
“Oh. That’s right…”
“What’re you talking about?”
“The bell!” Popuko exclaims.
Oh, of course.
So, we make a mad dash for the edge of the cape as the sun sinks in the sky, laughing and playfully pushing each other the whole way.

And we find a pretty white gazebo that wasn’t there before. A bell at the top of it.

I chuckle because Popuko is too short to reach the rope himself. So Pipimi lifts him so that he can ring it.
I stand to the side and watch them. I watch them with a smile.
They have my blessing.
BAD END (yep, still a bad end. That was heartwarming and all but ur still single. The entire point of these games is to become not single so u lost lol)

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It took me a while to realize.

But I finally understand now.

I hadn’t considered it before… I wouldn’t let myself. It scared me. I tried to convince myself that the overwhelming feeling that smolders in my heart whenever we speak to each other was born of malice.

The reason my face grew hot. The reason I felt frustrated. The reason I cursed the words I’d been told.

I was just trying to distract myself from the real heart of the matter I think. I couldn’t believe it, it was hard to come to terms with.

But I won’t run away any longer. I won’t try to deny the truth in my heart for another second. It wouldn’t be fair to do that to myself. It wouldn’t be fair to deny myself the intoxicating passion that has awakened within me thanks to the most beautiful soul I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.

And now that I’ve let myself accept the truth, I’m not afraid of it anymore. It’s not upsetting, it’s uplifting, it makes me giddy, it makes me feel free. That’s how I know it’s real.

And today I’m going to confront those feelings head on.

I won’t allow myself to hesitate anymore.

I push open the double doors of the building, thanking the stars that they haven’t been locked yet despite how late in the day it is.

All of the students and most of the staff have gone home for the day, but not just for the day, for the next few months too since today was the first day of summer.

I walk inside. I stride past the empty tables and make my way straight to the counter. There’s no food there since it was well after lunch time, but this was a usual sight to me since I was usually too late to buy anything anyway.

At first I’d nearly starved to death, after that boy who spared me some bread all but disappeared entirely after the first time I saw him and my childhood friend got annoyed with me and stopped letting me borrow money to get scraps from the vending machines.

But when all seemed hopeless… someone appeared to save my rumbling stomach one fateful day. Someone took notice of me sitting by my lonesome in the cafeteria with the sorrowful expression I surely wore. An angel came to my rescue.

And… started to save food for me…

It warms my heart remembering that thoughtfulness.

My chest feels tight but not uncomfortably so, it makes me excited. That feeling only intensifies when I start to hear…

A song.

Someone else is here. Humming a love song in the back. It’s terribly out of tune and gruff sounding… yet I find that in itself terribly endearing.

I peek over and sure enough I see the lunch lady scrubbing away at the dishes as she sings to herself.

I hate to interrupt her little tune but I call out to her.“Hi Popuko!”

She startles and turns around. I smile warmly at the way she bashfully covers a hand over her mouth when she realizes her song was heard. She looks so cute when she’s embarrassed, heehee~

“What the fuck are you still doing here, brat?” She grunts as she sloshes a plate through the soapy water in the sink before her. “I don’t got anymore handouts, if that’s what you’re after.”

“Hehe, I know that.”

She’s terribly rough around the edges but I know that’s all a front. I know she’s just hard on me because she cares. Why else would she tell me to “get my ass in line asap so I don’t end up the runt”? Why else would she bother to start saving a plate for me? Even if she did make it sound like it was a pain in the ass and she chastised me all the while… she still bothered at all to go out of her way for me. I know she cares more than she lets on… I care more than I’ve been letting on too.

Today I’ve decided we’re not going to beat around the bush anymore. Today I’m letting her know.

She’s who I’ve been waiting for all this time. She’s who I’ve been dreaming of.

Everyone hates her food, even I hated her food at first. I called it gross mush like everyone else did, but I understand now that it is an acquired taste. That bitterness would linger on my tongue for hours and I’d savor the stubborn cling of its strong aftertaste everytime. I don’t want to have to go the whole summer without her food.

Really… I want her to make me a home cooked meal…

The thought of the two of us at home together makes me want to squeal. I barely manage to bite my tongue.

“I’m not here for handouts, Popuko.” I clarify softly. “I’m here for you.”

“Hahn?”

“I-I mean-!” Geez, keep it together, me! Not that forward! “I’m here to ask you something!”

“Whaddya want?” She asks as she glares in my direction, probably thinking I’m about to ask for a favor. She’s already given me everything and more though, there are no favors left to ask… except for one.

I’m here to ask for nothing more… than a chance.

“Well..” I bashfully rub the back of my neck. “There’s uh… somewhere I’d like to take you actually. Will you come with me to…”

CHOICE:

> “The cape. It’s especially beautiful in the summer…”

> “The cape. There’s something I want to show you…”

(Yes, the two options are exactly the same. There isn’t really a choice to make at this point. Fate has decided for you already.)

> “The cape.”

“What in the goddamn-? Can’t you see I’m tryin’ to do the dishes here?” Still she lets go of the plate she’s holding and lets it splash into the water. She walks over to me and puts her hands on her hips. I try not to stare rudely, I try to avert my eyes from that beautiful body though it’s terribly difficult to do that.

“Ugh…” She wipes the sweat from her brow with a flick of her wrist.

Ah, be still my heart!

“I’m already sweatin’ like a pig and you want me to go out in that heat now too? For what?”

“It’ll be worth it! I promise.” I muster my courage and skip around the counter to the other side where I loop arms with her.

“O-Oi–”

I feel my heart skip a beat and a half when I touch her.

H-Her arms! So muscular!

Kyun–! Ah, it’s getting harder and harder to keep it together by the second. I have to be strong!

“A-Anyway, just follow me!”

~

We made it to the cape!

I’d squeezed my eyes shut and charged ahead with Popuko in tow the whole way there, too excited to wait for anything.

Ah– And in my excitement I had failed to realize I was arm and arm with Popuko the entire time.

Uwah… we’re so close now… So close I can hear her breathing. Though, I mean, even if we weren’t this close I could probably hear it because she’s wheezing pretty hard.

“Augh, kid-!”

“A-Ah, sorry…” I let her go and turn around bashfully.

She doubles over and groans. “Geez, my achin’ back. I’m too old to go that fast! What’re you draggin’ me around for, and– criminy!” She finches at the glare of the glistening water. “The water is so bright when the sun is this low, I shouldn’t be lookin’ at it, it’s bad for my cataracts.”

“Oh, I’m sorry about your back. Can I give you a back rub?”

I’m so bad! Jumping at a chance so shamelessly like that. The woman’s in pain here, y/n!

“Nah, nah, I’m fine.” She says shrugging me off.

Ah rats!

The way she rolls her shoulders and tries to look unaffected with a smug look on her face is so cool though~

“I’ll be fine. Let’s just get this over with. Hurry it up and show me whatever dumb thing you want me to see.”

Good. Yes, let’s get to the point there’s no need to draw this out any longer, we’ve done that enough already.

I won’t lose my nerve.

“W-Well, what I wanted to show you is that!” With a dramatic swing of my arm I point to the edge of the cape.

There is a white gazebo, a bell at the top of it. I know. I knew it would show up for the two of us.

“Oh–” She blinks in surprise at it. Then she scoffs, feigning indifference. “Tch. Of course. It’s as stupid as I thought it’d be.”

“Geez, Popuko, you meanie! This is really important to me.” I punch her weakly a few times as she rolls her eyes at me. Still, I look at her after a beat and manage to chuckle. “Ha ha, oh Popuko.”

She quirks an eyebrow looking irritated. “What? What’s so funny?” She snaps.

“You. Hehe~” I take her hands as I say this and do a little twirl. The spin around does not seem to amuse her… it doesn’t

seem

to amuse her but I get her now. I stop and I smile with a bit more serenity. “I know how you really feel. Even if you never say it.”

“Huh…? What the hell are you on about?”

I squeeze her hands, she flinches at my serious look. “We both know, Popuko. We shouldn’t have to keep it to ourselves.”

I swallow thickly. This is it. No turning back.

“Popuko, the reason I wanted to show you that bell is because it’s special. It only appears once at the edge of the cape every summer, and the legend says that whoever tolls the bell together will be bound in an everlasting love.”

I look down. I look down at our intertwined hands, those big, calloused hands, hands like a potato farmer’s, they feel so right in mine.

I look up at her with determination. “That’s why I want to ring the bell with-!”

“SCREEEEEEEEE–”

“Ah–”

“What the fuck?!”

Something interrupts me.

An inhuman high screech rings through the air. It’s the most grating sound I’ve ever heard in my entire life! I’ve never heard anything like it before!

I cover my ears but turn to look in the direction of where the noise had come from.

It came from the gazebo! I squint and I can see something there…

Something’s… on top of the gazebo?! It’s some kind of weird scaly creature and it’s not just one. They surround it. It’s such an unbelievable sight I can’t even comprehend it at first.

“Those are…?”

“The velociraptors!” Popuko shouts, as she recognizes them.

“EHH?!”

Velociraptors?! What on Earth are velociraptors doing here in this place?! Really, what on Earth are they doing here in this time period?!

Before I can contemplate the logic of this moment, another one screeches making me flinch again.

Uh oh… all of them are looking at us now, screeching at us as if we were impeding on their territory.

“Y/n, stand back! It’s dangerous!” Popuko holds out an arm in front of me.

“P-Popuko…”

So heroic…

I shake my head.

“Be careful! They’re-”

“SCREEE–”

They charge forward.

“Popuko!” No, just running here had her incredibly winded, she doesn’t stand a chance in a fight. “Don’t, you’ll get hurt!”

“Tch. Don’t underestimate me.” She lowers, taking a fighting stance.

“Popuk-ah-!”

A velociraptor darts past her and runs straight at me. It screams at me, so close and loud that it hurts. It jumps at me, its terrifying jaws wide open and ready to bite. I shield my face and weakly brace myself, expecting to feel its teeth rip into my flesh in the next moment.

But… it doesn’t…

I peek open an eye.

Something… is holding it back… it’s a…

A soup ladle.

The soup ladle has caught it by the neck and holds it in place. It snaps its jaws and tries to struggle out of the grip it’s being held in but it can’t. Suddenly it's yanked back with a hoarse yelp.

And when it is, Popuko grabs it and puts it in a headlock.

“GRAHHHHH—!”

And with a mighty warrior’s cry, Popuko suplexes the dinosaur!

I blink in shock.

Before my face lights up. That was so cool!

“Get fossilized, bitch.” Popuko grunts before spitting on the twitching downed dino.

Eeeee! What a badass~

It’s too early to celebrate yet, however.

The rest of the pack sees this and roars. They all charge ahead at once.

“Come at me, dino dorks!” Popuko bellows. She cracks her knuckles and neck before opening her arms wide, ready for battle.

But! No, there’s too many of them!

She fends off one that jumps at her with a brutal punch to the side of its head that knocks it out, but another one lunges for her side. She nearly trips as she swings her leg out to kick it in the neck.

She’s strong. Scary strong.

But the velociraptors are fast.

She puts her hands together and tries to throw them down on top of one of their heads, but it dodges and spins to whip her with its thick tail.

“AUGH—!”

The raptor’s tail slices across her torso and sends her flying.

She roughly falls to the ground in front of me.

“Popuko!” I scream her name in panic and quickly cradle her head in my arms. “Popuko, stay with me!”

She groans weakly, a tiny bit of blood dribbles down her chin. She coughs. “Ugh… damn, prehistoric bitches got hands.” She wheezes and it makes her cough harder.

“Popuko, don’t push yourself.” I say shakily, tears collecting in my eyes.

She tries to sit up despite my protests. “B-But, the raptors… we can’t just let them run free. What if they hurt someone? I have to stop them.”

My chest feels like it’s about to burst. No, this is too much.

She really is so selfless. So self sacrificing for the sake of others, I knew she was. I knew she was all along.

But I won’t let her make another sacrifice now. No, she deserves someone to do the same for her.

I swallow my fear. I don’t let the piercing beady eyes of the violent beasts deter me.

I jump to my feet and step in front of Popuko, putting myself between her and the dinosaurs.

“Kid! Are you crazy?!”

“Maybe, but I don’t care! I won’t let them hurt you any more!”

“Kid…”

I glare ahead at the velociraptors with an unwavering determination in my gaze. “You hear that, you monsters?! I won’t let you touch her!”

“SCREE—”

They all charge at me.

“Kid!”

I squeeze my eyes shut in terror, I don’t know how to fight! It’s gonna hurt so bad! I’m gonna be ripped apart any second now—

But then suddenly.

I hear a loud whistle.

“SCREE??” The raptors stop and swivel their heads around.

The whistle is followed by the sound of a blaring engine.

I swivel my head around too.

And driving down the sidewalk towards us…

Is a woman on a Harley-Davidson! My jaw drops as I stare at her.

She looks like a genuine Hollywood action heroine!

She wears a black skin-tight leather jumpsuit that accentuates her perfect hourglass curves, the zipper on the front of it pulled down just enough to show off her cleavage. Her long dark hair whips majestically in the wind behind her.

What a babe…

“Pipimi!” Popuko says with a smile as she looks in the woman’s direction.

“WHO?!”

Popuko knows this chick?!

Before I can ask how, Pipimi skids to a stop in front of us.

She backflips off of her bike and takes a karate fighting stance in front of the raptors.

Even the raptors seemed stunned.

“Try me.” She says smoothly as she urges them to attack with a wave of her fingers.

The raptors blink. They look at each other.

Before they all skid forward on their knees bowing their heads to the ground, screeching for mercy.

“Yeah… that’s what I thought.” She says as she runs a hand through her hair and flips it over her shoulder.

She takes off her sunglasses and looks in our direction with her deep blue eyes.

She walks toward me, her back straight and her hips swaying to and fro with every step like a runway model.

“Are you alright…”

“Y-Yes-”

“Popuko darling?”

“Ah-”

Pipimi walks right past me and strides over to Popuko’s side, kneeling down to gather her in her arms.

“Psh, yeah, I’m fine. I coulda handled it myself just fine! I had ‘em on the ropes-” She stops with a choked gasp, her cheeks reddening when Pipimi takes her chin in her hand and tilts her head back.

“Liar…” Pipimi whispers with drama in her voice. She caresses one of Popuko’s cheeks with her hand and presses her lips against the other. “You don’t have to put up a tough front for my sake.” She murmurs lightly against the skin of her face.

“Pipimi…” Popuko’s voice sounds softer, more vulnerable than usual. “I know.”

“Popuko… baby…”

She pulls her into a passionate movie star kiss.

Oh…

And there goes my chance at a movie star romance…

They seem to forget I’m even here as they desperately grasp at each other, getting lost in their deep kiss. Pipimi’s hands start to travel up Popuko’s body, but she quickly pulls away with a gasp.

“Ah, Pipimi, not in front of the raptors!” She says with a bright blush.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I lost myself for a moment there. You always make me lose myself…”

“P-Pipimi.” She pouts and looks away.

“Heheh, you’re so cute.” She pecks her cheek before she stands up, lifting Popuko up with her in a bridal carry. “Let’s get outta here.”

I watch as she carries her to her motorcycle and gently sets her down on the back of it. When she seats herself in front of her and grips the handlebars, Popuko wraps her arms around her waist and rests her head against Pipimi’s shoulder with a content smile on her face.

She revs the engine and speeds away, the velociraptors following loyally after them.

But this time, instead of driving down the walkway, Pipimi rides straight for the edge of the cape. Right for the gazebo. And when they drive through it… it’s like slow motion.

I see them both reach out. They both grab the rope at the same time.

The bell rings clamorously once before they’re gone.

Pipimi drives ahead, straight into the water but she doesn’t sink into the depths of it. Her and her raptors… and her Popuko speed across the surface of the water toward the sunset.

~

Welp. The bell thing was a bust for me in the end.

My summer was romanceless… just like the summer before it…

But! Whatever!

That’s all behind me now! The past is in the past and that’s where I’ll leave it because today I’m turning over a new leaf! That dreary summer is over and today is the first day of school once again, and!

Wanting to forget my past failures, I decided that I would enroll at a different school.

And this school

will

be different. This year will go very differently, I know it will! This is my year! This is the year I finally find the one-

BONK!

“Owie-!”

On my way to my new school I run straight into someone.

Ugh, of course. Just my luck.

“Hey, watch it!” A high voice says. I look and see a girl. A girl with blonde pigtails and… oh?

She’s wearing the same red and white uniform as me,

She must be a student at the same school.

She has the same realization when she looks at me. “You go to the same school! What are you doing all the way over here? At this rate, you’re gonna be late for the entrance ceremony!” She lectures.

“I could say the same to you!”

“U-Ugh.”

Yeah, that’s right. Caught you.

She crosses her arms and sticks up her nose at me.

“Hmph! I-I was just patrolling for lost stragglers like you is all.”

Yeah, sure you were…

She gives me a look, it’s a bit softer. “Sorry, I’m Popuko.” She reaches out a hand, I take it and let her help me up.

I smile. She’s awfully cute so I can forgive her.

“I’m y/n.” I reply. “Nice to meet y-” I’m interrupted as the girl yanks me forward and runs with me.

“We can worry about introductions later. We gotta hurry!”

She’s right, we gotta move if we wanna make it in time. We dash down the street as fast as we can.

Eventually, I hear another pair of footsteps following us.

Someone short runs up to our side. I look and see a little grade schooler girl with blonde pigtails skip alongside us.

“Last one there is a rotten egg, hehe~” She challenges as she runs ahead of us.

“Popuko! You little brat!” Popuko yells. “That’s no way to talk to your senpai. Hah… hah… oh man, how is she so fast with those short legs?!” She asks breathlessly as we try to keep up with the little girl.

The rambunctious kid disappears through the front gates, easily beating us.

“Oh, but who cares? We made it!” Popuko says.

Yes! Thank goodness we made it in-

BONK!

No! Why twice in one day?! What cruel god is punishing me today!

“Ah-I’m sorry-!”

I rub my sour nose. “Owowowow…”

I look down and see a bright green fuzzy ball. A tennis ball had hit me right in the face.

Popuko stops. “Oh geez… you’re bleeding…”

Eh?! This is so unfair.

“Are you alright?” Another voice asks, a girl in a sporty outfit approaches us hurriedly, she exudes a clever and elegant aura. “Did my opponent’s fly ball hit you? Oh dear, look at that blood. Here take my handkerchief.”

She hands me a frilly pink cloth that smells sweet.

“Ah, no I couldn’t possibly dirty this pretty girly handkerchief. It’s too nice-”

“Don’t worry about it.”

She ignores my protests and gently wipes at my face. I swallow thickly at the aromatic perfume that hits my nose and the small graceful smile that grows on her face when she’s finished.

“There, all better.”

She tilts her head with a frown. “I bet it still hurts though. You should take it easy.”

“Here… I have something… that might make you feel better…” Yet another voice speaks up.

I turn to see another girl. Her long bangs fall over one of her eyes, she smiles in a way that strikes me as mysterious. That’s not really the first thing I notice though, the first thing I notice is… all the bread she’s carrying. She holds one out to me.

“Here… some custard bread… it’s my favorite… hu hu…”

I smile and accept the bread.

I look around me at all the girls who were showing so much consideration for me.

I have a good feeling about this year.

I have a feeling that things will go right for me this time!

BAD END (spoilers: things do not go right for you.)