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“I believe this is the spot we were given!” Sayo gestured to the area in front of the group. It was a small yet beautiful clearing; soft grass beneath them, tall trees that provided an even more cozy feel, and gorgeous scenery surrounded them in every direction. There was even a river nearby; calm and sizable enough that the girls could swim in it if they wanted, but otherwise was a sparkling enough blue to enhance the atmosphere further. Sayo nodded in approval; the place appeared suitable for the group’s needs.The members of Roselia and Raise A Suilen had decided to plot a camping trip together; both groups felt they needed some relaxation time, having been through a severely busy and demanding period with their respective bands. At first they were forming their own plans for a get away, but once Lisa learnt from Rei that her band was planning a trip at the same time as Roselia, she made a decision she deemed non-negotiable; the bands would definitely be spending their time together. It took a little while to settle on what they would do together exactly, but a camping trip seemed to be the best option; it would provide a place and time for everyone to relax, it would be away from any disturbances and would allow the girls to enjoy some time together.The bands had already been growing closer together, though when their bassists started dating, everyone knew it was inevitable that they would end up being so close.“Sayo! This place is perfect!” Lisa beamed, “Really great job on this one!”“You found this campsite, Sayo-san?” Reona asked; clearly equally pleased with their surroundings.“Yes, it took some searching, but I believe it was worth it,” She smiled at the scenery, taking it in, herself for a moment, before addressing the group again, “Now, everyone! The best spots for our tents should be from here to around there! Just up that hill is the bathroom building, along with a stock of firewood; I took the liberty of prepurchasing a couple bundles, so we should be able to take what we need for a sufficient fire.”“Most impressive, Sayo-san!” Reona applauded, “You’ve clearly prepared quite thoroughly! I only wish I had prepared as much so I could be of help!”“Thank you, but there is no need,” Sayo said reassuringly, “I believe I should have everything sorted.”“Sayo’s always been like this any time Roselia’s gone anywhere!” Lisa explained, “I would probably make a joke and tease her, but... it’s been really helpful every single time!”“I can imagine!” Reona nodded vigorously, “As RAS’s cutie maid representative, I can not allow myself to fall too far behind!”Lisa laughed, “The way you said that made it sound like Sayo was Roselia’s cutie maid, or something!”Reona tilted her head, looking at Lisa confusedly, “Do you not think that describes her accurately?”Several stifled giggles could be heard among the group. Sayo cleared her throat loudly, attempting to restore some order and move on, though her red, glowing cheeks were unfortunately easy for the group to see. “I-In any case, I suggest we get to setting everything up. We want to be settled by nightfall, naturally.”Though many of the members wouldn’t have minded a little more focus on Reona’s view of Sayo, everyone agreed with her, and knew they should get their campsite ready.“We already sorted the tent arrangement, correct?” Sayo asked the group.Lisa was quick to latch onto Rei’s arm, “Me and Rei are sharing one~”Ako waved a hand in the air, “Me and RinRin are together!”“Just make sure not to stay up too late talking about NFO!” Sayo reprimanded; she also had to stop herself from adding ‘without me’ to her reminder.“Me and Lock are together!” Masuki announced; she wrapped an arm around the smaller girl, with Rokka hiding her blushing face in Masuki as a response.“Of course, you and I have decided to share,” Yukina said plainly.“Right! And then-” Sayo paused; everyone turned to their last remaining member, knowing it was time to address the topic they had been avoiding up until now. Chu2 was the only member of the bands to not come along; she had been invited, though she chose not to join the group, spouting something along the lines of ‘who in their right mind would leave the comfort and facilities of home to intentionally go to shitter versions of what they already have?’ Of course, everyone agreed it was her decision to make and that dragging her out wouldn’t have made a good time for anyone, though it did leave them a person short since they had agreed a two per tent setup would be for the best.Sayo approached Reona, who stared sadly downward to the ground, “Pareo-san, if you prefer, I could-”“Pareo is fine!” Her head snapped up and she quickly replied; cutting Sayo off.“Alright, if you’re sure...” Sayo relented, “Just make sure to let me know if you feel like swapping.”“Of course! Thank you!”“Now then!” Sayo addressed everyone, “Let’s all start with our tents, then we can divide the other jobs after, ready?”All the girls thrusted their collective fists into the air, “Yeah!”Once the group started to disperse, with everyone going into their pairs and starting with their own tents, Sayo joined Pareo. She looked at Sayo, surprised, until Sayo explained, “I’ll help you set yours up, I can’t leave you to do it alone.”“Pareo is quite capable!” Pareo sent Sayo a determine glare, “Thank you for the offer! But Pareo can handle it!”“I’m sure you can!” Sayo picked up the bag containing Pareo’s tent, “I will still be helping you though.”“W-Wha-!?” Pareo watched helplessly as Sayo began laying out the various rods and hooks used for the tent; laying them out neatly beside her. “W-Why would you though? Pareo said she can do it!”“It just... wouldn’t sit right with me, leaving you to do it...” Sayo responded seriously, “There’s something I’ve learnt from my friends, and I think it’s a lesson you need to learn too!”“What lesson is that exactly?” Pareo asked curiously; she certainly wasn’t expecting Sayo to want to teach her something on this trip.“I’ll explain later, for now, just let me help you with this!” Sayo paused the preparation; taking a moment to look Pareo in the eyes, “Please?”Something about that look, and the sincerity in her voice, made Pareo unable to refuse, “V-Very well! Thank you, Sayo-san!”“Sayo!” A voice called to them. The girls looked over to the voice, seeing it was Yukina, staring sadly back at them; she kicked at the tent bag beside her on the ground pathetically, showing she had no idea how to even start.“Honestly...” Sayo moaned, “I’ll take care of it in just a minute!”“Thank you!” Yukina yelled back. She then pulled out a travel chair, unfold it, and sat herself down; with a peace expression on her face, Yukina seemed perfectly relaxed instantly.Sayo rolled her eyes, “Think it’s too late to ask if Chu2-san could take Minato-san for the weekend?”Pareo giggled adorably, “Sayo-san! Hehe~!” Sometime later, the girls had made good strides in getting themselves settled; all the girls’ tents were set up and they were going about getting everything else done in a well coordinated manner. Masuki and Rokka were the first to finish their tent, once they had Masuki offered to go get ordered firewood, while Rokka went about organising some of the appliances and equipment they had brought with them; Rinko and Ako finished shortly after, with Ako joining Masuki while Rinko helped Rokka, the two also deciding to make the group some tea. Rei and Lisa had volunteered to be in charge of dinner; they brought several bags with them so they could have a few options, but now struggled to choose what they wanted. Yukina mostly just sat in her chair either with her eyes closed thinking about something, likely music, or watching the others with a calm smile; she only moved to shift her chair close to where Masuki was setting up the fire.Sayo and Pareo took the longest to set up their tents; having two to set up together. Once Sayo had finished working on Pareo’s tent and moved to her own, Pareo was very insistent that Sayo let her help; as much Sayo wanted to tell Pareo she could do it herself, she knew that would only go against the lesson she wanted to teach Pareo and ultimately be hypocritical, so she agreed.When they did eventually finish, though the others were still working on tasks, it looked as though most of the prep work was done. Pareo looked to Sayo, “Sayo-san, what can Pareo do next?”Sayo hummed thoughtfully for a moment, gazing across the campsite, “Pareo-san, how much of your time would you say you usually dedicate to assisting others?”“Pareo... guesses it would depend on what counts as assisting!” She shrugged, “Of course, Pareo mostly spends her time doing everything needed for Chu2-sama! Helping with music choices, cleaning the penthouse, buying groceries, and all that! Pareo also practices, but Pareo doubts that counts... then, when asked, Pareo also does anything requested by the other members of RAS!”“You seem to take care of quite a lot then...”Pareo held up hands in a panic; Sayo’s tone worried heard, sounding strangely accusatory, and Pareo didn’t want her to get the wrong idea. “No has ever forced Pareo to do anything though! Pareo is happy to help! Really! Pareo even helps out Hina-senpai and Pastel Palettes if and when they need something!”“Of course you do...” Sayo scoffed, “Well then, I believe that makes this trip even more important for you then.”“Why would you say that?” Pareo asked.“We all need a break from our responsibilities and workload!” Sayo explained, “This definitely includes you!”“B-But as Pareo said, Pareo is happy with everything she does!” Pareo fretted, “Pareo finds time to relax sometimes too! A break is not necessary!”Sayo gave a small laugh; she closed her eyes, a peaceful smile on her face, “You really remind me of someone... a couple people actually...” She opened her eyes and looked to Pareo again, “I’m sure you are happy, Pareo-san, but that doesn’t change what I want to show you on this trip.”“Ah! Your lesson!” Pareo nodded, “Right! Are we... doing that now?”“Indeed we are,” Sayo nodded. She looked over to the freshly made campfire, burning warmly as the temperature started to drop around them; Sayo unpacked one of the chair, a colourful sparkly one that obviously belonged to Pareo, and set it up near the fire, “Have a seat!”“Oh! Uh... thank you...” Pareo hesitantly sat in her chair; the warmth of the fire felt blissful, “What now?”“I’m going to get you some tea!” Sayo responded straightforwardly.“W-What? But-” Sayo had already turned away before Pareo could protest, “Hmmm, Pareo is so confused...”A minute later Sayo was back with a cup of tea, she handed to Pareo, “I hope it’s ok, I’m probably not as good at making tea as, say, Shirokane-san is...”Pareo sipped the hot beverage, and her eyes lit up, “Oh my! It’s so sweet and tasty! Pareo loves it!”Sayo breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank goodness. Now, I’ll go get you a blanket so you can get comfortable; it’s likely going to get cold soon, and the fire may not be enough to allow to relax!”“Sayo-san! You don’t have to! Pareo is-” Pareo suddenly shivered as gust of wind blew by, “Maybe... maybe a blanket would be nice...”Sayo nodded; once again quickly leaving to go get something for Pareo, while she just sat there confused.
Pareo doesn’t understand, what exactly is Sayo-san doing? Shouldn’t Pareo be handling these things for her elders? Does she actually not think Pareo is a capable maid?
The other girls started to settle in around the fire; each chatting away or doing something to fight back the encroaching cold. Pareo looks over to Rei, who was sharing a double-sized chair with Lisa, and smiled; she was always happy to see the positive effect Rei’s relationship seemed to have on her. With her focus on her friend, Pareo failed to notice Sayo’s approach, and was surprised when she was suddenly beside her.“Pareo-san, here...” Sayo offered her a blanket; one that she didn’t recognise.“Oh! Thank you...” Reona gingerly accepted the blanket and wrapped it lightly around herself; she felt more relaxed with the newfound warmth. She didn’t know who packed a spare blanket, but she had to admit, it was incredibly comfortable; better than the one she brought herself. “Ah~ This is very nice!”“Good!” Sayo placed a seat beside Reona’s; she didn’t realise Sayo had only just found time to set up her own chair now, feeling a little guilty that Sayo had been delayed in enjoying her own time because she had been running around after Reona. Sayo still didn’t sit in her seat though, she looked to Reona, “Feeling hungry?”“Well-” She was about to deny Sayo, knowing that she would probably try to do more for her, but then Reona’s stomach betrayed her; it growled hungrily, loud enough for Sayo to hear. Reona blushed profusely, “Heehee, um... Pareo... might be... just a little hungry...”“Very well, I have something I think you’ll enjoy then” Sayo knelt down beside her chair and begun to rummage around in a small bag beside it.Pareo waved her hands in a panic, “Y-You don’t need to get Pareo anything! I’m sure dinner isn’t too far away.”“Of course! But, judging from my research, this is a camping staple! Meaning it is a point we should make sure to hit!” Sayo explained.“What do you- Oh!” Pareo gasped, “Pareo sees!”Sayo had found what she had been searching her bag for and showed it to Pareo; a bag of marshmallows, “This is a vacation of sorts, yes? I’m sure it would be considered acceptable to have a snack before dinner...”“Pareo’s never had these before!” Pareo admitted, “You cook them, yes? Over the fire with a stick?”“I brought some rods designed for that purpose, that way you won’t have to eat with... well, a stick...” Sayo grimaced at the thought of what bacteria could be crawling along any given stick out on this campsite, “Just give me a moment, I shall prepare one for you...”“Y-You don’t have to- Oh...!” Once again, Reona’s pleas were ignored, and Sayo went about her self-assigned task; she gave in and decided she may as well accept Sayo’s kindness once again. At first she was watching the marshmallows closely, eager to see the process of something she was unfamiliar with, though she soon found her attention drifting to the girl making the treats.Sayo stared down at the roasting marshmallows with an intense gaze; her eyebrows furrowed, her gaze sharp, her lips tightened to a thin line. She was clearly taking the task very seriously, despite it just being making a little snack and Pareo certainly wouldn’t have judged if Sayo did mess up in way, but Reona guessed this was just how Sayo approached every task; their was something she admired about that. She too tried to take every task given to her, or one that she gave herself, with the upmost earnestness but Reona could tell Sayo was still on another level; perhaps it came from age and experience, perhaps from her background and family life, either way Reona was impressive.She wasn’t one to be outdone though; she was a proud member of Raise A Suilen, same as her dear friends, and none of them would allow themselves to be surpassed in a field they prided themselves in. In the moment, Pareo swore Sayo as her cutie maid rival; the difference in instrument may have meant they couldn’t compete as ‘keyboardist maids’, another title Reona held, though in this category Reona would definitely considered Sayo a competitor.Though how exactly do I defeat Sayo-san to be the best for this? Reona wondered, I suppose... I must be the best and most efficient at serving others! Fufu~ With all my time with Chu2-sama, I must surely stand a chance at winning there!Sayo offered Reona one of the rods, now with it’s marshmallow appearing delightfully toasted, “Here, try this!”Reona broke out of her thought to face the situation before her. She went to reach out only to realise something else, Sayo wasn’t offering the handle, but the end with the marshmallow; effectively feeding her. Reona wondered if Sayo realised this herself, but hunger won out in the end, and she bit off the treat happily. Her eyes lit up as she was hit with a burst of an unfamiliar flavour, “Thiush ish deloshious!”Sayo shook her head, an amused smile on her face, “Pareo-san, please finish eating first...”“Sowthy!” Pareo chewed the tasty delight, until finally swallowing, “I was trying to say that it was delicious, Sayo-san! Thank you so much!”“I’m glad you enjoyed it!” Sayo beamed, “Another?”“Oh no, I couldn’t possib-”“I could make you a ‘smore’ this time?” Sayo offered.Pareo froze; the prospect of a different food had yet to experience was getting the best of her, “What... uh, what is that?”“From what I understand, I roast the marshmallow same as before, then I squish it between chocolate and crackers,” Sayo explained.“Oh... oh my...” Reona practically drooled, “And, you have the means to make a marvelous thing?”“I packed everything need, yes,” Sayo nodded, “I tried to be prepared for everything!”“W-Well...” She’s absolutely crushed me, hasn’t she? Reona laughed to herself, “I... would very much like to try that... if it’s not too much of a bother!”Sayo smile widened; it felt warmer, coupled with a softer gaze, “Not at all, just a moment...” She turned back to the fire, readying another marshmallow.Reona pouted sternly; she nestled into her blanket, bringing it up to her face. Sayo-san really is amazing isn’t she? She’s prepared immaculately for the trip, coordinated everyone perfectly, and now even I am at the mercy of her hospitality! Curse you Sayo-san for being so wonderful! What am I to do... She hummed quietly, reflecting on her conflict. Oh! There’s a second part to our title, Sayo-san! ‘Cutie’! I simply need to present myself as cuter than her and-Her thoughts paused; with Reona’s gaze on Sayo, she found herself caught in wonder. The fire’s warm lit reflected her calm expression; the gentle glow made Sayo’s shine a serene beauty. Has Sayo-san always been so... gorgeous? Reona felt her face flare up and she knew the fire wasn’t responsible. She pulled the blanket over her head; hiding her shame. W-What is Pareo thinking!? There may not be anything wrong with simply acknowledging a girl as ‘pretty’ but... you know you certainly weren’t thinking of it that way, Pareo!She peeked out of her hiding spot; gazing at Sayo again, she felt her heart skip a beat. Oh dear... what does this mean? Does it mean anything? Pareo hasn’t felt this way before, how strange... If only Chu2-sama were here. Pareo could ask what she should do about this weird feeling, if anything! What would Chu2-sama say?“Pareo-san?” The voice forced Reona’s focus back; Sayo was in front of Reona again, looking at her expectedly, “Here it is...”Reona met Sayo’s eyes; another beat skipped for her heart. She took a bite but her attention was torn she barely tasted; what interested Reona even more, was the fact that Sayo’s wasn’t breaking away either. They continued to gaze at one another, Reona steadily chewing, until a voice shook them both.“Hey! Sayo, you got smores?” Ako yelled, “Make me one! Make me one!”Sayo laughed, “Apologises, Pareo-san, I should take care of this... I hope you’re having a good time so far...” She stepped away to address Ako; leaving Reona alone with her thoughts once again. As the hurricane in her mind swirled violently, the thought that pestered her most, was still why Sayo was doing any of this at all. Hours later and Reona’s mind was still racing; she was in her tent staring up at the ceiling, wishing she could sleep as everyone else likely was by now. The same questions rushed through her head; why Sayo practically doting on Reona all night? Why did Reona feel so strangely about it? Would it effect RAS in some way if she chose to pursue it? The worry kept her fully awake.In the next tent over, another girl was being kept awake, but for a very different reason.“Merphen blru a... FULLY DEVOTED! fengebl nsim...”Sayo groaned as yet another noise escaped her tent-mates lips. Based on Sayo’s experience with what Yukina was like as a sleeper, she had two modes; if she was dreaming about music, she’d be still and quiet as a rock, if she dreamt about anything else it would lead to very different results.“Rrrnnn, I HAVE WON! gergenber fllnna...”“Minato-san... please...” Sayo moaned, “You have to stop eventually, right?”“DEVOTE TO ME! bluurrrrr gah...”“What the hell is she even dreaming about?” Sayo flipped herself in the opposite direction; she pulled her pillow over her ears, enjoying the new found quiet. She closed her eyes, and tried to fall asleep, until a new issue arose.Yukina began wildly flopping around her in sleeping bag; the couple weak kicks were annoying enough, but what made it too much for Sayo was were Yukina settled, with their bodies mostly overlapped and Sayo pressed underneath.“Oh, for the love of-” Sayo gave Yukina a rough shove; apparently it was not enough to wake her but it at least was enough to get her off of Sayo.Unfortunately, this only lasted for a few seconds, as Yukina was quick to kick herself back into position on Sayo, “I’M THE TOP, MITAKE-SAN! gerjkl berr...”“Great, she’s having the Mitake-san dream, I won’t be getting any sleep like this...” Sayo wiggled herself free from Yukina’s pressure; with her sleeping bag in hand, she stepped out into the night. She hoped she could simply find a spot nearby that wasn’t too rough and sleep there; she didn’t want to disturb the others, who were all seemingly asleep, and there were no signs of rain or anything like that so for a moment Sayo thought she would be able to toughen it out. That’s when the cold hit here.A single breeze was enough to shoot right through Sayo and rock her to her core; she shivered uncontrollably, barely able to stand up straight. Sayo sighed frustratedly; she knew this wouldn’t work, at best she would still end up getting sick out here, she needed to retreat back to warmth. Sayo turned back to her tent, took a couple hesitant steps, before pausing once she heard a voice.“Sayo-san?” Reona poked her head out of her tent, “You are out here! I thought I heard you...” She eyed up the sleeping bag in Sayo’s arms, “What... are you doing exactly?”“It would seem my tent is... livelier than I’d hoped and I couldn’t get any sleep...” Sayo admitted, “I was considering find a spot to sleep but-”“That is unacceptable!” Reona objected, “Sayo-san, forget your modesty! It is far too cold out there! I insist that you join me in my tent, this instant!”Sayo wasn’t going to bother debating herself over the invitation; not with this cold. Sayo swiftly dove into the tent along side Reona and zipped the tent closed behind her. The difference was immediately apparent; there was still a chill in the air, being such a cold night, though it wasn’t nearly as biting. “Thank you, Pareo-san, I’ll try not to take up too much space...”“Don’t be silly! Please...” Reona patter the ground beside her, “Make yourself comfortable!”“V-Very well...” Sayo lowered herself to the ground beside Reona; she slipped herself back into sleeping bag and shuffled about trying to make herself feel settled. “Then... uh, good night!”“Yes! Good night...” Reona replied, unsatisfied. Should Pareo do something? Say something? Pareo’s been thinking about Sayo-san all night, and now she’s just come right to Pareo! Pareo has to try figure this now! Or it might keep Pareo up again! Or even interfere with RAS performances!Reona knew what she wanted to ask first, “Sayo-san?”“Yes?” Sayo replied; Reona was thankful she didn’t sound the slightest bit annoyed by Reona wanting to talk.“What was it you wanted to tell Pareo before?”“Huh?” Sayo rolled over; now face to face with Reona.“Earlier in the day, you said you had something to teach Pareo?” Reona explained, “Though you never actually said what it was! Then you proceeded to... well you took care of Pareo all day! Which was... very nice... b-but it was still very confusing for Pareo!”“Ah, yes that makes sense why you would be confused...” Sayo expression shifted seriously. “Well, Pareo-san, I believe it would fair to say that you are one of the most caring people I have ever met...”“P-Pardon!?” Reona stammered; any cold given by the night was washed away by the heat rising in her cheeks, “Y-You flatter Pareo!”“It’s true though! The way you go about your ‘duties’, the way you talk about your friends, and how you do it all with such a sunny demeanour. I believe these show just how caring you are!” Pareo could only feel more and more embarrassed as Sayo spoke about her. “It’s a great thing of course! To be so giving and willing to help! But... I couldn’t but be a little... concerned...”Reona pouted indignantly, “Pareo already told you that she happy to do everything she does!”“And I’m sure that’s true!” Sayo nodded, “That’s just... not what I’m concerned about...” Reona was only getting more confused, “Remember when I said that you reminded me of someone?”Reona lit up, “Oh, yes! Pareo does! You said a couple of people if Pareo recalls correctly?”“Yes, right,” Sayo confirmed, “That would Hazawa-san and, well... myself.”“You and Tsugumi-san?” Reona gawked in surprise, “How so?”“You see, Pareo-san, some years ago now, Hazawa-san worked herself far too hard,” Sayo recalled the story Tsugumi had shared with her some time back, “She’s the type of person to always want to help everyone out, especially her friends, just like you! And, as I said, this is a good thing! Hazawa-san is the only other person I’d say is so selfless and giving as you can be!” Her expression turned dark, “The problem was... Hazawa-san cared more for helping those around her than her own limits; she’s still just one girl after all! And one day, she collapsed...”Reona gasped, “Oh my goodness!”“I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been at the time, she did have her bandmates, but I wish I could have been there to help her too...” Sayo lamented, “She got better, of course, after some much needed rest. She was overworking herself, you see. No one, not even those close to her could notice until it was too late and Hazawa-san herself would never admit to being so rundown...” She sighed, “Sometimes I worry she may still be overworking herself every now and then, but she’s at least better and not going too far! Plus, now she has more people to help her, and to care for her in turn. That what leads me to-” She paused as a sudden chill rush through her body; she curled up, trying to stop herself shivering.“S-Sayo-san?” Reona asked, full of concern.“I-I'm fine!” Sayo lied, “J-Just a short bit of cold...”Reona hummed thoughtfully; she had an idea, though she was hesitant to suggest it. “Um... Sayo-san? If you want you could... join Pareo in here?”“W-What?” Sayo questioned; no longer stuttering due to the cold, but her surprise.“In here!” Reona extend out her sleeping bag; showing it’s size. “I have a rather large sleeping bag! And I’m not too big myself... I believe we should both be able to fit inside! Plus, it’s specially lined for extra warmth! It should be much nicer than... um...” Reona eyed Sayo’s sad, thin sleeping bag, “That...”“I... I couldn’t possibly...”“Don’t try to argue more, Sayo-san!” Reona responded surprisingly authouritatively, “This is the same as before! Pareo can not possibly leave you shivering in the cold! And if you truly believe Pareo is as kind as you say, you’d know that! Now, please kindly slip inside Pareo sleeping bag!”“I-If you’re so insistent...” Sayo slowly crawled out of her sleeping bag and across the floor; she even more hesitantly entered Reona’s sleeping bag, now laying exceptionally close together.“Much better! Yes?”“Y-Yes...” Sayo couldn’t bring herself to look Reona in the eye, knowing how close their faces would be, “Now, where was I?”“You explained about Tsugumi-san’s incident!” Reona reminded her, “Though it seemed you almost skipped over something. The other person you said was similar to Pareo! Yourself? Did you... also have an incident?”“Yes actually...” Sayo sighed, “It was... around the time when RAS and Roselia were first clashing...”Reona winced a little at the memories; at the time she was gladly following Chiyu’s lead in their conquest, and while she still fights to prove RAS’s superiority, certain memories of back then were unpleasant to think about. Not just the fallout that happened for RAS shortly after but the way they viewed people they now called friends. Reona gazed at Sayo; the beautiful girl before her could be called ‘a rival’ or ‘a friend’, and that would feel suitable, though she never wanted her to be seen as ‘an enemy’ again. It came with a different sentiment, one with more distrust and harsh words; it was a time Reona was happy was over for RAS. Even if Chiyu could still be confrontational at times, Reona knew that she too was much happy now.“It was after we had our first clash where RAS had beaten us...” Sayo continued, “I felt... that I had failed Roselia... It had to be my fault; I was sure of it! Because... I was so proud of my bandmates... they couldn’t be at fault. I didn’t try hard enough, practice enough, push myself enough. I thought there must have been some kind of reason like that! I pushed and, much like Hazawa-san, collapsed shortly after...” Sayo, just for a moment, looked up to Reona’s face and was shocked by what she saw; Reona was crying.“That... that was RAS’s fault wasn’t it? Pareo’s fault...” she sobbed, “Pareo hurt you...”“What? No no no!” Sayo panicked; she raised her hands to Reona’s eyes, wiping away the tears, “That’s not true at all! What happened was my own doing! Do not blame yourself for even a moment, Pareo-san! You did nothing wrong!”“Are you sure?” Reona asked warily, “But, you...”“They were my own actions, a foolish and unnecessary response! Roselia helped me see that...” Sayo explained; her tone was much gentler than before, more nurturing, “What Roselia taught me, and what Afterglow taught Hazawa-san, that is what I wanted to teach you!”“What is that exactly?” Reona wondered, “Just not to overwork myself?”“That, yes, but there is more...” Sayo started slowly, “I wanted to show you the importance of... letting someone else take care of you.” Seeing the confusion on Reona’s face, Sayo continued, “For people like you and Hazawa-san, such giving people, I think it’s harder to be the one taken care of. Let me guess, while I was taking care of you today, you were just thinking about how you should be the one running around for me, correct?”Reona felt a small amount of shame; she was surprised Sayo could understand her so perfectly, “Yes... I was... b-but what’s wrong with me wanting to take care of you!?” She felt a slight sting in her heart.“T-That’s beside the point!” Sayo stammered, “The point is that, whether or you enjoy helping others, you must still be willing to accept it from others! Sometimes by happily going about what you feel like are ‘duties’ you neglect yourself... it happened to myself and Hazawa-san... I would just hate to see it happen to you too!” With the last of the tears gone, Sayo’s hand stayed on Reona’s face, gently cupping her cheek, “So please, continue to help others as you do if it makes you happy! But sometimes, if it’s alright, allow me to take care of you.”“Y-You wish to... keep caring for Pareo yourself!?” Reona blushed profusely.Sayo reflected her immediately, “W-Was that too presumptuous? I-I should have said ‘allow others to take care of you’! Not me specifically! I-I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable I-”“Not at all!” Reona interrupted, “If fact, Pareo...” She swallowed a lump in her throat; pushing herself to continue, “Pareo thinks... you’re the only one Pareo wants taking care of her...”“O-Oh! Really...?” Sayo gaped, “Well then, if that’s how you feel, I... would be happy to keep caring for you myself, Pareo-sa-”Reona held a finger up to Sayo’s face, “One rule though...” She lightly tapped Sayo’s nose, “You, in turn, must allow Pareo to care for you! This is non-negotiable!”“If you feel so strongly, I can’t possibly argue, can I? Not to mention how hypocritical it would be...” Sayo laughed softly, “It’s... nice to be taken care of sometimes... isn’t it?”“Just so long as it’s the right person!” Reona smiled gleefully at Sayo embarrassed expression. Pareo’s still new to all this; what this is, what it could mean, it’s all a little confusing. Still, Pareo knows this is making her... really happy! And Chu2-sama... she would definitely approve if she knew it made Pareo happy! And there surely wouldn’t be anything wrong with spending a little time with Sayo-san once Pareo’s duties are finished! Though that makes Pareo wonder... is this what Pareo thinks it is, or is Sayo-san simply caring for her kouhai? Hmm... “Sayo-san! Pareo has a request!”“Yes? What is it?” Sayo asked attentively.“Could you possibly... wrap your arms around Pareo and keep her warm all night?” She asked coyly.“O-Oh! Um...” Sayo cleared her throat nervously, “I... could do that, yes!” She slowly wrapped her arms around the smaller girl; Reona nestled into Sayo’s chest, revelling in the warmth and comfort Sayo provided. “I-Is this ok?”“Perfect...” Reona sighed contentedly, “Well... I guess there is one other thing... Pareo doesn’t know if it would be asking too much...”“It’s fine!” Sayo reassured, “Let me know what you need!”“Well...” Reona looked up at Sayo, batting her eyes cutely, “A good night kiss would definitely help Pareo sleep~” Reona knew it was quite a bold move, she hoped not too bold, but she needed to be sure what this meant and how Sayo felt; whatever answer Sayo gave, good or bad, it would give Reona a more definitive answer.“A k-kiss?” Sayo stammered, “I-I see...” Her expression seemed unreadable for a moment; Reona quietly waited in torment, until an answer finally came, “I... would be alright with that...” The answer was surprising enough, but it was Sayo’s next move that really rocked Reona.Sayo dove in for Reona’s lips; catching them in nervous, yet passionate kiss. Truthfully, when she asked for a kiss, Reona had only meant one on her head; maybe a cheek at most. The move surprised Reona greatly, though it still only took a moment for her to return the kiss. It lasted a little longer than Reona expected; she briefly wondered if Sayo had actually been wanting to do that for a lot longer than she let on, but Reona knew not to ask this out loud.“Was that... satisfactory?” Sayo asked shyly.“The exact level of perfect that Pareo would expect of you~!” Reona laid her head on Sayo’s shoulder, “Pareo is happy to have you with her~”“I’m happy to be with you too, Pareo-san,” Sayo snuggled in closer; resting her head on top of Reona’s, “May we continue to care for one another for sometime~”“Speaking of! You know...” There was a hint of mischievousness in Reona tone as she whispered into Sayo’s neck, “A second kiss would probably help Pareo sleep more...”It would be sometime before either girl was allowed to sleep.