[center][img]https://s26.postimg.org/ls8uskhhl/image.png[/img] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [img]https://s1.postimg.org/6dgln23kn3/Avatar.png[/img] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 𝔇𝔦𝔞𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢 𝓒𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔯 || [color=#C9C916]#C9C916[/color] ||| 𝔗𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝓒𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔯 || [color=#3F9CB1]#3F9CB1[/color] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[/center] Haruka had almost managed to get her hopes up when it happened. Fumi had taken off at practically a dead sprint, and had gotten them away from the front gate. A few nervous glances back had served to confirm that the figure of the boy she'd used to know hadn't come into view, and that Jett didn't seem to have noticed them. If he wasn't following, then that meant that they could get away, right? Her secret would be safe. She could just visit with Fumi for a bit and then leave once it got dark. And, knowing her rather socially awkward friend and sidekick, it wasn't like there'd be anyone else there except whoever she got as a roommate, so then there wouldn't be any problems. Word wouldn't even spread that a short, dark-haired girl had decided to visit. Of course, now that Jett was getting this insistent and she knew he was actually here, she'd have to be sure to tell Fumi not to mention her name to anyone, just to be safe, but that was more of a formality than anything. After all, Fumi seldom talked to anyone, and surely, she wouldn't refuse once Haruka asked her something, so- A blur suddenly crossed her field of vision, and Haruka had just enough time to let out a cry of surprise before something slammed into her shoulder, then headlong into Fumi with so much force that she wasn't sure she'd have been able to keep her own footing if she'd had both her legs to stand on. So, it was no surprise then that her significantly weaker friend was picked bodily up off her feet by the sudden impact, and didn't even have time to cry out before the wind was knocked out of her lungs. The two of them flew backward, and time seemed to slow to a crawl. Haruka could feel the wind rushing through her hair, but it was no longer the comforting feeling she'd once been so used to. Rather, it was the chilling realization that the both of them were going to slam into the ground and get severely hurt, and that there wasn't even anything she could do to stop it. She felt so powerless, so... [color=#3F9CB1][b][i]WEAK.[/i][/b][/color] She shut her eyes, and the last thing she saw was the ground rushing up to meet her before- ...Before... ...Before she felt herself colliding with a springy, elastic surface which stretched beneath her, then catapulted her right back to her feet! It was fortunate she'd had her real foot forward, because her prosthetic leg sure as hell couldn't have supported her full weight so suddenly. Landing in a kneeling crouch, she staggered upright, and turned around to see... [center]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[/center] [center][img]https://s27.postimg.org/wuycvj0jn/image.png[/img] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [img]https://s1.postimg.org/3xstl76ucv/Avatar.png[/img] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 𝔇𝔦𝔞𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢 𝓒𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔯 || [color=#FF741D]#FF741D[/color] ||| 𝔗𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝓒𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔯 || [color=#DFD989]#DFD989[/color] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[/center] [color=#FF741D]"Oi, what the hell?! What, are you blind or something?"[/color] Asuka yelled, rushing up just in time to catch the confused Fumika as she was launched back to her feet by a long band of elastic that had suddenly appeared, pulling itself taut between a nearby light pole and one of the support pillars of the school's outer wall. As the younger Motome rose, her eyes seemed to flash with light, the end of her formerly orderly braid puffing wildly outward. She scowled at the tall girl who'd just come crashing headlong into them, but took a moment to return the elastic band she'd pulled from her hair on instinct to its proper place. It was fortunate that she'd been quick enough to Trace something to catch them... Not that they'd ever thank her for it. [color=#FF741D]"Seriously, crashing into my sister like that... You're lucky I was here, or you might have seriously hurt her! Next time, watch where you're going, idiot!"[/color] Shooting this final angry remark at the unidentified sprinter, she glanced back to her rather dazed sister. [color=#FF741D]"Sis, are you alright? You're not injured or anything?"[/color] Fumika nodded slightly, but stood up without saying a word, dusting herself off. Asuka bit her lip. Really? No, this was to be expected of her stubborn, proud sister. Of course she wouldn't bother addressing someone she hated, no matter what. She couldn't even bring herself to say than- [color=#F50A83]"Thank you,"[/color] Fumika said quietly, giving a slight bow to Asuka before trotting over to where Harukaze was still trying to stand up despite her artificial leg's creaking protest. She reached out a hand, and the much shorter raven-haired girl took it after only a moment of stubborn hesitation. [color=#F50A83]"Are you okay, Haruka?"[/color] Fumika asked, her voice filled with concern. Harukaze shot back a grin which Asuka's dense sister didn't seem to realize looked awfully forced, and simply nodded. [color=#C9C916]"I'm fine. She only grazed me, is all. You know, it'd take a lot more than a little tumble to hurt me."[/color] [color=#F50A83]"Ooh, right,"[/color] Fumika said, nodding enthusiastically. [color=#F50A83]"You're so cool, Haruka!"[/color] Asuka's eyebrow shot straight up at this statement. What the hell was this? Fumika had always, [i]always[/i] acted as if she was better than everyone else. She never spoke to anyone, and just watched them, looked down on them. So then... why the hell was she acting like a little kid trying to get an autograph from her favorite celebrity? Just what was with these two weirdos and their bizarre friendship? And more importantly... [color=#FF741D]"Not to interrupt or anything,"[/color] Asuka interjected snidely. [color=#FF741D]"But... uh... Why exactly were we running in the first place?"[/color] Fumika and Haruka exchanged an infuriatingly knowing glance, and then Fumika simply shook her head very sternly in response. [color=#F50A83]"Secret,"[/color] she said. Ah, yes, that was much more like it. That was the infuriating older sister she was familiar with.