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Suika winced when Shuuko called her 'Tsubomi,' but she didn't think anyone noticed, given the conversation. She did her best to follow along, but a thought kept nagging at the back of her mind. [color=00aeef][i]The others don't know I met Regina...[/i][/color]

It wasn't until Nyxia's point about a school trip being flimsy cover that she was finally overwhelmed by it. She hadn't even registered Evil Eye's question before it.

[color=00aeef]"I met Regina!"[/color] Suika nearly shouted her 'confession' of having kept a 'secret' from the Club as she sat upright. [color=00aeef]"Oh, er, Ashbringer, I mean. At least I'm pretty sure it was her."[/color]

A sheepish look took over her face, and she leaned back down and turned her neck so she was facing downwards, towards the dust-covered box she was once more laying against. [color=00aeef]"She went to the arcade when I was there, so I think she's watching us somehow. She also mentioned that Michi is basically on her side now..."[/color]

There was a tinge of anger in her voice as she gave her report. But it faded quickly, and soon she was back to her slightly nervous tone.

[color=00aeef]"She said that she wants to destroy everyone who was included in her challenge. It sounded like she only cared about the people who were there when it happened, but I don't think that's right..."[/color] Would Haruna be included, then?

Finally absolved of her self-imposed 'crime,' Suika started thinking about what had been said.

[color=00aeef]"I think if we leave, we're going to meet another person who'll be on her side, somehow. Maybe they're already working with her and she just... wants to make us aware of it? But I definitely think that we'll run into another member of her group if we leave town. Maybe even if we stay..."[/color]

Suika's face turned back towards the other club members. As if it had been waiting for the most dramatic time possible, more of her magic seemed to come back to her. For the first time since the aftermath of the day the dream happened, she could feel the emotions of the others again. In a split second she shot up to a full sitting position and slapped herself lightly on the cheeks as she tried to make herself feel something, [i]anything[/i], other than what she already was, but to no avail. It seemed she still couldn't affect her own newfound emotions with her magic.

Still, the return to being more 'normal' gave her hope, a smile breaking out on her face. [color=00aeef]"If we have to go somewhere, we might need two vehicles, in case one breaks down, right?"[/color] She tried to think back, but the memories wouldn't surface. Were there two possible drivers among the club members? [color=00aeef]"Otherwise, if we get one big one we can all fit in, odds are we'll get stranded somehow, since Regina is probably watching us. I wouldn't be surprised if she does something to it while we're there to 'force us to get stronger,' or something."[/color]

Another thought slipped by, smacking into her mind at just the right angle to spark the match of recognition. Suika's mouth spread into a wide grin, and she couldn't suppress a small laugh at the irony of it.

[color=00aeef]"Isn't it funny? Light Girls can grow however they want, but for Dark Girls... The only way to get stronger is together, as equals. If one gets too strong, they take away from the others. I'd guess they grow slower too, but the rest? We can't grow much at all."[/color]

She giggled slightly as she looked upward at the ceiling. [color=00aeef]"No choice but to 'huddle together for warmth,' I guess. Isn't that ridiculous? Your light goes out, and suddenly it pays to help each other instead of strangers."[/color]

Suika's smile slowly faded. [color=00aeef][i]Is that right?[/i][/color] She wasn't sure, but she didn't want to dwell on that thought any longer. [color=00aeef]"If it's a field trip, maybe a place with a Museum? A chance to study the past... seems fitting for an excuse, doesn't it?"[/color]