Miou was confused.

She had never liked anyone before. But she'd always assumed that when she did, she would like a boy. Probably someone like Haruki - he seemed like a good guy to like.

But here she was... Falling for another girl.

It was scary. Confusing. Scary and confusing.

It wasn't like Natsuki was a bad type of person to like or anything. But after so many years of being told to find a good boy, she felt as though she was letting her parents down by falling for a girl.

...Then again, how could she really be sure that she liked Natsuki? She'd never liked anyone. Maybe she was imagining this...

Clearly, an experiment was in order.

~

"Haruki-kun? Can I talk to you?"

Haruki lifted his gaze from his phone. "Sure. What's up?"

"Not here," Miou said. "Somewhere private."

Haruki raised an eyebrow, but shrugged and followed Miou to a nearby empty room - the Art Club's room.

"What's up?" Haruki asked once Miou had shut the door behind them.

Miou bit her lip, facing Haruki nervously. "I need you to k-kiss me."

Haruki blinked. "What?" he asked dumbly.

Miou squirmed nervously. "It's not that I like you. You love Setoguchi-kun, and I respect that. I just... I need to figure something out for myself. Please."

Haruki raised an eyebrow, eyeing Miou for a moment before nodding his consent. "Alright, sure."

Miou sighed in relief. She tilted her head up and closed her eyes, waiting patiently for Haruki to kiss her.

A few seconds after, she felt unfamiliar lips pressed against her own.

She felt nothing. No heart jumping into her throat, no butterflies in her stomach... Absolutely nothing. In fact, if she felt anything, it was slight disgust.

Haruki pulled away, and she opened her eyes...

And promptly burst into tears.

~

Natsuki was walking down the hallway, when she heard the sound of... Crying?

No, actually, it was more like full-on bawling. She frowned, pinpointing the direction it was coming from. She opened the door to the Art Club room...

And there stood a crying Miou, downright sobbing her eyes out.

And Haruki.

"You jackass!" Natsuki shouted immediately. She grabbed on to Miou's wrist, pulling the shorter girl close and shooting a menacing glare at Haruki.

"Wha-?! I didn't do anything!" Haruki said.

But Natsuki didn't listen. "Come on, Miou-chan. I'll get you away from the mean boy."

And Natsuki lead Miou out of the Art Club room, away from the boy who'd just helped cement her feelings.