That evening. Oginome was sprawled out in her new 'home' under the floor with the diary open, after all. She had headphones connected to a small radio receiver in her ears, listening to the sounds of Tabuki moving about his apartment. I could see her through the gap in the curtain she'd put up at the entrance to the 'room.' She snickered as she squashed a mosquito with a smack on her cheek.

I furrowed my brow and quietly approached her.

"What are you planning now?" I called out to her, putting my hand on her shoulder.

"Kyaaa!" Oginome was startled and tightly hugged the diary to her chest. The headphones fell from her ears.

"How many times do I have to tell you! Don't peep on people!" She muttered at me, coughing as she fanned away the smoke. "What is that? It's so smokey in here."

"It's just a temporary solution. I mean, aren't the mosquitoes really bad here?" I said, holding out the mosquito coil I'd already lit.

"Surely there are other kinds of bug repellent now a days!"

I was shocked as I placed the mosquito coil silently into the corner of Oginome's so-called 'new home,' and picked up the two teacups sitting on a nearby tray. I checked inside them to make sure they weren't full of dirt, lightly wiped them and looked around to see if I could make some tea.

"Um, so, how long are you going to keep doing this?" I took a bottle of green tea that had been sitting with some sweet buns and chocolate and whatnot, and poured it into each of the cups.

"Until the plan is complete. I told you already, it's Project M!" Oginome peered into a mirror, looking to see if the mosquito she squished earlier had bitten her.

"So, about this Project M thing... It wouldn't happen to be Project M as in marriage, would it?" For some reason I sat, hunched over, and politely handed Oginome a teacup. The word 'house-husband' crossed my mind. {lol}

"It's not like that!"

"I-I see." I was relieved by her response.

Oginome turned toward me and formally straightened up her posture.

"Project M is something the likes of you could never imagine, it's an incredibly creative plan."

As my head was about to hit the ceiling, I repeated, "creative?"

"Ahh, I wonder what Tabuki's doing right now." Oginome ignored me, and suddenly murmured absorbedly.

"Since he's single, he probably looks at internet porn at night, right?" I whispered.

"Tabuki doesn't look at things like that." Oginome said flatly, she drank her tea as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"I dunno about that." More like he doesn't if you don't see him doing it, but [saying] that'd probably just cause more problems.

"Are you going home after you finish your business here?" Oginome scrunched up her nose, as if I was being a nucance.

"It's not like I'm here because I want to be." By any means nessecary, I have to borrow her diary, the Penguin Drum. That's why I have to keep an eye on her like this.

Oginome sneakily pulled out her cell phone and tried to look at the screen without my noticing.

"Don't peek at my phone!"

"Hey! Fine, I guess Tabuki doesn't look at porn." I ended up saying and Oginome shoved the cell phone in my face. "He wrote me a love letter!" She smiled, brimming with confidence.

"If you're not busy, would you like to go see a play with me next Sunday? I was given two tickets to a popular show. I think it'd be a nice break from studying." I dryly read the mail. It wasn't really a love letter, but I guess it sorta sounded like he was asking her out on a date.

"Oh Tabuki, you even lied about being given tickets. Alright, let's go Ringo! It's destiny!" Oginome raised a fist in the air, hitting the low ceiling. "Ouch."

"You shouldn't make too much noise down here or he'll get suspicious." {don't help her!}

He probably wasn't lying about being given the tickets. Tabuki's pretty dense, I can't imagine he'd have it in him to even think about saying something like that. Plus, Tabuki has that beautiful girl, doesn't he?

Yuri Tokikago, she never stops smiling, is elegant and refined, beautiful and a good cook and she's right under Tabuki's nose. There's no way someone who had a girlfriend like that would be swayed by Oginome.

"I wonder what I should wear." She said, hugging the jellyfish pillow, there was no way words would reach the ecstatic Oginome. I don't think you should get your hopes up.

Penguin Two exchanged a glance with me as it stealthily fished through the sweets, even though it was absurd, it rushed over and handed me a chocolate.

-

The Sunshiney Theatre in east Ikebukuro was an even more big and splendid place than I'd imagined.

They sat down quietly in our reserved seats, Ringo made a sour face as she glanced at the pamphlet in her hands. East Ikebukuro Sunshiney Opera Troupe presents: "When Paris Falls, The Tragedy of M." A large photo of Yuri Tokikago dressed as a queen, embracing the male lead, was printed in the center. An extravagant chandelier, shining and encrusted with crystals, hung from the high ceiling almost like a joke. Sitting in the next seat, Tabuki seemed sort of excited the whole time. He seemed really happy.

When Tabuki said, "someone gave me tickets," he wasn't lying.

Today, Ringo was wearing her favorite, cobalt-blue dress. And unlike the usual, today she carried a slightly adult-looking white handbag. Normally she only wore lip balm, but today, she had curled her lashes and put on just a little bit of mascara. But Tabuki hadn't noticed at all.

"This is my first time seeing a real play like this. I'm really excited." Tabuki was wearing a completely unpretentious jacket and he was smiling and faintly blushing.

Ringo thought his voice probably had no ill intent in it. Everyone probably wonders whether there's ill intent or how much ill intent [in people's voices].

"Is it." Ringo responded, smiling bitterly.

Before long, the announcer started and slowly the entire room was engulfed in darkness. The theater slowly sinking into darkness was suffocating, sort of like how Ringo's heart felt.

"It's starting." Tabuki whispered, fixing his glasses.

The deep crimson curtain lifted as the music started. A spotlight appeared on the pitch-black stage, Yuri Tokikago was standing there. That alone elicited cheers and sighs from the audience. There was applause.

"Ooh! Yuri appeared! Heeey!" Tabuki waved his hand innocently.

Ringo pouted and puffed out her cheeks.

The play was an over the top romantic tragedy. Dazzling dresses and beautiful, high voices. Ringo looked over at Tabuki over and over, but he was fixated on the play, and probably Yuri. Ringo felt terribly lonely.

Yuri, who was playing the heroine who was being toyed with by fate, looked brilliant and absolutely beautiful. From that first encounter her in Tabuki's apartment to that time in Wadazuka Park, she was always beautiful and composed. Ringo was already annoyed and saddened by those things alone.

Why did Tabuki invite me to the theater? Ringo felt profoundly isolated as she watched Tabuki pull out a bird-patterned handkerchief to wipe away his tears.

Yuri received a grand applause from the audience for her powerful singing. The curtain call ended, the curtain dropped and finally the lights went up in the audience.

Ringo was totally exhausted.

"Ahh, that was amazing. I still feel kinda like I'm floating." Tabuki told Ringo, his eyes and nose a little red probably from crying.

"Yeah, me too." Ringo said and bit her lip.

-

Female fans crowded around the stage door holding bouquets. Tabuki brought Ringo back, and went around the crowd of women. He would probably happily take my hand in a situation like this to prevent me from getting separated or lost. And these noisy women would probably make way/permit it{derp}, Ringo thought as she stared vacantly at Tabuki's back.

"Ohh I was so moved! Real actresses really are amazing. Her last line was really great, right?" Tabuki said, eyes sparkling still having not returned from the world of the play.

Suddenly, the fans started to stir. Yuri came out, escorted by the woman who'd played the male lead. She wore a beautiful, refined dress that showed off her figure and smiled gently.

The fans poured in like an avalanche, trying to push Tabuki and Ringo out of the way.

"Wow, we couldn't even get close after the play. I thought I'd treat her to a meal too." Tabuki smiled bitterly.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Let's go somewhere alone."

Ringo's head unconsciously shot up. Alone. Tabuki had definitely just said that. Let's go somewhere alone. Anywhere is fine. Maybe he'll pick a place because he noticed that Ringo was wearing more makeup than usual today. Or maybe a place that he can admire her favorite blue dress.

"Y-Y-Yes I'd love to!" She responded with a hundred times the enthusiasm of the shop girls in the area. "Where are we going alone together?"

"Ah, hang on," Tabuki apparently got a call on his phone. "Yeah, that rumor? I heard it from Yuri. Ooh, sensible as ever, I see. She made reservations for us?" Tabuki turned around, smiling.

Ringo sneered at Yuri as she was swarmed by fans. Yuri noticed Ringo's glance and returned a composed smile. She waved, just using her fingers.

"Isn't this great, Ringo? The star's invited us out. It's sure to be a treat!" Tabuki said in a playful tone and laughed.

Again, Tabuki's lack of malice just made Ringo's heart crumble, but Tabuki didn't notice at all.

-

Even the brick exterior of the restaurant was luxurious, while faintly clad in the atmosphere of the theater from just moments ago, it seemed like they'd arrived in an even more luxurious and deeply different world.

Tabuki nervously gave the staff the reservation name. The maitre d' greeted them politely and smiled quietly as he led them to to their seats without a moment's delay. Their feet made no sound on the carpeted floor.

Each table was draped in a white table cloth and adorned with a small lamp and a red rose. The maitre d' pulled out their seats and they quietly sat down. The other guests seated nearby were calmly enjoying their meals.

"Please, enjoy yourselves." And with that the maitre d' left.

The interior design was primarily based around a wine red color accented here and there with gold. The dim light filtered through painted panes of glass affixed to the ceiling.

"This place is kind of intimidating." Tabuki said, forcing a smile as he looked around restlessly.

Ringo honestly a little impressed. A classier world, even moreso than that of the theater or the play, was spread out before them. Looking at Tabuki through the faint light, it was clear that even though he was a little timid, he was an "adult" who was much, much closer to this world than Ringo could ever hope to be. Yuri Tokigao was pulling him gradually toward this world. Yuri probably wanted to make Ringo understand that. The waiter came back and offered them an aperitif, but Tabuki passed.

"Sorry I kept you waiting." Yuri said, not sounding even remotely in a hurry, as she was led into the restaurant, with her clutch in both hands.

Her newly reapplied makeup was quite modest, but it still enhanced the beauty of Yuri's expressions. Her nude dress and fine accessories weren't overshadowed by her beauty. Her smile shone like endless fireworks, seducing anyone who looked at it.

Yuri, sitting comfortably at the table with Ringo and Tabuki, drew quite a lot of attention.

"Look, that's the actress Yuri Tokigao."

"Wow, she's much prettier in person."

The rude voices reached Ringo's ears, but Yuri just picked up the menu, not seeming to care.

"The two of you must be hungry. I was thinking we should order a course, but I'm not sure. Is there anything you can't eat?"

"I'm fine with anything as long as it doesn't have carrots in it." Tabuki blushed, he was completely taken with Yuri.

"Oh, that's right." Yuri giggled. "What about you, Ringo?"

"Anything's fine with me." She replied quietly. Ringo glanced at Yuri.

She was so beautiful as she pleasantly made her order with the waiter that even the women couldn't take their eyes off her and even the waiter was blushing.

Yuri took a breath after she finished ordering and finished off her glass of water. Her throat moved silently. Under the soft lamplight, Yuri's skin was shining, an even more brilliant white. She turned her elegant smile toward Ringo.

"I really wanted to thank you for coming to see the play today." Yuri said as she gently took Ringo's hands.

"You don't have to." Looking at Yuri's face at point blank range, Ringo was unconsciously fascinated by it. It was bewildering to her.

"I told Tabuki that I desperately wanted you to see the play, Ringo. I hope it wasn't too much trouble." Her eyelids shone faintly like lamé. Her long eyelashes were glossy. Even the guests seated on the far side of the restaurant could clearly see her gem-like eyes.

Not waiting for Ringo's answer, Tabuki said, "Not at all, I had a great time."

"Ringo you were entranced by the stage the whole time too, right?" His voice completely lacked malice––it made Ringo's heart creak.

"Yes. It was really lovely." She answered, forcing a smile. She quickly pulled her hands away from Yuri's and turned away a bit.

Why of all things do I have to suffer Yuri's gaze? And more over, wasn't this just a trecherous scheme to use her position as an actress to force me to give up on Tabuki?

Yuri Tokikago is an actress. She can probably smile warmly in front of anyone. Surely, that beautiful glass facade conceals the unpainted face of a killer whale that survived the stormy seas of the world of show business. Up until now, she's devoured countless numbers of prey, always watching vigilantly for the right timing to sink her teeth into her prey.

Tabuki's been completely deceived by her. He's fallen for her and is always smiling, but that's dangerous. This killer-whale-woman surely rose to her position in life through unscrupulous means and if she was unmasked it'd be plainly apparent that both her body and soul are stained pitch black. Someone as pure and weak as Tabuki would surely be swallowed whole by her.

"How's next Sunday?" Ringo snapped back to reality with a "Huh?" at the sound of Tabuki's voice.

"Are you free?"

"Actually, I was planning a little party. Ringo, you should come too. You can bring your cute boyfriend from the other day... Uhh, it was Takakura wasn't it?" Yuri smiled calmly.

"That thing isn't my boyfriend!" She denied it in a louder voice than she'd intended. The fact that she intentionally said something like that right in front of Tabuki is proof that her heart is pitch black.

"Oh, he's not? That's too bad. I thought you two made a good couple." She shot a don't-you-agree? glance at Tabuki.

"Actually, that might be a good idea. Why don't we invite Takakura? He is a fellow bird enthusiast after all. I never would have expected Takakura to be interested in wild birds." Tabuki was in a very good mood.

Ringo had thought she wanted him to smile at her like that. That first night together. Of course, this was all in Ringo's imagination, but he was, above all, very kind. He gazed at Ringo with warm, damp eyes and brushed away her hair. He complimented her sharp eyes, and embraced her tightly so they wouldn't get cold.

And yet, he had to act like he was enjoying himself while talking to this black-hearted killer-whale woman about a party over wine in this cinematic adult world.

"Alright, then it's settled." Yuri said, raising her wine glass again.

Tabuki followed her lead and raised his too.

"Cheers!" Tabuki was smiling ear-to-ear. Ringo reluctantly raised her glass of ice tea, clinked glasses with them and returned it to the table.

"Are you alright? The play was pretty long. Did it tire you out?" Yuri suddenly stroked her cheek with her long, white fingers.

Ringo looked at Yuri, shocked. She could feel her face getting flush against her will.

"The dress you have on today is lovely, but make sure to dress up for the party." {Burrnnnnn} Ringo had no idea if she was being honest or mean.

This was the only time anyone had praised her on the dress she'd put so much effort into picking out today, and to make matters worse the person offering he praise was that hateful, black-hearted, killer-whale woman.

-

The sound of string instruments resounded in a moon-light garden with a little white house in the middle. Electric lights were twined around the trees, shining like gems. You'd never mistake it for a "little" party.

Between the round tables and the numerous catering carts, people dressed to the nines were milling about with champagne flutes in their hands. Amidst all that, stood Oginome and I, each holding glasses of orange juice. Oginome was wearing a red, floral patterned dress with a matching red headband and I wore my only nice jacket, concealing my usual shopping bag in a pocket as was my habit.

At my feet, Penguin Two was chewing on some food it had picked up from who knows where.

"It sorta seems like we ended up somewhere special, doesn't it?" Like Christmas in July, or an amusement park at night––at any rate it was a spectacle I'd never seen before. It was a beautiful, unearthly fine evening.

The guests stirred and when I looked at what had caught their attention, Yuri Tokikago had appeared on the terrace of the house. Her hair was done up and adorned with a white lily. She wore a long, pale pink dress with exposed shoulders and lavish ruffles hung from the neckline. The string of diamonds hanging from her ears swayed and sparkled, reflecting the light.

"Oh, it's Ms. Yuri." Shoma stood on tip-toe {goddamnit it just jumped into 3rd person even though we had an explicit 僕 not even half a page ago}. "Wow, she's even more radiant than usual today."

"I can't stand it! Everyone's being tricked by her mask!" Oginome folded her arms in displeasure and finished her drink in a gulp.

"You're still going on about that? I mean, come on, why don't you just give it a rest already? With her as your rival, your chances of victory are extremely slim." Sorry to say, but that's my honest opinion. At any rate, Yuri's not only an actress but she's extraordinarily beautiful and kind. I was pretty relaxed, or at the very least I wasn't wearing my heart on my sleeve like Oginome, standing here with her arms crossed.

"Don't be stupid! That woman is a pampered celebrity. I know Tabuki so much better than she could ever hope to!" All of a sudden Oginome spread out her hands and started counting off her fingers as she started talking about vaguely creepy stuff. "Does she know when Tabuki wakes up in the morning? Or that he likes his toast only with marmalade on it––and a lot of it at that? Or what his favorite brand of toothpaste is? That he's good at making vegetable stir-fry and sort of bad at pouring the water off instant Yakisoba? Or what song he's been humming lately? Or what he talks about in his sleep? I'm the only one who knows all of that."

I don't want to be associated with your crazy ramblings. This is already way beyond embarrassing for a normal high school boy such as myself. I stealthily called over a nearby server. I'd reluctantly come along because I heard there would be all sorts of tasty foods here after all. All my pathetic little house-husband heart could think of was giving Himari and Kanba a taste of them.

"Excuse me, could I take a few of these, uh, red and yellow ones home with me?" I said, pointing to some foods I didn't know the name of that were heaped up on the round table.

"Sure." The server looked a little shocked.

"Hey! What are you doing? Are you trying to embarrass me!" Oginome barked as she hurried over to me.

"It's just a little something for Himari, actually, do you think Yuri would give me an autograph? I brought some colored paper just in case."

Oginome suddenly grabbed my ear and pulled it toward her.

"Owwww!"

"Do you remember what we talked about earlier?" She shouted in my ear.

"I do!"

"Then you should understand the situation." The tone of her voice abruptly dropped. "Why do you think I brought you along?"

"What do you mean 'why'?" As I considered the question, I continued with the server. "Oh, and, how about some of that cake-looking-like thing over there?" I gave a light-hearted smile and the server responded with a bitter one.

Hearing that, Oginome tugged on my ear with unnecessary force.

"Owwwwwwww!"

"I brought you to make sure that venomous spider doesn't get any closer to Tabuki!" She shouted.

"That's an absurd–" I looked at Yuri as she was going around politely greeting everyone. But, Oginome was terrifying precisely because she'll do anything no matter how absurd.

"You want my diary don't you?" To make matters worse she was pretty good at taking advantage when an opportunity presented itself.

"I do." I hung my head when she let go of my ear. Just how far will this go before she's satisfied?

I did say that she should give up on him given that her rival is such a lovely lady as Yuri Tokikago, but, I guess if you really love someone it's not that simple. But still, if you look at what she's accomplished so far, even if she has learned a lot about Tabuki as a result of her stalking that doesn't really change anything. Surely she knows that.

The howl of a microphone grabbed everyone's attention.

A gallant woman in tail coats with a short hair cut stood on the stage that had been installed in front of the house. She must be an actresses who plays male roles in East Ikebukuro's Sunshiney Opera Troupe. She stood there in front of the mic, much more stylish and masculine than me, even though I'm actually a boy.

"Um, although the party is in full swing and all of you are clearly enjoying yourselves, Yuri Tokikago has a very important announcement to make."

He voice sounded rather masculine too. I wonder if it was on purpose.

"Come, my love!"

A real guy could never get away with a line like that. The instant I paused to be impressed by the Sunshiney Opera Troupe, the music swelled, Yuri climbed onto the stage, the hem of her dress gracefully fluttering as she moved. She bowed deeply and when she rose everyone clapped.

"My friends, I am truely grateful that you could take time out of your busy schedules to come tonight."

The applause steadily died down.

"Now, this is a bit sudden; however, I, Yuri Tokikago, who stands before you on the stage right now, have decided that it is time for me to graduate from East Ikebukuro's Sunshiney Opera Troupe. I've borrowed this stage to inform you all."

The guests stirred with surprise.

I was surprised myself, and when I looked over at Oginome, the announcement had made her blink with surprise too. It wasn't really that unreasonable considering that the person she'd just described as, "a spoiled celebrity," had just abandoned her claim to fame.

"And there's one more thing." Yuri looked over to one wing of the small stage. The person who timidly came out onto the stage, wearing a uniform that was rather ill-suited to him, was none other than Tabuki. "My friends, let me introduce you. This Keiju Tabuki and just the other day we became engaged."

The guests fell silent for a second, but then they started to clap right away, calling out 'congratulations!' and 'we wish you the best!' Yuri was moved to tears, blushing, while Tabuki just stood there smiling awkwardly.

"Thank you very much. I may be leaving the stage to start a new life with the person I love, but I will forever keep the treasures I've gained there in my heart, as a person and as a woman––" Yuri lowered her head, her tears making it hard to speak.

Tabuki, just as you'd expect from him, smiled at Yuri and put his hand on her back.

My mouth hung open. This little party wasn't much of a fuss at all. Surely this'll be a big deal on the entertainment news tomorrow morning.

"Stop! Stop! This is a time for celebration, not sadness!" The woman in the tailcoat embraced Yuri, her beautiful voice resounded throughout the venue. "Alright everyone! Let's give this sexy lady-killer who stole both my role playing next to her and her away from me a warm welcome!" She lightly struck Tabuki on the shoulder and cheerfully spread her arms wide.

The crowd was even more roused.

Oginome grabbed me by the ear, rendering me completely motionless. I timidly looked at her face in profile. Her hand dropped from my ear and swung like a pendulum.

Just when I was trying to figure out if I should say something to her or not, she pulled me backward with a crash. Unexpectedly, standing behind us was Penguin Two, propping up a heaping platter of hours d'oeuvres it had been lusting for.

The music changed to a lively dance number. But we weren't dancing.

-

It was quiet in the subway car. Only the repetitive vibration and sounds of the car moving along the track rolled through my body. We hadn't been speaking for a while now and Oginome was brooding several seats away from me, gripping the handrail tightly as if to support herself.

I've never comforted a broken-hearted girl before. I've never had my own heart broken either. It's more like I was delivering the final blow. But, I'll do anything for Himari.

"So, about that diary." I finally broke the silence. "You shouldn't need it anymore after all this happened, right?"

An even more awkward silence than I'd expected settled on my shoulders. I think I preferred having irrational words hurled at me.

"Hey, come on, Tabuki and Ms. Yuri got engaged––there's no opening for you anymore, right?" I gripped the bag the server gave me tighter without thinking.

"No." Oginome whispered, not really directed at me. "I won't let something like this set back my M Project. I can still win because I'm the one living under the same roof as Tabuki." Her voice sounded frail and cracked.

"By 'under the same roof'––" It was something she'd done on her own, stretching the meaning of the phrase. I mean, it had pained me to help her with it, but in no sense of the phrase was that "living together."

"Plus, the diary is continuing. That's proof enough of the fate that binds him and me. Yes, this is just a small trial of our love." Oginome raised her head and her face was no longer dark and gloomy.

I was shocked that I felt a bit of sympathy for her and was at a loss for words. This had already gone far beyond optimism. She really was a stalker. She only sees what she wants to, it's the mere shadow of selfish, one-sided love.

"By the way." Oginome stared at me with her eyes full of vigor. "How old are you now?" She had looked at me with that grin several times so far, but each time it sent chills down my spine, and I knew nothing good would come of it. {RUN SHOMA! RUN! SHES GONNA MOLEST YOU}

-

As Shoma and Ringo were starting into their routine banter, several cars away, Kanba was checking the contents of an envelope.

"Good. We can stay in the house a little longer now." He shoved the envelope into his pocket and continued, "And."

He pulled something out of his other pocket––it was that scorched ball.

"There are only a few people who use these things. That series of incidents was your people's doing, wasn't it?" He had posed the question less for an answer and more to see how the person he was dealing with would react.But, Kanba's sharp eyes failed to notice Masako Natsume observing him.

In the next car, Masako stood against the wall, listening to Kanba's voice ecstatically.

"Oh my, we'll have to crush him soon." Masako whispered, rubbing her long index finger and thumb together slowly. She could see Kanba turn his body away out of the corner of her eye.

Right on time her cell phone vibrated in her bag, she pulled it out and put it to her ear.

"Yes, it's being delivered today. Understood. I will continue as is as well. We must bring Project M to completion." Simple buisness messages are completely inelegant, Masako thought, but, it was almost like Masako felt there was no need to exchange elegant words with the person on the other end of the line today. Masako took a light breath and hid the phone in her bag again.

-

No matter how stylish the building, schools at night are scary. Plus, I wanted to get home before the contents of my doggy-bag went bad.

Oginome, who was always over prepared, pulled a small flashlight from her purse and led me along, shining it at our feet. I never would have imagined that I'd be setting foot into Ohka Garden Girls High like this.

We crossed the garden-esq court yard and entered a school building and walked through the corridor soundlessly.

"Hey, is this really alright?" Penguin Two was scared and clung to my ankle. It was too difficult to walk like that so I had to pick it up.

"It's fine. I looked into the security guard rotation. Plus, if we get caught I just have to say I came to get something I forgot."

From the beginning, Oginome had intended to sneak in and bring me along just in case. I don't think she had that flashlight just because she's a well prepared stalker.

"But that's just you, isn't it? A male high school student sneaking into a girls' school at night is completely–" I started to say when I saw a sign which read "Special Girls' Changing Room." What's so special about it? At any rate it was completely out of bounds. Perverted. Especially perverted. I nervously followed Oginome and she suddenly stopped.

"We're here. I would rather not have to do this though."

I looked up––it was a science lab. I imagined it was full of all sorts of dangerous chemicals and experiments and my cheek twitched. I was mortified that I had no way to stop Oginome's rampage.

We were as quiet as we could be as we entered the science lab in total darkness. Oginome opened the curtains one by one. The light of the full moon filled the previously pitch black room and a magic-square looking like figure appeared in fluorescent paint on one of the large lab tables.

"W-What is that?" I stumbled and bumped my hip on the table behind me.

Oginome didn't answer my question as she lit a candle, set it on another desk and pulled a cloth, hiding some boxy object, off like a magician. It was a fish tank with a large, strangely, colorfully patterned frog sitting in it.

"Ooh, a frog." Penguin Two was still in my arms and the sight of the frog made its eyes gleam. It squirmed out of my grasp and dropped to the floor.

Oginome continued. She pulled out a laptop and started it up, opened a page called, "Dulcamara's Potion Class," and showed it to me. When she clicked, a photo of the same sort of frog in a fish tank popped up, along with an explanatory note.

"Read it." She said without hesitation as she checked the pattern of the magic square.

"The Tamahorema Frog, it emerges from the ground only once every sixteen years. A miraculous frog. On the night of a full moon, if you let this frog lay its eggs on the back of a sixteen-year-old boy, dry and crush those eggs into a fine powder––it's an Elixer of Love. If a man and woman take it, they'll be bound eternally in love." I read it obediently in a soft voice. "Yeah right. Where'd you get this frog anyway? Don't tell me you caught it yourself." I let out a sarcastic laugh without thinking.

The frog's head was a vivid green, its belly was yellow, and it had black specks all over. Its eyes were big and black, and there was a strange pattern on its back. It really doesn't look like the sort of thing that would be in Japan in fall.

"Of course not. Alright, get naked." Oginome said it as if it was a matter of course.

"Huh? Naked?"

"You read it, right? This Tamahorema Frog is going to lay its eggs on your back right now!" Oginome's eyes glittered as she pulled on a pair of rubber gloves.

"Whaa!" The sixteen-year-old boy was me.

"You want my diary for Himari, right?"

"I do. But–"

"Come on, strip." She put her hand into the tank, making a face like even she was put off by it, and grabbed the frog.

I felt like I was going to cry as I took off my jacket. {;A; Ringo how can you abuse Shoma like this?}

-

I was laying on my stomach, naked from the waist up, in the middle of the strange magic square with candles all around. The desk was cold and the huge frog was dropped onto my back with a splat, when it moved a little Oginome hissed. It was horribly cold and it made me feel incredibly sick.

"Weird. It's been two hours already, but it's not doing anything!" Oginome impatiently smacked the desk. She had the expression of a mad scientist on her face as she looked over me and cocked her head before turning to the laptop and reading over the explanation again.

"It's for Himari. It's for Himari. It's for Himari." If I keep on going like this, maybe I'll attain enlightenment.

"Furthermore, the ideal egg-laying temperature is 42˚C." Oginome turned her head and asked "Can you do it?" with a serious face.

"NO." I responded.

After that, my body temperature and the surrounding air temperature was raised over 42˚ using whatever lab equipment was available. I was sweating strangely and I felt nauseated and the frog was moving around with a sticky sound emitting a weird call as Oginome held a hair dryer with both hands aiming the hot air directly at the frog.

"That's it! Just a little more! Ahahahaha! Ahahahaha!"

"It's... for... Himari." I started to think I couldn't do it anymore. I looked out the window at the dazzling full moon in a haze as if clinging to it. The frog on my back was making weird noises, it was going to lay its eggs. A fresh egg plopped down on my back.

"Eee! It came out! Eeewww!" Oginome screamed and closed her eyes.

Well duh, I thought as I tried to turn my head to see just how disgusting my back was.

"Ah."

I could tell that Penguin Two had developed an interest in the frog, but do Penguins even eat frogs? Number Two's eyes were ablaze as it tottered over and stopped, and in the blink of an eye it had cleaned up my back.

"Hey you–" I looked at its face, shocked to see the frog's feet and some eggs hanging out of its mouth.

"Huh? Where did the eggs go? And the frog?" Oginome said confusedly when she finally opened her eyes.

Penguin Two panicked and swallowed what was in its mouth.

"Hey, what just happened? Where is my Tamahorema Frog?"

There's no way I could explain it.

"W-Well. Maybe the magic sent it far away or something?" I was tired, lying limply on the desk. "I wonder where it could have gonneee." I said as I shot a glance at Penguin Two. If Oginome could see Number Two, it'd be engulfed in flames or something.

"But why? I thought I drew the magic square properly. I checked it so many times..." Oginome sighed as if all the life had gone out of her.

Penguin Two alone stroked its belly, satisfied.

"Let's just go home," I managed to eek out. "I did everything you asked. Please, I'm begging you, just let me go home." {;A;}

-

"Survival Strategy!"

In the blink of an eye, a gale of white frills hurled the food crate sitting on the kitchen table, my, as-always, sour faced brother and I, refreshed from taking a shower to get rid of any trace of the frog that had been on my back, into another dimension.

"Listen up you lowlifes who will never amount to anything! Obtain the Penguin Drum!”

Although we'd seen it numerous times already, we couldn't get used to Himari's black penguin costumed dofm. Her sharp, red eyes stared at us.

"Like I said, it's impossible. Tabuki and Yuri are engaged and now there's no way Ringo Oginome and Tabuki could be tied together! For one, do you have any idea what I had to go through tonight? I thought I was going to die!" I made a grandiose appeal complete with gestures and everything.

The penguin hat slowly clicked her heels as she walked across the floor––as if it wasn't an alternate dimension at all––with a click, click, click.

"Hmph. Is it not your duty as lowly slaves to do something about that?"

"I hate it! I don't want to have anything to do with that psychotic occult obsessed chick!" I said sulking. It had always bothered me that Kanba managed to avoid her insanity completely.

"By the way, this M Project, it's about marriage, right?"

"Yeah." I nodded, puffing out my cheeks.

"There's still another possible interpretation." Kanba said, stroking his chin.

The penguin hat looked at Kanba.

"The short version: Ringo Oginome wants to "do it" with Tabuki, correct?"

"That again?" I grimaced.

"Like I was saying, we might still have some options here. Men have been known to get cold feet before weddings. And Tabuki is a man after all. If we attack his weak points, he might have a one night indiscression, if you know what I mean." Kanba smirked. The terms "do it" and "indiscretion" had so easily slipped out of his mouth.

"Kanba, you're making an intensely creepy face right now."

"Then do it, my lowly slaves!" The penguin hat pointed at me as if it completely understood. {note: any time "do it" is used in this section you can read it as a double entendre, lol}

"What? Me?" I looked at Kanba thinking, isn't this your area of experties, but he turned away. "Hey, Kanba!"

"You'll do it. I have other things to do." He gave me a strangely solemn look.

"Obviously, you useless dolt! No-holds-barred! Tempt Tabuki and fight Oginome Ringo! Round One! Two! Three!"

"Don't make Himari–" I had a feeling about what was going to happen next. There was a click sound from the floor and a hole opened up to drop me. "–say such crude things!" At any rate I could only voice my discontent.

"Let's initiate the Survival Strategy!" The penguin hat said, making a fist. I couldn't bear the fact that it bore Himari's image. Our little sister was pure and innocent.

How is someone as innocent as me with such an innocent sister supposed to orchestrate a "one night indiscretion" between Oginome and Tabuki?

-

Late at night, Keiju Tabuki wore white pajamas with a swan pattern on them as he brushed his teeth. And this evening, that sound also reached the ears of Ringo Oginome who was residing below the floor.

She wore her best, soft gauze negligee over her naked body as she prepared for bed. Ringo opened the diary as she listened to the sound of Tabuki going about his business.

I guess I'm going to have to resort to more indecent means. Believing in that magic square and that frog was a mistake. Plus, that big frog was disgusting anyway.

"Today, I've lived with Tabuki for a month. We haven't fought even once. He really is my fated person." She read aloud and took a breath. So far everything written in the diary is true. But, then, why is Tabuki engaged to Yuri Tokikago?

Ringo looked straight up at the ceiling, and touched the photo of Tabuki's smiling face. She traced the line of his cheek and his lips with her fingers. Tabuki was just above. And thus he was with Ringo. There was no need for her to be timid. Because fate was absolutely something that belonged to Ringo and Tabuki and Momoka.

Ringo hugged her jellyfish pillow and buried her face in it. The noises Tabuki made put her at ease as she rested her body until she would put her night time plan into effect.

She checked the time on her peach-colored alarm clock. It began to thunder and rain as the night deepened. Ringo bore the cold wrapped up in sheets. Winter was getting closer. She reapplied her lip-balm several times and looked at her pale pink manicured nails again. All of her preparations were in order.

She picked up the diary from next to her bed and opened it up. On the page she was staring down intently at, "Project M = The Great Maternity Strategy!" was written in Momoka's childish handwriting. Ringo took a deep breath and fortified her determination.

"I will bear Tabuki's child. Yes, that will be a really great and creative proof of our love!"

The rain was pouring. This was exactly the sort of night women want to sleep protected by the person they love. This night was extremely good fate, no doubt.

Ringo knew that there was one floor board in Tabuki's kitchen that would open. When she pushed on it from below with all her weight, it made a noise and came loose.

Ringo slowly moved the floor board away and crept up onto the floor. There was a sliding door connecting the silent, dark kitchen.. Inside, Tabuki should be sleeping. Ringo gulped, clutched the bodice of her negligee and slowly approaching the door.

Of course, Ringo was nervous. In her head she was going through what she'd heard about "first times" from magazines and comics and friends of friends. She wasn't really sure whether it any of it was true or not. But, regardless of the reality of it, it didn't matter as long as there was love. She had to do it, no matter how scary it was.

"When the future becomes real, everything that is precious to me will become eternal." She said, very quietly.

When she slowly opened the door a huge bolt of lightning struck again and, just for a second, Ringo's face was clearly illuminated in the room. Ringo slowly stood up and walked toward the futon. The room smelled like a place someone slept in.

Ringo untied the ribbon on her bodice smoothly and undid the buttons one by one, she slipped the negligee off her slender shoulders and it fell to the ground. The garment made nearly no sound as it hit the floor.

She shrank at the sound of the thunder and as she energetically flipped open the futon Tabuki should have been sleeping, she found it empty. "No way," Ringo muttered, almost about to cry. She gazed, dumbfounded at the slightly wrinkled futon cover. A little stuffed bird and egg were lined up on the pillow.


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