Just Try To Get Through The Day.

You meet Jun by the main gate, on schedule this time. She greets you in her usual way and the two of you walk into school together. The normality of it all makes you feel uncomfortable. While at your lockers you can't help but whisper a question that's been on your mind since last night.

"Is that mark still on you?"

Her face grows a bit serious and she gives a slight nod. You grimace and hope it doesn't bother her too much. She's always been shy and changed in corners so hopefully no one will notice when she changes for gym and such. This whole situation makes you feel a little weird around Jun. Are you dating? Is she your fuck-buddy? Or, dare you dream, is she really like a sex **** who will bend to your will? For now you're just acting like everything is normal and letting her set the pace. She seems fine with that and the two of you spend the day acting as though nothing has changed.

Between periods you get flagged down by a familiar girl. She's as tall as you, her figure a close match to your own, and she's even just as athletic as you. But you'd never be confused for one another, if only for her dark blue hair, which she once again wears in a single high tail that trails down her back, and emerald eyes.

"Yukiko!" she calls out, all too familiar.

You roll your eyes and deadpan, "Haruko."

She squares up against you and demands, "Have you finally given in and decided to join the basketball club?"

You rub your temples. You've turned down all the various sports teams a dozen times now. You really don't wanna be dealing with this on top of the Eros situation. If anything, you wanna join even less now. All those sweaty girls running around in shorts, bodies jiggling as they turn, hitting the showers together? Before you were afraid of making a move on someone and ruining your reputation. Now you have to worry about suddenly growing a dick in the middle of a match!

"No, Haruko-SAN, I'm not joining anything. I like my free time too much."

She scoffs, "You'll have plenty of free time when you graduate and no college will have you for not doing extracurriculars!"

"Haruko-san," you sigh. "I'm just trying to get through the here and now. And all your zeal is just encouraging me to join the cooking club or something. Learn a useful skill."

"Learn something useful?! How dare you! Some of us take sports seriously, you lazy bum! Half of the team would kill the other half to have your natural talent! And here you are squandering it, like their hopes and dreams don't matter!"

"Hopes and dreams? I just don't wanna play basketball. Besides, if I joined the team you'd have to kick someone off. What about their hopes and dreams?"

"Shut it! You'll see. I'll get you one of these days!"

And with that, she storms off.

"You and Takagi-san are always so intense with one another," says Jun.

"She's the crazy one!" you insist.

"But you keep competing with her in gym class. It's because you stand out so much that all these teams want you so bad."

"It's not my fault I give my best at everything! That doesn't mean I want everything to be a competition!"

"Well, that's how Takagi-san sees it. Maybe if you cool it down the next you play..."

"Never! I play to win! Every time!"

Jun sighs and drops the subject. She must have realized the solid logic of your argument. After Haruko-san's public display a few of the other sports clubs work up the courage to gun for you. It's not a fun day. You don't want to disappoint so many lovely girls! The short girl from the track and field club with her big puppy dog eyes is especially heart breaking but you do what you have to.

At the end of the day Jun walks you to the entrance of the school.

"Anything weird happen today?" she asks.

You shake your head, "Nope. I guess she took the hint yesterday and she's leaving me alone?"

"Let's hope so. Whatever she is, she's bad news. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure thing. See you."

Jun walks off to her student council meeting and you start walking home. About five minutes later is when she makes her appearance. A hand on your shoulder is your only warning before her warm breath is on your neck.

"A moment of your time?"

You spin around and find Eros standing on her own two feet for once. She's dressed in your school uniform, a disturbing sign that she might have been walking the halls today.

"What do you want?"

She puts a hand to her chest, a picture of offense.

"Why, I never! Here I am, trying to help you, after you got yourself into this mess, and this is the thanks I get?"

You try to think of something snappy to say back but fail.

You sigh, "Look, I'm sorry I overreacted. I know I should have listened to you before taking your deal. But when a beautiful dream lady appears and says, 'Let's have sex', my brain stops working!"

She flutters her eyes and says, "Flattery will get you off the hook this time. But don't get used to me going easy on you."

"Deal. So, what's up?"

"I came here to warn you. Again. Since the last time clearly hasn't sunk in."

You blink and look around, "Am I in danger or something? I haven't seen any other 'players' or anything."

Eros shakes her head, "You still don't get it. The players are tasked with accumulating power. There are two ways to do this. The first is to claim someone and have them generate energy for you. The second..."

Your eyes widen in sudden insight. A searing hot sensation shoots up your spine and into the back of your eyes. Along with the physical sensation comes a feeling so strong you can't help but believe it's true.

"...Is to take it from someone else."

You start sprinting back to school. You don't know how or what's going on but you're certain of one thing. Jun's in danger. And it's all your fault.

You make it back to school in half the time it's been since you've left. A few students still mill about outside but the halls are completely empty. You aren't sure how you know where to go but each turn feels right, like you're that much closer to Jun. You stop suddenly and turn towards a door. You slam it open...