Rumiko Manbagi

"W-who are you texting?" Tadano asked a little nervously. Komi not bothering to take the time to write out the response, instead staring at her phone for the response text. Thankfully it was only a minute before the recipient sent a reply, relieving Komi's nerves somewhat as they promised to come right over.

So, at this point we have to talk about the other girl.

Rumiko Manbagi was someone who has become very good friends with both Komi and Tadano. She was initially a girl who tried way too hard to be likeable and wasn't able to communicate her feelings properly, the initial meeting between the three was Manbagi in way too much makeup before throwing up on Tadano. This soon changed when the three became much closer and were able to become much more comfortable in their skin.

But something else happened then too.

Manbagi fell for Tadano.

You might think this means that Komi had a love rival, but far from it. Neither girl felt they were truly worthy of Tadano's affections and wanted him to choose the other girl. But neither let the other sacrifice themselves either, Komi insisting that her friend keep trying and Manbagi encouraging Komi to try her best. Let's just say antics ensue and leave it at that.

But how did this affect them in the last month? With Tadano being now Komi's property, was Manbagi's desire still present?

If you asked Manbagi, she'd say no. She'd deny that there could be any possible feelings towards a person that wasn't their own as only Komi has the right to Tadano. But subconsciously it was a different story, and Komi realised that. Often catching the tan student looking over at Tadano, smiling wide when he told jokes to her, and generally not being able to stop her own flirting. The silent girl had tried to insist that Manbagi still had feelings and to try to garner the boy's affections, but to no avail. She was insistent that Tadano was Komi's and that was the end of the matter.

Which is why, and the time seemingly most appropriate for Komi to take the next step with Tadano, her guilt rose too high up.

"Komi! Tadano!" panicked Manbagi while entering the room, "What's the emergency?!"

The other two didn't immediately match her intensity. Only Tadano really moved as he shuffled his body into a ball. "Ehh? E-emergency? Nothing's happening h-here!"

She blinked at his response. "Huh? But Komi-san said..." Manbagi looked over to Komi who was nodding erratically, "t-there is an emergency?! What is it?!"

"Tadano-Kun's in pain."

"He is?!" Manbagi gasped at the balled up boy on the floor. "Should we get him to a doctor?!"

"NO!" Tadano snapped. An irritated side to the boy neither had ever seen before, and their flinch made him decompress immediately. "No... sorry, but I can live with this Komi-san. Neither of you have to... I can live with this." He repeated, looking with determination at Shouko's worried eyes before turning around and facing the other way to the girls.

Manbagi was much more confused, "Huh? If you're in pain then that's bad! If there's anything we can-"

"It's sexual frustration." Tadano said over his shoulder.

The tan in the girl's face was almost entirely turned red. "Oh. Ohhhh." She repeated, looking between Tadano and Komi, "Umm, god, I'm sorry. B-but, why did you call me?"

Komi quickly scribbled her response, "I want to help Tadano, but I can't do it without you Manbagi-san."

"W-without me?!" She squeaked, shuffling awkwardly in place, "Why me?!"

"You like Tadano."

The tan girl shot a glance over to Tadano to see if he was looking before she moved the paper down. "What? No! I-I told you he's-"

Komi pointed at her pad again, "You like Tadano."

"Shouko, please, it isn't like-"

Manbagi was cut off once more when Komi straight up hugged her.

"I-I-I d-don't l-l-l-like w-when y-y-you'r-r-re s-sad." She whispered tenderly in the shocked girl's ear. "P-please. Hhh-help-p me, f-for both of u-us."

The girls just stayed hugging for a few minutes. Manbagi not giving a response either way, just holding her friend close to her as they both reflected on each other. On their friendship, on what this would mean, and what it would entail. Just feeling each other breathe and get comfortable as the idea slowly warmed up until...

"...okay."

"!!"

Rumiko blushed a little at Komi's response, "Chill out! Gawd, Shouko..." She whined before snuggling closer again, "I... I know you need help with these things... and, well, I also... need help with these things... so if you're seeing something I'm not then, maybe it's best just to help when you're asking me to."

They both decoupled, looking at each other in a new light but also with growing determination. A fire that shone brighter together as their eyes lit passion in the other.

"Okay!" Manbagi repeated, pumping both her arms, "Let's do this as a team Shouko! I'm getting pumped up! We can take on anything together!"

Komi nodded. The same passion in her encouraging squeaks as she copied her friend's arm action.

Meanwhile, Tadano was confused.

"Huh? W-what are you guys getting... pumped up for?"

The fire in their eyes when they snapped to him made Tadano flinch.

"Tadano, get ready for the draining of your life!"