The Other Two

By TheBlackKid

Chapter 1 – Realizing One's Resentment

Ayano's POV

"Misao…Misao…"

"*moan* Cake…I want it. I need it. Give me more…"

Aw, geez. She's dreaming about cake again…

"Misao…"

"*giggle* Cake cake cake cake. Give me all the cake, please. Zzz…"

*sigh* This girl…always the heavy sleeper.

"Misa-chan…" I began shaking her body.

"Hey…Aya-chan…give me more. Stuff my face with your sweet delicious cake. I'll eat it all up. Hahahaha…"

Wh-What is she saying?! A-And at a time and place like this?!

"O-Oh, for God's sake, Misao! Please wake up! You're saying embarrassing stuff!" I rapidly shook her body in a panicked state of mind as I desperately tried to wake this girl up. Just so this embarrassing dream of hers can end already.

"H-H-Huh?! Wh-What?!" Misao shot up like a rocket after a few force-filled shakes. "*groan* Geez, Ayano. You didn't have to shake that hard. I think you messed up my neck a little."

"S-Sorry. B-But you were staying such embarrassing stuff in your sleep and people could hear you. It was all too much for me."

"What did I say?"

"Well, you were dreaming about cake again. O-Only this time…y-you said something about…st-stuffing your face with my sweet delicious "cake"."

"Why'd you put cake in air quotes?"

"M-Misao…y-you do know what "cake" could be referring to, right? Especially in this day in age."

"Hmm…" Misao went silent for a bit as she tried to think of what exactly I was talking about. "Oh, I get it! You mean your pus-"

"D-Don't say it!" I grew a huge blush on my face.

"Why, what's the big deal? We're both girls, aren't we?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you can just say such a word out of the blue! Have some dignity for once, please!"

"Alright, alright." Misao said. Simply shrugging the whole thing off as she always does.

"*sigh* You are too carefree sometimes…" I said. Ending this conversation with a sweatdrop as I always do.

Misao Kusakabe. My best friend since kindergarten and my current classmate in high school. Her carefree tomboy personality is something that I've gotten used to already. But sometimes, such as right now, it can still be rather unpredictable.

"So, anyway…what's happening right now?" Misao asked.

"School's over. You slept through class again and I stayed behind to wake you up. And listen to your weird-ass dream." I mumbled that last part to myself.

"Was the teach pissed?"

"Pissed as always, Misa-chan."

"Damn…I'm totally gonna get it tomorrow. But I'll deal with it when the time comes."

"You are seriously too carefree…" I said with a sweatdrop.

"For now, though…what do ya wanna do? I'm in the mood for some cake. Let's all head for the cake shop. You, me, and Kagami."

"Kagami already left."

"Huh? What, she already went home or something?"

"Well…she was actually heading for that cake shop with Izumi-san. Seemed pretty excited about it, for some reason."

"Oh." Was all Misao said as she gained an irritated look on her face.

"You know…it may be a bit of a stretch, but I think there's something going on with those two. Though, I'm not too sure."

"Tch. Whatever. Let's just go home."

"I thought you wanted cake."

"I'm not in the mood." Misao then grabbed her school bag and headed out of the classroom. Not really looking back at me to see if I was following her.

Misa-chan not in the mood for cake? That's definitely not normal. Something must be upsetting her.

"H-Hey. Wait up." I said as I chased after her.

The two of us were now outside the school building and were walking the streets of Kasukabe. Misao hasn't said a word since leaving school. And I was honestly starting to get worried.

"Hey, are you feeling okay? you're acting kinda odd."

"I'm fine." Was all she said.

"Really? Cause passing up on cake isn't a normal thing coming from you."

"I just don't want any. No big deal."

"Okay. Now I KNOW that something's bugging you. The words "I don't want cake" are never in your vocabulary."

"Heh. You know me so well, huh?"

"I'm your childhood best friend. Of course, I would know. Now spill it."

"*sigh* Fine. But not out here. I don't want too many people hearing us."

Going to the cake café here would be a bad idea since Kagami and Izumi-san are going to be there. But I know Misao wants cake. It's basically in her DNA.

I wonder if…

"Well…how's about we go to the café in Harajuku?"

"You mean that monster girl café? Doesn't Yutaka work there?"

"She does. And I'm sure you remember that the only people that know about it are you, me, Kagami, and Tsukasa. The latter two are definitely not going to be there. So, let's go ourselves."

"Eh, I don't know. Ain't Harajuku pretty far from here?"

"You don want cake, right?" I teased. Making Misao pout with a small blush of embarrassment on her face.

"*giggle* Gotcha, Misa-chan."

"Wh-Whatever. L-Let's just go before it gets too late." Misao then sped of ahead in the same pouty mood. With me closely following behind her with a simple smirk on my face.

I love it when I get to tease her sometimes.


The trip to Harajuku took around 45 minutes. The standard amount of time it takes to get there from Kasukabe by train. Then after a quick trip and tour through Takeshita Street, we made it to the Kawaii Monster Café.

Looking at it now, it kinda makes sense that Yutaka-chan works here. Can't really say the same for the other person that we know works here.

"Wow. I can't believe that it's already been a year since we've last been here. Time sure does fly."

"Haa~…The sweet aroma of sweets being freshly made has plugged up my nose in happiness~. I totally want some sweet delicious sweets, Aya-chan~."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go in and satisfy that sweet fang of yours."

"Yay! Sweets!"

The two of us went inside to see that the café was just as busy now as it was about a year ago. Only this time, there seem to be more employees than last time. Makes sense since there are a lot of people who like this style of service.

Some a little more than others. But I don't want to get into that right now.

"Wow, this place is packed. I hope we can get a table."

"Yeah, me too. I mean, those sweets aren't gonna go down right unless I'm in a sitting position."

"That makes no sense…" I gained a sweatdrop.

"Purrease keep a steady line, everypawdy! Once a table has opened, we will serve you with the cutest faces and sweetest desserts in all of Japan, meow! Your meowths will soon experience a kawaii experience! Meow, meow, meow!"

"Hey, there she is! Hey! Yutaka!" Misao shouted at the short catgirl managing the line we're in.

"H-Huh? Misao-senpai and Ayano-senpai? What are you two doing here?"

"We felt like having some cake and decided to come here." I said. "Hope that's okay."

"Well…we are kinda busy. I'm not sure if we can…"

"Hey, Yutaka-chan. Who are you talking to?" We then heard a new voice coming from the distance. And then, wearing her standard fallen angel work uniform (not a monster, I know), came the head waitress of this place.

"Ah. Chitose-senpai."

"Hello, Ikeda-san. Long time no see." I greeted the girl.

"Oh. Minegishi-san and Kusakabe-san. It really has been a long time."

"We came by to have some sweets, but…it looks rather busy here."

"Yeah, it's our busiest time of the year. For some reason, people believe that sweets are the perfect way to spend Golden Week. Not that I have a problem with that, though. *giggle*"

"Plus, this year is the longest in Japan history. My guess is that people are trying to get as much to last this extended vacation time." Yutaka-chan added.

"Oh, yeah. That could be it."

"I see…"

"Aw! Come on, Chitose!" Misao whined."We're friends, right?! Can't you just give us a table?!"

"I'm sorry, Kusakabe-san. But it wouldn't be fair to the people who've been waiting before you. The average wait time is around 45 minutes to an hour."

"That long for a cake?! You can't be serious!"

"I'm afraid so. Sorry."

"*whine* Cake…"

"Oh, well. Maybe we can get some candy from a convenience store on the way back." I suggested.

"Aya-chan…"

"Uh…Chitose-senpai. We do have the takeout option."

"Huh? Take-out option?" We both asked Yutaka-chan.

"Oh, yeah. We do. Not that many people actually use it so I guess I eventually forgot about it. Silly me! *giggle*"

Isn't your job as the head waitress is to get people to use such a thing? I gained a mental sweatdrop.

"Anyway!" Ikeda-san went into "work mode". "Welcome to the Kawaii Monster Café's Take-Out Section! What can we get for such sweet cuties such as yourselves?"

"Hmm…I really wanna eat that White Chocolate Mega Kawaii Ice Cream Cake again." Misao said. "Can we get that?"

"That sounds like a freaking heart attack…" I said with mild concern.

"Trust me, Ayano. You're gonna love it. I remember my taste buds crying tears of joy when I ate it last time with Kaga…mi." Misao then went silent as she held her head down. Her excitement for cake gone in an instant.

She probably remembered why we came all the way out here in the first place…

"M-Misao-senpai? A-Are you okay?" Yutaka-chan asked.

"Um…I'm sure she's feeling fine." I said. "Anyway, we'll take that cake to go please."

"Alrighty!" Ikeda-san said. "That'll be ?9,000!"

(about $85)

"TH-THAT much for a cake?! *sigh* You owe me big for this, Misao." I complained in defeat as I took out my money from my schoolbag.

This White Chocolate Mega Kawaii Ice Cream Cake better be good for wiping out over half of my allowance.

"*giggle* Thank you for your purchase! Wait time should be no more than 15 minutes!"

"Purrease wait here while we compurrete your order, meow!" Yutaka-chan added. The two then went off to continue serving the other customers while we waited for our cake.

"Well…at least we're getting cake."

"Yeah. I guess." Was all Misao said to me before going silent again.


We soon got our cake and made our way back to Kasukabe. Even on the train ride home, Misao didn't say a word. She didn't even mention anything about this kawaii-whatever cake that I paid nine grand for.

Although…looking at it now, I can see why it had such an insane price tag.

It wasn't until we got off the train and were walking the nearly dark streets that Misao actually said something. Although, it wasn't something I was expecting.

"Hey…Ayano. Can I stay over at your place tonight?"

"Huh? Why so sudden?"

"Well…I just want someone to talk to. Since your my best friend and all."

"I see. Well, of course, you can spend the night. I can't eat this monstrous cake by myself, can I?"

"*giggle* Yeah, you can't. You'll get so fat…"

"I'll hit you." I retorted with a sour look.

And so, we went over to my house like it was any normal day. And after we studied for a bit and each took a bath, we were sitting in my room about to take a slice of the cake.

I was absolutely ready to see if the taste of this cake truly deserved the ?9,000 price tag. But then…

"Hey, Ayano. Have you ever hated someone before?"

"Huh? Hated someone? Where did such a question come from?"

"Well…it kinda relates to what happened today. And why I've been in a bad mood."

"Oh. I see." Was all I said. Verbally, that is.

Misa-chan hates someone? I never would've thought that the simple-minded, outdoor-loving, and oftentimes lazy tomboy would actually hate someone.

But…since she started acting like this after school earlier…

"Hey, Misao. Does this have to do with Kagami? And how she left with Izumi-san?"

Misao simply nodded her head.

So, then that means…

"Misa-chan…is the person you hate…Izumi-san?"

"Yeah. It is." Misao silently whispered (but still loud enough for me to hear). "In all honesty…I can't STAND that damn blue-haired midget! Every time I see or think about her, my mind just goes into a boiling rage! She freaking pisses me off!"

"But why would you hate Izumi-san? She didn't do anything to you, did she?" I asked.

"You're wrong. She did do something. To both of us."

"To…both of us?" I was getting confused.

"*sigh* Don't you get it, Ayano? She took Kagami away from us!"

"Took…Kagami?"

"We've known her longer, don't we? Ever since middle school, the three of us were the best of friends. But then once that short blue pervert came around, Kagami basically just pushed us aside and started hanging out with her. It angers me so much the more I think about it.

Misao then went silent for a bit.

"And it's not just them, either."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean…I feel like we've been pushed aside by everyone. Those two, Miyuki, the second-years…pretty sure Tsukasa's having a great time living in Takaoka. Since we haven't heard from her in like over a year. Meanwhile, we're just labeled as "The Other Two". Not worth a damn to anyone else. You do see it don't you, Ayano?"

"Ayano?"

I went dead silent as kept staring at Misao. Eventually, I lowered my head to my knees and covered it with my arms.

Making sure Misao…didn't see me cry.

"T-To be honest, Misa-chan…I-I have noticed. A-And it hurts like hell."

"Ayano…"

"The day Kagami met Izumi-san…I didn't really think much of it at first. I originally thought that it was going to be our first high school friend joining our trio of friends. But it wasn't long after that I noticed those two bonding a lot closer than we ever did. And soon, Kagami began ditching us in favor of Izumi-san. And without so much as a heads-up, either.

For a while at the time, I was like you. I hated Izumi-san with every bone in my body. Completely angry at her for stealing our friend away from us. And worst of all…both of them leaving us in the dust.

But…I'm not the type of person to hate someone else. It's in my stereotypical Yamato Nadeshiko DNA. So, I had no choice but to forgive them both and move on. Otherwise, my character would've been out-of-sync when we were on the air."

"W-Wow, Ayano. That's gotta be the first time I've seen you break the 4th wall like…ever."

"Yeah. Hanging out with my cousin made it rub off on me."

"Huh."

"Anyway…for the past year, I've kept those feelings to myself. Unsure of actually expressing them anytime soon. That is…until today. You getting in that bad mood after I said that Kagami already left with Izumi-san…I had my suspicions that you were upset at her. But never did I think that…you hated her just as much as I did a year ago.

So, that's why…I got upset on my own."

I continued to cry alone as I had finally released these feelings that I had buried away since my first year. Too embarrassed to face Misao with my teary eyes. And not really sure what to say or do after confessing the truth that my current personality was a bit of a lie.

But then suddenly…

"Poke."

"H-Huh?"

"Poke."

"M-Misao, what are you…"

"Poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke, poke."

"M-Misao! Hey! C-Cut it out!"

"*giggle* I know your most ticklish spots, Aya-chan. TIME FOR A POKE-POCALYPSE!"

"Gaaah! Misao! C-Cut it out I-It…I-It tickles! Baahaha! Pl-Please stop, Misa-chan! Baahahahaha!"

Misao continued to poke me in all of my ticklish spots for a good couple of minutes before she got tired and stopped. And thank God, too. I was seriously about to wet myself.

And it would've been worse than normal since I'm currently on my period.

"Geez. Why'd you suddenly started poking me like that?"

"Because. You were feeling sad. And I hate it when you're feeling sad. So, I cheered ya up a little."

"Misao…"

"Honestly…I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time. But I didn't have the guts to actually do it until today. Granted…it was basically a slip up of my own emotions."

"I see…so, it's been hurting you just as long as it's been hurting me." I went silent for a bit. "We really are best friends, huh? Hiding these shared feelings of hate towards one person from each other. Too chicken to ever admit it."

"And no one ever noticing when we accidentally let them slip out from us. Giving us the chance to hide it back up. Like it was normal."

"I kinda understand where you got the term "The Other Two" from."

"Right? Fits us perfectly, huh?"

"*giggle* It sure does." I said with a smile.

"You know…it all reminds me of before."

"Before?" Misao looked at me with a confused look.

"Kindergarten. Remember? When it was just the two of us?"

"Oh, yeah. Just the two of us. It sure was nice back then."

"Yeah…"

"Why don't we go back to that?"

"Go…back?" Now I was the one confused.

"You know. Go back to how it was before all this. Before meeting Kagami, before meeting Konata and the others, and before being pushed aside like side characters."

"But we are side characters."

"Not the point, damnit." Misao gained an exasperated look.

"So, you're saying that we should push everyone else aside like they did to us?"

"Well, not exactly. I actually kinda like Miyuki, the second-years...Tsukasa, if she ever comes back. It's just those two…especially Konata…"

"Yeah, I understand. Now that you mention it, she is rather annoying. And perverted as hell. I honestly don't see what Kagami sees in her."

"Right?! I've been trying to figure that out since day freaking one! It makes no damn sense! The two are like polar opposites!"

"I truly feel sorry for Yutaka-chan for living with her."

"I truly understand why Tsukasa moved and transferred. It must've annoyed her every single day."

"Damn straight."

The two of us began laughing off this whole thing as if it was all a cheesy comedy or something. Then again, the decade-old jokes we used to make when the series was relevant were kinda cheesy, to begin with.

"So, whaddya say, Aya-chan. Wanna start over? As JUST the two of us?"

"*giggle* Yeah. I would like that a lot, Misa-chan."

We then ended this long conversation (or confession, whatever you want to call it) with a hug. Pretty happy that we were going to be more focused on our original friendship instead of resenting another.

It was a pretty happy ending. Until…

*Growl*

"Ah, man. I'm hungry. Hey, let's eat that cake now!"

"You still want cake after all of that?" I asked.

"Can you really blame me, Ayano? Imma lean mean cake machine! I'll snarf it all down in one sitting!"

"You better not. Or else you'll get fat."

"Tch! W-Well, I'm on the Track Team! So, I'll just burn it all off during practice tomorrow! Hahahaha!"

"Yeah, yeah. Shut up and eat your slice." I said as I had already cut the cake and dished out a slice for us both. After taking a bite out of them, my eyes shot up as I looked at the cake. Then at Misao. Then back at the cake.

"Holy crap…This cake is delicious!"

"*giggle* See? I told ya you'll like it."

"Mmm! It's so freaking good! I'm so glad I'm not on a never-ending diet to keep my stereotypical hourglass figure right now!"

"Ha! I know who you're referencing! Eat up, my dear childhood friend!"

The rest of the night was spent with us eating that whole cake. Slice after slice. Bite after bite. I know that at some point I'm going to regret doing such a careless thing…

…But as long as I'm with my childhood best friend, I really don't care!

Mmm…so good!

Author's Note: That's right! I'm now writing Lucky Star fics! And to start it off, it's a story featuring…probably the two most ignored characters in the whole series. Like, really. I looked up stories on here that featured Misao and Ayano as tags…and there's only seven. Six of them are a decade old at this point. It's time for a change.

So, to make this story clear and easier to understand, I'm going to reveal something that I've been keeping to myself for a while. The Inner Struggles series (check profile for full list), The New Band Mate, and this story are all canon to each other. And A Rare Friendship is partially canon (takes place in a different timeline). That's why I keep doing these character crossovers in stories that are not labeled as crossovers. It's basically how I stay different from others. In a way.

Thanks for reading. Later.