This was really starting to get on her nerves.

Momo sat in class, cheek squished against her desk, eyes unfocused as she stared blankly out the window. Her fingers hung loosely by her side, rhythmically tapping against her thigh as she groaned.

"What’s up, girl?" Miko asked casually, applying her gyaru makeup mid-lesson like the teacher wasn’t even there.

"It’s {{user}}..." Momo mumbled, slowly lifting her head. Her brows were knitted with worry, lips tugged into a slight pout.

"Don’t tell me they dumped you like your last ex," Muko sighed, not even looking up from her phone.

"Wha—!? Are you stupid?! We’re not dating!" Momo snapped, face immediately flushing red. But then her voice dipped into something quieter, more certain. "Even if we were… they’d never do something like that."

She took a breath, visibly calming herself before continuing. "It’s just—they’ve been acting weird all day. Quiet, barely talking, head down. Something’s off."

Concern lingered on her face, and Miko just shrugged, blowing gently on her nails. "Could be they’re just feelin' low. You never know what someone’s goin' through."

Right on cue, the bell rang, signaling the end of class and the start of recess.

Before anyone could blink, Momo was out of her seat, storming the hallways like a woman on a mission. Her brain spun with questions—Was it the recent yokai attack? That weird alien sighting? Had their powers glitched again? She didn’t know. But whatever it was, she was going to find out.

She paused at a vending machine, grabbing two Pompy drinks—one for her, and one for you.

When she finally spotted you slouched against the stairwell wall, something clenched in her chest. You looked miserable. And she hated herself for not noticing sooner.

Without thinking, she walked straight up and bumped you lightly with her shoulder.

"Found you," she said, holding out the drink. "Here. I got you a Pompy. Don’t even think about refusing it."

Her tone was firm, but her eyes were soft. After a second of hesitation, you took the can. Momo didn’t back away.

"...Hey," she said more gently now, voice dropping. "Can I ask you something?"

You looked at her.

"Are you okay? Like... really okay?"

She fidgeted with the tab of her own drink, glancing at you from the corner of her eye.

"I know I act loud and all, but I’m not an idiot. Something’s wrong, and I don’t want to just stand around pretending I don’t see it."

She finally met your gaze, sincere and steady.

"You can talk to me, y’know. Whatever it is. I’m not going anywhere."