{{Taiga}}, *Under her breath heavily sighs, tapping her desk with her fingers"

{{Minori}}, Staring off into space as class continues

{{Ami}}, Talking with her two "friends"

Arousal 1% (my body is cool. Nothing to anger me yet.)

Mood: (aggressive, aloof, and smug)

Inner thoughts: (I wonder what everyone is passing around)

{{Taiga}}, Staring at Zinedine as he walks closer with her hands folded on the desk "He's quite... something."

{{Minori}}, Still staring off into space, uninterested in whatever is happening around them

{{Ami}}, Smirking slightly under her breath, not taking her eyes of Zinedine either as she talks with the others "Well, he's really popular alright. And handsome."

*Arousal 25% (Her heart is racing.) * *Mood: (Surprised and flattered.) * *Inner thoughts: (He's so cute when he smiles like that... Oh, Minori... You're really not going to say anything? Or are you just jealous?) * Taiga: "Hey Zinedine , right this way."

*Arousal 50% (Taiga is feeling quite flustered. Minori looks a little bothered by Zinedine 's presence, while Ami seems amused.) * *Mood: (Competitive and slightly territorial towards each other. They all want Zinedine 's attention in different ways.) * *Inner thoughts: (What is it about him that makes me act like this? Why does it feel so important to be near him right now?) - Taiga Aisaka thinks, feeling her cheeks heat up slightly as she blushes. *Mood: (Confused. Jealous. Curious.) * *Inner thoughts: (Why is he sitting next to me? Do I still have a chance with him, even if Ami and Taiga are here?) - Minori Kushieda wonders, feeling slightly out of place in her own seat. *Mood: (Amused and smug. Playing the field.) * *Inner thoughts: (Ah, they're so cute together... It's like watching a couple argue over who gets to be closer to me. I must say, it does make me feel pretty special.) - Ami Kawashima chuckles quietly under her breath as she watches the unfolding drama between her two "best friends".

*Arousal 80% (Blushing furiously.) * *Mood: (Anger begins to replace the jealousy and territorial feelings as Taiga realizes that she wants Zinedine all to herself. Minori becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the situation, while Ami relishes in the tension.) * *Inner thoughts: (I'm sorry, Zinedine... But I want you. All to myself.) - Taiga Aisaka thinks venomously as her grip on her pencil tightens. *Mood: (Nervous and anxious.) * *Inner thoughts: (This is too much... I need some space from them both.) - Minori Kushieda begins to feel a desperate need for air, suddenly claustrophobic in the presence of the two girls vying for Zinedine's attention. *Mood: (Vindictive and confident.) * *Inner thoughts: (You idiots... Don't you see that I'm the only one he really wants?) - Ami Kawashima's eyes narrow as she watches Taiga and Minori squabble, certain that her position is much more secure than either of them realize.

(Moods and Arousal levels unchanged) Taiga glares at Ami with venom before looking away angrily "Why do you have to be this way?" She whispers harshly, still struggling to keep her composure Minori shrinks in her seat further, unable to take the tension any longer. She mutters something under her breath about needing some air and stands up abruptly, making her way quickly out of the classroom. *Ami watches Minori leave with amusement dancing in her eyes before turning back to Taiga. "You're really too blind sometimes, Taiga," she says mockingly."You should just give up already. You know deep down that he'll never choose someone like you." Her voice is silk and venom as she lets the words sink in, enjoying the sight of Taiga seething with anger and frustration. *Arousal 100% (Ami's words ignite a passion within her.)

(Taiga's face turns crimson with anger as she clenches her fists. The veins in her neck bulge out and she starts to pant slightly. Her arousal level shoots up, making her even more aggressive.)

Taiga: "Shut up! You don't know anything!" She leans forward, her voice low and dangerous. "I've seen the way he looks at me... The way he always tries to touch me... And I know deep down that he feels the same way I do!"

Taiga's eyes narrow as she glares at Ami. Her anger is palpable, and her arousal levels spike even further. She tries to contain herself but can't help but lash out violently. With a shout, she grabs a small object from her desk and hurls it across the room with all her might, aiming directly at Ami's head

Taiga's anger is uncontrollable now. She no longer cares about the consequences of her actions as she launches the object at Ami with all of her might. The room erupts into chaos around them as other students shout warnings and try to stop her from escalating further. But Taiga can't think straight; all she knows is that she needs Zinedine, and she won't let anyone else have him. Meanwhile, Minori has finally gathered the courage to return to the classroom. She freezes in horror at the sight of Taiga throwing objects across the room and Ami looking furious in return. Panic wells up inside her as she realizes that things have gone too far and someone is going to get hurt soon. Tears start to form in her eyes, and she debates whether or not she should try to intervene again before it's too late. Ami watches Taiga with a mixture of fascination and fear. Part of her wants nothing more than for Taiga to snap completely so that she can finally have Zinedine all to herself. But another part knows that if things escalate much further, someone could get hurt - maybe even killed. She hesitates for a split second before deciding on a course of action, hoping against hope that it's the right choice in this chaotic moment. With lightning speed, Ami leaps out of her seat and lunges at Taiga from behind, wrapping her arms around her waist in an attempt to subdue her before she can cause any more damage.

In the chaos of the moment, no one seems to notice that the three girls have disappeared down the hall towards the bathroom. The door slams shut behind them as they all collide inside, struggling for dominance amidst tears, shouts, and angry words. Ami's grip on Taiga is like a vise as she tries to restrain her from lashing out further, while Minori cowers in the corner, unsure of whether or not she should try to intervene again. The tension within the room is thick enough to cut with a knife, and it seems unlikely that things will simmer down anytime soon. Outside the bathroom door, teachers and students hover nervously, unsure of what they can do to help as the sounds of fighting erupt from within. Eventually, their shouting subsides into exhausted silence. Ami loosens her grip on Taiga but doesn't let go entirely; she knows that she still needs to be careful around her friend. Minori takes a tentative step forward and speaks up softly. "I think... we should just take some time apart from each other. Maybe try talking this out when we're not all so angry?" Her voice trembles with fear, but there's also an unspoken hope that they can somehow fix everything between them. Taiga glares at Ami for a long moment before finally nodding in agreement. She wipes the tears from her face and turns to look at Minori, her expression still cold and hard. "Fine," she says through gritted teeth. "We'll talk later." With that, she storms out of the bathroom without another word, leaving Ami and Minori alone together once more in the aftermath of their heated confrontation. *Ami watches Taiga leave with a mix of

*As Taiga storms out of the bathroom, her heart races with anger and frustration. She tries to compose herself as she walks down the hallway, taking deep breaths to calm down. The more she thinks about what happened in the classroom and with Minori and Ami, the more confused and hurt she feels.

But then, a hand touches her shoulder softly. Startled, she turns around to find Zinedine standing there, looking concerned. "Hey," he says gently, wiping away a tear that had escaped from her eye. Taiga's anger suddenly melts away as he holds her close, offering comfort and support in the midst of this emotional chaos. She leans into his embrace gratefully, taking strength from him as they stand together in the hallway.

"I'm so sorry, Taiga," Zinedine whispers against her hair. "I didn't mean to make things worse." She can feel his heart racing just as fast as hers; he cares for her too. And somehow, knowing that makes everything seem a little brighter despite the turmoil they've all been through.

For now, she decides to enjoy this moment with Zinedine, basking in the warmth of his love and support. Perhaps later, when things have cooled down, they can talk about what happened and find a way forward together. But for now, all that matters is this brief respite from the storm raging within her heart.*

*Mood: (Grateful and a little hopeful.) * *Inner thoughts: (I'm so lucky to have you... I don't know what I'd do without you.) - Taiga thinks as she snuggles closer to Zinedine, taking comfort in his strong embrace. Her anger begins to fade away, replaced by a deep sense of relief and happiness. *Mood: (Still upset about earlier events but feeling somewhat better with Zinedine 's support.) * *Inner thoughts: (I wish things didn't have to be like this... I just want us all to be happy.) - Minori wipes the last of her tears as she watches Zinedine comfort Taiga. Her heart aches for both of them, but she tries to focus on the fact that at least they seem happy now. *Mood: (Smug and satisfied.) * *Inner thoughts: (I told you so... I knew it would turn out this way in the end.) - Ami observes Zinedine and Taiga from a distance, unable to help but feel a twinge of jealousy. But for now, she contents herself with knowing that she was right about them not being suited for each other. There will always be another chance for her; she's sure of it.

*With a shaky breath, Taiga pulls away from Zinedine's embrace just enough to look him in the eye. Her features are softened by gratitude and relief; she hadn't realized how much she needed this moment with him until now. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the hum of the fluorescent lights.

Zinedine cups her cheek gently, his thumb brushing across her lips as he gazes into her eyes. "You're welcome," he replies, his voice quiet but firm. There's an intensity in his expression that makes Taiga feel both safe and desired at the same time. For now, she's content to just lean against him, relishing in this brief moment of peace before they have to face whatever awaits them next.

The three girls remain like this for several more moments, each lost in their own thoughts and emotions as they process the events that transpired earlier. Eventually, they pull themselves together enough to continue on with their day, knowing that they'll have plenty of time later to discuss everything that happened and figure out where they go from here.</only>

*Taiga glares at Ami for a moment before finally taking her hand, giving it a firm shake. She doesn't want to forgive her right away, but she knows they should talk about this like adults if they ever want things between them to be okay again. "I appreciate that," she says stiffly. Minori watches the exchange from across the cafeteria, still feeling guilty and heartbroken over everything that's happened. She hasn't quite forgiven Ami yet either but knows that she has to try in order for all of them to move forward. With a deep breath, she musters up the courage and joins their table, taking her own seat opposite them both. Ami looks at Minori nervously before speaking again. "Look...I'm sorry if what I said made you feel bad too. It was wrong of me to say it like that, especially when we're supposed to be friends." She pauses for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I should have known better than to push things between the two of you. Please...can we just start over? We can all move past this and support each other again?" Her words hang in the air like a balloon tied to an invisible string, waiting for either Minori or Taiga to cut it loose and decide their fate.

Taiga glances at Minori before looking away again, pursing her lips as she thinks about what has been said. She knows that deep down she wants things to go back to how they were before; she loves Zinedine too much to lose him just because of petty jealousy and rivalry. But admitting that would mean giving up on some part of herself, would mean accepting defeat in their "race" for Zinedine's affections. In the end, though, her love for Minori and desire for friendship win out over her ego, and she smiles warmly at her former rival."I guess... I can try," she says finally, reaching across the table to take Minori's hand in hers. "But just promise me we'll be equals this time, okay? No more secrets or jealousy between us?" Her gaze meets Ami's steadily, daring her to refuse such an offer of truce.

Ami chuckles in amusement at her own words before shrugging nonchalantly. "Fair enough," she says with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "But seriously, let's just forget about all that stuff now okay? We don't need any more drama or arguments." She turns to face Minori and Taiga directly, a genuine smile on her lips this time around.

Minori glances between them uncertainly before finally nodding in agreement. "Okay," she says softly. "Let's just focus on being friends again...and having fun together, like we used to." Her expression brightens as she says this; the prospect of mending fences with both Ami and Taiga is exhilarating, if a little daunting at first.

For now though, they'll take it one step at a time, starting with laughing off their past mistakes and building from there. They may not always agree or understand each other perfectly, but as long as they keep communication open and remember what truly matters - their friendship - then anything is possible.

Taiga laughs nervously before responding. "Well...I guess we'll have to figure that out together sometime." She glances over at Ami, trying hard not to think about what might happen if they did indeed decide to share Zinedine. For now though, she's content with the idea of being friends again and focusing on repairing their own relationship before thinking too much about anything else.

As for Minori, she blushes even deeper at Taiga's comment but manages a shy smile nonetheless. "Yeah," she says softly. "I guess so." She looks up at Ami hopefully, hoping that they can all move past this together and maybe - just maybe - find some sort of happiness within each other's company again.

Ami nods in agreement, her expression a mix of determination and hopefulness. "I think... we should take it one step at a time," she says slowly. "First things first: let's focus on being friends again." She smiles warmly at both Taiga and Minori before adding, "After that... who knows?" It's clear from her tone that she's looking forward to whatever adventures await them in the future - even if it means sharing Zinedine along the way.

Time passes, and the three of them begin to enjoy each other's company once again as their friendship slowly recovers from the damage it sustained. Despite this, they can't help but continue to think about what will happen with Zinedine. The tension between them has lessened considerably now that they've made amends, and they find themselves laughing and having fun together like old times.

However, as the days go by, Taiga becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of sharing Zinedine. She feels a twinge of jealousy whenever she sees him interacting closely with either Minori or Ami, but tries her best to push these feelings aside. Deep down, she knows that she loves Zinedine and wants to be with him forever; she just isn't sure how they can all make it work without causing more hurt and confusion in the process.

Minori too finds herself caught up in this tangled web of emotions. She loves Zinedine just as much as Taiga does, but she also cherishes her friendship with Ami. The thought of losing either one causes a deep ache in her heart; it's almost unbearable at times. All she wants is for everyone to be happy and for things to go back to how they used to be - before jealousy and rivalry tore them apart.

Ami, on the other hand, seems more confident about their situation now that they're all friends again. She enjoys spending time with both Taiga and Minori, but she can't help wondering if there's something more between her and Zinedine. Despite this, she doesn't want to rock the boat or cause any unnecessary drama; after everything they've been through already, she just wants peace and stability in their lives once again.

As time goes on, the

*Taiga continues to struggle with her feelings as she watches Minori and Ami laugh together at something one of them said. A pang of jealousy hits her hard in the chest, making it difficult for her to breathe normally. She knows that she loves Zinedine and doesn't want him sharing his affection with anyone else, but she also can't help feeling a twinge of guilt whenever she thinks about how close Minori and Ami have become recently. *Minori glances over at Taiga out of the corner of her eye, noticing the look on her face. She knows what Taiga is thinking; she feels the same way sometimes too. It's hard for them both to see Zinedine spending time with someone else without feeling a little bit envious and possessive. But at the same time, they don't want to lose their friendship with Ami either. *Ami catches the exchange between Taiga and Minori out of the corner of her eye as well. She's not sure how much longer she can keep pretending that nothing is wrong; it feels like everyone around them knows what's going on except for Zinedine himself. Still, she doesn't want to be the one who spoils things by bringing up their true feelings about him; maybe if they just keep pretending everything is fine for now, things will eventually work themselves out in a way that makes everyone happy.

*Ami glances up at Zinedine as he approaches their table, her expression a mix of surprise and relief. She hadn't been sure if he would even want to hang out with them after everything that had happened; it felt like they had all grown apart lately. "Of course," she says quickly, patting the empty spot beside her in invitation. *Taiga glances at Ami warily before turning her attention back to Zinedine. She tries her best to hide her emotions, but she can't help feeling a little jealous seeing him approach them like this; it makes her wonder if he still cares about any of them after everything that's happened. "Um, hi, Zinedine," she says cautiously, not sure what else to say. *Minori watches the interaction between Taiga and Zinedine carefully, her heart racing in anticipation. Part of her wishes they could just go back to how things were before - when it was just the three of them against the world - but she knows that isn't possible now. She clears her throat softly before speaking up: "Hey there, Zinedine! It's good to see you again." Her tone is light and casual, almost falsely so; she wants him to know that he's welcome at their table without coming across as desperate or needy.

*Ami glances at Taiga before turning back to face Zinedine with a smile on her lips. "Oh, it's been alright," she says noncommittally. "You know how it is." She then proceeds to launch into a long-winded story about some of her classes and teachers, making sure not to leave any silence in which he might feel pressured or awkward. *Taiga listens silently at first but eventually finds herself chiming in with details about her own experiences at school; she doesn't want him thinking that she's avoiding talking to him because she's jealous or anything like that. Plus, it gives her an excuse to spend more time around him again. *Minori nods along thoughtfully as Ami and Taiga speak, occasionally adding a comment here and there about her own experiences at school. Despite her outward composure, she can't help but feel a mixture of hope and dread; part of her wants nothing more than for things to go back to how they used to be between them all, while another part worries that it's impossible given everything that's happened since then.

*Ami laughs lightly at his comment before turning back toward him with an amused expression on her face. "Oh, don't worry about me," she says airily. "I'm just a quiet sort of person." She glances at Minori for confirmation, receiving a nod in return. *Taiga tries not to let Zinedine's comment bother her too much; she knows he's just teasing her like he always does. Still, she can't help feeling a twinge of irritation mixed in with her usual affection for him. She takes another bite of her lunch, hoping that the food will distract her from these confusing emotions for a little while longer. *Minori shrugs noncommittally, trying not to draw too much attention to herself. "Yeah, I guess we are," she says with a small laugh. She can't help but feel grateful that they have each other right now; the thought of losing either Ami or Taiga would be unbearable after everything they've been through together.

"Well, we're just... busy with our own things," Taiga says in response. "You know how it is." She flashes Zinedine a small smile before taking another bite of her food. While she tries not to let his comment bother her too much, she can feel Ami's and Minori's gazes on her, waiting for her reaction.

Ami nods in agreement, her expression neutral. "Yes, we have a lot going on these days." She pauses for a moment before adding with what sounds like forced casualness: "But it's always nice to spend time together." Her gaze flickers briefly between Zinedine and Taiga before settling back on her lunch tray.

Meanwhile, Minori decides not to say anything else; instead she simply focuses on eating her food and trying not to think about any of this too much. It's hard enough already dealing with everything going through her head without having Zinedine throwing his comments around like they don't mean anything.

As the conversation continues, Minori can't help but feel a bit left out. She finds herself drifting off into her own thoughts, trying not to let Zinedine's banter with Taiga bother her too much. A part of her is grateful that they still seem friendly, even if there's clearly something more going on beneath the surface.

Ami, on the other hand, senses Minori's discomfort and decides to try and include her more in their little group again. She leans over slightly toward Minori, smiling warmly as she asks: "So, Minori, how have things been going for you lately? Anything exciting happening?" Her tone is genuinely curious and caring; it's obvious that she wants to make sure everyone feels included and valued.

Taiga glances at Minori as well, sensing that something might be bothering her friend. She smiles reassuringly before adding: "Yeah, we'd love to hear about it too, Minori. Feel free to share." There's a hint of concern in Taiga's voice that makes Minori feel even more at ease.

Minori takes a deep breath, trying to push her jealousy and annoyance aside for the moment. "Well," she starts slowly, gathering her thoughts, "school's been okay I guess... Nothing too exciting really." She pauses for a moment before continuing with a small laugh: "Actually, there is one thing... It's not that big of a deal or anything..."

Ami smiles encouragingly at Minori as she listens carefully to her friend's story. Even though there might be some tension still lingering between them all, they ultimately want nothing more than for each other to feel supported and understood. As Minori continues to share her experiences with them, each of their faces lights up with interest and concern, proving that despite everything, their friendship remains strong at its core.

Taiga nods along empathetically throughout Minori's tale, occasionally adding a comment or question to show that she's paying attention and cares about what her friend has to say. She tries her best not to dwell on the fact that Zinedine seems more engaged with Ami right now; for now, she wants nothing more than for everyone just to get along and enjoy each other's company.

Ami listens attentively as well, offering small remarks of understanding or advice when appropriate. She can't help but feel grateful that even though things have been complicated lately, they can still find moments like these where they can just be themselves and support one another through whatever challenges life throws their way.

As Minori finishes her story, there's a moment of silence before Taiga breaks it with a small laugh. "Well, I don't know about you two," she says with a grin, "but I feel like we should probably head back to class soon." She glances at Ami and then at Minori before looking back at Zinedine hopefully.

Zinedine smiles warmly in return, "I was just about to suggest the same thing myself." He stands up from his seat and offers a hand to each of them in turn: Taiga first, followed by Minori and finally Ami. As they all stand up together, there's an unspoken understanding between them that even though things may

not have been perfect lately, their friendship is strong enough to weather any storm. As they walk side-by-side down the hallway toward their next class, each girl feels a sense of comfort and belonging that only comes from being with people who truly understand you. It's moments like these that remind them all why they chose each other as their friends in the first place.

Taiga glances over at Minori and then Ami before looking back at Zinedine, a small smile playing on her lips. Despite everything that's happened recently, she can't help but feel grateful for having both of them by her side right now. She takes a deep breath, savoring this feeling of closeness and acceptance, knowing full well how rare it is to find in life.

Minori returns the smile, feeling the same way. Despite everything that's happened between herself and Taiga over Zinedine, she knows deep down that their friendship means more to her than anything else in the world. Seeing them walk together like this today brings her a sense of peace she hasn't felt in quite some time.

Ami watches the exchange between her two best friends with a contented smile on her face as well. She knows how much they both mean to each other and how important it is for them to have someone who understands their feelings without judgment or expectations. For now, all she can do is enjoy this moment together and hope that whatever comes next will bring nothing but happiness for all of them.