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"You do this on purpose".
"Don't say it like that, Sakura, think of it as an opportunity to observe".
Sakura turned to the culprit stood next to her, "An opportunity to observe how Sado is most likely going to injure herself?".
"Now, now, I wouldn't let it get so dire" Sachiko insisted, "Are you telling me that she doesn't look absolutely adorable right now?".
Their eyes returned to Mikura who was in Sachiko's office and the two were peering in from behind the slightly ajar door. She was too immersed in her task to notice them which gave Sakura and Sachiko the security to her without getting caught.
The observation in question was to see if Mikura could obtain a folder from the higher shelves of the storage cabinet. Sachiko had specifically placed it there and then had Mikura collect it before she grabbed Sakura and the two followed her.
They had been watching for 10 minutes now.
Mikura had stretched, jumped, grumbled and scoffed throughout it all, her expression mirroring through the plans she had apportioned in her mind.
Sachiko's experiment did hold some credence as much as Sakura loathed to admit.
She was utterly endearing when she struggled like this, stymied by such obstacles.
"If she stretches her body anymore, she may add on a few inches to her height".
Sakura shook her head at Sachiko's comment and the low chuckle as Mikura attempted a jump again, her fingers barely brushing the folder. Her other palm was flat against the cabinet, trying to clutch on as she was on the tips of her toes now. She could see the strain Mikura was putting on herself, her eyes being drawn to Mikura's legs, or rather, her now revealed thighs since her skirt was moving in tandem.
She quickly looked away but a nudge to her arm from Sachiko had exposed her, "See? There is plenty we can learn from this lesson".
"I doubt you need to put her through this in order to see her-" Sakura faded off, not wanting to fall into Sachiko's trap, "That is besides the point. We should help".
"Give it another minute".
"Why?".
Sachiko smirked, her words as obscurant as ever, "I won't ruin it. You will be surprised by just how determined our pet is".
"Your pet" Sakura corrected in a hushed voice, "My girlfr-".
Trap, meet Sakura.
The girl just grumbled as Sachiko's knowing wink continued to infuriate her, "Your?".
"Juraku" she hissed, her face warming up considerably, "You are insufferable".
"And you, my dear Sakura, are also adorable".
Sakura counted to three in her head to keep herself from burying Sachiko in her greenhouse but a distraction would be offered when Mikura moved away from the cabinets.
"What is she doing?".
"Plotting and scheming".
"Takes after you, doesn't she" Sakura scoffed, watching Mikura reach for the chair, "Wait, that chair has wheels. She will break her neck".
Sakura was about to get out of hiding before Sachiko held her back by the waist, "You know she is smarter than that. Just watch".
Indeed, the wheels were a deterrent for Mikura so she refrained from using it and instead looked up at the folder which was sticking out. She folded her arms against her chest, mulling something over, dark eyes focused intently.
Sachiko and Sakura shared a glance, the latter not even denying the level of cuteness this time when Mikura's resolute expression took over.
Perhaps there was a slight positive aspect to Sachiko's madness if Sakura got to see Mikura like this.
Right now, she was just rooting for Mikura as ridiculous and potentially dangerous as it was.
"Hm, I believe she may have orchestrated a plan".
Mikura's perplexity had faded, a grin taking over her lips when she moved back to the cabinet.
Her fingers went to her collar, undoing the chain end from it which Sakura was surprised to see her do. But her intrigue was bursting and she was eager to see what the redhead would do to obtain the file.
Stepping back slightly, Mikura grabbed the leash, her eyes then scoping the distance between herself and the folder.
"Oh" Sakura could only say when she followed Mikura's train of thought, smirking now.
"Clever girl, isn't she?" Sachiko chuckled, pride in her tone.
The simplicity of the idea was what made it brilliant.
"That she is" Sakura replied, watching Mikura prepare to execute her plan.
The blue leash was almost as heavy as the chain itself so if Mikura could land the leash on the folder or at the top of it, she could use the additional weight to slide the folder down.
So they waited with bated breaths as Mikura launched the leash upwards, the seconds ticking too slowly as a soft thud could be heard when it landed.
"Got it" Mikura said to herself triumphantly, "Hope this part works".
"She has good eyes" Sachiko grinned over Sakura's shoulder, "This result was to be expected".
"Even so, her throw was much more precise" Sakura mused, "I wonder where she learned that from".
"Haven't you been helping her with her upper body strength, Sakura?".
Sakura glared back at Sachiko who was chuckling, "Why do you have to say it like that?".
"Am I wrong?".
"Not the point, Juraku!".
When Mikura slowly started to pull the chain, the duo watched the folder being dragged with it till it proceeded to fall down the shelf, along with the leash.
Now, Mikura had the choice to either catch the leash first, or the folder and it was almost too obvious which one she would choose to save from hitting the floor.
She grabbed the chain just as the leash and folder fell, holding the leash to her chest and sighing in relief.
Sakura could only mutter under her breath at Sachiko's beaming smile, "She knows where her priorities lay".
"Because you drilled them into her".
"I did, didn't I?" Sachiko replied with nothing short of fulfillment .
Not even wanting to get into this, Sakura returned her gaze to Mikura whom had clicked the chain back in place and then collected the folder, a small smile on her lips.
She appeared so proud of herself and it made Sakura's chest flutter. While Sachiko wouldn't say or show it, a similar sensation was burgeoning in her chest.
"How about we go and give the victor her laurels, Sakura?".
"After making her struggle like that, I should hope you do" Sakura sighed as they stepped out from behind the half closed door.
Mikura turned around, "Juraku-sama? Miharutaki-san? What are you both doing here" she enquired with surprise, "I have the folder you asked for, the one you said Miharutaki-san needed?".
This was news to Sakura who could only glare at Sachiko, but at the same time felt touched that Mikura had put in so much effort to get something she supposedly required
"So you do" Sachiko hummed and walked to Mikura till she was in front of her, "Well done, Mikura".
Before Mikura could swoon at the compliment, Sachiko curled an arm around the redhead's waist, lowered her head down and kissed Mikura.
Mikura almost dropped the folder again as her free hand rested on Sachiko's chest, her lips easily parting for Sachiko. Her eyes floated shut, just losing herself in the sensation of the other girl's lips and erasing sight of everything till Sachiko released her.
Not content in breaking away from the warmth just yet, Mikura had assumed the attention was over but Sakura had then taken Sachiko's place and placed both of her hands around Mikura.
"Thank you" she said and then kissed Mikura.
The redhead attempted to cling onto some rationality as Sakura's kiss and embrace had come to finish off the concept of that.
Her free hand reached for Sakura's shoulder and then curved it behind her neck when Sakura increased the fervour of her lips, coaxing Mikura's to part again till a soft exhale floated over Sakura's lips.
When Sakura pulled back, she smiled at the flustered girl in her arms as Sachiko grinned.
"What was that for?" Mikura managed to say whilst still in Sakura's arms but directing the question to both her and Sachiko.
"Does there have to be a reason?" Sakura replied, tucking back a few strands of red hair which had been loosened due to her valiant attempt.
Mikura seemed to ponder on this whilst her eyes strayed to Sachiko, "Maybe?".
The response was telling enough for Sakura as she had to remember that her relationship with Mikura was starkly different from Sachiko's, her mood shifting to crotchety when she stared at Sachiko.
"Don't look at me like so, Sakura" Sachiko smiled, all too hubristic , "Now, with that order of business concluded, we should get going. You will be coming with us, won't you? It has been a while since you have joined us outside of school".
"I don't believe I can today" Sakura answered and released Mikura, "Perhaps another time".
Mikura didn't step away, her blue eyes seeking Sakura's and a subtle pout prevalent.
Sometimes, this action alone was all it took for Sakura to capitulate to Mikura and the sight of it amused Sachiko to no extent, more so since she has fallen to it herself more times than she would like to admit.
Sakura glanced between the two and knew it was a losing battle this time, "Very well, just this once".
That was a lie and they all were aware of it.
She ignored Sachiko's self-satisfied countenance and took the folder off of Mikura, leafing through it, only to be met with empty pages.
"Juraku?" she called out sternly, knowing Sachiko would be privy of her confusion.
Sachiko merely smiled and collected Mikura's leash to take it off since they were leaving the premises.
"Fascinating proposal, no? It works wonders in getting someone to change their mind about anything".
Mikura wasn't sure what was going on or what was written in the folder but Sakura seemed like she wanted to throw it at Sachiko.
"Unbelievable" Sakura could only say, blushing slightly and chiding herself for being lured in by Sachiko's tortuous entertainment again.
Sachiko being knowledgeable about this particular weakness regarding Mikura did not sit well with Sakura but on the flip side, the same applied to Sachiko so there was some relief in that.
"Problem, Sakura?".
Sakura closed her folder, meeting Sachiko's challenging look, "None whatsoever" she replied and reached for Mikura's hand, "We should leave".
With a flustered but eager Mikura walking next to her, Sakura smirked at Sachiko who began to follow them with the celerity of a snake to take Mikura's other hand.
Sakura was just as capable as turning the tables on Sachiko using her own trickery against her.
Then again, if Mikura was involved, could Sakura really say she was outmanoeuvred if she somewhat willingly went with it?