“Natsuki…could you…Do you…?”
Now in the safe solitude of the moving limousine, the Graceful Amethyst touched her lips lightly with trembling fingers, noting for the first time how cold they felt without the warm pressure she had experienced just minutes before.
“It’s…not like you…to do such a thing…”
In all the years she had known the younger girl, Natsuki had never been one to openly or easily express her feelings, especially in any kind of physical sense. In fact, she even tended to stiffen at any intimate contact, so to say that Shizuru was shocked by the sudden action would be an understatement. What could have brought up this kind of reaction in Natsuki? The older woman asked herself this simple yet immensely complicated question over and over again, not being able to come up with a clear conclusion.
“Natsuki has always been a very important person to me, but…I never sensed that she…cared for more than a friend would…”
Was that it? Did the stubborn girl actually have feelings for her? No…How could that be? Shizuru had always sensed the admiration the younger girl had for her, a respect for her abilities as an Otome. That was the first emotion she had received from her dark-haired underclassman. Shizuru’s teasing had been the next stage. She had played with Natsuki like she did many of the other girl’s at Garderobe, though she had to admit that the reactions that she received from the emerald-eyed Vedelian were surely her favorite. In time, however, the two had actually grown to become friends, and gradually, Shizuru became aware that maybe Natsuki meant more to her than her usual admirers. But had there been any signs from the younger girl that she herself might feel the same?
Only one specific memory surfaced in Shizuru’s mind…
It was another warm evening in the kingdom of Windbloom, a slight breeze pushing the few thin clouds present in the sky at a leisurely pace to cover the moon and it’s dim light on occasion. On the Garderobe campus, due to the strict curfew, all of the students were currently in their rooms, some studying, others sleeping, with the exception of two girl’s whom were both at the top of their class.
The crimson-eyed Pearl sat in the garden gazebo, patiently awaiting the arrival of her younger companion, silently pondering if the girl had managed to slip out of the dorms without getting caught. Reassurance came, however, when quick, quiet footsteps were detected from that darkened pathway, and moments later, a shadowed figure did appear.
At a brisk jog, Natsuki closed the distance between herself and the small white structure, her mane as dark as the night sky weightlessly flowing behind her.
When she finally stopped, her breathing slightly more labored than normal, Natsuki gazed into the ruby orbs of her Onee-sama who immediately stood at her presence.
“Your letter…” emerald-eyed Coral coolly stated.
Without a reply, the older girl walked up to Natsuki, whisking her into a strong embrace.
“Sh-Shizuru Onee-sama? What’s wrong?”
“Hm? Nothing.”
“To meet in private at such a time…Was there something you wanted to discuss?”
“I wanted to see Natsuki,” came the simple response as sneaky hands found their way underneath the girl’s white athletic top.
Flinching at the touch, Natsuki broke free of the girl, creating a distance between them before spinning around with thinned jade eyes containing both anger and hurt.
“Natsu—”
“I thought you wanted to talk about something important…And all you wanted me for was…was…,” the dark-haired girl stammered, fists clenching as her brow creased further, “If you just wanted someone to play with, then call one of your obsessive followers to be your little toy.”
Natsuki seemed to spit the words at her in disgust, and Shizuru was rendered both speechless and immobile even as the young girl sprinted past her, easily disappearing into the night.
It was a few days later that Shizuru finally found the courage to apologize to her friend.
It was one evening after dinner that she positioned herself outside of the door of the room that Natsuki shared with her fellow Coral, Mai Tokiha. Lightly rapping on the door with her knuckles, the chestnut-haired girl could hear muffled voices exchanging words before she heard one of the occupants approaching the door, but when the door did creak open, she was met with the orange hair and violet eyes of Natsuki’s roommate rather than Natsuki herself.
“Shizuru Onee-sama?” Mai mumbled, obviously surprised to see the older girl.
“Good evening, Mai-san. Is Natsuki there?” Shizuru asked, even though she knew very well that the girl was indeed inside.
“Uh…” the busty girl muttered before glancing back over her shoulder.
A very distinct, not to mention annoyed, huff was heard, along with the rustling of sheets as Natsuki turned over in her bed.
“Eh, I’m afraid she’s not feeling very well today, Onee-sama…” Mai said, scratching her chin with an apologetic smile.
“I see,” the older Pearl remarked, containing her usual airy cheerfulness, “Then, please, give her my regards.”
With a slight bow, Shizuru took off down the hall, and closing the door behind her, Mai sighed as she leaned against the sturdy wooden structure.
“Mou, Natsuki,” the redhead whined, “what happened between you and Shizuru Onee-sama? You’re usually jumping at any opportunity to spend time with her…”
“I’m not talking with her,” the raven-haired girl childishly stated.
Making her way over to her friend’s bed, Mai sat on the edge, leaning back on her hands.
“Is that why you’ve been so moody lately? Well, moodier than normal...”
The only response she received was a snort and a slight movement underneath the bedcovers as the girl repositioned herself.
“Really…If you don’t want to talk with me about it, you should at least sort things out with Onee-sama herself, you know.”
“…”
“Natsuki?”
“I heard you the first time, alright?!” Natsuki shot back, knowing very well that Mai was right, but certainly not wanting to admit it.
“Then you’re definitely going to talk to her tomorrow, right? And sort things out?”
“Yes,” came the short, snappy reply.
Smiling triumphantly, Mai returned to her bed to continue flipping through the magazine she had been looking at before.
The next day at lunch, Natsuki promptly pulled Shizuru to the side before the older girl could get in line for her meal. Perplexed, but still craving the opportunity to apologize for the other night, Shizuru had willingly complied, and in silence, both girl’s left the cool school building as they walked outside in the Spring heat.
“Natsuki, about—“
“No. I want to say what I need to say first,” the Coral rudely cut her sempai off.
Rather than argue, Shizuru consented with a nod.
“When I found that letter from you sitting on my desk, I thought there was something that you seriously wanted to speak with me about. I didn’t care what it was, but I though you needed help…and you were asking me of all people to be the one to help you with whatever problem you had…”
“Natsuki…”
“Of course, in the end it wasn’t anything like that, was it? What you did…it hurt me, Onee-sama. It made me think, ‘does she not take me seriously?’”
Stopping in her walking, Natsuki turned to her upperclassman who did the same.
“Do you not take me seriously? Am I just another person for you to tease and mess with? Because I…I thought we were more than that…I thought we were friends…I want us to be friends…”
A sad smile forming on her lips, Shizuru softly, genuinely, took the girl in her arms, “Kanin na, Natsuki…I haven’t thought of your feelings at all, have I?”
Awkwardly, the dark-haired girl shook her head that was currently buried in Shizuru’s shoulder.
“I’m so sorry,” the russet-eyed Pearl whispered, “…so sorry…”
Finally pulling apart, Shizuru gazed down at the shorter girl, “I truly do consider Natsuki as a very special friend, and if she’ll let me, I’d like the opportunity to prove that to her.”
With a small smile of her own, Natsuki nodded her approval.
Giving her underclassman a quick peck on the cheek, Shizuru linked her arm with Natsuki’s, causing the younger girl to blush.
“Ookini,” Shizuru stated, slipping into her usual cheeriness, “Well then, shall we return to the cafeteria? We should still have time for a quick lunch.”
“Mmh. That sounds good,” Natsuki replied, the two reconciled girl’s making their way back inside the academy.
But was it possible that the younger girl held her even closer to her heart than she had ever realized? Shizuru couldn’t be sure, and it seemed it would be a while before she would have the chance to ask Natsuki that very question as the limousine pulled up to the station that housed the giant dessert transit that would take her to Romulus…and further away from Natsuki.
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