The following week of school seemed to last an eternity for Natsuki.
She would have skipped if it weren't for Shizuru insisting that she
attend. School to her was just a stretch of time where she wasn't able to
talk to or see Shizuru. Her friends at school couldn't help but notice
the change in her behavior and attitude. She would daydream in class for
the entire lesson, never really paying attention to anything that was
going on. And when guys tried to talk to her, she would answer in a
nonchalant tone instead of her usual biting sarcasm. Not to mention the
glow that seemed to surround her and the small smile that was always on
her lips. Determined to get to the bottom of this, Mai confronted her at
lunch on Tuesday.
"Natsuki, what's up with you this week? You've been acting
differently."
"Have I? I wonder..."
"Eh? What kind of an answer is that? Let me explain it to you: You have
this dreamy look on your face all day and you haven't told off anybody
once. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were in love."
"Why wouldn't I be in love, I mean--"
"So you're saying you really are in love?" Mai interrupted in
disbelief.
A chorus of shocked exclamations arose from the rest of the girls at
the table. Natsuki blushed as she became the focus of their rapt
attention.
"Ok, ok," said Mai excitedly, "you have to tell us who he is!"
"Uh, well, I don't really feel like saying right now..." Natsuki
replied hesitantly.
"Does Fujino-san know?" asked Haruka.
Natsuki's blush deepened, "Well, you see..."
"Why would it matter if Fujino-san knew?" asked Mikoto innocently.
"Because Fujino-san's in lo--," began Haruka before Yukino clapped a
hand over her mouth.
"More importantly, does this person know you love them?" asked Mai.
"Um, y-yeah..." Natsuki was becoming a little worried at the direction
this conversation was taking.
"Ah! So that means they must be in love with you too if they know you
love them and you're in such a good mood all the time." A wicked grin
appeared on Mai's face, "Hmmm, so have you guys, you know, kissed
or...maybe even more?"
Natsuki didn't want to answer that question. Her eyes darted around,
trying not to look at anyone, and her face turned a brighter shade of
red, if possible. Of course, this reaction told the group of girls the
answer to that question and they all gasped in shock. The shock was soon
replaced by a series of ooo's and catcalls, and Natsuki wished she could
disappear.
"Natsuki."
Natsuki's head whipped around at the sound of that voice. Sure enough,
Shizuru herself was walking towards her down the row of tables, a
bright smile on her face. The group of girls watched in fascination as
Natsuki seemed to zone out everything around her, her gaze and attention
focused solely on the approaching woman. They watched as she got up from
her sitting position at the lunch table and headed for Fujino-san,
stopping in close proximity to her.
"Shizuru...what brings you here?" Natsuki looked at her questioningly.
"Ara! Well, besides wanting to see my lovely Natsuki-chan, I also
wanted to bring you these cookies I made this morning." Shizuru presented a
neatly wrapped package to the girl, her eyes lighting as Natsuki
carefully took it from her, their hands grazing each other's briefly.
Their eyes met in an intense look they'd become accustomed to sharing
lately. Knowing this wasn't the time or the place, they broke the stare.
Natsuki cleared her throat and Shizuru let out a gentle laugh.
"Take care Natsuki. Call me when you get out of school, ne?"
"Yeah, ok, I'll talk to you then. Thanks for the cookies."
"Of course, I hope you enjoy them."
With that, Shizuru left the premises as Natsuki returned to her group
of friends. During the entire exchange, the group of girls had observed
every detail of the interaction between the two. There was a certain
level of intimacy between them that hadn't existed before. And that
heated look that had passed between them could definitely not be overlooked.
So when Natsuki returned, the knowing looks on their faces made her
more than a little nervous. Shit, I've been found out.
After she'd sat down, Mai looked at the box of cookies and then looked
back up at Natsuki's face. "Fujino-san wouldn't happen to be the one
that you're--"
"Yes," Natsuki quickly interrupted, blushing hard.
Mai's eyebrows raised for an instant, but the look of surprise at
Natsuki's admission was quickly replaced by a friendly smile,
"Congratulations."
Natsuki looked up at her friend's face and relaxed as she realized she
was truly happy for her.
"Thanks."
********************
"Well, everyone knows about us now, although I'm sure that's exactly
what you expected to happen."
"Ara? You say that as if you suspect I'd planned the whole thing."
Natsuki was in her apartment talking to Shizuru over the phone. She was
sprawled out across her bed, exhausted from the endless torrent of
questions she'd be answering about their relationship all day. Luckily, her
friends all took the news in stride and seemed to be genuinely
supportive of her.
"Hmmm? Are you saying you didn't plan the whole thing?"
"Would it matter to you if I did?"
"Mmmm, I guess not."
"Good, then I planned the whole thing. I want to make sure everyone
knows Natsuki-chan is mine."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that now. I'm pretty sure that
everyone knows."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, I talked to my parents and tomorrow night
will work out for us to all eat dinner together. Is that ok with you?"
"Yeah, that'll be fine. But...you don't think your parents will be able
to tell do you? About us, that is."
"Well, we'll just have to be discreet now won't we?"
"Yeah...discreet."
"I'm sorry Natsuki, but I've got to go, my mother is calling for me.
I'll have a car come pick you up tomorrow at 6 for dinner. See you then!"
"Alright, bye."
Flipping her phone shut, Natsuki let out a sigh. Suddenly a thought hit
her, What the hell am I going to wear?
Back to Rearranged Index - Back to Mai HiME Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction