When Natsuki waited for Shizuru to take her medication, her and the red-eyed teen walked to where they saw Haruka walk out of her therapy session with surprisingly no one to guard the blonde teenager.
“Hello, Haruka,” Shizuru said.
“Oh, hey, Shizuru. I see you're 'caretaker' is here today. What's up, uh.....”
“Kuga. Natsuki Kuga.”
“Oh, Yeah. Well, Kuga Natsuki, I'm Suzushiro Haruka: Shizuru's cellmate before she was token to a single cell, if you forgot,” Haruka said shaking Natsuki's hand.
“Why are you out here without anyone supervising you, Haruka?” Shizuru wondered.
“They're telling me that my sanity's coming back and how I should try and walk around this place without anyone beside me,” Haruka explained.
“Is it working?” Natsuki wondered.
“If I passed three people calling me Blondie along with a few people trying to hit on me without beating them up, then I guess it is working,” Haruka said with her hands behind her head, “But I don't think I'll be getting out of here in a few more months”
Shizuru lightly laughed along with smile. “You're lucky, Haruka. I don't even know if I'll get even out of here any time soon.”
“Ah, don't worry about it. Maybe you'll get out early for good behavior,” Haruka laughed along with Shizuru.
“Since you're out here, do you wanna walk around with us, Haruka?” Natsuki offered with her hands in her pockets.
“Nah, I wish I could, but I have to go back to me session. But thanks. Nice meeting you, Natsuki,” Haruka said walking down the hallway, “I know I'll see you again later on for the next few months, but still. Later.”
“Uh, yeah. Later,” Natsuki said as Shizuru and she waved goodbye to Haruka, “I guess you're right about Haruka. But I still think she's a little bossy and loud.”
“I know. But once you see her around more often, you'll see she's very nice,” Shizuru said as the two of them walked down the hallway.
During that time, Natsuki was thinking what her friends were saying about how Shizuru is and what she did a few years ago. Natsuki knew Shizuru wouldn't tell for some reason, but the brunette wanted to know now to see if her friends were right or not as they two girls walked through the court yard of the asylum where other people were watching them walk by. Fortunately, Shizuru didn't notice them other inmates staring at them as she held onto Natsuki's right arm like her life depended on it.
Usually, if someone was looking or staring at Shizuru for very long, she would usually, if she's not in her own little world half of the time, give that person a death stare if she didn't like that person, or would ignore them and walk somewhere else.
2 hours later
“Ugh, I'm soo bored!” Natsuki groaned in Shizuru's room who was lying on the floor as Shizuru was drawing something on a sheet of paper, “How can you stand being in such a small inclosed area like this? It would drive me crazy if I was in your position.”
“I don't mind small places,” Shizuru said not taking her eyes off her drawing, “Small places help me think about things.”
“Really. Like what?” Natsuki wondered sitting up from laying on her back.
“The time. How long I can hold my breath. Read something if it's interesting. And thinking all the things I can do to my lovely Natsuki when I get out of here.”
“Dammit, woman!” Natsuki bellowed blushing madly which made Shizuru laugh as the blue brunette laid on her back once again and sighed, “Geez.......what else do you guys do around here besides stay in these cells almost all day?”
“Hmm, well, in about five more minutes, we get let out for lunch.”
“Lunch?”
“Yeah. They let us out of our cells around noon or so so we can get something to eat,” Shizuru explained.
“I thought the people running this place just give you the food they recommend, bring it to your cell, and walk out,” Natsuki assumed.
“They still do that to people who want to eat alone. But now, they do it where everyone can eat together since the inmates want to eat and talk to their friends.”
“I see. What about you?”
“Me? I usually eat by myself if Haruka's not gonna go to the cafeteria that day. But on days where she does want to go, I do and talk to her about random things until it's time to go back.”
“That's understandable. But why don't you just make some new friends if Haruka's not there?”
Shizuru light laughed and smiled at Natsuki's question. “Because no one wants to be my friend.”
“Oh, come on! Just because you beat the crap out of Shiho doesn't mean you won't do it again!” Natsuki said second guessing what she just replied, '..........Or will you?'
“I know. I don't care if they outcast me or not. But if Natsuki's being threatened by someone, that's when I attack.”
“Eh?”
Shizuru didn't look at Natsuki as the honey brunette continued to speak while fiddling her Kiyohime key-chain. “Whenever someone insults Natsuki, I attack. If someone looks at Natsuki like they're going to attack her, then I will attack them before they have the chance to do so. Natsuki is too important to me to let someone take her away from me. Natsuki's too important to me to let that happen.”
“.....Shizuru....”
“That's why......that's why I attack Shiho the way I did. For Natsuki's sake. For Natsuki's sake.”
Natsuki was surprised to hear that from Shizuru as she sat up again from laying on her back and looked at Shizuru who was still fiddling with her key-chain. “But Shizuru, I really couldn't care less if someone did insult me or called me names. I've been-”
“That's not the issue,” Shizuru interrupted Natsuki. “Natsuki doesn't deserve to be called names or picked on. Natsuki is too pretty and smart for some lowlife to be calling Natsuki out of her name. Natsuki deserves someone to love and care for her.”
“L-Love and care?”
Shizuru nods her head. “Natsuki doesn't need to hurt anymore from what this world has already done to you. You-” Before Shizuru could finish what she was saying someone was banging on the door.
“Oi! Fujino! Come on! They have something descent in the lunch room today that I can eat!” It was Haruka as Shizuru snapped out of her trance and looked at Natsuki who was looking at Shizuru with a worried look on her face.
“Ara? Why is Natsuki looking at me like that? Does she want to kiss me or something?” Shizuru teased puckering her lips.
Natsuki's face turned red again who angrily said, “No! I don't want to kiss you, baka!”
Shizuru pouted. “Mou, Natsuki. Ikeizu (meanie). She doesn't want to kiss me. I think I'm gonna cry!”
“Grr! Act your age and come on! We're gonna be late for lunch!” Natsuki grabs Shizuru's hand and walks her out of the cell as they saw Haruka impatiently waiting.
“'bout time. I thought I was gonna have to leave you guys,” Haruka said.
“Oh, butt out, Blondie. Shizuru's being childish again!” Natsuki said.
“Mou, Natsuki. That's so mean or you to say!” Shizuru pouted again holding Natsuki's arm.
“You're the one being all child like. Come on!......what is for lunch, anyway?” Natsuki wondered to Haruka.
“Spaghetti. With a side order or condiments.” The blonde teen said.
“Since I haven't eaten anything all day, I might as well join you guys for a bite to eat.”
“Ara, ara. Natsuki's gonna dine with us! That means I'll be able to sit next to her!” Shizuru said rubbing her head against Natsuki's shoulder.
'Ugh. Why me?' Natsuki thought looking up at the ceiling as the three women walked to the cafeteria.