Chapter 3: A Prophet Appears, Dividing the Obstructive Sea and Showering Manna
Chapter 3
A Prophet Appears, Dividing the
Obstructive Sea and Showering Manna
The Bell Walkways was a three-way aerial bridge that connected the buildings of the Strawberry Dorms. It was usually vacant year round. The bridge had three entrances, and it was the only passageway that connected the dorms. Though the dorms formed a strawberry shape when seen from above, from the inner garden below the bridge that joined them looked like a Y in the sky.
Except for official business, the use of this hall was restricted. Thus, the Bell Walkways were usually quiet, with a few students conducting school business shuffling across it occasionally.
But that night the Bell Walkways bustled with girls.
Girls lined up properly in single file, announced their names at the entrance, and entered the skywalk.
“St. Miator Girls’ Academy, Fourth Year Moon Class, Suzumi Tamao, passing through!”
“St. Miator Girls’ Academy, Fourth Year Moon Class, Aoi Nagisa, passing through!”
The excited girls’ voices rang through the hall. Nagisa held a quiet conversation with Tamao as she walked across the Bell Walkways for the first time.
“Hey, Tamao-chan…this is…a really large gathering.”
“Yes, it is…because it involves all dorm residents. Ah, that’s right… Nagisa-chan, this is your first time, isn’t it? Your first Social Dinner. We hold one every quarter.”
“Yup! I’ve never seen another school’s dining hall, so I’m really excited… And it must be luxurious, with a special menu and all, right? I really like that sort of stuff, like the rainbow fruit bowl with seven different kinds of fruit at kindergarten birthday parties, and the steak cutlet lunches they served on field day in elementary school, so that we could teki ni katsu!”3
“Fruit bowls and teki ni katsu, huh…”
Tamao looked at Nagisa with pity…but Nagisa’s eyes sparkled innocently.
Tamao gazed at her with gentle eyes. “Yes, those can be quite fun, too. But today’s menu might not be to your liking, Nagisa-chan…”
“Eh, Tamao-chan, you know the menu? Wow, what’s on it? Spica is so extravagant, so maybe it’s stew or steak… I can’t wait…”
Nagisa drooled a bit.
Sister Fujii came out of the duty room at Miator’s hall entrance and walked down the line of girls.
“Now, now, refrain from unnecessary chatter. Don’t disgrace Miator!”
Nagisa and Tamao both straightened their postures.
“Yes, ma’am!”
Sister Fujii was Miator’s strictest and scariest dorm mother. If you were caught by Sister Fujii, you’d go straight to the Repentance Room…and worse yet, miss out on the whole dinner.
Eeek—if that happened, that would ruin everything! Nagisa thought.
Nagisa and Tamao ducked their heads and tried not to stick out.
“St. Lulim Girls’ School, Second Year Class B, Hyuga Kizuna, passing through!”
“St. Lulim Girls’ School, Second Year Class B, Natsume Remon, passing through!”
From Miator to Spica.
From Spica to Lulim.
And from Lulim to Miator…
The line of girls continued to grow…
***
Knives and forks clanged softly in the dining hall.
Black iron and glass tables with carved legs lined the room, placed on top of the stunning royal blue stone floor.
The white walls had bold, geometric patterns. The oval tables, each with room for twelve, were lined up in an organized fashion, with perfectly draped white table linens that had no wrinkles.
Several side tables were placed against the walls, decorated with vases full of white roses.
The low, soothing music of Schubert floated through the room.
This was Spica’s main dining room.
Pheew…
Nagisa grew tired of eating and sighed as she looked down at her plate. In the center of the huge dish were duck confit, wild rice, and salad.
The two plates, stacked one on top of the other, were definitely too big for the portion of food, and Nagisa awkwardly fumbled with her utensils, wobbling the top plate.
It’s so difficult to eat…aren’t there any chopsticks?
She bit the end of her fork in frustration and blankly stared at the menu sheet, but Tamao laughed at her antics.
“Oh gosh, what’s wrong, Nagisa? Does it taste bad?”
“N-No, that’s not it… I’m having trouble eating it…because I didn’t expect it to be so extravagant…” Nagisa rubbed at her head.
“Really? Well, they do serve special meals for Social Exchange Dinners so we can practice our table manners…oh wait, you prefer Japanese meals, don’t you, Nagisa-chan? You’re always saying you love tofu. It’s all right. Even though they served French today, there are days when they serve Japanese food. They’ll perform a tea ceremony and use tea ceremony dishes. And of course, you’ll use chopsticks…”
Nagisa breathed a sigh of relief, because the smiling Tamao totally understood her frustrations.
The other people at Nagisa’s table were two Miator upperclassmen, four Spica second-year students, and four Lulim fourth-year students.
The groupings at the Social Exchange Dinner were split by class and year—Miator’s Snow, Moon, and Flower Classes…Spica’s Un, Deux, and Trois Classes…and Lulim’s Classes A, B, and C—to avoid seating the same students together every time.
This dinner wasn’t the boisterous kind, but rather was a “social exchange” in which the students would have soft, pleasant conversations with their neighbors.
According to Tamao, the sisters observed students for proper table manners as they ate, so it wasn’t much of a party. The only part that was exciting was the lively conversation held over dessert.
Despite the strictness of the event, Nagisa, the new transfer student, was fascinated to see the uniforms of the two other schools.
“Hey, is that student sitting at the back table…the Spica Student Council President?” Nagisa asked in a low voice.
“Yes, that’s right. Tomori Shion, Spica’s smartest student, known as the Snow Queen. Miator’s Miyuki-oneesama seems reeeally smart too, but Shion-sama has a different coolness about her. Why, do you know her, Nagisa-chan? Do you…like her?” Tamao smiled.
“N-No way! That’s not why I know her…” Nagisa stuttered. “I saw her at the Étoile competition…because she was the hostess of the program. So I sort of remember her face…”
Shion sat at the table furthest from Nagisa. She wasn’t really engaged in any friendly conversations and ate silently.
“Oh, that’s right. She was the one who asked the cruel question. There’s no way you could forget her, huh…”
Tamao wiped her mouth with a napkin and turned to Nagisa.
“Speaking of the Étoile competition, that reminds me…Nagisa-chan?”
Tamao’s sudden seriousness made Nagisa a little nervous. “Yes…?”
“Nagisa-chan, what did you think about Miyuki-oneesama’s conversation earlier?”
“What did I think? What do you mean?” Nagisa didn’t understand her question.
“I’m talking about the Faceless Devil, of course. Are you afraid of the devil approaching you…”
Nagisa laughed and waved off Tamao’s question. Jeez, I’m not scared of that…
“Or are you worried about not seeing Shizuma-sama for two weeks…”
“Well…” Nagisa was at a loss for words. Oh yeah, that’s what happens, huh…
It finally hit Nagisa.
Miyuki-sama said all sorts of things one after another, and I couldn’t digest them all…but…
If President Rokujo’s plan goes through, then I can’t see Shizuma-oneesama for a while…
Something…burst inside Nagisa’s heart and dissolved. But…
“N-No way…it’s no big deal! It’s only for two short weeks, so I’m not worried about it at all!” Nagisa replied, as cheerfully as she could.
“Besides, normally I would never have had a chance to meet a sixth-year student like Shizuma-sama anyway…so that fact that we even met at all is so strange…and unimportant little me isn’t worthy to see Shizuma-sama…”
Nagisa tried to talk down to herself.
Tamao replied slowly, “You don’t believe that…do you?” She sighed in her heart. Why do you say that about yourself, Nagisa-chan…?
“Oh well. If you can handle it, then it’s okay—I can stick really close to you for two whole weeks without being interrupted by Shizuma-oneesama!”
Tamao gave Nagisa a hug…but it caught Nagisa off guard, and she almost spilled her glass of water.
Tamao continued, “But…was Miyuki-oneesama speaking the truth…about that?”
“Eh?” Nagisa didn’t expect that remark, either.
“You know, about knowing the identity of the library culprit. Well, to be more accurate, she said, ‘I have an idea who it is’…”
“Yeah, come to think of it…she didn’t mention any names.”
“Yes, she probably…was prevented from saying the name.”
“Prevented?”
“Yes. She could only hint that it was one of Shizuma-sama’s fans, right? From the looks of it, the culprit is probably very close to Shizuma-oneesama…”
“Very close to Shizuma-oneesama…” Nagisa repeated her words like a dumb parrot.
She became…a bit scared. Her nervous body locked up…it caused her to clatter her fork and knife on the plates even more.
“Ah, s-sorry…”
As she said that… Fling.
Her duck meat flew under the table.
***
“Here, Hikari, have one more. It’s delicious.”
While Nagisa was flinging her duck confit out of unexplainable anxiety over her future with Shizuma-sama…Yaya, at another table, offered Hikari a piece of bread from the basket she was holding.
Ever since she came back to the Strawberry Dorms, Hikari has been quite cheerful, for some reason. She’s so obvious. She’s happy because she was able to walk back to the dorm with Amane-oneesama…
Yaya wasn’t amused, though. She was suspicious of Hikari—smiling in a positive, almost confident manner, enjoying dinner.
So…Yaya inadvertently…made a slip of the tongue…
“Oh, Hikari, you’re so elated…just because Amane-oneesama came to see you. I’m a bit…jealous.”
“Oh gosh, Yaya-chan…no… Amane-sama felt obligated to come see me because I was chosen to be her partner in the Étoile competition…so there’s no reason for you to be jealous, Yaya-chan. I can’t meet with her that often…because she’s such a star…”
Yaya-chan is so funny… Hikari giggled and her cheeks reddened.
Hmph! What’s up with that? She’s so sure of herself… Yaya was frustrated. Hikari wasn’t even aware of Yaya’s feelings toward her.
“You say that, but I’m sure you’d prefer to have Amane-oneesama sitting next to you rather than me, right? Oh gee, it’s too bad Amane-sama isn’t in the same class as you.”
Yaya pouted, acting jealous… This is…weird. She couldn’t attack more aggressively…she felt something different inside and seemed somewhat vulnerable. Did Hikari sense Yaya’s feelings at all?
“Don’t say that, Yaya-chan. You’re my special friend. If you weren’t here…I wouldn’t know how to survive Spica…”
Hikari’s voice trembled at the end of the sentence.
Yaya understood Hikari’s feelings. Hikari was having a hard time at Spica. She knew what Hikari was going through and wanted to provide support for her, but the one who could comfort her most was Amane-sama…so Yaya had mixed feelings about the whole thing. She knew she was confused, too…
“Oh…really?” Yaya asked sarcastically.
Hikari replied confidently, “Of course,” and smiled like a pure white lotus flower.
Looking at Hikari’s smile made Yaya’s body tingle—she felt a lustful desire brewing inside her. When out of the blue…
“Oh, wonderful—you must be the little white princess of Spica. I finally found you…tsk. So, how was the dinner?”
A girl in a monochrome waiter’s outfit approached them.
“Oh, Chikaru-sama!” Yaya exclaimed.
“Eh, Chikaru-sama…?”
Surprised, Hikari turned around to see the St. Lulim Student Council President, Minamoto Chikaru, wearing a white shirt and black necktie—a typical waiter’s outfit.
Smiling, Chikaru said, “Good evening. So, did you have a pleasant dinner tonight?” The black ribbon on her chest bounced. “It’s so nice to meet you. Congratulations on winning the Petite couronne in the first round of the Étoile competition. Our school was excited to see a new star appear in Spica, too.”
She smiled and talked to Hikari as she swept away bread crumbs with her silver crumb scraper.
Hikari was so stunned her mouth stayed open. “Wh-Why is the Student Council President providing table service…?”
“Tsk…isn’t this wonderful? St. Lulim’s Costume Club members sometimes offer to provide table service at Social Exchange Dinners. Of course, we’ll only do it if we’re allowed to wear new outfits. So, how do I look in my garçon outfit? Ooohhh, would you like to wear this outfit too, Hikari-chan? I think you would look very cute in it. Unlike the rigid and veeery scary Spica and Miator, you can transfer to Lulim anytime! Tsk…if you’d like to, that is. But of course, your white prince on a horse—Amane-chan—wouldn’t allow that, would she?”
“Ah, are you friends with Amane-sama?!”
“Yes, sort of, because I’ve been in Astraea for a long time… But I’ve heard about your tribulations…just because Amane-chan seems to adore you, you’ve been treated badly, right? Poor girl…”
Chikaru seemed overly concerned.
Hikari replied, “Well…but it’s understandable, because…it’s quite brash for a new transfer student like me to enter the Étoile competition. It can’t be helped. But some students, like Yaya-chan and Tsubomi-chan…treat me very nicely…so I’m okay.”
Hikari bravely smiled back, making Yaya feel somewhat unsettled.
“Oh, really? You’re such a good girl, Hikari-chan. And so cute… I want you to join my Costume Club even more.”
Yaya sensed something strange. Something isn’t right about Chikaru’s jolly behavior. She’s attentive and gentle as usual, but her excitement is quite odd. Maybe she’s excited because she’s in the middle of her Costume Club activities…or…
Maybe she’s up to something…
Chikaru raised her voice on purpose. “Oh, it’s almost time for dessert! I need to go back and help out. There are eight different kinds of dessert, but I recommend the groseilles-and-fromage tart. I’ll bring it to you later.” She collected the plates from the table.
As she started to push the black service cart away…
“Oh yes…Hikari-chan? This is a secret but…I’ll tell you since you’re such a good girl. Umm…” She whispered in Hikari’s ear, “I believe another student will transfer to Spica. Soon you might be able to break free from the craziness surrounding the Étoile competition. If that happens, I hope you’ll be with Amane-chan happily ever after. At first, I hoped Amane-chan would become the Étoile…but after seeing her and you together, I changed my mind. It was the first time I’d ever seen Amane-chan so happy and carefree. I am a secret supporter of both you and Amane-chan.” Chikaru winked in such a charming, leave-it-to-me sort of way.
“Ohh, I must hurry back…” she cried as she trotted off, pushing the cart.
Hikari didn’t know what to make of situation.
“Hey, Chikaru-sama, what did you say to her…?” The impatient Yaya caught at the departing Chikaru’s shoulder.
***
Behind them, about three tables further along, near the wall…
“Hey, Tamao-chan…should I pick that up myself?” Nagisa asked bashfully.
“Oh, please…the garçons will take care of it. That’s etiquette…” Tamao answered, and she dabbed at her mouth with the napkin.
“But that piece of meat sticks out like a sore thumb, and I feel bad for making them pick it up…”
“No, it’s fine. By the way, the Lulim’s Costume Club is helping out the garçons…”
“Eh, what’s that?”
“Lulim’s Student Council President, Minamoto Chikaru. Oh, you probably don’t know her, Nagisa-chan. She usually stands at the front stage during the combined Mass…and she’s a very sweet and gentle person, known as Lulim’s Holy Mother. She’s very smart, and rumored to be a strategist, much more than our Miator’s Princess of Rokujo-in…”
“Oh, what rumor is that?”
Tamao started at the voice behind her. “Ch-Chikaru-sama…”
The surprised Nagisa turned around and saw Chikaru, smiling, standing beside her cart in her waiter’s outfit.
“Ohh, that piece of meat, right? Pity, you dropped the largest piece…did you have enough to eat? I’ll pick it up, so don’t worry. It’s all right, I’ll do it discreetly so nobody will notice…”
Chikaru dropped a white handkerchief…and picked it up, along with the meat. In two seconds, the meat was gone.
“Th-Thank you so much!” Nagisa said.
“Oh gosh, it’s part of my duties. The meat must have been tough. It’s not your fault, Nagisa-chan. I will notify the kitchen staff and ensure this won’t happen again.”
Chikaru’s nonchalant smile stupefied Nagisa.
She’s such a nice Student Council President. So different from Miyuki-sama. But why is she dressed like that and serving us…?
“Oh, you’re giving me strange looks too,” Chikaru said. “Do I look bad in this outfit…?”
“N-No, absolutely not! You look great! And you’re so nice and very helpful…” Nagisa said, flabbergasted.
“Oh, really? That makes me so happy. You’re so nice, Nagisa-chan. All the transfer students this year are so sweet. Ohh…I want you to transfer to Lulim too, Nagisa-chan…”
Chikaru smiled innocently as she looked at Nagisa. “Ah, but if I said that, it might upset Shizuma-sama?” She stuck out her tongue.
“Oh, Chikaru-sama, you know Shizuma-sama?” Nagisa asked, her cheeks reddening as she beamed with pride, talking about her favorite oneesama.
Chikaru noticed Nagisa’s cheerfulness and smiled back, thinking—my, she looks so happy.
“Yes, of course I know her. And about her dealings with you, Nagisa-chan. But what an enviable story…to have the gorgeous and proud Shizuma-sama…fall in love with you at first sight.”
Chikaru clasped her hands in front of her chest and looked at the ceiling.
“Oh, how romantic…the Queen, who closed her heart after the loss of her beloved princess…met a sweet, honest angel that descended from the skies…and thawed the Queen’s frozen heart…” Chikaru opened her arms as if to embrace Nagisa.
“Nagisa-chan is Shizuma-sama’s rescuing angel. Come to think of it, Sakuragi Kaori was also very calm and lovely…and a frail, beautiful girl,” Chikaru recounted sadly.
“The young lady returned to Heaven quite early, because her beautiful soul was loved by God…so they say. She was probably too pure and beautiful to remain on Earth. That’s why she had to depart so soon…”
Nagisa felt a piercing stab in her heart.
“After she passed away, Shizuma-sama…lost her usual kindness. She had me worried. She played it off with her usual flirtatious behavior, but I somehow knew… Shizuma-sama was very lonely…”
“Chi-Chikaru-sama…” Tamao murmured.
“Oh, I’m sorry for talking about this…” Chikaru let go of Nagisa’s arm, which she was still hugging. She peered into Nagisa’s face.
“Nagisa-chan…the Miator students may say all sorts of things to you. But…Shizuma-sama is definitely cheerful when she is with you. Please stay with Shizuma-sama, no matter what. If things get worse, Shizuma-sama will probably withdraw from the Étoile competition, as a last resort. Please don’t lose sight of what’s important, regardless of what people around you say, okay?”
Her smile was like that of a goddess.
Shizuma’s smile was dignified and almost overpowering, like a Greek goddess, but Chikaru’s smile was warm and comforting, like a gentle spring breeze.
“…Yes…” Stunned, Nagisa almost choked on her answer and couldn’t say another word.
Chikaru patted Nagisa’s shoulder. “Good, Nagisa-chan…that’s the Étoile candidate representing Astraea that I know. We are lucky to have so many wonderful transfer students arrive this year. I just met Hikari-chan a few minutes ago…you know, the new Spica transfer student?”
Nagisa finally began to focus on the conversation. “Oh, yes…I met her in the Maiden Horse Race… I was just wondering how she was doing.”
“Oh, so you’ve already met her? She’s adorable, too. She’s cute, sweet, and quite sharp…and she seems strong-willed, to withstand the bullying by Amane-chan’s fans.” Chikaru chuckled.
Nagisa looked where Chikaru pointed—and saw Hikari-chan, sitting two tables away.
Hikari noticed them and waved back shyly.
“Come to think of it, you and Hikari-chan seem a lot alike. Nagisa-chan, if you ever get tired of Shizuma-sama…won’t you transfer to Lulim? If you and Hikari-chan join me, then the Costume Club will be sooo fun…”
Tamao laughed at Chikaru’s joke.
***
“Hmm—so, Kagome-chan, you never attended school until you entered Spica’s junior high?”
Kagome gave a small shake of her head in response to Miyuki’s question. “No.”
They were in the St. Lulim Girls’ School dining hall.
Bright maple wood floors and off-white plaster walls were easy on the eyes. A large fireplace stood at the far end of the room, but there was no fire in it during this warm season.
A domed ceiling made the room seem spacious, and in the center of the large hall was an oval table, roughly five meters wide, that held numerous pink roses in a vase and had a spotlight shining down on it.
The tables and chairs had bright, casual colors, and the central table’s motif was pink—Lulim’s school color.
It was time for dessert, and the atmosphere had become relaxed but lively.
This dining hall gathered students from Miator’s Flower Class, Spica’s Trois Class, and Lulim’s Class C.
Many of the tables were close to the center. Sitting at the head chair of the center table next to the grand piano was the Miator Student Council President, Rokujo Miyuki.
Miyuki was curious about the tiny girl who sat across from her, clutching a small teddy bear. She talked to her and found out that she came from a very affluent family.
She was a first-year student, but she had just come back to Japan recently with her wealthy parents, and she had had a private tutor teach her at home until now.
Miyuki thought… A child like her could…
“You’re very cute. If you transferred to Miator, there’d be many oneesama who’d love to take care of you as their younger sister. You’d be extremely popular,” Miyuki said with a smile.
Kagome, feeling lonely, muttered, “But…Kizuna-oneesama isn’t at Miator.”
“Oh, you already have a favorite oneesama? Don’t worry, we have many lovely oneesama too…”
As the Student Council President, Miyuki couldn’t shake the habit of scouting everyone for her school.
A sudden restlessness swept the room, beginning at the entrance.
“What is it?” Miyuki slowly turned around.
A student, being led by one of the sisters, entered.
What’s going on, at such a time as this? Is someone tardy? Or…
The student, who wore the white uniform of Spica, made a beeline to the center table where Miyuki sat.
Spotlights shining from the walls seemed to create shadows that first ran ahead, then bounced behind, as if chasing the walking student—which made her stand out even more.
Miyuki…squinted. That face…
Excitement filled the whole room. The sister stopped next to the grand piano, right under the main spotlight shining from above…and clapped her hands over her head.
“Everyone, be quiet… I would like to introduce a new transfer student who has moved into our dorm today…”
Before the sister could finish her introduction, the transfer student stepped in front of her. She introduced herself with a clear, smooth voice—which matched her sleek, white Spica uniform.
“Everyone…good day, I’m Kusanagi Makoto. I’m a fifth-year student in Class Trois… Nice to meet you.”
Everyone was in awe of her energetic voice and beautiful profile. The small-framed girl was shorter than average but had long, skinny limbs. Her figure lacked womanly curves and looked androgynous—like a boy.
Yes… The spotlights revealed a skinny but poised uniformed figure that looked boyish—a really handsome boy.
The bangs of her short hair fell upon an unbelievably delicate face, with prominent nose and eyes and an expression of mingled elegance and self-composure. It caused the crowd to sigh in admiration.
She’s so handsome…yet so cute… Miyuki thought. Who in the world is she…?
Makoto pulled a single large rose from the center table’s vase, sniffed its wonderful scent, almost closing her eyes—and flung it aside.
Like a dart.
The rose-arrow flew straight for Miyuki, who was clutching the back of her chair as she turned to look behind her at Makoto.
What in the world…
Before she could finish her thought, the flower nicked Miyuki’s cheek, continued its flight to the table beyond her…and landed on a dessert plate.
The light pink rose bloomed on a slice of devil’s food cake.
The dessert sat in front of…
Otori Amane.
Hah!—Miyuki turned back around.
Amane’s face crumpled. She slowly looked in the direction of the dart-thrower.
Makoto, poised for action, glared menacingly at Amane, her body seeming to give off a purple aura. She finally broke the silence.
“Are you Prince Amane? Nice to meet you. I’ve returned to Astraea Hill, just to save you,” she sneered. “Oh, how shall I say this? For the longest time, even before I attended Spica Elementary School, Spica was a shining star, a pure garden of maidens. But now I’m back, and I see Spica has turned into…a chaotic place, much like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which received God’s wrath. It’s been tossed about over ridiculous romantic involvements, and all because of the cheap love affair of one foolish prince. On top of that, even the holy Étoile competition has been reduced to nothing more than a tool to capture her love…ohhh, I can’t stand it anymore!”
Looking to the heavens, Makoto grabbed her head in exaggerated agony.
“That’s why I challenge you, Prince Otori Amane…”
She pointed her forefinger at Amane. In Astraea, it was a gesture that was regarded as a challenge to a duel.
Amane didn’t say a word, so Makoto snickered.
Chuckle… “Well, you certainly are a beautiful, pure, and wonderful prince, eh? But are you really Spica’s number-one star? You really don’t seem like much of one. But from now on…you are no longer Spica’s number-one star!” she suddenly roared.
“The true leading star of Spica is, and will always be…” Makoto closed her eyes, enchanted. “The star whose position as one of the Five Great Stars has never been filled since she left…that star!”
Most of the upperclassmen…were slightly agitated.
The star that had left one of the positions of the Five Great Stars open…for eternity.
Several years ago, a legendary star had won the Étoile competition, but she had left the school while she wore the crown, for some unknown reason…
In order to leave a record of her glory in Spica’s history, the Five Great Stars system always kept the top seat vacant…to remember the most powerful Star of all time…
Now that you mention it…Makoto looks like her, Amane thought.
“Are you related to her by any chance?” she inquired. She remembered seeing that page in Astraea’s school directory. She had seen the picture on the day she had decided to enter the Étoile competition…even Amane had been convinced that the person in the picture was worthy of being an Étoile and being adored by all….
Makoto opened her razor-sharp eyes. “Maybe, who can tell? It doesn’t matter anyway. You don’t have the right to ask any questions about her. Especially because you are the one who has ruined the honor of beautiful Spica—something she left behind—over a ridiculous romantic affair!” With that retort, she lightly stalked between the tables.
“I love only her out of the whole world. That’s why I want to protect Spica, the school she dearly loved and protected. That’s all.”
Amane watched, flabbergasted. Is she trying to make sure everyone sees her face…?
Makoto called to the entire room, “So, everyone—follow me from now on! The silliness of this year’s Étoile competition ends here. We, as residents of Astraea Hill, don’t need peach-colored romance. She, the first star, said so herself. There is no such thing as choosing which girl you love. She said that everyone should be able to live in an all-girl world, with a larger mindset and more generosity, working together and looking to the future. So…this brief time of youth shouldn’t be wasted on cheap romance, which is like a firecracker, an alluring, but temporary, burst. Nor should it be wasted on jealousy, which stems from an attraction as powerful as the gravity of the planet Venus, but which reduces humans to cruel beings. Your present beauty should be gathered with others to live a whole and peaceful life together, as one, just the way she hoped. Everyone here has a pure heart, beautiful as a pearl. So…you shouldn’t use that positive energy for something petty, like jealousy or romance.”
Makoto reached toward the domed ceiling, as if she were talking to the heavens.
“We need to live more freely… We must find…” Her face sparkled under the chandelier lights hanging from the ceiling. “The pure, beautiful, and precious treasure in all of us… That’s why I will love all of you alike…”
Makoto spread her arms as she faced the crowd, like a radiant ancient Roman statue.
“I will give my love to everyone. So I ask for you to love me in return…”
Makoto’s searing gaze pierced through all the students’ hearts. The hall fell silent…then…several students sighed deeply… Ooohh…
She is…so beautiful and brimming with confidence…
We were looking for her to lead us…
The Spica students blushed. Even the Miator and Lulim students felt a bit jealous of Spica.
Snap…Makoto snapped her fingers, and two Spica students came out, holding a box about a foot square. They opened it.
They were already under Makoto’s spell, so when she thanked them for bringing the box out to her, their faces turned beet red. From inside the box, Makoto pulled out a large number of sparkling blue items.
Kyaaah!—cries and screams intermixed as the students at the center table went wild first.
Makoto explained matter-of-factly, “As a token of our meeting…I brought a little gift. Please accept it. This symbolizes my feelings for everyone here. Starting today, all of you are my precious family. I’ve come alone to Spica…so I welcome anyone that loves me to please come to my room. I will always welcome you. I don’t like ugly romance…but I love to give hugs and kisses to my precious family and sisters…”
She gave a wicked smile.
Eager to see Makoto, the students seated at the far tables kicked their chairs over as they stood.
***
“Aoi Nagisa…right? Thank you very much for helping me the other day!” Hikari bowed. She had stopped Nagisa as she was leaving the dining hall, headed back toward the Bell Walkways.
Nagisa waved her hands bashfully. “Oh, don’t worry about it… Anyone would have done that.”
“But it was my fault you almost fell from the tower instead of me… And the atmosphere at Miator and Spica became sour after that, so I wasn’t able to say thanks… I’m so sorry.”
Tears welled in Hikari’s eyes. Nagisa gently placed her hand on Hikari’s shoulder. “No, really…don’t worry about it. You didn’t do anything wrong, Hikari-chan…”
Hikari was relieved to hear Nagisa’s reassuring words, and she felt her heart warm.
Nagisa continued, “But, umm, can I ask you something? You’re also a transfer student, right, Hikari-chan?”
Hikari looked up. “Yes…”
Nagisa, observing a tiny teardrop in the corner of Hikari’s eye, said, “Hikari-chan, how do you feel about being in the Étoile competition, even though you just transferred here?”
“How…?”
“Well, you know…did you feel like it was more than you could handle…or something that absolutely freaked you out…?” Nagisa struggled to explain her question.
Hikari finally understood what she was being asked. She smiled shyly as she answered, “I always feel everything is more than I can handle. But…”
“But…?”
“Amane-sama told me…even she wanted to run away, long ago. So, I should stay by her side…” Hikari blushed as she continued, “The only thing I can do is be by Amane-sama’s side…”
Hikari’s beaming smile was too bright for Nagisa.
***
That evening, the students who had eaten at the Lulim dining hall spread rumors like wildfire.
“Wow, is that a real sapphire?”
“Of course! Makoto-sama wouldn’t give out any fake jewelry.”
“But real sapphire pendants for everyone—even though we have many students from wealthy families in Astraea…this may be crude, but…I wonder how much it all cost?”
“Oh, forget the price… Makoto-sama doesn’t care about money. I’ve finally realized she is the only one who truly loves Spica and Astraea with all her heart! That’s why her overflowing love became a beautiful sapphire and…”
“Hey, why do you call her ‘Makoto-sama’…?”
“Ah… Well, that’s the only thing we can call her. I wish you’d been at the Lulim dining hall to see the whole thing, Yoshi-chan… She was really beautiful. Proud, poised, and strong…”
“But I swear you talked about Amane-sama like that yesterday…right…?”
“Oh…but it can’t be helped. Amane-sama is also very lovely, handsome, and really beautiful when she’s riding horses…she is like a real prince of Spica. But…”
“But?”
“But you know…Amane-sama…is… Well, Amane-sama used to say she wasn’t interested in girls, but…didn’t you see her at the Étoile competition, Yoshi-chan?”
“Yeah. I was pretty shocked, too…”
“Shocked is an understatement. Sad is more like it. The cool Amane-sama, who never batted an eye at anyone, so…frantic…for that girl…Konohana Hikari. The image I had of Amane-sama sort of crumbled at that moment…but…you know, Yoshi-chan…”
“What?”
“As a fan, I still wanted to see Amane-sama claim the Étoile crown… I was so intent on cheering for her. I was sad that Amane-sama liked that girl, but a true fan must wish for the happiness of Amane-sama. But…”
“But?”
“But…after the way Makoto-sama explained it… I don’t know…how shall I put it? Compared to Makoto-sama, I wonder how Amane-sama feels about us. It somehow made me sad. Yes…we knew it all along. Amane-sama was shy from the get-go, and didn’t like to show off, and blushed at the thought of having fans in the first place. Her bashfulness was one of her most endearing qualities. Amane-sama is the prince we look up to, but…she doesn’t care about Spica as a whole…so I became a bit sad. I know it’s not Amane-sama’s fault, but…”
“I see…”
“Makoto-sama is very strong, noble, and confident…and absolutely awesome. I was instantly drawn to her, and I feel I can follow her. Makoto-sama will…take care of us…and Spica and Astraea…and lead us from the front.”
“So basically…you’re going after your desires, right?”
“Oh gosh! Yoshi-chan, that’s not it… Well, if you see Makoto-sama, you’ll see. She’s really great! Almost as great as…Amane-sama. I didn’t know much at first, but she claims to hold the traditions passed down to her from the legendary star that holds the unfilled position…”
“Hey, what are you talking about? Legendary star that holds the unfilled position…?”
“I didn’t really understand that part, but…the upper-classmen obviously knew about her. Ah, but…that’s beside the point. Makoto-sama was really beautiful, confident, and overflowing with brilliance! So Yoshi-chan, let’s go see Makoto-sama tomorrow!”
After a few minutes…the room lights were turned off.
***
The dark Strawberry Dorms at midnight.
Nagisa couldn’t sleep.
She kept tossing in her bed.
“After she passed away, Shizuma-sama…lost her usual kindness…but I somehow knew…Shizuma-sama was very lonely…”
Chikaru’s words echoed in Nagisa’s heart.
So she was…such a special girl. Sakuragi Kaori-san…
Tamao really tried to downplay it, claiming Chikaru-sama tends to exaggerate things, so I shouldn’t take her that seriously, but…everything Chikaru-sama said seemed so…true.
Everyone else hesitated to tell me about the truth behind Shizuma-oneesama’s past. Chikaru-sama was quite different from Shizuma-oneesama, but to me she seems like a kind and gentle beauty.
To hear a person like that speak about the girl in such a way…
“Sakuragi Kaori was also very calm and lovely…and a frail, beautiful girl… She was probably too pure and beautiful to remain on Earth…”
Chikaru’s words continued to pierce Nagisa’s heart, but she tried to comfort herself.
The day the first round of the Étoile competition ended, after the coronation ceremony, Shizuma-oneesama asked me to believe in her.
Right now, Shizuma-oneesama wants to be with me. I believe Shizuma-oneesama, even now. She really cares about me, I really felt that. Sometimes I’m overwhelmingly happy, but—I’ve finally became accustomed to it.
But Shizuma-oneesama also said she didn’t want to deny her past…the beautiful memories that were like a dream…and the painfully sad days that ripped her heart…
The girl Shizuma-oneesama had strong feelings and bonds with…Sakuragi Kaori.
I only know her name…and a few stories about her elementary school years from Chiyo-chan. A frail, beautiful girl who was perfect for Shizuma-oneesama—the first girl the flirtatious Shizuma-oneesama had a serious relationship with.
But she was stricken by a disease without a cure, and less than a year into their relationship she left the school—and eventually passed away.
When I first heard it, I was a naïve fifteen-year-old who didn’t quite get it, because it seemed like a fairy tale. But now…I’ve heard the story from Shizuma-oneesama, Tamao-chan, and even from Chikaru-oneesama…
About Shizuma-oneesama’s past.
And how Shizuma-oneesama feels about me.
Is Shizuma-oneesama comparing me and Kaori?
Instead of Chikaru’s words of encouragement, the story of Sakuragi Kaori stayed in Nagisa’s heart…and echoed.
What was Sakuragi Kaori like…?
And Hikari’s confident smile at the Bell Walkways…it also pricked my heart.