Chapter 6: Romeo and Juliet Always Broke the Rules
Chapter 6
Romeo and Juliet Always
Broke the Rules
“Hurry…or we’ll be late!”
“Aaahh, wait up! I’m late because today’s dessert was the delicious fruit au gratin, and I went for seconds… I thought it was weird for all that dessert to be untouched…”
“Forget that…let’s hurry!”
After dinner. The news had spread even to the Miator dining hall area.
Nagisa listened to the chatter as she passed along the line of couches in front of the dining hall.
“What’s wrong?” Tamao asked. “Nagisa-chan, you look so scary… Ah, are you getting bored with me, because we’ve been together for so long?”
Tamao pretended to cry, but Nagisa snapped back coldly, “Gosh, enough of that already.”
Oh my, Nagisa-chan is quite irritated… Tamao was surprised. She usually doesn’t take it out on people…
“Ah, Nagisa-chan, you’re sooo scary. I’ll be afraid to be with you if you’re like that,” Tamao pointed out lightly.
“I- I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it… But I’d wanted to go too, so I’m a little frustrated…”
Tamao was even more surprised. “Did you really want to go…to Spica’s violin mini-concert? I heard it was going to be a lovely setup, with a candlelit service inside the dark chapel…but I thought we talked through this already. Two couples have already dropped out of the Étoile competition, and though it’s not likely…Kusanagi Makoto might be targeting you as the next victim of the Faceless Devil, so we decided not to go…”
“I know…but at this rate, the Miator dorm might empty out…and leave us behind…”
Sighing, Nagisa tried to shrug it off…and ended with a kicker. “I wonder if Shizuma-oneesama went too…”
Ohhh…so that’s it, Tamao thought.
It had been ten days since Nagisa and Shizuma had separated. Nagisa acted like nothing was wrong, but her cheerfulness had been fading slowly, like a photo losing its color…
Ahahaha… Nagisa-chan acted like she wanted to go there, but all she really wanted was to see Shizuma-oneesama…
Tamao tried to blurt it out, but something stopped her from doing so.
The tears that welled up in Nagisa’s eyes.
Tamao tried to cheer her up. “You’re almost there, Nagisa-chan. It’s only four more days…! The next time you see Shizuma-oneesama will be at the dance contest. If you don’t dance well, you’ll be picked on for life! Do you still want to see her, despite that?”
Nagisa shyly smiled and regained some of her cheerfulness. “Ahh…well, that wouldn’t be good…” She blushed at the thought of reuniting with Shizuma…
Tamao felt something trying to come out of her throat, but held it back with a smile.
“Here, I brought back some leftover fruit au gratin. Let’s eat this…and talk about the dance choreography in the small hall.”
Nagisa grinned bashfully as if to say…Okay, thank you!…and nodded.
***
7:00 p.m. at the chapel.
Underneath the towering stained-glass windows, in front of the altar, a small stage had been set up.
It was extremely rare to hold an event in that holy place.
There were over a hundred Strawberry Dorms residents gathered there. The main lights had been turned off, but countless candles glowed along the wall.
It began quietly…with a violin rendition of a Tchaikovsky concerto. In the soft, warm glow of silence, at center stage, wearing an unadorned white tuxedo, Kusanagi Makoto played the violin.
In the soft glow of the candles…she was the center of attention.
A single red rose protruded from her white jacket’s lapel, and as her violin’s music swelled to a crescendo…Makoto became more passionate.
Beautiful and lustrous, the violin vibrated violently yet sweetly…and it was utterly breathtaking… There was no accompanying orchestra or piano, but Makoto’s presence filled the large room…
Everyone felt her incredible talent. Sighs poured out of the audience at the awe-inspiring performance.
Oh gee…there’ll be another wave of Makoto-sama craziness stirring up tomorrow, thought Yaya, who sat at the back of the chapel.
She thought of Hikari, and it depressed her.
Hikari practiced hard with Kaname every day and tried so hard to keep her spirits up…“I’m going to do my best for Amane-sama…”
Hikari constantly repeated those words. And the smile that came with them was really forced…and worried Yaya to no end.
Hikari always does that…she says everything’s okay, but the next moment she bursts into tears…
Yaya’s heart ached at the thought. She didn’t want to admit it, but Hikari had changed since she’d met Amane.
Hikari had used to let it all out…she’d cried when she was sad, she’d trembled and run away when she was scared, but…she had learned to endure some pain and to confront the things that she once had run away from.
Yaya didn’t know whether the change was good or bad. Generally it was probably a good thing, but Yaya didn’t want Hikari to feel so much pain, so…she recalled that night…
It was nice that Hikari was growing stronger, but Yaya just wanted Hikari to be happy.
She wanted Hikari to be the shy, bubbly angel who stayed innocent and pure.
Yaya didn’t know where to keep her feelings, though. She couldn’t hold it in anymore, and she reached over to hold Hikari’s hand.
“Hikari, it’s all right…just because she came back from Russia, it doesn’t mean she’s good at dancing. And honestly…it doesn’t matter if you and Amane-sama become the Étoile…in fact, I’d rather you guys didn’t…”
She finally noticed.
“Hikari? Where did you go…?”
Hikari was no longer sitting beside her.
***
Ten minutes earlier.
Hikari moved to the darkest corner of the hall.
She had come with Yaya discreetly, avoiding all the Makoto fans that might pick on her. They had arrived right before the concert started and had slipped into the center back row, which was only partially filled.
The performance began, and as the romantic feeling spread…Hikari was able to forget her worries for a while…and as a lover of beautiful things, she took in the soothing music and the beauty of the atmosphere created by Makoto.
Yaya was also absorbed in the performance.
Suddenly someone poked Hikari.
Who…?
Surprised, Hikari tried to turn around.
“Shh…quiet. Keep your face forward…”
She heard a familiar voice. Tears welled up.
“Please come to the back without being noticed…” the voice said, and that person slipped away.
Hikari checked on Yaya. She was completely focused on the concert. She had been pulled into Tchaikovsky’s world…
Quietly Hikari left her seat.
Standing with her back to the dark wall was…Amane.
But Hikari couldn’t make out her face. Hikari wanted to confirm it was really her, and she reached out.
Amane gently deflected her hand. “We shouldn’t be seen together, so I’ll keep it short. I just wanted to see your face…” Amane said in a low tone.
Hikari shuddered; Amane’s tone was almost angry. Hikari wanted to see her so much…and was so happy to see her…but she couldn’t move her legs.
From the darkness, Amane burned the image of Hikari’s whole body, illuminated softly by the candles, into her mind.
But Hikari couldn’t see Amane’s face in the dark…
“Just four more days…hang in there.”
Amane’s words seemed so lonely. It almost sounded like she was bidding farewell for good…
Hikari…cried…
Trickle trickle trickle…the tears flowed uncontrollably. No matter how hard Hikari tried, she couldn’t hold them back.
“Hikari…” Amane panicked.
She came out of the darkness and tried to hold Hikari.
“Hikari…Hikari…where are you…?”
Yaya’s voice approached.
Amane stopped in her tracks. “Tonight at midnight…I’ll be here.”
Amane slipped away, her tight Spica uniform squeaking…and disappeared.
“Hey, why are you here, Hikari? Don’t go off like that…Makoto’s fans might ambush you, you know?”
It had been a close call.
Hikari wiped her tears as she listened to Yaya’s lecture and smiled. “I’m sorry…I was so moved by the violin performance, it made me cry…so I thought I’d wash up in the bathroom…”
Yaya wryly smiled. “You sure love beautiful things, huh? But how could you be moved by Makoto, that little thing…? Stupid girl…”
Yaya loved Hikari’s purity.
A set of eyes watched them…
The person on stage—the Emperor in the white tuxedo—had seen the whole thing.
***
Hikari wore a simple nightgown as she slipped away to Maiden Park.
She ran and ran, losing her breath…through the midnight forest.
The chapel’s midnight bell was about to toll. A low, subdued midnight bell.
There was a legend that said misfortune would strike those who heard the midnight bell of the chapel…so most of the Strawberry Dorms residents stayed away from the chapel at night.
It was exactly why Amane had chosen that place, instead of a place in the Strawberry Dorms. There were too many eyes at the dorms.
Though she didn’t care much for the Étoile competition, Amane still wanted to avoid the dishonor of getting caught for breaking the two-week separation rule. It would be a dishonor not only for Amane, but for Spica also.
Hikari was scared of the ominous jinx of the chapel bell, but…if she could see Amane-sama…she didn’t care. She kept running. Into the dark night forest, toward the chapel…
She hadn’t even told Yaya that she was going, and she had slipped out unnoticed…just to go and see Amane…
That’s why Hikari didn’t notice a figure, following her cautiously from behind…
***
B-tam…
Hikari had meant to close the chapel door quietly, but it slammed back and echoed through the hall, surprising her.
Inside, the chapel was a dark and empty void. It felt slightly moist and chilly. In the darkness, only a small, glowing red lamp was visible. It indicated the location of the holy water.
Hikari squinted toward the lamp. That must be the altar.
The next moment…flick…a match was struck.
A small candle, beside the red lamp, was lit.
The glow softly illuminated Amane’s thin, white face.
Amane-sama… Hikari’s heart filled with joy, rendering her speechless.
They had been separated for only ten days, but she felt such yearning. Her eyes filled, with tears of joy this time, which rolled down her cheeks without clouding her sight as she ran toward…
“Amane-sama!”
“Hikari!”
Hikari jumped straight into Amane’s arms.
Amane clutched Hikari tightly.
Tightly…tightly…they hugged each other in silence. No words were needed. Words couldn’t describe their feelings. They just hugged.
There were no words that could accurately capture how they felt.
After some time, Amane relaxed her arms and spoke to Hikari, who flinched.
“Please…show me your face. These ten days of separation have been so painful… I know we shouldn’t be breaking the rules, but…I couldn’t bear it anymore…” Amane confessed in a strained voice, and she placed a finger under Hikari’s chin.
Amane-sama… As Hikari looked up, her heart throbbed painfully.
“Me too… I tried so hard to do my best for you, Amane-oneesama, so I practiced dancing with Kaname-sama…but I wanted to see you so much…”
“Yes…I know. I heard about you doing dance practice with Kaname, and I was so worried… I thought Kaname might have been torturing you…no, I couldn’t bear it…if Kaname tried to touch you…”
“Oh no, Amane-sama…” Hikari was astonished. “That never happened…”
Amane lightly touched Hikari’s lips with her forefinger.
“No, don’t deny it…and…” Amane choked.
“And…?” Is there something wrong with Amane-sama…? Hikari suddenly felt anxious.
“And…” Amane deliberately played coy…as if she knew Hikari’s anxious feelings…and turned away.
“Amane-sama? Amane—”
Hikari’s lips…were suddenly sealed. With a warm…moist sensation.
Ah…
It was so…sudden and powerful. Like a storm.
Amane devoured Hikari’s lips.
I can’t…breathe… Hikari’s heart tightened, and her whole body went stiff…
But Amane hugged Hikari really hard and wouldn’t let go.
Something large and burning invaded Hikari’s body. Hikari closed her eyes and felt a shivering ecstasy run through her head…
Oh golly… I can’t…think…
Hikari’s knees buckled…and she crumpled to the floor.
“Hikari…” Amane tried to hold her up.
“Ah, there they are, Sister Fujii!”
A flashlight beam slid across the walls.
Ah…
Amane and Hikari raised their hands to block the brightness as that large voice boomed.
Several light switches were clicked on. The darkness, guarded by the small candle’s light, was gone in a flash, and the chapel turned into a blinding, unmerciful room of judgment.
Makoto’s triumphant shouts echoed. “Feast your eyes on this, Student Council Presidents! Just as I reported. They’re definitely here!” Makoto waved her arms dramatically.
“I’m really disappointed in you, Otori Amane! I can’t believe you lost in such a pathetic way. You’re a bigger fool than I imagined. You’re no longer worthy of being called a prince… Are you seeing this, everyone? St. Spica Student Council President, Tomori Shion? Now you know Amane is not worthy to be an Étoile. She broke so many school and dorm regulations, just to have a midnight rendezvous at the chapel! Hey, Shion-kun, aren’t you lucky I came back? Especially now?”
Inside the main entrance, next to the light switches, were the three schools’ Student Council Presidents—Shion, Chikaru, and Miyuki—called out as witnesses.
Chikaru looked on with pity, while Miyuki bitterly smiled…
Shion…was horror-struck. How could this happen…?
But Amane protected Hikari.
Hikari trembled like a flightless little bird, still in the nest.
So Amane continued to protect Hikari with all her might.
***
The next morning, news of the incident spread through the Strawberry Dorms dining halls like wildfire.
In the brilliant white Spica dining hall…
“Hey, did you hear?”
“Eh…what?”
“Last night, at the chapel…”
Whispers throughout the hall.
“Eeeeh!? No, really?!”
“Yeah, it’s…true.”
“No way…mild-mannered Amane-sama…no…I can’t believe it…”
The rumors wouldn’t stop.
Tomori Shion watched the painful scene unfold. She couldn’t even finish her breakfast muffin. After eating only two small slices of grapefruit, she left the room.
This rumor will surely saturate Spica by the end of the day. I need to figure out…a counter-plan…
She hurried down the hallway.
Amane and Hikari weren’t in the dining hall. Last night, Sister Fujii had thrown them into the Repentance Room. In separate spaces, of course.
“Hey, did you hear? Amane-sama fell ill with a serious disease…”
“Eeehh, really?! I heard the new transfer student was disqualified, so Amane-sama and Kaname-sama were going to pair up…”
“Eeeeeehh, I heard that last night at midnight, Amane-sama and Makoto-sama had a duel at the chapel…”
The rumors raced.
***
An emergency meeting was held in the Spica Student Council room.
Because of its urgent nature, only a few members who were aware of the situation—the Strawberry Dorms residents—attended.
The room was heavy with silence.
“And so, last night it was confirmed that the Otori Amane–Konohana Hikari couple broke the rules of the Faceless Devil event by seeing each other before the two-week separation period was over. The two students are currently being detained in the Strawberry Dorms Repentance Room. They are under strict surveillance, which restricts them from school and outside contact, and only visitors authorized by the sisters will be allowed. We will announce this fact at a later date, but I believe the sisters will focus not on the situation surrounding the couple, but rather on the school and dorm rules that they’ve broken. They may receive severe punishment, including the possibility of being suspended from school.” Shion made her announcement in a business-like tone.
“Thus…?”
“Thus what?!” Kaname exploded. She was always the first to interject at these meetings.
Shion sighed—Here she goes again—but felt relieved at the same time. She was glad Kaname had interjected, because she didn’t want to finish what she had to say. She had known exactly when Kaname would explode…
“So…what’s gonna happen? Don’t talk like it’s not personal! Isn’t Amane-sama Spica’s number-one star? How did we lose her…and fall into Makoto’s trap! What are you gonna do about it, Student Council President!! Did you just stand there and watch Amane-sama being treated like a criminal as she was being taken away? There must have been something you could’ve done! Amane-sama didn’t really want to enter the Étoile competition, but she made a painful decision to represent us at Spica…but look at this mess… It’s no wonder the Student Council gets accused of being totally arrogant! And now Amane-sama is suffering stiff penalties…and that little Hikari, who endured my torturous dance lessons…oh man…they probably feared for their lives when Sister Fujii caught them…” Kaname’s voice trembled slightly.
Tsubomi was utterly astonished at the whole turn of events…and felt the pressure of grief welling up inside her as she heard Kaname’s unexpected comments about Hikari.
Ahh…even Kaname-sama is worried about Hikari-oneesama…yes, Hikari-oneesama practiced so hard…but…we at the Student Council couldn’t protect her…
Shion wasn’t fazed.
“Trap…? Criminal…? That had nothing to do with it. While it’s true that Kusanagi Makoto has acted quite suspiciously on certain occasions…this incident was probably the result of Amane-sama’s spontaneous actions, and took place of her own free will. Even if there were people trying to take her down, it’s highly unlikely that Amane-sama would be lured out of the Strawberry Dorms and to the chapel at midnight. And as proof…”
Shion looked off in the distance. “Last night…when Amane-sama saw my face…she seemed so remorseful…like she was apologizing to me…”
Kaname screamed silently and clenched her fist.
“Yeah, Kaname-chan…don’t blame everything on poor little Shion-chan,” Momomi, who sat next to Kaname, said quietly. “Kaname-chan, you must have sensed it, too? Amane-sama hates to be showy…but she seriously intended to break the rules this time…”
Another heavy silence fell upon the room.
Tsubomi tried to say something, but seeing the tense reactions of the usually gentle upperclassmen made it difficult for her to find the right words.
Pheeew… Shion sighed. “It’s highly regrettable, but there’s nothing we can do at this point…”
In a strained voice she went on, “On behalf of the Étoile Executive Committee, we hereby disqualify the couple, Otori Amane and Konohana Hikari, from the Étoile competition…”
Knock knock knock…
A series of small, suppressed, but sharp raps echoed across the room.
Is someone late for this meeting…? Tsubomi, sitting at the last seat, jumped up to open the door.
“Good morning, St. Spica Student Council members…oh, and Shion-chan, sorry to bother you so early in the morning. I thought that maybe I could catch you here. Um, would you be interested in an idea I have?”
There stood the St. Lulim Student Council President, Minamoto Chikaru. She smiled pleasantly. As if she had predicted this strange turn of events…the gentle girl had a paper box full of freshly baked blueberry scones for everyone.
***
Meanwhile, Nagisa…plodded.
She walked around Maiden Park, on her way to school.
That path from the Strawberry Dorms to Miator ran along the outer perimeter of Maiden Park—it was the long way to school, so most of the students never used it. Even Nagisa rarely used this path, but…this morning was special.
It had been a week and three days since she’d last seen Shizuma.
Up until that day, Tamao had pretty much occupied each and every minute of her life, including showers and meals, but…maybe she had felt comfortable enough to leave Nagisa alone…or had just relaxed her grip on Nagisa…or she’d really had an urgent errand…
Either way, Tamao had had to stay back and do something at the Strawberry Dorms, so she had asked Nagisa to go to school by herself.
And walking alone…Nagisa started to accept a normal life without Shizuma.
Shizuma-oneesama no longer barged into her classroom, and she hadn’t bumped into Shizuma-oneesama in the hallways for all these days…
Her body no longer wondered if Shizuma would appear at the next corner…
And of course, she no longer experienced a rush of excitement flinging her up to Heaven, because she didn’t have any more chance encounters.
And no more shocking news that dropped her down to Hell…
Nagisa was unaware of the mayhem at Spica. She noticed a yellow rose bush, ready to bloom, in Maiden Park.
It’s so pretty…
Somehow she had walked past Maiden Park and ended up on the back side of Miator. She saw the steeples of Miator’s auditorium down at the far end.
Oops…did I make a wrong turn? Oh well…I did make it to Miator…
The yellow roses were much too cute, so she reached out to pluck one.
I like red, white, and pink roses because they’re so cool…and they might match Shizuma-sama or Tamao-chan…but they’re too mature for Nagisa…
That’s why I like cute yellow roses the most…
Right when she touched the rose… “O-Oww!”
“Hey, stop…who’s trying to disturb the garden grave…?” a voice called out the moment she nicked her finger on a thorn.
It was a sharp voice.
Who…?
Nagisa spun around, and standing there, a look of total shock on her face was…Togi Hitomi.
Ah, I’ve seen this person before…Nagisa thought. I recognize her short hair and handsome eyebrows…she’s in the same class as Shizuma-oneesama…and usually sits with her in the cafeteria… Great…
Nagisa smiled in relief. “U-Umm, excuse me. I just transferred here so I’m not sure…this rose…is called the garden grave? I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to pick these flowers. It was so pretty, so I tried to take one… I’m sorry.”
Nagisa bowed to apologize.
Hitomi was speechless.
Nagisa hastily filled the awkward silence. “Ah, but I haven’t plucked it. When I touched the rose, I nicked my finger on the thorn… Ahaha…I guess I got punished for doing something wrong…ah…ahahaha…”
Nagisa’s laughter echoed eerily.
Hitomi said, with a grim expression, “No excuses.”
“Ah, I-I’m so sorry…”
Hitomi’s face was so scary, it made Nagisa nervous.
“I’m very sorry. I promise not to touch these roses. I really didn’t know…”
She bowed at the waist in a ninety-degree angle. As nervous beads of sweat formed on her forehead, Nagisa looked at her feet.
But Hitomi didn’t respond.
Nagisa held her bow for the longest time. Huh? Did she go away or something…? Oh no…blood is rushing to my head…I’m getting dizzy…
She didn’t know what to do, so she lifted her head just a little to peek at the girl in front of her…
Hitomi covered her mouth with her hand and…sobbed.
Eh…eeeeehhh?! Wh-Why is she crying…?!
Nagisa was confused even more. “U-Umm, I’m sorry for doing such a horrible thing…” Her voice shook.
Hitomi replied in a surprisingly tender voice, “N-No…that’s not it…” Her tears streamed down her face…and she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Nagisa, worried about Hitomi, approached her.
“Umm…are you okay?”
Hitomi wiped her tears. Nagisa…stuck her hands in her dress pockets to fish for something. She handed Hitomi a freshly laundered polka-dot handkerchief.
“Thank you…you’re so kind.”
Hitomi hesitated a little before she took the handkerchief. She closed her eyes and looked up to Heaven…in a moment of silence.
“For some reason…the memories came back…you’re so straightforward, simple, and cheerful…and totally the opposite of her. But maybe Shizuma-sama yearned for a girl like you, and never…”
She opened her eyes. She had no more tears.
“Maybe I was the one who was so hung up on…my idealized version of Shizuma-oneesama…only her beauty on the outside… I completely ignored her true desires and…”
And she looked at a small, cross-shaped stone monument…a grave-like structure planted with flowers that bloomed through the four seasons…
“I…want you to hear the story…since probably nobody else will tell you. But I think you’ve been curious about it. I want you to listen, for Shizuma-sama’s sake. About the girl who passed away…”
***
The Spica Student Council room was stunned into silence…
Chikaru smiled. “Well then, everyone…may I take that as a yes?”
“But…what good will that do for Spica?” Kaname snapped.
Tsubomi nodded at Kaname’s objection.
“Good? Oh, there will be a lot of benefits, Kaname-chan. Because…even if you forced Amane-chan and her partner to stay in the competition…well, that’s probably impossible. I think Amane-chan will definitely receive some flack this time, and it will cut down on her chances to win the Étoile crown. But…if she gracefully withdraws now…Amane-chan will still be able to participate in next year’s competition…”
Words flowed smoothly out of Chikaru’s mouth, like a song.
“But Amane-sama will be a sixth-year student then…” Tsubomi pointed out.
“The second-place contestant, Shizuma-sama, is a sixth-year student. And…that’s the main problem. Spica students, you don’t want Miator to take the Étoile crown again this year, do you? To have Miator take the Étoile crown two years in a row, the year that Amane-sama was an eligible fifth-year student…and especially to have it taken by Shizuma-sama, who decided to participate on a whim…?”
“Well…” Kaname choked on Chikaru’s words.
“Besides, Miator has been able to maintain their advantage during the Étoile tournaments all these years. The excitement stirring at Spica was based on breaking this cycle, right? And…the same goes for St. Lulim Girls’ School.”
“But Chikaru-sama, you’ve never indicated such a desire…” Even Momomi was taken aback by this comment.
“Well…I find it embarrassing to share it openly. ‘I want the Étoile crown!’—I can’t say that openly without sounding rebellious…so I didn’t have the heart to say it. It’s like a bride longing to wear her wedding gown without caring for the actual marriage itself…”
Kyaaah… Chikaru squirmed in embarrassment, much to the dismay of the students in the room.
“Umm…Chikaru-sama, are you insulting us…?” Shion’s temple twitched in anger as she asked on behalf of the other students.
Chikaru apologized with a smile. “Ah, I apologize…I didn’t mean it that way. It’s a bad habit…”
“Well, it’s understandable…” Shion grumbled.
Chikaru was known as the Holy Mother of St. Lulim Girls’ School, but she was also the eccentric girl who had planned and established the Costume Club, nicknamed “the Madonna’s Dress-up Club.”
Everyone in the room agreed. Every girl dreamed of wearing a wedding dress someday…so being embarrassed at the thought of wearing one…was indeed a strange concept.
Shion struggled to continue. “But even if we do create a Spica-Lulim couple to go against Miator, do you have a strong candidate in Lulim, President Chikaru? At Spica, we have…”
She glanced at Kaname, but Kaname looked disgruntled. She had no interest in entering the Étoile competition with anyone other than her beloved Amane-sama.
Chuckling at the silent interaction, Chikaru answered.
“Oh, I sure do! I wouldn’t come all the way out here empty-handed. Consider this to be my greatest form of generosity. Take a look…”
Chikaru pulled out a photo, folded into four sections, and slowly opened it.
“Th-This…” Kaname raised her voice.
In the picture was Kagome, looking like a French doll. She sat on a chair and had a childish smile, so cute and refined. Behind her stood Kizuna and Remon, wearing similar dresses…
At Kagome’s feet, a teddy bear was dressed up in a tuxedo.
“This is a just a picture of your hobby!” Kaname bellowed.
Chikaru grinned. “Tsk… Don’t they look like the Kusanagi sisters? This is one of my recent projects. I chose dresses in honor of the second round of the Étoile competition. And…the girl sitting in the middle is Byakudan Kagome-chan. Kagome-chan is a first-year student who is a rare, enchanting girl from a very affluent family. She lived in England for a long time, so…she’s a very good dancer.”
The room stirred.
“If we paired this girl with…Spica’s very popular violinist…won’t we have a perfect victory in the second-round dance contest? I heard she defeated two other couples, also. They’ll make a great pair. Please take a closer look at her picture.”
Chikaru brought the other students in.
“And…Kagome-chan is very small…which makes her absolutely adorable, but look…she’ll fit perfectly with Spica’s little Emperor. And the new concept of a Spica-Lulim alliance will surely win the support of both schools…”
Chikaru placed Makoto’s picture next to Kagome’s. The two doll-like beauties…seemed to fit so well.
But Kaname retorted, “President Chikaru! We shouldn’t be talking about fantasies! Excuse us, but we have a crisis at hand in Spica. If it was a plan to save Amane-sama, we’d listen, but we don’t have time for your lighthearted daydreams! If that’s all you’ve got for us, please leave…”
Had Kaname’s jealousy over Amane-sama…caught fire?
Chikaru responded to Kaname’s outrage calmly. She chuckled, “My, so short-tempered…”
But she stopped. Out of the corner of her eye, she had caught sight of a serious face.
Shion pressed her lips together tightly, silently ordering Kaname—who was about to continue—to shut up.
Momomi opened her folding fan with its panda logo and waved it at the sweat on her cheeks. Tsubomi swallowed hard, wondering what would happen next…
“I understand,” Chikaru said. “You’re not willing to cooperate without getting something else…so I’m prepared to share some information…only with this group.”
Folding her arms across her stomach, she added with a wide smile, “But this hasn’t been announced at Lulim yet. Please keep this between us…”
Turning around, she looked at the Spica Student Council members, and spoke in a hard, serious manner…
“Currently at Lulim, there’s a movement to create a new department, which will collect unique, talented students…or specialists. Until now, Lulim has stood in the shadow of the two other schools, the historical and traditional Miator and the independent and athletic Spica. Lulim has been at a disadvantage…and hasn’t been able to draw out its full potential yet. Its relaxed and broad-minded educational policy, which aims to create great housewives and mothers of the future, has been followed faithfully, but many former graduates have raised concerns about our many years of misfortune and an unclear future. At the same time, in recent years Lulim’s free-spirited environment has attracted many unique individuals. The three girls here are prime examples of the success that we’ve had so far. And…”
Chikaru’s smile returned.
“This year, these three girls came to our school in hopes of transferring into our new department…our first candidates.”
New department…unique, talented student candidates…
The Spica students were rendered speechless, listening to Chikaru’s mind-boggling new concept.
“Lulim hopes this new department will create bright young hopefuls that will contribute greatly to society. At the same time…Lulim will emerge from beneath the overbearing shadows of long-standing Miator and Spica to gain glory for a successful future…”
Facing the large glass wall, Chikaru looked out into the distance.
“And the name of the new department is…”
Everyone in the room gulped.
“St. Lulim Girls’ School Z Class. It will commonly be known as…the Public Entertainment Department.”
A shock of silence filled the room.
Chikaru waited, with a gorgeous smile, for that name to sink in.
“To tell you the truth, I wanted to make Lulim my little harem, full of cute girls. I wanted to gather adorable girls that could become TV idols… So I need Lulim to win the Étoile soon. If a student in the Public Entertainment Department becomes an Étoile, more students will want to attend Lulim…and in turn, they’ll bring in more cute girls…”
Chikaru’s cheeks turned pink. “So…I want to take advantage of the Étoile entry privilege that Makoto-chan, your little Emperor, has acquired. And for Spica, you’ll gain the Lulim votes, so it’ll be a big plus for your school, too. If we don’t create an alliance now…the number-one candidate, Prince Amane, will be disqualified…and the new transfer student, Makoto-chan, will become a star but won’t be on good terms with the Student Council…and she won’t be able to find a good partner, and Miator’s Shizuma-sama will monopolize the competition…”
The room went cold with silence.
***
Huff huff huff…
Nagisa raced to school as she ran out of breath.
She just ran…she didn’t know how to feel. She hadn’t heard Hitomi trying to stop her, as she ran off in the middle of the story.
Her heart and head were so full she was about to explode.
Shizuma-oneesama and…Sakuragi Kaori…
Hitomi had explained how Kaori had been beautiful, pure, and withdrawn…but she had secured a place next to Shizuma-sama and had been very happy.
Shizuma might not have loved her as much as she’d loved Shizuma, but nonetheless Shizuma had enjoyed taking care of her beautiful young girl.
Hitomi had probably explained it to Nagisa in such a careful way, but Nagisa didn’t care about that anymore. Hearing about Kaori’s incurable illness—and the way Shizuma had battled the illness with Kaori—was shocking to Nagisa, as if she had been struck by lightning.
Hitomi’s recollection of the two girls’ past was too beautiful…and too tender…
And much too fragile and sad.
Nagisa didn’t know how to feel.
“After Kaori passed away, Shizuma-sama…was empty, like a shell. That bright, powerful person, who was like a sun, couldn’t smile or laugh. Whenever she looked to the sky or looked at a flower…she would only sigh. I honestly didn’t think Shizuma-sama had loved Kaori that much…it surprised me, but really…”
Hitomi had looked at Nagisa.
“It was so painful to see Shizuma-sama back then. If she saw a cute girl, she didn’t even respond…she stopped her playful teasing. I didn’t recognize Shizuma-sama anymore. I almost became jealous of Kaori…and I prayed that Kaori wouldn’t take Shizuma-sama away from me. But Shizuma-sama slowly recovered…regaining her usual cheerfulness…and when she decided to enter the Étoile competition, she became so joyful and energetic. There were rumors that Shizuma-sama wouldn’t compete. But we—me, Mizuho, and Shizuma-sama’s close friends—convinced her that she had to mark her time in history as an Étoile.
“Kaori had looked forward to Shizuma-sama becoming the Étoile…so Shizuma-sama needed to show it to her up in Heaven. Shizuma-sama agreed reluctantly, with dark eyes, but from the next day on…she was the powerful Shizuma-sama again. We were happy she was back to normal, but…during the coronation ceremony, when we heard Shizuma-sama cry out, ‘All my love to you’…we finally understood Shizuma-sama’s true feelings…”
That had been Nagisa’s limit.
She’d just had to… She had felt that she had to ask Shizuma something…
And before she’d realized it, she had run off. Maybe she’d just wanted to run away from that place…
“Ah, wait…” Hitomi had yelled to Nagisa to stop, but it was no use. Hitomi’s last words never reached Nagisa’s ears.
“Shizuma-sama…was probably crushed by guilt. Shizuma-sama’s feelings toward Kaori were…not love…”
Nagisa ran.
She just ran.
Toward the Sixth Year Snow Class classroom.
She’s not here.
Nagisa went to the teachers’ office.
She’s not here either.
Nagisa ran all over the school to find Shizuma. She couldn’t find Shizuma anywhere.
She ran along the path to Maiden Park again. The path where she had first met Shizuma…
But Shizuma wasn’t there. Not here, either…
As memories of being with Shizuma flashed through her mind…Nagisa ran all around Astraea.
The Mouth of Truth event of the Étoile competition…the chapel where they had retrieved holy water…and…
She looked up at the large stone castle.
She remembered Shizuma’s sweet voice. The Secret Garden…
It was the library.
She was drawn to the entrance…and opened the door.
***
Tmp tmp tmp tmp…
Nagisa’s feet tapped the stone floor of the library as she trotted through it.
She walked around…and finally reached the vacant second-floor hallway.
Nagisa saw her.
“Ohh…here you are…” Nagisa said out loud, relieved.
Shizuma looked at her, puzzled…and really surprised.
“Nagisa…”
Shizuma looked around. Nagisa was panting and almost dropped to her knees. Shizuma wrapped her arms around Nagisa’s waist, picked her whole body up, and carried her to a hidden area behind the bookshelves.
“You shouldn’t be here…people will see you. You know about this morning’s commotion, right? But…I’m glad you couldn’t hold back and came to see me…”
Still holding Nagisa, Shizuma tried to kiss her forehead, but…
Nagisa deflected it instinctively. “No…”
“Nagisa…?” Shizuma was surprised…then looked sad.
Nagisa thought—oh no—as she slowly turned to face Shizuma.
“I…have a question I’ve wanted to ask you for a long, long time. That’s why I came here…”
Nagisa’s hands trembled.
Shizuma, seeing Nagisa’s troubled state, stood up straight. She spoke in a low tone.
“I see…so what’s your question, Nagisa?”
It felt like a large lump was stuck in Nagisa’s throat…because her voice wouldn’t come out…
She swallowed the lump, and tried hard to keep her voice from cracking, but it only made her voice loud.
“Wh-what did you think of Sakuragi Kaori-san…Shizuma-oneesama?”
She almost yelled it. She regretted asking the question almost instantly. But…she couldn’t take back it now.
Shizuma…remained still, as if she had expected this question. But…to Nagisa’s eyes, Shizuma’s face tightened…and seemed a bit sad.
“Nagisa…you don’t believe in me…?”
“N-No, that’s not what I mean…I just…” Nagisa was serious.
Shizuma continued as if she hadn’t heard Nagisa. “Well…I can’t hide it from you anymore.”
Shizuma looked as if she were laughing softly. Yet she seemed so sad…as if she had some very deep sorrow…
Nagisa became fearful. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked… But it’s too late.
As Shizuma began to speak, she grabbed Nagisa’s hand and led her to a bench in a secluded area.
“She was very cute…a girl you’d have loved to have as your younger sister.”
Shizuma’s words were so sweet and gentle. They pricked Nagisa’s heart. She wanted to run away, but Shizuma held Nagisa’s hands, wrapping them tenderly in her own.
Nagisa was able to hold back her urge to bolt and listened.
“Hitomi introduced her to me… Back then, I was really tough…tsk…and truthfully, I didn’t think she was cute. No, she looked cute, but… Hitomi complimented her looks so much… I thought…she was a quiet girl who was spoiled by everyone. She seemed so boring. She was so introverted that someone had to bring her to me… I hated girls like that. But when I tried to walk away…she threw herself at my feet to stop me. I was really surprised by her clumsy, honest feelings…”
Tsk tsk…Shizuma occasionally chuckled or smiled sadly as she told the story. She looked through Nagisa, as if she were looking at something beyond the horizon…
Kaori had been a very beautiful girl, and had looked perfect with Shizuma. But she had been physically weak, so she’d sat under the parasols while everyone frolicked at the pool.
She had always been by Shizuma’s side, a reigning presence amidst her friends, and had always smiled happily. She hadn’t been flashy by any means, but she had always been mild and peaceful and seemingly so fragile…a serene beauty that Shizuma had loved.
Shizuma…had loved…her…
Shizuma explained softly, to keep Nagisa calm.
Nagisa understood her intent.But Nagisa wanted Shizuma to tell her…straight to her face…I love you now.
Once…just once…
Nagisa knew Shizuma had cared about Kaori so much that she’d claimed the Étoile crown for her. But she wanted Shizuma to tell her…I love you more…
Even if it was a lie.
Nagisa’s eyes glazed as she stood. She was so scared…she couldn’t hear the whole explanation.
Shizuma usually would have sensed Nagisa’s hidden emotions and held her back…but she was probably distracted by the memories of Kaori.
“I’m sorry…I need to go…since it’s almost homeroom time…”
“Okay… Nagisa, are you okay? You don’t seem too well…”
“I-I’m fine! Thank you…very much. Shizuma-oneesama… I’m sorry for asking you so suddenly… I’m okay… I’ll leave before someone finds us here…”
Shizuma is such a nice person. She probably wouldn’t compare people, or rank who she loved the most and stuff…
Nagisa tried to convince herself.
But…knowing Shizuma-oneesama…if she really loved me, she’d surely say it straight to my face…
“I love you more than Kaori, so don’t worry…I really love you…”
I…can’t do it. I can’t win against…a deceased person.
No matter how much I try…I’m surprised I want to “win” someone’s love…but it’s much harder to give up at this stage.
Oh gosh… I…I really love Shizuma-oneesama…and want to be her number one…
But that’s an impossible dream…
***
Tsubomi, with sweat on her forehead, reached as high as she could to post the new announcement on the bulletin board.
As soon as the paper was secured to the board, she scampered away before the crowds could gather.
The announcement was written simply…
ANNOUNCEMENT
The candidates listed below have been disqualified from the second round of the Étoile Competition due to violations of specified competition rules.
NAMES
St. Spica Girls’ Institute
Fifth Year, Class Trois: Otori Amane
Third Year, Class Un: Konohana Hikari
—Étoile Competition Executive Committee
Screams and cheers and angry yells swirled at Spica.
***
Meanwhile, in the Miator Fourth Year Moon Class classroom…
Nagisa was gloomy as she entered the room, so Tamao raised her voice on purpose to welcome her.
“Ohh, Nagisa-chan, where were you? I looked all over for you…”
Tamao sensed the severity of Nagisa’s depression and peered into her face, concerned.
“What…happened? Did the library culprit appear? Ah, was it Spica’s Emperor Makoto…?”
“No…it was nothing… I’m fine! Really…”
Tamao watched Nagisa slump in her chair. She bit her finger, looked at Nagisa suspiciously…and was dying to ask…
“Heeeeey, did you hear about it already? About Prince Amane…?”
“What…? Prince Amane…as in the Étoile candidate…?”
Nagisa recalled Prince Amane on a white horse, gallantly saving Hikari in the first round of the Étoile competition, during the Maiden Horse Race.
Nagisa’s heart ached. Ahhh…those two must really love each other… I feel a little wistful and envious… Oh gosh…I hate this feeling…
Tamao, oblivious to Nagisa’s feelings, said enthusiastically, “Yes, that mild-mannered Prince Amane and her partner, Konohana Hikari, were caught last night during a rendezvous at the chapel. They were disqualified from the competition and sent to separate Repentance Rooms, on restriction…”
“Eeeeeehhh?!”
Gadunk… Nagisa knocked her chair down as she stood in astonishment. What in the world…?
She remembered Amane, cradling the sobbing Princess Hikari in her arms, comforting Hikari with gentle whispers. It was so obvious and almost blinding how much Amane cared for Hikari.
And at the same time, Hikari had believed and depended on Amane…with all her heart.
In contrast, Shizuma-oneesama and I are…
She recalled Shizuma’s distant gaze, going right through her, smiling at past memories…
We aren’t worthy of competing in the Étoile competition.
The moment she thought of it.
Ah…
It dawned on Nagisa.
I…broke the rules, too…
Nagisa hadn’t recalled until then that seeing Shizuma was a major no-no…
“Well…then I’m disqualified, too! I just met Shizuma-oneesama…” she cried out in a daze.
Her classmates wondered what had just happened. But in the next moment, Tamao, although taken by surprise at Nagisa’s volatile confession, immediately covered Nagisa’s mouth.
“O-Oh goodness…what are you saying? Nagisa-chan, don’t say such nonsense just because you’re stressed out from the competition… You were with me all morning! You shouldn’t lie like that, and because you’ve gotten this far, you can’t quit. Miator’s honor is on the line…!”
Tamao’s laughing face had gone white…she fervently looked around the classroom as she covered Nagisa’s mouth.
Oh, Nagisa’s just whining again… A few classmates who understood Nagisa and Tamao’s relationship wryly smiled or sympathized…and returned to their conversations.
Ding dong…
The starting bell rang.
Tamao whispered to Nagisa, who sat limply in her chair, “Don’t worry—from the looks of it, nobody saw you, right? No one will know. Let’s go report it to Miyuki-oneesama… okay?”