Epilogue: The Sacred Étoile

Strawberry Panic (Light Novel) 1 — LNCrawler · All chapters

Epilogue

The Sacred Étoile

Ding dong…

The celebratory bells rang, and the girls’ cheers resonated in the air. Astraea Hill was filled with happiness. At the edge of the lake was a large tent and numerous parasols with tables underneath them covering the area. There were bright hunter green one-piece dresses, white two-pieces suits with skirts, and soft, light pink plaid sailor outfits all about. The students of the three prim and proper schools of Astraea Hill—St. Miator Girls’ Academy, St. Spica Girls’ Institute, and St. Lulim Girls’ School—mingled with each other enjoying tea and sweets.

Today was the annual Astraea Tea Party. The bells tolled to celebrate the crowning of the new Étoile. It echoed in the background, under the clear summer sky.

“Come to think of it… I should have taken you with me to Europe, huh?” Shizuma whispered into Nagisa’s ear, which made her choke on a piece of chicken.

“Grrk…ack. Wh-What are you saying, Shizuma-sama! If you did that, then everyone would hate you.” Nagisa remembered how she ran faster than Tamao, Chiyo, Hitomi, and Mizuho the day they had chased Shizuma to the airport.

“Goodness, you needn’t get so mad. Think about it… maybe everyone would have congratulated us. This year’s Étoile coronation is boring! I’d rather take you on a trip to Europe and have plenty of fun.”

Rokujo Miyuki, a glass in one hand, interjected.

“Please engage in those activities after you graduate. Yes, why don’t you just marry Aoi-san then? A honeymoon in Europe sounds quite lovely, wouldn’t you say?”

Tomori Shion sat next to Miyuki and chuckled. “Please let us enjoy ourselves this year. You’ll have another shot at the Étoile crown next year, Shizuma-sama.”

“Next year?! I can’t possibly do that!” Shizuma blurted.

“Oh? Shizuma-sama, I thought for sure you’d be able to pull off a stunt like that for Aoi-san,” Yaya snickered.

Tamao, who sat next to Yaya, shook her finger. “Don’t worry. I, Suzumi Tamao, will not allow such a thing! Next year Nagisa-chan and I will win back the Étoile crown for Miator.”

Chiyo clasped her hands. “Wow, that’s wonderful, Tamao-oneesama.”

“Wait. Isn’t the Étoile couple supposed to be a pairing of an upperclassman and an underclassman?” Tsubomi questioned.

Chikaru chimed in.

“Good point. Maybe Nagisa-chan should transfer to Lulim instead? You’re one of the best stars around. Kizuna-chan, Remon-chan, and Kagome-chan are younger than you, so it’ll be perfect! Come on, everyone line up! Yes, you all look quite lovely!”

Kizuna, Remon, and Kagome scampered toward Nagisa and surrounded her.

“Yay, Chikaru-oneesama, we have one more student to join us in Class Z! ♥”

“Eh, ah, wait…hold on…” Nagisa stuttered.

“Oh, what a great idea! Maybe I should transfer to Lulim as well?” Shizuma commented.

Everyone laughed at her joke.

If we’re not careful, Shizuma-sama might just do that.

“By the way, where are they?” Momomi asked. “The winners of the competition?”

“Oh…they’re probably having their pictures taken right now, in their Étoile outfits,” Kaname answered bluntly.

One last bell.

Ding dong…

A celebratory bell rang its last note. The doors of the chapel were opened wide and the Prince and Princess came out. The blue summer sky was boundless, and the winds smelled sweet as flowers as it swept through the hills. The girls’ cheers grew louder as a flurry of white flower petals swirled in the air.

Flower petals slowly showered on all the young maidens, as though the heavens were cherishing this special moment. Time stopped briefly, while the girls’ dreams and loves were locked in eternity.

FIN