Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime/Mai Otome

Note: Not beta-ed

One More Chance

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Hello? Who is this? Fujino?"

After the name was said, a certain girl quickly spun her head towards the receiver of the call and tried to listen to their conversation. After a quick talk, the phone call ended.

"What did she say Haruka-chan?"

"Her car broke down, Yukino. She's asking me to pick her up."

The last statement made the curious girl surprised.


"Why do you have to break tonight, of all nights?"

She asked her old black Honda Civic, not really expecting to be answered.

"Cold"

She said as she hugged herself tight. She was inside her car, waiting to be saved by the friend she called a moment ago.

Noticing some headlights from behind, she chanted a quick 'Oh, thank you Lord' and went out to face Haru…

"Natsuki?"

She whispered while watching the other girl getting out of her vehicle.

"What are you doing here?"

She asked even though she already knew the answer.

"I'm here to pull you."

Natsuki answered while tying a thick nylon rope behind her Ford F 150.

"Why?"

The question made her stop from what she was doing,

"What why?"

She returned the question, not bothering to look at the other girl and continuing on what she was doing.

"Why are you helping me?"

This time, the question made her stop and stand. She raised an eyebrow and faced her questionnaire. Clearly, she's getting annoyed.

"Why? Because I'm your girlfriend! Do you still have to ask? Plus, why did you called Haruka instead of me?!"

Natsuki was completely clueless of what was running in Shizuru's mind. She does not remember having a fight with her earlier. In fact, they were together during lunch. Except that Shizuru left her while eating in the restaurant without a word. But she was not worried. She was certain that it was just because of stress from work and they will be fine after some time alone. It happens all the time, for five glorious years.

Shizuru was silent after the last question was thrown to her. Not daring to face Natsuki, who was staring and observing her intently. Natsuki figured that her girlfriend was troubled so instead of expressing her disappointment and anger, she decided to calm down and have a heart to heart talk with Shizuru.

"Shizuru"

The said girl looked up to her with sorrowful eyes. It never fails to hurt Natsuki everytime she sees those.

"Shizuru… What's the problem?"

Once the question was stated, Shizuru quickly averted her gaze away from the younger girl.

"Nothing Natsuki, I guess… I guess it's just me."

Natsuki's blood boiled again. She's not sure if Shizuru's playing hard-to-get or she just want to keep it from her. She tried to calm herself. She knows that being rough won't do the trick, so she decided to say the set of words she's been using for five years that will effectively soften Shizuru.

"If you don't tell me the problem, Shizuru, how will I fix it?"

She said it again. Oh how she hated those very words of Natsuki. Every time there's trouble, she says that. Every time she has a problem she says that. Every time they have a problem, she says that. Every time, every time, every time!

"Why do you always have to be the one to fix things?!"

She said it with an annoyed, sarcastic, sad and confused tone. Tears started flowing, her cheeks are red. She does not know anymore.