Maria-sama ga Miteru fanfic. Everything between Kanina Shizuka and Tōdō Shimako start with Satō Sei.
I. Attraction
She wasn't intrigued by that woman. Iie, she couldn't be, couldn't for Kanina Shizuka-sama represented everything that can tear her world apart. Shizuka-sama was interested in capturing Onee-sama's attention—that much was obvious—but why would she make such an absurd offer?
Become the petite sœur to Shizuka-sama? Impossible. She couldn't do it. Give up what's left of Onee-sama after the present Rosa Gigantea graduated, to hand over the rosary looped around her wrist? Unspeakable. She wasn't curious about Shizuka-sama, she really wasn't.
"No matter what happens after this, I have no intention of becoming your petite sœur."
She wasn't.
II. Romance
The white card hung a little over her head, suspended by a matching white pin. An invitation. She tilted her head and studied it, curious, a smirk playing on her face. Unromantic, some might call it, placing it out on the committee bulletin board, but she disagrees. Shimako intended this paper for only one person, for the only person she wanted to understand her…but this was one thing Shizuka wasn't willing to give entirely to Satō Sei. She reached up and tugged the paper from the wall.
She wasn't heartless, but the truth was, she really wasn't that kind either.
III. Passion
"I don't dislike Shizuka-sama, but it's a little…"
Unnerving. Troubling. Distracting. There weren't words enough that described the riot of impulses coursing through her blood whenever Shizuka turned sly eyes on her. Shimako wanted to slap her, to rake sharp fingernails across pale cheeks to bring forth a deep crimson she's sure belonged on the singer's face, and at the same time, wanted to grab her, bring her close, shove her against a wall, and do…unspeakable things to her. She flushed at the mere thought.
This date was playing with fire. Shimako couldn't trust herself to be rational around Shizuka.
IV. Intimacy
She loved singing, but never to personal gatherings. There was something innately uncomfortable about knowing her audience, something that leaves her awkward and ill-at-ease with praise and criticism alike. Singing for Shimako is twice as discomfiting, in the aftermath of too many confessions and too many doubts, so she closed her eyes. But Shimako doesn't resent her and there's something different in her voice that hints at more and she couldn't bring herself to regret singing for this girl, only that she couldn't do it honestly.
She hopes, someday, to meet Shimako's eyes when she raises her voice in song.
V. Commitment
The first letter came Thursday afternoon, hidden among bills and invitations and news about obā-san's hospital check-up. She spent hours staring at cream stationary, unsure of what to say, unsure of what not to say, unsure of whether or not she wanted to reply to this woman.
Shizuka spoke of the luxurious Italian countryside and dark-eyed, olive-skinned boys who looked perplexed stammering her name. Shimako responded with Yumi's antics, nothing about Satō Sei, and a playful retort about changing her name—Shizuka's, not Shimako's.
It was an odd little courtship, letters back and forth, speaking never of "if," but "when."