Author's Note: Surprise! My valentine to all my readers who were waiting for this. I just suddenly got the idea to write this for valentine's day like, the day before valentine's day! I took more than a month of rest and now it's time I start writing for Strawberry Panic once more! So this is it, the first chapter of the sequel to One Hot Summer. Read, Review, Rejoice!

Chapter 1:
Welcome! Sort of…?

Shizuma sped down the busy streets in her silver Ferrari Enzo. The bright afternoon sun was reflected off the rims of her expensive shades. She was traveling at ridiculous speeds which made it amazing how easily she turned off the road onto a familiar path. She switched from a busy road setting to a forest pathway.

The silver haired beauty pulled up to some large gates. She checked her watch as it read 2:00. "I was in such a rush I ended up being an hour early." Shizuma laughed at herself.

She remembered when this place was her sanctuary, the place she grew to think of as her second home. Astraea Hill really did hold some good memories for her. She got out of her car and leaned against the door, allowing her silver mane to flow with the wind. She drew a deep breath and sighed, "I guess I'll do some reminiscing while I wait."

Just as she entered the school gates, she garnered the attention of all the students around. Miator, Spica, and Lulim students alike were all amazed. It was only two more weeks until the summer break ended and a lot of the students had already returned.

"Isn't that Etoile-sama?"

"She graduated. Now she's Hanazono-sama remember?"

"Still, what's she doing here? You don't think she's looking for-"

"Shh! She might hear us. But probably."

Shizuma walked in knowing full well that the students would whisper and spread rumors. They did it when she was a student, why wouldn't they do it now? Still, she didn't care. Shizuma walked past them as if she heard nothing, just as she always did.

"Ah, Hanazono-san! It's nice to see you here." A nun greeted. "It's always nice when one of Miator's best students decide to visit. Well, maybe I shouldn't say best after the commotion you caused during the Etoile elections."

Shizuma laughed. "Ah, sister Nibitsu. Thanks for sticking up to the Head Sister for me, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been allowed to graduate."

"That wouldn't have been so bad though."

"Huh?"

"That would have been another year attending Miator with ."

"I didn't think about it like that." Shizuma considered. "Is it too late for me to come back?" she joked.

Sister Nibitsu laughed. "Don't forget that you need an escort before you're allowed to enter the school. I'll be your guide if you want me to."

"That's okay. I didn't plan on going inside. Nagisa would probably get mad if she saw me roaming the school at this time.

"Is that so? Well, see you then." Sister Nibitsu waved goodbye and continued on her way.

Shizuma spent her time visiting places of meaning to her. She went to the Etoile garden to ensure it was still being well kept. She visited the tree that held the most memories for her. It was where she and Kaori consummated their love for the first time and also where she first met Nagisa. By the time she was finished, she checked her watch once more.

"Crap, 3:25! Now I'm late!"

Shizuma rushed back through the forest, hoping that Nagisa would run a few minutes late. Sadly, her wish did not come true as she was met by an impatient red head standing in front of the gates.

"Geez Shizuma. Where were you?" Nagisa asked with a slight bit of anxiety.

Shizuma pressed the button on her key which opened all the doors at once, choosing to remain silent. She slid behind the wheel and closed the door behind her. Nagisa followed suit on the passenger's side.

"Seriously Shizuma, where were you?" Nagisa asked again.

"Don't worry, I was just reminiscing on the good times."

Nagisa giggled.

"What?"

"It's nothing." She giggled again.

"If it was nothing you wouldn't be laughing so much." Shizuma argued as she pulled her car out onto the road.

"It's just that you sounded old like my dad when you said that just now."

Shizuma continued to keep her eyes on the road. "Nagisa."

"Hmm."

"Please don't ever say that to me again."

The ride was pretty quiet. The closer they got to their destination, the more nervous they became until finally they arrived.

The Aoi household. Shizuma was about to come face to face with Nagisa's parents. It was the first time she actually worried about what someone thought of her. She checked her watch once more.

Shizuma sighed in relief. "It's only 4:03."

"4:03! This is bad, we're late." Nagisa panicked.

"By three minutes." Shizuma noted.

"I told you that my mom is really particular with time."

"Nobody's that bad." Shizuma considered.

Nagisa grumbled a bit before she opened the door. "I'm home!" Nagisa called.

She advanced further inside and removed her shoes, followed closely by Shizuma. Nagisa walked into the kitchen cautiously while Shizuma examined the room.

"They're not in here." Nagisa sighed.

Shizuma walked around inspecting everything. She looked inside the pot on the stove, then in the fridge, then in the cabinets. "This is the first time I've been in a house so small." Shizuma commented while twirling a small cup in her palms.

"So sorry that our home isn't as large as you're used to." a voice called from behind causing Shizuma to almost drop the cup. Thankfully she didn't. In Shizuma's mind, the voice sounded like it belonged to an angel.

"Mama!" Nagisa yelled excitedly as she ran into her mother's embrace.

Shizuma turned quickly, and there she was. One of the most beautiful women Shizuma had ever laid eyes on now stood before her. She had long cherry-red hair that reached down to the small of her back, which she kept tied. Her eyes were also the same color as Nagisa's and they were just as wide and full of youth. Shizuma turned away from the woman and slapped her hands together. "Please God. Please let this be a glimpse of the future!" she prayed with all her might.

She turned back towards Mrs. Aoi with her best flirty smile. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Aoi. My name is Hanazono, Shizuma. I've heard so much about you." She extended a hand.

Nagisa's mother smiled. "My name is Aoi, Yumiko. Likewise." She shook Shizuma's hand and proceeded to take a seat at the dinner table, followed by Nagisa.

Shizuma also followed suit, but with a slightly puzzled expression on her face as she inspected her hand. "I'm sure I felt a cold chill or a shock just now. Was I imagining things?"

She looked over at Mrs. Aoi who only returned a smile at her. Her face seemed cherubic, but her smile seemed to hold something sinister behind it. But again, maybe Shizuma was imagining things.

"Nagisa." the woman spoke softly. "Would you mind calling your father from upstairs? Tell him our guest has arrived."

"Okay." Nagisa complied like an innocent young child. She ran upstairs, leaving her lover and her mother in the kitchen.

Shizuma attempted conversation with the elder cherry-head to break the awkward silence. "I would easily have mistaken you for Nagisa's sister."

"First you arrive three minutes and twenty-seven seconds late, then you inspect my house, and now you attempt empty flattery. First impressions aren't you're strong suit are they?" the woman maintained a calm and cool demeanor as she spoke. Her voice was even, still maintaining its angelic ring.

Shizuma was silent. No, she was more at a lost for words. Surely the saintly woman that sat in front of her weren't saying these things. And then the comments got worse.

"I admit, you are very gutsy to come. No maybe I should say foolish. Surely you don't think that I'll hand my precious daughter over to the likes of you. My daughter has told me many, many things about you and quite frankly, I don't like what I'm hearing."

"Maybe if you got to know me on a personal level." Shizuma reasoned.

"I don't like you either. As a matter of fact, maybe it'll be best if I just-" suddenly she stopped in the middle of her sentence as she heard the sound of footsteps on the creaky staircase.

Nagisa emerged from the staircase followed by a man about the age of forty five. He had short messy black hair and auburn eyes. His age was only made apparent by a gray patch that hung on his forehead and the slight wrinkles in the corner of his eyes. Still, he was handsome. He seemed both serious and slightly nervous at the same time.

He sat down at the table while his wife got some bowls and started serving the food she had prepared before Shizuma and Nagisa had arrived. The meal was uneventful since everyone remained quiet.

When everyone was finished eating Mrs. Aoi tidied up and everyone moved to the living room. This was the first time Mr. Aoi spoke for the day.

"Hanazono, Shizuma was it?" he asked, still a bit nervous.

"Right." Shizuma tried to keep her cool. This of course was hard to accomplish as she felt Mrs. Aoi's piercing glare like daggers going through her.

"I understand that you just came off the flight this morning."

"That's correct."

"Do you have a place to stay yet? If not, you're welcomed to stay here for a week or two."

"That's alright. I was going to stay in a hotel not too far from here."

"It would be more convenient if you stayed here rather than make trips back and forth from here to some hotel." he bargained.

"Please can you stay here?" Nagisa pleaded.

"It's just that…"

"Are you really going to reject the offer after Nagisa's asked you so kindly? I would hope not." Mrs. Aoi added. The hidden threat in her voice seemed apparent to only Shizuma.

"Of course not. I'll stay here if that's what you all really want." Shizuma replied uneasily.

"Great! We can talk more tomorrow and get to know you better. But we recently got off our flight so right now I'm still kind of tired, so if you'll excuse me." Mr. Aoi yawned and returned upstairs. It was still the middle of the afternoon, but they're flight lasted for just over a day and he was tired.

Mrs. Aoi dashed to the kitchen and returned holding a sharp butcher's knife. "What's that for?" Nagisa questioned.

"Just in case I have to use it tonight. Well Hanazono-san, enjoy your stay here and see you in the morning…"

Shizuma gulped. Mrs. Aoi glided past her, but just before she was out of earshot, she whispered something to Shizuma. "…If you survive the night." Shizuma felt chills run up her spine. What has she gotten herself into?

Author's Note: It's 1:21 valentine's day morning and I've got school today so I better catch some sleep. But, please look forward to more releases soon. The poll's still open, but obviously it won't make sense picking this story anymore. Still, feel free to vote. See you next chapter, and don't forget to review!