Disclaimer : I do not own Strawberry Panic. I also do not own Sailor Moon.
"talking"
Is it friendship or is it love? Or is it both?
Melanie was not happy about attending an all-girls school, especially in the middle of the school year. She understood why it had to be this way, even if it still hurt. She sighed as the black limo came to a stop outside of a gate. The driver of the limo helped her with her two large suitcases before driving away. She looked at the building in front of her and was shocked at how big it was. She could not believe that this was where she would be living.
"You must be the transfer student. Welcome to Astraea Hill." A tall girl with chin length blue hair said as she walked toward Melanie. "I'm Miyuki Rokujou, student council president of St. Miatre."
"Hello, I'm Melanie Akemi."
"It is nice to meet you. At least you will be easy to spot in St. Miatre since you are the only girl I know of with beautiful blonde hair."
"Really?" The blonde was not sure that she wanted to be noticed.
Miyuki shook Melanie's hand before saying, "What grade are you in?"
"Um," Melanie looked down at the ground, "fifth grade."
Of course the Student Council President knew what grade the new student was in, but she just wanted to try to get to know the other girl. "Ok, I'll show you to your room," Miyuki said as she reached for the handle to one of the suitcases.
Melanie followed Miyuki through the Strawberry Dormitory. She had been informed that she would have a roommate since it was required for new or transfer students. Melanie was looking forward to meeting her roommate, but she did not know how that was going to work since she already felt intimidated. After they managed to make it up the stairs and down two hallways, they came to a room.
"This is your room," Miyuki said as she looked at Melanie. "Your roommate should be in there."
"Thanks," Melanie nicely said.
"No problem. If you need anything else ask me."
"I will."
Miyuki didn't know why this girl was so shy, but she was going to hope that Melanie came out of her shell. "Good. I would love to stay, but I have a meeting to attend too."
"I'll see you later then."
Melanie watched Miyuki walk away. After a few moments, Melanie opened the door and walked in. When she walked inside the room, she saw someone sitting on the bed that was on the right side of the room reading a book.
"Are you my roommate? I'm Melanie." As soon as Melanie said that she looked at the floor.
"I'm Makoto. That's your side of the room," the tall auburn-haired girl said as she pointed to the bed across from her.
Melanie nodded and immediately started to unpack. She did not know if this girl was happy that she was now living in the same room or not. It bothered the blonde because she did not want to be hated. Instead of talking to her, Melanie just let her be.
After about ten minutes, Makoto looked up and said, "I'm sorry, did you need any help?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." Melanie would have loved the help, but she was too scared to let this girl get close to her.
Makoto was not going to take that for an answer, "Let me help."
"But I don-"
"Come on, please?" Makoto begged.
Melanie sighed, "I guess you can."
"Yay!" Makoto exclaimed. "So Melanie where are you from?"
When Melanie heard that question, she was glad that she was hanging up clothes and that she couldn't see her roommate, "Around."
"You don't want to talk about it?" Makoto could not blame her for not talking about things. It had taken her a while before she opened up to anyone. She opened Melanie's other suitcase and saw more clothes, "You really are rich."
"I guess," Melanie knew that was not the case with her family, but she did not think that her roommate needed to know that.
"My friends and I are meeting after dinner to hang out. You should come." Makoto did not need to be a genius to figure out that Melanie was shy. She wondered was what made her new roommate that way.
"I'll think about it," Melanie said as she closed the closet and started putting the things that were in her other suitcase away.
"All right."
After about an hour, Makoto was sitting on her bed staring at Melanie. She watched Melanie fix her bed. "Melanie, it's getting to be dinner time."
"Really?"
Makoto smiled, "Is someone hungry?"
Melanie blushed and looked at the floor, "Yeah, I am."
"Let's go then."
They both walked down to the cafeteria with Makoto leading the way. Makoto showed Melanie the rooms which they past as they walked into the cafeteria and towards a group of girls.
"Hey Makoto!" A blonde haired girl with two long pigtails said.
"Hey Usagi, this is Melanie. Melanie that's Usagi and Rei," Makoto said as she pointed towards the blonde and raven haired girls.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you," Melanie quietly said.
"So you got a shy roommate," Rei stated. "I guess that's better than having Minako."
Melanie looked at Rei and asked, "Who is Minako?"
"How is the best was to explain this?" Rei thought for a few seconds before saying, "Minako kind of looks like Usagi, but Minako has a bright red bow that is always in her hair. Trust me you won't be able to miss her. She is kind of loud."
"Oh, ok." Melanie could not help but feel out of place as Makoto, Rei, and Usagi talked.
When the four of them reached the dining hall, Melanie could not believe that there were so many people. She did not know exactly where to go, so she just followed Makoto.
"Why are there so many different uniforms?" Melanie was confused because she thought that this had only been one school.
"Because there are three schools that call this dorm home," Usagi happily said.
"Our uniforms are black, which is St. Miatre," Makoto stated. "The pink checkered uniforms are St. Le Rim Academy and then the white uniforms are for St. Spica Academy."
"Oh," Melanie now understood why Usagi had on a different uniform. "I guess that would make sense."
Melanie sat down at the table next to Makoto. She watched her talk to different people. After dinner, Melanie followed Makoto outside. When they got outside, Melanie saw a whole group of people in all different uniforms.
"Hey guys!" Makoto exclaimed. "I bought my new roommate with me."
"Her name's Melanie and she's a shy one," Rei said.
When Melanie saw Rei, it was then that she noticed that Rei had on the white uniform. "So you attend St. Spica Academy?"
"Yep, I do," Rei proudly said.
"Have you gotten to know anyone?" Usagi asked. "Because if not I'll introduce you to everyone."
"Ok, that would be fine." Melanie had no idea why she agreed, but she was a little happy that she did.
"I go to Le Rim along with Ami," Usagi waved a girl with shot blue hair over.
"I'm Ami." Melanie nodded. "So do you like hanging out with Mako?"
"Who's Mako?" Just before Ami replied, Melanie asked, "Is that Makoto?"
"Yep, that is."
"Oh," Melanie said.
"My cousin and I go to the same school."
"Who's your cousin?"
"Michiru Kaioh."
"As in the Michiru Kaioh?"
"Yep, the one and only," Ami proudly stated, "but how do you know her?"
"Because I've seen her paintings."
"Ok, hold on." Melanie watched Ami run off. When Ami came back, Melanie saw Michiru Kaioh was with her. "Michiru, this is Melanie. She actually knows your paintings."
"So you've seen my paintings?" Michiru asked.
If Melanie wasn't nervous before, she was definitely nervous now. She looked at the ground before saying, "Yes, I have."
Michiru smiled when she noticed how shy the blonde was being. It made her happy to be able to have a fan that did not try to impress her. "I'm glad. I usually do them during summer break."
"So you're going to be doing another one?"
"I think so, but I'm not sure."
"Oh," Melanie hoped that she would be creating another painting. "Do you like Le Rim Academy?"
"Yeah, I do. It's mostly carefree. We have hard classes, but basically we can be in any club we want or just make up a club."
"That sounds like fun."
Soon, they started chatting and waved goodbye to her new friends as they one by one went off to bed.
"See you not that shy of a person," Michiru said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I have a very shy roommate. You'll have to wait to meet Hotaru."
"Why?"
"Because she's still shy," Michiru loved her roommate, but sometimes she worried about her too. "It's not that bad, but she didn't want to come out tonight."
"I thought about staying in my room, but I came out here."
"Well, I'm glad."
Melanie spent the most of the night talking to Michiru. She was glad that there was someone else to talk to other then Makoto.