Aoi Nagisa sighed, turning a page in her French textbook without interest.
For a month, the entire school had been buzzing with exciting news; The Head Mistress had announced the approval of a seventh year to the school. Though she didn't reveal all of the details, she did announce that she would be leaving on official business regarding the decision. After she left, someone started (and as it seemed to Nagisa, fueled) an argument over who should hold the position of Etoile. Many have demanded that the current Etoile, Shizuma, Nagisa's new girlfriend, remain as Etoile. Others have argued hotly that the new couple, Hikari and Amane, should assume the title. Such had borne a very high state of agitation between Miator and Spica, despite the near futile efforts of the teachers and Le Lim to calm the rage, and many accidents and skirmishes have broken out since. In fact, Nagisa noted that it seemed only she, Amane, Tamao, Chiyo, Hikari, Yaya, and Tsubomi maintained a circle of friendship, despite the never ending influence of the students' attitudes.
A muffled, low rumble began to sound, and Nagisa turned to the door just as her friend, Tamao, burst through and slammed the door shut.
"Tamao-chan?" she asked, "What's going on?"
"The...students..." Tamao gasped, clutching a stitch in her side; apparently she ran, despite the school's strict rules, to get away from whatever trouble she encountered, "want...to...see-you..."
Nagisa rose from her bed, giving no mind to the textbook as it fell to the floor. "Why?"
"I don't know-" A noise began to grow, an angry tirade of young, female voices, and the floor began to slowly tremble. Tamao threw herself against the door, holding the doorknob tightly, "But I think it's because you're Shizuma's new girlfriend."
A look crossed her face for a moment as she said it. It was, not just from the effort of keeping the door closed, a look that spoke plainly of her grudging reluctance and envy towards Nagisa's choice, but that look disappeared as she redoubled her efforts.
Suddenly, a loud voice, strong and commanding, cried out: "ENOUGH!"
The two recognized that voice. It was Miator's Student Council President, Rokujou-sama, attempting to call the students back into order.
"The Head Mistress may be away, but that is NO reason to disturb the peace of Ichigo Sha!" she said furiously. Nagisa and Tamao risked a peek outside, and saw Rokujo standing outside the door, barring entry, against a large crowd of students, most looking somber, others stubbornly indignant, while a few looked outright hostile. "I will not tolerate such behavior. Now, return to your activities and do not commit such a crime again!" She, however, remained standing as the crowd gradually dispersed.
When they left, Rokujou turned to the door. "May I come in?" she asked politely.
"Yes!" Tamao and Nagisa stood back to let the elder student in. Both gave a slight bow in acknowledgement of her status, but she ignored it.
"Aoi Nagisa, have you heard from the Etoile, recently?" She asked bluntly.
Nagisa glanced once at Tamao in confusion for a moment before replying, "No. I haven't seen her at all today. Why?"
Rokujou didn't answer immediately, but she pinched the bridge of her nose in a weary gesture. "Shizuma-san was supposed to attend today's Student Council meeting regarding the...dispute...throughout the school, but no one has seen or heard from her, yet. I was hoping you might know."
Nagisa's gaze went downward. "I'm sorry, Rokujou-sama, but I haven't seen or heard from her today, either." She gaze snapped back up, and she looked Rokujo straight in the eye. "But I'll go look for her."
"Nagisa!" Tamao interrupted, concern and suspiscion plain on her face, "What about your French?"
"I can do it later," she replied quickly, "Please, Rokujo-sama, let me look for her."
Rokujou regarded the flame haired girl with interest. Ever since the fiasco of Shizuma stealing her away from the Etoile election, she has noticed a certain change in Nagisa's attitude. She had become rather headstrong, true, but while she maintained her modest nature, she had become more courageous, and never hesitated to help someone. Rokujou suspected this change to be the result of Shizuma's influence, but was glad for it.
"Very well," she relented, "As Shizuma-san never lets anyone but you find her, you may go." She ran a critical eye at the younger, now bright eyed student, "But do not broadcast what you're doing. If anyone asks, I sent you to receive a package for me. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Alright." She opened the door, and gestured to Nagisa, "After you, but be careful."
"Yes, ma'am!" Nagisa made her way past Rokujo, and immediately headed for the stairs.
It took her a while to get outside, as students were attempting to draw her their way, but she managed it. Finally, she made it to the greenhouse, but once she got close enough to look inside, her spirits fell.
Shizuma wasn't inside.
Sighing, she turned and intended to head inside when an odd sound, faint but very distinct, caught her attention. It sounded like fighting.
Curiosity took hold, and she headed in the direction of the noise, wondering what was going on. She darted through trees until she reached a small clearing, and her eyes went wide with awe.
A tall, teenage boy, no older than seventeen, was apparently training with a wooden log full of small sticks. He was very handsome, lean but well muscled, wearing a grey sweater with a hood and pouch, blue jeans, and what looked like American sneakers. His handsome face was flushed, and he was relentless with his moves. He had a strange hairstyle, his jet black hair cut military style except for two very thin, long ponytails, jutting from the back of his neck, reaching down to his ankles.
Just as Nagisa thought he might know where Shizuma was, he darted around the post, lifted it with one punch, and kicked it with so much force he sent it flying. Muttering a curse, his hands and eyes suddenly glowed silvery white, and the post flew back to him and landed neatly in front of him. The glow changed from white to emerald green, and the post simply...disappeared.
Nagisa watched in shock and wonder as he bent down, his eyes now returned to their mild brown tinged with chocolate. He had a somber look, but it changed quickly to stony blankness as he glowed green once more. A sharp pillar made of rock suddenly shot out of the ground behind him, and he leaned against it, staring skyward in apparent deep thought.
Deciding that it was best to remain hidden, Nagisa made her way back to the dorms, eager to tell Tamao about her incredible encounter. She had just made it back to the gates when she saw the silver mane and amber eyes of her girlfriend.
"Shizuma-san!" She raced up to her and grasped her in a fierce hug, kissing her with such passion the students around them stared in surprise, but neither girl cared.
"Nagisa," Shizuma whispered softly. They released, all but their hands, and maintained eye contact. Only then did Nagisa notice the brief flare of anger in her love's eyes, but that look was quickly replaced with enormous love and kindness, along with a hint of scolding. "I was worried. I looked for you in the dorms, but Tamao-san said you had left."
"To go look for you!" Nagisa quickly explained the events of what happened earlier, though she intentionally left out her encounter with the teenage boy. "So you need to go to the Student Council right away!"
"Very well. Would you like to accompany me, or return to continue studying?"
Her head drooped. The shock of her discovery had made her forget her French, but she pushed that thought aside. "Um..." she looked back at Shizuma, worried, "I'd like to go with you, if you don't mind."
"Why would I ever mind being by your side?" It sounded like a mere statement, but the meaning behind her words made Nagisa blush, and Shizuma smiled, "In truth, it may be the better idea. Come on," she said, turning, "Let's go!"
Together, the pair strolled back inside.