Setting: During and after episode 26 of the Strawberry Panic! anime
Author's Note: This story can be considered as the starting point to all my StoPani stories. Hopefully when the time comes, I will have my other stories published here also. For now, I am starting off with this YayaxTsubomi story. Currently in progress. I will update it as much as I can while I have the time.
One
"The Etoile election is starting." A raven haired girl wearing a red shirt murmured. She sat down in her bed with a gloomy face.
"I know who will win, so I don't need to watch it." A pink-headed girl is seated in the same bed, not facing the other girl.
"What are you saying? Hikari is showing off her grace and beauty. Are you an idiot or what?" The raven haired girl says in a sarcastic tone.
"Yes, I'm an idiot." The pink-haired girl replies instantly. The raven haired girl is startled by what she hears, with her brown eyes staring in confusion.
Finally, the pink-haired speaks again, with her golden eyes almost on the verge of tears, "I just want to stay here."
"Do whatever you want." Yaya says to Tsubomi as she turns away.
"Of course, I will." Tsubomi answers without facing the older woman.
Earlier that morning, both Tsubomi and Chiyo stood at the gate of the Strawberry Dorms, watching the Etoile candidates leave.
"They've gone." Said little Chiyo, who wore an apron on top of her school uniform.
"The Etoile election starts now." Tsubomi said with one hand on her waist.
"Yes, but I feel cold." Chiyo reply was rather solemn.
The pink-haired closed her eyes and said casually, "If you're feeling cold already, then you'll be freezing after the election is over. Because the Etoile will be—"
Chiyo eyes widened and she suddenly interrupted Tsubomi's little speech.
"Yeah. Well then, I have to go clean up her room and prepare tonight's dinner." Chiyo walked back past the gate with a smile. Tsubomi turned around, with confusion evident on her face.
"What are you preparing for?"
"Tonight's tea party."
"Tea party? Right after the Etoile election?" Tsubomi decided to walk and follow the little blue-haired room temp.
"After a stressful day, the best way to ease that stress is to have a normal day." Chiyo said with her right hand raised, with her index finger pointing upward.
"You have a point, but…" Tsubomi paused, and then she spoke again. "Well, can I come, too?"
"Of course." Chiyo's answer was quick and candid.
"Can Hikari-senpai and Yaya-senpai come, too?" Tsubomi asked.
"Of course." Chiyo's eyes were closed as she continued. "After the Etoile election, everyone will still be friends."
Tsubomi suddenly stopped walking. "U-uh…"
Chiyo turned to her with a surprised expression. "Huh?"
"I'll go tell Yaya-senpai!" Tsubomi made a run for it, towards the door of the Strawberry Dorms. Chiyo answered with a stammering "Yes." As the pink-haired reached the door, she turned back to Chiyo with a flustered face. "Just to make it clear, I'm not worried about Yaya-senpai." Tsubomi continued to run towards the stairs, with Chiyo responding from outside, "Yes, I understand." The little teal-haired student ran towards the door. Not too far off, a silver-haired woman watched them. She smiled before leaving the scene.
Fast forward a little further…
As the lights on the auditorium go off, Remon murmurs right at a sleeping orange-head, "It's starting."
Kizuna slowly opens her eyes while Kagome looks around to see a walking Chiyo in the dark. Kagome's eyes sure are amazing. The little Lulim girl slightly grabs the blue-haired's skirt and pulls it, making Chiyo stop.
"Is something the matter?" Chiyo asks.
Kagome shakes her head and looks at the sitting Percival. The teddy bear is wearing a Santa Claus hat holding a flag with the number 1 in its arm. That flag was put there by Chikaru earlier in the morning when she formed the "Waiting First in Line Club." Remembering that Chikaru offered her seat to Percival, Remon commented that her senpai doesn't need to get a seat for the event, being the student council president.
"You should cheer for her with Percival." Kagome removes Percival from its seat and mumbles, "For Nagisa onee-sama."
Chiyo answers back with a smile on her face. "Okay."
"I wonder what's going on now…" Yaya asks in a sleepy tone.
"Beats me. I wouldn't know." The pink-haired girl covers her face with a pillow.
The lights on the auditorium turn on again, a pair walks center stage. Lots of shouting can be heard as the pair walked. "Amane-sama!" The girls keep saying her name. Amane and Hikari face the audience, with the shouting never ceasing. At the far side of the stage, behind the curtain, Tamao whispers to Nagisa.
"Nagisa-chan, are you alright?"
Nagisa looks at Tamao; her reply is a stammering "Yes."
Tamao holds her hand, leaving Nagisa startled. "Watch me." Tamao whispers again.
Seeing Tamao's determination, Nagisa answers with confidence this time, "Yes, I'm fine."
"Let's go."
The two fourth year students walked together holding hands. As their figures came into view, loud shouting can also be heard, most especially from the students from Miator. They came to the auditorium to watch this big event, in moral support for their school's candidate. Both young women have been widely accepted and loved by the students at Miator, and hence the reason why Miator's Student Council President did all she could to make them run for the Etoile election.
As they stood on stage, Chikaru looks at the two Miator students from the far left side, just behind the curtain.
"Nagisa-san and Tamao-san are so cute." The candid comment by the Lulim president made the Spican president, Tomouri Shion frown a bit.
"Ara. Of course, Amane-san and Hikari-san is a marvelous pair, too." Chikaru continues. "The cool prince and the kind princess, they're so amazing."
"But, working hard together with someone the same age as you…don't you think that's amazing, too?" Her words now pertaining to Miator's pair. "And Nagisa-san has the love of her younger classmates." While Chikaru speaks, it can be seen that Kizuna already kneels on her seat, with both hands up and cheers for, obviously, the Miatorian candidates. Along with her are Remon, Kagome and Percival and little Chiyo. Their voices are loud, their cheering going towards Nagisa and Tamao.
"Who will the winner be? I am dying to know. What do you think, former Etoile-sama?"
A brief silence ensues before someone speaks again.
"Shizuma." Miyuki's tone is serious yet casual.
Shizuma is startled. It seems that she got brought back to consciousness upon hearing her name being called.
"What?"
"It's your turn." Miyuki says nonchalantly.
"I understand." With that, Shizuma, Hitomi and Mizuho walk together, aiming for Spica's couple. Mizuho hands over a bouquet of flowers to the former Etoile, and then Shizuma in turn, gives the bouquet to Amane. The tall Spican accepts it promptly.
"Thank you very much." The tall prince says to the incumbent Etoile.
"The time has finally come." Shizuma says with a smile.
"I wanted to verify what you told me." Amane turns to her partner and looks at her lovingly.
"I wish you both the best of luck." With that, Shizuma turns to leave. Applause can be heard from the auditorium. As she approaches the Miator pair, Shizuma's green eyes get glued on Nagisa. Their gazes lock for a few moments of silence, that is, until Tamao calls the incumbent Etoile's attention.
"Shizuma-sama."
Shizuma looks to see a very determined Tamao. Her gray eyes gleaming with resolve gaze at Shizuma's bewildered green ones. Shizuma bows down and finally speaks.
"Both of you are amazing."
"Thank you very much." Tamao replies sternly, with her hand holding on to Nagisa and squeezing it gently. Nagisa is stunned once again at her friend's gesture.
"We'll do our very best for Miator."
Shizuma approaches and gives the bouquet of flowers to Tamao and finally saying her parting words.
"I wish you both the best of luck." A round of applause is heard all over the auditorium once again as Shizuma, Hitomi and Mizuho walk away from the candidates. As Shizuma reaches the dark area behind the curtain, Miyuki gives her a compliment.
"Good work, Shizuma."
Apparently, Shizuma didn't stop walking. "Shizuma?" Miyuki sees her friend walk toward the back exit of the auditorium. Miyuki tries to stop her from going.
"Shizuma, wait!"
Shion cuts her off. "Rokujou-san! Where are you going?"
Hearing Shion speak, Miyuki stops.
"I'm sure it'll be fine."
Miyuki turns to see Chikaru with her hand raised. "Shizuma-sama doesn't need to be present for now."
The Miator president agrees to what has been said. "You're right."
"Are you really staying here?" Yaya speaks to Tsubomi without facing her.
"What's wrong with that? You said I could do whatever I want, right?" The pink-haired girl closes her eyes as she nuzzles her cheek on her knees.
"Hurry!" A loud Kizuna exclaims while running outside.
"Kizuna-chan, why are you running?" Remon asks.
"I swear upon the club's name that I'll be the first one at the dance hall!" That was Kizuna's answer. It wasn't something that Remon would expect. Suddenly, however, little Kagome runs fast, leaving Remon and Chiyo far behind and even Kizuna who happened to be ahead of them earlier.
"So fast!" Kizuna could only exclaim.
The dance is the most important part of the election. Chiyo, Kizuna, Remon and Kagome were there and witnessed the grace that their Nagisa-sama has shown. Chikaru even noticed the fact that Tamao and Nagisa danced in perfect sync. As the dance ended, many people gave their applause, including the four middle-schoolers.
"They were wonderful." The amazement is seen in the Lulim president's eyes. Miyuki and Shion continue to applaud the just concluded performance.