As of 2018-07-29, I am in the process of rewriting this story. No updates will occur until I am done. Earliest estimated date for updates to resume is in October 2018.

AN: This chapter has been rewritten in 2018. If you would like to see the previous version, please email me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Hime.

Fujino Lab

Chapter 1 - Welcome

Kuga Natsuki was a proud woman. There were few things that could ever make her ashamed, but this might be an exception.

She was still in college at the age of 26. Sure, it was unusual, but she had circumstances. And it wasn't as though she was aimlessly floating around this limbo designed for legal adults who had yet to reach true adulthood. If she really wanted, she could quit school at any time and support herself – she had done so before entering college, her previous job being mildly questionable aside.

Her prof was just a year older than her. Well, that couldn't be helped. The world had its geniuses. Natsuki might not be one as far as academics were concerned, but she had other skills.

She failed said prof's course by a single percentage point and now she had to do a stupid summer project at her lab for credits. Now that was her problem.

But, as described previously, Natsuki was proud. She would never admit to being ashamed, thus she would never make up excuses for such inexistent shame. That didn't make Assistant Professor Fujino Shizuru any less of a sadistic bitch, mind you, but Natsuki would not blame her own failures on others regardless. Instead, she took up Fujino's summer project as a warrior might a challenge to duel.

Thus, she agreed to meet Fujino at her office in the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Building. Natsuki thought the clean modern décor would suggest an operational air-con system, but the building was positively boiling – a three-minute walk from the entrance to the corner of the second floor where the biophysics wing was tucked had made Natsuki's shirt sticky with sweat. Obviously, this did nothing to sooth her irritation. Without bothering to knock, she entered Fujino's office through the opened door and stood right in front of her desk.

"So what do you want me to do, Fujino?"

To Fujino's credit, she did not jump, nor did she shout, nor did she even flinch. She finished typing her email, sent it, then looked up to Natsuki with a smile.

"Ara, you must be Kuga Natsuki-han?"

This was the first time Natsuki had ever looked Fujino's face clearly – she had missed most of her Physics 101 lectures, and during the few she had attended, she had been late and snuck into the very back of the lecture hall. She had read that Fujino was beautiful – she thought it an irrelevant point when browsing rateyourprofessors – but now she could see why Fujino's appearance would be worthy of mention on student forums. Fujino was not only beautiful, she was stunning. Her features were well-defined, with bright crimson eyes, framed by pale brown locks that looked soft to the touch. Natsuki stopped her eyes from moving further south. She did not need – did not want – further confirmation that her prof - for goodness' sake - was exactly her type.

"Of course I am Kuga, seeing as we are supposed to meet here and now. So are you going to tell me what my project is about?"

"Quite the eager one, are you? Sit first." Fujino gestured to the seat beside Natsuki. What could she do but plop herself down on the chair and waste more time? And to think she had once thought profs were busy people. Fujino then dashed more of her expectations by pulling out a tea set from her cabinet. "Would you like tea?"

"Ugh…sure. Why not."

Fujino scooped tea leaves into the cup and filled it with water from the kettle on her desk. Natsuki took the opportunity to glance around the office. It was a tight space, but looked larger than it was from the minimal furnishings. Books were organized alphabetically on the tall shelves, documents put to the side in stacks. The window sill was decorated by a small aquarium and a cascade-style flowering bonsai.

"See something you like, Kuga-han?" Fujino handed Natsuki her cup of tea. Natsuki shrugged as she took a sip.

"Nice bonsai. You sure have a lot of time."

Fujino kept smiling. "I do my best, but I can use some help. Speaking of which, about our meeting today…"

"Do this summer project of yours and I get a pass, right? You said the dean has approved this."

"Yes. Due to your circumstances, we will give you permission to bump up your grade upon successful completion of your summer project." Circumstances being that she was an overgrown college student who failed by a single percentage point. Natsuki did not need to be reminded. Fujino continued, "There is a minor setback to this, however."

This did not sound good. "A setback, you say?"

"I must beg your forgiveness while saying this: owing to my very busy schedule, Kuga-han, I have yet to decide on a project for you."

"What!?"

Natsuki should have just let her mouth voice her angry surprise, but no, her hands just had to fling themselves so expressively that they knocked over her cup, sending boiling green liquid all over Fujino's desk.

But the scary thing was, Fujino was still smiling. Natsuki finally realized that it was amusement.

"Ara ara…I suppose we can start with the table then."

"You can't be saying…"

"Seeing as you were interested in my bonsai, you can trim it afterwards."

They do say "directed studies student" is a pretty name for "lab slave".

Natsuki had expected as much, except she had been nowhere near the lab the entire afternoon. Instead, she had cleaned Fujino's table, trimmed her bonsai, then helped check the formatting on a long list of references for Fujino's grant application. Now Natsuki was slumped on the chair she had declined when she first walked in. It was still baking in here, and had since become more humid and stuffy with dusk. How Fujino managed to keep drinking hot tea despite the weather was something beyond Natsuki's imagination.

"You are quite a diligent student, Natsuki. I admit that you have exceeded my expectations."

"I will take that as a compliment, Fu-ji-no." Natsuki could not recall when Fujino started to call her by first name, but she was doing it constantly now, and it annoyed her.

"Shizuru is fine." Caught off-guard, Natsuki was at a momentary loss for words. Fujino continued, "It is customary for lab members to be on first name basis. Such is our working environment – we are a team, not lone wolves. Individuality is valued, but should not supplant the consideration for others. Do you find that agreeable?"

Fujino extended a hand towards Natsuki. It was oddly comfortable to take it. Fujino gave Natsuki's hand a firm squeeze while looking her in the eyes.

"Welcome to the Fujino Lab. I look forward to working with you this summer."

End of Chapter - reviews appreciated