Chapter 1: Rainbow after the Rain
After the Carnival, the days passed uneventfully until the gray memory slowly faded in the minds of those involved, almost like the Carnival was just one bad dream. The Himes continued with their studies, meeting once in a while to enjoy the company of friends along with the utterly delectable dishes prepared by Mai.
In just a few months, everything appeared to fall in the right place. For instance, Nao's mother had been a lot better. She can now move around the house and cook for Nao. Reito began fixing broken ties by offering help to people in any way he can. His sincerity is reflected in his eyes whenever she looks at her younger sister Mikoto and surrenders to any of her whims such as buying spices for Mai's ramen.
Even Natsuki's seemingly complicated life has been touched by some heavenly intervention. She was at Fuuka garden enjoying the feeling of seclusion. Despite the fact that her concerns are now narrowed down to her studies and of course the dilemma of how to deal with Shizuru, she still had this ache in her heart whenever she remembers her mother. There are times when this swings her mood to a morose one thus opting to isolate herself from people even from her friends. She doesn't want them to deal with depressed Natsuki and spoil their newfound happiness after the Carnival.
Natsuki sat peacefully in the garden, her chin resting on her knees, her arms hugging her legs. She was looking at the flowers while suppressing the urge of picking one, afraid that Shizuru might come any moment from behind her and catch her like a guilty child. And then an image flashed in her mind. It was the reason why she was at Fuuka Garden isolating herself from people. Yesterday, Nao brought her mother at the get-together organized by Reito (persuaded by Mikoto of course) in a beach resort owned by their family. Natsuki saw Nao's mother serving food to her daughter with such caring eyes that would melt anyone who looked directly into them. Natsuki looked away but her mind seemed to have caught a picture of that very moment. Though Natsuki was happy for Nao, she couldn't help but remember her own mother. In her reverie, she almost failed to notice Shizuru's presence. She felt something cold pressed against her temple.
"Eh!" Natsuki yelped. She was greeted by Shizuru's innocent smile while offering her a can of soda. She accepted the offer and muttered "Thank you" sheepishly. Why is Shizuru so good in breaking down her defenses? She is supposed to be Natsuki Kuga, the Ice Princess who is unapproachable except to a few people whom she considers as her real friends. Until now, she couldn't answer that herself. She wouldn't dare asked that to Shizuru because it's a personal question and she doesn't want to give her any vague ideas. Natsuki opened the can and immediately caught the escaping froth with her mouth.
Shizuru carefully smoothed her Kaichou uniform and sat on the grass at arm's length away from Natsuki. She then drank some cold green tea through a straw from a pet bottle.
If it were somebody else who chose to rest at the Fuuka Garden, Natsuki would have left, but Shizuru's presence is always pleasant like a warm blanket even after the Carnival. Natsuki was happy that her friendship with Shizuru was preserved although she felt that it wasn't the same friendship anymore. It was because of feelings involved that are rather complicated for her to thoroughly grasp. But then, Shizuru had always been the mature one. Her calm demeanor and ever-present smile assured Natsuki that she would not push her and would always be the friend she wanted. Shizuru abandoned all the teasing with insinuations that used to embarrass Natsuki. She had stopped embracing her during unexpected moments and she never talked about wanting to make Natsuki blush anymore. She shunned her playful side now that her feelings are out in the open. She was just grateful that Natsuki didn't shut her out of her life and she was still treated as her best friend.
Shizuru's actions made Natsuki all the more confused not only about Shizuru but about her feelings as well. She had always projected an embarrassed and grumpy Natsuki whenever Shizuru gets too comfortable in hugging her or making her blush but now that Shizuru had stopped, it felt like her days were lacking. Nonetheless, she convinced herself that the changes are for the better. Besides, Shizuru would still come over her dorm room sometimes to cook for her and help her cleanup, just as she always does before Shizuru confessed her feelings.
Natsuki turned her head to Shizuru's direction and watched her enjoy her tea.
"You are staring at my tea, Natsuki. Would you rather have tea than soda?" Shizuru asked. Somehow, she felt that Natsuki was staring at her but didn't tease her about it. She had the feeling that Natsuki is thinking about something that involved her. She just masked a smile, a trick that she has mastered. It somehow made her sad that she had to use this trick even on Natsuki now. She had lost the privilege of exposing her true feelings even to the person who treated her as best friend.
"Yes, let's exchange," Natsuki nonchalantly replied. Shizuru was quite taken aback by Natsuki's behavior. Natsuki sat closer such that their shoulders are almost touching and then she handed Shizuru the can of soda with one hand while taking the tea bottle with the other.
"But I already drank almost half of the tea Natsuki," Shizuru reasoned as she turned her body to face Natsuki.
"I missed tea," Natsuki replied and took a sipped through Shizuru's straw. Shizuru was hesitant to drink from Natsuki's can of soda and felt awkward with the idea that Natsuki must be playing a game on her.
"I have some extra boxes of tea from my Mom. I could bring them to your room when we get back to the Dorm," Shizuru offered. Natsuki sipped some more of the tea until she emptied the bottled and she was noisily sipping air. She was eyeing Shizuru and noticed that she hadn't drank the soda.
"That's great. It's almost five o'clock, Shizuru, let's walk back together to the Dorm," Natsuki offered. She stood up and pulled Shizuru by the hand meaning to lead her back to the Dorm with her. However, she felt that Shizuru lightly pulled her hand after standing up and once again smoothed her lavender Kaichou uniform.
"I have to go back to the Student Council Room to work on a few papers Natsuki. I'll just bring you the tea later, okay?" Shizuru explained with her gentle crimson eyes. Natsuki pouted like a forsaken puppy tugging at Shizuru's heart. Shizuru felt the urge to console her so she caught Natsuki's hand. She noticed that her emerald orbs lit up and she flashed a smile at her.
"So you changed your mind?" Natsuki asked smiling.
"Nope," Shizuru replied. She just led her away from the garden and back to the school grounds. She dropped Natsuki's hand as soon as they reach the Main Building. "Have to go."
Shizuru turned her back and began to walk toward the Main Buiding when Natsuki grabbed her wrist. She turned back with a questioning face. "Natsuki?"
"Um, mou Shizuru, you're always busy. I…I miss…I miss your cooking," Natsuki stammered. Shizuru smiled at her. She didn't say anything and yet Natsuki's cheeks reddened. She felt her heart flutter at the sight. 'Could it be that', she started to consider, and then she reprimanded herself. She had told herself many times before that such a thing is impossible. Natsuki is just kind and gentle and honest by nature.
"Of course Natsuki, I'm graduating after all," she explained with a smile.
"How could you smile over something like that?" Natsuki snapped, dropping Shizuru's wrist. Shizuru was fascinated by the sight of a miffed Natsuki. She desperately wanted to tease her and say, "Why? My Natsuki would miss me? I should give her a hug then". She decided against it and just muttered some run-of-the-mill explanation about graduation.
"It's a day when all your efforts as a student are recognized Natsuki. Aren't you happy for me?" Shizuru replied calmly.
"You would be leaving Fuuka High! How could I be happy about that?" Natsuki said quite forcefully. All the while, Shizuru was looking at her emerald orbs, trying to see Natsuki's feelings. She then thought of the best way to console her in a distant manner. She faked another soft smile. And then Natsuki's cellphone beeped.
"Check your phone, Natsuki" Shizuru gestured. Shizuru was dilly-dallying whether she should leave Natsuki but she chose to just stand there being curious. Natsuki almost threw away the damn phone. Why does it beep or ring when she's in an important conversation? She saw the sender ID. It was Yamada. Her heart leapt. Why is Yamada sending a messsage when there is nothing to talk about anymore? She press read and then the message flashed on the screen.
Come to the meeting place at 7:00pm.
"It's Yamada. He wants to see me" Natsuki said with a clueless face. Then she remembered the conversation she's having with Shizuru and tried to open her mouth but nothing came out.
"Oh," Shizuru replied. "If you need me to accompany you on anything, just tell me. You know you can count on me."
"Thanks Shizuru, I know that…Come to my room at 8:00 because I'm meeting Yamada downtown at 7:00," Natsuki said and then she gave Shizuru a quick hug. She felt Shizuru stiffened. She released her and then she turned back and walked briskly to the Dorm, her long dark blue hair swaying gracefully behind her.
'She makes things difficult for me", Shizuru thought. She also made her way to the Main Building still holding Natsuki's soda. Natsuki knows she doesn't drink soda. Shizuru just smiled at the thought. She saw a trash can near the stairs leading to the second floor and then she almost dropped the can. On impulse, she tasted the soda first. It was too strong for her and her sensitive stomach immediately reacted. She took a second sip and then she dropped it in the trash bin. She took the stairs and met a few students greeting her with admiration.
Natsuki turned to see Shizuru from afar. She saw her drinking some of the soda before she threw it in the trash bin. Then she turned to the stairs and vanished from her sight. Natsuki smiled and walked back to the Dorm. 'Her feelings are still complicated to me but somehow I feel that they haven't change a bit even if she chose to distance herself,' Natsuki thought. 'Damn it, my head is spinning again.'
Natsuki walked up the stairs leading to her room in the second floor. Kaichou's room is at the third floor. Natsuki used to visit Shizuru there whenever she wants to but now, with the walls that Shuzuru established, it has become difficult for her. Natsuki opened her room and sat at the edge of her bed. 'I want everything restored' she realized. 'I want the old Shizuru back but I don't know how to properly deal with her feelings yet. Damn it.'