A/N: I had a request to write something for one of my favorite animes, Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, and I decided to expand the story from the end of the anime. The reason for this is because like most people, I was really dissatisfied with the lack of resolution. We all want Mizuho to pick someone, so I narrowed it down to two main heroines: Mariya and Takako. The following story will end with Mizuho choosing one to be with. Shion, Kana, Yukari, and Ichiko will be in the story, but they aren't candidates. Sorry. Also, there may be lemons toward the end of the story, just a warning. Please enjoy and let me know how you liked it. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own Otobuku or any of the characters. They are property of Caramel Box!
Our Beautiful Day: An Otobuku Story
Chapter 1: Declaration of War at the Christmas Dance Party
As the snow fell gently at Seio Girl's School, the ladies were anticipating the choice of their beloved Elder Oneesama's choice of her partner for the last dance of the annual Christmas Ball. Miyanokouji Mizuho scanned the audience and her gaze landed on the Student Council President, Itsukushima Takako. The tall elegant blonde glided over to Takako and extended her hand. "Takako-san, would you dance with me," she asked. Takako blushed slightly and answered, "It would be my pleasure." As they were dancing, Takako looked into Mizuho's gentle brown eyes and realized that she was still in love with her, even after discovering that Mizuho was a man five days earlier. Her confusion disappeared.
*Flashback*
"I don't know why I even bothered coming in on a Sunday to finish up my student council work," Takako complained to herself while walking to change her shoes. "My head is so full of Oneesama that I can't get anything done." Takako was the younger daughter of the wealthy Itsukushima family. She was the top student and leading candidate for Elder Oneesama until the arrival of Miyanokouji Mizuho, which turned Seio and Takako's life upside down. She had not expected to fall in love with another girl, but Mizuho was so beautiful, fearless, and kind with an unexpectedly careless side that endeared her to everyone.
With a sigh, Takako finished changing her shoes started to walk outside to go home when she was stopped by Kajiura Hisako-sensei, Seio's most popular teacher. Hisako-sensei was known to give candy when she counseled students. "Itsukushima-san?" Hisako-sensei asked, "Working late as usual? Please be careful on your way home. There have been reports of suspicious people hanging around campus."
Takako thanked her and as she had gotten about halfway to the gate she saw two men, standing in between her and the exit. The first thug looked at her, "Are you Itsukushima Takako?" He asked. She acknowledged that she was and he chuckled, "All the girls here are princesses, and any of them would do, but we will make a lot more money if we kidnap you!" He declared as he and his partner grabbed her.
Terrified, Takako screamed aloud. At that moment, Mizuho was returning to campus with her childhood friend and Takako's long-time tormentor, Mikado Mariya. They had been on a date and were talking happily together when they heard Takako's scream. Without hesitation, Mizuho launched herself at the would-be kidnappers, kicking one in the face and gut-punching the other. Cursing, the gut-punched thug pulled out a knife and sliced through Mizuho's blouse earning him a one-way trip on to his back as Mizuho threw him over her head. He landed hard with an explosion of air. His companion joined him shortly afterward, and they fled as Mariya returned with Hisako-sensei and the school's security guards.
Takako rushed to Mizuho, hugging her before checking to see if she had been wounded. She was happy to see that Mizuho wasn't bleeding, but she quickly noticed to her horror that Mizuho's false breasts had fallen down, exposing a boy's chest. "Oneesama, are you a boy?" She stammered. Mizuho looked panicked for a moment and then hung his head, "I have no excuse, Boku wa…" Takako turned and ran to the gate. "Boku wa," Mizuho repeated sadly.
*End Flashback*
With her head on Mizuho's shoulders, Takako startled when he mentioned that he had no regrets and that he could leave Seio with a clear conscience. "Don't decide things for yourself, Oneesama. I'll admit that I was shocked to find out that you were a man, but no one, including me wants you to leave. Besides, y-y-you s-s-saw me naked, a-a-and you kissed me," she stuttered. "You need to take responsibility for…" Suddenly, all the light went out and Takako felt Mizuho take her hand. Blushing furiously, She began, "Oneesama, I love…" The lights came back on and she was holding hands with Mariya, her long-time enemy. "Mariya-san, what is the meaning of this?"
Mikado Mariya laughed, "Your dance ends now, Student Council President-san. I'm not handing Mizuho-chan to you!" Takako was furious. "I thought that we had agreed to a truce," she spat. Mariya waved a finger in her face and taunted, "This and that are two different things. Besides, I haven't danced with Mizuho-chan yet!"
In the confusion, Mizuho was standing between his childhood friend and his erstwhile dance partner as they argued. He thought, 'They really are completely opposites, aren't they?' Takako had long blonde hair a few shades lighter than Mizuho's and Mariya had short blue hair. Takako was serious with some really cute quirks like her fear of ghosts. 'It would be too much for her to meet Ichiko-chan, wouldn't it?' Mariya was energetic and very athletic, having been the captain of the track team her second year until the third years had to resign for college entrance exams.
Mariya and Takako had a few things in common. The first was their educational career. They had been attending the same schools since kindergarten. The second was that they were dishonest with their feelings, hiding behind angry denials or avoiding the subject altogether. The biggest thing that they had in common was that they were both in love with Mizuho. They had a conversation earlier in the evening that confirmed this, and while it should have warned Takako that Mariya would try something to keep Mizuho for herself, Takako was distracted by her feelings as danced with her prince.
Mizuho was snapped from his reverie by the rising tension in the gym. Takako shouted, "I will prove that I am the superior Juliet for Mizuho-san's Romeo!" Struggling against being held by Yukari and Kana, Mariya countered, "Oh yeah, Romeo and Juliet didn't get together in the end!" Mizuho intervened, "Now, now this is not time or place for an argument. Everyone is here to enjoy the dance. Let's do the same, okay?"
Mariya nodded, "Okay, Mizuho-chan, I'll stop fighting with the pig-headed Takako as long as she understands that I won't give up. I love you, Mizuho-chan, and I won't stop until you are mine!" Takako snorted, "Finally something we can agree on, Mariya-san. I too am in love with Oneesama, and I will not stop until Mizuho-san is mine!"
At this point, the Headmistress, Mikura Sawe, and Hisako-sensei jumped in to end the fight and to restore order. Hisako-sensei, in her best loud teacher voice said, "Let's follow the Elder's suggestion and continue the dance, shall we everyone? Mikado-san, Itsukushima-san, could you both come with me for a moment?" Both girls nodded, and followed her out of the gym, much to the relief of everyone.
Following Hisako-sensei to her office, Takako and Mariya studied each other silently. They were embarrassed by their actions in the gym, but neither would apologize. The young teacher unlocked the door to her office and invited them to be seated. Adjusting her glasses, she cleared her throat, "Where do I begin to tell you how much your behavior tonight was out of line? I understand that you both have strong feelings for Miyanokouji-san, but to get in a public near-brawl over him, oops, I mean her, is completely unacceptable."
Mariya and Takako started to giggle, "Sensei, we both know that Mizuho-san is a man. Mariya-san is his childhood friend, and I found out when he rescued me from the kidnappers." Takako explained. "We understand that we cannot expose Mizuho-san as a boy or we both lose, right Mariya-san?" Mariya nodded.
Hisako-sensei was astonished, "Does anyone else know?" She asked and seeing Mariya look to the side, she pressed, "Mikado-san, does anyone else know?" Mariya swallowed, "Yes, sensei, two other people know, Shion-sama and Takashima Ichiko, the ghost that haunts Mizuho-chan's room."
Takako blanched and stammered, "A g-g-g-ghost?" Hisako-sensei cut her off and demanded, "How long has Jujou-san known?" Mariya smiled and answered, "Since the second day that Mizuho-chan was here. Shion-sama took Mizuho-chan under her wing and helped polish him into a person worthy of being our Elder Oneesama."
Sensei smiled, "Yes, she did. I suppose that we should be grateful to Jujou-san that Miyanokouji-kun wasn't exposed so quickly. Itsukushima-san, do you know why Miyanokouji-kun is here at Seio?" She asked and Takako shook her head. "His mother was Miyanokouji Sachiho and her father Mitsuhisa-sama put it in his will that Mizuho-kun needed to attend Seio to receive his inheritance. His mother died when he was five, and Mitsuhisa-sama felt that this would be best way for him to learn about his mother. Fortunately for us, Mizuho-kun is feminine enough to pass without detection."
Takako's eyes welled up with tears, "Poor Mizuho-san! He has suffered so much. I will try to make him so happy that he won't hurt again!" Mariya bristled and snapped caustically, "I have been with him since the beginning, and I know him better than anyone, do you really believe that you can beat me?" Takako countered with a haughty laugh, "Of course I can; I already have his first kiss! Hisako-sensei, I promise that there will be no display like tonight on my part again. So Sensei, gokigenyou!" She turned and ran out of the office, leaving Sensei and Mariya stunned.
To be continued…
A/N: I realize that I borrowed a lot from the last episode of the anime. It makes no sense that the grandfather whose will demanded that Mizuho go to the girls' school was his paternal grandfather. It was more logical that he should be Mizuho's maternal grandfather, so I changed it. I hope that you enjoyed. Let me know what you thought. Peace!