Prologue: Let's go on an adventure!

I wonder if they think about me like I think about them… I wonder if they even remember me. We were so young back then… "Mikazuki! Pay attention!" Mikazuki Hasakawa jolted in surprise as Azami Kita rapidly poked her in the shoulder. That's gonna bruise. Mikazuki shook her head before turning to quicksilver-tempered friend with a quirky half smile. "What's up?" she asked with only partial interest. When she had zoned out before, her multicolor-haired friend had been running off on a tangent about the problems caused by all-girls schools. "She was saying we needed a getaway. Just the four of us," the soft, sweet tenor of Kohana Sato drifted over to Mikazuki from where the mellow girl was meditating. As if sensing the other girl's attention focused on her, she slowly cracked open her wisteria colored eyes with a gentle smile. "It's not that bad of an idea. Maybe it would mellow her out." Azami growled from beside Mikazuki and narrowed her eyes at her stepsister's contradictive jab.

However, before she could respond, another voice cut across the private courtyard within the Hasakawa gardens. "Enough, you two. Save the bickering for when you get home." All three girls looked towards the far corner where Kimiko Minami was set up with her laptop, her steel grey hair gathered into a sleek knot on the crown of her head. "Some of us have work that needs done. Besides, Azami, where would we logically go? It's almost the start of term." The tempermental girl furrowed her brow in contemplation before visibly brightening. "How about Japan? Mikazuki, doesn't your father still have the manor there?" A spark of hope lit within Mikazuki's chest as she considered the possibilities of returning to her childhood home. After several long minutes of silence, she felt the hot presence of determination fill her body. "Actually, guys…" Kohana tilted her head in question at her cheerful friend's uncharacteristic tone. "How do you feel about studying abroad?" Mika's friends jolted at the unexpected question and exchanged glances. "What are you getting at, Mika?" Kohana asked gently.

"Well, there's this school near the manor…"