A/N: So, Haruka's had kind of a rough week; it's got to get better now, right?
..._right_?
*cue ominous chanting in the background, and more ominous, evil chortling in the foreground*
Chapter 2 - Ready for the Weekend
The next six weeks were all but hellish for Haruka, not the least because Yukino...well, Yukino was in love. While Yukino had always done her job with a virtuosa's brilliance, she now brought a certain...passion to it that had only been seen in glimpses. Which is not to say that Chie Harada was behaving any less mischievously than her norm, only that the results could be wildly varied, from a stern lecture, to a giggly finger-wagging, to what had seemed to look like some hot and kinky fun with a paddle, but turned out to only be hot on Chie's backside, although making up for it the the evening after was almost worth having to stand up for all of her afternoon classes.
Yukino was hesitant at first about taking over Haruka's job as Executive Director, but with the other Council members all due to graduate, it was obvious that Yukino was everyone's choice to keep the continuity of the Council. After a little sincere encouragement from all, she decided that she would be honored to take over her best friend's position in the coming year, and perhaps even the Presidency in her senior year. Haruka may have secretly hoped that having to keep up with the duties of Acting Executive Director would leave Yukino with little time for a social life, but the extra responsibility only seemed to bring out hidden stores of strength and talent. Granted, Yukino was still a quiet girl, but she was no longer as timid as she had been. Haruka could feel another difference; Yukino no longer followed her around, so much as accompanied her at school. While it was in a way marvelously impressive to Haruka, and she was more than justifiably proud at how much her best friend had matured, and was now stepping out from under her wing, there were more than a few times when Haruka missed her little shadow.
At first, Yukino had been quick to try to return Haruka's armband of authority, but Haruka pointed out that Yukino would be wearing it in her own right later, and the sooner she got used to the idea, the better. Yukino insisted that while she may be fulfilling the duties of both secretary and Director,
she still wanted Haruka around - at school, anyway - to help her in the transition. She kept up a steady stream of soliciting Haruka for "pointers" on what to do for certain more-mundane school emergencies, keeping her best friend "in the loop" while slowly assuming the responsibilities passed on that horrible Carnival night, blessedly the last of its kind.
On the weekends when only a few of the students had forgotten their heads, Yukino and Chie, along with their formerly-inseparable friends, would do something fun and relaxing. The other girls were a little nervous having the formidable Suzushiro on their outings, but Haruka pointed out that she had passed the baton of authority, in the form of an armband, and Yukino insisted that Haruka was a lot of fun, when she wasn't feeling compelled to be an example for her school mates. At times, Haruka even surprised herself at how much she had missed being, and enjoying being, a normal high school girl. Unfortunately, the enjoyment only lasted for the first day, since when evening rolled around, Yukino and Chie would find something to do as a couple. Sometimes it was something that Haruka and Aoi, and even others of the "Hime Gang", could join in on, like karaoke, but more often than not, the two love birds would find themselves a quiet place to nest, and Haruka and Aoi would have to find their own way in the world. Aoi even tried to engage Haruka in some conversation, but being without Yukino in social situations was just as new to Haruka, as it was the other way around. She was polite, but to be honest - and if nothing else, Haruka was that to a fault - the hurt was still a little too fresh, the separation still a little too tender for comfort.
Every now and then, Haruka forgot herself and just took over again. Yukino made sure to follow up with the tasked Executive committeemen, adjusting some orders, confirming others, even taking notes a couple of times. Still, bit by bit, Yukino was making it clear that she had the job, and she was able to fill Haruka's shoes, if not her stockings or blouse. The big turn-around happened about three-to-four weeks in, when Haruka was about to describe a sweep-up of some hooligans. Yukino swiftly interrupted, told the white-coats "Plan Ichijiro", and quietly but firmly, took Haruka aside and let her know that Yukino was taking care of things, and if she didn't like how she was doing it, then she shouldn't have given Yukino her armband. Haruka frowned, and - almost - spazzed out, but realized that Yukino was absolutely right. She even felt a little more proud of how her best friend wasn't backing down from doing the right thing, even when pressured by her sempai and best friend. If would have been nice to have seen this spirit last year, or even at the start of this year,
but Haruka reminded herself that it was a blessing to see it at all.
It didn't help, that that bubuzuke Fujino had a nice, quiet cup of tea, to help Haruka get used to being an outgoing Executive, that wasn't allowed to be quite so outgoing, so-to-speak. She still drank the tea - hibiscus, and delicious as expected - but when Kuga called her "Granny" and offered to give her a shawl, she had had enough. She growled and stomped out of the Council room...even though she did come right back in to get another cup of that tea.
Stupid Fujino...
It still meant that, even a little bit, especially at the end of the day...
...Haruka's life sucked.
_
MOAR NOATS:
Okay, so this chapter is really, REALLY short. It's because I had written the story in a certain style, but have since decided to redo it to make it stronger...harder...faster...better.
We can rebuild it; we have the technology.
Chapter Three is coming. It'll be much more chipper, because I can't write angst for nuthin'.
