Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter! I love getting reviews, as you can probably tell, and I love them especially when I get longer ones focusing on points you liked/my authors notes :) It really helps me to continue the story in a good direction, so thank you! :)

I've decided to reply to my reviewers in the bottom portion of my stories, so that people who don't want to read that bit can skip by it, and those who do can read it :) Thanks again guys! You're the best!

A Little Push

One: Speak Now or Shut Up

by PrincessesAndPoisonApples

"So…what do you think, Yaya-sempai?"

The ebony-haired Spican turned to the girl who had spoken, a furiously blushing pinkette, and furrowed her brow, confused. Still, she grinned—this was a perfect opportunity for some prime teasing. "What do I think about what, Tsundere-chan?" she sing-songed, prodding the girl in the side, elicited a surprised squeal from the younger girl.

The pinkette shoved the older girl's hand away, now blushing even more deeply than before, if that was indeed possible. "Can't you ever keep your hands to yourself, Yaya-baka?" she huffed. "And obviously I'm talking about Hikari-sama's announcement earlier today!"

Yaya tilted her head, still confused, and Tsubomi sighed heavily, shaking her head at the other girl. "Geez, I thought you'd at least pay attention when it was Hikari-sama giving the announcements," she muttered under her breath, ignoring the sharp pang in her chest that the words brought with them. "The boys on campus, Yaya-sempai, what do you think about it?"

The brunette instantly choked on the water she'd just taken a drink of, doubling over and coughing into her lap while both Tsubomi and the newly-arrived Hikari stared wide-eyed. Tsubomi appeared to be torn between slapping the older girl on the back or sitting back and letting it run its course—in the end, she chose the latter, as she'd never actually taken any form of medical class, and also since Yaya appeared to be pulling herself together.

"What?" the girl finally choked, her brow furrowed, dark eyes swimming in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

The newly-appointed Etoile sighed almost imperceptibly from across the table, drawing the attention of the pinkette, and by default, that of the less perceptive brunette, who'd merely followed her kouhai's gaze. "Still goofing off during announcements, Yaya-chan?" she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.

"Yeah, she was too busy groping me to pay attention to anything else," Tsubomi muttered, flushing uncontrollably at the memory. "Still, I kinda thought she'd paid at least a little attention. I guess it's my fault for just expecting someone like Yaya-baka to be capable of multitasking."

"Yeah, exac—hey!"

Hikari giggled at the honestly miffed expression dancing across her best friend's face. She was glad Yaya could tease again—glad she could smile and laugh and even argue with Tsubomi like she had before. She still felt a pang of guilt in her chest whenever she was with Amane and happened to catch that sad, kicked-puppy look in her best friend's eyes, but it was nowhere near the crippling wave it had been. Smiling to herself, Hikari tuned back into the conversation, which had gone on in a predictable direction in her absence.

"I can so multitask, you little brat!"

"Yeah, I guess—you never shut up, so I guess you'd have to at some point, or else you'd be dead already!"

"You are such an impertinent litt—"

"Yaya-chan, Tsubomi-chan," Hikari said, sweatdropping after another few minutes of this. Both girls quieted at once, turning to stare at the new Etoile, who suddenly wished they were still arguing. Despite being half of the most important figurehead in all three schools combined, Hikari was still terribly nervous under the full attention of…well, anyone, really. "Um…" she began softly, then, spotting a life raft, latched onto it. "Weren't you asking Yaya-chan a question, Tsubomi-chan?"

"Oh, right," the pinkette stated, though Hikari could tell she hadn't really forgotten. She probably just didn't want to seem overeager to hear the brunette's answer. "Before I was so rudely interrupted," here, Yaya made a face, and promptly winced, her foot having been stomped quite rigorously by the still-blushing Tsubomi, "I was asking Yaya-chan what she thought about the boys attending school here. What do you think, Hikari-sama?"

"I think you should address me as you did before, Tsubomi-chan," Hikari began with a slight blush, although she knew it was pointless. If Yaya couldn't be convinced to address her as a best friend, prim, proper Tsubomi would never dream of addressing her as a mere sempai. "But, as for your question, I'm rather looking forward to it myself. My previous school was co-ed," here, Yaya and Tsubomi shared a hesitant look—if meek, quiet little Hikari couldn't stand up to Kaname, how must it have been for her at a school full of loud, hormonal boys, "so I guess it won't be too shocking, but it's still been a while." Hikari smiled softly. "And yourself, Tsubomi-chan?" she asked, aware that the girl (who was now all but bouncing about on the edge of her seat) was about five seconds from bursting.

"Oh, I can't wait!" Tsubomi cried, eyes lighting up. Clearly, she'd been angling for the question. "I haven't been to a co-ed school since I was six—"

"And what was that, five days ago?" Yaya quipped, cutting her off. The brunette's demeanor had shifted slightly, and she had dropped the teasing lilt. It was almost as though she meant the comment to hurt the younger girl, and Hikari watched with interest.

"Shut up, Yaya-baka!" Tsubomi snapped, and Hikari was surprised to realize that the younger girl hadn't picked up on Yaya's mood at all. Usually the pinkette was the first to notice, and most of the time refused to leave the playful brunette's side until she felt more herself, whatever the consequence might be to Tsubomi herself. Seemingly unfazed by Yaya's comment, having only snapped out of reflex, Tsubomi continued, "When I was in elementary school, my best friend was a boy named Shota—we live right next door to each other, too, though I don't see him anymore because of our schools. But he went to the school they're talking about, so I'll get to see him again!"

"That's great, Tsubomi-chan," Hikari said, smiling, though her eyes were trained on Yaya, who was suddenly very interested in her (now-mutilated) eggs, glaring down at them as though they were the culprit behind everything bad in the world. The smaller girl bit her lip, knowing that, if her instincts about her two best friends were right, there could only be two possible outcomes to this situation. Tsubomi, it seemed, finally had someone else to dote on other than Yaya, and Hikari was sure the brunette wouldn't take the change favorably. The question was whether Yaya would just stand by and let it happen (again, Hikari winced internally), or if she would fight it and, in the process, finally come to terms with what she felt for her little pinkette.

And Hikari honestly couldn't see which way the dice would fall.

"Kaname?" inquired Momomi, easily five whole decibels louder than was necessary, considering the proximity of the two.

"Yes, Momomi?" Kaname replied equally loudly, instantly catching on to the honey-brunette's most recent game.

"I think perhaps our most esteemed kaichou-sama is having one of her fits again, Kaname."

Said 'kaichou-sama' visibly tensed.

"Ah, yes, I do believe you are correct, Momomi," the snake-eyed Spican replied. "Either that or she's gotten herself constipated with that enormous, splintery log wedged up her virgin—"

"Oooh, Kaname, I should wash your mouth out with soap."

"Oh, I'm sure you could think of better things to fill my mouth with, Momomi."

Shion gritted her teeth, willing herself not to react (although there was really no point, she knew—her two 'best girls' were already well aware of the fact that their little game had succeeded in irking her). These two would give her a heart attack before she got to celebrate her eighteenth birthday; she really wouldn't put it past them. Spica would be the perfect stepping stone on their way to total world domination (because as we all know, politics start at home).

"You're not going to sulk like that all day, Shi-chan?"

This was Chikaru, who received a rather noncommittal grunt in response. The Lulim president sighed, eyes resting on the irritated (and sincerely troubled, it seemed) blonde.

"I think that was meant to be a 'yes', Minamoto-san," Miyuki quipped from her seat, located to the right of Chikaru's. Off to Chikaru's left, Shion's head shot up and violet eyes narrowed in the bluenette's direction with an almost imperceptible degree of (very) raw hurt. Chikaru frowned—she'd always hated being caught between the two. It was quite ironic, therefore, that playing referee between the hot-headed Spican and cold-hearted Miatorian had become her most important (and possibly sole) role as the representative from Lulim.

That aside, though, Chikaru really did wish Miyuki wouldn't bait Shion (although really, the blonde did ask for it rather a lot), because just as she knew of the secrets behind the coldness in the bluenette's eyes, so too did she see the not-so-hidden truth behind all the blonde's bluster and generally argumentative nature toward her Miator counterpart.

A truth that, in all likelihood, was probably behind Shion's veritable tantrum and foul mood, as well.

"Oh, and I'm sure you're just loving this, aren't you, Rokujou-san," the Spican spat bitterly, despite the calming hand Chikaru had placed on her knee—a gesture that did not escape the notice of the bluenette on the brunette's other side.

Miyuki raised one eyebrow at Chikaru (clearly less than irritated by the current argument, making it rather one-sided, just as most of their arguments tended to go) before turning back to the blonde.

"Was that meant to be an insult?" she asked coldly. "I'm sure that you, along with the entirety of the student body, are perfectly aware of the situation that awaits me after graduation? Even if I do choose to 'take up' with one of these boys, it will end as if nothing had happened as soon as I graduate and become some slimy, hairy old man's trophy wife and/or fuck toy." Miyuki's had begun in a cold, detached tone, slowly escalating until she had practically spat out the last few syllables, her eyes flashing with pain and just a little shred of helplessness.

Chikaru felt Shion's muscles tense beneath her touch and bit her lip, her eyes fluttering shut out of sympathy for the hard-headed (and somewhat emotionally-stunted) Spican. The blonde opened and closed her mouth several times, only to ultimately snap her jaw shut with a resounding click. Miyuki smiled in a bittersweet sort of way that was one part smug, one part reluctant acceptance and two parts heartbreak, an expression that Chikaru was absolutely positive was sadder than if the bluenette had simply broken down in tears.

For her part, Shion had fallen completely silent, now glaring fiercely down at her eggs as though she were hoping to set them on fire with her eyes.

Squeezing Shion's knee more out of habit than necessity (because her touch wouldn't bring her friend any comfort now) Chikaru sighed and focused on her own breakfast only to find that she had, quite suddenly (and completely), lost her appetite.

Okay, so this chapter is the real first chapter—I'm trying to incorporate the relationship between the three presidents in a realistic way, as well as the relationship between Yaya and Tsubomi. This chapter is clearly just setting things up so that the main plot can flow smoothly—please tell me what you think!

It seems you guys agree with me regarding Chikaru and Tamao—I kinda feel like Chikaru's a closet dominatrix or something super kinky like that (although that won't be featured in this, lol :P), and, really, it isn't very hard to top Tamao, is it?

This was a quicker update, mainly to thank you guys for giving me another chance and replying after reading :) And also I just want to get the beginning out of the way xP I'm hoping most of the other chapters will be longer—it's just starting out that's difficult for me :/

Also, as of this point in the story, Kaname and Momomi are the comic relief :P

Review Replies:

Guest: I'm glad you're glad, lol :D Well, I hope this lives up to your expectations-as you've probably noticed, my writing style appears to have suffered in the aftermath of my leaving FFn D: And thank you! It means a lot to hear from people who like my previous work too! :)

TodayParade: Thank you! And I totally agree-as I mentioned in the a/n, Chikaru seems like a closet top to me, and Tamao...well, Tsubomi could probably top Tamao, lol.

FloatingUpwards: Thank you, I'm glad you like it so far! I hope it continues to live up to your expectations :) And I totally agree about Chikaru and Tamao, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going out of character :P

Please leave me a review if you liked it and would like to see me continue, or if there are things you'd like to see in the story! :)