Chapter 4: Jealous Date
Nagisa kissed the cheek of the blonde girl, who she knew as Agent Satura, and returned to her friends at the table. Shizuma was trying really hard to suppress her anger when she saw Nagisa kiss that blonde.
As Nagisa approached the table, Shizuma forced a smile. Nagisa brought a couple beers with her and handed one to Shizuma with a smile that made Shizuma upset because she interpreted it as Nagisa enjoying the company of the random hot blonde.
"Have a nice dance?" Shizuma asked a little coldly
Miyuki and Shion stopped their current debate of the different kinds of sushi and watched the Shizuma situation. At that time, Tamao returned from the restroom, still feeling a little sick in the stomach but she intently watched Shizuma and Nagisa.
Nagisa just smiled and replied "yeah, one of my favourite songs"
Only one thought went through Miyuki, Shion and Tamao's mind 'Oh my god Nagisa, you dense idiot!'
This did not help since the song that played was 'sexyback' by JT and it was a sexual song. To Shizuma this information was like saying to her face 'yeah, I had a great time groping the hot blonde to a sex song and haha it wasn't you!'
Shizuma tightened the grip on her bottle and instead of yelling to Nagisa's face 'CAN'T YOU TELL I FUCKING LIKE YOU' she chugged her beer and left the table after fiercely slamming it on the countertop and storming off.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Nagisa, completely baffled at the Etoile's behaviour.
"Nagisa-chan, you are clueless" sighed Tamao as she took Shizuma's empty seat.
"Clueless" echoed Miyuki.
"Stupid idiot who doesn't understand SHIT" added Shion.
Nagisa shrugged it off since she just did not get what happened. She knew that Shizuma was upset about something, but it wasn't her fault she didn't know what… still, Nagisa felt sad because she hoped she hadn't done something unconsciously to hurt Shizuma.
The next day many girls in Astrea Hill suffered hangovers from their previous fun nights...
Nagisa told Yaya about the robbery which agent Satura informed her of, and they made plans to go out to town near that area. Nagisa needed a new pair of jeans any way so it was the perfect plan.
When she was walking back from Yaya's room, she slipped on something that wasn't there, and prepared to hit the ground but she was caught from behind by nice slender arms. She regained her balance and turned around to thank….Shizuma?
"Thanks Shizuma" she said happily, but stopped smiling when she saw sadness in Shizuma's eyes.
"Nagisa, I wanted to apologise to you for getting angry last night…"
"It's okay, don't worry, I guessed you were upset"
Shizuma smiled I am telling myself that it was the alcohol that caused my anger, but I can't believe I got jealous after that dance... do I like you more than I thought?
"I was wondering, Nagisa, would you like to go out with me today, I'm going shopping" Shizuma had never felt nervous to ask out a girl, and that was because usually girls blurted out a 'YES!', but Nagisa actually seemed to be thinking about it... that doesn't mean possible rejection, does it?
Wow... Hanazono Shizuma might get rejected... never thought to see the day.
Nagisa thought for a second, she felt bad to say no, and she actually liked the idea of shopping with Shizuma … but her and Yaya had to stop that robbery today. Nagisa decided that she could just sneak away from Shizuma at 4, and stop it, and sneak back.
YES! Problem solved! Nagisa you genius, you!
"Awesome! Me and Yaya were going out today anyways because I needed new jeans! We can shop together!"
Shizuma forced a smile at Nagisa. So if there was a third person, it wasn't a date. Damn it! And she just thinks of it as a friendly outing, so that is kind of a rejection if she sees them only as friends. WHAT?! SHIZUMA'S FIRST REJECTION?! EVER?! Well sort of...
The three girls took Yaya's car to downtown Astrea where there were many nice street shops and boutiques. Nagisa got her jeans, and she bought some CD's and chocolates. Shizuma got a tight hoodie, some shoes and some earings. Yaya got CD's and a bunch of t-shirts.
Shizuma noticed that the jeans Nagisa bought were tight, and when Nagisa had tried them on at the store, she couldn't help but be shocked at how nice Nagisa's legs looked. Very much a turn on for Shizuma's hormones. Nagisa actually had a hot body under her cute exterior and it only made Shizuma like her more. Poor Shizuma falls deeper.
At about 3:55 pm, Nagisa declared she was hungry. Shizuma said she knew a place further down that shouldn't be too busy. Yaya said she had to pay off the parking meter on her car, and Nagisa thought it would be a good idea to accompany her and drop their shopping off in the car. Shizuma agreed, though reluctant to leave Nagisa's side, and went ahead to the restaurant-which was actually like a sports bar. Of course when she walked in, she was checked out by everyone present.
After about 15 minutes, Nagisa and Yaya came and joined her. Shizuma noticed Nagisa limp and questioned her, very worried. Yaya just laughed and told the story of Nagisa tripping on a guy's foot on their way to the restaurant. They had a good laugh at Nagisa's expense.
While they ate, there was a TV playing in the background that caught their attention with the news:
"This just in-" said the anchorman, "there was an attempted robbery by 6 individuals at ICI bank branch in Astrea downtown recently this afternoon. The thieves consisted of 4 men and 2 women. We have the footage of their failed robbery when they were expertly disarmed by 2 special force officers who were on the scene immediately. Only on ANN newsnetwork-"
The television showed black and white blurry surveillance footage of 2 masked officers in black knock out the 6 robbers very efficiently, almost ninja style. As they knocked out the last person, it was visible that one of the officers tripped over someone's foot rather randomly. I wonder who that was...
Yaya started to snort laughter at this and Shizuma smiled in amusement.
"What's so funny Yaya? You shouldn't laugh at that!" Nagisa blushed, embarrassed.
"B-but...aha, Nagisa, that officer just kicked people's buts and then TRIPPED! It's funny, I mean they whoop ass, and then...trip" Yaya continued to laugh and Nagisa fumed.
"Exactly why you shouldn't laugh, that officer just made an honest slip..." Nagisa tried to defend her honour.
"My dear, you just sympathize because that incident happened to you too!" Yaya smirked because Nagisa was really too goofy. She kicked the robber's buts, taking out the 4 males while Yaya only took out the 2 wimpy girls. What a klutz.
"She's right Nagisa; it is something you would do" Shizuma joined in the giggling and teasing of Nagisa.
The two laughed for a good while and Nagisa grumpily ate her food. How embarrassing! Even though no one near her knew that it was her who tripped on TV, she felt like everyone was laughing at her.
Nagisa decided to ignore her friends and started to get engrossed in a soccer match now on the TV instead of the news. She really loved sports. People would be surprised to know that Nagisa was a jock, because she was too cute to be one. But Nagisa was actually quite into sports, and soccer was her favourite sport after American football.
Shizuma noticed Nagisa miss her mouth with her fork of food as she watched the game. How cute. Yaya smirked and told Shizuma in a whisper "she gets really into sports."
Shizuma was very amused at Nagisa who was now chewing on food that was not in her mouth but in her face. Does she not notice that she's eating air? Why do I find even this attractive? Nagisa, what are you doing to me?
"Nagisa, you do realise you aren't eating anything, right?" Shizuma couldn't help her giggle.
"Hmmm" was the only reply she got.
Yaya and Shizuma resumed to laughing at the girl.
"Damn it!" Nagisa blurted making Yaya and Shizuma stop laughing for a second afraid that they hurt the girls feelings.
"Damn guy could have easily passed the ball to the left, but NO! He wanted all the glory to himself!" she frowned and actually put food in her mouth this time instead of chewing air.
Shizuma found that anger attractive in a sense, a very weird sense. Yaya just rolled her eyes at her friend's usual behaviour when watching sports.
Nagisa excused herself to the restroom and Shizuma watched and admired her until she was out of sight.
"You really like her" said Yaya, in a very friendly tone.
Shizuma was a little surprised at the comment, but nevertheless she couldn't lie.
"Yeah, I do. I guess it's that obvious, huh?"
"Yeah, but that's because I can share the feeling. I have someone I can't even stop thinking about. But if it helps, that person is not Nagisa... me and Nagisa, you don't have anything to worry about between us because I see her like my sister. In fact, even though we're not related I called her parents Aunt and Uncle, and we grew up like sisters."
Shizuma felt a weight lift of her heart which she didn't know was there. That was one big weight. Was I really that nervous about Yaya and Nagisa's relationship?
"Thanks, Nanto-san. To be honest, I think I genuinely like Nagisa..."
Yaya put an assuring hand on Shizuma's for comfort and gave her a warm smile.
"Great! Now I know Nagisa maybe better than I know myself, and she is definitely unaware of her feelings half the time. I can tell you that she's not completely oblivious to romance, since she has dated in the past..."
Shizuma flinched at this information because she never thought Nagisa was relationship experienced at all. So did Nagisa know Shizuma liked her and just refused to acknowledge it? Did she not like Shizuma? Has she been in a lot of relationships? Shizuma felt a million questions run through her mind.
As if Yaya could read her mind, she reassured Shizuma.
"Don't misunderstand! It's not that she doesn't like you; it's that she honestly can't tell your feelings. But I see chemistry between you guys and can confidently say you'd be great together!"
Shizuma suddenly felt like happy again. Of course she and Nagisa looked great together. They looked like a picture perfect couple, right?
Shizuma smiled at Yaya again, "really thank you Nanto-san, I have had my doubts for a while, but I guess Nagisa is like a new breed to me. This situation is really new to me."
They both laughed for a while and had their little bonding moment.
"Please, call me Yaya!"
"Hai and you please call me Shizuma."
Now they were friends, and allies in getting Nagisa to fall for Shizuma.
At that moment, Nagisa returned from the bathroom but something was wrong because she was... soaking wet?
Shizuma's heart flipped at the scene since Nagisa wore a simple white t-shirt that day and it was now see through and clinging to her nice frame. Shizuma could even tell that Nagisa had a blue lace bra on. Shizuma was surprised at Nagisa's sexy lingerie choice. Not to mention Nagisa's hair was slightly wet giving off another sexy look. However Nagisa looked, Shizuma had this sudden desire to hug and kiss her right then and there.
Yaya noticed the gaze Shizuma had on Nagisa's appearance and smirked to herself. She felt Nagisa needed someone to make her happy, because the girl would not admit how lonely she was since her parents died. Even thought Yaya was really close to her, and Nagisa had other good friends, she needed a special someone to make her happy and that spot was for a soul mate. She was even more sure it could be Shizuma now, because the gaze Shizuma held at Nagisa was complete desire. Yaya could tell how Shizuma felt because she felt that way as well, every time she looked at Tsubomi. In fact she felt déjà vu because one of the first times she felt completely taken by Tsubomi was when she had fallen in the pool and her clothes were drenched and clung to her body.
Yaya used to have a doubt that Shizuma who was a playgirl would just play with Nagisa.
But as Shizuma just admitted, she seemed to genuinely like Nagisa. Yaya secretly believed Shizuma could even be in love with her.
"What happened, Nagisa?" asked Shizuma after fully checking her out.
"Stupid sink faucet broke! So I told the waiter and he said he'd fix it" Nagisa sat down in her seat and just continued to eat as if nothing happened.
Shizuma did not giggle; because she was too busy admiring the beauty before her. Wow, I have never been taken by a soaking girl so much before... she looks so... precious.
Just then, a waitress with a towel came and handed it Nagisa.
"Here's a towel, thought you might want to dry up. But these things always happen to you, don't they, Nagisa-chan?"
Yaya whipped her head at the familiar voice and felt anger rise up in her,
"YOU!" she practically yelled.
"Oh, didn't see you Nanto..." the waitress showed as much despise to Yaya as Yaya did to her.
Shizuma sensed Nagisa tense up at this person, but watched as Nagisa forced a smile and said "Hello, Seiko-san, it's nice to see you again."
The waitress was really pretty but she glared in envy at the unfamiliar silver-haired majestic looking GORGEOUS girl who was seated with Nagisa. Shizuma felt the tention and just smirked.
"This is my good friend Hanazono Shizuma. Shizuma, this is Fujika Seiko."
Shizuma smiled at Seiko but never received one back, just a glare.
"Eh, not calling me a good friend, Nagisa-chan?" teased Seiko, jealousy evident.
"Why would she" commented Yaya.
Yaya and Seiko glared at each other and Shizuma could only be amused at the behaviour.
"Ano, thank you for the towel, Seiko-san, it was very kind of you. We have to go soon though so excuse us." Nagisa stood up and left to the front counter.
When Nagisa was out of ear shot, Yaya glared at Seiko.
"Stay away from her Fujika, if you know what's good for you. She's already taken." Yaya gave a knowing glance to Shizuma.
"She's already taken? By who, this bitch?" Seiko looked Shizuma up and down, envying her beauty and hating her for being in her way.
"Excuse me, Fuji..ka-san was it? But who are you calling a 'bitch'" Shizuma was quite angry that this girl obviously made her Nagisa feel uncomfortable, and that the girl had the nerve to call Shizuma a bitch. Which she most certainly was not! Maybe she was sometimes, but only for good reasons...
Seiko stormed off from the table and said "we'll see" under her breath. Was that a threat?
"Nice one Shizuma-san" Yaya let out a breath of relief. "If I said something like that to her, she would punch me in the face. Not saying I wouldn't beat the shit out of her back!"
They both chuckled as they got up to join Nagisa at the front counter. Nagisa paid for their meal behind their backs when she went to the counter earlier. Shizuma took this opportunity to convince her to go out for dinner sometime as her treat to compensate. To her absolute joy, Nagisa agreed. Yippee! At least one future date secured!
During the drive back to school, Shizuma innocently asked how Nagisa knew Seiko.
She felt bad for asking when she saw Nagisa look sad but then Nagisa gave her a smile and answered her question.
"Well, I dated her for a brief time." Nagisa suddenly sounded mature. What? They dated? Shizuma felt some jealousy enter her body.
"She's a screwed up bitch who tried to take advantage of Nagisa!" Yaya angrily yelled.
Shizuma felt more anger build up in her. She tried to take advantage of Nagisa? How dare she? Shizuma wanted to know the truth, but felt scared to ask. Did she want to know?
Nagisa sighed, "I don't recall much, but she gave me a drink during a party we went to and I remember her taking me to a room... that's all. Yaya told me the rest." Nagisa trembled a little and looked out the window.
Yaya explained the rest, "I was worried about Nagisa, and I saw her getting carried into a room by Fujika. So I followed and saw Fujika practically forcing herself on the girl! I beat her up and took Nagisa away before anything got serious."
Shizuma felt herself hating Seiko once given this information. Shizuma has had her share of loving from girls, but she has never taken advantage of one. That's pathetic! Needless to say the girls who want Shizuma want her more than she wants them and maybe that was another reason why she liked Nagisa, because she doesn't throw herself at Shizuma.
It was 7pm when the girls got back to the dorms. Yaya told Shizuma and Nagisa that she had to go meet Tsubomi and ran off leaving them alone. Nagisa suggested they walk around campus, but first she changed out of her still damp clothes (to Shizuma's dismay). In Nagisa's room Shizuma felt giddy. She had been to people's rooms before, but this was special and different to her. She saw Nagisa's messy side of the room compared to Tamao's neat side. Tamao was in the room having tea with Hikari when the 2 arrived, and Shizuma felt uncomfortable under her gaze. She looked a little upset for some reason. Nagisa changed into baggy sweats that said 'JUICY' on the ass and into a purple tank top. Shizuma agreed completely with the sweats, that area was definitely 'juicy.'
They walked around the school grounds aimlessly and chatted about general things. Nagisa learned that Shizuma also lost her parents, but at a young age when she was 6. Shizuma has always been getting taken car of by her older brother who was 18 at the time and is now 29. Big age difference. They learned more of each other and felt closer after only 1 hour of talking. Shizuma never knew her parents well, so had never really missed them. She felt bad for Nagisa who only recently lost her parents.
Shizuma took Nagisa to the greenhouse and explained how she takes care of the flowers. To Shizuma's surprise Nagisa knew a lot about flowers, and recognized them all by name. It turned out her mother loved flowers a lot. They sat in the greenhouse and enjoyed some tea.
"Shizuma, can I come here more often, to the greenhouse? I like it here..."
"Of course, Nagisa!" Shizuma tried to hide her happiness at the thought of spending more time with Nagisa like this in the greenhouse.
It was starting to get very dark outside, and before the girls knew it, it had been 11 at night. So they walked back towards the dorms. On the way they saw a flushed Yaya and Tsubomi come out from the trees holding hands.
Shizuma chuckled at the sight and thought of her and Nagisa doing something like that. This thought instantly made her blush.
"Ano, Shizuma, you're all red, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine!"
"Yaya!" Nagisa called out to Yaya when she saw the girl walking.
Yaya waited for them to catch up, and Tsubomi blushed when she saw Shizuma give her the 'I know what you been doing, you naughty you' look.
"Hey you guys look really flushed, are you okay?"
Yaya went pale at Nagisa's words and, even though she was in the embarrassing situation, she just couldn't help but laugh at her friend's failure to grasp the circumstance. Shizuma joined in on laughing, but Tsubomi went redder while Nagisa just gave them a blank look of complete honest confusion.
After they all said goodnight and headed to their room, it was around 11:30. Nagisa tripped on a flower pot that was in her way and fell forwards into Shizuma. Before Shizuma could hit the ground, Nagisa used her agent protective instinct to whirl Shizuma around in the air so Nagisa would be the one to hit the ground first. Ouch, Shizuma is still pretty heavy...
Shizuma quickly grasped the situation and realised that she was now on top of Nagisa in a very provocative position. She felt hot at the contact and could feel Nagisa's chest beat rise and fall as she took breathes. Did Nagisa just protect me from falling? What good reflexes, and how... nice of her. That action only made Shizuma like Nagisa more. Nagisa, what do you do? What is your secret to cracking the Etoile?
Nagisa just grunted from a little pain and gently pushed Shizuma off. Shizuma quickly rose to her feet and turned away from Nagisa to hide her flushed face.
"Sorry Shizuma, you okay?"
"Y-yeah... thanks for uh, saving my fall..."
"No, it's nothing, but goodnight!" Nagisa gave her a quick good night hug and walked away.
Shizuma was still blushing from the events. She had done more intimate things than that, but even a simple hug from Nagisa made her feel like this. She could only wonder what the kiss would do...
When Nagisa got to her room, Tamao was sitting in the room, and Nagisa told her about her day.
The way Nagisa talked about Shizuma really hurt Tamao's feelings. She couldn't help it. She knew Nagisa liked Shizuma but just hadn't noticed it yet. Give a week or two, and Nagisa will understand, hopefully. Nagisa went on her laptop for a bit before she retired to sleep at about 1 in the morning.
Tamao sighed. She was cursed with having Nagisa as her first love, who would never love her the same way.
