I don't own sailor moon
Setsuna was pissed off. The reason. Her best friend was busy texting with her cell phone while they were supposed to preparing the important rehearsal. Setsuna was proud because she had a big patience (which anyone but herself disagree) this time though, was a different story.
"Michiru! You must stop and put the damn phone back. We've got serious job over here."
Michiru stopped her activity, she shifted her attention to her best friend. Setsuna had never seen the expression on Michiru's face. The violinist was giggling and blushing at the same time. She was like a high school girl got a crush and planning for a date.
"Yes, Sets? Don't you know Haruka invites me to her school festival tomorrow?"
"- No, I don't and I don't care." Setsuna sighed. She gave up. Instead scolding Michiru like a protective parent do, she would play a role as her best friend this time. Setsuna took a seat beside Michiru and listening her rambling.
"Haruka's class will make a cafe. She asks me to come if I don't have important event that day. Of course I will come!" Michiru giggled again. Her best friend's giggle only made Setsuna shivered on her neck.
"Michiru, but you have a meeting with the event organizer tomorrow..."
"Oh, Sets I can't! Can you move it to another day?"
Setsuna's jaw dropped. Never in her life experience witnessing Michiru acts like a spoiled teenager. Her best friend always calm, collected, professional, emotionless, elegant, and silent type. How can she build a new personality in a short time interval?
"I know! You can meet them! Please, Sets. This is a onetime wish! Cover for me?"
Setsuna never faced Michiru beg either. The blow was hard, so the older woman only managed a light nod. She was repaid with a crush bear hug from Michiru.
"Thanks Sets! You are the best-best friend ever."
"Whatever..." Setsuna struggled to breath under Michiru's bear hug. She hated hugs.
The rest of the day was spent as Setsuna continued hearing Michiru's rambling and giggles.
Haruka flipped close her mobile with sigh. This action was caught by the person next to her.
"What is it, Ruka?" A girl with long blonde hair looked at Haruka curiously.
"I ended up inviting her…" Haruka stood up, she shifted her attention back to the class. Her class was preparing the upcoming festival tomorrow.
"Well, then we just get to finish this fast." She winked. Haruka chuckled a little. Aino Minako who has been her best friend since middle school had just given the special wink.
"I know that wink, Minako… And for 12th times today… she isn't my girlfriend."
"Ha! She will be after tomorrow. It's not you to invite around anyone except this person is very special to you." Minako elbowed Haruka on the ribs to gain her attention.
"I will invite you." Haruka was offended, she is not that cold toward people, she just preferred to be alone because it's more comfortable that way.
"Oh, touché! You have to introduce her tomorrow."
Haruka nodded weakly. Tomorrow, well initially she'd invited the violinist only to pay her kindness back since she got to watch the concert. Behind that, the blonde wanted to know more about this woman. She knew the moment she landed her eyes on the aqua Goddess, she had this feeling.
She had fallen in deep.
"Setsuna, this is too much." Michiru fixed her wig position. Her hair color was too obvious, so they'd decided to hide them under a long black wig. Now, the violinist became black haired woman.
"Nothing's too much. Remember what may happen if you recklessly go without this 'protection'… I've been telling you many times about your hardcore fans!" Setsuna gave the finishing touch on her best friend make up. A simple sunglasses. It was summer, people were mostly wearing sunglasses to block the sun rays.
"Done, you may go to date now…" The older woman satisfied with her works. "I wonder if Haruka recognize me in this kind of outfit…" Michiru worried. The wig made her to a completely different person.
"Oh, she will… no worries. I've already text her… and Michiru…"
"What?" Michiru was fixing her wig again, somehow it was difficult to get comfortable with the attire.
"… Nothing, have fun… but not too much."
Michiru parked her car near the entrance of Haruka's school. She brought her Toyota prius today because Setsuna said no flashy things for today and this car is the closest she had as no flashy things.
Once she got off, she was immediately greeted by bunch of colors decorating the gate. Some students were distributing pamphlets and promoting their class stands with various methods. The violinist smiled upon the sight, it's been years since her high school years. She loved school festival, actually her onii-chan had brought her to every festivals in his high school. That's why, Michiru came to like the school festivals.
The memories only reminded her to the sorrow…
"Michiru." Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Michiru looked up and met with a bear mascot in front of her. It was a cute brown teddy bear.
"Ah, it's really you. Someone has texted me a while ago. Telling me that you'll come wearing black wig and sunglasses on…" The husky voice let out a little chuckled. The mascots led Michiru to the deeper area of the festival.
"Haruka?"
"Yup?" The bear answered.
"Why you are a bear?" Amused, Michiru curiously asked. Since the blonde had told her that her class would make a café, the violinist imagined she would've spotted Haruka as a butler or better…as a maid.
"Well, why you are a brunette?" The bear pointed back.
Michiru blushed, Haruka beneath the bear costume still managed to tease her. "It… it's necessary, you know people will go crazy if they find out I'm Kaioh Michiru."
The bear stopped and turned to the now brunette woman in front of her, "… You're right. It suits you anyway. Although I like the original color better."
The violinist only blushed harder upon the comment. Actually she had been worrying if the blonde found her appearance weird, seemed she was wrong.
"This is my class." Haruka opened the sliding door. Michiru saw the interior had been designed precisely like the actual café. However, the odd things are how the girls became butlers and the boys did the maid part. It was funny yet creative and appealing. No wonder there were many customers piled up inside.
"Welcome to class 2-A café!" One of the butlers greeted them. Michiru paid attention to the girl with butler costume. She had long blonde hair tied up in ponytail.
"Minako, I will take a break now." Haruka casually shrugged off the girl out of their way. The blonde had taken off the head part of her costume.
"Ah, it's Haruka. It's okay, you did a great job, I know it's hot inside that thing. Matsumoto will replace you." Minako shouted to the boy with maid costume near the kitchen. He was very delighted hearing the news, because he would free from the irritating skirt and apron.
"Michi, do you mind if you wait? I won't be long… I will take off mister bear then I'll show you around." Haruka asked. Michiru nodded, she was content her disguise was actually worked. No one looked at her direction or recognized her. She took a seat Minako provided her. After murmuring thank you, the violinist noticed the other blonde girl had been staring at her… curiously?
"I'm Aino Minako, call me Minako…" She extended her hand suddenly. "You are that woman Haruka has been… thinking, right? No wonder Haruka worked really hard for today's festival…" The young blonde girl flashed a smirk. It was like 'I know what you did to my best friend' smirk.
Michiru reacted and processed the situation, "I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself. I'm Kaioh Michiru." The violinist didn't find any threat from this girl. It would be convenience to reveal her true identity to one of Haruka's friend.
"Oh my God…" Minako gasped, her eyes went wide almost bulged out from its socket. "You are that Kaioh…!" Minako hissed in surprise. Michiru gestured the other girl to keep her tone down.
"Haruka's really super lucky… ehem, may you sign here?" Minako whispered, handing Michiru a piece of paper and a pen. Now she understood why Haruka's been keeping a secret about certain woman.
"Okay, but… Minako-san." Michiru gave the signed paper back to the excited blonde. "Haruka and I… we're just friends."
"Like I believe that!" Minako huffed, the longer they were talking, Minako noticed the woman resemblance with the famous Kaioh Michiru. So, the woman before her was truly the famous violinist.
"Like you believe what?" Haruka, done changing, joined in their conversation. She had changed the mascot to a high school uniform for summer.
"Nothing. Have fun you two!" Minako was then off serving the other customers. Michiru smiled, Haruka got a really nice friend here.
"I'm sorry, Michi for making you wait. Let's go, I will show you around here." The blonde's hand found Michiru's. They were walking side by side, hands intertwined with each other's.
"Onii-chan, read me a bedtime story? I can't sleep…" A 5 years old Michiru asked. Actually it was only an act so her onii-chan could've stayed longer in her room. The little Michiru loved his presence around. It made her feel safe and comfortable.
Haruka sighed but then he was back settle down on the chair beside her bed. "How about a little mermaid story then?" He smiled. Michiru looked into his eyes behind the smiles, there was something more into it. The aqua haired girl nodded.
"Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful mermaid under the sea…" Haruka told the story for about 15 minutes. In the end, Michiru hadn't slept at all. The little girl seemed more and more excited.
"Onii-chan…" Michiru lifted her hand after the end of story.
"Yes?"
"Why did the mermaid get her happy ending? It's so sad that she had to be sea foam while the prince don't know anything…" Michiru's was sad because the story was so tragic.
Haruka smiled, he told the sad version of little mermaid purposefully.
"Actually there's continuation of the story… unfortunately, it was more tragic than I just told you." Haruka patted the little girl's head.
"Now, time for you to sleep. Michi-chan gotta go to school tomorrow, isn't she?" He continued to tuck Michiru on her bed.
Michiru couldn't sleep for the rest of the night.
"Are you okay? You''ve been spacing out." The blonde asked. Her hand had been ignored for about 3 minutes. Haruka was offering Michiru a plate of takoyaki but she didn't get any answer from the violinist at all.
Michiru fixed back her attention to Haruka, she accepted it gladly. "I'm sorry…"
Haruka wondered about what Michiru was thinking about, since the older woman was a type who always got everything perfectly done. However, the high school blonde didn't want to push her more than necessary. Plus, their relationship wasn't kind of special. At least that was what Haruka thought.
"Haruka."
"Yup?" The blonde answered with a mouth full of takoyaki.
"Do you know a little mermaid story?"
"What?!" Haruka gasped, she coughed involuntarily by sudden action.
"I'm sorry, did I surprise you? Here, sit, I will grab a drink." Michiru pulled the nearest chair around and sit the blonde there. After that, she ran to buy a drink from the takoyaki stall.
Haruka gulped the water greedily, "How could you ask a question like that?" Asked Haruka after she emptied the bottle.
"Like what?"
"You know, unrelated question with what we are doing right now? You ask about a mermaid in time like this…"
Michiru rolled her eyes, she was trying to find the way out of Haruka's statement. "That's not true."
"What?"
"It is related. You know… this takoyaki. Octopus takoyaki." Michiru pointed her plate. "And then I ask about a mermaid. They both live in the sea." Michiru pouted on her defense while mimicking swimming movement.
There was a moment of silence… then Haruka bursted out laugh.
"You are so blunt… hahahaha. Octopus and mermaid, yea… they are sooo related." Michiru let the blonde laughed to her heart content. "But, why'd you ask about the story? Everyone knows little mermaid, it's on Disney." Haruka grinned.
"No, forget it… you're right, my mind was a mess a moment ago." Michiru shrugged off the topic.
But Haruka had already curious. "Speaking about a mermaid, my mother told me there are various kinds of endings. You know, happy end, tragic end, and super tragic end."
Now, Michiru was paying attention. "The super tragic end, how is it?"
Haruka frowned. "You don't know? It's so sad, that's why I hate the story."
"I don't. Tell me." Rather than asking, the tone sounded more like a command.
"… Well, the ending about the continuation of the witch's curse… you know the mermaid had traded her voice to the witch, right?"
Michiru nodded.
"The little mermaid's sisters were so furious to the tragedy happened on their lovely sister. They also made an exchange with the witch." Haruka played her last octopus.
"The curse was doubled. Since the prince had wronged the little mermaid with his ignorance, he got the impact of the curse also. The witch couldn't undone her curse upon the mermaid, so she had to spell another curse to somehow liven up the mermaid's wish. Together with her prince. However… both curses weren't really… nice."
"I've never heard that version." Michiru murmured.
"Are you kidding? My mother used to read me that as bed time story… how depressing childhood." Haruka chumped her last takoyaki. She preferred to not tell Michiru about the rest of the story moreover about the witch's curse. That was way to ruin a happy mood.
"Oh crap…" The blonde cursed, she spotted something walking toward them on the corridor.
"What?" Michiru followed Haruka's sight. She saw a man about in his twenties carrying a wooden sword in hand.
"He's my homeroom teacher. He's annoying, let's get out of here." Haruka pulled Michiru's arm to the exit door.
"But, Haruka…"
"TENOH! I FOUND YOU!"
Aware she was being chased, Haruka stopped her steps and embraced herself to face her annoying teacher.
"Listen, Michi… just ignore him, He is hopeless and think he is a playboy." Haruka whispered.
"Tenoh, you skipped our special practice last week and disappeared in these past days…" The teacher halted abruptly and pointing his wooden sword on Haruka's face.
"Chiba sensei, I was busy preparing the festival." Haruka cut in.
"Still…" The teacher now glanced to the person standing beside Haruka. He blushed instantly and then straightened up his posture.
"Ehem, My name is Chiba Mamoru," He introduced himself in a cool way. Haruka rolled her eyes. This teacher always flirted anything breath.
In the teacher's perspective, Michiru was a beautiful yamato nadeshiko with long straight black hair and very gorgeous face. Moreover her elegant aura penetrated out of her.
Michiru didn't know how to respond, although Haruka had told her to ignore him, the person before them still Haruka's homeroom teacher. She couldn't make bad impression or Haruka would be in trouble.
Name, she must come up with a name.
He turned to Haruka, his eyes gesturing to Michiru. "Who is she…" Asked Mamoru without a voice.
"Not your business…" Haruka glared on him.
"Well, if she isn't my business then I can tell her about your most important secret?" Mamoru still exchanged gestures and glare without any voices.
"SHE IS…!" Haruka suddenly yelled.
"My grandfather's sister's sister's daughter…" Haruka blurted out quickly.
"What?" Both Mamoru and Michiru asked in the same time.
"So, this beautiful lady is your relative?"
Now Michiru was somehow felt really uncomfortable with the stares. Stares because they came from everyone on the hallway.
"So that's it and we have to excuse ourselves… see you tomorrow, sensei." With that, Haruka grabbed Michiru and ran as fast as she could.
"I apologize, you have to see that…"
Michiru panted, it was her first time running so fast in her life. Well, she was dragged by Haruka though.
"It's okay… honestly I'm happy to get to know your friends here." Michiru smiled. Something bugged her mind about Haruka's respond a while ago. It was obvious that Haruka only introduced her as a relative. Their relationship wasn't really cleared.
Michiru glanced at her hand. Haruka had not let go them yet.
A/N: This chapter took forever. Yes, and I apologize for that. (_ _)