The November day was unusually mild and sunny. Most girls of Astrea Hill were spending their morning break outside. Shizuma was lounging on the grass, Nagisa draped across her arm. Next to them, Amane and Hikari were sitting arm in arm, with Yaya and Tsubomi arguing about something not far from them. Tamao was sitting next to Nagisa, writing in her poetry notebook. Chikaru, Shion and Miyuki were walking toward the group.
"Hello!" Chikaru called to the other girls.
"Hello Chikaru-sama, Shion-sama, Miyuki-sama!" several of the group members answered. Tamao looked up, then quickly resumed her writing, hoping nobody noticed the slight blush colouring her cheeks.
"Hikari-sama, Amane-sama, don't forget the meeting after school today to make the last decisions for the winter ball." Shion sat down in the grass and pinned the Etoile couple with a stare.
"We won't forget the meeting, don't worry Shion." Amane said with a smile and tenderly brushed a strand of hair out of Hikari's face.
"The winter ball?" Shizuma perked up. "That means we will have to go shopping! Great! How about tomorrow? There's no school, we can leave in the morning and have lunch in town!"
"I'll come, of course." Nagisa smiled.
"I think we will be there, too." Amane said, looking at Hikari questioningly. The young girl nodded.
"I'll come, too. I haven't bought a new dress in ages." Tamao finally looked up from her notebook.
"How about you, Miyuki?" Shizuma looked enquiringly at her best friend. Miyuki threw a glance at Tamao, who was busy with her writing once more.
"I'll come." She answered, hoping that no one had noticed her looking at Tamao.
"Great! That will be so much fun, going shopping with the whole group!" Shizuma looked pleased with herself for having the idea.
"What about you, Chikaru-chan?" Nagisa asked.
"Oh, I'll make something for myself. You know I love to design dresses." She smiled. "I'll come, too." Yaya decided.
"Me, too", Tsubomi quickly added.
The next day, the group of girls invaded the clothing shops in the nearby town.
Yaya and Tsubomi disappeared right away into a corner of the shop, Hikari and Amane stood in the center, looking a bit lost. Shizuma cast several glances through the room and decidedly made a beeline for a certain rack of dresses. Tamao and Miyuki stood close to Amane and Hikari, while Nagisa couldn't decide if she should stay with Tamao or join her girlfriend. After a few minutes, Shizuma reappeared.
"Why are you standing around like turned off robots? The dresses aren't going to come to you." She grinned.
"Hikari, over there are beautiful pastel gowns that you would look stunning in." She pointed to a corner.
"Tamao, Miyuki, look over on the left side, I think that might be your taste and would look great with your hair." Shizuma pushed Miyuki gently in the direction of the dresses.
"And Nagisa, I think I found something you would like, come on." She grabbed her girlfriend's hand and dragged her to the back of the store.
Moments later, Nagisa found herself in a changing room with an absolutely beautiful wine-red ball gown and an excited Shizuma.
"Do you like it, honey?" she asked.
"Shizuma, it's gorgeous! But I don't think that I can afford it…" she murmured, searching for a price tag.
"Don't worry, sweetie. It's my present." Shizuma smiled. "Okay, ready to try it on?"
"Hai!" Nagisa nodded.
Moments later, Nagisa was looking at herself in the full length mirror. The dress had thin straps, showed a little cleavage and had a tight-fitting bodice, which was decorated with rhinestones. The floor-length skirt was wide, made from the same shimmering material as the bodice. To complete the dress, there was a wine red stola, made of crinkled silk.
"You look stunning, honey." Shizuma stared at her girlfriend.
Nagisa blushed. "I really like this dress. Arrigato, Shizuma!" She hugged the silver-haired woman happily.
"What are you planning to wear?" she asked curiously.
"Wait, let me change!" Shizuma disappeared into the next changing room. Moments later, she came back, wearing a tight, black dress that displayed her figure to full advantage. The dress was cut like a corsage dress, with one broad strap running over her right shoulder. The skirt was floor-length, with a slit on the left side that came up to the middle of Shizuma's thigh. Nagisa's jaw dropped.
"Shizuma…you look amazing…no one's going to be able to look away from you all night."
"I'm glad you like it." Shizuma smiled.
"Well, let's get you out of that dress and see what the others have found." She reached around to Nagisa's back and unzipped the dress.
"Okay. But let's not get out of here just yet." She whispered as she kissed her girlfriend.
Meanwhile, Miyuki and Tamao were gazing at several dresses in various shades of blue and turquoise. Tamao had already picked two, which she was planning to try on, while Miyuki was undecided. For some reason, the student-council president seemed to be lost in thought, not focused on the subject of picking a ball gown.
"Miyuki? Is everything okay?" Tamao looked at her questioningly.
"Yes…yes. I'm sorry, I've just been thinking about…something." She looked at Tamao. "Do you want to try on the dresses? I'll look some more later."
"Okay. Will you come with me and tell me which one is best?"
"Sure."
The two headed for the changing rooms. The first dress, a very simple dark blue dress that came to Tamao's knees, was alright, but nothing special. When Tamao left the changing room for the second time, however, she could tell by the look on Miyuki's face that this dress was perfect. The dress was made of a bright blue, sleeveless high-necked bodice, made from shiny material. It hugged Tamao's figure, showing it off nicely. The floor-length skirt was gathered and sprinkled with tiny sparkling rhinestones.
"That dress was made for you, Tamao." Miyuki said quietly.
Tamao blushed, surprised at how much Miyuki's approval meant to her.
Miyuki stepped closer to her.
"You look stunning, Tamao. You'll be the belle of the ball." Miyuki smiled.
"Oh, Miyuki, stop. I'll never be the belle of any ball as long as Shizuma-sama is there. And there are so many other girls far prettier than me." She smiled modestly.
"No, Tamao, there aren't. And even with Shizuma there, you'll shine." Miyuki looked at her sincerely.
"Tamao, I've been meaning to ask you…but the situation wasn't right…and I didn't know…I mean I still don't know…but…" Again, Miyuki was at a loss for words.
"Miyuki, just ask me. It can't be so bad." Tamao smiled.
Miyuki took a deep breath. "Okay. Tamao…will you go to the winter ball with me?" Nervously she looked at her feet. Tamao gaped at her. Miyuki wanted to go to the ball with her? Smiling, she stepped up to the student council president. Tamao gently raised the older girl's chin until she looked into her eyes.
"Yes, I'll go to the winter ball with you. On two conditions."
"Which are?"
"One, that you find a gorgeous dress, and two, that you kiss me now."
Without a word, Miyuki embraced the younger girl and kissed her passionately.
"I've wanted to do this for some time." She whispered into Tamao's ear when their lips finally parted.
"Me, too." Tamao admitted. "I don't know exactly when it happened, but after you walked back to the dormitory with me after the Etoile election, I've been thinking about you so much."
"I couldn't stop thinking about you either." Miyuki said. She quickly bent down and kissed Tamao again.
She chuckled. "It's crazy. I've known you since the day you started at Miator and now…I see you in an entirely different light."
"I'm glad we got to this point." Tamao murmured, her head on Miyuki's shoulder.
"Me, too, Tamao." Miyuki stroked the poet's back.
"But, Tamao?"
"Hm?"
"Would it be okay if we didn't exactly flaunt this?"
"Yes. I'm glad you want that. I want to get to know you without everyone nosing in." She grinned.
"Then maybe we should stop hugging and kissing in the middle of the store, with most of our friends just around the next clothing rack." Miyuki suggested.
"You're right. And we have to find you a dress, honey." Tamao giggled. "From Miyuki-sama to honey in just a few months" she mused.
"Okay, I'll change and then it's your turn." She disappeared into the changing rooms again, leaving Miyuki waiting in the store.
Miyuki remembered Shizuma's words: Never say never. And she made the promise to herself to break off the unwanted engagement. Her feelings for Tamao showed which way she was inclined. It wasn't just Shizuma. Or Kaori. Or the girls she had sometimes dreamed about. This, with Tamao, was real.
An hour later, the girls met back at the cash register. Everyone had finally found something to wear, even though it had taken Tamao, Shizuma, Nagisa and Hikari to get Amane into a gorgeous beige slim-cut pantsuit with an elegant midnight blue blouse.
Chatting happily, the girls left the store and went to the restaurant next door.
"I'm really hungry now!" Nagisa exclaimed when they had been seated.
"That's nothing new, Nagisa." Tamao laughed.
Nagisa looked at her friend curiously. She seemed in a far better mood than she had been in for weeks. But when the blue haired girl caught Nagisa's eye, she just smiled and studied the menu she was sharing with Miyuki.
The girls spent the meal chatting about school, their shopping trip, the upcoming ball and every other topic they could think of.
"How about we have a tea party tonight? With everyone here?" Yaya suggested.
"That would be a tight fit in our room, but a lot of fun." Hikari said.
Shizuma, Miyuki and Amane looked at each other doubtfully.
"I haven't been to a tea party since fourth grade." Shizuma whispered to Amane, who was sitting next to her.
"It would really be great fun." Nagisa exclaimed.
"Okay, I'll be there." Miyuki said.
Shizuma and Amane stared at her. "We'll come, too." Shizuma said slowly, indicating Amane and herself.
"Great!" Tsubomi smiled at the girls sitting around her.
The tea party had really been great fun, even though it had been a tight fit in Yaya's and Hikari's room. Shizuma and Nagisa had just excused themselves, not being able to keep their hands off each other any longer. Amane was yawning and stretching.
"I think I'll get going, too. I have to get up early tomorrow to train with Starbright."
"Then I'll come, Amane-sama." Hikari got up.
In the general murmur of goodbyes, Tamao leaned toward Miyuki.
"Will you come to my room after this?" she whispered.
"Okay, but I think we shouldn't leave together." Miyuki answered.
She got up, too.
"I'll also call it a night, girls. Thanks for inviting me, Yaya-chan. I haven't been to a tea party in ages and I really had a great time." Part of that great time was Tamao sitting extremely close to her, but that would remain a secret for the time being.
"Thank you for coming, Miyuki-sama. You can come to our next tea party, too, if you like." Yaya answered.
"Thanks, I'll do that." Miyuki promised before she closed the door.
Tamao poured herself a final cup of tea. Yaya honed in on her.
"Tamao-chan, what's going on? You've been so much happier since we left the store today. What happened?"
"I…I don't know what you mean, Yaya-chan. I guess I'm just happy about the dress I found." Tamao stuttered. She took a large gulp of tea in order to have an excuse to remain silent.
"Hm, if it was just the dress, then Tamao-sama wouldn't blush like this" Tsubomi teased.
"I'm not blushing…it's just the hot tea."
"Of course, the hot tea. Well, if you don't want to talk about it, then we will just have to wait until you lift your secret." Yaya grinned.
Gladly, Tamao put her empty tea cup down.
"My tea is empty. I guess I'll go, too. It's really late already. Goodnight, Yaya-chan, Tsubomi-chan."
Tamao left the room as quickly as dignity allowed her to. As she unlocked her door, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Miyuki." She smiled.
Opening the door, she pulled her girlfriend into her room.
"Are you okay, Tamao? You look like you saw a ghost." Miyuki looked worried.
"No, it wasn't a ghost. Yaya-chan and Tsubomi-chan were giving me the third degree because they said I seemed so much happier ever since we left the store today." She blushed a brilliant shade of pink.
"I'm glad that I'm responsible for your happiness." Miyuki smiled, flattered. "It's something I would like to continue being responsible for," she whispered into Tamao's ear, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Tamao kissed Miyuki intently.
"I'm so glad this happened." She said quietly.
The two had moved onto Tamao's bed and had lain down.
"Me, too." Miyuki answered.
She kissed Tamao again and gently stroked her girlfriend's back. The blue-eyed girl closed her eyes and sighed contently.
They spent several hours kissing and talking about their lives.
"Miyuki? Can I ask you something?"
"What do you want to know, honey?" Miyuki lay on her back, utterly relaxed, with Tamao snuggled close to her.
"There have been rumours in the school…Rumours of an arranged marriage right after your graduation." Tamao said hesitantly. "Are they true?"
Miyuki sighed deeply.
"Yes, they are. But I won't submit to this. I've never been in favour of arranged marriages, least of all my own. I'll stand up to my parents and make my own decisions."
"Really? And you're planning to do this not just because of us?"
"No. I mean, you are a very good reason to go through with it, but I never wanted this." Miyuki smiled.
"I'm glad. I wouldn't want you to risk problems with your family just because of me. Everything is so new, we don't know what will become of it. But if you were just interested in something to keep you busy until you get married, then I wouldn't want that. Is that understandable or am I making no sense?" Tamao asked worriedly.
Miyuki smiled. "I can understand you. And I want us to have a future together, if everything goes well."
"What time is it, Tamao?"
"Let me check. It's almost 5." Tamao said after a quick glance at her watch.
"I think I should go now, otherwise I'll fall asleep and Nagisa will find me here in the morning." She smiled.
Tamao sighed heavily and snuggled closer to Miyuki. "I don't want to let you go at all. But I guess you are right."
Miyuki turned for a final kiss. Half an hour later, she pulled away from Tamao.
"I really have to go now, sweetie." She said.
"Okay, then you better hurry, before we start kissing again." Tamao smiled.
Miyuki got up and straightened her t-shirt and shorts. With one last smile at Tamao, she left the room and hurried toward her own bed.
Shizuma looked at the young girl sleeping next to her, with a tender smile on her lips. Slowly, Nagisa woke up.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Shizuma said quietly, stroking Nagisa's hair.
The redhead smiled at the silver-haired beauty.
"Good morning, Shizuma."
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, I was really tired."
"I can imagine that…" Shizuma's smile could only be described as naughty.
Nagisa blushed furiously, remembering the night with her girlfriend.
"Well, you had to try on your dress for the winter ball. Don't blame me." She defended herself, blushing even more.
"I liked it." The emerald-eyed young woman answered. "I just hope we didn't keep Miyuki up."
Nagisa coughed. "We weren't that loud." She pondered her statement for a moment. "Well, maybe a little."
"Nagisa, I'm surprised the Sister didn't barge in here, considering how much noise we made." Shizuma laughed.
"Well, we'll see how Miyuki looks at us…We have to get up pretty soon or we'll get no breakfast."
"Try lunch, honey. It's already past noon." Shizuma giggled at her girlfriend's astonished expression.
"Wow, we really did sleep long. Okay, I'll go take a shower. I'll hurry, so you can shower, too, before we go to the dining hall." Nagisa jumped up.
"We can save time if we shower together," Shizuma grinned suggestively.
"Shizuma! We'll never get any food if we shower together!"
"You may be right. Okay, sweetie, hurry."
Without another word, Nagisa disappeared in the bathroom.