Disclaimer: I own NOTHING
"Sachiko, are you alright? The Onee-samas said that your prince Kashiwagi-san will be joining us today." asked Rei concerned, she's aware of Sachiko's dislikes towards men, and the Hanadera's student council president that will be joining the rehearsal today is not an exception.
"I'll be fine, Rei. Thank you for your concern." answered Sachiko, she gave her friend a genuine smile to reassure her friend. She understood Rei's concerned, she'd been awfully quiet the whole day, she's also been caught frowning many times and even spacing out in class. This odd behaviour of her is nothing to do with meeting Kashiwagi today though, okay maybe a little but that's just a small thing. There's only one person she knew can change her mood drastically.
'Yumi'
Sachiko let out a heavy breathe as she and Rei walk their way to Rose Mansion. Her mind wonder to Yumi. She hadn't seen the younger girl the whole day. She considered asking Shimako when lunch came (Yumi's classmate) if the girl came to school but dismissed it when she realized she doesn't have a good reason to ask or she maybe sound like a creepy stalker. Asking Yoshino is a big NO NO either considering how much of a pry Yoshino can be, so she has no choice but to keep her curiosity to herself. 'Oh Yumi what are you doing to me?' again, Sachiko let out a heavy sigh. She felt a hand gently squeezed her shoulder, raising her head she saw Rei smiling at her encouragingly.
"we're here." said Rei standing at the front of rose mansion "are you ready?" Sachiko just smiled at her and nodded. Opening the door, they were welcomed by the over enthusiastic Erico and Yoshino. The latter drag Rei to who knows where and that leaves Sachiko to Rosa Foeteda.
"Where's Rosa Gigantea and my Onee-sama?" asked Sachiko noticing the absence of the two roses, she knew that Shimako has a cleaning duty and will be late.
"They are waiting for the prince to arrive." Eriko shrugged "come, let's try you on your costume!"
After the fitting and suggesting some adjustment on her costume, Sachiko walk off the rose mansion, telling Erico that she will be waiting at the gym for their rehearsal. On her way, she spotted Kashiwagi Suguru with her Onee-sama and Rosa Gigantea walking at her direction, she hid behind a tree until the three walk past at her. Oddly, Sachiko felt no pain as she watched the back of her fiance, the pain she felt in the past for breaking her heart has gone. 'does it mean that I already moved on?' 'did I really loved him in the first place?' Sachiko doesn't know the answer.
"Are you okay, Sachiko-sama?" a voice she knew too well disrupted her thought. Sachiko turned around to face a very concerned Yumi.
"Yes, I am fine." Sachiko felt a smile tug at her lips "It's nice to see you, Yumi."
"Is that him?" Yumi asked reffering to Kashiwagi.
"Yes, that's my cousin and fiance but you have nothing to worry. I am fine now." Sachiko said reassuringly as she walk the girl inside the gymnasium.
"I may not be as handsome as your prince but if you may please my princess..." Yumi walk to where the sound system is and turn it on, she then face Sachiko, gave her a wink before asking "Can I have this dance with you, Princess?" Yumi mentally berated herself for her action but manage to keep her smile.
"please, I would love that" is the polite answer from Sachiko. She's aware of what the younger girl is doing, Yumi wants her to relax before facing Kashiwagi. Sachiko can't help but smile to the thoughtfulness of Yumi. She took Yumi's hand with her and they begun to move their body gracefully through the music. They both let themselves be lost in each other gaze as they continued dancing.
"I have no idea dancing can be so much fun."
"neither do I"
Both girls smiled broadly. They were too lost in the moment that they failed to notice that they were no longer alone in the room. Standing near the entrance of the gym are the Yamayurikai with Kashiwagi. Each of them held a different expression. Youko have a pleasant smile, seeing her petite seour with Yumi dancing happily made her heart flutter. Shimako and Rei are the most shocked and confused in the group, their eyes were wide and mouth slightly open. They can't make out if what is happening in front of them is true. Right before their eyes is Sachiko dancing gracefully with a younger girl. Her usual expressionless face is now so expressive glowing with happiness, her dull eyes before became bright blue eyes gazing affectionately at the girl she's dancing with, and her smile.. it is no longer fake, the smile is so true and genuine. Shimako and Rei although shocked can't help but be happy for their dear friend. Eriko and Yoshino both have a mysterious smile, No one can tell what's really on their mind. Kashiwagi and Sei watch the two in amusement, both held a playful smirk on their faces. All of them leave out Yoshino, wanted to meet this girl that manage to cracked the mask of the aloof Ice Princess. The end of the song brought Sachiko and Yumi in to the real world.
"Yumi-chan!" Yumi turned to the direction of the voice and saw her best friend running to her, Yoshino throw herself in Yumi, pulling the girl to a tight hug. "I missed you! Are you here to watch the rehearsal?" Yoshino asked with so much enthusiasm, still hugging the girl. Yumi on the other hand struggling to breathe, her face turned from red to violet.
"Yoshino-san can you release Yumi already? She can't breathe." Sachiko said, concern is evident in her voice. Yoshino release the poor Yumi from her tight hug immediately.
"Sorry Yumi-chan! Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine Yoshino-chan." said Yumi after recovering, she looked around and saw the rest of Yamayurikai looking at them in curiosity, she directed her attention to them and politely introduce herself. "Gokigenyou, I am Fukuzawa Yumi, I apologize for the fuss I'd caused."
"No problem Yumi-chan and you can stay too if you want." said Youko smiling at her. Yumi glance at Sachiko, the girl have a frown in her beautiful face, curious as to what made the girl frown, she follow where Sachiko is looking. What she saw is Kashiwagi and his cheeky grin. Yumi suddenly felt irritated as she saw him though she doesn't know why.
"I'll stay. thank you, Rosa Chinensis." she said simply as she took Sachiko's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Sachiko's frown replaced by a warm smile. It's really a mystery to Sachiko how the simple gesture like this from Yumi can make her feel better. She muttered a 'thank you' to Yumi before approaching her cousin. Yumi then realize that she's still with Youko's presence. "does it really okay for me to stay here?" she asked.
"It's fine besides, Sachiko needs your moral support." Youko said winking at the younger girl, she chuckled when a full blush appeared at Yumi's expressive face.
Youko start giving instruction to everyone, Yumi just watch them at one side, her body is pressed against the wall and her arms crossed in her chest. A blond hair girl approach her grinning widely at her, Yumi recognize her as Rosa Gigantea, this girl have the same playful aura like Yoshino had but she knew Rosa Gigantea is much worse than her best friend. 'Maria-sama, Yoshino is more than enough please don't add another one.' Unfortunately, Yumi's silent prayer is a little too late because the said girl is already in front of her, staring at her face intently. "Ah! Yumi-chan, Shimako is right, your face is really like an open book!" exclaimed Sei. Yumi is about to reply, however, the Rosa Gigantea surprised her when the said girl snake her arm around Yumi's waste. Yumi let out a loud "Eep" cute sound in surprise that attract unwanted attention from everyone inside the gym. The poor girl hang her head from embarrassment, her face has a dark shade of red.
Meanwhile at the same place not too far from Yumi and Rosa Gigantea's direction, a pair of eyes are quietly glaring at Sei. Her grip on her dance partner's shoulder tightened as she watch Sei laughing uncontrollably at Yumi's expression. She felt like running in to them and give the older girl a piece of her mind.
"You know if looks could kill, Rosa Gigantea will be dead ten times now." Kashiwagi said smirking. Sachiko glared at him and stepped hard on his foot.
"Can't you say something with much more sense like breaking off our engagement for example." Sachiko stated exasperated. Kashiwagi slightly whimpered in pain on his foot but didn't stop their dancing.
"You know I can't do that Sa-chan, It's your father and grandfather who arranged it. I have no power against them." Kashiwagi explained matter-of-factly. Their conversation was disrupted by Youko's another instruction. The two dropped the subject and turned their attention at the rehearsal.
"here" said Yumi, handing Yoshino a can of juice.
"thanks, Yumi-chan!" replied Yoshino, the others let her rest for awhile since she doesn't have much scenes to practice. "so, Yumi-chan.. remember our conversation the other day?" Yumi put her fingers in her chin as she thought hard, her face is frowning in concentration when suddenly a bulb lit up inside her head
"Ah! you mean me having no Onee-sama yet?" asked Yumi in confirmation. Yoshino nodded as she took a sip on her drink. "what about it?" asked Yumi again. Yoshino sighed, her friend can be so dense sometimes.
"What can you say about the seour system?" Yoshino asked when she realized she haven't heard Yumi's opinion yet about the seour system.
"hmm, I think it's nice. You see... my mom is an alumni of Lillian, she told me some stories of her schooldays and most of it are about her relationship with her Onee-sama. Even they weren't in Lillian anymore they still keep in touch when they have time." explained Yumi.
"I see, so you don't have a problem in seour system... then why the heck you still don't have an Onee-sama!" Yoshino exclaimed the last part that made few other occupants of the room who heard Yoshino looked at them. Yumi gave them an apologetic smile and directed her attention to her friend.
"geez Yoshino-chan, can't you keep your voice down, you are attracting everyone's attention!" Yoshino just shrugged like she doesn't care. Yumi can only sigh before speaking again "It's not that I don't want to have an Onee-sama, It just..."
"You and Sachiko-sama get along pretty well, did you consider her to be your Onee-sama? Yoshino interrupted. Yumi stared at her blankly for a minute, proccessing in her mind what her friend just said.
"b-but there's no way Sachiko-sama will offer her rosary to someone like m-me!" Yumi quickly said when she understood clearly what her friend meant.
"but if she did, will you accept it?" Yoshino asked ignoring the frantic reaction of her friend.
"w-well, I... I don't know really." answered Yumi hesitantly, she saw Yoshino raised an eyebrow so she explain more, "I'm not sure if I'm good enough for her." she said almost inaudible.
"You are more than good enough!" Yoshino took a deep breathe before continuing, "Yumi-chan don't talk small about yourself, can't you see how much affect you have in Sachiko-sama? You're the only one I know that made the ice princess smile so real!"
"thank you, Yoshino-chan" Yumi said gratefully, a smile suddenly began to form in her cute face when she saw Sachiko approaching them.
A/N: should I continue this story?
