Author's note: Here's chapter ten of A Dream Come True: Dix. My apologies for not updating the story soon enough. I am currently working on the next chapter. That chapter will start the changes in pace and in rating. And that chapter will be the longest, too, I hope. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Dix
"I see. They apparently know each other, huh?" Masami rubs her chin.
"Yup, way back in junior high school." Junko says as she closes her locker.
"So, is it true that you asked her out?" Masami shot Shion with a naughty grin.
"Eh?" Shion's face grew pale.
"Yup, Shion-kun and Chikaru-san will go on a date." Junko shows the pair of tickets she gave Shion the night before.
"Hey, these are tickets for the theme park." Masami's eyes widened. "What are you up to, Junko-chan?"
"Oh, come on, Masami-kun. You still don't get it." Junko's eyebrows furrowed.
"I asked her to come with me next weekend." Shion whispered.
"And she said yes!" Junko exclaimed. "Score, baby!"
The other students' eyes widen when they heard these words from the jolly brown-haired girl.
"Shion-sama asked someone out?"
"Who is that lucky person?"
"And Matsumoto-san acts as a bridge for them."
"Geez, that person sure is lucky."
These words didn't escape Masami's sharp ears. Her eyebrows twitched as she turned around, causing the other students to step back.
"Shion-kun, Junko-chan," Masami whispered. "Let's go."
The lavender-haired girl started walking, with Shion and Junko following her lead.
"I'm sorry. I just get easily irritated when that thing happens." Masami continued walking.
"It'll be big news real soon." Junko looked around. She saw other students staring at them.
"You can't avoid this from spreading, Shion-kun." Masami mumbled.
"I know that. Everyone will find out eventually." Shion bowed her head. "I'm just worried…"
"Worried about what?" Junko wondered.
"I know." Masami kept her voice down. "Because she's a Performing Arts student. She might get bullied."
"I still don't understand what Chikaru-san meant." Shion suddenly remembers. "She said the college of Performing Arts has a 'tainted' reputation."
"Do you know anything about that, Masami-kun?" Junko whispered.
"I'll tell you about it once school's over." Masami replied. "Let's get back to class."
"Okay."
"Really, Aika-san?" The black-haired girl giggled.
"Was that a wrong thing to ask, Chikaru-san?" The gold-haired girl blushed.
"It's not that." Chikaru continued her sketching. "Why did you say that I am…'blooming?' "
"Well, you seem so…radiant today." Aika bowed her head. "Not that you aren't radiant every day, but…"
"I'm very surprised that you noticed that." Chikaru puts her pencil down. "Honestly, I'm…really happy."
"I see. Something good must have happened." Aika smiled.
"I finally saw her again…after three years."
"Is she a good friend of yours, Chikaru-san?"
Chikaru smiled. "She's…more than that, I would say."
"I see." Aika's face became solemn as she heard the words. More than a friend, huh? The gold-haired girl stared blankly at the window.
"I didn't recognize her at first. I really got used to her old look." Chikaru admitted.
"You said…she's more than a friend." Aika murmured. "What do you mean?"
"You see, I finally let that person into my heart…" Chikaru giggled. "…after making her wait for three years."
"I'm happy for you, Chikaru-san." Aika said with a smile on her face.
"Thank you, Aika-san." Chikaru's tone was grateful. "She already asked me out. To be honest, it will be my first time to go on a date."
"I see." The gold-haired student tried to hide her sadness by bowing her head.
"Is something wrong, Aika-san?"
"I-it's nothing." Aika stammered. "If she already asked you out on a date, you must look your very best."
"You're right." Chikaru blushed at the thought.
"Will she take you out to dinner?"
"Actually, it will be a date to the theme park." Chikaru replied.
"Well, that's not bad. I bet it'll be fun." The gold-haired student said. "Then you must go ahead and give her a present when you meet."
"That's a great idea, Aika-san!" Chikaru exclaimed.
"What do you think she would like?"
"Hmm…" Chikaru started to ponder. "Now that you mentioned that, I wonder what kind of present would I give Shion-san?"
Aika's eyes widened. Shion-san?
"What do you think, Aika-san?" Chikaru turned and saw Aika, her head bowed.
"Aika-san?"
"Uh, I'm sorry." Aika regained her composure. "Did you say her name was Shion?"
"Yes. Her name's Tōmori Shion." Chikaru replied gleefully.
"I see." Aika whispered. She's the one, huh?
"Honestly, it's been a while since I've seen her." Chikaru walked back and forth. "I wouldn't know what she'd like."
"A tennis racket would be nice." Aika uttered.
"A tennis racket?" Chikaru wondered.
"Well, a good tennis player like her would appreciate that." The gold-haired student smiled. "She's the star player of our school's tennis team. I bet she would like that for a present."
"I see." Chikaru's eyes sparkled. "Then I'll go ahead and take your suggestion."
Aika closes her eyes and laughs softly.
"Thank you, Aika-san."
"Don't mention it." Aika gazed at Chikaru and she saw the happiness in her eyes. She just smiled and bowed her head.
"Hey, Junko-chan."
"What is it?" The brown-haired girl whispered.
"Look at Shion-kun." Masami pointed her finger at the blonde girl staring at the window. "She seems to be daydreaming."
"Ah, that's what happens when you fall in love." Junko sighed. "But look at her. I've never seen her smile like that. I can tell she's really happy."
"How can you tell?" Masami wondered.
"Being her roommate for two years, I should know." Junko closed her eyes. "That smile on her face right now is something I've never seen in those two years."
"Junko-chan…" Masami stared at her classmate in awe.
"I somewhat knew that Shion-kun felt so lonely." Junko continued. "I kinda felt that she had been waiting for someone."
"And Chikaru-san was that person…" The lavender-haired girl whispered.
"But I'm very happy, Masami-kun." Junko's eyes welled with tears. "Because Shion-kun's not gonna cry anymore."
"Junko-chan…" Masami came close and wiped Junko's tears. "You really look out for Shion-kun."
"She's our friend, Masami-kun."
"I'm also glad to see that she's happy." Masami mumbled as she looked at the blonde girl, who was still staring at the window as the bus sped down the road towards home.
次回予告
"Shion-kun's still staring at the window."
"Ah, the magic of love, indeed."
"Hey, I can hear you there, guys."
"What a sharp pair of ears you have, Shion-kun."
"Next time on Strawberry Panic!: "A Dream Come True Chapter Eleven." "
"I'm feeling really nervous."
"The date will be on the next chapter!"
"It will be a mushy, naughty chapter!"
"Geez…"