This is a quick note for the ones who didn't read the previous chapter.
The next morning, after Konoka and Setsuna did it for the first time (and more than once), at a big five stars hotel palace, they went back to school.
Everyone was chatting in the class. Some would talk about their week-end, other would talk about their love stories, some would just sit and wait for classes to begin. Like Evangeline and Mana. And it would be unusual if they were to speak.
Like it would be unusual if some people who speak, suddenly don't.
And when it happens, it draws everyone's attention.
So that's how the two new favorite lovebirds caught everybody's eyes.
...
" Konoka-san, are you alright? You don't seem to have a good night sleep. I can see shadows under your eyes. " Nodoka asked with concern, holding a book on her chest.
" Ah...hmm..Hi Nodoka...I slept well thank you. It's just that I got so much work to do. " the princess replied to her friend with a yawn.
Asuna sitting next to her knew exactly the reason why she looked so worn-out. But, since she had to pretend she had nothing to do with yesterday's dinner, she acted as if Konoka was still the same, cheerful as always.
" Oh, were you studying? Say, I need your help for the exercise since you're good in mathematics subject. I assume you already did the first exercise? " Haruna asked her.
Truth to be told, Konoka didn't even opened any book yet. And as for mathematics, she didn't have to work it now since she was good at it.
So what could she say to her friend?
" Um...yeah...but, I don't really remember it, sorry hehe... " Konoka smiled as she raised a hand behind her head, bowing.
" Oh that's fine, I have the book here! " the gossip girl told her with a grin.
" Ah...y-yes... " Konoka was too exhausted to use her head right now, her eyes were half-closed.
" By the way, where are you girlfriend? It's so rare for her to not be by your side. You usually come together...what happened? Did you two have a lover's quarrel? " Haruna smiled at her, opening the maths book.
" No...She said she has a meeting with gramps, so she will come later by herself. " Konoka lied to her friend.
Actually, Setsuna told her to come separately at school, so it won't seem weird if they both come looking tired to everyone to see. 'It would be too obvious' she said.
Either it was the exhausting feeling, or the memories of last night haunted her mind, or the need to hide things you feel dangerous to be known, it led to this stupid idea.
She forgot that showing unusual things or acting differently arouse somebody's curiousity. And for a new couple, a change of behaviour (in a good way that improves the relationship) mainly means they have got a step forward. That, Haruna knew for sure.
Speaking of the devil, Setsuna opened the door of the classroom, stretching her arms as she walked to her seat. She sat and yawned, before laying her head in her arms to rest.
And one thing made it very clear to Haruna to understand what happened between the couple. Including the fact they were both looking like they didn't get any sleep, the one big unusual thing Sakurazaki did made Haruna foresee what they were trying to hide.
She totally (pretended to) ignore(d) her beloved one.
Haruna was about to, out of habit, say out loud what she guessed, but Asuna covered her mouth in time. She dragged her out of the class, to everyone's surprise.
" Sheesh! Don't you tell anybody about what you found out by yourself! " Asuna whispered to her.
" Oh? You knew? Did Konoka tell you? " Haruna asked. They were hiding under a desk.
" No, but I just happen to know. And if you say anything, I'll be the one with a headless walking body! " Asuna replied quietly, looking aroung if anyone was listening.
" Why? Did they ask you not to? But you didn't. I just found out by myself with my great guessing abilities and- " she felt a hand covering a mouth again.
" Whatever! Just don't say anything to anyone please? My life is in your hands! " Asuna begged her, fearing for her head to be sliced off.
" And, what do I get from saving your life? " Haruna got out from under the desk.
' Why do I always end up involved with troubling situations? ' Asuna sighed.
" I...will tell you about the night I saw them kissing each other with passion..." Asuna felt bad to gossip but she had no choice, either she feels bad or die hard.
" Ohhhh! That will work! I need inspiration from my new doujinshi! " Haruna was now enraptured.
Asuna was whispering the story into Haruna's ear.
" Alright everyone! Please seat! " a beauty woman said to the class.
She looked at everyone who seemed to be lost in her blue eyes. She smiled to few of them, and then noticed Konoka was half-asleep, on the edge of falling on her table, while Setsuna rested her head on her hand, eyes-closed.
She didn't care to sleep since the teacher was Emiko.
However she also seemed to forget how teasing was this friend. No teasing is not a strong enough word.
Machiavellian.
" Setsuna! Why are you so tired? Rough night...? " Emiko smiled suggestively after she hit her head with a harisen.
The knight and the princess blushed at the same time.
' Damn you! ' Setsuna sent her teacher a dead glare.
During all the hour, Setsuna kept wachting Emiko, making her understand that the minute the bell would ring, she was going to beat the crap out of her.
The teacher were saying goodbye to the class, and quickly ran towards the door to escape. When Setuna tried to get her and looked in the corridor, she was already gone.
' Damn! ' she bit her lips. Then she remembered there was a second person she needed to take care of. As she turned back to see her, she noticed she was also gone.
She looked back in the corridor, and saw a red-hair girl running like mad.
" Asuna-san! Come back here! " the samurai girl hunt down her prey.
" What is wrong with Sakurazaki-san? " the class-rep asked Konoka in the name of the entire class.
" Ahhaa...Um...Asuna...ate all of her candies! " that was all she could think about to answer.
The class went silent, a fly could be heard.
Bzzzz
Asuna was running fast around the school, trying to find a way to hide. Without thinking, she jumped in the bushes, and laid down in there.
" You think you can hide from me, you monkey girl! "
" Waaaaahh! " Asuna shrieked as she raised up on her knees.
Setsuna pointed out her sword on her friend's head.
" P-Please Master! I haven't done anything I swear! All I did was eating the french canard laqué! " she said as she clapped her hands together on the edge of the sword, begging for forgiveness.
" So you were there! Why did you make us drink this weird Love's potion stuff! Who asked you to do so! " Setsuna showed no mercy.
" What? I didn't do such thing! I told you I only had dinner with Emiko-san! " then she remembered the Cupid guy. Setsuna noticed it.
" Talk now you monkey! " the swordwoman looked really scary.
" Ahh..eeh..I remember Emiko-san paid a waiter to give you something at your table. " Asuna bowed on her knees.
" That rosted crow...what was she thinking by doing this! " Setsuna took back her sword.
The red-hair girl sighed in relieve, and got up.
" Well, whatever she did, I'm sure it was for your safety. "
" Why do you think so? " her master asked, curious about her statement
" She seems to really care about you. " Asuna smiled to her.
Setsuna sighed lightly, looking at the World's Tree she could see far away.
" Exactly. That's why, I promised myself to always look out for you. "
And then smiled.
" Yeah...ever since I met her. "
The sky was so blue today.
The spying teacher was now walking down the street, happy to succeed her beautiful escape. She wandered a little, feeling nostalgia filled her body.
' Nothing has really changed here... ' she thought as she glanced around to see children and families walking.
She also witnessed a couple's love confession. The guy seemed so shy as he took the girl's hand, but never broke their gazing. The boy slowly leant forward to kiss his new girlfriend's lips.
' How cute...' she smiled, with a hint of sadness.
Suddenly she heard noises. Noises she recognized quickly. She followed the sounds and found a spot she never saw before.
When she got out from the small alley between two buildings, she couldn't really see well what as in front of her because of the sun's brightness.
So she walked more and stopped.
" Miewwww ! "
Emiko saw tons of stray cats running around a person with long ears. She was sitting in the middle of them, spreading foods on the ground.
She suddenly felt a soft fur pressed against her calf. She looked down to see a tiny grey cat miewing back to her.
...
" Please! Look at his cute face? He is so sad, and all alone poor cat! " a girl with a white veil said.
The other girl with dark-hair watched the -small like a hand- cat on the girl's chest.
She looked at the girl's ' begging to adopt the grey cat ' eyes, then she looked back at the cat's ' begging to be adopted ' eyes.
' Erm...they look the same...' the girl with blue eyes sweat-dropped.
" I...am not sure it's a good idea. I feel sorry for this poor animal but, your family won't allow it. They don't see cats as a pet but a wild animal. I can even assure you they eat some sometimes- " the girl stopped at the look of a horrified girl and a traumatized cat.
" Um I'm just kidding! Of course they don't, haha " the taller girl approached the veiled girl.
" Listen, I can't let you fight again with your mother. I know that if you bring him... " the pretty blue eyes girl patted the cat's head.
" She won't say anything but kill this poor cat. " and then raised her hand higher to pat the veiled girl's head.
" But...he's going to die from starving or get killed by another animal... " the cat started to purr.
" Princess...I can't- "
" Emi-chan...please, we're his only chance to save him and..." the veiled blond-hair girl took the tiny cat's paw between her fingers, and waved it to the dark-hair girl in front of her.
" Listen! He's purring! " she exclaimed with a bright smile.
Emiko felt a heart melt. She was standing in front of such beauty, such bright sun coming from her smile. She looked at her veiled hairs, and held her head closer to her face with her left hand. The smaller girl's eyes widened.
" Do you know why my heart can't deny your wishes..." Emiko rested her hand on the blond-hair girl's one which was still holding the cat's paw.
" Because it has fallen for you... " and the taller girl bent her head to feel this bright warm lips. She could feel how soft it was, to kiss the one she loved.
Emiko drew back to stare into her beautiful green eyes.
" I fell in with love you ever since I saw you in the cold rain...princess- "
...
" Aki-sensei ? " a robot girl said, noticing she was spacing out.
" Ah? " Emiko was coming back to her senses. The grey cat next to her feet was sitting, watching her with curious.
Emiko smiled to him, and held him on her chest. The cat suddenly purred in content.
The teacher walked towards her student, who was now standing.
" Hello Chachamaru-san! I didn't know you were working as a benevola for stray animal's safety! " she smiled to the robot.
" Ah? No I'm not. I fed a cat here once, and when I came back the next day, all of these cats came out of nowhere. " she blushed a little.
" I guess the cat told her friends and families, and now I come every two days to feed them. " she bent to caress a cat.
" That's really nice of you! You're a generous person! " Emiko told her as she put down the grey cat.
" Um..thank you for the compliment... " the robot girl blushed as she bowed her thanks.
" Ah, it's okay don't be so polite. We're out of school now, just treat me like a friend. " Emiko smiled a bit embarrassed.
They stayed silent until Emiko spoke.
" So...tell me, do you have master? " she asked girl, knowing she was not a regular person but a robot. She knew someone created her in order to do some tasks.
That's the reason of technology.
" Ah, yes, it's Evangeline McDowell, a student from our class too. "
" The lady vampire? Hah! Why would she need you? She's that old? " Emiko joked.
" Please don't talk this way about my master. She is really nice deep in her heart. " the long ears girl replied quietly.
" Say...how old is she? Do you know or rather were you with her fourteen years ago? "
Chachamaru went blank for a minute, which made Emiko tilted her head.
" I just checked my datas...and the oldest informations I have are from six years ago, when Hakase-sensei just created me. She was twelve years old. However I know my master has lived for a long time now, almost for a century- "
" That long! Hahaha, I thought my people would live the longest, but for a century, and still look this young, she's going to live for eternity. " Emiko laughed.
She then stopped, and wore a serious look.
" Okay, good. That's what I was hoping to hear. Can you bring me to her please Chachamaru-san? " the robot girl nodded and led her to hidden house in the wood.
In the dorms, three girls were eating dinner. The cooker felt so tired that she quickly ate her meal and threw herself on the couch.
The two other cleaned the table after they were done.
" Ahhh...I can't believe tomorrow we're having a party for you two guys! " a red-hair girl said as she turned on the tv.
" Don't tell me! I heard Yukihiro-san has planned many 'games' for us to play. I just don't want to know about it... " Setsuna told her friend while she lifted the laid girl's legs up to sit. She gently laid back her legs on her tights, and started to massage her feet.
" Hmmm...it feels so good Secchan..." the knight smiled, blushing a little at what she heard.
" Why do you say so Setsuna-san? They just want to show you guys how happy they are for you. You were so dark before you started to talk to Konoka, and now you've changed into a kind person. I think you should thank them for showing so much consideration. " Asuna said, her back facing them as she was zapping chanels.
Setsuna stayed quiet for a while, keeping massaging her girlfriend's feet. When she turned to see if she was still enjoying the massage, she noticed her love was already asleep.
She slowly stood up, carefully removing her legs to put it back on the couch, and dropped a soft kiss on her princess' forehead.
She took her sword and took her leave.
" Good night Asuna-san. "
" Yeah, don't get hurt during your patrols, or someone is going to be really sad if she can't dance with you tomorrow night! " Asuna giggled as she turned on her Zombie game.
Setsuna blushed a little, and closed the door.
She was walking to the World's Tree and waited for thirty minutes before starting to get a bit worried.
' Where is she? We we supposed to do our rounds together tonight. ' Setsuna thought, looking around hoping she would pop out.
Then, she began to walk away. Her duties had to come first.
Deep in the wood, Emiko was sitting on a tree's branch, watching the moon in the sky.
She blinked and looked away from the bright star.
Her eye-color changed.
She was seeing red clouds.