Chapter 14 - The investigation and trial of Shizuma

As Nagisa and Tamao walked towards the conference room, they were met with Amane standing by the door, as well as Shizuma.

Nagisa looked slightly taken aback at Amane's hand in Shizuma's, but did not let her reaction show to either of the two girls as she entered the conference room.

As they sat down, they noticed the student councils from all three schools were represented, as well as the Sister.

"Good morning, Etoile-sama," Chikaru said, a brief smile playing over her face. "I am so sorry you have to dive right in because of this, but it can't be helped, I suppose," she said, her face going said.

"I suppose it can't, Chikaru-sama," Nagisa replied while Tamao sat stone faced as they talked. "Why are all the student councils here though," she asked.

"From what Rokujo-san told me, we are dealing with Shizuma-sama coming in during the Etoile ceremony also," Chikaru told Nagisa and Tamao.

"Good morning everyone," the head sister of the dormitories said. "I have been given orders by the school governors, and so we will go through this as fast as possible. I would like to congratulate the new Etoile, first off," the sister said, and bowed her head towards Tamao and Nagisa, who blushed, "but, we are here for a rather serious matter.

"Last night, one of the Etoile candidates tried to commit suicide," the sister announced, and from the gasps around the table, it sounded as if most people did not know about it. "From what I have been able to gather, Amane-san tried to stab herself with a kitchen knife last night, and it was only the quick acting of a first year girl who saved her. I will now give you all a copy of the medical report.

Amane Ootori

Age: 16

According to my inspection, Amane suffered severe lassarations to her hand and chest area due to plunging a sharpened kitchen utensil (a knife) into her chest.

Investigation at the scene did not reveal any sort of implement that would make this kind of injury.

My analysis found that all the pressures upon her were what caused her to commit this injury upon herself.

As they were digesting the short report, they all heard someone slap one of the girls waiting outside. As the Sister went to see what had happened, the girls stood together, and noone could be seen coming from any direction.

"Now, as you can see it is a rather short report," the Sister said, returning to her chair after closing the door. "But it did mention she was under tremendous pressure. Can any of you think of what may have caused this?" she asked, and seeing Shion's hand raised, she gestured for her to rise.

"I believe I was the cause of some of it," Shion admitted. "I was really pushing for Amane to enter the Etoile election, pressing her on several occasions to enter the Election, even though she had no interest in pursuing the Etoile position. Also, there was the added pressure of her next tournament coming up," Shion added.

"Thank you, president of Spica student council," the sister said, and Shion sat down. "Does any one have any relevant information as to what caused her to try this kind of act," the Sister asked, and seeing Nagisa raise her hand, she nodded.

"I was speaking with Yaya-chan last night after finding Amane-san in this situation, and she revealed that Hikari-chan found out that Amane-san had been cheating on her. She found that out after hearing about Amane-san leaving Shizuma-sama's room yesterday morning.

"Yes, but that would not cause this kind of reaction," Chikaru said instantly. "There has to be some deeper meaning to her actions," she said, and saw that the Sister agreed.

"If she thought that she had lost Hikari-chan though, Chikaru-sama," Tamao said, "I think that might be a catalyst.

"Yes, I quite agree with that," the Sister replied, "however, there are other ways to resolve this kind of situation, other than to try what Amane did. Where is the first year girl who found her," the Sister asked Shion.

"She did not want to come today," Shion stated, "although she did write this for me.

I was walking along the corridor and I heard a disturbance in Amane-san's room. I knocked on the door, and hearing Amane-san in obvious distress, I opened the door, and saw her drop something to the floor, and her collapse to the floor in a puddle of blood.

I tried getting her to wake up, and being unable to do so, I ran to get help. I reached Etoile-sama, and she was the one who called for the Sister, Nurse, and the President of Student Council.

I led Etoile-sama to the room, and she saw Amane-san, and tried to help her as well.

"Thank you," the Sister said as Shion finished the report. "I believe you were with her last night," she asked Kaname.

"I was," Kaname answered blandly. "We were asked if someone could stay with her during the night, and I volunteered.

"Did she wake up at all," the Sister asked.

"Yes, she did," Kaname answered. "I tried talking to her, and all she could do is cry. I asked her if it was from the pain of the injuries, however she said it was from ruining her relationship.

"Did she have any justification for that," Nagisa asked.

"None, Etoile-sama," Kaname answered.

"Is she going to be okay," Tsubomi asked Yaya as they sat on her bed.

"I think she's lost faith in people," Yaya said to the young Spican first year. "I must have woken up when she returned to the room, so I have no idea what's been going on after hearing about Amane-san," Yaya said, with a snort of disgust.

"I think she will need her friends more than ever," Tsubomi replied.

"I think you're right, Tsubomi-chan," Yaya said, and hugged her. "Do you mind if she hangs around with us while we are together? I can't just leave her to eat herself up like this.

"Of course not, Yaya-senpai," Tsubomi answered. "I think we need a tea party tonight. Just the six of us," Tsubomi said, and Yaya nodded.

"I'll go see whether Etoile-sama can come," she whispered to Tsubomi, kissing her.

Shizuma and Amane were waiting in the hall while the meeting went on without them.

"What do you think is going to happen, Shizuma-sama," Amane asked.

"I can't be sure," Shizuma replied, "since this has never happened before," she continued. "But, if anything, I think sanctions will happen," she said, and leaned back against the wall. "We shouldn't worry about anything happening to either of us, since we weren't responsible.

"Weren't we," Amane asked. "If I hadn't been with you, Hikari and I would still be together," she replied. "If I hadn't accepted you that night, nothing would have happened.

"There is no use fretting about the past," Shizuma stated, when the door opened, and Amane was gestured into the room.

"Do you know why you are here, Amane-san," Shion asked, and Amane nodded.

"Do you have anything to say before we announce what is to happen to you," the Sister asked.

"No, I know what I've done," Amane answered.

"Very well. Please wait in the hall.

Shizuma was called into the conference room next, and smiled at the assembled people, before noticing not one of them smiled back.

"Hanazono Shizuma," the Sister said, "you have caused quite an mess with this incident, as well as during the Etoile ceremony.

"If Nagisa had just come with me," Shizuma said, and was slapped by Miyuki.

"You are out of line Shizuma," Miyuki said, and sat back down.

"This is to deal with your actions of two nights ago, but your actions of that day also factor into it. Did you, or did you not try and disrupt the Etoile ceremony?

"Yes, and I'd do it again to get what I want," Shizuma shouted.

"One more outburst like that Shizuma-sama," Tamao said, "and we will not allow you to continue," she said.

"Do you have any reason why we should not give you the harshest punishment that we can," Nagisa asked Shizuma stone-faced.

"Because I love you," Shizuma replied, and Nagisa slapped her this time.

"That is enough, Etoile-sama," Chikaru said as Nagisa sat down.

"Wait out in the hall," the Sister replied, and Shizuma left. "I now leave the decision to you, the student councils, and the Etoile. I also think that Konaha Hikari should be punished," she said, but Nagisa held up her hand.

"Hikari-chan was a victim in all this, Sister," Nagisa replied. "She is probably hurting in the worst possible way, so she should not be punished," Nagisa said.

"I will allow your decision to stand," the Sister said. "When you have your decision ready for those two, I will be outside.