Chapter 27 (Miki)

Ittoki Otoya was not particularly close to the brunette - he really was closer to Yuiren, but the moment he saw the younger teen struggle to surface for air, his instincts had kicked him into action. He - along with Nacchan, he noted - had stripped off their shirts and dived into the water, making their way towards the distressed teen. Tokiya had held Syo back from jumping in - his roommate had seen Syo walk out of the infirmary, and Syo's normally-calm eyes had widened in panic.

Her flailing hands had hindered them a little, but they ultimately got hold of Miki. In fact, it was after they had gotten the brunette to calm down in the blonde's arms that he realized Natsuki's glasses was missing, and Satsuki had Miki in his arms in an iron-grip. Syo, having calmed down enough to notice, had signaled to him wildly to dive and get the glasses.

As the redhead did as directed, he could not help but take note of something. Satsuki had appeared during Starish's practices multiple times, and each time, the lot of them had panicked and either dove for cover or try to calm Natsuki's more explosive side before slipping his glasses back onto him.

Finding the knocked-off glasses, Otoya resurfaced with a loud gasp for air and joined the blonde by the side of the pool where the older teen had set a coughing Miki to sit (Nanami had knelt beside the brunette and wrapped her in a towel - and she really was still the only person within their group to not be too fearful of Satsuki). He passed the glasses to Syo discreetly, and when he dared chance a glance at Satsuki, the anger - coupled with uncharacteristic tenderness (for Satsuki, anyway) stunned him.

From what Syo had told him before, Satsuki knew what Natsuki felt and thought, but Natsuki had never been aware of Satsuki's existence - even Nanami told him as much, reporting with a rueful smile that Satsuki hadn't liked her as much as Natsuki had. When that bit of information was taken into consideration... did that mean Satsuki had agreed with Natsuki's affections for Miki?

"Who did it?" the blonde asked lowly, and Nanami helped Miki sit a little straighter to help the younger's breathing.

"S-Satsuki?" Syo said, startled - so witnessing a concerned Satsuki was a first for him too, Otoya figured. Narrowed green eyes stared back into bewildered blue, and seconds that felt like eternity passed before Miki grinned.

Somehow, at that moment, Otoya felt like he feared Miki more than he did Satsuki.


Miki had been careful to not move the safety line around the pool - it was there for a reason, after all. Aria and Jinguji-san had settled in the seats to talk, and they were slowly joined by Jun, Ittoki-san, Ichinose-san, Nanami-san, and Syo-kun - the last of which had gotten whacked by her when he reported that he bruised his ribs. The fedora-loving teen had stuck his tongue out at her childishly before Natsuki-san dragged him into a conversation over something or other, and Ichinose-san and Nanami-san settled onto the seats too, content with watching the happenings.

"Yui-Yui, fighto!" she cheered for her dark-haired classmate when the race started, unable to help her awed exclamations as the older teen swam gracefully from one end to the other.

Miki was an alert person due to her exposure to martial arts, but she had let her guard down whilst cheering for Yuiren and generally enjoying herself. It was with much shock that she felt hands pushing her over the safety line - and while she was unable to stop her scream, she had gotten a good look at who pushed her.

She couldn't remember much of what happened while she was in the pool - panic had overtook her thought processes and she just wanted to get out now. She barely registered two people aiding her, but she knew she had knocked someone's head with her flailing. The brunette wanted to apologize, she really did, but her lungs demanded precious oxygen, and her body responded to that need willingly.

Instead, Miki clung onto her savior, only realizing it was Natsuki-san when he had set her at the edge of the pool. Nanami-san had gotten a towel from somewhere and wrapped it around her, gently coaxing her to straighten to ease her breathing. Through her coughing fit, she realized that the Starish members were more than a little tense.

"Who did it?" the blonde before her asked lowly, and Miki felt her eyes widen in bewilderment. That did not sound like Natsuki-san at all, who-

"S-Satsuki?" Ah, thank you Syo-kun. Now who the heck is Satsu-

"Do not eat his cooking and do not take his glasses off." Syo-kun's warning from when she first met the taller blonde came into her mind, and her now-calm mind deduced that Natsuki-san had something like split-personalities. Which was rather cool, in her honest opinion, and if Saeki asks, Miki did not touch his psychology textbook.

Okay. So maybe she did. Not a crime to gain knowledge, yo.

Registering his question properly, Miki couldn't help but grin. Through her gasps for air, she managed to answer:

"A Class. Three of them. Pushed Aria down the stairs before."

When Syo-kun and Aria - Aria! She must have worried too; she'd have to apologize - both let out noises of recognition (Aria more peeved than Syo, and Miki realized that she never told her roommate of her encounter with the bullies), Miki smiled and allowed her body and mind to shut down and rest.


Much like what Kurusu had told his groupmates, Satsuki knew what Natsuki thought and felt, but the more innocent personality did not know of his existence. That was fine with him - it helped him protect Natsuki even better.

He existed to protect. That was all he was going to do.

When Kurusu had introduced Natsuki to the chipper brunette known as Oikawa Miki, Satsuki knew his other had instantly liked her despite the initial confusion. That had made him weary of the brunette, and he strove to be more alert than he normally was whenever Natsuki was within her vicinity.

Natsuki's growing affections for the girl did not help his case at all.

Worse of all, Satsuki was starting to understand why his other liked the girl - even more so when he had spotted the younger practicing a kata. He felt Natsuki's panic and worry when the brunette had paled and ran away, and felt his jealousy when Kurusu managed to coax her out of her room. He felt Natsuki's contentment when they played Mozart's piece together, and understood when his other dared kiss the younger's forehead before he had left her to rest.

Oikawa Miki was different. Satsuki did not know in what manner, but she was. And until he could figure out how she was different, Satsuki was going to keep an extremely close eye on her.

Apparently, it wasn't close enough. Ichijo's horrified screams of how Oikawa couldn't swim had spurred Natsuki into action, worry and panic moving his other's form. When Oikawa had unintentionally allowed him control of his other's body, he surprised himself at the relief he felt when he gotten hold of the smaller form and held her close to him.

Satsuki set the girl on the edge of the pool to rest, and took a good look at the distance between the safety line and the pool. It was impossible for anyone to fall into the pool by tripping, which led to only one logical answer.

"Who did it?" he asked, once again surprising himself at the fury he felt bubbling within his chest. Oikawa had stared right back into his eyes despite having heard Kurusu call his name, and felt oddly vindictive when he saw her grin.

"A class," she said even though she was still struggling to breathe, "Three people. Pushed Aria down the stairs before." Nanami Haruka caught the girl when she proceeded to pass out, and Satsuki pulled himself out of the pool.

He remembered the people Oikawa spoke of - Natsuki was there when she was telling Kurusu about her encounter with said people. Before today, he had thought his other was over-thinking when he told the brunette that there was no way that group would let go of whatever grudge they had willingly. He had been proven wrong.

"Oi, Satsuki!" Kurusu called after him, and Satsuki turned his green-eyed glare on the shorter.

"They will pay," he said simply and walked off.


Miki woke later that day, dry and in fresh clothes in her bed, and was promptly smothered in a hug by a very worried Aria, Yuiren hovering behind her with a relieved smile at her awakening. The celeste-hair had been crying, Yuiren told her softly when Aria left to get Miki some water, and the brunette winced. She hated being the reason for people's sadness.

"I don't know what Shinomiya-senpai did," the dark-haired teen told her, "but between him and the Principal, the three girls have been expelled. The Principal has been keeping tabs on them, apparently, and attacks against Aria and you are not their only offences."

Miki didn't need Yuiren to tell her that - that's what the grapevine was for - but she smiled and nodded, thanking the elder for the information. Aria came back into the room then, and Miki proceeded to cling to the celeste-haired teen, hoping to prompt a laugh from her roommate.

"Miki, what're you doing?" Aria asked, confused at the younger's clinginess.

"Trying to make you laugh," Miki told her, still tired out from the earlier event to make up an excuse.

Her roommate adopted a faint smile, seemingly touched. She reached to pat the younger's head affectionately, the way an older sibling would. "Thanks sugar, but worry about yourself for a while, kays?"

"I agree," Yuiren's quiet agreement came in, and the dark-haired teen pulled her away from Aria with practiced ease before tucking her back into bed, both teens giggling slightly when she whined in protest. "Rest, you silly goose," she said, brushing her hand lightly through her brown locks. "Aria'll be here with you, and I'll join you for dinner."

"Mmkay," Miki found herself agreeing before she could process her own words, and drifted off to Aria's gentle humming.

A few hours later, as Yuiren promised, she was at the door when Aria had woken her up for dinner. Miki, still feeling lethargic, had hugged her Pekingese plushie to her chest while the two elder teens led her to the cafeteria.

"Miki!" Syo-kun's voice made her smile. "How're you feeling?"

"Sleepy," she mumbled, and her childhood friend laughed, his relief apparent. At some unknown signal, Starish and their composer had gathered at the table she, Yuiren and Aria were sitting at. Miki had leaned against Natsuki-san who sat beside her and, lulled by his body warmth and the comfortable feeling of being safe once again, fell asleep amidst quiet giggling and chuckles. Natsuki-san's hand slid gently around her waist to ensure she wouldn't fall, his touch feather-light yet firm.

Miki smiled.


Author's Note: What on earth Author Miki, what on earth? Lol, kindly ignore me dear readers.

It's summer vacation up next so please R&R if you like and so stay tuned!