Abandoned Concepts

by Twisted Eternal Wolvetta

This is an archive for my stories which were either abandoned, cancelled or never saw the light of day. Some collabs are also to be included. Characters haven't been tagged as there's too many. Some of these stories may also be reconsidered if they receive positive feedback. You'll find more information inside. Warning: Writing quality and sanity varies (Renascence 2010 uploaded).

9. Renascence 2010 C05

Renascence 2010 | Chapter 05: Retrospective Reformation

After the Survival Hike, Garderobe Academy: 26th March.

"I can't believe she won…" Natsuki moped, leaning heavily against her returned cane with both palms just outside the entrance to the academy, stood beside Chie and Mahya.

She was exhausted and honestly a little annoyed over the ordeal. They had waited for just the right moment to capture the whole of the Plumerias and Mauryan Rose teams, yet out of nowhere during their take-down operation the Administar Lily team had swooped in and taken them all off guard, essentially immobilizing them all into a stalemate.

So technically Sarah had won.

The blonde was ever so happily celebrating with her team as well, rubbing all of their noses in it. Natsuki glared so fervently at her, that she heard a soft giggle at her side and turned, still glaring.

"Natsuki is like a baby!" Shizuru burst out with a full, hearty laugh at the Gakuenchou's incredulous expression.

"I am not a baby." Natsuki pouted, grumbling as she rubbed a hand over the crystal-covered splint on her leg. "I need a shower."

"Hmm?" Shizuru smiled, a faint hint of worry gleaming within her eyes when she remembered the crystalline splint, her eyes lowering to it before quickly retreating back into emerald eyes. "We have a good couple of hours until the next meeting."

Another meeting? Natsuki groaned disapprovingly.

"Alright, girls. Get some deserved rest and relaxation." Sarah smiled and dismissed them, grinning towards Natsuki.

"Seems you've awakened something quite remarkable, Natsuki…"

"Not remarkable enough to beat you." The Gakuenchou sorely mused, the blonde chuckling softly.

"That's the element of surprise, for you…"

But to take such a big risk? After all, Sarah had literally ambushed not one team, but three, two of them siding together no less. That was Aries prowess, Natsuki supposed.

The students began to filter through the gates of the academy, chattering among one another.

"...And you didn't even go invisible," Natsuki muttered, scratching her cheek unconsciously, glancing over to Shizuru.

Of course she wouldn't have, they had all been barred from their GEMs.

"Natsuki is so cute when she is jealous."

The younger woman huffed softly, limping forwards on her cane as she grumbled. "Come on, Shizuru… Perhaps we can put your smart mouth to better use."

Mahya snorted loudly, prodding at a crimson cheek of the Archmeister. "Someone's gonna get it!"

The Gakuenchou was walking away, and Shizuru had to hurry after her, ignoring Mahya for the time being who directed a smirk into her back, the notion burning into the Archmeister's form.

"Now… How did Natsuki use her crystal…?" Shizuru cocked her head once she met her side, curious.

"...I am unsure, I had a plan, and… it… just happened."

It was just an unconscious notion which had occurred, but Natsuki did wonder if she would be able to become adept at it if she was to… attempt to train it into her mind and body. Perhaps she could learn how to control it?

But she didn't really have anyone to go to for this… she cursed under her breath, Shizuru faintly tilting her head in response to the action.

"It seems to come to me willingly now, however…"

"I recall with her cheeky exit… You hurt my feelings, you know. Powerful enemy, and such…" The Archmeister halted, Mahya and the others floating past them and down the pathway, the Mauryan throwing a grin in Shizuru's general direction as her group entered the student dorms to reach the dining hall.

Natsuki flushed, clearing her throat and leaning on her cane, just inside the building's entrance-way. "You hurt mine as well." She pouted, noting the elder's change of speech.

Was she nervous or worried about something?

Minutes transpired and more students brushed past, questions and answers being swapped between the two.

"What can we even do today…" She mused, the two of them trailing behind the herd of students. It was almost lunch, but seeing as the Amethysts and Diamonds had been lugged through three days inside that forest they deserved no lessons for today at least. Anyone would need to recover after something like that. "I am so hungry."

"Did you not eat during the entire trip?" Shizuru took her arm, facing her as she eyed her with concern.

"...Not the last day, I forgot. I made sure the girls had something, though." Natsuki blushed darkly, clearing her throat as she scratched her cheek again.

"...Let us find something for Natsuki's growling tummy."

She didn't want an ill Natsuki in her case, after all—anything but that.

The Gakuenchou was practically dragged to the dining hall and some of the students who made their way over snickered at her misfortune.

"Shizuru, don't drag me…" Natsuki made a bit of a fuss, huffing softly. She met the Archmeister's stride, keeping their hands clasped as she slowed them down. "I wonder what's on the menu today…"

"I was barely tugging you," Shizuru chuckled, fine eyebrows lifting slightly, her lips twitching in amusement. She slowed a little, however, the pair still lazily followed after the students as they bypassed the student dorms, taking the inner-corridor which led to the dining hall. "I do not know."

"I still can't believe Sarah won. I worked so hard…" Natsuki sighed softly, a bit moody as she held Shizuru's hand. She wasn't seriously angry, just a bit irritated at the thought that the woman she had underestimated had trumped them so thoroughly.

Looking down to her leg, she mused softly to herself before looking back to Shizuru. "I should release the splint later in the bathroom…"

"Are you sure?"

Natsuki nodded, guiding her free, left hand towards her lips, brushing her index finger against them thoughtfully, her brow furrowing. "When will I be allowed to materialise…? I want to use my Robe already."

"Not until you are healthy enough to use it full force. Not with a cane." Shizuru's change of speech made Natsuki bring her gaze to her, feeling the elder's grasp on her hand tighten.

It must take a lot out of someone… Shizuru was only worried, after all.

"Okay." She promised with a soft smile, tugging her hand playfully.

They entered the dining hall shortly after, and as usual it was overcrowded, most of the residents in the academy located there, littered among the tables they were familiar with. The more Natsuki observed this room, the more she noticed certain batches of students grouped together.

So for instance the Corals would only venture close to the Pearls, whilst the Amethysts and Diamonds were together on their own side of the hall. The Corals mainly kept to themselves though—they must be shy.

"Can you get me something to eat, I just want to sit down… Kind of exhausted from the walk." Natsuki flushed faintly, the Archmeister's lips quirking with a smile as she agreed.

"Natsuki needs rest, I shall get something to feed the bear in her tummy." Stomach poked and cheeks red, the Gakuenchou grumbled as she made way to one of the staff tables.

The main table for the staff members was almost full already; Yukariko, Miss Maria, Sarah and Mahya gracing the chairs. The latter three of the staff peered up, the Mauryan-native snickering under her breath lightly.

"Why are you laughing?" Natsuki suspiciously asked, eyeing her as she took a chair and sat with them. "You lost too."

"Oh," the fellow Column shook her hand, "It is nothing, really."

This didn't help with the fishiness which heightened upon this remark, Natsuki narrowing her eyes. "...Whatever you say."

The Aries blonde was beside Mahya, Natsuki opposite her whilst Miss Maria was beside her to the right, the grey epitome absorbing her whole attention into what she was eating. There was a seat vacant, probably Shizuru's and then Yukariko.

Carrying the cane close, she tucked it under the table to hang on one of the grooves settled into it. "Have I ever thanked you; For the cane?" Natsuki cocked a brow at Mahya, the darker woman shaking her head with a shrug.

"It had been suggested I make it months before you even awoke," the woman tilted her head, clipping her fork between her index and middle fingers, tapping the end of it with her thumb mindlessly, the movement repetitive. "Mai and Shizuru ganged up on me to craft it," she lamented, prodding the Zipang redhead with the end of her fork, the royal jumping at the notion.

"Under attack there, Mai?" Natsuki teased her, looking back at Mahya with a chuckle. Making it in advance must have almost seemed a waste—Ow!"

Miss Maria had taken her ear between thumb and forefinger, squeezing. "Do not insinuate things as such!"

Oh, come on, this woman was no fun!

The strict teacher released her earlobe, and Natsuki huffed silently, side-glancing the woman in case Miss Maria attempted another sneak attack on her.

Mai grinned at her soundlessly, and Natsuki shot her a pointed look, sighing.

Where was Shizuru with her food…? Looking up to the line, she pouted at Shizuru obviously expecting a glance as the elder made sure to wink at her, a tray in each hand as she sauntered over.

"I hope Natsuki likes what I have picked…" Shizuru seemed to smirk, which caused Natsuki to worry she may not.

Alas, it was something she had wanted from the start of the survival hike…

The tray with the bowl atop it was placed down before her, the Archmeister setting to glide into her seat beside Miss Maria, Natsuki blinking after her. After a moment she brought her attention back to the meal at hand—porridge and fruit.

"Oh!" She eyed the wonderful gold of the porridge, the red and blue of the fruit nestled inside, and felt a warmth in her stomach before she even started to eat.

"Thank you, Shizuru… I was craving this."

Before she could even begin, her stomach rumbled, and she unconsciously sank within her seat. No one except the Zipang Meister directed their gazes at her, Mai snickering.

"Not a thing from you." She stared at the younger Otome. Quickly focusing her eyes on the other women—they didn't seem to react to her growling gut, and she wondered why she was so embarrassed about it in the first place. "This is your fault," she grumbled over to Mai, "You… Zipang."

Grasping her spoon, the Gakuenchou heartily dug into the still steaming porridge. Reds and blues were becoming dyed into it from the heat melting the fruit, and her first bite was a bit hot for her liking, but she hungrily swallowed it down.

The second spoonful was much cooler, seeing as how she waited and gave a soft blow onto it. "Would Natsuki like me to blow on her porridge—?" "—No!"

Stuck between the two, Miss Maria's eyebrow twitched. Oh, how she wished there were more Otome her age… perhaps with her own generation she wouldn't feel so inclined to punishing these young Meister for disrupting her peace...

Scarfing down the rest of her bowl, without looking like she was scarfing it as at the first noise the eldest of them gave her a look, Natsuki softly exhaled and cleaned her face. "That was good…"

Now how long did they have until they had to… what was it again? Meetings? Inwardly she groaned, momentarily glancing at Miss Maria; the stern epitome's emerald eyes met her own before settling back down to her almost finished meal.

The Archmeister was still eating, occasionally focusing on Yukariko who would speak of something, which Natsuki assumed was related to teaching.

She fiddled with her cane here and there, trying to listen to the separate conversations as she sipped at her water. She was already itching to get back to combat and strategy forming; The hike had certainly woken that up for her…

Perhaps later she could convince Shizuru to allow a few more elements of her GEM to be unlocked…

Although she wasn't entirely sure of, heightened strength, agility, materialisation and flight were definitely out of the picture for now. Maybe instead she could request to… see some Robes?

Preferably Meister Robes, perhaps even Column?

If Natsuki remembered correctly the Robes had also been adjusted… What did they look like now? Were those ridiculous discs and heels removed? Were… dare she say, Otome covered properly?

She had never understood it; what was the point of being an Otome if the whole section of your legs and head were on display?

Mulling this over, she noticed Shizuru looking at her with an amused expression. "What?" She blurted out, Miss Maria stiffening as she no doubt gave a soft glare.

"I mean… What is it…?" She cleared her throat, looking around the table.

"You were pretty impressive on the hike." Mahya spoke, rubbing her jaw. "Especially that crystal jazz. Shizuru said that Yohko might want to see some of that."

"I don't want to be a guinea pig," she mumbled, moving her bowl away from herself.

Talking about experimentation… Natsuki's eyes trailed towards Shizuru again. How was she going to get to her mother…?

"I'm finished." Natsuki murmured, standing from the table and taking her tray up. She gave a look to Shizuru, nodding faintly to her before she did away with the tray and limped out. She needed to get word to her mother… somehow.

The media was completely cut… which meant the internet was at a standstill for connecting to other regions, the military had Aries locked down and if anything leaked…? Natsuki wasn't sure.

Honestly she simply didn't know what to do…

Drifting over to the serving area, she brushed past Meister and students alike, handing the tray over and nodding over to the staff quickly.

Perhaps she would make a speech to address Aries? That would certainly spur a ton of the media to gather and alert everyone that she was indeed alive and well…

But maybe after she lost the cane. Looking down to the ice-covered splint, Natsuki mused a faint idea as she headed toward the shared dorm. Maybe her leg would be better after it melted and she took the splint off?

Just as everyone had warned her before…

Being reckless wouldn't help anyone, especially not herself nor Garderobe. She needed to think things through entirely before she acted; because after all, that wouldn't make her the Gakuenchou then, would it?

They didn't need a re-enactment of what happened with Queen Sifr…

She took to the washroom, deciding to try and test it. If not, then Shizuru could help her…

Natsuki hummed lowly to herself, sitting on the edge of the bath and slipping off her boots. Easing her splinted leg into the tub, she took a moment to look around before placing a hand to the crystal covering it.

Slowly, it began to melt, and she hoped inwardly that it had indeed fixed her leg.

nanomachines would sort that out fine enough though if it wasn't the case. She would prefer not using her cane at all whilst it healed though. Natsuki was sure that the hike had done some good though.

She heard the door click open and looked up, Shizuru giving a small smile as she approached her. "How is Natsuki's leg?"

"I am unsure yet." She answered with a small murmur, the last of the crystal melting away and down the drain. The splint was as clean as it had been when it was applied, and she slowly started to take it apart.

The Archmeister remained quiet for the time being, situating herself beside the younger woman, facing outside from the bath whilst Natsuki continued to sit the opposite way. A thought stealthed within her mind and the gears within her head turned, thinking upon the questions which highlighted themselves about the second Column.

The splint was off and Natsuki slid a hand down her shin and ankle. "It doesn't feel weird, at least…" Natsuki continued, green and red meeting.

She didn't stand, but set her bare foot down on the floor of the bath and put weight on it. It didn't hurt, but it shook, clearly still a bit weak. Disappointed, Natsuki puffed a breath and settled back, crossing her arms.

"These nanomachines sure are very slow, Shizuru."

Broken from her thoughts, Shizuru blinked slowly, she wet her lips in thought, a slight furrow to her brow. "You never reacted nicely to nanomachines. You collapsed in your Coral year when you first received them. But a small boost should be fine."

"I did?" Natsuki flushed, taking a towel to dry her leg and foot with an odd expression. "Why would I collapse…?" She hummed, though shook her head. "When would I get that boost?"

"Everyone reacts differently to nanomachines." The third Column hummed, smoothing her coarse palm along her cheek briefly and leaving it there. "...Some feel faint, others collapse, and some don't have the… ability to carry them." She paused, watching as Natsuki pulled the towel away from her limb, folding it up. "A check-up is in order anyway."

"Ah, I get it… Alright. Let her know we're on our way, then." Grabbing her cane, she stood with a slow push before looping her leg back onto the tile. "As soon as I… We have a shower and change."

Shizuru arched her brow, still seated upon the bath.

"What?" Natsuki asked, baffled upon the elder's reaction.

Silence between them permeated until Shizuru cocked a brow and gave a wink.

"O-oi! Not like that!"

The elder laughed heartily, standing also, hooking her arm around the Gakuenchou's and pulling the shorter woman closer towards her. "Not like what?"

"I know what you were thinking with your… Filthy mind." Natsuki flushed and grumbled softly, resting her chin momentarily on Shizuru's shoulder.

"I have tainted Natsuki's mind, it appears," the Archmeister grinned, simply intensifying the blush along the fellow Meister's cheeks. "Now come, I am unsure how long this will take."

The journey took a good ten minutes for them to reach the elevator which'd take them down to the underground laboratory and infirmary. It made Natsuki realise just how much the academy had altered within just a mere year; it was so much larger now and was going to be extended even further.

How different would the academy be in another three hundred years, Natsuki pondered? Surely it'd be even more advanced than it was currently? Then again technology was dramatically advancing this decade, so she supposed that future technology would be so alien it would terrify her if she was to ever see it.

"How did you come up with so many ideas to alter the academy?" She found herself blurting out suddenly, clearing her throat as she looked up to Shizuru briefly. Peering down in faint embarrassment, she shrugged it off and looked up to her again.

"If Natsuki thinks it was all my idea, then she flatters me!"

The Gakuenchou scratched her cheek awkwardly, wetting her lips in thought. "There were others? Who were they?"

She assumed it'd be Miss Maria, Yukariko and perhaps even Yohko. Maybe there were even more who had aided in the construction of this new Garderobe though?

"Well, Miss Maria looked up a business that could add in such renovations, they were called and hired to start. As for the plans and such, it was a mix, really…"

Natsuki narrowed her eyes at the answer, clearly having been expecting a more wordy explanation.

"They are a company who were connected with the renovation project of Windbloom Castle, just after the fire."

Ah, so… it was that one. Natsuki nodded slowly, frowning. What was the name of that company again? It was within the back of her mind, but refused to reveal itself. "Oh." She settled on murmuring, feeling the lift slowly come to a stop before the doors opened. "If I do collapse… Don't tell anyone."

If anything it'd just be embarrassing, and not to mention it'd cause a fuss—something which she didn't want at all.

The Archmeister simply smiled and then nodded, guiding the younger Meister from out the lift and into the huge laboratory.

Amongst the chaos of the chamber, a faint humming emitted from the machinery which surrounded them on all sides. What was that doctor on with this time? Natsuki pondered, arching a brow as she peered around the place; some of these machines were bigger than a house!

"Gakuenchou, Archmeister?" Yohko cocked a brow, setting something heavy down on a table with a metallic clunk.

Trying to see the object, Natsuki huffed when the doctor drew a screen to block off that part of the room, the elder giving a smirk just briefly before she approached them.

"What's with all this?" Natsuki blurted, curiosity getting the better of her as she ventured through the laboratory, Shizuru unhooking her arm from hers, which confused her, glancing over her shoulder to the woman. "Shizuru?"

"What is it?" The tawny Meister ever so faintly narrowed her eyes, but wandered her gaze towards the medical engineer. "We are here for Natsuki's nanomachine booster. Although…" She also puzzled over the clutter of machinery surrounding the large chamber, crimsons pinpointing each in wonder.

Most of it appeared… old.

"I collect things." Yohko waved off their odd looks, and Natsuki exhaled sharply through her nose.

"Why are they all running, though? Isn't that an energy waste in this… trying time?"

A look passing over the doctor's face, she hummed and slowly neared her computer typing in a few things. "So, that booster, hm?"

Ignored. Natsuki huffed, but nodded either way, her eyes momentarily meeting the Archmeister's from across the other side of the room.

There definitely was something… iffy about this woman. The clear incapability to give results for evidence, her suspicious behaviour when Natsuki had first awoken from her coma. And now… whatever this was.

Something was off.

By now she only had to press some of her weight against her cane as she limped over to the scientist, the elder female gesturing over to the medical chair which she had ventured over to, Shizuru trailing after her steadily.

She had already filled a syringe, tapping it and letting Natsuki see the swimming nanomachines within it with a magnifying glass. "Gross." The Gakuenchou huffed a bit, watching one crawl over another.

"They look like bugs…"

"And much more lethal than any bug," Yohko chuckled, placing the small circular glass down upon the small table beside the chair. "Now hand me your arm, if you don't mind."

Cautiously the Gakuenchou did so, the Windbloom-native standing close to her side, feather-light fingertips brushing against her wrist before clutching hold of her hand, the medical-scientist sinking the needle of the syringe into the opposite limb, just within the fold of the elbow.

The plunge hit, Natsuki made a face as if she could feel the little buggies crawling into her bloodstream. "I hate this." She decided hastily, darting emerald eyes to Shizuru in an almost comical silent attempt to retrieve help.

"You can hardly feel it." Yohko assured, though the Gakuenchou was indeed sure that she felt… something.

Top lip curling into a sneer, she closed her eyes and tried to ignore it but no longer could. Dully, she felt the needle ease out and a bandage be wrapped around her arm, but she leaned onto Shizuru's shoulder, the disgusting feeling of the machines crawling inside of her making her lose consciousness.

"Oh," the taller of the three murmured, glancing towards the Archmeister. "She should wake up soon, after all she never did have a good resilience to it, did she?" Yohko studied the Column, worry strickening across the brunette's features as she leaned down closer to the chair, the Gakuenchou's side dead weighting against her front.

Drifting away from the two, Yohko headed towards the sink with the syringe in hand.

"This is almost like her first time." Shizuru hummed softly, petting along the younger woman's coal hair. "Though she tried to run away at that time…" She mused, remembering with a faint chuckle to keep from worrying too much.

Shizuru wondered whether it'd spark a memory for the Gakuenchou. Surely it'd be related to nanomachines? Continuing to mindlessly stroke the long strands of the Meister's dark hair, Shizuru paused in thought, her ears twitching upon the rattling and trickling of water radiating from where Yohko was.

She shifted, Natsuki's shoulder pressing against her front, halting her administration on the Aries-native's hair.

Natsuki would be fine…

---

Clutching at her arm as she sped through the thick trees of this forest, she leapt over a fallen log and fell, finding it hollowed and rolling into it to take shelter from the firing soldiers. She had sustained a harsh bullet wound to her upper-shoulder and if she was unable to take it out herself, it would keep bleeding, and impede on any sort of healing from her nanomachines…

The shots rang overhead and vibrated harshly against her eardrums as they buzzed past, rocketing into the bark of trees, whipping back into the canopy.

Never for a split second did the gunfire give, the Altai soldiers unrelenting, perhaps fearful that a Robeless Otome had single-handedly ambushed and took down a good portion of them. In their own base, no less.

It was blisteringly freezing, and Natsuki's fingertips felt numb, holding her breath shakingly as she waited, the heat of her breath a mist against the icy temperatures.

For a moment she paused in gripping down on the wound against her shoulder, wondering whether she'd get out of this alive.

If she took the bullet out, the blood would flow faster unless she found a way to stop it… On the other hand, the heat behind the bullet was still burning, and it was so painful…

Biting her lip, Natsuki closed her eyes and tried to think, the gunfire slowly dying down before footsteps sounded out, getting closer. If they found her, she hoped she could dispatch them before they could reload…

Deciding against it, she sank against the log, turning her head to scan the enemies behind her quickly.

There were three. They were fully covered in their warm clothing, the gear heavy—although they had the disadvantage of movement, they had resistance against the harsh weather.

She cupped the bleeding bullet wound, slinking downwards until she was within the hollowed out log entirely. She rolled her weight over, ever so mindful of the smouldering wound against her shoulder, gritting her teeth to hold her breath tensely as the soldiers neared.

Snow covered the opening of the log quickly with the help of the whipping wind, and the soldiers' footsteps thunked further and further away. Thankfully, they didn't seem to notice…

Tch, of course not. Altain guards… They were lucky they had a shot on her at all… Now to go back to that base.

Smirking to herself, she dug out of the log once she no longer heard the crunching of snow beneath boots. The wound bled still… Ripping her sleeve off, she would chance frostbite than to fully bleed out or leave a trail. Tying the fabric in a knot, with difficulty, she winced when she tightened it over the wound.

Heading back towards the base, her awareness of every single noise protruded into her senses. She slinked forward, lowered slightly as her eyes set back onto the disaster which she had caused those minutes ago, bodies scattered, soldiers lying dead among one another, a collection of bullet wounds impaled into their torsos, blood flowing freely.

Admiring the sight, she cackled softly before taking one of the downed soldier's guns, checking it for ammo and taking more from another. Reloading, she tucked the rest into her makeshift bandage away from her wound, eyeing down the sights as she strode right in like she belonged.

Honestly, although she had been terrified of this mission… something was changing. She had never liked the idea of killing, yet… here she was, taking pleasure in just that.

Keeping the gun—a rifle to be exact—close to her form, she slunk into the nearby hangar, aiming the weapon around hastily with the red laser.

Around the corner, she peeked and spotted three ratty looking jets. Altain style had them looking quite… Unflyable. But, she had no doubt it would get her back to Garderobe when her mission was done.

In fact… She could use these to do just that. Natsuki quickly lifted her rifle and shot a soldier on the catwalk above her, a few making themselves known around one of the jets. She hit the floor, finding and firing at first their shins to drop them, then their heads to kill.

Once the hangar fell silent, she strapped the rifle around her and chuckled softly to herself. This was easy…

Even though she was injured, the wound burned against the cold.

She had all the delicate information as well… all she needed was to get one of these jets working…

Clutching the rifle against herself, she quickly slid her palm against the bullet wound against her shoulder. Shoving her gloved hand into the pocket of her thick, protective trousers; her cold digits touched the CDs inside, but only just, having jammed the pockets with the shredded material of the soldiers she had killed, keeping the sensitive knowledge as safe as she could.

Deeper within the pocket was also a USB, the memory stick shoddy and partly falling apart. Natsuki was sure she would manage to rip all the files off it though, besides, she had the whole of Garderobe behind her now.

"This has been fun boys, but I've got a plane to catch…" She neared the corpses, rifling through their pockets to find all three keys for each jet. Chuckling lowly, she read each labelled key and took more ammo for her rifle. She would keep this as a trophy…

She had a plan now, and a finite amount of time to complete it before more entered the hangar… though they would need to return from the woods, first. She grasped a large canister, taking it to the first jet and unscrewing the gas cap. Siphoning fuel from it, she let it drain as she copied the action for the second one, deciding the third one would be hers.

It didn't look any different, though it did look a little better in condition to a standard. Although that gap in quality was extremely small.

"Aa…" She murmured under her breath, frowning as she found one more canister and leapt up towards the cockpit of the jet, looking inside.

Well, this was shoddy if she had ever seen it. Altai was definitely lacking in mechanics, but not in brains… But now, she could use the latter for her own use.

Finding a toolbox, she eased a few items out and began to mount the last bit of metal onto the hull, welding it shut before checking on everything else. The console panel was loose, and she tightened it up before testing the buttons for stickiness or utter disuse.

Everything checked out as best she could hope for now… Easing out, she slipped one full canister of fuel into the cockpit and slipped back out. Prepping herself, she lifted the other fuel canister and began to dump it across the hangar. The flames from takeoff would ignite it, and blow this place to bits.

Now let's hope she won't get herself blown up inside the hanger or in the sky. Going down either way would be embarrassing, especially seeing as this was her first ever mission as the Gakuenchou.

If she could remember correctly as well…

Natsuki vaulted back into the cockpit, rummaging around and eventually finding the helmet at the back of the pilot's seat. She carefully put the rifle down inside the jet and reached for it, holding it up to quickly study its condition.

Unlike everything else, the helmet at least seemed new, or perhaps just clean… It had goggles attached, and flaps over the ears, no doubt to fight the cold even in the jet. Rolling her eyes, she set it away and rifled for more things around.

"Oh, look… I might actually need this." Taking the parachute from under the seat, she slipped it on over the thick coat and slipped the helmet on as well.

"Fuel, check, going to burn down the hangar and the other two jets, check…" Cocky, Natsuki took her seat and strapped herself in, tightening the helmet's straps under her chin.

"Let's see if this can actually fly…"

After a few minutes of figuring out how to get the blasted engine working, the jet at last rattled into activation, the machinery loud and coarse.

It wasn't a noise she liked…

"Altai to Windbloom… twelve hours."

Assuming her jet now had a full tank of fuel, and that her canister was indeed full, it should be enough…

The flames were too weak just yet to light flame to the fuel covering the hangar, but once she bolted out, it would no doubt explode. She just hoped to be far enough away to use that as a launch…

"Alright… Garderobe, here I come… Hopefully." Natsuki sucked in a breath, slamming her foot to the pedal and feeling the blast.

"Natsuki."

"—tsuki."

"—ki."

---

"Natsuki?" The Archmeister worriedly manoeuvred the unconscious woman's weight against the chair, leaning forward and clasping Natsuki's cheeks between her palms delicately.

"Hn?" Brows drawing together, the younger woman's eyes slowly opened… No heat from the blast… Because it hadn't happened, not again. It was a memory…

"...I remembered my first mission."

The Archmeister's eyes widened slightly, getting closer to the younger Otome, ignoring the typing of keys as the scientist sat at her little holographic computer some way off. Brushing her rough fingertips along Natsuki's cheekbones, she inhaled. "Do you remember the whole of it?"

Shizuru's mouth felt dry abruptly and she wet her lips.

'Surely not all of it? Natsuki hasn't returned to me yet.' To… all of them.

"Not the first part… I remember being in the forest, and being shot. Going to the hangar, killing them all, blowing it to bits…" Natsuki darted her eyes away, seeming to think very hard.

"Did I… really act like that? So… Reckless?" Though she obviously did, she wanted Shizuru's view of things. Eyes back on the elder, she furrowed her brows in faint concern.

"You were… a handful at times," She responded slowly. "Reckless but calculating. You did calm once you were stacked with paperwork, however." Shizuru smiled, sliding her hands down to Natsuki's shoulders instead.

"That would calm someone down, I think… Do we still have that jet?" Natsuki smiled as well, placated by the answer. She reached a hand up, grasping onto Shizuru's own.

"It crumbled as soon as you landed." Shizuru murmured 'And then getting pestered by Wind's royal guard.' But it wasn't like she was about to add that.

To remember such a negative memory and supply it with embarrassment was the last thing Shizuru wanted happening for Natsuki. The Gakuenchou didn't seem too… disturbed about it for some reason?

"It was actually… Kind of good to remember that. Gives me more of a sense of who I was, who I am." Natsuki softly murmured after a moment, rubbing her chin. "Oh, the nanomachines…" She remembered, taking her cane and easing from Shizuru's hold.

"You'll still need to use that for the next few days." She heard Yohko warn before she even tried, and exhaled noisily

The doctor hadn't even looked up at her, eyes locked onto the screen of the computer, dutifully typing away at whatever she was busy with.

"Figures…" Natsuki muttered, leaning into the cane and adjusting herself, standing beside the Archmeister. "...Shizuru, do you know anything about my first mission…?" Why did she have the feeling that the older woman wouldn't reply?

Surely that wouldn't be the case? She blinked, studying Shizuru silently, lazily scoping her eyes along the Archmeister's form, a brow furrowing with the notion. "Or should I try to remember on my own?"

The sensation of worry pitted itself within her stomach—confused, Natsuki hummed, swallowing the tense lump which had formed within her throat, pondering as to why she was feeling this all of a sudden.

Unconsciously her mind wandered back to the memory, green eyes glazing slightly, staring through the third Column.

Shizuru had looked so scared back then, as scared as she was sure she had felt herself…

"Don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." She heard Yohko tease over the fact she lost touch with the room, a heat coming to her cheeks before she cleared her throat.

They could talk at a later time… "We have that meeting, don't we, Shizuru?" She looked to her, starting to lead the way out.

The elder confirmed with a nod, smiling slightly, leaning in closely to the Gakuenchou's side. "Do not worry, I will explain later," she hushed into her ear, Shizuru's breath hot as it made contact with Natsuki's skin.

"I hope so…" She flushed again, barely as she was still distracted. Natsuki entered the lift, letting Shizuru handle the control panel as she tried to think.

What could have caused such a scare for something that did turn out to be such a… Seemingly an easy mission? Though she had been shot…

Had it been because it was related to Altai? It wasn't the richest of countries but nevertheless its military presence was notorious and corrupt. Had she been worried about the possibility of capture? Becoming a prisoner of war was one thing, but being so as the Gakuenchou?

"What are you thinking?"

"I still want to know what happened during that first bit of my… memory. That mission. You said I have to wait." So she was stewing in it. Puffing out her cheeks briefly, the Gakuenchou leaned into the wall.

Perhaps it was to do with the fact she had been shot? Natsuki wondered about this, mindlessly guiding her palm towards her right shoulder, pressing the heel of her hand onto the area where she had been shot.

She hadn't even noticed any scarring… maybe there was? Or had the nanomachines healed that up as well? Then again Otome still gained scars if the wound was severe enough.

Shizuru noticed the action, remembering the area where the younger woman had been shot. It had been… Bad. Most of her nanomachines had been drained from the blood, but that hadn't seemed to slow Natsuki down.

After that mission, watching her come back was like seeing a fable come to life; A rise of warrior from Legend, and Natsuki had acted the part in every way. That was one of the first moments where Shizuru had confirmed her own theories that perhaps Natsuki would be an Otome to rise above the rest in power and not just status alone.

There have been many famous Otome throughout history. The Founder and Rena Sayers just to add two… yet Shizuru couldn't help but notice their similarity compared to Natsuki.

But it was cloudy, Shizuru honestly wasn't too sure how they were familiar, but still she somehow knew there was something.

"I will tell you…" She spoke cautiously, lifting her eyes to meet with Natsuki's, attempting to read the thoughts and emotions which transpired within the fellow Otome's mind.

Maybe she was making too much of a deal out of this, Shizuru wondered?

Tilting her head, Natsuki raised her hand and looked down. She had formed a small crystal ball, now playing with it between her fingertips as she started to speak. "Does it have to do with my ability to do this?"

"The meeting may." Shizuru paused, watched the Meister, eyes locked onto the crystal which neither melted nor warped under Natsuki's touch. She neared the Gakuenchou again, the lift droning silently and vibrating softly into the bottom of her shoes.

It was oddly soothing and private, and she clasped her hands around Natsuki's, the crystal cold, sticking to her palm as the skin covered it, securing the created oddity between her and Natsuki's hands, distracting the shorter woman. "This meeting has heavy reforming."

"I thought you were going to tell me about my mission?" The Gakuenchou tilted her head, now a little confused before she eased her hands from Shizuru's. "You might get frostbite. Hold on…" She chuckled to herself softly, playing a bit more with the ball of crystal before she offered it over.

Taking it, Shizuru realized it no longer felt cold, nor stuck to her skin.

"Patience, Natsuki," Shizuru grinned for only a moment up to her before evaluating the little ball of ice within her palm. If Natsuki was to know the reason why she had been so fearful of that mission… then it wouldn't be good. Just ever so slightly, Shizuru frowned, rolling the sphere within her palm only briefly before keeping it still.

"...You just said you would tell me. You're waffling, Shizuru." Natsuki made sure to make her tone a bit disdainful of the secretive motive, but shrugged once the lift opened.

"That meeting, then…"

Oh, had she? Shizuru followed after her as Natsuki made a move towards the exit of the classrooms, wondering what to do with the ice within her hand. "Ara… Natsuki, what shall I do with this?" She motioned to the unmelting ice, falling in step with the younger Otome.

"You can keep it, but I suggest… planting it on Zhang, so I can make it seem like she wet herself…" Natsuki seemed to be in an impish mood, looking over her shoulder back to her with a quirked brow and a smirk.

"What are you planning…? Somebody does not like Zhang, does she, no?" An amusement filtered within Shizuru's tone, the younger Meister shouldering one of the double doors open which led outside, sunlight gleaming over them.

"No, I don't." Natsuki confessed with little to no shame, shrugging. "She is… odd. And she torments Mai, and I don't want Mai to…" Leave? Again, like watching the students fight from her wheelchair, she blamed Zipang's woman's absence on her own recognizance.

"I don't want her pestering Mai."

Much to the Aries-native's confusion, Shizuru simply chuckled, the elder lifting her hand, gazing down to the icy ball again.

"W—" "—Did she ever leave when you fought?" Shizuru interrupted, inquiring. "Your relationship was notorious as Corals."

"...No. She always stayed with me. Even after…" After what? Natsuki paused, leaning on her cane. "When she beat me in an arena match and hit me on the head very hard…"

Hadn't they even hated each other? The thought slipped into Natsuki's mind, but shook it off, absorbing in Shizuru's appearance who trailed ahead, purposely slow as a means for her to catch up.

She had been an idiot. When Mai went missing… she had been so angry about it, selfishly accusing the redhead of abandoning Garderobe when in reality she should've blamed herself.

Shaking out of it, now in a sour mood against herself, Natsuki hummed as she caught up to Shizuru. "I want to talk to Mai again after this meeting." She informed her, looking down to her leg.

"How long was I out with those nanomachines, anyway?"

It had been a good couple of minutes, hadn't it? Shizuru pondered on the thought, tracing her fingertips with her free hand along her jaw, allowing the coarse padding to slide off from her chin. "Ten, fifteen minutes."

"Just that long?" Natsuki quirked a brow, rubbing her jaw before she hummed. "Seemed so much longer because of…" She shrugged it off, shaking her head as she caught up again. "Let's hurry."

"Natsuki," the Archmeister murmured, touching the younger Otome upon the shoulder with a free hand. "We have a while yet. The meeting won't begin until another few hours."

If it had been a few minutes before going to the lab, they wouldn't have even bothered getting Natsuki's nanomachine booster, after all. Seeing as there was the risk of Natsuki not feeling well afterwards.

But she seemed alright… Shizuru kept her palm against Natsuki's shoulder for a moment, but eventually allowed the padding of her fingertips to trail down her limb, capturing the Meister's hand between her own.

"...Oh. Where are we going, then?" Natsuki flushed, holding the elder's hand with a faint squeeze. She was sure they had been heading to the conference room…

"Currently, out of the infirmary." Shizuru chuckled, making the younger woman flush a bit deeper. "Natsuki is a bit out of sorts from her booster, hm?"

"No! I thought you were taking me to that meeting… You said we were, you're confusing."

"But I never said what time," the taller Otome grinned, her Windbloom accent melting through and forcing the Gakuenchou's ears to twitch in response, "Perhaps somebody requires their beauty sleep?"

This was a type of banter which Natsuki could… remember them. That this was a behaviour which was stuck at the back of her mind, a memory which refused to reveal itself, but she knew was a typical side to their relationship…

Natsuki paused, opening her mouth and halting, Shizuru coming to a stop also, brunette eyebrows lifting in regard.

"No, I don't need a nap." Natsuki flushed, pouting again as she looked up to Shizuru. She shook her head, forcing the expression off before she turned fully to the Archmeister.

"But… Perhaps we could go back to our room. And talk."

Something shifted within Shizuru's own expression, Natsuki noticed, the emotions snapping away just as quickly as they formed, a faint smile taking its place afterwards upon the woman's lips. "Alright."

She couldn't refuse the Gakuenchou, after all. Natsuki had the right to know her own past, whether it'd possibly be damaging or not.

The minutes which passed were silent but comfortable, the pair occasionally bypassing students and a teacher or two. The greetings went as usual, although the presence of wonderment was hinted at, the definite rumours of the Gakuenchou quietly flooding the grounds.

The eyes of these fellow Meister and students all rang out familiar displays, many hopeful of the chance of knowing whether these rumours were indeed true.

"They stare at me like I'm some sort of… Well, you know." Natsuki limped a bit less, coming up on the dormitory. She heard the elder hum to herself, maybe a bit amused, before she shouldered the doors open.

Shizuru chuckled softly, surveying Natsuki and still holding the crystal ball within one hand. "How do you sustain this, Natsuki?"

Noting the change of speech, the Gakuenchou paused and stared a bit at their door. "I… I'm not sure. I'm not really focusing on it."

"No?" Shiuru tilted her head slightly, pondering.

Obviously it was connected to the nanomachines, but… how did the powers work without using a GEM? The Silver Ice Crystal had been deactivated for the past year for Natsuki's own protection and wellbeing. Could it be that Natsuki was unconsciously manipulating it?

The idea broadened within Shizuru's mind, puzzling over the concept as Natsuki fuddled around in her pocket for their key, finding it eventually to slot the item into the lock of the door, a click softly responding as the mechanism was twisted.

Stepping in, the Gakuenchou hummed a bit lower than usual, perhaps a tune stuck in her head as she eased in and immediately took purchase on the settee, hooking her cane along the arm. "I want to know a bit about… that." She murmured after a moment, Shizuru having entered after her and pressed the door closed with her back.

The Archmeister remained silent, leaning her back against the door and wrapping her arms around herself. She stayed in this posture, staring down at the carpeted floor. "...Each Column…" Shizuru started, her eyebrows threading, nipping the underside of her lips between her canines mindlessly. "...Has their own mission of… ah."

What was a good word…? "Proving."

"Proving. As in…" Natsuki quieted, and slowly nodded instead. "I understand… Now, what about that mission made it one of proving?" She noted the nervous look Shizuru had, and furrowed her brows. "Was it that bad?"

"I thought… Natsuki would die." To be whisked away to the Altai Principality, a corrupt and dangerous country which more often than not tortured and then killed their prisoners of war; and god help you if you were anything but Altain.

"...Isn't that funny, that most first missions are so… arduous, that you might die?" Natsuki quirked a brow, smiling faintly at the thought. "Not funny, more like very… ironic. Any case, what was it about that mission? I remember the soldiers, but they weren't the very dangerous part."

"Sergei August Taiki."

"...?" Natsuki tilted her head, wondering if that was supposed to… trigger something. "Who is that?"

"He… was a colleague of your mother's." Shizuru said slowly, carefully seeking the correct choice of words for her reply. She wracked at her brain, continuing to stare down at the carpet, mindlessly studying the details. "Sergei had close ties with Schwartz and Altai at the time." Crimsons gazed upwards finally, pinning onto emeralds.

"He was your uncle."

"My uncle?" Natsuki made a face, cocking one brow up while screwing her top lip. It looked comical to Shizuru, who bit her lip to not say anything of the sort.

"...And I suppose I killed him, right?" She spoke softly again, slowly grasping the reality of the danger of that mission.

That was odd. How come she couldn't remember him? The only relative she could properly remember was her mother, Saeko… and Miyu… who might as well be an aunt of sorts to her.

"Sergei August… Taiki…?" Natsuki echoed, leaning forwards and propping her elbow to her knee, her knuckles and fingers supporting the weight of her head by the forehead. Her unweighted leg shook unconsciously and she was unaware of the Archmeister gliding over, Shizuru resting a hand against the knee to stop the limb, resting down in front of the Gakuenchou and onto her knees.

She smiled faintly down to Shizuru, obviously a little troubled as a few memories started to seep back. "Why did I have to kill him?" She murmured softly, slipping her hands to the elder's and gently squeezing.

"He was…" Shizuru paused, thinking about the best way to continue.

"Carrying important information which… made no sense," Shizuru sustained, pressing the sphere of ice Natsuki had given her back into the Gakuenchou's hand, twisting her wrist around to do so as it lay atop the woman's knee. "By any means necessary we require this evidence otherwise… Garderobe may have gone to war with the Schwartz Corporation."

"The information didn't make sense?" Brows screwing together, Natsuki played with the ball herself now, taking her hands from Shizuru to do so; Passing it back and forth between her palms, she hummed and closed her eyes. Something else that didn't make sense was that odd syringe object that Sarah had given her…

What if they were connected?

The Schwartz Corporation had always been one who favoured shady technology. Whatever this Sergei had held at the time, perhaps it had been connected in some way? A syringe of such nature with mysterious liquid…

A liquid which didn't kill and was reportedly not used on her… what if…

Natsuki's expression twisted, and Shizuru continued to watch, tilting her head in wonderment.

… The liquid had been an agent of some form… to override the Otome's nanomachines?

No, that would be barbaric… Natsuki closed her eyes, sighing faintly as she tossed the crystal ball into the air, the ice becoming liquid in a line as it fell, only for her to freeze it again.

Shizuru had leaned back at the toss, quirking a brow as the Gakuenchou's eyes opened once more. "Why did Natsuki do that?" Rather, how?

"The ball was annoying me." She murmured, as if that answered all questions. She smoothed the small structure in her hand, having now created a little tower.

Also this power thing… these… ice abilities of sorts. Where did they come from, why her and why now, precisely? There were so many questions that Natsuki wanted answered.

Who and what were the Schwartz Corporation doing? How was her mother? How were they going to infiltrate the Aries Republic? What was that syringe, why had Haruka lashed out?

The stress of thinking began to gather within her forehead, and she sighed again, evaporating the ice tower underneath her fingertips, watching it sparkle out of existence with a puzzled and disdained expression.

Shizuru watched her, tilting her head again as she did so. "Perhaps Natsuki should… rest? The meeting isn't for a few hours, still." She offered, standing and brushing her skirt off.

"...Alright, maybe that would be for the best."

All she wanted at this point was for her memories to return.

---

"The reforming of Garderobe is as follows." Miss Maria paused, positioned within the centre of the circular table of the Conference Hall just like those months back, looming her hand over the holographic arch, an exact, transparent and 3D map of the academy flashing into life. "The Forbidden Library will be opened for the first time in three centuries—"

The epitome fell silent, waiting for the murmuring of the Otome to die down; the Columns, teachers and many high-ranking Meister cramped into the chamber.

Natsuki leaned into the table a bit more, seated next to Shizuru and Mai. She switched her gaze from the hologram towards the redhead at her side, puffing her cheeks out in a bit of restlessness as she tried to distract Mai to no avail.

"Ahem." Miss Maria glared over, the Gakuenchou pretending to straighten herself up as she was caught.

"The library was put under lock and key after the events of the Twelve Kingdom War and it is believed significant information regarding the Otome and wellbeing of the academy may be held within those walls." Once saying this, Maria suspiciously glanced back at Natsuki, shifting her stern emerald eyes among the others. "As respect for trespassing within these chambers… the names of fallen Otome within the Twelve Kingdom War and the Dragon King War shall be brought up to the surface."

"I think it's a good idea." Natsuki softly spoke, eyes set upon every detail now. She remembered something about those wars…

They were the most impacting wars to ever be felt by the Otome. Barely any of the Otome had survived the Twelve Kingdom War, and if she remembered correctly… nor had they from the Dragon King War.

Natsuki felt she knew where Miss Maria was coming from for this now.

"We are to give the students a… lesson." Maria started, pausing midway through her sentence to lean towards the table, reaching for her glasses to neatly slip them on. "Fifty chairs will be required, preferably old."

Old chairs? What sort of lesson was to be taught from that? Natsuki sat up straighter, noticing Mai's stiffness. Did she have an idea?

The Gakuenchou nodded to the request, though was it even a request, really? With the elder, it always seemed like an order. "Of course."

Many of the older Otome seemed uncomfortable, it was almost as if they had an idea what Miss Maria was on about. But although she had thought she had known, Natsuki had definitely changed her mind.

"Their dates of death," Maria briefly added, transferring her attention over to Shizuru. "Archmeister." She nodded to the Windbloom-native, the younger woman easing herself from the chair on Natsuki's other side.

"Our students' uniforms have gone through minimal changes, however, regarding class skill and rank, I suggest we reform them more." Shizuru started as she took over the meeting, control of the holographics transferred to her.

She raised a hand, bringing up a pre-loaded image of four uniforms, their year tagged above in large writing.

"As each month passes, Garderobe takes a step closer to military and law enforcement. Our academy is no longer young nor a school. A student is expected to take pride in their uniform which gives them identity to this organization."

Upon the Archmeister saying this, the imagery of the current uniforms came into appearance, the bland and green military uniform then shifting to the side, the new sets loading beside them.

Presentation wise, the uniforms were slender, the fabric white and smooth, so it would clutch to a student's body finely.

The shirt reached down to the curve of the hips, splaying just enough to curve slightly outwards, for tradition's sake there were also a pair of Garderobe wings gracefully etched into the material along the chest. Reaching upwards to the throat were one row of golden buttons, the metal thin and long to keep the uniform together without fear of opening.

As for the collar, it lifted up against the neck to cover the student's throat. For the shoulders there were insignia straps declaring the student's rank within their year.

For the sleeves they smoothly looped the wrists, a band of red for Coral, white for Pearl, purple for Amethyst and finally silver for Diamond, these colours in the form of thin bands which curved around the sleeves.

Along the right upper-arm was an armband, the colour of the student's year with the symbol within the centre of the soft material.

Natsuki blinked, absorbing in the uniforms. They were… strangely suiting Garderobe, and so much more than the… originals. She cringed, pushing the thought aside.

Unlike the original "maid" uniform with the ridiculous stockings and chance of panty-shot, these uniforms sported trousers, their hue also consisting of white.

And finally, going up the shirt and to the shoulder of the right side, a border of—again, depending on the student's year—colour, this border ending as it met with a shoulder strap.

"With these adjustments…" Shizuru gestured to the holographic altar, the Diamond uniform centring into view and morphing onto the mesh of a 3D model. "We shall guide Garderobe into the future for this world which ever changes."

That had certainly been… detailed. Natsuki blinked, raising her hands to rub at her eyes a bit before she lowered them back, and stared. Did Shizuru come up with all of that on her own? She felt even more held back, and not just from her comatose state.

She did like them… But white? Wouldn't that color be a bit… embarrassing? Wait… Her brows screwed together, and she rolled her eyes at herself. The nanomachines suppressed that, surely. She definitely hadn't had it happen, so surely they must.

She cleared her throat, hearing a few voices agree with the reforming. Shizuru looked to her, nodding her permission for the Gakuenchou to come up with her own stance.

"Now… I didn't actually have time to make any holograms for my idea…" Natsuki spoke as she limped over, Shizuru smiling at the boldness as she sat back down. "I do, however, have this…"

Once in the middle of the room where the others had stood, Natsuki leaned her cane away and held up her hands. Taking a breath, and hoping she wouldn't look foolish, she focused on the water in the air between her palms, ice slowly taking form into a humanoid structure, small but detailed. She sat it on the table, though Miss Maria stiffened at the thought of water leaking into the holographic system.

Natsuki stared at it for a moment before typing with the keyboard lit up at the side, and slowly the hologram took shape of the ice sculpture, and she beamed; Proud of herself to have figured out this system, at least. She heard Mahya snicker, but looked over to see Shizuru with the same level of pride in her eyes and a helpful smile.

A few others stared in disbelief that she so easily melded an element without using her GEM nor Robe at all. Miss Maria seemed deeply unsettled; the eldest shuffled a bit and seemed very uncomfortable.

"Now…" Natsuki grasped her cane and leaned, directing the hologram to focus on the facial structure of the crystal statuette. "This is Robe reformation, an addition of necessary armor in a sort of exo-skeletal fashion. Each joint linked, it will be as if the Robe and armor itself is your skin." The hologram drifted down to show chest and legs, an outer armor clear when Natsuki added a color tint so it wasn't purely incandescent.

For the time being the armour was a solid blue, the hologram zoomed onto the crystal figurine, the bumps of the armour extruding from the ice of the figure's "skin".

Along the torso the armour curved around the shoulders to the armpits, the assumed nano-tech material sloping up the chest but not back inwards.

Obviously those horrific designs of women's armour in the past were to be avoided at all costs. Following the breasts… one falls directly onto the torso then your own armour would thrust into your ribs, impaling your vital organs.

On this reference there was no shoulder-armour, but for example, if it was for Mai's then her ironic shoulder design would be there. Following the curve of the nape of the neck, armour angled upwards, encasing the neck entirely and curving away from the figurine's head, as to avoid any swipes made to the throat or skull.

Instead of the levitation discs around the wrists and waist there were none, instead the bands of levitation were molded into the armour itself, almost alike to a chasm engraved into the earth.

Everything was tightly welded onto the body and nothing was clunky, all levelled out perfectly as to be practical and protective. Even right down to the hands were armoured, gauntlets looping around and up to the forearms, plated studs embedded into the knuckles to increase the damage of punches.

"I also think there should be a helmet for battles and when oxygen is low." Natsuki included, directing the hologram down to the figurine's legs which were encased within armour as well, knees padded and the levitation bands flowing around the ankles and legs, boots fitted to the feet snuggly.

"Perhaps with this, someday we might go into space as well…" Natsuki finished, leaning into her cane and staring at the figure. "Oh." She grinned, lifting a hand and focusing. The 'helmet' of the crystalline statuette melted away, the water transforming instead to be the likeness of the Gakuenchou herself.

Shizuru lifted a hand to hide a smile, enjoying the cheekier side of Natsuki coming back. She had missed that, with the years since that side of her had diminished.

"I think I'm done now." Natsuki spoke aloud again, garnering a few chuckles before she shut down the hologram for her statuette, taking it and gleefully holding it.

"Apart from further updates relating to the missions…" Maria began, standing and brushing past the Gakuenchou, watching after her momentarily before registering the rest of the Otome. "The meeting is at an end. Another date for the next will be announced later this week."

Shizuru stood, sweeping her skirt in a faint motion to fix the creases from having been seated, easing close to Natsuki once more. "Natsuki is getting proficient at this…" She gestured to the statuette of the Gakuenchou's likeness, the younger woman smiling.

"Thank you, Shizuru…" Natsuki smiled, proud of having crafted something like this. Seemed it might have more of an advantage than just battle…

Well, whatever this ability even was.

Oh, hang on. 'The Forbidden Library… maybe that has something?' Natsuki pondered upon the idea, stood stock still by Shizuru and never noticing Mai and Maria venture towards them, her hands delicately holding the small figurine of her look-alike. 'Surely I'm not the only one… right?'

"Gakuenchou, if I may speak with you… in private?" Miss Maria stiffly asked, Natsuki turning in faint surprise and a bit of nervousness.

"Ah… Of course…"

She gave an apologetic glance to Mai who simply nodded, passing the gesture to the epitome before sinking into place beside Shizuru.

"Who is caring for Ribbon, Mai?"

"She's fine, Rosalie is actually taking care of her…" The Meister smiled, waving it off. "I'll go relieve her. Meet me later though, Natsuki!"

Natsuki smiled, though drug her eyes slowly back to the eldest. Maria looked at Shizuru stiffly, and the Archmeister lifted a brow. "I must leave as well?"

The elder Otome merely stared at her skeptically, causing the Archmeister to exhale from her nose. "I will see you later, Natsuki," Shizuru murmured, skimming her hand along the Aries-native's arm before Natsuki was guided away by Miss Maria.

"Am I in trouble?" She blurted out, flushing at having deduced the gesture to a juvenile reason.

"Not… As such, Gakuenchou. It is regarding your… new ability."

That still sounded like she was in trouble to her. Then again it was always a mystery with Miss Maria.

She was led all the way to the Meister accommodation and towards Miss Maria's room, and she began to wonder why every Meister loved to prefer taking her to their rooms. Sure there was the privacy, but still.

It seemed better to have just talked in the conference room…

"You are worried about the ability, aren't you?" Natsuki spoke once the door was closed, leaning into her cane a bit less than usual.

The layout of the epitome's room was much alike to Shizuru's, except there were a lot more bookcases—a lot more—the shelves littered the walls, and instead of a settee there was an armchair, this chair accompanied with a fairly large book beside the window. Right in front of her lay a desk which faced the window, paperwork neatly stacked and more than likely completely finished.

"Gakuenchou."

"Y-yes?" Distracted from taking everything into detail, the younger woman flushed and cleared her throat.

"Yes. I am worried, but not for the reason you may think." Maria still stood stiffly, though wandered towards one of the bookshelves, playing with the spine of a thick tome.

"Be careful who you demonstrate that ability in front of. We cannot have such information leaving Garderobe… It would make them take you as more of a threat than we already can afford for them to see."

Naturally the Gakuenchou underwent a high risk of assassination attempts throughout their years. Even when no longer part of Garderobe itself, there was always the looming danger that someone out there would give it a shot to take them out.

"Aa—of course," Natsuki frowned, confused as to why she was being told the obvious. She wasn't stupid… of course she would know to not allow anyone other than others within Garderobe to know?

Wasn't that common sense?

"Though I do admit, it is… something I have not seen since Rena Sayers two decades ago."

Natsuki's brows quirked in interest. Was… Miss Maria comparing her to Rena Sayers?

"What was her ability…" Miss Maria wondered, skimming her fingertips along the spine of the book again, trailing her eyes along each separately. "...Duplication, Speed and… Strength." But no matter, the Otome straightened, regarding Natsuki firmly. "I suggest taking caution once materialising, Gakuenchou." She looked at her, pausing. "If this is like Rena Sayers' case then you might overload your GEM."

"Well, I cannot even activate it yet." Natsuki smiled, though her mind was concerned with the consequences that the elder had listed.

"I will be careful… Thank you for your concern, Miss Maria."

"May I go?" She asked after a moment, seemingly startling the elder.

"...Yes, of course." Maria cleared her throat, nodding tautly. "Like I have advised… Be careful."

Natsuki nodded, holding her statuette still as she left the epitome's room and let the door click softly behind her. Just what would be done if her enemies knew about her powers? She would be feared more, and perhaps they would build themselves stronger…

She couldn't allow that.

Being an Otome was already menacing enough as it was.

---

Within the grounds just outside the student dorms, over fifty old chairs sat, their backs facing the walls of the building and the entranceway.

There was the echoing of murmurs throughout the area, many students confused as to what was happening precisely, Miss Maria having been the only one to enter the Forbidden Library and the Remembrance Chamber, having returned only moments ago with a large stack of rectangular cards.

Carefully and steadily she placed each against a chair alphabetically by Coral, the junior sat beside their selected senior'.

The students didn't know of the information on the cards, so they were none the wiser, many chattering amongst one another quietly. However the teachers and Meister knew, rather solemn, knowing far too well of the impact which it would make.

Natsuki looked down the line at the others, a bit confused by this practice so far. She straightened and looked at Shizuru, noting the elder was already looking at her, trying to determine if she was feeling morose.

"Hm?" The younger woman quirked her brows up, unsure what that look was for. "What are we doing?"

"Natsuki will understand soon."

Soon? Natsuki sure hoped so.

The epitome paused, she noticed however, Miss Maria lifting two particular cards up close to her eyes, skimming the padding of her thumb against the smooth surface of the two before placing them down. Between these two a chair remained vacant of a note and Natsuki wondered why, the stern woman removing herself from that area to continue laying down the rest.

Sarah seemed to understand as well; The Column was stiff at her side as they all watched the eldest of them place. Natsuki furrowed her brows before smoothing them out, wondering if such a face would be determined as rude.

Whichever… Ceremony the elder was trying to recreate, it wasn't going to be very joyful.

It wasn't one she had never experienced, so this must be an extremely new mechanism Miss Maria was bringing into Garderobe, which was unlike the traditionalist. But then again the Gakuenchou felt a… presence of… respect?

Much to Natsuki's confusion, the epitome abruptly sat upon the vacant seat and frowned. After a moment she realised what this was, and lowered her gaze, her eyes burning into the cement.

This was a mock-reunion of sorts, based on their photos at the end of their graduating years… and Miss Maria was the only remaining Otome from her generation still alive.

Biting her lip minutely, Natsuki let it go and rose her eyes again to take the powerful image in completely. Everyone was quiet now, the students no doubt realizing it at the same time as herself. It was… depressing, to say the least.

"In the spring of 281, fifty-two years ago, twenty-two Coral and twelve Pearl students lost their lives." Miss Maria spoke clearly and levelly, hands clenched together within her lap, shoulders straight as she digested each of the students and Meister's attention, harsh viridian eyes scanning them for any sign of arrogance. "By autumn, my most precious of friends were dead along with my senior, Monica Julen."

Natsuki silently clasped her hands together, fairly uncomfortable now as she listened and tried not to bury herself in raised shoulders. Everyone was silent just as herself, respectful to this demonstration of loss.

"Monica Julen was killed by her country's enemy, her best friend." The epitome halted before speaking her final sentence, shooting them a grave but firm look. "We're falling head-first into a war with twice the amount of nations involved than in the Dragon King War. I advise all of you to think of this reality. War brings sacrifice, death and consequence; one day in the early future you may be battling one another—and not within the arena, in the battleground."

Natsuki stood, proud with broad shoulders as she settled her cane in front of her, both hands planted atop of it. This exercise would prove a bit bitter, heartbreaking perhaps… But it would prove the point, and be humbling.

"Perhaps I am both unfortunate and lucky," the Old Lutecian murmured, "And although I have aged gracefully, I will have my regrets. This is why—" Maria narrowed her wise eyes at Nina, Tomoe, Mai, Natsuki, Nao and Shiho in particular, "—this is the reason an Otome is never injurious to their fellow Meister."

Swallowing in faint embarrassment, at least she darted her eyes to Mai with a smirk. She did remember that big bump the redhead had given her in their mock-Butou… But now they were mature, and Mai even had little Ribbon to care for… She hoped she saw more of the little girl soon.

Directing her gaze back to the chairs, she noted Maria had stood again, and stood to the side. "I will call the names of your year and your junior's respectively. You will come, and sit, and reflect for a few moments."

As the Corals and Pearls were directed to the chairs first, the tension which had been simmering simply boiled over, the heightened awareness of their situation finally impacting upon them personally.

Everyone of the Corals and Pearls were present, and not a chair was left abandoned, Miss Maria ordering the group to hold the cards within their hands, which were unknowingly from the graves of those dead Otome'.

The atmosphere became ever more silent, if that was even possible, the unease of the ceremony augmenting to a higher degree as the students sat still, many staring at the names, births and deaths of these Meister.

Some of these Meister were in their history textbooks…

In fact probably all of them were.

Standing quietly, Erstin held her card and tried not to clench it in her hands. Nina darted her eyes over to her, a little concerned from her past outbursts at unlikely times. Especially since so many of the blonde's family had died in the Dragon King War…

Natsuki stared, reading every card slowly as she tried to imagine that many deaths. It was… unsettling.

It was humanity's own fault as well, which made it even worse.

As the group of students lifted from the chairs and placed the cards back atop the seats, Nina glanced at Erstin quickly again. Wasn't this harsh enough? Especially considering Erstin's history?

But Nina knew it was futile to attempt, Miss Maria had always been merciless when it came to these things. It was an unspoken agreement that they would obey whether they liked it or not.

Tomoe stared, finding this exercise to be altogether a waste of time. Of course, that didn't stop her from marching forward at the first glance from Miss Maria. She chose her seat, taking the card and holding it up as she watched Chie grin at her, the elder woman taking her spot behind her chair and settling a hand atop of it.

Lugging behind them, Lillie followed, sitting herself down beside Tomoe, the three now gathered as Nao, Nina and Arika sat to their opposite right, Akane, Erstin and Irina doing the same, Shiho practically dragging Yayoi and Miya along with her.

Shiho lowered down onto the floor beside Chie's, and she glared at the bespectacled Aries-native.

Chie shrugged, not quite knowing what to do with this situation. Natsuki silently snickered, feeling Shizuru admonish her with a faint grasp on her elbow. She quieted, clearing her throat softly and looking them over once the group was seated fully.

Meanwhile, Erstin appeared to be taking it well, to say the least, staring down at the card awkwardly, sitting between Irina and Arika. Thankfully she hadn't hadn't come up with a name which she was personally familiar with… if it had been the case of her receiving the card of a dead relative she wasn't sure what she would've done.

Appreciating the full picture, Natsuki kept silent for the duration and only made a small exhale once they started to rise again. Chie helped Shiho up, the younger woman giving her another odd look and a haughty huff. She missed those two…

Shaking her head, the Gakuenchou stared until Mai brushed at her side in an attempt to beat her over towards the chairs, though the two disguised it as a brisk and respectful march. Mai won either way, standing behind one as Sarah took her seat upon it.

Natsuki glared, standing behind one as Laura helped Rosalie down, the four a bit reluctant to look over to the Gakuenchou. Realizing why, when the chair in front of her remained empty, she slowly pulled her brows together, and remembered.

Of course… she had forgotten… somehow.

Her junior was no longer with them, having been killed by the Schwartz Corporation by… was it five years now?

The memory of that phone call reporting her death abruptly smacked at Natsuki and her gaze lowered, instead focusing on the card set within her hands which felt no better, ironically sitting in Monica's chair.

Now she felt the true full weight of this demonstration upon her, and she cleared her throat, keeping her eyes to the floor before they rose and settled onto Shizuru. The elder gave her a soft, comforting smile, nodding her approval for how she was taking it.

After a moment, Rosalie and Sarah stood as the older women behind them took their spots in the chairs, Natsuki smiling faintly back to Shizuru as she took her seat. The Archmeister strode forward, brushing a hand across the Gakuenchou's shoulder before she stood behind her.

Like last time there was only one vacant spot, but the owner was anything but dead, that seat radiating a jittering conflict, Shizuru beside the spot but never peering over, Mai in front of it.

Ah, that was right… Haruka. Natsuki furrowed her brows, that idea from earlier about that information from Altai and that odd syringe surfacing in her mind again. She needed to do her own research…

It clouded her mind and she didn't even realise everybody was standing, jumping as Shizuru gently tapped her against the shoulder, faintly flushing to move out the way, Shizuru now becoming the junior as Anh strode forward, the An Nam Princess not grinning for once.

Taking her standing area and leaning on her cane, Natsuki tried to remember when she and Shizuru were only students. Oh, maybe the elder had photos of them back then…? Maybe even footage too? She'd like to see that…

As time trickled by slowly, gradually the generations began to thin out amongst the grounds. By the end of it, it must have been a good two hours when Miss Maria at last lifted a hand, the still silent Meisters and students adjusting their attention onto her.

"With this ceremony I pray that you have all realised the true cost an Otome must pay in the acts of war. Never again must we stumble upon the same mistakes which the generations of past Otome made. We're at war and we must prevent any disaster from striking no matter the cost."

They all agreed with a silent head nod, and the eldest bowed her head all the same. "I pray I will not have to see more empty spots the next time." She ended, and turned away.

Natsuki exhaled softly, turning to Shizuru before remembering something. "Mai, I wanted to talk to you earlier, but I couldn't find you…"

The Zipang royal cocked her head for a moment, registering the elder woman's words. That ceremony had been… draining.

Yet still Miss Maria was back at the chairs, gathering the cards up neatly.

"You wanted us to catch up, right?" The Gakuenchou asked, Mai smiling to nod in return. "When is… the best time?"

"Ah…" Mai gave a tired smile, and Natsuki chuckled softly.

"Not tonight, then. I also… want to get to know…" Her daughter? "Ribbon more, as well. Perhaps tomorrow?"

"I see someone has fallen for her," the redhead snickered, easily sparking a huff from the Gakuenchou. "Obviously you're both welcome, you and Shizuru are only a few dorms away anyhow."

"She is cute." Natsuki murmured softly, chuckling. "Then tomorrow… Have a good night, I have a lot on my mind." The younger woman nodded, walking off no doubt to find the blonde child as the Gakuenchou turned to Shizuru.

"Shizuru…" She uttered, her eyes following after the Zipang Meister. The gears rolling within her brain as she thought, transferring ideas and memories to attempt to form a conclusion within her mind.

"Hm…?" The Archmeister regarded her, checking for the time.

"Tomorrow morning, we'll be meeting Mai and Ribbon… But tonight, I wondered if you had any photos when we were students?" Natsuki smiled, grasping onto the elder's hand.

Humming, Shizuru couldn't help but allow a grin to slip through, her lips wobbling. "Ara, even though Natsuki had such hatred for her poor uniform?"

The younger woman's brow furrowed and she shook her head, but chuckled anyway. "Yes. Even still… Do you maybe have footage of us?"

"My, Natsuki wants a movie date with me!"

"...Yes?"

The Archmeister settled into a quiet laugh, the two beginning to shift away from the area and towards the Meister's dorms. "I am sorry, I know you dislike being teased so much. For Natsuki's sake I will relent."

"Mm… It isn't as if it is bad, I think I'm getting more used to it rather." Natsuki held her hand a bit tighter, face flushed.

"Really? You always said the opposite as a Coral," the Windbloom-native teased, but leaned ever so closer to the younger woman, knowing fully well some students could hear them who trailed in the same direction as they were doing.

"Well, I didn't seem too embarrassed when I had just become Gakuenchou. I seemed so cheeky…"

"Natsuki is becoming her cheeky self once more, and I am happy to see it coming back."

"Say, Shizuru… had I been… boring for a long time?"

The question was personal and Natsuki wanted it answered. It had been something which she had been worrying about. All of the memories she had currently had seemed so… upbeat, almost refreshing.

Yet as more recent memories pile into her brain of just before the… coma, she seemed so… dull?

"I wouldn't call Natsuki boring… More, reserved. She had been shy as a student, but so much confidence exuded once she became Gakuenchou… It took at least two years until it seemed she had the burden of the free world, and she had to be more… careful."

'Let me guess,' Natsuki mused. 'Assassination attempts and consequences of reputation and responsibility?' Inwardly she groaned, knowing fully well it was unfortunately her reality. "Don't tell me," she huffed in response instead, rolling her eyes.

"Whatever she is thinking is probably right." Shizuru nodded, waiting for the Gakuenchou to unlock their door.

"Hmph… Well I definitely will not go that way again." Natsuki pushed the door open gently, settling herself at the settee and resting back.

"You certainly like that settee, do you not?" Shizuru leaned her back against the door once shutting it as always, threading her fingertips together behind herself, arching a tawny brow at the Gakuenchou.

"It's the first thing I see when I walk in… And I'm not going to sit in that chair and leave you alone." Natsuki grinned, watching a faint flush pass over Shizuru's cheeks.

"Well, it seems she is getting back to her cheeky self…"

"After the past few days I believe we require something lighthearted, yes?" The elder Meister uttered in question, regarding the Gakuenchou who briskly nodded, Natsuki blinking as she removed herself from the room and into their shared bedroom.

Slipping the photo album from the bedside table, Shizuru paused.

It'd be a bad idea to allow Natsuki to see the photos from when she was a Pearl, wouldn't it?

Opening the album, she found the photos in which Natsuki's old junior were in and removed them, placing them back into the drawer.

It might even be a good idea to remove ones showing Haruka...

Wondering what was taking Shizuru, Natsuki tapped her cane mindlessly on the floor, noting her leg felt infinitely better.

After a few minutes or so, the elder Meister returned, their eyes catching, just for Shizuru to smile faintly. "Unfortunately there are not too many photos of the first year."

"Ah, well that's okay." Natsuki smiled softly, offering the elder her hand to help her sit down. Winking, Shizuru accepted her hand and seated herself snug beside her.

"Let us see what we have…"

These photos were a decade old now, weren't they? Natsuki mused, flipping through the first few sluggishly, grumbling upon the awkward, stiff and shy attitude which she portrayed in the old pictures.

She was unable to stop a snicker from leaping from her throat though, catching sight of a befuddled past-Shizuru frowning into the paper which held up to her face with one hand, an arm characteristically wrapped around herself. "Is that… my writing?"

"It is." Shizuru tapped the photo softly, chuckling to herself. "That was when you sent me a letter revealing your feelings."

Noting her change in inflection, Natsuki felt heat rise to her ears. "Oh. Is it?"

Surely not? She could've sworn they hadn't got together until… sometime after her first mission? Natsuki frowned almost cutely, staring at the older woman, "I don't belie—"

Shizuru had a hand over her mouth, eyes closed as she tried so hard not to laugh loudly and disrupt Natsuki's thought process, however long it would take.

"Shizuru!" The Gakuenchou flushed, all the way up to her ears and down her throat. "What is it, really?"

"Natsuki liked to write in a style which was not appropriate. It was rather difficult to check her work," Shizuru replied after a moment, her hand still upon her mouth, opening gleeful eyes.

Natsuki gave her a weak glare and chuckled, shaking her head. "You will have to tell me how we got together eventually, you know…" The Gakuenchou turned the page, noting more photos, perking up at one that looked to be after her memory. It was of her, her arm wrapped up in a sterilized room.

Much to her horror however, it appeared she was rather happy for some reason, her shoulder bandaged and tucked under the tank top she wore, the bandages looped around her torso as a way to keep the fabric around her properly.

Shizuru was clutching hold of her, the two of them on the bed, arms delicately looped around her form so as to not hurt her wound any further, she was also leaning against the younger Otome.

It was an emotional picture, and she wouldn't have been surprised if there was a kiss exchanged at some point, before or after this image was taken.

The next photo, however, was altogether cringe-worthy, and for the both of them too! Natsuki had managed to notice the camera, and with a faint pull from Shizuru to show her full sobbing face; Tears and all, the Gakuenchou lifted her good arm from the elder to give a cheery thumbs up.

"W-wha—"

"We shall… remove that." Shizuru winced at the personality she had long since abandoned, making a move to take the photo from its casing.

"Burn it!" Natsuki managed to yank the photo from out of her reach, arching her form up straighter with her arm raised, trying to keep Shizuru away with a hand pressed to the Archmeister's collarbone.

"Let's not burn it, Natsuki!" Shizuru childishly reached up for it, unable to capture it due to the younger woman pressing her back. "I still like it…"

"I like it too, but it's embarrassing! Just, stuff it back, turn the page!" Natsuki made a face, handing it over and watching the elder hold it gently. "...It's cute." The Gakuenchou admitted softly, looking down at it.

Least she'd find it so if she wasn't cringing at it so much.

The Archmeister placed the photo back into its casing, turning to the next one finally.

The next photo was the same setting, Natsuki having brought Shizuru close to her again and their lips pressed together in what seemed to be a passionate kiss.

Flushing deeply, Natsuki cleared her throat. "Tell me about that…"

"Mh?" Shizuru blinked, having been looking at the image. She refocused her attention upon her, wetting her lips in thought. "... It was after your mission." The Windbloom-native contently studied her, tilting her head. "It was what...hm… kick started our relationship."

Given the theme of what was happening that much was obvious.

"Ah… Had we said anything before that, or did I just… kiss you?" Natsuki flushed darker, staring at the image. It seemed to be taken right after that other cheesy one.

"Guess again." Shizuru laughed softly. "I felt ashamed at the time, neither was Natsuki helping with being oblivious to my mood."

"Ah… It looked like I pulled you into it." Natsuki flushed, chuckling softly. She liked this photo, much better than the other one at least...

"You look cute…"

"Natsuki is lying," the Meister chuckled, pressing her palm to the Aries-native's mouth, silencing her. "You should know by default you are."

This was beginning to get extremely cheesy.

"I am not lying." Natsuki's nose scrunched and she smiled against Shizuru's palm, taking her hand and kissing it softly. "You look so relieved in that photo…"

"I was." Shizuru whispered the photo album laying forgotten on the settee, looking between her wrists which were captured by Natsuki then up into the Gakuenchou's eyes.

Natsuki let go of her wrists, tugging her sleeves a bit before she moved closer. "You've got me. I'm not going anywhere, least of all now that I can do this!" The Gakuenchou smirked widely, lifting a hand and making a crystalline image of the cringe-worthy photo from memory, snickering when Shizuru slapped it out of her hand and it melted on the floor.

"You are mean, Natsuki!"

She was going to have that image ingrained into her mind forever!

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry…" Natsuki snickered more, leaning in to give her a soft kiss. "Let's get to bed, it's getting late, and I am utterly exhausted from that exercise with Miss Maria…"

The whole day had been exhausting, nevermind just that event, although it had definitely been the most impacting…

"Alright, I agree." Shizuru didn't nod, gathering the album and standing, the Gakuenchou following after her closely.

Stretching, Natsuki smirked as she contemplated having another crystal photo waiting for Shizuru, but thought against it. In the morning, perhaps she would remember more about the past…

And gain more answers than questions...