After breakfast, the prisoners were brought to their different workplaces. In the State prison were three different workplaces: the laundry, the license plate fabrication and the kitchen. Much to her happiness, Michiru was sent to the laundry, were Makoto and Haruka were working, too. Rei Hino, the female officer who had the controllership in the laundry, begged Haruka to show Michiru how the various machines worked, and the tall blonde agreed immediately. Rei thanked her and walked off, leaving Michiru very surprised. "Hey, Haruka." The aqua haired woman spoke when Rei was out of earshot, "why did Rei ask you in such a friendly tone?" Haruka eyed her friend with a very odd look. "Huh?" came the intelligent reply of the tall blonde. Michiru giggled and explained: "See, Miss Hino is an officer. She simply could command you to show me how the machines work. But instead, she begged you, kinda friendly, and gave you a pack of cigarettes. Why?" Haruka smiled at Michiru and answered: "Because I kinda help the officers to keep the block calm. I make sure that there are no drugs going around, and I keep the prisoners from revolting. I'm the secret boss." The last sentence was spoken with quiet pride, and Michiru realized that Haruka had fought long for the position she had now. "Although Block C is the block were murderers are locked in, it's the calmest block of the prison." Haruka grinned at Michiru. "Thanks to me." Michiru smiled and patted her friends arm. "At first I hated the thought of being in prison", the aqua haired woman then said to her friend, "but now I can accept it. Thanks to Ami, Makoto…and you." Haruka blushed and mumbled something inaudible, but Michiru didn't want to ask her about it. Instead of talking more, the two of them started their work.
Michiru was fighting with a huge pile of bed clothes, trying to get them into the even huger washing machine. Haruka watched her struggle for a second before she came to her friends help. "Here, let me help you." The blonde offered, grabbing the bed clothes. While she did that, her hand accidentally closed around Michirus, and both women flinched as if they touched an electrical wire. Michiru was singing inside when Harukas hand closed around hers, and Haruka smiled at her friend before they heaved the pile of bed-linen into the machine. Haruka shut the clack and turned the machine on. "There, all done." she then grinned. Michiru smiled at her before she realized that she still held Harukas hand. Blushing, the woman let go and ran one hand through her hair in an erratic gesture. "Nervous?" Haruka asked in a low tone, unaware that all the other women who were working in the laundry were watching the two of them, giggling and whispering to each other. Michiru nodded, her face turning to a bright shade of pink. Haruka smiled at her and just was about to say something when suddenly a bell rang, signaling that lunch break began. Michiru flinched at the unexpected sound before she managed to smile at Haruka. "Hey, lunch time. Let's go to the cantina." "Good idea." Haruka grinned. Right after the last word, Makoto came trotting over to the two women, grinning from ear to ear. "Lunchtime!" she beamed, and both Haruka and Michiru cracked up.
When Ami and Makoto met in the cantina, they greeted each other with a long, gentle kiss, something Michiru watched with obvious jealousy. Haruka, of course, saw the jealous expression on Michirus face and decided to try all or nothing. She walked over to the aqua haired girl and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Michiru turned around to look at her, and when she saw the little smile Haruka had on her face, her heart started to beat 1000 times faster than usual. She shyly smiled back, and her eyes locked with Harukas. The world around them simply stopped to exist when they stood there, just looking into each others eyes. Slowly, Harukas hand came up and caressed Michirus cheek. "Haruka…" Michiru whispered, all the affection she felt since the first day they met shining through her voice. "Yes?" Haruka answered gently, still with that little smile on her face. "Kiss me." Michiru begged. Haruka bent down a little, and their lips met in a soft kiss. The other prisoners started to cheer and clap, but neither Haruka nor Michiru heard it. After a seemingly endless period, Haruka broke the kiss by pulling back. Michiru looked up at her smiling, and her hand took Harukas as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Haruka gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, and the two of them made their way over to the line in front of the food expense, followed by Makoto and Ami – who were holding hands, too.