Haruka finished her wine and carefully put the glass on the small desk which stood next to the couch. "You want some more?" Michiru asked, already reaching for the bottle. "No, thanks." Haruka replied, and Michiru pulled her hand back. "Haruka-san…there's something I want to ask you." Haruka gave her friend a curious look. "Just ask, Michiru-san." Michiru looked down on the floor before her eyes wandered up to Harukas outstretched right leg. "I saw that you are haltering before." The aqua haired woman finally said. "Did this happen during the fire?" Haruka shook her head no. "It happened five years ago." She then explained. Michiru eyed her curiously. "What happened?" Haruka let out a small sigh and stared down on her leg. "It will take a while to tell you about it." Michiru reached out and gently took her hand. "Listen, Haruka-san, if you don't want to talk…" "No", Haruka interrupted her. "No, it's okay. Just…be patient, okay?" Michiru nodded and gently stroke Harukas hand. The blonde gave her a weak smile before she started to talk. "Five years ago…I had qualified myself for the Olympic games. I was one of Japan's fastest runners." The blonde smiled a little, although her smile seemed somehow sad. "Well…there is a rule which says that if the runner who qualified herself can't participate for some reason, the runner who is as fast or comes in second will take her place." Michiru nodded, looking at her blonde friend, waiting for her to talk on. "I was the one who was supposed to go to the games. My biggest opponent, Noriko, was only a little slower than me…but she thought that she was better than me, so she had to find a way to make sure that I won't be able to participate." "No." Michiru whispered, knowing what would come now. "She sent someone who did something to your leg, right?" Haruka nodded. "When I came home after the last race, a man was waiting for me in front of my house. He smashed my kneecap with an iron rod." "Oh God." Michiru spoke softly, sudden tears of sympathy burning in her eyes. "I can't run races anymore." Haruka now said, still staring down on her leg. "Heck, I can't even walk upstairs without haltering so bad that people start to stare." Michiru gave the teacher's hand a gentle squeeze. "I feel sorry for you, Haruka-san." Haruka finally looked up and at her again. "Don't, Michiru-san. I got used to it by now. After I was out of the hospital, the high school offered me a job as gym teacher. That's how I got to meet Hotaru…and you." Michiru blushed at that and smiled. She patted the blonde's upper leg, and Haruka let out a little, shaky sigh. "I think I do want some wine now." She then said. Michiru nodded and took the bottle while Haruka held her glass out to her. As soon as the wine was filled in, Haruka took a big gulp, much to Michirus amusement. The aqua haired woman grew serious again when she remembered the scars she had seen on their way to her apartment. "Haruka-san, there's something else I need to say." She spoke up. Haruka looked at her curious, and Michiru said the words that were burning on her soul since the drive. "I saw the scars on your shoulder…I'm sorry." She looked down, but her eyes came up again surprised when Haruka patted her leg. "As I already said, it's not your fault." The blonde spoke, gentleness shining from her teal eyes. "No one put a gun to my head and said Go and save Hotaru. I did it out of free will." Michiru let out a little sigh. "I know that, Haruka. And still…I feel guilty for what happened to you." Haruka smiled at her and patted her upper leg. Of course the blonde had noticed the lack of the suffix –san in Michirus words, but she didn't say anything about it. She didn't want to push things too far, and she also didn't know if Michiru was gay. Thus, she didn't want to scare Michiru by showing her feelings too early.
Haruka yawned and looked at her watch, shocked. Michiru did the same, and her eyes bulged out. "Oh dear God! I didn't notice that the time went by that fast!" The blonde teacher eyed the empty bottle of wine. "I guess I'll have to walk home, seeing that we both had plenty of alcohol." She then chuckled. "Oh, no way I let you walk home!" Michiru protested. Haruka eyed her, curiously. "Then what else am I supposed to do? Maybe fly home?" she asked, smiling. "No." Michiru replied. "You will sleep here."
"What?!" Haruka cried out, sheer disbelief in her voice. "You can't mean that!" "Why not?" Michiru asked, surprised. "Imagine what happens if Hotaru finds out about it tomorrow!" Haruka explained. "She'll think that we…" Michiru realized what Haruka meant and blushed furiously. "No, she won't think that." The aqua haired woman finally said. Being convinced rather fast, Haruka gave in.