Chapter 3: A Monday Morning at Mugen High

"Good morning." said Haruka when the smaller, always beautiful violinist got close to her.
"Ready for wednesday english test?" asked Michiru, trying to settle in a normal conversation between classmates.
"Yeah..." the tall blond knew all too well that it was a lie. She didn't find any time to learn for the exam, not with those nightmares that tortured her during the night and sometimes even during the day.
The aqua-haired girl looked over her partner and kept silent. She didn't know why, but she was sure that Haruka wasn't telling the truth... did she study anything for the test? If not, was it because of their visions? Then... why she didn't tell her?
Michiru put aside all her questions and asked instead: "After the lessons we could pause at the library, before going home. To study. What do you think?"
"Uh? Yeah, sounds good to me.." she replied casually, although she was dancing in her mind. Studying with another person would have helped her to concentrate on her work, and if that person was Michiru, well.. it was even better... even though one could wonder how her presence could actually help to focus her attention on books...

They entered the building heading for their classroom, when suddenly something rushed out of the doorframe... it was moving at high speed when smashed against a wall (Haruka), who stumbled but didn't collapse.
The 'train', however, didn't have the same luck and fell backwards.
"Aah.. that hurts..." moaned the red-haired girl, massaging her poor butt.
Haruka (who was the one who should have been complaining) looked down and asked: "Are you all right?"
"Well, genius, what do you thin-uh?" when the angry girl lifted her gaze, she suddenly froze and deeply blushed: "H-haruka-kun!"
Michiru almost rolled her eyes meaning a 'there again, another charmed girl', but managed not to, while her partner just smiled her patented smile: "I'm sorry. I didn't see you..."
The girl, Nami Kisagi, as the tall blonde remembered (they were in the same class), vehemently shook her head: "No, it was all my fault! I wasn't looking where I was going!"
She suddenly stood up and bowed in front of Haruka: "Gomen!"
At that the car racer had to chuckle a bit. Nami was really funny sometimes.
Then the bell rang indicating the beginning of the lessons and the end of their conversation.
While sitting on her chair, Michiru couldn't refrain herself: "You like her, don't you?"
Haruka, who was taking her seat next to the young violinist, looked at her smiling friend with a surprised face... what did that mean?
No time to ask, however... the teacher had already started to talk...

Time passed too slowly from Haruka's point of view. They have another full hour before lunch, but she couldn't listen to the teacher a second more.
Her mind rapidly escaped from the room to trail after the flow of her own thoughts.
In just a week a lot of things happened to her: she became a sailor senshi who had to save the world... she changed school, following Michiru's suggestion (they had to spend more time together.. and they also knew something strange was going on in that place)... she gave up her dream of becoming the greatest F1 japan racer.
Yet, she didn't fight against a youma even once.
That made her feel a bit anxious... was she ready for it?
What if something went bad and she endangered her, or worse, Michiru's life?
As if reading her mind, the aqua-haired beauty gently touched Haruka's hand, causing her to snap out of her daydreaming. The blonde blinked and exchanged a quick glance with the other girl... she wanted to reply the gesture, to tell her she knew... she knew that she was no more alone, that they were together in their mission... but then, the soft caress of Michiru's hand was gone, much to Haruka's disappointment.
She clenched her teeth and forced herself to bring back her attention to the boring lesson... after a while, she finally succeded.

The lunch bell was always welcomed for Haruka, especially that day.
She put away her books and then, as she looked up, she met Michiru's deep blue eyes...
"I'm sorry..." the girl started, lowering her gaze with guilty "Today I have a violin rehearsal, they decided it at the last moment... we can't study together..."
"Oh.. don't worry. It doesn't matter to me..." Haruka replied with a little coldlness (that Michiru noticed), even though her mind thought something completely different.
There was a long moment of silence between them. Haruka didn't know what to say and was getting more and more nervous... then Michiru saved her: "Shall we.. eat together..?"
...did she hear right?
"I'd like to talk about something with you..."
Ah... that was the reason...
"Sure.." came the slightly uneasy answer of the taller girl "Let's go to that café some floors below."
Michiru nodded and the two of them left the classroom to get to the nearest lift.
As they entered it and Haruka pushed the '20' button on the panel, the lift slowly started to move downwards.
The young car racer didn't say anything, keeping her eyes on the panel that was indicating the floors they were passing by, while Michiru simply looked down, patiently waiting.
However, they weren't alone there.
The lift had two more passengers... two girls, younger then them and quite impressed by their presence (did everyone know about them?):
Haruka Tenoh, first year of high school, was an excellent car and motorbike racer and a brilliant piano player, also great in every sport.
Michiru Kaioh, first year of high school, was a superb violinist and exceptional painter, a real artist and great swimmer.
They were the pride of Mugen High, that readly accepted them (rumors also said that they decided to attend it just some days before...)
And their first day of school was a real event...


Author's Note: So, what do you think about this story so far? A flashback's coming in the next part...
Please read and review and I'll update soon. See ya!