"As for your first day, the administration prepared a team-building activity for you to get acquainted with your classmates. You shall form groups of three and will be assigned randomly at flag locations. Ms. Reiha, the Dean for Student Affairs will fill you up with the guidelines. But this early on, I congratulate you for having the privilege to be amongst the ranks of this academy's scholars. Welcome to Mugen Gakuen!"

Mr. Kogure, the Vice Chancellor of MG, smiled cheerfully at the students behind a podium. He beckoned for a middle-aged lady to take his place, heaving a sigh of relief. Speeches always did make him nervous.

"Hmmm…I wonder what we're gonna do," Makoto was her usual self once again, giddy and almost jumping in anxiety. Behind her stood Haruka, who was still clutching her head in her hands, feeling the searing numbing effect of the hangover she got from their drinking spree the night before.

"Maybe they'll ask us to perform some stunts, or like athletic stuff."

"Or maybe they'll ask us to eat a tub of ice cream! Oh yeah!"

A few girls beside them were giggling a bit from the silly things that they imagined the school would require them to do.

"Bah. They'll just assign you to find a flag in an inane hut. That's what they do every year. How exciting could it be?" a hushed tone reached Haruka's ears. The blonde turned around to find a very familiar face staring down at the ground with slumped shoulders.

Wait a minute…isn't it…Haruka scratched her chin in thought.

"Hey, isn't it the wild drunken girl last night at the bar?" Kino nudged her on the ribs and nodded at the green-haired girl.

"The only 'wild drunken girl' I noticed was a certain brown-haired who was singing horribly at karaoke," Tenoh gave half a smile to her friend, but she never took her eyes off from the girl lined up behind them.

Haruka couldn't help but notice the sadness beneath those deep pair of blue hues. She felt sorrow creeping into her soul as she lost herself in the beautiful angel before her. Why do you bear so much pain, dear angel? Her heart longed to protect the girl in her arms and chase the burdens away. But how can I do that? We don't even know each other…

But it seemed like destiny already had a plan.

----

Ms. Reiha announced that the surprised activity was going to start after lunch, and the students should pack first whatever necessities they would want to carry in their 'small journey' before noon, so that they'd enjoy the trip a whole lot better.

But then, when the duo entered their spacious dorm room and laid down to test their beds, they found it cozy enough and soon fell into a peaceful sleep. They only regained consciousness after hearing the incessant beeping of Haruka's wristwatch.

"What time is it?" Makoto grumbled underneath the covers.

"Shimatta!" Haruka got up quickly from her own bed, then cursed out again when she felt her neck snap from the speed. "It's already lunch time, Mako-chan!"

"Oh, no. Why didn't you wake me up?" The brunette fumbled over for her shoes.

Tenoh, who was now throwing things at random inside a small backpack replied with an irritated, "I was the one who was having a hangover! I'm still feeling drowsy! Now, why didn't you wake me up?"

"Hey, stop it you two! Or there won't be food left for you at the canteen…see 'ya!" One of their friends shouted from outside and knocked on the door twice before heading off.

After a few minutes more of friendly tirades a bit of a pillow fight, the two headed off to the cafeteria, finding it…CRAMPED…so much that students looked like sardines packed in a tin can. With a stroke of luck (read: Haruka's unnatural charm, aka flirting), they had easily breezed through the long line at the counter. But after that, there lied another problem…

"Uhm, Haruka…where do we sit?" Kino was almost fainting due to the excess heat in the confined space.

The blonde let her eyes roam across the wide room, finding tables filled with people. Except for one.

"Well, Mako-chan…there's only one table left. But I'm not sure if you'd want to sit with her," Tenoh hid a smile behind the fake frown plastered on her face. On the inside she was kneeling and thanking the gods in utter bliss. Such sweet fortune!

"Where?"

"Two boards from the right wall."

"Oh," Makoto visibly tensed upon following where her friend's finger was pointing at. She thought twice about it but when she heard the protest of her stomach, she practically ran to the said table. "Come on! Move it! I don't care what happened before, I'm hungry!"

----

"Konnichiwa, mind if we sit with you?"

Michiru raised her head to see a brown-haired girl motioning for the seat in front of her. "Anou…go ahead," she continued eating. She didn't even bat an eyelid.

After her new 'companions' were settled, her sacred silence was harshly broken when the cheerful brunette bombarded her with useless questions. Irritatingly stupid…

"Oh, by the way, I'm Kino Makoto. You can call me Mako-chan for short," the one named Makoto reached out for her hand and shook it rowdily. "And this is my good friend-"

"Tenoh Haruka."

Michiru, once again, peeled her eyes off from the sushi in her tray to find the owner of the charming voice. With short blonde hair, lean masculine body, and teal eyes, the girl could honestly be mistaken for a guy. She was just her type, tall, mysterious and handsome…but no…Michiru told herself, she was not in the mood for relationships right now, or for any kind of socializing.

The green-haired girl was feeling antisocial at that day because of one thing: she was stuck in a college in a course she did not choose. It was all her father's wish. And as his only daughter, she was obliged to 'follow' his every word, because according to him, 'Parents know best for their children.'

She wanted to finish her meal fast, but the rest of her lunch played tricks on her. They jumped off from her tray and landed at the ground when she tried to pin them using her fork. Chikusho…Michiru wanted to beat her head into the table in a bloody pulp. This just isn't my day…

She then stood up abruptly, still feeling lightheaded due to the hangover of the countless shots of Donan she consumed last night. She lost her balance and braced herself to fall harshly in the tiled floor, but it never happened. Before she knew it, a pair of warm hands surrounded her waist and saved her from the disgrace. Her eyes were closed while she imagined being carried by a prince, her knight-in-shining armor, away from all the boundaries of her so-called life. The two of them flying away from all her ghosts and her nightmares.

She felt safe for the very first time in her life. And as she twirled around and opened her eyes to thank her savior, she was surprised when her eyes met the same green ones that she stared at a few seconds ago. She almost drowned in the depths of those entrancing eyes. She then gulped when she lowered her gaze and saw the thin red lips of her hero.

Though before she could do anything unexpected, Michiru caught herself and internally slapped her head thrice. "Thanks," she stepped away from Haruka to give themselves their private space. She bowed to them, said, "I'll be going now," and walked fast towards the cafeteria's nearest exit.

----

For the second time in two consecutive days, Tenoh Haruka sprinted after the same green-haired girl. She started to chase her, after breaking off from a slight trance. Haha…Seems like I'm always chasing after her…

"Wait!"

"What do you want? I already said thanks," the girl was glaring sharply at her.

"Err…back off the claws will you? Here, you left your hanky."

"Okay. Bye."

"Wait…can I ask you something?" Haruka took hesitant steps forward. The girl merely raised an eyebrow. "Would you mind if I ask for your name?"

"Kaioh Michiru. And here," Kaioh fished out a paper bill from her pocket, "this is what I owe you last night. Bye!"

But Haruka brushed off her hand. "It's nothing. Keep it."

"I don't care! Leave me alone!" Michiru practically threw the money at Haruka's chest and ran away from her like she had some sort of contagious disease. She didn't notice the wounded gaze of the blonde, nor did she heard the crack of the other girl's heart.

----

Author's Notes:

First off, sorry for the delayed chapter!

I was asked by my org to do some mini-series and commercials for a school event, and I got lost in a film-frenzy for one week. I couldn't sit in front of a computer to type the latest instalment for this fanfic (I didn't even had the time to eat twice a day, imagine that. -.-') But anyway, enough about the rant…

Again, thanks for the reviews! If you find errors, please point it out to me (but please do it kindly T.T ), so that next time, I'll try not to commit the same mistake again.

Weee, I have good news for chatterbox-hikaru13. Ami's going to be in this fic. Yay! I found a suitable role for her, along with two others from Sailor Moon. But on who they are, you'll have to read through all of my crap. Heh. :) (And who knows if I could still fit in a few extra roles for the rest of the senshi's.)

And to sHinN, Umi no Hime is on halt for an indefinite period of time. Something bad happened between me and the one that I used as an inspiration for that fic. But never worry, after Green Rose, I'll tackle that project once again.

Reference:

Donan is a strong liquor with around 60 alcohol.

Disclaimer:

Haruka, Michiru, and the rest of the BSSM gang belong to Naoko Takeuchi. I'm just borrowing them for a little while.
And SBS owns the Korean TV series Green Rose.