I remember when our paths crossed for the first time. When we didn't constantly fight, when you were just another passing face, just another privileged rich girl.

Rena Andou made her back from Senshado training, along the suburban streets of BC Academy. Across the azure waves the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting it's orange glare back across the pastel sea and back at the examination girl. In one hand she carried a brown paper bag, filled with ingredients for her tayaki and in the other, her blue Senshado cap. To be frank it'd been a very long, very hard day. Oshida wouldn't shut up, Marie wouldn't stop eating cake and the Senshado team wouldn't stop fighting with eachother...actually maybe you could just call it a typical day at BC Academy. But still she couldn't help but smile, it was still a glorious day. As Andou walked through the BC suburbs she occasionally waved to passers by, petted the occasional dog until she made it back to her flat. Climbing the rusted fire escape to the third floor, wiggling the door handle that never seemed to open properly, setting down the groceries on the creaking table Andou collapsed on the patched sofa. She reached into her Senshado cap, pulling out an envelope which she had always kept tucked in there. It was already crinkled, yellowed with age from being opened and stowed away so many times. Inside were a few photos of her with a dark haired parents as well as several with her various mischievous, freckled siblings. A faded pink cherry blossom also fell out onto Andou's lap. The girl carefully picked it up, examining it remembering what a day that was...

"Well see you guys later!", Marie called, waving to her two subornates as she stepped into her horse-drawn carriage, speeding off to who knew where. Both Andou and Oshida mechanically waved to their commander before slumping on a bench opposite. "Uhh why is Marie such a pain sometimes?", Andou groaned alongside her blonde counterpart. "Well...you get used to it, we've been friends since childhood", Oshida chucked, looking out across the shimmering sea. "Was she always in love with cake?", Andou asked in exasperation, thinking back on how much Marie enjoyed the stuff. "She's always been a picky eater", Oshida laughed, thinking about her fellow escalator student. "But she's good deep down...that's our Mademoiselle Marie", sighed Oshida. Andou looked up, admiring her surroundings. She'd never really thought about how pretty the BC ship was...well the escalator half anyway. The bench they were sitting looked onto the main square, with Notre Dame, The Louvre and the Eiffel Tower around them, not to mention the countless artisan cafés and bakeries. Above them one of the many cherry trees drifted it's pink blossoms onto the two girls, peppering Oshida in particular with petals. "Pretty huh", Oshida remarked looking at Andou's wandering gaze. "Makes a nice change from the gutters", Andou observed, taking in the hustle and bustle around her. "You're not always terrible to be around Andou", Oshida remarked in a matter-of-fact tone, looking at the floor. "Same to you", Andou laughed. For a while the two sat in comfortable silence, as the cherry blossoms drifted around them. "Well..", Andou started, brushing her skirt of pink petals, "I should be off then", Andou said

"Oh...right, of course", Oshida replied also standing up. Andou studied Oshida's face for a moment. "Uh you've got a little something...", Andou reached out, picking a petal that had lodged itself in Oshida's curls. "Oh...thanks", Oshida muttered her face flashing red for an instant. "Anyways, see you around!" As Andou walked on she realised she was still holding onto the cherry blossom, smiling she pocketed it, a keepsake if you will.

Andou twirled the dry petal between her fingers, thinking back to when she didn't fight with Oshida so much. Though she'd never admit it out loud, those times had been nicer.