Sea Breeze
By: Funakounasoul
Notes: This is a Minami-centric piece, but it's clear who she is thinking about...
The ocean waves could be quite soothing for the soul. Within minutes, the sound alone could simply wash over, cleansing one of their troubles. It was peaceful. Calming.
Listening to the ocean was one of Minami's favorite activities. Whether it was morning or early evening, she would come by just to look over the vast coast and simply listen. Ever since she was a little girl, she had taken a liking to these moments where she could be alone and sort out her thoughts.
With waves steadily crashing onto shore, she closed her eyes and found herself taking a dive…
To be lost in the waves was to figuratively dive into them, plunging deep, down into the vast ocean. It was an escape. As Minami submerged further, the sounds and scents of the sea empowered her. It was such a comforting feeling, and soon, she would be refreshed.
Then another scent emerged. It was faint at first, but it grew within seconds. It was very floral.
Meditation broken, Minami gasped for air as if she truly had been in the ocean a moment prior. Taking her focus back to her surroundings, she noticed the beach...the sea...A small gust of wind gave its response, however, and revealed what had stunned Minami out of her reverie – flower petals. They were small, fluttering in the breeze all around her. To her, it made sense. There were trees up on the road behind her. Noble Academy's trees were quite splendid on their own. However, she never really noticed them before.
Before this year, it was only the ocean that calmed Minami. As of late, however, something new has wanted to please her. These flowers, for one. Those flowers – those dainty yet persistent flower petals – reminded her so much of that 1st Year student.
Haruno was her name, was it not? It had only been a few days ago when that girl had asked for ballet lessons exclusively from Minami. Then there was that miraculous event – that same day she found out she was a legendary warrior. Precure. She was Cure Mermaid, quite fitting for someone who loved the sea as much as Minami. That Haruno, though, was also a warrior – Cure Flora. Flowers.
Another breeze brushed past Minami. With it, another small group of petals were fluttering by, tickling Minami's nose with their gentle scent. She could not help but attach the scent to Cure Flora – no, Haruno. For a moment, she thought she saw the other girl, too. She could see that eager smile, those green eyes, and a simple call in that cheerful voice…
"Kaido-san!"
A sad smile formed on Minami's lips. Her mind had recalled the 1st Year's features for just a brief moment as another group of petals passed by. Perhaps, someday, she would ask Haruno if she could call her by her first name. Perhaps, the girl would ask Minami first. She would allow it immediately. To hear that girl call her "Minami" would make her heart flutter in joy. For now, though, they were simply colleagues. Nothing more. She was still Haruno's senior, though. Would that girl even think it would be proper for the 2nd Year to call her something so intimate? Tension was beginning to tighten the girl's chest. She was thinking too hard again.
The waves were calling to her again, though. Regardless of her future with Haruno, both as a student and as a Precure, at least the sea would always call Minami. She could still come here whenever and get lost in the vastness of the sea.