*Before you read this chapter, I must mention one other thing that I have added to the universe is that Natsuki has a younger sister named Brandy Kruger. She is an otome for part of the royal family in Artai that believes in having otomes. Brandy is married to a man named Flan (very strange name, I know). A brief overview of ages: Shizuru is 36, Natsuki is 35, Brandy is 29, Flan is 30, Mizuki is 17, Mizuru is 16, Caleb is 3 almost 4, and Lorelei is 3. Thanks for reading.*
"You know, you are the definition of strange," Natsuki tells me as she leans back in her chair.
"I know," I giggle.
I love coming into Natsuki's office. Natsuki has a whole building that she gets to live in, along with Shizuru, Lorelei, which is their daughter, and Caleb, which is their son. The building is a long oval that has one wall which is entirely made of windows. This building that has somewhat become more of a house is modern, yet classic. I love the feel of every room. Natsuki's office is one of my favorite places because of the interior and that is on the glass wall side of the building. Her desk is large and very new. She gets a new desk whenever she feels she needs a new one. How lucky she is to get whatever she wants whenever she wants. Not that I am jealous, just envious. Some day, I strive to be like that.
Natsuki's office has a place for conferences, tea, and it connects to their bedroom. Natsuki and Shizuru's that is. It is so bright and open. I love it.
All of a sudden, Caleb and Lorelei enter the room, fussing about God knows what. They are so young it can't matter. Caleb is almost four. He has bright red eyes and the blondest hair you have ever seen. Sometimes, it can even appear to be white. He has pale skin, just like Natsuki. He is chill for a toddler. He doesn't complain much, he cleans up after himself, he read books by himself, and he goes to sleep on time. He is the definition of a well-behaved child. Lorelei, on the other hand, is a cry baby. She has violet eyes and the same hair cut Shizuru has. The difference in their hair is that Lorelei has an auburn color to her hair. She is very opinionated for someone so young, she is picky, and she complains about things often. She is very smart and sarcastic, though. So, Caleb is like Shizuru and Lorelei is like Natsuki.
"What's wrong?" Natsuki pulls herself up from her chair with her desk. I turn my head to see them.
When they see me, their arguing stops, their eyes brighten up, and they run for me. I stand up and walk closer. At the same time, the kids run and tackle me over. I fall on the floor and get attacked with hugs. "Well, it's great to see y'all, too."
Both Caleb and Lorelei talk to me at once and it turns into muffled sound in my ears. Natsuki command them ,"Get off her,children. Give her some space. She just got here."
They listen to her, allowing my to stand back up. As I dust myself off, an unexpected visitor enters the room. I didn't notice her as I walk back to my seat. From behind me, I feel an embrace. Shocked, I turn as much as I can to see her. "Mizuru!"
I turn and hug her even harder. "How are you out of class?"
"Luckily, it is lunch time, so I asked to be excused. Also lucky that the teacher supervisor of lunch is my Mama, so..."
"You talk so awkwardly," I pause."I love it." In that instance, I kiss her on the lips. As we start to get into the kiss, I hear Natsuki say knock it off. We split apart. "I'm sorry, Natsuki."
"It"s not Natsuki anymore," She states as she sits back in her swivel chair.
"Huh?"
"well, I shouldn't really disclose this, but I am positive you have earned a spot in Garderobe Academy. You have passed every test with flying colors, even the compatibility test. There are almost never cases where people are compatible with the nanomachines, but you are. It is almost like you were made to be an Otome."
With every word she was saying, I was screaming with joy inside. I don't even know how to answer her. "Wow. That is amazing! Thank you so much!"
"Hey, don't thank me. You did it all your own, kid," She assures me.
"That is so good, babe!" Mizuru cheers and she holds my arm tight.
"So, Natsuki, I mean Headmistress Natsuki, do you know when I will officially find out?"
"Those kind of letters will be sent out tomorrow to schools in every nation. Orientation is next week."
"Oh my God. i can't believe this is happening. Thank you, Natsuki." I go over to her and hug her to her surprise. She hugs me lightly and does the awkward "tap-to-release" tap, so I let her go. "You shouldn't regret this."
She raises an eyebrow ,"Shouldn't?"
"You won't," I say firmly. Hah. She must not know me as well as she thinks she does. Does she not understand the problem she has caused? She is allowing me to go here, this school where my girlfriend, her daughter goes. Does she see no problem here?
"That is more like it. Now, you kids run along. All of you. I have business to see to," Natsuki shouts as she sits down to a massive stack of paper work.
As we leave, Mizuru whispers to me," You know Mama does pretty much all of the paper work for her. She just wants us out."
I laugh, "Yeah. yeah, I do. "
Clank! As I open the door, someone runs straight into me. what is up with my luck today? I fall on the floor with the individual on top of me. It is...Brandy?
"Oops! Sorry, um Mizuruki," She shouts and she hops up.
I shake my head,"You'll get it right one day, Bran. it's Mizuki."
"Yeah, yeah, right. Sorry, dear," She dust off herself and paces over to Natsuki. Wow, what a distracted woman. A weird one, at that.
Brandy Bertuzi-Kruger, sister of Natsuki Kruger, is a mess. She has one of the strongest personalities I have ever seen in someone. She is ...well, hard to describe. She pops up out of nowhere, she is very random, she has a wonderful sense of humor, and she is optimistic. She is a bundle of energy for a woman who is almost 30. She is very interesting and not like her sister.
Not questioning why she is here and not in Artai, Mizuru and I go to the living space in the building. We have a lot to catch up on, you could say.