.
.
Tonight the rain was pouring hard. Haruka had to shut all the windows. The blond didn't really like a rainy weather. The pouring rain in this area would usually followed by stormy sea. The raging wave and…
Her memory went to a sinking boat her mother had been in.
"Mom!" Her small hand reached out to the figure which kept drifting away from her grasp.
Haruka called again in case her mother couldn't hear her the first time. It was raining and thunder lights were flashing above the sea. Haruka blinked because they were too bright. Their sounds were vague, covered by the sound of angry waves that surrounded her little body.
Her hand reached out again, now her mother had disappeared from her sight. She screamed, calling her mother repeatedly. Until this time, the sea was always calm and nice to Haruka. However, she was witnessing the sea now outraged together with the pouring rain and thunder.
Her sister had told her about the natures. Rain, thunders, and raging wind came together to create a storm. If it happened on the sea, the sea would join their invitation and become bigger mess called sea storm.
Haruka remembered but she could care less about that. Her mother was gone.
She blinked, trying to register what her present self was doing. Unconsciously she had been grabbing the soda can too tight. It had bent ugly way.
Luna snuggled on Haruka's side, her voice bringing Haruka's back to the present. Haruka hated the rainy day. The house would turn into a boat which was sailing on the stormy sea out there. Haruka closed her eyes, cradled Luna closer, seeking imaginary warmth for her mind. Usually her sister would be with her to accompany her. Setsuna would've turned on some rock music out loud deafening the thunder and pouring rain. Haruka could've done that right now, but she would still be alone.
She was almost 19 years old and it was ridiculous how she was afraid to a heavy rain.
"Hey, Luna… do you want to sleep early tonight?" The white cat stared back at Haruka. The light blue eyes were actually soothing. A clear sky.. Haruka thought… the blond's mind went to Michiru. Her best friend also had the similar calming effect on Haruka. Everything about Michiru showed Haruka a calming beautiful sea Haruka sometimes had forgotten.
The window creaked by raging wind outside. Luna flinched and slipped in her head on Haruka's arm.
.
.
Even though Haruka had gone to bed earlier than usual, she woke up late. Afterall, she had trouble sleeping with thunder and the sound of pouring rain. Luna should've accompanied her but the cat was out cold so fast the time she hit Haruka's pillow.
The blond did late morning jog. She expected Michiru to have finished her swimming routine by the time Haruka reached the coast. However, apparently she still crossed path with the aquanette around the shore. The blond smiled gratefully because now Michiru was wearing something. A white bikini from the other day.
"You are late." Michiru greeted. Her hair was still wet from the sea water. Haruka wondered how the aqua haired royalty had been treating her hair from the extensive exposure of salt water.
"Cannot sleep."
"I see that." Michiru raised an eyebrow upon seeing Haruka's panda eyes. She then joined Haruka jogging along the shore. Knowing Haruka, the royalty took a path near the waterline where the blond was running on the other side. "The rain was bothering you?"
She was Haruka's best friend. Even it was in only one summer, they both had bonded with each other so well that Haruka felt like she had known Michiru forever. "Yes…" There wasn't any point to lie. "How about that crazy guy yesterday? You guys found him?" A cue to move the topic about herself, Michiru would get that.
"We bring him to a hospital. He needs help. I'm worried about Ami though… she seems more… involved than usual."
It wouldn't be surprising since Ami was the only royalty that came from science department. The woman also seemed to understand about the science students circumstances.
"Minako was right the other day."
Haruka heard it but not actually listened, "what?"
"You have big and selfless heart. It has been your trait… and won't change a bit, I believe."
Haruka huffed, increasing her speed. "I'm not a nice person. You out of all the people I know, should've known better."
"You underestimate yourself, Haruka…" Michiru managed to balance her pace with Haruka. Neither of them was out of breath yet. "Your strength traits have been my concerns relating you becoming our… knight."
"I've refused that position."
"We understand, but yesterday, after you went home… Rei had a talk with us."
The blond lowered her speed when Michiru mentioned about the weird raven haired woman in royalty. "What about her?"
"I'm sure you already knew that she is the most… well, unique individual in royalty." Michiru smiled nervously. "While Minako always sees others positively, Rei in the other hand always sees others as their true self. She can see inside other people easily. What they think, feel, and what their truly soul is."
"Sounds cheesy." Haruka joked. It was actually creepy if she hadn't known better about Hino Rei.
Michiru nodded, "She has this special sensitiveness to other beings. Because of that, she prefers to create distance with others. Believe it or not, we 5 come to understanding each other, thanks to her."
"I can imagine."
"She sees you… the true you."
Haruka stopped her running. Now she was in fear. Someone had seen her true self… the blond was sure, what Rei had been seeing was a scarred ugly soul.
"Haruka?"
Cold sweat and shaking hands she tried to hide from the other woman, "What… what does she see?"
Michiru's concerned expression turned to gentle smile, "Nothing that I haven't acknowledged about you."
Haruka couldn't believe it.
"She gave vote for you to join… Makoto too. That leaves you and me to against Minako's proposition."
"What Makoto sees in me? She has sixth sense too?"
Michiru chuckled, "No, she said we can use extra muscles from sports department now. Our assignments often have tendencies to run away from us… you have skill to run fast…"
"I see…"
"Tenoh Haruka, would you want to join the royalty with me?"
"Sounds like a marriage proposal to me." Haruka playfully remarked.
Haruka had missed Michiru's blush.
"One condition, though…" Haruka continued. Now Michiru looked at her expectantly. "I don't run fast, miss royalty, I run magnificently fast." Haruka then took off sprinting ahead Michiru.
Getting official invitation after the class, Haruka directly headed to the clock tower. Minako beamed welcoming Haruka in front of the red door.
"Hello, Haruka… the royal knight." Minako waved too excitedly. Her hand collided with the door handle. If that was hurt, the perky royalty was too excited to feel it.
"Can we stick to the name, please?"
"Okay," Minako shrugged then opened the door for Haruka. The room was still the same, but Haruka spotted there was a table in the middle of the room. "Royalties actually have their own party. It's tea party." Minako winked.
Although that sounded boring, Haruka sat on her seat. Michiru was sitting across her while Makoto and Rei were opening a bottle of something. Ami arranged the tea cups on the table.
"This is tea party…" Now that they were all situated on the chair, Minako tapped her spoon on the cup, gaining attention. "Just think it as tea party…" Minako grinned, her tone was changing rather suspicious.
"It's wine or beer. Your choice." Rei whispered on Haruka's right side. Now, the tea party didn't sound boring at all.
Ami had disapproved look on her face while Minako directly poured a beer to Haruka's teacup.
"What? I thought you like it." The perky blond grinned.
"I do." Haruka retorted a playful smile. Haruka knew that Michiru was watching over her across the table. "We are not in legal age to drink alcohol yet." The aqua haired royalty said to her friends. A pause, everyone stopped doing their activities. Even Ami who had brought a pack of sober up looked busted and guilty.
"Don't you drink too?"
Michiru didn't reply, she got up and grabbed the nearby beer can. She gulped it down. "… just don't get overboard. Oh my God, that was nasty. Give me my usual wine." Michiru cleared a throat. She let her wavy haired loose and snatched a bottle from the ice bucket.
Of course Kaioh Michiru is a wine type kinda girl.
Haruka felt already drunk.
30 minutes later, they ran out of booze. Michiru thought it had been enough for their tea party. Minako and Makoto disagreed. Both had their face flushed like a tomato and Minako would release hiccup every 2 seconds. Beside the blond, Rei was still drinking what Haruka would guess, second wine bottle. The mysterious raven haired royalty seemed perfectly okay and hadn't gone tipsy like her band partner.
"We have class tomorrow." Ami spoke up. The most rational in the royalty group nervously glanced at the time. "… I also have to go to hospital."
Haruka wasn't really drunk, so she understood what Ami's plan was. "Are you going to visit Motoki?" Haruka asked. The others were now looking at the petite bluenette. "Yes."
"Then, I'll go with you." She offered.
The eyes in the room now shifted to Haruka. "I just want to check on his condition… make sure he is okay." It was important for her. The guy had been really messed up yesterday. At least, Haruka wanted to find out what had driven the guy to want to kill himself that way.
"Wait… if you two are going, then you plan to take Ami with your bike?" Makoto cut in.
Haruka shrugged, it wasn't like there was any other choice.
Ami bowed her head, "I... I think we should take public transportation. You aren't drunk but you had few drinks, Haruka… if we got caught, the penalty is drive under the influence."
Haruka hated them. Buses or taxis… they were unreliable in matter of speed. However, she couldn't push Ami to ride her bike. "Well, then…"
Rei grabbed Haruka's arm before the blond exited the room. "Here… this will be useful." Rei handed Haruka a folded umbrella. "Today isn't going to rain…" Haruka had checked the weather forecast for today.
"I know… it's just for precaution." Rei whispered and then her lips twitched up. "Be careful…"
Haruka nodded. There was something else inside Rei's amethyst eyes. Their interaction didn't go unnoticed by a certain aqua haired royalty. When Haruka exited the room to follow Ami, she still could hear Michiru asking Rei about the umbrella.
.
.
About 15 minutes boring bus ride, they arrived on Mugen general hospital. Haruka recalled that the hospital had gotten bigger since her last visit 8 years ago. The building appeared more modern and cleaner. Ami noticed Haruka's amazement to the hospital building then explained that currently the hospital was under a new management of Mizuno family.
"Mizuno? Isn't that…" That was Ami's family name.
The smaller girl nodded weakly, her face turned red. "Yes… my father is the hospital's director."
Haruka was impressed. So, the smart people were genetic. She seemed to be the only exception of that rule. Her sister was a genius and she was satisfied with her own average IQ. The blond never complained, afterall she had accomplished better than her sister in certain aspects.
A couple of doctors and nurses in front desk greeted Ami with respect. Haruka couldn't help but noticed how Ami was getting uncomfortable by the special treatment. "What the doctor's diagnosis on Motoki's condition?" Haruka tried to distract Ami's nervousness.
Ami went directly to full explanation, "he suffers psychology condition. However, his body also lacks of nutrients and sleep. They think that Motoki didn't really eat and sleep in past few weeks. Today, they arrange him an appointment to see a psychiatrist." Ami paused and fidgeted with her fingers. "We, the students from science departments only have our brain to survive. We have to be smarter than anyone, also we have to write more theses and research reports for credits time."
"So, Motoki gets under pressure and goes crazy?" Haruka rephrased to lift out the mood.
Ami smiled, "No… that was what I thought first. But, actually I knew Motoki when we were first year. He never cared how hard the challenge… he got worked up not stressed."
"Perhaps his brain got overload and exploded."
Now the bluenette giggled. Haruka's mission to distract her was working. "No, Haruka. Human brain wouldn't get overload like computer memories do. Also it's impossible for brain to explode unless there was outside force impact that penetrating the skull…"
"Okay." Haruka cut in, enjoying Ami's lecture. "So… what's this guy's actual problem?"
Ami stopped in front of a glass door. Behind the glass, Haruka could see sleeping Motoki. His limbs were restrained onto the bed which was nailed onto the floor. Haruka just realized that they were now in psychiatry ward.
"Poor guy." Haruka muttered. The blond could imagine the guy when he was in the glory moment. Being a young genius and invented amazing formula that going to be useful for humanity.
"He still has a chance. Mind can heal." Ami said.
"Yes, but I'm not sure about his heart though." The genius pride could become worse than a man's pride. "What's the royalty plan on him?"
Haruka caught Ami was staring at her but then quickly turned her head, "Nothing. The university has commanded us to not doing anything. His drop out reason is clear enough. It is his mental condition, not university's sloppiness in system."
Haruka raised an eyebrow, "Sounds harsh."
Ami agreed, "It's common happening for most of our cases. It is very rare to see our case works out and the problematic students get back to normal."
The blond turned her sight to Motoki. In her opinion, the royalty system as the student's last hope was great.
Again, from the reflection on the glass, Haruka caught Ami staring again. Haruka was about to ask to the genius royalty about something on her face before Ami cut her, "Haruka, I think I know what has made Motoki become like this."
"He has a girlfriend… Osaka Naru second year science department." Her fingers were moving around the keyboard. Ami was looking into University's student information. There were parts that had been missing related Motoki Ueno.
Haruka bent over to see the monitor. The nurses had been happy to lend them the computer. She was now watching a profile of a woman named Osaka Naru. The girl had short dark hairs and huge eyes. The types which every guys would crave over it. "What's with his girlfriend?"
"They broke up. 2 weeks ago, summer holiday on the beach. I remember because their conversation was rather loud. Osaka Naru accused Motoki to be unreliable and weak."
"Now, that's touchy."
Ami threw a look at Haruka's direction, "Sometimes your ability to pick up certain words in unpleasant situation is very impressive."
The blond felt that was the reason why Ami had been staring at her, "Is that compliment?"
"From me? Yes." Now the monitor showed the information about Naru Osaka's grade.
"She is doing well." Ami commented.
"Are you crazy? She is brilliant! How could a person get so many awards?!" Haruka pointed at the long list of achievement the woman had. "But… I guess, yours is longer?" Haruka was certain since the blue haired royalty was a prodigy from the science department.
Ami smiled with mysterious aura around her, "You can open my achievement information if you want to see."
"No, undoubtedly you are a genius Goddess."
"Not as genius as your sister though."
Haruka suppressed a smile. That thing she agreed on.
If Osaka Naru's grade was compared with Motoki's grade, the gap was too huge. Even when Motoki was doing in his usual condition, his achievement couldn't beat the woman. "I think this is the reason behind his fall."
"We need more evidences." Ami bit her own lips, feeling frustrated. "The actual circumstances probably aren't exactly like we think…"
The blond was about to counter Ami's suggestion, however a commotion in Nurse's station cut her words off.
"The patient in this room is gone!" A nurse shouted and hurriedly scrambled from the room Haruka knew as Motoki's.
The blond exchanged glances with Ami. The genius royalty's eyes now full of terror. "Motoki!"
Haruka couldn't beat Ami to get to the room, Ami quickly snatched one of the nurses to demand an update from their sudden situation. "What happens? Where is the patient in this room?"
"… I'm sorry ma'am, are you his family?" The nurse undoubtedly was new in this hospital. The woman apparently was clueless about who actually Ami was.
"No, I'm his friend." Ami said briefly.
Haruka took over, the nurse wouldn't just giving away such information for the patient's friend. "Ayumi-san, isn't it?" The blond read the name tag on her uniform. "Please, we need to know where this patient has gone… he is in restraint, isn't it?" Haruka smiled, actually she did her best charming smile which she confidently proud to call it her ultimate weapon against any women.
Mesmerized under the blond's charm, the nurse blurted out. "He wore restraint but he slipped away when the nurse wanted to bath him…"
Ami only watched Haruka's action in quiet with judging eyes.
"Never bath a crazy man." Haruka muttered. She let go the nurse's hand which in turn reluctantly release Haruka's. After few smiles and a sentence for persuasion, Haruka then went back to Ami.
"Do you have hypnotized skill too?" Ami asked, curious.
"No, I can be persuasive sometimes." Haruka winked.
The wink was replied by rolling eyes from Ami. "Yes, persuasively deceptive."
"You sound angry."
"I find you as complex individual Haruka. Perhaps what Rei and Minako said about you was right, about your big heart. However, I have my own opinion."
They walked until they reach the end of the hall. There are stairs leading to roof and to the lower floor. "What do you think?"
"You are full of contrary which very illogical to me. You act impulsively and strangely, people around you are affected by your doing. I don't understand."
Haruka chuckled, Ami now glared. "No, Ami… I mean, where do you think he is going? Up or down?"
Ami blinked still maintain her poker face expression. "Let's split up."
"I think that isn't good idea. He is crazy man." Haruka expressed.
"A sick and confused man… he is still under drug influence. I'm sure he barely exhausted just walking around like this."
Haruka gave up. She never won an argument with Ami. Actually, she never won any arguments in her entire life. "Okay."
"I'll go to the roof, you check the lower floor until basement." Ami decided.
Haruka wanted to propose a coin toss but she wasn't the boss here. "So you check one floor above and I check 4 floors below plus basement. How great!" Haruka cheered.
Ami had run off the stairs. Haruka followed. She quickly went to the 3rd floor.
The blond stopped and checked point every floor by asking every nurses she encountered. Giving a description of crazy guy wearing restraint turned out as easy job. The administrative nurses told Haruka that if a patient from psychiatric ward escaped, they would make an announcement in each floor. Now, Haruka had figured out that there weren't any notice in every floor about Motoki. Haruka just assumed that they guy was still inside the psychiatric ward or cleverly disguising himself like in a James Bond movie. Haruka highly doubted the later would be done by a mentally disturbing man.
The choice left was rooftop. "Ami…"
.
.
Feedbacks are always and forever appreciated! Yes, the inner senshis would take huge part in this story, but HaruMichi is my priority.