Disclaimer: I dot not own MSLN.
Chapter 3"Fate-chan, wait up!" The blondie turned around when she heard a voice calling her name. Nanoha ran to her and she tried to take her breath. Fate waited for Nanoha until she looked up to her. "You should… stop… when someone… is calling… you." Still breathless.
"Sorry, I didn't hear." Fate smiled. "I was swept away by my thought. When I awoke, I've already arrived at school."
"Ok, it's fine. Can I go with you?" Nanoha hugged Fate's arm, made the blond-haired girl turned away.
"I guess it's fine… but I warn you, don't do this again."
"Why? We are friends. This doesn't hurt anyone."
"It's just… I don't want you to have any troubles in your first week at school."
"What troubles?" Nanoha surprised.
"Ask Hayate if you want to know." Fate paused for a minute then said. "Ah and one more thing, I can't eat with you guys this noon. I have a lot of work to do so… I'm sorry."
"Ah, OK. Just finish your work then. We won't bother you anymore."
"You guys didn't bother me. The truth is… hanging out with you… I kinda… have more fun than usual." Fate laughed shyly.
Nanoha still saw some painful sadness in her eyes when she was talking about hanging around with their group. Nanoha really wanted to ask her about this but Arisa called her and then she realized that they were standing in front of her class. She was embarrassed, apologized to Fate and went to her class.
"Well, well… What do we have here? You've already stuck to Fate on the second day at school? Trying to steal Hayate's massager?" Arisa sat down the chair next to Nanoha and laughed.
"Mou… It's not like that." Nanoha shook her head.
"So then why do you always mention about Fate since last night?" Yuuno said, dragged his chair and sat down next to Nanoha.
"It's just… I think Fate-chan is hiding something." Nanoha looked at the window. "… Something that make she's sad."
"Nanoha-chan is too sensitive to know what people think about." Suzuka put her hand on Nanoha's shoulder. "Something that we never notice but you do, like the one you've just told us."
"Um… If so the why don't you ask Hayate about it?" Arisa said. "I think she knows something."
"I think so. I'll ask her in the lunchtime. By the way, Fate-chan won't eat with us because of her work."
"Ok. Just do it." Yuuno said when the school bell rang.
Time went fast. Nanoha's group gathered together at the garden, same as yesterday. Hayate looked around then asked Nanoha. "Fate-chan won't eat with us, right?"
"Yeah. She said she's busy so she can't come. She apologized to us." Nanoha said sadly.
"Really? No wonder why she disappeared immediately after the bell rang." Hayate started eating her lunch but then she looked up. "What?" She looked at Nanoha. "Want to ask about something?"
"Well… yeah…" Nanoha scratched her chin. "This morning I ran to her on the way to school. When I held her hand, she warned me to not do that again. Why?"
"Going to school together and holding hands?" Hayate's eyes wide opened. "Nanoha-chan, you're so grave to do that. Luckily you don't get in any trouble."
"Eh? What? Friends usually holding hands. It's a normal thing."
"Well yeah if that is a normal friend. It's true that Fate-chan is our friend. But only in the first day at school and outside the campus. When we're inside the campus, no one can be friend with her."
"Why?" Arisa raised an eye brow.
Hayate sighed, eat a piece of her food then continued. "Fate-chan is really famous not only in this academy but all of the nearby schools. She also has a fan club with hundreds of fans. That club has only one main purpose is only the rich one can be her friend. None of others can without their permission. So that's why Fate-chan almost doesn't have any friend."
"How can they be so terrible?" Suzuka frowned. "They don't have any right to do that."
"They make their own rights." Hayate shook her head. "Whoever hangs out with Fate-chan, the next day that person will be punished. Maybe some warning or maybe some punch on the face. I used to be punched one time when I was waiting for Fate-chan next to the gate." Hayate sighed then continued to eat.
"I see you don't have any injures." Yuuno worried about Hayate.
"Thanks for Fate-chan have protected me so then no one dare to touch me." Hayate smiled. "Yesterday we could hang out with Fate-chan because we are new students; also we have Yuuno-kun. They wouldn't do anything until today."
"If so… Fate-chan doesn't eat with us because she doesn't want us get in troubles?" Nanoha asked.
"Definitely! Nanoha-chan, you're the manager of the track team while Fate-chan is the captain so I think you will be fine until you go home." Hayate smiled to Nanoha.
"Hayate will go with Nanoha, right?" Suzuka winked.
"Yeah. I'm protected anyway so everything will be okay if you come with me." Hayate smiled back but then she stayed silent when she saw Nanoha's worried face. Her friends went back to the class one by one until there were only her and Nanoha. She came closer to Nanoha, gentle asked.
"You have seen something about Fate-chan, right?"
Nanoha looked at her friend, sadly said. "I saw… her eyes were so sad and… lonely… Even when she smiled…"
Hayate sighed and shook her head. "Oh dear, nothing can hide from you, Nanoha-chan. This thing is not the one can be told to anyone. If you really want to know, I'll tell you. But keep it as a secret for me." Hayate laughed softly then looked down. "It starts with her name."
"Name?"
"Her real name is Fate Testarossa Harlaown. She's just an adopted child of the Harlaowns."
"What?" Nanoha quickly stood up but Hayate had stopped her. "Really?"
"Yes and be quite!" Hayate frowned. "Her real family had a famous massage store in the city. She learned from her mother how to massage people since she was five so she's already know a little about physiotherapy in her childhood. Hayate sighed. "At that time, she was happy, easy-going and generous with everyone until she was nine, a fire burned her house, also took away her family, especially her older sister."
"Fate-chan had an older sister?" Nanoha's eyes wide opened.
"Yeah, Alicia Testarossa. They were twins and they always stuck together, liked glue. In that night, her sister was sick so her mother told her to bought medicine. When she came back, there were only ashes." Hayate said sadly. "Lindy-san and her mother, Precia-san was best friends since they were young so when Lindy-san knew about Fate-chan's situation, she adopted her. Although all the members of Harlaown family always love her like their real child, her past is something that can't be erased easily." Hayate looked at Nanoha; she saw the brunette was speechless so she shook her shoulder lightly.
"Nanoha-chan, you don't have to worry too much about that. Past is past, we should be her friends. All she need is that, friends!" Hayate smiled. "I go back to my class now. See ya later."
"Yeah, see ya." Nanoha smiled, watched her friend left. She sat there and thought. "She has that terrible past? That's why she always seems sad?" Her tears went down to her cheeks. "What? Am I crying? Why do I cry for a girl I've just met yesterday? And why does my heart feel… painful after hearing that story?" Nanoha held her left chest and then went back to her class in silent.
In the evening, Nanoha let the team had their stamina training. Watched Fate ran around the field tirelessly, she felt painful. After the training, Nanoha came to the bus stop with Hayate. She saw a Rolls-Royce parked in front of the gate and a middle-aged woman stepped out of the car. Nanoha pulled her friend back and asked.
"Who is that woman?"
Looked at the gate, Hayate whispered. "Lindy-san, Fate-chan's mother. In a few days she comes back to work early, she always comes to pick her up."
"So normally, how does she go home?"" Nanoha went in to the bus.
"On foot. She said that walking helps her stay healthy." Hayate sat down while talking to Nanoha.
Nanoha watched through the window and saw Fate went out. When she saw her mother, she gave her a smile. But before the bus ran, Nanoha could see her sad face. Nanoha thought for a moment then she decided. "That's it! To thank her for that night's accident, I'll make cookies for her. Maybe those cookies can turn her up a little bit."
That night, Nanoha stayed in the kitchen with her mother. "Mom, can you teach me how to make cookies, please?"
"Why is all this sudden?" The mother surprised. "You've never made cookies before."
"Well… because I want to give it to someone." Nanoha scratched her cheek.
"On the second day? Who is that lucky guy?" The mother smiled.
"It's not a guy." Nanoha shook her hands. "It's Fate-chan. I want to thank her for that accident."
"Ah, that girl." Momoko smiled, then she took out her tools to make cookies then she looked at her daughter. "But is it enough if they're only a few cookies? I mean… for a give."
"Its fine, mom." Nanoha smiled. "She wants to be a normal friend with us so I think she won't refuse these cookies. Besides, if I give her something expensive, she'll get mad and think that I'm just like the others… you know… making friend with her because of her family."
"Ok then… Take your apron and come here. I'll teach you."
xX}{Xx
After few hours, Nanoha had finished with making cookies, her first homemade cookies. She carefully wrapped them then took them to her room. She picked up her phone and called Hayate.
"Is that Hayate-chan? This is Nanoha."
"Nanoha-chan? Why do you call me this late?" Hayate from the other side answered.
"I want to find Fate-chan for something. Is she with you now?"
"Fate-chan huh? Well, yes, she's here w-… ouch!" Hayate screamed inside the phone.
"What's happened?"
"Nothing. Fate-chan is massaging for me-e… ow… that's hurt! What did I do?" Again, Hayate screamed.
Nanoha had listened to her and giggled. "Ok then I'll come to your place. Hold her back for me."
"Okie dokie. Bye!"
"Bye." Nanoha still couldn't hold back her laugh. She immediately took her present and ran straight to Hayate's house. When the door bell rang, a little girl came out to open it.
"Oh, good evening Nanoha. Why do you come here this late?"
"Good evening, Vita-chan. I come to see Hayate-chan."
"She's upstairs. Come in!" Vita let Nanoha entered then I ran back to her room.
Nanoha went up to Hayate's room. She knocked the door and came in. Right before her eyes, Hayate lay on her bed by her stomach, almost naked. She only had a towel hid her lower part. And Fate was massaging her legs. Nanoha stood silently for seconds then said.
"Good evening, Hayate-chan, Fate-chan. Sorry for bother you two."
"Well… hello Nanoha-chan. You came-e… ow… that's really hurt, Fate-chan!" Hayate said into her pillow.
"Hurt means good. Now be quite!" Fate said but when she saw Nanoha, she turned away.
"So, why do you come here, Nanoha-chan?" Hayate looked up to face with Nanoha.
"Ah… well… maybe later. Seem you guys are busy now." Nanoha smiled.
"It's OK. I'm done." Hayate stood up, wrapped the towel around her body. "I go to change now. You two take your time." Hayate went to the bathroom after she winked at Fate.
Fate used a towel to clean her hands, put away all of her oil bottle into her bag then she looked at Nanoha. "Do you find me for something?"
"Ah… the truth is…" Nanoha came closer to Fate. "I want to thank you for the last time so I've made some cookies. I hope you'll like them." Nanoha gave to Fate her present.
Fate received the present, she opened it and then a sweet smell came out. "You really don't need to do this. But you've made these so I think I have to take it. Thank you." Fate smiled to Nanoha. "I'll eat these when I get back home. I think it'll be very delicious."
"Yeah… I hope you'll eat all of them." Nanoha blushed lightly. At the same time, Hayate came out. Nanoha quickly bowed and then went back to her house.
Hayate saw the cookies on Fate's hands so she giggled. "Nanoha made these for you?"
"Yeah, to thank me for saving her last time." Fate wrapped the cookies and put them into her bag. "It's late now so I'm leaving. See you tomorrow."
"Ok, goodbye." Hayate waited until Fate had gone then she laughed. "Oh boy… this is interesting. I think I have to do something about this situation. Sunday will be fun." Hayate looked at her calendar then lay down on her bed.
xX}{Xx
Fate went straight to her room as soon as she returned to her home. When she entered, she immediately saw her brother was on her computer. "Onii-chan, what are you doing here?"
Chrono heard his sister's voice so he turned around and smiled. "My computer's broken. Can I borrow your for a moment?"
"Fine but next time, don't enter a girl's bedroom like this." Fate frowned. She placed her bag on a table then took out the cookies. The smell pervaded the air.
"So sweet! Whose cookies are those?" Chrono smiled happily to Fate.
"A friend gave them to me." Fate then went to the bathroom. "I'm going to wash my hands now. Don't you dare to touch my cookies or I won't let you use my computer anymore."
"OK, OK. I won't touch them. But can I have one piece?" Chrono turned off the computer and the stood up.
"No! My give, you won't allow to eat them." Fate said from the bathroom.
"Just one! Don't' be so selfish!" Chrono tried to take a cookie but a towel hit right at his face. Fate had thrown it from her bathroom.
"If you want it too much then I'll give you one. Now get out of my room!" Fate said angrily, gave a cookie to Chrono then pushed him out of her room, locked the door later that. Fate took the cookies and sat on her bed. She looked at them for a second then took one. Later, all the cookies were gone. She found a piece of paper at the bottom of the girt-wrapping with a nice handwriting on it. "Thank you for all things you have done for me before. Enjoy your cookies." Fate read softly. She smiled then lay down on the bed. She placed one of her hands on her forehead, the other on her chest. "These cookies are really good. But why does my temperature get higher? My heart won't stop beating so fast. Don't tell me that… no… that doesn't gonna happen. Both of us are girls. It can't be happened. If so, I'll ruin our friendship. I only want to be her friend. Nothing more." Fate sighed. She stretched her arms and then she turned off the light. That night was the first night Fate couldn't sleep since she became a member of Harlaown family.
In the living room…
Sayuki: Ahhhh! (Stretching arms) Another chapter has been released. I feel so good!
Nanoha: (Enters the room) Hello Sayu-chan! *Smile*
Sayuki: (Jumps out of the sofa) Whoa! Nanoha? I don't remember that I invited you!
Nanoha: Well… but you did invite Fate-chan to come over so I comes to. (Pull Fate from the outside).
Fate: (Makes her puppy face) Sorry Sayu-chan! I didn't tell her. She found out herself.
Sayuki: Yeah right… Nothing can hide from the White Devil. Even in my stories. (Sits down)
Nanoha: (Sits down the sofa with Fate) Now you tell me why did you invite my Fate-chan but me? *Smile*
Sayuki: I thought you've known already. (Eyes go wide then lookes at Fate) Fate?
Fate: *Smile* Well… I told her about the invitation but I haven't told her the rest yet.
Sayuki: You're trying to kill me before I can finish my first story or what? (Sobbing) Fate is such a meanie!
Fate: (Trying to apologize) I'm sorry… I didn't mean it. Besides, you have your two main characters here, you can write this story better than before, right?
Sayuki: (Stops crying) … You right… BUT THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE FINISHED THIS STORY MONTHS AGO! (Shouts at Fate and Nanoha)
Nanoha: (Looks confusedly) Then why did you invite us here?
Sayuki: *Sigh* I need someone helps me to translate this story into English since I'm not very good at English… or somehow.
Fate: *Smile* Well just because you're Vietnamese doesn't mean you're bad in English.
Sayuki: *Smile* True but it doesn't mean I'm good too (Making puppy face). Please!
Nanoha: Ok then fine! We'll help you, right Fate-chan? (Looks at Fate)
Fate: Of course!
Nanoha: But still… *Sigh* I don't know why you didn't invite me?
Sayuki: *Smile* Arigatou, Nanoha, Fate!
Nanoha: (Surprised) Wait! Did you speak Japanese?
Sayuki: I'll answer all of your questions on the next chapter. Now I have to get back to my studying. Mata oai shimashou!