Amazement

"Sec-chan, you're supposed to jump on both arrows at the same time. Not step on it individually." Konoka watches amusingly as Setsuna struggles to keep pace with the flashing arrows.

"Ojou-sama, I'm trying.." breaths Setsuna as she tries to step on the right arrow pad but missed. The screen is now flashing an ominous MISSED and the crowd is starting to boo. Grimacing, Setsuna presses on. Her forehead covering in sweat as she battles on with the game.

As weird as it is, Setsuna may be one of the most graceful people there is in the world but that doesn't seem the case when it comes to DDR.

It simply started when Setsuna came over to Konoka's room to have breakfast like they do everyday. This weekend morning in particular, Asuna and Negi were out running errands which left Konoka by herself in her room. As soon as Setsuna had step through the doorstep, she sensed that the two rambunctious roommates were not here.

She immediately gulped.

Every time when she is in the same room as Konoka by themselves, she would get nervous. If Negi or Asuna was around, they would distract her nervousness by talking or causing a scene that momentarily made her forgot about her shyness.

Now that they weren't here, Setsuna felt the full effect of nervousness rolling upon her like a tsunami wave. Needless to say, it was like walking into a den of vipers unguarded.

Slowly she made her way over to the simple wooden table, carefully scanning her surrounding for any signs of movement a.k.a. affections that Konoka seemed to be so fond of bestowing upon her. The brown-hair girl has a knack for popping out from nowhere, and there was many times when Konoka had caught her in an awkward moment that she would have hoped to avoid.

It was quite interesting how Konoka can always sense when Setsuna was nearby, but Setsuna can't unless she deployed her ki tracing powers. It had always been like that ever since they were little. Until this day on, Setsuna still can't figure out how the brown-haired girl does it unless her unawake powers were doing the job for her.

Stopping by the dining table, Setsuna's tuned hearing heard some metals clinking coming from the kitchen direction. She didn't have to walk over to know that Konoka was cooking in there.

Judging by the sound and water running in the background, Setsuna surmised that Konoka is almost done. Decidedly not wanting to bother her charge, Setsuna turned her head to look at a lone flower sitting in a small vase by the window before she felt a warm presence heading towards her. Turning her head back, she stared into the smiling face of Konoka. In her dainty hands, she was holding two plates of steaming fluffy pancakes dabbed with thick maple syrup flowing from top to bottom.

They were in their 2nd year at Mahora High. Much to the 3-A class occasional teasing and slight jealousy when they change cloths for P.E. and compare bust sizes, Konoka's figure has filled out more, giving her body more of a curvy look that would give any models a run for their money. Her facial still has the same angelic and innocence that draws Setsuna, or anyone, in each time she looks at her. Her luscious brown hair has ended up growing till it stops at her lower back. Whenever the wind blows, Setsuna heart would always be on the verge of stopping permanently. Konoka's hair would flow gracefully behind her as she walk, giving her the air of the princess that she was born into. But the main thing that had noticeably changed was Konoka's chocolate eyes. Her eyes still had the same happy temperament and general affections as she did when she was younger, but Setsuna noticed that it has become wiser and sometimes showing the depth of her soul. It used to give her a cute look, now it was bordering on the line between adorable and beautiful. She believed Konoka wasn't as naïve as she used to be.

Quickly, Setsuna walked over to help her lady but Konoka simply waved her off as set the plates onto the wooden table.

Today, Setsuna didn't had time to grab a bite to eat before she went off to her extreme training in the morning, so by the time she sat down in her chair, her tummy' grumbling was noticeably yowling loud enough for Konoka to noticed.

Hearing her guardian's tummy grumble, Konoka chuckled as Setsuna blushed a deep shade of red. "Ne Sec-chan, you got to take care of yourself more. How can you keep going if you keep starving yourself?" Konoka's eyes twinkled with amusement and slight affection as she sat down facing her guardian.

"I'm sorry Kono-chan…" muttered Setsuna with her shy eyes downcast at the edge of the table. She was trying her hardest not to look up at the smiling girl least she do something stupid and end up getting teased by her.

Konoka smiled even bigger at the sound of her childhood nickname. She was ever so fond of that nickname, especially when it comes out of Setsuna's lips. It took Konoka a long time, god knows how long, to somehow break Setsuna of that ridiculous ojou-sama habit. Unfortunately, Setsuna would only say it when they were both alone or within friends. When they were out in the public, the ugly title would come back in effect.

Picking up a silver fork and a knife, Konoka started cutting her pancake as Setsuna took the queue to munch on hers. They ate in comfortable silence, or in Konoka's case. Setsuna, on the other hand, was doing her best to remain calm in the presence of her lady. Occasionally she let it slip by either cutting the pancake too hard that the knife would scrape the porcelain plate or her hand would tremble when she would bring the pancake up to her mouth to eat it, making the pancake do a little wiggly dance. If Setsuna think Konoka noticed, the brown haired girl wouldn't show it.

When she got to her last pancake, Konoka looked up at Setsuna smiling brightly with excitement in her eyes once more. "Sec-chan, what are you doing today? I don't have anything to do so let's go do something together!"

Setsuna was in the process of eating the last piece of the end of her fork when Konoka asked in her soft voice. Her mouth was wide open as she was attempting to shove the unusual large piece into her mouth. Startled by Konoka's sudden question and implement that they spent the day alone together, Setsuna gave a small jump. Unfortunately in doing so, the pancake jumped off the end of the fork, flew a graceful small arc spinning as it went, and landed on the carpet floor next to the tan sofa with a faint plop.

Shocked, both girls stared at it until Konoka broke out into a fit of laughters. Setsuna turned to look at her with even more of a shock expression. It wasn't that she was shocked at the pancake that decidedly to run away, but it was more at sound of happy laughter. There were times when Setsuna heard Konoka's laughter and every time it amazes her till no end. Konoka's laughter wasn't like a regular high school girl laughing. No, it was a pure, melodious sound that warms and lifts Setsuna's heart every time she hears it. Unlike a regular girl's voice, which sometimes annoys Setsuna, Konoka's voice was full of affection and happiness, especially when she's around Setsuna.

Drawn into the melodic sound, Setsuna couldn't help feel a rueful but goofy grin as she got up to clean up the piece of pancake that she was looking forward to destroy.

Konoka's cooking is always something to look towards to. Every meal she makes is so delicious that many times Asuna, Negi and occasionally Setsuna would try to stuff themselves to the last crumb.

Sighing as she bends down to grab the piece, Setsuna's eyes caught sight of a neon green color sticking out of the TV cabinet.

She turned to Konoka, who was trying to stifle her giggles and was staring at her the whole time with those beautiful eyes, asked curiously "Kono-chan, what's that?"

"Hm?" Konoka's brown eyes drifted from her guardian to the neon green color. Gazing on it for a quick second, Konoka lips turned up into a grin.

"It's a DDR game pad, Sec-chan. Asuna got it as a celebration gift when she got the 90% score on her quiz last week. We been playing it on and off throughout the week. It's pretty fun." Konoka's eyes glinted with mischievousness as she got up from her seat and walked over. She opened the cabinet and took out the neon pad and smoothed it out against the floor. "Would you like to watch?"

Setsuna nodded as she set down her porcelain plate on the kitchen table and watched Konoka turn on the game with interest. She rarely had time to play games since most of her time was devoted to watching over Konoka, training, or patrolling the school grounds, or all three at the same time. Now that she thought about it, never had she touched a game controller or come anywhere close to it in her life.

Walking around the sofa, Setsuna gingerly sat down on the cushion as Konoka selected songs just by pressing on the arrows on the pad with her feet. The song Konoka picked out has a nice melody to it with the beats playing at a good pace.

As the song started and flashing arrows started showing up on the screen, Setsuna watched in awe as Konoka nailed each arrow with PERFECT flashing across. As much as Setsuna marveled on how well Konoka was scoring on the screen, her dark eyes occasionally flitted back to the dancing brunette.

Even if it just a simple game of stomping on the pad, Konoka managed to do it with such grace that it quickened Setsuna's heart as seconds passed. Sometimes Konoka was so clumsy that if it weren't for her dear Sec-chan standing nearby, she would had have countless broken bones, extreme concussions and endless bruises if Setsuna didn't catch her in time.

Once again, Setsuna is amazed by how well Konoka can dance. Her slender body twisted and turned with such grace that it would put a ballerina dancer to shame. Her movement was smooth, flowing and well coordinated that it was hard to believe that a few days ago, Konoka nearly strained her ankle just by running.

Setsuna didn't notice the upbeat song had ended until Konoka was facing her with a big happy smile on her face. Her eyes were twinkling with glee and she was slightly breathing a little faster than usual. The sight of her was so endearing that Setsuna could only gape as she feel heat gathering at her cheeks.

She was so busy staring at Konoka that she barely registered Konoka was saying something to her.

"Huh?" Snapping out of her reveries, she blushed hard as Konoka looked at her with playful teasing in her eyes before she repeated what she said.

"Do you want to give it a try Sec-chan?"

"Um.. I think I'm okay Kono-chan.." Setsuna looked down on the floor shyly as she took an interest studying the carpets pattern.

She was immensely shocked when Konoka kneeled in front of her, measure Setsuna's line of sight with her face and gave her the famous Konoka puppy look that devastated Setsuna mind many times or would continue to do so.

"Come one Sec-chan, do it for me please? I know you never played video game before." If possible, Konoka's puppy eyes mauled over Setsuna's mind deeper and before she knew it, she nodded.

Konoka gave a squeal of joy and romped over Setsuna, nearly knocking the swordsgirl back onto the squishy back cushion of the sofa. As Setsuna tried to get over her sudden dizziness caused by the other girl's sudden close proximity and more-than-usual hard tackle, she couldn't help but smile.

She could never refuse her dear friend, Setsuna inwardly chuckled as she came to that realization. No matter how hard she resists, she would always be where Konoka would want her to be.

So that being said, Setsuna sat up as soon as Konoka unwrap her slender arms to try out the game with determination.

Before they know it, Setsuna was already on her 5th try on easy level trying to get at least a C on her grade. Needless to say, unlike Konoka, she doesn't have the skills to pass a stage, let alone the whole game.

Konoka never once complained that she was bored as Setsuna tried levels after levels. During the whole time, she just merely sat on the sofa studying and gazing at Setsuna more than she did at the game.

It was only when afternoon rolled by that a tired Negi and a hungry Asuna came barging through the door that Setsuna stopped the game. Either it was to Setsuna's imagination or maybe not, Konoka expression turned regretful for a brief second before she turned to her roommates with her usual happy smile.

Setsuna watched as Konoka chided Negi and Asuna like a pair of kids caught in the act of stealing cookies. Both kids tried to apologize but Konoka declared that she would have none of it. Although she acts like it, her warm voice had no sting in it. She loved her dear friends too much for that.

Setsuna smiled as Konoka pretended to be mad but unable to keep the façade for so long, she broke into giggles that gave Setsuna's heart a quick sprint. Then joking with her roommates, Konoka flashed Setsuna a look that could mean anything then headed towards the kitchen to prepare lunch.

As she watched Konoka walk, she failed to register what Asuna was yelling at her for, whether it was in excitement that she tried out DDR or just plain teasing, she didn't care. All her mind was thinking about was Konoka and how she would amaze Setsuna till no end.

I'm not quite sure where I am going with this or if the "amazement" is appropiate with the story lol but I hoped you enjoyed it. The next one will be a surprise chapter, maybe... :D

Once again, thank you to all my readers and my reviewers for supporting me!