Story moved to T because of yuri undertones.

Honorifics are used.

----

"Shizuma-sama...she didn't attend breakfast," Tamao murmured, purple eyes distant and staring off into the distance. "Doesn't that worry you, Nagisa-chan?" The blue haired girl turned her attention to her partner sitting next to her, worry in her eyes.

"I think the one who's more worried is you, Tamao-chan!" Nagisa protested, her pink eyes wide and her mouth twisted.

"...Nagisa-chan, do you...remember the Etoile Election? That day?" Tamao suddenly asked, staring at the floor while biting her lip. Her eyes were shadowed by her long bangs, and her tone seemed forced.

"How could I forget it?" the dark pink haired girl pursed her lips and tapped said mouth, staring up at the sky. "Don't tell me! Tamao-chan, don't tell me you forgot about it?!"

"...I won't lie to you, Nagisa-chan," sighed Tamao, looking back at Nagisa with pleading purple eyes. "...My last memory is of tying that ribbon into your hair, and then waking up the next morning. All the rest of it....is a blank."

"That ribbon? Oh! You mean the amulet, right?" Nagisa's expression brightened, and she quickly produced the red ribbon from one of the pockets on her uniform. "I've treasured it since that day, Tamao-chan. Because it shows how close our friendship is!"

"Nagisa-chan!" Tamao smiled gratefully, tears beginning to form in her eyes. Said eyes turned curious when she looked down at what Nagisa was doing. "...Nagisa...chan?"

"It's so that we're never apart!" Nagisa smiled eagerly, holding up her pinky finger, which was tied to Tamao's pinky finger with the red ribbon. "Always together, Tamao-chan!"

"Yes!"

---

"Etoile-sama!" Dark red eyes stared at the blue haired girl standing a few paces away. "What are you doing here? Usually it's Nagisa-kun--- I mean, Etoile-sama, who comes here."

"Hikari-chan's not here?" Tamao asked, looking around.

"Hikari is...." Amane began, before slowly trailing off and relaxing from her grooming of Star Bride.

"...Nagisa-chan and I...we shouldn't have..." Tamao started, biting her lip and speaking slowly, as if the words were terribly painful for her to speak. There were many pauses, stutters, and other stumbles as she spoke, all the while not finding herself able to meet Amane's gaze. "We shouldn't....shouldn't have...become..."

"You won the election," Amane said simply, continuing to groom her white horse. "So don't say that, and be happy with Nagisa-kun---, Etoile-sama."

"But--!! Amane-senpai and Hikari-chan should have--!"

"Hikari and I are happy," smiled Amane, a soft and warm smile.

"But..."

----

"Nagisa-chan?"

"Yes, Tamao-chan?" Nagisa smiled with a curious look on her face, turning her head to look across the room, at her roommate.

"...Can you...tell me? About the day of the Etoile Election? It's, it's scary, Nagisa-chan, not knowing...what happened."

"Tamao-chan..." Nagisa shifted under her covers and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "It's a bit of a long story, so should I come over there?"

"...please do," Tamao murmured, averting her eyes. Nagisa smiled indulgently, standing up and crossing the room.

"So, the last thing you remember is the ribbon?" Tamao nodded, staring at Nagisa with an expression as if she were a lost child. "After that, Rokujou-sama came to pick us up, and we went down to the election hall."

"...Was Shizuma-sama there?" Tamao interrupted.

"Etoile-sama? ...I...can't remember," Nagisa frowned.

"A...and Rokujou-sama, what do you think...about Shizuma-sama and Nagisa-chan?"

"I think that the only person who doesn't know is Nagisa-san herself."

"I...I see."

"Tamao-chan? Tamao-chan, what's wrong? Why are you crying, Tamao-chan? Are you okay? Tamao-chan!"

"I...I'm sorry, Nagisa-chan! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Why are you apologizing? Why are you apologizing, Tamao-chan?"

"I'm...I'm sorry, Nagisa-chan!"

"Tamao-chan! H, hey...Tamao-chan? W...Wake up, th, this isn't funny, Tamao-chan, h, hey... Tamao-chan? Are...are you okay?"

I realized it. That the Nagisa-chan I loved was the Nagisa-chan who wasn't just mine. I was...happy. I wanted to convince myself that I was happy. I wanted to just be happy with Nagisa-chan. So...when I... It was either to let her go, or to hate myself forever.

I chose...to hate myself forever.

"O...on the day of the Etoile Election, did Shizuma-sama make an appearance?" Tamao repeated, her tone low and serious.

"I, I told you, Tamao-chan, I can't remember!"

"Then! I'll ask Rokujou-sama, Chihaya-chan, Mizushima-chan, Chikaru-sama, Hikari-chan, anyone!" declared Tamao, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Why are you so serious about this, Tamao-chan? Why are you so serious about Etoile-sama?"

"B...Because, Nagisa-chan, I..." I need to know, I need to know what happened on that day. For self satisfaction, so that I don't need to hate myself forever.

"Tamao-chan! Where are you going? Tamao!"

---------

"Oh, Rokujou-sama!" Tamao gasped, quickly slowing and bowing to the older student, trying to catch her attention.

"Suzumi-san? No, Etoile-sama?" asked Miyuki, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"At...at the Etoile Election, did...did Shizuma-sama show up at all?" Tamao panted, struggling to catch her breath.

It would be nice if you called her "Nagisa" sometimes.

"...Did you say something?" Tamao blinked, having caught her breath. Miyuki shook her head slowly.

"No, I didn't say anything, Etoile-sama."

"So...did she? Did Shizuma-sama show up?"

"...Why are you asking me this?" Miyuki sighed, crossing her arms.

"B, because..." Tamao's expression turned downcast. "Nagisa-chan doesn't know, and I can't remember. Anything, anything about the Election."

"Is that so..." Miyuki sighed and shook her head, still crossing her arms. "Yes, towards the end of the ceremony. Shizuma came back.

"That's what I thought..." Tamao whispered, her expression crestfallen. She quickly raised her voice, and continued to ask questions. "And...did she....did Shizuma-sama say anything? Did Shizuma-sama say anything....to Nagisa...chan?"

"I had a feeling you were going to ask that."

"Then she did," the blue haired girl surmised. "Shizuma-sama...she said something to Nagisa. ...-chan." Tamao paused, biting her lip. "...What did she say?"

"I'm sure you already know, based on what you've already said," Miyuki replied clinically, closing her eyes.

"Nagisa! I love you! Nagisa!"

"Shizuma-sama...."

"So she came back, after all. I guess she couldn't help it, since Nagisa-chan is so cute..."

"Tamao-chan..."

"Goodbye, Nagisa-chan."

And I took back the ribbon. What happened next was...

What happened next was up to fate.

"Nagisa!!"

"I won't go -" - "- Shizuma-sama..."

"Shizuma-sama!! -" - "- I'm staying with you, Tamao-chan."

"Nagisa!-" - "-...so that's how it is."

"I...I'm sorry, Shizuma-sama.-" - "-Shizuma-sama!"

"Let's go!-" - "-Goodbye, Nagisa."

"Y...yes!!-" - "-G...Goodbye, Shizuma-sama. And...I'm...sorry...."

"Congratulations, Nagisa-chan. Congratulations. I'm... I'm happy for you, Nagisa-chan.-" - "-Na...gi...sa....cha...n....?"

Her head was crying out to her, begging her to find the truth. Which was the truth, and which scenario was wracked with lies?! Tamao's face scrunched up in pain, and she cluched her head with both hands, keeling over on the spot.

"Suzumi-san!" Miyuki exclaimed, kneeling over. "Etoile-sama, are you okay?!"

"I'm...fine..." Tamao grimaced, slowly standing back up and still holding her head with one hand.

"Are...are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm...I'm going back...home."

"You're back? ...Welcome home!"

"I'm back, Nagisa-chan...."

"...Welcome home, Tamao!"

Tamao. Tamao. I am...Suzumi Tamao. The person most important to Nagisa-chan, the person that I will hate forever. Tamao. Nagisa-chan...no, Nagisa chose me.

"...I'm home,....I'm home, Nagisa!"

Tears. Tears streamed forth, stemming from the deep bond the two shared.

"N...Nagisa!!"

"Tamao!!"

Tears stemming from the deep love the two shared.