"Dammit, Mai, where are you?"
The nearly inaudible curse could be heard coming from the forever-scowling dark haired Pearl…only this time it was tinted with a hint of concern.
It was graduation day at Garderobe Academy and all of the graduating Pearls were impatiently waiting for the ceremony to begin, save for the number one Pearl who was currently M.I.A., which only made Natsuki Kruger, roommate and, dare it be said, friend of the absentee, pace the courtyard in front of the chapel in nervously agitated fashion.
"Calm down, Natsuki. I'm sure she'll be here soon…Although, she has been acting a little strange as of late…" Laura Bianchi tried to reassure her fellow classmate before contradicting herself with her own doubt.
"It's all because of that blonde sad excuse for a man!" the other was quick to snap back.
"But to give up becoming an Otome for love…Eee! It's so romantic!" Carla Bellini swooned, spinning on her toes as her long pigtails flew through the air.
"It's stupid is what it is! She's just giving in to her crazy hormones…But who said she's gone?! She can't be gone!," Natsuki argued, unhappy that she was being teamed up on over the subject.
"And if it really is love?" Fiar Grosse was the next to indulge on the topic even though her tone was that of the utmost disinterest.
Natsuki seethed, "S-She's the number one Pearl! When you're in that position, you have responsibilities! You can't just up and ditch graduation on a whim—"
"You're just angry that she didn't tell you," the coral-haired girl calmly retorted, practically yawning at the furious emerald eyes that were currently glaring at her intently.
Okay, so maybe that was part of it, but the raven-haired number two Pearl would never admit it, and instead only emitted a low growl before taking off at a full sprint back towards the dorms.
"N-Natsuki?!" Laura gasped at the sudden action.
"Where are you going?! The ceremony starts in five minutes!" Carla called out before pouting, "Oooh…We can't have both the number one and number two Pearls missing…"
Pumping her legs as fast as they could manage, Natsuki ran across the Garderobe campus at full speed, ungracefully barging through the door of the room she shared with the enthusiastic redhead.
"Mai! M-Mai…?"
Sighing for the unbeknownst time, Shizuru Viola continued to gaze out the window of the luxurious limousine as it cruised down the busy streets of Aries, which, in turn, only caused the rambunctious blonde beside her to groan.
"What's your problem? You've been bloomy all morning."
"Gloomy, Haruka-chan," Yukino Chrysant, President of the Aries Republic, corrected her Otome.
A grumbled 'don't use -chan' was barely heard, but the crimson-eyed woman paid it no heed and continued her forlorn activity.
"Haruka does have a point though, you have seemed rather distant since you arrived, Miss Viola. Did something happen?"
"…Today is graduation day at Garderobe…"
"Hmm? Oooh…I get it…You're just sad because you don't get to watch your cute little underclassman graduate, huh?" the blonde pressed, earning yet another disheartened sigh from the tawny-haired woman.
"Really, Viola, I'll never understand what you liked about that temperamental girl—"
"H-Haruka—" Yukino tried to stop the lecturing of her friend to no avail.
"—A Column like yourself should be honored that Headmistress Oleander–sama chose you to take her place at this meeting of the local nations. It's very important you know. Besides, I'm sure that Kruger kid won't even notice that you're not there."
"Haruka-san, I don't think you're helping…" the lady President could only murmur under her breath, shoulders drooping slightly as the limo continued towards the Aires Republic Judiciary Hall.