Fourth

Tamao awoke with a start the following morning. The letter she read last night was kept in her little notebook. As she opened it, an unfinished poem was in sight. Those words were written nights before the Etoile election. Her doubts and fears evident in the verses, Tamao decides to scrap the entire thing. "Consummatum est." Tamao thought. It is finished, indeed for her.

After attending a special club meeting that morning, Tamao decided to sit under that tree by the lake. It's the same place she chooses to stay to write her poetry. With her head shaking, no words came out of her mind, and the paper in her hand crumples with her frustration. It seems that her passion for poetry abandoned her.

Moments pass and the blue-haired girl falls asleep. A tall figure watches not too far away. The serene look on Tamao's face doesn't escape the tall figure. Sitting down beside the sleeping fourth year, she sighs. More than anything, Miyuki understands the younger girl's grief. She does, knowing that she is somewhat in the same situation, given her feelings for Shizuma. "I wish it could be easy to just shove this off," Miyuki muses. Unconsciously, the younger blue-haired girl leans on her shoulder. Miyuki didn't think of pushing her away. Not this time. Not ever.

It is late in the afternoon; Tamao awakens and tries to brush off the sleep from her eyes. As the light of the dusky sunset hit her gray pupils, she turns her head around and sees Miyuki sitting beside her. The older blue-haired woman staring at the half frozen lake seemingly lost within her thoughts. Tamao is startled to see her own head somewhat resting on the older girl's shoulder. For some reason, an unfamiliar feeling rushed into her heart. Her movement was fast and she instantly bowed down before the Miator council president.

"I am…sorry, Rokujou-san…" Tamao voice was really soft and gentle. She turned away for a moment, afraid of what reaction she'll see from the older woman next to her.

"I see you're awake, Tamao-san," Miyuki smiles at her. Tamao is surprised by this, as she is used to Miyuki's serious facade. "Do you stay here often?" The blue-haired senior asked.

"Yes…" Tamao's response was quite delayed.

"It figures," Miyuki says as she grabs a leaf from the ground. The leaf's color was auburn, similar to the color of the leaves falling down during autumn. The fragile leaf makes a crisp sound as Miyuki's fingers slowly rustle it. Tamao is surprised by this gesture of the senior student. The leftover snow from the leaf falls onto Miyuki's fingers causing the older girl to shiver a little. Moments later, Tamao hears her speak, in a gentle, yet firm voice.

"It's getting late, Tamao-san. We should be heading back."

With that, Tamao stands up and reaches a hand to help the older woman get up to her feet. As their hands touch, that unfamiliar feeling sweeps again into Tamao's being. She couldn't understand what that was about. Miyuki on the other hand, acts casual and thanks her gently, just like any other person would. Their steps were quite lighter as they walked the path back to the Strawberry Dorms.

That night was deep and Tamao couldn't sleep. She spoke across Nagisa inside their room.

"Nagisa-chan, Rokujou-sama spoke to me the yesterday."
Nagisa didn't say anything. She tried facing her friend to let her know she was listening.

"She offered me to run for student council president." Tamao's tone was soft and uncertain.

"Tamao-chan, you'd be a wonderful president, I can't think of anyone who could replace Rokujou-san."

"Thank you, Nagisa-chan. That means a lot to me."

Turning into their beds, one sighs and the other silently cries herself to sleep. The distance between them seemed like forever. No matter which way she takes, Tamao ends up on the usual path leading her back to misery.

"Rokujou-san, I have considered your request and I…would be deeply honored to fulfill it. Please take me under your care."

Miyuki gazes down at the bowed figure before her and allowed herself a small smile. For once, she never entertained the thought of the younger student rejecting her request. She suddenly remembers that very day when she asked the young poet to write the script for their play back at the drama festival. The enthusiastic look on the younger girl's face started to play in her mind. "Now, here she is…my possible successor." As Miyuki would believe, just like herself, that Tamao would find solace and healing in work and responsibility.

"Thank you, Tamao-san. I'll be seeing you every day after school then. There is much to explain but not much time, so I hope you understand the urgency."

"I perfectly understand. My time is at your disposal, Rokujou-sama."

The younger girl bows again and leaves the room. As the retreating figure fades from the older girl's view, Miyuki heaves a sigh. She'd prefer to show more compassion, but if she does that, that would mean her crossing the line. As she blankly gazes at the window, the serene look on the younger blue-haired girl's face kept playing in her thoughts. The thought of how a quiet place such as the lakeside can be a refuge to the brokenhearted and despairing. Miyuki closes her eyes as the thought repeats in her mind for a while.