The Final Chapter
Eighteenth

It is early spring in Astraea Hill. The graduation for departing sixth year students had taken place a week ago.

Tamao is sitting by her favorite tree – her head comfortably nestled on Miyuki's shoulder. At this point, they hardly care about any speculation. In any case, Miyuki's rumored cancellation of her long-standing engagement had only served to boost her belated popularity.

Earlier in the morning, as they walked together, they saw the sight of Kizuna and Remon. Miyuki mused at the thought about the two Lulim girls getting together. Seeing those two holding hands, Miyuki quietly giggled. "I think they're going out." Tamao could only smile at her (former) mentor's comment.

"Tamao-sama! Miyuki-san!" The orange head turns to wave a hand at them. The blue-haired women smiled in return. As the two girls from Lulim walked with them, and Kizuna continues to poke her blonde lover's arm. Remon found the action a bit embarrassing, considering that they were with the (once and current) most powerful figures in Astraea Hill.

"Kizuna-chan!" The blonde furrowed her eyebrows to show her irritation. Kizuna let out a sheepishly childish "Bleeeeeh!" and ran. The blonde could only frown in frustration. "Whoa, Kizuna-chan! Honestly!" Miyuki and Tamao chuckled at the scene.

Remon sighs as the orange-haired ran around. "Miyuki-san, you are sure lucky that Tamao-sama is not a klutz." Miyuki put an arm on Tamao's shoulder and with a proud tone, she said. "Well, I couldn't be more honored." Tamao bowed down and laughed inwardly, trying to hide the blush from her face.

"Hey! Tamao-chan!"

She looked up to see sight of her roommate Nagisa along with Shizuma. Behind them were the bickering Spicans, Yaya and Tsubomi, holding hands. Tamao waved a hand at the two couples. Miyuki smiled at her silver-haired friend. Shizuma draped an arm at her best friend's shoulder.

"Congratulations to us, Miyuki-chan!" Shizuma's other hand messed with her hair. Miyuki could only laugh at her friend's gesture.

"Stop that, Shizuma…"

"Oh, that's new. The strict former Kaichou-san laughing?" Shizuma glanced at a surprised Tamao and winked an eye.

As they continued to walk, petals of cherry blossom filled their path. Hearing Nagisa's cheerful voice, the sound of the two bickering Spicans (they love each other, nonetheless) and the chirpy noise of a blonde girl and her orange klutz, Miyuki thought of one thing: the feeling of contentment. Her thought was interrupted as Tamao held her hand; her gray eyes meet brown ones again along with a blissful smile.

Tamao just finished reading her latest poem to Miyuki. She calls it Miyuki's "off-the-job" training, Miyuki having easily obtained offers from three well known publishing companies. The Hanazono influence had been a great help. In a week's time, she would start work as an editor in one of three firms. She will be put in the literary division, to be exact. She accepted that company's offer because they were most accommodating of her university exam preparation requirements – and they had also expressed a willingness to hire her after university if she maintained her exemplary academic record. She ends up being roommates with Shizuma again. But this time, the silver-haired woman makes sure she herself won't be a pain in the ass.

Things were expectedly not as rosy on Miyuki's family side. Her parents had threatened – and continue to threaten – to totally cut her off. It had greatly distressed Miyuki at first – far more than the prospect of being disowned, she felt very dismayed about her parents accusing her of being an undutiful and ungrateful child. Tamao had seen her through that crisis. But with her determination, which even her former fiancé had been impressed with, Miyuki had pulled herself through fine. He even offered to marry her after university, however Miyuki already made it clear to him that there are other reasons (just one blue-haired, gray eyed reason, actually) that she wouldn't marry him ever. End of story.

After they finished discussing Tamao's poem, the younger girl pauses for a moment and retrieved a small box in her pocket. With a hint of her old shyness, she hands the box over to Miyuki and explains.

"It's my graduation present for you. I know it's late, but it took a while for the shop to get me exactly what I wanted."

Miyuki opens the box…and retrieves a locket on a delicate silver chain. Tamao hastens to explain.

"Well, for some reason, I thought you're the sort of person who would look really good with a necklace on."

The older girl opens the locket and smiles at what she finds inside.

"I love it. It's so beautiful, Tamao-chan. Mind helping me putting it on?"

Tamao kneels in front of the older woman and fastens the chain around her neck. Loving brown eyes meet loving gray ones, then eyes close as lips touch in an exquisitely tender kiss.

Inside the locket are twin locks of blue hair.

~ FIN ~

次回予告

"Eh? It's the end already?!"

"No, Tamao-chan. The stories of us maidens will continue on forevermore."

"Miyuki-sama, ours will continue on forevermore. That I'm sure of."

Next time on Strawberry Panic!: "Tea And Biscuits"

"It's someone else's turn to shine, Tamao-chan."

"I can't wait, Miyuki-sama. I can't wait."