Two
The Strawberry Dormitory was more than being a little excited because of the exchange students that would be coming here. Rumors about the exchange students being the most beautiful girls were spreading. Not many believe that these girls would be able to rival with their current Etoile, Hanazono Shizuma. The only girl that they all believed would rival the Etoile's beauty was Ohtori Amane whom to be the Prince of St Spica. Even with all the rumors starting about the newcomers, it didn't phase Shizuma one bit. The current Etoile didn't care about it even though she was pushed to care about such matter. The only person that was pushing her was her best friend, and also the School Council President of St Miator, Rokujou Miyuki. If Shizuma could, she would rather shut herself in a place where Miyuki wouldn't be able to find her so she wouldn't have to do all these Etoile's business.
"The eight St Lilian Girls' School' students will be here within next week, can I get a promise from you that you will be there to greet them?" Miyuki asked in her business-like tone as she helped Shizuma with the Etoile's paperwork.
Shizuma shot a glance at her friend, heaved out a small sigh before turning back to her own paperwork. "Do I need to promise you such thing?" She asked plainly.
"Of course," Miyuki quickly responded much to Shizuma's dismay. "You are the Etoile of all the three schools. You need to be present."
Shizuma sighed once again. "I suppose I don't have any other way to do what you've asked of me, Miyuki."
It was then that Miyuki shot her a look, and even though Shizuma was wearing a blank mask, she could clearly tell that the silver-haired beauty wasn't happy about it. Perhaps she should bring Aoi Nagisa, Shizuma's affection of interest, along to lighten up the atmosphere. However, greeting the newcomers wasn't the job for a non-member of Student Council, so asking Nagisa along was out of the question. Shizuma would have to suck it up and play the nice Etoile that the schools loved and adored, and she knew that her friend would do a perfect job at it.
"Three of the eight students will be in Miator," Miyuki started which didn't seem to catch Shizuma's attention. The latter was merely half listening to her. "Mizuno Youko, a sixth grader. Ogasawara Sachiko, a fifth grader and Fukuzawa Yumi, a fourth grader. They are the Red Rose family."
The mention of the Red Rose family sparked her interest. She glanced over at Miyuki, halting her paperwork. "Red Rose family?"
Knowing that she had succeeded in catching Shizuma's attention, she held in a smile as she nodded. "Yes, in St Lilian's School, there is a system called Soeur. Any fifth graders and above can take a fourth grader in as their petite soeur as known as little sister. The student council over there is called the Yumayurikai and it consisted of three Roses; Yellow, White and Red. The Yellow Rose is called Rosa Foetida, the White Rose is Rosa Gigantea and the Red Rose is Rosa Chinensis. Mizuno Youko is the head of the Red Rose as it is passed down to her from her grand soeur. Her petite soeur, which is called, Rosa Chinensis en bouton is Ogasawara Sachiko. And the en bouton's petite soeur is Fukuzawa Yumi. Those three are a part of the Red Rose Family."
Intrigued by the idea of having a little sister, Shizuma's eyes began to sparkle in interest. "Do you think we could have the system over at the Strawberry Dorm as well?" She just wanted to take Nagisa under as her little sister, and of course, claiming that the girl was hers.
Miyuki chuckled softly before she turned to look at Shizuma. "If we have that sort of system over here, I believe that everyone would be running wild with their little sisters and big sisters. Remember, Shizuma, the Astrea Hill consisted of three schools, not one."
Shizuma let out a puff in disappointment, she was looking forward to calling Nagisa her petite soeur if Miyuki was to agree to the idea. Well, even if Miyuki didn't, she would find a way to secretly make Nagisa her little sister without Miyuki knowing. Then again, that plan would go to void when Miyuki could always find out whatever it is that Shizuma was up to.
Miyuki chuckled in amusement at Shizuma's disappointed expression before she turned her attention back to the paperwork. Before she read through the form before her, she checked her wrist watch and sighed lightly. "It is almost time for the Student Councils Meeting."
"Another boring meeting it seems." Shizuma sighed as she tidied her workstation.
"Stay here and don't move." Miyuki said in a demanding tone. When Shizuma looked up at her in amusement, she was greeted with a serious look from Miyuki. The silver-haired beauty sighed and shrugged.
"Alright, I won't move."
Once Miyuki had left the room, Shizuma quietly stood up from her chair and moved herself over to the glass door. She knew that she shouldn't be doing this, but there was no way she was going to stay in this room for another 40 minutes. She couldn't endure the gaze of expectation from St Spica's Student Council President, Toumori Shion. That wide forehead girl was making it difficult for her to even listen to her own voice. So this was the easy way out, and she knew that she would be scolded by Miyuki one way or another. Well, she could take that than sitting in that room for another minute.
Shizuma slipped out of the room as quietly as she could, and quickly made her way towards the school backyard. She knew that no one would be able to find her here, and she could finally relax her mind for a while. When she made her way to the tree that was filled with all the happy and painful memories, she didn't expect to see another person there. When the girl came into her view, her lips curled up into a smile when that girl was no other than Aoi Nagisa. She wondered what the younger girl was doing there, but when she made her way closer she could hear the girl counting. She could also see that Nagisa had closed her eyes, and it appeared that she was playing hide-and-seek with her friends. She quietly watched the girl counting with amusement before she knew it, Nagisa was almost at 100. So she moved quietly over to stand in front of the girl, just to see what the younger girl's reaction would be when she opened her eyes.
"One hundred!" Nagisa said excitedly as she moved her hands to uncover her eyes. Once her eyes have been greeted by the light, her cheeks immediately flushed at the sight before her. There, standing there in all its glory and beauty, was Hanazono Shizuma, the only one woman that could make her heart beat as fast as it was beating at this moment. "Shizuma-sama!"
Shizuma chuckled, thoroughly amused at Nagisa's reaction. "Good day, Nagisa."
Realizing that she was standing quite close to the Etoile, Nagisa quickly took a step back and bowed her head respectively. "G-good day, Etoile-sama!"
Shizuma smiled, and even though she didn't want Nagisa to be so nervous around her but it couldn't be helped. It was all too amusing to watch the younger girl before her, without her having to do anything but be in Nagisa's presence. "Why were you counting, may I ask?"
Nagisa's cheeks darkened slightly out of embarrassment. "Umm...Since I've only been here for a couple of days, I don't know the campus quite well. So Tamao-chan and the girls from the neighboring room decided to help me explore the campus. I wanted to make it fun so I suggested we play hide-and-seek with me being the seeker."
That sounded quite interesting and fun to Shizuma, but she didn't show it. And even though she wanted to participate in the game just to hide from Miyuki and her helpers, she knew that it would make the game very awkward to the others. Nagisa might not mind the idea, but what would the other students think of her when she voluntarily participates in such childish activity?
"I see. Would you like me to show you around some time?" Shizuma asked softly.
Taken aback by the unexpected question, Nagisa looked up at the taller girl, which was clearly a mistake. She knew that once her eyes fixated on Shizuma's gaze, her body wouldn't be able to move and she would feel weak. Shizuma, knowing that Nagisa had taken in the bait, had quickly moved closer to the younger girl as she wrapped a hand around Nagisa's waist. She pulled the younger girl closer as she gently cupped the girl's chin between her fingers, lifting her head up to really look at her.
"I promise the places that I would be showing you won't be in your friends' list." Shizuma said seductively as her eyes watched Nagisa's helpless expression. All too soon she heard footsteps behind her, and she heaved out a sigh of disappointment. "Hopefully, I'd be hearing your answer soon."
Shizuma let go off of Nagisa and quickly made an exit. When she was out of sight, she could hear Suzumi Tamao's voice asking if her roommate was alright. She sighed and shook her head. When she was just about to have some fun, someone would turn up and ruin it.