Six
Everyone was off to their club activities that day, leaving the Roses families to wonder whether they should join a club or not. At least there would be something to do than hanging around the Strawberry Dorm's lounge. Then again, there was a piano there so Sachiko could always play some songs for them. The Red Roses didn't really mind whether they should join a club or not, there wasn't much of a hassle about it. The Yellow Roses, especially Rei, wanted to join a club where they could enjoy their time in Astrea. Sei had already found a club where she wanted to join, and of course she was going to drag Shimako along just so her petite soeur could be a little bit more outgoing. That particular club was run by Minamoto Chikaru and Sei couldn't be more than happy to join it when Chikaru had asked her. So that was where the White Rose family was hanging out, in Chikaru's club's room.
"Everyone, please settle down so I can introduce you all to our new club members." Chikaru said softly as she smiled at her first years; Kizuna, Remon and Kagome.
The three first years all let out a confirmation before settling down on their seats. Their eyes immediately went straight over to Sei and Shimako whom were standing there in a little bit of shock. They were expecting the club to be full of people, not just only four people including Chikaru. It was then that they began to wonder what kind of club that Chikaru was running.
"This is Satou Sei and Toudou Shimako, our two new Lulim's students and club members. Please, give them a warm welcome!" Chikaru said with such happiness in her tone that the three youngsters let out a full smile, except for Kagome whom was looking up at Shimako in wonder.
Kizuna was the first to stand up and introduced herself. "I'm Hyuuga Kizuna! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Followed by Remon. "I'm Natsume Remon. It is a pleasure to meet you."
The two girls then turned to face Kagome, waiting for the quiet girl to introduce herself. Instead of just standing up and introduce herself like the other two girls did, Kagome went over to where Sei and Shimako was standing and looked up at the both of them in silent. Sei was looking a tad bit nervous at Kagome's gaze, wondering what in the world that she had gotten herself into. Shimako was different. She was looking at Kagome as if she was studying her, trying to piece in the puzzle that Kagome had laid out in front of her eyes. Then, with a small smile, Kagome lifted her teddy bear's hand and offered it to Shimako.
"Byakudan Kagome…" The younger said softly and quietly, in which Shimako smiled down gently at her and carefully took the teddy bear's outreach hand and gave it a light shake.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kagome-chan." Shimako said softly and at that moment, Sei had no idea what the heck was going on. So to break the tension, she turned to face Chikaru who was looking at both Shimako and Kagome in adoration.
"So, Chikaru, what is club about?" Sei asked curiously as she looked around the room. It was just like any ordinary classroom, but it was just a tad bit smaller and there wasn't any kind of decoration.
"It depends on what you want this club to be, Sei-san." Chikaru replied with a gentle smile, though Sei could hear a tint of challenge in the girl's voice.
When Shimako turned to look at her Onee-sama, she couldn't help but felt like Sei was going to have one outrageous idea for this club, one that she wasn't sure she should participate in or not. She was now beginning to worry that the current Rosa Gigantea would take whatever idea that was forming in her head a little bit too far.
"How about…Flirting Club!" Sei asked with her traditional smirk. Chikaru wasn't surprised at all, not when she had been observing how Sei interacting with the other students, especially Yumi. She knew that Sei was a flirt, but she didn't know that the taller girl would actually suggest something that would suit her personality so much.
"Flirting Club?" Chikaru asked, faking her surprise.
"Yes! Flirting Club!" Sei repeated with a huge grin. If Shimako could predicted what was going to happen before Sei suggested such an outrageous idea, she would place her hand over her Onee-sama's mouth so that the latter wouldn't be able to say anything.
"Would you mind elaborate a bit more about this club, Sei-san?" Chikaru asked politely when she already had an idea of what this club was about.
"Oho, well, let's set this off first with a little bit of a game," Sei said, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "First, you have to make as many girls in Astrea squeal in either surprise or embarrassment as you could. The more numbers you have, the more chance you'd get to be the winner and pick one member in the club to go on a date with you. There is no rule to this, so you can surprise anyone as you'd like."
Shimako sighed quietly. She knew that Sei wouldn't mind if she didn't participate. It was just ridiculous to even think that she, herself, could even make someone squeal in surprise. She could try it but that sort of thing wasn't her. She would be acting as someone else, not at herself, and that was one thing that she didn't like. It was then that she felt a light tug at her skirt, so she turned to face Kagome as the girl looked at her in curiosity.
"Would you like to be the judge?" The little girl asked in her soft, tiny voice.
Shimako blinked, not quite understanding what the girl was asking. "Judge?"
Kagome nodded and it was then that Chikaru giggled. Shimako turned to look at the older dark-haired girl, seemingly confused at why this situation was funny. "Shimako, I know that you and Kagome won't be participating in this little game that Sei-san had planned out for us. So, it is only fair that you two would become the judge to see this game through. You two can each observe two participants," Chikaru then paused as she turned to face Sei, a challenging smile adorning her lips. "Since it is Monday, should we make the deadline to be at the end of Friday?"
Sei grinned. "Of course! This should be quite interesting."
At the end of the club activities, both the White Roses were on their way towards the dorm when Sei heard her petite soeur's sigh. Out of curiosity, she placed her hand on the shorter girl's shoulder to grab her attention. Shimako felt the light touch and looked up at her Onee-sama. There was no words escaping each of their lips, and because of the bond that they had, their eyes were communicating with each other. If anyone was to witness the way that the two were looking at each other, they might misunderstand that the White Roses' relationship was more than just soeurs.
"You are not happy with this game." Sei stated. The younger's sigh was enough of an answer for her.
"The game is a little…childish." Shimako answered softly as she turned to face the road ahead. "I know that you would win and take Chikaru-sama out on a date. However, shouldn't you be straight forward and ask her?"
Sei chuckled as she patted Shimako's shoulder. "Then that wouldn't be fun. Besides, I just want to hear her squeal."
"Onee-sama." Shimako sighed. Even though she disapproved of the game, deep down inside she was happy that Sei would be interacting with the other students. However, this interaction wasn't really a proper one.
Once the White Roses entered the dorm, they heard a surprise squeal inside the lounging area. Curious, they quickly went over to the lounge only to narrowly avoid Kizuna as the younger girl ran out, following by a rather furious looking Remon. Kizuna was giggling while she was being chased by her friend and roommate, Remon. The latter girl was too embarrassed and a tad angry at her friend's outrageous attempt of making her squeal. At the scene, Sei chuckled and turned to wink at Shimako.
"See? They're having fun and it's only getting started."
They soon found their seats with the other Roses members. Youko and Eriko were giggling from the scene earlier while Sachiko seemed to be protecting Yumi from any kind of embarrassing event that would to bestow on her. Since it was Yumi, she knew that the younger girl would fall into this sort of event too easily. Sei noticed the look on Sachiko and couldn't help but chuckle at the raven-haired beauty. The said girl heard the chuckle and quickly turned to look at Sei, only to realize that this whole thing was her idea.
"You!" Sachiko exclaimed quietly. "I knew you had something to do with this!"
Sei couldn't help herself but burst out laughing. "Sachiko, Sachiko, loosen up a little bit will you? None of my club members would be able to get you squealing like that, trust me on this one." Sei soon sobered up as she turned to look at Yumi, grinning mischievously. "Yumi, on the other hand…"
"Rosa Gigantea." Sachiko said as she shot the addressed woman with a glare. "Yumi is not your plaything."
Before Sei could answer to Sachiko's statement, a soft voice interrupted her. "Yumi is not whose plaything?"
The Yumayurikai turned to face the silver-haired beauty as she stood there with all her elegance. Her gaze quickly fell on Yumi which made the younger girl blush and looked away from her. Shizuma giggled quietly to herself before she turned to the one that she was addressing to; Sachiko.
Sachiko gave Shizuma a hard stare before she turned away from the woman's gaze. "It is nothing of importance, Etoile-sama."
"Oh, but I am quite interested." Shizuma insisted as she smiled down at Sachiko.
Sei chuckled at the scene. "Well you see, Shizuma, Yumi here makes a lot of cute noises such as 'Ohs' 'Ahs' and 'Ehs'. It is one of my duties to get it out of her once a day, or so."
"Rosa Gigantea!" Yumi exclaimed as her cheeks flushed in a delicate pink. She was embarrassed, yes, but she held no ill-feelings towards the older girl. After all, it was Sei that had helped her with her relationship with Sachiko.
Shizuma chuckled at the scene before her eyes casted down on Sachiko once more. There was a reason for her to be where she was right now, and that reason would give Sachiko a reaction that she wanted to see. So she turned her gaze over to Yumi, her lips curling up into one of her soft smiles as she addressed the younger girl. "Yumi, can I ask a favor from you?"
At the question, Sachiko immediately tuned out the noises around her and focused her hearing on Yumi's and Shizuma's conversation only. She was curious to what this favor that Shizuma was asking for. In addition to that, she wanted to see if the favor wasn't too outrageous that it would make Yumi embarrassed out of her skin.
"O-of course, Etoile-sama!" Yumi answered as she felt a little nervous under Shizuma's gaze. She felt as if she was meeting Sachiko for the first time once again, though this time was different. It wasn't Sachiko that she was talking to, it was Shizuma. And she couldn't help but feel as if she was going to be in trouble later.
"Nagisa has been restless because of her studies, even though I have told her to take it easy." Shizuma let out a soft sigh. She couldn't feel what the red-head was going through, because she had never been in that kind of position before. It wasn't even exams time yet Nagisa was working just a little bit too hard on her French. She had offered her help for the girl, but she was politely rejected.
Sensing that Shizuma was concerned for her new friend, Nagisa, Yumi perked up straight from her seat and started to worry about her friend as well. "What is she so focusing on that got her to be like this, Etoile-sama?"
"French." Shizuma responded. "She started in the middle and she is struggling with it. It's not yet the time for finals, though she seems determine to catch up."
Yumi gave it some thought before realizing what Shizuma wanted her to do. She smiled cheerfully, having the chance to help Nagisa out was one of the things she wanted to do ever since she saw the girl almost drifting off in class this morning. "Yes! I'll help out as much as I can!"
Shizuma let out a sigh in relief before smiling down at the girl in thanks. "Thank you, Yumi." Then she turned to face the rest of the Yumayurikai's members as she gave them a gentle smile. "I'll see all of you when dinner comes. Have a good day."
"Have a good day, Etoile-sama."
"Have a good day, Shizuma."
When Shizuma turned to leave, she caught sight of Sachiko giving her quite a cold stare. She chuckled before patting the side of the seat that Sachiko was sitting on. "Sachiko." She said lightly, though her voice was filled with amusement. Then she turned to leave the Yumayurikai alone as she made her way towards Miyuki. Of course, Miyuki had a small frown on her face and she could clearly guess the reason behind it.
"Is Yumi another pretty girl you are after?" Miyuki asked quietly yet disappointedly.
Shizuma let out a small chuckle as she shook her head. "Of course not, I just want to see her Onee-sama's reaction when I interact with her."
Miyuki relaxed her stance and sighed as she shook her head. "One day, your actions will come around and bite you in the ass, Shizuma."
Shizuma let out another chuckle in amusement. "I will wait for that day to come with my utmost enthusiasm.