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Disclaimer: Sakurako Kimino, the creator of Strawberry Panic and Media Factory, the company that sponsors its anime, own all copyrighted material this fanfiction may include such as characters, events, et cetera.
The rest of it is mine... ALL MINE! BWAHAHAHHA! *thunder crackles in the background* ... So no stealing! =p Well, unless you ask me nicely. ^.^;;;
Author's Note: I suppose a chapter dealing with Yaya isn't quite as popular. x) Hopefully, this chapter will do better. We're finally getting into more interaction that will set up the plot for this story. The previous chapters were mostly to introduce or reintroduce the characters and give the story a setting. Of course, there's still a few more to acquaint you with, but the central conflicts will now begin to reveal themselves. Additionally, as with the anime, I'm going to have a climactic moment divide the story into two parts, with a second climax towards the latter half of the second part.
Throughout these first chapters of the story, it should be noted that several characters are acting differently than expected. Some of them have grown. Others are showing a side that was never emphasised in the anime. Still others are showing characteristics that, while not present or, at least, not seemingly present in the anime, are prevalent or apparent in the manga. What does this all mean? Well, I found that there shouldn't be an exact and rigid structure to the characters' attributes. Many things had changed by the time the anime concluded. Nagisa was finally with Shizuma, Kaname admitted to having deep respect for Amane and actually loved her despite being so antagonistic towards her during the year, and Hikari went from a helpless girl to being the person who pushed Amane's recovery and allowed the couple to become Etoile.
However, thus far, the changes have been moderate and only slightly elabourated. As we continue, though, I hope to make these nuances to the characters more apparent and intricate in shaping the events of the fiction they partake in. Of course, this will be mostly indirect and slight, but we'll see how obvious they end up to you guys. x)
For now, let's see continue on with the Second Year!
~Strawberry Panic: The Second Year~
"The pieces are in transit. Whose strategy will prevail?" Shizuka asks, taking her attention from her notepad to watch the buds of the sakura tree she is sitting under, "Spring is the time for blossoming, but do our flowers have what they need to thrive?"
From the Sakura Forest on the outskirts of the Lulim school grounds to the campus proper, Shizuka is lost to these thoughts, her hazel eyes scanning the girls wandering about. As she passes them, they stop to swoon, which comes as no surprise to the popular upperclassman and she reciprocates with a wave, despite the distractions in her mind.
"The bees of Astraea seem more concerned about filling themselves with nectar than how such gorging affects the flowers. Gardeners have a difficult chore ahead, but the queens may prove more benevolent than previously suspected." She thinks to herself, stopping by a room, "I suppose, in the end, all things must exist in symbiosis in order to survive."
The Ties of Sisterhood
The music room resonates with the sanctimonious chant of the Saintly Choir. Their chants echo in unison as the conductor directs their progression. When it ends, Tsubomi seeks out her friends. She finds Eiko first, the petite girl nervously wobbling to gather her things. Yaya, meanwhile has already gone to Hikari, teasing her about being unable to participate. Though she wants to join them, Tsubomi remains with the young girl, gaining her attention by placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Eiko-chan, what's troubling you? You seem jittery." She asks the girl, noticing how pale her face has gotten.
"Tsubomi-senpai, I don't think I'm ready for the exams." The blonde answers her, looking down at her bag.
"The exams? They aren't for a while." Tsubomi returns, curious as to why her kouhai would be stressed over them.
Eiko sighs to calm her nerves before turning back to her pink-haired senpai to say, "Yes, but I really want to pass them and I don't think I can!"
Tsubomi looks to her with worry. A short distance away, Hikari discusses the exams with Yaya, as well, the bistre-haired girl having never taken her studies seriously. She turns her head, causing a long stream of her hair to drape over her shoulder, and makes a callous remark about it.
"Yaya-chan, there are other reasons to pass this time. You don't want to go to summer classes, do you?" Hikari pleads with the girl.
"Hikari worries too much. I only had to take those classes once and I did fine last year." She retorts, turning her attention to her right as their company arrives, "Tsubomi-chan, don't you start lect-"
Tsubomi interrupts her, quickly bowing her head and saying, "Sorry, Eiko-chan is very worried about the upcoming exams. I'd like to stay, but we should really get going."
"That's okay, Tsubomi-chan. Yaya and I were just about to go studying, too." Hikari replies, linking her arm with the suddenly impassive girl.
With that, the two underclassmen depart, Eiko visibly showing jubilation over attaining her tutor. Yaya takes notice, but is given a tug by the other blonde whose gaze is filled with a hope that Yaya can't accept. She unhooks her arm from the girl and moves to the window, staring out at it like she's been doing.
Hikari, however, does not maintain her silence. Instead, she calls the indignant girl on her odd behaviour, stating that, "Yaya hasn't been acting like herself."
"What do you mean? A person can't peer out a window of her own free will?" Yaya returns, brushing back some strands of bistre.
"I mean yesterday." Hikari quickly responds, moving closer.
"Yesterday?" Yaya is unsure of the blonde's meaning, but her mind races over what it could be.
"You never pass up an opportunity to tease us, but when Tsubomi and Chiyo had their accident, you were the most silent out of the lot of us. What's going on, Yaya-chan?" Hikari explains, turning the girl about, the expression on her face morphing from confused to sullen.
Yaya knew why she hadn't made a sound, but she also knew how much Hikari overreacted when she didn't act like her "usual" self. It actually was one annoying part of her roommate, but in the end, Yaya couldn't help but adore that, too. It was due to this undeniable fact that prompts Yaya's following action.
"You noticed what I was doing? I'm flattered, Hikari-chan." She purrs, moving over to her surprised roommate, "Tell me, what else did you notice?"
Unfortunately for her, Hikari is not the same roommate that would have backed off from such an assertive gesture. She pushes the girl away and states outright, "I noticed you have been unusual. Tell me what is wrong!"
Yaya smiles at the girl; Hikari has grown stronger having become Etoile with her prince. Though she is overjoyed for the blonde, deep down, she knows that it is just another proof that she belongs to the other woman. Yaya really is nothing more than the third wheel. Of course, she's known this since before the Etoile-sen, but it still hits hard. Yaya decides not to respond to Hikari and returns to the window, hoping her firm resolve will allow Hikari to understand and deter her from pressing on.
At the library, Tsubomi is just returning to her table where Eiko sits, her face buried in a book. The girl had been flustered and asked Tsubomi to help. However, as the subject matter was history, the young senpai thought it best to find a reference book. It had taken her a while to locate a proper one, most of the ones she'd glanced having only scant entries on it, but it seems to her that during this time, Eiko had gone ahead. It is also clear to the second year that the blonde was hopelessly lost in another section.
Tsubomi considers her options. She could simply return to the table and offer up the reference. She could scold the girl for continuing on ahead without her supervision. However, a voice deep down at the back of her mind thought to tell her of yet a third option.
"Inoue Eiko, do you want to play a game?" The low bellow whispers in the blonde's ear, causing her to jump with a squeak.
Tsubomi giggles as the girl settles back down, whining about having been pranked. She squirms uncomfortably in her seat, then says, "Tsubomi-senpai, why would you do that? We're in the library."
After holding back her chuckles, the pink-haired girl lifts a finger and notes that, "That was my reaction, too, back then."
"Back then? But if you were upset by being fooled back then, why are you playing jokes on me now?" Eiko asks.
The question actually catches Tsubomi by surprise. She is puzzled by this behaviour, which no doubt is odd for her. In fact, when Yaya had done something similar to her only a few weeks ago, she had complained about it, too. However, she had to admit, it was a fun and funny experience on either side of the prank. Though Tsubomi is a Spica girl through and through, she can't help but feel that the playful humour she'd experienced over the past year had been fun. She enjoyed the ludicrous and overcomplicated schemes the Lulim girls often came up with and always wanted to join them, despite voicing her objections to them. In the end, the poise and prestige expected of a student of Spica is smothering and Tsubomi is slowly starting to realise it.
Of course, what she says is, "That is because Eiko moved on without me. I spent all this time searching for a good reference for you and you should have been carefully studying that section. Moving on before you fully comprehend the previous information is not a proper study habit."
"Sorry, Tsubomi-senpai." Eiko responds, bowing her head and flipping back to the correct page.
Tsubomi only smiles at the girl, opening up the reference book to the entry she'd found and going back to her tutoring position.
Unbeknownst to them, Makoto lurks in the shadows, bearing witness to the scene and all implications therein. A devilish grin stretches across her visage as her eyes narrow on the two. She has her own theories as to Tsubomi's supposed character change and takes them with her on her way to the Student Council Office. When she enters, she notices that only Momomi is present, absentmindedly staring out a window. She redirects her focus to the door when Makoto arrives, but does nothing more as the silver-maned girl quietly takes her seat, still bearing her grin.
"You're up to something." Momomi notes, finally breaking the silence.
"Whatever could you mean, Momomi?" Is her only reply.
"Predators only saunter when they're sure of success." Momomi explains metaphorically.
"And bees should mind their own business." Makoto fires back.
Momomi shakes her head, "You always were a bit blunter."
"Blunt works. If I went off on a poetic tangent, I do believe I'd lose my target." Makoto returns, closing her eyes.
"It's called finesse." The older girl suggests, flicking a few strands of auburn.
"It's called being confusing as f-"
"Looks like she's rubbed off on you." Momomi interrupts, going back to the window, "In any event, take greater care when playing your games. Otherwise, you may find that the pawns aren't protecting the king."
Makoto only huffs at this, replying with a smile, "Oh, I always take care to ensure my pawns become queens."
The girl lets her words trail before getting on with her work, glancing every so often at her senior standing vigil at the window. She smirks to herself; she assumes Momomi's episode to have been brought on by jealousy over the similar roles Makoto and the girl's precious Kaname now share. Of course, while this is undoubtedly a factor, the sixth year has other reasons stemming back to the previous year. Momomi can do nothing but wait and tend to things as she can. She only hopes it will be enough.
A soft-spoken girl, Byakudan Kagome is not one to actively pursue the sorts of goals many of her peers seem to seek. She is of Lulim, but even in a passive, whimsical environment such as this, she stands out as being unattached, distant. However, on this day, the short, slight girl with golden curls discovers that she is well on her way, already drifting through the halls of Miator's various clubrooms. There is a scent in the air, though it isn't the typical variety. No, the typical smells Kagome also notices, and it only happens to coincide with her destination.
The loud clang and clack of bowls, tools, and countertops ring through the clubroom of Miator's Cooking Club. Though the club is not in session on this day, the room is often used by the students for their own ends. Presently, Miator Student Council's own Tsukidate Chiyo occupies it, noisily and haphazardly attempting to… do something. She isn't doing it very well, either.
As a bowl of batter suddenly slips from her grasp, she fumbles to maintain her hold of it, but only manages to slip on the floor, causing her to toss the whole mess over her head before falling to the ground. As she recovers, she stares up at the as yet still airbourne bowl, poised to strike her straight in her face. With no time to move and no chance of catching it in time, Chiyo shuts her eyes tightly and waits for her inevitable doom.
However, after lying on the ground for a good minute, she cautiously opens her eyes of azul to find the head of a tan creature staring back. She shrieks, pulling herself back to her feet, after which, she realises it had only been the face of Percival. When she had her accident was also the same moment that Kagome arrived and she had caught the bowl, which currently rested on the stuffed bear's back.
"Oh, Kagome-chan!" Chiyo gasps, "What are you doing here?"
Kagome only looks down at the bowl of batter, prompting the girl to explain, "I'm trying to bake some cookies. I guess I'm not having very much luck."
To this, Kagome again remains silent, taking her attention to the rest of the clubroom where her teal eyes find what appears to be a scene out of a bakery horror flick. There are spatter patterns of batter everywhere and utensils of all forms litter the floor dripping more batter as if abandoned by the butcher in question. Who knew Chiyo could be capable of such a heinous act against the baked goods community?
"Yes, I know I made a mess. I definitely will clean it up once I'm done… but, it's just that… I'm not quite getting there…" The criminal pleads her case, taking back the bowl of batter from her companion.
Kagome watches Chiyo then looks at Percival. As Chiyo smiles nervously at the girl, Kagome lifts the bear to her, saying, "Percival will help Chiyo-chan clean the clubroom. I will help her make the cookies."
"Thank you both!" Chiyo chirps happily, bowing to the girl.
"Percival and I are happy to help the Student Council President." Kagome adds, surprising the blue-haired girl again.
"How did you know they were for Tamao-oneesama?" She gasps, a blush appearing on her face.
Kagome doesn't immediately return with a verbal response. Instead, she takes hold of Percival's paw and points it to a note that sits on one of the cleaner countertops, saying, "Percival accidentally read it."
"Percival wants to tell you that he's sorry." The girl continues, but her blue-haired friend is already mortified and inconsolable.
Kagome pets the girl's head with Percival's paw and goes to remake the batter for the cookies.
"That looks great on you, Nagisa-chan." Chikaru compliments the girl who twirls for her.
Nagisa has been acquired by the elegant designer once again, this time due to her insistence that the redhead help her by modeling her newest outfits for the Henshin Club. Of course, it doesn't go unnoticed that the Lulim President could have gone to her usual models for help. Still, Nagisa has been impossibly bored as of late and the distraction is appreciated. Her thoughts linger on the former Etoile that no longer attends the school.
"Chikaru-sama?" Nagisa slowly asks.
"Yes, Nagisa-chan?" Chikaru answers with a smile, taking her eyes away from the sketches she is comparing the finished outfit to.
"Thank you." She proceeds to say.
"For what?" Is the upperclassman's response, though the smile on her gentle countenance shows that she knows full well what she's done for the girl.
"I've been so lonely lately without Shizuma-sama. It's nice of you to help me keep occupied so I don't think about it too much." Nagisa explains, placing her hands to her heart.
"It's my pleasure!" Chikaru chimes, tilting her head and smiling warmly at the girl.
"Chikaru-sama?" Nagisa continues, gaining the complete attention of the older girl, "I miss her so much."
Not to let the girl sink back into her sullen state, Chikaru quickly moves to her, suggesting that, "You know, I'm sure Shizuma-sama feels the same way."
"Oh no, I couldn't forgive myself if Shizuma-sama is feeling as lonely as I am!" Nagisa speaks with worry emanating from her words.
"Nagisa-chan, there's something you could do. When two people are deeply connected, they can sometimes feel what the other is feeling. You only need to concentrate. Find the love you have for Shizuma-sama and I'm sure she'll know how much you care." Chikaru suggests.
Taking this to heart, Nagisa closes her eyes and begins to concentrate. In fact, she concentrates so hard on Shizuma that she nearly forgets to breath, her eyes shut very tightly. This goes on for a bit, but eventually, Nagisa's body demands air and forces her to break her "concentration" and focus on the things keeping her alive. She gasps and begins taking in ragged breaths as Chikaru giggles at her awkward attempt.
"I don't think I'm doing it right." Nagisa admits, taking a few deep breaths, "Can Chikaru let me see how it works?"
"Uh…" Chikaru is taken aback, but nods slightly as she regains herself, "Okay, Nagisa-chan. I can try."
Though reluctant, the older girl closes her eyes and concentrates, thinking on those emotions, on bringing her closer, and at that very moment, the ebony-maned Shizuka opens the door of the clubroom and catches their eye.
"Shizuka!" Chikaru gasps, sharing an equally bewildered expression as the redhead beside her.
"Am I interrupting something?" The girl asks, moving into the room.
Seeing the supposed successful attempt by Chikaru, Nagisa returns to her focus and tries to connect with the silver-maned former Etoile once more. Shizuka and Chikaru smile at her as she does this, silently cheering her on. As they watch the girl, Chikaru leans in against the taller girl, the pair sharing a light chuckle.
Hikari and Amane lie in bed together. With the constraints of the Etoile title, the couple has actually found very little time to spend together privately. Unlike they had expected, being Etoile is a public affair and, in lieu of respect and adoration from the students of each of the three schools comes the following they draw wherever they go. Even when simply tending to the Astraea Greenhouse, they are not alone. Higurashi Kagura and Mutou Anzu had been appointed as their assistants and kept an uncomfortably close watch on them or, more specifically, on Amane.
However, the position is, for the athlete, exactly what the previous Etoile had said it would be. In becoming the Etoile, Amane found something she never could have without it. She has become a symbol of Astraea, a powerful representative that can lead the other girls towards their destinies. This she can do by example, as the joined title is a defining representation of her commitment and love for Hikari, something she couldn't be without the beautiful girl lying next to her.
To this end, though, Amane is concerned. Taking her crimson eyes to Hikari, she solemnly says, "Is it enough?"
"Amane-senpai?" Hikari responds, unsure of her meaning.
"I worry that I am not capable of upholding the responsibilities of the Etoile. What Hanazono-senpai said about being Etoile is true. I can feel it. I can feel the difference now that we are the Etoile, but that was only the start. That was what this position can do for us. To honour it, however, there is so much we can do." Amane explains, showing the side of her character that she usually hid behind her athleticism.
"I believe in Amane-senpai." Is Hikari's reply as she turns to her side to embrace her.
"Hikari…" Amane cooes, "Thank you."
To this, though, Hikari doesn't respond. She is, herself, distracted. The encounter with Yaya hadn't gone as she had planned and Yaya seems to have slipped further away from her. She is concerned most of all because the odd behaviour is reminiscent of her behaviour last year after her failure to woo the Etoile away from her prince.
"Hikari? Is something wrong?" Amane asks, some of her short blue hair falling over her face as she looks down at the girl.
"Yaya-chan is acting strangely. It was just like it was last year, but I thought she moved past it. I hope I'm not the reason for her being upset." Hikari admits to her, shifting in her place beside the athlete.
Amane kisses her forehead and says, "I'll have a word with her. Maybe it would help to let her release whatever it is causing her pain."
"Thank you, Amane-senpai! That just might work!" Hikari chirps, nuzzling the older girl and bringing a warm smile to her face.
However, to deal with Yaya would be difficult. Amane has never actually spoken directly to the girl. Handling such a delicate situation will be difficult for her, but Amane considers this an opportunity to bring credibility to her title, a way for her to believe she is living up to her duties. To this end, even as Hikari sleeps peacefully, Amane remains awake to consider her strategy for dealing with her love's roommate.
Author's Note: Just as a note, Higurashi Kagura and Mutou Anzu are more than not going to be minor characters much like Shizuma's assistants were in the anime. I don't even know if I'll be giving them speaking roles. As for their names, well, for those who know about the projects I've still got lined up in the back of my head, they should be able to guess where the names come from. =p
Is anyone getting as tired of angsty Yaya as I am? Hopefully there'll be a change for the better once Amane gets through with her, but that might be asking a bit much.
Speaking of Yaya's angst, I don't suppose by now it will still be a surprise who the intended couples are in this fiction. I won't reveal them outright, especially in an author's note, but I do believe it isn't a secret anyway.
I will say that, given all the circumstances that could arise between now and that end point, the couples are not going to find an easy route to one another and there may yet be bumps along the way. =p
Of course, by the end of it, I hope that no one will object to who I have the students elect as the new Etoile after Amane graduates in March of the coming year. Just to make sure we're all on the same page, Shizuka will definitely not become Etoile. xD She's a sixth year and, as much as I enjoy her character and its compliment to Chikaru, I'm not about to break those rules. xD
In this chapter, I must say my favourite scene is with Chikaru and Nagisa. There are similar concepts regarding love and its mystical properties, which can channel one of the lover's emotions to another. I just thought I'd give it a whirl and pitch in a bit of humour to it, as well, having Nagisa turn blue from "concentrating" too hard. xD
次回予告
Nagisa: *hyperventilating* I don't think I'm getting it.
Tamao: Nagisa-chan, what are you doing? If you keep holding your breath like that, you'll cause yourself to faint!
Nagisa: That's okay, Tamao-chan. It looks like we're going to take a break in the next chapter.
Tamao: What? Again we're going to be missing?
Nagisa: Wow, Yaya-chan sounds so good!
Tamao: Yes, she really sings well, doesn't she?
Nagisa: I wonder if that will help. Oh, Chikaru-sama! Right, I have to concentrate! *starts turning blue again*
Tamao: Nagisa-chan…
Next time on Strawberry Panic, Between The Lines!
Nagisa: Ooh… I don't think it's working…
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