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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: The tests are upon us! But who really cares about them? In the anime, it was only Nagisa and Chiyo, mostly Nagisa, that caused the subject to be so central. Of course, it was more about the study sessions anyway, wasn't it? =p This time, Shizuma's presence is no longer there, but Nagisa will be just fine. Welcome back, Nene-chan! Glad you've found some time to pop in. ^_^ And to my lovely Guest, yes, there should be a bit of excitement over the Senkou Dance in this chapter. I'm glad Shizuka's popular with you and my other readers and more so that her popularity amongst you is due to attributes I intended. Don't worry about the Etoile. They know what they're doing. Also, I'm more intrigued by requests than I would ever be angered by one. =p In any event, I hope you enjoy the following chapter!
Oh, and I should say that rather than have a repeat cram tutoring session, this chapter's going to be about foreshadowing and development. It will lead into the following chapter, the dance. I hope I've done a good job of building up to it.
~Strawberry Panic: The Second Year~
"Exams are a big part of school, but this time, I don't think there's a lot of attention being shown to it." Tsubomi thinks to herself, staring out her window while her fingers tap a pencil against her notebook.
Tomorrow is the first day of exams, yet Tsubomi can't concentrate on her last minute reviews. She knows it won't affect her scores as she's prepared for them very well, but the voice in the back of her mind tells her she should be focused. Distractions aren't befitting for a girl within Spica's ranks. She isn't the student she deems she should be. Regardless, her mind betrays her. For the remainder of the night, she fights with herself and her books remain on the same page. She takes to sitting on her window sill, gazing out at the moon outside.
Tricks of the Trade
Silence falls across the whole of Astraea. The dorms have emptied and the courtyards howl as a breeze blows through. The only sound to be heard is the scratching of pencil tips on paper. Every student sits at a desk in one of their school's classrooms, intent on escaping the chains of summer classes in order to reap the rewards of attending the events waiting in the distance.
Tamao finds herself constantly glancing to the redhead struggling beside her, her pencil frantically writing answers. The President has already finished her exam, but decides to stay longer under the pretense of double-checking her answers. Her concern is extended beyond the potential result of Nagisa's scores; the girl has been trying so hard to build her independence in Shizuma's absence. If it is shown she fails without her, it could sully the girl's self-confidence and sink her further into this separation anxiety. Tamao's violet eyes display this fully, but she needs to be mindful of herself so as not to draw the attention of the teacher. They are still in an exam room. However, contrary to the negative scenarios playing within her head, her roommate seems to be doing well. Even as frantic as her motions are, Nagisa isn't erasing answers and has an overhanging air of assurance as she makes them. Though Tamao is still wary of her roommate, she decides to have faith in the changes she's undergone this year and takes her leave, walking to the front to set her paper down before taking one more look at Nagisa and exiting the room.
She doesn't leave the premises, though. She smiles to herself, closing her eyes. There is someone else she shows concern for. Tamao makes her way through other exam rooms, taking note of each of the Miator girls within and showing pride that, of the ones she sees, none of them seem to be finding difficulty. Today is only the first day, but statistically, the hardest subjects are accounted for on the first day. Tamao hasn't had time to go over her observations completely, but she has hypothesised that the improvement on performance in later days could be accounted for as a result of remaining within the testing frame of mind. She reasons that there are variations as to the perceived difficulty of each subject area among the girls of the school, not to mention disparities between grades, and so the actual subject of the exam shouldn't play a major role in the first day being the worst of the lot.
"You'll be fine…" She finds herself mumbling, her eyes now transfixed on a small girl with a head of short blue hair.
The girl's expression is anxious and it flushes her cheeks, bestowing a rosey shade of red to her otherwise pale skin. Her blue eyes peer at the questions almost glaring at them like adversaries, except more fearful of taking them on than should be expected of a protagonist. Tamao bites her lip, hoping the girl only exaggerates duress. She has helped the girl in her studies and boosted all her weakest subjects. However, it comes to mind for Tamao that she may have overstressed those subjects and, in the process, weakened the girl's previously steady ones. Try as she might, she can't shake her doubts, but hopes the young one can.
"Ara… Chiyo-chan seems to be on top of things." A soothing voice flutters to Tamao's ears, making its presence known, "Wouldn't you say, Tamao-chan?"
As the President of Miator turns to see her sudden company, she notices the raven-haired fellow President of Lulim and none other than its star walking side by side toward her.
"Oh, Chikaru-sama and Mori-sama." She greets, keeping her voice down, "Have you finished your exams already?"
"Yes, for today, and you don't have to be so polite with me, kaichou." Shizuka replies, "Or didn't your friends already tell you that?"
"Nagisa-chan and Chiyo-chan are probably too busy at the moment." Chikaru notes, "But they'll be fine just as Remon-chan and Kizuna-chan.
"We have even less to worry about with Kagome-chan." Shizuka adds, gaining a happy nod from the girl.
"Pardon me for asking, but why are Chikaru-sama and Shizuka-san here in Miator?" Tamao asks, pointing out the oddity of the Lulim students' presence.
"As you know, Tamao-chan, once exams are done, the Senkou Dance will take place." Chikaru begins to answer.
Shizuka follows after her, "We feel a final check of the programme would be best."
"Oh, of course. Should we convene after exams end on the last day?" Tamao suggests.
"That will be fine." Chikaru nods with a smile.
On the final day of exams, most are finally exhaling. This is the culmination of their hours in the library and at their desks. For Konohana Hikari, unfortunately, it brings her a measure of dread. She is flustered; Yaya has never concentrated much on her academics, but to Hikari's knowledge, the girl hadn't even once bothered to crack open a book this year.
"What if she doesn't do well?" She mutters, giving voice to her concerns.
"She will." Amane simply replies, pulling the petite girl into her comforting embrace, "As you've told me, Yaya-kun never seems to have a direction, but she always manages to come out strong."
"She does, but I still worry." Hikari admits, hugging her counterpart back.
"Me, too, but Amane-sama is right. Yaya-senpai will be fine." Tsubomi tells the blonde, staring into the hallway where Yaya's exam room is.
As the two Etoile turn to her, though, she immediately adds, "Not that I'm worried."
"Of course." They reply to her, smiling at the less than honest young girl while her blush grows.
"I'm more worried about Eiko-chan. She had a hard time with math and science." Tsubomi goes on to say.
"Eiko-chan had trouble with them?" Hikari asks, having doubts that the first year would, "I thought they were her strongest subjects."
"I thought so, too, but she sure didn't show it when I was with her. I had to spend extra time with her just to go over the material. She did very well in everything, but once we got to those subjects, she just stalled. If I had known she would, I definitely wouldn't have let her push them to the very end. She needed more time on them." Tsubomi recounts, crossing her arms deep in thought.
"Tsubomi-chan is a good senpai to little Eiko-chan, it seems." Hikari mentions, causing the second year to blush as her pale green eyes light up with pride.
"Hikari-senpai…"
"Ah, it's finally over." Nagisa whines, plopping herself onto her mattress.
Exams have finally ended and the students of Astraea Hill may now relax, none more epitomising than the redhead.
Tamao goes over to her, sitting next to her and rubbing her back, "At least Nagisa-chan knows she passed."
"I guess you're right." She replies, sitting up, "And Tamao-chan passed, too!"
"Yes." Tamao answers, "And so did Chiyo-chan. We will all of us be able to go to the dance and to summer school this year."
"That's wonderful!" Nagisa says, taking her roommates hands into her own.
A knock sounds at the door as their friends from Spica enter. Yaya holds the door open for Hikari and Tsubomi, shutting it behind them. She then proceeds to walk further into the room, head held high.
With a wave of her hand, she says, "Congratulations to both of you. The three of us also passed. Looks like we're all set."
"Even though it was pretty close with Yaya-senpai's grades." Tsubomi reveals, crossing her arms.
"A pass is a pass." Yaya grumbles, following suit.
Just then, the group hears noise coming from outside. Footsteps are heard along with light laughter. Whoever they belong to, it is clear they are leaving their rooms. Curfew is coming shortly and the sisters will not be lenient to any violators.
Tamao notices the looks from her friends and giggles at them, explaining that, "Chihaya-chan and Mizushima-san from next door also passed their exams. To celebrate, they decided they wanted to go into the city. Don't worry, as members of the Student Council, they knew to ask for permission from the sisters first. Sister Hamasaka gave them her consent personally. Well, given foreknowledge of their sense of responsibility from certain trustworthy individuals, that is."
"Tamao-chan…" Nagisa mumbles.
The Student Council Office of Spica is buzzing with discussion. All three of its members have aced their exams and couldn't be bothered even if they hadn't. Truth be told, examinations have never posed a problem for any of them and this fact is and always has been a point of pride for each of them. Rather than give them another thought, Kaname occupies her thoughts with the future. She currently reviews the schedule of events for the remainder of the year. Not only does she want to make use of each one, she desires to formulate a progressive series of points, which should build up to the finale. At this time, it is Kaname's belief that she'll have accumulated an ample degree of provocation towards her ends. In the meantime, though the President's plans are of no consequence to her own, Makoto follows the strategy to discover whether or not she could make use of a similar method. To that end, she chooses to provide any helpful information she can to her senpai.
"So, you know the latest on Mori-sama, don't you?" She taunts, leaning back in her chair.
"Do tell." Kaname replies, taking her scarlet eyes from the papers in her hands.
The smaller girl takes in a breath and brushes a few stray strands to reveal the piercing gaze of her emerald eyes, "Your precious Shizuka's had a recent visitor."
At first, the tanned blonde holds no one in mind, patiently waiting for her assistant to reveal what she knows, but as she peers into the girl, a name plants itself on her lips, "… Amane."
"The one and only Prince of Spica." Makoto confirms.
"Interesting turn of events."
"I should say. Looks like the fruits of your labour are starting to come together for you." Makoto adds.
"And you, my dear? Are they for you, as well?" Kaname asks the girl.
"A few weeds still to tend to, but I believe it's going well." Her less than sure response catches the President's attention.
Momomi, who has been silent during this titillating gossip, inserts herself in saying, "This technique the two of you are using might not be for the best."
"What do you mean?" Kaname asks, approaching her auburn-haired love, taking a seat on her desk.
She places her hand on the President's leg, caressing it with slender fingers, "It's a bit straight, wouldn't you say? Shizuka's already suspicious of you. And I'm not as sure as you about your targets, Makoto-chan."
"Relax, Momomi." Kaname cooes, brushing her hand from the girl's cheek to her neck in order to pull her in for a kiss, "Remember how the subtle approach failed with Amane. It wasn't until I forced her hand that she understood what needed to be done."
"Shizuka isn't the same as Amane." She simply notes.
"Yes, well, as much as I value Momomi's opinions on the matter, I dislike being aloof. I find a precision assault does more to produce results than subtle implications and espionage." Makoto proclaims, standing up and moving to the window.
"Speaking of precision assaults, when exactly did you hope to get that underway?" Kaname asks in mockery, coming to the defence of her love.
"Patience. The time is almost upon us." She replies.
That would be it for the discussion. Aloud, anyway. As Momomi watches her two companions set in their ways, she realises it may fall onto her to provide the subtle aid she feels they lack. While the two of them act, she begins fitting pieces of them with possible maneuvers she can make. Additionally, she begins considering her potential allies.
"Oh my goodness, they're over. They're finally behind us!" Kizuna whines, yawning as she walks the halls of the Strawberry Dorm with her friends.
Remon follows suit with a sigh of relief, "I'm just glad we were able to pass. Those tests were impossible."
"Yes, I was incredibly worried about them, as well." Kaede adds, turning to Misato before saying, "But, as it turned out, they weren't as bad as I had thought."
Misato rolls her eyes, "That's easy for you to say. You and Kagome-san both got perfect scores. Maybe the tests at Lulim are easier."
"As if!" Kaede remarks, playfully pouting, "I'll have you know the stereotypes about our school are purely mythical."
"Yea, I can attest to that!" Kizuna inserts with a whimper.
"Maybe we can say that the tests at Miator are more specialised to the subjects it emphasises." Remon suggests in mediation.
"Well, judging from what I saw you guys studying, I guess I have to agree." Misato admits, recalling the vast number of subject matter expected of her Lulim friends.
"I take it you've all made it through intact?" Shizuka's prominent voice resounds through the hall as the door to her room opens.
"Shizuka-oneechan!" Misato greets, "Yes, we all passed."
"That's good to hear, Misato-chan. What's Kagome-chan doing?" Chikaru says, her caramel eyes scanning the hallway for the soft-spoken girl.
"It's weird. We were walking together a moment ago, but when we passed the lounge, Kagome-chan suddenly told us she would see us later." Kizuna explains.
"Is that so?" Chikaru ponders, the corners of her lips curling ever so slightly as she places her index finger over them.
"There is a tide coming in. The moon is shining brighter lately." Shizuka mumbles, staring into the distance.
"How peculiar of you, Shizuka, to be using metaphors. I'm reminded of someone else who has a habit of doing that." Chikaru muses, giggling a bit as the girl eyes her for the remark.
However, she quickly shakes herself of the notion and smirks, noting that, "Creepy habits have a way of rubbing off where they aren't wanted."
"Or just where they aren't expected." Chikaru suggests, earning yet another sideways glance.
The others are confused by their dialogue. The older girls have had some experience with the oddities that take place during their senpai's conversations and have learned to move on as they could never understand them. The first years, unfortunately, are oblivious to this commonality and attempt to follow with very little success. Misato has actually taken to looking out of the nearby window to see if the moon is any brighter than it had been yesterday. Kaede seems to have a better grasp on the insinuations, though she doesn't know enough about who they refer to to draw any conclusions. Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, Remon and Kizuna smile and go to set their young friends at ease.
Once she sees that Misato and Kaede have been made aware, Shizuka lets out a light chuckle and pats them on the head before making her way down the hall. Chikaru begins asking the girls about the tests, what they felt was the worst subject and where they felt their strengths. She takes her eyes up to her roommate's fading back, a demure grin appearing on her features.
There is a commotion on the level as Shizuka moves through the hallway. She has sensed this and it is what drove her to decide on her walk. In the distance, she finds Nagisa peeking out of a room as she converses with a few girls of Spica's Saintly Choir, as well as, two members of Miator's Student Council and the Etoile. Her instincts have led her right and she proceeds past them while her eyes shoot a glance at them.
"Shizuka-senpai!" Nagisa greets, surprised to see her at this hour.
"Hello everyone." She replies, stopping as she is noticed.
"How did Shizuka-senpai find the exams?" Tsubomi asks.
"It was fine." Is her casual answer, her slender hand going to rub her neck, "I'm more concerned with what comes next."
"The dance?" Nagisa suggests, taking a guess at the upperclassman's meaning.
"I take it you'll all be attending?"
"Yes, we were all invited." Tsubomi answers her.
"And I did the inviting!" Eiko chimes in.
Shizuka pets the girl's head with a warm smile, though her eyes briefly take themselves to another in the group. At this time, Chikaru arrives, mentioning that she could do with a stroll, as well. The two of them depart, leaving for the lower level.
"Well, I think I should be leaving, too. Good night everybody! Good night, Nagisa-oneesama! Good night… Tamao-oneesama." Chiyo says, turning to her peer, "Are you coming, Tsubomi-chan?"
"Oh, right." The girl's reaction is awkward, but no one makes anything of it.
Hikari and Yaya make their way to their own room, but midway there, Yaya stops in her step.
"Yaya-chan?" Hikari questions her roommate's strange move.
"I'll be right back." Yaya mutters, turning to walk back through the hall as the blonde looks on.
Tsubomi sees Chiyo off and begins going to her room. However, as she goes to place her hand on the knob, she stops herself. Against her better judgement, she walks back down the hall towards the stairwell.
The two senior students stand just a bit away from the dormitory building in a small garden at the southern tip. While gazing up at the stars, Shizuka closes her eyes and lets loose a sigh, a smile appearing on her features. Chikaru giggles and turns to face their anticipated company. Though they had both chosen to follow, they have taken opposite paths, Yaya standing to the left of the bend and Tsubomi to the right.
"I see we have spies in our midst." Shizuka's voice floats to them while she remains with her back to them.
"Oh, I wasn't…" They both say in sync, alerting themselves to each other's presence.
They simultaneously stop speaking and peek out from their respective side of the building, eyes meeting in surprise that they'd decide on the same move. Chikaru approaches them and pats Tsubomi on her head, gazing down at the girl with serene and gentle eyes.
"You'll be seeing me at the dance, anyway, won't you?" Shizuka suggests, making her way to them, "Hope you have fun."
Chikaru places her hand in Shizuka's and the two of them re-enter the dorms, leaving the two Spica girls to themselves. All this time, they have not shifted their gaze from one another. No words are shared between them, but as the moon shines its light, there is no mistaking the blush upon Tsubomi's face.
Author's Note: What's this? Shizuka's taking an active role, as well? My my the dark side's getting a lot of converts. Is Shizuka really insinuating something? Is there really a plan in the works?
By this time, I'm sure it's clear the intended couple is Yaya and Tsubomi. However, Yaya seems to have already given up on her ever since her solo in the church. Also, Tsubomi seems much more pre-occupied with her kouhai and Eiko's quite taken by her. With Makoto and now apparently, Shizuka, plotting their union, will there be any progress on it? What will happen to Eiko once it has? Also, as some might be wondering, where the bloody hell is Asuka and wasn't Yaya being targeted by her? Don't worry, now that there's a Senkou Dance afoot, Asuka will be making a reappearance.
Additionally, it seems Momomi is leaving the comfort of Kaname's shadow. What is her intention then? Given the fact that she knows little to nothing about Shizuka and Yaya, never mind Tsubomi, exactly what could she do? O_o No, I'm seriously asking. xD I haven't a clue what I've done! It wasn't in my outlines! I just felt, given what Momomi's been feeling, perhaps she wouldn't be so willing to follow Kaname any longer and she's never been quite a fan of Makoto, has she? xD I suppose since the reason behind her dissention is due to how direct Kaname and Makoto have been in their plots while, as with last year, Momomi has been a proponent of the indirect and implied method, what with all the insinuations and conversations and bees and nectar and things she's had with both Kaname and Amane, she should continue as such. Apart from Kaname's attempts at rape and the role Momomi had in them, the girl's never taken an active role in things. I'll just have her work behind the scenes, but exactly to what effect? xD Oh, this will be fun. x_X
Speaking of active roles, it is clear how active Kaname's being. What made Momomi… and myself since I wrote it x3… believe Makoto was being active? She's had about two conversations with Yaya and both of them only made implications. Well, that will be coming next chapter, as well. After all, as Makoto pointed out in this chapter, she likes a precision assault. Precision doesn't seem to be Kaname's style either as the girl does more to provoke her targets into action. Truth be told, after that metaphor about global warming, even I wanted to smack her. xD … Getting away from me, this topic is… Makoto's conversations are her method of herding her intended so that when she does strike, her target will be exactly where she wants her. This will be much more direct than anything I'm going to have Momomi do. Kaname will also be giving us yet another disastrous round of metaphor overload, but I hope I'll do a better job of it than the scripters in the anime. ^_^;;;
With regards to Kaname, what will she do about the news that Amane has been speaking with Shizuka? Will she do a thing? What was Amane's point in seeing Shizuka? Could she be warning her about Kaname's ploys in the past? Will Kaname make a target of Chikaru? … As if that would work. xD Still, what effect will Amane's visit have on Kaname's schemes for Shizuka? Find out next time on…
Oh, where's my head today? There's another couple that should be obvious now and will slowly develop. Okay, the couple should be obvious because it is already a known couple, but the development part isn't so there! =p I'm speaking, of course, about Chihaya and Noriko. Poor Nagisa. Last year, she had wanted to go into town and even Shizuma couldn't get permission for her… Or did she even try? fufufufu... In all likelihood, she only said such things to get her to the pool so she could make her move. Rape+1! This time, Tamao was able to grant them permission. Why is this even important? You'll see. ^.~
One final thing! xD Did you lot enjoy the function of the Astraea Dance Investigations Club. From what's been revealed, it wasn't investigating anything, was it? x) It was pretty much a black ops organisation under Shizuka's command to infiltrate Miator and Spica and manipulate them to choosing what Lulim wanted. I wonder if I should have more of those organisations pop up in future chapters? xD Dark Side +1!
And with that long speech of mashed up thoughts, I leave you lot to review and await the next chapter! *poof gone*
次回予告
Nagisa: Tamao-chan, doesn't everybody look wonderful?
Tamao: Yes, I hope we'll all have fun!
Nagisa: Looks like Yaya-chan's enjoying herself!
Tamao: Yes, but who is that with her?
Nagisa: Is that Amane-san dancing with…
Tamao: Oh no, don't let her see!
Next time on Strawberry Panic, Dirty Dancing!
Nagisa: Eh? Is that?!
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