この番組はメディアファクトリーとご覧のスポンサーの提供でお送りいします!
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've been having a great few weeks with friends and family so I couldn't resist sharing some of the holiday happy by getting this new chapter up for Christmas! Here's to hoping the lot of you have a fantastic one and a good New Year to boot! 3
Thanks for the reviews aguslay, Nene-chan, and my dear Guest! To aguslay, I'm glad you enjoyed the darker aspect of Chikaru and Shizuka's personality and, never fear, the girls of Lulim know how to handle any drama Astraea has for them. To Nene-chan, x) never mind if they make sense or not. I simply look forward to hearing your thoughts. As I've said to Guest, I wouldn't take any comment to offence. ^_^ And to Guest, I'm relieved. I didn't think my implications made their excitement visible enough. I'm glad the story's helped you and I hope you're feeling better. On the subject of antagonists, I feel particularly with a series like Strawberry Panic that any antagonism isn't meant to show villainy or or do outright harm to another character, it is merely an aggressive approach that may be offputting for some. =p I think I've tended to always have an underlying motive for my antagonists, though, which skews the line between callousness and true vice. As for Momomi, well... her actions may be quite concealed, so it may not be easily seen just what she's going to do, though it does start in this chapter. =p
Alright, I've got nothing further to say, so let's get on with the Senkou Dance!
~Strawberry Panic: The Second Year~
"It has all come to this, hasn't it?" Kaname thinks to herself, footsteps leading her further and further to her destination.
"All that I have done, all that has yet to be done, it has led us here, to this place and this time." She continues.
"You might think I planned for this, that this was yet another of my machinations." She addresses her intended.
Flicking strands of her blonde bangs from her face, she adds, "I might be clever, but this twist of fate is far too delicious even for my abilities."
She passes the courtyard of Spica, various students of the school turning their attention to her. She is a woman on a mission, long strides in her step as she gets closer and closer to her target. She takes notice of them, but continues on her way undaunted. This day is one she's been waiting for, one she has never once considered to be possible.
"But then again, life is full of surprises, isn't it…" Kaname says to herself as she pushes into the white wooden fence, leaning forward as her eyes follow the one arriving in the distance, the one on a white horse.
"… Amane."
Dirty Dancing
"How about this one?" Nagisa chirps, spinning about to show her roommate yet another of her dresses.
"That one looks great on Nagisa-chan, also. In my opinion, any dress looks good on you." Tamao replies, beads of sweat forming as she notices the growing pile of clothes on the redhead's bed.
"I just want to make a good impression. Oh, Shizuma-sama bought me this one!" She says, finding an elegant black gown with a faded red trim, "I remember, she had wanted to take me into town before she graduated. We were just looking around, but she stopped at a specialty dress store. She bought us both dresses and then took me dancing…"
Tamao smiles at the girl, knowing full well the memory tied with the garment has become bittersweet now that the woman in question no longer attended Miator. She stands up from her seat and makes her way to the sullen girl, gently wrapping her arms around her waist.
"Nagisa-chan should wear this dress to the Senkou Dance."
The redhead is taken by surprise, "… what?"
"It is clear to me that this dress was meant to be used in celebration so what better way to put it to use than at the Senkou Dance?" Tamao explains.
"But…" Nagisa starts to say, gazing at the garment in her hands, "This dress was meant for Shizuma-sama. If I wear it any time, won't that be betraying her?"
"I don't think so. Besides, wouldn't Shizuma-sama want Nagisa-chan to enjoy the gift she bought for her?"
Listening to Tamao's words, Nagisa recalls what Chikaru had told her before, "I know how you feel, Nagisa-chan. Remember, Shizuma-sama is feeling the same way, too. For her, do your best to uncover the fire burning inside."
If she is to honour Shizuma's love, she needs to do what it is that ignited it. She needs to be uplifting and enthusiastic. Then, the fire burning inside will be realised and she can move on with her life confident that Shizuma is by her side.
"You're right, Tamao-chan. This dress would be perfect for the Senkou Dance." She finally says, smiling warmly despite the tears welling up in her eyes.
Tamao notices them and moves to quickly change the subject, asking, "Can Nagisa-chan help me with this bow? I wanted to tie my hair up in a bun."
"Oh, sure!" The redhead replies, having replaced her melancholy with her compulsory characteristic to help a friend.
Yaya finds herself in her usual spot at the window sill. She's still dressed in her pajamas even though it is already close to noon. Beside her, a flurry of blonde hair rushes to and fro, rambling on about dresses or something. Yaya isn't paying much attention. Her mind is on the events that transpired the night before and other recent incidents. Just what is fate's plan for her? She'd only just accepted that she would be devoid of a love story when odd situations started to present themselves. Why did she even want to follow Shizuka and Chikaru anyway? It must have had something to do with what Chikaru said to her that day, that drivel about having faith in a love-filled destiny. No, there was no destiny filled with love for Yaya. She lives in the darkness beyond love's light. The sooner she can grasp the truth that she leads a destiny of loneliness the better.
"Oh, do you think Amane-senpai will be wearing what she did for the Etoile-sen? If she does that, then I should probably wear the dress I was wearing back then. Oh, but if she doesn't wear it, then I'd look sloppy for wearing that." Hikari drones on, frantically moving back and forth between the mess of clothing on her bed and her dresser.
"Hikari?" Yaya finally speaks.
"Uh? Yes, Yaya-chan?"
"Hikari shouldn't worry so much about what she wears because anything she wears looks beautiful."
"Yaya-chan…"
Running a hand through her bistre-coloured hair, Yaya leaves the sill and moves to the pile of dresses adorning her petite roommate's bed. She sifts through a few of the items there and finds a shoulderless white gown with a folded blue trim at the breast.
"There. This should do you." She tells her roommate, lifting the garment to her.
"Thank you, Yaya-chan."
"What I'm here for." The girl easily replies, starting to move back over to the window.
Hikari quickly takes hold of her hand, stopping her and turning her back around to face her, "Now we've got to figure out what Yaya-chan's going to wear."
The bistre-haired girl is surprised by this, but soon recovers, smiling as she closes her eyes. With a nod, she lets her roommate guide her to her bed, sitting down on the mattress as she watches her roommate attack her dresser the same way she'd done to her own earlier.
Laughter echoes on the school grounds. Kizuna races off along a path as her fellow Lulim schoolmates chase after her, joined by both Tsubomi and Eiko of Spica and Misato of Miator. In anticipation of the dance, the pigtailed redhead had decided to pull a prank on her friends. They had all agreed to have their outfits professionally cleaned for the event, a suggestion also brought forth by the prankster. Normally, as Remon knew, they'd have gone to Chikaru for help, however, Kizuna had told the group that she knew of a special place that would make the clothes look better than before. Stupidly, they agreed and gave the girl everything she needed to put her plan into action.
"You'd better know where our real dresses are!" Tsubomi screams.
Rather than retrieve the actual dresses, Kizuna had had Chikaru's Henshin Club create off-coloured shrunken replicas, which she presented the group with, saying something went wrong. This had each of her friends in a baffled stupour, which she then took a picture of and proceeded to say there was another place she knew of that could help them, but only for a unique and rather odd price. They were reluctant, of course, but Kizuna explained that she had gone to see their Chikaru-sama and it was actually the older girl's recommendation.
"I can't believe you made us do that!" Remon growls, throwing her replica dress at her roommate who aptly dodged and continued running.
The place seemed to have been abandoned sometime during the Edo Period. There were remnants of old war banners and tattered military garb strewn across scorched land. Kizuna led her friends to a dimly lit atrium of sorts within the area. There, a hooded figure stood upon a small stage, a large cauldron before it. Kizuna requested the shrunken garb from each of her friends, taking care to only hold them a certain way, before offering them to the figure and placing the lot into the cauldron. When she did, the other girls voiced their concerns over the unorthodox move.
"Kizuna! If you do that then…" Remon had yelped.
"SILENCE!" A low booming voice bellowed from the figure, frightening most of them.
"It's alright, Remon-chan." Kizuna assured, "Akuma-sama knows what it's doing."
"A-a-akuma?" Eiko had whimpered.
"… Knows what it's doing?" Misato added, shivering in terror.
"Yea!" Kizuna easily replied, walking back to the group before shifting her usual look to that of an ominous glare, "Now… for payment."
"W-w-what's the p-p-price?" The girls asked in sync, now huddled together.
"Akuma-sama likes girls so…"
"S-s-s-so…"
Standing back straight, she chirped, "It wants you to dance for it!"
Suddenly, music had started to play throughout the atrium, what sounded like a track from the latest Tokyo Girls' Style album. As Kizuna explained the dance steps to the girls, something she already knew they all had danced at one point in secret, Tsubomi balled up a fist. She believed she had figured out Kizuna's ruse. Stomping to the hooded figure, she grabbed a hold of the hood and pulled it off, attempting to get to the bottom of the redhead's scheme. However, as the hood came off, it revealed a bloodied skull with a single eyeball barely staying within its left socket. That same second that Tsubomi's eyes looked upon it, her form fell flat onto the stage like a wooden pallet. The remainder of the girls shrieked and Kizuna immediately jumped back onto the stage to cover Akuma-sama's head with the hood, telling her friends that they'd most likely have to perform two dances now to appease it.
When Tsubomi came to, she found the girls nearing the end of the second dance, each of them thoroughly embarrassed yet too fearful of Akuma-sama to do anything else but dance. Finally, the music stopped and the girls all voiced their disdain at having had to perform such a degrading task. However, they cheered that this should mean their outfits were restored.
"Well, not really. Not yet. That was just part one." Kizuna would explain, "Part two, we have to dress up in these chicken costumes and run five times around the whole of Astraea."
"Ahem…" Tsubomi alerted, getting everyone to look towards the stage.
As the girls were dancing, too scared of the bloodied skull head of Akuma-sama to look upon the stage, the figure had lost its balance and fallen to the floor. Tsubomi held the bloody skull in her hand, nothing more than a plastic model with dark red paint splattered on it. The eyeball was nothing more than a novelty rubber ball and it was only hanging out of the socket because it had been the wrong size and Kizuna had forced as much of it into the socket as she could.
With her friends turning on her, Kizuna grinned at the lot and ran off back in the direction of the school, saying only that their outfits were fine and she had actually gone to have them cleaned, though this she actually did do through Chikaru.
"See! Your dresses are right here!" Kizuna announces, stopping in the Henshin Clubroom.
The redhead offers the garments to her friends who marvel at the wonderful care the club members had taken to clean them. However, Remon still took her fist to the back of Kizuna's head before rejoining the others to get dressed, leaving her roommate's fallen form sprawled across the wooden floor.
"Wow, that pink skirt is beautiful!" Kaede says, examining Remon's attire.
"Not as glamourous as this midnight blue number that Tsubomi-senpai is wearing." Eiko corrects, her hands clasped together as a glow emanates from her starstruck eyes.
"Thank you, Eiko-chan! I must admit, it does suit me." She replies, brushing her braid of pink that she drapes over her right shoulder.
"But it hardly compares to you, Kaede-chan." Misato declares, clad in a black Victorian style dress suit.
"Oh, such a sweet talker." The lavender-haired girl remarks with a blush, extending her white-gloved hand to her knight.
Misato twirls her about, letting the faded magenta frills of her pearl evening gown glide through the air. The girls continue chatting about their outfits until Kizuna finally catches up to them, presenting her golden two-piece, a mock of Chikaru's old Carmen costume. She keeps her pigtails, though has curled them, letting the bundles hang just over her nape. Her friends are still upset with her for her stunt, but this is only a front to save face. In reality, they had the lot of them enjoyed the adventure.
"That was fun, I have to admit." Kaede is the first to acknowledge it, holding her hand over her mouth to hide a giggle.
"I guess I have to agree. It isn't something you get to do every day." Remon relents.
"Yea, well, just don't do it too often. Otherwise…" Tsubomi starts to add.
"… You might have too much fun?" Kizuna finishes her sentence.
At first, the pink-haired girl is indignant, but soon softens and nods, "I guess life just isn't exciting without some mad ploy every so often."
To this, Kagome, who'd been standing by herself as she usually did, mumbles, "Where is Yaya-san?"
Shizuka sighs at the costume she holds before her. It is a classic Victorian ball gown with a high lace collar, sleeveless but for large white puffs at the shoulders. The top is held together by a tan corset embroidered in a pink and purple flower pattern, though the design is more reflective of eastern styles particularly since the corset rises up to meet the neck in the front despite not having laces that reach the same height at the back. A bustle pins the layered skirt up from behind to produce a flatter front.
"Hm? Shizuka? Does Shizuka not like the outfit?" Chikaru asks her, having noticed her roommate's slight weariness.
"What? Oh no, the dress is gorgeous. It's just…"
"You're thinking about the dance?"
"Honestly, it isn't even that." Shizuka admits, knowing the raven-haired girl implies her apprehension towards audiences.
"Then, what might be troubling my mistress?" Chikaru asks, adding a mischievous tone to her voice now that she knows her roommate isn't burdened by her peeves.
Shizuka stands up, still holding the garment out before her, "This Senkou Dance is an opportunity. I'm sure multiple parties have already felt it. I just hope they know what they're doing."
At this same moment, Kaname and Makoto are posing in their intended attire, the former dawning a formal suit, pure white trousers with a single blue stripe running down the length of each pant leg and a double-breasted white overcoat with the same blue stripe across both shoulders. This over a collarless white blouse adorned with a frilled silk cravat. Makoto is more traditional, opting for a black shoulderless summer dress with a translucent blue shawl.
Staring out the window, Momomi is uncharacteristically disinterested in their banter, her stare not directed where her eyes fall, but at a metaspace of possible futures.
"I feel as though the clouds are coming in." Shizuka continues as Chikaru helps her tie up the corset.
"Do you believe it will affect the moon's light?" She asks.
Shizuka only shakes her head, smiling as she admits, "Free will is never clear about these things."
"Can't have things become too easy, now can we?"
"No, I suppose not."
"Masks?" Nagisa gasps in surprise.
By nightfall, everyone has arrived at the Astraea Hill Ballroom. Beautiful dresses coat the whole of the dance floor and decorations are reminiscent of the Renaissance period of Europe. Golden cauldrons sit atop long tables, holding flowing fountains of drink and are accompanied by bejeweled bronze chalices. Across the walls, banners of each of the three schools hang from the balcony, their colours complimented by similar flowerbeds under them, which further decorate the tables. A brilliant ice sculpture of a swan about to take flight stands at the heart of the ballroom, it itself a grand fountain of water, though its purpose is merely decorative and a means of supplying water for the ring of lilies that surrounds it. The music is a blend of classical and modern themes, though contemporary music accents them with their advent of a deeper bass and rhythmic beat. However, the major detail that has grabbed the redhead's attention is the assortment of masks that each of the attendees has dawned and the additional masks that sit in wait at the entrance where she and her friends currently stand.
"Yes," Tamao begins to explain, "The chosen theme was a masquerade ball."
"Well, isn't that interesting." Yaya notes, going to take a mask for herself.
However, before her hands can even graze a single one, one is presented to her, a demure grin of black seemingly being chased by stars. Yaya's eyes move to the one who'd matched such a mask to her, falling upon someone in an outlandish raven-feathered gown and a grinning mask under a crown of thorns. She extends the mask further, which intrigues Yaya and so she accepts, dawning the mask and going with this mysterious company. Tsubomi and Eiko select each other's masks as do Amane and Hikari.
"Won't this be confusing?" Nagisa asks, taking a mask from Tamao.
"The masquerade ball is an idea that presents two opportunities that fit into the spirit of this Senkou Dance. In this way, the girls are able to understand and gauge their true level of relation with one another. The established student body will know if they'd made any real impact on the incoming class and the incoming class will have the chance to know if the girls that made a good first impression on them are actually the ones they'd like to follow or if they'll end up appreciating someone else more." Tamao explains to her.
"Does Tamao-chan think that this will work?" Nagisa asks, showing her doubts.
"I think it will…" Tamao replies easily, picking a mask for herself.
Chikaru and Shizuka stand to the side, watching the girls of Astraea enjoying themselves on the dance floor. As per usual, Chikaru prefers being a spectator, spying new prospects and strategising. Shizuka enjoys the security of the shadows, content enough with simply drawing inspiration from the crowd. These personalities are reflected in the masks they've chosen, Shizuka's a demure expression of porcelain with many features hidden by feathers that match her ebony strands and Chikaru's a similar porcelain mask displaying a warm grin though with calculating eyes that betray her benevolent appearance.
Beside them, their small following of kouhai mingle. Misato busies herself with Kaede, both having decided that if Shizuka didn't step onto the dance floor, they'd stand vigil with her, content enough in each other's company. This is not shared by their seniors. Remon and Kizuna, curious cat and anxious bunny, respectively, want to be a part of the crowd. Eventually, they can no longer contain themselves and plead with their Chikaru-oneesama to dance with them, to which she is obliged to consent. The two also attempt to draw out the reclusive Shizuka, but unlike her roommate, Shizuka is much more adamant about her apprehension and refuses. All the while, a final member of their group watches on, her expressionless mask with its focused eyes staring into the distance.
It isn't long before Nagisa's group loses more members to the party. Yaya has yet to return after being taken and, though Eiko and Tsubomi remain by the Etoile's side, they soon find they can't maintain the status quo. In their prominent position, Hikari and Amane are expected to dance and are thus pulled away from the two. Eiko suggests to Tsubomi that they should follow their lead and dance, as well, if they are to keep up with them. Before the pink-haired girl can accept, she finds herself swept into the mix. During the commotion, Tamao also removes herself and, somewhere in between tracks, Nagisa realises she's been left to herself and stranded in a sea of hidden identities and colourful guises.
The last arrivals finally present themselves. They are none other than those who lead Spica's Student Council, Makoto, Momomi, and the President of Spica, Kaname. The three had chosen to arrive "fashionable late" as was required of the stars of the show, or so they liked to think. Immediately after selecting their masks, Kaname sets her sights on the wallflowers and leads her party to them.
"Interesting venue for this event, wouldn't you say?" She opens with the insinuations.
"It sets out to accomplish a goal." Comes Shizuka's impassive reply as she continues to gaze at the crowd.
"I ponder whether all three parties had a hand in this stratagem."
"Shouldn't a Student Council President be knowledgeable of these matters?" Shizuka jabs.
"I suppose these masks really don't uphold their function." Kaname states, making the false admission as she removes it from her countenance.
"Not when the stench of underlying motives seeps through this easily."
Kaname feigns insult, "Alas, you've found me out. Still, I must ask, how has this Senkou Dance come to such an unexpected selection?"
"As you know, the full layout of the dance was to be planned out by each of the three schools. Miator was to select the theme, Spica the music, and our school of Lulim would then set the venue." Shizuka explains to her, knowing she's only repeating old information.
"I'm aware of that."
"Then, why ask me?"
"I asked you about the how."
"And that would be the how. After all, once Miator chose…"
"Alright. Then, why? Why did Miator choose to have this masquerade?"
"If I'm not mistaken, the President decided to heed the voices of Miator's first years, a wise decision at that. I see many girls enjoying themselves." Shizuka responds, starting to show boredom in her tone.
"Is that how you see me? You have me in such low esteem, my dear Shizuka." Kaname scolds, moving towards her peer's company, "Wouldn't you say so?"
Kaede is surprised by the older girl's assertiveness, struggling some with her words, but eventually telling her, "I'm not familiar enough with the students of Spica nor am I sure of Shizuka-oneechan's relation to Kenjou-sama."
"I wasn't asking you, was I?" Kaname corrects, her eyes having not moved from her actual target.
Shizuka speaks in her stead, "She doesn't know you enough either, Kaname, and I wouldn't make a habit of letting too many catch on. You've still not dammed up the floodwaters of your previous campaign."
Kaname flinches at this, but a quick nudge by Makoto allows her to recover and continue, "I suppose not, but it seems your campaign is making great strides… unless, of course, I'm mistaken about the young one's presence in your court."
Shizuka sighs, feigning exasperation, and Misato answers Kaname herself, "When this school year started, I was still new to the area and got lost. It was oneechan that guided me to Miator so I wouldn't be late for registration. I owed her my thanks and so I invited her to the Senkou Dance."
After a brief pause in her explanation, she goes on to say with a warm smile, "That was also the night I met Kaede."
Kaname grins, closing her eyes, "I suppose I'm overthinking it then. So, little Misato had nothing to do with President Suzumi's final decision?"
Misato's eyes widen and is noticed by Momomi and Makoto, but Shizuka quickly interjects, "Misato-chan is a first year at Miator, as well. It shouldn't come as a surprise that she would have had an audience with her school's President in regards to what theme a dance created for her grade should be."
"Satisfying." Kaname purrs, "Such a satisfying answer that was, Shizuka. Rehearsed it much, did you?"
"Kaname, if you're implying I'd have anything to do with Miator's choosing a masquerade ball, I'd suggest you stop filling your mind with conspiracy." Shizuka returns with a yawn, "How do you expect to run a school and maintain relations with her sister schools if you believe there are ghosts in the machine?"
Once she's said this, Kaname approaches her, placing her hand on the small of her back and moving uncomfortably close, "You're absolutely right. How foolish of me to make such implications. I should know better. After all, Shizuka doesn't involve herself in these sorts of affairs, does she?"
Shizuka doesn't respond and causes the grin on Kaname's face to widen as she goes on to say, "I seem to notice boredom in your tone of voice? I know what might alleviate that."
She takes hold of Shizuka's hand and moves even closer, "Might I have this dance?"
Though she was caught off guard by the request, she quickly recovers, "I'm here to look after those three."
"I'm sure the three of them can look after one another." Makoto says.
To that, Shizuka shoots a look at Misato who knowingly requests to dance with Kaede. Their departure leaves Kagome alone under Shizuka's watch, which preserves the girl's excuse. However, the members of Spica Student Council had already predicted such a tactic and were ready for it.
"I'll look after Kagome-chan." Momomi inserts, "You two should enjoy yourselves."
With all her avenues exhausted, the ebony-haired girl has no choice but to consent, though begrudgingly so. As Kaname pulls her away from the sidelines, Momomi watches in contentment. Makoto stands behind her with Kagome beside her. For a brief moment, her eyes glance at the tiny girl and she finds herself face to face with her expressionless mask. She lets out a huff and moves on. Now that she's helped her senpai with Shizuka, she needs to focus on her own target.
Nagisa's search for her friends is turning up fruitless. She's gone end to end of the ballroom without so much as finding a single familiar face, though now that she thinks about it, that's not a surprise. With everyone wearing masks, Nagisa realises she wouldn't have recognised any of them anyway. Defeated, she wanders the dance floor, thinking idle thoughts. She awes at Lulim; the school had outdone itself in creating a beautiful setting. As she sees the sheer number having fun and forming real bonds between senpai and kouhai, warmth spreads over her heart. Silently, she admits to herself there's only one reason she isn't enjoying herself, but she smiles at all of them and hopes for the best in their futures.
Soon after, she decides to relax off to the side and makes her way through the dancers. However, she'd been traveling the expanse a while during her search and, having been prone to losing her way in the past, she finds she isn't even sure where the side is. The erratic movement of the couples and groups eventually take a toll on her and she's caught in a daze during a faster track, struggling to push through randomly changing spaces. It is also at this time, it comes to her attention she's being pursued by someone whose face is hidden behind a rose-coloured butterfly mask. There is a sense of danger to her, which alarms Nagisa and causes her to back away, though she's blocked by another wall of dancers. The woman with the butterfly mask stalks toward her, her silver mane flowing behind as Nagisa comes to recognise her dress.
"… Shizuma-sama?"
"I've missed you, Nagisa." The former Etoile purrs, taking the redhead's hands into her own.
"Shizuma-sama!" Nagisa cries, throwing herself into the girl, "I missed you, too! So much!"
"I'm glad. Nagisa hasn't forgotten me in my absence. I was sure with your cute nature, my precious Nagisa would be taken from me." Shizuma cooes, stroking the girl's hair as she trembles in her arms.
Though there are many people in attendance at the Senkou Dance, Makoto's keen senses have little to no trouble in locating Yaya. The girl is currently removed from the stage and getting a beverage for herself, taking a break from the excitement and even leaving her mask on the table. When Makoto sees her yawn, she decides to move in. As she approaches, something catches her foot and makes her trip. She flails as she falls, but finds herself landing on something soft, which keeps her from dropping all the way to the ground.
"Wow, I didn't know Kusanagi was that into me." Yaya's muffled voice is heard.
When Makoto lifts herself from whatever it was that had stopped her fall, she notices that her hands are pressed against the front of the girl's dress, more specifically in a bit of an easily misunderstood position. She quickly regains her footing and stands straight, but the blush in her cheeks is more than enough to enhance the Cheshire grin on the bistre-haired girl's face.
"I… I…" Makoto stammers, unable to formulate any defence for her stumble in such a short space of time.
"Don't worry, if anything, I'm flattered." Yaya continues, feigning a blush.
"That's not…"
"Well, I for one will not stand for this!" Another voice exclaims, storming up behind the silver-haired fifth year, "Kusanagi-san, I am now your rival for Yaya-sama's affection!"
"I…!" Is all Makoto can say, her face turned completely beet red.
However, Yaya and the turquoise-haired girl begin giggling amongst themselves, leading Makoto to realise she's been had. Yaya converses with her and, through their conversation, Makoto learns that she's a first year of Spica named Asuka. Afterwards, Makoto also realises that this information was leaked to her on purpose. Asuka wants Makoto to know her new adversary. She snickers at her fallen foe, eyes wild with glee.
"I see. So, maybe this is who I should hold responsible for Yaya's resurgence." She chances a guess.
Yaya hesitates in response and this is enough for her to know she is right in her hypothesis. Asuka doesn't seem to take notice or doesn't care to, but Makoto smiles at them both and moves on, knowingly proceeding with the next phase of her plan.
A small area of the dance floor has cleared for a certain pair, one dressed in a white formal suit and leading a girl in a ball gown with a distinctly eastern style breast. She sighs as the two of them sway. Her partner continues to stare at her, making her true intentions quite obvious.
"What is the point of this, Kaname?" Shizuka asks her, gliding through the second step of the chasse.
"The President of each of the three schools is expected to dance." Her company informs her, though it is hardly a well-received explanation.
"How does that have anything to do with me?" She presses, getting some distance by forcing her partner to twirl her, though Kaname only pulls her closer afterwards.
"Uh uh uh, don't cause mischief, Shizuka." She scolds, "There will be no backleading with me."
To reprimand her, Kaname pushes her into a dip, taking back her control and adding, "This dance will reflect on Spica's reputation. For the sake of her student body, won't you put on a good show?
"I suppose, but it does seem to me the student body lacks lessons in humility." Shizuka comments, relaxing and allowing herself to be guided in subsequent figures.
"A tigress trains tirelessly to successfully hunt for her cubs." Kaname replies in metaphor.
Shizuka isn't daunted by it, though, saying in retort, "Supposing she has cubs. Otherwise, isn't it just for herself? In that event, she can work at her own pace."
"But does she?" Kaname asks of her.
As her form floats across the dance floor, she takes in a deep breath before answering, "No, I guess when she's hungry enough she'd be willing to tear out the throat of her own sister."
With that said, she leans into her partner, peering over her shoulder so that her neck would be bared. Kaname cringes as Shizuka moves out of the step, her eyes glaring into her partner's.
It has been some time since they chose to dance close to the Etoile so as not to lose them to the crowd. Hikari and Amane have actually already been lost to them, having been dragged off to entertain their many admirers. Eiko had persuaded her pink-haired senpai not to follow and allow the fans to have their idols to themselves.
In the distance, the gleam of a pair of devious emeralds traces their actions. Makoto notes even the smallest of details of their behaviour. Eiko's intentions are obvious. She has already begun to cozy up to her senpai, leaning against the girl and keeping her close. However, Tsubomi appears to be unaware of this. It doesn't take too much longer, though. After one of their moves ends with Eiko pushing herself into her, Tsubomi visibly backs away a step, an action that does not elude Makoto's senses. With a smirk blazing across her features, Makoto moves on.
At the same moment, Kaname struggles to excuse what Shizuka is clearly hinting in her earlier words, "Tigresses don't do that to one another."
Shizuka doesn't let her off, immediately blasting, "Would have surprised me, the rumours I heard. What was it again that occurred in Spica this past year?"
"They are only rumours. Rumours are prone to exaggeration."
"Even if they come from, should I say, reliable sources?" Shizuka continues, her eyes narrowing on her foe.
"Sometimes the means can be overlooked in favour of accomplishing an important goal." Kaname suggests.
"So, if that's the case, can I really be faulted for my hesitation? It is a masquerade ball, after all. Am I not to worry you might become my Jacob Johan?"
Kaname freezes at the implications and Shizuka shifts her eyes to a new arrival, "Oh, here comes my reliable source now."
"Mind if I step in?" Amane requests, offering her hand.
Kaname releases Shizuka and sulks away in defeat, beads of sweat forming over her brow. Shizuka turns her attention to the Prince of Spica and performs a curtsy before giving her her hand with a "Charmed… Etoile-sama".
"So it seems without a rival, that suitor of yours has lost interest." Makoto makes an opening remark, having found herself before Yaya again.
The bistre-haired girl idles her time by the beverages, not too far from where Makoto had arrived earlier in the night with the other Spica Student Council members. Though Yaya couldn't have known, Makoto had arranged for some of Asuka's peers to lead her off to meet more of their school's upperclassmen. This she did to further her plot, which she believes should finally bear fruit on this night.
Yaya rolls her eyes, "Don't you have anyone else to pester?"
"I only mean to say that it is a shame you haven't gone onto the dance floor yet. The Saintly Choir really outdid themselves with the selection of music. I'd hate for any of you to miss enjoying it."
"Are you offering?" Yaya's eyes suddenly beam as the gears start working again, "The only problem with that is, which one of us would lead?"
"Oh no, I fear I'm not much for dancing. As much as I would love boasting such a conquest, I think you have other prospects." Makoto admits, but suggesting, "Maybe you'll find your budding flower under the moonlight."
Yaya's mind correctly interprets her meaning, but she doesn't want to believe it. Her eyes scan Makoto's face for any hints to her deceptive nature, but Makoto displays none of the usual signs, even going so far as producing a sincere smile as she walks off. Yaya considers this and, though her instincts disagree, she decides to find out. In the distance, a pair of focused eyes watches the events unfold.
"I should say I actually enjoyed myself, despite how close she had us." Shizuka recounts to the Etoile, "And you're not quite so aggressive."
"I think that's called a closed position with body contact, isn't it?" Amane suggests.
"The way she was doing it, I'd call it a sealed position with gratuitous body contact, wouldn't you?"
"She only wanted to put on a good show." Amane excuses the President, "Astraea's idols have to keep up appearances."
"Must I be one of those blasted idols?" Shizuka complains, "Makoto-chan seems to have no problem lurking in the shadows."
Amane twirls Shizuka out and back, wrapping her arm around the girl in response to her words, saying after, "Now now, mind our manners."
Shizuka only sighs, "I digress."
"You know, her intentions are still pure even if her methods are… bizarre." Amane tells her, bringing the conversation back under control.
However, her partner is not one to be so easily led, replying with disinterest, "It's funny how fast the power got to you."
"This isn't about me, Shizuka-chan." She says, transferring the full weight of her partner to her right to slide into her, supporting both of them on her right knee.
Uninhibited, Shizuka simply moves one of her hands to the prince's cheek and notes, "Well, it was once upon a time. Now, it seems you're on the other side of the tracks."
Amane pulls them both up again, "You know how it is."
"Have you noticed that you refer to almost all the girls as -kun? Yet, I'm apparently Shizuka-chan?" Shizuka points out, taking the conversation onto another tangent.
"I feel it more befits you."
Shizuka's eyes begin wandering and she finds the two high profile dances have attracted quite a number of onlookers. She frowns, "I abhor audiences."
"Shouldn't you be used to it by now?" Amane asks.
She only huffs, "Just because I'm used to it doesn't mean I have to like it. Excuse me."
Her eyes have found something in the distance prompting her abrupt departure, but she stops herself to add, "Thank you for the dance", before continuing on her way.
Yaya searches the flurry of colours for her moonlight blossom. That memory replays in her mind of Tsubomi, bathed in its pale glow, their eyes never straying. She'd told herself there was no love-filled destiny awaiting her. She'd accepted the shadows that held her from the light. Now, the only words she hears are that of Chikaru's and she believes herself foolish for ever doubting them. Yaya's searching eventually brings her to the one she seeks. Tsubomi, her hair draped across one shoulder, sways with her kouhai, her midnight blue evening gown perfectly accenting her intended as amber eyes watch in the distance.
Eiko leans in close as the music slows to build a romantic atmosphere. She has been trying all night to let her feelings reach Tsubomi, but there's been little progress. Tsubomi is perfect in every way and the only person the young girl can see herself with. She believes there's a way to make her understand the love they should share. However, time is short. Each song brings the night closer to its end. If Eiko is to attain her love, now is the time. Taking Tsubomi in her arms, she gazes deeply into her eyes and moves in, pressing her lips to hers.
Yaya freezes in her step. Shock flows through her form as she watches the two of them kiss. In that single second, everything she thinks reverses. She's left to be swallowed by the shadows once more. Such is the truth of her destiny…
Author's Note: This chapter was quite long so I'll be going in order with my Author's Notes. ^_^;;
Akuma means devil in Japanese. For Kizuna to have sought out someone like that to handle their dresses and also to refer to it as an it, suffice it to say, I really enjoyed writing this part of the chapter. x)
Speaking of which, in preparation for that scene, I may have gone on a Tokyo Girls' Style binge and so there were many many dances I had running in my head when I imagined the scene, though I decided against going into detail about it. I still squee about it some, though. xD
Choosing to have the Senkou Dance be a masquerade ball was meant for the purpose as expressed in the story. I felt it was a suitable theme given the point of the dance was to allow the upperclassmen and incoming class to know each other better and so, it is symbolic of their not being so well acquainted as yet. Also, the idea of the masks allowed me to use them to imply the personalities of those wearing them. Lastly, Madame Butterfly. x) Yes, I'd always intended to have Shizuma return in this chapter, fresh into her first holiday at university. She'll be present for at least one more chapter and it will help Nagisa find the fire inside. Oh, and yes, Tamao was in on it. ^.^
As I said earlier, this is also the first time Momomi's own strategy is coming into play, though it's very indirect, which is why I wouldn't be surprised if no one spots what she's done.
The whole of the Shizuka segment is to show the differences in approach and differences in reception between Kaname and Amane. Though the Etoile is playing an active role now, there's still going to be contrast to how they go about it.
It was also fun to have Shizuka throw more jabs at the girl. x)
Okay, now we're to the part the lot of you are really after. What did I do? Wasn't I trying to have Yaya couple with Tsubomi? Yes, yes I was. But, when are these relationships ever so simple? xD They will suffer! Bwhahaha! Makoto's plan should be clear. She's been keeping up with both of them and noticed they have shared feelings. However, she didn't account for little Eiko suddenly pulling out the Hail Mary and kissing her at the worst possible moment. =p In Yaya's fragile state of mind, she wasn't ready for that, especially since Tsubomi didn't exactly push her off. Why didn't she do that one may wonder?
Alas, you'll have to find out in the second half! *poof gone*
次回予告
Shizuka: Ow…
Chikaru: Don't move so much, Shizuka.
Shizuka: Who'd guess a missed opportunity would hurt so much.
Chikaru: Summer school is coming up and holiday is right after that. I'm sure the wounds can be healed.
Shizuka: One can only hope.
Next time on Strawberry Panic, Aftermath!
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