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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: See, I told you it wouldn't take me as long. *hears crickets* =o Oh noes, my readers! Where have you gone? *looks around* Well, I'm sure you'll get back into a talkative mood sooner or later.
Alright, so play's done, dance's past, and we're in the middle of the second half of the year and much like it was last year, there's an event on everyone's minds that needs some attention. What will happen? ^_^
In addition, the following chapter will be taking a look at another aftermath of sorts, where some of the characters are now after everything that has transpired. Now, this chapter won't be getting into our central characters, but that's coming, too. =p For the moment, see what everyone else is up to. ^_^
~Strawberry Panic: The Second Year~
"Things are in motion." Makoto mutters, watching the stars overhead, "What occurs in the near future will have a profound effect on this tale's end."
"If it is to happen, then we should let it. The sky should fall then let the pieces land where they may." Kagome replies, leaning against the older girl, Percival huddled between them.
Falling Leaves
"There's not much time left." Amane whispers.
"There's enough." Her tanned blonde company replies, as the two continue to peer inside the empty classroom.
Classes were dismissed some time ago, but as everyone departed, one person remained. She had been doing this a lot recently, which had the pair worried. They couldn't have known what was on the girl's mind as she stood, staring out of one of the windows. She doesn't look at anything in particular as she gazes at the campus outside, but she sees much through her mind's eyes.
"We have to get on track before it's too late." Amane insists.
"You're right about that and we still have a long road ahead." Kaname acknowledges, backing off from the door with a heavy sigh, "Still, the play helped."
"Did it?"
"Didn't it?" Kaname retorts, but then reconsiders her confident remark, "But what's all this about?"
She moves back to where the Etoile waits, sharing her concerns. The star of Lulim seems to be flickering and drifting even further away than before. Kaname had seen each of the qualities in the girl that she had needed her to have. Each one was growing considerably as of late, provoked by the many events that had occurred. However, following the play, Shizuka became idle again.
"Could it be that she's done?"
Amane's eyes widen at the thought, a bead of sweat beginning to form on her brow, "We'd best pray she isn't."
Kaname smirks at the Etoile. She never dreamed they'd have the same goal in mind let alone having Amane be even more driven to see it accomplished than she. In the distance, though, Shizuka scoffs. She has known she is being watched since the two arrived. Though they believe she is done with her movements, she feels she has never had any intent to move in the first. Her motives have always been the same even if her methods might be taken otherwise.
"I'm the one cleaning up your messes." She whispers to herself, taking a breath.
However now, could it be her motives have truly changed? There is a future element to Shizuka's considerations where there had once only been a present.
She places her hand on the glass, "The winds are changing, lifting the unmoved stones from the Earth. Where will they fall, I wonder?"
"I told you." Chihaya muses, adjusting the shirt in her hand to access the next tear.
Her roommate does not respond, taking to her defence mechanism of hiding under her covers and curling up into a ball. Her only vocal output had been a stray "hmph" here and there. Yes, it is time for their annual spat and this time, it seemed that Noriko wanted to rearrange their room. She had been careless and more so each time Chihaya warned her about it. This led to her catching her shirt on a few rough corners and toppling several items onto herself after she stacked them onto a dresser and tried to move the whole lot at once. As it would turn out, she was only miffed at Chihaya for rearranging a few folders she had meant to put away at some point… soon… probably. When Chihaya put them away for her, the order wasn't to Noriko's liking and so she thought to rearrange the furniture against Chihaya's wishes.
"There, all done." Chihaya announces, holding up the shirt, "That was good thinking, Nagisa-chan."
"Oh no, it was nothing. The rips just looked like they were in the right place for that design." The redhead replies, scratching the back of her head.
Both she and her roommate had come by for a visit after hearing what sounded like a book, or several books rather, clattered against the opposite side of their room's wall. When they entered the room, it appeared ransacked and they had to help Chihaya rescue a purple-haired victim from the rubble. Once she was brought to safety, the three of them put the room back together, which is where they are now.
"Mizushima Noriko, are you really going to wallow under there all day?"
"Mmmffmm…"
"What?" Everyone speaks in unison.
Noriko lifts the covers from herself, jutting up from her mattress to say, "I'm not wallowing!"
She then plops herself back down, but before she can shield herself with the covers again, Chihaya quickly plants a peck on her cheek and follows it by tossing the mended shirt over her head. Noriko quickly grabs the item, sitting back up to throw the shirt at her roommate, until she notices the new patches and decides to take a look at the work. Seeing the effort put in to save it calms Noriko and, when she notices this, Chihaya goes to sit beside the girl, rubbing her back as she leans into her.
Off to the side, Nagisa lets out a slight giggle, cupping her hand over Tamao's ear and whispering, "I think they're off to a good start."
"Yes, and the play greatly enhanced their recognition among the girls of all three schools." Tamao replies, also whispering into Nagisa's ear.
"What are you two talking about?" Noriko asks defensively, believing it to be in regards to her outburst.
"Nothing!" Tamao immediately blurts.
"It's classified!" Nagisa adds, making the situation more awkward as she goes for the door and rushes out with the President.
"Just what is going on in that mind of hers? She's always up in the clouds." Kaname seethes, slamming her fist against the door frame, though she makes sure the move is light enough not to make a sound.
"Where yours could never be, I think." Amane answers her, noting the differences between the two.
"Where nobody should be, Etoile-sama." Kaname bites back, standing up.
Amane smiles and places a hand on the weary President's shoulder. Kaname takes one more look inside where Shizuka remains still, tracing her finger on the window pane. She lets out a sigh and looks at Amane, but soon finds her eyes straying behind the girl.
"Although, I suppose the clouds sometimes do serve a purpose."
Her words alert the prince and she turns to find two familiar faces, though they do not notice they are being watched.
"New developments are hitting closer to home." Kaname grins.
Amane continues to gaze at the pair in the distance, adding in a mumble, "For both sides."
"The future of our school is going to be drastically different." Makoto notes, walking into one of the empty classrooms.
The second year she has with her goes over to one of the desks and quietly sits, placing her bear in front of her. Makoto watches them for a short while before moving on to the chalkboard. Taking up a stick of chalk, she begins scribbling names, thinking on each one as she does so.
"Several of Astraea's most prominent are going to be graduating." She says, tapping one particular name with her chalk, "The next year will be filled with change."
"Percival thinks we should hold on to their memories. We are their legacy." Kagome mutters, playing with the stuffed animal's arms, "What should we do?"
Makoto smiles at the girl, but turns back to her list of names. She considers what effect these students will leave when they have left. It is clear the effect of two in particular will be felt soon. Preparations for it had been the goal of various entities, herself, she now admits, included.
"Legacy…" She mouths the term, taking a deep breath before going to the one who had mentioned it.
However, as she begins to speak, the peace of the classroom is disturbed by two of Lulim's third years. They bounce about the room, moving on Makoto's company. A storm of overzealous gibberish ensues. It seems the couple used to be a group of three and they miss their third member. Many stories ensue to remind their quiet friend of the fun to be had together and Makoto smiles at them. She notices Kagome's eyes are actually on her and, to that, she winks and makes her way out of the room.
Upon realizing how long she'd remained in her classroom, Shizuka huffs, mentally scolding herself for being so careless. Without wasting any more time, she abruptly exits from the room, startling Kaname in the process. Amane had already left at this time, but Kaname had wanted to see just how long the girl intended to stay, which had taken long enough for her to doze off. Once she noticed Shizuka's nearness, she tried to hide this fact, but had done so awkwardly. However, Shizuka doesn't react to this, merely breaking in her stride for a moment before continuing on her way. Though she hadn't meant be spotted, Kaname decides not to let the opportunity pass. Of course, given that Shizuka is fully aware of her presence, she notes the opportunity might have passed.
As Shizuka makes her way around to the next hallway, she notices the flailing auburn pigtails of her spy's partner in crime. She stops and glares, waiting for yet another troublesome plot to begin. Momomi notices this and giggles to herself, raising her hand to wave at the wary star.
When she arrives before Shizuka, she simply explains that, "I have nothing up my sleeve, if that's what you're wondering. I'm on my way to the music room."
She then adds as she passes, "Maybe you shouldn't be so suspicious. It's tiring, isn't it?"
Shizuka doesn't move from her spot, thinking over Momomi's words. Has she been too suspicious? It could have played a factor in all the thinking she'd been doing as of late. Actually, of course it has. The only reason she has become so fixated is in result to all the nonsense…
She feels a hand grab her arm from behind. Reflexes spark inside of her and she quickly squats down, extending one leg out to her assailant's. With her free arm, she wrenches off the hand grabbing her and pulls, making use of the leverage to trip the assailant and roll her off her hip and down to the ground. This is when, though she had already guessed, she sees it is Kaname who had attacked her. The President of Spica reacts too quickly to the move and manages to throw enough of her weight into the flip, which provides the momentum she needs to land back on her feet. Now in a crouched position, she is able to launch a swift stiff kick with her dominant leg. Shizuka has barely any time before the leg has reached her side, but she is able to block it, the sudden shock unsteadying her opponent. As Kaname recovers, she moves in, extending her leg behind the blonde's foot and placing a hand to the girl's chin. Lunging forward, she bears the majority of her own momentum in that hand, pushing to trip Kaname again, but this time leaving no room for recovery. With Shizuka's hand still on the her chin, Kaname is forced down, landing flat on her back only out of the girl's good graces not to drop her on her neck. Of course, her good graces hadn't kept her from pressing her arm over Kaname's throat to hold her down.
"Why did you attack me?" Shizuka demands to know.
Kaname struggles to find her voice; after all, Shizuka is choking it, but manages to get out the words, "I was only trying to get your attention."
Despite knowing or, at least believing, this to be a lie, Shizuka relents, settling on backing off with a leer. Kaname coughs a bit as she stands, dusting herself off and straightening her outfit. A smirk forms on her face once she's recovered and she approaches the ebony-haired girl.
"Your skill is impressive, dear Shizuka." She tells her, moving on as the girl can only watch her departure.
"Oh, Shizuka-senpai!" The voice of Nagisa finally rouses her from her stupour.
It had been several minutes since Kaname made her pass on her, but Shizuka remained in the hall, unsure of herself. It was a rather biased assumption that Kaname grabbed her arm in provocation. Granted, there's not a doubt in Shizuka's mind that the move was part of another one of the President's convoluted ploys to get her to do something, be competitive, or whatever the girl'd been on about these past months. In spite of that, Shizuka was never one to be so easily goaded and she'd known Kaname's methods, including this one. What had changed?
"Shizuka-san, might you be here to scout candidates?" Tamao asks, affording her a point in which to enter the conversation Nagisa started.
"Candidates?" She mutters, giving the word some thought before taking the first steps of her leave, "Ask the President."
"I see." Tamao notes.
Shizuka turns at the lack of response, "And what of Miator?"
"That's classified!" The two blurt out together as if rehearsed, making a mad dash for the adjacent hall and disappearing at the corner.
Shizuka is taken aback just a bit by that abrupt move, but smiles to herself. It seems the persistent schools are at it again. The question posed to her, though; it bore some significance. Of course, she isn't one to actively pursue such endeavours. The whole of Lulim, actually, hasn't made any efforts in the least. However, as Shizuka peers out one of the windows of the hallway, she makes note of the shifting winds.
"Yes, definitely ask the President."
Outside the classroom building, Chikaru minds her flock. The girls have reunited and have decided to celebrate by parading through the various clubs they'd joined, all of which were founded by the Lulim President. They are soon joined by the first year couple of Kaede and Misato, who alert them to their other friends congregating by the lake. While Kizuna and Remon choose to join them, their reasoning being to try getting them to partake in the clubs, as well, Kagome remains behind with Chikaru.
As they leave, the President makes herself aware that the gears are falling into place, though none of them are where they were expected to be. The deviations from the schedule this time are innumerable and all of them wonderful. She looks on as Kagome idles her time with Percival held out at arms length.
"Innumerable." She finds herself uttering, her eyes slowly tracing the steps leading to an approaching guest.
Makoto greets the two then shifts uncomfortably, to which Chikaru excuses herself and takes her leave. As she does, she glances back at the girl who has already turned her attention to the petite second year.
"Though summer has since ceded to autumn, it seems there's still a warm front gracing Astraea." She whispers, covering a giggle with her hand.
Evening draws the day to a close, but a familiar couple still wanders the grounds. They've been touring the campus after dark quite a bit as of late, perks of having friends on high. The other girls of St. Miator Girl's Academy have taken notice of their romps, many even waiting for them to appear.
"They look so happy together." Misato whispers from her spot next to a tree, trying to remain hidden as she is one of the onlookers.
"They do." Kaede replies to her, leaning close.
As the girls' numbers rise, Noriko and Chihaya realise they have become enveloped in a crowd. In contrast to her usual stature, Noriko shrinks at them. Chihaya stifles a chuckle, recalling that the girl was nervous around crowds.
"I'm not nervous." Noriko grunts, though she holds her hand to the side of her face in hopes of shielding herself from seeing them.
"Oh?" Chihaya muses, tugging at the girl's other arm, "When did you become so confident?"
Noriko feigns indignation, looking away, "When you weren't paying attention."
"Well, you've got my full att-"
Noriko doesn't let the girl finish. Instead, she's pulled her close, pressing their lips together as her free arm wraps around the small of her waist. The crowd is now screaming with glee. Further on, shaded by the brush, the President of Miator and her second year assistant witness the favourable reaction. They are not alone. Elsewhere, Spica's and Lulim's President are also watching, though they seem more interested in yet another couple of onlookers than the pair in the spotlight.
Author's Note: Wasn't that exciting? The players are taking their places.
Also, didn't everyone love the "fight" scene between Shizuka and Kaname? Yay for action! While it was all in fun to have another bout of physicality between the two and for Shizuka to show off more of her talent, this one in particular is going to play a role soon. What role might that be, you might be asking. What role indeed. ^.~ *poof gone*
次回予告
Makoto: It's all coming together.
Kaname: You've been busy.
Momomi: A girl can't sit on the sidelines forever.
Kaname: No, I suppose she can't.
Asuka: I agree.
Next time on Strawberry Panic, Winding Roads!
Asuka: And there's no time to waste.
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