It was a sunny day with a mischievous wind that sporadically came in wists that would upturn fallen leaves and flower petals and make them dance with the breeze. A certain aqua haired girl was on her way home, and the petals seemed to dance especially around her as if the earth had deemed her worthy of her own personal shower of flowers that enhanced her already breathtaking beauty so that anyone who might have seen her would have thought her a spring angel in the middle of autumn.

Michiru passed the Crown Arcade as she walked, when a vibrant poster caught her eye. She stopped to turn and look at the poster that advertised a victoriously posing blonde girl in a vivid sailor uniform.

'Bishoujo Senshi Sailor V! Game coming soon!'

She mentally scoffed at the advertisement; the famous Sailor V was nothing more than the creation of a money hungry and clever company. Her vibrant nature and incredible feats captured the hearts of little girls who quickly made her their role model and her pretty face and short uniform ensured the male population's adoration of her.

Honestly, what female super hero who didn't hate herself would choose to fight crime in high heels? Imagining the pain and sheer impracticality of wearing five-inch heels while trying to fight off monsters, Michiru inexplicably felt frustrated as she continued to gaze at the poster.

A tap on her shoulder breaking her from her reverie, Michiru just barely managed to contain her surprise and calmly turn around, only to exclaim,

"Haruka!"

The kis- the incident that had occurred two days ago had been a constant presence in Michiru's thoughts. Just what had possessed her to be so bold?! (But it wasn't really her fault. Haruka had played with Hotaru so well and the fading sunlight had been caressing Haruka's face, giving it such a warm glow, and Haruka's eyes had been so intensely-argh!) And then she was left in a position of not knowing where they stood with each other, which Michiru hated. She hated not knowing, not being in control (of her emotions).

The blonde merely smirked as she craned her neck to get a look at the poster herself. "Sailor V, huh? I didn't know you liked cosplay."

Ah, this was the Haruka she was used to dealing with.

"You clearly don't know many things about me," Michiru said dryly.

"Hmm. Guess I have a lot of studying to do. It's a good thing we're only 17," Haruka said nonchalantly although her steady and determined gaze belied her tone.

Michiru stayed quiet, ignoring the small fluttering of her heart at Haruka's implication that they would spend the rest of their lives together and instead focusing on how the student council needed to reallocate the school's resour-

"So, you wanna play a game?"

Michiru furrowed her eyebrows. A game? She hadn't played at the arcade since she had started high school and become part of the student council. How could she when there were so many things to do? Not even mentioning that games cost precious money, she had to work at the café to support her family, make sure the school was running properly as a member of the council, keep her grades up so she would be able to attend universi-

"The world will survive even if you play a game," Haruka said good-naturedly, teasing and yet serious at the same time upon noticing the shoulders of the aqua haired girl tense.

She blinked. Once, twice, and then suddenly her shoulders relaxed ever so insignificantly. Haruka smiled, knowing she had won this one, and walked into the arcade with an unprotesting Michiru at her side.

-0-0-0-0-

As soon as Haruka stepped into the arcade, the aqua haired girl excused herself to go to the bathroom.

Once she had reached the haven of the rest room, Michiru leaned forward into the sink mirror. She examined herself, looking for flaws in her complexion even when she knew there were none. Something had to be wrong with her.

She sighed and slumped her arms onto the side of the sink, staring at her reflection as she tried to make sense of the jumble her mind was in.

How could she keep pretending nothing had happened and that she still held the same disdain she initially had for Haruka when the blonde kept on being...(so damn irresistible) so utterly Haruka? Even when she tried to distance herself, the blonde knew exactly what to say and do in order to make Michiru relax, as if she was a puppeteer and Michiru the marionette. It was like...it was like Haruka knew her better than she herself did.

And suddenly, everything seemed to click into place. Haruka had always been insufferable but somehow, she had evolved into something much more to Michiru. It wasn't just that one night with...the kiss, it was evident when Haruka and she had competed in the sports festival, when Haruka had saved her from the idiot trio, and so much more. Michiru liked Haruka, and dare she say it, Haruka seemed to reciprocate her affections at least a little?

Vulnerable in a way Michiru hadn't been in years, she walked out, anxiety and determination battling in her eyes. However, the sight that greeted her was like a slap to the face.

Haruka was leaning against a racing game flirting with two blonde girls. A mixture of hurt and anger welled up in her chest but Michiru forced herself to calm down until she saw the two blondes were actually Usagi and Minako. Although the sharp burst of anger receded quickly, the damage to her freshly open heart remained and ice creeped back over her heart.

Having seen a flash of teal in the distance, Haruka sent a smile in the direction of Michiru. While she had been waiting, she had come upon Usagi and Minako, two people she hadn't been aware knew each other. Being friendly with both of them, a light conversation had been struck as she waited for Michiru to return.

Michiru narrowed her eyes at Haruka's smile. Was this her idea of playing a "game"?

Well then, she would play her part of the jealous girlfriend as well as she did everything else. She walked towards them, with a composed face and hardened heart.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Haruka," she lilted out. When the three blondes turned to look at her, she beamed at them, her cerulean eyes gleaming. The two shorter girls had no chance.

Meanwhile, Haruka stared expressionlessly at Michiru. Something had changed, and Haruka could feel the countless numbers of barriers reconstructed between them. Aware of the two other girls, Haruka walked to the aqua haired girl's side (and still never felt so far from her) with a smirk that felt strange on her face.

"Well, see you later," the blonde gave them a wave before turning and walking away with Michiru. But she turned around once more, suddenly feeling bitterly determined to see whatever this was to the end

"You with the buns," she paused to have a dramatic effect, "We should race together next time." She walked away this time without turning back, knowing she had left those girls lovestruck.

"I'm pretty sure Haruka-san knows my name since we're lab partners but he really is handsome," Usagi said in confusion before hearts filled her eyes and she forgot whatever had been confusing her.

Minako gazed thoughtfully at the two who had just left after the hearts cleared out from her own eyes.

-0-0-0-0-

As they strode out of the arcade, Michiru was silent, her face betraying not even a single thought.

Haruka tried provoking the shorter girl (surely anything was better than this emotionless Michiru), "Don't tell me you were jealous back there, Prez?"

But her reaction was less than gratifying (and nothing like the quick denial she had expected).

If possible, Michiru's face seemed to stiffen into a stonier expression, "I can't believe it either. I don't know why I was so stupid to-"

She cut herself off abruptly and Haruka's eyes widened and her mouth opened to say...what, she wasn't sure but something that would resolve this sudden conflict. But she had no chance to.

For Michiru was now running away, far far away from the blonde, this time leaving her behind.

A/N: What is a love story without misunderstandings? (less frustrating but delayed gratification people, delayed gratification!)

Reviews and criticism would greatly be appreciated!