Chapter 2

Keep Pushing Forward

"What are you going to do now?" Miyuki asks one day in Shizuma's room.

"Who knows?" The silver haired beauty replies, not bothering to turn to her childhood friend. "I have done something horrible to Nagisa...something I cannot take back."

"You did what you had to, right?" Miyuki says with her arms crossed. "Nagisa-san is in a better place now. You can forget about forcing yourself on her to cover up your saddened heart."

"Forget...?" Shizuma says, so soft so that her best friend cannot hear. "How can you...forget...everything I've done with her? The memories I have treasured with her...?"

"In any case," Miyuki clears her throat. "Both Nagisa-san and Tamao-san told me they're going to compete. It won't be long now, Shizuma."

"Yes..." Shizuma looks down at the key Nagisa gave her. "It won't be long..."

*Later*

"Wow!" Nagisa exclaims as she sees Yaya and Hikari holding hands after they entered she and Tamao's dorm room. "You two are a couple now~?"

"Precisely~!" Yaya winks. "I got through to Hikari and she understands perfectly~"

"Ehehe..." Hikari laughs nervously. "She's one tough cookie."

Tamao links arms with her own beloved. "We became a couple too! It was the most wonderful thing that happened to me in my entire life~!"

"Same goes for me," Yaya says. "With Hikari by my side now, my life is complete." She takes Hikari's hand and holds it to her chest. "My beloved Hikari~"

"Yaya-chan~" Hikari blushes.

"Oh, also!" Tamao says. "We will be competing in the Etoile Election!"

"Really~?" Yaya says. "We are competing as well!"

Tamao gasps happily and pumps a fist. "Awesome! This will be one heck of a competition!"

"You said it!" Yaya also pumps a fist. "Oh, it gets me even more excited facing our dear friends!"

"Please go easy on us!" Hikari squeaks.

"No way~" Nagisa says. "We will make it fair and square, no matter if we are friends or not!"

"I like your attitude, Nagisa!" Yaya says. "You two will absolutely be worthy opponents~!"

"I can say the same for you!" Tamao steps up to Yaya, giving a triumphant smile. "You're on Yaya-san!"

"May the best Etoile win!" Yaya says as she holds up a fist.

Tamao does the same and both of them give a fist pump. Nagisa and Hikari just giggle and turn toward each other to give a gentle, but firm handshake.

The two couples are more than ready to take on the competition.

*Later*

As days go by, the four candidates practice for the Etoile election as much as they can, including the dance performance. Sure Nagisa had practiced with Shizuma before, but that is long gone now. Her practice parter is now Tamao, which is in this case would be very helpful until the real thing.

Same goes for Yaya and Hikari. The most suited partner for the cute blonde is the raven haired girl herself. Hikari cannot be any happier.

"Whoa!" Hikari almost trips on nothing but Yaya catches her in time.

"Careful there," Yaya says.

"Th-thanks, Yaya-chan," Hikari blushes in embarrassment.

The raven haired girl lifts up the blonde and they continue their practice waltz.

Miyuki is watching from a distance, impressed by both of the couple's performances. She has a good feeling that they will do well in the election. However, at the same time, she is worried about Shizuma. Something seems a bit fishy, but maybe it's just her imagination.

*After Practice*

Tamao is walking down the long hallway, feeling happy and content. The election is just around the corner. She and Nagisa will nail this thing.

However, the person she should last be seeing is walking by. The two of them stop and stare daggers at one another.

"So it's you..." Shizuma says softly.

"Forget it, Shizuma-sama," Tamao says. "Nagisa-chan and I are entering the Etoile Election. If we win, I will spit it at your face. Nagisa-chan belongs to me now."

"Do you think so?" Shizuma says. "Nagisa may be gone...but my memories of her still remain. Do not think you have won yet."

"Are you saying you're taking back Nagisa-chan...after the hurt you put her through?" Tamao glares at the silver haired beauty.

"You read me all too well~" Shizuma says.

Tamao clenches a fist and grits her teeth, trying not to burst into anger. "Shizuma-sama...I curse your name. You just never give up, do you?"

Shizuma gives a soft chuckle and keeps on walking, but stops to whisper in her ear.

"Nagisa will still be mine...even if she's taken," she says. "I will always try and fight for it." With that, she leaves.

Tamao hangs her head low, trembling. She clenches her fists a bit tighter. Shizuma has really lost her mind now. Is she planning to hurt Nagisa even more? Well not on her watch.

"You're not the only one...who will fight for love..." Tamao mutters.

*Meanwhile*

Yaya walks outside after practice and sees Amane tend to her horses. She lets out a sigh and just keeps on walking. She may or may have not recovered her memories, but she can care less about that. Right now, she just needs to focus on the Etoile Election.

"Nanto!" Amane calls.

Great. She noticed Yaya when she was walking by. She should've went in another direction.

"What do you want, Amane-sama?" Yaya asks.

"I came to tell you about...I mean, I remember now," The masculine girl says. "My love of my life...is Hikari. That song she was singing in the distance...a couple days ago, it made me remember when she sang it as I was riding. Is there a chance I can see her?"

Yaya just sighs and crosses her arms. "Sorry, Amane-sama. But...you're too late. I am Hikari's lover now."

"Huh?" Amane is quite surprised to hear Yaya say that.

"Yeah I wanna be quite frank with you," The raven haired girl says. "What you felt for Hikari wasn't love. I showed her true love. She deserves someone very loving as me."

"I...see," Amane says. She's a bit disappointed, but she's also understanding. She herself realizes that she didn't give Hikari anything worth loving, even when they were dating...if you can call it dating.

Yaya chuckles and turns to leave. "I hope you can learn to love someone for real. You can learn much from me."

With that, she walks away, leaving Amane to smile just a bit. She will take Yaya's words to heart.

*The Day Of the Election*

Finally, it is time. The day everyone has been waiting for. People are gathered in the chapel to see the two pairs of candidates competing in the Etoile Election. And the first ones who enter the front are Yaya and Hikari. Yaya is wearing a black short dress with black lovely high heels, plus black gloves. Hikari is wearing a golden long yellow dress with golden elbow gloves and the end of her golden locks are tied up.

As for Nagisa and Tamao, the cute redhead is wearing a long crimson dress with two ribbons on both shoulders, plus one big one tied in the back and wearing white stockings, plus red high heels on her cute feet. Tamao is wearing a white dress with a V-shape cut in the front, a frilly skirt, white stockings and white high heels on her cute feet.

All in all, the four of them are wearing lovely make up for this occasion. Heck, Nagisa even notices Tamao is wearing such pretty make up. She looks absolutely beautiful. Hikari does as well.

"You nervous, Nagisa-chan?" Tamao asks as she and her partner are standing behind the curtain after Yaya and Hikari entered the chapel.

"A little bit," Nagisa replies.

Tamao gives her best friend's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm here for you. Just look at me."

Nagisa looks up at the lovely bluenette as the poet smiles reassuringly. The cute redhead nods with determination.

"I'm ready, Tamao-chan!" Nagisa says.

"That's my girl!" Tamao smiles.

Together, the two of them enter the chapel beside Yaya and Hikari. The raven haired girl takes this chance to glance over at her opponents and she smiles and winks as if to say, "Lookin' good!"

Nagisa blushes at this while Tamao giggles.

The Lulim student council president, Chikaru, giggles as she looks at the candidates from a distance.

"My, they look lovely today~" she says. "This will be an interesting competition~"

"Indeed," Shion says.

"This is only the beginning," Miyuki says. "It's up to them to show us what they have got."

"That's right," Shion agrees. "Alright, I shall proceed with the election." Taking a clipboard in hand, she walks up to the candidates and then turns to face the audience who quiets down.

"Everyone!" Shion says over the mic. "The Etoile Election will officially begin! These candidates, Nagisa Aoi and Tamao Suzumi, Yaya Nanto and Hikari Konohana, will show us what it takes to receive the roll of the Etoile. First comes the dance, then...the vows. The votes will be up to you girls. Now then, let the election...begin!"

The girls squeal loudly, cheering for their favorite girl.

A/N: First off, I can't help but make Shizuma a villain here. She's just a block to Tamao's path, so I figured why not?

Secondly, I know I am repeating myself with the case of Hikari x Amane love problems, so I made it as brief as possible.

Third: whoever you readers voted for, just know it may make you happy or sad. This will be my decision on who should take on the roll of Etoile.

Have a nice day.