The large, majestic tree loomed at the center, its leaves still green and surrounding it were roses of all colors: red, white, blue and even yellow. In this secret garden, the youngest daughter of the esteemed Himemiya clan, Chikane, stood in her school burgundy uniform and had her eyes closed in concentration, while the sun beamed gently down and green leaves drifted to the grass.

On the surface, Chikane Himemiya appeared as the ideal version of grace, poise, serenity and beauty. The daughter of the esteemed Himemiya clan, the student prodigy excelled at sports and academics. Whether as the captain of the archery club, student body representative, tennis star, horseback riding, ikebana arrangement, tea ceremonies or whatever prestigious activity, Chikane was everyone's ideal woman.

Internally, Chikane was a bundle of raw nerves, each negative emotion waiting to break out. For 15 years, Chikane wanted for nothing; being born into a wealthy family, she was spoiled rotten, only she managed to come out as a polite and soft-spoken young woman, the ideal wife for any person. While Chikane was flattered by the hundreds of love confessions she received, she never reciprocated any of them. Those suitors just weren't her type.

That was, until, a vision of beauty named Himeko Kurusugawa entered her world. The shy wallflower managed to do what children of billionaires, CEOs and Student Council Presidents couldn't accomplish: Himeko stole Chikane's heart and the blue haired billionaire fell head over heels for the blonde. At first, Chikane dismissed these new feelings as curiosity and interest. She merely thought of Himeko as a good friend, her first actual friend she could speak casually with. Chikane usually had to put on a face of serenity and poise whenever she spoke with her fellow students or the faculty staff.

But as Chikane grew closer and closer to Himeko, the blue haired girl began to realize that there was something more than just friendship between the two girl.

Everything changed when Himeko's childhood friend, Souma Oogami, asked her out. Chikane did know Souma beforehand; the two were the top students at school and even competed against one another in tennis. But Chikane never realized that Souma was infatuated with Himeko. An on campus rumor spread that Souma and Chikane were dating, something both students dismissed immediately. In fact, Himeko hesitated to date Souma because of those rumors. It was only with Chikane's help that Himeko managed to get some alone time with Souma. Thanks to Chikane's influence (as well as lending Himeko some choice dresses from the Chikane Himemiya closet), she helped Himeko and Souma get closer.

After prolonged absences, Chikane realized her feelings towards Himeko weren't merely platonic but romantic. Chikane wanted to kiss Himeko, hold her close and smell her sweet hair. She wanted to flirt, whisper in Himeko's ear and pepper the blonde with kisses. And she wanted… indecent and dirty things she never felt before.

When Chikane witnessed Souma and Himeko kissing each other, the Himemiya daughter fell into a despair that caused her to skip meals and cry herself to sleep. When Souma and Himeko announced they had broken up, Chikane felt a shameful glee; on the one hand, her crush was no longer in a relationship, but she realized she wanted the blonde all to herself.

Time was running out; graduation was soon approaching, and the 17 year old billionaire had to decide whether or not HImeko would stay in her life or part ways or merely be friends. Things such as college admissions and business school (something Chikane's parents decided for their daughter when she was a toddler) would eventually put a wedge between her and Himeko and Chikane needed to know if these feelings that kept her up at night would be permanent. A part of Chikane, a small part mind you, hoped that Himeko would not only accept her feelings but return them, but Chikane doubted the innocent Himeko Kurusugawa would want such impure things.

Chikane did know of same-sex relationships and saw some of them at Ototachibana Academy, but such things were dismissed as childish feelings or passions of youth; they were distractions before moving on and marrying a suitable spouse from a prestigious family. When Chikane realized that those feelings were towards another woman, she feared how Himeko would respond? Did Himeko find those types of relationships disgusting or would she be open to them?

"I can't keep lying to Himeko like this. I will tell her today, even if she rejects me, even if she doesn't want to be my friend anymore and even if she hates me."

It was funny: Chikane had no problems playing piano in front of thousands of strangers, playing tennis broadcasted in worldwide television networks or speaking to the most esteemed alumni as student council president. But when confessing her love to Himeko, Chikane was little more than a frightened child, on the verge of breaking down into tears.

Chikane heard the familiar rustling of the bush, indicating Himeko's entrance. When she saw those familiar amethyst eyes and blonde hair reaching to Himeko's hips, Chikane's heart skipped a beat.

"You wanted to see me, Chikane-chan?" Himeko stood up and patted off the stray leaves from her burgundy red uniform.

The moment of truth had arrived.

Chikane took a deep breath and sighed. Now or never.

"Himeko, remember last month when Oogami asked you out and you started dating him?" She began

"Oh yeah," Himeko smiled. "Sorry about troubling you for clothes and advice. I felt bad for the effort you put in when Souma-kun and I broke up two weeks later. This isn't about that dress you leant me, is it? If I tore it, I'll be more than happy to-"

"It's not about the dress, Himeko," Chikane shook her head. "The fact was, I was… happy when you two broke up, because the truth was, I was jealous of your relationship."

Himeko paused after hearing this.

"I thought you said those rumors about you and Souma-kun dating weren't true?" Himeko asked, not quite grasping what Chikane meant.

"I wasn't jealous of you, Himeko. I was jealous of him."

Another pause.

"I don't understand," Himeko replied. "Why would you be jealous of Souma-kun?"

Chikane was at the point of no going back. She told the truth.

"I love you, Himeko," Chikane could scarcely believe she managed to speak the words out. "Not as a sister or a close friend but as someone who wants to be your girlfriend. I want to do things with you but I don't know if you want what I want."

Chikane convinced herself that brief moment of silence lasted several lifetimes and the sun stood perfectly still.

When Himeko finally spoke up, Chikane braced herself for the worst.

"Chikane-chan, if this is a joke, it's not very funny," Himeko said, her smile disappearing into a neutral face.

A joke? This was her chance. She could really just play off the entire confession as a joke by saying the simple words. Gotcha and Himiko would dismiss it right away. She kinda would spare herself the awful feeling of being rejected and they could sour whatever was left at their friendship. However, the billionaire did not want to do that. She wanted an answer, whether it hurt or not.

"I know these feelings are wrong and shameful and you have every right to be disgusted by me and-"

"Woah, woah, woah, time out!" Himeko put her hands up. "I don't think your feelings are wrong or shameful. Wow, you are serious."

"It's okay, Himeko," Chikane sighed. "You don't have to spare my feelings over kindness."

"Chikane-chan," Himeko looked Chikane straight in the eye."You're an amazing person, and not just because you're rich and pretty. Wait, I didn't mean it like that. You are rich and pretty, but, let me start over. You're also smart, talented, funny, and you're so kind to me. Anyone, boy or girl, would be happy to have you as a girlfriend. You receive love confessions from all sorts of wonderful people. Chikane-chan, everyone loves you. How do you know that… that I'm the other half of your shell?"

Chikane couldn't help but smile; Himeko remembered that story Chikane told her on the beach.

"Because everyone else loves Miya-sama, but you're the only one to love Chikane-chan," she smiled.

How did these bottled up emotions spill out so easily? Chikane swore never to reveal them.

"I sometimes thought you were the other half of my shell," Himeko started. "But you shouldn't have to settle –"

"I'm not settling!" Chikane interrupted. "Himeko, you're so kind and sweet and gentle. That day when you came chasing after that puppy I fell for you. I wanted to get to know you. As I became closer and closer as your friend, I didn't realize I had fallen in love with you."

"If anything, I was afraid you were settling with me," Chikane said, taking Himeko by the shoulders. "Oogami is a great person and he was lucky to have you as a girlfriend."

Chikane spoke the truth; as much as she hated to admit it, Souma Oogami was a good and righteous man who protected and guarded Himeko with his life. Souma was the only other person who saw Himeko for the precious angel that she was while everyone else ignored the blonde and would have taken care of her. When Himeko told Chikane that Souma would remain Himeko's friend after their break-up, Chikane was relieved to hear that.

"I do love Souma-kun but I love him as if he were my brother," Himeko said, cupping Chikane's face. "It's you I really love."

What's this really happening? Did her wildest dreams come true? Did her crush, her best friend, and her close confidant finally accept her romantic feelings? Chikane had to be sure. Taking out her right hand, she pinched herself in the cheek.

"Ow!" Chikane winced.

"What are you doing, Chikane-chan?" Himeko asked.

"Pinching myself," Chikane said. "It just… feels too good to be true!"

"I hurt you, didn't I?" Himeko said, taking Chikane's hands into her own. "When I went out with Souma-kun…"

Chikane never imagined that Himeko would blame herself for dating Souma. If anything, Chikane would have been more to blame; she pushed HImeko towards Souma in the first place, thinking he would be her perfect match.

"You did nothing wrong, Himeko," Chikane shook her head. "I was the coward who couldn't admit her feelings."

"I made you cry, didn't I?" Himeko said. "I'm so sorry I did that to you."

"You didn't know," Chikane shook her head.

"Then, I'm going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you," Himeko smiled.

Chikane never expected Himeko to freely and readily accept her feelings. Chikane felt the widest smile plastered across her own face and her vision blurred with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Chikane-chan, what's wrong?" Himeko gasped. "Did I say something that hurt you again?"

"I'm just so happy, Himeko." Chikane tried to wipe her tears away. "I told myself so many times that I was okay with being just your friend."

"We can be more than that, Chikane-chan," Himeko replied, doing her part to wipe those tears away. "We can go on dates, buy presents for each other on Valentine's Day and become closer."

"I just feel so foolish, now," Chikane sniffled, "All this time we could have been dating."

"You're just so kind because you didn't want me to hate you," Himeko nodded. "We can start dating right now."

"I'm not sure where we can go on a date, considering lunch is almost over," Chikane said, feeling stupid. If she had timed this better, the two could go somewhere else.

"Well… there is… one thing we could do…" Himeko's blushing cheeks and amethyst eyes turning away told Chikane what she was referring to.

Kissing. The two of them could, right here and now, kiss. Chikane dreamed of this moment but was it actually happening? Could she do such a thing? Chikane turned to face Himeko and asked point blank.

"May I kiss you?" Chikane asked.

Himeko stood on her toes and kissed Chikane. Those blue eyes shot wide open as she registered what was happening and pulled Himeko into a tight hug. Himeko's lips tasted sweeter than honey and felt softer than cotton. Chikane's cheeks flushed with blood and the heat radiated towards Himeko. When she felt Himeko's mouth open, Chikane took a chance and used her tongue to explore the inside of Himeko's mouth. Was this a dream? Did Chikane die and go to Heaven? Was she really kissing pure, sweet, innocent Himeko Kurusugawa?

Eventually, the girls had to part away for air, both of them gasping and wiping the sweat from their foreheads.

"Wow…" Himeko panted between breaths. "Tongue."

"I'm sorry," Chikane panted. "Do you not like that?"

"No, I like it a lot!" Himeko smiled, her face resembling the color of a tomato. "May I have some more?"

Chikane smiled, feeling her natural poise and composure return to her.

"Well, since you asked so politely, Kurusugawa-san…"

As the lunch bell rang, indicating the students to return to their respective classes, Chikane Himemiya and Himeko Kurusugawa continued to kiss and hold each other, not caring how late for class they both were.