1-1
SEVEN SEAS’ COMMITMENT TO TRANSLATION
AUTHENTICITY
To ensure maximum authenticity in Seven Seas’ translation of
Strawberry Panic: Volume 1, all character names have been kept in their original Japanese name order with family name first and given
name second. For copyright reasons, creator names appear in standard
English name order.
In addition to preserving the original Japanese name order, Seven
Seas is committed to ensuring that honorifics—polite speech that
indicates a person’s status or relationship towards another
individual—are retained within this book. Politeness is an integral
facet of Japanese culture and we believe that maintaining honorifics
in our translations helps bring out the same character nuances as seen in
the original work.
The following are some of the more common honorifics you may
come across while reading this and other books:
-san– The most common of all honorifics, it is an all-purpose suffix that can be used in any situation where politeness is expected.
Generally seen as the equivalent to Mr., Miss, Ms., Mrs., etc.
-sama– This suffix is one level higher than “-san” and is used to confer great respect upon an individual.
-kun– This suffix is commonly used at the end of boys’ names to express either familiarity or endearment. It can also be used when
addressing someone younger than oneself or of a lower status.
16
-chan– Another common honorific. This suffix is mainly used to express endearment towards girls, but can also be used when referring
to little boys or even pets. Couples are also known to use the term
between one another to convey a sense of cuteness and intimacy.
Senpai– This title is used towards one’s senior or “superior” in a particular group or organization. “Senpai” is most often used in a
school setting, where underclassmen refer to upperclassmen as
“senpai,” though it is also commonly said by employees when
addressing fellow employees who hold seniority in the workplace.
(Note: “Sempai” is sometimes used as an alternate spelling.)
Kouhai– This is the exact opposite of “senpai,” and is used to refer to underclassmen in school, junior employees at the workplace, etc.
Sensei– Literally meaning “one who has come before,” this title is used for teachers, doctors, or masters of any profession or art.
Oniisan– This title literally means “big brother.” First and foremost, it is
used by younger siblings towards older male siblings. It can be used by itself or attached to a person’s name as a suffix (-niisan). It is
often used by a younger person toward an older person unrelated by
blood, in this case as a sign of respect. Other forms include the
informal “oniichan” and the more respectful “oniisama.”
Oneesan– This title is the opposite of “Oniisan” and means “big sister.”
Other forms include the informal “oneechan” and the more
respectful “oneesama.”
17
French Guide
Aînée: Older sister
Cadette: Younger sister
Étoile: Star
Examen sur l’Astraea: Exam about Astraea
Galette: A type of crêpe, a pancake-like pastry
Garçon: Waiter
Le Dernier Miracle: The final miracle
L’Épreuve d’amour: The test of love
L’Ouverture brillante: The brilliant overture (beginning)
Petite couronne: Small crown
Trois Lumières: Three lights
18
Chapter 1
in the Cherry-Colored Mist
Flutter flutter…
All around them, cherry blossoms scattered to the ground. In the
middle of a cherry-colored mist, a larger figure and a smaller figure
stood close together atop a hill, surrounded by thick, old cherry
trees. Standing atop the gently rolling hill of bright green, the two
figures looked like they were floating in a thin, cherry-colored cloud.
“The time has finally come to say goodbye, hasn’t it?”
“Oneesama, I…still…”
Fwooo. A gentle breeze blew. It scattered the cherry blossoms again.
Flutter flutter…
“I still want to stay with you, Oneesama.”
The larger figure leaned toward the smaller figure in admonishment.
She gently pressed her finger to the other’s lips. “You shouldn’t say
things like that.”
The smaller figure—the younger girl—wiped at her tears with a
handkerchief. “Y-you’re right… I’m sorry…” She’d been crying so
much the handkerchief was already soaked, but she didn’t care. In a
daze, she rubbed her eyes with it.
The larger figure reached out her hand and softly, gently, halted the
other girl’s hand.
Twitch. The smaller girl’s shoulders shook horribly.
“You shouldn’t rub your eyes so much,” the older girl said. “You’re
just as much of a crybaby as ever, aren’t you? Your eyes will get
puffy.” She lovingly, gently traced the girl’s eyelids with her finger.
19
The young girl shook so violently, she almost seemed to convulse.
Fwooo. A cherry-colored cloud enveloped them again. A halo-like aura
surrounded them—mostly white, but with a single, faint drop of
peach.
The older girl gazed at the younger. The school uniform suited her
transform into a grown woman had arrived. She felt an intense
longing. Ah, I can’t take it any more. She opened both arms wide and
went to embrace the smaller figure, but suddenly she stopped
herself. I shouldn’t. If I did…there would be regrets. I shouldn’t hold her any more. It’s time for us to say goodbye.
She forced her arms under control, and instead of around the girl,
gently placed them on her shoulders.
“Listen, my darling little daisy. The two of us have been so happy
until now, right? You were my darling angel. Really. Please
understand, okay? I adore you so much, it’s really hard for ME to be
apart, too. Goodbye.”
At that last, the girl’s face snapped up. Her stream of tears stopped
without a sound, her face as sad as it could be. Her oneesama, who
was so beautiful, so sublime, she almost seemed to melt into the
cherry-colored cloud that floated in the blue sky, slowly and silently
shook her head.
Then her oneesama gave a casual smile. “You know the kind of
person I am, right?”
“Y-yes…” The girl knew, but still…it was only to be expected. A new
flood of tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Come on, don’t cry like that any more.” Once again, the older girl
gently wiped them away with her finger.
20
Nothing but sobbing came from the younger girl; she was choked by
tears.
“What am I going to do? When I see you crying like that, it feels like it’ll
make me sad, too,” said the girl’s oneesama—seventeen-year-old Hanazono
Shizuma—her hands resting gently on the girl’s back.
In her own way, she was mourning the fact she had to part with the
innocent girl.
Ah, you are my treasure, as beautiful as a delicate daisy. I wish
this moment could last forever and ever. The flow of time is cruel. In the end, it’s come to this again: We have to part. I thought for sure you would be the one who could tie down my wandering heart.
As Shizuma looked at the high, clear blue sky, her thoughts drifted
back in time.
since I came to St. Miator.
***
St. Miator Girls’ Academy was known all over the world as a first-
class girls’ school. It accommodated the kind of refined girls who
seemed to have all but disappeared from ordinary society—well
brought up, beautiful in appearance and very wise, yet with noble
hearts. Shy and innocent, they had respect for their elders and pure
hearts filled with love for God.
It’s hopeless trying to tell me not to let my eyes wander.
Shizuma had attended this school since kindergarten, and since the
day she’d entered middle school had attracted the attention of the
entire school.
Even in a school like Miator, which was filled with girls from
prominent families, being the eldest daughter of the head of such a
large, well-established business conglomerate with so many ties to
21
prominent political and economic circles was enough to get the other
students’ attention. On top of that, Shizuma was, with no
exaggeration, a handsome, talented girl who excelled both
academically and athletically.
She had long, shiny, gently waving hair and pale, almost transparent
skin, like porcelain. She was tall, with long, slender legs.
Shizuma was on the track team, specializing in the high jump. During
the sports festival, she competed in the relay. And in the national
practice exam, she was always in the top one hundred. Her high-
bridged nose and sharp chin gave her a look of intelligence, her large
eyes, fringed by long eyelashes, always shone and she brimmed with
confidence. Anyone who saw her thought she looked like a bisque
doll.
Smart, beautiful, athletic and talented—ever since she was a little
girl, people had told her she was like a rose blossom.
Upperclassmen showered her with invitations to tea and
underclassmen shot her admiring glances. It happened so often she
didn’t even feel uncomfortable about it. Shizuma never turned down
those invitations—no matter who did the asking, she always
answered with a smile. It was all a part of her glorious school life.
Even if the other girls’ admiration grew and turned into love, Shizuma didn’t think it particularly strange. She enjoyed being
surrounded by a bunch of sweet, beautiful damsels, and she certainly
didn’t dislike playing at romance when she was invited somewhere.
Sometimes Shizuma would fall in love—a mysterious feeling that
only appeared when she was with her damsels, during the little
games she would play with them. That thick, sweet, gentle, peach-
like aroma that only floated in the air between two girls; an emotion
that went beyond simple affection or impatience and made them
wish they could touch each other’s soft white skin forever.
22
Once this emotion had been born in her heart, it shifted intensely, and she
found herself driven to control her partner.
I’m not going to leave your side for an instant. I want to be
connected to you forever. You’re so precious to me I won’t let you lay
eyes on anyone but me.
Blessed with talent and usually able to control everything, it was the first
time in Shizuma’s life she felt emotions she couldn’t control, like an unruly, galloping horse. At some point, Shizuma had abandoned
herself to the sensation.
Once she became an upperclassman, Shizuma started to change her
“favorite” frequently. She thought she might have become numb to
the feeling altogether. No, she knew that wasn’t it. At what point had it
started to fall apart? No matter whom she was with or what she
did, it always came down to the same thing.
Deep in her heart, there was a void she just couldn’t fill.
It could be because of her… For a moment, small cracks formed in
Shizuma’s heart. Whenever memories of that autumn began to
surface, Shizuma pushed them down and sealed them away.
She had a feeling that somewhere out there, there must be someone
who could fill that void.
***
Shizuma was silent.
The girl noticed the quiet, and before she even realized it, lifted her head.
There were no more tears in her eyes. In their place was a
determined expression.
“I’m sorry, Shizuma-oneesama. I cried in front of you even though I
know you hate it when people cry.” Her cheeks were soaked with tears, but somehow she managed to smile.
23
“Shizuma-oneesama, to me you are like a beautiful dream. Like what I
feel when I look at these cherry blossoms.” As she pointed toward
the sky, a single fluttering cherry-blossom petal came to rest on the
girl’s fingertip. “I will be okay. Please, do not worry yourself. Just having
the honor of being a companion to someone like you was a
dream come true for me, Shizuma-oneesama. Thank you for letting
me live my dream—I feel as if I could die happy right now.”
The girl gently kissed the flower petal and smiled. “I’ve been so
happy, this month that I’ve spent with you, Shizuma-oneesama.
That’s enough for me. I’m so happy—almost happier than someone
like me has a right to be.” Her voice shook toward the end of the
little speech. Fwooo. The wind was cold against her tear-soaked cheeks.
“Thank you. You’re such a good girl.” Shizuma couldn’t hold herself
back. One last time. She took the girl’s wet cheeks gently in her hands and gazed steadily at her face. The image of Shizuma’s face
reflected in the girl’s damp, dark eyes grew larger and larger. Soon
the only thing reflected was Shizuma’s eyes. The other girl slowly
closed hers.
The two figures floating in the cherry-colored cloud became one.
Rustle.
Before long, the rustling of Shizuma’s skirt could be heard.
“Please, go before me, Oneesama.”
Shizuma gazed at the girl’s face worriedly. With her hands folded in
front of her chest, the girl closed her eyes and accepted Shizuma’s
scrutiny.
“I would like to stay here a little longer and look at the cherry
blossoms. I will use them to help me remember my dear Shizuma-
oneesama.” She slowly opened her eyes and gave a bright smile.
24
“This is our final goodbye. But please do not worry, Shizuma-oneesama.
Starting tomorrow, I will go back to being a regular
underclassman. It’s just, at the end, I wanted to—” A single tear fell from
the girl’s eyes. “My memories…the memories in my heart…even
if I lose everything else, I will always carry them with me. You don’t
Feeling a slight twinge of pain in her chest, Shizuma smiled at her.
“Yes, of course.”
Then she turned her back on the girl and, without a single glance
back, left her on the hill alone.
“My beloved, you will always be my one and only little daisy.”
Swssshh. The breeze grew stronger and the snowstorm of cherry blossoms veiled Shizuma from the girl’s sight as she walked away.
The sight of scattering cherry blossoms made everything there seem
more beautiful.
They would only last but a week.
***
Sparkle sparkle.
Along the fence by the pale, dry path, clusters of white double bridal
wreath1 flowers blew about. The sunlight pierced through them,
making them appear to shine.
“Wooow, what cute flowers!” As the girl shouted for joy, she reached out an impulsive hand to one of the young double bridal wreath
bushes planted along the long fence.
The flowered branches, touched by the girl’s delicate fingers,
seemed to flutter happily as they scattered their small petals, which
gathered on the ground by her feet.
25
“It’s like a warm snow is falling.”
Swssshhh. A small whirl of wind stirred.
Rustle rustle rustle…
The double bridal wreath branches, bent with the weight of
countless small white flowers, swayed in the breeze.
A shining white petal snow fell on the ground all around. The girl had no
idea the adorable flowers had an equally pleasant name, but it
was a bright, beautiful sight.
The girl, Aoi Nagisa, who was already in a cheerful mood, walking to
her new school, felt it was a very good omen. She had a feeling a lot
of fun things waited for her. She’d heard the school was for really
high-class girls, so she was a little nervous, but…
Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be all right.
Gorgeous weather, a cheerful mood—that’s what a new semester is
Her brand-new school uniform, which she’d tried on for the first time
this morning, was very cute, but also kind of mature. She’d thought it
might not look good on her. Now those worries were a distant
memory, because the uniform looked great on her.
Right?
***
That morning, when Nagisa had stood in front of the full-length
mirror to see how she looked in her new uniform, the image that had
looked back at her appeared to be a completely different person.
Her ponytail was tied more securely than usual; the brightly-colored
bundle of hair that fanned out behind her was pulled up too tightly—
probably because she’d put too much energy into tying it up.
26
The charcoal gray one-piece dress, made out of thin, high-quality wool,
with an off-white petticoat that peeked from under the long
button-down skirt, had a classic style. The delicate lace collar and the
short tie in the school’s color, dark green, gave it a formal look.
Nagisa’s growth had begun to spurt only about six months ago, but
when she put on the uniform, she unexpectedly found she looked
almost mature.
My face looks childish for a fifteen-year-old, and I can’t do
anything about that, but at least my usual cheerful smile is as perfect as ever today, if I do say so myself!
She tried smiling at herself in the mirror—and saw a smile that was
still innocent and childlike. A smile that looked like it belonged to a child
that knew only the taste of sugary-sweet candy and nothing of
heart-wrenching love.
People are always telling me I look like a child, but… Umm, I
wonder if it’s because of these big, round, droopy eyes?!
Nagisa put a finger on the corner of each eye and tried lifting them
up a little. Whoa, that looks weird!
She burst into laughter, but she had a feeling the uniform really
looked better on her than she thought.
I guess it’s true after all—when you enter high school, you grow
up before you even realize it. Ha ha! Nagisa, aren’t you being just a littlecheeky?
***
Right. I feel like I can do anything today, Nagisa thought as she watched the wild dance of the double bridal wreath flowers shining in
the sunlight. Her first time wearing the uniform, her first time going 27
to this school—from now on, Nagisa would be going to a school for
really high-class girls. She might not quite fit in there, but still…
These adorable flowers came out to greet me! It must mean the
girls at school won’t hate me. How should I put it…a gift from God?
The weather was gorgeous this morning, the sun shone down on her,
the little white flowers were so beautiful and adorable—and she
didn’t know why, but for some reason, she was in an amazingly
cheerful mood.
Nagisa didn’t know much about God, but she had a feeling that such
a wonderful day as this was a gift from God to cheer her on. It felt as if
He were telling her, “Do your best! If you make a little mistake or slip up a
little, I will help you. So don’t worry about the little things; just do the very best you can.”
Yeah, that must be it! Today’s the day I start out. God must be
cheering me on! I have a feeling good things are going to happen!
Gently stroking the delicate white lace collar, Nagisa flung herself
into an energetic spin. Her long skirt puffed out like a parachute.
Flustered, she pressed it down again.
Oh no! Someone will see my underwear! I don’t have time to be
playing around like this—I’ll be in big trouble if I’m late! Today’s the
first day of school and it’s important. I went through all the trouble of getting up early, but I was so nervous after checking my uniform I had to drink cup after cup of tea to calm down, and now I only have ten minutes left! I have to hurry.
When Nagisa had put on the uniform she’d so longed for, she had
taken a step forward in her life. It was the uniform of the venerable St.
Miator Girls’ Academy, which every single girl desperately wanted to
attend.
The petticoat fluttered and floated in time to Nagisa’s bouncy steps.
She looked at the hem of her skirt dancing in the air—until she’d
28
—and thought, I guess I have to walk a little more lady-like from now on.
That is how Nagisa started on her way to St. Miator Girls’ Academy
on the day that marked the beginning of her school life.
***
When Shizuma reached the bottom of the hill, she looked back toward
the top.
Astraea Hill. A convent, established here a long time ago, had served
as the mother institution for St. Miator Girls’ Academy since the
school was built.
Two sister schools, St. Spica Girls’ Institute and St. Lulim Girls’ School,
had since been built in the adjacent area. The three Astraea Schools,
each with its own unique characteristics, were widely known
throughout society as elite girls’ schools. Teeming with the lush
green of springtime, the hill rose out of the ground as if it wanted to
pierce the high, blue sky.
Shizuma gazed up the hill. Will she be able to go home alone? I
hope she’s not crying any more, but… No, I’m sure she’s not.
She shook her head. The fact that her relationships never lasted
more than a month, no matter what girl she went out with, was
entirely her own fault. She simply didn’t have the ability to worry
about the girl who was probably crying over her. Even Shizuma
couldn’t say exactly what the root of the problem was. Though she
loved each one of them…the passion never lasted long.
It would have been simple enough to keep the relationship going
even though the passion had disappeared, but she didn’t want to do
that. She didn’t want to betray the other girl’s honest feelings. She
didn’t want to hurt her.
29
Shizuma always wanted to love her partner as much as her partner loved
her.
As she thought about all of this, a sharp pain ran through her
chest again. I don’t want to hurt her. I want to love my partner just as
much as she loves me. But what about her?
Somewhere in Shizuma’s heart, the question burned.
Yes, what about her? What about the girl I treated like that and
had to leave… Could it be I feel guilty? Or could it be…I’m getting too
Shizuma forced herself to laugh, trying to fool herself into thinking it was
a ridiculous idea. Suddenly her skin felt a little cooler.
Is this what they mean by crazy weather in spring? The wind
seems like it’s gotten stronger.
The white violets that bloomed on Astraea Hill bent in the wind.
I have to hurry back to the Strawberry Dorms. With a slight shrug of her shoulders, Shizuma went around the hill and walked along a path
that headed in the opposite direction.
Rustle… She walked defiantly into the wind, which occasionally gusted at her. On the other side of the hill was the unconventional
dorm Shizuma lived in.
I hope no one finds out I’ve broken up with her, at least for a
little while…
Normally Shizuma would go directly to the salon. Since it was the last
day of spring break, it was sure to be filled with students enjoying tea and
snacks. A huge crowd of Shizuma’s fans, who paid careful
attention to her every move, would be there.
So Shizuma’s absence today most likely had not gone unnoticed.
Because the schools and dorms both had strict rules regarding
relationships between upper- and underclassmen, and Shizuma was
30
going to be in the highest grade beginning this spring, it was rare for an
underclassman to get close to her. An appearance by Shizuma at
the salon was one of the few opportunities the underclassmen had
to see her. It was almost like getting to meet a star.
Even though they knew all Shizuma’s recent relationships had lasted
only a month, there was still no end to the number of girls who
admired her and wanted to be by her side. This was because all the
girls Shizuma had loved said it had made them happier than anything
else. It made them cry tears of joy, and they all said it was a memory they
would put away in the most important place in their hearts for
the rest of their lives.
And Shizuma used her overwhelming presence to reign over the
other girls. There were many who would have loved to throw
themselves into Shizuma’s embrace and be held by Shizuma’s long
arms. She was more dignified than any man, smart, forceful yet
This was Shizuma, the girl they all longed for.
I hope the girl I just broke up with doesn’t get hurt by any gossip going around the salon.
Shizuma’s feelings turned a little dark. With a sigh, she looked at her feet;
she had stopped without even realizing it.
A girl’s voice called out ahead of her. “Excuse me! Is this the way to the
Strawberry Dorms?”
When Shizuma looked up, she saw a girl wearing a St. Miator
uniform, carrying a big Boston bag. Shizuma didn’t recognize her.
“Who might you be?”
31
32
“I’m a fourth-year transfer student! I’m going to start living in the
dormitory today.”
Shizuma took another good look at her. Heh heh. She has a cute
Lured by the girl’s bright, sunny smile, Shizuma found herself
grinning.
Ah, if I go back to the Strawberry Dorms with this girl, maybe it will
distract them from starting any other rumors about me. Because
once everyone gets this new bit of news, they’ll just have to jump on it.
Shizuma was more than a little relieved. “I’d be happy to lead you
there. Please, come with me.”
Shizuma gracefully extended her beautiful white hand, as if leading a
dance.
33
Chapter 2
The Shining Star of the Campus Makes a
As the end of the day’s classes drew near, a gloriously uninhibited
atmosphere floated over the entire campus. In the Fourth Year Moon
Class’ homeroom, in the new school building, the final class was
being held.
The nun, wearing a dark gray habit and a warm smile, looked over
the classroom from the podium. “That is all. I pray for the safety of
every one of you as you return home. Class is over. Take care,
everyone. The organ, if you please.”
A small organ sat close to the door of the classroom. Two students
wearing St. Miator uniforms were seated in front of the instrument.
According to the daily routine of St. Miator Girls’ Academy, it was
time for hymns. In both morning and afternoon homeroom the
students sang hymns in thanks and praise to God.
In response to the nun’s smile, the two students gave a small nod.
They looked at each other, exchanged gentle smiles, and raised their
hands above the keyboard. At that signal, the entire class rose
quietly from their seats and the sound of a prelude began. The girls’
beautiful, pure singing filled the room.
In Heaven up above
The stars of the sky
Give off
Their brilliant light.
Wow! Singing hymns is cool after all!
34
Nagisa loudly flipped though the pages of her hymnal. But I don’t know this song. I wonder what page it’s on? There are so many hymns I just don’t know what to do!
Rustle rustle rustle. Nagisa frantically searched the pages of the book.
Since she hadn’t been at the school very long, she didn’t know where
to find this particular song they were singing in the thick hymn book.
Found it! Found it! This is it. I see, it’s a song for the Virgin
Mary.
Nagisa finally joined the others. She came in late and she didn’t know the
Oh no! The girl in the next seat cast a long glance at Nagisa. Oh dear.
What am I going to do with you, Nagisa-chan. You let yourself get all
frantic again. You look so serious. How cute!
Suzumi Tamao, fifteen years old. This was her first spring in high
school, but her fourth year at Miator. She was tall for her age, and
Miator’s classic uniform suited her well. Her head looked small,
perhaps because she wore her long hair tied up, but it did expose the
beautiful, gentle slope of her neck. Fascinating, elegant wisps of hair that
escaped the tie caught the sunlight that came through the
windows and shone, black with just a tinge of blue. She was a very
beautiful girl, who looked much more composed and much more
mature than her actual age.
Whenever Tamao saw Nagisa, she almost felt compelled to tease
her. It was a sickness that had begun the day Nagisa had transferred
to the school.
It’s like they’ve let a sinful child in here. I finally begin to enjoy a
peaceful school life, but now it’s just like I’m… Well, like I’m a pervert!
A pervert—
35
As soon as that word popped into her head, Tamao froze for a moment,
startled. N-no, that’s not it at all. That couldn’t possibly be.
What am I thinking?
She shook her head a little. Phew… Mentally, she took a deep sigh.
She had to think of something to lift her spirits… She put on a vague
smile and shook her head in total resignation.
Tap tap tap. She gently tapped Nagisa’s shoulder and whispered,
“Hey, Nagisa-chan, listen to this! It looks like Shizuma-oneesama is
outside.”
“Whaaaat?” Nagisa turned frantically and looked out the classroom
window, almost toppling her chair in the process.
Several nearby students looked at her, still singing.
Flustered, Nagisa ducked her head and cast a questioning glance
toward the nun at the podium before looking back toward the
window. The only thing she could see outside was the top of a large
double-flowered cherry tree in full bloom.
A single, heavy-looking flower fell with a plop. Now that Nagisa thought
“Jeez! Don’t do that to me, Tamao-chan!!” With her face bright red,
Nagisa posed as if she were going to punch Tamao and playfully
tapped her chest.
In her heart, Tamao was tickled she could be so close to Nagisa, but
on her face was an exaggerated frown. Aah, Nagisa-chan really IS
cute!
“Excuse me.”
The classroom door quietly opened. A calm, penetrating voice
caused the atmosphere in the classroom to suddenly change.
Nagisa’s classmates, who would barely move even if someone made
a huge sound, all turned at once.
36
Standing in the doorway was a tremendously beautiful woman—so
stunning, it was as if she reflected the beauty of the flowers that
fluttered outside.
“Shi-Shizuma-senpai—” Nagisa called out.
Remembering then what Shizuma had told her, she corrected
herself. “Shizuma-oneesama!”
***
It had happened one week ago, on Nagisa’s memorable first day at
school.
When Nagisa saw Shizuma’s delicate white hand stretched out
toward her in the midst of a shower of cherry blossoms, she didn’t
know what to do with it. Dumbfounded, she froze stiff.
Huh? Why does she have her hand out like that? C-could it be she wants
to hold hands?! Uh, sh-she said “come with me,” so she’s probably going toshow me the way, but why hold hands? I could understand if I was in
elementary school or something, but, umm, I’m in my first year of high school, so… I know people tell me I look young, but I don’t look like an elementary school kid, do I?! I can’t just stand here like this forever, umm, umm…
When the panicked Nagisa stole a timid glance at Shizuma, she saw
the other still standing there, not moving. She looked like she was
kind and gentle, yet strong, with a noble smile that made Nagisa
want to get closer to her.
As if she couldn’t care less about Nagisa being shocked speechless,
She just kindly kept it stretched toward Nagisa, her long hair swirling
beautifully around her.
Nagisa looked at Shizuma’s hand, patiently waiting for her, and…
Clench. Nagisa took it with both hands and squeezed with all her might.
Abruptly.
37
Suddenly.
Rudely.
Squeeeeeze. Nagisa’s cheeks were bright red with nervousness. Even
through the tight grip, the softness of Nagisa’s palm was instantly
apparent to Shizuma.
Shizuma was shocked at both her rudeness and the strong warmth of
her hands.
I’ve never had anyone squeeze my hand with such genuine
strength. My cute little flowers always take my hand so softly and timidly, like they’re touching something that might break.
On the other hand, feeling the slenderness and coolness of
Shizuma’s hand, Nagisa was hit with a sudden panic. Oh NO, I can’t
believe it. What did I do that for? Why did I just squeeze her hand like that? Ithought how weird it was to hold someone’s hand, then I
thought how stupid I looked just standing there, THEN I thought how
pretty she was, THEN I thought, “She doesn’t want to hold my hand, doesshe?” and then I thought, “I wonder why she’s still standing
absolutely still?” and then, and then, I just couldn’t take it any more—
— Aah, what’ll I do? I must have scared her!
— Aah, I wonder what happened? I feel like my body’s gotten so
warm.
The two of them lifted their gazes from their clenched hands to each
other’s faces.
Ahh…
A sort of electricity ran through their bodies.
***
38
“It’s Shizuma-oneesama!”
“It’s Shizuma-oneesama…”
classroom?”
In the midst of the whispering of golden voices, Shizuma slowly
bowed to the nun and gave her a gorgeous smile as she spoke.
“I apologize for interrupting your homeroom, Sister. I have come to
get the student who is in charge of the holy water today.”
Sighs of admiration rose from the class. The girls looked like they
were about to faint.
“Aaah… What a perfect, beautiful bow she made.”
“I could watch her all day.”
“I actually got to see Shizuma-oneesama. This is the luckiest day of
my life!”
“Oh, why thank you,” the nun said politely. “You are Hanazono-san,
correct? Your duties must be hard today.” With a cheerful grin, she
turned the pages of the attendance book. “The student in charge of
the holy water today is—oh my, it’s our transfer student, Aoi-san!”
Nagisa and Tamao stopped their playful punches in mid-air.
Whaaaa…? M-ME?! Nagisa was so shocked she almost stopped
breathing.
All eyes in the classroom were on Nagisa.
Oh, great. I feel like they’re staring daggers at me…
“Well then, please come here, Aoi-san.” With an air of calm, Shizuma
walked slowly toward Nagisa. She stopped and reached out her hand
to Nagisa and gave her a powerful look that said plainly, “Please take my
hand.”
39
“Go on, hurry.”
When Nagisa timidly brushed her fingertips, Shizuma immediately
clenched her hand and pulled the girl toward her.
Nagisa lost her balance and fell right into Shizuma’s chest. A tiny
scream rose from the back of the classroom. Wrapped in Shizuma’s
arms, Nagisa remembered. That day. Shizuma’s large, strong-willed,
almond-shaped eyes. Nagisa’s round, childlike, innocent ones
reflected in Shizuma’s.
***
It was the same a week ago. Enveloped in a cherry-colored mist, the
eyes of the two girls met. Neither of them saw their surroundings.
Their eyes were wide open, but they gazed only at each other, as if they were trying to take in every last bit of each other’s faces. They gazed
at each other soundlessly, as if everything were suddenly in
slow motion—and they simply gazed at each other.
The words Shizuma said next echoed in Nagisa’s ears.
“From this day forward, you are my younger sister. Call me Shizuma-
oneesama. If you break your promise…” Sting! Shizuma nipped
Nagisa’s finger.
“I’ll punish you.”
Shizuma released Nagisa’s finger from her mouth. It glistened with
dampness.
The spring breeze brushed coolly across it.
***
Nagisa felt like she could still feel that coolness on her finger, even
now. Just as Nagisa was about to get lost in the memory…
40
“I will lead you.” Shizuma’s cool voice echoed through the classroom.
For just a moment, she gave Nagisa a strong embrace. With a
satisfied smile on her face, she led the blushing Nagisa out of the
classroom with an arm around her shoulder.
Clatter. The closing of the heavy door echoed through the room. A
second later, the classroom was thrown into commotion.
Oh, Shizuma-oneesama… Sting. Seeing Nagisa taken away right in front
of her, Tamao was so frustrated she ground her teeth.
***
Around the same time…
“I wonder what Nagisa-oneesama is doing right about now.” The
words were only a faint mutter on the girl’s lips. The girl was
Tsukidate Chiyo, twelve years old. She was in the First Year Flower
Class’ homeroom at St. Miator. Her pitch-black hair was cut in a
shoulder-length bob. The innocent, impressionable girl was also
genuinely upper-class. She had gone to the same kindergarten as
Shizuma, and was now attending Miator.
With homeroom over, the class had begun cleaning up. Chiyo paused
in her sweeping and looked outside the window at the double-
flowered cherry tree, remembering. Remembering the day she’d met
Nagisa. The day she had decided Nagisa was her oneesama…
opened for the year. Even now, she could see it clearly. The cherry
blossoms had been fluttering that day, too. But it hadn’t been a
double-flowered cherry tree, which she found beautiful but
somehow cheap-looking. No, it had been a Yoshino cherry tree, light
pink and as delicate as a thin, ephemeral cloud.
Shizuma-oneesama had been there, beautiful and gentle, like a
cherry-blossom spirit. Chiyo was captivated by the memory. Before
41
she even noticed, she started shuffling her feet. She was fidgety for some
reason.
Tomorrow is Easter… I don’t really know why, but I get the
feeling something wonderful is going to happen.
A voice coming from the hallway interrupted Chiyo’s thoughts.
“Chiyo-maru! It’s time for the library committee meeting!”
“Okay! I’ll be right there!”
***
“Wow! Look, it’s Shizuma-oneesama!”
“How do you do, Shizuma-sama?”
“Shizuma-oneesama, you look as beautiful as ever.”
The comments came from all around her. Cheers echoed around the
red-carpeted hallway. A ring of blushing girls, their heads bowed
reverently, opened up in front of her like a ripple.
“It’s all right, it’s all right, please don’t go to so much trouble, my cute
little daisies.”
Shizuma was entirely unmoved by the girls’ cheers and reverence.
She simply kept walking and waving her hand with a grin on her face,
looking like a queen, giving her subjects a royal smile. The cheering
grew, like a bubble ready to burst on the water’s surface.
Watching Shizuma act so much like a queen, Nagisa couldn’t help
blushing. Shizuma-oneesama might be even more amazing than I
thought.
Shizuma strode majestically down the hallway with a huge smile, as
she always did. But she noticed that Nagisa, walking next to her,
hung her head. She dipped her own head and peeked into Nagisa’s
face.
42
“Oh dear. Whatever is the matter, Nagisa-chan?” Shizuma’s long hair billowed and waved and the fragrance of flowers blossomed around
her.
“It’s nothing.”
The smile Shizuma gave Nagisa was so beautiful it almost made her
catch her breath. She looked even more like a majestic goddess than
before. Flustered, Nagisa shook her head. Nagisa started to get the
feeling someone like her shouldn’t be next to someone like Shizuma.
She was completely unsure of herself.
Shizuma enjoyed the expression on Nagisa’s face. She tried hard to
suppress her naturally flirtatious expression. “Oh Nagisa-chan, don’t
sulk!” She placed a hand under Nagisa’s chin and forced her head up
so she could gaze into her eyes.
There was more than ten centimeters’ difference in their heights.
Shizuma had to bend down to peek into Nagisa’s face. As Shizuma
watched, Nagisa’s big round eyes started clouding with tears.
What beautiful, adorable eyes.
Quiver quiver.
Devoted, adorable, just like a little puppy.
Quiver quiver.
Aah, I can’t take it any more.
Shizuma’s face moved closer to Nagisa’s, as if pulled in by some
force.
Smooch. Shizuma planted a kiss on Nagisa’s forehead.
Screams rose from the crowd of girls that surrounded them.
43
44
“Aauggghh!!”
“Shizuma-sama! Shizuma-oneesama! She…!!”
Shoot, now I’ve done it! Shizuma mentally scolded herself. I forgot we
—“Let’s go, Nagisa!”—and took off as fast as she
could.
“Y-you’re going too fast!”
The screams and angry roars of the girls faded away almost instantly.
Huff huff huff…
Shizuma stopped just as they reached the exit. Beyond the open
door was a broad, lush green lawn leading to the back gate.
Nagisa finally caught her breath. Wow, Shizuma-oneesama
must be very good at sports, although I’m not so slow myself… I can’t
believe she can run so fast in such a long skirt, and she’s not even breathinghard at all, Nagisa thought.
“Good, I think we fooled them about the kiss,” Shizuma murmured in
a low voice as she checked to see if there were any people by the
back gate.
“Huh? What did we fool them about?”
“Uh, um, uh, it’s okay, it’s okay. I mean, look, we managed to baffle
my adorable little flowers, right?” Shizuma waved her hand
frantically right in front of Nagisa’s eyes.
“Oh, yes, I guess you’re right. That’s good! But what a shock! I never
knew you were so fast!”
Shizuma looked at Nagisa’s beaming smile and chuckled to
herself. Heh heh heh… My, my, you really are innocent and sweet
after all, aren’t you, Nagisa-chan? You’re the one who was fooled, my
adorable little puppy.
45
Shizuma slowly put her hand to her hip and spoke more seriously.
“By the way, Nagisa-chan, did you know tomorrow is Easter? It’s the
most important day of the year for Catholics. So we’re going to the
church to bring some holy water to the classrooms.”
“Oh, so that’s what they meant about being in charge of the holy
water! Do you mean the church in Maiden Park?”
“Right. So we’re going to have a little date in the garden. Doesn’t
that sound nice?” Shizuma took Nagisa’s arm and leisurely led her
out the door.
***
St. Miator Girls’ Academy: it was a girls’ school with a long and
The old convent, sitting at the peak of the wide, hilly area that was
originally called Astraea Hill, was the school’s mother institution.
When the school was first founded, only girls from families that were
financially blessed could receive a higher education. Even among
those, Miator gathered only young ladies from the most elite
families.
That single school gave the girls a consistent education from
kindergarten all the way through high school. The progressive
education and rigorous discipline, imparted by Catholic nuns on the
convent’s vast grounds—in an environment completely forbidden to
boys—made the school incredibly popular among nobles and certain
rich families, who saw the need for higher education for their girls
but faced limited choices.
This popularity, of course, raised the school’s status, which grew
even faster as the number of newly rich families grew. Sending a
daughter to St. Miator Girls’ Academy was seen as proof of success.
The striking popularity brought in far more applicants than the
46
school could handle with the space and number of staff they had. So St.
Spica Girls’ Institute and St. Lulim Girls’ School were built as sister schools in order to take in the overflow.
Miator continued to focus on rigorous discipline and strict rules and
an ideal, conservative, high-class education, and also boasted of the
fact that over fifty percent of its girls became engaged while in
school. In comparison, Spica was liberal and promoted the image of
independent girls advancing in society. Lulim’s goal was the
happiness of its girls, and it sought to nurture modern wives and
wise mothers. Each school had its own unique atmosphere, and the
varied curricula attracted a variety of applicants. The three schools of
Astraea Hill remained the most popular schools in the area.
Entering the campus from the base of the hill, Miator was in the
center, Spica was to the left, and Lulim was to the right. Each had its own
campus, gymnasium and courtyard, and each had its own
entrance as well, so although they were sister schools, they were
fundamentally separate and functioned independently.
The schools did share the use of several buildings and facilities,
events were held, a large theater and other facilities that all three
schools used. There was also the convent, the mother institution of
the schools, and the church associated with the convent. The schools
also shared a vast garden, called Maiden Park, which stretched
behind the school buildings. In the middle of the garden was a small
lake, and nearby, at the apex of the hill, was the large landmark
church.
There was one other facility that the schools shared. It was a
triangle-shaped building quietly tucked away in the farthest corner of the
campus. Its nickname was the Strawberry Dorms.
The Strawberry Dorms were the dormitories for students attending
Astraea’s three schools. Some of the large numbers of students who
47
attended these famous schools came from far away. The dormitory had
been built for those students for whom it would be too far to
commute daily.
It also served another purpose, pursued by only a small number of
schools these days, even among schools with a long legacy such as
Miator: the isolation and discipline of the students.
Even though many young ladies from strict families—many from the
oldest, most noble families—could potentially have commuted to
their schools for the purpose of getting an education, they were still
boarded in the Strawberry Dorms. There, they learned the ability to
take control of their everyday lives. At the same time, these rare
beauties were protected from the outside world.
It was a reminder of a time long past, when attending a girls’ school
was part of training in the domestic arts in preparation for becoming
a wife. The young ladies who boarded in the Strawberry Dorms went
to school by walking a path through Maiden Park, and when classes
were over, they walked back through the park again, back to the
Strawberry Dorms. There was absolutely no chance for them to have
contact with the outside world.
The girls lived entirely within the school, a pure world within the
walls that was reserved only for young ladies. A world of classes,
sports, friendship and love, as well as mental and emotional bonds
and passionate physical aches.
***
“Wow, it sure is a long walk just to the church, isn’t it?” Nagisa
swung her arms cheerfully as she walked on the shimmering lawn.
Shizuma’s face softened as she looked at her. “That’s right. The
Miator campus is big, but Maiden Park is huge. Wait, is this your first 48
time going to the church, Nagisa? I thought there was a Mass there during
opening ceremonies.”
“Oh, that day I had some transfer paperwork to fill out at the
convent, and then a nun took me from the convent right to the
church, so it’s my first time going to the church from the school.”
Nagisa turned to look at Shizuma, her face shining like a plump,
fresh, white peach, ripened in the brilliant spring sunshine. She
looked so soft and gentle… It was all Shizuma could do to keep
herself from reaching out and touching her.
“Oh, I see. So then the first time you came here, Nagisa, you went
through the real main gate, right?”
“Huh? The real main gate?” Afraid that maybe she’d messed
something up again without even realizing it, Nagisa jerked to a stop.
When Shizuma saw the frightened expression on Nagisa’s face,
something welled up in her heart. Shizuma reached out to her. “You
must not know, then. It was before Miator was built. Back then, the
only thing on the hill was the convent and the church. If you look
from the St. Miator’s gate, you can see all of Astraea Hill. Look, can you
see the large gate that leads to Maiden Park?”
“Oh!”
Shizuma’s hand moved suddenly and brushed Nagisa’s uniform at
her chest. Her dark green tie swayed gently.
“That’s the true main gate for the campus and all the buildings on
the hill. A proper and holy gate, reigning over these grounds where
only pure maidens live.”
Nagisa was tense for a moment, but Shizuma’s hand swept far and
high, gesturing toward the part of the hill farthest away from where
they stood, just visible under the clear blue sky.
49
With a slight blush, Nagisa looked where Shizuma pointed. She couldn’t
see much, but if she strained her eyes, in the shadow of a
huge tree, very far away, she saw something that looked like the corner of a giant bronze-colored gate. She looked at it and imagined
what the giant main gate to this hill, where her time-honored school
stood, must be like. A chill ran down her spine.
She couldn’t help but think how beautiful Shizuma looked, pointing
across the sky, and was a little moved.
Shizuma took the opportunity to swing around behind Nagisa.
“That’s why the path from the gate to the church is called the old
approach,” Shizuma explained as she eyed Nagisa, who was
fascinated by the gate.
“No one uses the old approach now—except during the coronation
of the Étoile, when it’s covered by countless beautiful flowers. It’s
magical. Astraea has quite a lot of events…”
Carefully, so she wouldn’t brush against Nagisa, Shizuma spread her
arms wide. “Hey, Nagisa. Do you know about the biggest and the
best—the grandest event in Astraea? It’s the Étoile Competition, where the students select the couple who will represent the three
schools. That is the holy place, where only the Étoile and her cadette are allowed to go.”
Nagisa’s mind was still on the gate at the bottom of the hill. Shizuma
examined her innocent profile, her cheeks blushing slightly as if she
weren’t even aware of Shizuma’s wicked movements.
“So you could say,” Nagisa said slowly, “that Maiden Park is the heart of
Astraea, and Miator, Spica, and Lulim are its back yard.”
Shizuma had the sudden urge to eat Nagisa up. She closed the circle
of her arms around her. “Do you have any interest in the Étoile, Nagisa?
If you make it through all the trials, you will become part of the greatest
couple in all three schools, blessed in the presence of
50
God himself. There are a lot of girls who would love to come here and try
to become the Étoile.”
Squeeze. I’ve got you!
Shizuma was just about to say it when…
“Oooooh!” Nagisa screamed and ran two or three steps, as if she
didn’t even notice Shizuma’s arms circling her. She flailed her arms
frantically. “Ooh! Oh! Oh! Ooh! There’s a CASTLE!”
When she looked back at Shizuma, Nagisa’s mouth was wide open. It
Shizuma was dumbfounded for a second, but when she looked at the
building Nagisa pointed to, she smiled meaningfully. “Ahh… Heh heh.
The Secret Garden.”
***
Scraaape.
The low sound of a chair scraping the floor disturbed the pleasant
silence of the large open space of the main hall of the library. A
student wearing a white uniform pushed her chair back and got up
from the large reading table. Her short, double-breasted jacket had a
wide collar and a high waist. Her matching skirt was a tight mini. It
was the uniform of St. Spica Girls’ Institute, with its “sailor” look.
In the silence, which was as taut as the head of a drum, the tall
student was acutely aware of the attention of the other students
sitting around her, focused on her every move. Eyes peered at her
from behind books propped up unnaturally on the table. When she
stared back, those eyes slipped behind the books again to hide. One
set of hands grasping a thick cover shook, and a book clattered
against the desk.
51
Even here too, huh? The girl let out a small mental sigh, grabbed the book she had been reading, and left her seat, heading toward the
checkout desk. At the counter was a small Miator student with
bobbed hair.
“Thank you. Could you put this back for me?” the St. Spica’s girl
asked.
“Sure. I’m sorry it’s reference only and you couldn’t take it out.” The girl
at the counter with a library committee armband on her arm,
who appeared to be a first-year, looked like she was about to cry.
The tall student, Otori Amane, couldn’t help but think, I wish you
wouldn’t get so nervous over me.
“It’s all right. Just looking at it here was enough to see what I
wanted.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.” The girl shrugged her shoulders
apologetically. “All of the Astraea directories are so thick and heavy,
especially this Miator directory because it has so many student
pictures. That’s why it can’t be taken out.”
“I see. I was surprised, because I didn’t think very many people would even need to use this kind of book. I wondered if the
restriction is meant to protect privacy.”
“There is that, too, but…here, take a look at this.” The library
committee girl opened the large book to a picture that filled the
entire page.
It was of a tall, beautiful, mature-looking girl, standing nobly with a
crown on her head and a scepter in her hand, just like a queen.
Nestled close beside her was a fragile-looking girl with very light
brown hair, a small tiara on her head and a kind smile on her face.
They were both wearing the uniform of St. Miator Girls’ Academy.
52
The page looked very well-worn. The library committee girl didn’t even
have to flip through the book to find it; it had been so often
looked at that it naturally opened up right to that picture.
Amane flinched. That’s the part I was just looking at.
“It’s a picture from last year’s Étoile competition. The entire school was excited because they saw it as the birth of the greatest Miator
couple in a long time. I heard that everyone in the school tried to
copy this picture, and the crowd caused a huge mess.”
The girl lowered her voice. “There were even some who tried to tear
it out and steal it.” Flustered by Amane’s silence, the girl hastily put on a
smile. Oh no, now that I’ve said that, what if she thinks Miator is a school with loose morals?! She quickly tried to change the subject.
“Um, it has a lot of pictures of many other wonderful oneesama, too.
So I’m sure the restriction was also made to keep the book from
going missing.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Noticing that Amane was at a loss for words, the library committee
girl’s expression turned to one of worry. “Umm, are you really sure
it’s all right?”
“Oh…yeah, I’m sure it’s all right. There was a picture I wanted to see,
just like you said. I wanted to look at it somewhere peaceful and
quiet—which the St. Spica’s library is not,” Amane added with a
somewhat bitter smile. Her words were packed with feelings of self-
derision as she remembered the noise in her own school’s library.
“Oh, really?! A lot of students from Spica and Lulim have been using
our library lately. I’m so glad to hear people from the other schools like it here… Umm, if you like, please don’t hesitate to come again. I
think this is a wonderful, calm place for reading books, too! Next
time I’ll show you the best place in the whole library!”
53
She beamed, a truly genial, radiant and utterly innocent smile.
Amane was just a little stunned by it, and couldn’t help smiling back.
If students from Spica and Lulim are coming here often, I think it just
means that the fame of the Secret Garden is spreading, that’s all.
Well, no matter.
Amane put on her own smile. “Ah ha ha. Thank you. You really love
this library, don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s like, whenever I come here, I can feel myself relaxing. I start to
feel more positive, like as long as I try my best even with the little things, I’ll be happy.”
Amane leaned over the counter toward the girl. Her face drew close
to the girl’s, as if she were going to peer into it. “What’s your name?”
“Umm, my name is Tsukidate Chiyo. I really hope everyone is
comfortable using this library.”
Her smile gave away her shyness, but at the same time said she took
pride in her duty, protecting this dignified library.
“Oh, that’s a cute name. I’m Otori—”
As Amane started to give her name, the corners of Chiyo’s mouth
curved into a smile.
“I know.”
“Huh?”
“You are Otori Amane-sama, from the Fifth Year Class Trois at St.
Spica Girls’ Institute…correct? You’re famous, so I recognize you. I
am honored to meet you,” Chiyo said to Amane, her voice entirely
unpretentious.
So she knows me? But when Amane looked at Chiyo, she felt a
little relieved there were girls like her. So, this kind of thing does happen even when I go to other schools—and it’s probably only going to get worse.
54
She figured she could bear it for just this one year. “I’ll come back again.
I hope next time we’ll be able to doze off together, reading an even better
book. Goodbye. Good luck with your library committee
She turned around and left the counter, waving a hand behind her.
Clatter clatter clatter.
Chairs clattered as several students, who must have been
eavesdropping on the girls’ conversation, raced toward the counter.
***
It wasn’t a castle, it was a library.
Since Nagisa had never been inside, Shizuma said with a meaningful
smile, she would take a little detour and show her the way. Amid the
profusion of small white flowers stood a white stone wall and a
building that looked from the outside like an old castle.
Wooden doors three stories high were visible in the front façade.
Nagisa had only ever seen such elaborate doors once before, on a
school trip to an art museum.
These doors were so heavy and massive the two girls could only
open one side. Beyond the doors was a cavernous entrance hall,
almost as big as a classroom, with a high ceiling supported by several
giant pillars.
Click. When Nagisa stepped inside, her footsteps echoed off the stone
floor, which had a large black and white checkerboard pattern.
The cool air brushed her skin, and it was so quiet she wondered
whether there was anybody there. Coming in here from bright
Maiden Park was like stepping into a completely different world.
Nagisa instinctively looked up at the tall, dome-shaped ceiling. When
she saw its stained-glass windows, with their beautiful geometric
patterns and lily motif, she couldn’t help but gasp.
55
Nagisa’s jaw dropped. Ever since she had entered Miator, she had
constantly been struck by the feeling she was on some sort of trip.
Shizuma watched with amusement. It looks like Nagisa’s ended
up someplace she never imagined.
“What’s the matter? Oh, Nagisa, your mouth is hanging open like a
slob!” Shizuma said, smiling as she drew up beside the flabbergasted
Nagisa.
“Ah! Oh no, I-I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” Shizuma reached a hand to Nagisa’s
lips. “Goodness, Nagisa! You’re drooling!”
Click. Click. Click. Click. The floor faithfully made a spectacular sound with every single one of Nagisa’s panicked steps.
“Please wait for me!”
Chasing after Shizuma, Nagisa entered the sacred ground beyond—
the main hall. Unlike the entrance, the high-walled interior of the
building had a floor with a delicate mosaic of dark, polished wood
and stone. It was dimly lit and wrapped in silence.
A few lamp-like lights were situated high along the wall, which made
Nagisa wonder how they changed the light bulbs. She was stunned
by this seemingly empty space, but when she took a more careful
look, deeper inside, she saw what seemed to be a checkout counter,
all the way in the back, and the shapes of people here and there, lit
by orange, flower-shaped lights.
Even though she couldn’t see anyone clearly, she could hear a very
faint rustling coming from a variety of places around her.
It’s so quiet I thought maybe there wasn’t anyone here. But still…even
though it’s so cool and quiet…I feel like there’s an air of excitement. Like acandle flame burning without a sound.
56
Shizuma came up and whispered to her, “This is called the Secret Garden.
It’s quiet and dark, yet full of excitement—doesn’t it have an atmosphere of
secrecy? There’s even a rumor THEY come out here.”
“What ‘comes out?’”
“Well…something you probably hate, Nagisa-chan.”
“Something that I hate? What could that be?”
“Well…something that starts with ‘g’ and rhymes with ‘toast.’”
“Toast… Oh, ghosts!!” Nagisa shouted without thinking.
“Shh! Don’t shout like that! This is a library, you know.” Shizuma
hurriedly put a hand over Nagisa’s mouth to quiet her, but looked
like she was having a lot of fun doing it.
I can’t believe there are ghosts in such a wonderful library.
Nagisa was a little depressed. She really did hate ghosts.
“Hey, look,” Shizuma whispered into her ear. “There are some
wonderful, adorable little ghosts!”
At Shizuma’s urging, Nagisa looked. Not far from where they stood
were movable book racks over two meters tall. Just beyond them, through the cracks, she caught a glimpse of people moving.
“It’s all right. They won’t see us from here,” Shizuma said in a low
voice. Nagisa peered between the book cases and listened to the
conversation.
“But…”
“You said you were going to do this, didn’t you?”
“Yeah…but…”
“Leave it to me. You don’t have to think about anything.”
“…I think I…”
57
“Shh. Don’t say it. I know what you want even without you saying it.”
From between the book racks the arm of someone dressed in a
white uniform reached for something, then tried to hug it close.
Long, perfectly straight hair rustled against the uniform. A sweet,
spicy musk emanated from the hair and wafted between the book
racks toward Nagisa.
“My beloved Hikari-chan,” the girl with the long hair said. “It’s all
right.” She pulled the other girl close and gently embraced her.
“I want you to understand my feelings…just a little…”
“Ah! Ya-Yaya-chan?!”
“Shh! Be quiet.”
“Ah! Aaaaugh.”
The first girl squeezed the second girl tighter and tighter, twisting her
body and making her skirt slide up. The short, tight skirt was part of the Spica uniform. The girl’s skirt slid up so high it revealed her
underpants, and her butt cheeks, pure and white, peeked from
underneath the hem. The other girl slid her hands along them.
“Ah—” the young girl’s voice trembled.
The hand that had been stroking her butt cheeks disappeared even
further up her skirt, causing a loud cry from the girl. “Aaah…”
At that most important point, Shizuma forced Nagisa’s face toward
herself. “Any more will be too much for you, Nagisa-chan…right?”
Nagisa almost wanted to see more, but had the feeling it was a good
thing she hadn’t. What the heck is this? What the heck is this? What the heck is this?!
In answer to Nagisa’s unspoken question, Shizuma whispered an
use it. Although there didn’t seem to be any people, all around, in the shadows of the bookshelves, couples enjoyed secret rendezvous.
“They are sacred, modest rendezvous between maidens,” she said.
“Being a library, it’s quiet and only certain people come here, so
there aren’t many interruptions. They say that ever since before
anyone can remember, it’s been a popular rendezvous spot for girls
who long to see each other. People started calling it ‘The Secret
Garden.’ Although the meetings are called ‘rendezvous,’ that doesn’t
necessarily mean that anything particularly ‘big’ happens.”
That’s what Shizuma said, but Nagisa wasn’t sure she believed her.
It seemed one way girls had of confirming each other’s love was to
hide in the shadows of the bookshelves together, open books in
front of them, and pretend to look into each other’s book so they
could secretly touch cheek to cheek. After all, that’s just about all
young girls are capable of doing. But they couldn’t try even such a
modest thing without being nudged on by the dignified, secretive,
beautiful atmosphere of the library.
“At least for normal girls,” Shizuma said. “That’s why when you come
to the library, it’s definitely worth seeing the innocent, excited faces of
underclassmen who are invited here by upperclassmen. Once in a
while, there are girls who get wonderfully intense, like the ones you
just saw. Heh heh heh. At times like that, I feel almost like I’ve won
something. When two people love each other…it’s only natural to
want to touch each other more and more, Nagisa-chan.”
This is bad, Nagisa thought. I-is that what a rendezvous is?!
That’s just… That’s just… After that, did they…?
Nagisa’s heart began to pound. In response to her thoughts, her
body began to heat up.
59
Shizuma didn’t seem to notice Nagisa’s discomfort. “Heh heh. It looks
like Spica girls have started to use it lately, too. But if they’re doing it there, they must still be beginners. There’s a better spot…”
THEY were just beginners? Nagisa was so shocked her jaw dropped
again. And then…
Huh?!
Nagisa’s heart pounded. A cold sweat ran down her back. She
remembered the couple they had just seen. The pure white uniform
crumpled by the tight embrace.
The skirt that had slid up.
The hand that had gone up with it.
It’s just coincidence. It’s just coincidence that we ended up like this, I’m sure of it— it’s because I yelled before. She tried to stop me, and… Nagisa desperately tried to convince herself.
But when she thought about where she was and what she had
seen— Could there really be girls who do things like that here?— she felt like running away.
“Shizuma-oneesama…umm, if that’s how it is, we must be bothering
them, so maybe it’s time for us to leave…” She tried to squirm out of
Shizuma’s arms, but Shizuma seemed to have anticipated Nagisa’s
actions.
“Tsk tsk tsk…” Shizuma gently stroked the nape of Nagisa’s neck and
softly whispered into her ear. “Aww, don’t do that, Nagisa. You’re
the one who said you wanted to come here, and you invited me, you
know?”
Shizuma’s breath brushed against her cheek.
60
Shudder shudder.
Shizuma’s voice was very sexy. Her breath had the fragrance of
roses.
Nagisa’s entire mind was suddenly a blur of pink.
“This is why we came here—isn’t it? I’m so happy, Nagisa… It’s all
right, leave it to me. I’ll be VERY gentle with you…” Shizuma’s hand
slowly crept its way from Nagisa’s neck toward her chest.
Whaat?! Is this, is this, could this be… No, it couldn’t possibly
be… I mean, we’re both girls!
The ribbon tie at Nagisa’s chest swayed.
Ah, aaaah, it really IS!
When Nagisa thought she sensed Shizuma’s fingers on her chest, she
couldn’t take it any more. “I-I-I-I think I’m going to leave after all! I-I
have to go to the toilet.” She closed her eyes, thrust herself away from
Shizuma was dumbfounded. “What? That is the first time something
li Moments before, Shizuma had been able to tell that a pink-colored
mist had shrouded Nagisa’s mind while she was in Shizuma’s arms.
This is going to work, Shizuma had thought. Normally, once Shizuma
brought a girl that far, she would fall right into Shizuma’s hands.
“I’ve never brought a girl that far and had her slip out of my arms
before.”ke that ever happened to me. Why—
“I have to go to the toilet?” Hmph. She has no sense for mood.
“But no matter. I’ve taken even more interest in you now, Nagisa.”
You, who are actually capable of rejecting me…
Shizuma smiled with obvious delight and quietly walked after Nagisa.
61
62
***
“Jeez, Shizuma-oneesama, Shizuma-oneesama, Shizuma-oneesama!!”
Nagisa walked quickly toward the entrance, her head down and eyes
I’m so embarrassed! I don’t know how to face Shizuma-
oneesama. Even if it was due to circumstances, I still pushed her
away. Aahh, I probably made Oneesama angry with me. Even though
she was nice enough to offer to teach me how to handle the holy
water… That’s right, what if she didn’t mean it that way at all, and I justcompletely misunderstood? When I felt her fingertips brush
against my bare skin between the buttons of my uniform, I might
have been imagining things. Yeah, that’s right. This uniform is really
tight, so it wouldn’t open up that easily, I’m sure of it.
And yet she still kept walking quickly ahead, not even looking in front of
her.
Bwam.
She bumped into someone. She quickly looked up. “Oh! I-I’m sorry!”
Standing there was the first-year library committee member,
Tsukidate Chiyo.
“Nagisa-oneesama!”
“Chiyo-chan!”
Thwump thwump. Chiyo’s arms turned to jelly, letting the books she held fall onto the floor. She was only a lowly committee member,
and she had only become a library committee member because she
didn’t have any other talents.
I like doing an honest job in this beautiful library, and I’m happy working here, but up until now, I never really got anything special out of being a library committee member. But ahh, this time I’m thrilled! I was able to see Nagisa-oneesama in the library!
63
Chiyo’s heart felt like it would burst with joy. I just met the shining white Prince of Spica, Otori Amane-sama, and now I get to
see Nagisa-oneesama, too!
Chiyo hurriedly tried to figure out what she had done to suddenly
deserve this. “Nagisa-oneesama! Did you come looking for a book?
I’m a library committee member! I’m so glad to see you! By all
means, please allow me to help y—”
Her joy only lasted a moment.
Click click click click.
From behind Nagisa came the sound of someone running—certainly
an unexpected noise in a library. Chiyo gasped, in unison with Nagisa, who turned to look behind her. A girl ran toward them, her long hair
flowing behind her. It was none other than….
“Shi-Shizuma-oneesama?!” Chiyo doubted her own eyes.
Shizuma didn’t even give Chiyo a second glance. “Nagisa-chan! So
here you are!” She suddenly embraced Nagisa. “I’ve caught you! And
this time I won’t let you go!”
Nagisa simply stiffened helplessly.
Seeing the two of them like that gave Chiyo a huge shock. Instantly,
hot tears started to well up in Chiyo’s large, round, doll-like eyes.
Drip…drip drip drip.
As she watched the two of them, tears that shone like jewels fell one
after the other.
What’s wrong with me? Why am I crying again? If I let her see
me like this, it’ll scare Nagisa-oneesama. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Come on, Chiyo, you shouldn’t cry! But, but, but, but… Waaaah!
Nagisa-oneesama is—she’s already taken by Shizuma-oneesama!
Chiyo ran off without a word, crying.
64
Nagisa was so dumbfounded she couldn’t move. What in the world justhappened?
When Shizuma looked at Chiyo, getting farther and farther away, and
at the state Nagisa was in, she felt just a little bit guilty. With an
unusually awkward look on her face, Shizuma said, “Now that you’ve
seen the library, why don’t we go to the Lourdes Spring next? It’s
along the path to the church. It’s a mysterious spring that can make
miracles happen. Something might even happen between you and
me.”
***
Chiyo ran and ran, until she found herself standing in the hallway in
front of Nagisa’s classroom. Recently this had become Chiyo’s
regular spot for secretly peeking at Nagisa.
It was sacred ground…that brought back the memory of when she
had first met Nagisa.
At the time, Chiyo had been crying, as usual. Nagisa-oneesama
probably thinks I’m a big crybaby, she thought, her tear-soaked face
shining.
***
A small white butterfly had fallen right in the middle of the hallway.
For a moment, Chiyo had thought, Oh, there’s a beautiful white
butterfly, but then she realized the butterfly wasn’t moving at all and froze. Her legs stiffened and she couldn’t move.
But I have to go to the faculty room, so I need to pass it no
matter what…
65
Chiyo loved flowers, so she was a part of the gardening club, and one of
her strong points was her knowledge of insects. She could touch
beautiful butterflies and adorable tent caterpillars.
But even Chiyo was too scared to get close to a dead bug. Just a few
moments ago, it had been happily fluttering around in the sky, but
now it was dead and nothing but a cast-off skin. When Chiyo thought
about that, she got really depressed, and felt like she was being
dragged down by something scary—it was frightening.
“Poor thing. And what a place for it to happen.”
The voice belonged to someone Chiyo had never seen at the school
before. When the girl saw the butterfly, she walked up to it, gently
picked it up, and placed it in her palm. She did it so lovingly, with the
smile of a gentle goddess.
The girl gently blew a breath across her palm, and the butterfly’s
wings trembled along with the breath. To Chiyo, it looked like she
gave the butterfly its last rites—one last moment of warmth.
She’s saying goodbye to it. How kind.
This girl gave love to something Chiyo was too afraid of to even get
close to. The girl released the butterfly out the hallway window,
saying, “Be a good girl—go on home, now!” Even though it was
already dead. Though Chiyo thought the upperclassman seemed to
be under the impression the butterfly was still alive.
But it might be better for it to return to the ground, instead of
staying in the cold hallway, she thought as she watched the older
girl.
And then…
There was a miracle.
Chiyo had thought the dead butterfly would naturally fall to the
stopped in mid-air. The next moment, it started moving again, flapping its
wings.
It’s magic, Chiyo thought. Chiyo’s goddess, who was kind even to an
insect that was almost dead, said her name was Aoi Nagisa.
***
My dream was to share lunch in the garden with Nagisa-oneesama
some day. I thought I would be happy just watching Oneesama from
afar. But then I thought Nagisa-oneesama might see me when she
leaves the classroom, so I’ve been hiding behind this pillar whenever I
have the chance… But that dream’s not going to come true now. If
Shizuma-oneesama has taken a liking to Nagisa-oneesama—there’s
absolutely no chance for me.
Tears streamed from Chiyo’s eyes again as she thought about it.
This must be punishment for thinking such a brazen thing.
Because I wanted Oneesama to find me.
“Huh?” someone said as she passed. It was Tamao. She looked like
she was about to go back to the dorms. “Chiyo-chan? What’s wrong?
Why are you crying?”
“Ta-Tamao-oneesama,” Chiyo sobbed, and told Tamao everything.
When Tamao heard about the situation, she burned with jealousy.
“Shizuma-oneesama hugged Nagisa-chan?! I absolutely, definitely
cannot allow it!”
The image of Shizuma doing things to Nagisa in the library, and the
image of Nagisa having things done to her by Shizuma in the library,
ran through Tamao’s mind. She had a vivid imagination.
No, I cannot allow such a thing! Having fun with Nagisa-chan is
MY job!
The dismissal bell rang.
67
Diiing dooong…
***
Diiing dooong…
The girl heard the bell and turned around. “Huh? Oh no, it’s time to
go home already.”
The sunlight coming in the fifth-floor window shone sharply through
the glass. The light wrapped the floor in a red glow and shone all the way to the back of the long room.
“Well, then, is that all for everyone for today?”
St. Spica Girls’ Institute, the second school, was built to the east of St.
Miator Girls’ Academy. It was the tallest building in the area. On the top
floor was the Spica Student Council meeting room.
The room had a white steel frame, four glass walls and a frosted
glass partition, making it look like the inside of a modern office
building.
“Then it’s decided. For this year’s Étoile competition, we’ll be going with Trois Lumières. The first competition, L’Ouverture brillante, will be held at the end of April. We will inform the candidates.”
The girl, wearing the white Spica uniform and looking majestic, stood
alone in front of one of the glass walls, which was colored a bright
orange by the sun. Passing her eyes over the documents in front of
her, she continued.
“We have a number of couples who have already handed in their
applications—four from St. Miator Girls’ Academy, five from St. Spica
Girls’ Institute and three from St. Lulim Girls’ School. Taking into
account any last-minute applications, I think the total number is
most likely going to be around fifteen couples. We will eliminate
approximately half in the initial competition, and we will eliminate
68
half of the remaining couples in the second competition, L’Épreuve
d’amour. As is customary, the final competition, Le Dernier Miracle, will be held by the school attended by the couple who takes first
place in the second competition. The coronation of the Étoile is planned immediately after the third competition. However, we need
time to prepare, and I think it might cause problems for the school
whose couple took first place in L’Épreuve d’amour, so…” Phew… She had said all of that in one breath.
Tomori Shion, President of Spica’s Student Council, was a delicate
girl, slim, who looked good in the white uniform. She let out a
soundless sigh. Her long chestnut hair was left loose, with only the
top part tied up. Her gracefully exposed forehead gave her an air of
intelligence. Her small, tipped-up nose and sharp chin gave her an
ever-so-slight aura of sternness. She gave such a serious impression
She was a tough beauty with a sharp mind.
I can relax a little now we’ve gotten this far. The only thing left to do now is leave things up to the flow of the river and take my time preparing. I’ve done everything I can for now.
Shion gathered the papers together and tapped them against the
desk to stack them neatly.
“As all of you are aware…” She looked at everyone around her,
checking every single person’s expression. Sitting around the large
meeting table in Spica’s Student Council room were three
representatives from each school—the Student Council President,
the Vice President, and the Secretary—as well as other Student
Council staff.
Shion gathered her strength once more, straightened up, and
continued. “We at St. Spica Girls’ Institute will be making
preparations beforehand…”
69
“Wait just a moment, please, if you would?”
A girl, sitting across and to the left at the large triangular table, raised her hand.
“Is there some sort of problem, Lulim Student Council President?”
Shion asked, knitting her eyebrows ever so slightly. I wonder what it is?
We’re almost finished.
“What do you mean, Spica will be handling the preparations this
year?” she asked in a rather gentle manner, completely different
from the sharp voice she’d used a moment earlier. She tilted her
head sweetly to the side. She wore the St. Lulim Girls’ School
uniform, with its warm pink checkerboard pattern.
She was the Lulim Student Council President, Minamoto Chikaru,
from Fifth Year Class A. Her long, luxurious hair flowed behind her
and, in ladylike fashion, she wore a fine braid and ribbon beside each ear.
Even though she seemed tall, she gave off a delicate impression.
Underneath her black bangs, her large, kind eyes gave her a wise
expression. When she tilted her head, her hair swayed airily, as if
joining her in asking, “Why would you say that?”
Shion was stunned. “What is this about? Why are you bringing this
up now…?” She suddenly shut her mouth. In the face of such a direct
question, she couldn’t say a thing, because bringing something like this up in the joint Student Council was not Shion’s usual way of
doing things.
The fact that Spica will win this year’s Étoile competition is set in stone!
Or at least that’s what she thought. Even if it was obvious that
everyone in the room thought so too…she absolutely could not say
something in such bad taste.
70
Shion’s previous utterance had apparently not been phrased
diplomatically enough. She heard a smothered laugh coming from
somewhere beside her.
“Heh heh heh heh…”
Another girl jumped to Shion’s defense. “Oh, come now, President
Chikaru. Everyone already knows why, even without saying. But of
course! It is because our Prince of Spica is this year’s Étoile! You know that, and yet you go and ask that question? President Chikaru,
you really are a meanie, aren’t you? Shion is working so hard, and
you’re teasing her. Do you think Shion is that cute? I’m a little
jealous.”
Shion panicked. “Hey, Mo-Momomi! I mean, Kiyashiki-san, what are
you saying?! If you say something like that…”
The girl sitting next to Shion, Kiyashiki Momomi from Fifth Year Class
Un and Vice President of St. Spica Girls’ Institute’s Student Council, saw the state Shion was in. She hid her mouth behind her fan and
continued, “Oh, come on, Shion, don’t be so surprised. You want to
say, ‘If you say that, it will all be over,’ right? Heh heh heh. It’s all right, everyone here already knows it. And everyone knows
President Chikaru is so kind, even if she does love teasing you. Come
on, cheer up!”
The girl’s face was framed by loose curls of hair, and she had large,
doll-like eyes, showy eyelashes, a long, slender, high nose, and a
large mouth. She gave a smile so flowery it seemed to envelop the
entire area in the aroma of perfume.
It appeared Momomi was friends with the Lulim Student Council
President. In spite of Shion’s shocked state, the conversation
continued.
71
Chikaru said. “You’re the only girl in all of Spica who looks
good in those curls.”
“Wooow! President Chikaru, that makes me so happy! Then next
time let me be in charge of doing the rosary, okay?”
Momomi turned to Shion and said, “If you let something like this get
you so flustered, you’ll be a disgrace to your nickname, Snow Queen.
You’re supposed to be the greatest prodigy since Spica was
founded.”
She waved her fan, trying to get Shion to look forward.
Shion’s mouth had been hanging open. When she heard the name
“Snow Queen,” she came back to herself. “Hmph. I couldn’t care less
about that nickname!”
Well, whatever. There’s no use in trying to hide it NOW.
Seriously. Everyone already knows it, right? This year, SHE is finally
going to enter the Étoile competition. I mean, ever since she entered Spica,her first year of middle school, it’s been said that if the Prince of Spica everentered the competition, she would definitely win. She’s tremendously popular but very shy, so up until now she’s always
declined to participate. But now that she’s in her fifth year, it’s her last chance. “Before I become a sixth-year student and am too busy with entrance exams to enter the competition, I just can’t refuse any more.” I’m sure that’s what she’s thinking. Fortunately, there aren’t many significant rivals right now. She will become the greatest Étoile these schools have ever seen. And I will become the most famous
Student Council President of all time, and make it a total “Spica Year”
to enjoy to my heart’s content!
Shion renewed the determination in her heart and composed
herself. “I am terribly sorry, Lulim Student Council President. It
seems I spoke too soon. I heard that Otori-san was planning to enter
72
this year, and I just… I have a slight habit of worrying about things that
are still too far in the future.”
“Yes, we already know that, of course, Spica Student Council
President,” her enemy muttered meaningfully with a sugary smile.
Her voice was so soft Shion could barely hear her. “But I think it
might be better if you did not let your guard down.”
It was a remark no one could ignore.
Light from the setting sun shone through the window. For a moment,
Shion entered battle mode. “Do you have some new information?”
She took a step forward and shot Chikaru a sharp look. “Does Lulim
have a strong candidate? Is that what you are suggesting, President
Chikaru?”
Tension overwhelmed the entire room.
“Oooh, scary!” Momomi muttered. She opened her fan and seemed
to be talking to the panda on it when she said, “She really IS the
Snow Queen, isn’t she?”
Chikaru didn’t budge an inch. She gave Shion a wink. “Oh, come now,
I’m hurt, Spica Student Council President. We’ve known each other
since we were children, Shion-chan, so I wouldn’t do something like
that to you, now would I? I’m not THAT much of a bully. But, then
again…do we really know each other that well? However…I’ve heard
St. Miator has a new transfer student in the Fourth Year.”
Across from Chikaru, sitting to Shion’s right, a Miator student council
member twitched.
Shion was not to be intimidated. “I haven’t heard anything about an
upperclassman transfer student at Miator.”
Tension rushed through the three representatives from Spica.
And worry flitted across the faces of those from Miator.
73
Chikaru slowly continued, “Just a little while ago, I heard a rumor…
They say the previous Étoile has a strong interest in that transfer student.”
Tomori Shion knocked her chair over with a loud noise. She glared at
another girl seated at the table. “The previous Étoile?”
The object of Shion’s stare, Miator’s Student Council President,
Rokujo Miyuki from Fifth Year Flower Class, let out a huge breath.
***
They’re not here. They’re not here. They’re STILL not here. For
goodness sake!
Tamao was about to unconsciously snap the tip of the tree branch in
front of her when she came back to herself with a start. The shadows
of the trees, which spread out as if to hide Tamao, were becoming
thicker.
frightened and looking at her questioningly.
“Oh! Oh, I’m sorry,” Tamao said. “I didn’t mean to… Did I scare you?”
Chiyo shook her head, trying to say “No, not at all” without actually
saying a single word.
Seeing Chiyo’s cute face calmed Tamao a little bit. “Shizuma-
oneesama and Nagisa-chan sure are late, aren’t they?”
“Yes. At this rate, they might miss the dorm curfew.” Chiyo looked at
the large watch she wore, which didn’t look quite right on her small
arm.
Tamao continued looking through the trees. “Shizuma-oneesama did
say they were going to Lourdes, right?”
74
“Yes. But I was kind of far away by then, so maybe I just THOUGHT I
heard her say that…” Chiyo said, her voice trailing off.
“Knowing Shizuma-oneesama, it certainly seems possible. First the
Secret Garden, then the miraculous spring—I’m sure she’s plotting
something bad again.”
Chiyo was so scared she let out a soundless scream and stepped
back.
Rustle. The sound of the evening breeze passed through the grass.
***
“News reaches you quickly, as always, President Chikaru,” Miyuki
said in a surly voice. Wearing Miator’s classic charcoal uniform, she
sat calmly with her eyes closed. Her luxurious black hair was bobbed,
cut absolutely straight just below her chin, and glistened like it was wet.
The sharp edge of it covered almost a third of her small face.
Almost an expression of her personality, the blade-like edge swayed
over her fine features.
“So you say you’re only a semi-retired Student Council President, still
doing it because there were no other candidates. How modest. You,
Chikaru, have served as Student Council President for an
unprecedented two consecutive terms, starting in your fourth year.
It seems I can’t call you ‘The Holy Mother of Lulim, who has nothing
to do with ambition,’ after all. I’m impressed you heard the news
long before Spica, when they are so desperate to take the title of
Étoile. I suppose I should have expected—”
Miyuki, however, stayed in her seat and didn’t meet anyone’s gaze.
She continued to speak, perfectly calm.
75
“—I suppose I should have expected nothing less from the person they
call ‘The Shadow Empress of Astraea.’”
Her eyes gleamed with a strong will as her clear leadership ability
began to express itself.
Chikaru answered in a cold voice. “Thank you for the compliment.
But I wonder if the nickname Shadow Empress isn’t more
appropriate for YOU? Aren’t you the ‘Princess of Rokujo-in,’ a
schemer with a reputation of being able to control vengeful demons?
I know perfectly well that just because Shizuma-sama is a sixth-year
student now, and just because Spica has Otori Amane, Miator isn’t
necessarily going to give up on taking the title of Étoile so easily.”
Momomi started talking to the panda again. “Whoa, scary. I didn’t
know President Chikaru could be so shrewd. Scary…”
Meanwhile, Shion finally regained her composure. “So, is that how it
is?”
Chikaru smiled gently at Shion. “Yes, so you finally understand,
Shion-chan? I’m so glad. Amane-chan is truly wonderful, and I also
think she would fit the role of Étoile perfectly. It’s no wonder you are so fired up about the possibility of Spica winning the Étoile title this year. But
—”
“I-I am not fired up!”
“But you were, weren’t you?” Momomi said to the panda, in order to
avoid the glare from beside her. “Didn’t you look outside the
dormitory window and shout to the night sky, ‘To be Student Council
President the same year the star, Prince Amane, is here! This must
be my destiny. I was guided by the star of Spica!’”
Chikaru continued, ignoring Momomi, “Miator will never allow that,
you know.”
Gulp. When Chikaru said that, Shion caught her breath.
76
“It isn’t personal, you know. That’s just how Miator is. No matter how
calm it may seem on the surface, if it’s not always top on the
list, if it’s not always number one, it won’t stop until it is. The fact that over two-thirds of all the Étoiles have come from Miator isn’t simply
coincidence, or simply because of Miator’s long history. Like
what is happening now. Even if there is a girl that everyone agrees
should become the Étoile, if she’s not a student at Miator, Miator is too proud to accept it, and anyone who makes light of Miator might
find a painful trap waiting for them—”
“Ahahaha!” Miyuki suddenly burst out in throaty laughter. “Oh,
come now, President Chikaru, no need to say such things. I just have
a bad temper, that’s all. Please do not talk about Miator’s dark side.
It’s just that I…I just don’t want to worship an Étoile from another school while I am Student Council President. I think many of the
other Miator students feel the same way.”
With that, everyone picked up the documents and scissors strewn on
the table and slowly prepared to go home, completely ignoring the
dumbfounded Shion.
Miyuki began to speak candidly. “It is exactly as you said—we had
half given up on this year’s Étoile competition. After all, Prince Amane is a fifth-year student this year. Just for this year. If we could somehow fight the fact that Chikaru’s been President for two
consecutive years, we might have a fighting chance, but…”
“But?” Shion shot her a harsh look.
“But you know…” Chuckling to herself, Miyuki took a long hard look
at Shion’s face.
Making use of her famous family name, Miyuki’s nickname was The
Princess of Rokujo Institute. Her appearance was perfectly Japanese.
Her glossy, straight black hair was fastidiously cut, and made her pale
skin seem even paler. Combined with the delicate bridge of her nose,
77
her kind eyes and her small, rosebud lips, she had the elegance and
dignity of a princess.
“It’s exactly as President Chikaru said.” She cast her eyes down in
embarrassment.
“Like Chikaru said?”
Shion remembered. Chikaru said an upperclassman transferred
into Miator this spring, which is unusual. And for some reason the
previous Étoile has taken an interest in her—but so? Why bring up
“It looks like you remember. That’s right…it seems that Hanazono
Shizuma-sama, the previous Étoile, the oneesama that every student in
Miator admires and adores—has shown a significant interest in a
new fourth-year student who just transferred into the school. I only
just heard it recently myself, but…I heard that when they embraced,
the scene was so bright the people around them had to cover their
eyes. So I predict there is a greater than ninety percent chance that
Shizuma-sama will say…” Miyuki put on a fake smile, like one might
see on a receptionist. “‘I want to try becoming the Étoile with her.’”
“But Shizuma-sama’s a sixth-year, getting ready for entrance exams.
Not only that, but she’s been the Étoile once already.”
“That doesn’t matter to her. To her, being the Étoile was just one more required school experience. Even if she didn’t particularly want
to become Étoile, it would’ve been even stranger for her NOT to, that’s all. She might not seem like she has any particular attachment
to the title, but if she can turn it into an excuse for love, it’s a
completely different story. According to my information, it’s unusual
for Miator to accept a transfer student who spent her middle-school
years in a different school…” Miyuki’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah…I
suppose you could say she’s the excessively cheerful, needy type?
I’m a little surprised Shizuma-sama would set her heart on her, but
78
it’s obvious that she doesn’t understand the logic of Miator, and she’s
giving Shizuma-sama trouble.”
Before she even realized it, Momomi was pulled into Miyuki’s story.
She had an excited smile on her face as she listened. “She’s giving
Shizuma-sama trouble? Wow, she must be something else, then.”
Shion thought she picked a strange point to be impressed about.
Miyuki went on, “Of course, it’s only a matter of time before she
comes in front of our Student Council. It’s just, the only problem is…”
Momomi looked entranced. “The problem is…?”
“That girl is a brand-new fourth-year student who doesn’t know
Miator’s customs, who can’t comprehend beautiful sisterly love. And
yet Shizuma-sama seems TERRIBLY excited about having her as her
partner.”
“Wow…terribly…” Shion muttered, dodging the topic. “Won’t they
just end up breaking up? When she’s chasing after slippery prey, Shizuma-sama—well, she uses up an incredible amount of energy.
There’s nothing she cannot achieve, but it takes a lot of energy.”
Miyuki stood. She had an unexpectedly short, slender build. “When
Shizuma-sama decides she wants to do something, no battle is too
tough for her, not even the Étoile competition. Yes, I am already well aware of what the Spica Student Council intends to do this year. But
we will not let an opportunity such as this slip by. Please understand, we
look forward to competing against you.”
She made a slow, courteous bow. It was unusual, for although she
lowered her head, it looked almost like she tossed it back in retort.
Shion noticed Miyuki’s behavior. “Rokujo-san, is that…is that a
declaration of war?!”
Bwsh. Without thinking, she whipped her arm around and pointed, almost hitting Miyuki’s eyes and nose. So close, and so strong…
79
Ah…shoot.
But it was too late. Tension rushed through everyone in the room.
Miyuki slowly smiled. “My, my.” She gently grabbed Shion’s arm to
move it away.
“I could ask you the same thing, Tomori-san. What you just did is
forbidden in Astraea. It is the sign of a challenge.”
“Oh, I, I didn’t mean to…” In a panic, Shion tried to pull her arm
back, but Miyuki already had a tight grip on it, so she couldn’t move.
Pointing at someone with the index finger was taboo for young ladies.
Especially if it stopped right in front of that person’s nose. In Astraea, it
was said to be a signal of challenging someone to battle.
Miyuki slowly drew closer, threatening. “Up until now, I hadn’t
thought there was any particular need to challenge you… However,
thanks to President Chikaru’s untimely interference, there’s no longer any
need to hide it.” Miyuki slowly brought Shion’s hand to her lips
and kissed it.
“An oncoming enemy should be fought with love. The Miator Student
Council accepts your challenge with all of its power. Please go gently on
us. Now then, it is past time to leave school, so if you will excuse me.”
She turned around and walked quickly out of the room without
looking back.
Secretary, rushed after her. Shion could only stand there, speechless, and
watch them leave.
80
***
Miator’s first dismissal time was at 4:30 P.M. The second dismissal
time was after club activities were over, at 5:30. There was also a
special dismissal time of 6:00 P.M., which was used only for events
like the Culture Festival. The second and third times could change by
fifteen minutes either way, depending on the amount of daylight, but
the first dismissal time was the same for the entire year.
The regular students had to leave when they heard the dismissal bell,
because those precious students, entrusted to the school by their
families, had to return home before it got dark.
Once they left the school, there were two places the students went.
Some went directly down the hill to the path that led to the closest
station. Others went alongside the school buildings, passed in front
of St. Lulim Girls’ School, walked around the outer edge of Maiden
Park and headed toward the back. To the Strawberry Dorms.
The building, which was close to the deepest part of Maiden Park,
was plain-looking but solidly built from brick and tile. With the lush
green Maiden Park as its landscape, it had an indescribable
atmosphere, like a secret hideout.
The Strawberry Dorms, which only successful applicants could enter,
were used jointly by all three schools. The building itself was an
unusual triangular shape, and each of the schools had their dorm in a
different section. In the center was a courtyard. The Miator dorm
had a small place of worship attached to it, which looked like a
strawberry stem, so the students affectionately called the whole
dormitory the Strawberry Dorms. Its proper name was Astraea Hall.
Movement from one school’s dorm to another school’s dorm was
fundamentally forbidden, and the tips of the triangle were not
connected. There were skywalks on the second-floor level that linked
the three buildings together. Only those who had permission from
82
the dorm manager or the nun who acted as dorm mother could pass
through.
***
Miator’s second dismissal time was about to pass. Walking back to
the Strawberry Dorms took a little less than twenty minutes, so
Shizuma and Nagisa had to come back along this path. Chiyo and Tamao had decided to leave school and wait along the path that went
to the Strawberry Dorms.
It had been mostly Tamao’s idea.
Chiyo was so excited she thought she would die. I can’t believe
I’m waiting for my longed-for oneesama! I want to see Nagisa-
oneesama, too, but Shizuma-oneesama is—how should I greet her?
She probably thinks this is all a huge bother, because Shizuma-
oneesama seems to really like Nagisa-oneesama. And when Nagisa-
oneesama is with a wonderful person like Shizuma-oneesama,
someone like me doesn’t even compare! I just know it! I just know it!
I’ll only be a nuisance…
Just as large tears were about to fall from Chiyo’s eyes again, she
heard the sound of talking from the other side of the wall of trees,
which was so overgrown it looked like a hedge.
It was a nun, and it sounded like she was scolding someone.
“This isn’t like you at all, Hanazono-san. Be more careful from now
on. It’s already time for you to be back at the dorm, so please go
home now.”
Tamao opened a space between the tree branches and peeked
through. Shizuma and Nagisa were there, next to the side door of the
church, which was closed. They stood in front of the nun with their
heads bowed meekly.
83
The church was closed because students used to just stop there along the
way to somewhere else. It looked like even though
Shizuma and Nagisa were in charge of the holy water, they hadn’t
gotten it quickly enough, so the nun had to make special
arrangements for them to get in.
The nun left and Shizuma started complaining. “Honestly, Sister
Sakaue is so annoying, broody and strict. She’s a bully. They call it
holy water, but in the end it’s just water, isn’t it?” She swung the
heavy crystal bottle used to hold the holy water.
Tamao couldn’t help but laugh. “My, are you sure you should be
saying something like that, Shizuma-oneesama?”
“Who’s there?!”
Tamao poked her head through the hole she had made in the
“Tamao-chan?!” Shizuma and Nagisa were stunned.
When Nagisa saw Tamao, she looked incredibly happy. Shizuma
seemed just a little uncomfortable. Tamao was convinced. There’s
nothing between those two yet. In a voice soft enough they wouldn’t hear, she whispered to Chiyo, “It looks like I still have a prayer!”
Chiyo raised her head with a jolt.
“You were on your way home, correct, Shizuma-oneesama?” Tamao
said as she slowly made her way forward.
“Yes.” Shizuma had been looking off to the side, staring into the
distance. But now she turned her head and gazed at Tamao’s face.
For a moment, Shizuma regained the aura of the poised, quiet,
strong queen.
Tamao felt overwhelmed, but she managed to say in a clipped voice,
“The dismissal bell rang a long time ago. It’s not like you to stay
behind until this late.”
84
Shizuma responded indifferently, “Yeah, well, we were in charge of the
holy water today. We got a little side-tracked, and we’re late.”
She was nonchalant, like she was flicking away a little cocklebur pod
that had gotten on her uniform.
Just a little sidetracked?! Nagisa shuddered. It felt like she was leading me on an all-out tour of Maiden Park. And we even got yelled at by the nun…
Nagisa threw a questioning look at Shizuma, who ignored it and
turned her eyes to the trees, which were almost glowing red in the
sunset. “The sun’s already set.”
Until a moment ago, Shizuma had been having fun and enjoying
herself, and seemed like a perfectly normal high-school girl, just like the
other ones Nagisa knew. But the quick change in her attitude
worried Nagisa. Oh, Shizuma-oneesama…up until a moment ago…up
until a moment ago you were having so much fun.
Overwhelmed by Shizuma’s transformation, Nagisa wondered if this
was who Shizuma really was, and was amazed.
When I look at her like this, Shizuma-oneesama really is beautiful and
wonderful, and I guess mature. Using the word feels a little strange, but sheseems stately, I guess. I was a little shocked by how Shizuma-oneesama actedin the library, but…I’m sure it was because of the special atmosphere the
Thoughts ran through Nagisa’s mind as she looked at Shizuma in
profile, gazing at the trees.
I got caught up in the strange atmosphere, and it made me feel like
Shizuma-oneesama was se-seducing me.
All of a sudden, she was embarrassed. I wonder what Shizuma-
oneesama thought… Maybe everyone could tell exactly what I was
thinking and they think I’m stupid. Yeah, I’m such an idiot. That I thought even for a moment someone like Shizuma-oneesama might
be in love with me…
The wind blew.
Nagisa shivered. It’s cold!
85
Shizuma’s hair blew in the cold early spring evening breeze.
Shizuma-oneesama… Stealing furtive glances at Shizuma’s beautiful
profile started to make Nagisa a little sad, but she still kept looking.
Tamao caught sight of Nagisa out of the corner of her eye and could
tell what was going on. She still wasn’t crushed.
“Oh, is that what it was? Tsukidate-san just told me she saw you and
Nagisa-chan in the library—oh, please let me introduce you. Nagisa is
a new student, just transferred into the same class as me. By
coincidence, she’s also in the seat next to mine, and we are sharing a
room at the dorm! We have a wonderful connection—”
“Right, by coincidence.” Shizuma’s voice was so low when she spoke,
only Nagisa could hear her.
Tamao continued, “Chiyo-chan told me what happened, and…well,
considering the place, I asked her for some details…”
Chiyo’s face went beet-red.
“I was worried that maybe my Nagisa-chan made some sort of
careless mistake with you…”
“…MY Nagisa-chan?” Shizuma said in an unexpectedly sharp voice.
“Yes, MY Nagisa-chan.” Tamao smiled so broadly her eyes closed. It
was as if the humble attitude she’d had up until now were a lie.
“Is that so? Your Nagisa-chan made a careless mistake with me?”
“Yes, that’s right. My precious friend Nagisa-chan isn’t used to it here
yet, so when I heard she was caught by a star like you, Shizuma-oneesama, I
was worried perhaps she was totally embarra—I mean,
The longer Shizuma forced herself to keep her mouth closed, the
more Tamao piled on the taunts.
86
“Just like I thought, she really did do something rude, didn’t she?
Shizuma-oneesama, please forgive her. She isn’t used to life here at
Miator yet. If she did do something rude, it is the fault of the entire Fourth Year Moon Class. No, it is my fault, because I haven’t properly taught her the customs at Miator yet, even though we share the
same room. Please punish me. Punish me for all of the calamities
Nagisa-chan caused…”
Tamao suddenly became overdramatic. With a flourish, she got
down on her knees and bowed her head, then clasped both of her
hands as if she were praying.
Shizuma looked down on Tamao silently.
Chiyo froze.
Snap snap snap snap.
When Nagisa heard the noise, she felt like a fat, cold, giant icicle had
descended between the two girls. Frantic, she stepped between
them.
“O-oh, come now, Tamao-chan, not another one of those jokes!
Please don’t kneel like that.” Honestly. Why do the girls from Miator
make such a big deal out of everything? “Jeez, Tamao-chan, you’re always joking around like that!”
With a wry smile, Nagisa reached her hand out to Tamao. “You don’t
have to say stuff like that! You’re pretty and smart and fun, and
you’re SO nice to a transfer student like me. I’m so thankful for
everything you’ve done,” Nagisa mumbled, helping Tamao stand up.
Tamao very happily took a gentle hold of Nagisa’s extended hand
and stood up firmly. Tamao’s hand was cold.
I wonder if Tamao-chan was waiting here a long time? Nagisa
thought. “Listen, I might not be strong enough to be your best friend,
Tamao-chan, but of course you’re already my best friend in Miator!”
87
“Na-Nagisa-chan…” Tamao drew away from the words that had slipped
out of Nagisa’s mouth. Incredible. How honest and up-front she is.
Tamao felt like she had been shot through the heart by the
straightforward words she couldn’t possibly have said. Living in the feminine environment of Miator, Tamao had seen more “best
friends” and “lovers” than she could count, but the words always
seemed so empty when said out loud.
It felt like as soon as she said them, something was lost. Like
desperately trying to stop a lie once spoken.
We’re number one best friends, right? Every time Tamao had heard those words, every time she had responded to them, she had felt a
part of herself fade.
But Nagisa’s words were different. She’d felt that way ever since
they’d first met, and she had a feeling she was beginning to
understand why she was so attracted to Nagisa.
Tamao had a habit of trying to manipulate a situation by tossing
around superficial words. But the words that fell from Nagisa’s
mouth were always just words, nothing more, nothing less. They had
substance.
Nagisa simply grasped things as they were.
You’re so honest and straightforward, Tamao thought . Almost impossibly so. I wonder if I’m so warped because of the kind of home I was raised in.
She looked back on her past and started to feel a little lonely.
Number one best friends… Tamao felt it was a little different from
what she’d wanted, but now that Nagisa had said it, Tamao thought
maybe she wanted really to be “number one best friends” after all.
88
Before Chiyo realized, she muttered aloud, her eyes gleaming,
“Nagisa-oneesama is really a nice person, isn’t she? She’s like a pure
angel. I think everyone who meets her will fall in love with her!”
Chiyo could almost see adorable white butterflies fluttering around
Nagisa.
Tamao hid her self-consciousness. “Well, that makes me happy,
Nagisa-chan. I think I could live on nothing but those words for a
whole week. You must be vitamins sent by God just for me! Ooh, I
just want to eat you up! I guess this means I’m Nagisa-chan’s number
one, right?” She winked suggestively.
“Ah ha! Ah ha ha ha ha! You’re saying weird things again, Tamao-
chan! You’re so funny! Isn’t she, Shizuma-oneesama?”
When Nagisa turned to look at Shizuma, the sound of silence echoed
Huh?
Shizuma radiated an icy aura, as if her whole body were frozen. “You
two seem to be enjoying yourselves.”
Chiyo’s body shook, startled. Oh no, I went too far—I think.
Tamao instantly stepped away from Nagisa and stood there stiffly,
her mouth open.
Without even looking at Nagisa, Shizuma placed her hand gently on
the younger girl’s head and took a small step forward.
“Nagisa-chan, I’m glad you seem to have such a good classmate.”
The wind blew, sending Shizuma’s hair whirling, further hiding her
expression. “It looks like you won’t have any trouble finding
someone to recommend you.”
The wind rustled through the trees. Suddenly the cold of early spring
pervaded the area.
89
“Someone to recommend me?” Nagisa repeated with a questioning look
on her face.
“Yes. Someone to recommend you for entry. L’Ouverture brillante is
going to be at the end of the month, you know.” Shizuma’s low voice
echoed from within the increasing evening shadows.
Chiyo went pale. “La… L’Ouverture brillante? Do you mean—”
“I-I’ve just now decided.” Shizuma abruptly straightened and spun
around to face Nagisa.
“Shizuma-oneesama…”
Chiyo’s and Tamao’s voices overlapped. Chiyo was frozen and Tamao
went bright red.
“I am going to enter the Étoile competition this year with Nagisa as my partner,” Shizuma said. She walked back to Nagisa, determined,
and looked dolefully into Nagisa’s face. “I would have been happy
just to spend some time with you; I really don’t want to get you
wrapped up in something like this.”
She stroked Nagisa’s head again and then gently placed her hand
against Nagisa’s cheek. “But…” She spread her fingers. “You’re going
to have to understand, okay?”
Her thumb and index finger squeezed closed. She pinched Nagisa’s
cheek.
“Didn’t I tell you? If you break your promise…” Shizuma slowly leaned close to Nagisa’s ear and whispered, “I’ll punish you.”
Aah, but…weren’t you just talking about calling you “Shizuma-
oneesama?”
Overwhelmed by the pain in her cheek—or by Shizuma-oneesama’s
intensity—Nagisa couldn’t put her thoughts into words.
90
“I am Hanazono Shizuma from St. Miator Girls’ Academy, Sixth Year,
Snow Class. As someone who has lived on this campus a long time,
and has worn the shining Étoile crown once already, I will never play
second fiddle to anyone. Ever.”
Shizuma slapped Tamao’s hand off of the edge of Nagisa’s skirt.
“I’ve only just met you, and I didn’t even think of this before—it
looks like I was soft. There are plenty of traps waiting for good seeds that
have just been planted. Even a good seed can be eaten by a bird if it falls on the edge of the path. If it falls among the rocks, it dries up.
If it falls among thorns, it gets choked. But…”
She glared at Tamao with icy eyes.
Tamao felt something cold run down her spine. I wonder… I
wonder how long it’s been since I’ve seen Shizuma-oneesama act like
this.
Shizuma was filled with a dignified elegance and an intensity that
seemed like it would overpower Tamao. It was like she was wrapped
in a silent flame. A cold, silvery, soundless flame.
“A seed that falls on good ground will produce thirty, sixty or even a
hundred times what was sown, growing thickly laden with fruit in the
good ground. I must let everyone know that this good seed2 is mine,
and…for this good seed, the good ground is me, Hanazono Shizuma.”
Shizuma gazed steadily at Nagisa and gently extended her hand.
Ah! This gentle, noble hand that seems like it belongs to a goddess.
Nagisa couldn’t help wondering how happy she would be if she took
that hand. It was like the entrance to a dazzling other world, like a
gateway to a land of bliss, a world flowing with milk and honey—an
inviting hand that no normal person could refuse.
Shizuma gave a gentle smile from the bottom of her heart, one that
looked sympathetic. “Nagisa. You didn’t know, so I will forgive you.
91
But I’m going to tell you right now, so be sure to remember. I am a good oneesama to everyone who lives in Miator. But this is what it
really means to call me ‘oneesama.’ I will not allow you, my beloved
cadette, to fall into another’s hands again. As a sign of our promise, let’s take the title of Étoile together. I, Hanazono Shizuma, promise you the crown of miracles.”
Shizuma’s face lowered—and drew close to Nagisa’s lips.
Nagisa blanked out.
What is this all about? What in the world is going on here?! Staring
dumbfounded at Shizuma, whose hair was shrouding Nagisa and
blocking Tamao’s view of her, Tamao couldn’t believe what she was
seeing.
Could Shizuma-oneesama possibly be serious…?
Tamao had come to Miator directly from the elementary school. For
good or bad, she’d thought she knew almost everything about this
oneesama who was two years her elder. Tamao, an outstanding
beauty who was always number one or two in her class, had even set
her eyes on Shizuma once, and there had been many times when the
two of them had worked together at functions such as Masses.
Shizuma was the prettiest girl in the school, and talented. Not only
that, she knew how to make good use of her beauty to enjoy her
school life to the fullest. Tamao secretly felt a bond with her.
Compared to what Tamao knew of Shizuma, this didn’t seem like her
normal behavior. Chasing and chasing and running down her prey—
driving the girl she sought to the very edge of a cliff and then finally
getting her to jump into Shizuma’s arms of her own volition. She had
heard that was Shizuma’s usual method, and that’s how she had
imagined it to be, not this twisting of someone’s arm, forcing her.
92
Getting someone to do what you want of her own will was the epitome of
a white lily’s love.
This, however… It’s because Nagisa-chan is so cute. Because
she’s so normal. Because I teased her a little—right in front of
Shizuma’s own eyes. I wonder if she’s serious? She actually wants to
become the Étoile together?
It didn’t matter that Shizuma-oneesama was so popular she had
easily won the title of Étoile last year. Her partner was a transfer student
a ridiculous idea would succeed. There were only three weeks left
until the first competition of the Étoile series, L’Ouverture brillante.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.
The sound of dignified applause echoed from nearby.
“Wonderful—this is exactly what we expected from our Shizuma-
oneesama!” With a rustle, someone appeared out of the shadows.
“Who’s there?!” Shizuma asked.
While Tamao and Chiyo stared in astonishment, St. Miator’s Student
Council President, Rokujo Miyuki, appeared, looking her usual calm
self.
“Miyuki-oneesama! What are you doing here?” Tamao yelled.
“Oh my, what a coincidence, isn’t it? The joint Student Council
meeting ran late today, so I was taking a shortcut…” Miyuki put a
leisurely smile on her face. Tamao was going to say something else,
but Miyuki didn’t even look at her. She stared straight ahead, looking
only at Shizuma.
“And I see I came at the perfect time, Shizuma-oneesama. If I am not
mistaken about what I just heard, you are going to enter this year’s
Étoile competition with this transfer student, Aoi Nagisa from Fourth
Year Moon Class—am I correct?”
93
Chiyo’s mouth fell open. “Whaaat? Miyuki-oneesama, were you listening
the whole time?!”
Miyuki didn’t even look at the shocked Chiyo; she merely silenced
her with a gesture of the hand. “Splendid! Truly splendid
determination!”
She clapped her hands again. “As president of Miator’s Student
Council, nothing could make me happier. Actually, there was a bit of
an incident at the joint Student Council meeting just held at Spica.
You simply must hear about it, Shizuma-oneesama.”
Miyuki told them what had happened at the meeting. How Spica was
so confident in one of their candidates, Otori Amane. How they
seemed to think they had already won the Étoile crown. How Miyuki and
the other Miator students present at the meeting had been
frustrated when they heard it.
And about how Spica’s Tomori Shion had provoked them and given
them the sign of challenge, as if she were saying “If you think you can win, then go ahead and try!”
“Lulim’s Council President, Minamoto, seemed to be supporting
Spica, too. Shizuma-sama, you must understand how we in Miator’s
Student Council felt when we heard that.” Miyuki’s voice became
tearful.
“I know what you’re trying to say,” Shizuma said in a low voice, still
holding Nagisa in her arms. For some reason, Nagisa hadn’t uttered a
word since Miyuki had showed up.
“Thank you very much,” was all Miyuki said.
Shizuma let out a huge sigh, mixed with considerable sorrow. She
lovingly looked at Nagisa in her arms.
94
Tamao was shocked at the look in her eyes. The usually confident and
cheerful Shizuma couldn’t say a thing—she seemed to be feeling
both heart-wrenching sadness and kindness at the same time.
“Tamao, please take care of Nagisa-chan and Chiyo-chan,” Shizuma
said without shifting her gaze. With a thwump, she gave Nagisa’s
immobile body over to Tamao.
For the first time, Tamao realized the state Nagisa was in. Oh no!
What happened to you, Nagisa?!
Shizuma gave Miyuki a look. “Let’s go.”
Miyuki bowed deeply and said in a small voice, “Well then, let’s go
through the formalities as quickly as possible. The entry sheets are in the
Student Council office.”
The two of them left, walking quickly.
Shizuma, her silvery hair fluttering behind her, disappeared into the
dark shadows of the trees.
“Tamao-oneesama, I wonder what’s going on with Shizuma-
oneesama,” Chiyo said nervously after a long silence.
“I’m sure Shizuma-oneesama is—” Tamao started to say, but
stopped. “I don’t know, either. But right now, I have our Nagisa-chan
on my hands.”
She looked at Nagisa’s face. Her eyes were closed and she was
breathing regularly.
Goodness, I wonder when she fell asleep! I’ve never seen a girl
so stunned by Shizuma-oneesama’s kiss!
A totally peaceful feeling came over Tamao. “It’s impossible for us to understand what the upperclass oneesama are thinking. But that’s
okay, Chiyo-chan, because we’re with Nagisa-chan. Let’s go back to
the Strawberry Dorms, all three of us. We’re already late, so let’s
take our time and pick flowers along the way. It’s all right, I’ll think of 95
an excuse to give the nuns. I’m sure there won’t be any problem if we
mention the Student Council President, Miyuki-oneesama.
Besides, we actually were with her. Knowing her, I’m sure she’ll
match her story with ours.”
“Right!” Chiyo looked at Tamao trustingly, then peeked at Nagisa’s
face. “Ah! Oh, Nagisa-oneesama… It looks like she’s fallen completely
asleep! And she looks happy!”
“You’re right. She looks so innocent when she’s sleeping, just like a
little child,” Tamao said with a laugh. She shook Nagisa awake.
“Come on, wake up. Wake up, Nagisa-chan! It’s time to go home! I’m
sure there’s delicious cake and tea waiting at the Strawberry Dorms!
Wake up, my cute little Nagisa-chan! If you don’t wake up, I’ll tickle
your stomach!”
The wind blew, swaying Nagisa’s hair. Her eyelids twitched. From
somewhere, a sweet flowery scent, like that of a tropical island,
drifted over them.
***
Chatter chatter chatter chatter…
The halls of the Strawberry Dorms rippled with the noise of the pre-
dinner bustle. Groups of girls laughed happily, telling each other
about what had happened that day and talking about their plans for
that night before each went her own way.
In a hall deep in the Miator section of the Strawberry Dorms was a
public corner with shared facilities, like the dining hall and salon. It was
the farthest corner of the hall and had a stone floor with a gray
mosaic pattern. There was also a large wooden door made of oak.
A girl, passing by, looked at it, puzzled. “Huh? The common bath is
closed? It looks like there’s light coming from inside. Did someone
mention we couldn’t get in the bath before dinner tonight?”
96
***
Swsssh.
A watery sound, like a wave, echoed from the other side of the thick white steam. Miator’s large common bath was designed in the
Roman style, with large, bright terra cotta tiles. Three large goddess
statues, each holding a vase, stood around the bathtub, which was
big enough for thirty people. Streams of water flowed from the
vases. Water that spilled out of the tub calmly flowed over the floor.
“Phew, what a nice bath,” whispered one girl, her long hair pulled up
as she soaked in the tub.
“It sure is,” replied another girl with short black hair and a slightly
nervous look on her face. “Two people hardly ever get a chance to
use this huge tub by themselves.”
The serious voice belonged to Rokujo Miyuki.
The other girl laughed and turned around. “Oh my.” She chuckled
inwardly. “You don’t have to be so sarcastic. What’s wrong with doing a
little mischief once in a while?”
That was Hanazono Shizuma—even through the steam, it was clear
her face was as beautiful as the goddess sculptures around the tub.
Miyuki puffed out her cheeks and blew out a slow breath. “Thanks to
a certain someone it seems I have quite a few more things to do now.”
Plunk.
Shizuma drew closer to Miyuki. “I wanted to take it easy. Didn’t we
used to talk secretly like this a lot before?”
Zwsssh… Water overflowed.
“Yes—until a year ago.”
97
“A year? Has it been that long? No, I mean, is that all that has passed? It
feels like much, much longer. And at the same time feels
like just the other day.”
“Yes,” was Miyuki’s short reply. Shizuma sat in front of her, facing
her.
“Oh, you think so too, Miyuki? Heh heh. You know, you are the only
one I can talk with about back then, Miyuki.”
“This is the first time you’ve talked about it, Shizuma-sama,” Miyuki
replied with a serious face.
And the first time you’ve smiled so brightly, she thought.
“Oh, it is?” Shizuma chuckled as if she didn’t know what Miyuki was
talking about.
Now that I think about it, I guess it has been a very long time since I’ve felt so carefree, so cheerful. I feel like something good is
waiting for me. It makes me want to do something really showy. It’s a feeling of excitement I have about the future—something I’d
forgotten.
“Since it was you, Miyuki, I was positive—I knew you would sense my
mood and catch on. And the way you pretended to cry—even Tamao
was fooled, don’t you think? I’m impressed. But I knew from the
beginning there was no way you were going to give up on the Étoile
competition. Of course, I had absolutely no desire to enter, but…”
Shizuma moved right next to Miyuki. She brought her face so close to
Miyuki’s their cheeks almost touched. “It’s all right. I’ll go along with it.
Just this once.”
“Shizuma-sama! I didn’t mean to—”
The moment she started to speak, Shizuma’s supple fingers dug into
the bulge of Miyuki’s soft breast.
98
“It’s all right. Our interests happen to be the same this time.” Shizuma
smirked, lowered her voice even more and said, “You look lovely
naked, Miyuki-chan.”
Shizuma passed Miyuki, walked to the edge of the tub and stood with
a loud rush of water.
The steam lifted and Miyuki unconsciously averted her eyes. The
sight of Shizuma standing there openly, stark naked, was too—
—sublime.
Miyuki tried to play it cool. “If you’d like, shall I rinse you off?”
Shizuma turned only her head turned to look back. “No, I couldn’t ask
you to do that.”
Miyuki blushed, even though her eyes were still averted.
“Oh, are you getting hot flashes from staying in the bath too long?
Your cheeks are bright red, Miyuki-chan,” Shizuma said, almost as if
she was talking to herself. She chuckled and left to rinse herself off.
Shizuma disappeared beyond the steam.
Aaah… That was scary. Shizuma-sama sure is intense when it’s one-
on-one. Having managed to somehow withstand Shizuma’s pursuit,
Miyuki stroked her breast. She suddenly sympathized, just a little,
with the transfer student Shizuma had her eye on.
“Hey, hey! Tamao-chan!” Nagisa was a little excited. Today was—
how do I put this—a dazzling day.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! Come on!” she called. It had been a week since
Nagisa had started sharing a room with Tamao. Usually Tamao would
answer right away, and she’d always be concerned about whatever it
was Nagisa wanted to talk about—but now there was no answer.
“Hey! Hey! Is this how you use a facial mask?” Nagisa turned from
the mirror.
99
100
“Ha! Heh heh heh heh heh heh.”
Tamao, who had been sitting by her bed absent-mindedly combing
her hair, burst into laughter. “Oh, what am I going to do with you,
“Huh? It’s not right, is it? When I put it on, my eyes get plugged up
and I can’t see.”
Nagisa sensed Tamao was coming closer.
“Silly, it’s absurd to wear it like that. The parts for your eyes need to be
open. There are eye holes sewn into it, you know? Look.”
Tamao’s cool hands flitted about over Nagisa’s head, and…
Nagisa’s vision became clear. “Oh, I can see. There are spots for the
eyes…but even the eye parts were covered in beauty cream, so I
thought this was how I was supposed to use it…”
The facial mask with beauty cream on it that Tamao had given her
was cool and felt good.
“If you wear it like that, the cream will get in your eyes. Are you
okay? Do they hurt?” Tamao took Nagisa’s face in her hand and took
a long look into her eyes. Nagisa’s desk light reflected and sparkled in
Tamao’s large eyes.
“Yeah, I’m all right. Tamao-chan, your eyes are twinkling.”
“Wh-what are you talking about?” Tamao looked off to the side
embarrassedly, which was not like her at all.
“Oh, I’m sorry…” I have a habit of saying exactly what I think,
don’t I.
Nagisa felt a little guilty about it, but at the same time she was
surprised by the silent, embarrassed Tamao.
For the past week, after eating dinner, they had been going to the
salon together. Even when they were in their room, they would do
10 1
something fun—play a little game, do crafts, eat delicious snacks.
Tamao had arranged all of it to cheer Nagisa up. This was the first
time Nagisa had seen her quiet like she was tonight.
“What’s wrong? You seem kind of down, Tamao-chan.”
“I seem down? Not at all! I’m cheerful as ever,” Tamao replied with a
big smile. She fussed with the hem of her white negligée and went
back to her own bed.
Nagisa didn’t believe it. She really is acting strange. Normally, Tamao would shout something like “I’m so happy you’re worried about me,
Nagisa-chan!” and give Nagisa an enthusiastic hug.
Oh no. What am I thinking? Since when did I start thinking
about things like that? It-it’s not like I’m E-EXPECTING it!! Swiping the naughty idea away with her hand, Nagisa stood up.
Tamao sighed.
“Come on, what’s wrong?! You’re acting strange today. If you want,
you can talk to me about it.”
“It’s all right. If I told you, it wouldn’t help anyway.”
“Oh, not at all? Well, I’ve only just transferred here, but I think I’ve
started to get used to Miator.”
“Then…Shizuma must have taught you a lot in one day!”
“It-it’s not like that…” Nagisa said with a blush. “It’s thanks to you of
course, Tamao-chan, because you’ve been so nice to me since my
first day here. Oh, now that I think about it, Shizuma-sama—no, I
mean Shizuma-oneesama—suddenly disappeared this evening. I
wonder what happened. Do you know, Tamao-chan?”
“Oh, come on, Nagisa-chan—you don’t remember?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
102
“But…” Tamao’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly for a while and
then stopped. She was even kissed, for goodness sake.
“Well, whatever. I suppose it’s more convenient that you forget.”
“Huh? Why do you say that?”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s none of your concern. Shizuma-oneesama
left because she had sudden business with the Student Council
President.”
“With the Student Council President?! Wow, Shizuma-oneesama
really is an important person after all. She even goes to the Student
Council… Wait—but, if she’s the oneesama that all the schools
admire the most, why isn’t Shizuma-oneesama the Student Council
President?”
“Oh, because Miator’s Student Council President is usually a fifth-
year student, who wouldn’t be studying for entrance exams yet. And
last year when Shizuma-oneesama was a fifth-year student, she was
the Étoile.”
“Étoile? Now that you mention it, I think Shizuma-oneesama said
something about that once. Exactly what is an Étoile anyway? Is it some sort of job within the Student Council?”
“You don’t know what the Étoile is? Well…it’s a little difficult to
Tamao’s face clouded as she tried to think of the best way to explain
it to Nagisa. “You could say the Étoile is the symbol of this school—
no, not just this school. The symbol for all of Astraea. One is picked each
year, from all of the students. She is the kind of person who is
the object of everyone’s admiration, the target of their love and
affection and a model to the other students. It’s different from the
usual beauty contest, because it doesn’t focus as much on looks as it
does on being loved by all the students in all three schools. It’s not just
one person who is picked; it’s always a couple. The couples are
103
formed voluntarily, but usually it’s an oneesama type, like Shizuma,
paired with a smart little sister type. They are a symbol—a model of
how to care for each other and love each other as sisters. In reality, there
are some couples who really do love each other, and some
who are couples in name only, formed just because they look like
model students together.”
Tamao got a distant look in her eyes. “The Étoile is decided by three
competitions, one each month for three months, beginning in April
when the new school year begins. There is a coronation before first-
term Ending Ceremonies. After summer vacation, there are many
things she must take part in, like giving the opening speech at
important events like the Culture Festival. So if the process of
choosing the Étoile has begun, you will probably see her too, Nagisa-
chan. She does not have the authority to decide anything substantial,
so you could say it is an honorary position, but…it is a meaningful,
almost royal position.”
“Hmm, I see. I think I understand now. It’s such an incredible position
that you even speak more solemnly when you talk about it.”
“Oh no, I always speak like that when I discuss the upperclass
oneesama. But…you might be right, in a way. The person wearing the
sacred crown of the Étoile is…how do I put this? It’s like she’s endowed with an indescribable, noble light that seems to have a
magic spell cast on it. No one who lives on this hill can help but love and
respect her. Shizuma-oneesama is beautiful and full of
confidence, and she is a wonderful person. However, when she was
the Étoile, she truly shone. No one could help but be fascinated by her.
Wow—in my eyes, she seems like a goddess right now. Nagisa tried with all her might to imagine Shizuma when she had been the Étoile.
Next she tried adding Shizuma’s partner standing beside her. But it
was beyond the limits of her imagination.
104
When she glanced to the side, she noticed Tamao’s eyes shone with
ecstasy. For some reason, Nagisa felt like she understood Tamao’s
feelings.
“Hey Tamao-chan, don’t you want to try to become the Étoile? I think
you would win for sure. Yeah, I’d definitely cheer for you!”
Tamao sprang up in a panic. “N-no, not at all! Someone like me
would only disgrace the title of Étoile. Besides, I’m still in my fourth year. And this year, there is a great prince who attends Spica.
Everyone thinks there’s no doubt this year’s Étoile is going to be Prince Amane.”
“A great prince?!”
“Yes. A prince so great even the girls at Miator think we might not
have a chance this year.”
“You say prince, but…it’s a girl, right?” Nagisa asked.
“Heh… Oh, Nagisa-chan. You are still so innocent! Yes, of course she
is a female. But I think even you would understand the instant you
saw her. No matter how you look at her, there is no doubt she is a
prince.”
“Hmmm… Oh, I see… I want to see her right now!”
“Oh, Nagisa-chan, you cheater! I’ll tell Shizuma-oneesama on you!”
Tamao raised her hand in jest. “Oh, that might become another big
problem…”
Nagisa imagined it and was a little disheartened, but for some reason
it also made her very excited.
“I think you’d better go to sleep,” Tamao said.
Reluctantly Nagisa turned toward her bed. “W-wait, I still have the
facial mask on.”
105
“It’s all right. I’ll watch over you until you fall asleep, and when the time
comes I’ll take it off for you.”
“But I should do it!”
“I don’t care what you say, I’ll be fine! All that’s left is to take it off.”
“Quiet! If you complain, I’ll get into the bed with you!”
“Urgh…okay,” she said. Wondering why Tamao was being so
threatening over something so small, Nagisa got into bed. Well,
whatever. Too much had happened today, and Nagisa was a little
panicked.
If tomorrow is like this too, oh, it makes my head hurt, but…I
still feel kind of happy. God, does that make me strange?
Five minutes later…
“Hey, Nagisa-chan, it’s so boring, watching you like this, so…can I
sleep next to you after all?”
Tamao suddenly invaded Nagisa’s bed.
“Whoa! Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Tamao-chan, you’re too
close!”
The silk of Tamao’s negligée rustled against Nagisa’s cheek and she
smelled the gentle scent of soap.
Yargh! Whatever! Anyway, may tomorrow be a good day as
well!
Even though Tamao had forced her way into Nagisa’s bed, when
Nagisa looked at her, for some reason she felt kind toward her.
“Well then, fine. Let’s sleep together tonight! It’s warmer that way!”
“…Nagisa-chan.”
106
The early spring day at Miator finally came to an end. To Nagisa, the
Étoile was really nothing more than a star in space, shining in the distance.
107
Chapter 3
The White Prince of the Stars Falls in
Love with a Violet on the Roadside
“It’s the Prince!”
“The Prince!”
“The Prince has graced us with her presence!”
The girls’ murmurs spread like ripples. They stood in front of the
main gate of St. Spica Girls’ Institute, which shone in the white
morning sunlight. They were there to see the main event of the
The girls, all wearing uniforms of pure white, which they called “Spica
White,” stood in two lines in front of the main gate. With the same
anticipation in each of their hearts, all of their cheeks pink, they
fidgeted with excitement. The aisle between the two lines looked like
a glorious path up to a stage.
Around the corner of the path stood a person in anguish.
Aah, my head is spinning—even though I should be used to it by
now. It happens every morning. Why must it be like this every time I go toschool? I feel like I’m going through intense scrutiny—though I should be used to it by now. Do I have no choice but to walk up this path? Just like this, forever?’
Otori Amane sighed from the depths of her heart.
Diiing dooong.
The sound of old bells echoed distantly from the direction of Maiden
Park. It was the first bell, signaling that it was 8:15.
Not again.
She took a reluctant step forward.
108
“It’s almost time!”
“She will be here soon!”
Amane almost always arrived at the school gate just past 8:00. And if
the Prince couldn’t find the resolve to appear early, the girls who
waited for her stayed planted in that spot, even until this late time.
They did it every morning.
The young ladies waited anxiously, their hearts swelling in
anticipation of the moment she would finally step into view.
Oh well, there’s nothing I can do. I have to go, Amane told herself
desperately.
“Good morning!” She forced out the greeting in a strong, dignified
voice. At that moment, Amane’s face turned into that of a prince.
She was completely unaware of this, but she was so used to the role
she had played for so many years, it was already a part of her. Her
role as Prince of the Campus.
The girls who waited trembled with joy as they greeted their Prince.
“Good morning to you.”
“How is your health this morning?”
As each girl gave the greeting she had spent all morning thinking
about, she took the edge of her skirt in her fingers and curtsied. It
was a Western form of reverence—pinching the edge of the already
short skirt of Spica’s uniform and forcing it to spread a little, drawing the
right leg toward the back and bending it and lowering the body
as if kneeling. Then slowly, elegantly, bowing the head.
If Spica’s uniform were black instead of white, and if they were
wearing white caps on their heads, the girls would look exactly like
maids serving a prince.
109
As Amane passed, a wave of beautiful curtsies flowed down the lines of
girls, like a wave among spectators at a sporting event. The only
sound was the rustling of clothes.
It was an elegant sight, without a single thing out of place. The very
person for whom all this spectacle was put forth, who could be
expected to lord it over those who showered her with affection,
actually kept her eyes directly ahead as she walked, because she
didn’t want to see any of it.
Around the same time Amane reached the end of the lines, one girl
from the very end walked gracefully to the center.
“Aaaaaaaa-Amane-sama!” The girl was so nervous, she had difficulty
speaking.
Amane looked firmly into the other girl’s eyes. “Yes?” Amane was
strong as she prepared herself and stepped forward.
Now that it’s come to this, I don’t have a choice. Just like
always, they’ll release me after this.
“Uuuuuuuumm, umm, umm…” The young lady was so nervous she
felt like she had to go to the bathroom. But she squeezed her thighs
tight and endured it.
“What?” Amane asked with a good-natured tilt of her head. Her
voice was slightly husky, low and mellow. Her bangs hung over her
forehead and her eyes shone faintly in their shadow.
But her gentleness had the exact opposite effect from what she’d
wanted.
“Uh, umm…” The young lady looked like she was just about to faint.
I guess I have no choice. Nothing’s going to happen if we stay
110
In a calm voice, Amane asked her, “Did you have something to give to
me?”
“Y-y-y-y-y-y-yes!” In one of the young lady’s hands was a small
package tied with a golden ribbon. She was holding it so tightly the
paper it was wrapped in was completely wrinkled.
This happened every morning, and it had come out of something
Amane herself had said. Before this spectacle had come to be,
underclassmen would visit Amane’s room one by one every morning.
Blushing nervously, in small voices, they would tell her why they had
come to visit. Not only would they not be able to get up the courage
to give her the present they’d brought, but they would clutch it so
tightly they’d leave wrinkles in the wrapping paper.
Because of these attacks, which had waited for her every time she’d
opened her door to go to school, every time she’d turned a corner in
the hallways, Amane was always late.
So she had made a request. The proclamation was called the “Adonis
decree” among Amane fans. From that point on, waiting for Amane-
sama was permitted only in the morning when she arrived at school,
as a group at the front gate.
And only one person was permitted to give her a gift.
The truth was, Amane didn’t want a single present. She didn’t want
them to wait for her arrival, either. But if she told them that she would be
rebuked by the current Spica Student Council President, Tomori
Shion.
“If you say that, a lot of girls will try to get a jump on everyone else, and
you’ll be bothered even more, you know? Forbidding your fans
from doing ANYTHING isn’t a good plan. I think it will be better to
plan an escape route. Pressure cookers always need a proper release
valve.”
111
Amane had been impressed. It was just like the enterprising Student
Council President to think of something like that. Shion was known in
some circles as the Snow Queen. From Amane’s point of view, the
girl was energetic, a person of action. But she placed impossible
demands on Amane and made Amane do exactly what she most
Shion is a lot prettier and more adorable than me.
Amane thought about the Student Council President’s long brown
hair and her incomparable forehead above her beautiful face.
Why me?
To Amane, it was almost inconceivable that the underclassmen
would be drawn to her androgynous looks. Her tallness, her short
haircut, her gallant expression and her masculine way of speaking—
she couldn’t understand how people could be attracted to those
things.
It was just chance she happened to be tall. Her hair was short
because it was more convenient for riding her horse. She was always
alone because dealing with the other girls was a pain. She was
embarrassed every time they exclaimed she was “wonderful!”
Instead of talking to other girls, she enjoyed talking to her beloved
horse.
To Amane, this was just the ordinary truth.
I don’t have a fan mentality, but if I were them, I would’ve
become the fan of a much cuter girl.
The image of a certain girl came to Amane’s mind. She’s…not
like that at all. Amane’s thought denied her previous one. Now that I think about it, if I look back to before the “decree,” when I was still getting a mountain of presents every day, this is definitely much
better—I just hope today’s gift doesn’t have sweet cookies in it again.
112
As she accepted the package, Amane was a little absent-minded. Her
hand lightly brushed the other girl’s hand.
“Ah! Aaaaaaaah!”
The young lady fainted with a spectacular flopping sound.
***
“Amazing…” murmured Konohana Hikari, from St. Spica Girls’
Institute’s Third Year Class Un. Her shiny hair, which was twisted into curls that fell to her slender shoulders, gleamed in the morning
light. Even her delicate features, which usually held a forlorn
expression, were filled with an unusual radiance this morning.
She held her overly large bag protectively to her thin upper body.
Today was Hikari’s true school debut. She was still just a little
embarrassed about wearing a miniskirt, but she was getting used to it. She still walked a little pigeon-toed, which was probably a habit.
Six months had passed since she had transferred to the school. She’d
heard rumors about the lines that greeted Amane-sama in the
morning. This was the first time she had actually seen it, because
until today Hikari had been coming in earlier than the other students
in order to go to special early-morning lectures given especially for
transfer students.
I…I never knew she was incredible enough to deserve THIS.
She stood in a corner of the entrance to the school building, her eyes
glued to the spectacle in front of her, and her heart trembled ever so slightly.
Romantic feelings for this beautiful, extraordinary person,
and the feeling she was out of place at that moment…
I wonder if meeting her alone back then was just a convenient
dream.
“They’re Amane-sama wannabes,” said a mellow voice next to her.
113
Hikari turned around. “Oh! Yaya-chan!”
Nanto Yaya, who was in her class, stood there proudly and tossed
her perfectly straight, supple hair. The uniform’s miniskirt suited her
well; it seemed to accentuate her glamorous physique. Her slightly
tilted eyes and parted lips were alluring. From the first time Hikari
had seen Yaya, she couldn’t believe the girl could possibly be in the
same year as her. And this morning, as always, Yaya looked like a
sultry woman.
“Heh heh heh. Good morning, Hikari-chan. You look as cute as ever
today!”
“Th-thanks…” Hikari looked down, her cheeks red, remembering
what had happened in the library. It was so embarrassing when she
tried to see if my panties were provocative enough!
Yaya looked at Hikari with a satisfied expression and said, “Hikari-
chan, your special lectures are finally over, right? I’m so happy! From
now on, let’s walk to school together! It doesn’t take much time to
go from the Strawberry Dorms to school, but I want to be with you
every little bit I can. Besides, I can’t go with Amane-oneesama. So it’s all
right with you, right? Heh heh heh heh heh heh.”
Completely ignoring Hikari’s reaction, Yaya took Hikari’s arm as if it
“Yeah,” Hikari answered in a slightly gloomy voice. Her eyes were
rooted on Amane, who still held the student who had screamed and
fainted. She was yelling for someone to take the poor girl to the
nurse’s office.
“Are you really that worried about those Amane-sama wannabes?”
Yaya asked in a disappointed voice.
114
“N-not at all! But what do you mean, ‘Amane-sama wannabes?’”
Hikari obviously hesitated to ask, but apparently just couldn’t help
herself.
Hikari’s anxious expression made Yaya shiver a little bit. You’re
cute even when you’re anxious, Hikari-chan. I had the same thought back in the library too, but you just make me want to tease you.
“It’s like…Amane-sama’s fan club, I suppose,” Yaya said bluntly. “She
used to have something like official bodyguards, but as Amane-
oneesama got older, the number of her fans grew and they couldn’t
handle it. The organization was disbanded and split into too many
groups to count. At the request of Amane-oneesama herself, her
fans are only allowed to have an audience with her in the morning at
the school gate.”
As she said this, Yaya raised the hand holding her bag and pointed to
Amane, who was leaning over the girl in her arms and looking into
her face to see whether she were okay.
“Oh no, it looks like they’re kissing!”
Huh? When Hikari turned around to look, she could definitely see what Yaya was talking about. From Hikari’s angle, though, their two
faces were still definitely separated. What she did see was that the
girl’s face was bright red and she looked like she was so
overwhelmed with joy she felt she could fly.
Hikari averted her eyes, her heart quivering. Twinge twinge.
My chest kind of hurts.
“So now people who call themselves Amane-oneesama fans are
generally called Amane-sama wannabes,” Yaya continued
indifferently. “Of course, they don’t have a membership certificate or
anything, but there seem to be a lot of people who wear a white lace
ribbon choker as a symbol that they ‘serve the Prince.’ I guess you
115
She suddenly turned to face Hikari. “What are you going to do? Do you
want to try wearing a white choker like the wannabes, Hikari-chan? It looks
like you can make it as elaborate as you want. I think it would look good on
you, Hikari-chan. It has a slave feel to it. I’m sure it would be wonderful!”
Yaya brought her face close to Hikari’s. It seemed like she’d read
Hikari’s mind completely.
The look in Yaya’s eyes was bright. Hikari instinctively turned away.
“N-not at all… Besides, I’m still just a new transfer student. I don’t even
know Amane-sama very well.”
“Oh, that doesn’t matter at all! Most of the girls lined up over there
probably haven’t ever spoken a single word to Amane-oneesama,
you know? Compared to them, Amane-oneesama loves you so much,
Hikari-chan. Aah, I just don’t know what to do! Which one should I
be jealous of? The beautiful Amane-oneesama, or Hikari-chan, who’s
loved by the beautiful Amane-oneesama?”
Yaya writhed like she was in agony, just to poke fun at Hikari.
“N-not at all! Me, loved by her? You’re exaggerating!” But at that
moment, Hikari remembered just a little bit about that night. She felt airy
and happy. That night, she had felt like she was floating on a
rose-colored cloud.
It was an episode that had completely changed Hikari’s idea of what
her life would be like at St. Spica, so much so that it had made Hikari feel
as if they had probably been destined to meet.
***
The Strawberry Dorms were a facility that served as a dormitory for
Komentar
Posting Komentar