“Thank you very much.” Kanaho bowed and exited the Principal’s Office. She bowed as the door closed in front of her and walked down the hallway, sighing as she reached a corner.
“Bad meeting?” Takane gave her a knowing smile.
Kanaho spun around and looked at her. “Takane-chan.”
“You always sighed every time you get out of the Principal’s Office.” Takane touched Kanaho’s hair with a hand as she traced it down the tips of her hair. “Are you okay?”
Kanaho closed her eyes as she leaned her head to the side where Takane’s hand was. “I’m alright. The Principal told me that we, in Gran Epre would have to manage a tour for the children at the neighboring middle school. They said it’s to interest the prospective lilies from that school into our school but…”
Takane nodded as she let go of the tips of Kanaho’s hair. “I know that we do our best to protect them so that they do not have to fight… but they have to learn how to defend theirselves, Kanaho.”
“I know. It’s just…” Kanaho frowned as she stared at the floor. “Let’s do our best on the tour, Takane-chan.”
“Of course.” Takane gave her a smile.
“…Don’t say anything that could make them misunderstand, okay?”
“I know, don’t worry, Kanaho.”
Despite multiple hesitations on Kanaho’s side, she set aside her personal feelings to help the children going to the tour make their own decisions. To fight on the frontlines and become a Lily, or to lead a normal school life. They do not know yet if there are prospective lilies in that batch but Kanaho only wanted to lessen the amount of lives put on the line. They also seek the help of different students from different majors in Kanba Girls as an Arts and Design Institute. Above all her worries and personal feelings, there was another that bothered her the most.
“Thank you for the help. Your beautiful hands have carved all these souvenirs. I’m sure the children will be delighted.” Takane smiled as she took the box of tour souvenirs but not without touching the first year’s hand and appreciating them. The girl got flustered and if her face could explode, it may as well have had already.
” Takane-chan… “ Kanaho watched all these unfold and simply cast away the heavy feeling that was slowly growing inside her chest.
The members of Gran Epre were spread around and about inside their legion room as they’ve started decorating it for the upcoming tour in the weekend. Kanaho sat on a table near the door with papers that had the school’s clubs and majors’s proposals for the tour. Somewhere near the center of the room where were Kureha, Takane, Himeka, and Akari planned the props and decorations to spread around the school for that day. It’s rare to have people in their legion room, and it’s one of the rare days it is quite lively.
Kureha watched them from afar as if sensing the sudden disappearance of preciousness in the atmosphere.
“Miyagawa-senpai!” Another one of their lowerclassmen approached them. “I heard that you were preparing a school tour! Is there anything we could help with?”
“If it’s for Takane-senpai, we’ll do what we can!” Another spoke as they tried to put their hands under their chin for a cutesy effect.
Takane smiled at them as she patted their heads. “I’m sure the preparations will go even smoother with the help of the three of you beautiful children. Himeka-san is currently doing decorations. I’m sure she’ll need all the help.”
All three girls blushed explosively as they bowed and headed towards Himeka’s direction. Kanaho sighed at the sight and returned to the tour approval she was looking through until a peace of paper was silently added on top of her already piling work.
Kanaho wanted to ask whose club and major it was but before she could open her mouth the student who dropped it, who seemed to also be a second year, walked away and closed in on where Takane was at.
“Takane-chan.” The unknown lady mentioned, before leaning in to kiss Takane’s cheeks. “I submitted the landscape tour proposal like you asked me to.”
A momentary surprise spread through Takane’s face before returning to her usual neutral expression. “Is that so? Thank you. I’m sure the children would be interested in landscape safety.”
“Is that all you’re going to tell me after telling me the other day we’ll set these children’s cheeks on fire with our fiery romantic performance, AKA showing them how to escape in emergency situations?”
“I don’t remember any… of the sort?” Takane, for once, was confused and almost at a loss for words as her gaze occassionally landed onto Kanaho who was watching their exchange, but was now back onto the tour proposal papers. “Anyhow. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“You’re so cold sometimes.” The student trailed a finger around Takane’s jaw while Takane took a step backward and smiled at her. “See you later, Takane-chan.” The second year passed by Kanaho’s desk and waved at her before leaving.
Even the rest of the first years who were helping out stopped their movements, trying to digest what just happened. Even Kureha could start sensing the disturbance in paradise.
“What are you guys doing? Please go back to work or we won’t finish.” It was Kanaho’s strict and cold voice that snapped everyone back into reality. “Ah. But of course, don’t forget to take breaks when necessary, okay?” Her voice returned to her usual warm and caring one, but of course, everyone there knew that tension is up in the air.
The silence was deafening, but everyone worked in continuously.
“Ahhh!” Akari suddenly raised her voice. Everyone immediately turned to look at her. “I’m hungry…”
Kanaho turned to look at the clock and it was already late in the afternoon. “It seems that we’ve already been at it for quite some time now. Let’s wrap everything up for today.”
“You’re right. How about a treat for everyone?” Takane walked towards everyone.
Kanaho only turned to look at her… then turned to look at everyone else. “Please rest well and I’ll see all of you again tomorrow.” She turned to leave the club room, shutting the door behind her as everyone stood in awe.
“Did… Kanaho-senpai just ignore Takanyan-senpai…?”
“Shh! Akari!” Himeka elbowed Akari as Kureha only turned to look at them. The two of them looked at Kureha… who turned to Takane who had simply had her mouth open in awe.
“I… think…” Kureha opened her arms and pushed everyone outside of their legion room. “It’s time we rest up and return to work tomorrow.”
Takane closed her fists as she looked at Kanaho’s disappearing figure. “Kanaho…”
Thanks to the fact that they’ve been busy preparing for the tour, Kanaho was able to get enough thinking time for herself (see: avoiding Takane). Takane also slept in often and Kanaho wakes up far earlier than she does so it was easy to escape.
Kanaho walked around their clubroom, everyone’s projects and designs have all been completed and the only thing left is for the day of the tour to come. She took a walk towards the model of the landscape tour for emergency purposes and felt a prick at her heart.
“Why didn’t I just talk to her like I always do?” Kanaho sighed. She stormed off for a walk… and somehow found herself near Takane’s landscaping classroom. Takane-chan…
“Oh my. If it isn’t Takane-chan’s childhood friend, Kon Kanaho-sama.” It was her. Kanaho closed her fists and turned to look at her. “Good day. Is there anything I could help you?”
“Good day. No, it’s alright. The landscape model in the clubroom amazed me, so I came here to check for more.” Kanaho only smiled at her and turned back to the landscape models. “Do you always arrive this early at school?”
“Yes.” The student who was ‘very friendly’ with Takane walked near her. “Takane-chan and I often met up here early to talk about landscaping.”
Kanaho gripped the ends of her skirt as she heard those words. It was true, that on some days, Takane always woke up with her, and went to the landscaping room to get some landscape modeling done. “I see. Please continue to take care of Takane-chan for me.” Kanaho excused herself with a smile and a curtsy bow.
“You obviously are curious about something, why don’t you ask about it?” The student leaned her hips to a table and crossed her arms. Kanaho did not like that grin one bit… she shouldn’t fall for it.
“…What I don’t know wouldn’t hurt me… So I refuse. Thank you for your time. Good day.” Kanaho spoke sternly and left the classroom. The words she had said held some truth… but whether she knew it or not, it was already hurting her.
The influx of students had started arriving as Kanaho found herself exploring the landscape majors’s classrooms instead of gardening. She met with a lot of students who asked if she was the senpai who always walked with Takane, and such. She really was popular with a lot of people. “And I’m just a person in a sea of all other people who wanted her attention…”
Kanaho sighed as she turned back the direction she came from to prepare for her own classes. There was a crowd of people near the landscaping room, and people were talking and mumbling, and it didn’t seem to be a good thing.
“What are you talking about Takane-ch–“
“I told you, I did not like it when you address me as such.”
Kanaho’s eyes widened as she heard a familiar voice, albeit extremely cold and emotionless. She tried to wade through the sea of students but it was difficult.
“I heard she tried to hold Takane-sama’s hand and got her hand slapped away!”
“I have never seen Takane-sama so angry…”
“Wasn’t she that new student? Maybe she just didn’t know yet that whoever disrespects Kanaho-sama, is not tolerated by Takane-sama…”
Kanaho could not believe her ears. It does not help that she can’t really see anything, but she could hear the conversation.
“If someone like Kanaho-sama could say it then–“
“…Someone like Kanaho? Kanaho isn’t just a someone to me.” Takane balled her hands into fists. She went early to the classroom with the resolve of finally putting an end to everything with this lady.
“It’s what I chose to call you, and we’re all the same age too–“
“Isn’t it about time you stop acting like you’re close to me? Because we aren’t close, and I know nothing about you.” Noticing the larger crowd from earlier, Takane knew that ending this conversation abruptly would be better but the mere fact that Kanaho has not spoken to her in a while meant that she should really fix things, starting from the root of the problem.
The girl grinned. “Then we simply just don’t spend enough time with each other.”
“I’d rather not spend my them with people like you who have extreme disrespect for other people’s personal space.” Takane tried her best to answer as calm as she could, but the building anxiety inside her chest… she knew it would be wrong to take it all out on her.
“But you never rejected any of my advances–!”
“I believe that I always answered ‘No’ to everything you’ve asked me. And yet, you dared to kiss my cheeks in front of so many people?” Takane gripped the ends of her skirt and let go of it in an attempt to calm herself down.
“Then why did you not refuse!?”
Takane’s eyes widened as she heard the question. That was true, even she herself has been thinkig about it. Why did she not refuse? Was it because she wanted it? Because… Kanaho was watching? Takane knew well enough why she didn’t refuse the kiss on her cheek. It was her very own worry… that she has not told anyone at all, not even Kanaho.
Kanaho tried her best to get through the crowd in an attempt to end the increasingly heated arguement. She finally pushed into the crowd and got into the front.
“Then why did you not refuse!?”
Kanaho saw the emotions cross Takane’s face. It was her first time seeing such an expression on that usually cool face. The emotion of fright and lack of confidence. Their eyes met as Takane realized she had been there… without answering, Takane turned away and left the scene, and no one dared to chase after her, except one.
“Takane-chan!” Kanaho chased after her as fast as she could but she wouldn’t stop, not even for her. “Takane-chan, wait!”
“Kanaho.” Takane stopped right outside their school, near the greenhouse of the gardening majors. Her back still turned to Kanaho, she spoke. “…Kanaho.”
“Takane-chan…” Kanaho reached for her hand as she hesitated to hold it… and in the end settled to grab the hem of her uniform’s sleeve. She walked close enough for them to feel each other’s presence, but not touching.
“Kanaho.” Takane breathed her name out a few minutes of silence later. “…The reason I didn’t refuse… was because I wanted to know how you would react to it.”
“…I know.” Kanaho answered quietly. “The past few days, it made me think, and today, I realized it. How much you have been spoiling me.”
“You always told me to be careful not to say anything that could make them misunderstand my words… but even if I did, it made me uneasy sometimes.” Takane turned to face Kanaho as she held onto that hand that was on her sleeve. “How easily you just forgive those actions, even if you shouldn’t.”
Kanaho nodded. “…I… felt like I didn’t have a reason to genuinely be angry over them. You have always been this way ever since we were young.” She turned to look at Takane’s face as she walked closer to look at that pretty face she always loved to look at. She gently touched Takane’s face with her free hand as Takane closed her eyes to lean in on the touch. “I felt like if I stopped the side of you that was popular and close to others, I’d be crippling your wings.”
“…But you know that I only have feelings for you.” Takane opened her eyes as she stared into Kanaho’s eyes intensely. “Kanaho, I–“
Kanaho sealed her lips with a finger as she shook her head. “Let me say it first.” Takane blinked and said nothing. “I always hoped that no one would misunderstand your words, but seeing how someone could actually take you away from me… I had to reflect on a lot of things.”
She let go of Takane’s hand as she stepped inside closer, and wrapped her arms around Takane’s waist, engulfing her into a warm hug as Kanaho nuzzled her forehead onto Takane’s cheek. “…It was true that I got jealous, and started avoiding you for days. I made a lot of excuses so that we wouldn’t be together… it also made me realize how much about you I didn’t know… so I went to the landscaping division to see what your environment is like when we’re not together.” Kanaho closed her eyes as she leaned her forehead onto Takane’s shoulders, smiling into the warmth as Takane finally decided to tightly return her embrace. “I love you, Takane-chan.”
“Kanaho…” Takane nuzzled Kanaho’s head as she gently kissed her hair. “I love you too, Kanaho.”
“It’s… okay for me to be a bit more selfish with you, right?” Kanaho lifted her head as she looked into Takane’s face.
“Of course.” Takane smiled at her as she removed a stray hair from Kanaho’s face.
“…I don’t want to see you with other women…” Kanaho pouted as she looked down while she said her selfish request. “…I don’t want them getting close to you like I do…”
“I’m sorry if I made you worry, Kanaho.” Takane wrapped her arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Please rest assured, that you have all of me.”
“…I know, but still… I can’t help but worry.” Kanaho lifted her head as she pouted at Takane.
“Then tell me what I can do to ease your worries.”
“…love me.”
Without any questions, their lips gravitated towards each other’s as they kissed sweetly under the shining sun of a warm morning.
The tour went well, and some of the children had already professed their desires to attend Kanba Girls school, but the story of one that one student that proposed to Kanaho and got into a childish competition with Takane is a story for another day.
The student who used to be touchy feely with Takane had a talk with Kanaho, and she now idolizes the two of them, together with it was finally the confirmation of Takane and Kanaho dating each other being known to the school. Although it was met with words such as “You mean they weren’t dating yet?” It had made the two of them even more popular.
“…Still, an extremely jealous Kanaho was likely the most afraid I had been my entire life.” Takane sighed as she waited in bed, one arm propped up with her head on top of her hand.
“G- Geez… I’m sorry already.” Kanaho sighed as she slipped into bed right next to Takane. “…I’ll try not to be, as often.”
“…You know what to do.”
“Of course.”
And that was where a new promise had been born. That when they’re uneasy, they would hold hands, and talk to each other.
“A needy and angry Kanaho was not a combination I had expected.”
“Let it go already, Takane-chan!”
(END)
