Strawberry Panic part 2

"Gomenasai.. for being late.. I lost track of the hour." Tereya said as she walked into the room.

"Where's Shizuma?" Miyuki asked.

"I have no idea, Miyuki."

"So, Etoile-sama.. Shall we start?"

"Of course, Shion." Tereya said as she sat down.

She smiled when Miyuki gave her several papers.

"Thank you, Miyuki." Tereya said as she looked up at her, straight into her eyes. She smiled gently and then turned her head a bit.

"Ah.. You're welcome." Miyuki said smiling.

"So, the welcoming ceremony is next week Friday.. Good. How many are new?"

"Two from Spica." Sjhion said.

"Five for Lu Lim." Chikaru said with a big smile.

"And three for Miator." Miyuki said.

"Ten newlings.. so.." Tera Tereya put her hand to her head for a moment. "Ten necklaces.."

"Right. I'll give those of Spica to you on Wednesday." Shion said.

"Good.."

"I'll do my best.. I'll try to do it by tomorrow." Chikaru said with a big smile.

"Even better." Tereya said smiling gently. "I'm guessing that this is all to be discussed for today?"

"I guess so." Chikura said.

"Ano, Tereya-sama.. Try and have Shizuma with us on the next council, hmm?" Shion said as she slowly stood up.

Tereya raised her eyebrow for a moment and looked at Shion. She sighed and then lowered her gaze to the documents again.

Chikaru and Shion left the room after Miyuki said goodbye to them.

"Tereya.." Miyuki said as she sat down beside her.

"Hmm?" Tereya looked at Miyuki for a moment.

"When you were saying that you had to have ten necklaces..What.."

"Oh.. that. That was nothing, really.." Tereya said smiling gently.

"Really?"

"Hmm.."

"You can tell me you know.." Miyuki said, placing her hand upon Tereya's arm.

"Miyuki.. I'd rather not.." Tereya whispered.

"So it was something?"

"Maybe.." Tereya whispered as she turned her gaze back to the documents.

"If you ever want to talk about.. I'll be there, alright?"

"Thank you, Miyuki.."

Miyuki smiled as she looked at the documents that she was looking at. "Need any help?"

"Huh.. No.. no This is something personal.. I'm going to my room right now.." Tereya said as she put all the documents together again.

"I didn't mean to be so pushy.."

"Ah, it's alright.. I was going to my room anyway.." Tereya said smiling gently.

"Wh.." Miyuki started but then lifted her hands. "I guess I'll see you later?"

"Dinner." Tereya said, nodding.

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"We meet again.."

"Erh?" A girl turned around and looked at Shizuma. "You...You.. You.. You were from this morning."

"You actually remembered me, I feel so happy." Shizuma said smirking.

"How can you act like this in front of Etoile-sama?" The girl said.

"Ah.. Nagisa.." Tamao said softly.

Tereya walked in the room and walked straight to Shizuma and the others. She saw Shizuma's attempt to kiss the girl and coughed.
"May I ask, what's all this commotion about?"

Shizuma looked up and saw Tereya stand there. She let go of Nagisa and lifted her hands.

"Nothing.." Shizuma said.

"I've seen enough." Tereya said. "Miyuki, if anyone needs me.." She looked at Miyuki.

"Hai." Miyuki said as she looked at Tereya.

Tereya looked at Shizuma for a moment and frowned. Then she turned her head and walked away.

"Everyone, please take a seat.." Miyuki calmly said. "Etoile-sama..If you will do us the favor of starting the prayer.."

Everyone sat down and closed their eyes as they folded their hands together. A chair was pushed away from the table, the sound of someone standing.

"Our Father in Heaven,
For this meal you have given
We want to say thank you from our hearts.
Bless the ones who prepared it
And Lord as we share it
Will you stay with us
And be our guest of Honor. " Shizuma opened.

Nagisa opened her eyes and looked around in the room. Her eyes widened when she saw it was Shizuma standing and saying the prayer.
Suddenly Shizuma turned her head towards her and winked.

"Eh?!" Nagisa gave Tamao a push. "Why didn't you tell me?" She whispered.

"I didn't really have the time for it.." Tamao said.

"Sorry.." Nagisa mused as she lowered her head. "Where would that other girl be?" Nagisa asked as she looked at Tamao.

"Oh, Tereya-sama. I don't know.." Tamao said softly as she looked at the empty seat next to Shizuma and Miyuki.

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Tereya sighed deeply as she went through the documents. She was looking at the same documents as she was before.


<Knock Knock>

Tereya sighed as she looked up, she turned her head and looked at the door. She got up when she heard the knocking again. She walked towards the door and opened it, seeing Miyuki stand there.

"You didn't eat.. and you barely ate at lunch, so I bring you dinner.." Miyuki said smiling a bit.

"Oh.. thank you, Miyuki.." Tereya said as she looked at Miyuki walking in. "Oh, let me make some room for it first.."

She took the documents and put them aside. She smiled when Miyuki placed the tray with food on her desk. "Thank you, Miyuki.."

"I'll come back and I'll bring the plate down again.."

"You can stay, if you like.." Tereya said as she sat down. "It's nice to have someone to talk to during a meal.."

"Than I'll stay." Miyuki said, smiling gently.

Tereya smiled as she looked at Miyuki, she folded her hand together and closed her eyes. She kept the prayer to herself. 'Heavenly Father, we thank you for this food that we are about to receive for the nourishment of our bodies. Please cleanse it from impurities, in Jesus' name. Amen.'

She opened her eyes and silently started to eat. She gazed upon the documents and her eyes widened when she heard Miyuki speak.

"Still working on them?"

"Oh..yes.. it's a bit tougher than I thought.." Tereya said.

"Can I be of any help?" Miyuki asked.

".. I don't want to bother you with it.. It's something that happened to my father.."

"Oh, rather personal then.." Miyuki said.

"Meh.. I'd be lying if I call that personal.. " Tereya said as she put her fork down. "Here.." Tereya said as she took the documents and gave them to Miyuki.

"Your father is in the mental institution?"

"Hmm.." Tereya nodded. "I think it's because of what happened two years back.. Guess it's too much for such an 'old' man.." Tereya sighed. "Maybe he'll be calling here, to ask if I might visit.."

"Will you?"

"No." She said with a bit anger in her voice. "Sorry.. I would rather not talk about this anymore.."

"Sorry.."

"It's alright.." Tereya looked at the food and sighed. "Sorry, but I won't be able to eat this anymore.."

"At least you ate something." Miyuki said.

"True.. Anyway, I should go to Sister Hamasaka.." Tereya said as she got up.

"Alright.. then I'll bring the plate back.."

"I'll do it.. It's on my way back.." Tereya said.

"Alright then." Miyuki said smiling.

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"Don't.." Nagisa struggled to keep her balance. She bumped against someone and looked up. "I'm very sorry!"

Her eyes widened when she saw Shizuma stand in front of her. "Etoile.."
She bent her head a bit. "I'm very sorry! I was afraid that I was going to be late so.."

"Ohayo.." Shizuma said softly.

"Ohayo.." Nagisa whispered, blushing a bit.

"Aoi-san, as student council president, let me give you some advice. Regardless of any reason, you are not allowed to run in the corridors." Miyuki said.

"I hope there won't be a next time." Tereya said as she walked towards the group.

"Etoile-sama. Ohayo." Mizuho said.

"Ohayo, Mizuho.. Miyuki, Shizuma." Tereya said as she looked at Shizuma, she looked at Nagisa for a moment. "Aoi Nagisa."

"Ohayo.. E-Etoile-sama.." Nagisa whispered.

"Come let us all go eat now.." Tereya said as she walked towards the dining room.

"Ano.. I hope I didn't make her angry at me.." Nagisa whispered as she looked at Tamao.

"I don't think so.." Tamao said softly.

"Tereya, where did you go yetserday at dinner?" Shizuma asked as she looked into Tereya's eyes.

"I had some documents to see to.."

"So.. it's not that you're angry with me?" Shizuma asked.

"No, Shizuma I'm not angry.." Tereya said smiling gently. "I can't be angry at you.." Tereya whispered softly.

Shizuma placed her hand on Tereya's cheek. She placed a kiss on Tereya's cheek rested her temple against Tereya's.

Tera..

"Shizuma.." She whispered, terrified. She frowned as she looked at Shizuma. She blinked a tear away when she looked straight into Shizuma's eyes.

"Tereya.." Shizuma said. She didn't respond to it. "Tereya!" She said loudly.

Tereya buried her head in Shizuma's shoulder. "Shizuma.." She whispered.

"Etoile-sama..?" Mizuho looked down at Tereya and Shizuma.

"Tereya.." Shizuma whispered as she wrapped her arms around her.

"Gomenasai.." Tereya whispered into Shizuma's shoulder.

"It's alright... Come let's get some fresh air.."

"Shizuma.. You have to.." Miyuki started.

"You do it for this once, Miyuki.. please." Shizuma said as she got up.

"Alright." Miyuki said. "Mizuho, will you help Shizuma.."

"There's no need, Miyuki. Thank you." Shizuma said as she looked at Miyuki and Mizuho.

Shizuma wrapped one arm around Tereya's waist and then used the other one to hold her hand.

"I'm sorry, Shizuma you should just go back inside and eat something.."

"I'll live, Tereya." Shizuma said. "Come.." She lead Tereya to a bench and sat down.

Tereya laid her head on Shizuma's chest and held her close.

"Tereya.. What was wrong?"

"Shizuma.. It may sound weird but I hear her shouting my name.."

"Doesn't sound weird at all.."

"Everytime that I hear her.. I see her.."

"What is she doing then?"

"She's.." Tears touched Tereya's eyes again.

Shizuma wrapped her arms around Tereya and placed a kiss on her head.

".." Tereya sighed deeply and then lifted her head. "My father's having trouble with it as well.."

"Your father, what do you mean?"

"He had to go to a mental institution because.. she's haunting him even more than me.." Tereya wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "I recieved some documents of how he's been doing.."

"Tereya.. I know it's hard for you.. but I need you to tell me what happened to her.."

Tereya looked up at Shizuma and frowned.