February
Chapter 11
February came and went, the shortest month of the year brought Haruka and Michiru's first bunkasai. At least their version of the traditional Japanese high school's cultural festival. Bunkasai are usually held every autumn and the festival is made to celebrate the accomplishments of the school clubs.
The bunkasai at the music school was a little different, of course, but it also helps the students to feel like regular girls, like any other students all over the country. The performance recital was held in Bow Hall, a smaller theater in the Grand Theater complex, and it took a whole weekend, right before the spring break. It was very important for the graduating class, since the program consists of song and dance numbers split between all of the class members, in all genres, and a small skit or two. This year, the freshmen were allowed to present two choral pieces, and of course, they had to help with setting up, taking the burden off the over stressed seniors.
In addition, of course, it was good for the freshmen class to have a taste of their near future. Because now they had just their finals week and then, their first year was over.
At the end of the month, with the same arrangements they did during midterms, Haruka and her friends practically aced their tests. The teachers were truly amazed by their potential and talent, and especially for Michiru's progress. For someone who had so much trouble during the beginning of her life as a music school student, finishing her first year as top of her class really filled her heart with pride. She could do this. She could prove to everyone, especially to herself, that she was capable of being a great Sienne. Her future was so clear now.
She had to suppress the tears that threatened to fall when she saw the results. Being top of the class could mean a great push in her career, because nothing talks more than results.
******
March begin a little warm in the small city of Takarazuka. After a whole day of classes and getting ready for the end of the school year, Michiru and the girls were walking slowly towards their favorite restaurant. It was Michiru's birthday, so she decided to celebrate with her friends. She wanted to just relax and enjoy the girls’ company. The first year was practically over; they were just one week away from finding out their stage genders and then spring break.
They had the false feeling of security, since they were just waiting for the end of the school year. Like anything could happen to hurt them. And it was a day to celebrate. Besides the outstanding results on their finals, the small group of future Siennes got a lot of praise over their chorus performance at the bunkasai the month before. Haruka, being the only potential otokoyaku in the group, always got all the attention, with her height and deep voice, but now she was truly happy to see her friends, her sisters, being right there with her.
She didn't know if meeting these girls was a match made in heaven, but she was truly thankful for it. It made her life at school bearable. She tried to reach out for her roommate, but after a few months trying, she gave up. One could try as much she had without getting any kind of response. And her roommate was just a rude, obnoxious girl. So different from her bunch of fiends.
All four girls, gathered around a table in the back of the restaurant, Haruka could understand why Michiru liked that place: it had a great atmosphere, so nice and calm. It was a good place to relax and have some great food after a day full of classes, practices and rehearsals. The restaurant was located in a street right behind the grand theater; next to some museum Haruka never had the interest in visiting. Her oldest brother, Hideyuki was furious with her once he found out she didn't really care for the place. It was about some manga artist, she really didn't care. She read manga when she was younger, but now she just didn't had the time.
They had a lovely late lunch and some chocolate cake, nothing but a quiet celebration. Haruka had gotten her friend a present, but for some reason, she didn't felt comfortable enough to give it to her. Since Christmas, Haruka still felt that something weird had happened and she did not really know why, especially because Michiru never said anything.
Maybe it was for the best, maybe it was it something she imagined. Like Michiru would ever look at a girl like her.
However, did she want Michiru to look at her like that? Haruka had no idea what she was feeling, and even if she was feeling something. One thing she knew for sure, she was confused as hell. She didn't really had the time to think about it, being so busy, so she pushed it to the deep corners of her mind and decided to leave it there to give some thoughts when she was less busy. Maybe during the upcoming Spring Break...
However, she knew her life would just get worse. Senior year would bring her more and more responsibilities. So maybe she needed to forget everything and just move on.
When she realized he was lost in her thoughts, Haruka saw Michiru smiling at her, with those big deep blue eyes piercing her soul.
"Are you okay, Haruka-san?"
"Oh, yeah, just spaced out a little. It's cool."
"Can you please come back to earth? It's time for cake."
*********
Michiru was having a great birthday. She would finish her first year as top of her class, her teachers and instructors are all praising her for her accomplishments and she had a lovely birthday lunch with her friends. Takako gave her a new set of hair clippers from her hometown and Kaoru opted to give her new music notebook, which she had customized the cover, since she was the most crafty of the group.
Haruka gave her a DVD with one of Mayuko's plays. The blonde girl knew how much she admired her instructor and was always looking up to her.
She loved all her gifts, she was so grateful to have such considerate friends.
The aquamarine girl got home a few hours later than usual, but she didn't really care. She had told Saeko and Ami should would be spending most of her birthday with some school friends. Her aunt asked her if they could have a special dinner Saturday night. And of course Michiru agreed. She loved spending time with her family.
"Where were you?"
A deep voice took Michiru out of her own thoughts. She was so distracted she didn't even realize her parents were in the living room, apparently waiting for her.
The aquamarine haired girl was surprised to see them both there; they usually came home so late, so she barely saw them.
"I had a late lunch with my friends from school," Michiru said, feeling suddenly tired. She was having such a good day, why her father looked like he would ruin it?
"Your mother and I were waiting for you. Do you know what day is today?"
The girl left her school bag and her gifts on the floor and removed her coat and hat. It was still a little cold, but days were getting warmer.
"It´s Wednesday, father," Michiru answered, not really paying attention to what was happening around her. She was in a great mood and she just wanted to take a long bath, have some light dinner and do some studying before bed. Maybe even play her violin a little.
Daiki stood up, his face was dark and he looked angry.
"Don’t mess with me, young lady, I´ll ask you again. Do you know what day is today?"
"Of course I know, father. It's my birthday, I'm sixteen now." She was trying to keep her good mood, but as usual, her father was getting on her nerves.
"Exactly! It is your birthday and you should be here, so we could spend it together. Not doing god knows what with some random girls." Daiki had decided to get along with the idea of his daughter attending the Music School, she seemed so determined and he didn´t want to fight with her anymore.. "We always spend your birthday together, always." The man looked at the girl, she had grown so much the past year, he didn´t know who she was anymore. Time was running fast and now he had a young woman living in his house. It was like yesterday when she was learning how to walk, her childish face always so happy to see him. "What is happening to you, Michiru? I barely recognize you! The daughter I raised would not keep her parents waiting, she would at least call. "
Michiru couldn’t believe what she was hearing. So now Daiki wanted to play the role of the sad parent, who couldn’t believe his daughter had ditched him to spend her special day with her friends? It was unbelievable.
"Do you realized you just said more words to me now than the last months? So yes, I was spending my birthday with people who cares about me, who wants to be with me and not hate me for my choices. “A part of Michiru couldn't realize she was throwing all those words to her own father, the man she admired her whole life. But she was so tired of being attacked all the time, of not having any support from Daiki... She was done with that.
"Who do you think you are to talk to me like that, young lady?" Daiki looked so mad, his face was all red. He looked at his wife, wanting her support, but Natsuki just kept her silence.
"I am the daughter you raised. But you are so angry with me for being who I am that you didn’t even realize that. “She took a deep breath, calming herself. "I am sorry father, but I won't spend my special day with someone who doesn’t support my decisions. Can't you see how happy I am? Or are you so focused on our own life that you can't see anything else?"
"You can't talk to me like that, Michiru!"
"I know I can't and I am sorry for that, father. But you cannot demand me to sacrifice my happiness for you. So if you excuse me, I had a very tiring day and I will take my bath now."
Daiki watched his daughter leaving the room. He couldn't believe everything she had said to him. Never in her young life had Michiru raised her voice to anyone, especially him. Seeing his little girl acting like that made him even angrier and sad. He took a deep breath to collect himself and turned to Natsuki.
"I could use your support, you know?"
"If you were right, I would have supported you. But you're acting like a spoiled child, so no, no candy for you."
The man stood there, not really knowing what to say and think. His wife should be the one who would understand him and yet, she didn't even seem to care.
"Why are you so upset with her? It's been months! Just let it go..." Natsuki said, she was so tired of her house being decided like that. But her husband was always so stubborn. It was a Kaiou treat, she assumed. Because every one of them was ever so obsessive with the smallest tings.
"She is a Kaiou. Isn't just a surname, it’s a tradition," Daiki started to explain, just to be cut by Natsuki.
"So, you're angry at your only daughter because she's acting just like her father. Or did you forget you left your conservatory behind to go to America?" Natsuki took a deep breath and kept going. "You walked out your own family responsibilities as the first born, and now you’re upset Michiru is doing the same? What's the matter? It's because she doesn’t have a younger sister to assume her place like you do? Be angry at us for not having another baby! But stop this madness. This family feud went too far already."
Natsuki was a woman with a very strong personality. She barely remembered her own father, he had passed away when she was really young and being raised by a single mother, made her the strong woman she was today. Normally she didn't have a lot of trouble with Daiki, he was an easy-going kind of guy, but sometimes she wanted to chew his head off. She would always be on her daughter side.
Daiki sat down, feeling the truth of Natsuki's words hitting him hard. She was right. She was always right. He missed spending time with Michiru. His daughter was the most precious thing he had since the day he found out he would become a father. He taught her how to walk, talk, and read music sheets. He shared his passion over the violin with her. Daiki still remembered the days they spent playing, just them.
Natsuki sat beside her husband
"Have you seen her dancing? Or singing? She's great, honey. And not just that. She's happy. And we should be happy for her."
******
The first year at music school ended in a cold March afternoon. It was a busy month, with the graduation, and some mock performances. The seniors barely had time to do anything and the freshmen had a first glance of how insane their lives will be in just a few months.
Graduation was a very touching ceremony, which Haruka, Michiru and their friends had an active role in. As top of their class, it was up to Michiru to give a speech, along with their class representative. She had said a few words about perseverance and motivation, words that she really believed in. After all, without that, she would be on her way home as a failure.
After the ceremony, the freshmen class got their stage genders sorted out and they were warned they would have until the end of spring vacation to choose their stage names. As seniors, their lives would be more public, with photo sessions, and more performance, so they had to embrace their Sienne persona. Haruka wasn’t worried about that, she pretty much had an idea of how she wanted to be known for the rest of her life.
After packing her bags, she met her friends at the train station, so they could ride together until Osaka. Everyone was excited to go home for the first time in months, Haruka included. She didn't regret staying at Michiru's during New Year’s, but she missed her family and friends. She had been so busy, barely had any time to even talk to them.
As usual, the ride to Osaka was a quiet one. At the station, Takako had to run to catch her train back home and Kaoru would wait for her parents to come and get her, so she went to meet them, leaving Haruka and Michiru alone. Since Michiru hadn’t anything planned to do, she decided to walk Haruka to the station where she would catch a train to Nagoya, and from there, finally, another one to Nagano. It was a tiring trip, but she would have plenty of time to get some rest.
"Any plans for spring vacation?" Haruka asked when they were walking to the train depot.
"Nothing really, just planning on helping Mayuko-san at her studio and practice a lot," Michiru explained, she was glad to have these weeks off school, but she also knew she couldn’t stop working.
"Just don’t push yourself too hard, take some time to rest. OK?" Haruka was indeed worried with her friend. Michiru had come a long way from messed freshman to confident top of their class. She wanted to help her stay on top.
"Don’t worry, I will be fine," The aquamarine haired girl said, looking at the clock and realizing they won't have too much time. "And thank you for all your help this year. I know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
Haruka gave her best smile.
"What I always tell you? The Prince always saves the princess."
"But I'm not a damsel in distress anymore." Michiru chuckled, seeing Haruka look at her ticket for some information.
"So maybe I should change that then..." The blonde girl thought about it for a couple of seconds. She remembered when Michiru helped her avoiding a serious injury and everything she had ever done for her. "The prince always saves the princess, but this Prince here will always need the help of his princess."
"As equals?"
"The only way I know how, my princess."
Michiru blushed hard at Haruka’s words; her friend was becoming quite a charmer. They stop there, in silence, until the woman in the sound system warns the passengers the bullet train to Nagoya will be leaving shortly.
"I guess I will see you in a few weeks." Since when saying goodbye became so hard and slightly awkward? Haruka hoped this month away would help her heart forget all this mess and focus on what really matter: excel her senior year.
As she sat in her place, she looked at the window to see Michiru still there on the depot, looking at her. So beautiful in her grey uniform. Haruka room a deep breath, a month away would help her. A lot...