Mizuki was never a normal kid.
Maybe that's what Guardian Shine liked about her so much, but she didn't like it. The aliens that went to Shine's parties usually pointed it out.
Shine always reassured her she wasn't weird though. Sometimes Mizuki wished that the other aliens would find her no different as well. Being accepted sounded nice–really nice even. Hopefully one day, she'll find that acceptance somewhere.
The first time she ever went to the ANAKT garden was to be tested before she had to regularly attend. She was told to wear that ugly white robe, and instructors wrapped a collar around her neck before escorting her to a huge grey room, with a row of children lined up.
They were all singing an unfamiliar song.
Trying to follow along Mizuki's eyes scan the
line, trying to locate something or someone to rely on. Someone might just come up and give her instructions. Nobody did. Yet her eyes continued to search down the line, until she found someone.
A pretty shorter girl with a brunette bob and a tiny braid that was tied with a ribbon. Her voice, it was so soft and sweet, yet so pretty. It stood out. The girl was just so perfect, she sang every word so effortlessly.
It determined Mizuki, she wanted to sing like that girl too. So she sang. Even she was a bit off queue due to not knowing the words yet, it wouldn't stop her. She wanted to be like the brunette girl, that same brunette girl who was now looking at her.
Their eyes meet for a few moments. Her eyes were such a pretty shade of hazel, with a bit more glow than her own. The girl smile's at her and sticks her tongue out playfully, leaving Mizuki in a trance as she turned away.
Finally the song ended, and everyone's alien guardians came to pick them up. Poor Shine had to listen to Mizuki talk about the girl the entire ride home in the space ship.
That night, she slept the best she had in a long time.
During the first day in the garden, Mizuki made a few good acquaintances. Though she had one person on her mind, she had one person she really wanted to befriend. So she wanders around, trying to find the same girl she made eye contact with the day prior.
Mizuki wanted to learn more about the girl, all she liked, all she disliked. Something about the brunette just drew the pinkette in. Maybe it was the sweet voice or perhaps her extremely pretty face.
She searched for a while, checking all the spots in the garden, until she was out of breath leaning against a tree. Maybe she wouldn't find the girl after all–until she hears a quiet hum from behind the tree.
It was the girl. Silky yet brown flowing lazily in the quiet breeze as she was sketching in her book with a cute little frustrated expression while humming a tune, it almost put Mizuki to sleep. At that moment all she felt was a warmth, it felt so nice. Almost like she was back with Shine at their planet. It made Mizuki feel so safe, so carefree. She wants to feel like this all the time.
Yet she couldn't find the courage to approach the girl and introduce herself. She has seen the girl in some classes, usually the brunette keeps to her self. The only person she's seen the brunette half willingly interact with is a taller ginger haired boy with a singular blond streak.
What if the brunette girl refuses her and doesn't want to be friends like she doesn't with anyone else? Maybe just for now Mizuki will observe from a distance.
The girl's name is Ena. It's such a pretty name, it definitely suits the brunette. Mizuki wished she had a name like that.
Ena and Mizuki both get similar grades too, the only person who surpasses them both is this mysterious blue haired guy. Ena sometimes talked with him, he seemed to irritate her though. Her hazel eyes always squinted, darkening slightly when she interacted with him.
Mizuki wondered why Ena would waste her time talking to someone who annoyed her. If it was Mizuki she would've just ran away, or maybe even have tried to annoy him back.
How come Ena would talk to him, and not her?
It's became routine. Everyday, Mizuki has spent her freetime listening to Ena, who seemed to get more comfortable since now she sings instead of solely humming. Mizuki still hasn't garnered enough courage to try and talk to Ena. Whenever she tries, an unbearable nervousness erupts in her stomach, paralyzing her. Hopefully she will get soon though, Mizuki really wants to talk to the brunette.
However one playtime, for the first time the routine was broken.
The first bit of the day went by as usual, boring herself out with the instructors ranting on and on about music for a few hours.
Sometimes she'd turn to her classmate to talk with them, they're really nice anyway. Though most of the time Mizuki is just sitting there, thinking of any way to decorate that revolting white robe that she's been forced to wear for the past month.
A month. A month since she's been in this garden. A month since she's seen Shine. Mizuki misses her old life, but at the same time, she's grateful to have met some people she supposes. She feels a lot happier than she is at Shine's planet. Mizuki does miss Shine though.
She still wasn't friends with Ena.
Where events in the day took a different turn than usual was the fact Ena wasn't there in her usual spot when Mizuki checked. Everything went cold. Where was that brunette?
Recently Ena had been the most important person to Mizuki. The person she relied on for comfort during a hard day. No matter the occasion Ena's singing always brought light into her day.
Mizuki glances around, praying maybe she was hallucinating and that the pretty girl really was there. But like a slap in the face, the truth hits her hard: Ena wasn't there.
She supposes the only substitute at the moment would be her own singing. It's nowhere near as beautiful as the other girl's, but it's improved. She sung quietly, and she did gather an audience. Just not the audience she wanted at the moment.
Rustling was heard from the bush and Mizuki quickly turned to the noise. Seeing a familiar head full of chocolate brown hair invade her vision. Hazel eyes gazing to Mizuki with a curious yet gentle expression.
"Where'd you learn that song?"
Right now, Mizuki wanted to run as fast as she could. She knew she was really quick anyway. On the other hand she could also confess to what she had been doing. She might seem weird and obsessive to Ena, the aliens at Shine's parties thought she was weird. What more would another person do?
Against her better judgement, Mizuki sighs, deciding to come partly clean, "I overheard you sing a few times, you're a really good singer!" She nods a few times for emphasis effect, praying that the brunette would cave and believe her.
Unfortunately that doesn't seem to happen as Ena continues to stare at her with a glare. The volcano of nervousness erupts in Mizuki's stomach again as she bolts up to her feet, "On second thought I should go!" She exclaims, thinking that perhaps running away will ease the tension.
To Mizuki's great shock (and happiness) Ena sits down grabbing her wrist, pulling Mizuki down with her. "Wait."
The physical touch, even if it was only slight sent a wave of happiness and affection down her spine. She probably looked like a creep at that moment but she didn't care. Ena, was touching her, Mizuki Akiyama.
Mizuki's words were stuck in her throat for a while. When words tried to come out they came out as confused stutters. The brunette's face changed to a mix of amusement and faux-irritation.
"Wha— hey!! Don't look at me like that Enanan!"
Ena was full on laughing by now. Not just laughing, she swore a tear or two escaped Ena's eyes. Mizuki was so happy, she was actually talking to Ena. She feels so much more confident talking to Ena now.
"Anywho nice to meet you, I'm-" Ena cuts her off mid introduction, "you're Mizuki." She says, shooting Mizuki a tiny smile. Although this made Mizuki happy, she immediately was shocked.
"You know my name!! Wow, Enanan's really infatuated with me isn't she, she already knows my name ♪" Mizuki chirped happily.
In response, Mizuki got a pretty funny response from Ena, atleast in Mizuki's rightful opinion it was funny.
"Am I not supposed to know your name?"
Mizuki's heart stops. "No!" She quickly corrects herself, "It's just we've never spoken prior to this y'know. So I just expected you didn't know my name, though I guess it's just normal to know your classmates' names!"
"I didn't bother learn most of those idiots' names." Ena replied rather bluntly with a huff. "I learnt yours though. You seem different."
"Huh really-?" Mizuki was confused, nobody called Mizuki different, at least not in good way. Though the way Ena said it was so warm and gentle. Ena simply nodded.
The bell rang, unfortunately dismissing all the kids back to class. Mizuki waves Ena a goodbye. Looking forward to the play time in the near future. Because at that moment Ena had become everything to her. She felt so safe. She knew that Ena was always gonna be there for her, like an angel sent straight from heaven, just for her.
Ena was her God and her universe.
____________________
When Ena first spoke with Mizuki, there were 2 things she immediately noticed.
The pink haired girl's eyes were so dull. Yet despite the despair the girl seemed to be in, Mizuki's hope seemed to be untainted. In other words: Mizuki was so innocent.
Ena knew she wasn't the best at reading people, the only 2 people she spoke with here was her brother, Akito who probably hated her, and Toya, who she found unremarkably annoying. And yet she still picked up on that fact about Mizuki.
Surprisingly, she didn't hate it. Mizuki wasn't like her. She wasn't like anyone else, she was so pure.
Ena knew something: she wanted to help and protect the slightly tall pinkette. She wanted to make Mizuki's eyes have some light. She had a better future than most of them anyway. Mizuki wasn't scarred by the truth.
From then on, Mizuki was Ena's everything.