Chapter Text
It was late at night. The breeze is making her feel all the more anxious.
Claudine started to walk in circles in her own room. Futaba, her best friend watches her entertained, the blonde had this serious look in her eyes and the slight blush on her cheeks were too obvious for her to know what was bothering the half French.
"Are you going to tell her?" Futaba asks, playing innocent. "She will understand Kuro-ko."
Claudine huffs and crosses her arms. She stops her passing and gives Futaba her back, she is looking right into her trophies. She knows she won one of the Tendou's precious one.
"I think I can handle it." She says.
Futaba sighs. "Listen, I'm not telling you to actually tell her who, but try talking to her about it. My parents know about Kaoruko and I, and they support us."
"Futaba, the problem here is that Kaoruko feels the same about you. But I... I don't know." She simple states.
Futaba rubs her temples. Is pretty obvious for her and the other girls who that person cherish the most, it was ridiculous for Claudine to be this anxious.
"Kuro-ko. Talk with her." She jumps out of the bed. "Tell her the truth."
"What if I upset her?"
"That won't happen." Futaba smiles reassuring her that everything is going to be okay. "I gotta go, my Kaoruko radar is tingling."
Claudine sighs, her brow furrowed. This was difficult, not because she is afraid of her own mother, but because she is going to admit that.
And knowing her mother she will push her until Claudine gets desperate enough to act on her own behalf. The truth was, that she is already losing her mind, by every passing minute of the day, her heart seems to race whenever she sees her or just by the mention of her name. And this didn't happen with anyone else in her life, so she is officially scared.
She is supposed to overcome that girl. She is supposed to surpass her in every chance she has. But the warmth that invades her during her lonely nights in her queen size bed makes her think about caressing that soft skin, about helping her reach out to her dreams.
She takes out her phone and dials a phone number from France.
It starts ringing and by the second minute, the call is answered.
"Oh La la, my dear child. Such a wonderful surprise, is everything okay in Japan? I'm so happy you called! "
Claudine swallows the knot in her stomach. "Mamman, I am fine, it's just... I need your advice."
There's a shift on the other line, and Claudine can literally see how her mother shuts her father up by putting one of her hands on his mouth.
"Give me a minute sweetie, your father says hi to you."
After some seconds she hears how a door is locked and her father groaning from the other side.
"Did you just kick him out Mamman?"
"Oui, I feel this is a girl conversation. Or do you want your father to know too?"
"No! It's... I just need to talk to you about... Something."
"I am all ears for you my baby."
Claudine inhales deeply, and exhales slowly. There's no backing away from this.
"Mamman, I'm confused." Claudine begins. "I think I... Do you remember when some random boy asked me for a kiss in France?"
"Oh yeah, it was pretty funny to see your face after the kiss. You didn't like it, and the poor boy started to cry." Her mother says while laughing. "I remember when a friend of yours took your hand while crying, you said 'I'm going to protect you from the boys' after that she kissed you, and you couldn't stop smiling."
Claudine feels her face start to redden. "Mamman!"
"Quoi? I'm just remembering those good times when you were little and full of joy. There's no something bad about it."
She breathes heavily. "Mamman I think I... like.. "
"Girls, of course. That's not something new."
The blonde breathing hitches, her heart stops. "I mean... In a romantic way..."
"Oh." Then silence. "Since when did you noticed?"
"Mamman are you saying you already knew that I liked girls?"
"No sweetheart, I have always known. I'm your mother after all."
"Are you mad at me?" Claudine murmurs, the sudden urge to cry was filling her up.
"Of course not baby, you are the most beautiful girl and important person to me. I will never be mad at you because of that." The woman smiles from the other side of the line, wanting to hug her daughter. "Your father and I will always love you. It doesn't matter to us if it's a girl or a boy who you bring home. The important thing is that she or he must take care of your heart."
Claudine sighes, a wave of relief washing over her. She sits on her bed, a soft knock on her door makes her rub one of her hands in her eyes to brush away the tears.
"Listen, I just want to know who is the fortunate one who made you realized it."
"Mamman! Really?!" Yelps Claudine, today she lost her dignity.
"Tell me, is the tall blonde who likes bananas, the one who behaves like a mama? Or maybe that sweet girl with pink air? Do you like tomboys?"
Claudine imagines herself in love with Nana, and no. That's an absolute no, sure her friend was kind and lovable but she was not what she wanted, or rather needed to become better. Futaba is just her best friend, she in fact is very much handsome. Giving the girls this charm of a lovely prince, and if she thinks about it, Kaoruko has good tastes.
But she didn't want Futaba.
Another knock on her bedroom door catches her attention again. She sighes, a little bit annoyed at her mother and at the person who is knocking at the door.
"Maybe you like mysterious and silent people... That transfer student from England?"
Claudine snorts, the possibility of her and Hikari being a couple is non existing.
"OH! I remember now. The brunette girl you would not shut up about! What's her name? I can't remember..."
The laughing dies in her throat, not possible. Her mother guessed who she was in love with. Claudine groans mad at herself, was she too obvious? She didn't talk that much about Maya in the first place.
Another knock on her door, but louder startles her. Claudine rises to open the door angrily.
And there in front of her is Tendou Maya in her nightgown, with her cheeks bright red and sweating as if she were on a desert.
"Tendou Maya?!"
"Yes! That's the name!" Her mother shouts excited. "Mon cherie, she is such a beauty!"
"Saijou... san." She whispers, her lungs were barely receiving air. "Are... You.. Okay?"
Claudine adjust her phone between her shoulder and face, then without thinking takes one of Maya's hand and brings her closer.
"Your hands are cold, and your face red. Are you sick?" Claudine mumbles, Maya nods looking at her concerned.
"Hanayagi-san... Told me you were in trouble.." Then without anticipation, she leans on, resting her forehead against the blonde's. "You don't have a fever, thank goodness."
Claudine feels the brunette's hot breath tickling her lips. If only she could be brave enough to close those centimeters.
Maya takes a step back, and stumbles. The blonde's grip makes her step forward again and fall on her. Claudine hugs her with the excuse of letting her regain her balance.
"You need to rest." Claudine whispers, her mother started to compliment Maya in French and there's no way Claudine is paying attention to her while the brunette is collapsing in her arms with fever.
"Mamman." She mumbles, her voice cracks up and her mother stops her talking. "I found love where it wasn't supposed to be..." The damn tears start to fall on her cheeks. "Right in front of me..."
She didn't care if Maya heard her conversation with her mother. The pain in her chest was unbearable for her, all those days practicing in that dance room, alone together. Touching her without having the right to held her hand outside of that room, watching those determined lilic eyes looking back at her with mirth. Wanting to erase the line of partnership and rivalry between them.
"Talk some sense to me Mamman..." Claudine whispers on the phone, holding her almost unconscious dance partner in her arms.
"My dear child." Her mother says softly. "You need to be honest, with yourself first."
"Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction." Claudine hiccups, wanting to stop her crying but her mother reciting Antonie de Saint Exuperi doesn't help her at all.
Maya returns the hug and squeezes her. "I don't know what's wrong, but I'm here Saijou-san."
Claudine hides her face in between Maya's neck and shoulder. Her cellphone falls on the floor.
"You are insufferable Tendou Maya.." She mumbles between sobs. "I was worried, why weren't you at school today?"
Maya smiles weakly and starts caressing those silver blonde curls with her slender fingers. "I didn't wake up on time, Daiba-san came to my room and she informed the teacher about my health."
Claudine stays silent.
"Say Saijou-san... Did I ever upset you?" Maya asks tearing apart from Claudine just a little, the need she was feeling to know about the blonde is eating her alive.
She spent her day laying in bed, with a thermometer in her mouth and a wet towel on her forehead. The pills Mahiru gave her helped her get some good sleep. But then Kaoruko Hanayagi entered her sanctuary and started telling how Claudine got her ankle hurt because of the partner she had during classes. And that, was Maya's fault, for not being there. When she was knocking at the door, the half French sounded so sad... It broke her heart.
"Yes." Claudine sobs looking at Maya's eyes. "You. Are. An. Idiot."
At that response Maya chuckles. "Alright, Ma Claudine. I'm sorry."
"You should have told me." The blonde says, it felt so right to be in Maya's arms. "I am here for you too."
Claudine could sense it, that look on her eyes speaks volumes for the brunette, even with a cold Maya was easily readable for Claudine. It repeated every time they were on the verge of confessing to one another. Maya would have this puppy eyes but not a word would come out of her mouth.
And that, made Claudine think the brunette actually didn't feel the same for her.
"I know, thank you Saijou-san." Maya smiles, the red on her cheeks worsen.
"Here, you are going to sleep in my bed tonight." Claudine mumbles with her brows furrowed and her ears with an adorable shade of red. She takes Maya to her bed, and Claudine insists she can sleep on the floor.
At the end Claudine gave Maya some pills and the brunette fell asleep.
The blonde didn't sleep at all. She was thinking, her mind was messy and her heart didn't seem to calmed down. The blonde took her phone from her night stand, and there was a message from her mother.
"I love you very deeply. I'm proud of you, if you think Maya is the correct one, then give her a chance. Don't be so hard on yourself and her, love's the best thing in life! Fight for it if you must pigeon."
Claudine felt relieved. She was lucky to have the best parents in the whole world.
Until she read the next message.
"Send a photo of her when you can, your father wants to see her."
Ah. Her parents, forever curious about Claudine's choices and likes.
Claudine stands and looks right at her side. Maya was deep asleep, she extends her arm to touch her forehead, but the fever didn't go down and she was trembling under the covers.
She comes closer to her, wrapping her arms around the trembling girl. Maya unconsciously snuggles closer to her, searching for warmth. The half French stops breathing the moment Maya hides her face in her shoulder.
Her lips were tickling her neck, all of her skin felt a rush of electricity and Claudine sighed without wanting it.
"Merde." She groans, covering her mouth with one hand.
Well, if she was being honest with herself, the happiness she was feeling it's worth whatever punishment the world has for her. Maya's heartbeat was clear for the blonde, and the sound of her slow breathing made her tummy twist in excitement. Who would have thought that just a few hours ago she was suffering because of her feelings? and now she is bubbling with happiness.
Her rosy gaze rests on the brunette face, and the urge to take a photo of her it's getting stronger. Maya looks so beautiful with her red cheeks, messy hair and white skin. Claudine tries to touch slightly those long eyelashes, and she does. It feels like some smooth feathers, she reaches for some brown locks to take them away from that angelical face.
"I guess it's comprehensive why you act so full of yourself." Claudine murmurs. "You are so unfair Maya..."
She hears footsteps from outside and feels the panic invade her.
"Kuro-chan."
Claudine sighs in relief. It's just Banana.
"I'm looking for Maya-chan, she needs to take her medicine. Also I made some soup for her, have you seen her leave her room?"
Claudine debates whether she comes into her room, to find the two like that. Or to leave Maya in her bed and go to the living room and sleep on the couch.
She decides it's better to keep this as her little secret. But before she moves to open the door, she quickly touches the screen of her phone and a photo is taken.
Then she leaves carefully the bed, and turns to the door. Opening it.
"Good night Kuro-chan."
Claudine nods. "She is sleeping in my bed. She came because that damn Kaoruko told her I sprained my ankle during class." The way she said it, made Nana suspect if Claudine was mad at Kaoruko for telling Maya she fell, or because Maya went to her room worried while sick.
Banana smiles knowingly. "Maya-chan really cares about you. Does it still hurt?"
The silver blonde laughs nervous. "Not at all, I'm much stronger than to be bothered by a little fall, well now if you want, come inside. I'm going to sleep on the living room."
Nana takes her by the arm. "Sensei will find out and we will be in trouble. Why don't you go sleep in Maya-chan room? It would be better than a hard couch."
Claudine feels a chill running down her spine. Sleeping in Maya's room? First the brunette run to her bedroom, then she stays in bed with Claudine. And now she is allowed to sleep in Maya's bedroom. What was happening here?
"Kuro-chan." Nana says still smiling. "Maya-chan won't get mad."
Claudine laughs sarcastic. "Ah! As if I cared about it! But you are right, it would be better for me if I have my beauty sleep in a soft place."
Nana chuckles. "Right. I'm going to come see Maya-chan in the early morning and wake her up. So you can return to your room."
Claudine nods again. "If you will excuse me, Banana I'm going to sleep now."
Claudine heads towards the room, enters with her head up and with sweaty hands. She looks around. "The perfect Tendou Maya it's always perfect uh."
The bed was perfectly made, as if the brunette hadn't been resting all day. She comes closer to her desk, and see a photo of their last Starlight as the lead roles. By it's side rest a little chest, Claudine swallows, this wasn't good but curiosity was characteristic in her family. She opened it, and a bunch of letters were there.
Maya didn't open any of them.
She tried to read who wrote it. But there were just two perfect letter marks and a beautiful purple seal on the envelope.
R. T.
She left them alone. And her gaze rested on the paper in front of her. Claudine is surprised not by the perfect handwriting, but by the fact that Maya was using ink and a feather to write it.
Dear mother:
I'm sorry.
Claudine felt something weird creeping up her back, she searches for her signature on the paper. And when she finally finds it, it leaves her with a sour taste on her mouth.
Tendou Maya.