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It’s a bright, bright morning. Sonia Nevermind, princess turned high school student, is always happy to greet the day - but this extra bit of brightness makes everything a little better. It’s a good omen, she thinks. A good omen, because she had something to do today, something to look forward to, and something that, loathe as she was to admit it, was making her nervous – adding a small flutter to her heart and a few butterflies to her stomach. I’m the ultimate princess! I’m never nervous! The phrases flitting around in Sonia’s mind weren’t there so much to re-assure as to affirm. Things I already know… And yet, I cannot stop this trembling in my heart…
Feet clothed in slippers gently plodding their way towards the bathroom, where from she emerged half an hour later, smelling faintly of roses and dressed in her usual outfit. Well, her usual outfit with a few slight deviations – the absence of diamond pins in her blond locks, her usual dark green long socks embroidered with a pattern of bones, her red mary jane shoes exchanged for boots in similar shade. And, last but not least, her usual simple white gold bracelet replaced with a single ‘kandi’ charm bracelet, made by Ibuki Mioda.
Sonia felt her heart skip a little at the mere thought of the wonderful person who had gifted her with the bracelet; Sonia’s classmate and… close friend. Are we really close friends? Ibuki is so cheerful with just everyone… Does she really think as much of me as I think of her? Sonia paused for a moment before clapping her hands together once. No point worrying about that, Sonia! Make haste, you shan’t be late for school!
A brief commute later and Sonia had arrived at school, her heart and her hands more jittery than ever. You have an entire day of classes to get through! Focus Sonia, an-
Whatever thought Sonia was going to complete in her mind was immediately cut off by a voice she cared for so much calling out: ‘Yahoo! It’s Sonia!’
She inclined her head, pulse racing, and there, sure as day was…
‘Ibuki!’ There she was, standing amidst Mikan, Hiyoko and Akane. My dear friends… Sonia thought, her heart swelling, this time with excitement. She thought of Mikan, whom she cared for and had helped through many a though time, They’re an angel… And thought of Hiyoko, whom despite a cold and tough exterior, was truly as kind as the gentle summer breeze. And Akane! Strong with a heart of gold, always happy to support any and every one… but needing of love too – a gentle hand on her shoulder, a reminder that vulnerability was okay.
‘Sonia! It’s soooo good to see you!!! You’re wearing the bracelet Ibuki made for you! Yay!’ said Ibuki excitedly, seeming incapable of standing still, body moving as fast as her mind.
‘Of course I am! And you look truly splendid!’ Sonia replied, so desperate so respond that the she failed to realise how the words might come across until after they left her mouth. Oh no! Did I show my hand? she thought with slight panic. But for someone as affectionate as Ibuki, the words slid off her like butter on a hot pan.
‘Thank you! Ibuki made her hair pins themselves…. I’m very proud!’ Ibuki chattered onwards, seeming unaware of the panicked blush that was only just beginning to fade from Sonia’s face. Hiyoko, however, less oblivious, raised an eyebrow in Sonia’s direction, accompanying it with a cheeky smile that communicated more than words. Mikan and Akane only looked happy to be amongst friends, and were smiling to each other, immersed in small conversation.
‘Oh Sonia! Ibuki has to tell you allll about this cartoon they started watching! It’s about this bunch of magical ponies….’
Sonia nodded with enthusiasm, but found it hard to swallow a lump in her throat. Did Ibuki always take her hand like this? And lean her head on her shoulder? Everything seemed much too intense.
The school day passed by, and Sonia spent it being pushed around by the force of the crowd; not guiding herself anywhere, too lost in thought for anything other than aimless striding. Finally, everyone was coming together for the last class of the day, which happened to be the only class that she shared with Ibuki today. She’d been waiting so long for this, it seemed. The last class, after which she would walk out to Ibuki and ask if she’d like to speak for a little while, and then she would…
‘Woohoo, anybody home?’ A hand in front of her face… Sonia forced her eyes to focus. Ibuki’s hand in front her face. Definitely Ibuki’s, thought Sonia, examining the hand’s bright pink and black nail polish, the fingerless gloves adorning it, and the shopping list scrawled on its palm in messy script. Wait, you forgot to respond.
‘Ibuki! What is it?’
‘Sunny Sonia, are you feeling well? You’ve been all out of sorts today!’ Ibuki’s brow creased with concern. ‘If you aren’t feeling well, you should see the nurse! That’s Ibuki’s declaration!’ A brief pause. ‘Or Mikan!’
‘I’m quite fine, Ibuki.’ Take the opportunity. Take it. ‘In fact…’ Ibuki’s head titled in a curious manner. ‘I was wondering if you’d like to spend a little time together after school?’ Oh gosh. I’ve said it now.
‘Sonia! Of course! Ibuki loves spending time with you!’ replied Ibuki with happiness and her usual excitement.
‘Oh! Well…’ Don’t you know what your words do to me? My heart is beating so fast... can you hear it?
‘In fact, Ibuki knows what Sonia and she should do!’
‘Huh?’ A slight look of surprise crossed Sonia’s face, and for the first time she noticed a slight flush on Ibuki’s own cheeks… and was she wringing her hands together? Sonia had never seen Ibuki like this before, nervous and blushing and… something close to apprehensive?
‘Well, you see…’ A slight pause. ‘Ibuki recently discovered this really beautiful area near the school? With a tree, and so many flowers, and….’ The usually energetic girl’s voice dipped a little lower, close to a murmur. ‘Ibuki was wondering if Sonia would be interested in spending time there. Together.’
When Sonia had run over the way today, the day of her confession was could go (which she had done many a time, a head filled with thoughts and possibilities and unable to sleep and and and), a possibility she had not considered was the one before her right now - an equally anxious Ibuki, wanting to spend more time with her – and potentially in the same capacity too.
Hands held and a brief walk – then two girls under the blossom tree in full bloom, little petals adorning everything, eyelashes, jackets, shoes… hair. Sonia can note the last one because of the way her own breath hitches when Ibuki reaches to pluck a petal from her hair, discarding it with a gentle smile, before opening her mouth to speak.
‘It’s lovely isn’t it? Ibuki feels like she could write a song about its beauty.’ The girl looks away, ducking away from her brief shared gaze with Sonia. ‘There are other things I could write songs about too, you know?’
Ibuki opens up her school satchel and pulls out a small box, black and decorated with lace like patterns. There’s a slight tremble to her chest and a near imperceptible heat to her cheeks. Her hands scrabble to open the box, and reveal… two skull hairclips, on a red cushion bed.
‘So... these are for you…’ Ibuki makes eye contact with Sonia for the first time since their arrival in the glen and it’s jarring. Ibuki’s eyes look clear and determined as she says her next words: ‘I like you, Sonia.’
A brief moment of silence ensues. Oh… thinks Sonia, caught so unaware by this possibility. Her silence seems to be misinterpreted as confusion, as Ibuki bursts out much too loudly with ‘As more than friends!’ and then more quietly, ‘So you know…’
Laughter breaks through the gentle silence of the little vale, and Sonia’s surprised to find it’s her own. So much time spent worrying over reciprocated feelings and failed confessions that she’d failed to consider the single best possibility – that Ibuki felt the same way.
Sonia grasps both Ibuki’s hands, covering the box and its contents. ‘I like you too.’