Aki ran down the hall as fast as her legs would carry her.

“I’m going to be late, I’m going to be lates!!!!” She cried. She finally skidded to a halt in front of room 208. She walked in and hoped no one would notice her. Sitting down she pulled out her books and a pen.

“Late again Miss Tenou,” said Daughter Kaede. “You will be writing an essay on why you were late along with the rest of your homework.” Aki groaned and nodded.

That evening she sat in the students’ study room staring down at her blank piece of paper. She didn’t dare reveal the real reason she was lat so she needed to make something up. What could she say? Let’s see, I was late because I was standing by the lunch room daydreaming about being home for the summer. That would work. She began to write and made sure that she elaborated on why she wanted to be home for the summer, including going to the beach (in vivid detain) and laying on the grass by the lake near her house.

The door opened to admit none other than Leiko Aneki. She was tall and had dark blonde soft curls falling to the middle of her back. She was the most beautiful girl Aki had ever seen. And she was what Aki had been daydreaming about earlier. Leiko was a year older than Aki and very sophisticated. Being a junior meant that she was to despise all underclassmen. It was the Rule: one was to show a cold shoulder to those younger than oneself.

“What are you staring at?” Leiko asked. Aki blushed.

“You….” The moment Aki said it, she wished she could take it back. All the other girls in the study room looked up. Some of them laughed and Aki wished she could just sink into the floor. Then Leiko did something quite surprising. She came over and sat beside Aki. Aki was not only embarrassed but quite afraid. If one displeased an upperclassmen there was no end to the humiliating things that might happen. But then Leiko smiled.

“Me?” Leiko asked in a suggestive manner. Aki only blushed and looked down. Slowly the other girls went back to whatever they had been doing. Leiko lowered her voice.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed when you’ve stared at me before with those big round eyes of yours.” Aki blushed even harder than ever. “Why don’t you come to my room after study hall and we can talk about it.”

“I….” Aki was at a loss for words.

“You mean, ‘of course, Leiko, I’d love to’.” Leiko got up and went to sit with some of her friends at another table and Aki was left to finish her homework by herself.

Aki stood apprehensively in front of Leiko’s door. Each student at Minako Temple School (1) had their first and last name plated on the front of each door. She was so nervous that she could barely stand herself. She really liked Leiko, but she didn’t want Leiko to think she was immature or stupid. She was still coming to terms with the fact that Leiko was willing to “talk about it” let alone sit next to her for a few moments.

“Aki,” Leiko openned the door, “come in, there’s no reason for you to just be standing out there.” Leiko moved out of the way and Aki stepped inside as Leiko closed the door. Leiko had decorated her room with pictures of her friends and family as well as pictures of natural settings such as the beach or a sunset. She owned many, many books and had brought a bookshelf to house them in.

Leiko gestured for Aki to take a seat on her bed which was covered with the school’s uniform dark blue coverlet. Aki took a seat. Leiko sat next to her and smiled.

“So, you like me,” she began, “I’m quite flattered you know.” Aki blushed.

“Y-yes I do….” Leiko placed a hand on the side of Aki’s face and turned it toward her.

“I’m glad. Because I think I like you too, don’t think I’ve not been staring at you when you’re not looking.” Light danced in Leiko’s large blue eyes. Aki gazed questioningly at the older blonde girl.

“Really?” she asked. She couldn’t quite believe it.

“Yes a lot, when you’re reading, or when you’re daydreaming in class, and I happen to walk by or just sitting outside under the big oak in the courtyard.” Aki blushed, “You’re just so intriguing,” Leiko finished. She brushed the side of Aki’s face with her pale fingers. Aki shivered. Leiko leaned closer until their faces were inches away from each other.

At that moment, the curfew bell rang. Leiko leaned back and sighed.

“I guess we’d better go to bed,” Aki nodded and stood up.

“Good night,” Leiko smiled.

“Good night Aki,” Aki turned around to face Leiko who was still sitting on her bed and smiled.

And with that she left and returned to her own drab and boring room. She changed into the school’s required nightgown uniform and crawled into bed. After a few minutes of lying awake and thinking of how wonderful life was now that Leiko knew she liked her and that Leiko liked her in return, Aki fell into a peaceful, deep sleep.

The next day Aki turned in her essays on why she had been late the day before and went to lunch feeling as light as a feather. She sat down between her best friends, Yuriko and Ayumi, who were talking about their History homework.

“Hi, Aki,” Ayumi said. She had medium blue hair and bright, large blue eyes. Yuriko had light brown hair and dark blue eyes and often had her nose in a book.

“So what was all that about with the junior last night?” Ayumi asked.

“Nothing,” Aki replied. Ayuma and Yuriko both made “I don’t believe you” faces.

“It wasn’t “nothing”,” Yuriko replied. She smiled.

“She um…was going to help me with my homework,” Aki lied.

“Yeah right, Aki,” Ayumi retorted, “Leiko Aneki hates underclassmen and she definitely wouldn’t just help one with her homework.” Yuriko nodded in agreement.

“Will you two just drop it?” Aki asked. She took a bite of her soup.

“OK, fine, but as your best friends we want to know eventually,” Ayumi put in. Yuriko nodded.

Ayumi and Yuriko went back to discussing their History homework while Aki tried not to think about what Leiko had wanted to do last night.

The sophomores were in Recreation. Their teacher Daughter Zabi (a transfer from the land of Zaza) was forcing them to run around a large oval plot of grass. The parameter had been cobbled with small stones in geometric shapes. They wore devided skirts and sleeveless blouses with the Minako Temple School crest on it. Aki was breathing hard as she ran next to Yuriko and Ayumi.

“Faster Tenou, faster!” Daughter Zabi yelled in a rich low voice. Aki picked up her speed though her chest hurt like mad.

“Hey look,” Ayumi commented breathlessly, “it’s the juniors.” Aki looked off to her right and nearly tripped. Leiko was there watching her run with a vague smile on her face.

“Stupid juniors,” Yuriko muttered as they turned to their left. At their current position, they would pass right by the watching juniors any moment.

Leiko gave Aki a thumbs up and a half-smile. Aki smiled back and began to run faster, as new found energy coursed through her veins. Leiko smiled at me! Leiko smiled at me…Aki felt so wonderful.

“And stop!” Daughter Zabi raised her right hand, “Hit the showers girls.” Aki and her friends headed for the showers. After they had cleaned off and were back in their regular uniforms, they went back to their dorms to relax since classes were over for the day.

“Phew, that was way too much exercise for me,” Yuriko said as she lounged on Aki’s bed with a book in her hands. Aki sat on the floor and leaned against the side of her bed. Ayumi sat in Aki’s desk chair with a fashion magazine in her hands.

“You’ve got that right,” commented Ayumi, “but on the other hand, it does keep us slim and beautiful, right Aki?” Aki looked up and nodded.

“Not for me,” Yuriko replied and buried her face in her book.

“See, Aki aggress with me Yuriko,” Ayumi grinned, “exercise is good for you.” Yuriko shook her head.

“Give up Ayumi, you won’t convince her,” Aki said. Ayumi smiled.

“I know, but I love messing around with her anyway.” Yuriko grunted in annoyance. Aki and Ayumi on laughed

“So what are you looking it, Ayumi,” Aki asked. She got to her feet and came over to the blue-haired girl.

“Oh some contraband, La fashion. (2) It’s a magazine dedicated to the sexuality of women. It is so banned!” Ayumi showed her the page she was looking at which featured a pretty young girl in a nothing but a corset-style top and mini-skirt. For a second Aki had an image of Leiko wearing the same outfit the young model was wearing. She blushed and looked away.

“What?” Ayumi asked.

“Nothing.” Aki turned back to the magazine and attempted to banish all thoughts of Leiko. Ayumi flipped a page to show a girl and boy standing together with their arms around each other.

“Ooh, how romantic….” Ayumi sighed.

“What’s romantic?” Yuriko asked in a dangerous voice. Ayumi grinned and showed Yuriko the magazine. Yuriko’s eyes went wide.

“You have a copy of that?!!” she almost yelled, “it’s banned for a reason Ayumi irls are supposed to be pious servants of the Mother who had no interest in romance until marriage. How on earth did you get it?” Yuriko put her own book down and came over to have a look at La Fashión.

“Uh…my sister…she’s um…a citizen of La Clara but our family disowned her for it.” Yuriko just stared. “Come on Yuriko don’t you want to dream a little,” Ayumi grinned.

“I suppose just a little look wouldn’t hurt...” Yuriko sighed and looked down at the magazine.

Aki moved back and took Yuriko’s place on the bed. She wasn’t interested in boys (which was yet another banned subject at Minako Temple School) though La Clara’s media was certainly fascinating. She leaned against the wall next to the window and daydreamed about Leiko while her two friends talked about boys and the customs of La Clara.

Leiko strolled down the main hall of academics building. She had been at voice practice with the Choir. She thought back to watching Aki run during Recreation and smiled. Aki had looked so beautiful when she had been running. And the way Aki had smiled when Leiko gave her a thumbs up had nearly killed her. She hoped to see Aki that night. She arrived in her dorm room and put her school books away. Sitting on her bad, Leiko gazed dreamily out the window. She was indeed glad that Aki had such an interest in her, but on the flip side, Aki was a sophmore and Leiko was a junior. She generally hated sophomores as a rule thinking them immature and worthless but Aki, she was different. There was a childish wonder about Aki which excited Leiko despite her dislike of younger students. She lay back and daydreamed about the black haired girl.

(1) Minako Temple School: A Temple-school dedicated to the Mother Goddess Minako in the northern part of Ansa, also the setting of this story. Teachers are called Daughters and serve as acolytes to the Mother. And yes—because this thing should really be a manga—they wear dark blue sailor fuku uniforms.

(2) La Fashión: A banned magazine from the rather scandalous country of La Clara. They have a female monarchy and their leader is called the La. Most other countries such as Ansa find material from La Clara disturbing and generally ban it.