S: "I like you, Natsuki. So, no matter what happens, I'll protect you."
N: "Shizuru. I like you too, Shizuru. I'm lucky to have a friend like you."
S: 'But, your "like" is different from my "like", Natsuki.'
Yes, the first time I met Natsuki was that spring day. Just when the cherry blossoms were falling. We met in that flower garden.
N: "Flowers, huh."
S: "You shouldn't do that. Flowers should be loved. They bloom with all their might for their short lives."
Burning eyes that seemed to tear up the world.
Cheeks, slightly reddened as if with shame for having been seen crushing a flower.
Her long hair dancing in the wind.
N: "Who are you?"
S: "My name is Fujino Shizuru. And you?"
N: "Kuga.. Natsuki."
In that instant, I fell in love.
S: "Natsuki... that's a nice name."
N: "What do you want?"
S: "I can't talk to you without having a reason?"
N: "Yeah.."
She was like a wounded kitten at first, but after I spoke to her several times, she finally opened her heart up to me.
N: "Shizuru, you're a strange one."
S: "Really?"
N: "Yes. You never get tired of hanging out with someone like me."
S: "That's because, I like you."
N: "That's stupid! Why did you say that?!"
S: "Ah, that's so cold of you. Aren't we friends?"
N: "...uh"
I realized right away, she was trying hard to be strong, but underneath she was just a normal little girl.
S: "Natsuki, what are you looking at?"
N: "Sh-Shizuru! Uh, no, nothing."
S: "Oh, what a cute dress! Are you going to get it?"
N: "No, no way! It wouldn't look good on me anyway."
S: "Oh? Well, since we're out shopping, you shouldn't hold back. I'd love to see you in this!"
N: "I said I wouldn't get it! I won't!"
S: *giggle*
N: "Stop laughing!"
S: "Oh yes. There's a nice shop nearby. There's plenty of things that would fit you."
N: "Eh?"
That's right, Natsuki isn't the type who would ever return my twisted feelings. So I tried my best to be a good friend, a good senpai.
That's what I thought.
N: "What's this?"
S: "A lingerie shop that I help out at. Natsuki, you have no idea how to choose underwear properly, do you?"
N: "Um, yeah, but it's not like I really need to know about underwear..."
S: "Oh no, you have nice style (??), so you should wear pretty things . And, since it's under your clothes, you wouldn't be too concerned about it."
N: "But..."
S: "Leave it to me. I'll find you the perfect one for you!"
N: "Shizuru, hey!"
Maybe it was really because I was just afraid of being rejected. But, at that time, I thought that as long as I had Natsuki nearby, I would be happy. I'd try to be happy with that... I had to be. Until that time...
Nagi: "And so, that's the fate of the HiMEs. Shizuru-san, you've been fighting quietly behind the scenes, destroying quite a few Orphans, but you're not going to be able to hide any longer. Because your beloved Natsuki-chan is not going to be able to escape this fate, either."
If I were to lose, Natsuki would vanish. When he told me that, I realized, for the first time...
'Perhaps one day Natsuki would accept my feelings...' I had been hoping for this sort of dream all along, deep in a corner of my heart.
N (flashback): "Shizuru!" "What's up Shizuru?" "Shizuru, hey!" "Hey, Shizuru..." "Shizuru!" "Shizuru!"
S: Natsuki! I want you, Natsuki! I don't care for anything else! And that's why I fight, against everything that tries to take Natsuki from me. So that someday, I can finally, truly make her mine...