Shizune/Misha - Make Under

Valentines day is today.  It's a holiday I don't usually care much about, but Misha's bubbliness got to me this year.

She insisted we plan a whole festival around Valentines day.  I told her it was too much for the Council to handle.  We ended up meeting halfway and spent a free afternoon cutting up ribbons and hearts in various shades of red and decorating the school halls with them.

The reaction from students this morning is easy to see.  A lot of attention is being paid towards these sudden paper decorations hung everywhere.

Misha pokes me in the shoulder to get my attention.  [See?  I told you people would love it!  It's gonna be a great day~.]

[If they like it, I'm satisfied.  But I still don't care about today.]

[Aww, Shii-chan, why's that?]

[I'm just not a fan.]

[Really?  How can someone not like Valentines Day?]  Misha plucks a heart from the wall and holds it close to her chest as she twirls a little on one foot.  [It's the best holiday!  It's even better than Christmas or Tanabata~!  On Valentines day, you only got one person to worry about, no matter what~!]

I cross my arms momentarily and give her a pout.  [And what about those of us who are single?]

[Same deal~, but you only have to care about yourself!  Single Awareness Day!]  She lets out a laugh hearty enough that I can feel her breath hit my face.

If she says so.  Maybe I'll get myself an enormous chocolate eclair later.  On her conscience, as well as her bill.

With the occasion of the day thoroughly drilled into my head, I find myself paying more attention to its presence around the classroom.  Even just minutes before class is about to start, students are gathered up in small groups, talking about who they sent things to and who they hope to get something from.  Even those that are seated are busy making decorative boxes to attach to the side of their desk, or are looking over any early gifts they got.

After my moment of distraction, I notice Misha's already sitting at her desk, so I move to join her.

[There sure is a lot of ruckus, Misha.  Sometimes I'm glad I can't hear.]

[Oh, don't be a sourpuss~!  Everyone's having tons of fun!  I think you'll cheer up once you get a valentine~.]

[But I don't get valentines.  Ever.  And I don't want to.]

Misha frowns, looking particularly downtrodden.  [Well, okay.  But I don't understand why you feel that way~.]

Feeling like this branch of conversation has run its course, I continue to observe the others in the classroom.  It's all more of the same, until my eyes pass by Ikezawa's desk.  Surprisingly, she's not late for class, but what she's doing is even more of a shock.  There's a pile of pink and blue cards on her desk.  She's looking through each one slowly and deliberately, while wearing a worried and anxious expression.

I pinch Misha lightly on the shoulder to get her attention.  [Look over there, Misha!  The Ikezawa girl's got a ton of valentines!  How is that even possible?]

[Oh, that~.  I hear a lot of people talk about her~.  I think she's been getting more popular since she's been hanging out with Lilly and doing more Class Rep stuff with her.  Looks like she got quite a few admirers, too~.  But, why do you care, Shii-chan?]

[I DON'T.]  My arm movements are so swift and forceful that I almost bang my hand on the top of my desk.

[Naah, I think you're a little jealous, Shii-chan.  But you don't have to be~!  They're just silly cards, they don't mean anything.]  Misha shuffles through her bag and produces a pile of notes even more massive than Hanako's.  [See~?  I get a ton of these each year.  I like to get them, and I'll thank the sender's if I see them.  But really, I just dig out any of the chocolates I can find and throw it all away the first chance I get~!]

Misha puts her hands on her hips, laughing at her situation.  I don't find her self-indulgence very funny though.

[Shii-chan, you don't look so good.  I'm sure you got admirers~!  They're just too nervous about what you would think.  That's gotta be it!]

Is she right?  I know I'm tough, but am I really that intimidating to people?  I kind of hope my lack of cards is due to that; it's better than nobody liking me at all.  Still, I don't feel satisfied with that.

[Look, Shii-chan, if you really want to get attention, you gotta dress yourself up a little more~.  Make yourself pretty.]

[Pretty?  What are you saying?  I'm plenty pretty.]

[Anyone could use an improvement though, Shii-chan.  Tell you what.  Let's rush to my room during lunch and we'll see what we can come up with~.]

How pathetic.  Getting a spot makeover just for some gifts.  But if it can work, I'm willing to try.  [All right.  I'll give it a shot.]

We meet up as planned.  Misha ravages through her drawers like a hungry beast, looking for the proper tools.  She pulls out an odd assortment of makeup and beautification devices.

[Okay, Shii-chan, now just sit on my bed and hold still.]

[Got it.]

Despite Misha's normal haphazard, off-balance behavior, she tends to my hair and face with surprising speed and dexterity.  Never missing a beat, never smudging the make-up, never yanking my hair too hard.

I must admit, I've never been more impressed with her.  I suppose this is a testament to her own well-kept daily hairstyle.

Before I know it, Misha gets up and lets me know she's done.  I approach her mirror to observe my new look.

My hair is perfectly straightened, any previous flaw or split-end is gone.  I don't like make-up in any amount, but it looks like she proportioned it all just right.  I look like a professional businesswoman.

I turn back to her and give her a smile.  [This is good work.  Thank you, Misha.]

She passes off my compliment with a wave of her hand and a sigh.  [Anytime, Shii-chan~.]

I'm tempted to take her up on that.  But I know she's busy enough in the morning as it is.  I couldn't really give her the burden of dressing me up every day.

I nod to her and approach the door.  [We're making good time, but we should get back to class now.]

Back at class, the fuss has died down.  Everything is more or less normal again.  I definitely notice a difference in people's reactions to me, though.  Lots more stares and greetings.  I give the first one an angry look and Misha clamps her hand on my side firmly.

[Don't be so worked up, Shii-chan.  It's just a greeting~.  People are talking about you.  I think they really like it!]

[We'll see.]

[You know it doesn't matter if you get a card, right?  I'd still call this a win today~.]

[Right.]

The day continues to pass by.  Once the final hour of class approaches, I find myself more anxious than ever.

[Still nothing, Misha.  This didn't work at all.  What a waste of time.]

Misha gives me a very annoyed look; it's the sort of face I've seen her make many times, but never directed at me.  [That's enough, Shii-chan!  We did what we could!  Sometimes you just have to give up and let it be?  You want my cards?  I'll give them all to you if that would make you happy!]

Wow.  I've really gotten her going overboard, and it's easy to see why.  She's been a loyal wingman for me all day, gunning with unstoppable determination.  I'm sure the last thing she wants to read from me is complaining.

[Look, I'm sorry Misha.  I didn't mean it like that.]

Misha's anger fades away suddenly, replaced by a sly smile.  [You really wanna get their attention?  Flash your panties.]

[That's absurd, Misha.  I'm not doing that.]

[Then I guess it really isn't that big of a deal, huh~?]

Her logic makes no sense to me, but I nod anyway.

[I think we should talk to Hanako.  She's been in a terrible mood all day~.  I even saw her crying!]

[What?  How can that be?  She should feel like a princess with all the gifts she's gotten.]

[Well, why don't we go talk to her?  It might give us some per... perspective~!]

I agree.  When class ends, we both quickly approach Hanako before she has a chance to bail.  She shakes and looks away as we approach, trying to pretend we're not there.

Misha is saying a few words to her, but isn't getting much response.  She stops talking and turns to me.  [Shii-chan, she's a wreck!  She's telling us to go away.  I think if you want to ask her something, now is the time.]

I sigh and form the words I want to ask. [Ikezawa, we're just concerned about your mood.  What's gotten you feeling like this?  You should be happy today.]

Hanako wipes some tears from her face, produces the familiar cards from before, and begins speaking.  Misha is quick to translate.  [It's these cards~  I don't know who sent them but it's very mean.  Sixteen badly-glued cards all addressed in scribbly handwriting to the 'Mysterious Toilet Girl' with no messages.]

I want to laugh.  I barely hold it back, instead giving Misha a dumbfounded expression.  Is that what I was worried about?  A pile of joke cards sent to make this poor girl feel worse?  And I thought my Valentines Day was horrid.

I indicate to Misha that I want to tell Hanako one more thing.  [All right, sorry about this, Hanako.  We'll leave you to your business now.]

I don't say another word to Misha, even as she leaves the room.  I'm stuck at my desk, thinking over what just happened.

Misha was right.  For better or worse, it wasn't a big deal, and I was stupid to occupy all of my energy today in order to rectify a problem that wasn't present in the first place.

As I get up from my desk, something light brushes up against my foot.  I reach down and pick it up.

It's a card.  Very plain, but pink, and written with pink marker.  It's hard to read, but clear enough.

'Hi Shizune!  Happy Valentines Day!  Never forget that you've always got admirers, I know it!
- Your secret admirer'

It's Misha's handwriting.  She didn't even try to hide it.

What a sweet girl.  Maybe I'll dedicate that eclair to her later.