Upon Our Fated Stage (ch5)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY $30+ PATRONS!

I regret to say this will be the final main chapter of this story. If I could write them forever, I would, but after this I am going to let it lead into the show/canon series.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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												Chapter 5. A Fated Partnership

The night of the recital two days ago had been Claudine's worst bout of sickness Maya had witnessed - even worse than that first night before Romeo and Juliet. Claudine had been so ill she'd actually been unable to perform, and had canceled last-minute for the first time in her career. She hadn't told anyone else why before rushing out of the auditorium.

Maya had wanted nothing more than to follow her, but she'd refrained, because if she'd gone with her it would have surely attracted plenty of unwanted attention and started up some rumors.

So Maya had performed, stolen the show, and acted like she knew nothing about Claudine's absence.

She hadn't found Claudine practicing the following day, in spite of it being a Saturday, nor did she find her on Sunday.

Maya frets for two whole days, unsure of if paying Claudine a visit would be considered overstepping her boundaries and only cause her more distress. The last thing she wants to do is make Claudine feel even weaker by having someone be concerned about her.

In retrospect, Maya would wish she'd gone to check on her sooner.

It takes her until Monday, when Claudine misses classes for the first time ever, for Maya to muster up the courage to go to her.

Once the final bell rings, she grabs one of Claudine's textbooks from her desk so she can deliver her homework.

That's when a small yellow paper flutters out from between the pages.

Maya pauses to pick it up, assuming it's a page marker or note Claudine had written while reading. But what she sees written on the paper makes her bloodstream run cold, and then burst into red-hot fire:

Just die, you ugly bitch!

Maya can hardly comprehend what she's seeing. The sheer and utter fury that resonates within her is so powerful it must be strong enough to leak into her aura. She storms toward the classroom door without a word, and everyone makes way for her immediately.

She should have known. Claudine had been doing so well recently with battling her stage fright. She'd gotten so much better, so much more comfortable, so much more confident. She'd been smiling a lot more lately, and had seemed to be genuinely enjoying every moment she spent at Seisho Academy. Especially when she was with Maya.

Even when they'd snap at and tease one another, or even when Claudine would get flustered and puff out her cheeks into an adorable pout, they always ended things with words of gratitude and encouragement.

Maya knows quite literally better than anyone that Claudine Saijou is not the type of person to skip classes and practices. Not unless it was something serious.

And judging by that note Maya had found, this is the most serious issue she's encountered in years.

This line of work only breeds two kinds of people; those who try to best their competition, and those who try to destroy it. It's hardly a surprise people would be coming after Claudine with such vehemence. Her talent and beauty are stunning enough to make the lowest of the low seethe with the ugliest kind of jealousy.

They'd stopped coming after Maya by now - though she'd suffered her fair share of horrible notes and tacks in her shoe locker in previous years. They'd eventually learned they could never take down the number one student.

But no one was more vulnerable for easy pickings than the person in second place. High up enough to compete for first, but always just short of obtaining it.

She should've known. She should've known-

Maya stalks back to the dorm rooms in only a minute flat. Her chest is still on fire from the rage, and she has to stifle the urge to shred the textbook in her hands.

She doesn't go to Claudine's door until there's no one else in the hallway, because she can't be sure of who might be watching.

When she's certain she's alone, she knocks almost too loudly. Her hands are shaking.

"Saijou-san? It's me. May I come in...?"

There's no response.

Maya's heart is lodged in her throat. She curls her nails into the textbook and crushes the harmful note in her palm. She knocks again.

"Saijou-san? Are you there...?"

This time she hears something shuffling faintly. The voice that responds now is soft and reserved.

"Tendo... Maya...?"

Hearing her voice replaces just about all of Maya's boiling anger with cooling relief. She nearly collapses from it, slumping her weight against the door.

"Thank goodness..." Her heart settles back into its proper place in her chest. "Saijou-san, please let me come in."

Another moment of silence. It makes Maya nervous enough to speak again.

"Saijou-san...?"

Finally, she hears a sigh.

"I'd really rather you didn't."

Maya grips the book and lets her nails tear into the note.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist."

There's another sigh, and a bit more shuffling. Then, the doorknob clicks. Maya steps back stiffly as Claudine peers out through the crack.

"Why do I get the feeling that if I don't let you in, you're going to sit out there all night?"

Maya smiles uneasily.

"Your intuition is impeccable. That's exactly what I was intending to do."

"You're truly unbelievable. Come inside."

Maya breathes a sigh of relief as she enters.

Only after she's inside does she fully realize this is the first time she's entered Claudine's room. It's about the same as Maya's own, with the exception of the canopy over the bed. The lights are on, and books are open at Claudine's desk as though she'd been sitting there studying.

Claudine herself is dressed in a long skirt and a blouse, as though she'd found the will to change out of her nightgown, but not the will to put on her uniform and make it to class.

Maya temporarily lets the anger of finding the note fade to the back of her mind as she relishes the humble joy of being inside her partner's bedroom. Her eyes are drawn to Claudine as the girl makes her way back to her desk and begins arranging the books and papers there. Maya slowly follows.

"Were you studying?"

Claudine nods without looking up.

"Yes. I could assume how much I missed today, so I just caught myself up." Her gaze goes to the book in Maya's hand. "Is that for me?"

Maya slowly lifts her hand and offers the book to her.

"Yes."

"Thank you."

Claudine accepts the textbook, but doesn't notice the crumpled yellow paper in Maya's palm. Maya feels it crinkle and closes her fingers around it. She exhales slowly, trying to quell the fury boiling in her stomach once again.

"Saijou-san?"

"Hm?"

"Why... exactly were you not in class today...?"

Claudine freezes for a brief moment before closing the books and piling them onto her desk.

"I just haven't been feeling all that well since the recital. That's all."

"Have you been ill again since then?"

"I haven't."

Once Claudine has finished organizing her books and papers, she seems to be at a loss for what to do or where to go next now that she has a guest. Ultimately, she makes her way toward her bed and sits, folding both hands in her lap and lowering her gaze.

"I'm sorry, Tendo-san. I'd made such progress thanks to your help, only to suddenly end up back at square one."

Maya doesn't budge for a moment. As she lets her gaze travel over Claudine now, her cheeks seem much more sullen, and her skin is paler than usual. She hadn't had time to put on concealer before answering the door, but even if she had, Maya would've seen right through her.

"There's no need for you to apologize," Maya murmurs, carefully taking a step closer. "But I think we both know the real cause of all this." She lifts her hand, and the motion draws Claudine's attention. Maya watches the girl's eyes go wide as the yellow note is revealed. Claudine blinks, then quickly looks away.

"Th-That isn't-"

"We both know what it is."

Maya tries not to let the anger seep into her tone. It isn't Claudine she's upset with. She channels her rage into her fingertips and shreds the note in one sharp motion.

She watches Claudine gasp softly as hiccups begin working their way through her chest.

Maya feels the fire fade from her bloodstream as she staggers toward her and drops to her knees at her feet. She reaches out for Claudine's hands, brushing her fingers and thumbs over hers with quivering tenderness. Her eyes plead as she seeks rose quartz, and finds that Claudine is already crying. Maya bows her head against the girl's knees.

"How long has it been going on...?"

Claudine sniffles.

"Long enough..."

"Why didn't you say anything...?"

"What good would it have done...?"

Maya grits her teeth against the fabrics of her classmate's skirt.

"I could have tried to help..."

Maya feels the first rush of her own tears coming on, surging up from the back of her throat as she sobs softly into Claudine's knees.

"I'm sorry-" Claudine whispers. "I'm sorry..."

Maya feels her shift closer to the edge of the bed, feels her knees move apart to allow Maya to come closer. Claudine's arms wrap around her shoulders and don't let go. Maya's arms find their way around her sides and lock across the small of her back. She presses close to her stomach and feels the warm droplets of tears drip down atop her head.

"No..." Maya whispers. "I'm the one who is sorry, Saijou-san... I should have known..."

"Idiot... How could you have...?" Claudine coughs softly. "This isn't your fault."

"Nor is it yours. You think you aren't strong, Claudine, but you are."

She hadn't even realized what she'd done until she hears Claudine gasp softly. It was the first time Maya had ever used her first name.

Claudine cries a little harder.

"That's... so unfair, Tendo Maya..."

Maya smiles and nestles her face against the girl's chest.

"I never said I was above playing dirty."

She hears a faint chuckle and feels Claudine pull her closer. Her scent like cherry blossoms wreathes around her, lacing the air with a sweet, innocent fragrance. Her heart beats softly and warmly against Maya's ear.

A few more tears slip down their cheeks, seeping into the fabrics of their clothes. Maya gives another squeeze to Claudine's waist. She feels the girl lean forward over her, resting her chin on Maya's head.

"Thank you," she murmurs. "For coming to check on me, for helping me... for everything. Thank you, Tendo Maya."

Maya can hear the small smile in her voice. She nuzzles closer as Claudine continues.

"I never intended to let this get to me. I just needed a bit of time."

"Of course." Maya finally draws herself back a little, lifting her face and letting her hands slip away from her partner's back. She brings her hands over Claudine's once again and holds them with affection. "I know you never would have given up. You're far too strong and passionate to let something like this stop you."

Gazing up into her rosy eyes in the pale lamplight of the coming twilight, Maya's convinced she's never looked more beautiful, not even onstage.

"I know this wouldn't have stopped you. But it's okay to step back and take a break from time to time. You need to remember how to breathe before you can commence the act."

Her thumbs trail slowly across the backs of Claudine's hands, tracing over her knuckles as her fingertips curl over the underside of her wrist. All the while she never takes her eyes off hers.

"I am very lucky to have encountered you. I'm convinced it's nothing short of fate that our paths have crossed and converged. Nothing will stop us now that we are together."

A surge of warm emotion rises up behind her eyes. Maya closes her eyes and smiles as two last tears drip free.

"You truly are incredible, Saijou Claudine. I am very glad to have made your acquaintance."

Maya dips her head into Claudine's skirt to dry her eyes, still refusing to let go of her hands. It takes a moment, but she soon feels the other girl's fingers intwining with hers.

"What is this...?" Claudine mumbles. "Some kind of proposal...? You're something else, Tendo Maya." When Maya next opens her eyes, Claudine is smiling back. "But I'm glad to have made your acquaintance as well. Very much so. You are the one who is going to help shape me into my best self. You are the one who is going to let me strive for, and achieve my dreams. There is no doubt in my mind or in my heart about that."

A few more tears fall from her chin and land on their hands, but she is still smiling.

Looking up at her like this, she truly is an angel in Maya's eyes. She brings Claudine's hands to her lips and kisses them both in turn.

"I shall do my utmost not to disappoint you, mademoiselle."

"Hm? Trying to woo me with French now, are you?"

"Peut être." Maya smirks softly against her hands. "J'apprends."

There's a beat of silence, and then Claudine bursts out into impish laughter.

"You're learning, are you? Well, I look forward to you becoming fluent within the next two years."

Maya threads her pinky with Claudine's.

"It's a promise."

"I expect to be impressed when the time comes, Tendo Maya."

The last rays of warm sunlight slip in through the window, catching golden in Claudine's hair, making her skin glow. She brings Maya to her feet, and the two come together in another secret embrace. When they part, Maya keeps ahold of her hand.

"Would you care for some supper?"

Claudine tosses her hair over her shoulder and puffs up her chest.

"I very much would."

They head to the door and out into the hallways.

And this time they don't let go of each other's hands, and don't care who might see.

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When Claudine comes back to classes the following day, Maya is on high alert. She spots several more hostile notes left in her desk or on the inside of her shoe locker. So she snatches up each one before Claudine can even react.

"I can handle it now," she assures her. But Maya shakes her head.

"Just reading those kinds of things can have an affect on you. You don't deserve to be made even the slightest bit upset."

Claudine's face turns a shade pinker.

"You don't have to baby me..."

"I wouldn't call it babying," Maya says, crumpling the newest note. "I'd call it cherishing."

And Claudine can't possibly think of anything coherent to say in response to that.

When their group of friends see that Claudine is back today, they're thrilled. Karen runs right up and hugs her, Futaba pats her shoulder, and the rest all offer words of relief to see she's feeling better.

Maya hangs back for a few minutes as the others swarm her. Claudine already knows how deeply Maya cares for her; she wants to let her understand it isn't just her, though. Claudine has made plenty of friends since coming here, and their love will far outweigh the hatred of her enemies.

All throughout the day, Maya keeps an eye out for Claudine's sake. Anyone who seems to even glance at her the wrong way receives a furious warning glare from Maya.

By this point in the year she's an expert at dividing her attention between the lecture and her partner, constantly stealing glances and occasionally making eye contact and earning a glare of her own.

Claudine seems to be back to her usual self now, sternly focused in each of her classes. Come lunchtime she's laughing and joking around with her friends like always, and once Maya deposits all of the shredded notes into the trash bin, she joins in on the merriment.

Claudine had been doing her best all day not to let her emotions about the notes show through, but it's at the final class, in the changing room to the studio, when she shows her first hint of a reaction. Maya sees her reach into her clothes cubby and retract another harsh note.

"They're worse than usual today. Probably because I took a day off..."

Maya watches the usual brightness in her rosy eyes dim a little bit. Before she can unfold the paper Maya is already gently plucking it from her fingers.

"Don't worry about it."

Claudine looks up at her and smiles faintly.

They attend their studio class, where they receive the highest praises from their instructor as per usual. Their friends and fans applaud their routine, and the ones who stay silent more or less give themselves away as Claudine's tormentors. Maya takes note of their faces.

By the time class is finished, she can tell Claudine is back in high spirits again.

"That felt wonderful," she sighs as she follows Maya into the changing rooms. "I've never gone so many days in a row without dancing before and I never want to do it again."

"I'm glad you're feeling better, Saijou-san." She hasn't been able to use Claudine's first name again since their rendezvous yesterday, but she believes someday she'll get there again.

As they reach their cubbies, Maya grabs her uniform and briefly runs a hand through Claudine's hair.

"I'll just be a moment."

"Take your time."

Maya smiles as she leaves her for now and heads to the restroom. There are half a dozen other girls in here now, changing and showering nearby, all giggling and talking together. She can distinctly make out Mahiru's voice warning Karen not to get shampoo in her eyes, and Kaoruko whining for Futaba to brush her hair for her.

As Maya finishes changing into her nightgown for the evening, she glances up at the shelf where Claudine keeps her cosmetics bag. She can just barely see the corner of it poking out behind some toilet paper rolls. She's made it a goal of hers to make it so that Claudine never needs to use that again.

She strongly believes that the bullying issue will be the final straw into curing Claudine's stage fright. She has an idea or two about how she might address the girls writing those notes, though she doesn't intend to act just yet.

Or so she'd thought.

As Maya exits the noisy restroom and comes back into the changing room, she notices it's almost eerily quiet. Claudine is just finishing up tying the sash on her nightgown when a pack of girls swoops in on her.

"My, Saijou-san! You're back today. How was it taking time off?"

"I'll bet she was out in town screwing anything that moved!"

"Gross! You'd think she'd lose a bit of weight burning so many calories on the mattress."

"Poor Saijou-san. You act all cool and tough, but you'll never be able to reach Tendo Maya."

"Seriously. You should just drop out now. You're good, but you'll never be that good."

The fury Maya feels rising up in her chest burns a thousand times hotter than when she'd discovered that first note in Claudine's textbook. It's so intense it almost feels like she's going to be sick.

She can't see Claudine's face, but judging by her stance, she's completely frozen. Maya can't blame her. Saying she's isn't going to let the written comments faze her is one thing, but to be physically and verbally confronted by her tormentors is quite another.

Maya can't stop herself. She storms her way over, noting how the other girls flinch when the notice her. She throws out her arm to shield Claudine from them and places herself right at the heart of the confrontation. She's always been a rather serious and soft-spoken person, never raising her voice unless she was onstage and the scripts or lyrics called for it. But now she shamelessly lets her voice do as it pleases.

"Absolutely disgraceful! And you dare to call yourselves stage girls? You must be joking." Maya meets the eyes of all five terrified girls, compelling them to stay put until the very end. If looks could kill, surely they'd be on their way to the morgue already.

"You call Saijou-san all of those horrible things, and yet what are you doing for yourselves? Looking down on others for their genuine efforts when all you've got to offer is some half-assed attempt is the very definition of pathetic. How dare you disgrace this academy by bringing your tarnished opinions in through the front doors? How dare you come after one of our best students when you can't even flounder into the top hundred?"

She's never felt such unbridled rage before. She's never cursed or spoken anything like this. Not even when it had been she herself that had been bullied similarly years ago.

The girls in front of her are rooted to the spot in terror, and other girls have begun emerging from the restrooms to see what's going on. Maya can feel the heat coming from her breath, feels it boiling in her blood again.

And then a soft, cooling touch.

She turns around to find Claudine smiling as she touches her hand, gently having Maya lower her defensive arm.

"Someone's getting awfully riled up," she murmurs. "Merci, Maya. I'll handle things from here."

When Claudine speaks her name, it both stuns and delights her, two feelings which mix in very awkwardly with all the anger. But Maya doesn't move or say anything more now as Claudine slips past her arm and stops to stand beside her.

Her eyes meet those of her enemies with unwavering conviction. It's the same look she gets whenever she's performing, or even practicing. It's the look that shows she believes with all her heart in everything she is about to say and do.

The cowering girls have fallen silent now, too scared to even turn and flee. Claudine takes her turn at them.

"You can come after me all you'd like, waste all of the energy you should be putting into acting on trying to chase me away. Do whatever you'd like. But you'll never get rid of me. Nothing will, and especially not some jealous little children who are so upset about their own shortcomings they feel the need to attack others."

She takes a firm step forward, and the girls yelp. Claudine lowers her voice, but maintains her smile in a hauntingly beautiful manner.

"Think of it this way: I may only be in second place, but what does that make you?"

With the final blow given, her eyes which had seemed to trap them, finally release the pitiful girls, who stumble out of the changing room with their tails between their legs.

With the threat passed, Maya turns to her partner and squeezes her hand.

"Are you all right, Saijou-san?"

Claudine lifts her chin and turns to her, eyes shining in triumph.

"I'm more than fine, thanks to you, Tendo Maya."

Maya has never felt the urge to embrace her quite so strongly before. But before she can manage it, a chorus of voices breaks out from across the room.

"Kuro-chan! Tendo-san!"

"What the heck was up with those girls?"

"They were awful!"

Their group of friends comes rushing over; even though they're all dressed in comfy sweaters and pajamas and their hair is still wet from their showers, they definitely could have looked threatening if they'd needed to jump in and defend a friend.

"A-Are you guys okay?" Mahiru stammers.

"It's a good thing you could handle yourselves," Kaoruko says. "It would have been a pain to interfere."

"Hey, don't let those guys get to you," Futaba says. "Real stage girls would never treat someone like that. Not even the competition."

"Their behavior was severe enough it could be grounds for expulsion," Junna says. "I could have a word with the teacher."

Maya and Claudine are equally baffled for a moment. They've both dealt with hostile classmates before, but this was the first time anyone else has ever spoken up for them or come to see if they were okay afterward. When Maya steals a glance at Claudine her jaw is slightly ajar, and she can feel her hand shaking.

"You girls..." Claudine wipes her free hand briefly across her face. "Thank you. But that's all right. I don't want to cause anymore trouble."

"It wouldn't be any trouble," Junna insists. "To be honest, those girls have always been a nuisance..."

"Now, now," Nana says, patting her shoulder. "Let's respect Saijou-san's wishes, shall we? And besides, with how those girls have been acting lately, I have a feeling they'll transfer schools on their own. They never had the right spark it takes to become a true stage girl."

Nods and hums of agreement go around the circle. Futaba checks on Claudine again, which makes Kaoruko pout a little bit. But once everyone is reassured, they disperse into pairs and wish each other goodnight. Maya doesn't miss a few of their lingering whispers.

"I've never seen Tendo-san so angry before!"

"Me either. It was kinda scary, but kinda cool! Romantic, even!"

"I'm just glad she got to those girls first or else I might've shredded 'em."

"I'm glad Saijou-san has someone who will look out for her. I'm sure she'd do the same for Tendo-san."

Maya watches them all go, and by the time she and Claudine are alone at their cubbies, their hands are still together. Maya hasn't felt inclined to let go yet. In fact, she lets her thumb rub softly over Claudine's skin, drawing her attention.

Claudine's eyes are void of any worry or discomfort now. She's as proud and beautiful as ever.

"I suppose I should thank you again, Tendo Maya. But from here on out, I won't be needing your protection. I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt it for a second, Saijou-san. But even so, I'll keep close, just in case."

"Do whatever you like. I guess I can't stop you."

"If you asked me to stop, I would."

"Well, I haven't asked for that, now have I?" Her cheeks puff out a little, and Maya chuckles.

"My apologies. I won't make anymore heinous assumptions."

"Good." Claudine's eyes flash down to their entwined hands. "But in truth. Thank you."

Maya can't say anything back. Not here.

"Saijou-san, please come with me."

"H-Hey, wait! Tendo Maya!"

But Maya tugs at her wrist and has her follow her out of the changing room. She hears Claudine muttering things like "goodness" and "honestly", but she doesn't ever resist or try to free herself.

Maya brings her back to the now-vacant dance studio and pulls her inside. She slides the door closed behind them. When they've stopped, Claudine demands and explanation.

"Well? What's so important that you needed to bring me back here for it? I'd like to have some supper tonight, if you don't mind."

Maya squeezes her hand a little more tightly, as if scared she'll leave. Her heart has started to pound.

"My apologies. I just thought this would be the proper place to ask."

Claudine blinks and tilts her head curiously.

"Ask what?"

Suddenly, Maya's having difficulty meeting her gaze. The last thing she ever wants is to hurt her. She can't even bear the thought of potentially making her upset.

"Sorry..." she murmurs, her usual formal speech forgotten. "I may need a moment..."

She's never felt like this around anyone else before. She's never felt so happy, so conflicted, so determined to be next to someone despite the circumstances. She'd want to be next to Claudine in the heart of a hurricane, or watching paint dry in the park.

She bows her head, trying to configure her thoughts and the jumble of emotions swirling around in her chest. It's all so baffling...

And then she feels a pair of gentle arms around her shoulders. Claudine had let go of her hand only to wrap her in the very same embrace Maya has been desiring all this time. She pulls her close, letting Maya nestle into the side of her neck.

"Well then," Claudine murmurs. "Take all the time you need."

Another surge of emotion rises up in Maya's chest, so poignant she feels it might overflow in the form of tears.

This girl – Claudine Saijou – is like no one she's ever known before. She's fiery, feisty, stubborn. And yet she's fragile, soft, and easily flustered. She's attentive, passionate, and beautiful. Talented, kind, and strong.

Maya needs a moment to configure everything, and Claudine happily gives her that time, and then some. Maya wraps her arms around Claudine's waist and back, closing her eyes as she inhales the flowery scent of her shampoo.

Claudine is so soft. So warm. Maya can feel her heartbeat fluttering against her own chest. It's become quick and a little hard, just about matching Maya's.

This always seems to happen when they're together. Their hearts will race, their eyes will be drawn to each other's, and they'll always find or make perfect excuses to get close.

Maya lets Claudine take over her senses for a moment, forgetting all of the nervous thoughts. She just enjoys being here with her in this moment. She breathes her in, spreads her fingers over her back, and feels the rhythm of her heart. Claudine's fingers have started to stroke slowly through Maya's hair, easing an intangible weight off her shoulders.

They lose track of time, but really don't care for it.

It feels like what must be an eternity later when Claudine's voice murmurs against the shell of Maya's ear.

"Don't fall asleep on me, Tendo Maya."

Maya opens her eyes and chuckles against her shoulder. Something tells her that even if she were to fall asleep like this, Claudine would do everything within her power to carry her back to her room without waking her.

"Sorry."

"There's no need to be. Now what was it you'd wanted to ask me?"

Claudine eases back a little, just enough so that she can see Maya's eyes. Maya gets lost in hers.

"Saijou-san. No... Claudine..."

She watches a blush trickle across the girl's cheeks, feels her pulse skip a beat. And suddenly every uncertainty is banished from Maya's heart. She rests her forehead against Claudine's and pulls her close.

"May I kiss you?"

She knows this is a particularly delicate subject for Claudine. She doesn't want to hurt her. But there's something in the way her rose-colored eyes sparkle that assures Maya she won't.

Claudine's breath catches in her throat, and her grip on Maya's shoulders tightens. She draws in a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

"Tendo Maya..."

She inches closer, just enough to let their noses brush.

"Yes, you may."

Maya can't properly describe the trill of emotion that spreads through her body in that instant. She feels like she's going to cry.

"Merci..."

She guides one hand to the side of Claudine's face, angling her chin until their mouths are almost touching. She closes her eyes and hovers there.

But even now – even when she's so close to what she wants – Maya keeps control over her actions and pauses.

She waits just for a second, long enough to let Claudine pull away if she wants to. Her heart is in her throat, and she can feel that Claudine's is much the same. She just doesn't want to hurt her-

She feels a breath on her lips, warm and gentle. In the end it is Claudine who closes the distance between them, willingly pressing her lips against Maya's.

It takes Maya by surprise, and she feels like she's going to cry again. Her heart sings and soars like it's never done before in all her life.

The kiss only lasts for a few seconds. Both girls ease apart, as if nervous it might have been too long or too much for the other.

But when their eyes meet, there isn't an ounce of regret to be found. Instead there is excitement, disbelief, joy. They're both trembling, but they both hold each other up.

Maya doesn't dare to blink, as if doing so might cause the angel in front of her to vanish. She holds Claudine's gaze for as long as her heart can handle. When she feels it's going to burst, she tilts her face, brushing her cheek against hers.

"Un de plus..."

Claudine chuckles around a tiny sob.

"Gluton."

The next kiss is fuller, firmer, deeper. It lasts a little longer. Their arms wrap more tightly around one another.

As a secret lover of romance, Maya felt it was only appropriate they do this here, in the very studio where they'd first met and toiled away hours upon hours of heartfelt practice together.

Where they'd first watched one another perform for the class, and been awestruck since day one.

Where they'd applauded and supported one another, stretched together, danced together for so many months, shared their first fake kisses...

And there would be many more months to come, if Maya had anything to say about it. So long as Claudine was willing, she'd never get tired of this for as long as she lived.

And she knows for a fact Claudine is not the type of person to give up something she cares about.

Judging by the kisses, she cares quite a bit about Maya.

At last they ease apart from the kiss, panting slightly, clinging to one another. Claudine's face is bright red, and Maya can assume her own is faintly flushed as well. Her heart is soaring, and the urge to cry persists. It might've won out too, had Claudine not found her voice right this minute.

"You..." Her eyes shimmer with coyness and excitement and a lot of other things, but not a single ounce of regret. "You'd better take full responsibility for that kiss, Tendo Maya."

Maya's lips curve upward as she presses her forehead against Claudine's.

"I absolutely will. Though I believe it was you who made that first one happen." She feels her tense up in embarrassment, but it only makes Maya hug her more tightly. She drops her face into the side of Claudine's neck again and hides herself in her hair. "Thank you," she sighs. "Those... were my second and third kisses..."

"I-I see... And who took your first, if I may be so bold as to ask...?"

Maya loves that she sounds a little jealous.

"Fret not, for that was you as well. During Romeo and Juliet."

Claudine's face heats up tenfold.

"Th... That was your first...?"

Maya nods. It's no surprise Claudine is baffled. Most people assume Maya has been involved in numerous relationships already. But in truth, despite being a romantic, she's never wanted a bond that wasn't going to be absolutely worth forging. She didn't care for flings and experiments and trials. She's always wanted the real thing.

She's waited this long, acting out her favorite kinds of romantic scenes in countless plays, singing the words in hundreds of songs...

All for this moment. All for this girl.

"Saijou Claudine," she breathes. "Merci."

A tear manages to find its way out and seeps quietly into Claudine's nightgown. It truly does feel like a dream. If that's the case, she hopes she'll never wake.

Claudine's arms hold onto her shoulders for a moment as she processes it all. Maya feels her draw in a deep breath before she finds her next words.

"Mine, too," she murmurs. "These were my first kisses, too. I never counted the others those boys stole from me. My heart never accepted them..." She squeezes her a little harder. "But I assure you it accepts yours, Tendo Maya."

Another trill of exhilaration bubbles through Maya when she hears those words. She brushes her cheek against Claudine's again and kisses her temple.

"It is an honor in the highest, mademoiselle. In that case..." She moves back once more so she may gaze into those eyes like rose quartz, a shade that equals that of her blush. "May I be so greedy as to request one last kiss for tonight?"

Claudine looks away before her blush can get worse, then quickly closes her eyes.

"V-Very well, then. I guess it can't be helped."

Maya leans close once more, and whispers gratitude against her lips.

"Merci."

The final kiss lasts longer than the others. By this point they've both figured out exactly how it's best to breathe in order to extend the contact. It's very different from kissing with their thumbs in between.

Different, and undeniably much more pleasant.

It says so much – everything they can't properly express with words of their own. Their mutual passion now extends beyond the stage and encompasses emotion as well; shared feelings they harbor for one another that grew at the center of their hearts.

It had begun as a tiny seed, which had taken root and spread gradually over time. It had grown little by little, risen up to produce small buds.

And now the blossoms flourish, opening their petals like arms both seeking and offering embrace.

Along with their established goals of becoming top stage girls here at Seisho Academy, Claudine and Maya have discovered new sides of themselves and set new goals since their fated encounter.

Claudine has decided to overcome her stage fright. Maya has decided to learn French fluently. Both things they will help each other with as much as they possibly can.

And now, they have one more new goal to achieve.

And that is to encourage, assist, and support one another.

To flounder and struggle and make mistakes together.

To strive and grow and flourish together.

To stand by one another no matter the difficulties, and to emerge victorious in all that they do.

To play the lead roles in the school's most popular play: Starlight.

To spread their wings. To dazzle the world.

To inspire the next generation from upon that fated stage.

More or less the same as their previous individual goals.

Only now one thing is different.

Now, they'll do it all together.

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A/N: There was a lot I wanted to cover in this story and I got in all of it! Their first meeting, how they grew closer, the stage fright and the bullying. Since canon confirmed Maya was once severely bullied (after I wrote this fic) I was glad to know I was right in that assumption, and figured it wouldn't be outrageous for Claudine to have suffered a bit as well.

There will, of course, be a small epilogue to finish things off!