#xxtsubasa

“Oh! You shouldn’t have!” It was a familiar phrase spoken by one Maria Hikawa on this given day, as a good number of her classmates bombarded her around campus earlier. Some were bolder than others, placing a decorative box or two on her desk before the Professor arrived, or right after class was concluded for the day, but nevertheless, she always managed to bring home a bountiful amount of chocolates to enjoy over the course of the next few months. This year was no different, noted by the bag currently slung over her shoulder, but she accepted each handmade or store brought present with open arms. Valentine’s Day, especially when she was much younger in grade school, was meant to be the opportunity for girls to present the boy they liked with chocolate to express their feelings, but ever since middle school…

Being greeted by underclassmen or peers in the same year as her, has been a common occurrence for Maria. Sometimes they’d leave as quickly as they came, hoping to see her next time around, and then there were those who attached a confession to the mix. Not so much of those lately, of course, but the chocolate was continuous. “Ah, thank you for this Tsubasa-chan!” 

“Hold on a sec, okay? I got something for you, too!” 

“Huh?” 

Glancing back at the sound of someone calling her name from down the hall, Tamako paused mid-step. She was headed towards the stairwell, by means of reaching the third year classrooms seeing as their lunch break was the perfect opportunity to seek out a certain someone by the name of Seiji. It was a given that he’d already have chocolates presented to him both by girls in his year, and even underclassmen that were feeling a bit bold today, but that meant nothing in comparison to the hard work she put into her handmade chocolates last night! Not only did she manage to master the perfect heart shaped mold, but her father was very happy with his own sweets today! With her intentions set, she started on her way, which is why now as Tsubasa scurried over to her, the former Dark Cure was caught off guard. “…Uwah, are these for me?!” 

She blinked, genuine surprise shining in her eyes as she accepted the heart shaped box from the blonde. It’s not like she hasn’t received similar gifts from other classmates today, customary between friends than anything else, but it never failed to put a smile on her face. Given that this was technically her first Valentine’s Day receiving chocolates, as opposed to raiding stores with an army of Choiarks at the ready like she did last year, it was all the more fun! 

“Aaaaah, thank you so much, Tsubasa-chan!” 

Returning the smile with on of her own, Tamako beamed as she held the box close. In that moment, however, she couldn’t help but remember that… she didn’t have anything to give Tsubasa in return. Only the baggie of handmade chocolates for Seiji in her possession, and another for her little brother. 

That awkward silence was definite proof of yes, the rumors were true. Perhaps not entirely... with only a lingering of truth to the words being tossed around among them, but it was enough to get Hime’s attention that’s for sure!

“…Of course, Tsubasa-chan.”

Hime spoke earnestly, her voice laced with concern as the blonde approached her. From afar, she was most certain she wouldn’t have noticed the physical signs of distress coming from Tsubasa, but now, as she neared closer, there was no denying the fact of something being up. Unsure if jumping in head first with questions was the right means of going about this, Hime chose to gesture back in the direction of the Embassy. “We can… talk at my place, ‘kay?” 

“Well, Mizuno-san, it’s simple.”

“I’m not exactly fond of the God of Earth’s older brother for the same reason most people would if they had the not-so-welcomed honor of having to deal with him as I, and many others like yourself, did. It was at his orders that Mirage awakened me from my mirror imprisonment to fight in the name of the Phantom Empire. It was at his orders that I was manipulated and my ideals warped for the sake of harming my younger sister and her new friends. It was at his orders that I was forced to hear that damned voice of his in the back of my head by means of brainwashing me, a constant–and annoying–reminder that my freedoms were limited and there was nothing I could do. It was at his orders that I summoned a weapon I didn’t even know I had the ability to wield and nearly painted the blade with my own sister’s blood.” Maria sighed, clenching her fist as she brought herself back to her awakening as Dark Tender, as well as the imprint she left behind which each mission she was requested to complete for the sake of Queen Mirage. Despite brainwashing being the main reason behind the entirety of her actions, it still stung. 

Nothing would change the fact that she had succumbed to the Red’s manipulation… and throughout that period of time, she reveled in it. Enjoyed it, even. Because Dark Tender had no mercy for those who were incompetent. 

“He twisted my morals and made me disgrace the Hikawa fighting style as a Phantom Empire General, and then forced similar conditions on Sagara-kun… for the sake of bringing despair to those he felt deserved it.” 

Those days were behind them all now, but she’d never forgive him. 

“So, at the end of the day, it’s obvious that Aino-chan fought bravely, and I continuously thank her for letting the God of Hatred see the warmth that forms of love bring those who experience it–and I’m glad to have had a part in assisting her upgrade to Forever form, but if I want to be honest?” 

“Fuck that guy.”

Tsubasa took a deep breath. Sure, she had gotten better at talking to people over the last few months. However, nervousness sometimes crept up on her. Like it did right now.

“Um, we haven’t had many chances to talk, have we?” Tsubasa tried calming down, but it wasn’t working. She was tempted to bring up the other girl’s similarities to Hime, but that would be rude.

“I-I’m Tsubasa Mizuno…” the blonde introduced herself. She didn’t want to screw up when it came to socializing with people her age. She knew she couldn’t be friends with everyone. She was a Precure, after all. But, it would be nice to be friendly to everyone. Maybe she was a bit naive when it came to that.

“What’s your name? I doubt you want to be called Miss…”

“I don’t think we’ve ever talked before, actually... should we have?” 

So much for trying to tone down that... infamous attitude from her days as Duchess, but it was expected with someone who had trouble breaking old habits. Especially on a day where she felt it was suitable to revert back to an occasional bout of selfishness, because why couldn’t she celebrate a day solely for herself even if it wasn’t actually her day of birth? Either way, Tamako’s confusion only continued to grow the minute the blonde decided to introduce herself--was she making a new friend? That was... unexpected to say the least, not that she was complaining, but wasn’t she supposed to be the one reaching out to others around her? Not the other way around? 

Today was just tossing a whole bunch of surprises at her. Neat~

“...Well of course I don’t wanna be called Miss!” She puffed her cheeks out in response, but returned a shy smile Tsubasa’s way. “Who ever heard of a young and especially beautiful woman like myself being called Miss, yeesh!”

Placing her hands on her hips, Tamako announced herself proudly.

“…Miss?”

Well, out of the greetings she remembered receiving throughout the day, this was surprisingly different. Not once could Tamako recall ever being called something… so formal as Miss, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. On one hand, she could take it as a compliment, like a means of maturity now that she was a year older, but on the other… wasn’t that something you called older women? Namely housewives and grandmothers who have nothing better to do but tell you stories and give you sweets they made by scratch? Huh. 

It didn’t help that she couldn’t pinpoint a name on the girl who called out to her, but recalled seeing her face around Pikarigaoka every once in awhile. 

Wasn’t she… that other Cure who protected the town solo… and sometimes helped out the Happiness Charge team? Right now, the birthday girl wasn’t exactly sure since it has been some time since her Dark Cure days.  

They must have fought once or twice back then, right?

“D’you need something from me orrrrrrrrrr?” 

No present sighted.