Summer had come and gone, turning into the early fall. On trees leaves had just begun to show signs of turning colors other than their usual tones and a gentle breeze blew through their branches. The air was no longer oppressively hot as in summer though a bit of humidity lingered on. Near the dreamlike hill where each year a star couple of the campuses were crowned resided a former Etoile who once again had company. Yoriko Suzumi had invited the newest couple over for a special counseling session or dessert party depending on who you asked. It was important to offer them advice on how to be a good role model couple for the rest of the girls on Astraea Hill. That her granddaughter was the new seme Etoile just made it all the more prudent that she offer her advice to the new couple.

Hiroko had already arrived earlier without her girlfriend due to the fact that the Suzumi women had been plotting this for about a week. Usually she wasn't very good at keeping things secret, but somehow Hiroko had managed all right with this. Now she was in the kitchen with a frilly blue apron over a white pleated skirt and mint green satin top, mixing cookie dough. One thing Hiroko had actually proven good at was baking - a time honored Suzumi family art which had skipped over Hiroko's birth mother somehow. Now she was preparing a new mixture of coconut and almond cookies for her beloved Canadian to enjoy. In the living room the grandmother sat reading over some older Etoile materials. It had been a lovely time as Etoile for her, and Hiroko's sister had recently been Etoile as well. Etoile was a family tradition it seemed.

"Miss Foster should be arriving any moment," she thought aloud, then grinned, "And then shall begin the molding of her into a true star of Astraea Hill." Hiroko meanwhile continued to mix her dough.

The summer had come and gone, bringing with it a new year for Coyote at St. Spica. And this year was certainly going to be very different. In addition to spending more time with her girlfriend (which she was planning on doing, regardless of the circumstances) she was going to be the new Etoile. Winning the election was something she had never considered possible. Although, it was more accurate to say she had never considered running. And yet, here she was...pendant and title and all.

Pendant and championship belt, as a matter of fact. The previous Etoile had been more than a little eccentric. Coyote was still a little unsure of what to do with that belt. She kept it in her room, but wasn't sure if she could actually carry that thing around, like the Araceli girl had. Of course, that was the least of her concerns. She had to actually DO things, now that she had won the election. And still attend class. And play hockey.

She walked the familiar route over to Hiroko's grandmother's house. The elder Suzumi requested their presence. Coyote had just left the season's first practice for the hockey team, which had also turned into a bit of an impromptu celebration. The girls of the hockey team certainly were proud that one of their own had won the top position on Astraea Hill. Not to mention the excitement of getting to see more of that blue haired Le Rim girl that run with Coyote.

Dressed in jeans and a Canadiens jersey, Coyote reached the front door. She stepped inside, removing her shoes and looking around. Hiroko was planning on arriving ahead of time and she wanted to see if she could spot the girl. "Hello?" she called out.

Hiroko meanwhile was continuing the process of baking cookies for her girlfriend. Unaware of the Canadian's arrival she was finished mixing the dough itself and had moved on to rolling it out so that each individual cookie could be cut out. For the girl who'd rescued her from an arranged marriage and the solitude of the bunker, she had a very special idea in mind. Something which would show just how much she loved Coyote! Even if she'd managed to master the rules of hockey - wicket chasing and all - she'd only just learned about the championship trophy. Lord Stanley's Cup, apparently. Was it given out each year by a nobleman flying in on a helicopter, dressed in lordly vestments for the presentation? Honestly she couldn't imagine how that wouldn't be the case. That in mind she'd gotten herself a cookie cutter shaped like the trophy and used it to begin forming romantic cookies for Coyote. She blushed as she thought of the gallant yoyo knight receiving the plate of cookies decorated with sparkling sprinkles somehow, tasting one.. a winning smile following the taste sent her heart all aflutter.

"Gah! N-no.. I have to focus on making them first," Hiroko thought aloud, smiling as she glanced down at the pendant around her neck. Etoile. She really was Etoile! A happy hum came from the kitchen as she worked on the Stanley Cup Cookies.

Yoriko Suzumi heard her granddaughter's hum and smiled demurely as always. Everything had worked out about as well as a woman could have hoped for: the two lovers had been reunited, a meddling woman's plot thwarted and romance given a chance to shine. Yuki, her daughter and the mother of Hiroko and Maiko, hadn't spoken to her for months, but that was fine. Children needed time to cool down before they would admit they'd made a mistake. If anything she was a patient woman. Hearing another voice call out from near the door the matriarch moved over to greet her other expected guest. Casually dressed for a meeting with a former Etoile, but Yoriko wouldn't hold it against her. Her daughter might have but Hiroko's grandmother didn't really care so much when the person in question was involved with a relative and trusted.

Smiling, she offered a bow of greeting, "Miss Foster, welcome to my home. It's so nice to see you again! How has it been to be Etoile?"

As they moved into the living room she nodded toward the kitchen, "Hiroko is making some cookies right now, but I would like to speak to you. As Etoile you are now in a very visible position on Astraea Hill, one I'm not certain you were quite prepared for before you decided to run. No offense intended of course. You are a wonderful match for my darling granddaughter, however, and I'd like to offer you my advice and counsel as a former Etoile. You're part of a proud tradition, my dear. Now, is there anything you'd like to know about the position?"

If there was one thing she could count on, it was that Hiroko's grandmother was more than accepting of Coyote's more casual nature. Otherwise, she might have wanted to considering running back to her room to change. And she has certainly tried her best to appear more "presentable" for some of the more important functions that she's attended. Which, in all honesty, was just the election for Etoile. But, she was sure she would need to get a little more gussied up for other things.

And was also probably the reason that she had been invited over in the first place. It wasn't a question of approval, Coyote already knew that she had Yoriko's support. The elder Suzumi absolutely adored her granddaughters. And after all they had been through last year, she was sure that she had measured up to the standards Yoriko expected for someone who was Hiroko's partner...not to mention girlfriend.

"Hello, Mrs. Suzumi. It's been...well, interesting, I suppose." she replied to the greeting with a wide smile, after offering up a polite bow. Hiroko was in the kitchen and the smells wafting out confirmed what she had said. Cookies were being made and she was looking forward to sampling one or two, when they were ready.

But, Yoriko Suzumi was a woman who got right down to business. She followed her into the living room and gave a slight nod of her head. She couldn't say she was all that wrong, either. Even though she had been attending St. Spica since she was a First Year, Coyote hadn't thought much about the Etoile position, one way or another. She voted, sure, but she also voted for Student Council. They were positions that seemed best suited for ambitious girl who could do something good for one or all three of the schools on the hill.

And Coyote's primary interest was, of course, playing hockey. Also, putting on a mask and patrolling the campus for villains to fight. Although there was hardly a vast criminal underground on Astraea Hill. Only a few mischief makers, here and there.

"Thank you, I'd appreciate any advice you can give." she said, before pausing a moment, "Um...when you were Etoile, they didn't give you a gold belt, did they?"

In the kitchen Hiroko was busy at work cutting out the last of the cookies for her beloved Yoyo Knight. She was so happy she couldn't contain herself and began humming a merry tune which she had started associating with Coyote. A close listen would reveal that it was just a perky version of 'Oh Canada', but she'd gotten it stuck in her head recently. It was only fitting that she be humming that as she prepared her Canadian-themes cookies for her Canadian girlfriend after all. Hiroko slid the first of two trays into the oven, using her grandmother's lobster caw patterned oven mits and then the second. So wonderful that she had access to a larger oven like this! Unaware that Coyote had indeed arrived she began organizing the next step of the process, the gray frosting and edible sparkly sprinkles. Somehow those existed, and her grandmother had gotten some just for this kind of project! From Hiroko's understanding the actual Lord Stanley's Cup bore the names of hockey people who'd won the tournament, so she planned to write C and H on the cookies to represent herself and Coyote. How romantic!

Sitting next to Coyote on the couch, Yoriko Suzumi chuckled, "No, I don't believe that golden belts were issued to Etoiles in my day - more girls might have run if they knew that they had extra prizes for the victors. There were so many who would run back then that we had to be truly exceptional to become Etoile ourselves. Even today Etoile couples must be exceptional to be chosen by their peers to be a light to the whole of Astraea Hill. Maiko and Kagami were certainly the sort of romantic fairy tale couple you think of when the idea of Etoile comes up. Pure maidens in love for all the world to see their radiance."

Then she smiled, placing a hand on Coyote's shoulder, "Believe it or not you and Hiroko are very similar to them. You're only the second couple to win Etoile representing different schools. Be proud of that. Hold your head high and show the world why you are Etoile! An Etoile has poise, grace and brings honor to her school. Don't let anything change who you are, though. Over all be the girl who was chosen to shine for all the Hill."

"Most importantly take care of Hiroko, Miss Foster. She's taken so long to open herself up to the world, I don't want to see her become a shrinking violet again. Nurture her as you have and she will continue to grow into a fine young lady," Yoriko concluded, "Even if my daughter will refuse to see it."

She had a feeling that the gold belt was a very recent thing. Especially with what she knew of last year's Seme Etoile. Still, she couldn't help but ask. As Hiroko toiled away, Coyote and Grandma Suzumi continued to discuss the position the couple had just attained. Maiko and Kagami would certainly provide some big shoes to fill. Even Akemi and Ayuki, last year's Etoiles were very capable and popular girls. They would have to wait to wait and see how they would measure up.

It was nice to have Yoriko's vote of confidence, of course. Not that the task seemed any less daunting. Coyote would have to try and find a balance. Act as both a shining beacon to the other girls on campus and somehow not change, too much. Or at least, not in any way that would compromise who she was. Astraea Hill had seen something in both herself and Hiroko...and that was the standard that Coyote knew she needed to hold herself up to.

"I will." Coyote gave a nod of her head, alongside a smile, "I love Hiroko. I'll make sure she doesn't go and hide in any more bunkers."

And that bluenette certainly did seem to have a blind spot when it came to seeing positive characteristics in herself. Coyote had worked hard to get Hiroko to come this far out of her shell and she wasn't about to anything that would risk any form of retreat.

Yoriko Suzumi nodded in approval at the Canadian's agreement to ensure that Hiroko didn't retreat back inside her walls of isolation. Compared to whom her daughter had intended to marry the girl this was a vast improvement. Coyote had become as much a part of the Suzumi clan as Kagami was, regardless of what Yuki Suzumi thought. So long as neither girl decided they didn't like baked goods there would be no problems for them in fitting in with the matriarch of the family. Assured that Hiroko was in good hands the grandmother of two Etoiles went over to her bookshelf and pulled down an album which had been filled up over the years. Without much explanation she set it down on the coffee table before motioning for the Canadian to join her there. Now the time for discussing Etoile history had come, so as to give Coyote a better idea of what would be expected of her.

"Here, Foster-san, is the history of Suzumi women in the Etoile Competition. I thought you might want to have a look at what the different generations of this household have been through as students on Astraea Hill. This will also maybe give you some idea of what is expected of an Etoile of our stature," Yoriko explained, then opened the album, "The first few pages are the earliest generations of Suzumi girls to attend Miator. One of them ran with her best friend but they fell short because a far more romantic couple emerged from their sister class. However, things changed when a young lady named Yoriko appeared and enchanted the Hill with her grace, poise and kindness. Behold!"

As she turned the page, she revealed a series of pictures of a young woman with long flowing light tinted hair (they were black and white pictures) paired with many different girls. Most of them were Miator students but not all. Each page revealed more girls that the matriarch of the family had at one point won over. What was left unsaid was that she'd dated a fair number of them, kissed even more and ended up in a steady relationship with none. She had become a dashing rogue of Miator, scandalous for her promiscuity but popular among the girls. Finally there was a picture of herself with another girl in which both had pendants around their necks.

"This was my official photo as Etoile. It was a surprise that I was chosen by my sisters to be Etoile, but it meant as much to me as a smile from you means to Hiroko. I was happy to make everyone on campus smile for a year and preside over all the important events.. you get to be more than a celebirty.. more like a Queen, really," Yoriko explained with a smile of her own.

With their agreement established, Yoriko went to a bookshelf to fetch something. Coyote watched as she returned to the coffee table and motioned her to join her. Obliging, Coyote took up a seat and looked over the album, as the elder Suzumi opened it and displayed some photos from long ago. The family's ties to the school seemed to stretch almost all the way back to the foundation of the school. The Suzumi family was certainly a very impressive one.

And then they reached the section where the photos depicted a girl who appeared aside many other girls. And the emphasis was certainly on "many". Yoriko seemed to be something of a player, back in her day. And she seemed rather proud of the fact, too. Especially given how much of this album was devoted her "friends".

"Eheh, a Queen?" she looked up at Hiroko's grandmother. She knew the position was regarded rather highly, but this talk of being a Queen certainly seemed a little out of her league. She was a hockey player. Seeing a "Queen" come from the rowdy mix of girls she skated around with seemed like such a funny idea.

"Well, thank you for show me this." she said, "I guess we have a lot to live up to. We'll make you proud! And the rest of the schools proud, too!"

She grinned. It would be quite the challenge, but she was up to it. After all, she did have Hiroko by her side. And Hiroko's family certainly seemed willing to support. Well, more specifically, it was her grandmother and her older sister. Which seemed more than enough to the Canadian.

Yoriko Suzumi nodded, "You do not necessarily have to be the queen yourself of course, Foster-san. Every couple has had a different dynamic which made them loved by the girls of our schools. Each and every one has been unique in their own way and that is what makes Etoile such a special thing. We celebrate who the girls are themselves while also celebrating that which makes them who they are."

Then she closed the book and smiled, "In this instance I believe you are best served being a knight in the service of a queen. Your athletic prowess is well known to me thanks to Hiroko's stories of your achievements on the ice. Even though she doesn't really understand the terms very well, she knows you're special. As Etoile, treat her as your queen and the entire campus will adore you even more."

A few more minutes of conversation followed in which Yoriko continued to tell stories about her own time as Etoile. Each one seemed to involve a different girl as the object of her affections, though it phased the matriarch not one bit. In the kitchen Hiroko pulled the first sheet of cookies out with her grandmother's lobster claw oven mitts. After setting it down carefully she placed the next sheet in and set the timer again. With intense focus she decorated the cookies with gray and silver frosting, making them approximations of Lord Stanley's cup. Just a bit more love gave them the initials of the happy couple, which signaled that this batch was ready to deliver! Blushing, she took the plate with her completed treats in hand and stepped into the living room. As soon as she saw the Canadian girl on the couch she knew that presenting the miniature Lord Stanley's Cups had to be done properly. Coyote saw hockey as serious business, so she'd take it seriously too. In lieu of a helicopter or Lord Stanley himself she made helicopter noises as she walked up and gently set the plate down on the table. After stepping back from the table she waved to Coyote and smiled bashfully.

"Yoyo-chan.. these are for you..." she managed, despite her terrible blushing.

Coyote being a Queen was something that the Canadian found hard to wrap her head around. There was certainly nary a queenly bone in her body. At least as far as she was concerned. So, it came to a relief to her when that sort of expectation wasn't necessarily part of the deal. One could practically see said relief cross her features.

As Yoriko had said, she certainly did enjoy her hockey and had become rather well known for it. She even got time to act in the occasional play, although they were still smaller productions. Usually, somebody wanted a person to rescue a damsel in distress. Although there were far more cardboard around her, than when she had come to Hiroko's rescue.

And as she thought of the bluenette, the very girl made her arrival. Complete with a tray of cookies and helicopter noises. The cookies looked quite a bit like Lord Stanley's Cup. Only, instead of a list of names at the bottom, there were two initials. A C and an H. The helicopter noises made no sense, but Coyote figured it was from some misunderstanding in the traditions of her beloved sport.

And it was adorable. She picked up one of the cookies and looked it over, before looking up at Hiroko with a bright smile, "They look great!" she said, "Thank you!"

She wrapped her arms around Hiroko's shoulders in a hug. It was a quick embrace, but it wasn't lacking in affection. Besides, she had to take a bite of that cookie, so she could give her impressions. And that she did. It was still warm from the oven and tasted every bit as wonderful as she thought it would be.

"Mmm! Really good!" she gave a thumb's up as she voiced her approval.