Story: CG Miscalculation

 

Shirley Fenette is a nice girl. Ah, but wait - what does it mean to call someone nice? It's kind of a backhanded compliment, is it not? After all, would it not be better to say that someone is polite, quiet, helpful or empathetic? Nice is practically a filler word when describing someone - and frankly, Shirley deserves better than that. What does it mean to be 'nice'? The word nice has become a linguistic catch-all for general pleasantness. But because it’s so broad, it lacks specificity. It can mean anything from being agreeable to being non-offensive.

She’s not just a nice girl. She’s a good person, which is much rarer and more powerful. Especially in this world. Shirley Fenette is a young woman caught in the crossfire of a revolution she doesn’t understand, loving a boy she never truly knows. Intrigued and drawn to him by the realisation that he's wearing a mask, that he cares a lot more than he lets on, that he works hard, tirelessly hard. Watch him with his sister, then compare it to how he behaves otherwise. Like two different people. One is the caring older brother, the other a mildly sarcastic, slightly lazy, school skipping, chess gambling, ever charming, quick with a smooth lie vice-president.

Was it any wonder she wanted to bear him no less than ten children? Girl has some ambition, and part of that ambition was ruining her swimmer's physique.

Anyway, more about Shirley: She's a student at Ashford Academy and a member of its student council, she first appears as the bright, cheerful archetype, affectionate, a little clumsy, always smiling. But beneath the warmth lies a quietly unraveling soul, one who wrestles with the impossible weight of love, loyalty, and grief.

Her kindness isn’t passive; it’s deliberate. Shirley chooses compassion even when the world gives her every reason to harden. She doesn’t retreat from pain, she lives through it. And when faced with the horrifying truth about Lelouch and the cost of rebellion, she doesn’t become vindictive or broken. She forgives him, willingly, entirely and even wants to help him in any way that she could..

What makes Shirley unforgettable is not that she is “nice,” but that she is good in a world that punishes goodness. She holds on to her humanity when others lose theirs.

So what does that make Sae? Her, shall we call it, Japanified self? Well, Sae was definitely nice as well, if a lot less confident in herself. Her crush on Lelouch? Maintained. She was a little more willing to play along with bisexual antics, as Shirley had long repressed any such desires, despite the very finest efforts of Milly Ashford to bring them out.

Not that Milly was actually seriously trying. That girl could bend an arrow with a shake of her ass, should the mood arise.

Sorry, we keep getting distracted, don't we? Let's resume concentrating on Sae, shall we? So, who is Sae? What is she like? Aside from the traits we've already seen, she's also the part of Shirley that actually uses her brain. Not to be mean here, but Shirl is kinda ditzy. Ever seen her try to bake? She holds an electric whisk like it's a baby crocodile that wants a bit of her face. Science? Mathematics? She could get by, but she sure wasn't a genius like Nina.

Sae, on the other hand, was absolutely using her brainpower more effectively when it came to mathematics. She had an eidetic memory. Remembered everything she and Shirley saw. She could do all sorts of complicated and complex mathematics in her head, solving them instantly and confidently.

Despite that, she was not sure at all what to make of these readings.

"This is most peculiar," she said to Sakura, who was very obviously staring at her legs again. "Um! Pardon me Miss Sakura, but this is a form of energy that is unknown to science. I had assumed that there must be some form of Japanese genetics involved to temporarily change our minds and bodies this way - But then I discarded that idea because our clothing has also changed. What is more, Shirley does not wear glasses, so - "

Sakura shut her up by squeezing Sae's butt. The sensation made her squeal like a stuck pig. Oooh~ That had to be some sort of innate ability that she had, right? Alongside her ridiculous strength and speed, her seductive potential was off the charts.

"Can you replicate it?" Sakura whispered in her ear, licking Sae's earlobe.

"Y-yes, but it will take time," Sae said. "At least a few days, to do it safely. We are dealing with some rather unstable elements and Sakuradite on top of that! There is only so much we can safely access here in this laboratory. Civilians are not permitted the level we would need to perform the sort of mass impact that you are clearly planning."

Sakura pouted. "Am I that transparent?" she asked. "Oh, it must be due to my other self. I have greater confidence than her, greater charisma, but less intelligence. It does make sense that there would be some aspects of her I would retain, yes?"

Sae nodded. She had noticed certain things she had in common with Shirley as well. Like, for example, her desire to have ten children with him. All boys, if possible. All of them the spitting image of Lelouch. Oh, what a paradise that would be! The thought of it made her blush.

"Very well then," Sakura shrugged. "Clearly, we have need of greater resource. In that case, finish up your work... and let us rest well tonight. For tomorrow night, let us take a wander across the street, shall we...?"

======

That was the best night's sleep Shirley could remember having. Oooh, her entire body felt refreshed! It was funny, she didn't remember going to bed, nor really much of anything at all after going to help out Nina - 

But that wasn't a big deal, whatever, who cares? She kicked out of bed feeling absolutely fantastic - And found herself getting a pillow in the face for good measure.

"Mmmmf, shut up Shirley...." Sophia moaned into her second pillow. "Trying to sleep here... Not all of us are morning people, you know?"

"Sorry, sorry!" Shirley chirped, and quickly dressed, leaving their room with a spring in her step. She almost couldn't stop herself from skipping along the school hallways

She reached the student council building long before anyone else would even think about showing up. That alone should have been a red flag - Shirley Fenette was many things, but “early” was rarely one of them.

Still, her body practically glided on autopilot, radiating a level of cheer that would make a lesser girl spontaneously combust. It was as though something inside her had quietly flipped a switch and said, “Right. Time to be useful and sparkly.”

She hummed softly to herself, rounded the corner of the east hallway - and stopped. A familiar door stood half-open, and inside she could hear soft voices. One of them was Lelouch’s.

Her heart skipped. Then stumbled. Then skipped again, like a rhythmically challenged rabbit. She peeked through the doorway. Inside, Lelouch sat across from his sister at a small round table, patiently narrating the state of the chessboard between them, while Nunnally sat there, nodding along.

"…and if you move your knight here, I’ll have to choose between protecting my bishop or castling out of position," he said, tone gentle but precise.

"Ohoho~ That’s what I wanted you to say," Nunnally replied, mischievous. "You always underestimate me when I’m cheerful."

“Good, I wasn't sure you would be able to visualise the board properly."

"Hm, big brother, most of what I do these days is visualise what I cannot see."

Shirley knocked lightly and stepped in. “Morning! Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt!”

Both turned to her. Lelouch’s usual cool expression softened. “Shirley. You’re early.”

“I know, it’s weird, right?” she laughed. “Thought I’d come lend a hand with student council stuff. Or, y’know… moral support?” Actually, she'd woken up quite a bit before the alarm clock went off, and she somehow knew for a fact that she wasn't going to get back to sleep anytime soon.

“You’re welcome to join us,” Nunnally said brightly. “Would you like some tea?”

“Sure, I’d - oh, wow, you two were playing chess?” Shirley wandered toward the board like a tourist admiring a cultural artifact. “I always get confused just looking at it. Like, is that one a bishop or a rocket?”

“That’s a pawn,” Lelouch said, fighting a smile.

<i>They’re on move twenty-two, Sae noted quietly from somewhere deep in her mind. Black is up a rook, but Nunnally’s building toward a central trap. Look: if she moves her queen to D4-</i>

“Actually,” Shirley said slowly, tilting her head, “if Nunnally moves her queen to… D4? Doesn’t that set up, um, a... what’s it called? A fork?”

Lelouch blinked. “That’s… correct.”

Shirley blinked back. “It is?”

<i>Of course it is. Please. Let me monologue about open diagonals for like three minutes. He’ll love it. We’ll be married by the time I finish describing the Pirc Defense.</i>

“That would also pin your knight against the king’s file, wouldn’t it?” Shirley continued, her voice oddly composed now, like someone describing a dream they only just remembered.

Lelouch stared at her with something almost resembling intrigue. “It would. That’s impressive. I didn't know you'd been reading up on chess.”

Shirley felt a giddy warmth rise in her chest. Lelouch never looked at her like this, like she’d just said something interesting. Usually, it was the “ah, sweet but hopeless” look. This one had… curiosity.

“How long have you been studying?” he asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.

“Oh, um...not long? I think I saw something similar on TV once?” Shirley offered, face slightly too calm to be innocent.

“Well, Shirley,” Lelouch said, leaning back slightly, “if you’re hiding secret talents, you should know, it’s dangerous to hold them in for too long.”

Shirley’s heart was trying to crawl up her throat. This was a real, genuine conversation they were having. It wasn't about school stuff, or gossip about anyone else. It was her and him, talking to each other like regular human beings.

“I guess I’m just… full of surprises?” she offered, her voice an octave higher than usual.

Nunnally giggled, folding her hands primly in her lap. “You two do know I’m still here, right?”

They both turned pink immediately, and broke eye contact.

“I, of course, Nunna, sorry!” Shirley waved her hands apologetically. “I wasn’t trying to intrude, I just - ”

“Oh, you weren’t intruding,” Nunnally said sweetly. “I quite like watching this particular brand of awkward.”

Shirley looked at the adorable girl sitting there in the wheelchair, helplessly cute as always. Eyes closed, legs not functioning... She never had asked what had happened to the poor thing. All she knew was that Nunnally was the gentlest, sweetest soul that she'd ever met, and in spite of that this cruel world had seen fit to do this to her. On the other hand, it had also blessed her with Lelouch, who tirelessly cared for her day in and day out. Yet she could not walk. She could not see. She was completely and totally dependant on others...

<i>Hey, take her to the lab. She'd be a perfect test subject.</i>

Oof... For some reason Shirley had this weird feeling. Like... like her mind had thought something she really did not want it to think. Like... Imagine yourself doing something horrid. Something you wouldn't do to anyone else against their will, because you're too nice and kind and - 

<i>It might well heal her legs~</i>

Ah. Ah! W-wait, what was this? What was this feeling? Shirley didn't like it! But at the same time... at the same time, it might make Lelouch happy, right? Her eyes glazed over, and a faint smile crossed her lips, as a new plan for the day took root inside her mind. First, get Nunna away from Lelou. Then....