[Yui:]
The band stopped. Ho-kago Tea Time... has dispersed. This was five months after we graduated from Sakuragaoka High School...
And everything changed for all of us. Our lives... our friendship... has been broken apart. Why must this happen? Why does this bloom into something... so.. so.. unexpected? Have we changed our styles too much? Have we been destroyed completely by other bands? I dont think so... but what caused us to... seperate...? What caused us to break apart?
(Five Months Ago)
Ritsu: So now what? We've graduated from this high school and moving on to University. Are we still going to perform in a band?
Yui: Of course we are! We are forever friends! Best of friends! (Hugs everyone)
Mio: Well, it really depends.
Yui: Depends? O.O Mio: Yeah, being in a new school where we have to work double as hard seems time consuming.
Yui: Did you say consuming because I am pretty hungry! (^O^)
Mugi: Yui! *Everybody laughs*
Mugi: Mio has a point... if we want to keep playing, we have to ensure that we do plan our schedules properly.
Yui: Hmm... Mugi: What are you thinking of, Yui?
Yui: Food!
*Everyone falls with their feet up*: WHAT!
Ritsu: Well, I am sure we will have time... University might not be that stressful. Besides, we handled High School, so uni will be a piece of cake.
Yui: Food again!?
Mugi: Hey, lets head over to that cafe to eat! Lets celebrate our graduation! What do you guys say? Its on me!
Everyone: Yay!
(Meanwhile...)
Azusa: I wonder if theyre thinking of me...
(Opening Song)
Azusa: Maybe I should visit Ui!
*Dials her number immediately*
Ui: Hello? Azusa: Hey Ui, its me, Azusa!
Ui: Azusa! Are you coping well?
Azusa: What do you mean?
Ui: Oh, Im sorry. Was it too direct?
Azusa: No, no. Im fine! I know you would ask me about the club and them.. leaving.
Ui: Are you okay running it on your own?
Azusa: I... dont know. Ui: Dont worry. If you need any help, you know Im always here.
Azusa: Yea, but...honestly, I am afraid to run it.. yet Im afraid to let go *A long pause*
Ui: I see. But letting the band go... and seeing it return to its original, dusty state would be a real pity. Especially how Yui, Mio, Ritsu, and Mugi spent so much time building it back up...
*Azusa gasps in realisation* O.O Azusa: I guess youre right... Ui: Dont feel stressed Azusa! Remember that there is always something to look forward to... Azusa: May I visit you today?
Ui: Sure, anytime! You are always welcomed!
Azusa: Then I will meet you at dinner time! See you soon!
Ui: Okay, bye!
*Puts down phone*
Ui thoughts: I hope Azusa will be okay on her own...
(Meanwhile... at the cafe)
Yui: (*o*) The cake is so delicious...
Mugi: I am so glad you liked it!
Mio: Wait... Are you trying to say...
Mugi: Haha yes, my parents own this cafe too.
Everyone: Whoa!
Ritsu: You own everything, Mugi! It's not a big surprise. Haha!
Mugi: Not really everything... but mostly is owned by my father!
Mio: Remember when we went to London with Azusa…
Yui: GASP! We totally forgot about her!
Mio: I was going to say that…
Yui: We promised that we will bring Azusa to another trip after her graduation Ritsu: Dont worry dont worry. We still have a year to prepare!
Mio: No, we don't. 4 months to be exact Ritsu: 4 MONTHS?
Mugi: Mio's right. We only have four months till April That's when we need to go to University.
Mio: By that time, we probably do not even have time for band practices. Yui: Really? Think about my poor Gitah…
Ritsu: Hey hey hey. Why do you guys sound like we are breaking the band off? We are not going to disperse, right Mio?
Mio: Of course not. It was just a thought…
*silence for a couple of seconds*
Yui: We will never break off! Never!
*Mio, Ritsu, Mugi eyes widened*
*People in cafe stares at them*
Mio: Yui… dont shout. Its embarrasing..
Yui: Sorry…
*After leaving cafe and walking home*
*Mio receives a text :
(Come home right now! I got something important to announce. -Mum)
*
Ritsu: So what do you guys want to do now?
Mio: I'm going to head back home. We had a long day…
Ritsu: C'mon Mio, we know you want to hang out with us! Right?
Mio: No, Ritsu I cant.
Ritsu: What.. why?
Mio: Ive got something important to attend to… You guys go ahead.
Yui: How about shopping?
Mugi: Oo! Yes!
Ritsu: Um.. you two go on ahead. I will walk home with Mio. Yui: Aww.
Mugi: Aww.
Mio: Ritsu… just go and have your fun. You dont have to worry about me..
Ritsu: I am not going anywhere without you, Mio!
Mugi: Hey hey hey! Its alright if you guys dont want to go! Lets all just go home…
Mio: Sorry, I have to go!
*Mio runs home*
Ritsu: MIO!
*Mio slams the door open, breathless*
Mio: Mum…why did you… text… me … saying that ... you … got … something important… to tell ..me?
Mio's mum: Sweetheart, I.. I.. finally.. Mio: Mum?
Mio's mum: Your twin sister has been returned to us!
Mio: O.O What are you talking about? I never had a sister!
*Long pause*
Mio's mum: Sorry, I should have told you sooner…
Mio: I dont get it.. whats going on?
Mio's mum: It was on the day you were born... I actually gave birth to twins. You and your little sister. You were born first… then your sister was born. But because of a crisis back then, the doctors and nurses were frantically running around, working their hearts out as many were sick. The doctors mistook your sister as another mothers child so I was only left with you...
Mio: No… no… I dont believe it..
Mio's mum: Its true, Mio. When your sister was taken away, I kept searching for her. I kept searching and searching. But I never found her… I could not find the mother who took her away... Finally today I received a call from an orphanage, saying that they have kept your sister under great care...
Mio: Why are you telling me this now?
Mio's mum: Im so sorry…
Mio: No! I dont need an apology. Just tell me why!
Mio's mum: I couldnt have that courage to tell you. And you were so busy in your Light Music Club and your school work…, I couldnt bring myself to say it to you... Mio: All this time.. you have been keeping a secret from me… Mio's mum: No… but… Mio…
Mio: Dont say another word! *Mio opens the door as her mum follows*
Mio: Please! Leave me alone… *Slams the door as she runs away crying..*
Mio's mum: Im sorry…
(Meanwhile...)
Ritsu: I dont get her… Why is she.. acting … so strangely? Its not like I was mean to her.. or was I? I dont know.. I dont understand…
Yui: Ricchan… calm down calm down. I am sure Mios fine. Mugi: Yui's right. Maybe she needs time on her own…
Ritsu: No, somethings not right... and I shall get to the bottom of this!
*Scene changes to fashion shop*
Ritsu: Shopping! I want this.. and this.. and this!
Yui and Mio watches with O.O eyes.
Ritsu: Tada! Detective Ricchan!
Yui: Ricchan Kawaii-desu!
Ritsu: Of course, you flatter me!
Ritsu: Let's go and find Mio and to ask for an explanation!
Yui: Oh yes, Ritsu-senpai!
Mugi: … Yes!
(Meanwhile.. at the park)
Mio thoughts: This cant be true... Its not possible… I never had… No ... no.. no.. I dont believe it… I dont believe it…
*Mio cries and thought…*
Flashbacks: Mio: Ritsu, Im scared… Im afraid I cant do it…
Ritsu: Dont worry.. just treat people as pineapples… and youll do fine…
Mio: Ritsu…
Mio thoughts: Why did I think about that scene? Its not even relevant… not that anything Ritsu said was ever serious…
*Then, Ritsu found Mio and ran towards her with Yui and Mugi*
Ritsu: Mio!
Mio: Eh! Where… How did you.. find me?
Ritsu: Haha, How long have we been friends? Of course I know you are here ! Especially when you are sa…
Ritsu: Wait! That means you are sad! Investigation SOLVED! CASE CLOSED!
*Yui hugs Mio*
Yui: Dont cry, it will make you look like a pineapple!
Mio: What are you all doing here? I … thought you should be at home! Mugi: Ritsu was worried about you..
Mio: I just want to be alone…
Ritsu: Mio…
Mio: Please! Leave me.. alone!
*Yui, Mugi stares in silence*
Ritsu: I want to help you…
Mio: You cant..
Ritsu: Why cant I?
Mio: Its complicated.
Ritsu: Theres nothing too complicated that we both cant solve together…
Mio: No… just go..
Ritsu: Im not leaving till you tell me whats going on Yui: Guys…
Mugi: Dont fight…
Mio: You dont know what Im going through… you think you can solve things just like that… but YOU cant!… Why are you so stupid to realise… *Ritsu started to break down, calm but angered with tears*
Mio: … Im sorry.
Ritsu: You know what? Fine. I know.. Im not smart.. I know... I cant do certain things... especially studying.. but you were the one... you were the one who kept me going.. No more… Dont ask for me anymore… Im no longer… your friend…
*Ritsu runs off… tears falling from her eyes ..*
Yui and Mugi: Ricchan!
Mio: Im sorry, Ive got to go…
*Mio runs away… *
Yui: Mio! Mio!
Yui: Mugi, now what?
Mugi: We should let them calm down a little.
Yui: Ive never seen Ritsu cry so hard before…
Mugi: Yeah, especially seeing her so hurt…
Yui: Do you think they'll be okay?
Mugi: Im sure theyll be fine… They are childhood friends after all… their bonds are stronger than steel Yui: Even steel rusts…
Mugi: Yui…
Yui: Its late now… I shall go too.
Mugi: Okay. I will speak to Mio later..
Yui: I will speak to Ricchan then..
Mugi: Bye Yui!
Yui: Mugi…. *hugs Mugi and cries*
Mugi: Dont worry, itll be all okay. Yui: Really…?
Mugi: Yes.
To be continued in the next chapter…
/pre