Schemes: Prologue
Disclaimer: Maria-sama ga Miteru and its characters are not mine. Credits to the author.
A/N: Hey there everyone. 'Schemes' is a continuation of 'Still' and is set one week after Sachiko and Yumi's reconciliation. The story will still revolve around my two favourite characters, but the genre (as you've noticed in the story profile) is different because it is leaning more on the romance/humour side, but I hope you enjoy reading anyway! This is rated T for now, just to be safe, but may change in later chapters.
Yoshino cursed loudly when she heard her phone's alarm buzz. The sound reverberated in her room making her head ache. She had set it at full volume, just to be sure that she didn't miss it, unaware that she would not be having a wink of sleep anyway due to her anxiousness.
She had stayed at her parent's house so she and Rei could leave together. The sound seemed to have awakened her mother because moments later, she noticed the fluorescent outside of her room was switched on judging from the light through the crack at the bottom of her bedroom door. It was followed by a frantic knock and her mother's voice telling her to get up.
After telling her mother that she was up, she proceeded to dress before heading down for breakfast. Yoshino was not surprised to find her partner sitting at their dining table, having breakfast with both their mothers.
The most awaited vacation came earlier than Yoshino expected. Just last week, Sei called to inform her that she had already booked a flight and they will proceed with the planned reunion. Yoshino vividly remembered how angry she had been. She was thinking about all the work that needed to be done just to get the reunion going and Sei only gave her a week to prepare. She did not hold back and voiced out her complaints to her senior.
After her long tirade, Sei-sama finally said. "Are you done?"
Yoshino did not speak, she was still breathing hard and was overflowing with irritation.
"Good" the older woman said. "I would like to inform you that we have already booked the resort. We have also informed Shimako and Eriko about it. Also, I have just received a message from Shimako that she had contacted Noriko-chan. All three of them agreed to come. My imouto also said that Noriko-chan will be the one to inform Touko-chan and Nana-chan about it. Any more questions?"
"We?"
"What?"
"You used we."
"Out of all the things I have said, that is what got you curious? Aren't you even going to say how wonderful a person I am to have prepared all this?"
After not hearing a response, Sei-sama continued with a sigh "Youko."
"I knew it!" Yoshino exclaimed. "I thought I heard Youko-sama's voice when we spoke months before."
"Well, congratulations for figuring it out. Now, going back to this reunion. All you need to do is to book a flight because our destination is an island resort overseas. I will send you the reservation details via email."
"Why not just have the vacation here in Japan?" Yoshino inquired.
"I've been to this resort once, with Youko. I can vouch for how wonderful this place is. Also, there will be a beach party this coming weekend."
"Now that explains it. You just want to have some fun."
By the sound of Sei-sama's voice, Yoshino knew she was smiling widely, "Of course I want to have some fun! You have no idea how great it is to party all day and night, on the beach, with overflowing alcohol and surrounded by beautiful people in bikinis!"
"I'm sure you're the only person among us who would find that setting amazing. You know how conservative Shimako-san and Sachiko-sama are, right?" Yoshino sounded exasperated. "And besides, this is supposed to be a reunion among friends. You know, coming from an all-girls' Catholic school, we just want to spend some quiet time catching up."
"Now you're sounding so much like Youko."
"Where is Youko-sama, by the way?"
"She's out buying groceries."
That explains how she can say all those things, Yoshino's thought.
After that, Yoshino contacted each of her former Yamayurikai friends to inform them of the reunion. Everyone agreed to the schedule, all except Yumi. Apparently, her best friend has an on-going major project that needed to be completed within the week and she would not be allowed to take a Vacation Leave, unless she finished her work.
After much persuading from Yoshino's end, she was eventually able to convince her best friend. Yumi said that she will just be rendering overtime the whole week to make sure that she has everything done before they leave.
Yoshino took care of booking their flight.
"Hey Yoshino. Are you just going to stand there? We're going to be late." Rei's voice shook her out of her musing.
She snapped back to attention and proceeded to sit down. After a quick breakfast, they loaded their luggage in the back of the car. Her uncle volunteered to drive them to the airport. And just as they were about to leave, Rei's phone vibrated.
"Rei?"
It was Sachiko.
"I will not be able to make it." Rei flashed a worried look to Yoshino.
"Earlier, I missed my flight going back to Japan. But I have already booked a direct flight, so I will meet you at the resort." Sachiko's voice sounded worried and somewhat irritated.
At first, Rei had been against Yoshino's desperate desire to play cupid between their friends. She wanted to respect Yumi and Sachiko's privacy and decided to only help when either one of them specifically asked for it.
So what changed her mind?
First had been Yoshino's overwhelming enthusiasm for the project. Saying that Sachiko was too stubborn and proud to ever ask for help. While Yumi would rather shoulder her burden alone, rather than bother anyone else with her problems. Yoshino even stressed that the two clearly still loved each other, but their own concerns were making it hard for them to take the first step. Yoshino just wanted to set the stage, give them an opportunity to talk. But whether or not they grab the chance offered, was up to them.
Rei doubted that. She knew her partner well enough to know that Yoshino will not only give them an opportunity as she would like to call it. Yoshino will shove it down their throats so that they will have no choice but act on it. And this gave her a headache.
The second and bigger reason why she agreed to help was because of her embarrassment. During the time when her close friend bared her secrets and cried her heart out to her, she let it slip that Yumi was planning to visit her to clear up their misunderstanding. But judging from the lack of news from both Sachiko and Yumi's end, it appeared as if more than half a year had passed and the younger of the two still hadn't made her move. Thus, if Yumi didn't initiate any conversation with Sachiko, then Rei felt like she did nothing but give her close friend false hope.
So after she ended the call, Rei squared her shoulders and convinced herself that this time she would make it up to her close friend and really make that conversation happen. Sachiko needs her.
These were the same thoughts in Yoshino's head. She had been holding back from meddling in her best friend's affairs. But this time, she will boldly step in. With the support of the other Yamayurikai members, she will surely do something to help Yumi. She is the only one who can help Yumi through her ordeal with Sachiko. Yoshino had been sure of it.
How wrong she had been.
A/N: That was just a teaser ^^
Hey there again! First, I would like to thank imoshen88, as she continue to be a great help in this story.
Dear readers! If you read chapter 13 of 'Still' I did mention about the vacation which, as you may have already guessed, is the setting of this story. You also may have figured it out, but Yoshino and Rei (and all of their friends) remain to be unaware that Yumi and Sachiko already reconciled. As to why they kept it a secret, you will soon find out! Anyway, let me know your thoughts.