Citrus Fruit Salad 2: Chaotic Christmas Tangerine.
Main characters: Yuzu Aihara, Mei Aihara
Support Character: Matsuri
Summary: Yuzu seeks to purchase a gift for Mei, but is having a difficult time deciding what would be something she would love.
Walking alone through the path covered in snow, a young girl with shoulder length blonde hair quietly in thought about Christmas, her mother left them to join her husband on the other side of the world for the Christmas holiday, leaving her alone with her cold natured step sister Mei, "I have known Mei for almost two years, yet even though she is my step sister and my girlfriend, I have no idea what to get her this time, she hasn't even given me the slightest hint," Yuzu whispered to herself.
The chill of winter compiled onto Yuzu's grief, she glanced out the corner of her eyes to see the festive shopping in full swing, mostly clothes and perfume that were in fashion, "oh man, if Mei had that sort of interest it would be easy," Yuzu sighed heavily.
"Hi Yuzu!" A girl with shoulder length pink hair surprised Yuzu with her greeting, she leapt out in front of Yuzu, "having a hard time getting your girlfriend something?" She teased her childhood friend.
"No," Yuzu denied quickly, but Matsuri wasn't buying into her response.
"Sure, then why did you mention something about Mei's interests?" Matsuri questioned Yuzu of her thoughts, following the older girl to a shopping mall, "remember Mei, is way more mature than you, so you need to think that she might like something with a hint of sophistication," Matsuri tried her best to pass down a hint.
Yuzu and Matsuri continued the search for a gift for Mei, the ever growing crowd, the songs of Christmas echoed through the mall, the cheer built up, but Yuzu remained uncertain as to what to get for her girlfriend, "so Yuzu, have you kissed under the mistletoe yet?" Matsuri asked the older teen with a mischievous grin, catching her childhood friend off guard, a sudden question that she never expected from Matsuri.
Her face was turning red, forgetting to realize that many people were surrounding her, "M…Matsuri, you shouldn't ask that sort of stuff," Yuzu's embarrassment deepened, but still maintained her focus on retrieving a gift for Mei.
"So after kissing Mei under the Mistletoe, who will be on top?" Matsuri teased her friend further, pressing the issue on their relationship.
Blushing heavily, but out of embarrassment from the comments that Matsuri was making, "you're too young to ask about that sort of stuff!" Yuzu yelled her displeasure in the shorter girl's comments.
"What's so embarrassing about it?" Matsuri asked while they continued through the shops, "just wondering whether Mei is on top, or whether you like changing positions," Matsuri prolonged her goading of her childhood friend, much to the humiliation of Yuzu.
"You know what, forget it, I am going to search for a present by myself," Yuzu snapped back, visibly flustered by Matsuri's torment. She stomped away with the intent to search for the perfect present, but now her mind was switched to what Matsuri was teasing her about, she cupped her face, trying her best to regain focus on the matter, "I cannot think about what Matsuri was saying, I need to get Mei a present," she whispered to herself, she walked around the shop on her own, her search was quickly becoming futile, she never gave up, wanting to get her girlfriend something from her.
The Christmas songs continued to echo through the mall, it was starting to get a little late, but the number of people that were walking through the mall continued to increase as if the day was getting closer and the rush was becoming more frantic. Shop owners bellowed out the specials while men dressed in Santa outfits were calling for donations for the less fortunate, Matsuri was seen at one of the, placing a bit of money in the cauldron much to Yuzu's surprise.
"Well Matsuri, you aren't all that bad," Yuzu whispered to herself, impressed by the donation.
Matsuri turned around to see Yuzu watching with pride, "yes, I also help less fortunate people, I might be mischievous, but I do have a heart," Matsuri confessed to her old friend, she watched the older girl placing a bit of money in the pot.
The two girls walked away from the man dressed as Santa, proud of their contribution, "alright, now I need to get something for Mei," Yuzu reminded herself of the task, walking off with Matsuri following close by.
Yuzu entered a book store with the hopes of finding a book that Mei might like, "so Mei likes reading?" The pink haired girl asked Yuzu.
Yuzu picked up one of the books, inspected it and placed it back, picking up another, "yeah she loves reading," Yuzu replied while examining the next book. She passed through a number of books until she found one that seemed interesting, "I might get his for her," Yuzu stated quietly, she walked up to the front counter and placed her purchase.
After exiting the shop, Yuzu approached another store, still not content with getting Mei a book, seeking to get her another present, "geez Yuzu, you need to take it easy, one gift is enough," Matsuri tried to convince her friend that her eagerness was getting the best of her.
"But I really want to make Christmas special this year for her," Yuzu replied softly, remembering what had happened the previous Christmas, "besides I want to make up for last year."
"Oh right you caved when it mattered most," Matsuri replied cheekily.
"Don't remind me," Yuzu snapped back in anger. The two continued not wanting to continue the conversation, but the thought of upsetting Mei again made the blonde haired girl shudder, "I hurt her last year, I never want to do that again," Yuzu acknowledged her first Christmas with Mei, not allowing herself to experience that situation again, she pressed forward to search for another present, "I want to make up for last year," expressing her own desire to make things right.
"Geez Yuzu, you need to realize that Mei would be happy with anything you give, because it's from you, there isn't any need to be so over the top with getting her something," Matsuri shrugged her shoulders in disapproval, while trying her best to reason with her friend's logic.
As time passed on, the two friends had finished their shopping, Yuzu ended up purchasing a small teddy bear for Mei's collection and a CD containing a wide variety of Christmas Songs, "alright I am done here, I need to get home, Mei might be getting worried about me," Yuzu started her journey home, waving to her childhood friend before going their separate ways.
While walking home the words of advice from Matsuri rang through the mind of Yuzu, she tried her best to play them down as words from a mischievous girl who was, 'you don't have to buy the shop out for her,' Matsuri's comments continued to echo in her mind.
Meanwhile at home, Mei was sitting in her room studying, but most of all awaiting the return of Yuzu, she pushed her chair back, approached the door, opening slowly the door, she peered out towards the main entrance of the apartment, disappointment washed over her as she walked towards the kitchen in search of food, 'I don't want to be alone, where are you Yuzu?' she asked herself with a feeling of loneliness became more apparent.
Mei turned her attention to the shimmering lights of the Christmas tree in the corner of the lounge room, thinking back to her first Christmas with Yuzu, how things turned out during that day and before then, "mom isn't home, but in reality I really want Yuzu around," Mei admitted to herself, her desire for her girlfriend becoming more apparent.
The entry opened up, Mei quickly spun around to see the eldest of the step-siblings entering the apartment, she was carrying a couple of bags, "sorry I took so long, I had to get a few things," Yuzu noticed Mei standing in front of the Christmas Tree, she placed the bags on the table and walked slowly towards the girl with long black hair.
Mei kept her back to Yuzu, her eyes directed at the ground, "I was scared that you weren't going to return home," Mei admitted her fears, not daring to show her tears to Yuzu.
"Oh come on Mei, remember what I told you?" Yuzu defended herself, walking slowly towards her step sister.
Wiping away her tears, she turned to Yuzu and gave her a gentle smile, "I was so worried about you, mom isn't here this Christmas, she is with dad, so being all alone makes me scared," she explained to her older sister.
"I see, so you seem to have something that you are scared of after all," Yuzu walked closer to her sister, "you have nothing to worry about, I would never leave you alone for a long time," Yuzu promised Mei, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend, allowing Mei to rest her head on Yuzu's shoulders, "it's alright, I promised that I would never betray you."
Tears streamed down Mei's face, as happiness continued to overwhelm her, "thank you."
"No problem at all, I made that promise and I intent to keep it," Yuzu announced her intentions to Mei, she stepped back and cleared up the tears of Mei, "last year was a disaster, this year…." Yuzu started with a grin, she turned back to the table and approached it with pride welling up. She grabbed the items inside the bag and gulped, "this Christmas, I want to make up for the trouble I caused last year, for hurting you, that is something I never want to do again," Yuzu explained confidently.
Mei tilted her head in confusion, she wasn't sure what the blonde haired girl was talking about, "it was also my fault, I tried to force it onto you," Mei responded solemnly.
"I guess there is no point in blaming ourselves anymore, we have to continue going forward," Yuzu stated cheerfully, revealing the presents in her grasp, she handed them to Mei, "merry Christmas Mei," Yuzu wished the dark haired girl with a smile.
Mei politely took the gifts from Yuzu and looked at them for a moment, "before I open them, I have something for you," Mei commented, she placed the presents on the coffee table and rushed back to their room, to grab her present for Yuzu.
"You got something for me?" Yuzu asked curiously, she waited for the other teen to emerge from the room, 'I wonder what she got me.'
After a few minutes Mei exited the room, with a gift that was poorly wrapped, "I got this for you," Mei handed the gift to Yuzu.
"I see you have never wrapped presents before," Yuzu tried her best to hold back her laughter. She unwrapped the present to reveal a manga, something that she was familiar with, she pulled the wrapping paper further back and much to her surprise the title was revealed, "Peach Sisters volume seven?" Yuzu almost dropped the manga.
"Matsuri told me that you wanted that volume," Mei answered cautiously, not trying to sound too pleased with the idea.
"Gee thanks Mei, this was really difficult to get a hold of," Yuzu replied softly, holding the newest volume, "I was trying to buy it from the shops last week and they said someone without any care purchased it," Yuzu expressed her relief, showing some pride in her sister for having the courage to get the new volume for her.
"I also took the chance to look at the other six volumes to, you aren't very good at hiding things," Mei retorted calmly, she pulled another volume from her pocket, "I help hide them to prevent mom from seeing them."
"Do you want to read this one together with me?" Yuzu asked the more mature girl with a hopeful expression.
"Not really," Mei's response echoed around the room, she handed the manga back to Yuzu and turned her attention to the gifts that were meant for her, she picked up a rectangular gift and started to gently unwrap the present revealing a book about places of the world.
Yuzu watched Mei staring at the new book, "I didn't know what you liked, so I got this one for you."
"Thank you," Mei answered back softly, her attention soon switched over to another present, it was obviously a plush toy, but Mei didn't say anything, she picked it up and pulled the wrapping paper off, revealing a teddy bear coloured white with black spots, wearing a Santa hat, Mei remained quiet before hugging the small teddy bear, "another teddy bear for my collection," she whispered to herself while Yuzu was watching on.
"I'm glad you like them Mei," Yuzu gratefully told her sister, a smile stretched across her face, she watched Mei open the final present, a CD with Christmas songs, "I wasn't sure what music you liked," Yuzu confessed her lack of knowledge, she witnessed Mei showing more attention to the teddy bear, "so I kind of played it safe."
"I don't have a particular taste in music," Mei responded quietly, she turned to her room, started walking to it, but was stopped by Mei, "what is it?"
"Put this CD on," Mei demanded stoically, forcing the CD into her step-sister's hand.
"Alright," Yuzu answered.
The girls entered their room, Yuzu approached the CD player and started playing the CD, the first song that played was White Christmas, Mei turned to the balcony and saw the first snow fall, as the song continued to play in the background, Mei walked on to the balcony, watching the lights of the city flicker, "that was a good song, who was the singer?"
Yuzu picked up the CD cover and spotted the name of the song, "it was Bing Cosby," Yuzu quickly answered, she placed the cover down and waited for the next song to start.
"Please play that song again," Mei asked her step sister calmly.
Yuzu followed the request and restarted the song, she walked onto the balcony, White Christmas playing again, standing next to her step-sister, Yuzu looked outwards, watching the snow falling with greater intensity, "how about listening to the other songs?" Yuzu asked the black haired girl, but no response emerged from Mei, she was too busy listening to the song.
Mei remained quiet for the duration of the song, enjoying every second of the song, "is there any more of that singer on this CD?"
"No this is the only song that he sings," Yuzu responded as the next song started to play, "this one is really nice, Ode to Joy," Yuzu instantly recognised the piece of music that played next.
Mei continued to listen to the next song, she was now relaxed, enjoying the music that was blaring out from the CD player, "you gave me so much, I don't know if I can give anything in return."
"Nah don't worry about it, I don't need anything in return," Yuzu played it down, she was about to say something, but was stopped when Mei gently kissed her, she pulled back just as quickly and re-entered the room, 'oh man, I just received the best gift possible,' she thought to herself.
Mei picked up the newest volume of the manga and turned to Yuzu, "hurry up and get out of the cold, let's read this manga together," Mei returned the offer to read the manga with her step-sister, she walked to her side of the bed, waiting for Yuzu to take her side of the bed as well.
Yuzu approached her bed and sat back, Mei handed her the manga and waited for Yuzu to turn the first pages, but before seeing the first pages, "wait Yuzu," Mei stopped her step-sister, she inched closer until her left arm was wrapped around Yuzu's shoulder, she nodded to signify the beginning of their first time reading the same thing together, Yuzu turned the first page and the couple started reading with the music continuing in the background.
This was meant to be short story 4, but as we well know, it was Christmas time and it would be fitting to add this one first.
The ending was slightly inspired by the second special chapter that was released with Volume six in Japan, of course I had to wait for the English version, so I hope you enjoy, as for the next ones, they will involve video games and being a super hero (in their dreams that is)