Someone requested jealous Yuzu, so I tried my best to oblige! Of course, they suggested that Himeko would be the most likely cause of Yuzu's jealousy, so I consciously decided NOT to write with Himeko. lol just to make my life harder, I suppose. (and it was hard!) I think that the end result is...interesting. Hopefully, it's somewhat enjoyable though as we wait for the next chapter to come out!
Yuzu hummed to herself as she sprayed disinfectant on top of a desk and diligently wiped it clean with the rag she was holding.
She had gotten stuck with cleaning duty once again, but it wasn't such a bad thing today. Thankfully, there wasn't much cleaning to be done. Just wiping off the desks, cleaning the board, and watering the plants. Then she'd be free!
Harumin had even said that she would wait outside for Yuzu to finish so they could walk home together. Her friend had offered to help, but their teacher had said that this was Yuzu's punishment, and hers alone.
Continuing her tune, she moved on to the last row of desks, repeating her process once again.
Glancing outside of the second story window, she found Harumin standing nearby, texting on her phone while waiting for Yuzu to finish up. Her friend didn't seem to be too impatient though, as she was leaning casually against a small fence, happily texting away with whatever boy held her fancy that week.
Looking elsewhere, Yuzu's heart skipped a beat as her eyes fell upon her step-sister/Student Council President, Mei.
Mei had a stern look upon her face, as usual, as she was walking directly towards Harumin. Yuzu felt a frown edge onto her face.
Mei wasn't going to get Harumin in trouble for texting after school, was she? She guessed that it wouldn't actually be that surprising, since Mei was such a stickler for school rules.
Absentmindedly moving to the next desk, Yuzu intently watched the situation unfold beneath her, unbeknownst to the girls outside.
Harumin looked up and immediately dropped her hands to her side when she noticed Mei approaching her. Stalking straight up to Yuzu's friend, Mei seemed serious as she began speaking to her, but after a few tense seconds, it didn't look like Harumin was in much trouble, if any at all.
Yuzu sighed in relief. She didn't want to spend another walk home complaining about her step-sister with her best friend.
Finishing the last desk, she collected the watering can and filled it with water from the hallway fountain. Returning to the window, she began watering the line of small potted plants that had been placed there to receive the best sunlight.
Glancing outside once more, surprise filled her as she noticed that Harumin and Mei were still talking, and quite amicably so. She froze, mind going into overdrive at what she was witnessing.
Mei was genuinely…smiling.
Suddenly realizing that she was drowning the current plant under her unwatchful care, she quickly stepped to the next one, tearing her eyes off of Mei for no longer than a half a second.
What were they talking about? Why did Mei look so…happy?
And then…it happened. Something so unexpected, Yuzu nearly dropped the watering can from her hands.
Harumin was explaining something quite cheerfully, gesturing excitedly with her hands, and then…Mei laughed.
Well…it was more of a refined giggle that she politely hid behind her hand, but it was still a type of laugh that Yuzu had never seen before.
She watched in rapt amazement. Mei was so stunningly beautiful when she lost the stern scowl that was normally adorning her face; Yuzu felt herself fall for the girl all over again as she tried to commit the sight to memory.
An unfamiliar feeling began to prickle at her skin as she continued watching the girls carefully, steadily moving down the line of plants. She looked away hastily as the two girls laughed once more, with Harumin nearly dissolving into giggles this time. She felt her heart begin pounding at the sight as she suddenly felt slightly sick to her stomach.
What could Harumin possibly be saying to make Mei so happy? Why was it that she could never make Mei laugh like that?
The feeling grew and grew with each passing second as she finally finished watering all of the plants in the classroom. She hadn't been in a rush to finish quickly before, but she certainly was now as she turned her attention to cleaning the boards at the front of the room.
What did Harumin have that Yuzu didn't?
Sure…Harumin was very pretty. Gregarious, friendly, sought-after…she could hide anything in her cleavage…but what drew Mei to her over Yuzu?
And Harumin was clearly straight…wasn't she?
Finishing the boards in record time, Yuzu threw the cleaning supplies back in the basket as she collected her bag and raced out of the room. She would likely be scolded tomorrow for her second-rate cleaning effort, but she really didn't care about that right now.
All she cared about was finding out what those two were talking about.
"What did she say?" Mei asked curiously, struggling to keep a grin from reappearing on her face as Harumin continued her story.
"She said…" Harumin paused to collect herself as she began laughing at the memory. "She said…'This is actually my son'!"
Mei let out a small snort of amusement as Harumin broke down into giggles in front of her.
"And what did Yuzu do then?"
"Well…this is Yuzu we're talking about, so…she just turned around and ran out the door without saying another word!" Harumin dissolved into more laughter, clutching her sides in apparent pain. "I…I just chased after her! I didn't know what else to do!"
Mei smiled as she shook her head at the conclusion of the story.
"That definitely sounds like Yuzu…" she commented, being somewhat affectionate of her step-sister's propensity to get herself into uncomfortable situations. Yuzu's ways of getting herself out of those situations were…less than graceful.
At that moment, Mei noticed their topic of conversation step out of the school building, heading hastily towards them with a small wave.
She instantly forced her smile to fall from her face, replaced by the most normal expression she could muster at the moment. Her calm exterior needed to mask the turmoil she felt inside at the sight of the blonde girl striding towards them. Mei could already feel her heart beating a little too rapidly as Yuzu's blonde locks blew lightly in the wind, causing the girl to unconsciously brush them over her shoulder.
"Yuzu!" Harumin squealed in happiness, running over and crushing Yuzu in a gigantic hug. Mei felt her lips tug down at the unnecessary contact between the two friends. They had only been separated for a thirty minutes…not thirty years.
"H-hey, Harumin," Yuzu replied, looking towards Mei, eyes wide with confusion. "It's…good to see you too…I'm sorry that I took so long."
"You didn't take long at all," Mei replied. "In fact, I'm wondering if you did a very thorough job at all…"
Yuzu's face immediately turned red, giving Mei the answer she was looking for. She sighed, but decided to let it go for now. Her step-sister would just be paying for it again tomorrow.
"It wasn't very long, but I missed you!" Harumin squealed, finally breaking out of the hug.
Mei couldn't help rolling her eyes at the girl's exaggeration. Was it even possible to miss someone when they had been gone for less than thirty minutes?
But Yuzu only giggled at the embellishment, adding to Mei's steadily increasing level of irritation.
"Well, now that fate has brought you two back together, I suppose that we can finally head home."
Both girls laughed at Mei's use of the word 'fate,' but fell in line beside her as they began their walk to the train station.
"S-so…what were you guys talking about?" Yuzu hesitantly asked, throwing a quick glace towards Mei.
"School policies," she answered quickly. Internally, she cringed at her impulsive lie, but she couldn't tell Yuzu that they had actually been talking about her. Plus, school policy seemed like a vaguely reasonable answer; at least, in Harumin's case it was.
"Uh, yup! Good 'ol school policies! Gotta love them – super strict dress code, no texting, no running, no having fun..." Harumin responded, happily listing off all of the rules she disliked.
Mei sent her a disapproving glare, but the girl just grinned and winked in response. She couldn't help sighing. Of all the people she would become an accomplice in a lie with…Harumin had probably not been the best choice.
"Oh…"
Yuzu's one syllable answer caused Mei to look towards her in concern. Her step-sister's downcast expression filled Mei with guilt for having told a lie. Harumin immediately noticed the change in attitude and shook her head slowly in disappointment.
"Hey, Yuzu, why don't we go shopping? That new store just opened up and they're probably having some awesome sales!" Harumin bounced up and down in front of them in order to show her excitement.
Yuzu cheered up for a few seconds, before she glanced towards Mei and sighed.
"We can't, remember? Against school rules."
"Ah right!" Harumin exclaimed, slapping her head lightly. "How could I have forgotten our conversation so quickly?"
Mei scowled at her, daring the brunette to continue.
"But…I think that Mei might make an exception today, right Mei?" Harumin looked at her pointedly, and Mei quickly understood what she was getting at. Mei would allow their rule breaking today, and Harumin wouldn't rat out her lie to Yuzu.
She really hated being blackmailed, but what was she supposed to do? Yuzu was already having a hard enough time just being 'sisters' as it was. The last thing Mei wanted to do was add fuel to the fire by having her find out that Mei had been prying amusing stories about her out of her best friend.
"I guess we could make a quick stop…" Mei replied with a sigh, frowning as Harumin winked at her again.
"You…you want to go too, Mei?" Yuzu asked incredulously.
Mei was about to scoff at the question until she noticed the wounded look in Yuzu's eyes.
She blinked, the only visible signal of her own bewilderment.
"I will…if you…want me to?"
She hated that it came out as a question, but it was unlike Yuzu to not be pleading for Mei to accompany her.
Mei's confusion only grew as Yuzu merely nodded silently in response before turning her eyes back towards the ground. Apparently, that had been the wrong answer…but why? Didn't Yuzu want to be around her?
"Alright! Me and Yuzu…plus the President…goin' shoppin'!" Harumin commented aimlessly as they entered the station together.
Jealousy surged within her as Harumin's statement finally brought the real issue into focus. She was the third wheel, raining on Yuzu and Harumin's shopping parade. Apparently, there were actually some activities that Yuzu preferred to do with her best friend, alone. And shopping must be one of them.
It made sense…the brunette was practically a professional shopper. That and she was witty, humorous, and…Yuzu actually had fun when she was around Harumin. As opposed to Mei, who was pretty sure that she spent most of her time scolding her step-sister, or actively giving her the silent treatment.
"Actually…I have a lot of Student Council work to get done this evening…you two go ahead though," Mei stated as she abruptly changed directions and began making her way to the concourse that would take her directly home.
"Yuzu…I'll see you at dinner. Don't be late."
Turning back one last time, Mei felt her heart drop when she found that Yuzu looked almost…relieved…to see her go. She tried to forget the image as she walked away from the two friends, finding a small amount of solace as Harumin's excited chatter gave way to the bustle of the station.
Now she understood how it was possible to miss someone when you had just goodbye.