Akira froze in her tracks as she realised Tadashi was the one saying that line, and was also right behind her. She refused to turn around to face him.
"I suffered… you know… at the hands of that monster Yahiro Saiga."
"And…?"
"I… I don't want Megumi to suffer. She doesn't deserve to suffer any more –"
"Who are you to make the choice on that, Akira?"
Her breath was caught in her throat as she realised he had walked around to face her.
"Who are you, to decide Megumi's happiness based on your own experiences with Yahiro?"
"He broke her heart by kissing some shameless stripper. He knew what he was doing when he broke her heart like that, Tadashi."
"And that denies them a second chance?"
She strode up to Tadashi, anger clear in her face.
"Do you know what I've been through these 5 YEARS, seeing her cry over and over again? Have you been there when she refused to come out of her room, eat or drink for 5 days straight? Were you there when you heard him say to her that it was over? Does that brain of yours even COMPREHEND all this I'm saying?"
Yahiro walked out and was instantly blinded by the sunlight.
Urgh, why does it have to be so sunny today…
He slowly got used to the light, and his eyes were drawn towards a boy and a girl not too far from him, walking side by side, the girl laughing and the boy pretending to be angry.
That used to be Megumi and me.
He watched as the girl walked a few steps ahead of the guy, turned back and smiled at him. She presented the boy with a small present, which the boy took with bewildered surprise. He laughed upon seeing what was inside, and hugged her. She reciprocated back, and then hurriedly pushed him away as she put a hand to her neck. The grin on the boy's face, and the teasing tone of "I marked you", followed by the blush on the girl's face.
Yup, those two really do remind me of how it was between Megumi and myself. How I did the exact same thing, in that exact same spot, many years ago.
His heart ached as he continued to watch the pair.
Dammit, how did I… why did I let you leave me… Megumi?
Ryuu, Jun and Megumi had been asked to do some shopping around Paris for some ingredients for dinner.
Jun and Megumi's mum had smiled and said she was going to make a special dish, but that she also needed special ingredients.
The three of them slowly took in the sights of Paris once more, Megumi in particular eyeing all the couples that seemed to be in cafes looking into each others' eyes while drinking coffee or talking.
Paris is well-known as a city of love and romance… but I never expected to see this many couples…
She was dragged by Jun and Ryuu, who had noticed her standing and looking around… at the couples.
The two boys looked at each other – was it a good idea to bring Megumi with us? – but quickly shook the thought out of their minds as they headed to the supermarket.
Sakura decided to call Kei to tell him what had recently happened. She explained that Yahiro didn't want to do a disguise – something which Kei objected to, because it was a masquerade ball and at the very least he needed a mask if not a disguise – and that she had let him leave – once again, Kei had a lot to say about that, like that she was being too soft with Yahiro, and that Yahiro needed to be schooled on how to properly react around Megumi, and on and on…
She sighed as the phone call finally ended.
That Takashima Kei really is some kind of a perfectionist… he wants to completely change Yahiro's nature… but I don't think Yahiro would be so keen on that…
Although, something else also came to Sakura's mind.
Megumi fell in love with him… even with the attitude he has now. So surely, surely… it should be okay.
Yahiro had somehow managed to wander to Hakusen Academy's greenhouse, and opened the door. He stepped in, and walked in a trance; before sitting down where Megumi would usually sit.
"Sakura got lenient with you, huh?"
He blinked into consciousness and saw Kei-kun.
"I know you're orchestrating everything to make it perfect… but to be honest; even if you did all this, it would probably not even help me in Paris."
"Oh, so you have a better idea?"
Yahiro opted not to answer that.
I don't have a better idea; because no matter what is done I wouldn't ever be prepared for a situation like this. This is Takashima Kei the perfectionist, so if I give him an answer like that he'll never get it. If I say I have a better idea, I'll probably be forced to explain every aspect of it to Kei-kun. That won't work either. But if I say that I don't have any, he'll probably put me back to working on 'disguises' and 'dancing' and all that crap with Sakura. Urgh.
The three of them had managed to finish their shopping and get all the ingredients.
"Ara, you're Megumi Yamamoto, right?"
Megumi blinked upon hearing her name. She looked behind her to the old man who was smiling at her.
"I'm one of your mother's acquaintances. I have heard that you'll be singing at the masquerade ball that's happening in one and a half week's time. Good luck."
She blinked again, before nodding back at the man, and following Jun and Ryuu.
I'm singing… at a masquerade ball? In one and a half week's time?
Hikari had been silent and red-faced ever since Kei had suddenly kissed her. She had also been silent when Kei and Yahiro were talking.
I think that Kei should give Yahiro a chance to do what he wants to do…
"Kei… nothing… can be perfect. Even you… have flaws of your own…"
She struggled to find the words to continue.
"But… this is something that Yahiro and Megumi need to do… so… I think… you should let them do what they want… and not interfere with it."
Kei and Yahiro both paused to look at Hikari.
She hadn't finished with that statement.
"Kei, you should… believe in your friends!"
Yahiro turned to look at Kei.
"Your interesting girlfriend's finally got something right"
"Don't bring her into this"
Yahiro cocked his eyebrow at Kei.
"So, am I still under house arrest?"
There was silence in the greenhouse for several seconds.
"No… you are free to do what you want to prepare for your meeting with Megumi. I… believe that you will find your own way to tell her everything, Yahiro."
