"After that, my parents forbid me to see him again. His parents did the same." Sada explained, having curled up her legs to her chest while she sat on her bed. Her arms wrapped around her legs, it was like her own little comfort in going so far back in memory. "We were separated for years, until we saw each other by chance when Honey began teaching me. Even then, we spoke but tried to avoid one another because that was how we grew up."
Her voice had grown soft and her eyes downcast. Kaoru couldn't help but frown as she told him this story. He would have never imagined that families feuding would have caused such a tear in two once close friends. What came next though shocked him.
"When we were kids...I used to like him. He and I shared something, but when we were separated, I tried to learn to push it away. I think even now he wants us to forget that. I'm just happy to see him again, to be able to be around him without fear of something happening anymore. Even if it means that he doesn't feel the same anymore, I can learn to live with it."
The boy stared at her, surprised to hear such a confession from her. So she had feelings for Mori? Even now? Or were they just reminiscence from the past? A part of him hoped it was the latter.
"I dont even know if Mori felt the same, or if he just let me be affectionate to him. There was some part of me that truly felt he liked me back, was sure that there was something we shared even though we were so little. I still felt that way when I saw him again years later. I wanted something for us, but knew it wasn't possible. And the more I had seen of him, the more it seemed like he was trying to forget it."
Kaoru didn't know what to say as he sat there but before he could, Sada laughed softly and smiled over at him.
"But, it's okay. I can be his friend. And that's enough for me."
He stayed silent but sighed softly. "I'm sorry for what has happened to you guys in the past."
Sada smiled still and sat up. "I appreciate that Kaoru. You're really the only person I've told about this. But, please keep this between us, okay?"
"Of course. But, if you need someone to talk to, just ask." The offer came so easily and he found he wanted to hear more of Sada's life and help her with the problems she had. Even now, all he wanted to do was comfort her as she looked to be so pained by her past with Mori. Then there was a change in her smile. It became so very soft but bright and a look in her eyes that was kind.
"Thank you, I appreciate that."
The two talked for a little while longer before Kaoru received a call from Hikaru, asking just how long it was going to take him to drop off a notebook. He left a few minutes after, making his way down the stairs with her and walking out to the car.
The ride back was just as silent as it was when he was riding there. But now there was so much more to think about. How she had looked, what she had told him. On and off, thoughts whirlwinded in his mind and every now and again, he'd see her in his mind's eye, smiling to him and hear her gentle voice in his head. The more he saw and heard her, he felt his face get warmer and warmer.
When he returned, Hikaru was waiting in their room to see how everything had gone. "What took you so long?" He asked, watching in surprise as his brother collapsed onto the bed and stuffed his face into a pillow.
In the silence, he could hear Kaoru's muffled voice. "I've got it bad..."