Sakura froze in her position. She refused to look at the boy sitting behind her. It has been almost 5 years since he went back to Hong Kong. Why did he come back to Tomoeda?
The bell rang.
Tomoyo stood up first.
"Long time no see, Syaoran Li", she offered her hand. He shook it.
"Tomoyo Daidouji," He said, and she smiled. "And Sakura Kinomoto" This seemed to bring Sakura back from her daydream. She finally turned to him.
"Hi." She said shyly, avoiding to look at his face.
"You haven't changed much, Kinomoto" Sakura blushed and finally met his hazel eyes "Always getting on other people's way."
"I'm sorry," She said, bowing her head.
"It's okay. Just stay out of my way and we should get along fine" He said coldly, standing up and leaving the room.
Sakura just stood there, repeating his last words in her head. Her hands fidgeted and Tomoyo grabbed them.
"Sakura… Are you okay?" She said, worried.
"I…" Sakura stammered "I…" Many thoughts were racing in her mind. Tomoyo grabbed their lunch bags and took her out of the classroom. When Sakura resurfaced from her thoughts, she was sitting on a bench in an empty garden. Tomoyo had a deep frown.
"Sakura… Talk to me" Tomoyo said, worried.
Sakura spat out "I-I can't believe I bumped into him, and now he sits behind me… It's like Elementary all over again"!
"But we are not in Elementary anymore," Tomoyo said, still holding her friend's hands "So much has changed since then, you, me… Even him. Maybe you two can start over".
Sakura sighed deeply "Why did he come back? I thought I would never have to face him again".
"I know things did not end well last time. But you can't live in the past, Sakura… We'll only live once" Sakura squeezed her best friend's hands "And I plan on us to live our best years together. Right now, in the present. I'll always be by your side. I know he broke your heart, but you're so much more than that, Sakura" Tears streamed down both girl's faces. Tomoyo smiled at her while they sniffed "You're kind, you're sweet and cheerful. If he can't see that, many other boys will! And you are so loved. Please don't think so little of yourself because of a stupid boy" Sakura jumped at her friend's neck and sobbed until she felt like herself again.
"Thank you so much, Tomoyo," Sakura said, wiping away her tears "I promise you I'll try my best" Tomoyo smiled and took a makeup kit from her bag.
"Now I'll fix a little something, no one needs to know we spilled a few tears, and we'll have some delicious lunch, I've even brought lemon cupcakes" Tomoyo smiled gently and Sakura returned a faint one.
-
Eriol dragged Syaoran around and was introducing him to half of the school. Some of them were familiar from his previous time in Tomoeda, but few seemed to remember him.
"How can you know so many people already? Aren't you in 10th grade too?" Syaoran asked, feeling drained from all the social interactions.
"Yes, but I was student council's president in Middle School, so I know most of our colleagues and naturally I joined this school's council as well" Eriol smiled while waving to some girls in a distance "So tell me, Syaoran" His piercing gaze stared at the boy's face "What kind of companionship spikes your interest?"
Syaoran blushed profusely "I'm not interested in dating" Eriol laughed.
"Since you're new meat and from another country, many people will be interested in making your acquaintance," Eriol said, conducing him to another part of the schoolyard "I can introduce you to people you feel more inclined to get along, but I'm here for you as well".
"T-thanks, I'm fine on my own" Syaoran replied, his mind going back to the emerald eyes he had faced for the first time in five years "And I mean it when I say that I'm not interested in dating whatsoever".
"All right. But don't start making promises you can't keep yet; I haven't even introduced you to my favorite people in this school. Oh, there they are" Eriol guided him to a group of girls.
"Afternoon, ladies. This is Syaoran Li, our new transfer student that came all the way from Hong Kong" Eriol said, pushing Syaoran to the front. The girls giggled.
"H-Hi" He said, timidly, but recognized them.
"And these are Chiharu Mihara, Rika Sasaki, Naoko Yanagisawa and…" Eriol looked around.
"Hello Syaoran Li, it's been a while," Said Rika, smiling.
"You used to hang out with Takashi Yamazaki, didn't you?" Yelped Chiharu.
"Oh, so you guys know each other… Naoko, did you see Sakura and Tomoyo?" Asked Eriol.
"I haven't seen them since the first period" Naoko shrugged.
Syaoran sighed "I know them too, Eriol".
"Oh, so you know the girl that bumped into you earlier," Eriol said, smirking.
"Yeah, I know her," Syaoran said, uncomfortable.
"Hey, Takashi! Look who's here!" Chiharu yelled.
Takashi approached and jumped into Syaoran, hugging him. "Syaoran Li, it's been so long! I'm so happy you're back!" And chattered away with Syaoran, asking every bit of detail about the latter years.
Rika took a chance while Syaoran was distracted and approached Eriol, whispering "Eriol, you have to know, Sakura and Syaoran have a history and last time…" But Eriol interrupted her first.
"Don't worry Rika, I have the best intentions" He smiled at his friend.
Naoko approached, holding his arm "You don't understand Eriol, this is going to be a mess…"
"Girls, I appreciate your protectiveness," He put his hand on his heart, theatrically, "but you should have seen the sparks flying earlier" Eriol's face light up "I'm sure it's a match made in heaven and as this school's cupid, it's my duty to help them," Eriol said, eyes sparkling with excitement.
The girls' faces fell. Rika insisted "Please, just talk to Tomoyo and she'll…" But Eriol wouldn't listen to their protests, he had spotted his favorite duo, giggling with arms intertwined.
"Sakura! Tomoyo!" He grabbed Syaoran's arm and dragged him to the girls, "Let me present you to mister Syaoran Li" and he pushed Syaoran's in front of Sakura. They were too close for comfort and their eyes met again.
Syaoran felt that strange pull to his stomach. It took every inch of his self-control to stop his emotions from showing. Sakura stiffened.
"We've met," She said, coldly. Her eyes never leaving his.
"Hi, Li," Said Tomoyo, politely.
"Hi," He said, not daring to interrupt the gaze. She had grown, as he did. He noticed some small changes in her face, but her eyes…
Eriol cleared his throat. Syaoran faced him and saw that the entire group was staring at them. The bell rang.
"See you guys in class," Said Sakura, ice coldly. She turned her back and walked away with Tomoyo.
'Her eyes never changed', Syaoran thought.
"Now that's what I call chemistry," Said Eriol proudly, patting the back of a very disturbed Syaoran.
-
Sakura arrived home very distressed. She barely greeted her brother and Yukito and stomped upstairs to her room.
"I guess the monster is back," Said Touya, staring at the stairs.
"Touya, I think you should go talk to her" Said Yukito, worried. "She doesn't seem alright".
"Yuki, I'm sure it's just puberty. She'll come around when food is ready" He turned his back and resumed chopping the vegetables.
"Oh, Touya" Yukito sighed, "I should've known you're not ready yet for boy-talk".
Touya scowled "Sakura is never going to need boy-talk, I'll kill any boys who dare come close to her," He said stabbing a cabbage.
Yukito laughed "I'll talk to her then. Just don't spoil dinner" He took off his apron and went upstairs to knock on Sakura's door.
"Go away, Touya" Her muffled voice came from inside.
"Hey Sakura, can we talk?" Yukito asked. He heard her steps approaching and she opened the door.
"Yuki" And she hugged him. Yukito was taken aback but held her while she cried, tapping on her back and whispering 'There, there'. When she calmed down, they got in and sat on her bed. They stood in silence for a while and only when she felt comfortable, she spoke "Syaoran's back".
"Oh, Sakura" Yukito sighed and held her hand, "I'm so sorry to see you like that".
"I'm okay. I know I shouldn't be like this over that boy, I'm just… Surprised "She hiccupped," I never expected to see him again, after everything that's happened. After all the hurtful things we said to each other. But Tomoyo's right. I can't make someone love me… "She stared at the floor for a moment and looked back at Yuki's eyes. "I've closed myself from love for so long, not wanting to feel that pain again. And when I saw him again… It all came back ".
Yukito offered her a kind smile "You know when you were younger and told me that you really liked me…" Sakura looked down and interrupted him.
"I remember" Yukito gently lifted her chin so that they could meet eyes again and smiled, kindly.
"The person you like the most has to be yourself, Sakura" Yukito dropped her chin and squeezed her hand "But when you find someone worthy to be the second person you like the most, and believe me, you will find him, you will look back at your pain and see that there is so much love instead… It will be nothing but a sour lesson. You have a huge heart. Maybe you and Syaoran can start over. Both of you are more mature now. And the strangest things happen during high school. You made such a nice team before, maybe you can be good friends".
"I doubt that… But thanks, Yuki" She squeezed back his hand and Touya knocked on the open door, startling both.
"I'll go to the market to grab another cabbage. Be right back". When they heard the front door closing, Sakura crossed her legs.
"Now tell me Yuki, have you guys talked yet?" She seemed to forget her sorrow and stared at Yukito, who quickly blushed.
"Not exactly," He said, shyly. "I mean, what would your father say if after all those years his son told him that he's dating me?" Sakura shifted in her place.
"I think you underestimate dad. You're already like family to us, it would only be official" Sakura's eyes sparkled. "Then I could finally call you 'brother', please Yuki" She took his hand and squeezed it "Nothing would make me and Dad happier to see you and Touya as a couple".
Yukito smiled. "I guess I also have some sorting out to do".
-
Touya carried a bag with cabbage and some other supplies to his father's kitchen. The conversation he overheard replaying in his head. So, the brat that broke his sister's heart has returned.
No wonder Sakura was so disturbed. He should be more careful. Thankfully Yukito talked to her. He was not proud to eavesdrop on their talk, but he knew deep down he had to do something about it.
'What are the odds…' He thought to himself. Before going home, he turned in the opposite direction and ended up in an apartment complex. He had been there only a couple of times before, but he could never forget. He rang the bell and no one answered.
'Seems like that brat got lucky today', he turned around to leave and bumped into Syaoran Li. He scowled at the boy and snorted "Look what the wind's blown in"!