Hey everyone! I've been looking to do a story like this for awhile, but I don't really have a super lot of it planned - I fully expect the characters to take over the story and go from there :). I know there's a lot of post Chapter 36 divergences out there, and I hope you can stick around for this one, haha! I don't really have much of a good idea how long this will end up, but it will not be short if the first chapter is anything to base the rest of this off.
I hope if you read along and enjoy it, you can look to come back for more as the story progresses.
Seeya in the next chapter!
The blazing heat of the late June afternoon became apparent as soon as the door of the aeroplane opened, sucking out the cool dry air of the cabin only to replace it with a stifling air which choked your senses that permeated from outside.
Aihara Mei didn't even bother to look up from the book that had engrossed her attention for most of the flight, seemingly oblivious to the clattering of carry-ons and shuffling of passengers behind her in the coach seats.
Despite her best efforts, re-reading the same paragraph over and over wasn't enough to push the noise and commotion out of her immediate thoughts. With no outward expression of her displeasure, she gently closed the book and stowed it away in the small bag that sat at her feet.
After a sudden jostle from the seat in front of her, she snapped her head back and glared at the back of the cushion. The motion hadn't hurt her, but as she gently fixed her hair, it revealed a scowl marked across her face.
Mei had been in a bitter mood ever since she got the message from Ugadawa's father that informed her she was to travel to Okinawa to oversee one resort in the Udagawa family's large holdings in place of her fiancé. She had been put in this position before, but it was only because then, like now, Udagawa had been out of the country for an extended period on another business trip that he couldn't break away from.
As she grabbed her bag and stood up to disembark from the plane, her mind drifted to just how long she was going to be overseeing this resort. It was plagued with falling ratings and high staff turnover, along with several alarming complaints that threatened to unseat the hotel's status as one of the island's more prestigious resorts. While Mei knew nothing about this world, her presence was supposed to show that the Udagawa family was extremely concerned with the situation and that they were taking a keen interest in seeing that a remedy was found. She was to remain at the resort until that time.
It had taken her a few minutes to navigate the airport's terminal, not paying attention to any of the other passengers milling around and shuffling their way past her. Right as she turned the corner which would lead to the baggage carousel, a tall man with slicked back black hair wearing a perfectly crisp suit was holding a sign with her name.
"Aihara-san. Welcome to Okinawa. Our staff will take care of the bags you have bought. We'll take you to your residence at your convenience." The man bowed, speaking in a monotone voice, reciting the same lines Mei had been hearing some variation of for the past six years. At times she yearned for some form of a break from the monotony, growing to hate the people who were always there to jerk her from place to place. They were simply doing their jobs, just the same as she was, so she couldn't find it to act on her emotions. Waiting for her outside was a large black car, with yet another man in an identical suit waiting to open the door for her.
Stepping towards the door, she relished the cool blast of air that rushed from the interior of the car. Despite barely being seated, the car jerked forward, slamming her head into the headrest behind. Its plush nature ensured there was no pain from this sudden movement, but it was yet another item she mentally added to her list of annoyances rising about this trip.
Mei stared out at the window at the passing scenery, the palm trees becoming a green blur against the dull grey backdrop the buildings made as the car sped down the highway. Every so often she'd catch a glimpse of the crystal blue water, the sun's rays lazily bouncing in the gentle surf as the waves rolled towards the beaches.
"We'll arrive at our destination in about an hour." The driver's voice crackled over the intercom, causing her to release a sigh.
While she did have enough time to pull out the book she had been reading, she also knew it would be impossible to focus on it. With her gaze focused out the window, the scenery of the highway all seemed to merge into one imperceptible blur. She felt a strange melancholy from it. The individual components of the collage didn't matter or stand out, all of them blending into a monolithic entity that someone looking in had a hard time discerning what they were looking at.
She closed her eyes and drew a small breath, wishing the twinge of pain she was experiencing would vanish from her mind. Instead, she focused on the work she would have to do while she was at this resort. Most of it appeared to be meetings, reviewing paperwork filed by the on-site manager, and sitting in on staff training drills.
To her annoyance, this task removed her running the academy, something her Grandfather had ceded to her almost entirely after she graduated from University.
His age, along with his poor health, meant that while Mei was gone, the Board of Directors would jointly manage it with her grandfather's input. When possible, she was allowed to remotely attend the meetings and give her own input but they had temporarily stripped away her actual power.
A small frown appeared on her face as she remembered the conversation with her grandfather about taking the leave to fly to Okinawa to do this task. They had an argument over whether to send a request to her father to step in to assist them. She had been adamantly against the idea, as she tried to explain that she already knew his answer. Her grandfather still seemed to harbour some hope that if the opportunity rose, his son would rise to the occasion.
Although she didn't tell him, Mei's real reason for not wanting to reach out to her father had to do with the way she left six years ago, cutting off all communication with the three of them and even refusing to read her father's letters again. Eventually those stopped arriving too. She wasn't sure if it was because he stopped sending them, or her grandfather's staff realised she didn't read them.
The elder Aihara eventually relented and agreed that the best course of action was for the Board of Directors to take over Mei's responsibilities. They were more than happy to take over, as a few of the members had been swayed by the most vocal dissenters against Mei's role in the academy. Many now opposed her taking over when her grandfather was no longer around. The fact she hadn't yet married Ugadawa was the main issue several of them had with her, something she was acutely aware of.
Ugadawa had been nothing but accommodating during their long engagement. He always deferred to her on how the engagement should proceed. She had to admit she had grown an affinity for him as a friend over the years, but nothing else developed beyond that. As far as she could understand, the feeling was mutual for him. The two of them continued to treat it for what it really was, a business contract hoisted onto them by their families.
Mei's hand instinctively went up to her chest, her fingers applying pressure to a small lump that was made visible through her actions. The metal pressing against her skin gave her a moment of comfort, a feeling of reassurance and warmth, even after all of this time. It was a habit she'd unconsciously developed whenever she became stressed from her work, or when her mind drifted to the prospects of finishing the marriage contract.
The sound of a ringtone rescued her from her thoughts. She fumbled through her bag before finding the cellphone and a slight smile came across her face once she saw who it was.
"Hello, Himeko." Despite greeting her like a business associate, Mei viewed her as her only close friend.
"Mei-Mei! Are you busy at the moment?" Himeko's voice crackled on the other end of the line, sounding as if she was in a place with a poor connection.
"No. I'm currently in transit to the hotel." Mei's voice maintained its crispness, though the tone softened once she heard her best friend.
"I'm so glad I caught you. As it turns out, Fuyuki and I will be leaving in about a week for Okinawa. I only just found out and had to rush to call you." Her voice was filled with a bright cheerfulness, sounding almost bubbly.
Mei had forgotten that it was possible Himeko and her husband would be in Okinawa. Several months ago when they discussed it, Himeko hadn't been sure if Fuyuki's work was going to send him to Taipei or Okinawa, and the decision wasn't taken until today.
For the first time, a hint of brightness emerged from Mei's voice. "That's wonderful. I'll line you the hotel's information. If you do not yet have a place to stay, I am sure I would be able to make accommodations for you with the hotel staff."
"Oh, Mei-Mei…" Himeko's voice trailed off, lost in thought. "I'd love that, I'll ask Fuyuki what he thinks. Even if he can't, I wouldn't mind coming alone, it's not like you'll have much to do." Himeko laughed, the static crackling made an irritating gravely sound that led Mei to withdraw the telephone from directly next to her ear.
"Yes. It would be nice to have someone to talk to." Mei said, her voice trying to be level so as to not elicit another outburst from Himeko for the sake of her ears. It was in vain, as the phone once again crackled from what she could assume was a shriek of delight from Himeko.
"If you wouldn't mind, I could even help on the days you do have things to do. It could be just like back at the Academy!" Himeko said, running away with ideas in her head on how exactly to spend her prospective holiday.
"Right…" Mei said, letting the rest of her sentence drop uncharacteristically, something that Himeko instantly picked up on.
"Mei-Mei? Is everything alright?"
Mei wasn't too interested in rehashing her memories once over, especially on the telephone. Himeko knew some of the troubles that Mei had with leaving her family, but she never felt it necessary to tell her about everything, and she left a lot of it unsaid between the two. Nevertheless, she knew that it would be beneficial to tell Himeko something about her own feelings.
Opting for a sigh to break the silence, Mei finally responded, "I'm fine, Himeko. There are a few things on my mind. I would not mind discussing them with you when we meet."
"That's not a problem at all, you always know that I'll be here for you, I have been since we were young." Himeko's voice was softer this time. Mei knew that even the small amount she had opened up to her over the years meant a lot to the young woman. Even so, there were still some things only one person besides Mei knew about, and it wasn't something Mei was going to disclose to her best friend any time soon.
"Aihara-san. We will be arriving at the destination shortly." The voice of the driver broke over the intercom, momentarily startling her.
"I need to go, Himeko. I'll be at the hotel soon. Please give my regards to Fuyuki-san."
"No problem Mei-Mei. I'll let him know, see you soon!" Himeko responded in a cheerful voice, the line then going silent.
Mei let out another sigh, before opening her calendar and making a note to send Himeko the details of the hotel and to find who she could talk to in order to get her a reservation for one of the rooms.
Catching a glimpse of the hotel as they approached, she was taken aback. It was a sandy white, lined with balconies facing towards a brilliant blue lagoon. It must have been over fifteen stories, with the two wings of the hotel attached by a glass-lined pillar in the middle. Against the backdrop of the vibrantly green foliage, it seemed to be a proverbial oasis among the forest.
A line of staff waited at the main entrance, eyeing the car as it pulled up to the lobby door. Putting on the same stoic face she held for all of these events, she grabbed her bag and waited for the driver to open the door.
"Aihara-san," A tall, slender man said with a bow, "I'd like to welcome you to the Ukiyo Okinawa Resort." Mei could see his brilliant blue eyes flashing at her. He had messy, dark black hair that looked like some attempt had been made to style it to no avail. A wide smile was plastered on his face as he spoke.
"I'm Tsunoda Harune, the manager of this establishment." With an unusual amount of flourish, he motioned at the hotel behind him. He flashed a grin at the staff lined up behind him, all of them stoically looking forward at Mei with no reaction to the manager's bombast. She was most confused as to how he could have become the manager of this establishment, he looked to only be in his early 20s.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Mei offered a short bow to the man, displaying no emotion while doing so. The smirk on his face remained, despite her attempts to not entertain his energetic impulses.
He jumped between the gathered employees, enthusiastically encouraging each person to introduce themselves and making sure to offer a compliment of each of their abilities. To Mei, all the people stepping forward didn't concern her. The manager's behaviour was her sole focus. She observed his movements, how he would talk about his employees, and his general demeanour.
For the manager of a hotel, this was widely inappropriate behaviour, and she began to wonder if her stay here was going to be rather short if the problem was standing here jumping around the hotel's entrance in front of her. When the introductions had finished, he dismissed each of them to return to their positions inside.
"Are you hungry, Aihara-san? I understand you just landed here from Tokyo a short time ago. The executive lounge is still open should you require anything." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his business card. She took it from him and dropped it in her bag without looking at it. "If you need anything, I'll be available at any time during the day or night, every day of the week."
"Thank you. Which way is the lounge?" Her voice remained laced with the calm iciness she was known for, and she held no intention of allowing the man she was supposed to critique anything other than the strict Aihara professionalism her family was known for.
He pointed down one of the hallways, which Mei departed down without so much as a glance at the manager or saying a word. It wasn't clear, nor was it very audible, but it seemed as if the man had emitted a shallow sigh. She made a mental note of that reaction and planned to use it for her eventual report she'd submit over the hotel's performance.
Stepping into the lounge, the grandeur of the hotel was laid clear. It was a space for the hotel's wealthiest guests. The room had tall, sweeping windows that reached from floor to ceiling, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean's surf rolling into the lagoon. The walls without windows were clad in an ornate white wood panelling with gold trim, seeming as if it walked out of the palaces of Europe. Glass chandeliers extended their tendrils from the ceiling, each crystal reflecting a part of the abundant sunlight that invitingly wafted into the room.
The dulcet tones of polite, quiet conversation mixed with the clinking of silverware helped to put the raven haired woman at ease. This was an environment she was comfortable in, and it afforded her another opportunity to try and reflect on the new burden she was unexpectedly handed. After one of the wait staff had her seated, she ordered some oolong tea and a simple rice bowl.
The man's turgidity was sure to cause her problems. She wasn't too thrilled to have to work with him, his position as the establishment's manager meant that he would be the only one she communicated with. She reached into her bag while she waited, and typed out the details of the hotel to Himeko. Before sending it, she paused. The ghost of a smile graced the corner of her lips, and she included a smaller personal message for her friend, something she rarely did.
I'm looking forward to seeing you, Himeko. The manager is rather enthusiastic and unprofessional. I'm sure you'll agree with my assessment when you arrive.
It wasn't the most engaging message, but Mei knew that Himeko would appreciate it nonetheless. Despite owning a smartphone for a few years now, Mei never fully embraced it despite the many attempts Himeko made to message her and to get her to engage in a conversation that way. Most of them ended when Mei called her out of annoyance with the phone or misunderstanding a portion of the message.
A waiter appeared with the tea and rice just as Mei put down her phone. Giving the man a curt nod, she picked up her tea and gently blew on it, the steam rippling off as if they were waves on the ocean. With her gaze affixed to a point in the far off distance, she appreciated the calming influence the tea had as her mind continued to turn over. The manager reminded her of someone she knew once. Someone who had been very close to her, and who remained in her thoughts every day.
Memories of her stepsister flashed in her head, the unpleasant ones about what had happened resurfacing despite her best efforts. She always made an effort to try to not dwell on it, or what could have been if she hadn't chosen the path she did. Like an intrusive thought that wouldn't go away once you've focused on it, she couldn't help but wonder what her stepsister was doing now, or even if she went to university like she said she wanted to.
For the first time in a long while, she let out a large sigh, mixed with the anger and resentment that she held for herself.
"Yuzuuuucchi!" A dark-auburn haired woman screamed as she jumped on her brown-haired friend, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace. "You really didn't have to do anything like this! I know you said I had to clear my schedule but not like this!"
"Harumin…can't…breathe…" Yuzu managed to breathlessly word out at her friend, who jumped back from her vice-like grasp. She returned to her side of the table, letting the other woman take a deep breath and sit up once more.
"Sorry, sorry!" Harumi gave her best friend an apologetic smile, the excitement still clear in her face. "I can't believe you'd do this for me, Yuzucchi…" She looked down at the folder in her hands, the logo of the Ukiyo Okinawa Resort emblazoned across the front of it.
"It wasn't just me! You really don't give Matsuri enough credit. It was all her idea in the first place." Yuzu replied, checking her reading glasses to make sure that they hadn't been broken.
"It was?" Harumi said, her eyes widening.
She gave a nod to the other woman. "She came to me with the idea a couple months ago. I was helping her plan it until she was told about the tour. She really wanted you to have a good twenty-fifth birthday. I know the both of you would have loved a month alone." Yuzu said, winking at her friend.
Harumi's face shone a bright shade of red. She buried herself in the folder, trying to intently read the text in an attempt to hide her expression from her best friend. Yuzu couldn't help but smile at her friend's bashful attitude. Matsuri and her had spent weeks trying to plan this surprise trip for Harumi's birthday, and it was only at the last moment that Matsuri had to drop out because of her job giving her a non-negotiable tour she had to work for in South Korea.
Despite the setback, the two of them agreed Yuzu should go with Harumi in her place. There was a slight chance near the end of the month-long trip that Matsuri could make it, and Yuzu suggested she should keep it secret from Harumi to surprise her to make up for being unable to make the trip.
Yuzu excused herself to make some tea for the two of them, Harumi didn't seem to listen as she was pouring over the pages with wide eyes at the things she'd get to experience. Gently sliding the door of the living room closed so her occupied friend couldn't hear, Yuzu grabbed her phone and navigated to her childhood friend's name to call her as she gathered a tray to set the teapot and cups on.
"Yo. How'd it go?" Matsuri's voice came from the other end after only one ring. She was attempting to sound casual, but Yuzu knew how to read her friend's emotions from knowing her for so long and it was clear she was anxious.
"She's really excited, Matsuri. I just told her, and she nearly suffocated me for it." Yuzu said with a laugh. "She's looking it over right now in the other room, so I popped out to make some tea so I could tell you."
"Well, that's a relief. Thanks, Yuzu." Matsuri was still quiet, clearly upset that she wouldn't be able to accompany her fiancée on the holiday.
"Plus… by the look on her face when I told her you had done most of this told me she wishes it was you going with her, not me." She said with a knowing giggle.
"Hmph." Her indignant reply only helped to show that she was as red as Harumi had been a few minutes ago. Yuzu let the silence linger a little before Matsuri spoke again. "I just wish I hadn't been ripped away on a stupid tour at the last minute."
"How's that going?" Yuzu asked, genuinely curious how she had been after leaving for Busan a few days ago. Matsuri didn't immediately reply, giving Yuzu the chance to open a particularly loud package of rice crackers onto the tray.
"As you'd expect. They haven't done a tour in a while, and the person I'm replacing was one of the few people who worked with them on their last one. I've asked my boss three times already when we'd get out of here, still nothing." Matsuri said, frustration boiling her in her voice.
Yuzu knew that her friend's job was a constant source of frustration for her. It afforded her few luxuries as one of the new sound managers for a company that dealt with popular musicians who travelled internationally for concerts. It was one of the few sources of tension between Matsuri and Harumi, because of its tendency to separate them for long periods of time.
"I'm sure it'll all work out. I speak for myself and Harumi that if you put your mind on getting an answer out of someone, you'll get it no matter what." Yuzu's comment elicited a laugh from the other woman.
"When I get my answer, I'll send you a message."
Satisfied that Matsuri was reassured and in brighter spirits, she said goodbye to the other woman and ended the call. The tea was just about ready at the same time. With a triumphant glance at the tray for assembling it all in the time it took to complete the phone call, she grabbed the handles and made her way back to the living room.
Cursing her decision to fully close the door, she fumbled with it for a few seconds before a small gap appeared. She just barely managed to get part of her slipper through the bottom and slid the door open enough to the point she could move it with her shoulder. When she returned to the table, it was clear the auburn-haired woman didn't know about the phone call, or that she had even shut the door.
"Find anything you wanted to do?" Yuzu asked as she sat down and grabbed a rice cracker.
"Hmm…" Harumi's face scrunched up as she contemplated how to answer. She grabbed one of the teacups and poured herself a steaming cup. "There really was so much in there, it's more like what I don't want to do." She said with a chuckle.
"We're going to be there for a month, so that'll give us all the time we need to do them!" Yuzu happily replied. The length of time the two of them would be gone was unusual, but Harumi's job was extremely flexible. Matsuri had taken great care to ensure that her lover's schedule was free from interruptions, an arduous task when she both had to keep it hidden from her and manage her own schedule at the same time.
Yuzu's work had a similar flexibility. She worked as one of the vice operations directors for a large firm that allowed her the ability to remotely work whenever she needed to. She would have an enormous amount of work to slog through when she returned to the office after the month, but she wouldn't let her performance drop too much while she was away. The brunette had already mentally prepared herself for several long nights typing away on her laptop, rushing to finish a report after a long day at the beach.
She was torn from thoughts when Harumi chimed in again, "So what's this room going to be like, anyway?" This drew a smile from Yuzu, who had her part in picking the room after they had changed the plans.
"I managed to pull on a few connections," Her smile grew into a smug expression, "the room we have is actually two bedrooms, each with their own balcony looking out at the sea. Top floor, too."
Harumi's jaw went slack, as her hazel eyes widened to what Yuzu thought looked like the size of saucers. She struggled to get any words out, instead opting to shut her mouth and look down at the folder again. Yuzu smirked, it hadn't been that hard to get the room. It helped that they were leaving in a few days, as the late May to early June season wasn't the busiest for this resort.
While Yuzu was looking forward to the holiday with her best friend, she couldn't help but feel that something was lacking. It was a feeling that plagued her for years, and there was a silent agreement between her and her friends to never acknowledge the true reason for Yuzu's occasional distance or discomfort, especially between Harumi and Matsuri.
The two of them sat in relative silence for some time, Yuzu lost in her thoughts and Harumi still looking over the items in the folder, while occasionally moving to her phone to check something or to send a message.
"Matsuri?" Yuzu asked with a smile, nodding towards the phone Harumi kept checking.
"Sorry, yeah." She replied sheepishly, flipping the phone over.
"You're fine!" She laughed in response, "I was just caught up in how every time you'd see a message your face would light up." Yuzu's response caused the blush to reappear on her friend's face.
"My mind is still on it, you know?" Harumi's eyes wandered to her hand, turning it slightly to let the ring shine in the afternoon sunlight.
"I can't blame you. She was a wreck trying to talk to me about it." The brunette stifled her own laugh at the memory of Matsuri being unable to articulate what she wanted to say to her then-girlfriend.
Truth be told, Matsuri had planned on a large trip for her and Harumi, so at the end of it she could propose. The two of them had been dating for just about five years, and by all accounts, were the most serious couple in their friend group.
When informed that she was going to be torn away to go on tour, Matsuri had been so enraged at her job that when she got back to their shared apartment, Harumi was sure it had been something she did. She had ran out of the apartment, only for Matsuri to dramatically chase after her and propose on the side of the road in the pouring rain.
While Yuzu was happy for both of her friends, it left her with a sting in her heart. As much as she tried to hide it, the bitterness at learning about their engagement brought her back to a darker place she had been doing her best to get out of.
Needing to shake her mind off this and focus on her best friend's birthday, she let out a dramatic sigh that caught Harumi's attention.
"I dunno about you Harumin," Yuzu said while lifting her arms behind her head and leaning back, "But I don't have everything I'd need for this trip."
Harumi's eyes lit up. As she jumped to her feet, her legs came dangerously close to flipping the table in front of her. Unbothered by her friend's actions, Yuzu continued, "I just so happen to have a few coupons that came in, we can go today and worry about packing tomorrow," Yuzu winked, "Don't worry about bringing your wallet, birthday treat."
For the second time that day, the auburn-haired woman launched herself at her brunette friend, glomping her and pressing her into her chest. Despite struggling for breath, Yuzu let out a laugh, returning the hug from her best friend.
The sound of the waves crashing over the breakers rolled into the dark office with rhythmic certainty. Their punctuality was a great comfort for Mei, who opened the doors of her office's balcony just to hear their sounds. She was thankfully far enough above the holiday goers that the din of their conversations and screams did not reach her, allowing her an oasis to complete her daily tasks in.
The room itself was one of the largest in the building, having two bedrooms. With some assistance from the hotel's manager, the other bedroom had been hastily converted into an office space after one of Mei's meetings with the Board of Aihara Academy was interrupted by several drunk guests bursting into the meeting room.
She made it clear that a more private space was needed, and by the end of that day a large and modern glass and metal desk was placed in the now emptied room, complete with a computer, printer, and fax machine. If nothing, Mei was fortunate that the hotel's management worked to accommodate her request. She managed to busy herself by pouring over the numerous documents the hotel kept on the staff and management operations, hoping to find any missing links to point to its decline in performance.
Her attempts so far proved to be fruitless, as no matter how many documents she poured through, everything was satisfactory, and most times, it was exemplary. Resisting the urge to read the large stack of paper next to her a third time, Mei instead grabbed her phone and checked to see if she received any messages from Himeko. As luck would have it, her phone let out a satisfying ding and Himeko's name appeared on the screen.
Hi Mei-Mei! The driver says we're going to be there in fifteen minutes. See you soon!
A small smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She contemplated sending a response, but figured the short time it would take for her to arrive meant that such a message would end up being unproductive.
Thankful for the impending arrival of her friend, the sound of shuffling paper filled the room as she meticulously put each file back into their original positions within each folder. A satisfying click of the briefcase as it hit the tile floor next to its identical companions ended the brief commotion in the room.
As she was closing the large sliding glass door, she heard noises coming from the previously unoccupied room next to her. Her face resumed a more natural frown. She had greatly enjoyed being able to leave the door open without hearing the sounds of others. If the muffled screams she heard through their closed door were any indication this was going to be another unpleasant disruption she had to deal with.
Fortuitously, the sounds from the next room were no longer audible once the doors were closed, and the rest of her large hotel room remained silent. Mei took a quick glance at herself in the mirror. She only just now noticed how her eyes seemed to sink in, as well as two noticeable dark circles that had formed under them. There wasn't much she could do about it other than hope Himeko didn't make a fuss about it.
It took her a few minutes to slip on her shoes and make her way down to the lobby. Her presence caused a few of the staff members to tense up, and she took the opportunity to scan the room occasionally to observe their operations. Much like everything else, her time doing staff observations continued to show satisfactory results.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a black car pulled under the canopy of the hotel's entrance. Before the car could stop rolling, the front passenger door flew open to reveal a man in a suit who, with mechanical efficiency, positioned himself directly next to where the rear passenger door would stop. In a fluid motion, he gracefully flung open the door to reveal a figure dressed in a pink and black dress, frills gracing most of the curves.
She stepped out of the car, offering a small nod to the man, before looking towards the entrance. Mei had positioned herself in the foyer just so that she could be seen through the glass panes and she caught the sight of Himeko's face lighting up. When they were younger, the shorter woman would have run over to her, unable to contain her excitement. Instead she briskly walked towards the entrance, not bothering for her chauffeurs to open the wide glass doors.
Mei watched as her signature curls bounced just as they always had when they were younger. She ignored the stares of guests and staff alike who gawked at her dress, and instead kept her eyes focused on her best friend. Sporting a big smile, Himeko stopped and stared at her raven-haired friend, showing nothing but affection for the person she was closest to.
"Hello, Himeko." Mei said with an attempt to place her affection for seeing her in her voice.
"I'm so happy to see you again, Mei-Mei." Her voice was able to return the same emotions that Mei had failed to provide in her own greeting. All she could muster in return was the corners of her lips turning upwards, which Himeko noticed and drew her smile wider.
"Nakano-san. Your bags." The man who had opened her door now stood beside the two women, motioning to three large grey suitcases that he had silently placed in the hotel's foyer.
"Himeko. Let's get you to your room. We can go for dinner in a bit, should you desire." Mei motioned to Himeko, who nodded back in agreement. With a word to her chauffeur to follow the two women, she grabbed the handle of one of her suitcases and the three made their way to the elevators.
"How has the workload been at this place?" Himeko asked, her eyes darting around the grand foyer, "It certainly seems to live up to its promises of luxury."
"Yes, it does. The work is… confusing. It's as if things aren't as they seem, something hidden that I can't find-" Mei's sentence was cut short by Himeko letting out some muffled giggles. Glancing at her for a few seconds, she continued, "What is it?"
"Nothing, nothing." She continued to giggle, "You just had the same serious expression you always had in High School whenever we were alone trying to do student council work. It brings me back to those times."
"I suppose you are right." Mei responded after a few seconds of silence, her mind trailing off to other parts of her high school life. Sensing the shift in mood, Himeko did not attempt to restart the conversation and the two of them stood in silence as they waited. This was broken by the sharp click-click of heels striking the marble flooring, both of them were content to ignore the intrusion into their senses until a voice called out to them.
"Aihara-san! Aihara-san. I deeply apologise for rushing to you like this, but you did not answer your telephone."
The owner of the heels then put herself in a deep bow, before rising again to show off her shoulder-length jet black hair that only gently touched the edges of her crisp white blouse. She used her ring finger to push large-rimmed glasses back into position before speaking again.
"An issue has come up and we need your assistance for the staff meeting this afternoon." The woman spoke again, nervousness clear in her voice. Mei recognised her as the manager's assistant, though she did not know her name.
"That is fine. What time is this meeting?"
"It's in one hour, at the usual conference room. Thank you." With another bow, the woman turned and hurriedly dialled on her mobile, becoming deeply engrossed in what sounded like a conversation about the hotel's laundry before they could no longer hear her voice.
The two women shared a look, with Mei opening her mouth to speak until the elevator's door chime sounded. Himeko raised her hand as she stepped over the threshold and glanced at the buttons.
"What floor is it?"
"We are on the 16th floor." Mei responded, watching Himeko press the button. Mei let out a small sigh, "Himeko-"
"Mei-Mei! I knew this was a business trip for you. I'm glad you can show me to my room. We'll have plenty of time to catch up. I might take a quick nap while you're at the meeting so we can still make it to dinner."
"I would… like that." Mei said with a genuine smile on her lips. "There is only one other room between our two rooms, though I must warn you they were loud when I had been trying to work earlier. If they disturb you or Fuyuki-san when he arrives, I will deal with it."
Himeko offered her a nod as the doors sprung open, a pleasant chime announcing they had reached the designated floor. Mei guided her towards her room before reaching into her pocket and grabbing two sets of cards.
"I'll stop by when the meeting has finished, or would you rather I call?" Mei asked as Himeko opened the door, allowing the man with them to excuse himself to place the suitcases inside.
"You can stop by, if I don't open the door, just give me a call. I'll make sure my sound is on!" Himeko said with a laugh, tilting her head. The two hadn't seen each other in person for nearly two years, and Himeko couldn't help but stare at Mei's eyes and her more jagged and gaunt appearance. She seemed so much more frail than she had the last time, which was saying a lot.
Himeko straddled an unusual position where she knew that all was not well with Mei under the surface, but Mei refused to show anything other than her serious and collected side to her. She'd be lying if it didn't hurt her when her best friend would do this, but she knew it wasn't on purpose.
Mei nodded and headed towards her own room to get ready for the meeting, with Himeko eyeing her retreating figure with concern. She bit her lip, suppressing the urge to call out to her to make sure she was okay.
"Ah crap, I left my phone in the room. Yuzucchi, could I use yours?" Harumi asked, rummaging through her bag, trying to find her phone in vain. "I need to send a message to Matsuri." She looked at the woman with a pout.
"I don't have it on me, I left mine charging." Yuzu replied with a slight frown.
"Ah, it's fine. I just wanted to check in and see how Matsuri was doing. I haven't heard from her since we left Tokyo this morning." Her voice trailed off, her eyes now fixed on a point of nothingness in the distance.
"Hey, Harumin, do you want me to go grab it from the room? Mine should be done by now, and I forgot to text Mama."
"If you wouldn't mind. I'll get drinks for when you get back!" She giggled, looking at Yuzu standing up to put her cover up back on. She tossed her long hair over her shoulders and readjusted her sunglasses.
"Sure thing. Be right back!" With a smile and slight wave, Yuzu slipped on her sandals and navigated through the maze of chairs and tables that littered the lagoon's shoreline. She dodged the sparse crowd with ease, only stopping at the rinsing station to give her feet a quick wash so as to not track sand through the hotel.
It was no secret that this luxury hotel catered to a different crowd than what Yuzu was used to, most people were dressed immaculately at all times, even those who had just left the beach. It felt as if the same people she interacted with during her work life had all been unhappily transported to this resort. She couldn't help but feel self conscious as she walked back through the glass doors of the lower entrance of the hotel, her skin being blasted with cold air through her light cover up.
The hallway was luckily deserted, this level only had the walk-out exit towards the lagoon and a bunch of staff rooms. Yuzu took her sunglasses off and rubbed her eyes, the transition between outdoors and indoors had not been kind to them. After pressing the call button for the elevator, she wrapped her arms around herself, a chill passing through her body from the cool interior air.
The chime of the elevator arriving sounded, and Yuzu glanced towards the doors as they opened. The first thing she saw was a flash of deep purple as her eyes locked on to the elevator's sole occupant.
Time seemed to grind to a halt. Yuzu's mouth opened slightly, as if to try and say something, but all that came out were stammers. Mei stared at her for several seconds, a look of confusion on her face. Her eyes moved from Yuzu's face to her hair, then back to her eyes. Her confusion turned to shock. Her hands let go of the briefcase she was holding, crashing to the floor of the elevator with a loud thump.
Yuzu hadn't seen her in six years, yet she looked nearly exactly the same. She was wearing a plain white button-down blouse with a pair of dark blue slacks. She wore a matching blazer, with her hair styled in the same way it had been during High School. Always the one to have a deeper understanding of Mei's emotions, Yuzu could tell by how gaunt she looked that she hadn't been well for some time.
The two had waited so long locked in their wordless trance that the doors shut on Mei, who was left to contemplate her own reflection in the stainless steel doors. Her hand went up to her chest reflexively and clutched at the ring she still wore each day. A deep pain was boiling inside her, paralysing her to keep her eyes fixed to the point she last saw Yuzu.
What struck her the most was how different she looked. Her blond hair had been replaced with her natural brown, and the brilliant green eyes which only seemed to know limitless love and understanding, filled with life were replaced by a distant coldness. The pain that tore inside of her was the knowledge that after all these years it was her that had caused the light to leave her former lover's eyes.
Mei could also feel the same feelings of regret and loss that she felt six years ago. Memories of her time with Yuzu came rushing back, coupled with the same love she could never properly express to her.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the doors slowly slid open again, revealing that her stepsister had been the one to re-open the doors. Yuzu took a cautious step forward, enough so that the elevator door would no longer close on them. They remained locked in a silent staring match, unable to vocalise anything that was swirling in their minds.
Finally, it was Yuzu who was able to swallow what seemed to be either a large breath or a sob to speak.
"M-Mei." Her voice stuttered and halted, clear she wanted to say more than that but entirely unable to. Hearing Yuzu say her name again sent a jolt through the younger woman's body, adding to the turmoil that was stewing inside her.
"Y-Yuzu." Mei managed to stumble out, with the same lack of confidence and inability to say more.
The stepsisters continued to stare at each other for what seemed like an eternity, their breaths taking on an eerie synchrony. Had it been possible, their two heartbeats would have also been timed the same, rushing the blood to their faces to deepen the redness that intruded into both of their features.
An unspoken conversation unfolded between the two of them, transmitted through their irises. Both wondered what the other was thinking in that exact moment as neither dared to move or speak before the other did. Their timeless silent reunion abruptly came to an end.
"Tsunoda-san!" The voice of the manager's assistant echoed through the room. Mei's eyes darted to find who she was addressing before returning to Yuzu's, who snuck a glance at the advancing woman and settled back into Mei's gaze. Yuzu again made an attempt to open her mouth but was cut off a second time. "Tsunoda-san?"
Mei could hear her approaching still, but still didn't see anyone else in the room. Her mind raced with all the possibilities, as the pain inside her felt like it was going to consume every portion of her body. She felt herself getting lightheaded, her limbs becoming like unliftable weights.
"Tsuonda-san, is there something wrong with the-" The manager's assistant's face appeared alongside Yuzu's and she stared in at the raven-haired woman. "Aihara-san? I'm sorry, were you having a discussion with Tsunoda-san?"
Mei's eyes finally dropped, staring at the floor in a desperate attempt to stop her mind from spinning. The edges of her vision started to go black as she felt herself starting to lose her ability to stand. The last thing Mei heard was Yuzu's voice.
"Yasunaga-san, get Harune for me, now!"
Yuzu rushed forward to grab Mei as she lost consciousness, pulling her into an awkward embrace as she struggled to remain upright under the weight of her stepsister. Another urgent glare towards the manager's assistant finally spurned her into action, as she turned and ran to retrieve Tsunoda Harune.
Carefully shifting her weight around, Yuzu carried Mei out of the elevator, before laying her down on the floor. She quickly darted into the elevator to grab Mei's bag, placing it next to her. With a sigh, she lifted Mei's upper body up and slid underneath her, letting her head rest in her lap. She glimpsed a familiar chain that wrapped around her neck.
"Mei…" Her voice trailed off as she gently moved some of the hair away from her stepsister's eyes, letting her hand come to rest on the side of her head.