Ichigo walked towards Lettuce's (Bridget) house gloomily, the hot and sticky summer air didn't make her depression any better. First Zakuro moves to America for Hollywood, then Pudding is adopted by some people in China…and oh Mint! Ichigo had just come from the airport to say good bye to Mint 2 weeks ago, who had just flown to London because her parents had created a huge business and had to stay there for a few years and wanted their daughter to come with them.
She knocked on the door, sighing, trying to forget about everything.
"Why hello Ichigo. I'm terribly sorry..." Lettuce's mother opened the door, her soft face filled with pity.
"It wasn't that bad. Mint was a sort of snob anyway…." Ichigo laughed and leisurely flung her arms in back of her head.
"I didn't mean—Lettuce hasn't told you yet has she?"
"Told me….? Told me about what?"
Then there was footsteps coming from the staircase, and there was Lettuce who looked as if she had been crying. "Ichigo!" She wiped away at her eyes.
"What's wrong Lettuce?" Ichigo asked silently, the feeling in her gut was inimitable but yet familiar…the feeling that something terrible was going to happen.
Lettuce moaned and sat down on the steps and cried, her knees to her chest, her arms folded and her head in her pale arms. "I'm so sorry Ichigo! But it's been my dream forever!"
"Lettuce, please, it can't be that bad..." Ichigo lied. She knew it was bad.
"Well…there's this really great school that is known for it's high academic level and successful students…and they offered me a scholarship for next year…."
"Lettuce, that's great!" Ichigo grinned, the bad feeling almost disappearing. But there was something wrong with what Lettuce had told her…as if there was more to it.
"But there's more…."
Ichigo gulped and waited for an answer.
"The school is a boarding school…in New York…."
Ichigo was too hurt and surprised to speak. Her face immediately paler than usual. Her entire body tensed and she felt cold.
"I'm so sorry!" Lettuce cried, reaching for Ichigo's hand. She sharply withdrew and her eyes started to water, then her lip started to quiver and soon she had run out the door, her eyes covered by her arm, the tears rushing fiercely. "No!"