"Are you sure you're okay? I can drive you to the hospital, Yuzuko-sama", the driver asked worriedly as he took out the luggage from the trunk and handed it to the younger girl.
"Nah, it's fine. It's just a couple of bruises and I'm pretty used to Miyagi-sensei's hits at this point", Yuzu shrugged nonchalantly. "Thanks for driving us here…".
The middle aged man bowed at the blonde, "Not at all Yuzuko-sama".
He started walking towards the car before speaking once more, "Please, do visit some time. The maids will probably miss you and I'm sure that Hayato-sama will come around".
Yuzu smiled and nodded in response. After he drove away, the blonde's legs finally collapsed under her.
"Yuzu!", Mei ran to aid her immediately.
Yuzu chuckled lightheartedly, "It's alright. I'm alright. It's just the adrenaline from earlier, that's all".
The younger girl sighed in relief and helped her girlfriend to the couch. She then rushed off to retrieve the luggage left outside and grabbed an ice pack and the first aid kit on her way back.
"It feels like all I can do is tend to your wounds…", Mei sighed as she started to apply the ice pack on her stepsister's bruises.
"That's not true… you can also give me a massage", Yuzu joked lightheartedly.
Mei's eyebrow twitched, "Oh?".
"Yeah! Especially my legs-", the blonde's eyes suddenly widened in fear.
A dark atmosphere spread across the room and she regretted her words instantly.
…
Mrs Aihara opened the door. Suddenly a loud shriek sounded from the living room, followed by some laughter. A smile spread across her face when she realized it was her daughter's voice.
"Kyaa~ no! I'm ticklish!"
The middle aged woman walked towards the living room and saw Mei running her fingers over Yuzu's sides vigorously.
"Alright… stop… I can't breathe…!", the blonde said in between bouts of giggling.
Mrs Aihara waited for the giggling to settle down before speaking up, "So… how have you been for the last 2 and a half months?"
The step sisters turned their heads towards the source of the voice.
"Mom!", Yuzu ambushed the older woman and embraced her.
Mrs Aihara returned the hug. "Wow, you're arms feel so strong! Let me get a look at'cha", Yuzu's mother lifted her shirt.
The playfulness drained from her face when she spotted a bruise on her daughter's abdomen, "You're all beat up again… Are you okay?".
"Yeah", Yuzu nodded.
"Oh, good. Then could you please explain to me why you just left without telling me?!", Mrs Aihara grabbed Yuzu by the ear.
The blonde looked at her raven haired girlfriend pleadingly. 'Please save me!'
However, Mei got up from the couch and casually walked away from the scene. She decided to leave them be since her older step sister was beyond saving, now that her step mother has gone into 'stern mother mode'.
"I just didn't have time to think about it, so I just did what I thought was right", the girl explained sheepishly.
"I knew you were reckless… but that's a whole new level! Even for you!", she tugged at Yuzu's ear harder.
"Ow! I know. I'm sorry, okay?!"
The middle aged woman twisted her ear slightly before letting it go. Yuzu rubbed at the swollen appendage.
Mrs Aihara sighed, "Alright. I understand how you feel, but next time you have something weighing on your mind… please, talk to me first"
"...Okay"
"Now!", Yuzu's mother clapped her hands together. "What would you girls like for dinner? I'll prepare a feast since it's been so long!"
The next day at school
Yuzu walked through the halls, ignoring the confused looks she was getting from the other students. She didn't have time to be bothered by them since she had to hurry before class started. Her pace quickened when she spotted the third years' classroom.
The girl knocked on the door lightly, "Excuse me, could I speak with Shiraho-senpai?"
A moment later the upperclassman walked through the doorway, her eyes widening as she saw that it was Yuzu who called for her.
"Aihara Yuzu, it has been a while. Have you come to tell me your decision?", Shiraho spoke in her usual aloof tone of voice.
The other girl nodded, "Yes… I've decided to join the martial arts club, if it's not too late?"
"Of course you can join. There was no time limit for the offer", the elder girl answered simply.
"Alright, cool! So… do I have to sign something or…?"
Suddenly the first bell rang, indicating that class would start in a few minutes.
"You can ask Aihara Mei. She's the student council president and your step sister anyway, right? I would hand you the form myself but it's a bit late to get one at the moment", Shiraho explained.
"That's okay. I should hurry to class now, don't wanna be late on my first day back!", Yuzu waved before running off to her classroom.
...
While she was on the way to her classroom, she suddenly bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry! I was in a but of a hurry-"
"Yuzucchi!"
The blonde saw her brunette best friend before being tackled to the floor, "H-harumin?".
"The whole school's been talking about your return so I went looking for you. It's been so long~", she started to cry.
However, the second bell interrupted their tearful reunion.
"Oh crap. It's the second bell! We're gonna be late!", Harumi pulled Yuzu up and yanked her in the direction of their classroom. "We'll talk later, but for now we should get to class. I don't want to spend the rest of the day in detention again!"
…
"Aihara Yuzu!"
The blonde tore her gaze away from the window and tried to look as attentive as possible, "Yes sir?!"
"First you miss almost 3 months of school, then you arrive late to class on your first day back and now you're not even paying attention!, the teacher barked.
"Yes I was…", Yuzu lied.
"Oh? Then please solve this", he slammed his hand on the whiteboard.
Yuzu sighed and rolled her eyes at the sound of amused whispers and snickering in the class.
'I wasn't paying attention 'cause Ms Izumi already taught me this stuff…', the blonde thought as she picked up the whiteboard marker.
The snickering ceased instantly when Yuzu started to solve the sum with ease. The only sound in the entire classroom was the squeaking of the marker against the whiteboard as whole class, except for a certain raven haired girl, was speechless. Even the teacher was stunned to silence.
Yuzu turned to the teacher when she finished solving the math problem, "Will that be all, Sensei?"
The middle aged man stumbled through his words before answering clearly, "Y-yes, that is all. You can sit back down.
As she walked back to her seat she couldn't help but smirk at her peers' bewildered expressions.
After school
"Woah… So you're, like, the only heir to the Hayato Clan!", Harumi almost choked on her food.
They decided to catch up after school since Yuzu was too busy filling out the forms to join the martial arts club during their breaks. Both girls decided to hang out at a fast food restaurant.
The brunette managed to swallow her food after taking a sip of her drink, "Why didn't you tell me?!".
Yuzu scratched the back of her head, "Well, uh. It's kinda personal…".
"Oh. Okay then, I understand", she answered sheepishly.
Yuzu shrugged her shoulders, "But I'm over it now. Besides, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Why didn't you tell me that you're also part of an important family?!"
"Um, I didn't think it mattered? And I thought that if I told you, you'd start acting different around me so…", Harumi explained nonchalantly. "But anyway-"
"Yo!", the gyaru was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a pink haired girl.
"Ah, Matsuri-chan it's been so long! How are you?", Yuzu greeted happily.
The middle school student shrugged, "Same old". She sat next to the brunette, "Though I have been hanging out with Taniguchi-senpai recently… But anyway, how are you, Yuzu-nee?".
"I'm great!", the blonde beamed. "I actually spent a lot of time receiving the best treatment during my stay in the Hayato Estate. I was taught by the best martial artist, tutored by the best tutor, and I got the best food…"
"Wow, sounds like you've been livin' it up", Matsuri said disinterestedly as she grabbed a french fry from the plate next to her.
"Yeah, but after getting all sorts of fancy food, I've missed the tasty, cheap junk food that commoners eat!", Yuzu said jokingly as she took a big bite from her burger.
Harumi smashed her fist on the table, "Well, you must've had the world's best tutor if they managed to teach you calculus!".
Matsuri eyes lit up with sudden interest, "Really?". She pointed at Yuzu, "This girl and calculus. There's no way".
"No, really! I was surprised too!"
As Harumi went on to explain the events of what happened earlier, Yuzu felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She checked it only to see a text message.
Mei: It's getting late. You should come home.
The blonde grinned and she immediately started to type.
Yuzu: What's wrong? Getting lonely? (^_-)
Yuzu took another bite from her burger as she waited for a reply.
Mei: …
Mei: Just come home.
Yuzu: Okay, on my way home~ ( ´∀｀)
"...and then she solved the sum like it was nothing! You should've seen their faces!", Harumi burst out into laughter. "Man, it's great to have you back, Yuzucchi. I was really lonely you know? And now you're joining the martial arts club! We won't be able to hang out as often anymore…", she rested her chin against the palm of her hand.
"Yeah, I know. Sorry about that… but we can still hang out during the weekend!", Yuzu tried to console her best friend.
"Okay…"
The blonde finished the last of her meal before standing up, "Welp, I gotta go. See ya tomorrow!"
Harumi and Matsuri waved at her as she left the restaurant. The middle schooler squeezed Harumi's arm while averting eye contact with the older girl, "...I'm still here you know…"
The older girl smirked, "...I didn't know you could be so cute. You should try saying stuff like that to me more often-". She suddenly felt a small jab to her side.
Yuzu waited at the stop lights, a few cars driving by, even though it was already quite late. She let her mind wander absently until she saw the lights turn green.
The blonde walked swiftly in the direction of her home, a slight skip in her step as she started to think about her girlfriend. She was now a block away from her house and as she turned a corner she noticed a black car parked near her house.
Her giddiness dissipated and she knew straight away whose car it belonged to. The door opened as Yuzu made her way to the car. She hesitantly entered the vehicle, a familiar face greeting her.
"Hello, grandmother"