Disclaimer: I don't own any of Maria Sama Ga Miteru characters. XD
Note: This chapter would be rather short and boring I think. Sorry about that! It's just a bridging chapter anyway. Haha. =X
Chapter 8- Sorry
Yumi almost stumbled back when her bento flew. Grains of rice were seen on her tidy uniform. And the sauce from which was supposed to be appetizing and fragrant now stained her skirt.
Someone had smacked her. That hand that came out of nowhere, aiming at her face. It was then accompanied with the goal of toppling her bento over. Still, that person who did that did not seem satisfied. Another hit was readied at Yumi while the others cheered on.
This did not seem right. Lillian academy was a prestigious school. The students were supposed to behave in a loving and orderly manner. Violence would not be tolerated. If the head sister had seen the situation, most of them would have been expelled.
Who?
There was only one answer.
The Sachiko Fan Club.
"Stop it!!" A voice shouted from afar.
"All of you, leave her alone!" Apparently, this voice had now gotten closer to Yumi.
"Yumi.." Sachiko looked at her ex petite soeur with soft eyes.
Sachiko hated being part of an idol. She was the star in Lillian academy. It was a position that she had extreme dislike for. The disdain was intensified even more for the reason of her fan club. The self proclaimed 'Sachiko Fan Club'. She hated the fan club for its existence. For bringing her nothing but trouble. Such things included forcing her to accept chocolates on Valentines Day when she found no reason to. She detested them. She thought that thoughts and gifts that weren't sincere shouldn't even exist.
Sachiko lowered herself down to meet the gaze of the frail girl beside her.
"Yumi.. Are you alright?" Sachiko asked with concern.
Yet, there was no reply.
Quickly scooping up her bento box, Yumi wanted desperately to leave this situation.
"I apologize for the mess I've caused." Yumi said hastily before giving a deep bow to the person beside her. She didn't want to meet her gaze at all.
'I don't want to look at her now.. Not in a state like this..' Yumi muttered silently.
As Yumi was turning to leave the area, Sachiko grabbed her wrists.
Yumi was startled as she was tugged back and landed in Sachiko's arms. Both were entwined in a hug like posture.
"Yumi.. I'm sorry.." Sachiko tried to sound as calm as possible, but let out a small cry.
"Listen to me.." Sachiko continued pleadingly.
Yumi was fighting her urge to lunge right at Sachiko. She longed for a hug from her. She longed for her beloved onesama to return to her. But, it was not supposed to be like this. How can someone who wanted to break up the bond and abandon the relationship just say something like that? It isn't a game. Yumi was deeply hurt.
"Sachiko sama.. I'm sorry for all the fuss I've caused for you. Please don't bother about me." Yumi said as she struggled to get free. After wrenching her arm away from Sachiko, Yumi ran towards the school building.
Sachiko was in a rage.
"What are you looking at?! Are you people so blind as to believe the newspaper?! What the heck is wrong with this school?! Scram!" Sachiko shouted and swung her arms in hysterics towards the people around her. She didn't care if her image and reputation would be tarnished. She didn't care anymore. The feeling of Yumi suddenly walking out on her was just too much to bear.
Sachiko turned.
There was only one place that would provide an explanation to all this mess.
Sachiko stormed off towards the school building. To a certain club that is.
----------
"Mami.. There is a need to collect more evidence on that matter. You may instruct some first years to aid you in your work this week. There may be quite a few ruckuses around school this few days. And.." Tsukiyama Minako stopped in mid sentence as the club room door slid open forcefully.
An angry and ill mannered Sachiko stepped in.
"Minako! I demand an explanation for this!" Sachiko bellowed at the people who were present in the room as she pointed towards the newspaper in her hand.
"Sachiko! Please calm down. I shall talk to you, so please don't make a scene here." Minako reasoned with her year mate.
Minako then proceeded to lead Sachiko to the back room of the club. As the doors closed up behind them, Sachiko flung the piece of print she had in her hand on the cabinet. Several ornaments fell to the ground with a loud clattering noise.
"Sachiko, please don't be so heated up and try to compose yourself." Minako said as she sat down opposite of Sachiko.
The room was slightly dimmed as the curtains were drawn. A grim atmosphere washed up upon the editor in chief of the Lillian newspaper club as she gazed at the person in front of her.
"Sachiko.. I know that maybe not all of this article is true but I need some time to find out the facts and.." Minako was cut off abruptly.
"What do you mean by not all of it is true?! IT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE! Everything is made up and you know it! Why poke your nose into other people's affairs?! Don't you people have better things to do?! And you say search for facts?! There probably aren't any facts to search on! How the hell are you going to produce a better article?! With more lies?! As a person, have you lost your dignity in publishing the truth?!" Sachiko ranted as she vented all of her previous anger out.
"Sachiko, I deeply apologize for it. This story was an incredible scoop. You probably can't change the fact that you broke off your soeur relationship with Yumi, so this is already one true file. As for the contents that follow it, I wasn't around to check it before it was published and so the matter had transcended into such a state. I have already instructed some of my juniors to check the facts and rectify the situation. If damage has already been done, I really regret it. I will personally make sure that an apology will made in the next issue. This is the best that can be done. I'm sorry." Minako spoke with a worried expression, afraid that Sachiko might burst anytime.
"Have you got any idea what happened to Yumi after that article was published?! Why don't you ask your lackeys to search that information out as well?! Don't direct the apology to me. Apologize it to Yumi!" Sachiko continued with sore voice.
"Yes Sachiko, I'm really terribly sorry about this.. I assure you that I will personally take responsibility for the release of this particular issue." Minako bowed towards Sachiko.
Sachiko let out a huge breath before saying.
"Minako.. I'm sorry for my tone. I'm just not my usual self today. Please.. I don't want her to get hurt anymore.." Sachiko said in a barely audible voice. Immediately after that, she strode out of the room, concealing the tears behind her eyes.
----------
Yumi sat alone in her seat after class. Rei, Yoshino, Shimako and Noriko had visited her when class ended. They were concerned about the article. They knew Yumi wouldn't do such a thing. And they knew she was very deeply hurt over the events that happened recently. Yumi needed support. Now that her only pillar of strength has left her, she was alone. Left fending for herself, she can only shield briefly against those abuses that her school mates hurled at her. The newspaper was absolutely absurd. Almost everything was untrue. People were badmouthing her like stones being thrown on an outcast. Furthermore, Sachiko's presence made it even worse for Yumi. She was the last person she wanted to speak to now. It's not that Yumi didn't want to see Sachiko, she did want back her onesama dearly. But she couldn't say anything. She couldn't provide any explanation if there were things to be said and reasoned. Not until that important day has passed. Up till then, Yumi will have to tolerate every little thing. Even if it means costing her the worst.
----------
Yumi had waited for the crowd to subside before stepping out of the classroom. She was sure that if she went out alone, she would be kidnapped to a secluded place and get heavily beaten up. She sighed.
'I don't have much time..' Yumi thought as the trailed off towards the gate.
Ignoring the stares and glares that random people gave her, Yumi paced quickly to the school gates. But still, she paused at the maria statue to pray.
"Hypocrite! Get her!" A group of girls came up behind her. They were ready to tackle Yumi to the ground. One of them had a snickering look on her face.
With instant reflexes, Yumi broke for a run towards the gates. She had to get away.
As she met the familiar streets, Yumi heaved a huge sigh of relief. She had a list of things to do, and it was not to be delayed.
Tomorrow was the big day. And for that day, Yumi had endured so much hardship. It had to be worth it.
And so Yumi went on and on, entering shops and stores in search of the perfect ingredients for baking the cake for Sachiko. She ended up dragging the materials and herself home. Her knees hurt from the wound the day before. Each step back home was a tremendous torture.
----------
Her eyes glimmered. It was done. It's finally done!!
Yumi looked at the cake in front of her. It was magnificent. The cake was beautifully decorated with strawberries around its circumference. There was a chocolate slate in the middle of it with the words 'Happy Birthday' on it. Comical pictures of two characters were drawn below it. One character had long flowing hair and the other wore a pigtail.
This cake came from Yumi's effort. From the little cozy room in her heart.
It could easily pass off as one of Rei's masterpieces. Although taste wise, Yumi couldn't be so sure. And for the first time in these few disastrous days, Yumi smiled. It was a feat that made her have a sense of satisfaction.
'There are three things to be done.. The cake.. The scarf.. And.. And the card!' Yumi panicked as she thought of it. She had almost forgotten about it due to the events of the day. She didn't even have the time to consume her meals. She was deeply exhausted but was determined to continue. With that, Yumi rushed back to her room and proceeded to construct the little note of hers.
'Dear onesama,…' Yumi wrote as she begun her sentence.
----------
For the umpteenth time, Yumi breathed in and out heavily.
"I'm ready." Words of determination and courage sounded as she glanced up at the frosty sky.