A/N: This is sort of a filler chapter to make up for the sudden time-skip 2 chapters ago. But this also serves some purpose: for Tomoyo and Sakura's character development. Or a sad excuse for a filler. LOL Thank you to Property of Eriol for inspiring me to update sooner, and for cheng for the review. :) Please enjoy.
Act 15, Winter
When Tomoyo Daidōji saw Sakura Kinomoto walking through the double doors for the fifth time in two weeks she was already losing a part of her guard, and she found herself a little more comfortable around the cheerful guest even if she could not completely share her smiles.
This girl with curious emerald eyes wasn't finicky with her company or the former heiress would have been ignored a long time ago with her muted appearance and usually distant expression. The young woman with the darkest hair had simply become her friend.
"Nee Aya-chan, there's really good hot chocolate in that café downtown that I'd like to try. Would you like to come with me on your break? My treat!"
Sakura looked hopeful, raising those large eyes to Tomoyo and smiling sweetly as a sort of emotional blackmail.
The library assistant knew she had at least a few minutes before the old manager, who found her strange and antisocial, would shoo her away. She never seemed to like to speak to anyone or even attempted to make friends with the other employee, he had said. The girl was too withdrawn from the world, friendless and lonely, and this guest maybe the only one who could help her get by.
"You may take a break now," her superior declared all of a sudden after overhearing Sakura's invitation as he walked by Tomoyo's desk. "Please be sure to come back in an hour."
"But—"
"Come on, Aya-chan. The hot chocolate is really promising, and above all I would really appreciate your company today, so please say yes." Her new friend was pouting at the moment, looking more like a child than a woman who just turned nineteen. It appeared as if she knew this method worked with everybody when she was persuading.
"I guess it's alright."
Sakura didn't waste any more time as she excitedly dragged a confused Tomoyo just as she was just draping her coat on her shoulders.
The delicate steam coming out of the beige demitasse was distracting her just like how the subdued lights in the coffee shop captured her concentration the first time they had walked in.
"How do you find it?" Her companion broke her daze as she brought her own cup to her lips cautiously. A drop of the drink could shamelessly stain her expensive cashmere sweater.
"Eh?"
"Are you mostly this distracted, Aya-chan?" Sakura giggled good-naturedly at her friend's bewildered expression, somehow amused at how innocent she looked.
Tomoyo could only blink back as she realized how she was easily side-tracked again. Even the smallest of things kept her repressed, and now she was only left embarrassed. She was painfully aware of how she couldn't measure up to Sakura's enthusiasm and confidence, especially since she's someone who chose to be bitter and detached.
"The hot chocolate, how is it?" The smiling girl asked one more time.
"Oh. It's quite good. Actually, it's rather heavenly. Thank you for bringing me here," Tomoyo said, a small authentic smile forming in her lips. Unexpectedly, the dark concoction lifted her mood and warmed her inside.
"I've finally made you smile like that. I am so happy!"
"What do you mean, Sakura-chan?" She wasn't even allowed to be so formal with names, and it relieved her somewhat.
"Well, I noticed how you seem so troubled. Is there something I can help you with? You can tell me anything because we are friends, aren't we?" Her warm words deeply touched the former heiress, and Tomoyo Daidōji could only smile wider at the girl's kindness.
"I appreciate your concern. Hontō ni. But I'm fine. Just really thinking about the season."
Thankfully, she didn't have to lie this time. Winter made her remember about her otōsan. The head of the Daidōji household died in a terrible car accident twelve years ago, and she was unfortunately there to witness it. It was just starting to snow when the car crashed against a recklessly speeding truck, and then Sonomi just had to blame her own daughter for her husband's death and was never ever the same after that.
Remembering it always brought her new pain every time.
"My father passed away a few days before Christmas." Fortunately, her voice didn't break when she spoke.
Sakura's sad face didn't suit her at all.
"I'm sorry."
"It was years ago, but I can never forget."
The girls fell in thoughtful silence as they drank from their cups.
"I lost my mother at about the same time, too. She had a disease that took her when I was just three, and she was only twenty-six," Sakura related quietly, a wistful glaze in her usually bright green eyes. "What's sad is that my favorite cousin has a similar condition, but we are hopeful he will overcome it if he's careful enough."
"I see," Tomoyo said understandingly, trying her best to console her friend by reaching for the former's hand and giving it a comforting squeeze.
"I'd like you to meet him sometime. I think you will like oniichan."
That might complicate things. You are already tied again when you really shouldn't be, Tomoyo's more rational side reminded her.
There was something special about Sakura that she couldn't overlook. Was it just her kind smile she couldn't decide for now.
"He is lonely, much more now when I think about it." This time the emerald-eyed girl was thinking aloud.
They proceeded to talk about more congenial things before Tomoyo eventually announced that her break was almost over.
"Isn't it your day-off tomorrow? Would you like to go Christmas shopping with me?"
Sakura had that hopeful, pleading face again, and it was surprisingly harder to say no. There was no reason to refuse anyway. Her clever disguise was still going to deceive everybody.
She just wished she didn't have to deceive Sakura as well.
Quick notes:
otōsan - father
hontō ni - "Really."
oniichan - informal term for oniisan, which is older brother.
