So I've been gone for a few months... but now I'm back! Was feeling a bit burned out and with Citrus ending this month I just fell into a teensy-tiny-mini depression. Depending on how Sabu-sensei decides to end the manga, I'll either be posting fics nonstop due to denial or happiness. Please let them be happy (;﹏;).

Anyway, here's the chapter. Hope it was worth the wait.

"I'm here"

Yuzu woke up with a start, frantically looking around the room. 'Strange', she thought. She could've sworn that there was someone in the room with her. She could detect a familiar fragrance in the air. But before she could place the scent, a knock came from the door.

"Come in"

The door slid open with fervor, revealing an enthusiastic high schooler, followed by a lethargic looking vice president. It was quite early, the sun was only beginning to rise. Yuzu smiled at her visitors, gaining the comfort and support she'd need for what was to come. It was the day of the operation. The doctors already explained that the surgery would only take a few hours to complete and that, if everything went well, she'd be back in her own bed before the week ended.

"Nervous, Yuzucchi?"

"Not anymore, thanks to you guys", she smiled. She really appreciated the two of them visiting her since it must've taken some effort to get up so early in the morning even though it was a school day. "You really didn't have to come"

"Well, the hospital was on the way to school anyway so…", the pigtail haired girl yawned. "We just came to check up on you but we will be heading to school shortly"

"Thanks, vice prez". Talking to Himeko suddenly reminded her of something. "Ah, by the way-"

"Aihara Yuzu. The anesthetist will see you now"

"Well, that's our cue~", the brunette began walking to the door, "Don't worry Yuzucchi, you'll be fine"

...

"Alright, close your eyes and count down from ten", one of the nurses placed a mask over her face. But she didn't begin to count down.

Lavender. 'The scent was lavender', she remembered before she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Yuzu woke up for the second time that day. However, this time everything, her whole body felt so relaxed that it took a great deal of effort just to open her eyelids. She immediately regretted opening her eyes as it felt like the light nearly seared her retinas. She groaned while trying to shield her eyes from the brightness, the sudden movement causing her to wince slightly.

"The doctor said not to move too much yet"

The pain suddenly vanished, her immobility a few moments ago dismissed. The voice she hadn't heard in weeks still had that soothing effect, even if it was slightly hoarse. Yuzu turned her head to the source of the sound and eagerly opened her eyes, ignoring the sting from the lights.

It hadn't been that long but her anticipation and apprehension that built up over the few weeks that she was gone made it feel so much longer than that. And now that Mei was finally there all the things she'd planned to tell her suddenly disappeared from her mind. Yuzu wanted to apologize. She wanted to ask how she was doing, if she's been eating and resting properly. But most of all, she wanted to ask Mei to hold her and comfort her.

However, she couldn't conjure up any words, the only thing that escaped her mouth was a silent gasp.

Mei watched Yuzu, who seemed to be struggling with her words. She too, was having problems communicating, though that has been the case ever since they'd first met. But after seeing Yuzu in that state where she was on the brink of death and the thought of losing her, Mei could only think about all the things she'd neglected to tell her.

The guilt she felt after finding out the truth, that Yuzu had been harboring such a heavy burden, Mei thought that all she could do to make up for it was to punish herself in the form of working non stop and restraining herself from seeing the girl she loved. But she eventually realized that punishing herself was, in all honesty, a way for her cope with the guilt. It was selfish and she wanted to be better for Yuzu, and she could start by being honest and telling her how she felt. Right now, she felt anxious and concerned.

"Does it hurt?"

Yuzu was surprised that she was the first to initiate a conversation. She followed Mei's gaze which was fixed on the small device that was now embedded in her chest. There was a noticeable bump on the skin just under her left collarbone. Her arm on that side was also placed in a sling, most likely to prevent movement. Yuzu shook her head gently in response.

The obvious grimace that Mei caught on her face earlier told her that the other girl did feel some semblance of pain. Yuzu was still trying to 'protect' her from the truth, once again keeping all the pain to herself. Mei moved closer to hold Yuzu's hand, being mindful of the needle that was inserted into the back of her hand.

"Yuzu, I'm… sorry. I'm sorry that I made you feel like you had to hide this from me, to the point where you were suffering alone in silence. I was selfish to think that I was the only one hurting. Yet, even after everything I've said and done, you were still there for me, believing in me and cheering me on", her eyes were fixed on Yuzu's hand, not daring to look up.

'Mei felt guilty?'. Yuzu was taken aback by her words. This whole time she thought that the younger girl was avoiding her because she was angry with her. But guilt? That was not her intent. Keeping her hereditary disease a secret from her was just an attempt to not be a hindrance to Mei's already stressful enough life. She didn't want to add any extra baggage to their already complicated relationship.

"I don't deserve someone as beautiful and charismatic, someone as loving as you but I want you to know that if you still believe in me… if you still love me, that I'll do everything I can to make you happy and to be someone who deserves you. That is… if you'll still have me?"

Mei was always confident and blunt in what she said. The uncharacteristically vulnerable yet hopeful tone in that last question made Yuzu so happy she could've leapt off her bed.

"You're an idiot". The blonde squeezed the other girl's hand and kissed it gently. 'I'm an idiot'. "Of course I still love you. It's kinda the whole reason why we're in this mess. Mei, the reason why I hid things from you was because I'm always causing trouble for you at school and I didn't want to be any more of an inconvenience to you than I already was"

"What are you talking about? You've been troublesome since day one", Mei deadpanned. "It didn't stop you before so there's no point in stopping now".

It was no secret that Yuzu's rebellious streak was a bit problematic for the black haired girl. She was infamous throughout the whole school since all the students were disciplined young heiresses and even though the blonde's spontaneous personality was one of the many reasons why she fell for Yuzu in the first place, she still had a reputation to uphold as the student council president.

The blonde suddenly pulled her hand away from hers, causing Mei to panic inwardly. Was she being too brash? "Is something wrong? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"No! I'm fine- it's just… everything you've been saying sounded like… a proposal". Mei's bold declaration made the older girl withdraw her hand in hopes of hiding her beet red face.

Mei only noticed the other girl's complexion now and as she realized what she said was true, Mei herself mirrored Yuzu's flustered look. She wanted to deny her previous statements in an effort to hide her embarrassment but stopped herself since she really did mean everything she'd just told the blonde.

However, she wasn't about to admit that. Not yet, anyways. She wanted to save that for another time. So instead, she leaned forward to give Yuzu a kiss on the lips.

Yuzu gladly welcomed and reciprocated the kiss. But the younger girl had to force herself to pull away, noticing how out of breath Yuzu was already. She knew that it was probably best not to get Yuzu worked up so soon after the surgery so she showed some restraint. If she could hold back for a couple weeks she didn't mind waiting for a couple more days. "Are you okay?"

"It's nothing, I just feel a bit tired"

'Must be the after-effects of the anesthetics'. "Alright, you should get some more rest".

Yuzu was reluctant to do so. What if this was all just a dream? She grabbed Mei's hand and timidly asked, "Stay?"

Mei gently lifted Yuzu's hand to her lips, kissing her palm while staring at the older girl with conviction. "Of course"

Next chapter will be super fluffy and longer after all that angst, I promise!

Thanks to everyone who hasn't given up on this. I myself fall into despair when a story is left unfinished so I will try my best to not abandon it until it's completed (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧