Ahhh I can't wait for the citrus finale but in the meantime here's the next chapter~
The next day, Yuzu woke up to a feeling she hadn't felt in a while. She woke up to someone else's warmth, the sound of calm breathing and the sensation of her blonde locks being caressed.
"Good morning", she mumbled while still keeping her eyes shut. She didn't want to open them just yet. She wanted to stay like this just for a little while longer.
Mei on the other hand was already wide awake. She had always been an early riser and now that she woke up with Yuzu by her side, she was ready to face the day head on.
"I'm glad that your voice is the first thing I heard today", she kissed the blonde's forehead lightly to prove her statement. While she saw Yuzu's face visibly redden, she still kept her eyes closed, forcing her to go on the offense and attack her girlfriend with a barrage of kisses that traveled down to her lips.
It seemed like the display of affection was too much for Yuzu to bear. She had no choice but to wake from her slumber and do... what exactly? She had nothing planned and she couldn't go back to school yet. "There's nothing to do anyway so we might as well sleep in...", she buried her head under the duvet to shield herself from the rays of light that were seeping in through the window.
That's right, she didn't have to do anything. It was the middle of the week after all. "Wait, Mei! Why aren't you at school?"
"I took a few days off school, at least until you're better".
"Huh?", Yuzu pulled back in shock, "Why did you do that?". Though she was happy, Mei was never one to skip student council work, let alone school.
Mei almost scoffed at her reaction. "Isn't it obvious? I want to spend some time with the person I love"
Yuzu stared back, dumbfounded, like it was the most implausible thing she ever said. "That's the first time you ever said you like me"
Mei raised an eyebrow. She was sure she'd mentioned it at least once before. "Why the look of surprise? Haven't I practically already proposed to you?"
"So you proposed before you even told me you love me", Yuzu deadpanned. She had always been a maiden at heart, always dreamed of finding someone, falling in love and marrying her one true love. Unfortunately for Yuzu, her 'one true love' was oblivious to any sort of romantic affairs. Mei had done things 'out of order', like when she'd stolen her first kiss before they'd even gotten to know each other.
Of course, there was no 'right order' when it came to love.
The black haired girl shrugged, "Most arranged marriage partners never meet until the day they are to be wed".
'I guess so...'. Yuzu felt a bit insecure at the thought. To Mei it was common practice to be betrothed to someone that would benefit the family and Yuzu knew that she was willing to marry anyone to fulfill her duty as the heir of the Aihara family. It was business, an investment. Would Mei still want to be with her even if there was nothing to be gained?
"But I'm glad I met you before being married off to some rich guy", Mei suddenly added. There was no way she was giving up Yuzu, not even for her family.
"Eh? What about Amemiya?"
Mei grew silent. The unpleasant memory of her ex-fiancé made her cringe. She wrapped her arms around Yuzu once more, holding her even tighter than before. "Yeah… I'm really glad I met you"
The younger girl's reaction made her regret her thoughtless comment. Yuzu reciprocated the hug, all the while burying her face into Mei's jet black hair. "I'm not going anywhere…"
After much coaxing, Mei managed to get Yuzu out of bed after appealing to her appetite. Thankfully, their mother had already prepared some breakfast before leaving for work.
"Your beloved girlfriend finally returns home after so long and you give me homework?!"
Mei rolled her eyes at Yuzu's buffoonery. "Seeing as you're so energetic already, I don't see the problem", she shrugged, "Besides, I'm still the student council president and you're still a student of Aihara academy".
Had Yuzu pressed her more on the matter, Mei would have surely given up since she was weak to the older's girl's wishes at the moment. Yuzu's return from the hospital and the fact that they just recently made up from their fight only added to the guilt factor. Instead, the blonde sat down quietly and started her homework.
Being caught off guard by Yuzu's lack of resistance she was left with nothing to do. She decided that making some tea for the hardworking blonde would be a good idea. While Mei walked passed her a familiar fragrance abruptly distracted Yuzu from her assignments. She had noticed the scent after Mei had come out fresh from her shower last night. It reminded her of something that she never had the chance of bringing up, until now. "Hey, Mei"
"Hm?"
"On the night before my surgery... did you come visit me?", Yuzu thought back on the day of the surgery. She had woken up to a presence in the room, and she was almost certain who it was.
"I wonder...", Mei didn't turn to look at the other girl as she was still steeping the tea. "What do you think?"
"You were there, weren't you? I woke up to the sound of your voice and the scent of the shampoo you always use. But why did you leave?"
The question caught her off guard and this time the younger girl did turn around. She placed two tea cups on the table and poured some of the hot liquid into the cups before sitting down across from Yuzu. She was sure that Yuzu had been asleep then. "I'm sorry. I wanted to be there when you woke up but… I had to talk with my grandfather"
"About what?", the girl began taking a sip of the tea.
Mei thought for a moment before answering, "I told him that I wouldn't be marrying anyone other than you".
While comically spitting out the tea would've been an appropriate reaction, Yuzu instead forced herself to swallow the hot beverage. "Wh-what?!"
The younger girl, unfazed, also elegantly took a sip from her tea before speaking. "Well, I told him that I'd be the one choosing my marriage partner"
"Don't joke around like that...", Yuzu grunted hoarsely after the searing pain of the burn and the extensive coughing had subsided.
Without warning her lips were pulled into a soft, soothing kiss. Mei felt a little guilty for causing Yuzu to react like that so she'd just have to make up for it and make the pain go away.
Flashback:
"I ask that you let me take a few days off school"
Mr Aihara looked up from his desk, silently staring into his granddaughter's eyes before nodding in acknowledgement and going back to signing paperwork.
While Mei was surprised at her grandfather's willingness, she still tried to maintain her composure, bracing herself inwardly for what was to come. "Grandfather", she started firmly, "There's something else I must ask of you".
It seemed that she succeeded in gaining his attention as he carefully laid down his pen in order to listen to her properly. Mei was never one to ask for anything.
"I want you to cancel any marriage engagements that you may have already organised".
Mr Aihara raised an eyebrow. "Is this because of Yuzuko?"
Mei was hesitant to speak, her calm demeanor started to crumble as a small trace of a smile started to show on her lips at the mention of her girlfriend. "Yuzu has helped me in many ways. For a very long time I'd waited and hoped that father would come back to take over the academy. When I realized that he was never going back to becoming the father I'd admired so much in the past, it was Yuzu who gave me the strength and courage to take over the academy out of my own volition".
The old man remained stoic and silent.
"When father was still young, he married my mother because their marriage would build stronger ties between two wealthy families. They married not out of love, but out of duty to their respective families. By the time father realized that he didn't want this kind of life, I had already been born. Father chose a different path but I plan on leading the Aihara family in your stead, once I'm old enough. However, I intend to do so without being forced into marriage". After she finished another minute of silence followed. Mei finally got everything she wanted to say off of her chest, so why did she feel like there was a bag of bricks weighing down on her lungs?
Out of all the reactions her mind had conjured up, her grandfather sighing in relief was not the reaction she expected.
"Mei, you are the heir to the Aihara family but you are first and foremost my granddaughter", Mr Aihara's eyes seemed to soften as he spoke. Truthfully, he was happy that Mei has spoken out. Although her stepsister was a rebellious child, he was thankful on her part in changing Mei's outlook on life. It was obvious that her influence was what gave Mei a change of heart.
"You've always been a dutiful child but I was fearful of how obedient you were. Your father and I may have had our disagreements but I've grown to realize that because I put him in that position, that you were forced to take on his responsibilities. Perhaps, if I had been less lenient, you wouldn't have had to suffer because of my mistakes"
For the first time in her life, her grandfather couldn't meet her eyes. Mei was shocked to hear her grandfather admit his guilt.
"I will cancel any marriage engagements". After the incident with Amemiya well, he'll be having a hard time in finding any employment in the whole country. Mr Aihara couldn't help but grit his teeth at the unpleasant memory of the man he had almost married his granddaughter off to. "I am confident that I can leave the company in your hands".
Mei's grandfather gets a lot of hate but I genuinely believe that he cares for her enough to cancel the engagement. That being said, the end for this story is nearing (just a heads up). Still have a couple chapters planned though.