Chapter 1: New Beginnings

The soft murmur of the television droned in the background, a forgotten distraction. The heavy silence between the two girls sitting on the couch weighed much heavier than the sound of the outside world. Tomoyo Daidouji sat beside Sakura Kinomoto, her heart aching as she watched her best friend fall apart—again. The glow of the dim lamp highlighted the tear tracks that stained Sakura's face, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"I just... don't understand why he left without saying anything," Sakura whispered, her voice a fragile thread, barely audible. She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging herself in a vain attempt to find comfort where there was none. "Why didn't he just tell me?"

Tomoyo swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to stay calm, stay composed. This wasn't the first time she'd seen Sakura cry, but somehow, every tear felt like it tore through her soul. She wanted to reach out, to hold her closer, to erase all the pain that Li Syaoran had caused. But she couldn't. Not like that.

She leaned in, wrapping an arm around Sakura's trembling shoulders, offering a comfort she longed to give in a far different way.

"I don't know, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said softly. Her voice was as gentle as the hand she used to brush a few stray strands of hair away from Sakura's face. "Sometimes people... can't find the words. Even if they want to."

And sometimes, we bury the words so deep we can never say them, no matter how much they mean, she thought.

Sakura pressed her face into Tomoyo's shoulder, and Tomoyo's heart fluttered, that bittersweet sensation of being close enough to offer comfort but never the love she truly wanted. It was always like this—being the best friend, the confidant, the one who was there to pick up the pieces. But never the one who could give Sakura her happily ever after.

"Why do I feel so stupid?" Sakura mumbled against her, her voice muffled but still so full of pain. "I thought... I thought we were okay. That things were good. What did I miss, Tomoyo-chan?"

Tomoyo squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, biting back the words she wanted to say. *It's not you, Sakura. You didn't miss anything. You're perfect just the way you are.* But what good would it do to say that? The truth, as selfish as it was, would only confuse things more. No, this wasn't the time for her feelings.

"You didn't miss anything, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said instead, her voice steady, comforting. "Li-kun... he's complicated. I don't think this is about something you did or didn't do."

And yet* Tomoyo thought, her heart clenching, *I wish I could be the one to make you feel loved the way you deserve. The way I want to love you.*

Sakura sniffed, pulling back slightly to look at Tomoyo with wide, watery eyes. "You always know what to say," she said, her lips quivering in an attempt at a smile. "What would I do without you?"

Tomoyo smiled warmly, but inside, the ache deepened. There it was again—Sakura's complete reliance on her. It was a beautiful bond, this friendship. But it was also a prison of sorts, one where Tomoyo could only ever be the comforting friend, never the love Sakura truly needed.

What would you do without me?* Tomoyo thought. *Maybe you'd find someone who could love you openly. Maybe... maybe you'd find someone who deserves you.*

But she wouldn't let those thoughts linger. Not now. Instead, she gently squeezed Sakura's hand and gave her the smile she knew always reassured her.

"I'll always be here for you, Sakura-chan," she said softly, meaning it with every fiber of her being.

The moments of silence that followed were peaceful in their own way. Sakura rested her head back on Tomoyo's shoulder, and they sat like that for a long time, the television still buzzing faintly in the background, neither of them paying it any mind.

--Later That Evening--

The news of Sakura's father accepting a job overseas came unexpectedly. The words hung in the air like a challenge, one that neither girl quite knew how to respond to. Sakura's father, Fujitaka, stood in the doorway of the living room, a soft smile on his face as he explained that his new job would take him to Greece for at least a year.

"I'll be coming back during the holidays," Fujitaka reassured Sakura. "But I think this is a great opportunity for you too. You'll stay here with Tomoyo-chan's family while I'm gone."

The moment Fujitaka's words sank in, Tomoyo's heart raced. Living with Sakura. Having her close every day. The thought thrilled her... and terrified her in equal measure.

"Oh, that's... I mean, that sounds great," Sakura said, forcing a smile. Her voice sounded lighter now, as if this change were a welcome distraction from her heartache over Li. "I don't want to be a bother though, Tomoyo-chan. Are you sure your mom's okay with it?"

Tomoyo nodded quickly, trying to suppress the sudden surge of anxiety that mingled with her happiness. "Of course! You're never a bother, Sakura-chan. I'd love to have you stay with us."

And that was true. But it was also terrifying. Being close to Sakura all the time, sharing the same space, every day... It was everything Tomoyo had ever wanted, and yet it was also a reminder of the growing tension inside her. How much longer could she keep her feelings buried?

"I'm really lucky to have you, Tomoyo-chan," Sakura said softly, her eyes meeting Tomoyo's with gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Tomoyo's breath caught in her throat, and for just a moment, her carefully maintained composure cracked. She looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. *You're not the lucky one, Sakura. I am.*

But luck could only take them so far. Tomoyo knew that living with Sakura would be the ultimate test—of her patience, of her ability to stay silent, and perhaps, of her heart's capacity to love from afar. The thought was bittersweet, a mixture of excitement and fear.

She glanced back at Sakura, who was now chatting excitedly with her father about the arrangements. Tomoyo smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. For now, she would keep her love a secret, tucked away in the quiet corners of her heart.

But how much longer could she bear it?