Connected Hearts

Chapter 4

"Do you remember anything?" Mei asked
"Sorry...I couldn't remember anything" Yuzu said
"Haa...so nothing huh?" Mei said
"All I can tell you is that I felt something soft and warm...and a gentle voice" Yuzu said and Mei looked down. Yuzu tilted her head slightly and leaned in closely
"You okay?" Yuzu asked
"It frustrates me..." Mei said
"Do you hate this?" Yuzu asked
"Of course. Why would I enjoy any of this? I'm getting odd dreams that I can't remember and those dreams could possibly be a solution to our problem" Mei said
"You got a point there but I really don't hate it. Sure it's annoying to wake up not being able to remember but...the good thing about all this is that I got to meet you. My soulmate..." Yuzu said and Mei only pushed her face away
"Quit saying weird stuff like that and don't talk about this in public especially when Himeko is around" Mei said
"Shouldn't you have at least someone to talk to about this? I know you have me but nothing wrong with talking to a friend" Yuzu said
"And scare them away? Even if I'm really close with Himeko I can't tell her about this. She'll think it's weird..." Mei said
"She seems the type to really care about you and worry about you. I'm sure she'll understand" Yuzu said
"She's only going to get even more worried. Besides, it's fine since I have you to talk to about this. Only because we're both in the same situation" Mei said
"Right right" Yuzu said
"Have you told anyone?" Mei asked
"Only my two close friends. One of them is my cousin who understands and doesn't think I'm weird. Don't you have any relatives?" Yuzu asked but Mei looked away
"...no. I think it's best to head back before the teacher starts to suspect something" Mei said and walked away but Yuzu grabbed her arm
"What?" Mei asked as she looked at Yuzu
"...I wish we could spend more time together alone" Yuzu said, smiling warmly. Mei blushed a bit before pulling her hand away
"Enough with the nonsense" Mei said walking away
"It's not nonsense though. I enjoy being with you..." Yuzu said as she followed her. The two girls stepped out of the bathroom and Mei went directly to her classroom. Yuzu watched her walk away and smiled to herself
Maybe one day it could only be us together...please let it be soon...
By the end of the day, all the girls went ahead and took their own paths
"Meimei, will you be okay?" Himeko asked
"Thanks for worrying but I'm sure I'll be fine" Mei said
"You don't want us to walk you home?" Yuzu asked
"No thanks. See you next week" Mei said as she walked away
"Bye Meimei!" Himeko said
"Bye. See ya...Mei" Yuzu said, whispering the last part. Himeko glanced over at the girl noticing her blush
"...you like her a lot?" Himeko asked
"Wh-what?" Yuzu asked as she tensed up
"It's written all over your face and you're always looking at her with loving eyes. I can tell there is something going on between you two" Himeko said and Yuzu rubbed the back of her neck nervously
"Y-yeah...you could say I like her..." Yuzu said
"Was it love at first sight?" Himeko asked
"Hahaha something like that. I kinda just found her interesting when I first saw her..." Yuzu said
Momokino-san doesn't know about our strange dreams...nor about the red string of fate. Would it be okay to tell her about it?
Meanwhile the other girl was being very cautious about her surroundings making sure that she wouldn't bump into her father. She looked around the area for the entire walk until she felt a huge relief as she got to her home. Mei walked to the front door and entered a pin which unlocked the door letting her in
"Grandfather? I'm home" Mei said once she got inside
"Welcome home, Mei. Have you taken care of that girl like I asked?" Her grandfather asked as he walked downstairs
"Can we talk about something else? There is something more important than the transfer student" Mei said
"Hm? Oh is this about what happened yesterday?" Her grandfather asked as he approached Mei
"I thought you were going to handle it" Mei said
"Look I tried to tell him no but he ended up just going after you. Maybe it's best if you don't avoid him and try to talk to him. He might have something important to say..." Her grandfather said
"..." Mei tensed up feeling her heart throb and pressed her lips together
I don't want to hear it from him...I know what he'll say...
"Mei?" Her grandfather asked
"I already said that I don't want to see him" Mei said
"Mei, please..." A voice was heard and Mei tensed up before turning around seeing a man stepping out of a room where he hid. Her heart stopped for a moment before heading to the stairs
"Pl-please don't! I-I'm sorry, Mei!" Sho said and Mei stopped before remaining still with her back facing him
"Mei...I-I...I'm really sorry for leaving you. I'm sorry for not being...a responsible father and staying by your side. You must have gone through so much..." Sho said and Mei only looked down unable to look him in the eye
"Uhm...I...I would like to be able t-to spend time with each other again. Maybe go someplace fun to try and...rebuild our bond. You...you remember how much you enjoyed going to the amusement park? We can...go there again" Sho said. Mei slowly turned to look at him and looked away from him
"Mei...pl-please talk to me. I-I promise I'll try and-"
"I've been working hard, sensei. Just like you taught me. I-I've been getting good grades and I-I'm doing well in my classes. Grandfather must've told you right? I've been learning how to handle the Academy so...once I graduate and get into the Academy then you'll defi-" Mei paused as she noticed her father's expression who looked at her with a soft expression
"...y-you...are you...n-not h-happy?" Mei asked as her voice cracked
"U-uhm...Mei...I...I uh...no no. That's not it uhm...what you're doing is great. I...I really am proud of you for working so hard but...but you doing this won't-"
"Y-you said the Academy was important to you. You cared about the Academy. You were...a stern man who was capable of achieving any goal. I...looked up to you a lot. Because of that...I was able to accept your divorce with mom. I stayed by your side because I wanted to learn more from you and...be like you. S-so you could be proud of me, sensei. Be proud of teaching your student to be as amazing as you. I thought together we could-"
"Please stop, Mei. I really am proud that you're doing all this and wanting...to take care of the Academy but I won't be going back. The Academy isn't important to me anymore" Sho said looking down. Mei's eyes widened as she trembled and gritted her teeth
"Also...you can just call me dad or father. No need to call me sensei anymore. I'm not your teacher" Sho said. Mei lowered her head feeling her vision getting blurry because of the tears that built up in her eyes
...I knew it...
"Mei, I wanted to do other things in life instead of-"
"Leave me alone and never come back ever again! I don't want to see you!" Mei shouted before running to her room
"Mei! Wait please!" Sho said but his father stepped in grabbing his arm
"Leave Sho" His father said
"But Mei is-"
"Why are you even here again? You're the one who left her behind after you decided that you didn't want to take care of the school" His father said
"How come you're allowing her to help you take care of the school?" Sho asked
"Mei decided that for herself. I didn't push her into doing this" His father said
"But she's just a kid. She shouldn't be overworking herself" Sho said
"You think I haven't tried stopping her before? She wouldn't stop no matter how many times I tried so I decided to let her do what she wanted. Either way it's because of you she decided to take care of the school in the first place" His father said
"...is she...really okay?" Sho asked worriedly
"Of course she is. Mei is a strong girl" His father said
"Let me go to her room. I need to comfort her. She needs me" Sho said
"You should've thought about that before leaving her in my care. Now get out. She'll be fine in a few minutes" His father said
"Fine? She's crying right now!" Sho said
"What about it?" His father asked
"H-huh? Are you even hearing yourself right now?! She needs someone right now! How have you been taking care of her?!" Sho exclaimed
"You think I have time to be with her? I'm very busy trying to handle the school and meetings. I can't always stay by her side" His father said
"...so Mei...has been alone this entire time?" Sho asked
"Sho...this is all on you. If you hadn't changed your mind in inheriting the Academy like I asked of you then she wouldn't be put in this situation. Now get the hell out" His father said glaring at him
"...will I be able to see her again? I really...don't want things-"
"Sho...she doesn't want to see you anymore. Now that you made things clear that you don't want anything to do with the Academy then I suggest you leave. There is no reason for you to be here anymore" His father said
"...please try and stop Mei" Sho said
"Why should I? She's the perfect candidate to inherit the Academy. Mei is old enough to make her own decisions and decide what she wants. Now leave...you're nothing but a failure to the family. Can't believe you decided to ruin your life and leave the Academy..." His father said
"...sorry..." Sho said looking down