Miracle of Hearts

Chapter 2 - With a Different Kind of Love

It was the next day of the school, Meinette walked the hallway, she's feeling that the air is lighter, yet heavier. She's still thinking about last night's revelation. "Yumana... she loves me?" Meinette's thoughts swirled around her like a tornado. The hallways of the school looked the same, but somehow, everything felt different.

Just then, Renki comes to Meinette. "Ummm, Meinette? What is wrong? Looks like you're not doing too great. Can I help you?"

Meinette looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion and a hint of sadness. "Renki, I don't know how to say this, but I would to go on the dinner."

"Well, okay. I hope my father didn't realized about that." Renki said, looking slightly disappointed but understanding. "Is everything okay with you, Meinette?"

"I am okay, I would date with you!" Meinette said with a forced smile, trying to push away the confusion. She couldn't bring herself to tell Renki the truth, not yet.

"But, I'm not sure if I'm ready for that kind of relationship," Meinette added, her voice trailing off.

Renki's eyes searched hers for a moment before nodding, "Take your time, Meinette. I'm here for you, no matter what." He gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder before leaving, leaving Meinette more torn than ever.

In the classroom, Yumana was relaxing herself in the desk, feeling the anticipation of Meinette's reaction to her confession. Her eyes scanned the room, looking for Meinette, and when she found her, she couldn't help but feel a jolt of excitement and nervousness. Meinette walked in, her eyes meeting Yumana's for a brief moment before looking away. She took her seat, avoiding eye contact with everyone, especially Yumana.

The lessons passed by in a blur for Yumana. Her thoughts kept going back to the kiss, replaying it over and over in her mind. She had never felt so alive, so exposed. During lunch, she watched Meinette from afar, sitting with her friends, trying to act normal. Yumana's heart ached, knowing she had probably ruined their friendship.

Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Meinette gathered her things and headed for the door, looking as though she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Yumana knew she couldn't wait any longer; she had to talk to her. She rushed out of the classroom, catching up to Meinette in the hallway.

"Okay, let's go, Renki. For a date!" Meinette said, trying to put on a brave face.

Renki looked surprised but also happy. "Really? That's great, Meinette!" He grabbed her hand and they headed out of the school.

Meinette's heart raced as they walked through the bustling streets, the noise of the city doing little to drown out the tumult of her thoughts. She glanced over at Renki, his hand still in hers, and felt guilty for leading him on. Yet, she couldn't shake off the memory of Yumana's confession. The warmth of her words, the taste of her lips—it was all so real and overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Yumana walked on the park, feeling getting more and more nervous as she approached Meinette's favorite spot. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the greenery, but it did little to soothe her anxiety. She took a deep breath.

Just then, Yumana saw her brother, Kotoki, was surrounded by the fans. Kotoki is the same age as her, which was a mangaka, a manga artist. His popularity grew overnight after the release of his new manga. The crowd of eager fans was clutching copies of his work, hoping for an autograph. Yumana felt a twinge of annoyance—she didn't need this today.

"Kotoki, your fans are everywhere!" Yumana said herself with her mind reading ability, she knew that Kotoki didn't like to be in the spotlight. Soon, she walked away from the park to avoid the commotion.

Meanwhile, in the dinner rush, Meinette and Renki sat across from each other in a quaint restaurant, the aroma of sizzling food and the murmur of conversations surrounding them.

"Well, you see, my father was seemingly was a fashion designer, like you. Also, he thinks that he was clothing company, but he regreted to leaving me on my house." Renki spoke as he tried to fill the silence between them, his grip on her hand a little tighter.

Meinette nodded, trying to focus on his words but her mind was elsewhere. She took a sip of her water, feeling the cool liquid wash over her dry throat. The truth was, she had been feeling conflicted ever since Yumana's confession. She had always thought of Yumana as a friend, but now, she couldn't ignore the feelings that had been stirring inside her.

"Your father must be very talented," Meinette said, forcing a smile. Her heart felt heavy, and she couldn't help but think about how she would break the news to Yumana.

"Yes, he was. My father was my best talented designer, well guess I would be love for you." Renki said, mistaking Meinette's comment for affection.

"Okay, I am the best way to make a right one." Meinette thought to herself, trying to get her mind off Yumana. She nodded along to Renki's stories, making the right sounds at the right moments, but her heart wasn't in it. The conversation with Renki was pleasant, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was lying to herself.

In Yumana's house, Yumana was relaxed in the bed. Just then, Meinette comes to her house. She knocks on the door.

"Yumana, are you home?" Meinette called out softly.

Yumana's heart skipped a beat as she bolted upright in bed. She had been lying there, rehearsing what she would say to Meinette when she saw her again. She took a deep breath and composed herself before heading to the door.

"Meinette, you're here!" Yumana said, trying to hide her excitement. She had been expecting this moment all day, the moment when Meinette would come to talk to her.

"Hi, my friend." Meinette's voice was low, almost a whisper, as she stepped into the dimly lit room. She looked around, taking in the sight of Yumana's cozy space filled with books and art supplies. The room smelled faintly of incense, a scent that always made Meinette feel calmer.

"How's your dinner?" Yumana asked, her eyes searching Meinette's for any sign of the turmoil she knew must be there.

Meinette took a deep breath, "It was fine. But I couldn't stop thinking about what happened last night." She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto Yumana's.

Yumana felt a mix of hope and fear. "Meinette, I know it was a shock. I didn't mean to just throw it out there like that. I just couldn't keep it in anymore." Her voice trembled slightly.

"I know," Meinette said, her own voice steady, "But I need to tell you something. I've been thinking about it all day, and I realized that... we need to keep our secret for the price to pay."

"Sure, I hope so!" Yumana said, trying to read Meinette's expression. Her heart was racing, the anticipation of Meinette's response making it difficult to breathe.

Then, Kotoki walked on the street and he goes to Yumana's house. "I'm home." He called out.

Inside, on the bedroom. Meinette felt good, as Yumana kiss her on their lips, but she knew it wasn't just a simple kiss. It was a kiss filled with emotion, with a love that she had never felt before. The kind of love that scared her, because it was so different from what she was used to. But she couldn't deny that it also felt right.

Their eyes searched each other's, looking for answers in the depths of their souls. Meinette's hand reached up, gently cradling Yumana's cheek. The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down Yumana's spine, making her feel alive in a way she never had before. They both knew that this was more than just a friendship, that the lines had been blurred and there was no going back.

Outside, in the house. Kotoki watched quietly to her sister was with Meinette, he knew that his sister had a crush on Meinette since they were in middle school. He was happy for her, but he realized had a idea for his new manga.

'Damn, that the hell way!' Kotoki exclaimed under his breath. He likes reading yuri manga and anime, like Bloom into You, Citrus, and Kase-san and Morning Glories. He knew that Meinette was his sister's crush, but he didn't expect this.

Soon, he hides on the vase, as Meinette got out from the room. "Okay, we should keep our secret, Yumana!" She whispered before leaving.

Yumana watched her go, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. She knew that Meinette had feelings for her, but she wasn't sure if their relationship could survive the scrutiny of the school and the judgment of their peers.

"Wow, I never seen that you got a secret here, sister." Kotoki said as he walked into the room, a smug grin on his face.

Yumana's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. "What are you talking about?" She tried to play it cool, but her voice gave her away.

Kotoki chuckled, holding up a sketch pad. "Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone. But I might just use this for my next manga plot." He winked at her.

"Ummm.....sure, brother." Yumana mumbled, her face still hot with embarrassment. She knew that Kotoki was just teasing her, but she couldn't help feeling a bit nervous about his newfound inspiration. Then, he walked out of the room, leaving Yumana to her thoughts.