50 Shades of Mei

Days gone by.

How long has it been since she left? Almost a year now. Almost a year spent alone in this room. Almost a year spent in sleepless nights. It's our last year in high school.

And all she left me was a note and the words "I love you."

I'm so stupid... I should've never fallen in love with her...

Harumin had taken Mei's place in her absence. She comforted Yuzu but she knew she couldn't heal her.

She tried everything to take her mind off of Mei.
Nothing worked. She could tell she still loved her and that she would never feel that way with her. She knew she only held her hand because she would be lost, she knew she only kissed her because she didn't want to forget, she knew she only fucked her so she would remember her warmth. She knew she meant nothing to her compared to Mei. She knew she was only a bitter reminder of what she lost and yet she couldn't leave Yuzu.

Every night Yuzu would stay awake waiting for the day Mei would return. She never did. Not one letter. Nothing.

She'd cry into Kumagoro until she fell asleep. She had kept her ring hoping to put it back on her finger. She'd always make extra food and put it in the fridge, hoping that when she'd wake up it would be gone. Nothing. Everything hurt her. Everything was reminded her of what she lost.

"Good morning, Yuzu."

Harumin was waiting for her outside the school gates.

"Good morning, Harumin."

The dejected tone of her voice broke her heart.

Harumin walked over and hugged her.

"I love you."

The words echoed in Yuzu's head.

Harumin grabbed her hand and pulled her along to class.

Tears welled up, blurring Yuzu's eyes. She looked at Harumin holding her hand and for a split second looked up and thought Mei was the one holding her hand.

She quickly rubbed her eyes, and sniffed. She put on a broken smile as she entered the school.

Gramps had returned to the school during Mei's absence
and even he couldn't ignore Yuzu's sadness.
He knew the change in Mei was her doing, and yet he couldn't help but feel guilty. But this was the reality, this is what it meant to bear the Aihara name.

Udagawa fidgeted with the box while he waited for Mei.

He took one last glance at the ring inside.

I hope you make the right decision...

"Why did you call me here?"

It was Mei. She stood there in the sunshine looking like a goddess, her pale, soft skin complemented. A dark shadow had been cast over her face. But it wasn't enough to hide her sadness.

"Listen... I'm not really good at these kinds of things... since it was our marriage was arranged... getting down on one knee seems kind of awkward..."

He walked towards Mei.

"I wanted you to have this..."

He opened the box to reveal a beautiful, diamond encrusted ring. The ring was indeed beautiful, but guilt tore apart Mei. She never forgot that she left her ring with Yuzu. This killed her. She wanted Yuzu to put the ring on her finger. Not anyone else.

"I lo-"

*SLAP*

"SHUT UP!... shut up..."