soulmates ➸ j-mei-

★chapter 16 - sunsets

Umi noticed the fear on Natsuki's face when she mentioned going in. The blackmail must've been hard on her. When Umi had first met Nao, she was really nice. She never would've guessed that she'd threaten such an innocent little girl.

"We don't have to go in," Umi reminded the girl in front of her. Natsuki bit her lip and nodded gratefully. She exited the car quickly, running off the other way. Umi decided to respect her privacy and leave. If Natsuki didn't want Umi to know where she lived, then the blue haired girl wouldn't push it.

Her head was pounding with choices. She could tell Yuri, or she could decide not to.

Of course, anybody would say to tell Yuri, but looking deeper into the situation, it could mean risking both Yuri and Natsuki's reputation. It could even ruin hers.

The school gossip page was the most popular way to find out what's going on in everybody else's lives. The people working there knew exactly how to change the reader's perspective, thus, controlling what they thought about a situation.

She sighed and began to drive. As she neared her house, she began to think.

Tell Yuri.

Don't tell Yuri.

She could make a quick decision without thinking of the dire consequences, but that seemed to her the less eloquent option.

She just needed to think.

Where could she go to think?

She smiled slightly and drove straight past her house. The best place she went to when she needed to think was a quaint little coffee shop on the corner. It had the best drinks and was completely underrated.

She parked carefully and bounced into the shop. "Umi~san!" the manager squealed happily. "It's been forever!"

Umi smiled brightly. "Yeah! I haven't been here since I moved away."

The manager nodded, grinning. "For coming back, I'll give you a fifty percent off discount," she said. "But don't let it get to your head!"

Umi giggled and ordered her drink. She decided on hot chocolate and a muffin. She settled down at a small two-person table.

She sipped her drink slowly, deep in thought. "Kiroko Umi~san, right?" a voice broke her from her thinking. "We go to the same school, right?"

She looked up to see a familiar purple haired girl. "M-Matsumoto~san! O-Oh, yeah we g-go to the same s-school," Umi blushed.

"That's what I thought," Akara smiled. "You go to the literature club, right?"

Umi nodded, unable to form words. Her brain was just a muddled mess.

"Right! I saw you when I interviewed your club president," Akara said. "May I sit with you?"

Umi nodded, blushing viciously. She looked down at the cup that was cradled in both of her hands. On top of Akara being there, she still needed to figure out what to do.

"Is something bothering you?" Akara asked worriedly.

Umi bit her lip. "I'm just...faced with a hard problem."

"Like what?" Akara asked.

"I'm not sure you'd understand," Umi fretted.

"Try me, Kiroko~san," Akara smirked playfully.

Umi sighed. "Someone blackmailed one of my friends into not talking to my sister, and I don't know whether I should tell my sister or not. It could totally ruin all three of our reputations if I tell, but it can ruin our relationships if I stay quiet."