Citrus: Morning Light, Arc Three (feat. Darkhorse344)

Chapter 16: The Tolling Bell, Part One

The rest of Shō and Mei's trip was rather uneventful. They visited several academies that Shō had been collaborating with for some time now, and Mei had the privilege of meeting several of their directors. All of this, however, was completely irrelevant to what she knew was awaiting her at home.

A week passed, at the end of which father and daughter boarded the airplane in Singapore that would take them straight home. "By the way, Mei," Shō said to her as it was ferried out of the gate, "I have something I think you should know."

"What is it, Father?" said Mei.

"I'll tell you once we've taken off," was his reply. "Give me some time to think about it."

~~~~ 

As the plane neared its cruising altitude, Mei turned to Shō. "What was it you were going to say, Father?"

He sighed. "It's rather... complicated, if I may put it that way. It's about Yuzu, in fact."

Mei's ears pricked up. "Y-yuzu? What about her?"

Another sigh. "Actually, I called home earlier this week, and Yuzu had something to say about you."

"Then I'd rather not hear it," said Mei. "I would much prefer to hear it from her own mouth."

"Are you sure about that, Mei?" her father inquired. "I don't think you would want to ignore it."

"Not while..." she stopped mid-sentence as she realized the possible meaning of this. "Actually, Father, go ahead. What did she say?"

Shō smiled warmly. "What I had suspected for a long time, actually. Put simply, she's fallen for you." Chuckling lightly, he continued, as his wide-eyed daughter listened. "I had that notion ever since the first encounter I had with her, Mei," said he, "and believe it or not, despite your wanting to brood to yourself at home, your sister was head over heels for you, or so I think."

So Yuzu's told them about our understanding, Mei thought to herself. But what about her dark side? 

Her fears were quite well founded, as she was soon to find out, but for the moment, she continued to listen to Shō's words. 

"But I perceive there's a slight problem," he said, his face growing more somber. "It's about this apparition that we've both seen. Is it— is it Yuzu?"

"What do you mean, Father?" asked Mei, slightly confused. "The shadowy ghost? I don't know, really. It looks like Yuzu and claims to be her monstrous side, but I never thought she had that much anger in her, if it really is her."

Shō raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "And if she does," he said, "why?"

His daughter's eyes began to well up, and try as she might to conceal, soon a tear began to roll down both her cheeks. "I don't know," Mei sniffled. "Maybe because I hurt her in some way?"

"It's certainly a possibility," Shō replied. "In fact, I really do think that's the reason. Don't you think your commitment to follow Grandfather's will was a bit much? I mean, now that I know the mutual feelings the two of you share, your being split about it all is completely understandable."

Mei nodded, her heart being too full to speak. "Udagawa-san must have seen it, too," her father continued. "That's why he decided to give you relief by breaking off the engagement. So you see, Mei, everything has gone your way, with one exception: the Yuzu you seek is being oppressed by her own depression. That's how I read the riddle, and your success in getting her back is going to fully rely on drivng her anger away. Okay?"

Mei nodded again, this time with a resolute face. "Yes, Father."