Here I am, sorry for the wait but I hope you all like this lil work of mine.

I'm so happy that you took some of your busy time reading this thing or even more to leave a review. I'm really grateful, most of all because it's the first time I publish something and I'm perfectly aware of being a noob. I barely know how to use the liber-office provided. So be patient with my style that obviously reflects my Italian cadence or rythm, and with my TOTAL lack of technicality knowledge such as formatting or similar. I hope you enjoy it, if not, please let me know why, ok?

Thousands of thanks to Angel0wonder for the quality checking and if there are still mistakes they are surely mine, 'cause i'm used to make little changes until the very last moment.

Yuzu opened her eyes on pale sheets and on an equally pale hand that was weighing lightly on her chest. A soft light was on in the room. She took a breath and watched, as Mei's fingers trailed a little caress on her skin.

When Yuzu turned her face towards Mei, the brunette just gazed at her for a bit, then couldn't help a little smirk to curve a corner of her lips.

Yuzu returned her stare, but her face must have looked weird, because Mei's smile was gone in a second and she was saying, "You look worried."

The blonde forced a smile on her face, then looked at the ceiling.

Everything that had happened; every kiss, every caress or touch; flooded her mind.

Yuzu blushed hot red, remembering Mei's skin on hers, her tongue, her fingers, while she felt the brunette shift on the bed, to lean on an elbow.

Mei moved, reaching for Yuzu's fingers, in silent comforting.

When Yuzu looked back at her she found a little sadness in her eyes. She got closer and snuggled on her same pillow. "I'm still a bit... Overwhelmed by... Everything."

Mei relaxed and laid down too, a finger slowly grazing at Yuzu's cheek.

"I'm sorry if I've been too... Straightforward."

Yuzu shook lightly her head, "hm-hm". Reaching for Mei's fingers with her lips, to kiss them. "No, I am sorry for having been... Useless. I was a real maguro-girl."

Mei blinked two times and looked at her a little bewildered. "A... A tuna-girl?"

Yuzu blushed and nodded. "Yeah... You know those girls they say during sex just kind of... Lay there, like a frozen tuna?"

Mei looked away for an instant, then kissed her briefly. "You didn't seem so frozen to me..."

Yuzu held Mei's hand, that was still caressing her cheek, "I know but... I didn't... Return the favour, did I?"

Mei blushed a little. "It's not like you had to... Forcing yourself lik..."

Yuzu lifted herself up a little, heated up, in haste to justify. "I wouldn't have been forcing myself... I wanted to... But it was all so shockingly new and... I... Aaaawww. It's not that I didn't want..."

Mei smiled softly at the blushing Yuzu who had hidden her face from her. She rested a hand on her shoulder and waited. Yuzu didn't lift her gaze and spoke with her face still pressed onto the pillow. "I actually... Still want to."

Mei started, while Yuzu raised up a bit to look at her. "Yuzu, now it's a litt..."

But the blonde had interrupted her with a clumsy forceful kiss, grasping at her nape for support. Yuzu pushed her down, half rolling over her, deepening the kiss. Mei laid still, not even trying to resist.

Damn it, why did I wait for her to wake up... Who knows when we'll have the chance to be together again. Now it's...

Yuzu detached a little to breath, then bit at her lip and kissed her again. But Mei stopped responding, and instead reached for her face to push her back.

Yuzu looked so hurt Mei felt her chest clench in pain at the sight.

The blonde looked betrayed, sad and angry. Why is she pushing me away?

"Why.."

Mei smiled sadly and pinched at the blonde's cheeks, easing the dreadful feeling she could read on her face.

"Because I let you sleep and now our last train leaves in half an hour. If you didn't wake up on your own, I would've..."

Yuzu let her head drop on Mei's chest, huffing.

The brunette sighed too, "Sorry..."

Yuzu didn't reply and Mei caressed her head a bit. Then kissed her hair and patted her shoulder. "Come on," she said sitting up.

They dressed up, then hurriedly left. Mei looked at Yuzu gazing back at the room while they were walking through the door. She took her hand and guided her out.

Two hours later Mei let herself fall onto her bed with a huff, an arm going to cover her eyes. She breathed deeply once, and a smirk popped onto her face for a second.

Matsuri looked at her, sideways, with a brow lifted. "So... Apparently you did a bunch of date-like funny things until 6 p.m. and... Nothing at all after that?"

Mei ignored her.

Matsuri pressed further.

"Come on, you won't expect me to be like Yuzu's mother and politely avoid any embarrassing questions... How did it go?"

Mei replied in a shallow tone, "None of your business."

Matsuri chuckled, "Ok, but let me say you couldn't make it more obvious."

Mei rolled to look at the pink haired girl, who was sneaking under the covers. "What?"

Matsuri smirked, Mei was comically defiant. "Well, since you came home you have a certain... difficulty maintaining your usual countenance. And the moment you relax... Well I can't say it nicer, you have a perfect 'I just had sex' face!"

Mei went wide eyed for a second, "W-what!?" Then she scowled and recovered her cold tone. "What do you even know about sex anyway..." she said, rolling on the other side.

Matsuri back pedaled, "Ouch! That hurt," a sarcastic tone in her voice.

Then, seeing Mei was ignoring her, she snorted, sitting up. "Deary, I know what face I make... after. And that looks like you pleasured yourself big time!"

Mei sat up, again gawking at the blunt way Matsuri had spoken.

"That's not it..." Then she thought twice, "I won't be justifying myself to you." She said rolling back again.

But Matsuri didn't mean to let it slide, "I bet she made you scream loud."

A pillow hit the younger girl hard in the face.

"Hhhhw" she muttered.

Then looking at Mei's angry expression, she made a sneer. "Ok, sorry... That was going overboard."

The brunette retrieved her pillow, hugging it.

Matsuri heard a long sigh coming muffled from it. "Seriously, how did it go?"

Mei lifted her face up, "I told you, I'm not talking about this with you!"

"Oh and with who else will you talk to this about? With your girlfriend's best friend who secretly likes her? Or with your curly childhood friend who blushes at the word 'kiss'... Hm?"

Mei thought about Harumi, who Matsuri had met just two or three times, and Himeko whom she had just heard of. Yeah, I know she's sharp, she smiled bitterly, then laid down, resting her chin on her hands.

She breathed long and deep.

After a moment of silence she spoke, with a light blush on her cheeks.

"Sweet... It was sweet," she said hiding her face in the pillow right after.

Matsuri smiled, "Who was the first to... Howl at the moon?"

Mei lifted her eyes from the pillow and looked at her sideways, "What kind of way of saying it, is that!?"

Matsuri shrugged, "Well you want me to be polite. I thought it was cute."

Mei shook her head. "Anyway, what kind of question is that!?"

Matsuri looked at her, sternly. "You know... To see who initiated, who led. Who likes the one more then the other, in the end."

Mei blushed. Who likes the other more? That doesn't mean anything! She thought hugging her pillow. Then she thought it was all she'd been doing for minutes, so she angrily tossed it at its place.

Matsuri looked at her, curiously. "Did you... You know... Reach happy ending?"

Mei smirked, sat comfortably and held her ankles.

"Do you want details?"

Matsuri blushed a little and Mei was glad to see she had the heart to feel a little embarrassed too. "I'm just... Healthily curious, you know," said the younger girl, on the defensive.

Mei stilled, remembering. Well, she talked to me about pretty intimate things... And it's not like she's going to tell anyone. It won't hurt to talk a bit, will it? Maybe I'll just try it this time?

"I actually... didn't," said Mei in the lowest voice possible. She lifted her face and smiled awkwardly. "But it's not like I care," she added, looking at Matsuri.

The girl got closer. "Wait, you mean you were... Too nervous, or what?"

Mei thought about it a little, then resumed.

"I... forgot about it." Yuzu was so beautiful today... And her smile so sincere. All her squirming and moaning. She looked at me in such a way, I just couldn't stop to think about me... Wait. There's no way I can say this to her.

Mei lifted a weird embarrassed look towards Matsuri.

The pink haired girl remained silent for a while, then...

"What!?" She blurted finally.

Mei swung a little, gazing nowhere in particular.

Matsuri frowned, "You didn't even care for yourself!?"

Mei blushed in remembering. They had eaten the sandwiches, and talked a bit, then... Yuzu had started playfully kissing my neck. But then I ended uptouching her again and the girl was whimpering so sweetly it had seemed a pity not to finish...

"Oy! Snap out of it!" came, suddenly, Matsuri's annoyed voice.

Mei was totally red in the face. She looked at the pink haired girl who was staring at her with a serious look in her eyes.

Matsuri blinked in realization. "You've fallen in love with her!"

Mei averted her eyes.

Matsuri smirked briefly, then they fell silent while the younger girl crawled under the covers. Mei got into bed too, and Matsuri turned the lights out.

The room was silent for some time, until the younger girl asked, "Say... How many times did you managed to..?"

A pillow hit again Matsuri in the face. "Sleep," came Mei's lapidary voice.

"Hhkhhy."

Yuzu was staring at the ceiling.

It's late now, we have to go. We must get home soon. Mei's words of not long ago, where rolling in her mind. When she had tried to kiss her again, on their way to the station. She refused me again.

She thought about what had happened, blushing and getting all thrilled and excited again. Did it actually happen?

After we kissed it became all so blurred and... And so hot.

She squirmed in the futon, feeling her cheeks catch fire.

Oh my god, I'm never going to recover,never.

She enjoyed the lingering feeling of delight she still could feel all over.

Mei was so reassuring and sweet and... God the thing she did with her fingers in the end, I...

She hugged the pillow, muffling a lament on it.

She didn't want to wake her mother up. It was so weird and embarrassing to think about that with her mother sleeping just inches from her futon.

And I didn't... Not even once. A little tiny doubt made way in her mind. She remembered the times Mei had provoked her, in the past. When nothing, of what had shocked and troubled Yuzu so much, seemed to have a meaning for her.

What if it was just a play for her?

But then she said... Oh god, she said she loves me.

But what if it was just to make me believe?

Naaaaah, no way!

She shook her head vigorously, then a burning hot memory hit her again.

Mei kissing my neck and biting lightly, while her hand was...

Yuzu flushed scarlet, feeling the now familiar tingle of arousal down to her lower belly. I want to kiss her, touch her, taste her...

Aaaaw, I love you Mei. And I didn't show it... I'm an idiot, and you must hate me right now. But I love you all the same... A lot, a lot, a lot!

She chanted in her head, while rolling with the pillow.

She must be right. I'm totally crazy.

She rested on her side, hiding her blushing face in her hands.

She fell asleep a lot later, thinking on how good it had tasted, that sandwich eaten from Mei's fingers.

That Sunday nobody had anything particular to do, so the group decided to go back to the future Mizusawa's house to give a hand in fixing the place... Or better just to laze around and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the administrative quarter in the non-working weekend. The day had started chilly and crisp, but now the sun shined onto the old house dark stone roof. They decided to bring some first necessities. Like an old camping stove Mr. Aihara had left back. A boiler and a rice cooker, food supply for a regiment and all they thought was needed to pass the day there. Yuzu was having fun, annoying the Koi fish in the pond. While the others enjoyed the feeling of being in a natural mini-oasis in the middle of the Hinode. Mei again found the little kitty of the last time, this time more prone to play with her. She made him follow a little bamboo stick, tricking the little kitty to chase for it all round the garden. The women started preparing a late breakfast on the porch, bathing in the sun while the rice cooked. Warmly dressed, in the wintery morning, they enjoyed the approaching warmest hours of the day.

Matsuri watched Mei going to lead the cat where Yuzu was sitting, on the black stone that closed the pathway to the pond. Yuzu and Mei exchanged glances and what, to her, looked like flirtatious smiles. She sneered at them, Oh how cute! Asking herself right after, why she had felt annoyed by them. It must be becauseI'm missing Kari so very much. Must be it.

Yuzu felt ashamed of having avoided Mei when they woke up that morning. But she didn't know how to ask for her forgiveness. And having her mind still full of boiling hot thoughts about the day before, while trying to maintain a normal behaviour, was terribly distressing.

The brunette got closer to her, chased by the little feline.

The cat got distracted from Mei's stick by a sudden splash in the pond.

It ran frantically, searching for a way to catch that bright orange thing that had just popped out of the water.

The girls smiled to each other in amusement, but Yuzu got serious right away.

No, she wasn't as good as Mei in hiding her feelings.

Mei sat on the sun-warmed stone beside her. Yuzu played a little more with the fishes, then pinched Mei's sleeve.

She whispered, "I'm so sorry about yesterday..."

Mei looked down at her, honestly confused. Yesterday was fantastic...

"About what...?"

Yuzu kept her face hidden from her, her forehead went resting on Mei's shoulder. She clenched her accurately manicured hand on her coat.

"F-for not having... Partook?"

Mei blushed after a second in understanding, that again?

"I told you, it's not like I was expecting anything from you..." She said, but repented immediately. Somehow what she had thought and what she had said clashed, terribly.

Yuzu looked up, finding they were both avoiding their gaze, and not being sure of the sense in Mei's words. The blonde said, "Well, I'm sorry anyway..."

Mei tried to keep her mouth from staggering and tried to justify herself. But something was still not quite right.

I only did what I wanted to do. And... "It's not that important." Again something wrong-ish escaped her mouth. Mei gritted her teeth.

Yuzu blushed deeper, in shame. But it's important to me, she thought, but remained silent. She didn't know what else to say, without sounding tremendously awkward. Her eyes felt prickly.

"Ehm-ehm..." Came interrupting, the discreet beckoning of Yuzu's mother.

The girls stood up and Yuzu sprang away from Mei, reaching her mother.

Mei tried to stop her, noticing she was hiding her probably crying face from her. "Wait, I didn't meant it..." not the way you think.

But Yuzu's mother was calling everybody for breakfast and Yuzu was already giving a hand in disposing the bowls and plates. Mei sighed and regained her composure, then joined the others.

After having replenished with energies, the girls were put to work by their mothers. Mrs. Mizusawa had brought material to restore the house to its ancient splendor. Matsuri, who had no manual ability whatsoever, was given a broomstick and a plastic bag, and was sent to clean the garden, much to the outermost joy of the girl. Yuzu, being the most energetic one, helped her mother replacing the damaged tatami mats, sewing back the old rush of the ones that could be salvaged. Mei wasn't confident at all in doing it, but she paired with Mrs. Mizusawa, in painting the wooden porch pillars back to their chestnut.

They had lunch together then everybody helped replacing the worn out or stained shoji screens. Checking the work of the sliding doors and placing the waterproof, modern ones, facing the porch.

After all the work done, everybody rested in the fading afternoon.

The girls had welcomed that distraction from the twirling thoughts that occupied their heads. Yuzu in particular.

The home needed more work, but seeing it already so refreshed and clean, gave Mrs. Mizusawa chills of expectation. She grabbed her daughter by the shoulders and squeezed her, looking at everyone smiling. "Aaww, thank you so, so much!" Matsuri tried desperately to resist her mother's tight hug, while the woman gleamed in joy.

An instant later Mrs. Mizusawa shouted, "Come on! Everybody get home now. Get clean, well dressed and cute... Cause we're going to dine out tonight, it's on me!" Yuzu and Matsuri clapped five with a giggle.

Mrs. Aihara thought if it wasn't better going to dine home, seeing the financial difficulties the woman was facing. But Mrs. Mizusawa read those thoughts on her face and waved a hand. "Don't worry… I'd like to thank you all for your hard work and you, Haruka, for enduring the presence of my daughter at your place... I'll never thank you enough. And anyway, I owe the gods for this opportunity. I never had expected to find the house of my dreams for a sum I could afford. So I better start building good karma in thanks!"

The women smiled to each other in sincere friendship, then the group packed up, getting ready to hit the restaurant they had chosen to celebrate.

Yuzu gleamed in expectation of tasting as many dishes she could think of.

Mei and Matsuri sighed together, looking at the carefree enthusiastic blonde, then Matsuri laughed lightly. Mei got closer to the younger girl, still keeping an eye on the uncommon beauty who now walked ahead of them.

The brunette walked a little tense for a moment. Then said, without looking at Matsuri, "I'm sorry I tried to lecture you the first time. If I had been more like you, I would probably had avoided much pain."

Matsuri reached her, shrugging.

"Everyone makes mistakes their own way."

Mei nodded, while the younger girl stared at her.

Thank you for the scholarship thing, I really hope it works. I'm sure mom will be happy. I hope I can keep the secret 'till I know I can do it… Thought Matsuri, without saying a word. Mei half smiled at her staring and the pink haired girl felt a new warmth engulf her. No, not a new one. Just almost forgotten.

That was how it felt to have a friend. Wasn't it? She smiled.

And this time, Mei noticed, the smile reached her eyes too.

"What do you mean she lost it!?"

Everybody in the classroom turned to look at the student council president, unusually raising her voice. Momokino Himeko looked startled at her and then noticed they were being observed. Yuzu and Harumi turned towards them, muted, just like the others. Himeko talked again in a lower voice. "She was so sorry she started crying when she realized..."

"I'm not looking for apologies! I'm looking for the contracts! We can't authorize retailers inside school ground, without them!" Mei looked barely capable of controlling her anger, she was clenching her fists on her desk.

Still, she had still all her classmates eyes on her. She took a breath.

All that work down into the sink...

Himeko didn't know what else to say but "I'm so sorry MeiMei..."

The dark haired girl stood up suddenly, exhaling. "Ask her to help you look for the folder. Search all around school ground. Even though with mid terms there's papers filed everywhere. I'll call the parts, asking to send us their copies... We'll need the double signed ones, to show them to the police officers. But having copies might buy us some time."

Mei left her desk, glancing sadly at Yuzu, when she passed near her.

She wanted to make plans together... To apologize.

Yuzu gave back the same sad and disappointed look.

The blonde heard the chatter in the class becoming louder. Between an "Aihara-san was so cool!" and a "Who made the president mad?"

She turned to Harumi, looking worried. "Seemed serious..."

The chestnut haired girl nodded, "Hope they solve it quickly."

Mei didn't show herself in class for the last period and didn't come home with her, either. A little disturbing thought crawled its way back in Yuzu's mind. Especially after the little chat they had at the old house.

"It's not like I was expecting anything from you..."

She's avoiding me. She hated it... And she hates me too, now.

She tried to chase away that stinging worrying thought and decided to meet with Harumi at the internet café. She was dying to tell someone about the evening she and Mei had spent together. And she knew Harumi would have kind words for her troubled mind.

As Yuzu planned, later, they were lazing around in one of the cubicles and Yuzu was reading the Yuri manga she had bought. Really just because she didn't know how to bring out the topic otherwise.

"Ha-harumin...?"

"Hm?" The chestnut haired girl turned towards her, lifting her face from the computer.

Yuzu was blushing and hiding her mouth under the manga.

"I actually never really asked but... Are you... into boys or girls?"

Harumi blushed and turned back onto her swivel chair.

Dangerous topic! She rested her chin on her hands, took a deep breath. Ok... "Girls..." Definitely.

Yuzu sat on the bed a little relieved. When she had told her, Harumi was totally ok with her being in love with Mei and everything. Though it would have felt weird, talking about private matters, if the girl didn't share her same interest in female bodies.

Well, Yuzu couldn't imagine how weird this was becoming for Harumi.

The blonde asked timidly, "And… have you ever had... Experiences?"

Harumi turned towards her with an embarrassed smile. "I actually just kissed a boy in middle school... And I didn't like it. That's why I must like girls!" she said, lifting her head up at the end and smiling to the blonde.

And because of the huge crush I have on a blonde of my knowledge.

Yuzu opened her mouth to talk, then blushed and tried again, but just a blabber went out from her mouth. "We... Y' know... Mei and I..." then covered her flame red cheeks and let herself fall back on the bed.

Harumi waited for her to collect her thoughts. A brow lifted.

Yuzu voiced a lament, rolling to hide onto the pillow. "Aaaaaw, I can't!"

Harumi chuckled. "Yuzu-chi what's the matter!? Last time I saw you so flustered it was abo..." Then she realized it. It was about sex... She had sex with her.

And suddenly felt stupid for still feeling pain thinking about it. She chortled to herself, then said. "Well, it was about time you two had a rendezvous!"

Yuzu sat up with a bewildered expression. "Did you just read it between the lines!?"

Harumi laughed at her bothered face and reached her onto the bed, when Yuzu hid again her face onto the covers.

"It's because you can't hide when you're in love, Yu-zu-cha-n!" she said poking at her side. But Harumi's countenance twitched in pain, when the blonde turned to look at her. Yuzu noticed the sad shade passing on her face in the space of a second. She looked at her inquiringly, then, naaa… there's nothing wrong with Harumi, she thought, shaking that fleeting moment away.

The brunette leaned on an elbow and poked at Yuzu's nose, amongst her serious face, forcing a playful tone onto her voice.

"Well? How do you feel... Now that you're not an untainted maiden anymore?"

Yuzu looked at her smile, clouded with sadness.

Wait… It-it can't be... Right? What is she hiding… Don't tell me she...

"Haru... You don't really want to hear about it, do you?"

Harumi blushed, looking for an excuse. "N-Not at all! Just because I'm single you don't have to keep from... " her voice sounding achingly false.

Yuzu looked at her, grievously. "I'm not talking about that, you're not that selfish. So... " She turned her back to her and took a deeep breath.

"In truth... Do you... like Mei?"

Harumi went wide eyed and nearly fell from the bed at her words. For an instant she thought Yuzu had understood everything. But she had totally missed the mark. Yeah, and this is so Yuzu-like. She smirked. Then couldn't believe it, but a soundly laughter cracked out from her mouth.

"You're totally clueless, aren't you?" she said holding her stomach amongst laughs.

Yuzu turned to look at her, astonished by her reaction, and Harumi calmed, seeing her friend was really, truly, in the dark about her feelings.

She stared at her. Then lowered her eyes, no more capable of hiding her emotions.

"The thought never crossed your mind..." She said, not asking.

Yuzu suddenly realized what Harumi was implying. S-she likes me!?

Her eyes darted from Harumi to her feet, many times. Embarrassed and sad, Yuzu didn't know where to look.

She stuttered an "I-I'm so sorry... I really cannot..."

Stupid, she knows you can't return her feelings.

Yuzu clenched her teeth, her eyes were starting to prickle. "I'm really... Truly sorry. I should probably go now..." she said, brusquely standing up and turning away.

Harumi grasped at her jacket, keeping her down. "Wait!"

Yuzu stopped.

Harumi kept her hold on her. "What if I don't listen to this... What will I do next time, cover my ears not to hear? What will it become of our friendship... Feeling awkward every time you talk about her?"

Yuzu slowly turned to look at her. Harumi was still smiling, though now her eyes were much sadder then before. She tried to sustain her look.

Harumi resumed what she was saying. "Falling in love is not something you want... Isn't it? It just happens! Why should I blame you for loving her? And why should I loose what we have for the sake of not feeling sad? Wouldn't it be the stupidest thing?"

Yuzu lowered her eyes. "Harumi... I... I'm sorry."

The brunette let go of her jacket and rubbed her nose with a finger, "So... Where were we...?"

Yuzu didn't look like she wanted to talk, though.

Harumi smiled and took Yuzu's hand. "Look. What would you do if you were in my shoes... If you knew Mei was in love with someone else? And that someone was the most fantastic person, who loves her back and who makes her happy. How would you feel?"

Yuzu felt something clutch her heart. "At first? It would be terrible..."

Then Mei's smile crossed her mind, lightening her chest. Yes, she knew where her friend was trying to guide her. "But I guess I'd end up feeling happy for her... In some time..?"

Harumi smiled but her voice sounded terribly melancholic.

"That's what love is, isn't it? Wanting to see the people you care about being happy..."

Yuzu stared at her serene, now limpid look. Fully realizing she was talking about her, she blushed. Harumi again rubbed her nose. "So in the end wouldn't it be best just to grow out of it, deal with it, and staying friends with her? 'Cause, you know, I'm feeling pretty awful right now... But I could not even imagine how would it feel not having you at all in my life!" ended the girl with another smile.

An open, bright one.

Yuzu felt her eyes prickle again. Oh no.

She started crying, hiding it behind her hands. "I'm soowwry"

Harumi smiled at her crybaby friend when hearing the sobs. "Hey, that's not fair, you know? You're not the one who's supposed to cry now!" and her voice was cracking just a little bit.

Yuzu felt warmed and honored and really lucky to have someone so precious in her life. She asked herself if it was proper, then launched herself hugging Harumi anyway, still crying loud.

"I-I'm so so-sorry!"

Harumi hugged her tight, feeling tears falling on her cheeks.

But she wiped them away before turning to look at Yuzu. Then said, playfully, "Enough now... Don't we have a first date to talk about?"

Yuzu stared at her for some seconds through tears, then thought back to the day she had passed together with Mei and blushed.

"Y-yeah..." she dried her tears on her sleeve.

Harumi put her hands together, in pleading.

"Please... Just... skip the most spicy details for now, ok?"

Yuzu scratched her head in a nervous laugh, "Guess it's reasonable. I... actually had to ask you something..."

When Harumi deciphered Yuzu's stumbling and circuitous words, she blushed deep, then couldn't help but laugh it off.

Lucky I asked her to skip the details! But she's so cute, look at her muttering and stumbling... Well, at least this could be… a little fun? Thought Harumi smirking.

I'm telling you, I'm going to make that maiden-of-steel so grateful she'll have to grant me a total amnesty on dress code next year.

Meanwhile Yuzu was still talking. "I didn't know how to act in that... Situation... I didn't know where to start, really..." concluded discouraged the blonde, after her brief tale.

Harumi mumbled a little, then hastily grabbed Yuzu's hands.

"Well, I would totally start from here... " She said taking a look at her fingers and reaching in her purse for a nail clipper.

Mei didn't come home until very late and Yuzu had a weird look on her face just before welcoming her home with a wry smile. She looked worried, no… more like not daring to look at her in the eyes.

Mei made a mental note to ask her about it.

Harumi's counseling session did not have the calming effect she'd been hoping for and Yuzu was still sulking. A lot. She was totally unsure, not at all convinced she'd be able to do what her friend had advised.

Matsuri was playing video games on her portable console pretty much ignoring her surroundings and Mrs. Aihara had gone to bed already.

Mei greeted Yuzu as always, but the blonde turned away almost immediately. "You must be hungry... Wh-what kept you so long, are there some issues with the student council?"

Mei sat at the table, hugging her giant teddy bear. "A girl lost some important papers for the festival organization. Me and Himeko spent the afternoon looking for them, uselessly."

Yuzu looked at her depressed expression. "Were they so fundamental? I mean... We're still doing the festival, right?"

Mei sighed. "It's complicated..."

Yuzu put a plate of curry and rice in front of her and asked for explanations. Mei put away the plushy. Then checked if Yuzu's expression was really interested, before delving into insurance policies, payment contracts and general management for some minutes.

Yuzu listened to her technical words, marveling again on how the hell could she be able of being the manager of the school, in addition to her role of representative of the students.

"So basically we need those papers or the law won't permit people to put stalls onto our school ground? Couldn't we just... I don't know, put them on wheels?"

Mei raised an eyebrow, then smiled, "Could be fun..." and ate another spoonful of Yuzu's delicious curry.

Yuzu, seeing her proposal had been discarded easily, huffed in boredom.

"So you'll be occupied with this thing until it's solved..."

Mei stopped munching on her last mouthful. She looked at her face, finding it disappointed. She sighed, feeling guilty.

"Yuzu... There are midterms results to be sorted out too. The head-teacher gave us the answers chart and we'll have to assign the grades. We're more than 500 students... It will take time."

Yuzu stood up and took away her empty plate.

Mei called her back, "Yuzu, It's my duty.." but didn't follow. She sighed and hugged her bear again. Yuzu washed quickly her dish and cup. Yeah... Your duties. As if...

Then she avoided her eyes passing in front of her and bid her quickly goodnight.

Mei had noticed her face turn to almost crying. She sighed.

Matsuri leaned on the backside of the sofa to watch the scene.

"First quarrel...?"

Mei looked at her, then exhaled. "It seems so..." Then did a double take to her, with a calm but stern expression. "Don't meddle in, ok?"

Matsuri lifted her hands. "Far from my thoughts..."

Mei nodded then went to her room.

The day after, the girls barely saw each other out of class.

Mei had management duties, given the incident of the day before forced her to start again with all the procedures. And she was secluded in her office all afternoon round, with just Himeko there to help. Her curly haired friend had noticed.

Mei had been restless all day long.

Checking the clock every half an hour and ticking nervously with her pen while writing unnerved. Not even caring of checking the mail that came in while working. Moreover other papers came piling up. More than 500 mid terms tests to check, that were put aside to give priority to the festival matter. Which solved itself, luckily, but only at the very end of the day. When a teacher came running, knocking on her office door, saying that she had accidentally brought the folder home with herself.

The girls huffed a loud sigh of relief, stopped the redoing of the documents, then hurried to compile the permissions requests.

Himeko gave Mei a lift home and watched her curiously, as her expression changed every meter they got closer to her home.

Once there, Mei couldn't wait to see Yuzu's smile to light up what was left of that day, but the blonde had left dinner ready for her and had gone to take a bath.

She wanted to talk with her but she saw her hurry to her room when she came out of the bathroom. Is she really trying so hard to avoidme? Mei walked in front of her bedroom door, then stopped. I'm tired, I'd probably snap at her or say something harsh again... So she said to the closed door, "Thanks for the dinner... Goodnight." Then walked to her room.

The day after was even worse. Compiling documents and calling all sorts of retailers was a thing. Continuously and mechanically checking answers and signing mistakes on tens of identical tests was another. Mei had uneasily accepted when the head teacher had asked her to take care of it. But right now every fiber of her body was regretting it. Moreover what she couldn't bear was the constant bugging of that thought in the back of her head. Yuzu was having a problem with her. And she was avoiding her not to talk about it. She wanted to kiss her so much her lips seemed to itch in expectation. She looked at the paper in her hand and she realized she had made a mistake. She sighed loudly and Himeko looked at her, worried, while she corrected it. "Oh MeiMei I almost forgot, you got mail while you were occupied with the forms, yesterday..."

Mei gladly accepted the diversion and extended a hand to receive the two envelopes. The first was in a fancy heavy paper with no sender on it.

Just the note 'at the sole attention of miss Aihara Mei'.

The girl looked suspiciously at the paper while she read that the school had just received a conspicuous donation in money.

Mei showed it to Himeko seeing the girl's eyes gleam in joy.

"With a sum like this we could rebuild the library from scratch instead of just renovating it!"

Mei kept serious. "Don't know... We're on mid terms and finals are not so far... I would wait to collect a sum like that. Least of all using it..."

Himeko turned serious. "Do you think some parent is trying to push his daughter forward?"

Mei shrugged, it was way too much for an uninterested donation for sure.

"I'd say to keep quiet about it until we know more about this..."

Himeko nodded, then stared at Mei, looking at the following envelop with eyes she had never seen. The brunette felt her heart get stuck in her throat.

She gulped down before opening it.

"Mei-chan I'm on my way home.

Should make it to your cultural festival.

Your grandfather told me he has news about you. Sure they'll be good.

Can't wait to see you all. Greet Yuzu-chan on my behalf and tell mom she doesn't need to pick me up at the airport."

The concise letter had the date of a week ago. Her father's letter.

She felt like crying and she didn't want to do it. She didn't want to think about her father, because when she started, she ended up agonizing about what she was going to say to him. She pressed her hands on her eyes and took some deep breaths. She wanted to feel safe, and warm and stop sulking.

I need to see her, she thought.

Himeko asked, "Who..?"

"Who what?" said Mei, clueless.

Himeko looked at her awkwardly, "You need to see... Who?"

Mei realized she had spoke aloud. "Oh!" then hid her face from her.

"... No, no one." The brunette went back to the tests with slightly blushing cheeks.

Time passed slowly, until she heard Himeko say, "Here's your sister's one..."

Mei really tried to remain indifferent to Himeko's voice, while she was correcting that Ayanami Ryuko's test, but her ears kept catching affirmative humming from the curly haired girl in front of her.

She peeped on her, while her pen slid down the paper, leaving only a few marks. And after some minutes she heard her reluctantly say, "Not bad... "

Mei surrendered her self-discipline. She lifted her head. "How... Not bad, precisely?"

Himeko tried to ignore the anxious expression on her face and slowly showed her the paper. Mei went wide eyed, then stood up.

She did a double take on Himeko then grabbed her bag, "I'm sorry..." and fled the room. The girl followed Mei in the corridor. "Wait! Are you going to leave like this? There's your test after hers, in the pile!"

Mei looked at her, then smiled. "I don't care."

Himeko thought it's been years since she's seen her smiling like that.

Mei discretely waved a hand at her, "I have to go."

Himeko asked, lowering her eyes just an instant, "To her?"

Mei stopped smiling, but looked at her sternly, while she nodded.

The brunette turned again to go away, but Himeko grabbed her by a hand. "Just... Tell her my promise is still valid."

Mei frowned, not understanding. But then nodded at Himeko's serious expression. "I will," she said, then ran away.

The door flung open and Mei searched for her right away. She regained her breath for a second, then noticed the vacuum cleaner was on. Yuzu was in the living room, doing chores. She smiled to herself. Always the responsible housewife...

Mei watched her as she was swaying her hips and humming a song she was listening to with earphones on.

Mei enjoyed watching, being unseen a little more, then got close, at her back.

She held her by the arms, and kissed her nape without warning.

"Hi."

Yuzu jumped, letting the vacuum cleaner fall down, which silenced it.

Then, feeling those arms circling her in a hug, she stilled. "Mei?"

"Who else kisses you?" said a weirdly husky voice to her ear.

Mei moved her hands on her, tightening her hold. Yuzu hadn't moved.

She's still bothered... "What were you listening to?"

Yuzu turned to look at her, smiling nervously. Why is she this close now?

"Just some random song on Matsuri's pla..." She said, and moved to remove the earphones. But Mei stopped her hands and faced her.

Yuzu watched her intense gaze.

The brunette stared at her for a little while more. Then reached for one of the earphones and donned it.

The blonde was about to reply, when Mei rested her forehead on hers and placed her hands on her hips, leaving her gaping.Wha-What?

Mei didn't move from there, so close. "Would you dance like you were doing before?"

Yuzu lifted her wide eyes to meet Mei's, and the brunette smirked, "Please?"

Yuzu started, not convinced, swaying her hips a little. Her movements followed by the brunette's hands. The look in Mei's eyes became firmer, demanding. Yuzu blushed and looked down, but Mei went to reach for her chin and made her look up again. Yuzu felt like being swept away by those eyes, now dark and longingly fixed on her. She gulped and stopped smiling, realizing her desire for the girl in front of her, was rapidly matching Mei's. Yuzu staggered when Mei brought again her stare on her eyes.

Is she just... lusting for me? As always... Is she just attracted to me?

"W-why home so early today?" she asked in a light blush.

Mei looked at her long trembling eyelashes. "I wanted to see you."

Yuzu put her hands on Mei's waist and looked at her inquiringly. "Really?" All her fears of not being enough, banged in her head again.

Confused but excited, she checked Mei's expression in search for some sort of hostility... And found none.

She pulled Mei lightly towards herself, inviting her to dance too.

Mei didn't move at first, looking at her a little bewildered. "I can't..."

Yuzu got closer all the same and made her move with her. They swung, getting closer. Yuzu circled Mei, placing her palms onto her shoulders, lightly touching their noses together. Mei breathed in, smelling Yuzu's perfume. "I really wanted to see you..." Feeling her warmth, and her body grazing hers, every time they moved.

They looked at each other, that gaze quickly sweeping away what was left of their doubts.

Mei slid her hands up, to Yuzu's waist and her bust, then slowed on the sides of her chest and went to rest her arms on her shoulders.

Yuzu looked down, where their hips were almost touching.

This is not just dancing...

As if to confirm it, Mei's hands slid slowly on her neck and pulled her closer in a kiss. We'll talk later.

A sensual, mind blowing, long awaited kiss. Yuzu felt like all the strength in her body was concentrated in her hands, grasping at Mei's clothes, while her legs grew weaker and weaker. The blonde took a few blinks and some time to react after Mei pulled away.

"There... There's Matsuri home."

Mei looked at her, when she lifted her eyes. She felt a rush of attraction towards her, she couldn't hide it any more. She pulled off Yuzu's earphone and her own. "Then let's go in the other room."

Yuzu looked dumbfounded for an instant. "On my mother's bed!?"

Mei kissed her hungrily, then detached for a second, "Still a bed..." and kissed her again. Her tongue caressing hers, sucking and darting through.

Yuzu broke away to breath, unsteadily. She shivered.

"You have a point," exhaled the blonde, discarding the mp3 player on the sofa together with all her worries.

Mei took her hand, going up to the stairs. Yuzu followed without a word.

The bedroom door was closed in a rush. Yuzu bumping onto it, when Mei pushed her in another greedy kiss. The brunette slid onto Yuzu, to kiss her neck, and lower. Following her collarbone with her tongue, her hands already on the buttons. Yuzu whimpered, when Mei sucked just over the hem of her lacy bra, and started baffling about Mei's sweater, taking it off quickly. Mei returned the favour, letting her free from her blouse. Yuzu pulled Mei towards the bed and sat on it, while Mei was trying to reach her in a kiss. Yuzu laid down, pulling the brunette towards herself. But Mei lost her foot a bit, stealing a chuckle from the blonde, when Yuzu caught her and held her. She looked up to Mei's eyes, while reaching for her bra, following the outline of her breasts. Mei stared at Yuzu's fingers, blushing a bit when she noticed she had trimmed her nails.

The brunette reached for her in a soft kiss and Yuzu undid her bra, helping her getting free from it. Mei crawled a little up onto the bed, hovering over her in a soft moan, while Yuzu was caressing her. Mei lowered herself to kiss her again, but Yuzu stopped her, sliding down on the mattress, to suck on her nipple. Then reached for the other, pressing her open mouth on it, grazing lightly with her teeth. Mei's arms quivered then she looked at the blonde reaching back up in a smirk. Dark hair enveloping Yuzu's face, while she was now slowly caressing Mei's back. The blonde stopped; staring. The light of day giving a blue tint to Mei's hair, she was smiling.

Mei whispered, "You're beautiful. And you have eyes like no others... And I..." Mei stumbled and Yuzu blushed. The brunette stopped looking for words and fell onto her in a kiss. She pressed herself against the blonde and Yuzu held her while their kisses became deeper and messier.

Then Mei put aside Yuzu's hair and sank her mouth on her neck, licking and biting, until Yuzu hissed in a sensual gasp. The brunette slid down to her throat, appreciating the cracking of a loud moan. And further down, between her breasts, trailing kisses on the blonde's stomach. Then Yuzu too was freed from her bra. Her breasts were fondled gently and kissed and then sucked at, ravishingly. Yuzu breathed deep. Once, while her skirt was put aside. Twice, when her panties slid off her. Then blurted a little flustered, "Could you let me do it?"

Mei lifted her head from where she was occupied licking around her bellybutton. Then left a peck on her belly and reached back up again for her lips, in a light nipping kiss. "You sure...?"

Yuzu pushed her lightly, caressing her, while Mei was rolling down onto her back. Yuzu snapped open her skirt button and took it off, while stopping from time to time to kiss her bare legs. When she was at the end of the bed, she stared at Mei's feet. Gracious, milky white, with little plumpy toes. She remembered the green grass caressing them. Yuzu slowly kissed the curve of her foot, gaining a gasp of surprise from the brunette, who stared at her in awe. Mei's face and neck flushed red when she licked and sucked at her pinky toe. Then Yuzu crawled back up.

Mei looked at her in anticipation, while Yuzu climbed onto her, kissing every once in a while, her wavy hair tickling her skin. But the blonde stopped for a second, looking a little afraid, then laid beside her. The smallest of kisses went resting on Mei's lips.

Mei took a breath and put aside a strand of hair that lingered on Yuzu's forehead.She's not ready yet...

But the blonde smiled and caressed her slowly. Her chin, neck, shoulder, her arm, and then slowly to her side, while Mei quivered at her touch. Yuzu crawled softly with her hand on Mei's chest and belly. The brunette clenched her fists on the sheets. Tickling teaser. Oh, please...

She moaned softly when the blonde went leaving butterflies kisses on her stomach, going down on her slowly, so slowly. Yuzu reached back up, for Mei's right nipple with her lips, circling it with her tongue, making it rise and shiny with her saliva. She remembered Mei had liked it a little rougher before. So she sucked hard on it and bit a little while Mei groaned in pleasure. Then licked a little softer, while her other hand was occupied with the other breast. Barely touching it in a circular shivering torture.

Mei caressed Yuzu's face, when she looked up to smile to her. The brunette was breathing hard now, Yuzu saw the desire in her eyes. She crawled lower and caressed her legs' skin. A hand sliding finally between them, moving tentatively and unsurely on her panties but then back to her thighs. Mei huffed out an unsteady breath while Yuzu blushed and moved, a little awkwardly, to lay between her legs. She paused, then gulped visibly and slid down her panties quite quickly.

Mei was about to say If you don't want to it's ok, when Yuzu suddenly lowered onto her, making her whimper loud.

God, Matsuri must have heard this...

Yuzu moved her lips on her and started exploring the soft skin around her lower belly. Leaving slow wet kisses that lingered, burning, on Mei. The brunette clasped her fists on the sheets, her breath loud and hurried. She shivered when Yuzu's shaky hot breath grazed her most sensitive part. She clenched her eyes, feeling a jolt of pleasure already surging inside her. Oh god... Yuzu please... Just...

The blonde looked up to her and felt a rush of arousal hit her, feeling empowered by how her touch could reflect on the other girl. She watched Mei's chest, quickly raising in the effort to match her quickened heartbeat. Her eyes were begging, between half closed and trembling eyelids. Her neck and face were flushed, reversed to the side on her pillow.

Yuzu licked her lips and lowered her head in a kiss where Mei wanted. The brunette exhaled loud in a strong quiver, over sensitive with anticipation.

Yuzu responded nipping at her wet darker skin, making Mei arch in a sudden twitch. The blonde held her thighs and adjusted to have a better reach. Mei felt her eyes roll back a little. Jjjesus Christ... A low groan escaped her throat.

Yuzu kept grazing her with her lips, kissing lightly and nipping. Not sure to how exactly proceed. Then she tentatively slid her nose in, up in a light caress. And Mei's smell engulfed her, musky, spicy, intoxicating. Yuzu opened her mouth and breathed deep on that smell, filling her chest with her. And a moment after she was tasting her, licking and sucking. Giving Mei a hard time in controlling the volume of her voice when she cried out.

Yuzu darted her tongue out more forcefully, making her way through her a little. Then out again, sucking on the top, where she found she attained the most strong response. She lifted her eyes an instant, to see Mei was keeping a hand over her mouth now. She licked, slowly, teasingly. Smirking as Mei threw her head back, her neck all the more tense and reddened. Yuzu lowered her mouth again, pressing herself onto her, full mouth sucking, while Mei raised her hips to match her. Yuzu flat licked her, then tickled her clit with just the tip of her tongue. Once, twice, she thought she was just teasing a little, but Mei's breath had became shaky and her movements began to be convulsive. When Yuzu breathed out, lightning Mei's skin on fire, she didn't have the time to think, already? That felt Mei jerk up her hips on her mouth, and her moan broke out, loud even behind her hand. She shook once, then twice, while Yuzu accompanied her, still kissing and licking lightly, while Mei regained her breath.

When Mei relaxed her hold on the sheets, Yuzu looked at her, happy as ever.

Mei looked down after some time, to meet her eyes. And the brunette had an expression so spaced-out on her, Yuzu couldn't help but chortle a bit about it.

Mei took some deep breaths, then stretched her arms to call Yuzu to herself. The blonde was still smirking while she crawled back up. "And here I thought I wasn't good," she said, letting herself fall onto Mei.

The brunette grunted, in a now-don't go-bragging-about-it look and pushed her away so weakly, Yuzu chuckled at it. "I knocked you out!" she grinned.

She laid beside her and snuggled close, while Mei was smiling with the half of the face she managed to move. Yuzu chuckled again, thinking at how terribly agonizing those last days had been. "I'm so stupid," she said, smiling sweetly, going to put aside some sweaty hair from Mei's face.

The brunette asked in a huff "What?" But Yuzu went to kiss her briefly. "Nothing..." she smiled, kissing her again. Mei gladly responded, rolling and moving to get their bodies close together again, intertwining their legs. Passionately holding close, while kissing and touching again, and again.

Yeah, we're going to talk... later.

After an hour or so the light of day was slowly starting to fade on the two girls laying on the bed. Yuzu was snuggling onto Mei's shoulder and both were sleeping soundlessly.

Rushing steps on the stairs were heard. And they were getting close to the door. Yuzu lifted her head, blinking sleepily at first, but just a second later a loud knocking woke her up definitively. She gasped and shook Mei, who looked at her in confusion. Yuzu pulled her up by force. "Mom!" she hissed and the brunette went wide eyed, flying to get her blouse on the floor.

Matsuri's voice shouted, alarmed, after an instant.

"No! Mrs. Aihara you can't!" and the door flung open.

Yuzu wrapped herself in the sheets while Mei jumped hiding behind her back.

The girls began to breath again only when they realized that Matsuri solely was at the door.

Mei exhaled, the freezing chill of panic still running through her veins.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!?"

Both the girls looked at her, a little astonished. While the brunette took a breath to calm down, Yuzu put her hands to her chest, panting. "Seriously... Don't ever... Ever do that again."

The younger girl smirked. "Oh, I won't... Definitely. I'm not your watch dog, y'know? What if it was your mother?"

Mei had gone to recover her panties and was wearing them. Matsuri couldn't help but stare a little, then cleared her throat, when the brunette climbed back on the bed, behind Yuzu. "Anyway, she just called. She said she's going to stay at dinner at your grandma. So you two can... fornicate as long as you want. Just be more careful," she looked right in Mei's eyes, "and quiet, from now on, ok? Oh! And don't forget to cook me dinner later."

Yuzu jumped out of the bed, stumbling a bit on the sheets and going to hug Matsuri "Aaaaw my little sister is worried for me," she said gleaming in joy.

Matsuri blushed. "Oy, stop it! And... Yuzu, I can feel you're naked underneath, so.. Oh come on!" she tried to resist Yuzu rubbing her cheek on hers.

Mei stared at the two and the younger girl met her look. Something undefined passed through the pink haired girl's eyes and Matsuri blushed deeper. "Stop it!" She shouted, pushing Yuzu away, surprising both the girls and leaving the blonde quite shaken.

Yuzu tried an "I was jok..."

But Matsuri didn't wait for her to finish. "I'm not a kid! You should have understood that by now!" Then she looked at Mei, again her eyes were veiled with something new. She repeated "I'm not a kid..."

Mei looked at her seriously. "Thank you Matsuri. We'll be more careful from now on."

Yuzu gulped down. "We-we'll be down for dinner too. So don't worry, ok?"

The girl left the room and quickly closed the door behind her.

Yuzu looked at Mei kneeling on the bed with her blouse donned inside-out and her hair ruffled. What a fright... She exhaled and went to dive in her lap. Mei caressed her head. "She's right, you know? You should stop treating her like someone she's not. She's almost 15 and sometimes she's more of an adult then I am. She's smart and sharp. You should try to know her as she is now, and not as you remember her."

Yuzu hugged her and kissed her belly. "Hai kaichō..."

Hearing her epithet as the student council president, Mei was reminded of the reason why she had left early.

She smiled. "You know, today we managed to sort out mid terms results..."

Yuzu lifted her face then knelt in front of her, adorably wrapped in a white sheet, like an early Christmas present. Mei smiled as Yuzu's expression lightened up. "You back to first place!?"

Mei remained calm. "Don't know about that, actually. But... Guess who's made it to 92nd place?" she ended, with the smallest of smiles on her lips.

Yuzu's smile broke. She let her shoulders drop and her eyes widened. She stared at the other girl, an angry expression on her face. She pushed Mei down brusquely, making her gasp.

Yuzu's eyebrows were twitching on a furious looking face. "You're going to take responsibility for this, aren't you?"

Mei looked at her, starting to get worried. "W-what?"

Yuzu knuckled her fingers and crawled on her, "People are going to... Talk to me." her voice shivered in disgust. "Compliment me. All those stick-in-the-ass girls are going to greet me around school..."

Mei looked at her, gaping. "I thought it was a good thing?"

Yuzu stopped her, "Do you know how much effort it took to keep my reputation? Years of getting to school late because of makeup and hairdressing, sneaking away from surveillance, sleeping in class..." Yuzu's glass mask almost dropped. "And you turned me into a nerd!?" she said finally, grinning wickedly.

Mei lifted her hands "No," knowing something was coming. Yuzu opened her lips on gritted teeth, then suddenly she launched herself on Mei, biting on her neck. Mei gasped and yelped, "N-no!" Laughter growing in her throat, when Yuzu's hands went tickling onto her sides. "Ple-e-ase!" she stuttered. Yuzu was delighted by her weak attempts to resist her. It was the first time she heard Mei laugh. A childlike, high pitched cackle. She looked at her in amazement, while she was calming, and lowered herself back to her neck, this time kissing. A rush of attraction, arousal and gratitude engulfing her. Yuzu looked into Mei's eyes, then kissed her smiling lips sweetly. She followed her jawline, and back to her neck where she kissed hungrily and bit a little harder. Mei gasped when pleasure replaced fun. "Don't... Don't leave marks," she said, holding her arms.

Yuzu winked, then crawled lower.

Mei hissed when Yuzu's teeth bite on her inner thigh, but it was not pain what she felt.

Matsuri looked inquiringly at the girls, between the scenes of the game she was playing. They were in front of the kitchen counter, chatting all buddy-buddy between themselves. Well, Yuzu was chatting. Mei was mumbling monosyllables in response. The brunette had finally had her cooking lessons and Yuzu had quite enjoyed being in the coaching role. They were washing bowls and plates, and chatting about the dinner they just had.

But Matsuri was more interested in the looks the girls were exchanging. Or in the way they were closer than usual, and the leering smiles on their faces.

Matsuri paused the game and stared at them from the sofa, then blurted. "Did you two really had sex again after I left!?"

Yuzu and Mei both turned to look at her, obviously flustered in embarrassment.

"Ma-Matsuri!"

"Don't say things like that to one holding a knife!" shouted Yuzu.

The pink haired girl shrugged at their expressions. "Okaay, I was just joking a bit... But it's quite clear you know. You look just like two doves on the same branch."

Yuzu blushed, looking at Mei's rosy cheeks sideways, then said, "Do... Do you think mom will know as well!?"

As she was in cue, Mrs. Aihara opened the door in that moment.

"I'm home!" They heard some ruffling, then Yuzu's mother spoke again, entering the room. "Santa's come earlier this year!"

Yuzu and Mei faced the entrance, greeting and watching curiously the woman with two seemingly heavy boxes in her arms.

Yuzu was excited already, "What could it be?"

Mei was cautious. "I don't know. We didn't order a thing."

Yuzu grabbed the one her mom was handing out to her, then started unpacking it right away, on the floor.

Mei brought her own on the table and opened it carefully.

Yuzu looked at Mei in the instant she recognized what the box was holding. Mei turned to look at her too, a stupefied expression on her face. "It's from your grandmother, isn't it?"

Yuzu gleamed in joy, pulling out the contents. "I can't believe it!"

A kimono, a bright azure, shading on green on the bottom hem, with a light shower of white and pale pink blossoms. Yuzu draped it on herself, while Mei was still watching hers in the box.

The brunette smirked, looking at Yuzu, clumsily wrapped in the ample cloth. Then shook her head, "I can't accept this. It's too much," she said turning to Mrs. Aihara.

The woman shook her hand and ignored her words.

Yuzu discarded her kimono back in the box while Mei looked horrified at her gesture. "Yuzu! You can't just..." but the blonde was looking at her cluelessly. Mei sighed, getting her undervest and pushing the blonde outside of the room, "Come back when you're changed."

Yuzu donned the light undervest and was guided by Mei in front of her mother, where the brunette draped the kimono on her shoulders, then folded and tied, and in a few minutes the complex operation of putting on a kimono was done. Yuzu was gleaming, "Wow... This is..."

Mei looked at her and met her eyes. "Beautiful," she said, more to her, then to the kimono. Mei smiled, "It brings out your eyes."

Yuzu blushed. Mei cleared her voice, grazing the obi on Yuzu's waist, "And it's silk, so you shouldn't go just crumpling it."

Yuzu looked at herself and smiled at her mother.

"Oh, so you mean this is the real deal? I've never touched a silk one!"

Yuzu's mother smiled, "Yes. This looks like it will be perfect for new year's day. Or even for your coming of age ceremony!"

Yuzu looked at Matsuri who was casually staring at her and made a playful face, "You jealous?"

The pink haired girl relaxed on the couch seat back and blew her a kiss, "You're a cutie Yuzu-chi, but nah. I'm not into those things." Yuzu stuck her tongue out to her, then smiled wide turning to the brunette. "Oh! I want to see Mei's too!"

Mei was about to protest, but Mrs. Aihara mimicked her actions and sent her to get ready, "Come back when you're changed."

When Mei was back the woman took the garment out of the box and, what at first seemed to be a plain black vest, revealed a snake of cherry-red petals running across it, while the chest part was shading in a midnight blue until the top of the shoulders.

Mei looked astound, "This is... Gorgeous."

Mrs. Aihara chuckled. She never thought she'd ever hear Mei get enthusiastic about a piece of clothing.

The brunette was slightly blushing too. "We'll have to make your grandmother a visit, soon. To thank her," she said to Yuzu while Mrs. Aihara started putting the kimono on her. Yuzu nodded smiling, then watched the scene and realized she was not alone in admiring.

She turned towards Matsuri. And noticed her bored posture; with her chin on her arms, resting on the couch's seatback; totally didn't match the face she was making. The younger girl was captivated, gazing in awe at the brunette.

Yuzu was stung by a jolt of jealousy.

I'm not into those things, my ass!

Wh-what are you drooling at, uh!?

Matsuri noticed Yuzu's menacing gaze on her, and averted her eyes immediately. Turning to seat properly and donning her earphones, she started clicking nervously on her mp3. She looked quite shaken, and surely furiously blushing.

Wh-what the fuck was that...

Yuzu snorted and tried to ignore her, then turned to look at Mei again.

She gaped. Jeez...

Mrs. Aihara had put Mei's hair up in a loose bun and held her chignon with a wooden comb, adorned with flower pendants. The woman admired her work with a proud look in her eyes, then looked at her daughter, smiling. "Yuzu, close your mouth," she chuckled.

Mei met Yuzu's blushing face and blushed herself, lowering her eyes.

Yuzu came closer, while her mother took some distance, shuffling about the boxes with a knowing smile on her face.

Yuzu fiddled with the long sleeves, "Uhm... Now that we match the dress code... Will you come to the ending evening of the festival? I mean... as Mei, not as the manager of the school."

Mei didn't look up, "I don't think it's..."

Yuzu blocked her, "Will you tell it to my face and not to my feet?"

She was grinning. Mei lifted her head up, all hot and bothered. Yuzu loved seeing those flustered faces Mei made just for her. Mei started, "I..." but Yuzu was so near and beautiful in that kimono, and her smile was lighting her bright eyes up and... Mei sighed and dropped her head down, when she felt her cheeks grow hot. "I will..."

Yuzu's smile widened and Mei looked at her, yielding.

She had to work a lot harder on resisting those eyes of hers.