Chapter 2

Matsuri sat quietly in a train car, drumming her fingers as she looked out the window. February. How the months slipped by. The pink-haired teen reflexively pressed her hand against her neck to put her headphones on, before remembering what had happened to her previous pair. She sighed, yanking out her smartphone to write a short note to herself. She really needed to remember buying a new pair.

How long bad it been since she'd see Yuzu? She was so sorry about what had happened to her childhood friend. Mei kept quiet, just like Matsuri knew she would. She was a good girl, after all. Yuzu pulled Mei off her, and sobbed for a while. Mei said nothing, and simply stood in the snow. Matsuri gave her onee-chan the best hug she could, telling her that she forgave Mei and that all she wanted was to go home. The train ride back home with Yuzu and Mei that night was silent, but so satisfying. She even kept the picture on her phone a secret, just to acknowledge Mei's attempt to win their game. Matsuri knew she had taken the lead, and that she should have won Yuzu by now.

Matsuri had hoped that Yuzu would get over Mei within a few days, but even two months later she still slept in the same bed with her. Her blonde-haired big sister was depressed, and no matter how much Matsuri tried, she couldn't make Yuzu forget her step-sister. She knew she had to do something a bit more drastic.

"Now arriving: Kyoto station."

Matsuri sighed, happy that she finally made it to her destination. She ignored the rest of the crap the station announcer was saying: don't lose your wallet, keep an eye on your small children, blah, blah, blah. It was just like with her stupid teachers. One moment they're happy they have a responsible young student, but the moment they get a little too adult for their liking it's all sanctimonious lecturing and letters home to her parents. Not that they were ever around to get those letters, anyway.

Even getting to Kyoto wasn't that hard. All Matsuri had to do was make up a sob story about her hospitalized step-sister, and how she needed to be there for a week to help her through her treatment. She didn't even need the fake doctor's note. All she needed was a teary-eyed face, and all her worries were taken care of. Not that it was a complete lie, she thought as she shouldered her backpack and stepped off the train. Even with Mei's assault, Yuzu still couldn't let go of her. Matsuri would make sure her onee-chan would learn who really cared for her.

Arriving at Yuzu's hotel, Matsuri wasted no time getting set up inside. She approached the receptionist as calmly as she could before confirming her reservations. Matsuri smirked at the receptionist's puzzled stare. People around her always underestimated what a young girl like her could do.

Putting her backpack down on her bed, Matsuri headed downstairs to the public baths, her bathing kit in her hands. The long journey to Kyoto had given her a headache, and with her music gone she struggled to keep her head straight. Besides, she might catch one of the students still inside. One who might know where her onee-chan was.

The young teen entered the changing area, and quickly disrobed. The sweet smell of the bath water was already helping calm her down. As she pulled down her skirt, she noticed a student ID tag on the floor. Yuzu Aihara.

She rushed out into the bathhouse, leaving her bathing kit behind. She ran past the showers, only to find a girl relaxing in the pool. She was about Matsuri's size, with her long silver-grey hair tied up in two small buns.

"Don't run, you could hurt yourself," the girl said, holding out her hand. Matsuri groaned before stepping into the pool herself, ignoring the offer of help.

"Oh! You might want to wash yourself off before-"

"I already washed up in my hotel room," Matsuri said, cutting her off before hearing another patronizing lecture. She didn't care if it was a lie, Yuzu was here in the baths somewhere. She'd be happy to know that her little sister was here for her. The girl swam back a bit, giving her guest more berth.

"I know this may be a long shot, but have you seen a student with blonde hair in this hotel?" Matsuri asked as she let herself down into the refreshingly warm water. The girl swam up, her bright eyes practically blinding her.

"Do you mean Yuzu? I think she headed back to her room a few minutes ago. Are you one of her friends?"

Matsuri smiled, glad that she could get something useful out of her. "I came out all this way just to see her, my best childhood friend. My name's Matsuri."

The girl clasped her hands around Matsuri's, giving her a disgustingly cute smile.

"I'm Sara, Yuzu's friend. I think she left to go back to her room, but I'm sure she'll be glad to see you."

Matsuri pulled away and laid on her back, her shoulders barely above the waterline.

"How is my dear onee-chan doing? I know she's been feeling a bit sad since New Year's Day."

"I'm afraid she's still not doing okay," Sara said. "She's been having trouble confessing her feelings to the one she loves."

So Yuzu still had it out for Mei. Matsuri knew Yuzu was too much of a softy to think about turning in Mei, but it burned knowing that she still pined after her step-sister. At least it sounded like she was rejected, so Matsuri knew she still had a chance.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope I can make her feel better soon."

"I hope I didn't make her upset. I told Yuzu that I found someone myself. I just want her to get her feelings across."

Fat chance of that happening, Matsuri thought. She sunk her body down into the water, her eyes just above the surface. Yuzu always did have a hard time with love. Despite her gyaru routine, Yuzu was only just a teenage girl with a confused heart. Matsuri pushed the water closer to herself, letting the current flow around her body. She knew she could make her onee-chan feel happy, but only if she looked at her, and only her.

"I only hope I can love Mei as much as Yuzu loves her special one."

"What?"

Matsuri rose out of the water, droplets raining down her body. Mei Aihara was dating . . . her? Matsuri swam closer to Sara, who was busy resting her head on the edge of the bath. Even though her rival had taken up with another girl, Matsuri couldn't help but feel jealous.

"Aren't you a little young to be dating high school girls?"

"I'm the same age as her," Sara said with a pout. She turned away, looking up at the ceiling as if Mei herself was hovering above her.

"She's my special someone. My fated person," she said with a far away expression. "I know it might not make sense, but I understand I was meant to be with her."

"No, I don't think you do understand," Matsuri said, pushing Sara against the wall. She couldn't help herself, with the cheery atmosphere flowing out of this girl. Mei was her special someone? Perhaps this girl needed to be taught a lesson.

"Mei is a complete pervert, through and through. Did she tell you what she did with a man I set her up with? What she did to me? She might do the same to you," she whispered, sliding her hands around the girl's waist. Sara, strangely enough, was unfazed.

"I know Mei seems rough on the outside, but she's a fragile girl on the inside. She asked if I needed her, and I do. Because I love her."

Matsuri giggled, and as she leaned in closer she looked into Sara's eyes. Her bright, naive young eyes.

"Love? Don't kid yourself," she said, whispering in the long-haired girl's ear. "You don't even know who Mei really is. Or Yuzu, for that matter. That girl you love so much thinks her 'special someone' is her own s-"

"What are you doing to my sister?"

Matsuri felt herself being yanked away from Sara. She looked behind her to find a taller girl with a loosely fitting bath robe, with the same matching gray hair.

"We were just playing a game," Matsuri said, holding up her hands with an innocent wave. She stepped away from the pool, giving her hair one small shake before turning back to them.

"I'm glad I found you, Sara. I'm sorry I can't stay to talk, but I'll sure I'll see you two around Kyoto tomorrow," she said, heading back to the changing area. The taller girl glared at Matsuri, watching her as she closed the exit door shut.

The pink-haired teen grabbed a towel off a nearby rack, drying herself off quickly before heading back upstairs. Her onee-chan didn't need airheaded girls like Sara messing around with her love life. Matsuri tapped herself on the head. She needed to stay calm. Yuzu was the only one she needed to be concerned with. No one else. She stormed back to her room, determined to make sure the next day went as planned.

"Are you alright, big sis?" the taller girl asked, pulling Sara out of the water. Sara took the towel out of her hands and began drying her hair.

"I'm fine, Nina," she said, undoing the buns in her hair and letting it flow out.

"But that girl had you cornered. You need to be a bit more careful who you talk to, sis. You're going to get hurt if you don't," Nina said, brushing her big sister's face with the towel.

"She was just lonely, that's all," Sara said, shaking her head. She knew destiny was strange at times, but she always remembered her path had a purpose. Perhaps Matsuri did need Yuzu, just not in the way she thought.

"It's fate, remember? I just need to be open to every possibility, even if it's a bit unexpected," Sara said with a smile.

Nina sighed loudly, taking her sister by the hand. As they walked together, Sara hoped she hadn't caused Nina to worry too much. It wasn't easy to be relate to a girl who believed in horoscopes and destiny. Sara, however, knew her younger sibling trusted her judgment. Fate was her guide, and she knew she had a part to play in Mei's story, for better or for worse.