Chapter-41<*Selfishness*>

"Do you think we should tell the others about us?" Yuriko asked seriously because she understood that her daughter would find out sooner or later, so if that was the case, it was better sooner, at least that way they could solve everything in time.

"I don't know…" the blonde sighed. He understood what was going through his partner's mind-"I'm going to let you decide...although I want you to remember that as your partner, I will support whatever decision you make."

"Thank you"-Yuriko smiled as she thought better of the situation. If she told the others about what the two of them did, she was sure she would surprise them but Saya was a different case. Yuriko was sure that if she found out the truth, she would be left completely devastated and with a deep sense of betrayal.

"I'm going to do it..."-the purple-haired woman murmured-"I'm going to tell my daughter about us and I'm going to accept everything she throws at me...it's the least I can do as her mother ..."

"Ok... I'll tell the others"-the blonde agreed as he looked at the woman. He was making an effort not to hug her because she had told him that for the rest of her stay, she would stand by her decision to stay 'faithful' to her husband. Cloud decided to accept because it was the least he could do to also resist the guilt he had for Souichiro and that was still eating him up inside.

---

The search and rescue group returned to the military base after a few minutes had elapsed since they, together with the military, had 'cleaned' the streets to have a better capacity for movement in their vehicles.

"I think it's time"-Yuriko sighed as she got out of the vehicle.

"Okaasan!" Saya exclaimed as she hugged the woman with all her might. They hadn't seen each other for days so it was obvious she was happy to see her.

"Saya-chan..." - Yuriko muttered.

"Okaasan?" -Saya felt that something strange had happened with her mother for her to react like that. She had a bad feeling when she noticed the conflicted look she was giving him- "Is something wrong?"

"Saya-chan...we need to talk in private..."-Yuriko said as she sighed regretfully-"It's something important"

"..."-Saya felt that something bad was about to happen but still she nodded to her mother's words. The two Takagi quickly left the place, leaving a completely confused group, with the clear exception of the Rescue group since they could understand what was about to happen.

"What was that?" Rei asked, who honestly didn't understand what was happening because yesterday she was on guard duty in one of the most remote and at the same time safe parts of her camp.

"I'll explain it to you later"-Saeko said as she shook her head. She had heard everything so she knew very well what was going on-"I'm sure Danna sama is about to speak"

"Girls... come on... we have to talk" - Cloud said seriously while Rei, Saeko, Shizuka, Miku and Kyoko followed him curiously.

"..."-Rika, who was a little further away, frowned when she saw this but quickly decided to put everything aside although she had to admit that this discomfort in her chest was getting but-"Such see if it's true..."

---

"..." - a deep silence had filled Cloud's room while the girls couldn't believe what they had heard.

"This is a joke...right?" Rei asked with a frown.

"Sorry to tell you 'I heard everything' which isn't" - Saeko replied calmly -

"And why didn't you tell me before?!" Rei exclaimed furiously.

"First, because you don't have the right to interfere in the lives of others... let's be honest, Rei... you are just a friend of Danna-sama, nothing more" - Saeko said coldly - "Second, because honestly I felt they needed it"

".." - Rei was silent because what the purple-haired girl said was true. As much as she loves the blond, the two of them are just friends - "Wait a second... what do you mean by that?"

"From that Yuriko-sama was in a self-destructive spiral that could have finished her at any time" -saeko replied seriously-" While Danna-sama seemed to be like a dog after her owner regarding Yuriko-san and as your wife, I'm honestly disappointed in that way Act. Danna-sama... the part of you that I love more than anything, is that courageous expression you had while killing zombies, not that pet attitude you had towards Saya-san's mother"

"That hurts, Saeko…" Cloud said with a forced smile but he had to admit that she was right. He was acting out of character after Souichiro's death because he had promised to protect the two important people from him.

"Although after that... I see that the two of them went back to the way they were before... more or less"-Saeko said as she shrugged her shoulders. The others just kept silent because of all of them, Saeko was the one who understood Cloud the most since they were similar.

"The problem now is Saya..." - Miku said seriously as she looked at the blonde - "Right now, Yuriko-san has to be talking to her about what they did"

Cloud was about to reply when he saw the door slam open, revealing a furious Saya- "You! You bastard!"

The irate girl quickly ran to her blonde and gave him a hard slap that echoed in the room. Cloud didn't do anything to defend himself because it was obvious that he deserved it. He knew the feelings the girl had for him, he would have to be blind.

"Why did you sleep with my mother?!" Saya roared as she looked at him with tears in her eyes, "Why did you do it?!"

"..."-Cloud just kept silent as he let the girl get even.

"Reply!" Saya yelled furiously but to her annoyance, he

he just kept silent. Seeing that he was just giving her a cold shoulder, she ran out of the room. "You should have told her something... Cloud..." - Rei said disappointed by the blonde's attitude as he ran after her friend.

"This time I agree with her, Cloud"-Miku said as he shook his head and went after her two friends.

"I know..." - murmured the blonde - "But I don't know what to tell her..."

---

"Saya…" Rei said as she watched as her friend was crying silently.

"What do you want Rei..."-said the girl while she continued crying.

"Let's talk…" Rei said as she sat down next to her.

"Talk?! Talk about what?!" -exclaimed the girl as she glared at her friend but she quickly calmed down-"I'm sorry... it's just..."

"It hurts you that the boy you like slept with your mother... doesn't it?" Miku asked as he looked at her calmly.

"What do you want Miku..." - Saya murmured with a frown -

"Are you coming to enjoy my misery?"

"No... I just came to see what kind of reaction you will have after

think things through" - Miku said seriously.

"What else is left to think about?!" - Saya exclaimed angrily - "The boy I like slept with the woman he trusted the most!"

"Well? Can you tell me something that doesn't have to do with you?" - asked Miku with disdain - "Or can you just think about your situation, you selfish girl?"

"Go away!" Saya yelled furiously.

"Don't you understand that your mother is suffering too?" - Miku asked seriously - "Do you think it wasn't difficult for her to tell you about this? Do you think she's cruel enough to sleep with the boy you like just to make you suffer?"

"..."-Saya was silent as Miku continued to torment her with her questions.

"Then what do you want me to do?!" - Saya cried in pain - "Do you want me to go and tell those two that things haven't changed?!"

"I can't decide that" -Miku said as she left-

"I just want you to understand one thing... it's the same thing Saeko said to Rei... you're just Cloud's friend, that's all. You have no right to complain because he sleeps with another woman..."

"That other woman is my mother!" Saya yelled furiously.

"And that?" - Miku asked calmly - "Aren't those two adults old enough to be able to choose who to have sex with? Or does Yuriko-san have to ask your permission to enjoy her life? Doesn't she have the right to release all that she has inside after not only losing her house, but also her husband? Does she have to do all things at your convenience for you to be happy? Life is not like that, Saya-san. .. life doesn't move in the direction you want... people don't follow your instructions because you want them to."

Saya was silent again as she watched the girl walk away.

"It hurts me too that Cloud slept with another woman but you don't see me yelling at him for that injustice" - Miku said before leaving - "Because he and I... we're nothing... at least not for now "