Slumber Party

-----Yui's POV

After dinner, some people went back to their homes, including Rupert and his family. However, Luna's parents and Olivia's father said it was okay for them to stay here for the night, including Gabriella. But with so many people here, the butlers helped find rooms for everyone. That being said-

Gabriella: "So? What do you think will happen in two days?"

Everyone gathered in my room as it was the largest out of the three rooms.

Olivia: "It can't be any good."

Safe to say that the main topic of conversation is still in regards to what Mai told us. She hasn't came back since leaving and Kaede has tried contacting her, but apparently she's still busy preparing something.

Luna: "It feels like the world is going to end, but that can't be right, right?"

Kaede: "I don't think so, no. But Mai did say something about the world where Yui and I came from."

Gabriella: "Huh?"

Ah, right... I guess there's still someone here that doesn't know. Well, not that I really care at this point.

Luna: "Ell- uh, Yui's from a different world, so is Kaede."

Yui: "Mm. Sorry we never told you before."

Gabriella: "Ah, no, no! But like, is that really true?"

Yui: "Yeah. I have memories of... My old parents and stuff."

Great. Dinner was a nice change of pace and got my mind off of all that, but now I'm straight back to dwelling on the past. Recently it just feels like my past has been haunting me more and more these past days...

Kaede: "It's okay."

I feel Kaede wrap her arm around my waist as we sit down on the bed next to each other. I honestly don't know if that even helped or not, as I'm only reminded of when we used to be like this in the past. But having her comfort me like this sure is nice nonetheless.

Gabriella: "...Sorry."

Olivia: "Maybe what's happening in three days has something to do with you two being here?"

Kaede: "What do you mean?"

Olivia: "I have no idea, but it could be something like when your body tries to fight back against an infection. Maybe the world's finally trying to fix itself?"

Everyone: "..."

Yui: "Pfft."

Despite everyone going silent, I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Kaede and I being a virus. However...

Yui: "I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case."

Luna: "...Let's say it is that. Then what would happen? Are you two just going to disappear?"

Gabriella: "Hmm. I'd like to think that'll cause even more problems, wouldn't it?"

Mell: "No!"

Suddenly, Mell tosses herself onto Kaede as Kaede just barely manages to keep herself up as she wraps her arms around Mell.

Mell: "You're not going to disappear!"

Kaede: "Hehehe. Don't worry. If I were to disappear, then I'll be taking you with me."

Mell: "..."

Despite Kaede trying to ease Mell's worries, Mell still refuses to budge as she clings onto her mother as if desperately trying to keep Kaede where she is.

Kaede: "...I don't think we'll disappear, but if we do, then I'd like to fly with Fleur and Faye. As a family."

Mell: "...Mm."

Luna: "Hmmm. Well if Mell's going to go with you, then take me as well!~"

Yui: "What about your parents?"

Luna: "They can come to!"

Yui: "Haha."

I can only imagine how that would turn out. I know my old parents would love Luna. And her parents would probably fit right into that world as well. But my current mom right now... I'm not sure how well she'd do in that world. It's quite a brutish world, everyone competing against one another to survive. I feel like it's much easier to live life in this world rather than that world, even with the existence of monsters and demons. But even so...

(Kaede: "We will be together like this next year right?")

(Yui: "I promise")

I remember during our anniversary... Before all of this began. We promised to visit the cherry blossoms together again next year... But of course that never happened. It's memories like these that draws me back, wanting to return. I still remember walking over that bridge like it was yesterday, listening to the rustling of the leaves and the river flowing past us. We can probably find a place here that might resemble it, but that'll only make me remember the past all over again.

Yui: "...I wonder what Shin's up to."

Kaede: "Hmm?"

Luna: "Who's Shin?"

Yui: "Ah, just a mutual friend of ours in the other world."

Kaede: "Oh!~ Wow, I can't believe I nearly forgot about him!"

Well that's alright. Shin knew me before Kaede, we grew up as childhood friends.

Kaede: "He was starting work at the bakery, right?"

Yui: "Yeah."

Kaede: "Weren't we planning on starting work there as well?"

Yui: "Oh right!~"

Actually, I might've been wrong. I almost forgot about that! I guess she remembers more than I thought. And with us reminiscing like this, I can't help but smile as I recall those fun times.

Yui: "Haha. I remember when everyone thought Shin and I were a thing."

Olivia: "A thing?"

Gabriella: "You mean like dating?"

Yui: "Yeah."

Kaede: "I... I don't think I knew that."

Yui: "Well it was back during middle school. We were just close friends that everyone just assumed that."

Luna: "Did you ever consider it?"

Oh crap. Well, I'd be lying if I were to say I didn't. There was a single time where I did consider Shin to be potentially more than just a friend, but that was also the time when I realized that I just don't swing that way. Actually, now that I think about it. I'm not even sure if he even thought about me like that in the first place.

Kaede: "...No way. You actually did?!"

Yui: "Eh? No, no! I was just thinking whether he might've had feelings for me."

Kaede: "Hmmm? You sure~?"

Yui: "Of course! You know I've never really been interested in guys like that."

Kaede: "Fufu. I suppose so."

Despite us talking about the past like this, I don't really feel sad anymore. Maybe talking about all of this out loud is making it easier for me to deal with, instead of just bottling it up inside.

Luna: "So you were always like this, Yui?"

Yui: "I guess? But I also think that maybe I just never met the right person."

Kaede: "I doubt it. You were hanging out with all the boys in school. I doubt that all of them weren't a suitable partner."

Yui: "Well duh, that's 'cause I met you."

Kaede: "Pfft. But that was during our second year."

To be honest, I'm not really sure what originally drew me to Kaede. We weren't in the same class during our second year, so we never really got to hang out much in school during that year. But I still remember that moment...

Yui: "I still remember you tending to the school's garden."

Kaede: "Huh?"

Luna: "Kaede was into flowers?"

Gabriella: "Seriously? I never would've thought."

To my side, I can see Kaede blushing quite heavily. It's honestly cute. It's almost like I'm seeing a glimpse of the old Kaede somewhere in there.

Kaede: "Th-that was so long ago, though."

Yui: "Hmmm? So you don't like flowers anymore?"

Kaede: "Well... I just stopped caring. It's not like I had a chance to care about them in this world."

It's not even just flowers. Kaede's changed so much after coming here. I still love her, and I still get the occasional glimpses of the old Kaede tucked away in there. I just wish that I could've known Kaede before the second year. I'd gladly try and get to know her sooner if I ever got the chance.

Yui: "Maybe after these two days are up. If whatever Mai is planning works out, then why not get back into it?"

Kaede: "Mmmm. It's not really the same. It's not like I can get the same feeling like back then. Hell, I can't even smell most things."

Mell: "Ah, true. I've stopped being able to smell a lot of things as well. Everything's like, a lot weaker."

Luna: "I wonder if natural born vampires would think the same thing?"

Olivia: "I-I think they wouldn't care. They would've never lost their senses to begin with."

Kaede: "...Maybe if things were different, then I'd probably like to see them again."

Yui: "See what?"

Kaede: "The garden."

Ah! There it is again! The old Kaede is slipping though the cracks again.

Yui: "Mm. And we could also see those cherry blossoms again."

Kaede: "!"

At my words, Kaede turns her head to face me as her eyes open wider than before. I wonder if she's recalling that same memory I had earlier.

Luna: "Cherry blossoms?"

Yui: "Ah, they're just petals from a tree back in our old world."

And so, our slumber party continues into the night, talking about various things until we could no longer talk.