One In The Same

-----Kaede's POV

Sitting in class, I can't even focus at a single word the teacher is making. In fact, the classroom has changed around me as I'm sitting in a room with many other students wearing a different uniform entirely.

Teacher?: "Kaede, you missed out on only a few weeks of classes, but do you know anything about runes and crests?"

Kaede: "What?"

Teacher?: "Well runes; to briefly summarize, are special stones that can absorb the magic of it's holder. Crests are essentially mana circles that can also be made on these stones, with the rune acting as a substitute for a mage.

What? Magic? I look to my right, but Emi isn't there and instead it's someone who I don't even know, or have even seen before. What is this place?

Teacher: "Kaede?"

Kaede: "Huh?"

Suddenly, my surroundings return to normal as everyone's gazes were on me. What's happening?

Teacher: "Could you read from the next paragraph in page 88 from your textbook?"

Kaede: "Uh, yes!"

Is this actually the future I'm seeing? That woman that spoke to me in my mind said something like that, and I just can't help but think of these visions as such. But it doesn't make any sense...

.....

...

Emi: "What was all that about?"

Maria: "Yeah..."

Kaede: "I'm sorry."

Thankfully, lunch came to the rescue as I can finally catch a breather. But I feel like these visions I'm getting are becoming more and more frequent. I know I asked Yui if I can hang out more with her, but now I'm feeling nervous as to what that might entail... What will happen to me if this keeps going on?

Maria: "You don't look so good."

Emi: "Here-"

Kaede: "Thanks."

I drink the water Emi passes me, but it does little to help calm my nerves.

Maria: "Ah!"

Emi: "Hmm?"

Yui: "Hey."

Just then, while I was drinking the bottled water, Yui approaches our table. The suddenness of it made my throat tighten up as I found myself cough up the bit of water that managed to slip into my lungs.

Emi: "Kaede!"

Maria: "It's okay, just breathe~"

Yui: "Sorry. Am I disturbing?"

Emi: "Yeah, you-"

Kaede: "No... It's okay."

I cut off Emi after finally regaining my composure. She probably thinks that with my reaction just now that Yui might've done something to me. Well, in a way, she did. Even now, my vision of her flickers between both her and the girl with the pony tail in my visions, almost as if my visions are telling me that they are one in the same.

Yui: "Could I sit with you guys?"

Kaede: "Sure."

Maria: "Mhmm. I have no problem with it."

Emi: "Hahh, alright."

But I do wonder if this is okay. Doesn't Yui hang out with her friends back there?

Yui: "My name's, Yui. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Maria: "Nice to meet you too. I'm Maria."

Emi: "...Emi."

Ever since Yui sat down at our table, I can't seem to get my eyes off of her. At least now she just appears to be normal Yui, but even then, I can't seem to move my eyes a-

Yui: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "!"

But just as she met my gaze, as if my eyes were finally unlocked, I darted my gaze to the food before picking up a sandwich. It was when I started taking my first bite that I realized how fast my heart was beating. Calm down Kaede! If I can't even meet her gaze, then how do you expect to deal with meeting up with Yui this weekend? Get a grip... And so, I slowly move my gaze back over to her, but she just smiles at me, causing my heart to stutter for a moment.

Maria: "So I guess you two are now friends?"

Yui: "Mm. We talked for a while when she visited me yesterday. So yeah."

Maria: "Hmm, true. You did take a while to come back to school, Kaede."

Emi: "Yeah. What kind of talk lasts over two hours?"

Kaede: "I was just-"

(Yui: "Lets clear our worries then, with a test-")

Suddenly, I recall the vision I had as Yui and we exchange a deep kiss with one another, causing my heart to beat even more rapidly, making it impossible to finish my sentence.

Emi: "Kaede?"

Kaede: "T-toilet!"

In a panic, I flee the cafeteria, leaving behind my things as I quickly hide myself in the girl's bathroom.

I desperately try and regain control of my heart, but I can't seem to calm down. It's almost painful that I find myself clenching my chest with my hand, trying my best to steady myself, but my heart refuses to stop as I hurry to wash my face. But again, the pain persists... Is this what people call a heart attack? Maybe I should-

Again, the same vision flashes in my mind as I feel my heart being squeezed to death, making it difficult to breathe. What the hell is-

(Kaede: "Yui?")

(Yui: "Mmm!")

Another vision... We're now embracing one another, as both of us are brought to tears. I desperately hold onto her, just like what I'm doing to my chest... It was then that the pain in my chest slowly subsides as I feel an immense amount of joy flood inside me. I end up being pulled to the ground by her as we collapse to our knees, refusing to let go of one another. Her soft, slender body giving an immense amount of comfort to my shaky body.

(Kaede: "I never gave up on you. After all these years.")

(Yui: "I thought- I'd never see you again.")

We barely were able to muster the strength to speak, But I soon find myself twirling my fingers around her hair that's done up in a ponytail. I can't help but smile while playing with her hair, relieving more and more of that pain bit by bit, almost like it's a stress toy.

(Kaede: "You kept your hair-")

(Yui: "Mmm- for you")

Yui: "Kaede?!"

Just then, the visions ends as I turn around to see the current Yui, alongside Emi and Maria. My heart feels a bit more under control, but my breathing is still a mess as I'm still trying to catch my breath. And just looking at their faces, I'm clearly worrying them.

Kaede: "I-I'm... I'm sorry."

Emi: "Hah?! What the hell are you sorry for?"

Kaede: "..."

Emi: "Look, you've been acting strange these last few days. You can tell me if there's something bothering you."

Kaede: "No... I'm fine."

Emi: "It's this girl, right?"

Kaede: "What? No, no!"

Emi: "I saw your reaction back in the cafeteria... Oi! What did you do to my Kaede?!"

Yui: "I, I didn't do anything."

Maria: "..."

Oh god... No, please don't fight... This is all my fault anyways. If anything, I've-

Emi: "I don't believe y-"

Kaede: "Stop!"

Not wanting for Emi to escalate this any further, I finally speak up.

Kaede: "Yui did nothing wrong. I've just dragged her into my own problems. If anyone is to blame, it's... Me."

Maria: "Kaede..."

Oh no... That pain from before... I can feel it coming back, suffocating me as I stand there frozen in front of the three of them.

Yui: "...Sorry. I think I'll go and-"

Kaede: "Wait!"

I instinctively grab hold of Yui's arm just as she turned her back to leave. However I have no idea why I stopped her. I don't want to drag her into this anymore than I already have, so why did I do that? But even now, I still can't find it in me to let go of her arm.

Kaede: "Huh?"

Strange... That pain is subsiding...

Yui: "Kaede?"

Kaede: "...S-sorry."

Emi: "Hah~ Alright, I get it."

Yui: "Hmm?"

Emi: "I was worried about her, but if she's acting like this towards you, then I had nothing to worry about. I'm sorry."

Yui: "I-it's okay."

Even during their conversation, I can't seem to let go of her, almost like my body has a mind of it's own. It was then that I decide to move myself closer to her as more of the pain slowly disappeared. I'm not too sure if it would work, but something's definitely wrong here. Why would my body suddenly be dependent on her? I decide to take a step away, but that only caused my heart to sting as I quickly returned to where I was. This is definitely strange...

Yui: "Uhm. I won't leave, so could you let go of my arm?"

Kaede: "Sorry!"

It was then that I could finally let go, almost like her words freed me from some sort of spell. She then rubs her arm, massaging it with quite a pained expression.

Yui: "But jeez~ I didn't expect you to have such a strong grip."

Kaede: "Huh?"

Yui: "Haha. Almost felt like my arm was about to snap."

What is she saying? Is this some sort of flattery? But actually, now looking at her forearm, I did leave quite a mark, wait... Is her arm already bruising?!

Kaede: "I'm very sorry!"

Yui: "It's okay, haha. The pain is mostly gone now."

Emi: "Woah~ Remind me not to get on your bad side, hehe."

Maria: "I didn't think you were one to train your grip strength, hehe."

Kaede: "I don't..."

Maria: "Well, let's all just return back to the table, yeah? You feeling alright, Kaede?"

Kaede: "Y-yeah. But... Can't you stay with us?"

Yui: "...S-sure."

I'm not too sure what came over me... I didn't even realize how hard I was holding onto Yui's arm. And actually, I thought I was only holding her arm normally. I didn't feel as though I put that much strength into it, yet I left a bruise like that...

We end up walking back to the cafeteria, with Emi and Maria walking ahead of Yui and I.

Kaede: "I'm really sorry, Yui."

Yui: "Again, it's okay."

Kaede: "...A-are we-

Yui: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "Are we still good to hang out after school?"

Yui: "Mm. Want to meet outside the school gate after class?"

Kaede: "Mhmm."

I still don't fully understand why it is that my body seems a lot more at east with Yui next to me. I'm hoping this weekend I finally find some answers...