Distant Memories

-----Kaede's POV

Aki: "Alright, ready~"

Maybe this club isn't too bad. If it means that we're outside, it makes dealing with the smell of blood a lot more tolerable. I might not even need these herbs inside this mask...

I was nervous when I first came to school, but with this mask, I felt like I can safely go to school. The biggest concern was Yui. When she came up to me for lunch, my heart was pounding, but it seems like her smell was a lot more easier to deal with.

Aki: "Go!"

And at Aki's signal, I begin to run the 100m. Of course I'm trying to use as little amount of force as I can in hopes to appear normal, but it's quite hard to gauge since I have no one to run with. I look to my right to see the other people's reactions and so far I think I'm doing pretty good.

Aki: "Time!"

And as soon as I cross the finish line, Aki stops the timer. Actually, I didn't even realize she was timing me! Don't tell me I was too fast! Many people run behind Aki to see my time as everyone's faces light up before looking back over to me. Don't tell me I was too fast!

Boy1: "I-incredible."

Girl1: "There's no way she just came out of hospital."

I could hear whispers among the group which left me feeling even more nervous.

Emi: "Kaede!~"

But Emi's voice broke out from the whispers as she runs over to me, followed by Maria and Yui.

Kaede: "H-how did I do?"

Aki: "...10.35 seconds!"

I have no idea if that's considered fast or not. Wait, so then I was running at around 10m per second? For some reason I feel like that's too fast, no?

Kaede: "I-is that fast?"

Boy2: "You're kidding! That's insanely fast!"

Girl2: "Yeah yeah! Only Yui managed to break into the 10 second range!"

Wait, what? I turn to Yui as if to confirm, but her face is just frozen in awe, almost like she can't believe what she just saw. Wait! Shouldn't I be faking my exhaustion? But I think it's too late to be panting profusely by this point...

Yui: "You even beat my personal best..."

Kaede: "Ah! I'm sorry!"

Yui: "...Pfft, what are you apologizing for?"

Kaede: "Eh?"

Ken: "Mm. This just means that our ace finally has competition."

Yui: "Haha, something like that."

Wait, now they're all smiling? So I didn't mess up?

Kaede: "Uhm. How much did I beat it by?"

Yui: "My personal best is 10.52 seconds. Haha, it might take me a while, but I know I can catch up to you."

Kaede: "Uh, mm. Yeah."

I really hope so! I feel so bad right now!

Maria: "I take it that Kaede's in the club now?"

Aki: "Of course!"

Ken: "I never expected it, but yeah. It'd be foolish not to accept her."

Aki: "Mhmm! So welcome to the family, Kaede."

Emi/Maria: "Yay!~"

They both run up to hug me as my heart immediately begins to beat rapidly. Even though the smell of them is mostly blocked out, my instincts still tell me to just bite into their necks right in front of my eyes. Just don't look Kaede! But where my eyes land when trying to look away from both of Emi's and Maria's necks, was Yui. And in that moment, my heart feels like someone's trying to squeeze my heart out as our eyes meet one another. Why is my body still reacting this way?

...

Eventually, I succeeded in sticking around at the club for an hour before we decided to finish up. Apparently even though my performance today was amazing, Ken was still worried about my health, so we didn't go for the full two hours.

Yui: "Bye guys."

Kaede: "Mhmm. See ya."

Yui and I both say goodbye to everyone before we walk together back towards the train tracks. I've calmed down enough now, but now I'm finding it difficult to strike up a conversation with her. Yui doesn't love me in this world, so I can't even act how I used to. "Used to..." Wait, how did I talk to Yui before we were a couple again?

Yui: "You really were amazing at club today."

Kaede: "Eh? Uh, yeah. Thanks. I still feel bad about beating your time though."

Yui: "And like I said, you don't need to be. You were amazing! You made it look so easy as well, not even breaking a sweat."

Kaede: "Ehehehe~"

Oh god, yeah I really should've faked my exhaustion... I really didn't mean to steal Yui's spotlight.

Yui: "Did you seriously not do any running in middle school?"

Kaede: "Not really... Maybe it's 'cause of my longer legs?"

When we're walking side by side like this, my legs are slightly longer than Yui's, which should be an advantage I feel like."

Yui: "Haha, maybe you inherited more than just your mother's hair color."

Kaede: "Mmmm. Actually, she does have long legs. Yeah."

I actually have no idea about that, but Yui gave me this opportunity to lie, so I'll gladly take it. But in that moment, I feel my stomach begin to churn, almost like my body's rejecting the lie... Or it could just be my hunger. I still haven't drank any blood since I woke up.

Yui: "Well, anyways... Where are we walking to?"

Kaede: "Ah, th-this way."

I hadn't realized, but it appears we have already reached the train tracks, and instead of heading straight towards my place, I turn left, towards Yui's.

Yui: "Oh? We going to my place?"

Kaede: "Not quite."

Yui: "Hmm?"

.....

...

Yui: "Oh?"

I end up taking Yui back to where we did the run with Emi and Maria. At the time, I didn't know, but this is the place where we spent our last day together... Our one year anniversary. We end up walking over the bridge as memories flash through my mind. It's almost like I'm repeating the past all over again, and that thought only makes me more nervous until we make it to a tree on the other side of the riverbank.

Yui: "Here?"

Kaede: "Mm..."

I end up taking my seat by the tree's base as Yui soon followed. It was then that I'm well aware that this isn't really the same. Before, Yui would- wait no... I would've leaned up against Yui... But to do that when we're not even lovers is a bit too much I feel like. So, I end up keeping the little distance we have as we both lean up against the tree, staring our towards the river.

Yui: "For a second I thought you wanted to race again, haha."

Kaede: "..."

Yui: "Kaede?"

Yeah, Yui doesn't remember anything at all... Why did I think that taking her here would maybe help in her remembering anything...

Kaede: "You know-"

I wanted to just get up and leave Yui here, but for some reason I stayed where I am.

Kaede: "I used to come here a long time ago."

Yui: "Long time? Like in middle school?"

Kaede: "...Long before that."

Hah~ Even though Yui doesn't remember, just sitting here next to her is enough for me to start feeling emotional. I still want to return to that world, where my family is, but I can understand now why Yui wanted to come back here. If only she actually remembered then maybe she could be reminiscing like this with me. Actually I can totally see her in tears right now, but instead, this Yui here is just blissfully smiling at the river.

Kaede/Yui: "Oh?"

Ah, I was staring at her when our eyes met! I quickly look away, back towards the river before it's too late.

Yui: "I-I was wondering about something."

Kaede: "Hmm?"

Yui: "Why this tree?"

Kaede: "What do you mean?"

Yui: "Walking around here, it felt like you already picked out this tree in particular..."

Kaede: "Well, yeah I did pick this tree, but-"

Even if I tell you, it's not like you'll get it...

Kaede: "...Nevermind. It's just that I sat under this tree with someone dear to me before."

Yui: "L-like a friend?"

Kaede: "..."

Do I just say it? If I say her name, that'd be weird. But considering we're alone right now then I might be able to say a little something. Yui was also scared to reveal it herself, so I know that she won't spread anything if I say it.

Kaede: "My lover."

Yui: "E-eh?"

Kaede: "Mhmm."

Yui: "Wait! But I thought you said you didn't have anyone."

Kaede: "...We're no longer together, and they're no longer in this world... So I wanted to avoid talking about it."

Saying that, I now realize that I made it sound like my partner is now dead. But in a way, that's accurate. This Yui right now might resemble my Yui, and even makes my body react the same way, but I have to constantly remind myself that she's different now.

Yui: "I... I see. I'm sorry."

Kaede: "It's alright."

Yui: "What was he like?"

Kaede: "Hmm?"

Yui: "Y-your... Lover."

Wait, she thinks I'm straight? Even after I kissed her and done perverted things to her before I remembered everything?

Kaede: "Pfft, fufufufu."

Yui: "Eh? What's so funny? I've never heard you laugh that hard before."

Kaede: "Hehe, well. I just think it's funny that you think I was with a guy."

Yui: "What?"

I then look back to my side as I look Yui directly in the eyes.

Kaede: "My lover was a girl. Not a guy."

Her eyes are so pretty... I'm still jealous that you managed to carry those eyes over to the new world. Meanwhile I'm still stuck with my scarlet red eyes even in this world. But then again, I've sort of fell in love with them as it connects me to Mell, Fleur and Faye. But seeing Yui's face slowly heat up at my declaration only makes me smile even more. Thankfully my mask is covering it so I can be myself, hidden away behind this cloth, hiding my smile.

Yui: "W-wait. Really?"

Kaede: "Mhmm."

Yui: "S-so then..."

Kaede: "It's not something I like to talk about. So could you keep what I said here a secret?"

Yui: "Ah, yes! Of course. I understand."

Kaede: "Fufufu."

Of course "you" understand."

Yui: "W-what?"

Kaede: "Nothing~"

You know... Maybe being with Yui like this is cute in it's own way. I was originally going to avoid her, but maybe I can deal with it. Mai was right... I'm still drawn to Yui...