Beautiful Winter Sky

This is it. I made it to my last year of high school.

I walk out of the train station with a sigh of relief as I make my way to our meeting point.

I can’t believe I’m almost at the finish line of this journey and I hope I do finish. I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket taking me away from my thoughts.

It must be Chococat wondering what's taking me longer than usual. I take it out to check and smile answering the call.

“Chococat,” I gush.

“Don’t Chococat me, Eevee. You were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago. Where you at?” he whines.

I laugh looking at the clear morning sky.

“I just got out of the train station. I’m sorry. Mom almost didn’t let me go,” I apologize.

“Oh, that’s right. Aunty’s going to miss you. How’s everything going?” he asks.

“Yeah, I’ll miss her too. Her recovery’s going smoothly and my dad found a home care nurse that's going to help him. Grandma didn't want to, but dad insisted. I’m worried about them. It’s going well, but mom’s still in pain and grandma isn't getting younger to be helping,” the conversation ended there.

Honestly, I don’t like this conversation. I still can’t completely grasp my feelings about this whole situation.

“Anyway turn around, Chococat,” I mumble and cut the call once I spot him before me.

Chococat frowns and turns around grumbling in utter frustration. I smile waving my hand and he chuckles shaking his head.

“You meanie. I wasn’t finished,” he scolds me and I assent hugging him.

“I know. By the way, I missed you too,” I emphasize while ruffling his hair when he hugs back.

“Do we make a run for it?” Chococat proposes and I start running.

“Beat you to the station!” I exclaim laughing and he quickly starts running after me.

“Eevee you cheater!” he shouts and I deny it by moving my finger in a no-no motion.

“We made it with time to spare,” Sora nods ruffling my hair.

“Let’s do our best this year too, Mi-chan,” I smile with a wink.

“Come on. We got this, Sora,” I declare as we did our handshake.

"See you around," he waves and we start walking to our respective classrooms.

I take out my phone once I reach my desk and start scrolling through my pictures.

I smile a few minutes later seeing Kaede and Benjiro coming in.

“Good morning,” I greet them, and Kaede squeals hugging me.

“Morning, Yuki-chan! How was spring break?” she bubbles.

“Surprisingly good. Dad made time to spend with me and it was refreshing having spent that much time with him. I miss them already, especially mom,” their expression softens.

“That’s good for you and Inoue-san, Yuki-chan. It’s hard, but this’s your last year. I know Koharu-san will be happy when you’ve graduated. She’ll have you back home before going to college. Your grandma too,” she consoles me in a way to cheer me up and I nod.

She wants to say more but she didn’t for my sake. I appreciate that a lot. I do.

I told them everything last semester before spring break started and their calls, from my real friends, didn’t fail. They checked in whenever they could and it was lovely.

“You’re back to living with the Watanabes for the time being, right?” Benji asks and I nod again.

“Yeah and every once in a while with my grandparents that live close to school, but I’ve you guys here too so I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me,” I reassure and they scrutinize my face searching for something.

I hope I could reassure them, but their faces still show concern.

“Enough about me. I want to hear everything about you guys,” I sigh and they beam shaking their heads.

Kaede went to visit her sister in Europe and Benji took his parents out to show them everything he has been working on lately.

Their break was cool. That’s nice.

I laugh at hearing their stories until we see this guy entering the classroom.

“That’s him. I don’t understand why transferring schools in your last year of senior high, but whatever suits the guy I guess,” Benji murmurs and we look at him shrugging.

“He looks kind of familiar,” I admit and Kaede turns to me.

“He does?” she intrigues.

I was going to answer her, but the guy decides to stop me.

“It’s that you, Mi-chan?” he asks with a smile on his face as he joins our group. I look at him confused.

“Excuse me, but do we know each other?” I ask too and he smirks.

“We sure do. It’s me, Sky’s favorite cousin,” he answers and I look at him closely for a moment.

A couple of seconds later my face turns to complete shock and I back away remembering him. No! Why this year?!

“Arai-san?!”

I grumble in embarrassment and Kaede giggles while eating her food. We’re sitting at our usual table away from the classroom.

“So you liked him when you were in elementary together,” I sigh, and Benji chuckles after stating what I already shared.

“I was a little girl. In reality, he was or still is. I don’t know. The point's that he was a bully and Sora kind of hates him for that reason. How could I like someone who bullied me?”

“I agree, we’re totally stupid when we’re young,” Benji agrees while taking a bite of food and I roll my eyes.

"Inoue-san!” I look up after hearing my name.

I see Sora fuming with smirking friends in tow. Did I do something wrong?

“Hey, Sor-”

“Did he say something? Did he hurt you? Did anything happen?” he cut me off by throwing question after question.

My face softens when the shock clears away. I laugh shaking my head and he stops with a scowl on his face.

“I’m fine, Sora. Nothing happened. Kae-chan and Benji-kun were with me,” Sora sighs in relief.

“Fine, but if that douche does anything to you, let me know. Are we clear?” he raises his hand for our handshake and I nod doing it.

“I promise,” he smiles nodding.

He starts walking away and his friends start talking to him in hushed tones. I smile turning to the guys.

“Your kind of friendship hurts me. It’s just too pure, unique, and sincere. If it was me, I would've been head over heels by now,” Kaede sighs, and I frown bashfully.

“A lot of people say that, but I just don’t want to try and end up ruining our friendship. He’s too important to me,” they sigh in frustration.

“It doesn’t have to end like that. Look at Kae-chan and me. Even though I broke her heart we’re still friends. Damn, that came out wrong, I’m so sorry, Kae-chan,” she starts laughing when Benji finishes with his attempt to make a cute face.

He’s too gruff to try being cute.

“I don’t mind anymore and it’s true. Can’t do anything if you’re gay. I don’t hate you for rejecting me,” she admits and Benji sighs.

“I should’ve told you from the start. Maybe that way you wouldn’t have fallen for me,” I shake my head when he finishes saying that to Kaede.

“No, that's not it. I kind of knew from the beginning. You weren't hiding the fact either, but I just thought it wasn’t my place to tell Kaede about your preferences,” Kaede nods in agreement.

“Yuki-chan's right. I was too blind to see. Boomer, it’s always the handsome guys the ones that are gay,” we laugh softly and I finish the rest of my food.

“I think Sora’s giving Yui-san a chance anyways. Remember the girl from his class that gave him chocolate on Valentine’s Day?” I remember that and Kaede hits the table while swallowing.

“Right, I forgot about her! She’s cute. They would make a good couple, but still,” she pouts.

“She surprised me that time asking if I knew what his favorite chocolate was. He’s always getting a bunch of chocolates and confessions. I can't bring myself to do anything like that,” I confess, and Benji chuckles.

“You're going to end up alone like me if you don't make up your mind, Yuki, and good riddance that Valentine's Day! That’s what happens when you’re considered cute, handsome, or whatever you girls think about boys,” he grumbles and we laugh.

“Next time I’ll buy you tickets for the Comic Con,” Benji exaggerates a squeal as he makes fanning movements with his hands.

“1,000 LOVE, darling. 1,000 LOVE, for you,” he whistles and Kaede blushes.

I just laugh checking my blood sugar levels. Weird.

I look up at the sky and thought about Sora for a moment.

I wouldn’t change my friends for anything in this world, but I think I should change my glucose monitor.

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