Story: Affinity (chapter 4)

Authors: Tamayo Ginbara

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Chapter 4

 

Head bent low, Sakura shuffled her feet into the café. All the while, she could tell Tomoyo's mother had her eyes fixated on her curiously. Sliding into her seat, she shoved her hands into her lap. "Sakura, look at me," Sonomi said gently, hands cupped under her chin as she kept her eyes locked on Sakura's. "What's a good girl like you playing truant?"

"Miss Daidouji, please don't tell Tomoyo you saw me here," Sakura pleaded softly, trying not to garner any stares in her direction.

"That all depends on why you're here and not with her," Sonomi smiled, picking up her tea and taking a sip. "Now, no more stalling. Let's hear it."

"Alright," Sakura nodded reluctantly. "I was skipping... because I was scared to go to class."

"Scared?" Sonomi became alert. "Sakura-chan, is someone bullying you? I can lend you one of our bodyguards if that's the..."

"No no, it's nothing like that!" Sakura exclaimed waving her arms frantically in dismay. "There's someone at school I think I might love... a lot," she answered, blushing just the slightest as she finished.

"Oh?" Sonomi sighed, seeing a side of Nadeshiko in Sakura that she hoped to never see again. "What's he like?"

Sakura went quiet.

"Sakura, unless you want me to tell your father about this, I'd answer," Sonomi grinned, playfully taunting the flustered girl. "What's he like?"

"Miss Daidouji," Sakura said, quietly as she could manage. "I'm... in love with a girl."

Both Sonomi and Sakura turned white as sheets.

"A g-girl, huh?" Sonomi tried to hide her nervous excitement twisting her forefinger around the rim of her tea cup. Already her mind was flashing back to Tomoyo. She knew Tomoyo's feelings for Sakura for a while now, but more importantly, she saw how Sakura reciprocated her loving feelings with such warm kindness. She tried not to get her hopes up, but now she was sure! Sakura was in love with Tomoyo!

"Sakura-chan," Sonomi reached across the table, taking Sakura's hands into her own.

"Hoe?" she squeaked out loud.

"The feelings you have for this very special girl are nothing to be afraid of. In fact, they're something you should embrace with all your heart. If you truly believe these are feelings of love, then I'm positive that your feelings will be happily returned. Now run along."

"You... you won't tell anyone?" Sakura said, a little nervously.

"This is a secret just between us girls," Sonomi winked, sending Sakura on her way, believing it was into her daughter's arms.

As Sakura sped through town, eventually reaching the gates of the school, she used telepathy to communicate with the Mirror Card. "Mirror, thank you for all your work. Come to the front gate and I'll take it from her."

 

---

 

Meanwhile, Kaho had stepped outside to get some fresh air herself. "Affinity for magic..." she whispered to herself. "It's so easy to say that and disregard another's feelings. You would know that best, Toya." There he stood at the front gate, stalwart as always. "I was just thinking about you," she put up a smile for him, but they both knew that this wasn't a matter to be taken lightly.

"My sister's been spending a lot of time with you," Toya began. "Any reason why?"

"Is that why you're here?" Kaho spoke up.

"I'm not here to reminisce, I assure you," Toya scoffed.

"Sakura comes to help me by her own free will," Kaho replied, "The only reason she spends so much time with me is because she wants to."

"What are you suggesting, Kaho?" Toya narrowed his eyes.

"I'm just saying she might be a lot like you," Kaho smiled.

"Sakura already has a crush," Toya affirmed.

"You think she can't have two?" Kaho sighed.

"I'm only going to say this once, Kaho," Toya spoke, his tone rising with anger. "Stay away from her."

"I'm not so sure I'm the one you should be saying that to," Kaho smiled mysteriously. "But you know Toya, there is something about her. Something I find very special, almost irresistible, like I'm doing everything in my power to keep from being drawn in by her. Oh don't worry, I won't do anything like you're probably thinking, but why should I deny that sweet little girl a glimpse of happiness? I'm sorry for what I suspect I put you through, and I can't promise Sakura won't go through the same, but I'm ready to learn from my mistakes. I won't treat her feelings for me, whatever they may be, as lightly as I treated yours."

Toya clenched his fist tight. He wanted to do something, but he knew anything he said or did would only make matters worse for him. Kaho spoke with such sincerity but how could he believe after all she did to him that she'd treat Sakura any differently? Only his father and Yukito knew how delicate Sakura's feelings were. Could he really trust that his little sister would not be betrayed as he was by this woman? Deep down, he knew he had no choice.

"I will show her love," Kaho resolved. "I will show her love that I denied you, and when the time comes that we must part, I promise her heart will remain in one piece."

"You'll regret it if you don't," Toya warned her, to which Kaho playfully smiled.

As their conversation ended, Sakura was approaching the school gate, as was the Mirror Card. Both came to a halt a short distance from each other, the Mirror Card once again facing Toya, and Sakura looking into Mizuki-sensei's warm, affectionate eyes.        

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