Matcha Lattes & Cherry Blossoms ~5~

Ayame Academy had been split into two buildings. All of Yuzuko's classes took place in Block A. Block B was a few stories smaller than Block A, and was dedicated to international students. The international students had a different schedule to the local students, and thus Yuzuko never had a chance to interact with many of them.

Looking down at her skirt and thick blazer, she thought of the international students in their denim jeans and their summer frocks. It wasn't fair that the international students didn't have to wear a uniform. The international students were also exempt from the Baby Factory Act which meant they were free to be childless if they wished to be, although she saw quite a few of the women with baby bumps.

"Don't they look pretty?" Sakura said, smiling as three of the American students walked by. "Their accents and hair are so cute. Their sweaters look really comfortable."

"Yeah," Yuzuko said. "The uniform can get really tight when you're pregnant."

Sakura clasped her hand in Yuzuko's hand as if something was urgent. "There's something I need to ask you."

Yuzuko gazed at her. "What's that?" The way Sakura's voice suddenly lowered, and how her eyes widened took Yuzuko back to something she read in one of her mother's romance books. The look of somebody in love. Her heart was pacing. What had Sakura got herself into now?

Sakura lowered her head and gulped. "I need somewhere to stay."

"That's fine." Whatever she needed, Yuzuko was willing to do anything to get it. Yuzuko was Professor Denki's favourite grandchild: she was his only grandchild, thus would get spoiled. Her mother sometimes said no, but her grandfather always said yes. "We have a spare bedroom. How long for? We can get whatever you need for Suzie too!"

Sakura gasped. "I sold her to a European family."

"Why?" Yuzuko asked. She wasn't one to judge, but she knew that school and her family would get furious. They already saw her as a delinquent for being held back a year. The last thing Yuzuko wanted was for her best friend to suffer with shame. "That means Suzie will never meet her little sibling..."

"I aborted it."

Yuzuko hugged her. "Why?" Abortion wasn't illegal in Japan, but in a climate where they were pushing students to get married and have children before finishing school, it was a big taboo. It made Yuzuko wonder how many students who said they miscarried actually had abortions instead. "They'll punish you. Oh... you should have told me before you did this. There could have been another way."

"I'm sorry," Sakura screamed, bursting into tears. "I just don't have the maternal instinct. I've tried. I just couldn't connect with Suzie. I couldn't cope with all the miscarriages anymore. My husband's in hospital, my parents don't want me, my in-laws have kicked me out. I know you. The marriage is over. I've got nowhere to stay."

"I'm sorry," Yuzuko said, giving Sakura a tissue. All the things that Sakura had bottled up these past few months. It was no wonder she had fallen apart. "Why is Natsu in hospital?" All this time, Yuzuko had assumed that he was studying at home, or transferred.

"He ate the sushi from the bento box I prepared for him. We've been married for 4 years and I didn't know he was allergic to sesame seeds..."

"Listen," Yuzuko snapped. "You can stay at mine as long as you need. They'll be fine with it." Even if her mother said no, her grandfather would say yes. Stinky and Punchy couldn’t care less who was in the house as long as they had their litter tray cleaned, and their bowls topped up. Aunt Kiki and Grandma Takako would go along with whatever Professor Denki said.

"Thank you! I love you so much."

"Okay. We really need to go to class now."