Chapter Text
The words hang in the air as she let the news sink in. It was like the moment paused for a second without her noticing unlike the others who immediately recovered from the shock that is happening in front of them.
Yuu Takasaki and Ayumu Uehara will tie the knot.
Slowly understanding what each word meant, she felt the weight of it. She didn't experience falling off a building or getting hit by a truck but she felt like she experienced both at the same time.
Shioriko Mifune didn't expect their club reunion to have something like this.
She held her wine glass firmly not enough to break it while she slowly gets back from the scene that is currently happening. Everyone gathered and cheered on the couple who announced their marriage. Her eyes fixated on a certain girl she adored so much ever since high school.
Shioriko knew from the start that there's no way she had the chance on Ayumu but still she waited. When Ayumu and Yuu got into a fight back then, she knew she needed to grab the chance but she didn't. It's wrong in so many levels, instead she helps them fix their relationship and she wait for the perfect time.
Until that perfect time didn't come.
Olive green eyes met her red eyes and it still frightening to her, how her simple gaze still have the same effect on her after all these years. Shioriko bit her tongue before she gave a smile to Ayumu who did the gesture back.
Shioriko taste the bitterness at the back of her mouth while she bit her lips to prevent it from quivering... or to prevent the words to come out and her emotions to pour out, feeling the alcohol slowly take her system.
It wasn't like she'll ruin the current good news to everyone. That's the last thing she wants to do.
She slowly stood up that made everyone look at her. Her eyes still glued to the woman beside their former club manager. Shioriko ignored the pang in her chest as she raised her glass smiling.
"I wanted to give this toast to Takasaki-san and Uehara-san. I wish you both happiness in your future marriage." she said and everyone returned the toast.
"You never changed, Shio-ti! You're still as formal as ever!" Ai commented giggly.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Ai-san." She smiled at the former gyaru idol, who seemed to be drunk by now while Rina tends on her.
Her former upperclassman was right. She never changed because if she did, Shioriko wouldn't feel something like this.
It was chilly outside when they finally called it a night. Everyone bids their farewells as they separated ways. Shioriko would return the gesture, still standing on the same spot while everyone left the establishment they’d just been and that made her left with Yuu and Ayumu.
“You’re not coming home, Shioriko-chan?” Ayumu asked.
“I’ll be. I just need to make a tour before going home.” Shioriko lied.
“As expected from President Mifune.” Yuu teased which earned a playful slap on her partner. The sight clenched something inside her.
“Yuu-chan!” Ayumu looked at her and smile. “Be home safe.”
“I say the same for the both of you.”
The couple bid goodbye to her, leaving her alone. Shioriko breathed the chilly air to ease the tension that’s been forming earlier. The tingling sensation on her throat bothers her and she coughed on her hand. Shioriko thought it was from the air she breathed but she knew it wasn't when something caught her eye. Her heart pounded hard in her chest when she saw a pink hydrangea petal in her palm.
"Shioriko-san, is that...?"
Shioriko averted her gaze to the familiar voice who spoke. Wide grey eyes met her vision.
"Setsuna-san?"