Scared?

Ayane looked like a cat.

She shifted her whole weight towards Sayaka, completely free of hesitation. She laid on her lap, getting free head pats from her. The only thing that differentiated her from an actual cat is that she didn't purr. But seeing the atmosphere, she might as well start doing it.

It was warm, it was nice laying down on Sayaka's lap for her. How long has it been since she felt this warmth from her? When was the last time she ever saw her? She couldn't even give her a proper goodbye before disappearing from the acting industry altogether. She buried her face into her stomach, wrapping her hands around her waist tighter as she thought.

Sayaka giggled. "Ayane-chan,"— her voice changed into the sweetest thing that anyone has ever heard— "I know you have missed me, but if you continue to hug me this tightly, I might suffocate." Her smile beamed hundred-fold. She felt her mother instinct suddenly grow large inside her, just like it did when she visited Ayane in the past. Though, the Ayane now is a full grown woman, with her facial qualities grow from cute to beautiful, but she was still as cute as ever. Her face was perfectly symmetrical, with her small pink lips, cute tiny nose and large lemon eyes still being the same as before.

When was the last time she met with Ayane? She wondered. She still remembers the time they spent together in the industry, when she would carry Ayane on her arms and took her to the zoo, when she make Ayane sit on her lap at restaurants and fed her with affection. The heat lingered— the heat of little Ayane's burning body, despite her calm and well behaved nature as a child. She still couldn't believe that cute little baby this big in such short time.

"Let me get a good look at your face, Ayane-chan.", she lifted her head down from her lap close to her eyes gently with her warm hands holding her cheek. The lemon pupils sparkled, liquid with emotion, as it met her gaze. Yep, that little girl really did grow up. She couldn't help herself.

She pecked her cheek and threw her arms around her neck, hugging her sideways such that her cheekbones touched hers. "Oh Ayane-chan! Why are you so freaking cute! You are cuter than the last time I saw you!", she exclaimed.

"Calm down Sayaka-senpai! You might break my neck!", she giggled at the tantrum she was throwing. So many different emotions ran through her that she didn't know what to do with those. This was probably the first time in a long time she ever felt so many happy emotions at once.

Ayane's gaze fell upon Kanako for a fraction of a second. He was looking outside with his hands on his cheek, watching the rain as it thudded over the glass window. She couldn't get to see his face, but she could feel that he was bored and tried not to look at their happy atmosphere.

But Kanako knew why he was bored. Because her was not. He was clenching his teeth pretty hard. Somewhere deep inside, he felt his skin tear apart. Was it jealousy? He didn't know. But he hated the feeling.

Glass plates clanked on the low table. Her mother put the heavy metal pot in the middle. "Now now, it's time to eat up!", she grabbed their attention, putting the plates in front of them. She sat behind the two of them, Sayaka and Ayane, patting their head. ", and let me in the fun too!". Kanako was feeling very much left alone...

Sayaka looked at Kanako, confused. "Aren't you going to go take a shower? Wait let me prepare the bath for you..."

"Well, sorry to ruin your fun,", his tone was sarcastic. "But I have already done it."

"Eh? When did that happen?"

"Well, you were so into your own bubble that you didn't notice, obviously."

"Why do you sound annoyed?"

Their mother giggled. "Now now, start eating before the soup gets cold."

She handed over the empty ceramic bowls to each of them and served them a bowl full of warm but light, vegetable soup. The aroma spread out the entire room.

Ayane gazed at the wall clock. "Oh shoot, I forgot to call mom!"

"Don't worry,", Sayaka gave a smug. "I will call her. Call her and hand me the phone, okay?"

"You can talk to her first.", Ayane handed out her phone to her. It had a pink cover with a pink ribbon on it. "She will recognise you when you pick up the call."

"I guess so.", Sayaka got up. "Let's go elsewhere.", she let out her hand to Ayane. She took the hand and helped herself get up.

"Let's go.", Sayaka took Ayane's hand and led her to the corridor.

"Call her.", Sayaka handed her her phone. She hurriedly searched the contacts to find her mom's number. Sayaka giggled seeing her anxious expression.

"Scared?", she asked.

"More like confused.", her heart felt like it was going to explode. "I wonder what kind of expression she would make...", she glanced at Sayaka's face again. Her face was still as beautiful as ever. Her earrings elegant and beautiful, her light pink lips and her darkly contrasted pupils was still as livid as the last time she saw her. "You still didn't change your style, Sayaka-senpai."

She pressed the call button. The call rang once.

"Hehe. This is good, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I didn't say it was bad-", her talk was interrupted by her mom, who took the call.

"Hello? Ayane-chan?", her mom asked over the phone.