Chapter 25 - Iris

*What's with Sakura that made me interested in her?* I knew I asked this many times, but thinking about it *what exactly made me drawn to her?*

As these thoughts annoyingly bugged my mind, I snuck a few glances toward Sakura. Every time our eyes met, she didn't ask anything instead she just let me off with a smile. Privately, I wondered how mature she could be. But then again, for some reason, part of me felt like she was just used to it hence she didn't bother to ask any questions.

Walking next to her, I heard some mumbling from the back but I pay it no mind. I was sure it was just a complaint from a certain individual again, after all. Ever since we started making our way to Sakura's house, Kasumi didn't stop protesting I was keeping Sakura by myself again. Which was if you think about it, she was actually right and I was completely aware of it. Then again, all I did was walk next to Sakura, so this one was hardly called *keeping Sakura by myself.*

They had a choice to settle on her other side but I doubt four people walking side by side would be a great idea. It would look like we were owning the road, after all.

Ahead, a girl caught my attention. She was waving her hand towards us as our distance gradually decreased. I looked over my shoulder but there was no other person in there other than us.

A moment after, I realized who that girl might be. I could feel my shoulder suddenly tense up.

"Your friends? Hello, please enjoy your stay," she asked Sakura before she turned into us.

As to replied to her greeting, the three of us, excluding Sakura, of course, lightly bowed our heads. "H.... hello, p...pardon our intrusion."

Privately, I wondered why did I say the latter in the middle of the road.

The girl giggled, pulling her hand to her mouth, something reminded me of Sakura. She then patted Sakura's shoulder, and said, "If you need something to eat, just scavenge through the ref. Anything other than that, try to call the caretaker. Take care."

"Hmm, take care, as well."

The girl once again turned toward us. "No need to be humble, please enjoy your stay."

As she said those words, she waved her hand and parted our ways.

As I watched her back disappear to the corner of the street, I heard some praises coming from my back. And I was inclined to agree with all of them.

Surely, Sakura's big sister was so beautiful.

*"They were both pretty,"* I mused, but it seemed Sakura heard me hence she gave me a baffled look.

"Did you say something?"

"Ah, no."

Fortunately, she didn't hear it clearly, or else I'd humiliate myself again.

A few more walks and we arrived at her house. *How could I explain this?...*

"...your house is quite big, Sakura."

Searching for words, I heard Akira comment as we scrutinized its appearance. Though it was only a two-story house, it was quite...long? And has a garden in the front. Comparing it to the houses around it, you could clearly see the difference.

"Is it? I always think it's just enough for us, though," Sakura replied, adjusting the frame of the glasses.

"Just how many people are living here?"

Sakura just let it off with a giggle while scratching the side of her chin. As she proceeded into her residence, we followed her. As for me, my eyes didn't stop eyeing everything around me. The grass, the wall separating the house from the street, the flowers bathing under the sunlight, the cemented way leading us to the door, and the metal plate embedded on the side stating their family name.

"So this is where Sakura grow up..." I murmured as I looked at the whole picture of the house. For a certain reason, I felt something brewing inside my chest. *Was this excitement?* It was my first time visiting Sakura's home, so I guess it was.

"Pardon the intrusion."

In contrast to my sheepish attitude, Kasumi just casually entered after she left her shoes in the entryway hence, Akira promptly pursued her as though her dog escaped from its leash. Briefly, I debated following after them, particularly because I was worried that Kasumi might do something strange again, but ended up sighing. *She had Akira by her side, so I guess it would be fine.*

Kasumi, despite her appearance, was quite a bit strange kid. On the other hand, Akira could be someone you could rely on. That was my conclusion after spending time with them in the school.

*More importantly...*

I made a sidelong glance at the person still standing next to me. Why Sakura hadn't entered yet? I thought, feeling a bit awkward as I took off my sandals.

Then, I felt something on my back. Glancing at Sakura, she was looking at her fingers pinching my dress. "It suits you." Her compliment popped inside my ears and led down to my heart.

"R-really?"

"Yep," she replied, then walked ahead of me, leaving me dumbfounded in the entryway.

She complimented me. I knew I should be happy about it but frankly, it just got me confused. Why now? Was there something that made Sakura notice my clothes? She didn't even give it a passing glance earlier. I planned to spin around Sakura (though, it was embarrassing) if ever she didn't notice my dress. So, this one caught me off guard.

Shaking my head, I followed after her. There, I found Kasumi lying on the sofa while Akira shook her back as if to wake her. *Well, for now, I'll leave them be,* I thought and entered where Sakura went.

"S-sakura," I called after her, though I didn't plan to stutter, it still went that way. I brought the paper bag to her. "Here...uhhh... A gift?"

She tilted her head. "You don't have to make all the trouble, you know. But thanks," she said and received it.

Privately, I smiled. It seemed the world was favoring me today. Reminding myself not to push my luck since it might backfire on me later, I watched her scanning through the refrigerator. I looked over her shoulder and wondered why was she counting each Tupperware.

"It seems like she didn't take any today, that's a relief." I heard her mumble.

Was she talking about her sister? I shifted my gaze and went back to where the two were. *I shouldn't be too nosy as I am now,* I reminded myself as I realized that I might offend Sakura.

*I don't want her to hate me, after all.*

As I waited for her to finish her refrigerator scavenging, I debated talking to her. We should have a conversation, right? Or else, it would be awkward standing here right beside her as though a dog waiting for its owner. Obviously, I was the dog and Sakura was my owner.

For some reason, the latter part had a nice ring in it...*wait, what am I thinking?*

"Sa... Sakura."

"Yes? I am Sakura, so what is it, Eimi?" She turned to me as she took something out and put it on the table.

"Uhh, erm... Oh right, is your parents okay for us to be here?" And I just realized that I should've greeted them too.

"My parents? I guess it's okay for them... They hardly home, anyway."

"I... I see. So, you're all alone today."

At these words, I felt something prick my chest. Back in elementary, she was always alone. I suppose even these days, Sakura spent her time walking by herself without someone by her side. *Is Sakura feel lonely?*

*If that was the case...*

As I was about to voice my thoughts, Sakura cut in, "I can't particularly say that I'm alone today since you three are here. And I suppose the caretaker will be here later because she still has work to do...though, sometimes she becomes too full of herself and eats the food in the ref."

I would pretend that I didn't hear the latter part.

Realizing Sakura was busy doing something, I left her and moved to the other two in the living room.

Minutes later, after silently sitting on the sofa, watching Kasumi and Akira doing a gag or something of that sort (Honestly, I couldn't tell but they were lined up— Kasumi at the front, acting like a very short train), Sakura called us and led us upstairs.

With each step, I could feel the coldness of the floor getting buried on my soles, my heart jumping frantically. While the others seemed to be excited about seeing Sakura's room, me, however, felt really nervous...and excited...and slightly anxious. Am I being weird?

Darting my gaze around, Sakura seemed to notice me panicking? at the back. She gave me a light smile. Trying my best, I smiled back at her. Though, I was unsure whether what I did could be counted as smiling or just showing my teeth.

Just then, I noticed Kasumi scowling at me. Meanwhile, her guardian seemed to comfort her by patting her back. Discreetly, the thought of Kasumi being jealous because of how close I and Sakura were had put a smile on my face. I shifted my face away from Sakura. It was too much embarrassing to let Sakura see me grinning ears to ears.

As we halted at the room next to the stair, she twisted the knob.

A sense of nostalgia was brought up in my mind. Suddenly, I remembered the rather peaceful part of our elementary classroom and the girl who was quietly reading her book with sparkles in her eyes.

In Sakura's room, her bed was against the wall, opposite where her desk was located. Next to it was a mini library which was packed with textbooks and such. I imagined Little Sakura sitting on the chair while writing something at her desk and after that, she would take one of the publications next to her and read it. Did she spend her time doing something like that? I guess, the answer was *yes.* She is Fujihara Sakura, after all. Time might have changed things but it wouldn't change it completely.

Time had passed and the color of the sky changed its hue. I couldn't remember anything other than the taste of the food Sakura prepared for us. I could feel my stomach being blessed by Sakura's home cooking.

By the time the clock turned five, we decided to call it a day. I didn't want to intrude on Sakura too much, after all. Kasumi and Akira were the first ones to leave and I was left with Sakura since I was waiting for my big brother to pick me up. As one could be expected, Kasumi protested against it. Granted, I started to wonder where did this girl get all her energy, but a part of me felt amazed seeing her throw a little tantrum after she ran all day around Sakura's home.

"I want to know everything about Sakura!" she declared something of that sort earlier, then set off on her little trip. In case you'd thought Akira had followed her, I would say you were wrong.

Looking at the sky gradually losing its source of light, I sipped the cup of my tea. Unfortunately, I was the one who prepared it.

"Did you have fun?" asked Sakura, resting her hand on her chin across the table.

"Fun? Ahhh...erm, kind of?" For some reason, I felt dumb for not knowing the answer. But if what she meant was if I had fun staring at her, I suppose you should know the answer.

"That is good, then," she replied and turned her gaze through the window. Likewise, I followed suit.

Silently, I hoped this day wouldn't come to end. But I knew that wasn't going to happen. In actuality, people moved forward without making a stop just like how the world rotated. Had I not met Sakura, would my world move like the way it is now? Gazing at the giant ball of light, slowly hiding on the horizon, I wished, just like how I wished hours before I had met Sakura again